Wednesday, April 29, 2020

29th April,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Exports to Gulf states jump 36pc
Mubarak Zeb KhanUpdated April 28, 2020
Description: Increase seen in exports of three major commodities: Rice, meat and fruits and vegetables. — Reuters/File
Increase seen in exports of three major commodities: Rice, meat and fruits and vegetables. — Reuters/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports to the Middle Eastern countries increased by 36 per cent during the current fiscal year, data released by the Ministry of Commerce showed on Monday.
The ministry claimed that the growth in export proceeds was achieved owing to several initiatives but did not share any details on the actions.
Three major commodities posted impressive growth between July 2019 and April.
The rice exports to the region increased by 59pc in value from $264 million to $420m, meat from $127m to $200m, an increase of 57pc during the period under review. And fruits and vegetables exports enhanced from $70m to $140m, an increase of 100pc.
The data compiled by the State Bank of Pakistan showed exports to the UAE surged by 28pc during the July-March period. The export value reached $1.244bn this year as against $971.173m over the corresponding months of last year.
Pakistan’s export to Saudi Arabia increased by 42.9pc to $352.164m during the July-March period this year as against $246.419m over the corresponding months of last year. Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia mainly include rice, fruits, vegetable preparations, apparel and clothing, and made-up articles of textile.
Currently, negotiation on a preferential trade agreement covering both tariff and non-tariff barriers are pending before the two governments.
Exports to Qatar increased 50pc to $108.898m during the July-March period this year as against $72.49m over the corresponding months last year. Similarly, exports to Bahrain also witnessed a growth of 8.33pc to $52.856m as against $48.789m over the corresponding months last year.
Pakistan’s exports to other countries in the region remained stagnant during the period under review.
Meanwhile, exports to Iran during the July-March period stood at $0.055m as against $2.892m over the corresponding period of last year. Pakistan mostly trades on a barter basis with Iran, which does not account in the official figures. On the other hand, the country’s exports to Afghanistan, once Pakistan’s second-biggest export market after the United States, dropped by 10.8pc to $789.437m as against $885.779m over the corresponding months last year.
Pakistan has closed its border stations with Afghanistan since Mar 15. Only $61m worth of goods were exported to the neighbouring country during March. The government has virtually banned all kinds of exports to Afghanistan except kinno.
Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020

Pakistan, Afghanistan trade at standstill

28 APRIL 2020  Last Updated at 8:56 AM | SOURCE: IANS
Pakistan, Afghanistan trade at standstill
Islamabad, April 28 (IANS) Businessmen have requested the concerned authorities to allow export of Pakistani consignments to Afghanistan through the Chaman, Torkham and Khorlachi borders which were facing hurdles due to restrictions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, it was reported on Tuesday.
In a statement issued on Monday, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) President Anjum Nisar highlighted that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was at a standstill, reports The Express Tribune.
Earlier, the borders were sealed due to the pandemic but the Pakistan government re-opened them this month and allowed movement of cargo to Afghanistan, he said.
"However, the concerned authorities on the borders are allowing only those trucks to pass which are carrying cargo under the Afghan Transit Trade," he said.
"Pakistani exporters are facing heavy losses as thousands of trucks, carrying perishable items such as rice, potatoes, vegetables and medicinal items, are stuck at the Pakistan-Afghan borders."
The official stressed that these items could not be exported to any other country except Afghanistan and requested the concerned authorities to allow Pakistani export consignments to enter Afghanistan.
He highlighted that even in the midst of COVID-19, trade between Iran and Afghanistan was not halted and was running smoothly whereas Pakistani exporters were facing hurdles and trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan was at a standstill, which was damaging the economy.
--IANS


Japanese Ambassador Calls On Food Security Minister

 
Description: Japanese Ambassador calls on Food Security Minister

Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori here Monday called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2020 ) :Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori here Monday called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam.
The minister told Ambassador that Pakistan is among major wheat exporters of the world because of adverse weather conditions wheat export would be affected this year. Pakistan and Japan should increase collaboration in transfer of technology and information in agriculture sector. The minister also emphasized role of Japan in agricultural machinery. Pakistan also required assistance from Japan in growing crop seeds technology he added.
Japanese Ambassador said Pakistan was one of the major agricultural products exporter and many countries depend upon Pakistan for rice and fruits.
Japan is already working (in Pakistan) on various projects and many Japanese companies are willing to invest in agriculture sector in Pakistan.
He said ongoing locust situation was the biggest thread to food security for Pakistan.
Japan is willing to help Pakistan to acquire pesticides and other essential products. Japan is also helping Pakistan financially in current COVID 19 epidemic. Pakistan does export fruits and vegetables, but the quantity is limited to cater the increasing demand of Japanese market especially of mangos.
The minister emphasized that the government wanted to enhance flori culture in Pakistan and assistance from japans' government would be highly valuable.
In the meeting it was discussed that Japan would facilitate Pakistan to control locust, in value addition of fruits and vegetables and Flori culture specially tulip and roses.
Collaboration in sectors of fishery, livestock, poultry etc should also be enhanced.
The minister also acknowledge the ongoing projects and collaboration of Japanese Government in Pakistan. Japanese Ambassador ensured further financial assistance and collaboration in agriculture sector by the Japanese Government.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/japanese-ambassador-calls-on-food-security-mi-905083.html

 

Rice Worth 1.594 Billion Exported In 9 Months

Description: Rice worth 1.594 billion exported in 9 months

Rice exports from the country during first three quarters of current financial year registered an increase of 7.13 percent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period last year

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Apr, 2020 ) :Rice exports from the country during first three quarters of current financial year registered an increase of 7.13 percent as compared to the exports of the corresponding period last year.
During the period from July to March 2019-20, country earned US $ 1.594 billion by exporting over 3.146 million tons of rice, according to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The exports of rice in first three quarters of last financial year were recorded at 2.987 million tons valuing US $ 1.487 billion, the data revealed.
During the period under review about 657,280 metric tons of Basmati rice worth of US $ 573.196 million were also exported as compared the exports of 433, 097 metric tons valuing US $ 428.796 million of same period last year.
The exports of Basmati rice witnessed about 38.68 per cent growth during the period under review as compared the exports of same period last year, it added.
In last nine months over 2.488 million tons of rice other then Basmati worth US $ 1.020 billion exported as compared to the exports of 2.553 million tons valuing US $ 1.059 billion of same period last year.
However, during the period under review the exports of rice other then Basmati remained on down track as it decreased by 3.62 per cent, the data revealed.
It may be recalled here that food group exports from the country during first nine months of current financial year grew by 1.43 per cent as different food commodities worth US $ 3.396 billion exported as against US $ 3.348 billion of the corresponding period of last year.
Meanwhile, food group exports during the month of March 2020 were decreased by 23.23 per cent as compared to the same month last year.

 

Two Reed Grads Elected to National Academy of Sciences

The nation’s top scientific organization hails a pair of Reed researchers for their groundbreaking work.

By Romel Hernandez | April 27, 2020
Two prominent Reed grads have been elected to the nation’s top scientific organization, the National Academy of Sciences, in recognition of their groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of genetics and evolutionary biology.
Pamela Ronald ’82 revealed how the Xa21 gene plays a key role in helping rice crops resist disease. Her work on flood-resistant rice has been credited with improving crop yields in Asia and Africa. (Check out her TED talk on the case for engineering our food.) She’s a plant pathologist at the University of California-Davis.

Susan Alberts ’83 is an evolutionary biologist at Duke University and an expert on the effects of adversity and belonging on the health and survival of primates. She made her mark researching wild primate behavior, devoting the bulk of her career to the study of baboons in Kenya—work she has pursued nearly four decades since her senior year at Reed when she earned a Watson Fellowship to study in Africa.
Being chosen for the National Academy of Sciences is a prestigious achievement reserved for only the most eminent researchers. Reed ranks No. 12 in the nation when it comes to producing fellows in the NAS and its allied academies in medicine and engineering. Reed also ranks No. 1 in the nation in the proportion of STEM majors who go on to earn PhDs in STEM fields
Ronald and Alberts both say they were inspired to pursue biology by their experiences as students at Reed. 
“Reed is the reason I am a scientist,”  says Alberts, who started at Reed expecting to major in philosophy. “We’re so lucky to have been there during such a remarkable time in the biology department.”
“You don’t pursue a career at this depth for this long if you’re not excited at the outset,” says Ronald, who says her first-year intro bio course at Reed inspired her to become a scientist.
Ronald recalls getting turned on to genetics by Prof. Peter Russell, whose engaging approach to teaching science as “stories of discovery.” Alberts remembers being enthralled by Prof. Bert Brehm and his description of the complex co-evolution of the fig tree and fig wasp for mutual survival. And both were awestruck by the late Prof. Helen Stafford, the first female faculty member in the division of mathematics and natural science when she was hired in the 1950s. 
“She was scary,” Ronald says. “I was so impressed by how she loved her research and her students.”
“I don’t know I realized at the time what a singular role model she was as a woman in science of that generation.” says Alberts. “She was a force of nature. We were amazed and intimidated by her intellect.”
Ronald and Alberts are the third and fourth Reed women to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences, joining the late psychologist Eleanor Maccoby ’39 and neuroscientist Gina Turrigiano ’84. Altogether the NAS has elected 21 Reedies.
The academy’s annual meeting, at which they will be honored, will be held virtually due to Covid-19. Nonetheless, both scientists are looking forward to their next chance to meet and catch up. “Getting this honor is surprising and exciting,” Ronald says. “Even after so many years, you sometimes feel like an impostor just stumbling along. To be recognized by your peers is so meaningful. I’m grateful.” 

2020 RMA Convention Postponed
By Jeanette Davis
 ARLINGTON, VA -- Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the USA Rice Millers' Association Board of Directors voted unanimously last week to cancel the 2020 RMA Annual Convention that had been scheduled for June 16-19 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  The convention will be rescheduled for June 2021 at the same location.

"Protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our members, attendees, families, and the community at-large was paramount in the decision," said Kenneth LaGrande, chair of the RMA Convention Coordinating Committee.  "This was to be our 121st convention and while we take great pride in our longevity and traditions, this was the correct decision and we did not enter into it lightly.  We wish everyone continued health and safety, and the convention will be back bigger and better in 2021."
USA Rice Daily
           
Navigable Waters Rule to Replace WOTUS 
By Josie McLaurin
 David Petter
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Navigable Waters Protection Rule was published in the Federal Register by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army on April 21.  The publication of this final rule formally replaces the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and is the final result of Trump Administration efforts to re-define and contain the reach of the Clean Water Act of 1972.

The Navigable Waters Protection Rule divides U.S. waters into four categories and also identifies those waters not subject to federal control, labeling them as "jurisdictional" and "non-jurisdictional."

Of major interest to rice farmers, prior converted cropland and the treatment of ditches are considered "non-jurisdictional" hence not included in the definition of WOTUS and not subject to federal jurisdiction.

"The Navigable Waters Protection Rule gives the U.S. rice industry a definite advantage when it comes to water management on our farms," said David Petter, an Arkansas rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Regulatory Affairs and Food Safety Committee.  "We have an unparalleled record of sustainable farming practices and the clarification provided by the new rule will allow us to continue those successful conservation practices."

Barring court challenges or Congressional action, the Navigable Waters Protection Rule will go into effect on June 22, 2020.
Market Information


State Row Crop Planting Delayed by Wet Weather
Meridian Star
Bobby Golden, rice specialist with the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, said frequent rains also put the rice crop well behind schedule. USDA estimated rice was 11 percent planted on April 19. Golden said about 60 percent of the crop is usually planted by this date.
USA rice Daily

India's top rice miller KRBL has enough supply and demand but little material to pack them in

NAVDEEP YADAVAPR 27, 2020, 16:13 IST
Description: https://www.businessinsider.in/thumb/msid-75406664,width-600,resizemode-4,imgsize-57721/Indias-top-rice-miller-KRBL-has-enough-supply-and-demand-but-little-material-to-pack-them-in.jpg
§  KRBL saw a 43% jump in its share price since the nation-wide lockdown started.
§  Anoop Kumar Gupta the company’s joint managing director said the company witnessed an increase in requirement from the retail channels.
§  Mittal said the company did experience shut down for a few days when the lockdown started, but when it opened up, it had significant constraints of transportation and labour in the market.
During the lockdown, Indians are worried about only one thing - groceries. It hence comes as no surprise that the share price of KRBL — the world's largest rice millers and Basmati rice exporters — jumped 43% during the period.

“Despite global lockdown, the demand for rice is picking up. We have sufficient orders in hand, and the execution did look difficult on March 22, but it now seems that we will be able to fulfill the obligation without any problems,” said KRBL chairman Anil Kumar Mittal in a conference call.
Description: Flourish logoA Flourish chart

A two-fold jump in demand
As Indians are stocking up on basics, retailers have been pushing for more stock. “We have seen a quantum rise in volume dispatch, especially in the online channel to the extent twice as much as usual,” said Anoop Kumar Gupta, the company’s joint managing director.
ALSO READ
Description: https://www.businessinsider.in/photo/75399506.cms

Coronavirus cases in India inches towards the 28,000 mark— 22% recovered and 3.1% dead as of April 27
However, that does not mean that the rice miller had it easy. To cater to the increased demand, it had faced many hurdles. The first being transportation which had been hit hard, and added to that, labour had migrated leaving them with little manpower.

Packing pains

The company received some relief when state governments gradually eased the supply chain pains. Soon after it opened up shop to supply essentials as directed by the government, it was left with a new set of troubles.

“There were other challenges such as unavailability of labour, logistic issues, lack of courier services and transportation issues,” said Mittal. KRBL however was able to “streamline the process” with the help of local bodies.

The orders are pouring in, and supply is also inching up. But the company is still struggling with packing material shortage. “The availability of the packing material, weather plastic bag, a carton or a jute bag as they are connected with paper poly and other industries,” Mittal said. And most of these industries are still shut down.
Since packaging material doesn’t fall under the essential commodities, they are still closed.

Without weddings and fewer Indians in a celebratory mood, Titan’s sales to remain muted for the next 2 years

‘There is no alternative to Basmati on the menu’

Even as its Punjab plant is running at 60% capacity due to labour constraints, its packaging unit is running around at 80% capacity. But the company believes that it is in a position to meet the increasing demand both globally and within the country.
“We will take longer to turn around but remain confident that it will because there is no alternative to the kind of Basmati on the menus that branded companies like us can provide,” Gupta added.

https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/rice-purchase-for-central-pool-to-hit-record-50-mt/1941468/


Joseph Banks: traveller, botanist and agent of the British Empire

The Conversation
28 Apr 2020, 06:40 GMT+10
Description: https://cdn.bignewsnetwork.com/cvr1588020024.jpgCaptain James Cook arrived in the Pacific 250 years ago, triggering British colonisation of the region. We're asking researchers to reflect on what happened and how it shapes us today. You can see other stories in the series here and an interactive here.
Sir Joseph Banks is justly celebrated as a "naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences." His role as an expedition scientist on Captain Cook's first voyage set a benchmark for rigour, and helped to lift him to election as president of the Royal Society in 1778. From that position, he directed and encouraged multinational scientific endeavours for more than four decades. Less well-known is how he used that science to pursue imperial power.
The role of science in the "Age of Enlightenment" has sometimes been imagined as a bubble of purity, where the hunt for new knowledge outweighed all other considerations. It is certainly true that warring European powers granted safe passage for elite scientific correspondence, and sometimes for individual scholars, or whole expeditions. But the context for this was a consensus on the value of scientific discovery for the pursuit of imperial aggrandisement.
Banks was a hereditary member of the English establishment. Born in 1743, his father and grandfather had been members of parliament and he inherited extensive Lincolnshire estates at an early age. He blended formal education with self-funded studies, and by his mid-20s, was already a member of the Royal Society, undertaking an expedition to the north-eastern shores of Canada, where he identified the Great Auk for science.
Great Southern Continent
Cook's first voyage was ostensibly to observe the "transit of Venus" across the face of the sun in 1769: thus forming part of a multinational scientific effort to map the size of the solar system. But a deeper goal had already been voiced.
The first person the Royal Society suggested to command the voyage was Alexander Dalrymple, an eminent Scottish geographer and vocal proponent of the theory that a "Great Southern Continent" awaited discovery. He saw this as an opportunity equivalent to the discovery of the Americas, so great, as he wrote in his 1770/71 volume An Historical collection of the several voyages and discoveries in the South Pacific Ocean, that even:
Dalrymple, however, demanded a full naval captain's commission, which the Admiralty would not grant to a man who was not a professional seaman. James Cook had the necessary background, and was content with lieutenant's rank. Cook's voyage, of course, disproved the theory of a great Terra Australis, while at the same time mapping the outlines of New Zealand and eastern Australia. Banks (who had paid out of his own pocket for eight other scientists and servants to accompany him) both diligently completed his core botanical duties, and returned with clear views on how British imperial power could be enhanced through Cook's discoveries.
Banks firmly advocated the strategic use of colonisation, vigorously promoting the use of "Botany Bay" as a penal colony. He sought to have interloping American trading vessels excluded from New South Wales "with severity", but was not averse to other nations setting up settlements elsewhere in Australia, because there was a "moral certainty" that such territories would fall "into our hands in time of war".
The Bounty
Banks was also the guiding light behind the most notorious episode of attempted ecological imperialism in the 1780s: the voyage of the Bounty, which set sail from the south coast of England in 1787, bound for what its crew saw as the very furthest reaches of the world. Banks had personally overseen its refitting, including the transformation of its captain's cabin into a greenhouse, where hundreds of breadfruit seedlings were to be nurtured.
The ship's captain, William Bligh - who was only 35, not the grizzled veteran sometimes depicted - had been sailing-master on Cook's fatal third voyage, and had come under Banks' subsequent patronage. His mission failed dramatically, not least because of the huge pressure its goals put him under, and the Bounty was lost to Fletcher Christian and his fellow mutineers in April 1789. Bligh redeemed his naval reputation with a voyage of more than 3,600 nautical miles to safety in an open boat. Only two years later, he led a second voyage of two ships, which did bring breadfruit from Tahiti all the way to the Caribbean. The Royal Society awarded him a gold medal.
Breadfruit never became a self-sustaining food crop for Britain's brutalised plantation slaves, which had been the grim objective at the heart of these voyages. But this was just one small part of Banks' vision of imperial botany. He took a leading role in establishing the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew as a centre for the systematic study of the world's plants. He helped promote a network of such centres, from Calcutta to St Vincent in the Caribbean, and the exchange of species between them.
In the lead-up to Bligh's departure, Banks had expounded in a letter on the benefits of transplantation. From his own previous voyages, he noted the potential value of New Zealand flax for rope-making, and the "Mangosteens, Jacks, Durians" that might be brought westwards from Malaya (now Malaysia). One letter listed more than 30 products of both hemispheres that might be profitably transplanted, from the "lichee" to Basmati rice, "Naugharbussee bamboo" - superior, he noted, to Philippine bamboos already brought to the Caribbean by the Spanish - and what he called the "Cajir Gautch", a palm whose sap made an alcoholic drink.
Banks closed this letter by noting how happy and eager he was to take forward such plans "so highly fraught with disinterested benevolence" as they were. His correspondent, however, was His Majesty's secretary for war Sir George Yonge. Sir Joseph Banks, like so many leading lights of his generation, drew no distinction between the advancement of humanity and the interests of the British Empire.
Author: David Andress - Professor of Modern History, University of Portsmouth Description: The Conversation

https://www.philippinesnews.net/news/264850670/joseph-banks-traveller-botanist-and-agent-of-the-british-empire

 

Rice price in Thailand shoots up as demand spikes during pandemic

The Nation/Asia News Network / 01:10 PM April 28, 2020
BANGKOK — The global Covid-19 outbreak combined with ongoing drought in major rice-growing countries has triggered fear of possible food shortages, said Somporn Isvilanonda, senior fellow at the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand.
In response, countries around the globe are increasing their orders from established rice suppliers such as India, Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan, as well as from emerging rice growers like Myanmar and Cambodia.
In Thailand, exports have fallen as demand for domestic rice rises due to food hoarding during the lockdown, which has pushed up the price.
The global price of good quality broken rice (5% and 25%) had been on a downward trend before the outbreak since the market was being flooded by India, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as new production sources such as Myanmar and Cambodia. The price of good quality rice from Thailand, meanwhile, is higher than its competitors because yields have been hit by ongoing drought that began in the second season of 2018. The baht’s strengthening against the dollar and other currencies has also hit competitiveness of Thai rice exports.
The Covid-19 outbreak has upset the balance of demand and supply in the global rice market, as importing countries seek more rice to build their reserves for emergencies. As a result, rice prices have been rising since January. The price has risen sharply in March, after Vietnam placed restrictions on rice exporters and India maintained strict lockdown measures resulting in deadlock of the rice export supply chain. In Thailand, measures to restrict movement have affected some supply chains for rice exports but not to the point where it is no longer fulfilling orders from exporters. However, the supply of Thai rice products in the market has decreased, which has lifted global prices.
According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, prices for 5% and 25% Thai white rice rose from US$491 and $471 per tonne on March 11, to $579 and $547 per tonne on April 8 – increases of 14.17 percent and 14.92 percent respectively.
Prices for other types of rice also increased significantly with the exception of jasmine rice, a high-priced premium product. The price of lower-quality fragrant rice has meanwhile risen by almost 20 percent as consumers switch varieties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Rice prices will continue to swing in an upward trend for the next two months but the situation is not so serious that it will result in a crisis of high-priced rice as in the past, since there has been an excess of supply of rice for exports in the past decade. In addition, when rice prices rise, China, which has the world’s largest stockpile, will release stocks to help ease pressure in the market as a whole,” said Somporn.
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Corona-update: King Philippe visits Port of Antwerp - port has remained 100% operational

More news coming in with regard to the global effects of the Corona-virus on horticulture, trade and logistics everywhere. In New York, organic farmers have turned from selling to restaurants to consumer’s homes. Canadian officials have stated that fruit pickers coming to British Columbia need subsidized housing to curb COVID-19, while elsewhere 200 million pounds of Canadian French fries are ‘frozen in limbo’.
In Belgium King Philippe paid a visit to his nation’s Port of Antwerp on Monday. Since the outbreak, the port has remained 100% operational thanks to the efforts and commitment of all employees.
Multinational food retailers Auchan, Carrefour, Casino Group and El Corte Inglés have signed a ground-breaking Declaration committing to work with UNI Global Union to protect supermarket workers and customers during the pandemic.
In Pakistan, Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori has called on Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, to talk about both Covid-19 and the ongoing locust situation - both threats to Pakistan’s the food security.
This, and much more, in today’s Corona-virus update.
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New York organic farmers pivot to selling to homes
New York’s farmers who can no longer sell crops to Big Apple restaurants are turning to a new business model: Boxing up produce for the growing hordes of home cooks, the New York Post reported.
Zaid Kurdieh, an organic farmer in Norwich, NY, used to rely on sales to top chefs and restaurateurs like Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Thomas Keller and Danny Meyer for 60 percent of his revenues. But with Gotham’s dining scene shuttered, Kurdieh has pivoted from packing up “hundreds of pounds” of produce for restaurateurs to curating 12- to 24-pound food boxes for home chefs.
Port of Oakland says canceled sailings could hit cargo volume
Fewer container ships would likely mean less cargo at the Port of Oakland this spring. That was the message Oakland Maritime officials delivered to the Harbor Trucking Association last week. The Port told freight haulers via video conference that 20 May and June voyages to Oakland have been scrubbed. The result could be a 5-to-15 percent drop in containerized cargo volume heading into summer.
“It’s a clouded picture,” said Port of Oakland Business Development Manager Andrew Hwang. “About 10 percent of our scheduled vessel arrivals have been canceled by shipping lines, but we don’t know if that will translate into a similar drop in volume.”
The Port blamed vessel cancelations on the coronavirus pandemic which has stunted global trade. With consumer spending down, there’s less merchandise to load onto ships. That means fewer vessels needed between Asian manufacturing centers and U.S. ports. Import volume is expected to suffer the biggest cargo decline in coming months, the Port said.
King Philippe visits Port of Antwerp - 100% operational
His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium paid a visit to Port of Antwerp on Monday. The port is classified as "essential national infrastructure" because of its importance in keeping Belgium and indeed a large part of Europe supplied.
Since the coronavirus outbreak the port has remained 100% operational thanks to the efforts and commitment of all employees. The King therefore wanted to see with his own eyes how this is being done in practice, and was keen to show his appreciation for the some 60,000 people who keep the port running day by day. His visit underlines the significance of the port and of the work being done by all those in these exceptional times.
Fruit pickers coming to British Columbia need subsidized housing to curb COVID-19
coronavirus outbreak among fruit pickers in B.C.’s Okanagan is all but inevitable unless stringent protocols are brought in, domestic workers in the region say.
In the coming weeks, up to 1,500 domestic farm workers, many of whom hail from Quebec, will flood into the south Okanagan in search of short-term work during the harvest season.
David Olivier-Demers, a French Canadian with 18 years’ experience working in the region, said the risk of an outbreak is high, especially given some working conditions. “A lot of farms are really small in scale, and there’s barely accommodation like toilets. On some farms, you’d be happy to have a flushing toilet or you’d be happy to have a place just to take a shower.”
Domestic farm workers should be treated the same as temporary foreign workers, Demers said, and have to undergo 14 days of self-isolation at a hotel or motel, paid for by government.
Quebec has the highest number of lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, at more than 24,000 as of Monday morning, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Meanwhile, B.C. reports fewer than 2,000 confirmed cases.
200 million pounds of Canadian French fries are frozen in limbo
Out at Carleton Mushroom Farms, a family operation run by two brothers south of Ottawa, the COVID-19 pandemic is taking a toll. Revenue has dropped 25 per cent. Production has been slashed to cope with lower demand from restaurants shuttered by government decree. And, burdened with a recent crop with nowhere to sell it or give it away, the farm was forced to let more than $40,000 worth of mushrooms expire in the growing room.
“It’s disheartening,” said co-owner Mike Medeiros. “We don’t want to waste anything, that’s not who we are.”
Madeiros’s woes are echoed at farms across Canada as the closure of dine-in restaurants and slowdowns at processing facilities have knocked the food system askew. Dairy farmers have dumped surplus milk, potato producers have frozen goods clogging storage to capacity, and crops like carrots, onions and lettuce are being destroyed because they can’t be sold or given away.
Some farmers have lost 80 to 90 per cent of their revenues because of the sudden disappearance of the dine-in restaurant business, Currie said. Some are destroying crops they can no longer sell or can’t donate to food banks because of the cost of repackaging them for retail consumers instead of the bulk bundles normally sold to restaurants and hospitality sectors.
Global food retailers sign landmark Declaration with UNI
Multinational food retailers Auchan, Carrefour, Casino Group and El Corte Inglés have signed a ground-breaking Declaration committing to work with UNI Global Union to protect supermarket workers and customers during the pandemic.
In ratifying the Joint Declaration, these food retailers – with a combined global workforce of a million workers – recognise the vital role of supermarket workers during the crisis and pledge to make worker safety a priority. The signatories also agree to work closely with UNI and its trade union affiliates around the world on measures to control the risks of Covid-19.
UNI is calling on more food retailers to sign the Declaration to achieve a collaborative global response to the pandemic.
The Japanese Ambassador said Pakistan was one of the major agricultural products exporter and many countries depend upon Pakistan for rice and fruits. Japan is already working (in Pakistan) on various projects and many Japanese companies are willing to invest in agriculture sector in Pakistan.
He said ongoing locust situation was the biggest threat to the food security situation in Pakistan.
Japan is willing to help Pakistan to acquire pesticides and other essential products. Japan is also helping Pakistan financially in current COVID 19 epidemic. Pakistan does export fruits and vegetables, but the quantity is limited to cater the increasing demand of Japanese market especially of mangos.
The minister also acknowledge the ongoing projects and collaboration of Japanese Government in Pakistan. Japanese Ambassador ensured further financial assistance and collaboration in agriculture sector by the Japanese Government.
South Korean marketing promotion to stimulate asparagus consumption sparks online competition
An online discount marketing promotion led by a provincial governor to help asparagus farmers who have seen a sharp drop in exports of their crops due to a coronavirus pandemic sparked an unexpected craze among South Korean online shoppers.
Asparagus is a common food ingredient in the western world, but it is not so popular in South Korea mainly because of its high price. One kilogram of asparagus sells for 25,000 won ($20.4).
The eastern province of Gangwon has a chief producing area for Asparagus, accounting for 70 percent of South Korea's total production. A COVID-19 pandemic has foiled the province's initial plan to export about 45 tons of the highly-valued food ingredient this year.
Governor Choi Moon-soon brought up the idea of selling asparagus through an online shopping mall operated by an association of farmers at a discounted price of 7,000 won per kilogram. The province provided packaging and delivery fees and decided to evenly distribute profits among farmers.
How COVID-19 has jammed South India’s jackfruit economy
Jackfruit, along with mango and banana, is one of the three primary horticultural crops in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala.
Due to the nationwide lockdown in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, millions of jackfruits are yet to be picked up from trees, causing huge losses to farmers and seasonal contractors.
COVID-19 is a nightmare to agriculture in general and horticultural products in particular. While jackfruits are cultivated commercially in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Dindigul and Thanjavur districts, they are grown in backyards in Kerala for domestic use. In Karnataka’s Tumakuru and Hassan districts, farmers raise jackfruits in so-called strip plantations, where a field is partitioned into long, narrow strips which are alternated in a crop rotation system.
Besides farmers, small traders also make a quick buck during the jackfruit season in crowded places like bus stands, railway stations and regular large market yards. Now, these places are shut. Only head loaders and push cart sellers are selling on bare minimum scale in local temporary market yards.
Pandemic hits 10 months of earnings in Kenyan horti sector
The pandemic has halted 10 months of high earnings from the horticultural sector as tight containment measures in destination markets delay supply schedules. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that the quantity of horticultural exports had risen by 61 percent to 35,550 tonnes in January, the highest in 10 months.
Horticultural exports, which include cut flowers, fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts were at 36,683 in March last year before touching the year-low of 22,046 tonnes last December.
January’s recovery saw horticultural exporters earn Sh8.68 billion, being the highest since June last year (Sh10.5 billion). The rosy earnings have, however, suffered major setback with coronavirus pandemic halting exports to major destinations in Europe as countries turn to lockdowns and curfews to stop spread of the virus.
Sfax-Tripoli inaugural shipping service docks
The inaugural ship carrying goods from the port of Sfax, Tunisia, left Sfax on Saturday and arrived at Tripoli port on Sunday, Libya’s Tripoli based Transport Ministry confirmed yesterday. The ship was carrying Tunisian goods, mainly fresh produce including fruit. The Libyan Ministry said it was carrying 134 containers – Tunisian media reported about 300 containers onboard the ship.
The ship will make another trip to Tripoli on 4 May. Tuniship is the acting agent for the service. On a related Tunisian-Libyan bilateral trade matter, the ship’s arrival coincides with movement in the case of the stranded Libyan lorries at the land border.
The lorries are loaded mostly with foodstuffs in anticipation of the peak demand month of Ramadan. On 16 April, the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce called on the Libyan government to solve the crisis and held it responsible for any further delays.
Bangladesh: Steps taken to continue food production
Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque yesterday said the government has taken various steps to continue food production and ensure uninterrupted supply of vegetables and perishable agricultural products amid the crisis created over coronavirus outbreak.
“The government has taken necessary measures to continue the production of agro products amid the coronavirus situation as well as ensure their export and import, and food supply,” he said.
The minister came up with the information while speaking at an online meeting over marketing and supplying of vegetables, seeds and fresh agricultural products, at his ministry.
The Department of Agriculture Marketing has started conducting mobile marketing of agricultural products with the help of deputy commissioners concerned and potato, vegetable and onion were included in the relief materials given by Disaster Management Ministry, Abdur Razzaque said.
Bangladesh: Price drop hits Rangamati pineapple farmers hard
A bumper yield of pineapple made farmers happy in Rangamati's Naniarchar district, but the lack of customers due to the coronavirus pandemic cut short their happiness. Supply is higher than  demand, but local growers are being compelled to sell the juicy fruit at painfully low prices.
Naniarchar is famous for producing different kinds of delicious pineapples. Wholesalers from across the country including Dhaka and Chittagong throng  local markets for this delectable fruit every year. However, this season, local markets are suffering from lack of wholesalers and customers due to the transport shortage triggered by the nationwide shutdown to rein in coronavirus.
Farmers in the district said they are taking their hard earned pineapple to local markets on boats, but the lack of customers is forcing them to sell the produce at a low price and a huge loss. Pineapples cannot be stored for long as the fruit rots quickly.
Speaking on the matter, Rangamati Department of Agricultural Extension(DAE) Deputy Director Paban Kanti Chakma said: "Like every year, the hilly areas of Naniarchar upazila had a bumper crop of juicy pineapples this year. However, the lack of customers triggered by the coronavirus crisis will mean a loss to farmers."


Azerbaijani scientists reveal connection between rice consumption, COVID-19 spread

Tue 28 Apr 2020 20:34 GMT | 00:34 Local Time

Description: https://news.az/images_550/2020/04/28/192661.jpgEating rice in warm countries has positively affected the general trend on coronavirus pandemic, Trend reports citing Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).
The Institute of Geography of the ANAS conducted research to identify a possible connection between the geography of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and the diet of the world population.
Thus, leading researcher of Azerbaijan's Institute of Geography, Ph.D. in Geological and Mineralogical sciences Rashid Fataliyev conducted a comparative analysis of the statistical data of the World Health Organization (WHO) and individual countries, the geography of the spread of coronavirus, climatic conditions, as well as data on agriculture, in particular, production and the consumption of agricultural products.
Description: https://blog.metro.ua/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/shutterstock_661479826.jpg
The scientist came to the conclusion that the relatively low spread of the COVID-19 virus and the greater number of recovered people in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia are associated with the consumption of rice by the population of these countries, which is rich in B, PP and E vitamins, carotene, as well as trace elements important for the human body.
He noted that the results of this research should seriously be studied by scientists and specialists.

Kerala against the abrupt end of lockdown on May 3

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 27, 2020 14:15 IST
UPDATED: APRIL 27, 2020 14:15 IST
Description: A TV grab of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (front), accompanied by Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and other dignitaries, during an interaction with the Chief Ministers of various States/UTs via video conferencing on April 27, 2020.
A TV grab of Prime Minister Narendra Modi (front), accompanied by Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan and other dignitaries, during an interaction with the Chief Ministers of various States/UTs via video conferencing on April 27, 2020.   | Photo Credit: PTI

Pinarayi Vijayan had conveyed the State's view to Amit Shah

The Kerala government has argued against an abrupt lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on May 3. It has instead sought a progressive dialling down of curfew stipulations aimed at liberating relatively safe localities first and high-risk areas later.
Officials said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had appraised Union Home Minister Amit Shah of the State's opinion during a protracted interaction in the run-up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interaction with Chief Ministers on Monday.
They scotched news reports that Mr Vijayan had excused himself from the video conference with Mr Modi at the last minute allegedly because the Centre had not invited him to speak at the critical interaction.
Mr Vijayan had laid out the State's case in detail with Mr Modi in the previous video conference of Chief Ministers. Moreover, it was the turn for the Chief Ministers of nine other States, who did not get the opportunity to speak at the previous meeting, to raise their demands with the Centre, the officials said.
Hence, Mr Vijayan had tasked Chief Secretary Tom Jose in advance to stand-in for him at the conference. The government had also informed its decision in the matter to the Union Cabinet secretary.
Officials said that Mr Vijayan, in his interaction with Mr Shah, had stressed the need to keep Kerala, a predominantly consumer State, well supplied to ensure its food security.
Mr Vijayan said cross border movement of freight was essential to keep the State's rice, wheat, sugar, pulses and edible oil stock at the optimal storage level.
( The intense lockdown in five districts in Tamil Nadu till April 29 had whittled down movement of cargo lorries into Kerala. There were reports that rice consignments bound for Kerala from Andhra Pradesh were held up.)
Kerala has also urged the Centre to operate special trains to ferry an estimated 3.5 lakh migrant workers hunkered down without wages or work in scores of labour camps across Kerala. Most relied on free rations and food supplied by the government to survive and were desperate to return home.
Mr Vijayan told the Centre that the impending arrival of tens of thousands on non-resident Keralites from COVID-19-affected countries, especially in the Gulf would further stretch its limited finances. Public health expenditure was set to rise sharply. Kerala could ill-afford to have its COVID-19 caseload shoot up.
Moreover, the State urgently need a financial stimulus package to repair its battered economy. Remittances from the Gulf has registered a sharp fall. Vital sectors, such as tourism, required rejuvenation.
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Indian govt nudges West Bengal to smoothen goods export to Bangladesh

April 28, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:58 PM, April 28, 2020
Description: https://assetsds.cdnedge.bluemix.net/sites/default/files/styles/big_2/public/feature/images/benapole-port-2_0.jpg?itok=SNnwdKNi
Petrapole-Benapole Integrated Check Post (ICP) between India and Bangladesh. Star file photo
Star Online Report
Central Government of India has urged the West Bengal government to facilitate smooth movement of goods to Bangladesh during Covid-19-induced lockdown period.
The nudge from New Delhi came after the movement of cargo to Bangladesh through West Bengal territory slowed down as the state government expressed apprehension that movement of trucks carrying goods might spread coronavirus infection in the state, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Dhaka is important not only to New Delhi's "South Asia first" policy but also for facilitating movement of goods to north eastern India using Bangladesh as transit.
While the Indian home ministry has permitted movement of goods for cross-border trade during the ongoing lockdown period with Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, West Bengal authorities are curbing the movement of goods, reports our correspondent quoting Indian officials.
The restrictions on trucks' movement could hit Bangladesh's imports of basmati rice from Punjab and Haryana states and "Gobindobhog" variety rice from West Bengal.
"This is the time when Bangladesh imports basmati from India for making biryani during Ramadan," reports The Economic Times quoting Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Tirupati Agri Trade.
"Since trucks are not moving between the two countries, exports have completely come to a standstill," he told the daily.

https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/indian-govt-nudges-west-bengal-smoothen-goods-export-bangladesh-1897564

What to cook when there's (almost) nothing in the house

Description: Katherine Martinko
April 27, 2020
Description: getting ingredients out of the fridge© MargJohnsonVA via Twenty20
Making do with limited ingredients has taken on new urgency in pandemic times.
I thought I was decent at making meals out of limited ingredients before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but you should see me now! I do everything to avoid going the grocery store, which means that, day after day, I make meals for five hungry people using what appears to be a mostly empty fridge and pantry. Of course it isn't truly empty, but the ingredients are not necessarily the easiest to assemble and require a bit more forethought than the standard veg-carb-protein trio that most Americans define as a proper meal.
Not surprisingly, I've become obsessed with reading lists of what other people are cooking in quarantine – and not the descriptions of fancy culinary experiments. I want to know how people are scraping by, making do, and stretching their pantries to the max, without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. So now I figured it was time to share my own list of go-to meals when it feels like there's almost nothing in the house.

If there's rice:

1. Risotto: It is delicious and easy, especially now that I've discovered the almost-hands-off version in "The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook" by America's Test Kitchen. It may not be entirely authentic, but that's the last thing I'm worried about as I scoop spoonfuls of risotto into my mouth. All it takes is a batch of homemade stock and a pile of asparagus, spring peas, or mushrooms (even better if I have a packet of dried porcini).
2. Fried rice: Whenever I make rice, I make extra so that I can fry it up the next day. Cold rice is best for stir-frying. I keep it simple at lunchtime, starting with onions and garlic in plenty of vegetable oil, adding the rice, then fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. At dinners, it gets fancier with shredded carrot, tofu, frozen peas, parsley, and whatever else I have.

If there are beans and legumes:

3. Black bean soup: Black bean soup with smoky chipotle flavoring is a popular dish in our family. I start soaking dried beans first thing in the morning and simmer them in the afternoon. All I need is onions, garlic, homemade stock, beans, and canned chipotles in adobo sauce. I serve with homemade cornmeal muffins and a salad.
4. Red lentil dal: Supremely easy and delicious, dal comes together with just red lentils, onions, and a basic collection of spices. It cooks up quickly and is served over hot basmati rice. I serve whatever vegetables I have on the side – stir-fried carrots or zucchini, spinach salad, or steamed broccoli.

If there are eggs:

5. Spanish tortilla: Potatoes and eggs transform into a magical combination when you cook them like this. It forms into a soft cake that you cut into wedges and can eat for any meal of the day, at any temperature.
6. Huevos rancheros: My version is probably not what's served in Mexico, but it's still tasty. I start with a quick homemade tomato sauce (made with onions and green peppers), poach eggs in it, and top with shredded cheese and scallions. We eat it with toast and green salad.

If there's bread:

7. Pizza: You can make pizza out of many kinds of bread – naan, pita, English muffins, even bagels. As long as I have tomato sauce (sometimes I just whirl a can of tomatoes in the blender and add a splash of olive oil and dried herbs) and mozzarella, the kids will be occupied with making their own and happy with the result. On their own, these make a great lunch; served with soup or salad, they're a satisfying dinner.
8. Wraps: As long as I have tortillas, I feel equipped to make a meal. It could be black bean burritos, cheese quesadillas, a felafel wrap, or a roll-up with peanut butter and jam, banana slices, or a thin egg omelet with shredded cheese.

If there are vegetables:

9. Grain bowl: If I have sturdy vegetables like cauliflower, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and fennel, I like to roast them at high heat and stash in the fridge to make grain bowls. I use whatever grains I have (rice, quinoa, barley, couscous), top with the vegetables, some crumbled cheese, herbs, seeds, and vinaigrette.
10. Cream soups: Almost any vegetable can be turned into a cream-of-something soup – cauliflower, broccoli, butternut squash, beets, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, etc. Start with onions, add the chopped vegetable and stock, simmer till soft, puree, and add cream or coconut milk. Curry powder or dried herbs make it tastier.

 . 

Nando’s shares secret recipes for some of its most popular dishes


Fans of the chicken chain can try their hands at making some of it’s best dishes
With restaurants across the UK remaining closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many are missing their favourite venues more and more.
Some of the best restaurants around have been sharing recipes for their delicious dishes, and Nando’s is the latest to join in.
This weekend, the chicken chain ran a step-by-step cookalong on Instagram, showing fans how to make Nando’s Boneless Chicken Thighs, Spicy Rice and Macho Peas at home.
But don’t worry if you missed the session, as Nando’s has shared all the details for each dish on Instagram too.
So, if you want to try your hand at making some of Nando’s most famous dishes, here’s everything you’ll need to know.
Cover the bowl with cling film and put it in the fridge for at least one hours, preferably overnight
When it’s still smoking hot, put four to six of the thighs skin side down in the grill pan
Turn thighs over once the skin has the grill marks and grill for another one to two minutes
Turn the oven down to 100 and keep the grilled thighs warm while repeating with the remaining thighs

China Focus: Major rice producer promotes double-cropping rice to ensure food security

Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-28 18:49:25|Editor: huaxia
CHANGSHA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Standing on the ridge of rice paddies with a hoe on his shoulder, farmer Xie Xiping breathed a sigh of relief. "The paddy fields finally began to grow double-cropping rice after 20 years."
Xie's hometown, the village of Changan in central China's Hunan Province, planted double-cropping rice on its 120 hectares of arable land 20 years ago.
However, as the income from rice farming continued to decline, a large number of young and middle-aged villagers left to work in cities, and the elderly left behind switched to single-cropping rice due to the shortage of laborers.
In Hunan, a major rice producer in China, farmers planted double-cropping rice in most plain areas and even mountain areas with relatively poor farming conditions, to ensure stable grain yields.
However, with the rice-planting cost rising and the market price of rice dropping in recent years, more and more mountains switched to grow single-cropping rice. In Hunan's Dongting Lake plain, one of China's major commodity grain production bases, large areas of fertile land were used for crayfish farming for a better income.
Nationwide, the country also saw a falling planting area of double-cropping rice. In March, according to figures released by China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the planting area of double-cropping rice in 2019 was about 9.3 million hectares, down about 2.3 million hectares compared to 2012.
Rice is a staple food in China, whose total grain output consists of three parts -- early rice, summer grain and autumn production. Autumn grain crops, which include corn and middle- and late-season rice, account for the bulk of the grain production.
To ensure grain supply, major grain-producing provinces in China, including Hunan, are speeding up efforts to curb the decline in the planting area of double-cropping rice, which accounts for nearly one-third of the country's total rice-planting area.
Hunan first worked on the provision of high-quality early rice seedlings for farmers.
"The seedling raising work of early rice is troublesome because it's labor-intensive. The unstable temperature in spring will also reduce the survival rate of rice seedlings," said Wu Jianjun, a senior agronomist in Huarong County. "Therefore, many farmers gave up planting early rice in the past."
To solve the problem of rice seedlings, the local government entrusted professionals to raise rice seedlings and built seedling raising greenhouses and intelligent plants, in an effort to reduce farmers' financial and labor burdens.
It also promoted the use of agricultural machines to help farmers with scattering and transplanting seedlings.
"We were given subsidies to purchase agricultural machinery, which saves us a lot of time and manpower in our farm work," said Zeng Dekong, a rice farmer in the township of Wanyu in Huarong.
In addition, Hunan sent more than 11,000 agricultural and technical cadres to rice paddies to provide guidance for farmers in rice planting.
The efforts have paid off. The latest statistics from the provincial agriculture and rural affairs department showed that the planting area of early rice in Hunan has so far increased to about 1.22 million hectares.
In Xie's village, the 120 hectares of fertile land has been entrusted to farmers in neighboring villages to plant double-cropping rice.
"For us farmers, self-sufficiency is the most reassuring thing," Xie smiled. Enditem
Rice stock in check despite lower production, higher demand: Ministry
·       Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta   /   Sat, April 25, 2020   /   05:12 am
Description: Rice stock in check despite lower production, higher demand: MinistryFarmers plant rice during their second planting period of 2020 in Tunggulwulung village, Malang, East Java, on April 10. (JP/Aman Rochman)
The Trade Ministry has said that the rice stock from the upcoming harvest season will last through November despite declining production and surging demand.
The ministry’s domestic trade director general, Suhanto, estimated rice production to decline by 10 percent to around 17.8 million tons, citing a report by the Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi). Added with the current stock of 3.3 million tons, the supply would exceed national demand by 6.2 million tons, the ministry estimated.
Perpadi also recorded a threefold rise in demand recently with government agencies and private organizations buying more rice for social assistance aimed at helping those most vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It means that milled rice in general has been distributed to the public either via retail markets or social assistance,” Suhanto said Tuesday in an online hearing with the House of Representatives Commission VI overseeing trade and industry.
Rice farmers and food businesses are facing logistical disruptions on top of price volatility due to the large-scale social restrictions that were implemented to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus, which has infected more than 7,700 people nationwide.
The average price of rice slightly rose by around 0.8 percent to Rp 11,950 (77 US cents) per kilogram on Wednesday from a month earlier, according to data from the government’s staple food prices tracker, the Information Center for Strategic Food Prices (PIHPS).
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Tuesday that rice prices should have fallen instead, in line with the downward trend in unhusked rice prices. The average price of unhusked rice declined 4.6 percent to Rp 4,936 per kg between March and January, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data in February.
With Ramadan having started Friday, the demand for rice is expected to rise even more. According to data from the Agriculture Ministry's Food Security Agency (BKP), rice demand rose 3 percent in the days leading up to Ramadan and is expected to jump 20 percent ahead of Idul Fitri in late May.
“To ensure there is a sufficient rice stock and stable prices, the Trade Ministry has ordered the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to distribute medium quality rice to the markets,” Suhanto said.

Vietnam PM says to fully resume rice exports from May

APRIL 28, 2020 / 4:52 PM / UPDATED 21

FILE PHOTO: Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks during the closing ceremony of the 35th ASEAN Summit and related summits in Bangkok, Thailand, November 4, 2019. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa


HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Tuesday agreed to fully resume the country’s rice exports from May, the government said.
“From May 1, rice export activities will be resumed as normal,” Phuc said in a statement on the government’s website.
Phuc’s decision came after a proposal from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to remove a quota on rice exports to fully resume the country’s shipments of the grain from May.
The Southeast Asian country, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, banned rice exports in March and limited shipments for April to 500,000 tonnes to make sure the country has sufficient food during the coronavirus pandemic.
The statement said Vietnam has 6.5 million to 6.7 million tonnes of rice left for export this year, after setting aside a portion for domestic consumption and stockpiles.
Reporting by Khanh Vu, editing by Louise Heavens

APRIL 28, 2020 / 7:55 AM / A DAY AGO

Vietnam trade ministry proposes fully resuming rice exports from May



HANOI, April 28 (Reuters) - Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade has asked the prime minister to remove a quota on rice exports to fully resume the country’s shipments of the grain from May, the ministry said on Tuesday.
The Southeast Asian country, the world’s third-largest rice exporter, banned rice exports in March and limited shipments for April to 500,000 tonnes to make sure the country has sufficient food during the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry said Vietnam has 6.5 million to 6.7 million tonnes of rice left for export this year, after setting aside a portion for domestic consumption and stockpiles.
Vietnam’s rice exports in the first four months of this year are estimated at 1.9 million tonnes, it said. (Reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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Trade ministry wants rice export limits scrapped

By Anh Minh, Anh Tu   April 28, 2020 | 10:32 am GMT+7
Farmers harvest rice in a paddy field in the southern province of Soc Trang, March 10, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyet Nhi.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has called for lifting restrictions on rice exports and a return to normalcy from May 1.

In a communication to the government on Monday it said rice supply and demand are steady and the goal of limiting exports to ensure food security during this difficult time has been fulfilled. 
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam can export 3.2 million tonnes of the grain from the recently harvested winter-spring crop and from last year. 
Output in the upcoming summer-autumn crop is expected to be 11 million tonnes, and Vietnam could export 2.3-2.4 million tonnes, it added.
Based on these figures, the trade ministry said that Vietnam could export 1.3 million tonnes of rice between early May and mid-June. 
However, to ensure food security, it also proposed that exports should only be allowed through international border gates, and authorities should crack down on smuggling.
It would urge exporters to comply with recent government decrees and ensure that the circulated reserve is at least 5 percent of the total volume of rice exported in the previous six months.
The country's 20 largest exporters would be required to sign agreements with at least one supermarket chain so that this reserve could be released in the domestic market immediately whenever the government wants, it said.
Any exporter failing to maintain this reserve or comply with the agreement would lose their rice export license, it added.
At a meeting held to discuss food security last month, the ministry had suggested suspending rice exports until the end of May due to concerns surrounding the Covid-19 epidemic and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, resulting in the suspension of all rice exports on March 24.
Just a day later the ministry sought the lifting of this ban, and the government did so on April 10 but capped April exports at 400,000 tons.
Many companies complained however that customs began accepting declaration forms at midnight on April 11 without prior notice, and as a result many of them with large quantities of rice stuck at ports were unable to submit their forms before the 400,000-tonne threshold was reached.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has ordered the Government Inspectorate to look into possible violations in this regard. 
Vietnam is the world's third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand. Last year it exported 6.37 million tons worth $2.81 billion, with the top markets being the Philippines, Ivory Coast, Malaysia, and China. 

Rice price in Thailand shoots up as demand spikes during pandemic

The Nation/Asia News Network / 01:10 PM April 28, 2020
BANGKOK — The global Covid-19 outbreak combined with ongoing drought in major rice-growing countries has triggered fear of possible food shortages, said Somporn Isvilanonda, senior fellow at the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand.
In response, countries around the globe are increasing their orders from established rice suppliers such as India, Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan, as well as from emerging rice growers like Myanmar and Cambodia.
In Thailand, exports have fallen as demand for domestic rice rises due to food hoarding during the lockdown, which has pushed up the price.
The global price of good quality broken rice (5% and 25%) had been on a downward trend before the outbreak since the market was being flooded by India, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as new production sources such as Myanmar and Cambodia. The price of good quality rice from Thailand, meanwhile, is higher than its competitors because yields have been hit by ongoing drought that began in the second season of 2018. The baht’s strengthening against the dollar and other currencies has also hit competitiveness of Thai rice exports.
The Covid-19 outbreak has upset the balance of demand and supply in the global rice market, as importing countries seek more rice to build their reserves for emergencies. As a result, rice prices have been rising since January. The price has risen sharply in March, after Vietnam placed restrictions on rice exporters and India maintained strict lockdown measures resulting in deadlock of the rice export supply chain. In Thailand, measures to restrict movement have affected some supply chains for rice exports but not to the point where it is no longer fulfilling orders from exporters. However, the supply of Thai rice products in the market has decreased, which has lifted global prices.
According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, prices for 5% and 25% Thai white rice rose from US$491 and $471 per tonne on March 11, to $579 and $547 per tonne on April 8 – increases of 14.17 percent and 14.92 percent respectively.
Prices for other types of rice also increased significantly with the exception of jasmine rice, a high-priced premium product. The price of lower-quality fragrant rice has meanwhile risen by almost 20 percent as consumers switch varieties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Rice prices will continue to swing in an upward trend for the next two months but the situation is not so serious that it will result in a crisis of high-priced rice as in the past, since there has been an excess of supply of rice for exports in the past decade. In addition, when rice prices rise, China, which has the world’s largest stockpile, will release stocks to help ease pressure in the market as a whole,” said Somporn.
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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1265911/rice-price-in-thailand-shoots-up-as-demand-spikes-during-pandemic

Rice purchase for central pool to hit record 50 MT

By: FE Bureau | 
Published: April 28, 2020 2:45:43 AM

Though rabi rice procurement continues till the end of September, the maximum procurement happens by July 15 before monsoon covers the entire country.

Description: https://images.financialexpress.com/2020/04/1-102.jpg
Though rabi rice procurement continues till the end of September, the maximum procurement happens by July 15 before monsoon covers the entire country.
The Centre is set to procure a record 50-51 million tonne (MT) of rice in 2019-20 (October-September), which is 43% of the production estimate, as farmers are eager to sell paddy to government agencies for getting the minimum support price, with the lockdown reducing chances of sales through mandis.
States like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, major producers of the grain, are planning to buy the entire rice crop in their states. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already bought 39.4 million tonne (MT) of rice as on March 31 during 2019-20 season. Due to the impact of corona, officials expect 10-11 MT rabi rice to be purchased, taking the total to about 50 MT this year.
Rice distribution to BPL sector to be completed 
PUDUCHERRY, APRIL 27, 2020 23:52 IST
UPDATED: APRIL 27, 2020 23:52 IST
The Civil Supplies Department expects to complete the distribution of rice sanctioned by the Centre for red card holding BPL families as a measure of relief during the COVID-19 crisis in the next few days.
Addressing a press conference, R. Alice Vaz, Civil Supplies Secretary and E. Vallavan, Director, said as on Saturday, over 5000 MT of rice had been distributed to red ration card holders. This included consumers in the enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam.
The total Central allocation of rice for Puducherry was 7350 MT, which is thrice the usual quota distributed a month in the UT.
On Monday alone, an estimated 600 MT of rice had been distributed in some parts of the city and a near equivalent volume was expected to reach red card holders on Tuesday.
“We are on schedule to distribute the entire rice quota in the next four days across Puducherry,” Ms. Vaz said.
The MHA has approved rice allocation for APL categories and the modalities for distribution were being worked out, the officials said.
The department was keeping a tab on the price line of essential commodities in the open market. For the period since April 15, the price line had remained stable. Nonetheless, the department was monitoring the market and would take stringent action against profiteers, Ms. Vaz said.


Rice Prices

as on : 28-04-2020 03:41:13 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Barhaj(UP)
100.00
25
7165.00
2520
2520
9.09
Lucknow(UP)
82.00
-3.53
3350.00
2420
2400
-8.33
Hanagal(Kar)
10.00
-70.59
314.00
2000
1900
5.26
K.R.Nagar(Kar)
10.00
NC
20.00
1900
1800
5.56
Milak(UP)
4.60
15
48.60
2580
2580
-
Alibagh(Mah)
1.00
NC
59.00
4200
4200
NC
Murud(Mah)
1.00
NC
58.00
4200
4200
NC
Published on April 28, 2020
 Rice price shoots up as demand spikes during pandemic
Description: https://elevenmyanmar.com/sites/news-eleven.com/files/styles/news_detail_image/public/news-images/rice_6.jpg?itok=ouLX9VvB
PUBLISHED 28 APRIL 2020

The Nation/ANN
The global Covid-19 outbreak combined with ongoing drought in major rice-growing countries has triggered fear of possible food shortages, said Somporn Isvilanonda, senior fellow at the Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand.
In response, countries around the globe are increasing their orders from established rice suppliers such as India, Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan, as well as from emerging rice growers like Myanmar and Cambodia.
In Thailand, exports have fallen as demand for domestic rice rises due to food hoarding during the lockdown, which has pushed up the price.
The global price of good quality broken rice (5% and 25%) had been on a downward trend before the outbreak since the market was being flooded by India, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as new production sources such as Myanmar and Cambodia. The price of good quality rice from Thailand, meanwhile, is higher than its competitors because yields have been hit by ongoing drought that began in the second season of 2018. The baht’s strengthening against the dollar and other currencies has also hit competitiveness of Thai rice exports.
The Covid-19 outbreak has upset the balance of demand and supply in the global rice market, as importing countries seek more rice to build their reserves for emergencies. As a result, rice prices have been rising since January. The price has risen sharply in March, after Vietnam placed restrictions on rice exporters and India maintained strict lockdown measures resulting in deadlock of the rice export supply chain. In Thailand, measures to restrict movement have affected some supply chains for rice exports but not to the point where it is no longer fulfilling orders from exporters. However, the supply of Thai rice products in the market has decreased, which has lifted global prices.
According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association, prices for 5% and 25% Thai white rice rose from US$491 and $471 per tonne on March 11, to $579 and $547 per tonne on April 8 – increases of 14.17 percent and 14.92 percent respectively.
Prices for other types of rice also increased significantly with the exception of jasmine rice, a high-priced premium product. The price of lower-quality fragrant rice has meanwhile risen by almost 20 percent as consumers switch varieties amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
"Rice prices will continue to swing in an upward trend for the next two months but the situation is not so serious that it will result in a crisis of high-priced rice as in the past, since there has been an excess of supply of rice for exports in the past decade. In addition, when rice prices rise, China, which has the world's largest stockpile, will release stocks to help ease pressure in the market as a whole," said Somporn.

Rice purchase for central pool to hit record 50 MT

By: FE Bureau | 
Published: April 28, 2020 2:45:43 AM

Though rabi rice procurement continues till the end of September, the maximum procurement happens by July 15 before monsoon covers the entire country.

Description: https://images.financialexpress.com/2020/04/1-102.jpg
Though rabi rice procurement continues till the end of September, the maximum procurement happens by July 15 before monsoon covers the entire country.
The Centre is set to procure a record 50-51 million tonne (MT) of rice in 2019-20 (October-September), which is 43% of the production estimate, as farmers are eager to sell paddy to government agencies for getting the minimum support price, with the lockdown reducing chances of sales through mandis.
States like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, major producers of the grain, are planning to buy the entire rice crop in their states. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has already bought 39.4 million tonne (MT) of rice as on March 31 during 2019-20 season. Due to the impact of corona, officials expect 10-11 MT rabi rice to be purchased, taking the total to about 50 MT this year.

Rice management key to mitigating food crisis: President

Description: Rice management key to mitigating food crisis: President
President Joko Widodo. (ANTARA/Biro Pers Setpres/pri)
Domestic rice management is key to anticipating and mitigating the food crisis the FAO has predicted in recent months.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said rice management is key to anticipating and mitigating any food crisis in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.


"Domestic rice management is the key to anticipating and mitigating the food crisis the FAO has predicted in recent months," he said in a limited meeting held via video conferencing at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Tuesday.

The President asked officials to carry out a detailed assessment of the nation’s rice stocks by computing stocks available with the public, rice millers, and warehouses, including those with the National Logistics Agency (Bulog).



"We hope the grand harvest has reached its peak in April. According to the report on our rice production I received yesterday, it (rice harvest) could reach 5.62 million tons. This is very good," he remarked.The Head of State further asked the Bulog to buy unhusked rice from farmers by offering fair and flexible price incentives.



He also asked officials to calculate the nation’s rice needs in the event of a drought this year.
Although the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast that the country will not experience extreme weather this year, the nation must always stay alert, particularly when it comes to national rice stocks, the President said. (INE)

https://en.antaranews.com/news/147012/rice-management-key-to-mitigating-food-crisis-president

Arhtiyas red-flag token system
·       Posted: Apr 28, 2020 07:21 AM (IST)
·       Updated : 1 day ago
Description: Arhtiyas red-flag token system
Gurminder Singh Grewal
Khanna, April 27
Inclement weather in the past couple of days has put farmers in a quandary.
Sukhwant Singh, a resident of Ghutind village, and Bhupinder Singh, a resident of Khanna, said rain and the lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak will lead to crop loss as harvesting season is midway.
Arhtiyas (Commission agents) at Khanna grain market, including Kamaljit Kamma, Navin Sharma and Pal Singh Rouni termed the token system as faulty and alleged that commission agents at the grain market have been given less tokens and as compared to rice millers.
Khanna Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sandeep Singh said tokens are issued by the Mandi Board on average wheat arrival of last year. He said this time procurement season will last for 45 days.
The SDM said 40,000 metric tonne of wheat has arrived and procured at Khanna Grain Market.
Meanwhile, commission agents protested in front of the Market Committee Office and and demanded more tokens. Gurdial Singh Diali, president, Rice Millers’ Association, Khanna, flayed charges of getting more tokens and weight.
The SDM said they will verify if more tokens or weight is being received by rice millers.

Banks to partner on competitive agribusiness development

Chea Vannak / Khmer Times 
Cambodia’s state-run Agriculture and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have initiated a scheme to boost agricultural development through added value into production chains of farming in Cambodia.
Called the Competitive Agriculture Development Project, it will contribute funds to farmers and agricultural cooperatives to expand into the whole production cycle, from A to Z.
The initiative was raised in a video conference meeting held between ARDB and ADB yesterday.
ARDB director-general Kao Thach said that the project is in line with the government’s target of boosting local agricultural production.
“The purpose of the project is to focus on increasing added value to each main factor of agricultural production chains for boosting their development,” Thach told Khmer Times on Tuesday.
To implement the project, $110 million will be funded at a lower interest rate to farmers and agricultural cooperatives and it would run from 2021 to 2027, according to Thach, who added that agricultural production bases in six provinces would be selected to benefit from the project.
“The project focuses on development of agriculture, from the farm to the post-harvest stage, which includes the post-harvest infrastructure cool room and pre-cool room,” Thach said.
The project was raised while the government is seeking to boost agricultural production to supply the domestic market, particularly to eliminate dependence on imports of agricultural products – including vegetables from neighbouring countries.
The call to boost agricultural production is also aimed at increasing food security in the country as the government and people fight against the potentially fatal Novel Coronavirus pandemic.
“The project is important because some farmers and agricultural cooperatives are in need of loans with low interest rates to expand and support their production,” Thach said.
ARDB is also providing special loans to rice millers for the purchase of paddy rice and to build rice storage facilities and recently it started providing loans to small and medium enterprises for processing agricultural products.

Japan jumps in on energy

Sorn Sarath / Khmer Times 

Two Japanese renewable energy firms plan to build rice husk-fired energy plants and solar panels in Cambodia in the aim to help secure the Kingdom’s regular power supply.
The report, by the Japanese news agency NNA, says the two companies are Aura Green Energy Co and solar panel system provider WWB Corp. They have teamed up to launch a hybrid power generation business, combining biomass and solar energy in Cambodia in 2021.
Lun Yeng, Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF)’s secretary-general, welcomed the plan, saying that the investment will help reduce production costs for some rice millers.
“Investing in renewable energy such as rice husk-fired power will help rice millers to reduce costs,” he said, adding the investment should be located in a cluster of rice millers that could provide a self-sufficient supply of energy.
Under the $3.7 million project, the combined green energy facilities, with a total output capacity of 1,500 kilowatts, will supply power to the rice mill of Angkor Kasekam Roongroeung Co, a major local rice producer, in Kandal province, adjacent to the capital, with a plan to sell any surplus to a local power company.
“Even though the companies could produce both rice husk power and solar energy, they will still not benefit much from it if they are still connected to the national grid for power supplies,” he said.
For Yeng, the high cost of electricity is still the main challenge for the rice sector that creates higher production costs. However, he said the quality of electricity supply is more important.
“We could offset the cost of electricity by reducing other costs, but the issue right now is the poor quality of electricity supply that interrupts the production chain,” he said, adding the poor quality of electric supply cost more than its actual price.
“Sometimes, when the electricity is cut off, it damages 400 to 500 tonnes of paddy rice that is being dried, the damage is the cost of investment,” he said.
Cambodia aims to produce at least 390 megawatts from solar farms by next year – 15 percent of total power supply.
A host of solar energy projects was approved earlier this year after the country was hit by power shortages last year. Some of these recently approved projects will come this year.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2019 approved a $7.64 million loan to support the construction of a 100 megawatt (mW) solar power park in Cambodia to help to contribute to the development of renewable energy and diversify the power supply that can improve the country’s competitiveness.
The two Japanese companies established a joint venture in Cambodia in February for the business.
The project is partly subsidised by the Japanese government to the tune of about 110 million yen (over $1 million), under the Joint Crediting Mechanism, a greenhouse gas emission reduction plan to exchange reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Aura Green Energy estimates the project will contribute to cutting 1,316 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually from biomass power generation and 565 tonnes from solar power.

COVID-19 is exacerbating food shortages in Africa

Description: Men load sacks of rice among other food aid in a truck, to be distributed for those affected by procedures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja, Nigeria April 17, 2020. Picture taken April 17, 2020. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde - RC2TAG9L3NS5
Many fear that supplies built up, won't last for long.
Image: REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde
27 Apr 2020

Description: https://assets.weforum.org/topic/transformation_map_image/EHLknlnJClgu-ralliGo7YM7YgE3W9i8BDnz2hWm414.png
  • COVID-19 is set to radically exacerbate food insecurity in Africa.
  • Lockdown measures have disrupted internal supply chains halting food production.
  • Huge locust swarms have also devastated crops in Eastern Africa, making the continent is more dependent on food externally sourced.
  • The continent is more dependent on food externally sourced, but countries are reducing exports, meaning Africa can't import the supplies it needs.
In Nigeria’s Benue state, the food basket of the country, Mercy Yialase sits in front of her idle rice mill. Demand is high across the nation, but she already has mounds of paddy rice that are going nowhere amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
 “I can’t mill because the marketers are not coming,” Yialase said, referring to wholesale buyers, as she sat at a market stall in the city of Makurdi with dozens of other millers.
Although food truck drivers are meant to be exempt from lockdown restrictions, many are afraid for their own safety, or fear they will be fined or arrested by overzealous police.
The situation in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, is reflected across sub-Saharan Africa.
Trucking logistics firm Kobo360 said 30% of its fleet across Nigeria, Kenya, Togo, Ghana and Uganda was not operating as a result. Several farmers said crops were rotting in the fields or at the depots waiting for trucks that never arrive. And millers cannot get their milled rice to buyers.
“There is no clarity around what can move around ... or what is essential transportation,” said Kobo360 co-founder Ife Oyedele, adding that truck bosses were afraid. “They’re scared to go out and have their drivers on the road.”
Millions of people in the region are at risk of not getting the food they need due to coronavirus disruptions, according to the United Nations and World Bank.
Description: Coronavirus Covid-19 virus infection China Hubei Wuhan contagion spread economics dow jones S&P 500 stock market crash 1929 depression great recession
Sub-Saharan Africa could be heading from a health crisis straight into a food security crisis.
Image: World Food Program
While domestic crops and capacity go to waste, the imports the region relies on have also dried up as major suppliers, including India, Vietnam and Cambodia, have reduced or even banned rice exports to make sure their countries have enough food to cope with the pandemic.
Meanwhile, scarcity has driven up prices of the main staple food beyond the reach of some people since lockdowns were announced in three states at the end of March to tame the spread of the virus.
Sub-Saharan Africa, the world’s largest rice-importing region, could be heading from a health crisis straight into a food security crisis, the World Bank warns.
More widely, the United Nations says coronavirus disruptions could double the number of people globally without reliable access to nutritious food, to 265 million.
“There is no question about it that there is an imminent problem of food insecurity, not only in Nigeria, but also in nations all over the world,” Nigeria’s Agriculture Minister Muhammed Sabo Nanono told Reuters.
Strategic Reserves
Nanono said Nigeria had at least 38,000 tonnes of grains in government-controlled strategic reserves. It is looking to replenish with 100,000 additional tonnes.
However the region has among the lowest inventories relative to consumption, so export restrictions mean rice shortages “could happen very quickly,” according to John Hurley, lead regional economist for west and central Africa for the U.N.’s International Fund for Agricultural Development.
Nigeria has substantially increased domestic rice production in recent years. But figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show it still imports at least a third of what it consumes. Across sub-Saharan Africa, countries rely on imports for roughly 40% of rice consumption.
This puts these countries at particular risk.
India, the world’s largest rice exporter, temporarily stopped new export agreements earlier this month, while lockdowns and supply chain disruptions in Pakistan, Vietnam and Cambodia have limited available exports.
Since only 9% of global output is traded internationally, the curbs hit prices immediately, the USDA said.
“We need to make sure we’re not taking policy measures that are going to hurt the rural poor and people in developing countries, said Hurley.
The price of a bag of imported rice rose by more than 7.5% in Abuja and Lagos between the third week of March and early April, according to SBM Intelligence, while bags of local rice became about 6%-8% more expensive.
Locusts Plague
In Kenya, panic-buying and government programmes to distribute rice to low-income households have already depleted reserves.
If imports don’t pick up, East Africa alone could face a shortfall of at least 50,000-60,000 tonnes by the end of the month, said Mital Shah, managing director of Kenya-based Sunrice, one of the region’s largest rice importers.
“The entire supply chain has been disrupted,” Shah said. “In the next couple of weeks, East Africa is going to have a huge shortage.”
Getting the bills of loading for imports into Kenya has also stretched from three to four days to three to four weeks. In Nigeria, clearing imports has gone from weeks to months.
Senegal’s rice imports have fallen by around 30% due to international supply disruptions, said Ousmane Sy Ndiaye, executive director of UNACOIS, a Senegalese commerce industry group. He estimated the nation had enough in storage to cover two months.
Growing rice in nations outside East Africa, such as Nigeria, is also more important now due to a plague of locusts in East Africa that has decimated crops this year.
Broken Chains
Domestic movement restrictions and import delays are also hindering farmers, and some are warning that production will fall if governments do not act.
A survey by AFEX Commodities Exchange Limited, a Nigerian company that assists the agriculture sector with logistics and financing, found that Nigeria’s fertilizer stocks are currently 20% below normal levels. There are only enough seeds and other inputs to farm 1 million hectares out of the roughly 30 million typically farmed, the study showed.
Other farmers say the lockdowns are hindering farm inspections by banks, putting their financing at risk, and creating problems physically getting tractors - which are often hired - to fields. Planting rice would typically start in May.
“Most people in the industry I speak with are worried,” said Dimieari Von Kemedi, managing director of Alluvial Agriculture, a farm collective.
Nigeria’s government has created a task force to minimize the coronavirus’s impact on agriculture. Nanono said it was creating ID cards for those in the agriculture sector, from farmhands to food truck drivers, to enable them to move freely.
He said the government was taking steps to make sure farmers, millers and marketers could operate. The agriculture ministry is working to increase locally produced fertilizers, while the central bank would look to expand financing for farmers, he added.
Help cannot come soon enough for Yialase in Benue, who is awaiting the day marketers return.
“When they start to come, I can mill everything here, and they will buy.”
Rice stock in check despite low production, high demand
·       Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta   /   Tue, April 28 2020   /  01:40 am
Description: https://www.thejakartapost.com/files/images2/5%20floded_0.img_assist_custom-780x520.jpg
Flooded: Farmers harvest rice at their inundated rice field in Terusan village, Sindang district, Indramayu regency, West Java, on Sunday. Hectares of rice field in the region were damaged due to the overflowing Cimanuk River. (Antara/Dedhez Anggara)The Trade Ministry has said that the rice stock from the upcoming harvest season will last through November despite declining production and surging demand.

The ministry’s domestic trade director general, Suhanto, estimated rice production would decline by 10 percent to around 17.8 million tons, citing a report by the Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi). Added to the current stock of 3.3 million tons, the supply would exceed national demand by 6.2 million tons, the ministry estimated.

Lockdown impact: Bangladesh rice exports stop; Gulf nations' demand up

“This is the time when Bangladesh imports basmati from India for making biryani during Ramadan,” Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Tirupati Agri Trade, told ET. “They also buy lot of Gobindobhog rice from Bengal. But, since trucks are not moving between the two countries, exports have completely come to a standstill.”

By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau|
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 07.32 AM IST
Description: Description: 1Prices of Pusa-1121 basmati have gone up from 60-61 per kg before the lockdown to 65-66 per kg now.
Kolkata: Rice exports to Bangladesh have come to a standstill as truck movement between the neighbours has been halted, even as Gulf nations are placing more orders for the basmati rice variety.
Bangladesh imports basmati rice from
Punjab and Haryana, and GI-tagged aromatic Gobindobhog rice from Bengal.

“This is the time when Bangladesh imports basmati from India for making
biryani during Ramadan,” Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Tirupati Agri Trade, told ET. “They also buy lot of Gobindobhog rice from Bengal. But, since trucks are not moving between the two countries, exports have completely come to a standstill.”

Rice prices inched up 10-15% during the
lockdown on increased demand. In Bengal, the largest producer of the grain, only 25 -30% of rice mills are operating due to labour shortage.

Gulf nations are, however, placing orders for basmati and are ready to pay in cash. Movement of basmati rice through Kandla and Mundra ports has eased, although non-availability of packaging material is delaying exports.

Exporters have received new orders from the Gulf and the EU in the last one week. “Demand has gone up in GCC countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Cambodia, too, is showing good demand,” said Gautam Miglani, owner of Haryana-based LRNK, a leading rice exporter.

Prices of Pusa-1121 basmati have gone up from
60-61 per kg before the lockdown to 65-66 per kg now.

With migrants restless to go home, Telangana stares at severe workforce shortage

Roushan Ali | TNN | Updated: Apr 28, 2020, 11:30 IST
Description: https://static.toiimg.com/thumb/msid-75422364,imgsize-217555,width-400,resizemode-4/75422364.jpg
Picture used for representational purpose only
HYDERABAD: Telangana, which depends on over seven lakh migrant workers for various tasks, is likely to face a severe shortage of workforce during and after the lockdown ends and it could have an adverse impact on the economy.
Migrant workers are involved in the 2-bhk project, construction activity in private sector, loading and unloading paddy and rice, farming operations, etc. But with Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and other state governments keen on taking back their people, the state is likely to suffer on account of workers’ shortage.
Description: https://static.toiimg.com/photo/imgsize-136772,msid-75422377/75422377.jpg

Confederation of real estate developers’ association of India (CREDAI) state chairman, Gummi Ram Reddy, said migrant labourers working in the construction industry have become restless due to the extended lockdown. “As there is no clarity on whether the lockdown will end on May 7 or would be extended further, they just want to get back and reunite with their families. Of course, they would come back for work, but right now they want to be back with their families,” he said.
“When I spoke to them at our half a dozen construction sites earlier this month, they were not keen to return back to their home states. But today, one of our project manager called me and said the workers said they want to go back to their homes as their government (West Bengal) is likely to make transport arrangements for them to get back home,” Ram Reddy said.
The CREDAI state chairman said the private developers have been delivering 30,000 units every year. “These are extra-ordinary circumstances and the work will suffer if the labourers go back. But it is inevitable. The Rs 18,000 crore worth works in construction industry will get delayed,” Ram Reddy said. The construction industry is one of the largest employers of migrant labourers, he said.
Ramakanth Inani, senior vice-president, Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said even the industrial sector will be affected badly as 60% of the workforce comprises migrant labourers working in steel, metal, induction furnace, plastic, brick kiln, cement, mining, stone cutting and polishing industries to name a few.
“It will be a challenging task for the industry to hold the migrant labour back and continue to work. Some may even offer incentives, but the situation is such that they may not stop for now,” he said.
Telangana Rice Millers Association secretary, Mohan Reddy, said nearly 50,000 hamalis from Bihar specialise in loading and unloading of paddy and rice. Over 70% of them had gone back for Holi festival and did not return due to the lockdown. “Even those who stayed back are now ready to go back if they get an opportunity. We are trying to get fresh batches of hamalis from Bihar as peak season of paddy harvest has already commenced,” he said. A top official in the Telangana government said that so far they have not received any request or communication from any state government to make arrangements to send back their people.
E Gangadhar, joint commissioner of labour, said they were ensuring that all migrant labourers were supplied 12kg rice and Rs 1,500 cash
.

Bangladesh grain output to jump in 2020-21

Photo: Adobe stock
04.28.2020
DHAKA, BANGLADESH — Bangladesh’s rice, wheat and corn production is expected to increase due to good weather and increased plantings, according to an April 19 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Rice production for the 2020-21 marketing year is expected to rise to 36.3 million tonnes in Bangladesh as further cultivation of hybrid and high yield variety plantings increase. The country is expected to import 200,000 tonnes of rice in the 2020-21 marketing year to ease food security tensions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA said.
Bangladesh wheat production for marketing year 2020-21 also is projected to increase. It is forecast at 1.25 million tonnes, primarily reflecting decreased concern over wheat blast and strengthening domestic prices, the USDA said. Wheat imports also are being spurred over food insecurities caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The 2020-21 marketing year wheat imports are forecast upward to 6.4 million tonnes.
Unlike rice and wheat, Bangladesh’s corn imports are expected to decrease as increased domestic production is expected along with lower demand from the feed sector, the USDA said. The country’s livestock and poultry sector are slowing production due to COVID-19 causing the less demand for feed. The USDA lowered Bangladesh’s 2020-21 marketing year imports to 1 million tonnes.
The country is seeing a higher corn output as some producers are looking to grow higher margin crops and hoping to achieve higher profit margins. The USDA forecasts about 5.1 million tonnes of corn to be produced in Bangladesh for the 2020-21 marketing year.
Follow our breaking news coverage of the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation.

UAE's 2020 milled rice imports set to jump 17.6% year-on-year: USDA

·       AuthorCharlotte James 
·       EditorClaudia Carpenter 
·       CommodityAgriculture
2020 consumption seen falling 12.9% on the coronavirus pandemic
Rebound in demand seen in 2021 as tourism returns
Exports this year likely to be limited to preserve food security
London — The UAE's 2020 milled rice imports are forecast to rise 17.6% year-on-year to 1 million mt, according to the USDA.
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The UAE does not produce rice due to limited water resources and unfavorable weather conditions. Imports in 2021 are forecast to rise further to 1.2 million mt (+20%) due to increased consumption and government stock building. Around 98% of this volume is expected to comprise milled and semi-milled rice. Imports in 2019 were mainly sourced from India at 470,000 mt (-24.4%), followed by Thailand (28,862 mt, -64.8%) and Brazil (16,925 mt, +6,865%). While rice imports are not subject to a customs tariff, they are subject to a 5% value added tax.
Volumes which are imported into the UAE and then re-exported are being recorded as re-exports. Other volumes are sold by local traders after the imported rice has officially entered the UAE and are included as exports; sometimes these volumes are processed further and/or repackaged. Exports in 2020 are forecast to rise from zero to 10,000 mt (milled equivalent), although the government is expected to limit exports to ensure food security during the coronavirus pandemic. Exports in 2021 are forecast to rise to 100,000 mt (+900%); the majority of this volume is expected to be exported to Iran and African destinations.
Consumption in 2020 is forecast to decline to 740,000 mt (-12.9%) due to a decline in tourism amid the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in a 30% - 50% decline in sales from food service distributors, which have switched from supplying restaurants and hotels to retailers. Consumption in 2021 is then forecast to increase to 1.05 million mt (+41.9%) as demand from the tourism and food industries improves. Consumption typically comprises Basmati and fragrant rice.
Ending stocks in 2020 and 2021 are forecast to rise to 250,000 mt (milled equivalent, from zero) and 300,000 mt (+20%) respectively, all of which are expected to be held by the government. The government currently has silos able to hold approximately 300,000 mt of food stocks including rice; the government plans to construct more silos to increase its total storage capacity to 900,000 mt. Under its food subsidy and price support program, the government distributes four types of rice to around 54,000 people; Basmati is sold at a subsidized price of AED 120 per 40kg (US $817/mt).

Less Than a Third of the World Can Feed Itself From Local Crops, Says Study

APR 27, 2020
Is a global food crisis on the horizon?
Description: https://modernfarmer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/image1-2-2-1200x853.jpg
Only 27 percent of the world’s population has access to wheat, barley and rye within a radius of less than 62 miles.
Photography by aboikis on Shutterstock.
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting global food supply chains in significant ways. Experts say the crisis could cause the number of people suffering through severe food shortages across the world to grow this year to 265 million from 135 million. 
Last month, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Association released a joint statement, calling on governments to minimize trade restrictions on food as it could create a shortage in global markets. 
And new research shows just how concerning disruptions in global trade are when it comes to food. A recent study, published in Nature Food and led by Finnish researchers, found that less than one third of the world’s population could feed itself using staple crops grown within a 62-mile radius. 
As a large percentage of the items sitting on supermarket shelves in many parts of the world are imported, researchers say that relying on locally grown crops to fulfil all food demands is not realistic for most places.  
Researchers looked at a variety of crops, and discovered just 27 percent of the world’s population had access to temperate cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, within a radius of less than 62 miles. This proportion was 22 percent for tropical cereals, 28 percent for rice and 27 percent for pulses. For maize and tropical roots, researchers calculated the amount ranged from 11 to 16 percent. 
The lead author of the study, Pekka Kinnunen, says these conclusions help us understand the big picture of food systems, especially given the current situation. 
“Local food supply can help reduce vulnerability to global crises,” says Kinnunen, a researcher at Aalto University in Finland. “One definitely interesting finding was that even when considering only six crops, our results showed that there are a lot of global dependencies.” 
Researchers note that parts of Africa are particularly lacking in self-sufficient food systems. Most areas in North America and Europe could satisfy their needs for temperate cereal crops within 310 miles, but in Sub-Saharan Africa, this distance increases up to 3,100 miles. 
Kinnunen says that going forward, he expects to see growing pressure on governments to improve their food sovereignty. Relying on mostly vegetarian diets, Kinnunen says, can also ensure regions have adequate food supply while also limiting damage to the environment. 
“There needs to be holistic approaches when assessing the impacts and vulnerabilities of food systems,” he says.

FG’s rice: Customs wants Oyo govt to probe ‘contamination’







Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Monday called on the Oyo state government to probe alleged roles of its officials in charge of the 1,800 bags of rice collected from the Customs which “suddenly became contaminated” few hours after collection. Description: https://i1.wp.com/blueprint.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/FB_IMG_1587578520791.jpg?resize=678%2C381&ssl=1
The NCS area command made the call in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Mr Abdullahi Lagos-Abiola on the controversy over the fitness of the rice for consumption, saying, the command was “surprised, even embarrassed to hear three days later that the rice allocated to them were infested with weevils and unfit for human consumption.”
Abdullahi pointed out that in the process of loading the said 1,800 bags of rice, “few bags fell at different times and burst open in the presence of Mr Ojekunle and Mrs Lasisi and there was no time that any of the burst bags of rice had weevils in them.”
“We suspect foul play on the part of the handlers of these allocated 1,800 bags of rice. The state government may wish to dig deeper. It is surprising how bags of rice that exited the Command HQ in good condition suddenly became so bad
after three days as being circulated in the social media,” he said.
“The command wishes to reiterate that weevils do not hide and in the process of loading the vehicles, traces of weevils would have been noticed on the floor, on the bags, on the loaders or on the trucks bearing in mind that the entire process was in the presence of the CAC, Oyo state government’s high ranking team and men of the press with full video camera coverage.
“The attention of the Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has been drawn to some mischievous and deliberate falsehood being circulated in the media for reasons best known to their author(s) concerning the federal government’s palliative given to Oyo state among other states.
“As a responsible agency of government whose functions include ensuring that nothing that could compromise the security, economy and general being of Nigerians are allowed into the country, we cannot turn round and be associated with giving anything that will negatively affect our people,” AQbdullahi stated.

Hormozgan Essential Goods Imports at 400K Tons Since March 19


Hormozgan Essential Goods Imports at 400K Tons Since March 19
About 400,000 tons of essential goods were imported into Iran's southern Hormozgan Province since the beginning of the current fiscal year (March 19).
According to Abolfazl Akbarpour, a customs official in Hormozgan Province, the imports includes rice, oil, oilseed, corn, wheat, barley, sugar, rubber, paper, oilcake, soybean and legume, Fars News Agency reported.
A total of 246,243 tons of the goods were imported from Shahid Rajaee Port alone–Iran's biggest commercial port, located 23 kilometers west of the port city of Bandar Abbas, the capital of Hormozgan Province.