Saturday, August 15, 2020

15th August,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

 

Pakistan, China to set up hybrid rice research centre

Joint centre will boost yield to improve domestic food security and supplement export


August 15, 2020

Description: https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rice/rice.jpg


WUHAN:

Academic institutes of Pakistan and China are working to jointly launch a research centre for hybrid rice.

The Wuhan University-University of Punjab Joint Research Centre for Honglian Hybrid Rice is going to become operational this year, revealed official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan to improve domestic food security, in addition to supplementing rice export.

Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L) that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, said Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

"A lot of hybrid rice varieties' high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan," Zhu Renshan said.

Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan's climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties.

Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less therefore farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

Punjab Agriculture Extension Director Shahzad Sabir and professors from the University of Punjab praised Honglian hybrid rice's feature of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan's climate.

Having seen Honglian hybrid rice do well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, professionals of the two countries are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale.

Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research centre is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian hybrid rice keeps progressing.

Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October.

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2020.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2259545/pakistan-china-to-set-up-hybrid-rice-research-centre

 

Pak-China universities to establish research center on hybrid rice

 

BEIJJING, August 14 (APP): China’s Wuhan University and University of the Punjab Joint Research Center for Honglian Hybrid Rice will be established this year, revealed by the official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost the development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan, a major rice exporter in the world, to improve domestic food safety as well as supplement rice export, according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Friday.

Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

In China, it is a well-known hybrid rice type developed for over 40 years by Zhu Yingguo, the late member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and expert in plant genetics and breeding. By 2020, the global acreage of Honglian hybrid rice has surpassed about 26.67 million hectares.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500 kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, according to Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is now in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

“A lot of hybrid rice varieties’ high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan,” Zhu Renshan said.

Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan’s climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties. Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less. Therefore, farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

It’s also worth mentioning that Honglian hybrid rice is eco-friendly because of the higher nitrogen use efficiency characteristic, exhibiting vigor and good yield even in barren soil. In this way fertilization can be decreased.

In 2019, the exchange visits between the two nations’ agricultural experts on Honglian hybrid rice had been done. Shahzad Sabir, Punjab Agriculture Extension Director, and professors from University of the Punjab, praised Honglian hybrid rice’s quality of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan’s climate. Having seen Honglian hybrid rice does so well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, the two countries’ professionals are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale.

Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research center is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control.

Though COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian hybrid rice keeps progressing.

The two countries’ experts are communicating online and have held a video meeting of technical guidance.

Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October.

https://www.app.com.pk/global/pak-china-universities-to-establish-research-center-on-hybrid-rice/

 

South Asia counts losses from devastating monsoon floods

yesterday

 

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — When the Dharala River burst its banks in early July, Kamal Hossain left his home with five members of his family to take shelter in a school in northern Bangladesh, carrying their most prized belongings: cattle, a few sacks of rice and clothes.

Like him, an estimated 17.5 million people across South Asia are suffering as a result of the devastation of this year’s monsoon floods. Nearly 700 have died.

A third of Bangladesh went underwater, including Hossain’s district of Kurigram, after most of its 16 rivers overflowed following torrential rains and violent onrush of waters from upstream India, which was also tormented by the floods as rivers cut their ways from as far as the Himalayan nation of Nepal. Bangladesh, which is crisscrossed by 230 rivers, is the last channel through which waters are drained into the Bay of Bengal.

Experts have long been warning that a densely populated delta country like Bangladesh is one of the worst victims of climate change, and severe and frequent floods indicate that something has gone wrong.

“The current major floods affecting millions of people in Bangladesh along with super cyclone Amphan that hit the country a few months ago are both linked to human induced climate now becoming a reality,” said Saleemul Huq, a Bangladeshi expert on climate change and director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development.

He said Bangladesh needs to ramp up its diplomacy to convince global powers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as many countries had agreed in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2015.

The impact of global warming in South Asia is evident by a steady sea level rise, changes in ambient temperature and rainfall patterns and an increase in cyclonic activity, experts say. More landslides and flooding are projected across the region, which is home to almost one-fourth of the world’s population. Thousands have already been displaced from low-lying islands in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest straddling Bangladesh and India.

When upstream countries like India or Nepal flush out waters, a district like Kurigram pays the price.

“Some 300,000 people have either lost their homes or crops. Some 400 small river islands were completely under water,” said Mohammed Rezaul Karim, a top government official in Kurigram. “This is a great worry for us.”

Azmat Ulla, the Bangladesh head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said disasters like floods are becoming more frequent and dangerous.

“Waters are going down, but people’s homes and other infrastructures are being devoured by river erosion,” he said. “Rebuilding their lives is not so easy.”

While the national governments are assessing the extent of damage, the European Union said this week it will provide $1.94 million in aid. The support comes on top of the $2.21 million announced earlier this year to support those affected by a series of disasters, including Cyclone Amphan that ravaged India and Bangladesh in May.

In Nepal, a repeat of the deadly 1993 floods that were caused by the biggest rainfall on record could be catastrophic, said Shreekamal Dwivedi, a senior engineering geologist at the government’s Venerable Landslides Management Project.

Authorities in one of India’s worst-hit states are also counting losses.

About 5.7 million out of Assam’s 30 million people have been hit by the deluge with the total loss of property and crops estimated at $306 million. Assam faces floods every year when waters of the Brahmaputra, one of Asia’s largest rivers that originates in the Tibetan Himalayas, and its tributaries overflow.

After more than 1 1/2 months in shelter, Hossain is preparing to return home, but faces uncertainty over how to rebuild with almost no money in hand. His only choice is to wait for the next harvest two months away.

“I have lost everything. I don’t know what will happen next,” he said.

___

Gurubacharya reported from Kathmandu, Nepal and Hussain from Gauhati, India.

___

This story has been corrected to show that 16 rivers refers to single district, not whole country.

https://apnews.com/30a85eb980f793210c776931df5d0c82

Local rice exporters seek ways to enter EU



Vietnam’s rice exports to the EU remain modest, at about 20,000 tonnes in volume and 10.7 million USD in value in 2019, accounting for a small proportion of the bloc’s annual average rice consumption of 2.5 million tonnes in the 2016-2020 period.

VNA Friday, August 14, 2020 17:47 

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s rice exports to the EU remain modest, at about 20,000 tonnes in volume and 10.7 million USD in value in 2019, accounting for a small proportion of the bloc’s annual average rice consumption of 2.5 million tonnes in the 2016-2020 period.

Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Director of the Import-Export Department at the 
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said the absence of a tariff-free quota from the EU lies behind the situation, as it has cut the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has opened the door for Vietnam, he went on, as it nominates a tariff-free quota of 80,000 tonnes each year.

The quota, however, is not allocated to Vietnamese exporters but to EU importers. Meanwhile, under the agreement, fragrant rice must be certified by Vietnam, which means additional administrative procedures.

MoIT said that applications from importers for rice to be sent to the EU will be submitted to authorised agencies of member countries within the first seven days of each month, excluding December. Applications for the first day of each year will be submitted in the last seven days of November in the previous year.

Meanwhile, exporters must show authenticity certificates for rice before sending shipments to the EU.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently working with MoIT on drafting documents guiding procedures for registering for certificates. Businesses are advised to prepare certificates of origin for customs clearance procedures.

Hai said that as soon as the EU announces its quota allocation, the ministry will inform businesses via its website and the media. Businesses can access the website of the EU at http://ec.europa.
eu or contact their partners to remain updated, he added./.

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/local-rice-exporters-seek-ways-to-enter-eu/180281.vnp

 

Vietnam’s rice export price highest in the world

tranthuy02

A rice warehouse in Vietnam (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Over the past 30 years, this is the first time Vietnam’s rice export price is the same as Thailand’s, even outpacing 20 USD a ton compared to Thailand’s 5% broken rice.

Vietnamese rice is being bought at higher prices by importers thanks to the rice’s improved quality and the Vietnam- EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reports that Vietnam has exported nearly 3.9 million tons of rice, earning 1.9 billion USD since the beginning of the year. Export volume fell 1.4% but increased by around 11% in value over the same period last year.


The country was also the world’s second biggest rice exporter in volume and value.

In the first seven months of the year, the country’s rice export volume reached nearly 4 million tons with a value of US$2 billion, an increase of 11 percent in value and a decrease of 1.5 percent in volume over the same period in 2019.

On August 11, the 5-percent broken rice of Vietnam was priced at US$493 a ton while the 5-percent broken rice of Thailand was priced at US$473 a ton.

The price of 25 percent-broken rice of Vietnam hit US$468 a ton and the 25-percent broken rice of Thailand reached US$452 a ton.

According to some experts, improved rice quality and logistics infrastructure in addition to the Covid-19 outbreak has led to high import demand of countries and high export price of Vietnamese rice.

 

By Quy Ngoc- Translated by Huyen Huong

https://vietreader.com/business/11155-vietnamese-rice-more-pricey-than-thai-rice.html

 

Rice Prices

as on : 14-08-2020 11:03:29 AM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

Arrivals

Price

Current

%
change

Season
cumulative

Modal

Prev.
Modal

Prev.Yr
%change

Rice

Asansol(WB)

30.00

-6.25

1371.01

3100

3100

9.15

Durgapur(WB)

20.00

-9.09

1290.25

2900

3000

10.27

Raiganj(WB)

15.00

NC

638.50

3200

3200

-8.57

Islampur(WB)

14.00

NC

737.80

3300

3300

-8.33

Alibagh(Mah)

1.00

NC

100.00

2200

2200

NC

Murud(Mah)

1.00

NC

99.00

2200

2200

NC

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Published on August 14, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article32351523.ece#

In Memory:  Robert Petter, Sr. 


USA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Robert Franklin Petter, Sr., of Tollville, Arkansas, who passed away August 12, at the age of 84.  He is survived by his wife, Shirley, and sons, Robert and David.

"Bobby," as he was known to all, never met a stranger.  He farmed in Stuttgart and Tollville, and also served on the BancorpSouth board of directors.  

"Bobby loved people and rice farming," said Arkansas crop consultant Merle Anders.  "He was friendly to all but never missed the opportunity to corner you and ask something about rice -- it was always on his mind!  He believed that change was necessary as long as it did not mess with the bottom line and thus kept his two boys straight and narrow in the farming operation.  His support for the rice industry was enduring and is carried on by David and Robert.  His smile and warm heartedness will be missed by all and particularly those of us in the rice industry."

"Bobby was the backbone of the Petter family, his community, and the farm," said Bill Free, Riceland Foods director of member relations.  "We could always count on Bobby, along with his sons Robert and David, to promote rice farming and Riceland.  He will be missed by many."

A graveside service at Lone Tree Cemetery in Stuttgart will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 15.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Peters Episcopal Church in Tollville, Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Stuttgart, or The Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie in Stuttgart.

 

New Labeling Law in Mexico Favors Healthy Choices  

 

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Description: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjOLLC8bC4B6C7zBXa4PTjQHh0Z81tC6pM90_ZOKZGppEbM4muOtNH5YpD5_t4a87292pGGqCEmc6nBLM-gg9WPtPa6-4ROHzYRrS9TXJWy1Aa94qmW7DGY6124oV8M4nzaDEqVVv4ZZXrhhoKporH3xraKN1hkVhgTrgw=s0-d-e1-ft

U.S. rice is the healthy choice

Description: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjOLLC8bC4B6C7zBXa4PTjQHh0Z81tC6pM90_ZOKZGppEbM4muOtNH5YpD5_t4a87292pGGqCEmc6nBLM-gg9WPtPa6-4ROHzYRrS9TXJWy1Aa94qmW7DGY6124oV8M4nzaDEqVVv4ZZXrhhoKporH3xraKN1hkVhgTrgw=s0-d-e1-ft

By Asiha Grigsby

 

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Obesity is a major health challenge in Mexico and the López Obrador administration is pursuing aggressive avenues to improve the consumption habits in the country.  To aid consumers in identifying healthy foods, a new law is being implemented that requires front-of-pack labeling with warnings and legends to alert consumers about high levels of sugar, sodium, calories, and/or saturated fat.
 
Food manufacturers of domestic and imported prepackaged, processed foods and non-alcoholic beverages must add these large, dramatic labels to the front of packaging for foods that are deemed "unhealthy" by October 1, 2020.
 
"Rice is not expected to be impacted by this legislation since it is one of the healthy products the population is encouraged to consume," said Tim Walker, chair of the USA Rice Western Hemisphere Promotion Subcommittee.  "USA Rice promotions in Mexico have always emphasized the nutritional benefits of rice.  Current research is delving deeper into the ways rice consumption improves health and whether there are additional physiological benefits."  
 
For nearly a decade, USA Rice has worked with Mexico's National System for Integral Family Development, a public institution of social assistance that focuses on strengthening and developing the welfare of Mexican families.  Activities have focused on the positive results that eating a balanced diet has on a family's overall nutritional intake.


 

 


"Because Mexico is the largest export market for U.S. rice, and last year accounted for nearly one quarter of U.S. rice exports at 850,000 MT, we are very engaged in promotions there, especially those that speak to the health and well-being of U.S. rice consumers," said Walker. 

 

Rains may have positive impact on Kharif crops

Fazal Sher | Sardar Sikander Shaheen 14 Aug 2020

ISLAMABAD: The current monsoon rains are likely to have a positive impact on production and yield of Kharif crops including sugarcane, rice, cotton, maize and other minor crops.

A senior official of Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNS&R) told Business Recorder that the ongoing spell would enhance production of major Kharif crops, including rice, sugarcane, and maize as these crops require more water.

He further said that the current rains would also have a positive impact on cotton crop. However, if heavy rains continue for a long time, then it would negatively impact on the crops, the official said. "Heavy rains or above normal rains lead to various diseases in the cotton crop as large quantity of water does not benefit cotton yields," he said, adding that sugarcane and rice are high delta crops and cotton is a low delta crop.

President Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI) Khalid Mahmood Khokhar said that rains would have positive impact on all standing crops but he pointed out that it would negatively impact on cotton crop in Sindh province as currently the crop is in the picking stage.

The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) for Kharif season 2020-21 had fixed sugarcane production target for year 2020-21 at 69.8 million tons from an area of 1.180 million hectares; and fixed paddy production target at 7.99 million tons from an area of 2.59 million hectares of land. The FCA had fixed cotton production target for year 2018-19 at 10.8 million bales from an area of 2.31 million hectares.

According to Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), rainfall forecast for August monsoon region of Punjab including some lower parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is predicted to be slightly above normal to normal rainfall. The above normal rainfall may occur in merged district of erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and Sindh, it further projects.

The department says that below average precipitation is anticipated across mountainous region of Gilgit Baltistan and south western parts of Balochistan.

According to weather advisory issued for farmers by National Agromet Centre (NAC) of PMD, farmers are advised to take necessary measures to protect standing crops and fruits from damaging effects of varying weather patterns due to monsoon systems.

PMD has advised cotton growers to take necessary measures as accumulation of stagnant water in the fields due to heavy rains is fatal for standing crops like cotton. Farmers of rain-fed areas were also advised to take measures to preserve rain water for crops and livestock.

Meanwhile, met office predicted that more monsoon currents are expected to penetrate in Sindh from Friday (evening) to Sunday under the influence of this system. Scattered rain/wind-thundershower, with few/isolated heavy falls, are expected in Karachi, Hyderabad, Thatta, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Tharparkar, Mirpurkhas, Umar Kot, Sanghar and Mithi from Friday (evening/night) to Sunday.

https://www.brecorder.com/news/40011972

 

 

 

A pinch of MSG instead of salt to reduce sodium intake?


Friday, 14 August, 2020

Description: mail Description: facebook Description: twitter Description: linkedin

 


Description: A pinch of MSG instead of salt to reduce sodium intake?

While monosodium glutamate (MSG) is deemed safe by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and many other food authorities around the world, consumer aversion to the extensively researched flavour enhancer remains.

Now, a new study published by researchers from the University of California, supported by Ajinomoto Co., Inc., is hoping to change consumer perceptions.

According to the study, published in the Journal of Food Science, MSG can be used to significantly reduce sodium while also promoting the enjoyment of better-for-you foods like grains and vegetables.

“MSG has two-thirds less sodium than table salt and imparts umami — a savoury taste,” said Dr Jean-Xavier Guinard, Professor of Sensory Science, Co-Director of the Coffee Center at the University of California, Davis, and a lead investigator in the study.

“Taste is a key factor in what people decide to eat. Using MSG as a replacement for some salt in the diet and to increase the appeal of nutritious foods can help make healthy eating easier, likely leading to a positive impact on health,” Guinard said. 

“Just as the substitution of butter with olive oil can help to reduce saturated fat intake, MSG can be used as a partial replacement for salt to reduce sodium intake,” Guinard said.

In the study, participants evaluated four different recipes in which sodium was reduced by 31–61% through the addition of MSG, and described the dishes as flavourful, delicious and balanced. 

Culinary scientists from Pilot R&D, a food innovation and development company, developed four dishes — roasted vegetables, a quinoa bowl, a savoury yoghurt dip and cauliflower fried rice with pork. Study participants (163 total, aged 18–62 years) evaluated three different versions of each dish — a standard recipe with typical salt content, a reduced salt recipe with significant sodium reduction and the same reduced salt recipe with significant sodium reduction plus MSG added. For each dish, participants rated overall liking, appearance, flavour, texture, saltiness, aftertaste and how likely they would be to order the dish at a restaurant.

The reduced salt recipes with added MSG were liked as much as or better than (in the case of the quinoa bowl and savoury yoghurt dip) the standard recipes, suggesting that MSG can be used as a way to reduce sodium without compromising taste. Whereas the reduced salt recipes were commonly described as “bland” and the standard recipes described as “salty” and “sour” in some cases, the MSG recipes were associated with “delicious”, “flavourful”, “balanced” and “savoury” in some instances.

Previous research has shown that MSG can be used to reduce sodium by 30%, and in some cases up to 50%, in packaged foods and snacks such as soups, broths, chips and sausage, without compromising taste and consumer preference for the products. For the first time, this study shows promise for using MSG in foods with a desirable nutritional profile that consumers should be eating more of.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Engdao

https://www.foodprocessing.com.au/content/ingredients/news/a-pinch-of-msg-instead-of-salt-to-reduce-sodium-intake--473733432

 

PH will have less rice imports due to limited global supply

Published August 14, 2020, 1:18 PM

by Madelaine B. Miraflor

The Philippines, the world’s top rice importer, is seen to import less rice next year but it’s not going to be intentional. There’s just simply not enough rice to import from the global market.


The latest Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that from 3.3 million metric tons (MT) of rice, the Philippines may actually import just around 3 million MT of the staple in 2021.

This is due to the “reduced exportable supplies” from Thailand and Vietnam, which are the top two suppliers of imported rice to the Philippines.

From 9 million MT of rice, Thailand’s 2021 rice exports is now seen at 8.5 million MT due to reduced production forecast, while Vietnam may only export 6.3 million  MT of rice from 6.4 million MT with a smaller production.

“The exporter with the sharpest decline is Thailand. Exportable supplies have been limited by a poor Thai crop which was affected by drought. Thai prices have been consistently higher than its regional competitors,” the GAIN report said.

For this year, Thailand is forecast to export only 6.5 million MT, its lowest since 1998.

Nevertheless, the Philippines will still remain as the world’s top rice importer for this year and next year based on USDA’s new forecast.

For this year, the USDA is expecting the country’s rice imports to be around 2.5 million MT.

This was earlier disputed by a local agriculture lobby group, Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), which claimed the Philippines may actually have way lower rice imports for the entire 2020 due to global trade disruptions brought about by COVID-19 pandemic.

The other day, Agriculture Secretary William Dar has assured that the country will have enough rice for the rest of the year despite the implementation of stricter lockdown measures and other global developments such as the flooding in China, which is feared to disrupt the global rice market.

For this month alone, Dar said the Philippines has at least 53 days of rice inventory.

“This will increase in the coming months, as we expect harvest from the wet season palay [paddy rice] cropping, starting late September,” Dar said.

He then said that “barring adverse typhoons and natural disasters in the remaining months of the year”, the Philippines will still achieve a record palay output this year of 20.34 million MT, which is 8 percent higher than the 2019 production.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/14/ph-will-have-less-rice-imports-due-to-limited-global-supply/

Taiwan: Taiwan Completes First US Rice Tender of 2020

August 13, 2020 

Attaché Reports (GAIN)

Commodities 

Grain and FeedRice

Price volatility and U.S. logistical challenges caused by COVID-19 delayed Taiwan's rice tendering process until the summer. On July 21, 2020, Taiwan awarded the first tender of the 2020 U.S. rice country specific quota (CSQ) for 18,500 metric tons (MT) under the simultaneous-buy and sell (SBS) scheme to nine successful bidders with various tonnages and offered bid price levels. This fulfills 28 percent of the 2020 U.S. rice CSQ.

https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/taiwan-taiwan-completes-first-us-rice-tender-2020#:~:text=On%20July%2021%2C%202020%2C%20Taiwan,the%202020%20U.S.%20rice%20CSQ.

USDA says rice imports to decrease next year

By Jed Macapagal

 

Description: https://malaya.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Agri-RICE-Imports-BG-2-696x464.jpg

THE United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts the Philippines’ rice imports for 2021 will decrease to 3 million metric tons (MT), from its earlier projection of 3.3 million MT.

The USDA in a report said the decrease was due to tighter supplies from major exporters Thailand, China and Vietnam.

The Philippines imports around seven to 14 percent of its rice requirements with 90 percent coming from Vietnam.

Despite the updated projection, the USDA said the Philippines will remain the world’s biggest rice importer for this year and next year.

The country has been in the top spot since 2019 with total rice imports at 2.9 million MT to this year’s expected 2.6 million MT and next year’s projected 3 million MT.

The report also reiterated that milled production of rice in the Philippines is estimated at 11.9 million MT for this year but may drop to 11 million MT by 2021 as consumption is seen to hit 14.3 million MT for 2020 but can reach 14.4 million MT by next year.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar assured the country will have enough rice for the rest of the year, despite the implementation of a protracted community quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic and the flooding in China that is feared to disrupt the global rice market.

He said at present, the Philippines has at least 53 days of rice inventory which will increase in the coming months with the harvest from the wet season palay cropping, starting late September.

“Barring adverse typhoons and natural disasters in the remaining months of the year, we expect a record palay output this year of 20.34 million MT which is 8 percent higher than the 2019 production… Our palay sector continues to exceed expectations despite challenges and the ongoing health crisis that we are facing, including other concerns, amid these challenging times,” Dar said.

He added all drawn up rice supply scenarios show comfortable levels of rice supply by the end of the year which at best would be good for 98 days and good for 90 days at worst.

https://malaya.com.ph/index.php/news_business/usda-says-rice-imports-to-decrease-next-year/

Eastern Region developing into a major rice production area

 

Regional News of Friday, 14 August 2020

Source: GNA

Rice production in Ghana

Description: Rice production in Ghana

The Eastern Region is gradually developing into a major rice-growing zone in the country.

Under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), in 2018, 18.27 metric tons of rice seeds were planted in the region and in 2019 the figure increased to 121.91 metric tons of rice seeds.

This was disclosed by Mr Henry Crenstil, the Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture at the 2020 Agriculture Sector Joint Review Meeting at Koforidua.

He said the PFJ helped increase the use of fertilizers in the region and also saw a lot of schools establishing school farms and gardens.

Mr Crenstil said in 2017, only five schools in the region participated in the PFJ programme and cultivated six hectares of farm.

He said in 2019, the number of schools that participated in the PFJ increased to 84 and they cultivated 99.5 hectares of farm.

Mr Crenstil called for the need to focus on the whole agriculture value chain to ensure that agriculture policies did not end up at the production stages.

He called for the promotion of agricultural policies that could motivate entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture processing to help reduce post-harvest losses.

Ms Comfort Asante, the New Juaben North Municipal Chief Executive said Eastern Region needed to take advantage of its comparative advantage in agriculture and promote new approaches to farming, including all kinds of linkages in the agricultural commodity value chain from production to consumption.

She suggested the inclusion of entrepreneurs in all stages of the agriculture value chain to help promote agro-processing.

Mr Thomas Wobil a Technical Adviser said more young people would show interest in agriculture if schools stop using weeding as a punishment, more schools established school gardens and the youth see their parents engage in agricultural activities in the home.

He called for the need to develop the agricultural sector and promote irrigation in agriculture.

Mr Anthony Botwe from the private sector called on mango farmers to do good pruning of their mango trees to allow air and sunshine into their mango trees.

This practice he said could help reduce the many mango and fruit diseases confronting them.

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Eastern-Region-developing-into-a-major-rice-production-area-1033804

 

Alliance Global profit drops 67% to P4.1 B in H1 due to lockdown

Published August 14, 2020, 7:00 PM

by James A. Loyola

Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI), the flagship of tycoon Andrew Tan, registered a 67 percent drop in net profit to P4.1 billion in the first half of 2020 from P12.5 billion in the same period last year.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said its attributable net income stood at P3.8 billion, down 53 percent from its year ago level of P8.1 billion.

Consolidated revenues fell 26 percent to P61.4 billion from last year’s P82.8 billion, as the conglomerate

faced the hurdles caused by the coronavirus pandemic that affected most of its businesses.

“The country’s strict two-month lockdown weighed heavily on most of our domestic operations. We take comfort from the fact that we have managed to diversify our sources of income, either by type of products or by geographic contribution, and this has helped us mitigate the impact of this pandemic on our group performance,” said AGI Chief Executive Officer Kevin L. Tan.

In the first half of 2020, Megaworld Corporation posted a 33 percent decline in attributable net income to P5.4 billion while Emperador recorded a 2 percent year-on-year improvement in attributable profit to P3.3 billion.

Meanwhile, the ongoing community quarantine, which put a temporary halt in casino gaming operations, has taken its toll on Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.

The owner and operator of Resorts World Manila (RWM) recorded a net loss of P3.7 billion in the first half this year, a reversal from its P845 million net income the year before.

The community quarantine also significantly affected Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC), popularly known as McDonald’s Philippines, which is a strategic partnership with the George Yang Group.

GADC posted a loss of P709 million in the first half this year as against a profit of P751 million the year before.

“This global health crisis has brought us new learnings. We have modified our product offerings and acquired new skills to adapt to the changes in consumer behavior. Likewise, our move to transform our operations under a digital strategy, an undertaking we have started only last year, has supported most of our businesses especially during the strictest period of the community quarantine,” reveals Tan.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/14/alliance-global-profit-drops-67-to-p4-1-b-in-h1-due-to-lockdown/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/14/gold-boosts-gir-to-98b-end-july-bsp/

Local rice exporters seek ways to enter EU

Vietnam’s rice exports to the EU remain modest, at about 20,000 tonnes in volume and 10.7 million USD in value in 2019, accounting for a small proportion of the bloc’s annual average rice consumption of 2.5 million tonnes in the 2016-2020 period.


Description: Local rice exporters seek ways to enter EU hinh anh 1Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s rice exports to the EU remain modest, at about 20,000 tonnes in volume and 10.7 million USD in value in 2019, accounting for a small proportion of the bloc’s annual average rice consumption of 2.5 million tonnes in the 2016-2020 period.

Tran Thanh Hai, Vice Director of the Import-Export Department at the 
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said the absence of a tariff-free quota from the EU lies behind the situation, as it has cut the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has opened the door for Vietnam, he went on, as it nominates a 
tariff-free quota of 80,000 tonnes each year.

The quota, however, is not allocated to Vietnamese exporters but to EU importers. Meanwhile, under the agreement, fragrant rice must be certified by Vietnam, which means additional administrative procedures.

MoIT said that applications from importers for rice to be sent to the EU will be submitted to authorised agencies of member countries within the first seven days of each month, excluding December. Applications for the first day of each year will be submitted in the last seven days of November in the previous year.

Meanwhile, exporters must show authenticity certificates for rice before sending shipments to the EU.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently working with MoIT on drafting documents guiding procedures for registering for certificates. Businesses are advised to prepare certificates of origin for customs clearance procedures.

Hai said that as soon as the EU announces its quota allocation, the ministry will inform businesses via its website and the media. Businesses can access the website of the EU at http://ec.europa.eu or contact their partners to remain updated, he added./.

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/local-rice-exporters-seek-ways-to-enter-eu/180281.vnp

https://mb.com.ph/2020/08/14/eccp-survey-finds-eu-traders-unhappy-with-covid-response/

 

Punjab

Punjab CM bans sale of 9 agro-chemicals to protect Paddy crop quality and boost Basmati export

PUNJAB NEW EXPRESS | August 14, 2020 08:09 PM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday ordered a ban on the sale and use of nine agro-chemicals, after the Agriculture Department found these were still being used by farmers despite being detrimental to the quality of Paddy.

The ban is aimed at protecting the Paddy quality, which is critical to its export and remunerative pricing in the international market.

The Chief Minister, who also hold the Agriculture portfolio, has approved the ban of Acephate, Triazophos, Thiamethoxam, Carbendazim, Tricyclazole, Buprofezin, Carbofuron, Propiconazole and Thiophinate Methyl, under section 27 of the Insecticides Act, 1968 with immediate effect.

Under the ban orders, the sale, stocking, distribution and use of these nine insecticides on rice crop has been prohibited. The Chief Minister has asked Secretary Agriculture KS Pannu to issue detailed guidelines to Director Agriculture to ensure strict enforcement of the ban, issued after state government laboratories conducted sample testing.

Pannu said these agro-chemicals were non-conducive to the farmers’ interest, besides resulting in degradation of quality, and also posed a risk of higher pesticide residues in rice grain than the Maximum Residual Level (MRL) fixed by the Government.

The Agriculture department has launched an intensive campaign over the past two years to sensitize the farmers and pesticide dealers about the hazards of the use of such chemicals on human beings. Even the Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association had reported that several samples contain the residue value of these pesticides, much above the prescribed MRL values in Basmati Rice, added the Secretary Agriculture.

http://www.punjabnewsexpress.com/punjab/news/punjab-cm-bans-sale-of-9-agro-chemicals-to-protect-paddy-crop-quality-and-boost-basmati-export-117700.aspx

 

Andhra Pradesh Citizens forum seeks Rs 7,500, 10 kg rice to poor in Eluru

Hans News Service   |  

14 Aug 2020 11:07 PM IST x Eluru Nagara Pourasamakhya Sangham leader P Kishore addressing the media in Eluru on Friday HIGHLIGHTS The Eluru Nagara Pourasamakhya Sangham has demanded that the Central and State governments take initiative to help the cross-section of people who lost livelihood due to Coronavirus pandemic Eluru: The Eluru Nagara Pourasamakhya Sangham has demanded that the Central and State governments take initiative to help the cross-section of people who lost livelihood due to Coronavirus pandemic. The sangham under the leadership of P Kishore conducted a survey in the town to study the living conditions of the poor people. They survey included people belonging to 23 professions and spanned over a week to elicit the pathetic conditions they have been facing because of the Covid pandemic. Revealing the survey details at a press conference here on Friday, Kishore said demanded that the governments supply 10 kgs rice to each person in these families for six months so that the families recover from the pathetic conditions. An immediate financial assistance of Rs 7,500 should be given to the people of these sections. Employment guarantee should be implemented in urban area to show livelihood to the affected families, he demanded. Email ArticlePrint Article More On Eluru Nagara Pourasamakhya Sangham Coronavirus Eluru  1. Comments will be moderated by TheHansIndia editorial team. 2. Comments that are abusive, personal, incendiary or irrelevant cannot be published. 3. We may remove hyperlinks within comments. 4. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name, to avoid rejection. More Stories News Home Contact Us About Us E-Paper Company Advertise With us Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Disclaimer Sitemap Entertainment Cinema Sports Editor'S Desk Crime Life Style Tech All News AP Telangana Nation World Business The HANS © 2020 Hyderabad Media House Limited/The Hans India. All rights reserved. Powered by hocalwire.com We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by continuing to use our site. To know more, see our Cookie Policy and Cookie Settings.Ok AddThis Subscribe to our Telegram ChannelSubscribe

https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/citizens-forum-seeks-rs-7500-10-kg-rice-to-poor-in-eluru-639501

 

Pakistan, China to boost cooperation in agri sector

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan needed to strengthen commercial promotion and marketing for its agricultural products to enhance exports to China.

This was stated by Gu Wenliang, the Agriculture Commissioner, Embassy of China to Pakistan at a webinar held by the Vehari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gwadar Pro reported on Thursday.

He said agriculture is one of the key cooperation industries under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

According to Gu, both of the Chinese and Pakistani governments are committed to strengthening agricultural industry cooperation and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in Pakistan and set up joint venture with potential local partners.

The agricultural industry cooperation will not only increase Pakistan’s yields of crops and keep its food security, but also improve its agricultural products exports to China and other countries and regions.Gu pointed out that thete is great potential for China-Pak agricultural cooperation in the four areas.

Firstly, the seed. Now, the average yield of wheat is only 3 tons per hectare in Pakistan, which can be improved substantially by taking the high-yield, anti-drought variety with resistance to insects and pests.

As for rice cultivation, China’s hybrid rice technology is recommended. The Gmo cotton is also proper to be applied in Pakistan.For sugar cane and potato, the virus free tissue culture sapling could be a good choice.

Second, China has many technologies suitable for crops in Pakistan, including compound planting, smart agriculture, water-saving irrigation and greenhouse.

Recently, two Pakistani students from China’s Sichuan Agricultural University, use the maize-soybean strip intercropping technology in Punjab, which has achieved satisfactory results by now.The greenhouse planting can also promote the development of vegetables, edible fungus and flowers in Pakistan.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/700461-pakistan-china-to-boost-cooperation-in-agri-sector

 

Vietnamese rice more pricey than Thai rice

SGGPFriday, August 14, 2020 11:34

According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), Vietnam's rice price is now highest in the group of top rice exporters including Thailand, India, Pakistan and Myanmar. 

Description: Vietnamese rice more pricey than Thai rice

The country was also the world’s second biggest rice exporter in volume and value. 

In the first seven months of the year, the country’s rice export volume reached nearly 4 million tons with a value of US$2 billion, an increase of 11 percent in value and a decrease of 1.5 percent in volume over the same period in 2019. 

On August 11, the 5-percent broken rice of Vietnam was priced at US$493 a ton while the 5-percent broken rice of Thailand was priced at US$473 a ton.

The price of 25 percent-broken rice of Vietnam hit US$468 a ton and the 25-percent broken rice of Thailand reached US$452 a ton.

According to some experts, improved rice quality and logistics infrastructure in addition to the Covid-19 outbreak has led to high import demand of countries and high export price of Vietnamese rice.

https://sggpnews.org.vn/business/economy/vietnamese-rice-more-pricey-than-thai-rice-88003.html

Vietnam’s rice prices climb to world’s highest

 

Friday, 2020-08-14 16:47:19

 

 


Vietnam’s 5% broken rice is currently traded at US$493-497 per tonne.

Description: https://en.nhandan.org.vn/cdn/en/media/k2/items/src/897/2d9b6509b9612e5b840da369707b99e5.jpg

NDO - The prices of Vietnam’s exported rice have been rising since mid-July, outstripping Thai rice to record the highest prices in the world, according to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).

Data as of August 14 showed Vietnam’s 5% broken rice is traded at US$493-497 per tonne while the same rice from Thailand and Pakistan is listed at US$473-477 and US$423-427 respectively.

Indian rice is even lower at US$378-382 per tonne.

This is the first time in the past 30 years that Vietnam’s rice prices have surpassed Thai rice, said Nguyen Van Don, Director of the Tien Giang Province-based rice exporter Viet Hung.

In addition to 5% broken rice, other Vietnamese rice varieties are also selling at higher prices on the global market.

The DT8 variety is being exported at US$570 per tonne, compared with last year’s peak of US$540 while the export prices of the 5451 jasmine rice have also increased by US$40-50 from the previous crop’s highest level of US$500 per tonne.

Many rice exporters stated that Vietnamese rice is being bought at higher prices thanks to its improved quality and the availability of supply and quick delivery amid the coronavirus pandemic also make Vietnamese rice a favourite of foreign buyers.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam exported 3.9 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2020, earning US$1.9 billion, up 10.9% from the previous year.

The Philippines is currently the largest purchaser of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 37% of Vietnam’s total rice exports.

https://en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/8974502-vietnam%E2%80%99s-rice-prices-climb-to-world%E2%80%99s-highest.html

 

Pak-China universities to establish research center on hybrid rice

 

Description: https://i0.wp.com/www.app.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/china-pakistan.jpg?resize=600%2C399&ssl=1

BEIJJING, August 14 (APP): China’s Wuhan University and University of the Punjab Joint Research Center for Honglian Hybrid Rice will be established this year, revealed by the official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost the development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan, a major rice exporter in the world, to improve domestic food safety as well as supplement rice export, according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) on Friday.

Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

In China, it is a well-known hybrid rice type developed for over 40 years by Zhu Yingguo, the late member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and expert in plant genetics and breeding. By 2020, the global acreage of Honglian hybrid rice has surpassed about 26.67 million hectares.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500 kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, according to Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is now in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

“A lot of hybrid rice varieties’ high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan,” Zhu Renshan said.

Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan’s climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties. Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less. Therefore, farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

It’s also worth mentioning that Honglian hybrid rice is eco-friendly because of the higher nitrogen use efficiency characteristic, exhibiting vigor and good yield even in barren soil. In this way fertilization can be decreased.

In 2019, the exchange visits between the two nations’ agricultural experts on Honglian hybrid rice had been done. Shahzad Sabir, Punjab Agriculture Extension Director, and professors from University of the Punjab, praised Honglian hybrid rice’s quality of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan’s climate. Having seen Honglian hybrid rice does so well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, the two countries’ professionals are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale.

Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research center is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control.

Though COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian hybrid rice keeps progressing.

The two countries’ experts are communicating online and have held a video meeting of technical guidance.

Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October.

https://www.app.com.pk/global/pak-china-universities-to-establish-research-center-on-hybrid-rice/

Pakistan, China to set up hybrid rice research centre

Joint centre will boost yield to improve domestic food security and supplement export


August 15, 2020

Description: https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/rice/rice.jpg


WUHAN:

Academic institutes of Pakistan and China are working to jointly launch a research centre for hybrid rice.

The Wuhan University-University of Punjab Joint Research Centre for Honglian Hybrid Rice is going to become operational this year, revealed official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan to improve domestic food security, in addition to supplementing rice export.

Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L) that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, said Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

"A lot of hybrid rice varieties' high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan," Zhu Renshan said.

Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan's climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties.

Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less therefore farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

Punjab Agriculture Extension Director Shahzad Sabir and professors from the University of Punjab praised Honglian hybrid rice's feature of heat-tolerance and adaptability, which suits Pakistan's climate.

Having seen Honglian hybrid rice do well in the six experimental plots in Pakistan, professionals of the two countries are confident in its future performance when sowed at a large scale.

Next, besides lifting local cultivation, the research centre is planning a series of technical cooperation and scientific research. Seed production technologies will be gradually transferred to Pakistan. Furthermore, they will also provide technical support on pest control.

Though the Covid-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc in the world, Pak-Sino cooperation related to Honglian hybrid rice keeps progressing.

Earlier this year, the research team of Wuhan University delivered seeds from China to Pakistan via international logistics, and the rice will be harvested in October.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2259545/pakistan-china-to-set-up-hybrid-rice-research-centre

 

Punjab Agricultural University prepares resource to uplift farmers of India

The university is running a programme ‘Talking is Healing’ wherein farmers can avail counselling by reaching the PAU helpline number 8360684948.

CITIES Updated: Aug 14, 2020 23:05 IST

Hindustan Times, Ludhiana

In view of the unprecedented Covid situation, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has prepared a resilience resource for the farmers of the country called ‘I the farmer of India’.

Prepared by professor Sarabjeet Singh, head of the Department of Agricultural Journalism, Languages and Culture, and Vasundhra, counsellor, Department of Human Development & Family Studies, the resource highlights the five T’s of mental health—talking, teaching, training, tools and taking care.

The resource aims to build respect for farmers in the society and asserts that farming is the most noble, the most useful, the most mindful and the most healthful profession. “When lockdown was announced, no one rushed to buy gold, land, car, or expensive phones, but everyone rushed for fruits, vegetables, milk and bread,” said Dr Sarabjeet.

“The pandemic led to many direct and indirect impacts on farmers. The farmers, especially the vegetable growers, suffered losses. The farmers also saw their children sitting idle at home while the schools and colleges were shut. Such issues were enough to drive farmers into depression. So keeping in view all these issues, we designed the programme that will be launched by all the agriculture universities to support farmers in distress,” he added.

Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, vice-chancellor of PAU, while sending the resource in soft format to all the agricultural universities and institutes of the country, remarked that he hoped for translation of the resource into local languages of the country to boost the morale of the farming community.

The university is running a programme ‘Talking is Healing’ wherein farmers can avail counselling by reaching the PAU helpline number 8360684948.

PAU CELEBRATES NATIONAL HANDLOOM WEEK

The Department of Apparel and Textile Science, College of Community Science, PAU, celebrated the National Handloom Week from August 7-14. An exhibition put up by the faculty members showcased the traditional handloom textiles including sarees, durries, carpets and other household products. Students were made aware of the importance of handlooms through online lectures and a TV talk was delivered on National Handloom Day by Dr Surabhi Mahajan, assistant professor of the department.

PAU TO IMPART TRAINING TO RURAL YOUTHS IN PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

The experts of PAU will apprise the rural youths of the importance of agro-industrial complexes in Punjab, machinery for grading of fruit and vegetables, machinery for processing of rice, and machinery for making poultry and dairy feed during a three-month online training programme on ‘Integrated Crop Production’ which is underway at the PAU Skill Development Centre.

Dr TS Riar, associate director, skill development, said the trainees will be imparted knowledge on machinery for processing of chillies and turmeric, sugar and jaggery, wheat, oilseeds and potato. In addition, experts will explain post-harvest management of fruit and vegetables, he added.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/punjab-agriculture-university-prepares-resource-to-uplift-farmers-of-india/story-XTa9eOc6a8rKhLA52g8qcP.html

 

NegOcc rice farmers get machinery, hybrid seeds from DA

By Erwin Nicavera  August 14, 2020, 5:46 pm

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BACOLOD CITY – Rice farmers in Negros Occidental received various assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA), including machinery and hybrid seeds, to boost their productivity.

As of Friday, eight rice-based farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in the province were provided with eight units of riding-type transplanter worth PHP1.6 million each, which are part of the 20 units distributed by the DA in Region 6 (Western Visayas).

The project is being implemented under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) program of DA.

Engineer Romar Areno, head of DA-Philippine Center for Post-harvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMec) Visayas Cluster, said in a statement that during rice production, the riding-type transplanter can plant young rice seedlings much faster on a wetland preparation.

It can plant in a precise row spacing and distance between hills, and adjustable depending on the desired space between 11 and 21 centimeters, he added.

FCAs applied for DA accreditation to avail of these interventions.

To qualify, members of the eligible association should have at least 50 hectares of rice areas and a minimum of 100 hectares within the peripheral barangays from the proposed location of the agricultural machinery and post-harvest facilities.

Areno said the operators of the machinery and equipment attended a hands-on training before the equipment were turned over to the association.

The FCAs are required to provide shed for the machinery and to follow the suggested service fee.

DA-6 Regional Director Remelyn Recoter said aside from mechanization, the program also aims to support the local rice farmers through the provision of quality seeds, access to credit, and rice extension service.

“All these interventions are geared toward boosting the local production of rice and improving the competitiveness of rice farmers after the quantitative restrictions on rice importation was lifted in 2019 with the passage of Republic Act 11203 also known as the Rice Tariffication Law,” she added.

Meanwhile, the DA-6 also distributed some 21,364 bags of hybrid rice seeds to rice farmers in Negros Occidental through their respective local government units (LGUs).

Through the Rice Resiliency Project (RRP), the DA provided farmers various hybrid varieties.

DA-6 Officer-In-Charge Regional Technical Director Rene Famoso encouraged all LGUs to fast track the distribution of the hybrid seeds to farmers in time for the wet cropping season.

“Farmers who have planted early could have a quick turn-around and plant hybrid rice seeds before September 15 this year which is still considered under the wet cropping season,” he added. (PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1112260

 

Sino-Pak universities to establish research center on hybrid rice

ISLAMABAD: Wuhan University-University of the Punjab Joint Research Center for Honglian Hybrid Rice is going to be established this year.

This was reported by Gwadar Pro on Friday quoting the official website of China Association for Science and Technology.

This move will boost the development of high-yield hybrid rice in Pakistan, a major rice exporter in the world, to improve domestic food safety as well as supplement rice export.

Honglian hybrid rice is one of the three major types of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) that has been commercially used in hybrid rice seed production.

In China, it is a well-known hybrid rice type developed for over 40 years by Zhu Yingguo, the late member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and expert in plant genetics and breeding. By 2020, the global acreage of Honglian hybrid rice has surpassed about 26.67 million hectares.

The production of Honglian hybrid rice in Pakistan can reach around 7,500 kg per hectare, nearly three times as much as that of many other rice varieties, according to Zhu Renshan, professor-level senior engineer of Wuhan University who is now in charge of the international cooperation on this type of rice.

“A lot of hybrid rice varieties’ high-yield performance is only confined to a specific area. In contrast, Honglian hybrid rice can create bumper harvest not only in China but also in many other countries like Pakistan,” Zhu Renshan said.

Honglian hybrid rice adapts well to Pakistan’s climate. Even under extreme high temperature or changeable weather, the seed setting rate is still stable, much higher than that of other hybrid rice varieties. Moreover, Honglian rice seed production costs less. Therefore, farmers can get higher income at the same investment.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/700859-sino-pak-universities-to-establish-research-center-on-hybrid-rice

 

Rice prices up despite surplus output

Moinul Haque | Published: 23:18, Aug 14,2020

      

 

 

The prices of rice have started to increase further in the city though the government sees a surplus of the staple food after meeting the domestic demand.

The rice prices have remained high since June, just after the bumper production of the Boro paddy, and the fresh hike would hurt the fixed-income people as a good number of city dwellers have lost their income due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

Experts said that the country’s rice prices remained unusually high for the last few months as a section of profit mongers were manipulating the market amid the flood that affected 33 of the country’s 64 districts after the harvest of the major Boro crop.

They said that the government should be deeply concerned as to why the consumers were not getting the benefit of the surplus production.

Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, however, said that the prime minister approved the summary of his ministry for importing rice to keep the prices stable.

The prices of rice went up by Tk 2 a kilogram over the last one week on the city market.

Retailers said that the prices of rice increased by Tk 100 per bag of 50 kilograms on the wholesale market while wholesalers said that the rice mill owners raised the prices after Eid-ul Azha.

The standard BR-28 variety of rice was selling for Tk 50 a kg while the fine variety for Tk 52–54 a kg in the capital on Thursday.

The standard Miniket variety was selling for Tk 56–68 while the fine variety was for Tk 60–65 a kg on the day.

Amid the rising prices of the staple food the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute in a report on Sunday said that there would be more than 55 lakh tonnes of surplus rice after meeting the local demand at the end of November this year.

BRRI director general Md Shahjahan Kabir in a virtual meeting said that there would be no shortage of food in the country as the harvest of the Aus paddy was going on and the Aman crop would start coming to the market from November.

Agro-economist and former Jahangirnagar University vice-chancellor Abdul Bayes told New Age that the price hike of rice at this time would hurt consumers as many people lost their income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Growers should benefit from price hikes of rice, he said, adding, ‘But in Bangladesh farmers get the highest 40 per cent of the price while traders and rice mill owners the rest.’

Abdul Bayes said that the government should be seriously concerned as to why the growers did not get the benefit of rice price hikes.

‘Strong market monitoring by the government is needed so that there is no further price hike increasing the woes of people already affected by the COVID-19 fallout,’ he said.

‘Despite having the surplus output the price hike of rice is unusual. It calls for a keen inquery to find out the reasons for the unusual price hike. But I think a dishonest quarter is manipulating the market,’ former president of Consumer Association of Bangladesh Ghulam Rahman told New Age on Thursday.

He said that due to the lack of legal actions a quarter of profit mongers had been creating instability in the rice market for long.

Ghulam Rahman said that the prices of rice increased but the growers were not getting the benefit of the high prices.

He said that the government plan to import rice was appropriate as it was important to keep the market stable during the pandemic.

Amid the continuous rice price hike, the food ministry in July announced that the government was thinking of importing the staple to keep the market price stable.

There was 10.21 lakh tonnes of rice in the government stock as of August 11, the food ministry official data shows.

Food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday told New Age that the prime minister had already approved the proposal for importing rice.

‘Now we are working on the import quantity and procedure. We are discussing the government-to-government procedure, slashing duties and doing away with international tendering,’ he said.

He also said that they asked the BRRI to provide authentic information to the ministry on the production and stock of paddy in the country.

‘We are collecting information about the stock as the BRRI claimed that 29 per cent of the boro paddy remained in the stock of growers,’ Sadhan Chandra said.

After scrutinising all the information, the government would finalise when and how much rice would be imported. KM Layek Ali, secretary general of Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association, said that the prices of rice increased a little bit as a supply shortage of the staple food occurred in the market.

He said that the production in most of the husking mills remained suspended for the last few days due to the bad weather and flood in a large part of the country.

Layek Ali said that the country’s husking mills produced 60 per cent of the total rice while the auto mills produced the rest 40 per cent.

The rice prices also increased as some of the big farmers hoarded the item to reap higher prices, he said.

-surplus-output

 

Cultivation Of GI-Tagged Pokkali Rice Hit Due To COVID-19 Lockdown In Kerala

Cultivation of GI-tagged Pokkali rice hit due to COVID-19 lockdown in Kerala

Photo Credit :

14August, 2020

by ANI

Alappuzha (Kerala) [India], Aug 14 (ANI): The cultivation of GI-tagged unique Pokkali rice variety has been badly hit by COVID-19 induced lockdown and flood-like situation in coastal areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts of Kerala.
"Due to pandemic, farmers couldn't prepare their field for Pokkali rice cultivation on time. As a result, most of the seedlings have died," said Dr A K Sreelatha, Vyttila Rice Research Station Head, Kerala Agricultural University.
Pokkali is a GI-tagged unique rice variety in the coastal areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur districts.
As per CV Mathew, a farmer from 
Kochi's Kumbalangi, "The water has not dried up in our fields from two or three years due to floods in the sate every year. It does not help if you don't have your own pumping system, which can't be arranged on time due to lockdown. The whole seed was destroyed last year. It was the first time something like that was happening in my life. There are not many farmers cultivating Pokkali rice because of this hardship."
The paddy crop which is usually cultivated from April 15 to November 15, is missing from most of the fields this year. Only some farmers in 
Kochi and Alappuzha are cultivating it. (ANI)

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http://www.businessworld.in/article/Cultivation-of-GI-tagged-Pokkali-rice-hit-due-to-COVID-19-lockdown-in-Kerala/14-08-2020-308741/