Yes, You Can Safely Sanitize Masks In Your Rice Cooker
No
washing machine? No problem.
AUG 21, 2020
CHAMTEUT OH
·
If you don't have a washing
machine, you can disinfect your face masks with a
rice cooker or instant pot, according to a new study.
·
Researchers at the University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign found that these multipurpose cookers are efficient for
disinfecting at temperatures above 100 degrees Celsius, sustained for 50
minutes.
·
The scientists published their findings last month in the
journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.
With face masks here to stay for the long haul, that means you'll
have to wash them consistently like any other piece of clothing—and disinfect
them, too. But if you don't have access to a washing machine to
clean your cloth covering, now you have another option: rice cookers and instant
pots.
Yes, seriously.
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Researchers from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
conducted a series of lab tests using the multipurpose appliances and found
that as long as you "cook" the masks at a temperature of at least 100
degrees Fahrenheit for 50 minutes, the method can inactivate four classes of
virus, including a type of coronavirus.
The scientists published their results last month in the
journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters.
READ THIS
What to Know
Before Making and Wearing a DIY Mask
"There are many different ways to sterilize something, but
most of them will destroy the filtration or the fit of an N95 respirator,"
Vishal Verma, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering,
said in a prepared statement. "Any
sanitation method would need to decontaminate all surfaces of the respirator,
but equally important is maintaining the filtration efficacy and the fit of the
respirator to the face of the wearer. Otherwise, it will not offer the right
protection."
In this case, the scientists used N-95 respirators, a type
of personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits tightly to the face and
filters out 95 percent of the particles
in the air. Due to a shortage of PPE, health care workers have been reusing
their masks and respirators, so a robust method for disinfecting them is vital.
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In washing machines, however, masks can become warped. That
impacts a mask's fit, and therefore, filtration. The researchers hypothesized
that the dry heat used in rice cookers and instant pots could hit a trifecta
for fit, filtration, and decontamination.
To test their theory, the scientists put N-95 masks in an instant
pot and set the cycle to a rice-cooking preset option that maintains the
contents of the cooker at about 100 degrees Celsius, or 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Maintaining that heat for 50 minutes, the team was able to disinfect the masks
of four different classes of viruses better than ultraviolet light, which
inactivates the genetic material inside a virus, causing it to drop dead.
WEAR ONE.
This Is the Most
Badass Way To Prove Masks Work
The scientists built a special chamber in Verma's aerosol-testing
lab to examine the filtration capability of the N-95 respirators after running
them through the rice cooking cycle, measuring how many particles could get
through them.
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"The respirators maintained their filtration capacity of more
than 95 percent and kept their fit, still properly seated on the wearer’s face,
even after 20 cycles of decontamination in the electric cooker," Verma
said.
If you want to try out this method for yourself, keep these tips
in mind:
→ Dry heat is essential—you
should not add any water to the cooker. You must maintain the temperature at a
minimum of 100 degrees Celsius, for at least 50 minutes.
→ Fold up a dry towel and place
it along the bottom of the cooker to keep the mask from touching the sides of
the dish. Because the surface of the pot is hotter than the melting point of
the masks, you must keep them from coming into direct contact.
→ You may place multiple masks in the
pot at the same time as long as they don't touch the sides and you can still
fit the lid on top.
It's important to note the scientists only tested out this method
on an instant pot and a rice cooker. If you want to use a similar household
appliance—perhaps a crockpot or a pressure cooker—make sure you're meeting the
criteria above.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/a33598002/sanitize-mask-rice-cooker-instant-pot/
7 Impressive Health Benefits of
Barley That Might Surprise You
If you're looking for lots of extra
fiber, you're going to want to opt for this grain versus brown rice.
Aug 21, 2020
ANDREY ZHURAVLEVGETTY IMAGES
Who doesn’t love a thick, steamy bowl of mushroom-barley soup?
There’s a good reason to slurp it down, besides the yum factor: Barley, one of
those ancient grains we’ve been hearing so much about, has a host of health
benefits.
You can find barley in a range of forms: not just the
most-familiar pearled barley (made
famous in that mushroom-barley soup), but also barley flour, flakes, grits, and more.
Like other whole grains, it’s super-good for you—in fact, epidemiological studies have linked eating barley with the
potential to reduce the risk of certain diseases.
First, is barley better for you
than rice?
Barley and brown rice both
have their benefits. If you're avoiding gluten, then brown rice should be your
go-to, because barley has gluten. When it comes to folate and vitamin E, brown
rice wins; but barley takes the trophy for fiber (it has much, much more) and
calcium.
Beyond this, what are the specific health powers of barley? More
research is needed, but here’s what the science is showing about the benefits
of barley:
Barley is a good source of fiber.
Barley is a delicious way to up your fiber content.
“And fiber has a range of health benefits, from supporting healthy digestion to
helping with weight loss by enhancing satiety to promoting better glycemic
control,” says Stefani Sassos MS, RDN, the
registered dietician with the Good Housekeeping Institute. Among
whole grains, barley is one of the best sources of fiber, and it happens to be
a type of fiber that’s especially healthy: just one cup of pearled barley has 6 grams of
fiber, and only 193 calories. Along with that fiber,
barley also has 3.5 grams of protein—not anywhere close to the amount in other
whole grains like quinoa, kamut, or
teff, but it’s something.
ISTETIANAGETTY IMAGES
Barley gives you a nice dose of
vitamins and minerals.
Barley has a good amount of several different nutrients that help
keep your body humming. It has niacin, a B vitamin that our body uses to turn
food into energy; niacin is also key for our nervous and digestive systems
and for the health of our skin.
Barley is a good source of another B vitamin, B6, which helps our brains and
our immune systems.
The grain is mineral-rich, as well. Barley provides a big dose of manganese (an
essential nutrient that helps to keep our body running), selenium (important
for a healthy thyroid), and
phospherous (for healthy bones and teeth, among other things), as well as a
decent amount of iron.
Barley is high in phytochemicals.
Phyto-whats?! These substances are,
simply, chemicals found in plants (“phyto” means plant). There are thousands
and thousands of different types, and scientists know less about them than they
know about vitamins and minerals — but they have figured out that they may be
one of the things in plants that help prevent diseases like heart disease and
cancer. And researchers have
found that barley is rich a few different types.
Barley may protect against heart
disease.
Barley contains flavonoids, which are among the more highly-researched phytochemicals.
Flavonoids are the substance in whole grains that's thought to help protect
against heart disease, and
even cancer. Blue and purple barley grains have the highest amount of
flavonoids among the different barley varieties.
Barley might help protect against
stroke.
More research is needed on this, but among whole grains, barley is
one of the best sources of a phytochemical called tocols, which has been
reported to have antioxidant properties, and has been found to potentially
reduce the risk of stroke.
OUR BEST BARLEY RECIPES
Instant Pot Beef
and Barley Stew
Beef, Shiitake and
Barley Soup
Barley may help reduce cholesterol.
Again, more research is
needed, but barley has a phytochemical called phytosterols. These are found in
other whole grains (barley has less of it than some other varieties). It’s
thought to be responsible for whole grain’s potential for lowering cholesterol.
Barley may contain powerful
lignons.
Lignons are a phytochemical that are thought to have a superhero’s
level of effects: Scientists think they’re antioxidant, anti-tumor, antiviral,
and antibacterial, and that they may protect against coronary heart disease.
It’s not certain, but researchers think that barley contains this substance.
Overall, barley is a delicious way
to boost your nutrition.
“Barley is an incredibly versatile grain with an impressive
nutrient profile,” says Sassos. “At home, we often stuff peppers or tomatoes
with barley instead of rice for extra nutritional benefits and fiber. Of
course, it works great in both cold and warm grain salads, but if you only have
a little left over, simply use it as garnish on salads or other dishes for a
nutritious boost that adds great texture to any meal. Barley is great in stews, and if you
really cook barley down, it can act as a risotto. I've also tried barley in
porridge form, which is actually delicious! And when baking, consider barley
flour—it has a sweet, nutty-flavor and is great when you use it in breads or
even pancake batter.”
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a33667216/barley-health-benefits/
In Memory: Dennis
Lindberg
USA Rice extends condolences to the family and friends of Dennis
"Denny" Lindberg, who passed away August 14, at the age of 96 after a
brief illness. He is survived by his
wife, Charlotte; daughter, Sherry; son, Gary; and their families.
Denny was passionate about many things, including rice farming and
his community of Richvale. He grew rice
for more than 75 consecutive seasons, chaired the group that wrote the book,
"Richvale: A Legacy of Courage, Dedication and Perseverance," and provided
written and video blogs for the California Rice Commission. Denny was also well-known for his scrap metal
animal sculptures, which can be seen throughout the Richvale area. His civic work and love of community was
evidenced by his being honored as "Outstanding Citizen of the 20th
Century" by Lundberg Family Farms.
"It was always pleasurable to work with and interact with
Denny," said Mark Kimmelshue of the Associated Rice Marketing Cooperative
in Richvale. "His support of and
positive outlook for the California rice industry set an example for others and
demonstrated his devotion to the industry and community he loved."
No services are planned beyond a private burial due to present
restrictions. Memorial contributions can
be made to the Community Foundation of Richvale, care of Carl Hoff at BUCRA,
P.O. Box 128, Richvale, California 95974; the Rice Research Trust, P.O. Box
3-6, Biggs, California 95917; or a favorite charity.
USA Rice Meets with Iraqi Trade Officials
By Jesica Kincaid
WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, USA Rice joined representatives here
from U.S. Wheat Associates, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service to meet with a
contingent from Iraq's Ministry of Trade.
The Iraqi officials were part of a larger delegation visiting
Washington for meetings with the U.S. government, including a meeting between
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi and President Trump. The visit came on the heels of last week's
$450 million Export-Import financing announcement for the Trade Bank of Iraq to
facilitate purchases of U.S. goods and services, including rice and wheat.
USA Rice Vice President of International Trade Policy Peter
Bachmann participated in the meeting and shared USA Rice's appreciation of the
strong partnership between the government of Iraq and the U.S. rice industry.
"We look forward to working with the Iraq Grain Board in
utilizing this new channel to finance the purchase of high quality, U.S. milled
rice," said Bachmann. "The
U.S.-Iraq Memorandums of Understanding provide existing frameworks to maximize
the use of the recently announced Ex-Im Bank loan."
Bachmann added: "With
shrinking grain supplies in Iraq further exacerbated by the logistical and
pricing effects of COVID-19, it is perfect timing for the Iraqi Grain Board to
take advantage of the 2020 U.S. rice crop coming off the fields right
now."
The existing U.S.-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding for rice remains
in effect through December
2021.
House panel OKs bill creating the
Bataan Rice Research and Development Center
Published August 21, 2020, 8:57 AM
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food
has passed a bill seeking the creation of the Bataan Rice Research and
Development Center, which seeks to assist rice farmers in producing and
marketing rice-based products.
MANILA BULLETIN
FILE PHOTO
The panel, chaired by Quezon 1st District
Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga approved the amended House Bill No. 4626,
principally authored by Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman during its
recent virtual meeting.
“HB 4626 aims to establish a Rice Research
Development Centre in the first district of Bataan. The original idea is to
establish it in a town of Dinalupihan, after consultations with the president
and members of the College of Agriculture of the Bataan Peninsula State
University, I have decided and I am proposing for your consideration to amend
the bill to rename it as Bataan Rice Research and Development Center to be
located in the Abucay campus of the Bataan Peninsula State University,” Roman
said in her sponsorship speech.
She said the Abucay campus of the state
university is solely dedicated to students of agriculture.
“The idea is basically there will be
research on how to develop rice derivatives and also teach our farmers. We will
have laboratories there,” the House leader said.
“Bataan Peninsula State University, through
its president, has expressed its excitement over this recent development.”
During the virtual deliberation on the
bill, Philippine Rice Research Institute ( PhilRice) Executive Director John de
Leon said they do not have disagreement with Roman’s proposal, but he suggested
that PhilRice be considered as one of the agencies that “will collaborate” with
the proposed Center.
HB 4626 seeks to help rice farmers augment
their income by promoting and assisting them in the manufacture and marketing
of rice-based products.
Roman said among the duties and functions
of the proposed Center are to integrate, collate, and support research,
programs and studies on rice-based product development and marketing; conduct
continuing research on rice-based product development; undertake research and
generate relevant, efficient, cost effective and scientifically viable
approaches to achieve greater sustainability in rice-based product development;
impart technical knowledge and train rice farmers on rice-based product
development; and upgrade the entrepreneurial skills of rice farmers through
training courses, seminars, and workshops.
She said the Center is also expected to
collaborate with national, regional, and international research institutions
with knowledge and expertise on rice-based product research and development. It
shall coordinate with local government units, non-government organisations, and
private sector groups and interests involved in rice-based product development,
she added.
Roman said the Center is also tasked to
facilitate access to loans to establish and operate a rice-based product
development business, and encourage the creation of farmer cooperatives to
achieve efficiencies in rice-based product development, better qualify for
business loans, and boost marketing initiatives.
“It shall also receive and manage grants,
aid, donations, or any kind of assistance or gratuity from donors, foreign or
domestic, to better achieve the Center’s objectives,” she said.
Under the bill, the Center will be headed
by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Department of
Agriculture (DA)
The Executive Director shall be a
recognized agriculturalist with extensive experience in rice-based product
research and development or a highly regarded entrepreneur in the field.
HB 4626 provides that the amount necessary
for the implementation of the proposed Act shall be charged affairs the
appropriations of the DA. Thereafter, the required budget for the continued
implementation of the proposed Act shall be submitted to the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act
(GAA).
The DA Secretary shall issue the
implementing rules and regulations of the proposed Act within 60 days from its
effectivity.
Chipotle reveals the secret to its Cilantro Lime Rice
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
BY TRACY MORIN/AUG. 20, 2020 4:09 PM EDT
Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice has inspired a loyal following,
plenty of copycat recipes, and even a low-carb cauliflower version for testing
in select locations this summer. But now it's blowing up the internet with a
new viral video on Chipotle's TikTok channel, which shows the process (albeit
in fast-forward fashion — this is TikTok, after all) behind making the chain's
beloved burrito-, taco-, and bowl-filler. And, despite the vocal group of
cilantro haters out there, the recipe has received nearly 7 million views in
mere days.
In the video, backed by borderline-creepy, singsongy instructions,
an unseen Chipotle chef whips up a batch of white rice cooked in water and oil,
then pours citrus juice into a bowl of cilantro and stirs with a spatula. The
cooked rice is added to the cilantro-juice mix, sprinkled with a hefty dose of
salt, and mixed together. Voilà!
Okay, so it's not exactly rocket science, but many TikTok users
were feelin' it. One said, "This is my new favorite video," while
another added, "Now I'm going to make this all the time." Even the
video's quirky style and song received kudos for its "extremely
TikTok" vibe that garnered cool-cred with the Gen Z crowd (via In the
Know).
Is salt the real 'secret sauce' in Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice?
TikTok
On Chipotle's nutrition page, the rice's ingredients listed include
a bay leaf (not seen in the video, but presumably added to the rice before
cooking), cilantro, lemon and lime juices, rice bran oil, salt, water, and
white rice. Need actual measurements? One TikTok reply came from a user,
@fatalexistence97, who claimed to be an ex-employee and shares that the recipe
requires a "deep pan" of white rice, a half-cup of citrus juice, two
cups of cilantro, and two tablespoons of salt.
Yep, two tablespoons. The rice packs in 350 milligrams of sodium in
the portion you'd receive in a standard Burrito Bowl or a taco, for example. To
put that in perspective, the CDC recommends consuming less than 2,300
milligrams per day, so the rice will take up about 15 percent of the daily
limit. And let's face it: Most people aren't hitting Chipotle for a scoop of
rice alone.
It's not a huge surprise that the rice is salt-packed — despite the
"health halo" it often evokes, Chipotle has been criticized for its
sky-high sodium counts. LiveStrong notes that the chain's sodium stats
"could be considered one of its biggest downsides," but that's not
exactly unique in the fast food landscape.
The good news is, now that Chipotle has shared the method behind
its famous Cilantro Lime Rice, when you're whipping it up at home, you can put
in as little (or as much) salt as your heart desires — or can handle.
- News
- Increased
global mortality linked to arsenic exposure in rice-based diets
Industry News: Increased global mortality linked to arsenic
exposure in rice-based diets
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food source for a large part of
the world’s population
04 Aug 2020
Rice is the most widely consumed staple food source for a large
part of the world’s population. It has now been confirmed that rice can
contribute to prolonged low-level arsenic exposure leading to thousands of
avoidable premature deaths per year.
Arsenic is well known acute poison, but it can also contribute
to health problems, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases, if consumed
at even relatively low concentrations over an extended period of time.
Compared to other staple foods, rice tends to concentrate
inorganic arsenic. Across the globe, over three billion people consume rice as
their major staple and the inorganic arsenic in that rice has been estimated by
some to give rise to over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths per year.
A collaborating group of cross-Manchester researchers from The
University of Manchester and The University of Salford have published new
research exploring the relationship, in England and Wales, between the
consumption of rice and cardiovascular diseases caused by arsenic exposure.
Their findings, published in the journal Science of the Total
Environment, shows that - once corrected for the major factors known to
contribute to cardiovascular disease (for example obesity, smoking, age, lack
of income, lack of education) there is a significant association between
elevated cardiovascular mortality, recorded at a local authority level, and the
consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing rice.
Professor David Polya from The University of Manchester said: “The type of study undertaken, an ecological study, has
many limitations, but is a relatively inexpensive way of determining if there
is plausible link between increased consumption of inorganic arsenic bearing
rice and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Polya from The University of Manchester said: “The study suggests that the highest 25 % of rice
consumers in England and Wales may plausibly be at greater risks of
cardiovascular mortality due to inorganic arsenic exposure compared to the
lowest 25 % of rice consumers.
“The modelled increased risk is around 6 % (with a confidence
interval for this figure of 2 % to 11 %). The increased risk modelled might
also reflect in part a combination of the susceptibility, behaviours and
treatment of those communities in England and Wales with relatively high rice
diets.”
While more robust types of study are required to confirm the
result, given many of the beneficial effects otherwise of eating rice due to
its high fibre content, the research team suggest that rather than avoid eating
rice, people could consume rice varieties, such as basmati, and different types
like polished rice (rather whole grain rice) which are known to typically have
lower inorganic arsenic contents. Other positive behaviours would be to eat a
balanced variety of staples, not just predominately rice.
The lead author, Ms Lingqian Xu, is a President's Doctoral
Scholarship Award recipient from the University of Manchester and supervised by
Professor David Polya (The University of Manchester) and Dr Debapriya Mondal
(University of Salford). Mr Qian Li is a former Masters of Pollution and
Environmental Control (MPEC) student from The University of Manchester.
Rice Fruit’s sustainable efforts add up over time
August
21, 2020 10:27 AM
Print
Many sustainable changes and choices save businesses
money.
Other
changes require an upfront investment that may be hard to swallow, especially
during this economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.
Other
times, you do it because it’s the right thing to do, she said.
“Rice
Fruit is adding sustainable packaging options that are available and new today,
which often are more costly to implement, but in time, as the industry makes
moves and more people make these packaging choices, the costs will come down.
That’s the normal cycle of how things work,” Briggs said.
As the
fall apple season
ramps up, Rice Fruit will have a new tote bag for retail and farmers markets,
which is 100% recyclable as always, but there’s now a label made of the same
material as the bag.
“Of
course, it comes at a cost, but we think it is worthwhile.”
Rice
Fruit has made huge strides.
In 2018,
the company installed on the roof of a controlled atmosphere storage building a
130-kilowatt DC solar array.
A solar
array is a collection of multiple solar panels that generate electricity in DC
form, converting it to AC form, which makes it usable for a building’s
electrical outlets. For perspective, a 5-kilowatt array can power a typical
household for a day.
Also,
the company signed up for a Green/Renewable Energy Initiative addendum with its
electricity supplier, which ensures that a 100% equivalent of its annual
consumption is renewably generated.
That
contract costs more than the standard electrical rate, Briggs said.
However,
the company gets a break: Almost half of the cost of the solar array was
covered by a grant of $140,000 from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing
Authority and Pennsylvania Office of Economic and Community Development.
Rice
Fruit also has reduced its average electric lighting consumption annually by
75%, she said, by transitioning all facilities to LED lighting.
“We’ve
been working on this several years. Each year we convert or upgrade several 100
fixtures,” Briggs said.
The
company continues to install variable frequency drives that reduce the average
consumption of packing machinery.
In 2020,
the company deployed more than 40 drives over packing lines and machinery to
help drive down electrical consumption.
DA-Caraga vows
to continue farm mechanization amid pandemic
By Alexander Lopez August 21, 2020, 6:26 pm
FARM MECHANIZATION. Agusan del Norte Governor Dale B. Corvera (right) and
Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo (2nd from right) of the Department
of Agriculture in Caraga Region lead the distribution of over PHP79 million
worth of farm machinery and equipment to different farmers’ association on
Thursday (Aug. 20, 2020) in Taguibo, Butuan City. Monteagudo says DA-13 will
continue the agency's farm mechanization program in Caraga Region even amid the
coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. (Photo
courtesy of the Agusan Up Facebook Page)
BUTUAN CITY – The threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will
not hinder the implementation of the farm mechanization program in Caraga
Region, according to the Department of Agriculture in Region 13 (DA-13).
On Thursday (August 20), DA-13 said a total of PHP79.7 million farm machinery
and equipment were handed over to different rice-based farmers’ and irrigators’
associations in the province of Agusan del Norte in a ceremony held in Barangay
Taguibo, Butuan City.
DA-13 Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said the continuing
implementation of the farm mechanization program of the agency is part of the
priorities of DA Secretary William Dar.
“The advancement of farm equipment through mechanization will continue to help
farmers increase their farm productivity,” Monteagudo said.
Farm mechanization is under the DA’s Philippine Center for Postharvest
Development and Mechanization (PhilMec) with the support of the agency’s Rice
Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
Among the recipients of the program in Agusan del Norte include the Kahugpungan
sa mga Mag-uuma Alang sa Lamdag nga Kaugmaon (Kamalaka) Irrigator’s Association
from Barangay Sanghan, Cabadbaran City; the Tagbongabong Farmers Association
(TFA) from Tagbongabong, Remedios T. Romualdez town; Sto. Nino Muti-Purpose
Cooperative (SNMPC) from Sto. Nino, Butuan City; and the Taguibo IPM Irrigators
Association (TIIA) from Barangay Taguibo, Butuan City.
Kamalaka received a four-wheel tractor with one riding-type trans-planter and
one combined harvester.
Kamalaka president Ruenston Delalamon expressed thanks to the government,
saying the equipment will greatly benefit their association and members.
“Before, our association just visualized having these pieces of machinery and
equipment that could lessen the burden that we are facing during land
preparation and harvesting season. We even hire laborers from other places for
additional manpower during both seasons. We are very glad that through this,
our vision for our farms will not be in vain anymore,” Delalamon said.
Another group, the TFA also received seven units of floating tillers, a
four-wheel tractor, and a combined harvester.
“The months of waiting for the turnover of the machinery and equipment is over.
This is a big boost to us in the organization. We express thanks to the
government for the support we received despite the threat of the pandemic,” TFA
chairperson Jimmy Loreno said.
A unit of a four-wheel tractor with one combined harvester was also given to
TIIA while the SNMPC was given one unit of a precision seeder.
Agusan del Norte governor Dale B. Corvera, who witnessed the turn-over
ceremony, thanked e DA-13 for its continued support to the farmers in Agusan
del Norte and the rest of the region.
“I see this as a competition for the development of the economy of our region
since we are blessed with an agri-based Caraga region,” Corvera, who also
chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) said.
He said the best thing the government can do to improve agriculture production
is to invest in agriculture and to the farmers.
“I’m glad that the mindset of our farmers changed through the years. Before
they go into farming to have some food in the table but now, we go into farming
to develop our economy, to create a business,” Corvera said.
He also stressed the importance of education to strengthen the various
agricultural programs in the region.
“I hope that our future generation here in Caraga will eye for a progressive
agriculture sector by studying agriculture-related education. For our farmers
who have experienced technological advancements, they should encourage their
children to continue what had been started,” Corvera said. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1113024
Despite
disasters, harvest expected to be successful
By WANG XIAOYU | China Daily | Updated: 2020-08-21 09:22
Natural disasters this year -
including the severe flooding along the Yangtze River - have not dented
prospects for a bumper harvest in China, and the country's overall food
security is guaranteed, Yu Kangzhen, vice-minister of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on Thursday.
China's early rice output reached 27.3 million metric tons this
year, up 1.03 million tons from last year, according to data released by the
National Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday.
While the year-on-year increase is modest, Yu said the uptick
represented a significant landmark as this year's early rice production had
reversed a seven-year trend of decline.
Meanwhile, the summer grain output this year was reported to
have reached a historic high of 142.8 million tons this year, up by 1.21
million tons from last year, official data show.
With all eyes now set on autumn grain production-which accounts
for 70 percent of the nation's total grain production annually-Yu said
monitoring data show that areas used to grow autumn crops have registered a
slight increase, and the growth of crops is positive.
"Local governments have taken active measures to prevent
and mitigate the impact of natural disasters, and the resumption of production
is timely and effective," he said.
This year, China has countered massive flooding in the middle
and lower reaches of the Yangtze; serious drought in its northeastern
provinces; and typhoons hitting some coastal areas in the south, according to
Yu.
These disasters have exerted a toll on autumn grain planting in
parts of Northeast China and rice production in some southern provinces, but
most regions have witnessed a better growth of crops compared to last year, Yu
said.
"Drought and flooding did not change the stable and
positive trend of this year's grain production," Yu explained."We
will witness a bumper harvest if no major disasters occur for the rest of the
year."
He added that China's grain stocks have been maintained at a
high level so far, fu
rther securing the country's food
supply and contributing to stabilizing grain prices.
"There are about 40 days left before we will begin
harvesting autumn grains on a large scale," he said. "Our work will
be rooted in combating disasters step by step and aiming for a full
harvest."
Yu said celebrations during the Chinese Farmers' Harvest
Festival, which falls on each year's autumn equinox and will be celebrated on
Sept 22 this year, will demonstrate the stable footing of the country's
agricultural and rural sector and will boost confidence in socioeconomic
development.
The core festival event will be held in Yuncheng, Shanxi
province. It will be the first time the event is held outside Beijing since the
festival was created in June 2018.
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202008/21/WS5f3f21bba310834817261c70.html
VinaSeed’s rice products conquer
international market
Update: August, 21/2020 - 14:41
Vinarice’s rice processing plant.
Vinarice has received FSSC22000 certification from the UK’s Bureau Veritas
after a strict and rigorous assessment process. — Photo courtesy of The PAN
Group
HCM CITY — Vietnam Rice Company Limited
(Vinarice) of Vinaseed – a member of The PAN Group, has obtained the
certificate of food safety management systems (FSSC 22000) for processing,
packaging and distribution by Bureau Veritas – the UK's leading independent
organisation for certification.
This certification will help Vietnamese rice
products to the EU as one of the most comprehensive food safety standards
established based on a combination of two certificates ISO 22000 and PAS 220.
From the beginning of Vinarice's establishment,
Vinaseed chose the FSSC22000 management systems to follow, invested in modern
facilities and applied Japanese technologies. Only less than eight months into
operation, Vinarice has received FSSC22000 certification after a strict and
rigorous assessment process. This has a special meaning in the context of the
EU – Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which officially took effect
from August 1.
According to the agreement, the EU will give
Việt Nam an export quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice per year with a tariff of 0
per cent.
In July, Vinaseed exported VJ Pearl Rice and
RVT fragrant rice to Netherlands and Czech Republic at a price of US$1,040 per
tonne. This week, the company will export Ban Mai white rice and Phúc Thọ
brown rice to Australia.
These are the first Vietnamese branded rice
products which have imported officially to the European market. The
high-quality products are used Vietnamese rice varieties, grown, harvested and
processed in Việt Nam, meeting all strict standards and conditions covering
from raw material development to final product quality control.
Nguyễn Quang Trường, CEO of Vinaseed, said:
“Vinaseed has been prepared since the EVFTA was under discussion. It developed
sustainable agricultural production areas according to VietGAP standards."
In 2019, Vinaseed's total export volume to the
EU market reached 2,000 tonnes for a value of $2 million. The PAN Group member
company aims to double its exports to about 5,000 tonnes in 2020 when new
tariffs of zero per cent will make its products become more competitive, Trường
added. — VNS
https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/771424/vinaseeds-rice-products-conquer-international-market.html
POSCO
International signs MoU to support Myanmar rice industry
Created:
Friday, 21 August 2020 10:14
South Korean POSCO International
Corp has signed a MoU with the Rural Development Administration (RDA), a move
that is set to boost Myanmar’s rice sector
The initiatove aims to train
local farmers on the techniques of cultivation and post-harvest management.
(Image source: Sasin Tipchai/Pixabay)
With
the agreement, the two organisations aim to develop a public-private
cooperative relationship. RDA is expected
to share its rice production technological skills with Myanmar rice farms
and POSCO will help in processing and distributing raw
local rice.
Additionally, POSCO and RDA have
promised to train local farmers on the techniques of cultivation as well as
post-harvest management. As reported by The Korea Times, post-evaluation will be provided to help Myanmar rice farmers to improve rice
quality.
With
the MoU, POSCO aims to expand its sales footprints in
China, Africa and Europe with quality raw materials processed in Myanmar, the
source further added.
POSCO operates
rice processing and exporting business in Myanmar. In
2017, POSCO International acquired a rice processing
plant with an annual capacity of 1.5 million tonnes in Myanmar. Last year, the
company constructed a new one that can process 8.6 million tonnes yearly.
Lagos mill will crash rice price – Govt
The Lagos State Acting Commissioner for Agriculture, Ms. Abisola
Olusanya, on Thursday said there would be steady supply of paddy from local
farmers for the 32 metric tonnes per hour Imota Rice Mill.
She spoke on the sidelines of an inspection tour of the rice
mill by members of the state House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, led by
its Chairman, Kehinde Joseph.
Olusanya, who assured that the mill would be completed in
December 2020, explained that rice farmers in the state were getting the needed
support of the state government to ensure that they had a hitch-free planting
season.
“On Tuesday, we kicked off the rice farmers’
sensitisation, training and empowerment programme for over 800 rice farmers in
Lagos State.
“The reason is even if we are going to source for paddy
from other localities, we should start from our own Lagos farmers, our Eko rice
farmers,” she added.
The acting commissioner noted that no fewer than 250,000 job
opportunities would be created along the value chains.
Joseph charged contractors handling the mill to hasten work on
the project.
He said the committee was overseeing the project to ensure that
percentage of work done so far was commensurate with the money released by the
state government.
https://punchng.com/lagos-mill-will-crash-rice-price-govt/
Rice Prices
as on :
21-08-2020 08:29:39 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals |
Price |
|||||
Current |
% |
Season |
Modal |
Prev. |
Prev.Yr |
|
Rice |
||||||
Bangalore(Kar) |
1813.00 |
11.16 |
138527.00 |
4950 |
4950 |
10.00 |
Bangarpet(Kar) |
330.00 |
-9.59 |
9451.00 |
2100 |
2200 |
- |
Shahjahanpur(UP) |
300.00 |
-9.09 |
8621.00 |
2605 |
2605 |
-0.38 |
Sultanpur(UP) |
250.00 |
-16.67 |
8637.00 |
2300 |
2350 |
-16.36 |
Varanasi(Grain)(UP) |
130.00 |
8.33 |
3029.00 |
2675 |
2700 |
12.16 |
Mandya(Kar) |
122.00 |
-44.55 |
6934.00 |
2450 |
2100 |
- |
Azamgarh(UP) |
110.00 |
-8.33 |
6516.70 |
2565 |
2560 |
5.12 |
Barhaj(UP) |
100.00 |
25 |
11315.00 |
2570 |
2570 |
7.08 |
Gorakhpur(UP) |
87.50 |
4.79 |
1732.20 |
2560 |
2550 |
- |
Dadri(UP) |
70.00 |
-26.32 |
2635.00 |
5950 |
5950 |
- |
Hardoi(UP) |
60.00 |
-14.29 |
9227.80 |
2500 |
2450 |
NC |
Kandi(WB) |
60.00 |
-14.29 |
1945.50 |
2640 |
2700 |
3.53 |
Kopaganj(UP) |
59.00 |
NC |
1996.00 |
2570 |
2570 |
4.68 |
Ballia(UP) |
50.00 |
NC |
3443.00 |
2650 |
2620 |
10.42 |
Ghaziabad(UP) |
50.00 |
-16.67 |
3120.00 |
2850 |
5990 |
-2.40 |
Kanpur(Grain)(UP) |
50.00 |
25 |
6110.00 |
2150 |
2350 |
-12.24 |
Sehjanwa(UP) |
50.00 |
11.11 |
3012.50 |
2570 |
2575 |
18.98 |
Bindki(UP) |
50.00 |
-28.57 |
6320.00 |
2500 |
2500 |
5.04 |
Chintamani(Kar) |
46.00 |
84 |
656.00 |
2500 |
2500 |
11.11 |
Saharanpur(UP) |
42.00 |
-2.33 |
3075.50 |
2785 |
2780 |
-5.27 |
Khalilabad(UP) |
40.00 |
14.29 |
2225.00 |
2550 |
2550 |
13.33 |
Jaunpur(UP) |
39.00 |
95 |
1729.50 |
2675 |
2650 |
13.35 |
Raibareilly(UP) |
38.50 |
413.33 |
1748.50 |
2430 |
2450 |
8.00 |
Aligarh(UP) |
35.00 |
-12.5 |
4847.00 |
2550 |
2550 |
NC |
Allahabad(UP) |
35.00 |
-36.36 |
2832.50 |
2500 |
2555 |
-3.85 |
Mainpuri(UP) |
35.00 |
18.64 |
4316.50 |
2620 |
2620 |
-0.38 |
Chorichora(UP) |
33.00 |
10 |
1696.50 |
2555 |
2550 |
7.13 |
Meerut(UP) |
32.50 |
18.18 |
1173.50 |
2830 |
2830 |
-4.71 |
Faizabad(UP) |
32.00 |
1.59 |
1832.50 |
2420 |
2425 |
1.89 |
Muradabad(UP) |
30.00 |
-14.29 |
2027.00 |
2620 |
2600 |
2.75 |
Firozabad(UP) |
27.50 |
-1.79 |
1981.10 |
2630 |
2620 |
- |
Balrampur(UP) |
27.00 |
3.85 |
1286.00 |
2420 |
2410 |
5.22 |
Bidar(Kar) |
26.00 |
NC |
219.00 |
2400 |
2400 |
-4.00 |
Mathura(UP) |
26.00 |
-7.14 |
3327.50 |
2550 |
2550 |
-0.78 |
Sindhanur(Kar) |
25.00 |
-3.85 |
614.00 |
1700 |
1840 |
-5.56 |
Badayoun(UP) |
25.00 |
212.5 |
1145.50 |
2600 |
2650 |
3.17 |
Basti(UP) |
25.00 |
11.11 |
2007.50 |
2565 |
2565 |
5.34 |
Choubepur(UP) |
25.00 |
-16.67 |
2672.45 |
2480 |
2500 |
-7.29 |
Agra(UP) |
24.00 |
33.33 |
3674.00 |
2650 |
2640 |
-0.38 |
Bahraich(UP) |
23.60 |
1.72 |
1293.80 |
2415 |
2415 |
-0.62 |
Muzzafarnagar(UP) |
22.00 |
120 |
4726.00 |
2790 |
2785 |
-5.58 |
Paliakala(UP) |
21.00 |
-16 |
901.00 |
2400 |
2430 |
5.96 |
Partaval(UP) |
20.00 |
-27.27 |
927.00 |
2545 |
2540 |
11.38 |
Vilaspur(UP) |
20.00 |
-9.09 |
1853.20 |
2600 |
2605 |
3.59 |
Shamli(UP) |
19.00 |
18.75 |
1530.40 |
2785 |
2780 |
0.91 |
Utraula(UP) |
19.00 |
2.7 |
787.20 |
2420 |
2420 |
- |
Banda(UP) |
18.00 |
20 |
444.50 |
2410 |
2400 |
2.99 |
Rampur(UP) |
17.00 |
-10.53 |
821.50 |
2625 |
2620 |
2.54 |
Etawah(UP) |
16.00 |
-11.11 |
2706.50 |
2515 |
2520 |
-3.27 |
Karvi(UP) |
15.00 |
87.5 |
744.00 |
2400 |
2440 |
1.48 |
Rasda(UP) |
15.00 |
-6.25 |
668.50 |
2575 |
2550 |
1070.45 |
Robertsganj(UP) |
14.00 |
-12.5 |
374.10 |
2490 |
2490 |
5.51 |
Unnao(UP) |
13.50 |
-12.9 |
44.00 |
6650 |
6675 |
95.59 |
Raath(UP) |
13.50 |
73.08 |
322.20 |
2350 |
2350 |
- |
Pratapgarh(UP) |
13.00 |
NC |
557.50 |
2415 |
2410 |
8.05 |
Sahiyapur(UP) |
13.00 |
-23.53 |
2782.00 |
2560 |
2560 |
5.79 |
Bharthna(UP) |
13.00 |
-7.14 |
2431.50 |
2550 |
2560 |
-3.41 |
Mawana(UP) |
12.00 |
9.09 |
414.20 |
2800 |
2810 |
- |
Devariya(UP) |
11.00 |
57.14 |
1159.50 |
2570 |
2570 |
6.20 |
Soharatgarh(UP) |
10.50 |
-19.23 |
1668.20 |
2560 |
2565 |
4.92 |
Kayamganj(UP) |
10.00 |
25 |
2119.00 |
2500 |
2490 |
-6.02 |
Shimoga(Kar) |
9.00 |
-10 |
168.00 |
2075 |
2075 |
- |
Etah(UP) |
8.50 |
-29.17 |
534.00 |
2590 |
2580 |
1.17 |
Bijnaur(UP) |
8.00 |
14.29 |
296.00 |
2600 |
2600 |
9.70 |
Pukhrayan(UP) |
8.00 |
-46.67 |
708.00 |
2460 |
2470 |
4.68 |
Ajuha(UP) |
8.00 |
14.29 |
491.00 |
2520 |
2520 |
2.86 |
Fatehpur(UP) |
7.70 |
-18.95 |
2382.60 |
2485 |
2490 |
5.74 |
Kannauj(UP) |
7.00 |
-6.67 |
511.10 |
2450 |
2460 |
-7.20 |
Mohamadabad(UP) |
5.50 |
-15.38 |
936.80 |
2470 |
2480 |
- |
Atarra(UP) |
5.00 |
-50 |
931.00 |
2400 |
2430 |
1.69 |
Mirzapur(UP) |
5.00 |
25 |
344.50 |
2675 |
2675 |
10.77 |
Jahangirabad(UP) |
4.00 |
14.29 |
333.00 |
2650 |
2660 |
-1.12 |
Kasganj(UP) |
4.00 |
-20 |
548.50 |
2580 |
2570 |
0.39 |
Tundla(UP) |
4.00 |
NC |
330.50 |
2630 |
2630 |
1.94 |
Bangarmau(UP) |
3.50 |
40 |
222.20 |
2450 |
2465 |
6.52 |
Chitwadagaon(UP) |
3.50 |
16.67 |
500.30 |
2640 |
2580 |
25.71 |
Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP) |
3.30 |
10 |
649.80 |
2480 |
2460 |
-4.62 |
Fatehpur Sikri(UP) |
3.20 |
-23.81 |
176.10 |
2580 |
2550 |
0.39 |
Naanpara(UP) |
3.20 |
-27.27 |
718.60 |
2410 |
2405 |
2.12 |
Achalda(UP) |
3.00 |
NC |
389.90 |
2500 |
2500 |
13.12 |
Lucknow(UP) |
3.00 |
-18.92 |
5000.80 |
2460 |
2475 |
-11.35 |
Jhijhank(UP) |
3.00 |
-85 |
500.50 |
2500 |
2485 |
- |
Jayas(UP) |
2.70 |
17.39 |
746.40 |
1770 |
1780 |
-15.71 |
Mahoba(UP) |
2.70 |
-10 |
492.80 |
2450 |
2440 |
8.17 |
Mugrabaadshahpur(UP) |
2.30 |
15 |
89.60 |
2610 |
2610 |
16.52 |
Auraiya(UP) |
2.00 |
NC |
279.10 |
2520 |
2550 |
-3.82 |
Bareilly(UP) |
2.00 |
-83.33 |
2047.00 |
2610 |
2600 |
3.16 |
Kosikalan(UP) |
2.00 |
-42.86 |
276.00 |
2560 |
2560 |
1.99 |
Wazirganj(UP) |
2.00 |
33.33 |
54.50 |
2590 |
2610 |
- |
Chandoli(UP) |
1.70 |
-15 |
108.40 |
2600 |
2600 |
11.83 |
Bharuasumerpur(UP) |
1.60 |
-20 |
43.70 |
2400 |
2500 |
23.08 |
Melaghar(Tri) |
1.50 |
114.29 |
76.70 |
2700 |
2700 |
NC |
Baberu(UP) |
1.50 |
-31.82 |
102.40 |
2400 |
2430 |
7.87 |
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri) |
1.30 |
-7.14 |
76.60 |
2900 |
2900 |
- |
Tanda Urmur(UP) |
1.30 |
44.44 |
19.00 |
2440 |
2410 |
- |
Gandacharra(Tri) |
1.20 |
20 |
11.10 |
2860 |
2860 |
- |
Jhansi(UP) |
1.20 |
-25 |
164.40 |
2490 |
2480 |
4.84 |
Lalganj(UP) |
1.20 |
20 |
288.90 |
2350 |
2350 |
34.29 |
Akbarpur(UP) |
1.20 |
NC |
424.20 |
2425 |
2420 |
-0.21 |
Alibagh(Mah) |
1.00 |
NC |
104.00 |
2200 |
2200 |
NC |
Murud(Mah) |
1.00 |
NC |
102.00 |
2200 |
2200 |
NC |
Champaknagar(Tri) |
1.00 |
66.67 |
3.40 |
2900 |
3000 |
- |
Anandnagar(UP) |
1.00 |
-16.67 |
231.70 |
2535 |
2555 |
10.22 |
Tulsipur(UP) |
1.00 |
-75 |
114.10 |
2420 |
2400 |
- |
Khair(UP) |
0.80 |
-20 |
84.60 |
2590 |
2590 |
-0.38 |
Risia(UP) |
0.80 |
33.33 |
79.20 |
2430 |
2430 |
- |
Pabiacherra(Tri) |
0.60 |
-66.67 |
23.50 |
2760 |
2760 |
- |
Achnera(UP) |
0.60 |
NC |
45.20 |
2640 |
2600 |
3.53 |
Khatra(WB) |
0.60 |
-40 |
112.00 |
2600 |
2600 |
NC |
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article3241
Chipotle reveals the secret to its Cilantro
Lime Rice
Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice has inspired a loyal
following, plenty of copycat recipes, and even a low-carb cauliflower version for testing in select locations this
summer. But now it's blowing up the internet with a new viral video on Chipotle's TikTok channel,
which shows the process (albeit in fast-forward fashion — this is
TikTok, after all) behind making the chain's beloved burrito-, taco-, and
bowl-filler. And, despite the vocal group of cilantro haters out there, the recipe has received nearly 7
million views in mere days.
In the
video, backed by borderline-creepy, singsongy instructions, an unseen Chipotle
chef whips up a batch of white rice cooked in water and oil, then pours citrus
juice into a bowl of cilantro and stirs with a spatula. The cooked rice is
added to the cilantro-juice mix, sprinkled with a hefty dose of salt,
and mixed together. Voilà!
Okay, so
it's not exactly rocket science, but many TikTok users were feelin' it. One
said, "This is my new favorite video," while another added, "Now
I'm going to make this all the time." Even the video's quirky style and
song received kudos for its "extremely TikTok" vibe that garnered
cool-cred with the Gen Z crowd (via In the Know).
Is salt
the real 'secret sauce' in Chipotle's Cilantro Lime Rice?
On
Chipotle's nutrition page, the rice's ingredients listed include a bay
leaf (not seen in the video, but presumably added to the rice before cooking),
cilantro, lemon and lime juices, rice bran oil, salt, water, and
white rice. Need actual measurements? One TikTok reply came from a user,
@fatalexistence97, who claimed to be an ex-employee and shares that the recipe
requires a "deep pan" of white rice, a half-cup of citrus juice, two
cups of cilantro, and two tablespoons of salt.
Yep, two
tablespoons.
The rice packs in 350 milligrams of sodium in the portion you'd receive in a
standard Burrito Bowl or a taco, for example. To put that in perspective, the CDC recommends consuming less than 2,300 milligrams per
day, so the rice will take up about 15 percent of the daily limit. And let's
face it: Most people aren't hitting Chipotle for a scoop of rice alone.
It's not
a huge surprise that the rice is salt-packed — despite the "health
halo" it often evokes, Chipotle has been criticized for its sky-high
sodium counts. LiveStrong notes
that the chain's sodium stats "could be considered one of its biggest
downsides," but that's not exactly unique in the fast food landscape.
The good
news is, now that Chipotle has shared the method behind its famous Cilantro
Lime Rice, when you're whipping it up at home, you can put in as little (or as
much) salt as your heart desires — or can handle.
Rice
prices rise as exporters grapple with floods, coronavirus
Reuters |
Aug 20, 2020, 21:04 IST
TimesPoints
(Representative image)
BENGALURU: Rice export prices in top-hub India edged higher this week as floods and surgi
ng
coronavirus cases hammered supply and export logistics.
India’s 5% broken parboiled variety rose to $383-$389 per tonne from last
week’s $382-$387, with exporters struggling to fulfil orders due to limited
availability of containers and workers at the country’s biggest rice handling
port, Kakinada, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
“Demand is
huge for Indian rice due to lower prices, but exports are getting affected by
floods and the coronavirus outbreak in Andhra Pradesh,” said Nitin Gupta,
vice president for Olam India’s rice business.
With 2.84 million total COVID-19 cases, India is the worst-hit country in Asia
and third only behind the US and Brazil in terms of the number of cases.