Friday, April 01, 2016

1st April,2016 daily exclusive oryza rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Pakistan to Replace Commercial Attaché in Saudi Arabia to Help Rice Exporters

Mar 31, 2016

Pakistan's Commerce Minister has decided to replace the commercial attaché in Saudi Arabia following complaints from the rice exporters, according to the Express Tribune.
Earlier this month, the Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) criticized performance of the attaché and said that the official was not cooperating with the exporters in Saudi Arabia.
The attaché reportedly failed to arrange visas for a large delegation of REAP and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), who planned to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss about rice exports.
“Pakistan’s rice exports are already declining in Saudi Arabia; on top of it the unprofessional attitude of the commercial attaché created unnecessary problems,” he was quoted.
He noted that the Association is keen on increasing the country's rice exports to around $4 billion from the current $2.5 billion. But such officials are making their targets unachievable. Exporters say most of the commercial attachés are political appointees and so their performance is unsatisfactory, and Pakistan products are not being marketed properly in many countries, they feel.

Vietnam Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Quotes Today; India Rice Sellers Increase Their Quotes

Mar 31, 2016

Vietnam rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per ton to about $375-$385 per ton today. India rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice and parboiled rice by about $5 per ton each to about $370-$380 per ton and $270-$280 per ton and $355-$365 per ton respectively. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged Today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $375 - $385 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $340 - $350 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $5 per ton discount to Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $360- $370 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $335- $345 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $310 - $320 per ton.
Parboiled Rice           
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $370 - $380 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $50 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $330 - $340 per ton, about $20 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $350 - $360 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $270 - $280 per ton, about $15 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.

EU Imports 679,233 Tons of Rice in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016; Up 17% from Previous Year

Mar 31, 2016
According to the latest data issued by the European Union (EU), rice imports by the EU nations increased sharply since the beginning of the crop year 2015-16 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016).
The EU imported about 679,233 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - March 815, 2016, up about 17% from around 578,157 tons imported during the same period last year.
Japonica rice imports increased about 7% to around 53,203 tons in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period from around 49,708 tons during the same period last year. Indica rice imports increased about 20% to around 626,030 tons during the said period from around 528,449 tons last year.

The UK remained the largest importer in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period with around 154,204 tons followed by France (115,527 tons), The Netherlands (81,201 tons), Germany (53,264 tons), Poland (50,416 tons), and Italy (49,224 tons). Other EU countries imported 175,397 tons.
During the week ended March 15, 2016, the EU imported around 20,911 tons of rice, down about 8% from around 22,708 tons imported during the week ended March 8, 2015.
The EU imported around 1.143 million tons of rice in the crop year 2014-15, up about 12.7% from around 1.013 million tons imported in the crop year 2013-14.

EU Exports 123,197 Tons of Rice in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016; Down 17% from Previous Year

Mar 31, 2016
According to the latest export data issued by the European Union (EU) for the crop year 2015-16 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016), the EU exported about 123,197 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016, down about 17% from around 149,137 tons exported during the same period last year.
Japonica rice exports declined about 20% to around 102,248 tons in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period from around 128,092 tons during the same period last year. Indica rice exports declined slightly to around 20,949 tons during the said period from around 21,045 tons last year.
Italy remained the largest exporter in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period with around 65,453 tons followed by Spain (17,190 tons), Greece (14,552 tons), and Portugal (7,966 tons). Other EU countries imported 18,036 tons.

Egypt Will Ban Rice Exports from April 4, Says Trade Minister

Mar 31, 2016

Egypt will ban rice exports from April 4, says the nation's Trade Minister.  In October 2015, Egypt had lifted the export ban, citing a surplus of supplies, but it imposed a 2,000 Egyptian pound ($255 USD) per ton tariff on rice exports.

Locals blame the now tight supplies on the government failing to stockpile rice  soon enough and private traders hoarding rice in antipation of higher prices

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Crash after USDA Estimates a 31% Increase in LG Acreage

Apr 01, 2016

The U.S. cash market was materially weaker today after the USDA’s prospective planting report pegged long grain acreage at 2,452,000 acres, an increase of 31% from last year.
Analysts note that going into the report most market participants had expected the USDA to show an acreage increase somewhere between 10-20% from last year so today’s report came as a surprise to many, however most expect that the actual acreage number to fall as planting progresses.
In the meantime, the USDA reported that cumulative net export sales for the week that ended on March 24 totaled 42,600 tons, a considerable increase from the previous week but 38% lower than the prior 4-week average.
Increases were reported for the following destinations:  14,400 tons to Haiti, 11,000 tons to Japan, 10,700 tons to Saudi Arabia, 3,400 tons to El Salvador including 3,000 tons switched from unknown destinations, and 1,300 tons to Canada which was partially offset by reductions of 2,500 tons for unknown destinations.
U.S. rice exporters shipped 68,000 tons, an increase of 17% from last week and 18% higher than the prior 4-week average.
Increases were reported for the following destinations: 28,300 tons to Haiti, 12,100 tons to Japan, 10,400 tons to El Salvador, 7,000 tons to Colombia, and 2,900 tons to Canada.

EU Exports 123,197 Tons of Rice in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016; Down 17% from Previous Year

Mar 31, 2016
According to the latest export data issued by the European Union (EU) for the crop year 2015-16 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016), the EU exported about 123,197 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016, down about 17% from around 149,137 tons exported during the same period last year.
Japonica rice exports declined about 20% to around 102,248 tons in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period from around 128,092 tons during the same period last year. Indica rice exports declined slightly to around 20,949 tons during the said period from around 21,045 tons last year.
Italy remained the largest exporter in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period with around 65,453 tons followed by Spain (17,190 tons), Greece (14,552 tons), and Portugal (7,966 tons). Other EU countries imported 18,036 tons.
During the week ended March 15, 2016, the EU exported around 4,081 tons of rice, down about 4% from around 4,238 tons exported during the week ended March 8, 2016.

Experts Call for Long Term Solutions to Address Vietnam Salinity Problem

Mar 31, 2016

Experts noted that the Vietnamese government should focus on long-term water reserve policies in order to address the increasing salt water intrusion into the coastal provinces, according to Vietnam News.
On-going drought and increasing salinity has reportedly affected about 180,000 hectares of farm land destroying major crops, including rice.
They noted that the government's plans to seek help from neighboring countries, which own power dams on the upper Mekong mainstream, is a short-term solution. They suggested that the government should focus on changing the policies affecting water reserves and the canals in the Mekong Delta, with a long-term vision.
Experts said the government should find a fair mechanism of water sharing on the Mekong mainstream, with strong commitments from dam operators on when and how much water will be released. It should also find the exact reasons for water shortages in the tributes' basin, and not on the river. They said the country should try to adapt to the changing conditions rather than focusing on enhancing rice production. They also suggested that the government could focus on developing the aquaculture industry by selecting specific species that can breed in bracket water.
They reiterated that water from Chinese and Laos power dams would only be a temporary solution

EU Exports 123,197 Tons of Rice in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016; Down 17% from Previous Year

Mar 31, 2016
According to the latest export data issued by the European Union (EU) for the crop year 2015-16 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016), the EU exported about 123,197 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016, down about 17% from around 149,137 tons exported during the same period last year.
Japonica rice exports declined about 20% to around 102,248 tons in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period from around 128,092 tons during the same period last year. Indica rice exports declined slightly to around 20,949 tons during the said period from around 21,045 tons last year.
Italy remained the largest exporter in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period with around 65,453 tons followed by Spain (17,190 tons), Greece (14,552 tons), and Portugal (7,966 tons). Other EU countries imported 18,036 tons.

During the week ended March 15, 2016, the EU exported around 4,081 tons of rice, down about 4% from around 4,238 tons exported during the week ended March 8, 2016.

EU Imports 679,233 Tons of Rice in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016; Up 17% from Previous Year

Mar 31, 2016
According to the latest data issued by the European Union (EU), rice imports by the EU nations increased sharply since the beginning of the crop year 2015-16 (September 1, 2015 - August 31, 2016).
The EU imported about 679,233 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - March 815, 2016, up about 17% from around 578,157 tons imported during the same period last year.
Japonica rice imports increased about 7% to around 53,203 tons in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period from around 49,708 tons during the same period last year. Indica rice imports increased about 20% to around 626,030 tons during the said period from around 528,449 tons last year.
The UK remained the largest importer in September 1, 2015 - March 15, 2016 period with around 154,204 tons followed by France (115,527 tons), The Netherlands (81,201 tons), Germany (53,264 tons), Poland (50,416 tons), and Italy (49,224 tons). Other EU countries imported 175,397 tons.
During the week ended March 15, 2016, the EU imported around 20,911 tons of rice, down about 8% from around 22,708 tons imported during the week ended March 8, 2015.
The EU imported around 1.143 million tons of rice in the crop year 2014-15, up about 12.7% from around 1.013 million tons imported in the crop year 2013-14.

Government of Cambodia Announces Measures to Support Rice Sector

Mar 31, 2016

Following an emergency meeting of the members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and the involved stakeholders with the Deputy Prime Minister, the government announced that it would remove the current value added tax (VAT) on milling machines and take action on companies importing rice from neighboring countries and rebranding it as Cambodian rice, according to Khmer Times.
The Secretary General of the CRF noted the announced measures are in response to the urgent requests of the CRF members and local rice millers. He also noted that the government has assured of supporting the rice sector and the sector's other demands, including granting of special funding package, high electricity prices and port issues, would be addressed soon.
The CRF sought a $250 million loan, at a concessional rate of 4%, to help bail out the rice sector. They also urged the government to reduce the electricity tariffs to about 400 riel ($0.10) per kilowatt/hour; and negotiate with Thai authorities too allow the use of the Thai’s Laem Chabang Port in order to reduce transport costs and increase Cambodia’s competitiveness.
One of the leading exporters told reporters that the decision to remove the 10% VAT will benefit local millers so that they can compete with their foreign counterparts. “Regarding the government’s vow to be strict on importing rice from neighboring countries and take strong action, we are looking forward to seeing that action and to what extent the [government] can act. If there are still issues, the situation will become worse and worse,” he said.
Separately, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has announced that it would continue providing operational food security and agricultural plan to Cambodia from 2016 to 2018 with an additional budget of $23 million. It would particularly assist the development of the food, fisheries and forestry sectors, especially assist the export of Cambodian milled rice, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman.

Government of Cambodia Announces Measures to Support Rice Sector

Mar 31, 2016

Following an emergency meeting of the members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and the involved stakeholders with the Deputy Prime Minister, the government announced that it would remove the current value added tax (VAT) on milling machines and take action on companies importing rice from neighboring countries and rebranding it as Cambodian rice, according to Khmer Times.
The Secretary General of the CRF noted the announced measures are in response to the urgent requests of the CRF members and local rice millers. He also noted that the government has assured of supporting the rice sector and the sector's other demands, including granting of special funding package, high electricity prices and port issues, would be addressed soon.
The CRF sought a $250 million loan, at a concessional rate of 4%, to help bail out the rice sector. They also urged the government to reduce the electricity tariffs to about 400 riel ($0.10) per kilowatt/hour; and negotiate with Thai authorities too allow the use of the Thai’s Laem Chabang Port in order to reduce transport costs and increase Cambodia’s competitiveness.
One of the leading exporters told reporters that the decision to remove the 10% VAT will benefit local millers so that they can compete with their foreign counterparts. “Regarding the government’s vow to be strict on importing rice from neighboring countries and take strong action, we are looking forward to seeing that action and to what extent the [government] can act. If there are still issues, the situation will become worse and worse,” he said.
Separately, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has announced that it would continue providing operational food security and agricultural plan to Cambodia from 2016 to 2018 with an additional budget of $23 million. It would particularly assist the development of the food, fisheries and forestry sectors, especially assist the export of Cambodian milled rice, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman.

Government of Cambodia Announces Measures to Support Rice Sector

Mar 31, 2016

Following an emergency meeting of the members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and the involved stakeholders with the Deputy Prime Minister, the government announced that it would remove the current value added tax (VAT) on milling machines and take action on companies importing rice from neighboring countries and rebranding it as Cambodian rice, according to Khmer Times.
The Secretary General of the CRF noted the announced measures are in response to the urgent requests of the CRF members and local rice millers. He also noted that the government has assured of supporting the rice sector and the sector's other demands, including granting of special funding package, high electricity prices and port issues, would be addressed soon.
The CRF sought a $250 million loan, at a concessional rate of 4%, to help bail out the rice sector. They also urged the government to reduce the electricity tariffs to about 400 riel ($0.10) per kilowatt/hour; and negotiate with Thai authorities too allow the use of the Thai’s Laem Chabang Port in order to reduce transport costs and increase Cambodia’s competitiveness.
One of the leading exporters told reporters that the decision to remove the 10% VAT will benefit local millers so that they can compete with their foreign counterparts. “Regarding the government’s vow to be strict on importing rice from neighboring countries and take strong action, we are looking forward to seeing that action and to what extent the [government] can act. If there are still issues, the situation will become worse and worse,” he said.
Separately, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has announced that it would continue providing operational food security and agricultural plan to Cambodia from 2016 to 2018 with an additional budget of $23 million. It would particularly assist the development of the food, fisheries and forestry sectors, especially assist the export of Cambodian milled rice, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman.

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Tumble to New Low as USDA Surprises the Market with Bearish Report; Corn Collapses while Wheat Rallies

Apr 01, 2016

Chicago rough rice futures for May delivery settled 34 cents were cwt (about $7 per ton) lower at $9.690 per cwt (about $214 per ton). The other grains finished the day with sharply different results; Soybeans closed about 0.2% higher at $9.1075 per bushel; wheat finished about 2.1% higher at $4.7350 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 4.2% lower at $3.5150 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded in a range Thursday, the final trading day of the quarter, as investors awaited the monthly employment report due Friday. The euro traded near $1.14, its highest against the dollar since October. The yen was near 112.51 yen against the greenback as of 2:59 p.m. ET. The March nonfarm payrolls report and ISM manufacturing data are both due Friday morning. In economic news, initial jobless claims came in at 276,000. Chicago PMI rose to 53.6 in March from 47.6 in February. In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average traded down 33 points, or 0.19%, at 17,683. The S&P 500 declined 4 points, or 0.21%, at 2,059, with materials leading nine sectors lower and utilities the only advancer. The Nasdaq composite gained 2 points, or 0.05%, to 4,871. Gold is seen trading about 0.5% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 0.1% higher, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.3% lower at about  2:30pm Chicago time.
Wednesday, there were 1,285 contracts traded, down from 1,504 contracts traded on Tuesday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Wednesday increased by 204 contracts to 13,172. 

Thursday, March 31, 2016

30 march 2016 daily global regional & local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Bilateral trade: Faisalabad under the radar of investors


Published: March 30, 2016

Brunei High Commissioner interested to enhance bilateral trade, diversify exports. PHOTO: FCCI WEBSITE
FAISALABAD: The economic potential of Pakistan and Brunei will be reassessed to attract investors from Brunei and make the textile sector of Faisalabad more attractive and profitable for them, said Brunei Darussalam High Commissioner Dato Mahmud Saidin. During his address to businessmen and industrialists the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said Brunei was a very small country and its economy depended on oil and gas. About 70% area of Brunei consisted of forests and the remaining was utilised for agriculture and industry.“The area is insufficient to fulfil the country’s food requirements and hence we have to import food items from neighbouring ASEAN countries,” he said. “We import basmati rice and mangoes from Pakistan, which are very popular in Brunei.”

Saidin identified “heavy expenditures on transportation” as the main reason for low trade volume between the two countries and said the only objective of his visit was to explore opportunities for the enhancement of bilateral trade between the two countries.He said the Pak-Brunei Investment Company in Karachi was making efforts to promote trade.“The Brunei Investment Agency is working on diversification of its exports and has been investing in real estate and the hotel industry in various countries. It will assess Pakistan’s economic potential as well to explore opportunities.”Concerning textiles, he said it was necessary to make local textile products competitive compared to similar products from China and Bangladesh.
The High Commissioner also paid a visit to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and stated that his country intended enhancing productivity of its rice crop without bringing more land under plough.

Earlier, in his welcome address, FCCI Senior Vice President Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain said that CPEC had turned Pakistan into a land of opportunities and investors from Brunei should also take advantage of it.He said FCCI was the third largest chamber in Pakistan and contributed more than 50% towards total textile exports of the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th,  2016

 

 

Pak-Brunei economic potential to be reassessed: HC


March 30, 2016
RECORDER REPORT
The economic potential of Pakistan and Brunei will be reassessed particularly to make textile sector of Faisalabad more attractive and profitable for the investors of Brunei, said Dato Mahmud Saidin High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam. He was addressing a meeting of businessmen and industrialists at FCCI here on Tuesday. He said that Brunei is very small country while its economy is totally dependent on oil and gas. He said that 70 percent area of Brunei is consistent of forests and only remaining 30 percent is utilised for agriculture and industry. "This area is insufficient even to fulfil its food requirements and hence we have to import food items from neighbouring Asian countries", he said and added that Brunei is also importing Basmati rice while Pakistani mango is also very popular in Brunei. However, he identified heavy expenditures of transportation as main cause of low trade volume between the two countries. 

He said that ultimate objective of his visit is to explore the opportunities for enhancement of bilateral trade between the two countries. He further said that Pak-Brunei Investment Company based in Karachi is working for the promotion of bilateral trade. Regarding textile, he said that we have to take measures to make local textile products competitive as compared to the similar products from China and Bangladesh. Dato Mahmud Saidin further said that he has also visited University of Agriculture to develop the agriculture of his country on modern scientific lines. He also pointed out that Brunei intends to enhance the productivity of its rice crop without bringing more land under plough. He further told that Brunei Investment Agency was also working on diversification of its exports. "It has been investing in real estate and hotel industry in various countries and certainly it will assess the economic potential of Pakistan to explore the opportunities for future investment", he added. This study, he said, will help it to take prudent decisions for investment or launching joint ventures with Pakistani entrepreneurs.


 Earlier, in his welcome address, Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain Senior Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) said that CPEC has turned Pakistan into land of opportunities and the investors of Brunei should also get benefit out of it. He said that FCCI was the third largest chamber of Pakistan while it was also contributing more than 50 percent towards total textile exports of the country. A documentary on Faisalabad and FCCI was also screened to highlight the importance of this agro-industrial city. Chaudhary Muhammad Asghar, Chaudhary Talat Mahmood and Sanaullah Khan Niazi took part in the question answer session while Mr Ahmad Hasan executive member FCCI paid vote of thanks to the High Commissioner of Brunei. Later, Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain along with Sanaullah Khan Niazi and Rana Sikandar-e-Azam presented FCCI memento to Dato Mahmud Saidin. Later, the Brunei High Commissioner also presented a crest of the embassy of Brunei to SVP Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain. 

German envoy urges REAP to play role in promoting trade


March 30, 2016
RECORDER REPORT
German ambassador to Pakistan Ina Lepel has called upon the rice exporters to play their role in promoting the bilateral trade and further strengthening the economic relations between Pakistan and Germany. 'We have good economic relations but there is more room to further enhance the bilateral trade as Germany has more trade with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or Malaysia as compared to Pakistan,' Ina Lepel said while speaking at a reception arranged by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) here on Tuesday.


Those who spoke on this occasion included Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq, Group leader and former chairman Shahzad Ali Malik, Pir Nazim Hussain Shah and REAP Secretary General Kashif ur Rehman. REAP Treasurer Ali Hussam, former Vice Chairman Taufiq Ahmad Khan and a large number of exporters were also present on this occasion. Ina Lepel also expressed her sorrow and grief over the tragic Lahore incident which claimed over 70 lives and said that the German government strongly condemned such incidents and fully support the efforts of the Pakistan government to confront the evil of terrorism.

Regarding exchange of business delegations, she said that lots of business delegation from Germany visited Pakistan including a business delegation last June while another is coming in the second half of the current year. To a demand of issuing visa to businessmen, she said that letter from an association is considered as an additional support while deciding on a business visa. However, she said that visas are issued only to genuine businessmen and letter of support is no guarantee.


Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq in his address said that during the year 2012-13 Pakistan exported 127,953 metric tons of Basmati and Non-Basmati rice varieties to EU countries which comes to 111.812 million US dollars while current export to EU countries stands at 206,000 metric tons per annum. Whereas export to Germany in the year 2013-14 was 9393 metric tons which rose to 11,986 metric tons in year 2014-15. He requested the German ambassador to relax visa policy for genuine businessman and upon the recommendation of the association so the rice exports to Germany could be increased.

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/30633/http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/german-envoy-urges-reap-to-play-role-in-promoting-trade
Severe drought, salinization forecast to continue in April
Tuoi Tre News
Updated : 03/30/2016 16:09 GMT + 7
Heat and severe saltwater intrusion look set to continue to dominate Vietnam’s weather conditions next month, given the current impact of El Niño.The prediction by Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) was quoted by Nguyen Dang Quang, deputy chief of the Medium and Long Term Meteorological Forecasting Division of NCHMF at El Niño Outlook Forum 2016 on Monday.Although the phenomenon is expected to gradually recede this fall, average temperatures in northern Vietnam will be 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius higher than over the same period in previous years, Quang said at the forum, held by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and NCHMF.

The situation is the same in the Central Highlands and the southern region, he said, adding that Vietnam has experienced heat waves sooner but less intensely than last year.Quang noted that drought conditions along with salinization in the south-central, Central Highlands, and southern regions show no sign of declining but rather of being more severe in April.  Thanks to El Niño, Vietnam will see fewer tropical cyclones this year compared to those in previous years, he added.Trinh Thu Phuong, deputy chief of the Hydrological Forecasting Division N1, said that water volume in rivers in central Vietnam will decline by 30 to 50 percent, potentially leading to a scarcity between April and June.Salt intrusion and water shortage could worsen as larger areas in the region are expected to be exposed to the conditions in comparison with the same period last year, while salinization is anticipated to penetrate further in southern areas during this coming dry season compared to the same period of last year.

Southern river salinity during late March is forecast to be the highest of the year, at 4g per liter on average, which is higher than the level it reached in 2015, Phuong added.Lots of nations in Southeast Asia have suffered from extreme climate conditions linked to the El Niño phenomenon, Atiq Kainan Ahmed, ADPC’s program manager, stated at the forum.El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, according to the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).El Niño events occur irregularly at intervals of 2-7 years, although the average is about once every 3-4 years, lasting 12-18 months, NOAA said on its website.In 2016, the phenomenon is predicted to be the strongest ever recorded, and is likely to cause extreme weather conditions across the globe, APDC’s News reported.Communities in nations of the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be exposed to extreme heat, water shortages and the potential of disease, it added.With regard to the incoming El Niño, Quang said that the effects of the phenomenon will gradually reduce, likely following a cold spell at the end of this year, which could potentially cause La Niña to occur.Compared to El Niño, its counterpart, La Niña, is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, said NOAA.Previously, to tackle drought and salinization in the Mekong Delta, one of Vietnam’s rice powerhouses, Laos and China agreed to discharge water from their dams to assist.

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/34026/severe-drought-salinization-forecast-to-continue-in-april


Giant snail poses danger to Louisiana rice farmers

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 5:28:00 PM CDT in News
Source: WBRZ
By: Mark Armstrong

BATON ROUGE -Scientists fear the Giant Apple Snail could destroy rice crops in west Louisiana. The snail is an invasive species from South America that is slowly eating up aquatic plants across the southern part of the state."They're considered one of the worst invasive species in the world," Jacoby Carter with the US Geological Survey says. "They are in the top 100 list of bad invasive species," he added.The snails live in fresh water and can grow as large as a person's fist. Right now,  they're primarily found in eastern and coastal parishes but may eventually end up in western waters where farmers grow rice.Carter said they've been a problem in Asian rice paddies but haven't had much affect in East Texan fields, probably because farmers there keep the water levels much lower.

Louisiana rice farmers might not be so lucky because many also raise crawfish in the fields so they keep the water level much higher."It may force a management change or pose a problem for those systems where they're managing for both rice and crawfish," Carter said.Scientists have yet to discover a safe way to eradicate the snails without also destroying other species.The snails lay clusters of bright pink eggs, up to 7000 at a time. Carter said if you notice an egg cluster, take a picture and email him with the eggs location at carterj@usgs.gov.



Texas farmer's rice donation keeps many in Chattanooga from going hungry

 
The Food Bank says over the duration of six months, hundreds of volunteers including local students, corporate teams, and families repackaged the commodity product into both one and five pound containers. The rice was then redistributed through Food Bank mobile pantries and local hunger relief organizations to thousands of area children, seniors, and families. Photo provided by the Chattanooga Food Bank.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. —
The Chattanooga Area Food Bank has been able to provide literally tons of rice to those families who need it in Chattanooga for the past six months, thanks to the generous donation of a farmer in Texas.The Food Bank says back in October, it received an entire truckload of 44,000 pounds in rice from a farmer in Texas.The Food Bank says this donation was organized and underwritten by a generous local individual who believes that everyone in the Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia region should have access to the healthy diet staple.The farmer donated the production of seven acres of prime flooded rice land and then harvested and delivered the crop to a processor who dried, milled, and bagged the rice.The rice was then delivered in 20lb bags at cost by tractor trailer to Chattanooga.

The Food Bank says over the duration of six months, hundreds of volunteers including local students, corporate teams, and families repackaged the commodity product into both one and five pound containers. The rice was then redistributed through Food Bank mobile pantries and local hunger relief organizations to thousands of area children, seniors, and families.

"We're so grateful for wonderful community partners who recognize specific needs here at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. This generous donation of rice has allowed us to provide families in our region with one of the most basic dietary staples. In addition, it's been a fantastic teaching tool as so many of our volunteers have learned about families in need through the opportunity to repack rice," said Marisa Ogles, Chattanooga Area Food Bank Director of External Relations.Thousands of area residents have benefitted from the charitable rice donation. Since it arrived, the Food Bank says rice has been distributed to families through our direct to client mobile pantries and Food Bank agency partner organizations. Morton Memorial UMC Food Ministry (Food Ministry), a longstanding partner of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, is one of the agencies who have benefitted from the rice.

The Food Ministry annually distributes more rice to its clients than any other Food Bank partner. Located on the border of Marion and Grundy counties, Morton Memorial UMC Food Ministry serves residents who are among the poorest in the state of Tennessee, as measured by U.S. Census data. Feeding America research estimates that 18% of Grundy County residents are considered food insecure, meaning they don't know where their next meal will come from. The Food Ministry is committed to providing food to its clients that not only meets caloric needs, but also provides nutritional benefits. And rice plays a huge role in those efforts. Last year, the organization distributed over 3,000 pounds of rice to its clients."We truly appreciate all the volunteer hours that have gone into repacking bulk rice at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. We're grateful for their efforts to ensure that rice is repackaged and ready to go to the 150 families that we walk with on a monthly basis.

" Amy Wilson, Director of Morton Memorial UMC Food Ministry.Over a hundred Food Bank volunteers have spent time repacking rice into one pound containers for redistribution to area residents. Among the teams who have spent time repackaging rice: Kenco Group, Walmart Superstores, South Cumberland Plateau Americorps VISTA Project, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and more. All rice repacking has been done in a food safe environment with processes that align with USDA guidelines."My daughter and I volunteered packaging rice at the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. It was a great bonding experience. Opportunities such as this instill great values in our youth. After learning about people in our own community who don't have access to such a basic food item, we were grateful to make a big impact in the lives of our others through such a simple task," said Amanda Krause-Webster, a Kenco Group volunteer.

Over the past three years, the Food Bank has aggressively increased its commitment to promoting better nutrition throughout its 20-county service area. With more than 15 vitamins and minerals and beneficial antioxidants, rice plays an important role in maintaining food security for Food Bank clients. Last year alone, the Food Bank purchased over 60,000 pounds of rice at a discounted rate and redistributed it. This year, by way of the generous donation, the Food Bank was able to reallocate those funds to other critical hunger relief efforts.Rice is the most consumed commodity in the world and is a basic staple in many Food Bank clients' diets. Research from USA Rice Federation reveals that consumption of rice in the USA has grown over the past few years. From 2013 to 2014, Americans consumed 26 pounds of rice per capita, a one-pound increase over the prior year. Recognizing the need for food security in the region, the local individual, who prefers to remain anonymous, generously purchased rice on behalf of Food Bank clients. Rice offers not only the calories required for food security, but also the nutrients necessary for maintaining optimal health

 

Wheat remains weak on supply pressure


PTI | Mar 30, 2016, 02.30 PM IST
New Delhi, Mar 30 () Wheat prices fell by another Rs 20 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on ample stocks on the back of arrivals of new crop against reduced offtake by flour mills.However, bajra edged up on pick-up in demand from consuming industries.Traders said adequate stocks position following arrival of new crop in the market amid reduced offtake by flour mills kept pressure on the wheat prices.In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) fell further by Rs 20 to Rs 1,650-1,655 per quintal. Wheat desi also eased by a similar margin to Rs 2,015-2,615 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and shed Rs 20 at Rs 1,655-16,60 per 90 kg.

On the other hand, bajra inched up by Rs 20 to Rs 1,590-1,595 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,015-2,620, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,650-1,655, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,655-1,660, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller flour mill Rs 855-865 (50 kg), Maida Rs 940-950 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,010-1,025 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,500-5,600, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,250-5,200, Permal raw Rs 1,850-1,900, Permal wand Rs 2,050-2,100, Sela Rs 2,200-2,300 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,600-1,620, Bajra Rs 1,590-1,595, Jowar yellow Rs 1,800-1,900, white Rs 3,400-3,500, Maize Rs 1,690-1,700, Barley Rs 1,300-1,310. SUN KPS PRB ABK
(This story has not been edited by timesofindia.com and is auto–generated from a syndicated feed we subscribe to.


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This Program Will Make Cutting Carbon Emissions Lucrative For Farmers

BY NATASHA GEILING  MAR 30, 2016 8:00 AM
CREDIT: MARK ISBELL
When Mark Isbell, a third-generation rice farmer in central Arkansas, tallies up his profits for this year, he’ll count a few extra dollars from a unique source: the greenhouse gases that his 3,200-acre farm didn’t emit.Isbell is part of a small group of farmers participating in a new project piloted by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in conjunction with the USDA, and approved by the American Carbon Registry.

The program encourages rice farmers in California and the Mid-South to adopt a series of greenhouse-gas mitigating practices on their fields by allowing them to cash in on the carbon emissions that they offset using California’s carbon market.“You always have to be looking forward,” Isbell told ThinkProgress. “It seems like this is the direction everything is going. We’ve always focused on efficiency and trying to take advantage of new opportunities. Though there is a small amount of risk, we felt like the potential reward outweighed that. We thought that we might as well go on the adventure and give it a try.”

Isbell is participating in the project along with 20 other farmers who collectively cultivate 22,000 acres of rice across the United States. According to Robert Parkhurst, director of agricultural greenhouse gas markets for the Environmental Defense Fund, that participation is equal to just under one percent of all rice farmers in the United States — and while that seem like a small slice of agriculture’s addition to greenhouse gas-fueled global warming, Parkhurst sees it as a meaningful first step towards getting farmers to adopt practices that could help stave off the worst of climate change.“Having just shy of one percent of all rice growers in the U.S. say I’m interested in participating is huge,” he said. “We’re looking at doing this with fertilizer across the U.S. We’re looking at doing this with range land. At some point we might be able to do this with enteric fermentation. This is the thin edge of the wedge, if you will.”

Creating a market for carbon

Parkhurst first had the idea to look at greenhouse gas emissions from rice farming in 2006, after California passed its landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The legislation, which in addition to mandating that the state cut its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, created a statewide carbon market.But Parkhurst and a colleague noted that in the bill, agriculture was left out — and they wondered what, if anything, they could do about it.




Emissions by sector, 2013
CREDIT: CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Between 2000 and 2013, agriculture accounted for about 8 percent of California’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Of those emissions, most are either methane — from livestock production or methane-producing crops like rice — or nitrous oxide, from fertilizer.
Parkhurst knew that California rice farmers had a reputation for being forward-thinking environmentalists; the tagline for the California Rice Commission is “The Environmental Crop.” In the 1990s, the California Rice Commission supported a bill that phased out the burning of rice straw, which was degrading air quality in the Central Valley. In the Rice Commission, Parkhurst hoped that he would find allies in the fight to bring agriculture into California’s new carbon market.

Growing rice, mitigating carbon

Together with the California Rice Commission, EDF worked with scientists and farmers in California and the Mid-South to calculate the amount of greenhouse gases that could be offset by implementing a slew of different farming techniques. Rice is a hugely important staple crop — around the world, some 3.5 billion people depend on rice for a fifth of their daily calories. But rice is also a source of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the short term.

Measuring methane reductions on Isbell’s field.

CREDIT: MARK ISBELL
That’s because when rice is grown, its root systems secrete carbohydrates created by photosynthesis. Traditional rice farming calls for flooding rice fields after the spring planting until harvest, which creates an oxygen-devoid environment perfect for bacteria that break down the root system’s carbohydrates, emitting methane in the process.Working with scientists and farmers, EDF was able to calculate reductions in methane achieved when farmers adopted certain techniques, such as sowing rice seeds into dry soil, draining rice fields a few days earlier than normal, or alternating wetting and drying the fields, rather than keeping them wet for the entire season.“The science wasn’t there in the past,” Parkhurst said, explaining that the program needed a concrete basis in science before it could be incorporated into California’s carbon market. “We didn’t know that these practices would actually decrease greenhouse emissions.”

But some scientists still worry that the science might not quite be at the level needed to consistently and accurately estimate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions offset by adopting different farming techniques. In a January interview with E&E News, Bruce Linquist, an assistant cooperative extension specialist at the University of California, Davis, expressed skepticism that the science could totally back up the offset program.“Fields are also very different from each other, some are flat and some are sloped so water can saturate one part, and the [other] part is dry. How do you measure and quantify that? It’s a big challenge,” Linquist said, adding that he thought the project had moved “a bit fast.”

Implementing the project in the fields

After nearly two years spent working on the project with scientists, farmers, and the EDF, the California Air Resources Board — which enforces California’s cap-and-trade program — approved the carbon offsets for rice production in June of last summer, and farmers currently participating in the program will start to see the money from their carbon offsets in the coming months.
I think farmers are by their very nature pioneers in a lot of things

The offsets are modest — tangible, but not nearly enough to offset the intrinsic risk inherent in switching to more unpredictable methods. As of publication, a ton of carbon was trading in California for a little under $13. The average rice farmer participating in the program can expect to see a half a ton to a ton and a half of carbon offset per acre — after administrative fees, Isbell estimates that he’ll probably pocket between$8 and $10 per acre. As a crop, rice is highly sensitive to moisture. Dry seeding, for instance, can make a rice crop more susceptible to weeds, disease, or pests. Alternate wetting and drying, in the same vein, can leave a rice crop open to reduced yields.

“It’s part of the overall story and we hope it leads to other opportunities, but in and of itself the monetary reward is not where it would need to be to draw the adoption of those techniques,” Isbell said. He hopes that the program could also open up marketing opportunities for their farm, if customers show an interest in rice grown in an environmentally-conscious way and are willing to pay a premium for that product.But even with the risks involved, Isbell thinks that sustainability-minded rice farmers will show interest in the project.“I think farmers are by their very nature pioneers in a lot of things,” he said. “If an opportunity presents itself and it seems to be a good thing that could help others and also present an opportunity to profit, then it’s a win-win.”

Isbell, who has been implementing these techniques at his farm since 2013, hasn’t seen any marked reductions in yields. In fact, when he compared a field of rice grown using traditional techniques with a field using methane-reducing techniques, he actually found that the field with the methane-reducing techniques produced a slightly higher yield, though he notes it was within the margin of error. Still, he cautions that his experience is largely anecdotal.
“We did not see an impact, but if you weren’t careful, it definitely could impact the yield,” he said.

Moving beyond rice


The 21 participating farmers represent the first group of American land-crop farmers that will be paid to offset carbon in their fields. But, if Parkhurst gets his way, they will be far from the last.
Rice, while a significant producer of methane, is far from the most egregious agricultural greenhouse gas producer. As E&E News pointed out in January, according to EPA estimates, rice accounted for a little more than one percent of the United States’ overall greenhouse gas emissions in 2013. Even if every single rice producer in the United States participated in the program, it would be but a small dent in agriculture’s overall contribution to climate change.

But Parkhurst hopes that now that the California Air Resources Board has approved one offset project, it will be open to trying more. Specifically, Parkhurst has his sights set on things like fertilizer, which produces nitrous oxide, and the conversion of grassland to farmland, which can release carbon stored in both the grass and the soil.“With 400 million acres of cropland out there, there’s a huge opportunity,” Parkhurst said, explaining that California can meet up to 8 percent of its carbon-cutting obligations through its carbon market, meaning that some 200 million tons worth of carbon credits can be traded by 2020.“We’re currently not on a path to generate that full 200 million tons,” Parkhurst said. “I want to change that. I want to change it so that we reach that 200 million ton mark, and I think agriculture is the biggest opportunity to do that. It is the biggest uncapped sector of the economy, and it’s the place where the research is going on right now.” http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/03/30/3764290/carbon-trading-rice-methane-reductions/

 

 

Long term solution needed for Mekong drought

Update: March, 31/2016 - 09:00

View of the Plain of Reeds, an important natural reservoir, in Đồng Tháp Province. — VNS Photo Phước Bửu
|
Phước Bửu
Việt Nam’s Mekong Delta is facing severe drought and critical inland salination at the same time. El Nino and the shortage of water to the delta due to dams built by countries in the upper Mekong mainstream are the main causes; however, Vietnamese water reserve policies are also part of the story.The Mekong River enters Việt Nam’s territory in two big tributes of the Tiền and Hậu rivers before it ends in the sea through nine estuaries. The delta has thousands of inland canals, and for centuries, it seemed hard to believe that the delta would face a water shortage.But this year, drought has occurred in many delta provinces and low levels of fresh water in the canals have facilitated the intrusion of salty water, which is said to be the strongest in 100 years now.As many as 180,000 hectares of farm land has been affected, destroying crops and causing critical shortages of water for delta residents.

Local governments in the affected provinces of Long An, Tiền Giang, Bến Tre, Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Hậu Giang, Bạc Liêu and Kiên Giang have attempted to source water from neighbouring, less affected provinces.The central government has delivered the provinces a relief package of VNĐ650 billion (US$29 million) for dealing with salination and drought. At the same time, the Vietnamese government asked countries that own power dams on the upper Mekong mainstream to release water from their reservoirs to water the dried-up rice paddies.Scientists have argued that this will not solve the long-term problem. They urged that the practical situation in Việt Nam be looked into.First, the country needs to find a fair mechanism of water sharing on the Mekong mainstream, with strong commitments from dam operators on when and how much water will be released.The country must also find the exact cause to water shortage in the tributes’ basin, not on the river.


The delta has two wetland zones, 489,000ha Long Xuyên Quadrangle and 697,000ha Plain of Reeds, which serve as natural reservoirs, taking water from Mekong floods and holding it to supply canals in dry season, as underground water sources.However, the closed system of earthen embankment circling wide areas of rice paddies and orchards has prevented water from annual Mekong floods entering the quadrangle and the Plain of Reeds for almost a decade now. Both natural reservoirs face a critical shortage of water.

Scientists have also called for reconsidering the country’s development mindset; they want a policy switch from change and prevention to adaptation. The country should also stop chasing the title of world’s top rice producer.High concentration on rice production has resulted in the embankment system, which allows farmers a third crop of rice in a year, during the Mekong floods. Experts said annual floodwater helps clean the paddies by washing insects, rats and chemical residue away. Without the floods soil has become polluted and pests have spread, which means more chemical use and more pollution year after year.Scientists also suggested policy of switching canals with bracket water into fresh water for the aquaculture sector. Scientists said any move against nature would result in negative outcomes from the changed natural conditions. Countries should develop or select aquaculture species that can live in bracket water for the delta breeding industry.


Notable Prof Võ Tòng Xuân of An Giang University once said the real problem to the delta is the over concentration on rice production. Meanwhile, Associate Prof Lê Anh Tuấn of Cần Thơ University called for the return of natural delta features, which means flooding should happen naturally in the region and canals with bracket water should remain its status quo.Water from Chinese and Lao power dams could help temporarily, but only Việt Nam can save itself, by changing the policies affecting water reserves and the canals in the Mekong Delta, with a long-term vision. — VNS

Amidst GMO Labeling Confusion, Rice Giant Gets Certified 

WASHINGTON, DC -- A Vermont law, passed two years ago, requires all genetically engineered food sold in the state to be labeled by July 1, 2016.  Last week, Congress failed to pass a measure that would have created a voluntary national standard for labeling - and also would have preempted Vermont's law.  
Since it is difficult for food companies to create different packaging just for one state, the Vermont law has in effect created a national labeling standard and companies, including General Mills, Mars, and Kellogg, have announced plans to label their products to provide consumers with up-to-date product information identifying ingredients that may be genetically engineered.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require labeling of genetically engineered foods or food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) because the agency has determined that the nutritional quality and safety of genetically modified ingredients are no different from the same ingredients derived from conventional crops.In response to consumers' desire to make more informed choices about the food they eat, Riviana Foods Inc. announced last week that its leading rice brands have earned the Non-GMO Project Verification and will display the Non-GMO Project logo on appropriate products.  "Consumers want to know not just what's in their food but also where it comes from," said Paul Galvani, Riviana's senior vice president of marketing. 

"In the future, companies will succeed by having full ingredient transparency, allowing consumers to make informed choices.  Brands that are silent on the issue run a risk of losing consumer trust."There are currently more than 34,000 Non-GMO Project Verified products from nearly 2,400 brands, representing more than $16 billion in annual sales, and Riviana joins other U.S.-grown rice brands in using the non-GMO label.  The Non-GMO Project Verified logo is currently one of the fastest growing labels in the natural food sector and the project is the only entity in North America that offers third-party verification for products made according to best practices for GMO avoidance.

 

USA Rice Daily, Wednesday, March 30, 2016




Fed Govt plans self-sufficiency in rice production for 2018’


the Federal Government plans self-sufficiency in rice production for 2018, Minister for Agriculture Audu Ogbeh said yesterday.Speaking at the EighthTinubu Colloquium in Abuja, he said: “We intend to achieve self-sufficiency in tomato paste by the end of this year and in rice, maize and soya beans by the end of 2018 as well as wheat by 2019.”Ogbeh, the keynote speaker, was represented by Minister of State Agriculture Heineken Lokpobiri.National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the future is bright for Nigerians with the APC government in place.

The colloquium was held to mark his 64th birthday. He said the Buhari government  will return the country to the path of greatness.He described Buhari’s victory at the poll on March 28, last year as a birthday wish which God and the people of Nigeria granted him.The ex- Lagos State Governor said with the commitment of the APC government and its governors to agriculture, the nation will never go hungry.He said: “It is a commitment and this nation will not go hungry. Those who are thinking that our common sense revolution is not realizable should realize that they are the greedy ones. They are the ones that failed because they are always playing to the last.“The future is brighter, Nigeria is better, our hope is brighter and our determination is stronger. We will make this country great”.

The APC leader who was full of appreciation to those who came for the colloquium said the promise by the President to ensure that Nigerians are able to feed themselves is yet another birthday present to him.He recalled how Vice President Yemi Osinbajo spearheaded the commencement of the Bola Tinubu Colloquium eight years ago and expressed appreciation to him for the efforts.He also expressed appreciation to many traditional rulers, including  the Oba of Lagos, the Ooni of Ife, Emirs and  other traditional rulers, for providing spiritual support for the country.Turning to the APC governors, he said “For what we have used this platform to do today, I want to thank all of you. Your presence here is very emotional for me. The presence of all of you energizes me to continue.

“I want to thank our governors for their commitment to agriculture and redirecting our economy and bringing life back to Nigeria is more critical and more important to me.The Agriculture minister said the government is committed to improving the quality of yield by Nigerian farmers.He said the government plans to take over about 15 per cent of the export market in Europe with its quality fruits and vegetables.The Minister said the government has already developed a roadmap for the development of agriculture in the country.He also said the government is targeting self-sufficiency in rice and maize production by the end of 2018. Self-sufficiency in wheat production is slated for 2019.He said: “One of the strategies to achieving this is soil map which has been distributed to all states of the federation. It is worth noting that before now, fertilizer application has no real direction as to the end user.

“When he assumed office, Mr. President was very equivocal in advising all Nigerians to return to the farm. It was born out of the unique sense of history and good common sense. Certainly, there was a time in Nigeria when Agriculture was the main stay of our economy. It was naturally sustaining us.“Regrettably, over the last 30 years, we have allowed agriculture to descend into a state of disorientation. The inappropriateness of our own choices has been steering us in the face as we grapple with the excruciating pain of economic meltdown because of our over dependence on oil.“This situation we could have avoided.

The good news however is that we have resolved that the only good thing to do now is to get out of this situation. The hard way to restoring agriculture to its pride of place as the engine of growth is the roadmap to self-sufficiency in agriculture which we have articulated.Turning to the Colloquium, Ogbeh said: “The fact that the president is chairing this event underscores the importance of this colloquium as a befitting tribute to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a great leader of Nigeria and a great leader of Africa. There is agriculture as a means of transformation for the promotion and sustain acne of democratic governance  in Nigeria.“Without controversy, Bola Tinubu is a great son of our nation who was at the forefront of the battle to rescue our nation during the darkest moments in our history.“He is truly the Jagaban of our time. He is a bridge builder, a dogged fighter, a strategist and a tactician per excellence.

 I believe Asiwaju deserves all the honour of this day as one of the Irokos of our hard-won battle.Kebbi State Governor Atiku Abubakar Bagudu said Nigeria can achieve self-sufficiency in food production only if the right investments aremade in agriculture so as to improve yield.Bagudu said global trade institutions have not been fair to developing nations like Nigeria in the promotion of their agricultural produce because of hostile policies which make it easier and more lucrative for advanced economies to trade with themselves.
“Financiers are not interested in investing in agriculture because they don’t understand the business model of the farmers. They see farmers as people with seasonal activities and not people who have production units that exits year after year.“Most of the intervention programmes of government, like Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution among others, have fallen short of their objectives by not  seeking the quantum of money required to put agriculture on a sustainable level.“Currently, Nigeria has over three million hectares of land for rice farming but less than five per cent is utilized for that purpose. I urge the states to increase by 30 to 40 per cent production processes toward national self-sufficiency in rice production.

About N500 billion is required to sufficiently finance the three million hectares of rice farmland for the expected output. It is quite encouraging the stories coming from the Central Bank, Bank of Agriculture about the response from rice farmers.“It shows that Nigerian farmers are not looking for subsidy, what they are after is the availability input as and when they need it. That is very important in the national value chain in rice self-sufficiency.

“Nigeria can still do better with its current insufficient rice production with her three million hectares of farmland. We can do more locally. So, I urge States to trade more with each other while the Federal government should encourage more trade with the countries in West Africa.“That is why Kebbi and Lagos signed an agreement on national value chain for food sufficiency. It is a fact that many countries in the sub region are import-dependent, because subsidy regime in Europe and America is limiting our capacity to export while encouraging us to import. So, Nigeria will do better to take advantage of the sub regional trade if we fix our agriculture”.
http://thenationonlineng.net/fed-govt-plans-self-sufficiency-rice-production-2018/



Gov’t vows to monitor borders to stop illegal rice

 

Thu, 31 March 2016
The government has decided to strengthen entry points along Cambodia’s borders to block illegal rice imports, while promising to dissolve any company’s certificate of origin that is caught mixing contraband rice for export, Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) president Sok Puthyvuth announced following a meeting yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister Kheat Chhon.
Additionally, the government will scrap the value added tax (VAT) on imports of rice milling machinery – a move aimed at reducing millers’ high capital costs.“As result of the meeting, the government has decided to drop the VAT on milling machines for the rice industry,” Puthyvuth said.
Members of a government task force attending the closed-door meeting also considered a request by the CRISIS (Cambodian Rice Industry Survival Implementation Strategy) initiative for the government to facilitate $250 million in soft loans to rice millers.The funding package aims at reducing the financial burden on millers, who typically have to take loans out at 8 to 10 per cent interest from commercial banks or 20 to 30 per cent interest from microfinance lenders.

While Puthyyuth said nothing concrete had been decided about issuing soft loans, a recommendation to reduce logistics costs by facilitating access to Laem Chabang port in Thailand was also discussed during the meeting.The request to reduce electricity tariffs to about 400 riel per kilowatt hour, was also broached.“The result of meeting was very productive, and rice millers and members of committee are happy with the results”, said Moul Sarith, acting secretary-general of the CRF. “With the VAT dissolved, it will motivate rice millers to stay in the industry.”According to Sarith, the government will implement the new requirements after Khmer New Year in mid-April.The CRISIS group produced a nine-point action plan to address what some described as a rice industry on the brink of collapse. Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol submitted a report that mirrors four urgent measures outlined in this plan to Prime Minister Hun Sen on March 10.“Out of the four issues under discussion, some are difficult to deal with,” Chhon said, adding that they only dealt with the ones that are possible


A Thai truck in Pailin transports Cambodian rice. AFP
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/govt-vows-monitor-borders-stop-illegal-rice


Weather forecast to impact Colombia's grain production


3/30/2016 - by World Grain Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Colombian grain production could be impacted in 2016 as the period of drought from the El Niño weather phenomena transitions to rainier conditions of La Niña, U.S. Department ... [read more]
http://www.world-grain.com/articles/news_home/World_Grain_News/2016/03/Weather_forecast_to_impact_Col.aspx?ID=%7B5F266C11-2812-4D77-806D-F5DE59D280EA%7D

 

Crop painting’ makes farming cool

 

By: Ronnel W. Domingo

@inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:38 AM March 30th, 2016

No, aliens or any mysterious forces have not been visiting the rice fields of Nueva Ecija. And those are not mind-boggling patterns impressed on the crops.But yes, these may be “Signs” (to borrow a title from Hollywood movie about crop circles) that portend well for the Philippine agriculture sector.What people, both locals and visitors alike, have been flocking to in the past two weeks—at the main experiment station of Philippine Rice Research Institute in Science City of Muñoz—is a newfound art taking root in Philippine soil, that is paddy art which turns the rice field into a canvas.The entire staff of PhilRice’s 30-strong genetic resources division “planted and painted” the faces of “AlDub” stars Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza into a 1,600-square-meter plot using two rice varieties.

“We used the modern or inbred rice variety NSIC Rc360 which is the usual green color and also a traditional or heirloom purple rice (the entire plant, including stalks and leaves, is purple) variety to provide the contrast and make the image,” PhilRice deputy executive director Roger F. Barroga tells Agri Matters.Barroga says that since viewing was opened to the public on March 15, more than 2,000 people have come to view the paddy art.Barroga learned about paddy art in April last year during a study tour in Taiwan. It is also being done in South Korea but the art started in Japan, in Inakadate village of the Aomori prefecture—the northern tip of the main and largest island of Honshu.Inakadate took up rice paddy art in 1993 as part of efforts to revitalize the village, which has a population of about 8,000 and where rice farming has been a tradition for the past 2,000 years.

This year, the latest artwork in Inakadate depicts the droids of “Star Wars” as well as a reproduction of the poster for the 1939 movie “Gone With the Wind.”In past artworks, the Inakadate villagers have reproduced Leonardo’s “Mona Lisa,” Marilyn Monroe in the famous billowing white dress from “The Seven Year Itch,” “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques-Louis David, traditional Japanese artworks depicting samurai and ocean waves, and Japanese TV characters Ultraman and Naruto.In the Philippines, PhilRice started doing paddy art with a portrait of Jose Rizal in last year’s wet-season cropping.“We used the same two rice varieties,” Barroga says. “Our ICT specialist Nehemiah Caballong designed the artwork in the computer using programs that include Photoshop. Plotting the design is like doing cross stitching.”In a publicity statement, Caballong describes art technique as using the anamorphosis principle, involving a distorted image that will only appear normal when viewed from a certain angle.“It is the same principle used in 3D street and room art,” Caballong says.

 “We adjusted the image to the vantage point of the viewing area. Then, we processed it into grids to determine where to plant the rice varieties on a certain coordinate in the field.”Barroga says the public’s response was “overwhelming.” Many locals come early in the day, some still in their pajamas, carrying babies and enjoying the morning sun. But visitors arrive all throughout the day, taking the opportunity to view the paddy art while there is still light.“And with our kayaking facility nearby, the viewing turns into a full-blown excursion,” Barroga says. “We’ve overheard a visitor exclaiming that, because of the paddy art, the farm turned into a park.”“Novo Ecijanos feel very proud of the rice field painting, especially with out-of-towners including TV crews coming over to check it out,” Barroga adds. “And overall, people have found a new appreciation of rice farming in particular and agriculture in general.”He says the creation of the rice paddy art fits well with PhilRice’s efforts to raise the awareness of young people—the so-called “millennials”—on rice farming and agriculture.

The novelty of paddy art rides well with PhilRice’s various programs like Infomediary Campaign, which mobilizes young people to serve as information providers in the rice-farming communities. The campaign operates in 108 high schools nationwide in collaboration with the Department of Education and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.There is also PhilRices’ Rice Boot Camp, a training program that helps enhance the capacity of fresh graduates in agriculture and related sciences on the latest rice production technologies.

Further, the institute also has an initiative for the out-of-school youth through the AgRiDOCs or Agricultural Development Officers of the Community. This seven week-long training equips OSYs with both technical knowledge and a positive mindset toward farming and agriculture.“Now, youngsters feel excitement about farming,” Barroga says. “Farming in their eye used to be something that involves hardship and getting dirty, something to be avoided. Now they think farming is cool.”The current rice paddy art—called “AlDub rice”—is available for viewing until April 3. Barroga explains that, with the rice plants bearing fruit over the next few weeks, the green variety would grow over and practically cover up the purple variety. This means that the AlDub faces would no longer be visible.“We plan to keep this up in future cropping cycles and the next one will be planted in July,” Barroga says. “We will experiment with other colors like red. For now, we are deciding what image would come alive next in the paddy.

Qatar interested in building power plants in Pakistan

Published: March 30, 2016
Qatari and Chinese companies are working on four coal-based power plants in Pakistan, said the envoy. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: The Qatar government has expressed its interest in building two power plants in Pakistan for which the initial feasibility study is in progress, said Ambassador of Qatar to Pakistan Saqr Bin Mubarak Al-Mansouri while talking to members of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).“Qatari and Chinese companies are already working on four coal-based power plants in Pakistan. The construction of these plants would go a long way in reducing Pakistan’s energy problems,” the ambassador was quoted as saying.Referring to the recent deal between Pakistan and Qatar, the ambassador said the Middle Eastern country was giving priority to Pakistan in promoting trade and economic relations. “This is a positive development in bringing the two countries even closer.“The next meeting of the Qatar-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Committee will be held in Pakistan this year, which would be a good forum to discuss new areas of mutual cooperation,” he informed, adding that over 112,000 Pakistanis were working in Qatar and making useful contribution to its economic development.

“Qatar also plans to import more manpower from Pakistan for various on-going projects.”Al-Mansouri was of the view that exchange of trade delegations was an effective tool to explore new areas of trade promotion.The country already imports many products from Pakistan including rice, medical equipment, medicines, sports goods, dry fruits, leather products and fish. “Qatar has allowed foreign investment in specific sectors and Pakistani investors should take advantage of such incentives,” said the ambassador.“Both countries have great potential to enhance cooperation in many fields and the Qatari embassy is ready to cooperate with Pakistani entrepreneurs in finding out new avenues in our country,” he added.
“The current bilateral trade between Qatar and Pakistan stands at $300 million, much below actual potential,“said ICCI President Atif Ikram Sheikh.
He said ICCI was interested in signing a MoU with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce to improve business linkages.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th,  2016

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1075185/qatar-interested-in-building-power-plants-in-pakistan/

APEDA RICE COMMODITY RICE NEWS

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 29-03-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Honey
1
Argentine 85mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2145
2
Argentine 50mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2200
3
Argentine 34mm, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2225
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
835
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
588
Peanuts
1
South Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
1875
2
South African, HPS 40/50 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t)
1000
3
Argentinean 38/42 runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
1485
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-03-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Jowar(Sorghum)
1
Mandvi (Gujarat)
Other
1000
1250
2
Gulbarga (Karnataka)
Hybrid
1475
1909
3
Ahmednagar (Maharashtra)
Other
1700
2500
Maize
1
Bellary (Karnataka)
Local
1272
1417
2
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow
1475
1510
3
Beed (Maharashtra)
Other
1384
1384
Orange
1
Thodupuzha (Chala)
Other
3300
3500
2
Aurangabad (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
2500
3
Phagwara (Punjab)
Other
2600
2600
Cabbage
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2800
3000
2
Bolangir (Orissa)
Other
1500
1600
3
Solan (HimachalPradesh)
Other
400
600
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 29-03-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
349
2
Hyderabad
325
3
Chittoor
348
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 28-03-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Yellow
21
22.25
2
Chicago
Peru
Yellow
24
24
2
Detroit
California
Yellow
17
18
Carrots
Package: 20 1-lb film bags
1
Atlanta
California
Baby Peeled
20.25
20.75
2
Dallas
Mexico
Baby Peeled
17
20
3
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
Grapes
Package: 18 lb containers bagged
1
Atlanta
Peru  
Red Globe
22
24.50
2
Chicago
Chile
Red Globe
18.50
18.50
3
Miami
Peru
Red Globe
17
20
Source:USDA

 

Rice Prices

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bazpur(Utr)
1705.00
-43.17
32613.41
1835
1900
-18.19
Gadarpur(Utr)
908.00
-39.39
93982.00
2128
2083
23.86
Billsadda(UP)
850.00
-
4050.00
2185
-
-
Bahraich(UP)
168.50
-3.71
3567.00
2075
2075
-0.24
Sitapur(UP)
134.00
-0.74
6146.00
2220
2200
8.56
Lucknow(UP)
114.00
18.75
3304.50
2170
2180
3.33
Fatehabad(UP)
109.00
319.23
195.00
2020
2100
-0.98
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
1960.00
2650
2650
8.16
Coochbehar(WB)
67.00
-1.47
1118.00
2050
2050
-4.65
Goalpara(ASM)
50.30
-19.52
389.40
1800
1800
-
Ghaziabad(UP)
50.00
-28.57
2120.00
2140
2145
1.42
Ghiraur(UP)
43.00
-
43.00
2020
-
4.66
Beldanga(WB)
40.00
-9.09
1491.50
2280
2290
-8.80
Koderma(Jha)
36.00
-26.53
331.00
3300
3500
-8.33
Fatehpur Sikri(UP)
34.00
-
55.00
2060
-
5.10
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
30.00
NC
1290.00
3200
3100
-
Lakhimpur(UP)
25.00
66.67
398.50
2130
2160
0.24
Udala(Ori)
24.00
41.18
744.00
2800
2800
12.00
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
24.00
-35.14
1046.00
2180
2180
5.06
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
23.00
4.55
699.00
2750
2750
1.85
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
21.50
-3.59
881.60
2300
2300
-11.54
Mekhliganj(WB)
20.50
-6.82
555.50
2050
2050
10.81
Sirsa(UP)
18.00
5.88
399.50
2075
2085
0.73
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
14.60
165.45
204.20
3250
3250
NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)
12.00
-36.84
935.30
2400
2400
-
Pundibari(WB)
10.00
-23.08
165.50
2050
2050
-3.53
Muradabad(UP)
9.20
2.22
414.70
2270
2280
12.38
Mirzapur(UP)
9.00
5.88
1162.50
1950
1945
-1.02
Chengannur(Ker)
8.00
33.33
432.50
2400
2500
-4.00
Khairagarh(UP)
8.00
-5.88
291.00
2100
2100
6.60
Ranaghat(WB)
8.00
-11.11
50.00
2100
2050
-10.64
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
7.80
-48
1184.50
1900
1900
-
Chandoli(UP)
7.50
-6.25
38.50
1890
1870
1.89
Bohorihat(ASM)
6.50
-67.5
237.90
2100
2100
-8.70
Imphal(Man)
3.40
-2.86
161.70
2900
2900
NC
Alibagh(Mah)
3.00
NC
99.00
4000
4000
150.00
Murud(Mah)
3.00
NC
171.00
3000
2500
87.50
Bharuasumerpur(UP)
2.50
150
8.00
1880
1860
4.44
Balarampur(WB)
2.10
NC
47.80
2130
2130
-11.25
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
2.00
NC
89.10
2000
2000
-9.09
Melaghar(Tri)
2.00
-33.33
95.80
2250
2250
-4.26
Siyana(UP)
1.50
-25
59.50
2040
2060
-0.97
Sardhana(UP)
1.20
20
66.00
2165
2160
4.34



03/30/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
ROUGH RICE
High
Low
Last
Change
May '16
1017.0
990.0
1003.0
-3.5
Jul '16
1041.0
1020.0
1030.5
-3.5
Sep '16
1054.0
1040.0
1049.0
-4.0
Nov '16
1071.5
1062.0
1068.0
-4.5
Jan '17
1079.0
1079.0
1084.5
+3.5
Mar '17
1102.0
+5.5
May '17
1102.0
+5.5
   

Rice Comment

Rice futures were mostly lower again today. A marketing year low of just 14,500 MT of rice were sold last week, which was down 32-percent from last week and 82-percent from the previous 4-week average. Overall rice exports are up slightly year-to-date compared to last year; however the market still needs additional sales to materialize as outstanding sales remain well below year ago levels. At the same time, though, Vietnam's 1st qtr. 2016 rice exports were up 30.1% over a year earlier at 1.46 MMT. May set a new contract low for the second day in a row, with support at $9.97 on the monthly continuation the next target for bears





Pantry 101: Long grain vs. short grain rice


Demystify one of the world’s most common grains — while adding a little variety to the pantry.
   0
Illustration, Casie Wilson.
White, long-grain rice is a staple of the pantry cupboard, but the varieties of rice you can be using are many — as are the lengths. Each adds a different flavour, texture or nutritional element to your cooking, so it’s important to have an idea of what’s what when you’re in the dry goods aisle. Here’s the long and short of it:

Long-grain rice

About three times longer than it is wide, these grain varieties hold their shape well after cooking, with the softened grains remaining relatively separate. Depending on the variety, they can be milled to remove the entire germ and bran layers (white rice), or less processed to maintain a higher nutrient value (brown rice).
Varieties
White: Refined during the milling process to remove outer germ and bran, this is your standard rice.
Try it:
 Tangy fried rice.
Jasmine: Largely produced in Thailand, this long-grain rice has a naturally occurring floral aroma. Slightly stickier in texture when cooked than regular white rice, it is perfect for stir-fries, as well as pairing with many Thai and Chinese dishes.
Try it:
 Pork adobo with jasmine rice.
Basmati: This long grain variety is another aromatic rice, often aged to further develop its distinct flavour (it has a nutty rather than floral scent). Largely produced in India and Pakistan, the name originates from the Sanskrit word vasmati, for “fragrant”.
Try it:
 Artichoke and shrimp pilaf.
Brown: This whole-grain variety is found in both long and short lengths, and is milled to remove only the outer hull, leaving the germ and brown bran layers.
Cooking tip:
 Brown rice typically takes two to three times longer to cook than white rice.
Try it:
 Ginger-shrimp brow rice bowl.
Parboiled: Partially boiled in the husk, this rice is processed so it will cook more quickly while remaining firmer and less sticky. Generally felt to be less flavourful, with different texture.
Instant/Quick rice: Cooked and dehydrated before purchase. While it decreases cook time significantly, like parboiled rice, many feel it loses flavour and firmness as a result of extra processing.


Short-grain rice

As the name implies, these grains are shorter, with a slightly rounded kernel. When cooked, they often have a sticky (rather than fluffy and separate) texture. They’re the preferred choice for risottos, sushi rice and rice puddings.
Varieties
Arborio rice: These short, round grains are Italian in origin. When cooked, they become creamy and soft, making them an ideal choice for savoury risottos and sweet puddings.
Try it:
 Classic risotto with shrimp and sweet peas.
Sushi or ‘sticky’ rice: A more glutinous rice, the sticky nature of these grains (when cooked) allows for manipulation and shaping — making it ideal for homemade sushi rolls or wraps.
Cooking tip:
 To preserve shape, this rice is best when steamed, rather than boiled.
Try it:
 Sushi pizza.
Black grain rice: A short to medium-grain rice with a black outer bran layer. High in fibre and antioxidants, it has a similar flavour to brown rice and turns to dark purple when cooked.
Try it:
 Black rice pudding.

 

Rice Leadership Class Session No. 1: The Gulf Coast

 

Session No. 1 is also the class icebreaker as it's the first time members spend quality time together since the announcement of their selection at the USA Rice Outlook Conference a few months before.

Photo SubmittedThe Rice Leadership Development 2016 Class tours RiceTec, Inc.

By Chuck Wilson
USA Rice Federation

Posted Mar. 29, 2016 at 11:13 AM 


STUTTGART —
Traditionally the Rice Leadership Development program's first session occurs in the spring and begins with a tour through rice-producing areas of the Gulf Coast. Stops in Texas and Louisiana include examination of rice production, milling, marketing, research, and other aspects of the U.S. rice industry.Session No. 1 is also the class icebreaker as it's the first time members spend quality time together since the announcement of their selection at the USA Rice Outlook Conference a few months before.On day one of the inaugural session earlier this month, class member Michael Bosworth, a rice farmer from Olivehurst, California, said, "From the outset, we appear to have a really strong group and we're eager to get to know each other and start taking advantage of the unique opportunities the Leadership Class presents."In addition to Bosworth, class members are: Imran Khan, Chico, California; Allen McLain, Abbeville, Louisiana; Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart; Brandon Truax, Gillett; Sunny Bottoms, Dumas, with Horizon Ag; and Kris Riggs, Jonesboro, with Anheuser-Busch.In Texas the class visited Riviana Foods; RiceTec, Inc.; the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA); Doguet Rice Milling Company; Rice Belt Warehouse, the state's largest storage facility; and several rice farms.

Rice farmer Imran Khan was struck by the differences in farming practices in the south because "coming from California, with our specific cultural practices and varieties we plant, it's been eye-opening to see the same crop done in a different way."What impressed Sunny Bottoms most during the Texas leg of the session was, "the reservoir being constructed by the LCRA near Lane City, Texas. Being from Arkansas I've never had to worry that much about water availability, although it is a growing concern, and our issues are typically with groundwater availability, not surface water and urban sprawl."

Bottoms continued, "[The reservoir] is a massive undertaking: five miles in perimeter and 42 feet high. We learned about many of the issues that had to be taken into consideration before building something of this magnitude; for instance, the seep wall that was being constructed underground before the levee could be built on top of it. They were able to use the native soils at the site for much of the construction and only had to bring in some key ingredients."During their three-day visit to Louisiana, the class met with Farmers Rice Milling Company and toured the bioenergy plant that supplies the company's electricity. At the South Louisiana Rail facility in Lacassine, the group met Mark Pousson, an alumnus of the program, and toured their state-of-the-art rail facility.

Following a tour of the bagging facility at Crowley's JohnPac, Inc., the group met with Dr. Steve Linscombe from the Louisiana State University Rice Research Station, also an alumnus, to review the latest rice research information."One of the great things about this Leadership Program is seeing aspects of our industry that are important but we just don't think about, like JohnPac manufacturing bags for the rice industry," said rice farmer Sidney Robnett.
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/article/20160329/NEWS/160329582