4- 6 Nov رائس نیوز 2020

Punjab: Lack of assured price
for Basmati holds back its

shelling industry from
blossoming to full potential
Punjab is producing 7 to 11 lakh tonnes less Basmati against its total supply
in the export and domestic markets. For these 7 to 11 lakh tonnes Basmati, it
has to depend on UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi’s traders, who purchase at
Narela market from traders and farmers of UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Updated: November 4, 2020 2:24:40 pm

Punjab produces around 25-26 lakh tonnes (2.5 to 2.6 million tonnes) of Basmati annually, which is
around 34 per cent of the total production of the country.
Punjab’s basmati rice shelling industry — which has not only been meeting around 50 per cent
of domestic needs of the premium grain, but also contributing 40-50 per cent of the total export
of Basmati to various countries — has been heavily dependent on other states to make itself
viable, having the capacity to mill Basmati worth Rs 25,000 crore.
Bamati is a long grain aromatic rice grown in the specific geographical area of seven states of the
country including Punjab, Haryana, some districts of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (Western UP),
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
Punjab produces around 25-26 lakh tonnes (2.5 to 2.6 million tonnes) of Basmati annually,
which is around 34 per cent of the total production of the country. In 2019-20, around 7.5 million
tonnes (75 lakh tonnes) Basmati was produced in the country.
Punjab has a huge potential of increasing Basmati area because it usually covers 27-28 lakh
hectares acreage under rice including around 5.50-6.50 lakh hectares under Basmati and
remaining under paddy (parmal rice). The state can easily increase this area to double, which is
good for its ground water, the shelling industry and the environment.
Of the total production of Basmati, 58 to 59 per cent (4.54 million tonnes) is exported annually
and remaining nearly 41% (3 million tonnes) is consumed in the country.
To meet the 50 per cent domestic need and around 40-50 pet cent of the total export, Punjab
needs at least 33-37 lakh tonnes (3.3-3.7 million tonnes) Basmati while Punjab is producing 7 to
11 lakh tonnes less Basmati against its total supply in the export and domestic markets. For these
7 to 11 lakh tonnes Basmati, it has to depend on UP, Uttarakhand and Delhi’s traders, who
purchase at Narela market, which is Asia’s biggest rice and wheat mandi, from traders and
farmers of UP, Haryana and Uttarakhand. The Basmati of these states — UP, Delhi and Haryana,
and Uttarakhand — falls under the GI tag and has the same demand in the international market
as Punjab’s Basmati.
“We have around 100 Basmati shelling units in Punjab, which have the capacity of milling over
Rs 20,000 crore of Basmati, but are milling Basmati around Rs 15,000-16,000 crore so as to
make the industry viable, said Ashok Sethi, a leading Basmati exporter and director, Punjab
Basmati Rice Exporter Association.
Another leading exporter said, “We are getting around Rs 8,000-9,000 crore Basmati from
Punjab and for the remaining we are dependent on other GI tag areas. While Punjab has huge
potential to grow as per the need of the Basmati shelling industry as around 27-28 lakh hectares
area is under rice here, only 6 to 6.50 lakh hectares is dedicated under Basmati while this area
can be doubled easily if government supports the Basmati growers.”
According to Agricultural and Processed food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA) under Ministry of Commerce and Industry Government of India, in 2019, around
19.50 lakh hectares was under Basmati across seven GI states including maximum under Punjab
(6.29 lakh hectares) and Haryana (8.43 lakh hectares), around 5 lakh hectares in UP and
remaining less than one lakh hectares in four other GI states.
The biggest rice shelling industry is located either in Punjab or in Haryana. “Punjab’s farmers are
ready to enhance the area under Basmati if they get assured price like paddy,” said Block
Agricultural Officer Pathankot Dr Amrik Singh, adding that it is one of the best alternatives for
Punjab’s farmers. A senior official at APEDA said that India is exporting Basmati to over 100
countries and this export can be increased further if a little more focus and support is provided to
both farmers and exporters of the country.
Sethi said that in 2019, a total 44.54 lakh tonnes of Basmati worth Rs 34,000 crore was exported.
Subscribe to receive the day's headlines from The Indian Express straight in your inbox
Subscribe

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel
(@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-lack-assured-price-basmati-holds-back-shelling-industry-
full-potential-6940395/
 COUNTRY LIVING
 EDUCATION

 GAMES
 HOROSCOPES
Dinner time: Jeremy Vincent chicken biryani. Picture: Zoe Phillips
COUNTRY LIVING
Jeremy Vincent’s recipes for chicken

biryani, brown fried rice & Egyptian rice
JEREMY VINCENT, The Weekly Times
November 4, 2020 12:00am



This story is free to read, but there has never been a more important time
to stay connected to the news. A digital subscription to The Weekly Times
will bring you the rural and agricultural news from as little as $2.60 a
week*.
I LOVE the opportunity to include long-grain rice as a thickening agent in soups or

dishes.
This variation on chicken biriyani is one such recipe.
Traditionally made with a whole, cut-up chicken, I like to vary the portions so I use a
mix of thighs and drumsticks.
It’s worth making the spice mix as given here, although there is a range of sauces ready-
mixed that you can buy if you are time-poor. The important thing you can’t skimp on is
allowing time for the chicken pieces to marinate at room temperature.
CHICKEN BIRYANI
S erves 4 to 6
1½ tbsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp freshly ground white pepper
6 shallots, roughly chopped
5 cloves garlic
2cm piece fresh peeled ginger, roughly chopped
Salt
6 skinless chicken thighs, halved crossways through the bone
6 skinless chicken drumsticks

2 tbsp peanut oil
2½ cups jasmine rice
2 small cucumbers, trimmed and thinly sliced
Chilli sauce, to serve
In a blender or food processor combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric, pepper, shallots,
garlic, ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, and one-third cup water. Puree to a paste.
Toss the chicken and spice paste together in a large bowl to coat. Cover with plastic wrap
and set aside at room temperature to marinate for an hour.
Heat the oil in a large wide saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and all
the spice paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until the paste is deeply caramelised and
the chicken is just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes.
Add the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1–2 minutes. Add salt to taste and 2¼
cups water. Bring to a boil while stirring occasionally. Cover the saucepan, reduce the
heat to medium-low, and simmer until the rice is just tender and the chicken is cooked
through, about 30 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow to sit
undisturbed for 15 minutes. Uncover and, using a fork, gently toss together the chicken
and rice. Serve with cucumbers and chilli sauce on the side.
BROWN FRIED RICE
THIS is the basis for a simple rice dish that is sauteed (to create the
“brown” finish) and then cooked using the absorption method. I often stir through some
leftover diced roast pork or chicken at the end of the cooking, to give the finished dish a
little more complexity.
Soak 600g long-grain rice in cold water for 15 minutes. Wash well and drain. Heat 5
tablespoons of peanut oil in a saucepan and fry two medium chopped onions until
brown. Add a small piece of cinnamon stick, a bay leaf, 6 cloves and a generous pinch of
mace and saute for 5 minutes. Add ½ a tablespoon sugar and let it caramelise. Add the
rice and saute for 2 minutes. Add salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon) and 4 cups boiling
water, and cook for 9-10 minutes until the rice is perfectly cooked.
EGYPTIAN RICE
HEAT a tablespoon of oil in a large saucepan and saute 500g beef mince and 1 small
chopped onion. Add 3 cups beef stock, 2-3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon
Worcestershire sauce, 1 small tin of straw mushrooms, drained, 1 cup basmati rice and
salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer until the rice is cooked, about 12 minutes. To
serve, add a dollop of sour cream to each serve and sprinkle with toasted slivered
almonds.
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/country-living/jeremy-vincents-recipes-for-chicken-biryani-
brown-fried-rice-egyptian-rice/news-story/ef3f06ede5a147072a0a3d7e7f1ccae2
PhilMech distributes farm machines to

Pangasinan farmers
By Jerick James Pasiliao November 6, 2020, 7:31 pm
Share
‘BIG HELP’. Some of the tractors distributed by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development
and Mechanization to 24 farmers’ associations and cooperatives in Pangasinan on Friday (Nov. 6,
2020). The distribution of the farm machinery is a big help to farmers in improving their
productivity. (Photo by Jerick Pasiliao)

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization
(PhilMech) on Friday turned over farm machinery to 24 farmers’ associations and cooperatives in
Pangasinan to improve productivity.

Beneficiaries received 64 four-wheel tractors, two recirculating dryers, and two multi-pass rice mills.

In a speech during the distribution ceremony, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the machines
were part of PhilMech’s PHP515-million budget allotment this year under the Philippine Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).

Dar said additional machines would be given to more farmers’ associations and cooperatives in the
coming months.

In an interview, provincial agriculturist Dalisay Moya said farm mechanization is a “big help” to the
farmers' productivity.

"It will reduce labor cost and will increase (the) speed of land preparation and planting," she said.

Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino III thanked the DA and the national government for the
machines.

Farmer Antonio Posadas, 46, of San Carlos City, said through farm mechanization, they expect
more harvest and less labor. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1121037
Central University of Punjab

organised a Webinar on “Crop
Residue Management with
special emphasis on stubble
burning”
By
India Education Diary Bureau Admin
-
November 6, 2020
Bathinda: The Department of Environmental Science and Technology at Central
University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) organized a Webinar on “Crop Residue
Management with special emphasis on stubble burning” under the patronage of
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari. The keynote speaker of this
programme was Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Prof. S.S. Marwaha,
Faculty, scholars, and students from different institutions participated in this
webinar.
The programme commenced with the welcome address by Dr. Sunil Mittal,
Associate Dean & HoD, Dept. of Environmental Science. where he introduced
the keynote speaker to the participants.
Keynote Speaker Prof. S.S. Marwaha in his address shared the major causes of
crop residue burning such as short time duration between the harvesting of
Paddy Crop and sowing of Wheat Crop, modern mechanised farming process
leads to large volumes of rice residue etc. He highlighted that stubble burning is
harmful for the environment as well as for the human health because during the
time of stubble burning, air pollution level increases from 3 to 5 times which
becomes the cause of many health problems such as skin & eye irritation, lungs
& heart diseases etc. He also shared the steps taken by the government to deal
with the challenge crop residue management and stated that Punjab Energy
Development Agency has commissioned 11 Biomass Power Projects in various
districts of Punjab such as Muktsar, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa,
Moga, Faridkot, Firozpur etc, to support nearby farmers. He added PPCB along
with other agencies is also conducting trials for some bacterial & fungal
inoculums for the easy degradation of rice residue within 2 to 4 weeks which
will be helpful in managing this issue. He concluded his talk by appealing people
from academia to spread awareness about available alternatives for crop
residue management techniques.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari mentioned that in earlier times, the
residue of crops such as rice straw was considered useful & was effectively
utilised in cattle feed, composting, thatching, poultry, mushroom cultivation and
manufacturing products such as paper, packaging material, mats, baskets,
ropes etc. He added, with the modernisation, the usage of rice straw has
decreased and it is considered as a waste product. He encouraged scientists and
researchers to unite together and find out an innovative solution for effective
utilisation of crop residues to increase the income of farmers.
Prof. V.K. Garg, Dean Student Welfare, complimented the keynote speaker for
delivering a scholarly talk. He stated that the university has installed a
continuous ambient air quality monitoring station and data derived from this
system is being shared with various government agencies. He informed that the
faculty of CUPB is continuously working on various research projects to find out
an innovative solution to such issues and assured that our team will come up
with a series of interactive sessions in future to spread awareness on crop
residue management in our community.
Towards the end of the programme, Dr. Yogalakshmi KN delivered the vote of
thanks.
https://indiaeducationdiary.in/central-university-of-punjab-organised-a-webinar-on-crop-residue-
management-with-special-emphasis-on-stubble-burning/
Vibrant Agric sector created; Ghana now

a net-exporter of foodstuffs – Akufo-
Addo
6 November 2020 8:12pm
President Nana Akufo-Addo says his tenure of office, over the last three years and
ten months, has seen to the creation of a vibrant agricultural sector in Ghana, with
the country, during the period, transformed into a net-exporter of foodstuffs,
Ghana’s agriculture has been transformed.
Speaking at the 36th Farmers’ Day celebration, which was held on Friday, 6th
November 2020, in Techiman, capital of the Bono East Region, the President noted
that, in the immediate years before his assumption of office, the performance of the
agricultural sector was nothing short of abysmal, evidenced by growth rates of 0.9%
in 2014 and 2.9% in 2016.

In order to remedy the situation, he told the gathering that his Government took the
bold decision to embark on a well-thought through programme for the
modernisation and transformation of Ghana’s agriculture, which included increasing
productivity on smallholding farms; enhancing food security; diversifying agricultural
export earnings; promoting agro-industrialisation and import substitution; and
creating jobs for the youth.
“This led to the birth of the programme for “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ), in
April 2017, which provided strategic direction for realising the stated objectives. The
initial focus of the programme was to support the productivity and output of selected
food crops, through the provision of heavily subsidised improved seeds and
fertilizers,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He continued, “The PFJ has since evolved, over the years, to reflect the
comprehensive nature of Government’s strategy to improve agriculture with the
introduction of five modules, i.e. food crops, Planting for Export and Rural
Development (Tree Crops Module), Rearing for Food and Jobs (Livestock Module),
Greenhouse Villages (Horticulture Module), and Farm Mechanisation and Agro-
processing (Mechanisation Module)”

All five modules, the President explained, have contributed to the creation of the
vibrant agriculture we are experiencing in Ghana, albeit with some of the modules
yet to be fully implemented.
“Today, our nation has banished the disgraceful spectre of importing tomatoes and
plantain from Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire respectively, we are now a net
exporter of food, and our youth are venturing into fulltime agriculture,” he added.
Food crops module
According to President Akufo-Addo, the food crops module has resulted in an
appreciable increase in yields of selected staples, with those of maize and rice, for
example, increasing by 110% and 48% respectively from 2016 to 2019, whilst local
production of rice accounts for 50% of domestic demand, up from 32% as at 2017.
All of this, the President stressed, has been made possible by the substantial
increase in the distribution of improved seeds to farmers, from 4,400 metric tons in
2016, to 18,333 metric tons in 2019, and 29,000 metric tons in 2020.
With Ghana making considerable strides in its efforts to increase the use of fertilizer,
from 8kg per hectare in 2016 to 20kg per hectare at the end of 2019, he indicated
that Government has, since 2017, recruited 2,700 extension officers, translating into
an improved extension officer to farmer ratio, from 1:1,908 in 2016, to 1:706

Another major intervention under the food crop module, according to President
Akufo-Addo, has been the construction of 80 one-thousand-metric ton capacity
warehouses throughout the country.

Tree Crops Module
Touching on the tree crops module of PFJ, popularly referred to as “Planting for
Export and Rural Development” (PERD), which he launched in April 2019,
President Akufo-Addo stated that Government has taken the decision to develop
cashew, coffee, shea, mango, coconut, rubber and oil palm into cash crops, in
addition to cocoa.
“The target for each of these selected crops is to earn a minimum of US$2 billion
each year from 2028. This target translates to a total of some US$14 billion
annually, compared to the US$2.3 billion from cocoa today,” he added.
This added focus, he stressed, “does not mean turning our back on the crop that
has been the mainstay of the Ghanaian economy for over a hundred years –
cocoa”, evidenced in the establishment of the $600 million National Cocoa
Rehabilitation programme, and increase in the producer price for a bag of cocoa
from GH¢415 to GH¢660, the highest ever in the nation’s history.
Livestock Module
Explaining the rationale for the establishment of this module, President Akufo-Addo
indicated that the purpose of the module is to scale up local production of poultry
and livestock, as well as to reduce the country’s dependence on meat imports,
valued annually at US$340 million.

“Commencing in 2019, with the distribution of improved breeds of small ruminants,
pigs and cockerels to farmers throughout the country, Government is currently
facilitating access to concessionary loans for value chain actors to support
production, processing and marketing of meat products. At full-scale, it is projected
to reduce progressively the importation of meat products in the country by up to
70% by the year 2025”, he said.
Green Villages
Government, President Akufo-Addo said, he is promoting the greenhouse village
concept to ensure the production of high value vegetables for local consumption,
and to enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s horticulture products on the
international market.
“I have, thus far, commissioned three (3) greenhouse villages at Dawhenya in the
Greater Accra Region, Akumadan in the Ashanti Region, and Bawjiase in Central
Region. Two hundred and ninety-six (296) university graduates and diploma
holders have been trained, with one hundred and ninety (190) of them benefiting
from an eleven (11) month paid internship in the Kibbutzim in Israel,” he added.
Mechanisation
In order to move away from the dependence on manual labour that smallholder
farmers have become accustomed to, President Akufo-Addo stated that

Government, through the More Food Programme, has supplied 230 tractors and
11,450 assorted machinery and equipment from Brazil, since 2017.
Additionally, concessionary agreements have been concluded with India and the
Czech Republic for the supply of a large consignment of farm and processing
machinery, including hand-held farm implements to be sold at a subsidised rate.

“From 2021, the Exim Bank of India will facilitate the supply of farm machinery,
agro-processing and other value-adding machines to the tune of one hundred and
fifty million United States dollars (US$150 million),” he said.

Chairperson, let me also give an account of some of the other interventions put in
place by Government to boost the development of agriculture.
Irrigation
With Ghana having, since independence, put only 3.2% of its arable land under
irrigation, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that “since 2017, the Ghana
Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) has completed 10 out of 14 small dams.”
Additionally, he added that the rehabilitation of the Kpong Left and Right bank
irrigation schemes and the Tono irrigation scheme is ongoing, and, once
completed, 7,690 hectares of land will be put under irrigation.

“Government has also initiated the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam,
which will put an additional 24,000 hectares of land under irrigation. Additionally, the
Ministry of Special Development Initiatives has constructed some 500 small dams
in the Northern Regions of Ghana,” he added.
Food Exports
One clear indicator attesting to the overwhelming success of the food crops module
under the PFJ, according to President Akufo-Addo, is the export of Ghana
foodstuffs to neighbouring countries.
“Based on official records at the Statistics Research and Information Directorate of
the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana exported some 130,000 metric tons of
19 different food items to neighbouring countries in 2018, valued at the equivalent
of US$90 million. Reports of scores of traders from neighbouring countries in the
ECOWAS Region doing brisk business in grains in the northern parts of the country
are clear indications of the new business opportunities opening up in the country for
agriculture,” he said.
ttps://www.myjoyonline.com/news/national/vibrant-agric-sector-created-ghana-now-a-net-exporter-
of-foodstuffs-
Global Rice Protein Market 2020
to Observe Strong Development by
2027
david November 6, 2020
Fior Markets has announced the top-quality research on Global Rice

Protein Market delivers a comprehensive analysis of market trends persuading in the
global business domain. The report reveals details on factors like driving factors, key
improvements & challenges on which further development is dependent. The study analysis
on the global Rice Protein market has been given on a worldwide scale with growth analysis,
competitive analysis, and also the growth prospects of the central regions. The report
authenticates the assessment and volume of the market for a certain time (2020-2027). It
then sheds light on the competitive status of key players within the projection timeline while
focusing on their portfolio and regional expansion.
NOTE: Our analysts monitoring the situation across the globe explains that the market will
generate remunerative prospects for producers post COVID-19 crisis. The report aims to
provide an additional illustration of the latest scenario, economic slowdown, and COVID-19
impact on the overall industry.
DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE

REPORT: https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/418307/request-sample
Market Snapshot:
The report performs present and traditional growth analysis, competitive analysis, and
growth prospect analysis. It offers an extensive investigation of this market that contains an
analysis of the global Rice Protein industry trends in each of the sub-segments, from sales,
revenue, and consumption. Knowledgeable forecasters, innovative analysts, and brilliant
researchers have provided detailed and thorough research on different trends and
emerging opportunities in the successive direction for the business needs. The author of this
report has provided market segmentation by type, application, key vendors, and regions.
Each market segment is intensively studied in the report to take into account it’s market
acceptance, value, demand, and growth prospects.
Some of the key competitors or manufacturers included in this report are: Nutrition

Resource Inc., Bioway (Xi’an) Organic Ingredients Co., Ltd., AIDP Inc., Shafi Gluco
Chem Pvt., Ltd., Golden Grain Group Ltd., RiceBran Technologies, Shaanxi Fuheng (FH)
Biotechnology Co., Ltd., and Axiom Foods Inc.
On the basis of product, the global Rice Protein market report highlights revenue
generation, market stake, and productivity, regional demand of each segment, primarily
classified into:
 Organic
 Bakery & Confectionary
 Dairy Alternatives
 Sports & energy Nutrition
 Meat Analogues & Extenders
 Inorganic
 Animal Feed
 Pharmaceuticals
 Food & Beverages
 Cosmetics
In terms of region, this research report covers almost all major regions of the world, such
as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa.
Request for Customization: https://www.fiormarkets.com/enquiry/request-
customization/418307
Important Highlights Mentioned In Market Report:
 The present status of the global and regional level of global Rice Protein market
 Comprehensive analysis of the global market status and demand
 Current market analysis
 The report offers vital insights about market drivers, restraints, opportunities, new
product launches or approval, regional outlook, and competitive strategy employed by
key players
 The research of this market enticing place regarding product sales of the market
In the end, the report discusses industrial policy, economic environment, in addition, cost
structures of the industry. Additionally, extensive information about the significant data such
as global Rice Protein market size, cost structure, trends, share, market challenges, drivers,
opportunities, competitive landscape, revenue, capacity, and market prediction has been
offered in the report.
ACCESS FULL REPORT: https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/rice-protein-market-by-

product-hydrolysates-isolates-concentrates-418307.html
Customization of the Report:This report can be customized to meet the client’s
requirements. Please connect with our sales team (sales@fiormarkets.com), who will
ensure that you get a report that suits your needs.
https://rejerusalem.com/283957/global-rice-protein-market-2020-to-observe-strong-development-by-
2027/
DA bans co-ops abetting traders
By: Karl R. Ocampo - Reporter / @kocampoINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:20 AM November 06, 2020
Following reports of farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) being used as

fronts by unscrupulous traders to import rice to enjoy tax exemptions, the Department
of Agriculture (DA) has temporarily banned such groups from engaging in the trading
of rice.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar last week issued the memorandum order, which
effectively suspends the issuance of import certificates to cooperatives by the Bureau
of Plant Industry (BPI).
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the agriculture chief, there were “hundreds” of these associations that
willingly gave their permits for the use of traders.
Dar added that upon investigation, many of these farmer groups did not have the
financial capacity to import the volume they had indicated in their documents.
FEATURED STORIES
NEWSINFO
‘Mukhang pera,’ Duterte says of PRC amid PhilHealth debt issue
NEWSINFO
Trump erupts as Biden closes in on US presidency
NEWSINFO
Philippine Red Cross chief to Duterte: ‘Hindi kami mukhang pera’
In fact, data lifted by the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) from BPI showed that two
small cooperatives from Pampanga and Tarlac were allowed to import 50,000 metric
tons of rice worth P1 billion each. Another set of nine cooperatives, also from Tarlac,
was able to import P3.1 billion worth of rice between January and August this year.
There were also 13 FCAs from Pampanga that were able to bring in rice shipments
worth P2.3 billion while 15 Bulacan-based FCAs also accounted for P1.5 billion of
rice imports.
The scheme robbed the government of taxes, as these traders did not only avail
themselves of tax perks exclusively given to FCAs but also undervalued their imports
to escape paying the right amount of tariffs.
The Bureau of Customs is currently investigating these cases. More than 40 importers
have already been charged and were ordered to pay a combined P1.4 billion in
penalties, but FFF said it could be more.
Farmers groups
While the industry group discourages FCAs from importing the staple, it said the
route that the DA had taken was “ineffective and discriminatory,” arguing that
importers could easily use other entities like non-FCAs and small-time traders as
alternative dummies to shield themselves from liabilities once their shipments are
flagged.
“Banning certain groups from importing is not the solution to the problem,” FFF chair
Raul Montemayor said. “DA should instead tighten the accreditation of importers to
ensure they are legitimate businesses that have the logistics and finances for the
volumes they are applying for.”
Montemayor added that it is not fair “to penalize all FCAs for the mistakes of just a
few groups.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dar said the agency had already strengthened its guidelines. Any entity, before getting
an import permit, must be financially stable for the past three years and must also
have warehouse capacity.
The Philippines has had increased rice imports since the rice tariffication law was
enacted in 2019 and many FCAs have been importing rice instead of helping domestic
farmers.
“Farmer cooperatives … and irrigators’ associations imported almost half of the
volume of imported rice in 2019,” Dar said.
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1357135/da-bans-co-ops-abetting-
traders#ixzz6dB2SqDyo
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
DA blanket ban on co-op rice importers risks

challenge
ByJasper Y. Arcalas
November 5, 2020
more from author
Top NewsJasper Y. Arcalas -November 5, 2020
80,000 farmers in 6 regions incur P5.5 billion in combined loss from Quinta, Rolly
PHL shuts out Dutch poultry over bird flu cases

’Rolly’ hits abaca hard, 20-year decline seen

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) could be leaving itself open to legal challenges
with its ban on farmer-cooperatives and irrigators’ associations from importing rice as
such may violate existing laws, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) said Thursday.
Nonetheless, Monetary Board Member V. Bruce J. Tolentino said the suspension
would not have a “significant” impact on the country’s rice supply as local production
just finished its peak harvest while legitimate importers are eligible to import the
staple.
In a statement on Thursday, FFF said the blanket ban on farmers’ cooperatives and
associations (FCAs) is discriminatory since not all cooperative-importers have fallen
dummies to unscrupulous traders.
“While we discourage farmer-cooperatives from importing, we also respect the right

of legitimate groups to import for their own business and other needs. Neither is it
fair to penalize all FCAs for the mistakes of just a few groups,” the FFF said.
“Otherwise, to be consistent, the DA must also ban all imports by private companies
in the event it is proven that some private entities were also used as dummies or found
violating import rules,” it added.
The group pointed out that the blanket ban may be in violation of certain provisions of
the Rice Trade Liberalization (RTL) law, as it has allowed virtually anybody to import
rice following the removal of import licensing requirements.
“The suspension of import privileges of FCAs is subject to legal challenge by coops

and farmer groups. A case can be filed against Secretary Dar in the Ombudsman for
not following the law and unfairly infringing on the rights of certain groups,” FFF
said.
FFF National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said it is possible that the suspension of
the co-op importers would result in temporary decline of rice imports as unscrupulous
traders seek measures to circumvent the laws anew.
“I don’t expect there to be a significant impact since the peak of the harvest has just
been brought in. Also, duly registered enterprises continue to be eligible to apply for
SPSIC [sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance] and import,” Tolentino told the
BusinessMirror.
Tolentino said the temporary suspension would provide the government the
opportunity to clean up the cooperatives sector “of such undeserving entities,
especially with the work of the” Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).
“It’s true, as you already found, that there are many co-ops formed expressly to take
advantage of the tax privileges of co-ops while importing rice. Thus, such entities may
not be ‘true co-ops’ as meant by the tax privilege,” he said.
Economist Pablito M. Villegas told the BusinessMirror that he also frowns on a

blanket ban on cooperatives importing rice as it “discriminates” against legitimate
farmers groups.
However, he pointed out that it was right for the DA to ban the cooperatives being
used as dummies by unscrupulous traders. Still, he cautioned that it doesn’t solve the
root of the problem.
Instead, the government should run after the backers and financiers of these
cooperatives as they serve as the masterminds of the coop-for-traders dummy scheme,
Villanueva said.
Furthermore, the dummy scheme issue also highlights the government’s lack of
“accurate, reliable, and timely” data that would have aided policy-makers to avert
these unjust business practices, Villegas said.
“There should be a distinction between the legitimate cooperatives and the

cooperatives that are just being used. The ban alienates legitimate cooperatives and
second it does not solve the real problem,” he said via phone call.
The CDA earlier expressed opposition to the blanket ban as it is discriminatory

against medium and large cooperatives that have sufficient capitalization to venture
into rice business and importation. (Related
story: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/10/23/consensus-reached-on-rice-
imports-reforms/)
On October 30, Dar issued Administrative Order 34, S. 2020 ordering the suspension
of SPS-IC to cooperatives and associations, including irrigators’ associations for
commercial purposes until further notice.
“It has been noted that contrary to the purpose of farmers’ cooperatives and
associations and irrigators’ associations, many FCAs and IAs have been engaged in
importing rice instead of procuring local rice from local farmers. FCAs and IAs
imported almost half of the volume imported rice in 2019,” Dar said in the order.
“Adding insult to injury, there have been numerous reports that the SPSICs issued for
importing rice have been misused or abused by unscrupulous traders and businesses
using farmers’ cooperatives and irrigators associations as fronts. Taking advantage of
the privileges provided by the law to the cooperatives to avoid their legal
responsibilities and evade taxes,” he added.
Dar also ordered the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to investigate the situation and
consult with affected stakeholders to come up with new policies and rules “to avoid
circumvention of the laws” that would protect both farmers and their cooperatives
from exploitation and abuse.
The BusinessMirror broke the story last year that unscrupulous traders continue to use
farmers cooperatives’ and associations as their fronts and dummies even after the rice
industry was liberalized. (Read the award-winning story
here: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/10/31/pre-and-post-rice-trade-
liberalization-law-big-traders-gaming-farmer–groups/).
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/11/05/da-blanket-ban-on-co-op-rice-importers-risks-challenge/
UA researcher studies microwave rice

drying
by Fred Miller Special to The Commercial | November 6, 2020 at 2:54 a.m.

Follow
Luchen Walls Jr. harvests rice at Brantley Farms near England in Lonoke
County in this undated file photo. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / Staton
Breidenthal)
Microwave technology may offer a faster drying system for rice than
conventional heated-air drying systems, said Griffiths Atungulu, associate
professor of food processing and post-harvest system engineering for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Atungulu is co-principle investigator with AMTek Microwaves, a Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, company, on a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
Rough rice is reaped, ideally, at a harvest moisture content of 19-21%,
Atungulu said. Before milling, processors must reduce the moisture content to
a target of about 12.5%.
Conventional rice drying systems use natural air in-bin or crossflow column
dryers. In-bin drying can require many days to dry rice. Rice processors
commonly use crossflow column dryers, which direct heated air across a
column through which rough rice falls. Dryers can speed up the process but
still take considerable time, Atungulu said.
Crossflow column dryers usually require multiple passes of the rice through
the column separated by tempering periods, which maintain the rice at a warm
temperature. It commonly takes about three passes through the crossflow
dryer to reduce the rice to 12.5% moisture content.
Because tempering often takes place overnight, the drying process often
takes two days or more to complete, Atungulu said.
It also impacts head rice yield, the percentage of kernels that are at least
three-quarters of their original length after milling, Atungulu said. The
extended exposure to heated air can cause fissures in rice kernels' physical
structure, making them brittle. Milling the rice then results in breaking some of
the fissured kernels, reducing the head rice yield. Other factors, including
environmental conditions and rice genetics, contribute to head rice yield. In
the U.S., head rice yield averages 55-58% of the total rice volume.
"The yield could be lower, depending on prevailing environmental conditions
during harvest," Atungulu said.
Using an AMTek microwave dryer about the size of a commercial restaurant
oven, Atungulu has developed a method of drying rice to the target moisture
content of 12.5% in a single pass under laboratory conditions, he said.
His goal was to develop a one-pass drying method that maintained head rice
yield at or above the national average. He looked for a microwave drying
method that did not adversely affect rice color or flavor or increase rancidity,
which can occur in the bran layer.
"We didn't want to change anything that would affect consumer acceptance of
rice products," he said.
SCALING UP
AMTek is providing a large microwave drying oven that will allow Atungulu to
advance his single-pass rice drying process to a commercial scale.
"This will be a proof-of-concept study," he said, "based on extensive
preliminary research."
In years of preliminary research, collaborating with AMTek and several rice
processing companies, Atungulu showed that a microwave frequency of 915
Megahertz -- most home microwaves operate at a maximum of 2.45 MHz --
could dry rice in a single pass with less impact on head rice yield. It also met
the requirement of not affecting consumer-desired color or flavor.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT
More related headlines
In the proof of concept, Atungulu has two goals.
"First, we have to satisfy the rice processors," he said. "We want to
demonstrate that microwave drying reduces the time required for drying rice
while reducing fissuring to improve head rice yield."
Atungulu's target is to improve the national average of 55-58% head rice yield
to at least 65%.
"That would translate to a $145 million increase in rice value annually," he
said.
Also, a microwave drying system requires a smaller machinery footprint,
saving space, Atungulu said.
"Second, we have to satisfy consumers," he said. "That means we have to
preserve flavor, texture, color and cooking quality."
During the industry-scale research, Atungulu said, he will be working on
optimizing the system to meet those industry and consumer requirements.
His research so far has identified 915 MHz as an efficient frequency to meet
his goals. But on a large scale, Atungulu said, that may not be the ideal
frequency for all rice varieties.
"Some frequencies may not penetrate fully into some varieties," he said. "We
may also have to adjust how the microwave energy is delivered. Perhaps
some components will have to be designed to control how the energy diffuses
into the rice.
"These are the things we'll have to play around with to find the optimal design
and control for commercial microwave rice drying," Atungulu said.
COMMERCIALIZATION
Existing multiple-pass crossflow column dryers may be less efficient than
microwaves, but Atungulu says they have a proven track record. They are
also durable, continuing to work for decades with regular upkeep.
Rice processors will not be easily persuaded to convert their drying systems.
An essential goal of the proof-of-concept stage of his research, Atungulu said,
is to demonstrate, with conclusive data, the economic benefits of microwave
rice drying.
"We understand the feasibility of microwave drying," Atungulu said. "We also
want to be able to articulate the merits of the system."
Even with convincing data, Atungulu expects conversion will not happen
overnight.
"It's more likely to happen in stages," he said. Given the durability of existing
rice dryers, that may take considerable time.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas
Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow the
agency on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at ArkAgResearch.
Fred Miller is with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/nov/06/ua-researcher-studies-microwave-rice-drying/?
latest
Here’s how you can cook rice without losing

out on nutrients and removing arsenic
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Nov 6, 2020, 08:00 ISTShare Comments (0)
fbshare twsharepinshare
close

01/4Revealed: Rice cooking secrets to retain the nutrients and
remove the traces of arsenic
Light, healthy and delicious, rice is one of the most popular staple foods around the
world, and its mineral-rich composition makes it one of the healthiest food items. But,
did you know rice also contains harmful chemicals? This is the only reason why rice goes
through several layers of filtration before packaging.
Cooking rice may seem like one of the easiest things, but what about the harmful
chemicals like arsenic and presence of pathogens present in it? Well, according to recent
research conducted by the University of Sheffield, cooking rice by following a few
simple steps can retain the goodness of micronutrients, and can remove any traces of
arsenic in the rice.
R EADM OR E
02/4The study
As per the study, cooking rice in the suggested way can remove the presence of arsenic as
compared to rinsing rice.
However, sometimes over cooking or excessive rinsing of rice can also lead to loss of
micronutrients. According to the Scientists at the University of Sheffield, this home-
friendly process of cooking rice will not only remove the presence of arsenic and retain
the goodness of nutrients.
Arsenic content often varies from region to region depending on the poor quality of
water. Thus, a lot around naturally occurring arsenic is yet to be researched. However,
these few steps can make your rice, even more, healthier and arsenic-free. Read on…
R EADM OR E
03/4How does this method work?
As per the Institute for Sustainable Food, there are several ways of cooking rice, and as
per their study, it was observed that by using the parboiling with absorption method
(PBA) the arsenic content can be removed and nutrients can be retained.
In this method, the rice is parboiled in pre-boiled water for just five minutes before
rinsing and refreshing the water. Then, the rice is cooked in low flame, and all the water
is absorbed in the process of cooking them.
04/4Why parboil rice?
The process of milling rice does remove arsenic, but rice can have as much as ten times
more arsenic as compared to other cereals. Excessive arsenic content may also have
several impacts on health and can also lead to cancers. In fact, cooking rice using the
parboil method can help in effectively removing the traces of arsenic and retain the
micronutrients; as after rinsing and draining, the rice is cooked in low flame and all the
nutrients remain intact.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/food-news/heres-how-you-can-cook-rice-without-losing-
out-on-nutrients-and-removing-arsenic/photostory/79068495.cms?picid=79068630

BoP, Engro Fertilizers launch warehouse

receipt financing project
05 Nov 2020
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp
Comments
LAHORE: To address the food security challenges of Pakistan, Bank of Punjab

and Engro Fertilizers Limited have entered into a collaboration to deliver
accessible warehouse receipt financing to farmers, traders and processors, for
the upcoming winter maize and basmati rice crop in Sahiwal and Muridke.
Under the project, farmers will be able to store their product in international
standard silo storage facilities and obtain commodity-based financing against
this inventory, which acts as a collateral for the banking institution.
By providing farmers a facility to store their produce safely and sell it at a time
and rate of their choice, the warehouse receipt financing project will empower
farmers through better economic outcomes and provide them sufficient cash
flow to meet their expenses.
In a joint statement, Zafar Masud (President & CEO, Bank of Punjab) & Nadir
Qureshi (CEO, Engro Fertilizers) shared that, “We are excited to partner on
this initiative that has the potential to transform the agricultural landscape of
Pakistan by promoting organized financial inclusion of small farmers and
improving storage practices to reduce post-harvest losses significantly.
Prioritizing the financial inclusion and well-being of small farmers is key to
develop the agricultural sector, which in turn progresses Pakistan.”—PR
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40030728/bop-engro-fertilizers-launch-warehouse-receipt-
financing-project
Pak-Iran urged to set up banking channels

LCCI official says presence of Iranian financial institution in Pakistan can
boost trade volume
Our CorrespondentNovember 06, 2020
LAHORE:
Pakistan and Iran have exemplary trade and economic relations. Other countries
have to spend billions of dollars to establish these kinds of relations, which Pakistan
and Iran enjoy naturally, said Iranian Consul General Mohammad Reza Nazeri.
During his visit to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on
Thursday, Nazeri said that if someone wanted to travel to Iran, he could reach in less
than three hours as a direct weekly flight from Lahore to Tehran would start from
next week.
He said that Iranian and Pakistani businessmen had a strong relationship and the two
countries along with the LCCI and Iranian Consulate should work more to further
reinforce the relationship and cooperation. The Iranian consul general said, “Before
the Covid-19 outbreak, our ambassador to Pakistan and the LCCI agreed to hold
webinars to explore trade opportunities between the two countries,” but due to
corona the plans were delayed.
“We hope that now as the situation seems better, these webinars will be held along
with Persian language courses in the LCCI.”
Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah said that both the
countries had large domestic markets and unique geo-strategic competitive
advantages but “we have yet to enhance our trade volume by making use of these
opportunities”.
According to trade data available on ITC World Trade Map, Pakistan’s exports to
Iran in 2019 stood at $4.6 million while its imports from Iran were $532.6 million,
he added. “This put our total trade volume with Iran at around $537 million.”
Misbah said the potential sectors where Pakistan and Iran could enhance trade were
value-added textile, pharmaceuticals and rice. Iran is one of the biggest consumers
of denim in the region while Pakistani rice has a strong market in Iran.
“There is also a great potential for the pharmaceutical industry in Pakistan that can
enhance its exports by tapping the Iranian market.”
LCCI Senior Vice President Nasir Hameed Khan noted, “We are well aware of the
fact that the lack of sound banking channels is the prime cause of this low trade
volume. Both Iran and Pakistan should collaborate to devise a specialised
mechanism for enhancing trade.”
He said that the presence of an Iranian financial institution in Pakistan could greatly
help in that regard. “It is also high time for both countries to make progress in barter
trade mechanism for facilitating trade,” he added. LCCI Vice President Tahir
Manzoor Chaudhry said that through strict vigilance on smuggling and
undocumented trade on both sides, “we can improve the figures of bilateral trade”.
He added, “We are hopeful that once the Covid-19 situation improves, there will be
regular exchange of export-oriented delegations, which will facilitate B2B
interaction.”
He was of the view that it would help both sides in strengthening their knowledge
about each other’s markets.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6 th, 2020.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and
join in the conversation.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2271201/pak-iran-urged-to-set-up-banking-channels
KP govt to control price-hike through

Insaf Sasta bazaars
By
News desk
-
November 6, 2020
Staff Reporter
Peshawar
People of Khyber Pakthunkhwa took a sigh of relief after establishment of Insaf Sasta bazaars in
almost all districts where essential commodities were being provided to consumers as per
Government’s notified rate. These bazaars were established at prominent places in almost all 35
districts of Khyber Pakthunkhwa where consumers were being provided all necessities of life
including flour, sugar, ghee, rice, pulses, chicken and vegetables at cheaper rates from general
market.
In Peshawar, great rush of buyers mostly from low income groups, salaried and middle class families
were being witnessed at Insaf Sasta bazaar. These bazaars provide services from 8am to 5pm six days
a week. People thronged to Peshawar Sasta bazaar where great rush of consumers were seen at fresh
vegetables and meat shops.
‘I came from Wapda Town to purchase flour, ghee, fresh vegetables, sugar, chicken and pulses at
Peshawar Sasta bazaar where prices were very low compare to general market,’ Qaiser Khan a
retired Wapda employee said. He said consumers can save a substantial amount after shopping from
these Sasta bazaars, which were easily accessible. He said Insaf Sasta bazaars were gift of PTI
Government for people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa and it was our collective responsibility to make it
neat and clean.
Khyber Pakthunkhwa Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz has recently visited Sasta bazaar Peshawar
where he inspected prices and quality of edible commodities. He also visited different shops
including flour, ghee, pulses, rice, sugar and others daily commodities and directed officials not to
compromise on quality and standards of commodities.
He said the necessary items were being provided to consumers as per government notified prices.
Directives were issued to all divisional commissioners.
https://pakobserver.net/kp-govt-to-control-price-hike-through-insaf-sasta-bazaars/
ICT, SOA researchers in Stanford list of

world’s top scientists
Ten professors and three alumni of Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) and six
researchers of SOA University here have been listed in the top two per cent of world
research scientists.

Share Via Email
Reset

Published: 06th November 2020 02:27 AM | Last Updated: 06th November 2020

10:52 AM | A+A A-
By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: Ten professors and three alumni of Institute of Chemical

Technology (ICT) and six researchers of SOA University here have been listed in the
top two per cent of world research scientists.
The list has been prepared by the Stanford University, USA on the basis of a subject-
wise analysis. The ICT scientists are Chancellor Prof RA Mashelkar (polymers),
former director Prof JB Joshi (chemical engineering), former chancellor Prof GD
Yadav (physical chemistry), vice-chancellor Prof AB Pandit, former head of chemical
engineering department Prof VG Pangarkar, Prof Rekha S Singhal (food technology),
Prof BM Bhanage and Prof Lakshmi Kantam (organic Chemistry), Prof Ashwin
Patwardhan and Prof Parag Gogate (chemical engineering).
Prof Yadav has been ranked no. 1 in physical chemistry domain for his contribution in
catalysis-science and engineering, green chemistry and technology, nanomaterials and
nanocatalysis, energy engineering, and biochemical engineering and biotechnology.
He provided the first ever interpretation of the celebrated phenomenon of inversion
rate and selectivity in Friedel-Crafts reactions and one of his papers on sulfated
zirconia is a citation classic. Known as the moniker of ‘The Warrior of Haldighati’
through his crusade against the US patents on turmeric, neem and basmati rice, Prof
Mashelkar campaigned strongly with Indian academics, researchers and corporates for
strengthening the ecosystem.
Three alumni of ICT Prof VS Moholkar and Dr Kailas Wasewar (chemical

engineering) and Dr Amol Kulkarni also figured in the list. The researchers of SOA
University are Prof Pradipta Kishore Dash (energy), Prof Kulamani Parida (physical
chemistry), Prof Lala Behari Sukla and Dr Nihar Bala Devi (mining and metallurgy),
eminent neurosurgeon Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, Prof RNP Choudhary (applied
physics) and Prof JC Misra (mathematics).
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/nov/06/ict-soa-researchers-in-stanford-list-of-
worlds-t
Pak-Iran Ties Exemplary: Iranian Consul General

Umer Jamshaid 6 hours ago Thu 05th November 2020 | 07:10 PM
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Nov, 2020 ) :Iranian Consul General
Mohammad Reza Nazeri Thursday said that Pakistan and Iran have exemplary trade and
economic relations.
He said that other countries have to spend billions of Dollars to establish these kinds of
relations which Pakistan and Iran are enjoying naturally.
He expressed these views during his visit to
the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).
LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah, Senior Vice President Nasir Hameed Khan, Vice
President Tahir Manzoor Chaudhry, Former President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman, Sohail
Lashari and LCCI Executive Committee members were also present.
Reza Nazeri said that if someone wanted to travel to Tehran, he could reach there in less
than three hours as a direct weekly flight from Lahore to Tehran is starting from the next
week.
He said Iranian and Pakistani businessmen have a strong relationship which is
strengthening with every passing day, adding that Pakistan and Iran and the LCCI and
Iranian Consulate should work more to further reinforce the relationship and cooperation.
The Iranian consul general said that before COVID-19 outbreak, our ambassador
to Pakistan and the LCCI had agreed to hold webinars between chambers to explore the
trade opportunities between two countries, adding that due to coronavirus, the plans were
delayed and we hope that now as the situation seems better these webinars will be held
along with the Persian language courses in the LCCI.
He also congratulated LCCI former president Sohail Lashari on becoming the president
of the Pak-Iran Joint Chamber of Commerce.
LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah said that the LCCI takes pride while quoting the
excellent working relations between Lahore Chamber and Iran Consulate in Lahore.
Mian Tariq Misbah said the potential sectors where Pakistan and Iran could enhance
trade are value-added textiles, pharmaceuticals and rice, adding that Iran is one of the
biggest consumers of Denim in the region while Pakistani rice has a
strong market in Iran. There is also a great potential for the
pharmaceutical Industry in Pakistan to enhance its exports by tapping the Iranian market.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/pak-iran-ties-exemplary-iranian-consul-gener
NOVEMBER 5, 2020
Researchers uncover novel mechanism

of weak apical dominance in rice
by Zhang Nannan, Chinese Academy of Sciences
A
proposed model for OsWUS in till bud growth. Credit: IGDB
Cereal crops exhibit two distinct types of branching which are the important determinants of
crop yield. Crops such as maize and sorghum produce only one culm to reduce competition
among sinks and increase the productivity of the main culm, thus exhibiting enhanced
apical dominance. Rice and wheat produce multiple tillers (a type of branch that is similar in
shape and height to the main culm) and exhibit weakened apical dominance.
It has long been known that auxin is an important signal for apical dominance. Auxin
synthesized in the shoot apex moves downward to inhibit bud outgrowths without entering
into them. However, the genetic basis of weak apical dominance in rice remains largely
unknown.
Recently, a research team led by Prof. Chen Fan from the Institute of Genetics and
Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has isolated and characterized
a decreased culm number 1 (dc1) mutant in rice, which exhibits malformed spikelet, female
sterile and extreme low-tillering.
The researchers conducted map-based cloning. The result showed that a 4-bp deletion
("GCGG") in the coding sequence of OsWUS was observed in the dc1 mutant, which
resulted in a protein frame shift and a premature stop codon. OsWUS, ortholog of
Arabidopsis WUSCHEL in rice, encodes a WUSCHEL-related homeobox transcription
factor and plays a crucial role in rice tiller bud development.
Furthermore, they found that auxin response and apical dominance were enhanced in the
dc1 mutant. Decapitation or disruption of the auxin-associated gene ASP1 partially de-
repressed the growth of tiller buds in the dc1 mutant, indicating that OsWUS positively
regulates the tiller bud growth via antagonizing the auxin action.
This study uncovers a novel mechanism of weak apical dominance in rice, as well as an
important role of OsWUS in tiller bud growth. This study provides the basis for an improved
understanding of tiller bud development in rice.
The paper entitled "OsWUS promotes tiller bud growth by establishing weak
apical dominance in rice" has been published online in The Plant Journal on October 16,
2020.
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-uncover-mechanism-weak-apical-dominance.html
New chip-based lasers promise practical

terahertz imaging
1. Robert F. Service
See all authors and affiliations
Science 06 Nov 2020:
Vol. 370, Issue 6517, pp. 647
DOI: 10.1126/science.370.6517.647
 Article
 Info & Metrics
 eLetters
 PDF
Summary
Compact, chip-based lasers have conquered much of the electromagnetic spectrum,
from ultraviolet to infrared, enabling technologies from digital communications and bar
code readers to laser pointers and printers. But one key region of the spectrum
remained untamed: the terahertz band, which lies between infrared light and
microwaves. Engineers hankered for a ready source of terahertz radiation, which can
penetrate opaque objects and probe chemical fingerprints inside. But compact terahertz
lasers have only worked at ultralow temperatures, limiting them mostly to laboratory
settings. There have been demonstrations, but not widely deployed. No longer. This
week, researchers report creating a grain-of-rice–size terahertz laser on a chip that
operates at 250 K, or –23°C, warm enough to be chilled by a plug-in cooler the size of a
cracker.
View Full Text
Recommended articles from Trend

https://science.sciencemag.org/content/370/6517/647
How Microbes Contribute to Harmful

Methymercury in Rice
NEWS Nov 05, 2020 | Original story from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Credit: Pixabay.
Read Time: 1 min
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is recently confirmed as a potential bioaccumulator plant of methylmercury
(MeHg). Methylation of inorganic Hg influences the MeHg content in paddy soil, which directly
affects the MeHg levels in rice seeds.
Studies on the mechanism of Hg methylation in rice paddies are significant to lower MeHg
accumulation in rice and to reduce human health risks through contaminated rice consumption.
MeHg cycling is mostly controlled by microbes but their importance in MeHg production and
degradation in paddy soils remains unclear.
Dr. HU Haiyan and Dr. MENG Bo from the Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of
Sciences (IGCAS) revealed the roles of microbes in MeHg cycling in rice paddy soils. They
employed a series of incubation experiments and stable isotope tracer techniques to investigate the
relative importance of different microbial groups of MeHg production and degradation across a Hg
contamination gradient (Fig.1).
The results showed that sulfate-reduction was the main driver of MeHg formation and concentration
at non-contaminated sites. However, methanogenesis exhibited a complex and important role in
controlling MeHg cycling at Hg mining sites.
The researchers further proposed that methanogenesis directly affected MeHg degradation via
oxidative demethylation and indirectly affected MeHg production by out-competing other microbial
guilds.
As a result, management of methanogenesis at Hg mining sites may shed new light on the potential
for mitigation of MeHg production and reducing the risk of human exposure to MeHg.
Reference
Wu Q et al. Methanogenesis Is an Important Process in Controlling MeHg Concentration in Rice
Paddy Soils Affected by Mining Activities. Environ. Sci. Technol. Accessed November 5,
2020. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00268
This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited
for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.
https://www.technologynetworks.com/tn/news/how-microbes-contribute-to-harmful-methymercury-
in-rice-342443
HPU FACULTY AND STUDENTS

RECOGNIZED FOR RESEARCH AND
INNOVATION
Posted on:11.5.2020
In: Extraordinary Education, News, Press Releases

High Point University students Liz Cabrera, Laylah Welch, Meaghan Robinson, Candyce Sturgeon
and Mackenzie Crow published research that was featured in Genes, an open access journal from
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). From left to right are Cabrera, Crow,
Robinson, Sturgeon, Welch and Dr. Veronica Segarra, interim chair and assistant professor of
biology.
HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 5, 2020 – Members of the High Point University community frequently conduct,
publish and share research and creative works in a variety of ways. Below is a recap of recent research
initiatives.
HPU Students Publish Research in MDPI’s Genes
High Point University students Liz Cabrera, Laylah Welch, Meaghan Robinson, Candyce Sturgeon and
Mackenzie Crow published research that was featured in Genes, an open access journal from
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI).
Their research explores cryopreservation, which is the process that preserves organelles, cells and
tissues through low temperatures, and the freeze-thaw response in yeast. The students focused mainly
on the methods and results in the baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The review-based research, titled “Cryopreservation and the Freeze-Thaw Stress Response in Yeast,” is
important to human and medical biology because yeast cells can be utilized as models for cells in
humans.
“Understanding potential cryopreservation effects toward yeast can give insight on how the process could
affect human cells that need to be preserved for a period of time throughout a study or for therapeutic
applications,” says Cabrera.
HPU Graduate Publishes Research in Columbia Journal of Undergraduate History
Chasen Jeffries, a member of HPU’s Class of 2019, published the article “Spartan Austerity and Bribery”
in the Columbia Journal of Undergraduate History.
Jeffries learned that popular perception of ancient Sparta is that of a belligerent polis, or community, with
austere men and an invincible army. But according to Xenophon, a Greek philosopher, Spartan ideals of
austerity, equality and honor declined especially during the Peloponnesian War. Jeffries research
confirms Xenophon’s theory of decline using information from historians such as Herodotus and
Thucydides that document Spartan corruption and bribery. Although there is evidence of corruption from
the earliest sources on Spartan history, it became more widespread, both on campaign and within Sparta,
during the fifth century.
“When I first started this journey with an individual study course under the mentorship of Dr. Jackie
Arthur-Montagne, assistant professor of history, I was seeking a challenge. I wanted to be pushed to
sharpen and refine my researching, analysis and writing skills in the hope of creating an article worthy of
publication.”
Jeffries presented his research at two conferences, the State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research
last November and Creativity Symposium and the American Historical Association in January.
Dr. Brad Barlow Co-Authors Peer-Reviewed Paper in Astrophysical Journal
Dr. Brad Barlow, associate professor of astrophysics, and several collaborators recently published a peer-
reviewed paper on their discovery of a new, extreme binary star system called EVR-CB-004 in the
Astrophysical Journal, the highest-ranked academic journal for astrophysics in the world by Google
Scholar. Data from several large telescopes on Earth and in space were required to study the binary star
system, including the 4.1-meter SOAR telescope (Chile), the Evryscope telescope array (Chile), the
SMARTS 1.5-meter telescope (Chile), and NASA’s TESS spacecraft (in elliptical cislunar orbit about
Earth).
EVR-CB-004 is the first system of its kind ever found. It consists of a hot subdwarf star which is a red
giant that was stripped of its outermost layer, in very close orbit with a dense stellar remnant called a
“white dwarf.” The two stars are close together and orbit very rapidly, about once every six hours.
Additionally, the white dwarf with its intense gravity deforms the shape of the hot subdwarf star. Instead of
it being spherical, which is typical for stars, it’s more of a stretched ellipsoidal football shape. The two
stars will slowly spiral in as they emit gravitational waves. Barlow and researchers think the starts will one
day merge to form a single, high-mass white dwarf star.
“I enjoyed working on this project as it required us to combine together different types of data sets from
telescopes on the ground and in space,” says Barlow. “Modeling this unique system was challenging, but
our results indicate we have caught this pair of stars in an extremely rare stage of evolution, which is
exciting.”
The research above was conducted by a team of international astronomers at HPU, UNC-Chapel Hill,
Friedrich-Alexander University in Germany, University of Warwick in the United Kingdom, Kavli Institute
for Theoretical Physics and the University of Virginia.
HPU Biology Professors Publish Research in the Frontiers in Agronomy Journal
Dr. Cindy Vigueira, associate professor of biology, and Dr. Patrick Vigueira, assistant professor of biology,
both in the Wanek School of Natural Sciences, recently published the article “Weedy Rice from South
Korea Arose from Two Distinct De-Domestication Events” in the Frontiers in Agronomy journal.
Weedy rice is an aggressive weed of rice cultivation worldwide. Populations of weedy rice are the result of
de-domestication events where cultivated rice varieties “go feral” and become weedy in the field. The
Vigueiras’ research has been focused on studying the evolution of weedy rice populations in different
world regions. In this publication, they sequenced genes from several weedy rice plants that were
collected in South Korea and compared those sequences to weedy rice plants from the United States.
They found that weedy rice populations from South Korea are genetically distinct populations that evolved
independently from weedy rice populations in the United States.
“Publication is an important portion of the scientific process,” says Dr. Cindy Vigueira. “When my work is
published, it allows scientists from around the world to incorporate my findings into their hypotheses for
future work. Each publication is an incremental step toward a better understanding of the world around
us. I am always excited to be part of that process.”
http://www.highpoint.edu/blog/2020/11/hpu-faculty-and-students-recognized-for-research-and-
innovation-5/
Activists urge FSSAI to reconsider

planned fortification of rice, oil
Instead of food fortification, the food regulator needed to promote organically grown,
biodiverse food for people, ASHA said

NEXT NEWS ❯
By DTE Staff
Published: Friday 06 November 2020
The Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) called upon the Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to reconsider its planned
fortification of edible oil and rice, citing a number of negative outcomes.
The FSSAI is considering mandatory fortification of edible oil with Vitamin A and
Vitamin D and rice with Vitamin B12, Iron and Folic Acid.
Usha Soolapani, the co-convenor of ASHA, wrote a letter to FSSAI’s chief executive
Arun Singhal, a copy of which is with Down To Earth.
Soolapani wrote that “while ASHA agreed with FSSAI’s diagnosis that India faced a
huge nutritional challenge, it strongly disagreed with the prescription offered.”
ASHA is an informal alliance of more than 400 organisations from across India
working on sustainable agriculture and safe, diverse, sufficient and nutritious food for
all citizens.
The primary reason for ASHA disagreeing with the decision was that the benefits of
rice fortification were unproven. There were also health risks associated with
fortification.
Soolapani cited a global meta-analysis on fortification of rice with vitamins and

minerals that included 17 studies in 4 continents (including 4 studies in India)
The researchers concluded that fortification of rice with iron alone or in combination
with other micronutrients made little or no difference in the risk of having anaemia.
Fortification of rice with iron and other micronutrients such as vitamin A or folic acid
made little or no difference in the risk of having vitamin A deficiency.
Soolapani also wrote that there were concerns regarding overdose due to fortifying
rice. “A study last year by Anura Kurpad, head of physiology at St John’s Medical
Institute, Bengaluru had cautioned that food fortification and iron tablet
supplementation may expose women to excess iron,” she said.
Another reason why ASHA was opposed to FSSAI’s planned move was that “it would
create an assured market for multinationals, which in turn would threaten the
livelihoods of small rice and oil processing units across India.”
A third reason was that such a move would further erode biodiversity, push
monocultures and deplete soil health.
ASHA’s alternatives
ASHA suggested that instead of fortifying rice and edible oil, the FSSAI could take
other steps to meet the nutritional challenge in India.
One such option was food grown through Amrut Krishi, an organic farming technique
that would lead to an increase in food nutrition.
Another solution was breast feeding with proper latching techniques. It could make
critical impacts on nutrition deficiency in the critical first 1,000 days, the letter by
Soolapani suggested.
A third way was kitchen gardens. “A study in Maharashtra had shown how vegetables
grown in organic kitchen gardens have been found to increase haemoglobin levels,”
the letter read.
A fourth option was to include less processed or unpolished rice in the public
distribution system. This would make sure that rice bran, a rich source of various
micronutrients reached people.
Lastly, FSSAI could play a greater role in building awareness about the diverse
grains, vegetables, fruits and other crops grown in India.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/food/activists-urge-fssai-to-reconsider-planned-fortification-of-
rice-oil-74118
Research reveals infertile spikelets contribute

to yield in sorghum and related grasses
DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
Research News
SHARE
PRINT E-MAIL
ST. LOUIS, MO, November 5, 2020 - Much of the food we eat comes from grasses such as rice,
wheat, corn, sorghum, and sugarcane. These crops still resemble the wild species from which they
were derived. In all grasses the structures that contain the flowers and seeds are called spikelets. In
the tribe Andropogoneae, a major group of grasses that cover 17 percent of the earth's surface, the
spikelets come in pairs, one of which bears a seed and one of which doesn't (although in some
species it produces pollen). This structure can be seen clearly in sorghum, and in the many wild
grasses that make up North American prairies and African grasslands. It's tempting to think that
spikelets that don't produce seeds are useless, but the fact that they have been kept around for 15
million years implies that they have an important function.
A team of scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, in laboratories led by Elizabeth
(Toby) Kellogg PhD, member and Robert E. King Distinguished Investigator, and Doug Allen, PhD,
associate member and USDA research scientist, set out to answer the questions; could this
apparently useless floral structure capture and move photosynthetic carbon to the seed? And,
ultimately, if removed, would we notice a difference in yield?
The researchers used radioactive and stable isotopes of carbon, RNA-seq of metabolically important
enzymes, and immunolocalization of Rubisco to show that the sterile spikelet collects carbon from
the air and carries out photosynthesis while the awn does not. By tracking the flow of carbon, they
discovered that the infertile spikelet transfers carbon to the seed-bearing one which appears to use it
for energy, storing it in the seed. When they removed the infertile spikelet from a subset of the
branches of sorghum plants, they found that seed weight (yield) was lower by ca. 9%.
"We used to think these floral structures might be vestigial, but they turned out to be quite the asset
in terms of productivity," said first author, Taylor AuBuchon, senior technician in the Kellogg lab.
The findings, Sterile spikelets contribute to yield in sorghum and related grasses, were recently
published in the journal Plant Cell. Additional comments can be found in the In Brief.
"This is a great example of how plant organs and structure can contribute to biomass and yield in
ways not previously described" Allen said.
"This project was incredibly rewarding because of the strong collaboration, creativity and
determination of everyone, sharing expertise, designing and conducting the experiments and
analyzing the data together," Kellogg reflected.
In addition to the unique collaboration, Kellogg and Allen also attribute the success of the project to
the expertise and cutting-edge technology provided by the Advanced BioImaging, Plant
Growth and Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry facilities at the Danforth Center.
The next step would be to determine to what extent infertile spikelets affect yield in diverse varieties
of field grown plants. Existing sorghum diversity could indicate whether the size of the infertile
spikelet affects the size of the seed.
###
About The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a not-for-profit research institute with
a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. Research, education and outreach
aim to have impact at the nexus of food security and the environment, and position the St. Louis
region as a world center for plant science. The Center's work is funded through competitive grants
from many sources, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, National
Science Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Follow us on Twitter at
@DanforthCenter.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-11/ddps-rri110420.php
ICT, SOA researchers in Stanford list of
world’s top scientists
Ten professors and three alumni of Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) and six
researchers of SOA University here have been listed in the top two per cent of world
research scientists.

Share Via Email
Reset

Published: 06th November 2020 02:27 AM | Last Updated: 06th November 2020

10:52 AM | A+A A-
By Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: Ten professors and three alumni of Institute of Chemical

Technology (ICT) and six researchers of SOA University here have been listed in the
top two per cent of world research scientists.
The list has been prepared by the Stanford University, USA on the basis of a subject-
wise analysis. The ICT scientists are Chancellor Prof RA Mashelkar (polymers),
former director Prof JB Joshi (chemical engineering), former chancellor Prof GD
Yadav (physical chemistry), vice-chancellor Prof AB Pandit, former head of chemical
engineering department Prof VG Pangarkar, Prof Rekha S Singhal (food technology),
Prof BM Bhanage and Prof Lakshmi Kantam (organic Chemistry), Prof Ashwin
Patwardhan and Prof Parag Gogate (chemical engineering).
Prof Yadav has been ranked no. 1 in physical chemistry domain for his contribution in
catalysis-science and engineering, green chemistry and technology, nanomaterials and
nanocatalysis, energy engineering, and biochemical engineering and biotechnology.
He provided the first ever interpretation of the celebrated phenomenon of inversion
rate and selectivity in Friedel-Crafts reactions and one of his papers on sulfated
zirconia is a citation classic. Known as the moniker of ‘The Warrior of Haldighati’
through his crusade against the US patents on turmeric, neem and basmati rice, Prof
Mashelkar campaigned strongly with Indian academics, researchers and corporates for
strengthening the ecosystem.
Three alumni of ICT Prof VS Moholkar and Dr Kailas Wasewar (chemical

engineering) and Dr Amol Kulkarni also figured in the list. The researchers of SOA
University are Prof Pradipta Kishore Dash (energy), Prof Kulamani Parida (physical
chemistry), Prof Lala Behari Sukla and Dr Nihar Bala Devi (mining and metallurgy),
eminent neurosurgeon Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, Prof RNP Choudhary (applied
physics) and Prof JC Misra (mathematics).
ADVERTISEMENT
www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/nov/06/ict-soa-researcher
www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2020/nov/06/ict-soa-researcher
Maximum retail price for rice gazetted

Legal action against rice mafia assured
Friday, November 6, 2020 - 01:08
Print Edition
Local
Dilshan Tharaka
Trade Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that stern action would be taken against
businessmen who sell rice in excess of the maximum retail price (MRP) imposed on rice
by gazette effective from Wednesday.
Speaking to the media Minister Gunawardena yesterday stressed that all businessmen
should act according to the guidelines given by the government, otherwise legal actions
will be taken against unscrupulous traders who sell rice exceeding the MRP.
“Considering this current prevailing situation in the country we discussed with all rice
mill owners and agreed to setting up a maximum retail price of Rs.100 for rice, he said.
Following that the Consumer Affairs Authority had issued a gazette notification setting a
maximum retail price for producers and millers to offer for sale or display varieties of
rice.
According to the gazette notification white and red samba and white and red raw
(Kekulu) samba should be sold at Rs. 94 while white and red nadu and white and red
raw (Kekulu) nadu should be sold at Rs. 92 and White and red raw (Kekulu) nadu
should be sold at Rs. 89.
“Former minister Rishad Bathiudeen’s policy totally contradicted my policies.There was

no issue from the community during his regime, because he gave an opportunity to
import everything from abroad. I also can follow these policies and I had an opportunity
to sell imported rice for Rs. 80 like the former regime. But we are trying to protect the
farmers according to the policy manifesto ‘Prosperity Vision’ of President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa aiming to locally produce agricultural products and to provide a stable
income to the farmers. However, some traders are not following these agreed terms and
selling the rice exceeding the MRP. Businessmen should follow government guidelines
and should toe to the government line. Business has high risk, if it is a loss or profit
businessmen should bear it,” he added.
He said that the government had prepared a special programme for next year and the
Food Commissioner was instructed to maintain a buffer stock of food. According to the
programme every farmer must give a portion of his harvest to the government after next
year’s harvest. “If the fertilizer subsidy is given to them from the public’s tax money, it
should be their duty to hand in a portion of their harvest to the government,” he said.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2020/11/06/local/233072/maximum-retail-price-rice-gazetted-legal-action-
against-rice-mafia-assured
Stubble burning: Pusa bio-decomposer
successful; will tell Supreme Court, says
Kejriwal
PTI
NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 04, 2020 17:04 IST
SHARE ARTICLE






 PRINT
 A A A
Pusa bio-decomposer is a solution developed by the scientists at the

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, which can turn crop
residue into manure in 15 to 20 days and therefore, can prevent stubble
burning
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said “Pusa bio-decomposer”

was successful in Delhi and the city government will inform the Supreme
Court
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/stubble-burning-pusa-bio-decomposer-successful-will-
tell-supreme-court-says-kejriwal/article33022155.ece
CRY FOR ‘FALSE START’ POLIO-
HIT DEVELOPMENT
November 5, 2020 12:00 am
Share
There is failure to embrace heroic roles in Nigeria’s history, argues Okello

Oculi
The Commissioner for Health in Kogi State wept openly on surveying the
destruction of health care equipment imported by his government;
lamenting that his government does not have the money to import
replacements. If research and development by scientists at the State
University was being funded with billions of Naira to invent and produce
medicines out of local flora, his losses would have been minimised.
Demonstrators who destroyed and burnt equipment were probably rejecting
a policy of importing technology; regarding it as a “false start’’ on the road
to development.
The level of destruction of property associated with “ENDSARS’’ echoed

protests in Hong Kong and French officials in 1958 punishing Guinea (for
choosing full independence), by destroying clinics; chairs, window panes,
tables, black boards in classrooms; telephones ripped off, and equiment
returned to France.
The choice location of storage and properties looted and burnt suggested a
study of Gordon Thomas’ book “GIDEON’S SPIES: The Inside Story of
Israel’s Legendary Secret Service: THE MOSSAD’’. In its operation political
and commercial centres at national and local government centres are daily
researched and reported on by agents. Lucrative details like storing bags of
rice, fertilisers, agricultural tractors, television studios, and alcoholic drinks
are noted. Cameras inside Satellites and drones chip in.
Such details would have proved vital for shocking Lebanon by exploding
bags of phosphate ignored by officials of Beirut. Agricultural tractors stored
in Jalingo, in Taraba State, were noted at lootable data; computers in a
private school classroom in Yola; cars and archives burnt; television
equipment ransacked in Calabar, were mapped and shared the fate of buses
parked in LVT’s yard in Lagos.
Visual images of the trail of destruction has shown the power of “propaganda
of the deed’’. Various contents of that power have emerged. Among
“Southeast leaders’’ there is a need to call for “concerns of our people that
are peculiar in various states’’, namely the safety of Igbos. As evidence of
bad governance, Chie Bode George denounced the descent of teachers from
giving quality education to becoming “Cheats’’ through examination
“malpractices’’, thereby producing unemployable “illiterate graduates’’ that
expend their frustration by beheading policemen; burning cars and buses.
Chief Bode George also denounced selfishness, greed, nepotism and
corruption by government officials in the use of public power and funds;
doubting the merit in the Governor of Lagos State offering jobs to 4000
youths because boiling volcano of millions at the base of the youth pyramid
would not be excluded.
The rage of the Commissioner for Information of Cross River State is likely
to be mocked by this volcanic mass of youths. They have shed floods of
tears while governments preferred to export billions of Naira to foreign
contractors import bulldozers while the potential power in their arms to clear
bushes and swamps remained ignored. Governments have imported rice
soaked in cancer-causing chemicals and bought radiation technology for
treating cancer patients. They have not given loans to cooperative youths to
grow rice locally, thereby, preventing imported poisons.
There is a failure to embrace heroic roles played by aroused people in

Nigeria’s history. Usman Dan Fodio, for example, built his revolution of 1804
on igniting anger in masses of people ruthlessly exploited and terrorised by
their Hausa rulers. He warned his successor against committing sins of
Hausa rulers. Because they forgot his warning, British invaders were hailed
as lions that broke Fulani power.
Obafemi Awolowo’s popularity was anchored on giving free education to

children of poor people. Mallam Aminu Kano was a hero of the Talakawa
because he roused their protest against feudal rulers. Ignoring this legacy
underlies the record of depending on imported expensive technology and
millions of pharmaceutical drugs and NOT on mobilizing the energy in
Nigeria’s population to take preventive measures. Kickbacks from awarding
contracts is more rewarding for officials,
Millions of women in Nigeria’s diverse agricultural ecologies have invented

nutritious beverages. Their geniuses continue to be denied markets and
investment capital. Governments purchase beverages sold by multinational
corporations rather than investing in those produced by millions of Nigerian
woman. Empowering vast numbers of these women is betrayed. That blocks
these women from employing millions of youths in their beverage processing
and textile weaving. Also blocked are the application of inventive youths who
would fabricate and manufacture local food-processing technology.
Television telecasts show “High Society’’ celebration events which must

provoke intense competition among Commercial Attaches of foreign
embassies wishing to market the exotic and expensive garments worn at
these occasions. Organisers of ENDSARS must see in these rituals evidence
of billions of national income being used to support creative textile labour
and genius abroad while unemployment is worn by Nigeria’s youth.
These “FALSE STARTS’’ in economic and cultural roads to development fuel

‘’ENDSARS’’.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/05/cry-for-false-start-polio-hit-development/
Welcome punitive action against

errant rice millers
Published: 00:00, Nov 06,2020

THE government’s decision to take punitive steps against rice millers who breached their contract with the
government in boro rice procurement is a welcome move. The government in early May entered into an
agreement with rice millers to procure 2.1 million tonnes of rice, but the government failed in the procurement
target by a large margin and ended up having procured only 0.9 million tonnes despite a surplus production.
While there are other factors which may have contributed to the failure in procurement target, errant millers
who breached the deal are also largely to blame for the situation. An estimate of the Directorate General of
Food shows that at least 5,474 rice mill owners, who account for about 30 per cent of the total of 19,230 rice
millers who entered into the agreement, failed to supply 1.1 million tonnes of rice for Tk 36 a kilogram. What
all this may lead to is a depletion in government stock and could worryingly increase rice prices as a result of
market manipulation amidst the COVID-19 emergency, which has already sprained the economy and
constrained the purchasing capacity of the poor and low- and fixed-income people.
Government procurement target failures are nothing new and this has for long been an obstacle for the
government in its efforts to keep the market stable. A nexus of rice millers and traders, as reported many times,
manipulates rice stocks and prices to create a scope for monopoly on the market for profits, unduly
advantaging vested interests. As the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies shows, the top 50 rice
millers with 20 per cent of the national milling capacity have the power to influence the supply and prices of
rice. In this context, the government has rightly decided to penalise errant rice millers. The government,
however, should realise that such episodic efforts will not help to resolve the problem in the long run and a
sustainable mechanism is what is necessary to monitor the market and put a stop to market manipulation by
profit-mongering syndicates. There is a legal provision for the licence cancellation of rice millers who fail to
honour the procurement deal. The government should consider enforcing the provision to set an example for
errant mill owners. The Competition Commission should also be empowered to carry out its duty effectively in
this regard to prevent market monopoly. Permanent solutions to the issue of market manipulation as well as
achieving total food security will continue to remain elusive unless such long-term measures are taken.
The government must, therefore, step up to the plate and take early initiatives to permanently resolve the issues
of food stock crises and market manipulation. The government and the other authorities concerned must also
stringently continue with their efforts to hold errant entities responsible for such a situation to book. An
effective and sustainable mechanism must also be put in place to stop the problem from recurring.
https://www.newagebd.net/article/120803/welcome-punitive-action-against-errant-rice-millers

HARYANA
SDMs to probe ‘fake’ gate passes at

grain markets
SHARE ARTICLE




A -
A +
 Posted: Nov 06, 2020 07:51 AM (IST)

 Updated : 2 days ago
 528
 0
 0
 0
Tribune News Service
Karnal, November 5
An anonymous complaint related to allegations of ‘bogus’ gate passes being issued at

various grain markets in the district has put the administration into action. Four teams
led by concerned Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) have been constituted to probe
the matter.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav had received an anonymous complaint

that fake gate passes were being issued at various grain markets in the district to
adjust the non-registered paddy being brought from other states and was being
procured as PR varieties, which is procured by the government. The complainant also
alleged that some of the arhtiyas and rice millers had already stocked non-registered
paddy and mixing it with the registered varieties.
“As soon as I received the complaint, four teams led by concerned SDMs were
assigned to inquire into the complaint,” said the DC.
All entry points are being checked by the SDMs at the grain markets that fall under
their areas, he said adding that verification of the names on gate passes with the stock
allotted to the arhtiyas and the stock lying there was being done.
The DC said the teams had been given a time of three days to submit their report.
Karnal SDM Ayush Sinha, who is also leading one of the team, said he had started the
investigation and the gate passes were being verified. “So far, the investigation is
underway and I will submit my report to the DC in the given time,” he said.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/sdms-to-probe-fake-gate-passes-at-grain-markets-
166816
 cientists have found a safe way to cook rice

Science
Scientists have found a safe way to

cook rice
November 3, 20202 min readNatasha Kumar
Rice is one of the most popular foods on the planet. However, as previously reported, its
composition contains a large amount of arsenic, since the plant itself absorbs ten times more of
this toxic substance during the growing season, significantly outstripping other cereals in this
indicator. However, according to scientists, they managed to find a way to prepare this product,
in which all arsenic is removed from it and important nutrients are preserved.
Image via: pixabay.com
To do this, experts say, you need to bring the water to a boil at the rate of 4 cups of water per cup
of raw rice. After that, rice is added to the water and cooked for five minutes. Next, the water
must be drained, since when cold raw rice comes into contact with boiling water, most of the
arsenic quickly comes out of it, which ends up in the water. Subsequently, all that remains is to
add fresh water at the rate of two cups of water for each cup of rice, cover the pan with a lid and
cook over low heat until the water is completely absorbed.
“With our new method, we can significantly reduce arsenic exposure while also reducing the loss
of essential nutrients. We highly recommend this method when cooking rice for infants and
children, as they are very vulnerable to the risk of arsenic exposure, ”the scientists say.
This method can remove over half of all arsenic and other inorganic chemicals from brown rice,
they said. However, in the case of white rice, the method shows an even higher efficiency,
allowing you to get rid of about 73% of all arsenic. At the same time, the authors of the method
emphasize, with this method of cooking, the vast majority of useful nutrients, such as
magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and manganese, are preserved, for which rice is so
highly valued.
https://thetimeshub.in/scientists-have-found-a-safe-way-to-cook-rice/10279/
Today is Farmers Day
Date: Nov - 06 - 2020 , 07:36
BY: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
Category: General News
Dr John Kofi Mensah, Managing Director of ADB
25Shares
19
Today is Farmers Day and as part of activities to mark the event, a
forum was held yesterday to afford shortlisted award-winning farmers
the opportunity to have an interface with policy makers and other
players in the agricultural value chain to share experiences in the
sector.
It also offered the platform for all stakeholders to deliberate on issues pertaining to the
agro sector and provide a feedback to enhance policies and programmes.
Forum
At the forum held in Techiman in the Bono East Region, where the farmers had
gathered for this year's National Farmers Day, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries and
Aquaculture Development, Mr Francis Kingsley Ato Codjoe, called on Ghanaians to
change their taste for foreign products and rather patronise food items produced in the
country to ensure the success of the various agricultural polices being implemented by
the government.
He said the depreciation of the cedi could also be arrested only if the government spent
less of its hard-earned foreign exchange on importing food items which could be
produced in the country and patronised by Ghanaians.
Mr Codjoe was contributing to discussions during the 11th National Farmers Forum
which was held as part of the 36th National Farmers Day in Techiman yesterday.
Sustaining gains
Mr Codjoe observed that policies such as Planting for Food and Jobs and Aquaculture
for Food and Jobs being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the
Ministry for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development were yielding results.
However, he indicated that such gains could be sustained and help improve on the
country's economy only if a deliberate attempt was made to ensure that Ghanaians
consumed what was produced in the country.
While commending the ADB for the initiative to hold the forum, he also suggested to the
bank to set up a special desk for women in agriculture at its various branches to speed
up the acquisition of loans by women to expand their agricultural and agribusiness
ventures.
Broiler Outgrower Programme
In his presentation, the Managing Director of the ADB, Dr John Kofi Mensah, said the
bank was implementing a strategic plan that sought to increase the share of agricultural
loans in the bank's total loan portfolio to a minimum of 50 per cent.
He explained that in the midst of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, the bank introduced
a number of programmes, including the Broiler Outgrower Programme, for which GH
¢500 million had been earmarked.
He said the programme was expected to help reduce the large volume of chicken and
chicken parts imported into the country annually.
He added that with the collaboration of its partners, the ADB was implementing special
lending to rice millers to enable them to purchase paddy from farmers for milling and
sale on the local market.
Dr Mensah said the bank had also changed its vision to be more agribusiness focused,
since it believed that agribusiness was a critical tool for wealth creation.
"Be assured that the ADB will continue to support our farmers and fishers with tailor-
https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/today-is-farmers-day.html
New partnership signed between Australian agencies to

strengthen plant biosecurity
In the International Year of Plant Health, a new partnership aimed at strengthening plant
biosecurity has been signed today between the Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative (PBRI)
and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).
Australia’s biosecurity system is facing continued challenges arising from global pests being
introduced naturally or by cargo movement. The recent arrival of the Fall Armyworm in the
northern regions of Australia, is a reminder that biosecurity remains a constant issue for
Australian agriculture and regional communities.
PBRI Program Director Dr Jo Luck said, “This pest was already established in South East
Asia before making its way across the Torres Strait and into Queensland, Northern Territory
and Western Australia and has now spread to New South Wales. It is a destructive pest of
maize and sweet corn among other potential hosts, resistant to some pesticides, making it
difficult and costly to control.”
Today’s signing of PBRI’s memorandum of understanding with ACIAR, marks the beginning
of a collaborative partnership, aimed at delivering plant biosecurity research of interest to
both Australia and ACIAR’s partner countries.
The PBRI supports cross-sectoral investments in targeted biosecurity research,

development and extension, that supports Australian plant-based industries with valuable
tools and expertise, to prepare for and respond to pests such the Fall armyworm and
Xylella.
PBRI Acting Chair, Tim Lester, said “Plant pests and diseases can devastate industries and
destroy environments. Having strong biosecurity systems based on solid science is the best
way to protect the things we hold dear.
“The challenges of plant biosecurity are not unique to Australia, but Australia is uniquely
placed to inform the development and implementation practical and effective biosecurity
systems in other places based upon our long history of investment in research and
development.
“Working with colleagues like ACIAR in Australia, B3 in New Zealand and EUPHRESCO in
Europe gives us a way to share our knowledge, and to learn from the experiences of others
so we can continue to improve here at home. On behalf of the PBRI I’m proud to be signing
the MoU with ACIAR today, and excited to see what we can achieve by working together.”
ACIAR CEO Professor Andrew Campbell said, “Effective biosecurity is underpinned by

good science and research. The research ACIAR invests in provides Australian researchers
with the opportunity to work throughout our region to develop diagnostic, surveillance and
management capabilities before pests and diseases reach Australian shores. ACIAR is
currently investing more than AUD$26 million in plant biosecurity research across 14
projects in the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome the opportunity to work closer with
Australia’s RDCs and regional partners New Zealand through this important initiative.”
ACIAR works closely with countries in Africa, South East Asia and Pacific nations that have
plant industries in common with Australia, such as horticulture, forestry, maize, and
rice. Through ACIAR investments, Australian scientists use their valuable knowledge for the
benefit of partner countries, while at the same time learning about pests and diseases that
have yet to reach Australia, and contributing to solutions that meet Australia’s own
agricultural challenges.
The new partnership between ACIAR and the PBRI will lead to research projects focussed
on understanding the biosecurity threats in neighbouring regions that will inform
preparedness and prevention programs in Australia. Experience and knowledge will be
shared between neighbouring countries, aimed at reducing the risk of the damaging
consequences of biosecurity threats to agriculture and the environment in Australia and
across the region.
PBRI Program Director, Dr Jo Luck said, “I am looking forward to discussing research

priorities on pests of common interest and building capacity together in plant biosecurity to
strengthen our knowledge networks.”
For more information:

Hort Innovation
www.horticulture.com.au
www.pbri.com.au
https://www.freshplaza.com/article/9265987/new-partnership-signed-between-australian-agencies-to-
strengthen-plant-biosecurity/
How needless precaution kept a GMO ‘superfood’ off

the market: Q&A with Golden Rice author Ed Regis
Cameron English, Ed Regis | November 6, 2020





This article or excerpt is included in the GLP’s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse news, opinion and
analysis of biotechnology innovation.
F or us in the West, the ferocious debate over genetic engineering isn’t a matter of life and death.
We argue about the safety of Impossible Burgers and the potential risks associated with new breeding
techniques like CRISPR gene editing, but nobody will go hungry or die of malnutrition pending the
outcome of these arguments. Sadly, the same isn’t true in the developing world.
The tragic tale of global vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and the life-saving (but still unavailable)
solution known as Golden Rice has been told millions of times, 246 million according to Google. But
to briefly recap: roughly 250 million people, mostly preschool children in southeast Asia, are vitamin
A deficient. Between 250,000 and 500,000 of them go blind every year—and half die within 12
months of losing their sight. Genetically engineered Golden Rice, fortified with the vitamin A
precursor beta carotene, could alleviate much of this suffering without otherwise harming human
health or the environment, according to a mountain of studies.
[Editor’s note: Final regulatory approval of Golden Rice is pending in the Philippines and
Bangladesh, according to the International Rice Research Institute.]
So why are so many people still dying of a preventable condition?
Ed Regis. Image: Pepi Khara
That’s the rather frustrating part of the story science writer Ed Regis examines in his new
book Golden Rice: The Imperiled Birth of a GMO Superfood. In just over 200 pages, Regis gives a
crash course on genetic engineering and explains the messy history of Golden Rice, disabusing the
reader of many popular myths along the way. Environmental activist group Greenpeace, for
example, is often identified in the press as the primary obstacle to releasing Golden Rice. Despite all
its lobbying, however, the NGO has had a relatively minor impact on the crop’s development.
Instead of pointing the finger at Greenpeace, Regis says the blame lies mostly with overly cautious
governments, many of which regulate GMOs as if they were biological weapons. Hoping to avoid the
unintended (and so far undiscovered) consequences of growing genetically engineered crops,
regulators unintentionally rob people of their eyesight and often their lives.
In a Q&A session with Genetic Literacy Project editor Cameron English, Regis offers a bird’s eye
view of the ongoing controversy and highlights some lesser-known but still significant aspects of the
Golden Rice story.
Cameron English: Golden Rice seems simple conceptually. As you point out, scientists just had
to direct the plant’s existing biochemical machinery to synthesize beta carotene in the rice
grain, as it does in the rest of the plant. Why did this prove so challenging to achieve in the lab?
For one thing, it had never been done before—rewriting a plant’s genes to make it express a trait that
it normally did not have. Nobody was sure that it was even possible. There were different ways of
accomplishing that goal, and there were a lot of technical difficulties in doing the actual hands-on lab
work, and getting everything lined up correctly at the genetic level so that beta carotene would
appear in the rice grain. There were incredible numbers of false starts, dead ends, and unforeseen
technical problems to overcome, and it took years of trial and error for the inventors to get it all
working properly. It was just a hard problem, both scientifically, in theory, and technologically, in
practice.
CE: You write that Golden Rice could make VAD “a thing of the past” in developing Asian
countries. Why is this biotech crop a better solution than alternative proposals, like
distributing vitamin supplements?
Supplement programs have been tried, and of course they do some good, but the problem is that such
programs require a substantial and permanent infrastructure. They require a supply chain, personnel
to distribute the stuff, record keeping, and the like, plus sufficient and continuous funding to keep it
all going across time. Also, there is no way to guarantee that supplements will reach every last person
who needs them.
Follow the latest news and policy debates on agricultural biotech and
biomedicine? Subscribe to our newsletter.
Name *
Email *
SIGN UP
Golden Rice, by contrast, requires none of that. The seeds will be given at no cost to small landowner
farmers, and the rice will be no more expensive to consumers than plain and ordinary white rice.
Plus, there’s the principle that “Plants reproduce, pills don’t.” Once Golden Rice is introduced, it’s a
system that just goes of itself. The product replaces what people already eat on a daily basis with
something that could save their sight and lives in the process.
CE: Tell us the story about night blindness you recount from Catherine Price’s book. Does that
anecdote underscore the problem that Golden Rice could solve?
We in the rich, developed Western countries know practically nothing about [VAD]. We have
virtually no experience of it because we get the micronutrients we need from ordinary foods and
vitamin supplements. One of the first symptoms of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, which
means pretty much what it says. But to convey this as an actual, lived experience I quote from
Catherine Price’s excellent book, Vitamania, in which she describes what happens to vitamin A
deficient children in poor, developing countries.
While they lead an active life during the day, they gradually withdraw and stop playing as twilight
approaches. With the fall of night, they basically just sit in place and wait for help, because they have
lost their sight in darkness, and their life grinds to a halt. In countries such as the Philippines, where
people eat rice as a staple, at every meal, Golden Rice could prevent this from happening, and even
reverse the symptoms in children already affected by VAD.
These photos highlight the difference between healthy eyesight and night blindness (nyctalopia).
Image: Wikipedia

CE: You point out that Greenpeace struggled with a “moral dilemma” before forcefully
coming out against Golden Rice. Tells about that situation.
In 2001, the year after the Golden Rice protype was announced in Science, a Greenpeace official by
the name of Benedikt Haerlin visited Ingo Potrykus, the co-inventor, at his home in Switzerland.
Haerlin discussed whether or not to make the provitamin A rice an exception to Greenpeace’s
otherwise absolute and rigid opposition to any and all genetically engineered foods. He had initially
acknowledged that there was a moral difference between GMOs that were merely agriculturally
superior—in being pesticide- or herbicide-resistant, for example—and a GMO that was so
nutritionally beneficial that it actually had the potential to save people’s lives and sight.
But apparently that distinction made no difference because in the end both Haerlin himself and
Greenpeace as an organization soon took the view that Golden Rice had to be opposed, even stopped,
no matter what its possible health benefits might be.
CE: Greenpeace also claimed that poverty and insufficiently diverse diet were the root causes
of vitamin A deficiency. Therefore, they said, developing biofortified crops was misguided.
That sounds like a reasonable argument, so what’s wrong with Greenpeace’s analysis here?
This is like arguing that until we find a cure for cancer we should not treat patients by means of
surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. This is totally illogical on the face of it. And the same is
true of the argument that since poverty is the cause of the problem that therefore the only solution is
to eradicate it. Everyone’s in favor of eradicating poverty, but there are things we can do in the
interim while advancing that far-off and utopian goal, which arguably will take some time to
accomplish. Biofortified Golden Rice, along with supplementation and a more diverse diet, can help
prevent vitamin A deficiency. If a solution, or a set of solutions, is available, let’s implement them
while also striving to reduce poverty. Both can be done together, you don’t have to choose between
one and the other.
Related article: Video: Organic vs conventional farming—do we have to pick one or the

other?
CE: Many people believe that Greenpeace and other anti-GMO groups are the main roadblock
to getting Golden Rice into the hands of farmers. But you write that the activists don’t deserve
that much credit. What else has kept Golden Rice off the market?
Greenpeace’s long history of anti-GMO rhetoric, diatribes, street demonstrations, protests, dressing
up in “monster crop” costumes, and all the rest of it actually did nothing to halt research and
development of Golden Rice. There are two reasons why it took 20 years to bring Golden Rice to the
point where it won approval for release in four countries: Australia, New Zealand, the United States
and Canada. The first is that it takes a long time to breed increasingly higher concentrations of beta
carotene (or any other valuable trait) into new strains of rice (or any other plant). Plant breeding is
not like a chemistry experiment that you can repeat immediately as many times as you want. Rather,
plant growth is an inherently slow and glacial process that can’t be [sped] up meaningfully except
under certain special laboratory conditions that are expensive and hard to foster and sustain.
The second reason is the retarding force of government regulations on GMO crop development.

Those regulations, which cover plant breeding, experimentation, and field trials, among other things,
are so oppressively burdensome and costly that they make compliance inordinately time-consuming
and expensive.
CE: What’s the Cartagena Protocol and how has it affected the development of Golden Rice?
The Cartagena Protocol was an international agreement, sponsored and developed by the United

Nations, which aimed “to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms
(LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity,
taking into account also risks to human health.”
On the face of it, this “precautionary approach” is plausible, even innocuous. In actual practice, the
protocol amounts to a sweeping set of guidelines, requirements, and procedures pertaining to GMOs
that were legally binding on the nations that were parties to the agreement, coupled with a set of
mechanisms to enforce and ensure compliance. These oppressive and stifling rules and regulations
soon turned into a nightmare for GMO developers, and did more than anything else to slow down the
progress of Golden Rice.
Ingo Potrykus, the co-inventor of Golden Rice, has estimated that adherence to government
regulations on GMOs resulting from the Cartagena Protocol and the precautionary principle, caused a
delay of up to ten years in the development of the final product. That is a tragedy, caused by the very
governments that are supposed to protect our health, but in this case did the opposite.
CE: Once a prototype of Golden Rice was developed, the prestigious science journal Nature
refused to publish the study documenting the successful experiment. Why do you think Nature
reacted that way, and what does it tell us about the cultural climate during the period when
Golden Rice was first developed?
Well, I can’t speak for the Nature editors, so in this case you’re asking the wrong person. In my
book, I quote what Ingo Potrykus had to say about the matter, which was:
The Nature editor did not even consider it worth showing the manuscript to a
referee, and sent it back immediately. Even supportive letters from famous
European scientists did not help. From other publications in Nature at that time we
got the impression that Nature was more interested in cases which would rather
question instead of support the value of genetic engineering technology.
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2020/11/06/how-misguided-regulation-has-kept-a-gmo-superfood-
off-the-market-qa-with-golden-rice-author-ed-regis/
Central University of Punjab

organised a Webinar on “Crop
Residue Management with
special emphasis on stubble
burning”
By
India Education Diary Bureau Admin
-
November 6, 2020
Bathinda: The Department of Environmental Science and Technology at Central
University of Punjab, Bathinda (CUPB) organized a Webinar on “Crop Residue
Management with special emphasis on stubble burning” under the patronage of
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari. The keynote speaker of this
programme was Punjab Pollution Control Board Chairman Prof. S.S. Marwaha,
Faculty, scholars, and students from different institutions participated in this
webinar.
The programme commenced with the welcome address by Dr. Sunil Mittal,
Associate Dean & HoD, Dept. of Environmental Science. where he introduced
the keynote speaker to the participants.
Keynote Speaker Prof. S.S. Marwaha in his address shared the major causes of
crop residue burning such as short time duration between the harvesting of
Paddy Crop and sowing of Wheat Crop, modern mechanised farming process
leads to large volumes of rice residue etc. He highlighted that stubble burning is
harmful for the environment as well as for the human health because during the
time of stubble burning, air pollution level increases from 3 to 5 times which
becomes the cause of many health problems such as skin & eye irritation, lungs
& heart diseases etc. He also shared the steps taken by the government to deal
with the challenge crop residue management and stated that Punjab Energy
Development Agency has commissioned 11 Biomass Power Projects in various
districts of Punjab such as Muktsar, Fazilka, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Mansa,
Moga, Faridkot, Firozpur etc, to support nearby farmers. He added PPCB along
with other agencies is also conducting trials for some bacterial & fungal
inoculums for the easy degradation of rice residue within 2 to 4 weeks which
will be helpful in managing this issue. He concluded his talk by appealing people
from academia to spread awareness about available alternatives for crop
residue management techniques.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari mentioned that in earlier times, the
residue of crops such as rice straw was considered useful & was effectively
utilised in cattle feed, composting, thatching, poultry, mushroom cultivation and
manufacturing products such as paper, packaging material, mats, baskets,
ropes etc. He added, with the modernisation, the usage of rice straw has
decreased and it is considered as a waste product. He encouraged scientists and
researchers to unite together and find out an innovative solution for effective
utilisation of crop residues to increase the income of farmers.
Prof. V.K. Garg, Dean Student Welfare, complimented the keynote speaker for
delivering a scholarly talk. He stated that the university has installed a
continuous ambient air quality monitoring station and data derived from this
system is being shared with various government agencies. He informed that the
faculty of CUPB is continuously working on various research projects to find out
an innovative solution to such issues and assured that our team will come up
with a series of interactive sessions in future to spread awareness on crop
residue management in our community.
Towards the end of the programme, Dr. Yogalakshmi KN delivered the vote of
thanks.
https://indiaeducationdiary.in/central-university-of-punjab-organised-a-webinar-on-crop-residue-
management-with-special-emphasis-on-stubble-burning/
WTO Director General Confirmation Gets Side-Tracked

By Jesica Kincaid
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced

Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as its final candidate for the recently vacated Director
General seat. Okonjo-Iweala has garnered the widest coalition of support from WTO
member countries, including endorsement from the European Union. She entered the
race with a strong background of both political and economic experience and if
confirmed, she will be the first female Director General of the WTO, as well as the first
from an African nation.
However, the confirmation process for Okonjo-Iweala is unlikely to proceed smoothly for
two primary reasons. First, new COVID-19 precautions were implemented in Geneva this
week. On November 1, local Geneva authorities announced new lockdown measures to
fight a surge of infections and hospitalizations taking place in the city, prohibiting public
and private events of more than five people from November 2 through November 29.
A general council meeting to make a formal decision on Okonjo-Iweala's appointment is

currently scheduled for November 9 at WTO headquarters in Geneva, but with these new
restrictions in place, senior WTO officials are discussing whether to postpone their plan to
make a formal decision on Okonjo-Iweala's appointment next week.
The final confirmation of a new DG also may be delayed by the United States' strong
opposition to the choice of Okonjo-Iweala, and its support of the other semi-finalist,
Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee. The U.S. is the only opposing voice, with 26
other delegations supporting the WTO's process and final selection.
In a statement released after the WTO announcement, the U.S. Trade Representative
(USTR) declared: "The United States supports the selection of Korean Trade Minister Yoo
Myung-hee as the next WTO Director-General. Minister Yoo is a bona fide trade expert
who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator
and trade policy maker. She has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the
organization...The WTO is badly in need of major reform. It must be led by someone
with real, hands-on experience in the field."
It remains to be seen how the United States' dissent and COVID-19 will impact the final
selection, but regardless of the outcome, the new DG will face a long list of challenges
when she steps into the role.
Predictably unpredictable: lessons from the

‘sugar crisis’
BR Research Updated 05 Nov 2020
Facebook
Twitter
Whatsapp
Comments
In microeconomics, the cobweb theory explains why prices in certain markets
– especially agriculture goods – may be subject to period fluctuation. The
model suggests that if expectations about future prices are based purely on
prices observed in past seasons, then supply can become subject to cyclicality
due to lag between supply and demand decisions. To academics, the cobweb
theory explains well the ‘sugar crisis’ witnessed periodically in Pakistan.
Which raises the question, if fluctuations in supply are truly cyclical, could the
crisis have been predicted and possibly, averted?
One golden rule in life is to remember that when a mistake appears obvious in
hindsight, try to remember how uncertain the situation was in advance. In
commodity trading, decision to gain from opportunistic export is driven by
price competitiveness, which is hugely impacted by sudden devaluation of
currency - key factor during both 2007-08 and 2018-19 spirals. And while
recurrence of subsidies/quotas in election year (each time) may not appear
entirely coincidental, it may help to remember that domestic producers –
politically influential as they may be - do not, and cannot control prices in
international markets.
What they can bet on, however, are domestic prices. When domestic supply is
controlled, both by barriers to entry on (cheaper) imports and to new entrants,
it takes no rocket scientist to predict that opportunistic exports coinciding
with three seasons of falling production must send prices in full throttle. Are
sugar exports bad then? In a country where exports are less than half of
imports for a better part of the decade, there is no such thing. When
government is desperate for foreign exchange, business groups just have to
push the right buttons.
Which makes all this name calling on ‘collusive behaviour’, ‘cartelization’, and
‘cost audits’, merely a distraction. Readers must decide what is more becoming
of a regulator: to ostracize an industry based on its history and political
affiliations, raid its records, and raise suspicion on independent auditors? Or,
to encourage competition by opening up the market to international trade
and, removing license raj on entry of new players?
Increased competition certainly hasn’t killed Pakistan’s rice and feed milling
industries; while (relatively) freer imports of soybean, and canola has made
poultry more affordable for domestic consumers over the last decade. Entry of
new players hasn’t also been bad for the sugar industry either: during the
2008-10 spiral, domestic prices (at their peak) were 2.3 times higher than
global prices. By 2015, increased competition and expansion had led to
investment in productivity. As a result, the latest price spiral wasn’t such a
free-for-all as last time; and, premium to international prices was also reduced
to 1.5 times.
In retrospect, it may appear that mistimed exports led to this mess, but
volume exported accounts for less than 10 percent of available supply since
surplus began to pile up four years ago. It is thus unreasonable to feel
resentful towards sugar millers for seeking profit by increasing prices for
domestic consumers, these are after all 90 percent of their market!
Instead, resent them for convincing us that more sugar mills are bad because
they eat into cotton acres. Since FY16, sugar industry has seen no major
expansion or new entrant, yet aggregate area under cotton and cane has
declined by 20 percent. ‘Less competition is good for national interest’, that is
the greatest trick devil ever pulled. For background on how that happened, read
“Set the cane market free”, published on July 30, 2019 by BR Research.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40030632/predictably-unpredictable-lessons-from-the-sugar-crisis
Nurture them well for a good harvest

By ZHANG ZHOUXIANG | China Daily | Updated: 2020-11-05 06:52
JIN DING/CHINA DAILY
On Tuesday, Yuan Longping, a scientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

who leads the nation's research in hybrid rice, proudly announced a record
production of 1,500 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares).
Eyewitnesses said the 90-year-old scientist was rejoicing like a child while
making the announcement at a news conference.
The results are of significance to not only China, but the entire world, as with
just 7 percent of the world's arable land, China produces enough grain to
support 22 percent of the world's population. In some sense, Yuan's
achievement is a major contribution to the global fight against hunger.
For China, more rice production means greater food security. The
achievement would not have been possible without Yuan and his team. Since
the 1960s, Yuan, then a fresh university graduate, has devoted himself wholly
to research on hybrid rice. In these 60 years, he has taught generations of
students.
The importance of a good scientist and a good research team to fight the
problems we face can never be overestimated. By making contributions at the
most basic level, they can help enhance the productivity of the whole sector
and achieve miracles. By hybridizing rice varieties, Yuan has helped farmers
increase productivity without increasing labor or production costs.
China needs more scientists like Yuan in other sectors, so that those sectors,
too, can see faster growth. For such achievements, the State must improve the
quality of education and allow each student to fully exercise his or her
ingenuity.
Yuan said he still has a clear mind and hopes to work till he turns 100. China
can do with more scientists like him for its long-term prosperity.
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/05/WS5fa330bea31024ad0ba83225.html
COOKIE NOTICE
We use cookies for analytics, advertising and to improve our site. You agree to our use of cookies by
closing this message box or continuing to use our site. To find out more, including how to change
your settings, see our
Cookie Notice
Shogo Takemoto grows rice in Ishikawa prefecture on the Japan Sea coast.
 MARKETS
How a Japanese Rice Farmer Got

Tangled Up in the Hertz
Bankruptcy
The coronavirus pandemic disrupted a lucrative trade route that funneled
global cash into risky U.S. corporate loans
By
Cezary Podkul
and
Megumi Fujikawa
| Photography by Ben Weller for The Wall Street Journal
Nov. 5, 2020 5:30 am ET
o SHARE
o TEXT
Shogo Takemoto’s family has tilled the rice fields of eastern Japan for more than 200
years. They stash their savings in an agricultural cooperative and borrow from it to
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-a-japanese-rice-farmer-got-tangled-up-in-the-hertz-bankruptcy-
11604572206
PMD cautions against Smog, advises use
of masks and glasses
Web Desk On Nov 5, 2020
ISLAMABAD: The met office has advised the people to use masks and
glasses in smoggy conditions during the month of November to avoid health
problems.
Pakistan Meteorological department in an advisory has said that brief exposure to smog
could lead to severe health issues for people.
It is to be mentioned here that smog causes a variety of ailments from minor pains to
deadly pulmonary pneumonia and asthma diseases.
The smoke produced by automobiles and stubble burning in agriculture areas converts
into smog during the month of November with falling temperature. It normally persists
when mean temperature remains in the range of 19-21 degree Celsius, according to the
weather department.
During the last week of November and first week of December smog converts into fog
due to temperatures falling further down.
The concentration of smog remains very high in Pakistan especially in rice producing
areas of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Nankana Sahib, Kasur,
Sheikhupura, Gujrat and Sialkot during November, causing low visibility which results
in scores of road mishaps, disturbance in flights and train schedules etc.
https://arynews.tv/en/pmd-cautions-against-smog-use-face-masks-glasses/
Not Quite a Wrap for the 2020 Election Season

By Jamison Cruce
(results are as of press time)

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA -- Yesterday and the weeks prior, more than 160 million Americans cast
their ballots in the 2020 General Election. This cycle afforded the electorate an opportunity to
select the President of the United States, one-third of the United States Senate and all seats in
the United States House of Representatives, in addition to state, local and other municipal
positions.

While many of the outcomes are known, ballot counting is still underway in several states due
to the massive shift to early and mail-in voting as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic deterring
many from voting in person or trying to avoid crowds.

The presidential contest is one of those races yet to be determined. President Donald Trump
currently trails former Vice President Joe Biden in the Electoral College tally 248 to 214. 270 is
required to win. Several states have yet to announce results that will ultimately determine the
winner, and it's widely speculated that the outcome will not be known until tomorrow at the
earliest.

Democrats are expected to maintain control of the House, but 49 seats have yet to be decided.
Several races will result in runoff elections due to no candidate garnering a 50 percent plus one
majority of the vote, including Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District which is an open seat race
with the retirement of Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA). Of those Members of Congress running for
election in rice-producing states and districts, a majority of the incumbents seeking re-election
won their races.

The House Agriculture Committee will look much differently in the new Congress where new
leadership will be in place on both sides of the aisle. In a huge blow to the agriculture
community, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) was defeated by
former Lieutenant Governor and GOP nominee Michelle Fischbach for Minnesota's Seventh
Congressional District. With the retirement of Rep. Mike Conaway, the top Republican slot on
the House Agriculture Committee becomes available next Congress and jockeying for the
position is already underway. However, both leadership roles will ultimately be decided by their
respective party and are not expected to be known until early next year.

Control of the Senate is yet to be known with five races still to be called. It has already been
determined that one special election will take place in early January in Georgia to determine
who serves the remaining term of former GOP Sen. Johnny Isakson's seat who retired early due
to health issues, current incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA), who serves on the Senate
Agriculture Committee, or her Democratic opponent, Raphael Warnock.

It's likely that Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) will remain lead Democrat on the Senate
Agriculture Committee, while many expect Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) will take over the helm
from retiring Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) for the top Republican slot. At the moment, Senate make
up includes 48 Republicans and 47 Democrats.

"On behalf of USA Rice, I'd like to thank all of our members who voted - the ultimate and
arguably the most fundamental involvement in the political process," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice
vice president of government affairs. "We join all Americans in anticipation for the final
outcomes of our elections and look forward to continuing our work to secure policies that
benefit the U.S. rice industry."
https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-pak-basmati-battle-india-says-it-never-claimed-
exclusivity-2854213
 Claim your 100 coins now !

 Sign Up

 HOME

 IPL-2020

 PHOTOS

 INDIA

 ENTERTAINMENT

 SPORTS

 WORLD

 BUSINESS

 TECHNOLOGY

 LIFESTYLE






TRENDING#
Bihar election 2020
IPL 2020

US Election 2020
coronavirus
Kangana Ranaut
1. Home
2. India
India-Pak Basmati Battle: India says it

never claimed exclusivity
Even as Pakistan plans to file a case against India for applying for GI or Geographical Indications
Tag for Basmati Rice at European Commission Regulation, New Delhi has said it never claimed that
the rice is "exclusively of Indian origin".
File photo
SHARE





WRITTEN BY
Sidhant Sibal
SOURCE
WION
Updated: Nov 3, 2020, 09:15 PM IST
Even as Pakistan plans to file a case against India for applying for GI or Geographical
Indications Tag for Basmati Rice at European Commission Regulation, New Delhi
has said it never claimed that the rice is "exclusively of Indian origin". India had
applied for GI tag in July 2018 and it got published in the "official journal of the
European Union" in September of this year.
Indian government sources told WION, "India’s unilateral application has neither
breached any law nor has it staked any unjust claims of exclusivity to the rights in
Basmati rice."
A geographical indication is a tag on products that they have a specific geographical

origin and possess certain qualities due to that origin and is safeguarded by legalities
such as by the World Intellectual property organisation or WIPO.
Sources in the Indian government pointed out, that the single Document published by
EU on Basmati Rice stated, "‘Basmati is a special long grain aromatic rice grown and
produced in a particular geographical region of the Indian sub-continent" and with the
use of India subcontinent, shows its grown in the region, not one country.
The para in document explains, "In India, this region is a part of northern India, below
the foothills of the Himalayas forming part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP)",
Pakistan fears losing the lucrative Basmati export market of the European Union with
India getting the GI tag. Estimates suggest India has 65% of global Basmati rice trade,
while Pakistan 35% and generates good revenue given that the aromatic rice is much
sought after.
India's application is currently under opposition the period which will end on
December 11. The burden to show why Basmati does not meets the criteria for
registration will be on an opponent, which in this case is Pakistan.
While so far no opposition has been filed, the EU will give notice to India and once
such notice is served, India has 2 months period to lodge a "Reasoned Statement.'
New Delhi is very "protective" when it comes to the issue of Basmati and its GI and in
last many years taken international efforts to defend Basmati interests in foreign
jurisdictions by way of oppositions, rectifications and court actions.
In the 1990s, a US-based company RiceTec had tried to patent Basmati angering New
Delhi. Ricetec lost the claims to patent and the right to call its rice products as
Basmati.
Interestingly, the single document at European Union mentions the first recorded
reference to Basmati which it said can be "found in the epic Punjabi poem Heer
Ranjha by the great Punjabi poet Varis Shah dated 1766".
Also Watch
 Pakistan

 India

 Basmati Rice

 GI Tag

 Basmati Battle
http://dnai.in/gDtA
 HOME

 INDIA

 WORLD

 BUSINESS

 TECHNOLOGY

 SPORTS

 ENTERTAINMENT
FOLLOW US ON






 ABOUT DNA

 CONTACT US

 INVESTORS

 ADVERTISE

 REPRINT RIGHTS
PARTNER SITES

 ZEE NEWS

 HINDI NEWS

 MARATHI NEWS

 BENGALI NEWS

 TAMIL NEWS

 MALAYALAM NEWS

 ZEE BUSINESS

 WION

©2020 Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.
With goods trains off track, Punjab’s lifeline
cut off
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI, NOVEMBER 04, 2020 22:56 IST
SHARE ARTICLE





 0
 PRINT
 A A A
Centre blames State’s inaction for continued impasse
Amid the continued suspension of goods trains by the Railways to Punjab,

key sectors from agro-processing, engineering, hosiery, pharmaceutical,
textile,
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/with-goods-trains-off-track-punjabs-lifeline-cut-off/
article33024811.ece
Maximum retail price of rice set for
producers and millers
November 4, 2020 09:56 pm
The government has decided to set maximum retail prices for several varieties of rice, the Consumer
Affairs Authority (CAA) announces.
However, these prices will only be applicable for producers and millers, the CAA pointed out.
The gazette notification declaring the new prices has been issued a short while ago.
Accordingly, the following are the new Maximum Retail Prices set by the authorities:
Samba: Rs 94 per 1 kilogram

Raw Samba: Rs 94 per 1 kilogram
Nadu: Rs 92 per 1 kilogram
Raw rice: Rs 89 per 1 kilogram
The new prices will be in effect from midnight today (04), CAA said.
http://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=68800
No paddy harvesting on Sundays: Nalgonda
Collector
STAFF REPORTER
NALGONDA, NOVEMBER 04, 2020 21:26 IST
SHARE ARTICLE





 0
 PRINT
 A A A
‘Large-scale paddy stocks already reaching milling units leading to

congestion and damage to grain before procurement’
District Collector Prashant J. Patil said on Wednesday that every Sunday sh

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/no-paddy-harvesting-on-sundays-nalgonda-
collector/article33024214.ece
 plained: How Does Punjab Procure More Paddy at MSP than it Produces?
NEWS
Explained: How Does Punjab Procure More Paddy

at MSP than it Produces?
November 4, 2020
Gurneel Kaur
No Comments
FacebookTwitterWhatsAppLinkedInPinteres
tTelegramEmailShare
Punjab purchases millions of tonnes of paddy from neighbouring states. This is how Punjab
is procuring more paddy at MSP than it produces.
Several exporters and rice millers in Bihar and UP have been reported procuring paddy at Rs
900 to Rs 1,200 per quintal. It costs them around Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per quintal, including
all transportation costs. They earn around Rs 400 to 600 by selling it illegally in the name of
farmers in Punjab Mandis at an MSP of Rs 1,888 per quintal.
Punjab Farm Laws
To put an end to farmers’ rage in the state, the Punjab state assembly has passed new farm
bills. The bills will provide MSP as a legal right to farmers. It reads that sale and purchase of
wheat and paddy will not take place below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) announced by
the Central Government. Also, the bill explains that if any person or company or any other
association of people exerts pressure on farmers to enter into a contract or sell below MSP,
it will be a punishable offence. This shall lead to term imprisonment of not less than three
years and a fine.
Stopping Paddy Coming from Other States
Farmers in Punjab attributed the influx of basmati from other states to a fall in rates.
Farmers Union stopped several trucks carrying basmati to Punjab near the Punjab-Haryana
border. The growers complain that only private traders procure basmati. Further, they said
that private traders are taking away farmers’ profits by buying the produce at a low price
and selling it at high rates in international markets. While they sold PUSA 1509 at Rs 2,500-
2,700 per quintal last year, the rates have come down to Rs 1,600 this year.
To this, a rice exporter said that why they should pay a higher price if the same basmati is
available at low prices in other states. Also, Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters’ Association
complained that the police had wrongly charged around 100 rice millers for bringing non-
basmati paddy. However, they are only getting a few varieties of basmati which are
unavailable in Punjab.
In all, several leaders and rice millers have joined hands to bring basmati from UP, Bihar,
and Madhya Pradesh. Consequently, farmers in Punjab are finding it difficult to fetch
reasonable prices for basmati.
Tags: basmati, basmati rice price, bihar, central government, farm bills, farmers, farmers in

Punjab, farmers legal right s, farmers union, legal rights, Madhya Pradesh, MSP, new farm laws
Punjab, non basmati, non- transfarable, Paddy, Paddy MSP, Private traders, punjab haryana
border, Punjab Rice Millers Export Association , transportation cost
https://www.grainmart.in/news/explained-how-does-punjab-procure-more-paddy-at-msp-than-it-
produces/
Importers of Pakistan’s basmati rice

to challenge Indian GI claims in EU
Pakistan to file objection by first week of December
By
Ghulam Abbas
-
November 3, 2020
346
ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is going to officially challenge the Indian application for exclusive
Geographical Indication (GI) tag for basmati rice in European Union (EU), the importers of Pakistani
rice in the EU are also set to challenge the Indian move.
According to official sources at the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan will be challenging the Indian
application in the EU by the first week of December as almost all the required homework in this regard
has been completed.
The process of appointing consulting firms for the same would be completed soon, they added.
Apart from the country’s formal objection to Indian application, brown rice millers in Europe, who
import raw rice from Pakistan, would also file objection to Indian application, as granting the exclusive
GI tag to Indian rice would damage their business.
“Indian rice off late has been facing resistance in European countries due to pesticides’ issue. This has
forced the importers of brown rice to look towards Pakistan to meet their demand,” said a rice
exporter.
He informed that India’s rice export to Europe had plunged by over 40 per cent during 2018-19 due to
issues pertaining to maximum residue level (MRL). “India apparently wants to exclusively register its
basmati so as to keep Pakistani products away from lucrative markets.”
According to sources, brown rice millers of Europe, especially in the UK, are concerned about the
Indian application. The EU may take the millers’ application more seriously as compared to that of
Pakistan since the EU would give priority to the interests of its millers, they added.
Compared to the finished rice being imported from Pakistan and India, the duty is relaxed on the
import of raw rice. European millers usually prefer to import brown rice and sell the same after
processing.
According to officials of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, an attached department of

Ministry of Commerce, the ministry has shortlisted two Brussels-based international law firms, Messrs
Altius and Messrs Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick, to fight the country’s basmati GI tag
case in the EU. Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to announce the finalised option in the regard
soon.
The government had decided to oppose India’s application demanding exclusive rights of claiming a GI
tag to basmati rice in the EU on September 22. India had applied for the tag under Article 50(2)(a) of
Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Quality Schemes for
Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, mentioned in the EU official journal dated September 11.
The protection of geographical indications is aimed at boosting exports, helping support rural
development in the country, and enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled
craftsmen.
The marketing of GI products also enhances secondary economic activities and boosts regional
economic development. GI law protects local products such as the Peshawari chappals, Multani blue
pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak, Kasuri methi, Chaman grapes, Turbat dates etc.
Currently, India and Pakistan have 65pc and 35pc shares of basmati in the world rice trade,
respectively. Basmati rice fetches Pakistan around $800 million to $1 billion annually.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/03/importers-of-pakistans-basmati-rice-to-challenge-
indian-gi-claims-in-eu/
Sam Negraval
Read Next
Tracking Consumer Demand for Healthy Products
China accepted its first-ever commercial container of U.S. rice in history, creating
cautious optimism with rice growers across the U.S., reported Western Farm
Press (Nov. 3). The shipment was received as Chinese buyers await the outcome of
the U.S. Presidential election, which analysts say has caused a recent slowdown in
buying.
Medium grain Calrose rice from California was shipped after more than a decade of
political and regulatory negotiations by the U.S. rice industry, most recently marked
by the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement from last January. The agreement included a
promise by China to buy U.S. rice. This first shipment marks a positive move in
agricultural trade relations between the two countries. It may signal that China is
willing to buy different rice varieties from across the U.S. growing region, including
California, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
The rice was sold by ADM Rice to a private importer for retail distribution in China,
which remains the world’s largest producer and consumer of rice, according to the
USA Rice Federation. Bobby Hanks, chairman of the USA Rice Federation board,
says it was expected that California’s medium grain Calrose rice would be the first
traded between the two countries, as China grows a lot of long grain rice. However,
the U.S. rice industry remains optimistic about long-grain rice opportunities, even
amid competition from neighboring countries to ship long-grain rice for cheaper than
what can be delivered from the U.S.
“We hope to see more buyers, both private and government, step forward to purchase
U.S. rice,” Hanks stated.
Despite the inroads in the rice industry, China has slowed down its buying of U.S.
agriculture products in recent weeks as it awaits the outcome of the U.S. presidential
election, reported S&P Global (Nov. 3).
As part of its plans to remain on track with targets set under the Phase One deal,
China accelerated purchases of U.S. agricultural products in the last few months, with
sales of soybeans, corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, and pork reaching well above year-
ago levels. However, sales have slowed down in the last three weeks, indicated by the
lack of daily flash sales reported by the USDA. Flash sales are defined as any export
sales activity made in one day, totaling 100,000 metric tons or more for a commodity,
or 200,000 metric tons or more during a given week.
According to USDA data, China last booked large soybean volumes on Oct. 15 and
daily flash sales of corn were reported last on Oct. 14. U.S. daily corn sales to China
have slowed down since the large 1.1 million metric tons of sales seen in earlier
September. China commitments for U.S. corn spiked to a record 10.6 million metric
tons for a 2020-2021 delivery, yet only 1.9 million metric tons of corn has been
shipped from U.S. ports between Sept. 1 and Oct. 22, USDA data revealed.
U.S. bean export sales to China totaled more than 1 million metric tonsevery week
since Aug. 27, but have dipped sharply after Oct. 1. The pullback indicates that
Chinese buyers are covered until the end of the year and are awaiting the results of the
U.S. presidential election, according to analysts.
“For now, China will purchase just enough to keep the numbers moving in the right
direction, but not so much as to drive up their own prices. China is waiting on the
results of the U.S. elections and stocking up on commodities when prices are low,”
said Dave Huston, principal market technician at U.S.-based Huston Trading.
The recent slowdown in Chinese buying did not have a big impact on U.S. grain price
movement, as prices still remain elevated from the lows recorded earlier this year.
See Also
FOCUS
6 Concepts You Should be Thinking About Now – Rick Abraham

Meanwhile, another silver lining for U.S. producers this week is China’s continued
tightening of import restrictions on Australian goods, with the country suspending
imports of some Australian timber and barley varieties, reported Yakima Herald-
Republic (Nov. 3). The restrictions follow previous measures to limit imports of
lobster, coal, beef, and other goods.
The strained trade relations follow Beijing’s demands for the Australian government
to drop its support for an investigation into the origin of the coronavirus pandemic.
China is Australia’s biggest export market. Beijing’s move to restrict trade is further
evidence that China is willing to leverage its status as a growing consumer giant
against other governments in political disputes.
https://foodinstitute.com/focus/u-s-trade-with-china-improving-lifting-u-s-farmer-prospects/
5,474 errant millers to lose security

deposits
Staff Correspondent | Published: 00:37, Nov 05,2020

Directorate General of Food has begun forfeiting security deposits of 5,474 rice millers who did not supply the
government with the rice they promised in violation of the contracts signed during the last boro procurement
by the government.
The rice millers are to lose their security deposits fully and they represent 30 per cent of the total number of
rice millers who made a deal to supply over 1.1 million tonnes of rice to the government at Tk 36 per kilogram.
A total of 19,230 rice millers had entered the deal after submitting 2 per cent of the government-fixed rice
price.
‘These rice millers will also be barred from supplying aman rice to the government this year,’ said
Anisuzzaman, director of the procurement division at the Directorate General of Food.
The government could procure only 7.26 lakh tonnes during the time despite a bumper boro production. The
rice millers backtracked on their promises as the rice price on the market increased steadily and remained far
above the one at which the government was buying.
There were 2,134 other rice millers who partially fulfilled their promises by supplying a portion of their
promised amount of rice.
The rice millers who fulfilled 80 per cent of their promises would not lose their security deposits and be
allowed to supply aman rice to the government this year, said Anis.
But those who supplied less than 80 per cent of their promised rice during the last boro procurement season
would lose their security deposits partially but still be eligible for supplying aman to the government, he said.
‘Our offices across the country are implementing the order,’ said Anis.
A total of 11,594 rice millers or about 60 per cent of rice millers under the boro procurement contract supplied
their full share of rice between early May and mid-September, according to a DG Food estimate.
The rice millers who abided by their contracts were mostly small husking mill owners. A total of 10,781 of
17,923 husking mill owners kept their promises by supplying the amount of rice they had promised.
Husking mill owners are small rice suppliers who supplied relatively small amounts of rice, sometimes as low
as 5 tonnes, to the government, depending on their capacity.
Automatic rice mill owners are the main source of rice for the government. Some of them were under the
contract of supplying 2,500 tonnes of rice.
A total of 813 of 1,307 automatic rice millers supplied the rice they promised while the rest defaulted,
completely or partially.
Of the husking mill owners, 1,736 supplied rice partially, fulfilling a little over 35 per cent of their
commitment.
About 2,000 rice millers did not sign any deal with the government during the last boro season.
The DG Food barred them from supplying rice to the government until next aman season.
Rice millers are legally bound to supply the government rice if it wants to buy. There is a provision for
cancelling their licenses if they failed to fulfil the legal binding.
The instance of rice millers having their license cancelled for breaching of contracts is extremely rare.
More about:
https://www.newagebd.net/article/120766/5474-errant-millers-to-lose-security-deposits
CRY FOR ‘FALSE START’ POLIO-
HIT DEVELOPMENT
November 5, 2020 12:00 am
Share
There is failure to embrace heroic roles in Nigeria’s history, argues Okello

Oculi
The Commissioner for Health in Kogi State wept openly on surveying the
destruction of health care equipment imported by his government;
lamenting that his government does not have the money to import
replacements. If research and development by scientists at the State
University was being funded with billions of Naira to invent and produce
medicines out of local flora, his losses would have been minimised.
Demonstrators who destroyed and burnt equipment were probably rejecting
a policy of importing technology; regarding it as a “false start’’ on the road
to development.
The level of destruction of property associated with “ENDSARS’’ echoed

protests in Hong Kong and French officials in 1958 punishing Guinea (for
choosing full independence), by destroying clinics; chairs, window panes,
tables, black boards in classrooms; telephones ripped off, and equiment
returned to France.
The choice location of storage and properties looted and burnt suggested a
study of Gordon Thomas’ book “GIDEON’S SPIES: The Inside Story of
Israel’s Legendary Secret Service: THE MOSSAD’’. In its operation political
and commercial centres at national and local government centres are daily
researched and reported on by agents. Lucrative details like storing bags of
rice, fertilisers, agricultural tractors, television studios, and alcoholic drinks
are noted. Cameras inside Satellites and drones chip in.
Such details would have proved vital for shocking Lebanon by exploding
bags of phosphate ignored by officials of Beirut. Agricultural tractors stored
in Jalingo, in Taraba State, were noted at lootable data; computers in a
private school classroom in Yola; cars and archives burnt; television
equipment ransacked in Calabar, were mapped and shared the fate of buses
parked in LVT’s yard in Lagos.
Visual images of the trail of destruction has shown the power of “propaganda
of the deed’’. Various contents of that power have emerged. Among
“Southeast leaders’’ there is a need to call for “concerns of our people that
are peculiar in various states’’, namely the safety of Igbos. As evidence of
bad governance, Chie Bode George denounced the descent of teachers from
giving quality education to becoming “Cheats’’ through examination
“malpractices’’, thereby producing unemployable “illiterate graduates’’ that
expend their frustration by beheading policemen; burning cars and buses.
Chief Bode George also denounced selfishness, greed, nepotism and

corruption by government officials in the use of public power and funds;
doubting the merit in the Governor of Lagos State offering jobs to 4000
youths because boiling volcano of millions at the base of the youth pyramid
would not be excluded.
The rage of the Commissioner for Information of Cross River State is likely
to be mocked by this volcanic mass of youths. They have shed floods of
tears while governments preferred to export billions of Naira to foreign
contractors import bulldozers while the potential power in their arms to clear
bushes and swamps remained ignored. Governments have imported rice
soaked in cancer-causing chemicals and bought radiation technology for
treating cancer patients. They have not given loans to cooperative youths to
grow rice locally, thereby, preventing imported poisons.
There is a failure to embrace heroic roles played by aroused people in

Nigeria’s history. Usman Dan Fodio, for example, built his revolution of 1804
on igniting anger in masses of people ruthlessly exploited and terrorised by
their Hausa rulers. He warned his successor against committing sins of
Hausa rulers. Because they forgot his warning, British invaders were hailed
as lions that broke Fulani power.
Obafemi Awolowo’s popularity was anchored on giving free education to

children of poor people. Mallam Aminu Kano was a hero of the Talakawa
because he roused their protest against feudal rulers. Ignoring this legacy
underlies the record of depending on imported expensive technology and
millions of pharmaceutical drugs and NOT on mobilizing the energy in
Nigeria’s population to take preventive measures. Kickbacks from awarding
contracts is more rewarding for officials,
Millions of women in Nigeria’s diverse agricultural ecologies have invented
nutritious beverages. Their geniuses continue to be denied markets and
investment capital. Governments purchase beverages sold by multinational
corporations rather than investing in those produced by millions of Nigerian
woman. Empowering vast numbers of these women is betrayed. That blocks
these women from employing millions of youths in their beverage processing
and textile weaving. Also blocked are the application of inventive youths who
would fabricate and manufacture local food-processing technology.
Television telecasts show “High Society’’ celebration events which must

provoke intense competition among Commercial Attaches of foreign
embassies wishing to market the exotic and expensive garments worn at
these occasions. Organisers of ENDSARS must see in these rituals evidence
of billions of national income being used to support creative textile labour
and genius abroad while unemployment is worn by Nigeria’s youth.
These “FALSE STARTS’’ in economic and cultural roads to development fuel

‘’ENDSARS’’.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/11/05/cry-for-false-start-polio-hit-development/
China's new hybrid rice yields 10-20% more,

breaks world record
1
2020-11-03 08:41:06Global TimesEditor : Li YanECNS App Download

A working staff drives a tractor to harvest the third-generation hybrid rice at a demonstration base in
Hengnan County of Hengyang City, central China's Hunan Province, Oct. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo)
China's third-generation hybrid rice on Monday broke the world record to become the
highest-yielding double-cropping rice, which serves as a strong response to
speculations of a "food crisis" in China amid the threat of COVID-19, floods, and pests
this year.
China not only provided its 1.4 billion people with a safe and secure food supply, but
has also actively maintained a stable supply chain of global food and contributed to
global food security, analysts said.
Chinese scientists achieved the record rice yield of 1,500 kilograms per mu, or 22,500
kilograms per hectare, in Central China's Hunan Province.
Yuan Longping, a renowned Chinese agronomist dubbed as the "father of hybrid rice,"
said the output can feed five people per mu a year.
"I am more than excited," he said in English with a smile.
The latest breakthrough is of great importance to safeguarding food security in China,

as the average yield is a 10-20 percent increase over current hybrid rice, Yuan said.
Many Chinese netizens gave thumbs up for the efforts and contributions Yuan has
made in safeguarding China's food security over the decades. Some also said they
shed happy tears while watching his interview.
Li Xinqi, a research fellow at the China National Hybrid Rice Research and
Development Center, told the Global Times on Monday that the breakthrough will play
an important role in safeguarding food security in China.
Not only has it increased grain output by a considerable degree, it has improved the
quality of the grain as well. For example, the newly-developed rice planted on 100
million mu can feed 100 million people for an entire year, Li said.
"For the next step, our priority is to get government approval and promote it nationwide
within the next one to two years. We will also apply the technology to other types of rice,
or even wheat," Li said.
Amid the persistent influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the locust plague and
typhoons, some people have worried about China's food security, and some foreign
media even fabricated stories with sensational headlines of China suffering from a
severe food shortage.
Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture brushed off the rumors. This year's summer
grain and early rice have already harvested an increase of 1.2 billion kilograms and 1.03
billion kilograms in output compared to last year.
A bumper harvest is expected with the upcoming completion of the fall grain, data
suggested. The annual grain output is expected to surpass 650 billion kilograms for the
sixth consecutive year.
With nine percent of the world's arable land, China has continued to feed nearly 20
percent of the world's population. China has also significantly contributed to world food
security.
We developed the third generation of hybrid rice with the hope of stabilizing China's
total grain output, and influencing rice planting on the global stage, Li said.
"With a more mature technology, we hope that the third generation of hybrid rice will
receive more recognition from the international community," Li said.
Large-scale cultivation of hybrid rice has been carried out in more than 40 countries and
regions so far, with the annual planting area reaching 7 million hectares and increasing
the yield of local rice by more than 20 percent.
From 2006, China has sent 71 expert groups on agricultural technology and vocational
education to 37 African countries, China Central Television reported.
http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2020-11-03/detail-ihacnaey6712296.shtml
Hybrid rice varieties return record yield
Last Updated: 2020-11-03 08:59 | China Daily
Save Print E-mail
Fields planted with the latest strains produce almost 23 tons a hectare
Chinese scientists have achieved a record rice yield of almost 23 metric tons per hectare from an
experimental field of hybrid rice in Hunan province, the China National Hybrid Rice Research and
Development Center said.
Experts gathered in Hunan's Hengnan county announced on Monday that the average yield from fields
planted with the third generation of hybrid rice varieties had reached 13.68 tons per hectare.
In July, early harvests from the same field growing another strain of third-generation hybrid rice yielded an
average of 9.29 tons per hectare.
Despite unfavorable weather conditions this year, the two harvests combined－consisting of early-season
and late-season crops－surpassed 22.5 tons per hectare, realizing the goal set earlier this year by
renowned agricultural expert Yuan Longping, who has spearheaded research into hybrid rice strains.
Yuan said on Monday the fresh record means a 1-hectare hybrid rice field can feed as many as 75
people.
"I am more than excited and extremely satisfied with the results," he said in an office in Changsha, capital
of Hunan province, while watching a live video feed of the announcement ceremony.
Compared with other high-yield hybrid varieties in the market, the average yield for the third-generation
strain is 10 to 20 percent higher－an increase of about 1.5 tons per hectare－Yuan said.
"There are 16.7 million hectares of hybrid rice fields in China. The new strain, if planted nationwide, will
significantly boost overall rice production," he said.
"The next goal is to promote the experiences of Hengnan county and plant the advanced rice variety in
other rice-producing regions in China, contributing to safeguarding the country's food security."
The center said research teams headed by Yuan began cultivating and selecting third-generation rice
varieties in 2011 and started trial planting in 2017.
More pilot bases will be set up in eight provincial-level regions starting next year, it added.
The rice strain of the crops harvested on Monday－Sanyou No 1－is known for its high yields and quality,
resilience to unfavorable weather conditions and relatively easy breeding methods, Li Xinqi.head of the
research team, said.
"For single-cropping, late-season rice, it is rare to see an average yield of more than 11 tons per hectare,
but the average yield of a small-scale planting of the strain last year exceeded 15 tons per hectare,
prompting us to aim for higher production this year," he said.
Sanyou No 1 is also prized for its fast growth.
"Rice seeds in Hengnan county were planted on June 16 and began earring up on Aug 30, which is
surprisingly fast," Li said.
He said the strain also withstood the test of extreme weather that lasted more than a month in Hunan,
with weaker sunlight and significantly heavier and longer rainfall than usual.
The previous record for yields of hybrid rice developed by Yuan and his team, about 17.24 tons per
hectare, was set in Hebei province in October 2017.
China has attached paramount significance to ensuring food security and self-sufficiency in grain
production.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and severe flooding in summer, this year's grain
production is expected to hit a record high and exceed 650 million tons for the sixth year in a row, the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said.
（Editor:Fu Bo）
http://en.ce.cn/main/latest/202011/03/t20201103_35967269.shtml
Senate’s knee-jerk reaction to palay price

drop is illegal
ByMarlen V. Ronquillo
November 4, 2020
48
Latest Stories
Biden overtakes Trump in Georgia
Over 3M Filipinos registered in Step 1 of National ID
Duterte hits back at ‘Rolly’ critics: ‘They want me to commit suicide’
Red Cross to Duterte: ‘We are not greedy’
Signal No. 2 still up in Batanes but ‘Siony’ likely to exit PH tonight

MAYBE the Senate’s pressure to have the feckless Department of
Agriculture (DA) suspend rice imports during peak harvests was a serious
effort to rein in the horrible palay (unmilled rice) price drop, the primary
accelerant to the heartrending misery in the rice-farming areas. But there is
another view of that pressure for an administrative mechanism to suspend
rice imports during peak harvests, which small farmers share. That it was a
charade, a zarzuela staged to placate the angry and restless rice farmers.
A moro-moro if you will permit this small farmer to use a politically
incorrect description.
The simple reason is this. An ordinary administrative order cannot supersede
a law that passed overwhelmingly in the House and the Senate in the early
days of 2019. The only “No” votes came from the Makabayan bloc and the
Butil party-list. All four representatives of Nueva Ecija, for example, voted
“Yes,” and to think that they represent the biggest rice-producing province in
the country.
If the rice importers insist on importing during peak harvests even with a
suspension from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), they can do so. Because
the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) allows them to import and import rice
recklessly. The DA-BPI suspension is a lame, Senate-induced intervention.
The RTL is the law.
Here is a short explanation of the rice import rules under the RTL.
An importer today files for an import permit. If no action is taken by the BPI
— and usually
the BPI does not take any action on rice import permits — the importer will
only have to wait for seven days — just one week — and he or she can
import at will.
The RTL allows for unregulated, unrestrained rice imports and that
recklessness is embedded in the law. A memo-circular from the DA via the
BPI that suspends rice imports is a violation of the RTL. And if challenged,
the memo-circular on rice import suspensions cannot stand in court.

The options on reining in rice imports are limited, just two if we are realistic
about the options. First, appeal to the sense of nationhood of the rice
importers. Convince them that more than 3 million small rice farmers cannot
survive excess rice imports. Curb their import enthusiasm or the small rice
farmers perish.
But we farmers doubt whether this would be at all possible.
Our society, this is very sad, lacks a moral core. Greed trumps (more so in the
age of Donald Trump) the very foundations of the greater national purpose.
Commerce, in theory, is supposed to have an underlying conscience. When a
sector gets badly hurt, some restraint is exercised. But not in this sad country.
Greed and profit trump everything. The so-called civil society even cheers
amid the massive suffering in the rice farming areas.
So, we are only left with the legal option. This means the repeal of the law
and to put into place either of these two measures: the suspension of rice
imports during peak harvests that the Senate rightly proposed and the other
option — tariff safeguards against excessive imports that is sanctioned by the
World Trade Organization.
Curbing the greed and enthusiasm of rice importers, this is the sad fact, can
only be done by tweaking the RTL, which is quite an easy thing to do.
If not, small rice farmers have to contend with the challenges of the status
quo which brutal wages would only lead to their extinction within the short
term.
The first wave of greed-driven importation in 2019 led to the dumping of
around 3 million metric tons of rice into the country in just 10 months of the
law’s implementation. This year, from January to September alone, more
than 3.7 million metric tons of rice imports had been green-lighted.
Neither the DA nor the BPI can slow down this irrational exuberance. There
is no legal tool that they can invoke.
So farmers suffer and they suffer mightily.
In rice harvesting areas of Mindanao right now, the farmgate price is P10 to
P11 per kilogram for palay not falling within the 14 percent moisture content,
and it is lower in the more remote farming areas. In Central Luzon right now,
the price drop has been so precipitous that some farmers have complained of
a P12 to P13 per kg buying price for freshly harvested palay. Farmers have to
spend for drying and transportation to truck their palay from Pampanga to
buying centers in Bulacan at P17 per kg. The P18 to P19 buying price for dry
palay exists only in the imagination of the mendacious William Dar, the
agriculture secretary.
If the impact on rice consumers were significant and substantial, the purpose
of the RTL would have been partly served. But no. Studies done by the
number-crunchers at the Federation of free Farmers say that the pass-on
benefit of the massive rice imports to consumers is so negligible that we can
scrap the law outright and rice consumers would not notice anything.
To rub salt on the open wounds of the small rice farmers, importers have
been cheating on the valuation and rice classification to depress the tariff
payments on imported rice, according to the FFF figures.
So what does the RTL serve if it just bludgeons small rice farmers and
generates little benefit to rice consumers and hardly serves a national
purpose? I have a ready answer — greed and profit.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/11/04/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/senates-knee-jerk-reaction-
to-palay-price-drop-is-illegal/791156/
Rice self-sufficiency rate falls to 79.8%

By: Karl R. Ocampo - Reporter / @kocampoINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:18 AM November 04, 2020

The country’s ability to produce rice has further weakened for the third consecutive
year, owed largely to the increasing dependence of the country on imports following
the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law.
However, the Department of Agriculture said the trend has its upside, noting that the
cost of producing the staple and prices of rice in retail markets have gone down.
ADVERTISEMENT
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) latest report on food availability
and sufficiency, the country’s self-sufficiency rate for rice has declined to 79.8
percent in 2019 from 86.2 percent in 2018. In 2017, however, the self-sufficiency rate
for the staple was at 95 percent.
PSA said the contraction “was brought about by the reduced share of domestic
production to the country’s supply while the share of rice imports was on the
uptrend”—an effect of the Duterte administration deregulation of rice trade.
FEATURED STORIES
BUSINESS
PLDT bets big on home broadband expansion – MVP
BUSINESS
SSI Group expands e-commerce presence
BUSINESS
AirAsia offers UNLI Flight pass for a limited time only
Between 2017 and 2019, the industry’s dependence on imports increased from 6.6
percent to 13.8 percent to 20.2 percent, which allowed the Philippines to emerge as
the world’s biggest rice importer for the past two years.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said these figures were effects of the new rice law,
but added that it has also paved the way for the cost of producing palay to decrease to
an average of P11.05 a kilo in 2019 from P12 a kilo in the past years.
However, the average price of palay at the farmgate has slid anew to P15.79 a kilo as
of the first week of October, reflecting the impact of importation on local producers
coupled with the effect of the pandemic.
Dar said rice farmers could shift to planting other crops that were more profitable,
while those who would stay on in planting the staple would be assisted with modern
technologies to improve their production and profit.
These changes, however, could not happen overnight and would need the coordination
of stakeholders and the assistance of the government.
Read more: https://business.inquirer.net/311045/rice-self-sufficiency-rate-falls-to-
79-8#ixzz6dBDOPSIx
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Sri Lanka slaps price

controls on rice
Thursday November 5, 2020 10:12
ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka has slapped price controls on several varieties of
rice as price spiked amid import controls and a Coronavirus surge.
The Consumer Affairs Authority, the main price control agency ordered Samba
rice (parboiled) to be sold at 94 rupees, white/red raw Samba also to be sold
at 94 rupees by millers and producers.
White/red Nadu was ordered to be sold at 92 rupees a kilogram and

white/Red raw rice at 89 rupees.
Sri Lanka has concluded the Yala minor agricultural season.
A notice by the Consumer Authority said the “no Producer/Miller shall sell,
expose or offer for sale or display for sale the varieties of rice listed below,
above the Maximum Prices.
The CCA has previously created shortages of canned fish, dhal amid a
Coronavirus crisis by imposing price controls.
In Sri Lanka rice imports are banned and several large millers have stocks
under an import substitution strategy. (Colombo/Nov06/2020)
https://economynext.com/sri-lanka-slaps-price-controls-on-rice-75591/

By
Ghulam Abbas
-
November 3, 2020
345
ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is going to officially challenge the Indian application for exclusive
Geographical Indication (GI) tag for basmati rice in European Union (EU), the importers of Pakistani
rice in the EU are also set to challenge the Indian move.
According to official sources at the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan will be challenging the Indian
application in the EU by the first week of December as almost all the required homework in this regard
has been completed.
Apart from the country’s formal objection to Indian application, brown rice millers in Europe, who
import raw rice from Pakistan, would also file objection to Indian application, as granting the exclusive
GI tag to Indian rice would damage their business.
“Indian rice off late has been facing resistance in European countries due to pesticides’ issue. This has
forced the importers of brown rice to look towards Pakistan to meet their demand,” said a rice
exporter.
He informed that India’s rice export to Europe had plunged by over 40 per cent during 2018-19 due to
issues pertaining to maximum residue level (MRL). “India apparently wants to exclusively register its
basmati so as to keep Pakistani products away from lucrative markets.”
According to sources, brown rice millers of Europe, especially in the UK, are concerned about the
Indian application. The EU may take the millers’ application more seriously as compared to that of
Pakistan since the EU would give priority to the interests of its millers, they added.
Compared to the finished rice being imported from Pakistan and India, the duty is relaxed on the
import of raw rice. European millers usually prefer to import brown rice and sell the same after
processing.
According to officials of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, an attached department of

Ministry of Commerce, the ministry has shortlisted two Brussels-based international law firms, Messrs
Altius and Messrs Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick, to fight the country’s basmati GI tag
case in the EU. Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to announce the finalised option in the regard
soon.
The government had decided to oppose India’s application demanding exclusive rights of claiming a GI
tag to basmati rice in the EU on September 22. India had applied for the tag under Article 50(2)(a) of
Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Quality Schemes for
Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, mentioned in the EU official journal dated September 11.
The protection of geographical indications is aimed at boosting exports, helping support rural
development in the country, and enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled
craftsmen.
The marketing of GI products also enhances secondary economic activities and boosts regional
economic development. GI law protects local products such as the Peshawari chappals, Multani blue
pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak, Kasuri methi, Chaman grapes, Turbat dates etc.
Currently, India and Pakistan have 65pc and 35pc shares of basmati in the world rice trade,
respectively. Basmati rice fetches Pakistan around $800 million to $1 billion annually.
Accessibility Links
Skip to content
Today’s sections Past six daysExplore Times Radio
Log inSubscribe
Pakistan and India in row over
right to supply basmati rice to the
European Union
Haroon Janjua, Islamabad
Wednesday November 04 2020, 12.01am GMT, The Times
Delhi argues that to qualify to use the term “basmati” the rice must be grown exclusively in specific areas of India
A L A MY
Having fought three wars since independence, Pakistan and India are engaged in an
increasingly bitter feud over the right to basmati rice.
The rice row has escalated with Pakistan hiring international lawyers to contest an
Indian claim that only it should be allowed to supply basmati to the European Union
(EU).
Delhi argues it has unique cultural ties to basmati rice and that to qualify to use the
term it must be grown exclusively in specific areas of India.
The name “basmati” originally derived from two Sanskrit words, vas meaning aroma
and mati meaning ingrained, the Indian EU application states, noting that the first
recorded reference to basmati rice appeared in a Punjabi love poem called Heer
Ranjha by Waris Shah in 1766.
India’s application
Continue reading
Get unlimited digital access, free for one month
Unlimited digital access.
Start your free trial
Already a subscriber? Login
BACK TO TOP
GET IN TOUCH
 About us
 Contact us
 Help
 The Times Editorial Complaints
 The Sunday Times Editorial Complaints
 Place an announcement
 Classified advertising
 Display advertising
 The Times corrections
 The Sunday Times corrections
 Careers
MORE FROM THE TIMES AND THE SUNDAY TIMES
 The Times e-paper
 The Sunday Times e-paper
 Times Currency Services
 The Sunday Times Wine Club
 Times Print Gallery
 The Times Archive
 Times Crossword Club
 Sunday Times Driving
 Times+
 The Sunday Times Rich List
 Times Expert Traveller
 Good University Guide
 Schools Guide
 Newsletters
 Best Places to Live
 Best Places to Stay
 Sportswomen of the Year Awards
 Times Appointments
 Podcasts
 Times Money Mentor
© Times Newspapers Limited 2020.

Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF.
 Privacy & cookie policy
 Licensing
 Cookie settings
 Site map
 Topics
 Commissioning terms
 Terms and conditions
Get unlimited digital access, free for one month
Start your free trial
Already a subscriber or registered access user? Login

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pakistan-and-india-in-row-over-the-right-to-basmati-rice-t7bjtps0b
Nagoya University develops rice plant that grows pure

sugar
 Master Blaster4 days ago
 0
Would a rice by any other genome taste as sweet?
It’s probably fitting that only a few days before Halloween researchers at Nagoya
University announced a revolutionary discovery in the field of sugar. They have
successfully developed a strain of rice plant that doesn’t produce fluffy white grains,
rather they sprout little sacks of sugar water.
The way it works is rather simple. When a boy rice plant and girl rice plant fall in love,
sometimes the boys plant will release pollen into the ovule of the girl plant and create a
seed which grows to a certain size before it is mercilessly torn from the girl plant, milled to
the grain, boiled, and put in a bowl topped with meat and delicious sauces.
However, research has found that in certain cases, such as when girl rice plants get a
lucrative job offer and don’t have time to deal with boy plants’ and their gross pollen, their
ovules go unfertilized and they instead produce a high-yield sugar water that
contains 98 percent sucrose.
Through genetic manipulation the research team was able to enhance this
phenomenon and grow a rice plant that produces little pods full of sugar water about the
same size as a grain of rice.
▼ News report on the research
This means that sugar can be produced as easily and globally widespread as rice
currently is. That being said, even with the delectable sweetness of sugar, many might still
be dissuaded by genetically altered food. In addition, with all the rising obesity and diabetes
in the world, we have to wonder if we really need more sugar.
▼ Our staff certainly doesn’t
Luckily the answer is yes, because in addition to powering kids into post-Halloween
frenzies, sucrose is also a really good biofuel. And compared to other sources such as
sugarcane and sugar beets, this “sugar rice” would be far more easy to grow, harvest, and
transport on a worldwide scale.
Although still early, this all sounds very promising, and readers were proud of their fellow
Japanese citizens for coming up with such a potentially revolutionary energy source.
“This is the result of Japan’s extraordinary passion for improving rice.”

“I’m very curious to see what kind of sake can be made from this.”
“I think Japanese people are too opposed to GM foods to eat this, but it sounds fantastic as
a biofuel.”
“Sugarcane is difficult to harvest and transport, but with this we can use existing rice
machinery and techniques.”
“I’m glad our scientists are working on things like this rather than weapons.”
“These guys are a shoe-in for next year’s Ig Nobel.”
There were also many complimentary puns to be made such as ine and ii ne which sound
like the Japanese word for “rice plant” and “I like it!” respectively. There were also many
comments of tensai which means both “genius” and “sugar beet.”
The whole new world of puns and sake that this may open up is intriguing enough, but if
this eventually leads to plentiful renewable fuel that also makes car exhaust that smell like
cotton candy, then we may be on the verge of a bright future indeed.
Source: CBC News, Hachima Kiko
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert images: ©SoraNews24
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us
on Facebook and Twitter!
https://soranews24.com/2020/11/04/nagoya-university-develops-rice-plant-that-grows-pure-sugar/
Trade between Kenya and Pakistan

hits Sh100b annually
By TITUS TOO | November 3rd 2020 at 12:08:07 GMT +0300
Increased bilateral trade between Kenya and Pakistan has seen the two
countries generate Sh100 billion annually from tea and rice.
Kenya’s ambassador to Pakistan Julius Bittok said engagement with
stakeholders in the two sectors has improved business between the two
nations.
“Kenya is generating Sh60 billion per year in tea exports to Pakistan, which in
turn earns about Sh40 billion from rice marketed to Kenya,” he said.
Read More
 1 Oil falls on lockdowns, US elections
 2 Rising Stars undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing ahead of Cecafa tourney
 3 Oil tumbles on virus, US poll jitters
 4 Reprieve for tea and coffee farmers
“Our total trade is Sh100 billion annually, and this has been encouraged by
our constant engagement in the market.”
The envoy said the Pakistan embassy in Nairobi recently reduced the period
for attestation and verification of tea documents from 10 days to 24 hours.
The move, he noted, is part of the market engagement to enhance efficiency
and flow of trade between the countries. He said attestation fee of 0.5 per cent
of the tea value for export has also been waived, a move that will increase
Kenya’s tea exports to Pakistan.
“The trade has been encouraged by constant engagements where issues are
sorted out as they arise. There is good direct coordination with business
people and farmers through trade exhibitions and fairs that are rife for
consultations,” said Bittok over the weekend.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

submit

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest developments and
special offers!
Bittok said the quality of Kenyan tea has seen the product enjoy the
competitive market in Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan,
among others. He said Jubilee administration has invested heavily in
economic diplomacy, which has seen full exploitation of business
opportunities between nations.
“Our trade with Pakistan has gradually grown over the last four years. Kenya
used to generate about Sh25 billion per year in tea exports while Pakistan
earned about Sh15 billion from rice it exported to Kenya,” he observed.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:veqJcX2ROnsJ:https://
www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/money-careers/article/2001392507/trade-between-kenya-and-
pakistan-hits-sh100b-annually+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
U.S. Rice to China

Wednesday Nov 4th, 2020 130 Views Idaho Ag Today
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Mail
David Sparks Ph.D.
Last week, the first ever commercial shipment of U.S.-grown rice was unloaded in
China, following more than a decade of regulatory and political effort by USA Rice to
establish a two-way trading relationship with the nation.
The premium, medium grain Calrose rice was grown in California and sold by ADM
Rice, Inc. to a private importer under the 'Sungiven' brand for retail distribution.
China is the world's largest rice producer and consumer, and only second to the
Philippines in global rice imports. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report projected that China would
consume more than 146 million MT of rice this year, dwarfing the 4.6 million MT
estimated for consumption by Americans.
"As seasoned exporters, this small shipment of California milled rice sounded routine
at the outset, but the many logistical challenges of exporting to this new market
proved to be one of our most complex transactions to date," said Buzz Burich, Vice
President, ADM Rice.
Burich added that, "This shipment would not have been possible without the
teamwork of all involved at Arbuckle, California-based ADM Rice, the USA Rice
Federation, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials, and our esteemed customer,
Sungiven, a retail chain in China. We hope this initial collaborative effort will lead to
increased sales of U.S. rice to China and contribute to stronger trade relations between
both nations."
"We are pleased to see the first shipment to China of U.S.-grown rice take place
following the U.S.-China Phase One Agreement in January, calling for U.S.
commodity purchases, including rice," said Bobby Hanks, chair of both USA Rice and
the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee. "We hope to see more buyers,
both private and government, step forward to purchase U.S. rice. As a reliable
supplier with high quality long, medium, and short grain, the U.S. is well positioned
to help fill some of the import demand in China moving forward."
Hanks added, "USA Rice has spent many years working cooperatively with the U.S.
and Chinese governments to get us to the point that sales and shipments were
possible, we have also invested significant promotional funds into the market for more
than 15 years to establish relationships with importers and start developing demand
for our products. Our recent reverse trade missions have confirmed that the Chinese
buyers visiting our U.S. rice farming and milling operations are interested in our crop
and those efforts have now begun to materialize into sales."
A reverse trade mission for Chinese importers hosted by USA Rice that visited
Arkansas, Louisiana, and California in December 2019 helped lead to this sale and
eventual shipment. China's rice market has a demand for all types of U.S. rice, so all
the U.S. rice growing regions stand to benefit. China's neighboring countries
currently provide the bulk of their needed rice, but access to U.S.-grown rice brings
another premium option to the market for more high-end hotel, foodservice, and retail
channels and consumers who prioritize sustainability and strong food safety practices.
Under the terms of the phytosanitary agreement reached between the U.S. and
Chinese governments, all rice entering China must be milled and packaged according
to specifications and originate from a pre-approved export facility. There are
currently 32 approved export facilities spread across the six major rice-growing
states.
U.S. rice entering China under their tariff rate quota faces a 1 percent in-quota duty in
addition to a 25 percent retaliatory duty. In most cases, importers in China may apply
to waive the retaliatory duty.
USA Rice recently asked the U.S. Embassy to invite the purchaser of the rice to the
Embassy "Constitution Day" celebration, where he met with Ambassador Branstad.
CHINA
www.aginfo.net/report/47633/Idaho-Ag-Today/U-S-Rice-to-China+&cd
Subsidised foods may lead to

complications in nutrition and growth
Share6
Balaram Vishnu Subramani
Read time: 4 mins

Bengaluru Nov 3, 2020, (Research Matters):
[Image Credits: Julian Andres Carmona Serrato via Unsplash]
India is no stranger to the problem of food insecurity — one in every three children in the country is
malnourished. A survey conducted in 2015 by the International Institute for Population Sciences,
Mumbai, found more than 50% of children below the age of five to be anaemic. Despite rapid
development in the health and agriculture sectors of India, a majority of the population is still heavily
malnourished, primarily due to socio-economic issues such as illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty.
In 2013, the Government of India passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA) which recognised
that food security is a right for every Indian citizen — the states have a legal commitment to ensure
adequate nutrition for citizens who are not self-sufficient. The act provides food such as rice, wheat,
sugar, and cooking oil at reduced prices to people in households living Below Poverty Line through
the Public Distribution System (PDS). A new study analysed rice and sugar subsidies provided by
the NFSA in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and concluded that they do not improve the nutrition of
the recipients. On the other hand, they may contribute to stunted growth in children. The study was
conducted by an international group of researchers and was published in the Journal of Social
Policy.
A survey conducted by the Young Lives organisation in 2008 collected data from mothers or primary
caregivers of children in four districts of Andhra Pradesh and two districts of Telangana, covering
around 28% of the states’ combined population. The data represented a mixed population with
young and old children from various economic backgrounds. The researchers analysed this data and
found that nearly 20% of the poorest households did not take advantage of the PDS, while over 25%
of the wealthiest households did. Due to the disparities from the expected numbers, they conclude
that PDS is not an indicator of food security.
PDS is supposed to encourage increased food consumption, as well as enable people to spend their
income on other nutrient-rich foods. However, the success of this plan depends on the recipients
being able to make informed dietary decisions and improve their nutritional intake. The expectations
are in direct contrast to the reality of the situation — BPL households often do not have access to
higher education.
By segregating households into PDS and non-PDS households, the researchers found that almost
every PDS household collected rice, and around 80% of PDS households collected sugar.
But previous studies have shown that the consumption of white rice leads to spikes in blood glucose
levels. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases.
The researchers report that subsidised rice and sugar led to their increased consumption by
children. They conclude that children with access to PDS sugar experienced no significant increase
in the diversity of nutrients in their diet and those with access to PDS rice were likely to experience
stunted growth. These results point to the limitations of the PDS. Although rice and sugar subsidies
are capable of mitigating hunger, they cannot overcome the problem of impaired growth due to
malnutrition and only increase the consumption of low nutrition foods like sugar. The study proposes
that subsidised sugar be removed from the PDS.
“We are investigating the causes and consequences of food insecurity across
childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood,” says Dr Jasmine Fledderjohann,
lecturer in sociology and social work at Lancaster University, and an author of the
study. The team has secured financial support from UK Research and
Innovation under the Future Leaders Fellowship to undertake further research on
food insecurity in India, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Peru. “We will extend our work to
collect data in other parts of India, focusing first on small-scale interviews, and
then building to a large-scale survey,” Jasmine adds.
Although the increased consumption of rice and sugar may solve malnourishment in the short-run,
they will lead to complications in the larger frame of time. Mass-media campaigns that educate
households on nutrition and the inclusion of high-nutrition foods in the PDS could serve to reduce
malnutrition, feel the researchers. It is necessary to communicate the findings with policymakers,
and they are planning on doing just that.
“We plan to build an advisory board including policymakers and stakeholders in

each of the four project countries for the Future Leaders Fellowship project,”
signs off Jasmine.
:https://researchmatters.in/news/subsidised-foods-may-lead-complications-nutrition-and-
growth+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Researchers Say This Is How to
Cook Rice for Your Kids
New method removes the majority of the naturally
occurring arsenic
By Kate Seamons, Newser Staff
Posted Nov 3, 2020 8:48 AM CST

Updated Nov 3, 2020 8:55 AM CST
The method cuts the naturally occurring arsenic in brown rice by half. (Getty Images)
(NEWSER) – There's naturally occurring arsenic in rice, and researchers have identified
a method of cooking it that will get rid of the majority of it. In a paper published
in Science of the Total Environment, researchers with the University of Sheffield's
Institute for Sustainable Food tested a number of "home friendly cooking treatments"
and say they were able to cut the naturally occurring arsenic in brown rice by 54%, and
in white rice by 73%—all without also sacrificing the micronutrients found in rice. The
way to go? The "parboiling with absorption method," or PBA. It's a somewhat
complicated way of describing an easy process: Rice should be parboiled in already
boiling water for 5 minutes. That water should then be discarded. Refill the pot with
water and cook on a lower heat until the water is absorbed.
The finding comes on the heels of an earlier study from the Institute for Sustainable
Food that found 28 of 55 rice samples available for purchase in the UK had levels of
arsenic that were higher than what European Commission regulations deem safe for
infants or young children. In a press release, lead researcher Dr. Manoj Menon calls the
current study "excellent news ... for rice consumers." While previous research has
shown that cooking rice in excess water can strip out some of the arsenic found in the
outer bran layer, nutrients are also removed. Not so in this case. "We highly recommend
this method while preparing rice for infants and children as they are highly vulnerable to
arsenic exposure risks." As for why there's so much arsenic in rice in the first
place, Science Alert explains it's largely because rice is grown in flooded fields, which
enables it to soak up more of the arsenic that's naturally found in soil. (Read
more discoveries stories.)
www.newser.com/story/298231/scientists-determine-how-you-should-cook-your
COVID-19 and rise of superstition
Published
1 day ago
on
November 4, 2020
By
Sahan Weerasooriya


 Share
 Tweet

If there was one narrow streak of sunshine that gleaned through the lugubrious and
menacing cloud that blew in from the East, it was the conviction growing among
people that it was a virus that caused the disease, that the nature of the virus was to
multiply fast, find living hosts and making them sick . The Virus itself keeps
evolving, as evident from the information given by scientists that the strain that
infected people in September in Sri Lanka, was different from that which had caused
the earlier outbreak. Into this healthy growth of confidence in science the government
led by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has now asked the bhikkhu sangha to recite
ratana sutta, jvara sutta and jaya pirita to work against SARS-CoV-2.
This practice is without any validity as we had seen in March 2020, when pirit
chanting went on a large scale and the epidemic went on its own deadly path.
Now, another minister of his Cabinet has taken on the bizarre practice of throwing
pots of water into which mumbo-jumbo has been uttered into a flowing river. Some
five centuries ago a migrant brahmin charlatan, in roughly the same area as the water
was thrown into a river, is reported to have done some mumbo-jumbo and well aware
of the charlatanry that he was practising near a river, is reported to have said ‘raja ho
ma ho ganga ho’- the king or the river or me. The king was appeased. In the present
circumstances, the king-pretender is unlikely to be pleased.
Let us kill this superstition much like a vicious serpent that can poison one to death.
USVATTE-ARATCHI
fpmjDpJwJ:island.lk/covid-19-and-rise-of-superstition/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=cl
Fortified Rice Update Added to Webinar Series

By Rebecca Bratter

ARLINGTON, VA -- While milled rice has been a heavily specified commodity in U.S. global food
assistance programs, fortified rice is still a relatively new product in the toolbox of commodities
used by U.S. government agencies and private voluntary organizations (PVOs) for global
nutritional assistance. Fortified rice was introduced to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
(USDA) master commodity list about five years ago and since that time has grown to include
more than 30,000 MT utilized annually by numerous agencies to target malnutrition and hunger
via food assistance.
Over the past couple of years, USA Rice has held a series of in-person workshops to review new
developments with the PVOs with a view to increasing availability and tonnage in food aid
programs. This year's workshop is a webinar, scheduled on November 12, at 3 p.m. eastern
time, and will be focused on usage patterns and technical developments relevant to fortified
rice including shelf life and packaging, and a discussion on the impact of COVID-19.
Staff from USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will give updates
on their food aid programs, and representatives from the World Food Program USA will talk
about their experiences using fortified rice in their global relief programs. Also on the agenda is
a live cooking demonstration showing the visual and taste aspects of fortified rice versus milled
rice.
"This year has had its share of challenges but now more than ever, USA Rice is providing a
fortified product that addresses both global hunger and malnutrition," said USA Rice President &
CEO Betsy Ward. "We encourage everyone to tune in to hear how the U.S. rice industry
continues to lead in feeding the world."
Go here to register for the food aid webinar.
Nigeria: Press focuses on US election,

agitation for non-payment of salaries, others
Published on 03.11.2020 at 11h21 by APA News
 Share





The US election and the place of Nigeria and the rest of Africa in America’s foreign policy and the
agitation of federal government workers over failure of government to pay their outstanding salaries
dominate the headlines of Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday
The Guardian reports that with the United States’ Africa and immigration policies now a subject of
controversy, the place of Nigeria and the rest of the continent in America’s foreign policy post 2020
came into focus last night
.
None of the two candidates in today’s presidential election— President Donald Trump and Joe Biden
— has been able to give clear indication of what his policy would be for Africa.
“The hope — and the expectation —is that a Biden victory would be better for Africa,” US-based
Professor Eloho Otobo told The Guardian. He, however, pointed out that Nigeria should not forget
that Africa also had similar hopes, when Obama was elected. Yet there are few, if any, big Obama
legacy for Africa.
It recalled that the Power Africa lnitiative (for a sum of $7bn) announced by Obama at the first and
only Africa-US Summit in 2014 was modest compared to China’s investment in power in Africa, even
as in 2014.
The Guardian reports that following the looting and destruction of warehouses across the country,
including rice mills, Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) has raised concerns that the nation’s
rice production is currently under threat and calls for urgent government intervention to forestall
scarcity of the staple food in the market.
The Guardian learnt that 29 rice mills were looted and vandalized across the nation, with RIMAN
members estimated to have lost about N228 million worth milled and paddy rice, aside vandalized
equipment and private property. RIMAN, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, and
signed by its National President, Peter Dama, condemned the destruction, and looting carried out by
miscreants in the name EndSARs protests against its members across the country.
He lamented that tonne of milled and paddy rice, furniture, machines, equipment and operational
vehicles at the premises of these rice mills were destroyed and looted while some parts of buildings
were set ablaze, adding that at the moment, these factories are in ruins. RIMAN is, therefore,
shocked and sad at the level of the havoc that was carried out on these rice mills and other
government and private properties within the country.
The Vanguard reports that aggrieved civil servants yesterday laid siege to the office of the Head of
the Civil Service of the Federation, over what they described as failure of the Federal Government to
pay their outstanding salaries for two or three months.
Vanguard reported yesterday that staff of no fewer than 428 Ministries, Departments and Agencies,
MDAs, were owed salaries for two to three months, having exhausted their recurrent allocations for
the fiscal year.
The workers stormed the office of the Head of Service at about 9a.m. in what was to be a peaceful
protest but were prevailed upon to shelve the idea before the arrival of newsmen accredited to cover
the office.
One of the workers who participated in the protest, told Vanguard that they were told to give the
Federal Government ample time to address all outstanding issues relating to payment of their
salaries.
The Punch reports that the Nigerian Communications Commission on Monday announced that it had
granted approval for two mobile network operators, MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile, to carry out trials on
the workability of embedded Subscriber Identification Modules Service in Nigeria.
It said the trials, approved to run for a period of one year, would involve testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the
two networks, subject to compliance with a number of regulatory conditions.
It outlined the conditions in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director, Public Affairs, NCC,
Ikechukwu Adinde, to include full compliance by the MNOs with the Registration of Telecoms
Subscribers Regulations 2011.
Others include the Mobile Number Portability Regulations and Business Rules 2015; Guidelines on
SIM Replacement 2017; and non-degradation of the quality of service experience by users of e-
SIMs.
The commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Danbatta, said the primary objective of the e-SIM
trial was to assess the technical performance of the e-SIM on telecoms service providers’ network
towards eventual rollout, if satisfactory.
An e-SIM is a small chip that is embedded on a mobile phone or a smart device. It is designed for
convenience, flexibility and simplicity. The e-SIM makes it easier for subscribers to choose a pre-
paid plan provider and switch between network operators.
ThisDay reports that the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, yesterday put the debts of
Nigerian airlines over the last 10 years to aviation agencies at about N22.2 billion.
Sirika also said the federal government would soon start the disbursement of the N5 billion bailout it
approved for the operators of the aviation sector. The House of Representatives, however, directed
the Ministry of Aviation to suspend the planned ceding of four airports to private investors, pending
the resolution of the contentious issues raised by labour unions and other stakeholders.
The minister spoke in Abuja at a public hearing on the Civil Aviation Amendment bills by the National
Assembly, which would modernise and make the country’s aviation industry, be in tandem with
international best practices.
The minister explained that the domestic carriers owe the agencies $6.9 million and N19.6 billion
respectively and lamented their inability to pay their bills to the agencies, including five per cent
charge from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), passenger service charge, landing and
parking fees to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and overflight charges to the
National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).
https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/nigeria-press-focuses-on-us-election-agitation-for-non-
payment-of-salaries-others/
Spectacular Sandhill Cranes

By Luke Matthews
Identification:
Sandhill Cranes are the only crane species that we see here in the Sacramento Valley. It’s not
uncommon to see scores of cranes feeding and resting in rice fields throughout our region,
especially in Butte and Glenn Counties. These unique birds are impressive, they stand four feet
tall and have massive wingspans of almost seven feet. Adults are mostly gray in color, with long
black legs, sturdy bills, white feathers on their checks and a bare patch of red skin around their
eyes.
Fun Facts:
Many adults have brown or rust colored feathers in addition to the gray. This color is not a
pigment in the feather, but a stain that come from the iron-rich soil of their summer ranges.
Sandhills get this mud on their bills and it transfers to their feathers during preening.
Sandhills do not utilize trees. When they are not flying, these birds spend all of their time on the
ground. In the winter months they roost in water and feed on dry land or shallow flooded habitat.
In the summer they build their nests on the ground and raise their young near water.
Baby Sandhill Cranes are called Colts.
Sandhills mate for life. On the breeding grounds both sexes participate in nest building and they
both feed their young until they are able to forage on their own. The young stay with their
parents and migrate south to their wintering grounds in family groups.
Sandhill Cranes can be seen dancing and tossing rice straw in the air. These dances are most
commonly associated with breeding behavior; however, you can see cranes of all ages and
throughout any seasons engaging in these playful dances.
Greater Sandhill Cranes nest in California. While most Sandhill migrate far north to breed in
Canada and Alaska. There is a population that breeds in North Eastern California, Oregon, and
Nevada.
Sandhill Cranes are one of the oldest known bird species that is still alive today.
The California Central Valley hosts great numbers of Sandhills in the winter, but the largest
concentration of these birds can be found in the Platte River Valley of Nebraska.
https://calrice.org/spectacular-sandhill-cranes/
Make arrangements for paddy

procurement: Mancherial Collector
As many as 250 centres were arranged for procuring the produce.
AddThis Sharing Buttons

By TelanganaToday | Published: 3rd Nov 2020 8:58 pm
Mancherial: In-charge District Collector Sikta Patnaik on Tuesday instructed the

officials concerned to make appropriate arrangements for paddy procurement from
farmers during this Vanakalam season.
Speaking at a review meeting with agriculture and revenue officials and rice millers here,
Sikta said paddy was grown in 65,478 acres in the district, resulting in production of 3.48
lakh metric tonnes of grains. While the fine quality produce would be offered Rs 1,888
per quintal, paddy under B category would be paid Rs 1,868 per quintal. A total of 22.28
lakh new bags and 3.73 used bags were readied as against the requirement of 21.60 lakh
new bags and 18.40 used bags.
The IAS officer stated that a control room 63039 28683 was created for resolving
grievances of the farmers. As many as 250 centres were arranged for procuring the
produce. Mandal-level officials were assigned for overseeing the process of the
procurement. Mandal Revenue Officers would monitor transportation and functioning of
the centres every day, she stated.
The in-charge Collector told the authorities concerned to create awareness over shifting
quality produce to the centres and to sell it to the government without relying on
middlemen. She asked them to keep tarpaulin covers ready for preventing drenching of
the produce from unseasonal rains. She instructed the revenue officials to record data
relating to procurement every day.
District Civil Supplies Officer Venkateshwarlu, District Rural Development Officer

Sheshadri, District Agriculture Officer Veeraiah, Cooperative Officer Sanjeeva Reddy,
Bellampalli RDO Shyamala Devi and many others officials were present.
https://telanganatoday.com/make-arrangements-for-paddy-procurement-mancherial-collector
XTop ePaper Photo Stories Podcasts IPL NEWS CITIES BENGALURU CHENNAI
HYDERABAD KHAMMAM NIZAMABAD TIRUPATHI VIJAYAWADA VISAKHAPATNAM
WARANGAL STATE ANDHRA PRADESH KARNATAKA TAMILNADU TELANGANA
NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CRIME ENTERTAINMENT TOLLYWOOD WEB SERIES
BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD SANDALWOOD KOLLYWOOD BOX OFFICE MOVIE REVIEWS
BUSINESS HANS INVEST DOMESTIC FOREIGN MARKET COMPASS NEWSVOIR MEDIA
OUTREACH SPORTS CRICKET FOOTBALL HOCKEY TENNIS OTHERS OPINION
EDITORIAL EDITORS DESK CANDID COMMENTS LIFE LESSONS NEWS ANALYSIS LIFE
STYLE FASHION FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALTH ENVIRONMENT BEAUTY SPIRITUAL
TRAVEL TECH TECH NEWS GADGETS APPS ELECTRONICS AUTO AUTO NEWS AUTO
REVIEWS FEATURED SUNDAY HANS WOMENIA MORE Trending : CoronavirusIPL
2020Bigg Boss 4 Telugu Home > News > State > Telangana Nalgonda Collector Prashant
Jeevan Patil holds review meet with millers Hans News Service | 4 Nov 2020 2:11 AM IST x
District Collector Prashant Jeevan Patil along with DIG AV Ranganath and Additional Collector
V Chandra Shekhar holding a meeting with millers and officials of Civil Supplies and Police
departments at district collectorate on Tuesday HIGHLIGHTS He urged millers to buy sanna
varieties of paddy at support price fixed by the government Nalgonda: District Collector
Prashant Jeevan Patil urged millers to buy Sanna varieties of paddy at support price fixed by
the government. Along with DIG AV Ranganath, Additional Collector V Chandra Shekhar, he
conducted a meeting with millers and officials of civil supplies and police departments at district
collectorate on Tuesday. Speaking on the occasion, collector said that it is government officials,
millers and traders responsibility to implement the support price fixed by the government for the
welfare of the farmer, district administration will take necessary steps to get support price to the
farmer to their farm produces. He said task force teams have been constituted with officials of
police, revenue, agriculture and civil supplies department and the task force team will conduct
surprise inspections in the district Addressing the meeting, Ranganath said that the millers must
stick on to the MSP as per the guidelines of government. It was decided to pay to MSP to paddy
in a meeting held with millers, officials from the department of agriculture, civil supplies, police
and weights under the leadership of district collector, he added Local RDO's and DSP's directed
to lodge complaints and added that task force officials getting complaints from farmers with
shared locations in WhatsApp. He said that the task force team would inspect and seize the
mills if the support price was not paid to farmers. Millers urged to both collector and Ranganath
to reopen Shree Balaji Rice Mill located at Yadagharpalli in Miryalguda which was seized by the
task force team on the charges of payments to framers less than the recommended supporting
price.. Millers assured to follow the guidelines of government and district administration without
fail. Collector said that the police department would monitor the lorry numbers and farmers by
mill wise and directed them to maintain registers. The duo officials informed the millers that
officials will take necessary steps to avoid queue lines of lorries by issuing tokens as per the
capacity of respective mills. DSP Venkateshwar Rao Civil Supplies DM Nageshwar Rao, millers
Association President Ramesh and millers were also seen.
https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/nalgonda-collector-prashant-jeevan-patil-holds-
review-meet-with-millers-654605
By
Ghulam Abbas
-
November 3, 2020
347
ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is going to officially challenge the Indian application for exclusive Geographical Indication (GI)
tag for basmati rice in European Union (EU), the importers of Pakistani rice in the EU are also set to challenge the Indian move.
According to official sources at the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan will be challenging the Indian application in the EU by the
first week of December as almost all the required homework in this regard has been completed.
Apart from the country’s formal objection to Indian application, brown rice millers in Europe, who import raw rice from
Pakistan, would also file objection to Indian application, as granting the exclusive GI tag to Indian rice would damage their
business.
“Indian rice off late has been facing resistance in European countries due to pesticides’ issue. This has forced the importers of
brown rice to look towards Pakistan to meet their demand,” said a rice exporter.
He informed that India’s rice export to Europe had plunged by over 40 per cent during 2018-19 due to issues pertaining to
maximum residue level (MRL). “India apparently wants to exclusively register its basmati so as to keep Pakistani products away
from lucrative markets.”
According to sources, brown rice millers of Europe, especially in the UK, are concerned about the Indian application. The EU
may take the millers’ application more seriously as compared to that of Pakistan since the EU would give priority to the interests
of its millers, they added.
Compared to the finished rice being imported from Pakistan and India, the duty is relaxed on the import of raw rice. European
millers usually prefer to import brown rice and sell the same after processing.
According to officials of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, an attached department of Ministry of Commerce, the
ministry has shortlisted two Brussels-based international law firms, Messrs Altius and Messrs Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck
Kirkpatrick, to fight the country’s basmati GI tag case in the EU. Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to announce the
finalised option in the regard soon.
The government had decided to oppose India’s application demanding exclusive rights of claiming a GI tag to basmati rice in the
EU on September 22. India had applied for the tag under Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs, mentioned in the EU official journal
dated September 11.
The protection of geographical indications is aimed at boosting exports, helping support rural development in the country, and
enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled craftsmen.
The marketing of GI products also enhances secondary economic activities and boosts regional economic development. GI law
protects local products such as the Peshawari chappals, Multani blue pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak, Kasuri methi, Chaman
grapes, Turbat dates etc.
Currently, India and Pakistan have 65pc and 35pc shares of basmati in the world rice trade, respectively. Basmati rice fetches
Pakistan around $800 million to $1 billion annually.
 TAGS
 application
 basmati rice
 European Union
 Geographical Indication
 GI tag
 India
 Pakistan
Ghulam Abbas
The writer is a member of the staff at the Islamabad Bureau. He can be reached at abbasskd5@gmail.com
2 COMMENTS
1. T a khan November 4, 2020 At 1:13 pm
CPRMA apprises Food Minister on custom milling problems
Date :04-Nov-2020
WhatsApp

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Rice Millers’ Association members presenting
bouquet to Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat during a courtesy meeting.

Staff Reporter :

RAIPUR,

A delegation of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Rice Millers’ Association (CPRMA) apprised the
Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat on the problems related to custom milling during a
courtesy meeting with Minister here at Circuit House on Tuesday. Food Secretary
Kamalpreet Singh and Managing Director of MARKFED Ankit Anand were also present in
the meeting.

The CPRMA detailed Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat on several problems faced by the
miller during the custom milling of paddy in State mainly problem arising during the
billing related to custom milling, custom milling policy for 2020-21, the inferior quality
of paddy which is still left for custom milling 2019-20 and the due payment rice millers.

After detailed interactions, the Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, Food Secretary
Kamalpreet Singh and Managing Director of MARKFED Ankit Anand assured the millers
for an early solution to the issue raised by the CPRMA members. The CPRMA delegation
consisted of Kailash Rungta, Aramod Agrawal, Saresh Somani, Parmanand Jain, Amit
Agrawal, Dilip Agrawal, Rajesh Sharma, Nuru Bhai, Vijay Sharma and others were present
on the occasion.

https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2020/11/4/CPRMA-apprises-Food-Minister-on-custom-milling-
problems.html
XTop ePaper Photo Stories Podcasts IPL NEWS CITIES BENGALURU CHENNAI
HYDERABAD KHAMMAM NIZAMABAD TIRUPATHI VIJAYAWADA VISAKHAPATNAM
WARANGAL STATE ANDHRA PRADESH KARNATAKA TAMILNADU TELANGANA
NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CRIME ENTERTAINMENT TOLLYWOOD WEB SERIES
BOLLYWOOD HOLLYWOOD SANDALWOOD KOLLYWOOD BOX OFFICE MOVIE REVIEWS
BUSINESS HANS INVEST DOMESTIC FOREIGN MARKET COMPASS NEWSVOIR MEDIA
OUTREACH SPORTS CRICKET FOOTBALL HOCKEY TENNIS OTHERS OPINION
EDITORIAL EDITORS DESK CANDID COMMENTS LIFE LESSONS NEWS ANALYSIS LIFE
STYLE FASHION FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALTH ENVIRONMENT BEAUTY SPIRITUAL
TRAVEL TECH TECH NEWS GADGETS APPS ELECTRONICS AUTO AUTO NEWS AUTO
REVIEWS FEATURED SUNDAY HANS WOMENIA MORE Trending : CoronavirusIPL
2020Bigg Boss 4 Telugu Home > News > State > Telangana Government , rice millers looting
farmers: Congress Hans News Service | 3 Nov 2020 11:40 PM IST x Police evicting Congress
leaders, who were staging dharna on the road, to clear the traffic at Narasingapuram village on
Tuesday HIGHLIGHTS The State government joined hands with rice millers and playing with
the lives of innocent farmers, alleged Congress district vice-president Gangadi Tirupati Reddy.
Karimnagar: The State government joined hands with rice millers and playing with the lives of
innocent farmers, alleged Congress district vice-president Gangadi Tirupati Reddy. Demanding
the government to purchase paddy without imposing any restrictions, Congress leaders and
activists staged a dharna and organised rasta roko on Karimnagar and Jammikunta road for
about three hours at Narasingapuram village of Veenavanka mandal in the district on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, G Tirupati Reddy alleged that a few days ago, Minister Eatala
Rajendar inaugurated paddy purchasing centre in Veenavanka mandal and ordered the officials
to purchase all kinds of food grains including those turned black. Even one week, the officials
did not purchase even single a food grain till date, he alleged. 'Though the farmers brought their
produce to the purchasing centres after drying them on the road, about one month ago, the
officials were not in a mood to purchase the grains and wasting time for unnecessary reasons.
Between the Ministers, who gives statements, and the officials, who will not implement the
statements, the farmers are becoming scapegoats,' he criticised. Reddy pointed out that rice
millers and government officials by colluding with each other encouraging middlemen to
purchase food grains for Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,400 per quintal and looting the innocent farmers.
Farmers after facing lot of hardships had invested huge amounts of money and cultivated the
crops as directed by the government under the new agriculture policy. They even faced
problems with the incessant rains that occurred in recent times. But now they were unable to get
profits and even couldn't get their investment, the Congress leader lamented. Police interrupted
their dharna and cleared the traffic.
https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/government-rice-millers-looting-farmers-
congress-654541
Farmers left waiting on road, as mills

remain shut
STAFF REPORTER
NALGONDA, NOVEMBER 03, 2020 20:23 IST
SHARE ARTICLE





 0
 PRINT
 A A A
District administration intervenes as mill owners stage ‘silent protest’

after a unit is seized for violations
At least 400 farmers with tractors loaded with paddy were left on the roads in
Miryalaguda on Tuesday, as several rice mill owners shut their units in ‘silent
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/farmers-left-waiting-on-road-as-mills-remain-
shut/article33014970.ece
11-03-2020
How does rising CO2 affect crop production?
By Chrissy Sexton
Earth.com staff writer
Follow
For decades, a network of 14 research facilities located across five different continents has been
working to predict the impacts that future CO2 levels will have on crop production. The research
involves “Free-Air Concentration Enrichment” (FACE) experiments, which are real-world field
surveys designed to study the environmental factors that impact crop growth and yield.
Based on the analysis of 30 years of FACE data, researchers have found some discouraging
details of how global crop production may be impacted by rising CO2 levels.
Study co-author Lisa Ainsworth is a research plant physiologist with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS).
“It’s quite shocking to go back and look at just how much CO2 concentrations have increased
over the lifetime of these experiments,” said Ainsworth.”We are reaching the concentrations of
some of the first CO2 treatments 30 years back. The idea that we can check the results of some
of the first FACE experiments in the current atmosphere is disconcerting.”
The study was focused on two groups of plants: C3 plants such as soybeanand rice, which are
less efficient at converting CO2 and light into energy through photosynthesis; and C4 plants,
such as corn and sugarcane, which are up to 60 percent more efficient at using CO2 and light for
energy.
Many commercial growers elevate CO2 levels in greenhouses to boost photosynthesis and crop
production among plants like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
In the current analysis, the researchers found that CO2 levels expected at the second half of this
century could increase C3 crop production by 18 percent with adequate nutrients and water.
Study co-author Stephen Long is a professor of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology at
the University of Illinois and a member of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology.
“So should we anticipate a bounty as CO2 rises?” said Professor Long. “Sadly not because rising
CO2 is the primary cause of change in the global climate system. The anticipated 2° C rise in
temperature, caused primarily by this increase in CO2, could halve yields of some of our major
crops, wiping out any gain from CO2.”
While CO2 could increase crop production, the experts found that the resulting crops would lose
some critical components of their quality, such as nutrient and protein content. The study also
revealed that major food crops become considerably more vulnerable to pests and diseases when
exposed to higher levels of CO2.
“Lots of people have presumed that rising CO2 is largely a good thing for crops: assuming more
CO2 will make the world’s forests greener and increase crop yields,” said Ainsworth. “The more
recent studies challenge that assumption a bit. We’re finding that when you have other stresses,
you don’t always get a benefit of elevated CO2.”
Looking on the bright side, the study authors noted that there is sufficient genetic variation in
major crops to overcome some of the negative effects of higher CO2 levels and to capitalize on
the yield benefits.
“Where genetic variation is lacking, there are some bioengineering solutions with one already
demonstrated to prevent yield loss when the temperature is raised with CO2,” explained
Professor Long. “But, given the time taken to develop new crop cultivars, this potential could
only be realized if we start now.”
“We are driven by a motivation to prepare for the future and to identify the traits that are going
to be important for maximizing this CO2 response while dealing with the aspects of global
change that may drive down yields,” said Ainsworth. “The last 15 years have taught us to
account more for the complex interactions from other factors like drought, temperature,
nutrients, and pests.”
According to Ainsworth, researchers should explore a wider variety of crops and genotypes as
well as different management practices, such as seeding density, tillage, and cover crops, to find
solutions that are less burdensome on the environment. In addition, it would be greatly beneficial
to make the FACE data on crop production more accessible.
“We don’t have a formal database of all of the FACE results from the last two decades of
research. There’s an opportunity to put all of the information together in one place and make it
openly accessible for everyone to use and to encourage more people to use the data to think
about solutions.”
“The ideal solution will be that we dramatically decrease our release of CO2 into the atmosphere
and quickly achieve carbon neutrality,” said Professor Long. “But we also need to take out an
insurance policy against this not being achieved. That is, we need to breed and engineer future-
proof crops and systems that can be sustainable and nutritious under the combined changes in
atmospheric composition and climate to help realize the goal of zero hunger.”
The study is published in the journal Global Change Biology.
By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
https://www.earth.com/news/how-does-rising-co2-affect-crop-production/
(Credit: Pille-Riin
Priske on Unsplash)
November 3, 2020Food
New way of cooking rice removes

cancer-causing arsenic without losing
key nutrients
by Chris Melore
ShareTweet
SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom — Rice is eaten all over the world in

all different ways. No matter if your rice is white or brown, it has one
thing in common, and that’s arsenic. Now, researchers from the
University of Sheffield say a new and simple way of cooking rice can
remove this cancer-causing substance while retaining the nutrients
which make this food so good.
A team from the school’s Institute for Sustainable Food discovered the
“parboiling with absorption method” (PBA) can cut down over half the
naturally occurring arsenic in brown rice and 74 percent in white rice.
More importantly, this home-friendly kitchen hack saves the
micronutrients rice contains.
The PBA method first parboils rice in pre-boiled water for five minutes.
The water is then drained and fresh water is poured into the pot. From
there, the rice is cooked normally at lower heat until the water is all
absorbed.
(Credit:
University of Sheffield/Institute for Sustainable Food)
Why is there arsenic in rice?

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified
arsenic as a Group 1 carcinogen. Unfortunately, this water-soluble
toxin seeps into rice because it grows in flooded fields unlike many
other cereals.
Researchers say exposure to arsenic can affect every organ in the
human body. It can also result in skin lesions, cancer, diabetes, and
lung diseases. The Sheffield team discovered that half of the rice
eaten in the United Kingdom exceeds the European Commission’s
limits for arsenic in products consumed by babies and young children.
Rice tends to hold around 10 times more arsenic than other grains.
The toxin usually sits in the outer layer of bran, which makes it more of
a problem in brown rice. White rice, which is milled and polished,
contains less arsenic but also has fewer nutrients due to the milling
process.
“For rice consumers, this is excellent news. There are genuine
concerns amongst the population about eating rice due to arsenic.
Previous studies have shown that cooking rice in excess water could
remove arsenic but the problem is it also removes nutrients,” says
lead author Dr. Manoj Menon in a university release.
“Our aim was to optimize the method to remove arsenic while keeping
maximum nutrients in the cooked rice. Our newly developed method,
PBA, is easy and home-friendly so that everyone can use it. We don’t
know the amount of arsenic in each packet rice we buy; even though
brown rice is nutritionally superior to white rice as our data shows, it
contains more arsenic than white rice. With our new method we are
able to significantly reduce the arsenic exposure while reducing the
loss of key nutrients.”
The study appears in journal Science of the Total Environment.
https://www.studyfinds.org/new-way-cooking-rice-removes-arsenic/
Subsidised foods may lead to

complications in nutrition and growth
Share6
Balaram Vishnu Subramani
Read time: 4 mins
Bengaluru Nov 3, 2020, (Research Matters):
[Image Credits: Julian Andres Carmona Serrato via Unsplash]
India is no stranger to the problem of food insecurity — one in every three children in the country is
malnourished. A survey conducted in 2015 by the International Institute for Population Sciences,
Mumbai, found more than 50% of children below the age of five to be anaemic. Despite rapid
development in the health and agriculture sectors of India, a majority of the population is still heavily
malnourished, primarily due to socio-economic issues such as illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty.
In 2013, the Government of India passed the National Food Security Act (NFSA) which recognised
that food security is a right for every Indian citizen — the states have a legal commitment to ensure
adequate nutrition for citizens who are not self-sufficient. The act provides food such as rice, wheat,
sugar, and cooking oil at reduced prices to people in households living Below Poverty Line through
the Public Distribution System (PDS). A new study analysed rice and sugar subsidies provided by
the NFSA in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and concluded that they do not improve the nutrition of
the recipients. On the other hand, they may contribute to stunted growth in children. The study was
conducted by an international group of researchers and was published in the Journal of Social
Policy.
A survey conducted by the Young Lives organisation in 2008 collected data from mothers or primary
caregivers of children in four districts of Andhra Pradesh and two districts of Telangana, covering
around 28% of the states’ combined population. The data represented a mixed population with
young and old children from various economic backgrounds. The researchers analysed this data and
found that nearly 20% of the poorest households did not take advantage of the PDS, while over 25%
of the wealthiest households did. Due to the disparities from the expected numbers, they conclude
that PDS is not an indicator of food security.
PDS is supposed to encourage increased food consumption, as well as enable people to spend their
income on other nutrient-rich foods. However, the success of this plan depends on the recipients
being able to make informed dietary decisions and improve their nutritional intake. The expectations
are in direct contrast to the reality of the situation — BPL households often do not have access to
higher education.
By segregating households into PDS and non-PDS households, the researchers found that almost
every PDS household collected rice, and around 80% of PDS households collected sugar.
But previous studies have shown that the consumption of white rice leads to spikes in blood glucose
levels. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases.
The researchers report that subsidised rice and sugar led to their increased consumption by
children. They conclude that children with access to PDS sugar experienced no significant increase
in the diversity of nutrients in their diet and those with access to PDS rice were likely to experience
stunted growth. These results point to the limitations of the PDS. Although rice and sugar subsidies
are capable of mitigating hunger, they cannot overcome the problem of impaired growth due to
malnutrition and only increase the consumption of low nutrition foods like sugar. The study proposes
that subsidised sugar be removed from the PDS.
“We are investigating the causes and consequences of food insecurity across
childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood,” says Dr Jasmine Fledderjohann,
lecturer in sociology and social work at Lancaster University, and an author of the
study. The team has secured financial support from UK Research and
Innovation under the Future Leaders Fellowship to undertake further research on
food insecurity in India, Ethiopia, Vietnam, and Peru. “We will extend our work to
collect data in other parts of India, focusing first on small-scale interviews, and
then building to a large-scale survey,” Jasmine adds.
Although the increased consumption of rice and sugar may solve malnourishment in the short-run,
they will lead to complications in the larger frame of time. Mass-media campaigns that educate
households on nutrition and the inclusion of high-nutrition foods in the PDS could serve to reduce
malnutrition, feel the researchers. It is necessary to communicate the findings with policymakers,
and they are planning on doing just that.
“We plan to build an advisory board including policymakers and stakeholders in

each of the four project countries for the Future Leaders Fellowship project,”
signs off Jasmine.
ttps://researchmatters.in/news/subsidised-foods-may-lead-complications-nutrition-and-growth+&cd=1

UA researcher studies microwave rice

drying
by Fred Miller Special to The Commercial | Today at 2:54 a.m.

Luchen Walls Jr. harvests rice at Brantley Farms near England in Lonoke
County in this undated file photo. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette / Staton
Breidenthal)
Microwave technology may offer a faster drying system for rice than
conventional heated-air drying systems, said Griffiths Atungulu, associate
professor of food processing and post-harvest system engineering for the
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Atungulu is co-principle investigator with AMTek Microwaves, a Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, company, on a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from
the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and
Agriculture.
Rough rice is reaped, ideally, at a harvest moisture content of 19-21%,
Atungulu said. Before milling, processors must reduce the moisture content to
a target of about 12.5%.
Conventional rice drying systems use natural air in-bin or crossflow column
dryers. In-bin drying can require many days to dry rice. Rice processors
commonly use crossflow column dryers, which direct heated air across a
column through which rough rice falls. Dryers can speed up the process but
still take considerable time, Atungulu said.
Crossflow column dryers usually require multiple passes of the rice through
the column separated by tempering periods, which maintain the rice at a warm
temperature. It commonly takes about three passes through the crossflow
dryer to reduce the rice to 12.5% moisture content.
Because tempering often takes place overnight, the drying process often takes
two days or more to complete, Atungulu said.
It also impacts head rice yield, the percentage of kernels that are at least three-
quarters of their original length after milling, Atungulu said. The extended
exposure to heated air can cause fissures in rice kernels' physical structure,
making them brittle. Milling the rice then results in breaking some of the
fissured kernels, reducing the head rice yield. Other factors, including
environmental conditions and rice genetics, contribute to head rice yield. In
the U.S., head rice yield averages 55-58% of the total rice volume.
"The yield could be lower, depending on prevailing environmental conditions
during harvest," Atungulu said.
Using an AMTek microwave dryer about the size of a commercial restaurant
oven, Atungulu has developed a method of drying rice to the target moisture
content of 12.5% in a single pass under laboratory conditions, he said.
His goal was to develop a one-pass drying method that maintained head rice
yield at or above the national average. He looked for a microwave drying
method that did not adversely affect rice color or flavor or increase rancidity,
which can occur in the bran layer.
"We didn't want to change anything that would affect consumer acceptance of
rice products," he said.
SCALING UP
AMTek is providing a large microwave drying oven that will allow Atungulu to
advance his single-pass rice drying process to a commercial scale.
"This will be a proof-of-concept study," he said, "based on extensive
preliminary research."
In years of preliminary research, collaborating with AMTek and several rice
processing companies, Atungulu showed that a microwave frequency of 915
Megahertz -- most home microwaves operate at a maximum of 2.45 MHz --
could dry rice in a single pass with less impact on head rice yield. It also met
the requirement of not affecting consumer-desired color or flavor.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ADVERTISEMENT
More related headlines
In the proof of concept, Atungulu has two goals.
"First, we have to satisfy the rice processors," he said. "We want to
demonstrate that microwave drying reduces the time required for drying rice
while reducing fissuring to improve head rice yield."
Atungulu's target is to improve the national average of 55-58% head rice yield
to at least 65%.
"That would translate to a $145 million increase in rice value annually," he said.
Also, a microwave drying system requires a smaller machinery footprint, saving
space, Atungulu said.
"Second, we have to satisfy consumers," he said. "That means we have to
preserve flavor, texture, color and cooking quality."
During the industry-scale research, Atungulu said, he will be working on
optimizing the system to meet those industry and consumer requirements.
His research so far has identified 915 MHz as an efficient frequency to meet
his goals. But on a large scale, Atungulu said, that may not be the ideal
frequency for all rice varieties.
"Some frequencies may not penetrate fully into some varieties," he said. "We
may also have to adjust how the microwave energy is delivered. Perhaps some
components will have to be designed to control how the energy diffuses into
the rice.
"These are the things we'll have to play around with to find the optimal design
and control for commercial microwave rice drying," Atungulu said.
COMMERCIALIZATION
Existing multiple-pass crossflow column dryers may be less efficient than
microwaves, but Atungulu says they have a proven track record. They are also
durable, continuing to work for decades with regular upkeep.
Rice processors will not be easily persuaded to convert their drying systems.
An essential goal of the proof-of-concept stage of his research, Atungulu said,
is to demonstrate, with conclusive data, the economic benefits of microwave
rice drying.
"We understand the feasibility of microwave drying," Atungulu said. "We also
want to be able to articulate the merits of the system."
Even with convincing data, Atungulu expects conversion will not happen
overnight.
"It's more likely to happen in stages," he said. Given the durability of existing
rice dryers, that may take considerable time.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas
Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow the
agency on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch and Instagram at ArkAgResearch.
Fred Miller is with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/nov/06/ua-researcher-studies-m
Wild rice business takes family for wild
ride
By Sean Pratt
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Published: November 5, 2020
Farm Living




The end result is in the bag for the Muirhead family and their crew at Against the Grain Organic
Wild Rice. | Supplied photo
On the Farm: Harvesting the crop from northern Saskatchewan lakes relies on the
weather and comes with highs and lows
Larissa Muirhead has witnessed the wild side of the wild rice business.
The venture started off with a bang in 2015 and 2016 when her family agreed to a share-cropping
arrangement with the previous owner of the operation on Meeyomoot Lake in northern
Saskatchewan.
“They were the highest producing years in wild rice history,” she said.
“They were huge years, like massive yields off of that lake.”
Forest fires were burning out of control in northern Saskatchewan. The tinder dry conditions
were ideal for producing wild rice.
The family harvested a whopping 180,000 pounds of wild rice their first year in the industry.
“We just saw exactly what we could do with a business like this,” she said.
The excitement wasn’t all about the potential to make money. Larissa recalls gazing at a full
moon during her first night at the camp.
Harvest is a labour-intensive endeavour. | Supplied photo
She and her husband, Chase, watched the moon “peel off” the tops of the trees on the far side of
the lake as it ascended into the night sky.
“I was sitting on the harvester and I said to him, ‘yep, I want to be here. This is what I want to
do. I love this,’ ” said Larissa.
“There is just something about that place that is so magical. It’s untouched and it’s just so
beautiful.”
The next year was another banner year with their kids jumping on bloated bags of rice. The
family decided to take sole ownership of the business.
That’s when they saw the ugly side of wild rice farming. They had one of the worst years
imaginable.
A cool spring, poor crop germination, high water levels and strong winds combined to wreak
havoc on the operation.
They harvested less than 100 bags of product that fall, which is the equivalent of one morning’s
bounty during the two previous years.
To make matters worse, they had to contend with the damage caused by some industrious
beavers.
“They dropped two massive poplars onto the harvesters. They’re made out of aluminum so they
just snapped in half,” said Larissa.
This year was another wretched year due to high water levels. They harvested a paltry 5,500 lb.
of wild rice in 2020.
The shareholders of the business are Larissa and Chase, Chase’s parents Garth and Cosette and
his sister, Katy, and her husband Derek Charles.
Boats are part of the job in the wild rice business. | Supplied photo
They all live in La Ronge and have jobs outside of the wild rice business. Larissa is a lab
assistant with the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Nursing program.
Garth agreed that the family venture has been a roller-coaster ride so far. They are familiar with
both extremes of the business.
The year after they assumed sole ownership a plow wind toppled a boat and felled more trees,
damaging some of the cabins.
Another boat sunk during harvest. And there have been plenty of other challenges, such as
transporting supplies over a slush-covered lake during the winter.
“It’s an adventure,” said Garth.
“We could have a reality show I’m sure. A person needs to wear one of those GoPros.”
But it has also been a rewarding experience for a guy who grew up on a mixed farm near
Shellbrook, Sask.
Harvest time at the camp reminds him of pictures he has seen of the old-time threshing crews. It
is a labour-intensive endeavour.
They had to hire a cook who feeds the family and their crew on an over-sized dinner table.
“Everyone comes in and you discuss your day. It’s a lot of fun,” said Garth.
Larissa is thankful for the harvest work crew, especially the baggers.
“The rice is so itchy and the spiders are the size of your hand,” she said.
“It’s just a sucky job, so if we can pay somebody $20 an hour to do it, we’re all OK with it.”
The camp came with a Cessna 185 airplane, which is used to fly bags of freshly harvested rice to
nearby Molanosa. There they are loaded onto a bus and transported to the La Ronge Wild Rice
Corp. where the green rice is processed into a table-ready ingredient that is black in colour.
Most of the product is sold to wholesalers. In an average year where they harvest 100,000 lb. of
wild rice, the Muirheads keep about 30,000 or 40,000 lb., which is marketed through their own
company, Against the Grain Organic Wild Rice.
They sell one kilogram bags to individuals locally and throughout the province and 50-lb. bags to
larger customers such as Amy’s on Second Restaurant in Prince Albert, Sask. They also have a
big customer in China.
Larissa would like to expand sales to more restaurants, capitalizing on the local food movement.
“Everybody is realizing food sovereignty is a thing,” she said.
Garth thinks there is an opportunity to use smaller packages to sell to grocery stores across the
province. Many grocery chains are starting to establish local sections in their stores.
They both feel it is critical to expand the marketing side of the business and eliminate the
wholesalers.
One of the reasons Garth wanted to get into the business is that he knew the previous owner who
travelled the world, selling wild rice from northern Saskatchewan.
That lifestyle appeals to Garth, who is a few years away from retiring from his job at SaskTel.
“It would be nice to ship a container to Europe and just go over there and travel around and see if
we can get rid of it,” he said.
“That would be kind of fun.”
https://www.producer.com/2020/11/wild-rice-business-takes-family-for-wild-ride/#:~:text=Larissa
%20Muirhead%20has%20witnessed%20the,Meeyomoot%20Lake%20in%20northern%20Saskatchewan.
Crop Monitor for Early Warning | No. 51 –

July 2020
Format
Analysis
Source

 GEOGLAM

Posted

2 Jul 2020
Originally published

2 Jul 2020
Attachments
 Download document(PDF | 10.29 MB)
Overview:
In East Africa, planting continues for main season cereals in the north while in the south crops
are in vegetative to reproductive stage and have benefitted from the record March to May
rainfall, except in areas affected by floods or desert locusts. In West Africa, conditions are
favourable for main season crop development in southern bimodal areas, and planting
activities continued in the Sahel under favourable conditions. In North Africa, harvest of
wheat and barley crops is nearly complete, and production prospects are below-average in
Morocco and parts of Algeria and Tunisia as crops were unable to recover from seasonal
drought and high temperatures. In the Middle East, harvest of wheat crops will finalize next
month and final yield prospects are favourable except in areas affected by conflict. In
Southern Africa, harvest of main season cereals is complete, and final yields were generally
favourable except in drought-affected areas. Planting activities continued for winter wheat
crops under favourable conditions. In Central and South Asia, conditions are favourable for
the harvesting of winter wheat to be finalized in August and for the development of spring
wheat to be harvested in October. In northern Southeast Asia, harvest is mostly complete for
dry-season rice, and poor yields resulted in Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Wet season rice is
developing under generally favourable conditions and benefitted from recent rainfall. In
Central America and the Caribbean, recent tropical storms resulted in flooding, landslides,
and localized crop losses but were generally beneficial for the development of Primera season
crops.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/crop-monitor-early-warning-no-51-july-2020
Crop Monitor for AMIS | No. 78 – November

2020
Format
Analysis
Source

 GEOGLAM
Posted

6 Nov 2020
Originally published

6 Nov 2020

Origin

View original
Attachments
 Download document(PDF | 13.8 MB)
Overview:
As of the end of November, conditions are favourable for maize, rice, and soybeans while mixed
for wheat. In the northern hemisphere, spring wheat harvesting is wrapping up under favourable
conditions while winter wheat sowing and emergence is ongoing under mixed conditions. In the
southern hemisphere, winter wheat conditions are mixed due to dry conditions. For maize,
conditions are generally favourable except for a few areas as harvest draws to a close in the
northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, sowing ongoing under favourable conditions.
Rice conditions are favourable in all major growing areas. Soybean conditions are generally
favourable in as harvest is ongoing in the northern hemisphere and sowing begins in the southern
hemisphere.
Primary country
 World
Other countries
 Argentina
 Australia
 Brazil
 Canada
 China
 India
 Indonesia
 Japan
 Lao People's Democratic Republic (the)
 Mexico
 Philippines
 Russian Federation
 Thailand
 Ukraine
 United States of America
 Viet Nam
Source
 GEOGLAM
Disaster
 Typhoon Goni - Oct 2020
Format
 Analysis
Themes
 Agriculture
 Food and Nutrition

Disaster types
 Drought
 Flash Flood
 Flood
 Land Slide
 Tropical Cyclone
Language
 English
Share
 Share this on Facebook
 Share this on Twitter
 Post this on LinkedIn
Related Content
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/crop-monitor-amis-no-78-november-2020
World food prices rise for five consecutive

months, nearing year highs
1
2020-11-06 01:49:15XinhuaEditor : Wang FanECNS App Download
World food prices climbed for the fifth consecutive month in October, nearly returning to
levels from the start of the year, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) reported Thursday.
The broad FAO World Food Price Index gained 3.1 percent in October, its biggest one-
month rise this year. It is now 6.0 percent above its levels from a year ago and close to
its 2020 highs set in January.
The biggest mover in the index came from grains and cereals, which rose for the fourth
straight month, climbing 7.2 percent compared to September. With the latest increases,
the index is now 16.5 percent above levels in September 2019.
FAO said corn prices rose in part due to higher-than-normal demand from China and
lower exports from Brazil, while wheat prices climbed due to lower supply from
Argentina, North America, Europe, and the Black Sea region. Rice prices declined to
their lowest levels in seven months due to expectations of strong production levels in
Asia.
The other big mover in the index was sugar prices, which jumped 7.6 percent, pushed
by expectations that supply would drop from the world's two largest producers, Brazil
and India, respectively.
The vegetable oil index rose by 1.8 percent, the smallest one-month rise in a four-month
period of steady gains. For the second consecutive month, higher palm oil prices were
the biggest factor, FAO said.
Dairy prices rose by 2.2 percent, pushed by higher demand for cheese in Asian and
Middle Eastern markets, while meat prices declined 0.5 percent, the ninth straight
decline for the sub-index.
The monthly FAO Food Price Index is based on worldwide prices for 23 food commodity
categories covering prices for 73 different products compared to a baseline year. The
next index is scheduled for release on Dec. 3, 2020.
http://www.ecns.cn/news/economy/2020-11-06/detail-ihacshup9271829.shtml#:~:text=The%20biggest
%20mover%20in%20the,above%20levels%20in%20September%202019.
Central Vietnam needs around 5,600 tonnes of rice

seed following floods
 | dtinews.vn | November 06, 2020 08:13 PM




Localities in the central region of Vietnam are in need of roughly 5,600 tonnes of rice seed after
being severely hit by recent storms and floods, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (MARD).
Since late September, the central region and Central Highlands have faced five consecutive storms
and two tropical depressions. Among those, Storm Molave has caused serious losses for southern
central localities with Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces hardest hit.
The severe inundation in the central region of Vietnam
The ministry said that central localities need around 5,600 tonnes of rice seed, 225 tonnes of maize
seed and 44.2 tonnes of vegetable sapling and seed. Among the figures, 18 tonnes of maize and
10.8 tonnes of vegetable saplings and seeds have been provided.
The localities also need 560,000 doses of vaccines of different kinds and 60,000 litres and 70,000
tonnes of chemicals for sterilisation.
The MARD will report the situation to the government for consideration.
The ministry has called on the donation of agricultural products such as vegetable seed and
domestic animal breed, animal feed worth a total VND100 billion (USD4.34 million) from donors to
support flood-ravaged areas.
Nguyen Xuan Duong, managing head of the Department of Livestock Production, said that localities
have to focus on the sterlisation to ensure the environment for the livestock breeding. The
department will cooperate with concerned agencies to provide effective poultry breeding.
http://dtinews.vn/en/news/017/70831/central-vietnam-needs-around-5-600-tonnes-of-rice-seed-
following-floods.html
Sixty per cent paddy harvesting completed

Published: November 06, 2020 10:28 am On: Business
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

Share Now:






KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 5
More than 60 per cent of paddy harvesting has been completed across the country so
far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD).
According to Hari Bahadur KC, spokesperson for MoALD, the primary production
statistics of paddy are expected to come within Tihar.
This image shows farmers harvesting paddy, in Lalitpur, on Thursday, November 5, 2020. Photo: THT
“Since the plantation area has increased this year compared to last year, paddy
production is also expected to rise this year,” KC assumed, further explaining the
increase in plantation area to more people being engaged in the plantation due to the
nationwide lockdown coinciding with the plantation season.
However, Navaraj Basnet, president of Nepal Farmer’s Group Association, stated that
despite the increase in paddy plantation area, paddy production is unlikely to increase
since the farmers could not get the necessary material inputs for rice production on time
because of the COVID-19 crisis and short supply of fertilisers.
“Due to the shortage of fertilisers, production has been damaged at several places in the
country,” he said.
Basnet further said that paddy production should have increased by 10 to 20 per cent
considering the increase in paddy plantation area, favourable monsoon and good
irrigation, but it will be similar to or even less than last year.
Paddy has been planted on 1,469,431 hectares of land this year. Last year, paddy was
planted on 1,315,282 hectares, which produced 5.55 million metric tonnes of paddy.
Despite being an agrarian country, the import of agricultural produce, including rice, is
escalating every year in Nepal.
As per the statistics of the Department of Customs, paddy and rice import doubled in
first three months of current fiscal compared to the same period of last fiscal. The
statistics reveal that Nepal imported paddy and rice worth Rs 10.6 billion in the first
three months of current fiscal whereas its import had stood at Rs 5.06 billion during
corresponding period of last fiscal.
“The growing population and rising consumption have contributed to surging imports of
rice in the country.
However, if paddy production goes up this year, it is expected that import will shrink in
later months of fiscal,” opined KC.
On the other hand, Basnet said that Nepalis have to improve their food consumption
habit to decrease the import of rice. “As rice production is minimal in the hilly and
mountainous regions, the people in those areas tend to buy imported rice, which has
increased the import of rice in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, to fulfil the domestic demand for rice, local production could have been
boosted if the government had supported the farmers but it has not been able to do so,
as per Basnet.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/business/sixty-per-cent-paddy-harvesting-completed/
Upper East to become hub for rice and livestock production –

MOFA
« Prev
Next »
Comments (1)
Listen to Article
 WhatsApp
 Facebook
 Twitter
 Email This
 Print This
The government has taken steps to reduce the

importation of rice. File photo
Francis Ennor, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on
Thursday, said the region would soon become a hub for rice and livestock production in the country.
He said the government had provided several farmers with logistics such as; farm inputs, agro-chemicals,
while many of them also received the technical knowhow to revamp the rice and livestock industries.
Marketing and storage facilities have also been put in place, he said.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the regional focus exhibition of the
36th National Farmers’ Day (NFD), underway in the Techiman Municipality, Mr Ennor said the
government had already taken steps to reduce the importation of rice, and the region was determined to
improve rice production to meet local demand.
Techiman, the Bono East Regional capital is hosting this year’s NFD on the theme “Ensuring Agricultural
Development under COVID-19; Opportunities and Challenges”.
To improve on livestock production, Mr Ennor indicated the government’s flagship Rearing for Food and
Jobs programme had supplied over 4,000 cattle and 4,500 birds to 8,000 farmers in the region.
He said a private agro-investor also provided seven combine harvesters to support rice farmers in the
area, and advised farmers to engage the department to adopt emerging farming technologies to improve
on their economic activities.
Mr Ennor said Upper East had 500,000 registered farmers engaged in rice and livestock production
saying each farmer could cultivate about 500 acres of rice farm adding several farmers were also
engaged in millet, soya bean, maize, cowpea and sorghum.
In a speech read on her behalf, Madam Tangoba Abayage, the Upper East Regional Minister noted the
development of the Region hinged on agriculture investment saying the region also benefited a lot from
government’s social intervention programmes.
Under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PfFJs), she said quantities of certified seeds and over 1,600,000
bags had been supplied to farmers on subsidy, while over 1,000,000 cashew seedlings were raised and
supplied to farmers under the PERD programme.
These interventions, Madam Abayage added had created income-generating avenues and opened up
agribusiness opportunities in the region.
Send your news stories to newswires@ghanaweb.com and features

to features@ghanaweb.com . Chat with us via WhatsApp on +233 55 2699 625.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Upper-East-to-become-hub-for-rice-and-
livestock-production-MOFA-1101448
Government expects ‘20 rice output to reach

record 20.17 million tons
posted November 06, 2020 at 09:20 pm by Othel V. Campos




The Department of Agriculture said Friday rice harvest may still hit a record
production of 20.17 million metric tons in crop year 2020, despite the damage caused
by recent typhoons.
“With a 2-percent loss in palay harvest, we could still realize a record output of about
20 million metric tons, which is seven percent more than our 2019 yield of 18.81
MMT,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
Third-quarter palay production is expected to reach 3.54 million MT, up by 16 percent
from the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
The DA said based on harvest figures in the first three quarters, the rice sector might
achieve the four-quarter production target, increasing the staple adequacy level to 91.5
percent based on rice per capita consumption of 118.6 kilograms. Last year’s rice
adequacy level settled at 87 percent.
The DA said the early harvest done by farmers before the typhoons hit palay-
producing regions was a crucial move to securing future inventory.
It said farmers were able save at least 1.6 million MT of palay or 7 percent of the
DA’s total target production volume of 20.34 million MT before the onset of the
strong typhoons that hit Luzon and the Visayas.
Combined palay production loss from the typhoons reached roughly 165,000 metric
tons, representing just 2 percent of the projected fourth-quarter harvest of 8.4 million
MT, it said.
“We hope and pray that in the remaining eight weeks of the year, we will be spared
from strong typhoons, and thus our full-year production estimate would be realized,”
Dar said.
The early harvest advisory enabled farmers to save as much as P26.2 billion worth of
palay, corn, and high-value crops from Typhoons Quinta and Rolly.
The DA said it was expecting to achieve a comfortable level of rice inventory, good
for 90 days, in the fourth quarter.
https://manilastandard.net/business/csr-mining/338855/government-expects-20-rice-output-to-reach-
record-20-17-million-tons.html
MSP on Basmati as Paddy Prices Fall Below Non-Basmati

Farmers sell basmati at a price lower than paddy as they struggle to fetch reasonable prices for the aromatic
variety of rice. The government provides MSP on basmati as paddy as prices fall below non-basmati.
Haryana to Procure Pusa 1509 at MSP

The government of Haryana is procuring PUSA 1509 at MSP. State CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced that
the government agencies would procure PUSA 1509 at an MSP of Rs 1,888. However, only if it passes the
required moisture content parameters. In his visit to the Panipat grain market, he directed officials to ensure
smooth procurement of PUSA basmati from farmers. Further, he asked the Deputy Commissioner of Panipat
to make sure that farmers get the necessities of water and food at the Mandis. Farmers and commission
agents complained that only HAFED is buying the Parmal variety. The CM resolved the issue by directing
another agency to start the procurement soon.
Government to Ensure Smooth
Procurement of PUSA Basmati in Haryana
Punjab Says No to Basmati Procurement on MSP

While the government procures Parmal variety at Rs 1,888, there is no fixed price for PUSA 1509 variety of
Basmati. Basmati is being sold at around Rs 1800, Rs 100 less than paddy in Amritsar. President, Aarhati
Welfare Association, Bhagatanwala grain market attributed the steep fall in the price of Basmati to low
exports to Iran. However, he explained that variety 1121 is fetching around Rs 2600 per quintal owing to high
demand in Gulf countries. Farmers in Punjab complain that private traders are procuring PUSA at a low price.
They fetched between Rs 2,700 to Rs 2,900 per quintal for Basmati last year. However, this year, they are
selling it below Rs 1,800 to repay their debts. Vijay Setia, former president of the AIREA, stated that despite
the reduction in market and RD fee, farmers are still at the mercy of traders. Citing the decrease in prices of
basmati, PK Das, additional chief secretary, food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department said that
government is still firm on its decision of buying PUSA at MSP of Parmal if prices fall below Parmal’s MSP. In
all, the lack of price policy for basmati has forced farmers to sell a superior variety at lower prices.
Author Name: https://www.grainmart.in/news/msp-on-basmati-as-paddy-as-prices-fall-below-non-basmati/
Date: 03-Nov-2020
outh Korea: Grain and Feed Update

July 2, 2020
Attaché Reports (GAIN)
Commodities
Grain and Feed, Rice
Locations
East Asia and the Pacific, Korea, South
FAS Seoul’s MY 2020/21 Korean rice production forecast is 3.86 million metric tons
(MMT) – up three percent from the initial estimate – due to higher than expected actual
planted area. Consumption estimates remain unchanged. For imports, COVID-19 related
logistical issues are expected to increase the portion of 2020 TRQ delivered in the first
half of 2021. Therefore MY 2020/21 rice imports are revised up to 500,000 MT (milled
basis) from the previous report and MY 2019/20 rice imports are expected to decrease
to 500,000 MT (milled basis). Likewise, annual U.S. rice exports in 2020 are expected to
decrease to 150,000 MT (milled basis), with the balance of exports rolling into 2021.
South Korea: Grain and Feed Update

https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/south-korea-grain-and-feed-update-13
Rice farmers benefit from reduced water

use
By Hou Liqiang in Jiamusi, Heilongjiang | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2020-11-04 17:29
An unmanned rice planter operates on Qixing Farm on the Sanjiang Plain, a major rice growing area in Heilongjiang province, in
May, 2020. [Photo by Wang Lijiao/For China Daily]
Heilongjiang province, a major rice producer, has adopted irrigation methods

in more than half of its rice planting areas in a bid to curb over use of water.
The new irrigation approach is being used in 2 million hectares of the

province's 3.8 million hectares of rice fields, said the Heilongjiang
Department of Water Resources.
Under the new approach, instead of the traditional method of keeping rice
fields flooded with water, farmers irrigate their crops only several times a
year based on the moisture content of the soil.
In addition to saving water resources, the irrigation method also saves the
farmers money.
Liu Chun, director general of the Northeast China Rice Planting Cooperative
in Fujin, Jiamusi, said reducing the amount of water in a rice field also
strengthened the plants. The roots grow deeper in search of water, which
results in a well-developed root system that usually guarantees better
harvests, Liu said.
He said the new approach could help increase rice output by 5 to 10 percent
while reducing water costs. On average, it could increase a farmer's annual
financial yield from 1 hectare of rice by 1,500 yuan ($225).
The Heilongjiang Water Resources Department said the new approach helps
reduce the annual amount of underground water needed for 1 hectare of rice
from 6,300 to 4,500 cubic meters.
In areas where surface water is used for irrigation, only 9,000 cubic meters of
water are needed for 1 hectare, compared with the previous 12,000 cubic
meters.
Wang Zhenhong, director of the Xinfeng Agricultural Products Cooperative
in Huachuan county, Jiamusi, said the strengthened root system also helped
rice plants survive three typhoons that hit the province in late August and
early September.
"Rice plants irrigated with the new approach all managed to stand the test of
the typhoons. In paddies where the traditional approach is used, however,
many of the rice plants fell over because of the strong wind," he said.
http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202011/04/WS5fa2748fa31024ad0ba8315f.html#:~:text=He%20said
%20the%20new%20approach,by%201%2C500%20yuan%20(%24225).
Senate’s knee-jerk reaction to palay price

drop is illegal
ByMarlen V. Ronquillo
November 4, 2020
48
Latest Stories
Biden overtakes Trump in Georgia
Over 3M Filipinos registered in Step 1 of National ID
Duterte hits back at ‘Rolly’ critics: ‘They want me to commit suicide’
Red Cross to Duterte: ‘We are not greedy’
Signal No. 2 still up in Batanes but ‘Siony’ likely to exit PH tonight

MAYBE the Senate’s pressure to have the feckless Department of
Agriculture (DA) suspend rice imports during peak harvests was a serious
effort to rein in the horrible palay (unmilled rice) price drop, the primary
accelerant to the heartrending misery in the rice-farming areas. But there is
another view of that pressure for an administrative mechanism to suspend
rice imports during peak harvests, which small farmers share. That it was a
charade, a zarzuela staged to placate the angry and restless rice farmers.
A moro-moro if you will permit this small farmer to use a politically
incorrect description.
The simple reason is this. An ordinary administrative order cannot supersede
a law that passed overwhelmingly in the House and the Senate in the early
days of 2019. The only “No” votes came from the Makabayan bloc and the
Butil party-list. All four representatives of Nueva Ecija, for example, voted
“Yes,” and to think that they represent the biggest rice-producing province in
the country.
If the rice importers insist on importing during peak harvests even with a
suspension from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), they can do so. Because
the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) allows them to import and import rice
recklessly. The DA-BPI suspension is a lame, Senate-induced intervention.
The RTL is the law.
Here is a short explanation of the rice import rules under the RTL.
An importer today files for an import permit. If no action is taken by the BPI
— and usually
the BPI does not take any action on rice import permits — the importer will
only have to wait for seven days — just one week — and he or she can
import at will.
The RTL allows for unregulated, unrestrained rice imports and that
recklessness is embedded in the law. A memo-circular from the DA via the
BPI that suspends rice imports is a violation of the RTL. And if challenged,
the memo-circular on rice import suspensions cannot stand in court.

The options on reining in rice imports are limited, just two if we are realistic
about the options. First, appeal to the sense of nationhood of the rice
importers. Convince them that more than 3 million small rice farmers cannot
survive excess rice imports. Curb their import enthusiasm or the small rice
farmers perish.
But we farmers doubt whether this would be at all possible.
Our society, this is very sad, lacks a moral core. Greed trumps (more so in the
age of Donald Trump) the very foundations of the greater national purpose.
Commerce, in theory, is supposed to have an underlying conscience. When a
sector gets badly hurt, some restraint is exercised. But not in this sad country.
Greed and profit trump everything. The so-called civil society even cheers
amid the massive suffering in the rice farming areas.
So, we are only left with the legal option. This means the repeal of the law
and to put into place either of these two measures: the suspension of rice
imports during peak harvests that the Senate rightly proposed and the other
option — tariff safeguards against excessive imports that is sanctioned by the
World Trade Organization.
Curbing the greed and enthusiasm of rice importers, this is the sad fact, can
only be done by tweaking the RTL, which is quite an easy thing to do.
If not, small rice farmers have to contend with the challenges of the status
quo which brutal wages would only lead to their extinction within the short
term.
The first wave of greed-driven importation in 2019 led to the dumping of
around 3 million metric tons of rice into the country in just 10 months of the
law’s implementation. This year, from January to September alone, more
than 3.7 million metric tons of rice imports had been green-lighted.
Neither the DA nor the BPI can slow down this irrational exuberance. There
is no legal tool that they can invoke.
So farmers suffer and they suffer mightily.
In rice harvesting areas of Mindanao right now, the farmgate price is P10 to
P11 per kilogram for palay not falling within the 14 percent moisture content,
and it is lower in the more remote farming areas. In Central Luzon right now,
the price drop has been so precipitous that some farmers have complained of
a P12 to P13 per kg buying price for freshly harvested palay. Farmers have to
spend for drying and transportation to truck their palay from Pampanga to
buying centers in Bulacan at P17 per kg. The P18 to P19 buying price for dry
palay exists only in the imagination of the mendacious William Dar, the
agriculture secretary.
If the impact on rice consumers were significant and substantial, the purpose
of the RTL would have been partly served. But no. Studies done by the
number-crunchers at the Federation of free Farmers say that the pass-on
benefit of the massive rice imports to consumers is so negligible that we can
scrap the law outright and rice consumers would not notice anything.
To rub salt on the open wounds of the small rice farmers, importers have
been cheating on the valuation and rice classification to depress the tariff
payments on imported rice, according to the FFF figures.
So what does the RTL serve if it just bludgeons small rice farmers and
generates little benefit to rice consumers and hardly serves a national
purpose? I have a ready answer — greed and profit.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/11/04/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/senates-knee-jerk-reaction-
to-palay-price-drop-is-illegal/791156/
Cabinet approves price guarantees

for rice and rubber
PUBLISHED : 4 NOV 2020 AT 06:00
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: CHATRUDEE THEPARAT
 6





 5
The mobile cabinet on Tuesday gave the nod to price guarantee schemes
for rice and rubber worth a combined 61.9 billion baht.
Of the total budget, 51.2 billion baht is allotted towards the rice scheme
for the 2020-21 season and 10.0 billion for the second phase of the
rubber price guarantee scheme for the 2019-20 season.
The two schemes will be handled by the state-owned Bank for

Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC).
According to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the annual 2020-21 rice

scheme is scheduled to be implemented between October 2020 and May
2021.
The rice price guarantee offers compensation if market prices fall below
the benchmark.
 Want a plane?
 How agile leaders can power sustainable organisational agility
 Students flock to hospitality
The scheme will offer guaranteed prices at the same rates as during the
previous season.
The scheme covers five main types of rice: white rice paddy with 15%
moisture, hom mali rice paddy, fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with
15% moisture, glutinous rice paddy with 15% moisture and provincial
fragrant rice paddy.
Under the scheme, farmers will be offered 10,000 baht a tonne for white
rice paddy with 15% moisture, limited to 30 tonnes per family or 40 rai.
The guaranteed prices are set at 15,000 baht a tonne for hom mali rice
paddy, limited to 14 tonnes per family or 40 rai; 11,000 baht a tonne of
fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15% moisture for up to 25 tonnes
per family or 40 rai; 12,000 baht a tonne for glutinous rice paddy with
15% moisture with a limit of 16 tonnes or 40 rai; and 14,000 baht a tonne
for provincial fragrant rice paddy with a limit of 16 tonnes per family or
40 rai.
The cabinet also yesterday approved a interest-free loan scheme for

farmers who agree to delay selling their grains. The lending scheme will
run from Nov 1, 2020, to Feb 29, 2021.
For rubber, the second phase of the programme is scheduled for October
to March, offering a guaranteed maximum price of 60 baht per kg for
raw rubber sheet, 57 baht per kg for latex, and 23 baht per kg for cup
lump, limited to 25 rai per family. Under the scheme, rubber tappers are
eligible to receive 40% of the prices, with owners getting 60%.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2013507/cabinet-approves-price-guarantees-for-rice-and-
rubber
India’s Jan-Oct rice exports higher

than all of last year’s shipments
According to the Ministry of Commerce, non-basmati rice exports grew
112 percent in October. During April-September, non-Basmati exports
more than doubled, according to a Commerce Ministry official.
Subramani Mancombu

Indian non-basmati rice exports during the January-October period in 2020 have
exceeded the shipments made in all of the previous year on favourable conditions and
production problems in competing nations such as Thailand.
“We have exported close to six million tonnes of non-basmati rice so far this year. We
exported only around 5.1 million tonnes the whole of last year,” said Rice Exporters
Association (REA) President BV Krishna Rao.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, non-basmati rice exports grew 112 percent
in October. During April-September this year, non-basmati exports more than
doubled, media reports quoted a commerce ministry official as saying.
Conditions have been favourable for Indian rice exports. The Food Corporation of
India (FCI) had good stocks, the crop size has been good and the onset of novel
Coronavirus has seen demand surging from other countries.
Subramani Mancombu
Journalist|Independent Journalist
 Indian poultry sector shrugs off negative publicity, sees rise in its fortunes
 Potato prices surge further in India, relief for consumers likely after Diwali
 Indian maize prices look up on renewed demand from poultry sector
“Other competing countries were not geared up for the supply, while Vietnam banned
exports. India has taken advantage and it has offered rice at a competitive price,
resulting in the shipment of good volumes,” said Nitin Gupta, Vice-President, Olam
Agro India Ltd.
In April, when demand for exports picked up, FCI had 32.24 million tonnes in its
warehouses besides unmilled paddy of 25.24 million tonnes, which could yield 16.91
million tonnes of rice.
FCI rice stocks since then dropped to 22.19 million tonnes, while it had 10.97 million
tonnes of paddy stocks that could yield 7.3 million tonnes of rice. In addition, the
Union government procured 21.05 million tonnes of paddy that can yield another 14.1
million tonnes of rice.
The procurement has to a great extent helped common grade paddy prices to rule at
the minimum support price level of Rs 1,888 a quintal in almost all terminal markets
in India.
“Other countries did not have the stocks to export. Thailand was hit by drought
resulting in a lower crop. Vietnam had crop only to meet the Philippines’ demand and
China stopped dumping its rice in Africa,” said Rao.
These resulted in a double impact where a seller turned buyer, thus helping Indian
exports.
“Normally, around five lakh tonnes of non-Basmati rice are exported every month.
This year, India has been exporting seven to eight lakh tonnes a month,” said Gupta.
At $375 (approximately Rs 28,000) a tonne free-on-board (f.o.b.), Indian par-boiled

rice has been competitive in the global market. In comparison, Thailand, India’s
primary competitor, is offering it at least $100 a tonne (Rs 7,500) more.
Raw or white rice 5 percent broken from India is quoted at $350-360 f.o.b. for (Rs
26,100-Rs 26,900) compared with Thailand’s offer at $472 f.o.b. (Rs 35,250).
Vietnam is offering the same grade at around $465 f.o.b. (Rs 34,750).
West Asian countries, particularly those in the Gulf, and North African nations such
as Senegal and Benin are main buyers of Indian rice. While Gulf nations buy the
fragrant and premium basmati rice, the African nations buy non-basmati par-boiled
rice.
“India rice goes to 170 countries in the world. This has resulted in global prices for
rice increasing by 50 percent. We have also been blessed by a good Kharif crop,” said
REA’s Rao, adding that the depreciation of the rupee against the dollar has also
helped.
According to the first advance estimate of foodgrain production for 2020-21 released
by the Ministry of Agriculture, Kharif rice production has been estimated at 102.36
million tonnes against 101.98 million tonnes last year.
Including 16.45 million tonnes produced during the Rabi season, India’s rice
production last year was a record 118.43 million tonnes.
Olam’s Gupta said India, the world’s number biggest rice exporter, would continue to
do well. “This year, our gap with Thailand’s rice exports will widen,” he said.
Non-basmati rice exports could be nearly 10 million tonnes by the year-end and along
with basmati shipments, total rice exports could top 14 million tonnes, Gupta said.
Thailand’s exports could be the lowest in two decades at around 6.5 million tonnes,
according to trade estimates.
Gupta said demand for basmati was good and there was panic buying in the domestic
and overseas market.
“Demand has tapered down now as Iran has stopped buying. Domestic demand, too,
has been affected due to the closure of hotels and restaurants,” he said.
With the Indian government easing lockdown restrictions imposed to tackle the
Coronavirus pandemic, domestic Basmati is expected to pick up, particularly with
prices easing.
Most of the trades in basmati paddy are currently taking place around Rs 2,500-2,700
a quintal, a tad higher than the same period a year ago.
Basmati production is estimated to be eight million tonnes this year against 7.5
million tonnes last year as the acreage under the crop increased.
(Subramani Ra Mancombu is a journalist based in Chennai, who writes on topics in commodities and
agriculture)
First Published on Nov 4, 2020 05:21 pm
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/markets/indias-jan-oct-rice-exports-higher-than-all-of-
last-years-shipments-6066371.html
A worker unloads sacks of rice from a boat at the Yangon jetty on July 8. (AFP)
After rice-buying scheme, govt

plans paddy purchases to prop up
prices
 NOVEMBER 4, 2020
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on email
The government is planning to purchase paddy at a floor price set to ensure farmers get a decent
return and some rice traders are also pushing for another round of rice-buying to maintain the
country’s reserve stocks.
By HTIN LYNN AUNG | FRONTIER
U Myint Lwin, acting secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and director general of
the Directorate of Consumer Affairs, said tenders had been called from merchants in
the targeted state and regions and after they were completed the government would
announce the volume of paddy it plans to buy.
The tender window remains open and the winners will be announced on November
10.
“We will be able to start buying paddy from these four states and regions from
November 10 based on the tender results. We do not yet know how much we will buy
as it will depend on the tender outcome,” Myint Lwin told Frontier.
The monsoon season crop is ready for harvesting in November and produces about 27
million tonnes annually. Figures from the Central Statistical Organization show that
Myanmar harvested 27.5 million tonnes of monsoon paddy in the 2018-19 fiscal year,
the highest in five years.
Domestic consumption accounts for nearly 90 percent of rice sales, with Myanmar
exporting about 2.5 million tonnes of rice and broken rice in 2019-20, according to the
Myanmar Rice Federation, an industry group.
However, domestic demand has declined during the second wave of COVID-19 and
this has put downward pressure on paddy prices, prompting concerns that farmers
may have trouble covering the cost of their investment.
Since by-laws for the Law of Protection of Farmer Rights and Enhancement of their
Benefits were introduced in 2018, the government has been setting a floor price for
paddy annually and buying paddy in areas where the local price is below the floor
price.
This year, the Working Body of Protection of Farmer Rights and Enhancement of
their Benefits, a multi-stakeholder statutory body set up under the Ministry of
Commerce, has set a minimum paddy price of K520,000 for 100 baskets (a basket is
equal to 46 pounds, or 20.87 kilograms), up from K500,000 last year.
The government is using this price to buy paddy through the tenders in areas where
the price is low. Farmers are paid once the rice reaches the designated warehouses,
Myint Lwin said.
“The price of paddy is falling below K520,000 in some areas and it’s above that price
in others so it’s difficult to say for sure how much they will buy and from where,” said
Dr Soe Tun, a Central Executive Committee member of the MRF, which is providing
technical support for the scheme.
Soe Tun said the government usually sells off the paddy for milling when market
demand rises. “This paddy-buying programme is government-funded and also acts
like a national food reserve program,” he said.
The purchase of paddy is separate to a rice-buying scheme the government undertook

earlier this year to ensure food security.
Back in late April and early May, the ministry purchased about 50,000 tonnes (1
million bags) of rice from the summer crop. It did this by requiring exporters to sell
the government 10 percent of their planned export shipments in order to qualify for an
export licence.
Although the move was primarily about food security, rice reserves can also help to
maintain stable market prices and ensure that farmers receive a reasonable return on
their investment, industry sources say.
An executive committee member of the MRF, who asked not to be named,

told Frontier that the reserve stocks scheme was good for the country because it gave
the government some scope to ensure prices do not go too high or too low.
He said it should benefit consumers and farmers, but if the scheme worked properly it
would result in reduced profits for traders who normally buy from farmers when
prices are low and sell when they begin to rise.
Merchants have been waiting for prices to fall, but they have remained high because
the government is buying “all the rice”, he said, adding that such a development was
good for the country.
However, government officials and rice industry specialists say the reserves need to
be properly managed to ensure that the rice does not spoil or lose quality because it
has been stored for too long.
Although the government purchased the rice, MRF-related companies are storing it in
their warehouses. Myint Lwin said the rice purchased earlier this year was still in
good condition because it had been stored properly.
“The nature of rice means it cannot be stored for too long or we may encounter a loss
of quality. At the same time, we need to make sure we have rice in case of an
emergency, so we need to swap the old rice with fresh stocks,” he said.
The maximum period for which rice can be stored is just over a year. A rice merchant
who asked not to be named said maintenance costs for stored rice were high, partly
because special storage methods were needed to control moisture content. He said
domestic consumers usually preferred rice from the previous year’s crop rather than
newly-harvested rice. “Selling old stocks and buying newly harvested rice for storage
is a good plan,” he added.
That leaves the question of what to do with the rice remaining in storage. Almost
400,000 bags have already been sold from the first acquisition, leaving 600,000 bags
(30,000 tonnes) in storage.
U Lu Maw Myint Maung, the MRF secretary, agreed that the rice in storage could be
kept in good condition for another one or two months but after that its quality may
deteriorate.
The MRF advised the government to quickly sell off the old stocks because they were
nearing their storage time limit and buy new rice, he told Frontier, but it was not clear
what it would decide.
“The plan is to buy paddy at the moment because it is harvest time, but I hope that
later the government will resume buying rice once the current stocks are all sold,” he
said.
U Ye Htut Naing, a director of the Directorate of Consumer Affairs, told Frontier that

the majority of the reserve stocks were in Yangon, while there were smaller quantities
in Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.
The government has sent 5,000 bags to Rakhine State and 6,000 bags to Kachin State
to combat food insecurity, but it’s not clear what it will do with the rest.
One option is to distribute the rice to needy people who are facing difficulties because
of COVID-19.The second wave of the pandemic has exacerbated the economic impact
of the virus and strict stay-at-home orders imposed on most Yangon townships since
September 21 have created hardship for low-income families.
The government collected household lists in late September in an apparent move to
respond to the situation, but as of November 3 no plan for providing food and
emergency funding to the needy had been released.
“Only the National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment
of COVID-19 will know what the plan is for poor households,” Myint Lwin said.
HTIN LYNN AUNG
Htin Lynn Aung is a business journalist and joined Frontier in July 2020. He has been a journalist
since 2009, and has worked at the Myanmar Times, Mizzima and the Yangon Times.
https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/after-rice-buying-scheme-govt-plans-paddy-purchases-to-prop-
up-prices/
rts hindered by a number of factors, says an insider

Sorn Sarath / Khmer Times
A rice storage in Cambodia. An insider says production has been held back for a number of
reasons. KT/Chor Sokunthea
The Cambodian rice sector has come a long way from the less than 30,000 tonnes
exported in 2008. And when a rice policy was adopted in 2009, it boosted exports that
today reach more than 600,000 tonnes on average a year.
In 2015, the government set a target for 1 million tonnes of rice exports by 2020. It
will miss it this year with an expected 800,000 tonnes and has reset it for next year.
The amount, however, has remained far behind its neighbouring countries in the
region with the sector rapidly increasing. An insider said there are many unresolved
issues for this.
Vietnam, the third-biggest global exporter, has an opportunity to overtake Thailand in

rice exports this year, with expected exports of around 6.5 to 6.7 million tonnes.
Thailand is expected to export 5 million tonnes, a decline from a previous projection
of 6.5 million tonnes.
The insider told Khmer Times that various issues have remained unresolved for years
now despite the establishment of the Technical Working Group (TWG) #9 (Rice) five
years ago when the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) was conceptualised.
“The Government Private Sector Forum (GPSF) process was disrupted for a few years
and only once re-activated last year. Then the COVID-19 issue again prevented the
GPSF from resuming thus many issues remained lingering within all the TWGs
concerned, without a clear decision from the prime minister,” he said.
He added production and logistics costs including infrastructure bottlenecks remain a

continuous challenge. While Thai and Vietnamese rice mills are strategically and
purposefully located along waterways, Cambodian rice mills are located much further
inland with an acute limitation of using either railways or waterways.
“Our logistics and infrastructure still need lot of work to make us more competitive
and efficient,” he said, adding being squeezed between two rice-exporting giants,
Thailand and Vietnam, where pricing has always been more competitive, Cambodia
should focus on primarily fragrant rice Sen Kra Ob and Jasmine because, despite EU-
imposed taxes, pricing remains acceptable there for these grains and Chinese and
other importers are keen because the quality is good.
“We cannot compete on the Long Grain White Rice (LGWR) because Vietnam has
beaten us for decades on this. We should just focus on a niche where we won’t
compete on volume but more on quality,” he said.
Cambodia exported 536,305 tonnes of milled rice in the first 10 months of 2020, of
which 421,132 tonnes were fragrant rice, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Adding to the high cost of production and transportation, it remains a long-haul

exercise to get Cambodia’s irrigation system improved nationwide.
The country’s irrigation system has not been very well engineered nor managed in the
past because several ministries have overlapping jurisdiction over it with an approach
of just spending donors’ funding and digging irrigation channels sometimes in the
wrong format or area.
Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), said that the
lack of infrastructure, which is now being developed, has left the country far behind in
the region.
“The infrastructures to support the production chain, logistics and transportation are
being developed such as electricity supply, roads and ports – and we are almost done,”
he said.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50779265/rice-exports-hindered-by-a-number-of-factors-says-an-insi
Rice exports likely to drop 50% this year,

situation could even worsen in 2021
National
Nov 05. 2020

By THE NATION
The Thai Rice Exporters Association estimates total rice exports for 2020 at 5 million tonnes, only half of
last year’s figure of 10 million tonnes, honorary president Vichai Sriprasert said.
“Next year the situation could be worse as the water level in 35 major dams is still lower than the
previous year’s, while the rainy season will end soon. Therefore, rice output in 2021 could be
lower than this year.” he warned.
“Furthermore, China now has more than 100 million tonnes of rice in their stocks, so they can
compete with us in foreign markets such as Africa by using a price cutting strategy, as our rice
production costs are still higher than those of our competitors.”
Wichai said that due to drought, the cost of rice production is Bt8,000 per tonne, while other rice
producing countries such as China, Vietnam, India and Myanmar are witnessing a cost of around
Bt6,000 per tonne.
“This makes Thai rice more expensive that foreign rice by around $100 per tonne. Luckily in
some countries such as India, the Covid-19 situation has resulted in a nationwide lockdown and
crippled their logistics system, forcing them to import rice from us,” he said.
“It is estimated that when India’s Covid-19 situation improves, they will have over 30 million
tonnes of rice on their hands and Thai rice would no longer have the chance of penetrating their
market,” Wichai pointed out.
“Thai farmers and related authorities need to focus on cost reduction and developing water
resources for rice paddy. Currently, our irrigation system is not comprehensive enough, causing
farmers whose paddy is far away from reservoirs to spend extra on water pumps, thus further
increasing their production costs,” said Wichai.
“We also need to conduct research on new breeds of rice to penetrate new markets, or risk losing
the opportunity to Vietnam, which has introduced several new rice breeds in the last few years,”
he added.
https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30397373#:~:text=Columns%20Photogenic-,Rice%20exports
%20likely%20to%20drop%2050%25%20this%20year%2C%20situation,could%20even%20worsen%20in
%202021&text=The%20Thai%20Rice%20Exporters%20Association,honorary%20president%20Vichai
%20Sriprasert%20said.
Strain of rhizobacteria shown to

naturally and sustainably promote rice
growth
by American Phytopathological Society
Working in the lab. Credit: Zhigang Wang
Large amounts of chemical fertilizers can lead to severe environmental pollution.

Biofertilizers are a preferred and sustainable alternative technology that can promote
plant health without damaging ecological impacts. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria
(PGPRs) can be used as biofertilizers and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides while also ensuring sustainable and increased production.
While scientists know the benefits of PGPRs, they are still unclear on how these
bacteria function. In a recent study published in the Molecular Plant-Microbe
Interactions (MPMI) journal, a group of scientists in China studied the Bacillus
pumilus LZP02 strain. Using proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomics techniques,
they found that the bacteria could beneficially colonize the rice root surface and promote
growth.
"Our study has demonstrated that B. pumilus LZP02 colonizes rice roots and promotes
growth by improving carbohydrate metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,"
explained Zhigang Wang, one of the scientists involved in the research. "These findings
show a new light on how microbes and plants communicate in a friendly way."
For more information about this research, read "Bacillus pumilus LZP02 Promotes Rice
Root Growth by Improving Carbohydrate Metabolism and Phenylpropanoid
Biosynthesis," published in the October issue of MPMI.
Explore further
Hungry plants rely on their associated bacteria to mobilize unavailable iron
More information: Hong Liu et al, Bacillus pumilus LZP02 Promotes Rice Root Growth by
Improving Carbohydrate Metabolism and Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis, Molecular Plant-
Microbe Interactions (2020). DOI: 10.1094/MPMI-04-20-0106-R
Provided by American Phytopathological Society
https://phys.org/news/2020-11-strain-rhizobacteria-shown-naturally-sustainably.html?
deviceType=desktop
New 5-year rice plan to halve costs, launch 12

new Thai strains
Nov 05. 2020

By The Nation
The Rice Policy and Management Committee on Wednesday approved the five-year national rice
strategy (2020-2024), said Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit.
The strategy offers guidelines on adding value to Thai rice.

It also aims to reduce the cost of cultivating rice from the current level of about Bt6,000 per rai
to Bt3,000 per rai, while at the same time boosting yield from 456 kilos per rai to 600 kilos.
Jurin added that the strategy would introduce 12 new strains of Thai rice by 2024, as part of
ongoing efforts to tap new markets.
He also urged state agencies to ask China to import an additional 100,000 tonnes of Thai rice this
year under the existing memorandum of understanding between the two countries.
Under the deal, China will purchase one million tonnes of rice from Thailand, of which 700,000
tonnes has already been purchased.
Tags: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30397340?
utm_source=bottom_relate&utm_medium=internal_referral#:~:text=The%20Rice%20Policy%20and
%20Management,said%20Commerce%20Minister%20Jurin%20Laksanawisit.&text=Jurin%20added
%20that%20the%20strategy,efforts%20to%20tap%20new%20markets.
November 5, 2020
Figures on flood-damaged paddies across nation

released
Sok Chan / Khmer Times
A man holding paddy damaged by flash flooding in Battambang province. Ministry of Agriculture

More than 290,000 hectares of paddy fields were inundated and over 87,000 hectare
of paddy fields were damaged across the country as of Oct 27 because of flash
flooding, according to a report from the National Committee for Disaster
Management (NCDM).
The report stated the cultivation plan of paddy in the country is more than 2.591
million hectares in 2020-21. However, it had achieved more than 2.756 million
hectares of actual cultivated paddy planting as of Aug 15. The report added that
affected paddy fields amounted to about 10.5 percent among total cultivated land and
only 3.16 percent of the paddy fields were damaged compared with total actual
cultivated land.
NCDM spokesman Khun Sokha said that that there were no updated figure besides
those released on Oct 27 for either affected or damaged paddy fields. Thus far, he said
the water is shallow and no longer affects the paddy fields.
“We are now setting up a plan to rehabilitate the infrastructure and agriculture crops
after the flood. There are four ministries to work on these tasks. They will work
immediately on the rehabilitation of the infrastructure: roads, bridges and agriculture,”
Sokha added.
The Ministry of Agriculture said that more than 5,000 tonnes of paddy seedlings will
be distributed to flood-hit farmers on top of the 1,000 tonnes which have already been
distributed. The donation of paddy seedlings is to help farmers begin replanting rice in
areas damaged by floods.
Secretary-General of Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) Lun Yeng said that the
damage of paddy fields from the flash flooding was around 3 percent among the total
paddy cultivation plantations and some were not damaged. Therefore, he said there
was no impact on exports or food security.
Yeng added that some areas were also affected by the flood but produced a better
yield of rice because those areas can sustain more water. That was the case in
Kampong Thom. “The recent flash flooding has not affected food security and
exports,” he said.
Chhim Vichara, director of the Battambang provincial agricultural department, said
that around 127,189 hectares were affected by flooding and 42,517 hectares of paddy
field were damaged across the province. However, industrial and other crops made up
63,567 hectares and about 43,464 hectares of them were damaged.
He added that the province is seeking paddy seedlings from the government through
the NCDM.
“We will distribute about 1,050 tonnes of paddy seedling to the families. Each of them
will receive 100 kilogrammes of paddy seedling,” Vichara added. He said the seedling
is a three-month crop including the Sen Kro Ob variety provided by the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Pursat Agricultural Department Director Lay Piseth also said that more than 17,000
hectares of paddy fields were damaged and rehabilitated and more than 20,000
hectares were affected.
Piseth said more than 1,731 tonnes of paddy seedlings will be delivered to the farmers
with each family receiving 100 kilogrammes, including Sen Kro Ob and CAR15
paddy varieties. “Farmers will begin farming once they receive the seedlings,” he
added.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3oSnmduW-EwJ:https://
www.khmertimeskh.com/50779985/figures-on-flood-damaged-paddies-across-nation-released/
+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Stubble burning: Delhi govt forms a 15-

member panel to ascertain impact of Pusa
bio-decomposer
SECTIONS
Stubble burning: Delhi govt forms a 15-member panel to ascertain impact of Pusa bio-decomposer
PTILast Updated: Nov 06, 2020, 08:10 PM IST
Share
Font Size
Save
Print
Comment
Synopsis
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the panel will have
five MLAs, and officials from Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, Pusa, and Agriculture Department.
AFPThe committee has been asked to submit an assessment report

to the government within a week. The report will be presented before the Supreme Court after Diwali
New Delhi: Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said a 15-member impact assessment committee will ascertain the
effectiveness of "Pusa bio-decomposer" solution in reducing stubble burning in the national capital.
He also said that those found violating the ban on firecrackers can be fined up to Rs 1 lakh by the administration.
"The government has decided to set up an impact assessment committee to ascertain the effectiveness of Pusa bio-decomposer in
reducing stubble burning in Delhi," Rai said during a press conference.
"We have ascertained its effectiveness in non-basmati rice fields in Hiranki village in Narela. Now, the committee will determine
its impact in the entire Delhi," he said.
Rai said the impact assessment panel will have five MLAs and officials from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, and
the Agriculture Department.
The committee has been asked to submit an assessment report to the government within a week. The report will be presented
before the Supreme Court after Diwali, he said.
According to scientists at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, the solution can turn crop residue into manure in 15 to 20
days and therefore, can prevent stubble burning.
Rai hoped that the newly-constituted Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining
Areas will ensure that other "states also use the cost-effective Pusa bio-decomposer to prevent stubble burning".
"The Uttar Pradesh Police is arresting farmers for burning stubble, but I don't think that is the solution," he said.
The minister said the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution rose to 42 per cent on Thursday, the maximum so far this
season.
"There is pollution due to local sources as well, but emissions from stubble burning and firecrackers make the situation worse in
Delhi," he said.
He said that the Delhi government on Thursday announced a blanket ban on firecrackers from November 7 to November 30,
considering the spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases amid worsening pollution levels.
"We have notified the ban and called a meeting on Monday to discuss an action plan to ensure implementation of the curbs on
firecrackers," he said.
The minister also said that those violating the ban can be fined up to Rs 1 lakh by the administration.
On traders facing economic loss due to the ban, he said the government's priority was to save lives first.
The minister also said that the government has received 2,300 complaints on the "Green Delhi" mobile application so far, of
which 1,346 have been resolved.
Most of the complaints are related to garbage dumping from North MCD areas, and burning of biomass and plastic waste, he
said.
Stubble burning: Delhi govt forms a 15-

member panel to ascertain impact of Pusa
bio-decomposer
SECTIONS
Stubble burning: Delhi govt forms a 15-member panel to ascertain impact of Pusa bio-decomposer
PTILast Updated: Nov 06, 2020, 08:10 PM IST
Share
Font Size
Save
Print
Comment
Synopsis
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the panel will have
five MLAs, and officials from Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, Pusa, and Agriculture Department.
AFPThe committee has been asked to submit an assessment report

to the government within a week. The report will be presented before the Supreme Court after Diwali
New Delhi: Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said a 15-member impact assessment committee will ascertain the
effectiveness of "Pusa bio-decomposer" solution in reducing stubble burning in the national capital.
He also said that those found violating the ban on firecrackers can be fined up to Rs 1 lakh by the administration.
"The government has decided to set up an impact assessment committee to ascertain the effectiveness of Pusa bio-decomposer in
reducing stubble burning in Delhi," Rai said during a press conference.
"We have ascertained its effectiveness in non-basmati rice fields in Hiranki village in Narela. Now, the committee will determine
its impact in the entire Delhi," he said.
Rai said the impact assessment panel will have five MLAs and officials from Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, and
the Agriculture Department.
The committee has been asked to submit an assessment report to the government within a week. The report will be presented
before the Supreme Court after Diwali, he said.
According to scientists at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, the solution can turn crop residue into manure in 15 to 20
days and therefore, can prevent stubble burning.
Rai hoped that the newly-constituted Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining
Areas will ensure that other "states also use the cost-effective Pusa bio-decomposer to prevent stubble burning".
"The Uttar Pradesh Police is arresting farmers for burning stubble, but I don't think that is the solution," he said.
The minister said the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution rose to 42 per cent on Thursday, the maximum so far this
season.
"There is pollution due to local sources as well, but emissions from stubble burning and firecrackers make the situation worse in
Delhi," he said.
He said that the Delhi government on Thursday announced a blanket ban on firecrackers from November 7 to November 30,
considering the spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases amid worsening pollution levels.
"We have notified the ban and called a meeting on Monday to discuss an action plan to ensure implementation of the curbs on
firecrackers," he said.
The minister also said that those violating the ban can be fined up to Rs 1 lakh by the administration.
On traders facing economic loss due to the ban, he said the government's priority was to save lives first.
The minister also said that the government has received 2,300 complaints on the "Green Delhi" mobile application so far, of
which 1,346 have been resolved.
Most of the complaints are related to garbage dumping from North MCD areas, and burning of biomass and plastic waste, he
said.
Basmati exports to Iran to resume soon

SECTIONS
Basmati exports to Iran to resume soon
By
Madhvi Sally
, ET BureauLast Updated: Nov 05, 2020, 07:43 PM IST
Share
Font Size
Save
Print
Comment
Synopsis
"Exports of basmati rice to Iran from India have seen a

drop of 36% in April - August of this year compared to the
previous year, largely due to stalled remittances,” said Vinod
Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters
Association. “However, we have got positive indications on
resolution of the payments issue against shipment since
December 2019. Also, the Iranian government has opened its
seasonal ban on imports a month in advance, which is good
news for exporters."
AgenciesExporters said that they are in talks with buyers in Iran

and were expecting exports to pick up.
NEW DELHI: Basmati rice exports to Iran are likely to resume as the country has lifted its ban on imports from India and
indicated that it will make payments of over Rs 1,700 crore to Indian exporters which have been due since last year.
The lack of an effective payment system has hit trade with Iran, which is the largest importer of Indian basmati rice and absorbs
about one-third of this variety.
"Exports of basmati rice to Iran from India have seen a drop of 36% in April - August of this year compared to the previous year,
largely due to stalled remittances,” said Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association. “However, we
have got positive indications on resolution of the payments issue against shipment since December 2019. Also, the Iranian
government has opened its seasonal ban on imports a month in advance, which is good news for exporters."
The association has requested the government to work out a safe payment mechanism and see if it can permit third-party payment
mechanism in dollar and UAE dirham.
India and Iran have been trading through a rupee account in UCO and IDBI Bank NSE 0.14 %, but since May 2019, there was no
inflow of funds in the accounts as there was no import of crude oil by India.
Exporters said that they are in talks with buyers in Iran and were expecting exports to pick up.
"We are waiting for the currency allocation by the Central Bank of Iran and the Indian government to guide us on which route to
get the money. We should be signing contracts for January delivery soon, " said Satish Goel of Shree Jagdamba Agrico Exports.
Exporters said it was not easy to find new markets and drop in exports to Iran will make impact on other markets like Saudia
Arabia, Yemen and Iraq.
Prices of export quality basmati rice are already 15% less than the previous year at Rs 46 a kg, which may increase once exports
to Iran begins, said Goel.
Chamber's President Rajiv Podar said the governments of

India and the African nations could come together and help
in the global revival of the economy.
"There is great untapped potential for trade and investment," Podar

said in a statement.
RELATED
 Basmati exports to Iran to resume soon

 India's cotton exports could jump 40% to seven-year high as prices rally
New Delhi: India and Africa have huge potential to explore trade and investment opportunities as both the regions together have
a market of 2.5 billion people, according to IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Chamber's President Rajiv Podar said the
governments of India and the African nations could come together and help in the global revival of the economy.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims at establishing a free trade regime across the continent, also
holds huge potential for domestic industry, he said.
"There is great untapped potential for trade and investment," Podar said in a statement.
"Our mission is to enhance ties to 100 x 100 matrix by 2025, that is, a target of USD 100 billion of bilateral trade and USD 100
billion of investment between India and Africa," he added.
The chamber recently organized a three-day Indo-Africa Virtual Summit 2020, where ways were discussed to boost economic
ties between the two regions.
READ MORE NEWS ON
India-Pak Basmati battle: India says it never

claimed exclusivity
By
The Bharat Express News
November 3, 2020
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
WhatsApp
Email
Telegram
Even as Pakistan plans to file a lawsuit against India for applying for a Geographical or Geographical
Indication Label for basmati rice from the European Commission regulation, New Delhi said it never
claimed the rice was ” exclusively of Indian origin “. India applied for a GI label in July 2018 and it was
published in the “Official Journal of the European Union” in September this year.
Indian government sources told WION: “India’s unilateral request did not violate any laws or staked out
unfair claims of exclusive rights to Basmati rice.”
A geographical indication is a label affixed to products indicating that they have a specific geographical
origin and possess certain qualities due to that origin and is safeguarded by legalities such as the World
Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO.
ALSO READ Delhi metro picks up, commuters happy but journey time increases on day one
Sources within the Indian government pointed out that the single document released by the EU on
Basmati rice stated: “” Basmati is a special aromatic long grain rice cultivated and produced in a
particular geographical region of the Indian subcontinent “and with the use of Indian subcontinent,
shows its culture in the region, not in a single country.
The paragraph of the document explains: “In India, this region is part of northern India, under the
foothills of the Himalayas forming part of the Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP)”,
ALSO READ Pakistani caller threatens The Bharat Express News editor Sudhir Chaudhary again vows to
attack media house after midnight
Pakistan fears losing the European Union’s lucrative Basmati export market as India obtains the GI label.
Estimates suggest that India accounts for 65% of the world Basmati rice trade, while Pakistan 35% and
generates good income as aromatic rice is in high demand.
India’s request is currently under opposition during the period ending December 11. It will be up to an
opponent, in this case Pakistan, to demonstrate why Basmati does not meet the registration criteria.
Although so far no opposition has been filed, the EU will notify India and, once this notification is served,
India will have 2 months to file a “reasoned statement”.
ALSO READ Opposition parties engage in caste politics: Haryana's chief minister
New Delhi is very “protective” regarding the issue of Basmati and its GI, and in recent years has made
international efforts to defend the interests of the Basmati in foreign jurisdictions through objections,
rectifications and legal actions.
In the 1990s, an American company RiceTec tried to patent Basmati in anger against New Delhi. Ricetec
lost the patent rights and the right to name its rice products Basmati.
Interestingly, the European Union’s Single Document mentions the earliest recorded reference to
Basmati which it claims can be “found in the Punjabi epic poem Heer Ranjha by the great Punjabi poet
Varis Shah dated 1766”.
 TAGS
 Basmati battle
Post-doc -Hidden crop diversity in Suriname:

tracing the origins of Maroon rice using
genomics
Updated: 04 Nov 2020
link
Category Research / Academic
Location Wageningen
 Apply now
 add to favourites
 LinkedIn
 Messenger
 What's up
 Twitter
 Email
An enthusiastic and motivated plant biologist with a PhD who can work in a collaborative and
multidisciplinary team. We invite applications from ambitious candidates with relevant research
experience and a passion for studying genetic diversity in crops using genomic approaches.
The post-doctoral candidate will be part of the multidisciplinary project "Hidden crop diversity in
Suriname: tracing the origins of Maroon rice by integrating ethnobotany and genomics". This
project combines ethnobotanical field surveys, published historical data, archival research, and advanced
genomic analysis to discover the genetic diversity, geographical origins and migration history of
traditional rice landraces grown by Maroons, descendants of enslaved Africans who live in the Suriname
rainforest.
Specifically, you will characterize the genomic variation in Maroon rice landraces and compare these to
modern and historic rice accessions and crop wild relatives from the Guianas, West Africa, Asia and the
US, by means of whole-genome (re)sequencing. You will use Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to
quantify diversity within Surinamese landraces and assess their genetic and geographical origins with
advanced genomic and bioinformatic methods. You will search for specific genetic traits for which these
landraces were selected and detect potential introgressions from wild rice. Close collaboration is foreseen
with a PhD student (to be recruited at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden) who will conduct
ethnobotanical fieldwork in Suriname and collect rice specimens and associated Maroon knowledge.
The Biosystematics Group and The Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences
The post-doctoral position will be under the daily supervision of Prof. Eric Schranz and Prof. Tinde van
Andel at the Biosystematics Group, Wageningen University & Research. The position will be co-
supervised by Dr. Robin van Velzen. You will be part of the Biosystematics group, with ~30 employees,
including technicians, PhD students, postdocs, junior and senior scientists working on fundamental
questions about biological diversity. The group research themes are: (1) origin and maintenance of plant
and insect biodiversity, (2) speciation, domestication and plant-animal interactions, and (3) applying
phylogenetic patterns to test hypotheses on underlying evolutionary processes. The Biosystematics Group
is part of the Plant Science Group and works closely together with other groups (e.g., Genetics,
Bioinformatics) within Wageningen University. The position will be part of the Dutch inter-university
Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences (EPS). The mission of EPS is to organize the training of
PhD students and postdocs to become self-reliant researchers.
Requirements:
 A PhD in plant genomics, genetics, or related fields with an interest in crop domestication and diversity;
 Expertise in and experience with generating and analysing plant comparative genomic and population
genetic datasets;
 A collaborative worker with good interpersonal communication skills;
 A good command of both spoken and written English language is critical (i.e. as demonstrated by
published work). This position requires an excellent English language proficiency (a mininum of CEFR
C1 level). For more information about this proficiency level, please visit our special language page.
Applications should include: a cover letter including a statement about your motivation to apply and your
suitability for the position; a curriculum vitae including contact information for two references; and
copies of your University PhD degree.
Salary Benefits:
We offer a meaningful and challenging position with, depending on your experience, a competitive salary
from a minimum of € 3.353 to a maximum of € 4.402 for a full working week of 38 hours in accordance
with the Collective Labor Agreement Dutch Universities. The job is for a period of 4 years (1 year, and
after a positive evaluation extension for another 3 years) at an international leading organization. The
candidate will be based at the Biosystematics group.
In addition, we offer:
 8% holiday allowance;
 a structural year-end bonus of 8.3%;
 excellent training opportunities and secondary employment conditions;
 flexible working hours and holidays can possibly be determined in consultation so that an optimal balance
between work and private life is possible;
 excellent pension plan through ABP;
 232 vacation hours, the option to purchase extra and good supplementary leave schemes;
 a flexible working time;
 a choice model to put together part of your employment conditions yourself, such as a bicycle plan;
 a lively workplace where you can easily make contacts and where many activities take place on the
Wageningen Campus. A place where education, research and business are represented;
 use the sports facilities on campus.
Wageningen University & Research stimulates internal career opportunities and mobility with an internal
recruitment policy. There are ample opportunities for own initiative in a learning environment.
We offer a versatile job in an international environment with varied activities in a pleasant and open
working atmosphere.
Work Hours:
38 hours per week
Address:
Droevendaalsesteeg
 Apply now
remain volatile in Myanmar

Zeyar HeinHtoo Thant 05 Nov 2020
Canned food displayed at a mom-and-pop store in Bahan township, Yangon. Photo: Aung Htay
Hlaing/The Myanmar Times
Basic food prices remain volatile in Myanmar
Food prices in Myanmar continue to be volatile amid lower demand in the face of a
persistent rise in COVID-19 cases, weather conditions and a weaker dollar exchange rate.
The resulting disruptions have led to volatility in demand for basic food items and
commodities from rice and sugar to coffee and chicken.
Domestic demand for chicken, for example, has collapsed since October, when fresh restrictions
pummelled restaurant operations. Now, Myanmar has extended the suspension of chicken
imports to protect local poultry farmers.
The decision to stop imports until December was made after local production costs were tallied
and submitted to the government.
“The average cost of production is around K500 per chicken, but the current market price is just
K250. If we continued to allow imports, all the local chicken producers would go bust,” said U
Thein Myint, Vice Chair of the Myanmar Livestock Breeders and Producers Association.
Chicken imports have been suspended since October due to poor demand. “We don’t need to
import chickens given the current situation. Local production rates can cover our consumption
requirements for now,” said U Kyaw Win, Chair of the association.
Myanmar imported 1.9 million chickens from July to August. Demand declined in September
and October as a fresh wave of COVID-19 cases forced people to stay at home, and imports
dropped to about 1 million chickens. Chicken farmers swallowed losses of K50 million a day in
September.
Rice prices have been volatile, too, with exports facing frequent disruptions as a result of
COVID-19. To support farmers, U Myo Aung, Director of the Cooperative Department under the
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, said cooperatives will purchase paddy in
Ayeyarwady and Bago Regions to prevent prices from “drastically falling during the monsoon
season.”
“We are helping farmers through their current hardships by supporting paddy prices,” he said on
October 30. The co-ops will buy paddy at a basic reference price of K520,000 for every 100
baskets of paddy, as set by the Committee for Protection and Promotion of the Interests of
Farmers. The paddy must meet minimum quality standards.
In total, the government will buy 3.8 million baskets of paddy worth K20 billion.
The cooperatives will also offer paddy drying services to farmers who are unable to afford the
right equipment.
“Paddy prices in Bago and Ayeyarwady regions are drastically falling due to weather conditions.
Rice brokers and millers will reduce their paddy purchase prices in such wet weather. So, the
farmers cannot afford to spend on paddy drying machines," said U Tun Wai, a local farmer. -
Translated

4- 6 Nov رائس نیوز 2020

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

4- 6 Nov رائس نیوز 2020

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Punjab: Lack of assured price

for Basmati holds back its

Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Updated: November 4, 2020 2:24:40 pm

Dinner time: Jeremy Vincent chicken biryani. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Jeremy Vincent’s recipes for chicken

I LOVE the opportunity to include long-grain rice as a thickening agent in soups or

This variation on chicken biriyani is one such recipe.

1½ tbsp ground coriander

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp freshly ground white pepper

6 shallots, roughly chopped

2cm piece fresh peeled ginger, roughly chopped

6 skinless chicken thighs, halved crossways through the bone

6 skinless chicken drumsticks

2½ cups jasmine rice

2 small cucumbers, trimmed and thinly sliced

Chilli sauce, to serve

BROWN FRIED RICE

PhilMech distributes farm machines to

Central University of Punjab

India Education Diary Bureau Admin

Vibrant Agric sector created; Ghana now

the country, during the period, transformed into a net-exporter of foodstuffs,

Ghana’s agriculture has been transformed.

in 2014 and 2.9% in 2016.

bold decision to embark on a well-thought through programme for the

modernisation and transformation of Ghana’s agriculture, which included increasing

productivity on smallholding farms; enhancing food security; diversifying agricultural

export earnings; promoting agro-industrialisation and import substitution; and

creating jobs for the youth.

fertilizers,” President Akufo-Addo said.

comprehensive nature of Government’s strategy to improve agriculture with the

Greenhouse Villages (Horticulture Module), and Farm Mechanisation and Agro-

processing (Mechanisation Module)”

yet to be fully implemented.

Food crops module

According to President Akufo-Addo, the food crops module has resulted in an

an improved extension officer to farmer ratio, from 1:1,908 in 2016, to 1:706

Akufo-Addo, has been the construction of 80 one-thousand-metric ton capacity

warehouses throughout the country.

Export and Rural Development” (PERD), which he launched in April 2019,

annually, compared to the US$2.3 billion from cocoa today,” he added.

cocoa”, evidenced in the establishment of the $600 million National Cocoa

from GH¢415 to GH¢660, the highest ever in the nation’s history.

and livestock, as well as to reduce the country’s dependence on meat imports,

valued annually at US$340 million.

pigs and cockerels to farmers throughout the country, Government is currently

facilitating access to concessionary loans for value chain actors to support

production, processing and marketing of meat products. At full-scale, it is projected

to reduce progressively the importation of meat products in the country by up to

70% by the year 2025”, he said.

Government, President Akufo-Addo said, he is promoting the greenhouse village

and to enhance the competitiveness of Ghana’s horticulture products on the

farmers have become accustomed to, President Akufo-Addo stated that

11,450 assorted machinery and equipment from Brazil, since 2017.

machinery, including hand-held farm implements to be sold at a subsidised rate.

fifty million United States dollars (US$150 million),” he said.

place by Government to boost the development of agriculture.

Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) has completed 10 out of 14 small dams.”

completed, 7,690 hectares of land will be put under irrigation.

in the Northern Regions of Ghana,” he added.

under the PFJ, according to President Akufo-Addo, is the export of Ghana

foodstuffs to neighbouring countries.