16th November, 2021 Daily GLobal Regional Local Rice Enewsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
16 th November ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 11
1|www.ricepluss.com , www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874
Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

 Export of Basmati to KSA, UAE, Kenya suffers setback
Chief Editor
 Hamlik  The best (and worst) foods you can eat — ranked by scientists
 Mongolia Harvests White Rice For First Time
Managing Editor  Australia to provide agro-technology to Pakistan
 Abdul Sattar Shah
 Rahmat Ullah  ATI-accredited farm schools that aspiring farmers can visit for
 Rozeen Shaukat learning
 More for less: Biotech approach increases rice yields with
English Editor fewer nitrogen inputs
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor
 Dry rice: Cracking the core molecular and physiological traits of
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas drought-tolerant rice
 Drought Tolerance in Rice: Focus on Recent Mechanisms and
Editorial Associates Approache
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 Participatory rice variety evaluation programme conducted in
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder) Lakhimpur
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain  Benchmark Value policy: GUTA warns of 25% increase in price
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui of goods if policy is reversed
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 NARPPMMAN: Nigeria Can be Self-sufficient in Rice Production
 Islam Akhtar Khan
 Central bank ends subsidy in fragrant rice export
Editorial Advisory Board  Fall-ing For Rice
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim  FCI Refuses to Buy Parboiled Rice from Telangana; Know Why
Assistant Professor, Gomal
University DIK  Rochelle Humes cooks curry in a hurry
 Dr.Hasina Gul  Riceland Foods Celebrates 100th Anniversary
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK  Our Japanese-born reporter tries California-grown rice, gets his
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
mind blown【Taste test】
Assistant Professor, University
of Swabi  Synthesis of High-Performance Lithium Storage Using Rice-
 Dr.Abdul Basir Husks
Assistant Professor, University of  Myanmar Political Standoff Leaves Economy in Tatters
Swabi
 Rice export on the rise
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar  Vietnam reconsiders methane-emitting rice amid climate crisis
 Falak Naz Shah  S. Korea’s 2021 Rice Output Rises for First Time in 6 Years
Head Food Science & Technology
 Rice production on track to another record harvest
ART, Peshawar
 Ivory Coast rice-fish farming improves yields
 Digital seed distribution to benefit Butuan rice farmers
Export of Basmati to KSA, UAE, Kenya suffers setback

Mushtaq Ghumman
16 Nov 2021
ISLAMABAD: Commerce Ministry said on Monday that export of Pakistan‟s Basmati rice
to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kenya was hit badly due to different
reasons.
Briefing a National Assembly panel headed by Shandana Gulzar, Commerce Ministry‘s
Director-General Dr. Syed Kausar Zaidi shared the plans of his Ministry to boost exports of agri
products.
He said that 80 per cent share of rice imports of Saudi Arabia is with India because many Saudi
investors have either purchased or established rice mills in India, which are exporting the
produce to Saudi Arabia. He; however, expressed the hope that the outcome of Prime Minister‘s
recent visit to Saudi Arabia may have some positive impact on the export of rice.
Zaidi further stated that export of Pakistani Basmati rice to Kenya has been hit badly, but he did
not share details.
He said, China and Philippines are also Pakistan‘s big markets but they consume broken rice, not
the Bastmati rice.
He maintained that a couple of containers of rice were also held in France and Belgium, adding
that the issue has now been sorted out.
He further contended that the government has started several initiatives, the results of which will
come in the days to come.
Sri Lanka has requested Pakistan for further quota of rice of 0.2 million tons in addition to the
quota already agreed in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Zaidi stated.
The representative of Commerce Ministry further stated that the Ministry wants to give rice a
status of industry but the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) has refused to entertain
the proposal, based on the rationale that it was a provincial subject.
He said the Commerce Ministry is preparing a plan for insurance of fruits and vegetables which
would be ready in the next two months.
He was of the view that since the plan is being prepared by the Commerce Ministry, and two of
its organisations, i.e., National Insurance Corporation Limited (NICL) and Pakistan Reinsurance
Corporation Limited (PRCL) are already engaged in this activity, the business of insurance
should be assigned to Commerce. He requested the Convener to invite the CEOs of both
organisations in the next meeting.
On the issue of Exim Bank, Zaidi said that it was with the Finance Ministry which has no
understanding of trade, adding that it would have been functioning if given to the Commerce
Ministry.
Pakistan‘s share in trade of agri products is 2.9 per cent, as Pakistan is low in ranking despite
being an agrarian economy.
During discussion, Dr. Syed Waseem-ul-Hasan noted that Iran is denying phytosanitary
certificates for re-export of Pakistani produce to Central Asian States through land route.
―I sent a letter to Pakistani Commercial Counsellor to Iran to raise this issue with the Iranian
authorities during the recent visit of Prime Minister‘s Advisor on Commerce and Investment,‖ he
said.
Shandana Gulzar promised to take up this issue with the Iranian authorities including signing of
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA).
The representatives of Ministry of National Food Security and Research shared their viewpoint
on the proposed plan of digitization of agri products and argued that sale and purchase of cotton
cannot be digitized due to its business model and massive involvement of private sector whereas
wheat can be channelized as it is procured through PASSCO and Provincial Food Departments.
Shandana Gulzar maintained that the benefits of digitization will go to small landholders who are
getting loans at 40 per cent. The main focus of the new report on agriculture is the small farmers.
She also asked about the reasons for putting World Bank‘s plan ―Pakistan go global‖ on ice. She
said the representative of World Bank is lamenting the abandonment of the project of $500
million.
Nawabzada Shazain Bugti, MNA raised the issue of non-availability of water and hurdles in
levelling of 0.7 million acres of land in Dera Bugti. The land is suitable to grow pulses and rice.
The panel will submit its report to Special Committee of National Assembly on agriculture
products headed by the Speaker National Assembly.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40133633
The best (and worst) foods you can eat — ranked by

scientists
Researchers have developed a system for scoring more than 8,000 foods according to their
impact on our health. They explain the results to Peta Bee
Avocado provides healthy fats, vitamin E and fibre

Monday November 15 2021, 5.00pm GMT, The Times
Beyond the obvious — more fruit and vegetables, less meat, refined carbs and alcohol — what
should we really be eating to stay healthy? According to a team of researchers from the Friedman
School of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, consumers
are more baffled than ever about what to include in their daily diet. If a food is low in fat, is it
also high in sugar and salt? If it‘s a plant-based alternative, is it highly processed or missing
valuable nutrients?
In an attempt to answer these and other diet dilemmas, Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and
professor of medicine at Tufts, and his team have created and developed Food Compass, which
they say is the most comprehensive system of
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-best-and-worst-foods-you-can-eat-ranked-by-scientists-zvbgjt9m2
Mongolia Harvests White Rice For First Time
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) 52 seconds ago Tue 16th November 2021 | 02:50 PM
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/miscellaneous/mongolia-harvests-white-rice-for-first-time-1402352.html
Australia to provide agro-technology to Pakistan

Written by Hamza ZakirNov 16 · 49 sec read
Pakistan‘s agricultural sector has traditionally influenced much of its economy, but is it ripe
for a revolution? As per agreements reached between Pakistan and Australia,
the latter will be providing technical and agricultural training to the former to
boost the quality of its agricultural output.
While talking to Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed
Fakhar Imam on Monday, Australian Trade Commissioner to Pakistan
John Cavanaghon said that transfer of agro-technology between the two countries could
truly accelerate the agro-economy of Pakistan.
The statement of intent was welcomed by Imam, who went on to emphasize that the two
countries should continue improving their relationship with regards to agro-economy, via
the improvement of bilateral trade and the transfer of agro-tech.
―Pakistan’s exports to Australia have shown little increase in recent years and if due
attention is given to this area, the quantum of exports can jump,‖ he noted.
The Minister added that trade between the two countries could ―reach new heig hts‖ if
Pakistan enhances its export of fruits, vegetables, and rice to Australia.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has prioritised the development of technological, construction
and agriculture sectors, the minister said.
He was of the view that technological exchanges between Australia and Pakistan could give
a push to the agriculture sector of Pakistan. He underlined the need to import agro-
technology and upgrade human resources in the agriculture sector.
https://www.techjuice.pk/australia-to-provide-agro-technology-to-pakistan/+&
ATI-accredited farm schools that aspiring farmers can

visit for learning
Published November 16, 2021, 10:00 AM
by Vina Medenilla
There are innumerable sources of information available to help budding farmers learn about
various aspects of agriculture, both online and offline.
They can learn from home via webinars, online courses, videos, blog posts, articles, and
online community groups, to name a few options.
Beginners can also develop their skills and experience through physical training in any
accredited farm school near them. ATI-accredited learning sites are meant to provide
information on farming and serve as a venue where novice farmers can put what they‘ve
learned into practice.
Here are some accredited farm schools in the Philippines where farmers can attend training
sessions and seminars, as featured on Agriculture Online.
Baluzo Farm
Among the hundreds of learning sites operating locally is Baluzo Farm. This training center
in Daet, Camarines Norte is a School for Practical Agriculture (SPA), which is a scale up
from ATI‘s Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA).
Baluzo Farm is a 1.3-hectare land that is a learning institution, a working farm, and an agritourism site in
Camarines Norte. (Photo courtesy of Baluzo Farm)
Being a SPA means that the farm carries additional features. Take, for instance, a certified
SPA like Baluzo Farm must have establishments that can accommodate live-in trainees.
Aside from private individuals who avail of their programs, the farm also accepts TESDA
scholars and students from senior high schools and universities for their immersion and on -
the-job training.
Read more about Baluzo Farm here.
Iglesias Farm
Another family-owned, integrated farm that is an ATI Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA)
and TESDA-accredited farm school is Iglesias Farm.
They offer lessons on organic agriculture production, establishing a farm business,
integrated and diversified farming system, as well as agribusiness marketing.
Javenri Harvest Farms
If you‘re interested in learning about rice production, Javenri Harvest Farm in Puerto
Princesa, Palawan, is a good place to start.
As a farm school, Javenri Harvest
Farm trains farmers in different
agricultural programs including rice
production and farm mechanization.
(Photo courtesy of Javenri Harvest
Farm)
Individuals who want to be
future agripreneurs or farm
school instructors may take
this farm as an inspiration. In a
month, Javenri Harvest Farm
can earn at least P20,000 from
the produce and another
P100,000 from the training
programs.
RAMI‟s Integrated Farm
RAMI‘s Integrated Farm,

which spans 2.8 hectares, also
provides training services for hundreds of
students.
This farm school is located in San Mateo,
Isabela.
You can hone your skills by attending their
agricultural courses on high-quality inbred rice
production, organic agriculture production NC
II, and Rice Machinery Operations NCII.
Farm owners Rufino Ruffy Guillermo (leftmost) and his
son PJ Guillermo (rightmost) with the farm trainees.
(Photo courtesy of RAMI‘s Integrated Farm)
.
People who want an experience farming firsthand but are lacking in resources may choose
to sign up for scholarships and free training sessions sponsored by government agencies.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/16/ati-accredited-farm-schools-that-aspiring-farmers-can-visit-for-learning/
More for less: Biotech approach increases rice yields

with fewer nitrogen inputs
Nicholas Karavolias | Cornell Alliance for Science | November 16, 2021
This article or excerpt is included in the GLP‘s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse
news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology innovation. It is posted under Fair Use guidelines.
O n a hypothetical culinary tour around the globe, sampling the classic dishes of the world, one
would be hard pressed to avoid a single quintessential ingredient: rice.
From jollof to arroz con camarones, jambalaya to biryani, rice is a hallmark of most cuisines. In
fact, rice is the most widely produced crop for direct consumption. Countless varieties with
unique qualities are grown across a huge range of landscapes.
Crop improvements made in rice are amplified by the vast global acreage its production
occupies. It is therefore no wonder that researchers often investigate yield advances specifically
in this crop.
The impositions of a rapidly expanding population and climate change on an already fragile food
system are daunting. It is therefore of utmost importance that rice production is safeguarded.
Modern rice varieties developed by breeding rely heavily on nitrogen inputs to produce high
yields. Synthetic nitrogen production is energetically costly, comprising nearly 40 percent of the
total energy cost of rice production.
What‘s more, rice yield improvement facilitated by conventional breeding methods have
plateaued. However, alternate biotechnological interventions can provide a promising
mechanism to overcome yield stagnation. In the face of climate change resulting from
anthropogenic greenhouse gases and a rapidly growing population it is imperative to reduce the
carbon footprint of agricultural systems while increasing yield.
This gargantuan task has recently been attempted by Zhang et al, as published in Nature. By over-
expressing a single native rice gene, researchers were able to simultaneously increase yield and
nitrogen use efficiency in field trials by 33 percent and 46 percent, respectively.
Increasing the expression of the rice gene OSA1, a membrane-localized proton pump involved in
multiple physiological processes such as root nitrogen uptake and stomatal conductance, proved
remarkably effective. Plants with greater OSA1 expression were better able to accumulate nitrogen in
the form of ammonia from the paddy and carbon from the atmosphere via stomata. Collectively, this
biotechnological approach yielded rice crops with higher yields and more efficient use of nitrogen
across a range of varied test plot environments.
These exciting outcomes were achieved by increasing the expression of a single native rice gene.
Consumer fears regarding the use of genes from foreign organisms would hopefully be assuaged by
this approach, in which no new genes need be introduced. Rather, the level of a native rice gene is
simply modulated.
The work produced by Zhang et al. is an exciting opportunity to significantly enhance rice yields
while lowering requisite nitrogen inputs. Mounting impacts of climate change alongside growing
populations create a pressing need for innovations that can simultaneously address the opposing
demands of yield and agricultural input efficiency. Zhang et al. have miraculously achieved one such
breakthrough in their exciting new work.
Adapting this technology to be entirely free of foreign genes and into varieties that are widely
produced is necessary before growers can begin to benefit from this innovation.
Nicholas Karavolias is a PhD candidate in the Staskawicz Lab at the University of California,
Berkeley, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships Program recipient
and a FFAR Fellow.
A version of this article was originally posted at the Cornell Alliance for Science and is
reposted here with permission. The Cornell Alliance for Science can be found on
https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2021/11/16/more-for-less-biotech-approach-increases-rice-yields-with-
fewer-nitrogen-inputs/
Dry rice: Cracking the core molecular and physiological

traits of drought-tolerant rice
Study links gene expression patterns to traits that improve drought tolerance in rice plants
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

MAGE: THE RESEARCHERS CONDUCTING THEIR FIELD EXPERIMENT.
CREDIT: DR. AMELIA HENRY, INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS
BAÑOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
For many smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia, rice is more than a staple food—it‘s
a livelihood. Generations of smallholder farmers have relied solely on rainfall to irrigate their
crops, but the increasing frequency and severity of dry spells caused by climate change are
putting rice production under extreme pressure. Some traditional rice varieties grown in these
regions have adapted to dry conditions, and may hold the key to developing strategies to boost
rice production under drought: ―If we can identify the genes involved in drought resistance of
traditional rice varieties, we can use this knowledge for breeding new, more stable-yielding,
drought-resistant rice varieties,‖ says Dr. Simon ―Niels‖ Groen, first author of an exciting new
study published in The Plant Cell.
10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
In a field experiment conducted in the Philippines, spanning two years and involving thousands
of rice plants, Dr. Groen and his colleagues set out to do just that. Using a panel of 20 different
rice varieties, some of which were known to stand up well to drought, the team explored how dry
conditions affect gene expression patterns in rice, how drought-stressed rice plants coordinate
gene expression between their roots and shoots, and how these gene expression patterns are
linked to traits that make plants more resilient in dry conditions.
To obtain root material for their study, the team had to crack open rock-hard soil using pickaxes
and hammers. As Dr. Groen puts it, ―It was like searching for gold!‖. Their efforts paid off. The
team identified a series of traits linked to rice plant fitness under drought, such as increased
crown root density. Drought had a greater effect on gene expression patterns in the roots than in
the shoots, but the team identified modules of co-expressed genes linked to drought tolerance in
both the roots and the shoots. Many of these modules included genes that had previously been
linked to improved drought tolerance, such as those involved in root-to-shoot water transport and
photosynthesis, and one module contained genes known to be involved in interactions with soil-
dwelling arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Interactions between the roots and beneficial soil
organisms might enhance drought tolerance by improving access to nutrients and the authors are
eager to explore this possibility further.
The team hopes that the gene modules identified in their study will guide efforts to breed
resilient rice varieties, easing some of the pressures of a hotter, drier world: ―We could see with
our own eyes how drought can affect rice production and, most importantly, the lives of
smallholder farmers in the area. This brought into perspective why we are doing the research that
we are doing."
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/934864
Rice price remains high despite huge imports, stocks
Rejaul Karim Byron , Refayet Ullah Mirdha
Tue Nov 16, 2021 12:00 AM Last update on: Tue Nov 16, 2021 08:40 AM
Rice price in Bangladesh has remained at an elevated level despite higher imports in recent
months on the back of lower customs duty and reduced price in the international market as well
as a record stock in government warehouses.
The retail price of coarse rice, consumed by a majority of the population, rose to Tk 44 to Tk 48
per kg on November 11, up from Tk 42.63 in May, according to the Department of Agricultural
Marketing.
The higher price of the staple food came at a time when the harvesting of Aman, the second-
largest paddy crop in the country, is underway.
Between July and November 10 in the current fiscal year, 7.73 lakh tonnes of rice were
imported, compared to zero imports in the same period last fiscal year, according to data from
the food ministry.
Of the quantity, 4.94 lakh tonnes were brought in by the government and 2.79 lakh tonnes by the
private sector to meet the growing demand.
Although no imports took place between July and October in 2020-21, the scenario changed in
the subsequent months because of the depletion of the food stock at state-run warehouses and a
high price of the item in domestic markets.
The situation prompted the government to cut the import duty to 25 per cent from 62.5 per cent
to encourage imports. As a result, rice imports went up to 13.59 lakh tonnes at the end of the last
fiscal year.
The government has initiated moves to import rice under state-to-state agreements. It signed
deals with supplying nations to buy 12.50 lakh tonnes of rice between 2020-21 and 2021-22. It
purchased 10.66 lakh tonnes of rice between January and November. Towards the end of the last
fiscal year, the food ministry permitted 320 private companies to import 15.61 lakh tonnes of
rice. Another 415 private firms obtained consent to buy 16.93 lakh tonnes of rice in FY22, food
ministry documents showed.
As of November 10, the private sector imported 10.65 lakh tonnes of rice.
Chitta Majumder, managing director of Majumder Group of Industries, attributed the gap
between demand and supply as well as the reduction in the import duty for the increase in
imports.
"However, the import will come down because of the reinstatement of the previous 62.5 per cent
duty in October.
Many private importers have already canceled LCs."
Between July and October, letters of credit (LCs) were opened to import 7.97 lakh tonnes of rice,
said a senior official of the food ministry.
Majumder said the import cost of rice was Tk 40 per kilogramme (kg), but it would go up in the
local market due to the reinstatement of the higher duty.
Food Secretary Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum said: "The reasons for the increase in the price
of rice can't be pinpointed precisely. Imports have gone up but not as much given the number of
approvals given."
She said the import duty was brought to the previous level to help farmers get fair prices. "If the
prices go up, we will think about lowering the import duty again."
The higher import came as the price has declined in key exporting nations. For instance, rice was
sold at $381 per tonne in October in Thailand, down from $451 in the same month last year.
During the period, it fell to $359 per tonne from $369 in India, and from $526 to $445 in
Myanmar.
In Bangladesh, the production of paddy also rose.
The production of Boro, the largest crop in Bangladesh, was up 1.2 per cent at 1.99 crore tonnes
in the last fiscal year.
The higher import of rice and the robust public procurement of boro rice sent the stock of the
staple in state warehouses to a new high.
On October 10, state warehouses had a rice stock of 13.70 lakh tonnes, way higher than the 8.2
lakh tonnes recorded on the same day last year, food ministry data showed.
The stock of food, consisting of rice and wheat, jumped to 15.26 lakh tonnes on November 10,
up from 8 lakh tonnes in January.
https://dailypakistan.com.pk/15-Nov-2021/1365858+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=p
Drought Tolerance in Rice: Focus on Recent

Mechanisms and Approache
Study links gene expression patterns to traits that improve drought tolerance in rice plants
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS
CREDIT: DR. AMELIA HENRY, INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS

BAÑOS, LAGUNA, PHILIPPINES
For many smallholder farmers in South and Southeast Asia, rice is more than a staple food—it‘s
a livelihood. Generations of smallholder farmers have relied solely on rainfall to irrigate their
crops, but the increasing frequency and severity of dry spells caused by climate change are
putting rice production under extreme pressure. Some traditional rice varieties grown in these
regions have adapted to dry conditions, and may hold the key to developing strategies to boost
rice production under drought: ―If we can identify the genes involved in drought resistance of
traditional rice varieties, we can use this knowledge for breeding new, more stable-yielding,
drought-resistant rice varieties,‖ says Dr. Simon ―Niels‖ Groen, first author of an exciting new
study published in The Plant Cell.
In a field experiment conducted in the Philippines, spanning two years and involving thousands
of rice plants, Dr. Groen and his colleagues set out to do just that. Using a panel of 20 different
rice varieties, some of which were known to stand up well to drought, the team explored how dry
conditions affect gene expression patterns in rice, how drought-stressed rice plants coordinate
gene expression between their roots and shoots, and how these gene expression patterns are
linked to traits that make plants more resilient in dry conditions.
To obtain root material for their study, the team had to crack open rock-hard soil using pickaxes
and hammers. As Dr. Groen puts it, ―It was like searching for gold!‖. Their efforts paid off. The
team identified a series of traits linked to rice plant fitness under drought, such as increased
crown root density. Drought had a greater effect on gene expression patterns in the roots than in
the shoots, but the team identified modules of co-expressed genes linked to drought tolerance in
both the roots and the shoots. Many of these modules included genes that had previously been
linked to improved drought tolerance, such as those involved in root-to-shoot water transport and
photosynthesis, and one module contained genes known to be involved in interactions with soil-
dwelling arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Interactions between the roots and beneficial soil
organisms might enhance drought tolerance by improving access to nutrients and the authors are
eager to explore this possibility further.
The team hopes that the gene modules identified in their study will guide efforts to breed
resilient rice varieties, easing some of the pressures of a hotter, drier world: ―We could see with
our own eyes how drought can affect rice production and, most importantly, the lives of
smallholder farmers in the area. This brought into perspective why we are doing the research that
we are doing."
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/934864
Participatory rice variety evaluation programme

conducted in Lakhimpur
A two day participatory rice variety evaluation programme was organized by Regional Agricultural
Research Station (RARS)
By : Sentinel Digital Desk | 14 Nov 2021 9:07 AM 3 A CORRESPONDENT LAKHIMPUR: A two day
participatory rice variety evaluation programme was organized by Regional Agricultural Research Station
(RARS), North Lakhimpur under Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) at the
Crop Cafeteria of the Institution on Friday and Saturday. The programme on Friday started with a
welcome address by RARS Chief Scientist Dr. Prabal Saikia. Project Scientist Dr. Dhiren Chowdhury
discussed main objectives of the programme which was followed by a brief discussion on the selection
and evaluation of rice varieties by International Rice Research Specialist Dr. R. Priyadarshi. Principal
Scientist, Dr. T. C. Mahanta, Junior Scientist, Dr. Y. Das, Dr. N.K. Gogoi, Bibha Ozah, APART Project
Scientist (AAU) Jutika Das, Abhilisha Mudoi, APART Project Associate Porismita Dutta and Research
Technician Champak Saikia also took part in the programme. Notably, Crop Cafeteria is a replicated trial
of different (traditional, prevalent or newly introduced) rice varieties at a particular place to enable the
stakeholders, farmers to select a suited rice variety of their preference in a particular region or agro-
climatic zone. In the cafeteria, the rice varieties are raised in such a manner that all the varieties have
synchronous flowering or matured at the same time.
The synchronous maturity is achieved by staggered nursery sowing. Each variety was raised in multiple
replications and put to uniform agronomic practices. 24 variety including Semi Deep Water Rice
(SDWR), Deep Water Rice (DWR), Stress Tolerant Rice Variety (STRV), Local Popular Variety (LPV)
and Premium Quality Rice (PQR) varieties with three replications of each variety making it to a total of
72 plots were established in the cafeteria field. The main focus of the programme was on-spot varietal
evaluation by different stakeholders such as private seed growers, extension functionaries, farmers,
farmer producer companies, rice millers, scientists, DoA-ATMA and other government officials.
These varietal selections by the stakeholders were based on important yield parameters such as grain type,
quality and other crop characteristics and it also focused on creating awareness about different STRVs
and PQR varieties among different stakeholders for its faster adoption. The programme included an
evaluation of varieties by the farmers present. A total of 25 farmers from different locations were present
in the programme. They were given four different colour tags for positive and negative voting to the male
and female participants. The farmers voted based on the phenotypic characters which resulted in variety
Panchanan amongst SDWRs, Bahadur Sub-1 amongst STRVs, CR Dhan 909 amongst PQRs and Numoli
amongst High yielding Variety as the best varieties. The overall votes for CR Dhan 909 were recorded
highest which is a semi dwarf variety with strong aroma, good cooking quality, no lodging problem and
suitable for rice flakes and confectionery products. The variety is moderately resistant to major diseases
and pest having a duration of 140-145 days with 4.5-5.5t/ha. All these characteristics led CR Dhan 909 to
get the highest number of votes. The programme was appreciated by everyone present and was concluded
by a vote of thanks by Porismita Dutta. The second day programme on Saturday continued with several
scientists, extension functionaries participating in critical evaluation of the rice varieties.
https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/participatory-rice-variety-
evaluation-programme-conducted-in-lakhimpur-563100
Benchmark Value policy: GUTA warns of 25%

increase in price of goods if policy is reversed
Source: Charles Ayitey
15 November 2021 3:14pm
GUTA President, Dr. Joseph Obeng

The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) is predicting a 25% increase in the price of general
goods, should there be any attempt by government to review or reverse the 50% and 30% Benchmark
Values policy of some 32 selected items.
It follows a letter from the Ghana Revenue Authority to the Finance Minister, calling for an outright
reversal of the policy.
Speaking at a press conference, President of GUTA, Dr. Joseph Obeng warned that any attempt to
introduce this policy in the 2022 Budget will disrupt Ghana‘s distribution sector.
―We should be very surprise if the government succumbs to this treacherous and diabolic request of the
AGI who are trying to lobby against this most acceptable flagship policy of the government to destroy the
distribution sector of the economy,‖ Dr. Joseph Obeng said.
GUTA is thereby calling on government not to introduce any such policy in the 2022 Budget Statement.
Members of GUTA have also been charged not to pay any additional amount on duty for clearance.
―We will appeal to the government to, as a matter of urgency call for the immediate withdrawal of the
statement issued by the GRA on the review of the 50% and 30% reduction of the Benchmark Value
policy and not to even consider bringing it into the forthcoming budget statement, to forestall the
mounting agitations in the trading sector,‖ Dr. Joseph Obeng further stated.
Meanwhile, the Food and Beverage Association is also warning of some disruption in the value chain of
beverage products, ahead of the Christmas season should the policy be reversed in the 2022 Budget.
―We are expecting the hike of products by about 25%. The food and beverage industry will also be
heavily hit by this development,‖ he stressed.
—
www.myjoyonline.com/benchmark-value-policy-guta-warns-of-25-increase-in-price-of-goods-if-policy-
is-reversed
NARPPMMAN: Nigeria Can be Self-sufficient in Rice

Production
editorNovember 16, 2021 12:00 Am
The National President, National Rice Producers, Processors, Millers and Marketers Association
of Nigeria (NARPPMMAN), Mr. Mustapha Amadu, in this interview shared his thoughts on the
challenges, opportunities in rice production and his plans to use the association to transform the
nation‘s rice value chain to create employment for graduates, market women and widows.
Gilbert Ekugbe brings the excerpts:
The Government has been focusing on rice production and as a player in the industry, does
Nigeria have the capacity to produce rice?
Nigeria has the capacity to produce rice and not only to feed Nigerians but to also export. We
have a lot of places where we can cultivate rice in Nigeria and if government is serious in
supporting the farmers and all the complete rice value chain so that we can improve in the
production of rice in Nigeria and as we are now today, if our farmers can be assisted to go into
their farms both dry and wet seasons, I believe within a year, we will be able to feed ourselves as
well as export to other countries.
What areas do local rice farmers need assistance from the federal government?
Actually the federal government is trying through the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) and
we want them to improve so that the programme can be sustained. In the rice value chain, we
have the farmers, the producers, miller processors and the marketers. This is the complete rice
value chain where we can produce very clean rice to a very good standard where we can eat in
Nigeria and also export to other neighbouring countries and the world at large. If we are properly
assisted by the government, I think our millers, processors and the other stakeholders in the rice
industry will improve too so that we can produce standard rice for Nigerians.Given the current
level of rice production in the country, can Nigeria produce enough rice to meet the growing
population estimated to hit 264 million people by 2030?
Yes, if we can be properly assisted, funded and it would require time and if we are given the
opportunity to go into rice farming at the right time, I am telling you that with proper supervision
and management, we can feed this nation. We have the processors and we have the farmers and
they are on ground and if we work with the real farmers we can get what we want. Let us go
back to the rural areas like places like Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano and Niger States.
These few states that have mentioned to you can feed this nation and even export the rice to other
countries because we have the places on ground and we have the determined farmers that are
ready to work. The only thing we want now is for the federal government to encourage them and
show them how to farm, give them the necessary support and I am assuring you that we can be
the best in rice production.
Do you think the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ABP is effective?
It is working and it is effective. It has helped the farmers and it has helped the country because
this scheme has helped in the production of rice as we are now trying to feed ourselves and we
also want to commend CBN because the Governor has plans for our farmers and we are really
appreciating him and will also like to encourage our farmers to do more because with their help
Nigeria will be able to feed itself whole also come out of poverty.
What are some of the challenges hindering your members and rice production in the country?
We need support both for the processors, farmers, millers and marketers. We need support of the
federal government so that we can improve on what we have on ground. Some of our members
have small drilling machines, modular machines, the processors, the market women in the
markets all need support so that we can move from where we are and we are also ready to bring
Nigeria out of poverty because we have a lot of programmes for youths, widows and women to
encourage them to go into agriculture, marketing, processing so that we can all join hands
together to boost the country‘s value chain
Nigeria still prefers foreign rice despite the fact that local rice is still more nutritional. What is
your advice to consumers who still prefer foreign rice to local rice?
This is the problem we have in Nigeria. Beside most of our people believes that foreign rice is
better than local rice, but I am assuring you that with this development we have on ground and
the present administration, most of our people are now consuming local rice. I am also telling
you that local rice is far better than foreign rice because the local rice we are seeing in the market
is your local man here that is cultivating that rice, you know his farm, you know where he is
cultivating the rice and you know the time he is cultivating the rice and the time he brings the
rice to the market. So you are sure that this rice is pure and you are consuming natural rice, not
artificial. Nigerian rice is better than foreign rice, but our people have penchant for foreign things
and I do not know why, but with this development and the encouragement we are getting from
the federal government, most of our people are now consuming local rice.
What are some of the achievements you have recorded as the president of the association?
We are a newly formed association and the association is a brainchild of the Federal Ministry of
Industry, Trade and Investment and we were just elected about two months ago. We have our
national headquarters in Utako, Abuja and under my leadership, we have the structures of all the
36 states and in all the 774 local governments across the federation and we also have about 150
farmers registered with us, we have millers registered, we have processors registered and
marketers registered with us and for now, we want to see how we can partner with many
agencies so that we can help our members and we are also sensitising our members on the
activities of the association so as to bring the complete rice value chain to standards for Nigeria.
What makes your association different from other associations?
Some people think association is just to come and enjoy participation. This association was
created by the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment and it is a mega association. We have
RIFAN, Mega rice farmers, RIMAN, rice growers. We have about 14 different associations
amalgamated into one umbrella under the control of NAPMAN. We have all merged together
under the ministry and that is why the name is National Rice Producers, Processors, Millers and
Marketers Association of Nigeria. We have all these bodies in the association because we want
to see how we can bring a change, we want to see how we can bring that change and we want to
see how we can bring the complete Nigeria rice value chain to standard so that is why we have
all come together under the federal ministry and we are all represented in each state and local
government from down to up is being represented by this association.
Do you support the need to check the influx of smuggled rice into the country?
We are in support of that because this is why we are having shortages of food in our market,
because most of the marketers are going there to purchase the produce and take them out, but in
our association we are sensitising our members on the need to utilise what we have in Nigeria,
because we have the farmers, and if we produce, we have the processors, we have the millers, we
have the marketers and when they produce we have the marketers that will buy the produce from
the farmers and when they buy we have the millers who will mill the rice to standards, so there is
no need for us to take our rice somewhere because we have all the equipment that will mill the
rice to standards in Nigeria because some of our marketers are in that activity to smuggle our rice
outside and that is why we are having issues. Some of these marketers give money to small
holder farmers in the village during planting season and after harvesting, they come back to
collect a certain batch of the money they have given to the farmers and this is causing a lot of
problems and these farmers have no money to go to his farm and if anybody comes to give him
money he would gladly collect it and that is why we are calling on the federal government to
improve on the ABP and also the associations too as it would help us to address the issue of
smuggling in the country.
Going forward, what are some of the plans you have for the association?
We have different rice association in the complete rice value chain, and for this association, we
want to reduce the rate of unemployment amongst our youths. We want to assist the widows and
the market women and we also have a programme that will encourage graduates that will come
and join us so that we will go back to agriculture. We also want to look for farms from our
various state governments and in each state we need not less than 300,000 to 5,00,000 hectares
where we will gather our graduates, train them, give them inputs and afford land to farm in that
land so that we can reduce that redundancy and each state. We want to have at least 300 to 500
graduates where we can train them on agriculture, so also, we want to encourage our women
leaders and marketers most especially those in the rice value chain. We will encourage them,
train them on milling activities and assist them where necessary so that we will also improve the
quality of locally produced rice and the same thing with our major millers as we are working
seriously to see how we can improve their milling activities and standards to produce quality rice
for Nigerians and for export. We have a lot of programmes and we are just starting and we are
praying that our members will give us the full support, from the executive to the local so that we
can achieve the desired end
How has insecurity affected the production of rice in the country?
It has affected farmers seriously most especially in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa and
Taraba. I am telling you that most of our farmers are not going to the farm because of issues of
kidnapping and banditry, but despite the insecurity, we are still trying and our members are still
trying and I believe in Nigeria that if we address this insecurity, we will be surprised with what
we will be surprised about what will come out from Nigeria with regards to rice because
insecurity has hampered farmers‘ productivity and it has taken us back seriously and we are
appealing to the federal government, state government and security agencies to please add more
efforts on what they are doing so that it would curtail the high level of insecurity in the country.
Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD., 35

Creek Road Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria with offices in 36 states of Nigeria , the Federal Capital
Territory and around the world. It is Nigeria's most authoritative news media available on all
platforms for the political, business, professional and diplomatic elite and broader middle classes
while serving as the meeting point of new ideas, culture and technology for the aspirationals and
millennials. The newspaper is a public trust dedicated to the pursuit of truth and reason covering
a range of issues from breaking news to politics, business, the markets, the arts, sports and
community to the crossroads of people and society.
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/11/16/narppmman-nigeria-can-be-self-sufficient-in-rice-
production
Central bank ends subsidy in fragrant rice export
The Bangladesh Bank did not state any reason for the decision in the circular
TBS Report
15 November, 2021, 09:10 pm
Last modified: 15 November, 2021, 09:16 pm
The central bank has directed banks to end a 15% cash incentive to fragrant rice
exporters.
Subsidies for other rice exporters, however, will be continued, the Bangladesh Bank said in a
circular issued on Monday.
The bank did not state any reason for the decision in the circular.
The government introduced a 15% cash subsidy last year to rice exporters for the first time in the
country's history with the view to encouraging shipment of the surplus grain.
According to a central bank directive in this regard, in an earlier directive issued on 30 January
2020, the central bank introduced the financial aid offers to rice exporters.
Millers, who process rice from locally grown paddy, will be eligible for the cash subsidy on their
earnings from export, according to a central bank directive issued at the time.
https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/central-bank-ends-subsidy-fragrant-rice-export-330127
Fall-ing For Rice

By Sarah Moran
OTTAWA, CANADA -- As the seasons change, so do our food preferences, and excitement
around seasonal items, has grown with new twists on familiar favorites and flavors giving
consumers the means to break the monotony. Based on the results of a recent survey on trending
ingredients, USA Rice is inspiring Canadians to spice up their rice recipe options this fall with
classic blends of autumn spices and seasonings, nostalgic dessert-inspired flavors, and comfort
food recipes.
Rice, spice, and everything nice

USA Rice has integrated various seasonal foods into influencer and social media campaigns, and
this month teamed up with @mylittlesecret, a recipe creator who focuses on food and family
content, to create a Pumpkin Spice Rice Crouton recipe. Recipes for Turkey Gravy Rice
Croutons and Stuffed Acorn Squash with Sausage and Rice also have been shared across USA
Rice Canada‘s social media platforms where they garnered a combined 235,000 impressions.
For dessert lovers, USA Rice is highlighting recipes that feature blends of cinnamon, pears, and
cranberries in dishes such as Rice Pudding Pear Tart and Cranberry Pear Rice Crisp.
USA Rice Canada‘s Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest channels also feature classic comfort
foods such as a Gluten-Free Best Ever Turkey and Rice Soup, Colossal Rice and Beef Meatballs,
and Jambalaya Arancini.
―Canadian consumers looking for classic Thanksgiving recipes or inspiration for something new
and decadent featuring fall flavors, can find everything they need at USA Rice Canada,‖ said
Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director for international promotion. ―Our social media followers can
enjoy abundant fall flavors with very little effort this season by following @USARiceCan on
Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.‖
http://www.usarice.com/news-and-events/publications/usa-rice-daily/article/usa-rice-
daily/2021/11/15/fall-ing-for-rice
FCI Refuses to Buy Parboiled Rice from Telangana;

Know Why
Ayushi Raina Updated 15 November, 2021 2:19 PM IST Published on 15 November, 2021 12:58
PM IST
FCI Refuses to Buy Parboiled Rice
According to Sudanshu Pandey, Union Meals and Public Distribution Secretary, the Meals
Company of India (FCI) has excess shares of parboiled rice that may help the central pool meet
demand from consuming States over the next four years.
"Not only from Telangana, but also from Chhattisgarh, parboiled rice procurement isn't being
completed," the Meals Secretary stated.
While opting not to purchase parboiled rice from Telangana, the FCI stated that it could be
interested in obtaining white rice.
"We had successfully conveyed our resolution to the Telangana government prematurely. In fact,
we had engaged with the State government in determining the procurement amount," Pandey
explained. He said that Telangana was trying to deceive them on the rice procurement.
Last season, the FCI was hesitant to purchase parboiled rice. However, Telangana Chief
Minister Ok Chandrasekhar Rao met with Centre officials and persuaded them to acquire an
additional 2.47 million tonnes (mt).
As a result, he came to the conclusion that the firm will not purchase from the rabi harvest
season, which begins in April of the subsequent year.
Procurement guidelines
The state government has warned farmers that the FCI would no longer purchase parboiled rice
beginning in April and that they must change crops. Nonetheless, the matter became politicised,
with the Opposition, led by the BJP, protesting and Rao blaming the Centre for the troubles. On
Friday, the governing Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) protested the FCI's decision not to
acquire parboiled rice.
The State government has been giving priority to the welfare of fishermen, said Stambadri
Urban Development Authority (SUDA) Chairman, Bachu…

Opposition events, on the other hand, emphasise that procurement of kharif rice is yet to begin
within the State. They've started a separate campaign urging that it be purchased as soon as
possible.
One reason for the FCI to reduce its parboiled rice purchase, according to Pandey, is that some
states have developed their own selection and use their own Decentralized procurement system
(DCP) for personal consumption.
"Kerala and Bihar have their own parboiled rice and DCP." As a result, there is no demand
from the central pool (for parboiled rice). "What can we do after procuring it?" the
Secretary metioned. Telangana should abide by the agreement struck with the Centre, he said.
Rice traders stated that the Telangana government has a problem if farmers opt to offer more
white rice.
Damaged rice
The problem for farmers is that the current weather patterns result in grain damage in February
and March. To overcome that, they choose for the parboiled selection.
"Telangana farmers domesticate high-yielding cultivars, but they break up easily during
milling," Pandey said. To avoid this, they steam the paddy, resulting in a higher yield as well as
a higher value. "Efforts must be done to reduce the brokens," he said.
Telangana residents do not consume parboiled rice, which is manufactured for consumption by
other states. According to merchants, it has now encountered a snag since the consuming
countries are establishing their own method.
https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/fci-refuses-to-buy-parboiled-rice-from-telangana-know-why
Rochelle Humes cooks curry in a hurry

What‟s for Dinner? TV presenter‟s family love this quick and easy chicken or tofu
recipe
Rochelle Humes
Rochelle Humes‘s spicy chicken (or tofu) curry

At home, we are big believers in the importance of sitting around the dinner table
together and having quality time as a family, no matter how busy the day. This recipe
is perfect for those busy days, a crowd-pleasing curry that all of the family can eat
together. I‘ve included a tofu option, which has a similar meaty texture to chicken, for
those who don‘t eat meat.
I‘ve always tried to introduce spice to my kids from an early age. If you wanted to
adapt this recipe for first-stage weaning, you could cook some of the veg in a separate
pan until tender, then blitz up with some yoghurt and cooked basmati rice to make a
purée.
For older children, you could serve the curry as it is, but with a little yoghurt stirred
through to cool it down for younger palates. This recipe makes a big batch, so is
perfect for portioning off half to put in the freezer for another day. I like to serve this
curry with basmati rice and mango chutney.
Rochelle Humes is a TV host, businesswoman and mother of three. She has just
published her first cookbook At Mama’s Table, published by Vermilion.
Rochelle Humes’s spicy chicken (or tofu) curry in a hurry
Serves 8 (or 4 and 4 for the freezer)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, halved and finely sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 courgette, cut into 2cm pieces
1 red pepper, deseeded and sliced
400g chicken breast or tofu
2 tbsp korma curry paste (check label for allergens)
1 small bunch coriander, leaves picked and stalks finely chopped
1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes
1 x 400ml can coconut milk
Handful of spinach leaves
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Cooked basmati rice and mango chutney, to serve
Rochelle Humes has just published her first cookbook, At Mama‘s Table
Method
1 Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat.
2 Add the red onion, garlic, courgette and red pepper and cook, stirring occasionally,
for five minutes until softened.
3 Meanwhile, chop the chicken or tofu into bite-sized chunks, then add to the pan
along with the curry paste and chopped coriander stalks.
4 Cook, stirring continuously, for five minutes to seal the chicken, then add the
chopped tomatoes and coconut milk and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to the boil,
then reduce to a simmer and leave to cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until
the sauce is fragrant and the chicken is cooked through.
5 Stir through the spinach until wilted, then season the curry with salt and pepper to
taste, spoon into serving bowls and serve hot, with cooked basmati rice and mango
chutney alongside and a scattering of coriander leaves over the top.
https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/rochelle-humes-cooks-curry-in-a-hurry-
Riceland Foods Celebrates 100th Anniversary

Stuttgart Daily Leader
Riceland Foods celebrated the farmer-owned cooperative‘s 100th anniversary, reported sales
of nearly $1 billion and announced a pledge of $100,000 to the Arkansas Futu re Farmer of
America Foundation during the annual meeting held at the Embassy Suites Hotel Thursday.
https://lafarmbureaunews.com/news/2021/11/15/riceland-foods-celebrates-100th-
anniversary+
Our Japanese-born reporter tries California-grown

rice, gets his mind blown【Taste test】
 Casey Baseel
His friend warned him about Calrose rice. Should he have listened?
As someone born and raised in Japan, our Japanese-language reporter P.K.
Sanjun eats a lot of rice. And while his favorite way to eat it is, of course, fresh
out of the rice cooker, like a lot of Japanese people he also likes to keep a
few microwavable rice packs in his apartment, just in case he doesn‘t have time
to cook a pot of grains before hunger hits.
So on his most recent trip to Costco, P.K. was looking to pick up some rice packs,
when he came across a variety he‟d never noticed before.
As you can probably guess from the American flag, Calrose rice isn‟t grown in
Japan, and the first part of its name comes from “California,” the West Coast
American state where it is grown. P.K. was a little worried, though, because even
though he‘s never eaten Calrose rice himself, he has a Japanese friend who‟s
currently living in the U.S., and said friend wasn‟t impressed when he tried it.
―I‘d rate it as thoroughly mediocre, or maybe below-average,‖ P.K.‘s friend had
told him. ―I buy THE MOST expensive rice you can get here, the Tamaki Gold,
and Calrose is a lot cheaper. Don‘t compare it to Japanese rice. When I go back to
Japan, even the average rice tastes so good to me.‖
Not exactly the most glowing endorsement, but then again, they say there‘s no
accounting for personal taste. P.K. felt a little reassured when he saw that
Costco‟s Calrose rice packs are specifically produced for Iris Ohyama, a
Japanese trading company, since it suggested that at least someone at the company
thought Calrose rice would be pleasing to Japanese people‘s palates.
But what really sealed the deal was the price. The Calrose rice packs come in a
24-pack box for 1,498 yen (US$13.15). That works out to just about 62 yen each,
which is an amazingly cheap price for rice packs in Japan. With each pack
having 180 grams (6.3 ounces) of rice, he‘d be getting 4.32 kilos for 1,498 yen,
pretty much about the same price as he‘d pay for a sack of rice in a Japanese
supermarket of that size that he‘d have to go through the trouble and time of
cooking.
So P.K. took the plunge and bought the box, figuring that if the Calrose rice really
did taste all that bad, he could just feed the remaining packs to Mr. Sato or
something.
Doing a little online research on his way home, P.K. learned that Calrose is a
medium-grain Japonica rice, and the Japanese-language website of the USA Rice
Foundation describes it as something of a midpoint between Japan‟s domestic
short-grain varieties and the long-grain Thai-style jasmine rice that also has a
lot of fans in Japan.
After tearing back a corner of the wrapping to the dotted line, P.K. popped the
pack in the microwave for two minutes, then grabbed his chopsticks for the
tasting…
…and it took exactly one bite for P.K. to learn that he and his friend have
some very different opinions about rice. “Calrose rice isn‟t bad at all!” P.K.
says. “It‟s honestly really good! It‘s a touch on the airy side, but it has a nice,
subtle sweetness. I don‘t know if I‘d want to just eat a bowl of it by itself with
nothing else, but there‘s no way you can say it tastes bad. It‘d be a great rice to use
with curry, and even though the grains are longer than Japanese rice, it‘s not really
something you notice very much while you‘re chewing.‖
On the 1-to-5 P.K. scale, the Calrose rice packs get near-perfect 4s in both the ―I‘d
recommend this‖ and ―I‘d buy this again‖ categories. “The flavor is above and
beyond „OK,‟ and taking the price into account, these might be the best
possible rice packs to keep on hand,” he says.
So all in all, a much smarter choice than that giant chocolate egg P.K. got on one
of his previous Costco runs.
https://soranews24.com/2021/11/15/our-japanese-born-reporter-tries-california-grown-rice-gets-his-mind-
blown
Synthesis of High-Performance Lithium Storage Using

Rice-Husks
By Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Nov 15 2021Reviewed by Skyla Baily

A team of researchers from China recently synthesized a silicon-silicon oxide-carbon (Si-
SiOX-C) based multi-layered composite anode for lithium-ion batteries to achieve enhanced
electrochemical performance using rice husks. This research is published in the
journal Electrochemical Acta.
Study: One-step synthesis of interface-coupled Si@SiOX@C from whole rice-husks for high-
performance lithium storage. Image Credit: Sakdinon Kadchiangsaen/Shutterstock.com
Silicon-Carbon Composites: Anode Materials for Li-Ion Batteries
Lithium-based energy storage systems are the future of the world‘s energy demand and supply
curve. As the demand for electric vehicles is forever increasing, there is a need for the
development of high-performance and eco-friendly energy materials for application in
rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Silicon (Si) is one of the most promising anode materials, which possesses a high theoretical
specific capacity (4200mAh g-1) and low discharge potential of less than 0.5 V. However, poor
conductivity, and volume expansion during reversing cycles are some of the major challenges for
their applications.
As an alternative, silicon-carbon (Si-C) composites are one of the most promising anode
materials for Li-ion batteries due to their superior electrochemical performance. Over the past
few years, researchers around the world have worked towards the development of silicon-carbon
(Si-C) composite materials.
Porous silicon microsphere-carbon (pSiMS-C) core-shell composite, watermelon-like Si-C

microspheres with layered buffer structure, silicon-carbon (Si-C) core-shell nanocomposite, and
silicon core-porous carbon shell structure composite has been developed to enhance the cyclic
performance of silicon-based anodes.
However, their commercial viability is seriously compromised due to the use of chemical
reagents as carbon sources, capricious coating structures, and the complexity of the synthesis
process.
Nevertheless, fragile interface connections between the silicon core and the carbon layer
remained a challenge due to the heterogeneity of the shell and the core. Moreover, the inherent
mechanical rigidness of carbon cannot withstand multiple lithiation-delithiation cycles, thus
resulting in structural collapsing and deterioration of the electrochemical properties of the
electrode.
Additionally, there is an obligation to find alternative techniques and other material types for the
synthesis of Si-C composites with superior performance in an eco-friendly way.
Si-SiOX-C Composite: Improved Alternative to Si-C Anode
The researchers used a one-step carbonization method at 800 °C in a nitrogen (N) environment to
prepare Si-SiOX-C-800 composite in the shape of tiny silicon spheres coated with layers of SiOX
and N-doped carbon by using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIMAcO), silicon
nanoparticles (Si-NPS), and rice husks.
After optimization, Si-SiOx-C-800 was applied to the anode of lithium-ion batteries. The
resulting multi-layered composite exhibited enhanced reversible capacity (694 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A
g−1), excellent rate performance (220 mAh g−1 at 2 A g−1), and remarkable cyclic stability (460
mAh g-1 with a capacity retention of 105.7% at 1 A g-1 after 1000 cycles).
BMIMAcO was used as a coupling agent for the formation of Si-N bonds, which leads to a
robust inter-bonding between the SiOX and biochar (carbonization of rice husk) layer, hence
achieving optimum utilization of the rice husks components.
The coupling of interfaces by Si-N bonds led to the formation of a double-layered structure
which improved Li+ diffusion coefficient and electrochemical molecular kinetics while limiting
the volume variation of Si nanoparticles (Si-NPS).
Finally, the working electrodes were prepared by mixing the obtained Si-SiOX-C composite,
acetylene black, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binder at a weight ratio of 8:1:1 to form a
homogeneous slurry which was then applied onto a copper (Cu) foil.
After that, the working electrodes were dried at 90°C for 24 h in a vacuum oven. Further tests
were carried out using a battery test system (BTS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and
electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The double-layer-structured Si-SiOX-C-800
composite material showed enhanced electrochemical performance.
Rice Husks: Eco-Friendly Ingredient in Si-SiOX-C Synthesis
Carbon derived from biomass is not only favored for its renewability, eco-friendliness, and
economic viability, but also the abundance of valuable minerals such as silicon within it. Many
researchers have used rice husk as a source of silicon as well. Hence, the co-existence of organic
components and silica in rice husks makes it highly favorable for use as the anode of lithium-ion
batteries.
The use of chemical reagents as the source of carbon leads to the generation of hazardous wastes
like strong acids and alkali, thus posing a threat to the environment. Ionic liquids (ILs) such as
BMIMAcO have garnered wide attention as environment-friendly and promising reaction media
for the synthesis of carbon through graphitization of biomass materials for application in
electrochemical energy storage due to their chemical and thermal stability, high ionic
conductivity, and low vapor pressure characteristics.
Reference:
Ren, Z. et al., One-step synthesis of interface-coupled Si@SiOX@C from whole rice-husks for
high-performance lithium storage, Electrochimica
Acta (2021).139556, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013468621018405?via
%3Dihub
https://www.azom.com/news.aspx?newsID=57314
Myanmar Political Standoff Leaves Economy in

Tatters
With foreign trade falling by 22 percent, dollars are scarce and valuable versus the kyat.
By Elaine Kurtenbach
November 15, 2021
The military takeover in Myanmar has set its
economy back years, if not decades, as political
unrest and violence disrupt banking, trade and
livelihoods and millions slide deeper into
poverty.The Southeast Asian country was already
in recession when the pandemic took hold in
2020, paralyzing its lucrative tourism sector.
Political upheavals after the army ousted its
civilian government on February 1 have heaped
further misery on its 62 million people, who are
paying sharply higher prices for food and other
necessities as the value of the kyat, the national
currency, plummets.
With no end to the political impasse in sight, the outlook for the economy is murky.
U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths appealed last week to Myanmar‘s military leaders to
allow unimpeded access to more than 3 million people needing ―life-saving‖ aid ―because of
growing conflict and insecurity, COVID-19 and a failing economy.‖
Griffiths said he was increasingly concerned about reports of rising levels of food insecurity in
and around the cities.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the country have lost their jobs and poverty has deepened as
Myanmar‘s inflation has skyrocketed.
―Imported foods and medicines cost double what they used to . . . so people buy only what they
need to buy. And when traders sell an item for 1,000 kyats one day and 1,200 the next, it means
that the seller is losing while selling,‖ said Ma San San, a trader in Mawlamyine township who
sells Thai goods.
Myanmar‘s economy is forecast to shrink by 18.4 percent in 2021, according to the Asian
Development Bank, one of the deepest recent contractions anywhere.
The civilian government ousted in February had been making slow but steady progress toward
weaving impoverished Myanmar into the global economy after decades of quasi-isolation under
past military regimes. Exports surged over the last decade, after the generals relaxed their
decades-long hold on power. Eager to tap a young and low-cost workforce, foreign investors set
up factories making garments and other light manufactured goods.
Yangon, the former capital and largest city, was transformed as moldering buildings dating back
to British colonial days were spruced up or demolished, making way for new roads, industrial
zones, shopping malls and modern apartments. Private businesses popped up, creating jobs and
meeting long-deprived demand for products like cellphones and new cars.
But the military still controlled key government ministries and many industries, and corruption
and cronyism thrived. Months into Myanmar‘s political crisis, the country has returned to the
days of black market trading and dollar hoarding.
―Now most people are losing faith in the Myanmar currency and buying dollars, so prices are
soaring,‖ said Soe Tun, chairman of the Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers and Distributors
Association and an official of the Myanmar Rice Association.
Trade has been hindered both by the global shortage, and surging costs, of shipping containers
and by China‘s closure of its border to exports from Myanmar to help control coronavirus
outbreaks.
Myanmar‘s total trade fell 22 percent from a year earlier in the 10 months from October 2020 to
July 2021, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the army‘s takeover, recently told his
military-installed cabinet. He said the country logged a trade deficit of $368 million.
The less Myanmar exports, the less it earns in foreign currency — mainly dollars — making the
greenback all the more scarce and valuable versus the kyat.
In January, the dollar bought 1,300-1,400 kyats. In late September, it hit a record high 3,000
kyats among money changers on downtown Yangon‘s Shwebontha Street, informally known as
Broker Street.
That has driven up prices in kyats for necessities such as cooking oil, cosmetics, food,
electronics, fuel and other increasingly costly supplies that have to be imported using dollars.
The authorities suspended vehicle imports from October 1 to conserve foreign exchange. To
stanch the kyat‘s plunge, the Central Bank of Myanmar has intervened in the market 36 times
since February. But such operations have had scant impact, traders say, since most dollars sold
by the central bank go to pro-military businesses.
―Some say the dollars issued by the central bank do not meet domestic demand, and we accept
that is true,‖ Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, the military administration‘s chief spokesperson, told
reporters.
―As a government, we have to take responsibility for what happened in our time rather than
blaming the past,‖ he said. ―I want to say that our government is working hard to find the best
solution.‖
Some people have set up money changing groups to swap kyats for dollars online despite the
risks, and the central bank recently issued a notice banning such non-official dealings.
―Online is easier these days. You can easily find people who want to buy or sell. But you need to
build trust between sellers and buyers. There are also scammers online,‖ said Ko Thurein, who
often posts dollar sales in the Myanmar Money Changer Group.
Fuel scarcity has become a major problem. Partly thanks to rising global oil prices, the cost of
gasoline, which is imported since Myanmar has scant refining capacity, has more than doubled to
a record of about 1,500 kyats per liter from about 700 kyats in January.
Zaw Min Tun, the military‘s spokesperson, said Myanmar was working on long-term
hydropower and wind power projects while trying to conserve energy and cut imports since it
could not ―cover the demand for fuel.‖
Top leader Min Aung Hlaing has exhorted the public to help reduce energy use.
―It‘s difficult to buy dollars, and oil companies are no longer selling us on credit,‖ said an
official from Max Energy, a major conglomerate operating dozens of filling stations. ―You
cannot buy everything you want and we have a hard time building trust with them. So we are just
trying not to lose too much at the moment.‖
He blamed the political crisis. ―Even in our country, people do not trust each other, and there is
no doubt that foreigners do not trust us. It is also because the banking system is in turmoil,‖ said
the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the topic.
―Gasoline prices have skyrocketed, so we have to raise fares. But passengers don‘t want to pay. I
know everyone is impoverished right now, so people are using buses instead of taxis,‖ said Moe
Myint Tun, a taxi driver in Yangon. ―When we have high fuel prices, we lose a lot of
passengers.‖
Like many other modern amenities, bank services have been periodically disrupted by protests
and strikes, forcing people wanting to access their cash to use mobile banking apps and pay 5-7
percent fees at so-called Pay Money shops providing financial services.
―Because of inflation, the money in our hands automatically decreases in value. Once the money
in the bank can‘t be withdrawn, we have to pay a commission at the Pay Money shops. Finally,
we have nothing left,‖ said Su Yee Win Aung, a sales clerk at a telecommunications company in
Yangon.
https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/myanmar-political-standoff-leaves-economy-in-tatters/
Rice export on the rise

By Trung Chanh
A report by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) shows that during the first half of October 2021, rice export
soared to 294,000 tons worth US$154 million, a jump of 61.68% in volume and 57.71% in value year-on-year
Local rice exporters are stepping up their export to execute the contracts already signed but
delayed by the outbreak of the fourth wave of Covid-19. This move has significantly increased
Vietnam’s total rice export volume since October.
After localities in the Mekong Delta in particular and Vietnam in general eased regulations on
mobility and business activities in the beginning of October, Vietnam‘s rice export has
substantially picked up.
A report by the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) shows that during the first half of October
2021, rice export soared to 294,000 tons worth US$154 million, a jump of 61.68% in volume and
57.71% in value year-on-year. Cumulatively, Vietnam‘s total volume of rice export since early
this year to October 15 had reached 4.86 million tons worth US$2.57 billion. Yet it still suffered
an annualized fall of 5.85% in volume and 1.08% in value.
Speaking about the reason why Vietnam‘s rice export has bounced in the first half of October,
Pham Thai Binh, director of Trung An, a hi-tech agricultural company, said during the three
months when localities in the south practiced social distancing to fight the pandemic, rice export
was adversely affected, and even disrupted. Therefore, when stringent restrictions were partly
lifted, rice exporters soon accelerated export activities to fulfill contracts delayed during the
lockdown.
In fact, deliveries by rice exporters in the south faced sheer difficulties in the peak of the social
distancing period.
Do Ha Nam, chairman of Intimex Group and vice chairman of VFA, said in August rice
exporting businesses did not dare to ink new contracts with foreign partners for fear that they
could not deliver the goods opportunely.
In August, Intimex Group reached less than 50% of the total orders of 50,000 tons. At the time,
Mr. Nam said if the stagnation dragged on, the groups‘ markets and credibility would be lost.
In Can Tho City, its Tan Cang Thot Not Port then had to temporarily put on hold operation
because of Covid-19, which resulted in the congestion of 6,000 tons of undelivered rice.
The Export-Import Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on August 25 that
Tan Cang Hiep Phuoc Port had stopped rice export services because of Covid-19 infections.
Meanwhile, although some ports in HCMC were still operational to load rice to containers, their
capacities were way lower than in the previous time.
Explaining the current surge in rice export volume, Pham Thai Binh said foreign customers after
a time of disruption because of Covid-19, foreign customers have returned to place new orders,
which boosts Vietnam‘s rice export. ―In addition, the quality of Vietnam‘s rice has improved
substantially, which prompts more customers to come,‖ he said.
Mr. Binh predicted that during the last two months of the year, rice exporters will speed up their
export volume, particularly fulfilling contracts already signed prior to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Vietnam‟s rice export during first nine months of 2021

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in September, Vietnam shipped abroad 530,000 tons of rice,
worth US$261 million. The same figures in August were 430,000 tons and US$211 billion, reported
kinhtechungkhoan.vn.
In total, during the first nine months of this year, the total volume of rice export reached 4.51 million tons
earning almost US$2.39 billion, a decline of 9.5% in volume and 2.4% in value over the year-ago period.
The biggest market for Vietnam‘s rice during the Jan.-Sep. period was the Philippines which bought 1.83
million tons worth US$935.1 million. Next came China with 845.571 tons worth US$423.9 million.
Vietnam‘s rice exporters are expending their efforts during the fourth quarter to fulfill the year‘s rice export
target of 6.3 million tons worth US$3.2 billion.
https://english.thesaigontimes.vn/rice-export-on-the-rise/
Vietnam reconsiders methane-emitting rice amid

climate crisis
Country says it can no longer be ‘rice first’ as it urges farmers in Mekong Delta to change
planting techniques or consider alternatives.
Rice is a major export for Vietnam but also contributes to its greenhouse gas emissions because its
cultivation produces methane [File: Luong Thai Linh/EPA]
By Govi Snell
Published On 13 Nov 2021
Mekong Delta, Vietnam – At the United Nations COP26 summit in Scotland, Vietnam‘s Prime
Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined 109 countries in pledging to reduce methane emissions by 30
percent by 2030.
To meet the commitment, the Southeast Asian nation will need to look at rice – one of the
country‘s key exports and a staple food – but also the second biggest contributor to greenhouse
gas emissions among foodstuffs after beef.
The heart of Vietnam‘s rice production lies in the country‘s Mekong Delta region known as the
―rice bowl‖ of the nation. More than 50 percent of the country‘s total rice and 95 percent of its
exports are grown here, in an area roughly the size of the Netherlands.
But rice farming in the Mekong faces a double challenge – not only is the crop a source of
emissions but rising sea levels linked to climate change, as well as man-made factors, are making
the grain increasingly difficult to grow in the low-lying region.
Tran Dung Nhan grew up on a rice farm in Tra Vinh Province on the coast of the southern
Mekong Delta.
Droughts, floods, rising sea levels, and the intrusion of salt in the freshwater he needs for his
paddy fields have eaten away at the meagre income he once enjoyed.
The family farm used to be able to produce three crops per year. Now, they struggle to produce
even one – and even then, the yield is unpredictable.
―I can clearly see the effects of climate change on our fields. The water is getting saltier, our soil
is more dry and barren,‖ the 31 year old told Al Jazeera. ―Life here in the Mekong Delta,
especially the coasts, is very tough and it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.‖
Rice is a staple food for people in Vietnam and also a major export, but it is also a contributor to the
emissions that are fuelling the climate crisis [Govi Snell/Al Jazeera]
Distinct from other grains, rice is grown in a flooded field.
As the water lays stagnant on the surface, there is no exchange of air between the soil and the
atmosphere, which means methane-producing bacteria can thrive.
When released into the air, the gas is more than 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at
trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Bjoern Ole Sander, the Vietnam country representative for the International Rice Research
Institute, says rice farming contributes significantly to methane emissions worldwide. In
Vietnam, the amount of gas released from the crop is even higher than the global average.
―Globally, it is about 1.3 percent of all man-made greenhouse gas emissions, which seems small,
but all civil aviation emissions are just about 2 percent,‖ he said. ―Of all the greenhouse gases
that Vietnam produces 15 percent is from rice, so it‘s a significant source and definitely
something that then also has been recognised within global programmes of mitigation.‖
No longer „rice first‟
At the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, the newly reunified country was one of the poorest in the
world and food was scarce.
A series of economic reforms known as Doi Moi, and a government-led ―rice-first‖ policy kick-
started rice farming, boosting incomes. By 2020, Vietnam was the second-largest exporter of rice
in the world, shipping 3.9 million tons overseas last year.
But as the Mekong region shifts away from intensive rice cultivation, it is not yet known how the
farmers themselves will be affected.
Like Nhan, many are already suffering from the deterioration of the Mekong‘s environment.
Farmers in the Mekong Delta have suffered increasing instances of drought and flooding, while seawater
is intruding further into the low-lying region [File: Kham/Reuters]
Dang Kieu Nhan, director of the Mekong Delta Development Research Unit at Can Tho
University, says farmers have been badly affected by the unstable weather patterns in the region.
―El Niños have occurred more frequently and severely in recent years,‖ he said, referring to the
climate pattern in which unusual warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean results in droughts in
Southeast Asia. ―In 2016 and 2020 there were two cases causing extreme droughts and side
effects… The lower the Mekong River reaches and the higher the sea level rises, the further salt
intrusion goes inland in the Mekong Delta.‖
The 2020 drought led to record-breaking levels of salt intrusion.
Approximately 33,000 hectares (81,545 acres) of rice were damaged during the drought and
70,000 households did not have enough water to grow rice or to meet their everyday needs.
The environmental pressure has encouraged the Vietnamese government to develop alternatives
to the ―rice first‖ policy, and it is now encouraging people to grow fruit or set up fish and
seafood farms.
By 2030, the government hopes to have reduced the size of land under rice cultivation in the
Delta by 300,000 hectares (741,315 acres), 20 percent less than the 1.5 million hectares (3.7
million acres) planted this year.
‖Mentioning the Mekong Delta before, people would first think about rice, but not now,‖ Nhan
said. ―The government policy changed dramatically since 2017, and we cannot consider rice as
[being] first any more.‖
Limited options for farmers
Despite the government‘s shifting priorities, Bernard Kervyn, director of the charity Mekong
Plus, says rice farmers have limited options and an uncertain future.
―The prospects for the Mekong Delta are not good. People say in 20 or 30 years it might be
flooded and not suitable for people to live there any more,‖ he told Al Jazeera. ―It‘s a shared
responsibility, but for the farmers of course there are not many alternative options available. It is
hard for them to say okay we will grow less intensively, we will grow less crops; How can they
do that?‖
On the ground, researchers and farmers are experimenting with new production techniques to
tackle the environmental challenges as well as to reduce the crop‘s emissions.
Researchers are experimenting with new production techniques that would mitigate the climate effects of
the crop [File: Kham/Reuters]
Sander of the Rice Research Institute says one particularly attractive mitigation technique is the
alternate wetting and drying method. If done correctly, it can reduce methane generating bacteria
by roughly 50 percent. On top of that, it has the added benefit of reducing the amount of water
needed without affecting yields.
To apply the technique, farmers allow the water level to drop below the surface by between 10
and 15 centimetres (4 and 6 inches). Once the water level has fallen, the soil can be irrigated
again and fields are alternated in wet and dry cycles.
―You can cut methane emissions in half… If you remove that water layer, you allow the
exchange of air between soil and atmosphere, then the methane is oxidised and the bacteria
doesn‘t grow any more and methane emissions are strongly reduced,‖ Sander said.
Financial support needed
According to Vietnam‘s nationally determined contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement, the
country intends to use the alternate wetting and drying method on a total of 700,000 hectares (1.7
million acres) of rice land nationwide.
Although effective at reducing methane, the system will not work for all farmers. For those in the
lower Mekong, where saltwater intrusion is the biggest concern, paddy fields need a significant
supply of freshwater to keep the salinity at bay.
Nhan of Can Tho University says more also needs to be done to help farmers effectively
implement the new technique.
―Doing so needs more intervention from local agricultural agencies and government to organise
farmers, to connect farmers with services, and to build more irrigation infrastructure,‖ he said.
Another aspect of Vietnam‘s rice reduction strategy encourages farmers to focus on developing
other food sources like seafood. But while some farmers have seen their rice crops damaged by
intrusion, they find that the water source is still not salty enough for aquaculture.
In the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, 64-year-old farmer Ut Khuong says that while
growing rice has become unpredictable because of the saltwater, he is unable to farm prawns.
―The field‘s salt level changes every year and you cannot predict it… We can‘t have a shrimp
farm because the water here is not salty enough,‖ he told Al Jazeera. ―I don‘t know what to do, I
don‘t know what jobs we are going to change to yet.‖
To help farmers deal with the complex effects of climate change and human causes leading to
environmental degradation in the Mekong, Nhan says more money and a holistic approach are
needed.
Rice farmers are also being encouraged to get into aquaculture, farming prawns and shrimp in the
increasingly salty water [File: Julian Abram Wainwright/EPA]
He points to a recent initiative in An Giang Province where the Australian government provided
$650 million for sustainable economic development projects in the Mekong province.
The money went towards building reservoirs, infrastructure for irrigation and transportation,
building cooperation among farmers, as well as stimulating other economic activities, and
improving sectors like health and education. Although such a diverse solution is costly, Nhan
believes such initiatives are needed more widely in the Mekong Delta.
―Compared to other regions in Vietnam people here play a very big role that the government
placed them in to produce food for people in Vietnam,‖ he said.
Struggling at the forefront of climate change, the farmers themselves would welcome the
support.
―Being a farmer is a hard-working job that requires knowledge, experience, and patience, as well
as the urge to keep updating the new methods and techniques of planting,‖ farmer Muoi Huong
told Al Jazeera. ―I hope the government will also support more of our farmers in agricultural
production.‖
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/13/vietnam-weighs-rice-contributor-and-victim-of-climate-
crisis
S. Korea‟s 2021 Rice Output Rises for First Time

in 6 Years
November 15, 2021 by Korea Bizwire
In this file photo, a farmer drives a combine to reap rice at a paddy field in the inter-Korean border town
of Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, on Aug. 25, 2021. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea‘s rice output rose for the first time in six
years due mainly to favorable weather conditions and an increase in the cultivation area, data
showed Monday.
The country‘s rice production reached 3.88 million tons in 2021, up 10.7 percent from
a record low of 3.51 million tons the previous year, according to the data compiled by
Statistics Korea.
It marked the first rebound since 2015 when rice output rose 2 percent on-year to 4.33
million tons. The figure declined for the fifth straight year in 2020.
The increase in the output came as favorable weather conditions from July through October, such
as longer sunshine hours and less rainfall, helped the growth of rice grains, the statistics agency
said.
The rise in cultivation areas for rice also boosted production. The combined size of rice paddies
inched up 0.8 percent to 732,477 hectares — about half the size of the U.S. state of Connecticut,
it added.
The yearly rice production, however, still hovered below 4 million tons for the fifth straight year.
Rice is a key staple food for Koreans, but its consumption has been on a steady decline in recent
decades due mainly to changes in diet and eating habits.
Per capita average annual rice consumption hit a record low of 57.7 kilograms in 2020,
compared with a record high of 136.4 kilograms in 1970, according to the agency.
(Yonhap)
Our Japanese-born reporter tries California-grown rice, gets his mind blown
https://soranews24.com/2021/11/15/our-japanese-born-reporter-tries-california-grown-rice-gets-his-mind-
Rice production on track to another record harvest

Author: DA Communications Group | 15 November 2021
The country‘s rice production is on track for another record year, mainly because of government
interventions, continued funding support from rice tariffs, and favorable weather.
―Barring adverse weather conditions for the remaining weeks of the year, we are confident that
we will hit another record palay (paddy rice) production this year,‖ said Agriculture Secretary
William Dar.
―As we were able to distribute on time needed inbred seeds and other inputs — under President
Duterte‘s Philippine Integrated Rice Program (PIRP) and Rice Competitiveness Enhancement
Fund (RCEF) — our farmers were encouraged to plant early, enabling them to harvest before the
end of September, thus avoiding the typhoons in October,‖ the DA chief added.
Initial estimates show that palay production for the third quarter (Q3) of the year would reach
3,752,730 metric tons (MT), which is 6.7 percent (%) more than last year‘s Q3 harvest of
3,516,346 MT, according to initial estimates of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Combining the Q3 output with the previous harvests in Q1 and Q2, the total palay production for
January to September 2021 amounts to 12.55 million MT, which is 5.5% more than the previous
nine-month harvest in 2020, at 11.90 MMT, and 10.9% more than in 2019, at 11.32 MMT, based
on PSA estimates.
―With this year‘s level of production for the first nine months plus the estimated fourth quarter
harvest, we are confident that we will surpass last year‘s record output of 19.4 MMT,‖ said the
DA chief, citing the report of DA-PIRP Director Dionisio Alvindia.
Averaging the previous fourth quarter (Q4) production in 2020 (at 7.39 MMT) and 2019 (at 7.49
MMT), Alvindia said ―we expect to harvest at least 7.4 MMT, bringing the total 2021 palay
output at 19.95 MMT.‖
―Hence, it is more likely that we would hit the 20-million metric ton level this year,‖ said
secretary Dar, adding that this is all due to the hardwork of our farmers, and sustained strong
support of the local government units and the private sector.
In addition to the RCEF, the PIRP includes the DA regular rice program and the Rice Resiliency
Project that cover non-RCEF areas. ### (DA StratComms)
https://www.da.gov.ph/rice-production-on-track-to-another-record-harvest/
Ivory Coast rice-fish farming improves yields

On October 10th, the Ivory Coast‘s National Agency for Rural Development (ANADER)
announced the results of its field trial in integrated rice-fish farming. Integrated rice-fish farming
is the practice of cultivating fish and rice on the same irrigated plot.
Four rice varieties improved yields in the trial. A new variety called ‗CB one‘ yielded 8.5 tonnes
per hectare under the integrated technique as compared to an average yield figure of 6 tonnes per
hectare. ‗CY2‘ yielded 5.6 tonnes per hectare in the trial compared to 4 tonnes on average.
‗Jasmine‘ produced 2.6 tonnes per hectare as compared to 2 tonnes on average. ‗Orilux‘ yielded
3.5 tonnes as compared to 2.5 on average. Between 3 to 5 tonnes of fish were cultivated per
hectare.
Rice-fish farming has been practiced in China for around 2000 years, making up 4.5% of its
current total rice planting. It is a recent introduction to West Africa but the region‘s many
floodplains and valleys offer suitable conditions for this sustainable method of irrigated farming.
Since the 1990s, the Ivory Coast‘s National Centre for Agronomic Research has been adapting
integrated rice-fish farming techniques to regional conditions. The recent trials were the first
stage in a national project to promote the practice within agricultural communities. Sites were
located in Abronamoué, San Pedro in Petit Pedro, Soubré in Sayo, Oumé in Tonla and
Yamoussoukro in Petit Bouaké. The project has been funded by the Interprofessional Fund for
Agricultural Research and Advisory Services (FIRCA) through the Competitive Fund for
Sustainable Agricultural Innovation (FCIAD) since June 2019.
Integrated rice-fish farming is a bio-based circular system that minimises inputs and waste. The
rice and fish form a mutualistic relationship that benefits both species. For example, the fish eats
pests and weeds while the rice reduces ammonia concentrations and shelters fish from predators.
Studies have shown that the method contributes to pest control, reduces agrochemical inputs,
improves soil nutrient availability, increases yields, and holds economic benefits. Elie Memel
Esmel, head of ANADER‘s research and development division, stated that it offers improved
rice production, rationalised water management, and a way to augment farmer incomes through
crop diversification.
For the last two decades, organisations around the world have been promoting rice-fish
aquaculture as part of West African development strategies. Launched in May 2021, the EU‘s
DeSIRA Integrated Rice-Fish Farming System Project provides capital and training for Liberian
farmers interested in adopting the method. Feed the Future, a US government food security
initiative, is researching rice-fish farming in Nigeria. China has also been supporting rice-fish
farming in Nigeria, Uganda, Sierra Leone, and Mali since 2002 under a South-South cooperation
programme financed by the FAO-China Trust Fund.
https://biomarketinsights.com/ivory-coast-rice-fish-farming-improves-yi
Digital seed distribution to benefit Butuan rice

farmers
By Alexander Lopez November 14, 2021, 4:49 pm
CERTIFIED SEEDS. A staff from the Philippine Rice Institute–Agusan makes a final
inspection of certified inbred rice seeds that will be distributed to farmers in Butuan City through
the Binhi e-Padala program starting Monday (Nov. 15, 2021). A total of 3,712 bags of certified
seeds will be distributed to more than 1,200 rice farmers in Butuan City. (Photo courtesy of
PhilRice-Agusan)
BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine Rice Institute–Agusan (PhilRice-Agusan) will kick off its
Binhi e-Padala program for more than 1,200 farmers here on Nov. 15.
Jasmine Reyes, coordinator of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of PhilRice-Agusan,
told the Philippine News Agency on Sunday that 3,712 bags of certified inbred rice seeds are
ready for delivery to the city government through the City Agriculture Office.
―The Binhi e-Padala program is a digital platform designed to inform qualified rice farmers
through text messages of the certified seeds they will receive. The program is already piloted in
other regions and proven effective,‖ Reyes said.
The program will be implemented in Caraga Region for the first time.
It will be held from November 15 to 19 at the Butuan Seeds Producers Multi-Purpose
Cooperative (BUSECO) in Purok 2, Barangay Sto. Niño.
―We are targeting around 260 qualified rice farmers per day. Upon receiving their claim code
through text messages, they can immediately proceed to BUSECO to claim their certified rice
seeds,‖ Reyes said.
The rice farmers qualified to avail of the free certified rice seeds are those registered with the
Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
The Binhi e-Padala is also a measure to prevent the crowding of beneficiaries amidst the
continuing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019.
Certified inbred rice seeds to be distributed include the Rc160, 216, 402, 442, and 480, which are
proven to produce high yields. (PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1159722

16th November, 2021 Daily GLobal Regional Local Rice Enewsletter

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

16 th November ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 11

Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

Export of Basmati to KSA, UAE, Kenya suffers setback

The best (and worst) foods you can eat — ranked by

Avocado provides healthy fats, vitamin E and fibre

Mongolia Harvests White Rice For First Time

Australia to provide agro-technology to Pakistan

ATI-accredited farm schools that aspiring farmers can

RAMI‘s Integrated Farm,

More for less: Biotech approach increases rice yields

Dry rice: Cracking the core molecular and physiological

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

Rice price remains high despite huge imports, stocks

Rejaul Karim Byron , Refayet Ullah Mirdha

Drought Tolerance in Rice: Focus on Recent

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS

CREDIT: DR. AMELIA HENRY, INTERNATIONAL RICE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, LOS

Participatory rice variety evaluation programme

Benchmark Value policy: GUTA warns of 25%

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Founded on January 22, 1995, THISDAY is published by THISDAY NEWSPAPERS LTD., 35

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