Researchers identify gene that improves rice yields in poor soil • • •
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Related Topics Basic Materials » • Technology » By Tan Ee Lyn HONG KONG | Wed Aug 22, 2012 12:59pm EDT Aug 23 (Reuters) - A gene that raises rice yields by enhancing root growth and nutrient absorption in low quality soils has been identified in a species of rice in India and successfully introduced into other rice varieties, researchers reported on Thursday. Scientists and rice breeders have known for years that Kasalath rice is unusually efficient at nutrient absorption, but only now have they succeeded in identifying the gene responsible for this important trait. In a paper published in the journal Nature, they described how they identified the gene after analysing part of the Kasalath DNA where it was thought to be located and comparing it with other rice varieties without the trait. Using conventional breeding methods, they introduced the gene into a few rice types in Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan and found that it raised yields by up to 20 percent. "We found a gene that enhances phosphorus uptake in low phosphorus conditions. We have been looking for it for many years," said lead author Sigrid Heuer at the International Rice Research Institute in Manila. Heuer said the superior breeding lines could be released to farmers in Indonesia in about 2-3 years. These have already been developed using conventional breeding methods -- by pollinating the flowers of a native Indonesian rice species with pollen from the Kasalath. •
"As for other Asian countries, we will get them to put the gene into their local varieties through conventional breeding," said Heuer, adding that this would take about 4-5 years. By using conventional breeding techniques, in this case, cross-pollination, there are no issues related to genetic modification. Food safety concerns and regulatory hurdles for transgenic rice -where a gene is physically inserted into plant DNA in a laboratory -- can translate into years or even decades of testing before the strain reaches markets The gene, PSTOL1, allows rice crops to thrive in soil that has low levels of phosphorus, a nutrient that promotes root growth, winter hardiness and hastens maturity. Plants deficient in phosphorus are often stunted. "Fifty percent of world's arable land is too low in phosphorus. It's not like if you have this gene that the plants don't need phosphorus anymore," said Heuer. "They (rice plants with the gene) may be able to exploit the soil a little better so the harvest is better. They may make better use of fertiliser because they can take it up more efficiently ... If you have a bigger root system, then the plant can take it up better and they can have better access to the patches where the phosphorus is." (Editing by Chris Lewis)
Vietnam. Businesses sell abroad 4.5 million tonnes of rice Vietnamese businesses have so far this year shipped over 4.52 million tonnes of rice abroad for nearly 2.06 billion USD, said the Vietnam Food Association. The figures, however, reflected a year-on-year decrease of 10.9 percent in volume and 19.44 percent in value. Despite these decreases, local farmers in these days were happy with a sharp rise in paddy rice price. In the Mekong Delta, the price of undried IR 50404 paddy enjoyed an increase of 400–500 VND a kilo to 4.800–5.000 VND from a week ago. In some localities, farmers sold this kind of paddy, the dried, for 5.600–5.700 VND a kilo, the highest price during the summer/autumn crop. According to the association, paddy-rice prices are expected to continue to rise sharply for the rest of this year. Local traders analysed that higher demand for paddy from exporters, news about a new contract on the purchase of 500,000 tonnes of rice with Indonesia and the increasing volumes of rice bought by Cambodian traders across the border could also drive rice prices further up. This year, Vietnam has set to export between 6-6.5 million tonnes of rice.
Govt urged to ensure transparency at rice pledging PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI THE NATION August 23, 2012 1:00 am
Rice traders yesterday warned about a repeat of bidding collusion, which would see the government's main stockpile fall in the hands of a giant exporter and trader and cause problems for Thai rice trading in the future.
The government will on Monday open bidding for 753,000 tonnes of rice, of which 210,000 tonnes are targeted for export. A rice trader said the government must ensure transparency in the auction, as some exporters could collude and win a big lot like in the past. According to a report to the Commerce Ministry, Siam Indiga - known as the new marketing arm of the bankrupt President Agri Trading - has become the country's third-largest rice exporter behind Capital Rice and Asian Golden Rice. President Agri Trading was the biggest rice exporter during the Thaksin administration and bagged a big lot of government rice in 2005. Siam Indiga is also responsible for distributing government rice to other exporters under the government-to-government project for the current government. The firm was employed to deliver rice to Indonesia this year when Kittiratt Na-Ranong was commerce minister. The firm recently received an order to supply Iraq and will ship more rice soon. The report showed that Siam Indiga exported 344,000 tonnes of rice in the first four months of this year, up drastically from 228,000 tonnes in the same period last year, even as the country's total rice exports plunged 45.9 per cent to 4.1 million tonnes. Rice traders believe that the government's plan to release 753,000 tonnes will force the market price down because of the big inventories carried by Thailand and India, despite rising concern over drought, which would hit output worldwide. Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said that inevitably the global and domestic prices of rice would decline following the government's bidding plan. "The government's pledging programme will be unsuccessful in lifting
rice prices. When the government announces the release of its huge inventory, the rice price will slide easily," he said. The world market would still know that Thailand has massive rice stocks from the pledging scheme and that the government would need to gradually unload those stocks. This would cause rice prices to fall. India, the world's largest rice exporter, also keeps a huge buffer stock of 34 million tonnes for exports. The rice price in the world market will not go up as easily as the government had planned. Although the government will release rice to the market, that will not support Thai rice exports. Thailand is expected to achieve only 6.5 million-7 million tonnes of shipments this year. Although the government has claimed that it has huge export orders under government-to-government contracts, Thailand will be unable to ship 1 million-1.2 million tonnes of rice each month for the rest of the year, he said. According to the Thai Rice Exporters Association's report, the price of Thai rice has increased slightly this week because of higher demand from Nigeria. As of yesterday, jasmine rice was at US$1,104 (Bt33,000) a tonne, up from $1,100 last Wednesday. The price of 5-per-cent white rice increased from $564 to $566 a tonne, while parboiled rice was up from $612 to $620. Thailand would this month be able to export about 500,000 tonnes of rice, of which 200,000 tonnes would be for Nigeria. The Nigerian government plans to hike rice import duties early next year, so importers are hurrying to lock in more parboiled rice from Thailand this year. Somkiat Makcayathorn, president of the Thai Rice Packers Association, said the price of Thai rice would slide in line with the government's
bidding. "Traders will offer a lower quote at the auction as they need to shoulder some risks. The government needs to accept some losses from the bidding and the hike in pledging prices as the world market is aware of the huge supplies of Thai rice," he said. The government may cancel Monday's tender again, as traders will offer low prices, he added. However, Charnchai Ratthananon, president of the Thai Rice Millers Association, expects rice prices to increase soon due to the serious drought in many countries, which would reduce cereal crops. If the drought is prolonged for two more weeks in the Northeast of Thailand, rice production would be affected and lead to higher prices this year, he added. Exporters, millers hail news of rice sale • •
Published: 22/08/2012 at 01:50 AM Newspaper section: Business
The local rice industry is praising the Commerce Ministry's decision to unload more than 750,000 tonnes of rice from the state's huge stockpile for export and domestic needs. It is the first rice sale by the Yingluck Shinawatra government, which has accrued more than 11 million tonnes of milled rice, converted from about 17 million tonnes of paddy the state has been pledged since last October. "I view the bids as coming at the right time since supply in the market is very tight now," said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. Thanks to attractive pledging prices of 15,000 baht a tonne for white rice and 20,000 baht for Hom Mali, farmers have been encouraged to sell all their rice to the programme. Mr Chookiat said the rice release will give exporters enough supply to fill orders from abroad including 200,000 tonnes of parboiled rice for African countries, 70,000 tonnes of white rice for Iraq and some for Japan, which reportedly needs 250,000 tonnes of rice a year. The decision by the Commerce Ministry, acting on behalf of the National Rice Policy Committee, to call bids for 753,855.67 tonnes of rice and paddy is considered an attempt to reduce pressure from the public. Economists have blamed the state for spending too much on the pledging scheme while showing poor management of the enormous rice stock. On Monday, the ministry's Foreign Trade Department announced it will sell 210,660.9 tonnes of 5% white rice for export as well as 499,068.51 tonnes of second-grade 100% Hom Mali rice, Pathum Thani rice, fragrant rice varieties and A1 special broken rice. It will sell an additional 44,126.26 tonnes of Hom Mali paddy, local fragrant paddy and 5% white paddy kept since 2005.
Chanchai Rakthananon, president of the Thai Rice Millers Association, expects many bagged rice makers to join the bids, as rice is badly needed in the domestic market. "The government should gradually unload rice to prevent any effect on local rice prices," he said. The price of milled rice this week rose to 18 baht a kilogramme from 16 baht last week and to 32 baht/kg for Hom Mali from 30 baht. Mr Chookiat, however, remains unconvinced that the rice release will have much impact on market prices. The Thai export price is now US$560 a tonne ($580-590 for parboiled rice). Rice prices will rise after severe drought hit crops in foreign countries but will not surge substantially as in 2008, said Mr Chookiat.
India not to halt rice, sugar, wheat exports for now-minister • • • • • •
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Stocks Invesco Municipal Premium Income Trust PIA $9.29 -0.00-0.02% 08/27/2012 NEW DELHI | Wed Aug 22, 2012 5:45pm IST Aug 22 (Reuters) - India has no immediate plans to curb exports of rice, wheat and sugar as a recent revival in monsoon rains will help some summer-sown crops, Food Minister K. V. Thomas said on Wednesday. "We can't abruptly stop free export policies although domestic supply will continue to be a priority," Thomas told reporters. India, the world's second-biggest producer of rice, wheat and sugar, has been hit by a drought for the first time in three years. The dry spell had raised concerns about farm output and consequent export curbs. India's monsoon rains were slightly below average in the past week, but heavy downpours arrived in the parched western state of Rajasthan, easing fears of a repeat of the widespread drought that gripped the country three years ago. (Reporting by Ratnajyoti Dutta; editing by Jo Winterbottom)
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 22 Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:39pm IST
Nagpur, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) showed weak tendency on lack of demand from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Easy condition in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected sentiment, according to sources. *
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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Deshi gram raw recovered further in open market on good festival season demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing belts. TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market matching the demand and supply position. * Masoor varieties and Batana dal recovered in open market on good demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions because of rains in parts of Vidarbha. * In Akola, Tuar - 4,800-4,900, Tuar dal - 7,000-7,300, Udid at 5,0005,400, Udid Mogar (clean) - 6,500-6,900, Moong - 5,000-5,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,000, Gram - 5,000-5,300, Gram Super best bold - 6,6006,900 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities prices remained steady in open market in thin trading activity, according to sources. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Gram Auction Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction Moong Auction Udid Auction Masoor Auction Gram Super Best Bold Gram Super Best Gram Medium Best Gram Dal Medium Gram Mill Quality Deshi gram Raw Gram Filter Yellow Gram Kabuli Gram Pink Tuar Fataka Best Tuar Fataka Medium
Available prices Previous close 4,000-4,860 4,000-5,050 n.a. 2,100-2,600 n.a. 4,250-4,710 n.a. 3,700-3,900 n.a. 2,800-2,900 n.a. 2,600-2,800 6,700-6,900 6,700-6,900 n.a. 6,200-6,600 6,200-6,600 n.a. n.a. 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100 5,400-5,540 5,350-5,500 n.a. n.a. 7,000-9,900 7,000-9,900 6,800-6,900 6,800-6,900 6,800-7,500 6,800-7,500 6,500-6,600 6,500-6,600
Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,500-6,700 6,500-6,700 Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300 Tuar Gavarani 5,000-5,100 5,000-5,100 Tuar Karnataka 4,900-5,000 4,900-5,000 Tuar Black 7,400-7,500 7,400-7,500 Masoor dal best 4,500-4,700 4,400-4,600 Masoor dal medium 4,300-4,500 4,200-4,400 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold 6,900-7,000 6,900-7,000 Moong Mogar Medium best 6,000-6,400 6,000-6,400 Moong Mogar Super fine n.a. n.a. Moong Dal Super best 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900 Moong dal Chilka 4,900-5,100 4,900-5,100 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 5,800-6,900 5,800-6,900 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,700-6,300 5,700-6,300 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,700-4,800 4,700-4,800 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,700 3,300-3,700 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,125-3,300 3,100-3,275 Watana White (Naylon) (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,250 3,100-3,250 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,400 4,200-4,400 Watana Green Medium (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,100 3,600-4,100 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,250-1,350 1,250-1,350 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,350-1,400 1,350-1,400 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,900 1,500-1,900 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,250 2,100-2,250 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,150-1,350 1,150-1,350 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,200-1,300 1,200-1,300 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 2,950-3,200 2,950-3,200 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Rice Swarna Best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Rice Swarna Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,250 1,950-2,250 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 3,700-4,100 3,700-4,100 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,900-12,500 8,900-12,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,900-7,800 6,900-7,800 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 Rice Chinnor Medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,400-3,500 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,700 1,500-1,700 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 27.3 degree Celsius (81.1 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp. 23.47 degree Celsius (74.1 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - 93 per cent, lowest - 85 per cent. Rainfall : 7.7 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-shower likely. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be around 27 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.) • Article • Comments (0)
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No fast growth rebound for India India's economy likely remained in its deepest slump for nine years in the quarter ending in June, but high inflation and polarized politics leave the country's leaders with limited scope to crank up growth. A Reuters poll has forecast 5.3 pct GDP growth for the April-June quarter, unchanged from January-March. Full Article •
Graphic: India's GDP, industrial production
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TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- Aug 22 Wed Aug 22, 2012 3:36pm IST
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi Tel: 011 2619 1464 Indicative Previous Grains opening close (in rupees per 100 kg unless stated) ---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi 1,950-2,150 1,950-2,500. Wheat Dara 1,525-1,530 1,275-1,475. Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg) 185-195 180-190. Roller Mill (per bag) 1,560-1,600 1,300-1,400. Maida (per bag) 1,800-1,860 1,440-1,490. Sooji (per bag) 1,920-2,060 1,540-1,600. Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal) 9,500 10,000. Rice Basmati(Lal Quila) 9,200 9,200. Rice Basmati(Common) 6,500-6,600 6,400-6,700. Rice Permal 2,050-2,100 2,200-2,250. Rice Sela 2,600-2,800 2,450-2,650. I.R.-8 1,500-1,600 1,670-1,850. Gram 4,875-5,025 4,775-5,175. Peas Green 3,150-3,200 2,800-2,900. Peas White 3,050-3,100 2,700-3,000. Bajra 1,200-1,205 1,050-1,075. Jowar white 2,100-2,200 1,625-1,925. Maize 1,300-1,600 1,250-1,750. Barley 1,300-1,600 1,250-1,400. Guwar 2,700-3,200 2,700-3,200. Source: Delhi grain market traders. • Tweet this
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India not to halt rice, sugar, wheat exports for now-minister Aug 22, 2012 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 22 Aug 22, 2012 India's PEC tenders to export 120,000 T wheat Aug 23, 2012 TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jan 15 Jan 15, 2011 Rajkot Foodgrain Prices- August 22Aug 22, 2012
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eavy monsoon spell over north, east India Vinson Kurian Share · Comment · print · T+
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 22: The expansive monsoon session continued over northwest India, east and northeast India during the 24 hours ending Wednesday morning. Global model forecasts suggest heavy rains would continue to last parts of these regions over the next couple of days. PACIFIC TYPHOONS Two back-to-back typhoons, ‘Tembin’ and ‘Bolaven,’ have been churning up the East China Sea to sustain the monsoon flows over the past few days. Models forecasts persist with the already articulated view that a comparatively drier climes over Central India would migrate to north India by the weekend (August 25).
Ongoing rains in the north are expected to lose in intensity and withdraw themselves to the fringes of the north India adjoining the Himalayan foothills. Rains would also have lifted from West Rajasthan and adjoining Gujarat, even beginning to sign off from these regions marking end of the season here. In the meantime, some rain would find its way into peninsular India. It is expected to be more pronounced towards the east coast along Chennai and adjoining south coastal Andhra Pradesh coast. SOUTHERN SPELL The wet spell is forecast to hold until midweek next week, these models suggest. India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in an update that the monsoon was active over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim until Wednesday morning. Over northwest India, similar conditions persisted over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and west Madhya Pradesh. The causative ‘low’ was located to over south Uttar Pradesh and adjoining north Madhya Pradesh. RAIN ALERT
Venezuela's agricultural gains under President Chávez 22.08.2012
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Sources: Blog Hugo Chávez, Correo del Orinoco, Green Left Weekly, Patria Grande, Pravda, Prensa Latina, Venezuelanalysis One of the main preoccupations of the Chávez administration is how to reduce the country's dependence on the oil industry. Diversification is necessary, since the oil will surely not last forever, although Venezuela possesses the largest amount of crude oil reserves worldwide. For the past decade, the socialist government has undertaken great pains to augment Venezuela's
agricultural production which has increased by 44% since 1999, reaching 25 million tonnes of food each year, as the Land and Agriculture Minister, Juan Carlos Loyo, reported. Milk production has shown an increase of 70% since 1999, while the production of beans and corn has doubled. Black beans (caraotas negras) and corn (maíz) are staple food items for the Venezuelan population. Corn flour is the basic ingredient for many dishes, for example the arepa and the empanada. With the socialist „Coffee Plan" the government gave 1,200 homes to small and medium coffee producers to stimulate coffee production. Repaired were 7,400 kilometers of agricultural roads. In 2008, the export of asphalt was halted and priority given to national use for road repair. Furthermore, the construction of irrigation systems and large silos improved Venezuela's rural infrastructure. In 2008, a new irrigation system was installed in the state of Guárico, transporting water to 32,000 hectares of agricultural land. Additionally, local fishermen can fish in the reservoir that supplies this irrigation system. In the same year of 2008, Diana Industries, a private oil and margarine producing company, was nationalized. The range of products was broadened to include baby food and soft cheeses. Before 2008, Diana Industries had produced only 27,500 tonnes of soap and food and 1,800 of the employées were contract workers. Today, the production has increased to 90,000 tonnes of soap and food, all of the employées are full time workers. With the help of Belarus and Iran, several tractor plants were constructed in Venezuela. A factory for soya extraction was built in the state of Portuguesa. During the past years, President Chávez repeatedly pointed out that his administration was battling hard against food shortages, especially in the supply of milk and meat products. "We have to raise our national production of meat and milk," Hugo Chávez said in his Sunday TV show "Aló Presidente." A number of socialist milk-processing plants were built. They are controlled and managed by local communal councils. One of these plants is the Prolesa milk-processing cooperative in the state of Táchira. Local milk farmers sell their milk to Prolesa, where they get fair prices. One of the founders of Prolesa said that the multinational Nestle left the region after being caught and fined for hoarding in order to keep milk prices artificially high. They poured milk down the drain, while at the same time mothers were unable to buy milk for their children. This changed in 2004, however, when Prolesa was founded by some cooperative members, with support of the local dairy farmers, and a loan by the government. To encourage the creation of cooperatives, "Misión Vuelvan Caras" (Mission Turning Faces) was created, offering scholarships to 650,000 participants in agricultural training, specifically for
cooperatives. After this measure, agricultural production in cooperatives rose by 18% between 2004 and 2008. A small but successful cooperative is 3Rs, managed by members of the Jirajara Peasant Movement (MCJ) in the state of Yaracuy. It took its name from the local indigenous Jirajara tribe that fought hard against the Spanish colonialists. Two socialist vegetable plants have also started to operate successfully. One of them is "Valle de Quibor," in the state of Lara, where tomatoes and peppers are grown. The other one is "Casas de Cultivos Hidropónicos Julian López" in the state of Carabobo. It grows tomatoes. Iván Gil, Venezuela's Vice Minister of Agroproducts, said that the plant in Carabobo produces 800 tonnes of tomatoes per year without using any chemicals. "Each hectar develops two yearly cycles, each cycle bringing 100 tonnes," he explained. The tomatoes are sold through Venezuela's socialist government food chain, the "Merca" and "Abastos Bicentenarios" stores. "Our agricultural production is augmenting," Venezuela's Vice-President, Elías Jaua, emphasized. "During the first six months of 2012, the production of onions and tomatoes was augmented by 25%, compared to the same time span in 2011. Tomato production increased from 104,000 to 128,000 tonnes, onion production from 80,400 to over 100,000 tonnes," he said. "This is an enormous effort, which President Chávez has made during the last 13 years in agriculture," Elías Jaua pointed out. "It is the result of good planning as well as the application of science and modern technology." He expressed his satisfaction with the results. "So far, 2012 has been an excellent year for the growth of onions, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes in Venezuela." All in all, Venezuela nowadays is able to satisfy 80% of its national demand in alimentation. "We are at present producing about 80% of what Venezuelans consume." Hugo Chávez said with pride at a recent press conference, giving the following list: 100% of fruits, vegetables, fish and pork; 90% of rice; 85% of corn; 80% of chicken and milk; 70% of beef. "If we have a good harvest at the end of this year, we will be able to supply 100% of our national demand for rice and corn, it depends on the weather," he continued. Recently, the government has begun to give low-cost credits to farmers. The Venezuelan Agricultural Bank (BAV), worth 340 million Bolivares, offers 20-year-loans to small and medium rural producers. They can open checking accounts and receive credit cards at BAV. Shares of "Banco Agrícola de Venezuela" worth one Bolivar are sold to the public. The assembly of shareholders assumes the role of defining the bank's rules and financing policies. The bank's motto is "En Revolución Contra la Especulación" (In revolution against speculation). Venezuela's socialist agricultural mission, "AgroVenezuela," has already provided about 242 million Bolivares in low-interest-loans (4%) to 1,800 rice producers.
Other privileged sectors to receive loans are beef, fruit, grain and vegetable production. The bank specifies how the loans are to be used: to finance the purchase of seed, machinery for harvesting and transport and the preparation of land. Regarding cattle, credits are given for construction and repair of infrastructure, sanitary installments, acquisition of equipment and food for the animals. BAV has 42 offices in 18 Venezuelan states: Anzoátegui, Apure, Barinas, Bolívar, Cojedes, Distrito Capital, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Táchira, Trujillo, Yaracuy and Zulia. In 2012, the average Venezuelan eats much better than during the Fourth Republic, when food prices were horrendous and meat consumption reserved for the rich. During the past decade, poverty in Venezuela has decreased by 60% and consumation of meat has increased. People can afford better alimentation, because the socialist government has regulated the prices for most food items. Furthermore, the state-owned stores of Mercal offer discount prices. Misión Mercal was introduced in 2004 to tackle rising food prices. Marilyn Di Luca, executive director of the National Institute for Nutrition, explained that the government initiatives have shown very positive results. Ninety-seven percent of all Venezuelans consume animal protein and children get their daily drink of fresh milk. "Today, Venezuelans eat better and they eat more," she said in the TV program, "D'Frente," emitted by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). Intake of proteins has increased by 75%, about 47 grams of animal protein daily per citizen, according to Marilyn Di Luca. She remembered that, "During the Fourth Republic, our Venezuelan children grew an average of 0.8 cm, compared to 1.8 cm in the Bolivarian Republic. Today, children receive better nutrition and show greater capacity of growth," referring to physical and intellectual growth. The transition from capitalist to socialist production has not been easy, and is not completed yet, but a great leap forward has been made, inspite of many obstructions, first and foremost through hoarding and speculation. According to Hugo Chávez, nutrition is one of the areas, where customers are most hurt by capitalistic greed. He wants to end capitalistic "immorality, thievery and trickery." He warned, "Speculators, you will repent!" In the past decade, several businesses were expropriated because of excessive speculation, for example four large supermarkets of the multinational chain Exito. Instead, socialist supermarket chains are growing these days, selling food items at regulated prices. The socialist government-operated areperas offer Venezuela's popular staple food, the arepa, at low cost. The arepa is a tortilla made of corn flour, filled with beans, cheese, eggs, ham or meat. While privately owned areperas sell the arepa for about 40 Bolivares, the socialist arepa only
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Another private firm which was expropriated is Llano Arroz S.A. The rice threshing and packaging plant was nationalized because it did not pay its major debts to the socialist supermarket chain of Mercal stores. Moreover, eight small private banks were nationalized at the end of 2010, and merged into a public investment bank, named Bicentenary Bank. INDEPABIS, the Venezuelan consumer defense institute, is watching closely over private businesses, taking immediate measures when speculation or hoarding are detected. They send the National Guard in, but also local squadrons of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), of the Socialist Women's Front and of labor unions. INDEPABIS also encouraged the formation of food security committees in communities, to engage them directly in the monitoring process of their local businesses and shops. They get a phone number where to call when they detect hoarding or speculating activities. The catalogue of measures consists of fines, prison sentences and expropriation, depending on the severity of the crime. Most of the incidents were combatted successfully by fining, emprisoning or expropriating such fraudulent business owners who dared hoarding goods in order to sell them at inflated prices in the black market or in neighboring Colombia. The legal definition for this type of delinquency, according to INDEPABIS, is "to create irregular situations in the stores by artificially modifying the conditions of demand." In July 2011, President ChĂĄvez introduced the Law for Just Prices and Costs." It is a legal price control mechanism for "the defense of economic rights of people to access good and services." The price-setting law is framed within the Constitution. It promotes democratic access to goods for everybody. With this law, the "National Integrated System for the Administration of Prices" was set up. It inspects and supervises prices charged to consumers. Vice-President ElĂas Jaua commented that "The law stabilizes prices, it is a law of labor against capital, a law of the rights of workers to obtain good and fair prices." President ChĂĄvez pointed out that this law is aimed against all those who "monopolize production, hoard and hide products, inflate prices and take the big slice of earnings with them as a result of their pillage." After the introduction oft the "Law of Fair Costs and Prices," Venezuelan companies started to register their pricing structures with the government's automated price system (Sisap). Prices for household cleaning and bathroom products were frozen, with 480 official inspectors visiting stores all over Venezuela to ensure that local businesses comply. Since the 15th of January 2012, companies have been obliged to print the prices of regulated
items on product labels so that customers can make sure they are paying the right price. The socialist orientation of President Chรกvez and his administration prioritizes food production in small units and cooperatives to cover 100% of domestic needs. His aim is that in a few years Venezuela will reach "food sovereignty." Article 305 of the Constitution states that food security can only be achieved through "developing and privileging internal agricultural production." Surplus production of cacao, coffee, tropical fruits and flowers is exported to Venezuela's strategic partners in Belarus, China, Iran and Russia as part of the effort to build a pluri-polar world.