17th august,2017 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice Rice News Headlines....        

E-Newsletter

1

August 17,2017 Vol 8 Issue VIII

 

Pakistan Food Security Bulletin, Issue 6 (January - June 2017) Imports rise 9pc as economy heats up BD to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices BD to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices 400 acres submerged due to drain closure Nigeria to Save N300 Billion Annually From Rice Import Stewardship will be critical for preserving Provisia rice Global Warming Will Sear Three of Four Major Grain Crops, Says New Metastudy Imported rice could be dangerous – millers C.V. Anand attributes award to team work Nigeria To Save N300bn Annually From Rice Import LT Foods: Huge demand for Basmati UPDATE 2-Bangladesh to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices Red Cross to send test shipment of rice from Pakistan to stricken Yemen GAO report looks at dredging at Lower Mississippi River ports CL farmers coop bats for fair rice allocations RIMAN to support NCS in curbing rice smuggling Bangladesh to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices Rice basmati rises on increased buying Bangladesh signs big rice deal Bangladesh further slashes import duty on rice to stabilize market amid flash floods Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 16, 2017 Rice import to reduce by 6-10% – Gov’t

      

Government revises up 2016-17 grain output to record 275.68 million ton Local Rice Production Hits 15m Tonnes Guyana Adds Cuba To Rice Market Phitsanulok college plants rice in royal tribute Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 Biotech crops to be in more local farms www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com Six new rice varieties are under research Monitor Latest Updates on Summit on use of research to develop agric held

            

 Palay, corn production up 17% in H1

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

2

News Detail... `

Pakistan Food Security Bulletin, Issue 6 (January - June 2017)

REPORT from World Food Programme 16 Aug 2017

Highlights 

According to the Food Security and Nutrition Strategic Review for Pakistan, food insecurity is among the greatest challenges for Pakistan. The overall Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) is estimated to be about 18 percent of the entire population.Preliminary findings of IPC Chronic conducted for 18 districts of Sindh province rank 7 districts in Level 4 (Severe Chronic Food Insecurity), 10 in Level 3 (Moderate Chronic Food Insecurity), 1 in Level 2 (Mild Chronic Food Insecurity) while no single district in Level 1

 





(Minimal Chronic Food Security).  Initial findings of IPC Acute Analysis conducted in 4 drought prone districts of Sindh province indicates 3 districts are in Phase 4 (Emergency), and 1 district in Phase 3 (Crisis).

Total national wheat crop production for 2016-17 has been estimated at 25.75 million MT, showing a marginal growth of 0.4 percent from 25.6 million MT in 2015-16.

Production of rice, the second main staple crop of Pakistan, has been estimated at 6.85 million MT (milled basis), reflecting a negligible increase by 0.7 percent from 6.8 million MT in 2015-16.

Prices of staple crops (wheat, wheat flour) slightly decreased, and prices of several noncereal food commodities significantly decreased. However, the prices of live chicken, cooking oil and vegetable ghee increased. The fuel prices slightly increased for both Super Petrol and HSD during January-April 2016, remained unchanged in May and slightly declined in June 2017.

Terms-of-Trade (ToT) increased by 6.2 percent from December 2016 due to decreased wheat flour price.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

3



Some 29,398 families returned to their areas of origin in FATA during the reporting period, reaching a total of 424,525 families (90 percent of total). However, 29,398 families are still in displacement and the Government has announced to compete the return by December 2017.

http://reliefweb.int/disaster/dr-2014-000035-pak12:00 AM, August 16, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:00 AM, August 16, 2017

Imports rise 9pc as economy heats up

Star Business Report

Bangladesh's imports grew 9 percent year-on-year in fiscal 2016-17 as the demand for capital machinery, industrial raw materials and food grain at home soared.

More than $47 billion worth of goods were brought in to the country last fiscal year, according to data from the Bangladesh Bank.

Bankers attributed the import growth to the rising economic activities and development works. ―Lots of machineries, from spinning to textile, re-rolling mills, auto rice mills, paper mills and power plants, are being imported,‖ said Mirza Elias Uddin Ahmed, additional managing director of Jamuna Bank.

In 2016-17, the import of capital machinery soared 37.39 percent from a year earlier to about $4.85 billion, propelled by power and energy, garment, pharmaceuticals, telecom, foodprocessing and packaging sectors.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

4

Industrial raw material imports rose 3.52 percent year-on-year to $16.22 billion.

A senior BB official said the import of intermediate goods such as coal, hard coke, clinker and scrap vessels also increased in addition to raw materials for the garment and textile sectors. ―It's a good sign for the economy that the import of machineries and raw materials is on the rise,‖ Ahmed added.

A senior treasury official of Prime Bank echoed the same.Industrial activities are rising and the growth in import indicates that production, development and employment will increase in the days to come, he added.The import of petroleum products based on the settlement of letters of credit increased 3.3 percent to $2.52 billion in 2016-17. Food grains -- rice and wheat -- imports grew about 3 percent from a year earlier to $1.15 billion.

Rice import has increased significantly in recent months, according to Ahmed.The central bank took a number of steps in the last couple of months of 2016-17 to increase the rice import to boost stock and stabilise the price level of the staple such that inflationary pressures can be contained.

The efforts paid off as food inflation in July declined 0.56 percentage points to 6.95 percent -the lowest in three months. The decline in the food inflation most likely resulted from a moderation in rice prices, brought about by a surge in imports. http://www.thedailystar.net/business/imports-rise-9pc-economy-heats-1449247

BD to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices

DHAKA: Bangladesh will slash the duty on rice imports to cool high local prices of the staple grain, the country´s food minister said on Wednesday, the second cut in less than two months.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

5

The import duty on rice will be lowered to 2 percent from 10 percent, Food Minister Kamrul Islam told reporters, down from 28 percent in June. Bangladesh, the world´s fourth-biggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year due to depleted stocks and record high local prices following flash floods in April that cut around 1 million tonnes of rice production.

"We have taken the decision anticipating major floods that could further cut rice production," Islam said, adding the circular outlining the cut would be issued in a day or two. Growing demand from Bangladesh could help stoke Asian rice prices that hit multi-year highs in June.

The government is making a frantic effort to build buffer stocks as it aims to import as much as 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the year to June.

Bangladesh has bought 250,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam in a state-to-state deal and is issuing a series of tenders after its initial plans to import the grain from Thailand and India suffered a setback over high prices.

The government is in talks with Cambodia and Myanmar to import rice while it is also engaged in a second round of discussions with Thailand and India. Rice is a staple food for Bangladesh‘s 160 million people and high prices pose a problem for the government which faces a national election next year. Bangladesh produces around 34 million tonnes of rice annually but uses almost all its production to feed its population. It often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.

Bangladesh also has a major wheat import need after floods damaged its crops but tough state purchasing conditions and slow ship unloading in ports mean trading houses are unwilling to sell grain to the Asian country.

400 acres submerged due to drain closure THE HANS INDIA | Aug 17,2017 , 03:30 AM IST

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

6 400 acres submerged due to drain closure

Pithapuram: Farmers on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the submersion of 400 acres of paddy following the closure of drain as part of the expansion of National Highway. They said the bypass road works were going on as part of highway expansion.

The works included those near the Rice Millers‘ Association Kalyana Mandapam, because of which the drain near the road has been filled with gravel. This has resulted in paddy crop remaining under water, as the let-out has been closed. This was causing hardship to our crops, the farmers stated.

They maintained that even before the launch of work, the contractor was briefed about the crop getting submerged. Yet he had disregarded their plea and negligently closed the drain, the farmers alleged. They demanded immediate stoppage of work and creation of a facility to let out the drain water. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-08-17/400-acres-submerged-due-to-

Nigeria to Save N300 Billion Annually From Rice Import

By Bayo Amodu and Ruth Tene Natsa Abuja — Nigeria will be saving about N300 billion it spends annually on importation of rice as local production of the commodity has now reached 15 million metric tonnes, the federal ministry of Agriculture disclosed yesterday.

The director of Agriculture at the Kano office of the ministry, Muhammad Adamu, who gave the hint, while inaugurating the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) in the state, said in Kano alone, 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in 2016.

He noted that, with the significant increase in local production and the effort to make the local variety qualitative and more attractive to Nigerians, the country expects to begin exporting rice to West African countries between 2018 and 2019.

Adamu said presently, 34 states in Nigeria are producing rice, with most of them now producing three times in a year.

He disclosed that investigation carried out by the federal government revealed that rice imported to Nigeria stay up to10-15 years and are preserved with chemicals that are capable of causing cancer.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

7

In his remarks, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Rice Miller's Association, Peter Dama, said the association was established to promote local milling of rice that is fresh, healthy and nutritious.

According to him, the association is willing to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service to stem smuggling of expired rice into Nigeria. Dama added that the association intended to work closely with regulatory agencies and policymakers to ensure standard in local rice milling.

On his part, the Customs officer in charge of rice enforcement, Ado Hassan, warned that any Customs officer caught conniving with rice smugglers will have themselves to blame.

He said in less than one year, the zonal command of the agency confiscated 800,000 bags of rice in Kano and Jigawa States.

Noting that about 9000 bags of rice are still in stores of the agency, he stated that most of the bags were being given to internally displaced persons after being certified fit for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that it will stop issuing fish importation quota to importers, saying the venture was no longer sustainable.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said this during a meeting with the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja, yesterday.

The minister pointed out that stopping the trade will help boost local production of fish and other aspects of agriculture in the country.

ADVERTISING inRead invented by Teads Noting that the current deficit in fish in Nigeria is over two million tonnes, he urged citizens to invest to boost fish production and create jobs in the sector.

Lokpobiri said, "We realised that fish import is no more sustainable and what we did was to encourage those that import it to think of the backward integration by reducing the quota year by year in agreement with the CBN. "Very soon, we are not going to give quota for fish importation. We want everybody to set up their fish farms, employ our people and create jobs for our people.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

8

"When we came last two years, Nigeria was producing about 700,000 tonnes of fish but this has increased to about 1.2 million tonnes which means that there has been increment of 400 tonnes.

This increase represents more than 50 per cent of what we were producing".

Lokpobiri who commended the IDIPR for contributing to fish production in the country, advised other states to emulate the community's agricultural initiative.

He said the federal government will soon complete and commission the fish feed mill located at Eriwe village farm in Ijebu community of Ogun State.

The minister quoted the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as saying that Ijebu community has the highest number of fish clusters in the world.

Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the initiative, Prof. Olanipekun Alausa, listed some challenges hindering the agricultural initiative to include inadequate access to loans and lack of modern agricultural tools for mechanised farming.

Alausa who said the initiative was currently supplying food items to nine local government areas in the state appealed for more support from the federal government to enhance the initiative's performance.

He said the scheme, which was established in 1999 as a non-governmental organisation, was geared towards community development to reduce poverty and improve the livelihood of people, using agriculture and micro-credit among others.The chairman said the scheme was involved in poultry, piggery, bee-keeping and cocoa farming to ensure poverty reduction and contribute to agricultural development in the country.

His words: "We want provision of access roads in the farm villages, access to direct credit and government's grants toward our poverty reduction programme.The change in the life of the poor is visible as the needs and well-being of women and other disadvantaged groups in our community are being met.

"Hundreds of young graduates now see agriculture as a thriving business and cluster innovation farming platform has been proved beyond doubt that it is capable of making fortune".

Stewardship will be critical for preserving Provisia rice Farmers will need to consider crop rotation planning before they begin planting Provisia rice varieties in 2018 or 19.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

9

Forrest Laws | Aug 16, 2017 Tim Walker says it‘s been 15 or 16 years since scientists with the LSU AgCenter and officials with American Cyanamid and Horizon Ag announced the Clearfield technology that helped change weed control in rice.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

10

Dr. Walker, general manager of Horizon Ag, and BASF are now preparing growers to begin planting the new Provisia rice, which is tolerant to quizalofop or Provisia herbicide, on a limited basis in 2018.

Hopefully, it won‘t be 15 or 16 more years before another new technology is developed, but Dr. Walker is urging growers to practice good stewardship when they try Provisia in 2018 or 2019.

That includes using the proper crop rotation strategies such as not planting Provisia rice following Clearfield varieties.

He and other speakers discussed the new system and other new Clearfield varieties during presentations at the Horizon Ag Field Day on the Mark Wimpy Farm near Jonesboro, Ark., on Aug. 10.

To learn more about Provisia rice,

visit http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/provisia-rice-variety-measuringlouisiana-demonstration. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/stewardship-will-be-critical-preserving-provisiaricehttp://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/stewardship-will-be-critical-preserving-provisia-rice

Global Warming Will Sear Three of Four Major Grain Crops, Says New Meta-study Maize and wheat especially vulnerable, rice will hurt and only soybeans seem relatively impervious to rising temperatures Ruth Schuster Aug 16, 2017 12:13 PM

Rising temperatures will decimate food crops, say scientists Jim Young, ReutersScientists crack wild wheat genome, discovering mutations key to early human farmingIn first, scientists edit gene in human embryo, reviving debate over 'designer babies'Smileys in work emails create a bad impression, study shows

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

11

On the banks of the Jordan River, Neanderthals ate turtles 60,000 years agoThree of the four major grains on which the growing world population depends are vulnerable to global warming, says a new meta-analysis based on more than 70 studies.

Farmers have probably known that plants have optimal ranges in which they grow best since planting the first wheat some 23,000 years ago. Now science has proved the point.The four crops on which humankind depends most are wheat, rice, maize, and soybeans. These are responsible for two-thirds of human caloric intake, says the team.

The starting point of the meta study was that the effect of climate change on these crop yields was not certain. Now they are. "Temperature increase reduces global yields of major crops in four independent estimates," the scientists state in the title of their paper title. At least soybean turns out to be relatively resilient to warmer temperature, within limits.One degree change, 7% drop in crop The sheer multiplicity of parameters make climate change prediction extremely difficult, but, as the team points out, understanding temperature and other impacts of the change is critical to future food security. Especially as scientists now agree that keeping median global warming less than 2 degrees Celsius will be almost impossible.

The meta-analysis by Chuang Zhao, Senthold Asseng of the University of Florida and others encompassed studies based on multiple analytical methods, including modeling global and local crop yields in response to temperature changes; statistical regression models based on historical weather and yield data; and artificial field warming experiments.

All methods indicate that rising temperatures are likely to hurt the global yields of wheat, rice, and maize, and significantly so – though, the team qualifies, specific results were highly heterogeneous across crops and geographical areas, and there were also some positive impact estimates.

Gringing maize, a staple food, in Kenya: The corn species turns out to be highly vulnerable to rising temperatures.Thomas Mukoya, Reuters Each 1-degree Celsius increase in global mean temperature is projected to reduce average global yields of wheat by 6%, rice by 3.2%, and maize by 7.4%, the team estimates, assuming no corrective methods, such as farming adaptations or genetic crop modifications to make them more resilient.

Soybean yields were hardier. How temperatures affected soy yields varied widely across crops and geographical areas, the team said: in some places, yields increased.

Their conclusion: the world needs to develop crop- and region-specific adaptation strategies to ensure food security for an increasing world population.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

12

Rice is produced almost entirely in Asia, but corn for instance, a staple in the West, is grown around the world – which should be an advantage, for humankind. But part of the problem is that multiple areas on which the world depends are increasingly likely to get hit at the same time.

For instance, drought in the U.S. and China at the same time, which is now entirely feasible, could decimate the global corn supply: "Our simulations indicate that that type of scenario is possible in the current climate," researcher Chris Kent told Bloomberg. Just last month, China admitted that its north is suffering the worst drought in its history and that crops are suffering.

Beijing, at least, is not in climate change denial. https://theeagleonline.com.ng/riman-to-support-ncs-in-curbing-rice-smuggling/

Imported rice could be dangerous – millers By‘Yemi Oluwadare August 15, 2017

The leadership of Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RMAN) has alerted Nigerians on the dangers of imported rice saying that many a times, imported rice were stored in silos for as many as 10 years.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Association in Kano, Tuesday, National President of the Association, Mr. Peter Dama, added that imported rice were preserved for these amount of time with chemicals which could be dangerous to human health.

The Association appealed the Federal Government to instruct NAFDAC to undertake periodic evaluation of imported rice while asking Nigerians to revert to the consumption of locally farmed rice, describing Nigerian rice as more nutritious and healthier He, however, tasked local rice farmers in the country on the quality of their produce adding that up till date, Nigerians were still complaining about the quality of locally produced rice. Alhaji Mohammed Munir Shehu Adamu, the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Kano State, recalled that though the journey of the rice revolution in Nigeria begun in 2012 , it however has been enjoying an unprecedented impetus under the present Buhari administration.

He said that today, annual production of locally farmed rice had multiplied into several folds while investments in the sector were running in millions of Naira.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

13

He disclosed that Nigeria had the potentials to produce over 15 million metric tones of rice annually adding that very soon and at the present pace, Nigeria would be producing rice for the whole of West Africa. ―There is no reason why Nigeria should be the biggest importers of rice in the globe when we can easily become the largest producers of rice‖ he stated.

The meeting was attended by members of the Association from across Nigeria, the Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, among others. https://www.today.ng/business/4788/imported-rice-dangerous-millers

C.V. Anand attributes award to team work Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, August 17, 2017 00:00 IST Updated: August 17, 2017 04:49 IST

Civil Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

14

Civil Supplies Commissioner C.V. Anand, who received State Excellence Award from Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao on Independence Day attributed it to the collective effort of all employees in the department. Speaking to the employees of Civil Supplies and Legal Metrology and rice millers association representatives who congratulated him on winning the award here on Wednesday, Mr. Anand said that anything was possible to achieve if one worked with honesty and commitment.

He said that the award had only increased the responsibility of the department. The Department gained good reputation and recognition from the Government as the employees worked honestly.

Transparency, accountability, getting immediate results using technology and reforms and austerity and efforts of employees got the appreciation. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/cv-anand-attributes-award-to-teamwork/article19506717.ece

Nigeria To Save N300bn Annually From Rice Import

By Gistmaster On August 16, 2017 In Latest, News, News Tagged Latest News Leave a comment

BY BAYO AMODU and RUTH TENE NATSA, Abuja Nigeria will be saving about N300 billion it spends annually on importation of rice as local production of the commodity has now reached 15 million metric tonnes, the federal ministry of Agriculture disclosed yesterday.

The director of Agriculture at the Kano office of the ministry, Muhammad Adamu, who gave the hint, while inaugurating the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) in the state, said in Kano alone, 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in 2016.

He noted that, with the significant increase in local production and the effort to make the local variety qualitative and more attractive to Nigerians, the country expects to begin exporting rice to West African countries between 2018 and 2019.

Adamu said presently, 34 states in Nigeria are producing rice, with most of them now producing three times in a year.

He disclosed that investigation carried out by the federal government revealed that rice imported to Nigeria stay up to10-15 years and are preserved with chemicals that are capable of causing cancer.

In his remarks, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Rice Miller‘s Association, Peter Dama, said the association was established to promote local milling of rice that is fresh, healthy and nutritious.

According to him, the association is willing to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service to stem smuggling of expired rice into Nigeria.

Dama added that the association intended to work closely with regulatory agencies and policymakers to ensure standard in local rice milling.

On his part, the Customs officer in charge of rice enforcement, Ado Hassan, warned that any Customs officer caught conniving with rice smugglers will have themselves to blame.

He said in less than one year, the zonal command of the agency confiscated 800,000 bags of rice in Kano and Jigawa States.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

15

Noting that about 9000 bags of rice are still in stores of the agency, he stated that most of the bags were being given to internally displaced persons after being certified fit for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that it will stop issuing fish importation quota to importers, saying the venture was no longer sustainable.

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said this during a meeting with the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja, yesterday.

The minister pointed out that stopping the trade will help boost local production of fish and other aspects of agriculture in the country.

Noting that the current deficit in fish in Nigeria is over two million tonnes, he urged citizens to invest to boost fish production and create jobs in the sector.

Lokpobiri said, ―We realised that fish import is no more sustainable and what we did was to encourage those that import it to think of the backward integration by reducing the quota year by year in agreement with the CBN. ―Very soon, we are not going to give quota for fish importation. We want everybody to set up their fish farms, employ our people and create jobs for our people. ―When we came last two years, Nigeria was producing about 700,000 tonnes of fish but this has increased to about 1.2 million tonnes which means that there has been increment of 400 tonnes.

This increase represents more than 50 per cent of what we were producing‖.

Lokpobiri who commended the IDIPR for contributing to fish production in the country, advised other states to emulate the community‘s agricultural initiative.

He said the federal government will soon complete and commission the fish feed mill located at Eriwe village farm in Ijebu community of Ogun State.

The minister quoted the United Nations‘ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as saying that Ijebu community has the highest number of fish clusters in the world.

Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the initiative, Prof. Olanipekun Alausa, listed some challenges hindering the agricultural initiative to include inadequate access to loans and lack of modern agricultural tools for mechanised farming.

Alausa who said the initiative was currently supplying food items to nine local government areas in the state appealed for more support from the federal government to enhance the initiative‘s performance.

He said the scheme, which was established in 1999 as a non-governmental organisation, was geared towards community development to reduce poverty and improve the livelihood of people, using agriculture and micro-credit among others.

The chairman said the scheme was involved in poultry, piggery, bee-keeping and cocoa farming to ensure poverty reduction and contribute to agricultural development in the country.

His words: ―We want provision of access roads in the farm villages, access to direct credit and government‘s grants toward our poverty reduction programme.

The change in the life of the poor is visible as the needs and well-being of women and other disadvantaged groups in our community are being met. ―Hundreds of young graduates now see agriculture as a thriving business and cluster innovation farming platform has been proved beyond doubt that it is capable of making fortune https://niyitabiti.net/2017/08/nigeria-to-save-n300bn-annually-from-rice-import/

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

16

LT Foods: Huge demand for Basmati Our Correspondent Filed on August 14, 2017

The company exports 60 per cent of its products

The Middle East is one of the biggest markets for Indian basmati rice LT Foods, a leading Indian basmati exporter, has been in the business for more than 50 years now."Our first export container was sent to the Middle East in 1989," recalls Ashwani Arora, Managing Director and CEO of the company. "The company revenue was just Rs30 million then. Today, it is Rs30 billion."

The Middle East is one of the biggest markets for Indian basmati rice. About 65 per cent of the company's exports are to the Middle East, with Dubai being the major market.

"Our strong markets are India, U.S. and the Middle East," explains Arora. According to him, demand from the Middle East is expanding at 10 per cent annually. Many countries in the Middle East, including Iran and Iraq are also moving from ordinary rice to Basmati varieties, he adds.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

17

LT Foods has set up a processing plant in the Netherlands. According to Arora, about 90 per cent of its business is accounted for by Basmati rice.

"Over the next five years our plan is to grow our core," says Arora. "We want to be a billiondollar company by then." Basmati rice would account for about $700 million of turnover and the rest would be from organic and other products.

Currently, the company exports 60 per cent of its products. However, with Basmati consumption growing in India, he sees huge demand from the domestic market. "As per capita income increases, demand for Basmati rice will also grow," says Arora.The company has a full-fledged sales and marketing office in Dubai for the last 10 years http://www.khaleejtimes.com/international/india/lt-foods-huge-demand-for-basmati

UPDATE 2-Bangladesh to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices * Second cut in rice duty in less than two months * Bangladesh a major rice importer after floods cut output * High prices a worry; Dhaka seeks to buy 1.5 mln T * Bangladesh demand could stoke Asia rice prices (Add imports target, details)

By Ruma Paul DHAKA, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Bangladesh will slash the duty on rice imports to cool high local prices of the staple grain, the country's food minister said on Wednesday, the second cut in less than two months.

The import duty on rice will be lowered to 2 percent from 10 percent, Food Minister Kamrul Islam told reporters, down from 28 percent in June.Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year due to depleted stocks and record high local prices following flash floods in April that cut around 1 million tonnes of rice production.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

18

"We have taken the decision anticipating major floods that could further cut rice production," Islam said, adding the circular outlining the cut would be issued in a day or two.Growing demand from Bangladesh could help stoke Asian rice prices that hit multi-year highs in June.

The government is making a frantic effort to build buffer stocks as it aims to import as much as 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the year to June.Bangladesh has bought 250,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam in a state-to-state deal and is issuing a series of tenders after its initial plans to import the grain from Thailand and India suffered a setback over high prices.

The government is in talks with Cambodia and Myanmar to import rice while it is also engaged in a second round of discussions with Thailand and India.Rice is a staple food for Bangladesh‘s 160 million people and high prices pose a problem for the government which faces a national election next year.

Bangladesh produces around 34 million tonnes of rice annually but uses almost all its production to feed its population. It often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.Bangladesh also has a major wheat import need after floods damaged its crops but tough state purchasing conditions and slow ship unloading in ports mean trading houses are unwilling to sell grain to the Asian country. (Editing by Susan Thomas) Author Name: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-virginia-protests-idUSKCN1AV0WT

Rice output is estimated to be a record 110.15 million NEW DELHI: As per the data, rice output is estimated to be a record 110.15 million tonnes in 2016-17 as against 104.41 million tonnes in the previous year. Previous record was 106.65 million tonnes in 2013-14.

Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60087254.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_me dium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Red Cross to send test shipment of rice from Pakistan to stricken Yemen GENEVA/HODEIDAH, Yemen (Reuters) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) plans to send a test shipment of rice to Yemen this month in its first attempt since February to deliver food aid via the port of Hodeidah, which is held by Houthi fighters allied to Iran.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

19 The port has been repeatedly hit by air strikes from a Saudi-led coalition, which has been fighting in Yemen since 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power. It normally handles some 80 percent of Yemen's food supplies as well as humanitarian aid, "A certain number of maritime companies are starting to use Hodeidah port," ICRC spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet said. "We are going to test the waters, so to speak, and send a cargo of rice from Pakistan."The shipment was expected to leave Pakistan next week and arrive at the Red Sea port the week after, she said.

The Saudi-led coalition says the Houthis have been using Hodeidah to smuggle weapons into the country, and Hadi's government has proposed to the United Nations that it monitors the facility.The ICRC suspended stopped using Hodeidah port in February. Jaquemet said it had been bringing in supplies to Yemen by land from Jordan via Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The war has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced at least 2 million and destroyed much of the country's infrastructure, including roads, hospitals and schools, pushing Yemen to the brink of famine. It has also fanned the spread of cholera, infecting some half a million people and killing nearly 2,000.

The chairman of the board of Red Sea ports, which includes Hodeidah, said on Wednesday that the Saudiled coalition in January had stopped the delivery of four mobile cranes organized by the World Food Programme (WFP) to replace cranes destroyed by the coalition last year.The WFP confirmed the report and said the cranes, which were funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were sent back to Dubai after waiting offshore for more than a week.

A coalition spokesman said the WFP had not coordinated with the alliance before it went ahead and sourced the equipment, adding that the Houthis wanted the cranes to create a source of income from imports to finance the war effort.He suggested that the cranes be installed instead in al-Mokha port, which is under coalition control."It will lift its capacity and help lift the suffering from the Yemeni people by ensuring that revenues go to the legitimate government through the central bank to spend on salaries of Yemenis," Colonel Turki al-Maliki said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-saudi-iraq-idUSKCN1AW1LA

GAO report looks at dredging at Lower Mississippi River ports

By David Krapf on AUGUST 15, 2017

The Mississippi River at St. Louis. Photo by David Krapf

In late July, the General Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on dredging issues at 13 Lower Mississippi River ports between St. Louis and Baton Rouge, La. The report, Inland Harbors: The Corps of Engineers Should Assess Existing Capabilities to Better Inform Dredging Decisions, reviewed the ports from 2010 through 2015. These ports primarily moved a mix of agricultural commodities (corn, soybeans, and rice), petroleum products, and crude materials (such as sand and gravel, among others). However, the ports

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

20

varied, with some primarily moving grain, and others moving a variety of commodities. These ports also varied in tonnage transported, ranging from less than one million tons annually to more than 10 million tons per year.

A majority of the stakeholders interviewed by the GAO, as well as Army Corps of Engineers officials, said that funding constraints limit the Corps‘ ability to fully dredge the 13 ports‘ harbors, which can affect freight movement. According to local Corps officials, the agency received about $13.1 million of the $20.6 million needed to fully dredge the 13 ports‘ harbors in fiscal year 2016. Some stakeholders told said that smaller ports are negatively affected by the Corps‘ emphasis on the amount of cargo moved (measured in tons) when making decisions about which harbors to dredge, the GAO said.

Congress has directed the Corps to consider harbors‘ significance and to conduct an assessment of harbors‘ use and benefits — considering factors beyond tonnage — when considering the allocation of dredging funds. Corps officials said they have not conducted such an assessment due to funding constraints, and raised concerns about the cost-effectiveness of conducting such assessments. However, the Corps has developed some tools that may help it assess inland harbors‘ significance, use, and benefits. For example, Corps officials explained that they have a tool that allows them to track the amount and type of cargo moving through harbors and to estimate the value of cargo at risk if a harbor loses depth. However, a Corps official noted that the ―cargo-at-risk‖ metric was based on deep coastal harbors and would need to be adapted for inland harbors.

A senior Corps official agreed that it could be useful to inform Congress of the Corps‘ existing tools and capabilities and the resources needed to adapt these tools and capabilities to address the statutory requirements related to allocating dredging funds.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

21

Many of the stakeholders interviewed by the GAO said that before considering alternativefunding options, the federal government should make more use of the current mechanism for funding dredging: the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. Three other potential options for funding dredging — user fees, state and local contributions, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund (which currently funds new construction and major rehabilitation of locks and dams as well as other channel and waterway improvements) were discussed. Stakeholders said each faced challenges.

In particular, they noted the financial effects of these options on users, state and local governments, and the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. However, some stakeholders identified the benefits of using these options, such as benefits from industry paying user fees for its infrastructure use, and state and local governments contributing funds to meet the dredging needs of harbors in their jurisdiction.

The GAO recommended that the Corps inform Congress whether it can adapt its existing tools to address factors for allocating dredging funds from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, and the resources needed to do so. The Corps concurred with the recommendation.

David Krapf David Krapf has been editor of WorkBoat, the nation‘s leading trade magazine for the inland and coastal waterways industry, since 1999. He is responsible for overseeing the editorial direction of the publication. Krapf has been in the publishing industry since 1987, beginning as a reporter and editor with daily and weekly newspapers in the Houston area. He also was the editor of a transportation industry daily in New Orleans before joining WorkBoat as a contributing editor in 1992. He has been covering the transportation industry since 1989. He has a degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Oswego, and also studied journalism at the University of Houston. https://www.workboat.com/news/coastal-inland-waterways/gao-report-looks-at-dredging-atlower-mississippi-river-ports/ https://theeagleonline.com.ng/riman-to-support-ncs-in-curbing-rice-smuggling/

CL farmers coop bats for fair rice allocations Published August 15, 2017, 10:01 PM

By Freddie C. Velez San Miguel, Bulacan — A farmers cooperative in Region 3 yesterday appealed to the National Food Authority (NFA) to provide them with fair allocations from the rice importations that the country would procure for the lean rice months of July-September.The Federation of Central Luzon Farmer‘s Cooperative headed by its president Simeon Sioson of this town is hoping that the minimum access volume (MAV) rice importation for this year will not replicate the rice allocation made in 2015.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

22

The FCLFC president explained that in the 2015 MAV rice importation program, only 10 of farmers‘ cooperatives were allocated 12,500 metric tons while big-time traders got 176,000 metric tons.

In a letter sent to NFA Administrator Jason Laurena Aquino dated June 12, 2017, Sioson identified the big-time traders as Alchemo Philippines Inc., Arvin International Mktg. Inc., and Philmico Foods Corporation.

During that time, the processing fee imposed by NFA on the rice importation was R50,000 whether the importer has only a small or big volume allocated to them which is very unfair to the farmers, Sioson said.

RIMAN to support NCS in curbing rice smuggling The RIMAN‘s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Peter Dharma, gave this assurance in Kano on Tuesday at the inaugural meeting of the association.The Rice Millers Association of Nigeria has promised to provide useful information to the Nigeria Customs Service in its efforts to curb the smuggling of rice into the country.The RIMAN‘s Chairman, Board of Trustees, Peter Dharma, gave this assurance in Kano on Tuesday at the inaugural meeting of the association.

He said that Nigerians had, over the years, been losing enormous resources to the smuggling of food items into the country.Dharma also pledged that the association would support the Federal Government‘s programme value chain of local rice cultivation, milling, processing and production.He said: ―Our association will work closely with the regulatory and policy makers to ensure standards in local rice milling.‖The chairman also stated that the association would support research into renewable energy source, which he said, the association would recommend to its members in the near future.

Speaking on the occasion, the Area Commander of the Nigeria Customs Service, Yusuf Abba, hailed RIMAN‘s plan, as according to him, it will yield some economic benefits to the country.

Abba, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller Enforcement of the service, Ago Hyacinth, said smugglers should no longer be allowed to sabotage the nation‘s economy.Mallam Muhammed Munir, a director at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the Federal Government‘s injection of money into the sector, would facilitate employment opportunities for citizens.NAN reports that the association at the inaugural meeting discussed the various issues surrounding rice production in the country. http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/08/15/cl-farmers-coop-bats-for-fair-rice-allocations/

Bangladesh to cut duty on rice imports to cool local prices Ruma Paul

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

23

A storeowner pours out rice for a customer in Dhaka April 6, 2009.Andrew Biraj/Files DHAKA (Reuters) - Bangladesh will slash the duty on rice imports to cool high local prices of the staple grain, the country's food minister said on Wednesday, the second cut in less than two months.The import duty on rice will be lowered to 2 percent from 10 percent, Food Minister Kamrul Islam told reporters, down from 28 percent in June.Bangladesh, the world's fourthbiggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year due to depleted stocks and record high local prices following flash floods in April that cut around 1 million tonnes of rice production.

"We have taken the decision anticipating major floods that could further cut rice production," Islam said, adding the circular outlining the cut would be issued in a day or two.Growing demand from Bangladesh could help stoke Asian rice prices that hit multi-year highs in June.The government is making a frantic effort to build buffer stocks as it aims to import as much as 1.5 million tonnes of rice in the year to June.Bangladesh has bought 250,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam in a state-to-state deal and is issuing a series of tenders after its initial plans to import the grain from Thailand and India suffered a setback over high prices.

The government is in talks with Cambodia and Myanmar to import rice while it is also engaged in a second round of discussions with Thailand and India.Rice is a staple food for Bangladesh‘s 160 million people and high prices pose a problem for the government which faces a national election next year.

Bangladesh produces around 34 million tonnes of rice annually but uses almost all its production to feed its population. It often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by floods or droughts.Bangladesh also has a major wheat import need after floods damaged its crops but tough state purchasing conditions and slow ship unloading in ports mean trading houses are unwilling to sell grain to the Asian country.

Editing by Susan Thomas https://in.reuters.com/article/india-gold-policy-idINKCN1AW19Y

Rice basmati rises on increased buying Wed, 16 Aug 2017-02:24pm , PTI Rice basmati prices firmed up by up to Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today on emergence of buying by the stockists.

A few other bold grains also finished higher on increased offtake by consuming industries.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

24

Traders said stockists buying following pick up in demand against restricted supplies from producing belts mainly led to rise in rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa 1121 variety settled higher at Rs 6,4006,500 and Rs 5,150- 5,200 from previous levels of Rs 6,300-6,400 and Rs 4,950- 5,025 per quintal, respectively.

Other bold grains like, bajra, maize and barley also finished higher at Rs 1,225-1,230, Rs 1,3301,335 and Rs 1,490-1,500 against last close of Rs 1,190-1,195, Rs 1,310- 1,320 and Rs 1,4501,460 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,350, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,780-1,785, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,785-1,790, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 970-980 (50 kg), Maida Rs 1,010-1,020 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,045 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 6,400-6,500, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,150-5,200, Permal raw Rs 2,1502,175, Permal wand Rs 2,200-2,225, Sela Rs 2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,825-1,850, Bajra Rs 1,225-1,230, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,800-2,900, Maize Rs 1,330-1,335, Barley Rs 1,490-1,500.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.) http://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-rice-basmati-rises-on-increased-buying-2531556

Bangladesh signs big rice deal Sok Chan / Khmer Times Share:

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

25

After negotiating the memorandum of understanding the two sides negotiated the rice deal directly. KT/Chor Sokunthea

Two weeks after Bangladesh and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Phnom Penh to purchase rice from Cambodia, on Monday of this week Bangladesh signed a deal to buy 250,000 tonnes of milled rice from Cambodia.

The purchasing agreement was made after the officials from state-owned Green Trade Company and the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) flew to Bangladesh last week to negotiate in detail on the purchasing agreements between Bangladesh and Cambodia based on the government-togovernment MoU. CRF president Sok Puthyvuth said yesterday that Bangladesh was interested in Cambodian rice and wanted to have a relationship with Cambodia.

He said that after Bangladesh signed an MoU with Cambodia on August 2, officials from the CRF and Green Trade flew to Bangladesh to negotiate directly.

He said that there were tough negotiations and competition with Thailand, India and Vietnam also wooing Bangladesh to purchase rice from them.

However, Bangladesh chose Cambodia.

Bangladesh, the world‘s fourth-biggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the grain this year after flash floods in April hit domestic output. As a result, the country is facing dwindling stocks and high local prices. ―We will work with the CRF‘s members, Green Trade and Rural Development Bank to strengthen the export soon,‖ Mr Puthyvuth said.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

26

―We want the export to take place as soon as possible,‖ he said. ―We are not worried as Bangladesh gave us enough time,‖ he added.

He said that CRF will talk with its members on the amount to export to Bangladesh and would get feedback soon on their ability to export to Bangladesh. ―Prices will be based on the market price but we will continue to talk to find a win-win solution between Cambodian farmers and Bangladesh,‖ Mr Puthyvuth said. ―At the moment, the price we are offering Bangladesh is competitive compared with Vietnam, Thailand and India. ―In the next five years, the price will be higher as Cambodia modernises its agriculture, particularly the rice sector,‖ Mr Puthyvuth said.

On August 2, the Cambodian Commerce Ministry and Bangladesh signed the MoU to sell about a million tonnes of rice in the five years to 2022.

Sok Sopheak, under-secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said the quality of rice and pricing were crucial for Cambodia to compete with Thailand and India who had also signed MoUs with Bangladesh.

He said costs on such aspects as logistics and terminal handling charges would be kept as low as possible.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice, welcomed the agreement with Bangladesh, saying it opened new markets for Cambodia. ―The private sector is keen to make this agreement work. We will ensure the Bangladeshis that the rice they get from us will be the best quality,‖ he said. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5078380/bangladesh-signs-big-rice-deal/

Bangladesh further slashes import duty on rice to stabilize market amid flash floods Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-16 19:28:32|Editor: Zhou Xin

DHAKA, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Bangladesh has decided to cut import duty on rice further to 2 percent in a bid to rein the instability in prices of the staple food item amid flash floods.Bangladeshi Food Minister Qamrul Islam made the announcement at a press briefing Wednesday in the capital of Dhaka."We've decided to slash the duty to 2 percent from the existing 10," said the minister.

He said the government decided to import 1.5 million tones of rice in the current 2017-2018 fiscal year in an effort to replenish reserves and rein in prices of the staple in the wake of the flooding.Apart from this, he said Bangladesh will import 500,000 tonnes of wheat in the current fiscal year.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

27

He said a state agency has already started to import rice through government-to-government deals from producers of Cambodia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, as importing via tenders is a lengthy process.After the second round of flooding in June, the Bangladeshi government eased import duty on rice to 10 percent from 28 percent in a bid to stabilize the domestic market.

Owing to higher import duty placed back in 2015 and 2016 to safeguard local farmers amid cheap prices from neighboring countries, rice import has dropped to a four-year low this year.

Local importers blamed a 28-percent tariff on rice import for the decline.

As the domestic rice market has again become volatile in the wake of reports that paddy production is likely to fall this year due to flash floods and rice blast disease, prices of rice have continued soaring since April.In recent months local rice prices have hit a record high and the state reserves are reportedly at a six-year low.The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh reportedly recorded an about 50-percent hike in the prices of coarse rice this month compared to the same period last year.

Price hike of food items particularly staple rice is a key concern for the Bangladeshi government as nearly 31.5 percent of its around 160 million people still live below the national poverty line and spend a large part of their incomes on food purchase.Flash Flood struck the country's northeastern region in March, causing huge loss of boro (winter) rice. Apart from this, rice blast disease has also affected boro rice production elsewhere in the country.

Against such circumstances, prices are seen rising in the short term on a supply shortage.

The situation seems to have worsened in Bangladesh this week as floods have reportedly hit 20 districts, mostly in the country's north, leaving dozens of people dead http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-08/16/c_136531002.htm

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 16, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-August 16

Nagpur, August 16 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices shot up in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased demand from local millers amid thin supply from producing belts. Government restriction on pulses import, healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

28 and reported demand from South-based millers also boosted prices.

About 450 of gram and 400 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM * Gram varieties zoomed up in open market here on renewed buying support from local traders amid tight supply from millers.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties recovered strongly in open market on increased festival season demand from local traders amid weak arrival from producing belts.

* Moong and Udid varieties firmed up in open market on increased seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,100-5,400, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,500-6,700, Udid Mogar (clean) – 8,800-9,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,400, Gram – 5,500-5,800, Gram Super best – 8,600-9,000

* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

29 FOODGRAINS

Available prices

Gram Auction

4,600-5,590

Gram Pink Auction

n.a.

Tuar Auction

4,600-5,400

2,100-2,600

4,000-4,600

Moong Auction

3,800-4,300

n.a.

Udid Auction

n.a.

Masoor Auction

Previous close

3,900-4,200 4,300-4,500

n.a.

Wheat Mill quality Auction

2,600-2,800 1,550-1,715

Gram Super Best Bold

1,500-1,706

9,000-9,400

Gram Super Best

n.a.

Gram Medium Best

8,500-9,000

n.a.

8,000-8,400

7,600-8,000

Gram Dal Medium

n.a.

Gram Mill Quality

5,400-5,600

5,200-5,350

Desi gram Raw

5,700-5,900

5,400-5,600

Gram Kabuli

n.a

12,700-13,800

Tuar Fataka Best-New

12,500-13,500

6,800-7,000

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

6,200-6,500

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

5,800-6,100

6,200-6,400

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New Tuar Gavarani New

6,400-6,600

5,700-6,000

5,800-6,000

5,500-5,700

5,500-5,700

5,200-5,400

Tuar Karnataka

6,000-6,200

5,800-6,000

Masoor dal best

5,000-5,500

5,000-5,500

Masoor dal medium Masoor

n.a.

4,500-4,800

4,500-4,800

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

7,000-7,500

Moong Mogar Medium

6,500-6,800

6,800-7,200 6,200-6,500

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

30 Moong dal Chilka

5,500-6,000

5,300-5,800

Moong Mill quality

n.a.

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

7,000-8,000

6,600-7,600

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,000-10,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

6,600-7,500

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)

4,700-5,100

5,900-6,100

2,900-3,200

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,900-3,200

2,900-3,100

2,900-3,100

Watana White (100 INR/KG)

3,500-3,700

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)

3,600-4,800

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

6,400-7,200

5,100-5,500

5,900-6,100

1,900-2,000

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)

3,500-3,700 3,600-4,800

1,900-2,000

1,800-1,900

1,800-1,900

2,100-2,300

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

2,100-2,300

2,100-2,400

2,100-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

1,900-2,000

n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)

8,500-9,500

3,000-3,600

2,200-2,700

2,200-2,700

Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG)

2,800-3,300

2,800-3,300

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)

3,300-3,500

3,300-3,500

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,100

2,500-2,800

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)

2,350-2,450

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

2,500-2,600

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,100

2,500-2,800

2,300-2,400

2,350-2,450 2,500-2,650 2,300-2,400

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

31 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG)

3,600-4,000

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)

3,600-4,000

4,500-5,000

4,500-5,000

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)

4,100-4,300

4,100-4,300

Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG)

4,500-4,700

4,600-4,800

Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

6,500-6,800

5,800-6,200

5,800-6,200

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG)

5,000-7,500 4,500-4,800

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

10,000-13,500

4,500-4,800 5,800-6,000

5,400-5,600

2,000-2,200 1,800-2,000

5,000-7,500

5,400-5,600 2,000-2,200

1,800-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 34.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.7 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells or rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 34 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

ATTN : Soyabean mandi, wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC and oil market in Vidarbha will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, on the occasion of Pateti, Parsi New Yhttps://in.reuters.com/article/britain-education-results-idINKCN1AX14S

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

32

Rice import to reduce by 6-10% – Gov‘t B Y M OHAMM ED AWAL

AUGUST 1 6 , 2 01 7

Government is seeking to reduce the volume of foreign rice imported into the country by between 6-10 percent by the end of 2017. Currently, an average of $500,000,000 of rice is brought into the country annually, representing an estimated 70 percent of the local consumption of rice.This is in spite of the fact that rice is produced at commercial levels locally. Other crops such as maize, soya bean and sorghum record similar trends.

Also, government is seeking to reduce the general food import through its flagship ―Planting for Food and Jobs‖ policy. A deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, William Quaittoo said, the percentage of targeted reduction in rice import could increase to 15 percent next year.―We have various targets for the crops that we are doing in this current project (Planting for Food and Jobs); soya bean, maize, rice and sorghum. For vegetables, we don‘t have much target, we just want to ensure that we have vegetables on the market‖, he told a section of the media in Accra during the USAID‘s 2017 Agricultural Policy Research Summit.

He is hopeful the volume of foods imported into the country would reduce marginally by the end of first term of the NPP government. ―I‘m sure next year, we might increase the target to 15 percent of reduction. Within the four years, rice import, maize import would have reduced to an appreciable level‖, he hoped.Mr. Quaittoo, however, noted the reduction in the volume of foods imported into the country must be done strategically to avoid starving the country. He believed a complete halt in the import of foods would be welcomed, but that should not happen at the expense of securing food for the populace. ―If we are able to stop the importation of food from outside, we‘ll be very happy today. But you see, we‘ll have to balance the equation. We are unable to produce to meet the total needs of the people, if we put in too much regulations, we may end up starving the nation‖, he added.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

33

He also indicated that the ministry has had to revise its target upon the coming into power by the NPP administration. This he said was necessary as the realities on the ground were different from what they had assumed while in opposition.―For the Planting for Food and Jobs policy, we set ourselves certain targets for the first year, for the second year we‘ll have other targets that we‘ll set. Unfortunately, we were in opposition when we were setting all those targets to implement them. We came into power and we are realizing that even seeds, we are unable to produce. So now that we are in the chair, our targets to me, would be more realistic than before we came into power‖, he mentioned.

AGRIC Policy Support Project The summit was hosted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Feed the Future Initiative. It was to share research on evidence-based policy recommendations with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other stakeholders.The objective of the summit was to explore how proposed policies can improve food security and increase private sector investment in Ghana‘s agric sector. The summit was under the theme, ―Supporting Effective and Efficient Agriculture Policies through Research‖.

Speaking at the summit, USAID/Ghana Action Mission Director, Steven E. Hendrix remarked that ―USAID supports the ministry of Food and Agriculture with research policy analysis, and builds capacity of public and private organizations to closely monitor and evaluate agriculture programs.‖The event featured policy recommendations from nine studies carried out by Ghanaian researchers. http://starrfmonline.com/2017/08/16/rice-import-to-reduce-by-6-10-govt/

Government revises up 2016-17 grain output to record 275.68 million ton PTI| Updated: Aug 16, 2017, 05.25 PM IST

Foodgrain production had declined to 251.57 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June). The previous record of 265.04 million tonnes was achieved in 2013-14 crop year. NEW DELHI: The government today revised upward the country's overall foodgrain production by 2.3 million tonnes to a record 275.68 million tonnes in 2016-17 crop year that ended in June.

Record output has been achieved in rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses on the back of good rains in the said period.

Foodgrain production had declined to 251.57 million tonnes in 2015-16 crop year (July-June). The previous record of 265.04 million tonnes was achieved in 2013-14 crop year. "As a result of very good rainfall during monsoon 2016 and various policy initiatives taken by the government, the country has witnessed record foodgrain production in the current year," the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. Based on the feedback of states, the ministry has revised the overall foodgrain output upward to 275.68 million tonnes in its fourth

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

34

estimate assessed for 2016-17 from its earlier projection of 273.38 million tonnes for the same period.

About 2.3 million tonnes of increase in foodgrain output has mainly come from record production in rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses, the latest data showed. Foodgrain basket comprise of rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses. These are grown in kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) season and already been harvested.

As per the data, rice output is estimated to be a record 110.15 million tonnes in 2016-17 as against 104.41 million tonnes in the previous year. Previous record was 106.65 million tonnes in 2013-14. Wheat output is projected to have been a record 98.38 million tonnes in 2016-17 as against 92.29 million tonnes last year. The previous high was 95.85 million tonnes in 2013-14.

Coarse cereals output is pegged at a record 44.19 million tonnes in 2016-17 against 38.52 million tonnes in 2015-16, while the previous record of 43.39 million tonnes was in 2013 -14. Among coarse cereals, maize output is record 26.26 million tonne in 2016-17. Pulses production is also projected to be a record 22.95 million tonnes in 2016-17 as against 16.35 million tonnes last year, but the previous high stood at 19.25 million tonnes in 2013-14.

In pulses, tur and urad output is estimated to a record 4.78 million tonnes and 2.80 million tonnes, respectively, in 2016-17 crop year on account of better support price. Oilseeds output increased to 32.10 million tonnes in 2016 -17 from 25.25 million tonnes last year. Among cash crops, the ministry said, "Despite lower area coverage during 2016-17, higher productivity of cotton has resulted into higher production of 33.09 million bales (of 170 kg each), as compared to 30.01 million bales during 2015-16."

However, sugarcane production is estimated to be lower by 11.98 per cent at 306.72 million tonnes in 2016-17 as against 348.45 million tonnes last year. Jute/mesta output is projected to be higher marginally at 10.60 million bales (of 180 kg each) as against 10.52 million bales in the said period. The government releases four estimates before releasing the final one at different stages of harvesting. At present, farmers are sowing the new crop, the first estimate of which will be released by year-end. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/government-revises-up2016-17-grain-output-to-record-275-68-million-ton/articleshow/60087254.cms

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

35

Local Rice Production Hits 15m Tonnes August 16, 2017

Local rice production in Nigeria has now reached 15 million metric tonnes annually, the government has claimed.It said the development means the country will now be saving about N300 billion it used to spend annually on importation of the commodity.The Director of Agriculture at the Kano office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Muhammad Adamu, made the claim yesterday while inaugurating the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria, (RIMAN) in the state. He said in Kano alone, 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice was produced in 2016.

He said with the significant increase in local productions and the efforts to make the local variety qualitative and more attractive to Nigerians, the country expects to begin exporting rice to West African countries by 2018/2019.

Adamu, according to Premium Times, said about 34 states in Nigeria are producing rice, with many now producing three times in a year.He disclosed that investigation carried out by the federal government revealed that rice imported to Nigeria are 10-15 years old and are preserved with chemicals which can cause cancer to consumers.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rice Miller‘s Association, Peter Dama, said, the association was established to promote local milling of rice that is fresh, healthy and nutritious.He said the association is willing to collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service to stem smuggling of expired rice into Nigeria.

Dama added that the association intended to work closely with regulatory agencies and policymakers to ensure standard in local rice milling.The customs officer in charge of rice enforcement, Ado Hassan, warned that officers caught conniving with rice smugglers would

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

36

have themselves to blame.He said in less than one year, the zonal command of the agency confiscated 800,000 bags of rice in Kano and Jigawa States.

He said about 9,000 bags of the rice are still in the stores of the agency, adding that most of the rice were being given to internally displaced persons after been certified fit for consumption by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/08/16/local-rice-production-hits-15m-tonnes/

Guyana Adds Cuba To Rice Market Published:Wednesday | August 16, 2017 | 8:00 AM

Guyana will make its first shipment of rice to Cuba in September following a series of negotiations over the past few months, the Guyana Rice Development Board has announced.General manager of the rice board, Allison Peters, said this is just one of the new export markets negotiated over the past months.In July, the rice board began shipping paddy to Panama and before that, began supplying paddy to Mexico under a US$17.7 million deal."Well,

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

37

so far to Mexico more than one shipment has been sent; I think three shipments have been sent so far, totalling over 35,000 tonnes, and more shipments are expected to go," Peters said.

She added that another contract is expected to be signed within the next few weeks for the exportation of paddy to Panama.As Guyana grows its markets, Peters noted that the South American country is cognisant of the need to grow its rice output to meet the new demand.Paddy production for the first crop of 2017 was recorded at 518,667 tonnes. The authorities here project that rice production will increase by 1.3 per cent for the entire year. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20170816/guyana-adds-cuba-rice-market

Phitsanulok college plants rice in royal tribute

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

38

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

39

August 17, 2017 11:36

By Mongkolchaowarat Tangmangmee The Nation Students, lecturers and staff at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Phitsanulok planted Thai Hom Mali rice seedlings on Thursday in a tribute to Their Majesties the Queen and the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.University vice president Tinnagon Tartrakoon formally launched the project, known as ―Plookkhao Peumae Keb-kiew Peuphor‖ (―Growing Rice for Mother, Harvesting Rice for Father‖), at the school‘s five-rai demonstration rice field.

The project honours Their Majesties for their support for research, development and promotion of Thai rice, strains of which have become well known around the world http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30324068

Biotech crops to be in more local farms Thursday, August 17, 2017

By JENNIE P. ARADO Kiosked DAVAO.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

40

Biotech eggplants, together with rice, papaya, and cotton, will soon be available in local farms through a Joint Department Circular (JDC) between DA, DOST, DENR, DOH, and DILG. (File Photo/King Rodriguez) THROUGH a Joint Department Circular (JDC) empowering development of biotech crops in the country, biotech rice, papaya, cotton, and eggplant are expected to be fully implemented in local farms after most of the crops were already through with the field trial stages.

University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) researcher doctor Lourdes Taylo said developing biotech will address agricultural dilemma on insect-resistant and disease-resistant traits and the losses that come with pest infestation. Taylo also said excessive pesticide application can be hazardous to health and the environment. The JDC comprises of different government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and Department of the Interior and Local Government. ―Corn is the only biotech product currently continuously planted in the country since 2003. Philippines is the top 13 biotech producer out of the 26 countries worldwide.

We are only one out of the eight countries in the Asia Pacific region planting biotech corn. Since 2003 when it was approved for commercial planting, there is no report or documented study that says it has a bad effect on human, animals, and the environment,‖ said Taylo, who was a guest during the public briefing on Biotechnology last Wednesday, August 16. Taylo said the primary reason for development of Golden Rice is the Vitamin A and mineral deficiencies found on

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

41

humans. This is a research study spearheaded by the International Rice Research Institute and Philippine Rice Research Institute. ―What they did, they got genes from corn and gene from a bacterium and inserted in ordinary rice to come up with golden rice. When someone eats about a cup of golden rice, it would supply about 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin for adult,‖ she said, adding that scientists made sure about the ratio of the beta carotene as with the yield and with disease resistance. Taylo said the golden rice project has already completed with the single confine field trial and is already applying for field trial approval.

As for papaya, the Institute of Plant Breeding of UPLB is currently working on a project to develop a papaya variety that has a lengthened ripening stage as compared to the usual six-day shelf life after color break. Taylo said with this kind of variety, exporting of papaya would be a lot easier and convenient avoiding excess damages due to short shelf life. The institute is working on a variety that would be resistant of the papaya ring spot virus disease by combining together carica papaya genes and vasconcellea quercifolia genes.

The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority is developing cotton variety resistant to bollworm in order to address the losses related to cotton bollworm insect problem as well as to reduce synthetic insecticide application and exposure of farmers. The project has already completed its field trial. With the same intent of reducing respiratory illnesses and skin disease due to synthetic sprays and fertilizers, the bacillus thuringensis (BT) talong variety is ongoing for development and full implementation.

Taylo said about 70 percent to 80 percent yield loss is recorded due to pests infesting the eggplant farms in the country. Since most of these backyard farms are just near the houses, most of the times, kids inhale the synthetic chemicals. Currently, the BT Talong project has completed the field trial stage and is already for application for food, feed, and procession. ―These biotech crops are developed to increase productivity, nutrition for the welfare of the farmers as well as for the safety of our products and the environment. Under the new JDC, research and evaluation of these products will be more rigorous so when they are released to the market, we will be sure that it is safe to eat and use,‖ Taylo said http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2017/08/17/biotech-crops-be-more-local-farms

Six new rice varieties are under research DECCAN CHRONICLE. | PATHRI RAJASEKHAR PublishedAug 17, 2017, 7:55 am IST UpdatedAug 17, 2017, 7:55 am IST

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

42

As many as six high-yielding, good-to-eat and fast-to-cook rice varieties are being developed at the rice research station functioning under Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University in Nellore.

NELLORE: As many as six high-yielding, good-to-eat and fast-to-cook rice varieties are being developed at the rice research station functioning under Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University in Nellore. The research station was originally established as government paddy farm in 1937 at Buchireddypalem, 16 km away from Nellore, in composite Madras state on leased lands.

The objective then was to improve the most popular Nellore Molagolukulu paddy varieties under cultivation and the farm was designated as ‗Rice Research Station‘ later. The RRS was shifted to Nellore on permanent lands in 1961. This station is functioning as a sub-centre of the National Agriculture Research Project from 1985. The Molagolukulu type of paddy seed developed by the research station is an all-time favourite with not only paddy growers of Nellore, but also their counterparts in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, apart from other parts of AP and Telangana.

Nellore has become synonymous with best variety of rice because of Molagolukulu. The six fine varieties are under various stages of research and one among them, identified as NLR 4001, is in the third year of testing in farmers‘ fields. It is in demand not only in Nellore but also in Guntur and Krishna districts. According to the principal scientist of RRC, Dr Y. Suryanarayana, NLR 4001 is a 145-day duration crop and this fine grain type is tolerant to pest and diseases.

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

43

The other five varieties are also resistant to pest and diseases, and the cooking quality is on par with the best varieties available in the market, Dr Suryanarayana said. He said Nellore Masoori continues to dominate the market in various parts of the state and Tamil Nadu because of premium price in the market. Dr Suryanarayana said the varieties under research include an aromatic paddy seed, NLR 40054. The variety is being planted in farmers‘ fields on pilot basis with mini kits supplied and Rice Research Station has been toying with the idea of naming it as ‗Nellore Sugandha‘ because of special fragrance of the rice http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/170817/six-new-rice-varieties-are-underresearch.html

Summit on use of research to develop agric held PORCIA OFORIWAA OFORI 16 AUGUST 2017

Mr William Agyapong Quaitto, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture addressing the media at the Agriculture Policy Research summit in Accra. With him are Mr Walter Nunez-Rodriguez (extreme right), Chief Party of Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture Policy Support Project and Mr Steven Hendrix (middle), Deputy Mission Director of USAID Ghana Picture: GABRIEL AHIABOR A summit to discuss the effective use of research and data to facilitate private investment in agriculture was held in Accra yesterday.

The summit was organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the US government‘s ‗Feed the Future Initiative.‘ It was intended to encourage evidence-based policy initiatives to boost agricultural productivity in Ghana.

It was also to explore how proposed policies could improve food security and increase private sector investment in Ghana‘s agricultural sector.

As part of the summit, nine research findings and recommendations carried out by Ghanaian researchers on agriculture were presented.

Collaboration

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

44

The acting Mission Director at the USAID, Mr Steven Hendrix, said the USAID was going to partner the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and other stakeholders to transform Ghana‘s agricultural sector.―Together we are working to transform Ghana‘s agriculture sector to attract private sector investment, boost the incomes of smallholder farmers and promote economic opportunities,‖ he said.

He believed that Ghana could become the bread basket of West Africa if the gap between agricultural research and policy making was bridged.―Where policy making is concerned, we believe research is a critical component to creating the most effective policies. It is important that we build strong relationships with research institutions so that data could be fully utilised for Ghana‘s agricultural growth,‖ Mr Hendrix added.

Support The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, said the government was private sector friendly and would ,therefore, support the sector to grow to facilitate the country‘s development. ―The ‗planting for food and jobs‘ is being delivered through government‘s support to sector players in the value chain, including the private sector. The initiative is hitched on five pillars, including seed, fertiliser, extension services, marketing and E-agriculture. ―This will also require that the MOFA works with research to undertake both quantitative and qualitative analysis to provide the evidence needed to guide policy decisions,‖ he stated.

Recommendations On food security, one of the researchers from the University of Cape Coast, Mr Michael Adu, recommended that there was the need for development partners to synchronise their measurement and indicators of food security outcomes.

He also opined that some food security indicators were explicitly incorporated into intervention designs while bearing in mind the potential need for counterfactuals. ―Open data or information policies should be given practical meaning in development-oriented interventions,‖ Mr Adu added.

On rice farming in Ghana, another researcher from the University for Development studies, Mr Franklin Mabe, recommended that the MOFA encouraged contract farming, while improving on infrastructure including the construction of roads and irrigation facilities in rice production communities. ―Research should also adopt the demand-driven approach to vigorously look into rice production, farmer innovation systems, improve upon it and make it available to farmers for adaptation,‖ he added

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

45 http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/summit-on-use-of-research-to-develop-agric-held.html

Palay, corn production up 17% in H1 By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:16 AM August 17, 2017 Palay and corn outputs for the first semester of the year grew 17 percent year-on-year to 12.27 million metric tons (MT), putting the country‘s probable output at 19.2 million MT for 2017.

This would exceed the Department of Agriculture‘s (DA) target of 18.5 million MT for the entire year, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed. ―I believe we‘ve reached sufficiency in rice for the next year,‖ Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

For the Philippines to reach self-sufficiency, it needs to produce the national food requirement while also maintaining a buffer stock to be used in times of need, according to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

For palay alone, production in the first half of the year reached 8.57 million MT, a 12.06 percent increase from the same period last year. Yield was at 4.09 million tons per hectare, a growth of 3.16 percent.

The improvement in output was due to the increase in harvest area to 947,000 hectares (has) this year from the previous 848,000 has, the PSA said.Probable harvest area is also expected to swell in the coming months. This would be possible through government interventions and good weather conditions. ―If no typhoons would hit the country, we might reach a level of productivity in rice which would be able to sufficiently supply the needs of the country [up to] 2019,‖ said Piñol.DA previously pushed back its rice self-sufficiency goal by 2020 citing the lack of available budget

http://business.inquirer.net/235225/palay-corn-production-17-h1

Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com