19th august,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

August 19,2017 Vol 8 Issue VIII

Rice News Headlines....                               

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Pakistan ideal destination for Chinese investment 50% Pakistanis are attached with agricultural sector Rice export target set at 5.2 million tonnes in 2017 VNA FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017 - 20:56:00 The Courting disaster Wheat eases on reduced offtake by flour mills New technology finds procedure to identify grain for sushi and breakfast cereals 4,000 tonnes of rice delivered at Benapole Agriculture minister urges farmers to cultivate forgotten varieties of rice With production of 300 tons a year, Cameroonian brand, "Logone rice" attempts breakthrough on local and Chadian markets Agriculture research policy conference prioritize investment After Reaching Milestone, Is Ricebran Tech (NASDAQ:RIBT)’s Short Interest Revealing Something?

Basmati rice prices surge on increased offtake Colombia Lifts Import Restrictions on U.S. Rough Rice Provisia rice to be companion technology for Clearfield USDA, USTR Announce Expanded Access for U.S. Rice Exports to Colombia US Expands Market Access for Rice Exports to Columbia Imported rice brought in after duty cut Rice acreage up slightly, pulses sowing area drops 3.5% All set for revival of monsoon as low-pressure area develops in Bay Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 18, 2017 Kebbi to export rice, livestock Outlook of Report on Organic Rice Protein Market to 2022: (Industry Insights, Company Overview, and Investment Analysis Business Overview) Global Rice Cooker market 2017 Sentinel-1 speeds up crop insurance payouts Benue, Chinese company to partner on improved seedlings Doubling the farmers’ income More U.S. rice to head south after Colombia trade agreement Rice, rice everywhere thanks to Kebbi deal Rice export target set at 5.2 million tonnes in 2017 Rice basmati goes up on increased offtake Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874

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News Detail...

Pakistan ideal destination for Chinese investment

SHANGHAI - Pakistan can achieve objective of economic development and become a major industrial zone by attracting Chinese investment and surplus production because of its low labour cost and big consumer market."China is a huge economic power and looking forward to new markets for its surplus production and Pakistan could become an ideal destination for Chinese investment and goods because of vibrant middle class and hardworking workforce," Pakistan Counsel General Dr Naeem Khan said.

He opined that with huge consumers market and skilled, hardworking and low cost labour, Pakistan can attract the Chinese investors and traders and make Pakistan a major industrial zone.

He said that China is committed to invest more than $60 billion under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative in energy and infrastructure sectors in Pakistan.

"China is helping us in construction of roads, telecommunication network, Gawadar port and airports and all this will play a key role in handling future production capacity," he said. Naeem

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said the China considering Pakistan a strategic partner has been encouraging its investors and traders to go Pakistan to take part in investment and trade activities.

"We can achieve our goal of economic prosperity by utilising this opportunity in an appropriate manner by enhancing our economic base and overcoming challenges," he added. Terming the CPEC a cornerstone for the economic development of Pakistan, he said, "At present the trade volume between Pakistan and China is around $20 billion and if we want to enhance our trade with China, we will have to enhance our capability by improving the infrastructure, ports, roads and telecommunications to handle this increase."

With enhanced energy production and top of line infrastructure, Pakistan would be able to fulfil demand of industrial production in future. Terming the skilled workers as one of the best workforce in the world, he said Pakistani engineers, technicians and labourers would play a pivotal role to make the CPEC a success. "Our quality workforce was the key force behind development in Middle East while Pakistani doctors are serving in the US and UK," he added.

On the role the consulate to attract and promote investment in Pakistan, he said, "We have been introducing Pakistani products in the trade fairs besides maintaining a close liaison with political and economic leadership as well as the chambers of commerce for this purpose."

On issues being faced by Pakistani community living in and around the Shanghai, the counsel general said he is aware of these issues which mostly relates to the local Chinese government.

"We also take up these issues with local officials and take steps for the welfare of Pakistani community," he added.

Chinese agricultural group keen to enhance business in Pakistan INP from Beijing: Tianjin Tianlong Agricultural Science and Technology – China‘s well-known company in the field of hybrid rice production - has shown keen interest to enhance their bilateral cooperation with Pakistan, learned a delegation of journalists from South Asian and South East Asian countries.

The delegation was briefed that the company was engaged in new crop breed research and its industrialisation, deep process technology for agricultural products and forage biotechnology research and industrialisation, crop seeds production and distribution. It was told that production of rice was on rise in Pakistan and taste was also well-known all over the world. The company was having a good export of its hybrid rice to Pakistan as China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has provided enormous opportunities to cooperate more.

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The company was established in early 2003 and through years rapidly growing Tianlong Agriculture started from one researching basis lab, developed at now, several fully invested subsidiary companies over China and also had trading partners or customers from South Asia, East Asia, Europe, Africa.

Tianlong not only focused on seeds research, it has already expanded the business http://nation.com.pk/business/19-Aug-2017/pakistan-ideal-destination-for-chinese-investment

50% Pakistanis are attached with agricultural sector Islamabad: Pakistan is an agricultural country; as 50 per cent of its population attached with this sector there is need to induct new technologies to more from this sector said Dr. Imtiaz Muhammad, AIP project leader/ country representative, CIMMYT, Pakistan.

While talking to ‗The News‘ Dr Imtiaz Muhammad said that at least 50 per cent of Pakistan‘s population derives most of its income from farming, processing and or marketing of agricultural products. Yet agriculture contributes just 21 per cent of the country‘s GDP and is growing at 1.5 per cent, compared to 5.8 per cent growth in the overall economy.

Talking about the Agricultural Innovation Programme he said AIP is led by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and features active collaborations with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the University of California – Davis and the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC).

He said Agricultural research for development (AR4D); principles are being used to foster a demand-driven, results-oriented science research community to ultimately increase the contribution of agriculture to Pakistan‘s GDP, thereby aiding overall economic growth and poverty alleviation within the country.

Dr Imtiaz Muhammad said that the long term goals of the project are food security, environmental protection, gender sensitisation and poverty reduction through the adoption of sustainable technologies, resource management practices, advance agricultural models and improved systems.

He told that AIP is focusing on the changes in immediate and intermediate outcomes through the alteration of knowledge, behaviour and organisational strength of key agricultural sector players which are smallholder farmers, input suppliers, researchers, scientists, with particular concentration on women and youth.

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He said in order to achieve sustainability and efficiency in production and delivery of products and services, the project has adopted collaborative mechanisms in which public organisations and private entities share resources, knowledge, and risks https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/224445-50-Pakistanis-are-attached-with-agricultural-sector

Rice export target set at 5.2 million tonnes in 2017 VNA FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2017 - 20:56:00

The Vietnam Food Association aims to ship 2 million tonnes of rice to foreign countries in the last five months of the year, increasing total rice export for the whole year to 5.2 million tonnes.

(Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) aims to ship 2 million tonnes of rice to foreign countries in the last five months of the year, increasing total rice export for the whole year to 5.2 million tonnes, up 6 percent year-on-year.

Vietnam exported an estimated 3.24 million tonnes of rice at FOB value of 1.4 billion USD in

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the past seven months, representing an increase of 11 percent in volume and 11.4 percent in value over the same period last year.

July alone saw 584,000 tonnes of rice sold abroad for more than 240 million USD, which was the highest monthly volume so far this year, with most of the rice shipped to China, Bangladesh and Africa.

China remains Vietnam‘s top rice importer, accounting for 40.65 percent of the total rice export, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Shipments to Africa experienced a slight rise, making up 15.3 percent of the market share.

The VFA forecast that the global rice market will be led by high demand from Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Sri Lanka. However, large rice exporters like Thailand, India and Pakistan are entering their main crop harvest, which will affect the rice market in the coming time.-VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/rice-export-target-set-at-52-million-tonnes-in-2017/116559.vnp

Courting disaster Imaduddin Ahmed August 18, 2017

The writer is pursuing a PhD in the economics of rural infrastructure.

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SIXTEEN million people in Pakistan lack access to safe water. Scarcity of clean water and poor sanitation claim 19,000 children under five years of age in Pakistan annually, according to WaterAid. Per FAO/World Bank data, Pakistan‘s internal renewable freshwater per capita is less than that in Syria, whose civil war has in part been attributed to water scarcity.

The Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources forecasts worsening scarcity. The way in which new hydroelectric plants on the Chenab and upstream Jhelum are operated by India could further exacerbate shortages.

Besides taking the legal action that the government is against India, Pakistan needs to reduce water wastage to prevent worsening scarcity; it must also widen access to potable water.

Agriculture accounts for 97 per cent of Pakistan‘s water consumption, making it the natural place to look first for waste reduction.

Waste reduction and technology could help limit water scarcity.

To start, the government can minimise distribution losses along irrigation canals. Samplings by researchers at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, suggest losses as high as two-thirds among unlined watercourses; lining seems to reduce losses by a fifth. Maintenance can also reduce residual losses. Despite being categorised as water scarce in 2005, rice-growers overirrigate their fields, limiting productivity. Pakistan exports almost a quarter of its extracted groundwater through rice exports, which account for 7pc of the country‘s exports monetarily.

Unless the government starts taking steps to curb the over-tapping of groundwater for waterintensive crops such as rice, sugarcane and wheat, farmers will eventually be forced by a low water table and increased costs of extraction to find more sustainable ways of farming.

Given the right balance, strands of rice would not draw so heavily from groundwater. Our ancestors along the Indus had reason to farm it 4,500 years ago: it is resistant to monsoon floods.

Poly-cropped in the summer alongside drought-resistant millet as well as protein-filled beans, rice strengthened the flood resistance of millet, now largely perceived as birdseed, but a cereal

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worth the government‘s time to market for human consumption once again. As a cover-crop, it increases rainfall infiltration and retention.

Waste reduction alone, however, will not increase access to potable water to those currently without. This is where technological innovation should play a role.

Farmers in the dry hills above Lima, Peru, harvest their morning fog using nets. Nets stretched vertically between poles catch 200 to 400 litres of non-precipitating droplets per day, which are then carried by gutters to storage containers. As in the case of Lima, Karachi, which is home to perhaps a tenth of the total population of the country, sits on the coast and is humid year-round, but the bulk of precipitation is confined to just three months. The water is not potable, but given the low cost of erecting nets in open spaces and on rooftops, it is worth seeing whether yields would be sufficient to wash and cook with.

Desalinisation plants can cater to household demand for water in coastal Karachi and Gwadar.

There are challenges. For instance, the fault, given the unhappy experience in Gwadar, probably lies with the public administration and concerns technical assets, because a private plant has been selling water to the government using a desalinisation plant.

Atmospheric water generators can provide cost-effective drinking water to isolated communities in humid climates. The devices condense water from the air by one of three methods: cooling the air below its dew point, exposing it to desiccants, or pressurising it. The condensed water can be disinfected by oxidisation and exposure to ultraviolet light, and rendered potable by adding minerals.

Commercial units that cost $55,000 produce up to 40 litres an hour of drinking water in ideal conditions. Consuming 8-12kW of power per hour, the units could be solar powered, which would make them suitable for catering to rural communities without electricity, but would also add considerably to capital costs. Until the Pakistani market sees proof of atmospheric water generators‘ commercial viability, Wapda would do well to demonstrate it.

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Recent findings by paleoclimatologists have identified the same beginning of the end for the Indus Valley Civilisation as Bronze Age civilisations in Egypt, Greece and Mesopotamia: drought. The government must coordinate a response to prevent this. It must maintain its own water distribution channels and penalise heavily private parties who do not maintain theirs, regulate groundwater use and look to the sea and skies. Water is in the air. It offers more than a drop to drink.

The writer is pursuing a PhD in the economics of rural infrastructure.

Twitter: @ImadAhmed Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2017 https://www.dawn.com/news/1352187/courting-disaster

Wheat eases on reduced offtake by flour mills 17 August 2017 Last Updated at 3:26 pm

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 2,150-2,175, Permal wand Rs 2,200-2,225, Sela Rs 2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,8251,850, 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 New Delhi, Aug 17 In restricted activity, wheat prices softened by Rs 10 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to reduced offtake by flour mills against ample stocks position.

However, other grains including rice basmati held steady in thin trade.

Traders said easing demand from flour mills against adequate stocks position, mainly weighed on wheat prices.

In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) declined by Rs 10 to Rs 1,770-1,775 per quintal.

Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,775-1,780 per 90 kg.

Atta flour mills and maida also eased to Rs 965-970 and Rs 990-1,000 against last close of Rs 970-980 and Rs 1,010- 1,020 per 50 kg, respectively.

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Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,350, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,770-1,775, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,775-1,780, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 965-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (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. https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/wheat-eases-on-reduced-offtake-by-flour-mills/1125633

New technology finds procedure to identify grain for sushi and breakfast cereals 18 Aug 2017, 11 a.m.

NEW: NSW Department of Primary Industries researcher Dr Mark Talbot (right) discusses advances in detecting cracks in rice to identify grain suitable for sushi and cereal products with Dr Chris Blanchard.

AS THE world continues to move forward with technological advances, it's no different when it comes to rice.An innovative image analysis system developed by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) scientists has given the rice industry an accurate and time-saving procedure to identify grain suitable for sushi and popular puffed rice products, including breakfast cereals.

NSW DPI researcher Mark Talbot said the automated system detected the potential of rice to crack during cooking, speeding up the process and saving labour to deliver high quality grain. ―Heavily cracked rice will turn into mush during the cooking process for sushi and puffed rice, so it‘s very important the industry identifies the potential for rice to crack before grain goes to market,‖ Dr Talbot said. ―Now in use at SunRice, the technology has replaced manual assessment to help to keep consumers happy and protect premiums for growers. ―Rice which cracks during the milling process is downgraded, with producers receiving higher payments for grain with low cracking percentages.

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―In the past, cracked grain was assessed by eye - clearly a painstaking and subjective test for thousands of rice grains. ―Automated image analysis allows thousands of grains to be analysed in minutes, instead of hours by eye, reducing human error and labour and a boon for industry and consumers.‖ Measuring cracks in soaked rice was recently identified as a good indicator of cooking quality.

Known as the Hanasaki test, rice is soaked for 60 minutes before processing through the automated crack detection and counting system to determine cracking percentages.

DPI scientists at the Yanco Agricultural Institute are working closely with SunRice to fine-tune the system as a quality test for the rice industry http://www.irrigator.com.au/story/4863914/scientists-are-cracking-the-rice-code/ 06:25 PM, August 18, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 09:29 PM, August 18, 2017

4,000 tonnes of rice delivered at Benapole

Importers deliver 4,000 tonnes of Indian rice at Benapole land port on August 17, 2017. Star file photo

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Star Online Report

Importers delivered 4,000 tonnes of Indian rice at Benapole land port so far, a day after the import duty on the prime staple was drastically slashed.

Nearly 800 trucks carrying about 5,000 tonnes of rice were stranded at the port in expectation of the reduction in import duty, our Benapole correspondent reports.

Rezaul Islam, deputy director of Benapole Land Port, said the delivery of rice imported from India is underway in full swing and that 4,000 tonnes were already delivered.It follows yesterday‘s gazette notification, where the National Board of Revenue declared of reducing the import duty on rice from 10 percent to two percent.

Shawkat Hossian, commissioner of Benapole Customs House said: ―We‘ve received a letter from the authorities on Thursday afternoon on the duty cut of the imported rice.‖ http://www.thedailystar.net/country/4000-tonnes-rice-delivered-benapole-1450594

Agriculture minister urges farmers to cultivate forgotten varieties of rice Team MP | 18 Aug 2017 10:49 PM

Kolkata: Purnendu Bose, state Agriculture minister on Friday urged farmers to cultivate varieties of rice that have become nearly extinct. He assured every help to the farmers and instructed officials of the Agriculture department to create awareness among people about these varieties. He assured that the department will help the farmers to adopt organic farming methods . He hailed Chaitanya Chandradaya Agricultural Trust (CCAT) and felt that this will set an example in Bengal and hoped that more farmers will come forward and accept this method of farming. Read This Madan Tamang case: AIGL to challenge Sessions Court's order He participated in a day-long awareness programme on folk rice production and conservation at Mayapur on Friday morning. It was organised by CCAT. For the past few of month, CCAT has been trying to revive forgotten varieties of aromatic rice like Radha Tilak, Kala Bhat, Dudheshwar, Hamai, Jhumpuri, Khara and Balam to name a few. The technical support was provided by Agricultural Training Centre (ATC), Fulia.

Read This - Body of homemaker found hanging After examining the varieties, agricultural scientists opined that the weather and soil are conducive for the production of these types of rice. The cultivation is

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13 carried out without any artificial chemicals and these rice varieties are free from health hazards. A team of ATC led by Anupam Paul interacted with local farmers at the ISKON Mayapur campus. Paul said that the initiative was launched to bring back traditional aromatic varieties of rice by using natural methods, without using any chemicals. He urged the farmers not to use chemicals to enhance production because in the long run, it will badly affect the environment. The farmers showed great enthusiasm and inquired about the extinct varieties and the method of production http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/agriculture-minister-urges-farmers-to-cultivate-forgotten-varietiesof-rice-258112

With production of 300 tons a year, Cameroonian brand, "Logone rice" attempts breakthrough on local and Chadian markets

Friday, 18 August 2017 08:30 (Business in Cameroon) - Next to Ndop rice grown in the area with the same name in the NorthWest region, that of Tonga, in the West region, and above all the brand Semry, whose production often reaches 100,000 tons a year; we now have to count "Logone rice" among the Cameroonian brands.

Launched by the cooperative TPA, which set up a fresh paddy rice hulling unit in the town of Yagoua, in the Far North region, "Logone rice" is now available in markets of the three northern regions of Cameroon, then the Chadian towns of Bongor and Fianga, confides Ahmadou Wadiri, CEO of the cooperative TPA.

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According to this director of TPA, the rush of consumers towards this local rice, which has the particularity of being directly hulled after its harvest in the rice fields (paddy does not pass through storage warehouses) is such that the cooperative intends to pass from annual production of 300 tons to 1200 tons, from the year 2018. As a reminder, demand for rice in Cameroon lies around 300,000 tons a year. In order to cover the shortfall in local production, operators in the sector have, for example, mobilised FCfa 212 billion for imports (819,800 tons) in 2013, according to the statistics of the National Balance of Payments Technical Committee.

Selon divers rapports gouvernementaux, une bonne partie de ces importations camerounaises est souvent frauduleusement réexportée vers les pays voisins tels que le Nigeria, dont les autorités ont fortement relevé la taxation du riz importé, dans l‘optique d‘encourager la production locale.

According to various government reports, a good part of these Cameroonian imports are often fraudulently re-exported to neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, whose authorities have substantially raised taxes of imported rice, in order to encourage local production.

Brice R. Mbodiam

http://www.businessincameroon.com/agro-industry/1808-7323-with-production-of-300-tons-a-yearcameroonian-brand-logone-rice-attempts-breakthrough-on-local-and-chadian-markets

Agriculture research policy conference prioritize investment Aug 18, 2017

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The U.S. government’s Feed Initiative has hosted Agriculture research policy summit to share findings on evidenced-based policy recommendations with Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agricultuare, state agencies, development partners, research institutions and the private sector.

The summit explored how government could adopt proposed policies recommendations by researchers in formulating policies that would help eliminate constraints facing the private sector.

Adoption of the policies and recommendations is expected to help government create the enabling environment for increased investments in Ghana‘s agriculture sector to ensure longterm growth.

Mr William Quitoo, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said at the opening session on Tuesday that ―research is a public good‖ that uses public funds to bring out the results and should not be allowed to go waste.

He said government would study the findings and recommendations and make the necessary stakeholder consultations to guide it to implement robust policies that would move the country from food dependency to self-sustainability. ―Research is a public good, taxpayers money are used to fund it, so there is no reason to allow research results to go waste, !‖ he said.

Mr Quitoo expressed worry that Ghana was once an exporter of food imported $600 million worth of rice in 2015/2016, describing the situation as ―unacceptable and dangerous‖ for the country.

The Summit was held under the theme: ―Supporting effective and efficient Agriculture policies through research‖ to strengthen Ghana‘s agricultural policymaking process.

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USAID/Ghana Acting Mission Director, Steven E. Hendrix highlighted the importance of using research and data to inform policy making and expressed the agency‘s readiness to continue helping Ghana‘s Agriculture Ministry. ―USAID supports the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with research and policy analysis, and builds the capacity of public and private organizers to closely monitor and evaluate agriculture programmes,‖ he said. ―Where policymaking is concerned, we believe research is a critical component to creating the most effective agriculture policies,‘‘ he added.

The conference organised sought to boost agricultural research and support policies based on relevant and quality data to foster sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Walter Nunez-Rodriguez, Chief of Part, APSP, said the research addressed four concerns in agriculture areas which were fundamental to the government and added that the research was in response to a holistic policy.

The researched areas included – production, productivity and food security; agricultural extension and knowledge sharing; agriculture marketing; and sustainable land management.

Source: GNA/Newsghana.com.gh https://www.newsghana.com.gh/agriculture-research-policy-conference-prioritize-investment/

After Reaching Milestone, Is Ricebran Tech (NASDAQ:RIBT)’s Short Interest Revealing Something?

August 15, 2017 - By Darrin Black

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Investors sentiment increased to 2 in Q4 2016. Its up 1.29, from 0.71 in 2016Q3. It improved, as 1 investors sold RiceBran Technologies shares while 3 reduced holdings. 2 funds opened positions while 6 raised stakes. 1.16 million shares or 4.56% more from 1.11 million shares in 2016Q3 were reported.

Royal Financial Bank Of Canada has invested 0% in RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT).

Morgan Stanley has 0% invested in RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT). Blackrock Fund Advsr holds 2,319 shares. Financial Architects reported 0% stake. Financial Bank Of America Corporation De has 806 shares. Goldman Sachs Gru invested in 0% or 38,121 shares. Creative Planning owns 18 shares. Bard Assoc holds 0.03% or 59,975 shares in its portfolio. 90 are owned

by Pnc Finance Gp. Us Natl Bank De holds 40 shares or 0% of its portfolio. Kcg Holdg Inc holds 0% or 28,494 shares in its portfolio. Sabby Mngmt Lc accumulated 875,286 shares. Renaissance Technologies Lc holds 37,200 shares. Blackrock Institutional Trust Na holds 0% of its portfolio in RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT) for 8,345 shares. 49,467 were reported by Vanguard Grp Inc Incorporated. The stock of Ricebran Tech (NASDAQ:RIBT) registered an increase of 22.84% in short interest. RIBT‘s total short interest was 75,300 shares in August as published by FINRA. Its up 22.84% from 61,300 shares, reported previously. With 23,400 shares average volume, it will take short sellers 3 days to cover their RIBT‘s short positions. The short interest to Ricebran Tech‘s float is 1.2%.

About 9,565 shares traded. RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT) has declined 39.04% since August 15, 2016 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 55.74% the S&P500.

RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient, functional food ingredient, packaged functional food and animal nutrition company. The company has market cap of $11.92 million.

The Firm is focused on processing and marketing of nutrient dense products derived from raw rice, an underutilized by-product of the rice milling industry. It currently has negative earnings.

The Firm has two operating divisions.

More notable recent RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT) news were published by: Prnewswire.com which released: ―RiceBran Technologies Receives Extension on Senior Secured

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Term Loan and …‖ on December 30, 2016, also Seekingalpha.com with their article: ―RiceBran Technologies‘ (RIBT) CEO Robert Smith on Q4 2016 Results – Earnings …‖ published on March 23, 2017, Prnewswire.com published: ―RiceBran Technologies Completes Acquisition of H&N Distribution‖ on January 07, 2014. More interesting news about RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ:RIBT) were released by: Seekingalpha.com and their article: ―RiceBran Technologies: Profit From The Turnaround‖ published on August 16, 2016 as well as Prnewswire.com‗s news article titled: ―RiceBran Technologies to Host Q2 2017 Financial Results Conference Call on …‖ with publication date: August 07, 2017 http://bzweekly.com/after-reaching-milestone-is-ricebran-tech-nasdaqribts-short-interest-revealingsomething/

Basmati rice prices surge on increased offtake Basmati rice prices rose by up to Rs150 per quintal at the wholesale grains market on today due to increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand PTI

Traders said increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand against tight stocks position on fall in supplies from producing belts, mainly helped rice basmati prices to trade higher. Photo: Hemant Mishra/Mint

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New Delhi: Rice basmati prices rose by up to Rs150 per quintal at the wholesale grains market on Friday due to increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand. However, other grains held steady in thin trade.

Traders said increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand against tight stocks position on fall in supplies from producing belts, mainly helped rice basmati prices to trade higher. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety settled higher at Rs6,500-6,600 and Rs5,250- 5,350 from previous levels of Rs6,400-6,500 and Rs5,150- 5,200 per quintal, respectively.

Following are Friday‘s quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,350, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs1,770-1,775, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs1,775-1,780, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs255-290, Roller flour mill Rs965-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs9901,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs1,040-1,045 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs9,800, Basmati common new Rs6,500-6,600, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs5,250-5,350, Permal raw Rs2,150-2,175, Permal wand Rs2,200-2,225, Sela Rs2,3002,400 and Rice IR-8 Rs1,825-1,850, Bajra Rs1,225-1,230, Jowar yellow Rs1,400-1,450, white Rs2,800-2,900, Maize Rs1,330-1,335, Barley Rs1,490-1,500 http://www.livemint.com/Money/ITWIZcbc0DM19v7QE0DvTJ/Basmati-rice-prices-surge-on-increasedofftake.html

Colombia Lifts Import Restrictions on U.S. Rough Rice

By Sarah Moran BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- Yesterday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer formally announced the lifting of all remaining import restrictions in Colombia for U.S. rough rice. Two days ago, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) released the phytosanitary certificate for rough rice which outlines required fumigation measures. This follows on the heels of Colombia rescinding restrictions on U.S. paddy rice and permitting its entrance into all maritime ports (see USA Rice Daily, June 22, 2017).

"USA Rice has worked for years to mitigate Colombia's import restrictions on U.S. paddy and yesterday's announcement caps this effort," said Dick Ottis, chairman of the USA Rice Merchants' Association. "We can now ship paddy rice to any port in response to market demand and under commercially viable fumigation requirements."

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Thanks to the U.S. - Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, Colombia went from being the 51st largest export market for U.S. rice in 2011 to our 11th largest export market in 2012. Exports have remained high each year including last year where the U.S. exported over 140,000 MT of rice to Colombia, 41 percent of which was rough rice. Even though Colombia has been a strong market for U.S. rice for the past five years, fairly onerous restrictions have hindered additional exports of paddy rice. The elimination of these restrictions are welcome news to the rice industry.

"I welcome this new agreement and the expanded market access and opportunity it will afford to U.S. exporters of paddy rice," said Ambassador Lighthizer. "This outcome is a result of the Administration's efforts to enforce international trade commitments on behalf of the American people, and to deepen our bilateral ties with key trading partners, particularly allies like Colombia."

"USA Rice would like to thank Secretary Perdue, Ambassador Lighthizer, and our strong partners at the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for their persistent work in ensuring U.S. rice is given the ability to compete freely and fairly in our export markets," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.

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Provisia rice to be companion technology for Clearfield Rice producers should avoid planting Provisia rice right behind Clearfield, experts say.

Forrest Laws | Aug 18, 2017 its introduction in 2002, when the non-GMO rice developed by researchers at the LSU AgCenter revolutionized rice weed control.It wasn‘t supposed to be that way; it just happened, according to Sunny Bottoms, technical service manager for Horizon Ag, speaking at the company's annual Arkansas field day in Jonesboro, Ark. The new Provisia Rice System, which was developed by the LSU AgCenter and BASF, is designed to be a companion technology and to help extend the life of Clearfield rice. Dr. Bottoms explained why that is and how Horizon Ag and BASF hope to make that work in a presentation at the Field Day on the Mark Wimpy Farm near Jonesboro, Ark. For more on Provisia rice, click on http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/stewardship-will-becritical-preserving-provisia-rice. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/provisia-rice-be-companion-technology-clearfield

USDA, USTR Announce Expanded Access for U.S. Rice Exports to Colombia August 17, 2017 News Releases USDA 0084.17 Topics Trade Policy, Trade Agreements, Colombia Trade Agreement, Market Access Issues Commodities Grain and Feed, Rice

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22 Locations Western Hemisphere, Colombia Contact: USDA Press Phone: (202) 720-4623 Email: press@oc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2017 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today announced an agreement reached with the government of Colombia to allow for expanded market access for U.S. exports of paddy rice.

A previous agreement in 2012 between both countries enabled exports of U.S. paddy rice to Colombia, but under strict and costly requirements related to phytosanitary concerns. The new agreement lifts these requirements and expands access beyond the single port of Barranquilla, which was the only port previously open to U.S. exporters.

The new agreement reflects the close trade ties between the United States and Colombia, and the high quality and safe rice produced by the U.S. rice industry. The agreement, combined with preferential access under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), will further accelerate increased U.S. exports of food and agriculture to Colombia.

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said: ―Today‘s announcement is another great testament of our determination to expand export opportunities for America‘s farmers and ranchers and to ensure fair trade with our international partners. This agreement expands opportunities for U.S. rice producers in the important Colombian market. It also underscores the value of improved relationships to solve problems, based on a solid trade agreement that benefits both parties and on a commitment to science-based rule-making.‖ U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, said: ―I welcome this new agreement and the expanded market access and opportunity it will afford to U.S. exporters of paddy rice. ―This outcome is a result of the Administration‘s efforts to enforce international trade commitments on behalf of the American people, and to deepen our bilateral ties with key trading partners, particularly allies like Colombia.‖ Background: Colombia is the United States‘ 12th-largest export market for food and agricultural products, with exports valued at over $2.4 billion in 2016 – a sharp increase over exports prior to completion of the CTPA, when Colombia ranked as the 26th market for U.S. food and

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agricultural exports in 2011, with an associated value of $1.12 billion. Exports of milled rice to Colombia have increased dramatically since entry into force of the CTPA in 2012, averaging $79 million per year compared to $3 million in 2011.

Exports of paddy rice since 2012, when the CTPA entered into force and the letter exchange provided for market access, have constituted a small but growing share of total U.S. rice exports to Colombia, reaching $15 million in 2016. Under the new agreement on paddy rice, costly and unnecessary fumigation and processing requirements are rescinded, and access expanded to all ports of entry in Colombia.

Paddy rice, also known as ―rough rice,‖ is the whole rice grain, along with its hulls. It is harvested directly from rice fields or paddies and transported or exported to processing facilities. As part of the processing, the protective hull is removed, leaving only the actual rice kernel for consumption. By leaving the sturdy hull on, it is possible to store the kernels for several months without incurring product losses due to spoiling or infestation. https://www.fas.usda.gov/newsroom/usda-ustr-announce-expanded-access-us-rice-exports-colombia

US Expands Market Access for Rice Exports to Columbia) 02:30 18.08.2017

The United States and Colombia reached a deal to widen market access for American exports of rice, the US Office of the Trade Representative said in a press release.

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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The new agreement lifts strict requirements related to phytosanitary concerns, the release added.

"US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today announced an agreement reached with the government of Colombia to allow for expanded market access for US exports of paddy rice," the release said on Thursday.

Columbia is the United States‘ 12th biggest export market for food and agricultural items, the release stated. The US exports were valued at more than $2.4 billion in 2016, according to the release. https://sputniknews.com/world/201708181056561718-us-columbia-rice-exports/

Imported rice brought in after duty cut 12:00 AM, August 18, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 02:42 AM, August 18, 2017

Price drops by Tk 2.50 per kg at import level

Around 600 trucks carrying 18,000 tonnes of rice began unloading in Hili land port area of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur yesterday. The trucks had been waiting for more than a week as

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rice traders expected a duty cut. As the government finally moved to slash duty on imported rice by 8 percent, the trucks began to unload. Photo: Collected Rezaul Karim Byron The price of rice at importer level came down by Tk 2.50 per kg as the latest duty cut became effective yesterday following issuance of a circular by the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

According to the circular, the rice import tariff was lowered from 10 percent to two percent. The move came a day after a cabinet committee meeting decided to cut the import duty to keep the rice price stable.

Chitta Majumder, a rice importer, said their cost of rice import from India would come down to Tk 35.50 to Tk 36 from Tk 38 to Tk 38.50 a kg under the new tax rate.

Prices of coarse rice would come down below Tk 40 per kg within two to three days due to a cascading effect of the tax cut, Chitta, proprietor of Majumder Traders, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The retail prices of coarse rice shot up to Tk 47-48 in June-July, a 47 percent increase from last year's price band of Tk 30-34. However, the prices later stabilised at Tk 43-45, according to data of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh.

The importer said they had been waiting for over a week on the announcement of the tax cut. He hoped rice prices would ease as about 20,000 to 25,000 tonnes of rice would be imported in the next four or five days.

Flashfloods in six northeastern haor districts and fungal attacks (rice blast) in 19 others during the Boro season damaged about 20 lakh tonnes of rice crop earlier this year.

At least 20 northern districts and some others elsewhere in the country have been hit by flood in the last few days.

Against this backdrop, the cabinet committee meeting at the secretariat on Wednesday approved the government's decision to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains -- 15 lakh tonnes of rice and 5 lakh tonnes of wheat -- in the current fiscal year. The revised import target is 11 lakh tonnes more than the government's earlier projected food import volume of 9 lakh tonnes. Yesterday's duty cut was the second this year after the government in June had slashed the rice import duty to 10 percent from 28 percent.

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Under the new duty structure, importers will have to pay only Tk 1.56 crore instead of Tk 7.82 crore in tariff for releasing 24,000 tonnes of rice stuck at several ports.

Chitta Majumder said 15 lakh tonnes of rice was being imported by the government. Local importers could bring the rice into Darshana, Khulna at quickest time, he told this correspondent.

The government has so far floated international tenders seeking to buy 3.5 tonnes of rice.

Local importers, said Chitta, had supplied rice to the government in 2009 promptly. If the government floated local tenders, the importers would have been able to import rice from India and reach it to government granaries, he added.

DELIVERY OF RICE BEGINS Rice importers started clearing customs at Hili Land Port in Dinajpur's Hakimpur upazila yesterday. They also started unloading rice, imported from India, from trucks that reached the port 12 days ago.Around 600 trucks carrying 18,000 tonnes of rice had been stranded at the port since August 5 when the importers stopped clearing customs in anticipation of a duty cut.Rice was unloaded from 400 trucks yesterday, said Moshiur Rahman Mondal, assistant commissioner of customs at the port http://www.thedailystar.net:8080/backpage/imported-rice-brought-after-duty-cut-1450282

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Rice acreage up slightly, pulses sowing area drops 3.5% Fri, 18 Aug 2017-06:07pm , PTI Paddy, tur, moong, urad, soyabean, sunflower seed and cotton are the main crops grown during this season.

Sowing area of rice is marginally up at 341.58 lakh hectares while pulses acreage has declined by 3.5 per cent to 130.68 lakh hectares so far in the ongoing kharif season.

Sowing operation in the kharif season begins normally with the onset of the south-west monsoon and picks up pace from July. Paddy, tur, moong, urad, soyabean, sunflower seed and cotton are the main crops grown during this season.

"The total sown area as on August 18, as per reports received from states, stands at 976.34 lakh hectares compared to 984.57 lakh hectares at this time last year," an official statement said.

Rice has been sown in 341.58 lakh hectares so far this kharif season as against 340.14 lakh hectares in the same period last year.

Pulses acreage has fallen to 130.68 lakh hectares, from the earlier 135.42 lakh hectares.

Area under coverage for coarse cereals stood at 171.75 lakh hectares as against 179.17 lakh hectares. Oilseeds area is down at 157.36 lakh hectares, from 175.10 lakh hectares.

In the case of cash crops, sugarcane has been sown in 49.78 lakh hectares so far this season against 45.64 lakh hectares in the year-earlier period while that of cotton stands at 118.14 lakh hectares as against 101.54 lakh hectares.

Jute and mesta area is down to 7.05 lakh hectares, from 7.56 lakh hectares.

With monsoon rains expected to be normal this year, the government is targeting yet another bumper foodgrain and horticulture production in the new crop year 2017-18.

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(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-acreage-up-slightly-pulses-sowing-area-drops-35-2534215

All set for revival of monsoon as low-pressure area develops in Bay VINSON KURIAN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, AUGUST 18:

The weather outlook for the Bay of Bengal has now been upgraded to a low-pressure area (from being just a monsoon circulation), confirming the prospects of revival of the monsoon over the country.Since July-end, the monsoon had virtually gone into a 'break phase' where the rains were confined to the foothills of the Himalayas, East & North-East India and the East Coast.

'BREAK' PHASE TO END The 'low,' which the India Met Department (IMD) expects will show up over the next 36 hours, would officially end the 'break' phase, and bring back rain to other parts of the country.

The IMD's hopes are best phrased in this morning's bulletin, wherein it has said the axis of the monsoon trough over North India would start shifting to its original position.

The western end of the trough, which currently straddles across the foothills, where it has been raining heavily, will shift to the normal North-West Rajasthan-Bay of Bengal alignment.

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The brewing 'low' would help this transition after it gets anchored over North-West Bay of Bengal, and forces the shift of the other end of the monsoon trough to move south towards its original.

The monsoon is best served by an alignment in which the western end lies over Rajasthan and the eastern end dips in the Bay of Bengal.

HEAVY CLOUD BUILD-UP The trough allows the orderly progression of the eastern monsoon winds from the Bay of Bengal and associated rain belt to move across Central and North-West India.

Meanwhile, the 'low' is forecast to pop up over North Bay of Bengal, but the eastern end of the displaced trough now ends up a little south-west over the North-West Bay. Early indications are that the 'low' would slowly move south-west towards the Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coast and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast, though the actual movement needs to be watched.

The heavy build-up of clouds in the Bay continued overnight, and was concentrated this morning off the coast of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and South Coastal Tamil Nadu.

Satellite maps showed clouds hanging over Visakhapatnam-Peddipalem-VizianagaramSrikakulam into Jeypur-Jagdalpur-Dantewada-Bijapur-Kondagaon-Bijapur across Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

HEAVY RAIN FORECAST To the South, heavy clouds are located across Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and adjoining South Tamil Nadu and just off Puducherry and Kumbakonam along the Tamil Nadu coast.

The IMD has for today forecast heavy to very rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall for rain-deficient Telangana; heavy to very heavy rain at a few places over Odisha; heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Vidarbha, Chhattisgardh, and coastal Andhra Pradesh; and heavy showers over East Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand; and Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan & Goa, Coastal Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka and Lakshadweep in the South Peninsula.

The clouds are heavier still little farther from the coast, towards the East-Central and adjoining Central Bay of Bengal, before they appear to head towards the Andhra Pradesh coast where they converge. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/weather-report-all-set-for-monsoonrevival/article9822358.ece

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- August 18, 2017 Reuters | Aug 18, 2017, 01:59 PM IST

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-August 18 Nagpur, August 18 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good seasonal demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts. Healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and enquiries from South-based millers also pushed up prices. Poor monsoon reports in all over the region also activated stockists. About 650 of gram and 800 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram recovered in open market here on good buying support from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions.

TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. * Rice varieties firmed up in open market on increased seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. * In Akola, Tuar New - 5,1005,400, 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 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 FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,500-5,610 4,600-5,500 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 4,100-4,510 4,000-4,500 Moong Auction n.a. 3,9004,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,600-1,710 1,550-1,715 Gram Super Best Bold 9,000-9,400 9,000-9,400 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 8,000-8,400 8,000-8,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Desi gram Raw 5,750-5,950 5,700-5,900 Gram Kabuli 12,700-13,800 12,700-13,800 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Gavarani New 5,500-5,700 5,500-5,700 Tuar Karnataka 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Masoor dal best 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Masoor dal medium 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,000-7,500 7,0007,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Moong dal Chilka 5,500-6,000 5,5006,000 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,000 7,000-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,000-10,000 9,000-10,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,600-7,500 6,600-7,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,500 5,100-5,500 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,900-3,200 2,900-3,200 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 2,900-3,100 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,5003,700 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,800 3,600-4,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,400

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2,100-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,3003,600 3,300-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,100 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,650 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,700-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,300 4,000-4,200 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,600-4,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,3004,500 4,200-4,400 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 10,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,700-4,900 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,200-4,400 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 33.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 25.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : 2.5 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky with one or two spells or rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 25 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-august-182017/articleshow/60116864.cms

Kebbi to export rice, livestock Our Reporter On: August 18, 2017 Kebbi State Govenor Atiku Bagudu has said the state will produce rice and livestock in commercial quantities for export to earn foreign exchange.Bagudu stated this yesterday when he received a team of agricultural experts from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State.

According to him, the state recorded a 300 per cent increase in rice and wheat production. It is second to Yobe in livestock production.

Bagudu called on international research organisations to make a critical assessment of the agricultural policy of his administration, which is aimed at developing the state‘s agricultural potential.

The governor also appealed to IITA to provide research outlets in the state to boost farmers‘ capability in grains production and processing. He said the state also had great potential in the production of groundnut, soya beans, cowpeas, sesame seeds, banana, cocoyam, yam, millet, bambara nut, sugarcane, guinea-corn, cassava and ginger.Leader of the IITA team Dr Kenton

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Dashiell said the institute was recognised globally as a centre of excellence for agricultural research and resources.

According to him, the team was on a research mission to the state to learn about its agricultural potential, especially in soya beans, since the state is a specialist in soya bean cultivation.State Chairman of Rice Farmers Association (AFAN) Sahabi Augie said the association would partner IITA to boost rice production.

He appealed to the institute to assist farmers by supplying them with improved rice seedlings http://thenationonlineng.net/kebbi-export-rice-livestock/

Outlook of Report on Organic Rice Protein Market to 2022: (Industry Insights, Company Overview, and Investment Analysis Business Overview)

By Amit Pawar August 18, 2017

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imag es&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjv7Nf--DVAhVEro8KHTNCCU8QjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww. amazon.com%2FNutribiotic-Organic-Protein-VanillaPounds%2Fdp%2FB0033T8GR4&psig=AFQjCNGJVtXx06im3Sip 2W-yoZb3a_9UxQ&ust=1503152067808778 The Organic Rice Protein market analysis of an industry is a crucial thing for various stakeholders like investors, CEOs, traders, suppliers and others. The Organic Rice Protein industry research report is a resource, which provides current as well as upcoming technical and financial details of the industry.

Organic Rice Protein market research report is a professional and indepth study on the current state of this market.

Major Manufacturers analysed in Organic Rice Protein Market: Axiom Foods, AIDP, Ricebran Technologies, Shaanxi Fuheng (FH) Biotechnology, Shafi Gluco-Chem, Bioway

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(Xi‘an) Organic Ingredients, Golden Grain Group, Ribus, The Green Labs, Top Health Ingredients and Others.

Next part of the Organic Rice Protein Market analysis report speaks about the manufacturing process. The process is analysed thoroughly with respect three points, viz. raw material and equipment suppliers, various manufacturing associated costs and the actual process.

Organic Rice Protein Market Research study focus on these types: Rice Protein Concentrates, Rice Protein Isolates, Others, and applications: Sports & Energy Nutrition, Beverages, Bakery & Confectionery, Meat Analogs & Extenders, Dairy Alternatives, Others.After the basic information, the report sheds light on the production. Production plants, their capacities, production and revenue are studied. Also, the Organic Rice Protein market growth in various regions and R&D status are also covered.

Organic Rice Protein in Global market especially covers United States, China, Europe and Japan, focuses on top players in these regions.

Further in the report, the Organic Rice Protein market is examined for price, cost and gross.

These three points are analysed for types, companies and regions. In continuation with this data sale price is for various types, applications and region is also included. The Organic Rice Protein industry consumption for major regions is given. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption figures are also given.

Following are major Table of Content of Organic Rice Protein Industry: Organic Rice Protein Market Competition by Manufacturers, Organic Rice Protein Production, Revenue (Value) by Region, Organic Rice Protein Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions, Organic Rice Protein Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type, Organic Rice Protein Market Analysis by Application.

In this Organic Rice Protein market analysis, traders and distributors analysis is given along with contact details. For material and equipment suppliers also, contact details are given. New investment feasibility analysis is included in the report http://newshawktime.com/outlook-of-report-on-organic-rice-protein-market-to-2022-industryinsights-company-overview-and-investment-analysis-business-overview/

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Global Rice Cooker market 2017 TOPICS:Global Rice Cooker Market 2017

AUGUST 18, 2017 The Report describe Rice Cooker Introduction, product scope, market overview, opportunities, risk, driving force also to analyze the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue, and price, market type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2017 to 2022 The research report titled Global Rice Cooker Industry 2017 presents an analytical study of the global Rice Cooker market, including a detailed analysis of the present and historical performances of the Rice Cooker market in globally. The competitive landscape of the Rice Cooker industry is also evaluated in this research study.

Download Free Sample Report @ https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/87595/request-sample The report classifies the Rice Cooker market in the global into various segments on the basis of several industry verticals. It also categorizes the market based on the geographical distribution of the Rice Cooker

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35 market. Each market segment is then analyzed considering its contribution in terms of volume produced (in kilo tons) and the revenue it generates (in US$).

Various aspects of the Rice Cooker industry such as the value chain and major policies that influence the market are explained at length and the growth drivers, restraints, and future prospects of the market are extensively evaluated in this report.

Further, the report talks about the products available in the market along with their pricing structure, production volume, the dynamics of demand and supply, and their contribution in terms of revenue in the global market for Rice Cooker, covering the statistical data pertaining to import and export in the market.

Access Full Report @ http://www.fiormarkets.com/report/global-rice-cooker-market-research-report2017-87595.html The report makes use of several analytical tools such as investment feasibility, investment return, and market attractiveness analysis to provide a complete picture of the development of the global Rice Cooker market, determining significant market strategies likely to pay off in the long run.

Lastly, the report profiles the major players operating in the Rice Cooker market in the world in order to analyze the competitive hierarchy of the market. https://techannouncer.com/global-rice-cooker-market-2017-panasonic-joyoung-midea-philips-supor/

Sentinel-1 speeds up crop insurance payouts August 18, 2017

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Using radar data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, areas where rice is grown in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu can be assessed. Light blue to magenta colours represent cultivated fields and light to dark green represents forests. Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2016), processed by RIICE/TNAU For the first time in India, a state government is using satellites to assess lost crops so that farmers can benefit from speedy insurance payouts.

The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is home to around 68 million people, of which almost a million are rice farmers. However, Tamil Nadu is facing the worst drought in 140 years, leading to the land being too dry for paddy fields, lost yield, widespread misery and unrest.

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar mission has been used to alleviate a little of the suffering by providing evidence of damaged land and failed crops so that the Agricultural Insurance Company of India can compensate farmers as quickly as possible. So far, more than 200 000 farmers have received payouts.

Malay Kumar Poddar, the company's general manager, said, "Assessing damages based on remote-sensing technology is introducing much objectivity into the crop insurance programme.

"Beyond the area loss assessment, we are also keen to apply the technology to assess actual yields at the end of the season."

Satellites carrying optical cameras can provide images of Earth's surface only in daylight and in the absence of cloud, but the Sentinel-1 satellites carry radar which works regardless.

As an advanced radar mission, Sentinel-1 can image the surface of Earth through cloud and rain and regardless of whether it is day or night. This makes it an ideal mission, for example, for monitoring the polar regions, which are in darkness during the winter months and for monitoring tropical forests, which are typically shrouded by cloud. Credit: ESA/ATG medialab

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This makes it an ideal mission to use in tropical and subtropical regions, which are often cloudy.

Sentinel-1 radar imagery combined with rice-yield modelling is at the heart of the German– Swiss Remote-Sensing based Information and Insurance for Crops in Emerging Economies initiative (RIICE).Francesco Holecz, from sarmap, set up the service in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute, RIICE partners, Indian authorities and universities.

He said, "The reliable repetitiveness of the Sentinels, their short revisit intervals, the free, quick and easy access to the products and the high quality of the data have contributed a lot to the practicability of satellite-based rice monitoring systems."

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, agricultural production commissioner and principle secretary to the government in Tamil Nadu added, "RIICE remote-sensing technology allows us to assess crop loss and damages in a more transparent and timely manner.

Using radar data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, areas where rice is grown in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu can be assessed. This is playing an important role in compensating farmers for lost crops during periods of severe drought. The different colours indicate the start of the rice cropping season in east-central Tamil Nadu, India, in 2016. Credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2016), processed by RIICE/TNAU "It was particularly useful during the last cropping season to identify villages that had been hit by drought, and farmers benefited from the technology by getting claims in a record time."

The research network is also working with partners in other countries to develop the method further.

For example, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines are looking to use it to assess yields at the end of the season.

Sellaperumal Pazhanivelan, from the university, said, "We believe that this technology can help the state governments to obtain objective and transparent data on actual rice yields so that farmers affected by natural hazards can be identified quickly." https://phys.org/news/2017-08-sentinel-crop-payouts.html

Benue, Chinese company to partner on improved seedlings ByNews Agency of Nigeria August 18, 2017 Daily Post Benue State Government says it has plans to partner with a Chinese Seed company, Yuan‘s Seed Company, for the provision of improved seedlings for farmers in the state.The Special Adviser to Gov. Samuel Ortom on Media and ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, said in a statement on Friday in Makurdi.

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He quoted Ortom as having given the readiness of the state government to partner with the company in China, after he visited a demonstration farm in China.The governor‘s aide said the company had developed improved seedlings that could quadruple crop production, especially melon, rice and other legumes.Agerzua was among the governor‘s entourage to China to inspect machinery for a cement company in the state.

He said the governor was excited over the prospects of boosting farmers‘ crop production in the state with improved seedlings.The company, located in Changsha, Hunan Province of China, is into massive rice production in Kano and Jigawa states and Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Kenya and Mozambique.

The governor‘s aide said the Vice-President of the farm, Mr Yao Zhenqui, Ortom educated the governor and his entourage on the viability of the rice seedlings.Zhenqui said improved seedlings were capable of producing as much as 130 bags or 13 tonnes of rice per hectare as against 20 bags currently harvestable per hectare. ―He was told that it took between 120 and130 days to be harvested; after the initial harvest, the plants can sprout again and mature for harvest in another sixty days,‘‘ he said.He further quoted Zhenqui as saying that improved hybrid seedlings would tackle the low production of crops like rice, melon, corn, pepper, tomato, soybeans, and beniseed.

Agerzua said the governor requested for a detailed proposal from the company on how to achieve the partnership.He said governor expressed optimism that the partnership would impact positively on the ―entire agricultural value chain‘‘ in the state, particularly provision of improved quality rice seedlings.

The governor‘s aide Ortom said the state would also gain a lot from the partnership in terms of machinery, training and processing of farm produce for the farmers in the state

Doubling the farmers’ income THE HANS INDIA | Aug 18,2017 , 08:59 PM IST

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39 Doubling the farmers‘ income The introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds after 1965 and the increased use of fertilizers and irrigation are known collectively as the Green Revolution, which provided the increase in production needed to make India self-sufficient in food grains, thus improving agriculture in India.

Famines in India, once accepted as inevitable, have not returned since the introduction of Green Revolution crops. Continuing Critical Role of Agriculture in India Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood for about 48 per cent of the population of the country.

It caters to the food security of the nation besides generating exportable surpluses. It provides the bulk of wage goods required in non-agriculture sector and most of the raw materials for the industrial sector.

Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India, more so, in the vast rural geographies.

It contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDPJ1 of the nation's overall economy, though in terms of percentage, it has been declining. This also highlights the need for increasing the size of agri-GDP (agri-GVA since 2012-13)2, so that per capita share of the farmers dependent on the sector improves.

As per 2011 Agriculture Census, number agricultural workers in the country were 26.3 crore comprising 11.87 crore of cultivators and 14,43 crore of agricultural labourers. This in terms of percentage of the total number of agricultural workers accounted for 45.1 per cent and 54.9 per cent respectively.

In comparison, the corresponding figures for the year 1951 were 9.72 crore of total number of agricultural workers, consisting of 6.99 crore of cultivators (71.9 per cent) and 2.73 crore of agricultural labourers (28.1 per cent). It is clear, that not only has there been an increase in the total number of agricultural workers, but also relative to the total number of cultivators, the numbers of agricultural labourers have increased.

It is also important to learn from these statistics, that while the percentage of people depending on agriculture has reduced to 48 from the high of 80 in 1951, in terms of absolute figures, the dependency on agriculture sector for employment, income and livelihood has increased. The term ―Green Revolution‖ is a general one that is applied to successful agricultural experiments in many Third World countries. It is not specific to India. But it was most successful in India.

Punjab was selected by the Indian government to be the first site to try the new crops of Wheat from International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Mexico because of its reliable water supply and a history of agricultural success.

India soon adopted IR8 – a semi-dwarf rice variety developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines that could produce more grains of rice per plant when grown with certain fertilizers and irrigation.

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40 As India marks 50 years of the Green Revolution this year, the architect of the movement,M.S.Swaminathan, says sustainability is the greatest challenge facing Indian agriculture.

What is the greatest challenge of Indian agriculture today?

There are two major challenges before Indian agriculture today Ecological • The conservation of our basic agricultural assets such as land, water, and biodiversity is a major challenge.

• How to make agriculture sustainable is the challenge.

• Increasing productivity in perpetuity without ecological harm is the need of the hour.

• In Punjab, and in other Green Revolution States, the water table has gone down and become saline.

• The growing population pressure Economical • Need to devise ways to lower the cost of production and reduce the risks involved in agriculture such as pests, pathogens, and weeds.

• The expected return in agriculture is adverse to farmers. That‘s why they are unable to repay loans.

• Addressing the ecological challenge requires more technology while the economics requires more public policy interventions.

• Raise the current MSP What are the ways to improve the incomes of farmers?

Existing issue All kinds of excuses have been given by governments for not implementing these recommendations like food price inflation.Farm loan waivers are posing a bigger burden on the government exchequer compared to what higher pay for farm produce will incur. At the same time Government has a goal of doubling the farmers income by 2022.

Implementation of Swaminathan Commission Report is important to achieve to improve farmers income.

Recommendation of MS Swaminathan‘s Report 1. Irrigation Enables farmers to have sustained and equitable access to water

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41 Increase water supply through rainwater harvesting and recharge of the aquifer. (―Million Wells Recharge‖ programme) 2. Agricultural productivity Substantial increase in public investment in agriculture related infrastructure particularly in irrigation, drainage, land development, water conservation, research development and road connectivity.

A national network of advanced soil testing laboratories with facilities for detection of micronutrient deficiencies.

3. Credit and insurance

Expand the outreach of the formal credit system to reach the really poor and needy.

Issue Kisan Credit Cards to women farmers, with joint pattas as collateral Expand crop insurance cover to cover the entire country and all crops, with reduced premiums Competitiveness of Farmers Improvement in implementation of Minimum Support Price (MSP). Arrangements for MSP need to be put in place for crops other than paddy and wheat. Also, millets and other nutritious cereals should be permanently included in the PDS. MSP should be at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production.

Why double farmers‘ income?

• Past strategy for development of the agriculture sector in India has focused primarily on raising agricultural output and improving food security.

• The net result has been a 45 per cent increase in per person food production, which has made India not only food self-sufficient at aggregate level, but also a net food exporting country.

• The strategy did not explicitly recognise the need to raise farmers‘ income and did not mention any direct measure to promote farmers welfare.

• The net result has been that farmers income remained low, which is evident from the incidence of poverty among farm households.

• Doubling real income of farmers till 2022-23 over the base year of 2015-16, requires annual growth of 10.41 per cent in farmer‘s income. This implies that the on-going and previously achieved rate of growth in farm income has to be sharply accelerated. Therefore, strong measures will be needed to harness all possible sources of growth in farmers‘ income within as well as outside agriculture sector.

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42 The major sources of growth operating within agriculture sector are • Improvement in productivity • Resource use efficiency or saving in cost of production • Increase in cropping intensity • Diversification towards high value crops The sources outside agriculture include • Shifting cultivators from farm to non-farm occupations, and

• Improvement in terms of trade for farmers or real prices received by farmers.

Niti Ayog agricultural marketing and farmer friendly reforms index • The index ranks states based on their initiatives taken in implementing provision of seven farm sector reforms.

• These reforms have been proposed under model APMC Act, joining e-NAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis.

• States are ranked based on score on the scale ranging from 0 to 100. The minimum score of 0 implies no reforms at all and score of 100 means state is friendliest to farmers.

The index identifies three major parameters. They are: • Reforms in agricultural marketing • Land lease • Forestry on private land.

Major government initiatives in India's agriculture sector Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana The primary objectives of PMKSY are • To increase the area of agricultural lands covered by irrigation and reduce dependency on monsoon.

• To improve on farm water use efficiency by adopting water management techniques adoption of precision-irrigation and other water-saving technologies to reduce wastage of water.

• Enhancing recharge of aquifers and introducing sustainable water conservation practices.

National Agriculture Market

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43 The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation formulated a Central Sector scheme for Promotion of National Agriculture Market through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF) through provision of the common e-platform.

Implications / Benefits for various stakeholders Farmers • They can sell produce without the interference of any brokers or middlemen thereby making competitive returns out of their investment.

Traders • Traders will be able to do secondary trading from one APMC to another one anywhere in India. Local traders can get access to larger national market for secondary trading.

Buyers, processers & exporters • Buyers like large retailers, processors or exporters will be able to source commodities from any mandi in India thereby reducing the inter-mediation cost. Their physical presence and dependence on intermediaries will not be needed.

Consumers • NAM will increase the number of traders and the competition among them increases. This translates into stable prices and availability to the consumers.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) of major project National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Under PKVY Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic village by cluster approach and PGS certification.

The scheme envisages • Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.

• The produce will be pesticide residue free and will contribute to improve the health of consumer.

• It will raise farmer‘s income and create potential market for traders.

• It will motivate the farmers for natural resource mobilization for input production.

Pradhan Manthri Fasal Bima Yojana • The new Crop Insurance Scheme is in line with One Nation – One Scheme theme. It incorporates the best features of all previous schemes and at the same time, all previous shortcomings / weaknesses have been removed.

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44 Objectives • To provide insurance coverage and financial support to the farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases.

• To stabilise the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.

• To encourage farmers to adopt innovative and modern agricultural practices.

• To ensure flow of credit to the agriculture sector.

Mechanisation • Mechanisation has the potential to change many agricultural output challenges as it will lead to higher productivity and economic contribution. Yet, it has been inaccessible to farmers for long largely due to economic reasons.

• With small land ownership and constant fragmentation, small and marginal farmers find it almost impossible to own a tractor. To make agriculture economically viable ICAR started many initiatives.

• It is working towards developing need-based and region specific engineering technologies and is engaged in planning, co-ordination and monitoring of R&D programmes in a national and international level.

• It has developed many improved machinery such as laser and leveller, self-propelled sprayers, precision seeders and planters, harvesters for cereals and sugarcane etc.

• It has introduced gender friendly tools for reduction in the drudgery for women farm workers.

• Lab to Land programme recently set up of modern mechanised farm units.

Infrastructure interventions Mega food park scheme • The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers‘ income and creating employment opportunities particularly in rural sector.

• The Mega Food Park Scheme is based on ―Cluster‖ approach and envisages a well-defined agree/ horticultural-processing zone containing state-of-the art processing facilities with support infrastructure and well-established supply chain.

• 9 Mega Food Parks namely Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, Haridwar, Srini Food Park, Chittoor, North East Mega Food Park, Nalbari, International Mega Food Park, Fazilka, Integrated Food Park, Tumkur,

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45 Jharkhand Mega Food Park, Ranchi, Indus Mega Food Park, Khargoan, Jangipur Bengal Mega Food Park, Murshidabad and MITS Mega Food Park Pvt Ltd, Rayagada are functional as on 30.06.2017.

Cold storage • India is the largest producer of fruits and second largest producer of vegetables in the world.

• In spite of that per capita availability of fruits and vegetables is quite low because of post-harvest losses which account for about 25% to 30% of production.

• The Task Force on cold-chain development in India had suggested in its report to establish a National Centre for Cold-chain Development (NCCD) in India as an autonomous centre for excellence to be established as a registered society to work in close collaboration with industry and other stake holders to promote and develop integrated cold-chain in India for perishable F&V and other perishable allied agri – commodities to reduce wastages and improve the gains to farmers and consumers substantially.

Food processing and safety • Food processing levels are quite low in India at 3% when compared to 30-70% in developed countries and wastage of agriculture produce is as high as 40%.

• National Food Processing Mission was launched to address these problems and create potential for higher revenues. The objectives of the program are: • Promote Primary processing centres close to the farms and link them with Clusters through hub and spoke models.

• Facilitate exports of high value products like Cheese, Peanut butter etc. and encourage such facilities through subsidies.

• Develop food processing clusters, Food parks and Agriculture SEZs; Contract farming, Warehouses (Cold chains) development was also given an important role by providing tax rebates. This scheme has resulted in some positive outcomes like • Exports from Agriculture SEZs have increased over the years.

• Exports of Meat, Marine products have improved.

• But the performance of this scheme on the whole has left us much to be desired with warehouses, processing facilities have not been developed.

• In the absence of APMC reforms, contract farming and private procurement is virtually absent.

Crop pattern • Record productions of sugarcane, ground nuts, and vegetables were seen but wastage was higher as export opportunities shrunk.

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46 • Indian farming suffers from excess cropping of water-intensive crops like sugarcanes in dry areas. This is one of reason for agricultural and farm distress. The high dependency on Monsoon adds to worry.

• The recent initiative from government which has emphasized the crop diversification and climateappropriate agriculture and cropping are helping the shift from switch to value added and less water intensive crops.

Model land leasing law • Taking note of increasing incidents of leasing in and out of land and suboptimal use of land with lesser number of cultivators, NITI Aayog has formulated a Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016 to both recognize the rights of the tenant and safeguard interest of landowners. A dedicated cell for land reforms was also set up in NITI. Soil health card • The campaign to provide soil health card with nutrient information of soil would help the farmers to educate about most viable and appropriate cropping pattern suiting the climatic conditions in region.

• Shortage of infrastructure like soil testing labs is hindrances but it‗s a move in right direction.

Higher MSP increase in pulses and oil seeds • From last two years, the MSP has tried to address the issues of higher MSP in cereal and lower in Pulses and oil seed. The recent move to increase pulses MSP by 7% in move towards the Crop-neutral MSP regime.

What needs to be done to address the crisis of farmer‘s suicides?

• In the last few years, a large number of farmers have committed suicide. Cases of suicides have been reported from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh.

• The National Commission on Farmers has underlined the need to address the farmer suicide problem on a priority basis.

Some of measures suggested include • Provide affordable health insurance and revitalize primary healthcare centres. The National Rural Health Mission should be extended to suicide hotspot locations on priority basis.

• Set up State level Farmers‘ Commission with representation of farmers for ensuring dynamic government response to farmers‘ problems.

• Restructure microfinance policies to serve as Livelihood Finance, i.e. credit coupled with support services in the areas of technology, management and markets.

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47 • Cover all crops by crop insurance with the village and not block as the unit for assessment.

• Provide for a Social Security net with provision for old age support and health insurance.

• Promote aquifer recharge and rain water conservation. Decentralise water use planning and every village should aim at Jal Swaraj with Gram Sabhas serving as Pani Panchayats.

• Ensure availability of quality seed and other inputs at affordable costs and at the right time and place.

• Recommend low risk and low cost technologies which can help to provide maximum income to • Need for focused Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) in the case of life-saving crops such as cumin in arid areas. Have a Price Stabilisation Fund in place to protect the farmers from price fluctuations.

• Need swift action on import duties to protect farmers from international price.

• Set up Village Knowledge Centres (VKCs) or Gyan Chaupals in the farmers‘ distress hotspots. These can provide dynamic and demand driven information on all aspects of agricultural and non-farm livelihoods and also serve as guidance centres.

• Public awareness campaigns to make people identify early signs of suicidal behavior.

How do we cope with these adverse effects of environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity?

Evergreen Revolution to increase in farm productivity but without ecological harm.

This will also include • Integrated pest management • Integrated nutrient supply • Scientific water management to avoid the kind of environmental damage witnessed during the Green Revolution • Mandatory rainwater harvesting • Introduction of fodder and grain legumes as rotation crops to be adopted by wheat farmers in States like Punjab to ensure sustainability of farming.

• Government may declare fertile zones capable of sustaining two to three crops as Special Agricultural Zones • Provide unique facilities to farmers here to ensure food security • Soil health managers should be appointed to monitor and ameliorate the soil conditions in degraded zones and rectify defects like salinity, alkalinity, water logging.

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48 • The idea of more crops per drop has been implemented well in Israel. We should adopt those practices here.

• Post-harvest technologies like threshing, storage, etc. will have to be given greater attention Can GM technology help address food security challenges?

There are many methods of plant breeding, of which molecular breeding is one. Genetic modification has both advantages and disadvantages. One has to measure the risks and benefits before arriving at a conclusion.

• First, we need an efficient regulatory mechanism for GM in India.

• We need an all-India coordinated research project on GMOs with a bio-safety coordinator.

• We need to devise a way to get the technology‘s benefit without its associated risks.

• Barring the U.S., most countries have reservations about adopting GM technology. Europe has banned it on grounds of health and environmental safety. Normal Mendelian breeding itself is sufficient in most cases.Parliament has already suggested a law based on the Norwegian model where there are considerable restrictions on GMOs. What is the scope for organic farming when it comes to addressing food security?

• Organic farming can have a good scope only under following conditions.

• Farmers must possess animals for organic manure.

• Farmers must have the capacity to control pests and diseases.

• Farmers should adopt agronomical methods of sowing such as rotation of crops. Even genetic resistance to pests and diseases can help organic farmers. Adoption of the requisite crop-livestock integration by Sri Arobindo Ashram in Puducherry is a good model to follow.

How do we address the challenges of climate change on Indian agriculture?

• Both less rainfall and a higher mean temperature affect farming adversely. Currently we are witnessing drought, excess rainfall, sea-level rise.

• There are both adaptation and mitigation measures to follow in this regard. Some of the recommendations include • Setting up a multi-disciplinary monsoon management centre in each drought-affected district, to provide timely information to rural families on the methods of mitigating the effects of drought, and maximising the benefits of good growing conditions whenever the season is normal.

• Animal husbandry camps could be set up to make arrangements for saving cattle and other farm animals because usually animals tend to be neglected during such crises.

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49 • Special provisions could also be made to enable women to manage household food security under conditions of agrarian distress.

• kShould start breeding varieties characterised by high per day productivity than just per crop productivity. These will be able to provide higher yields in a shorter duration. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hans/2017-08-18/Doubling-the-farmers-income/320054

More U.S. rice to head south after Colombia trade agreement

By AGDAILY Reporters Published: August 18, 2017 Simone Bosotti, Flickr Follow AGDAILY U.S. rice will have more market access to the fourth largest country in South America now after a new agreement with the government of Colombia.

A previous agreement in 2012 between both countries enabled exports of U.S. paddy rice to Colombia, but under strict and costly requirements related to phytosanitary concerns. The new agreement lifts these requirements and expands access beyond the single port of Barranquilla, which was the only port previously open to U.S. exporters.

The new agreement reflects the close trade ties between the United States and Colombia, and the high quality and safe rice produced by the U.S. rice industry. The agreement, combined with preferential access under the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (CTPA), will further accelerate increased U.S. exports of food and agriculture to Colombia. ―Today‘s announcement is another great testament of our determination to expand export opportunities for America‘s farmers and ranchers and to ensure fair trade with our international partners. This agreement expands opportunities for U.S. rice producers in the important Colombian market,‖ USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said. ―It also underscores the value of improved relationships to solve problems, based on a solid trade agreement that benefits both parties and on a commitment to science-based rule-making.‖ ―I welcome this new agreement and the expanded market access and opportunity it will afford to U.S. exporters of paddy rice,‖ U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, said. ―This outcome is a result of the Administration‘s efforts to enforce international trade commitments on behalf of the American people, and to deepen our bilateral ties with key trading partners, particularly allies like Colombia.‖

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Colombia is the United States‘ 12th largest export market for food and agricultural products, with exports valued at over $2.4 billion in 2016 – a sharp increase over exports prior to completion of the CTPA, when Colombia ranked as the 26th market for U.S. food and agricultural exports in 2011, with an associated value of $1.12 billion. Exports of milled rice to Colombia have increased dramatically since entry into force of the CTPA in 2012, averaging $79 million per year compared to $3 million in 2011.

Exports of paddy rice since 2012, when the CTPA entered into force and the letter exchange provided for market access, have constituted a small but growing share of total U.S. rice exports to Colombia, reaching $15 million in 2016. Under the new agreement on paddy rice, costly and unnecessary fumigation and processing requirements are rescinded, and access expanded to all ports of entry in Colombia.

Paddy rice, also known as ―rough rice,‖ is the whole rice grain, along with its hulls. It is harvested directly from rice fields or paddies and transported or exported to processing facilities.

As part of the processing, the protective hull is removed, leaving only the actual rice kernel for consumption. By leaving the sturdy hull on, it is possible to store the kernels for several months without incurring product losses due to spoiling or infestation https://www.agdaily.com/news/u-s-rice-colombia-trade-agreement/.

Rice, rice everywhere thanks to Kebbi deal Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi | Publish Date: Aug 19 2017 2:00AM WACOT Rice Limited The food sufficiency goal of the federal government is set to receive a major boost through collaboration between WACOT Rice Limited and the Kebbi State government.The food sufficiency journey started sometime in June 2016 when President Muhammadu Buhari announced in a Ramadan meeting with members of the business community that his administration would make the country self-sufficient in rice production within 18 months.The president was obviously not satisfied with the fact that the country was still importing food in the face of a foreign exchange crisis and Nigeria, being Africa‘s largest consumer of rice, devours about six million metric tonnes of rice annually mostly imported from India, Thailand and Brazil.

The president submitted that Nigeria should be able to produce what it eats and export its excess.

14 months after the declaration, the president‘s dream is gradually becoming a reality through the establishment of the West African Cotton Rice Mill (WACOT) in Argungu, Kebbi State which is expected to produce 120,000 metric tons annually and 400 metric tons of rice daily.The

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multi-billion naira rice mill is said to be the largest of its kind in Africa. It was commissioned by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on August 1, 2017.

It has about 10 silos with the capacity to store 18,000 tons of rice paddy and warehouses for storing an additional 12,000 tons of rice paddy. The mill is stocked with machines from world renowned machinery suppliers like Buhler, Petkus, SKF, Thermax and Silos Cordoba and includes a fully equipped laboratory to test all parametres for ensuring consistent quality of the product.

Built with the economics of the environment in mind, it is expected to generate electricity from husk (the hard protecting coverings of grains of rice), thereby ensuring that all by-products from the processing are well-utilized. It will generate 1 megawatt of electricity via turbines to reduce dependence on the national grid. It also has a fully equipped water treatment plant that takes care of its liquid waste before being discharged into the community, where safely used for irrigation.

WACOT Limited is the first company to do an Out Growers Model and Farmers Assistance Scheme. The company is now extending its expertise to increase yields among rice farmers in Argungu and beyond, since more farmers need to increase their yields if the country is to meet its self-sufficiency target. Although the building of the mill only started in February 2016, since 2013, WACOT has been engaging with farmers through two training schemes- the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and the Yield Enhancement Techniques (YET). The company has worked with over 4,000 farmers and distributed inputs - high quality seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals worth N144m.

Argungu is already beginning to witness economic transformation as a result of the establishment of the rice mill-more jobs are coming with over 3,500 people engaged as well as new businesses built around the mill.

Speaking at the commissioning of the mill, Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said: ―It is the policy of the federal government that it is the private sector that must be the engine of development. But the private sector being the engine of development is not just the private sector leading growth. The growth must be growth with jobs, it cannot be jobless growth. ―We have seen a lot of jobless growth, especially around the oil economy with a lot of revenue coming but a very few jobs. One of the critical things that we are seeing today, especially the development of agriculture, is that this is growth with jobs. Several thousands of our people are farmers and are engaged in farming‖.

He said the commissioning of the mill was a landmark achievement for the country in diversifying its economy and a signal to other countries that Nigeria is not just open for business but set for development. Osinbajo said the N10bn investment that was put together within 12 months shows that Nigeria is moving in the right direction.

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The story of the mill is not without the support of the Kebbi State government under Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.Bagudu recently disclosed that on assuming office and discovering the huge rice potentialities in his state, he immediately partnered with the Bank of Industry and the Central Bank of Nigeria and to show his commitment, he put down N4 billion to assist rice farmers in the state to go into commercial farming. He pointed out that with the capital outlay and agreement it entered into the with the BOI, his administration also designed a template where each farmer agrees to produce at least six tons of rice per hectare of land after being given a minimum of N210,000 per hectare to cover farm inputs and seedlings.

According to the Managing Director, Mr. Ujwalkanta Senapati, WACOT has completed several humanitarian projects in the community.―We have renovated a school and a hospital and have organized health camps with free consultation and medicines to over 1,000 farmers. We‘ve always had the aspiration to implement positive change,‖ he said.The General Manger, Mr. Amit Gupta, expressed optimism on his company‘s role in the effort to boost rice production in the country.He said WACOT can produce rice that can be compared with those produced in Thailand and India because it has the required machines, boilers and other equipment. https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/rice-rice-everywhere-thanks-to-kebbi-deal/210666.html

Rice export target set at 5.2 million tonnes in 2017

The Vietnam Food Association aims to ship 2 million tonnes of rice to foreign countries in the last five months of the year, increasing total rice export for the whole year to 5.2 million tonnes.

(Photo: VNA)

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HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) aims to ship 2 million tonnes of rice to foreign countries in the last five months of the year, increasing total rice export for the whole year to 5.2 million tonnes, up 6 percent year-on-year. Vietnam exported an estimated 3.24 million tonnes of rice at FOB value of 1.4 billion USD in the past seven months, representing an increase of 11 percent in volume and 11.4 percent in value over the same period last year. July alone saw 584,000 tonnes of rice sold abroad for more than 240 million USD, which was the highest monthly volume so far this year, with most of the rice shipped to China, Bangladesh and Africa. China remains Vietnam‘s top rice importer, accounting for 40.65 percent of the total rice export, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore. Shipments to Africa experienced a slight rise, making up 15.3 percent of the market share. The VFA forecast that the global rice market will be led by high demand from Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.

However, large rice exporters like Thailand, India and Pakistan are entering their main crop harvest, which will affect the rice market in the coming time.-VNA http://en.vietnamplus.vn/rice-export-target-set-at-52-million-tonnes-in-2017/116559.vnp

Rice basmati goes up on increased offtake New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Rice basmati prices rose by up to Rs 150 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand.New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Rice basmati prices rose by up to Rs 150 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand.

However, other grains held steady in thin trade. Traders said increased offtake by stockists following upsurge in demand against tight stocks position on fall in supplies from producing belts, mainly helped rice basmati prices to trade higher. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety settled higher at Rs 6,500-6,600 and Rs 5,250- 5,350 from previous levels of Rs 6,400-6,500 and Rs 5,150- 5,200 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 1,770-1,775, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,775-1,780, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 965-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (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 6,500-6,600, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,250-5,350, 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 1,2251,230, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,800-2,900, Maize Rs 1,330-1,335, Barley Rs 1,4901,500. http://www.india.com/news/agencies/rice-basmati-goes-up-on-increased-offtake-2410492/

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