19th October,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter

19-October 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Govt pledges to make Pakistan ‘zero hunger’ country Aamir Yasin | Amin AhmedUpdated October 17, 2018

PTI government aims to eliminate hunger by 2030. — Photo/File ISLAMABAD: The PTI government on Tuesday pledged to make Pakistan a ‘zero hunger’ country, as self-sufficiency in food has been achieved and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have set a target for a ‘zero hunger world’ by 2030.

At an event to observe World Food Day at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mohammad Mehboob Sultan said he hoped that zero hunger would be possible by 2030 with political will, public participation and the right combination of policies and technical and financial support to farming communities, to increase productivity, minimise losses and improve smallholders‘ well-being.

An integrated approach and the transformation of food systems is needed to achieve the vision of a world free from hunger, malnutrition and rural poverty, he said, and the government faces enormous challenges to realise this. These five challenges are continued population growth, degradation of natural resources - water being the most important, climate change, resource conflicts and increasing urbanisation. ―Food is in our basket and we have to make it available to all as per the theme of food day, which is ‗Our Actions are Our Future - A Zero-Hunger World by 2030 is Possible‘,‖ he said.

Mina Dowlatchahi, a representative of the United Nation‘s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said at the event that all stakeholders have to continue to play their roles to achieve zero hunger in Pakistan. She added that it was encouraging to see Pakistan taking steps in the right direction to reach this goal.

The first National Food Security Policy and the water policy provide a framework for action, putting emphasis on agriculture diversification and value addition, resilient climate smart agriculture and water management, improved livelihoods of smallholder farmers and tenants, safe drinking water and a national zero hunger programme.

When contacted, a senior food security and research ministry official told Dawn the ministry is finalising an action plan in coordination with the provinces to implement the national food security policy approved by the last government.

National Food Security and Research Secretary Hashim Popalzai said agriculture researchers should increase their efforts to cope with the emerging challenges of our time, such as climate change. Climate change adaptation and mitigation has significant importance for poverty reduction.

World Food Programme Country Director Finbarr Curran warned that despite improvements in many areas, Pakistan still faces significant challenges. Between 2004 and 2016, undernourishment fell from 23.3pc to 19.9pc, but in the same period the number of undernourished people rose from 35.7 to 37.6 million.

One of the major challenges faced by Pakistan is not the lack of food, but rather the lack of nutritious food. Pakistan is a large producer of rice and wheat, but this alone cannot guarantee a nutritious diet for citizens, he said.

University marks World Food Day At a seminar held in connection with World Food Day, speakers emphasised the production, equal distribution and management of food by curtailing food waste.

They said Pakistan is self-sufficient in food production, but efforts are required for equal distribution and fair management.

The seminar was held at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi.

The university‘s vice chancellor, Prof Dr Sarwat N. Mirza, was invited as the chief guest. Other participants included Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America Country Director Prof Dr Javaid Aziz Awan, former Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research member Dr Sakhawat Ali,National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,Director General Prof Dr Tahir Zahoor, District Food Controller Ejaz Sial, Rawalpindi Additional Deputy Commissioner Saima Younas and deans, directors and students from the university.

Speakers said the per capita availability of water has declined significantly since 1951, and would reach 860 cubic meters by 2025 if sound actions are not taken.This would take Pakistan from a water stressed country to a water scarce one.

They also discussed various interventions regarding the zero hunger theme for this year‘s World Food Day that would help save the lives of 3.1m children annually, increase the GDP of developing countries by 16.4pc and build a safe and more prosperous world.

Dr Mirza said Pakistan is an agricultural country producing enough food for the nation, but faces situations such as hunger, water shortage and malnutrition.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2018 https://www.dawn.com/news/1439464

`It takes just a matchstick’: Punjab farmers take the cheaper way out to deal with paddy stubble Mid-afternoon, Upender is busy tossing paddy residue into the fire he started over an acre of land. Huge, thick clouds of smoke rise into the air and engulf the neighbouring fields before the wind blows them away.

By: PTI | Published: October 18, 2018 7:17 PM

The Punjab government says around 25,000 machines of different kinds are being distributed to farmers and cooperative societies this year for the management of paddy straw in the fields itself. (IE)

Mid-afternoon, Upender is busy tossing paddy residue into the fire he started over an acre of land. Huge, thick clouds of smoke rise into the air and engulf the neighbouring fields before the wind blows them away. After about 15 minutes, the fire is out, leaving only the ash and a question – Have the efforts of the Punjab government to check stubble burning failed? The administration is making serious interventions to curb stubble burning, but the farmers in the state continue to defy the ban on the practice amid a lack of financial incentives.

The state government is providing 50 to 80 per cent subsidy to farmers and cooperative societies to buy modern farm equipment for in-situ management of paddy straw and running a massive awareness campaign against stubble burning. It made stubble burning a punishable offence in 2013 and continues to issue challans to erring farmers under the

2015 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), says Karunesh Garg, member secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

The Punjab government says around 25,000 machines of different kinds are being distributed to farmers and cooperative societies this year for the management of paddy straw in the fields itself. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 669 crore to the Punjab government — for 2018-19 and 2019-20 — for providing subsidy on agri-implements like straw management system (S-SMS), happy seeder and straw chopper, according to the PPCB. However, farmers claim it is unimaginable for everyone to buy the expensive modern farm machinery to manage stubble. They say they cannot afford to rent it as the rising diesel prices have increased the input cost manifold. Sarabjeet Singh of Rola village in Ludhiana district has hired a daily wager to set fire to paddy straw in his fields for Rs 300 a day. He says farmers generally do this in the evening to dodge NASA satellites and Punjab government officials tasked with reporting incidents of stubble burning. ―This irresponsible government has imposed sophisticated machinery on small farmers who cannot afford such costly equipment,‖ Sarabjeet Singh claims. Asked if stubble burning in Punjab affects Delhi‘s air quality, he says, ―Delhi‘s air is already polluted. The city government should close down the factories that lead to air pollution.‖ Nearly 23 million tonne of straw is produced in 30 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation in Punjab, says Manjeet Singh, the head of the department of farm machinery and power engineering at the Punjab Agriculture University. Most farmers in Punjab use combine harvesters for paddy harvesting.

The state government has made it mandatory for farmers to install the S-SMS on their combine harvesters to deal with the stubble. ―After the harvester reaps paddy, thick bunches of plants with their roots deep in the soil and loose stubble remain. The S-SMS, which costs Rs 1-1.15 lakh, chops and evenly spreads the loose stubble in the field.

Thereafter, the turbo happy seeder (THS), costing Rs 1.25 lakh, can be used to directly sow wheat in the soil, from above the straw,‖ explains Subhash Sharma, an agricultural

scientist. Other option are the rotary drill and the mulcher that incorporate the stubble into the soil. ―Small farmers, who own two to three acres of land, have to spend Rs 4,000-5,000 per acre if they use the machinery to prepare the field for wheat sowing, while it takes just a matchstick to burn the stubble. We will continue to burn our paddy straw. We are not bothered if the government registers cases against us,‖ Sarabjeet Singh says. ―There are around 50 brick kilns within a radius of four kilometres. Why are we being blamed for pollution?‖ he asks. Karnal Singh (64), a resident of Jaspal Bangar village, says around 50-60 litres of diesel is needed to operate the combine harvester, the rotavator, and the mulcher in an acre. At Rs 75 per litre, that is an expenditure of around Rs 3,750-4,500. ―It doesn‘t cost a penny if we set fire to stubble. Only Rs 1,000-1,200 is spent on around 15 litres of diesel used for ploughing the field and a lot of time is saved,‖ he says. The Krishi Vikas Kendras are also impressing upon the farmers to adopt early-ripening rice varieties so that after its harvesting, they have enough time to prepare the field for wheat sowing.

However, Karnal Singh says the yield decreases if they use early-maturing rice varieties.

An 80 per cent subsidy on the machinery for cooperative societies isn‘t helping either.

Jitendra Pal Singh (48) says there are 800 members in the village‘s cooperative society, which recently purchased three S-SMS, three happy seeders, two rotavators and a mulcher. ―Not everyone can use the machinery in the three-week window between rice harvesting and wheat sowing. The farmers will burn the stubble if they do not get the equipment,‖ he says. Karnal Singh says he didn‘t burn the stubble for two years and used the machinery to manage it, but he suffered losses. ―I will restart burning stubble if I keep accruing losses,‖ he says.

Karam Singh (45) from Sahnewal Khurd village says, ―Twenty-five to 30 quintal of rice is harvested in an acre of land. If the government gives us Rs 200 per quintal, it will take

care of everything. The government can also give a subsidy on diesel. Ultimately, everything boils down to cost.‖ Last year, 42,000 incidents of stubble burning were reported from Punjab and fines totalling Rs 65 lakh were imposed on the erring farmers.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE and NSE and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual Funds, calculate your tax by Income Tax Calculator, know market‘s Top Gainers, Top Losers & Best Equity Funds. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/it-takes-just-a-matchstick-punjab-farmers-takethe-cheaper-way-out-to-deal-with-paddy-stubble/1353730/

ASIA RICE-INDIA ACTIVITY MUTED, FALLING SUPPLY LIFTS VIETNAM PRICES 10/18/2018 * Bangladesh's Aman crop seen at 14 million tonnes this year * Thai exporters eye deals with Philippines and Indonesia

By Eileen Soreng BENGALURU, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India were unchanged this week, after declining for three weeks in a row, as activity was muted ahead of the new crop, while waning output due to floods pushed up rates in Vietnam.

Rates for top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5-P1> were unchanged from last week at $365-$370 per tonne.

"Right now, demand is weak," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

"Traders are waiting for new crop supplies before signing deals."

Supplies from summer-sown crops will become available for export from November, dealers said.

Production of summer-sown rice is estimated to grow 1.8 percent to 99.24 million tonnes, government data showed last month.

India's rice exports between April and August fell 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 5.03 million tonnes as leading buyer and neighbour Bangladesh trimmed purchases due to a bumper local harvest.

The rain-fed rice output or Aman crop in Bangladesh is estimated to hit 14 million tonnes from 13.5 million tonnes the previous year, helped by favourable weather, Mohammad Mohsin, director general of Department of Agriculture Extension, told Reuters.

Aman crop, the second biggest rice crop after the summer variety Boro, makes up about 38 percent of Bangladesh's total rice production of around 35 million tonnes.

The south Asian country, which emerged as a major importer in 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imposed 28 percent duty to support its farmers after local production revived this year.

In Vietnam, rates for the 5 percent broken rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> climbed to $405-$410 a tonne from $400-$405 a week earlier.

"I think prices will rise further as supplies are running low," a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said, adding the mini autumn-winter harvest is coming to an end with output lower than the same crop last year due to flooding.

Floods from a burst dam in Laos inundated thousands of hectares of paddy fields in Vietnam's rice-growing Mekong Delta region.

"I don't know how much more prices could rise, but we definitively cannot offer lower prices as there's not much grain out there," the trader said.

In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> was quoted at $405â&#x20AC;&#x201C;$407 per tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, versus $398-$400 last week.

Traders attributed the price rise to the strengthening of the baht, saying there was no fresh demand for Thai rice overseas.

Thai exporters are expecting a possible deal with markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia before the end of the year, traders said. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai and Ruma Paul in Dhaka Editing by Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru and David Evans) https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/asia-rice-india-activity-muted-falling-supplylifts-vietnam-prices (Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

India-Iran Rice-For-Oil Deal Not Modi Magic, It’s a UPA-Era Scheme ARJUN SIDHARTH, ALT NEWS

WEBQOOF Don‘t fall for fake news, click here to check out The Quint’s WebQoof stories.

―Starting 4 November 2018, India will send rice to Iran in the exchange of crude oil. With this modern form of the old fashioned barter system, our dependence on the American dollar will be less and our Indian rupee will get a new life. Modi magic transforming India!‖ This message has been posted by Priti Gandhi, who describes herself on Twitter as ‗National Incharge of Social Media- BJP Mahila Morcha‘. Gandhi has a significant following of over 3,21,000 and is followed on the platform by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also Read : #WebQoof: No, Rahul Gandhi Didn‘t Offer Namaz in MP‘s Shiv Temple The fake news website Postcard News published an articleextolling this ‗masterstroke‘ by PM Modi. It was also tweeted by Mahesh Vikram Hegde, founder of the website.

(Photo courtesy: AltNews)

The claim that this is a unique initiative by the Modi government to circumvent currency-related restrictions on trade has also been shared by several individual users on Facebook.

From 4 November, US sanctions on the Iranian oil sector will come into effect, obstructing payment avenues to the oil-rich nation.

Relations between the US and Iran have been on a downward spiral ever since US President Donald Trump reimposed economic sanctions on Iran after his country withdrew from the nuclear deal framework agreement reached in 2015. With the Indian government reportedly mulling rupee-based trade with Iran, sympathisers of the ruling party are on an overdrive to project this move as ‗Modi magic‘.

Also Read : WebQoof: No, ISRO Hasn‘t Developed an Online Worldwide Radio

How the Rupee-Based Trade System Works An alternate payment system was devised by Iran and India in the wake of previous sanctions on the West Asian nation.

In an ingenious workaround, Iran had agreed to accept payment for oil exports in rupees. The Indian currency earned by Iran could be redeemed to import goods and commodities from India including rice, textiles, tea, coffee and pharmaceutical products. It is worthwhile to note here that the rice-for-oil trade between the two countries is not barter in the literal sense.

Rupee-Based System Since 2012 The rupee-based trading system devised for commercial exchange with Iran is not an initiative of the Modi government. In fact, it was first introduced in 2012 when Iran had borne the brunt of economic sanctions imposed by the Western nations over its nuclear programme.

News reports by Times of India, The Hindu and Live Mint had referred to the payment mechanism that had been threshed out by the two countries. In a report of February 2012, Live Mint had quoted the then Iranian ambassador to India who had stated that 45 percent of the payment will be in Indian currency, which would be utilised by Iran to pay for imports from India.

In March 2013, a report by Reuters had highlighted how Iran‘s oil revenue was helping Indian rice exporters regain their business which had suffered due to imposition of sanctions.

https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/iranindia-oil-for-rice-deal-not-unique UPDATE 4-Egypt's GASC announces first rice purchasing tender for 2018 (Adds GASC also asking for medium grain rice) DUBAI, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Egypt‘s state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), said on Thursday it was seeking cargoes of 25,000 tonnes of rice, plus or minus 5 percent, in an international purchasing tender.

GASC said it was seeking short or medium grain milled white rice of any origin, with 10-12 percent broken parts.

The deadline for offers, to be submitted on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis, is Nov. 12 and the rice is for arrival Jan. 1-31 and Feb. 1 to March 1. ―Every supplier should submit four samples, each two kilograms, of their rice alongside their offer for testing,‖ GASC Vice Chairman Ahmed Youssef said.

One of the samples will be sent to the Ministry of Agriculture for a cooking test. ―We need to determine how suitable the rice is for our consumers‘ taste,‖ he said.

Results for the tender will not be announced on the same day.

Further details on the rules and specifications are available in a booklet from Thursday, Youssef said.

Traditionally a rice exporter, Egypt is estimated to need around 500,000 tonnes of imported rice this season as it reduces local production to conserve water.

Earlier this year, Cairo decreed that only 724,000 feddans (750,000 acres) of rice could be planted with the grain in 2018, which grain traders estimate is less than half of the 1.8 million feddans cultivated in 2017. (Reporting by Maha El Dahan Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Edmund Blair) https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN1MT11I-OZATP

UPDATE 1-Philippines plans another rice tender after most prices too high in latest round

(Adds official‘s comment, bids)

MANILA, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The Philippines‘ National Food Authority (NFA) will reopen a rice import tender after accepting offers for only 47,000 tonnes at Thursday‘s tender, well below a planned purchase of 250,000 tonnes, because of high offer prices.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Oct. 9 scrapped 20-year-old import restrictions on rice to curtail soaring prices of the Philippine diet staple by increasing supply. Rising rice prices have contributed to surging inflation in the country.

Most of the offers from 13 international suppliers exceeded the state-run NFA‘s approved budget of $428.18 per tonne, said Judy Carol Dansal, head of the NFA‘s tender panel.

―We will reopen the tender for the volume that was not taken,‖ Dansal told reporters.

Thai Capital Crops Co Ltd won a bid to supply 18,000 tonnes at $426.30 a tonne. Vietnam‘s Vinafood 1 was awarded the supply of 14,000 tonnes at $427.50 and Vinafood 2 secured the supply of 15,000 tonnes for $427.68.

The Philippines is on a rice buying spree this year, with import approvals by the NFA hitting 2.4 million tonnes, just below the record 2.45 million tonnes bought in 2010 when rising global food prices stoked shortage fears. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz Writing by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Sunil Nair and Christian Schmollinger) https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN1MT11I-OZATP

Is White Rice Healthy or Bad for You? Source: healthline.com Many health communities view white rice as an unhealthy option.

It‘s highly processed and missing its hull (the hard protective coating), bran (outer layer) and germ (nutrient-rich core). Meanwhile, brown rice only has the hull removed.

For this reason, white rice lacks many vitamins and minerals that are present in brown rice.

However, there are some instances where white rice is a better option than brown rice.

This article helps determine whether white rice is healthy or bad for you.

Stripped of Fiber and Nutrients

White and brown rice are the most popular types of rice and have similar origins.

Brown rice is simply the entire whole rice grain. It contains the fiber-rich bran, the nutrientpacked germ and the carbohydrate-rich endosperm.

On the other hand, white rice is stripped of its bran and germ, leaving just the endosperm. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s then processed to improve taste, extend shelf life and enhance cooking properties (1).

White rice is considered empty carbs since it loses its main sources of nutrients.

However, in the US and many other countries, white rice is typically enriched with added nutrients, including iron and B vitamins like folic acid, niacin, thiamine and more (2, 3).

This table shows how 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of the different types of rice compare nutritionally when cooked (4, 5, 6).

Nutrients White rice, unenrichedWhite rice, enrichedBrown rice, unenriched Calories

123

123

111

Protein

2.9 grams

2.9 grams

2.6 grams

Carbs

30 grams

26 grams

23 grams

Fat

0.4 grams

0.4 grams

0.9 grams

Fiber

0.9 grams

0.9 grams

1.8 grams

Folate

1% of the RDI

20% of the RDI

1% of the RDI

Manganese

18% of the RDI

18% of the RDI

45% of the RDI

Thiamine

5% of the RDI

14% of the RDI

6% of the RDI

Selenium

13% of the RDI

13% of the RDI

14% of the RDI

Niacin

12% of the RDI

12% of the RDI

8% of the RDI

Iron

1% of the RDI

10% of the RDI

2% of the RDI

Vitamin B6

8% of the RDI

8% of the RDI

7% of the RDI

Phosphorus

6% of the RDI

6% of the RDI

8% of the RDI

Copper

4% of the RDI

4% of the RDI

5% of the RDI

Magnesium

2% of the RDI

2% of the RDI

11% of the RDI

Zinc

2% of the RDI

2% of the RDI

4% of the RDI

A 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of brown rice has fewer calories and carbs than white rice and twice as much fiber.

In general, brown rice also has higher amounts of vitamins and minerals than white rice.

However, enriched white rice is higher in iron and folate.

What‘s more, brown rice contains more antioxidants and essential amino acids.

It‘s also worth noting that both white and brown rice are naturally gluten-free, which makes them a great carb option for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Summary Brown rice is more nutritious than white rice, but most white rice in the US and other countries is enriched to increase its nutritional value.

Higher Glycemic Index Score May Be Linked to Increased Diabetes Risk

Glycemic index (GI) is a measure of how fast your body converts carbs into sugars that can be absorbed into your bloodstream.

The score ranges from 0 to 100 with the following labels: 

Low GI: 55 or less



Medium GI: 56 to 69



High GI: 70 to 100

Foods with a lower GI appear to be better for people with type 2 diabetes, as they cause a slow but gradual rise in blood sugars. Higher GI foods may cause rapid spikes (7, 8).

White rice has a GI of 64, while brown rice has a GI of 55. As a result, carbs in white rice are turned into blood sugar more rapidly than those in brown rice (9).

This may be one reason why white rice has been associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

In a review of studies in over 350,000 people, researchers found that those who ate the most white rice had a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least (10).

What‘s more, each serving of rice eaten per day raised the risk of type 2 diabetes by 11%.

Similarly, a US-based study showed that higher intakes of white rice were linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, whereas higher intakes of brown rice were linked to a significantly lower risk (9).

Summary White rice has a higher glycemic index, which means its carbs convert more quickly into blood sugar than brown rice. Higher intakes of white rice may result in a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

May Raise Your Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that may increase your risk of health conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.

These risk factors include: 

High blood pressure



High fasting blood sugar



High triglyceride levels



A large waistline



Low levels of ―good‖ HDL cholesterol

Studies have shown that people who regularly eat large amounts of white rice have a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, especially Asian adults (11, 12, 13).

But while studies have noticed a connection between white rice consumption and diabetes, the link between white rice and heart disease is still unclear (13, 14).

Meanwhile, brown rice consumption has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease.

For instance, adults that consume the most amount of whole grains may have an up to 21% lower risk of heart disease than adults eating the least amount (15).

Brown rice also contains lignans, a plant compound that has been shown to help lower blood pressure, reduce the amount of fat in your blood and reduce arterial stiffness (16).

Summary Higher intakes of white rice may raise your risk of metabolic syndrome.

However, its connection to heart disease is still unclear.

Effects on Weight Loss Are Conflicting

White rice is classified as a refined grain because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s stripped of its bran and germ.

While many studies have connected diets high in refined grains to obesity and weight gain, the research is inconsistent when it comes to white rice.

For instance, some studies have associated diets high in refined grains like white rice to weight gain, belly fat and obesity, while other studies have found no correlation (17, 18, 19, 20).

Plus, diets centered around white rice have been shown to promote weight loss, especially in countries where itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s an everyday food (21, 22, 23).

In short, white rice appears to be neither detrimental nor favorable for weight loss.

However, eating diets high in whole grains like brown rice have more consistently been shown to aid weight loss and help maintain a healthy body weight (24, 25, 26).

Brown rice is thus the favorable choice for weight loss, as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s more nutritious, contains more fiber and provides a healthy dose of disease-fighting antioxidants.

Summary White rice does not appear to affect weight loss very much. However, studies show that brown rice can promote both weight loss and maintenance.

Easy to Digest

Doctors may prescribe a low-fiber diet if you have digestive problems.

A low-fiber diet can lessen the workload of the digestive tract, allowing it to rest.

These diets are temporary and may ease uncomfortable symptoms that result from Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and other digestive disorders.

Adults dealing with heartburn, nausea and vomiting or those recovering from medical procedures that affect the digestive system may also find a low fiber diet beneficial.

White rice is often recommended in these cases, as it‘s low in fiber, bland and easy to digest.

Summary White rice is bland, low in fiber and easy to digest, making it a good option for people with digestive problems, nausea or heartburn.

Should You Eat White Rice?

White rice is often unfairly criticized and can serve as a better alternative to brown rice in some situations.

For instance, women going through pregnancy may benefit from the extra folate found in enriched white rice.

Additionally, people on a low-fiber diet and adults experiencing nausea or heartburn may find that white rice is easier to digest and does not trigger uncomfortable symptoms.

However, brown rice is still the better option for most. It contains a wider variety of vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids and plant-based compounds.

It also has a lower glycemic index, which means its carbs are more slowly converted into blood sugar, making it more ideal for people with diabetes or prediabetes.

That said, it‘s perfectly fine to enjoy white rice in moderation without feeling guilty.

Summary Brown rice is the healthier option for most people, but it‘s fine to enjoy white rice from time to time.

The Bottom Line

Though white rice is more processed, it‘s not necessarily bad.

Most white rice in the US is enriched with vitamins like folate to improve its nutritional value.

Additionally, its low fiber content may help with digestive issues.

However, brown rice is ultimately healthier and more nutritious. Not to mention, studies have shown that brown rice is better for diabetes, heart disease and weight maintenance. https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/174507/Is-White-Rice-Healthy-or-Bad-for-You

Bago Rice Millers Ask Govt to Clamp Down on Chinese Traders Famers dry rice paddy in Zayyarthiri Township, Naypyitaw. / The Irrawaddy

By KAUNG MYAT MIN 19 October 2018 Bago Region — Rice millers in Bago Region have filed a complaint with the regional government alleging that Chinese merchants are buying paddy illegally.

U Hla Oo, secretary of western Bago‘s rice millers association, told The Irrawaddy that Chinese merchants were buying up paddy from local farmers at prices above the local market rate. ―We complained about it with the Bago government in mid-September, but they didn‘t take any action. So earlier this month we filed a complaint directly to the Bago Region Parliament speaker,‖ he said.

In the local market 100 baskets of rice, equal to 4,091 kg, currently fetch about 580,000 kyats ($367). Chinese merchants are reportedly paying more than 600,000 kyats for the same amount.

It is not the first time Chinese merchants have paid above-market prices for local paddy, said U Hla Oo. But he said this time the practice was leaving supplies for domestic consumption dangerously depleted. ―This year, western Bago has had the earliest harvest in the whole country, so [Chinese] buyers came to buy. The worst thing is that, since we‘ve exported about 4 million tons of rice, stocks for domestic consumption are running low,‖ he said. ―Rice prices have increased because of Chinese buyers and the market prices are fluctuating,‖ he added.

The Myanmar government bans the export of paddy rice and restricts its sale to the domestic market.

But rice millers say the government is losing out on tax revenue from an illegal rice trade and that rising rice prices also inflate prices for meat and fish. Business sources said the prices for

paddy byproducts used to make snacks and animal feed, including broken kernels and husk, are much higher this year as well. ―Chinese buyers don‘t come in person; they sent middlemen. Some farmers get good prices. The price they offer is not bad because labor is scarce and [renting] a harvester costs about 45,000 kyats per acre,‖ U Khin Maung Zin, a farmer in Zigon Township, told The Irrawaddy.

On Oct. 12, the local legislature sent a letter to the regional planning and finance minister asking him to take the necessary action.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/bago-rice-millers-ask-govt-clamp-chinese-traders.html

Govt steps in to tackle paddy glut Oct 19, 2018, 1:19 AM; last updated: Oct 19, 2018, 1:19 AM (IST)

Fazilka, October 18 The state government has allowed rice millers from other districts to buy the ―permal‖ variety of paddy from Fazilka district for custom-milling to overcome the problem of glut.

Official sources said the Food and Supplies Department had issued release orders to 11 rice millers from Bathinda and Barnala districts allowing them to buy about 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy.

Deputy Commissioner Manpreet Singh said here on Thursday that about 15.5 lakh bags (each bag weighing 37.5 kg) were expected to arrive in the Abohar market and purchase centres, but the three rice mills set up there had the capacity of milling only 4 lakh bags. Hence, the remaining paddy would be procured by the other rice millers to clear the glut as soon as possible, said the Deputy Commissioner. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/govt-steps-in-to-tackle-paddy-glut/670304.html

40,000 people die annually due to breast cancer in Pakistan, SMBBMU observes Jamal Dawoodpoto OCTOBER 18, 2018

In light of October being the Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) and its constituent Chandka Medical College (CMC) on Wednesday organised a a Pink Ribbon Walk to raise awareness, early detection and treatment as well as palliative care of the deadly disease and promote donations for breast cancer research.

In this regard, millions of passionate people around the world annually make effective efforts to sensitise more people about breast cancer and raise money in the way that they can.

Reportedly, senior doctors, paramedical staff, students and members of civil society marched from the Shahnawaz Bhutto Memorial Library to the CMC where a seminar on ―Breast Cancer: its prevention and early detection in females‖ was organised.

Meanwhile, Gynecology and Obstetrics department Dean Prof Dr Rafia Baloch, CMC Principal Prof K Das, Prof Dr Ghulam Murtaza Pathan, Dr Sara Fatima and others addressed participants.

Prof Rafia Baloch apprised participants that following Rawalpindi, Larkana was the only city where ‗Tumor Boards‘ were being held regularly including bone cancer, gynecology cancer, urology cancer and surgery cancer.

―Major causes of cancer are fast food, soft drinks, lack of exercise and unhygienic food consumption,‖ she said, adding that nowadays women have been avoiding breastfeeding which could also be a cause of breast cancer.

She asserted that in foreign countries, working mothers have been keeping their breast milk in freezers for children before leaving for their jobs.

Dr Sara Fatima said that according to a latest research, cancer could be treated, but ‗prevention is better than cure.‘ She revealed that aged unmarried women (having no children) were more likely to be affected by breast cancer.

She stated that one percent men were also infected by breast cancer.

She said rural women used to visit hospitals at their last stage of cancer due to lack of awareness.

She advised women that if they were between 35-54 years old, they should get mammograms.

The speakers further asserted that about 40,000 patients have been dying annually due to breast cancer in Pakistan, and one out of every nine women is at the risk of breast cancer, the prevalence of which is the highest amongst all cancers in Pakistan.

Female medical students attended the seminar while wearing pink scarfs.

Rice growers dissatisfied over paddy crops’ rate amid rupee devaluation Despite of shocking increases in the prices of basic commodities and following a record devaluation of the rupee against the dollar, rice growers in Sindh have not been compensated and were forced to accept the last year‘s rate for the fresh paddy crops.

In this regard, Sindh Chamber of Agriculture representative Syed Siraj Rashdi and growers including Hanif Kertyo, Ghulam Sarwar Mangnejo, Ali Muhammad Abro and others told the media on Wednesday that the 45-day delay in release of irrigation water in water channels had severely affected about 50 percent of the total paddy crops in Sindh. ―Therefore, rice production has been reduced to nearly half as compared to previous year,‖ They expressed profound concerns over the crippling financial situation in the country, and said that rupee devaluation has caused prices of diesel and petrol to increase while farmers were

being offered the last year‘s rate between Rs 800-900 per 40 kilos for wet paddy, and Rs 1,0001,100 per 40 kilos for dry. ―Rice millers and traders are killing us economically,‖ they said, adding that 60 to 70 Maund of paddy crop was yielded per acre while the price of the production was calculated Rs 60,00070,000. ―If expenditure of sowing paddy saplings is calculated accurately including fertilizer, urea, seed etc, and is compared to the rate being offered to us, then it can be observed that one-fourth of rice production is being paid to farmers,‖ they said.

They said that if the current state of affairs was continued, then peasants and their families would soon be facing situation alike drought-hit areas of Tharparkar and Kacho.

They alleged that the government has increased rates of rice to benefit traders while neglecting poor peasants for many years.

They appealed to the government to fix rates of rice between Rs 1,300 to 1,500 per 40 kilos or otherwise, they would be ruined economically.

They further alleged that price of about two to four kilos from every 40 kilos of rice was being deducted by rice millers, and demanded the government to restrict them. https://dailytimes.com.pk/311393/40000-people-die--due-to-breast-cancer-in-pakistan-smbbmu-observes/

Food waste, postharvest losses where millions remain hungry

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas & Cai U. Ordinario October 18, 2018

In Photo: This October 2, 2010, file photo shows children jostling each other to get free porridge at the Baseco Compound in Port Area, Manila.

THE country‘s tropical climate makes the Philippines an ideal location for growing a number of food crops. This is why many of the country‘s farms are planted with rice, vegetables and fruits.

Despite the suitability of Philippine farms for food crops, millions of Filipinos suffer from hunger and are malnourished. According to the World Hunger Report 2018, there are still some 14.2 million undernourished Filipinos and 13.3 million foodinsecure Filipinos. Taken together, these account for nearly a third of the country‘s population.

Food wasted and food lost due to postharvest handling could reduce the number of the hungry and malnourished in the Philippines based on government data. But minimizing waste and postharvest losses remains a huge challenge for policymakers and citizens, making the achievement of the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) an uphill battle.

Ending hunger is SDG Goal 2, and the first target of the UN is to ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round. This is being monitored by the government.

This is not the case for SDG Goal 12 on sustainable consumption, which intends to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including postharvest losses by 2030.

However, this is not part of the country‘s local SDG monitoring.

Food loss, or food waste, refers to the ―decrease of food in subsequent stages of the food supply chain intended for human consumption,― according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which also coauthored the World Hunger Report. ―Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial production down to final household consumption,― a briefer from the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) explained. ―The decrease may be accidental, or intentional, but ultimately leads to less food available for all. Food that gets spilled or spoilt before it reaches its final product or retail stage is called food loss,‖ it added.

Data on food waste is available from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Limited data However, they are all limited in scope. The PhilMech data focuses only on the waste that results from the harvest to the storage of rice; the FNRI data, food consumption loss per plate—includes rice and other commodities; while the PSA‘s Food Demand Survey (FDS) focuses on rice wasted.

Based on PhilMech data, the BusinessMirror estimated that postharvest losses in palay reach 16.4 percent a year. This is composed of losses in harvesting at 2.03 percent; piling, 0.08 percent; threshing, 2.18 percent; drying, 5.86 percent; milling, 5.52 percent; and storage, 0.8 percent.

Last year, total palay lost reached 3.173 million metric tons (MMT) valued at P57.476 billion, based on the computation of the BusinessMirror. This could have fed nearly 19 million Filipinos.

Food waste The FNRI defines ―food wastage― as any cooked and raw food items that an individual or family failed to consume, or utilize, due possibly to spoilage, cooking preparation, plate waste and those fed to pets and animals.

Based on the FNRI‘s 2015 survey, a Filipino household wastes 43 grams of rice daily.

At 22.975 million Filipino households, according to the latest PSA data, the country wastes around 987,952 kg of rice daily.

Based on the computation of the BusinessMirror, the country wastes some P41 million worth of rice daily using the price of the well-milled variety at P42 per kg.

Annually, Filipinos waste 360.602 million kg of rice valued at some P15.145 billion, according to the BusinessMirror‘s estimates. This could have fed at least 3.281 million Filipinos.

The PSA, the country‘s statistical agency, defines wastage as ―losses, decrease or destruction of something by use.‖ Based on latest PSA data, a Filipino household wastes 1.676 kg of rice annually, translating to a total country loss of 38.507 million kg, valued at P1.617 billion. The figures are significantly lower than the estimates using FNRI‘s data.

The FNRI data also showed that Filipinos wasted a total of 8 grams of other food items such as fish, meat, poultry and vegetables. Plate waste for fish and fish products was at 6 grams, while meat and meat products and poultry accounted for 1 gram each.

As for vegetables, Filipinos waste some 5 grams per plate. FNRI data showed green, leafy and yellow vegetables recorded a plate waste of 2 grams per plate, while ―other vegetables‖ was at 3 grams per plate.

Postharvest losses Caling Balingbing, International Rice Research Institute‘s Senior Associate Scientist for Mechanization and Postharvest, said the country‘s palay postharvest losses have been declining since the 1970s as more Filipinos gained access to farm equipment. ―The trend shows that since 1974, the postharvest loss has been declining given the introduction of machines. In 1974 postharvest loss was around 23.5 percent,‖ Balingbing told the BusinessMirror ―We now have mechanical dryers from PhilRice. PhilMech is disseminating mechanical dryers. PhilRice has flat-bed dryers, which are really good and efficient as they are less laborious,‖ he added.

Balingbing noted, however, that farmers‘ use of modern equipment will not guarantee ―absolute elimination‖ of postharvest losses. This is because, according to Balingbing, some farm machine operators do not use machines at an ―optimal level,‖ resulting in production losses. ―Because of the eagerness to earn more from providing service to other farmers, the operators tend to fast-track the machine work. The operators of combined harvesters are paid in terms of hours per hectare, so they tend to hasten their work,‖ he said. ―If you work so fast the tendency is that you will not be able to harvest all the crops or some would be wasted along the way,‖ he added.

‗Bukbok‘ Balingbing said the use of ordinary sacks by farmers to store their rice also expands losses. He added that the use of ordinary sacks makes stored crops vulnerable to pests and weather-related problems. ―The Philippines is a tropical country. Crops are exposed to high humidity. Once crops absorb moisture it could lead to issues such as the bukbok [weevil],‖ he said. ―Rice stored in ordinary sacks attracts moisture and insects.‖ Balingbing recommended the use of air-tight, hermetic storage that would protect crops against weather-related issues, pests and insects. ―This kind of storage does not anymore require the use of chemicals or pesticides to address pests. Pests die of natural death due to depletion of oxygen,‖ Balingbing said.

Cutting losses Dr. Arnold S. Juliano, head of the Philippine Rice Research Institute Rice‘s Engineering and Mechanization Division, said the government is targeting to reduce postharvest losses by at least 2 percent to a maximum of 14 percent.

Juliano told the BusinessMirror that palay farmers could lose as much as 20 percent of their harvest during the wet season. ―Most likely, the use of combined harvesters has reduced the postharvest losses by 2 percent just in the harvesting stage alone.‖ Another significant challenge to cutting postharvest losses is farmers‘ practice of sun drying rice along road pavements, according to Juliano. ―In fact, that is being banned. But because farmers do not have an area where they can dry their palay, they keep going back to the roadside,‖ he said.

―There are really huge losses during the wet season. For example, while palay is being sun dried, it would suddenly rain. This would wash off some of the unmilled rice,‖ Juliano said. ―That is actually the challenge for [the government], how to reduce the postharvest losses. Losses in the drying stage during wet season go up to 9 percent of the total production,‖ he added.

Juliano said with the introduction of PhilRice-crafted mechanical dryers, they seek to cut losses incurred by farmers by half of the current 5.86-percent average.

Juliano explained that the drying stage of palay is ―crucial‖ as rice is vulnerable to foreign materials and breakage. The drying method used is responsible for the socalled ―brokens‖ in rice varieties. He said PhilRice is currently undertaking a study on the current postharvest losses at the harvesting stage. The agency will also embark on another study on updates on losses at the drying stage of palay.

Alternatives Juliano said one measure that could help cut the country‘s rice waste and losses is promoting the consumption of brown rice. The average milling recovery rate (MRR) for brown rice is higher at 75 percent, 10 percentage points over the 65.4-percent average MRR of white rice. However, the PhilRice official acknowledged that brown rice is more expensive compared to white rice. ―Brown rice is supposed to be cheaper because it only underwent dehulling.‖ ―I think what makes it expensive is the packaging and the lack of market. Brown rice is vacuum packed to prolong its shelf life, which adds to the cost,‖ he added.

Juliano said that brown rice could be sold at about P40 per kg, fairly comparable to and even cheaper than the current prevailing price of well-milled rice. Expanding the market for brown rice could bring down its price.

―In fact, rice millers would earn more as their production cost would be reduced. At the same time the rice husk could be used for power generation,‖ he said, adding that rice husks are being bought at P2 per kg.

Issues Agriculture economists noted that the Philippines continues to struggle with the lack of mechanization. In some countries like Malaysia, University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Food and Agri Business Executive Director Rolando T. Dy said the processes of harvesting, piling and threshing were done mechanically. Losses in handling and transporting palay are avoided.

Dy added that many of the farm machines available today, such as those being used for milling, are new and can easily remove the husk from every grain of palay.

The UA&P economist also said planting one rice variety per locale will make it easier for farmers to maximize milling facilities. While this can be done by the Department of Agriculture (DA) since it is concerned with food production, Dy said this initiative should be implemented by local government units (LGUs). He said LGUs will have a better grasp of the topography, the soil type, and the most suitable variety for their area. ―Planting various rice varieties could result in brokens. Medium, short and long,‖ Dy said. ―In Pidig [Nueva Ecija], milling recovery rate is high because farmers are told what variety they should plant.‖ He also cited a need to upgrade facilities. New facilities, particularly for milling, can increase recovery rate to around 71 to 73 percent. But the recovery rate in the country is only around 60 percent.

Senen U. Reyes, UA&P Senior Management Specialist, also said many farmers do not have their own drying facilities. While the government and private sector provide flatbed dryers and drying pavements, the use of these facilities entails costs.

Reyes said with the government buying palay from farmers at only P17 per kg, there is no incentive for them to use these facilities. This is why many farmers would rather dry their palay on roads, even if they are aware of the risks of doing so.

Incentives, he said, should not only be related to the buying price of the National Food Authority (NFA). These perks, Reyes said, should encourage farmers to produce quality grains.

As farmers sell their palay on the basis of weight, Reyes said they no longer care about producing full heads of rice. This allows them to justify their practice of drying palay on roads. ―They do not realize that if rice is dried on the highway, they will incur losses and the grains would break, which could impact on the milling efficiency,‖ he said. ―Highways are not drying pavements. It‘s for the use of vehicles and motorists, not farmers. Farmers may use the roads for transporting their goods,‖ Reyes added.

The practice of drying palay on roads can be addressed by LGUs. Reyes acknowledged, however, that politicians may be wary of restricting this practice as they may lose votes.

Organizing farmers, Dy said, would help improve the volume and quality of palay produced. Farmer-cooperatives have a better chance of accessing quality mills because of economies of scale. ―Interventions in the value chain at the farming level, the DA can only do so much.

Local governments should take the lead because they are the ones responsible for agricultural extension services,‖ Dy said.

In terms of rice consumption, Dy said data limitations make it difficult to get a more accurate picture. This, he said, is largely due to limitations in data collection related to food consumed outside of the house.

‗Unli-rice‘ The UA&P economist said changes in food consumption could ease the pressure on the country‘s food output. Initiatives to cut rice consumption have been tried in the past. But efforts to discourage people from wasting other food items have yet to be introduced.

Last year, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Food and Agriculture, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, advocated the ban on offering unli-rice meals. It sought to encourage Filipinos to exercise prudence, but netizens were not receptive to the senator‘s recommendation.

In 2013 PhilRice also launched the ―Be Riceponsible‖ campaign, which encourages consumers to stop wasting rice and to eat brown rice, or rice mixed with corn. It also encouraged farmers to plant rice and adopt technologies that would increase yield and income.

The ―Be Riceponsible‖ campaign urged policymakers to ―institutionalize the availability and default serving of half cup of rice to prevent wastage and give consumers more options.‖ However, despite data showing evidence that households continue to waste other food items, such as meat, fish and vegetables, government efforts related to cutting food waste continued to focus on rice.

Road to zero While improving the milling recovery rate of rice by a few percentage points will increase the supply of the staple, Reyes said this does not mean that it would be affordable and accessible. This is because farmers sell their crop to traders and millers even before it is harvested.

Food security, according to FAO, is a ―multidimensional‖ concept that can be described by four pillars: accessibility, availability, utilization and stability. FAO said

―food security refers to the availability of food, whereas famine and hunger are the consequence of the nonavailability of food, in other words, the results of food insecurity.‖ ―We can have a buffer stock but it won‘t be in the hands of the government. That is the real issue recently. We had stocks but these are not in state warehouses and the buffer wasn‘t cheap. The stocks were mostly with the traders,‖ Reyes said.

Eliminating food waste would not automatically lead to zero hunger, according to Dy. He said hunger has an income component. For a person to avoid hunger, he must be able to have access to affordable food.

Based on the country‘s rebased 2012 Consumer Price Index (CPI), food has a weight of around 38 percent. However, Dy said this only accounts for household food consumption. In reality, food consumption could easily take up 46 percent of the budget of Filipino families because food eaten outside accounts for about 8 percent. In this sense, he said the definition of the PSA is not consistent with international standards.

If the country will meet the aim of zero hunger, Reyes said the government needs to implement the ―right interventions‖ and start implementing these measures today. He noted that the aim of attaining the SDGs by 2030 is only 12 years away.

Changing farm policies is a vital measure that would allow the Philippines its commitment to the UN to eliminate hunger, according to Neda officials.

Neda Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Staff (Anres) Assistant Director Lenard Martin P. Guevarra said the government‘s fixation with rice has discouraged the production of affordable and nutritious fruits and vegetables. ―For example, we do not have a comparative advantage in rice but this has been our policy for the longest time. The bulk of the budget is going there so you create an artificial attractiveness to it, that is why farmers prefer rice,‖ Guevarra told the BusinessMirror.

―But if you look at the per capita consumption of the Philippines in terms of vegetables and fruits, we are actually below the international requirement. It shows that we need to diversify,‖ he added.

Citing the experience of South Korea and Japan, Guevarra said countries tend to shift their support from cereals to high-value crops to meet the demand of their population. Guevarra noted that consumers usually move away from cereals to highvalue crops and other commodities as their incomes improve. ―If we pour the bulk of our investments into commodities in which we do not have comparative advantage just to eliminate imports, it would be costly. It will help reduce imports and achieve sufficiency for a year, but it is hard to maintain and sustain as the Philippines is vulnerable to disasters,‖ he said. ―The question now is, will the use of public funds on these commodities benefit the public?‖ he added.

Some Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia attempted to be self-sufficient in rice following the food crisis of 2008, but eventually abandoned the initiative, according to Guevarra. Diversifying to high-value crops, he said, would benefit farmers more as it could improve their income.

What is more important, Neda Anres Director Nieva T. Natural said, is for the Philippines to become ―food secure‖ and not ―food sufficient.‖ https://businessmirror.com.ph/food-waste-postharvest-losses-where-millions-remain-hungry/

Blacklisting: NACOF gets govt order quashed in High Court

by Rohit Gupta October 18, 2018 in NACOF

In a major relief to agri co-operative NACOF, the High Court of Jharkhand quashed the order of the state govt which blacklisted it from the job of paddy procurement in the state. After hearing two sides the High Court ruled‖ ―Under the aforesaid circumstance, the impugned order dated 29.06.2017 passed by the respondent no. 2(govt) is hereby quashed‖.

It bears recall that NACOF was debarred on the charges of delayed payment to the farmers.

Despite NACOF informing the govt that the payment of farmers of 12 districts of the state to the tune of Rs. 65 crores against the paddy which reached the rice mills, has been made, the govt blacklisted it.

In its letter to the govt NACOF asked the govt to send the remaining paddy to the rice mills so that the balance amount can also be settled off by the petitioner but instead the state govt the impugned order dated 29.06.2017 blacklisting it, argued its Counsel in the court.

The govt side argued that several complaints were received by the authorities that NACOF did not pay the price of paddy to the farmers. Repeated directions were issued to it for making payment to the farmers by video conferencing, departmental meetings and issuing letters, however, the same were not complied.

FCI also argued in the court and said that NACOF has wrongly contended that the FCI did not co-operate with it. It also said that the quality check was the responsibility of the procuring agencies.

NACOF argued that it had informed the authorities that the paddy was not being picked up from the godowns of PACS/LAMPS in time and if at all picked up, the millers failed to deliver the CMR to the FCI within time. Since the paddy was not being lifted from the PACS/LAMPS godown timely, such delay on the part of PACS/LAMPS and rice mills directly affected the petitioner‘s payment process as the petitioner was supposed to release payment only when the standard quality of paddy was determined by the FCI. ―It has further been contended that there was difference between actual quantity of paddy lifted by the rice mills and the quantity reported by PACS/LAMPS, thus making payment for the paddy which had not been delivered, would have been in violation of Section 9 of the Jharkhand Custom Milled Rice (Liability and Control) Order, 2016 dated 01.12.2016‖, NACOF argued in the High Court.

Listening both the sides, the High Court ruled that the fact that the petitioner has been blacklisted for an indefinite period is contrary to the law laid down by the Hon‘ble Supreme Court rendered in the case of ―M/s Kulja Industries Limited Vs. Chief Gen. Manager, Western Telecom Project Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited & Ors.‖ ―In the aforesaid case, it has been specifically held that the debarment can never be permanent.

In the present case also, the petitioner has been blacklisted without specifying the period which is contrary to the ratio laid down in the aforesaid judgment. Otherwise also, Clause 17 of the agreement specifies that if the petitioner makes any violation of terms and conditions of the contract, penal action will be taken against him under the relevant provision. Neither in the show cause nor in the impugned order, the respondent no. 2 (govt) has mentioned the provision under which the said authority has proceeded against the petitioner to blacklist‖ the HC observed. ―So far as the other reliefs sought in the present writ petition are concerned, the same are governed by the terms and conditions of the agreement and if the petitioner is aggrieved by any of the actions of the respondents, it may seek appropriate remedy as provided under law‖, the judgement read.

―Under the aforesaid circumstance, the impugned order dated 29.06.2017 passed by the respondent no. 2(govt) is hereby quashed‖, the court ruled. http://www.indiancooperative.com/nacof/blacklisting-nacof-gets-govt-order-quashed-in-high-court/

100,000 Varieties Of Rice Gene Conserved In Gene Bank In Philippines

BY EILEEN NOONKESTER ON OCTOBER 18, 2018

Agricultural scientists have announced that more than 100 thousand varieties of rice have been safeguarded for the future. Samples have been conserved in the largest gene bank for rice at Philippines that could be used in future to develop rice cultivations that can survive natural calamities like drought and flooding. The International Rice Research Institute which is also a gene bank functions on permanent funding from Crop Trust.

According to Marie Haga the Executive director of Crop Trust, these seeds are miracles that will conserve natural diversity as they have all traits that one can find in rice and are part of international efforts to conserve food grains in gene banks.

She said that rice is a relatively easy item to store and survive in low temperatures for hundreds of years. Some of these rice varieties have gene diversity which can be used to create new rice breeds that can with stand natural threats like pests, disease, floods and even droughts. Rice is an essential part of 20 percent of world‘s calorie consumption and around 90 percent of rice is produced and consumed within Asia by nations like China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Japan that consume around 80 percent of total.

According to estimates by 2050 the consumption of rise annually is likely to rise to 525 million tons. According to IRRI located in Los Banos, Philippines there is a strain of rice called ―Scuba Rice‖ which can survive in areas hit by flooding. Evolutionary biologist Ruaraidh SackvilleHamilton of IRRI gene bank stated that rice conservation efforts have set a track record of bringing benefits to the world. With these conserved varieties biologists can continue to develop improved rice strains that can be used by farmers to manage natural challenges in rice production and adapt to changing consumer tastes and preferences. http://dailymarketinsights.com/242/100000-varieties-of-rice-gene-conserved-in-gene-bank-in-philippines/

SCIENTISTS HAVE EXPLAINED WHY THE PLANET CAN WAIT FOR MASS STARVATION Jan Hartman | October 18, 2018 | Science | No Comments

Researchers from the University of Vermont found another reason due to which global warming can be dangerous to the planet – hungry insects. According to scientists, the temperature increase will stimulate the appetite of the insect and speeds up their reproduction, resulting in key food crops such as wheat, corn and rice, which are food for billions of people, can suffer from low yields. Since these three crops account for 42% of the daily caloric needs of the world population, any deficiency can lead to decreased food security and conflicts, especially in poor areas of the globe.

When the temperature increases, the metabolism of insects is increasing – as a result, the insects start to eat more crops. During the study experts came to the conclusion that global yield losses of grain crops will increase from 10% to 25% with each rise in global temperature by 1 degree. So, in Europe, which is currently the main producer of wheat in the world, the annual crop losses from pests can reach 16 million tons. In the United States, the world‘s largest producer of corn, yield losses caused by insects may amount to about 20 tons of corn per year. In China, where one third of the world rice production, could experience losses size of 27 million tons of rice a year.

https://sivtelegram.media/scientists-have-explained-why-the-planet-can-wait-for-mass-starvation/55124/

Why Scientists Are Studying ‘Ricequakes’ in a Tube of Rice Krispies They even resemble Antarctica‘s mysterious icequakes.

BY ABBEY PERREAULT OCTOBER 16, 2018

Why Scientists Are Studying ‘Ricequakes’ in a Tube of Rice Krispies

Science can happen in a bowl of cereal. AM Y / C C B Y 2 .0 a bowl of cereal may be a violation of protocol. But at the University of Sydney, researchers Itai Einav and François Guillard have found good reason to bring breakfast fare to the lab bench.

Studying or simulating natural phenomena from within a laboratory can be difficult. ―We don‘t have room for a 100-meter dam in our laboratories,‖ says Dr. Einav, a professor of geomechanics. Instead, the researchers use puffed rice cereal as a surrogate material for naturally-occurring dry snow and rocks—all of which fall under the category of brittle, porous media.

IN YOUR AVERAGE LAB, POURING

―That‘s the scientific name,‖ says Dr. Einav, ―but I call it crunchy material.‖ Puffed rice is a good stand-in, since, like snow and rock, cereal breaks under pressure and degrades in fluid.

This isn‘t the scientists‘ first rodeo with Rice Krispies, which, if you didn‘t know, are called Rice Bubbles in Australia. (During a previous study, Dr. Einav tells me, he referred to his American colleague as Mr. Rice Krispies, who reciprocated by calling him Mr. Rice Bubbles.) But until this point, the researchers had worked primarily with dry cereal, which is helpful when it comes to modeling dry snow or rock crumbling under pressure. But some collapse events involve water—such as those that occur in ice shelves, sinkholes, and rockfill dams when they‘re exposed to large amounts of liquid and high pressure. Studying these is challenging, because they happen incredibly slowly and at such large scale.

That‘s where the milk comes in. Adding it to cereal, the researchers found, could simulate these collapses in a sped-up, scaled-down way.

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To create the collapse, the researchers poured the cereal into a vertical tube perched atop a granular filter. They applied a constant amount of pressure at the top of the tube, and added milk to the bottom. What happened next was a series of snaps, crackles, and collapses, which the researchers charmingly dubbed ―ricequakes.‖ During each milk-and-pressure induced reaction, the researchers witnessed several quakes, with the delay before each one growing longer over time. They also noted that each tiny quake was accompanied by an audible popping noise, which, according to Dr. Einav, aurally resembles ―a slowing metronome.‖ According to Dr. Einav, what‘s happening can be explained quite simply. He compares the Krispies apparatus to a train, situated vertically, that comes into

contact with liquid at the bottom. The first car that hits the liquid degrades quickly, and crashes. Once it does, the liquid rises upward, weakening the next train car or cereal layer, eventually causing it to collapse under the pressure at the top (albeit more slowly than the first). Eventually, Dr. Einav says, many trains sitting above the liquid base will crash—with each collapse taking progressively longer.

From this simulation, the scientists have been able to create a mathematical equation that can explain when, and why, the ricequakes happen. Though Dr. Einav is quick to say that using models to make real-world predictions is risky, he‘s speculated that it might (at least partially) explain some natural phenomena, such as the recurring tidal icequakes of Antarctica. ―There are about two daily, each with a magnitude of 7.0, but they‘ve slowed down over the years,‖ he says. ―People have explained this in many other ways, many of them likely correct, but they look a lot like the ricequake phenomenon.‖ ―The way I see it, we now understand the physics. Now other people can use it.‖ In part, those other people will be geologists or engineers, who may develop technologies that can, for instance, predict dam collapses. But the other people who can use this research, Dr. Einav points out, could be anyone. This incredibly complex mathematical modeling was mapped out through a fivedollar experiment (excluding the cost of the optic microscope, which, according to Dr. Einav, is among the most expensive microscopes in the world). ―We should be giving this to kids to replicate at home,‖ he says.

Sure, physics can be obscure at times. But Dr. Einav and Dr. Guillard remind us that it can also be extremely accessible. Perhaps all it takes is good, crunchy material to make something like the physics behind icequakes—and ricequakes—a little easier to digest.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/rice-krispies-science

Loss of a microRNA molecule boosts rice production Loss of a microRNA molecule has striking effects on several yield-related traits in indica rice AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT BIOLOGISTS The wild rice consumed by our Neolithic ancestors was very different from the domesticated rice eaten today.

Although it is unclear when humans first started farming rice, the oldest paddy fields--in the lower Yangzi River Valley--date back to 4000 BC. During its long history of cultivation, rice plants with traits that reduce yield or impede harvest (e.g., grain shattering) were weeded out, whereas those with traits that increase yield (e.g., highly branched flowering structures) were selected and propagated. Although the resulting rice plants are super-producers that feed much of the world's population, they rely on human assistance and cannot withstand harsh environmental conditions.

Scientists can examine the genetic basis for some of the changes that took place during rice domestication by comparing genes in cultivated rice plants with those in their wild rice relatives. Using this approach, several key genes that were altered during domestication, such as those affecting grain shattering, have been identified and studied. Most of these genes encode transcription factors that bind to other genes and regulate their activity.

A team of researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India led by Dr. P.V. Shivaprasad wondered whether another type of molecular regulator, named microRNAs, also contributed to the domestication of rice. MicroRNAs regulate specific target genes by binding to RNA copies of the gene and, together with other molecules, blocking their activity or chopping them into tiny fragments. In special cases, the resulting RNA fragments trigger a silencing cascade, shutting down the activity of genes that are similar to the initial target gene.

The researchers compared the microRNA populations of high-yielding indica rice lines with those of wild rice and several traditional rice varieties. One microRNA species stood out: miR397 accumulated to high levels in the flag leaves of wild rice, but was barely detectable in the other plants analyzed. The scientists showed that miR397 silenced several members of the laccase gene family via a silencing cascade. Laccase genes, of which there are 30 in the rice genome, encode proteins that promote woody tissue formation, thereby providing mechanical strength. By silencing a subset of these genes, miR397 greatly reduced the formation of woody tissue. Furthermore, when the scientists transgenically expressed the gene encoding miR397 in domesticated rice, the resulting plants were more similar to wild rice plants than to domesticated ones, with long, spindly stems; narrow, short leaves; few flowering structures; and hardly any rice grains. In effect, the team partially de-domesticated rice by increasing the levels of a single microRNA species.

These findings raise intriguing questions. If silencing several laccase genes by increasing miR397 levels negatively affects yield, would upregulating the expression of this same set of laccase genes boost grain production? In addition, would reducing the levels of miR397 in wild rice plants, and thereby lifting the repression of the laccase genes, improve yields, while retaining the traits that allow wild plants to thrive in harsh environments? "miR397 and laccase genes overlap with unknown genomic regions predicted to be involved in rice yield. Modifying their expression in wild species and cultivated rice would be useful in improving yield and other beneficial characters. We hope that our finding promotes future research to identify other changes associated with domestication of plants, spearheading further improvement in crops for the future," states Dr. Shivaprasad. ### Author: Kathleen L. Farquharson, PhD kfarquharson@aspb.org Science Editor, The Plant Cell http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8032-0041

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/asop-loa101218.php

UF/IFAS-led Study May Lead to More Heat-Tolerant Rice OCTOBER 17, 2018

Rice, the most widely consumed food crop in the world, takes a beating in hot weather. To combat the high temperatures, a global group of scientists, led by a University of Florida researcher, has found the genetic basis to breed a more heat-tolerant rice cultivar.

HORTICULTURE PROFESSOR BALASUBRAMANIAN RATHINASABAPATHI (SABA).

EXPERIMENTS, BEAKER, LABORATORY. UF/IFAS PHOTO BY TYLER JONES ―The productivity of rice, one of the three major cereal grains feeding the world, is often affected by temperature extremes, especially higher-than-optimal temperatures,‖ said Bala Rathinasabapathi, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius, or just under 90 degrees Fahrenheit, can damage rice, according to multiple studies performed in rice-growing regions of the world.

Nearly 90 percent of the world‘s rice is produced and consumed in Asia, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In the U.S., rice grows mainly in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Missouri and Texas. Some rice also grows in Florida.

Rathinasabapathi led a recent study in which researchers discovered DNA markers associated with heat tolerance that may lead to a more heat-tolerant rice variety. He explained the use of DNA markers like this: Just as police can identify people by their fingerprints, scientists identify genes they‘re interested in by DNA variations that are closely associated with the genes.

Scientists usually find DNA markers very close to the genes of interest. They call these ―candidate genes,‖ Rathinasabapathi said. Thus, plant breeders can select plants containing the

desired combination of DNA markers to efficiently identify plants with desirable genes and characteristics controlled by those genes.

That‘s the process scientists used in the new study. They studied a population of rice plants derived by crossing a variety from India called ‗Nagina 22‘ with another line called ‗IR64,‘ a variety developed by the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute, using conventional breeding methods. ‗Nagina 22‘ grows better and thus produces more rice than other varieties, even under extreme heat, Rathinasabapathi said. But the quality of the rice is not as high as some varieties, including ‗IR64,‘ he said.

A future research goal would be to use the DNA markers generated in this study to select for ‗Nagina 22‘ candidate genes for heat tolerance, combined with other traits from ‗IR64‘ into one variety, he said.

Newton Kilasi, a former UF/IFAS doctoral student, Eduardo Vallejos, a UF/IFAS associate professor and Jugpreet Singh, a former UF/IFAS post-doctoral researcher – all in horticultural sciences — were among the scientists who helped Rathinasabapathi with the new study. The research is published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science. http://southeastagnet.com/2018/10/17/uf-ifas-study-lead-heat-tolerant-rice/

Snap, crackle and dam: puffed rice gives insights into rockfill and ice shelf collapse 16 Oct 2018 Liz Kalaugher

A popular breakfast choice has provided insight into the collapse of rockfill dams, sinkholes and ice shelves. A team from the University of Sydney, Australia, added milk to puffed rice in a tube under pressure to simulate the crumbling of brittle porous materials in contact with fluids.

Once the puffed rice in the milk at the bottom of the tube was fully soaked and turned to mush, the grains above sank downwards in a series of jerks that the team dubbed ricequakes. A clicking noise accompanied each quake and the time between them increased roughly linearly over time.

Researchers Itai Einav and François Guillard described the sounds as like the clicking beats of a slowing metronome.

Each jerk occurs when a micropore within the puffed rice collapses because partial saturation with milk has reduced its crushing strength, Einav and Guillard believe. This leads to a sudden, brief drop in stress. Even though they may not be visibly wet from the outside, puffed rice grains

immediately above the level of the milk are likely to contain liquid due to capillary action through their micropores.

Between each jerk, the puffed rice deformed by creep. Puffed rice is very porous, brittle and soft so it‘s handy for demos in the lab – it‘s easy to compact within a small space and short timescale.

According to the team‘s ―crushing wave model‖ of puffed rice failure, the time between consecutive quakes scales with the square of the micropore size. In geological materials such as soft coastal carbonates or ice sheets, the micropores are much smaller than the typical 0.6 mm of puffed rice and the delays between quakes would be hardly distinguishable.

The gradual collapse of micropores could still influence the creep rate of these materials, however. ―The time signatures of the instabilities in our experiments are reminiscent of observations of tidal icequakes from the Whillans Ice Stream, Antarctica, which exhibit an astonishingly similar pattern of incremental displacements,‖ write Einav and Guillard in Science Advances. The slowdown in the waiting time between icequakes happens over many years and is thus much milder than the slowdown of ricequakes, they add.

A scaled-up version of the model, the researchers believe, could be relevant to geological pressures and durations in crustal rocks and ice sheets. But first they‘d like to test a wider range of brittle porous solids and chemically active fluids in the lab, as well as trying out different gravity conditions.

This is not the first time that researchers have replicated rock deformation with a foodstuff; dry cornstarch is useful for modelling brittle crustal rock whilst puffed rice has also revealed compaction patterns in dry snow.

The team published their findings in Science Advances. https://physicsworld.com/a/snap-crackle-and-dam-puffed-rice-gives-insights-into-rockfill-and-ice-shelfcollapse/

All for high-quality seeds OCT - 8 - 2018 FacebookTwitterPrintMore

All for high-quality seeds. PhilRice Bicol urged seed growers and farmers to plant newly released and promising rice varieties during the Rice Seed System Field day in Camarines Norte, Oct. 2. The project, Strengthening the Seed Production and Distribution Pathways in Bicol and Eastern Visayas Region (The Rice Seed Systems Project) showcased the following varieties to farmers: NSIC Rc 25 (upland), NSIC Rc 346 (rainfed), NSIC Rc 440, NSIC RC 400, NSIC Rc 402, and NSIC Rc 360. Through a farmers‘ votation, the event identified NSIC Rc 360 as the best performing variety. Varities NSIC Rc 25 and NSIC Rc 346 were also seen as promising varieties for the area as they perform well even in times of water shortage. This varietal demo also serves as the province‘s seed source as the seeds were registered by the partner-seed grower to NSQCS for seed production. Participants also identified the best adapted rice varieties through a participatory varietal selection called ―Farm Walk.‖ http://www.philrice.gov.ph/all-for-high-quality-seeds/

The water system that helped Angkor rise may have also brought its fall Monsoon floods and decades of drought were too much for the infrastructure to bear

BY BRUCE BOWER

2:00PM, OCTOBER 17, 2018

WATERED DOWN Medieval Angkor suffered a big blow when the city‘s water system reacted badly to a fluctuating climate, a study suggests. Angkor Wat temple — a popular tourist destination — was once part of Greater Angkor.

DENNIS JARVIS/FLICKR.COM (CC BY-SA 2.0)

At the medieval city of Angkor, flooding after decades of scant rainfall triggered a devastating breakdown of the largest water system in the preindustrial world, new evidence suggests.

Intense monsoon rains bracketed by decades of drought in the 1400s set off a chain reaction of failures in Angkor‘s interconnected water network, computer simulations indicate. The climateinduced crumbling of the system — used for irrigation, drinking water and flood control — hastened Angkor‘s demise, scientists conclude online October 17 in Science Advances. ―Angkor‘s critical [water] infrastructure acted to accelerate the impact of climatic disruption,‖ says study coauthor and geoscientist Dan Penny of the University of Sydney.

Complex infrastructure systems, from Angkor‘s water network to modern electrical grids, consist of many interacting parts. Troubles in one part of a system can lead to the failure of other components.

Penny and colleagues devised a computer model of how a rapid shift to periods of intense rainfall affected Angkor‘s water system at the peak of its complexity in the 1300s. A series of simulations indicated that, above a critical volume of water flow, earthen channels carrying water into the system began to erode and widen. Water was then unevenly shunted through junctions in the network, gushing into some connected channels and trickling into others.

Meanwhile, accumulating sediment further decreased the volume of water that newly parched channels could carry, intensifying the uneven flow of water through the system. A breakdown of the entire water network would soon have followed, the researchers say.

By the 1200s, Angkor, in what‘s now Cambodia, was the world‘s most extensive city, covering about 1,000 square kilometers (SN: 5/14/16, p. 22). The city had spent the previous several hundred years building and expanding a network of canals, embankments, reservoirs, moats and other structures devoted to water management.

But in the 1400s, Angkor‘s king and many commoners mysteriously abandoned the city. Some researchers have attributed Angkor‘s demise to war with a neighboring kingdom in present-day Thailand and possibly the tumultuous replacement of Hinduism by Buddhism in the region.

But the new research paints a convincing picture of climate-induced infrastructure collapse at Angkor, says archaeologist Charles Higham of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, who was not involved in the study.

Angkor, for example, depended on consistent irrigation for rice fields. A breakdown of the water system would have undermined not only rice harvests but also weakened public beliefs that the king held supernatural powers justifying his rule, Higham suspects. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-system-helped-angkor-rise-may-have-also-brought-its-fall

Climate change will make beer prices soar with temperatures, study says

By Alasdair Sandford with Reuters• last updated: 16/10/2018 Now Reading:

Climate change will make beer prices soar with temperatures, study says

Beer drinkers who may think that hotter summers provide an excuse for an extra cooling tipple or two may be in for a nasty surprise.

Climate change threatens to cause global prices to soar along with global temperatures, as droughts and extreme heat result in shrunken yields of barley, according to a new scientific report.

It says the effect could be felt keenest in some of Europe‘s most popular beer-drinking countries such as Ireland, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The report‘s authors stress that the effect of climate change on alcohol pales in comparison to the life-threatening impact in parts of the world more concerned with storms, drought, and food and water supplies.

But they argue that the impact on daily lives in developed countries can prompt more action to be taken.

Less barley, less beer Barley is one of the main ingredients used to make beer, and about a sixth of global harvests go towards beer production. Emergency reserves are not generally stockpiled in the same way as they are with food crops such as corn, rice and wheat.

The study – by scientists based in China, the US and UK and published in the journal Nature Plants – forecasts that depending on the extent to which conditions change, yields of barley may fall by between 3% and 17%.

Researchers used a series of climate and economic models to predict the effect on barley crops of extreme weather produced by climate change. Similar methods have been used for many studies on staple foods such as wheat and rice, as well as wine – but not previously for beer.

Less beer, higher prices Under a worst-case scenario, prices would double on average and global consumption would fall by 16%, the report finds. A best-case scenario would see drinking fall by 4% and a 15% price rise.

It‘s thought the price of a 50-centilitre bottle in Ireland could soar to nearly $5 US (4.30€), while the Czech Republic and Poland – where beer is cheaper – would see huge relative increases.

Crop yields might actually increase in temperate areas such as northern China and the United States, according to the research. But it predicts that domestic beer consumption will still fall as more barley would be exported.

A global decrease in production might hit beer disproportionately as most barley is fed to livestock, which would be prioritised should there be a squeeze on supply.

How to safeguard the pint of the future The scientists say that consumers in developed countries who want to avoid shortages would be wise to support policies reducing emissions of gases blamed for warming the planet.

The world‘s biggest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI.BR), said this year it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter by 2025.

The company has said it is also experimenting with developing drought-resistant barley and is working with farmers to encourage water-saving initiatives.

The report concludes by saying there is ―something fundamental in the cross-cultural appreciation of beer‖, which for ―many millennia… has been an important component of social gatherings and human celebration‖ – even though it is relatively unimportant compared to other life-threatening impacts of climate change. ―Although it may be argued that consuming less beer is not disastrous – and may even have health benefits – there is little doubt that for millions of people around the world, the climate impacts on beer consumption will add insult to injury. https://www.euronews.com/2018/10/16/climate-change-will-make-beer-prices-soar-with-temperaturesstudy-says

Food Experts Want to Know What Makes Young Consumers Tick

By Lesley Dixon

WASHINGTON -- Food industry leaders and innovators gathered last week to discuss consumer trends, public health, and technological developments in agriculture and farming at the Food Forward summit.

The event was hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and presented a range of speakers who discussed the future of the food industry and how it can adapt to changing consumer needs.

Panelists and attendees discussed how consumer demands have diversified in the last 25 years. Once upon a time, it was enough for a food product to simply be tasty, affordable, and convenient, whereas today the modern consumer is concerned about a variety of other factors, like sustainability, health, safety, and ethical practices. "This value equation has exploded into a whole litany of different kinds of questions that we're asking ourselves," said Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute. "This empowerment and engagement from consumers is leading to what we call 'radical personalization.'"

But this increased and diversified consumer demand for accountability and transparency from food sources isn't necessarily a bad thing for food producers or retailers, according to Sarasin.

Rather, it is a challenge that the industry can rise to. "Meeting that need requires information, a close connection, and for the retailer to have that understanding of what's going on in their customer's minds. That's how the retailer is able to meet those needs as we move forward in this industry."

In a market that increasingly values sustainability, local farmto-table practices, and health and safety, U.S. rice is in a prime position to tell our story and adapt to shifting consumer tastes. "One thing younger generations tell us they want when it comes to food is to understand where their food comes from, and we in the U.S. rice industry welcome the opportunity to tell them that when it comes to rice, the answer is: right here," said USA Rice Domestic Promotions Committee Chair Paul Galvani. "You don't have to travel very far to eat rice when it's grown in your backyard."

Nicole Davis, senior innovation manager for Kroger's Our Brands, added that millennial consumers are also prioritizing international foods more than ever before. "Our younger generations are traveling

internationally at more than twice the rate of their predecessors. This gives them insight into new flavors and new foods, and they want to be able to cook those things at home."

As a staple of much of the world's diverse culinary traditions, U.S.-grown rice could benefit from this millennial hunger for international dishes. "40 percent of millennials are preparing a dish from another culture at least once a week," Davis pointed out. From biryani to paella to curry, there seems to be a big opportunity for rice to take advantage of this trend among young people. Their tastes may be global, but their conscience is local, and that's a niche that U.S. rice is uniquely qualified to occupy.

USA Rice daily

Rice Production Forecast To Fall 2.4 Pct In 2018: Data Sadia Abbas (@SadiaAbbas25) 2 days ago Wed 17th October 2018 | 02:01 PM

South Korea's rice output is expected to fall slightly in 2018 from the previous year due to bad weather conditions during the harvest season and a decline in rice paddies, government data showed Wednesday.

SEJONG, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2018 ) :South Korea's rice output is expected to fall slightly in 2018 from the previous year due to bad weather conditions during the harvest season and a decline in rice paddies, government data showed Wednesday.

The country's rice production is forecast to reach some 3.87 million tons this year, down 2.

4 percent from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.

The 2018 estimate is well below the five-year average of some 4.2 million tons.

A total of 738,000 hectares of rice paddies were used to grow the staple grain this year, down 2.2 percent from last year.

The estimate is a bit higher than the market demand for new rice, which stands at 3.78 million tons this year. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/agriculture/rice-production-forecast-to-fall-24-pct-in-2-457833.html

Brazilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next big grain? Researchers propose pearl millet as an alternative to rice and maize

By Adi Menayang 16-Oct-2018 - Last updated on 16-Oct-2018 at 16:10 GMT AddThis Sharing Buttons

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Getty Images / mirzamlk Related tags: GRAIN, PROBIOTIC, AGRICULTURE Brazilian researchers found that pearl millet has higher protein and fiber than rice, and isolated bacterial strains from the fermented bran may have probiotic potential.

Researchers from the Department of Food Science and Technology at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil argued that pearl millet has ―great potential as food” and “non-dairy probiotic drinks.”

They explored the nutritive properties of pearl millet, one of the basic cereals of several African and Asian countries. Although it has been cultivated in Brazil for at least 50 years, it has mostly been used as cover crop and animal feed, the authors wrote.

“Climate change can cause an increase in arid soils, warmer weather, and reduce water availability, which in turn can directly affect food security. This

increases food prices and reduces the availability of food,” they wrote in their report, published in Food Research International this summer.

“Therefore, knowledge concerning the nutritional and technological potential of non-traditional crops and their resistance to heat and drought is very interesting.”

The researchers looked at published studies surrounding pearl millet‘s nutritive characteristics and use as a human food.

“Pearl millet grains can be considered a possible alternative for food diversification because they have the fibers, minerals, proteins and antioxidants with similar or even higher levels than those found in traditional grains such as rice and maize,” they wrote, citing studies published in 2003 and 2016.

Average carbohydrate content of pearl millet is 72.2% compared to rice‘s 84.9% and maize‘s 78.1%. Additionally, it has higher average protein content at 11.8% compared to maize at 9.2% and rice at 8.6%.

A 2013 study published in Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research found that, on a petri dish, pearl millet grains imparted a prebiotic effect, which means it ‗fed‘ and stimulated the growth of known probiotic cultures such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium bifidus.

When fermented, bacterial strains isolated from pearl millet were linked to probiotic effects. They cited a 2015 study, in which researchers “reported that Lactobacillus fermentum strains isolated from fermented pearl millet grains presented antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.”

“This cereal has significant relevance for food safety as well as being a viable alternative for consumers seeking low priced, nutritious and sustainable food products,” they added.

Source: Food Research International

https://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Article/2018/10/16/Brazil-s-next-big-grain-Researchers-proposepearl-millet-as-an-alternative-to-rice-and-maize

Manila to hold another auction for rice imports

By Jasper Y. Arcalas October 19, 2018

A man arranges sacks of NFA rice at the agency’s warehouse in Quezon City in this file photo.

The National Food Authority (NFA) will hold another tender for the supply of the remaining 203,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as the majority of the offers during Thursday’s bidding was above the agency’s price ceiling.

The NFA said only 47,000 MT out of the 250,000 MT was approved for supply by foreign traders, as most offers were higher by $29.20 to $50.30 per MT than the agency’s reference price of $428.18 per MT. “We have to report to the council to address this. We need rice, and we need to act immediately,” NFA Deputy Administrator Judy Carol Dansal said in an interview with reporters after the open tender.

“We will have to rebid for the remaining volume. It is not a failed bidding. It is just that not all the volume were taken,” Dansal added.

Dansal did not disclose more details as to when and where the next tender would be held. She said the NFA Council would decide on the matter. The NFAC is the grains agency’s highest policy-making body that oversees the guidelines for rice importation undertaken by the government.

Thai Capital Crops Co. Ltd. made the lowest offer for Lot 3 in Batangas with a volume of 18,000 MT at $426.30 per MT. Government-run Vietnam Southern Food Corp. is set to supply lot 4 in Tabaco port with 15,000 MT after it offered $427.68 per MT. Vietnam Northern Food Corp. was also declared as the lowest bidder for the supply of 14,000 MT in Iloilo and Bacolod at $427.50 per MT. The NFA allotted P5.833 billion for the importation of the 250,000 MT of 25-percent brokens, well-milled long grain white rice.

Winning bidders should deliver rice not later than November 30 as stipulated under the terms of reference approved by the NFAC. The NFAC approved on September 25 the purchase of an additional 500,000 MT of imported rice, on top of the 250,000 MT it greenlighted on September 4.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. PiĂąol, chairman of the NFAC, said the 500,000 MT will arrive in the Philippines before the end of the year. The additional volume would bring the total imports of the NFA in the fourth quarter to 750,000 MT. Manila is racing to fill state warehouses with imported rice to cut the retail price of the staple and discourage unscrupulous traders from hoarding their stocks.

PiĂąol said the NFAC has also approved a standby import authority of 1 million metric tons for next year https://businessmirror.com.ph/manila-to-hold-another-auction-for-rice-imports/

Imports, harvest season halt soaring prices of rice By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 10:59 AM October 18, 2018

Officials of the Bureau of Plant Industry along with the National Food Authority conduct sampling on the sacks of imported rice from Thailand inside MV Emperor 1

docked at the Tabaco City port in August 2018. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN / INQUIRER SOUTHERN LUZON Consumers are now starting to feel relief as prices of rice in the market began to decline with the arrival of rice imports and the beginning of the harvest season.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on his Facebook page that reports coming in from different regions across the country showed reduction in the prices of commercial rice by as much as P5 a kilogram –- the biggest decline since rice prices began to rise by the beginning of the year.

The depletion of the government‘s rice inventory led for rice prices to shoot up to record levels, and were aggravated by the delayed distribution of the subsidized staple in the market.

In Cabanatuan and La Union, prices of commercial rice have gone down by P5 a kilo and P4 a kilo, respectively, while prices in Metro Manila decreased by P1 a kilo on average.

The secretary added that they are expecting prices to dip even lower by the last week of the month once the government implements a suggested retail price (SRP) on four rice varieties.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) together with the Department of Trade and Industry are looking to sell imported rice at P38 a kilo, regular local rice at P39 a kilo, well-milled rice at P42 a kilo and whole grain rice at P44 a kilo. The SRP will be reviewed every two weeks.

Meanwhile, farmers are now starting to complain with the sudden fall in the farm-gate price of palay. From a high of P25 a kilo, the crop is now being sold at P16 a kilo, according to DA. The agency, along with the National Food Authority, has started its rice procurement program with a buying price of P20.70 a kilo. Aside from the additional P3 incentive, the NFA has included incentives like farm machinery and equipment to those local farmers who would sell their harvest to the government. /jpv

https://business.inquirer.net/259120/imports-harvest-season-halt-soaring-pricesrice#ixzz5UNVqD4Z3