22nd august ,2017 daily global regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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August 22,2017 Vol 8 Issue VIII

China offers high-yielding rice variety to boost Pakistan’s food security IranRice Imports at 760,000 Tons Last Year Pakistan,Indonesia opt for concession on 20 items Basmati overtakes buffalo meat as top export commodity FAO distributes 51 bags of rice seeds to Anambra farmers 13 types of crops improves yield, vigor and short life cycle of Rice & Wheat: Scientist USA Rice Launches Sustainability Award In Memory: Ray Stoesser USA Rice Launches Sustainability Award Nigeria: Special Report - How Nigerian Companies Raked Billions After CBN Switched Off Dollar Tap On 41 ItemsBasmati overtakes buffalo meat as top export commodity Anchor Borrowers’ Programme: Kano laments failure of rice farmers to repay loan Chefs go head to head in rice challenge Africans Have Heated Views About Rice, Just Ask Mark Zuckerberg UPDATE: Minnesota changes wild rice rules from sulfate to sulfide Iraq seeking 30,000 tonnes of rice in purchase tender Rice millers, exporters urge govt to reduce market fee from 4 pc to 2 pc South Asia Faces Fury of Floods Rice import deals with more states soon: Minister Bangladesh rice tender draws lowest offer of $407.89/T Farmers seek fair share of rice allocations USDA, USTR Announce Expanded Access for U.S. Rice Exports to Colombia Move on to import 0.8m tonnes rice, says Food Secretary Skip to main content Rice Imports at 760,000 Tons Last Year FAO distributes 51 bags of rice seeds to Anambra farmers 13 types of crops improves yield, vigor and short life cycle of Rice & Wheat: Scientist Gov. Asa Hutchinson Announces Appointments to Boards, Commissions Governor names area residents to boards and commissions Rice crop seed treatments for insect pests important Minnesota regulators propose changes in wild rice protection

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News Detail...

China offers high-yielding rice variety to boost Pakistan’s food security

CHANGSHA, China: Prof Yuan Longping, globally known as ‗Father of the Hybrid Rice‘, has claimed to have developed Super-Hi Hybrid Rice seed, having more than double the yield potential of the paddy varieties currently under cultivation around the world.―We have recently developed a very successful Super-Hi Hybrid Rice variety with a yield potential of 18 tons per hectare,‖ said Longping in a rare conversation with the visiting Pakistani journalists. ―This latest tier variety can help Pakistan in increasing rice yield very significantly and China will be happy to share newly developed very high-yielding rice variety with its friendly neighbor.‖ The typical production of presently sown hybrid rice in China and Pakistan is around 7-8 tons per hectares. The Chinese expert observed that down the line, China wanted to help Pakistan in developing latest super-hi hybrid variety of rice for cultivation in local conditions. ―I think this new variety is the toughest ever in commercial large scale trials in terms of yield and this development and sharing its benefits have been a part of my lifelong wishes,‖ said he pointing to a rice plant sown in a pot in a corner of his room for demonstration purpose.

Prof Longping, 86, is a simple-looking man who‘s pioneering research has ended famine and hunger from the world most populous country and other regions. Known as one of the world‘s

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outstanding scientists in agricultural science, he worked hard for combating food shortages and hunger through his successful development of high-yielding rice varieties.

The United Nations (UN) Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the UN World Intellectual Property Organization, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as well as academic and non-governmental institutions in the US, Japan, Great Britain and other countries, conferred on him nine honorary titles and prizes.

He received the 2004 World Food Prize for his breakthrough achievement in developing the genetic materials and technologies essential for breeding high-yielding hybrid rice varieties. He continues his innovative scientific work as Director-General of the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center in Changsha, Hunan Province, China.Longping is widely acknowledged as the first person to discover how to achieve fast growth with greater yield and stress resistance. In 1964, he happened to find a natural hybrid rice plant that had obvious advantages over others. Greatly encouraged, he began to study the elements of this particular type. In 1973, in cooperation with others, he was able to cultivate a type of hybrid rice species which had great advantages.

It yielded 20 percent more per unit than that of common ones. And then he never looked back.

His untiring efforts on the front of research continue. Now, about half of China‘s rice production area is planted with hybrid rice. Worldwide, more than fifth of rice comes from rice species created by hybrid rice following Longping‘s breakthrough discoveries. China has recently built a sprawling Hybrid Rice Museum to solely highlight his work. This facility includes extensive demonstration of his several rice varieties sown in fields.

While warmly welcoming ‗Pakistani friends‘ at his institute, he said that one of his friends from Pakistan told him that hybrid rice varieties are performing well in their country. ―The area of hybrid rice in Pakistan is about 200,000 hectares and per hectare yield of hybrid rice is as high as eight tons, which is very good,‖ said Longping. However, he said, the currently Pakistan needed to further increase the yield of the hybrid rice varieties. ―The new breakthrough in increasing yield of hybrid rice will help Pakistan augmenting its production,‖ he observed.To a query about the role of hybrid rice role in ending hunger from the world, he said, China has opened the doors for all to take the advantages of the high-yielding hybrid rice varieties. ―Our government has allowed us to spread the benefits of hybrid rice to other nations, especially developing countries,‖ said the Chinese scientist.

He added that it was his pleasure to help Pakistan in this regard. ―I have heard many very good things about Pakistan. And I am very happy that hybrid rice varieties are performing very well in your country,‖ the expert said.Replying to a question, Longping said, he did not face any obstacles in his quest for the hybrid rice seed. ―Now our focus is on the development of diseaseresistance and stress-tolerant super-high hybrid rice varieties,‖ the professor said replying to another query.

Referring to climate change and its impact on agriculture, he said, the planet is becoming warmer and warmer due to climate change. ―We are working on heat-tolerant varieties, which can be sown in Pakistan where temperature is generally very high in summer. Hot weather at flowering

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stage is not good for hybrid rice and it should be lower than 38 degrees. Same is the case with growing problem of water scarcity,‖ Longping explained.

On Pakistan-China friendship, the ‗father of hybrid rice‘ emphatically said there was a ‗very good friendship and relationship between China and Pakistan.‘ ―This friendship continues helping each other. Pakistan also is a very good country and China has a good friend in the neighborhood,‖ said the elderly agronomist. In the next breath, Longping wished Pakistan to become better and better and a leading nation.

Mansoor Ahmad, the leader of Pakistan media delegation, in his welcome note said that Prof Longping has done a great job for ending food scarcity from China as well as the whole world by introducing hybrid rice.

At the end, Fakher Malik, a veteran journalist, presented the renowned scientist a well-painted portrait of himself. Thanking, the Pakistani journalists for this gesture of goodwill, the Chinese scientist, said he would keep this portrait in his office as a reminder of this wonderful occasion. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/225025-China-offers-high-yielding-rice-variety-toboost-Pakistans-food-security

IranRice Imports at 760,000 Tons Last Year

Around 760,000 tons of rice were imported into Iran during the last fiscal year that ended on March 20, 2017, a deputy minister of agriculture said. ―This is a remarkable achievement, as four years ago when President Hassan Rouhani took office, rice imports stood at 2 million tons [per year],‖ Yazdan Seif was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency. Iranians consume about 3.2 million tons of rice every year. The government periodically places a ban on imports during the harvest season to support local farmers. https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/70861/rice-imports-at-760000tons-last-year

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Pakistan,Indonesia opt for concession on 20 items Re-negotiation under PTA

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Indonesia have agreed on concession for 20 different items during bilateral negotiation under Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

Both sides discussed 20 tariff lines and Indonesia agreed to give concession on major exports from Pakistan including rice, textile, ethanol, kinnow and mangoes during renegotiation on PTA, senior official of Ministry of Commerce told APP here on Sunday.

Concession on 20 tariff lines was major success of Pakistan and now Pakistani kinnow export to Indonesia will increase from 18 to 35 million tons and mangoes exports will increase to 10 million tons in a year, he said. The official said that before PTA, Indonesia granted only two months for export of Pakistan's kinnows and mangoes but now after renegotiation, Pakistan can export these fruits to Indonesia for the whole year and any time-limit was removed.

Replying to a question, he said that Pakistan and Indonesia have current annual trade volume of $170 million which is expected to increases after renegotiation on PTA between the two

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countries. Pakistan wants the same concessions from Indonesia which is getting from other countries like China, India, Sri Lanka and ASEAN countries, he said.

Both the countries agreed to expand PTA and go for a Free Trade Agreement between them, the official said. He said the Pakistan-Indonesia Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) was signed in February 2012. Under the PTA, Indonesia allowed Pakistani kinnow to be shipped to Tanjung Port of Jakarta, he added.

He said that through these steps, Pakistani agricultural products will gain greater market access in Indonesia http://nation.com.pk/business/21-Aug-2017/pakistan-indonesia-opt-for-concession-on-20-items

Basmati overtakes buffalo meat as top export commodity

Export of buffalo meat was affected by a short-lived ban on sales of cattle at mandis Basmati rice has regained the tag of top commodity export from India, overtaking buffalo meat in the June quarter. Since 2014-15, buffalo meat had surpassed basmati rice as India‘s top export commodity

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7 because of suspension of fresh orders by Iran, which consumes nearly a fourth of India‘s aromatic rice exports.

Iranian traders suspend fresh orders for basmati rice during the harvesting of the country‘s rice crop. This year, however, they continued imports of basmati rice. In contrast, export of buffalo meat was affected by a short-lived ban on sales of cattle at mandis.

According to the the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) estimates, India exported basmati rice worth $1.26 billion (Rs 8,168 crore) between April and June, up from $934 million (Rs 6,196 crore) in the same quarter a year ago. Buffalo meat exports were $849 million (Rs 5,473 crore) during the quarter against $823 million (Rs 5,445 crore) in the same period last year. ―Indian exporters used to execute orders on ―documents against acceptance‖, which was stopped by the government because overseas buyers‘ re-negotiated terms after shipments reached them. So there were corrections in export of basmati rice over the last few years. Now overseas buyers are purchasing commodities on spot cash,‖ said an Apeda official."Iranian buyers have continued their purchases even during their own rice harvesting season. That has resulted in an increase in basmati rice exports in AprilJune,‖ he added.

Exports of basmati rice rose to 1.26 million tonnes in April-June from 1.18 million tonnes in the corresponding quarter a year ago. The average realisation from basmati rice jumped 28 per cent to $1,009 a tonne this year from $787 a tonne last year.Exports of buffalo meat declined to 279,409 tonnes in AprilJune from 280,869 tonnes in the corresponding quarter last year. Average realisation increased by 3.75 per cent to $3,039 this year from $2,929 last year.

Buffalo meat exporters faced supply problems due to the Centre‘s ban on animal sales, which was stayed by the Supreme Court after a few weeks. Overseas buyers are hesitant to place orders for Indian buffalo meat because of the policy changes. ―The growth of India‘s buffalo meat exports depends upon consistency in government policy,‖ said Bushran Zakariya, director, Zakariya Agro, a Kanpur-based buffalo meat exporter. http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/basmati-overtakes-buffalo-meat-as-top-exportcommodity-117082100832_1.html

FAO distributes 51 bags of rice seeds to Anambra farmers By . | Publish Date: Aug 21 2017 2:06PM The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with Africa Rice Nigeria has distributed 51 bags of improved rice seeds to 50 farmers in Anambra to boost production.Mr Andrew Ikhadeunu, FAO National Project Coordinator, Rice Value Chain, told newsmen in Awka on Monday that the beneficiaries were earlier selected and trained in February.

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―They were given demonstration plots for planting. Now they have harvested, we are following it up with the improved seeds of 51 bags of rice for them,‘‘ he said.Ikhadeunu said that the aim was to support the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which is the facilitator of the programme to empower rice farmers in the state.―There is need for us to come out of hunger.

If we are to put an end to massive rice importation, there is need to empower some Nigerians with such intervention programme. ‘‘We look at it that there is need for us to support the farmers. We look at the states that have potentials, and Anambra state is one of them,‘‘ he said.According to him, other benefiting states in the programme are Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Nassarawa and Jigawa.

He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the rice seeds, adding, ―what you have is the best and with your cooperation, we can achieve food sufficiency in the country."Dr Francis Nwilene, Regional Representative of Africa Rice Nigeria said that the target was for each state of Nigeria to be self sufficient in rice production.Nwilene, who was represented by Mr Jide Oladejo, one of the scientists in FAO, said that the major challenges of rice production in Nigeria were impurities.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/agriculture/fao-distributes-51-bags-of-rice-seeds-to-anambrafarmers/210984.html

13 types of crops improves yield, vigor and short life cycle of Rice & Wheat: Scientist

BY M L VERMA AUGUST 21, 2017

M L VERMA

HIMACHAL PRADESH Scientist discovered 13 different types of crops which could improve the yield, vigour and short lifecycle of principal cereals and food-grain likely to bring revolution in the field Rice and Wheat cultivation in various parts of the Country. This was stated by Dr. P. L. Gautam former vice chancellor of G.B. Pant University and Technology Pantnagar (Uttrakhand) while delivering popular lecture series at Govt. Degree College, Bilaspur organised by Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment today.

Dr. Gautam who had been work with National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources shared his experience with the students and emphasised at the determination to do something is must and can bring out great differences in your own life and also in others. ―As a scientist, I discovered

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13 types of crops with improved yield, vigour and short life cycle could make the revolution in the field of rice and wheat cultivation in various parts of the country.‖ he informed.

He emphasised that science not only enhances your knowledge and understanding and also changes the way of thinking and in this language plays a vital role. ‖In order to encourage students in developing scientific attitude and also to take up science and technology in the future.‖ he said. He narrated the discoveries and inventions of several great scientists like Archimedes Galileo, Newton, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie etc. These scientists were from the humble background not great students in schools but had the zest of discovery. Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya, Director, CSIR, National Institute of Science Communication and Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya, Director, CSIR, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, said in life we don‘t need to be the great scientist but we need to have the scientific analytical temperament.

He gave an example of drinking water which could be purified by using several layers of clean cotton cloth which could prevent about 65% of water-borne diseases. Rest could be taken care of if we stop throwing industrial waste and effluent in water bodies. Students must question their teachers and seek reasons. Accepting thing as told is not scientific. He also quoted an example of death due to carbon-monoxide poisoning in newspapers. Proper reporting with reasons is not done. Several lives are lost due to repeated similar accidents such small science would bring big impact. The lecture was attended by about 400 college and school students. http://www.himvani.com/news/2017/08/21/13-types-of-crops-improves-yield-vigor-and-short-life-cycleof-rice-wheat-scientist/

USA Rice Launches Sustainability Award

By Michael Klein ARLINGTON, VA - While insiders know U.S.-grown rice is one of the most sustainable and responsibly grown crops in the world, telling that story to those who are unaware is increasingly important. To help recognize the crop's unique environmental qualities and the men and women who improve rice's sustainability every day, USA Rice has launched a new Sustainability Award to identify and promote prime examples.The USA Rice Sustainability Award is open to individuals or entities with significant involvement in the U.S. rice industry and with a history of promoting and advancing sustainability through innovative practices and demonstrated leadership in the sustainability community.

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"Rice farming today, by definition, is sustainable, but we think it's important to recognize leaders in the field, both internally and externally," said Jennifer James, an Arkansas rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee that created the new award category. "We are looking for men and women and companies who embody sustainability by their actions and who are willing to share their vision of the future and commitment to the environment with others and help others follow in their footsteps."

James said the award committee is now accepting nominations through September 29, 2017 and that the award will be presented at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in San Antonio, Texas on December 10, 2017.

The application form can be found here.

In Memory: Ray Stoesser The rice industry has lost a great friend and advocate with the passing on August 18, 2017 of Ray Edward Stoesser, 68, of Dayton, Texas.Ray was born October 9, 1948 in Dayton and began rice farming in his junior year of high school. He continued farming through the summers while he attended Baylor University, graduating in 1971 with a BBA and a wife - Eileen Jarett of Corpus Christi.

In 1972, he began farming full-time in Eastgate, Texas with his father, Eddie, brother, Jack, and cousin, Roger Brown.

Ray's farm, and family, expanded quickly. In 1976, the farm added acreage in Raywood on the Devers Canal and Ray and Eileen had their first son, Neal. Son Grant would follow ten years later. Neal began farming with Ray in 1994, and Grant started farming with him in 2003.

Over the years, Ray had been honored many times for his contributions to the rice industry and he held numerous leadership positions within the industry.

He served as president of the Texas Rice Council, Past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Rice Producers Association, Board Member of the Texas Rice Producers Board, Board Member of the Texas Rice Research Foundation, and Board Member of the American Rice Growers Dayton Division. He has also served as President of the Liberty County Farm Bureau, Former Board Member of the First National Bank of Dayton, and Member of the Texas Soybean Association.

In 1997, Ray was honored as Rice Farmer of the Year at the Winnie Rice Festival. In 2010, the Texas State House of Representatives presented Ray with a Certificate of Appreciation for his service on the State Board of the Coastal Water Authority, and in 2016 the Texas Senate recognized his contributions to the Texas Rice Industry.

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In 2015, the National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference named Ray the "National Rice Farmer of the Year."

Ray was an active and vocal advocate for the U.S. rice industry, traveling to Washington, DC annually to lobby on behalf of the industry and taking many foreign trips to support and promote U.S.-grown rice.

Ray leaves behind his wife of 47 years, Eileen Jarett Stoesser; sons, Neal and Grant and their wives, Meredith and Laci, and grandchildren, Nate, Jed, Wes, Jase and Ford, as well as four sisters and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Memorials in Ray's name may be made to the First Baptist Church Scholarship Program, 202 East Houston, Dayton, Texas 77535.

Jennifer James Talks Sustainability

USA Rice Launches Sustainability Award

By Michael Klein ARLINGTON, VA - While insiders know U.S.-grown rice is one of the most sustainable and responsibly grown crops in the world, telling that story to those who are unaware is increasingly important. To help recognize the crop's unique environmental qualities and the men and women who improve rice's sustainability every day, USA Rice has launched a new Sustainability Award to identify and promote prime examples.

The USA Rice Sustainability Award is open to individuals or entities with significant involvement in the U.S. rice industry and with a history of promoting and advancing sustainability through innovative practices and demonstrated leadership in the sustainability community.

"Rice farming today, by definition, is sustainable, but we think it's important to recognize leaders in the field, both internally and externally," said Jennifer James, an Arkansas rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee that created the new award category. "We are looking for men and women and companies who embody sustainability by their actions and who are willing to share their vision of the future and commitment to the environment with others and help others follow in their footsteps."

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James said the award committee is now accepting nominations through September 29, 2017 and that the award will be presented at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in San Antonio, Texas on December 10, 2017.

The application form can be found here.

Nigeria: Special Report - How Nigerian Companies Raked Billions After CBN Switched Off Dollar Tap On 41 Items Photo: Premium Times Central Bank of Nigeria.

By Bassey Udo When the Central Bank Nigeria, CBN, blocked official dollar access to importers of 41 low-skilled items, Baton Nigeria, an Ogun state-based company, was preparing to start a factory producing tooth picks - one of the items on CBN's list. By August 2016 when the company's production lines had kicked off, the policy had been in place for a year.Now, with 43 staff per shift, Baton produces about 60 million sticks of tooth pick per month. It aims at producing 4 billion per each year by end of 2018.

"Our product is about 25 per cent cheaper than that of the Chinese, our main competition, although we consider our quality top of the range," said Rotimi Sokeni, chairman of Baton.The company's smallest dispensers costs less than N100, while a pack of 250 sticks go for less than N200. With about N300, one can take the mega size of 700 sticks."We set out with the idea to ultimately get to a point where Nigeria could stop importation of wood, paper and pulp products by employing locally available 'wood' as raw materials to produce a basket of high quality, cost effective products for import substitution and export," Mr. Sekoni said.

Baton's staff exclude other seasonal employees of at least 400 people involved in its operations and process value chain. The company hopes to keep a pay roll of about 450-500 full time staff soon.The company owes its thanks to the CBN policy. The plan to limit dollar use for importation of items such as toothpicks, besides conserving foreign exchange for other more pressing needs, also served to help local manufacturers.

The affected 41 items included rice, cement, margarine, palm kernel/palm oil products/vegetable oils, meat and processed meat products, vegetables and processed vegetable products as well as poultry (chicken, eggs, turkey), private airplanes/jets, Indian incense, tinned fish in sauce (Geisha)/sardines), cold rolled steel sheets, galvanized steel sheets, roofing sheets,

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wheelbarrows, head pans, metal boxes and containers enamelware, steel drums, steel pipes and wire rods (deformed and not deformed).

Others are iron rods and reinforcing bars, wire mesh, steel nails, security and razor wire, wood particle boards and panels, wood fiber boards and panels, plywood boards and panels, wooden doors, furniture, toothpicks, glass and glassware, kitchen utensils, tableware, tiles (vitrified and ceramic), textiles, woven fabrics, clothes, plastic and rubber products, cellophane wrappers, soap and cosmetics, tomatoes/tomato pastes and Euro bond/foreign currency bond/share purchases were also affected.

Instant impact While CBN did not ban the importation of the affected items, it allowed interested importers to source forex outside the official window at a higher cost. As the policy came into force, many local manufacturers of affected items said they felt instant impact.

Psaltry International Limited, PIL, an agro allied manufacturing company based in Ado Awaye, a rural community in Oyo State, said the policy brought the most dramatic turnaround in its profit.

The firm began production from its 20-tons per day starch factory in 2012, but for years, returns were poor due to low patronage. Majority of Nigerian companies, particularly multi-national conglomerates like Unilever, Nestle, and Nigerian Breweries, that used starch in their operations, preferred to import to meet their needs.

The company struggled to cover costs, as the meagre income realised from poor sales were barely sufficient to take care of overheads and repayment of interest on the N264 million loan from First Bank in 2012 to construct the first production line, Yemisi Iranloye, its chief executive, said.

Ms. Iranloye said shortly the policy came into force, demand for product from customers rose.

"With our clientele spanning over 50 multi-national conglomerates in Nigeria, including Unilever, Nestle, and Nigerian Breweries, the company could barely meet about 10 per cent of their demand," she said.

Few months later, the company's turnover jumped from less than N400 million the previous year to over $3.5million (about N1.2 billion) by December 2015.

The company's asset base, comprising factory, farm land and equipment, for the corresponding period stood at about $5million (about N1.6 billion), a review of the company's financial records showed.

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Since 2015, Ms. Iranloye said PIL's operatons saved more than $7 million (about N2.1 billion) in forex for the country, an amount used by its new clients a year earlier on importation of their starch when the CBN policy was not in place.She said since the policy, PIL had grown in geometric progression, almost tripling its production figures in almost three years of the CBN policy.

From 300 workers, including 200 permanent and 100 temporary staff before 2015, she said PIL now has 650 farmers, cultivating over 2,500 hectares of cassava as at 2015.

Besides, she said since then, the figure has increased to over 5,000 farmers, harvesting 18-20 tons per hectare of cassava every year, with plans to increase to an average of 25-30 tons by end of 2017, to meet growing demand.The multiplier effect of the expanding demand for the company's starch, as a result of the restriction on FOREX to companies that were importing the substitute, could also be seen on the Ado Awaye community and environs.

Apart from buying cassava from out-growers in the immediate community, no fewer than 2,000 registered and unregistered farm families, marketers, labourers, traders, transporters, and retail input suppliers are involved in the company's cassava supply value chain.

To boost its capacity to meet the demand from its growing clientele, Ms. Iranloye said PIL in 2016 took another N500 million loan from First City Monument Bank, FCMB, to build the second production line.

"Because we are growing and expanding rapidly in the last three and a half years, thanks to the CBN policy, we are planning to take a third facility to continue to expand our production capacity.

"Our story has significantly changed today. Prior to CBN's policy restricting FOREX for importation of the 41 items, no farmer in this community could count N100, 000 cash as income.

"Today, because we have a lot market for our products, we have enough money at our disposal to buy up all the cassava the small farmers in the community and environs supply to us.

"It is enough incentive for the people to be motivated to cultivate more, with some supplying over N3million worth of cassava every year. Their economy has been impacted significantly.

They are now able to send their children to school," Ms. Iranloye said.

Impact spreads The impact of the policy has not been limited to PIL alone. Other businesses that were struggling to keep their heads above the waters also have positive stories to tell.

Roy Deepanjan, managing director, CHI Limited, a Lagos-based foods, beverages and dairy products manufacturers, said those who had been patronising the imported variety of CHI's chain of products reverted to their local blends.

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CHI Limited is an affiliate of Tropical General Investment, TGI, conglomerate, with business interests spanning food, healthcare, agriculture, engineering and other industries.

With increased demand for CHI's products, the managing director said the company is now investing in local raw materials, like palm oil plantations and margarine, meat and beef. Fruits used for food drinks production are from CHI farms across the country.

He said the high price of the imported brand of the company's line of products is a blessing in disguise. With the CBN policy, most Nigerians prefer its products with local blends, like Chivita, Lucozade Boost and the like, which is comparatively cheaper, though of equal quality.

With the CBN policy, Mr. Deepanjan said CHI found it was more cost effective to source for raw materials locally and produce its products.

"The CBN policy has helped limit competition from imported variety of our products," Mr. Deepanjan told PREMIUM TIMES. "Before now, stocks of our products used to take a long time before they were exhausted, because consumers preferred the imported alternatives. The competition was stiff and harsh.

Today, it's hard to see our products left for days after production.

"We are constantly under pressure to expand production to cope with growing demand. This means we must employ more hands in our effort to produce to meet our ever-growing demand.

"Between June 2015 and now, we have created over 2,500 direct employments across Nigeria, more than the total figure in almost 10 years before the policy was introduced. The indirect employees in the company's business value chain, including transporters, distributors and marketers are over 70,000.

"What I can say is that the CBN policy has done the Nigerian economy one of the greatest good.

Without it, every dollar spent to import products that rivaled CHI's were indirectly financing the survival of rival company's abroad and creating employment for those economies, while killing our local industries and fueling unemployment back home," Mr. Deepanjan said.

Numbers adding up The Nigerian economy thrives on imports, often to the detriment of the local economy. Reputed to be one of the world's largest producers of hydrocarbon, but the NNPC's monthly financial and operations reports for June 2017 showed Nigeria imports more than 70 per cent of refined petroleum products it consumes daily.

The government spent over N7 trillion on importation of consumable and household items in 2015 alone, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, said recently.

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Details of the import bills included N6.7 trillion on goods and services for which the country has capacity to produce locally; N1.09 trillion on foods and drinks; N1.5 trillion on spare parts; N123.01 billion on leather shoes and clothes and N399 billion on household items.

Further breakdown of the figures showed Nigeria's import bill during the year, for food items, like wheat, sugar, rice, milk and fish, stood at about N901 billion per month.

The CBN Annual Report 2015 showed the demand for FOREX for fuel imports and other purposes by individuals and corporate entities rose astronomically during the period, from $3.2 billion monthly to $5billion.

The high import bills, particularly for food and other items that could be produced locally, accounted for the sharp decline in the country's external reserves, from $34.2 billion to $28.28 billion during the period.

The restriction of access to FOREX by importers of 41 items was one of CBN's alternative strategies to: conserve FOREX hitherto used to fund such imports, to reactivate local industries, create jobs and save the Nigerian economy from sinking, amid falling oil money.

The policy appears to be achieving its goals. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said at the 16th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth, Africa Region in Abuja recently that Nigeria's rice importation dropped by over 80 per cent in the last two years.

Also, the NBS Foreign Trade in goods statistics for the first quarter of 2017 speak of the huge impact of the CBN intervention on the economy. The report said Nigeria's total trade volume for the period stood at about N5.3 trillion, a 12.3 per cent growth from about N4.72 trillion in the third quarter of 2016.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele Further details showed that when compared with the data in the first quarter of 2017, total imports of manufactured goods was lower by 3.3 per cent, compared with equivalent manufactured goods exports, which recorded a massive 45 per cent increase, more than the value in the last quarter of 2016.

In terms of raw materials, the NBS said total imports reduced by 11.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2016 against exports, which recorded a 25 per cent reduction in first quarter of 2017.

For agricultural goods, the statistics agency said total imports grew by 1.96 per cent in the first quarter of 2017, compared to the fourth quarter in 2016. Total exports grew in value by as high as 82 per cent, compared with the corresponding periods.

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Specifically, imports of some of the items included in the CBN's 41 items list, like boilers, machinery and appliances parts, for the first quarter of 2017 stood at 19.8 per cent; vehicles and aircraft parts as well as vessels (5.3 per cent) and vegetable products (5.2 per cent).

Compared to exports, vehicles and aircraft parts as well as vessels was 0.6 per cent; vegetable products (0.4 per cent); plastic rubber and other articles (0.2 per cent), while prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and vinegar, tobacco was 1.7 per cent increases as at June 2017.

Meeting customers' demand For Tempo Foods and Packaging Limited and Tempo Paper Pulp & Packaging Limited, the 41 items policy by the CBN saved it from continuing to be victim of dumping of foreign products in Nigerian market.

The deputy managing director of Tempo Group of the Otta, Ogun state-based manufacturers of packaging and foods products, Nassos Sidirofagis, said since the introduction of the policy more than two years ago, Tempo Group has witnessed significant changes in the demand for its products.

"Although we are in the middle of a serious economic crisis, which makes it difficult to see the full impact of the policy yet, the country is moving in the right direction.

"The introduction of the policy by CBN made Tempo Group to declare profit for the first time last year in many years," the deputy managing director said.

With the profit, he said the company was able to acquire another automated machine to expand its operations and production to meet growing demand.

"This could not have happened three to four years ago. We are a good example of Nigerian companies that were losing money due to importation and dumping of competing products.

Today, we have been exporting our products since the second half of 2016," Mr. Sidirofagis said.

The vice president, OLAM Nigeria Limited, Regie George, said the impact of the CBN policy could be seen in the company's numbers, and the number of new projects in the last two years to cope with expanding market.

The Iganmu, Lagos-based company involved in local farming, importation, distribution and milling of rice, said it has since started a brand new animal feeds business and hatchery in Kaduna.

"The policy has significantly enhanced our rice production capacity to a commercial farm in Nasarawa State.

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We have 3,500 direct staff, apart from over 7,000 seasonal workers. We have 18 processing units and 115 warehouses, focused on procuring primary commodities, like cashews, cocoa and shea nut," Mr. George said.

Mr. George said the company has continued to invest in its 10,000 hectare farm with integrated mill, directly employing about 950 people, and producing about 36,000 metric tons of rice pay annum, raising its production figures by almost 50 per cent in the last two years.

"The policy has created a lot of consciousness among Nigerians about the need to be selfsufficient in domestic production of goods and services. With the policy, we have about $160 million of new investments in the country, including an animal feed business, with feed mills and integrated hatchery in Kaduna.

"We have enhanced our rice production capacity through our commercial arm in Nassarawa state as well as double the numbers in the agricultural out-growers programme, in partnership with CBN under its ADP. "We have over 5,000 farmers in 6,000 hectares of farmlands in Nassarawa, Benue and Kaduna States. The farmers are getting better productivity.

"Our rice production capacity has increased all over the country since the introduction of the CBN policy. We have doubled our milling capacity, and already working on a dairy/beverage plants. Our profitability has been enhanced. Several thousands of jobs have been created for Nigerians," Mr. George said.

Also, the general manager, Labana Rice Mills in Kebbi State, Abdullahi Zuru, said the CBN FOREX restriction policy has made significant impact on the company's operations in particular and country's economy in general.

Prior to the policy, Mr. Zuru said only Nigerians who could afford to travel to India, Thailand and China, were importing and flooding the country markets with rice. The profit made benefited only individual importers.

But, since the CBN policy, he said the number of Nigerians returning to farming, to produce rice and other agricultural products, has been amazing.

"Imported items, particularly rice, are now produced in Nigeria in large volumes and sold to indigenous rice millers.

"Today, with CBN's support, Labana Rice Mills Limited is operating two rice mills, with processing capacity from the mills increasing by about 250 per cent since last year, to about 320 tons per day.

"Instead of empowering the rice producers in Thailand, India and China, and creating jobs for their economies, the reverse is the case today.

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"Massive employment opportunities, in terms of the farmers, transporters transporting the products to town, from town to market; from market to the various processing factories.

"We were not producing to capacity before now. We had to reduce the staff, leaving only about 10 to 20 per cent. But, the market has improved significantly. We are not producing and storing anymore. We are now selling.

"Since the FOREX restriction policy, we have increased the number of employees by about 50 per cent.

"More people employed, more production and procession, distribution and sales outlets manufacturers, transporters, loaders, distributors, sub-distributors and retailers," Mr. Zuru said.

The managing director of Kano-based Umza International Farms Limited, Mohammed Abubakar, described the CBN policy as "a perfect idea at the right time."

"The issue should not be impact of the policy. Rather, how CBN would sustain the policy in the long run. Reversal now will be suicidal.

"A lot of Nigerians have taken advantage of the growing appetite for local products as a result of the policy to invest massively in the reactivation of their moribund companies. Nigerians are now looking inwards to produce local substitutes to some of the 41 items on the CBN list.

"We should look for more products to add to the list. It will help industries survive and the Nigerian economy continue to grow. We can never survive as a nation by importing what we eat.

Survival comes when we eat what we grow.

"With the CBN policy, Nigerians will begin to think of how to generate more new jobs for the people. CBN should expand the scope of the policy to cover other items whose importation served as a drain to scarce FOREX in the past," he said.

On how the policy has impacted his company, Mr. Abubakar said the growing market for paddy rice has more than tripled, not only his company's production, but also the country's.

"What was impossible for several years when importation of other brands of rice were being allowed in the country has become possible, with Nigeria already on its way to self-sufficient in rice production.

"A bag of paddy rice, which used to cost N2,000 six years ago, today sells for about N10,000, because the quality is comparable to any imported brand. If CBN sustains the policy, in three to four years, importation of rice will become history in Nigeria," he said.

Since the policy was introduced, Mr. Abubakar said the only challenge Umza is facing has been inability to meet its customers' growing demand.

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"Before 2015, we used to have tons of rice in our warehouse waiting for buyers. Today, buyers pay money in advance and wait patiently for the production of their order. We now employ over 200 people, excluding casual labourers, farmers and drivers to deliver on orders.

"With the policy, farmers are encouraged to take agriculture as serious business. Most Nigerians who were involved in farming were at the level of subsistence. Now, people are resigning from other jobs to go into big time farming.

"Extension services to farmers have improved. Seeds quality has improved. Off-taking stocks have increased.

There are lots of transformation and improvement. Utilization capacity of rice mills has taken a leap.

"Rice importation was a major drain for billions of the country's scarce FOREX every year. We were importing 3-4 million tons of rice every year from countries that did not even have as much potentials as Nigeria. With the CBN policy, these resources have been saved for the country.

He said Umza, which produces the Sarauniyya Golden Rice brand in Kano, today operates at almost 100 per cent of its installed capacity, and stockpiles about 150,000 metric tons of paddy from rice farms in Kano, Jigawa, Taraba, Gombe and Adamawa States.

The CBN policy, which supports the federal government's drive to promote agricultural development and food sufficiency, he noted, resulted in the opening of at least 15 new mills across the country, with combined production capacity of over 300 metric tons of rice per annum.

Some concerns Some business operators argue that despite the policy, importers were still buying dollars from the black market to import the 41 products.

"To make the policy more effective, the CBN needs to go a step further by outright banning the importation of tooth picks and the other 40 items on the list once and for all," Mr. Sekoni of Baton Nigeria advised.

"If the CBN policy is sustained, I believe we will be able to expand and grow. The policy has to be consistent across the country and legislative cycles across administrations to build a real sustainable industrial base in the country," he said.

Although the National President, Poultry Association of Nigeria, Ayoola Oduntan, said the policy could affect producers with no alternatives to their imported raw materials in the CBN list, he however acknowledged its strategic importance.

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Mr. Oduntan, who is also the Group Managing Director, GMD of Amobing Nigeria Limited, and Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Limited, Awe Oyo, said the policy has encouraged a lot of Nigerians to begin to think like industrialists.

"Prior to the policy, full chickens were being smuggled into the country unchecked. That has since stopped. The high exchange rate has made it difficult for poultry products to be smuggled into the country anymore. Export of similar products has started to receive more attention," he said.

Mr. Oduntan told PREMIUM TIMES since the policy, export of food items from Nigeria has resumed in a significant scale.

He said what was required was policy consistency and government continued direct intervention in agriculture."More than 80 to 85 per of the raw materials used in the poultry industry are sourced locally. The 10 per cent needed to keep the industry vibrant, to meet the needs of Nigerians and generate export, cannot fetch the FOREX to do it.

"The policy has made the industry develop capacity to support various value chains - from transporters, to limestone supplier, palm kernel cake, retailers of chicken, loaders and offloaders," he said.

The chief executive, Beloxxi Industries Limited, Obi Ezeude, described the CBN policy on FOREX restriction as the best for the Nigerian economy.

Although Mr. Ezeude said margarine, one of the company's raw materials for manufacturing biscuit, was among the 41 items affected by the CBN policy. He said the policy has compelled the company to find local alternative, to continue production.

He advised the CBN to constantly review the list as the economic variables change, to identify and support those Nigerian businesses with capacity to easily impact the economy.

Deputy Group Managing Director, GMD, Coscharis Rice Farms in Anambra State, Okey Nwude, said the CBN policy not only helped the company expand the scope of its investment in agriculture, but also created opportunity for Coscharis Technology to take advantage of the policy to build an assembly plant for the Ford brand of cars in Nigeria.

The chairman of Coscharis Group, Cosmas Maduka, said the decision to fund farmers to cultivate 3,000 hectares of rice in Anambra state was inspired by the CBN policy and the need to join efforts in producing foods Nigerians eat.

"We would not have gone into rice production if the CBN policy was not in place. The policy has made Nigerians, producers and consumers, to look inwards. Producing and milling rice in Nigeria has removed the mentality of waiting for imported rice.

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"The policy has triggered a lot of interest in mechanized farming. It has also bolstered national pride that Nigerian products are good enough for local consumption and exports.

"Encouraging large companies to go into mechanized farming has set the country on the path of food sufficiency," he said http://allafrica.com/stories/201708220050.html

Basmati overtakes buffalo meat as top export commodity Export of buffalo meat was affected by a short-lived ban on sales of cattle at mandis Dilip Kumar Jha | Mumbai August 22, 2017 Last Updated at 01:46 IST

Buffalo meat prices jump by 14% within a week on supply disruptionIndia's loss is Brazil's gain: Cattle trade ban hits buffalo meat exportsGST impact: 5% rate to squeeze margins of basmati rice exportersCleaver falls on sale, purchase of cattle for slaughter

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Basmati rice has regained the tag of top commodity export from India, overtaking buffalo meat in the June quarter.Since 2014-15, buffalo meat had surpassed basmati rice as India‘s top export commodity because of suspension of fresh orders by Iran, which consumes nearly a fourth of India‘s aromatic rice exports.Iranian traders suspend fresh orders for basmati rice during the harvesting of the country‘s rice crop. This year, however, they continued imports of basmati rice. In contrast, export of buffalo meat was affected by a short-lived ban on sales of cattle at mandis.

According to the the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) estimates, India exported basmati rice worth $1.26 billion (Rs 8,168 crore) between April and June, up from $934 million (Rs 6,196 crore) in the same quarter a year ago. Buffalo meat exports were $849 million (Rs 5,473 crore) during the quarter against $823 million (Rs 5,445 crore) in the same period last year. ―Indian exporters used to execute orders on ―documents against acceptance‖, which was stopped by the government because overseas buyers‘ re-negotiated terms after shipments reached them. So there were corrections in export of basmati rice over the last few years. Now overseas buyers are purchasing commodities on spot cash,‖ said an Apeda official.Iranian buyers have continued their purchases even during their own rice harvesting season. That has resulted in an increase in basmati rice exports in April-June,‖ he added.

Exports of basmati rice rose to 1.26 million tonnes in April-June from 1.18 million tonnes in the corresponding quarter a year ago. The average realisation from basmati rice jumped 28 per cent to $1,009 a tonne this year from $787 a tonne last year.

Exports of buffalo meat declined to 279,409 tonnes in April-June from 280,869 tonnes in the corresponding quarter last year. Average realisation increased by 3.75 per cent to $3,039 this year from $2,929 last year.Buffalo meat exporters faced supply problems due to the Centre‘s ban on animal sales, which was stayed by the Supreme Court after a few weeks.

Overseas buyers are hesitant to place orders for Indian buffalo meat because of the policy changes. ―The growth of India‘s buffalo meat exports depends upon consistency in government policy,‖ said Bushran Zakariya, director, Zakariya Agro, a Kanpur-based buffalo meat exporter.

Anchor Borrowers’ Programme: Kano laments failure of rice farmers to repay loan

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Prof. Mahmoud Daneji, the Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development

Authority, expressed the concern at a news conference in Kano on Monday.The Kano State Government has expressed concern over the failure of rice farmers in the state to refund over N900 million loan they took to boost rice production.The loan came under the Central Bank of Nigeria‘s Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme.

Prof. Mahmoud Daneji, the Managing Director, Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, expressed the concern at a news conference in Kano on Monday.Daneji said: ―I am not happy to say that some of our rice farmers that benefitted from the CBN‘s Anchor Borrowers Programme are yet to refund over N900 million.―A total of N906 million was disbursed to the farmers but regrettably not up to N6 million was recovered from the money as most of the farmers think that it is a national cake.‖ The KNARDA boss said in spite farmers‘ failure to repay the loan, the state government was determined to boost agricultural production and had placed emphasis on extension services.

Daneji said: ―This state has no fewer than 1,800 extension agents that work directly with farmers in the state.―If the extension link is missing, then farmers or agriculture will not develop, hence government‘s decision to recruit more extension workers.―Within the last one and a half years,

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we have recruited 729 extension workers to support farmers across our 44 local government areas.‖ According to Daneji, the state is not too far from meeting the United Nations recommendation of one extension worker to 250 farmers.He said the state currently had a ratio of one extension worker to 300 farmers.Daneji commended SG 2000 for training 100 new extension workers, adding that the state government had established five Farmer Information Centres to be inaugurated soon.In his remarks, the SG 2000 Country Director, Prof. Sani Ahmed-Miko, said the visit to farmers in the three states had afforded the team the opportunity to interact with farmers.

According to Ahmed-Miko, the visit also gave journalists the opportunity to hear from the beneficiaries of the SG 2000 intervention programmes, especially on the improved production technologies being promoted.The Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015.It is aimed at creating linkages between the anchor companies involved in processing and small-holder farmers of the required key agricultural commodities.

The thrust of ABP is the provision of farm inputs in kind and cash (for farm labour) to boost the production of Small Holder Farmers in the commodities.It is intended to also stabilise inputs supply to agro-processors and address the country‘s negative balance of payments on food.The loans granted to SHFs are to be repaid with the harvested produce that shall be mandatorily delivered to the designated collection centres in line with the provisions of the Agreement signed in the ABP. The produce to be delivered must cover the loan principal and interest.The loan targets SHFs in groups/cooperatives and engaged in the production of identified commodities across the country. https://theeagleonline.com.ng/anchor-borrowers-programme-kano-laments-failure-of-rice-farmers-torepay-loan/

Chefs go head to head in rice challenge BEE STAFF AUGUST 18, 2017 9:00 AM

Top-rated chefs will compete August 24 in the Lord of Rice culinary challenge at Ten22, 1022 2nd Street, Old Sacramento.

The winner receives a cash prize and a trip to Macau, mainland China to help judge the "World's Best Rice" competition. The local event includes live music, food samples and beer and wine sampling. 5 – 9:30 p.m. Tickets $49 lordofrice.com. http://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article167148002.html

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Africans Have Heated Views About Rice, Just Ask Mark Zuckerberg A simmering debate about how to prepare jollof, a West-African dish, prompts a ‗Super Bowl‘ between rival nations. ‗Time to crown the real king‘

By Joe Parkinson Aug. 20, 2017 2:04 p.m. ET Across West Africa, one of the world‘s spiciest food fights is getting hotter, snaring politicians, pop stars and even Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg: Who makes the best jollof rice?

From Senegal to Sierra Leone, Ghana to Nigeria, households have for centuries boasted of their nation‘s pre-eminence in preparing bowls of jollof—a sticky orange-colored delicacy made from fluffy rice and a chili-infused stew that has strong echoes in...

TO READ THE FULL STORY https://www.wsj.com/articles/africans-have-heated-views-about-rice-just-ask-mark-zuckerberg1503252259

UPDATE: Minnesota changes wild rice rules from sulfate to sulfide

By John Myers on Aug 21, 2017 at 6:33 p.m.

In this 2015 file photo, Anishinaabe Todd Thompson (left) and Terry Burnett Sr. power their canoe into Hole-in-the-Day Lake in Nisswa, Minn., while harvesting wild rice Steve Kohls / Forum News Service ST. PAUL -- Minnesota would measure how much wild-rice-killing sulfide is in the water of specific wild-rice lakes and rivers when setting pollution regulations, and not just the sulfate that spurs sulfide production, under a proposal that could impact the state‘s mining industry.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced the new rule Monday that, if made final, will apply to any industry that discharges sulfate pollution to waters that hold wild rice.

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Instead of the current statewide sulfate limit for all wild-rice lakes and rivers of 10 parts per million, the state is now proposing to use a 120 parts per billion sulfide as the benchmark for wild rice to thrive.

Based on the chemical nature of each wild-rice water, namely how much iron and carbon it has, the PCA says it will develop a separate sulfate pollution discharge limit for each lake and river downstream of industries with sulfate discharge. The aim is to keep harmful sulfides below 120 parts per billion.

Scientists decades ago found that wild rice usually doesn't grow well in waters with high sulfate content. In recent years scientists, including John Pastor at the University of Minnesota Duluth, found that sulfates are converted to toxic sulfides in some waters and that it‘s actually the sulfides that inhibit wild rice.

But that conversion into sulfides can vary from lake to lake. Higher levels of iron in the sediment can lead to less sulfide — higher levels of organic carbon can lead to more sulfide. ―We believe the changes we‘re proposing are an innovative and precise approach to protecting wild rice,‖ said John Linc Stine, PCA commissioner, in announcing the proposed rules. ―The proposal also allows for flexibility in permitting for facilities that discharge to wild-rice waters.‖

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The PCA on Monday also released its list of 1,300 lakes and rivers considered officially wildrice waters, and the only places the state regulation would apply. The lakes and rivers currently have wild rice or had it anytime since 1975. The PCA also unveiled a process to add or subtract lakes and rivers from that list in the future.

About 350 of those wild-rice waters are downstream of industries that discharge sulfate and the most likely to be affected by the changes.

The proposed changes could make it easier for some Iron Range mining operations to meet their water pollution discharge regulations, but it will depend on the chemical nature of the lake or river that they release pollution into. ―For some facilities that discharge sulfate, it could be that they don‘t have to make any changes in their discharge‖ because the waters they discharge into are not as sensitive to creating sulfides, said Shannon Lotthammer, who directs the environmental analysis and outcomes division at the PCA. Facilities upstream of more sensitive wild-rice waters with high sulfides may be required to reduce their sulfate discharge, Lotthammer said.

The PCA published the proposed changes in the State Register on Monday. The proposed rule will be the subject of public hearings overseen by an administrative law judge held in October with public comments accepted into November.

The announcement comes after years of scientific review, political debate and court actions spurred by complaints from Minnesota's mining industry that the 10 parts per million sulfate limit was unnecessary and overly burdensome. The rule had been on the state‘s books since the 1970s but had rarely been enforced until environmental groups began challenging proposed water pollution permits for Iron Range taconite iron ore processing centers.

As efforts to enforce the sulfate limit increased, critics said it could stifle or even shut down some businesses. Some taconite and sewage plant discharges are much higher than 10 parts per million. In 2010, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of five taconite plants, sued the state, saying the 10 parts per million sulfate standard was arbitrary and illegal. But the state

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court of appeals in 2012 upheld the current rule and kept it in place pending the latest PCA review.

Sulfates are ions or salts that can come from decaying plants and animals as well as some mineral deposits and industrial processes such as mine discharges; mine stockpiles and waste piles; tanneries; steel mills; pulp mills; sewage-treatment plants; and textile plants. When sulfate levels are high in the water around the roots of wild-rice plants, they can spur the production of hydrogen sulfide, which can starve the plant of nutrients. Wild rice generally suffers when sulfide levels hit 150-350 parts per billion. Those levels begin to occur when the surrounding water has sulfate starting at 4-16 parts per million.

The PCA proposal gained critics on both sides of the issue Monday.

Kelsey Johnson, president of the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota coalition of iron ore producers, said early estimates are that the new regulation ―could have devastating economic implications for communities in Northeast Minnesota that discharge into wild rice waters — including municipal wastewater treatment facilities and the iron mines.‖ Johnson and other critics said Monday the PCA should have waited for an economic impact study on the new regulation before settling on a course of action.

Environmental groups say the state should simply enforce the current 10 parts per million rule on sulfate, which scientists agree would protect all waters and is more easily enforced. ―WaterLegacy is strongly opposed to the MPCA‘s proposal to eliminate Minnesota‘s existing 10 parts per million limit on sulfate pollution and replace it with an unenforceable and unprotective equation,‖ said Paula Maccabee, attorney for the group. ―Protection of wild rice requires that Minnesota regulators have the backbone to enforce existing water quality rules, rather than finding a way to circumvent or weaken the rules whenever a powerful industry objects to controlling its pollution.‖ Written comments on the plan will be accepted through Nov. 2 to minnesotaoah.granicusideas.com/discussions or mail to: Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Box 64620, St. Paul, MN 55164-0620 (Docket 80-90030-34519.)

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Hearings are scheduled for Oct. 23 in St. Paul; Oct. 24 in Virginia; Oct. 25 in Bemidji; and Oct. 30 in Brainerd. For more information go to pca.state.mn.us/water/protecting-wild-rice-waters www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/4315280-update-minnesota-changes-wild-rice-rules-sulfatesulfide+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

Iraq seeking 30,000 tonnes of rice in purchase tender Reuters | Aug 20, 2017, 08:35 PM IST

(Adds detail, background) BAGHDAD, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Iraq's state grain buyer has issued an international tender to buy 30,000 tonnes of rice, a government source said on Sunday.The deadline for offers is Aug. 27 and rice is being sought from all origins, the source said.Offers should remain valid until Aug. 31.

Iraq made no purchase in its previous attempt to buy rice, which closed on July 30.The country has been struggling to import grain for its food subsidy programme after introducing new payment and quality terms that left trading houses unwilling to participate in its international tenders.

Iraq is expected to produce about 250,000 tonnes of rice this year, suggesting that there will be a shortfall of about 1 million tonnes that will need to be covered by imports. (Writing by Maha El Dahan; Editing by David Goodman)

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/iraq-seeking-30000-tonnes-of-rice-inpurchase-tender/articleshow/60146761.cms

Rice millers, exporters urge govt to reduce market fee from 4 pc to 2 pc Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, August 19

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Rice millers and exporters today urged the state government to reduce the market fee from 4 per cent to 2 per cent to ensure ease of doing business. They said the relief would not only check tax evasion but also help in bringing transparency. They demanded abolition of electricity fee of Rs 170 per Kv per month and urged the government to charge Rs 5 per unit from them.Rice millers and exporters across the state held a state-level meeting here today on the sidelines of Food Show India-2017 and an award ceremony for contributions to the growth of the rice industry.

Vijay Setia, president of the All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), raised the demand for 2 per cent reduction in the market fee. He said, ―We don‘t want complete exemption from tax or fee as we know it is necessary for the development of the nation. But we want it halved to provide relief to the industry‖.

Setia said the government should allow all commission agents to procure paddy from farmers, which would also promote the genuine billing system.

Hansraj Singhal, president of the Haryana Rice Millers and Dealers Association, raised the issue of the charge of Rs 170 per Kv per month and termed it as a burden on them. He said it was a fixed charge and the government should abolish it. Instead the government should charge Rs 5 per unit from the millers.

Ajay Sharma, managing director of Lama Rice, counted the challenges facing the rice industry and said the export of Indian rice was increasing due to its high quality and packaging. There is need to educate farmers about the appropriate use of pesticides and fertilisers. Companies dealing in pesticides and fertilisers should come forward to educate farmers.Jewel Singla, chairman of the association, urged the Union government to grant interest free loan up to Rs 10 crore to every miller to upgrade their mills.

Tushar Aggarwal, project head of the food show, said they organised such events to make the millers and the exporters aware about the latest technologies of the rice industry. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/rice-millers-exporters-urge-govt-to-reduce-market-fee-from4-pc-to-2-pc/454308.html

South Asia Faces Fury of Floods

By Farid AhmedReprint |

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Women with goats come out of their submerged house, in Shibaloy, Manikganj district, Bangladesh. Credit: Farid Ahmed/IPS

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DHAKA, Aug 20 2017 (IPS) - Aid agencies warn of a serious unfolding humanitarian crisis as floodwaters continue to inundate new areas of three South Asian countries, forcing millions of people to flee their homes for shelters.

The death toll from drowning, snakebite, house collapse and landslide triggered by monsoon rains and floods rose to over 600 people, officials said on Aug. 19.

In Bangladesh, farmers are bearing the brunt of the ongoing flooding as the country‘s agriculture department estimated rice and other crops cultivated in half a million hectares of land in 34 districts were washed away.

More than 16 million have been affected by monsoon floods in Nepal, Bangladesh and India, with many of them either displaced or marooned without food or electricity.

In many areas, although the floodwater has started receding, rivers are still swelling.

A large number of displaced have taken refuge in squalid makeshift camps and are staying in extremely unhygienic conditions, according to aid agencies.

Road and rail communications in the affected areas have been also severely disrupted.

Thousands of educational institutions have been forced to close, while submerged hospitals are unable to assist flood victims even as water-borne diseases are spreading. ―This is fast becoming one of the most serious humanitarian crises this region has seen in many years and urgent action is needed to meet the growing needs of millions of people affected by

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these devastating floods,‖ said Martin Faller, Deputy Regional Director for Asia Pacific, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). ―Millions of people across Nepal, Bangladesh and India face severe food shortages and disease caused by polluted flood waters,‖ Faller said in a statement.

The aid agency Oxfam said there was urgent need for supplies like drinking water, food, shelter, blankets, hygiene kits and solar lights.

Bangladesh authorities said more than a third of the country was submerged, and water levels in major rivers were still rising, inundating new areas every day.

The premises of a school inundated by floodwater in Shibaloy, Manikganj district, Bangladesh. Credit: Farid Ahmed/IPS In Bangladesh, flooding by major rivers has surpassed the levels set in 1988, the deadliest floods the country had seen to date.

According to the disaster management department control room of the Bangladesh government, at least 98 people died in August.The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief estimated that more than half a million people in Bangladesh were affected by flooding.In Bangladesh, farmers are bearing the brunt of the ongoing flooding as the country‘s agriculture department estimated rice and other crops cultivated in half a million hectares of land in 34 districts were washed away.

Abdul Hamid, a farmer in Rangpur district, said he had cultivated rice in 10 bighas of land, but it was completely ruined by floods. ―I don‘t know how to recover the loss,‖ he said, adding that his house was also destroyed.In India, over 11 million people have been affected by floods in four

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states across the north of the country. India‘s meteorological department is forecasting more heavy rain for the region in the coming days.

The flood situation in parts of India‘s northern West Bengal remained grim until August 18, with many rivers still flowing well above the extreme danger level despite improvement in the overall situation in the region, Rajib Banerjee, West Bengal‘s minister for irrigation and waterways, told IPS on Aug. 19.―The situation in Malda still looks grim and remains as a matter of concern as the water of the River Mahananda continues to rise,‖ he said.

The situation in villages in the Indian state of Assam is very serious, as embankments of rivers in many areas have been breached, forcing hundreds of families to flee their houses. Poor people, mostly farmers, were the chief victims and many took refuge on roadsides and embankments.

Children on a boat come to their two-storey tin-roofed house half of which is submerged in flood water, in Shibaloy, Manikganj district, Bangladesh. Credit: Farid Ahmed/IPS Thousands of people in northern Uttar Pradesh in India, where the authorities sought military help, were also badly affected and many of them still remained marooned.

Bihar, the worst-hit district in India, also estimated over 150 dead and half a million displaced in the past couple of weeks. ―In Nepal, government recorded 134 dead and 30 missing in flood-affected areas,‖ a senior journalist and director of news and current affairs of Nepal‘s ABC News TV, Dr. Suresh Achaya, told IPS.Some 14 districts out of 75, mostly located along the border with India, were badly affected, Acharya said.In Nepal, many areas remain cut off after the most recent destructive floods and landslides on Aug. 11 and 12. Villagers and communities are stranded without food,

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water and electricity though the government said it had been providing the victims with foods and other support.

In the flood-hit areas, thousands of people had taken shelter in schools, temples and sides of roads and embankments.

The Nepalese ministry of agricultural development estimated that floodwaters had washed away rice and other crops worth Rs. 8.11 billion (77 million dollars) and feared the crop damage could cast a long shadow on the economy.

The Nepalese government, at a meeting with chief secretary Rajendra Kishore in the chair on Aug. 18, decided to accept foreign support and aid to meet the need.Scientists attribute the deadly floods in South Asia to a changing climate, which they believe increased the magnitude of the current flooding many-fold.―The untimely floods being experienced in Nepal, India and Bangladesh can definitely be attributed to climate change-induced changes in the South Asian monsoon system,‖ Dr Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), told IPS. The countries in the region have already been taking the brunt of changing climate that caused extreme weather patterns increasing the daily rainfall amount, droughts, untimely flooding and frequent tropical storms.

http://www.ipsnews.net/2017/08/south-asia-faces-fury-floods/

Rice import deals with more states soon: Minister 21.08.2017

| UkrAgroConsult Food Minister Advocate Md Qamrul Islam said on Thursday the government will import rice from some other countries under government-to-government (G2G) arrangement.It will sign memorandums of understating (MoUs) to this effect soon."We will import rice from some other countries. We will sign MoUs soon for importing rice to reduce its prices in the local market," he told at a workshop organised by the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in the capital.

The BFSA organised the workshop on 'the role of media in ensuring public health safety by sacrificing animals in a hygienic way' during the upcoming Eid-ul- Azha. Earlier, the government signed MoUs with Vietnam and Cambodia for importing rice.t decided on August 16th last to reduce further the import duty on rice by 8.0 per cent to 2.0 per cent for easing the price of the staple food in the country.

The government has fixed the target to import 1.5 million tonnes of rice and 0.5 million tonnes of wheat in the fiscal year (FY) 2017-18.Member of the BFSA Md Mahbub Kabir delivered the address of welcome while Chairman of BFSA Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque presided over the workshop.The food minister called upon the media to write stories on safe food imbued with the

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spirit of patriotism."We have decided to import rice ... it does not mean that there is crisis of food in the country. We have sufficient stock of food grain," he said.

The discussants in the workshop suggested slaughtering of sacrificial animals in the city corporation-designated areas or nearby hygienic places (drain) by maintaining religious rituals during the upcoming Eid.It also suggested dumping of wastes of cattle heads under earth or keeping those in designated places for maintaining environment free from pollution.The slaughtering of sacrificial animals, process and preservation of meat must be in a scientific and hygienic ways, they added.Chairman of BFSA Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque stressed the need for creating mass awareness through joint efforts especially by media for ensuring safe food for consumers.

National Team Leader of IFSB, FAO, AKM Nurul Afsar, member (law and policy) of BFSA Md Abdul Baten Miah and chief veterinary officer of central veterinary hospital Dr Md Abdul Halim among others, were present http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/rice-import-deals-with-more-states-soon-minister

Bangladesh rice tender draws lowest offer of $407.89/T Reuters Staff

DHAKA, Aug 21 (Reuters) - The lowest offer in the tender from Bangladesh to import 50,000 tonnes of rice was from trading house Regington International at $407.89 a tonne, on a cost, insurance and freight (CIF) liner out basis, officials at the state grains buyer said on Monday.

Nine other trading houses competed for the tender issued by Bangladesh's Directorate General of Food that closed on Sunday.

Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, has emerged as a major importer of the staple grain this year due to depleted stocks and record high local prices following floods.

(Reporting by Ruma Paul; Editing by Richard Pullin) https://in.reuters.com/article/bangladesh-rice-tender-idINL4N1L72A6

Farmers seek fair share of rice allocations

By Ramon Efren Lazaro (The Philippine Star) | Updated August 20, 2017 - 12:00am

CITY OF MALOLOS, Philippines – Central Luzon farmers‘ cooperatives are reiterating their call to the National Food Authority to provide them fair allocations from the rice importations that the country will procure.Simeon Sioson, president of the Federation of Central Luzon Farmer‘s Cooperative based in San Miguel town, told the STAR they were hoping the minimum

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access volume (MAV) rice importation for this year would be different from the rice allocations made in 2015.Sioson said only 10 farmer cooperatives were allocated 12,500 metric tons while big-time traderswere given 176,000 MT under the 2015 MAV rice importation program.

In a letter sent to National Food administrator Jason Laurena Aquino dated June 12, 2017, Sioson identified the traders as Alchemo Philippines, Arvin International Mktg., and Philmico Foods Corp.Sioson said they were wondering why their rice allocation was small, which accounted for 18 percent of the total rice importation volume compared to the 82 percent allocated to medium and big-time traders.

At that time, the processing fee imposed by NFA on rice importation was P50,000 regardless whether the importer has a small or big volume allocated to them. ―This is very unfair to the farmers,‖ Sioson said.In 2012, the NFA Council implemented equal volume rice allocation among small and big-time traders but things changed the following year and the rice allocations suddenly favored big-time traders to the disadvantage of farmercooperatives.The farmer-cooperatives in Central Luzon are not asking for extra favor from the NFA council, Sioson said. ―All we want is fair treatment in the equal volume of distribution of the rice importation program of the government,‖ he added. http://www.philstar.com/agriculture/2017/08/20/1730708/farmers-seek-fair-share-rice-allocations

USDA, USTR Announce Expanded Access for U.S. Rice Exports to Colombia August 17, 2017 News Releases USDA 0084.17 Contact: USDA Press Phone: (202) 720-4623 Email: press@oc.usda.gov WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2017 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer today announced an agreement reached with the government of Colombia to allow for expanded market access for U.S. exports of paddy rice.

A previous agreement in 2012 between both countries enabled exports of U.S. paddy rice to Colombia, but under strict and costly requirements related to phytosanitary concerns. The new

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agreement lifts these requirements and expands access beyond the single port of Barranquilla, which was the only port previously open to U.S. exporters.

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

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue said: ―Today‘s announcement is another great testament of our determination to expand export opportunities for America‘s farmers and ranchers and to ensure fair trade with our international partners. This agreement expands opportunities for U.S. rice producers in the important Colombian market. It also underscores the value of improved relationships to solve problems, based on a solid trade agreement that benefits both parties and on a commitment to science-based rule-making.‖ U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, said: ―I welcome this new agreement and the expanded market access and opportunity it will afford to U.S. exporters of paddy rice. ―This outcome is a result of the Administration‘s efforts to enforce international trade commitments on behalf of the American people, and to deepen our bilateral ties with key trading partners, particularly allies like Colombia.‖ Background: Colombia is the United States‘ 12th-largest export market for food and agricultural products, with exports valued at over $2.4 billion in 2016 – a sharp increase over exports prior to completion of the CTPA, when Colombia ranked as the 26th market for U.S. food and agricultural exports in 2011, with an associated value of $1.12 billion. Exports of milled rice to Colombia have increased dramatically since entry into force of the CTPA in 2012, averaging $79 million per year compared to $3 million in 2011.

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

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

Move on to import 0.8m tonnes rice, says Food Secretary 21 Aug 2017, 22:09:41 The government has initiated a process of importing 800,000 tonnes (MT) rice out of planned 1.5 million while 250,000 MT has already reached the country, said a top official on Monday."We have already lined up a process to import an estimated 800,000 MT rice and the process of importing another 700,000 MT is expected to begin as soon as possible," Food Secretary Kaikobad Hossain told the state news agency BSS. He said some 250,000 MT rice has already reached the country from Vietnam, another 250,000 MT would be imported from Cambodia and the remaining 300,000 MT would be imported through bidding.The consignment of some 550,000 MT rice will arrive in the country by the end of September, he said, adding that the process of importing the remaining 700,000 MT would begin as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Russian Federation to import 300,000 MT wheat, said the food official, adding that the wheat would reach the country within the next three months.On Wednesday, the government decided to import 1.5 million MT rice and 500,000 MT wheat at a meeting of the Food Planning and Monitoring Committee (FPMC) at the Secretariat.

To this end, the government has further lowered the import duty on rice to 2 per cent from the earlier 10 to encourage import and to tackle any food crisis.Two months ago, the government slashed the import duty on rice to 10 per cent against the backdrop of a major market instability and storage of the prime staple.

"This decision of the government does not mean there is a food crisis in the country," Food Minister Quamrul Islam said after the FPMC meeting. "In fact, there is no food shortage in the country."The Food Minister hoped that the combined efforts will help ease the price of rice in the market. In 2016-17 fiscal, the country imported 5,823,460 MT food grains in the public and private sectors.Of the total import, 392,840 MT rice was brought in the public sector while 5,430,620 MT wheat and rice in the private sector. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/08/21/80370/Move-on-to-import-0.8m-tonnes-rice,-saysFood-Secretary

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Rice Imports at 760,000 Tons Last Year Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Around 760,000 tons of rice were imported into Iran during the last fiscal year that ended on March 20, 2017, a deputy minister of agriculture said.―This is a remarkable achievement, as four years ago when President Hassan Rouhani took office, rice imports stood at 2 million tons [per year],‖ Yazdan Seif was also quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.Iranians consume about 3.2 million tons of rice every year.The government periodically places a ban on imports during the harvest season to support local farmers https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/70861/rice-imports-at-760000-tons-lastyear

FAO distributes 51 bags of rice seeds to Anambra farmers By . | Publish Date: Aug 21 2017 2:06PM

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with Africa Rice Nigeria has distributed 51 bags of improved rice seeds to 50 farmers in Anambra to boost production.Mr Andrew Ikhadeunu, FAO National Project Coordinator, Rice Value Chain, told newsmen in Awka on Monday that the beneficiaries were earlier selected and trained in February.―They were given demonstration plots for planting. Now they have harvested, we are following it up with the improved seeds of 51 bags of rice for them,‘‘ he said.

Ikhadeunu said that the aim was to support the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which is the facilitator of the programme to empower rice farmers in the state. ―There is need for us to come out of hunger. If we are to put an end to massive rice importation, there is need to empower some Nigerians with such intervention programme.

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‘‘We look at it that there is need for us to support the farmers. We look at the states that have potentials, and Anambra state is one of them,‘‘ he said.According to him, other benefiting states in the programme are Abia, Ekiti, Edo, Nassarawa and Jigawa.

He urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling the rice seeds, adding, ―what you have is the best and with your cooperation, we can achieve food sufficiency in the country."

Dr Francis Nwilene, Regional Representative of Africa Rice Nigeria said that the target was for each state of Nigeria to be self sufficient in rice production.

Nwilene, who was represented by Mr Jide Oladejo, one of the scientists in FAO, said that the major challenges of rice production in Nigeria were impurities

13 types of crops improves yield, vigor and short life cycle of Rice & Wheat: Scientist

BY M L VERMA AUGUST 21, 2017 M L VERMA HIMACHAL PRADESH Scientist discovered 13 different types of crops which could improve the yield, vigour and short lifecycle of principal cereals and food-grain likely to bring revolution in the field Rice and Wheat cultivation in various parts of the Country. This was stated by Dr. P. L. Gautam former vice chancellor of G.B. Pant University and Technology Pantnagar (Uttrakhand) while delivering popular lecture series at Govt. Degree College, Bilaspur organised by Himachal Pradesh Council for Science, Technology and Environment today.

Dr. Gautam who had been work with National Bureau of Plant Genetics Resources shared his experience with the students and emphasised at the determination to do something is must and can bring out great differences in your own life and also in others. ―As a scientist, I discovered 13 types of crops with improved yield, vigour and short life cycle could make the revolution in the field of rice and wheat cultivation in various parts of the country.‖ he informed.

He emphasised that science not only enhances your knowledge and understanding and also changes the way of thinking and in this language plays a vital role. ‖In order to encourage students in developing scientific attitude and also to take up science and technology in the future.‖ he said. He narrated the discoveries and inventions of several great scientists like

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Archimedes Galileo, Newton, Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie etc. These scientists were from the humble background not great students in schools but had the zest of discovery. Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya, Director, CSIR, National Institute of Science Communication and Dr. Manoj Kumar Patairiya, Director, CSIR, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources, said in life we don‘t need to be the great scientist but we need to have the scientific analytical temperament.

He gave an example of drinking water which could be purified by using several layers of clean cotton cloth which could prevent about 65% of water-borne diseases. Rest could be taken care of if we stop throwing industrial waste and effluent in water bodies. Students must question their teachers and seek reasons. Accepting thing as told is not scientific. He also quoted an example of death due to carbon-monoxide poisoning in newspapers. Proper reporting with reasons is not done. Several lives are lost due to repeated similar accidents such small science would bring big impact. The lecture was attended by about 400 college and school students. http://www.himvani.com/news/2017/08/21/13-types-of-crops-improves-yield-vigor-and-short-life-cycleof-rice-wheat-scientist/

Gov. Asa Hutchinson Announces Appointments to Boards, Commissions

by Arkansas Business Staff

on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 10:44 am

Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Monday announced the following appointments: Matt Keil, Texarkana, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2020.Douglas Braswell, Little Rock, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2024.

Traci Lewellen, Van Buren, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2023.Sgt. Marty Wardlaw, Warren, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission.

Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2022.

Chief Paul Keith, Bay, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2021.Captain Keith Eremea, Little Rock, to the Law Enforcement Officers‘ Memorial Design Committee. Serves at the will of the governor.

Rafael Figueroa, Jr., De Queen, to the Department of Human Services State Institutional System Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2018. Replaces Dr. John Fleming.Michael Burden,

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Conway, to the Department of Human Services State Institutional System Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2024. Reappointment.

Ronnie Dorsey, De Queen, to the HVACR Licensing Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2021.

Replaces Scott Freyaldenhoven Charlotte Bradley, Hope, to the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas.

Appointment expires June 15, 2021. Reappointment.Steven Smith, Mountain Home, to the Arkansas Lifeline Individual Verification Effort Corporation Board of Directors. Appointment expires March 30, 2020. Reappointment.Tyrus Reed, Prairie Grove, to the Arkansas Lifeline Individual Verification Effort Corporation Board of Directors. Appointment expires March 30, 2020. Reappointment.

Matthew Morrison, Rose Bud, to the Arkansas State Board of Sanitarians. Appointment expires June 30, 2022. Replaces Sherri Woodus.Wayne Wiggins III, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Richard Hillman, Carlisle, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.

David Gairhan Jr., Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board.

Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Marvin Hare Jr., Newport, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.

James Whitaker, McGehee, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Bobby Hoard.Kenneth Clark, Newport, to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.

Blake Swears, Carlisle, to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.David Wallace, Crawfordsville, to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board.

Appointment expires June 30, 2019.Jackie Prince, Biscoe, to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.

Tony Schwarz, Weiner, to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Barry Walls.John Freeman, Dumas, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Gary Sitzer, Weiner, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Donald Morton,

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Des Arc, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019.

Reappointment.

Glynn Guenther, Sherrill, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Joe Thrash, Houston, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Greg Moyers, Portland, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.John Farmer, Dumas, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019.

Reappointment.

David Heikes, White Hall, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.T.J. Curtis, Russellville, to the Supervisory Board for the Arkansas Crime Information Center. Appointment expires June 30, 2021. Reappointment.Marc Phillips, Ash Flat, to the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters. Appointment expires July 18, 2022. Reappointment.

David Gammill, Tyronza, to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board.

Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Reappointment.

Jon Carroll, Moro, to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Reappointment.Trent Dabbs, Stuttgart, to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Reappointment.

Jeff Hankins, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Task Force. Appointment expires Aug. 9, 2021. Rep. Mickey Gates, Hot Springs, to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee. Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2020.

Phyllis Bell, Little Rock, to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee.

Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2020.Barry Weathers, Cabot, to the Water Provider Legislative Task Force. Appointment expires Jan. 1, 2019.Van Nowlin, Mountain Home, to the Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.Bryan Chesshir, Nashville, to the Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.

Judge Ray Spruell, Ozark, to the Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.Daniel Shue, Fort Smith, to the

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Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives.

Appointment expires July 1, 2019.Judge Chalk Mitchell, Helena, to the Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.

Richard Steiner, Mountain Home, as a Justice of the Peace for the Baxter County Quorum Court, District 3. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2018. Replaces Erric Totty.Tammie Luttrell, Waldron, as a Justice of the Peace for the Scott County Quorum Court, District 7. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2018. Replaces Lonnie Taff. http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/118415/gov-asa-hutchinson-announces-appointments-to-boardscommissions

Governor names area residents to boards and commissions Several South Arkansas residents have been named to state boards and commissions.

Governor Asa Hutchinson has made the following appointments of South Arkansas residents to state boards and commissions: Matt Keil, Texarkana, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires August 1, 2020.Sergeant Marty Wardlaw, Warren, to the Pawnbroker Licensure Commission. Appointment expires August 1, 2022.

Rafael Figueroa Jr., De Queen, to the Department of Human Services State Institutional System Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2018. Replaces Dr. John Fleming.Ronnie Dorsey, De Queen, to the HVACR Licensing Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2021. Replaces Scott Freyaldenhoven.

Charlotte Bradley, Hope, to the Board of Electrical Examiners of the State of Arkansas.

Appointment expires June 15, 2021. Reappointment. James Whitaker, McGehee, to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Bobby Hoard.John Freeman, Dumas, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.

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Gary Sitzer, Weiner, to the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Greg Moyers, Portland, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board.

Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.John Farmer, Dumas, to the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Reappointment.Representative Mickey Gates, Hot Springs, to the Child Maltreatment Investigations Oversight Committee.

Appointment expires August 10, 2020.

Bryan Chesshir, Nashville, to the Interagency Task Force for the Implementation of Criminal Justice Prevention Initiatives. Appointment expires July 1, 2019 http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_b64d1946-8687-11e7-93119331559e7aab.html

Rice crop seed treatments for insect pests important Grape colaspis damaged a lot of Arkansas rice this year. Many who didn‘t have a neonic seed treatment were hit.

David Bennett | Aug 21, 2017 In early August, alongside seed treatment rice research plots, Gus Lorenz spoke to several trailers full of Ricetec field day attendees about pest problems he‘s seen in 2017. The Arkansas Extension entomologist says ―grape colaspis really hurt a lot of farmers this year. Many who didn‘t have a neonic seed treatment were hit. We saw this in our research plots, we saw it across the state in growers fields where there has been severe stand injury and ultimately they‘ll lose yield.‖ The seed treatment research just south of Jonesboro, Ark., ―is trying to get that early grape colaspis control and then stretch out to gain rice water weevil control when you finally get a flood on the field. We‘ve had this same trial duplicated at several locations.‖

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What Lorenz and colleagues found is ―the neonic stood tall and gave us the protection we wanted. We planted about March 29 and finally put the flood on 68 days later.‖ Then rice water weevils moved in and ―we‘re sampling and finding – in our untreated checks and neonic seed treatments – about 40 per core. In a 4-inch core we‘re finding 40 rice water weevil larvae feeding on the roots. The threshold is about three. ―Hopefully, we‘ll be able to identify the rates that‘ll take care of this. It‘s got to be cost-effective for the grower. If we can‘t get both seed treatments on be cost-effective, we‘ll have to look somewhere else.‖ Scouting/sweeping Aaron Cato, a graduate student working with Lorenz, picks up the narrative. ―Rice stink bug comes in about when the panicle begins to emerge from the boot. The threshold is five per 10 sweeps for the first two weeks and then 10 per 10 sweeps after that.

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―This year, we experienced a large flight of stink bugs coming in right when the rice began heading. They came out of native grasses near rice fields and that led to a lot of applications of Lambda or Cyhalothrin.‖ The following two weeks, ―we found that when an application wasn‘t made early – and many people didn‘t make that spray – there was a combination of both nymphs and adults in the field.

Research shows that a large nymph will do just as much damage to the kernel as an adult. The reason for that is the damage isn‘t due to a yield loss but a quality loss. They‘re penetrating the husk and kernel allowing fungi and bacteria in, which can cause peck. Peck can also happen due to bad weather and other factors. ―We have a trial here where we‘re spraying different plots under different thresholds. We have the (aforementioned) 5-for-10 in the first two weeks and 10-for-10 after that. Then, we have a plot that doubles those thresholds. Another is at 10-for-10 the entire time; another is at 20-for-10 the entire time.‖ One word of caution when combatting the insects: know how to properly sweep for them. ―We‘re doing the trial because although many of you own sweep nets you don‘t sweep exactly like we do,‖ says Cato. ―We recommend a 15-inch sweep net. In soybean, you have to dig down when you sweep to get the stink bugs, greens and browns, and bollworms. In rice, you want to sweep the rice head – you want the rice head to be in the center. Sweep with the net out in front of you a bit and about 3.5- to 4-foot high, depending on the variety.‖ Latter stages warning Lorenz says as the rice crop moves to its latter stages there are several things to watch for. ―Now that we have more and more rice heading, the numbers of rice stink bugs are actually going down in some fields. We‘re seeing the stink bugs dispersing. But this is the calm before the storm

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because the late-planted rice is coming along and will be out in the next several weeks. We‘ll see tremendous numbers in that late-planted crop. ―That‘s why we say, when it comes to rice and rice stink bugs, you don‘t want to be first and you don‘t want to be last. If you‘re a grower with late-planted rice this year, you really need to be on point. ―There‘s really only a four-week period when you have to worry about rice stink bugs. Be diligent during that timeframe you‘ll be okay. If you don‘t take care of business, though, you can see significant yield loss.‖ After looking at control options ―it‘s hard for me to get off the $1.5 shot of Lambda,‖ says Lorenz. ―I can get good control with that product, or Mustang Max. There are other products that provide good control but they cost a lot more and the residual control isn‘t that much better. I‘m better off sticking with the cheap stuff and then following up, particularly on the late-planted rice.‖ How much better control do you get with 10 gallons of water per acre compared to five? ―It‘s not just in rice but other crops – coverage is critical,‖ says Lorenz. ―If you don‘t get good coverage, you don‘t get good control… ―When it‘s 95 to 105 degrees and you‘re putting it out at two gallons of water in the heat of the day, what level of control do you really expect? I don‘t care if I‘m spending $1.5 or $20 for a product, I‘m going to make sure I get a good application. If it takes 10 gallons, that‘s fine. Most of the time, five gallons is adequate.‖

http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/rice-crop-seed-treatments-insect-pests-important

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Minnesota regulators propose changes in wild rice protection AUGUST 21, 2017 6:32 PM ST. PAUL, MINN. Minnesota regulators announced proposed rule changes Monday designed to protect wild rice from sulfate pollution, but American Indian tribes and environmentalists criticized them as inadequate.

MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine said the agency believes the proposed changes — coming after years of research and dozens of meetings — "are an innovative and precise approach to protecting wild rice."

"The proposal also allows for flexibility in permitting for facilities that discharge to wild rice waters," Stine said in a news release.

Native Americans consider wild rice a food source both sacred and crucial to their cultural identity. Minnesota imposed a water quality standard to protect wild rice from elevated levels of sulfate in 1973. That standard was based on observations that wild rice grew in waters with lower sulfate levels and did not grow in waters with elevated sulfate.

Debate over the largely unenforced standard flared during recent debate over proposed copper-nickel mining and pollution from existing iron mines. Mining interests and their legislative allies then said the standard was too restrictive.

The existing rule limits sulfate discharges into wild rice waters to 10 milligrams per liter. But based on new research indicating that sulfide in sediment is the main concern, the agency is proposing limiting sulfide in the sediment in which wild rice grows to 120 micrograms per liter.

Higher levels of iron in the sediment can lead to less sulfide, and higher levels of organic carbon can lead to more sulfide, the agency said, meaning http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article168459932.html

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Multi-nutrient rice set to address worldwide ‘hidden hunger’ challenge tBy Will Chu , 22-Aug-2017 Last updated on 22-Aug-2017 at 10:46 GMT

White rice contains very few or none of the essential micronutrients. As a consequence, large segments of the human population are malnourished, especially in Asia and Africa. ©iStock

Related tags: Golden, Beta-carotene, Rice, Nutrient, Iron, Zinc, Malnutrition, Micronutrient A multi-nutrient type of rice bred to produce betacarotene and increased levels of iron and zinc could help tackle malnutrition caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies, also known as "hidden hunger."

Swiss researchers reveal details of a new method that combines several micronutrients into one rice plant, overcoming a longstanding challenge that previous breeding efforts have failed to overcome.“Our results demonstrate that it is possible to combine several essential micronutrients - iron, zinc and beta-carotene - in a single rice plant for healthy nutrition,” said Dr Navreet Bhullar, senior scientist at the Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich.

Deficiencies of minerals and essential vitamins, including iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), zinc deficiency and vitamin deficiency are not restricted to developing countries.The phenomenon of ―hidden hunger‖ has found its way towards high-income countries in Western Europe.Iodine intake in the UK for example has fallen in recent years, and mild iodine deficiency has reappeared.

In addition, vitamin intake in Italian women and vitamin C in Scandinavian men and male smokers is low as are intakes of vitamin D and E for people living in Northern, Western and Southern Europe.

Gene cassettes

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Dr Bhullar describes the work needed toengineer a gene cassette containing four genes for the micronutrient improvement.This cassette is then inserted into the rice genome as a single genetic locus. In doing so iron, zinc and beta-carotene levels in rice varieties can be increased at the same time.

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The method is arguably more efficient than crossing rice lines and their individual micronutrients to achieve the required micronutrient content in rice grains.

“Combining different nutritional traits as a single genetic locus in a major staple crop is a significant step towards realizing combined supplementation for health benefits, although further improvements and optimization of the combined traits are still possible,” the authors wrote.

“If one would substitute 70% of the currently consumed white rice with the multi-nutrient variety, this could markedly improve vitamin A supplementation already in addition to sufficient iron and zinc in the diet,” added Dr Bhullar.

Previous work

The work builds on work done by the University in 2000, which researchers were able to manipulate the endosperm of the rice grain into producing beta-carotene, the precursor of vitamin A.Known as ―Golden Rice,‖ the variety was later improved to and is now used in breeding programs in several countries, primarily in Southeast-Asia.

In 2005, Golden Rice 2 was announced, which produces up to 23 times more beta-carotene than the original golden rice.

In partnership with other countries, ETH Zurich also developed rice varieties with increased iron levels in the rice and wheat grains.

The expertise and experience gained from previous trials means this multi-nutrient rice variety is soon to undergo testing under more testing conditions.

“We will improve the lines further,” explained Dr Bhullar. “It is planned to test the plants in confined field trials to determine if the micronutrient traits and also agronomic properties are equally robust in the field as they are in the greenhouse.”

She added that the new rice lines would be tested in the field next year, although the timescale for production in farmer‘s fields is still unknown.

“It will probably be five years before the multi-nutrient rice can be used to reduce hidden hunger,” she said.

Source: Scientific Reports Published online ahead of print: DOI:10.1038/s41598-017-07198-5 “Single genetic locus improvement of iron, zinc and β-carotene content in rice grains.” http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Multi-nutrient-rice-set-to-address-worldwidehidden-hunger-challenge

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