23rd february 2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter by DAILY RICE NEWS LETTER

Rice News Headlines…                          

ASIA RICE-INDIA RATES SLIP; NO NEW DEALS FOR TOP EXPORTERS NFA rice: Going, going... Bangladesh to resume selling rice at Tk 10 a kg for poor in March T&T Group seeks to acquire 25% of Vietnam’s rice exporter Vinafood 2 Quynh Nguyen Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 22, 2018 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 23, 2018 Bar private traders from importing rice–solon Asia Rice-India rates slip; no new deals for top exporters Stay open till prescribed timings, Prathipati warns ration dealers Appoint regular Collector First Pakistani 1121 Basmati and Paraguayan price assessments Three Rice States in Three Days - Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana USA Rice Meets with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries CPEC Silent Pakistan agriculture says PARC Chairman Food Commodities Worth US$ 2.395 Billion Exported In Seven Months Australia, New Zealand approval of GM rice questioned These are just a few of the menu items that caught our attention Rice exports surge on strong demand, dip in Thai stocks Couple Share Cultures on the Dinner Table Adam Henson challenges public to eat only food they can trace for one week Structural changes in Asian rice trade: Lessons for Bangladesh Fields On Fire Topic On The Table At Rice Federation Meeting SKUAST-J holds annual group meetingwww.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com on Hill Rice 0321 3692874 IRRI pillar Ben Juliano, pioneering ricemujahid.riceplus@gmail.com scientist, 81 Ex-Agri chief seeks dismissal of car loan case at Sandiganbayan 1 Global Golden Sella Rice Market focus on Research Methodology, Market

Dynamics, & Opportunities forecast to 2022  Global Indian Rice Market: Key Vendors, Trends, Challenges, and Drivers

News Detailâ&#x20AC;Ś Structural changes in Asian rice trade: Lessons for Bangladesh Rice production in Bangladesh suffers from instability and is highly sensitive to external shocks created by both natural and manmade factors. Photo: Star/file Subash Dasgupta The recession of 2007-2008 that sent rice prices spiralling came as a shock to all rice producing and consuming countries which prompted many to review their policies related to rice production towards achieving food self-sufficiency within the shortest possible time. The world has witnessed how swiftly many countries have changed their approach for rice production from self-reliance to self-sufficiency. The former policy was adopted when the world economy embraced globalisation and open market systems in the 1990s. Reversal to the policy of self-sufficiency started giving dividend within three years. Rice production increased in many countries considerably. It happened thanks to increased allocation of resources by the government because of a drastic fall in international supports. These changes in production have brought structural changes in international rice trade systems. The status of the top rice exporting country changed from Thailand to India through Vietnam within a decade (2007-2017). Cambodia and Myanmar showed their strong presence as rice exporting countries. In the global rice trade, Thailand dominated until the first decade of the 21st century. The other main rice exporting countries were Pakistan, USA, China and India. Bangladesh has been able to stop depending on rice import until 2015 and instead it exported 50 000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka in 2014. However, rice production in Bangladesh is not stable due to recurrence of natural disasters, intensity of which is on the rise.

It was clearly evident in 2017. Vietnam was predicted by many international organisations to emerge as the number one rice exporting country in the world by 2016. Although it did not entirely happen, the country briefly occupied the top position mainly due to disastrous rice policy undertaken by political government of Thailand. Thailand has been suffering from this policy setback, although it started recovering gradually. Indian rice export increased rapidly due to the pragmatic programmes in the eastern part of the country under the name of the second green revolution. Only 8 percent of rice (approximately 35-37 million tonnes) produced globally is traded in international markets. Global annual production in terms of milled rice totals around 450 to 452 million tonnes. The share of rice export from South Asian (SA) countries has been increasing compared with their South East Asian (SEA) counterparts. Mainland countries of SEA (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar) are rice exporting countries and they export around 16-18 million tonnes of rice annually. On the other hand, island nations of SEA (Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia) import rice, amounting to 5-6 million tonnes annually. Due to massive policy changes, China is emerging as a major rice importing country of the world. The country imported 5 million tonnes of rice in 2016; the figure is likely to rise by 2020. If this trend continues, China's rice import figure may reach around 16 to 20 million tonnes by 2030. In near future, rice production may decrease in Thailand and Vietnam. Main reason behind it is that rice farmers are poorer than farmers growing other staple like wheat and maize. In order to achieve the status of a wealthy nation, the first task is to pull out rice farmers from poverty. The main concern of these two countries is how to make rice farmers wealthier. Reduction of rice production is one of the ways toward achieving it. Africa is consuming more rice than its production. Estimates show that Africa's rice consumption will increase 42 percent by 2030. Nigeria is now the second largest importer of rice after China. Rice production in India increased from 89 million tonnes to 105 million tonnes during the period from 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2010 to 2014-15.

Out of 16 million tonnes of additional rice produced, more than 10 million tonnes came from seven eastern states of India which border on Bangladesh. Their contribution to national rice production increased from 51.24 percent to 53.24 percent during the same period. Rice export has been increasing in Myanmarâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;another bordering country of Bangladeshâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; steadily. It gives us hope that Bangladesh would be able to import rice from its two neighbouring countries when it needs most. However, the most worrying aspect in global rice economy is the entry of China in the tiny rice market with its large demand of rice. China will probably try to meet its production shortfall by importing from Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. However, China prefers importing low-quality rice only for production of alcohol, noodles, animal feed and for other industrial uses. Currently, 47 percent of rice in China comes from Vietnam. It has political implication as Vietnam is one of the strong rivals of China with regard to territorial disputes in South China Sea and has established close friendly relations with India. Five island nations of Asean also imports around 5-6 million tonnes of rice annually. Rice imports are rising in Indonesia and the Philippines as these two islands are most disaster-prone. Some countries in the Near East like Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia are also rice importing countries. Any production disturbance in Iraq and Iran may affect rice trade. Bangladesh's efforts to increase rice production and productivity are well known which are reflected in the record of its success. However, rice production in Bangladesh suffers from instability and is highly sensitive to external shocks created by both natural and manmade factors. In case any major crisis hits rice production, the country may face several problems for importing rice as China and other countries may get priority over Bangladesh. Indian rice is more likely to go to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and African countries rather than Bangladesh. Rice of Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam may go to China, if China faces any rice crisis internally.

In this context, Bangladesh has to relook at its rice policies and strategies in order to produce sufficient rice taking into account the likelihoods of shocks arising from climate change and also from import difficulties. http://www.thedailystar.net/business/structural-changes-asian-rice-trade-lessons-bangladesh-1538269

ASIA RICE-INDIA RATES SLIP; NO NEW DEALS FOR TOP EXPORTERS 2/22/2018

By Arpan Varghese BENGALURU, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Rice prices in top exporter India fell for the third consecutive week on sluggish demand,while the lack of fresh deals weighed on rates for the staple grain in other major Asian markets. India's 5 percent broken parboiled riceprices <RI-INBKN5-P1> fell by $6 to $414-$418 per tonne, afterrising earlier this month to the highest since September 2011.The rates were also pressured by declines in the local currency,traders said. "Prices are falling across Asia. Buyers are waiting to seewhere they stabilise," said an exporter based in Kakinada in thesouthern state of Andhra Pradesh.The rupee has fallen about 2.3 percent so far thismonth, increasing exporters' margins from overseas sales.In Thailand, the world's second-biggest rice exporter,benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices <RI-THBKN5-PI> dropped to$404-$410 a tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, versus $400-$419 last week."It's going quiet after the Indonesia shipments. Buyerswon't need more supply for a while," said a trader in Bangkok. Indonesia's state food procurement agency Bulog said inearly February that it had signed contracts with six companiesfor 281,000 tonnes of rice imports, of which 141,000 tonnes was to be imported from Vietnam, 120,000 tonnes from Thailand and20,000 tonnes from India. The overall Thai rates, especially for the parboiledvariety, also took a beating because Bangladesh scrapped a dealto import Thai rice last week. Thailand's commerce ministry said last week the countrywould compete to sell rice to the Philippines, which plans toimport 250,000 tonnes. Thailand's new rice harvest is expected in the market by

April.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major riceimporter since 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported arecord of more than three million tonnes in the July-February period, data from the country's food ministry showed. Of the total, 2.25 million tonnes were imported by privatetraders, mostly from India. Imports will come down as there was no fresh demand, BadrulHasan, head of Bangladesh's state grains buyer, told Reuters.Prices were on the downward trend in Vietnam as well, with rates of the 5 percent broken variety <RI-VNBKN5-P1> down to$415-$420 a tonne, from $420$425 two weeks earlier, followingthe Lunar New Year holiday. "Everyone is still in holiday mood. Market just reopened yesterday," said a Ho Chi Minh city-based trader, adding thatfarmers have started harvesting for the winter-spring paddy, expected to last until March."There's no buyer for the moment, as the Indonesian deal is done, while the Philippines' plan to buy 250,000 tonnes is stillunclear."(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, PatpichaTanakasempipat in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Mai Nguyen inHanoi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/asia-rice-india-rates-slip-no-new-deals-fortop-exporters

NFA rice: Going, going... Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News Feb 22 2018 10:28 PM

Ten million Filipinos who consume subsidized National Food Authority (NFA) rice sold for P27 to P32 per kilo face a looming shortage in the coming months with NFA's stocks dwindling. The 250,000 metric tons of imported rice recently ordered by the administration will arrive only in June. There is no shortage, however, of more expensive commercial rice. http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/multimedia/photo/02/22/18/nfa-rice-going-going

Bangladesh to resume selling rice at Tk 10 a kg for poor in March Senior Correspondent, bdnews24.com 2018-02-22 20:23:55.0 BdST Updated: 2018-02-22 21:57:19.0 BdST

The government is resuming a programme for providing the poor with rice at Tk 10 per kilogram in March. As many as 5 million poor families were supposed to get 30 kg rice per month from September to November and March and April every year since 2016 under the programme. Food Minister Qamrul Islam told a news conference at the Directorate General of Food in Dhaka on Thursday the programme was suspended for September, October and November last year after the floods damaged crops.

“We have come out of the situation. The programme will resume in March-April period this year and will continue in the future,” he added. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the project at Chilmari in Kurhigram on Sept 7, 2016.A number of agents in the scheme lost dealerships for irregularities in the distribution, such as providing rice to families that are not poor.Hasina also warned against irregularities in the project at the time. Qamrul on Thursday said they would not allow any irregularities or corruption in the rogramme. According to him, the government needs 7,500 tonnes of rice annually for the programme while it has over 1 million tonnes in reserves.The government has procured 540,000 tonnes rice in the ongoing Aman crop season while the target is 600,000 tonnes. “We’ll finish the procurement in time,” Qamrul said. The government could buy only 250,000 tonnes of food grains against a target of 1.2 million tonnes after the floods in the Haor or backswamp region destroyed crops.“The government food grain reserves had dropped to 130,000 tonnes. It was a huge crisis of rice,” he remembered. Qamrul also said rice prices should not drop below Tk 40 a kg in the retail market, echoing Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed who had made the claim earlier.Food Secretary Shahabuddin Ahmed and Directorate General of Food Director General Md Badrul Hasan were also present. https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2018/02/22/bangladesh-to-resume-selling-rice-at-tk-10-a-kg-for-hardcore-poor-in-march

T&T Group seeks to acquire 25% of Vietnam’s rice exporter Vinafood 2 Quynh Nguyen February 22, 2018 Vietnam-based multi-sector firm T&T Group plans to spend approximately $56 million to acquire a 25 per cent strategic stake in IPO-bound Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2). Vinafood 2 is set to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) on March 14. Despite being a major firm in Vietnam’s agriculture sector, its IPO has not attracted investor attention due to its poor business performance over the past several years, according to experts.

In a statement, Vinafood 2 said that T&T Group was the only company to submit a bid to become a strategic investor so far. Under the equitization approved by Prime Minister, Vinafood 2 will sell nearly 23 per cent of its capital (114.8 million shares) in its IPO, another 25 per cent to strategic investors, and the remainder to its employees and workers at a preferential price. With the price for the strategic stake sale expected to at least match the IPO starting price of VND10,100 ($0.45) per share, T&T Group may have to pay at least VND1.26 trillion ($56 million) to purchase the 25 per cent stake. The interest in acquiring a Vinafood 2 stake comes as T&T Group plans to expand its presence in the agricultural sector. In 2015, T&T Group and Saigon Hanoi Insurance Corporation, both wholly-owned by Chairman Do Quang Hien, acquired 35 per cent of the outstanding shares of Vietnam National Vegetable, Fruit and Agricultural Product Corporation JSC (Vegetexco), marking a foray into the agricultural sector of the multi-sector firm. T&T also acquired a 50 per cent stake in Ha Noi Import Export and Investment Company (Unimex Hanoi), part of Hanoi Trade Corporation (Hapro), in 2015. Vinafood 2 is one of the largest rice traders in Vietnam with an annual output of 2.8-3.0 million tons of rice, export turnover of over $1 billion. The agriculture firm is targeting VND11.89 trillion ($523.1 million) net revenue and VND118 billion ($5.19 million) after-tax profit in the first year after equitization. Its net revenue in 2016 stood at VND9.95 trillion ($437.8 million), down 36 per cent year-on-year. By the end of 2016, the company recorded a net loss of VND798 billion ($35.1 million). By mid-2017, the accumulated loss had increased to VND912 billion ($40.1 million). T&T Group was established in 1993. It operates in the fields of finance, industry, minerals, real estate and exports. Also Read: VN Dealbook: T&T Group to buy more hospitals; Everpia slashes foreign holding limit.

https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/tt-group-vietnam-rice-exporter-vinafood2-92948/

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 22, 2018 Reuters Staff FEBRUARY 22, 2018 / 1:14 PM Nagpur Foodgrain Prices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; APMC/Open Market-February 22, 2018

Nagpur, Feb 22 (Reuters) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gram and Tuar moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand from local millers amid poor quality arrival. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also pushed down prices here.

About 2,200 bags of gram and 1,200 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM * Desi gram raw showed weak tendency in open market here on lack of demand from local traders.

TUAR

* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

* Rice BPT and Chinnor varieties recovered in open market here on seasonal demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,500-4,600, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,300-6,500, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-8,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,400, Gram – 3,900-4,000, Gram Super best – 5,400-5,800

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

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

FOODGRAINS

Available prices

Previous close

Gram Auction

3,200-3,840

Gram Pink Auction

n.a.

Tuar Auction

3,300-3,970

2,100-2,600

4,000-4,400

Moong Auction

4,000-4,460

n.a.

Udid Auction

n.a.

Masoor Auction

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

n.a.

Wheat Mill quality Auction

2,600-2,800 1,700-1,796

Gram Super Best Bold

1,700-1,772

5,500-6,000

Gram Super Best

n.a.

Gram Medium Best

5,500-6,000

n.a.

5,200-5,400

Gram Dal Medium

n.a.

Gram Mill Quality

3,900-4,050

Desi gram Raw

3,800-3,900

3,850-3,950

Gram Kabuli

n.a

12,500-13,100

Tuar Fataka Best-New

12,500-13,100

6,600-6,800

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

6,600-6,800

6,200-6,400

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

6,200-6,400

6,000-6,300

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New Tuar Gavarani New

6,000-6,300

5,600-6,000

4,400-4,500

5,600-6,000

4,400-4,500

Tuar Karnataka

4,500-4,700

Masoor dal best

4,800-5,000

Masoor dal medium Masoor

4,500-4,700

n.a.

4,500-4,700

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

7,500-8,000

Moong Mogar Medium

6,500-7,000

Moong dal Chilka

5,800-6,800

7,500-8,000 6,500-7,000

5,800-6,800

Moong Mill quality

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

7,500-8,000

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500

7,500-8,500

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)

5,600-6,500

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

5,600-6,500

5,700-6,000

4,800-5,000

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)

4,800-5,000

2,400-2,500

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,500

3,100-3,200

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

5,700-6,000

4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

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

3,100-3,200 4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

1,750-1,850

2,150-2,350

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

2,150-2,350

2,200-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)

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

3,200-3,800

2,400-2,700

3,500-3,800

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)

2,500-2,700

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)

3,400-3,700 2,900-3,100 3,400-4,000 2,500-2,700

2,600-2,800

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,700

3,000-3,200 3,500-4,000

1,950-2,100

2,400-2,500

2,400-2,500 4,200-4,600 3,600-4,000

2,600-2,800 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 4,500-4,800 3,900-4,300

Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)

4,200-4,600

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)

5,500-5,800

Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

5,000-5,100

Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500

5,000-5,500

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)

5,000-7,500

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,500 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)

9,500-13,500 5,000-7,500

6,000-6,400

5,500-5,900

5,400-5,800

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)

6,000-6,200

5,600-5,800

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)

2,000-2,200

2,000-2,100

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

1,800-2,000

1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 33.9 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 14.7 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 34 and 15 degreeCelsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-february-22-2018idINL4N1QC2EJ

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 23, 2018 FEBRUARY 23, 2018 / 12:58 PM Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 23, 2018

Nagpur, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Gram and Tuar showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on poor buying support from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Easy condition on NCDEX and weak trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses also pulled down prices

here. About 2,400 bags of gram and 2,900 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders.

TUAR

* Tuar gavarani reported higher in open market on renewed demand from local traders.

* Lakhodi dal recovered in open market here on seasonal demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 4,500-4,600, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,300-6,500, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-8,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,400, Gram – 3,900-4,000, Gram Super best – 5,400-5,800

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

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

FOODGRAINS

Available prices

Previous close

Gram Auction

3,300-3,930

Gram Pink Auction

n.a.

Tuar Auction

3,300-3,950

2,100-2,600

4,000-4,290

Moong Auction

4,000-4,400

n.a.

Udid Auction

n.a.

Masoor Auction

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

n.a.

Wheat Mill quality Auction

2,600-2,800 1,700-1,796

Gram Super Best Bold

1,700-1,772

5,500-6,000

Gram Super Best

n.a.

Gram Medium Best

5,500-6,000

n.a.

5,200-5,400

Gram Dal Medium

n.a.

Gram Mill Quality

3,900-4,050

Desi gram Raw

3,800-3,900

Gram Kabuli

n.a

12,500-13,100

Tuar Fataka Best-New

12,500-13,100

6,600-6,800

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

6,600-6,800

6,200-6,400

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

6,200-6,400

6,000-6,300

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New Tuar Gavarani New

6,000-6,300

5,600-6,000

4,450-4,550

5,600-6,000

4,400-4,500

Tuar Karnataka

4,500-4,700

Masoor dal best

4,800-5,000

Masoor dal medium Masoor

4,500-4,700

n.a.

4,500-4,700

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

7,500-8,000

Moong Mogar Medium

6,500-7,000

Moong dal Chilka

5,800-6,800

7,500-8,000 6,500-7,000

5,800-6,800

Moong Mill quality

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

7,500-8,000

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500

7,500-8,500

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)

5,600-6,500

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

5,600-6,500

5,700-6,000

4,800-5,000

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)

4,800-5,000

2,500-2,600

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,500

3,100-3,200

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

5,700-6,000

4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

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

3,100-3,200 4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

1,750-1,850

2,150-2,350

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

2,150-2,350

2,200-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG)

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

3,200-3,800

2,400-2,700

3,500-3,800

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)

2,500-2,700

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)

3,500-3,800 3,000-3,200 3,500-4,000 2,500-2,700

2,600-2,800

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,700

3,000-3,200 3,500-4,000

1,950-2,100

2,400-2,500

2,400-2,500 4,200-4,600 3,600-4,000

2,600-2,800 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 4,500-4,800 3,900-4,300

Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)

4,200-4,600

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)

5,500-5,800

Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

5,000-5,100

Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500

5,000-5,500

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)

5,000-7,500

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,500 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)

9,500-13,500 5,000-7,500

6,100-6,500

5,500-5,900

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)

6,000-6,200

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)

2,000-2,200

2,000-2,100

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

1,800-2,000

1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 34.8 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 16.2 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 16 degreeCelsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-february-23-2018idINL4N1QD35S

Bar private traders from importing riceâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;solon By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz & Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas February 22, 2018

An elderly rice trader shoos away pesky flies at her store where several varieties of commercial rice are displayed with their corresponding price tags. Noticeable is the absence of the cheap rice variety previously being sold at P28 per kilo. A lawmaker on Thursday called on the National Food Authority Council (NFAC) to disallow private traders from importing rice and to set a ceiling on the retail price of the staple. Amid the current â&#x20AC;&#x153;artificialâ&#x20AC;? supply problem, Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte Jr. of the Second District of Camarines Sur said the NFAC should consider setting up a separate body that would monitor the supply and prevent the retail prices of rice from spiraling out of control. This, he added, is similar to the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s regulatory control over vital services like electricity, to protect consumers.

“In the same way that there exists regulatory control on the cost of electricity, there should also be regulatory control on the price of rice to prevent the profiteering schemes of unscrupulous traders from upsetting the supply of the staple in the domestic market,” Villafuerte said in a statement. Villafuerte filed House Resolution 993 last year, amid the then-unstable rice price and supply scenario in his province, several months before the current situation has become a nationwide problem. “We need to fix the existing system to shield both farmers and consumers from the shady practices of private traders that have left the National Food Authority [NFA] helpless in carrying out its primary task of ensuring the stability of the price and supply of rice in the market,” he added. “Clearly, the present setup doesn’t work, as greedy grains traders have managed to game the system by cornering domestic supply through imports and heavy purchases of locally produced stocks and, in the process, managing to influence and dictate retail prices through a seemingly ‘artificial’ supply deficit,” he said. Under the current system, the NFA has the sole authority to import rice, but the NFAC allows private traders to similarly purchase stocks from abroad through the food agency attached to the Office of the President. Villafuerte said the NFAC, the highest policy-making body of the NFA chaired by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., should do away with the current system of allowing private traders to facilitate rice importation. “This setup obviously does not work in the face of the recent price spike of the grain in the retail market, which could apparently be traced to the hoarding done by unscrupulous businessmen that has created an artificial supply shortfall,” he said.

He added the rule of thumb is that unmilled rice bought from farmers should only have a 100percent markup once milled and sold as rice in retail outlets. “At the current average farm-gate buying price of P20 per kilogram [kg] of palay, regular-milled rice should be sold at around P40 per kg only. But right now you can see that regular-milled commercial rice sells for around P43 to P50 per kg in retail outlets,” he added. Based on the NFA’s presentation during the recent House hearing on the rice-supply situation, as of February 14, the total remaining NFA rice stock is equivalent to only 1,122,376 bags. This consists of 90,253 bags of palay in rice, 52,697 bags of local rice and 979,426 bags of imported rice. At a daily consumption rate of 640,260 bags, the NFA’s stockpile would be enough for only 1.7 days. “Although belatedly the NFAC authorized the NFA to import 250,000 metric tons of rice, this is already too late to influence price movements in the market because the stocks would arrive only in July,” Villafuerte said. NFA support price The National Movement for Food Sovereignty (NMFS) said the government should hike the buying price of the NFA for palay to P22 per kg, from the current P17 per kg, so it could buy more paddy from local farmers in the coming harvest. The NMFS, a coalition of local farmers’ federations, non-governmental organizations and consumer groups, said this would allow the NFA to resume selling government-subsidized rice in the market. “Many have expressed alarm on how rice prices could go up suddenly despite the record bumper harvest in December that until now has left more than 3 million tons still being kept in private

warehouses and households, even as the harvest season in March is fast approaching,” the NMFS said in a statement on February 22. “What has been depleted according to the NFA is its 15-day rice buffer stock, which constrained it from continuously downloading cheap rice to the local market. The NFA should raise its buying price of palay to P22 per kg in order to get a bigger chunk of the coming harvest,” it added. However, the NMFS argued that the food agency’s low buying price for palay is not a justification for the NFA not to fulfill its mandate of stabilizing the price of rice in the market. “While partly true, the NFA’s claim that it cannot procure from local farmers because of its low buying price of P17 per kg of palay cannot be an argument coming from an institution mandated to stabilize rice prices and supply,” it said. “In fact, the NFA’s history shows that there have been years in the mid-1980’s and 1990’s when its domestic palay procurement had reached as high as 10 percent to 15 percent of total palay production and which evidently improved farmers’ income and enabled the agency to distribute cheap rice to the market,” it added. NMFS also said the government should be designated as the sole importer of rice even after the quantitative restriction on the staple has been lifted. The group added that it opposes any executive or legislative actions that seek to privatize the NFA.“So long as the government is bent on further stripping the NFA of its functions that could strengthen its intervention in the market, the danger of price volatility and speculation remains. Far worse scenarios maybe expected if the government persists on adopting its free market policies,” the NMFS said. “Stable rice prices are crucial, especially in a country like the Philippines where rice is the primary staple food and where tens of millions still live in abject poverty. It cannot be understated that the stability of rice prices can directly affect whether a family goes hungry or not,” it added.https://businessmirror.com.ph/bar-private-traders-from-importing-rice-solon/

Asia Rice-India rates slip; no new deals for top exporters Reuters Thursday February 22, 2018 6:46 AM Kitco News Share this article: By Arpan Varghese BENGALURU, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Rice prices in top exporter India fell for the third consecutive week on sluggish demand, while the lack of fresh deals weighed on rates for the staple grain in other major Asian markets. India's 5 percent broken parboiled rice prices fell by $6 to $414-$418 per tonne, after rising earlier this month to the highest since September 2011. The rates were also pressured by declines in the local currency, traders said. "Prices are falling across Asia. Buyers are waiting to see where they stabilise," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The rupee has fallen about 2.3 percent so far this month, increasing exporters' margins from overseas sales. In Thailand, the world's second-biggest rice exporter, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices dropped to $404-$410 a tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, versus $400-$419 last week. "It's going quiet after the Indonesia shipments. Buyers won't need more supply for a while," said a trader in Bangkok.

Indonesia's state food procurement agency Bulog said in early February that it had signed contracts with six companies for 281,000 tonnes of rice imports, of which 141,000 tonnes was to be imported from Vietnam, 120,000 tonnes from Thailand and 20,000 tonnes from India. The overall Thai rates, especially for the parboiled variety, also took a beating because Bangladesh scrapped a deal to import Thai rice last week. Thailand's commerce ministry said last week the country would compete to sell rice to the Philippines, which plans to import 250,000 tonnes. Thailand's new rice harvest is expected in the market by April. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major rice importer since 2017 after floods damaged its crops, imported a record of more than three million tonnes in the July-February period, data from the country's food ministry showed. Of the total, 2.25 million tonnes were imported by private traders, mostly from India. Imports will come down as there was no fresh demand, Badrul Hasan, head of Bangladesh's state grains buyer, told Reuters. Prices were on the downward trend in Vietnam as well, with rates of the 5 percent broken variety down to $415-$420 a tonne, from $420-$425 two weeks earlier, following the Lunar New Year holiday. "Everyone is still in holiday mood. Market just reopened yesterday," said a Ho Chi Minh citybased trader, adding that farmers have started harvesting for the winter-spring paddy, expected to last until March. "There's no buyer for the moment, as the Indonesian deal is done, while the Philippines' plan to buy 250,000 tonnes is still unclear." (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok, Ruma Paul in Dhaka and Mai Nguyen in H http://www.kitco.com/news/2018-02-22/Asia-Rice-India-rates-slip-no-new-deals-for-topexporters.html

Stay open till prescribed timings, Prathipati warns ration dealers TNN | Feb 23, 2018, 02:24 IST Guntur: Expressing his displeasure at dealers of fair price shops not following the prescribed timings, civil supplies minister Prattipati Pulla Rao warned the PDS dealers that nobody will be spared if they did not open the shops as per the schedule fixed by the government.The minister asked the district civil supplies officers to closely monitor the performance of the dealers and remove those who did not follow instructions. The minister reviewed the performance of the department with district officials through a video-conference from the district collectorate here on Thursday. Speaking to officials, the minister said they have been receiving complaints about the dealers not keeping the shops open to distribute rice and other essential commodities. “Make it clear to the dealers that they should keep the shops open from 8 am-12 noon and 4pm-8pm. We can’t allow people to suffer due to errant dealers,” he said. Pulla Rao asked joint collectors and revenue divisional officers to supervise the functioning of PDS shops. He directed district officials to expedite the measures to convert PDS shops into Chandranna Malls. He said at least 1,500 shops should be converted into Chandranna Malls by March-end and 6,500 shops by June. He said Chandranna Malls were set up to supply more essential commodities and other consumer goods at cheaper prices. The minister asked officials to take steps to prevent the recycling of PDS rice by rice millers and ration dealers and said surprise inspections by joint collectors and RDOs would keep the dealers and rice millers on a tight leash. He said social audits should be made mandatory at all PDS shops to ensure transparency. Civil supplies principal secretary B Rajasekhar, civil supplies commissioner Ravi Babu, and civil supplies corporation managing director Ramgopal were present.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/stay-open

Appoint regular Collector THE HANS INDIA | Feb 23,2018 , 02:43 AM IST

T MASS Forum chairman A Venugopal Rao speaking at the round table meeting in Jangaon on Thursday Jangaon: The public in the district were gearing up for staging a series of protests demanding appointment of regular District Collector to Jangaon.A round table meeting under the aegis of Telangana Mass and Social Organisations Forum (T MASS Forum) was conducted here on Thursday to discuss the problems arising out of transfer of previous Collector and nonappointment of a regular one. The forum district chairman A Venugopal Rao, Rice Millers Association president P V Naranayana Goud, District Writers Association leader R Ratnakar Reddy, OU JAC leader Bala Lakshmi, TJAC leader A Sathish, Chamber of Commerce and Industry leader R Sudhakar and others spoke at the meeting. They alleged that the first District Collector A Devasena was transferred at the behest of the local MLA M Yadagiri Reddy. As a result, the progress of many development projects was affected severely. It was shameful that the State government was not able to appoint a regular Collector even after 50 days passed by since the previous Collector was transferred. There were four MLAs and an MP belonging to the district in the ruling party, but they failed to address the issue, said Venugopal Rao.

It was not proper to target the officials, who were working honestly, he added.There were apprehensions that the State government might cancel district status to Jangaon, given its negligent attitude in appointing a regular Collector. The public had great hopes on the development of Jangaon district as they staged series of agitations for its formation, said Ratnakar Reddy. It was decided to stage dharnas, rasta-rokos across the district and passing of resolutions by municipal council and gram panchayats. Md Sadik Ali of Jangaon Adhyayana Vedika, CPM leader M Kanaka Reddy, Congress leader C Srinivas Reddy and others were present. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2018-02-23/Appoint-regularCollector/360997anoi; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

First Pakistani 1121 Basmati and Paraguayan price assessments Following the feedback periods for the proposed Pakistani 1121 Basmati and Paraguayan Methodologies, the LRI will make its first price assessments for these varieties next Friday (2 March). These Methodology documents will be published on the LRI website on Monday (26 February). Please note that the Paraguayan Methodology will be incorporated into the South American white rice Methodology. Liver Index

Three Rice States in Three Days - Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana By Deborah Willenborg JONESBORO, AR; CLEVELAND, MS; BUNKIE and JENNINGS, LA -- As the 2018 planting season approaches, rice state meetings are in full swing and USA Rice is on the road listening to growers and sharing planned activities and success stories. The jam-packed schedule included stops on Monday at the Arkansas Rice Council and Arkansas Rice Farmers annual meeting, Tuesday at the Mississippi Rice Council annual meeting and Mississippi Rice Research and Promotion Board meeting, and yesterday at the Central Louisiana Rice Growers meeting and the Louisiana Rice Council and Rice Growers Association annual joint meeting.

At each stop on the road tour, USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward thanked attendees for their support for USA Rice and reminded them of their state volunteer representatives in the member-driven organization.

She also gave an industry update that focused on international trade including the renegotiation of NAFTA, a report on current export markets, and what USA Rice is doing to combat unfair competition in global markets. She also talked about the continued success of the USA RiceDucks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership and how that effort has generated financial assistance of more than $75 million specifically for rice farmers to support implementation of conservation practices.

Count on Randy Jemison to be the center of attention Ben Mosely, vice president of government affairs for USA Rice, showcased the organization's legislative advocacy efforts as he reported on last week's successful Government Affairs Conference (see USA Rice Daily, February 16, 2018) and shared his perspective on the coming Farm Bill and rice priorities.

USA Rice Vice President of Marketing, Communications & Domestic Promotion Michael Klein discussed the challenges of telling the rice story using social media and partnering with important influencers and other supporters who help amplify the rice message. Several videos were shared with the crowds, including a NestlĂŠ Purina/USA Rice/DU video about sustainable rice farming in Mississippi and Arkansas, a National Rice Month Video Scholarship winner, highlights from Arkansas rice farmer Eric Vaught's appearance on celebrity TV chef Sara Moulton's cooking show, Sara's Weeknight Meals, and USA Rice videos showcasing Louisiana's annual Yellow Rails & Rice Festival and the group's Foodservice Farm & Mill tours. USA RICE DAILY

LA Lt Governor Nungesser (left) is sure to Think Rice Other speakers at the Louisiana annual meeting included Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain. Also at the meeting, long time USA Rice employee Randy Jemison was presented with the Distinguished Service Award and rice farmer Kevin Berken was honored for his many years as chairman of the Louisiana Rice Political Action Committee. "We are a member driven organization and though the focus of much of our work is in Washington, DC, it is vital we stay in close contact with what is happening in rice country - these tours are an important part of that," said Ward.

USA Rice Meets with Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries By Jesica Kincaid

ARLINGTON, VA -- Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, (MAFF) along with representatives from the Embassy of Japan, visited USA Rice yesterday. As part of a regular visit, the two sides discussed the U.S.-Japan rice trade and reviewed the progress of Japan's rice imports in the current Japan fiscal year (April-March). The two sides also discussed prospects for Japan's remaining import tenders. "We welcome the regular visits from MAFF, which provide both sides the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest and build on U.S.-Japan rice trade," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.

The government of Japan is the sole importer of rice under Japan's market access commitment to members of the World Trade Organization. To date, Japan has purchased just under 550,000 metric tons of rice, of which 260,000 MT is from the United States. Japan's total import commitment each JFY is 682,200 MT (milled basis). USA Rice Daily

CPEC Silent Pakistan agriculture says PARC Chairman Staff Report FEBRUARY 22, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) chairman Dr. Yousaf Zafar said on Wednesday that modern technology had a pivotal role in the future of agriculture sector in Pakistan. However, a lack of awareness and proper understanding of new technological advancements in this field continues to impede adoption. Therefore, the role of the media, both electronic and print, was even more important in terms of carrying a pro-technology message to the farmers, policy makers and the citizenry. The PARC chairman expressed these views while addressing journalists at a workshop organised by the CropLife Pakistan. The main objective of the workshop was to build the capacity of mainstream media in understanding and articulating technological advancements in agriculture together with the potential benefit that could be gained from their adoption. “Despite much hype, proper importance had not been given to agriculture sector in ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” said PARC chairman, adding that the CEPC was silent on the agriculture sector of Pakistan. However, the National Agriculture Research Centre had given some proposals regarding setting of agriculture zones in CPEC which were under consideration, he added. He said Pakistan’s agriculture sector had great potential and at the time of independence, Pakistan was mainly an agrarian economy. The total share of agriculture in the GDP in 1950-55 was 51 percent, but in 2015-16 it declined up to 19.8 percent due to lack of interest of successive governments, he said, adding that Pakistan’s agriculture sector was running through borrowed money since 1950. The PARC chairman said that the share of the agriculture sector in exports was 57 percent. He also said that Pakistan had surplus stock of wheat, rice, sugar, maize and potato as the country had produced 25 million tons of wheat, 6.85 million tons of rice, 5.6 million tons of sugar, 6.13 million tons of maize and 3.8 million tons of potatoes during the year. Dr Waseem-ul-Hassan, the director general (DG) of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP), said that China and United States were not ready to import Pakistani agriculture produce just to protect their own farmers. Due to a ban on tomato imports last year, Pakistan had saved Rs12 billion which had benefited growers to a large extent. “Pakistan had also imposed a ban on onion import and now we have become onion exporting country. The chairman also claimed that during the last four years, Pakistan has not imported fresh fruit and vegetable and expressed the hope that the trend would continue in future,” he said.

In his introductory presentation, Dr. Muhammad Afzal, the executive director of CropLife Pakistan, explained that growing population, climate change, scarcity of water and changing lifestyles continued to pose challenges to food security. Therefore, in order to address this emergent challenge, ‘we need to promote sustainable means to grow food and embrace technological innovations that enable the same’. “This workshop for media professionals is part of CropLife Pakistan’s broader effort to create awareness and understanding of agriculture technologies. We hope this interaction provides the participants a fresh perspective and adds to their knowledge”, he said further. The workshop covered a wide array of technological developments, including those in crop biotechnology, robotics in precision agriculture and ICT integrated solutions for farmers. The speakers and experts on the occasion comprised the keynote speaker, Dr. Yousaf Zafar, the PARC chairman, Dr. Muhamad Awais, professor of Computer Science at LUMS, Sharjeel Murtaza, the project director at Government of Punjab’s Agriculture Delivery Unit, and Dr. Waseemul Hassan, the director general Department of Plant Protection. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2018.

https://dailytimes.com.pk/205767/cpec-silent-pakistans-agriculture-says-parc-chairman/

Food Commodities Worth US$ 2.395 Billion Exported In Seven Months Umer Jamshaid Thu 22nd February 2018 | 03:10 PM

Country earned US$ 2.395 billion by exporting different food commodities during last seven months of current financial year as compared the exports of US$ 2.016 billion of the corresponding period of last year. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2018 ):Country earned US$ 2.395 billion by exporting different food commodities during last seven months of current financial year as compared the exports of US$ 2.016 billion of the corresponding period of last year. During the period from July-January, 2017-18, food group exports from the country grew by 18.83 percent as against the exports of same period last year, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

About 2,292,348 metric tons of rice worth US$ 1.061 billion exported in last seven months as compared the exports of 2,048,037 metric tons valuing US$ 876.745 million of same period last year, it added.Exports of rice during the period under review increased by 21.7 percent as compared the exports of same period last year ,the data added.Meanwhile, 213,460 metric tons of basmati rice valuing US$ 222.365 million exported in last seven months as compared the exports of 221.785 metric tons worth US$ 208.145 million of same period last year, showing an increase of 6.83 percent, it added. Country earned US$ 839.136 million by exporting about 2,078,888 metric tons of rice other then basmati rice as compared the exports of US$ 666.600 and 1,826,939 metric tons of same period last year.On the other hand food commodities imports into the country during the period under review grew by 9.77 percent and stood at US$ 3.777 billion as against US$ 3.441 billion of same period last year.

However, on month on month basis, imports of food croup decreased by 7.21 percent as it was recorded at US$ 535.339 million in January, 2018 as against the imports of US$ 576.883 million of same month of last year. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/food-commodities-worth-us-2395-billion-expo266148.html

Australia, New Zealand approval of GM rice questioned

Golden rice seedlings in test tubes at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines Copyright: Panos Speed read ď&#x201A;ˇ

Genetically-modified golden rice gains approval of Australia and New Zealand

ď&#x201A;ˇ

A Munich-based institute has questioned the basis for the approval as inadequate

The institute recommends more rigorous tests to ensure public safety By: Prime Sarmiento [MANILA] While the decision by Australian and New Zealand authorities to allow the commercial sale of food derived from the pro-vitamin A rice line, GR2E, has given progenetically modified (GM) rice scientists hope that other countries in the Asia-Pacific region would soon follow, one independent body has questioned the basis for the approvals. A report published on February 5 by the Munich-based Institute for Independent Impact Assessment of Biotechnology (Testbiotech) said that the Food Standards Australia New Zealand’s (FSANZ) risk assessment process was not “sufficient to demonstrate safety of food derived from GR2E" without the toxicology report.

“The assessment of FSANZ might be used in the countries to claim food safety to get quicker approval” Christopher Then, Testbiotech "It is self-evident that food products with no history of safe use must be subjected to the highest standards of risk assessment before the most vulnerable groups of the population are exposed to it. However, no toxicological studies were performed with the rice. In the light of the humanitarian claims made in the context of GR2, it is surprising that this application is not based on a full set of data to establish high safety standards," the Testbiotech report said. Testbiotech executive director Christoph Then warns that FSANZ’s decision to approve the application may influence countries that are either field testing or importing GM rice. "The assessment of FSANZ might be used in the countries to claim food safety to get quicker approval," Then tells SciDev.Net. GR2E or rice genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, the vitamin A precursor, is meant to be a fortified food for countries where rice is a staple food and vitamin A deficiency is rampant. It has been field tested in several countries around the world including Bangladesh and the Philippines. But its testing has been controversial due to concerns that the rice variant could endanger human health, local biodiversity, and farmers' livelihoods. Lorraine Haase, FSANZ's manager for communication and stakeholder engagement claimed that the agency's decision was based on "rigorous and transparent" assessment. On November 16,

2016, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) applied for the market approval of the GR2E line from FSANZ, which was subsequently approved. In its report issued on December 20, 2017, FSANZ said: "Based on the data provided in the present application, and other available information, food derived from line GR2E is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional rice cultivars." "Since both Australia and New Zealand have robust national health and environment regulatory systems, this development should allay fears of risks posed by these specific GM products," Emil Javier, member of the National Academy of Science and Technology and former Philippine science minister, tells SciDev.Net. Javier adds FSANZ would not have approved the sale of GM rice "if they were not benign to their people and environment". This piece was produced by SciDev.Netâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Asia & Pacific desk. https://www.scidev.net/asia-pacific/gm/news/australia-new-zealand-approval-of-gm-ricequestioned.html

These are just a few of the menu items that caught our attention Inlander Restaurant Week 2018

Clover's mushroom and winter squash chilaquiles

FOR MEAT LOVERS PORK TENDERLOIN AU POIVRE Wild Sage ($31) Menu says: "Pepper-rubbed kurobuta pork tenderloin, brandy-green peppercorn veal demi, mashed Yukon potato, roasted sweet onion, apple chip." We say: If you've never heard of kurobuta pork, just know that it takes the already delightful flavor of pork you know and love, and amps up the deliciousness. Add in the comforting flavors Wild Sage builds around it, and this is a pork-lover's must-try. BISON RIBS Sweet Lou's Restaurant and Taphouse ($21) Menu says: "Fred Flintstone is impressed with this dish! Three tender ribs glazed with bourbon barbecue sauce. Choice of one side." We say: Ribs, you say? Bison-sized ribs? We love even the baby-back-sized ribs, but three big ol' suckers with bourbon barbecue sauce sounds like a dream. Any rib that genuinely takes two hands to eat â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or even lift â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is OK in our book. ELK MEATLOAF Durkin's Liquor Bar ($31) Menu says: "Traditional grilled meatloaf, celery root, apple and smoked Gouda whipped potatoes, chipotle blackberry ketchup, micro green salad." We say: Our mama didn't use elk in her meatloaf, so the chance to experience a favorite dish with an unexpected meat source is one that needs to be taken advantage of. And smoked gouda whipped potatoes and chipotle-blueberry ketchup to sop up with every bite? Yes, please.

FOR VEGETARIANS ROASTED AVOCADO NACHOS

Republic Kitchen & Taphouse ($21) Menu says: "Potato chips, house beer cheese, goat cheese, charred corn salsa, Anaheim chili, cilantro chutney and pickled jalapeños" We say: Look at that array of toppings and gooey cheeses and tell me you would really miss having beef or chicken in the mix. Anaheim chiles bring some sweet flavor, as does the corn salsa, but let's not kid ourselves — that beer cheese is the star of the show. BEYOND BURGER Lantern Tap House ($21) Menu says: "The first of its kind in Spokane, the Beyond Burger is a vegan burger made out of pea protein, created to taste and look just like a traditional burger patty." We say: If you've been skeptical of trying a vegan burger, now is the time to change your mind. Beyond Meat is one of the two leading plant-based meat substitutes that taste incredibly like the real thing. And you know the Lantern knows how to treat a burger right — vegan or otherwise. STUFFED ACORN SQUASH Scratch ($31) Menu says: "Roasted acorn squash, caramelized onion, wild mushrooms, smoked blue cheese, basmati rice, garlic, toasted pumpkin seeds, orange molasses reduction." We say: A good squash dish relies on the chef's creativity to bring an otherwise simple food to life, and there's no question this is one of the more creative approaches you'll see on this year's menus. The smoked blue cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds are enough to pique our interest; the orange molasses sauce puts this dish over the top.

FOR THE ADVENTUROUS CRACKLINS AND PEPPER JELLY Casper Fry ($31) Menu says: "Smoked and deep-fried pork belly cracklins, housemade pepper jelly."

We say: Cracklins aren't for the faint of stomach. Not everyone has a hankering for the combination of pig skin, fat and meat, but for anyone with a love of genuine Southern flavor, cracklins are little tastes of heaven. And you know the Casper Fry pork belly version will hit that sweet spot that's a perfect match for the spice of the pepper jelly. ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE HUSH PUPPIES Timber Gastropub ($21) Menu says: "Southern-style hush puppies filled with Andouille sausage and aged cheddar. Served with Old Bay caramelized fennel dip." We say: Hush puppies by themselves are enough to get us excited. When you start talking about stuffing them full of spicy andouille sausage and cheese, you've taken the hush puppies from a comforting side dish to the potential star of the night. SWEET AND SPICY CHEESE CURDS Palouse Bar & Grill ($21) Menu says: "Flash-fried cheese curds tossed in salted caramel, topped with sauteed bacon and jalapeĂąos, finished with sriracha." We say: We love cheese curds, you love cheese curds, who doesn't love cheese curds? We can safely say we've never seen cheese curds served up quite like this, though. Salted caramel playing off the smokey sauteed bacon and some spicy jalapenos? That's a cheese curd party, people. Top it off with sriracha and you're going to need something to cool your jets afterward.

FOR SEAFOOD LOVERS Seafood paella from Barrel Steak & Seafood

SMOKED SALMON TORTELLINI Europa ($31)

Menu says: "Fresh-made tortellini filled with house-smoked salmon, tossed in a lemon and butter sauce."We say: You'll find a lot of seafood on the Inlander Restaurant Week menus, prepared myriad ways, but sometimes the simple things are best. It doesn't get much more simple than freshly made pasta filled with salmon and tossed in lemon and butter. Simple food done well by people who know what they're doing. NORTHWEST BOUILLABAISSE The Bluebird ($31) Menu says: "Halibut, clams, mussels and shrimp simmered in a rich tomato broth. A menu favorite from the start." We say: Why settle on just one kind of fish? If you're a seafood lover, a hearty stew like this one, full of halibut, clams and more, is a godsend. Be sure to ask for some bread to soak up every last bite of that broth, too. COULIBIAC Fleur de Sel ($31) Menu says: "Wild Alaskan coho salmon baked in puff pastry with a duxelle of mushroom and spinach served with a lobster cream sauce." We say: We've never had this dish, but we trust Fleur de Sel with every ounce of our being to create something amazing with everything they do. This combination of vegetables, wild Alaskan salmon and a creamy lobster sauce is tantalizing, to say the least.

GLUTEN-FREE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS The Cork House ($31) Menu says: "Two enchiladas stuffed with a blend of chicken, zucchini, yellow squash, spinach, quinoa and cotija cheese, simmered in our fire roasted pasilla cream."We say: Not being able to eat gluten becomes the least of concerns when you order this south-of-the-border, veggie-heavy dish. Even wheat-eaters won't miss the carbs here. A perfect melding of flavors and textures all wrapped in a corn tortilla make this a tasty treat for diets of any kind.

ROASTED GARLIC & CHICKPEA STUFFED MINI-PEPPER Dockside ($21) Menu says: "Palouse-grown chickpeas mashed with roasted garlic and stuffed in mini bell peppers, oven roasted and served over wilted spinach, balsamic caramelized onion, and drop peppers." We say: You had us at chickpeas and garlic, the basis of everyone's favorite Mediterranean dip, hummus. The deal was sealed by that mention of balsamic caramelized onion. CHOCOLATE SIN Hills' Restaurant ($31) Menu says: "A rich flourless chocolate cake served with raspberry sauce and Chantilly cream." We say: Gluten-restricted chocolate cake lovers can still get theirs and eat it, too. The figurative and literal icing on this cake is that sweetened whipped cream, and of course generous drizzles of tart berry sauce.

DESSERTS Maple creme brulee from Twigs

OLD FASHIONED Gilded Unicorn ($31) Menu says: "Warm orange coffee cake, housemade bourbon ice cream and cherry whipped cream." We say: You could order a drink for dessert. You could. But this edible take on one of the most popular craft cocktails is just as tempting as its spirits-based namesake. Orange bitters become orange coffee cake; the bourbon evolves into ice cream, and a liqueur-soaked garnish pairs with a splash of sugar to become cherry

whipped cream. It's not over the top if you order the actual cocktail to pair with this, too. BRIGADEIRO Grille from Ipanema ($31) Menu says: "A famous Brazilian chocolate candy, and a favorite for all! The Brigadeiro is made from condensed milk, cocoa powder, butter and chocolate sprinkles." We say: With plenty of dessert classics, from chocolate mousse to creme brulee galore, filling the third course lists of many Inlander Restaurant Week menus, step outside the box and sample this Brazilian delicacy, comparable to a bon bon or a truffle. FRY BREAD SUNDAE Red Tail Bar & Grill ($21) Menu says: "Traditional Native American fry bread with vanilla ice cream, honey, and huckleberry syrup topped with whipped cream." We say: Enjoy this culturally significant dish, a simple staple made from flour, water and salt, then fried in oil, served in an ultra-decadent way, warm and topped with regionally appropriate huckleberries, as well as honey and ice cream.

COMFORT FOOD ADULT MAC N CHEESE Collective Kitchen Public House ($21) Menu says: "18-hour smoked beef brisket + four cheese bĂŠchamel + baby spinach." We say: You can eat your cheese, and veggies, too, with this concoction making a decadent twist on the pasta-from-the-box staple. HAND-CUT BEEF STROGANOFF Barlows at Liberty Lake ($21)

Menu says: "Local choice sirloin steak sauteed with mushrooms, onions, and garlic in a rich beef sauce topped with creme fraiche over egg noodles." We say: Hamburger Helper, nor your grandmama's recipe, got nothin' on this gourmet take of the family dinner staple. If beefy noodles aren't your favorite, also consider another comfort food favorite featured on Barlows' Restaurant Week menu, the house-made meatloaf. HONEY STUNG FRIED CHICKEN 1898 Public House ($31) Menu says: "Yukon mashed potatoes, rich chicken gravy, scratch-made buttermilk biscuit with honey butter." We say: Fill your belly until it's about to burst with this ultra-hearty portion of Southern comfort goodness. Chef Tyler Schwenk and team's honey butter is truly a thing to die for, and you'll find yourself soaking up every last drop, along with that chicken gravy, using every last crumb on your plate.

EXCEPTIONAL VALUE SANTÉ RESTAURANT & CHARCUTERIE $31 Menu highlights: Country pâté, chicken confit, braised beef, brie plate We say: On the rare chance you've yet to experience the upscale European dining experience that is Santé, we must recommend a stop during Restaurant Week. Owners Jeremy and Kate Hansen don't lessen the quality of their scratch-made ingredients, or the dining experience itself, when diners are getting a meal for about half the price of what those dishes might be any other time. We hope you'll be impressed, too. ITALIA TRATTORIA $31 Menu highlights: Grilled mackerel, "strata" savory bread pudding, grilled pork steak, Italia tiramisu

We say: Restaurant Week is the perfect time to visit a new-to-you fine dining spot, or simply return to one of your favorites for a special treat, like Browne's Addition neighborhood gem Italia Trattoria. This year, owners Bethe Bowman and Anna Vogel are treating diners to several specials and a few house favorites, including the Italian ricotta and spinach dumplings as a starter, and three dessert menu mainstays. click to enlarge

Steelhead's Thai glazed duck breast

CEDARS FLOATING RESTAURANT $31 Menu highlights: Cedar planked salmon, steak oscar, huckleberry ice cream sundae

We say: Make your reservations early for a Restaurant Week dinner at one of the most romantic spots in North Idaho, and that's literally floating on the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Featured on this year's menu is the restaurant's house favorite cedar-planked salmon (normally priced at $27 per plate). Truly, you'll be dining like royalty for nearly half the price at this upscale locale. Keep in mind, as with all Restaurant Week dining experiences, to tip generously, and to plan ahead by making reservations. It'll be much smoother sailing — or floating — for all. https://www.inlander.com/spokane/we-combed-through-107-menus-something-everyone-should-do-andthese-are-just-a-few-of-the-items-that-caught-our-attention/Content?oid=8265630

Rice exports surge on strong demand, dip in Thai stocks VISHWANATH KULKARNIT

BL14_RICE_EXPOR+BL14_RICE_EXPORT.jp.jpg Non-basmati shipments up 40% in April-December; may top 8 million tonnes for 2017-18 BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 20 Strong demand from neighbours Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and steady off-take from traditional buyers in Africa has led to a surge in the country’s non-basmati rice exports, which are likely to rise to new highs this financial year. Besides, the depleted stock levels in Thailand — a major exporter — has helped India gain and consolidate its share in the global market, trade sources said. Shipments soar 40%

For the first nine months of the current fiscal, the non-basmati exports have registered a growth of 40 per cent in volumes at 63.38 lakh tonnes (lt) and 46 per cent increase in value terms at ₹16,803 crore over corresponding period last year. Non-basmati rice shipments, after reaching a record 82.74 lt in 2014-15, had dropped in the subsequent year to around 64.64 lt. However, over the past couple of years, the Indian shipments have staged a rebound. Steady growth in domestic output of over 100 million tonnes annually, has resulted in a surplus aiding the shipment trend since 2011-12, when the exports curbs were removed. Output, stocks For the current 2017-18 year, the government is targeting a rice production of 108.5 mt , marginally lower than the fourth advance estimates of 110.15 mt during 2016-17. Rice stocks with the Food Corporation of India stood at 198.93 lt as on February 1 this year against 170.28 lt in the corresponding period last year. Similarly, the unmilled paddy stocks in the Central pool stood at 210 lt as on February 1 this year (183.14 lt). “The liquidation of old stocks by Thailand has led to the increased demand for Indian white rice. As a result, we expect the shipments to be over 8 million tonnes this year,” said BV Krishna Rao, President of the Rice Exporters Association. Further, the decline in Thai rice stocks has led to a firming trend in prices, resulting in better realisation for the Indian exporters. Prices have moved up by around $100 per tonne as compared to a year ago, Rao said. The average prices realised by the Indian exporters stood at $411 per tonne for April-December this year, as against last year’s $378 per tonne. Bangladesh buying Bangladesh, which bought aggressively during April-October period, has slowed down a bit in the past three months with the arrival of domestic crop. Rao estimates that Bangladesh could have bought up to 2 million tonnes of rice, while close to a million tonnes would have been purchased by Sri Lanka, while demand has been steady from African nations.

“The average exports during January-March period over the past five years stood at around 1.84 million tonnes. Assuming this is achieved this year too, the total exports would be over 8 million tonnes. The shipments may touch the historic high or near to historic highs, if there are no more surprises from Bangladesh during this period,” said Amit Bharadwaj, CEO of Level A Commodities. Basmati exports for April-December stood at 2.9 million tonnes valued at $2.9 billion or ₹18,758 crore. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-exports-surge-on-strongdemand-dip-in-thaistocks/article22808662.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaig

Couple Share Cultures on the Dinner Table By Raymonda Furness raymonda@uvsj.com Feb 21, 2018

Eating a favorite Pakistani dish are Kevin Roeser, holding son, Dawoud and wife, Hiba, who is of Pakistani heritage. Both Kevin and Hiba are wearing authentic dress of Pakistan. Many of their meals are related to Pakistan; however, they enjoy American cuisine too. Hiba has shared several of their favorite Pakistani recipes in today’s Food Stuff.When two cultures combine to make a family, many times the food is a big factor in that culture. Our featured family today is a family where two cultures are combined and much of it shows on the dinner table. Hiba and Kevin Roeser of Rexburg are from Texas. Hiba was born in Plano, Texas but left Texas at the age of four months when her family moved to Pakistan. They were immigrants to America but went back and lived there until Hiba was 12. They are now residents of McKinney, Texas.

Hiba and Kevin met as both are from McKinney. They have been in Rexburg for three years where Kevin is a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho, majoring in mechanical engineering. Hiba is a homemaker and mother to two year old, Dawoud. Hiba enjoys cooking and is a good cook. She watched her own mom cook many Pakistani foods and also loves American food. She and Kevin probably eat Pakistani food at many of their meals. Both Kevin and Hiba would choose Pakistani Pork Biryani (rice and chicken dish) as a favorite while Kevin also likes beef fajitas and Hiba likes steak and Mexican food. Their son, Dawoud loves spicy food and is obsessed with sucking on lemon wedges. The Roeser family enjoys people. These friends and neighbors have made Rexburg a happy place to be. They enjoy gardening and raise a large garden which helps to keep fresh food on their menu through the garden time and into the winter where they store and bottle much of the produce for winter eating. Some of their favorite garden foods include spaghetti squash, zucchini, green beans and onions. Hiba is always up for a challenge in cooking and will try new recipes and change ones to fit the tastes of her family. She cooks mainly from scratch. Her one specialty is her bread making. She uses a natural yeast (sour dough) and produces a variety of breads. Popcorn is also another favorite food for the Roeser family. They find it nutritional and they enhance it with various seasonings. A favorite is a yeast seasoning which is available at the grocery store. Kevin found that a Pakistani class was held on the BYU-I campus each semester and he enrolled in it to learn more about the culture of his wife so that he could help keep it active in the family. Now he and Hiba are helpers with the class in the way of food and culture on occasion. They love to share the Pakistani culture with others. For hobbies, Hiba enjoys her gardening, canning, cooking and crocheting. Kevin likes to garden also and works on various projects and likes to problem solve. He is a handyman around the house and keeps things in working order. Together with Dawoud they enjoy hiking and being outside. When possible, they enjoy a trip to Texas to see family and are always excited when family comes to see them. This past summer, Kevin and Hiba hosted a block party which was attended by many and it was held on August 14, which is Pakistani Independence Day. They cooked authentic Pakistani foods for a bunch and many contributed other food to the event which made it a fun time. When the Roesers get to retirement, their dream is to travel to “food destinations” and enjoy food from all “corners of the world”. That is far into the future but for now, they are enjoying Rexburg, the people, and a variety of food cooked in their own home. They have shared Pakistani recipes that are some of their favorites. FROM RAYMONDA Remember to always wash fresh fruit. Lemons and Limes are fruits that should be washed, even though you don’t always use the peel. Zest from the citrus is where the flavor lies and should be used with the juice for flavor. Washing is essential in any fresh vegetable or fruit.

Salsa Chicken (Hiba Roeser) 1 jar salsa 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can corn 1 can black beans 1 8-ounce package cream cheese 2 to 3 chicken breasts 1 packet taco seasoning Dump all ingredients into slow cooker. Set to high for four hours. At 3-1/2 hours, take chicken out and shred it. Put the chicken back into the slow cooker once it is shredded and let sit for another 30 minutes. After 30 minutes serve on rice and enjoy. Sooji Ka Halwa (Semolina Dessert) (Hiba Roeser) 1 cup Semolina flour 1 cup sugar 2 cups water 4 tablespoons butter First dry roast Semolina flour until it turns light brown. Be careful not to burn it. Once the flour is roasted, add the water and sugar and keep stirring until the flour absorbs the water and everything is incorporated. (Do not stop stirring because it can burn quickly.) Then add the butter and stir to combine. Serve warm with deep fried tortillas. Haleem (Hiba Roeser) 2 teaspoons salt 2 tablespoons ginger garlic paste (use less if using powers) ½ teaspoon Cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon cumin seeds ½ teaspoon Garam masala (a spice blend) 1 teaspoon turmeric powder ½ cup yellow split peas 1/4 cup mixed lentils (white, yellow, orange) 1 cup Pearl barley 1 cup old fashioned oats 12 to 13 cups water 1 pound stewing beef Olive oil For serving: French fried onions Chopped cilantro Lemon juice Ginger slivers Start by heating a skillet on medium high heat. Pour enough olive oil into the pan to cover the bottom of it. Add the cumin seeds into the oil and stir until they become fragrant. Then add the

meat, salt, ginger/garlic paste and all spices. Stir-fry until meat turns brown; then take off the heat. Dump the meat into a slow cooker. Rinse the yellow split peas, lentils and barley and dump them in as well. Then add old fashioned oats and the water. Set the slow cooker on low for eight hours. After eight hours, use a stick blender to mash everything up in the slow cooker. You can also use a potato masher to do this. It will be a bit more chunky but it will still be great. Serve with French fried onions, chopped cilantro, lemon juice and ginger slivers. Enjoy! Tandoori Chicken (Hiba Roeser) 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1 to 2 teaspoons Cayenne pepper Â˝ teaspoon Cumin power 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 cups yogurt (whipped) 2 tablespoons ginger/garlic paste (or a lesser quantity of powdered) 3 to 4 chicken breasts 1 medium onion, chopped 2 teaspoons paprika Âź teaspoon black pepper 1 dash cinnamon Wash and cut chicken breasts into one-inch pieces and place in a bowl. Add all remaining ingredients except the onion. Mix to combine. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least two hours and up to overnight. When ready to cook, turn the stove to medium high heat and cover the bottom of the pot with olive oil. Once heated, add the chopped onion and cook until golden brown. Then add the chicken into the pot and cook until all the liquid is evaporated. Remove from heat and serve with fresh or deep fried tortillas, raita, cilantro chutney, lemon wedges and sliced onions. Cilantro Chutney (Hiba Roeser) 2 bunches cilantro, washed 2 Jalapenos (de-seeded) 4 garlic cloves Couple dashes of cumin 2 teaspoon salt 1 cup water Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until it becomes a smooth sauce. Serve with Tandorri chicken, various bar-b-que, in tacos, on burgers or even rice. Raita (Hiba Roeser) 2 cups yogurt Hand full of cilantro leaves Dash of cumin Place all ingredients in a blender and blend to combine until all the cilantro leaves are minced and combined in with the sauce. Serve with Tandorri Chicken, various barbecue, in tacos, on burgers or on rice.

Adam Henson challenges public to eat only food they can trace for one week News22 Feb 2018Abi Kay

BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is encouraging the public to eat only food they know the origin of for one week as part of the Live Happerley Challenge. Abi Kay Abi took up the post of chief reporter at Farmers Guardian after a stint working for the NFU as part of its government affairs team. Happerley is an organisation which works to ensure shoppers know the journey of their food. Businesses which join the network publish their entire food supply chain, right back to primary producers, providing full transparency for consumers.Other celebrities taking part in the challenge include ‘Baker Boy’ Henry Herbert and MTV’s Melissa Reeves, who starred in popular TV show Ex On The Beach.

The challenge, which kicks off on Monday February 26, has been designed to show how little shoppers know about where food comes from and how difficult it is to consume only food and drink which can be traced back to seed or birth. https://www.fginsight.com/news/adam-henson-challenges-public-to-eat-only-food-they-can-tracefor-one-week--53940

Fields On Fire Topic On The Table At Rice Federation Meeting By ANN KENDA • FEB 21, 2018

Arkansas Public Media Fire smolders near Osceola following the fall harvest in 2017. ANN KENDA / ARKANSAS PUBLIC MEDIA Leaders from Arkansas’s sizable rice industry are coming together to seek a compromise on the divisive issue of agricultural burning, which tends to inflame relations each fall between farmers who burn residue off their fields and people who say they’re creating a public health hazard that can be seen and smelled for miles. That concern was one of the leading issues at the Arkansas Rice Federation's annual meeting this week in Jonesboro. Most farmers, according to Jeff Rutledge with the Arkansas Rice Council, want to be good neighbors. “Our families are raised here, and we breathe this air, too,” he said.Rice farmer Dan Hosman said he often has to burn fields in Cross and Poinsett counties for environmental and cost-saving reasons but agreed that more control can help reach a fair solution for everyone.“I can see where it’s not pleasant, and people don’t want to go outside and smell like smoke,” he said. The voluntary guidelines aim to minimize the effects of the smoke by offering a checklist for conditions that should be met before farmers burn field. It encourages farmers to take turns burning (and, thus, communicate with one another) and identify locations deemed smokesensitive, such as outdoor recreational areas, schools and nursing homes. The voluntary guidelines got a thumbs up from Dr. Warren Skaug, a Jonesboro pediatrician who has been outspoken about the harmful effects of the smoke on his young patients’ lungs. He sees a spike in respiratory illnesses every fall when burning season is underway.

Pediatrician Dr. Warren Skaug with the air quality machine he uses to log the effects of agricultural smoke. CREDIT ANN KENDA / ARKANSAS PUBLIC MEDIA “It is a meaningful first step,” Skaug said. He said more may need to be done in the future to further reduce the health effects of agricultural smoke, but he’s impressed by the work done by the task force formed by rice industry leaders seeking more controlled conditions for field burns. Skaug said he will continue to take measurements with an air quality machine outside the Children’s Clinic in Jonesboro. “There were many good days in Jonesboro through the fall, with very clean air. But on the days of uncoordinated burning, those levels got to potentially toxic and dangerous levels and we see the fallout,” he said. Skaug added that it would be a “great pleasure” to see those numbers improve and is hopeful that the new guidelines can make that difference. This story is produced by Arkansas Public Media. What's that? APM is a nonprofit journalism project for all of Arkansas and a collaboration among public media in the state. We're funded in part through a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, with the support of partner stations KUAR, KUAF, KASU and KTXK. And, we hope, from you! You can learn more and support Arkansas Public Media's reporting at arkansaspublicmedia.org. Arkansas Public Media is Natural State news with context.

http://ualrpublicradio.org/post/fields-fire-topic-table-rice-federation-meetingort difficulties.

SKUAST-J holds annual group meeting on Hill Rice Posted on 23/02/2018 by Dailyexcelsior

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 22: One day â&#x20AC;&#x153;5th Annual Hill Rice Research Group Meetingâ&#x20AC;? was held at SKUASTJ Chatha by Indian Institute of Rice Research (ICAR), Hyderabad in collaboration with All India Coordinated Crop Improvement Project on Rice (AICRP on Rice) group of SKUAST-Jammu. The Group Meeting was organized under the patronage of Prof Pradeep K Sharma, Vice Chancellor SKUAST-J, who was chief guest in the inaugural session. The meeting was attended by Dr Dileep Kachroo, Registrar, SKUAST-Jammu; Dr L .V Subba Rao, Dr M S Prasad, Dr B Jhansi Rani and Dr Sri Devi from Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad; Rice scientists from J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, North Eastern States and senior faculty members of SKUAST-Jammu. Professor P K Sharma highlighted the importance of rice crop in Northern hill zone of India. He opined that ecological variability in hills is very high which needs to be harvested for increasing crop yield and quality. He underlined the need to develop varieties specific for SRI, direct seeding and upland systems. He mentioned that in the era of climate change there is need to develop nutrient use efficient, water use efficient and short duration varieties. Dr Anil Gupta, Professor & Incharge Scientist AICRP (Rice) presented introductory remarks. The focus of the meeting was to review the ongoing rice research activities in hill agro-ecology of India and to frame strategies for developing rice varieties and standardizing associated technologies for achieving higher yield levels. Dr Subba Rao, Dr M S Prasad and Dr B Jhansi Rani outlined the status of rice research in the Hill Zone and enlisted some of the promising varieties and technologies in this regard. Scientists from AICRP Centres at Khudwani (Kashmir), CSK HPKV Palampur, Malan (HP), Dualakaun (HP), Almora (UK) and North East States presented their research findings and suggested scientific interventions for proportion of hill rice. The group of scientists favoured establishment of a National Centre for Germplasm Screening against cold stress, promotion of japonica rice varieties and broadening of rice germplasm. It was observed that race profiling of pathogens in the hill region is very important. It was emphasized that local germplasm of rice should be evaluated across different centres to select for desirable traits. http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/skuast-j-holds-annual-group-meeting-hill-rice/

IRRI pillar Ben Juliano, pioneering rice scientist, 81 By News5 | InterAksyon | February 23, 2018, 12:39 AM

National Scientist Bienvenido Juliano. Photograph from IRRI The world-renown Bienvenido O. “Ben” Juliano, 81, cereal chemist and Philippine National Scientist, passed away on the morning of 21 February in Los Baños, Laguna. As stated in an obituary written by Gene Hetten, Juliano was “among the first group of elite scientists who set the direction of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) during the institute’s early years. Arriving as an associate chemist in 1961, he went on to spend more than 32 years at IRRI, most of them as head of the Cereal Chemistry Department.” IRRI’s first director general, Robert Chandler, Jr., who hired him, later wrote, “Without question, the broad scope of Dr. Juliano’s work in cereal chemistry advanced decidedly the world’s knowledge of the cooking, eating, and nutritional qualities of the rice grain; he was a pioneer in analyzing IRRI’s world collection of rice varieties for protein content.”In 1993, Klaus Lampe, a later IRRI director general wrote: “It is primarily due to Dr. Juliano’s dedicated work in this

important research area that IRRI scientists and their colleagues can routinely measure grain quality in pre-breeding efforts that are serving the national agricultural research systems.” Bestowed the honor of National Scientist in 2000 by then president Joseph Estrada, Dr. Juliano’s rice taste-panel research showed that the amylose and amylopectin contents of the starch largely determined rice’s cooking and eating quality. He found that a higher proportion of amylose provided a greater tendency for rice to cook dry and fluffy. So, based on this research, it became clear that the rice eaters of the Philippines and Indonesia preferred medium-amylose rice grains. IR24, the first IRRI variety to meet this requirement, was released in 1971. Born on 15 August 1936 from a family of accomplished scholars, the young Ben Juliano showed brilliance and academic excellence. He graduated early from college at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) with a magna cum laude B.S. in Agriculture in 1955 and eventually became the youngest (at the age of 22) “straight-A” PhD graduate in organic chemistry in 1959 at The Ohio State University. Shortly after that, he returned to the Philippines and joined IRRI where he would pursue his life’s work for the next 3 decades until his “retirement” in 1993. “In 1993, he produced two books that brought together many elements of his scientific body of work, Grain Quality Evaluation of the World’s Rices, published by IRRI, and Rice in Human Nutrition, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “Dr. Juliano put together the FAO book to serve a wide range of readers in government, universities, and industry as a general source on most aspects of rice production, processing, trade, and consumption. “His IRRI book (written with C.P. Villareal), was aimed at rice breeders and chemists involved in grain quality breeding programs and for food scientists and nutritionists interested in rice grain quality, composition, processing, and use. It was translated into Japanese in 1999. He also released a 10-chapter book in 2003, revised in 2007, Rice Chemistry and Quality, which was launched by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).” After his IRRI retirement, Dr. Juliano was invited to visit cereal laboratories in Vietnam, Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, Cuba, and Taiwan to give recommendations to their rice quality breeding programs. He also helped to build the grain-quality research capability of PhilRice

where he continued to pursue his rice research as a senior consultant/expert, bringing his time devoted to cereal chemistry research to a half century. “In addition to being named a Philippine National Scientist in 2000, Dr. Juliano received numerous honors and awards throughout his stellar career including: the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award from the Junior Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines for his achievements in science (1964), the President of the Republic of the Philippines Jose Rizal Pro Patria Award (1976), election into the National Academy of Science and Technology of the Philippines (1979). the only non-Japanese Asian to be presented with the Medal of Merit by the Japanese Society of Starch Science (1982), and the only Asian and rice scientist to receive the Thomas Burr Osborne Medal Award from the American Association of Cereal Chemists (1988). “He also was the first Filipino to be honored by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an Outstanding Scientist and Technologist during the ASEAN Science and Technology Week (1988), recipient of the National Research Council of the Philippines’ Cluster I (Physical Sciences) National Researcher Award during its 60th Jubilee Celebration (1993), and recipient of a plaque of recognition for lifetime research on rice quality awarded by IRRI on the occasion of the dedication of the institute’s new Grain Quality and Nutrition Center (2004).”The wake is being held through 24 February at St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel, Los Baños, Laguna. http://www.interaksyon.com/irri-pillar-ben-juliano-pioneering-rice-scientist-81/

Ex-Agri chief seeks dismissal of car loan case at Sandiganbayan Adrian Ayalin, ABS-CBN News Feb 22 2018 06:11 PM MANILA - Fresh from the dismissal of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam cases, former Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap has sought the dismissal of his graft cases stemming from the allegedly anomalous car loans granted to former officials of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). Earlier this week, the Sandiganbayan Special 6th Division dismissed Yap's malversation and graft cases involving former Nueva Ecija 4th District Rep. Rodolfo Antonino due to the inordinate delay of the Ombudsman in the filing of the cases.Yap, currently the representative of Bohol, is facing two counts of graft for supposed unwarranted benefits to PhilRice employees who were allowed

to obtain personal car loans from the Philippine National Bank, secured by PhilRice funds through Hold-Out Agreements (HOAs) with the bank. In his motion to quash information filed by his lawyer also at the 6th Division, Yap pointed out that he and PhilRice official Remedios de Leon were absent in the meeting of the board wherein the car plan and its guidelines were discussed. In the meetings, also cited in the complaint, wherein Yap and De Leon were present, there was nothing in the minutes that expressly or impliedly authorized the execution of the subject HOAs. The complaint against De Leon was dropped by the Ombudsman and she was not charged before the Sandiganbayan. “With the prima facie truth of the allegation of conspiracy dispensed with if not destroyed, the facts alleged in the Informations do not constitute an offense as to Mr. Yap,” Yap’s lawyer Alexander Poblador said. It was also noted that the HOAs were signed by Yap’s co-accused, PhilRice Executive Director Ronillo Beronio, as well as a certain Fe Lumawag. “It is settled that only corporate officers shown to have participated in the alleged anomalous acts may be held criminally liable,” Poblador said. Yap also said that the preliminary investigation of the Ombudsman “dragged on for more than six years,” thus resulting to the inordinate delay in the proceedings. “As held by the Supreme Court, the respect and confidence of the people in the Office of the Ombudsman do not lie solely on its fairness or impartiality, but with its capacity to resolve cases speedily,” Poblador said. Yap also has a pending case at the 3rd Division, as co-accused of Misamis Occidental 1st District Rep. Marina Clarete, also in connection with the PDAF scam. http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/22/18/ex-agri-chief-seeks-dismissal-of-car-loan-case-atsandiganbayan

Global Golden Sella Rice Market focus on Research Methodology, Market Dynamics, & Opportunities forecast to 2022 February 23, 2018 - by Rashmi “Golden Sella Rice Market examines the performance of the Plant Based Milk market 2022. It encloses a complete Research of the Golden Sella Rice market state and the competitive landscape. This report analyzes the potential of market in the present and the future prospects from various viewpoints in detail.” Description

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import, export, gross margin, price, cost, and consumption are also analysed under the section Analysis of Golden Sella Rice production, supply, sales and market status. Key Points Covered in TOC: Golden Sella Rice Market Research Report 2017 Golden Sella Rice Market Competition by Manufacturers Golden Sella Rice Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017) Golden Sella Rice Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017) Golden Sella Rice Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Golden Sella Rice Market Analysis by Application Golden Sella Rice Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis Golden Sella Rice Manufacturing Cost Analysis Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Market Effect Factors Analysis Place a Purchase Order For $ 3500 (Single User License) at: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/purchase/10707980 The Golden Sella Rice Market report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market shares.https://thefinancialconsulting.com/global-goldensella-rice-market-focus-on-research-methodology-market-dynamics-opportunities-forecast-to2022/153287/

Global Indian Rice Market: Key Vendors, Trends, Challenges, and Drivers February 23, 2018 - by Rashmi

“Indian Rice Market examines the performance of the Plant Based Milk market 2022. It encloses a complete Research of the Indian Rice market state and the competitive landscape. This report analyzes the potential of market in the present and the future prospects from various viewpoints in detail.” Description Indian Rice Market Research Report provides an in-depth analysis of the major Indian Rice industry leading players along with the company profiles and strategies adopted by them. This enables the buyer of the report to gain a telescopic view of the competitive landscape and plan the strategies accordingly. A separate section with Indian Rice industry key players is included in the report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of price, cost, gross, revenue, product picture, specifications, company profile, and contact information. The Market Research, besides estimating the Indian Rice’ market potential till 2022, analyzes on who can be the market leaders and what partnerships would help them to capture the market share. The Indian Rice Industry report gives an overview about the dynamics of the market, by discussing various aspects such as drivers, restraints, Porter’s 5 forces, value chain, customer acceptance and investment scenario Get a Sample of Indian Rice Market Research Report @: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/enquiry/request-sample/10708000 The following Companies as the Key Players in the Indian Rice Market Research Report 2017: Company 1 Company 2 Company 3 Company 4 Company 5 Indian Rice Market by Type and Application (2012-2017)

Indian Rice Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017) Indian Rice Market Size by Type (2012-2017) Indian Rice Market Size by Application (2012-2017) Potential Application of Indian Rice in Future Top Consumer/End Users of Indian Rice Indian Rice Market Forecast 2017-2022 The Indian Rice industry research report analyses the supply, sales, production, and market status comprehensively. Production market shares and sales market shares are analysed along with the study of capacity, production, sales, and revenue. Several other factors such as import, export, gross margin, price, cost, and consumption are also analysed under the section Analysis of Indian Rice production, supply, sales and market status. Key Points Covered in TOC: Indian Rice Market Research Report 2017 Indian Rice Market Competition by Manufacturers Indian Rice Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017) Indian Rice Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017) Indian Rice Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Indian Rice Market Analysis by Application Indian Rice Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis Indian Rice Manufacturing Cost Analysis Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Market Effect Factors Analysis

Place a Purchase Order For $ 3500 (Single User License) at: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/purchase/10708000 The Indian Rice Market report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market shares. https://thefinancialconsulting.com/global-indian-rice-marketkey-vendors-trends-challenges-and-drivers/153446/

Rice Syrup Market Research by Experts 2017, Competitive Landscape Asia Pacific Forecast To 2022 February 23, 2018 - by Carol Harris

Rice Syrup Market Report offers a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup industry along with competitive landscape, Market share and revenue forecasts 2022. This report is a valuable source of guidance for companies and individuals offering Industry Chain Structure, Business Strategies and Proposals for New Project Investments. The research report on the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market provides a complete view of the market by assessing the impact of the technological advancements, changes in investment habits, and n-depth overview of Product Specification. The report also studies the various inhibitors as well as motivators of the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market in both quantitative and qualitative manners in order to provide accurate information to the readers. Key Players covered in this report: Wuhu Deli Foods, Axiom Foods, Wuhu Haoyikuai Food, California Natural products (CNP), Cargill, ADM, ABF Ingredients, â&#x20AC;Ś. Ask Sample PDF @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/request-sample/11543479 Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market research report utilizes a SWOT analysis as well as Porterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Five Forces analysis to reveal the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The report uses the latter to identify the threat posed by new entrants to the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market, the threat of substitute products or services, and the overall scope of competitive rivalry. Rice Syrup Market: Type wise segment: Brown Rice, White Rice, Certified Organic Rice,. ; Rice Syrup Market: Applications wise segment: Confectionery, Processed Foods, Dairy

Products, Ice-creams & more. Type wise and application wise consumption figures are given. With the help of supply and consumption data, gap between these two is also explained. Scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Rice Syrup in Asia Pacific market, especially in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India, Australia, Southeast Asia. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Any Query Or Specific Requirement? Ask to our Industry Expert @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/11543479 The experts within the industry have additionally attempted to investigate the export and import policies that make an immediate impact on the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market. This report contains a chapter on the on the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market and all its associated companies with their profiles, which gives valuable data pertaining to their outlook in terms of finances, product portfolios, investment plans, and marketing and business strategies. The report on the Asia Pacific Rice Syrup market is an important document for every market enthusiast, policymaker, investor, and player. Reasons to Buy this Report: The report will enrich both established firms as well as new entrants/smaller firms to gauge the pulse of the market which in turn would help the firms in garnering a greater market share. Firms purchasing the report could use any one or combination of the below mentioned five strategies (Market Penetration, Product Development/Innovation, Market Development, Market Diversification, and Competitive Assessment) for reaping a greater market share. Price of Report: $4000 (Single User) Purchase Full Report @ http://www.absolutereports.com/purchase/11543479 Finally, Rice Syrup Market report is the believable source for gaining the market research that will exponentially accelerate your business. Additionally, it Presents new task SWOT examination, speculation attainability investigation, and venture return investigation. SOURCE Facts Week https://factsweek.com/

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Brown Rice Market: Key Players are T.K. Mills, Asia Golden, Shiva Shellac & Chemicals and others The global brown rice market is anticipated to experience a high growth due to its increasing use, particularly in the food industry. Zion Market Research has published a new report that examines the “Brown Rice Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 2016–2024”, which forecasts that newer technology advancements driving the market globally. The report covers forecast and analysis for the Brown Rice Market on a global and regional level as well as country level. Global Brown Rice Market research study focuses on growth opportunities, industry trends, key drivers and restraints across the globe. The Brown Rice Market report also analyzes the historical data as well as future outlook of the market for better understanding the dynamics and trends prevalent in the market. The Brown Rice Market research report mainly focuses on market size, share, trends, and growth and future aspects in-depth. Ask to Analyst: https://goo.gl/QAGvRm The overview or summary part of this report describes the definition of Brown Rice Market as well as its uses, applications, product portfolios, pipeline analysis and the other industry prospective. The Brown Rice Market also discusses the couple of facets, for example, major key drivers, growth obstacles, and future predictions that have been found in the global market. The Brown Rice Market research report also includes, a major key segments with the help of which discusses about the market growth, regional aspects, sub segment breakdown, etc., can be measure. The Brown Rice Market is also segmented on the basis of its type, uses, applications and regional and country level. The Brown Rice Market research report covers an in depth market segmentation that includes all market aspects containing in this intelligence report that could helps to gain market share in the respective segments across regions. Request Sample: https://goo.gl/A5WZDV Key Points Covered in this Report:

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A complete 360-degree analysis is provided in the report on growth factors, regional and country level, major companies’ portfolio, developmental strategies, and future opportunities from the companies in the historical period. The report evaluates the positive and the negative factors that are influencing the growth of the market The report also covers in-depth market size, share, trends, growth analysis on the basis of its applications and key drivers. The market numbers has been calculated using top-down and the bottom-up approaches The report also includes quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Brown Rice Market. Major market players profile and their business strategies.

In the next subsequent chapters, the report describes competitive landscape, market analysis, key growth factors, future opportunities and its aspects. The different measures considered while calculating the Brown Rice Market prospects near future. Request TOC: https://goo.gl/Wj6Tvb Team of analysts at Zion Market Research have analyzed the Brown Rice Market key drivers, constraints, challenges and emerging opportunities in all the industry verticals which will specify the emerging scope for the market in end user industries. The future impact key growth drivers and restraints based on different average model are included in the report to better understanding of clients with clear decision-making insights. Browse Report: https://goo.gl/z8Qtz4 About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristically, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, a company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with Vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from Cardinal Industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client’s needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to us—after all—if you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States

Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: sales@zionmarketresearch.com Website: http://www.zionmarketresearch.com Visit Our Blog: http://zmrblog.com https://industrytoday.co.uk/market-research-industry-today/brown-rice-market--key-players-aret-k--mills--asia-golden--shiva-shellac---chemicals-and-others

Customs seize 4,120 bags of rice, contraband drugs in Rivers February 22, 2018

Chukwudi Akasike, Port Harcourt THE Nigerian Customs Service, Area 11 Command in Onne, Rivers State, said on Thursday that it had seized 4,120 bags of foreign rice and banned pharmaceuticals, including the prohibited Tramadol. The Controller of the Command, Abubakar Bashir, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the achievement of the NCS in the area, said the contraband pharmaceuticals were contained in nine containers with each measuring 40 feet (9*40 feet). Bashir also said that the Command had also recorded N11.4 billion in two months of the first quarter of the year out of its target of N117.8 billion; even as he added that the aim of the command was to surpass its target. He recalled that the Command had made 26 seizures with a duty paid value of N470,011,478.38 billion in 2017, promising to improve on the performance.

Explaining that the contraband pharmaceuticals were imported by unscrupulous businessmen from China and India, the Customs boss further disclosed that the items, which included Tramaking were falsely declared as pressuring reducing drugs. “From January to date the command has seized 9*40′ containers carrying 8,245 cartons of fake pharmaceuticals consisting of 250mg of Tramadol and Tramaking and other antimalarial and analgesic. “The total duty paid of the seizure of pharmaceuticals amounts to N395,125,912.00. We are particularly delighted by this seizure because we recorganise the harmful effect they have especially on our youths and the current national challenge of substance abuse. “This command has been faithful in aligning towards the same policy. From January to date, 8*20 foot containers of rice with a duty paid value of N64,878,141.48, and carrying 4,120 bags of rice from Thailand were seized. “These containers were falsely declared as sewing machines with the intent of evading the law. I am glad to report that they have been seized and duly condemned in a court of law,” he added.Listing the reasons for confiscating the bags of foreign rice, Bashir pointed out that their action was in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to encourage local production.The Customs controller stated that the inventory of the consignments had been recorded and forwarded to National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control. He warned that the outfit would not tolerate any activity that would harm Nigerian and appealed to importers to obey the laws of the land as far as importing of goods were concerned. http://punchng.com/customs-seize-4120-bags-of-rice-contraband-drugs-in-rivers/

Customs intercepts, cartons of tramadol, 4,120 bags of rice 68

February 23, 2018 By Victor Azubuike

Personnel of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, have impounded 4,120 bags of rice and nine containers loaded with pharmaceuticals.The Rivers State command of the Nigerian Customs disclosed that within the first quarters of 2018, the NCS made N11.4 billion out of 117.8 billions target set for it by the Federal Government. They noted that the focus of the command was to surpass the set target.The Customs Area Controller Port Harcourt Area II, Comptroller Abubakar Bashir, while speaking with newsmen at the command’s office at Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state, said the command had maintained inter-agency collaboration with other relevant agencies.Bashir noted that the pharmaceuticals were imported into the country from China and India, adding that they were declared to be pressure reducing drugs whereas the contents were Tramadol and other regulated medicines.“From January to date the command has seized 940′ containers carrying 8,245 cartons of fake pharmaceuticals consisting of 250mg of Tramadol and Tramaking and other anti malarial and analgestic drugs falsely declared as pressure reducing and PVC values. “The total duty paid of the seizure of pharmaceuticals amounts to N395,125,912.00. We are particularly delighted by this seizure because we recorganise the harmful effect they have especially on our youths and the current national challenge of substance abuse. “This command has been faithful in aligning towards the same policy. From January to date, 8*20 foot containers of rice with a duty paid value of N64,878,141.48, and carrying 4120 bags of rice from Thailand were seized. “This containers were falsely decleared as sewing machines with the intent of evading the law. I am glad to report that they have been seized and duly condemned in a court of law,” Bashir said. http://dailypost.ng/2018/02/23/customs-intercepts-cartons-tramadol-4120-bags-rice/

Alleged missing rice: Edo govt petitions Police, calls for probe ON FEBRUARY 23, 20184:18 AMIN NEWSCOMMENTS By Simon Ebegbulem BENIN—Edo State Government yesterday petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, asking him to investigate the allegation made by the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, that the state government diverted 4,721 bags of rice allegedly meant for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in the state. The petition by Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, said the PDP chairman had in a radio interview, “Falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state.” Also, the All Progressives Congress, APC, PDP in the state has described the allegation as diversionary. The APC in a statement by its Secretary, Lawrence Okah, said that the Obaseki-led administration will “never divert what belongs to the IDPs and the PDP knows that. What they are trying to do is to divert the attention of Edo indigenes and the general public from the ongoing investigation of most PDP leaders in the state by the EFCC as regards the looted funds in the NNPC and the Ministry of Works which they squandered during the 2015 presidential election. “Most of them have been visiting the EFCC in the past six months and very soon they will be sent to jail for their atrocities. So they are only trying to malign the the governor just to convey wrong impression to the public. Obaseki has spent millions of naira in rehabilitating both the IDPs and Libya returnees and I wonder how it will make sense to anybody to feel he can divert bags of rice meant for IDPs.” Meanwhile, the state government in the petition, said: “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up his allegations. “The purpose of this complaint is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

“It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Orbih should be called to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has accused the Edo State Government of and to furnish your command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he made in the public domain.”

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/02/alleged-missing-rice-edo-govt-petitions-police-callsprobe/