26th october,2017 daily gloabl regional local rice e newsletter

26th October,2017 Daily global regional local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

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Cultivating ‘Every Inch of Land’ to ensure food security?

October 26, 2017, 12:53 pm

President Maithripala Sirisena at the launch of the national food drive.

By Dr Parakrama Waidyanatha

President Maithripala Sirisena, his ministers and other dignitaries were seen pushing ploughs in paddy fields wading, knee deep, through the mud and sipping ‘kahata’ with jiggery juggery for the cameras recently! Slogans such as "Let’ cultivate every inch of cropland" and "atu kotu purawamu" (Let’s fill the garners and farmyards) were uttered and the slogans were even printed on their T-shirts.

Surprisingly, there was no reference to "toxin free" farming which the government was pushing so enthusiastically in the last two years. Has the project died a natural death?

Paddy farming keeps farmers poor

Be that as it may, as much as filling the garners, the need to fill the farmers purses is becoming increasingly important to keep farmers at their job. Increasing technical innovations and labour productivity are critically important. Is the government addressing these issues? Whilst the country has strived relentlessly for over 70 years from the 1940s for attaining food security via rice self sufficiency, the matter of farmer income has been totally overlooked. Rice being a low income crop, the farmer has been kept poor, compelling him to supplement his income via off-farm employment .

The bulk of the youth are skipping "wading in the mud" , preferring other employment, a predominant one being three-wheel driving which brings on average, a net daily in come no less than Rs 2000. A comparable income can hardly be achieved from rice farming even in the high potential paddy districts as seen in the table.

Returns even from irrigated rice is only about Rs 200,000 per hectare. The average holding size is rarely that big, there being ill-legal fragmentation among children. By contrast, the returns in general are much smaller for some of the wet zone districts and in some seasons, can even be negative, largely because of high labour costs and low yields. Compare these paddy incomes for example, with that from other crops (Rs /ha) : black gram: 51,302; cowpea:36,985; kurakkan; 6,350; brinjal: 445,822; Green chillies: 833,432; pumpkin: 127. 127. Although the income from vegetables can be attractive, marketing risks and the extents cultivable limit returns. For pulses, the main constraint has been poor yields and research over the last 50 years has hardly pushed them.

So on the whole revolutionary changes in farming are needed. This demands new vision from both the technocrats and politicians being discussed later. Politicians wading in the mud is no answer although that is where most of them belong! Much has been spoken about production planning to mitigate overproduction, storage facilities, and value addition over decades but little has hitherto happened to help the dry zone farmer to increase his income. Much needs to be done in the future to keep rice farmers at their task.

Rational land use

On the other hand, the pressure for land particularly for housing and construction especially in the urban and sub-urban areas in the wet zone, demands diversification of the paddy and other lands away from the unproductive agriculture. Dilanka Gamalath in an article in The Island of the 17th instant titled ‘Shelter vs Food – dangers facing agroland’ refers to the Minister of Housing and construction, Sajith Premadasa proposing

relaxing regulations under the Agrarian Development Act of 2000 to enable some of the wet zone uncultivated paddy lands in the urban and suburban areas to be used for housing. That is a very sensible proposal contrary to Gamalath’s concern that loss of agricultural land could affect food security. Of about 67, 000 hectares of paddy lands in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle and Kandy nearly 17,000 ha remain uncultivated during both seasons, and there is a need to use this land gainfully. Even in the unlikely scenario of the entire 67,000 hectares which is less than 10% of the total national rice cover and producing only about 5% of the countries rice being diversified the impact on food security should be negligible. There is no argument that the lands close to townships in particular should be used for housing. Why only housing ?what about industries? That will generate jobs and household incomes. Paddy requires very few man-days. There is a need to amend the outdated Act, which prohibits diverting paddy lands even for other crops without authorisation of the District Secretary. There has to be equitable distribution of lands for all human needs. Not only paddy but other lands too need to be rationally diverted for such needs across the country. There is a housing backlog and some 100, 000 housing units need to be built annually for which land has to be found. Food and shelter are both equally important. Apart from diverting for housing, some of these lands particularly those close to cities, if drained should be ideal for market gardening and protected agriculture (poly tunnels, greenhouses). Cattle farming is another alternative as most of the omit ‘the’ these lands carry Brachiaria grass which is excellent fodder.

Gamalath also refers to a statement apparently made by the President during the launch of the food programme in Kekirawa. The President has supposedly said that one of the threats to agriculture is partitioning of the coconut lands. There is no argument that haphazard partitioning of coconut lands can affect coconut production. However, surprisingly he has not been aware that over the last two decades or so, despite large scale fragmentation of coconut lands, the national coconut cover has fortunately increased from 390, 000 to some 430, 000 ha! This is a simple example of response to demand. Coconut is fast turning out to be a high value crop. Not even the water from mature nuts is thrown away now from the mills; being value added and transformed to a sports drink much in demand in the U. S and Europe. And the ‘scary’ oil is now the most widely used vegetable oil in the dietary and pharmaceutical industries, globally. So people will continue to grow coconuts, if in demand.

Food security and self sufficiency

Sri Lanka had achieved rice self sufficiency by about 2010 through the excellent efforts of our rice breeders and other rice scientists pushing both yield and production by 700%. The yields jumped from 0.6 t/ha in the 1940s to 4.5t/ha today; the land extent under rice increased only by three fold.

The research yields are almost double this figure, so that with proper adoption of technology cutting down the rice cover even by 20-30% should not be difficult, meaning the country should potentially be able to feed itself even without the wet zone paddy lands. Moreover, the population increase is only about 1% per annum and the future agto agro-technology advances should easily be able to match this with comparable productivity increases. Chinese rice research yields are already approaching 20t/ha! The case for self –sufficiency is highly justified given the fact that world rice

market is thin and appears to be growing thinner as importing countries continue to relentlessly pursue productivity enhancing policies comparatively more than the exporting countries. This is contrary to world wheat and maize markets because of regular large external supplies such as from U.S, Canada and Australia. There is no central international market for rice similar to the Chicago market for maize and wheat. On the other hand food security is more a function of per capita income or purchasing power. Most of the highly developed countries such as Norway, Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium have food self sufficiency ratios of about 50% but this is no concern because of the very high per capita incomes.

Labour productivity and technology

Two of the most disconcerting factors in our country are low productivity and poor technological innovations in the agriculture sector. As for labour productivity, I cannot help quote an example I have seen more than once in the Kandy Municipality area, of two or three labourers cleaning a drain being supervised by a dainty young lady, wearing an umbrella and leisurely talking to the workers who were seated and chewing betel!

We are in an age where labour is being widely replaced by machinery and equipment. There are effective weeders, transplanters and seeders. How widely are they used? What are the constraints to their wider use? Is it purchasing power of the farmers? These are matters that the government should address vigorously. I was impressed seeing the farmer in the picture, in the U.K, 80 years old, driving his tiller far smaller than a 2 wheel tractor. Can such machines be introduced here?

That we are way behind adopting latest technologies is exemplified by the picture of the high density mango plantation being now practised for over a decade in many Asian countries. I haven’t seen a single such plantation locally. The closest is the variety Tom J.C a selection by a farmer who has grown it extensively in his farm in Datusenapura. The fruit is yellow in colour, tastes and keeps well , and now widely grown by many but is over Rs 300/kg in the shop. We need not ourselves generate all the technology that we need. Much can be copied/adopted from outside.

As for our research and development (R&D) in the food crop sector, we can only be proud of the achievements of our past rice scientists who generated high yielding, fertilizer responsive and pest resistant varieties that has made the country self- sufficient. The R&D outputs in the other areas have altogether been meagre leading to small productivity increases. Our subsidiary food crop yields have hardly increased except perhaps of maize, but average yields of Bangladesh and China are over 6t/ha, of India 5t/ha and ours 3t/ha! Our green chilli yields are only 4t/ha an against that of China,22t/ha! The Department of Agriculture’s (DOA’s) R & D has drastically deteriorated. There are is just one top rice breeder now as against 6 in the hay days of the 1970s, and this officer is to retire in a few months. The same is true of soil scientists, there being just one at the PhD level as against 4

6 would not be an exaggeration in the 1970s, if my memory is right. Sadly there has been little or no training and succession planning! This had been pointed out in an exhaustive review of the DOA in 2009 of which not one word has been implemented! Sadly the DOA has lost its focus and priorities being more engaged in putting up "Helabojun" sales points and the like to keep the politicians happy!

Agriculture is now not wading but wallowing in the mud!! Very good !

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=173917

Mekong Delta: Adapt to saltwater intrusion by using aquaculture VietNamNet Bridge - Instead of trying to prevent saltwater invasion and desalinizing, it would be better to adapt to the new circumstances and think of developing aquaculture in Mekong Delta, scientists say.

In the Mekong Delta, one of the largest key agriculture production zones in the country, alkaline soil accounts for 18.6 percent of total area, located along the East Coast belt and the Gulf of Thailand. In the context of climate change, desalinizing is an impossible mission, or will be too costly.

Meanwhile, alum land accounts for 40 percent of the zone’s total area, mostly located in depression areas, where it is very difficult to clear alum. Scientists have warned that saline intrusion would reach more deeply into the mainland in the future as a result of climate change.

Le Quoc Anh, head of the team carrying out research on turning challenges in Mekong Delta into opportunities for

development, pointed out that saline intrusion cannot be prevented, so the best solution is accelerating the salinization process to serve aquaculture.

He emphasized that adjusting to environmental conditions is the most important aspect in agricultural production which helps improve productivity and ensures sustainable development.

In fact, farmers also prefer hatching shrimp to growing rice because Saline intrusion cannot be shrimp brings higher profits. Therefore, despite the ban by local prevented, so the best solution is authorities, farmers still deliberately let their fields get salty to farm accelerating the salinization shrimp in the fields.

process to serve aquaculture.

A local newspaper reported that farmers have even sprayed salt into their fields and ponds to make the water salty for hatching shrimp.

However, Anh stressed that it still needs thorough consideration before accelerating the saltwater intrusion process and shifting the land use purpose from rice to shrimp farming.

In the alum infected land, it would be better to have one crop of rice and one crop of shrimp. Meanwhile, in the areas where alluvium soil accounts for 29.7 percent and grey soil amounts to 3.4 percent of total area, it would be necessary to preserve the land for rice and fruit farming to ensure food security.

In other words, Anh said, it is necessary to apply comprehensive measures to mitigate the influences of climate change and select best solutions specifically for different areas.

There is a problem that in the saltwater-stricken areas which have just shifted to aquaculture, the conditions are not favorable enough to farm shrimp. In the areas, the current is usually low and farmers still don’t have experience.

Therefore, if not applying reasonable scientific solutions, the water in shrimp ponds will get stuck and shrimp will lack oxygen, while the food leftover and waste will harm farming, thus causing losses to farmers.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/188817/mekong-delta--adapt-to-saltwater-intrusionby-using-aquaculture.html

Scientists have found evidence carbohydrate is the seventh taste Menu Digital Print EditionSubscribeLogin       

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Scientists have found evidence carbohydrate is the seventh taste Lucie van den Berg, Medical reporter, The Daily Telegraph October 25, 2017 6:00pm Subscriber only    

Forget the carrot and stick approach for kids

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Don’t like coriander? Could be in your genes Fat is the sixth taste identified by the human tongue Ads by Kiosked

ADDICTED to bread, pasta and potatoes? Your tastebuds could be to blame.

Deakin University food scientists have found evidence of a new taste: carbohydrate.

Those more sensitive to it appear not only to consume more starchy food, like rice and potatoes, but appear also to have wider waistlines.

Understanding what drives people to eat too much is vital to addressing epidemic obesity: two in three Australian adults are now overweight or obese, increasing their risk of disease.

The tongue can detect a small number of tastes — salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami — but scientists suspect it can also detect a starchy taste.

It had been assumed the craving for carbohydrates was for the sugar they contained, and that all else was tasteless.

Professor Russell Keast head of Deakin‟s Centre for Advanced Sensory Science, said his interest was piqued by a study of athletes using an oral carbohydrate drink rinse.

“They wouldn‟t swallow it, but the solution increased their performance,” he said.

Grace Shepherd and Lucia Pilcher enjoying a plate of pasta at Bucci Restaurant. Picture: Peter Wallis “This indicates that there must be some form of receptor mechanism in the mouth that signals to the brain that there were carbohydrates present.”

In a study of 34 adults, published today in the Journal of Nutrition,his team showed the mouth could sense two common carbohydrates found in bread, pasta and rice.

They also looked at how sensitive people were to that taste, their carbohydrate intake, their energy intake overall, and waist measurements.

“We found people who are more sensitive to carbohydrates, which means they can taste it at lower concentrations, consume more starchy food as a percentage of energy, and they also have larger waist circumferences,” Prof Keast said.

Two years ago, his team named fat as a taste. But those more sensitive to that taste consumed fewer fatty foods.

Prof Keast said that if compounds in carbohydrates to which people were particularly sensitive could be identified, food could be tailored to help people consume fewer carbs.

Recent overseas studies support the case for carbohydrate being classed as a taste, but to meet the strict criteria the taste receptor in the mouth must still be identified.

Andrew Costanzo, 28, was happy to join the study, drinking cups of water with a breadlike taste.

“I don‟t know how else to describe it, but they tasted „carbohydratey‟,” he said.

He said he was more drawn to savoury than sweet flavours.

“I‟ve got an Italian background so I eat a lot of pasta, bread and potatoes,” he said.

He is of a healthy weight, and said the study findings wouldn‟t change his diet. lucie.vandenberg@news.com.au

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Health Cereals Rice-Based Infant Cereals Contain More Mercury Than Other Types, New Study Finds

Rice-Based Infant Cereals Contain More Mercury Than Other Types, New Study Finds Rice harbors a growing list of heavy metals, prompting experts to question its safety for infants and young children

By Julia Calderone October 25, 2017

Certain types of fish are considered to be risky foods for nursing mothers, infants, and young children because of high levels of mercury, a heavy metal that can damage developing brains and nervous systems. But a new studyshows that rice cereal—a food that’s far more likely to be included in childrens' diets than big-eye tuna or swordfish—can also be a potential source of mercury.

Writing in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a team of researchers led by scientists from Florida International University found that rice-based cereals—which are often the first food given to infants—contained significantly higher levels of mercury than those made with other grains.

The team purchased 119 common brands of rice, multigrain, and non-rice cereals from local grocery stores and online. About half of the cereals studied came from four large cities across the U.S. (Miami, New York City, San Jose, and Chicago) and the other half from four cities in China (Beijing, Wuhan, Nanjing, and Qingdao). The researchers then measured how much mercury was present in each of the cereals, and estimated how much was getting into infants’ bodies each day after eating them.

Buy right every time Subscribe for unlimited access to ratings and reviews Subscribe The results showed that rice cereals had on average three times the amount of methylmercury, the most concerning type, as multigrain cereals, and 19 times the amount in cereals made with grains other than rice. Other research has shown that rice plants pick up more methylmercury from their environment than other grain plants. There were no major differences in mercury levels between cereals purchased in China and the U.S., nor between major brands, the researchers reported.

A Growing Concern Excess mercury can be harmful to adults too, causing loss of peripheral vision, "pins and needles" feelings in the hands, feet, and mouth, uncoordinated movements, muscle weakness, and impaired

speech and hearing. In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a limit for how much mercury everyone can safely be exposed to before it’s likely to cause problems, but health experts have cautioned that these levels may need to be re-evaluated for babies and young children. ―For infants, we typically think of mercury coming from breast milk, but this study shows that there are other sources we haven’t considered,‖ says Yong Cai, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Chemistry and faculty member of the Biochemistry and the Southeast Environmental Research Center at Florida International University. He’s also one of the co-authors of the study.

What Parents Can Do According to Cai, parents shouldn’t panic. The majority of rice cereal samples tested were below the EPA’s limit. But he says the results of this study suggest that public health experts, scientists, and parents need to pay more attention to unexpected sources of mercury in childrens’ diets.

Limiting rice cereals appears to be a good first step and may also minimize a child’s exposure to other heavy metals. In 2014, CR testing found that infant rice cereals often contain worrisome amounts of arsenic, another heavy metal. ―Arsenic in rice has previously raised a lot of concern, and this new mercury finding is yet another good reason you shouldn’t feed your baby too much rice cereal,‖ says Jean Halloran, director of Food Policy Initiatives at Consumers Union, the policy and mobilization arm of Consumer Reports. ―Not only does it contain arsenic which can cause cancer, but it contains mercury, which can cause brain damage.‖ CR recommends that babies have no more than ¼ cup of rice cereal a day, assuming that is the only rice product they consume. The Food and Drug Administration suggests that you should avoid feeding your child rice and rice products as their first food, and instead incorporate a variety of ironfortified cereals made with other grains such as oats or barley.

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Help us fight for safer food, drugs, and hospitals.

How You Can Help

Julia Calderone I'm a former scientist, using words and an audio recorder as my new research tools to untangle the health and food issues that matter most to consumers. I live in Brooklyn, N.Y., where I cook as much as possible. You can find me in the grocery aisle scrutinizing the fine print of every food item I put into my cart. Follow me on Twitter @juliacalderone. https://www.consumerreports.org/food-contaminants/rice-based-infant-cereals-contain-moremercury-than-other-types/

National Rice Month Campaign Makes an Impact

By Cameron Jacobs ARLINGTON, VA -- The many National Rice Month (NRM) activities that occurred this September to increase awareness and consumption of U.S.-grown rice focused on retail, foodservice, and consumer outreach. U.S. rice got a boost from promotions with retail chains and their in-store dietitians, promotional partnerships with P.F. Chang's and Advanced Fresh Concepts, and the latest farm and mill tour in California attended by 10 foodservice professionals.

USA Rice worked with registered dieticians (RD) at eight grocery store chains across the country: Big Y, Coborn's, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, Martin's, Pyramid Foods, Redner's, and Weis.

Through these partnerships NRM and U.S.-grown rice messaging reached 16 million shoppers via a variety of channels including print and online newsletters, blogs, store circulars, signage and displays, social media, in-store activities, and community

events.

For the third year in a row, USA Rice worked with P.F. Chang's to promote NRM through their social media network of more than one million followers. The restaurant chain offered a two-day promotion for a free bowl of fried rice with the purchase of two entrees at all 210 locations throughout September. Advanced Fresh Concepts, the largest supermarket sushi distributor in the U.S., promoted NRM with U.S. rice signage at sushi counters and the addition of two new dishes featuring U.S.-grown rice.

P.F. Chang's celebrates NRM

During the last week of September, USA Rice invited food writers, RDs, chefs, collegiate and professional sports nutritionists, and representatives from Aramark out to Arbuckle, California for a farm and mill tour at Sun Valley Rice Company (see USA Rice Daily, October 6, 2017). This was the second such tour - the first was last year at Windmill Rice Company in Jonesboro, Arkansas -- to give foodservice professionals a glimpse of the many facets of the U.S. rice industry. Once they've seen firsthand how and where U.S. rice is grown and milled, they feel a real connection to our industry. USA Rice becomes a resource for recipe and menu collaboration as well as marketing and promotions to tell the story of U.S. rice and encourage increased use of U.S. rice on menus and at home.

"These farm and mill tours are a great opportunity to have our U.S. rice messaging reach key decision makers," said Paul Galvani, chairman of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion

Committee. "Whether it be chefs looking to incorporate rice on a menu more or foodservice providers including U.S. rice in their offerings, our message gets heard."

As always, September is a big social media month for USA Lots to like Rice thanks to a NRM social media campaign that generated more than 1,494 likes, 270 shares/retweets, and 117 new followers. Posts for the NRM campaign included farmer features, cooking tips, recipe videos, nutritional information, and fun facts about U.S. rice.

"A year-over-year comparison of USA Rice's NRM social media campaign shows trending in the right direction," said Galvani. "We saw 3 percent growth in Facebook followers, 15 percent growth for Twitter, and 44 percent growth for Instagram."

Often our most popular posts come from USA Rice members. Facebook followers "liked" University of Arkansas researcher Jarrod Hardke's suggestion to promote rice for breakfast using the slogan "Rice and Shine!" Another fan favorite featured Todd Willis, a third and fourth grade teacher in Mississippi who was named the 2016 DeSoto County Teacher of the Year for his work on a school rice planting project that inspired the same project to take place at his former host school in Japan.

Teaching rice's global reach

Michael Bosworth, a California grower and member of the 2015-2017 Rice Leadership Development Class, regularly posts engaging images and short videos of his rice farming operation on social media to directly communicate with consumers. His posts help tell the story of U.S. rice from farm to table, and educate the public about how their food is grown and the sustainable practices Bosworth and other U.S. rice farmers employ to produce a top quality crop.

Super sunset wins #ThinkRice photo contest

For his efforts, Bosworth was chosen as the grand prize winner, for the second year in a row, of USA Rice's photo contest featuring the hashtag #ThinkRice. For winning the contest, Bosworth received a complimentary registration to the 2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference held December 10-11 in

San Antonio, Texas.

"We have an incredible opportunity to engage and educate our customers and the general public about how we grow rice and the positive impact we make as an industry on the environment and local economy," said Bosworth. "Ducks, swans, geese, herons, wild pheasants, turkeys come here to rest and feast, and I never tire of sharing the conservation practices on rice farms that create a habitat supporting all manner of wildlife." VFA hikes rice export target on strong demand 25.10.2017

| UkrAgroConsult The Việt Nam Food Association (VFA) has decided to raise its rice export target from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tones, following an increase in rice contracts for the last months of the year.

Rice exports have rebounded with an increase in rice contracts since May. The country’s rice sector has already met 82 per cent of its target for the entire year.

VFA’s statistics showed that in the first nine months of the year, Việt Nam shipped around 4.57 million tonnes of rice worth US$2.02 billion, up 20.8 per cent in quantity and over 18.6 per cent in value from the same period last year. China was still the largest importer of Vietnamese rice.

August saw the strongest growth for rice exports this year so far with 70 per cent and 56.8 per cent

increases

in

terms

of

quantity

and

value

respectively.

The number of contracts registered for exports in August also rose to the record level of some 842,000 tonnes, increasing 207 per cent from the previous month and representing a 115 per cent year-on-year increase.

Most

of

the

contracts

were

with

importers

in

China,

and

Philippines

and

Africa.

The VFA attributed the boom to better export performance in traditional markets including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Specifically, Vietnamese rice exporters shipped 150,000 tonnes of rice to Malaysia; 250,000 tonnes to Bangladesh and 175,000 tonnes to the Philippines. New export markets such as Australia and West Asia also saw strong growth.

The association forecast that Việt Nam’s rice exports would continue to increase in the future as Bangladesh solicited bids from exporters for an order of 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice. If Việt Nam wins the bid, its rice market’s already good year would become even better.

In May, the Việt Nam and Bangladesh governments extended the memorandum of understanding on rice trading for five years, covering the period from 2017-22.

Under the MoU, Việt Nam will supply some 1 million tonnes of rice a year for Bangladesh. After the MoU signing, Bangladesh is expected to buy around 500,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice till the end of this year.

In addition, the Philippines also opened a minimum access volume (MAV) mechanism in 2017-18.

Accordingly, the country will import 293,100 tonnes of rice from Việt Nam. China is forecast to continue to maintain strong imports of Vietnamese rice in the year-end months.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently announced Strategy on Việt Nam Rice Export Market Development for 2017-20 calls for gradually reducing rice export quantity but maintaining rice export value.

In addition, export and market structures will be adjusted. http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/vfa-hikes-rice-export-target-on-strong-demand12:00 AM, October 26, 2017 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:36 AM, October 26, 2017

Govt to import another 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice

Photo: Star

Rejaul Karim Byron The government is set to import 2.5 lakh tonnes of parboiled rice under a state-to-state arrangement and competitive bidding as part of its aggressive push to boost stocks.

The cabinet committee on purchase yesterday approved the proposal for import of 1.5 lakh tonnes of rice for $465 per tonne from Thailand through government arrangement.

The committee also approved another proposal for importing 1 lakh tonnes of rice through open tender for Tk 43,440 to Tk 44,330 per tonne. The rice will be delivered in 38 lots to 38 government silos across the country.

When converted to dollar, the per tonne price of rice, including freight to silo, would come to $523 to $534. As per food ministry calculation, one dollar equals Tk 83.

In recent months, the government has moved to import rice through competitive bidding, which tends to be lower than the price obtained under government-to-government arrangements.

But in this case, the price is about $100 more than the earlier imports made through competitive bidding.

Of the 38 lots, 36 will be imported by M/s Rabiul Islam, who won another contract on October 11 to supply 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice through competitive bidding -- for $427 per tonne.

However, there was no clause in the earlier contract that the rice would have to be delivered to the silos.

Earlier, the committee gave the green light to the import of 1 lakh tonnes of rice from India on a state-to-state basis for $455 per tonne.

It also approved the import of 1 lakh tonnes of white rice from Myanmar early this month for $442 per tonne under a similar arrangement.

And in June, the government imported 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice for $470 per tonne from Vietnam under a government-to-government arrangement.

Since June, the government took up an aggressive approach to import rice after production was badly struck by flash floods and fungal attacks.

The flash floods in the six northeastern haor districts and fungal attacks (rice blast) in 19 districts during the boro season led to the loss of 20 lakh tonnes of the staple, according to food ministry.

Subsequently, the government also decided to import 20 lakh tonnes of food grains -- 15 lakh tonnes of rice and 5 lakh tonnes of wheat -- this fiscal year.

This is 11 lakh tonnes more than the government's earlier projected food import volume of 9 lakh tonnes.

Due to food crisis, the import of rice at both the government and private levels have picked up.

From July 1 to October 4, 10.78 lakh tonnes of rice was imported, of which the government brought in 2.94 lakh tonnes.

Last fiscal year the government did not import any rice. However, at the private level 13.30 lakh tonnes of rice was imported, a major portion of which was towards the end of the year.

Power project The cabinet committee on purchase approved another proposal, the construction of Shahjibazar 100 MW simple cycle power plant for about Tk 827 crore.

Among the three bidders, M/s HEI-ETERN CCCEJV landed the job by quoting the lowest figure.

The committee also approved another power project under the Private Sector Power Generation Policy. A 530 to 590 MW duel fuel combined cycle power plant will be set up at Meghna Ghat in Narayanganj.

A consortium of Summit Corporation and GE will set up the power plant under a Build-Own-Operate basis.

The government will purchase electricity from the 22-year tenure power plant at three different rates.

If it is gas based, the price will be Tk 2.9546 per kW/h. In case of LNG-based, the price will be Tk 5.4487 per kW/h, and if it is diesel based the price would be Tk 12.6051 per kW/h

http://www.thedailystar.net/business/govtimport-another-25-lakh-tonnes-rice1481824Labor and Immigration Subscribe

New farmworker visa program squeaks through panel

10/25/17 5:19 PM By Philip Brasher WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 - The House Judiciary Committee narrowly approved a proposed new agricultural guestworker program after two days of heated debate that saw Democrats take a page from President Trump's campaign playbook and argue that the plan would undercut U.S. wages by importing low-cost labor.

Millers called on to enter best rice competition Thu, 26 October 2017 Post Staff The Cambodia Rice Federation put out a call yesterday seeking applications from millers who hope to join this year’s coveted World’s Best Rice competition, according to an announcement.

Millers have until November 1 to submit their best samples of premium fragrant rice, fragrant rice and long grain white rice for the competition.

Cambodia’s Phka Rumdoul variety of fragrant rice won the World’s Best Rice award for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2014, but lost last year when the competition was held in Thailand.

This year’s competition will be held in Macau and begins on November 6.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/millers-called-enter-best-rice-competition

News Company < ..

Read more at: //economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61222664.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium =text&utm_campaign=cppst

Unprecedented rice imports worry business in Iran 25 October 2017 23:00 (UTC+04:00)

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Discovery of a seventh 'taste' could help tackle obesity Published: 26 October 2017

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Scientists may have finally found the cause of your love-affair with carbs – they are now calling carbohydrates the seventh ‘taste’.

Essentially, it means we‟re drawn to foods like bread and pasta in a similar way as we‟re drawn to sweet treats.

Lead researcher Professor Russell Keast said, “it is typically sugar, with its hedonically pleasing sweet taste, that is the most sought after carbohydrate,” Professor Keast said.

“But our research has shown that there is a perceivable taste quality elicited by other carbohydrates independent of sweet taste.”

The most common starchy foods are bread, pasta and rice and scientists focused on varieties of carbohydrates which are found in all three: maltodextrin and oligofructose.

Early on in the study, Dr Julia Low, an academic in Deakin‟s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, observed that our mouths can sense these particular carbohydrates.

Further investigations revealed that “those who were most sensitive to the carbohydrate taste ate more of these foods and had a larger waist,” Dr Low said.

“We specifically looked at waist measurements as they are a good measure of the risk of dietary related diseases.”

Professor Keast hopes this research will help tackle the ever-increasing battle with obesity in Australia, and around the world.

“Increased energy intake, in particular greater intakes of energy-dense foods, is thought to be one of the major contributors to the global rise of overweight and obesity, and carbohydrates represent a major source of energy in our diet,” Professor Keast said.

But more research is required to figure out why our subconscious obsession with carbohydrates increases alongside our sensitivity to this seventh „taste‟

https://tenplay.com.au/news/national/october -2017/discovery-of-a-seventh-taste-couldhelp-tackle-obesityScientists find

arsenic in most baby foods

By David Montes / Wednesday, 25 Oct 2017 07:12PM

Mothers and fathers should be more cautious when buying food for their babies. Scientists announced on Wednesday terrible news: a big part of products that most parents buy for their babies consumption contain significant levels of arsenic, a chemical element that produces several short and long-term health illnesses on humans.

To make matters worse, the result suggests that around 80 percent of infant formulas contain this toxic metalloid.

The study found most baby food products contain considerable amounts of arsenic. Image credit: What To Expect

To determine how many dangerous components there were in baby food, The Clean Label Project â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a nonprofit advocating for transparent labeling â&#x20AC;&#x201D; tasted all kind of products used on babiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; diets: infant formulas, toddler drinks, and popular snacks.

The investigation included everything from the most recognized brands in the markets to the emerging national brands.

In the end, the researchers felt surprised when they realized the few amount of products that did not contain any toxic compound.

Brands selling contaminated food for babies The scientists spent five months testing the products to make sure they were not committing any mistake, and to see if their process and result were accurate. While testing, scientists compared each infant product to a Nielson data. This led them to a critical finding.

From a total of 350 different products usually bought for infant consumption, the testing suggested that 65 percent of them contained arsenic. Thirty-five percent were positive for lead, 58 percent for cadmium, and 10 percent for acrylamide.

The US Food and Drug Administration prohibited brands from distributing infant rice cereal with more than 100 parts per billion of arsenic. Rice that grows in contaminated soil often tends to absorb the contaminant.

Unfortunately, after this study, it seems that companies are not taking this limit very seriously.

“It is important for consumers to understand that some contaminants, such as heavy metals like lead or arsenic, are in the environment and cannot simply be removed from food,” Peter Cassell, an FDA spokesperson, said.

Thousands of doctors around the world agree that all of these chemicals come with severe consequences for anyone who’s consuming them in great amounts. Often, people do it unconsciously and realize when it’s too late. However, the results for babies could be even worse than for adults. Unlike them, infants don’t have all their systems developed. When talking specifically about arsenic, it can potentially produce infants cerebral damages.

Despite the fact that Jennifer Lowry was not involved in the research, she expressed that people should carefully watch what they’re buying for their kids. According to the pediatrician and toxicologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., these dangerous chemicals can affect motor skills and cognition.

Gerber products reportedly tested positive for dangerous chemicals. Image credit: Amazon

Jaclyn Bowen, a food safety scientist from the Clean Label Project, said that she was very concerned about the study — which also revealed that the food that has the highest levels of arsenic is the rice-based baby food, such as snack puffs. She asked the “baby industry” to be very alert on what they’re putting on their products.

“The baby industry needs to do a better job in protecting America’s most vulnerable population,” said Jaclyn Bowen, the executive director of Clean Label Project.

Many renowned brands were also found to make products full of the dangerous chemicals. The Clean Label Project’s discovered that Gerber, Enfamil, Plum Organics, and Sprout were among the worst. Two of them scored in the Project’s report card for toxic metals.

In fact, 60 percent of products that are known for being completely BPA free — it’s even marked on their envelopes — ended not being “totally free” of the industrial chemical Bisphenol A, at all.

Of course, some unhealthy compounds vary depending on the product. But some of them tested positive for up to 600 parts of arsenic per billion. Scientists can’t even trace that vast amounts.

Arsenic can produce cancer on people The World Health Organization warns people of consuming these contaminants, which are commonly found in groundwater and can lead to cancer.

Arsenic, which was the most commonly found element in babies’ food, tends to be consumed by many people in the world. As the contaminant is naturally presented at high levels in the groundwater of a series of countries, and many companies don’t properly clean the water before distributing it, most of its consumers don’t know they’re ingesting the compound.

People who consume arsenic can instantly suffer from vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

According to WHO, people can even die in extreme cases.

The long-term effects are different — and worse, for sure. Those under low exposures of arsenic for around five years tend to experience “pigmentation changes, skin lesions and hard patches” on the hands and feet. However, this is are the best of cases. Even worse, people can develop skin cancer or cancers of the bladder and lungs.

Source: The Clean Label Project

https://www.pulseheadlines.com/scientists-arsenic-baby-

Nigerian local governments partner firms in move to harness country‟s agricultural potential foods/68318/

October 25, 2017Press Release

Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh

Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x;s 774 local governments under the auspices of the All Local Governments Association of Nigeria (ALGON), is hosting an international seminar on developing agricultural assets of their respective areas.

The multi-stakeholder event, which is bringing together international experts in the area, will kick off on Thursday in Abuja.

Tagged â&#x20AC;&#x153;International Seminar on Comprehensive Local Agriculture Plan, C-PLANâ&#x20AC;? the event will be co-hosted by a number of local companies and international institutions and agro-allied companies.

Among key partners for the event are Accelerated Building Technologies Limited, International Rice Research Institute, Manilla, among others.

The event will engage stakeholders into building Comprehensive Local Agriculture Plan, CPLAN as a blueprint for agricultural revolution in Nigeria using the top to up approach.

The document will aid local governments to explore the hidden potentials of their areas and how to leverage on those resources for economic development.

The seminar will therefore bring together stakeholders in the agricultural value chains from all over the world and the country to brainstorm on how to help local governments to benefit from their agricultural advantages.

According to the organisers of the event, “the project envisages an increased emphasis on participation and on partnerships between the public and private sector.

“The main thrust of the experts and policy makers of C-LAP will be to consider agricultural growth as the key to poverty reduction and the need to diversify agricultural production on the basis of geographical location and commercialization of agro-products”.

The project will also “evolve an action plan for achieving sustainable agricultural growth with food security and cropping system that will improve farmer‟s income”.

Also, the promoters of the new scheme envision the establishment of demonstration farms of between five and 20 hectares each in each of the 774 local governments of the country.

For sustainability and improvements on the value chain, the 774 farms will be linked to national retain chain, wholesale markets and mega food parks.

Expected at the two-day seminar are crème de la crème of the sector at all levels including policy makers, top executives, farmers associations, agricultural entrepreneurs, finance experts, channel distributors, among other stakeholders.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/mor e-news/247266-nigerian-local-governmentspartner-firms-move-harness-countrysagricultural-potential.htmlSome infant rice

cereals contain elevated levels of methylmercury AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY SHARE

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Eating large amounts of certain fish can expose consumers to methylmercury, which can potentially cause health problems. But recent research has shown that rice grown in polluted conditions can also have raised levels. Now, a study appearing in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reports that some types of infant rice cereal could also contain amounts of methylmercury that could potentially pose a health risk.

For years, elevated methylmercury levels in certain fish such as albacore tuna have led some people, particularly pregnant women, to limit their consumption of these species to reduce their potential exposure. Methylmercury is a form of mercury that, in high enough amounts, can cause neurological and reproductive problems in adults, and developmental issues in infants and young children. Within the past 10 years, rice has emerged as another potential source of mercury exposure. Studies have detected methylmercury in the grain when it is grown in polluted areas, potentially posing a health risk to people who rely on the crop as a daily staple. Given these results, Yong Cai and colleagues wanted to find out whether commercial rice cereal for infants also contain the substance.

The researchers tested 119 infant cereal samples made with a variety of grains. The products were purchased from different regions in the U.S. and China. Rice-based cereals had much higher levels of methylmercury than products with no rice, suggesting that the grain is a likely source of mercury.

Rice cereal samples from the U.S. and China had similar levels, with a mean concentration of 2.28 micrograms of methylmercury per kilogram of product. Based on these results, the researchers estimated that infants who consume these products could ingest between 0.004 to 0.123 micrograms of methylmercury per kilogram of body weight daily. The potential health effects of this amount of mercury are hard to pin down. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a 0.1 microgram/kg/day reference daily dose (RfD) for methylmercury. However, the standard was calculated using factors that might not be relevant to baby cereal, the researchers say. For example, the RfD is based on a pregnant woman's intake of mercury and its transfer to the fetus. The researchers conclude that more studies are needed to more precisely understand how mercury in food might affect infants. ### The authors acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Basic Research Program of China.

The paper's abstract will be available on Oct. 25 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.jafc.7b03236

The American Chemical Society is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. ACS does not conduct research, but publishes and publicizes peer-reviewed scientific studies. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

To automatically receive news releases from the American Chemical Society, contact newsroom@acs.org.

Follow us: Twitter | Facebook Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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WILD RICE SULFATE STANDARD: TOO IMPORTANT TO GET WRONG 

Chris Masciantonio and John Rebrovich | Iron Ore Alliance

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Oct 25, 2017 Updated 22 hrs ago

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We have one week left to make our voice heard on an issue that has the potential to hurt our community.

After six years of public meetings, studies, and debate, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is recommending a sulfate water quality standard that does not consider all the facts. The rule they are considering is not scientifically proven to protect wild rice, and it would have a devastating financial impact across Minnesota, and result in major job losses across the Iron Range.

We are asking that the MPCA’s rulemaking be science-based and inclusive of all available research. The current standard of 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) was enacted in 1973 and based on observations from the 1940s. The new standard that the MPCA is proposing has an error rate of 16 percent. Our families, businesses and municipalities deserve better. We deserve a reasonable standard that both protects the environment and allows for our communities to prosper.

Complying with this new standard would cost taconite facilities tens – if not hundreds – of millions of dollars for a single discharge at a single facility. In 2017 legislative testimony, it was shared that compliance could cost the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District $500 million. It is unacceptable for the MPCA to expect investments of these magnitudes based on a standard that is wrong up to one in five times. The cost of complying with the proposed standard would cripple Northeastern Minnesota communities.

We cannot afford to get this wrong. Thousands of jobs hang in the balance should the MPCA choose to ignore science-based research and the consequences of their proposed rule. We cherish and protect our environment, including wild rice. However,

the potential for Minnesota businesses and communities to suffer economic hardship because of a regulation not supported by science is deeply concerning.

Please join us in sending a message to the MPCA that the mining community of Minnesota wants a reasonable sulfate water quality standard that is rooted in science.

There is still time to attend a public hearing, submit a comment online, or mail a letter.

Please visit ironorealliance.com/science to learn how you can make your voice be heard. The public comment period ends on November 9 and the MPCA needs to know just how harmful enforcing this ill-informed standard would be for Minnesotans.

Chris Masciantonio, United States Steel Corporation, and John Rebrovich, United Steelworkers, are co-chairs of the Iron Ore Alliance.

http://www.virginiamn.com/mine/wild-ricesulfate-standard-too-important-to-getwrong/article_f682c384-b996-11e7-a52a1f13c188377f.htmlnd BPA in new study Ashley May, USA TODAY , KUSA 8:33 AM. MDT October 25, 2017

(Photo: (Photo: NataliaDeriabina, Getty Images/iStockphoto))

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USA TODAY - An alarming study released Wednesday found many baby food products test positive for arsenic, including 80% of infant formulas. And, that's not the only dangerous contaminate found.

The Clean Label Project, a nonprofit advocating for transparent labeling, tested baby food, infant formulas, toddler drinks and snacks purchased within the past 5 months. The group looked at top-selling formulas and baby food using Nielson data, and also included emerging national brands. After about 530 baby food products were tested, researchers found 65% of products tested positive for arsenic, 36% for lead, 58% for cadmium and 10% for acrylamide. All of these chemicals pose potential dangers to developing infants.

Jennifer Lowry, a pediatrician, and toxicologist at Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., who is not affiliated with the research, said these chemicals can affect fine motor skills and cognition.

Mainstream brands including Gerber, Enfamil, Plum Organics, and Sprout were among the worst offenders â&#x20AC;&#x201D; scoring two out of five in the Clean Label Project's report card for toxic metals. Plus, 60% of products claiming to be "BPA free" tested positive for the industrial chemical bisphenol A. The quantities of contaminates range, but some products tested positive for up to 600 parts of arsenic per billion. That's far more than just trace amounts.

Arsenic was the most common contaminate spotted in the Clean Label Project study. Nearly 80% of infant formula samples tested positive for arsenic. The toxin is associated with developmental defects, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity, diabetes and even cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

Jaclyn Bowen, executive director of Clean Label Project and a food safety scientist, said rice-based baby food such as snack puffs had some of the highest levels of arsenic.

In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a limit of 100 parts per billion of arsenic in infant rice cereal but isn't enforcing that limit. Rice often absorbs arsenic from the contaminated soil as it grows in the environment.

"It is important for consumers to understand that some contaminants, such as heavy metals like lead or arsenic, are in the environment and cannot simply be removed from food," Peter Cassell, an FDA spokesperson.

Lead, also found in food tested by the Clean Label Project, has been found in baby food before. Just a few months ago, the Environmental Defense Fund found 20% of 2,164 baby food samples tested contained lead. No amount of lead is safe, but it's not regulated.

Low levels of lead in children's blood have been connected to lower IQs, slowed growth, behavioral problems, hearing issues and anemia, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Clean Label Project posted a list of products it tested, along with a star-rating grade informed by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, on its website. Bowen said she hopes the data helps parents become better advocates for their children's health and creates change in the baby food business.

"The baby industry needs to do a better job of protecting Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most vulnerable population," Bowen said.

Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets Tracy Loew, (Salem, Ore.) Statesman Journal contributed to this report.

http://www.9news.com/news/health/thesebaby-foods-and-formulas-tested-positive-forarsenic-lead-and-bpa-in-newstudy/485924737Nigeria

Customs impound 1440 bags of rice, vehicles and used tyres By Wumi Akinbode October 25, 2017

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The Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday said that in the past three weeks, its men had seized 1440 bags of smuggled rice, 14 vehicles, clothing and 800 used tyres.

During a press conference at the commandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters in Ibadan, the comptroller, Elisha David, said that some of the bags of rice and clothing were concealed in some cars and trucks. He said 100 bags of rice were discovered hidden under sand, cement and gravel in some trucks.

He said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Nissan Almera car was impounded with 20 bags of rice while a Mazda car was seized with 50 bags of rice. We also arrested a Volvo Tipper with 100 bags of rice while a Mercedes Benz truck was seized with 200 bags of rice. Eight hundred used tyres were also smuggled into the country in a truck but we were able to seize the vehicle.

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“Most of the seizures were effected along the Oyo/Ibadan road while the vehicles that were smuggled into the country were arrested within the Saki border axis, notably at Aleniboro village in Atisbo council area of Oyo State.

“The drivers of the arrested trucks had used the vehicles to convey contrabands while deceiving our men to believe that the trucks were conveying cement, gravel and sands.”

While commending the officers and men of the Headquarters Compliance Team, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A and the Customs Intelligence Unit, David said the command would double its effort to ensure that the activities of smugglers were checked in order to protect the economy.

https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/26020/nig eria-customs-impound-1440-bags-ricevehicles-tyresBangladesh to import

150,000 tons parboiled rice from Thailand  

Asif Showkat Kallol Published at 02:32 PM October 26, 2017

File photo: A Bangladesh rice vendor waits for customers at a market in Dhaka |AFP

150,000 tons will be imported from Thailand and rest will be supplied by local traders       

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The government has decided to import 150,000 tons of parboiled rice from Thailand, and procure another 100,000 tons from local traders at a total cost of Tk1017.14cr to boost domestic food grain reserves.

The Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved two Food Ministry proposals on the purchases on Wednesday, at a meeting chaired by Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

After the meeting, Additional Secretary of Cabinet Division Mostafizur Rahman said: “A total of 150,000 tons of rice will be imported from Thailand at a cost of Tk578.92 crore.

“The remaining 100,000 tons will be supplied at a cost of Tk438.22 crore by local traders, who import rice from India, Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam.

He added that traders Rabiul Islam and Mahmmand Aynul Haque would deliver the rice to 38 warehouses across the country.

Bangladesh is the fourth biggest producer of rice. It moved to import rice to replenish its depleted stocks and cool local market, after flash floods cut domestic production and pushed up rice prices in local market earlier this year.

The government slashed taxes on rice imports to 2% from 28% to replenish supplies and cool the soaring prices.

According to the Food Ministry proposals, the negotiations between Bangladesh and Thailand ended successfully with the Thai government agreeing to sell rice at $465 per ton.

Thailand had initially asked for $516 per ton under a government to government deal.

The Prime Minister’s Office had directed the Food Ministry to import 1.15 million tons of rice under G2G agreement and also through international and domestic tenders within the next month.

Last week, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved another proposal of the ministry to purchase 100,000 tons of rice from India at Tk377.65 crore, with each ton costing $455 (Tk37, 487).

The rice will be imported under a G2G agreeent.

As of October 18, Bangladesh had a reserve of 499,000 tons of food grains, including 396,000 tons of rice 

http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2017/10/26/bangladesh-import-150000-tonsparboiled-rice-thailand/ Lifestyle

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Dawn of Abe’s Japan 

Tokyo’s pursuits for muscular defense policy and strategic partnership with India are both unsound and perilous Analysis Published on October 25, 2017 �

by Naveed Ahmad

The elections are over in Japan. The country’s parliament – Diet – is flooded with incumbent 312 members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition. Not only is the 63-year-old emerging as the longest serving post-WWII chief executive but he is also turning out to be the most hawkish one. Though the North Korean nuclear threat is the prime facie reason for his alliance’s win, Tokyo’s eyes are affixed at Beijing’s financial, diplomatic and military prowess.

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After surviving graft scandals and extremely low approval ratings, the premier aims to leave a lasting imprint on the future of the land of Rising Sun. He is shunning the pacifist constitution for a more hawkish one, reviving the country’s geostrategic outreach and lessening American dependence. With 75 percent of parliament subscribing to his vision, Japan can chart the course for any length: from partnering in alliances to exporting sophisticated military hardware, and from maintaining aircraft carriers and submarine fleets to hypersonic ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. Like Erdogan’s Turkey or Modi’s India, Abe’s rival camp too is in disarray.

Yuriko Koike, Abe’s former Defense Minister, had no chance to prepare for the surprise elections. By reassigning the mandate to Washington’s favorite man in Tokyo, the Japanese

people have made two robust statements: America must fulfill its commitments while respecting the public opinion, and, the post-WWII security architecture is archaic as is the resultant pacifist doctrine.

The political rise of Shinzo Abe and the surge in the country’s craving to undo pacifist principles are deeply interlinked. North Korean nuclear ambitions and Chinese naval power only helped his clique justify their stratagem. The conservative leader, who does not match with the monarch in popularity but is his equal in terms of executive authority, has been a proponent of pro-active diplomacy aimed at building alliance than reaching out to the rivals. In his quest for allies, Japan chose India due to its size, population and geographical disputes with China. Tokyo chose to overlook Delhi’s often detrimental policies since her independence in 1947. Since 2014, summit level visits between India and Japan happen on an alternative basis each year. Besides, the leaders also interacted once more time on the sidelines of G-20. Though the island nation is reaching out steadfastly to Russia to resolve the Kuril Island dispute, it has adopted a tangibly confrontational approach towards the China. [Please refer to my last two articles for the Daily Pakistan Global on the dynamics of India-Japan relations.]

Beyond the obvious, Japan’s muscular military policy has implications beyond its immediate neighborhood. Any strategic bonding with India gives her an active role not only in the Bay of Bengal but also in the Arabian Sea. Like Modi, Abe believes himself to be destiny’s child. Both conservative leaders have developed a cozy bromance. While Tokyo is committing to plug India’s gaps in infrastructure and technological sectors, it’s the bilateral strategic cooperation that dwarfs everything else. Consequently, Abe’s tight Modi embrace isolates Tokyo from its erstwhile friends.

Some bits of forgotten recent history The isolated post-War Japan was a ruin of national ego, devastated families and terrified cities with little semblance of economic activity. The food shortages were an everyday concern. It was Pakistan that readily offered every possible assistance to revive the Japanese economy despite its own odds. The Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in Japan dispatched its maiden trade delegation to Pakistan in May 1948, resulting in the signing of an agreement two months later. Tokyo debuted its post-war trade deal with any country in the world. Japan had little cash and Pakistan had surplus cotton and jute. The Islamic Republic agreed to trade on the basis of deferred payments. Soon, the Japanese textile industry made its way to the world’s largest Muslim country. After operating trade office in both the capitals for about four years, April 18, 1952, marked formal ties after the ratification of the San Francisco Treaty that was signed on September 8, 1951. At the time, India opposed the treaty while Pakistan was amongst the very first to sign it. Unlike almost every other Asian or European nation, the Islamic Republic did not claim war reparations. Tokyo had to pay war damages worth $1.5 billion, crushing the humiliated nation with more encumbrances.

Original caption: Second Treaty For the Japanese. San Francisco, California: Shigeru Yoshida, Prime Minister of Japan, signs the Bilateral Security Treaty with the United States in the San Francisco Presidio.

The Security Treaty, which was signed shortly after the signing of the Japanese Peace Treaty, permits American land, sea and air forces to remain in and around Japan after the Peace Treaty becomes effective.

September 8, 1951. September 8, 1951 San Francisco, California, USA

Within months after the treaty, severe food shortages hit Japan. For two years, Pakistan shipped 60,000 tons of rice along with other grains for the friendly nation in the Pacific. In April 1957, Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suharawardy paid an official visit to Japan, another first by an Asian country. The very next month, his Japanese counterpart reciprocated, marking the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership maiden high-level visit after the San Francisco Treaty.

In another unparalleled gesture of compassion, over 5,000 acres of agricultural land in Sindh was offered to the victims of US atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

General Ayub Khan paid a week-long visit to Tokyo in December 1960 on the invitation of Japanese Emperor Hirohito. The Pakistan leader particularly stopped over in US base at Okinawa, becoming the first Asian head of state to set foot on the soil. It was seen as Pakistan’s expression of commitment with the western bloc at the peak of the Cold War.

KARACHI, PAKISTAN – JANUARY 29: Crown Prince Akihito of Japan and Crown Princess Michiko at a reception in their honour with President Ayub Khan during their official visit to Pakistan on January 29, 1962 in Karachi, Pakistan. (Photo by Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

Though part of Tokyo’s Asian diplomacy in 1962, the visit of Japanese Crown Prince Akihito – coroneted as emperor in 1990 – and Princess Michiko to Pakistan was marked with power symbolism and solid partnership. Overcoming its war-related deficiencies, the Asian powerhouse had revived its economy. Now Pakistan was on the receiving end of the aid. The significant

inflow of Japanese Official Development Assistance lasted from 1961 to 71. By then, the relations had matured and so did policy differences.

Due to intense domestic political pressure, the consulate in Dhaka was shut down. Japan overtly expressed sympathy with Bengalis nationalists in the wake of Pakistan military’s operations and resulting migration to Calcutta and other Indian cities. It extended emergency aid to the displaced taking refuges across the border. Evidently, Islamabad’s diplomacy was the weakest as the military campaigned to avert the inevitable breakup. It was amongst the countries, which recognized Bangladesh pretty early (February 1972 to be exact).

On its part, Japan never supported Pakistan’s stance on Jammu & Kashmir but sought plebiscite.

The policy further changed later and it is seen as a bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan.

While Afghanistan and India remained competitively hostile towards the Islamic Republic, it sought peace in the north. China wanted its concerns to be addressed and Pakistan obliged. The settlement of the boundary with Beijing resulted in opening bigger avenues. Not only did Pakistan International Airlines become the first non-communist air service to fly to China, but US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also quietly boarded its flight. His visit led to a major breakthrough for the western bloc. Islamabad adopted one-China policy. Japan was not amused.

Tokyo still saw Beijing with animosity and suspicion. It made Pakistan pay the cost.

Notwithstanding the many out-of-the-way favors, the island nation expressed displeasure. By the 1970s, the ice had melted and China and Japan relations were improving. Not only did Pakistan pay the price of its foresighted outreach to Beijing but also earned no dividends for standing by Tokyo in its hard times. Since the 1970s marked a thaw in relations between the USSR and the West, the reduction of communist threat had a detrimental impact on Pakistan’s compulsions.

Japan, the US and the UK might have been less supportive of Bengali aspiration had the Soviet peril not weathered away, albeit temporarily.

Though diplomatic ties with Japan worsened tremendously, commercial relations received marginal fallout until Bhutto’s nationalization which raised foreign investor and business concerns in Pakistan. Owing to a multitude of factors, the golden period in Japan-Pakistan relations collapsed in the 1970s.

[The article is the first in a two-part series on dynamics of Pakistan-Japan relations. The next part will deliberate on the prospective course of the bilateral relation in view of the ChinaPakistan partnership.]

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Naveed Ahmad

The writer is a Pakistani investigative journalist and academic with extensive reporting experience in the Middle East and North Africa. Based in Doha and Istanbul, he specializes in matters concerning security, diplomacy and governance.

Opinions expressed by the author do not represent the opinions of the publication To contribute, email your submissions to submit@dailypakistan.com.pk More in Analysis https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/opinion/dawn-of-abes-japan/

Fertility researchers have found that rice that is not properly cooked contains arsenic metals which interferes with reproductive systems and causes cancer. PHOTO| FILE| NMG

In Summary ď&#x201A;ˇ

Fertility researchers have found that rice that is not properly cooked contains arsenic metals which interferes with reproductive systems and causes cancer

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Arsenic metal lowers progesterone levels but increases oestrogen, impairs ovulation and lowers thyroid function which are all causes for fibroids and infertility.

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He advised that people should avoid the normal ratio of one to two, whereby one glass of rice goes with two glasses of water, the method is very dangerous since all the water soak in.

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By ANGELA OKETCH More by this Author

In Cairo, Egypt Rice may be a common delicacy on our tables. But new findings show eating poorly cooked rice may cause fibroids and cancer.

Fertility researchers have found that rice that is not properly cooked contains arsenic metals which interferes with reproductive systems and causes cancer.

Prof Oladapo Ashiru, President of Africa Fertility Society said despite rice being one of the world‟s most important grains, eaten by the majority of the world‟s population, few know how to prepare it.

“I am worried at the rate at which this commodity is being prepared. Most people are not even aware that they are endangering their lives so long as they are full, that is it,” he said He said the high consumption of improperly cooked rice in Africa has led to high incidences of fibroids.

‘CAUSES FOR FIBROIDS AND INFERTILITY’ Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting organised by Merck Foundation, and dubbed Merck Africa Asia Luminary meeting in Cairo, Egypt, the experts argued rice picks up these arsenic metals which are naturally found in the soil and in groundwater often used to irrigate the grain in the dry season.

This makes the metal in the soil more readily available, making easier to be absorbed by humans when they eat the grain.

“Arsenic metal lowers progesterone levels but increases oestrogen, impairs ovulation and lowers thyroid function which are all causes for fibroids and infertility,” he said.

Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that appear in the tissues around the uterus, it also grows from the muscle layers of the womb.

Fibroid affects 25 per cent of females especially those in the reproductive age.

The growths vary from the size of a bean to being as large as a melon.

‘ONLY THING I CAN EQUATE TO IS SMOKING’ Prof Andy Meharg of Queen‟s University Belfast who has been studying arsenic for years said the problem looked big though it has an easy solution, ways of cooking rice will reduce arsenic content in our food.

“The only thing I can really equate arsenic consumption to is smoking. If you take one or two cigarettes per day, your risks are going to be a lot less than if you‟re smoking 30 or 40 cigarettes a day. It‟s dose-dependent the more you eat, the higher your risk is.” he said.

Prof Meharg said the technique of reducing the content was to soak rice overnight before cooking it in a 5:1 water-to-rice ratio.

This cuts the level by over 80 per cent.

He advised that people should avoid the normal ratio of one to two, whereby one glass of rice goes with two glasses of water, the method is very dangerous since all the water soak in.

“I know the soaking method is boring but for your health, it is necessary since the one to two ratios is very dangerous,” he said According to data from the National Irrigation Board, the consumption of rice is increasing at about 12 per cent since 2008 while maize stands at one per cent and wheat at three per cent respectively.

Kenya produces less than 200,000 metric tonnes of rice against a demand of over 540,000 to 600,000 metric tonnes per year. The deficit of 75 per cent is imported from neighbouring countries, and mostly from Pakistan, who grows it using the same irrigation method.

According to Prof Ashiru, boiling and pouring out the water and boiling again also reduces arsenic content by huge percentage. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alternatively without having to boil, the water ratio to rice ratio should be increased to five to one,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Research carried out by Professor JĂśrg Feldmann of the University of Aberdeen has explored the amount and type of arsenic that can be found in rice and rice products and reasons for its occurrence.

According to the study mentioned by speakers states that arsenic found in rice can be subcategorised further one of these categories is inorganic arsenic which is a class I carcinogen which means it can cause cancer.

The research has been identified as fundamental by food standards agencies in the USA, the UK, and the European Union http://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/health/eating-poorly-cooked-rice-as-dangerous-as-smoking/19542024155266-e6gem8/index.html

Millers double non basmati purchase in Punjab With an eye on global market, millers are privately purchasing non-basmati with renewed vigour this season in Punjab that contributes almost half of rice for public distribution system. Eying prospects of higher margins in export of non-basmati, private millers in Punjab this season have purchased more than double compared to corresponding period in the last kharif marketing season. This year millers have already bought around 2 lakh tonnes of paddy compared to 1.5 lakh tonnes in th ..

Read more at: //economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61222664.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medi um=text&utm_campaign=cppst Author Name: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/millers-double-nonbasmati-purchase-in-punjab/articleshow/61222664.cms Date: 25-Oct-2017

Rice basmati moves up on stockists buying New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) Prices of rice basmati rose by up to Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today following increased buying by stockists. However, other grains moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and pegged at last levels. Traders said stockists buying due to pick-up in demand from retailers mainly led to rise in rice basmati prices. In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety advanced to trade at Rs 7,500-7,600 and Rs 6,100-6,200 from previous levels of Rs 7,300-7,400 and Rs 6,0006,100 per quintal respectively. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,1002,350, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,790-1,795, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,800-1,805, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,060-1,080 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,500-7,600, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,100-6,200, Permal raw Rs 2,200-2,225, Permal wand Rs 2,250-2,275, Sela Rs 2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,850-1,875, Bajra Rs 1,180-1,185, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,800-2,900, Maize Rs 1,280- 1,285, Barley Rs 1,440-1,450. PTI SUN KPS ANU .

Author Name: http://www.newindianexpress.com/pti-news/2017/oct/25/rice-basmati-moves-up-onstockists-buying-1682500.html

Government to reduce peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dependency on rice

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News Desk The Jakarta Post Jakarta | Wed, October 25, 2017 | 01:47 pm

A typical Indonesian meal has a large portion of rice, served with fried side dishes and a few vegetables.

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   The government is working to reduce people’s dependency on rice by promoting other sources of carbohydrates because rice consumption per capita is still much higher than in other Asian countries.

The head of the Agriculture Ministry’s Food Sovereignty Agency, Agung Hendriadi, said the government would promote the planting of various kinds of tubers such as yam

(gembili), arrowroot (garut), cassava as well as corn and sago as alternative sources of carbohydrate.

“This diversification program is part of our effort to reduce people’s dependency on rice,” said Agung in Jakarta as reported by kompas.com on Wednesday.

The Agriculture Ministry shows that Indonesia's rice consumption per capita is estimated to be still at 124 kilograms this year, compared to South Korean people, who consume 40 kg, Japan (50 kg), Thailand (70 kg) and Malaysia (80 kg).

Although rice consumption per capita is still high, Indonesia has managed to reduce people's dependency because in 2010, per capita rice consumption was at 130 kg per year in 2016 and 124 kg in 2014.

Agung said the government's target next year was to reduce rice consumption per capita to 90 kg per year. “Ideally, we have to reduce rice consumption per capita to 50 kg per year, but it’s already good if we can reduce it to 90 kg,” he added. (bbn) Topics : 

food-commodities, diversification, rice, consumption

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/10/25/government-to-reduce-peoplesdependency-on-rice.html

VFA hikes rice export target on strong

demand Update: October, 25/2017 - 09:00

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Loading rice for export at Sài Gòn Port in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Đình Huệ

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Food Association (VFA) has decided to raise its rice export target from 5.2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tones, following an increase in rice contracts for the last months of the year.

Rice exports have rebounded with an increase in rice contracts since May. The country’s rice sector has already met 82 per cent of its target for the entire year.

VFA’s statistics showed that in the first nine months of the year, Việt Nam shipped around 4.57 million tonnes of rice worth US$2.02 billion, up 20.8 per cent in quantity and over 18.6 per cent in value from the same period last year. China was still the largest importer of Vietnamese rice.

August saw the strongest growth for rice exports this year so far with 70 per cent and 56.8 per cent increases in terms of quantity and value respectively.

The number of contracts registered for exports in August also rose to the record level of some 842,000 tonnes, increasing 207 per cent from the previous month and representing a 115 per cent year-on-year increase.

Most of the contracts were with importers in China, and Philippines and Africa.

The VFA attributed the boom to better export performance in traditional markets including China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

Specifically, Vietnamese rice exporters shipped 150,000 tonnes of rice to Malaysia; 250,000 tonnes to Bangladesh and 175,000 tonnes to the Philippines. New export markets such as Australia and West Asia also saw strong growth.

The association forecast that Việt Nam’s rice exports would continue to increase in the future as Bangladesh solicited bids from exporters for an order of 50,000 tonnes of nonbasmati rice. If Việt Nam wins the bid, its rice market’s already good year would become even better.

In May, the Việt Nam and Bangladesh governments extended the memorandum of understanding on rice trading for five years, covering the period from 2017-22.

Under the MoU, Việt Nam will supply some 1 million tonnes of rice a year for Bangladesh. After the MoU signing, Bangladesh is expected to buy around 500,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice till the end of this year.

In addition, the Philippines also opened a minimum access volume (MAV) mechanism in 2017-18. Accordingly, the country will import 293,100 tonnes of rice from Việt Nam. China is forecast to continue to maintain strong imports of Vietnamese rice in the yearend months.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently announced Strategy on Việt Nam Rice Export Market Development for 2017-20 calls for gradually reducing rice export quantity but maintaining rice export value.

In addition, export and market structures will be adjusted. — VNS

Read more at http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/416179/vfa-hikes-rice-exporttarget-on-strong-demand.html#wGsOlWRMIhP7TLVr.99 http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/416179/vfa-hikes-rice-export-target-on-strongdemand.html#peJGurOQDYuR0VZj.97

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Rice Worth US$ 320.242 Mln Exported In First Quarter 1 day ago 14 Views ISLAMABAD, Oct 25 (APP):Rice exports from the country during first three months of current financial year grew by 31.91 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.

During the period from July-September, 2017-18 around 621,094 metric tons rice exported as compared the exports of 482,445 metric tons of the same period last year, according the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

During the period under review, rice worth US$ 320.242 million exported as compared the exports of US$ 242.694 million of same period last year.

Meanwhile, exports of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basmatiâ&#x20AC;? rice grew by 2.43 percent and reached at 86,672 tons valuing of US$ 90.31 million in last three months as against 92,321 metric tons worth US$ 88.772 million tons of same period last year, it added.

In first quarter of current financial year, about 534,442 metric tons of rice other then basmati worth US$ 299.321 million exported as against the exports of 390,124 metric tons valuing US$

153,922 million of same period last year, During the period under review, seafood exports from the country registered an increase of 17.64 percent as about 28,488 metric tons of fish and fish products valuing US$ 75.370 million exported as compared the exports of 21,959 metric tons worth of US$ 64.06 million of same period last year.

However, the exports of fruit, vegetable reduced by 24.37 percent and 0.99 percent respectively during the period under review, where as no quantity of pulses exported in first quarter of current financial year, the data reveled.

It may be recalled that food group exports from the country during first quarter of current financial year increased by 17.52 percent as compared the exports of the corresponding period of last year.

Food commodities worth US$ 742.391 million were exported during the period from JulySeptember, 2017-18 as compared the exports US$ 631.731 million of same period of last year.

Wheat exports grew by 100 percent and about 1088 metric tons of wheat valuing US$ 344,000 exported, where as 91,916 metric tons of sugar worth of US$ 41.99 million exported which was also up by 100 percent as compared the exports of same period last year, it added.

During the period under review, all other food commodities worth US$ 140.299 million exported as against the exports of US$ 132.216 million of same period last year, hence showing an increase of 16.11 percent http://pakchinanews.pk/rcie-worth-us-320-242-mln-exported-first-quarter/ Oct 25, 2017 10:52 AM IST | Source: PTI

Prudent hike in MSP to keep food price inflation contained: Report The government yesterday hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 110 to Rs 1,735 a quintal and of pulses by up to Rs 400 per quintal to encourage farmers to boost area and production of these crops.

ByPTI

The hike in minimum support prices of rabi crops is a prudent policy response and should keep food price inflation contained in the near term, says a Nomura report.

The government yesterday hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 110 to Rs 1,735 a quintal and of pulses by up to Rs 400 per quintal to encourage farmers to boost area and production of these crops.

MSP is the rate at which government buys the grain from farmers. According to the Japanese financial services major, the MSP increase is largely similar to the hike announced last year, although larger than the rise during 2013-14 to 2015-16.

"In the context of the upcoming elections and reports of farm distress, we view these hikes as a prudent policy response," Nomura said.

It further said that "this (MSP price hike) should keep food price inflation contained in the near term as MSPs typically set the floor for market prices, especially for cereals (rice and wheat)".

In percentage terms, wheat MSP has been hiked by 6.8 per cent, gram 10 per cent, masoor 7.6 per cent, mustard 8.1 per cent, barley 6.4 per cent and safflower seed 10.8 per cent. Wheat is the main rabi crop, sowing of which will begin from this month.

The crop will be marketed from next year April onwards. "MSP for main winter crop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; wheat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has been increased by 6.8 per cent year-on-year after rising 6.6 per cent in 2016- 17," the report said adding for pulses, where lower market prices led to a reduction in area sown for summer (kharif) pulses, the hike is in the 5-10 per cent range. http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/prudent-hike-in-msp-to-keep-food-priceinflation-contained-report-2419189.html

25 OCTOBER 2017 Last Updated at 2:16 PM

Rice basmati moves up on stockists buying New Delhi, Oct 25 Prices of rice basmati rose by up to Rs 200 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today following increased buying by stockists.

However, other grains moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and pegged at last levels.

Traders said stockists buying due to pick-up in demand from retailers mainly led to rise in rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety advanced to trade at Rs 7,500-7,600 and Rs 6,100-6,200 from previous levels of Rs 7,300-7,400 and Rs 6,000-6,100 per quintal respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,350, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,790-1,795, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,800-1,805, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 960-970 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,060-1,080 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 7,500-7,600, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,100-6,200, Permal raw Rs 2,200-2,225, Permal wand Rs 2,250-2,275, Sela Rs 2,300-2,400 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,850-1,875, Bajra Rs 1,180-1,185, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,800-2,900, Maize Rs 1,280- 1,285, Barley Rs 1,440-1,450. https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rice-basmati-moves-up-on-stockists-buying/1173989 OCTOBER 26, 2017 / 1:52 PM / UPDATED 6 HOURS AGO

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices OpenOctober 26, 2017 Reuters Staff 6 MIN READ

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-October 26 Nagpur, Oct 26 (Reuters) – Gram prices recovered in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on increased buying support from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Fresh rise on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from

South-based millers also helped to push up prices, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani moved down in open market here on poor buying support from local millers amid good supply from producing regions. * Wheat Lokwan reported higher in open market on good festival season demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,700-6,000, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,800-8,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,900-7,200, Gram – 5,000-5,025, Gram Super best – 7,100-7,300 * Other varieties of 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/openmarket prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Gram Auction 4,000-4,650

Previous close 4,000-4,580

Gram Pink Auction 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,600-3,950 Moong Auction 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,600-1,642 1,592-1,782 Gram Super Best Bold 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 6,800 6,400-6,800 Gram Dal Medium n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,200 5,100-5,200 Desi gram Raw 5,000 4,900-5,000 Gram Kabuli 13,200 12,500-13,200 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200 Tuar Gavarani New 3,800-3,900 3,850-3,950 Tuar Karnataka 4,400 4,200-4,500 Masoor dal best 5,200 4,800-5,200 Masoor dal medium 4,800 4,400-4,800

n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.

n.a.

6,400n.a.

5,1004,90012,500-

4,1004,8004,400-

Masoor

n.a.

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,600 6,200-6,600 Moong dal Chilka 5,4005,800 5,400-5,800 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,0007,500 6,900-7,400 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-7,200 6,200-7,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,200-6,200 5,200-6,200 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,150 1,900-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-2,900 2,800-2,900 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,600 3,250-3,600 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,400 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 10,000-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-2,000 1,700-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 34.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 16.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 34 and 17 degree Celsius respectively.

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

included in market prices) https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-october-26-2017idINL4N1N13IH