28th april,2015 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

April, 28 ,2017 All About Rice News

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Vol 8,Issue XIV

Global Rice E-Newsletter News Headlines....Today  Rice prices rise in India on stronger rupee; stable in Thailand, Vietnam  PHL in talks with Vietnam to maximize available trade deals  ASEAN rice reserve available during emergencies  Flash floods will not drive up rice prices, says food minister  USA Rice, Mexican Rice Council: Leave NAFTA Alone!  Inspection Issues are Major Concern at U.S.-Taiwan Rice Sectors Annual Technical Meeting  Iskcon mayapur interested in cultivating 8 varieties of aromatic-rice  Piñol: Duterte OK’d mandatory inspection of rice warehouses  From 50 cavans to 200 cavans per hectare

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Rice prices rise in India on stronger rupee; stable in Thailand, Vietnam A farmer winnows rice in a field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, November 4, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/Files

By Rajendra Jadhav, Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Mai Nguyen | MUMBAI/BANGKOK/HANOI

Rice prices in India rose on a stronger rupee, while markets in Thailand and Vietnamremained quiet, traders said on Thursday.

In India, the world's biggest rice exporter, prices for 5-percent broken parboiled rice rose by $3 to $387-$392 a tonne this week on an appreciation in the rupee and a rise in paddy prices in the local market.

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The rupee has risen 6 percent so far in 2017 and is trading near its highest level in 21 months, trimming returns for exporters.

The strengthening rupee is also pushing up prices in dollar terms, making Indian supplies less competitive, said a rice exporter based in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

Local paddy prices were firm on thinner supply.

"Paddy supply from winter crops is lower than anticipated," said another exporter based in Kakinada.India mainly exports non-basmati rice to African countries and premier basmati rice to the Middle East.

Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice remained at $360-$375 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, in a quiet market.

"Prices will likely stay at this level for a while," a trader in Bangkok said.

The Thai government will open a state auction for 1.03 million tonnes of spoiled and substandard rice from state stockpiles on Friday.

Vietnam's 5-percent broken rice dropped slightly to $350 a tonne, FOB Saigon, from $350-$355 last week, with traders citing a quiet market amid weak demand.

Rice exports by Vietnam in the first four months of 2017 are estimated to fall 7.7 percent from the same period last year to 1.86 million tonnes, the country's farm ministry said on Wednesday.

Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second and third biggest rice exporters.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK, and Mai Nguyen in HANOI; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri http://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice-idINKBN17T1NF

PHL in talks with Vietnam to maximize available trade deals April 27, 2017

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All About Rice News THE PHILIPPINES is calling for closer trade ties with Vietnam to widen the two countries’ domestic and export markets while making the most of the advantages offered by their separate trade agreements with other territories.

Garment factory workers -- FIL-PACIFIC APPAREL CORPORATION

On Wednesday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said in a statement that Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez urged Vietnamese Vice-Minister for Trade and Industry Tran Quoc Khanh to ―further strengthen bilateral trade between the Philippines and Vietnam.‖ Mr. Lopez, who met with the Vietnamese official on Monday, also called on the country’s regional neighbor to ―balance the import and export trade between the two Southeast Asian countries.‖ Trade Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo said the talks with Vietnam was ―significant because the last time that we held the JTC (joint trade committee) was in 2003.‖ ―After 14 years, we covered a lot of issues,‖ said Mr. Rodolfo, who is also the managing head of the country’s investment promotion arm, the Board of Investments.

He said the talks covered developments in the regional and global trade environment, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) pushed by the Obama administration, which has since been dropped by US President Donald Trump. ―As you know, Vietnam was poised to be part of the TPP (if it will enter) into force,‖ he said. ―Vietnam has ramped up its production capacity for textiles in anticipation for TPP.‖ Daily Global

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All About Rice News But he said since the TPP deal had become uncertain, or should it go ahead, it would not include the biggest market -- the US, ―we’re already discussing sourcing possibilities.‖ He said the talks include taking in Vietnam textiles, which the Philippines can further process, with the garments exported to the US and the European Union (EU).

Mr. Rodolfo said the same could apply for raw hides, a material that Vietnam supplies and which the Philippines is not self-sufficient in.

He said talks with Vietnam also covered ―joining forces for a common advocacy so that we could expand the generalized system of preference (GSP) of the US to cover more goods that are important to us.‖ The GSP allows entry into the US of preferential and duty-free products from 122 designated beneficiary countries and territories, including the Philippines. Garments are widely considered as among the protected products on the US market. ―We could say that with our sourcing cooperation (and) collaboration with Vietnam, textile companies who would invest in the Philippines are not just looking at our export market and our domestic market of 100 million but also the 100 million domestic market of Vietnam and also the export market of Vietnam,‖ Mr. Rodolfo said.

Vietnam is in the legal scrubbing phase of its FTA with the EU. The Philippines is currently negotiating an FTA with the regional bloc but it has easy market access to the EU through the GSP+ that allows tariff-free exports to Europe of more than 6,200 Philippine products, including processed fruit, coconut oil, footwear, fish and textiles.

Mr. Rodolfo also said Vietnam had expressed support and readiness in supplying rice to the Philippines should it decide to do so ―in the quality and quantity needed.‖ -- Victor V. Saulon http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=phl-in-talks-with-vietnam-tomaximize-available-trade-deals&id=144338

ASEAN rice reserve available during emergencies

By Philippine News Agency on April 3, 2017

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino, who headed the Philippine delegation to the APTERR meeting recently held in Bangkok, Thailand reported that an agreement was reached to implement the Tier 1 program which will allow sales of rice Daily Global

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All About Rice News between member countries of APTERR from the earmarked emergency rice reserve during emergencies and calamities. (Photo: Simone Bosotti/ Flickr)

MANILA–The Philippines and other member countries of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) may now buy rice from the reserve in case of emergency and natural calamities.

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino, who headed the Philippine delegation to the APTERR meeting recently held in Bangkok, Thailand reported that an agreement was reached to implement the Tier 1 program which will allow sales of rice between member countries of APTERR from the earmarked emergency rice reserve during emergencies and calamities.

APTERR was launched in July 2012 composed of the ten ASEAN nations namely Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Laos, plus three non ASEAN members namely: Japan, China, and South Korea.

Originally established as ASEAN Emergency Rice Reserve (AERR) in 1979, APTERR was organized to ensure rice availability during emergencies, stabilize the price of rice, and improve farmers’ income and welfare among the member countries. It aims to improve food security without distorting the international rice market.

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All About Rice News At present, the total earmarked emergency rice reserve pledged by APTERR member countries is placed at 787,000 MT. The stocks are made available to member countries through a three-tier system: Tier 1 – through sales; Tier 2- through emergency grants and loans; and Tier 3- delivery of donated rice in times of acute emergency. ―Rice sales under Tier 1 is different from government-to-government deals because the sale must go through the approval of APTERR as a body and can only be availed of in cases of emergency and calamities,‖ Aquino said.

The Philippines had already benefited from the AERR/APTERR since 2010 but almost all under Tier 3 program. Thailand donated 520 metric tons of rice to the Philippines through the APTERR Secretariat for victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Juan, La Nina and flash floods. Since the APTERR came into force in 2012, at least 7,200 MT of rice were donated through the program to the Philippines for the victims of typhoons Pablo, Yolanda and Nona http://www.canadianinquirer.net/2017/04/03/asean-rice-reserve-available-during-emergencies

Flash floods will not drive up rice prices, says food minister

Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com Published: 2017-04-26 22:13:43.0 BdST Updated: 2017-04-26 22:13:48.0 BdST

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All About Rice News Food Minister Qamrul Islam has brushed off speculations that rice prices may go up due to the flash floods sweeping backswamps.An untimely downpour resulted into the flooding in the beginning of this month.According to private organisations, the submerged cropfields used to produce 800,000 tonnes of rice.

"The floods have damaged approximately 600,000 metric tonnes of Boro paddy. But that won't result in a food crisis nor will it impact the rice market adversely," the minister said on Wednesday. The minister claimed Bangladesh has 1500,000 to 2000,000 tons of surplus rice in stock."The country produces more than 30 million metric tonnes of rice annually. After meeting local demand, we are left with 152000,000 metric tonnes of rice," he said.

However, some rogue traders and hoarders were trying to create a panic, he added.

Qamrul warned the traders not to try pushing the price of rice showing loss of crops as an excuse.

He also called upon the media to not spread rumours.Qamrul inaugurated the 'Second Food and Agro, Agrocam cum Poultry and Livestock Bangladesh Expo-2017' at International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka on Wednesday.A total of 120 organisations from Spain, UK, Poland, Thailand, China, Turkey, India and Bangladesh are taking part in the exhibition which will continue until Saturday

http://bdnews24.com/economy/2017/04/26/flash-floods-will-not-drive-up-rice-prices-says-foodminister

USA Rice, Mexican Rice Council: Leave NAFTA Alone!

By Hugh Maginnis MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- The two national organizations representing their respective rice industries in the United States and Mexico agree that any renegotiation of the North America Daily Global

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All About Rice News Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could have serious consequences for the stable and consistent rice trade that has created jobs and benefitted consumers and farmers on both sides of the border.

During high level meetings here this week, USA Rice and the Mexican Rice Council recognized the mutual benefits achieved through free trade that support the viability of U.S. farmers and guarantees a safe, consistent, and affordable staple food product for Mexican consumers.

The 12-person USA Rice delegation met with all segments of the Mexican rice industry, including, the Mexican Rice Council, farmers, millers, importers, and distributors, and there was consensus that the goals of the industries are similar - keep the market free and open and increase consumption of rice in Mexico.

Mexico remains the number one rice export market in value and volume, accounting for 20 percent of all U.S. rice exports and more than 16 percent of total U.S. long grain rice production.

USA Rice has worked for decades developing the Mexican market, and NAFTA has been central to market growth. Changing NAFTA threatens to disrupt this most important market and opens the door for rice imports from countries that heavily subsidize their rice industries, like Viet Nam. "There's a lot at stake here and if NAFTA goes away, we lose. Plain and simple," said Brian King, USA Rice Chairman and the delegation leader. "The reality is, we need the Mexican market more than they need us. They'll get their rice, one way or another. I'm interested in making certain it's coming from the United States."

"We're sending a united message to President Trump that withdrawal from NAFTA, or significant revisions, would likely hurt everyone involved - particularly the rural, agriculturalbased communities that quite frankly, are the ones that made him President," said Betsy Ward, USA Rice President & CEO. Ward added that USA Rice and the Mexican Rice Council also agreed on the importance of continuing the education process for their respective governments on the win-win that is NAFTA, rice trade between the countries, and the critical need to keep markets open.

USA Rice, Mexican Rice Council: Leave NAFTA Alone!

By Hugh Maginnis MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- The two national organizations representing their respective rice industries in the United States and Mexico agree that any renegotiation of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could have serious consequences for the stable and consistent rice trade that has created jobs and benefitted consumers and farmers on both sides of the border.

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During high level meetings here this week, USA Rice and the Mexican Rice Council recognized the mutual benefits achieved through free trade that support the viability of U.S. farmers and guarantees a safe, consistent, and affordable staple food product for Mexican consumers.

The 12-person USA Rice delegation met with all segments of the Mexican rice industry, including, the Mexican Rice Council, farmers, millers, importers, and distributors, and there was consensus that the goals of the industries are similar - keep the market free and open and increase consumption of rice in Mexico.

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All About Rice News Mexico remains the number one rice export market in value and volume, accounting for 20 percent of all U.S. rice exports and more than 16 percent of total U.S. long grain rice production.

USA Rice has worked for decades developing the Mexican market, and NAFTA has been central to market growth. Changing NAFTA threatens to disrupt this most important market and opens the door for rice imports from countries that heavily subsidize their rice industries, like Viet Nam. "There's a lot at stake here and if NAFTA goes away, we lose. Plain and simple," said Brian King, USA Rice Chairman and the delegation leader. "The reality is, we need the Mexican market more than they need us. They'll get their rice, one way or another. I'm interested in making certain it's coming from the United States."

"We're sending a united message to President Trump that withdrawal from NAFTA, or significant revisions, would likely hurt everyone involved - particularly the rural, agriculturalbased communities that quite frankly, are the ones that made him President," said Betsy Ward, USA Rice President & CEO. Ward added that USA Rice and the Mexican Rice Council also agreed on the importance of continuing the education process for their respective governments on the win-win that is NAFTA, rice trade between the countries, and the critical need to keep markets open.

On-site learning session with CA rice farmer Michael Rue

Inspection Issues are Major Concern at U.S.-Taiwan Rice Sectors Annual Technical Meeting

By Gil Thompson SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -- Representatives from the U.S. and Taiwan rice industries met for two days last week to discuss a range of technical issues influencing rice trade. Taiwan's government imports rice to meet the island's commitment to the World Trade Organization, which includes annual purchases from the United States of 64,634 metric tons (brown basis).

"We greatly value the market in Taiwan, and last week's meeting was an important opportunity to exchange information, discuss issues of mutual concern, and find solutions that make U.S.Taiwan rice trade run more smoothly and efficiently," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.

The Taiwan team, headed by Huang Chao-hsing of Taiwan's Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA), outlined AFA's tender intentions for 2017, as well as the agency's efforts to increase rice utilization in Taiwan. Differences in results between quality inspections in the United States and Daily Global

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All About Rice News upon arrival in Taiwan have been a concern of both sides for several years, and were discussed in detail at the Sacramento meeting.

"Differing inspection results for the same shipment of rice is a major obstacle in our rice trade and I'm glad that Taiwan accepted our suggestion to hold a rice grading seminar in the near future. We look forward to a hands-on discussion among experts, a better understanding of Taiwan's quality standards, and more consistent results," continued Cummings.

USA Rice members and staff support annual technical meetings with Japan, Korea, and Taiwan important export markets where national governments control or heavily influence rice imports as opportunities to resolve non-policy issues and to build trust among industry segments.

Iskcon mayapur interested in cultivating 8 varieties of aromatic-rice

Latest News Preeti Jain and two others have been convicted by a #Mumbai court, while two others have been acquitted in the caseED registers money laundering case in the Narada sting involving TMC leadersFIR registered against actress Shilpa Shetty and her businessman husband Raj Kundra in a cheating case in Maharashtra: policeRose Valley chit fund scam: CBI files chargesheet against arrested TMC MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Tapas PalAll 22 social networking sites, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter accessible in many parts of Valley despite a banI accept challenge of those who challenge me, we'll capture Delhi, says Mamata Banerjee amid BJP chief Amit Shah's WB visitDelhi's Teen Murti Marg will be renamed after Israeli city of Haifa ahead of PM @narendramodi's visit to Israel:

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All About Rice News NDMCIndia has sought from Pakistan a certificate on the health condition of Kulbhushan Jadhav: MEASensex retreats from record close, ends 103.61 pts lower at 30,029.74; Nifty falls 9.70 pts to 9,342.15SC says Lokpal bill is "workable piece of legislation" and it is not justifiable to keep its operation pending Trending Topics#GST | #Immigrationban | #RoseValleyScam | #Demonetisation | #MCDElection2017 | #MarvelCinematicUniverse Home > Kolkata > ISKCON Mayapur interested in cultivating 8 varieties of aromatic rice ISKCON Mayapur interested in cultivating 8 varieties of aromatic rice Team MP | 27 April 2017 11:08 PM | Kolkata ISKCON Mayapur has approached the state government showing interest to cultivate eight out of 21 variety of aromatic rice WHICH have been revived by the state agriculture department.

The state Agriculture department has revived 21 varieties of aromatic rice which have become almost extinct. The rice research centre of the state Agriculture department at Hamskhali had been working in the sector and have become successful in reviving the 21 varieties of the aromatic rice. The step to revive the rice varieties was taken up after the change of guard in the state and it is one of the most important tasks carried out by the rice research centre in the past few years. Sources in the state Agriculture department said that ISKCON Mayapur will be cultivating the eight varieties of the aromatic rice in their land of around 100 acre.

ISKCON authorities had discussions in this regard with scientists in the rice research centre and the officials of the state Agriculture department. It is learnt that scientists from the rice research centre have already visited the land where ISKCON Mayapur wants to cultivate the aromatic rice. They have carried out all necessary tests and have come to a conclusion that both the land and the weather is favourable to start the cultivation.

With ISKCON Mayapur showing interest to cultivate the rice varieties, it is expected that people from different parts of the world would come to know that such rice is produced in Bengal, said an official of the agriculture department adding that a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the state government and ISKCON Mayapur. Scientists in the research centre would be providing their expertise to make the effort of ISKCON Mayapur successful, sources said. The state government is also taking the initiative to begin cultivation of aromatic rice in more lands, which would be selected as per the requirements of the rice varieties.

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Piñol: Duterte OK’d mandatory inspection of rice warehouses

By BusinessMirror APRIL 27, 2017

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas & Elijah Felice E. Rosales President Duterte has approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to set up a task force that would conduct mandatory inspection of all rice warehouses in the country, according to the DA chief.

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Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said on his Facebook post the green light for the creation of the Task Force Bigas was given by the President in a meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday. ―The task force will conduct actual rice-stock inventory in the country and establish accurate baseline information on the country’s rice supply,‖ Piñol said. ―President Duterte said Task Force Bigas should be led by the DA and supported by other agencies, like the bureaus of Customs and Internal Revenue, and the Philippine Statistics Office [sic],‖ he added.

Piñol said the Office of the President will soon release a memorandum order to operationalize the interagency task force. The memo will be signed by Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea.

He said one of the objectives of Task Force Bigas is ―to avert any attempt at hoarding rice to create an artificial shortage‖ following the pronouncement of the President that the country will not import rice while harvest is ongoing. ―The new policy declared by the President is aimed at protecting Filipino rice farmers from price manipulation. Historically, paddy rice-buying prices would fall from a high of P18 per kilogram [before the start of harvest] to only about P10 to P12 per kg during peak harvest, a result of the inshipment of imported rice,‖ Piñol said. ―The task force will conduct a nationwide inventory of all rice stocks, including those that entered the country through the backdoor by a well-organized rice-smuggling syndicate, which receives the rice from other countries in the waters off Malaysia and transferred to small boats that bring the stocks to Zamboanga City and other small ports in the peninsula,‖ he added.

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Earlier Piñol said he proposed the setup of Task Force Bigas to Duterte, as the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) data on rice were ―not accurate‖.

He said the PSA data did not take into account smuggled rice.Citing data from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Piñol said the Philippines has a rice inventory of about 5 million metric tons (MMT).

IRRI analyst, Dr. Samarendu Mohanty, said the Philippines has an inventory of about 5 MMT of rice. Mohanty also said the export price of rice in the world market today has fallen to very affordable (levels) partly because of the announcement by President Duterte that the Philippines will not import during the harvest season, Piñol added.

‘Lift rice QR’ The Asean Business Advisory Council (Abac) on Thursday urged the Philippine government to let go of its quantitative restriction (QR) on rice and to focus instead on addressing the needs of rice farmers.

Abac Chairman Jose Ma. A. Concepcion III urged the Philippine government to pursue its hybridization program to increase rice supply and help farmers increase their income.―The QR will be removed because there’s no chance to defer it again. But the implementation of the free trade on rice will take time,‖ Concepcion told reporters in a news briefing in Pasay City on Thursday. ―Now is the perfect time for the government to support the hybridization of rice. This is the only way for our rice industry to prosper on its own,‖ he added.Concepcion noted that the Asean is currently focused on reducing inequality in the region by attending to the needs of the ―marginalized and underserved‖ like the farmers.

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―In the middle of all these privatization, liberalization and deregulation, we must work to find the right balance in the distribution of wealth. And we must begin with the workers in the agriculture sector,‖ the Abac chief said.

He said Manila should learn from Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam—Asean countries that were once poor but are now reaping the fruits of their hard work.―Come to think of it, Vietnam was formerly bombed and devastated by the war. But now, look at them. Their agriculture is better than the Philippines, in spite of them learning their ways from us,‖ Concepcion said.―We should not be urging our rice farmers to plant another crop. Instead, we should help our rice farmers develop their farming so we will be able to resolve rural poverty.‖ http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/pinol-duterte-okd-mandatory-inspection-of-rice-warehouses/

From 50 cavans to 200 cavans per hectare Published April 27, 2017, 12:05 AM

By Zac B. Sarian RIPENING GRAINS AT SIMON’S FARM – Simon Pungan, the nine-year-old boy after whom the rice farm is named, is an elementary school student, the son of Eric and Mary Ann Pungan. The farm is rainfed land which used to produce only about 50 cavans of palay per hectare. With the adoption of the System for Rice Intensification (SRI), Dennis Miguel, together with seven students from the Isabela State University, were able to harvest last April 20, 200 cavans of newly harvested palay per hectare.

Dennis Miguel, the fellow who wanted to break the world record of 20.2 tons of palay per hectare achieved in India, did not quite make it but what he has proven is that a rainfed rice farm that used to produce only about 50 cavans per hectare can yield four times, or 200 cavans.At the Simon’s Farm in Brgy. Luna in Santiago, Isabela where Dennis implemented the System for Rice Intensification (SRI) technique developed by Cornell University experts, he was able to produce 10.8 tons of palay (fresh weight) per hectare. That’s equivalent to 216 cavans per hectare.On April 20, the harvesting, threshing and weighing of the palay was done by representatives of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and the Departmet of Agriculture in Region 2.

Three 10-square meter areas in different parts of the farm were selected for harvesting. Many farmers as well as some government officials were present to witness the harvesting.The farm is not ideal for planting rice because it is rainfed and the soil nutrients must have been depleted during the past many rice planting seasons. But Dennis chose to do his demo planting of SRI to see how the SRI technique will come out despite the challenging situation.According to Eric Pungan, the owner of the farm, in Daily Global

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All About Rice News the last three years, they were only able to harvest the equivalent of less than 50 cavans per hectare.

It’s 70 to 77 cavans from 1.5 hectares.

The result is an eye-opener. It means that the rainfed areas in many parts of the Philippines can be made to produce high yields by following the System of Rice Intensification. The system can be adopted by smallhold farmers because it might be quite difficult to adopt in large areas where water management may be a big challenge. Under SRI, taking care of the rice plants is like gardening where the requirements of the plants are precise. Like, for instance, the use of very young seedlings with only two leaves and planting only one seedling per hill. In large farms, the young seedlings that are newly planted can be carried away by flash floods or heavy rains.

While adopting the SRI can be demanding, it is one way of ensuring viable income and food security among smallhold farmers. Imagine, Dennis has proven that a one-hectare rainfed farm can produce the usual yield of four hectares.While Dennis has not achieved his big dream of breaking the world rice record harvest, he is not giving up. In fact he will continue to keep on innovating until he achieves his goal. The owner of the farm, Eric Pungan, is a 33-year-old businessman who is very much interested in agriculture.

Together Dennis and Eric will collaborate in undertaking improvement not only of rice production but of other crops like corn, herbs and vegetables.For undertaking the SRI project and new projects in the offing, Dennis has been depending on the help of seven students from the Isabela State University who are pursuing agriculture studies. They are given cash allowance and food. What is really important for the students is that they acquire hands-on experience in farming. If they decide to be on their own later on, their experience can be a very important asset.Aside from the students, Drnnis also relied on the assistance of friends like Anthony Cortes who is the distributor of Supravim, an organic plant growth accelerator from the United States.

Supravim was sprayed on the leaves of the rice plants four times—every 15 days starting on the 15th day after transplanting and every 15 days thereafter. Supravim is claimed to enhance root development and tiller production. It helps more efficient uptake of nutrients from the soil.In the particular SRI project, Dennis said that they spent a total of about P50,000 to produce the 10.8 tons of fresh palay. When dried, the recovery has been computed by the PhilRice representative to be 9.05 tons or about 180.01 cavans.

If the 9.05 tons were sold at P19 per kilo, the gross would be P171,950. Deduct the P50,000 spent in producing the rice and you will get a profit of P121,950 per hectare.If the farmer chooses to mill his own harvest and sell milled rice, he could make even more.Of course, the farmer will not spend all his time, day in and day out, taking care of his SRI plants. He can do other things like producing high-value vegetables for added income. http://newsbits.mb.com.ph/2017/04/27/from-50-cavans-to-200-cavans-per-hectare/

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