28th february,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

28th February,2018

Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Farmers no need to worry about La Niña — PhilRice Despite reports on La Niña expecting to last until March from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), climate change experts from PhilRice advise farmers to remain calm as the effects may not be detrimental but at the same urge them to be always prepared.

“The effects of La Niña vary around the world. In the Philippines, it brings more rains while in other countries, the usual effect can also be drought. Local farmers need not panic as what we might be experiencing until March are just slight effects of La Niña, after that everything will return to the neutral condition,” says Dr. Jasper G. Tallada, climate change expert and supervising science research specialist from PhilRice’s Rice Engineering and Mechanization Division (REMD).

Tallada has emphasized that while there is no early sign of detrimental effects of La Niña, it is still good to be prepared and alert. Hence, he advises farmers to regularly check updates on La Niña and other extreme weather conditions that can affect their rice farming. He also recommends them to adopt some practices that will help them prepare for the effects of La Niña.

“We encourage farmers to use submergence-tolerant varieties or those that can still survive despite being soaked in water for days. These varieties include NSIC Rc 68 (Sacobia) and NSIC Rc 194 (Submarino 1). They should also plan their planting schedule very well to avoid torrential rains and strong winds that can cause damages to crops,” explains Dr. Ricardo F. Orge, lead of the PhilRice’s Climate Resiliency for Enhanced Agricultural Trade and Efficiency for Rice (CREATE Rice) Program.

According to these experts, farmers should repair drainage canals, dykes, and ensure an effective water management system in the field to avoid pest infestation and diseases that are prevalent during La Niña. Farmers are also encouraged to plant trees around their fields that can serve as wind breakers for crops during strong winds.

Meanwhile, Orge and Tallada have also highlighted the effectiveness of using mechanical dryers in drying the crops, the establishment of floating gardens for water-soaked areas, and the use of small farm reservoir to store rainwater that can be used by farmers in the next planting seasons.

“The bottomline is that we should always be informed about the changes in our weather. We can check for updates from PAGASA and the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (NDRRMC),” Tallada concludes.

PhilRice Central Experimentation Station

Domoguen: Waging wars on crop pests and diseases Monday, February 26, 2018

By ROBERT L. DOMOGUEN MOUNTAIN LIGHT BY EXPERIENCE , farmers know that major outbreaks of pests and diseases are infrequent. The question is when these outbreaks occur do the farmers and stakeholders know what to do? Otherwise, the farmers lose their crop. When local farmers lose their crop for the current season, they lose their livelihood and are forced to incur additional debts to start all over again. This need not happen.

A whole field crop may not necessarily be damaged if the farmer and crop technicians were vigilant in their surveillance of the occurrence of pests and diseases. It is also during pests and disease outbreak situations that farmers are forced to use pesticides fueling continued concern on food safety and abuse of the environment. The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program was developed to aid farmers in making economically and environmentally responsible decisions on the use of pesticides when necessary. In most cases, the program would advise farmers not to use pesticides – “it is not even necessary.” Pest monitoring, also known as field scouting is a cornerstone of any effective IPM program. It begins with the correct identification of a pest, according to Ulysses G. Duque, Agricultural Center Chief ll at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), San Andres St., Malate, Manila.

“Farmers and pest scouts must know and identify their enemies (referring to field crop pests) properly to be able to control and manage the damage they inflict on their plants,” he added. Duque

was part of a team of experts invited by the Department of Agriculture-Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) to train and introduce local agricultural technicians and pest control officers to a new government pest surveillance research project called “Pests Risks Identification and Management (PRIME). PRIME is currently being implemented on rice by the Department of Agriculture (DA) and its attached agencies: Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR); Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI); and Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice). The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and other partner institutions are part of the team.

The other and earlier projects on rice pests and diseases identification, control and management include the Surveillance and Early Warning System for Masagana (1985 edition). This was later updated into a Philippine Pest Surveillance and Early Warning System on Rice (2017 edition) by the BPI. The primary objective of any public invested research and development project is to transfer technology and tools to the major stakeholders of farming, more importantly, the farmers to use, manage, and enhance the practice of their professions. In the two days that I joined and participated in the PRIME lectures and field activities in Tabuk City, Kalinga Province, last February 20-21, it was apparent how expertise evolved over the years on pest surveillance, monitoring, and risk management that are integrated into a system that stakeholders can use to their benefit and that of the consumers of agricultural products.

It does take time and effort to learn the old techniques and be updated with the new strategies and approaches. For example, during the lecture on injuries caused by insects, by Mr. Ricardo Marquez, Senior Science Research Specialist at Philrice, explained that scouts or those tasked to monitor the pests of crops can easily see what they are looking for with a combination of direct recognition, knowing something about the biology and habits of the pests, and identifying injury symptoms on the plant caused by a pest. In time, “you must learn to create your story about a certain pest that would make you readily recognize it and understand its behavior,� he said.

Knowing and understanding a pest prevents hasty decisions and efforts to control it.

This is because monitoring pests, when properly done, provide enough information to make an economically sensible decision that is based on solid research information, according to Marquez.

In practice, the decision is flexible and is still incumbent upon knowing and understanding the pests and diseases of rice, for instance. This leads to the formulation and employment of a suitable and efficient combination of management strategies and biological, cultural and mechanical control methods of pest control. If pesticides are to be used, it must as a rule, be utilized as a corrective tool that targets a specific pest present in economically damaging numbers. Here is a story formulated by a pest scout on the brown planthopper that is helpful in recognizing the problem and evolving effective solutions, management and control of the pest.

The brown planthopper is a very damaging insect in rice cultivation. These are very tiny insects that are hardly noticed even if the rice plants in a paddy are covered by them. An infested rice field can be lost if interventions come in too late. The brown planthopper can be recognized by knowing

its feeding habits. It normally attacks at the base of the plant and sucks its sap that causes drying.

Affected plants look burnt. The worst attack is in the booting stage or just before the rice ripens.

The brown planthopper is a pest that likes some kinds of rice more than the others. This characteristic suggests one aspect of controlling the pest. Avoid planting rice varieties that are susceptible to the brown planthopper in those times where their growth is very favorable.

The brown planthoppers like warm and moist weather but do not like bright sunlight. Planting several rice seedlings close together makes it is easy for the hoppers to move from one plant to another. The pest also likes to eat rice that has been fertilized with lots of urea. Do not spray pesticides early in the season as a control measure. The act kills hopper predators such as spiders.

Here are a few information and recommendations I gathered during the lectures for identifying and managing insect pests in rice in the Philippines from the pest scout exercises in Tabuk City. The farmer is a very important character in the identification and management of pests and diseases in the farm. Their active support in developing and adopting a scientific approach to pest surveillance and monitoring must be sought continuously especially in putting in place an early warning system for pest outbreaks. - The PRIME is building a rice area pest monitoring system. It would be best to also utilize the strategies and learnings from this project for other crops.

- The site selection and monitoring sites establish visits by trained pest scouts in the study, identification and determining the emergence of pests at a very early stage. The arrangement must provide for close working tie-ups with the farmers in the area to ensure transfer of critical knowledge and technology. - The Project can look into creating awareness among the farmers about Integrated Crop Management (ICM) practices that keep the plant healthy and less vulnerable to plant pests and diseases. - Pest and disease management consist of a range of activities that support each other. Good crop management practices are aimed at preventing pests and diseases from affecting a crop. It focuses on keeping existing pest populations and diseases low. Control, on the other hand, is an activity that focuses on killing the pest and disease. In organic agriculture, the management of pests and diseases deals with the causes of a problem rather than treating the symptoms. Therefore, management is a much higher priority than control. Besides monitoring pests and their management are focused on preventive practices, as well as control practices using biological, mechanical control, and natural pesticides which are important considerations in pests risks identification and management on food crops.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/baguio/opinion/2018/02/26/domoguen-waging-wars-crop-pests-and-diseases590956

Organic Rice Market Potential Growth, Share, Demand and Analysis of Key Players- Research Forecasts to 2022 February 26, 2018 - by Carol Harris

The “Organic Rice Market Forecast to 2022“provides detailed analysis of Market Overview, Market Drivers, Opportunities, Potential Application. Also Organic Rice Industry research report provides Emerging Market trends, Raw Materials Analysis, Manufacturing Process, regional outlook and comprehensive analysis on different market segments.

Description: Organic farming is defined as a production system which largely excludes or avoids the use of fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, preservatives and livestock feed additives and totally rely on crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manures, off-farm wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral nutrient bearing rocks and biological pest control to maintain soil health, supply plant nutrients and minimize insects, weeds and other pests.

Organic Rice market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Organic Rice sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players including: Doguet’s Rice, Randallorganic, Sanjeevani Organics, Kahang Organic Rice, RiceSelect, Texas Best Organics, CAPITAL RICE, YINCHUAN, URMATT, Vien Phu, SUNRISE foodstuff JSC, KHAOKHO TALAYPU, BEIDAHUANG, Yanbiangaoli, Jinjian, HUICHUN FILED RICE, Dingxiang, Heilongjiang Taifeng, Heilongjiang Julong.

On the basis of Product Type, Organic Rice market report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, covers: Polished glutinous rice(sticky rice), Indica(long-shaped rice), Polished round-grained rice On the basis on the end users/applications, Organic Rice market report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, this can be divided into: Direct edible, Deep processing Scope of the Organic Rice Market Report: This report focuses on the Organic Rice in North America market, especially in United States, Canada and Mexico. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries, type and application.

Ask for PDF sample @ http://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/requestsample/10396777 Organic Rice Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers

    

North America (USA, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)

Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)

Purchase Organic Rice Market Report @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/purchase/10396777 The major objectives of the study are as follows:       

Define, analyse and forecast Organic Rice market by Product type, applications, key players and region.

Forecast the market size with the help of value & volume for various segments regarding main regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World).

Provide detailed information concerning the major factors (opportunities, drivers, restraints, and industry-specific challenges) influencing the growth of Organic Rice market.

Analyse the industry with respect to individual growth trends, prospects and contributions to the total Organic Rice market.

Analyse opportunities in the market for various stakeholders by identifying the high-growth segments of Organic Rice market.

Profile the key players and comprehensively analyses their market position in terms of ranking and core competencies along with detailing the competitive landscape for the market leaders.

Analyse competitive developments, such as partnerships and joint ventures, new product developments, expansions and research and development in Organic Rice market.

Have any special requirement on above Organic Rice market report? Ask to our Industry Expert @ https://www.360marketupdates.com/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/10396777 The next part also sheds light on the gap between supply and consumption. Apart from the mentioned information, growth rate of Organic Rice market in 2022 is also explained. Additionally, type wise and application wise consumption tables and figures of Organic Rice market are also given.

SOURCE The Financial Consulting https://thefinancialconsulting.com/ https://thefinancialconsulting.com/organic-rice-market-potential-growth-share-demand-and-analysis-ofkey-players-research-forecasts-to-2022/181681/

Worldwide Steamed Rice Market – Trends, Emerging Growth Factors and Forecasts 2022 February 26, 2018 - by Rashmi

“Steamed Rice Market examines the performance of the Plant Based Milk market 2022. It encloses a complete Research of the Steamed Rice market state and the competitive landscape. This report analyzes the potential of market in the present and the future prospects from various viewpoints in detail.”

Description Steamed Rice Market Research Report provides an in-depth analysis of the major Steamed Rice industry leading players along with the company profiles and strategies adopted by them.

This enables the buyer of the report to gain a telescopic view of the competitive landscape and plan the strategies accordingly. A separate section with Steamed Rice industry key players is included in the report, which provides a comprehensive analysis of price, cost, gross, revenue, product picture, specifications, company profile, and contact information.

The Market Research, besides estimating the Steamed Rice’ market potential till 2022, analyzes on who can be the market leaders and what partnerships would help them to capture the market share. The Steamed Rice Industry report gives an overview about the dynamics of the market, by discussing various aspects such as drivers, restraints, Porter’s 5 forces, value chain, customer acceptance and investment scenario Get a Sample of Steamed Rice Market Research Report @: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/enquiry/request-sample/10708076 The following Companies as the Key Players in the Steamed Rice Market Research Report 2017: Company 1 Company 2 Company 3 Company 4 Company 5 Steamed Rice Market by Type and Application (2012-2017)

Steamed Rice Market Size by Type and Application (2012-2017) Steamed Rice Market Size by Type (2012-2017) Steamed Rice Market Size by Application (2012-2017) Potential Application of Steamed Rice in Future Top Consumer/End Users of Steamed Rice Steamed Rice Market Forecast 2017-2022 The Steamed Rice industry research report analyses the supply, sales, production, and market status comprehensively. Production market shares and sales market shares are analysed along with the study of capacity, production, sales, and revenue. Several other factors such as import, export, gross margin, price, cost, and consumption are also analysed under the section Analysis of Steamed Rice production, supply, sales and market status.

Key Points Covered in TOC: Steamed Rice Market Research Report 2017 Steamed Rice Market Competition by Manufacturers Steamed Rice Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2012-2017) Steamed Rice Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2012-2017) Steamed Rice Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type Steamed Rice Market Analysis by Application Steamed Rice Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis Steamed Rice Manufacturing Cost Analysis Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Market Effect Factors Analysis

Place a Purchase Order For $ 3500 (Single User License) at: https://www.marketreportsworld.com/purchase/10708076 The Steamed Rice Market report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years, the Report also brief deals with the product life cycle, comparing it to the relevant products from across industries that had already been commercialized details the potential for various applications, discussing about recent product innovations and gives an overview on potential regional market shares.

SOURCE The Financial Consulting https://thefinancialconsulting.com/ https://thefinancialconsulting.com/worldwide-steamed-rice-market-trends-emerging-growth-factors-andforecasts-2022/176171/

Communicating science through journalism Monday, February 26, 2018 By ERWIN P. NICAVERA MANILA. Dr. Clarissa David delivers her keynote address. (Contributed photo) "JOURNALISM about science, technology, engineering, and all manner of innovation is not really just about the science. The stories written are about tackling the country’s and our world’s most perplexing and urgent problems like environmental conservation, climate change, disasters, and public health crises. " This was underscored by University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman Graduate Studies Department professor Clarissa David in her keynote address during the 1st UP Science Journalism Awards at the university's film studio in Quezon City recently. Tracing back the journey of her late father, who is a rice scientist, David stressed that communicating science is not really about the scientists and their work, it is rather about the broader public that these scientific advances seek to serve. "Science for the public good can only be realized when the science is informed by communication and journalism," she said.

The professor described the state of science journalism in the Philippine as something that needs improvement. There is lack of demand from audiences for science-centered news stories because any stories will have to compete for public attention on all other things that require it, like politics, national security, and global affairs, she said. David lamented that there is not really a broad constituency for science and technology as indicated by a lack of public funding, the lack of public attention, and a lack of press coverage. "We don't have to be scientists to help science get on the public and policy agenda, there is much to do by way of communication and good journalism," David said, adding that "science journalists need support if we want them to help us in this mission." Stories about Mayon Volcano, dengvaxia, the fire on Mt. Pulag, and research on Benham Rise are just among the evolving circumstances making good science reporting urgent and necessary in the country.

David expressed optimism that barriers to reporting science stories like these are getting lower. Now that news is largely consumed online, she said the issue of "scarcity of space" that dominated much of the logic of what is considered newsworthy is on the decline. David said communicating the importance of any scientific research work is, centrally, the role of journalists. "Journalists have a nose for the story, for the public interest, for sorting out the important points amidst the technical jargon," she noted. David then appealed to science writers and editors to emphasize the journalism not on the scientists but on the substance of their works and its impact on the community. Responding to the challenge of giving more importance to science journalism, the UP College of Mass Communication initiated the said Science Journalism Awards.

This is a project component of Communicating Science and Technology Research and Development at UP (CoST UP). This initiative is aimed at recognizing the exemplary reporting in science and technology, as well as, the scientific researches and developments in the country. It also aims to acknowledge the importance of communicating accurate science stories and the mainstreaming of science and technology into the public consciousness.

From 60 nominations of a diverse group of mainstream and community media organizations nationwide, four SunStar journalists emerged as winner and finalists. This writer representing SunStar Bacolod was among the three finalists for Best UP Science Story for Print and Online along with Nickolas Tubo of SunStar Philippines. Herty Lopez of Super Balita Cebu was a finalist for Best Science Feature Story for Print and Online while Nef Luczon of SunStar Cagayan De Oro won the Best Science Commentary for Print and Online. The other winners are Angelica Yang of GMA News Online for Best Science News Story, Edmund Usman of Rappler for Best Science Feature Story for Print and Online, Michael Joe Delizo of ABS-CBN/DZMM for Best Science Story for Radio, and Mikael Angelo Francisco of GMA News Online for Best UP Science Story. They received a cash prize and a trophy designed by the late National Artist for Sculpture, Napoleon Abueva.

The judging committee is composed of journalists, academicians, scientists, and an economist to well represent science and technology as an interdisciplinary field. Dr. Elena Pernia, program leader of CoST UP and dean of College of Mass Communication, said very often science is perceived to be something that is not understandable, something that exists in laboratories. Pernia said the program aims to bring home the fact that "everything we do and everything that we use" benefited and continues to benefit from developments in science. "The UP Science Journalism Awards is part of that communicating product it is to bring the journalists together with the scientists to deliver the message to the ordinary man that science is something that is daily beneficial,� she added.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/lifestyle/2018/02/26/communicating-science-through-journalism590816

Made-in-Vietnam varieties cover 59 percent of rice fields

As many as 4.6 million hectares of land, or 59 percent of total rice area in Vietnam, have been cultivated with domestically-made varieties, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta region

In the Mekong Delta region alone, the varieties made by Vietnamese scientists have been grown on 77 percent of the total rice area. In particular, the high-quality OM5451 variety has been used for nearly 1 million hectares.The productivity of the new varieties is higher than old ones by an average 10 percent, equivalent to an addition 1.65 million tonnes of rice or over 8 trillion VND per year.

At the same time, many new techniques and technologies have been transferred and applied in agriculture, contributing to improving the quality and productivity of products as well as competitiveness of Vietnamese farm produce, while reducing production cost and enhancing incomes of farmers.Last year, the MARD recognised 48 new plant varieties, 29 new technology advances and processes, many of which have been applied in production.The ministry has also placed order for research on agricultural technologies for the sector’s restructuring towards sustainable development, with 36 technology research projects and seven pilot production projects with the engagement of many enterprises.

In 2018, the MARD will promote technology research and transfer to serve the sector’s reform and the building of new-style rural areas in the 2018-2025 period.At the same time, the ministry will focus on developing national products and national trademarks for a number of products, including rice, mushroom, coffee, catfish and shrimp.It will also continue encouraging the involvement of enterprises in scientific research and technology transfer activities.In 2017, Vietnam exported about 6 million tonnes of rice, over 1 million tonnes higher than last year’s figure.An estimated 524,000 tonnes of rice was exported in January 2018.-VNA http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/196043/made-in-vietnam-varieties-cover-59-percent-of-ricefields.html

Razzak Janoo Trust organises free eye camp R EC O R D ER R E PO R T

FE B 2 7 T H, 2 0 1 8

K A R AC H I

Haji Razzak Janoo Memorial Trust in collaboration with Dadu Chamber of Commerce organised a free Laser Eye

Camp at Ladies Gymkhana, Dadu. Rafique Suleman Senior Vice Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) was the chief guest of the inaugural ceremony, whereas Ghulam Qadir Solangi Patron of Dadu Chamber of Commerce, Ghulam Mustafa Solangi President Dadu Chamber of Commerce and leading rice exporters Usman Shaikh, Ashfaq Ghaffar and Asif Ali Shaikh were the guests of the honour at the eye camp inaugural ceremony.

Rafique Suleman inaugurated the free eye camp and hailed the services of Razzak Janoo Trust.

He said that Haji Razzak Janoo Memorial Trust is Pakistan's largest family trust for eye care and organizing fee laser Eye Surgery camps in Pakistan and abroad. Till now trust has organized 260 Free Eye Camps During the free eye camp, approximately 2200 patients were given free treatment in OPDs whereas 327 laser surgeries were done by Pakistan's prominent eye surgeons, in which three siblings are included, who are now able to see the colours of the world after their successful surgeries.

Additional, in the 30 years history of free eye camp, first time a person was selected for Cornea Grafting, whose surgery will be done in Karachi next week. Rafique Suleman in his address appreciated the services of Haji Razzak Memorial Trust towards the cure of eye diseases. https://fp.brecorder.com/2018/02/20180227347471/

Rice-tariff bill up for plenary deliberations

By Jovee Marie de la Cruz February 27, 2018

The National Food Authority stores its buffer rice stock consisting of imports and paddy it purchased from farmers in its warehouses. The House of Representatives is eyeing to start next week plenary deliberations for a measure that would amend Republic Act (RA) 8178 to abolish the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice.

This, after the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Rep. Karlo Alexe B. Nograles of the First District of Davao City together with the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Party-list Rep. Jose T. Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP, endorsed on Tuesday for plenary approval the unnumbered substitute bill, which seeks to replace the rice QR with tariffs.

Nograles adopted the recommendation of the Department of Finance (DOF) and recommended to the House Committee on Agriculture and Food the inclusion of this provision: “the fund shall be in place for the first six years upon the implementation of this act, after which the earmarking of the amount collected for the purpose shall terminate unless otherwise extended by law.”

However, the panel noted that any remaining balances on the expiration date of the earmarking for the fund shall not revert to the general fund, but will continue to be used for the purpose for which it was set aside. Under the bill, the rice fund shall consist of all duties collected from the importation of rice under the proposed law.

The appropriations panel’s recommendation was accepted by Panganiban, saying “this is for the benefit of the farmers.”With the support of the leadership of the lower chamber, Panganiban has expressed confidence that the rice tariff will be passed before Congress goes on its Lenten break next month, or on March 21.

“So by next week it will be deliberated at the plenary. We want to finish it here in the lower chamber before our Holy Week break,” Panganiban told the BusinessMirror. He also reiterated that the Duterte administration, particularly the DOF, wants the bill enacted into law by March 23.

The passage of the law allowing the tariffication of rice is included in the priority bills identified as urgent by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council. It is also one of the priority measures of Congress.Panganiban has also expressed confidence that the Senate will pass its version of the rice tariff measure soon.

“I think, the Senate will pass its version soon. But, if there is difference between the House and Senate versions of the QR bill, we will all settle that during the bicameral conference committee,” he said. The Senate has already committed to pass its version of the bill by March.

After approving their respective versions of the rice-tariffication bill, the Senate and the House of Representatives will transmit their bills to a bicameral conference committee to consolidate

their versions and to discuss the divergent provisions. The lower house has set the bound tariff rate for rice imports outside the minimum access volume (MAV) at 180 percent.Under the substitute bill, the Philippines will impose a bound tariff rate of 35 percent for rice originating from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region, regardless of volume. Manila would also impose a 40-percent bound tariff most-favored nation (MFN) rate for in-quota rice imports from countries that do not belong to Asean.

Once the substitute bill is enacted into law, the country’s MAV for rice shall revert to its 2012 level of 350,000 metric tons (MT), from the current 805,000 MT.Earlier, the BusinessMirror reported that Manila has assured the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the Philippines will be able to finally convert its QR on rice into tariffs by June, nearly a year after the government was supposed to have scrapped the nontariff measure.

A Geneva trade official, who was privy to the proceedings of the recent WTO Committee on Agriculture (COA) meeting said the Philippine delegation had informed WTO membercountries that lawmakers are “fast-tracking and prioritizing” the amendment of RA 8178.

RA 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, had allowed the Philippines to continue imposing rice quotas even after the WTO waiver on the special treatment on rice had lapsed on June 30.The Philippines is under pressure to convert its QR into tariff after the waiver on the special treatment on rice expired last June 30. The expiration of the waiver meant that Manila can no longer impose the nontariff measure.

To avoid possible trade disputes, President Duterte issued an executive order which retained the country’s rice concessions as “a sign of goodwill” to the country’s trade partners.

Impact on farmers The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said on Tuesday the removal of the QR on rice will not improve food security and reduce poverty.Citing studies, KMP Chairman Emeritus Rafael V. Mariano said the income of farmers will drop by 29 percent upon the lifting of the rice QR.

“This is because subsidized cheap rice imports will flood the domestic market, compete with local rice expensively produced by Filipino farmers who lack government support, and depress more the farm-gate price of palay,” said the former chief of the Department of Agrarian Reform.

Mariano said weakening rice production will lead to shrinking agricultural production.

While palay used to account for almost one-fourth of the gross value added (GVA) in agriculture at current prices, the KMP said its GVA has been falling by 10.4 percent annually from 2014 to 2016, contributing to overall agriculture decline of almost 1 percent annually.“Once the QR is lifted, we expect greater liberalization and a deluge of rice imports under various free trade agreements and the World Trade Organization,” Mariano said.

“This will impact on the livelihood of close to 20 million Filipinos, or about a fifth of the national population, made up of 2.5 million small farmers, several hundred thousand farm laborers and other workers involved in the supply of farm inputs and machinery, milling/processing, warehousing, transport, other services and related economic activities,” he added.

Mariano also said the government should seriously consider disengaging from the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), which he said, “binds” the local agricultural sector to rice importation policies.

“Decades under the WTO and the AoA proved that importation of rice further drove down the farm-gate prices of palay and increased the window for rice smuggling. The average farm-gate price of rice is P19.29 per kilogram and even lower, as dictated by traders imposing the monopoly prices of rice,” he said.

With Jonathan L. Mayuga https://businessmirror.com.ph/rice-tariff-bill-up-for-plenary-deliberations/

Rice prices up due to NFA

BY BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO ON FEBRUARY 28, 2018

THE National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Tuesday said prices of government-subsidized rice jumped a week after the agency announced its buffer stock would only be enough for two days. Mercedita Sombilla, assistant secretary for regional development, said that before NFA came out with a press release on February 6, “prices went even down, even decreased.”

ALL ABOUT RICE Agriculture Secretary Manuel Piñol, Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan, and Assistant Secretaries Ernesto Perez and Mercedita Sombilla listen during the public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Agriculture on Tuesday. PHOTO BY BOB DUNGO JR. She made the remark in answer to the query of Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino 4th concerning reports that consumers could no longer find the P27-per-kilo NFA rice. Low-priced rice in the market costs P42 per kilo, he said.“You mean after the NFA announced that the buffer stock will only last for two days, prices went up?” Aquino asked Sombilla.

She replied, “It affected [the prices]. There were speculations from the traders. People panicked.

The week after the press release, prices shot up.”

Sombilla also said that there was, in fact, an increase in market penetration of NFA rice. “There was a 245 percent increase in distribution or market penetration in January. And they are saying now that they no longer have stocks?”

NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said that as of February 27, the country’s buffer stock stood at just 1.7 days, way down from the required 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30 days at the onset of the lean months of July to September.

‘NFA Council pressured’ Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, weighed in, saying: “I think what she (Sombilla) was saying is that it has psychological effect.”

Sen. Grace Poe advised the NFA officials “to be cautious, balancing transparency but also offering an alternative.”

Aquino replied: “Yes, we did our job.”

Villar contradicted him, saying. “What job did you do? The mandate of the NFA is to buy at P17 per kilo palay (paddy rice) from the farmer to make sure that traders would not take advantage of our farmers.”

“Now, you failed to buy at P17. You then issue a press release that you don’t have [enough]NFA rice. What is the reason for that? Why? Do you want that to happen?” she asked.

Villar accused the NFA chief of exerting pressure on the interagency NFA Council to allow rice imports. The council issued an authority to import 250,000 metric tons of rice earlier this month because of the supposed shortage.

The NFA chief explained that the source of NFA buffer stock is local procurement, but it was unable to buy clean and dry rice at P17 because the farm gate price stood at P21.

“The farmer is selling that to the traders not to the NFA,” he said.

Villar retorted: “Senator [Loren] Legarda always says that in Antique, the farm gate price is P8 per kilo. [Agriculture] Secretary Emmanuel] Piñol said it was at P10 to P12. So, don’t tell me that.”

“Don’t limit yourself to Central and Northern Luzon because the NFA has facilities in 87 provinces. Why not go to Mindanao and in Bicol, in Palawan? Why do we have to stick to Northern Luzon?”

Piñol echoed Villar and said the reported shortage in NFA stocks was being used “to justify the increase in the price of rice in the market” and the “additional importation of rice.”

The Agriculture chief said there was no need to import rice because the country was 96-percent sufficient in rice, with a record harvest of 19.4 million metric tons last year.

Imported rice to arrive in June The NFA said it expected imported rice to arrive in June, leaving poor Filipinos with no choice but to settle for rice with prices ranging from P42 to P45 per kilo in the meantime.

Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara called on authorities to ensure that the poorest consumers benefit from government-subsidized rice amid allegations of irregularities in the distribution of rice by the NFA. Based on the study by the Senate Economic Planning Office, the government policy of stabilizing the price of rice—both for producers and consumers—cost the government P45 billion in the past 10 years.

Poe urged the government to send to court suspected big-time rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan, also known as David Tan, as well as other alleged members of syndicates or smugglers “operating under the nose of the NFA.” The government had so far filed three cases against suspected rice smugglers and illegal importers in Cebu, Subic, Zamboanga under Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, a result of a Senate inquiry in the previous Congress. http://www.manilatimes.net/rice-prices-due-nfa/383150/

Telangana government steps up vigil on PDS rice distribution DECCAN CHRONICLE. PublishedFeb 27, 2018, 1:38 am IST UpdatedFeb 27, 2018, 1:44 am IST

However, the lack of vigilance at district and mandal-level stock points is still giving scope for diversion of rice.

Hyderabad: The state government has stepped up vigilance on PDS rice to check illegal diversion from district and mandal-level stock points. Despite enforcement teams conducting frequent raids on rice millers, ration dealers, traders and godowns in all districts to check illegal diversion of PDS rice, it continued to be smuggled to black/open market and neighbouring states and investigations revealed that these irregularities are taking place at district and mandal-level stock points of the civil supplies department, where PDS rice stocks are stored.

To check this nuisance, it was decided to set up command control centres in all the district headquarters, which will be integrated with mandal-level stock points through CCTV cameras.

The district-level stock points will be linked with a state-level common control centre in Hyderabad. The first such common control centre in districts is being opened in Siddipet on February 28.

Civil supplies commissioner C.V. Anand had already established state-level command control centre at departments headquarters “Civil Supplies Bhavan� in the city last year.

The initiative could successfully check diversion of PDS stocks as GPS devices were installed on all trucks transporting PDS rice from godowns to ration shops and all these were linked with the command control centre. Officials in the centre are continuosly monitoring the movement of trucks.

However, the lack of vigilance at district and mandal-level stock points is still giving scope for diversion of rice. “We will install CCTV cameras in all the 1,700 godowns located in the state within a week.

Around 10 cameras will be set up to track loading, unloading, godowns, main entrance, weighing bridge, platform and movement of all staff at each godown. All this will be linked to 31 district-level common control centres in all districts. Collector, joint collector, civil supplies officials can directly track the movements live from godowns. These 31 centres will be linked with the state centre in Hyderabad,� Mr Anand said.

Mr Anand added that these cameras will have a recording back-up of 30 days, linked with 2MB internet speed, with which officials can track the movements in godowns and trucks round the clock. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/270218/telangana-government-steps-up-vigil-onpds-rice-distribution.html

Cuz Lifts Hold; Senate Confirms Northey at USDA

By Lesley Dixon WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate confirmed Bill Northey as USDA Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation today after an extended stalemate surrounding his confirmation.

The Senate Agriculture Committee voted unanimously last October to advance Northey, currently Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture, but Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) held up the nominee for months in an effort to alter the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

President Trump met this morning with Cruz at the White House, along with Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Pat Toomey (R-PA) to discuss Cruz's issues with the RFS. Cruz then released his hold on Northey's confirmation, ending a drawn-out standoff leaving several positions unfilled at the Farm Service Agency (FSA), the Natural Resources

Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Risk Management Agency (RMA)."Undersecretary Northey's confirmation is long overdue and we're glad to see it finally go through," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "With this leadership role filled, we hope to soon see the administrator-level positions filled so they can get to work on the many issues facing rice farmers."While this morning's meeting at the White House lifted the hold on Northey, a compromise on the RFS was not reached.

Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the RFS mandates that gasoline contain a certain percentage of biofuels, mostly ethanol from corn. The senators from Iowa, the country's largest producer of biofuels, have pushed back on Cruz's criticism of the RFS. Cruz says the RFS hurts energy jobs, a particular concern for Pennsylvania refineries. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue has long supported Northey's nomination, calling him "a quality candidate" and "an authentic farmer" who is trusted in Iowa.

"We're anxious to get him up on the job," Perdue has said.

Don't squander the opportunity

CSP Sign-Up Deadlines This Friday

By Emily Woodall LITTLE ROCK, AR -- The deadline to apply for the Sustaining the Future of Rice Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is this Friday, March 2. This program is available for rice producers in Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Texas. Go here for more information.

A second separate and concurrent CSP sign-up is currently available for rice producers in Texas. This sign-up is part of the Lower Colorado River Authority's Prairie Conservation Reservoir Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) which is supported by the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership.

Producers should note that they will have to choose which program to apply for, and that they can only apply for one. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) CSP special project assists landowners and rice producers who voluntarily implement conservation and management practices that aim to improve irrigation water management, control sediment and nutrient runoff, and provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands.

"NRCS has updated the program to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources," said Texas Rice Stewardship Coordinator Kirby Brown. "Partnership staff can help producers see up front why they are or are not meeting stewardship thresholds, and allow them to pick practices and enhancements that work for their conservation objectives. These tools also enable producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process."

This special RCPP CSP project area includes rice production acreage in 12 counties, including Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton. A special emphasis is placed on Colorado, Wharton, and Matagorda counties.

This project allots 35,000 acres of CSP in 2018 specifically to Texas rice growers, however, applications must be received by NRCS Field Offices by March 2, 2018 to be considered.

Producers interested in CSP are encouraged to contact their local USDA service center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. For more help, contact Texas Rice Stewardship staff Kirby Brown at (210) 213-2805 or kbrown2@ducks.org, and Dennis Neuman at (512) 373-5736 or dneuman@ducks.org.

USA Rice Daily

New rice herbicides available this year Rice farmers will have new herbicides to fight weeds in 2018.

Bruce Schultz 1 | Feb 26, 2018

With the start of rice planting, farmers will have new herbicides to fight weeds in the upcoming growing season.LSU AgCenter weed scientist Eric Webster, talking at rice meetings in Mansura, La., and Rayville, La., in February, said the new herbicide Loyant is effective against grasses and

aquatic weeds such as ducksalad, but it will cause injury to young rice on fields that have been recently laser-leveled.The new Gambit herbicide is good on aquatic weeds, such as alligatorweed, he said.

Another new product, RiceOne, has good residual activity, and it is effective on grasses and broadleaf weeds, he said, but farmers must spray it soon after it is mixed. “If you stop that sprayer for any reason, it’s not going to take long for it to fall out of solution,” he said.

Webster cautioned farmers against mixing Provisia, a grass herbicide, with broadleaf herbicides, especially propanil. The Provisia herbicide was less effective about three out of four times when it was mixed in combination with a broadleaf herbicide, he said.

Provisia is to be used with the Provisia rice, and it is intended for fields that have severe weedy rice problems that cannot be controlled with Clearfield rice.

AgCenter Extension rice specialist Dustin Harrell said Provisia rice needs more nitrogen, and that increases the likelihood of developing blast, so he is recommending two fungicide applications on Provisia rice.The company that sells the AV-1011 bird repellent for seed treatment is offering a rebate for the product this year, Harrell said.Farmers also have a new fungicide, Amistar Top, said AgCenter plant pathologist Don Groth.

The product is effective against sheath blight and blast diseases. It also will work against sheath blight that has developed resistance to strobilurin fungicides, he said.The product is labeled for one or two 15-ounce applications. “I would recommend using the full labeled rate,” Groth said.

Groth urged farmers to rotate fungicides. “If we keep using the same fungicides over and over, we’re going to get resistance, and I don’t have any new material coming down the pipeline,” he said.

Mexican rice borer AgCenter entomologist Blake Wilson said the Mexican rice borer has spread throughout southwest Louisiana, but it has not been found in Avoyelles or Rapides parishes. “I anticipate it will be in the next few years,” he said.AgCenter entomologist Sebe Brown said rice water weevils in Arkansas fields have developed resistance to the seed treatment Cruiser.

AgCenter rice breeder Adam Famoso said a seed increase in Puerto Rico is being grown now for the second generation of Provisia that will have better yield potential than the current version, PVL01.Famoso also said development of a long-grain conventional variety is underway. “This is an area we would like to put more emphasis on,” he said.

The hybrid program is making progress, but increasing the seed production of hybrid lines is a challenge.AgCenter economist Mike Deliberto said a 17 percent rice acreage increase is projected by the U.S. Farm Bureau. “Arkansas’ acreage will be similar to where it was in 2016,” he said.An increase in cotton acres in India could result in reduced rice exports by that country, which would help U.S. rice exports, he said. http://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/new-rice-herbicides-available-year

Rice subsidy costs gov’t P45 B in past 10 years –Angara February 28, 2018, 8:35 AM

By Mario Casayuran and Vanne Elaine Terrazola Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate ways and means committee on Tuesday pressed authorities to ensure that the poorest consumers truly benefit from governmentsubsidized rice amid allegations of irregularities in the distribution of rice by the National Food Authority (NFA).

Workers carry sacks of NFA rice inside the NFA warehouse in Visayas Ave, Quezon City, February 8 2018.

(Mark Balmores / MANILA BULLETIN) Citing a study by the Senate Economic Planning Office, Angara said the policy to stabilize the price of rice—both for producers and consumers—has cost the government P45 billion in subsidy for the past 10 years.“The government has appropriated huge amount of funds to subsidize rice. Are we sure that the poorest Filipino families are benefitting from these subsidies?” said Angara, questioning the reported leakages and poor targets of the agency.

Angara has filed a resolution seeking to look into the NFA’s effectiveness in ensuring the food security of the country, and the stability of supply and price of the staple grain-rice.

“Rice is the most important staple food for every Filipino family. The supply of rice should be ensured and is made affordable to ordinary citizens,” he added. Last month, NFA announced it only had two days worth of buffer stock which alarmed consumers triggering a spike in rice prices.

The NFA is required to maintain a buffer stock of at least 15 days of consumption at any given time.NFA Administrator Jason Aquino explained it decreased its distribution in the market and prioritized distributing stocks in calamity-prone areas, highly-depressed regions and relief agencies.

Given the low supply of NFA rice, the price of commercial rice increased from P3 to P5 per kilo in some areas.

Sufficient rice stock Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the reported shortage in NFA stocks is being used “to justify the increase in the price of rice in the market” and the “additional importation of rice”.

“In the last quarter of 2017 going into the first quarter of 2018, the country has a buffer stock of 2.7 million metric tons (MT), good for 88 days,” Piñol told Manila Bulletin after attending a public hearing on the reported rice shortage conducted by the Senate agriculture committee chaired by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar.

“By the end of this quarter going into the second quarter, the country will have a projected buffer stock of three million metric tons, good for 96 days,” Piñol added.

He said the “confusion” over the supposed rice shortage could also be traced to the failure of the NFA to adjust its strategies probably because of its conflict with the NFA Council which prevented the NFA to bring in rice stocks right away to support the needs of retailers who are pressured by consumers to provide rice at P27 per kilo.

Piñol also traced the rice problem to the failure of the NFA to increase the price of palay it buys from farmers and is losing out to the private sector.

Piñol assured farmers’ groups there is no need to fear a proposed imposition of tariff on imported rice “because in the long run everything in the end will level up.”

P18 per kilo At the hearing, NFA was urged to increase its buying price for rice at P18 so that local farmers will sell them their harvest and address the shortage of cheap rice.

Villar said the shortage would not have happened if the agency had fulfilled its mandate to buy unmilled dry rice from local farmers at P17 per kilogram.

But Aquino said while they “did (their) job” and were “aggressive” in procuring rice supply, they are having difficulties in looking for farmers who would sell their harvests at the said rate.

Citing their data from the last quarter of 2017, Aquino said the average buying price for rice currently stands at P18.95 per kilogram.

He said he sought the approval of the NFA Council to buy rice at P22 per kilo but was rejected.

Villar supported the Council’s decision saying the increase would result to higher price of NFA rice in the market.

She, however, is amenable to increase the buying price to P18, but warned that NFA rice would increase to P30 to P34 per kilo, from its current P27-per-kilo rate. https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/27/rice-subsidy-costs-govt-p45-b-in-past-10-years-angara/

REFILE-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 27, 2018 Reuters Staff Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 27, 2018 Nagpur, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Gram and Tuar declined further in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand from local millers. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradeshpulses, increased supply from producing regions and high moisture content arrival also pulleddown prices in limited deals.

About 3,400 bags of gram and 1,500 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, accordingto sources.

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

TUAR * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka firmed up in open market here on good festival demand from local traders. * Batri dal, Lakhodi dal and Watana dal recovered strongly in open market here on good festival season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-4,100, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,300-6,500, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,200-8,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,400, Gram – 3,700-3,900, Gram Super best – 5,400-5,800 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

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

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,050-3,450 3,100-3,580 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,700-4,215 3,800-4,220 Moong Auction n.a.

3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,700-1,758 1,700-1,790 Gram Super Best Bold 5,500-6,000 5,500-6,000 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 3,900-4,000 3,900-4,050 Desi gram Raw 3,750-3,850 3,800-3,900 Gram Kabuli 12,500-13,100 12,500-13,100 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 6,100-6,400 6,100-6,400 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,700-6,000 5,700-6,000 Tuar Gavarani New 4,550-4,650 4,500-4,600 Tuar Karnataka 4,650-4,850 4,600-4,800 Masoor dal best 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Masoor dal medium 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Moong Mogar Medium 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000 Moong dal Chilka 5,700-6,700 5,700-6,700 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,800-8,500 7,800-8,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,900-6,500 5,900-6,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,300 4,800-5,000 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,600-2,700 2,500-2,600 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,100-3,200 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,150-2,350

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,100 1,950-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,700 2,400-2,700 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,600 4,500-4,800 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,900-4,300 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,600 4,200-4,600 Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,100 5,000-5,100 Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,500-14,000 9,500-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,500 6,100-6,500 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,900 5,500-5,900 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 34.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 17.0 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 17 degreeCelsius 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/refile-nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-february-272018-idINL4N1QH3DW

Piñol assures public: Rice stocks are enough February 27, 2018, 4:11 PM

By Mario Casayuran Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol today assured the public there is no need to panic because there are enough rice stocks.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez / MANILA BULLETIN) ‘’In the last quarter of 2017 going into the first quarter of 2018, the country has a buffer stock of 2.7-million metric tons (MT), good for 88 days,’’ Pinol told the Manila Bulletin after attending a public hearing conducted by the Senate agriculture committee chaired by Sen. Cynthia A. Villar on the reported shortage of National Food Authority (NFA) rice stocks and the inability of the NFA to provide buffer stocks which are sold in the market at a higher price. Piñol said he attended the Senate hearing to assure the public that there is no need to panic because there is enough rice. ‘’By the end of this quarter going into the second quarter, the country will have a projected buffer stock of three million metric tons, good for 96 days,’’ he added.On the supposed rice

shortage, Piñol said what was established in the Villar committee hearing was that when the NFA said ‘’there is shortage of rice, they were referring to buffer stocks.’’

Piñol said the present ‘’confusion’’ over the supposed rice shortage could also be traced to the failure of the NFA to adjust its strategies probably because of its ongoing conflict with the NFA Council which prevented the NFA to bring rice stocks right away to provide for the needs of retailers who are pressured by poor consumers to provide rice at P27 per kilo.He also traced the rice problem to the failure of the NFA to increase the price of palay it buys from farmers and is thus losing out to the private sector.

Piñol also assured farmers’ groups that there is no need to fear a proposed imposition of tariff on imported rice ‘’because in the long run everything in the end will level up.’’ https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/27/pinol-assures-public-rice-stocks-are-enough/

Minister of Trade Inspects Rice Stock at Bulog

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita conducted the direct inspection of Indonesian Bureau of Logistics (Bulog) rice stock on Tuesday morning, February 27.

The Trade Minister along with the entourage conducted the first inspection at Bulog Warehouse of Jakarta and Banten which is located in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. The government guarantees that the rice which

imported from Thailand and Vietnam will not harm the farmers.Bulog will continue to absorb rice grain and rice in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 5/2015. The price of government purchases (HPP) of Bulog for dried grain harvest is Rp3,700 per kilogram at farmer level and Rp3,750 per kilogram at milling level.As for dried grain, the HPP is set at Rp4,600 per kilogram at milling level and Rp4,650 in Bulog warehouse.

The Trade Minister said the rice expenditure would use the market operation scheme, to lower the rice price at the highest set retail price (HET). On the occasion, the President Director of Bulog Djarot Kusumayakti stated that Bulog’s rice stock, especially the imported ones, will continue to move.

https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/02/27/056916099/Minister-of-Trade-Inspects-Rice-Stock-at-Bulog

Rice exports see positive signals in new year

Tuesday, 2018-02-27 09:45:28 Rice prices are predicted to decrease in February 2018 as the winter-spring crop harvest begins, however, prices will remain high compared to previous years.

NDO – Rice export turnover in the first months of 2018 has increased over the same period last year, both in volume and value. According to the Vietnam Food Association, in 2017, Vietnam exported over 5.7 million tonnes of rice, exceeding the set plan. As of the end of 2017, the set rice export volume under the export contracts was nearly 6.4 million tonnes, so there are still roughly 630,000 tonnes of rice registered for export in the new year. This is one of the factors creating momentum for the vibrant rice exports at the beginning of 2018.

Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) show that, in January, the country's rice export turnover reached 450,000 tonnes, earning US$214 million, up 34.4% in volume and 49.6% in value over the same period last year. Average rice export prices last month reached US$486.2 per tonne, up 13.6% against January 2017.

The Philippines is still the largest consumer market for Vietnamese rice, reaching 144,890 tonnes with an export value of US$444.5/tonne, accounting for 29% of Vietnam’s total rice exports.

China is the second largest market with 114,215 tonnes, valuing US$56.21 million and accounting for 23% of its neighbouring country's total rice exports.

Rice export turnover has enjoyed good results in the first months of 2018.

Notably, in the first month of this year, rice exports to Indonesia reached 57,000 tonnes, equivalent to US$27.16 million, and ranking third in the largest markets importing Vietnamese rice, with over 11% of the total export volume. The price of Vietnamese exported rice to this market is also relatively high, at US$476.6 per tonne. This result is due to Vietnam winning the bid to export 141,000 tonnes of rice to Indonesia following the 346,000-tonne tender launched by the Indonesian national food authority at the end of January.

In addition, rice exports to other markets, such as Iraq, the US, Hong Kong (China) and Malaysia witnessed an increase in turnover in the first month of the year.

Rice exporters have predicted that domestic rice prices would tend to decrease in February as the winter-spring crop harvest begins. However, prices will remain high compared to previous years.

With the increase in volume and value, according to the MOIT, the structure of rice exports continues to see a positive shift with a sharp decline in the middle and lower grade rice, while increasing the exportation of high quality rice, such as glutinous rice, japonica and brown rice, which is suitable for export market development.

http://en.nhandan.org.vn/business/economy/item/5878502-rice-exports-see-positive-signals-innew-year.html

Winter-spring rice yields big profits for farmers February, 26/2018 - 09:00 |Farmers tend their winter-spring rice in Hậu Giang Province. – VNA/VNS Photo Duy Khương HCM CITY – Farmers in the south have begun harvesting their winter-spring rice crop, earning large profits because of high yields and prices.

So far 300,000ha out of the 1.9 million hectares planted have been harvested, with the average yield being 5.9 tonnes per hectares, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, the country’s rice granary, farmers have 1.55 million hectares under the crop, 2.6 per cent higher than planned.

Paddy prices are up slightly from last month, according to the ministry.

Low-quality IR50404, one of the main varieties grown in the delta, is now bought at VNĐ5,900 – 6,100 a kilogramme while high-quality grains such as OM 5451, OM 6976, OM 4218 fetch VNĐ6,400 – 6,600.

Trần Văn Hết, who has 1ha under high-quality rice in Vĩnh Long Province’s Tam Bình District, said he would harvest his paddy in the next few days but a trader has bought it all in advance.

Nguyễn Văn Đồng, director of the Hậu Giang Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said farmers would have a bumper harvest and get high prices.

Traders offering to buy paddy in advance at high prices is a common practice now, he said.

With the current price of VNĐ6,000 for low-quality paddy and VNĐ7,400 for fragrant varieties, farmers would make a profit of more than 30 per cent, he said.

Rice harvested later is expected to have even higher yields, he said.

Nguyễn Văn Tốt, a member of the Bắc Xà No Co-operative in Hậu Giang’s Vị Thủy District, said: “Farmers here are very glad because companies have offered to buy Tài Thơm 8 rice in advance since they sowed 300ha.”

The co-operative is one of the province’s first to grow organic rice.

Hậu Giang is implementing a plan to improve the operation of co-operatives and co-operative teams and create links between farmers and companies to zone high-quality rice growing areas.

It offers many incentives, including preferential loans and low land rents, to encourage companies to invest in agriculture.

In Hậu Giang’s Châu Thành District, local authorities have been supporting farmers who used advanced techniques to grow rice on 400ha for exports during this winter-spring crop.

Meanwhile, in the central and northern regions most farmers have finished sowing their nurseries for the winter-spring crop, according to the ministry.By mid-February farmers from Thừa ThiênHuế Province to the north had planted seeds for sowing 935,000ha.They are expected to finish transplanting by the end of this month.– VNS

Read more at http://vietnamnews.vn/society/423284/winter-spring-rice-yields-bigprofits-for-farmers.html#aiEAy4yJGkZ4PFP3.99

2018 Global Organic Rice Protein Market Research Report (2017-2023): Insights, Opportunity Analysis, and Market Shares - 20% CAGR is Forecast - ResearchAndMarkets.com February 27, 2018 08:04 AM Eastern Standard Time DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Global Organic Rice Protein Market Research Report, Insights, Opportunity Analysis, Market Shares and Forecast 2017 - 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global organic rice protein market is expected to have a CAGR of 20% during forecast period 2017-2023.

The key factors driving the market growth are increasing demand for organic rice protein, stringent product label regulations, increasing popularity of organic rice protein due to higher protein composition, potential alternative to animal and other plant proteins.

Geographically, North America is the largest market region for global organic rice protein market and had acquired more than 50% market share in 2015. The key factors driving the market growth in North America is the improved living standards and increased focus and awareness regarding fitness and sports, especially in Canada and U.S. However, Europe is expected to emerge as the fastest growing market region owing to surging consumer awareness regarding plant based diet due to increasing penetration of social media, especially in Germany, France and UK. Additional factors such as increased adoption of meat analogues in European region is likely to augment the demand for organic rice protein by the end of 2023.

The global organic rice protein market is influenced by presence of leading companies such as RiceBran Technologies, AG Commodities Inc., AIDP Inc., Axiom Foods Inc., Ekowarehouse etc. Product launch, joint venture, merger and acquisition are some of the strategies adopted by key market players to gain competitive advantage.

Market Determinants

Market Drivers    

Increasing Demand for Organic Rice Protein Helping Manufacturers With Product Label Regulations Potential Alternative to Animal and Other Plant Proteins Increasing Popularity

Market Restraints  

At Development Phase Low Consumer Awareness About Rice Proteins

Market Opportunities 

Increasing Demand for Non-Allergen, Lactose-Free Source of Protein

Market Challenges 

High Competition from Other Plant Proteins

Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Market Overview 3. Market Determinants 4. Market Segmentation 5. Competitive Landscape 6. Geographic Analysis 7. Company Profiles      

AG Commodities Inc. (U.S.) Aidp, Inc. (U.S.) Axiom Foods, Inc. (U.S.) Bioway (Xi'an) Organic Ingredients Co., Ltd. (China) Ekowarehouse (Hong Kong) Golden Grain Group Limited (China)

        

Newgen Direct Ltd, (UK) Nutriboost Superfoods (UK) Nutrition Resource Inc. (U.S.) Ribus, Inc. (U.S.) Ricebran Technologies (U.S.) Shaanxi Fuheng (Fh) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China) Shafi Gluco-Chem (Pvt.) Ltd. (Pakistan) The Green Labs Llc (U.S.) Top Health Ingredients Inc. (Canada)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/2xtjxc/2018_global?w=4

Golden rice receives food safety approval February 27, 2018 - by Holly Demaree-Saddler

GR2E Golden Rice passes FSANZ safety standards. Photo courtesy of IRRI.

LOS BAÑOS, THE PHILIPPINES — The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has been amended to include food derived from pro-vitamin A rice line GR2E (Golden Rice), a beta-carotene bio-fortified genetically modified (GM) rice under development at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The publication of the Food Standards variance in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Feb. 22 marks completion of the regulatory process under Food Standards Australia New Zealand(FSANZ).

FSANZ is responsible for carrying out safety assessments of GM foods on behalf of the Australian government, the state and territory governments of Australia, and the government of New Zealand.

In doing so, FSANZ takes a cautious approach based on concepts and principles developed over more than two decades by international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

Upon completion of its assessment of GR2E rice, FSANZ concluded that “No potential public health and safety concerns have been identified in the assessment of GR2E. On the basis of the data provided in the present Application, and other available information, food derived from GR2E is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional rice varieties.”

A flagship product of IRRI’s Healthier Rice program, GR2E Golden Rice is the first nutritionally enhanced GM rice to receive regulatory approval for use in food. Healthier rice varieties have the potential to reach many people because rice is widely grown and eaten. IRRI is developing rice varieties that have more iron, zinc, and beta-carotene content to help people get more of these important micronutrients. These healthier rice varieties can complement current strategies to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. http://www.worldgrain.com/articles/news_home/World_Grain_News/2018/02/Golden_rice_receives_food_safe.aspx?ID={ 202F921B-102A-4CE9-9655-42BBA57224FE}&cck=1

A case for building up NFA’s buffer stock

By BusinessMirror Editorial February 27, 2018

IT has come to this: an agency mandated to ensure food security and stabilize rice prices is practically begging farmers to sell their paddy to the government. In a statement dated February 22, the National Food Authority (NFA) exhorted farmers to let the food agency buy their produce. The appeal is NFA’s last-ditch effort to shore up its procurement program, which has managed to add only 7,469 50-kilogram bags equivalent to 373.45 metric tons (MT) to its stockpile since January. In milled terms, this translates to only 261.45 MT, which is not even enough to meet the country’s average daily rice requirement, pegged at 31,000 MT. Harvest in major palay-producing areas, such as Nueva Ecija, would begin soon. Sans an increase in its buying price, the NFA could forget its goal of cornering a bigger chunk of farmers’ dry season crop. The NFA again requested the NFA Council (NFAC) to raise the government’s palay-buying price to P22 per kilogram (kg), but the council has yet to decide on the matter. The NFAC said it decided to reject the proposal in January because the National Economic and Development Authority had warned about its effect on inflation. Raising the palay-buying price would also encourage private traders to do the same and cause commercial rice to become more expensive.

But rice could still become more expensive even if the government decides not to increase the NFA’s buying price. The poor—the primary customers of the NFA—would be forced to purchase commercial rice. The increase in demand for the commercial variety could cause prices to go up as traders know that the NFA’s stockpile has been depleted and that Filipinos would be willing to pay for rice. Unfortunately for the government, the NFA no longer has stocks that could counter the spikes in rice prices.

While the government can invoke Republic Act (RA) 7581, or The Price Act, it is often difficult to prove price manipulation, hoarding and collusion among rice retailers and traders. As for price controls allowed under RA 7581, the government can only implement it if an area is declared under a state of calamity; the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus was suspended; it is under martial law; or a state of rebellion or a state of war is declared in that area. But the law permits the President, upon the recommendation of the implementing agency or the Price Coordinating Council, to impose a price ceiling on any basic necessity or prime commodity, such as rice.

Section 7 of RA 7581 states that the President may impose a price ceiling “whenever the prevailing price of any basic necessity or prime commodity has risen to unreasonable levels.”

Congress is currently working on a bill that would amend Republic Act (RA) 8178 to convert rice import caps into tariff. Lawmakers are fast-tracking the measure to lift the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice so the Philippines could meet its commitment to the World Trade Organization and avoid trade sanctions. With the removal of the import caps, Dr. Flordeliza H. Bordey of the Philippine Rice Research Institute said more cheap imported rice could enter the country. And even with a 35-percent tariff, the landed cost of imported rice from Vietnam with 25-percent broken grains is only around P27 per kg.

Given this scenario, the Duterte administration must now seriously think about what it intends to do with the NFA. After the QR on rice is removed, the next order of business should be to pass a measure that would define the role of the NFA. If the idea is to let the market dictate the price of rice, then it is time for the food agency to get out of buying and trading rice. It could still continue to monitor rice sellers to prevent prices from skyrocketing whenever supply is thin.

For now, the President must help the food agency beef up its rice stockpile again. Until and unless the food agency attached to the Office of the President gets out of buying and trading the staple, the Duterte administration will continue to be saddled with the problem of volatile rice prices, especially when the NFA runs out of buffer stock https://businessmirror.com.ph/a-case-for-building-up-nfas-buffer-stock/

Now Nigeria Can Develop Rice Varieties As Response To Large Methane EmissionPublished 1 min ago on February 28, 2018

By CHIKA IZUORA A recent report by World Resources Institute (WRI) and Food and Agricultural Organisation, (FAO) says that Green House Gas released by rice farms alongside other agricultural practices are major environmental polluters. In this piece, CHIKA IZUORA dissects experts’ opinions on a way out, as Nigerian economy shifts to agriculture. When the administration of Muhammadu Buhari took office in Nigeria in May 2015 against a backdrop of mounting economic crises, it realized that in just one year earlier, Nigeria had overtaken South Africa to become the continent’s biggest economy, but optimism quickly faded as oil prices fell and production declined due to renewed militant activities in the Niger Delta.

The resulting economic slowdown, which was confirmed as a recession in the summer of 2016, focused minds on the long-neglected task of reducing Nigeria’s reliance on the petroleum sector, which accounts for 11 percent of GDP but 95 percent of the nation’s export revenue. Included in the election manifesto that brought President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) to power was a pledge to move the economy away from oil in part by reviving the agriculture sector.

Analysts believe there are good reasons for the administration to focus on agriculture.

First, it is a sector with high growth prospects, particularly if value chains can be developed that turn raw commodities into processed goods for domestic consumption or export. Second, although agriculture already employs more than 70 percent of the population, there are opportunities to expand both the number and variety of jobs in the sector by making it easier and more attractive to farm. In addition, by diversifying the agriculture sector, it can be made more appealing to a vast youth population that is turned off by farming but might be attracted to processing, marketing, and other business opportunities along the value chain.

When the opportunity finally came, in June 2016, the government launched then Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) which emphasized the importance of continuing and building upon the efforts of the previous administration. In the new agriculture policy specific goal was set to exit rice import by 2018 which throws up more activities in the area of rice cultivation. A confirmation of this came from Lai Mohammed the minister of information who told the media last year that

the Nigerian government will soon attain its goal of self-sufficiency in rice production for the country, come 2018.

Muhammad, said this in a press conference in Abuja while briefing journalists on the administration’s growing achievements to revamp the economy and that Nigeria is inching closer to self-sufficiency in rice production, due to the successes recorded in the local production of rice.

He cited a report by a Thai rice export association to support his claim, saying “In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years – from September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT. “There is more good news to report: As a result of this administration’s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria, and this is sure to further boost rice production in Nigeria. “The increased rice production has, in turn, led to the establishment of rice mills, including the 120,000MT WACOT Mill in Kebbi and the 1,000,000MT Dangote Rice Mill,” Mr. Mohammed said. He added that Nigeria targets the production of seven million metric tons of rice in 2018’. “So what does the increased production of rice portend for the country? It means, as I said earlier, that Nigeria is very close to achieving self-sufficiency in rice.

By 2018, the administration targets rice production of 7 million MT. As at 2015, rice demand in Nigeria stood at 6.3 million MT,” he added. Agriculture As A Major Environmental Polluter While Nigeria is focusing effort in this direction, a report points to environmental challenges from the agriculture sector. It says that when people think about threats to their environment, what comes to their mind is industrial pollution and car emission, not the food they eat but the truth is that, our efforts in poverty reduction and finding solution to end hunger, are making agriculture a major ‘killer’ of the mother earth.

Agriculture is posing one of the biggest dangers to the planet with carbon dioxide emission the main contributor to global warming. An analysis by the World Resources Institute, WRI, and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, UN FAO, estimated that between 14 and 18 percent of all man-made emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are associated with the agricultural sector. Even the lowest estimate (14 percent) is still equal with WRI’s estimated emissions for the transportation sector (13.5 percent).

This means that, agriculture is among the greatest contributors to global warming, emitting more greenhouse gases (GHG) than all our cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes combined. The GHG in agricultural sector is largely from methane (CH4) released by cattle and rice farms, nitrous oxide (N2O) from fertilized fields, and carbon dioxide from the cutting of rain forests to grow crops or raise livestock. So, are we being naïve to feed the rapidly growing global population, and threaten our own existence. As in most other sectors, agricultural carbon footprint is fast increasing, since farming is expanding to produce more food for a growing world population. In fact, food production will need to double from current levels if projections of more than 9 billion people in 2050 prove correct.

So meeting the growing demand for food by using more land would have serious impacts on the environment and the climate. Remember that areas that are most suitable for agriculture in most

countries are already cultivated to a large extent, making fertile agricultural land a limited resource across the world. The fact is that massive unguided farming is never the solution to end poverty, because the more we engage in such activities, the more climate change continue to affect the quality and quantity of food we Production. The uplifted living standard and spread of prosperity across the world, especially in the world’s most populated countries – China and India, is driving an increased demand for balance diet such as meat, eggs, and dairy.

This has added pressure to cultivate more foods and engage in more animal husbandry more livestock husbandry. Unfortunately, key resources such as land and water needed to produce these foods are scarce globally. While the majority of global warming activities give off carbon dioxide – the main contributor to global warming, but it is not the only greenhouse gas to worry about, the next two most common GHG in the atmosphere are methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), primarily emitted by agricultural sector. Most of this methane are emitted by cows, which also are more damaging to the environment.

For instance, ruminant animals (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) produce methane as part of their normal digestion system – a process known as enteric fermentation. In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the CH4 produced from “enteric fermentation” (cows farting) represents almost one-third of the emissions from the U.S. agricultural sector. Also, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) report on ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Emissions by Sources and Removals by Sinks’ shows that, around 40 per cent of agricultural emissions came from methane produced by livestock between 2001 and 2011, not including emissions from manure (25 per cent of agricultural emissions).

Together, these gases plus CO2 make up about 99 percent of all GHG in the atmosphere. It is not just the actual farming that makes agriculture so detrimental to the environment. In almost every case, land use changes such as deforestation to clear space for agriculture, is also a contributor to carbon emissions and land degradation. Records indicate that 75 per cent of global deforestation comes from agriculture. So when we clear areas of grassland and forest for farms, we lose crucial habitats and make agriculture a major driver to the loss of biodiversity. Similar to many other landuse changes, converting forest areas into agricultural land is not the right solution to end hunger.

This process is a source of greenhouse-gas emissions and undermines nature’s ability to cope with climate change impacts, such as absorbing heavy rainfall, that threaten food security globally. For instance: Solution for Sustainable Agriculture How can the rapid growing global population be fed and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) to end poverty and hunger be met with minimal environmental footprints?

The answer lies in a sustainable agricultural system – a form of agricultural technique that provides foods and industrial inputs to serve the needs of the present generation without posing socio-environmental risks and compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. We can start to tackle food waste in economically rich countries where food waste occurs in homes, restaurants, or supermarkets, as well as in developing countries where food is often lost between the farmer and the market due to unreliable storage and transportation.

A shift to increase yields on less productive farmlands, using high-tech, precision farming systems, and organic farming would also be effective ways to reducing agricultural footprints. Responding to this while speaking with our Correspondent, Bekeme Masade-Olowola, a Harvard-trained social entrepreneur and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of CSR-in-Action, an organisation dedicated to promoting the advancement and awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility, good governance and sustainable development in Nigeria, said government effort in protecting environment are very minimal. We tend to be playing catch up on our previous environmental challenges and our leaders are more interested in reeling out figures of growth without looking at the long-term implications.

It would be easier to feed the nation with diversification to agriculture, if more of the crops we grow will end up in human stomachs. Sometimes, some crops which should have been made available for human consumption are diverted for feeding livestock or for industrial uses, and only a fraction of the calories in feed given to livestock make their way into the meat and milk that we consume. For instance, only 55 percent of the world’s crop calories feed people directly; the rest are fed to livestock (about 36 percent) or turned into biofuels and industrial products (roughly 9 percent). Nigeria needs to find more efficient ways to feed the livestock and grow meat through non-agricultural means to avoid compromising the capacity of agriculture to feed the povertystricken nation”.

Such an alternative, she said could be a switch from grain-fed livestock to pasture-raised livestock which would free up substantial amounts of food to be made available for human consumption in Nigeria; a shift to increase yields on less productive farmlands, using high-tech, precision farming systems, and organic farming would be effective ways to reducing agricultural footprints; and organic farming can also greatly reduce the use of water and chemicals—by incorporating cover crops, mulches, and compost to improve soil quality, conserve water, and build up nutrients.

According to her, many farmers have also gotten smarter about water, replacing inefficient irrigation systems with more precise methods, like subsurface drip irrigation. Advances in both conventional and organic farming can give us more “crop per drop” from our water and nutrients.

On rice farm pollution, Masade-Olowola stated, “We could develop rice varieties which emit less methane. Secondly, since irrigated rice farming is the other main agricultural source of methane accounting for about a fifth of total man-made emissions, switching to more heat-tolerant rice cultivars, management of water, adjusting sowing dates, adaptations to drainage regimes and midseason drainage can help to reduce CH4 released by rice. In this way, yield declines due to temperature increases can largely be prevented, thereby reducing the effect of warming on CH4 emissions per yield.

Whereas several studies have focused on mid-season drainage (MD) to mitigate GHG emissions, early-season drainage (ED), varying in timing and duration, has not been extensively studied.

However, such ED periods could potentially be very effective since initial available C levels, and thereby the potential for methanogenesis, can be very high in paddy systems with rice straw incorporation.

For instance, a study by some scholars of the Universities of Copenhagen, Wageningen and International Rice Research Institute titled ‘The effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies without compromising yield by earlyseason drainage’, tested the effectiveness of seven drainage regimes varying in their timing and duration (combinations of ED and MD) to mitigate CH4 and N2O emissions in a 101-day growth chamber experiment. It showed that emissions were considerably reduced by early-season drainage compared to both conventional continuous flooding (CF) and the MD drainage regime. The results suggest that ED + MD drainage may have the potential to reduce CH4 emissions and yield-scaled GWP by 85–90 per cent compared to CF and by 75–77 per cent compared to MD only. A combination of (short or long) ED drainage and one MD drainage episode was found to be the most effective in mitigating CH4 emissions without negatively affecting yield”.

Rice Bran Wax Market 2017-2022 Division, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin and Feasibility Studies February 27, 2018 - by amit.p

Rice Bran Wax Market latest research report provides in-depth analysis of definitions, classifications, applications and Rice Bran Wax Industry chain structure forecast until 2022. The report also consists of development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status of Rice Bran Wax Market.

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Rice Bran Wax Market Segment by Regions: – North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, India.

Rice Bran Wax Industry research report is a meticulous investigation of current scenario of the market, which covers several market dynamics. The Rice Bran Wax market research report is a resource, which provides current as well as upcoming technical and financial details of the industry. The thorough analysis in this report enables investors, CEOs, traders and suppliers to understand the market in a better way and based on that knowledge make well-informed decisions.

Rice Bran Wax Market by Product Type: Refined Rice Bran Wax Crude Rice Bran Wax Rice Bran Wax Market by Application: Medicines Chemicals Cosmetics Other A complete analysis of the competitive landscape of the Rice Bran Wax Market is provided in the report. This section includes company profiles of market key players. The profiles include contact information, gross, capacity, product details of each firm, price, and cost are covered.

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Some Major Point cover in this Rice Bran Wax Market report are: –     

What will the market growth rate, Overview and Analysis by Type of Rice Bran Wax in 2022?

What are the key factors driving, Analysis by Applications and Countries Global industry?

What is Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope and price analysis of top Manufacturers Profiles?

Who are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Rice Bran Wax? Knows Upstream Raw Materials Sourcing and Downstream Buyers Who are the key manufacturers in space? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin and Market Share



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Price of Report: $4000 (Single User License) Purchase Rice Bran Wax Market Report at- https://www.absolutereports.com/purchase/11594243 In the end, the report elaborates the Global Rice Bran Wax overview various definitions and classification of the industry, applications of the industry and chain structure are given. Presentday status of the Rice Bran Wax Market in key regions is stated and industry policies and news are analysed. https://factsweek.com/157799/rice-bran-wax-market-2017-2022-division-revenue-price-and-grossmargin-and-feasibility-studies/

https://leadership.ng/2018/02/28/nigeria-can-develop-rice-varieties-response-large-methane-emission/

U of A announces water management schools for 2018 growing season

By Special to The Commercial Feb 27, 2018 at 10:26 AMUpdated Feb 27, 2018 at 1:13 PM Producers getting ready for the 2018 row crop growing season have opportunities to sharpen their water management skills through schools being offered by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, according to a news release.

The division is offering three schools: one for using Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation, one for soil moisture sensors and the third which is both Surge and Soil Moisture Sensor School that covers surge valve use and layout as well as the basics of soil moisture sensors and how to use them to schedule irrigation.

The number of participants for each school is limited to 12-15 people. The rice irrigation schools cover how to use a mobile app and electronic levee files to design for poly pipe in rice fields and how to get the data from the tractor to the app. There is no cost for the rice irrigation school.

The $400 cost of the Surge and Soil Moisture school includes eight sensors, a slide hammer installation tool and a manual reader for those that don’t have the tools needed to use sensors.

Participants construct sensors and install them as part of the school.

Chris Henry, associate professor-irrigation with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said industry has provided a deep discount on the supplies needed to get started with sensors, so that participants can get the tools they need to use sensors effectively for irrigation.

Surge Valve and Soil Moisture Sensor Schools March 1 — 9 a.m.to 3 p.m., STUTTGART — Rice Research and Extension Center. To register for a surge valve and soil moisture sensor school contact Phil Horton 870-946-3231.

March 2 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., NEWPORT — Jackson County Extension Office; surge valve and soil moisture sensor school. To register contact Matt Davis, 870-523-7450.

March 9 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., MARIANNA — Lon Mann Cotton Research Station. To register contact Stan Baker, 870-295-7720.

March 21 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., RECTOR — Rector Community Center; surge and soil moisture sensor school. To register, contact Stewart Runsick, 870-857-6875, Soil moisture sensor school March 6 — 11 a.m., MANILA — Manila airport auditorium; Soil moisture sensor school. To register, contact Ray Benson, 870-762-2075.

Multiple Inlet Rice Irrigation App School March 5 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., MARIANNA — Lon Mann Cotton Research Station. To register, contact Stan Baker, 870-295-7720.

March 7 — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., STUTTGART — Rice Research and Extension Center. To register, contact Phil Horton 870-946-3231.

March 9 — 4:30 to 8 p.m., WYNNE — East Arkansas Community College. To register, contact Rick Wimberley, 870-238-5745.

March 20 — 5 to 8 p.m., RECTOR Rector Community Center. To register, contact Stewart Runsick, 870-857-6875.

For more information on irrigation, visit https://www.uaex.edu/environmentnature/water/irrigation.aspx or contact a county extension office.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. Those who require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, should contact the county extension office listed as part of the session they plan to attend as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay. http://www.pbcommercial.com/news/20180227/u-of-announces-water-management-schools-for-2018growing-season