January 02 ,2019 Vol 10 ,Issue 1
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US rice wants sales after China lifts ban 12/31/18 5:06 PM By Bill Tomson KEYWORDS APHIS CHINA EXPORTS RICE USA RICE FEDERATION USDA China is technically open to U.S. rice now – the Chinese ban was lifted Friday - but trade can‘t begin flowing yet thanks to bureaucratic steps that remain unfinished, according to U.S. industry officials. USDA‘s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reached out to U.S. rice mills Monday morning and told them that the agency is working on clearing up the remaining steps in the process that is needed to clear the way for actual sales, sources involved with the call tell AgriPulse. U.S. mills have not been individually cleared under the sanitary and phytosanitary protocol signed by the U.S. and China in 2017, but APHIS officials told millers the agency is working to clear all 34 that have applied for approval to export to China. There is no set timeline for the approvals, but millers were told APHIS hopes to complete the process ―soon,‖ sources said. The fact that Chinese customs officials announced U.S. rice is no longer banned is a major step towards new sales for U.S. farmers and millers, says USA Rice Federation spokesman Mike Klein, but there is more to be done. ―It‘s a good step they took, but it hasn‘t translated into any sales yet,‖ Klein said. ―We‘re excited about it. We‘re not jumping up and down yet.‖ For any sales to happen, China needs to issue phytosanitary certificates to rice mills showing that they meet Chinese approval to supply rice to the country. That process is under way now. Thirty-four U.S. mills have applied for approval to export to the country. The USA Rice Federation expects they will all be been cleared, but that has not been confirmed yet. A delegation from China‘s State Market Regulatory Administration (SMRA) inspected 10 U.S. mills in Texas, Arkansas, California and Louisiana last June. Klein said it was USA Rice‘s understanding that if all 10 mills passed inspection, then the Chinese would accept assurances from USDA‘s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that all of the mills would be approved. ―I don‘t know where we are with that because the list (of mills) hasn‘t been made public yet – we haven‘t seen a list of who‘s in or who‘s out,‖ Klein said. ―Our position is that it was all or nothing.‖
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Those mill approvals are necessary for the rice tendering process, he said. A Chinese buyer cannot close a purchase from a seller that was not approved. Still, the Chinese announcement Friday that it implemented the sanitary and phytosanitary protocol is a major success for the U.S. rice sector, which has been fighting for access to the Chinese market for more than a decade. China consumes about 144 million tons of rice every year and it is the world‘s largest rice importing country. China imports about 5 million tons of rice, according to USDA data. "As with all our dealings with China, the devil is in the details, and we have many questions, including when the first sales will be made, but this is definitely good news for our producers and millers as we enter the New Year," said USA Rice Chair Charley Mathews. For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com. https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/11778-us-rice-wants-sales-after-china-lifts-ban
PCCI sees rice tariffication measure as model for sugar liberalization January 1, 2019 | 8:36 pm
PHILSTAR:THE Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) wants a more liberal
regime for importing sugar modeled on the rice tariffication bill, with tariffs to benefit domestic sugarcane farmers.
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―When it comes to sugar, I don‘t think we are being competitive. This will be similar to the rice tariffication. Currently, it is being proposed… There will be a tax but the quantity is more liberal,‖ PCCI chairman George T. Barcelon told BusinessWorld in an interview on Dec. 27, adding that the chamber expects the proposal to become law this year. ―More drinks that contain sugar are being imported to the detriment of our producers,‖ Mr. Barcelon said, adding that ―for the industry to grow, the limit (on imports) should be removed.‖ Mr. Barcelon said that the liberalization of the sugar industry may include the modification of the authority of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), or even abolish the agency. The rice tariffication reforms removed the National Food Authority‘s (NFA) role in importing rice, leaving it to focus on maintaining a buffer stock with rice procured from domestic farmers. ―Toward the latter part (of the reform) is the abolition of the SRA. It may not exactly be abolished but its role will be clarified. The SRA is not helping the sugar industry. Our sugar is expensive, and the high cost is being passed on to consumers),‖ Mr. Barcelon said. The proposal is not yet available to legislators, but Mr. Barcelon said that this has been proposed to the SRA itself. He added that he is hoping President Rodrigo R. Duterte can direct lawmakers to pass such a law, which benefits consumers. ―I‘m just reading it from the point of view of the President, not from the Congress. The House has indicated that it will follow what the President wants,‖ Mr. Barcelon said. ―The move to rice tariffication started with consumer complaints about high rice prices,‖ Mr. Barcelon added. The SRA, meanwhile, said that abolishing the SRA will be detrimental to sugarcane farmers. ―There is substantial difference between the sugar industry and the rice industry. The reason given to justify the rice tariffication finds no application to the sugar industry and to do otherwise will only bring intolerable injustice to the small sugarcane farmers in particular and the sugar
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industry in general,‖ Roland B. Beltran, SRA Board Member, responded in a text message when asked for comment. Asked if the SRA rejects the proposal, he said, ―SRA and the sugar industry stakeholders view it with disfavor.‖ University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Food and Agribusiness executive director and professor Rolando T. Dy noted that the ASEAN tariff for rice is 35% while that for sugar is 5%, and high tariffs can only be imposed to protect domestic agriculture and industry. ―With rare exceptions, high tariffs and non-tariff barriers protect local agriculture and industrial producers be it rice, corn, sugar, meat, etc. Sugar from ASEAN has 5% tariffs but imports need okay from SRA. Only coconut producers have low or no tariffs among the major crops,‖ Mr. Dy said in a mobile message. ―The question is how long will high tariffs transit into low level of 10% or less. The policy is balancing producer and consumer welfare,‖ Mr. Dy added. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio https://www.bworldonline.com/pcci-sees-rice-tariffication-measure-as-model-for-sugarliberalization/
New Year’s traditions from around the world Many New Year‘s traditions that we take for granted actually date back to ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a new New Year‘s tradition or two. Make some noise Making a lot of noise — from fireworks to gun shots to church bells — seems to be a favorite pastime around the world. In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off demons. In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness. In the early American colonies, the sound of pistol shots rang through the air. Today, Italians let their church bells peal, the Swiss beat drums, and the North Americans sound sirens and party horns to bid the old year farewell. Eat lucky food Many New Year‘s traditions surround food. The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain. Revelers stuff their mouths with 12 grapes in the final moments of the year — one grape for every chime of the clock. In the southern U.S., black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune. In Scotland where Hogmanay is celebrated, people parade down the streets swinging balls of fire. Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a doughnut) symbolizes ―coming full circle‖
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and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served. The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks. In India and Pakistan, rice promises prosperity. Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) tradition. In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors — and allowed to remain there. Have a drink Although the pop of a champagne cork signals the arrival of the New Year around the world, some countries have their own beverage-based traditions. Wassail, a punch-like drink named after the Gaelic term for ―good health,‖ is served in some parts of England. Spiced ―hot pint‖ is the Scottish version of wassail. Traditionally, the Scots drank to each others‘ prosperity and also offered this warm drink to neighbors along with a small gift. In Holland, toasts are made with hot, spiced wine. Give a gift New Year‘s Day was once the time to swap presents. Gifts of gilded nuts or coins marked the start of the New Year in Rome. Eggs, the symbol of fertility, were exchanged by the Persians. Early Egyptians traded earthenware flasks. In Scotland, coal, shortbread and silverware were traditionally exchanged for good luck. Put your best foot forward In Scotland, the custom of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year‘s Eve day. After midnight, family and friends visit each other‘s home. The ―first foot‖ to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next year‘s fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed especially fortunate as ―first footers‖ are new brides, new mothers, those who are tall and dark (and handsome?) or anyone born on Jan. 1. Turn over a new leaf The dawn of a new year is an opportune time to take stock of your life. Jews who observe Rosh Hashanah make time for personal introspection and prayer, as well as visiting graves. Christian churches hold ―watch-night‖ services, a custom that began in 1770 at Old St. George‘s Methodist Church in Philadelphia. The practice of making New Year‘s resolutions, said to have begun with the Babylonians as early as 2600 B.C., is another way to reflect on the past and plan ahead. New Year‘s folklore Some customs and beliefs are simply passed down through the ages. Here are some of our favorite age-old sayings and proverbs. On New Year‘s Eve, kiss the person you hope to keep kissing. If New Year‘s Eve night wind blows south, it betokened warmth and growth. For abundance in the New Year, fill your pockets and cupboards today. If the old year goes out like a lion, the New Year will come in like a lamb. Begin the New Year square with every man (i.e., pay your debts). So, whether we resolve to return borrowed farm equipment (as did the Babylonians) or drop a few pounds, we‘re tapping into an ancient and powerful longing for a fresh start. Disaster preparedness class The Extension office is offering a disaster preparedness class for youth ages 13-19. This is a comprehensive 21-hour course that educates youth on how to prepare for a disaster and help others in with their planning. This is a free course, but the youth must commit to the full 21 hours and help seven families with their communication and disaster planning. Please call Robin Young for more information. Go to our facebook page, CSU Extension-Archuleta County and download the application, or come by the Extension office to pick one up. Deadline for applications is Jan. 9, 2019.
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Beekeper program Colorado Beekeeper Associate Program is a comprehensive seven-week course being offered on Tuesdays starting Jan. 8, 2019, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. It is $300 for the non-volunteer track and $120 for the volunteer track. Visit our Facebook page at CSU Extension-Archuleta County for more information and download an application or pick one up at the Extension office. Applications are due by Jan. 2, 2019. CPR and first aid classes CPR and first aid certification classes are offered monthly by the CSU Extension office on the second Monday and Wednesday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. Anyone needing to receive or renew certification can register by calling the Extension office at 264-5931. We will also attempt to schedule classes on additional dates with five or more registrations. Cost for the classes is $80 for combined CPR/first aid and $55 for CPR, first aid or recertification. The type of first aid information provided will vary by the needs of the audience.
http://www.pagosasun.com/new-years-traditions-from-around-the-world/
Pokkali rice is going places Aathira Perinchery KOCHI, JANUARY 01, 2019 22:18 IST
Pokkali is tolerant to submergence inhe reason why it was unaffected by the August floods. | Photo Credit: H_Vibhu
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Scientists turn to pokkali to develop rice varieties tolerant to salinity, temperature Not many Malayalis may have heard about pokkali, but Kerala‘s very own indigenous rice variety is inspiring scientists the world over to develop new rice cultivars in an effort to build resilience against climate change. Several teams of researchers have turned to pokkali to study how the indigenous rice variety, which is traditionally cultivated only in the districts of Ernakulam, Thrissur and Alappuzha, is able to thrive in naturally-occurring saline coastal paddy fields. A team, including scientists from New Delhi‘s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has found through a series of experiments conducted over six years that the high expression of a specific gene – OsIF – stabilizes the plant‘s photosynthetic machinery in high salinity conditions, thereby playing a crucial role in pokkali‘s tolerance to salty conditions. ‘Transgenic’ rice The team developed a new rice variety by moving this single gene from pokkali to IR64 (a high-yielding variety cultivated in more than 200 countries). They found that this resulting ‗transgenic‘ or modified rice was even more tolerant to salty conditions and high temperatures than pokkali itself. ―Pokkali has an excellent gene pool which is very useful for salinity tolerance,‖ said Professor Ashwani Pareek of JNU, co-author of the study published in Scientific Reports, who has been studying the genetic basis of pokkali‘s impressive salinity tolerance for the past two decades. In his laboratory, at least a dozen unique genes from pokkali have been identified and characterised for stress tolerance.
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Salt tolerance Kochi‘s Rice Research Station (RRS) also created a similar variety in 2015 by moving another portion of pokkali‘s DNA (named Saltol QTL, which has also been shown to aid the plant‘s salt tolerance) into Jyothi, one of the State‘s popular rice breeds. Named Jyotsna and released officially less than a year ago after successful field trials in 2017, the new variety is now being distributed to farmers, said Shylaraj K.S., Director of the RRS. Useful traits On an average, pokkali fields yield only around one-and-a-half tonnes per hectare, she said. ―While pokkali‘s best yields are up to four tonnes per hectare, Jyotsna easily produces up to six tonnes in good soil conditions,‖ she said. Several foreign research institutes, including the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, have also been studying pokkali‘s gene pools and has identified a portion of DNA on one of its chromosomes that is crucial for salt tolerance, said Dr. Pareek. With pokkali also being tolerant to submergence in water for a week, it does have numerous useful traits, said Dr. Shylaraj. As a result, farmers reported that pokkali fields in Kadamakkudy and Varapuzha were relatively unaffected by the floods that ravaged paddy fields where other short rice varieties were cultivated, she said. Need for conservation In a recent review of Kerala‘s indigenous rice varieties published in the journal Current Science, scientists at Chennai‘s M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation argue that given the wide range of such adaptations of these indigenous rice varieties as well as their ability to thrive under harsh climatic conditions, conserving them is critical in promoting climate-resilient agriculture. ―Unpredictable monsoons and higher temperatures are fallouts of climate change and we need high-yielding varieties that can trump over these,‖ said Dr. Pareek. 9|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com , mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pokkali-rice-is-going-places/article25883722.ece
Hans calendar released THE HANS INDIA | Jan 01,2019 , 02:24 AM IST
Joint Collector Shyam Prasad Lal and others releasing The Hans India calendar at Karimnagar on Monday
Karimnagar: Joint Collector Shyam Prasad Lal suggested all to celebrate the new year representing ‗Vasudhaika Kutumbam‘, the Indian way of coexisting. He released The Hans India calendar-2019 here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the Joint Collector said its common to give farewell for the old year and to welcome new year. He wished that everything good will happen in the new year. He
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hoped that the dream of ‗Bangaru Telangana‘ will be achieved in the coming year, where people of sections across the State will have all facilities, enough food and no health issues. The Hans India advertisement Assistant Manager K Malliah Goud, reporter Bhaskar Kumar Bhagyanagar, G Sampath Kumar, A Nagaraju and Rice Millers Associations district president B Bhaskar, secretary Narsing Rao, Chandra Reddy, Mohan Rao, Venugopal Rao others were present during the programme https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2019-01-01/Hans-calendar-released/467715
Govt grapples with rice shortage, price surges The year 2018 was also the time when ordinary Filipinos had to turn their pockets inside out and stretch their meager budgets to meet their daily needs, as prices of basic goods, particularly rice, soared to an all-time high. Since the start of 2018, rice reserves of the National Food Authority (NFA), were drastically depleted. The NFA is mandated to ensure food security, and stabilize rice supply and prices in the market. n April, the grains agency announced that its rice stocks had gone down to less than a day‘s requirement, much lower than the mandated 15-day rice reserve at any given time and the 30-day buffer stock during the lean season. This eventually pushed the price of the staple to as high as P60 per kilo in Metro Manila and P70 per kilo in Zamboanga City, which was later placed under a state of calamity from the rice shortage.
Farmers separate rice grains from stalks using a thresher machine in a rice field in Plaridel, Bulacan. PHOTO BY RENE DILANGovernment-subsidized NFA rice is sold at P27 to P32 per kilo, which is significantly lower than the typical commercial rice priced at P40 per kilo and
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above. The government‘s economic managers pointed to the rice shortage as the main driver of inflation, which peaked at a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in October and strained the already tight budget of consumers. o curb inflation, the Duterte administration flooded the market with cheap imported rice. Also, the NFA implemented a suggested retail price (SRP) on the staple. For 2018, the NFA booked a total of 1.25 million metric tons (MT) of rice imports as approved by the NFA Council, the grain agency‘s inter-agency policy-making body. The move was meant to boost NFA‘s buffer stocks. Also, the NFA Council approved the procurement of an additional 350,000 MT of rice under the importation program of the Department of Trade and Industry, which aims to offer commercial rice at P38 per kilo exclusively in supermarkets. While the government clearly laid out importation plans, several factors hampered the early arrival of rice imports aimed at bringing back the presence of NFA rice in the local market. These included late conduct of biddings, high price offers from suppliers, bad weather conditions, and other climatic disturbances.
According to former agriculture chief William Dar, while it is necessary for the Philippines to import rice to satisfy fast-growing consumption, the NFA Council must make necessary decisions to import rice at the ―right time‖ to ensure stable supply in the market. Doing that also protects local farmers from the inflow of cheap imported rice. ―We have to look at our own rice adequacy level which tells us that we lack about 3-10 percent of rice supply yearly. This means that we have to plan importation to prevent a rice crisis. Importation is a complimentary solution to increasing our levels of productivity in rice,‖ Dar told The Manila Times. ―However, the imports must be taken at the right time and right circumstances,‖ he added. SRP on rice In an apparent bid to curtail possible exploitation of the prices of commercial rice by alleged ―profiteers‖ in the market, the NFA also implemented the SRP for the staple beginning October 27. Under the SRP, local regular-milled and well-milled rice should be sold at no more than P39 and P44 per kilo, respectively. For imported variants, well-milled rice should be sold at no more than P39 per kilo while premium rice should be priced no higher than P43 per kilo.
However, Dar said, ―This [SRP] is a temporary mechanism. Once the [rice] tariffication is in place, that will really bring down prices of rice to the market level. I‘m seeing that once we have enough rice in the market, we won‘t be needing the SRP anymore.‖ Rice tariffication Under rice tariffication, rice to be imported from member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) would be levied with a 35-percent duty. On the other hand, rice imports from non-Asean member-states will be slapped a 50-percent tariff. Eventually, the import quotas on rice will be scrapped. Sen. Cynthia Villar, who heads the Senate Committee on Agriculture and
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Food, said the package of support for farmers in the rice tariffication measure approved by Congress includes giving ―preferential attention‖ to rice farmers, cooperatives and associations. Under the bill, P10 billion will be allocated annually from 2019 to 2014 for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which would be used to provide direct financial assistance to rice farmers to make them competitive with their Asean counterparts, particularly Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam and Thailand produce palay (unmilled rice) at 5-8 MT per hectare at P5 to P9 per kilo. Meanwhile, the Philippines averages 4 MT per hectare at a cost of P11 to P14 per kilo, not to mention additional costs imposed by middlemen. Dar said the massive spending stipulated by the rice tariffication bill can be the long-term solution to make the country‘s rice industry truly competitive. ―Also, they have to design the credit facility [with no double-digit interest] that the farming sector can tap. Then, enhance the farmers‘ capabilities and entice today‘s youth to go into farming. These are the very things that can make rice farmers competitive in the future,‖ he added. https://www.manilatimes.net/govt-grapples-with-rice-shortage-price-surges/490193/
US rice wants sales after China lifts ban 12/31/18 5:06 PM By Bill Tomson
KEYWORDS APHIS CHINA EXPORTS RICE USA RICE FEDERATION USDA China is technically open to U.S. rice now – the Chinese ban was lifted Friday - but trade can‘t begin flowing yet thanks to bureaucratic steps that remain unfinished, according to U.S. industry officials. USDA‘s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reached out to U.S. rice mills Monday morning and told them that the agency is working on clearing up the remaining steps in the process that is needed to clear the way for actual sales, sources involved with the call tell AgriPulse. U.S. mills have not been individually cleared under the sanitary and phytosanitary protocol signed by the U.S. and China in 2017, but APHIS officials told millers the agency is working to clear all 34 that have applied for approval to export to China. There is no set timeline for the approvals, but millers were told APHIS hopes to complete the process ―soon,‖ sources said. The fact that Chinese customs officials announced U.S. rice is no longer banned is a major step towards new sales for U.S. farmers and millers, says USA Rice Federation spokesman Mike Klein, but there is more to be done.
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―It‘s a good step they took, but it hasn‘t translated into any sales yet,‖ Klein said. ―We‘re excited about it. We‘re not jumping up and down yet.‖ For any sales to happen, China needs to issue phytosanitary certificates to rice mills showing that they meet Chinese approval to supply rice to the country. That process is under way now. Thirty-four U.S. mills have applied for approval to export to the country. The USA Rice Federation expects they will all be been cleared, but that has not been confirmed yet. A delegation from China‘s State Market Regulatory Administration (SMRA) inspected 10 U.S. mills in Texas, Arkansas, California and Louisiana last June. Klein said it was USA Rice‘s understanding that if all 10 mills passed inspection, then the Chinese would accept assurances from USDA‘s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that all of the mills would be approved. ―I don‘t know where we are with that because the list (of mills) hasn‘t been made public yet – we haven‘t seen a list of who‘s in or who‘s out,‖ Klein said. ―Our position is that it was all or nothing.‖ Those mill approvals are necessary for the rice tendering process, he said. A Chinese buyer cannot close a purchase from a seller that was not approved. Still, the Chinese announcement Friday that it implemented the sanitary and phytosanitary protocol is a major success for the U.S. rice sector, which has been fighting for access to the Chinese market for more than a decade. China consumes about 144 million tons of rice every year and it is the world‘s largest rice importing country. China imports about 5 million tons of rice, according to USDA data. "As with all our dealings with China, the devil is in the details, and we have many questions, including when the first sales will be made, but this is definitely good news for our producers and millers as we enter the New Year," said USA Rice Chair Charley Mathews. For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com. https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/11778-us-rice-wants-sales-after-china-lifts-ban
AGRICULTURE: Farmers’ wait for PTI to deliver on promises continues Mohammad Hussain KhanDecember 31, 2018
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With a huge growth potential for crop diversification, Pakistan’s agriculture sector is in need of modernisation. It‘s not just about machinery or equipment. The sector can make great strides if the authorities adopt a scientific and modern approach under a strong regulatory framework. Structural issues, ad hoc-ism, insufficient policy thrust, weak writ of government and increasingly unreliable water flows are major challenges. At least a dozen important research bodies remain without regular heads. The sector recorded 3.81 per cent growth in 2017-18, 3.5pc in 2016-17 and minus-0.19pc in 2015-16. The government has planned an investment of Rs200 billion for the next two to three years. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) has unveiled an Rs82bn package aimed at increasing yields and improving water efficiency. In major crops, Sindh was unable to meet the wheat sowing target for 2018-19. Punjab met its target, but Sindh could achieve only 73pc of it by the middle of December owing to a water shortage of 35-40pc in the Rabi season. Sindh had to face a 50-70pc water shortage in Kharif, which affected cotton and rice. Cotton acreage showed a decline in 2018-19 in Punjab and Sindh. Against the national sowing target of 2.95 million hectares, farmers could use only 2.4m ha, indicating a drop of 10.9pc from a year ago and missing the target by 18.6pc. Sindh reported a loss of 31pc in acreage over last year while the decrease was 5.2pc in Punjab as Pakistan struggles to meet the target of 14m bales. The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) said the total cotton production was 9.9m bales by Dec 15. It reported this amidst a controversy about the weight of a bale that the PCGA says is 140 kilograms while the worldwide standard, including in Pakistan, is 170kg. Nationally, rice production remained 2.7pc over and above the target of 6.931m tonnes. Again, Sindh recorded a 10.8pc decline in terms of area and production while the production in Punjab was 15.7pc higher than the target, provisional figures show. Sugar cane farmers continue to face a perennial conflict with millers. Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded a decline of 16.1pc and 1.4pc, respectively, in 2018. Acreage in Sindh dropped 16.1pc, but the production in Punjab was 47.1m tonnes against the target of 44m tonnes. Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Yusuf Zafar believes the government needs fiscal space to effectively manage agriculture through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). It should re-appropriate funds from unproductive uses, he adds.
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―The government plans to promote cadge fishing in water bodies to increase fish exports to $1bn from $40m,‖ Mr Zafar says. There is a serious concern about Pakistan‘s food import bill ($6.13bn in 2016-17). A major chunk of it is edible oil ($2bn). Cultivating oilseed crops and sesame can be helpful for import substitution. Sesames exports, as per one estimate, may fetch $45m from the Middle East. Sunflower farming is another option. But its area in Sindh has slumped to 60,000-80,000ha from 266,000ha in 2010-11. The government seems to be giving great importance to the livestock sector. A scheme to promote backyard poultry to end poverty will take place nationwide. ―Meetings have been held with the heads of all provincial livestock departments,‖ says an office of the Punjab livestock department. Policy interventions like foot and mouth disease control through vaccination and calf fattening schemes have yielded good results in Punjab with the annual allocation of Rs6bn. ―We have reduced the foot and mouth disease to 5pc from 35pc in 2013-14,‖ he says, adding that other provinces should follow suit. Water is arguably the most important factor for any growth in agriculture and livestock sectors. The government would initiate the second phase of the lining of watercourses at a cost of Rs68bn. Besides lining, the command area of small dams will be developed in rain-fed areas, which may save nine million acre feet (MAF). The first phase of lining under the National Programme for Improvement of Watercourses (NPIW) was executed in the Musharraf regime on a cost-sharing basis. Sindh has built recharge/storage dams in Jamshoro, Karachi, Nagarparkar and Dadu. Surface water availability is a must for food security. Researchers believe the introduction of crop zoning can help overcome water shortages. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCWR) former chairman Dr Mohammad Ashraf says cultivation of high-delta crops — sugarcane and rice — must stop in water-deficient areas. ―Aren‘t foreign exchange earnings by means of rice exports useless if food imports cost billions of dollars every year?‖ Rice exports mean Pakistan is actually exporting water used in rice cultivation, he adds. Crop patterns must be defined and strictly adhered to in order to save surface water through crop zoning. ―We grow sugar cane in South Punjab where people don‘t have access to drinking water. Similarly, the cotton-growing area of Ghotki in Sindh has witnessed unprecedented growth of sugar cane,‖ he says. Groundwater mining continues at an alarming rate. Dr Ashraf says he is concerned about the matter: it increases the farmer‘s cost of inputs and harms soil productivity as the groundwater level drops alarmingly. Water mining needs a regulatory framework without any delay. Researchers believe groundwater aquifer is developed in millions of years. It is depleting fast and, according to one estimate, around 53MAF water was being pumped every year. The aquifer level in Quetta has dropped to 1,200-1,400 feet from 100 feet, according to Dr Ashraf.
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Punjab government pitched in an Rs8bn subsidy in agriculture, with a Rs2.18bn allocation for 500,000 bags of DAP fertiliser, crop insurance for small farmers, Rs5,000 per acre for oilseed crop cultivation on 156,000 acres, and the provision of 100,000 bags of certified cottonseeds. Sindh offers nothing of the sort as it seems comfortable with the two ongoing World Bank– funded programmes. https://www.dawn.com/news/1454322
Kundura paddy farmers brave wintry nights at mandis Updated: January 2nd, 2019, 08:45 IST
Kundura: Farmers of Kundura block in Koraput district are forced to guard their paddy bags stacked at mandis throughout nights braving chill as there are no takers for their grains.
After harvest, the farmers were hopeful of selling paddy at mandis, but they were disappointed as the mandis did not open as per government‘s promise.The farmers were forced to collect paddy under the open sky near mandis. They have to protect their grains from cattle and elephants occasionally. So they have been forced to pass sleepless nights the mandis while mercury is dipping.
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The government had instructed mandi operators to collect grains in November for the Kharif season. However, the process got delayed by a month in this block due to the non-cooperation of rice millers. The administration had decided to buy 2,000 quintals of paddy from the mandi, but most of the farmers have failed to sell their grains. At least 80 per cent of the district‘s villages do not have a permanent paddy mandi. The farmers of the block are reluctant to sell paddy at temporary paddy collection centres as they lack basic infrastructure. The district administration could procure only 20 per cent of paddy produced in the block from eight mandis in Danagripaunsi, Kundra, Lima, Udalguda, Pakanguda, Digapur, Khalapadar and Bagderi in this block. Some farmers in the block said this year‘s winter was hard to bear because of its severity. Snow is also falling and it could be seen on the polythene sheets covering the gunny bags. The farmers have alleged the delay in paddy procurement has provided scope to middlemen to intercept grains from farmers. As the farmers have failed to sell paddy at the mandis, they are being forced to sell it to middlemen due to poverty. The Kundura block Krushak Kalyan Mach has demanded that the government should take immediate action to help the farmers who had failed to sell their paddy at the mand http://www.orissapost.com/kundura-paddy-farmers-brave-wintry-nights-at-mandis/ https://perfectobserver.com/global-rice-transplanter-market-forecast-icrw/is
BJP farmer wing to gherao Naveen Nivas on Jan 8 As a result, the farmers have to lose out on their dues.
Published: 02nd January 2019 06:21 AM | Last Updated: 02nd January 2019 08:20 AM | By Express News Service
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BHUBANESWAR: After launching a series of agitations on farmers‘ issues, BJP Krushak Morcha has decided to gherao Naveen Nivas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik‘s residence, on January 8 as a mark of protest against the State Government‘s failure to resolve the crisis facing the farm sector. The BJP, which had extended support to the long march of farmers to the Capital under the banner of Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan in November over their demands of price, prestige and pension, has urged Naveen to make his stand clear on providing bonus to farmers over and above the minimum support price for paddy announced by the Centre. Though the Chief Minister had announced in 2015 to provide bonus of `100 per quintal of paddy in a farmers‘ rally at Sohela, he is silent on his promise, said State BJP Krushak Morcha president Sivaji Mohanty. After a preparatory meeting for the proposed mass convention of farmers in the city on January 8, Mohanty said farmers are facing several hardships to sell their paddy due to utter mismanagement at the paddy procurement centres (PPCs). While paddy stocks are piling up in the market yards, non-functioning of the mandis has forced farmers to sell their stocks to middlemen who are agents of local rice millers at whatever prices they quote. The Centre has fixed paddy MSP at `1,750 per quintal for common variety and `1,770 for Grade-A variety, but farmers are selling paddy at `1,000 to `1,200 per quintal to private traders. Highlighting the farmers‘ problems, activists of Krushak Morcha have been laying siege to mandis from December 19 demanding purchase of paddy from farmers at MSP, but there is hardly any improvement in the
situation.
Besides, complaints of price cut for at least 4 kg to 5 kg per bag during procurement galore across the States and no step has been taken by the State Government to stop the malpractice. As a result, the farmers have to lose out on their dues.
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http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2019/jan/02/bjp-farmer-wing-to-gherao-naveennivas-on-jan-8-1919563.html
Soybeans rise on U.S.-China trade hopes Corn also is up for 2019
The Gazette Soybeans were poised to end 2018 with an annual decline after the plunge in exports to China coupled with big harvests in the United States and Brazil pulled down prices. Reuters
Chicago soybean futures edged up on Monday as investors saw signs of thawing relations between Washington, D.C., and Beijing in the trade dispute that has disrupted flows of the most valuable U.S. agricultural export to China.
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Soybeans were poised to end 2018 with an annual decline after the plunge in exports to China coupled with big harvests in the United States and Brazil weighed on prices. A resumption in Chinese imports of U.S. soybeans in December as part of a negotiated truce between the world‘s two largest economies has helped Chicago prices rebound from a decade low in September. Wheat, in contrast, was set to notch up its biggest annual rise since 2012 after a sharp fall in production in major exporters Russia, the European Union and Australia, making it one of the biggest gainers in commodity markets this year.Corn also rose in 2018 as tightening wheat supply fueled additional demand from livestock feed makers, offsetting concerns about disruption to U.S. shipments to China. Prices on Monday were supported by what President Donald Trump described as a ―very good call‖ with China‘s President Xi Jinping.―Soybeans are in the front line in the trade war, so they‘re getting a lift today,‖ one European trader said. https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/nation-and-world/soybeans-rise-on-us-china-tradehopes-20181231
Donald Trump Just Sold Rice…To China ByShore News Network January 1, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C.-President Donald Trump has claimed many things during his life, but the one thing he pushes often is his ability to make a deal…and that‘s what he just did. Ahead of trade talks with China, President Trump negotiated a deal to lift tariffs on China‘s dietary staple, rice. Yes, the President just sold rice to China. It‘s the first time in history that China has agreed to accept U.S. imports of rice, according to Reuters. The green light from Chinese customs, indicated in a statement posted on the customs authority‘s website on Friday, comes in the run-up to talks between the countries in January after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a moratorium on higher tariffs that would affect trade worth hundred of billions of dollars,‖ Reuters reported.
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America can now start sending rice for sale to China.Even though rice imports from America were not permitted in China, the country levied a 25% tax on rice coming from the U.S. last year. The following are comments people have made about this post on Facebook. Shore News Network does not own these comments, nor does it have control over the moderation of these comments. Please report offensive and harmful comments directly to Facebook using the report comments feature in the comment dropdown box.
http://shorenewsnetwork.com/news/headline-news/new-jersey-attorney-general-pats-his-ownback-on-2019-accomplishments/
India vies to fill Chinese commodities gap created by trade war New Delhi sees tariff battle as opportunity to break into China‘s vast agricultural market Benjamin Parkin in New Delhi January 1, 2019 The trade war between Washington and Beijing is choking off China‘s supply of crops such as soyabeans and cotton. India believes it has the answer. Indian officials and exporters are pushing to boost sales of staples such as rice, sugar and milk to China, exploiting an opportunity created after Beijing raised tariffs on many
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US foodstuffs. Officials have signed agreements to sell fish oil and rapeseed meal to China, lobbied to remove import barriers to soyabean meal and discussed ways to increase sales of fruit and vegetables. Selling more produce to China would provide a boost for Narendra Modi, the prime minister, as he seeks to appease farmers angry about low prices and high debt levels ahead of national elections in 2019. Tens of thousands marched on the capital New Delhi in November, capping off a year of farmers‘ discontent. ―You have an agricultural sector in India today which really needs a shot in the arm. That shot in the arm needs to come from greater market access,‖ said Amitendu Palit, an economist at the National University of Singapore and former Indian government official who worked on trade. China is one of the world‘s largest consumers of commodities, while India is a leading producer of everything from cotton to milk. Beijing is looking for new suppliers after the trade dispute exposed its dependence on US food, and India argues it is ideally placed to help feed China — trimming its trade deficit with Beijing in the process. Some question whether the south Asian country will be able to take advantage act in time, however, particularly after the US and China came to a fragile truce at the G20 summit in Argentina. Economists say a sector largely made up of small and disorganised farms needs
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deeper reform to compete with big exporters such as Brazil. An editorial in Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper suggested India‘s ambitions were ―pie in the sky‖. ―We
have a long way to go,‖ admitted Bipul Chatterjee, executive director at CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics and Environment, a think-tank. ―We‘re not that competitive.‖ But Indian officials have seized the opportunity to kick-start the process. In October 24 mills were cleared to begin exporting rice to China, and in November officials agreed terms to start selling fish meal and oil. New Delhi also lifted restrictions on exporting sugar, ahead of what is expected to be a bumper harvest this year, and have booked sales to China. A Chinese delegation recently visited India to inspect sugar mills for exports, said Prakash Naiknavare, managing director of the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories, the culmination of a months-long courtship of Chinese buyers. ―We‘re putting a lot of hope in this,‖ he said. Nowhere is there more potential than in the trade for soyabeans. China buys more than any other country and secured most of its soyabeans from the US before a 25 per cent tariff went into effect in July. India is one of the world‘s largest producers, with an expected crop of 11m tonnes for 2019.
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This year China lifted tariffs on soyabean meal imports from India and other Asian nations, though trade is still hampered by separate sanitary restrictions. A delegation was due to visit India in December to finalise an agreement, said Davish Jain, chairman of the Soybean Processors Association and president of soyabean company Prestige Group. One of his plants had been approved for exports, he added. Prices for soyabeans at India‘s National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange have risen about 10 per cent in the past two months in anticipation. ―The Chinese dragon‘s appetite is huge,‖ Mr Jain said. ―They can swallow all of our exportable surplus easily.‖
Commercial Rice Production in PNG Shows Great Promise 02/01/201902/01/2019 EMTV Online 34 Views PNG Agriculture
By Elizabeth Guka – EMTV News Cadet Journalist Rice, a much-loved staple food Rice is a common food that is eaten in most parts of the world. Whether imported or locally grown, produced and supplied, people love having rice in their diet. They depend on rice to add balance to the meals they prepare on their table. In Papua New Guinea, the bulk of the population in towns and capital cities consume rice on a daily basis. Even those in the rural areas, despite having a surplus of fresh vegetables, also opt to consume rice on a weekly basis based on their financial capabilities to purchase this favourite grain. Increase in the demand for rice With rice being a staple food for people all over the world, its demand has increased. Countries that grow and mass produce rice, export it to other countries that cannot be able to produce rice due to certain natural weather conditions, climate change issues, or other geographical reasons. There are also countries that are able to produce rice, but lack the technical capability or the required machinery to produce rice for their people. It is evident that the demand for rice has increased, and also with the issue of food security, there is now a need for PNG to venture into commercial rice production.
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Commercial rice production will not only secure the food security of the country, but will also bring investors into the country. This means that there could be improvements in the country‘s economy, and also there could be a market demand for home-grown PNG rice.
In PNG, rice is imported in large amounts. PNG imports about 98 percent of the 400,000 kilos of rice that is consumed by Papua New Guineans. Imports come from countries like Thailand, which is a major supplier of rice. Other major importers of rice into PNG include Homestate Co-operation Limited, and Australia‘s SunRice. The two major suppliers of rice in PNG Homestate Ltd is a Thailand company that commercially produces rice on a large scale, and then exports that rice to other countries. This is where PNG comes in as an importer of rice. Homestate Ltd., whilst exporting rice to PNG through the years, has also set up bases in Port Moresby, Alotau, Rabaul, Mt. Hagen with the head office in Lae. The company imports rice products such as the much-loved popular Jasmine rice that many Papua New Guineans purchase at shops. SunRice is an Australian Company that produces rice as well. The company came into PNG to invest, and started off under the name, ―Ricegrowers-Australia Pty. Limited, with only one type of white and brown rice produced, packaged and sold. Now the company has expanded to PNG and has changed its brand name to ―Trukai‖, which is now the most popular food brand in PNG, with assets including a 200,000 plus tonne rice mill and packaging plant, with 12 national supply centres in the country. The expansion of Trukai
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Trukai has now expanded to include other branches throughout the country. Trukai also produces short grain, long grain and medium grain rice products with various package varieties for customers to choose from. Trukai also imports rice that is grown in Australia. Currently, Trukai is supporting small scale rice farming in some parts of PNG to encourage the development of the rice industry to suite the high demand of rice, with pilot rice farm projects established in West New Britain, Northern (Oro), Morobe and Central Provinces. So if these pilot rice projects can prove that PNG can be able to produce its own rice, then why is PNG still importing rice from other countries? The answer to that would be to look closely at what PNG still lacks. Though it has been proven that PNG can produce its own rice, the production can go as far as the growing and harvesting of the raw product, with the testing, milling, producing, packaging and selling of the product done by big commercial companies such as Trukai. Reasons why PNG still cannot mass produce rice include the following:
There is a shortage in skilled man-power There is still a need for more technical expertise No proper machinery Small scale rice farming still ongoing in certain areas, but cannot be commercially viable due to lack of required facilities.
With these mentioned issue-areas, it is evident that PNG still has a long way to go in terms of commercial rice production. In terms of man-power, PNG has local farmers throughout the country who have been trained through Trukai rice pilot projects; however, there is still a growing need to train more local PNG farmers who are willing to grow rice. Even if PNG does have the required skilled man-power in the future, technical expertise on operating rice production areas as well as the necessary machinery will still be required for the whole production process. PNG Government’s stance With the increase in demand for rice as the main staple food of PNG, food security is also crucial. With food security being an issue of concern in the country, the PNG Government, signed a Memorandum of Agreement in November last year (during APEC) with the Philippines
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Government, for Philippines to help provide technical assistance and training of local PNG farmers to increase the capability of PNG to commercially mass produce rice in the future. The MOA included commitment to establishing a trial rice project at the 14 Mile area, on land belonging to the Pacific Adventist University in Port Moresby. The trial rice project started in October 2018 with 25 hectares of rice being planted as trial. Reasons why the Philippines is investing in the rice project Philippines has invested in such a project as this, due to current rice shortage in their own country. Despite having the necessary technical capabilities, skilled man-power, required equipment, and the knowledge on how to operate and maintain the required machinery needed for the project, Philippines faces a great challenge in food security. This is because it does not have enough of the staple food (rice) to cater for its growing population, which is much higher compared to PNG‘s estimated population of more than 8 million. In the agreement, Philippines, upon providing the technical assistance for the rice project, will also benefit from this project. The agreement reached by both countries involves Philippines providing PNG with technical assistance in exchange for being a major importer of PNG rice in the near future. This means that after PNG produces enough rice to feed the bulk of population in the country, the surplus will be bought and exported to the Philippines, by the Philippines Government. Achievements of the project Upon the establishment of the trial rice project, nineteen (19) skilled Filipino rice technicians were sent from Philippines to PNG, with the necessary equipment, to assist in the project‘s trial stage. These technicians also helped to train local PNG farmers in the 14 Mile area, who showed interest in learning to grow rice. The first batch of harvest of the trial rice project took place at the farm on 21st December 2018, where PNG‘s Minister for Agriculture & Livestock, Benny Allan, and Philippines Ambassador to PNG, Bien Tejano, officiated at the harvest. With the successful harvest of the first trial rice project, positive feedback of the trial rice project has come from the PNG government and the Philippines government through its Embassy in Port Moresby. This harvest has shown that there is great promise that PNG can be able to commercially produce its own rice. Expansion of project
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Following the success of the trial rice project, the PNG government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, has more plans of expanding the project into other parts of the country. With technical assistance from the Philippines government, PNG is set to venture into commercial rice production this year (2019), once proper facilities and necessary technical areas are in place, which also includes the training of local PNG farmers in the country. With that, Minister, Benny Allan, announced the PNG government‘s commitment to this project through an allocation of K8 million for the expansion of this project this year. The project will now go into full swing, with the training of local farmers selected from various provinces in the country, to be on full-time training at the 14 Mile rice farm area. The farmers will then go back to their provinces after the training and input what they have learnt into their local rice farms in their respective provinces. The 14 Mile trial rice project area will act as a seed bank for other rice project centres in the country where the project will be extended to. In that way, the rice farms may grow and expand to increase the commercial rice production in the country, which will inturn bring investment opportunities for other countries to invest in home-grown PNG rice at a large scale. https://emtv.com.pg/commercial-rice-production-in-png-shows-great-promise/
Pockets of hope in PHL agri sector By BusinessMirror Editorial January 2, 2019 IT was on Christmas day when the finance chief, who is also a former agriculture secretary, reminded the country of the difficulties confronting the Philippine farm sector. In a recent business forum, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said even the private sector has started worrying about the problems hounding the agriculture sector. (See, “Agriculture sector’s woes worry Duterte govt, private sector—DOF,” in the BusinessMirror, December 25, 2018). The ills that have long plagued the sector—low productivity, inability of farmers to access affordable credit, lack of infrastructure—made it difficult for the government to ensure that the country can produce enough food needed by 106 million Filipinos. While the acceleration of inflation, which peaked in September 2018, was unfortunate for millions of Filipinos, it focused the spotlight on a sector that has been neglected for years. Nearly 11 years after the Philippines was forced to pay through its nose for imported rice, it took several tweaks in the
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Department of Agriculture’s farm policies, as well as increases in its budget that enabled the agency to roll out a number of initiatives seeking to raise productivity and income. One such initiative is the mechanization program of the government. Increasing productivity cannot be done sans the equipment that would help farmers do their work and cut costs. In February 2018, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol announced that the government has earmarked P400 million for the program that would encourage farmers to take out loans if they want to buy agricultural equipment. (See, “Piñol announces P400-M farm mechanization loan program,” in the BusinessMirror, February 20, 2018). The government is also moving toward encouraging foreign businessmen to invest in the assembly of farm equipment in the Philippines. (See, “South
Korean firms to assemble farm machines in PHL,” in the Business-Mirror, November 22, 2018). Part of the mechanization program is the pilot testing of drones to spray fertilizer on vegetable farms in Benguet. Apart from cutting cost, drones will keep farmers from getting sick, as they will no longer have direct contact with dangerous chemicals. Because of these advantages, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has also started testing drones in rice farms and is hopeful that young Filipinos will be encouraged to go into planting rice. (See, “Drones may attract youth to
rice farming—PhilRice,” in the BusinessMirror, December 11, 2018). The decision of the Philippine Fiber Industry and Development Authority to strictly enforce a classification-trading scheme for abaca starting 2018 has encouraged farmers to produce more. The resulting increase in the price of the iconic Philippine fiber is likely to have expanded output by 6 percent to 76,000 metric tons in 2018, from the previous year’s 72,000 MT. (See, “Abaca output seen rising as overseas demand soars,” in the BusinessMirror, January 1, 2019). The Philippines is still the world’s top producer and supplier of abaca, and the government would do well to capitalize on this to help boost export receipts. The opening up of more export markets via trade deals forged by the government in recent years will also allow the Philippines to improve its export numbers. The Philippines can look to its neighbors in Southeast Asia and the members of the European Free Trade Association if it intends to increase its shipments of agricultural products. Manila has yet to take full advantage of the Asean Free Trade Area and the government would do well to undertake a study that will identify more products it can export to this market.
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The Duterte administration still has more than three years to implement other strategies for the agriculture sector under its Philippine Development Plan. There is no magic pill that can instantly remove the ills plaguing the farm sector, but inaction and complacency will make it harder for Philippine agriculture to fully recover https://businessmirror.com.ph/pockets-of-hope-in-phl-agri-sector/
Rice and tech: Amazon reveals how loyalty system is aiding blockchain data collection By Tingmin Koe 02-Jan-2019 - Last updated on 02-Jan-2019 at 01:04 GMT Dr Werner Vogels, chief technology officer at Amazon.com, was speaking at the 5th International Rice Congress.
Related tags: Amazon.com, Data, blockchain A reward system is effective in motivating farmers to provide rice farming data, as seen in the case of Indonesian rural farmers, according to e-commerce giant Amazon.
Dr Werner Vogels, chief technology officer at Amazon.com elaborated the above example during the 5th International Rice Congress held in Singapore. Citing the use of HARA – a block chain data exchange platform, Vogels said its rewards system has helped to collect information that was hardly available in the past. Under the system, points are given each time the farmer provides information. Farmers can in turn use the points accumulated to buy fertilisers and agricultural necessities at discounted rate. With HARA, farmers‘ data, geo-tagging, agricultural activities in the field, weather data, land, satellite, and market information are collected. “There is an incentive to start contributing data that is actually immediately impacting farmers. This is an amazing system to start creating dataset for understanding the farmers,” Vogels said. The data collection not only provide ways to raise farmers‘ productivity, but also provide farmers with alternatives to uplift their financial status.This is because HARA provides individual record of the farmers useful for bank loan applications. In this way, the farmers can
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enjoy easier access to bank credit and reduces the chances of them approaching illegal moneylenders. “Many of the farmers really have no access to financial resources at all and given that they have no identity and hardly information about the farmers and so it is really hard for them to get access a loan. Most of them would go to the loan sharks.” “These datasets are increasingly important for everyone in Indonesia because it really drives access to things like insurance and microloans for the farmers.” Vogels said that there were similar projects in Columbia and he hoped to improve the livelihood of at least two million farmers using similar methods by 2020. More collaborative research
As data generated becomes larger, collaboration and sharing of data was needed to accelerate research, Vogels said. “Research in the past often happened on private dataset and maybe the results are published on papers”, however, very people would have access to the dataset for research to be repeatable, he said. The purpose of open data is thus to drive repeatable research and accelerate research. “You can outreach your research by working with other people. However, traditional data acquisition was too hard.” To facilitate collaboration, storing information in the cloud and making them publicly available is required. “(Cloud storage) significantly lowers cost of research and accelerates research because everybody now has access to the same dataset.” Amazon currently runs the Amazon Web Services (AWS) open data program which makes data from a number of organisations available, including International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and NASA etc. For IRRI, a total of 3,024 sequenced rice genomes from 89 countries are made available on the program. With the data, researchers can identify genes associated with crop yield, climate stress tolerance, and disease resistance. https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2019/01/02/Rice-and-tech-Amazon-reveals-how-loyaltysystem-is-aiding-blockchain-data-collection
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