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News Headlines... Bangladesh Triples Rice Production with Help of Nuclear Science New rice variety YRM70 meets Middle East, Japan demand and yields grower support MAV rice deadline not extended — NFA Vietnam to form $300 mln fund to protect coffee, rice production Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-March 03,2017 Neda: PHL rice now cheaper than imports Extend rice importation, NFA urged Food dept buys 8,074 tonnes so far against target of 9,395 tonnes Future of rice on agenda Toxin-free Agriculture’ and Microbial Fertilizer Technology Efficacy Cheryle Finley: Potato girl provides tutorial on rice varieties New Holland machines officially inaugurate Paraguay's 2017 rice harvest Iran may soon permit import of rice from India: Commerce Ministry Rice exports down 21% in January Govt warns farmers of water shortage PAU releases eight new crop varieties for cultivation in Punjab
News Detail... Bangladesh Triples Rice Production with Help of Nuclear Science Friday 3 March 2017 10:00 CET Nicole Jawerth, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication (Video: S. Slavchev/IAEA) Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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Mymensingh, Bangladesh — New varieties of rice made using nuclear techniques have helped Bangladesh increase its rice production three-fold in the last few decades. This in turn has enabled the country to stay one step ahead of its rapid population growth. Today there is a secure and steady supply of rice in Bangladesh, and the country is shifting from being an importer to an exporter of rice. ―I have more rice for my family, and I now earn almost double with the rice and mustard seed I grow compared to before,‖ said Suruj Ali, a farmer from Gerapacha village just north of Mymensingh near the border of Bangladesh and India, who grows a new type of rice plant called Binadhan-7. ―I also save money because I don‘t have to spray as much for insects.‖
Irradiating seeds has proven to be a ready to use and flexible way to develop better crops‖Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Binadhan-7 is one of several rice varieties developed by the scientists at the Bangladesh Institute for Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), with the support of the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It was developed through a process using radiation called plant mutation breeding (see Plant mutation breeding), and has since become a popular rice variety in the northern part of the country where it has helped farmers and workers stabilize their income and find year-long employment. Globally more than 3 000 plant varieties have been developed and released using plant mutation breeding techniques. These mutant varieties will continue to play a key role in meeting global food demands as the world's population rapidly grows and environmental conditions become more challenging. They can also help in averting famine, a major global problem recently highlighted by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. ―Many scientists around the world turn to plant mutation breeding because it allows them to harness a natural process toward more quickly homing in on and cultivating desirable characteristics in plants,‖ said Ljupcho Jankuloski, Acting Head of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. ―This method saves time and money for researchers, while resulting in the kinds of plants farmers need to cost-effectively keep food on the table and money in their pockets. For many farmers, these plant varieties are a game changer.‖ Helping farmers in northern Bangladesh
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What sets Binadhan-7 apart from local rice varieties is its shorter growing time and ability to produce more rice. Local varieties used in the north produce around 2 tonnes of husked rice per hectare and take about 150 days to mature for harvest. Binadhan-7 produces around 3.5 to 4.5 tonnes per hectare and takes around 115 days to be ready for harvest. ―Before Binadhan-7, I used to only be able to grow two crops and would have several months each year without anything, but with Binadhan-7, I can now grow three crops and earn money all year long,‖ Ali said. He, along with his family of five, lives off 3 acres of land where he grows rice and mustard seed. ―I‘ve used that extra money to build two new extensions for my house. I hope I can earn enough to send my kids abroad someday.‖ Since its first release in 2007, Binadhan-7 has helped to improve the livelihoods of more than 20% of the people living in the northern region, according to BINA. No meal is complete without rice New rice varieties like Binadhan-7 help to address the demand for this staple food in Bangladesh. Many of these varieties have been developed to produce more rice when compared to local varieties, which means more food to eat and sell. ―For most Bangladeshi people, a meal is not a meal if it does not include rice. With a projected population of 195 million by 2030, this puts immense pressure on rice production,‖ said Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Secretary of the country‘s Ministry of Agriculture. More than 36 million tonnes of rice are produced and consumed in Bangladesh each year, making it the fourth largest rice producer and consumer in the world. The country now regularly exports rice in the region. ―We have to adapt all technologies to increase production to ensure food and nutritional security,‖ Moinuddin Abdullah said. ―That‘s why we are very keen to have agriculture research through which we get new plant varieties.‖ A cornucopia of new crops Thirteen new rice varieties have been developed by BINA using plant mutation breeding since the 1970s. These are among the more than 40 new crop plant varieties developed in the country using this technique. Others include lentils, chickpeas, peanuts, mustard seed, sesame seed, soybean, jute, tomato and wheat. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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―Irradiating seeds has proven to be a ready to use and flexible way to develop better crops. It‘s a non-hazardous and low-cost technology that has helped us to grow more food,‖ said Moinuddin Abdullah.
These new varieties help Bangladeshi farmers deal with enduring problems such as water shortages, drought, salty soil and soil degradation, which make it difficult for crops to survive and can turn soil into unusable farmland. The situation is only worsening as climate change brings more extreme weather. ―As plant mutation breeding has proven to be full of potential and a very efficient tool for plant improvement, BINA is well-positioned to develop plant varieties that can help ensure food security amidst the global changing climate,‖ said Mohammad Shamsher Ali, Director General of BINA. THE SCIENCE
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Plant mutation breeding Plant mutation breeding is the process of exposing plant seeds, cuttings or a shredded plant leaf to radiation, such as gamma rays, and then planting the seed or cultivating the irradiated material in a sterile rooting medium, which generates a plantlet. The individual plants are then multiplied and examined for their traits. Molecular marker-assisted breeding, often referred to as markerassisted selection, is used to accelerate the selection of plants with desired traits, carried by genes of interest. Plant mutation breeding does not involve gene modification, but rather uses a plant‘s own genetic resources and mimics the natural process of spontaneous mutation, the motor of evolution. By using radiation, scientists can significantly shorten the time it takes to breed new and improved plant varieties. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/bangladesh-triples-rice-production-with-help-ofnuclear-science
New rice variety YRM70 meets Middle East, Japan demand and yields grower support ABC Rural By Cara Jeffery Fri at 8:21am PHOTO: The new rice variety YRM70 has been growing on the property Old Coree in Jerilderie. (ABC Rural: Cara Jeffery)
MAP: Jerilderie 2716 A new cold tolerant, short season and water efficient medium grain rice variety is being hailed a game changer by Australian industry. The variety YRM70 is being trialled by a selection of conventional and organic growers this season. A rice breeder at Yanco Agricultural Institute, the NSW Department of Primary Industry's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Rice and Horticulture, said the new variety will supersede or supplement medium grain variety Reiziq. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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"Reiziq is the favoured medium grain variety, but it's a long season variety and is generally sown in October," said breeder Peter Snell of the variety popular with growers since 2011. "YRM70 will provide growers with the option to sow as late as November and even into December." The later sowing option has been welcomed as it saves on water costs for irrigation. Mr Snell said the new variety also met export market demand for medium grain rice. "The market for a bigger medium grain in the Middle East and Japan is very lucrative and where we [Australian grown rice] need to be," he said. "We need to be supplying rice that is of sizeable difference to Koshi, short grain rice, and this variety meets that need. "We need to scale up medium grain production to meet that Middle East demand and with Reiziq currently we sometimes struggle with getting the quantity. "The wider margin for sowing with YRM70 will make it that we can make meet that demand." Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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Barham rice grower David McConnell has been trialling YRM70 on his property this season. "Early indications for the crop are positive. It got away quickly at germination and establishment. It had a head start on the weeds which are normally an issue in organic crops," he said. "The jury is still out until harvest when we see how it yields and mills out." Mr McConnell said a new variety that reduces water use and can be sown later was welcomed by organic growers. "We have our fingers crossed for it, I think this new variety could be a game changer," he said. YRM70 has taken seven years to develop and could be released to growers as early as next season http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-03/new-rice-variety-a-winner-with-growers/8321364
MAV rice deadline not extended — NFA posted March 03, 2017 at 09:19 pm by Anna Leah E. Gonzales The National Food Authority said Friday it did not extend the February 28, 2017 deadline for rice imports covered by the minimum access volume scheme. NFA made the clarification following reports that the deadline was extended to March 31 this year. ―There‘s no need to extend the deadline because there were others, including farmer cooperatives, that participated in the MAV and have complied with the deadline,‖ NFA administrator Jason Laureano Aquino said. ―If these coops can do it, why can‘t the others?‖ Aquino asked.He said local farmers were currently harvesting their summer crop and the arrival of rice imports could dampen the price of their produce.Two hundred eleven farmer cooperatives and private businessmen applied for the importation of 692,340 metric tons of rice under the MAV, a commitment under the provisions of the the World Trade Organization. http://manilastandard.net/business/csr-mining/230827/mav-rice-deadline-not-extended-nfa.htm
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Extend rice importation, NFA urged BY THE MANILA TIMES ON MARCH 3, 2017THE LATEST NEWS, TODAY'S BREAKING NEWS
A group of rice importers on Friday strongly urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to extend the importation of rice until March 31. Edwin Paraluman, chairman of the Philippine Farmers Advisory Board (PFAB), told the media that it is unfair that NFA Administrator Jason Aquino allowed other importers to import rice from Pakistan and India until March 31, while his group that imports rice from Thailand and Vietnam were prevented to import before the end of February. Paraluman said Aquino‘s decision was a clear proof of double standard. The PFAB and its allied organizations have already lost P6 billion as of March 3. It is seen to increase if the NFA will not reconsider its position on their group. According to Paraluman, the stoppage of his group‘s importation has so many effects, apart from the P6-billion loss of income, such as possible increase in the unit price of rice. He said his group is a big help to the country, and Aquino should allowed them to import rice until March 31. Paraluman pointed out that they already paid the necessary taxes to the government for the importation http://www.manilatimes.net/extend-rice-importation-nfa-urged/315216/
Vietnam to form $300 mln fund to protect coffee, rice production By Ho Binh Minh March 3, 2017 | 02:46 pm GMT+7
Rice farmers during a summer-autumn crop in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress Photo Contest/Vu Duc Phuong Concessional loans from the World Bank will help support these key export products. Vietnam is planning to make around $300 million available to help restructure and maintain sustainable production of rice and coffee, its major export products, over the next four years, Vietnam Plus reported. Drought and salination coupled with weak financing have been disrupting production of the commodities, affecting the lives of millions of farmers in the Central Highlands coffee belt and Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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the Mekong Delta rice basket over the past year. Vietnam is the world's largest producer of robusta coffee and the third biggest exporter of rice after India and Thailand. Around $237.3 million will be sourced from loans provided by the World Bank's International Development Association, while the Vietnamese government will add a further $28.8 million and find another $35 million from the private sector, said Vietnam Plus. The funds, available in medium and long-term loans, will improve rice quality using new processing technology in eight Mekong Delta provinces and support coffee replanting in all five Central Highlands provinces. The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, the country's biggest partly-private lender by assets, will distribute the funds via several domestic banks, the report said. Vietnam's coffee output in the current 2016/2017 crop is projected to fall 11 percent from the previous season to 1.53 million tons, based on a report compiled by the International Coffee Organization. The country accounts for around 20 percent of the world's coffee output.
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The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association said that water shortages last year affected around a fifth of Vietnam's coffee acreage, and output could fall 10-20 percent from the 2015/2016 season. The country's crop year runs from October to September. Water levels in the Mekong Delta fell to their lowest level last year due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, triggering sea water to penetrate as far as 90 kilometers (56 miles) inland. The Delta provides half of Vietnam's rice output and 90 percent of its grain for export. Salination cut paddy output in the Southeast Asian country to 43.6 million tons in 2016, a threeyear low, the agriculture ministry said http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/vietnam-to-form-300-mln-fund-to-protect-coffee-rice-production3549628.html
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-March 03,2017 Reuters | Updated: Mar 3, 2017, 01.40 PM IST
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-March 3 Nagpur, Mar 3 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Producing and Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of buying support from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Between 3,000 and 4,000 tuar bags reported for auction here, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani moved down in open market on lack of demand from local traders amid good supply from producing belts. * Lakhodi dal showed weak tendency in open market on poor demand from local traders amid release of stock from stockists. * In Akola, Tuar New - 4,300-4,400, Tuar dal (clean) - 6,500-6,700, Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,500-9,000, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,600-6,900, Gram - 4,900-5,000, Gram Super best bold - 7,300-7,500 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered, deals, settled at last levels. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 4,000-4,405 4,100-4,570 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 4,500-4,850 4,500-4,900 Moong Auction n.a. 6,4006,600 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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7,500-7,800 7,500-7,800 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,400-5,000 4,400-5,000 Desi gram Raw 4,7505,050 4,750-5,050 Gram Yellow 7,600-8,000 7,600-8,000 Gram Kabuli 11,600-12,800 11,60012,800 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,600-6,800 6,600-6,800 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,300-5,600 5,300-5,600 Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,100 3,950-4,150 Tuar Karnataka 4,3504,550 4,350-4,550 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Masoor dal medium 5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Moong Mogar Medium 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 8,900-9,600 8,800-9,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,600-8,100 7,500-8,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600 5,200-5,500 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,500 5,000-5,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,600-3,800 3,650-3,850 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,400 3,200-3,400 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,300 3,800-4,300 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,1002,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,200 3,600-4,200 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,200 2,700-3,200 Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,2002,500 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG) 4,700-5,000 4,7005,000 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,200-13,300 9,200-13,300 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-6,200 5,000-6,200 Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,6005,800 Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 5,000-5,300 Jowar Gavarani (100 Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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INR/KG) 2,000-2,300 2,000-2,300 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 36.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 18.1 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 37 and 18 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-march032017/articleshow/57446017.cms
Neda: PHL rice now cheaper than imports By Cai Ordinario MARCH 2, 2017 The removal of import caps by July would not necessarily doom the local rice sector, as the production of the staple in 36 provinces is now cheaper compared to imports, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). In a recent presentation, Neda Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said the average production cost of rice in 36 provinces will be P3 per kilogram lower than the unit cost of imported rice.This estimate assumed that the country will slap a 35-percent tariff on imported rice starting on July 1, when the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice has expired. ―Those 36 provinces represent about 61 percent of our total use, 68 percent if we are just going to take food use. So its only about 39 percent shy of 100-percent self-sufficiency,‖ Sombilla said.Of the 36 provinces, she said 14 had an average yield of 3.5 metric tons (MT) per hectare and below. Sombilla said this means there is a high potential to increase the yield in these provinces if the government hikes its support for rice production. These 14 provinces are
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Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Aklan, Surigao, Capiz, Masbate, Catanduanes, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Basilan, Samar, Guimaras and Maguindanao. Government support could mean encouraging farmers in these provinces to use certified seeds, hybrid seeds, cultivating these seeds in suitable areas, providing irrigation facilities, and mechanizing farm facilities. There is really potential in the rice industry to be enhanced in order to become competitive, Sombilla said. Apart from the 36 provinces, Sombilla also said the Neda found there are eight large provinces that may have high yields but have recorded high production cost.These are Davao del Sur, Ilocos Norte, Bulacan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Southern Leyte, Zambales and Occidental Mindoro. Sombilla added these provinces produce an average of 4 MT per hectare and above. Sombilla said if the government is able to institute reforms that could bring down the cost of production in these eight provinces, these areas can be ―very competitive‖ in producing rice. ―We should also look at how we can help these farmers lower their production cost to be more competitive,‖ she added. The Neda study, Sombilla said, was based on their survey of 82 provinces nationwide. The agency examined rice production under normal yield levels, particularly in 2012 and 2014. Sombilla said 2012 data were used for the production cost estimates, including inputs and logistics. These were adjusted to the 2015 and 2016 levels. These costs were then compared to the unit import cost of 25-percent broken rice imported from Thailand and Vietnam using 35percent tariff plus a transport cost of P2.50 per kg.
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The QR on rice, a trade privilege which the World Trade Organization has allowed the country to enjoy for two decades, will expire on June 30. This means that the government can no longer limit the volume of imported rice that may enter the Philippines starting July. To date, Congress has yet to amend a law that will allow the governmen to convert the nontariff barrier into a specific tariff rate. Earlier, the Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters has decided not to pursue the extension of the QR on rice http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/neda-phl-rice-now-cheaper-than-imports/
Extend rice importation, NFA urged BY NELSON BADILLA, TMT ON MARCH 3, 2017NATION
A group of rice importers on Friday strongly urged the National Food Authority (NFA) to extend the importation of rice until March 31. Edwin Paraluman, chairman of the Philippine Farmers Advisory Board (PFAB), told the media that it is unfair that NFA Administrator Jason Aquino allowed other importers to import rice from Pakistan and India until March 31, while his group that imports rice from Thailand and Vietnam were prevented to import before the end of February. Paraluman said Aquino‘s decision was a clear proof of double standard. The PFAB and its allied organizations have already lost P6 billion as of March 3. It is seen to increase if the NFA will not reconsider its position on their group. According to Paraluman, the stoppage of his group‘s importation has so many effects, apart from the P6-billion loss of income, such as possible increase in the unit price of rice. He said his group is a big help to the country, and Aquino should allow them to import rice until March 31.Paraluman pointed out that they already paid the necessary taxes to the government for the importation http://www.manilatimes.net/extend-rice-importation-nfa-urged-2/315250/
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Food dept buys 8,074 tonnes so far against target of 9,395 tonnes Our Correspondent SYLHET, Mar 2: The current rice procurement drive has been going on in the Sylhet region through the millers, sources informed. Although the procurement was very poor at the beginning due to short supply, things became easy in the recent weeks with better response. The food department first took up a programme for procuring 16,420 tonnes of rice this season from the 4 districts of the division, including 15,000 tonnes of Atop (non-boiled) and the rest 1,420 tonnes of boiled rice. But, considering the market position and poor response from the listed suppliers, it was reduced later to 1,218 tonnes of boiled and 8,177 tonnes of non-boiled rice. At the beginning contracts were signed with the listed millers for the supply at 44 purchasing centres in the division, at the rate of Tk 32 for Atap and Tk 33 for the boiled rice per kg. Sylhet district's target of 293 tonnes of boiled rice is already collected while 3,054 tonnes of Atop rice is procured yet against 3,361 tonnes target. In Moulvibazar district, 238 tonnes of boiled rice against targeted 247 tonnes and 783 tonnes of Atop against 825 tonnes' target is procured while Habiganj district's collection of boiled rice is 541 tonnes against targeted 684 tonnes and 773 tonnes of Atop against targeted 1273 tonnes. In Sunamganj, 8 tonnes of boiled rice is procured so far against 24 tonnes while 2384 tonnes of Atop is collected against targeted 2718 tonnes. Contacted, the Regional Controller of Food, Sylhet Division Md. Anisuzzaman told this correspondent Thursday the rice is being procured through the listed millers. Food department had contracted 185 millers for the supply of Atop (non-boiled) rice, and 37 for the boiled rice, he said and added they would supply until 15 March. 'We have been getting a good response, as the yield was very good due to favourable weather through the whole T Aman season'. But, yet the market price is up, he added.
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The procurement drive was failed in the last year's Boro season due to short supply after repeated flash floods, lack of initiatives by the rice mill owners, absence of marketable surplus of rice or paddy etc, officials added. However, some traders said, it is hard to supply rice to the government godowns since the market price is comparatively up this time. http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/03/02/63224/Food-dept-buys-8,074-tonnes-so-far-againsttarget-of-9,395-tonnes
Future of rice on agenda BY COUNTRY NEWS ON MARCH 04, 2017
Sustainability will be top of the agenda at the 2017 International Temperate Rice Conference when it convenes in Griffith on March 6.
Sustainability will be top of the agenda at the 2017 International Temperate Rice Conference when it convenes in Griffith on March 6. The four-day event will bring together local and international delegates to discuss the latest research, technology and innovation in temperate rice production. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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International Rice Research Institute director general Matthew Morell will deliver a keynote address. He said the conference was a chance to discuss rice science‘s role in sustainable development goals and shape the future of the industry. ‗‗There is no better time in history to be an agricultural scientist,‘‘ Dr Morrell said. ‗‗The global rice sector, for example, is facing tremendous challenges. To meet the world‘s demand over the next 25 years we will have to produce about 25 per cent more rice, but this will have to be produced from less land, with less labour, with fewer inputs. ‗‗Regardless, I am optimistic that along with these significant challenges, come incredible opportunities to shape an equitable and sustainable rice sector that can help support a world of nine billion people.‘‘ Steve Linscombe, Melissa Fitzgerald and Russell Reinke will also deliver keynote speeches. Rice Research Australia manager and conference organising committee chair Russell Ford said the conference was an opportunity for the industry to reflect on the past.‗‗In the last 20 years, Australian growers have become world leaders in water use efficiency, production efficiency and environmental management,‘‘ Mr Ford said. ‗‗Having the chance to showcase these achievements to a global audience, and to also gain knowledge from the world-class scientists who will be in attendance, is an incredible opportunity for the Australian rice community to continue improving the future sustainability of our industry.‘‘ ■The conference runs from March 6 to 9 at Griffith in NSW. For more information or to register, visit: www.itrconference.com BY COUNTRY NEWS ON MARCH 04, 2017
http://www.countrynews.com.au/2017/03/04/4474/future-of-rice-on-agenda
Toxin-free Agriculture’ and Microbial Fertilizer Technology Efficacy Posted on March 3rd, 2017
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Dr Parakrama Waidyanatha The government‘s new agriculture policy as enunciated in its policy document ‗Toxin –Free NationThree year Plan, 2016, is sadly full of errors and un-achievable. The policy, among other things, stipulates replacing agrochemicals over a specified time frame( 3 years according to the document), with organic agriculture and microbial fertilizer technologies; and cultivation of 30% of the rice extent in traditional varieties. It is argued that traditional varieties(YVs) are more nutritious and of higher medicinal value than the new improved varieties(NIVs). This is not true and there are NIVs with comparable nutritive value. On the other hand, the staple food is fundamentally to provide the carbohydrates or calories the balance nutrition being essentially derived from other foods. Most importantly, NIVs yield, on average, four times more than the Tvs, and hence overexpansion of Tvs could negatively affect the national food production. Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug, the Father of the Green Revolution in his address to the Nobel forum in 2000 remarked that, had the pre-green revolution global cereal yields (ca 1t/ha, also the yield of our traditional rice) prevailed today we would need nearly 1.8 billion hectares of additional land as against the current 600, 000ha to equal the present global harvest! Imagine the consequent environmental degradation! Agriculture can never be totally toxin free. Organic farming is not toxin free either! What needs to be done is to minimize toxins through judicious agrochemical use. Sadly the government has not addressed this matter effectively! Alternative more sustainable technologies to agrochemicals are now being widely researched on globally and should be vital for minimizing pollution, environmental degradation and the health of all living beings in the future. The world cannot, however, at least in the foreseeable future, feed its populace without agrochemicals! And that is a fact whatever the ‗toxin-free‘ purists say! Norman Borlaug in the above address also remarked that half the world population today is alive thanks to the Haber-Bosch Process of synthesis of ammonia (nitrogen fertilizer)! Globally, however, only 1% of the agriculture is organic of which only 0.22% is in arable crops, less than 0.2% is in other crops, the bulk of the extent (0.66%) being in pastures. Organic agriculture is so restricted because of the inadequacy of organic matter or consistently reliable alternatives such as microbial technologies to provide optimum crop nutrient demands. Cuba was the only country in the world that was compelled to go totally organic in 1989 , with the collapse of USSR and consequent discontinuance of agricultural aid from it on which Cuba was nearly totally Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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dependent. However, over the years it has returned in part to agrochemical technologies. It now uses chemical fertilizers increasingly, currently consuming 50 kg/ha/yr, and has its own glyphosate manufacturing enterprise! Microbial fertilizers and their efficacy The ‗toxin –free‘ policy makers have realized that it is impossible to physically provide the requisite organic matter to produce the national food demand, and is resorting to microbial fertilizers as an alternative. The policy document states that local scientists have taken steps to provide robust nontoxic fertilizer, and many of them are being sold at competitive prices. It further states that the government will create an enabling environment for these manufacturers. In a recent newspaper report it is claimed that a ‗revolutionary product, which is a world‘s first from Sri Lanka can replace up to 50% of the chemical fertilizer usage in major commercial crops, and increase yield by 20-30%‘, ‗saving the country billions in foreign exchange‘! The new product carries the name Biofilm Biofertilizer(BFBF), a microbial technology based on the principle that some microbes(bacteria, fungi and algae) have the tendency to attach to surfaces and form multiple cellular communities bound together by extracellular polymers referred to as biofilms, which are supposedly more effective than individual microbes in nutrition provision to crops. . Although it is claimed that this product is a result of ten years of research participated by various research institutions, there is as far as I am aware, published evidence of it being responsive with only young tea and rubber plants, but not with mature crops, in work done at the Tea and Rubber Research Institutes. On the other hand, research conducted at the Rice Research and Development institute of the DOA with this product, according to its officers did not give positive responses to it and more trials are now in progress. In an experiment conducted with maize at the Field Crops Research and Development Institute of the DOA at Mahailluppallama, BFBF did not improve plant growth or yield . Despite all this, the product is vigorously promoted by a firm as evident in The Island‘s article referred to above. Furthermore, although claimed in the above article, there had been no research conducted with the Sugarcane Research Institute on BFBF according to its officials, and I have not seen any published research on the efficacy of this product from any of the other institutions mentioned in The Island‘s article referred to above. I was, however, able to pick up the Table given below from published literature, from an article: Udugama, V.A et al (2016) ‗Biofilmed Biofertilizers – Application in Agroecosystems ; The Handbook of Microbial Bioresources: 96- 106; Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (eds V K Gupte et al)There are in all 15 authors in the publication. I have inserted in the last column Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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of the Table, the mean crop yield data from 30 farms for Yala 2014 and Maha 2014/15 obtained from a DOA publication( Cost of Cultivation) for comparison. Clearly, something is seriously wrong with the trial crop yields in being often many fold less than the comparable farm yields despite the trial being repeated at several sites! For example, Hungarian Wax Pepper, tomato and cabbage research yields treated with BFBF are a mere 238, 335 and 1305 kh/ha, as against corresponding farm yields of 12, 617, 19,834, 27,935 kg/ha, that is, 53,59 and 21 fold lower than the corresponding farm yields respectively ! How come the research yields are so low! Is it an error? If so how did all 15 researchers/co-authors and even the editors/referees of the publication miss it! The design of the trial too is faulty in that the corresponding control treatments, viz, 50% fertilizer only and BFBF only had not been tested. Without the former treatment one cannot conclude that the BFBF had been efficacious. It is surprising that the journal has accepted this article for publication with these serious faults. Nevertheless, has the company got other adequate research evidence from trials ideally carried out in collaboration with the respective research institutions to enable recommending the products confidently? If not, is it not unethical on the part of the company to promote the product among farmers? That is not all! This product is being promoted in the website of the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) apparently the primary body promoting the concept of ‗toxin –free agriculture . How could any governmental organization ethically promote any commercial product without itself or a dedicated state institution‘s adequate testing? There are various microbial formulations in the market but they should be promoted among farmers only following adequate testing by the dedicated research institutions. Sadly, this does not seem to happen and farmers are being fooled into using various concoctions by agrochemical companies. The Ministry/Department of Agriculture should set up a regulatory authority in line with the Registrar of Pesticides to ensure that such products do not enter the market without adequate testing by the dedicated state institutions and approval by such an authority. There is, however, now a massive research thrust by some agrochemical companies in the search for effective microbes for replacing agrochemicals. The agrochemical firms Monsanto and Novozymes appear to be leaders in this regard. The two companies have set up an enterprise, BioAg Alliance which is reported to have in 2016 concluded the world‘s biggest soil microbial test programme of over 2000 different microbial seed coatings grown in some 500, 000 test plots across US from Louisiana to Minnesota. The early results are supposed to be promising in that the selected top five microbes increased corn yields by an average of 4 – 5 bushels per acre and soya yields by 1.5 bushels/ac. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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A microbial product, Novozymes‘ Met 52, a fungus that limits vine weevils is already used in millions of acres There is no argument that such research should take high priority in the future given the universal need to cut down on agrochemicals for sustainability of future agriculture, but any new findings should be adequately tested before introducing to farmers. The global market of microbial fertilizers for 2017 was forecast to be 10 billion USD. Latin America and Europe are currently the top consumers of biofertilizer. In Mexico one microbial product is used now in some 1.5 million hectares. However, formulation of inocula that have a reliable and consistent effect under field conditions is still a serious challenge for their wider use. COMPARISON OF BIOFERTILIZER TRIAL YIELDS WITH STANDARD FARM YIELDS _________________________________________________________________________ Crop
**Biofertilizer Trial Yields (Kg/ha)
***Farm Yields
(kg/ha) 50% Chemical Fert. + BFBF__100% Chemical Fert.____________________ 4300 ± 606 4100 ± 678 ____ 4420 ± 715 3580 ± 1295 6059 (Ampara)Y/I 2681 ± 322 2502 ± 338 8594 (A’pura) Y/I -do-) M/R 1192 ± 251 992 ± 188 ____ 1302 ± 342 980 ± 249 27,945(N’eliya) Y/I 1547 ± 445 1563 ± 440 13,343 (H’tota) Y/I 748 ± 175 678 ± 260 ____ 3107 ± 1719 1739 ± 710 ___ 3478 ± 1754 2350 ± 919 17,618 (A’pura)Y
Tea Rice Maize 4571( Radish Cabbage Bitter gourd Aubergine Okra Chilli /I 7,116 (-do-) M/R Hungarian wax pepper 238 ± 50 152 ± 39 3 12,617 (Badulla) M/I Tomato 335 ± 86 397 ± 131 19,834 (Badulla) Y/I Pole bean 2762 ± 886 2396 ± 753 11,330 ( -do-)Y/I 5,782 (-do-) M/R —————————– —————————— ———————————————————— — * Fertilizer recommended by the relevant institutions. **Commonwealth Agric. Bureau J 2016 Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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*** Average of 30 farms: Source – Dept of Agriculture; Cost of Cultivation Yala 2014& Maha 2014/15 Y = Irrigated R = Rainfed M = Maha season Y= Yala season http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2017/03/03/toxin-free-agriculture-and-microbial-fertilizertechnology-efficacy/
Cheryle Finley: Potato girl provides tutorial on rice varieties Cheryle Finley Mar 1, 2017
I‘m a potato girl. Always have been. Given the choice between macaroni and cheese, rice or potatoes, it‘s potatoes all the way. I‘ve been known to get to the end of a buffet with four or five different potatoes on my plate. It usually ends up being a total of whatever was available. My friend Linda Lindquist-Baldwin and I share fond memories of Wyatt‘s Cafeteria and the many choices of potatoes it offered and the many choices we chose. I‘ll even choose potatoes in lieu of dessert.
My family, on the other hand, enjoys pasta and rice, so they sometimes show up on the table. Mac and cheese is the go-to food for my grandson, Atlas, and his friends when his dad fixes a big pot of the homemade concoction. My daughter Sarah and husband Chris enjoy rice, and it doesn‘t have to be anything special. Sarah likes the quick minute rice with a little soy sauce over the top. Here‘s some basic rice info: • Long-grain: The grains are four to five times longer than they are wide and come in white and brown. They cook up fluffy and well-separated. This is the most commonly used rice in America. Long grain rices include basmati and jasmine. • Medium-grain: The grains are shorter and plumper and cling together. These grains are used for rice puddings and croquettes. Arborio and Valencia are medium-grain varieties. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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• Short-grain: The grains are sticky and soft when cooked and are usually used for Asian dishes as they are easy to eat with chopsticks. • Instant: This rice has been previously cooked and dried. When cooking at home, it requires rehydrating instead of cooking, so it can be made quickly. It comes white or brown. • Arborio: This rice is best for risotto and dishes needing a firm-textured, creamy grain of rice. • Basmati: Aromatic and prized in India and Pakistan, this rice is nutty in taste and has a rich smell. It‘s available in white and brown. • Jasmine: This long-grain rice is slightly floral in smell and is good for fried rice. • Brown: This rice is higher in fiber and vitamin E than white rice. It takes longer to cook because the outer shell (bran) is still intact. One rice dish I don‘t mind eating is risotto. I‘m not sure if it‘s the consistency or the addition of flavors, but it‘s not objectionable. I just like the name. It is, however, more time-consuming to fix than the quickcook rice. One key to making risotto is to have the broth simmering when you add it to the rice and to not add more than half a cup of the broth at a time. It‘s easy to overdo. The broth can be meat, vegetable or fish, depending on the entree you are serving.
Additions to risotto will take it up a notch. Mushrooms and cooked veggies and seafood are just some of the added goodies that can turn your side dish into a main dish. Added at the end of preparation will give best results. Leftover broccoli or peas stirred in at the last minute will make a nice accompaniment to your chicken or steak. There‘s also the need for constant stirring, but it‘s worth the effort to get that perfect creamy texture. After it‘s cooked, risotto should be eaten immediately as it continues to cook after it‘s removed from the Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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heat and the rice will lose some of it‘s bite if left sitting too long. Serve with a little extra grated Parmesan to top it off. Take 15 or 20 minutes and spend them making risotto. It‘s a great side dish that just might rival potatoes.
The chicken dish will go great with the risotto, and it makes enough chicken for two meals. Use the extra for cacciatore or a casserole the next night. For dessert, the apricot squares hit the spot. Change up the flavor with your favorite marmalade. Think strawberry, blueberry or orange. All of today‘s recipes as well as the rice information is from ―Homestyle Family Favorites.‖
Have a great week, and happy eating.
Basic risotto
2 teaspoons butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup Arborio rice
1 clove garlic, minced
4 to 5 cups chicken broth
Salt
Pepper
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2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
In a large saucepan, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 7 minutes or until the onion is softened and starting to brown. Stir in the rice and garlic.
Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. While the onions are cooking bring the broth to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and continue to simmer. Slowly add 1/2 cup broth to the rice mixture, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the broth is absorbed and the risotto is creamy but still firm to the bite. (You may not need to add all the broth.) Add salt and pepper to taste and stir in the cheese.
Yields four servings.
Greek-style lemon garlic chicken
10 bone-in chicken breast halves (7 pounds)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 lemon, thinly sliced
8 cloves garlic, halved
8 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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1 teaspoon pepper
Place chicken in large baking dish. Add oil, lemon, garlic, bay leaves, oregano, salt and pepper. Toss to coat chicken. Overlap chicken breasts slightly, if necessary. Tuck the garlic and bay leaves underneath the chicken. Put lemon slices over the chicken.
Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear. Set aside 3 breast halves to cool completely. When cool place in zipper plastic bag and refrigerate up to three days. Place remaining chicken on platter. Remove and discard bay leaves.
Skim off excess fat in baking pan and discard. Smash the garlic and leave in pan with lemon slices. Place pan over medium heat and cook 2 minutes, scraping bottom of pan to remove browned bits. Pour over chicken before serving. Yields four to six servings.
Apricot squares
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
21/2 cups flour, divided
3/4 cup butter
11/2 cups packed brown sugar, divided
1 (12-ounce) jar apricot preserves
2 eggs Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon confectioners‘ sugar
In a small bowl, combine baking powder, salt and 1/2 cup flour; set aside. In another bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar on medium speed until light and creamy. Gradually add the remaining 2 cups flour, beating on low speed, just until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Press into sprayed 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Top with preserves. Clean bowl and add eggs and remaining 1 cup brown sugar. Beat on high until thick. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Spread over preserves. Bake 40 minutes at 325 degrees. Place pan on rack to cool completely. Dust with confectioners‘ sugar. Yields 24 squares.
Address correspondence to Cheryle Finley, c/o The Joplin Globe, P.O. Box 7, Joplin, MO 64802. http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/lifestyles/cheryle-finley-potato-girl-provides-tutorial-on-ricevarieties/article_2af2da3d-6241-557f-a085-f502e3dab882.html
New Holland machines officially inaugurate Paraguay's 2017 rice harvest PR NewswireMarch 3, 2017 LONDON, March 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Combine harvesters from New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI), played a key role at the inauguration of the rice harvest in Paraguay. This was marked by a ceremony held on March 2 at Villa Oliva Rice, one of the country's most important rice producers. It saw the participation of the President of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, together with some 500 guests, including executives from New Holland in Latin America and representatives from Ciabay, the brand's dealer in Paraguay. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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The guests were treated to a live demonstration as New Holland's combines began their work on harvesting rice for the season. Sitting in the harvester cab, President Cartes was given the opportunity to gain a better appreciation of the advanced technology and got a sense of how it will work during this crucial window. In addition, attendees were given a tour of the rice factory to learn about the complete process from harvest to packaging. Villa Oliva Rice is located 120 kilometers south of the country's capital Asunciรณn. With 18,000 hectares' worth of land situated along the Paraguay River, its geographic location not only favors the ideal agro-climatic conditions for the production of high quality rice, but is also in a strategic location in terms of transport and logistics. The facility reaches an annual average yield of 80,000 tons of rice. CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is a global leader in the capital goods sector with established industrial experience, a wide range of products and a worldwide presence. Each of the individual brands belonging to the Company is a major international force in its specific industrial sector: Case IH, New Holland Agriculture and Steyr for tractors and agricultural machinery; Case and New Holland Construction for earth moving equipment; Iveco for commercial vehicles; Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus for buses and coaches; Iveco Astra for quarry and construction vehicles; Magirus for firefighting vehicles; Iveco Defence Vehicles for defence and civil protection; and FPT Industrial for engines and transmissions. More information can be found on the corporate website:www.cnhindustrial.com http://finance.yahoo.com/news/holland-machines-officially-inaugurate-paraguays-163500147.html
Iran may soon permit import of rice from India: Commerce Ministry KNN02-04 11:11Iran may soon permit import of rice from India: Commerce Ministry
New Delhi, Feb 4 (KNN) Government of Iran may soon issue the notification about resumption of issuance of permits for import of rice from India, Commerce Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry said this after a 20 member trade delegation led by Chairman, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) visited Iran from January 28-30, 2017. The delegation met various departments in the government of Iran including Food and Drug Organisation, Governmental Trading Corporation and Trade Promotion Organisation. Meetings were also held with Iran Chamber of Commerce and Rice Importers Association. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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The deliberations helped to dispel the negative publicity which appeared in some part of Iran media causing doubts about the health and safety of rice from India. The main purpose of the visit related to promotion of export of rice since Iran is one of the largest importers of Basmati rice from India. About 250 people participated in the sales promotion event held at Hotel Espinas Palace, Tehran. On the spot preparation of Iranian dishes prepared by Iranian Chefs with use of Indian rice was demonstrated and served as part of the lunch. Participants included about 30 media personnel, importers, inspection agencies and government officials from Food and Drug Organisation (FDO) etc. To supplement domestic production of about 2 million MT, Iran imports about 1 million MT of rice every year out of which about 7 lakh MT is exported from India. (With PIB Inputs) http://newsdog.today/a/article/589569e4129071494d63cf2a/
Rice exports down 21% in January
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3 Mar 2017 at 20:43 4,440 WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS Thailand continued to lag behind India in terms of rice exports in January due to long holidays during the month.Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Thai rice shipments totalled 823,401 tonnes worth 12.3 billion baht (US$346 million) in January, down 19.7% by volume and 20.7% by value year-on-year, he said. When compared to the previous month, they fell 29.7% by volume and 29.3% by value. "The decline was mainly due to accelerated shipments late last year. Besides, there were long holidays -- for the New Year and Lunar New Year -- during the month," he said. As a result, India continued to be the world's largest rice exporters in Janaury, having shipped 911,000 tonnes, up 18.9% year-on-year. "We expect to have shipped 800,000 tonnes in February as white rice was exported to companies in Asia, especially Japan and the Philippines, while rice from previous crops and parboiled rice was sent to African countries and Hhom Mali to regular markets like the US and Hong Kong," he said. http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1208541/rice-exports-down-21-in-january
Govt warns farmers of water shortage Water shortage is feared during summer 3 Mar 2017 at 10:41 2,010 WRITER: TERRY FREDRICKSON Farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima's Chalerm Phrakiat district turn to grow spring onions in place of offseason rice after they have suffered from water shortage for years. (Bangkok Post file photo) More than four million rai of off-season rice is being grown in excess of water supply, raising fears of a water shortage in the lead up to the height of the summer next month, according to officials.Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning Govt targets off-season rice growing Sanoh Worarak Chudet Sihawong More than four million rai of off-season rice is being grown in excess of water supply, raising fears of a water shortage in the lead up to the height of the summer next month, according to officials. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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The Agriculture Ministry said off-season rice is currently being grown on 7.2 million rai of farmland nationwide, or four million rai more than planned. The plan was calculated based on the availability of water in the sources and reservoirs. The ministry said that to date, the water levels in 34 main reservoirs and dams were adequate, with 21 billion cubic metres of usable water stored in total, which is seven billion cubic metres more than at the same time last year. However, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) warned that some of the large reservoirs might have to stop feeding water to farmland during this and next month, when the temperature is predicted to surge in many agricultural areas. Water for farmland will be cut first to reserve supply for consumption and keeping the ecology in natural waterways intact, according to the department. Agriculture Minister Chatchai Sarikulya, meanwhile, said on average, the 34 major dams throughout the country are about 63% full. However, only 44% of such water is usable and can be used until the end of the dry season. In a bid to add more water into the system, temporary artificial rain-making centres may be opened in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district, Songkhla, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Sawan, he said. The DDPM has called for cooperation from rice farmers to avoid planting the off-season rice crop in April, which marks the height of the summer, to ensure the government's water management and allocation goes according to plan. Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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The DDPM deputy director-general Supakit Phopapapan also said that all parties are being encouraged to use water sparingly so that everyone will have sufficient water for consumption throughout the summer. Drought has hit Chai Nat and Suphan Buri provinces, the country's rice belt, in the Central Plains. The dry spell has also begun to take its toll particularly in Wat Sing and Hankha districts of Chai Nat and Si Prachan district of Suphan Buri. The water in Khlong Makham Thao-U Thong canal that serves as the main source of water for rice growers in the three districts was running low, according to officials. A rice farmer, Somkhuan (no surname given), said he decided to limit his off-season rice growing area to only 15 rai, down from 40 rai in past years, because he could not be sure how severe the drought would be this year. Despite constant warnings by officials for farmers to avoid growing off-season rice, he said, it is impossible for him to stop growing completely and he will have to accept it if his rice farm ends up being damaged by the drought. Suchat Charoensi, director of the royal irrigation office in Chai Nat, said he was afraid that the drought might devastate wide areas of paddy fields in the weeks ahead as the total off-season rice growing areas in the province have expanded substantially. In Si Sa Ket province, Khampun Phokhao, 48, who works as a water trader during the dry season, said the drought arrived early this year and has already driven up demand for her water trucked to the villages. She is selling a 1,500-litre tank of water for 130 baht and customers are queuing up every day, she said.
AU releases eight new crop varieties for cultivation in Punjab By Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau | Updated: Mar 03, 2017, 04.28 PM IST
The Punjab Basmati 4 is a high-yielding, semi-dwarf, lodging tolerant variety which is about 96 cm tall.NEW DELHI: The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released new varieties of rice, mungbean,basmati and sugarcane for general cultivation in Punjab. Some of the salient features of these new varieties is that they either are short duration maturing early, have high yields, are water lodging and pest tolerant in some cases. The varieties were approved during the meeting of state variety approval vommittee, held under the chairmanship of B.S. Sidhu, Director of Agriculture, Punjab, said a press statement. The parmal rice variety PR 126 is an early maturing variety and matures in about 123 days after seeding, said a press statement."It is resistant to seven of ten presently prevalent pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen in Punjab. Its average paddy yield in 30 quintals per acre, "it added. The spring/summer mungbean variety, TMB 37 matures in 60 days as compared to 62 days for Fot e-Newsletter Advertisement: Mujahid Ali, 0321 3692874 mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
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SML 832 and 61 days for SML 668 varieties. It has medium sized grains and possesses good culinary properties, said the release. The basmati rice variety, CSR 30 possesses extra long slender grains with excellent cooking and eating quality characteristics. It matures in about 142 days after seeding. Its average paddy yield is 13.5 quintals per acre. The Punjab Basmati 4 is a highyielding, semi-dwarf, lodging tolerant variety which is about 96 cm tall. "It is resistant to all the ten pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen, presently prevalent in Punjab. It matures in about 146 days after seeding and its average paddy yield is 17 quintals per acre," said the release. Similarly, the Punjab Basmati 5 is also resistant to all bacterial blight pathogen, and matures in about 137 days after seeding and its average paddy yield is 15 quintals per acre. The canes of sugarcane variety, CoPb 92 juice contains 16-17% sucrose in November and 18% in December. "It is a good rationed and is tolerant to most of the prevalent pathotypes of red rot disease and frost. Quality of gur is also good. Its average cane yield is about 335 quintals per acre," said the release. The canes of sugarcane variety CoPb 93 juice contains 17% and 19% sucrose in January and March with average cane yield of about 390 quintals per acre. Meanwhile, the canes of sugarcane variety, CoPb 94 juice contains 16% and 19% sucrose in January and March, with average cane yield of about 400 quintals per acre, the release said
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/pau-releases-eight-new-crop-varietiesfor-cultivation-in-punjab/articleshow/57447610.cms
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