5th December ,2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newlsetter

December 05 ,2018 Vol 9 ,Issue 12

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EU tariffs on Myanmar, Cambodia rice unclear after EU countries vote Commodities16 hours ago (Dec 04, 2018 03:20PM ET)

Š Reuters. A man dries unhusked rice on a road in front of his home in Kampong Thom province BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union countries failed on Tuesday to determine whether to impose tariffs on rice coming from Cambodia and Myanmar from the start of next year to curb a surge in imports, leaving the European Commission to take the final decision.

A majority of EU countries backed the introduction of "safeguard" measures for three years, but not the sufficient "qualified majority" formally required to clear them.

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The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 28-member European Union, had proposed the measures and would normally still enact them when there is no decisive vote from member states.

"In the absence of an opinion by the committee, the Commission will take a decision on the application of the safeguard measures," the Commission said in a statement.

The Commission's proposal was to set a duty of 175 euros ($198.31) per tonne of rice in the first year, dropping to 150 euros in the second and 125 euros in year three, according to people familiar with the plan.

Cambodia and Myanmar benefit from the EU's "Everything But Arms" scheme that allows the least developed countries to export most goods to the European Union free of duties.

Both countries already face losing their special access to the world's largest trading bloc over their human rights records, although this potential sanction is separate from the rice safeguard measures.

The Commission opened an investigation into rice imports from the two countries in March following a complaint by Italy.

It found that a significant surge in imports had caused economic damage to the rice sector in Europe. Rice grows in eight southern European countries from Portugal to Bulgaria.

EU farming group Copa-Cogeca says that the two countries' exports to the European Union of longer-grained Indica rice have increased from 9,000 tonnes in 2012 to 360,000 tonnes in 2017, resulting in a collapse of rice prices. ($1 = 0.8825 euros) https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/eu-tariffs-on-myanmar-cambodia-riceunclear-after-eu-countries-vote-1710776

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Korea to help upgrade fruit, rice quality ISLAMABAD (Staff Reporter): Korea will assist Pakistan in upgrading quality of mangoes, kinnows and rice to find better place in Korean market. orean Ambassador Kwak Sung-Kyu while meeting Federal Minister National Food Security & Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan on Tuesday said that Pakistan produces good mango and its price is reasonable comparatively but the only issue is its shelf life is short and for that Korean scientists and researchers could assist Pakistan. Pakistan exports rice, mangoes and kinnows to Korea but unfortunately the volume is very small and could be enhanced provided the finished goods/ products meet the international standards. Korean delegation included Dr Lee Coordinator KOPIA, and Yoo Eunha Deputy Director RDA, of Korean Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) Rural Development Administration. The meeting focused on the modalities and future goals regarding establishment of KOPIA- Center of Excellence in Pakistan.

KOPIA is a division of an agriculture organization (RDA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Korea. since its inception in 2009, it has established its offices in developing countries across the globe and still expanding.

Sultan told the delegation that Pakistan import potato seeds but the export of potatoes could not attain the desirable result as for seeds we rely on foreign countries and hence an adverse effect on balance of payment. He further said that it‘s just one instance there are number of other sectors and commodities which could be exploited for the uplift of agro sector and the economy thereof. He welcomed the proposal regarding the technological advancements through the assistance of Korea as it‘s the mechanization where the incumbent government focuses and Korean agro machinery like tractors, seed sowing machines, harvesting, machines etc are very viable and feasible for Pak farmers.

Minister pointed out that that Pakistan is 5th largest producer of milk in the world but unfortunately only 5 percent of it is processed and that too is controlled and monitored by multinational companies, this percentage is much higher in India and Switzerland which is 30 percent and 100 percent respectively, the Minister further said the limitation to achieve the desired results is lack of technologies for processing and transportation and this is the reason why Pakistan lags behind despite the fact it is 5th largest in the world in terms of dairy. Same is the case with meat and Prime Minister Mr. Imran Khan stressed on the need to increase the

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production of meat and the Ministry of food security is focusing to achieve this end. This becomes all the more important in view of a great demand for Halal meat across the world and Malaysia in the region imports bulk of Halal meat similarly our neighbor China is one of the largest importers of meat in the world which according to the statistics imports of amount $12billion.

He said that Pakistan is blessed with ideal geographical location and has 1100 km coastline from Balochistan to Sindh and the potential is mostly unexploited and untapped, we could develop our own seed fish and end our reliance on other countries in seed fish. Korea is equipped with great potential in fisheries and an international fisheries University is likely to be established there, we could benefit from it and develop our own seed fish and increase the scope of cage fish farming at enormous level for the betterment of economy by becoming self-sufficient. He further appraised the delegation that government intends to achieve the target of $1billion export in fisheries in next 5 years.

It is pertinent to mention that MoU between the two countries is likely to be signed soon and before that this Centre of Excellence would be established/materialized and Korean Ambassador told the Federal Minister that the matter lies with Korean government and they will prepare Project Concept Proposal (PCP) after which Pakistan will prepare its PC-I, both the sides desired to attain the goal within a year of its inception (It started in April, 2018).

Ostrich meat sale point opens LAHORE (APP): Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister on Political Affairs Chaudhry Akram Tuesday stressed a need for breeding of ostrich and supply of its meat to the people as well as creating awareness about the cholesterol-free meat. Addressing a ceremony held in connection with opening of Ostrich meat sale point here at Tolinton Market, he said cholesterol caused a number of diseases and use of cholesterol-free and other hygiene foods would ensure a healthy nation. Chaudhry Akram said that opposition resorted to criticism over prime minister's recent announcement regarding promotion of poultry sector, but as soon the Punjab government launched poultry scheme, the PML-N jumped into take its credit by claiming that this scheme was actually initiated by the last government two years back. Though past regime had launched poultry scheme, it benefited poultry business of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif only, and chicken prices were high due to Hamza Shehbaz cartel, he maintained.

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He assured the people belonged to poultry business of all possible support by the government for export of poultry and ostrich meat. He said that Punjab Food Authority would not take action against those dealers/shopkeepers selling meat as per hygienic standards.

He also assured the traders that government would resolve their sewerage and other matters pertaining to basic facilities in the Tolinton Market.

https://nation.com.pk/05-Dec-2018/newsbrief

4th CAC Summit gateway to Pakistan agri-sector Ammara Khan December 4, 2018 4th CAC Summit gateway to Pakistan agri-sector2018-12-04T15:17:24+00:00News No Comment

4th CAC Pakistan Conference will pave way for joint ventures between Pakistani and Chinese entrepreneurs and also transfer of modern technology for Pakistani agriculture sector as we all aware that agriculture sector is salvation of Pakistan’s economy.

At CAC Pakistan symposium Chinese and Pakistani experts discussed in detail the matters pertaining to China Agrochemical Manufacturing Capability, Pakistani Crops and Demand for Agrochemicals and Machineries, Pesticides Registration Management updates in Pakistan.

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Most Sold Pesticides and Future Trend in Pakistan, Pakistani Pesticides Market and Import & Export Situation, Pakistani Fertilizers Market and Future Development, Current Status and Future Trend of Agricultural Machineries, Current Status of Chinese Agricultural Machinery Industry & leading Machinery and Technology came under the conference.

The LCCI President Almas Hyder addressed the factors like low agriculture productivity and growing demand for food persuade the use of crop protection chemicals. The excessive use of pesticides on fruits, vegetables and crops causes health and environment hazards. We need to be very cautious while selecting the right pesticides and while using the right amount of these chemicals, he further added.

Pakistani pesticide market is import dependent. The high prices of imported pesticides promote smuggling and at the same time fake chemicals which adversely affect the economy as well as environment.

Khawaja Shahzad Nasir and Fahim-ur-Rehman Saigal said that said that agro-chemicals have contributed significantly in raising agricultural yield and there is still a lot of room to bring improvement in this sector.

Engr. Jawed Saleem Qureshi highlights the aim and objectives of summit that there lies an immense potential of agro-chemicals in Pakistan which must be utilized on priority basis.

Director Agriculture, Punjab Dr. Sher Muhammad Sherawat shared his knowledge about major insect pests of major crops, insect pests of rice crop, economic threshold levels and new chemistries of insecticides.

Saad Akbar Khan gave a presentation on contribution of agriculture sector in GDP, its growth, Seed and Fertilizer markets, crop protection and Chinese pesticides industry.

The experts stated that Pakistani seed market is segmented, based on application, into crop-based and non-crop based seed segments. Demand reaches 1.72 million tons annually, with 1.08 million tons of

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wheat seed, 40 thousand tons of cotton seed, 42.5 thousand tons of rice seed, 31.9 thousand tons of cotton seed and 10 thousand tons of oil crops seed.

https://www.technologytimes.pk/4th-cac-summit-agri-sector/ Is rice slowly poisoning you - and is your TOILET making you sick? Scientists warn everyday activities may be infecting humans with dangerous bacteria    

The research, presented today at the Society for Risk Analysis, also warns of risks in rice Rice contains high levels of arsenic, which are harmless one-off but could cause dangerous build-ups Toilet plumbing has not advanced, meaning dangerous bacteria fester The team calls for regulators do more to advise people about the risks from foods and improve plumbing

By DAILYMAIL.COM REPORTER PUBLISHED: 22:12 GMT, 4 December 2018 | UPDATED: 22:12 GMT, 4 December 2018

We all know to avoid under-cooked chicken, raw eggs, and the blow of someone else's cigarette smoke. But a series of new studies warn we may be unwittingly exposing ourselves to bacteria and toxins from other things that, on the face of it, seem fine.

Eating regular helpings of rice - the biggest food source of inorganic arsenic - can lead to toxic build-ups of the chemical in the body, researchers claim.

Barbecue meat contains high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - a group 1 carcinogen, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer - which are not immediately threatening but can cause long-term damage.

Above all, they warn, poor toilet plumbing - particularly in developed countries - is the primary cause of rising rates of life-threatening diseases like Legionnaire's.

The research, being presented today at the Society for Risk Analysis, is a call to arms for regulators like the Food and Drug Administration to do more to advise people about the risks from foods, and for cities to improve plumbing systems.

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TOXINS IN YOUR TOILET Ryan Julien, a project engineer at Michigan State, conducted a study investigating the age of water in any given home.

Toilet technology has advanced in some ways but not in others, he found.

On the plus side: fewer people are wasting water because more homes use shorter flushes (i.e. using less than two gallons to flush their waste away). In 2016, 37 percent of homes used short flushes, up from 8 percent in 1999.

However, most plumbing system designs haven't been updated in the last few decades.

With less water pushing the old sludge out, we need more advanced plumbing to move things along.

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Julien found that is not happening, and as such, the average age of water in the pipes of American homes has increased.

The older water, the more dirty - and dangerous - it is.

For one, it means there's more time for pipe materials to erode into the water, which flows back into the system.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, it creates fertile ground for 'opportunistic pathogens such as Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp. and P. aeruginosa,' which are linked to life-threatening diseases, Legionnaire's, tuberculosis, and antibiotic-resistant Staph and Strep https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6460757/Is-toilet-slowly-poisoning-Scientists-warn-poorplumbing-fueling-dangerous-bacteria.html

Make nice with rice to boost your diet December 4, 2018 by Len Canter, Healthday Reporter

(HealthDay)—If you love rice, you might be wondering how you can make it part of healthy meals. Whether you're trying to drop pounds or stay at a healthy weight, some adjustments will let you keep it on the menu.

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Rice belongs to the grain family. While grains are an important part of your overall diet, standard white rice isn't a nutritious choice—it's not a whole grain. What's more, it's a food that has 200 calories per cup, so you want to make sure that you maximize nutrients as well as flavor.

First, opt for brown rice, the whole-grain form, as often as possible. White rice has gone through a process that removes its fiber and many of its nutrients, including protein, iron and some B vitamins.

There are many types—and colors—of whole grain rice to sample, including brown basmati, red rice, purple Thai and Chinese black rice. Popular Wehani rice is a whole grain, reddish-brown American hybrid of basmati and brown rices. Note that wild rice is another tasty choice, though technically it's not a rice, but rather a semi-aquatic grass. It makes a great medley when mixed with brown rice.

Also experiment with different ways to turn rice into a meal rather than a side dish. For lunch or a cold supper, load a whole-wheat pita pocket with cooked and cooled rice and chopped vegetables and top with a light vinaigrette.

Or try a cold rice salad for a to-go meal. For your protein, add in chunks of turkey, chicken, tofu or nuts, then blend in a handful of dried raisins or cranberries and a sprinkling of seasonings.

You can even get creative and make homemade sushi rolls at home. Use avocado and cucumber if you're not a fan of raw fish.

Baked with milk, eggs, vanilla, a small amount of sweetener and cinnamon, brown rice can even make a healthy version of rice pudding for dessert or even breakfast. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-nice-rice-boost-diet.html

Dry dog food brands recalled for potentially toxic levels of Vitamin D ByNicholas Sakelaris DEC. 4, 2018 / 11:35 AM

Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Several brands of dry dog food are being recalled after FDA scientists found elevated levels of Vitamin D, which can cause serious health problems in dogs.

The recall effects Ahold Delhaize, ELM Pet Foods, Kroger, Lidl (Orlando brand), ANF, Sunshine Mills and Natural Life Pet Products. That's in addition to the Nutrisca recall last month for the same reason.

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The recalled foods were found to have as much as 70 times the intended amount of Vitamin D, which can be toxic at that level. Symptoms to look out for include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased urination, increased thirst, drooling and weight loss. At toxic levels, Vitamin D can cause kidney failure and death.

Pet owners are encouraged to discard any recalled dog food immediately or return it to the store.

Here's a list of the affected dog foods:

Nutrisca: Chicken and Chickpea Dry Dog in the 4, 15 and 28 pound bags

Natural Life Pet Products: Chicken & Potato Dry Dog Food in the 17.5 pound bag

Sunshine Mills: Evolve Chicken & Rice Puppy Dry Dog Food in the 14 and 28 pound bags

Sunshine Mills: Sportsman Pride Large Breed Puppy Dry Dog Food in the 40 pound bag

Triumph Chicken & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food in the 3.5, 16 and 30 pound bags

ANF Inc.: ANF Lamb and Rice Dry Dog Food in the 3 and 7.5 kilogram bag

Lidl (Orlando brand): Orlando Grain-Free Chicken & Chickpea Superfood Recipe Dog Food

Kroger: Abound Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food in the 4, 14 and 24 pound bags

ELM Pet Foods, Inc.: ELM Chicken and Chickpea Recipe in the 3 and 28 pound bags

ELM Pet Foods, Inc.: ELM K9 Naturals Chicken Recipe in the 40 pound bag

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Ahold Delhaize: Nature's Promise Chicken & Brown Rice Dog food in the 4, 14 and 28 pound bags

Ahold Delhaize: Nature's Place Real Country Chicken and Brown Rice Dog Food in the 5 and 15 pound bags https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2018/12/04/Dry-dog-food-brands-recalled-for-potentially-toxiclevels-of-Vitamin-D/2331543937446/

Amy Carrozzino-Lyon to present wild rice restoration effort at Marinette Green Bay Restoration Coordinator, Amy Carrozzino-Lyon (NAS, Green Bay campus), will describe the Green Bay Wild Rice restoration project at the Marinette Campus this week. She is the guest presenter at the Menominee River Citizen‘s Advisory Committee meeting, Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in Room T-139, Theatre Conference Room, Marinette Campus. The public is welcome. See more in this video.

This entry was posted in Announcements and tagged College of Science Engineering and Technology, Marinette Campus, NAS on December 3, 2018 by Sue Bodilly. https://news.uwgb.edu/log-news/announcements/12/03/amy-carrozzino-lyon-to-present-wild-ricerestoration-effort-at-marinette/

Ghana To Stop rice imports soon agri Minister The Minister of Agric, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has stated that his outfit is working to reduce drastically, if not stop the import of rice within the next four to five years. It follows the success chalked as the country did not import maize between January and September this year due to increased local maize production.

The country spends about a billion dollars on rice imports.But the Ministry intends to support local rice farmers to increase their yields and gradually shift demand to the local rice.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto made the remarks when he appeared on the Citi Breakfast Show on

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Tuesday [December 4, 2018]. ―We import about a billion dollars of rice into the country and we are determined that within the next four to five years, that should come to an end because we need that foreign exchange to develop our country by building the roads, hospitals, schools among others and not to use it to import things that our farmers are producing and giving jobs to foreign farmers,‖ he explained.

The Minister added: ―The two crops we are focusing on are rice and soya; soya because of the poultry industry and rice because of import substitution.‖ In meeting this ambitious target, the ministry and government would have to meet the needs of rice farmers by supplying them with modern machinery for their production.

Again, the local rice has been faced with low demand which is due to the continuous sale of imported rice at various markets.

Also, the provision of improved grains under the planting for food and jobs program may suffice as a means to improve the yield of local rice farmers. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-to-stop-rice-imports-soon-Agric-Minister706178

EU Tariffs on Myanmar, Cambodia Rice Unclear After EU Countries Vote Dec. 4, 2018, at 3:14 p.m.

U Tariffs on Myanmar, Cambodia Rice Unclear After EU Countries Vote

FILE PHOTO - A man dries unhusked rice on a road in front of his home in Kampong Thom province, Cambodia, September 24, 2016. REUTERS/Samrang PringREUTERS BRUSSELS (REUTERS) - European Union countries failed on Tuesday to determine whether to impose tariffs on rice coming from Cambodia and Myanmar from the start of next year to curb a surge in imports, leaving the European Commission to take the final decision.

A majority of EU countries backed the introduction of "safeguard" measures for three years, but not the sufficient "qualified majority" formally required to clear them.

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The European Commission, which oversees trade policy for the 28-member European Union, had proposed the measures and would normally still enact them when there is no decisive vote from member states.

"In the absence of an opinion by the committee, the Commission will take a decision on the application of the safeguard measures," the Commission said in a statement.

The Commission's proposal was to set a duty of 175 euros ($198.31) per tonne of rice in the first year, dropping to 150 euros in the second and 125 euros in year three, according to people familiar with the plan.

Cambodia and Myanmar benefit from the EU's "Everything But Arms" scheme that allows the least developed countries to export most goods to the European Union free of duties.

Both countries already face losing their special access to the world's largest trading bloc over their human rights records, although this potential sanction is separate from the rice safeguard measures.

The Commission opened an investigation into rice imports from the two countries in March following a complaint by Italy.

It found that a significant surge in imports had caused economic damage to the rice sector in Europe. Rice grows in eight southern European countries from Portugal to Bulgaria.

EU farming group Copa-Cogeca says that the two countries' exports to the European Union of longer-grained Indica rice have increased from 9,000 tonnes in 2012 to 360,000 tonnes in 2017, resulting in a collapse of rice prices. ($1 = 0.8825 euros) (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; editing by David Evans) https://money.usnews.com/investing/news/articles/2018-12-04/eu-tariffs-on-myanmar-cambodiarice-unclear-after-eu-countries-vote

NFA‘s purchases of local rice up 80 percent

By Jasper Y. Arcalas December 5, 2018

NFA Grains Operations Officer II Coralyn Punongbayan of Nueva Ecija checks the quality of palay bought from farmers.

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The National Food Authority (NFA) said its purchases of unmilled rice from local farmers expanded by nearly 80 percent to 50,608 metric tons in January to November, from last year‘s 28,278 MT.

The NFA said it has procured some 1.012 million 50-kilogram bags during the 11-month period, 92 percent of which were bought in October and November.

In two months, the NFA said it was able to purchase 926,854 bags due to the additional P3 per kilogram buffer-stocking incentive (BSI) added to the government‘s support price of P17 per kg.

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―This means that given the right price, the NFA will be able to buy more from our farmers,‖ NFA OIC Administrator Tomas R. Escarez said on Tuesday. ―With the additional P3/kg incentive, we were able to entice more farmers to sell their harvest to us. At a time when private traders were buying at P20.28 or lower than the NFA buying price, our farmers decided to sell to us instead,‖ Escarez added.

The NFA currently buys palay from local farmers at P20.70 per kg, inclusive of the P0.70 per-kg delivery, drying and cooperative incentives.

As the main harvest season reached its peak in November, the NFA said it was able to purchase 630,934 bags of palay.

The NFA said it was able to buy palay from farmers in Occidental Mindoro, Mamburao, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Bukidnon, Isabela, Capiz, Iloilo, North Cotabato and Camarines Sur. The food agency attached to the Department of Agriculture has targeted to procure 2.6 million bags, or 130,000 MT of palay. To hit this goal, the NFA must buy 1.6 million bags, or 80,000 MT of palay.

Last year the NFA failed to achieve its goal of procuring 3 million bags, as it managed to purchase only 588,820 bags, or 29,441 MT. Since the approval of its P3 per-kg BSI, the NFA has become more optimistic in achieving its palay procurement target for 2018.

The NFA is banking on local palay procurement to continuously beef up its stockpile and avert the depletion of state-subsidized rice sold in local markets.

Out-quota rice The NFA also disclosed that 30 agricultural firms, traders and farmers cooperatives are seeking to import about 274,476 MT of rice via its out-quota program.

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Based on the initial list of applicants published by the NFA on its web site, 30 private entities have already applied for permits to import rice outside the minimum access volume (MAV) since November 26.

Among the applicants include Manila-based Pure Rice Milling and Processing Corp. that seeks to import 100,000 MT of white rice, 25-percent brokens from Thailand and Farm Mechanism Resources and and Distribution Corp. that signified its intent to buy 20,000 MT of white rice, 5percent brokens, also from Thailand.

The 30 interested importers are planning to purchase rice from Vietnam and Thailand.

Rice importers are allowed to bring in rice with a quality of 25-percent brokens or even better.

The NFA issued the guidelines for the out-quota rice importation on November 23 following its approval by the NFA Council (NFAC) on November 21. ―The purpose of the importation is to bring down the prices of rice,‖ Agriculture Secretary and NFAC Chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters in an interview after the NFAC meeting on November 21.

Rice imports within the MAV of the World Trade Organization are slapped a tariff of 35 percent, while those bought into the country outside of the quota are levied a tariff of 50 percent.

Piñol said the NFAC has decided to allow out-quota importation to ensure that the retail price of rice would remain affordable to Filipino consumers.―Why would I wait for [the rice tariffication]? What if it would take longer? Then consumers would complain that rice prices are increasing,‖ he said.According to Piñol, interested traders need to meet only three requirements approved by the NFAC—show proof of financial capacity, warehouse capability and retail capability. ―These will effectively weed out fly-by-night importers who just apply for import permit and sell them afterward,‖ he said. https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfas-purchases-of-local-rice-up-80-percent/

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Piñol open to lifting ‗fancy rice‘ import ban

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ DECEMBER 05, 2018 

THE Philippines is set to import five percent broken milled white rice, also known as ―fancy rice‖, under the outquota scheme of the National Food Authority (NFA). /

Piñol

This comes nearly three months after the NFA Council banned the importation of fancy rice starting September 25 to bring down domestic rice prices.

The entrance of fancy rice in the market previously hiked the price of local rice.

In an interview on Tuesday, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told reporters: ―I‘m fine with that as long as they follow the SRP (suggested retail price).‖

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Based on the Terms of Reference released by the NFA, importers are allowed to import 25 percent broken well-milled, long grain rice. ―We will have to take into account the fact that we already have an SRP. The reason why we had the policy of allowing the importation of only 25 percent broken was because the traders made the five-percent rice as special rice and labeled them with unreasonable price,‖ Piñol explained.

Under the SRP, imported well-milled rice will be sold at no more than P39 per kilo while imported premium rice will be priced no higher than P43 per kilo.

Data from the NFA showed that a total of 274,476 metric tons (MT) of rice have already been booked by various traders and farmers cooperatives as of December 3. They included Purerice Milling and Processing Corp., Mindanao Agriplus Corp., Farm Mechanism Resources & Distribution Corp., Pansinao Farmers MPC, Jamboree Ricemill Corp., RMT Ricemill Inc., Blue Shark Development & Trading Corp., Mutya Ricemill, Mediatrix MPC, Abe Abe Marketing Cooperative, Caniogan, Balbalayan Kali A Lakay Irrigators Association, Papassuc Irrigators Association Inc., Nasudi Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., Bagong Lipunan Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Catuguing Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bimmarga-Loing Farmers Irrigators Association Inc., Mountain View MPC, Macman Rice and Corn Trading, Garnaden MPC, Madiladig MPC, Ab-Abut Samahang Nayon MPC, Nasalukag Women‘s MPC, San Jacinto Poblacion Farmers Consumers Coop., Sta. Maria Farmers Consumers Coop., Angelou Ricemill, Golden Mountain MPC, River Valley Distribution Inc., Kaplag Trading Corporation, San Miguel United Farmers MPC, and Aggressive MPC. All rice to be imported under the out quota importation shall be levied with a 35 percent duty for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, while a 50 percent rate will apply for non-ASEAN countries.

https://www.manilatimes.net/pinol-open-to-lifting-fancy-rice-importban/477989/

Dangote on diversification: Nigeria wasted money importing goods December 4, 2018

Dangote on diversification: Nigeria wasted money importing goods

By Emmanuel Abara Benson

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Africa‘s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has reiterated the need for economic diversification as the key to wealth creation in Nigeria.

The renown businessman also highlighted some of the many ways his Dangote Group businesses are helping to reduce the country‘s over-dependence on importation.Alhaji Dangote made these latest remarks over the weekend in Lagos when he was visited by some Asian business executives in Lagos.

Addressing them, he stated that his deep interest in industrialisation and economic diversification was spurred by the need to drastically cut down on the money ―wasted‖ annually all in the name of goods importation.

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He also stated that he believes in the Government‘s strategic effort to refocus the economy to a more export-oriented; a situation he said has encouraged his foray into agribusiness.

Dangote Group’s efforts and contributions Meanwhile, Mr Dangote also highlighted some of the ways his businesses are contributing to the economic agenda, noting that the ultimate goal is to first ensure self-sufficiency and have enough to export.

To this end, the Dangote Group has been investing a lot in agriculture whilst promoting industrialisation. Already, this is helping to save Nigeria a lot of money in foreign exchange.

“We have invested massively in rice, sugar, dairy products, and tomatoes. Our rice-out grower scheme will produce rice by next year that reduces our rice import to nearly zero because Nigeria imports more than half of the rice it consumes.

“We are producing the raw materials needed in our factories. In the sugar sector, we developed a sugar backward integration project plan targeted at the production of 1.5MT/PA from various sites across Nigeria, in the next 10 years. We have an out-grower scheme; enough paddy rice will be grown and harvested for processing. Some 20,000 outgrowers expected to produce an average of 180,000 tonnes of paddy rice.” -Dangote The Dangote Group is one of Nigeria‘s biggest companies which is playing a huge role in Nigeria‘s manufacturing sector. Businesses under the group include Dangote Cement, Dangote Flour Mills, Dangote Sugar and more. These are all leaders in the industrial goods and fast and moving consumer goods sector. https://nairametrics.com/alhaji-aliko-dangote-on-diversification-nigeria-has-wasted-muchmoney-importing-goods/

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Consumers saved P6.22B from buying NFA rice‘

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ DECEMBER 05, 2018 

‘CONSUMERS SAVED P6.22B FROM BUYING NFA RICE’ Around P6.22 billion was saved by Filipino consumers from buying more than 10.36 million bags of government-subsidized rice distributed nationwide from January to November this year, the National Food Authority (NFA) said on Tuesday.

Residents of Smokey Mountain buy NFA rice from an accredited seller. PHOTO BY RENE DILAN In a statement, the food agency said at least P12 per kilogram (kg) was being saved by an ordinary consumer buying low-priced NFA rice sold at P27/kg, compared to the lowest imported well-milled rice sold at P39/kg based on suggested retail price (SRP).

This savings, NFA said, translates to bigger purchasing power for ordinary consumers, especially those from the marginalized sector, which they can use to buy other food items and necessities.

The NFA sells its P27/kg and P32/kg rice through its 19,231 accredited rice retail outlets in public markets and barangays nationwide. ―We are utilizing several platforms to make sure that NFA rice reaches our poor kababayans even in the remotest and farthest barangays and island provinces,‖ said NFA acting administrator Tomas Escarez.

The food agency has also accredited non-traditional outlets such as Barangay Bagsakan and Barangay Food Terminals and Bigasan sa Parokya, he added.

Recently, the NFA has also partnered with the Department of Agriculture‘s (DA) TienDA Malasakit Food Outlets and the Department of Trade and Industry‘s (DTI) Tulong sa Bayan Suking Outlets on Wheels.

NFA is also deploying mobile stores through its ―Tagpuan Day Rice Response Delivery‖ (TRRD) in partnership with the accredited operator and local government units in remote barangays and resettlement areas around the country to serve marginalized consumers including the indigenous people.

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TRDD is a rice distribution strategy where the P27/kg NFA rice is sold directly to poor and marginalized beneficiaries in the area at an appointed time and place in close coordination with the local barangay.

Meanwhile, Escarez said the delivery of 297,000 metric tons (MT) rice shipments under the government-to-private (G2P) procurement is almost complete. He said that with the additional supply, the NFA can continue to provide low-priced rice in the local market to make it accessible and available to more consumers.

For this year alone, a total of 1.5 million MT of rice imports was booked by the NFA as approved by the NFA Council to boost its buffer stocks by the end of the year. https://www.manilatimes.net/consumers-saved-p6-22b-from-buying-nfa-rice/477971/

Nigeria Saved $21bn In 34 Months Cutting Food Imports –Emefiele

By Our Correspondents

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December 4, 2018

Godwin Emefiele Godwin Emefiele, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has revealed that Nigeria‘s monthly food import bill fell from $665.4 million in January 2015 to $160.4 million as of October 2018 saving $21 billion.He said the reductions in food import were recorded on rice, fish, milk, sugar and wheat and promised that the policy would be maintained. ―Noticeable declines were steadily recorded in our monthly food import bill from $665.4 million in January 2015 to $160.4 million as at October 2018, a cumulative fall of 75.9 percent and an implied savings of over $21 billion on food imports alone over that period,‖ he said as he spoke at the bankers‘ dinner in Lagos. ―Most evident were the 97.3 percent cumulative reduction in monthly rice import bills, 99.6 percent in fish, 81.3 percent in milk, 63.7 percent in sugar, and 60.5 percent in wheat.

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―We are glad with the accomplishments recorded so far. Accordingly, this policy is expected to continue with vigour until the underlying imbalances within the Nigerian economy have been fully resolved. ―We have maintained a particular focus on supporting farmers, entrepreneurs as well as small and medium scale businesses, through our various intervention programmes such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending and the National Collateral Registry.‖ According to him, the CBN recently introduced the Real Sector Support fund, a facility meant to provide cheap funding at no more than nine percent to new projects in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors, aimed at boosting output and creating jobs.

In the agriculture sector, he added that the Anchor Borrowers Programme, had ensured that Nigeria emerged from being a net importer of rice to becoming a major producer of rice, supplying key markets in neighbouring countries.

According to him, a total number of 862,069 farmers cultivating about 835,239 hectares, across 16 different commodities, as of October 2018, had benefited from the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which had generated 2,502,675 jobs across the country.

https://www.independent.ng/nigeria-saved-21bn-in-34-monthscutting-food-imports-emefiele/

Dangote increases investments in agriculture

By Editor

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05 December 2018 | 3:55 am

Aliko Dangote

Against the background of Nigeria‘s economic vulnerability, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has said the current efforts of the Federal Government at diversifying the economy to an agriculturecentred one remains the viable solution to creating a healthy economy.

Dangote, who was spoke weekend in his office, during a meeting with some Asian businessmen, in Lagos, said his belief in government‘s approach at re-energising the economy, and making it export-oriented made him step up his investment in agriculture especially in the area of food sufficiency.

According to him, Nigeria has wasted huge foreign exchange importing foods that ordinarily should be produced locally, and even exported, and until a new approach at redirecting the economy from import-dependent to an export one, which the present government is leading, no meaningful change can happen.

He said; ―We have invested massively in rice, sugar, dairy products, and tomatoes. Our rice-out grower scheme will produce rice by next year, and that will reduce our rice import to nearly zero, because Nigeria imports more than half of the rice it consumes.

We have expanded our sugar operations with our operations in Tonga in Nasarawa, in addition to Numan sugar projects where sugarcane is cultivated and planted for raw sugar production that will be refined.

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―Some months ago, we laid the foundation for the construction of ultra-modern rice processing integrated plant that will process 16 metric tonnes of paddy rice in one hour.

By the time you multiply this by the number of hours and days it operates, you will understand that this is huge.

The interesting thing about investment in agric is that apart from food production sufficiency, the job potential is unquantifiable.

Dangote told his guests that his company was investing massively in agribusiness, promoting industrialisation through backward integration process to ensure Nigeria becomes self-reliant in food production in good time, and save it the much-needed foreign exchange hitherto being spent on importation.

He added that, ―We are producing the raw materials needed in our factories. In the sugar sector, we developed a sugar backward integration project plan targeted at the production of 1.5MT/PA from various sites across Nigeria, in the next 10 years. ―We have an out-grower scheme; enough paddy rice will be grown and harvested for processing. Some 20,000 out-growers are expected to produce an average of 180,000 tonnes of paddy rice. We are presently building rice processing mills in Kano, Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, and Niger states in the first phase,‖ he added.

Dangote explained further that in the second phase, other mills will be built in Nasarawa, Kogi, and other states, noting that with the six mills, the company will achieve a capacity of 700,000 metric tonnes per annum of Par boiled rice With these investments, he noted that Dangote Rice Company will become the largest rice producer in Africa; a bold step in making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production.

https://guardian.ng/features/dangote-increases-investments-inagriculture/

Arkansas Rice Foundation Seed Program humming along New facility provides new technology, safety and convenience

David Bennett | Dec 03, 2018 Tractors and combines may now be out of Arkansas fields, but the machines at the Arkansas Rice Foundation Seed Program are still humming.

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The program has been around for over seven decades.

Glenn Bathke, who heads the program, ―came to this position about three years ago — about a year before we‘d finished construction on the new foundation seed plant in Stuttgart‖ at the Rice Research and Extension Center.

In early November, Bathke spoke to Delta Farm Press about the new facility and how it operates. Among his comments: On the new plant… ―We wanted to improve the efficiency and safety of the program. The old plant had been commissioned in 1951, so it had been operating almost 70 years. With the changes in technology and safety the update was needed. ―For years, Chuck Wilson, the former director of the station, had been working to get a new plant funded and established. Finally, it took hold and we were able to get funding from the Rice Research and Promotion Board, the Soybean Promotion Board, the Wheat Promotion Board as well as state funding through the university. That package funded the $8.3 million needed to build. Everything meshed and they were able to make plans. ―The planning took a year, or so, then construction was done over several years. Now, we‘re working out of the new facility. It‘s state-of-the-art. The cleaner technology for seed has taken a big jump in the past 20 years. ―Before this, for 20 years my background was in the seed industry. That‘s kind of why I was brought in to finish up the plant and launch into the seed cleaning.‖ On some of the changes to the facility…

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―We have new storage capabilities — identity preserved storage bins — with the ability to keep up to 20 different varieties. The bins are much easier to clean, much easier and safer to load. ―The top-loading bins are protected from the environment. The old bins had the grain elevator legs and augurs, and you had to be outside in the elements on top of an 80-foot tall tower changing over locations of bins. Now, we‘re under a roof and have a nice set-up that allows us to move from bin to bin easily and safely. Things are much better for personnel and the seed. ―We also have pre-cleaner cleaning technology using shaker sieves and rotary sieves to remove debris, broken kernels and weed seed and things like that. With the new soybean spiral cleaning technology we‘re able to run soybeans through and take care of all sorts of debris and brokens. ―We have precision sizer that we use for rice. The cylinders remove shorter, or longer, kernels of the variety we‘re cleaning. The precision sizer also removes kernels based on width. So, if we‘re cleaning a long-grain variety, we can remove any contaminants. ―The new plant also has a gravity table. It uses seed density to remove lighter materials from the good quality grain. Any kernels that may have, say, bacterial panicle blight or something that affects the seed density gets removed on the gravity table. Only the good grain goes into the bag for the seed dealers and farmers to plant.‖ How many varieties are you working with currently? ―We have seven commercial rice varieties we‘re growing this year. That number changes based on new promotions or we drop varieties that have been around a long time and have lost favor in the field. ―In the last two years, we‘ve promoted a new long-grain, Diamond, a medium-grain, Titan, and an aromatic rice, ARoma17. So, those new varieties are higher volume — higher-yielding, better

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disease package, better agronomics mean farmers will switch. There are some older varieties that we still maintain because farmers like to have diversity in the field. ―With soybeans, we have about six commercial varieties and a number of experimentals. Those experimentals are run through the program as they get closer to commercialization. ―We also clean and process wheat. At this time, we have just one commercial wheat variety. Our wheat breeder is looking to release new varieties in the near future.‖ On how the program works… ―Typically, a seed dealer will put in an order for foundation seed. Foundation seed is a bit more expensive than what most farmers pay for certified-grade seed. Foundation seed has higher purity and cleanliness standards. ―So, seed dealers need foundation-grade seed to grow certified-grade seed. To be certified it also has to meet certain standards — fields must be inspected, seed has to be inspected and pass all the Arkansas State Plant Board standards before it‘s made available to farmers.‖

https://www.deltafarmpress.com/rice/arkansas-rice-foundation-seedprogram-humming-along

More food for Filipinos

By Manny B. Villar December 4, 2018

I believe the passage of the Rice Tariffication bill by the bicameral conference committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives will mean more affordable food on the dining table of Filipino consumers.

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The measure will remove the monopoly by state-run National Food Authority on food supply.

And with the lifting of quantitative restriction on imported rice, inexpensive rice from other countries is expected to easily reach the domestic market.

The measure amends the outdated Republic Act (RA) No. 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act of 1996. Specifically, it will replace quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports with tariffs and remove NFA‘s control over the rice market, thereby allowing private traders to bring in affordable rice from other countries as long as they pay the 35-percent tariff for imports from other Southeast Asian countries.

What caused rice prices to soar this year in the first place is the tight supply in the market amid weak production, which came after several typhoons hit Luzon and a miscalculation on the part of NFA to import the right volume of the staple. Hoarders exacerbated the situation by holding on to their stock to create an artificial shortage so that prices would escalate.

As rice is the biggest item in the consumer price index basket, inflation rate reached a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September and October, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority show. Allowing more rice supply in the domestic market will definitely address food supply concerns, stabilize commodity prices and help bring down inflation rate.

Preliminary estimates by the National Economic and Development Authority show that headline inflation rate would ease 1 percentage point if rice prices in the local market were reduced to the level of imported rice.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte was alarmed by the high inflation data and ordered the importation of more rice to stabilize the domestic supply. Thankfully, food prices are now steady, following the arrival of rice shipments from Vietnam.

Once signed into law, the Rice Tariffication bill will allow more traders to buy rice from other countries as long as they pay the proper import duties and taxes. As more people join the trade, rice supply will stabilize and prices will become more competitive. Hoarding will be discouraged, and the cartels that control the stock and dictate the prices will be neutralized.

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However, it is important that the government provide Filipino farmers with safety nets against the influx of imports. One is in the form of tariff rate, representing 35 percent of the price of rice imported from other Southeast Asian countries. Another is in the form of subsidy or support that will give Filipino farmers a fighting chance against farmers of neighboring countries, who also get subsidies from their respective governments.

Making Filipino farmers more competitive should be a priority of the Department of Agriculture. **** This should be complemented by the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, or RCEF, that will allow farmers to acquire farm machineries and the latest technologies in rice production.

The bill provides for an annual appropriation of P10 billion for the fund over the next six years.

If the tariff collection exceeds P10 billion in any given year, the excess revenue will also be allocated to RCEF specifically to provide direct financial assistance to rice farmers.

The financial assistance program should be designed to directly compensate rice farmers who will lose income as a result of the open rice importation.

The Philippines is considered a research center for rice production, and I believe that Filipino farmers will become more competitive and productive, if they are given the latest technologies.

Whatever know-how that is available at the International Rice Research Institute should be dispersed to the farmers. The use of modern technologies, such as the propagation of inbred and hybrid varieties, will enable local farmers to produce more. I believe that harvesting 10 tons of palay per season, two or three times a year, will enable a farming family to meet its needs.This will be a win-win solution for the Filipino consumers and Filipino farmers. Our consumers will be assured of a steady supply of affordable rice, while farmers will be protected from any sudden surge of imports and subsequently compensated for any loss of income.The rice industry is a vital component of the Philippine economy, but we have to realize that with our growing population and limited land, we should take advantage of the global marketplace to feed our people while taking care of our farmers.

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1,266 FARMERS TO BENEFIT FROM REHABILITATED IRRIGATION SYSTEM

By Ime Sornito Tuesday, December 4, 2018 ILOILO – An estimated 1,266 farmers in the 2nd District are seen to benefit from the newly rehabilitated Santa Barbara River Irrigation System (SBRIS) in the municipality of Santa Barbara.

The improved SBRIS was inaugurated yesterday morning by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).The Japanese government, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), funded the rehabilitation that cost P170,048,340.

With the help of the Philippine Rice Research Institute, NIA started rehabilitating SBRIS in 2013.

The work covered a diversion dam, a main canal, laterals, drainage canal structures, drainage structures, on-farm structures, and service roads.

Offices with support facilities for five associations of irrigators were also constructed.

According to NIA administrator Ricardo Visaya, the rehabilitated SBRIS would result to ―efficient operations and maintenance that will eventually optimize the benefits…‖―We can make our farmlands more productive and contribute to the rice (sufficiency) of our communities,‖ he added.SBRIS irrigates 2,289 hectares of agricultural land.Meanwhile, the five irrigators‘ associations with new offices and support facilities (warehouses and multipurpose dryers) were the following:

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* Palacati-an IA based in Santa Barbara

* Lacagbun IA based in Jaro, Iloilo City

* Lacasan IA based in Leganes, Iloilo

* Cabuglasan IA based in Leganes, Iloilo

* Trifia IA based in Jaro, Iloilo City/PN https://www.panaynews.net/1266-farmers-to-benefit-fromrehabilitated-irrigation-system/

New Cookbooks in Mexico in Time for the Holidays

All we want for Christmas

By Asiha Grigsby

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -- Last week, USA Rice presented two new holiday publications, a cookbook "Arroz de Fiesta" (Festive Rice) and a booklet "Arroz NavideĂąo" (Christmas Rice), to more than 45 guests including representatives from publishing companies, professional chefs, culinary schools, government and private organizations, the host of the Arroz Gourmet TV show, and staff from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Trade Office.

Both publications offer a variety of Christmas recipes, including appetizers, salads, main courses, desserts, and holiday rice stuffing that readers can easily prepare. The publications provide valuable tips to ensure perfect rice dishes every time, and are sold nationwide at magazine stands and at Walmart.

"All of the attendees expressed strong support for our program," said Gaby Carbajal, USA Rice contractor who oversees promotion programs in Mexico. "They each shared their experiences and testimonials about U.S. grown rice, the importance of rice for consumers and in the foodservice industry, as well as the impact of USA Rice activities on their industry."

"It has been a great journey for us to work with USA Rice," said German Flores, president of the 35 | w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o g s p o t . c o m , mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

Mango Publishing Company. "We started publishing specialized rice cookbooks many years ago, when the public was not aware of rice's great versatility. Their knowledge was very limited but now, thanks to a continuous effort, the demand for rice recipes is great. In the past three years we published a second edition of some very popular editions, such as the one produced by the culinary students."

Patricia Benavides, host of Arroz Gourmet (Gourmet Rice) TV shows said she notices a major increase of rice usage in restaurant menus. "The chefs that participate in our shows feature at least three rice dishes on the regular menus, highlighting the versatility of rice. Using rice in their menus they can increase their profits and offer delicious and trendy dishes to their customers."

Festive rice puts everyone in a holiday mood

Louisiana festival mixes rice farming’s conservation story with birding Attendees of the Yellow Rails & Rice Festival scope out birds in a newly harvested rice field — photos by Vicky Boyd

By Vicky Boyd Editor As they prepared to head out to a South Louisiana ratoon rice field, Kris and Eddie Farrey from The Villages, Florida, were anxious to cross two things off their bucket list.

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―We were trying to find some new birds we hadn‘t seen before, and the yellow rail was one of those,‖ says wife Kris. ―We‘re excited about riding the combine,‖ chimes in husband Eddie. ―I‘ve never seen a rice field, so I‘m excited about this.‖ The Farreys were among 114 bird watchers from 22 states and three foreign countries who flocked to South Louisiana in early November with hopes of seeing a yellow rail, a non-descript small brown bird that frequents ratoon rice fields. And they weren‘t disappointed.

During the very first combine pass, the three birders riding on the harvester got to see three yellow rails. Peg Clukey, one of 16 birders from the Buffalo (New York) Ornithological Society, was all smiles as she climbed off the harvester.

Asked which was better, the combine ride or seeing a yellow rail, she says, ―I don‘t know. They were equal — that was so exciting!‖ Described as ―one of the most secretive birds in North America‖ by experts, the robin-sized yellow rail lives in marshy underbrush and frequents the second rice crop. What makes it even more difficult to spot is the birds prefer to run or hide rather than fly unless under extreme pressure, such as caused by a combine.

And it‘s the yellow rail‘s shyness that draws in birders, many of whom want to mark it on their ―life list‖ of species they‘ve observed.

Festival highlights rice’s environmental profile One of the highlights was a combine ride. As it cut rice, the machine flushed out birds, including the coveted yellow rail.

Now in its 10th year, the annual Yellow Rails & Rice Festival capitalizes on one of the holy grails of birdwatching while educating attendees about rice farms‘ contributions to wildlife habitat and conservation.

Thornwell, Louisiana, rice producer Kevin Berken, one of the event founders, times his ratoon harvest so the mostly urban bird watchers can experience a combine ride and see the rails as they flush.

Before participants — many of whom have never been on a working farm — get to hop on his combine, Berken gives them a ―Rice 101‖ lesson about the conservation measures rice producers use on their farms. He also discusses how rice fields offer habitat, not just to yellow rails but a myriad of wildlife species.

Berken says he hopes the birders leave with a better understanding of the importance of rice fields to wildlife. ―I didn‘t realize this when we began, but it‘s truly something good for the rice industry to have people from all over the country and all over the world come here to see how valuable rice is to wildlife,‖ he says. ―So I always tell them up front, rice provides more habitat for wildlife than any other crop.‖ Peter and Kristi Keller of Sugarland, Texas, soaked in Berken‘s message. ―Now we‘re educated, and we‘re going to make an effort to buy U.S. rice,‖ Peter Keller says.

He admits they typically buy imported rice. But after touring the nearby Falcon Rice Mill and listening to Berken, the Kellers took samples of Toro, Jazzman II and Louisiana long-grain back to conduct their own taste test. ―I think it‘s really smart putting together birders and farmers,‖ Peter Keller says. ―It‘s really educational.‖

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When the event started 10 years ago, Berken says he never thought it would become as popular as it is today. ―It‘s been such a blessing and wonderful opportunity to talk about rice, because most people don‘t know rice is grown in the United States and that there‘s an alternative to Thai jasmine,‖ he says. ―Many of them will come away with a greater appreciation for what we do. ―I want to make sure the birders and the environmentalists know we‘re not the bad guys. There‘s a misperception that we‘re not taking care of what the good Lord has given us. I want to show them how very responsible we‘re with our natural resources.‖ Kevin Norton, Natural Resources Conservation Service state conservationist, agrees. ―Through sound conservation practices, these fields still sustainably produce the food, fiber, fuel and forest products that support our communities and feed our families and the world,‖ he says. ―The benefits extend well beyond food production to the contribution of our private agriculture lands to the abundant clean water and wildlife habitat. ―In particular, our working rice fields provide food for millions of resident and migratory birds.

Whether it is the sight of yellow rails flying during rice harvest or the rise of ducks off flooded fields on a cold winter morning — farmers, our private land stewards, do more than sow and harvest.‖ Riding the rails Erik John, director of bird conservation for Audubon Louisiana, bands a sora rail, a slightly larger cousin of the yellow rail.

The event is the brainchild of Berken and his wife, Shirley, along with Donna Dittmann and Steven Cardiff, collection managers with the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science in Baton Rouge.

Berken first met Dittmann and Cardiff when they were bird watching by his fields as he cut a ratoon crop more than 10 years ago. Dittmann says she and Cardiff discovered in the mid-‘80s that watching combines during the ratoon harvest was a reliable way to see yellow and other rail species. From there, Dittmann, Cardiff and the Berkens became friends and started talking about how they could mix rice farming and birding. ―We just joked about starting a festival around the bird and the whole harvest,‖ Dittmann says.

What really kick-started the idea was a state statute adopted several years ago that limited liability for certified agri-tourism events, such as Yellow Rails & Rice.

The group focused on the yellow rail because ―it was a bird that was charismatic for bird watchers so it was a lure, and Louisiana doesn‘t have any other type of (avian) lure like that,‖ Dittmann says. ―It shares other bird fauna with other southeastern states like Texas or Florida. ―All bird watchers have to go to the southeast Arizona. All bird watchers have to go to the lower Rio Grande Valley and Florida. You can go to any state in the Southeast and see most of the same species. With the yellow rail, we can bring people here.‖ The combination of agri-tourism with bird watching also makes the Yellow Rails & Rice Festival unique among other birding events, Dittmann says.

Event takes flight Over the years, the festival has evolved; however, the focus remains seeing yellow rails during harvest. Four days of activities also include netting and banding workshops, combine rides, rice

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mill tours and bird watching in nearby natural areas. On two nights, participants are treated to Cajun cuisine that includes jambalaya or etouffee — and, of course, rice.

Event organizers have focused on activities around Jeff Davis Parish because of the region‘s wide array of offerings and the abundance of yellow rails. In fact, the Louisiana Legislature in 2014 proclaimed the community of Thornwell where Berken farms as the ―Yellow Rail Capital of the World.‖ Organizers also capped the event at slightly more than 100 so most participants have an opportunity to ride the combine and see yellow rails, Dittmann says.

With very little advertising, the festival has gained a following among bird watchers simply from word of mouth, and it typically sells out each year.

And much like farming, organizers‘ efforts are at the mercy of weather and mechanical breakdowns. Two years ago, for example, Berken‘s combine malfunctioned, but neighbor Paul Johnson came to the rescue and offered up use of his harvester.

This year, the opening day was rained out, but the weather was clear and sunny for the remainder of the festival.

Rain is always a concern because it halts harvest. And if it floods fields, yellow rails don‘t like wet feet, Berken says. This year, participants saw more sora rails than yellow rails, which wasn‘t surprising because it is usually more numerous and the fall was rainy, he says.

Sora rails, a slightly larger cousin of yellow rails, prefer wetter fields whereas yellows prefer them drier.

Nevertheless, attendees still logged more than 50 yellow rails, not to mention a plethora of other bird species, many of which also were on their life lists.

https://www.ricefarming.com/departments/cover-story/yellow-railsrice/

Rice importation ends 2020 Rice importation into Nigeria would end by 2020, the Policy Adviser of the John Kufuor Foundation (JKF), Hon. Abraham Dwuma, has said. He also said that Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) under the JKF was also focused to achieve zero importation of rice on the continent. Dwuma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that the Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) had created a rice value chain to achieve this. ‖Two years from now, Nigeria should have no business importing rice because I have travelled the length and breadth of the country and I know the potentials. ‖Kebbi State alone can produce all the rice Nigeria needs; talk more of Sokoto and even Kwara. ―‗For, example, in Akwa Ibom,

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they have one of the best lands for rice production. ‖When we came to Nigeria, farmers were doing 1.5 tonnes per hectare, now they are doing six tonnes per hectare two times in a year. ‖We believe that with this platform, we will get there,‖ Dwuma said. He said the foundation was borne out of the desire of former Ghanaian President, John Kufuor, to ensure that African farmers earn a living from rice production. ‖When Kufuor won the World Food Prize, he said he realised that African farmers need a voice, then, if they need a voice, we have to bring them together. ‖So, there was a need to do what we call the advocacy platform in four chosen countries; Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tanzania and Nigeria. ‖Through this platform, we are not only talking to the government but to the farmers to improve their quality, their quantity and their work,‖ Dwuma said. He, however, noted that for the value chain to be sustainable, it should be supported by business modules. ‖What we are doing now is that we are creating the rice value chain and for this value chain to be sustainable, we need to be supported by business modules at all levels of the cabin. ‖We are creating what we call business modules. For instance, if someone is an input dealer, he will be able to bring the right input to farmers and the farmers are being educated to do it well,‖ he said. Also speaking, Secretary General of ARAP, Alhaji Abdulrauf Lawal, said the platform had made rice production easy in order to halt importation. ‖It is a pity that we spend over a billion naira per day to import rice, that is N365 billion per year which can be used to venture into other things like youth employment and improvement of social amenities. ‖We are using this much to import when we can plant rice in Nigeria; we have various types of rice; swamp rice and irrigated rice that will start growing with good water and climate. ―With the value chain that we are creating now from production, processing to marketing and consumption, it will get better,‖ he said. Lawal, who doubles as the Deputy National Vice President of Nigeria Rice Advocacy Platform, however, noted that the platform was collaborating with the state chapters of the platform to support them. ―The platform was established in 2013 and it comprises of the seed producers, the mechanisation providers, the financial institutions, the processors and the farmers. ‖We give the state chapters‘ technology, seedlings and inputs for them to produce well because if the input isn‘t good, the products won‘t be good. ‖We are also making their job easier by mechanising them to remove drudgery in rice farming,‖ Lawal said. He, however, appealed for sponsorship for the platform to achieve its aim. ‖Our major source of funding is Kufuor, but it is not enough, we need more people like him, most especially within Nigeria. ― If Nigeria develops, the West Africa sub-region will develop; we will be a net exporter of rice,‖ Lawal said. (NAN) https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rice-importation-ends-2020.html

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South Korea tenders to buy 25,222 tonnes rice – trade HAMBURG: South Korea‘s state-backed Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. has issued an international tender to purchase a total 25,222 tonnes of non-glutinous rice, European traders said. It was sought in three consignments, with arrival in February 2019. Time limit for registration of offers is Dec. 11. https://www.brecorder.com/2018/12/04/456682/south-korea-tenders-to-buy-25222-tonnes-rice-trade/

Rice output forecast lower in South Korea

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Rice production in South Korea in 2018-19 is forecast 2.6% lower than last year‘s crop, according to a Dec. 3 Global Agricultural Information Network report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA estimates the upcoming crop at 3.86 million tonnes, lower than the 3.97 million tonnes in 2017-18 and the lowest in more than a decade.

Earlier this year, USDA forecast output at 3.87 million tonnes but unfavorable weather developments during planting and growing stages resulted in lower yield (5,244 kg per hectare), which is down 0.4% from 2017-18. ―Lower production, in tandem with a continued government policy encouraging the consumption of old rice for animal feed, is expected to result in a 16.3% stocks-to-use ratio in 2018-19,‖ USDA said. Rice planted area and yield in Korea have been on a downward trend in recent

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years. Planted area in 2018-19 is forecast at 738,000 hectares, far below the recent high of 980,000 hectares in 2005. Likewise, this year‘s forecast production of 3.86 million tonnes is 1.1 million tonnes lower than the recent high of 4.91 million tonnes in 2009. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/11323-rice-output-forecast-lower-in-south-korea

Rice exporters call for planning, coordination Local rice exporters yesterday call for better planning and communication between all industry actors to meet China‘s import quota. Song Saran, CEO of rice exporter Amru Rice, said Cambodia will likely fail to export all 300,000 tonnes of rice allowed by China due, among other issues, to a lack of coordination among relevant local actors. He said monthly meetings must be convened among relevant government agencies, members and representatives of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) and local firms to ensure that Cambodia is able to fulfill the 300,000 tonnes quota that China has in place for Cambodian rice. Mr Saran also called for the establishment of a working group to organise and supervise the proposed meetings. ―Some rice exporters and rice millers have rice to process and export, but they are not allowed to ship to China, while others can export, but have no rice. ―This is a big issue and may make it difficult to meet the quota in 2018 and 2019,‖ Mr Saran said. Last year, China increased its import quota for Cambodian rice to 300,000 tonnes, from 200,000 tonnes in 2017 and 100,000 tonnes in 2016. During the first nine months of the year, Cambodia exported 96,714 tonnes of rice to the East Asian nation, according to the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export. ―My request is that all related parties wake up and get to work. We need to focus and coordinate to make sure we ship the 300,000 tonnes that we are allowed,‖ Mr Saran said. ―We hope to create a forum where government, CRF officials, and key rice millers and exporters can come together to find a solution,‖ he said. Given that Cambodia has only two rice growing seasons, China should plan its orders more carefully and notify Cambodian exporters of its plans, Mr Saran added. ―Without proper planning, it is difficult to supply them when they need our rice. Rice is not harvested every month. We only have two seasons, so we need better planning,‖ he said. Only 26 Cambodian firms are allowed to ship to China, after having passed the first round of inspections conducted by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ), according to Srey Vuthy, secretary-general at Cambodia‘s Ministry of Agriculture.

However, China has changed the process of inspection for rice importation, which has delayed the export process for the 40 local companies that are still waiting to be given the green light by Beijing to begin exporting. The list with the name of the 40 potential exporters was sent to

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Beijing last year, and if the Chinese government does not review it soon, it will reflect badly on the Cambodian rice industry, Mr Vuthy said. ―It will also mean that only the 26 companies so far included in the exporters‘ list can ship to China,‖ Mr Vuthy said. ―This is not enough to meet the quota. We are waiting on China to review the list, but so far we haven‘t heard from them,‖ he said, explaining that if China does not react quickly, the rice will go to other countries, particularly Thailand and Vietnam. Chan Sokheang, chairman and CEO of Signatures of Asia, told Khmer Times that Cambodia did not meet the Chinese quota last year because local rice back then was more expensive than Thailand‘s. Last year, the price of Thai rice dropped to $780, while Cambodian rice sold for $850-$920 per ton. ―This made it hard to compete with Thailand to export rice to China,‖ he said. Mr Sokheang was of the same mind than Mr Saran regarding the need for better coordination in the sector. ―We should have a meeting to discuss the quota issue. We have to be more organised,‖ Mr Sokheang said. From January to September, Cambodia exported over 389,000 tonnes of rice to more than 60 countries, which represents a decrease of 8.4 percent compared to the same period last year. China continues to be the top buyer, followed by France and Poland.

Author Name: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50556102/rice-exporters-call-for-planning-coordination/

Local brothers are making vodka from rice   

Eric Zernich 3:46 pm December 3, 2018

Just in time for the holidays, the Fruge brothers of Branch have a new product that could make a perfect gift.

For the past several years Mike and Mark Fruge have been looking at new ways to expand their rice and crawfish farm.

After lots of research and experimenting the brothers decided to give spirits a try.

This summer they finally had a rice vodka they were happy with and called it J.T. Meleck in honor of their great, great uncle, who started the family farm.

Since hitting store shelves in July J.T. Meleck has been selling better than expected and people are really liking the taste.

Mike Fruge says ―this is a very unique product. We just don‘t get a lot of dissatisfied people. We do a lot of blind tastings against national brands and we have had a lot of success.‖

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If you would like try their rice vodka you can pick up a bottle of J.T. Meleck at most major and independent retailers in Lafayette.

Also, to find out when they might be doing a tasting near you click here to check out their Facebook page. https://katc.com/news/2018/12/03/local-brothers-are-making-vodka-from-rice/

Meet the new Arkansas Extension rice/soybean weed specialist Application technology a big focus

David Bennett | Dec 04, 2018 It is Nov. 9 and Thomas ―Tommy‖ Butts, the new Arkansas Extension rice and soybean weed specialist, is standing amid boxes in a west Nebraska apartment. The next day, he would be moving south to Lonoke, Ark., with his wife, Liberty.

With an official start date of Nov. 26, Butts — who is extremely amiable and easy with a laugh — will have a couple of weeks to acclimate. He promises to win over skeptics of a young Midwesterner moving to rice country.

On personal history… ―I‘ve been around agriculture my whole life. I‘m originally from Wisconsin and grew up around dairy farms my entire childhood. I worked for a neighbor for close to a decade milking cows, doing fieldwork, all of that. ―Throughout that time, I was very active in 4-H and FFA — just loved those programs and doing a lot of things like showing cattle at the fair.

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―When it came time for college I knew I‘d be studying something agriculture-related. The small school I went to, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, had a major in ag business and I minored in crop and soil science. Again, it was just a wonderful education and a great time. ―Throughout those first four years of study, the ag business side was fine, but I definitely enjoyed the cropping system side more and doing agronomy work. Through a couple of internships, it became obvious I‘d rather do something away from the sales side of things. So, I started looking at master‘s degree programs and weed science caught my eye — the diversity and dealing with so many crops. At the same time, you‘re helping farmers find solutions to, most of the time, pretty troublesome situations. ―I ended up doing my master‘s under Dr. Vince Davis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

One of the main projects I worked on there was a multi-university study throughout the Midwest and Mid-South looking at control methods on herbicide-resistant pigweeds. We were looking at Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, redroot pigweeds, a bit of everything. We were looking for different management strategies to use in different systems and hopefully control those pests. I also did dose response screenings to identify herbicide resistance in the state. ―From there, I‘d been working with Dr. Greg Kruger a bit and had become very interested in application technology. That led me to western Nebraska (North Platte) to work on my PhD with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — mainly on application technology, drift control and how we can play the balancing act between those things and proper weed control. ―A lot of my research was on pulse-width modulation sprayers. That‘s where you put solenoid valves on each nozzle and they‘re able to control the flow rate by pulsing on and off. That allows more control and precision. I was also looking at using those systems toprovide a very specific droplet size in the field to see if droplet size affects our weed control, as well. ―So, that research allowed a lot of work on both the engineering side and also the field-applied weed control side.

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―That background led me to a research Extension career — being able to help farmers directly, conduct research that‘s applicable and then being able to get that information as quickly as possible so it can be used to control some of these problem weeds. ―In Arkansas, I really want to implement my application technology and interests into control measures in both rice and soybean cropping systems. There are several different precision ag technologies that we can try to implement or investigate. That‘s one thing that could really be unique following all the work already done on our agronomic practices and yields.‖ On dicamba… ―The whole dicamba situation is a strange problem we‘re involved in. It‘s a splintering problem, obviously, with two sides adamantly for or against it. ―I‘ve been paying a lot of attention to Arkansas decisions and what‘s been going on in the MidSouth. Obviously, I‘ve spoken to the Extension team involved and gotten insight. ―There‘s nothing official, but there‘s a lot of data left to collect. …One of my beliefs is there‘s a huge environmental interaction somewhere we haven‘t identified yet that‘s causing different products to react differently. Back in Wisconsin, there are situations that have similar dicamba injury patterns like they‘ve found in Arkansas. ―In western Nebraska, we‘ve had relatively different injury patterns emerge that seemed more associated with tank contamination, off-label applications and things like that. Obviously, that area of the country is very, very different environmentally compared to Arkansas and Wisconsin — less humidity, different temperatures and elevations. ―So, that leads me to wonder if there‘s some kind of environmental, climatic factor that‘s throwing a wrench into things. We need to keep investigating and find data on how to effectively use dicamba. It‘s simply going to be around and will be applied.‖

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On switching to rice weed work… ―I know I‘m the new kid coming in, and it‘s understandable that there will be questions about my moving into rice. First off, in preparation, I‘ve been doing as much rice research and reading as possible ahead of time. That is absolutely no substitute for learning in the field, of course. ―This spring, I hope to be working with farmers directly and have them show me around, show their operations, all of it. I want to know what they see as the benefits and struggles on a daily basis with rice. What do they think needs to be done with the weed management side of things?

Books are great, but there‘s nothing like an education from walking fields. I want to be out there with the farmers. ―I‘d like to conduct a survey and gather data on the precision ag technology side. What are farmers using? What are they interested in? It would be great to merge the interests and work I‘ve done into the rice and soybean sectors. This includes implementing aerial application research. A large portion of applications in rice are made aerially, and finding solutions for growers and applicators to more effectively apply products aerially (from drift, coverage, and weed control perspectives) would be a great benefit moving forward.‖ Note: Butts can be emailed at tbutts@uaex.edu and followed on Twitter at @weedsARwild.

Soil Health Partnership expands pilot project Phase 2 of pilot Associate Program announced on World Soil Day.

Dec 05, 2018 In recognition of World Soil Day on Dec. 5, the Soil Health Partnership announced it is expanding a pilot project to give more farmers access to the soil health network.

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As the organization launches phase 2 of its pilot Associate Program, it will invite 75 farmers to enroll in 2019. This will enable more farmers to join SHP in its mission of using science and data to support farmers in adopting agricultural practices that improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.

The economic component of soil health has taken on an increasing level of urgency during a difficult farm economy, said Shefali Mehta, executive director of the Soil Health Partnership. ―We‘ve seen increasing demand from farmers who would like to join our network,‖ Mehta said. ―Expanding the pilot phase of our Associate Program provides a great number of farmers with access to a scientific platform to evaluate soil health as part of a comprehensive management strategy.‖ Joining the Associate Program during the pilot phase will give farmers access to no-cost soil health sampling and results. The program will provide data insights and reports on how making a change, like growing cover crops, impacts their soil. ―I strongly believe sustainability has to apply to farm economics, as well as the environment, and we‘re seeing that economic need become increasingly critical,‖ Mehta said.

After enrolling 25 farms in the pilot program in 2018, phase 2 will bring the number of associate sites to 100. The SHP plans a full-scale launch of the Associate Program for 2020, when even more farmers can join. https://www.deltafarmpress.com/weeds/meet-new-arkansas-extension-ricesoybean-weed-specialist

CRF voices concern over EU rice tax on Cambodia

By Phnom Penh Post December 4, 2018

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The president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) has expressed concern over an impending EU tariff on Cambodian rice imports, saying that it is factors within EU states that are harming European farmers most.

―Difficulties faced by European farmers are largely due to the lack of collaboration between them, millers and traders,‖ CRF president Sok Puthyvuth told the press on Friday.

He said the ―high cost of milling in [EU]member states‖ was the main obstacle to improving European rice industries, not imports of Cambodian rice.

In full: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/crf-voices-concern-over-eu-rice-tax-cambodia https://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/crf-voices-concern-over-eu-rice-tax-on-cambodia-142897/

Rice Prices as on : 04-12-2018 12:10:29 PM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

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Arrivals Current

Price % change

Season cumulative

Modal

Prev.

Modal

Prev.Yr %change

Rice Lakhimpur(UP)

35.00

NC

1218.00

2280

2270

5.07

Atarra(UP)

20.00

207.69

396.00

2150

2200

7.50

Ruperdeeha(UP)

6.00

-25

460.00

1700

1700

-

Mirzapur(UP)

4.50

-10

987.00

2275

2280

-

Alibagh(Mah)

1.00

NC

25.00

2250

2250

-43.75

Murud(Mah)

1.00

NC

24.00

2250

2250

-25.00

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25661147.ece

ACOAM Lup bats for Chakhao taste Source: The Sangai Express Imphal, December 04 2018: With the aim of preserving the indigenous Chakhao Amubi/ Chakhao Poireiton, the All Clubs Organisations and Meira Paibis Lup, Kangleipak (ACOAMLup, Kangleipak) submitted a memorandum to the Agriculture Minister through the Director of Agriculture.

Speaking to media persons at ACOAM-Lup office at Lamphel today, its secretary (organisation) N Shanta said that the memorandum explained that Manipur has been a hub to varieties of high value nutritional crops which have been grown since time immemorial and which is the main reason for agriculture being one of the most important occupations of the people of the State.

Explaining that Manipur is one of the most fertile sub-tropical rainfed farming zones of Asia and the history of rice cultivation in the State is as old as 6000 years, he added that the memo explained that rice is the staple food of the people of both the hills and the plain of the State.

Informing that shifting cultivation in the hills and transplantation of nurseries in the low land

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valley areas are the traditional methods of production of rice in Manipur since time immemorial, the memo stated that out of the numerous Varieties of rice cultivated in the State, Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton have gained popularity due to their nutritional value and anthocyanin content which is a valued cancer fighting agent.

He further informed that the Ministry of Agriculture has provided huge investment under Mission Organic and Value Chain Development (MOVCD) for production and preservation of the two Chakhao varieties and Under MO VCD, more than 2000 hectares of land are cultivated using organic methodology to maintain the natural aroma, flavour and nutritional value of Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton.

The memo explained that the use of pure certified seeds while growing Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton under MOVCD has become a major hurdle in marketing the two Chakhao varieties because of the mixed production on maturity of crop.

Shanta continued that the memo made it clear that the production of pure Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton seeds on natural soil has become the most important factor due to the influx of different varieties of black rice from the National as well as the International markets.

Urging the Agriculture Department to take up concrete measures using all possible resources to produce genetically pure Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton using natural soil, ACOAM Lup laid down proposal for the production of the said rice at the Rice Research Centre, Wangbal of the State Agriculture Department, Shanta added.

The secretary (org) further conveyed that as per ACOAM-Lup, Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton which are cultivated only in Manipur, must be registered at the Geographical Indication Registry for better categorization in the National and International markets.

It further cautioned that the registration of the said two rice varieties is of utmost importance as a number of farmers outside Manipur have started cultivating black rice which may or may not be Chakhao Amubi or Chakhao Poireiton.

Chakhao Amubi and Chakhao Poireiton must not be exported until and unless genetically pure seeds have been produced and made available to the farmers of the State and its Geographical Index is registered for protection of property rights, the memo demanded, Shanta said. * This news is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. E-Pao.net is not responsible for it's sanctity & originality.

http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=12..051218.dec18

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By Nanette Guadalquiver December 4, 2018, 7:55 pm

Some of the agricultural machinery used in the rice farm in Barangay Taloc, Bago City during launching of the farm mechanization program of the Negros Occidental provincial government on Tuesday. (Photo by Richard Malihan/NegOcc Capitol PIO) BACOLOD CITY -- The Negros Occidental provincial government launched its farm mechanization program on Tuesday as part of its initiatives to boost rice production.

The launching activity, led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. with Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, was held at Purok Camingawan Proper, Barangay Taloc in Bago City, considered as the rice bowl of the province for its vast rice plantations. ―This program for Negrense farmers will make their work easier and faster and also increase their production,‖ the governor said.

He added that Bago is the pilot area for farm mechanization and the program will also be replicated in other local government units.

Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo lauded the importance given by the governor to agriculture, which benefits the city‘s rice industry.

Myrna Villa, chairperson of the Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers‘ Association, said she is grateful the provincial government initiated the farm mechanization program which can be availed by their members.

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) distributed hybrid rice seeds to the farmers during the activity.

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The program launching came after the province acquired PHP9.2 million worth of agricultural machinery last month to implement its farm mechanization program.

The equipment include two units of 70 horsepower harvester worth PHP4.4 million; three units of ride on transplanter, PHP3.2 million; two units of walk behind transplanter, PHP800,000; and one laser leveler, PHP800,000.

Also included are five tractors and three 35 horsepower harvesters, amounting to PHP15.8 million.

The OPA is developing a 200-hectare rice farm in Barangay Taloc into a model farm through full mechanization.

Under the focused mechanization program, the province will provide the machinery and operate the farm -- from land preparation, transplanting to harvesting. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1055743

NFA’s purchases of local rice up 80 percent The National Food Authority (NFA) said its purchases of unmilled rice from local farmers expanded by nearly 80 percent to 50,608 metric tons in January to November, from last year‘s 28,278 MT. The NFA said it has procured some 1.012 million 50-kilogram bags during the 11month period, 92 percent of which were bought in October and November. In two months, the NFA said it was able to purchase 926,854 bags due to the additional P3 per kilogram bufferstocking incentive (BSI) added to the government‘s support price of P17 per kg. ―This means that given the right price, the NFA will be able to buy more from our farmers,‖ NFA OIC Administrator Tomas R. Escarez said on Tuesday. ―With the additional P3/kg incentive, we were able to entice more farmers to sell their harvest to us. At a time when private traders were buying at P20.28 or lower than the NFA buying price, our farmers decided to sell to us instead,‖ Escarez added. The NFA currently buys palay from local farmers at P20.70 per kg, inclusive of the P0.70 per-kg delivery, drying and cooperative incentives. As the main harvest season reached its peak in November, the NFA said it was able to purchase 630,934 bags of palay. The NFA said it was able to buy palay from farmers in Occidental Mindoro, Mamburao, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Bukidnon, Isabela, Capiz, Iloilo, North Cotabato and Camarines Sur. The food agency attached to the Department of Agriculture has targeted to procure 2.6 million bags, or 130,000 MT of palay. To hit this goal, the NFA must buy 1.6 million bags, or 80,000 MT of palay. Last year the NFA failed to achieve its goal of procuring 3 million bags, as it managed to purchase only 588,820 bags, or 29,441 MT. Since the approval of its P3 perkg BSI, the NFA has become more optimistic in achieving its palay procurement target for

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2018. The NFA is banking on local palay procurement to continuously beef up its stockpile and avert the depletion of state-subsidized rice sold in local markets.

Out-quota rice The NFA also disclosed that 30 agricultural firms, traders and farmers cooperatives are seeking to import about 274,476 MT of rice via its out-quota program. Based on the initial list of applicants published by the NFA on its web site, 30 private entities have already applied for permits to import rice outside the minimum access volume (MAV) since November 26. Among the applicants include Manila-based Pure Rice Milling and Processing Corp. that seeks to import 100,000 MT of white rice, 25-percent brokens from Thailand and Farm Mechanism Resources and and Distribution Corp. that signified its intent to buy 20,000 MT of white rice, 5-percent brokens, also from Thailand. The 30 interested importers are planning to purchase rice from Vietnam and Thailand. Rice importers are allowed to bring in rice with a quality of 25-percent

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brokens or even better. The NFA issued the guidelines for the out-quota rice importation on November 23 following its approval by the NFA Council (NFAC) on November 21. ―The purpose of the importation is to bring down the prices of rice,‖ Agriculture Secretary and NFAC Chairman Emmanuel F. Piñol told reporters in an interview after the NFAC meeting on November 21. Rice imports within the MAV of the World Trade Organization are slapped a tariff of 35 percent, while those bought into the country outside of the quota are levied a tariff of 50 percent. Piñol said the NFAC has decided to allow out-quota importation to ensure that the retail price of rice would remain affordable to Filipino consumers. ―Why would I wait for [the rice tariffication]? What if it would take longer? Then consumers would complain that rice prices are increasing,‖ he said. According to Piñol, interested traders need to meet only three requirements approved by the NFAC—show proof of financial capacity, warehouse capability and retail capability. ―These will effectively weed out fly-by-night importers who just apply for import permit and sell them afterward,‖ he said. https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfas-purchases-of-local-rice-up-80-percent/

Scuba and Sea Rice: Sowing the Seeds for Greater Food Security in Asia 5 DECEMBER 2018 Madeleine Lovelle, Research Analyst, Global Food and Water Crises Research Programme

Background With traditional varieties of rice unable to withstand days of being submerged under flood waters, there is often a high risk of total crop loss for rice grown in rainfed and flood-affected areas. Serious flooding is usually created by heavy rainfall, overflow from nearby rivers and canals, and, in coastal areas, sometimes by tidal movements. Water is often prevented from draining in rice-growing regions due to the topography of the land. Flooding causes an annual paddy loss of 3.6 million tonnes; enough to feed 30 million people. Such events affect not only farmers whose livelihoods depend on the production of the crop, but also pose a wider threat to food supplies throughout Asia.

Comment For decades, scientists have been working towards the development of so-called ―scuba rice‖; designed to withstand periods of flooding for up to two weeks. It is now being grown by farmers in India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia. The average yield of most varieties of scuba rice is around 4 to 5.8 tonnes per hectare. According to scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), scuba rice will still yield 2.7 to 3.6 tonnes after it has been submerged in flood waters for two weeks.

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In China, farmers in the Shandong province along the northern coast, are successfully growing ―sea rice‖, a variety of rice that is able to withstand high levels of alkalinity. The success of the sea rice means that farmers may be able to grow sufficient rice on saline-alkaline soil to feed an additional 80 million people. With China‘s population expected to reach 1.45 billion by 2030, growth of the sea rice crop is an important development.

According to the IRRI, about 20 million hectares of Asian rice paddies are prone to flooding.

Most of the world‘s rice is grown within this region and some estimates suggest that more than half the world‘s population rely on rice as a staple food. With Asia‘s population expected to grow from 4.4 billion in 2018, to 5.2 billion people by 2050, their consumption is expected to reach about 90 per cent of annual global rice production. The development of scuba rice and sea rice is expected to help satisfy this demand and benefit farmers tending to 20 million hectares of rice paddies throughout Asia.

While the scuba and sea rice varieties offer the prospect of increased food security and a higher income for farmers throughout Asia, there are a handful of limitations to the crops. Firstly, stable rice harvesting may mean that farmers experience a higher income in the short term. These economic benefits may be short lived, however, as supply increases and the local and international market prices for rice decrease. While it may be detrimental for farmers, the increased supply is likely to increase affordability for millions of the world‘s poorest people.

The growth of scuba and sea rice must also be carefully managed, to ensure that global rice production does not become overly dependent on these varieties. The climate adaptive rice varieties offer security against flooding, but farmers and food supply chains may become vulnerable if disease were to wipe out a whole season‘s crop. It is important that farmers throughout Asia do not abandon the traditional varieties of rice altogether.

At a time when the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly obvious, Asia is at a significant risk of further hunger and famine. Further development of climate adaptive rice varieties is a positive step towards long-term future food security throughout the region.

Any opinions or views expressed in this paper are those of the individual author, unless stated to be those of Future Directions International.

Published by Future Directions International Pty Ltd. Suite 5, 202 Hampden Road, Nedlands WA 6009, Australia.

Tel:+61 8 6389 0211 Web: www.futuredirections.org.au http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/scuba-and-sea-rice-sowing-the-seeds-for-greater-foodsecurity-in-asia/

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Can rice filter water from ag fields?

5-DEC-2018

Research considers pesticide-cleansing properties of rice plants AMERICAN SOCIETY OF AGRONOMY

IMAGE: A DELIVERY SYSTEM APPLIES A SIMULATED STORM RUNOFF CONTAINING PESTICIDES AND WATER TO RICE AND CONTROL (BARE) SYSTEMS. CREDIT: MATT MOORE Rice is a staple food crop of 20 percent of the world's population. It's also grown on every continent except Antarctica.

While it's an important part of our diets, new research shows that rice plants can be used in a different way, too: to clean runoff from farms before it gets into rivers, lakes, and streams.

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This idea came to Matt Moore, a USDA research ecologist, because he, himself, comes from a family of farmers. He was trying to figure out a way to address the unintended issue of runoff.

As water drains from agricultural fields, the pesticides used on those fields can be carried along.

Moore wanted to stop pesticides from getting into water outside the farm in a way that was easy and cost-efficient for farmers.

"We wanted something that was common, that could be applied in a lot of different places, but something that's non-invasive," said Moore, who works in the USDA-Agricultural Research Service's Water Ecology and Ecology Research Unit in Oxford, Mississippi.

The idea came to Moore while he was driving to his family's farm in northeast Arkansas. "We're big rice farmers. Cheesy as it sounds, I was driving around trying to look for some inspiration and it just hit me: What about rice?"

So researchers planted four fields, two with and two without rice. They then flooded those fields with a mix of three kinds of pesticides plus water that together is a lot like runoff during a storm.

They did this for two years in a row.

They found that the levels of all three pesticides were lower in fields where they'd planted rice.

How much it dropped ranged from 85 percent to 97 percent, depending on which pesticide they measured.

Rice can do this through phytoremediation--using plants and their roots to clean up water (though they can also clean soil and air). That's what researchers say happened here. Instead of those chemicals being in the runoff water, they were captured in the rice plants.

In real life, this pesticide-cleaning ability of rice could be used in a few ways. To start, farmers could plant rice in drainage ditches already on their farms, which would "let rice clean off water that runs off into your field before it runs into a river, lake, or stream," Moore said. "Dreaming big, eventually we could get to the point where you could use rice fields as constructed wetlands," diverting runoff into rice fields so they naturally take those pesticides out of the water.

One big question Moore hopes additional research can answer is whether or not those chemicals end up in the edible part of the rice plant--the rice grain--itself. If it doesn't, rice could be that natural water cleaner while also being a food source.

"It's potentially huge for developing countries to be able to use this as a crop and water cleaning technology," he said.

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For now, though, Moore is excited about the potential of a humble, popular crop that even his own family has been growing for generations.

"We're just trying to use simple techniques that are easy for the farmer, that are economical, that are still environmentally friendly," he said. "Farming seems like a not-for-profit business these days, which I full-well understand. How can farmers use the landscape that's already there? How can they maximize that while helping the environment and their bottom line? Rice could be it." https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/asoa-crf120318.php

Meet the new Arkansas Extension rice/soybean weed specialist Application technology a big focus David Bennett | Dec 04, 2018 It is Nov. 9 and Thomas ―Tommy‖ Butts, the new Arkansas Extension rice and soybean weed specialist, is standing amid boxes in a west Nebraska apartment. The next day, he would be moving south to Lonoke, Ark., with his wife, Liberty.

With an official start date of Nov. 26, Butts — who is extremely amiable and easy with a laugh — will have a couple of weeks to acclimate. He promises to win over skeptics of a young Midwesterner moving to rice country.

On personal history… ―I‘ve been around agriculture my whole life. I‘m originally from Wisconsin and grew up around dairy farms my entire childhood. I worked for a neighbor for close to a decade milking cows, doing fieldwork, all of that.

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―Throughout that time, I was very active in 4-H and FFA — just loved those programs and doing a lot of things like showing cattle at the fair. ―When it came time for college I knew I‘d be studying something agriculture-related. The small school I went to, University of Wisconsin-Platteville, had a major in ag business and I minored in crop and soil science. Again, it was just a wonderful education and a great time. ―Throughout those first four years of study, the ag business side was fine, but I definitely enjoyed the cropping system side more and doing agronomy work. Through a couple of internships, it became obvious I‘d rather do something away from the sales side of things. So, I started looking at master‘s degree programs and weed science caught my eye — the diversity and dealing with so many crops. At the same time, you‘re helping farmers find solutions to, most of the time, pretty troublesome situations. ―I ended up doing my master‘s under Dr. Vince Davis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

One of the main projects I worked on there was a multi-university study throughout the Midwest and Mid-South looking at control methods on herbicide-resistant pigweeds. We were looking at Palmer amaranth, waterhemp, redroot pigweeds, a bit of everything. We were looking for different management strategies to use in different systems and hopefully control those pests. I also did dose response screenings to identify herbicide resistance in the state. ―From there, I‘d been working with Dr. Greg Kruger a bit and had become very interested in application technology. That led me to western Nebraska (North Platte) to work on my PhD with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — mainly on application technology, drift control and how we can play the balancing act between those things and proper weed control. ―A lot of my research was on pulse-width modulation sprayers. That‘s where you put solenoid valves on each nozzle and they‘re able to control the flow rate by pulsing on and off. That allows more control and precision. I was also looking at using those systems toprovide a very specific droplet size in the field to see if droplet size affects our weed control, as well.

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―So, that research allowed a lot of work on both the engineering side and also the field-applied weed control side. ―That background led me to a research Extension career — being able to help farmers directly, conduct research that‘s applicable and then being able to get that information as quickly as possible so it can be used to control some of these problem weeds. ―In Arkansas, I really want to implement my application technology and interests into control measures in both rice and soybean cropping systems. There are several different precision ag technologies that we can try to implement or investigate. That‘s one thing that could really be unique following all the work already done on our agronomic practices and yields.‖ On dicamba… ―The whole dicamba situation is a strange problem we‘re involved in. It‘s a splintering problem, obviously, with two sides adamantly for or against it. ―I‘ve been paying a lot of attention to Arkansas decisions and what‘s been going on in the MidSouth. Obviously, I‘ve spoken to the Extension team involved and gotten insight. ―There‘s nothing official, but there‘s a lot of data left to collect. …One of my beliefs is there‘s a huge environmental interaction somewhere we haven‘t identified yet that‘s causing different products to react differently. Back in Wisconsin, there are situations that have similar dicamba injury patterns like they‘ve found in Arkansas. ―In western Nebraska, we‘ve had relatively different injury patterns emerge that seemed more associated with tank contamination, off-label applications and things like that. Obviously, that area of the country is very, very different environmentally compared to Arkansas and Wisconsin — less humidity, different temperatures and elevations.

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―So, that leads me to wonder if there‘s some kind of environmental, climatic factor that‘s throwing a wrench into things. We need to keep investigating and find data on how to effectively use dicamba. It‘s simply going to be around and will be applied.‖ On switching to rice weed work… ―I know I‘m the new kid coming in, and it‘s understandable that there will be questions about my moving into rice. First off, in preparation, I‘ve been doing as much rice research and reading as possible ahead of time. That is absolutely no substitute for learning in the field, of course. ―This spring, I hope to be working with farmers directly and have them show me around, show their operations, all of it. I want to know what they see as the benefits and struggles on a daily basis with rice. What do they think needs to be done with the weed management side of things?

Books are great, but there‘s nothing like an education from walking fields. I want to be out there with the farmers. ―I‘d like to conduct a survey and gather data on the precision ag technology side. What are farmers using? What are they interested in? It would be great to merge the interests and work I‘ve done into the rice and soybean sectors. This includes implementing aerial application research. A large portion of applications in rice are made aerially, and finding solutions for growers and applicators to more effectively apply products aerially (from drift, coverage, and weed control perspectives) would be a great benefit moving forward.‖ Note: Butts can be emailed at tbutts@uaex.edu and followed on Twitter at @weedsARwild. https://www.deltafarmpress.com/weeds/meet-new-arkansas-extension-ricesoybean-weed-specialist

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