December 07 ,2018 Vol 9 ,Issue 12
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The Opening Of Millers Place At Menara JKG Diane Foo Eu Lynn • December 7, 2018
The phrase ―a miller is a person who operates a mill‖ is what provided inspiration to the new makan spot in JKG Tower. Millers Place is part of JKG Group‘s pursuit in enhancing excellency in everything they do. The vast 4,500 sq ft restaurant was opened to host not only office workers but patrons who seek quality, comfort food with the luxury of fully air-conditioned interiors. Motorists will be able to find parking spots with ease, as there are 640 parking bays available. ―Wherever there is rice, there is happiness‖ is a Chinese saying that closely represents the motive of Millers Place with the logo being a visual representation of a stone miller with a bowl of rice. With talented chefs taking care of your gastronomical needs, the food here is second-to-none. Millers Place provides a variety of comfort food ranging from rice to noodles, which have
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appeared in many popular food blogs, and are frequently written about in print media. In fact, it can be said that most of the cuisine at Millers Place originated in South East Asia.
―A modern interpretation of oriental classics,‖ said Dato‘ Teh Kean Ming from JKG Group. The venue is filled with artsy modern vibes which pays tribute to the oriental heritage. In addition to that, Millers Place is also surrounded by many different types of air plants, such as ‗Tillandsia‘ in its scientific name, solely to enhance the quality of air. Altogether, this modern design recreates the memories of the past. Take out your phones and post as many photos as you want of the gastronomic delights and dashing interiors with creative hashtags, as Millers Place has created an Instagram corner to suit the social media trend for the youngsters and adults alike.
People sometimes ask ―Why Millers Place? What do they have to offer?‖. Well, if you are a staff or JKG Tower tenant, then Millers Place is great for you when it comes to value, taste, and proximity. Other than that, if you are planning on any corporate events, or even if you need a venue for a birthday party or wedding celebration, Millers Place is a great location for these special events. All in all, Millers Place is the go-to place for an extravagant gastronomical experience in a modern-throwback concept that comes with the benefit of having more than enough parking space. Bring your friends and family to Millers Place for a great time and leave with happy memories of the great food!
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This article was written by the editorial team of PropertyGuru. To contact them about this or other stories email editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my
As a property buyer, it is important to be well informed on the buying process and laws governing the housing industry. https://www.propertyguru.com.my/property-news/2018/12/176885/the-opening-of-millers-place-at-menara-jkg
Paddy procurement stalemate continues over FAQ As a result, more than 50,000 quintals of paddy are lying at different village points and mandis in Jeypore and Koraput sub-divisions for sale due to the dispute. published: 07th December 2018 04:55 AM | Last Updated: 07th December 2018 11
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Bags of paddy at a mandi in Koraput district By Express News Service
JEYPORE: The stalemate over paddy procurement has been continuing in Koraput district following a dispute over fair average quality (FAQ) norms between farmers and millers even after 12 days of opening of mandis. As a result, more than 50,000 quintals of paddy are lying at different village points and mandis in Jeypore and Koraput sub-divisions for sale due to the dispute. Though the administration had opened the mandis in the region on November 9, it could not be geared up due to non-participation of millers of the district. Later, they joined in the procurement process on November 26 following pressure from the administration. However, as soon as the mandis started functioning, the District Millers‘ Association raised their voice over low quality paddy in the centres and informed the District Civil Supply office about non-availability of FAQ standard paddy. They urged the administration to ensure only FAQ standard paddy transaction in the mandis for quality custom milling rice (CMR).
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The officials of civil supply and PACS, who are authorised for paddy quality measurement in the district, asked the farmers to bring FAQ standard paddy to the procurement centre for sale. This led to widespread resentment among the farmers. While the officials suggested that the millers should purchase paddy stocks by negotiating with farmers, the latter urged them to accept their rice after custom milling. So far, only 323 quintal of paddy has been purchased at the mandis in the district. The district administration has decided to hold a tripartite meeting between farmer leaders, officials and millers to resolve the issue soon for smooth functioning of mandis.Meanwhile, the farmers have urged the district administration to purchase all types of paddies from the farmers, irrespective of their quality, at the minimum support price (MSP). The paddy, which was saved from the untimely rains, is likely to be discoloured and would not fulfil the norms of the FAQ prescribed by the Government, they said. http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/dec/07/paddy-procurement-stalemate-continues-overfaq-1908401.html
Farmer‘s Group stuck with rice huller The Independent December 6, 2018
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A group of 300 small holder farmers in Gulu district is stuck with a rice huller despite the bumper harvest due to lack of electricity. It is now three months since Latyeng Farmer Group in Laliya Sub County, about 10 Kilometers North of Gulu Town received the rice huller under the Operation Wealth Creation – OWC program to process their harvest for value addition. Ben Ochan, the Chairperson of Latyeng Farmers Group, the umbrella organization for the farmer‘s group, says power distributors UMEME requires about Shillings 40 million to procure a transformer to connect the rice huller.Ochan says the rice huller is too big to be driven on a generator at a critical time when the members want to mill their rice produce. The group was trained by the Integrated Seed Production Scheme to produce rice seeds for farmers in the area.
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Ochan says the group produced 135 acres of Namse Rice seeds, which they supplied to commercial farmers in the region. Vicky Ochan, the vice chairperson of the group says members have been forced to mill their rice from millers charging them exorbitant prices in Gulu Town. She says the group intends to pack and label the Rice before selling it. World Bank has plans of developing farmer cooperatives in Northern Uganda to enable them tap into the unique agribusiness markets in the region. Anthony Thompson, the World Bank Country Manager says the Bank is developing projects aimed at creating better agribusiness opportunities for the farmers. According to the World Bank, investing in agriculture provides huge potential for expediting national economic growth and the ambitious journey to the middle income status. https://www.independent.co.ug/farmers-group-stuck-with-rice-huller/
Doctors explained when the rice may be hazardous to health By paradox 06.12.2018
Supporters of a healthy diet is recommended to soak the rice. Scientists conducted an experiment during which found dangerous quality of rice, namely, rice – ―the champion‖ in content of arsenic.Professor Zheng Zhou the University of Indiana told me
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that his fellow researchers conducted a large-scale experiment, which found that 70-90% of arsenic can be absorbed into the rice grains during the development of the plant. And after drinking man substance enters the digestive tract, where it can gradually accumulate. Scientists believe that this may lead to the development of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In this regard, supporters of a healthy diet is recommended to soak the rice, then rinse it and boil in plenty of water. They explain that in this way it is possible to reduce the content of harmful substances in rice. http://micetimes.asia/doctors-explained-when-the-rice-may-be-hazardous-to-health/
tackling the menace with intelligence-driven approach. He frowned, ―The number of motorcycles being used to smuggle foreign rice is alarming, notwithstanding the risk associated with it. So, we are deploying intelligence in curtailing it. Instead of chasing Okada smugglers, we trace them to their ware houses and evacuate the items. We are working 24 hours including Sundays to protect our economic environment, especially this yuletide season‖. https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/12/ogun-customs-rakes-in-n1-1bn-intercepts-6015-bags-offoreign-rice-exotic-cars/
USA Rice Daily, Thursday, December 6, 2018 December 6, 2018 Trade talks, everyone listens U.S., Central American and Dominican Republis Rice Industries Meet By Sarah Moran
SAN DIEGO, CA -- Forty individuals from USA Rice and the Central American Rice Federation (FECARROZ) met here earlier this week to talk about the Central America-Dominican Republic-U.S. free trade agreement (CAFTA-DR). CAFTA-DR will enter its fourteenth year in 2019 and as such, is required to conduct a review of the operation and implementation of the free
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trade agreement as it relates to trade in agricultural goods.
"Central America is the second largest importer of paddy rice for the United States and we hope that this meeting will facilitate a future alliance with the American rice industry so that we can be converted into the largest importer of paddy rice," said Mario Solorzano, president of FECARROZ. "The FECARROZ proposal is a win-win strategy that is necessary in order to guarantee the long term sustainability of the commercial relationships between the United States, Central America, and the Dominican Republic."
"Central America is a top destination for U.S. rice and helps keep our export market thriving," said USA Rice Chairman Charley Mathews, Jr. "We are pleased that FECARROZ has given thought to how this trade can be sustained and reached out to us to start this dialogue."
"We will be investigating the merits of the proposal and be in continued conversations with FECARROZ during this process," said Todd Burich, chair of the USA Rice Latin American Trade Policy Subcommittee. "We welcome the opportunity to take a step back and evaluate improvements in our trade."
Can rice filter water from ag fields? Research considers pesticide-cleansing properties of rice plants Dec 05, 2018 Rice is a staple food crop of 20 percent of the world‘s population. It‘s also grown on every continent except Antarctica.
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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.
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.
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―It‘s potentially huge for developing countries to be able to use this as a crop and water cleaning technology,‖ he said. 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.‖ Read more about this research in the Journal of Environmental Quality. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded this project. https://www.cornandsoybeandigest.com/drainage-equipment/can-rice-filter-water-ag-fields
India rice rates slip; tough Chinese rules dent Vietnam exports Sumita Layek DECEMBER 6, 2018 / 6:10 PM
BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices fell a the second consecutive week in India on a weakening rupee and slow demand, while strict inspections from top consumer China muted exports from Vietnam. Women plant rice saplings at a paddy field in a village in Nagaon district, in the northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2018. REUTERS/Anuwar Hazarika/Files India‘s 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted around $364-$368 per tonne this week, from $366-$370 the last week.―Prices are down as traders are adjusting to the drop in the rupee. Demand is still weak,‖ said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.The Indian rupee fell nearly 1 percent on Thursday to the lowest level in two weeks, increasing exporters margin from the overseas sales. In an attempt to accelerate exports, the Indian government last month said it will give a 5 percent subsidy for non-basmati rice shipments for the four months to March 25, 2019.In neighbouring Bangladesh, rice imports in July-November stood at 106,640 tonnes, the country‘s food ministry data showed, after the government imposed a 28 percent tax on shipments to support its farmers after local production revived.Meanwhile, in Vietnam, rates for 5 percent broken rice dipped to $400 a tonne from $408 last week as exports to China fell on stricter inspections and conditions on Vietnamese rice, traders said.
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―Exports to China are almost frozen, no one dares to buy or sell. Some people who had their rice ready at the port now have to take them back because they fear the Chinese side will not take them,‖ a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said.However, the fall in prices was limited due to tight supply at the end of a small crop season in Vietnam and orders from rice-scarce Philippines. The next major crop harvest in the southeast-Asian nation, the winter-spring crop, is due next March.In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices narrowed to $390-$393, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, from $380-$397 last week.―Apart from the recent order from the Philippines, Thai rice exporters are not expecting any large order until early 2019,‖ a Bangkokbased rice trader said. Traders attributed this week‘s fluctuation in rice prices to the exchange rate. The Thai baht shed more than a quarter of a percent on Thursday, after rising for four previous sessions.[EMRG/FRX] ―Some exporters are still talking about a possible deal to markets like Japan and Indonesia, but so far things are quiet and will likely remain this way until January,‖ said another Bangkokbased trader. https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/india-rice-rates-slip-tough-chinese-rules-dent-vietnam-exportsidINKBN1O51EK
Rice Prices as on : 06-12-2018 03:01:05 PM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market. Arrivals Current
Price % change
Season cumulative
Modal
Prev. Modal
Prev.Yr %change
Rice Bangalore(Kar)
2263.00
-48.5
60508.00
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4300
,
4300
2.38
Manjeri(Ker)
290.00
NC
9570.00
3500
3500
-5.41
Hardoi(UP)
290.00
314.29
3030.00
2440
2480
7.02
Madhoganj(UP)
285.00
NC
2734.30
2150
2140
-
Puranpur(UP)
260.00
30
9650.70
2310
2300
-
Bharthna(UP)
240.00
14.29
8572.50
2450
2450
-
Etawah(UP)
195.00
-13.33
2906.00
2400
2400
5.96
Gondal(UP)
182.50
1.96
13741.50
2500
2500
17.92
Siliguri(WB)
164.00
-0.61
11862.00
2700
2700
NC
Bindki(UP)
160.00
6.67
1370.00
2190
2190
-
Azamgarh(UP)
150.00
7.14
25065.00
2210
2215
5.24
Pilibhit(UP)
140.00
9.38
18849.50
2295
2290
2.46
Sainthia(WB)
129.00
-5.15
1967.00
2450
2460
10.86
Mainpuri(UP)
114.00
-2.56
2037.50
2770
2720
-
Lalitpur(UP)
110.00
-8.33
1720.00
2730
2720
-
Lucknow(UP)
102.00
-3.77
2468.00
2350
2350
9.30
Agra(UP)
102.00
-2.86
4329.00
2540
2520
-4.15
Shahjahanpur(UP)
100.00
NC
12856.40
2350
2360
-
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,
Barhaj(UP)
95.00
18.75
4474.00
2270
2270
-
Aligarh(UP)
85.00
6.25
3340.00
2540
2550
-0.78
Bareilly(UP)
85.00
88.89
1614.40
2275
2290
-
Kalipur(WB)
80.00
NC
4061.00
2400
2400
4.35
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
280.00
3800
3800
-
Hapur(UP)
70.00
40
3130.00
2720
2720
19.30
Jangipur(WB)
64.50
-0.77
194.00
2895
2780
-
Beldanga(WB)
60.00
-7.69
2345.00
2600
2500
4.00
Akbarpur(UP)
55.00
-17.91
735.00
2220
2210
-
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)
55.00
-8.33
5325.00
2800
2800
9.80
Gazipur(UP)
51.00
-8.93
1373.50
2800
2800
-
Devariya(UP)
50.00
25
2112.00
2100
2132
-1.64
Maur(UP)
47.00
6.82
1879.00
2200
2215
-
Kopaganj(UP)
47.00
6.82
2389.00
2200
2215
1.85
Basti(UP)
44.00
-2.22
2850.50
2210
2210
4.49
Kicchha(Utr)
43.20
-42.32
948.70
2200
2200
-
Naanpara(UP)
42.20
83.48
1872.90
2340
2350
5.64
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,
Sahiyapur(UP)
36.50
69.77
2743.50
2210
2230
-
Mathura(UP)
35.00
NC
1283.00
2700
2710
7.14
Jhargram(WB)
35.00
9.38
568.00
2800
2800
16.67
Auraiya(UP)
30.00
20
953.50
2100
2100
-4.55
Khalilabad(UP)
30.00
-25
1364.50
2225
2225
-
Rampur(UP)
30.00
13.21
667.00
2350
2360
-
Dadri(UP)
30.00
NC
1076.00
2700
2750
13.68
Jaunpur(UP)
29.50
-84.47
3122.80
2260
2260
7.62
Raiganj(WB)
28.00
NC
1193.00
3350
3350
32.67
Islampur(WB)
27.00
NC
1100.00
3450
3450
53.33
Saharanpur(UP)
26.00
-3.7
1835.00
2710
2700
14.59
Sirsaganj(UP)
26.00
8.33
1174.00
2750
2750
17.02
Khatra(WB)
24.00
-20
1224.00
2650
2650
-
Nadia(WB)
22.00
-8.33
617.00
3800
3800
2.70
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
22.00
10
85.00
2550
2850
-1.92
Jayas(UP)
21.00
-32.26
2477.00
1930
1950
-1.03
Panchpedwa(UP)
21.00
950
884.00
2250
2150
-
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,
Robertsganj(UP)
20.00
2252.94
626.50
2250
2225
13.92
Payagpur(UP)
20.00
-60.78
192.40
1750
1700
-
Falakata(WB)
20.00
NC
414.00
2650
2700
23.26
Alipurduar(WB)
20.00
NC
1000.00
2650
2700
15.22
Kolaghat(WB)
18.00
NC
464.00
2850
2860
23.91
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
18.00
NC
409.00
2850
2860
23.91
Jasra(UP)
17.00
41.67
1527.50
2350
2400
-
Balrampur(UP)
16.00
-20
132.00
2250
2250
-
Bazpur(Utr)
16.00
-86
2993.80
2450
2500
NC
Karsiyang(Matigara)(WB)
15.50
0.65
1028.60
3000
3000
11.11
Atarra(UP)
15.00
-25
426.00
2200
2150
10.00
Vishalpur(UP)
15.00
NC
801.00
2320
2325
-
Ghatal(WB)
15.00
11.11
410.00
2500
2450
2.04
Fatehabad(UP)
14.00
154.55
49.00
2320
2350
7.41
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
14.00
-3.45
415.50
2700
2695
-
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)
13.00
333.33
574.00
2650
2650
26.19
Giridih(Jha)
12.34
37.72
935.46
4200
4200
20.00
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,
Kayamganj(UP)
12.00
20
1051.00
2370
2380
3.95
Champadanga(WB)
12.00
-14.29
740.00
3000
3000
9.09
Bijnaur(UP)
11.50
15
195.10
2290
2300
-
Etah(UP)
11.00
22.22
170.00
2530
2520
-
Farukhabad(UP)
11.00
-8.33
578.60
2650
2600
19.91
Mahoba(UP)
11.00
-13.39
561.40
2130
2120
-
Kalyani(WB)
10.50
200
306.50
3400
3400
NC
Khurja(UP)
10.00
-16.67
1288.00
2600
2600
-
Muradabad(UP)
10.00
42.86
457.50
2300
2315
-
Vilthararoad(UP)
10.00
NC
611.00
2050
2150
-4.65
Soharatgarh(UP)
9.00
12.5
240.00
2230
2260
7.47
Badayoun(UP)
8.00
-42.86
961.00
2270
2270
-
Ruperdeeha(UP)
8.00
14.29
490.00
1700
1700
-
Baberu(UP)
7.50
-
15.00
2160
-
-
Kannauj(UP)
7.50
7.14
272.40
2400
2400
9.09
Unnao(UP)
6.50
-13.33
181.60
2275
2300
10.98
Tundla(UP)
6.50
8.33
271.10
2530
2535
-
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,
Banda(UP)
6.00
-45.45
75.00
2140
2160
9.74
Kosikalan(UP)
6.00
NC
235.10
2550
2550
-
Mugrabaadshahpur(UP)
5.00
NC
300.30
2300
2300
-
Buland Shahr(UP)
4.50
12.5
197.50
2620
2620
11.97
Kalyanpur(Tri)
4.20
5
85.30
2750
2965
NC
Kasganj(UP)
4.00
-50
154.50
2500
2520
-
Badda(UP)
4.00
-50
24.00
2400
2400
-
Ranaghat(WB)
3.60
2.86
300.83
3550
3550
54.35
Anandnagar(UP)
3.00
50
116.80
2200
2300
-
Gadaura(UP)
3.00
-33.33
52.40
2100
2100
3.70
Jahangirabad(UP)
3.00
-14.29
239.00
2575
2575
9.57
Mirzapur(UP)
3.00
-25
1001.00
2280
2290
-
Mau(Chitrakut)(UP)
3.00
20
89.20
1835
1825
-
Amroha(UP)
2.00
NC
99.82
2600
2600
5.26
Penugonda(Mah)
1.00
NC
30.00
4080
4080
0.25
Alibagh(Mah)
1.00
NC
29.00
2250
2250
-43.75
Murud(Mah)
1.00
NC
28.00
2250
2250
-25.00
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Nautnava(UP)
1.00
NC
62.50
2250
2150
10.29
Ujhani(UP)
1.00
-33.33
21.20
2240
2270
-
Fatehpur Sikri(UP)
0.90
-10
35.70
2560
2570
1.19
Khairagarh(UP)
0.90
-30.77
130.80
2570
2570
1.98
Jagnair(UP)
0.80
14.29
96.40
2570
2570
1.18
Khair(UP)
0.80
-20
1192.40
2550
2450
NC
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25678808.ece
‗Guyana‘s rice sector under threat‘ – says Opposition MP Seeraj December 6, 2018
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PPP/C Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj
As rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast are experiencing continued difficulties, Member of Parliament (MP), Dharamkumar Seeraj used his time in the National Assembly during Thursday‘s leg of the Budget 2019 debates to touch on the rice industry, which he posited is under threat as a result of failures on the part of the coalition Government. Seedlings granted to the farmers from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) are not germinating causing farmers to now have to re-prepare and replant their crops, he said. Speaking on the ongoing troubles facing the farmers, Seeraj noted that just last season, the farmers already lost over $1B because of poor pest control which, in his opinion, should have been avoided. According to Seeraj, the People‘s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) had established a specialized unit to deal with pest and disease control, a unit which was reportedly disbanded by the APNU/AFC Government in 2015.
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―357,000 bags of paddy losses equivalent to $1B just because of a factor that could have been avoided in pest and disease control…in 2015 that specialized unit was disbanded and we were told that they works would be reassigned…that unit was created under the PPP with a purpose‖ Seeraj chastised. Further, the MP revealed that coupled with the woes that the farmers are already facing, their machines and properties are also under threat, plights, he noted, that the Agriculture Minister is aware of, but to date has done nothing. According to Seeraj, as if those issues were not enough, the farmers are now being charged excessive amount of monies to plant their crops. ―The cost of production is going up, $15,000 per acre Drainage and Irrigation charges them…they are being asked to produce more while cost keeps going up… In the purchase of fuel alone the farming section of the industry would have contributed more than $3B in taxes….they need to be given support so that they can produce and compete because we are underrated on a global scale…this Government is penalizing agriculture by means of increases..‖ Seeraj noted. Touching on the international markets for rice which is also facing several setbacks, Seeraj reminded of the Panama rice rejection saga. Some 20 containers of rice shipped to Panama under a Government to Government arrangement with Guyana was rejected. According to reports, the containers of what was expected to be packaged white rice were rejected as a result of substandard quality. It was understood that the Panamanian authorities were complaining that the samples sent were not in keeping with the contractual agreement with Guyana. Seeraj questioned why did GRDB, a Government Agency, place the Panamanian market, one of the most lucrative, in jeopardy.
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―The Government agency is the contracting party to Panama…they do inspections, issues certificates before customs could export, and yet some 30 containers had to come back because the rice was different from what was requested…how did they allow this to happen?‖ the MP questioned. Added to those issues Government is reportedly also exporting materials to Mexico at a lower price. Further, he posited that the Malaysian Government is also seeking an agreement which is not being supported by the coalition. https://www.inewsguyana.com/guyanas-rice-sector-under-threat-says-opposition-mp-seeraj/
‘NFA rice to come from local farmers’
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol vowed that affordable rice that will be sold by the National Food Authority (NFA) starting next year will be produced by local farmers. Piñol said this will be made possible by the passage of the rice tariffication bill, which will disallow the NFA from importing rice to boost its buffer stocks. ―The NFA will be focused on the procurement of palay [unmilled rice] produced by Filipino farmers,‖ Piñol said in his latest Facebook post. ―This is a welcome development not only for the Filipino farmers but also for top officials of the Department of Agriculture and the NFA who advocate for change in the image of
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the rice agency,‖ he added. The exit of the NFA from importation, Piñol said, will end the corrupt practice of some employees who seek bribes before awarding import permits. ―[The NFA‘s] years of involvement in the rice importation program for buffer stocking, suspicions were rife that there were financial transactions involved where officials raked in money. The very tight requirements also led to corruption in the awarding of import permits,‖ he said. Piñol said the passage of the rice tariff bill ―assures farmers of a market and stable income.‖ For next year, the government has allocated P7 billion for local palay procurement. The House of Representatives on November 28 endorsed for President Duterte‘s signature the rice tariffication bill and the coconut-levy trust fund after it ratified the bicameral conference committee reports on the two measures. The rice tariffication bill would lift the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice in keeping with its commitment to the World Trade Organization after the special waiver on rice expired on June 30, 2017. The conversion of the QR on rice into tariffs would enable government to increase its revenues. Tariffs collected from imports will then form the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which will bankroll initiatives aimed at boosting farm productivity and helping farmers access cheap credit. Under the rice tariffication bill, 10 percent of the P10-billion RCEF will be set aside for credit to farmers and cooperatives. Removing the QR on rice by amending Republic Act 8178 would allow the government to generate P27 billion annually, according to a paper published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies. Economic managers have been banking on the passage of the measure before the end of the year to rein in inflation, as the spike in rice prices was tagged as a major factor behind the rise in the consumer price index. This year, the highest inflation rate was recorded in September, when it reached 6.7 percent. In January, when the government started implementing the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law, inflation was only at 3.4 percent. The government expects the increase in rice supply—with the scrapping of the QR—to cut the price of the staple by P7 per kilogram. https://businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-rice-to-come-from-local-farmers/
Rice cultivation area shrinks A decline in cultivated land has resulted in Bhutan losing more than 31,300 tons of rice in the last two decades, which could have otherwise fed one-fifth of the total population for a year. The country is 47 percent rice self-sufficient. According to Yadunath Bajgai (PhD), principal research officer with Agriculture Research Development Centre, Yusipang, the decline is due to the decrease in cultivated land from about 28,000 hectares in 1981 to 20,547 hectares in 2017. The yield per hectare in 1981 stood little over 2.2 tons and the productivity doubled to 4.2 tons per hectares in 2017 despite the loss of cultivated land over this period. The average yield
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doubled because of innovation in varietal development, crop nutrient management and plan protection according to the researcher. ―Although productivity doubled over this period, our rice self-sufficiency stands at 47 percent,‖ he said. ―We have forgone quite a lot of rice because of decline in the cultivated area. Yadunath Bajgai shared his paper on investment and innovation in agriculture at the opening of Bhutan Lectures on Innovation, Science and Society (BLISS) on December 3.
Loss of prime rice growing area to infrastructure and town development, insufficient irrigation water, pressing
human-wildlife conflict and shortage of farm labour among others were cited as reasons that pushed farmers to leave their lands fallow. He said that the country is only three percent selfsufficient in edible oil despite enjoying good resource and energy and said intervention and
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investments were urgent in the production of edible oils. A likely cause of these consequences was because of a decline in the fiscal budget allocation to RNR. Budget allocation to the sector dropped from 23 percent in the fourth Plan to seven percent in the fifth Plan. ―This could have also led to a decrease in the share of RNR GDP contribution,‖ he said. From about 37 percent of the RNR sector‘s contribution to GDP in 1981, the percentage of GDP share from RNR sectors dropped to 17 percent in 2016. The highest percentage of budget share RNR sectors received after the fifth Plan was in the seventh Plan at 16 percent. The lowest budget was allocated during the 10th at 5.6 percent and in the 11th Plan at 6.3 percent. Other challenges involved in agriculture are decline in soil fertility, mainly the loss of phosphorus in the soil, climate change and a loss of focus on agricultural development research like the dissolution of the council of RNR research of Bhutan in 2016. ―RNR sector will face the biggest blow. Suitable crops of today may not be suitable in some ten years. Investment in agriculture research development should begin now because it takes more than ten years to develop new varieties,‖ Yadunath Bajgai said. The research urged policymakers and stakeholders to reconsider and reprioritise food production and agriculture as key development agenda. Labour shortage, crop damage by wild animals, insufficient irrigation supply, and limited access to markets among others are top four farming constraints faced by the agriculture in the country today. He said there is a need to invest more in agriculture research and development on a priority basis, build human resource, mechanise food production, diversify agro-ecology and marketing among others. Rice constitutes 53 percent of daily dietary energy requirement for Bhutanese. Bhutan cultivates rice on 53,055 acres and produces 85,090MT. Today, the country has less than three percent of total land cultivated and about 57 percent of people depend on agriculture for food. Some enablers that led to increased productivity were the construction of 1,718 km of irrigation channels at the end of the 11th Plan, distribution of 1,200 power tillers, 11,196 km of farm roads and 18,691 km of electricity fencing among others. http://www.kuenselonline.com/rice-cultivation-area-shrinks/
Farmer’s Group stuck with rice huller Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A group of 300 small holder farmers in Gulu district is stuck with a rice huller despite the bumper harvest due to lack of electricity. It is now three months since Latyeng Farmer Group in Laliya Sub County, about 10 Kilometers North of Gulu Town received the rice huller under the Operation Wealth Creation – OWC program to process their harvest for value addition. Ben Ochan, the Chairperson of Latyeng Farmers Group, the umbrella organization for the farmer‘s group, says power distributors UMEME requires about Shillings 40 million to procure a transformer to connect the rice huller. Ochan says the rice
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huller is too big to be driven on a generator at a critical time when the members want to mill their rice produce. The group was trained by the Integrated Seed Production Scheme to produce rice seeds for farmers in the area.
Ochan says the group produced 135 acres of Namse Rice seeds, which they supplied to commercial farmers in the region. Vicky Ochan, the vice chairperson of the group says members have been forced to mill their rice from millers charging them exorbitant prices in Gulu Town. She says the group intends to pack and label the Rice before selling it. World Bank has plans of developing farmer cooperatives in Northern Uganda to enable them tap into the unique agribusiness markets in the region. Anthony Thompson, the World Bank Country Manager says the Bank is developing projects aimed at creating better agribusiness opportunities for the farmers. According to the World Bank, investing in agriculture provides huge potential for expediting national economic growth and the ambitious journey to the middle income status.
https://www.independent.co.ug/farmers-group-stuck-with-rice-huller/
Thailand rice production increasing 2% BANGKOK, THAILAND — Despite a shift to corn acreage, Thailand‘s rice production in 2018-19 is still 2% higher than last year, according to a Nov. 28 GAIN report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture‘s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Production is estimated to reach 20.7 million tonnes as increased off-season rice acreage in the northern region and the central plains will offset the reduced acreage in the northeastern region. Rice exports in 2018 are estimated at 10.8 million tonnes, a drop of 7% from 2017 due to reduced exports of fragrant and parboiled rice, which offset increased exports of white rice. Corn production is estimated at 5.3 million tonnes, up 6% from 2017-18 due to expanded offseason corn acreage. Attractive prices and government financial support are driving the increased plantings, the FAS said. ―The acreage for off-season corn is higher than previously expected, particularly in the northeastern region, due to limited water supplies for 2018-19 off-season rice cultivation,‖ the report said. https://www.world-grain.com/articles/11338-thailand-rice-production-increasing-2
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