Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter February 15,2016
Vol 6 Issue I
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
Today Rice News Headlines...
Editorial Board Chief Editor
Trade with Iran: Areas Pakistan is looking to tap Experts want Tanzanian farmers to upgrade rice Direct-seeding addresses high labor cost – experts New rice seed processing facility in the Science City of Muñoz Veggie farming to trim Kingdom‟s import bill DNA rice breakthrough raises 'green revolution' hopes Rice millers in violent clash in Ebonyi DNA to turbocharge rice 'green revolution' Direct seeding cuts labor cost in rice farming, PhilRice says DNA rice breakthrough raises 'green revolution' hopes APEDA RICE COMMODITY NEWS
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah Rahmat Ullah Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor Legal Advisor Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
News Detail...
Trade with Iran: Areas Pakistan is looking to tap
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid Javed Islam Agha Ch.Hamid Malhi Dr.Akhtar Hussain Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF) Islam Akhtar Khan
By Peer Muhammad / Farhan Zaheer Published: February 15, 2016
Editorial Advisory Board
ISLAMABAD/KARACHI:
Desperate to take the much-awaited step towards reviving trade relations, Pakistan is mulling enforcing its five-year bilateral trade roadmap, already envisaged with an ambitious target of $5 billion, up from the present $270 million.Unlike the past, Pakistan now wants to move away from certain commodities and wants to expand and diversify its exports.The key potential trade areas Pakistan is eyeing are rice, horticulture, sports goods, surgical equipment, information technology, textile goods and construction material.
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University of Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of Swabi
Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology ART, Peshawar
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Five-year bilateral trade roadmap seeks diversification. PHOTO: FILE
“The post-sanction scenario means we could have a significant market waiting for us,” said a senior Ministry of Commerce officer, directly involved in Iran-related issues. He said Pakistan earlier relied mostly on fruit, rice and wheat exports but now seeks diversification ranging from textiles to IT services. “On the other hand, we could import petroleum products, electricity, leather, chemicals, fruits and vegetables from Iran,” he said.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter He further said that the government had formulated a five-year bilateral trade roadmap which would facilitate the private sector. However, until the time formal banking channels are opened, an interim credible payment mechanism with Iran needs to be put in place by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in consultation with the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). At the same time, keeping in view the substantial potential existing for export of textiles from Pakistan to Iran, the Ministry of Commerce and TDAP are planning to hold a single country exhibition in Tehran, primarily on textiles, in the first half of 2016. At the same time, Iran has conveyed its willingness to set up two additional crossing points at Gabd (Pakistan)-Reemdan (Iran) and Mand (Pakistan)–Pishin (Iran). At present, there is only one international crossing point on Pak-Iran border at Taftan (Pakistan) and Mirjaveh (Iran). The Ministry of Commerce has conveyed its concurrence to the Ministry of Interior for opening the two crossing points. The commerce ministry has also proposed that the Ministry of Finance be directed to post custom officials at the said posts. “Allowing barter trade for the border community is also under consideration. That will be one a good source of business for small traders on both sides of the border,� added the official. What the private sector has to say There is no doubt that establishment of banking channels will pave the way for bilateral trade. But while the government is eager to move ahead with its roadmap and organising singlecountry exhibitions, the private sector is sceptical on the way forward.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter “We have not started official marketing for the single-country exhibition in Iran, but we are noticing a great level of interest in agro-based industries, fruits and vegetables exporters and footwear sector who want to participate in the exhibition,” Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Secretary Rabiya Javeri Agha told The Express Tribune. Despite enormous trade potential, officials of TDAP – the country‟s top body to promote exports – say the speed of progress in business and trade will only increase once the two countries settle down issues over banking channels. The textile industry, which constitutes more than 50% of the country‟s exports, believes Pakistan can increase its exports to Iran but it will require close coordination between the private and public sector. “There is a „huge‟ export potential in Iran,” Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Central Chairman Shaikh Mohammad Shafiq reiterated. Pakistani rice is one of the few traditional items that Iran imports. As far as rice exports to Iran are concerned, some are hopeful while others say the situation will take a long time to improve. “The Iranians have been placing orders with us in the recent past, but we were unable to meet them due to the absence of banking links. This has badly hurt our share in Iran as India has taken over by doing currency swap deals even during sanctions,” Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan Chairman Muhammad Shafique said. Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2016
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1046838/areas-pakistan-is-looking-to-tap/
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Experts want Tanzanian farmers to upgrade rice
LIMITING WASTE: The researchers said farmers need to objectively measure the amount of moisture in paddy before processing for a good outcome or else they could end up losing from this value adding process.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Tanzanian farmers have been encouraged to sell processed rice so as to increase their income by nearly 50%. According to study dubbed „Selling now or later, to process or not? The role of risk and time preferences in rice farmers decisions,‟ selling rice or later are more profitable for farmers, than selling paddy or immediately after harvest. Dr Remidius Ruhinduka was speaking during the Environment for Development (EFD) dissemination workshop in Dodoma recently. However, Dr Ruhinduka said despite having these opportunities, for some reasons, most rice farmers in Tanzania do not go for these profitable options. “Processed rice could increase the income by nearly 50%. We are encouraging rice farmers to opt for these options,” Dr Ruhinduka said, He however highlights on the importance of addressing some potential constraints governing such choices by farmers. For example, he said farmers need to objectively measure the amount of moisture in paddy before processing for a good outcome; else they could end up losing from this value adding process. Therefore he added challenge remains to be the limited or non-existing access of moisture meters to most of poor rice farmers in the country. The study quotes one of the directives of the former Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda who earlier advised rice farmers to process their crop before the sale. “Rice farmers, process your crop before you sell it. Let‟s have no more selling of the paddy,” the Premeir said. Different researchers have also predicted for bright future for this cash crop. A Principal Researcher at the International Rice Research Institute, Abdelbagi Ismail said Tanzania is set to become the next rice granary in Africa. “It has great potential to expand as it has advantages of having ample suitable lands and water resources as well as good climate,” he said.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter He added that Tanzania is poised to meet the growing demand for rice in Eastern Africa. It can potentially double or even triple its production through a strategy that combines improving agronomic practices, delivering improved high-yielding rice varieties as well as capacity strengthening in research and outreach. According to Firmin Mizambwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Morogoro based Agriculture Seed Agency (ASA), Tanzania produces over one million tons of rice per annum and is second only to Madagascar which leads with an astounding 4.3 tons of rice production per annum. “However, we are on better position to overcome Madagascar he said, adding that (Madagascar) being an Island, cannot expand its paddy farms while our country still has ample virgin land on which more estates can be established.” According to him, at the moment, Tanzania tops the entire East African Region in rice production. The amount of rice produced in Kilombero and Rufiji valleys is expected to triple from the current 500,000 tons to 1.5 million tons by 2015. Speaking during a two-day rice stakeholders‟ workshop in Dar es Salaam recently, the Coordinator for the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT), Dr Mary Shetto, said Tanzania had every required factor including favourable environment to lead in rice production in Eastern and Central Africa. “We want to see farmers producing rice in amounts that would surpass local consumption needs enabling Tanzania to be a notable exporter of the globally popular cereal,” Dr Shetto said. She added that the country was determined to ensure that it becomes one of the largest rice producers in Africa through improved and modern farming techniques. “Tanzania has high chances of leading in rice production in the Eastern Africa and Central Africa. Rice consumption has tremendously increased in recent years. We thus want to ensure that we produce in abundance while also concentrating on improving local rice processing plants,” she said. However their some challenges that frustrate rice production in the country, among them include being dependence on rainfall and poor farming techniques were an impediment to large-scale production. Due to this, new rice growing initiatives would put a lot of focus on irrigation and would use rice species that do not require much water. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives said is now keen on eliminating the challenges that hamper large-scale rice production. According to the government the initial move will involve improving seed quality, enriching soil fertility and controlling fertilizer distribution. In Tanzania rice is the second food crop that is widely produced in the world after maize with its popularity gaining momentum in Tanzania. Tanzania is among the 25 countries that produce rice in Africa. The country targets to boost production from the 875,120 tons recorded in 2007/2008 to 1,750,240 tons in 2017/2018. By Leonard Magomba, Sunday, February 14th, 2016 http://www.busiweek.com/index1.php?Ctp=2&pI=4830&pLv=3&srI=85&spI=464
Direct-seeding addresses high labor cost – experts POSTED BY WEB TEAM POSTED ON FEB - 9 - 2016
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The direct seeding, a crop establishment method where pre-germinated seeds are sown directly onto the soil surface, can help address high labor cost in rice farming according to experts. PhilRice Agronomist Myrna D. Malabayabas said that the method can be done either by dry or wet seeding and does not require seedbed preparation. “The dry direct-seeding method is more commonly used in rainfed and upland areas. It involves sowing of pre-germinated seeds on dry soil surface and then incorporating the seeds either by ploughing or harrowing. Wet direct-seeding, on the other hand, is practiced during dry and wet seasons in irrigated and rainfed areas. It is done either through broadcasting or drilling pregerminated seeds with the use of a drum-seeder on a wet, well-leveled paddy,� Malabayabas explained. Direct-seeded rice matures earlier than transplanted rice. Hence, labor requirements and expenses for crop establishment and the time spent on crop management are reduced. A PhilRice study titled Benchmarking the Philippine rice economy relative to major riceproducing countries in Asia, says that P4.42 is spent on labor cost for every kilogram of rice on transplanting while P3.28 is spent on direct-seeding. Crop establishment method
Labor cost
Labor requirement (1 man-day = 8 hours of work)
Direct-seeding
P3.28/kg of rice
2 man-days/ha
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Transplanting
P4.42/kg of rice
25 man-days/ha
In direct-seeding method, farmers can save up to P1.14 on labor cost for every kilogram of rice they produce and 23-man days for every hectare of their field. In a seminar titled Direct-seeded Rice: Progress, Prospects, and Challenges at PhilRice on 21 January, Dr. Vethaiya T. Balasubramanian said that managing weeds is one of the challenges in using the direct-seeding method. The former agronomist at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) explained that weeds germinate simultaneously with rice due to the absence of water that suppresses their growth. Nevertheless, options are available to address the problem. “Among the ways to manage weeds include narrow spacing and uniform plant population, appropriate water depth and timing, use of weed-competitive varieties, and herbicide rotation and combination,” Dr. Balasubramanian said. Malabayabas added that savings from the labor cost can offset the expenses in weed and pest control. “When the Integrated Crop Management (ICM) is followed properly, the optimum yield is comparable to that of transplanted method,” he said. Experts at PhilRice recommend varieties for the direct-seeding method. These varieties are early maturing, resistant to drought, and can attain a maximum yield of at least 6 t/ha. Recommendation Varieties
Days of Maturity
Maximum Yield
NSIC Rc272 (Sahod Ulan 2)
110 DAS (days after sowing)
6.4 t/ha
NSIC Rc348 (Sahod Ulan 12)
103 DAS
5 t/ha
NSIC Rc346 (Sahod Ulan 11)
105 DAS
6.2 t/ha
For more information about the direct-seeding technology, call or text PhilRice Text Center 0920-911-1398 or email prri.mail@philrice.gov.ph. http://www.philrice.gov.ph/direct-seeding-addresses-high-labor-cost-experts/#sthash.jyjv0IC3.dpuf
New rice seed processing facility in the Science City of Muñoz POSTED BY WEB TEAM POSTED ON FEB - 2 - 2016
A new rice seed processing facility was established at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the Science City of Muñoz to help farmers and seed growers in neighboring provinces have an access to high-quality seeds.These seeds have high seedling vigor, meaning, they have a good survival rate and root anchorage, which leads to a higher yield advantage.The facility worth more than $2 M is funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and will house advanced equipment that can process up to 2 tons of seeds per day. “The project‟s objective is to increase the use of high-quality seeds of our farmers in Region III and Pangasinan and also to increase the efficiency of processing and certification of rice seeds by reducing the time of processing and seed testing,” PhilRice Executive Director Dr. Calixto M. 9|www.ricepluss.com , www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com
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Protacio said during the groundbreaking ceremony, 26 January.According to studies, the adoption of high-quality seeds can contribute to 5-10% increase in yield.“With this facility, we will be able to modernize the production and improve the quality of rice seeds and eventually help Filipino farmers increase rice productivity,” said Kim Jae Shin, Korea Ambassador to the Philippines.The facility is expected to be completed in 2017. - See more at: http://www.philrice.gov.ph/new-rice-seed-processing-facility-science-citymunoz/#sthash.Y4ilgMtn.dpuf
Veggie farming to trim Kingdom‟s import bill Mon, 15 February 2016 Ayanna Runcie Government officials, economists and businesses discussed the implementation of a draft program to invigorate vegetable farming in the Kingdom and cut imports from neighbouring countries in half by 2018. The workshop, organised by the Center for Policy Studies and Agriculture Ministry last week, revolved around the Cambodian government‟s $20 million infusion into the agriculture sector, with a focus on vegetable farming, rice seed production and crop diversification. Mey Kalyan, senior adviser for the Supreme National Economic Council, said currently the Kingdom was importing close to 400 tonnes of vegetables a day, at a cost of $200 million a year.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Despite, Vietnam‟s geographical advantages for vegetable farming, which accounts for a bulk of these imports, the government was looking to at least meet the demands of the market by 2018, he added. “Vietnam can produce some things better than we can because of its plateaus and the climate is better,” Kalyan said. “But, we have to figure out what we can do to reduce imports.”The draft program, entitled the Boosting Food Production Project, aims to increase local production to 200 tonnes a day, or 70,000 tonnes a year, while at the same time cutting imports by half to 200 tonnes a day by 2018.
Kalyan added that a central market place will be created to filter in all the vegetables grown in the country, after which they would be subjected to health standards requirements before being sold to the consumer. “Unless farmers are linked to a market, they will not know what to produce,” Kalyan said. While linking farmers to a market was one step in the process, he added, linking them to each other and getting vegetable farmers to work as a community would help increase their sales prospects. Another aspect of the program is to improve the quality of seeds by getting millers and farmers to work together on using high quality jasmine and fragrant rice seeds. “There is [currently] no linkage of the whole value chain. That is why I emphasise that rice millers‟ link with rice farmers and for them to work with the rice seed,” Kalyan said. Chan Sophal, director of the Center for Policy Studies, said that a major challenge in improving the quality of rice was obtaining adequate technology that will improve cultivation practices. However, he emphasised that it is even more important to increase vegetable production because, while rice is produced in surplus, vegetable production has not met demand. Contact author: Ayanna Runcie A woman cleans vegetables at a farm in Kandal's Muk Kampoul district. Heng Chivoan http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/veggie-farming-trim-kingdoms-import-bill
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DNA rice breakthrough raises 'green revolution' hopes Rice-growing techniques learned through thousands of years of trial and error are about to be turbocharged with DNA technology in a breakthrough hailed by scientists as a potential second "green revolution". Over the next few years farmers are expected to have new genome sequencing technology at their disposal, helping to offset a myriad of problems that threaten to curtail production of the grain that feeds half of humanity. Drawing on a massive bank of varieties stored in the Philippines and state-of-the-art Chinese technology, scientists recently completed the DNA sequencing of more than 3,000 of the world's most significant types of rice. With the huge pool of data unlocked, rice breeders will soon be able to produce higher-yielding varieties much more quickly and under increasingly stressful conditions, scientists involved with the project told AFP. Other potential new varieties being dreamt about are ones that are resistant to certain pests and diseases, or types that pack more nutrients and vitamins. "This will be a big help to strengthen food security for rice eaters," said Kenneth McNally, an American biochemist at the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Since rice was first domesticated thousands of years ago, farmers have improved yields through various planting techniques. For the past century breeders have isolated traits, such as high yields and disease resistance, then developed them through cross breeding. However, they did not know which genes controlled which traits, leaving much of the effort to lengthy guesswork. The latest breakthroughs in molecular genetics promise to fast-track the process, eliminating much of the mystery, scientists involved in the project told AFP. Better rice varieties can now be expected to be developed and passed on to farmers' hands in less than three years, compared with 12 without the guidance of DNA sequencing. Genome sequencing involves decoding DNA, the hereditary material of all living cells and organisms. The process roughly compares with solving a giant jigsaw puzzle made up of billions of microscopic pieces. A multinational team undertook the four-year project with the DNA decoding primarily in China by BGI, the world's biggest genome sequencing firm. Leaf tissue from the samples, drawn mostly from IRRI's gene bank of 127,000 varieties were ground by McNally's team at its laboratory in Los Banos, near Manila's southern outskirts, before being shipped for sequencing. A non-profit research outfit founded in 1960, IRRI works with governments to develop advanced varieties of the grain. Farmers and breeders will need the new DNA tools, which scientists take pains to say is not genetic modification, because of the increasingly stressful conditions for rice growing expected in the 21st Century. While there will be many more millions to feed, there is expected to be less land available for planting as farms are converted for urban development, destroyed by rising sea levels or converted to other crops. 12 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Rice-paddy destroying floods, drought and storms are also expected to worsen with climate change. Meanwhile, pests and diseases that evolve to resist herbicides and pesticides will be more difficult to kill. And fresh water, vital for growing rice, is expected to become an increasingly scarce commodity in many parts of the world. As scientists develop the tools necessary to harness the full advantages of the rice genome database, the hope is that new varieties can be developed to combat all those problems. "Essentially, you will be able to design what properties you want in rice, in terms of the drought resistance, resistance to diseases, high yields, and others," said Russian bioanalytics expert and IRRI team member Nickolai Alexandrov. Scientists behind the project hope it will lead to a second "green revolution". The first began in the 1960s as the development of higher-yielding varieties of wheat and rice was credited with preventing massive global food shortages around the world. That giant leap to producing more food involved the cross-breeding of unrelated varieties to produce new ones that grew faster and produced higher yields, mainly by being able to respond better to fertiliser. But the massive gains of the earlier efforts, which earnt US geneticist Norman Borlaug the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, have since reached a plateau. Although the DNA breakthrough has generated much optimism, IRRI scientists caution it is not a magic bullet for all rice-growing problems, and believe that genetically modifying is also necessary. They also warn that governments will still need to implement the right policies, such as in regards to land and water use. One of the key priorities of IRRI is to pack more nutrients into rice, transforming it into a tool to fight ailments linked to inadequate diets in poor countries as well as lifestyle diseases in wealthier countries. "We're interested to understand the nutritional value.... we're looking into the enrichment of micronutrients," Nese Sreenivasulu, the Indian head of the IRRI's grain quality and nutrition centre told AFP. Nese believes Type-2 diabetes, which afflicts hundreds of million of people, can be checked by breeding for particular varieties of rice which when cooked will release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly. IRRI scientists are also hoping to breed rice varieties with a higher component of zinc, which prevents stunting and deaths from diarohea in rice-eating Southeast Asia. - See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/science-and-tech/dna-rice-breakthrough-raisesgreen-revolution-hopes#sthash.iHnHg26o.dpuf
Rice millers in violent clash in Ebonyi February 14, 2016James Eze
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The leadership tussle rocking the Abakaliki Rice Milling Company got messier at the weekend as two rival factions clashed in the Ebonyi State capital.A factional Chairmen, Chukwuemeka Nwankashi, was hospitalized following machete cuts he received on his head and face. It was gathered that the clash could have been bloodier but for the quick intervention of the Police. Parallel elections held on Friday by the two factions produced two parallel executives. One faction supported by government held its election at the Abakaliki Township Stadium where the former chairman, Joseph Ununu, was re-elected. The second faction elected Mr. Nwankashi as its chairman during their election which held at the mill‟s hall. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Mr. Nwankashi accused Mr. Ununu of causing the fracas.
He alleged that Mr Ununu‟s faction armed with various weapons and on his (Ununu‟s) orders swooped on him and his supporters with dangerous weapons as they were celebrating their victory on Friday. “We planned to have our elections but contrary to our constitution, government interfered in it. According to our constitution, it is only registered members that will vote during the election. “We told government to allow us hold the election at our hall but they refused and said we must hold the elections at the stadium. We still agreed. “But when we got to the stadium at 8 a.m. as they fixed, we discovered that they had brought in hoodlums to take over the stadium. We told them that those people are not authentic members of the association but they refused listen so we left. 14 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter “The authentic members then went to the mill and held our election but before that we stopped at government house to let the state government know what was happening. “At the election, I won by 158 votes as I was unopposed. Other officers were also elected thus: Elias Nwogwu (Treasurer), Chijioke Ilodiba (Vice Chairman) and Emeka Agu Ozo financial secretary. “After the election, we went to celebrate. And when we were celebrating, the former Chairman Joseph Ununu aka Zuma came with thugs armed with various dangerous weapons and attacked us”. “They used cutlass and cut my head and my face. They also injured many others. If not for the intervention of the police we would have been killed. But the police‟s timely intervention saved us and they took us to hospital. “The former Chairman even boosted that he has the backing of government and that they told him to eliminate anyone opposing him.” He called on the state government to intervene adding that “even if they have interest in a particular candidate they should come and tell us. We only want the proper things to be done”. Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Uchenna Orji, has said that the state will only recognize the election which produced Mr. Ununu as the Chairman of the Abakaliki Rice Mill Association. Mr. Orji said this while reacting to the emergence of two chairmen after the elections. According to him, the state government has done all it can to ensure that peace reigns at the mill but its efforts were frustrated by selfish individuals. “The government therefore constituted a committee from the office of the Special Adviser on Trade Unions and Market Development headed by myself with other commissioners as members,” he said. He noted that the committee designed a time table for elections which all aspirants accepted as the election was fixed for February 12 at the Abakaliki Township stadium.
“All 13 aspirants were screened as provided by the constitution of the association with recourse to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and at the end, we adopted the Option A4 system with the delegates raising their hands to be counted.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Mr. Orji said Mr. Ununu eventually emerged as the chairman, saying the election which produced him was conducted in the presence of security officials and accredited election observers. “The purported parallel election was conducted by a cartel inside the mill who are produce merchants that connive with rice vendors to brand the rice produced at the mill with name of other state governments. He said that their acts gives the false impression that Ebonyi rice is produced by other states and urged the rice millers and the public to conduct their rice–businesses without fear of molestation. Mr. Ununu on his part denied leading the attack. He, however, maintained that he was duly elected by the members as the people who conducted the parallel election “are those installed by the immediate past governor while the new government belongs to the millers. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/198424-rice-millers-violent-clash-ebonyi.html
DNA to turbocharge rice 'green revolution'
TECHNOLOGY
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter 
Monday 15 February 2016 - 6:32am
Farmers work in a rice field near the International Rice Research Institute in Laguna, south of Manila, 10 October, 2015. Photo: AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS
LOS BANOS, Philippines - Rice-growing techniques learned through thousands of years of trial and error are about to be turbocharged with DNA technology in a breakthrough hailed by scientists as a potential second "green revolution". Over the next few years farmers are expected to have new genome sequencing technology at their disposal, helping to offset a myriad of problems that threaten to curtail production of the grain that feeds half of humanity. Drawing on a massive bank of varieties stored in the Philippines and state-of-the-art Chinese technology, scientists recently completed the DNA sequencing of more than 3,000 of the world's most significant types of rice. With the huge pool of data unlocked, rice breeders will soon be able to produce higher-yielding varieties much more quickly and under increasingly stressful conditions, scientists involved with the project told AFP. Other potential new varieties being dreamt about are ones that are resistant to certain pests and diseases, or types that pack more nutrients and vitamins. "This will be a big help to strengthen food security for rice eaters," said Kenneth McNally, an American biochemist at the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Since rice was first domesticated thousands of years ago, farmers have improved yields through various planting techniques. For the past century breeders have isolated traits, such as high yields and disease resistance, then developed them through cross breeding. However, they did not know which genes controlled which traits, leaving much of the effort to lengthy guesswork. The latest breakthroughs in molecular genetics promise to fast-track the process, eliminating much of the mystery, scientists involved in the project told AFP. Better rice varieties can now be expected to be developed and passed on to farmers' hands in less than three years, compared with 12 without the guidance of DNA sequencing. Genome sequencing involves decoding DNA, the hereditary material of all living cells and organisms. The process roughly compares with solving a giant jigsaw puzzle made up of billions of microscopic pieces. A multinational team undertook the four-year project with the DNA decoding primarily in China by BGI, the world's biggest genome sequencing firm. Leaf tissue from the samples, drawn mostly from IRRI's gene bank of 127,000 varieties were ground by McNally's team at its laboratory in Los Banos, near Manila's southern outskirts, before being shipped for sequencing. A non-profit research outfit founded in 1960, IRRI works with governments to develop advanced varieties of the grain. Threats to rice Farmers and breeders will need the new DNA tools, which scientists take pains to say is not genetic modification, because of the increasingly stressful conditions for rice growing expected in the 21st Century.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter While there will be many more millions to feed, there is expected to be less land available for planting as farms are converted for urban development, destroyed by rising sea levels or converted to other crops. Rice-paddy destroying floods, drought and storms are also expected to worsen with climate change. Meanwhile, pests and diseases that evolve to resist herbicides and pesticides will be more difficult to kill. And fresh water, vital for growing rice, is expected to become an increasingly scarce commodity in many parts of the world. As scientists develop the tools necessary to harness the full advantages of the rice genome database, the hope is that new varieties can be developed to combat all those problems. "Essentially, you will be able to design what properties you want in rice, in terms of the drought resistance, resistance to diseases, high yields, and others," said Russian bioanalytics expert and IRRI team member Nickolai Alexandrov. Food revolution Scientists behind the project hope it will lead to a second "green revolution". The first began in the 1960s as the development of higher-yielding varieties of wheat and rice was credited with preventing massive global food shortages around the world. That giant leap to producing more food involved the cross-breeding of unrelated varieties to produce new ones that grew faster and produced higher yields, mainly by being able to respond better to fertiliser. But the massive gains of the earlier efforts, which earnt US geneticist Norman Borlaug the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, have since reached a plateau. Although the DNA breakthrough has generated much optimism, IRRI scientists caution it is not a magic bullet for all rice-growing problems, and believe that genetically modifying is also necessary. They also warn that governments will still need to implement the right policies, such as in regards to land and water use. One of the key priorities of IRRI is to pack more nutrients into rice, transforming it into a tool to fight ailments linked to inadequate diets in poor countries as well as lifestyle diseases in wealthier countries. "We're interested to understand the nutritional value.... we're looking into the enrichment of micronutrients," Nese Sreenivasulu, the Indian head of the IRRI's grain quality and nutrition centre told AFP. Nese believes Type-2 diabetes, which afflicts hundreds of million of people, can be checked by breeding for particular varieties of rice which when cooked will release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly. IRRI scientists are also hoping to breed rice varieties with a higher component of zinc, which prevents stunting and deaths from diarohea in rice-eating Southeast Asia. https://www.enca.com/technology/dna-turbocharge-rice-green-revolution
Direct seeding cuts labor cost in rice farming, PhilRice says by Mary Grace Padin - February 15, 2016 18 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Direct seeding, a crop-establishment method where pre-germinated seeds are sown directly onto soil surface, can help minimize the labor cost in rice farming in the Philippines, the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) said.PhilRice agronomist Myrna Malabayabas said directseeded rice matures earlier than transplanted rice, reducing the labor requirements and expenses for crop establishment, and the time spent on crop management. Malabayabas said the direct-seeding method can be done wither by dry or wet seeding and does not require seedbed preparation. “The dry direct-seeding method is more commonly used in rainfed and upland areas. It involves sowing of pregerminated seeds on dry soil surface and then incorporating the seeds either by ploughing or harrowing,” Malabayabas said in a statement. “Wet direct seeding, on the other hand, is practiced during dry and wet seasons in irrigated and rain-fed areas. It is done either through broadcasting or drilling pregerminated seeds with the use of a drum-seeder on a wet, well-leveled paddy,” she added. A study by the PhilRice, titled, Benchmarking the Philippine Rice Economy Relative to Major Rice-Producing Countries in Asia, showed that P4.42 is spent on the labor cost for every kilogram of rice through the transplanting method, while only P3.28 is spent in the direct-seeding method. “In direct-seeding method, farmers can save up to P1.14 on labor cost for every kilogram of rice they produce and 23-man days for every hectare of their field,” the PhilRice said, adding that it only takes 2-man days per hectare required in direct seeding. Dr. Vethaiya Balasubramanian, a former agronomist at the International Rice Research Institute, said managing weeds is one of the challenges farmers need to address in using the direct-seeding method. Balasubramanian said weeds germinate simultaneously with rice due to the absence of water that suppresses their growth. However, she added that there are options available to manage the problem. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/direct-seeding-cuts-labor-cost-in-rice-farming-philrice-says/
DNA rice breakthrough raises 'green revolution' hopes By AFP Added 15th February 2016 This will be a big help to strengthen food security for rice eaters In this photograph taken on October 10, 2015, a rice stalk is seen in a paddy field at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna, south of Manila. Rice-growing techniques earned through thousands of years of trial and error are about to be turbocharged with DNA technology in a breakthrough hailed by scientists as a potential second "green revolution". Over the next few years farmers are expected to have new genome sequencing technology at their disposal, helping to offset a myriad of problems that threaten to curtail production of the grain that feeds half of humanity. AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS / AFP / NOEL CELIS
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
Rice-growing techniques learned through thousands of years of trial and error are about to be turbocharged with DNA technology in a breakthrough hailed by scientists as a potential second "green revolution". Over the next few years farmers are expected to have new genome sequencing technology at their disposal, helping to offset a myriad of problems that threaten to curtail production of the grain that feeds half of humanity. Drawing on a massive bank of varieties stored in the Philippines and state-of-the-art Chinese technology, scientists recently completed the DNA sequencing of more than 3,000 of the world's most significant types of rice. In this photograph taken on October 10, 2015, a rice stalk is seen in a paddy field at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna, south of Manila. Rice-growing techniques earned through thousands of years of trial and error are about to be turbocharged with DNA technology in a breakthrough hailed by scientists as a potential second "green revolution". Over the next few years farmers are expected to have new genome sequencing technology at their disposal, helping to offset a myriad of problems that threaten to curtail production of the grain that feeds half of humanity. AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS / AFP / NOEL CELIS With the huge pool of data unlocked, rice breeders will soon be able to produce higher-yielding varieties much more quickly and under increasingly stressful conditions, scientists involved with the project told AFP. Other potential new varieties being dreamt about are ones that are resistant to certain pests and diseases, or types that pack more nutrients and vitamins. 20 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
"This will be a big help to strengthen food security for rice eaters," said Kenneth McNally, an American biochemist at the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Since rice was first domesticated thousands of years ago, farmers have improved yields through various planting techniques. For the past century breeders have isolated traits, such as high yields and disease resistance, then developed them through cross breeding. However, they did not know which genes controlled which traits, leaving much of the effort to lengthy guesswork. The latest breakthroughs in molecular genetics promise to fast-track the process, eliminating much of the mystery, scientists involved in the project told AFP. Better rice varieties can now be expected to be developed and passed on to farmers' hands in less than three years, compared with 12 without the guidance of DNA sequencing.
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter Genome sequencing involves decoding DNA, the hereditary material of all living cells and organisms. The process roughly compares with solving a giant jigsaw puzzle made up of billions of microscopic pieces. A multinational team undertook the four-year project with the DNA decoding primarily in China by BGI, the world's biggest genome sequencing firm. Leaf tissue from the samples, drawn mostly from IRRI's gene bank of 127,000 varieties were ground by McNally's team at its laboratory in Los Banos, near Manila's southern outskirts, before being shipped for sequencing. A non-profit research outfit founded in 1960, IRRI works with governments to develop advanced varieties of the grain. Threats to rice Farmers and breeders will need the new DNA tools, which scientists take pains to say is not genetic modification, because of the increasingly stressful conditions for rice growing expected in the 21st Century. While there will be many more millions to feed, there is expected to be less land available for planting as farms are converted for urban development, destroyed by rising sea levels or converted to other crops. Rice-paddy destroying floods, drought and storms are also expected to worsen with climate change. Meanwhile, pests and diseases that evolve to resist herbicides and pesticides will be more difficult to kill. And fresh water, vital for growing rice, is expected to become an increasingly scarce commodity in many parts of the world. As scientists develop the tools necessary to harness the full advantages of the rice genome database, the hope is that new varieties can be developed to combat all those problems. "Essentially, you will be able to design what properties you want in rice, in terms of the drought resistance, resistance to diseases, high yields, and others," said Russian bioanalytics expert and IRRI team member Nickolai Alexandrov. Food revolution Scientists behind the project hope it will lead to a second "green revolution". The first began in the 1960s as the development of higher-yielding varieties of wheat and rice was credited with preventing massive global food shortages around the world. 22 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter That giant leap to producing more food involved the cross-breeding of unrelated varieties to produce new ones that grew faster and produced higher yields, mainly by being able to respond better to fertiliser. But the massive gains of the earlier efforts, which earnt US geneticist Norman Borlaug the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970, have since reached a plateau. Although the DNA breakthrough has generated much optimism, IRRI scientists caution it is not a magic bullet for all rice-growing problems, and believe that genetically modifying is also necessary. They also warn that governments will still need to implement the right policies, such as in regards to land and water use. One of the key priorities of IRRI is to pack more nutrients into rice, transforming it into a tool to fight ailments linked to inadequate diets in poor countries as well as lifestyle diseases in wealthier countries. "We're interested to understand the nutritional value.... we're looking into the enrichment of micronutrients," Nese Sreenivasulu, the Indian head of the IRRI's grain quality and nutrition centre told AFP. Nese believes Type-2 diabetes, which afflicts hundreds of million of people, can be checked by breeding for particular varieties of rice which when cooked will release sugar into the bloodstream more slowly. IRRI scientists are also hoping to breed rice varieties with a higher component of zinc, which prevents stunting and deaths from diarohea in rice-eating Southeast Asia. http://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1417128/dna-rice-breakthrough-raises-greenrevolution-hopes#sthash.dl1wI6tD.dpuf
APEDA RICE COMMODITY NEWS
International Benchmark Price Price on: 12-02-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter 1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4625
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4125
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2790
2
Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)
1902
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1900
1
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
2
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
575
3
Thai VHP, FOB Thailand (USD/t)
440
Sultanas
White Sugar
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 13-02-2016 Domestic Prices Product
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
1
Dahod (Gujarat)
Yellow
1500
1530
2
Rahata (Maharashtra)
Other
1350
1350
3
Theni (Tamil Nadu)
Other
1380
1440
1
Kasargod (Kerala)
Other
1400
1500
2
Dehgam (Gujarat)
Other
1325
1350
Maize
Paddy(Dhan)
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter 3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1030
1050
1
Bharuch (Gujarat)
Other
2500
3500
2
Parappanangadi (Kerala)
Other
3100
3300
3
Mechua (West Bengal)
Other
3000
3200
1
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2000
2000
2
Jagraon (Punjab)
Other
1100
1250
3
Kalyan (Maharashtra)
Other
800
1000
Mousambi
Brinjal
Source:agmarknet.nic.in
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No Price on 13-02-2016 Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
395
2
Nagapur
355
3
Namakkal
372
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 11-02-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
Potatoes
High Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
2
Baltimore
Colorado
Russet
17
17.50
Canada
Russet
18
18
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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter 3
Detroit
Wisconsin
Russet
15
Cabbage
15.50 Package: 50 lb sacks
1
Atlanta
Florida
Round Green Type
12
14
2
Dallas
Mexico
Round Green Type
13
13
3
Miami
Texas
Round Green Type
12
13
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
21
21.50
2
Chicago
Florida
Red
20
22
3
Miami
Florida
Red
14
16
Source:USDA
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