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Arsenic warning over rice milk: Parents warned not to give drink to children because it can contain harmful levels of the chemical Korean Rice Market to Fully Open Late This Month Jim Lingo – improving rice production NFA to ensure enough rice in calamity areas Indonesia sees 4.2 mln ton rice surplus this year Ministry asking rice mill owners to buy paddy at 100 – 200 baht higher than market TCC to propose five-point strategy to improve Thai rice and farmers Commerce Ministry to seek measures to ensre rice price Monsoon rains pick up pace TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jul 16 Nigeria To Become Africa’s Largest Rice Exporter July-May of fiscal year 2014: non-Basmati rice export records 15.64 percent growth Nigeria’s slow, steady move to bridging demand-supply gap in rice industry USA Rice Working to Expand Rice Use in The US probe of rice trade won’t yield much California Livestock Producers and Rice Farmers Create Win-Win Solution Experts Voice Concerns Over Arsenic in Rice, Reports Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Bangladesh to harvest more rice: USDA A Miracle Rice Could Save Millions Of Lives Paddy price targeted at B8,500 per tonne
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Arsenic warning over rice milk: Parents warned not to give drink to children because it can contain harmful levels of the chemical Scientists have warned that rice milk may contain harmful levels of arsenic Levels of the poison can be boosted by the way rice is grown in flooded paddies NHS already advises parents not to feed rice milk to children under five The drink often used as dairy substitute by those who are lactose-intole
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER PUBLISHED: 22:13 GMT, 16 July 2014 | UPDATED: 23:15 GMT, 16 July 2014 Children should not drink rice milk because it can contain harmful levels of arsenic, scientists have warned.The poison is found naturally in low levels in rice and other plants. Levels can be boosted by the way rice is grown in flooded paddies and by the presence of traces of old pesticides. Parents have been warned not to feed their children rice milk because it can contain harmful levels of arsenic (file picture) Rice bran, from which rice milk is made, carries higher levels than raw polished white rice.The NHS already advises parents not to feed rice milk – often used by those who are lactose-intolerant – to under-fives. Now the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) has extended this to older children.Its report calls for arsenic levels to be regulated in products used by children. Currently arsenic content of foods is not regulated. No ‗safe‘ level of exposure can be identified. The NHS already advises parents not to feed rice milk (pictured) ¿ often used by those who are lactose-intolerant ¿ to under-fives The report says: ‗The risk from consumption of products made from rice bran, such as rice drinks, is much higher than from raw – but polished – white rice.‘ As well as being a poison, arsenic is linked to the development of some forms of cancer.Dr Iva Hojsak, of University Children's Hospital Zagreb in Croatia, who led the commentary, said:
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'Inorganic arsenic is considered a first level carcinogen and its long-term exposure has negative effects on human health.'Because of its availability, nutritional value and relatively low allergenic potential, rice is a widely used carbohydrate during weaning.Rice and rice products such as starch, flour and syrup are commonly added to infant foods and drinks.The report said: 'That contributes to high exposure of infants and young children to inorganic arsenic which is two to three times higher than in adults.'ESPGHAN says rice-based formulas 'are an option' for infants allergic to cow's milk but their arsenic content should be declared and considered by doctors and parents.Otherwise the organisation recommends avoiding rice drinks for infants and young children and including a variety of other grains in their diets such as oats, barley, wheat and corn. It also calls for further research on the inorganic arsenic content of rice and other foods and its lifelong impact on health.
Korean Rice Market to Fully Open Late This Month
Rice Market Opening
16 JULY 2014 The Korean government is expected to announce the full opening of the rice market on July 25, 20 years since the conclusion of the Uruguay Round.Saenuri Party Policy Committee Chair Ju Ho-young said on July 15 that the government will convene an economic ministerial meeting on July 25 to make the final decision on the issue. ―The choice will revolve around whether to import rice with the delayed tariffication abolished, or to double the minimum market access (MMA) while maintaining it,‖ he explained.Korea has postponed the opening of the rice market since 1994 on the
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condition that it imports a certain amount of rice from the United States, China, etc. The MMA for this year is 409,000 tons, which is equivalent to 9 percent of Korea‘s annual rice consumption.
The revision of the Grain Management Act, which has caused some jurisdictional controversy, is likely to be wrapped up during the meeting. Some agricultural organizations have claimed that the Grain Management Act be revised before the market opening to repeal the rice import licensing system.Under the circumstances, attention is being paid to the tariff rate to be applied to imported rice. When the rate goes up, the price of imported rice increases, meaning farmers in Korea benefit. At present, the government is mulling over a tariff rate of about 400 percent, and is going to decide on it by September for report to the WTO. ―Measures for the protection of the domestic rice market will be unveiled in the near future,‖ said the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.In the meantime, the Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans & Fisheries Committee of the National Assembly adopted a resolution unanimously for the protection of the domestic farming and fisheries industries during the course of the Korea-China FTA talks. According to the resolution, agro-fishery products expected to take a hit are classified as very sensitive items and the current tariffs of these items are advised to be maintained.
Jim Lingo – improving rice production Jul 16, 2014Elton Robinson | Delta Farm Press Jim Lingo – improving rice production
For producer Jim Lingo, rice production is all about finding ways to do it better. Rains delayed fieldwork this spring for Forest, La., farmer Jim Lingo, but the farm was starting to catch up as temperatures rose and rains waned in midJune. RELATED MEDIA
For Forest, La., farmer Jim Lingo, rice production is about finding ways to do it better, whether it‘s implementing on-farm trials to determine maximum economic profits or a willingness to learn from others, whether it‘s LSU‘s Extension Service or other members of the farming operation.Lingo, his father Lindy, brother Lindy Carl, Jr., and uncle, Michael Lingo, farm around 5,500 acres, including 2,000 acres of rice, 320 acres of corn, and 3,180 acres of soybeans. ―We have separate farms,‖ Lingo said, ―but when the time comes, we all harvest together and plant together. We‘re fortunate to have a real tight family. We are a big, happy family operation.‖No one in the farm family has a specific
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duty, according to Lingo. ―We all pitch in. Nobody has a job that‘s theirs. Whatever needs to be done, gets done.‖The Lingos farm in East Carroll and West Carroll parishes, but have roots in Lonoke, Ark., where Jim‘s grandfather, James Lingo, farmed in the 1950s. ―He always said he followed the new ground south. He bought the main core of this farm in 1963,‖ Lingo said.James passed away in June two years ago, but stayed a farmer until the end. ―That spring, he was still pulling levees,‖ Lingo said. ―He was the glue that held us together for a long time. If you had a question or problem he had probably seen it before. Now my father, Lindy, has moved into that role.‖The Lingos rotate rice, all Clearfield hybrids, and soybeans one year in, one year out. This meets the rotation requirements for preserving the Clearfield technology, but Lingo says that rotation is something they would do anyway. ―We‘ve always been one year in and one year out because there hasn‘t been any control for red rice besides water seeding. We do have some red rice, but since we‘ve gone with Clearfield, it‘s not been an issue.‖His grandfather James, also insisted on stewardship of the land. ―Grandpa would leave rice ground fallow to help keep it clean. Then they started planting a few soybeans in the fallow year.‖Today, soybeans typically yield in the 50-bushel to 60-bushel range, and provide the Lingos another mode of action for red rice. Most of the farm consists of heavy clay soils.
NFA to ensure enough rice in calamity areas AMID the damage brought by typhoon Glenda which are now being estimated, the National Food Authority (NFA) has instructed its offices in areas affected by the storm to guarantee the supply of rice. As of Wednesday, with the typhoon crossing Luzon island, a total of 4,850 bags with 50 kilograms of rice each were released to the Legazpi City office of the Social Welfare department and other local governments and relief agencies in the Bicol region.The bags worth P1,350 each were distributed in Albay (1,548 bags); Sorsogon (1,370 bags); Camarines Sur (1,238 bags); Camarines Norte (145 bags); Western Pangasinan (100 bags); and the DSWD Regional Office in Legazpi City (150 bags).
NFA Spokesperson Rex C. Estoperez said Glenda brought minimal damage to NFA offices and supplies.The NFA Cosay warehouse in Legazpi City became flooded as winds tore away its roof and floodwaters damaged several sacks of rice.At the Uniden warehouse in the FTI compound in Parañaque City, a rotary ventilator and the building‘s skylight was destroyed by strong winds.The NFA main office in Metro Manila extends its office hours during the storm, Mr. Estoperez said. The office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.―We can extend beyond 7:00 p.m. if need be,‖ he said.According to Mr. Estoperez, the NFA always gives priority to the Bicol, being a calamity-prone area.Mr. Estoperez also assured the public that prices for NFA rice remain at P27 (for regular-milled rice) and P32 (for well-milled rice). -- Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas
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Indonesia sees 4.2 mln ton rice surplus this year (Globalpost/GlobalPost) JAKARTA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian agriculture ministry forecast the country's rice outputs (hulled rice production) to be surplus by 4.2 million ton this year despite a decline in production of un-hulled rice, a senior official said here on Wednesday.This is the country's first of its three forecasts of rice production in a year, which expected the production of the un- hulled rice was estimated at 69.871 million ton in 2014, scaling down from 71.28 million ton in 2013, said Haryono, acting director general at the ministry."With the forecast of outputs of 69.871 million ton un-hulled rice and the number of population 252.165 million people, based on calculation (we) are still surplus of 4.2 million ton," he said at his office. The Indonesian government would not import rice this year as the domestic production is sufficient to meet demand, said the country's deputy agriculture minister Rusman Heriawan has said.Heriawan revealed that the country's hulled-rice production was estimated to grow by 0.35 percent to 34 million tons this year from a year earlier based on the first government forecast, and he expected the figure to rise in the second estimate that would be announced soon.Indonesia had previously imported rice, the staple food for most of its large populations, from Thailand, Vietnam and other countries.The deputy minister said that self-sufficiency on rice would continue to the coming years.The Indonesian government expected to raise rice stockpile to 2. 7 million tons this year, in an attempt to strengthen food security, Hatta Rajasa, former economic chief minister has disclosed. Copyright 2014 Xinhua News Agency. Xinhua is China's state-run news agency. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
Ministry asking rice mill owners to buy paddy at 100 – 200 baht higher than market Date : 16 กรกฎาคม 2557 BANGKOK, 15 July 2014 (NNT) -The Ministry of Commerce has continued to support rice farmers by asking rice mill owners to buy paddy at a price per ton 100 – 200 baht higher than the market price in the production year 2014/15, in exchange for being offered a 3% deposit on loans.The Acting Director General of the Internal Trade Department Jintana Chaiyawannakarn said that the authority will not continue the rice pledging program nor intervene in the market to help farmers as previously done. Instead, it will try to reduce cost factors in production such as chemical fertilizer, pesticides, harvesting machines and farm rental costs.In addition, during the rice harvesting season in the following one or two months, the ministry will
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proceed to appoint private sector and rice mill operators to buy paddy from farmers at a price about 100 – 200 baht per ton higher than the market price in November. These buyers will be offered loans with only a 3% deposit to be able to purchase the rice. Moreover, they will also be asked to stock the rice for 3 – 6 months, that is from November 2014 to July 2015 to maintain the price in the market.
TCC to propose five-point strategy to improve Thai rice and farmers Date : 16 กรกฎาคม 2557 BANGKOK, 16 July 2014, (NNT) - The Thai Chamber of Commerce has developed a five-point strategy aimed at improving the quality of Thai rice and rice growers, to be proposed to the joint committee addressing economic issues today. According to TCC President Issara Wongkusonkit, the strategy has been devised in a brainstorming session with all related parties, with a goal to reduce social gaps between rice farmers and other professions, while enabling them to be sustainably self-sufficient. The five-point strategy included developing the quality of local rice and rice growers through the implementation of His Majesty the King‘s sufficiency economy philosophy, applying modern agricultural methods to maximize output while minimizing costs, implementing agricultural zoning, developing quality rice seeds, and improving on marketing by focusing more on promoting the free market mechanisms. The strategy will be proposed tomorrow to the Joint Government and Private Committee for Addressing Economic Issues, headed by National Council for Peace and Order Chief General Prayuth Chan-Ocha.
Commerce Ministry to seek measures to ensre rice price BANGKOK, 16 July 2014, (NNT) - The Commerce Ministry has come up with measures to ensure that the price of rice in 2014-2015 will not fall below 8,500 baht per ton. According to Ms. Jintana Chaiyawannakan, the Acting Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade, the policy is in line with that of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which indicates that the price of rice should not fall below 8,500 baht per ton. Ms. Jintana said the measures involved having rice mills buy rice at 100-200 baht per ton higher than the market price when the price usually drops during the months of November to January.
The rice mills will then stockpile the grain for 3-6 months waiting for the right time to release it back to the market. She said rice mills joining this scheme would be entitled to compensation of 3% interest based on the amount paid for the rice. The compensation would be made through the financial institutions the rice mills are currently doing business with. The Acting Director General believes the measures will maintain the price of rice at an level. Ms. Jintana also said the government would no longer buy rice directly from farmers, as it was not capable of maintaining the quality of the huge amount of rice in stocks; as evidenced by what had happened in the past.
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Monsoon rains pick up pace
KATHMANDU, JUL 15 After a delay for almost a month, monsoon rains have started picking up pace across the country since Sunday bringing light to moderate rainfall in many parts with heavy thundershowers in some places.The monsoon that entered the country on June 20, after a delay of 10 days against the normal onset has been weak so far raising the risks of poor agricultural yields of major summer crops such as paddy.―Rain bearing clouds have covered many places in the eastern, central and western regions since Sunday bringing moderate to heavy downpours,‖ said Subash Rimal, a meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD) on Tuesday. Of the 110 days of monsoon, the July-August period is considered vital for the growth of paddy planted between June end and mid-July in various parts of the country. Farmers in Tarai await July rains particularly because it is strong enough to contribute to better transplantation.This year the monsoon is already delayed and is passing through a weak surge for almost a month affecting the overall paddy plantation.
According to the Ministry of Agricultural Development, the average national paddy transplantation has been completed on around 30 percent of the total paddy field as of July 13.Last year, the paddy transplantation was completed on more than 50 percent of the land in the same period with timely arrival and adequate rains. ―The rainfall has been recorded in almost all Tarai belts on Tuesday and is expected to give a sigh of relief to farmers who are long waiting for adequate monsoon rains,‖ Rimal said, adding that the rain spell is expected to continue for the next two to three days.On Tuesday, Kathmandu recorded highest rainfall measuring 45.5 millimeters followed by Dang, Biratnagar, Pokhara and Jiri at 42.4, 30.9, 28.9 and 27.5 respectively, among the 17 meteorological stations updated by the MFD. Except in Simara, all 16 meteorological stations recorded rains on Tuesday.
Posted on: 2014-07-16 09:03
TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jul 16 Wed Jul 16, 2014 3:32pm IST TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Jul 16 Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
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Tel: 011 2619 1464 Indicative Grains
Previous
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated) ---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
2,100-3,100
2,050-3,050.
Wheat Dara
1,850-2,050
1,850-2,050
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,750-1,850
Maida (per bag) Sooji (per bag)
1,900-2,000 1,900-2,100
Rice Basmati(Common) Rice Permal Rice Sela I.R.-8 Gram
1,750-1,850. 1,900-2,000. 1,900-2,100.
8,600-9,300
1,700-2,300 2,150-2,550 2,250-2,350 3,265-3,465
8,600-9,300.
1,700-2,300. 2,150-2,550. 2,250-2,350. 3,275-3,475.
Peas Green
2,845-3,145
2,850-3,150.
Peas White
2,875-3,075
2,855-3,055.
Bajra Jowar white
1,750-1,850 1,650-1,750
1,750-1,850. 1,635-1,735.
Maize
1,625-1,725
1,625-1,725.
Barley
1,500-1,800
1,500-1,800.
Source: Delhi grain market traders.
Nigeria To Become Africa’s Largest Rice Exporter Daily Rice E-Newsletter by Rice Plus Magazine www.ricepluss.com News and R&D Section mujajhid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 92 321 369 2874
Last Modified: 07/17/2014 06:45:17 RUKUBI - (Nasarawa State) The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, has projected that Nigeria would become Africa‘s largest exporter of rice in five years. Adesina made the statement during the inaugural ceremony of the 105,000-tonne capacity Olam Rice Mill in Rukubi, Nasarawa State.He said that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the private sector, was determined to make the country a net exporter of rice.He said that the era of being the largest rice importer in the world would soon end.―We will become the largest rice exporter from Africa into the global rice market.‖Adesina said that rice production and processing had attracted over one billion dollars of private investment.This, he said, would not only position the country for wealth generation but also create employment for the teeming youths.We have been able to attract over one billion dollars of private sector investors into commercial rice farming and processing.―One of our investors expanded their investment in commercial rice farms and milling from 300 million dollars to one billion dollars – and that is just one investor.We are closing Nigeria‘s rice milling capacity gap.‖Adesina attributed the ongoing revolution in rice to the immense support of President Goodluck Jonathan‘s administration.He said that additional seven million tonnes of paddy rice had been produced since 2011.
In his speech, Olam Country Chairman, Mr Mukul Mathur, explained that the company is a Singaporean agro company that has been in Nigeria since 1989.He said that in 2011, the company established 10,000 hectares of rice farm out of which 3,000 had been cultivated in Rukubi.Mathur said Olam had the largest farm on the continent and had employed about 2,500 women and youths across the country.He said the investment in the state was made possible by the friendly policies of the Jonathan administration.The country chairman recalled that in the last three years, the company had invested over a 100 million dollars in Nasarawa State.
July-May of fiscal year 2014: non-Basmati rice export records 15.64 percent growth July 15, 2014 RECORDER REPORT
Although the rate of Pakistan's non-Basmati rice has increased up to around $400 per ton in international market as compared to India, Thailand and Vietnam, the country's rice export witnessed a growth of 15.64 percent during July-May of fiscal year 2013-14. According to a report of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country exported non-Basmati rice worth $1.338 billion during July-May of FY14, up by $181.103 million ie 15.64 percent. In terms of volume, the country's export of non-Basmati rice went up by 0.3 million metric tons ie 11.54 percent in the last 11 months. An official of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) said: "Due to high quality of the country's nonBasmati rice, international buyers are ready to pay extra premium of $30 to $40." The monthly export of non-
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Basmati rice has shown a decline of 9.56 percent to $101.091 million from $111.772 million, due to what reports suggest growing incidents of stealing of rice from containers on way to port from factories. Lack of timely shipments due to excessive loadshedding and inconsistency in dollar rate also affected the rice export. In terms of volume, the rice export declined from 198,758 metric tons to 185, 331 metric tons ie 6.76 percent. The country's overall rice industry has shown a handsome gain of 14.50 percent to $2.013 billion in the 11 months FY14. In terms of quantity, the rice export increased from 3,154,258 metric tons to 3,457,488 metric tons. The official said: "A four percent loss in rice export was witnessed in May due to power shortages." A rice exporter said that demand for Pakistani rice was growing regardless of the surge in its prices in the global market. "The international price of non-Basmati rice ranges between $380 to $430 per metric ton, while the price of Basmati rice ranges between $800 to $1,500 per metric ton, depending on its quality," he added. On the contrary, some exporters claimed that due to increase in its rates, the international buyers were not in favour of buying rice from Pakistan. However, the export of basmati has increased by 12.29 percent to $674.626 million. In terms of volume, it has increased to 623,897 metric tons in FY14 as compared 613,857 metric tons in FY13. While the export of Basmati rice decreased by 13.67 percent in May 2014 to 69,250 metric tons from 70,980 metric tons in April 2014. Senior Vice-Chairman of REAP, Chela Ram Kewlani, said that India had captured the international market of Basmati rice due to improved quality of its rice.
Nigeria‘s slow, steady move to bridging demand-supply gap in rice industry Wednesday, 16 July 2014 18:29
Written by Femi Adekoya
To revive the nation’s rice production capabilities, the Federal Government introduced a programme for the country’s self -sufficiency in rice production in a manner expected to grow the agricultural sector and creates jobs. Although fraught with criticisms, especially from the international community, the government has remained committed to its rice policy. With investments in the rice production value-chain increasing, the prospect of
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achieving the rice self-sufficiency target remains feasible, in the years to come. Olam International Limited, earlier in the week led the rice revolution with the inauguration of its rice mill in Nassarawa state. FEMI ADEKOYA writes.NIGERIA‘S road to rice self-sufficiency has been described in many forums as laudable though tortuous considering the political nature of the product. The need to move from being the world‘s second-largest importer of rice, to a self-sufficient nation by 2015 is most likely to affect India, Thailand and Brazil, as well as neighbouring countries from which the product is being smuggled. According to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) review of the agricultural situation in Benin, ―Benin serves as a delivery corridor for West Africa, reaching more than 100 million people in the landlocked countries of Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and the Northern states of Nigeria.‖ The USDA observed, ―Benin‘s relatively efficient port services and liberal trade policies mean it is an important cog in the regional trade flows to nearby countries.‖ The report noted that improvements in the country‘s port operations as well as some small improvements in the ease of doing business over the past three years aided the flow of imports in the country. ―Benin applies the WAEMU (often known by its francophone name UEMOA) common external tariff (CET) with its four tariff bands (zero, 5%, 10% and 20%) with no quantitative restrictions applied. ―Informal trade between Nigeria and Benin is substantial.‖ The main products involved in this informal trade include rice, poultry products, refined sugar and a range of other food and agricultural products‖, the report added. In the rice sector, according to the USDA review, traders from Benin can sell a 50-kg bag of rice in Nigeria at prices 75 per cent higher than they can obtain on the Benin side of the border. According to USDA, in order to avoid the high Nigerian levies, Nigerian traders have been directing their rice consignments to ports in neighbouring countries where they are cleared and moved into the Nigerian market through informal trading activities. Already the Nigeria Customs Service has ―identified the low tariff on rice in neighbouring countries as one of the major factors contributing to smuggling of rice into the country‖. To address this ugly trend, Olam International Limited, an integrated agricultural company operating in Doma local council area of Nasarawa State, raised its stake on investment in rice cultivation, a move expected to close the gap in rice importation and increase the nation‘s chances in rice self sufficiency. Making inroad to bridge demand-supply gap
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Specifically, Olam on Monday inaugurated its state-of-the-art rice mill at its large-scale pioneering rice farm in Nigeria‘s Nasarawa State. The integrated rice milling facility is situated at the heart of Olam‘s 6,000-hectare green field irrigated and mechanized paddy farm, and is expected to provide 36, 000 metric tonnes (MT) of milled rice yearly to the domestic market, contributing to the Federal Government‘s goal to improve rice selfsufficiency. With 3,000 hectares already under cultivation and a further 3, 000 hectares on target for 2015, the farm are expected to yield 10 MT per hectare (over two annual crop cycles) based on for varieties of highyield rice tested in association with the West African Rice Development Association. Together the farm and the mill are boosting smallholder rice production in the region through a ‗nucleus and outgrower farming model‘. To achieve its target, surrounding rice-growing communities were supported by Olam with training, prefinance, agri-inputs and marketing linkages in order to improve their own paddy yields and realizations, which are then purchased by Olam at fair market price. Currently 3,000 farmers are engaged in the programme, with a target of 16, 000 by 2018. Ultimately, 20,000 smallholder farmers will supply 30-40 per cent of mill‘s capacity. The commercial farm also employs about 1,000 workers depending on seasonality, providing another source of training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The Rockefeller Foundation highlighted the model as a catalytic innovation in Africa agriculture in 2013. Olam‘s Managing Director for Africa and Middle East, Venkataramani Srivathsan said: ―This mill, commissioned today by the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, characterizes three important aspects: it demonstrates how large-scale commercial farms can work hand in hand with smallholders to help advance Nigeria‘s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, generating rural prosperity through local processing; it underlines the country‘s ability to grow high quality, nutritious rice that can enhance domestic food security by providing an alternative to imports; and, as Olam kicks off its global 25th anniversary celebrations this month, it represents a marker of our ongoing commitment to Nigeria, the country where Olam was founded‖. He continued: ―As we witness this inauguration, we are pleased to announce our plans going forward to increase our acreage in Nasarawa up to 10,000 hectares. This will bring Olam‘s total investment in the integrated farm and milling facility to over N18 billion.‖ Speaking at the inauguration, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remarked: ―The private sector is responding strongly to our rice policy, as the number of rice mills has grown from just one three years ago to 18 today.‖ ―Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by encouraging large commercial farms that will not only boost food production but also provide significant opportunities for jobs in rural areas. These mills are producing high quality local rice that meets international standards and compete
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well with imported rice‖, President Jonathan added. Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko AlMakura, commented: ―I congratulate the Board and Management of Olan Farms and indeed the Government of Singapore on the occasion of the commissioning of Olam Farms. I am indeed very proud and excited that this laudable and world-class project has come to fruition and it lies in the state of Nasarawa; Olam has taken the State to greater heights. We shall continue to support and collaborate with Olam for the realization of this dream and that of Nasarawa State and Nigeria at large of making Olam the largest rice farm in the whole of Africa. Once again, congratulations Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, noted: ―Nigeria is driving a rice policy that will turn it away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter. The investment by Olam in a commercial rice farm and integrated rice mill will help boost domestic production and milling of international quality grade rice in Nigeria. This is a clear demonstration that our approach of taking agriculture as a business, while enabling the private sector to drive growth of the agriculture sector, is working.‖ Olam Nigeria Country Head, Mukul Mathur, added: ―In 25 years, Olam is proud to have been part of Nigeria‘s development of strong export supply chains for world markets. Olam was the first to export sesame from Nigeria – and now Nigeria is one of the world‘s biggest production in a similar manner, unlocking the opportunity for businesses and smallholders alike, and reducing Nigeria‘s need to import 1.9 million tonnes of rice each year.‖ Today, Olam Nigeria employs over 2,500 direct employees, over 6,000 indirect workers and sources from over 500,000 Nigerian cocoa, cashew, sesame and cotton farmers, while its businesses range from wheat milling to manufacturing and distribution of tomatoes paste and dairy drinks among others. To drive the rice initiative, natives have emphasized the need for government to incentivise activities of firms contributing to the growth of the society. Stakeholders in the real sector however believe the reforms are needed to reduce reliance on a struggling oil sector and cut the $11 billion food import bill, by ensuring that policies are sustainable and implemented ate every level of government.
USA Rice Working to Expand Rice Use in Schools Betting on U.S. grown brown rice BOSTON, MA -- The 2015 School Nutrition Association's (SNA) Annual National Conference kicked-off Monday with more than 6,000 school nutrition professionals, industry members, and allied partners coming together to share their passion for child nutrition. The USA Rice Federation is participating as a conference exhibitor, distributing information about the new K-12 resources available on MenuRice.com as well as promoting the upcoming annual
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"Healthy Brown Rice on the Menu" contest that takes place each September in honor of National Rice Month. USA Rice partnered with Chef Cyndie Story, PhD, RD, CC, who has experience working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and in school kitchens, to develop several new K-12 rice recipes that are standardized to make it easy for schools to meet nutrition requirements and increase rice usage on the menu. The recipes feature detailed preparation instructions, serving size guidance by grade, and nutritionals per serving, all in a convenient downloadable PDF on the K12 section of MenuRice.com."Our first publicity push of the MenuRice.com re-launch is centered around the SNA conference," said John Hasbrook, chairman of the USA Rice Foodservice Subcommittee. "Now that the USDA school meal nutrition requirements are in full swing, we want to emphasize to school foodservice operators that U.S. grown whole grain rice is the perfect menu solution. "Leading up to the conference, USA Rice promoted the new K-12 recipes available on MenuRice.com and encouraged SNA attendees to visit the USA Rice booth through ad placements in the SNA SmartBrief e-newsletter, with a circulation of more than 18,000, and an e-blast to conference attendees.Visitors at the USA Rice booth are given the new K-12 recipes, rice preparation instructions, and MenuRice.com information. Attendees also have an opportunity to spin the Rice Wheel to test their knowledge on U.S.-grown rice and win a reusable grocery bag that sports the "Grown in the USA" logo. These booth activities give USA Rice an opportunity to share powerful messages with this important group on topics ranging from recipes and preparation tips to nutrition and sustainability. "The prize wheel definitely draws a crowd to the booth and is a great way to interact with people," said Lydia Holmes, the USA Rice intern on hand to help promote U.S.-grown rice. "Many people are surprised about the things they learn at our booth, like how much rice is produced each year by U.S. rice farmers or that rice farming positively contributes to the environment."Although brown rice shipments to schools have significantly increased over the past four years, it is still important to provide schools with new resources to help continue, and even increase, rice usage on the menu. The SNA conference allows USA Rice to engage face-to-face with school nutrition professionals and menu planners to discuss their needs, and to encourage them to visit MenuRice.com, "the go-to rice resource with helpful tools and innovative ideas for K-12," added Holmes. Contact: Katie Maher, (703) 236-1453
The US probe of rice trade won’t yield much 14.07.2014
Rice is a political commodity. Governments all over the world maintain regimentation on rice production and trade through price controls and subsidisation, tariffs, phytosanitary and environmental safety standards— sometimes in a whimsical manner. On July 6, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) notified investigations (to be completed by April 2015) on global competitiveness of the US rice ―industry‖ as compared with other exporting countries like China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Uruguay, and
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Brazil—this assessment would also include practices adopted by major importing nations. The intention perhaps is to probe the morality of international rice trade. US-milled rice, at $570-670/mt fob, is grossly out-priced, by at least $200-$250/mt, by rice of Asian origin. The US output is 7 mt (milled) with export of about 3 mt, mostly to Latin American nations. In 2014-15, India‘s and Thailand‘s exports may touch 10 mt each, with Vietnam trailing at 7 mt.Despite the US‘s average paddy yield of 8-9 tonnes/ha—the world average is 4 tonne/ha—farm price of paddy is about $350/mt (that makes milled rice $580/mt at conversion factor of 0.66). In India, paddy is priced at $235/mt, in Vietnam, at $240-$260/mt and in Thailand, at $480/mt till recently (now, at around $260/mt). Is this difference in paddy prices that worry the US? Market distortions Paddy production in developing countries is incentivised through subvention of inputs like seed/fertiliser, etc, and higher procurement prices while rice is discounted to poor consumers for vote-bank politics. Exports of surpluses thus get directly or indirectly subsidised. At the same time, importing nations make rice expensive by imposing high tariffs to protect domestic production/ inefficiencies, which are again followed by subvention to the targeted beneficiaries, creating arbitrage opportunities for the market players. Paddy can be processed to rice in many ways (raw, steamed, parboiled). By-products like husk, bran, bran oil and broken rice can also be traded. Export pricing of rice thus gets discounted with realisation from such collaterals. Long/medium/short-grain (non–basmati rice) and aromatic (basmati) varieties can be mingled to average out pricing. Like in any other business, for rice trade also, in the grey area of ethics of pricing a commodity, adherence to fair market practices is diluted due to multiplicity of options available.
California Livestock Producers and Rice Farmers Create Win-Win Solution JULY 14, 2014 By: University News Release Cows attacking rice strawlage as a tractor drops it into the feeder.
By Jeannette E. Warnert, University of California UC Cooperative Extension advisor Glenn Nader believes two problems could add up to one win-win solution.The California drought has ranchers desperate for inexpensive livestock feed. Air quality protection regulations that limit rice straw burning leave the rice industry with an abundance of typically low-quality straw to unload. Though it has rarely been done, Nader believes special treatment of rice straw will make it a
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nutritious cattle food. Two problems solved.Nader will introduce producers to this new way to get through the drought at a meeting from 9 a.m. to 12 noon July 29 at the Veterans Memorial Hall, 525 W. Sycamore St., Willows, Calif. When rice straw dries, its value as a forage declines dramatically. For 15 years, UC researchers have been trying to figure out why, but the reason for the significant change is not understood at this time."At one time, we thought the problem was silica in the straw," Nader said. "We grew silica-free rice. That didn't work. We thought it was the crystallinity of molecules in the straw. We parsed apart the plant, and we still don't know."Ultimately, it was a rancher who suggested the scientists to put aside their desire to know why quality declines when rice straw dries and look for practical ways to get around it. Nader postponed his retirement to comply.Normally, rice growers bale the straw two to four days after harvest. Nader and his colleagues instead baled the straw immediately after it exited the grain harvester. They stacked the green straw bales and covered them with a tarp to retain moisture and prevent spontaneous combustion. The result is a product they named "strawlage." One worry is mold. The researchers found that treating the straw with propionic acid prevents fungus growth. "We haven't figured everything out, but with the drought conditions as serious as they are, we feel the time is right to share our research with growers," Nader said. "We invite producers to come to the meeting to see if this will work for their operations. Several producers who have already fed strawlage to their cattle will speak at the meeting about their experiences."Nader believes the UC research into using rice straw for livestock feed will be helpful throughout the world.Asian farmers produce rice straw in great abundance and their livestock would benefit significantly if the farmers worked to maintain the plant's moisture until it reaches cattle feeding troughs.
Experts Voice Concerns Over Arsenic in Rice, Reports Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Committee Recommends Avoiding Rice Drinks for Infants and Young Children Released: 15-Jul-2014 10:40 AM EDT
Source Newsroom: Wolters Kluwer Health: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins CitationsJournal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
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Newswise — July 15, 2014 – Inorganic arsenic in rice and rice-based foods poses health concerns in infants and young children, and steps should be taken to minimize exposure, according to a commentary in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.The inorganic arsenic levels of dietary products used by children should be regulated, according to the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. The commentary includes the recommendation that "Rice drinks should not be used in infants and young children." Health concerns over arsenic in rice—especially for children "Inorganic arsenic is considered a first level carcinogen and its long-term exposure has negative effects on human health," comments Dr Iva Hojsak of University Children's Hospital Zagreb, Croatia, lead author of the Committee report. But currently, the arsenic content of foods is not regulated in the European Union or the United States. No "safe" level of arsenic can be identified—any exposure may increase health risks. The level of inorganic arsenic in rice depends on the type of rice and where it was grown. Rice has higher arsenic concentrations than other grains because of the unique physiology of the plant and because of the way it's grown, in flooded rice paddies.High inorganic arsenic concentrations have been found in rice and rice-based foods—mainly concentrated in the bran layers. "Therefore, the risk from consumption of products made from rice bran such as rice drinks is much higher than from raw, but polished (white) rice," the Committee on Nutrition points out.There's special concern about exposure to arsenic in rice in infants and young children. Because of its availability, nutritional, value and relatively low allergenic potential, rice is a widely used carbohydrate source during weaning. In addition, rice and rice products such as starch, flour, and syrup are commonly added to infant foods and drinks."That contributes to high exposure of infants and young children to inorganic arsenic which is two to three times higher than in adults," according to the Committee report. Data are available on arsenic levels in infant foods and rice drinks, but data is limite d for rice protein-based infants formulas. Recommendations to limit exposure to arsenic in rice Because of these concerns, the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition urges regulation of the inorganic arsenic content of dietary products used by infants and children. Their recommendations state that ricebased formulas "are an option" for infants allergic to cow's milk, but the arsenic content of these products should be declared and considered by doctors and parents.Otherwise, the Committee recommends avoiding rice drinks for infants and young children. The authors suggest limiting children's exposure to arsenic rice by including a variety of grains in their diets, such as oats, barley, wheat, and maize (corn), in addition to rice.In areas of the world where rice consumption is very high, the rice types (cultivars) with the lowest arsenic content should be identified
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and used for the preparation of infant foods. The Committee calls for further research on the inorganic arsenic content of rice and other foods, and its lifelong impact on health. They conclude, "These data will allow the development of evidence-based recommendations regarding the acceptable arsenic content in different foods for infants and children." About The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition The Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutritionprovides a forum for original papers and reviews dealing with pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, including normal and abnormal functions of the alimentary tract and its associated organs, including the salivary glands, pancreas, gallbladder, and liver. Particular emphasis is on development and its relation to infant and childhood nutrit ion. About Wolters Kluwer Health Wolters Kluwer Health is a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point -of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Serving more than 150 countries worldwide, clinicians rely on Wolters Kluwer Health‘s market leading information-enabled tools and software solutions throughout their professional careers from training to research to practice. Major brands include Health Language®, Lexicomp®, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Medicom®, Medknow, Ovid®, Pharmacy OneSource®, ProVation® Medical and UpToDate®. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company. Wolters Kluwer had 2013 annual revenues of €3.6 billion ($4.7 billion), employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, and maintains operations in over 40 countries across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Follow our official Twitter handle: @WKHealth.
Bangladesh to harvest more rice: USDA Star Business Report
Bangladesh is likely to harvest slightly more rice crop in fiscal 2014-15, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in its latest report.Total rice output may rise 0.60 percent to 3.48 crore tonnes in the current fiscal year from last year, the agency said. Apart from Bangladesh, rice output is projected to be higher in Afghanistan and Pakistan.Production in India, one of the major exporters, may decline to 10.6 crore tonnes this fiscal year from 10.63 million tonnes the previous year, USDA said. USDA forecasts that global rice production for 2014-15 may be at a record of 48.07 crore tonnes (milled basis), up 1 percent from a year earlier.Record production is projected for East Asia and Southeast Asia.South Asia and
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Sub-Saharan Africa are also projected to harvest a near-record crop, it said.In Bangladesh, the Department of Agricultural Extension has set targets for aus and aman crop productions at 24 lakh tonnes and 1.34 crore tonnes respectively for the year starting July. Targets for boro, the main crop, is yet to be fixed as the production estimate for boro in the recently concluded fiscal year is not done yet.A senior DAE official said the total rice production target may be set at 3.48 crore tonnes or above for fiscal 2014-15. Published: 12:00 am Wednesday, July 16, 2014
A Miracle Rice Could Save Millions Of Lives LAUREN F FRIEDMAN JUL. 15, 2014, 10:31 AM Erik De Castro / Reuters
"Golden Rice" (R) and ordinary rice, in the hands of a scientist at the International Rice Research Institute in The Philippines.One of the world's great humanitarian crises has a simple cause and, some researchers argue, a simple solution. But that's where the story gets complicated.Around the world, 250 million children are vitamin Adeficient, including about a third of the world's preschool-age population. This simple deficiency kills or blinds millions of women and children each year. In places like the United States, where vegetables like carrots are neither expensive nor scarce, it's difficult to grasp just how pervasive, dire, and deadly a simple vitamin deficiency can be.Children whose diets are chronically low or lacking in vitamin A are at high risk for xerophthalmia, the most common cause of preventable childhood blindness, and insufficient vitamin A can make children more likely to catch an infection and more likely to die from one when they do.In 1992, a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins calculated that increasing consumption of vitamin A, without any other interventions or nutritional improvements, could prevent 1.3 to 2.5 million deaths among infants and preschoolers every year. That's more than the number of children killed each year by measles, whooping cough, and tetanus combined.Programs that aim for widespread distribution of vitamin supplements certainly exist, though they are expensive, complicated, and difficult to sustain. Such programs also sometimes fail to reach the most
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vulnerable populations in remote rural regions.But if a food that people are already eating could be transformed into a nutritional powerhouse, it could help save the eyesight and the lives of millions of children and mothers around the world. Each time farmers harvested the crop, they would have a simple food with the impact of a life-saving medication.In fact, such a miracle crop already exists. It's called "Golden Rice."So why has it been met with so much opposition? What Is Golden Rice?
International Rice Research Institute From the beginning, Golden Rice was conceived as a project that could significantly improve global health, even though it seemed terribly futuristic when it was first proposed."Identified in the infancy of genetic engineering as having the potential for the biggest impact for the world‘s poor, beta-carotene-producing rice was initially funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the European Union," writes Amy Harmon of The New York Times. Beta-carotene, the pigment that makes carrots and squash orange, turns into vitamin A in the human body. "In a decade of work culminating in 1999," Harmon writes, "two academic scientists, Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer, finally switched on the production of beta carotene by adding daffodil and bacteria DNA to the rice‘s genome." Scientists later swapped out the daffodil DNA for corn DNA, vastly increasing the amount of betacarotene in the special rice, whose resulting yellowish color resembled the flesh of a ripe mango.
"From the outset, it seemed totally crazy," Potrykus said, in an interview with New Scientist, explaining what a longshot the technology was when they first tried it. "It was a surprise that it worked." Many environmental groups voiced immediate concerns about Golden Rice and genetically modified food in general. (The scientific consensus on GM foods is that they are just as safe as any other food.) Neth Daño, an agricultural policy researcher and advocate in the Philippines, told NPR that some see Golden Rice as a public relations campaign for genetically modified foods and biotechnology, rather than the most pragmatic solution. Still, The Gates Foundation and other major donors see Golden Rice as an important potential tool in fighting vitamin A deficiency, and so — in spite of protests and plenty of red tape — the project has moved forward. Even after scientists created the proof-of-concept Golden Rice, much tweaking and additional research was needed. The beta-carotene-rich rice needed to be traditionally bred to work with favored local rice varieties, a process that is time-consuming and complicated. And Golden Rice backers needed to prove that in spite of what
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was, for many, unfamiliar technology, the resulting product would be as reliable as supplements for curbing deficiencies. Finally, in a 2009 study, scientists showed that Golden Rice was an effective source of vitamin A, and in a follow-up study, they found that it was as good as pure beta-carotene and better than spinach at providing vitamin A to children. Professional tasters have even said that the high-tech rice tastes just like the original. Today, five field trials are wrapping up in the Philippines, primarily testing whether the crop will behave in a way that makes it appealing to local farmers. Researchers will also do additional safety and efficacy testing before Golden Rice goes up for approval, which could happen as soon as 2016. Why Rice? Rice is a staple food for half of the world's population, and in countries like Vietnam and Bangladesh, it provides two-thirds of all calories consumed. Worldwide, about a fifth of humanity's calories come from rice.In many countries where rice is an important staple, vitamin A deficiency and its associated hazards are endemic.
Wikimedia Commons / data from WHO Plain white rice is a relatively robust source of energy, but has few nutrients. The seeds of white rice contain no vitamin A, but just one bowl of golden rice would fulfill 60% of a child's daily vitamin A needs."When children are weaned, they're often weaned on a rice gruel," Gary Toenniessen, a Rockefeller Foundation microbiologist, explained to NPR. "And if they don't get any beta-carotene or vitamin A during that period, they can be harmed for the rest of their lives."While supplemental nutrition programs are both helpful and necessary, they are not enough, and funding irregularities and logistical challenges can make them an inconsistent source of vitamin A.Golden Rice, once it is widely released, will be much more cost-effective, as agricultural economist Alexander Stein has shown. Despite common misconceptions, no one stands to get rich when poor farmers start growing Golden Rice. Instead, it will represent a fundamentally different approach, an embodiment of the old "teach a man to fish" adage. International Rice Research Institute
Dr. Antonio Alfonso harvests Golden Rice during a field trial in The Philippines."It can be planted by the farmers using seeds from their own harvest and that would provide sustained supply of betacarotene," Antonio A. Alfonso, Ph.D., the Golden Rice project leader at the Philippine Rice Research Institute told Business Insider. "The bottom line is that [vitamin A deficiency] affects millions of children and women, making them prone to blindness and susceptible to common infections. Golden Rice, if given the chance, could help.
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"Patrick Moore, Ph.D., an early member of Greenpeace and an outspoken, sometimes controversial, advocate of Golden Rice, is even more emphatic. "At a certain point, you need to be willing to make a leap of faith," he said, in a phone interview. "The risk of not moving forward with this is the continuation of 2 million children dying every year.""If Golden Rice were a medicine that could cure a disease like malaria," he added, "it would have been approved ages ago."
Paddy price targeted at B8,500 per tonne Published: 15 Jul 2014 at 18.19
The Department of Internal Trade has targeted a minimum price for paddy of 8,500 baht per tonne for November‘s main crop, a rate that provides growers sufficient income, officials said. Farmers and soldiers revive the tradition of free and reciprocal labour for rice cultivation to cut rice costs in Buri Ram recently. (Photo by Pikul Kaewhawong).Jintana Chaiyawonnakarn, the department's acting director-general, said Tuesday that the price satisfies the National Council for Peace and Order's requirement that rice farmers be able to earn a liveable wage. The department's move to realise the price comes after the NCPO ended the loss-ridden rice-pledging scheme of the previous government.Mrs Jintana said that if the paddy price starts to drop, rice millers would be encouraged to buy paddy directly from farmers and hold it for 3-6 months.As an incentive, the state will provide participating rice millers subsidized loans three percentage points lower than offered by commercial banks. The mills can then use the borrowed funds to buy rice from farmers.Internal Trade staff will check the stocks of rice exporters to enforce the legal minimum requirement of 500 tonnes each, as per the Rice Trading Act. However, Mrs Jintana ruled out raising the minimum, saying it would overly burden operators.She said the measures would be applied only to general rice. Authorities would do nothing regarding the price of Hom Mali rice, which can be left to market mechanisms due to the small quantities involved, she said.Mrs Jintana added that rice prices were likely to increase in the second half of this year due to drought.Also looking to strengthen the rice industry is the Thai Chamber of Commerce,w which on Wednesday will outline for the junta the ricerelated portion of its overall agriculture-reform plan.Chamber chairman Isara Vongkusolkij will make the presentation to the Public Private Partnership Committee headed by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, discussing appropriate zoning of rice cultivation, improvement of irrigation systems and value chains, and flood prevention.Mr Isara said he hoped the plans would support the intention of the NCPO to strengthen the Thai agricultural sector and develop food and energy security in the country.Ideas to boost the Thai rice sector are only part of the chamber's agricultural-reform plan, which also will address cassava, palm oil, sugarcane and corn, Mr Isara said.The Thai Rice Exporters Association reported that the NCPO's closure of government rice warehouses for stock checking boosted the price of 5% broken Thai white rice by $30 from to $410-420 per tonne on July 11.Meanwhile, the same rice from Vietnam increased by $20 to $420-430 and Indian rice held steady at $430-440 per tonne.
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