August 17 ,2015 All About Rice News
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Vol 5,Issue XIII
Global Rice E-Newsletter
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Added gene can make rice more climate-friendly Scientists discover a way to boost production of the grain that billions rely on for food – and reduce its damaging emissions of methane. Rice terraces in Vietnam. The world‘s rice paddy fields release up to 100 million tonnes each year of methane − possibly 17 per cent of the global total. Climate News Network Monday 17 August 2015 An international team of scientists has found a way to make rice more productive, more nutritious and less of a greenhouse gas producer – simply by adding just one gene from the cereal, barley.The single gene SUSIBA 2 – the acronym stands for sugar signalling in barley – makes all the difference. And the importance of the breakthrough is that rice feeds half the world – but, as it grows, is one of the great sources of the greenhouse gas, methane.The world‘s rice paddy fields release up to 100 million tonnes each year of methane − possibly 17 per cent of the global total.And although methane emissions are small compared with carbon dioxide, each molecule of methane is far more potent a global warmer. The gas is 34 times more potent than CO2 over a century, but 84 times more so over a much shorter timespan – just 20 years. Ideal conditions The conditions ideal for rice – warm and waterlogged, and mud, rich with nutrients − are also ideal for the generation of methane.The scientists from China, Sweden and the US report in Nature journal that they calculated that if they could do something to encourage the conversion of sugars to starches in the rice plant, there would be more productivity in the stalk and ears, and less around the roots, where the methane-generating bacteria flourish. In their words, this would ―generate a high starch, low methane emission variety‖.They used transcription factor technology – a form of genetic modification that could soon also deliver better drought tolerance in some important crop plants – and began tests at the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Fuzhou, China, in 2012 and 2013. Transcription factors bind to genes and turn them on or off. “As the world‘s population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions. It‘s an issue that must be addressed.Christer Jansson, director of plant sciences at the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Earlier experiments in Sweden had helped the team understand how to manage the transcription factors so they could just about dictate which parts of the plant absorbed more of the carbon taken from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.The result was a rice variety that yielded more Daily Global
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All About Rice News starch, so that it delivered more energy per spoonful for a hungry household, or that could be converted to more biofuel during times of surplus. Japanese scientists, too, have been looking for ways to get all the value they can out of one of the world‘s most vital crops. But the other important outcome, the researchers say, was a nearelimination of methane production from around the roots.The next step is to look at what happens in the paddy fields, and try to understand what is going on and what the change could mean for methane-generating bacteria. Test variety The scientists also dried the whole plant once it had ripened to examine what had occurred, and to compare it with control varieties in the same fields. They found that grains of the test variety contained almost 87 per cent starch, compared with 77 per cent in the control sample.The research still has a long way to go, but given that global population could sometime this century hit or even surpass 10 billion, and given that the land available for farming cannot expand, there is pressure to increase yields per field.Ominously, research so far suggests that global warming – and the accompanying greater extremes of heat in the growing season – could reduce yields. So plant scientists must make the most of any advances in the understanding of the biology of growth.―The need to increase starch content and to lower methane emissions from rice production is widely recognised, but the ability to do both simultaneously has eluded researchers,‖ says Christer Jansson, a co-author of the report, and director of plant sciences at the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.―As the world‘s population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions. It‘s an issue that must be addressed.‖ http://www.eco-business.com/news/added-gene-can-make-rice-more-climate-friendly/
Customs to auction overstaying rice at Manila Port The public auction, set for August 25, includes over 10 million kilos of overstaying rice shipments and is expected to generate P186 million ($4.026 million) for the government Rappler.com Published 10:44 PM, August 16, 2015 Updated 10:45 PM, Aug 16, 2015 BUSTED. Former Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla, since replaced by Alberto Lina, and Presidential Adviser on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis N. Pangilinan (right), inspect rice that was illegally imported from Thailand. File photo from the Bureau of Customs MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Customs-Manila International Container Port (BOCMICP) will hold a public auction of its overstaying cargo including over 200,000 sacks or over Daily Global
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All About Rice News 10 million kilos of rice shipments on Tuesday, August 25.―In compliance [with] the directive of Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina to raise non-traditional revenues out of overstaying shipments and to decongest the container yards, I have ordered the immediate disposal thru Public Auction Sale of 408 container vans of overstaying rice shipments and other assorted items to preserve the value and quality of the goods,‖ said BOC-MICP District Collector Elmir Dela Cruz. The upcoming public auction at MICP is expected to generate more than P186 million ($4.026 million) in revenue for the government.As of April of this year, BOC-MICP conducted 17 public auctions, generating a total of P580 million ($13.10 million) – 346% in excess of its full-year 2014 auction revenue target of P130 million ($2.94 million).Public viewing of merchandise and pre-bid conference for all qualified bidders will be on Monday, August 24, 2015.―The public auction will include the selling of over 10,000 tons of overstaying rice shipments majority of which are consigned to Silent Royalty Marketing and Starcraft International Trading that arrived in MICP two years ago,‖ Dela Cruz said. Legal battle According to BOC-MICP Auction and Disposal Division Chief Gerry Macatangay, the agency was not able to auction off the rice shipments consigned to Silent Royalty and Starcraft earlier because of court cases that these importers filed against BOC. The BOC seized illegally imported rice shipments of Silent Royalty and Starcraft in 2013. It filed smuggling-related charges at the Department of Justice against the top officials and Customs brokers of the companies for bringing in rice without the proper government permits in violation of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and for importing rice in excess of the Minimum Access Volume set by the NFA. Both Starcraft and Silent Royalty filed charges against the BOC, claiming that private importers could bring in rice without security permits as import restrictions had already been lifted through a World Trade Organization agreement in 2012. The BOC, however, argued that under Philippine law, only the National Food Administration (NFA) can import rice and companies that wish to do the same must secure an import permit from the agency.―Even if there are charges pending in court, we will auction off the 336 20-footer container vans of white and glutinous rice consigned to Silent Royalty Marketing and 63 20-footer container vans of white and glutinous rice consigned to Starcraft International Trading that arrived last October and November 2013,‖ Macatangay said.He added that the the proceeds that will come from the sale of these shipments will be held in trust pursuant to Section 2607 of the TCCP. Other items for auction Other items up for auction are rice shipments from Greyvoid Corporation and Intercontinental Grains; assorted motorcycle parts, bicycles from Panda Vine International Trading; assorted apparel from Pie Link Trading; one unit 2006 Toyota RAV4 from Juan Ballinan Jose; and used speakers, piano, refrigerator, furniture, kitchenware, toys, bicycles, from Marilou Vidal Surplus Enterprise.―The Law Division-MICP, sent a notice to claim or file entry to the said consignees Daily Global
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All About Rice News but said letters came back for the reason that the consignees were no longer located at the address indicated in the manifest," Macatangay said.Their lawyers were also furnished a copy of the notice to file entry, he added. – Rappler.com $1 = P46.19 ast update 08:00 | 17/08/2015
Vietnam joins race to sell rice to Philippines VietNamNet Bridge - With the current balance of power, Vietnam and Thailand will participate in a ‘duel’ to obtain the right to sell 250,000 tons of rice to the Philippines.
Race for quota-based rice sale The Filipino National Food Authority (NFA) has bought 750,000 tons of rice so far this year through three bids, while leaving open another 250,000 tons that can still be purchased.The Philippines will also buy 805,200 tons of rice more under the WTO‘s MAV (minimum access volume) mode. However, the purchase will be undertaken by private businesses, not the government. Of the 750,000 tons of rice, 550,000 tons will be provided by Vietnamese enterprises, and the remaining 200,000 tons by Thai exporters.As for the package of 805,200 tons of rice under the MAV, Vietnam has been assigned to provide 293,100 tons. The same volume has been allocated to Thailand. Each of the three other Asian countries including China, India and Pakistan will Daily Global
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All About Rice News provide 50,000 tons. Nevertheless, the Filipino private businesses may be unlikely to import enough 805,200 tons of rice.
Analysts believe that only Vietnamese and Thai rice can be competitive, thanks to the low prices, and therefore, Vietnam and Thailand would be the top choices for Filipino businessmen.Meanwhile, ―made in China‖ rice will not likely enter the Filipino market because of its high price. Indian rice is now sold in some Chinese provinces at $625-635 per ton. If counting the 35 import tariff, the selling price would be no less than $840-860 per ton, higher than the Filipino market price, hovering around $770 per ton.Analysts also think that Filipino private importers are not likely to import 100,000 tons of rice from India and Pakistan, because the two countries have offered the export price which is $18-33 per ton higher than Vietnam.The big disadvantage of the two rice exporters India and Pakistan in the competition to sell rice to the Philippines is that they are relatively far from the country.Statistics show that since 2011, when India‘s rice exports exploded, it exported only 105,000 tons to the Philippines in the 2012-2013 season. It sold 60,000 tons in total in the other three seasons.
NFA and Vietnam-Thailand duel If Filipino private importers cannot import enough 805,200 tons of rice as predicted, it is highly possible that NFA would be assigned to import 250,000 tons out of 805,200 tons.Analysts believe that with the current balance of power, Vietnam and Thailand would have to join a duel to obtain the right to sell rice to the Philippines. Myanmar will unlikely be able to compete with Vietnam and Thailand in prices. TBKTSG
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/138316/vietnam-joins-race-to-sell-rice-to-philippines.html
Guyana needs think tanks Dear Editor, In this period of change in the administration when key sectors are found to be facing failure, there is an urgent need for Think Tanks. These could save this country from the perils of the past and catapult it into a better future. A Think Tank is described as a group of experts brought together, usually by a government, to develop ideas on a particular subject and to make recommendations for the best course of action. In the USA, Think Tanks are also called ‗Think Factories‘, and rightly so, as they manufacture ideas. In the 1970s and 1980s, Think Tanks were quite popular as governments and international organisations sought to bring the best brains together to find answers to key developmental issues. While the USA and many other developed countries still use Think Tanks, some Daily Global
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All About Rice News developing countries seem to prefer to battle along the beaten path of dogma and tinkering when it comes to macro decision-making. At this critical hour, in which Guyana is poised for real development, there are five areas in which Think Tanks are badly needed. First, a Think Tank is needed to look at Guyana‘s coastal vulnerability. Many studies have been conducted on this subject, but they deal primarily with battling the sea. During the past fifty years, successive governments have spent billions in trying to keep the sea out and reduce flooding during heavy rainfall, without complete success. Every so often the wall gets breach-ed and flooding occurs. Apart from the obvious clogged drains, silted canals, blocked alleyways, and undredged outfalls, there is something disturbing about living below sea level in a country like Guyana. The Dutch and English colonists settled and established plantations along the coastland because of the fertile soil. The coastland is ideal for planting but its low level makes it the worst place in Guyana on which to build a permanent civilisation, especially in this time of global warming, ice meltdown and rising seas. Yet, we continue with the minuet of life on the coastal plain when we have higher grounds less than an hour‘s drive from the city. It is time that we assess how many billions have been spent, how many more is likely to be spent in our lifetimes, the impact of the spending, and what it will take to begin the process of designing a planning engine to develop higher lands for living. Secondly, we need a Think Tank on how to convert Guyana‘s potential to actual wealth. From the 1970s to the present, we have heard the mantra from politicians, diplomats, and those who travel widely in this country: ‗Guyana has rich potential‘. We all believe it, I think. It is time that we convert those possibilities into realities. We know of the abundance of water resources in the Land of Many Waters, yet, apart from drinking the water, fishing in them and sailing, the waters have been wasted. We have not used them to provide energy. Along with the water sources, Guyana potential for tourism must be studied. Eco-tourism is one of the fastest growing businesses in the world, yet Guyana has not cashed in. Similarly, Guyana needs a group of scientists to live in our forests and study our flora and fauna with the aim of finding some material that can make products that will be in demand globally. At the launching of the Low Carbon Deve-lopment Strategy some years ago, I made this point publicly, indicating that Guyana can earn far more from its genetic materials than from asking countries to pay for carbon services. A Think Tank to study Brazil‘s economic and social needs in relation to Guyana becoming a supplier will be most strategic. Guyana is a small country with a small population of less than a million people, although with its natural resources still intact, Guyana could seek to find goods or services that it can supply Brazil, our neighbour of more than 130 million people. Now that the two countries are linked, it is time for Guyana to maximise the opportunities. If we do not concentrate on Guyana‘s potential and exploit it for the good of the nation then our leaders have failed. Potential that remains potential in perpetuity is tantamount to idiocy. Daily Global
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All About Rice News Then there is GuySuCo and the rice sector. A Commission of Enquiry was recently appointed. A COI will serve a limited purpose. Its findings can be used by a Thank Tank, which will be more strategic in determining the future of the sugar industry. Just as it is foolhardy to continue living on land that is below sea level, flood prone, and becoming more susceptible, it is nonsensical to continue to put billions every year into an industry that does not have what it takes to be competitive in foreign markets. I was pleasantly surprised to read Professor Clive Thomas‘ prognosis about GuySuCo and that of Guyana‘s private sector czar, Dr Yesu Persaud. Despite what is being said by the experts and non-experts like me, I submit that a Think Tank will facilitate better decision-making than individual experts. A Think Tank will also give all Guyanese, especially those employed by GuySuCo the assurance that the course of action taken will be the best for the nation in the present circumstances. The same goes for the rice sector. This sector needs a Think Tank. At the recent rice conference, President David Granger said that the rice sector needs to be competitive. His remarks brought back memories of my involvement with the EC/Cariforum Project financed under the 9th EDF, between 2005 and 2007. This was an €11 million project for the competitiveness of the Guyana and Caribbean rice sector. The project aimed to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the rice industry in Guyana and Suriname, with Guyana being the main beneficiary. One of the key concerns was the inefficiencies in the production of rice, which contributed to the relatively low yields as compared to international competitors. Some of the key problems that impact on the regional rice industry are poor quality, low productivity, low rice milling and processing efficiencies, limited rice marketing strategies and inefficient means of generating and transferring technology. In October, 2005 a Rice Financing Conference was held in Georgetown to bring together experts in the fields of agribusiness, investment and banking under the theme: ‗Increasing Investment flows for Rice and other Agri-Businesses in the Caribbean‘. A financing facility was also established as part of EC/Cariforum project. This facility was administered by GBTI and provided loans to rice farmers. It operated as a revolving fund and rice farmers, categorised in three bands: large scale, medium scale, and small scale, were allowed to draw down millions of dollars, depending on how they qualified. However, the 9th EDF did not result in the increased competitiveness of the rice sector. The project failed as rice farmers did not repay their loans. Any similar facility under the new government administration is likely to experience the same fate. The sector needs a Think Tank that will be the vehicle for its total transformation. Several other areas need Think Tank intervention: Youth Development; vulnerable communities such as Linden, Buxton and Pigeon Island; and the return of professionalism in the Guyana Police Force and high-ranking public officer holders. While the new government has been bequeathed sectors and structures that need urgent treatment and cannot await Think Tank Daily Global
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All About Rice News treatment, the sustainability and competitiveness of the major sectors demand thorough investigation, diagnosis, and treatment that Think Thanks can facilitate. Yours faithfully, Lennox Cornette http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/08/16/guyana-needs-think-tanks/
Rice that’s nice, not a vice, for diabetics Zia Haq, Hindustan Times, New Delhi
| Updated: Aug 16, 2015 09:22 IST
Diabetes is a condition where the body can’t maintain the right amount of glucose in the blood. When you eat rice, it breaks down more slowly to glucose and can therefore ensure sugar is more evenly released over time, rather than all at once. India could have new ammunition to fight diabetes, an unstoppable epidemic. Three varieties of low glycaemic index (GI) rice — ones that don‘t instantly explode into copious amounts of sugar in the bloodstream — have done well on the field. What‘s now required is a push towards commercialisation, officials said.The Hyderabad-based state-run Indian Institute of Rice Research has identified the varieties by cracking a jigsaw puzzle of plant chemistry.Diabetics commonly crib their diets allow very little rice. Here‘s why.Rice is naturally high in starch, and to make things worse, it also has a high GI score, causing a sugar spike in the
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All About Rice News body. The glycaemic index is a measure of how quickly food is ingested and its sugar released into the bloodstream. For a nation on course to be the world‘s diabetes capital by 2025, the discovery of low GI index rice may not be a magic bullet to reverse the epidemic. But it can surely help target ‗diabetes control‘ better and avert complications from a disease that‘s wrecking so many lives.\ ―People just can‘t give up rice because food habits are entrenched cultural habits difficult to change,‖ says Aparna Misra, a food writer. It‘s understandable why. What‘s a delicacy in the West is a staple for two-thirds of Indians. Nearly 500 million farmers grow nearly 600 varieties. Rich or poor, everybody takes it: as plain rice, as pilaf and slowcooked biryani, as milk-boiled desserts and also as a frugal soupy mix of lentil or khichdi. What‘s more, the government even distributes rice cheap to some 800 million poor and malnourished Indians every month.But plentiful rice can cause a patient to shoot his permissible calorie limits. Diabetes is a condition where the body can‘t maintain the right amount of glucose in the blood. Having rice that breaks down more slowly to glucose, or low-GI rice, can therefore ensure sugar is more evenly released over time, rather than all at once. Any variety of rice with a GI score of 55 or less is considered diabetic-friendly.The Indian Council of Agricultural Research-run institutions have developed three types of wunder grains which hav e alower score, as validated by the flagship National Institute for Nutrition: Lalat (GI=53.17), BPT5204 (GI=51.42) and Sampada (GI=51).―Rice naturally has a GI score of 70-80. The challenge was to reduce that to below 55. Also, one had to ensure the grain is of fine quality. Otherwise people would not prefer it. We did all this through conventional breeding,‖ said V Ravindrababu, project director at the Hyderabad institute.The downside, however, is the government often does a poor job of selling state-developed innovations. ―This is so because the culture of public-private farm collaboration is far more limited in India than in developed markets,‖ said S Raghunathan, a former consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization.According to Ravindrababu, his institute would allow seed companies to use the varieties for an applicable fee. Raghunathan says that‘s not enough and what is needed is a marketing hardsell. http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rice-that-s-nice-not-a-vice-for-diabetics/article11380605.aspx
EDITORIAL - Planting rice as a career (The Philippine Star) | Updated August 16, 2015 - 12:00am
Few people are aware that the country has a Rice Science Museum. Perhaps its designation this week as a tourist spot, which will help in its promotion, will raise public awareness and lure more visitors. The Department of Tourism has included the museum, located in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija, in an official website for tourist destinations.The museum was launched in September last year, with a second one opened last March in Ilocos Norte. Nueva Daily Global
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Ecija is the nation‘s rice granary, and its culture, traditions and science in growing rice are featured in the museum. The Philippine Rice Research Institute, which operates the museum, hopes it will also encourage children to think of pursuing a career in agriculture. Filipinos, however, are increasingly agreeing with the ditty about planting rice never being fun. The dwindling interest in agriculture as a profession is a worrisome trend in a country that is still largely agricultural. This waning interest has made the country lose its lead in rice research. The so-called miracle rice, which has been credited with helping ease hunger in the poorest nations, was developed at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna. Today the Philippines imports seedlings for hardy, high-yielding rice varieties from Taiwan. And President Aquino failed to deliver on his promise that the Philippines would be a rice exporter by 2014. The boast has not been repeated. The loss of interest in agriculture is also endangering one of the country‘s World Heritage Sites, the majestic Ifugao Rice Terraces. Giant worms continue to erode the terraced paddies, and the ranks of rice farmers are dwindling as local youths leave their villages to pursue other professions in the cities. Better marketing of the aromatic and tasty highland rice can increase its value and make farming more attractive, but this effort needs more support. The Rice Science Museum is a good way to raise public awareness about the nation‘s staple. But if we want to ensure food security, a more aggressive effort is needed to encourage Filipinos to pursue a career in rice farming and other agricultural pursuits.
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Commercial counselor invites FPCCI to hold exhibition in Tehran August 15, 2015 SHARE : Our Staff Reporter
LAHORE - Pakistan and Iran have traditional, cordial, and deep-rooted relations but despite enormous trade potential the bilateral trade statistics do not reflect the true picture. The volume of trade must increase to their mutual benefit.This was stated by Khwaja Zarar Kaleem, acting president FPCCI, in a meeting with Iranian Commercial Counselor who visited FPCCI to meet him and the other office bearers and members of FPCCI. The meeting was also attended by Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Vice President & Incharge Sindh Region of FPCCI, Shahnawaz Ishtiaq, Vice President FPCCI, Waheed Shah, Naheed Masood and others.Khwaja Zarar Kaleem and the Iranian Commercial Counselor exchanged views on the enhancing the bilateral trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Iran. They also discussed the possibility of holding trade exhibitions and exchange of delegations. The Commercial Counselor of Iran invited Pakistani trade delegation and assured full support. He said that FPCCI can also hold its own single country exhibition in Zahidan or any city of Iran or it can organize Pakistan‘s participation in regular exhibition held in different cities in Iran.The acting president of FPCCI appreciated the sentiments of Iranian Commercial Counselor and said that the most integral and essential part of enhancement of bilateral trade between the two countries is frequent exchange of trade delegations and trade exhibitions. Khwaja Zarar said that FPCCI is planning to organize Single Country Exhibition in Tehran in the month of October and reciprocally Iran can also organize exhibition in Pakistan with collaboration of FPCCI. Khwaja said that once sanctions on Iranian imports are lifted, trade with their neighbor will significantly improve, with crude oil, petrol and diesel expected to be some of the hot commodities. He further said that Pakistan is an agricultural country and its agro- based products need cooperation in technology from Iran. Iran should enhance import of rice from Pakistan and facilitate the Pakistani rice growers and exporters, he added.The Iranian Commercial Counsellor assured full support and cooperation in organizing Pakistan‘s Single Country exhibition in Tehran.
Rice harvesting progressing in Louisiana, but yields are down Photo provided by Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter -- A farm worker watches rice being loaded onto truck at the J&L Lawson Farm.Photo provided by Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter -- A farmer uses a combine to cut a field of rice near Crowley. This year’s harvest has been marked by good weather, although wet spring weather is being blamed for low yields. Photo provided by Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter -- A farm worker watches rice being loaded onto truck at the J&L Lawson Farm. Photo provided by Bruce Schultz, LSU AgCenter -- A farmer uses a combine to cut a field of rice near Crowley. This year’s harvest has been marked by good weather, although wet spring weather is being blamed for low yields.
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But yields are down ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES
Aug. 16, 2015 South Louisiana rice farmers have had excellent weather to get the 2015 crop out of the field, but the yield is a decline from the two exceptional harvests over the past two years, according to LSU AgCenter experts.―This is not going to be one of the harvests for the record books,‖ said Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station.Linscombe estimated this year‘s harvest in south Louisiana is down 10-15 percent from last year.The north Louisiana rice crop has endured unusually hot, dry weather that could affect grain quality, he said. Harvest in that part of the state is just starting. ―This has been one of the most difficult years for rice producers that they‘ve seen in a long time,‖ AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said.Both listed heavy rainfall from March until May and frequent overcast skies as major reasons for lower yields.More clouds mean less sunshine for photosynthesis, and that resulted in fewer and smaller grains per plant, Linscombe said.Harrell said the excess rainfall complicated the season because farmers were not able to make fertilizer applications on time. In addition, small rice plants were submerged for a long time, he said.Plant disease also was a factor in the harvest, Linscombe said.―Quality seems to be OK, especially on our earlier-planted rice,‖ Linscombe said. But later-planted rice that matured during the hotter temperatures probably will have quality problems, he said. Even though planting was delayed by weather, harvest went smoothly with few rain interruptions, and dry weather prevented farm equipment from rutting the fields, Linscombe said. That means a good start for farmers growing a second crop of rice.Linscombe said he is noticing more farmers manipulating rice stubble, either by rolling or mowing the remaining stalks, to increase second-crop yields as shown in studies conducted by Harrell.AgCenter county agent Keith Fontenot said Evangeline Parish rice farmers were reporting mixed results, with yields from 40 to 55 barrels. He said one farmer only managed 26 barrels in a field suddenly hit with a disease.AgCenter county agent Barrett Courville said yields are off by about four barrels an acre from last year. But he said the second crop looks promising.A barrel of rice weighs 162 pounds. Fontenot said he‘s seeing many farmers preparing fields for a second crop.―I‘m amazed at the amount of work I see happening,‖ he said. ―Everybody looks like they‘re going to have a second crop.‖ http://theadvocate.com/news/business/13180180-123/rice-harvesting-progressing-in-louisiana
Rice museum declared tourist spot By Manny Galvez (The Philippine Star) | Updated August 15, 2015 - 12:00am
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Rice museum. philrice.gov.ph
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija, Philippines – The Department of Tourism (DOT) has declared the Rice Science Museum here as a tourist spot.With its accreditation, the rice museum is now registered in the http://visitmyphilippines.com, a DOT-maintained website, along with the Aquino Center and Museum in Tarlac City. DOT regional director for Central Luzon Ronaldo Tiotuico said the museum, operated by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), presents rice culture, traditions and science in the rice granary of the country.―It is a good place to visit. The museum presents rice in a way that the public will appreciate and understand,‖ he said.Charisma Love Gado, senior science research specialist at PhilRice, said studies have shown the significant role of museums in society through education.Launched in September last year, the museum highlighted rice science, art, and technology through rice-farming communities in the country, labor and cost-reducing machines and rice seeds. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The museum has displayed three exhibits – Lovelife with Rice, Abundant Harvest and Colors of Rice.The last focuses on the health and nutrition aspects of rice, and runs until February 2016.Gado said the Rice Science Museum has partnered with the Museo Pambata and went mobile to encourage children to build a career on ensuring the country‘s food supply. In the ―Paglaki ko, gusto kong maging....‖ program of the country‘s premier children‘s museum, eight to 12-year-old pupils in Metro Manila were made to imagine themselves as agriculturists in the future, trying to nurture a nation needing food security.Noreen Parafina, program director of Daily Global
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All About Rice News Museo Pambata, noted the significant role played by the younger generation in food security. ―Children must learn about this noble career at an early age as it is a career that helps feed the nation,‖ she said. http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/15/1488245/rice-museum-declared-tourist-spot
More army worm attacks reported in Pangasinan farms 02:35 AM August 15th, 2015
Duterte wants to restore death penalty for plunder Makati Homeville residents pinning hopes on Kid Peña CBCP: Use of marijuana for terminally ill allowed in Church teaching Farm boy also rises: From school janitor to president PAF gets 10 new choppers, awaits delivery of more LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Farms in two more Pangasinan towns and Alaminos City have been attacked by army worms, an agriculture official said here on Thursday.But Nestor Batalla, assistant provincial agriculturist, said the army worm invasion in Bani town and Alaminos City had been contained.The worm attack in Burgos town was being monitored, he said.―In Bani and Alaminos, only spots of the farms were attacked. We are confident that we will be able to control the infestation in Burgos,‖ he said. On Wednesday, army worms destroyed rice fields of Agno and Mabini towns, devouring newly planted rice in some 150 hectares of farm, he said.The worms also destroyed at least 80 cavans of seedbeds in Mabini.But Batalla said there was no cause for alarm because army worms could easily be controlled.He said the invasion may have been an offshoot of the three-week monsoon rain that flooded western Pangasinan towns and destroyed the worms‘ habitat.―With their habitat destroyed, they have to look for food. So, here they are,‖ he said.He said Gov. Amado Espino Jr. had ordered his office to extend every assistance to affected farmers, including rice seeds that they would need for replanting. Agriculture technicians met farmers‘ groups in the province for refresher discussions on good farm management practices to prevent infestation.Batalla said it was important that farms‘ surroundings were cleared of cogon grass and irrigation of the crops should be maintained.―It is also important that they do not apply excessive fertilizer because this makes a plant very green, attracting pests,‖ he said.Army worms are nocturnal insects, coming out of the soil from late afternoon and attacking the rice plant stems or leaves.According to the International Rice Daily Global
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All About Rice News Research Institute‘s Knowledge Bank website, an army worm is a caterpillar that attacks rice. ―A single army worm egg mass contains hundreds of eggs. Each female worm lays 800 to 1,000 eggs during its lifetime of about one week,‖ it said. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Norther http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/713107/more-army-worm-attacks-reported-in-pangasinanfarms#ixzz3j4Elq6db
Iranian delegation due on 25th to talk on trade and energy AMER SIAL Iran and Pakistan will hold talks on enhancing trade through free trade agreement (FTA) and energy cooperation as a high-level Iranian delegation led by the Iranian trade minister will pay a two-day official visit starting from August 25.An official source said Iran was looking to strengthen its trade relations with Pakistan after the lifting of the United Nations (UN) sanctions. ―If Iranians reduce their tariffs, the bilateral trade is expect to cross $ 1 billion mark within the next year.‖The Iranians, he said, had conveyed that they wanted to discuss FTA with Pakistani authorities. Both countries already had a preferential trade agreement (PTA) but the trade remained dormant due to UN sanctions, he added. Opening of bank branches will also be discussed.Iran also wants to have government-to-government level talks on electricity imports. Pakistan presently imports 300 MW from Iran and they have offered to enhance it to 3000 MW to meet the requirements of Baluchistan. Iranian ambassador has held meetings with the officials of ministry of water and power during the last two weeks. Pakistan is also looking for natural gas and crude oil imports from Iran. The deal on gas pipeline is already signed and Iran is ready to provide necessary financing for its initiation. The private sector refinery BYCO, sources said, was willing to import crude from Iran. The refinery is located in Hub coastal area of Baluchistan.Both the countries signed PTA in 2006 but the bilateral trade remained negligible mainly because of the stringent Iranian quality standards and higher tariff. Both the countries had decided in April this year to enhance their bilateral trade to $ 5 billion per annum in next five years.The sources said that Iran was serious in enhancing bilateral trade with Pakistan as a few weeks back Iranian authorities had approved nine Pakistani hot water treatment plants for fruits imports while six Pakistani companies were granted permission to export rice to the country. Previously, the Iranians were reluctant to certify Pakistani firms even though Pakistan used best diplomatic efforts but this time their regulatory agencies had themselves taken the initiative to certify Pakistani firms, the source said, adding it would enhance export of wheat, rice, fruits and textile products to Iran. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2015/08/15/business/iranian-delegation-due-on-25th-to-talk-on-tradeand-energy/
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Jellylike rice developed for use in processed foods August 14, 2015 THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
"Rice gel" to enhance the texture of processed foods has been developed by the National Food Research Institute.―The material has a widespread demand such as from those who are allergic to wheat,‖ said Junichi Sugiyama, a senior researcher at the institute based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture.The jellylike material is created by cooking high amylose rice, a type of rice mainly used for animal feeds, and churning it in a machine at high speed, according to the institute, an arm of the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization. The finished material resembles milk pudding and has almost no taste or smell.The density of the material can be adjusted by changing its moisture content and the length of time it is churned. The material can be mixed with eggs and other ingredients to make crispy choux pastry and also chewy "udon" noodles.The rice gel, easily manufactured and slow to spoil, is expected to be an ideal ingredient for a broad range of processed foods such as breads and confectioneries.As the detailed mechanism of how the gel is created and why it is resistant to spoiling is still not known, the institute‘s researchers will continue their research while working toward practical applications. The rice gel was accidentally discovered about five years ago when an institute researcher tried to create something else in an experiment. The researcher thought the creation a failure and left it standing. After a few days, the researcher returned and saw the gel had maintained its quality, prompting full-scale research to begin. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/business/AJ201508140044 http://nation.com.pk/business/15-Aug-2015/commercial-counselor-invites-fpcci-to-hold-exhibition-intehran
Oshiomhole: Jonathan’s agric revolution a big scam Posted By: Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezieon: August 16, 2015In:
Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole has criticised the much touted agricultural revolution of former President Goodluck Jonathan‘s administration, describing, it as a big scam. The nation, he said, is still importdependent on rice and other foods. Speaking with The Nation, Oshiomhole Daily Global
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All About Rice News accused the past government of frittering away over N800billion on waivers for rice millers and others. The past government, he added, also killed local rice production and made agriculture unattractive.―The agriculture revolution was one of the advertised achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan but we have since realised that it was purely a scam on us. It is also a policy contradiction where a government will give waivers and support importers to import what can be produced locally, thereby putting its own people out of business while enriching other nations. Local manufacturers that produce locally are punished. Unfortunately for us, rice millers imported rice without even paying duties, as a nation we should not be seen to be importing what is locally produced. Where then is the success story in the sector? Agriculture is not about bow-ties and designers suits but hard facts that cannot be uncontroverted.‖According to him what the rice millers are practicing is known as dumping in international trade. He accused them of importing all manner of things both the good and the expired and dump it on the people whose government failed to protect due to corruption and maladministration.Oshiomhole also called for the immediate discontinuance of fuel importation, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the refineries are made to produce to local capacity. He commended local entrepreneurs such as the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote who he said though received waivers on VAT posed on local production of rice and cement.On the planned revitalisation of Edo Cement Company at Okpella, he regretted that previous wrong policy of the People Democratic Party caused the ownership of the plant to change three times because rather than locally producing cement the company was importing the product. http://thenationonlineng.net/oshiomhole-jonathans-agric-revolution-a-big-scam/
Added Gene Can Make Rice More Climate-Friendly Posted on Aug 14, 2015
By Tim Radford, Climate News Network Rice, a staple for billions of people, could soon be more nutritious—and less polluting. (Tri Saputro / CIFOR via Flickr)
This Creative Commons-licensed piece first appeared at Climate News Network. LONDON—An international team of scientists has found a way to make rice more productive, more nutritious and less of a greenhouse gas producer—simply by adding just one gene from the cereal, barley.The single gene SUSIBA 2—the acronym stands for sugar signalling in barley— makes all the difference. And the importance of the breakthrough is that rice feeds half the world—but, as it grows, is one of the great sources of the greenhouse gas, methane.The world‘s rice paddy fields release up to 100 million tonnes each year of methane—possibly 17% of the global total. Advertisement Daily Global
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And although methane emissions are small compared with carbon dioxide, each molecule of methane is far more potent a global warmer. The gas is 34 times more potent than CO 2 over a century, but 84 times more so over a much shorter timespan—just 20 years. Ideal conditions The conditions ideal for rice—warm and waterlogged, and mud, rich with nutrients—are also ideal for the generation of methane.The scientists from China, Sweden and the US report in Nature journal that they calculated that if they could do something to encourage the conversion of sugars to starches in the rice plant, there would be more productivity in the stalk and ears, and less around the roots, where the methane-generating bacteria flourish. In their words, this would ―generate a high starch, low methane emission variety‖. They used transcription factor technology—a form of genetic modification that could soon also deliver better drought tolerance in some important crop plants – and began tests at the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Fuzhou, China, in 2012 and 2013. Transcription factors bind to genes and turn them on or off. “As the world’s population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions.” Earlier experiments in Sweden had helped the team understand how to manage the transcription factors so they could just about dictate which parts of the plant absorbed more of the carbon taken from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.The result was a rice variety that yielded more Daily Global
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All About Rice News starch, so that it delivered more energy per spoonful for a hungry household, or that could be converted to more biofuelduring times of surplus. Japanese scientists, too, have been looking for ways to get all the value they can out of one of the world‘s most vital crops. But the other important outcome, the researchers say, was a nearelimination of methane production from around the roots.The next step is to look at what happens in the paddy fields, and try to understand what is going on and what the change could mean for methane-generating bacteria. Test variety The scientists also dried the whole plant once it had ripened to examine what had occurred, and to compare it with control varieties in the same fields. They found that grains of the test variety contained almost 87% starch, compared with 77% in the control sample.The research still has a long way to go, but given that global population could sometime this century hit or even surpass 10 billion, and given that the land available for farming cannot expand, there is pressure to increase yields per field. Ominously, research so far suggests that global warming—and the accompanying greater extremes of heat in the growing season—could reduce yields. So plant scientists must make the most of any advances in the understanding of the biology of growth.―The need to increase starch content and to lower methane emissions from rice production is widely recognised, but the ability to do both simultaneously has eluded researchers,‖ says Christer Jansson, a co-author of the report, and director of plant sciences at the US Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.―As the world‘s population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions. It‘s an issue that must be addressed.‖ http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/added_gene_can_make_rice_more_climate-friendly_20150814
Ecija’s Rice Science Museum now a tourist destination By Ferdie G. Domingo | Aug. 17, 2015 at 12:01am
SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—The Department of Tourism has accredited the Philippine Rice Research Institute-operated Rice Science Museum here as a tourist facility, making it the only DOT-listed facility in the province registered in the department‘s Web site.Ronaldo P. Tiotuico, DOT regional director for Central Luzon, said the rice museum stationed in this city is a must-see place as it presents rice cultural traditions, mores and science in the rice granary of the country. ―It is good place to visit and the contents are intellectually stimulating as they present rice in a way that the public will appreciate and understand,‖ he said.The rice museum, which is also a local government unit-licensed tourist establishment, is the only tourist facility in the province registered in the http://visitmyphilippines.com, a DOT-maintained Web site.Tiotuico said in the whole Central Luzon, the only one enjoying similar accreditation is the Aquino Center and Daily Global
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All About Rice News Museum in Tarlac City in President Aquino‘s home province.Senior science research specialist and activity facilitator Charisma Love B. Gado said that studies around the world have shown the indispensable role of museums in society owing to their educational value through informal learning and discovery. She said the institute‘s studies showed that farmers are learning from the museum during their visits.―They discuss the contents of the museum with their fellow visitors; they can connect the contents with their experiences in everyday lives; and they can share what they have learned to their fellow farmers,‖ she said.Launched in September last year, the rice museum at its central experiment station here has highlighted rice science, art, and technology through material culture of rice-farming communities in the country, labor- and cost-reducing machines, and rice seeds.Thus far, the museum has opened three exhibits namely Lovelife with Rice, Abundant Harvest, and Colors of Rice. Collections covering the species and artifacts found in the rice environment, rice ecosystem, rice grains, and art works have also been exhibited.Colors of Rice, which focuses on the health and nutrition aspects of rice, will run on exhibit until February 2016.Gado said that recently, the museum partnered with Museo Pambata (MB) and went mobile to encourage children to build a career on ensuring the country‘s food supply through the MB‘s ―Paglaki ko, gusto kong maging....‖ program. Under the scheme, eight to 12-year-old pupils in Metro Manila were made to imagine themselves as agriculturists in the future, trying to nurture a nation needing food security.Noreen Parafina, MB program director, stressed the indispensable role played by the younger generation in food security. ―Children must learn about this noble career at an early age as it is a career that helps feed the nation,‖ she said http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/08/17/ecija-s-rice-science-museum-now-a-tourist-destination-
Clouds and rain make for lower rice yields in Louisiana By - Associated Press - Sunday, August 16, 2015 CROWLEY, La. (AP) - LSU agriculture experts estimate that the yield from this year‘s rice harvest in south Louisiana will be down 10 to 15 percent from last year.A news release on the rice crop from the LSU AgCenter says the harvest is just getting under way in north Louisiana but hot, dry weather could affect grain quality in that part of the state. Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station and Dustin Harrell, an AgCenter rice specialist, both listed heavy rainfall from March until May, and frequent overcast skies as major reasons for lower yields.Linscombe said less sunshine made for fewer and smaller grains per plant. Harrell said excess rainfall meant farmers were unable to make fertilizer applications on time. Disease was also a factor in lower yields. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/16/clouds-and-rain-make-for-lower-rice-yields-in-loui/
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International Benchmark Price Price on: 13-08-2015 Product Rice 1 2 3 Wheat 1 2 3 Peanuts
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
CZCE Early Rice Futures (USD/t) Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t) Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t)
400 318 383
Black Sea, FOB Brazil (USD/t) NYSE Liffe Feed Wheat Futures (USD/t) GFO, HRW, DAT Ontario (USD/t)
177 184 189
South Africa, HPS 70/80 peanuts CFR main European ports (USD/t) South African, HPS 40/50 peanuts CFR main European ports 2 (USD/t) 3 US 38/42 Runners, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) Source:agra-net 1
1200 1592 1250 For more info
Market Watch
Product Rice 1 2 3 Wheat 1 2 3 Mousambi 1 2 3 Cabbage 1 2
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Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 15-08-2015 Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price Cachar (Assam) Bonai (Orissa) Sainthia(West Bengal)
Other Other Other
2000 2200 1780
2500 2400 1820
Shehra (Gujarat) Bonai (Orissa) Shirur (Maharashtra)
Other Other Other
1400 1450 1425
1600 1600 1425
Malout (Punjab) Taura (Haryana) Sultanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
Other Other Other
2500 2200 2000
3200 2200 2100
Anchal (Kerala) Dasuya (Punjab)
Other Other
1800 800
2100 1000
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3 Source:agra-net
Talalagir (Gujarat)
Other
1750
Egg Product 1 2 3 Source: e2necc.com
Rs per 100 No Price on 15-08-2015 Price 320 357 297
Market Center Ahmedabad Mysore Nagapur
Other International Prices
Product Market Center Onions Dry 1 Atlanta 2 Baltimore 3 Detroit Cucumbers 1 Atlanta 2 Dallas 3 Miami Apples 1 Atlanta 2 Dallas 3 Miami Source:USDA
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Origin
Variety
Low
Mexico California Canada
Yellow Yellow Yellow
23 21 17
Canada California Honduras Washington Washington Washington
1770 For more info
Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 14-08-2015 High Package: 50 lb sacks 24 21 17.50
Long Seedless Long Seedless Long Seedless
Package: cartons film wrapped 9 10 12 13 10 10
Red Delicious Red Delicious Red Delicious
Package: cartons tray pack 24 22 21
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23 20 18