www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016
Vol 7,Issue V June 06 ,2016
1
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Today Rice News Headlines...
Pakistan spends Rs683m on Afghan hospitals REAP asked incentives for rice sector Wheat recovers on fall in arrivals, rice basmati eases Anthropologist Glenn Stone Again Declares GMO Golden Rice More Hat Than Cattle Swarm Theory is Clever, Smart and Beautiful – Book Review Billions of pesos lost to rice smuggling – Piñol Food review: BU! is licensed to wow Rs 300 billion new taxes in budget Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote! Rice Exports to EU Threatened Tin Can port handled N4m rice in nine months Healthier to eat white rice with protein, say researchers
News Detail...
Pakistan spends Rs683m on Afghan hospitals
Editorial Board Chief Editor
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah Rahmat Ullah Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor Legal Advisor Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid Javed Islam Agha Ch.Hamid Malhi Dr.Akhtar Hussain Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF) Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK
By Waseem Abbasi
June 05, 2016
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Islamabad
Although Pakistan‘s own hospitals still lack proper facilities to cater to healthcare needs of the population, the country spent Rs683 million on construction and repair of hospitals in Afghanistan during the outgoing fiscal year, budget document revealed.An amount of Rs103 million was sought for construction of 200 beds Jinnah Hospital in Kabul as part of the supplementary demand for grants and appropriations in the federal budget while an additional amount of Rs546 million was separately demanded for ―different work‖ at Jinnah Hospital at Kabul and Naib Aminullah Khan Logari hospital at Logar Afghanistan.
2
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
www.ricepluss.com
Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology ART, Peshawar
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 The document revealed that Rs50.2 million was spent on installation and commissioning of medical equipment for three hospitals in Afghanistan while 1000 Afghan students at Rehman Baba Hostel were provided with Rs32.6 million grant.An amount of Rs1 million was spent on Nishtar Kidney Centre at Jalalabad, Afghanistan during the fiscal year 2015-16. Afghanistan also received Rs51 million from Pakistan for 15 weigh bridges and 30 mobile mixtures as part of project Torkham-Jalalabad Road.The document revealed that Pakistan spent generously on foreign assistant and an amount of Rs3 billion was spent on foreign assistant over and above the approved budget during outgoing fiscal year. The country spent Rs50 million on award of 800 scholarships to students from Indian Occupied Kashmir in field of medicine, engineering and information technology.Additionally, a sum of Rs15.1 million was spent to finance 100 scholarships for Bangladeshi students in field of engineering, medical and IT.Pakistan provided gift of rice worth Rs925 million to Cuba while Niger received rice worth Rs685 million from the country during the last year.The amount was given to Trading Corporation of Pakistan which arranged rice gifts. The country also provided relief assistance worth Rs186 million for earthquake affectees in Nepal while an amount of Rs48.62 million was spent on assistance of earthquake affectees of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous (GBAO), Tajikistan.The country also spent Rs162.4 million for donation of rice for drought victim in Niger while flood victims of Myanmar received Rs10.4 million donations from the country.A sum of Rs63.3 million was spent on compensation of Pakistani Hujjaj martyred in Mina during Haj 2015. National Seerat Conference cost the country Rs3 million http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125353-Pakistan-spends-Rs683m-on-Afghan-hospitals
REAP asked incentives for rice sector Sunday, 05 June 2016 00:26
KARACHI: Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has asked for incentives and government support to rice; which is a major export sector of the country.In a statement here on Saturday, REAP's patron-inchief Abdul Rahim Janoo, Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Shafique and Senior Vice Chairman Noman Ahmed Shaikh said this important sector earning more than $ 2.2 billion. 3
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 They further said that despite very challenging circumstances since last couple of years, rice exporters had contributed a lot to the national economy. http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/industries-a-sectors/300339-reap-asked-incentives-for-ricesector.html
Wheat recovers on fall in arrivals, rice basmati eases PTI | Jun 3, 2016, 02.32 PM IST
New Delhi, Jun 3 () Wheat prices moved up Rs 10 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today following restricted arrivals from producing belts against increased offtake by flour mills. However, rice basmati traded lower due to fall in demand at prevailing levels. Traders said besides fall in arrivals from producing regions, increased offtake by flour mills helped wheat prices to edge higher. They said, however, muted demand from retailers at prevailing levels against sufficient stocks dragged down rice basmati. In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) recovered by Rs 10 to Rs 1,775-1,780 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired higher by Rs 15 to Rs 1,785-1,790 per 90 kg. On the other hand, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety slipped to Rs 5,800-6,000 and Rs 4,700-5,650 from previous levels of Rs 5,900-6,100 and Rs 4,850-5,800 per quintal, respectively. Maize, however, fell by Rs 50 to Rs 1,450-1,460 per quintal on increased supplies against reduced offtake by consuming industries. Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,360-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,775-1,780, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,785-1,790, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 275, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275, Roller flour mill Rs 950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,065 (50 kg). Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,800-6,000, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,700-5,650, Permal raw Rs 1,975-2,025, Permal wand Rs 2,150-2,225, Sela Rs 2,800-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,840-1,850, Bajra Rs 1,630-1,635, Jowar yellow Rs 1,850-1,950, white Rs 3,500-3,600, Maize Rs 1,450-1,460, Barley Rs 1,640-1,645. SUN KPS SBT MR
4
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Anthropologist Glenn Stone Again Declares GMO Golden Rice More Hat Than Cattle By News Staff | June 4th 2016 03:34 PM |
Heralded on the cover of Time magazine in 2000 as a genetically modified (GMO) crop with the potential to save millions of lives in the Third World, Golden Rice is still years - and millions of dollars in anti-science activism - away from field introduction. Vitamin A deficiencies leave millions at high risk for infection, diseases and other maladies, such as blindness, and Golden Rice produces the micronutrient beta carotene, so it is basically fortified, but using a natural process that increases Vitamin A rather than an additive. Regardless of that altruistic foundation, GMOs are decried as Frankenfood or a corporate world control cabal by environmentalists and yet Golden Rice, created by an academic and offered for free, has been unable to gain any traction precisely because it has no corporate representation that can combat the thousands of environmental lawyers Greenpeace and the other groups, with $1,000,000,000 in annual revenue at their command, lined up against it. For that reason, Washington University in St. Louis anthropologist Glenn Stone is declaring Golden Rice overhyped, andin the journal Agriculture&Human Values defends fellow activists from claims they are blocking its uptake. Stone has similarly insisted despite the evidence that Bt cotton is unsuccessful in India, and that claims to such effect are biotechnology conspiracy theory, and defended philosopher Vandana Shiva from criticism when she has arguably been the biggest opponent of science on the world stage. Stone and co-author Dominic Glover, a rice researcher at the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Sussex, say environmentalists are not to blame for its lack of approval. Strangely, he is implicitly criticizing it for not having a deep-pocketed corporation shepherding it along. "It has not even been submitted for approval to the regulatory agency, the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)," he chides them in his press release. And they dismiss the destruction of a 2013 Golden Rice test plot by Greenpeace and insist that should have made no difference.
He is not anti-GMO, he insists, but rather just keeping an open mind. "The simple fact is that after 24 years of research and breeding, Golden Rice is still years away from being ready for release."
Since 2013, Stone has directed a major Templeton Foundation-funded research project on rice in the Philippines. His research compares Golden Rice to other types of rice developed and 5
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 cultivated in the Philippines. These include high-yield "Green Revolution" rice strains developed in the 1960s in an effort to industrialize rice farming, and ''heirloom'' landrace varieties long cultivated on the spectacular terraces of the Cordillera mountains of northern Luzon. And Golden Rice is just a waste of time, Stone and Glover believe, because it is still unknown if the beta carotene in Golden Rice can even be converted to Vitamin A in the bodies of badly undernourished children. How long can it be stored between harvest seasons? Will it still produce Vitamin A when cooked in rural locations? It's the anti-science playbook - poor people can be helped by other methods, they don't need science. http://www.science20.com/news_articles/anthropologist_glenn_stone_again_declares_gmo_golden_rice_ more_hat_than_cattle-173958
Billions of pesos lost to rice smuggling – Piñol by Jonathan A. Santes June 5, 2016 (updated) Share95 Tweet0 Share0 Email4 Share185
Davao City – ―Grabe, grabe, grabe.‖This was how incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel ―Manny‖ Piñol described corruption at the Department of Agriculture (DA) when he met with various stakeholders in the agriculture sector at the Garden Oasis restaurant here last Friday. ―Billions of pesos were lost due to rice smuggling,‖ said Piñol, citing information he gathered during his inspection and observation trips throughout Mindanao after he was named by incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the next DA head. He rued the inaction of DA officials and personnel on the plight of ordinary farmers because ―they were busy making money.‖ NFA MOST CORRUPT Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato and a hands-on farmer in M‘lang in the same province, tagged the National Food Authority (NFA) as one of the most corrupt agencies under the DA. He said that some of its officials have long been in cahoots with unscrupulous Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials in the smuggling of rice in the country. ―Binebenta yung (They sell) import permits. And then, ang modus operandi nila – in cahoots with the BOC – is that they will use the import permits again and again. Papapasukin nila ang produkto, and then repeat it three times (using the same permit),‖ Piñol said.
6
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Based also on his dialogues with stakeholders and some NFA personnel, Piñol gathered that government officials get rebate of $20 per metric ton of imported rice from such counties like Vietnam. ―Now, we are importing, because of shortfall, about two million metric tons every year. Multiply that by $20, that‘s how much they are earning,‖ he rued. That was why Piñol suspects that the DA is not working enough to increase the rice productivity of the country so the government will resort to importing the grains. Apart from the DA and BOC officials who are involved in the scam, Piñol said he also got information that their Vietnamese counterparts could be in on the scheme. The incoming DA secretary also reported that in a visit to Zamboanga City, he found out that there are ―90-plus small ports and piers all over the city and nobody could even supervise the small piers.‖ SMUGGLING ―They suspect that the big ships come in with smuggled goods, docking maybe in Jolo or TawiTawi before smaller boats ferry smuggled items into the city unnoticed,‖ Piñol disclosed. He charged that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) assigned in Zamboanga City has been too lenient in enforcing the law. ―And worse, BOC does not have warehouses to keep confiscated items,‖ said Piñol, who added that a common payoff to the BOC was P14,000 for every smuggled shipment. Piñol made his revelations during a meeting with leaders of the agriculture sector, namely from the banana and aquaculture industries, as well as hog growers. Officials and members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce also attended the meeting. Among those who shared their problems were: Val Turtur of the Cacao Industry; Cito Limbago of the Coco Milling Industry; Edward So of the Hog Raisers Association of Davao; Rey Acain of Davao del Norte Vegetable famers Association; Alvin Teves of the South Philippines Egg producers Association; Freddie Maranon of Banana export; Vic Lao, a poultry exporter specializing on Peking Ducks and Ludevito Batilong of the aqua-culture Industry. BANANA INDUSTRY Piñol also lambasted previous DA officials who advised banana growers to contemplate on shifting to multi-cropping after China, one of the biggest importers of banana, imposed stricter rules on its importation of the fruit.
7
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 ―Mag multi-cropping kayo with banana? That‘s how ignorant (they are). That is the extent of ignorance they have with the banana industry, which is the pride of Philippine agriculture,‖ he said. Piñol said that he will be leading a transition meeting with current DA Secretary Proceso Alcala and his staff on June 8 and 9. ―I would like to assure you that there is a lot of money in the DA, and I will give it to you,‖ he told the audience. Piñol said Duterte only had two marching orders for him when he named him as DA secretary. ―And these were to be sure that food is available and affordable for every Filipino family, and to stop corruption,‖ he noted.
http://www.mb.com.ph/billions-of-pesos-lost-to-rice-smuggling-pinol/#7AYBCv6OBmo59DPk.99
Food review: BU! is licensed to wow tabloid! checked out the new dining and nightlife option at Abu Dhabi‘s World Trade Centre Mall
Jazz@Pizza Express in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit:
8
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016
The outdoor terrace at Tamba, at Abu Dhabi's World Trade Center Mall. Image Credit:
Part of World Trade Centre‘s new Hub experiment, BU! offers a step into the unknown for Abu Dhabi‘s diners and night-time partyseekers. A fully licensed restaurant that is not part of a hotel is something daring and new for the city — and all the more welcome as there are no tourism fees or extra charges covertly bolted on to the bill. Such a concept has to be done well, and we‘re pleased to report that done well it has been. Based around a pan-Latin theme, BU! boasts a large, well-appointed seating area and extensive outdoor terrace, making it the perfect central location for both fine dining and a fancy night out. The menu does not disappoint. We were treated to the set menu, which is made up of a selection of tapas and dishes which were as varied as they were delicious. By way of an amuse bouche we began with a plate of nachos served with the restaurant‘s delectable special-recipe guacamole before the first starter arrived. Served in a hollowed-out brioche, the crema de habanero soup is a spicy vegetarian broth guaranteed to wow. Towards the comfortable end of the spice spectrum, the chili cream is a must-try. Even if spicy dishes aren‘t your thing, the brioche and sweet potato chips in accompaniment are worth trying. Soon after, the table was overrun with several starter dishes, offering a complete range of what BU! is known for: raw meat and fish.
9
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Of the many offerings, the standout dish was the res tataki. Cotua cheese, rocket leaves and ginger are wrapped in a thinly cut strip of wagyu beef tataki and drizzled with chilli oil and huancaina sauce. Served on a hot stone, you are in charge of how well done you want it. The hamachi tartare is also worth a mention. Served cold, the Japanese yellowtail and prawn dish comes with avocado, coriander, jicama, sprouts and jalapenos. Ideal for the light-biter. From the grill, we tried the 300g Black Angus rump steak, which we requested rare. Served on slate and ready-sliced there was a bit more gristle than we would have liked, but the meat itself was melt-in-the-mouth flawless. It was complemented with a side of onions and peppers. We were also given a brace of rice dishes to sample. The arroz chaufa is long-grain basmati rice with tender beef sirloin strips and cooked onion, egg, garlic, ginger and sesame; while the Asianinspired lomo saltado adds soy sauce, potato and sun-dried tomatoes to the dish. After the rice had gone down we were treated to a dessert platter, giving us a taste of all the sweet treats you could ever hope for after dinner. Mini cheesecake, cotton candy, sorbet and caramel all arrived and, owing to their diminutive size, were gone in a minute flat. Two hours after sitting down to start dinner, and with our thanks passed to the waiter, we took ourselves on to the roof-terrace to enjoy a nightcap among Abu Dhabi‘s skyscrapers. A fantastic way to end the night. BU! is a positive glimpse of the future in the nation‘s capital. Where: Level 4, The Hub, World Trade Centre Mall, Abu Dhabi | Timings: Noon-3pm, 6pm2am | Cost for two: Dh350 | Call: 02-6668066 Notes: Private dining area available, kid friendly, live music, wheelchair accessible, outdoor seating available, valet parking, brunch What else is at The Hub?
Jazz@Pizza Express Hungry for pizza? Of course you are, there‘s always time for pizza. Give the normal plastic dross a miss and enjoy fresh handmade pizza the proper, Italian way. Look out over Abu Dhabi‘s skyline with a taste of Italy; call 02-4447752. Tamba
Abu Dhabi‘s latest addition to the Indian cuisine scene is Tamba. Fully licensed, Tamba promises to not only give you a taste of India like nothing you‘ve ever tried, but a unique atmosphere, too. Live music and an open kitchen makes this place stand out. Call 02-3048219. Original Fusion 10
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 The future of Abu Dhabi‘s nightlife is captured at Original Fusion. The swanky nightspot serves an international menu and is the ideal place for either an after-work drink or a full-on night out in the city. Call 02-4182423 Think beyond Mexican fare for quesadillas
Bean and bacon quesadillas: Mashed white beans, bacon and shredded cheese By James P. Dewan | Saturday, June 4, 2016, 8:42 p.m.
Normally, we denizens of the sumptuously appointed Headquarters of Prep School Inc. try to avoid covering similar topics too closely together. Last month's exploration of pancakes, however, garnered so much enthusiasm for the Flat Food Group that we decided to eschew tradition and have another go at the horizontal victuals. Today, we give you the quesadilla. Why you need to learn this ,Do you have kids? Do you know any kids? Would you describe yourself as a flat foodie? (Floodie?) If you answered ―yes‖ to any of these, the quesadilla is the answer to most of your needs and many of your prayers. It's easy to make. It's versatile. It's delicious. And best of all, it's flat. What else do you need in a food item? The steps you take In case you've just arrived from, I don't know, the sun, and you haven't had a quesadilla before, it's a Mexican item made by heating a tortilla on a griddle or in a pan. Cheese or other fillings are placed on top, then it's either folded in half or another tortilla is placed on top and the whole thing is flipped. They're great on their own, but even better with salsa and sour cream. Before the time of the so-called Age of Exploration, many of our favorite cuisines looked very different from what they are today. There were no tomatoes in Italian cuisine (imagine!), no chiles in Thai cuisine and no cheese in Mexico. Fortunately, in modern kitchens, we have available to us not only corn and flour tortillas, but also tortillas made from a host of other ingredients: rice, spelt, chia seeds. On top of that, you could use other types of flatbreads to create something close enough to a quesadilla that your kids won't know the difference, such as an Indian chapati, the Armenian lavash or the Norwegian lefse. Let's talk about the quesadilla filling. Shredded cheese is ubiquitous. A Mexican cheese such as Oaxaca would be typical. Truthfully, though, my kids just like mozzarella or cheddar. Pretty much any melty cheese will be great for a couple of reasons. First, the melted cheese helps 11
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 hold the two sides together, like a grilled cheese sandwich. Second, who doesn't like melty cheese? Chicken is also really common as a quesadilla filler. Grilled or pan-seared breast, sliced thin and layered with the cheese, is easy and delicious. The thing I love about quesadillas, though, is that as much as I love the flavor and texture of tortillas, they can really function here primarily as the delivery system for whatever you're stuffing inside. That includes leftovers from the fridge, both savory and sweet. Better yet, even though the quesadilla is Mexican, you don't need to stick with Mexican-inspired stuffings. Anything that tastes good on its own can go inside, such as leftover lamb stew or a chunky Bolognese sauce. Get creative. Raid the fridge. One thing to remember, though, is that generally we stuff only with things that don't need cooking (like the cheese) or with precooked items (like the sauces). As for the cooking of the quesadilla, there are two basic ways to make a quesadilla: using one tortilla folded in half or using two to sandwich the filling in between. Melty cheese makes it easier to flip if you're making the two-tortilla variety. If your filling is somewhat runny, however, you might be better off using the one tortilla method, as it needs to be only folded in half. At my house, we use a nonstick pan that doesn't require any fat. If you're using a regular stick pan, you might want to coat it with a little bit of oil or nonstick cooking spray before adding the tortillas. Regardless, heat the pan over a medium flame. When it's hot, place one tortilla onto the pan. Immediately add your filling and top with a second tortilla (if you're using one). If your filling is very cold, you might want to cover the pan to encourage warming of the filling. Don't touch the tortilla until the bottom gets a little brown. Then, if you are using two tortillas, carefully flip the quesadilla and brown the other side. If you're using only one, carefully fold it in half. Either way, transfer the quesadilla to a cutting board and cut it into wedges and serve while it's hot. Variations Here are a few ideas for interesting quesadillas: Bean and bacon: Mashed white beans (or black beans or pintos or kidneys or whatever), bacon and shredded melty cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, etc.). Indian style: Cooked basmati rice, dal (cooked Indian-style lentils) and grilled, sliced chicken breast. Breakfast quesadilla: Scrambled egg, cooked greens and more shredded cheese. 12
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Pizza quesadilla: Like a Mexican calzone, just spread some red or white sauce and add your favorite topping. Dessert quesadilla: Mascarpone cheese mixed with a little vanilla or a drop of brandy and slices of fresh or grilled fruit such as peaches or strawberries. (Allow the tortilla to cool somewhat so that the mascarpone won't melt.) James P. Dewan is a Chicago Tribune staff writer. http://triblive.com/lifestyles/fooddrink/10517404-74/cheese-quesadilla-tortilla
Rs 300 billion new taxes in budget 04 June, 2016ISLAMABAD: The federal government imposed Rs 300 billion new taxes in the federal budget, which was presented on Friday.The government has imposed new taxes on hundreds of items, including mobile phones, cigarettes, cement, mineral water, paan and security papers.To meet the expenses of the war against terrorism, it is proposed that the Super Tax should be extended for another year. Twelve percent withholding tax would be imposed on electricity commercial bills exceeding Rs 20,000 per month. However, withholding tax has not been increased for industrial and domestic electricity consumers.It is proposed in the budget that 10 percent customs duty should be levied on frozen fish, nine and eleven percent on semi-printed and printed papers, respectively. However, exemption of customs duty and sales tax for newsprint would continue. Sale tax on smart and costly mobile phones would be increased to Rs 1,000 from the existing Rs 500. However, excise duty on cheap phone will stay at Rs 500. The government has decided to impose four percent tax on the income of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from foreign tours. In addition, the PCB will have to pay tax on media rights and sponsorship. The government has decided to impose five percent tax on the ingredients of the poultry feed. The government has decided to continue its zero-rating policy for manufacturers of dry milk. The government has decided to impose excise duty of Re 1 per kilogram on cement and allow five percent exemption on school fees of the children of the filers who have less than Rs 1 million annual income. The government has increased the customs duty on chicken, eggs and livestock to six percent. Customs duty on dairy products has been cut by three percent. There will be no customs duty on 13
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 water quality testing kits. The customs duty on the indigenously manufactured LED lights has been decreased to 15 percent. Relief has been given to importers of solar panels for one year. Used ambulances for the EDHI Foundation continue to be duty free. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has proposed exemption from sales tax on pesticides. Keeping in view the importance of pesticides for the agriculture sector, pesticides and their ingredients are being granted exemption from sales tax. The Ministry of National Health Services has proposed exemption from sales tax on the import of vitamins, premixes, minerals and micronutrients (food grade) to combat growth stunting. These items are being granted exemption from sales tax. The Ministry of Information Technology has proposed exemption of sales tax on laptops and personal computers with a view to promoting Information & Communication Technology (ICTs). Exemption from sales tax to laptops and personal computers is being granted. This step will also promote genuine imports and will render informal and illegal imports as uncompetitive. The cottage industry is exempted from payment of sales tax. Turnover threshold prescribed for cottage industry is Rs 5 million. This low turnover threshold causes undue hardships and registration requirements for small manufactures who make minimal contributions to revenues. Turnover threshold for cottage industry is being raised to Rs 10 million. Secondhand and worn clothing have been excluded from further tax levy. Currently, 5% sales tax is levied at the import stage, 3% as value addition tax and 2% as further tax under section 3(1A) on second hand and worn clothing that results in cumulative impact of sales tax at 10%. In order to provide relief to the low-income segment, using second hand worn clothing, exemption from further tax is being provided. Sixteen percent FED is leviable on services such as advertisement on CCTV/cable TV, shipping agents, banking companies, insurance companies, cooperative financing societies, modarbas, musharikas, franchise services, stevedores, stock brokers and forex dealers, etc. Provinces and various chambers of commerce and industry have demanded withdrawal of FED on such services as provinces are already charging sales tax on these services. FED on the services on which provinces are collecting sales tax is being withdrawn. 14
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Exemption to the coal mining machinery, equipment, spares, etc. for Thar Coal Field as provided in the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990 includes vehicles for site use i.e. single or double cabin pick-ups. Dump trucks, although being vehicles for site use, are not covered under the said provision. Exemption from sales tax is, therefore, being granted to dump trucks. Exemption from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty to Concession Holder of Gwadar Port Authority and its operating companies, their contractors and subcontractors for development of Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone. Exemption from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty for a period of 40 years on the import and supply of materials, equipment, ship bunker oils brought and sold to ships calling on/visiting Gwadar Port, for the development of Gwadar Port and Free Zone for Gwadar Port is being granted. Exemption for a period of 23 years from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty is being granted to businesses to be established in Gwadar Free Zone. This exemption shall be available to sales/supplies within the Gwadar Free Zone. However, sales/supplies outside the free zone and into the territory of Pakistan shall be subjected to applicable rates of sales tax and Federal Excise Duty. http://paktribune.com/news/Rs-300-billion-new-taxes-in-budget-276479.html
Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote! By Hartstone Inn | Jun 05, 2016
A la Carte Menu -- Served Nightly May 26-June 22, 2016 APPETIZERS LOCAL ARUGULA SALAD – fresh raspberries, blueberries, goat cheese, toasted sunflower seeds, balsamic vinaigrette $9 CHILLED LOCAL SEAFOOD PLATE - Maine lobster, Pemaquid oysters, crabmeat, accoutrements $17.95 CLAM CHOWDER – new potatoes, crisp bacon, fresh thyme $11 LOLLIPOP LAMB CHOPS - pickled cucumber, red onions, cilantro-hazelnut pesto $12 15
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016
ENTREES ROSEMARY SEARED HANGER STEAK – bourbon-onion compote, wild mushroom butter, roasted red potatoes, asparagus $26 SESAME SEARED TUNA – grapefruit, grilled scallion, kelp noodle salad $24
16
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 LOCAL MAINE LOBSTER - fresh herbs, puff pastry tower, lobster cream sauce, garlic mashed potato, haricot verts $28 CHICKEN ROULADE – spinach, feta, sundried tomatoes, red pepper orzo $22 DESSERTS DARK CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE – Kahlua crème anglaise $9.50 SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE – macadamia nut crust $8.50 SORBET TRIO – diced fresh fruit, almond lace cookie $7.25 VANILLA BEAN CRÈME BRULEE – strawberry-rhubarb compote $8.25
Chef's Menu -- Served Nightly -- $55/person May 26-June 22, 2016
LOBSTER SPRING ROLL spinach, Monterey Jack cheese, phyllo, garlic-chili sauce
MIXED BABY GREENS cherry tomatoes, avocado, Champagne vinaigrette SORBET Maine blueberry PAN SEARED HERB CRUSTED HALIBUT grilled mango-pineapple chutney, basmati rice, roasted asparagus DARK CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ Kahlua crème anglaise
17
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Rice Exports to EU Threatened
The Kingdom‘s rice exports to the European Union (EU), which now enjoy duty and quota free access, could be threatened if the regional grouping agrees to Italy‘s request to limit rice imports from least developed countries (LDCs). Italy is Europe‘s top premium rice producer and its exports to the EU are growing. According to Oryza, the daily online markets newsletter, Italy is pushing the EU to cut LDC rice imports from Asia to protect the Italian local rice market that seems to be getting bigger. Angelo Politi, the director general of Italy‘s rice research body Ente Nazionale Risi (ENR), was quoted in Oryza as saying that rice imports from LDCs such as Cambodia and Myanmar were flooding the EU due to special treatment given to them in the form of tariff-free market entry in the ‗Everything But Arms‘ trade concessions. This, he added, was jeopardizing the competitiveness of the Italy-grown Indica varieties – namely Ariete, Drago, Arorio, Baldo, S. Andrea and Carnaroli – which have been given EU quality assurance labels.The Italians do not eat much rice, but Italy is famous for its risotto made from the Arorio and Carnaroli varieties. Reacting to the Italian request to cut rice imports from LDCs, Hean Vanhan, deputy directorgeneral of the Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the impact on Cambodian rice exports could be serious, if implemented.―Italy has made this request to the EU many times. Fortunately the EU has been silent on it. But we can‘t be complacent. If the EU follows through Rome‘s request, our rice exports could be in trouble,‖ 18
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 said Mr. Vanhan.Mr. Vanhan pointed out that rice exports to the EU were mainly high-end fragrant rice and at this moment, there was little competition from other producers including those in Italy. But, he stressed, that could change if the EU decides to follow up with Italy‘s request. Amru Rice (Cambodia) CEO Song Saran warned that the whole rice production chain from farmers, rice millers to exporters could be in dire financial straits if Cambodia loses the EU market. He urged the government to open discussions with the EU on this issue to gauge their thoughts on what quality of rice exports Cambodia should be sending to Europe and what kind of products Cambodia should reduce, so that the rice export quotas are not affected.Mr. Saran stressed that Cambodia was reluctant to compete or challenge Italy, since it is also in the common league of rice exporting countries.―Cambodia exports white rice to Europe to supplement what Italy exports to the EU. Italy by itself cannot produce enough rice to supply the 28 countries in the European Union,‖ he pointed out. According to latest figures from the Italian Rice Association (Enterisi), Italy‘s rice production this year is forecast at 1.5 million metric tons, an increase of 7.5 percent from last year.―Italy‘s complaint is that rice from Asian LDCs is eating into their market share and these rice imports have an undue advantage because they enter Europe tariff-free,‖ added Mr. Saran.But Mr. Saran said it was Italy that was being unfair. The European Union gave tariff-free access to Cambodia and Myanmar rice exports based on joint consensus by its 28 members. ―Cambodian and Myanmar farmers will suffer more, compared to Italian rice growers, if we are pushed out of the EU market,‖ he cautioned. ―We urge the EU not to cut our rice export quotas. If they do we will be in serious trouble.‖This threat from Italy comes at a at a crucial time as the Cambodian government considers a $30 million emergency loan request from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) to help protect the rice sector that is reeling from a fall in production due to the prolonged drought that hit the Kingdom. The CRF has also urged the Ministry of Commerce to reduce electricity tariffs and pump in an additional $200 million for rice millers.Oryza reported that from last September to this April, the EU imported 261,692 metric tons of rice from Cambodia and Myanmar, up by about 27 percent from the same period the previous year. http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/25768/rice-exports-to-eu-threatened/
Tin Can port handled N4m rice in nine months June 6, 2016 The volume of imported rice coming in through one of the nation‘s seaports has drastically declined due to dollar scarcity, with government revenue in form of duty falling sharply in the process, IFE ADEDAPO writes The importation of rice, a major staple in Nigeria, has declined in volume due to the scarcity of foreign exchange occasioned by falling oil prices globally. 19
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016
Statistics obtained from the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos indicated that in the past nine months, the country imported 13.4 metric tonnes of the product. There are 1,000 kilogrammes in a metric tonne, while there are 20 bags of 50kg each in a metric tonne. On the average, each bag of rice costs N15,000. Therefore, each metric tonne of rice has a market value of N300,000. Therefore, 13.4 metric tonnes of rice have a market value of N4.02m at N300,000 per metric tonne. This quantity of rice in its various forms only fetched the country N336,337 in tax payment from September 2015 to May 2016. In September 2015, the volume of rice imports was five metric tonnes; it declined to one metric tonne in October and peaked at five metric tonnes in November of the same year. In December, when rice import was expected to be high due to the festivities, only one metric tonne was imported through the Tin Can port. The volume further dipped to 0.5MT in February 2016, but rose slightly to 0.8MT in March, while 0.1MT was recorded for May 2016. There was no importation of the commodity through the port in January and April 2016. The value of rice imports through the seaports has been on a steady decline since the first quarter of 2015. According to the foreign trade report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, semi-milled or wholly milled rice secured the fourth position of all imported commodities in the fourth quarter of 2014 based on its worth of N49.34bn. 20
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 However, in the first three months of 2015, rice occupied the third position in the list of imported products with a value of N33.44bn, and dropped to the fifth position with a value of N25.38bn in the second quarter of the year. The value of rice imports between July and September 2015 declined by 61.8 per cent to N9.69bn, occupying the 15th position, the lowest for all the commodities imported through the seaports in the third quarter of last year. By the fourth quarter of the same year, rice had completely fallen out from the list of high value imported commodities into Nigeria. Rice was among the 41 items that the Central Bank of Nigeria excluded from official foreign exchange window in August 2015, leading to difficulties in accessing foreign exchange by importers and high cost of importation when forex is sourced from the black market at over N300 to a dollar. Investigation showed that the price of the commodity had doubled between September 2015 and May 2016 from N7,500 per 50kg bag to an average of N15,000. When our correspondent visited Daleko, a major rice market in Lagos State, the traders explained that most of the rice being offered for sale were brought in from Cotonou, Benin Republic due to the ease of importation and payment of duty. A trader in the market, Alhaja Tawa Kasali, said the price of the commodity brought in from Cotonou was N5,000 per bag but the duty rate and high cost of transportation had made it expensive, adding that those who smuggled the product only risked their investments and lives. She said the price would have been more competitive if locally grown and milled varieties of the produce were available for sale at lower prices. However, due to the reduced rice imports, millers in the country are enjoying huge patronage due to rising demand. The Personnel Manager, Umza International Limited, a rice mill, Mr. Ali Aliyu, admitted that business was booming and the company has had to turn down orders due to its inability to meet traders‘ request. He said, ―It gets to a point that we had to call some people that we wouldn‘t be able to get them the quantity of rice they wanted. The demand is much more than expected but at the same time, we are not very happy for not being able to fulfil our customers‘ demand. ―But there is nothing we can do. We cannot force our machines to work beyond their capacities.‖ According to him, the changing trend of the business as well as the high cost of input has made it necessary to increase the price of the locally milled produce. Presently, he explained that the major factors contributing to the increase in price were poor electricity supply and high cost of paddy, a major raw material for the millers.
21
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 Aliyu explained, ―We are presently selling for N10,700 per bag instead of the N9,000 we were selling a couple of days ago. A lot of factors contributed to the price increase. Sometimes we will stay for two or three days without having electricity. ―And that means buying more diesel and the price of diesel is not as low as we expect. It sells for N150 per litre and the minimum price is N135; but before now, we were getting electricity for about 10 hours a day. The cost of production has doubled and the paddy rice is very difficult to get.‖ He added, ―The farmers producing paddy rice are not producing much and there are so many people demanding for it now more than before. Due to the Federal Government‘s forex policy, a lot of people will prefer to buy paddy, process and sell. ―The price of the paddy has skyrocketed. It is now N8,000 per bag compared with N4,000 that we used to buy before. Therefore, we have to increase our price.‖ As a form of intervention in the rice value chain, the knowledge management and communications specialist, GEMS4, a project of the United Kingdom‘s Department for International Development, Ms. Enene Ejembi, explained that smallholder paddy farmers and large scale ones in Kano State were educated on the quality standards of paddy and supported to supply paddy in sufficient quantity to commercial millers. So far, she said the intervention, which began in 2015, had mobilised 1,199 rice farmers, and earned about £1,195,245 for them. ―Activities to develop the rice value chain began with the mobilisation of farmers and aggregators through community engagement, rice fairs, communication campaigns and farm demonstrations by the Brent Group,‖ Ejembi added. Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: editor@punchng.com http://punchng.com/tin-can-port-handled-n4m-rice-nine-months/
Healthier to eat white rice with protein, say researchers by salma khalik SINGAPORE: White rice on its own is bad, as it can push up blood sugar or glucose significantly.
22
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016 But how much of it is eaten, what it is eaten with, and even how it is eaten can make a big difference, said Professor Jeyakumar Henry, head of Singapore's Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC). Prof Henry said one of the first studies at the centre, which opened in 2014, looked at a local favourite: chicken rice.The study, published in the European Journal Of Nutrition, found that the glycaemic index (GI) of "pure white rice was 96, whereas combined with chicken breast, groundnut oil and vegetables, it was 50".GI measures how much food raises sugar in the blood. A GI of 55 or less is good and above 70 is high.Eating rice with protein reduces the GI. The best GI results are obtained when rice is eaten with tofu but chicken, fish or other meats also help. Something else the centre found: When eating chicken rice, it's best to drink the soup first as that reduces the body's sugar response.This is because chicken soup - and possibly other meat soups but the centre has yet to verify this - is rich in amino acids, which stimulates the secretion of insulin.Prof Henry, who is also with the department of biochemistry at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, said the centre also tested the effect of Brand's Essence of Chicken, which is rich in amino acids, on blood sugar levels. It found that, if taken 15 minutes before a meal, the essence of chicken "reduces blood glucose dramatically", in fact, by about a third.The results were published in the British Journal Of Nutrition last year. The results showed significantly lower sugar levels in the test subjects' blood when they had the essence of chicken with or before the meal. The effect was identical whether one or two 68ml bottles of chicken essence were taken.The researchers from the CNRC postulated that the amino acid in the drink primes the body to increase both insulin secretion as well as the absorption of sugar by tissues.Other studies by the centre have found that drinking soya or milk with a meal also reduces the amount of sugar in the blood after a meal. This is in spite of the soya drink, as sold locally, containing sugar.In the past two years, the centre has published more than 95 articles on its study findings in reputable journals, said Prof Henry.The centre, a joint initiative between the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*Star and the National University Health System, has been looking at how local cuisines can be made healthier without reducing their appeal and taste.Several studies show how the sugar surge from eating white rice, the Asian staple, can be reduced without affecting the taste or enjoyment of the meal.Frequently having high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to diabetes, a chronic problem that is a major cause of kidney failure, blindness and amputations here. This is because the pancreas has to work extra hard to get rid of the sugar which, left in the blood, could damage the organs. When this happens too often, the pancreas gets "fatigued" and the person is on the way to becoming a diabetic. Reducing the GI of food puts less stress on the pancreas and could delay the onset of diabetes, so it helps not just diabetics but also healthy people, said Prof Henry. - The Straits Times/Asia News Network http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/06/06/healthier-to-eat-white-rice-with-protein-sayresearchers/ 23
www.ricepluss.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 0321 369 2874