The Comptroller of Customs, Kwara Area Command, Kehinde Ilesanmi, has said that ban on importation of foreign rice has not been lifted.

At a press briefing in Ilorin, yesterday, the Customs boss said his command would continue to enforce the policy until the country realises the reasons for its declaration.

Kwara Command, at the end of June, reportedly generated N6.2 billion.

“The Federal Government policies on agricultural development in the area of boosting local rice production sustained the fight against smuggling activities and fuelled our resolve to do more.

“I assure you that the fight will continue with sustained momentum, and determination to make more seizure.”

Reiterating the Customs’ core mandate of preventing economic sabotage, the Area Comptroller said his command has devised modern strategies to boost its operational mode.

He noted: “The result of our anti-smuggling activities, coupled with the Command’s renewed drive in utilisation of cutting edge strategies led to 56 seizures of different.”

The impounded items include nine used vehicles of different types, 813 50kg bags of foreign rice, 24,950 litres of petroleum product in 998 jerry cans and 14 kegs of vegetable oil of 25 litres each.

He praised the foresight of the Comptroller-General of Customs for effective leadership, noting that officers and other ranks would, at all times, ensure implementation of the Customs’ most superior boss’ directives.

Ilesanmi stated:“The seizures were successfully accomplished as a result of the renewed determination of Customs CG, Bashir Adeniyi, to rid the country of all forms of illegal importation.

“These positive harvests in the areas of anti-smuggling and revenue generation are a clear testimony of what can be achieved under a brand new leadership of the Service.”

He canvassed more synergies with the media and urged the public to continue giving officers of his command useful information that could lead to the smashing of smuggling syndicates.

In his maiden press briefing, the CG had declared that his tenure would witness remarkable transformation by spearheading innovative projects to unlock the full potential of the Service with strong focus on collaborations, engagement with international organisations, pursuit of cutting-edge technologies that will enhance revenue generation and streamline processes that will strengthen the Service as a crucial contributor to national economy and security.

“I would like to send a note of warning to economic saboteurs to steer clear of Kwara Area Command and engage in meaningful ventures or they will meet their waterloo.

“I commend the patriotic collaboration and tremendous assistance we always receive from traditional leaders, eminent personalities, some host communities and members of the press in our resolute drive against smuggling in the overall interest of our dear nation,” he added.

To reduce water use, labour cost & GHG emission substantially

The country’s first herbicide-tolerant rice varieties will be available for large-scale commercial cultivation next year after the agriculture ministry accorded approval to these.

The new varieties of basmati rice have been developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), affiliated to the Indian Council for Agricultural Research.

Two rice varieties–Pusa basmati (PB) 1979 and PB 1985–can be grown using direct seeding of rice (DSR) method, which significantly reduces water and labour use compared with traditional transplantation methods.

“We have submitted a dossier on the new rice varieties to the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee for allowing the use of herbicide, which had been prohibited in the rice cultivation,” Ashok Kumar Singh, director of the IARI, told FE.

The approval for the use of herbicides in these rice varieties is expected shortly.

He said these two varieties will promote the DSR method, which will help farmers reduce water usage by 30%, greenhouse emission and labour cost in the key water-deficit basmati rice growing regions of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Scientists say the DSR method of rice cultivation has not been popular because of issues associated with weeds. “New varieties will allow the direct application of herbicides such as Imazethapyr, which eradicates a range of weeds,” Singh said.

In the case of conventional methods of paddy transplantation, herbicides are not directly applied as they can’t distinguish between a plant and weeds. Thus, paddy seeds are first raised as young plants in nurseries before being planted in the fields after three to four weeks.

Two approved herbicide-tolerant varieties are the improved version of PB1121 and PB1509, which have a share of more than 60% in the total aromatic long-grain rice cultivation of the country. Along with the two varieties, PB 1692 and PB1401, also developed by the IARI, have more than 95% share in the country’s aromatic and long-grained rice cultivation.

Exporters say with the cost of cultivation expected to reduce because of lesser use of water and labour cost, farmers’ income is expected to get a boost.

India exported 4.5 million tonnes of basmati rice worth $ 4.78 billion in 2022-23. Shipments to top 10 countries — Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, the US, Yemen, Kuwait, the UK, Oman and Qatar—constituted more than 82% of India’s volume of exports.

In the global trade of basmati rice, India has a share of around 85% while the rest is with Pakistan.

According to an analysis by the IARI, Rs 1.66 trillion worth of export earnings between 2010 and 2019 were from the shipments of PB1121 and PB1509 rice varieties, while domestic sales were to the tune of Rs 51,501 crore in the same period.

After deducting the cost of production, the IARI assessment has stated that Rs 1.34 trillion has been accrued as earnings to an estimated 1 million farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, who grow two varieties of aromatic and long-grained rice.

Traders say price offered under e-auction higher than market rates

The government may reduce the prices of rice offered under the open market sale scheme (OMSS) by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) being sold through e-auction to bulk buyers due to lukewarm response.

Official sources told FE  that ‘whenever there are some requirements for tweaking the policy for reducing prices for OMSS rice, we will consider it,”.

In the first two weekly e-auction for rice held in the last fortnight, FCI could sell only 460 tonne of rice against around 0.4 million tonne (MT) offered under the OMSS. The next e-auction is slated for Wednesday.

Many rice traders FE spoke to said the benchmark price of Rs 31/kg for e-auction fixed by FCI is higher than similar variety of grain available in the market.

“At the same cost, white raw rice is currently being available at the Mundra port, Gujarat for exports besides the FCI’s rice has about 25% broken grain which makes it unattractive for the traders,” a rice trader based in Karnal, Haryana, said.

Average bid price for rice under OMSS last week was Rs 3,110.07/quintal against the reserve price of Rs 3,110.07/quintal.

The official said current grain stocks are above the buffer and sufficient to carry out open market sales.

FCI currently has 25.23 MT of rice,which excludes 14.7 MT of rice yet to be receivable from millers. The rice stock is against the buffer of 13.54 MT for July 1.

The corporation needs 36 MT of rice annually for allocation under NFSA. The new procurement season (2023-24) for paddy begins on October 1.

A food ministry official said that the FCI would continue to sell foodgrains from its surplus stocks till inflationary trend in cereals prices are curbed. The retail inflation in cereal and products category was reported at 12.71% in June, a declined from 16.12% in January.

In the last many years, the rice sold through e-auction have not received encouraging responses while the grain sold states on specific demand without e-auction have received responses from the states.

Due to implementation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, where additional 5 kg of rice for each of the 800 million beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act were distributed during April, 2020 and December 31, 2022, the corporation did not conduct OMSS for rice.

The government last month decided against participation of states in e-auction of wheat and rice which according to food ministry officials to ensure that more traders, processors and retailers participate in the sale.

However the new Karnataka government said that the move was to stall the state’s government Anna Bhagya Yojana where 5 kg rice was proposed to be provided to BPL families. FCI earlier had agreed to supply rice at Rs 34/kg.

Jharkhand has also criticised the government’s decision against providing additional quantities of rice and wheat to states from the central pool which has forced the state government to buy rice from the market at higher price.

Food secretary Sanjeev Chopra last week had stated that 15 states and union territories including Tamil Nadu and Odisha were of the view that the central pool surplus food stock should be used in ‘larger interest of 1400 million population’ and ‘not for a particular section and particular class of people’.

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said his administration was doing everything it could to fulfill his campaign promise of decreasing rice prices to P20 per kilogram.

"Iyong ating hangarin na 20 pesos na bigas [kada kilo] eh wala pa tayo roon, pero ginagawa natin ang lahat," he said in his speech during the nationwide launch of his administration's Kadiwa ng Pangulo program.

(On our dream of achieving rice prices of P20 per kilo, we're not there yet, but we are doing everything we can.)

Since assuming the presidency last year, Marcos has repeatedly vowed that his government was nearing the said goal, amid criticisms from farmers' and agricultural groups that such promise was "impossible" to achieve.

Marcos was in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Monday to lead the nationwide launch of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program. 

Malacañang said all 81 provinces in the Philippines joined the simultaneous launch as they opened their own Kadiwa centers in their localities.

The program, one of Marcos' main initiatives as the concurrent agriculture secretary, aims to decrease prices of agricultural products by giving farmers and the buying public direct access to each other.

"Ang programa ng Kadiwa ay napakasimple lamang... [Ang] ginagawa natin ay pinapalapit natin sa magsasaka ang palengke. Kaya iyang mga middleman at added cost ay binabawasan natin nang husto iyan," he said.

(The Kadiwa program is simple; we are making farmers close to the market and reducing middlemen and added costs.)

After the launch, Marcos said the program has been "successful thus far."

But he noted that apart from decreasing prices, the ultimate goal of the Kadiwa program is to boost agriculture products so that the country has enough food supply to export to other countries.

"As I always remind everyone, just because naglagay tayo ng Kadiwa hindi ibig sabihin sapat na ang ating produksyon... We really have to continue to work very hard, hindi lang makapagsuplay ng agricultural products, ng pagkain, makapag-export pa," he told reporters."

(Just because we launched Kadiwa doesn't mean our production is stable. We have to continue to work very hard not only to supply agricultural products and food, but also to export them.)

The government has already requested Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana for assistance, and surplus paddy nursery sown by several farmers will be procured.

in Punjab, the floods may also increase the Basmati cultivation area, which is crucial considering the shorter duration of Basmati. (Express)

Due to the devastating floods, Punjab may need to retransplant paddy and basmati rice varieties in approximately 1.05 lakh hectares (around 2.50 lakh acres) of land across over half a dozen districts, according to agriculture officials.

By the first week of July, before the incessant rain hit the state, rice cultivation had already covered 86 per cent (27.29 lakh hectares) of the expected area of 31.67 lakh hectares. Sowing on the remaining area was then underway.punjab paddy While paddy transplanting is typically completed in the state by mid-July, some farmers transplant short varieties even by the end of July. (Express)

According to the initial estimates from the Punjab Agriculture Department, which is yet to conduct a special ‘girdawari’ (crop inspection) to gauge the actual damage in collaboration with the Punjab Revenue Department, floodwaters have submerged around 2.37 lakh hectares (5.85 lakh acres) of paddy fields.

Malwa, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Kapurthala districts have experienced the most significant losses. The damage is expected on approximately 44 per cent of the flooded fields. Punjab Agriculture Department Director Gurvinder Singh said the actual damage would be calculated only after the water recedes from all areas.

The government has already requested Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana for assistance, and surplus paddy nursery sown by several farmers will be procured. Additionally, several farmers have come forward with their available nurseries.

According to experts, there is still time to retransplant short-duration paddy and Basmati varieties, including PUSA 1509 and PR-126, both of which have good yields.

While paddy transplanting is typically completed in the state by mid-July, some farmers transplant short varieties even by the end of July. Farmers are waiting for the water to recede so they can proceed with retransplanting, as several parts of the state still have standing water in the fields.

Jagmohan Singh, general secretary of BKU (Dakaunda), stated that due to global warming, there are significant climate changes, and governments must be prepared for any emergencies and make advance arrangements. He added that individual farmers are growing surplus paddy nurseries, and the government is planning that after the floods.

In Punjab, the floods may also increase the Basmati cultivation area, which is crucial considering the shorter duration of Basmati. Punjab had set a target of growing Basmati on 6 lakh hectares this year.

With China's help, the African island nation has ambitions to meet food security needs

The long rainy season has finally ended, and the cool, pleasant dry season has arrived in the central highlands of Madagascar.

At the branch of the China National Hybrid Rice Engineering Research Center in the town of Mahitsy, on the outskirts of the capital city Antananarivo, hybrid rice is ready to be harvested.

Farmers lift the stalks up high and thresh them vigorously, causing the plump grains to fly into the air, filling it with the scent of rice.

As in southern China, rice is the staple food of Madagascar, and the grain has been grown there for a long time. However, due to the lack of high-quality rice seeds and advanced growing techniques, rice production in the country is not fully able to meet people's needs.

Since 2007, China has been working with Madagascar on hybrid rice technology. Some 20 agricultural experts from Hunan province have visited the island's tropical rainforests, highlands and grasslands, sowing hybrid seeds from southern China in every important rice-producing region, helping the Madagascans achieve their dream of self-sufficiency.

The global decline of the rice supply and the impact of El Nino climate pattern have led to a sharp increase in the price of rice for export.

Latest data from General Department of Vietnam Customs shows that in the first half of the year, rice exports reached more than 4.2 million tons and are valued at $2.26 billion, up over 21% in volume and 32% in value over the same period last year.

The export price of rice in June reached an average of $650 per ton, up 9.4% compared to May and 20.8% higher than the same period last year.

In the first six months of 2023, the export price of rice is estimated at $539 per ton, up more than 10% over the same period in 2022 and the highest of the past 10 years.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the reason for the sharp increase is the decrease in supply. The emergence of El Nino has also forced many countries to increase rice purchases to stock up.

The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture forecasts that El Nino will return and severely affect their domestic food production. Indonesia predicts that it may cause widespread drought in the country, so the July-August harvest for agricultural products may drop significantly.

In the first five months of the year, rice exports to the main markets - Philippines and China, both grew strongly at double digits. In addition, rice exports to new markets such as Indonesia, Chile, Turkey, and Senegal recorded a surge from 1,100-16,000% over the same period last year.

Bloomberg reported this week that the Indian government is banning the export of all rice that is not Basmati (a popular rice in South Asia), as prices have been on the rise and they want to control inflation.

Retail rice prices in New Delhi have increased by 15% this year, while the domestic average price has increased by 8%, according to India's Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Vietnam Food Association and enterprises believe that if this ban is implemented, global rice prices will increase. In the near future, Vietnamese rice will not only benefit in price but also be favorable for exports.

An enterprise based in Can Tho in Vietnam's Mekong Delta said that export orders were abundant and the price of fragrant rice was increasing the most. This enterprise does not even have enough supply to meet the orders. It is forecast that the rice export market in the second half of the year will reach a peak value.

To ensure domestic and export demand, the agriculture ministry has directed key rice production areas, especially the Mekong Delta, to actively cultivate and prioritize short-duration rice varieties as well as high-quality and fragrant rice varieties suitable for market demand.

Vietnamese rice has been exported to 156 countries and territories, including many high-end rice markets.

Global prices for rice could soar again as the world’s largest supplier, India, considers banning the export of several varieties.

As the cost of the staple reaches an 11-year high, Narendra Modi‘s government is discussing a plan to ban exports of all non-Basmati rice, according to a Bloomberg report.

If implemented, the move would see India banning 80 per cent of all of its rice exports, sending global prices to new highs as the world grapples with soaring food price inflation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Insiders told Bloomberg the move was aimed at curbing the risk of heightened inflation, particularly ahead of upcoming elections. Indian consumers are battling prices so high that some are crossing the border to buy cheaper tomatoes.

While the rice move could control domestic prices, it carries the risk of causing global costs to surge even higher amid a tight supply.

Consumers in Britain will not be immune to the increases.

“Two-thirds of the rice we import – worth £229.2m last year – comes from climate-vulnerable parts of the world; over half of that (£127m) from India,” said Gareth Redmond-King of the London-based Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.

“As impacts worsen, so shortages will drive up the cost of staple foods we import from overseas, which we cannot simply grow here instead,” he said.

“Cutting emissions to net zero is the only route to halting climate change to limit warming and avoid even worse impacts.”

India accounts for more than 40 per cent of the world’s rice exports. Prices jumped to a five-year high in June after the government announced an increase in minimum support prices for farmers.

Last year, India’s move to ban wheat exports led to a global outcry.

It comes amid global concerns over the disruptive El Nino weather phenomenon’s impact on farming, further adding to pressure on prices. The cyclic weather event in the Pacific Ocean is known to increase heat and is worrying researchers as it adds to the worsening climate crisis fuelling extreme weather events.

India has been grappling with repeated heatwaves and erratic monsoons impacting agricultural production. Longer droughts and heavier monsoons, resulting in more rain in a shorter period, have adversely impacted crop production.

Fears of shortages also pose challenges of stockpiling. Rice serves as a vital staple for around half of the global population, with Asia alone accounting for around 90 per cent of the world’s rice consumption. Importing countries such as Indonesia, China and the Philippines have been aggressively stockpiling rice this year.

Mina Bando, a 45-year-old woman farmer in Dhiria village, nestled in the foothills near the Indo-Bhutan border, has become a beacon of hope for her community. 

As the President of a Self-Help Group (SHG) supported by SeSTA, Mina has harnessed her newfound skills and knowledge to address pressing issues faced by her village, which is predominantly inhabited by Adivasi, Bodo, and Nepali communities.

Lack of proper road connectivity and poor agricultural productivity have long plagued Dhiria village, situated in the Baksa district. Until 2015, the villagers lived without electricity, and the absence of macadamized roads made transportation arduous, with the nearest public transport facility situated 10 kilometers away, stated EastMojo.

The village's geographical location frequently exposes its residents to human-elephant conflicts. In response to these challenges, Mina and her fellow villagers often resort to seasonal migration for employment opportunities as casual laborers.

Farming serves as a vital source of livelihood in Dhiria village. However, mounting input costs and stagnating productivity have caused considerable distress among rural households.

Mina's remarkable transformation began when she received leadership and technical training through the SHG. This empowerment has bolstered her confidence, enhanced her mobility, and amplified her ability to advocate for her community's needs in public forums.

Mina told EastMojo, "The most valuable skill I've acquired as a member of the SHG is knowledge about System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and organic agriculture practices. By implementing these techniques, I have successfully reduced input costs and significantly increased paddy production on my two Bigha of land (0.66 acres)."

In just three paddy cycles, Mina's harvest has witnessed a remarkable jump from 3 quintals to 7 quintals. Furthermore, she has adopted organic SRI practices to cultivate indigenous black rice and a variety of vegetables.

This transformative approach to farming has yielded threefold benefits for her family: improved food security, enhanced nutrition, and strengthened seed sovereignty.

Empowered by her newfound expertise, Mina has taken it upon herself to raise awareness about organic farming within her village. She has emerged as a trainer, sharing her knowledge of organic practices and instructing fellow villagers on producing organic fertilizers like Jeevamrut.

Mina proudly states, "Other women often visit our house seeking guidance on SRI and organic practices, and I am happy to assist them. Many women in my village have embraced these new farming techniques and are even teaching their husbands!"

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region has served as the country’s breadbasket for years. Known for fertile soil, the area grows more than half of all rice produced in the country, a staple in the Vietnamese diet. In 2016, however, the delta experienced a devastating drought, leaving 600,000 people without access to fresh water. Rice yields had already been falling for seasons, but the drought represented a tipping point for many farming families. Degraded land, lack of water and pollution caused nearly 1.1 million people to migrate from the region. 

Climate change threatens rice cultivation worldwide

Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of what’s to come worldwide. Climate-induced crises are threatening farmers’ livelihoods and exacerbating global hunger. Approximately 3.5 billion people rely on rice as a staple in their diet, and the grain provides around a third of the calories consumed in low- and middle-income countries. Rice is also becoming increasingly popular in the West, now commonly found in pet food, beer, cereals and other items to meet the rising demand for gluten-free products. 

All of this is impacted by the exponential growth in the global population, and with it, the demand for rice. Rice production will need to increase by an estimated 25 percent by 2050 in order to meet global needs. Meanwhile, approximately 15 million to 20 million hectares of land may suffer water scarcity due to rising temperatures, threatening to greatly reduce the yields and nutritional value of rice harvests. 

Increased water scarcity events would be devastating for rice cultivation, as the crop is extremely water-intensive, each kilogram requiring between 2,000 and 5,000 liters of water (40 percent of the world’s total irrigation water). Rice paddy fields and reservoirs have caused a 233 percent increase in manmade wetlands while natural wetlands have declined by 35 percent, throwing everything out of balance. 

Rice is also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In fact, rice’s carbon footprint is similar to the international aviation industry. Emissions are largely caused by the conventional field flooding farming method, which prevents oxygen from penetrating the soil and leads to the growth of harmful, methane-emitting bacteria. Additional methane is released from the rotting rice straw left over from the crop in conventional rice farming. 

There is a better way, but the private sector needs to invest in it

If we continue cultivating rice using these methods, climate change-related weather incidents and exhausted resources will certainly cause a shortage, likely leading to a hunger disaster on a global scale. 

After years of research, trial and error, there are now proven methods of sustainable rice production that are adaptive and resilient to climate change, and produce the same yields as conventional cultivation. A study in the An Giang province in Vietnam, the world's fifth largest rice producer, compared harvests between farmers using the more sustainable wetting-and-drying (AWD) field method to those using the conventional field flooding approach. Yields were almost identical, and the AWD method emitted less greenhouse gases and required fewer seeds and fertilizer. 

These green farming techniques are the only pathway that can maintain rice productivity and adapt to rising global temperatures. But more private-sector finance is needed to support and grow these programs. Fortunately, it is no longer a risk for companies to shift to these sustainable methods. In fact, it’s a business imperative. 

At the Global Environment Facility, investments totaling over $600 million continue to grow from the initial cluster of Asian countries and into West Africa under our programs — demonstrating scalability, replicability and financial support from the private sector, which is a vitally needed element for equitably transforming systems.

Why invest in sustainable rice?

Here are some of the top reasons why the time is now to invest in sustainable rice. 

Reducing GHG emissions. There are now proven methods to mitigate rice’s methane emissions by up to 70 percent using simple changes in farming techniques. These modifications include removing rice straw from the fields after harvest, new fertilization and soil amendment regimes, and careful control of the timing, duration and extent of rice field flooding. These transitions are possible through the training and support of rice farmers at the ground level.  

Blended-finance to de-risk investments. There is growing attention on blended finance opportunities to de-risk private-sector investment. Instead of pure grants, which are always in short supply, these investment tools catalyze private-sector investment and foster replicable projects. By combining private and public finance sources — such as commercial investors, donors, and/or multi-lateral trust funds like the Global Environment Facility — project design teams can deploy credit lines, loan guarantees, equity investments and other innovative approaches. Many investments can be aggregated into a larger facility or funding program to help scale and attract private finance in markets where the risks are too high for conventional financial products or local institutions alone. 

Climate resilience. Researchers have discovered effective methods of reducing rice’s reliance on water that are significantly more efficient than conventional farming techniques, creating more climate resilience. For example, a sustainable rice program in Vietnam used a micro-irrigation system that allows water to drip slowly to plant roots instead of the conventional field flooding method. This resulted in water savings of 60 percent to 70 percent and highlighted the power of technical farming assistance to reduce resource exhaustion and provide more consistent yields. 
 
A global network of support. Sustainable rice farming programs are backed by a network of international organizations including the United Nations, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and my organization, the Global Environment Facility. Programs such as the Sustainable Rice Landscape Initiative are well underway to help private companies make the shift from conventional rice farming to green techniques in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s GHG emission targets. The Sustainable Rice Platform helps create customized finance approaches and climate transition blueprints. 

Small farmers are ready. Training and capacity-building for farmers and smallholders have been underway for several years now, paving the way for a systemic transition to sustainable rice production and providing additional assurance for private investors who were reluctant to invest in a country that is too early in this process. Support for farmers can take many forms, such as teaching mechanized harvesting methods in Nigeria, which prevented almost half a ton of food loss and increased farmer profits by approximately $200 per hectare. 

The time is now for the private sector to invest in sustainable rice production — not only to meet global climate policy requirements, but also to ensure that rice farming is able to adapt to our changing planet and that businesses remain profitable. Conventional rice farming methods are a ticking time bomb. The foundation has been laid in terms of developing proven techniques, working with governments to shift national policies, and training farmers around the world. It’s time for CEOs to take the leap, not only to save their businesses, but also to prevent climate and hunger disasters. 

 A farmer works in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

YANGON, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Farmers are busy working in paddy fields at Dala Township in Myanmar's capital Yangon, with high hopes for this year's monsoon harvest.

Myanmar produces approximately 14 million tons of milled rice annually, with around 10 to 11 million tons consumed domestically and a surplus of 2 to 2.5 million tons exported to Asian, European, and African countries.

A farmer carries rice seedlings at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua)

Women plant rice seedlings in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)

Farmers plant rice seedlings in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)

A farmer works in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)

 A woman walks in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)

A farmer works in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua)

A farmer works in a paddy field at Dala Township in Yangon, Myanmar, July 13, 2023. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/ Xinhua) ■

Rice, a staple food grain in many Asian countries, feeds nearly two-thirds of the human population almost on a daily basis. However, millions of diabetic and pre-diabetic patients are often forced to take the beloved rice off their plates due to the high glycemic index of processed white rice on our supermarket shelves.

But fret not! Scientists have recently shed light on a culinary treasure trove — an endemic Indian rice variety showing immense promise against not only type 2 diabetes but also cardiac ailments.

The variety in question is Joha, an aromatic small-grain winter paddy crop grown in Northeast India, largely in Assam. For centuries, many people in the region have been using this variety as a healthier alternative to regular white rice. Such claims around its anti-diabetic and cardioprotective potential prompted researchers at Guwahati’s Institute of Advanced Studies in Science and Technology (IASST) to explore its unique properties.

“Given that rice is a staple in the Asia Pacific region and also widely consumed around the world, we believe that popularising a rice variety with potent anti-diabetic activity such as Joha could greatly help reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes,” told Rajlakshmi Devi from the IASST to SciDev.Net.

Through in vitro laboratory analysis, the scientists detected two unsaturated fatty acids in Joha rice variety – linoleic acid (omega-6) and linolenic (omega-3) acid. Remarkably, these essential fatty acids, which humans cannot produce on their own, offer a plethora of physiological benefits. Particularly, omega-3 fatty acids have the ability to combat various metabolic diseases, including diabetes, heart ailments, and even cancer!

Intriguingly, scented Joha rice has a perfectly balanced ratio of these essential compounds compared to other widely consumed scented varieties.

That’s not all! Joha rice is also brimming with bioactive compounds, popularly called antioxidants, flavonoids and phenolics, with known efficacy in lowering blood sugar and protecting against heart disease.

In fact, laboratory studies conducted on diabetic rats show Joha rice diet actively lowered blood glucose levels and raised insulin levels compared to diets based on other rice varieties. Surprisingly, the rats on the Joha rice diet could even successfully recover from diabetes and thwart its onset!

By 2045, India’s diabetes burden is set to skyrocket to a staggering figure of 134 million, per the International Diabetes Federation. Therefore, the next crucial step would be to mainstream such little-known healthy rice variety.

Scientists say that Joha packs the punch with not only its protective benefits but also its flavours and tender texture. With a little push from the policymakers, scientists hope that incentivising its cultivation can help it transition from a lab-favourite to a preferred choice for households.

Shortage of paddy, fears of crop being affected by weather factors behind the spike

Prices of Indian rice have increased by nearly 10 per cent over the past couple of weeks in the global market, but still they continue to be competitive as prices of the cereal from other origins have also gone up. However, the high prices have dried up export demand. 

“Indian rice prices have gone up by 5-10 per cent recently but this is the usual case with it during the lean season from July-September,” said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association of India (TREA).

Prices of parboiled rice, in demand from Vietnam and African countries, have increased from the levels of $380-390 a tonne to $430, he said.

Business dull

Traders said a major reason for the increase in rice prices is that paddy is being quoted higher or reports of its non-availability. 

“There seems to be a shortage of paddy, particularly in the south pushing up prices. There is still no parity in paddy rates compared with rice,” said S Chandrasekaran, a Delhi-based trade analyst.

“Last week, we bought rice, ex-mill, at ₹29,000 a tonne, but now it is quoted at ₹30,500,” said VR Vidya Sagar, Director, Bulk Logix. Prices of 5 per cent white rice have increased by at least $25 a tonne to levels of $490.

“No business is happening as buyers are of the view that prices are high. There are enquiries only for cheap rice from Singapore and East Timor,” said M Madan Prakash, President, Agricultural Commodities Exporters Association (ACEA). 

A trader from North India said paddy prices were shooting up every day, particularly in States such as Chhattisgarh — a phenomenon not seen in the past few years. “The volume of paddy available is also less,” he said. Shortage of paddy is being reported from centres such as Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.

Fear factors

Despite these developments, research agency BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, has cut its average price forecast for rice to 2.9 per cent for CBOT-listed second-month rough rice futures in 2023. The price forecast has been lowered from $17.30 per cwt (hundredweight or 45.35 kg) to $16.80.

“Prices have gone up on fears of floods affecting production of paddy in North India and deficient rainfall lowering the area under the cereal during the current kharif sowing,” said Bulk Logix’s Sagar.

Prices of Sona Masuri, Ponni or idli rice have all increased above $650. “Prices of Sona Masuri and other varieties have gone from $550 to highs not seen in the recent past. Normally, prices of these rice varieties are stable,” said ACEA’s Prakash. 

A section of the trade blames the Chhattisgarh government’s move to hike the minimum support price (MSP) of paddy to ₹2,800 a quintal for the spike in prices. 

Reflecting new MSP

TREA’s Rao said rice prices have begun to reflect the MSP fixed by the Centre for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June). The MSP for rice has been increased to ₹2,183 a quintal for the common variety from ₹2,040 last year. 

Traders are, however, unanimous that prices could begin cooling from September onwards. 

Research agency BMI  forecast that the global rice market will loosen through the 2023-24 season, moving from an estimated deficit of 9.9 million tonnes (mt) in 2022-23 to a narrow deficit of one mt. But the “now-confirmed” El Nino could pose a risk and it will support prices in the interim.

Despite these developments, the US Department of Agriculture has estimated India’s rice exports to increase to 24 mt in the 2023-24 marketing season (September-August). It also projected India’s rice production at 134 mt compared with the record 136 mt this season. 

NEW DELHI: Warmer, drier weather because of an earlier than usual El Nino is expected to hamper rice production across Asia, hitting global food security in a world still reeling from the impacts of the war in Ukraine.

An El Nino is a natural, temporary and occasional warming of part of the Pacific that shifts global weather patterns, and climate change is making them stronger. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this one in June, a month or two earlier than it usually does. This gives it time to grow. Scientists say there's a one in four chance it will expand to supersized levels.

That's bad news for rice farmers, particularly in Asia where 90% of the world’s rice is grown and eaten, since a strong El Nino typically means less rainfall for the thirsty crop.

Past El Ninos have resulted in extreme weather, ranging from drought to floods.

There are already “alarm bells,” said Abdullah Mamun, a research analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute or IFPRI, pointing to rising rice prices due to shortfalls in production. The average price of 5% broken white rice in June in Thailand was about 16% higher than last year's average.

Global stocks have run low since last year, in part due to devastating floods in Pakistan, a major rice exporter. This year’s El Nino may amplify other woes for rice-producing countries, such as reduced availability of fertilizer due to the war and some countries' export restrictions on rice. Myanmar, Cambodia and Nepal are particularly vulnerable, warned a recent report by research firm BMI.

“There is uncertainty over the horizon,” Mamun said.

Recently, global average temperatures have hit record highs. Monsoon rains over India were lighter than usual by the end of June. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday asked his ministers to anticipate a long dry season. And in the Philippines, authorities are carefully managing water to protect vulnerable areas.

Some countries are bracing for food shortages. Indonesia was among the worst hit by India’s decision to restrict rice exports last year after less rain fell than expected and a historic heat wave scorched wheat, raising worries that domestic food prices would surge.

Last month, India said it would send over 1 million metric tons (1.1 million U.S. tons) to Indonesia, Senegal and Gambia to help them meet “their food security needs.”

Fertilizer is another crucial variable. Last year China, a major producer, restricted exports to keep domestic prices in check after fertilizers were among exports affected by sanctions on Russian ally Belarus for human rights violations. Sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine don’t specifically target fertilizers but the war has disrupted shipments of the three main chemical fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

Bangladesh found suppliers in Canada to make up for lost potash shipments from Belarus, but many countries are still scrambling to find new sources.

Farmers like Abu Bakar Siddique, who cultivates 1.2 hectares (3 acres) in northern Bangladesh, had enough fertilizer to keep his yields steady last year. But less rainfall meant he had to rely more on electric pumps for his winter harvest at a time of power shortages due to war-related shortfalls of diesel and coal.

“This increased my costs,” he said.

Each El Nino is different, but historical trends suggest scarce rainfall in South and Southeast Asia will parch the soil, causing cascading effects in coming years, said Beau Damen, a natural resources officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization based in Bangkok, Thailand. Some countries, like Indonesia, may be more vulnerable in the early stages of the phenomenon, he said.

Kusnan, a farmer in Indonesia's East Java, said rice farmers there have tried to anticipate that by planting earlier so that when the El Nino hits, the rice might be ready for harvest and not needing so much water. Kusnan, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said he hoped high yields last year would help offset any losses this year.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has stressed the need to manage water well in the coming weeks, warning that various factors including export restrictions and fertilizer shortages could combine with the El Nino to “make this a particularly damaging event.”

Baldev Singh, a 52-year-old farmer in northern India's Punjab state, is already worried. He typically sows rice from late June until mid-July, but then needs the monsoon rains to flood the paddies. Less than a tenth of the usual rainfall had come by early this month, and then floods ravaged northern India, battering young crops that had just been planted.

The government has encouraged Punjab farmers to grow rice along with their traditional wheat crops since the 1960s to improve India's food security, even though farmers like Singh don’t typically eat rice and irrigation of rice fields has drained the area's aquifers. But he keeps growing it, counting on the certainty of government purchases at fixed prices.

With rain scarce, Singh may need to dig wells. Last year, he dug down 200 feet (60 meters) to find water.

“Rice has been our ruin ... I don’t know what will happen in the future,” he said.

India is considering banning the export of non-Basmati rice, which could further increase global rice prices due to the reemergence of El Niño.

India is contemplating a potential prohibition on the export of numerous rice varieties. This proposed measure, if implemented, could further elevate the already soaring global prices of this vital food staple, particularly as the disruptive El Niño weather phenomenon reemerges. India is the largest exporter of rice in the world.

Government officials are currently engaged in discussions concerning a plan to restrict the export of non-Basmati rice, as disclosed to Bloomberg by individuals knowledgeable about the matter.  LiveMint could not independently verify the report.

The motive behind this proposal, according to these insiders who requested anonymity due to the confidentiality of the information, is to mitigate the risk of heightened inflation ahead of upcoming elections.

India's decision to ban rice exports will have a significant impact, affecting approximately 80% of the India's rice exports. While this move may potentially lower domestic prices, it carries the risk of causing global costs to surge even higher. 

Rice stands as a crucial staple for approximately half of the global population, with Asia alone accounting for about 90% of the world's rice consumption. 

Concerns over the return of the El Niño weather phenomenon have already driven benchmark prices to a two-year high, heightening fears of potential crop damage and exacerbating the upward trajectory of prices in the global rice market.

India, a dominant player in the global rice trade, holds a substantial share of approximately 40%. In recent times, the country has taken measures to strengthen control over the trade of certain rice varieties. Notably, India implemented a ban on the export of broken rice in 2022. 

Also , a 20% duty was imposed on shipments of white and brown rice, in response to the surge in food staple prices, triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, impacting commodities such as wheat and corn. Furthermore, India has imposed limitations on exports of wheat and sugar, indicating a concerted effort to regulate the trade of these essential food commodities.

Representatives for the food, trade and finance ministries didn’t respond to emails or text messages seeking comment. 

Importers such as Indonesia, China and the Philippines have been aggressively stockpiling rice this year. El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific for the first time in seven years, according to the World Meteorological Organization, threatening to bring drought to many rice-growing regions. A potential ban by India will add to worries over supply.

India’s plan comes after its consumer price inflation quickened in June, mainly due to higher food prices. Bloomberg Economics expects inflation to rebound further with the latest surge in tomato prices — a key ingredient in Indian cuisine — and an increase in the government’s support price for monsoon-sown crops.

BUTUAN CITY – At least 700 rice farmers in the Agusan del Norte town of Las Nieves are set to receive rice seeds under the agriculture development program of the local government with the support of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Agusan.

On Thursday, about 1,000 sacks of certified rice seeds worth PHP760,000 were received by the Las Nieves local government from PhilRice-Agusan and the Butuan Seed Producers Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

The seed allocation forms part of the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund of PhilRice and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga Region).

In an interview Thursday, Las Nieves information officer Michael Mandahinog said the rice seeds would be delivered to the rain-fed rice areas, particularly in nine barangays.

“Providing support to rice farmers is among the priorities of the administration of Mayor Karen Rosales. Las Nieves is among the rice-producing towns in Agusan del Norte,” Mandahinog said.

Las Nieves produced 10,433 metric tons of palay in 2022, he said.

The newly-received certified seeds, which include varieties NSIC RC 160, RC 216, and RC 436, are stored at the municipal warehouse and are ready for distribution by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) to the beneficiaries.

“The MAO will post the schedules of the distributions to the covered barangays for the information of our farmers who will receive the certified rice seeds for free,” Mandahinog said.

All the 700 recipients are registered at the Farmer and Fisherfolk Registry System of the agriculture department. (PNA)

Fortified rice which was supplied at ₹34/kg is being made available at ₹31/kg and wheat at ₹21.50/kg instead of ₹22.50/kg

 The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has reduced the price of rice and wheat being tendered out under the open market sale scheme (domestic) for registered bulk buyers.

Fortified rice which was supplied at ₹34/kg is being made available at ₹31/kg and wheat at ₹21.50/kg instead of ₹22.50/kg, said Manjeev Kumar Goyal, Deputy General Manager, FCI in Chennai on July 13.  

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Goyal said that the price of rice and wheat had been reduced as a market control mechanism to benefit consumers. Only traders having GST numbers in Tamil Nadu can bid. This is to ensure that the commodities are not resold to traders or middlemen outside the State. The FCI also keeps track of stock position of the millers and traders to doubly ensure this. A minimum of 10 tonnes to a maximum of 100 tonnes can be procured by one person or company, he said.

Ravi Shastri, deputy general manager (operations), said that so far, three tranches of wheat had been offered in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In the latest, 16,000 tonnes of wheat are available for Tamil Nadu and 2,000 tonnes for Puducherry. So far 4,800 tonnes have been sold via 15 depots in the State and 190 tonnes through one depot in the Union Territory. A total of 48,000 tonnes of rice are also available in this tranche. Stocks are bid through https://www.valuejunction.in/fci/ portal.  

At present, FCI’s stock in hand for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for supply under the public distribution system and the noon meal scheme is 8.54 lakh tonnes of rice and 1.11 lakh tonnes of wheat, which is sufficient to meet the requirement for 10 months, Mr. Goyal added.  

KARACHI  - A three-member delegation comprising of quarantine inspectors from the National Health Service, Food Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA), Mexico is visiting Pakistan from 11th to 14th July, 2023 for the inspection of rice establishments to lift ban on import of rice from Pakistan. The visit of the delegation has been organized by TDAP in collaboration with REAP and DPP and our Mission at Mexico.

On the first day of the visit, the delegation inspected two leading establishments of rice in Punjab and also visited Ayub Agriculture Institute and Agriculture University of Faisalabad. They also visiting Rice Research Institute KSK. On 13 and 14th July, the delegation will visit rice establishments in Karachi.

It is pertinent to mention that Mexico granted market access to Pakistani polished rice (low risk goods) in 2012, however, banned import of rice from Pakistan claiming interception of Pakistani rice consignment with Khapra beetle in 2013. Mexico is one of the potential importer of rice and in 2022, Mexico imported $295.3 million worth of rice from the world. With the efforts of Trade Mission at Mexico, DPP, REAP and TDAP, it is expected that (SENASICA), Mexico will consider lifting ban on import of rice from Pakistan and exports of rice to South America will be increased.

July 13 (Reuters) - India, the world's biggest rice exporter, is considering banning exports of most rice varieties, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

The government is discussing a plan to ban exports of all non-Basmati rice, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Reporting by Yana Gaur in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar.

NEW DELHI — 

Warmer, drier weather because of an earlier-than-usual El Nino is expected to hamper rice production across Asia, hitting global food security in a world still reeling from the impacts of the war in Ukraine.

An El Nino is a natural, temporary and occasional warming of part of the Pacific that shifts global weather patterns, and climate change is making them stronger. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced this one in June, a month or two earlier than it usually does. This gives it time to grow. Scientists say there's a one in four chance it will expand to supersized levels.

That's bad news for rice farmers, particularly in Asia where 90% of the world's rice is grown and eaten, since a strong El Nino typically means less rainfall for the thirsty crop.

Past El Ninos have resulted in extreme weather, ranging from drought to floods.

There are already "alarm bells," said Abdullah Mamun, a research analyst at the International Food Policy Research Institute or IFPRI, pointing to rising rice prices due to shortfalls in production. The average price of 5% broken white rice in June in Thailand was about 16% higher than last year's average.

Global stocks have run low since last year, in part due to devastating floods in Pakistan, a major rice exporter. This year's El Nino may amplify other woes for rice-producing countries, such as reduced availability of fertilizer due to the war and some countries' export restrictions on rice. Myanmar, Cambodia and Nepal are particularly vulnerable, warned a recent report by research firm BMI.

"There is uncertainty over the horizon," Mamun said.

Recently, global average temperatures have hit record highs. Monsoon rains over India were lighter than usual by the end of June. Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday asked his ministers to anticipate a long dry season. And in the Philippines, authorities are carefully managing water to protect vulnerable areas.

Some countries are bracing for food shortages. Indonesia was among the worst hit by India's decision to restrict rice exports last year after less rain fell than expected and a historic heat wave scorched wheat, raising worries that domestic food prices would surge.

Last month, India said it would send more than 1 million metric tons (1.1 million U.S. tons) to Indonesia, Senegal and Gambia to help them meet "their food security needs."

Challenges finding fertilizer

Fertilizer is another crucial variable. Last year China, a major producer, restricted exports to keep domestic prices in check after fertilizers were among exports affected by sanctions on Russian ally Belarus for human rights violations. Sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine don't target fertilizers but the war has disrupted shipments of the three main chemical fertilizers: potash, phosphorus, and nitrogen.

Bangladesh found suppliers in Canada to make up for lost potash shipments from Belarus, but many countries are still scrambling to find new sources.

Farmers such as Abu Bakar Siddique, who cultivates 1.2 hectares (3 acres) in northern Bangladesh, had enough fertilizer to keep his yields steady last year. But less rainfall meant he had to rely more on electric pumps for his winter harvest at a time of power shortages due to war-related shortfalls of diesel and coal.

"This increased my costs," he said.

Attempting to adapt

Each El Nino is different, but historical trends suggest scarce rainfall in South and Southeast Asia will parch the soil, causing cascading effects in coming years, said Beau Damen, a natural resources officer with the Food and Agriculture Organization based in Bangkok, Thailand. Some countries, like Indonesia, may be more vulnerable in the early stages of the phenomenon, he said.

Kusnan, a farmer in Indonesia's East Java, said rice farmers there have tried to anticipate that by planting earlier so that when the El Nino hits, the rice might be ready for harvest and not need so much water. Kusnan, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said he hoped high yields last year would help offset any losses this year.

Widodo, the Indonesian leader, stressed the need to manage water in coming weeks, warning that various factors — including export restrictions and fertilizer shortages — could combine with the El Nino to "make this a particularly damaging event."

Baldev Singh, a 52-year-old farmer in northern India's Punjab state, is already worried. He typically sows rice from late June until mid-July, then needs the monsoon rains to flood the paddies. Less than a tenth of the usual rainfall had come by early this month, and then floods ravaged northern India, battering young crops that had just been planted.

The government has encouraged Punjab farmers to grow rice along with their traditional wheat crops since the 1960s to improve India's food security, even though farmers like Singh don't typically eat rice and irrigation of rice fields has drained the area's aquifers. But he keeps growing it, counting on the certainty of government purchases at fixed prices.

With rain scarce, Singh may need to dig wells. Last year, he dug down 200 feet (60 meters) to find water.

"Rice has been our ruin ... I don't know what will happen in the future," he said.

JERLUN: The Kedah Malay Rice Millers Association is urging the government to establish a quota system for the purchase of padi from farmers to break the monopoly of large-scale rice mills.

Its chairman Mohamad Termizi Yop said such a system would harmonise the domestic rice market and bring down production costs.

"Small-scale Malay-owned mills are unable to sustain themselves because the purchase of padi was previously set at 1,000 metric tonnes per season, but we can only obtain around 600 metric tonnes.

"Without proper control and enforcement by the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (Mafi), not only has this led to an increase in rice prices but large mills have also monopolised padi supply by offering high incentives to farmers through brokers.

"This monopoly has affected the competitiveness of smaller mills, especially Malay-owned ones located near padi cultivation areas.

"There are only 10 of these mills currently operational nationwide," he said during a press conference at Permatang Paku Rice Mill in Ayer Hitam today.

Termizi said the monopoly of large-scale rice mills has also paved the way for the set-up of cartels which determine the supply and prices.

He explained that transportation of padi between states as a result of the monopoly, was the main cause of escalating rice production costs.

"This has led to the failure of small mills to stay afloat, even ceasing operations.

"With only 10 Malay-owned mills remaining throughout the country, they only account for around 200,000 metric tonnes of rice production, which is less than 10 per cent of the annual production of 1.73 million metric tonnes.

"It should be noted that the problem faced by small mills is rarely heard by the relevant authorities because of their small number.

"The retail rice market in the country is dominated by wholesalers, from milling to import and export networks," he added.

Termizi also urged the government to use locally produced rice for its stockpile instead of imported rice to reduce prices.

"When there is an increase in prices in the country of export, it will affect prices in our country.

"It's time to open up opportunity to Malay-owned mills as suppliers instead of fully relying on imported rice," he said.

Q: I read that red yeast rice is a natural substance to lower cholesterol. Is this better than taking a prescribed medication?

A: In order for a prescribed medication to get FDA approval there must be significant clinical data to demonstrate safety and efficacy. Clinical trials for these medications usually include a large number of patients, and there is typically a fairly long followup. 

For example, one study of lovastatin (a cholesterol-lowering prescription medication), the AFCAPS/TexCAPS study, recruited 5,608 men and 997 women with an average patient followup of more than five years. This study not only looked at lowering cholesterol (it lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol by about 25%), but doing so at the first incidence of a cardiac event (e.g. a heart attack; cardiac events were lowered by 37%). 

Preventing drownings:With summer in full swing, take proper precautions by the water

The overall safety profile of lovastatin was similar to the control arm (those treated with placebo as a comparison group); that is, there were similar rates for the need to stop the treatment due to side effects in both groups. These results were consistent with the earlier EXCEL trial (which recruited 8,245 patients but only followed them for about a year).

This does not mean that there are no possible side effects or issues from taking lovastatin. Side effects reported from lovastatin include muscle pain in 2-3% of patients, headache in 2-3%, nausea in 2-3%, gas/flatulence in 4-5%, constipation in 2-4%, stomach pain in 2-3%, as well as other issues (liver issues, muscle weakness, allergic reactions and others). Interestingly, many people (up to half in some studies) stop their statin cholesterol treatment because they believe it's causing side effects/symptoms.

Red yeast rice (RYR, made by fermenting the yeast Monascus purpureus over red rice) contains monacolin K, which has essentially the same chemical makeup as lovastatin. And there have been some studies of this dietary supplement:

• Short-duration studies done by UCLA (83 people followed for 12 weeks), the American Heart Association (446 people followed for eight weeks), and others noted decreases in LDL cholesterol similar to those seen with lovastatin. 
• A metanalysis (this is when data from multiple small studies is grouped together) adding up to 6,663 subjects followed for up to 24 months came to similar conclusions.
• One large study, the China coronary secondary prevention study (CCSPS), enrolled almost 5,000 people and followed them for 4.5 years, and found a similar reduction in cardiac events as seen with lovastatin (38% risk reduction).

With the exception of the Chinese study on RYR, the other studies were small and of short duration. This is because (at least in part) doing large, long followup studies is expensive. Large studies are required for FDA approval, but dietary supplements are not FDA approved, and hence there are no specific safety and efficacy requirements. 

If you are taking either lovastatin (or other statins) or RYR you need to be cautious taking certain other medications (certain antibiotics, anti-fungal medications and many other medications may have interactions with statins or RYR), minimize alcohol intake, be extra-careful if you have any kidney, liver or certain other conditions, and consult your clinician if you are, or are trying to become, pregnant or are breastfeeding. Care should also be taken to avoid grapefruit juice, as this can alter the absorption of these medications (and many others as well). 

So, noting that there is clinical data to support the use of RYR, why not take that instead of lovastatin (or some other statin)? Maybe it's OK to do this. However, medications approved and regulated by the FDA are required not only to have sufficient data on safety and efficacy for initial approval, but are required to do post-market surveillance to identify possible risks not seen in the initial approval studies. Many people may remember the issues uncovered with Vioxx (a Cox 2 inhibitor) in post-market data that identified an increase in cardiac risk and that led to it being withdrawn from the market. The FDA also requires certain manufacturing and other quality standards.

There may be some issues with RYR (which contains other substances besides monacolin K) that would be more evident if there was post market surveillance like for FDA approved medications. For example:

• The FDA issued consumer warnings in 2007 and in 2013 expressing concern due to the lack of significant evidence about RYR’s efficacy and safety.
• A report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) noted “that the available information on the adverse effects reported in humans were judged to be sufficient to conclude that monacolins from RYR when used as food supplements were of significant safety concern at the use level of 10 mg/day. The panel further considered that individual cases of severe adverse reactions have been reported for monacolins from RYR at intake levels as low as 3 mg/day.”

The lack of FDA oversite of manufacturing and quality may also be an issue:

• The FDA commented about the lack of standardization of preparation methods in its consumer warnings noted above.
• A 2010 study in the prestigious journal JAMA found huge variations in the concentrations of monacolin K (up to a factor of 100 between different “600 mg RYR” commercially available brands, with some containing as little as 0.1 mg of monacolin K per capsule and some having up to 10 mg/capsule). This study tested only one sample from each brand, so it did not look at variability from batch to batch of a given brand.
• The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (part of the National Institutes of Health) noted an analysis in 2021 that showed 36 of 37 RYR products had levels of citrinin (a toxin that can damage the kidneys) higher than the maximum level set by the European Union, including four that specifically labeled themselves “citrinin-free.”

So although it may be OK to take certain brands of RYR instead of a statin, there are also concerns as noted above. There are no guarantees when taking medications, even those regulated by the FDA. But despite some limitations of the FDA, there are many benefits from the work it does. Speak with your clinician to make the best decision for you, and if you do take RYR, try to find data about the specific brand you select, and be careful about switching between brands.

MANILA, Philippines — A local traders’ group has started to sell rice at P38 per kilo in certain areas in Metro Manila and nearby provinces amid the upward trend in retail prices of the staple.

Rowena Sadicon, lead convenor of the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement (PRISM), said her group sells local well-milled rice to retailers at P38 per kilo, which will be sold by vendors at the same price as part of their social responsibility.

“This P38 per kilo will be included in the regular orders. We have informed our retailers that we will sell them well-milled rice at P38 per kilo and they should sell it without added profit,” Sadicon said.

She said the lowest retail price of the grain in the market is P40 per kilo for imported well-milled rice.

“We still want to sell at P38 per kilo as the lowest price of rice is now at P40 and these are imported broken rice,” Sandicon said.

Among areas where the P38 per kilo rice will be sold are Las Piñas City, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City and Parañaque as weall as Bulacan and Pampanga.

Sadicon said each customer could avail of a maximum of five kilos of local well-milled rice.

“This is an initiative of a private NGO. At least five kilos a day will be the maximum for every household. We are now coordinating with the local government units and barangays so we can supply the depressed areas,” Sadicon said, referring to a non-government organization.

She said the P38 per kilo rice would be available for three months as the country waits for the harvest in November.

“Based on our meeting, we will continue selling during the lean months until October. Hopefully, by the time the harvest season starts, the retail prices of rice will start to go down,” Sadicon added.

Cathy Estavillo, spokesperson for rice watchdog Bantay Bigas, welcomed the initiative of the PRISM, saying it showed the need to return the function of the National Food Authority (NFA) to import and sell rice at P27 and P32 per kilo.

“The initiative of PRISM in selling P38 per kilo of rice is a big help amid the spike in the retail prices of basic commodities. Poor consumers look for cheap rice in the market. PRISM has mentioned that their initiative will be good until October,” Estavillo said.

She said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that the retail prices of rice are affordable.

“Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Liberation Law should be junked and return the mandate of the NFA to sell P27 and P32 per kilo of rice. The NFA should also buy 25 percent of the local palay production of farmers at a farmgate price of P20 per kilo,” Estavillo said.

Based on monitoring of the Department of Agriculture in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local regular milled rice is P42 per kilo; well-milled rice, P46; premium rice, P50 and special rice, P60 per kilo.

The retail price of imported well-milled rice is P48 per kilo while special rice is P58 per kilo.

‘Stop chicken imports’

Meanwhile, President Marcos has been asked to stop the importation of chicken as imported meat products are flooding the local market.

Gregorio San Diego, chairman of United Broiler Raisers Association and Philippine Egg Board, yesterday said he personally relayed to Marcos the problem of over importation during a recent meeting with local stakeholders at Malacañang. The meeting, which took place on July 10, was arranged by the National Agricultural and Fishery Council.

San Diego said he also raised the plight of the small and medium poultry raisers who were affected by the over importation of chicken products.

He said his concern on the oversupply of chicken was referred to Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban.

With heavy showers in July have meant that, India, which was seeing a 30% deficit in rainfall in mid-June, is now at 2% excess rainfall reading. However, the June deficit has had an effect on kharif acreage sowing which is around 9% lower than what it was last year.

The sowing seen in rice and pulses saw the weakest progress — shrinking by almost a quarter.

“Within pulses, lower acreage of Arhar (Pigeon pea) and Urad (Black lentil) was noted for the same period. Even the sown area of oilseeds, cotton and Jute and Mesta have fallen sharply,” say economists at Bank of Baroda.

Economists at HDFC say that uneven distribution of rainfall is the reason for the blip in sowing.

“This could be due to weak rainfall progress in major rice and tur producing states. Looking ahead, as the majority of the season’s sowing takes place in July, rainfall progress during the month would be crucial,” say economists at HDFC.

Eastern belt states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and in Central (Maharashtra) and Southern region of Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala have received deficient rainfall. Then there is the El Nino effect which might impact the entire monsoon season.

On the other hand, signaling a bounty year for millets, sowing seen in bajra or pearl millet was much more than that of last year. Jowar or sorghum also saw higher sowing, along with coarse cereals – and a marginal growth in sugarcane.

The year of 2023 has been declared the year of millets by United Nations, and apart from the Union Budget push, most state governments like Chattisgarh and Odisha are providing incentives to farmers as a part of their millet missions.

Source: CEIC, Bank of Baroda │ Data as of 7 July 2023

Rainfall, inflation & rate cuts

The slump in sowing might have an effect on food prices, and the prices of vegetables like tomato, chillies and ginger rose sharply in the past few days, in addition to milk inflation which continues to be high. Tur, wheat and rice are also beginning to inch up.

“To reduce the impact of steep increase in tomato prices, some state governments like Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have taken supply related measures. Among cereals, sufficient buffer stock of wheat and rice might offer a cushion and keep a check on prices,” said the HDFC report which expects inflation to average at 5% in the second quarter.

Also, in order to encourage pulses production the government has removed the 40% procurement limit on pulses, like Tur, Urad, Masur (red lentil).

“We expect the RBI to continue remaining on pause at its August meeting as the central bank’s inflation projections are on the cautious side and already factor in some upside to the inflation prints going forward. Although, if weather conditions turn for the worse and have a material impact on the inflation outlook, rate cut expectations by the RBI could be pushed back further in 2024,” HDFC believes.

A recent report by Kotak Institutional Equities says that a weak monsoon in July-August could make this a broad-based upside across various food items.

“This may not bode well for market expectations of an early rate cut cycle. We estimate inflation to average around 5% in FY2024 without any significant impact of monsoons and 5.3% in case monsoons were to disappoint and we see a more broad-based pickup in food prices,” Kotak says.

Verra invites proposals for the development of a new VCS methodology or module under VM0042 Methodology for Improved Agricultural Land Management, v2.0 for the quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in rice production systems.

Verra is initiating the development of a new methodology or module following the inactivation of the UNFCCC CDM rice methodology AMS-III.AU.: Methane emission reduction by adjusted water management practice in rice cultivation.

Practices used in rice production systems that focus on shortening the intermittent flooding period to alternate wet and dry soil conditions, such as midseason drainage and alternate wetting and drying, have a high potential to reduce methane emissions. However, there is some evidence that these activities contribute to increased nitrogen emissions and soil organic carbon losses, which must be taken into account when quantifying the total GHG emission balances of these practices.

Please view the Request for Proposals: Development of a VCS Methodology or Module for the Quantification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Rice Production Systems (PDF) for further details, including the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, and requisite skills and qualifications to apply.

MANILA, Philippines — National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen over the weekend called on the public to stop wasting rice amid the possible shortage in supply as the El Niño phenomenon threatens the country’s palay production.

“The wastage of food is a big factor. We are appealing that if we cannot consume the entire one cup of rice, we should only order half (cup). All the stakeholders should help to make the task easier,” Guillen said.

At the same time, Guillen said that local government units (LGUs) should also conduct the necessary preparations to minimize the impact of the dry spell in their respective jurisdictions.

“We are appealing for unity. We call this ‘bayanihan.’ The LGUs can help more as they are the missing link. As a former mayor (of Piddig, Ilocos Norte), I know that LGUs can help as they have their own funds,” he added.

Food supply threat

Farmers’ group Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) president Danilo Fausto warned that El Niño phenomenon threatens the country’s food supply next year as he criticized the Department of Agriculture (DA) for lack of concrete actions to minimize the impact of the dry spell.

“Their (DA) programs (on El Niño) are clear but the issue is in the implementation,” Fausto said in a radio interview over the weekend.

He noted that farmers’ groups have been urging the DA to implement necessary preparation to ensure that farmers will be able to plant despite the dry spell.

“You need infrastructures. It requires bidding, budget. If you only start to provide funding, it will be too late,” Fausto said.

“The diversion dams, canal need repairs. Lateral canals cannot supply water from the dams because of leaks,” he added.

The PCAFI official noted that 75 percent of the country’s palay production comes from irrigated areas.

“If the government fails to supply water, our palay production will be affected and this will be felt during the first semester of next year,” he added.

Fausto said that aside from palay, also affected by the dry spell are cash crops including vegetables and root crops.

“Cash crops like vegetables, including root crops and onions are being planted near the rivers. If you don’t have water for irrigation, you cannot provide water for the cash crops. Even if you have deep wells, the water will also be affected,” he said.

According to Fausto, the government should not depend on importation as the El Niño is a worldwide phenomenon.

“The dry spell is also happening in Thailand, Vietnam where we import rice. What if we cannot also buy rice from them as the El Niño also affects them. These are frightening scenarios,” Fausto said.

He said that retail prices of food will also increase because of limited supply.

“If there is a shortage in the supply, it will result in the spike in retail prices. The poor or 30 percent and below of the country’s population will suffer because they cannot afford to buy rice. The rich can always buy regardless of the price,” he noted.

Fausto said that the government should hasten the construction of secondary dams, impounding systems to provide water for irrigation.

“This should be done while it is still raining although we are already experiencing below normal rains. The effect of El Niño is really frightening as definitely the result is shortage in the supply of food,” he said.

In a separate statement, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chairperson Danilo Ramos said that the government’s El Niño Task Force and the National Irrigation Administration should inform the farmers on the plan of action to address the possible shortage of water supply for irrigation.

“We want to know NIA’s concrete plans on how to help farmers cope with El Niño and how to ensure the availability of rice and food crops despite extreme weather events,” Ramos said.

Livelihood assistance

Guillen said that among the worst-case scenarios being eyed by the NIA is to provide alternative livelihood assistance to farmers who cannot plant because of the dry spell.

“We have an estimate (on the farmers who may be affected by the dry spell). (Under the worst-case scenario) for those who cannot plant, at least they will be given alternative livelihood through the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers) of the Department of Labor and Employment. There is also the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s cash-for-work and food-for-work programs,” he added.

Guillen also called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to provide additional funding for the repair of damaged irrigation facilities.

“We are asking the DBM to increase the budget of NIA so that we can construct and repair our irrigation canals and at the same time, provide livelihood to our farmers,” he said.

Discover the vibrant world of healthy Indian rice varieties with black rice, red rice, and brown basmati. Explore their flavours, health benefits, and culinary possibilities

Welcome to the vibrant world of healthy Indian rice varieties! In a land where rice reigns supreme, there are exquisite alternatives to traditional white rice that not only add a splash of colour to your plate but also provide a myriad of health benefits. We will take you on a captivating culinary journey, introducing you to the alluring Black Rice, the nutrient-packed Red Rice, and the fragrant delight of Brown Basmati. Get ready to explore these fascinating rice varieties and discover a whole new world of flavours, textures, and nourishment that will redefine your perception of rice!

Black Rice - Unveiling the Forbidden Elegance:

Step into the realm of the extraordinary with Black Rice, often referred to as the "forbidden grain." This enchanting rice variety hails from the northeastern regions of India and boasts a rich history. Its deep, dark hue, reminiscent of midnight skies, immediately captures the imagination. The distinct nutty flavour and sticky texture make it a versatile ingredient that can be used in both savoury and sweet dishes. But Black Rice is not just visually appealing; it is also a nutritional powerhouse. Packed with antioxidants, fibre, and essential minerals, Black Rice offers a myriad of health benefits, including improved digestion, reduced risk of heart disease, and enhanced brain function. Allow the allure of Black Rice to elevate your culinary creations and nourish your body.

Red Rice - A Symphony of Nutrition and Taste:

Indulge in the symphony of flavours and health benefits offered by Red Rice, a rice variety that exudes warmth and vitality. Cultivated in the verdant fields of southern India, Red Rice enchants with its earthy taste and a vibrant red husk that reflects the essence of the land. Red Rice undergoes minimal processing, ensuring that its natural nutrients remain intact. This rice variety is a treasure trove of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Its high fibre content aids digestion, promotes satiety, and supports weight management. Furthermore, Red Rice possesses anti-inflammatory properties and assists in regulating blood sugar levels. Add a splash of colour to your meals and savour the nutritional bounty that Red Rice brings to the table.

Brown Basmati - Fragrance, Health, and Elegance:

Prepare to be captivated by the fragrant allure and wholesome attributes of Brown Basmati rice. Known for its delightful aroma and slender, elongated grains, Brown Basmati is a staple choice for health enthusiasts. Unlike white Basmati rice, Brown Basmati retains its bran and germ layers, making it a whole-grain powerhouse. Bursting with fibre, vitamins, and minerals, including B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium, Brown Basmati offers a range of health benefits. Its fibre content promotes digestive health, aids in weight management, and supports a healthy heart. With its low glycemic index, Brown Basmati is also a wise choice for individuals seeking to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Let the fragrance of Brown Basmati infuse your meals and elevate your dining experience.

Culinary Adventures with Healthy Rice Varieties:

Now that you're acquainted with the wonders of Black Rice, Red Rice, and Brown Basmati, it's time to embark on some culinary adventures. Here are a few recipe ideas and cooking tips to make the most of these healthy rice varieties:

1. Black Rice Pudding: Transform Black Rice into a luscious dessert by simmering it with coconut milk, jaggery, and aromatic spices like cardamom. Top it off with fresh fruits and nuts for a delightful treat that indulges both the senses and the body.

2. Red Rice Salad: Combine cooked Red Rice with an array of colourful vegetables, crisp herbs, and a tangy dressing to create a refreshing and nutritious salad bursting with flavours. This vibrant dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.

3. Brown Basmati Pilaf: Elevate your pilaf game by using fragrant Brown Basmati rice. Sauté onions, garlic, and spices in a pan, then add soaked Brown Basmati rice and cook it to perfection with vegetable broth. Garnish it with toasted almonds and fresh herbs for an aromatic and wholesome delight.

As you journey through the realm of healthy Indian rice varieties, the allure of Black Rice, the vitality of Red Rice, and the fragrance of Brown Basmati will captivate your taste buds and nourish your body. Embrace the richness of these rice varieties' colours, flavours, and health benefits. With their unique qualities, Black Rice, Red Rice, and Brown Basmati have the power to transform your culinary experience and take you on a delightful adventure. So, savour the magic of these rich rice varieties, and let them inspire you to create memorable meals that celebrate both taste and well-being.

Farmers are hopeful for better yield this year compared to the previous years given the gaining momentum in monsoon rain.

The paddy cultivation has started gaining momentum over the past week across the Jammu division with farmers expressing satisfaction over the good amount of rainfall under the influence of Monsoon winds and western disturbance over the region. The farmers are hopeful for better yield this year compared to the previous years.

The cultivation of paddy, especially the world-famous Basmati rice, serves as the sole source of income to a majority of farmers in R S Pura, Marh and parts of Samba and Kathua districts in Jammu region. "Paddy and maize are main crops of the Jammu region which are dependent on rain water…We had good pre-monsoon rains. The Monsoon has also set on time which is good,” Joint Director, Agriculture Department, AS Reen told PTI. He said the sowing of maize that is mostly cultivated in the rain-fed hilly areas was completed sometime back and the frequent rains over the past week are a blessing for the crop.

The rice cultivation in Jammu plains and some parts of hilly areas is in progress. “Watering of fields from canals and tube wells is insufficient and the rainfall is quite essential for the crop, especially Basmati Rice which needs a lot of water for irrigation.”

The Basmati crop takes 160-170 days to reach the harvesting stage and needs a lot of water at crucial stages for a successful crop. Reen said the paddy production of Jammu is around four lakh quintals, while two lakh quintals of rice are procured through Food Corporation of India to meet the local demand.

Maize production is around four lakh quintals and the department facilitates the farmers to sell their surplus produce. He said the production of paddy and maize can go up by 25% to 30%, depending on various factors including best quality seed, proper fertilization and rain water.

“The department is playing its part to ensure availability of best quality seed and fertilizers to the farmers,” he said, requesting the farmers to go for crop insurance to avoid losses in case of any calamity.

"Rains are beneficial for the growth of the paddy. The success of the crop depends on water availability during the next one month and if we had a good monsoon, we are hopeful of a good yield this time,” Darshan Kumar, a farmer from Marh block in the outskirts of Jammu city told PTI.

He said the agriculture department employees are working in close coordination with the farmers to educate them about the newly introduced government schemes. Thakur Dass said rains have brought relief as earlier there was a shortage of water, also affecting the wheat crop.

The agriculture department last week celebrated crop insurance week to launch a mass awareness campaign for maximum enrolment of the farmers under the scheme for Kharif-2023. Director Agriculture, Jammu K K Sharma said the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) will go a long way in mitigating the financial risk of the farmers suffering from the crop losses and aid in stabilizing their income.

Highlighting the achievements under the scheme, Sharma said till date one lakh farmers in Jammu division have benefited from PMFBY with the disbursement of an amount to the tune of Rs 96 crore as settlement of claims to these beneficiaries.

The Director said 50,000 farmers have already enrolled under the scheme in Jammu division well before the cut-off date of July 15. He urged farmers to enroll under the scheme to avail the benefits against weather-vagaries for the notified crops, including Paddy and Maize in the Kharif season and Wheat in the Rabi season with a minimal premium of 2% (Kharif) and 1.5% (Rabi season) as per the Scale of Finance.

MUMBAI: Global rice prices, now at their highest in 11 years, are set to rally further after India moved to boost payments to farmers, just as El Nino threatens yields in key producers and alternative staples get costlier for poor Asians and Africans.

India accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports, which were 56 million tonnes in 2022, but low inventories mean any cut in shipments will fuel food prices driven up by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and erratic weather. “India was the cheapest supplier of rice,” B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA), told Reuters. “As Indian prices moved up because of the new minimum support price, other suppliers also started raising prices.”

Rice is a staple for more than 3 billion people and nearly 90% of the water-intensive crop is produced in Asia, where the El Nino weather pattern usually brings lower rainfall.

Yet even before the weather phenomenon can disrupt production, the global rice price index of the Food and Agriculture Organization hovers above an 11-year high.

That comes despite a forecast by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for near-record output in all top six global producers — Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

“The impact of El Nino is not restricted to any single country; it affects rice output in almost all producing countries,” said Nitin Gupta, vice president of Olam India’s rice business. The price of Indian rice exports has jumped 9% to a five-year high, following a hike of 7% last month in the price the government pays farmers for new-season common rice.

Export prices in Thailand and Vietnam have risen to more than two-year highs since that incentive, aimed at luring the votes of farmers in key Indian state elections this year and a general election next year. In recent months, the prices of sugar, meat and eggs have jumped to multi-year highs worldwide, after producers cut exports to rein in domestic costs.

Despite the forecast for a strong Asian crop, some global trading houses expect El Nino to crimp the output of all key rice producers. “Rice prices have already been rising due to limited supplies,” added Olam’s Gupta. “If production decreases, there will be a rally in prices.”

Global inventories of rice are set to drop to a six-year low of 170.2 million tonnes by the end of 2023/24, as stocks fall in top producers China and India, the USDA says, after the rising demand of recent years.

Prices could rise a fifth or more if yields drop sharply, as El Nino means the second rice crop in almost all Asian nations will be lower than normal, said a New Delhi-based grains dealer with a global trading house. No. 2 exporter Thailand has urged farmers to plant only one rice crop after May rainfall was 26% below normal.

In India, which plants its second crop in November, planting of summer-sown rice was down 26% from a year ago by Friday, as the monsoon brought 8% less rain than normal, government data show. Weather in China, the top producer of the grain, has not been conducive for the early season crop but high stockpiles will balance supply and demand, said Rosa Wang, an analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence.

Food inflation is always a concern for India’s ruling party, which banned wheat exports last year and curbed those of rice and sugar to bring down prices.

As elections near, the slow start of planting amid rising domestic prices is a concern for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), raising the prospect that it could further curb exports.

“The Modi government is grappling with the task of containing the price rise in wheat, which is why it would not hesitate to impose restrictions,” said the dealer based in New Delhi, the Indian capital.

Non-basmati rice dispatch rise 6% as Africa, West Asia buy more

Indian rice exports were off to a good start in the current financial year with volume of shipments increasing by about a tenth in the first two months to over 3.67 million tonnes (mt) compared with 3.36 mt in the same period a year ago on strong demand for basmati rice.

Basmati rice shipments during this period were up 21 per cent at 8.30 lakh tonnes (lt) against 6.85 lt a year ago. Similarly, non-basmati rice shipments, despite curbs on broken rice and export duty, were up by 6 per cent at 2.84 mt against 2.67 mt.

Basmati shipments to West Asia, the main market for the aromatic rice registered an increase of 13 per cent at 6.15 lt against 5.43 lt a year ago on higher demand from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. However, shipments to countries such as Saudi Arabia and Yemen declined. Exports in dollar terms to West Asia were up 22 per cent at $665 million ($545 million in the year-ago period).

Gain in other geographies

To other geographies such as European Union and Asian countries, basmati shipments more than doubled during these two months. Shipment volumes to the European Union were up 154 per cent at 41,644 tonnes (16,407 tonnes) on demand from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium. The basmati export value to the EU during April-May was up 196 per cent at $52.61 million ($17.74 million). In Asia, countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal among others stepped up the purchase of the aromatic rice with volumes rising to 15,339 tonnes (6,995 tonnes).

Similarly, in the case of non-basmati rice, shipments to Africa during April-May were up at 20.96 lt (15.49 lt), while exports to West Asia recorded a 24 per cent growth at 2.20 lt (1.77 lt). “There is a good demand. Despite certain restrictions, shipments are growing,” said B.V. Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association. India has placed curbs on exports of 100 per cent broken rice and has levied a duty of 20 per cent on white and brown rice exports since September 8, 2022.

SEOUL, July 6 (Reuters) - South Korea is set to sign an agreement next week with eight African nations to help boost rice production and cut their dependence on imports, Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun told Reuters, amid concerns over food security on the continent.

The move also comes as President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to revamp South Korea's foreign policy and make it a "global pivotal state" playing a more active role around the world.

Under the "K-Ricebelt Project", South Korea will build facilities in Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, Uganda and Kenya to produce rice seeds that better suit local conditions and have yields two to three times higher than domestic varieties, Chung said in an interview this week.

The minister said during several visits to Africa starting late last year officials told him they desperately needed help.

"It was when food security was a global issue. Rice prices had almost doubled due to supply chain disruptions," Chung said, noting how food imports had squeezed the countries' foreign exchange reserves.

Rice is a staple in West Africa, but local production only meets around 60% of demand, according to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). This means the region is very exposed to global price volatility and trade disruptions.

An agriculture ministry official said South Korea planned to spend more than 100 billion won ($77 million) on the food project over the next four years, with a goal of distributing 10,000 tonnes of rice seeds every year from 2027.

"President Yoon Suk Yeol has been very clear about this, that we should come forward to help because we were the ones getting help during the difficult times," Chung said.

South Korea has been able to produce enough rice to meet more than 90% of local demand, though still depends heavily on some other food imports.

Agriculture ministers from the eight participating African countries are due to visit Seoul to sign agreements on the project on Monday.

The United Nations' World Food Programme welcomed the move.

"The K-Rice project will bring outstanding rice varieties and hope to the small farmers in Africa suffering from the climate crisis," Marian Sunhee Yun, the director of WFP Korea Office, said.

($1 = 1,302.3500 won)

Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Ed Davies and Sonali Paul

Rice prices are already at an 11-year high and are set to rally further after India’s move to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for the crop.

In Short

• Rising rice prices raise concerns of food crisis in Asia and Africa
• India's minimum support price hike contributes to global rice price surge
• Supply situation tightens as Indian rice exports face potential decrease

By India Today Business Desk: Several countries in Asia and Africa could soon face a critical shortage of rice as prices continue to surge across the globe.

Rice prices are already at an 11-year high and news agency Reuters reported that they are set to rally further after India’s move to increase the minimum support price (MSP) for the crop. The impact of El Nino on rainfall has further complicated the situation.

India accounts for more than 40 per cent of the world’s rice exports, but any reduction in shipment could drive up prices that have already been impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and erratic weather conditions.

BV Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA) told the news agency that India was the cheapest supplier of rice.

“As Indian prices moved up because of the new minimum support price, other suppliers also started raising prices,” he said.

The report noted that the price of Indian rice exports has jumped to a five-year high of 9 per cent, following an MSP hike of 7 per cent. It is worth noting that export prices in Thailand and Vietnam have risen to more than two-year highs since the MSP hike.

Industry officials have also warned that the supply situation is extremely tight, and any decrease in Indian rice exports has the potential to cause a surge in global prices.

The price surge also poses challenges in building up stockpiles.

While demand from price-sensitive African countries has slowed, some Asian buyers, including Indonesia and the Philippines, have been increasing their purchases from traditional suppliers such as Vietnam.

Indonesia recently signed an uncommon agreement with India to import 1 million tons in the event of El Nino disrupting domestic supply.

El Nino impact

Rice, a staple for more than 3 billion people, predominantly originates from Asia, where the El Nino weather pattern often results in lower rainfall. However, even before the potential production disruptions caused by El Nino, the global rice price index remains above an 11-year high.

Despite near-record output forecasts from major producers such as Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, some global trading houses anticipate the impact of El Nino on the output of all key rice-producing countries.

Global rice inventories are projected to decline to a six-year low by the end of 2023/24, as stocks fall in China and India, following rising demand in recent years.

If yields drop sharply due to El Nino, the price could rise by a fifth or more, reported Reuters. The second rice crop in most Asian nations is expected to be lower than normal due to the weather phenomenon.

Thailand, the second-largest exporter of rice, has already urged farmers to plant only one rice crop due to below-normal rainfall. Similarly, India has experienced a slow start to planting with reduced rain, raising concerns for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as elections approach next year.

The rice market, once a buyers' market, is now on the verge of becoming a sellers' market if El Nino adversely affects production, according to a Singapore-based deal quoted in the Reuters report.

As the global rice industry navigates these dynamics, attention remains on India's agricultural changes, weather patterns, and their impact on prices and supplies worldwide.

(06/30/23) CROWLEY, La. — With a heat wave gripping Louisiana, scores of farmers sweated, sipped water and shaded themselves with hats and event programs as they toured the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station during its annual field day June 28.

The sweltering conditions proved a relevant backdrop to some of the research featured at the event. AgCenter scientists are trying to find ways to help farmers and their rice crop beat the heat — and two avenues they are exploring are planting earlier in the spring and developing faster-maturing varieties.

Both could allow farmers to harvest sooner so that their rice isn’t exposed to intense summer weather or the risk of tropical storms for too long. They also could help set farmers up for a successful ratoon, or second, crop.

It’s unclear how the current high temperatures and lack of rainfall will affect the 435,000 acres of rice being grown in Louisiana this year.

“It looks like we have a pretty good rice crop out there,” said Ronnie Levy, the AgCenter rice specialist. “Weather conditions still are such that we don’t know how it’s going to end up because of the real hot weather that we’re having right now, so it may affect some of the later-planted rice as far as pollination and grain fill.”

Levy has been studying how rice responds to planting dates ranging from late February to May. Most farmers plant rice in mid-March and April, depending on what part of the state they are in.

“When we plant early, then typically we beat some of these hotter conditions,” he explained. “Rice respirates at night. It actually uses energy to stay cool at night, so it burns some of the energy that it makes during the day. So if we can grow rice under cooler conditions, then we improve the quality and yield of rice.”

Shifting to an earlier schedule has been a focus in the industry in recent years.

“It’s less time in the field, less time for a weather event to cause some damage, less time for pumping and irrigation,” said Adam Famoso, a rice breeder at the station.

He is contributing to the cause by developing rice varieties that grow in a shorter timeframe, allowing for an earlier harvest. One such variety is called CLL19, which is in commercial seed production and could be available to growers as early as next year.

Besides its early maturity, this variety — which is part of the Clearfield system that helps with weed management — has other desirable traits.

“The excitement around CLL19 really centers around yield,” Famoso said. “We see a good ratoon potential on this variety, good milling quality, excellent blast resistance.”

Famoso is excited about two other varieties that are nearing commercial release and could help fill voids in the industry.

One is a conventional, long-grain line called 2207. Farmers have been demanding more conventional options, Famoso said, and this one has good yield potential and grain quality. It also is resistant to blast disease, something that’s not common in conventional lines.

The other variety is 2126, a conventional, jasmine type that has improved yield potential, blast resistance, good milling quality and an appealing aroma.

“Jasmine has really had a lot more attention and interest from the industry, much more demand. Acres have gone up a lot,” Famoso said, adding that much of the aromatic and specialty rice consumed in the United States is imported from Thailand and Vietnam. “What we’re trying to do as an industry as a whole is make people aware that we have locally grown, much more sustainably produced options of jasmine rice grown right here.”

Each of the three up-and-coming varieties have their own unique qualities and fit different production and marketing needs. While the rice station focuses on developing varieties for Louisiana farmers, rice is produced and consumed globally — and about half of Louisiana’s rice is exported.

The industry has been working to recapture markets in Latin America, where consumers prefer rice that is less sticky, Famoso said. He has been working to develop varieties that are palatable to international customers, including Addi Jo, which has high amylose content.

Other stops on the field tour included presentations on rice diseases, insect issues, weed control and hybrid development. After spending the first half of the morning in the field, attendees gathered indoors to cool off and hear from additional speakers before lunch.

“This day allows us to really highlight the research that our faculty work extremely hard on all year long,” station director Kurt Guidry told the crowd, pointing out that the event has been held annually for 114 years.

Located in Crowley, the station is in the heart of Louisiana rice country. Much of the state’s rice is grown in southern Louisiana, and a smaller cluster of production can be found in northeastern parishes.

Michael Salassi, director of the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, said the rice station — particularly its variety development program — helps farmers remain profitable in the face of many challenges. The station supports an industry that contributes more than $550 million to the Louisiana economy annually, according to the most recent AgCenter figures.

“Rice is no different than any other agronomic crop. Production costs per acre go up every year, market prices go up and down,” he said. “And so the only tool that producers have to stay economically viable over the long run is higher-yielding varieties.”

Jim Harper, president of the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, noted that every variety of rice grown on his Rapides Parish farm came from the AgCenter breeding program.

Clay Schexnayder, speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives; Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; and Matt Lee, LSU vice president for agriculture, all celebrated wins in the state legislative session that ended earlier this month.

Millions were allocated to the AgCenter in budget and capital outlay bills, Schexnayder said, which will help provided much-needed facility improvements, equipment investments and other items that support research and extension programs.

“The funding for the AgCenter, for these research stations is absolutely critical,” Strain said. “For every dollar spent here, it puts $20 in the economy over a 20-year period.”

Lee said the AgCenter has had a “stellar year.” Besides securing funding at the Legislature, faculty have been doing a good job of bringing in grant dollars, and some administrative changes have been made to better serve the organization and its clientele.

“While LSU Athletics is winning on the field, the AgCenter is winning in the fields with you all, and we’re winning for Louisiana,” Lee said, referring the LSU baseball team’s victory in the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, two days prior.

Strain noted the industry’s strong support of the AgCenter, including funding from the Louisiana Rice Research Board. “That’s why we have here the preeminent rice research station in the world.”

He emphasized the importance of expanding rice production and introducing new varieties, especially those offering tolerance to heat, drought and pests. World rice consumption is outpacing production, representing “the greatest challenge of our lifetimes — and the greatest opportunities,” Strain said.

“We must here in the United States grow our production at least 3% a year,” he said. “The rest of the world cannot. They don’t have our science. They don’t have our technology. They don’t have our innovation. They don’t have these centers. And they don’t have you — each and every one of you, from the farmers to the researchers to the extension agents and everybody in between. What happens if we don’t? It’s real simple. A big part of the world will go hungry.”

This year’s field day was dedicated the late Ida Wenefrida, an AgCenter researcher who died in March 2023. Wenefrida arrived at the station as a postdoctoral researcher in 1999 and was known for her smiling, outgoing personality.

“I don’t think we can say enough about how everybody felt about Ida here at the station, both as a coworker and collaborator and as a personal friend,” said Steve Linscombe, the station’s retired director and rice breeder. “She did outstanding work in her research projects, and a lot of it was in collaboration with Dr. Herry Utomo, who was her husband.”

The couple’s signature accomplishment came in recent years with the development of a high-protein, low-glycemic rice variety called Frontière.

MUMBAI: Global rice prices, now at their highest in 11 years, are set to rally further after India moved to boost payments to farmers, just as El Nino threatens yields in key producers and alternative staples get costlier for poor Asians and Africans.
India accounts for more than 40 percent of world rice exports, which were 56 million tons in 2022, but low inventories mean any cut in shipments will fuel food prices driven up by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and erratic weather.
“India was the cheapest supplier of rice,” B.V. Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association (REA), told Reuters. “As Indian prices moved up because of the new minimum support price, other suppliers also started raising prices.”
Rice is a staple for more than 3 billion people and nearly 90 percent of the water-intensive crop is produced in Asia, where the El Nino weather pattern usually brings lower rainfall.
Yet even before the weather phenomenon can disrupt production, the global rice price index of the Food and Agriculture Organization hovers above an 11-year high.
That comes despite a forecast by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for near-record output in all top six global producers — Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The impact of El Nino is not restricted to any single country; it affects rice output in almost all producing countries,” said Nitin Gupta, vice president of Olam India’s rice business.
The price of Indian rice exports has jumped 9 percent to a five-year high, following a hike of 7 percent last month in the price the government pays farmers for new-season common rice.

Export prices in Thailand and Vietnam have risen to more than two-year highs since that incentive, aimed at luring the votes of farmers in key Indian state elections this year and a general election next year.
In recent months, the prices of sugar, meat and eggs have jumped to multi-year highs worldwide, after producers cut exports to rein in domestic costs.
Despite the forecast for a strong Asian crop, some global trading houses expect El Nino to crimp the output of all key rice producers.
“Rice prices have already been rising due to limited supplies,” added Olam’s Gupta. “If production decreases, there will be a rally in prices.”
Global inventories of rice are set to drop to a six-year low of 170.2 million tons by the end of 2023/24, as stocks fall in top producers China and India, the USDA says, after the rising demand of recent years.

Prices could rice by a fifth
Prices could rise a fifth or more if yields drop sharply, as El Nino means the second rice crop in almost all Asian nations will be lower than normal, said a New Delhi-based grains dealer with a global trading house.
No. 2 exporter Thailand has urged farmers to plant only one rice crop after May rainfall was 26 percent below normal.
In India, which plants its second crop in November, planting of summer-sown rice was down 26 percent from a year ago by Friday, as the monsoon brought 8 percent less rain than normal, government data show.
Weather in China, the top producer of the grain, has not been conducive for the early season crop but high stockpiles will balance supply and demand, said Rosa Wang, an analyst with Shanghai JC Intelligence.
Food inflation is always a concern for India’s ruling party, which banned wheat exports last year and curbed those of rice and sugar to bring down prices.
As elections near, the slow start of planting amid rising domestic prices is a concern for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), raising the prospect that it could further curb exports.
“The Modi government is grappling with the task of containing the price rise in wheat, which is why it would not hesitate to impose restrictions,” said the dealer based in New Delhi, the Indian capital.
Indian curbs would leave other countries struggling to make up supplies, industry officials say.

“The supply situation is extremely tight, and decrease in Indian exports could potentially cause global prices to surge,” said a Singapore-based dealer with a global trading house.
Taken together, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam could raise exports by 3 million to 4 million metric tons, the dealer added.
The price surge also complicates the task of building up stockpiles.
Demand from price-sensitive African countries has slowed, said Himanshu Agarwal, executive director at Satyam Balajee, an Indian exporter.
But some Asian buyers, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, have been building stocks and increasing purchases from traditional supplier Vietnam.
Last month Indonesia signed a rare pact with India to import 1 million tons if El Nino disrupts domestic supply. Indonesia usually buys rice from nearby Thailand and Vietnam.
“Rice has been a buyers’ market for the past few years, but it could become a sellers’ market if El Nino cuts production,” said the Singapore-based dealer.

Under proposed MoU, South Korea to build Korean rice belt in African countries, known as K-Rice Belt, to help these countries 'cut dependence on rice imports'

ANKARA

South Korea and African countries are expected to sign a "K-Rice Belt" agreement next week to help them grow a variety of crops, including rice.

Ministers from eight African countries, including Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Uganda, Cameroon and Kenya, will arrive in Seoul on Monday to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU), according to The Korea Times.

Under the proposed MoU, South Korea will build a Korean rice belt in African countries, known as the K-Rice Belt, to help these countries "cut dependence on rice imports."

The African ministers will also visit Korea's farming equipment manufacturing sites, rice processing plants, and smart farms during their stay in the country to fine-tune joint growth strategies for presentation at the Korea-Africa special summit next year, according to the report.

South Korean Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Chung Hwang-keun last month visited Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa to discuss ways of cooperation for food security in Africa.

They discussed transferring Korea's agricultural expertise, including the K-Rice Belt, and the minister said Seoul will distribute high-yielding and high-quality rice varieties to Africa as well as support infrastructure and technical training through the project.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid

Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Basmati Rice Market Insights, to 2027" with 232 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market associated stakeholders. The growth of the Basmati Rice market was mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world.

Some of the key players profiled in the study are:
KRBL Limited (India), Amira Nature Foods (UAE), LT Foods (India), Best Foods (India), Kohinoor Rice (India), Aeroplane Rice (India), Tilda Basmati Rice (Europe), Matco Foods (Pakistan), Amar Singh Chawal Wala (India), Hanuman Rice Mills (India), Adani Wilmar (India).

Scope of the Report of Basmati Rice
Basmati rice which is traditionally grown in Asian continent, is a long grain rice with aromatic smell and good quality. Basmati rice grown in India and Pakistan are famous around the globe. Basmati rice has been enjoying a premium position among all other rice varieties in the global marketplace, due to superior aroma, delicious taste, and distinct flavor. Rice forms an important part of the Middle Eastern cooking, and is considered as a staple food along with wheat in many countries. Basmati rice is extensively used in a number of lavish rice-based dishes containing layers of rice, meat, sauces & dried fruits.

The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:
by Application (Commercial, Home), Spices (White, Brown), Varieties (Indian Basmati Rice, Pakistani Basmati Rice, Others)

Market Trends:
Increasing efforts of key players to make product available at affordable price
Growing applicability in food industry

Opportunities:
Emerging markets around the globe
Improvement in standard of living
Growing demand for lavish rice-based dishes

Market Drivers:
Increasing demand for premium, high quality and aromatic rice
Rising Population

Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.

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Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Basmati Rice market
Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary - the basic information of the Basmati Rice Market.
Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges & Opportunities of the Basmati Rice
Chapter 4: Presenting the Basmati Rice Market Factor Analysis, Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region/Country 2015-2020
Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Basmati Rice market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile
Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by Manufacturers/Company with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions (2021-2027)
Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source

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West Asian country’s share in exports falls

India’s basmati rice exports to Iran, which has been the largest importer of aromatic long-grain rice from the country for several years, have slowed recently, due to a delay in the settlement of payments to the West Asian country under the US’s sanctions.

Rice exporters said that the delays in settlement have been especially long in recent months as rupee reserve built up from the oil exports to India has depleted and a chunk of payments is being routed through third currency payment system using Dirham via Dubai.

“Its a complex process to get payment for basmati rice exports to Iran,” a leading exporter of rice from Haryana said on the condition of anonymity. He said that its would not be easy to replace Iran, which had share of 22% in the 4.55 million tonne (MT) of basmati rice exports from India.

According to trade data, India’s exports of basmati to Iran in the first two months of the current fiscal have veen flat at 0.15 MT compared to the same month’s previous fiscal. The share of Iran in the total basmati rice exports which was 29% in 2019-20 to 18% in April-May in the current fiscal

Rice shipments to Iran had got a boost when India launched a rupee settlement mechanism from April 2012 with Iran to avoid sanctions from the US and EU. As part of the initiative, state-owned UCO Bank tied up with Iranian lenders — Parsian, Pasargad, Saman and EN Banks — for settlements of dues.

The system of rupee settlement continued till 2019 after India stopped buying crude oil from Iran. Importers in Iran are currently settling payments using traders’ accounts based in Dubai.

Out of the total exports of 4.55 MT of Basmati rice last fiscal, the top five countries had the share of Iran (22%), Saudi Arabia (21%), Iran (8%), United Arab Emirates (7%) and Yemen (6%).

Industry sources said that major exporters of basmati rice are has stopped shipment to Iran due to payment settlement issues.

A senior official confirmed that while there is a barter system of rupee payment for India’s exports of banana and imports of apples from Iran, for basmati rice exports most of the payments are through a third currency payment system.

According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the value of rice exports in FY23 rose by more than 15% on year to a record $ 11.1 billion from $ 9.6 billion in the previous fiscal.

The volume wise the rice shipment grew by 5% to 22.34 million tonne (MT) last fiscal year.

India has been the world’s largest exporter of rice since 2012 and currently has 45% share in global grain trade. India has a share of around 80% global trade of basmati rice.

Currently, India exports more rice more than the combined shipments of the next three largest exporters – Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan.

The United States department of agriculture (USDA), in its June 2023 crop outlook, has stated ‘India is expected to remain the most competitively priced global rice exporter in 2024,’. USDA, while estimating the total rice exports from India to cross 24 MT next calendar year, has stated “this would be the largest amount of rice ever shipped by any country in a single year,”

DAVAO CITY – Some 275 tons of rice will be harvested in the hybrid rice cluster demo project for the wet season in Hagonoy town, Davao del Sur, in September this year, the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) said Thursday.

Evelyn Basa, DA-11 rice program coordinator, said with an expected yield of a minimum of seven tons per hectare, the project can contribute to the country's rice production target for 2027.

Basa credited the initiative to the collaboration among DA-11, the Philippine Rice Board, the Davao del Sur provincial government, and the Hagonoy municipality, whose representatives conducted a ceremonial planting at the demo farm in Barangay Sinayawan.

The 35-hectare farm showcases 24 rice varieties and technologies from different seed companies and growers.

“The demo farm will serve as an avenue for farmers to observe and learn various technologies on cultural management practices, mechanical and seeding, and nutrient management such as the 'Abonong Swak' recommendation that can help them improve their production,” Basa said in a statement.

She said the expected harvest on the third week of September forms part of the culmination activity of the 16th National Rice Technology Forum (NRTF) from Sept. 18-22, 2023.

Meanwhile, Basa said the ongoing distribution of hybrid rice seeds to the members of Irrigators Associations (IAs) and Farmers’ Cooperatives and Associations or FCAs aims to increase the adoption of hybrid rice seeds by up to 40 percent.

This is part of the DA's strategy, she said, to reach an average hybrid rice yield level of up to six tons per hectare (ton/ha) in the wet season, and up to eight ton/ha in the dry season in target areas by 2028.

Eligible beneficiaries will be provided fuel subsidies, especially those who own or rent agricultural machinery used for crop production such as tractors, transplanters, harvesters, and shredders. (PNA)

Vietnam earned 2.3 billion U.S. dollars from exporting 4.2 million tons of rice in the first half of this year, local media reported on Wednesday, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Its largest rice importers include the Philippines and China, according to the ministry. Vietnam will export more rice to the Philippines, which could have its domestic food production affected by the impact of the El Nino phenomenon in the second half of this year, the local newspaper Vietnam News reported on Wednesday. In the six-month period, Vietnam’s rice export increased 22.2 percent in volume and rose 34.7 percent in value year on year, according to the General Statistics Office. The Vietnamese government has recently approved a rice export scheme that aims to reduce annual shipments from 7.1 million tons last year to 4 million tons by 2030, the newspaper reported. The country plans to diversify its export markets especially those with high demand for quality grains and those with which it has signed free trade agreements. Vietnam is the world’s third largest rice exporter after India and Thailand, the newspaper said.

You do not have to replace the staple you have grown up with because alien alternatives may not help you feel full and you may still tend to overeat. But you do have to practise portion control, include proteins and exercise, says Dr V Mohan, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai

There is a perpetual debate about whether the staple grains that have become the dominant part of a community’s eating habit, like rice and wheat, can lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes among people. Typically, the consumption of rice and wheat depends on the soil and climatic conditions of a region. Which is why people in the east, northeast and coastal stretches of the southern parts of the country have been rice-eaters while those in the western parts have been wheat-eaters since birth. So let me state at the very outset that keeping to a diet regimen depends a lot on the food that guarantees satiety and comfort. Rationing their portions may seem easier than switching over to an alien substitute. That’s why in a series of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that we did, excess consumption of rice and wheat were expectedly linked to the onset of Type 2 diabetes. But when they had them in limited quantities, the test subjects just seemed fine.

Also, our studies showed that those who did enough physical activity could reduce their risk of diabetes despite having rice and wheat. The first evidence linking excessive consumption of rice or wheat to diabetes came through our cross-sectional study called the Chennai Urban-Rural Epidemiological Study or CURES. We found that those who were in the fourth quartile of rice consumption had a four-fold increase in risk of diabetes compared to those in the first quartile. But since there could be confounders in a cross-sectional study, we did a longitudinal study, where approximately 1,35,000 people were followed for 15 years from five continents and 20 countries. Those who didn’t have diabetes at the beginning of the study but consumed higher quantities of rice through 15 years had a higher chance of developing new onset Type 2 diabetes. Since this was a prospective longitudinal follow-up study, the data was much more powerful and reliable. Finally, we did a randomised clinical trial, replacing white rice with brown rice. We found that in those who were overweight and had signs of metabolic syndrome, there was a reduction in glycaemic responses throughout the day when they had brown rice as a substitute. Moreover, when they combined brown rice with some pulses and legumes or plant proteins, their glycaemic swings reduced. Hence, we concluded that if we could take unpolished or brown rice and include plant proteins, our diet could become healthy.

WHY WHOLE GRAIN RICE

The rice grain has three parts. The hard outer layer is the fibre-rich bran, whose pigmentation determines the colour of the rice, the most common being the brown rice. The nutrient-rich core is the germ (the embryo) of the grain, that grows into a new plant. Bran and germ are rich in protein, fibre, iron, vitamin B and omega 3 fatty acids, in addition to carbohydrates. Endosperm, the tissue that surrounds the embryo, provides nutrition in the form of starch. Covering all this is the inedible protective outer shell, the husk or chaff or hull.

A whole grain contains the entire grain: bran, germ and endosperm (the husk has to be removed before rice can be cooked). It’s nutritious, packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, essential amino acids and fibres. It has a low glycemic Index (a measure of how fast the body converts carbs into sugars) and is better for people with Type 2 diabetes.
It also contains compounds (lignans) that lower blood pressure, fat in the blood and the risk of heart disease. Brown rice has consistently been shown to aid weight loss and help maintain a healthy body weight.

JUNK THE POLISHED GRAIN

Whole grain rice is highly nutritious but has a short shelf life. In order to increase the shelf life of rice, new milling technologies have displaced the healthy whole grain by removing both the bran and germ. The result is highly polished, starchy refined rice—or white rice—which is nutrient-depleted since endosperm is primarily carbohydrates with a little bit of protein. While brown rice has a short shelf life of about six months (unrefrigerated), white rice stays on the shelf for up to five years. The white rice is then processed to improve taste and enhance cooking properties. All this, at the expense of nutrients.

Unlike unpolished brown rice, white rice lacks plant compounds called phytochemicals — such as polyphenols, oryzanol, phytosterols, tocotrienols, tocopherols and carotenoids — as well as vitamins and minerals, that confer protection against cell damage, diabetes, heart disease and cancers. White rice is “empty calories,” since it loses its main sources of micronutrients, fibre, iron, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. With a higher glycaemic index, the carbs in white rice are turned into blood glucose more rapidly than those in brown rice. This is one reason why white rice has been associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, blood pressure and heart disease.

SHOULD WE BE REPLACING RICE OR WHEAT ALTOGETHER? NO

A common mistake most people make is to believe that flattened rice as in poha, puffed rice or that even millets could work for them. But all of these contain about 70 per cent carbohydrates, and their glycaemic load and glycaemic index vary slightly according to the grains used. Besides, if they sit lightly on your stomach, you tend to have larger portions than rice for satiety. This doesn’t work because the caloric load is just the same or may even go up with extra helpings. Many people these days talk about quinoa, which is a pseudo-cereal and only has the advantage of having 16 per cent protein. But it has 62 per cent carbohydrates.

The best way to limit carbohydrate consumption is to add proteins to your meals. Proteins lend satiety and take time to digest, slowing down the entire process of digestion and avoiding blood sugar spikes. Have them in salads and soups, where the protein, in combination with fibre, will further reduce your dependence on carbohydrates to feel full enough. That’s why breakfast foods like idli are good because they use urad dal, which is a protein. However, it is made of rice, so don’t overdo it. Up to two idlis are fine, five are bad news.

Instead of alternatives, I suggest the “follow the plate” principle. This means filling half the plate with non-starchy green leafy vegetables, a quarter of the plate with proteins, preferably plant ones and leaving just a quarter for carbohydrates. Also couple this diet effort with enough physical activity and reduce weight.

• Farmers advised to conserve water, avoid second rice crop
• Prolonged dry spell risks fueling inflation, economic recovery

Thailand is preparing contingency plans to deal with a potential drought that could last years and squeeze global supplies of sugar and rice. 

Rainfall across the nation may be as much as 10% below average this monsoon season, and the onset of the El Niño weather pattern could lower precipitation even further over the next two years, according to government officials. Thailand is facing widespread drought conditions from early 2024, authorities have warned.

The dire outlook has prompted Thai authorities to ask farmers to restrict rice planting to a single crop to conserve water, and sugar producers see output falling for the first time in three years. A drought is certain to fuel inflation in the Southeast Asian nation as the cost of vegetables, fresh food and meat get pricier on reduced harvests and more expensive animal feed.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha has asked state-run power utility Electricity Generating Authority and the Office of Natural Water Resources to help draw up contingency plans to conserve water. So far in 2023, the nation’s rainfall has been 28% below the same period last year, according to official data. 

El Niño can lead to drier conditions in parts of Asia and Africa, and heavy rains in South America, damaging a wide range of crops globally. Previous El Niños have resulted in a marked impact on global inflation and hit gross domestic product in nations from Brazil to India and Australia.

Thailand is seeking to nurture a rebound in economic growth that’s already facing headwinds from a slowdown in China, the nation’s largest trade partner, and a prolonged drought may scupper efforts to keep inflation under check. Thailand has already grappled with record heat this year.

“El Niño will pose a bigger worry on growth than inflation,” said Euben Paracuelles, an analyst at Nomura Holdings Inc. “Thailand is a large food exporter, with only half of total output consumed domestically. So the buffers could help limit the near-term inflation impact, alongside government price controls and subsidies.”

If El Niño turns severe, it could shave off 0.2 percentage point of gross domestic product this year because drought conditions could coincide with seasonal production in the second half, especially for rice, Paracuelles said. The central bank forecasts Thailand to clock GDP growth of 3.6% this year, accelerating from 2.6% in 2022.

Annual Rainfall in Thailand

https://www.bloomberg.com/toaster/v2/charts/181f4ce5e349ba2d63f363442b58c9de.html?brand=markets&webTheme=markets&web=true&hideTitles=true

Source: Thai Meteorological Department, Australia Bureau of Meteorology

Footnote: TMD Data Not Available for 2020-22

Power demand in Thailand hit a record in April when some regions saw all-time high temperatures, forcing companies and households to increase the use of air-conditioning to escape the sweltering heat.

The bigger, global impact from below-average rainfall in Thailand will be the hit to crops such as sugar and rubber, and could even threaten the nation’s position as the world’s second-biggest supplier of rice. Shipments tumbled a third to 7.6 million tons in 2019, the first year of the previous El Niño. 

Sugar cane is a sturdy crop, but the nation’s millers have forecast a decline in output. That will cut the supply to the world market and further fuel a rally in refined sugar prices that are hovering around a decade-high.

The nation produced about 11 million tons of sugar in the 2022-23 season and is estimated to have exported about 80% of its output.

Thailand’s lack of long-term mitigation efforts to deal with floods and droughts will likely aggravate the impact of extreme weather on the nation, according to the World Bank. 

“The frequency of floods and droughts, and the high human and economic cost associated with them, make climate change adaptation and water management important in Thailand,” said Fabrizio Zarcone, the World Bank’s country manager for Thailand. “A more robust framework prioritizing risk mitigation planning, investing in water resources infrastructure, and managing land and water use is needed.”

— With assistance by Kevin Dharmawan

The development comes amid demand from African countries that look to India for supply of fully broken white rice, other than parboiled rice.

New Delhi: India is likely to export 290,000 tonnes of fully broken white rice under government-to-government (G2G) route to Mali, a country in West Africa.

The move follows the Indian government’s decision in May to permit exports of fully broken white rice, which was banned from 8 September last year, to other countries to meet their food security needs.

“MEA (the ministry of external affairs) has forwarded a request from the minister of industry and commerce to export 290,000 tonnes of fully broken rice," a senior government official said. 

“The quantity will be exported in two separate lots of 240,000 tonnes and 50,000 tonnes once the Directorate ­General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) examines the issue and announce the policy."

The development comes amid demand from African countries that look to India for supply of fully broken white rice, other than parboiled rice.

This will be an addition to the government permitted broken rice exports of 500,000 tonnes to Senegal and 50,000 tonnes to Gambia in April. The government also allowed to export 200,000 tonnes of the rice variety to Indonesia in April.

African countries rely on India for rice supply as they get it at a cheaper rate as compared to the price offerings by Vietnam, Thailand or Pakistan.

While Thailand is offering 100% broken rice at $523 a tonne, the same variety of rice is being offered by India at $425 per tonne, the benchmark price in the global market. The Indian price includes a 20% export duty. A 5% broken rice is being offered at $468-$472 a tonne by India, whereas Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand are offering it at $488-492, $508-512 and $518 per tonne, respectively. These three countries are offering the 25% broken rice in the range of $458-498. In contrast, India is quoting this variety at $448-452 a tonne, spot trade sources said. These prices are free-­on-­board (FOB).

Queries sent to MEA, commerce and food ministries on Sunday remained unanswered till press time.

Due to an export ban on fully broken rice, Indian exporters cannot sell it to the international market. However, the Indian government on 24 May allowed the exports of broken rice based on permission given by it for shipments to other countries for meeting their food security needs, though the export of broken rice is banned in general. The step was taken by the government after it started receiving requests for the same from foreign ministries.

As the export ban on fully broken rice is on place since September 2022, African nations, which rely on India to meet its 70% rice consumption have switched to non-basmati rice. In the first two months of the ongoing financial year, import of non-basmati rice by African countries have been 35% higher than the corresponding period last year at nearly 2.1 million tonnes (mt), said executive director of All India Rice Exporters’ Association Vinod Kaul.

In April-May of FY24, India’s basmati rice exports were 21% more than the previous year during the same period at 830,858 tonnes, and a 6.1% hike year-on-year at 2.8 mt has been recorded in non-basmati rice exports.

In FY23, India exported a total of 17.79 mt of non-basmati rice, while broken rice exports were 23% lower on year at 3 mt because of a ban on shipments imposed to keep domestic prices down.

An Indian nutritionist said that giving up rice for a month can help lose weight and stabilize blood sugar levels, but only on condition that the rice is not replaced by calories and other grains.

Rice is a staple food for many around the world, and has become an integral part of the daily diet, so much so that many cannot do without at least one serving of rice at every meal. But, studies show that eating rice is not always good for one's health.

While rice provides essential carbohydrates, it is also high in starch and lacking in certain nutrients. According to the "Indian Express" website, excessive consumption of refined white rice can lead to high blood sugar levels and weight gain.

Priya Parma, head of the nutrition department at the Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in India, said that giving up rice for a month can help with weight loss and stabilize blood sugar levels since it is rich in carbohydrates.

Ria Desai, a nutritionist at the Wockhardt Hospital, also in India, explained that completely giving up rice for a month can lead to some weight loss, but only if the rice is not replaced by other grains and calories and the total amount of carbohydrates in the diet is limited, explaining that blood sugar levels will decrease "only during a period of Abstinence" from Rice.

"Once a person starts eating rice again, the glucose levels will start to change again," she said, noting that the important fact is that eating a small bowl of rice in the right way is not harmful to the body.

Muscle breakdown

Experts usually recommend a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods rich in nutrients, so excluding rice from the menu can be temporary to reduce the amount of carbohydrates a person eats.

According to Parma, "rice, a simple carbohydrate, can easily be converted into a complex carbohydrate meal by adding vegetables and protein to the meal. Carbohydrates are very necessary for energy production and not eating them at all can make a person weak because the body starts using protein by breaking down muscles to produce energy which also leads to a deficiency that is rich in vitamins and minerals. That's why the weight loss comes from breaking down muscles and not from burning fat, something that should be avoided."

Important tips

It is recommended to eat limited amounts of white rice and replace it with brown rice. Add fiber to the rice in the form of vegetables, seeds and nuts.

Add proteins: when mixed with certain grains they become proteins that are better absorbed by the body.

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Friday said the government is all set to roll out the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.

Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa on Friday said the government is all set to roll out the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, by crediting money to the bank account of the beneficiaries in lieu of the additional 5 kg of rice promised to every member of a BPL household, as sufficient quantity of the food grain is unavailable.

Facing difficulty in procuring large quantities of rice required to fulfil its poll guarantee, the state government on Wednesday decided to pay cash into the beneficiaries' accounts at the rate of ₹34 per kilo, for the additional 5 kg of rice under the free rice scheme. The minister also said that of the total additional 5 kg, the government plans to include 2 kg of ragi (finger millet) and jowar (sorghum) -- instead of rice -- under the scheme in the southern and northern parts of Karnataka respectively, as per requirement, as these grains are considered a staple in these two regions.

In the southern part of the state, the government plans to give 2 kg of ragi and remaining will be rice, while in north Karnataka it will be 2 kg of jowar and remaining will be rice, the minister said. There is adequate stock of ragi available, while the stock of jowar is less, so we will supply as much as we can, after that we will provide a full 5 kg of rice, he added.

"We will get information about the beneficiaries and, based on their inputs in the days to come, if there is demand for more quantities of ragi and jowar from southern and northern parts of Karnataka respectively, changes will be made in the quantity," he said, adding that the government will procure required quantities of ragi and jowar directly from the farmers at MSP rates and stock it.

"From tomorrow, the scheme will begin. To pay to the bank accounts (of beneficiaries), we have information that 99 per cent of them have the accounts. Those without an account but have ration cards will have to open a bank account. We have said we will pay ₹34 per kg, and each person will get (cash for) 5 kg," Muniyappa said. Speaking to reporters here, he said the amount will be paid to the bank account of the beneficiaries until there are enough grains to be distributed.

"The process is on for purchase of rice, as we had said we will supply rice or food grains for the poor..." he added. Pointing out that the chief minister had promised to supply foodgrains from July 1, which is a Congress poll guarantee, Muniyappa said, "To keep up the promise, we are giving money for now." "If the Centre had given rice from the stocks available, for cash payment, the state government would have supplied it from tomorrow," he said, adding, "Our month-long efforts in getting rice despite approaching central ministers and officials have failed."

"There are issues (in procuring rice). We have to issue a public tender. It has not been finalised. Also what kind of rice. We will decide on it and start giving rice as soon as possible," he added. Asked as to how long the government will pay the amount to the account of the beneficiaries instead of supplying rice or foodgrains, the minister said, "I cannot give you a date for now, but I assure you that we will give rice as soon as possible. Giving money is a temporary arrangement." On whether cash would be credited to the bank accounts from tomorrow itself, he said, "Money is ready, we have information about accounts. It will begin from tomorrow."

The Karnataka State Rice Millers' Association (KSRMA) has hinted that the rice prices may be increased in the state by about ₹3 to ₹4 per kg.

Traders and small business owners held protest rallies in several parts of Karnataka and observed a one day strike on Thursday opposing the recent power tariff hike, even as the state's Medium and Large Scale Industries Minister M B Patil appealed to them to cooperate with the state government. He asserted that the power tariff was increased by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and not the state government.

Traders and small business owners held protest rallies in several parts of Karnataka and observed a one day strike on Thursday opposing the recent power tariff hike, even as the state's Medium and Large Scale Industries Minister M B Patil appealed to them to cooperate with the state government. He asserted that the power tariff was increased by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) and not the state government.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka State Rice Millers' Association (KSRMA) has hinted that the rice prices may be increased in the state by about ₹three to ₹four per kg. “It is not us who are increasing the price. The power tariff and paddy prices have gone up. The hike will be by ₹three to ₹four per kg across the fine rice varieties,” KSRMA General Secretary S Shiva Kumar said.

Following a call for a 'bandh' given by Hubballi-based Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), industrialists and small traders participated in a protest march in big numbers. Their protests came at a time when the state government started the registration process earlier this week for the 'Gruha Jyoti' scheme offering up to 200 units of free electricity for residential connections.

Carrying banners, posters and placards, the traders and industrialists held marches in the district headquarters of Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayanagar, Davangere and Koppal, among others. They shouted slogans demanding that the government roll back the hike. In Belagavi, a large number of traders and small-and-micro industry owners marched up to the office of the Deputy Commissioner with their banners and placards.

KCCI acting president Sandeep Bidasaria claimed that the hike in power tariff has gone up between 50 and 70 per cent, which has deeply impacted small businesses. A protester in Belagavi, a city bordering Maharashtra, alleged that many industries were planning to move out to the neighbouring state due to the drastic increase in tariff.

Many shops were shut and production was stopped in small industries in several parts of the state in response to the bandh call. In the district headquarters town of Bidar, several shops were shut and the main market wore a deserted look following the Bandh. In an attempt to make the protestors see reason, Minister Patil said, “First of all, the power tariff has not been hiked by us. Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission, an autonomous body, has increased the power tariff before our government came to power. So we have no connection with the power tariff hike".

According to him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too has given a statement that the power tariff hike cannot be rolled back. However, Patil told reporters that he would discuss the matter with Siddaramaiah and Energy Minister K J George. “I appeal to everyone, the industries and others, to please cooperate. KERC keeps revising prices from time to time. It follows a procedure. It is not done by the government. They revised the tariff now and will do it in future as well,” the minister said.

Amid speculations that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board was also planning to revise the water supply charges, an official said a BWSSB team apprised Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, on the issues. “We told the DCM that we have not revised the water supply charges for the past 10 years and it's about time to increase the rate given the increase in input costs. The decision has not been taken yet. The matter is under consideration,” the official said.

Aarthi JanakiRaman from Frost & Sullivan explores sustainability in agriculture, focusing on the extent to which rice cultivation shows the way ahead

Rice is amongst the top three crops cultivated globally and is a staple in the diet of more than half the world’s population, making it a crucial commodity in international trade and vital for global food security.

At present, more than 75% of rice (paddy) production comes from Asia, with China, India and Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam leading the way.

Although paddy cultivation is indigenous to Asian countries, increasingly, this commercial crop is also cultivated in other geographies in the last decade, with Sub-Saharan Africa gaining a foothold as a rice cultivation hub; the previous five years have also seen an increase in the consumption of rice in the region, making it the fastest growing staple crop.

However, rice cultivation is riddled with challenges and is affected by weather adversities, water scarcity and other abiotic stresses. Additionally, research studies highlight that traditional rice cultivation methods can be touted as one of the main causes of both biodiversity loss and climate change.

Rising temperatures adversely impact productivity and yield

Traditional cultivation requires an uninterrupted water supply, which is becoming a challenge, with water scarcity becoming a norm in various geographies. Rising temperatures and changes in weather patterns also adversely impact productivity and yield, placing an economic burden on farmers. While climate change adversely affects rice cultivation, its production contributes to global warming and climate change risk.

Rice cultivation results in the release of methane gas due to the decomposition of organic matter and the microbes present in waterlogged fields that can hasten the decomposition process, releasing more methane gas into the atmosphere. This contributes significantly to environmental adversity as methane as a greenhouse gas is more potent than carbon dioxide.

Excess use of agricultural aids to improve yield affects soil biodiversity. The rising temperature due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases can increase temperature and result in water scarcity, making it a vicious cycle that can worsen if immediate action is not taken.

Sustainable rice cultivation: Need of the hour

To meet the rising global demand, rice production must increase by at least 25 to 30% in the next two decades. With depleting natural resources and climate change effects being felt, sustainable rice production is the need of the hour. Introducing sustainability in current rice cultivation practices warrants a multi-pronged tactic, right from choosing the right type of seed, irrigation management, integrated pest management and post- harvesting practices and so on.

Small changes, such as deploying direct-seeded rice instead of transplanted ones, can save water and reduce the need for agrochemicals; it needs continuous monitoring of various weed biotypes that can affect yield. Another practice is alternate wetting and drying (AWD) water management; it not only can reduce irrigation requirements from 10 to 40%, but it also helps increase soil biodiversity and potentially reduce methane emissions. However, AWD can yield lower in certain conditions, especially when the soil redox chemistry is altered.

To ensure long-term sustainability, public and private stakeholders are investigating various approaches, one of the foremost being developing and testing climate-resistant seed varieties. Various types that resist heat, water logging, salt/alkali concentration and even multi-stress tolerance have been introduced.

China, India, and other Southeast Asian countries are actively commercializing climate change-ready rice varieties. For example, India has introduced more than 10 to 15 rice varieties that are climate change ready in the last ten years. Advances in synthetic biology and high throughput technologies have helped develop strains with desired characteristics that can withstand abiotic stresses but are also environmentally sustainable.

Organic practices to reduce water requirements

Using organic practices has also reduced water requirements and improved crop resilience and yield. Pilot trials using fragrant rice varieties (Jasmine rice) conducted in Southeast Asia where a combination approach of using organic agricultural aids, AWD, planting fewer seeds per square metre and careful monitoring of soil ecosystem and measuring hydro-biogeochemical reactions have increased yield by 20% at a minimum, while in certain instances, it has even doubled the same.

While multiple success stories prove that changes in current rice cultivation practices can improve the biodiversity and sustainability of rice production, these are still fragmented and small-scale. Therefore, an integrated long-term approach that spans the rice supply chain is needed to achieve large-scale success.

The Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) introduced in 2011 by the joint efforts of UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) (1) and IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) (2) has served as a platform that brings multiple stakeholders, including public, private, and non-profit organizations together to develop solutions that can benefit farmers and consumers while ensuring sustainable practices.

The KPIs devised in the voluntary Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation introduced in 2015 (3) have been effective in improving output, ensuring yield quality, reducing post-harvest losses, aligning to sustainable practices and ensuring biodiversity.

Technology as an enabler for sustainable rice production

For farmers to get maximum benefits and to help reduce the environmental footprint using the SRP standards, continuous traceability and monitoring are needed. Changes from conventional practices such as direct seeding or AWD or altering the standard pest control measures must be monitored to get value and to ensure safe output that meets the nutrient requirement of consumers.

Judicious use of biologically derived crop aids, improving soil biodiversity by encouraging the growth of beneficial microbes, integrated energy, irrigation, and pest management practices all contribute towards improving the sustainability of rice farming operations.

With advances in digital farming solutions, monitoring and managing farming steps is easy so that the produce meets food safety standards. Data management solutions are successfully helping farmers manage their day-to-day operations and provide a means for end-to- end traceability of operations; this results in better nutrient management and irrigation schedule.

Better pest management and monitoring of soil threshold levels make adjustment of agrochemical dosage easier, thereby reducing the possibility of leaching and minimizing potential damage to soil biodiversity.

Scientific advances have given a wide range of technologies that can help in smart and sustainable rice farming practices. However, a strong commitment is needed from policymakers and other stakeholders to realize the full benefits. Conducting regular outreach programs for information dissemination on various technology advances ensures technology availability to farmers.

These policies make it financially attractive to implement sustainable farming practices, joint field, and pilot trials to test and commercialize sustainable solutions, to name a few that can help make rice cultivation more sustainable in the next five years.

Top rice exporters saw rates for the staple grain advance this week to a more than two-year peak on supply concerns and continuing high demand.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $495-$505 per tonne, a peak since April 2021, up from $498 last week.

“Exporters are rushing to purchase domestic rice to fulfil export contracts, boosting domestic prices amid tight supplies,” a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.

Due to unfavourable weather, output from the summer-autumn crop is also not as high as expected, traders said.

Vietnam exported 284,798 tonnes of rice in the first half of June, taking total shipments this year to June 15 to 3.9 million tonnes, customs data showed. Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices rose to $505 per tonne, also an over two-year peak on average, versus $495 last week.

“There are ships waiting to collect rice bound for Indonesia while new rice product has not entered the market,” a Bangkok-based trader said, adding “exporters are struggling to find enough supply in time.”

Asia rice: Vietnam rice prices jump on low supply; traders flag El Nino risks

Another trader said prices could remain at this level due to rising domestic prices.

Thailand’s commerce minister said last week that Thai rice exports could exceed 8 million tonnes this year, larger than the previous 7.5 million-tonne projection.

Top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $397-$405 per tonne, a peak since Feb. 2021, rising from $390-$398 last week.

“Exporters are forced to increase prices because paddy prices are rising. Moreover, the rupee has also strengthened this month, adding additional pressure,” said a New-Delhi-based trader.

India recently raised prices at which it will buy new-season common rice paddy from farmers by 7%.

Neighbouring Bangladesh’s rice production is forecast to increase by 1.8% versus year-on-year to 38.9 million tonnes in the 2023/24 marketing year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Global Food Outlook report.

Among the long list of agriculture initiatives announced in the Rs. 14.4 trillion budget was the blanket duty exemption on agriculture machinery i.e. harvesters, seed planters, trans-planters, and most importantly, dryers for agriculture products but easing this single export can add $5 billion into exports annually.

Only 1 percent of small rice mills out of the total of 800-900 in Sindh province have dryers due to it being cost-heavy with custom duties and high markup loans. Plus, the import restrictions didn’t make it any easy either to import agricultural machinery, but why are the dryers so important?

The dry rice is priced far higher than its wet counterparts in all seasons due to the longer shelf life. “We are often unable to hold and export rice after March because we lack dryers, so we end up selling when the market is paying the least”, a rice trader from Sindh told ProPakistani.

He added that millers are often unable to hold rice for more than one month on the other hand, our regional competitors in India have rice stored for nearly two years as they have better facilities.

On top of that, he went on, higher electricity prices and increased markups of the Export Finance Scheme (EFS) are also hurting exporters while some have opted for solar power to survive this challenging time.

The international market is witnessing the biggest rice shortage in two decades with conflict in Ukraine and weather extremes in China and Pakistan declining production. Prices have seen multiple peaks from $16 per quintal in October when Pakistan’s harvest starts to come in the market to $19.6 per quintal recently, but specific contacts can often price higher for variety and better quality.

Apart from the increased market value, drying also provides security against weather risk and enables exporters to hold their stocks till they can get better rates. But in Pakistan, when rice is harvested from 3 million acres in a one to two months time period, there is no window for conventional drying.

Moreover, wheat sowing urgency is on the horizon around that time and farmers often harvest and sell their paddy even at 21 percent moisture which is bound to discolour in a few months unless dried. Customers are often willing to buy rice from Pakistan at even higher prices than competitors, but our low shelf life beats us in the middle.

Even at the moment, the rice exported from Pakistan is going to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Indian-run processing mills in tax-free zones, and from there, it is being exported around the globe, with their stamps of course. Our traders are making 20–25 percent margins per container despite all of that per our sources, so one can only imagine what Indians are making from that.

Talking about the initiatives in the budget, one trader said that while it’s a good initiative on paper, it will be seen whether the government allows the LCs or not.  The government’s unrealistic numbers presented in the budget have baffled everyone from academics to industry professionals who say that it tried painting the picture of ‘business as usual’ which is far from reality.

If anything, the budget has only increased the economic uncertainty prevailing since last year, and it will take far more than announcements to make the $5 billion rice exports target a reality. Rice is Pakistan’s second-largest export, and it deserves facilitation from all fronts from research to processing.

BANGKOK: Thailand’s rice exports for January-May were at 3.47 million metric tons, up 26.6% from a year earlier, helped by higher global demand and a weaker baht currency, the Commerce Ministry said on Friday.

In May alone, rice shipments jumped by 88% from a year earlier to about 850,000 metric tons.

The ministry earlier put January-May rice exports at 3.4 million metric tons but later adjusted the amount to 3.47 million.

Rice exports are expected to exceed 8 million metric tons for the whole of 2023, beating the ministry’s target, Ronnarong Phoolpipat, head of the ministry’s foreign trade department, told a news conference.

Asia rice: Tight supply, robust demand propels export prices to 2-year peak

Thailand has also seen high rice output this year as Vietnamese exports will be limited after large shipments earlier in the year, he added.

The baht, which has weakened by 1.8% against the dollar so far this year, should continue to support Thai rice shipments, Ronnarong said.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said this week that the expected rice exports this year would help Thailand become the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India.

In 2022, Thailand exported 7.69 million metric tons of rice, up 22.1% from a year earlier, beating a target of 7.5 million metric tons, with top markets being Iraq, South Africa, China and the United States.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Abia State Agriculture Development Project, yesterday, distributed improved rice seeds and fertilizer to over 90 rice farmers in the state.

The ministry and the project had earlier trained the farmers on climate-resistance practices in yam, cassava, and rice production.

The project’s acting manager, Nnenna Uche, handing over the items to the farmers in Umuahia, the state capital, said the gesture is aimed at improving the crop yield in the state.

Advising them to make judicious use of the items to improve their means of livelihood, she lauded the ministry for partnering the project to train and empower farmers in the state.

Uche also appreciated the governor, Alex Otti for finding her capable of naming the project, adding that under her watch it would deliver on its mandate successfully.

In their respective responses, some of the beneficiaries, Victoria Nathaniel, Eric Evulobi, and Moses Chikere assured that they would put the items to proper use.

They also commended both the ministry and the project for the training which they said had widened their knowledge of modern rice farming.

The government has procured a total of 55.8 million tonnes of rice in the 2022-23 marketing season. This has provided benefits to around 1.22 crore farmers, amounting to an MSP (Minimum Support Price) of Rs 1.7 lakh crore. In the ongoing rabi marketing year (April-March) of 2023-24, the wheat procurement has surpassed last year’s figures, reaching 26.2 million tonnes compared to the previous year’s total of 18.8 million tonnes.

According to a statement from the ministry, the government has affirmed that the current procurement of wheat and rice has ensured a sufficient stock of food grains in government granaries. The combined stock of wheat and rice now stands at 57 million tonnes, which places the country in a favourable position to fulfil its food grain requirements.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies collaborate to carry out the procurement of paddy and wheat through the price support scheme. Paddy is acquired and processed into rice through the milling process.

As per the ministry’s information, during the ongoing kharif marketing season (October-September), a cumulative total of 83 million tonnes of paddy (equivalent to 55.8 million tonnes of rice) has been procured until June 19.

Following the milling process, approximately 40.1 million tonnes of rice have been deposited in the central pool to date, while an additional 15 million tonnes of rice is still pending delivery, according to the statement.

The statement also mentioned that the delivery of rice resulting from the procurement of paddy is currently underway.

A total of 1.22 crore farmers have been beneficiaries of this procurement operation, receiving a minimum support price (MSP) payment totalling around Rs 1,71,000 crore.

For the 2022-23 marketing season, the government has set a target to purchase 62.60 million tonnes of rice, while during the previous 2021-22 marketing season, FCI procured 57.58 million tonnes of rice.

As per the agriculture ministry’s third estimate, the rice output for the 2022-23 crop year is projected to reach a record-breaking 135.54 million tonnes, surpassing the previous year’s 129.47 million tonnes.

Regarding wheat procurement, approximately 21.29 lakh farmers have already benefited from the ongoing operations, resulting in a minimum support price (MSP) outflow of about Rs 55,680 crore, according to the statement.

The natural resources officer for Kalungu District, Mr Zepharia Bakenga, has distanced the entire district leadership from sanctioning a rice growing project in Lwera Wetland on the Kampala –Masaka highway.

The rice project is managed by a Chinese firm, Zhong Industries Limited.

Mr Bakenga said increasing human activities in Lwera are posing serious risks to the environment.

“We are blamed as district leaders, but we never participated in licensing the projects and personally I am not supporting rice growing in Lwera and neither the resident district commissioner, the chief administrative officer nor the district chairperson permitted those people to grow rice in Lwera,” he said while opening a half-day training for environmentalists in Masaka City on Tuesday.

Mr Bakenga also disclosed that during a recent meeting in Kampala, he said officials from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to share with him the details of the licences for all activities going on in Lwera, but the environment watchdog team is yet to respond.

He attributed the recent flooding of River Katonga partially to the current destruction of Lwera catchment area. 

On May 11, Katonga Bridge got damaged following the flash floods, forcing motorists to use the route through Mpigi-Butambala-Gomba-Sembabule –Bukomansimbi –Villa Maria-Nyendo-Masaka, which is more than 50km longer. Although part of the bridge has since been restored, it can only be used by light vehicles. Heavy trucks like trailers and buses are still using the alternative.

Mr Muzafaru Nsubuga, the youth councillor for Kalungu District, condemned the uncontrolled sand mining in Lwera, which is being carried out by various companies with some leaving excavated pits open and putting the lives of the residents at risk.

“What they [sand mining companies] are doing is wrong, unfortunately, they are tightly guarded by the military and all these acts continue to pose a threat to our environment. We ask the responsible authorities to enforce the existing policies,” he remarked.

Mr Kevin Bakulumpagi, a programmes officer at Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE), a non-governmental organisation, said the process of licensing companies occupying wetlands should involve local communities. 

“The bitter outcomes affect immediate communities. It is absurd that even the district leadership was ignored. Excessive use of herbicides and fertilisers by farmers are threatening the entire biodiversity in Lwera,” he said.

Mr Bakulumpagi, said in the next three years, ANARDE is going to empower environmentalists to protect wetlands and forests in the areas.

“We are going to equip them with skills and knowledge so that they can do meaningful work,” he added. 

Mr Tonny Achidria, the Nema spokesperson, told this publication on Monday that Zhong Industries Ltd was cleared to use part of Lwera for rice growing after assessing the impact of the project on the environment  

“We issue permits after a thorough analysis of the ecosystem and our technical team followed all the legal requirements. Our technical team inspects the project after every three months and once we find any mess, we will advise accordingly, but so far, they are complying with all the guidelines set in the permit,’’ he said.

On sand mining, Mr Achidria said some companies have been flouting the set guidelines and those that fail to comply are ordered to suspend operations.

“Don’t say sand mining is everywhere in Lwera. It is carried out in permitted parts of the wetland and we also regularly monitor their operations,’’ he said.

Lwera Swamp stretches about 20kms on the Kampala–Masaka highway and is a major water catchment area that connects several rivers and wetlands in Gomba, Mpigi, and Kalungu districts and drains directly into Lake Victoria.

Due to its strategic location on the Kampala –Masaka highway, Lwera swamp has in the past decade attracted many investment companies and individuals who are engaging in sand mining, fishing farming, and crop growing.

While addressing local leaders in Masaka District on July 23 ,2019 during his countrywide wealth creation tour, President Museveni warned rice growers in Lwera against destroying the wetland saying rice growing in swamps is ‘kisirani’ (misfortune). 

He said wetlands are part of public land which should not be owned by individuals.

In 2020, the State minister for Environment, Ms Beatrice Anywar, echoed the presidential directive, insisting those owning residential houses in Lwera must vacate the wetland. However, people have ignored the directive and continue to encroach on the wetland.

BUA Foods has informed distributors of its rice products that it would maintain prices of its BUA Rice to support efforts at making rice more affordable in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the company, this is due to the strong sales potential from the company’s newly upgraded 200,000tonnes per annum rice mill in Kano using locally sourced rice paddy.

According to the company, this decision to maintain prices is as a result of the little reliance on FX for rice production. Prior to the BUA Foods business integration which saw its listing in 2022, the BUA Group Chairman,

Abdul Samad Rabiu, had stated that BUA’s goal would be to focus areas where raw materials can be sourced locally across all its business areas including rice in order to promote food security in Nigeria and support the government in National development.

According to a key distributor in Kano, he said distributors were excited by this development and were sure that BUA Foods in its usual fashion would crash the rice prices further as it had consistently done with its other food products like flour, sugar, and pasta.

MUMBAI: India has decided to approve wheat and broken rice exports to few selected countries following their requests to allow the shipments of the grains, the government said in two separate notifications issued late onTuesday.

The South Asian country banned exports of wheat and broken rice in 2022 to lower local prices.

But following requests, India would allow broken rice exports to Indonesia, Senegal and Gambia in 2023/24 financial year started on April 1.

New Delhi also approved request from Nepal and allowed wheat exports in the current financial year.

Indian exporters, which were exporting grains to these countries, need to bid for the allocated quota of wheat and broken rice, the government said in notifications.

Aims to boost export competitiveness

Thailand is working to enhance its export competitiveness, accelerating the development of new rice varieties to meet market demand and vowing to introduce 30 new rice varieties next year.

Speaking after the second "new rice variety contest for commerce", Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said one Thai weakness is a lack of diversity in products offered on the global rice market, prompting the country to expedite the development of new rice varieties to compete with rivals.

The ministry set a target earlier to develop at least 12 new commercial rice varieties by 2024 under the five-year development plan spanning from 2020 to 2024 to boost rice export competitiveness.

Of the 12 new varieties, four are hard-texture grains, four are soft textures, two are Thai fragrant rice and two are high-nutrition types. These varieties are in high demand among global consumers.

However, the collaboration between the government and the private sector has already resulted in the successful development and certification of 12 new rice varieties within 2023, Mr Jurin said.

"Under the five-year plan, today we have achieved the target of a total of 21 new rice varieties, including the 12 varieties approved by the Department of Rice. They have surpassed the target in terms of the number of rice varieties and are ahead of the goal set for 2024," he said.

According to Mr Jurin, Thailand exported 7.7 million tonnes of rice last year and it is believed that the export volume this year would surpass 8 million tonnes due to the increasing diversity of rice varieties, which would contribute to the improved export performance.

"This year, Thailand will once again become the second-largest rice exporter, and it is hoped that the new government will continue to prioritise rice strategies," Mr Jurin said.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Thai rice exports in the second half of the year are expected to increase in both quantity and value due to the growing global market demand and higher competitiveness of Thai rice compared to Vietnam, because of lower prices.

Despite the presence of the El Niño weather phenomenon, Thailand still has the ability to increase rice exports because of sufficient production, he said.

In the first six months of the year, Thailand already exported 4 million tonnes of rice, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. It is anticipated that the remaining period would see exports of at least 4 million tonnes. This projection is due to the expectation that Vietnam's rice exports will decrease in the second half of the year after overselling in the first half. Usually, Vietnam has the potential to export around 7 million tonnes of rice throughout the year, providing Thailand with an opportunity to increase its rice exports, said Mr Chookiat.

Regarding the El Niño impact from July to August, he said it is currently difficult to determine the extent of rainfall. However, initial assessments suggest that this year's rice production would be similar to 2022, with an estimated quantity of 20 million tonnes of milled rice, he said.

According to the agriculture ministry’s third estimate, rice output for the 2022-23 crop year is projected at a record 135.54 million tonne, up from last year’s 129.47 million tonne

New Delhi: The government has procured 55.8 million tonne of rice in the 2022-23 marketing season so far benefiting a whopping 1.22 crore farmers, the ministry of consumer affairs, food & public distribution said in a statement. A staggering ₹1.7 trillion was spent in procuring rice from farmers at minimum support price (MSP).

Wheat procurement stands at 26.2 million tonne, surpassing last year’s total purchases of 18.8 million tonne. “With the current procurement of wheat and rice, adequate food grains stock in government granaries is maintained," the ministry said in a statement.

According to the ministry, a total of 83 million tonnes of paddy was procured up to June 19 of the current kharif marketing season (October-September). After milling, around 40.1 million tonne of rice has been received in the central pool so far, another 15 million tonne of rice is yet to be received, it said.

According to agriculture ministry’s third estimate, rice output for the 2022-23 crop year is projected at a record 135.54 million tonne, up from last year’s 129.47 million tonne in output.

In case of wheat, about 21.29 lakh farmers have benefited from procurement operations with MSP outflow of about ₹55,680 crore, it said.

Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have led procurement operations, with purchases at 12.12 million tonne, 7.09 million tonne, and 6.31 million tonne, respectively.

The ministry said the government has ensured that all arrangements are in place for hassle-free procurement operations.

BUA restates commitment to supporting local rice farmers for food security in Nigeria.

In a remarkable display of commitment to the Nigerian agricultural sector and the economy, BUA Foods has informed distributors of its rice products that it would maintain prices of its BUA Rice to support efforts at making rice more affordable in Nigeria. According to a statement by the company, this is due to the strong sales potential from the company’s newly upgraded 200,000tonnes per annum rice mill in Kano using locally sourced rice paddy.

According to the company, this decision to maintain prices is as a result of the little reliance on FX for rice production. Prior to the BUA Foods business integration which saw its listing in 2022, the BUA Group Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, had stated that BUA’s goal would be to focus on areas where raw materials can be sourced locally across all its business areas including rice in order to promote food security in Nigeria and support the government in national development.

According to a key distributor in Kano, he said distributors were excited by this development and were sure that BUA Foods in its usual fashion would crash the rice prices further as it had consistently done with its other food products like flour, sugar, and pasta.

By prioritizing local agricultural resources, BUA Foods is not only supporting Nigerian farmers but also contributing to the nation’s self-sufficiency in rice and sugar production through backward integration.

BUA Foods steadfast commitment to its vision has gained recognition and appreciation from stakeholders across the industry. The company’s efforts to bolster the Nigerian agricultural sector have garnered praise, positioning BUA Foods as a leader in the drive towards sustainable food production.

The upgraded rice mill and parboiling plant will further enhance BUA Foods’ rice production capacity, enabling the company to meet the growing demand for its high-quality rice products whilst remaining committed to delivering excellence and ensuring that consumers have access to top-notch rice that is locally produced.

As BUA Foods continues to make significant strides in advancing the Nigerian rice industry, the company remains focused on building strong relationships with farmers, empowering local communities, and contributing to the overall development of the nation’s agricultural landscape.

The "Healthy Crops" international research consortium led by Professor Dr. Wolf B. Frommer from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) is developing disease-resistant rice varieties. In eLife, the authors now report on the discovery of a recent bacterial outbreak in Tanzania—and describe how they modified an African rice variety to make it resistant to the pathogen.

Bacterial blight of rice, which is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae (Xoo for short), is responsible for devastating crop losses among rice farmers every year. It above all threatens the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in Asia and Africa, and accounts for malnutrition and famine in the affected regions.

Although bacterial blight was not considered a major threat to rice production in Tanzania until now, in 2019 fields were detected in the Morogoro region in east Tanzania that showed in part severe damage by the disease. Subsequent surveys further indicated that the pathogen had already spread to many regions of Tanzania by now.

Based on the rapid spread, it is not unlikely that the disease will also migrate to neighboring countries. To determine the arsenal used by this strain, the pathogen's genome was sequenced. The analysis of the sequences showed that the bacteria are distinct from the native populations in Africa and are highly similar to strains from Asia. Similar to the Asian strains, but different from the African ones, they have one tool that blocks a common rice resistance gene, called iTAL, and they possess a particular set of keys to the plants' pantry.

Injection of a regulatory "key" protein, developed by these bacteria, into rice cells turns on the production of a sugar transporter named SWEET11a that leads to the release of sugar in the neighborhood of the bacteria, which can serve for nutrition and is needed for multiplication and virulence of the bacteria.

According to Dr. Boris Szurek, who heads the group involved in the study at the French national research institute for sustainable development (IRD): "Until 2019, strains from Asia were never found in Africa. Similarly, African strains were not found in Asia, pointing to a recent introduction from Asia into Africa, which is now causing yield losses across Tanzania."

Professor Dr. Wolf B. Frommer from the Institute of Molecular Physiology at HHU, who heads the international research consortium "Healthy Crops," explains, "To protect African rice production from the emerging threat by the pathogenic bacteria, we have used new breeding techniques to exchange the locks in the popular East African elite variety 'Komboka' so that the pathogen's key cannot open the pantry anymore and thus, not cause the disease. The edited lines show broad-spectrum resistance against all known Asian and African strains of Xoo, including the strains recently discovered in Tanzania."

Co-author Professor Dr. Bing Yang from the University of Missouri in Columbia, U.S. adds, "We intend to help African scientists with these discoveries and use new breeding methods to develop locally adapted disease-resistant rice varieties. The knowledge can also be used to inform conventional breeding of varieties resistant to the rapidly spreading strains for those countries that have not yet established regulations for new breeding techniques."

Background: Bacterial blight of rice

Rice production is vital for food security, regional development and poverty alleviation in many countries, especially developing ones. Around 900 million people from low-income households worldwide currently rely on rice production as producers or consumers. Rice is the most important staple food for more than four billion people worldwide.

Bacterial blight is a devastating rice disease that threatens the livelihoods of small-scale, low-income food producers in Africa and Asia in particular. In India for example, almost ten percent of harvests are lost to this disease every year—and that despite effective protective measures. The new rice lines developed could prevent these yield losses and thus provide rice for many millions of people, who would be at risk of famine otherwise.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae (Xoo for short). During infection, Xoo introduces a series of proteins called TAL effectors into the plant cells, which bind to the host genome and activate the expression of plant genes, thereby promoting the production of sucrose transporters from the "SWEET" family.

Once the SWEETs are integrated into the plasma membrane, the cells secrete a large amount of sugar which the Xoo bacteria then feed on. This in turn leads to wilting and desiccation of the leaves and eventually to the death of the rice plants.

'Healthy Crops' project

Pesticides are often used to combat Xoo, however their effectiveness is limited and they expose the population to risks. The "Healthy Crops" non-profit international research project is taking a different approach, with the aim of breeding and making rice lines available that are resistant to the disease. This is expected to significantly increase yields for small-scale food producers in Africa and Asia.

The project is an international consortium involving scientists from HHU, the University of Florida and University of Missouri in the U.S., the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia (CIAT), the French national research institute for sustainable development (IRD), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines and Kenya, and two institutes of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The project is led by Professor Wolf B. Frommer, who is based at HHU; Dr. Marcel Buchholzer is responsible for coordination of the project in Düsseldorf.

To achieve its goals, the consortium has developed a strategy to combat bacterial blight. The team has already successfully bred disease-resistant rice lines. A diagnostics toolbox has additionally been developed to enable the rapid diagnosis of emerging pathogenic bacterial strains.

MUMBAI: India has decided to approve wheat and broken rice exports to few selected countries following their requests to allow the shipments of the grains, the government said in two separate notifications issued late on Tuesday.

The South Asian country banned exports of wheat and broken rice in 2022 to lower local prices.

But following requests, India would allow broken rice exports to Indonesia, Senegal and Gambia in 2023/24 financial year started on April 1.

New Delhi also approved request from Nepal and allowed wheat exports in the current financial year.

Indian exporters, which were exporting grains to these countries, need to bid for the allocated quota of wheat and broken rice, the government said in notifications.

CBOT wheat to test resistance $7.16-3/4

Indonesia has signed an agreement with the Indian government to potentially import 1 million tonnes of rice if the El Nino weather pattern hits domestic supply, media quoted the trade minister as saying on Friday.

Rice prices could bounce back in the coming months as the world moves into the El Nino season. Data by Investing.com shows that rice futures retreated to a low of $17.67, which was much lower than the year-to-date high of $19.92.

El Nino could hurt supplies

Rice inventories have been rising sharply in the past few months, helped by good weather in key Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia. Recent data shows that rice inventories have surged to a record high.

As a result, most importers have started ramping up their purchases in anticipation of the upcoming El Nino event. According to Bloomberg, shipments from Vietnam to the Philippines have jumped by more than 40% in the past few months. 

El Nino is a weather phenomenon that leads to higher-than-normal rainfall in some areas and extreme heat in other areas. When it happens, key Asian regions where most of the rice is grown like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam see less rice production.

The most recent WASDE report showed that the total rice supplies will drop to 258.3 million cwt. That was a 1 million from what it predicted in the previous report. Production in India is expected to jump by 4 million to 136 million this year. The report added:

“Trade is unchanged at 55.8 million tons with an increase for India offset by a decrease for Thailand. Total use is increased 0.8 million tons to 523.8 million, mainly on an increase in use for India.”

In a note, an analyst told Bloomberg that there was no supply issues for now. He added:

“If anything, there is a massive rice surplus and fears that the crops, which look good, may face some issue from weather.”

Rice price forecast

The daily chart shows that rice price futures soared to a high of $19.93 on June 12. It then staged a strong bearish breakout last week. It moved below the important support level at $18.35, the highest point on January 26th.

Despite the bearish breakout, the price remains slightly above the 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages (EMA). It has also formed a down gap. The price is above the ascending trendline shown in red. 

Therefore, there is a likelihood that rice prices will continue falling as sellers target the next key support at $17. A move above the key resistance level at $18.35 will invalidate the bearish view.

Rice Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) meeting at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Headquarters in Islamabad was led by Dr. Imtiaz Hussain, Member of PARC’s Plant Sciences Division. During the meeting, Dr. Hussain underscored PARC’s dedication to assisting both public and private sector institutes as well as seed companies in the evaluation and introduction of rice hybrids and varieties.

Attendees included representatives from the Federal Seed Certification, national and multinational seed companies, provincial seed councils, as well as rice scientists from research institutes at the provincial and federal levels.

The committee members were provided with a comprehensive overview of fifty-one proposals for rice hybrids/varieties by Dr. Muhammad Yousuf, National Coordinator Rice of PARC. Following thorough discussions and careful considerations, the VEC recommended 14 high-yielding rice hybrids from private seed companies for the cultivation in Pakistan.

Furthermore, the National Institute of Genomics and Biotechnology (NIGAB) of PARC introduced four fine rice varieties that demonstrated significantly higher grain yield compared to the currently grown varieties. These fine rice varieties were also endorsed by the VEC for cultivation in Pakistan, with the aim of enhancing farmers’ productivity and profitability.

In addition to the above recommendations, the VEC also suggested the cultivation of Sona Super Basmati, a long-grain variety measuring 9.5 mm, and Vital Super Basmati developed by RRI, Kala Shah Kaku. Vital Super Basmati is notable for its high levels of zinc and iron enrichment.

During a meeting with rice scientists, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman PARC, expressed his confidence in the positive impact that the introduction of these high-yielding rice varieties would have on rice productivity and the profitability of farmers across the country.

Dr. Waseem ul Hassan, representing the Ministry of Food Security and Research applauded the efforts of rice scientists in Pakistan for their achievement in releasing the biofortified Basmati rice variety, along with the four high-yielding fine rice varieties.

Furthermore, representatives from seed companies lauded PARC for establishing a transparent testing procedure for evaluating rice hybrids and varieties, recognizing the subsequent benefits it brings to farmers and the rice sector in Pakistan.

New discovery set to boost disease-resistant rice

Newswise — Rice that is resistant to some of the worst crop-destroying diseases but can still produce large yields could soon become a reality for farmers worldwide.

A University of Adelaide researcher is part of an international team which has identified a new gene variant in a type of rice that can be modified to improve the performance of the crop.

“Rice is the most widely grown crop in the world but serious bacterial and fungal diseases such as rice blast and bacterial blight are a major threat to the industry,” said co-author Associate Professor Jenny Mortimer from the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.

“By identifying a specific gene called RBL1, we may have cracked the code for developing rice crops that are resistant to these destructive diseases without the yield penalties often associated with disease resistance.”

In an international collaboration led by researchers at Huazhong Agricultural University, China and University of California Davis, USA, researchers identified a rice variety that already had strong resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases but produced poor grain yields. They showed that this plant was mutated in the gene RBL1.

“Using existing genome-editing technology, the team then generated 57 gene variants from this type of rice and tested their immunity against several strains of rice blast and bacterial blight. We found that one variant of RBL1 had broad-spectrum disease resistance but unlike other varieties, it was still able to produce large yields in small-scale field trials,” said Associate Professor Mortimer, who is a researcher at the University’s Waite Research Institute.

The research has been published in the journal Nature and also indicates the RBL1 gene may play a role in the plant’s defence system by interacting with the cells that stop fungal infections from spreading.

In 2021/2022 about 520 million tonnes of rice were consumed worldwide.

“This is an exciting development because rice is a staple food for more than a third of the world’s population and crop disease is a constant threat to this food source,” said Associate Professor Mortimer.

Australians alone are estimated to consume around 300,000 tonnes of rice each year; half comes from imports while the remainder is grown here. The Australian rice industry has the ability to produce up to one million tonnes of rice each year.

While the new gene identified in this research has promising traits, more field trials are needed to test the immunity and yield of the RBL1 gene in other rice varieties.

Initial work also indicates that this gene is important in disease resistance in other staple crops, and future research will explore this.

“Rice crops with higher yields are needed to meet growing global demand and the results from this study could help shore up food supply in the future,” said Associate Professor Mortimer.

Journal Link: Nature 14 June 2023REQUEST AN EXPERT

ISLAMABAD: The Rice Evaluation Committee of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council on Monday recommended 14 high-yield rice hybrids from private seed companies for cultivation in Pakistan.

In addition, the National Institute of Genomics and Biotechnology (NIGAB) of PARC has introduced four fine rice varieties that have demonstrated significantly higher grain yield compared to the currently grown varieties.

These fine rice varieties were also endorsed by the Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) for cultivation in Pakistan, with the aim of enhancing farmers’ productivity and profitability.

In addition to the above recommendations, the VEC also suggested the cultivation of Sona Super Basmati, a long-grain variety measuring 9.5mm, and Vital Super Basmati developed by the Rice Research Institute at Kala Shah Kaku. Vital Super Basmati is notable for its high levels of zinc and iron enrichment.

The committee members were given a comprehensive overview of fifty-one proposals for rice hybrids and varieties by National Coordinator Rice of PARC, Dr Muhammad Yousuf.

During a meeting with rice scientists, PARC Chairman, Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali expressed his confidence in the positive impact that the introduction of these high-yielding rice varieties would have on productivity and the profitability.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2023

MANILA  -The country’s rice farms have seen little improvement in the use of machinery and equipment even if the government poured in billions of pesos for farm mechanization in previous years.

The farm mechanization level of rice farms in the Philippines stood at 2.68 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) in 2022 compared with 2.31 hp/ha in 2013, the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) reported.

With just a 16-percent improvement over a nine-year period, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) flagged several factors behind the slow uptick in farm mechanization efforts.

“We are coming from a low base, so the absolute increase appears surprisingly small given the billions spent each year under RTL-RCEF (Rice Tariffication-Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund) and other programs for farm mechanization. It is possible that the machines are not being properly maintained and become unutilized after a few years,” said FFF national manager Raul Montemayor.

Another possibility is that “farmers are hesitant to buy machines unless given to them for free because the low prices of palay brought about by excessive imports discourage investments,” Montemayor said, adding that rising fuel costs could be another disincentive.

PHilMech said among the regions, Cagayan Valley recorded the highest mechanization level at 3.51 hp/ha while the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao had the lowest level of 0.93 hp/ha.

In other regions, the farm mechanization level in terms of hp/ha were as follows: Cordillera Administrative Region at 2.35; Ilocos Region, 3.09; Central Luzon with 2.62; Calabarzon with 3.36; Mimaropa with 2.22; Bicol Region with 2.98; Western Visayas with 2.76; Central Visayas with 3.02; Eastern Visayas with 2.41; Zamboanga Peninsula with 1.59; Northern Mindanao with 2.3; Davao Region with 2.59; Soccsksargen with 1.72; and Caraga Administrative Region with 1.65.

“The increase in the country’s farm mechanization level can be attributed to the impact of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Mechanization Program that is now in its fifth year of implementation,” PHilMech executive director Dionisio Alvindia said in a statement on Friday.

“Ultimately, addressing postharvest issues and pushing mechanization still form the core of farm modernization in the Philippines, hence PHilMech will continue to push technologies that will further level up the farm mechanization level of the country,” added Alvindia.

The government earmarks P5 billion or half of the P10 billion collected annually from rice tariffs for PHilMech to implement the mechanization part of RCEF from 2019 to 2024.

RCEF is a component of the Rice Tariffication Law that liberalized rice trading and lifted quantitative restriction on importing rice.

PHilMech has been batting for the extension of the RCEF-Mechanization Program beyond 2024, noting this provision has made little or no impact in boosting the rice industry.

Last month, Alvindia said the P30-billion fund for distributing farm machinery under RCEF could only cover 14 percent of the 2.7 million hectares of rice lands across the nation.

“If you ask me, the interventions we provided covering only 14 percent did not have as much impact,” he said back then.

Between 2019 and 2022, PHilMech distributed a total of 22,844 units of various farm machines to 10,633 farmers’ cooperatives and associations and local government units.

Most of the machines were for land preparation (12,644 units), such as four-wheel tractors, one-hand tractors, floating tillers and farm implements/attachments.

For crop establishment, 3,387 units of machines were distributed composed of precision seeders, walk-behind transplanters and riding-type transplanters.

Meanwhile, 1,338 units of facilities were given for drying and milling.

BENGALURU: Hinting at a possible shortfall of rice for the launch of Congress' election promise, which guarantees 10kg of rice per below poverty line (BPL) cardholder, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that the state government had approached Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh seeking additional procurement of 2.238 million tonnes (MT) of rice. However, they were unable to convince two of the three states.
This comes in the wake of the Centre refusing to give additional rice quantity of 2.28 lakh MT of the cereal requested by the state.
The CM said, "While Telangana declined to supply rice to the Karnataka government for our scheme, Andhra Pradesh remained indifferent and has not committed to providing us with the cereal. However, Chhattisgarh has agreed to offer partial relief."
Siddaramaiah said the Congress government in Chhattisgarh has agreed to give 1.5 MT from its current stock but said it cannot give any more. "Even in the case of Chhattisgarh, the rates are slightly on the higher side but we are exploring other options too," the CM added.

When asked why the state government is not exploring deals with local farmers to provide the rice, the CM said the prices offered by farmers are quite steep.
Centre playing politics by adding new orders: CM
Tell me where I will get rice in Karnataka? The prominent districts which grow rice, like Raichur, grow the sona masuri variety and the price is as high as Rs 55 per kilo. On the other hand, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would provide us normal rice at Rs 36 per kilo, including Rs 2.5 towards transportation," explained the CM.
Earlier, Siddaramaiah lashed out at the central government and reiterated his allegations that the Centre is playing politics with the Anna Bhagya scheme.
"The scheme is for poor people and the Centre is playing politics by adding new orders to deny poor the rice. While they are continuing to provide 5 kg of rice under NFSA, the FCI is not giving Karnataka government an additional 5 kg per person for our scheme," he rued.
Siddaramaiah said he will be unable to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he goes to Delhi on June 21. "We had sought time with the PM but he would have left for the US. Maybe, next time when I go to Delhi, I will meet him," he said.

Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/101092561.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the rice would be delivered once Indonesia’s reserves neared depletion.

JAKARTA – The government has agreed to import 1 million tonnes of rice from India in a move that it says is necessary to ensure a sufficient supply of the staple food amid an increased risk of poor harvests this year.

Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the rice would be delivered once Indonesia’s reserves neared depletion.

“We have to import rice, however unpopular it is, take the initiative,” said Zulkifli on Thursday as quoted by Kompas.com, acknowledging that rice imports were often opposed by local farmers.

The minister said the government was seeking to keep the price of rice stable amid the potential impacts of this year’s El Niño climate phenomenon, which could worsen harvests.

The hot, dry weather that El Niño causes is expected to threaten food production throughout Asia.

“If the price [goes up] during El Niño, we must have enough stock [to bring it down again]. That’s why I signed a memorandum of understanding with India for 1 million tonnes that we can procure anytime,” said Zulkifli.

In late May, Zulkifli opposed the import of garlic despite calls from the National Food Agency (Bapanas) to bring down soaring prices amid low garlic stocks nationwide. He said the country should reduce its reliance on imported goods in favor of local producers.

“We want exports. Let’s not get used to importing goods. We should reduce any imports that can hamper our economy,” Zulkifli told reporters, as quoted by Tempo.

Prior to the deal with India, the government had, since December 2022, ordered a total of 500,000 tonnes of rice from countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.

According to Bapanas, Indonesia is expecting to import around 2 million tonnes of rice this year.

The government’s import plan has rattled farmers. Smallholders in East Java and Central Java told The Jakarta Post on March 27 that they opposed plan, saying it would put downward pressure on farmgate prices.

Farmers have faced difficulties over the past months, including elevated fertilizer prices caused, in part, by supply issues stemming from the Ukraine war.

Some experts have urged the government to refrain from importing rice and wait until August to get clearer picture of state production this year.

Rice procurement may be more difficult than usual, as some countries, including Vietnam, are seeking to limit their exports of the commodity.

Vietnam recently announced it would, by 2030, export just 4 million tonnes of rice annually, down from the current 7.1 million tonnes.

The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) said it was not worried about Vietnam’s export policy shift, as other producing countries, such as India, Pakistan, Thailand and Myanmar could readily fulfill domestic stocks, Bisnis.com reported.

ISLAMABAD-The Agricultural Engineering Institute (AEI) of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) organised a seminar and training programme for rice growers at Daska, Sialkot for enhancing rice yields through education and training on the advantages of utilizing specialized machinery for rice cultivation and harvesting. The seminar was also aimed to highlight the drawbacks of traditional methods, said a press release issued here. Prominent participants comprised of Dr Asif Ali Mirani, DG, AED, PARC, Dr Hafiz Sultan Mehmood, Director, AEI, NARC along with experts, researchers, engineers, program leaders and representatives from agricultural organizations. Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali, Chairman PARC, emphasized the significance of rice as Pakistan’s second major cash crop, following wheat and highlighted the need of using modern farming equipment and high-yielding varieties to enhance productivity and combat the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector. Rice cultivation primarily takes place in fertile regions of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, providing a livelihood for a significant number of farmers, he said, adding that as compared to wheat, rice mechanization in Pakistan was relatively low, leading to delays in sowing and reduced yields due to manual labor. Moreover, labor shortages caused by urbanization and industrialization pose a significant challenge for farmers, he added. Dr Ali suggested that adopting mechanization and utilizing head-feeding combine harvesters could provide viable solutions to tackle these issues. During the fiscal year 2021-22, he said rice cultivation encompasses a land area of 3,537 thousand hectares, yielding a total of 9.323 million tons. 

Export-quality rice production at risk: Rising theft incidents targeting water pumps, transformers

Pakistan is currently facing a major threat to its export-quality rice production as a result of extensive theft of high-voltage electric wires, transformers, and water pumps. This theft has left vast stretches of rice-producing land along the Lahore to Sheikhupura Motorway without access to tube-well water, precisely during the critical rice sowing season.

This alarming situation, which has been verified by both farmers and officials from the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), demands immediate attention.

According to The News, the area most severely affected is near village Warran on the Motorway, where farmers are grappling with the challenges of rewiring their tube-wells and procuring replacements for the stolen equipment required for rice cultivation. The thefts of agricultural-related electrical hardware have been escalating precisely when water is in desperate demand for the rice crops.

Although the rice-growing season began two weeks ago, many farmers are unable to sow their crops due to the thefts, which have deprived them of crucial equipment necessary for water extraction. Agricultural experts caution that any further delays in rewiring tube-wells and replacing stolen equipment could have severe repercussions for this year’s rice production.

Regrettably, the motorway police’s lack of cooperation, attributed to resource constraints, has further complicated matters. Despite filing First Information Reports (FIRs) for each incident, no thieves have been apprehended thus far. Some Wapda officials suspect that the stolen wires and accessories are being sold at discounted prices to factories for various manufacturing purposes. Additionally, there are allegations that local politicians may be protecting the thieves, impeding the police’s efforts to apprehend them. These circumstances intensify the urgency surrounding this issue.

Pakistan’s export-quality rice production is currently under a significant threat due to widespread theft of essential electrical equipment. The unavailability of water for irrigation poses a grave challenge to the entire rice crop, placing immense pressure on farmers. Swift action is imperative to address this issue and prevent further harm to the agricultural sector.

KARACHI: Russia has confirmed registration of another 15 Pakistani mills for export of rice to Russia. This will help further escalate the rice exports, which have already earned $2.5 billion for the exchequer during last fiscal year.

According to Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap), Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia (Rosselkhoznadzor) has confirmed registration of 15 rice mills for export of rice to Russia.

Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance of Russia has give green signal to Pakistan’s Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Ministry of National Food Security and Research Pakistan that it has completed registration of 15 more rice companies with Rosselkhoznadzor as upgraded and recommended by DPP and now they can export rice to Russia.

REAP urges govt to help it achieve $5bn rice exports

This marks a huge success towards boosting exports of Pakistani rice and overall economy of the state. The Russian Federation had put a ban on import of rice from Pakistan in 2019 on pest interception in rice consignment.

However, it lifted ban in 2021 after corrective measures taken by DPP in the rice establishment with respect to sanitary and phytosanitary measures, however, it only approved 4 compliant rice mills for import of rice from Pakistan based on inspection report of its technical delegation and asked for additional information and measures for the remaining rice facilities.

DPP took special steps to upgrade 15 more rice mills by implementing Standard Guidance Document as per requirements of the Russian Federation.

The tireless efforts including guidance, repeated technical compliance audits were put in this direction by DPP to ensure and enable these companies to export rice through improvement in food safety and phytosanitary measures besides quality, storage and packaging. Now, 19 rice enterprises from Pakistan ca export rice to the Russian Federation.

Reap said that this is a huge achievement of the Pakistan government where the Department of Plant Protection under the MNFSR in close collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce became able to pitch increased rice exports to the Russian Federation.

This brings good news especially to the rice farmers of Punjab and Sindh, as their main source of earning is based on these exports. Moreover, Pakistan being the agrarian economy can also look for enhancing exports in other domains as well by improving quality standards as per global markets.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Tariq Cheema, Zafar successfully get approval for exporting more rice to Russia

Federal Minister National Food Security and Research (NFSR) Tariq Bashir Cheema, through the scholastic guidance of Secretary Zafar Hassan, successfully got approval for the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) to export rice to Russia by 15 more mills, following the recommendation after a technical audit by the DPP, said a press release issued here Friday.

The development is a major success towards boosting exports and the overall economy of the country.

Russia had put a ban on rice exports a few years back because of pest interception in rice

However, the ban was lifted in 2021 and only four rice mills which complied with their quality standards, were allowed to export rice from Pakistan to Russia.

The DPP with the support of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) took special steps to upgrade 15 more mills as per the Guidance Document prescribed by the Russian Federation for compliance with the requirements for rice exports.

Tireless efforts were put in this direction to ensure these establishments were in conformity with the SPS requirements of Russia and make them able to export rice through improvement in quality and quantity of rice.

Now, 19 rice enterprises from Pakistan can export rice to the Russian Federation. This was a big achievement of the Government of Pakistan which brings good news especially, for the rice farmers of Punjab and Sindh, as its ultimate beneficiaries.

Moreover, Pakistan being an agrarian economy, can also look for enhancing exports in other domains as well by improving quality standards as per global markets. This agreement opens a gateway to further exports to international markets given the quality standards remain sound.

Further, the up-gradation of more rice processing facilities is in the pipeline with DPP, to make them at par with international standards in order to achieve major shares in high-end markets of Asia, Europe, USA and Australia.—APP

ISLAMABAD: Amid a declining trend in rice exports in the outgoing fiscal year, a ray of hope has emerged with the registration of 15 more rice establishments for exports to the Russian Federation.

The Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research recommended these establishments to the Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) after a technical audit.

“This marks a huge success towards boosting up exports and the overall economy of the country,” the food ministry said in a statement on Friday.

Russia restricted imports from Pakistan due to pest interception in rice. However, it lifted the ban in 2021 and allowed only four mills which had complied with quality standards.

The DPP, with the support of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), took special steps to upgrade 15 more mills as per the guidance document of Russia for compliance with the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements for rice exports.

Tireless efforts were made in this direction to ensure these establishments are brought in conformity with the SPS requirements to export rice through improvement in the quality and quantity of rice.

Now, 19 rice companies can export rice to Russia. The move is good news for rice farmers, especially in Punjab and Sindh as their main source of earnings is based on these exports.

Moreover, Pakistan being an agrarian economy can also look forward to enhancing exports in other domains as well by improving quality standards as per global markets. This agreement opens a gateway for further exports of rice to international markets.

Efforts are on to make more rice processing facilities on par with international standards to achieve major shares in high-end export markets of Asia, Europe, the United States and Australia.

Pakistan’s basmati exports shrank to 541,492 tonnes ($588m) in 11MFY23 from 695,564 tonnes ($632n) in the same period last fiscal year. Other rice varieties’ foreign sales fetched $1.4bn with shipments of 2.964m tonnes in July-May FY23 against $1.6bn (3.816mn tonnes) in the same period last year.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2023

The move is likely to hit some States, particularly Karnataka, which has promised free rice to its citizens under the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme

Amid a political slugfest over the discontinuation of the sale of rice and wheat from the Central pool to State governments, the Government on Thursday said the decision was not “deliberate” and was only aimed at controlling retail inflation in food grains.

The Centre, in a notification sent to the States on June 13, stopped the sale of rice and wheat from the Central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to State governments. The move is likely to hit some States, particularly Karnataka, which has promised free rice to its citizens under the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme.

Under the scheme, the Karnataka Government has promised to provide 10 kg of food grains/rice to every member of a Below Poverty Line (BPL) household and Antyodaya card holders every month. With the Centre’s decision, it now remains to be seen if the State will be able to implement the scheme from July 1 as decided.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other leaders of the Congress party have hit out at the Centre, accusing it of conspiring to “fail” the State government’s poll guarantee by ensuring the State did not receive the required amount of rice to implement the scheme.

Moreover, in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, many populist schemes such as these may be announced.

“Any State, when they announce any scheme, they do not consult us. They did not consult whether we can supply the food grains or not,” Food Corporation of India (FCI) Chairperson and Managing Director Ashok Kumar Meena said, when asked about the Karnataka Chief Minister’s allegations.

“The Government of India doesn’t decide for States,” he said, adding that OMSS operations are carried out in a manner that retail prices are controlled.

Mr. Meena said that from January 1, the Central government had decided to provide free food grains to 80 crore people under the new integrated National Food Security Scheme. Other than this, it had the mandate to take steps to ensure that the prices of essential commodities remained in control for the remaining 60 crore people.

The FCI Chairperson also said that current FCI stocks of wheat and rice were 308.84 lakh MT and 265.08 lakh MT, respectively. Both stocks were surplus.

A senior official in the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry said that the decision to stop providing rice and grain to States under OMSS was neither deliberate not sudden. “The decision was not taken yesterday. An inter-Ministerial committee met on June 8. Then it [the decision] went to the Committee of Ministers, and then the notice was issued on June 13,” the official said.  

Questioned on the Karnataka Chief Minister’s charge that the FCI had agreed to supply 2.22 lakh million tonnes (MT) of grain to his State, the senior official said that the FCI’s regional officers did not have any information on June 12 and thus had confirmed supply to the State government. It was only on June 13, after the notification was received, that the field officers were informed.

He said that the FCI has commenced the registration process for e-auction. The auction will start from June 28 for wheat and from July 5 for rice.

These were instruments to control prices, the official said. Under the OMSS, the minimum quantity allowed per buyer has been fixed at 10 MT. The maximum quantity allowed per buyer is 100 MTs per e-auction for wheat and rice, to ensure wider reach and participation of small and marginal buyers. Wheat and rice would be offered from nearly 500 depots of the FCI across the country through the e-auction.

The Congress party alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking out his frustration at the loss in the Karnataka Assembly polls on the people.

“By this move, the government is hurting the most marginalized sections of society,” Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh tweeted.

“The question is — can the PM and the BJP be so blinded by their defeat that they deny food grain to the poor? Kannadigas demand answers,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party general secretary in-charge for Karnataka, said.

“Let it be remembered that despite road blocks put up by the BJP, the Congress will implement ‘Anna Bhagya’ but Kannadigas will not pardon the State BJP leadership or Modi government for its enmity towards the SCs (Scheduled Castes), STs (Scheduled Tribes), OBCs (Other Backward Classes) and the poor,” Mr. Surjewala said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah has also said his government was making all efforts to procure rice from other sources and producing States, aimed at supplying it to the needy on time, as promised.

Sources in the Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry said that Karnataka can look at different options to implement the scheme, including procurements, replacing rice with other grains like millets, and buying rice from the open market.

Researchers from the University of California, Davis, and an international team of scientists have used the genome-editing tool CRISPR-Cas to create disease-resistant rice plants, according to a new study published in the journal Nature June 14.

Small-scale field trials in China showed that the newly-created rice variety, developed through genome editing of a recently discovered gene, exhibited both high yields and resistance to the fungus that causes a serious disease called rice blast. Rice is an essential crop that feeds half of the world's population.

Guotian Li, a co-lead author of the study, initially discovered a mutant known as a lesion mimic mutant while working as a postdoctoral scholar in Pamela Ronald's lab at UC Davis. Ronald is co-lead author and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center.

"It's quite a step forward that his team was able to improve this gene, making it potentially useful for farmers. That makes it important," Ronald said.

The roots of the discovery began in Ronald's lab, where they created and sequenced 3,200 distinct rice strains, each possessing diverse mutations. Among these strains, Guotian identified one with dark patches on its leaves.

"He found that the strain was also resistant to bacterial infection, but it was extremely small and low yielding," Ronald said. "These types of 'lesion mimic' mutants have been found before but only in a few cases have they been useful to farmers because of the low yield."

Working with CRISPR

Guotian continued the research when he joined Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, China.

He used CRISPR-Cas9 to isolate the gene related to the mutation and used genome editing to recreate that resistance trait, eventually identifying a line that had good yield and was resistant to three different pathogens, including the fungus that causes rice blast.

In small-scale field trials planted in disease-heavy plots, the new rice plants produced five times more yield than the control rice, which was damaged by the fungus, Ronald said.

"Blast is the most serious disease of plants in the world because it affects virtually all growing regions of rice and also because rice is a huge crop," Ronald said.

Future applications

The researchers hope to recreate this mutation in commonly grown rice varieties. Currently they have only optimized this gene in a model variety called Kitaake that is not grown widely. They also hope to target the same gene in wheat to create disease-resistant wheat.

"A lot of these lesion mimic mutants have been discovered and sort of put aside because they have low yield. We're hoping that people can go look at some of these and see if they can edit them to get a nice balance between resistance and high yield," Ronald said.

LONDON, ENGLAND — The International Grains Council (IGC) during its annual meeting in London this week discussed its latest global crop forecast, projecting record soybean and rice production in marketing year 2023-24, while forecasting total grains ending stocks to drop to a nine-year low.

With large corn and sorghum outturns more than compensating for reduced wheat and barley harvests, the IGC sees global grains production expanding by 40 million tonnes year-on-year to 2.294 billion tonnes. However, consumption is expected to expand by 2% year-on-year, from 2.254 billion tonnes to 2.302 billion, on increased uptake across food, feed and industrial sectors, causing ending stocks to further tighten.

The IGC forecasts a slowdown in grain trading in 2023-24 at 408 million tonnes, down from 411 million the previous year, due mainly to expected smaller wheat flows. Wheat output is seen declining by 20 million tonnes, to 783 million, while trade is projected to fall by 6 million tonnes, to 194 million.

Global soybean production is forecast to rise by 9% year-on-year, to a record 403 million tonnes, in 2023-24, the IGC said. Boosted by demand for soy products, consumption was seen advancing to a fresh high as well, while inventory accumulation was anticipated, including gains in key exporters. While growth was expected to moderate, world import demand was predicted at a peak of 173 million tonnes.

Regarding other oilseeds, the IGC said another above-average global rapeseed/canola crop was anticipated, with sunflowerseed output potentially recovering.

Against the backdrop of anticipated acreage gains and improved yields in Asia, world rice production was projected to increase by 2% year-on-year, to a record of 521 million tonnes in 2023-24, with modest increases in uptake and stocks predicted, the IGC said. Trade was predicted to edge up in 2024 on demand from African importers.

The IGC also updated members on other developments during the conference. With a goal of providing more up-to-date and detailed data on bulk seaborne trade in wheat, the WTO and the IGC have developed a new dashboard (https://globaltradedata.wto.org/), launched on May 31. It will be updated every two weeks and offers an interactive monitoring tool comprised of close to 3,000 datasets, covering delivered, in transit and loading volumes, as well as logistics-related information.

Despite its limitations, seaborne shipping data offers unprecedented opportunities for the analysis of trade and logistics, as countries respond to changing market environments, the IGC noted, adding that the project envisages a further expansion to include other key commodities.

The IGC Secretariat also appraised members of the extension of its price data series for pulses and oats, as well as its cooperation with MED-Amin in developing an early warning system, in part related to the durum market.

Other IGC projects for the upcoming year include:

• Updating and developing models of global supply and demand for ethanol and biodiesel, respectively.
• The further expansion of its collection, coverage and monitoring of real-time shipping data, to include other grains, soybeans and rice.
• Additional analysis of trade in grains, rice and oilseeds, focusing on the identification of vulnerabilities and bottlenecks in global food supply chains, while also enhancing dialogue between producers and importers.

The Council appointed Anita Katial, incoming agricultural counsellor for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA, London, as chairperson for 2023-24. Hamed Oussama Salhi, first secretary (Agriculture), Embassy of Algeria in London, was appointed vice chairperson. 

Prices of rice exported from Vietnam scaled a more than two-year peak this week on tight supplies, with traders also flagging concerns over the likely hit to output from the El Nino weather pattern.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $498 per metric ton on average, a peak since April 2021, and higher than the $490-$495 last week.

Domestic paddy prices gained on tight supplies, and concerns about El Nino this year has weighed on the production outlook, traders said.

The country’s rice exports in January-May rose 30.8% from a year earlier to 3.62 million metric tons, valued at $1.9 billion, customs data showed.

Early signs of hot, dry weather caused by El Nino are threatening food producers across Asia, with a US forecaster also confirming the onset of the phenomenon this month, and predicting droughts in parts of Asia.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices were unchanged at $490-$495 per metric ton, not far from the above $500 levels scaled in May.

New supply hasn’t entered the market while there is export demand, and with erratic weather prompting flooding and droughts, prices will stay strong, said a Bangkok-based trader.

Short supply, and a government move to hike procurement rates, also pushed up prices of the 5% broken parboiled variety from top exporter India to a more than three-month high of $390-$398 per metric ton, versus $388-$395 last week.

Supplies from the winter-sown crop have fallen sharply in the last few weeks, pushing paddy prices higher, said a Mumbai-based trader.

India last week raised the price at which it will buy new-season common paddy from farmers by 7%.

Asia rice: Vietnam rice prices jump on low supply; traders flag El Nino risks

Domestic prices of the staple in Bangladesh, meanwhile, stayed elevated despite good harvests and stocks, and Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said the country would increase subsidized rice sales from July to help the poor struggling with high inflation.

Rice is one of the staple foods globally, ranking third after wheat and maize in terms of production and consumption. It contributes over 20% of the total calorie intake of the human population.

In sub-Saharan Africa rice ranks fourth in production after sorghum, maize and millet. Nigeria is the continent’s leading rice producer and produces over 46% of west Africa’s harvest.

The country is also a big consumer. Nigeria is one of the world’s largest markets for parboiled rice, consuming on average US$4 billion worth of it each year.

With production of 5.4 million metric tonnes in 2022 and consumption of almost 7 million metric tonnes, Nigeria had to import the shortfall.

There are various reasons it’s difficult for Nigeria to produce all the rice it needs. High inflation and production costs, insecurity, policy uncertainty, and artificial scarcity caused by middlemen are some of them. Also, some consumers prefer the imported varieties.

Another major reason is water scarcity. The soil for rice cultivation should ideally be slightly wet and this can be achieved by rainfall or irrigation. In parts of Nigeria there’s already a shortage of water for drinking, so people don’t use this precious resource on a thirsty crop.

A possible solution to the problem is to use wastewater for irrigation. Around the world, the idea is growing that wastewater can be a resource rather than something to be discarded.

As a researcher working on wastewater treatment for reuse to increase rice production, I believe Nigeria ought to embrace the idea. It could boost rice production and enhance food security. It would also help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger before 2030.

In this article I offer five steps towards this.

Wastewater for irrigation

Information is scanty on the amount of wastewater generated in Nigeria but Lagos, the most populous state, produces 350 million gallons (1.3 billion litres) of wastewater daily.

If one-quarter of that water were to be recycled for rice production, nearly 75% of Nigeria’s rice shortage would be eliminated. This is based on an estimated average water applied of 450mm, and maximum consumptive water use of 3.35mm/day to produce 1.36 tonnes per hectare from a rice field in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria.

In many parts of the world, especially in developing countries such as China, India and Mexico, wastewater has become an important source for agricultural irrigation. It is estimated that 20 million hectares of cropland are irrigated with wastewater globally, accounting for nearly 10% of the irrigated agricultural land.

Israel recycles nearly 90% of its wastewater and uses most of it for irrigation. Europe recycles 60% of its wastewater. Most African countries, except Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, are yet to tap into the benefits of wastewater treatment for reuse, especially for agriculture.

Different methods of wastewater treatment have been tried for use in irrigation with various degrees of success. The most cost-effective is treatment using plants, known as phytoremediation. This process uses various types of plants to remove, transfer, stabilise or destroy contaminants in soil and wastewater. It is economically feasible, environmentally and eco-friendly, prevents erosion, and improves soil fertility.

Nigerian rice production

Based on my research I suggest Nigeria could increase rice production by following these steps.

1. Identify reliable sources of wastewater supply

For wastewater to be a major alternative source of water for rice irrigation, it has to be reliable and dependable. So, the first step is to identify sources and ascertain their reliability. Rice has to be irrigated for a minimum of 90 days (depending on the variety).

2. Structured harvesting of wastewater

There needs to be an organised way of collecting wastewater. In an organised society, waste is collected strategically and sorted to make processing and recycling relatively easy.

3. Wastewater treatment using phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is the use of plants and associated soil microbes to reduce the concentrations or toxic effects of contaminants in the environment. It is widely accepted as a cost-effective environmental restoration technology.

All the different categories of wastewater (domestic, industrial and so on) should be treated before administering to plants, except aquaculture wastewater, which already has nutrients that are beneficial to rice crop growth. Extreme caution must be taken when using wastewater for irrigation, especially on some vegetables and fruits that tend to accumulate contaminants that could harm human health.

4. Increase rice cultivation using wastewater for irrigation

Administering the treated wastewater into rice fields in a pre-determined manner and quantity is necessary for growth and optimum yield. Irrigation scheduling can ensure rice cultivation all year round irrespective of climatic variability.

5. Increase land under cultivation using irrigated wastewater

Rice is cultivated on about 3.7 million hectares of land in Nigeria, representing 10.6% of the 35 million hectares of land under cultivation, out of a total arable land area of 70 million hectares. Out of the 3.7 million hectares under rice cultivation, 77% is rain-fed. The area could be tripled (11.1 million hectares) using treated wastewater. This would lead to higher grain yield, which would increase availability, lower prices and ensure self-sufficiency.

A farmer from Pakistan has sought seeds of newly developed 'Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1' paddy variety for cultivation from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

A farmer from Pakistan has sought seeds of newly developed 'Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1' paddy variety for cultivation from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Claiming to be a "progressive farmer" from Pakistan, one Rizwan contacted Banaras Hindu University (BHU) scientist Prof S.K. Singh on WhatsApp, requesting him to provide the seeds.

Prof Singh has asked Rizwan to contact the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute's (IRRI) unit in Pakistan.

"Rizwan was making voice calls, then also sent a voice message. I expressed my inability in fulfilling Rizwan's demand and asked him to contact the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Pakistan to know whether it can be made available to him by the centre," said Prof Singh of genetics and plant breeding department of Institute of Agriculture Science, BHU.

"The variety of paddy which Rizwan wants, has been developed in a joint venture of IRRI Manila, which has a centre in Varanasi, and BHU," he said.

He said, "Unlike other normal paddy varieties' crop cycle of 135-140 days, this MMSD-1 variety of paddy grows in 115-118 days. Using this variety for paddy crops will enable farmers to cultivate four crops in a year and increase earning up to three times."

On how Rizwan contacted him, Prof Singh said, "Initially, he was making voice calls through social media platforms on June 6. When I did not attend the calls, he sent a voice message mentioning that he knew about the MMSD-1 variety of paddy through an article after which he searched my number from the BHU website. He then requested to interact with him for a few minutes."

"In the first impression, he seemed to be a genuine farmer. In the conversation, he started demanding MMSD-1 seeds. I told him that it could not be provided by me and he would have to consult IRRI's centre if one existed in Pakistan to know how he can procure it," said Prof Singh.

The professor said that Rizwan continued requesting for the seeds though it was made clear to him that the MMSD-1 variety has been developed for the cultivation conditions of UP, Bihar and Odisha only.

Regarding MMSD-1, Prof Singh said that this variety has been developed in a joint venture of IRRI and BHU.

"It will be introduced next year for commercial sowing. The rice of MMSD-I looks like Basmati varieties in length," he explained.

The decision has already been conveyed to the Karnataka government, which had sought 13,819 tonne of rice for its own scheme under the OMSS without e-auction for July at the rate of ₹3,400 per quintal

The Centre has discontinued the sale of rice and wheat from the central pool under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to State governments, a move that will hit some States, including Karnataka, offering free grains to the poor.

The decision has already been conveyed to the Karnataka government, which had sought 13,819 tonne of rice for its own scheme under the OMSS without e-auction for July at the rate of ₹3,400 per quintal.

According to a recent order issued by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), "The sale of wheat and rice under the OMSS (domestic) for State governments is discontinued".

However, the sale of rice under the OMSS will be continued for northeastern as well as hilly States and those facing law and order situations, and natural calamities at an existing rate of ₹3,400 per quintal, it said.

FCI may liquidate rice under the OMSS to private parties from the central pool stock as per the requirement in order to moderate the market prices, it added.

Checking inflation

In a separate statement, the Food Ministry said, "In order to ensure that the inflationary trends are kept under control while ensuring adequate stock levels in the central pool, it has been decided to exclude State governments' scheme from the ambit of OMSS (D), this time."

On June 12, the Central government while imposing stock limits on wheat till March 31, 2024, also announced offloading of both rice and wheat under the OMSS to cool down the open market prices and curb hoarding.

It had announced the sale of 15 lakh tonne of wheat under the OMSS from the central pool to flour mills, private traders and manufacturers of wheat products through e-auction. It had, however, not fixed the quantity of rice for these traders for sale under the OMSS.

According to the statement, the first auction of wheat would be held on June 28 for the financial year 2023-24.

In this OMSS (D), the quantity that a bidder can purchase in a single bid range from 10-100 tonne. During the earlier sale, the maximum quantity allowed was 3,000 tonne per bid for a buyer.

"The quantities have been reduced this time to accommodate more small and marginal buyers and to ensure a wider reach of the scheme. This will facilitate the release of stocks sold under OMSS (D) to reach the general public immediately," the Ministry added.

The move comes amid the slow progress of monsoon and rising prices of rice and wheat. Rice prices have increased by up to 10% in the last one year at the mandi level, while by 8% in the last one month, as per the official data.

Monsoon rains are crucial as about 80% of the country's total rice production is grown during the kharif season and sowing will begin next month onwards.

It may be noted that on January 26, the Central government had come out with the OMSS policy for 2023 under which States were allowed to buy both rice (including fortified rice) and wheat from the FCI for their own schemes without participating in e-auction.

Usually, the OMSS is operationalised to sell foodgrains, especially wheat and rice, at pre-determined prices in the open market from time to time to bulk consumers and private traders during the lean season to improve domestic availability of these two key grains and cool down open market prices, especially in deficit regions.

Understanding the Rice Value Chain in South and Southeast Asia: Opportunities, Challenges, Way Forward for Rice Fortification

This report considers the state of rice fortification in 11 countries in South and Southeast Asia, with particular attention given to the potential for increased trade within the region in fortified rice and fortified rice kernels (FR/FRK) and the benefits that trade would bring.

Fortifying food, alongside the promotion of a diverse, healthy, and balanced diet, helps reduce the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies. With daily rice consumption the norm across South and Southeast Asia, fortifying rice is an obvious path toward improved nutritional outcomes for the large percentage of undernourished in the region.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has been promoting rice fortification for more than 10 years in its work with governments, the private sector, and technical partners throughout South and Southeast Asia. WFP provides financial and technical support for initiatives that include large-scale food fortification through commercial channels and social protection programmes, emergency relief, food assistance, and treatment of severe malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

Two rice verities developed by Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku have been recommended for general cultivation in Variety Evaluation Committee held at PARC today.

One rice variety is Sona Super Basmati which is the longest ever Basmati grain measuring 9.5 mm while the other is Vital Super Basmati which is country's first fortified rice with Iron and Zinc.

A research team of about thirty researchers led by Chief Scientist Syed Sultan Ali RRIKSK has completed this task.

Feature: China's experience strengthens food security, promotes poverty alleviation in Uganda

WAKISO, Uganda, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Robert Sagula could not have imagined how different his life would be when he started to learn growing rice from Chinese experts more than 50 years ago.

At the age of 70, he still goes to his rice field in Butaleja district in eastern Uganda every day. He said thanks to Chinese experts, rice yields in his field rose dramatically, bringing more money to his family. Now he is able to afford to take his children to good schools, and he even opened a shop in his village with what he earned from growing rice.

In the past five decades, thousands of farmers in Butaleja district have participated in training on rice farming, and they turned the region into one of the main production areas, where rice is sold to different parts of the country and also exported to neighboring Kenya.

Richard Waya, another farmer living in the same district as Sagula, told Xinhua that in the 1970s, the Chinese experts taught people in the Butaleja district how to grow rice in nursery beds and later transplanted them into the field. "The results have shown that when you grow rice in lines, the yields are much higher. The Chinese people have contributed to life-changing (achievements) in Butaleja," Waya said.

Rice production in Uganda was given more impetus after China, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Uganda signed an agreement as a South-South cooperation program. The agreement, which has been implemented in a phased manner, has helped farmers in rural areas in Uganda gain agriculture technology, according to Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture.

By the end of the second phase of the program in 2017, about 3,000 farmers have been trained in increasing production in cereals, horticulture, aquaculture and livestock, according to the ministry.

During the first and second phases of the project, Chinese hybrid rice variety and foxtail millet variety were introduced to farmers in Uganda. Yields of the new hybrid rice reached about 10 tonnes per hectare, almost four times that of local varieties, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, a 220-million-U.S.-dollar China-Uganda Agricultural Cooperation Industrial Park was established in the central part of the East African country. According to the FAO reports, many farmers across the country are praising the agricultural cooperation with China.

Zhang Xiaoqiang, leader of the Chinese agriculture team, told reporters Monday that during the third phase of the program, which started in November 2022, more than 9,600 farmers, mostly youth and women, will attend the training program. He said the Chinese experts encouraged local farmers to look at agriculture in a commercial way instead of subsistence.

FAO Representative in Uganda Anthony Querido said over the years, there is evidence that cooperation with China and Uganda under the South-South cooperation framework is yielding positive results in the agriculture sector, which has been a driving force in increasing food security and promoting poverty alleviation in the country. 

This photo taken on June 12, 2023 shows a rice fish pond at the Aquaculture Research and Development Center in Kajjansi, Wakiso District, Uganda. Rice production in Uganda was given more impetus after China, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Uganda signed an agreement as a South-South cooperation program. The agreement, which has been implemented in a phased manner, has helped farmers in rural areas in Uganda gain agriculture technology, according to Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

Workers carry fish in bags for release to rice fish ponds at the Aquaculture Research and Development Center in Kajjansi, Wakiso District, Uganda, on June 12, 2023. Rice production in Uganda was given more impetus after China, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Uganda signed an agreement as a South-South cooperation program. The agreement, which has been implemented in a phased manner, has helped farmers in rural areas in Uganda gain agriculture technology, according to Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)

New Marcos rice farming model consolidates land, promises almost double yield

The Marcos program represents land and farming process consolidation, grouping local rice growers to form compact rice areas of at least 1000 hectares

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pushed a new corporate approach in rice production as he led the launch of the Consolidated Rice Production and Mechanization Program (CRPMP) on Wednesday, June 14.

Addressing farmers at a pilot rice farm in Barangay Liwanay, Banga town, South Cotabato, Marcos, who is also the country’s agriculture secretary, said the new program would address the country’s problems in rice and food sufficiency.

The CRPMP is a pet project of South Cotabato governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr, the president of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), Marcos’s political party in the 2022 presidential elections.

The project’s pilot farm in barangay Dajay in Surallah town involves 94 farmers and 210 hectares of rice land.

This will then expand to 1,400 hectares in the towns of Tantangan, Norala, Sto. Niño, Banga, and in Koronadal City, the governor said.

The Marcos program represents land re-consolidation for economic scale, grouping local rice farmers to form compact rice areas of at least 1000 hectares.

Higher yield

When Marcos asked Tamayo what yields the CRPMP offers, the governor said eight metric tons (MT) per hectare.

That figure is 179% of the Philippine Rice Research Institute‘s 2022 average national rice yield of 4.47MT/hectare.

Marcos seemed impress by Tamayo’s response. “Balitaan mo ako kapag nagharvest na kayo at babalik ako para makamayan kayo,” he told the governor.

Marcos handed to Tamayo a check worth P115.3 million to jumpstart the program, which sets up a facility with an array of equipment needed from production, processing, and all the way to bringing products to market centers.

Soccsksargen region agriculture director John Pascual said the funds would be earmarked for a warehouse and a rice processing center, the procurement of trucks, farm machineries, hybrid seeds, fertilizers, and other farm inputs.

Challenge

The president said the Philippines needs to improve rice yields due to the tight imports supply in Southeast Asia, which the country experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Thailand and Vietnam, two major rice suppliers, refused to export to us because they want to give priority to their domestic requirements,” he said in his speech.

Tight supply sent food prices spiking, a situation worsened by the rising cost of farm inputs, he added.

The president said the consolidated program is part of his thrust to pool together resources and functions to help farmers, by reducing the cost of inputs and processing.

He noted that the new program would plug the production losses from the traditional method of drying rice harvests on roadsides.

Marcos said he hoped farmers in South Cotabato would do away with the traditional method of drying their rice harvests on roadsides.

“Kahit basa iyong palay, puwede nang dalhin dito sa malaking complex,” said the President. (Even when the palay is yet, we can bring it to this big complex.)

He also claimed the CRPMP would break the old model of middlemen getting the better of farmers, as the the government program would set up a corporation to market the rice.

“This will allow global competitiveness among the province’s rice growers through practices of climate resilience, good agriculture, low-cost production, efficient farm mechanization and value adding strategies,” Tamayo said. – Rappler.com

At the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center in Koronadal, Tamayo presented to the president a copy of the South Cotabato Province-wide Health System (SC-PWHS) and Referral Manual.

Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Officer Dr. Alah Baby Vingno said the UCHP will cover residents even in the most remote villages of the province.

The health program will give access to the public on various health services of the provincial government life free medicine and laboratory examinations.

Dar es Salaam. Rice processing in the country has received a boost following the introduction of a new processing technology known as Colour Sorter.

The Colour Sorter machines have the ability to sort out unwanted solid materials using higher-resolution sensors, leaving the rice grains clear and of high quality.

The technology is an initiative of a Japanese company called Satake, which has entered into an agreement with local processors for supply and maintenance. Processors say they are optimistic that the rice sorting technology will open more export markets to Tanzania-produced rice, whose quality has been the stumbling block.

“We once organised ourselves and started exporting rice to Dubai. Unfortunately, we did not last long. Our rice consignments were rejected as they were deemed substandard,” said a rice processor who identified himself as Mr Juma.

The Director of Mechanization and Irrigation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ms Anna Mwangamilo, encouraged farmers to grow more rice to help the government achieve the 2019–2030 National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) phase II.

“The aims of NRDS are to sustain rice self-sufficiency, contribute to regional self-sufficiency, be a rice market leader, and be well positioned to become competitive through improvement of quality, quantity, and value of the produced rice,” she said yesterday. In recent years, rice yield has risen, but quality has remained a challenge. The main goal of NRDS II is to make Tanzania sufficient and a major exporter of rice to the East Africa Community (EAC) and the Middle East.

According to Mwangamilo, the new technology will greatly boost rice export market share, quality, and production. The government anticipates that the technology will increase the rice industry’s competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

Mr Indrabhuwan Singh, CEO-Group Operations at Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (MeTL), said that Africa and Tanzania in general have the potential to feed the world in the next two decades if a strong agricultural value chain is created.

“The country has a lot of potential because its strategies and projects are implemented accordingly. Thus, we need to use technology, be efficient and accurate to boost productivity and quality for local and foreign markets,” he said.

Mr Singh noted that by 2050 the global population is going to reach 9 billion therefore there is a need for transformation of technology in cultivation.

It is believed that griculture connectivity by using modern technology would contribute and unlock more than $500 billion to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.

Though retail inflation fell to a 25-month low of 4.25% in May, retail price inflation rates of rice, wheat and some pulses, such as tur, remained high.

New Delhi: Though retail inflation fell to a 25-month low of 4.25% in May, retail price inflation rates of rice, wheat and some pulses, such as tur, remained high. Despite this, food inflation was down to an 18-month low of 2.91% overall, Business Standard reported.

“In line with wheat inflation, the rates of price rise in other related products were also high despite a slight moderation in May. For instance, baked breads saw inflation moderating to 10.36 per cent in May, against 11.34 per cent in the previous month. Similarly, inflation in suji came down to 11.15 per cent from 12.82 per cent and in maida to 14.36 per cent from 17.02 per cent,” the newspaper report said.

According to The Telegraph, economists have warned that subpar monsoon could mean higher food inflation in the coming months. “The development of El Nino conditions would be closely monitored as these could lead to a subpar monsoon and impact kharif yields and rabi sowing, and thereby impact crop output and food inflation,” Aditi Nayar, chief economist at Icra, stated.

In April, inflation based on the consumer price index was at 4.7%.

On June 12, a day before the May inflation numbers were released, the government imposed stock limits on wheat for traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors, Business Standard reported. The new rules came into effect immediately and will be in place till March 31, 2024. This is the first time in 15 years that such a rule has been made, the newspaper stated.

The government also decided to offload 15 lakh tonnes of wheat to bulk consumers and traders from the central pool in the first phase under the Open Market Sale Scheme, The Telegraph reported.

The deal isn’t the first struck by the two companies.

Mitsui Co., the Japanese food-to-chemicals conglomerate, has snapped up a stake in Italy-based rice and pulses supplier Euricom.

In a statement issued today (13 June), Mitsui said it would pay around Y200bn ($143.3m) for its “partial shareholding” in the company.

A separate statement from Euricom said Mitsui would be a “minority shareholder”. The deal gives Euricom an enterprise value of €500m ($540.4m), the company added.

In April last year, the two businesses announced a “strategic partnership” through which they set out to work in areas including sourcing and new product development.

As part of that deal, Mitsui acquired a minority stake in Euricom’s Polish rice subsidiary Przedsiębiorstwo Rol-Ryż.

Mitsui’s move to invest in Euricom itself will swap its stake in Rol-Ryż for new shares in the Italian group.

The new deal with Mitsui is the first time Euricom’s two founding families – the Nervis and Sempios – have accepted outside investment in the company.

Bruno Sempio, Euricom’s chairman, “will continue to control Euricom and lead its management team on a sole control basis”, the rice group added.

Mr. Sempio added: “After developing a trusted relationship with Mitsui over the last years, we are pleased to formally welcome Mitsui in Euricom’s shareholding. Mitsui has proven to be a reliable long-term partner helping family-owned companies, like ours, build a more institutionalised and global platform for growth while respecting the existing day-to day management and entrepreneurship of the company. This is exactly the type of support that we need in this critical juncture of the group’s development to take Euricom to the next level of growth and global reach.”

Euricom sells rice into Europe’s retail and foodservice markets. It also supplies B2B customers. In 2022, the company generated a turnover of €800m and an after-tax profit of “about €40m”. It sources rice from southern Europe, South America, India and south-east Asia.

In its statement, Mitsui suggested growing demand for rice products, particularly in Europe, lay behind its investment in Euricom.

“Against the backdrop of dietary diversification and a growing focus on health and the environment, the markets for rice products and pulses are growing across the globe. In Europe, surging immigration is also contributing to significant demand growth,” the company said.

Mitsui said its investment in Mauritius-based pulses supplier ETG could benefit Euricom.

“By leveraging ETG’s raw material procurement networks in Africa and North America with Euricom’s extensive sales channels and close relationships with major European retailers, Euricom can step up the development of new rice products and strengthen their business operations in areas other than rice products, such as pulses,” Mitsui added.

Just Food has approached Euricom and Mitsui for further comment.

MANILA, Philippines — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified the Philippines as a key contributor to the anticipated rise in global rice consumption next year.

In a report, the USDA said it forecasts global rice consumption to increase in marketing year 2023-2024 to 523.772 million metric tons from the previous forecast of 523.022 million MT.

“Global consumption is up with increases for India and the Philippines. Imports are forecast higher, mainly for Kenya and the Philippines,” it said.

According to the latest forecast by the USDA, rice consumption in the Philippines is expected to increase to 16.5 million MT for the 2023-2024 period, surpassing the previous projection of 16.3 million MT. This consumption estimate exceeds the anticipated local rice production of 12.6 million MT.

To address the shortfall, the USDA has raised its projection for Philippine rice imports to 3.8 million MT next year from 3.6 million MT.

Philippine rice imports are significantly higher than that of Kenya’s, which are seen to reach 800,000 MT – from the USDA’s previous forecast of 625,000 MT – as “consumption growth far outstrips production.”

Moreover, the Philippines is the next biggest importer of rice next to China, which is projected to import five million MT during the period.

For the 2022-2023 marketing year, the USDA sees lower global consumption, led by lower demand in Kenya and the Philippines, which partially offset lower consumption in Iran.

Despite lower estimated imports by China and Iran, the USDA still projects higher demand from Iraq, Kenya and the Philippines. These countries’ increased imports help offset the overall decline in import volumes.

The Philippines is seen to import 3.9 million MT of rice for the 2022-2023 marketing year, up 200,000 MT from its previous 3.7 million MT projection.

The increase is hinged on the “higher-than-anticipated imports of Vietnam rice,” the USDA said.

NAPLES, FL — Last week, the Cotton Warehouse Association of America (CWAA) convened here for its 86th annual meeting.  The CWAA is a national trade association representing cotton warehouse operators from the Carolinas to California with membership including independent, gin, merchant, and transit warehouses.

Jamison Cruce, USA Rice senior director of government affairs, participated in this year’s meeting to offer U.S. rice industry priorities and outlook as Congress works to write the next Farm Bill.  He also emphasized the importance of coordinated political advocacy by the agriculture industry.  Cruce was on the agenda along with representatives from the Crop Insurance Professionals Association, National Cotton Council of America, and the Plains Cotton Growers.

“It’s vitally important that USA Rice continue engaging with other agriculture organizations throughout the Farm Bill process to discuss how our priorities align and where we can best work together toward farm legislation that’s beneficial for production agriculture,” said Cruce.  “The rice and cotton industries have long worked in tandem to support policies that benefit their growers and processors, and this year is no different.”

Other speakers included Pro Farmer’s Jim Weisemeyer; David Wasserman with the Cook Political Report with Amy Walters; Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), vice chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and chair of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit; as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agency.

“I want to thank CWAA for the opportunity to visit with their members and offer our perspectives,” said Cruce.  “We look forward to continuing much good work on the Farm Bill and beyond.”

No cause for concern as Basmati shipments are rising, says AIREA

Data from APEDA show that Basmati exports to Iraq have dropped by over 45 per cent over the last two fiscal years from 6.45 lakh tonnes in 2020-21

Thailand has become the top exporter of rice to Iraq since last year replacing India but Tehran is reportedly buying Thai rice due to currency problems it is facing. 

Iraq imports of rice will likely increase to 2.2 million tonnes (mt) this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said. 

Shipments of rice into Tehran from India was over 27 per cent during January-April this year, but Thailand accounted for 57 per cent of the 8.15 lakh tonnes imported during the period. 

Bouncing back

Since 2022, Thailand has become the main supplier to Iraq after losing market share to India and Vietnam since 2014, the USDA said. “Iraq has reduced its purchases of Indian rice due to consumer preference of non-fragrant white rice from Thailand,” it said.  

Bangkok Post quoted Ronnarong Phoolpipat, Director-General of the Thai Foreign Trade Department, as saying that Iraq was the largest importer of Thai rice, buying 1.6 mt in 2022, up 458 per cent from 2021.

He said Iraq is the top importer of Thai rice, accounting for 16.4 per cent of the 2.06 mt of the shipments during January-March in 2023. 

4th largest buyers

According to the USDA, Iraq, set to become the fourth largest global rice importer, has faced multiple issues hampering the grain’s production, mainly due to water scarcity. “Therefore, imports have risen to help meet domestic demand,” the USDA said.

“It is not as if only Thailand is gaining. India’s export of Basmati rice to Iraq is also increasing. Probably, Iraq is buying more from Thailand due to shortage of currency,” said Vinod Kaul, Executive Director, All-India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA). 

For example, Kaul said, Iraq imported 57,000 tonnes of Basmati rice from India in April compared with 35,000 tonnes a year ago. “Exports to Iraq were lower last fiscal when they dropped to 3.64 lakh tonnes against 4.86 lakh tonnes in 2021-22,” he said.

Ground-level problems

Data from APEDA show that Basmati exports to Iraq have dropped by over 45 per cent over the last two fiscal years from 6.45 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. 

Exports have dropped mainly on the fragrant rice’s prices rising to over $1,000 a tonne. Currently, Indian Basmati rice is quoted around $1,500 a tonne. 

Delhi-based trade analyst S Chandrasekaran said the rise in Thailand’s share in Iraq’s rice market is increasing due to “ground-level” problems, which could be non-availability of dollars. “Indian rice is far more competitive than Thai rice. But Basmati cannot be compared with other rice,” he said. 

US entry

“There is no cause for concern over the developments in the Iraqi rice market. Not every consumer can afford Basmati rice and people will look to consume as per their affordability,” AIREA’s Kaul said. 

On the other hand, Chandrasekaran said the US, which had exited the rice market a few years ago, has begun efforts to re-enter the global market. “US re-entry and plans to expand its rice market reach are warning signs for India and other Asian countries,” he said, adding that Washington is striking deals with smaller nations. 

The US has exported 88,000 tonnes of rice to Iraq, making up 11 per cent of total imports. The USDA said Iraq has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US for 2022-2023 that calls for Iraq to purchase up to two lakh tonnes of the US rice. Another 44,000 tonnes of rice were shipped to Tehran in May, the agency said. 

Chairman Rice Research and Development Board Punjab Shahzad Ali Malik here on Sunday said that challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and pests can affect rice production in Pakistan.

However, hectic efforts must be made on top priority to address these issues through research and development, improved farming practices and policy support to ensure the continued importance and sustainability of rice as a cash crop in the country’s economy, he said while talking to a delegation of plant breeders led by Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad Javed,Chairman Plant Breeding and Genetics Punjab University.

Shahzad Ali Malik said that rice was one of the most important cash crops in Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. He said that Pakistan was one of the major exporters of rice in the world as rice exports were playing a crucial role in earning foreign exchange for the country.

He said its cultivation and the associated value chain provide employment opportunities to a significant portion of the rural population in Pakistan.

Farmers, laborers, millers, traders, and exporters are all involved in the rice industry, creating jobs and improving livelihoods, he added. —APP

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo handed out four tons of new superior rice seed varieties that can adapt to drought as part of the efforts to anticipate El Niño-induced drought.

“Indonesia will be confronted with drought because of El Niño,” he noted in a statement on Sunday.

“Because of this, we have to take real actions to maintain agricultural productivity amid the global food crisis,” he affirmed.

The minister symbolically handed over the seed assistance while attending an event in Padang, West Sumatra.

The four tons of rice seeds were distributed to several provinces of South Sumatra, Lampung, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, South Sulawesi, and West Sumatra.

The distributed rice seed comprises several varieties: Inpago 9, Inpago 12, Inpago 13 Foriz, Cakrabuana, and Inpari 42.

These superior varieties are resilient to the lack of water availability, have a long age, and can produce above eight tons per hectare of rice.

The seeds are stock seeds (SS) and extension seeds (ES) produced by Rice Instrument Standard Testing Center's (BBPSI Padi's) Source Seed Management Unit (UPBS), Bengkulu Instrument Standard Implementation Center, and Riau Instrument Standard Implementation Center.

In a bid to increase the number of superior quality rice seeds, Acting Head of the Agriculture Instrument Standardization Agency (BSIP) Fadjry Djufry stated that his side will provide assistance.

The BSIP has work units in every province that will help increase the number of seeds in accordance with the standards.

Djufry emphasized that the use of superior-quality seeds by farmers should be optimized to boost production and adapt to climate change.

ISLAMABAD-Punjab Rice Research and Development Board Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik here on Sunday said that challenges such as climate change, water scarcity and pests can affect rice production in Pakistan. However, hectic efforts must be made on top priority to address these issues through research and development, improved farming practices and policy support to ensure the continued importance and sustainability of rice as a cash crop in the country’s economy, he said while talking to a delegation of plant breeders led by Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad Javed, Chairman Plant Breeding and Genetics Punjab University.  Shahzad Ali Malik said that rice was one of the most important cash crops in Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s economy. He said that Pakistan was one of the major exporters of rice in the world as rice exports were playing a crucial role in earning foreign exchange for the country. 

He said its cultivation and the associated value chain provide employment opportunities to a significant portion of the rural population in Pakistan. Farmers, labourers, millers, traders, and exporters are all involved in the rice industry, creating jobs and improving livelihoods, he added.  About the trade competitiveness, he said Pakistan’s rice industry competes internationally due to the quality and diversity of its rice varieties. By maintaining a strong presence in the global rice market, he said Pakistan enhances its trade competitiveness and expands its export opportunities.  He said that the rice sector was contributing to Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) significantly and the income generated from rice cultivation and its related activities directly contributed to the agricultural sector’s overall contribution to the country’s GDP. 

He said its cultivation serves as a means of poverty alleviation in rural areas of Pakistan. He said small scaled farmers, who constitute a substantial portion of the rice-growing community are able to generate income and improve their living standards through rice farming.  About the rural development, he said the cultivation of rice plays a significant role in rural development by stimulating economic activities in rural areas. It encourages infrastructure development, supports the growth of ancillary industries, and helps improve living standards in rural communities, he remarked.

LAHORE: Chairman Rice Research and Development Board Punjab Shahzad Ali Malik warned that challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and pests can affect rice production in Pakistan and hectic efforts must be made on top priority to address these issues through research and development, improved farming practices, and policy support to ensure the continued importance and sustainability of rice as a cash crop in the country’s economy.

He said rice is one of the most important cash crops in Pakistan, contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

Talking to a delegation of plant breeders here today led by Prof Dr Muhammad Arshad Javed, Chairman Plant Breeding and Genetics Punjab University he said Pakistan is one of the major exporters of rice in the world, and rice exports play a crucial role in earning foreign exchange for the country.

The export of rice generates substantial revenue, contributing to the overall balance of trade and strengthening the economy, he added. He said its cultivation and the associated value chain provide employment opportunities to a significant portion of the rural population in Pakistan. Farmers, laborers, millers, traders, and exporters are all involved in the rice industry, creating jobs and improving livelihoods, he added.

About trade competitiveness, he said Pakistan’s rice industry competes internationally due to the quality and diversity of its rice varieties. By maintaining a strong presence in the global rice market, Pakistan enhances its trade competitiveness and expands its export opportunities.

He said the rice sector contributes to Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) significantly and the income generated from rice cultivation and its related activities directly contributes to the agricultural sector’s overall contribution to the country’s GDP.

He said its cultivation serves as a means of poverty alleviation in rural areas of Pakistan. He said small scale farmers, who constitute a substantial portion of the rice-growing community, are able to generate income and improve their living standards through rice farming.

Regarding food security, Shahzad Ali Malik said it is a staple food in Pakistan, and the country’s growing population relies on it as a major dietary component. He said the production of rice ensures food security by providing a stable supply of this important crop to meet the domestic consumption needs.

About rural development, he said the cultivation of rice plays a significant role in rural development by stimulating economic activities in rural areas. It encourages infrastructure development, supports the growth of ancillary industries, and helps improve living standards in rural communities.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Cambodia earned nearly $737 million from the export of milled rice and paddy to 49 countries and territories in the first five months of 2023, with China and the EU ranking as the first and second largest buyers of the processed grains.

Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) data released on June 9 show that individually, the Kingdom shipped 278,184 tonnes of milled rice worth $191.64 million via 48 exporters to 49 destinations, as well as 2,142,483 tonnes of paddy to the tune of $545.26 million.

These figures indicate that the milled rice and paddy exported over the January-May period were worth a per-kilogramme average of 68.89 US cents and 25.45 US cents respectively.

The CRF noted that the exported paddy would yield 1.37 million tonnes of milled rice, or about 64 per cent of its original weight.

Broken down by variety of milled rice in terms of tonnage, “fragrant” represented the lion’s share at 83.49 per cent, followed by “white” (10.87%), “parboiled” (3.71%) and “organic” (1.93%).

By export destination in terms of value, China imported the most at 42.43 per cent of the total, followed by 25 EU countries (37.93%) and four ASEAN nations (8.86%). The remaining markets bought 10.78 per cent.

For comparison, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that China imported 149,477 tonnes – or 52.69 per cent – of the total 283,675 tonnes exported by the Kingdom in January-May 2022.

The CRF noted that last month saw Cambodia’s inaugural formal shipment of milled rice to the Philippines, weighing in at 2,575 tonnes.

Amru Rice (Cambodia) Co Ltd CEO Song Saran on June 11 shared with The Post that his company’s exports to its primary destinations – the EU and US – continues to grow, adding that plenty of retailers are buying its products.

“We mainly export to Europe, and organic rice. We’ve received a lot of support from the retail market there. Of course, China remains a big market for milled rice but my company mainly exports to Europe and the United States,” he said, hinting that Amru Rice’s milled-rice exports increased by around one-tenth year-on-year in the first five months of 2023.

Although Saran affirmed that the company’s exports have been in positive growth territory, he believes that there may be speed bumps ahead for the rice business at large.

“We’re also concerned about climate change’s effects on the grain, though this worry is not unique to us – it is shared by people all across the world,” he added.

City Rice Import Export Co Ltd CEO “Andy” Lay Chhun Hour also pointed out to The Post on June 11 how large a market China has become for Cambodian milled rice since Beijing committed to buy the grains.

He disclosed that his company exported “around 40,000 tonnes” of milled rice to China in the January-May period, making a “slight” increase. “I’m optimistic that China will remain our largest market … we’ve gained a lot of support from the Chinese thanks to the quality of our milled rice.”

Meanwhile, the CRF is in talks with Beijing on a deal that would commit Chinese state-owned China Oil and Foodstuffs Corp (COFCO) to buy more than 400,000 tonnes of homegrown milled rice as Chinese demand climbs.

The agreement would come in the form of the seventh in a series of memorandums of understanding (MoU), with the previous iteration – entailing 400,000 tonnes – having been rolled out in the fourth quarter of 2021.

CRF data indicates that last year’s milled-rice exports were to the tune of $414.29 million. This is equivalent to 34.38 per cent of the $1.205 billion in total exports of “cereals” – corresponding to Chapter 10 of the Harmonised System (HS) – posted by Customs (GDCE) for 2022.

Kashmir farmers profit from the revival of Mushk Budij, aromatic rice cultivation

Mushk Budij, Kashmir's indigenous traditional and short, bold, scented-rice variety which was revived after decades is bearing big profits for the farmers of the Kashmir Valley. An aromatic rice variety native to Kashmir and popular in Kashmir during the 1960s is again growing in the Valley, with its demand picking up in domestic and foreign markets. Being a staple food, rice is a primary source of calories in peoples’ diet, compared to wheat and maize, in Kashmir. Owing to its high price, the consumption of aromatic rice varieties like Mushk Budij in the region is limited to special occasions alone. Even during the G20 summit in Kashmir last week, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated the farmers for reviving Mushk Budij, the heritage crop. “The efforts of Mushk Budij in Kashmir’s Sagam village will provide a new fillip to the farming of one of the most cherished and valued products of J&K,” said the LG on his monthly ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ Radio programme. Both young and old farmers in Kashmir have started growing the costly rice in their fields after getting high returns on their produce from the market. For example, one quintal of common milled rice is sold at Rs 3,000 in Kashmir while one quintal of Mushk Budij is sold at Rs 20,000. According to the officials of agriculture department in the year 2006, one quintal of Mushk Budij would cost Rs 6,000 compared to Rs 20,000 in 2023. “The rates of Mushk Budij is at an all-time high, due to which more and more growers are inclined to cultivate this crop, however the crop can not be produced everywhere in the Valley.” A farmer Abdul Rashid Dar of Sagam tells Moneycontrol: “After 1984, we stopped growing Mushk Budij in our land because the blast disease did not yield any crop. But in 2014, we again started growing it and the returns are pretty good. Compared to common rice varieties, its returns are far higher.” Dar who owns four kanals of land claims that the market of Mushk Budij is poor due to which the farmers are not able to sell their produce immediately after harvest season. “We definitely get good prices for our produce but the problem is that we do not find many consumers. Not many people are interested in buying aromatic rice since the prices are seven times higher than common varieties of rice,” he says. Over a thousand farmers in Sagam village, a small hamlet in south Kashmir’s Kokernag locality in Anantnag district, 79 km from Srinagar, grow the rare crop in their fields. Almost all of Kashmir’s Mushk Budji, a japonica aromatic local land race, grows in Sagam, Tengpawa and adjoining areas with an estimated area of above 5,000 kanals annually producing around 6,000 quintals of the aromatic rice. Kokernag belt, say most farmers, is considered the ideal location for the cultivation of Mushk Budij with the climate, land, altitude and spring water being feasible for the aromatic crop variety to grow. “Growing the aromatic crop is risky due to two main reasons. First, it is blast-prone and, second, the milled rice of Mushk Budij cannot be stored for a long time because it loses its aroma,” says 28-year-old farmer Javaid Ahmad Khanday of Tengpawa village. A young farmer Tajamul Bashir asked the government to procure the entire produce from the farmers so that they will get timely returns and benefits. “The prices of Mushk Budij is very good compared to other varieties but government should thrust upon marketing so that the crop will be sold in one go,” says 23-year-old Bashir who owns six kanals of Mushk Budij land in Tengpawa village. Marketing has remained a barrier in successful production of the crop because the custodian farmers suspect they are being exploited by middlemen or brokers. However, Chowdhary Muhammad Iqbal, director Agriculture Kashmir, tells Moneycontrol that there is a growing demand for Mushk Budij in the international market. “We have sent a number of samples to the UAE and very soon the aromatic crop will be shipped to other countries. The specialty rice will also get the GI tagging, an indication which identifies a product as originating in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographic origin,” he says. In the year 2020, around 244 hectares of land was under cultivation of Mushk Budij, and increased to 248 hectares in 2021 and 280 hectares in 2022. For next five years, the proposed plan for expansion of Mushk Budij rice in Kashmir is on 999 hectares of land. Similarly, Mushk Budij rice production in Kashmir in 2020-21 was 6,000 quintals, compared to 5,400 quintals in 2021-22 and 6,090 quintals during the year 2022-23. Ajaz Hussain Dar, chief Agriculture officer Anantnag, blames the blast disease for the fall in production of Mushk Budij during the year 2021-22. “Though farmers use fungicide to keep the crop away from blast disease but sometimes the disease ruthlessly attacks the crop,” he says. Regarding the low demand of the crop, Dar says, a quality and proper packaging of the crop is required so that more and more consumers can buy it without any hassles. The special rice variety vanished from the agriculture fields during the 1960s when uncontrolled blast disease hit the crop. It took scientists at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST Kashmir) around more than four decades to resurrect the ailing crop from its death bed. In the year 2007-08, SKUAST’s Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops, Khudwani in south Kashmir started the Mushk Budij revival programme with an objective to conserve local biodiversity through utilisation for socio-economic development of rice growers. Senior SKUAST scientist Dr Amjad M Husaini tells Moneycontrol that a decade ago, he along with a team of scientists had conducted the genetic purification of Mushk Budij at SKUAST Khudwani campus. “Between 2008 and 2012, we started a revival and purification programme at SKUAST to check the authenticity of Mushk Budij. Through a participatory mode we checked the produce of each farmer so as to test the aroma in the crop. The programme was conducted with a purpose to find quality rice in Kashmir because rare aromatic varieties were giving better returns. In 2013, the purification was done and the government finally launched the tested Mushk Budij in 2014,” says Husaini, an associate professor at the division of plant biotechnology, SKUAST Kashmir. Three years later, in 2017, Sagam produced 6,029 quintals of the Mushk Budij and due to which the then agriculture minister Ghulam Nabi Hanjura had declared Sagam as a model village for Mushk Budij. When asked why the production of Mushk Budij has not enhanced during the past five years, Dar replied that due to extreme weather events the production has not enhanced and rather declined. “The climate change has hit every crop including Mushk Budij. Due to untimely rains and intense heat, the crop production has gone down by 20-40 per cent.” Husaini says that due to frequent crop failures, a well-researched programme was undertaken by scientists to incorporate blast resistance genes viz Pi54, Pi1 and Pita into the genetic background of Mushk Budij. “Within the next two-three years, a new Mushk Budij variety will be introduced which will not just be aromatic but will also be blast-resistant so that more and more land is brought under its cultivation. The farmers in Kashmir can easily grow the new variety to get higher returns.”

HYDERABAD-Deputy High Commissioner (DHC) Bangladesh for Sindh and Balochistan in Karachi S. M. Mahboob Al Alam on Friday invited the business community of Sindh to explore the markets in rice and cotton sectors of his country which had wider scope for business.

He moved such an invitation while addressing a gathering of the members of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce (HCCI) and Industry, the HCCI spokesman informed here.

He informed that Bangladesh had 40 billion dollars in foreign exchange reserves and added that due to effective policies, his country had progressed considerably in all sectors. Bangladesh had larger trade and industrial base which HCCI’s members and businessmen of Sindh must explore, he added.

He informed that his country now had 170 universities for imparting higher education, adding Bangladesh was producing 25,000 megawatts of electricity as compared to past production of just 4000 megawatts. The per capita income of Bangladesh stands at 2800 dollars against 100 dollars in the past, he informed.

He suggested that HCCI should send its trade delegation to Bangladesh, adding that Bangladesh’s cotton and rice sectors of Bangladesh have wider business opportunities. “The information technology sector is also performing well in his country,” he informed.

“We want to collaborate with Pakistan”. The European countries prefer Pakistani textile products, he informed.

Earlier, HCCI President Adeel Siddiqui in his welcome address said, “The trade balance lies in favour of Pakistan which was a positive sign.”

He invited Bangladeshi investors to make investments in Pakistan’s energy sector which he said would be beneficial for them.

He said, “HCCI stands for increasing bilateral trade to benefit two countries’ economies.”

He said, “Hyderabad is an industrial, trade and agriculture hub.” He maintained, “The pulses industry also exists in Hyderabad and added that raw pulses imported from Australia were being processed in Hyderabad’s industry.”

He called for opening pulses’ exports from Pakistan.

The HCCI President informed, “The large-scale manufacturing industry is also working in the city and Hyderabad holds an important place in Sindh for trade purposes.”

“There is huge potential for trade and industrial cooperation between two countries and this trade volume could be significantly increased to strengthen economies on both sides,” he added. He said Hyderabad was blessed with conventional and unconventional products and carpets and other products were competitive in the international market as well. He said Bangladesh investors should take advantage of Pakistan’s automobile industry.

PHNOM PENH, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia exported 118,041 tons of milled rice to China in the first five months of 2023, earning 77.4 million U.S. dollars in revenue, said the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF)'s press release on Thursday.

"China is the main export market for Cambodian milled rice, which accounted for 42.43 percent of Cambodia's total rice export volume (during the January-May period of 2023)," the press release said.

CRF President Chan Sokheang said that China is a huge market for the commodity.

"The federation will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Commerce to ensure that annual milled-rice sales to China top 400,000 tons each year," he said.

According to the press release, Cambodia exported 278,184 tons of milled rice to 50 countries and regions during the first five months of this year, generating 191.6 million dollars in revenue.

Milled rice varieties included premium aromatic rice, fragrant rice, long grain white rice, parboiled rice, and organic rice, it added.

The news release said the Philippines is a new market for Cambodia's milled rice, and the kingdom exported its first-ever big volume of 2,575 tons to the Philippines in May. 

After touching multi year high, prices of select agricultural products like rice and sugar are trading at close to the 10 to 15 years high. Neither it first, nor the last time that this trend has been visible. More important is whether this trend is sustainable, if yes, than what it means for companies which are part of the whole chain, either as consumer or supplier. Another important issue is whether retail investors should look at these stocks as tactical plays or as long term investment. To understand whether the up trend would be sustained or not, we have to look at the reasons for why prices are moving upward.

First, is the Ukraine war, which led to logistic issues at some important ports. Second, countries are becoming more protectionist. Third,sudden changes in climatic conditions lead to a drop in production of rice.

War will get settled, hopefully sooner than mater, but if the prices stay at elevated levels, protectionist policy will get a further push as no government would want food inflation to stay at higher levels, especially for locally produced agricultural products.

As far as climatic changes are concerned, they keep happening in different parts of the world and impact different crops. The only thing which may happen is that the frequency of these disturbances may get higher.

The current wave of rising prices brings in a mixture of head and tailwinds. Companies which are exporting rice and that too branded are likely to gain. Companies where 

agro products like sugar and rice go as inputs are likely to face some pressure on margins.

When we looked at companies in the sector, of the four companies, only two had ratings from analysts. Given the fact that most of these companies are in small cap space they don't get much attention from institutional investors. But if one looks at the price performance of these stocks in the last month it is clear that the street is smelling the aroma of basmati rice.

The data used in screening down these stocks has been gathered from Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus. The data used in screening the following 4 stocks has been gathered from the latest Refinitiv’s Stock Reports Plus report dated June 9, 2023.

https://et-infographics.indiatimes.com/graphs/qI4lW/1/
About Companies

KRBL Limited is a basmati rice processing company. The Company is engaged in seed development, contract farming, procurement of paddy, storage, processing, packaging, branding and marketing of basmati rice. It operates in Domestic Agri-division, which includes agricultural commodities, such as rice, Furfural, seed, bran and bran oil, and others; and Power division, which includes power generation from wind turbine, husk-based power plant and solar power plant. The Company's geographical segments include Sales within India and Sales outside India, including the Middle East and Other than the Middle East. The Company offers its rice under a range of brands, including India Gate, Nur Jahan, Telephone, Train, Unity, Lotus, Lion, Doon, Aarati, Shubh Mangal, Al Wisam, Al Bustan, Alhussam, Blue Bird, City Palace, Necklace, Southern Girl, Taj Mahal Tilla, Bemisal and Indian Farm, among others. It exports its products to Saudi Arab, Iran, Iraq, Yemen Republic, Kuwait, and others.

LT Foods Limited is a consumer food company. The Company operates through the manufacture and storage of rice segment. It operates in three principal geographical areas of the world: India, America, Europe and other countries (Rest of the world). The Company is primarily in the business of milling, processing and marketing branded and non-branded basmati rice and manufacturing of rice food products in the domestic and overseas market. Its operations include procurement, storage, processing, packaging and distribution. The Company is also engaged in research and development to add value to rice and rice food products. The Company's rice product portfolio comprises brown rice, white rice, steamed rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, quick-cooking rice, value-added rice and flavored rice in the ready-to-cook segment. Its brands include Daawat, Heritage, Devaaya, Chef Secretz and Rozana, which cater to a diverse customer portfolio.

Chaman Lal Setia Exports Limited is a company which is engaged in the business of milling and processing of basmati rice. The Company exports to approximately 80 countries around the world, which included European, Middle eastern, American, Asian and many other markets. The Company has a manufacturing unit located in Karnal, Haryana, which has an installed capacity of approximately 12 metric tons per hour, this facility is a state of art and automated rice processing unit. The Company also has grading and sorting facilities in Amritsar, Punjab, and Kandla, Gujarat. The Company processes rice in-house and uses a parboiled, raw, steam process. The Company's brands include Maharani, Mithas and Begum basmati brands. It is also involved in selling non-basmati rice under its brand Green World A romatic Rice. The Company also sells other products, such as Maharani Diabetics Rice and Basmati Rice Plus, and organic products, such as Maharani - Brown Basmati Rice.

Kohinoor Foods Limited is a company that is engaged in the business of manufacturing, trading, and marketing food products. The Company's assortment of food products includes Basmati Rice, Wheat Flour, Ready to Eat Curries and Meals, Simmer Sauces, Cooking Pastes to Spices, Seasonings and Frozen Food. It also offers Pure Ghee, Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese), Ready Mixes, Namkeens and Sweets. Its Basmati Rice includes Premium Basmati, Organic Basmati, Brown Basmati, Special Rice and Sela (Parboil) Basmati. Its packaged food includes dairy, biscuits and cookies, pickles, dry fruits and rice brain oil. The Company offers its products under the Kohinoor brand name. The Company's offerings are preferred by connoisseurs across the globe ranging from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to the Middle East and southeast Asian countries.

Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, is a comprehensive research report that undertakes an in-depth quantitative analysis to generate standardized scores for each of the five key components. A simple average of these scores is then normally distributed to reach an average score. Each stock is ranked on a scale of 1 to 10. A score of 8 to 10 is considered positive, 4 to 7 is neutral and 1 to 3 is given a negative outlook.

In addition to these scores, the report also contains trend analysis, peer analysis and mean analysts’ recommendations to help an investor make better & informed investment decisions.

Disclaimer: The views, scores, research and investment tips expressed herein are not that of Economic Times (“ET”) or its management and have been gathered from various third-party sources. ET does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information. The content provided herein including any output of tools/analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon or construed as an investment advice. ET advises users to check with a certified professional before making any investment decision.

June 8 (Reuters) - Prices of rice exported from top hub India jumped to their highest since early March this week, driven by tight supplies and a move to raise the government-mandated price for paddy, while rates for the staple from Thailand eased on lower demand.

India's 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $388-$395 per tonne, up from last week's $375-$380.

India on Wednesday raised the price at which it will buy new-season common rice paddy from farmers by 7% to 2,183 rupees per 100 kg.

"Paddy prices have gone up in the local market in the last one month anticipating a hike in support prices. It is ultimately pushing up rice export prices," said Himanshu Agarwal, executive director at Satyam Balajee, an exporter.

Neighbouring Bangladesh imported 634,000 tonnes of rice to ensure food security in the first 11 months of the current financial year ending in June, data from its food ministry showed.

Bangladesh, which often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by natural calamities, doesn't need to import rice in the coming fiscal year given good domestic yield, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder had said.

Thailand's 5% broken rice prices were quoted at $490-$495 per tonne, slightly down from last week's $495.

Demand was still flat and additional supply was expected next month during the harvest, a Bangkok-based trader said.

Another trader said demand from African countries has been quiet because Thai prices were higher compared to India, while prices were supported by concerns of droughts and exports to Indonesia.

Vietnam's 5% broken rice rates were unchanged at $490-$495 per tonne.

Traders said they are speeding up rice purchases from farmers to fulfil export contracts for the year.

State media cited the Vietnam Food Association as saying that high prices have encouraged farmers to invest more in the summer-autumn crop.

King Norodom Sihamoni has provided four tractors and donated $5 each to farmers of Popel commune in Kampong Chhnang province to speed up their paddy cultivation during the rainy season.

The King also distributed 25kg of rice noodles and other daily essentials, including canned fish and fish brine, to 234 families of the Popel commune in Boribor district of Kampong Chhnang province. The children also received a surprise Royal gift of $2.5 each.

Kong Sam Ol, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace, handed over the tractors as he visited the farmers on behalf of the King to monitor the progress in farming.

Sam Ol, also the representative of the King, shared the details of the King’s assistance to the struggling farmers of Popel commune.

Sam Ol said that the King’s humanitarian gesture will help the farmers who have started ploughing the fields in a slow pace to speed up their work and it will make their cultivation easier than before. The donation of tractors and money shows the King’s thoughtfulness to improve the lives of the poor people.

Popel commune chief Chea Sobon said yesterday that the King always assists the farmers and other communes in Boribo district had already benefitted from the tractors the King had provided them.

Sobon said, “Farmers in Popel commune are grateful to the King for providing them with tractors as it will speed up their work by 60 to 70%. Previously they were using  cattle to plough their paddy field. Once the ploughing is done, the tractors will be sent back to the Royal Palace.”

Thanking the King for providing tractors, Thoeun Saroth, 36, said that it will benefit the families who have been struggling without cattle to plough their rice fields. Some farmers take tractors on rental basis to speed up their farm work.

“I want to thank both the King and Kong Sam Ol for helping farmers in Popel commune. I wish the King long life and prosperity,” she added.

PUSA 44 is an unrecommended non-basmati variety of rice, clearly tagged as an environmental hazard that takes a month longer to mature than other varieties

The seeds of Delhi and the northern plains’ bad air this winter will be sown in Punjab next week. The equation reads thus: PUSA 44 in June equals higher PM2.5 and PM10 in November.

PUSA 44 is an unrecommended non-basmati variety of rice, clearly tagged as an environmental hazard that takes a month longer to mature than other varieties. As a result, farmers have less of a window to clear the fields after its harvest to plant the winter wheat crop – and so, it is well known as a key contributor to the stubble burning that causes chronic air pollution over Delhi and the northern plains.

The variety remains popular among rice cultivators of Punjab because of its higher yield.

In 2022-23, this long-duration variety was sown on almost 1.2 million acres despite the state government trying to make farmers switch to short-duration varieties such as PR 126 and 128. Officials in the state agriculture department estimate that this year, the acerage of this variety is likely to be between 7,00,000 and 1 million acres.

PUSA 44, largely cultivated in the districts of Barnala, Sangrur, Ferozepur, Patiala and Moga, is notorious for producing more organic waste than other paddy varieties. Developed by the Delhi-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), commonly referred to as PUSA Institute, it is one of the oldest varieties grown in Punjab.

But it takes longer to mature. The chief agriculture officer of Ferozepur, Tejpal Singh said PUSA 44 takes 145-150 days to mature, almost 30 days more than other recommended parmal rice (PR) varieties.

It also needs more water, and generates more waste.

“This variety is notorious for requiring 5-6 extra cycles of irrigation than other types of paddy. PUSA 44 generates about 30 quintals of straw per acre, which is 5-7 quintals more than other varieties,” Singh added.

Punjab agriculture department director Gurvidner Singh said the department has intensified a drive against the water-intensive variety.

“Following a recommendation from Punjab to phase out the unwanted variety, the Centre withdrew PUSA 44 from the seed cycle last year. But farmers having personal seed banks will continue sowing it this year. But certified seeds of PUSA 44 will not be available for the 2023-24 kharif sowing season and we hope to get rid of it from next year,” he added.

Haryana has already banned its sowing from this season.

“In 2022, the Haryana government launched an intense campaign to discourage farmers from sowing it. But from the current kharif season, sowing of PUSA 44 is prohibited,” said Karam Chand, the director of Jind-based State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (HAMETI), an autonomous public sector body in Haryana.

Delhi’s winter pollution problem cannot be resolved by stopgap measures taken when a toxic haze descends on the Capital, and needs holistic measures that are implemented the whole year. Therefore, the authorities must ensure on priority that PUSA 44 varieties of seeds are not sown, and work with farmers to forestall a future stubble burning problem.

Harvinder Singh, a farmer in Dhanaula in Barnala district blames state authorities for failing to sensitise farmers about the field success of short-duration varieties. He said 5-7 quintals more yield from PUSA 44 is the biggest attraction for farmers.

“Our joint family has about 65 acres and we have been sowing PUSA 44 and other long-duration varieties for the last several years. After limited field experiments with short duration variety of PR 128 since 2020, we have completely phased out PUSA 44,” he said.

According to the director of extension education at Punjab Agriculture University, Gurmeet Singh Buttar, the higher yield is offset by other factors.

“Farmers do not calculate higher cost input, stress on groundwater, higher chemical load and the excess electricity they need to run tube wells for this long-duration variety. Being a long-duration variety, it remains more exposed to pest attacks. PUSA-44 is a water guzzler. Since it matures late, PUSA 44 leaves a short window for wheat sowing in the rabi season and hinders best practices for paddy stubble management,” he explained.

Exporters have expressed concerns over expected water shortage for rice and cotton crops during the current Kharif season.

Pakistan’s rice and textile exports are declining during the current year, and they are feared to drop further if enough water is not available for crops, exporters said.

The experts responded to a report of Indus River System Authority (IRSA) saying that the country is facing a significant water shortage of 37% during the current Kharif season, which could affect important cash crops.

Hamid Zaman, Chairman (North Zone) of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), told WealthPK that constant decline in cotton production was already hurting the country’s textile sector and exports.

“Decline in cotton production is directly hitting Pakistan’s exports, employment and in come of the people besides increasing trade deficit,” he said.

Hamid called upon the government to take measures for water conservation in the country.

“Agriculture is the backbone of the economy as it provides raw material to industry and ensures food security,” he said. 

The APTMA representative said textile producers have to pay $400 million to import one million bales of cotton. “Imported cotton is expensive and it also impacts the competitiveness of the textile sector,” he added.

Hamid said that government should help farmers to grow cotton crop.

“According to an estimate, Pakistan was losing at least $5 billion directly on account of low production of cotton,” Hamid said, adding that increase in cotton production will have a direct impact of $1 billion per 1 million bales.

According to the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, production of cotton declined by 35.49% in Pakistan due to various reasons during last 12 years.

Chela Ram Kewlani, Chairman of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), said while talking to WealthPK that the federal and provincial governments should take measures to ensure availability of water for important crops during the coming season.

He pointed out that the export of rice was already on a declining trend during the current fiscal year. 

“Rice export dropped by 11.17% in terms of value and 19.49% by quantity during first 10 months of the current fiscal year,” Kewlani said.

The REAP chairman said rice crop was damaged by floods last year, and now another calamity is feared in shape of water shortage.

Kewlani said that exporters were expecting rice exports to grow over $2.8 billion during the current fiscal year (2022-23) after getting encouragement from record exports of $2.51 billion during last fiscal year. However, he said, initially the floods, and then the water shortage shattered their hopes.

He urged the government to re-consider the water distribution formula for the coming seasons to avoid such situations in future.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Pakistan spent $1.828 billion to import 776,394 metric tons (MT) of raw cotton during 2021-22.

Pakistan’s rice exports increased by 23% during the fiscal year 2021-22 compared to the exports of 2020-21, PBS reported. During 2021-22, over 4.877 million metric tons of rice valuing $2.511 billion was exported against 3.684 million metric tons worth $2.041 billion during 2020-21.

LAHORE: In a significant move to enhance rice production, the Punjab government has announced a target of cultivating rice across 5 million acres of land this year.

Secretary of Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo unveiled this plan during the inaugural meeting of the Rice Management Group held at the Civil Secretariat on Wednesday.

Secretary Sahoo emphasized utilizing all available resources to achieve this production milestone. He highlighted that rice caters to the nation’s population’s nutritional needs and serves as a crucial source of foreign exchange earnings.

During the meeting, it was revealed that rice cultivation in Punjab witnessed a notable increase of 6.7% over the past three years. In the fiscal year 2022-23, rice was cultivated over an area of 5.4 million acres, resulting in a production yield of 5.57 million tons. Pakistan generated $3.05 million in foreign exchange by exporting 4.87 million tons of rice.

To support the national plan for increasing rice production per acre, the Punjab government has introduced subsidies for registered farmers. A subsidy of Rs1500 per bag is provided for Basmati varieties, while Rs1000 per bag is offered for non-Basmati varieties.

Additionally, the government grants Rs30,000 per acre for cultivating demonstration plots in selected districts of Punjab. Modern machinery is being provided to progressive farmers and service providers in designated districts to promote mechanized agriculture and make effective use of paddy residue.

The Secretary further directed the availability of standardized agricultural inputs in the market during the paddy cultivation season. He emphasized the cancellation of licenses and agencies of dealers selling non-standard agricultural inputs. The meeting also stressed the need for special measures to boost paddy exports.

Prominent figures present at the meeting included Additional Secretary Agriculture Task Force Punjab Muhammad Shabir Ahmed Khan, Director General Agriculture Extension Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali, Chief Scientist Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Director General Agriculture Pest Warning Punjab Rana Faqir Ahmed, Principal Scientist Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku Syed Sultan Ali, Director Agricultural Information Punjab Muhammad Rafiq Akhtar, Director Agriculture Adaptive Research Mushtaq Ali, Director Agriculture Extension Gujranwala Javed Akhtar, and Director Agriculture Extension Gujarat Dr Irfanullah, along with progressive farmers from the rice zone.

The Punjab government’s comprehensive strategy aims to significantly enhance rice production, ensuring food security and boosting the economy through increased export potential.

Since 2016, when Cao Xi returned from Brazil to his home in the city of Jilin, Jilin province, he has been working to develop his business and help fellow residents prosper.

The 34-year-old was admitted to the finance department of Xiamen University in Fujian province in 2007 and continued his studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland after graduating in 2011.

After obtaining his master's degree in 2012, he started a successful international trade business in Brazil.

He returned home in 2016 to visit his family and stayed for several months to care for his grandfather, who had fallen ill.

"It was also an opportunity to spend more time with my childhood friends," he said. "I was really happy to be able to be together with my family and friends."

At the same time, Cao saw that agriculture and rural tourism in Jilin were thriving as a result of the country's rural vitalization efforts. "I felt I could take advantage of more opportunities and had a greater chance to develop if I came home to stay," he said.

So Cao started a business in his hometown.

With 5 million yuan ($722,000), he and three friends set up the Yitian Ecological Agriculture Technology Co, an organic rice planting cooperative in Dasuihe village, in early 2017. They rented 300 hectares of farmland to grow rice.

"We chose to plant rice in Dasuihe because it has fertile farmland and convenient transportation to the city," he said.

At first, his parents didn't support his decision.

"At the time, I had finished immigration proceedings in Brazil," he said. "They thought that I should make my life where I had achieved success, as I had been to college and lived overseas. Working in agriculture wasn't the modern solution."

Eventually, Cao convinced them that he was doing the right thing. "I explained the favorable national policies that are encouraging the development of new agriculture, which may bring huge business opportunities," he said. "Additionally, I want to help the villagers earn more money."

Cao grew up in the city but has lots of relatives living in rural areas, so he has many memories related to farming.

"However, I had difficulties at first because I didn't have much professional agricultural knowledge or experience," he said.

He spent time learning about agriculture, especially about rice planting, such as how to improve the quality of crops.

His company cooperated closely with several local agriculture research institutes and colleges, focusing on technological development. They developed their own take on integrated rice growing, which involves raising ducks, crabs and fish in paddy fields, that can help organic rice grow in an eco-friendly fashion.

"Agriculture is ancient, but agricultural technology and business models are constantly changing," he said. "I can combine my financial knowledge with traditional agriculture and contribute to the development of agriculture."

Cao turned to mechanization and intelligent planting.

"Now, our 300 hectares of farmland only need 100 farmers for centralized planting. In the past, that same amount of land would have been worked by more than 2,000 people," he said. "The annual income for every household has increased by 20,000 yuan."

To attract more customers, Cao and his team turned to make sales through a variety of channels, including livestreaming, e-commerce platforms and group customization.

"Environmentally friendly agriculture is fundamentally different from traditional agriculture, so we need to pay more attention to individuality and branding," he said. "To package the rice, for instance, we chose kraft paper decorated with farm scenes, which has been well received."

In 2019, the company rebuilt some farmhouses around the village and developed a rural tourism project.

Covering an area of 60,000 square meters and with an investment of 8 million yuan, it includes traditional residences serving as homestays, fish and lotus ponds, an art theater, an agricultural products exhibition center, a professional rural-style video shooting venue, a plum wine production area and a storage cellar.

"With support from local governments, we hope to create a leading rice brand in the province," he said. "At the same time, through the rural tourism project, we can integrate resources to create a rural tourism alliance that will lead more farmers down the path of wealth."

YANGON (Xinhua): Myanmar's rice exports declined to 46,786 tonnes in May, compared to 94,691 tonnes recorded in the same period last year, data by Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) showed on Tuesday (June 6).

The South-East Asian country also exported 63,920 tonnes of broken rice last month, compared to 58,815.5 tonnes exported a year earlier, the MRF data showed.

Turkiye was the top buyer of Myanmar's rice in May, with 11,376 tonnes, while Belgium was the top buyer of broken rice during the cited period, with 25,925 tonnes.

In May, Myanmar exported its rice and broken rice to Turkiye, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, China and other countries.

The South-East Asian country, which has a long coastline, has shipped most of its rice and broken rice via sea routes.

Myanmar earned US$853.472 million from the exports of more than 2.2 million tonnes of rice and broken rice during the 2022-23 fiscal year, showed the MRF data.

In Myanmar, rice is the most cultivated crop followed by beans and pulses.

Rice acreage has increased and prices are up compared to a year ago.

After taking a break from rice last year, Mississippi producers who typically grow the crop have returned to it this year.

Hunter Bowman, Mississippi State University Extension Service rice specialist, said growers in the state have planted 119,000 acres of rice. That’s well over the 84,500 acres planted in 2022.

“Last year, a lot of our growers switched to soybeans because market prices for soybeans were better and prices for the fertilizer used in rice was high,” Bowman said. “This year, fertilizer prices have leveled off. They aren’t low, but they’re not as high. Last year was a good year for rice, and that pulled a lot of growers back in this year.”

The crop is 98% planted with a few fields awaiting replant. Dry, crusted soils prevented some rice from emerging, while some other fields were damaged from herbicide drift, Bowman said.

Crop progress

According to the May 21 Crop Progress and Condition report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, planting is well ahead of the five-year average of 86%. The report also estimates 91% of the crop is in good or fair condition, 6% is excellent, and just 3% is poor.

“We’re over the hard part in most of our rice fields,” Bowman said on May 23. “A good portion of our fields will be flooded next week and get their first dose of nitrogen fertilizer.”

Then, producers begin to scout for insects, which Bowman expects to be at least a nuisance.

“There is no way to know for sure what issues we’ll face with insects and disease yet, but we’ll probably have some insect issues because of the mild winter we had. It just didn’t get cold enough to lower our insect numbers that much,” said Bowman, who is also a researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station based at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville.

Insect issues

Each year, Extension entomologists scout the roadsides and tree lines near crops to get an idea of what insects might be a problem.

“I know our entomologists have been doing surveys on the roadsides around fields and in the tree lines. From what has been relayed to me, it is possible that rice stinkbug will be an issue for us this year,” Bowman said.

Will Maples, MSU Extension agricultural economist, said the current outlook for prices is positive, with a projected national average farm price of $15 per hundredweight for long-grain rice. That’s down from $16.90 per hundredweight in 2022.

“While prices are expected to be lower than last year, it’s still higher than two years ago,” Maples said.

2023 prices

This year’s lower prices are a result of a combination of factors.

“The main driver for this price decrease is larger supplies, with production expected to be up 20% due to more planted acreage,” Maples said. “High input costs limited rice acreage last year, but as these costs have eased down slowly, more acreage is expected in 2023.

“Demand for rice is expected to increase in 2023, with domestic use and exports up. However, continued competition from South American countries will limit U.S. long-grain rice export opportunities.”

Source: Mississippi State University Extension Service

OLATHE, Kan. (June 5, 2023) – To meet the demands of today’s high-yielding rice varieties and tighter harvesting windows faced by farmers, John Deere offers a new rice package for model year 2024 X9 1000 combines that can harvest up to 3,200 bushels per hour.

The rice package features enhanced wear parts of key components inside the combine. The tougher coatings and stainless-steel parts can better withstand the abrasiveness of hybrid rice varieties when compared to previous models.

While harvesting rice, MY24 X9 1000 combines equipped with the rice package can provide up to 65% more harvesting capacity while using 20% less fuel when compared to John Deere S790 combines. This increased harvesting capacity is possible thanks to the dual separator of the X Series that’s built to handle high crop volume without sacrificing grain quality. This ensures smooth crop flow during harvest, even in downed rice.

The grain tank on the X9 1000 can hold up to 420 bushels of rice so farmers can spend more time harvesting and less time stopping to offload grain.

To learn more about the new rice package for X9 1000 combines, farmers should visit their local John Deere dealers or Deere.com for details.

Agricultural Technology: Mechanization boosts rice harvest in south China's Hainan

Today marks the Mang Zhong, or "Grain in Ear" in English, a traditional Chinese solar term that signifies the ripening of crops, and a busy time for farmers. We zoom in on China's only tropical province of Hainan, which is looking to achieve high-efficiency agriculture in conditions not experienced elsewhere in the country. The province is increasing investment in mechanisation and smart technology to increase rice production. LIN WO has the story from Hainan.

Farmers in Hainan have been busy harvesting and drying rice. Hainan's grain planting area amounts to about 144,000 hectares, with about 80 per cent devoted to rice. By the end of May, about one-third of the rice crop had been harvested.

BAI FENGZHEN Co-founder Hainan Wutianjia Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. "We expanded the planting area through made-to-order farming and transferring management of large areas of land to the professional agricultural cooperative, which has also improved farmers' enthusiasm for grain planting."

This year, Hainan received 29.5 million yuan of subsidies from the Chinese central government and almost six million yuan from the provincial government for mechanisation to improve production. Meanwhile, 10 cities and counties, such as Haikou, Sanya and Wenchang have promoted the use of photovoltaic-controlled irrigation technology. More than 80 5G intelligent irrigation projects have been built, benefiting more than 6,000 hectares of land.

LI PENG Chief Agronomist Hainan Provincial Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs "We will continue to strengthen staff training for agricultural production, and formulate policies to attract more personnel and more investment."

Farming and production in Hainan will be further helped by the proposed Sanya Southern Breeding Mechanized Scientific Research Center and the Danzhou International Research and Development Center for Tropical Crops and Agricultural Mechanization. They will focus on key agricultural processes and mechanization technologies.

LINWO, Sansha Satellite TV in Hainan for CGTN.

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, said it intercepted contraband worth N1.025billion in one month.

The contraband intercepted are, 12 trucks of smuggled foreign parboiled rice; 1,236 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS); 2 container load of woods; 4 units of tokunbo vehicles; vegetable oil and 54 bales of second hand clothing.

Speaking to Journalists, the acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Compt. Hussein Ejibunu, also disclosed that the unit impounded a truck load of Indian Hemp around the Lekki area of Lagos brought in by boat from Ghana.

He said, “Detentions and seizures recorded within the period under review amounted to 79 seizures, with a total Duty Paid Value, DPV of N1.025billion. these seizures are products of surveillance, intelligence gathering and regular patrols. 

“They were intercepted at different times and locations within border corridors of the South-Western Zone and notable among the seizures are: 6,861 X 50 kg bags of foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to 12 trailer loads);

1,236 jerry cans; 25 litres (30,900 litres) of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS; 9,857 parcels (5,338 kg) of cannabis sativa and 2 X 20 containers of unprocessed wood.”

“Others are four units of used vehicles (Tokunbo), 40 X 5 jerry cans of vegetable oil and 54 bales of second hand clothing, four suspects were arrested in connection with some of the intercepted goods,” he noted.

Ejibunu, however, disclosed that the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Sentence some smugglers to prison for assaulting officers on duty.

“4 suspects were arrested in connection with some of the intercepted goods. For ongoing prosecution of suspects, the Federal High Court at Abeokuta-Ogun, sentenced Musa Oloyede, Fishing Godwin David and Adeniyi Alaye, to two years imprisonment for assaulting our officers while carrying out their statutory duties. 

“On revenue, the sum of N38.35million was generated through conscious and thorough documentary checks, followed by the issuance of demand notices on consignments that were found to have paid lesser amounts than the appropriate customs duty.”

“Consequent to the social effect of cannabis sativa on the youths, it becomes very worrisome that a total of 9,857 parcels were seized ina single swoop. Crime experts have found a direct relationship between the intake of this controlled plant and violent crimes. We are conscious of this challenge and will continually cut the supply chain of illicit drugs and other prohibited substances.” 

“I want to urge all patriotic Nigerians to promptly share useful information with our operatives that will assist to checkmate the menace of smuggling. Since smuggling is a crime that deals in illegal trade, such as illicit drugs and prohibited weapons, Nigerians should see insecurity and other crimes as products of smuggling. The perpetrators should be considered as common enemies of the land that must be jointly fought by all citizens.”

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Sometimes a recipe calls for cooked white rice. Could you clarify the difference between long grain versus short grain rice for recipes?

Usually, I just wing it but one might be better than the other. I like using jasmine rice in my vegan rice pudding as this variety is naturally sweet. I’m also wondering if you have a good vegan rice pudding recipe. My version is coconut milk and jasmine rice with whole cardamom pods added to the rice cooking water.

I’ve also wondered about green tea. I need to be careful with caffeine and buy tea leaves with the least caffeine.

I reuse my tea leaves four times. Do you get less caffeine when you reuse the leaves but still get all the health benefits? — No name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Short-grain rice is starchy, glutinous, and cooks up soft and sticky. It’s used in things such as sushi and puddings. Short-grain rice is also used in Chinese cooking.

Long-grain rice contains less starch so the cooked grains are fluffier, drier, and more separate. Basmati and jasmine rice are used in Indian dishes as well as in Mexican cuisine.

Then there’s medium-grain rice such as Arborio and Valencia used for risotto, and Bomba rice, used for paella. This cooks to a tender, moist consistency.

The difference isn’t so much the size of the grain, but the texture. For example, long grain rice such as jasmine or basmati, doesn’t work as well in sushi or rice pudding as short-grain rice does. However, you can interchange these different varieties of rice in some circumstances.

Here’s a rice pudding recipe where you can use the jasmine rice you prefer:

Using a medium saucepan, whisk together 1/2 cup plain, unsweetened almond milk, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, and 1/8 teaspoon sea salt. Add 1 1/2 cups cooked rice.

Stir occasionally over medium heat and cook for 13-16 minutes or until rice has absorbed most of the liquid but is still slightly runny.

Add 1/2 cup light coconut milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir constantly for 2-4 minutes until the mixture is thick yet pourable. It will thicken as it cools.

Remove pan from the heat and add cinnamon and/or raisins if desired. Let the pudding cool for a few minutes if serving warm.

To cool pudding completely, spoon into a heat-proof bowl and cover the top of the pudding with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.

As for your tea question, quality loose leaf tea can be reused many times and maintain its health benefits. The most important factor in determining how much caffeine is infused into your cup is the water temperature: the hotter the water, the more caffeine, although it will be reduced a bit with each consecutive cup.

Green teas such as Japanese Gyokuro and Sencha are two of the teas that can be infused from 2 and 5 times.

Green tea leaves impart a stronger flavor in their following resteeps than in their first brew. Resteeping tea leaves is fine over the course of a day, but they should never be kept overnight, as this is a recipe for bacterial growth. We want health benefits, not a bellyache.

ILOILO CITY -- As part of the target sites of the Department of Agriculture (DA-6) in Western Visayas region, the provincial government of Iloilo has launched a P30-million hybrid rice seed program to cater to more than 6,000 hectares of rice farms.

“We are pushing for the hybridization program to improve our current average yield of 4.5 metric tons per hectare of palay even before the completion of the biggest dam project outside Luzon, the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II,” said Iloilo Governor Arthur ‘Toto’ Defensor Jr.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. leads the distribution of hybrid seeds to farmer beneficiaries in San Miguel town, Iloilo province to boost yield this planting season.  (DA-6)

The program is part of Province-led Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Systems (PAFES) that was launched in San Miguel town, where 309 bags of seeds were distributed to farmer beneficiaries.

In a report released by the DA-6, only seven towns in Iloilo province were  able to avail 45,000 bags of hybrid seeds in fiscal year 2022. These included Ajuy, Dumangas, Pavia, Mina, New Lucena, Barotac Nuevo, and Banate. These towns had an average yield of five metric tons per hectare.

The DA-6 backs the Iloilo Agricultural Office to boost the area and yield for hybrid planting this year.

Newswise — Fundamental research offers opportunities for new varieties of pigmented rice and a resource to address malnutrition.

Pigmented rice is known to be much more nutritious than white rice and could be an important resource to improve human health and combat malnutrition. However, improved yield and agronomic traits are needed if these varieties, which include black, brown and red, are to become widely accepted by farmers.

An international team led by KAUST’s Magdy Mahfouz and Khalid Sedeek has shown that desirable agronomic traits of shorter stem length and early maturity can be introduced into black rice^[1].

Sedeek, a postdoc in Mahfouz’s lab, says the first step toward making these improvements has been to gather comprehensive genomic information.

“Even though the genomes of several japonica and indica rice varieties have been assembled, full genome sequences are only available for a few pigmented varieties,” he says.

The researchers selected three black and two red rice varieties for whole-genome sequencing. To detect further genetic variation, they sequenced an additional 46 varieties.

“The next step was to analyze the composition of these varieties to identify those with superior nutrition as candidates for improvement,” says Sedeek. To do this, the researchers screened 63 varieties of black, red and brown rice, with black rice showing the best nutrient content across a wide range of compounds, including carbohydrates, amino acids, secondary metabolites, lipids, peptides and vitamins.

Pigmented rice (especially black rice) is also rich in essential microelements, including iron, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. In particular, the black Indonesian rice Cempo Ireng (the richest rice in iron and the richest black rice genotype in zinc) could provide the daily requirements of these essential elements.

The researchers used these nutrient and metal-ion profiles to identify several nutrient-rich varieties with higher levels of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds and elements, which could be likely varieties for improvement.

One of these was Cempo Ireng. However, despite its pest and disease resistance, farmers are reluctant to cultivate Cempo Ireng due to its long stem and five-month life cycle. Sedeek established a regeneration and transformation system in Cempo Ireng and then used CRISPR/Cas 9 to knock out three flowering time repressors, resulting in a shorter earlier maturing variety.

The improved agronomic traits in pigmented rice varieties have the potential to make them more suitable for cultivation and incorporation into the food chain. However, Mahfouz notes, more work is needed to determine whether these engineered traits can co-exist with other important traits, such as yield, in pigmented rice.

“Nevertheless,” he says, “This research provides important resources for crop bioengineers and breeders to continue improving pigmented rice and harness its potential benefits for human health.”

Mahfouz and his team now plan to improve a local red rice variety known as Hassawi rice. This particular rice strain, which is native to Saudi Arabia, holds immense cultural and economic significance in the region. By utilizing CRISPR technology, the group aims to enhance the productivity and other key traits of Hassawi rice to meet the unique demands of the local Saudi market.

LAHORE : A meeting of the committee to carry out the latest research on development of quality seeds of rice, wheat and cotton was held at committee room of PU Vice-Chancellor's office. Rice Research and Development Board Chairman, Punjab, Shahzad Ali Malik, Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Director Prof Dr Shakeel Ahmad and other officials participated in the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Shahzad Malik stressed the need for immediate steps to increase per acre yield of field crops through higher yielding varieties which is possible by rewarding breeders through a lucrative incentive package/scheme. He highlighted that out of five major field crops rice, maize, cotton, wheat and sugar cane, only two crops, rice and maize performed well due to high yield varieties with the main contribution of private sector. He said rice and maize helped Pakistan to achieve local demand, export earnings and import substitution. Malik reiterated that solution of the current situation lies in the agro-based economy and we need to focus on it seriously.

The state government has expanded the supply of fortified rice, aimed at addressing malnutrition, to 31 districts of Karnataka without conducting any biomarker tests or studying the pros and cons.

In April 2022, the government, under its ‘Poushtika Karnataka’ (Nutrition Karnataka) programme, decided to provide fortified rice on a pilot basis. It involves grinding broken rice into powder and fortifying it with micronutrients such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12, and then shaping it into rice-like kernels for beneficiaries in 14 districts. Based on the findings, the programme was to be implemented across the state. From April 2023, over 4.44 crore people are receiving fortified rice under the centrally-sponsored programme.

However, multiple sources in Food & Civil Supplies and Women & Child Development departments confirmed to DH that they have not conducted any study to ascertain if fortified rice has addressed the intended purpose of minimising anaemia, malnutrition and others.

Scientists are divided over supplying iron-fortified rice under various schemes of the public distribution system including Antyodaya, priority household cards, Anganwadi, and mid-day meals.

While a section of experts fears that an irrational supply of iron- a 'non-friendly chemical'-could cause more harm, others argue that India is supplementing fortified rice as per the advice of the World

Health Organisation and within the permissible limits.

Dr Anura Kurpad, member of NITI Aayog's National Technical Board on Nutrition and Professor at St John's Medical College, Bengaluru, says in principle, supplying fortified rice to a poor population is a great idea.

"But doing this in an imprecise way by supplying all through a mandatory system is not so great. This

could provide excess iron supplement to a large proportion of beneficiaries, particularly men whose

requirements are lower and whose diets do not need additional iron content, and this is is a worrying

factor," he says.

He says several studies have shown that providing an excess of iron content, especially to men, can have a cascading effect (as they cannot easily excrete iron from body). His study of data from a national survey of children has also found that adolescent children with higher iron stores, as measured by serum ferritin levels, run a risk of higher blood sugar levels, which in the long run has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes, dyslipidemias, and high blood pressure. Giving an iron supplement through fortification to children will increase body iron stores over time, and there is need for caution and precision in giving iron only to those who need it. A mandatory blanket provision will not do this.

"Without screening or surveying patients, the government through PDS is providing fortified rice to two- thirds of its population. The amount of iron that will be delivered to a beneficiary will be 10 mg per day, from each iron-fortified food. Apart from this, it is also providing iron and folic acid tablets to women (60 mg per week) and children. Given that men and women need only 10-15 mg of iron per day, one serving of iron-fortified rice will supply the entire daily iron requirement for men, and most for women. Eating two fortified foods simultaneously-like fortified salt along with rice-will double the amount

ingested iron to 20 mg per day. To this, we must add the iron from iron tablets supplied to women and children, plus the natural iron in the usual foods that are eaten, like green leafy vegetables and millet. There is no defined time limit to the fortification programme, nor any plan to test when this should be rolled back. The prolonged consumption of fortified rice can result in high iron stores along with oxidative stress resulting in harm to the body. Without monitoring the consequences, we could be putting a large proportion of the population in harm's way," he warns

Unlike other medications that are clinically provided under supervision (including consumption of iron

tablets) where the dosage is for a specific period, the government has not mentioned a plan or

indicators for tapering of fortified rice consumption, he adds The government, as recommended by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has

been mixing one kg of fortified rice in one quintal of normal rice.

Countering Dr Kurpad's argument, Dr Prashanth Thankachan, an expert in micronutrients at St John's Research Institute, says the iron from fortified rice being provided in PDS is one-third (4.5 mg) of the total daily requirement. "In a country with a lack of diversity in food consumption, supplying iron fortified rice is a low-cost, safe and effective means of addressing malnutrition," he says. At least 14 countries including the United States of America, Canada and Bangladesh are supplying fortified rice since 2000, None of these countries have reported any adverse impact, he says.

"A person with no iron deficiency will not absorb additional iron into the body even if present in the food and, therefore, the risk of adverse events is nonexistent. The classic example is of salt fortified with adine to tackle iodine deficiency in the country, fodine deficiency has come down drastically in India, he says

A couple of days ago, the World Health Organisation in its Switzerland assembly passed a resolution

aking nations to increase supply of fortified food grains at the earliest to improve micronutrient levels among children and women,

Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar, Additional Director (Vigilance & Public Distribution) of the Food and Civil

Supplies Department, says they are awaiting a study from Path Foundation regarding the benefits of

fortified rice.

Path Foundation is funded by the Bill Gates and Melinda Foundation that is promoting the use of fortified rice in India.

"As of now, the state government does not have any report on the pros and cons of fortified rice. The centrally-sponsored scheme is being implemented based on several scientific studies conducted across the world. It has proved efficient in improving haemoglobin and nutrition levels in children and pregnant women," he says.

Path Foundation office-bearer Satyabrat informed DH that they have not conducted biomarker tests but meta-analyses on beneficiaries.

Experts say there is no proof to suggest that the consumption of fortified rice improves malnutrition as

the iron content in 'chemically laced rice is low.

Kalaburagi Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director Naveen Kumar U says the department is not completely dependent on fortified rice. "We are trying to mitigate malnutrition and anaemia at multiple levels, including providing eggs, bananas and others. So, it is difficult to say if the

changes witnessed in the district are due to fortified rice," he says.

Kalaburagi was among the 14 districts selected on a pilot basis and received 1.33 lakh metric tonnes of

fortified rice. It ranks among districts with high levels of malnutrition. Dr Anura Kurpad said instead of supplying iron-fortified rice, the government should encourage the

consumption of fruits and provide nutritious supplements based on screening.

Rice growers say still handed poor seeds from state-picked suppliers despite years of complaints.

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Smallholding rice growers, many of them poor, have again called for an urgent reform of the government’s national paddy policy following piles of complaints that state-picked companies are still handing out poor-quality seeds, even as they enjoy millions of ringgit in taxpayers subsidies.

PeSawah, the association representing paddy farmers, said rice growers from Penang, Kedah, and Negeri Sembilan have lodged complaints about seeds that were either badly damaged or wouldn’t grow, which could potentially lower yields and affect income for families that are already struggling to cope with living cost pressure.

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“For your information, this isn’t the first case, various parties including PeSawah have highlighted the problem of the poor quality of these paddy seeds supplied by these selected companies for the last four years,” said Abdul Rashid Yob, one of the group’s executive committee members, in a statement.

“Apart from the poor quality of seeds we’ve faced other problems such as inadequate supply and exploitative pricing. How many more complaints must we farmers lodge, it’s as if they’re ignoring us.”

He alleged it is a problem that has dragged on for years because suppliers are the benefactors of a licensing and quota system that chose them based on patronage, ultimately guaranteeing them “millions of ringgit in subsidies” even if the quality of seeds they supply is poor.

Rice is a staple food among Malaysians, making it one of the most important food crops in the country.

Still, local growers can produce just up to 65 per cent of the rice supply needed to meet local demand, relying on imports from countries like Thailand and Vietnam to make up the shortfall.

Because of this, rice production continues to operate under a largely protected system that is meant to keep prices “stable”, which policy analysts said has placed nearly the entire rice production chain, including rice milling and provisions of inputs for growing like pesticides, seeds and fertilisers, under the control of just several companies.

These companies receive millions of ringgit in yearly subsidies meant to absorb the cost of inputs. Padiberas Nasional Berhad, a former state-turned-private enterprise that currently controls up to two-thirds of the rice supply market, said up to 12.5 per cent of the annual federal budget goes into subsidising rice production.

Abdul Rashid said this could be one of the factors that make suppliers feel they are insulated from scrutiny.

“We are convinced this lackadaisical attitude of the seed suppliers who care little about the fate of poor farmers is because of this licensing and quota system whereby at every season they are easily guaranteed millions of ringgit in profits from government subsidies that go straight into their coffers,” he said.

“This means regardless if the quality of seeds they supply are poor or good they still get to claim subsidies. This is further enabled by poor enforcement and monitoring.”

Today’s statement came as farmers have for years tried to push for the government to abolish the limited licensing system so the supply of paddy seeds can be opened up.

Abdul Rashid said PeSawah’s members also want regulators to allow seed sharing, a progressive idea pushed by grassroots groups worldwide because it helps promote genetic diversity, maintain the quality of crops, helps cut the cost of seeds for farmers and increase their access to a wider variety of other crops.

“And we want the subsidies for paddy seeds to be channelled directly towards farmers too,” he added.

“This way farmers will have more options and there can be competition that acts as assurance of quality and price.”

MANILA, Philippines — The government should prioritize the competitiveness of local palay farmers amid the flooding of imported grains, according to a farmers’ group, as it pointed out that achieving rice self-sufficiency would be short-lived if it lacks profitability for producers.

In a radio interview yesterday, Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) national manager Raul Montemayor said that while President Marcos’ target of achieving 97.5-percent rice self-sufficiency in five years is “technically” achievable, local farmers would still compete with the unabated influx of imported rice under the rice tariffication law (RTL).

“Under the rice tariffication law, the government cannot prevent the importation of rice. It did not impose a ceiling on the importation. The law only stated that all agencies of the government are barred from preventing the arrival of imported rice,” Montemayor added.

Marcos has approved the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, which seeks to achieve the highest possible rice self-sufficiency level by implementing various strategies.

The Masagana Rice Industry Development Program is similar to Masagana 99, a program implemented in 1973, during the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s administration, that sought to address rice shortage and boost production.

“Technically, (we can achieve rice sufficiency in 2027) as our shortfall for one year is only about 10 to 15 percent, and it is easy to achieve if we can increase the rice plantations and increase the palay yield per hectare,” Montemayor said.

He noted that during the implementation of Masagana 99, many farmers suffered huge debts.

“Normally, if you want to increase the yields, you will invest on fertilizer, inputs, you will borrow. Based on the experience of farmers during the Masagana 99 period, their yield increased, but they were left with huge debts,” Montemayor said.

For the FFF leader, the government should make sure farmers can compete with the retail price of imported grains.

“We can be self-sufficient, but the market is still open to cheap rice imports. Local farmers, with the low cost of imported grains, will be forced to bring down their farm gate price just to compete with imported rice,” he said.

He added that the Philippines has a commitment under the World Trade Organization to allow an open market for rice trading without the intervention of government.

“The government should first fix the cost of production of our farmers, their competitiveness, before targeting self-sufficiency. Otherwise, it will be short-lived, the self-sufficiency will not last as farmers will suffer losses,” he said.

Because of the RTL, the country imports 20 to 25 percent more of the rice needs as against the 10 to 15 percent of actual needs.

“This is the reason why the farm gate price of palay is down during the harvest season,” Montemayor said.

Based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry as of May 25, at least 1.6 million metric tons of imported rice had arrived, where the bulk or 1.4 million MT came from Vietnam, from January to May this year.

Montemayor expressed belief that the government’s target to bring down the farm gate price of rice to P8.13 per kilo will actually dissuade farmers from planting.

“If you will offer P8 per kilo, it will not entice farmers as the cost of production is actually at P12, P13 (per kilo),” he said.

“The approach of Masagana 99 was good as it had fertilizer, technical advice, credit, lands under the CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program). It was discontinued during the administration of (the late former president Corazon) Cory (Aquino) as the implementation of the program was no longer comprehensive,” he added.

Montemayor emphasized that the government should learn from the mistakes from the past.

“A good slogan is not enough if no concrete program is offered. President Marcos should task officials to consult with farmers. Officials may succeed in impressing the President through the slogan, but if there is no detailed evaluation, the past mistakes will just be repeated,” he said.

Masagana 99 was able to address the rice shortage, but was dogged by credit program issues, according to experts.

Thailand’s rice output this year may drop by as much as 6%, to between 25.1 and 25.6 million tonnes, due to the impacts of the El Niño weather phenomenon, according to a forecast by the Kasikorn Research Centre (KRC).

KRC predicts that total rice production this year will be between 32.7 and 33.2 million tonnes, when combined with about 7.6 million tonnes from the second crop, which will be enough for domestic consumption and exports, which are expected to see an increase from last year.

It warns that the anticipated rice output may be much lower if the drought is prolonged and causes more damage to the crops.

KRC warned that the El Niño phenomenon this year, if it is further prolonged, will cause a substantial drop in water levels in numerous reservoirs, which will have an impact on both main and second-crop cultivation next year, as it urged agencies concerned to adjust their water management plans immediately, to ensure that there is sufficient water for cultivation and other purposes.

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department is urging farmers in the Chao Phraya river basin to suspend second crop cultivation.

KRC said, however that, due to the attractive export price and global demand for Thai rice, many farmers still want to plant their second crop, despite the risk of a water shortage.

According to the department, about 19,600,000m3 of water, including about 7,000,000m3 for the Chao Phraya river basin alone, have been discharged into about 1.59 million hectares of rice fields under the 2022-23 water management plan.

New Delhi: The state government of Manipur has requested the Union government to lower rice prices to ₹3,200 a quintal from ₹3,400 amid tension in the state, three government officials aware of the matter said.

On his visit to Manipur on Thursday, home minister Amit Shah announced a relief and rehabilitation package for the state in the wake of ethnic violence. Shah said the Centre has sent 30,000 tonnes of rice in addition to the state’s quota to ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities.

A state government official said there are no food security concerns in the state. However, the state will lift an additional 30,000 tonnes of rice at ₹3,200 per quintal from the Food Corp of India (FCI) over three months from June in addition to its monthly lifting of a little less than 12,000 tonnes.

This is because of the current poor law and order in the state that is hampering agricultural activity, and to ensure food supply to people who are not yet covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the 10 hill districts on 3 May to protest the demand of the Meitei community, that accounts for 53% of Manipur’s population and primarily inhabits the Manipur Valley, for scheduled tribe (ST) status, causing the deaths of more than 80 people.

Property worth crores of rupees has also been destroyed in the violence, leaving thousands homeless.

The escalation in violence in Manipur has its roots in an over=10-year-old demand by the Meitei community for the ST tag. The immediate reason for the violence is an order by the Manipur High Court directing the state government to recommend to the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry by 29 May, an ST tag for the community.

Rice under the public distribution system (PDS) will be given to the people of Manipur at ₹32 per kg instead of ₹34 if Union government approves the request. Further, the state will pay the FCI for this rice.

The Union food and public distribution ministry had in January issued detailed guidelines on the open market sale scheme (OMSS) domestic (D) for both rice and wheat. In the guidelines, it mentioned that states may be allowed to purchase rice, including the fortified variety, from FCI at ₹3,400 per quintal without participating in e-auctions.

However, the state has 45,405 tonnes of rice in the godowns of FCI and state agencies, according to FCI’s stock position data.

Emailed queries sent to the Union Department of Food and Public Distribution, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution department of Manipur and Resident Commissioner Manipur on Thursday remained unanswered till press time.

As on 16 May, the Union food and public distribution department’s grains procuring agency has a total 20.4 million tonnes (MT) rice across India against the operational and strategic reserve norm of 13.5 MT as on 1 July.

In the ongoing kharif marketing season (April-September), FCI has procured 73.7 MT paddy, and nearly 6.3 MT rabi paddy till 2 June, latest procurement data from the FCI showed.

Vietnam will develop and diversify rice export markets with a reasonable, stable, and effective scale, market and product structure under a strategy recently approved by the Prime Minister.

The Strategy on Development of Vietnam's Rice Export Markets until 2030 sets the targets of improving the value of exported rice, and reducing export volume by 2030 to about 4 million tonnes with a turnover of about US$2.62 billion.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that last May, Vietnam shipped abroad some 1 million tonnes of rice valued at US$489 million, raising rice export volume and value in the first five months of this year to nearly 3.9 million tonnes and US$2.02 billion, representing year-on-year increases of 40.8% and 49%, respectively.

In the first four months of this year, the Philippines was Vietnam’s biggest rice importer, making up 42.4% of the market share.

Among Vietnam’s 15 biggest rice buyers, Indonesia experienced the sharpest rise in value (26.3 times), according to the ministry.

Under the strategy, Vietnam's rice sector will also increase exports of high-quality rice. Specifically, between 2023 and 2025, the proportion of low- and medium-grade white rice will not exceed 15%; high-grade white rice will account for about 20%; fragrant rice, japonica rice and specialty rice 40%; sticky rice 20%; rice products with high added value such as nutritious rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, rice flour, rice-processed products, rice bran and some other rice by-products 5%; and rice with brand names 20%.

Nguyen Van Thanh, Chairman and CEO of Phuoc Thanh IV Trading - Production Company Limited, said the adjustments are suitable, explaining that the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's rice bowl, reduced the number of rice crops to only one from three.

Experts said intensive processing will help Vietnam raise its rice value by multiple times, noting it requires investment in science-technology to put the grain on market shelves in Europe, the US, Canada, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said up to 85% of Vietnamese rice varieties are high-quality ones. Therefore, prices of Vietnamese rice have exceeded those of Thailand to stand at US$485-US$495 per tonne.

Given requirements of markets and free trade agreements, the research of high-quality rice varieties with affordable prices has proven effective in rice production, especially in terms of food security, he said. VNA

Rice exports have increased by 49% year-on-year in the first five months to US$2.02 billion, the highest growth in 10 years.

It grew by 40.8% in volume terms to 3.9 million tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Philippines was the biggest buyer with 1.29 million tons, a 40.6% increase. Exports to Indonesia rose by 26 times.

On average, a ton fetched $517, a 5.8% increase from last year.

Vietnamese rice producers are having a bountiful year with high yields and rising demand in traditional markets such as the Philippines, China and Malaysia, Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association, said.

There were also sharp spikes in exports to southern African countries, he told VnExpress. Some fragrant Vietnamese rice varieties are also popular in some niche markets, he added.

Vietnam is seeing increased opportunity since major competitors India and Thailand are being affected by El Nino, the warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern parts of the tropical Pacific Ocean.

The Russia-Ukraine war has also caused an increase in global food stocking.

Vietnamese producers said there has been a surge in orders in recent months but not enough supply for exports.

Exports are forecast to reach 6.5 million tons at most this year, down 8.4% from last year, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

02 Jun 2023 --- Food commodity prices declined in May amid significant drops in quotations for most cereals, vegetable oils and dairy products, reports the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 124.3 points in May, down 2.6% from April and 22.1% below the all-time high reached in March 2022. 

The FAO Cereal Price Index declined 4.8% from the previous month, led by a 9.8% drop in world maize quotations due to a favorable production outlook and sluggish import demand. 

Grain deal pushes down prices
World wheat prices also declined, by 3.5%, reflecting ample supplies and the new extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. 

In contrast, international rice prices continued to increase in May, sustained by Asian purchases and tighter supplies in some exporting countries, such as Vietnam and Pakistan. 

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index dropped 8.7%, averaging 48.2% below its year-earlier level. International palm oil prices fell markedly from April, as protracted weak global import purchases coincided with rising outputs in major producing countries. 

World soy oil prices fell for the sixth month amid a bumper soybean crop in Brazil and higher-than-expected stocks in the US. Meanwhile, rapeseed and sunflower oil prices continued to decline on ample global supplies.

The FAO Dairy Price Index declined by 3.2% from April, led by a steep drop in international cheese prices due mainly to ample export availability amid seasonally high milk production in the northern hemisphere. 

The FAO Sugar Price Index posted its fourth consecutive monthly increase, up by 5.5% from April and reaching a level nearly 31% higher than a year earlier. The jump reflected tighter global availability, rising concerns over the impact of the El Niño phenomenon on next season’s crops, and shipping delays amid strong competition from soybean and maize in Brazil. 

The FAO Meat Price Index also rose by 1.0%, driven primarily by a steady high Asian import demand for poultry meat and persistent supply tightness for bovine meat in the US.

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos aims to achieve 97.5 percent rice sufficiency in five years through a program that bears the name of an agriculture initiative launched during the time of his late father and namesake.

The roadmap of the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, which seeks to achieve the highest possible rice sufficiency level by implementing various strategies, was approved last Wednesday, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

Marcos, also the agriculture secretary, cited the roadmap’s target during a rice industry convergence meeting in Quezon City also last Wednesday.

“This convergence meeting, I think, has given us a good roadmap to follow, but many can still happen between now and our goal of having a 97.5-percent self-sufficiency in rice,” the President said.

“I don’t think you have to be 100 percent… But I think 97.5 (percent), I think is a good enough number. We can feel that… We can say that we are able to feed, at least we have enough harvested rice,” he said, adding that other necessary niche products will account for the remaining 2.5 percent.

“You do not have to really go to 100 percent because the three percent is for ‘niche products’, the organic, special grain, Japanese rice and the like,” the Chief Executive said. “We do not need to provide that. But with 97 percent, we can say that we can feed all our countrymen with enough rice supply.”

The PCO said the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program is designed “to support rice farmers, increase rice production, and strengthen the rice value chain.” It will be carried out through several strategies like climate change adaptation, farm clustering and consolidation, value chain approach and digital transformation.

Its name is similar to that of Masagana 99, a 1973 program that sought to address rice shortage and boost production. According to experts, Masagana ’99 was able to address the rice shortage but was dogged by credit program issues. The program was discontinued in 1984.

Marcos also enumerated various measures to boost agricultural production and assist the farming sector during the meeting. Through convergence, assets, resources, funding and technology could be made readily available to farmers, he said.

“The importance of consolidation is key. That really is the first step. We cannot do all of the other things that we want to do until we organize our farmers,” the President said, noting that mechanization, the adoption of new farming technologies and digitalization would be helpful to farmers.

Rice, Maize help Pakistan achieve local demand, export earnings, says RRDB Chairman

LAHORE    -    Rice Research and Development Board Punjab (RRDB) Chairman Shahzad Ali Malik Wednesday an­nounced ‘Shafi Malik Plant Breed­ers Award’ of Rs 10 million each for breeders from private and public sector who develops the best quality high yielding seeds of rice, cotton and wheat.

Talking to the media here, Malik stressed the need for immedi­ate steps to increase yield per acre of field crops through the best varieties which is pos­sible by rewarding breeders through a lu­crative incentive pack­age/scheme. Shahzad Ali Malik highlighted that out of five major field crops Rice, Maize, Cot­ton, Wheat and Sugar Cane, only two crops, Rice and Maize performed well due to high yielding varieties with the main contribution of pri­vate sector. He said Rice and Maize helped Pakistan achieve local de­mand, export earnings and import substitution. Going one step forward Shahzad Ali Malik on behalf of the Guard Agricultural Research and Services for first time in the history of private sector made announce­ment of three cash rewards of Rs 10 million each to encourage the breed­ers. He added that breeders may be from the public or private sector whose variety be­comes commercially successful on the basis of at least 10 percent increase in sale and production for three years. However, the incentive would not be for varieties approved on paper only and not being found commer­cially successful. For rice crop this reward is for inbred (open pollinated) and for hybrid varieties with Average Grain Length 8mm or above. This an­nouncement would go a long way to help boost the research and produc­tion of cotton, wheat and rice seed varieties that would bring revolu­tion in increasing per acre yield.

MUMBAI/HANOI /BANGKOK/DHAKA: Prices of rice exported from top hub India edged higher this week from a near six-month trough as weaker rates attracted buyers from other Asian countries, while comparatively higher rates in Vietnam posed risks to demand in the near term.

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $375-$380 per tonne, up from the last week’s $374-$378.

“Buying from Asian countries has improved a bit because of lower prices, although the majority of buyers are still on the sidelines,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Neighbouring Bangladesh, which often requires imports to cope with shortages caused by natural calamities such as floods, doesn’t need to import rice this year, its food minister said.

“There is a good harvest in the country, so there is no need to import rice,” Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder told reporters. Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $490-$495 per tonne, unchanged from a week ago, which was the highest level since late April.

“Trading activity is quiet as some buyers are slowing their purchases due to high prices,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said. Vietnam’s rice exports in the first five months of this year are estimated to have risen about 40.8% from a year earlier to 3.9 million tonnes, government data showed on Monday.

DGFT AMENDS EXPORT POLICY CONDITION OF BASMATI AND NON-BASMATI RICE

DGFT has made amendment in Policy condition of Sl. No. 55 & 57, Chapter 10 Schedule-2, ITC(HS) Export Policy, 2018 for export of Basmati and Non-Basmati rice.

DGFT amends Export Policy Condition of Basmati and Non-Basmati Rice

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued an amendment in Policy condition of Sl. No. 55 & 57, Chapter 10 Schedule-2, ITC(HS) Export Policy, 2018 for export of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) via issuing Notification.

The Notification Stated as, “In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of I 992), as amended read with para 1.02 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment to the Notification No. 27/2015-2020 dt. 17.08.2022, with immediate effect policy condition at SI.No. 55 and 57, Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) Export Policy, 2018 for export of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati).”

The following policy conditions shall be amended/added to the existing entries of Chapter 10 at SI.No. 55 and 57:-

Effect of Notification:

Existing notification No.27/2015-2020 dated 17th August 2022 is amended to the extent that export of Rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) to EU member states and other European Countries namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom only will require Certificate of Inspection from EIA/EIC. Export to remaining European countries will not require Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency for export from the date of this notification for a period of six months.

Rice producers can now apply for Rice Production Program payment.

More than a year ago, members of the rice community began working with Sen. John Boozman, ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, and his staff for an assistance program to alleviate skyrocketing fertilizer, fuel, and input costs. Now this funding has finally come to fruition with a $250 million Rice Production Program which was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act that passed last winter.  

Kelly Robbins, executive director at Arkansas Rice, said, “We are extremely thankful for Senator Boozman and his staff who were instrumental in making this a reality. We are also appreciative of USA Rice and farmers in the rice community around the country for working together to encourage our members of congress to be supportive of this effort.” 

Applying for Payment 

The payment is based on all planted and prevent plant rice acres in 2022, and farmers in all six rice producing states will receive these proceeds. Producers should check their mail and expect to receive a pre-filled, FSA-174, Rice Production Program Application, if they have not received it already. For those who prefer not to wait, these forms can be printed at your local FSA office.  

Farmers should ensure the pre-filled form is accurate based on their 2022 rice acreage, and there are 60 days to complete the application with a July 10, 2023, deadline for submission. Forms can be returned by mail, or Robbins said farmers are welcome to return the forms directly to their FSA office. 

It should be noted this is not a first-come, first-serve basis. Robbins said that the USDA is directed by legislation that mandates all the funding to be spent. Rice producers can expect to receive up to $125,000 per operation. For larger qualifying operations, up to a $250,000 limit is available, and an FSA-510 exemption form is required.  

World Bank approves US$255M loan to provide agricultural support for climate-resilient rice production in Hunan province

China is the world’s largest rice producer and consumer. Rice is a major contributor to methane emissions, accounting for 16% of China’s emissions of the gas.

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a US$255 million loan today to support a program that will reduce methane emissions, improve irrigation and drainage services, and provide agricultural support for climate-resilient rice production in Hunan province, China’s largest rice production area.

The Methane-Reducing and Water-Saving Paddy Rice Program for Results (Hunan) contributes to global public goods, in particular climate change mitigation, and creation of replicable and scalable knowledge and experiences for China and other rice-growing countries globally by developing a sustainable model for rice-growing.

China is the world’s largest rice producer and consumer. Rice is a major contributor to methane emissions, accounting for 16% of China’s emissions of the gas. Lessons from the World Bank-supported program will inform scale up of low-methane and water-saving rice production in Hunan and policymaking in other parts of the country. The program is anchored in the government’s Hunan High Standard Farmland Construction Program (HSFCP) which seeks to reduce methane emissions while also improving the climate resilience of rice production. The program will strengthen the Provincial government’s management system for sustainable and low-methane paddy rice production.

“The Methane-Reducing and Water-Saving Paddy Rice Program will provide innovative solutions to promote climate mitigation in China’s agriculture sector,” said Mara Warwick, World Bank Country Director for China, Mongolia, and Korea. “The program provides an integrated approach that will benefit the farmers and the environment, and deliver global benefits by creating incentives for behavior change.”

The World Bank-supported program is a Program for Results (PforR) operation, Program financing over five years is expected to be US$1.24 billion, of which US$988 million will be financed by the Chinese government and US$255 million by a World Bank International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Loan.

The program is in line with the World Bank’s Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for China for FY2020 to 2025, which aims to help China promote greener growth and contribute to global public goods, in particular reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating replicable global knowledge. In line with the World Bank Group’s efforts to address China’s interrelated climate and development challenges, the program will enhance the climate resilience and low-carbon development in rural areas, as well as contribute to reducing food system-related greenhouse gas emissions, as highlighted in the recent China Country Climate and Development Report.

Trade awaits DGFT order on policy renewing fully broken rice shipments

India will likely export 75,000 tonnes of fully broken white rice under government-to-government (G2G) deals to Senegal, Gambia and Djibouti soon, traders have said.

The move follows the Indian government’s decision last week to permit exports of fully broken white rice — which were banned from September 8, 2022 — on the basis of permission given by it to other countries to meet their food security needs.

“However, the policy is yet to be announced by the Directorate-General of Foreign Trade,” said Rajesh Paharia Jain, a New Delhi-based trader.

Earlier shipments

The development comes amidst demand from African countries which look to India for supply of fully broken white rice, besides parboiled rice. 

Earlier in March, the Government permitted exports of 2.5 lakh tonnes of broken rice to Senegal and one lakh tonnes to Gambia. In addition, about 10,000 tonnes of the rice variety were permitted to be shipped to Djibouti, Ethiopia. 

The development augurs well when demand for rice from South-East Asia is a bit slack. The slackness in demand is despite Indian prices being far more competitive to the rates offered by Thailand or Vietnam or Pakistan. 

“Indian origin rice is still cheaper than Vietnamese and Pakistani origin rice. It is widely accepted unlike in the past and despite a 20 per cent duty on free-on-board (FOB) value which is $65-75 depending upon the grades,” said Jain.

Enquiries taper

“Though we are competitive, Indian rice prices have gained of late. But overall, prices are a bit unstable,” said VR Vidya Sagar, Director, Bulk Logix. 

“After we shipped a good quantity to South-East Asia, enquiries have tapered down now,” said M Madan Prakash, President, Agri Commodities Exporters Association (ACEA). 

“For unexplained reasons, there is some dullness in rice exports to South-East Asia. Maybe, they will pick after June,” said S Chandrasekaran, a Delhi-based trade analyst.

Jain said 5 per cent broken white is ruling at $480 a tonne and 25 per cent broken at $460. The offer price includes the 20 per cent export duty. 

In contrast, Thailand is quoting these varieties at $511 and $494, respectively. Vietnam is offering these at $498-502 and $483-87, respectively. These prices are free-on-board (FOB). 

India’s advantage 

Sagar said demand for Indian rice will continue as in the previous years since its prices are lucrative. “India is centrally located and freight charges too are below compared to Thailand or Vietnam. People are also buying,” he said.  

On the other hand, parboiled rice is quoted over $80 a tonne cheaper than the nearest competitor, said Jain. “We are offering parboiled rice around $385 f.o.b for July and August shipments,” he said, adding that demand from other countries for the parboiled rice is shifting to India.   

India is offering 5 per cent broken parboiled rice at $385 a tonne f.o.b, while Thailand is quoting at $523 and Pakistan $583-87. 

Record output 

India’s rice exports are expected to be boosted by a record production of 135.54 mt this crop year to June against 129.97 mt last crop year. Rice production gained during the rabi season and will likely be good during the ongoing zaid season between rabi and kharif sowings. 

This crop year, kharif production was 1 mt lower compared to last crop year as deficient rainfall in key growing regions of West Bengal, Odisha, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand were affected.

As a result, the Government imposed 20 per cent export duty on white rice shipments from September 8, 2022, and banned fully broken rice exports, which was relaxed last week. However, it exempted basmati and parboiled rice exports from any curbs. 

Jain said Bangladesh is expected to be in the market for importing rice under G2G deals. 

KRBL share price: Basic earnings per share (EPS) stood at Rs 5.01 for the March 2023 quarter against Rs 4.63 in the year-ago period.

KRBL share price:  Shares of KRBL, best known for its India Gate brand of basmati rice, which is the largest-selling rice brand in India, tanked as much as 10.11 per cent to Rs 362.90 apiece on the BSE on May 31, Wednesday. The company released its March quarter numbers on Tuesday, wherein it reported an over eight per cent rise in its consolidated net profit at Rs 117.98 crore against Rs 109.06 crore logged in the year-ago period.  Revenue from operations stood at Rs 1279.73 crore, up 29.6 per cent as against Rs 987.40 crore registered in the corresponding quarter of the preceding fiscal. 

The stock eventually ended at Rs 364.40, down 9.75 per cent.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) stood at Rs 5.01 for the quarter under review, against Rs 4.63 in the year-ago period.

KRBL said that revenue from its India operations rose almost 32 per cent to Rs 983 crore, boosted by strong distribution growth and increased sales of its India Gate basmati rice brand. The company, which also operates in the Middle East and Europe, saw international demand rise 18 per cent to Rs 331 crore during the quarter, Reuters reported.

Top exporters told Reuters in November that India's premium basmati rice exports are likely to jump 15 per cent in 2022/23 as buyers in the Middle East build their inventories, the news agency said. 

In its filing, the company said, "The Company's Joint Managing Director, Mr Anoop Kumar Gupta (JMD), had been detained and released on bail by the Directorate of Enforcement ('ED') pursuant to certain allegations against the Company, KRBL, DMCC (a subsidiary of KRBL Ltd.), and JMD.

Credit: iStock

Kuttanad, set at an elevation of 2.2 m below sea level, is the lowest point of India. Covering Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts, the region is also known as the Rice Bowl of Kerala as rice farming is the major practice here. Many must not be aware of the fact that Kuttanad is among those places in the world where farming is done below sea level.

The best way to experience Kuttanad is via houseboats. Every visitor here gets easily enchanted with countryside views and paddy fields. Traversing through Alappuzha backwaters via houseboats, you’ll be mesmerised with the views of the swaying coconut trees. Once here, you’ll get to experience the authentic side of rural India and the traditional country lifestyle.

Credit: iStock
Kuttanad farmers are noted for Biosaline Farming (growth of plants in saline groundwater or soil). In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared this farming style as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).

The region is served by four prime rivers, namely Pamba, Meenachil, Achankovil and Manimala. The place is also noted for its famous boat race in the Punnamada Backwaters, known as Vallamkali.

How to reach?

Credit: iStock
By air: The nearest airport to Kuttanad is Cochin International Airport, which is about 85 km from Alappuzha.

By rail: Alappuzha railway station is the nearest to the region.

Visiting the pretty little hamlets in the region can be a life changing experience. And, if you are here during the harvest season, nothing better! This time, you can see hundreds of farmers working in the fields.

Research by The Reporters’ Collective (TRC) has showed the Modi government rushed with its plan to supply fortified rice to more than 80 crore people in the country, despite internal and external expert warnings on the adverse effects of feeding people, particularly children, fortified rice.

Massive protests have been staged across Jammu Kashmir to protest against the decision to supply fortified rice, locally called plastic rice, however, less or unabundant research pushed the Government narrative. The officials said that the rice was rich in multi nutrients.

The Food Department of Indian Government omitted a review by Cochrane, a UK-based scientific nonprofit whose evaluations are considered a gold standard on efficacy of fortified rice in scientific literature.

The Cochrane review aggregates evidence from many studies on efficacy of fortified rice and analyses their results. In the case of fortified rice, its analysis of 17 research papers found no mention in the presentation. Six of thirteen papers in the Indian Food Department’s list of evidence to prove fortified rice’s efficacy are among the 17 studies reviewed by Cochrane.

This review showed “Fortification of rice with iron alone or in combination with other micronutrients may make little or no difference in the risk of having anemia or presenting iron deficiency.” The researchers further noted, “we are uncertain about an increase in mean hemoglobin concentrations in the general population older than 2 years of age.”’

Another research has shown that Thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and malaria are conditions where there is already excess iron in the body, whereas TB patients are unable to absorb iron.’ Such cases have been reported in parts of India.

Consumption of iron-fortified foods among patients of these diseases can reduce immunity and the reduce functionality of organs.

TRC has revealed, how at least six international organisations, found their way into an Indian government agency to influence decisions and open the Indian market to global suppliers and manufacturers of premixes that are used to produce the artificial fortified rice kernel.

Fortified rice is made by beating grains into a dough, adding micronutrients or premix to it and then machine-carving the dough into grains that resemble rice. One such kernel is mixed blended with 100 natural rice grains- an annual business opportunity of Rs 1,800 crore created solely by Union government’s mandate.

The Collective’s investigation found; all the six organisations that pushed the Indian Government to supply fortified rice are actually linked to one company based in The Netherlands. Royal DSM NV, one of the world’s most prominent producers of fortified rice premix. DSM claims to be a health and nutrition company. It produces the powder used in fortification. The firm, The Collective found, funds one of the six organizations, collaborates with another, sits on the advisory board of third and partners with the rest.

These six organisations influenced government policy on supplying rice and other food items fortified with micronutrients across the country, collected evidence to buttress the case for fortification, ran pilot projects with governments, worked to set standards and charted countrywide rollout.

The government used ‘science’ generated by these organisations to justify mandatory supply of fortified rice in India. The government guidelines on fortification were developed by plagiarizing in parts verbatim from toolkits developed by some of these organisations.

In return Modi’s announcement gave a bonanza to Royal DSM.

The company did not hide its gratitude. “We are very thankful that Prime Minister Modi’s government has mandated the fortification of rice, at least in the social safety nets part of the rice pipeline in India,” François Scheffler, Regional Vice-President, Human Nutrition and Care, Asia Pacific & President, DSM Asia Pacific told the Indian media.

The Collective’s evidence gathered is based on internal government records as well as public documents.

Within eighteen months of Modi’s announcement Royal DSM set up a 3,600-tonne capacity fortified rice kernel plant in Hyderabad. Scheffler told The Print that Royal DSM is working with the government, NGOs and rice millers in India to expand its production.

DSM is estimated to have already cornered 17% of the Indian micronutrient premix market, says market research agency Giract. The domestic market was estimated to be worth over Rs 660 crore in 2021. And, soon it would be worth Rs 1,800 crore a year, thanks to the Union government’s mandate.

While DSM is open about its business strategy involving nonprofits and engagement with governments, it’s not the only corporate that would stand to gain significantly from the government’s decision. Neither is their modus operandi unique. Many global companies in the business of food and nutrition products lobby through nonprofits and directly to create markets in the developing world.

The food safety regulator of India, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, set up a ‘resource hub’ geared specifically towards fortification. One can only guess if it was a mere coincidence or not. The Food Fortification Resource Centre, as it came to be called, planned ‘alignment and advocacy’ and worked towards ‘creating demand’ for fortification, the report added.

These are business terms to describe the act of convincing governments to make it a must for people to consume such food products. Indian and international food product companies have always eyed the Union government’s vast food security schemes serving more than 80 crore people in India. In 2016, the fortified food producers set their sights on this Indian market.

A bevy of international nonprofits, including Nutrition International and one previously owned and still funded by DSM, became partners in the resource centre, which works as the government’s nodal arm for fortification and is dependent on nonprofits for every aspect of its functioning.

They attended meetings on fortification, and were invited to major government policy meetings, thus playing a major role in lobbying for food fortification with lawmakers in India.

When the resource centre released the primary document that sketched out the plan for fortification in 2017, it listed nutrition nonprofit Sight and Life as one of the government’s partners in scaling up fortification across the country.

Sight and Life previously operated ‘under the umbrella’ of DSM and continues to be funded ‘generously’ by the firm. While the nonprofit claims it is an ‘independent foundation’, half its board members, including the chair of the board of trustees, are DSM personnel. As a partner, the nonprofit would be involved in setting policies and even have a say in notifying the food regulator’s standards for fortifying rice.

The 2017 document calls for a joint advocacy campaign led by FSSAI – “bringing the credibility, authenticity and trust of the government” – but adds, “with financial contributions from the industry and premix suppliers”.

While the government was still chalking out plans to scale up the fortification programme, the food regulator held a meeting with the premix industry in March 2017. The minutes of the meeting recognise DSM as the only premix supplier for rice fortification. In the meeting, the firms decided on a price range for both premix manufacturing and fortified rice kernels.

“FSSAI does not fix any market price of any food commodity,” said the government’s food regulator over mail. However, the minutes of the meeting clearly show each premix supplier enumerating the price range of the premix they offer.

Experts say the fact that the resource centre is intertwined with nonprofits funded by firms with commercial interests in the fortification policy raises ethical questions about its functioning.

“Having the Food Fortification Resource Centre in FSSAI requires investigation about its role,” Dr Arun Gupta, a paediatrician and convenor of Alliance Against Conflict of Interest, told The Collective over mail.

‘“The majority of FFRC partners are funded by the food industry, why on earth should they be asked to play the role of a resource centre?”

“FSSAI invites various stakeholders to attend meetings for better understanding. However, they do not have any role to decide policy matters etc,” the FSSAI told The Collective via mail in response to detailed queries.

None of the meetings on fortification in the files The Collective reviewed, however, involved civil society or consumer groups not linked to food businesses. This was a departure from the meetings held, for example, on the contentious issue of the government’s Front of Pack Labelling policy, which involved a more diverse set of stakeholders.

DSM has nurtured allies in NGOs, and governments to promote fortification, and is open about it. “In partnership with governments, the private sector and NGOs such as GAIN, DSM is pioneering the establishment of staple food fortification programs worldwide,” it says on its website.

By now the signs of the government’s growing chumminess with DSM became apparent. The Modi government finalised India’s fortification policy despite overwhelming evidence pointing towards its lack of efficacy. But internally, it cherry picked a list of evidence to convince states to start supplying fortified rice.

One of the research papers cited as evidence on this list is by Sight and Life – the nonprofit previously functioning under DSM – and DSM itself. The DSM-affiliated research concluded that fortified rice is an effective way to combat malnutrition. The resource centre website too, cites multiple studies by Sight and Life.

DSM being the early bird was positioned to reap profits. Government tenders for picking fortified rice kernel suppliers list eight premix suppliers allowed – one of them was DSM.

The government’s fortification resource centre lists DSM’s Indian group company, DSM Nutritional Products India Pvt Ltd, as a supplier of both fortified rice kernels and centrally licensed premix.

The government’s fortified rice programme has coincided with the healthy growth of DSM’s revenue. DSM Nutritional Products India’s profits after tax saw a near 30% hike in the financial year 2021-22 over its 2020-21 numbers. The 2020-21 year was also a great one for the firm with a 60.5% rise in profit after tax when compared to 2019-20.

In fact, the company’s profit of Rs 20.65 crore in 2021-22 is the best figure it has posted so far, shows a review of the company’s corporate filings. The company’s annual filings, however, do not segregate its revenues based on sale of particular products.

The Collective sent detailed queries to DSM. A spokesperson on behalf of the multinational got in touch with The Collective and assured that the company would respond to the questions. But no reply came through.

Financial welfare of business corporations was on the government’s mind too. Though rice fortification was touted as a health move, government documents reveal an underlying aim to foster the wealth of businesses. The Food Department in a note, dated 12 September 2019, said one of the objectives of its rice fortification scheme was to “give a fillip to the FRK (fortified rice kernel) industry through assured demand”.

The industry includes those who produce micronutrients, units that manufacture machines to mix rice with nutrient powders to make fortified kernels, machines that blend these kernels with normal rice in the right proportion, rice millers and suppliers.

Calculations by The Collective, based on figures included in official documents, show that under the scheme the business generated for the blending industry alone would be between Rs 1,560 crore and Rs 13,500 crore depending on the type of blending units millers opt for.

For the kernel supply industry, meanwhile, a market totalling at least Rs 1,800 crore a year would be generated. This in addition to the market created for multinational micronutrient companies.

JITRA: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will explore saltwater rice cultivation methods in an effort to increase the country’s rice production.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said his office had held discussions with relevant experts, including professors in China, regarding the technology that could be used for producing rice here.

“We are still in the early stages of discussions,” he said.

Mohamad said it took China four years to conduct a study on the method before it could be implemented.

“There is no reason why Malaysia should not have enough rice in the future,” he told a press conference after an engagement session with Harumanis Kodiang Entrepreneurs at the Harumanis Farm Collection Centre, Kampung Pida 3, Kodiang near here yesterday, Bernama reported.

He said irrigation and care were among the factors why there was a low yield of rice production in Kedah compared with Sekinchan, Selangor, thus requiring effective action to increase the yield in the rice bowl state.

“You cannot do rice cultivation part-time; in Sekinchan, rice farmers do it as a permanent job. In Kedah, we want to go in that direction. (However) we cannot blame the farmers either because the irrigation system is also important.

“We cannot survive on five tonnes per hectare. In Sekinchan, we get between eight and 10 tonnes per hectare. If we can get six tonnes or more, we will have enough rice in Malaysia. Now, farmers have taken this seriously,” he added.

Mohamad said the method of planting rice through a large-scale scheme such as in Sekinchan could be practised by rice farmers in Kedah with the help and cooperation of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority and Padiberas Nasional Bhd.

Rice exports to certain European countries exempted from mandatory inspection certificate for 6 months

India on Monday deferred the mandatory requirement of a certificate of inspection by export inspection agencies for shipping both basmati and non-basmati rice to certain European countries by six months. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said that it is amending a notification dated August 17, 2022, to the extent that export of rice (basmati and non-basmati) to EU member states and other European countries namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and UK "only" will will require certificate of inspection from Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency.

"Export to remaining European countries will not require a certificate of inspection by the Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency for export from the date of this notification for a period of six months," the DGFT said.

It was earlier stated by the directorate to make the certificate must for export to these countries from January this year.

EIC is the official export certification body of India which ensures quality and safety of products exported from India.

A new cost of production study was recently published looking at Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta rice. Delta Crops Resource Management Farm Advisor with UC Cooperative Extension, Michelle Leinfelder-Miles said an updated study had not been done for the region in quite some time. Since then, the cost of certain inputs and practices has significantly changed. Incorporating information from grower input, the cost study provides information on a hypothetical farm with 1,000 acres of annually planted rice. “That’s so important for the cost study because it means that we’re doing our best to get the most accurate costs and returns for that commodity published into the study,” said Leinfelder-Miles.

One of the priorities in the study was detailing the cost of converting ground for rice production from some other annual crop. A significant amount of preparation needs to be done beforehand, which includes land leveling and the construction of levees. “We had a goal of getting those conversion costs into the study so that folks who are new to rice growing or are thinking about growing rice can have an understanding for what it would cost to make that change,” Leinfelder-Miles noted.

A cost study of rice production in the Sacramento Valley was recently published in 2021. While the same commodity, Leinfelder-Miles points out that growing practices are notably different for Delta rice. One significant difference is how rice is planted, which differentiates costs between the regions. An updated cost of production study will offer industry members in the Delta region a better idea of what can be expected.

“As much as it was about updating a previous study, one of our main objectives was just to help growers. There’s a lot of interest among growers in the Delta in rice and they just need to have a report that they can refer to, to get an idea on costs,” Leinfelder-Miles explained. “Certainly, growers can talk with other growers. But it’s nice to also have this in writing for them, for banks who are doing the lending, and for agencies who are interested in learning more about Delta rice. There’s a number of different parties who will probably take an interest in this study.”

IMARC Group, a leading market research company, has recently releases report titled “Rice Seed Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2023-2028.” The study provides a detailed analysis of the industry, including the global rice seed market share, size, trends, and growth forecasts. The report also includes competitor and regional analysis and highlights the latest advancements in the market.

How big is the rice seed industry?

The global rice seed market size reached US$ 6.8 Billion in 2022. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach US$ 9.5 Billion by 2028, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during 2023-2028.

what is rice seed?

A rice seed refers to the whole cereal grain with the outer hull and a single rice kernel. It is generally available in different variants, such as arborio, basmati, brown, white, jasmine, etc. Among them, the open-pollinated variety (OPV) refers to the seeds produced via the natural pollination of the parent rice plant. In contrast to this, hybrid seeds include purebred sterile seeds of rice fertilized with pollen from a different rice variety. Rice seeds are also available in transgenic and non-transgenic variants, which are genetically modified to improve the functional properties of the crop.

What are the growth prospects and trends in the rice seed industry?

The elevating consumption of rice as a staple food crop across the globe is among the key factors catalyzing the rice seed market. Moreover, the rising adoption of organic rice-based farming practices is augmenting the need for OPV seeds to meet the escalating food requirements of consumers, thereby propelling the product demand. Besides this, the increasing adoption of hybrid rice seeds is acting as another growth-inducing factor.

Furthermore, various technological advancements, such as the utilization of genomics and microbiology to produce seeds that have inherited resistance to bacterial blight pathogens, are fueling the market growth. Apart from this, the growing utilization of silico mapping and arraying technologies for producing desired seed characteristics is anticipated to drive the rice seed market over the forecasted period.

Rice Seed Market 2023-2028 Competitive Analysis and Segmentation:

Competitive Landscape with Key Players:

The competitive landscape of the global rice seed market has been studied in the report with the detailed profiles of the key players operating in the market.

Key Companies in the market: 

• BASF SE
• Bayer AG
• Corteva Inc.
• Limagrain
• Mahyco Private Limited
• Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL Group of Companies Pvt Ltd.)
• Rallis India Limited (Tata Chemicals Limited)
• Rasi Seeds (P) Ltd.
• Savannah Seeds Private Limited (RiceTec AG)
• SL Agritech Corporation
• Syngenta Group (China National Chemical Corporation)
• UPL Limited

Key Market Segmentation:

The report has segmented the global rice seed market on the basis of type, grain size, hybridization technique, treatment and region.

Breakup by Type:

• Open Pollinated
• Hybrid

Breakup by Grain Size:

• Long
• Medium
• Short

Breakup by Hybridization Technique:

• Two-Line System
• Three-Line System

Breakup by Treatment:

• Treated
• Untreated

Geographical Analysis:

• North America: (United States, Canada)
• Asia Pacific: (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Others)
• Europe: (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others)
• Latin America: (Brazil, Mexico, Others)
• Middle East and Africa

If you need specific information that is not currently within the scope of the report, we will provide it to you as a part of the customization.

How many times do you reheat the leftover rice you made? If it's more than once and the weather is hot simultaneously, you may get fried rice syndrome!

Few things are as delicious as warm, fluffy rice. Unfortunately, however, rice can create ideal conditions for potentially dangerous bacteria to grow. Bacillus cereus, among other bacteria, is common on uncooked rice. Boiling rice alone is not enough to kill it because it produces spores that can tolerate heat.

After cooking, rice left at room temperature can host various bacteria as they multiply and release harmful toxins, and sometimes lead to B. cereus food poisoning, also known as "fried rice syndrome." You can avoid this by being careful about how you prepare, cook and store your rice after cooking.

Preparation and storage of rice

Hand washing is always a good start when it comes to food preparation, and while washing rice can change its texture and get rid of insects or heavy metals lurking between the grains, it won't get rid of B. cereus. This is because the bacteria are embedded in the grains, so they are not going anywhere.

After boiling rice, it should be served in its cooked state immediately or cooled quickly and put in a container in the refrigerator or freezer. Avoid leaving cooked rice outside for more than an hour.

How do you heat up rice?

Leftover rice can be microwaved, fried or steamed while reheating, but it is only safe to do so if the cooked rice is properly cooled and stored. If the rice has been outside for a few hours, reheating it might only increase the risks. 

This is because warming, cooling, and warming again gives harmful bacteria like B. cereus a great opportunity to grow, increasing the chances of fried rice syndrome. Note that fried rice syndrome is not specific to fried rice, and you can get it from any food. However, fried rice recipes that call for leftover white rice are an easy place to stumble, as by the time your final dish is ready it has been reheated twice - and that's just in the best-case scenario.

How dangerous is the fried rice syndrome?

B. cereus food poisoning can be fatal in severe cases, and although it has become known as fried rice syndrome, it can also occur in other foods such as pasta. A 2011 case study determined that a 20-year-old student died of B. cereus poisoning within 10 hours of eating five-day-old pasta. A similar case occurred in 2003 when a family ate 8-day-old pasta salad, resulting in the death of one man and the hospitalization of five children.

What are the symptoms of fried rice syndrome?

Fried rice syndrome often presents with vomiting and diarrhea triggered by the toxin B. cereus produces as it grows. In most cases, the disease will be limited and pass within a day or two, but for some people, it can progress and even be fatal.

Antibiotics are not effective because it is the toxin that causes the disease and not the bacteria, so the treatment is mainly focused on replenishing fluids until the worst symptoms of the digestive system have passed. This is why prevention is the best defense.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has signed a decision approving the Strategy on Development of Viet Nam's Rice Export Markets until 2030.

Rice loaded for export. Viet Nam eyes the export of high-quality rice and rice-based products. — VNA/VNS Photo

Under the strategy, Viet Nam will consolidate traditional and key export markets and develop new and potential ones, and those with which it has signed free trade agreements (FTAs). The country also targets increasing the market share of Vietnamese rice in markets, especially in developed countries.

Viet Nam will also associate the export markets with domestic production according to value chains, ensure the quality and safety of exported rice, increasing the presence of Vietnamese rice and products processed from rice in direct distribution channels in markets.

The country also eyes the export of high-quality rice and rice-based products, increase their values, ensure sustainable exports, and affirm the prestige and brand of Vietnamese rice.

Specific goals are increasing added value, improving the value of exported rice, and reducing export volume by 2030 to about 4 million tonnes with a turnover of about US$2.62 billion. The average export growth rate will decrease by about 2.4 per cent in 2023-25 and 3.6 per cent in 2026-30.

Between 2023 and 2025, the proportion of low- and medium-grade white rice will not exceed 15 per cent; high-grade white rice will account for about 20 per cent; fragrant rice, japonica rice and specialty rice 40 per cent; sticky rice 20 per cent; rice products with high added value such as nutritious rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, rice flour, rice-processed products, rice bran and some other rice by-products 5 per cent; and rice with brand names 20 per cent.

The respective figures for 2026-30 are 10, 15, 45, 20, 10 and 40 per cent.

About 25 per cent of exported rice is expected to bear the brand name of Vietnam rice by 2030.

By 2025, the Asian market will account for about 60 per cent of the country’s total rice export turnover, Africa 22 per cent, the Middle East 4 per cent, Europe 3 per cent, America per cent, and the Oceania 4 per cent.

The respective figures for 2030 are 55, 23, 5, 5, 8, and 4 per cent. — VNS

Vietnam aims to cut its rice exports to four million tonnes a year by 2030, the government said in a document detailing its rice export strategy, down from 7.1 million tonnes last year.

Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice exporter, after India and Thailand.

The move is aimed at 'boosting the exports of high-quality rice, ensuring domestic food security, protecting the environment and adapting to climate change,' according to the government document, dated 26 May and reviewed by Reuters.

Rice export revenue will fall to $2.62 billion (€2.4 billion) a year by 2030, down from $3.45 billion (€3.2 billion) in 2022, the document said.

"Although Vietnam's rice farming area is shrinking due to climate change and some farmers are switching to growing other crops and raising shrimp, the strategy appears to be too aggressive," a rice trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said on Saturday.

The trader said some rice farmers in the Mekong Delta are turning parts of their fields to fruit farms, growing mangoes, grapefruit, jackfruit and durian, but the vast majority remain dependant on rice.

The trend toward cultivating shrimp has been taking place in the area for years as rising seawater triggered by climate change brings significantly increased salinisation in the Mekong Delta region.

Rice Export

Vietnam will diversify its rice export markets to reduce its reliance on any country, the government document said. The Philippines has long been Vietnam's biggest rice buyer, accounting for 45% of its shipments last year.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Jr at a regional meeting in Indonesia this month that Vietnam was willing to supply rice to the Philippines for the long term at reasonable prices.

By 2025, 60% of Vietnamese rice exports will be shipped to Asian markets, 22% to Africa, 7% to American markets, 4% to the Middle East and 3% to Europe, the document said. By 2030, Asian markets will account for 55% and Europe 5%.

'Vietnam will seek to boost rice shipments to markets that have high demand for quality grains and markets that Vietnam has signed free trade agreements with,' the document said.

Pesticides

The document said Vietnam will also seek to cut residues of plant protection products including pesticides in its rice.

The Vietnam Food Association, which represents rice processors and exporters, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The government said Vietnam will focus on the production of high-quality, fragrant and glutinous rice, while reducing the production of low-quality grains to 15% of total output by 2025 and to 10% by 2030.

"I doubt the strategy will materialise, as rice production depends on supply and demand, not on a government decision," another rice trader in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang said.

Rice exports from Vietnam in the first four months of this year rose 40.7% from a year earlier to 2.9 million tonnes, according to government customs data.

Over 234,000 hectares of agricultural land could be affected by Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar), the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Operations Center said.

According to the DA-DRRM in a statement, the areas at risk include 159,116 hectares of rice and 75,029 hectares of corn, primarily in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the Ilocos Region, the Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon.

The DA said its regional field offices (RFOs) have already prepositioned seeds, fertilizer, drugs, and biologics in safe storage facilities, and it is closely coordinating with the state weather bureau and other DRRM-related offices.

The department currently has some 681,205 bags of rice seeds; 21,192 bags of corn seeds, and 20,454 kilograms of assorted vegetable seeds for possible intervention once Typhoon Betty exits the country.

It also said affected stakeholders can tap the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) for up to P25,000 in loans payable in three years at zero interest.

Typhoon Betty entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning, and has since decelerated to have maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center. Eleven areas are currently under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 1. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News

JITRA: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry plans to explore saltwater rice cultivation methods in an effort to increase the country's rice production in the future, says its Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

He said his office had held discussions with relevant experts including professors in China regarding the technology that could be used for producing rice in this country.

"We are still in the early stages of discussion to ensure that the area by the saltwater sea is not wasted. It can be used in the future with technology.

"We will ask the opinion of experts from outside on how they succeeded; they did not succeed in one day, they (China) did a four-year study. There is no reason why Malaysia will not have enough rice in the future," he said.

Mohamad Sabu said this at a press conference after an engagement session with Harumanis Kodiang Entrepreneurs at the Harumanis Farm Collection Centre, Kampung Pida 3, Kodiang near here today (May 28).

Mohamad added that the issue of irrigation and care are among factors for low yield of rice production in Kedah compared with Sekinchan, Selangor, thus requiring effective action to increase rice yield in the rice bowl state.

"You can't do rice cultivation part-time; in Sekinchan, rice farmers do it as a permanent job. In Kedah, we want to go in that direction. (However) we can't blame the farmers either because the irrigation system is also important.

"We cannot survive on five tonnes per hectare. In Sekinchan, we get between eight and 10 tonnes per hectare; if we get six tonnes or more, we have enough rice in Malaysia. Now farmers have taken this seriously," he said.

He said the method of planting rice through a large-scale scheme such as in Sekinchan can be practised by rice farmers in Kedah in an effort to produce additional rice with the help and cooperation of the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas). - Bernama

Lucknow. Chief secretary DS Mishra held a meeting with country director of the World Food Programme, Elisabeth Faure on Thursday. The two reportedly held discussions on three major issues, which included fortified rice, grain dispensing Annapurti and take home ration (THR) units.

Mishra informed Faure that the state had managed to scale up rice fortification and a community awareness drive on the importance and availability of the rice was being carried out. The information being given out through these drives includes details of the nutritional value and quality of fortified rice.

Meanwhile, Faure said three Annapurti solution facilities have been set up and WFP would be supporting installation of five more as per the request of the food and civil supplies department. It was discussed during the meeting that UP would increase the Annapurti centres, which work like food dispensing ATMs, to 100 locations across the state.

She further informed the chief secretary that during her field visits, she had learnt about new blended fortified THR being well accepted by the community and was also providing employment opportunities to women. There are 134 operational THR units covering 320 blocks of the state and the plan is to bring the entire state within their reach Faure said WFP would soon be piloting a solar power installation in one of the THR units.

Agricultural Ministry said the country will achieve foodgrain production of 3305.34 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) in the current agricultural year

The Centre is estimating record production of rice, wheat, maize, soybean, rapeseed and mustard, and sugarcane, according to the “third advance estimates of production of major crops” released by the Union Agriculture Ministry here on May 25.

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, releasing the estimates, said the country will achieve foodgrain production of 3305.34 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) in the current agricultural year. He credited farmers, the ability of researchers and the farmer-friendly policies of the Centre for Growth. The assessment of production of different crops is done based on the feedback from States.

Among foodgrains, the Centre expects cultivation of 1355.42 LMT of rice, 1127.43 LMT of wheat, 111.66 LMT of bajra, 547.48 LMT of coarse cereals and 359.13 LMT of Maize. In 2021-22, the production of rice was 1294.71 LMT and the production of wheat was 1077.42 LMT. The total foodgrain production is likely to be higher by 149.18 LMT as compared to 2021-22. The increase in rice could be 60.71 LMT and in wheat, it will be 50.01 LMT.

The Centre expects the production of 275.04 LMT of pulses. The production of Moong is estimated at 37.40 LMT which is higher by 5.74 LMT when compared to the previous year’s production. “The production of soybean and rapeseed and mustard is estimated at 149.76 LMT and 124.94 LMT respectively, which is higher by 19.89 LMT and 5.31 LMT respectively than the production in 2021-22. Total oil seeds production in the country during 2022-23 is estimated at a record 409.96 LMT which is higher by 30.33 LMT than the previous year’s oilseeds production,” the Union Agriculture Ministry said in a release.

Total production of Sugarcane in the country is also likely to hit record levels of 4942.28 LMT. “The production of sugarcane during 2022-23 is higher by 548.03 LMT than the previous year’s production,” the Centre said. The Production of Cotton is estimated at 343.47 lakhbales (of 170 kg each) and production of Jute & Mesta is estimated at 94.94 lakhbales (of 180 kg each).

MUMBAI/ HANOI/BANGKOK/DHAKA: Rice prices exported from Vietnam climbed their highest level since late April this week, aided by low supplies, while rates for the staple grain were flat in other major hubs on lacklustre overseas demand.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $490-$495 per tonne, compared with a range of $485-$495 a week ago. “Supplies are low and exporters are focusing on fulfilling the contracts signed with Indonesian buyers,” a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. Preliminary shipping data showed 213,000 tonnes of rice were to be loaded at Ho Chi Minh City port during the May 1-29 period, with most of the rice heading to the Philippines, Indonesia and Africa.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices were quoted at $495-$500 per tonne, slightly lower from last week’s $500, their highest since January. Demand has been subdued, said a Bangkok-based trader, adding, the markets are awaiting harvest of the next crop for additional supplies.

In top exporter India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the trade ministry, said that the South Asian nation could consider supplying broken rice to other countries only through diplomatic channels.

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was unchanged from last week’s $374-$378 per tonne, with rates pressured in part by a depreciation in the rupee, which increased traders’ margin from overseas sales. Additionaly, “demand is weak for the past few weeks. Buyers are delaying purchases,” a Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh-based trader said.

Neighbouring Bangla-desh’s procurement drive of the newly harvested rice is in full swing, agriculture ministry officials said.

The government has a target to buy 1.2 million tonnes of rice from local farmers from May 7 to Aug. 31. The government buys rice from local farmers to ensure a support price, build stocks for state welfare programmes and meet emergency needs.

Minister G. Kamalakar says broken rice percentage in Rabi CMR to be finalised soon

Rice millers of Telangana, who are part of the exercise of custom milling of paddy to supply rice to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), have requested the Centre to allow supply of boiled rice this Rabi season keeping in view the welfare of farmers.

At a meeting with Minister for Civil Supplies G. Kamalakar and authorities of the State Civil Supplies Corporation here on Thursday, representatives of the rice millers expressed concern over the Centre’s decision not to accept parboiled rice in Rabi and it was causing loss to them with forced supply of raw rice. They said they were not hopeful of giving even half the quantity of raw rice target given for Rabi.

The Minister, on the other hand, asked the millers to cooperate with the State Government and supply custom milled rice before the deadline. He assured them that the State Government would take a mutually agreeable decision on the broken rice percentage in the Rabi CMR.

Asking the millers not to cause problems to farmers under any circumstances and made it clear that the government would not allow reduction of paddy weight having fair average quality and also unload paddy brought to mills without any delay. He stated that broken rice percentage in the Rabi CMR would be finalised after taking the interim report of an expert committee on it based on paddy varieties to the Chief Minister’s notice.

Representatives of millers appealed to the Centre to rethink over its decision against accepting parboiled rice in Rabi as the milling industry was facing serious problems due to it. They explained that paddy grain would be broken during its formation stage itself in the Rabi season due to high temperatures and the Centre had taken the decision against parboiled rice without considering the fact.

They also expressed concern over their portrayal as enemies of farmers although they were playing a key role in taking the paddy produced by farmers as finished product to consumers. They said they were not reducing weight of paddy with fair average quality and noted that repeated untimely rains this season was making paddy discoloured and out-turn as raw rice would not be even 50%.

Commissioner of Civil Supplies V. Anil Kumar, General Manager of TSCS Srinivas Rao, president of the rice millers association Gampa Nagender, general secretary A. Sudhakar Rao, working preisdent B. Prabhakar Rao, treasurer Chandrapal and district president of the association participated in the meeting.

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) released the 10-month goods trade report card, laying bare the abysmal state of rice exports over the now concluding fiscal year 2022-23. Although many commentators have been quick to attribute blame for poor export performance to the devastating floods, there may be more to the story.

Regular readers may recall that forecast for national production during marketing year 2022-23 was lowered by 40 percent during last quarter of CY22 in the aftermath of devastating floods that affected cultivation of the crop in southern region of the country, but mainly in the Sindh province. Recall that crop production in Sindh is now responsible for nearly 30 percent of national output, of which over 90 percent are coarse rice varieties primarily geared towards the export markets.

Export of coarse rice varieties such as IRRI-6, IRRI-9, and hybrid rice contribute up to 75 percent of annual rice export revenue. In turn, coarse rice varieties constitute up to 85 percent of rice exports by volume, with the remainder contributed by export of the higher value basmati rice which contributes significantly lower volume. Thus, destruction of coarse rice crop in Sindh had put a major dampener in rice exports at the very onset of the rice marketing year, which begins in earnest upon harvest between Oct – Nov.

However, coarse rice varieties were never going to be the export play for calendar year 2023. After the resolution of short-lived frenzy from India surrounding rice export bans/duties upon delayed upward revision in the rice exporting giant’s domestic output, the pressure in the global trade markets had already eased to a major extent (especially in the H2-CY22). Remember, India alone contributes up to 40 percent of global rice exports (compared to 8 percent for Pakistan) and improved supplies there means more calm for rest of the world market. In fact, USDA estimates now suggest that world trade volumes have remained largely unchanged during MY22 and MY23, despite the price pressure and volatility witnessed for much of CY22.

Instead, for Pakistan – the bulk of export revenue were to stem from the export of significantly higher value basmati rice. Recall that basmati rice belt is predominantly situated in the north-eastern districts of Punjab province in the doab regions of Indus and its tributaries. As such, no widespread losses to basmati rice production were reported from northern and central Punjab districts in the aftermath of the 2022 monsoon floods.

Meanwhile, a significant upward swing in basmati prices in the western export destinations resulted in prices increasing by at least 50 percent during the ongoing marketing year (over the preceding 12-month period), that too in dollar terms. This rise at first followed an upward in demand post resumption of global commercial activity in 2021, and then due to tightened supplies from the only other exporting region – the Indian Punjab and Haryana states belt. However, basmati export quantum during the 10MFY23 from Pakistan has witnessed a seemingly inexplicable slump of 25 percent, declining 0.65 million metric tonnes (MMT) last year to barely 0.47 MMT during current fiscal year to date.

This slump especially comes as a surprise as it has been not been accompanied by any significant decline in local production. Meanwhile, basmati rice – which is the predominantly consumed variety in the local market –has witnessed prices in the domestic market already double over the last 12 months. This suggests that prices in the local market are fast adjusting to the rise recorded in the global market, but the absence of exportable surplus suggests that demand failed to weaken.

Of course, seemingly plausible explanations such as rising smuggling pressure from Afghanistan, Central Asian ‘stan states, and even Iran are presented to explain away the poor performance of official exports despite significant profit margin on offer upon exporting from official channel, given both higher prices fetched in western and Gulf destinations, the arbitrage offered by currency depreciation, and concessionary financing advanced by SBP on export of basmati variety only.

So, where in lies the truth? It is hard to know. One answer may be found in the oft repeated hypothesis that Pakistan’s actual basmati rice production is significantly lower than officially reported, which could explain why the astonishing rise in local prices amid record breaking inflation did not weaken domestic consumption. Another hypothesis offered by way of explanation is that smuggling from border regions may not necessarily offer higher profitability, but allows export of Pakistan’s (generally perceived) low quality basmati, which has higher aflatoxin and other contaminant levels – which would otherwise face high non-tariff barriers in the more sophisticated western markets.

It is hard to know where the truth lies. However, given the over 50 percent rise in basmati prices over last year, lower export market volume will indeed be remembered as a golden opportunity missed.

Rice prices exported from Vietnam climbed their highest level since late April this week, aided by low supplies, while rates for the staple grain were flat in other major hubs on lacklustre overseas demand.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $490-$495 per tonne, compared with a range of $485-$495 a week ago.

“Supplies are low and exporters are focusing on fulfilling the contracts signed with Indonesian buyers,” a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.

Preliminary shipping data showed 213,000 tonnes of rice were to be loaded at Ho Chi Minh City port during the May 1-29 period, with most of the rice heading to the Philippines, Indonesia and Africa.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices were quoted at $495-$500 per tonne, slightly lower from last week’s $500, their highest since January.

Demand has been subdued, said a Bangkok-based trader, adding, the markets are awaiting harvest of the next crop for additional supplies.

In top exporter India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the trade ministry, said that the South Asian nation could consider supplying broken rice to other countries only through diplomatic channels.

Asia rice: Thai prices hold near 4-month high, traders flag climate-led risks

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was unchanged from last week’s $374-$378 per tonne, with rates pressured in part by a depreciation in the rupee, which increased traders’ margin from overseas sales.

Additionaly, “demand is weak for the past few weeks. Buyers are delaying purchases,” a Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh-based trader said.

Neighbouring Bangladesh’s procurement drive of the newly harvested rice is in full swing, agriculture ministry officials said.

The government has a target to buy 1.2 million tonnes of rice from local farmers from May 7 to Aug. 31.

The government buys rice from local farmers to ensure a support price, build stocks for state welfare programmes and meet emergency needs.

This variant’s productivity is higher than other conventional varieties. Moreover, it ripens early and resists wind due to stronger stems, and skirts drought.

NEW DELHI:  A new paddy variety that developed from two Philippines varieties will transform the crop production in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. The rice productivity in these states has reached stagnated. Indian agricultural scientists at Benaras Hindu University (BHU), in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines, developed a new rice variety Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1. 

This variant’s productivity is higher than other conventional varieties. Moreover, it ripens early and resists wind due to stronger stems, and skirts drought. “According to Indian Council of Agriculture Research assessments this variety’s productivity is around 55-64 quintal per hectare, which is twice the average productivity in India,” says Dr Sarvan Kumar Singh, lead scientist at the BHU who developed the variety, told this newspaper.

India’s average production of rice is around 29 quintals per hectare. The other scientists associated with the effort are Dr Jaya Sudha, Dr Dhirendra Kumar Singh, Dr Akansha Singh from BHU, and Dr Arvind Kumar and Vikas Kumar from IRRI. Scientists used two IR-series rice varieties, indigenous to the Philippines, to develop Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1 (MMSD). One of the varieties of the IR-series was IR-8, which was considered ‘miracle rice’ in the 1970s and helped increase global food production to counter hunger.

“The MMSD variety will revolutionise the Indian rice field, at least in eastern Indian states like Bihar, UP and Odisha,” says Dr Sarvan. According to ICAR assessment, MMSD has an encouraging response in Bihar, UP and Odisha. The production of grains was higher than 10% in these states compared to other states. This variety takes 115 days to ripen, and grain quality is better than the existing variety, which would help fetch higher prices to growers.

“During the de-husking, hulling, and milling process, the head rice (whole rice) recovery percentage is 63.5%, whereas conventional rice gets broken more and reduces the market value,” says Sarvan Kumar. 

Better ripening, more yield

A team of scientists from BHU and IRRI develops an early ripening variety of rice from the Philippines’ variety

Two Philippines’ varieties of IR-series used to develop Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1

The new variety takes 115-118 days, produces 55-64 quintal per hectare, whereas existing varieties takes 135-160 days with less production.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Thursday said it is confident that rice supply in the country will be enough even during the lean months of July to September.

“If we are going into the lean months and we have a good buffer of about 60 days plus the production during that period and then import arrivals so I think we are confident that we will have a good supply for the lean months,” DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

Earlier, agricultural groups warned of a looming rice crisis due to the El Niño phenomenon this year, which is projected to emerge beginning June.

Sebastian said the DA has so far recorded 1.48 million metric tons (MT) of imported rice and a carryover stock from last year of around 1.8 million MT. The agency also expects 5.7 million MT in total local harvest from January to June.

“Malaki 'yung ating projected na (We have a big projected) supply for the first six months, and we are expecting we will have at least remaining stock by end of June that will be good for about two months,” he pointed out.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also agriculture secretary, said in April that he sees no rice crisis in the country, but the option to import should always remain open.

One of the chief executive’s campaign promises was to bring down the per kilo price of rice to ₱20. Marcos said in March that the government hopes to achieve this “as soon as possible” despite hurdles, like the weather. 

Past and present government officials have said it may be difficult to achieve this immediately due to funding issues and situation in the market.

According to Sebastian, lowering the price of rice is possible, but it should be market driven.

“We are not going to dictate it, but what we can do is we can help our farmers reduce their costs, improve the value chain… para makita natin (so we can see) if our cost of production and the cost of the value chain will be lower baka pwede nating mapababa yung presyo, but ₱20 maybe mahirapan tayo doon (maybe we can lower the price, but ₱20 may be difficult),” he explained.

Latest government data showed the price of local commercial rice in Metro Manila markets ranges from ₱34 per kilo to ₱60 per kilo depending on the variant of local rice, and ₱40 to ₱58 for imported rice.

NEW DELHI, May 24 (Reuters) - India could consider supplying broken rice to other countries only through diplomatic channels, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, an arm of the trade ministry, said in an order on Wednesday.

India banned overseas shipments of broken rice and imposed a 20% duty on exports of various other grades in September 2022 amid concern over production because of below-average monsoon rainfall in key growing states.

China was the biggest buyer of India's broken rice, with purchases of 1.1 million tonnes in 2021. Beijing used to import that variety mainly for feed purposes.

Though India might consider requests for supplies of broken rice to some countries case by case, New Delhi does not plan to lift the ban on broken rice exports, a government source said.

A 90% likelihood of an El Nino weather pattern developing during this year's June-September monsoon season has raised the possibility of less than normal rain in 2023.

Rice is Pakistan’s second staple food and fourth-biggest export after Knitwear, Readymade garments, and Bed wear, but its production declined by 41 percent during 2022-23, coming in at 5.5 million tons according to the data published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The primary reason was devastating floods that knocked off 80 percent of expected rice production in Sindh which contributes to nearly a third of national output. Rice is also facing severe challenges from climate, weeds, and pests.

The true potential of any crop’s success is hidden in its seeds and hybrid rice is a potential answer to these barriers.

Hybrids for rice first surfaced during the 1970s when Dr Yuan Longping and his team averted a catastrophic famine in China making it the biggest rice producer in the world. He is still remembered as the second leader of the Green Revolution along with Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug.

Globally, rice has two main subspecies, Japonica and Indica. The Japonica rice comes from temperate & high-altitude environments, is short & stickier when cooked, and is cultivated in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Indica rice on the other hand is long, non-sticker (separate after cooking), and is grown in India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Southern China, and Africa. In Pakistan, all cultivated varieties from basmati, extra-long grain, and coarse rice belong to the Indica species.

In traditional varieties, plants have both male and female parts on the same flower and reproduce through self-pollination, but hybrid rice is produced by crossing two different parents. It causes a process called heterosis, producing more spikelets (rice flower unit) per unit area and increased grain weight, yielding 20-30% more in comparison to traditional cultivars.

The hybrid rice program was formally initiated in Pakistan during the 1990s at Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku (RARI) in a combined effort with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In 2021, the government approved Pakistan’s first Basmati Rice Hybrid developed at RARI and directed the auction of the licenses for marketing and distribution.

“Developing Basmati Hybrids is quite challenging because we have to protect its famous length and aroma” stated Dr Shawaiz Iqbal, Senior Scientist at RARI. He explained that the approved variety KSK111H has a yield potential of 115 maunds/acre and holds all the other features of basmati rice.

Although the process of commercializing is stalled after the government shuffle since the process of auction is yet to be outlined.

Lahore-based Guard Agriculture Research & Services is another industry leader in hybrid rice in Pakistan with a 74 percent market share. They have successfully developed and marketed half a dozen hybrid cultivars all having production potential of 120 maunds/acre and resistance against disease, shattering, lodging, and heat.

One of the key aspects of rice hybrids is increased yield from the same unit area of land. Pakistan is the fifth-largest country by population in the world and will soon cross Indonesia for the 4th spot. It is a double-edged sword putting pressure on existing food production while leaving less agricultural land on the other hand.

Our only shot at the food security of future generations is to ensure a vertical increase in production and hybrid cultivars are the key to that challenge. The second major threat to Rice production is looming climate change and resulting water scarcity. Rising temperatures are also a precursor to an increased occurrence of diseases and pests.

Hybrid cultivars provide us with the opportunity to effectively cope with these challenges without putting more pesticides and other agrochemicals in the field and further threatening the biodiversity and sustainability of the ecosystem. Hybrids can break the yield barriers and escape drought as well due to their shorter life span.

For example, all the rice hybrids introduced by Guard Agriculture Research are resistant to Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB). They can also sustain against salinity and water logging, which is increasingly ravaging our lands due to floods and mismanagement of water resources.

Lastly, hybrid rice will not only ensure domestic food security but will also fuel exports with increasing demand for this important cereal internationally especially the coarse types. Although hybrid rice gets lower prices in the local market in comparison to basmati, companies like Guard Agriculture assist farmers in exporting their produce.

The prime challenge in their widespread use is affordability both to farmers and the country. Being hybrids, farmers will have to buy their fresh seeds every year. If farmers cultivate the same seed from the previous year’s hybrid crop, the crop will produce inconsistent results and surely will not achieve ideal yields.

“The performance of Chinese hybrids is subject to specific climate as they are not all locally adopted, unlike our domestic cultivars”, added Iqbal.

He maintained that these hybrids are also vulnerable to climate change as happened during 2020 heatwaves, especially in September when temperature shifts affect flowering significantly.

He also argued that there is a need to protect the heritage of basmati rice by limiting the cultivation of these hybrids to Lower Punjab and Sindh, out of the Kallar Tract Rice belt (Narowal, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Kasur, Sheikhupura, etc).

Pakistan is the largest importer of hybrid rice in the world and has failed to indigenize its production despite years of collaboration with international actors, especially China. It drains foreign exchange from an agricultural-rich country that is always struggling to keep up with the balance of payments.

Government and private institutions must work on the technology transfer of hybrid rice which will not just ensure the indigenization of hybrids & save foreign reserves, but will also create huge local employment opportunities and will be relatively affordable due to domestic production.

The prosperity of farmers became one of the keys in improving food productivityJakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) established cooperation with seed producers to develop a high-yielding rice variety Witagen that is resistant to pests.

Head of BRIN's Genetic Engineering Center, Ratih Asmana Ningrum, noted in a statement, Thursday, that the cooperation is expected to help in increasing the number of options for high-quality rice seeds.

This can support national food security in addition to helping the agriculture sector to better handle the impacts of climate change.

"We expect that this seed (variety) will be beneficial for farmers in the provision of superior seeds and will certainly be beneficial in strengthening domestic food security," she noted.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation was inked by BRIN, PT Wilmar Padi Indonesia (WPI), and Syngenta on April 12, 2023.

Under the scope of the MoU, activities that will be conducted include selecting superior seed varieties that can adapt to the environment in Indonesia.

Also being conducted are research and development in genetics, rice seed testing and evaluation, field test as well as production and distribution of superior rice seeds produced through cooperation with farmers.

According to PT WPI's Rice Business Head Saronto, the use of superior and quality seeds is one of the factors supporting success in rice farming.

The development of new varieties is expected to contribute in improving farmers' prosperity and strengthening national food security.

"The prosperity of farmers became one of the keys in improving food productivity," he noted.

Development of the Witagen variety is a food cultivation strategy amid the challenges of climate change.

The phenomenon poses a major challenge to rice farmers, such as in the form of the emergence of attack patterns from disease pests that are hard to predict and erratic rainfall.

This causes a decline in productivity due to rice varieties that are vulnerable to attacks from disease pests and plants dying due to extreme weather.

"Farmers should be assisted based on their needs, so that their productivity improves," Saronto noted.

Echoing this statement, Syngenta Indonesia's Seed Business Head Fauzi Tubat stated that the use of quality seeds is one of the keys to success in plant cultivation.

"Through this cooperation, we are committed to providing quality rice seeds for farmers to improve rice productivity in Indonesia," Tubat noted.

Out of 660 districts which are covered under the public distribution system, 22 wheat consuming districts would be excluded from coverage under rice fortification.

Fortification of rice helps increase vitamin and mineral content in diets and helps achieve nutritional security.

Government will supply 35 million tonne (MT) of iron fortified rice to the 800 million beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) by March 31, 2024, a food ministry official said on Tuesday.

Additionally 3.4 MT of fortified rice will be supplied to 83 million beneficiaries under the social sector programme such as Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and PM Poshan by the end of current fiscal.

Out of 660 districts which are covered under the public distribution system, 22 wheat consuming districts would be excluded from coverage under rice fortification.

Fortification of rice helps increase vitamin and mineral content in diets and helps achieve nutritional security.

Annual estimated cost of `2,700 crore is anticipated for the fortified rice programme under NFSA, by 2024. The extra outlay would be part of the central government’s food subsidy budget estimated at Rs 2 trillion in FY24.

The official said that rice blended with vitamins and minerals such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 is being distributed across 439 districts.

 At present, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies have 25.3 MT of rice available for distribution through PDS

Currently the rice blending capacity is 15.6 MT per month and 18,227 mills have blending infrastructure for fortified rice.

Under the launch of the phase I of the programme  to eliminate anemia implemented during 2021-22, 1.75 MT of fortified rice was distributed under ICDS and PM Poshan.

In the phase II of the programme implemented during 2022-23, 10.6 MT of fortified rice was distributed under PDS in 269 ‘aspirational and high burden’ districts under the PDS. Nearly 2.9 MT of fortified rice has been lifted by states for the ICDS and PM Poshan programme.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs in April, 2022 had approved providing fortified rice to all the beneficiaries under PDS by end of FY24.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address on the 75th Independence Day speech, in 2021, made an announcement on fortification of rice so as to provide nutrition to every poor person of the country to overcome malnutrition and lack of essential nutrients in women, children, lactating mothers etc. as it poses major obstacles in their development.

According to a food ministry official, as per an analysis of benefits of rice fortification by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, there was an estimated savings of about `49,800 crore of the expenses incurred in the health care cost annually.

Syngenta and FMC to bring to market breakthrough technology to control rice weeds in Asia. Photo: Business Wire

Syngenta Crop Protection and FMC Corporation have announced an agreement to bring to market a breakthrough technology to control grass weeds in rice in Asia. The new active ingredient Tetflupyrolimet, discovered and developed by FMC with support from Syngenta for the development in rice, marks the first major herbicide with a novel mode of action (DHODH – HRAC Group 28) in over three decades, promising relief to farmers challenged by weed resistance to existing herbicides.

Tetflupyrolimet boosts the yield and quality of rice production by delivering season-long control of the most significant grass weeds, which compete with the crop for water, fertilizer, light and space, and host pests and diseases that impact rice farming. A further benefit of this technology is that it can be used at low rates with good crop safety. In addition to being easy to apply in traditional transplanted rice, the herbicide is also highly suited to direct-seeded rice, paving the way for the greater adoption of modern and more environmentally friendly cropping systems.

“This innovation will drive a step-change in the yield and quality of rice harvests, address the growing challenge of weed resistance, and could transform the lives of millions of rice farmers,” said Ioana Tudor, Global Head of Marketing at Syngenta Crop Protection. “At Syngenta, we are excited by the potential of this new technology to elevate the sustainability of global rice production.”

Rice production is central to the livelihoods of an estimated 150 million farmers globally, who supply a fifth of the world’s dietary energy. It is the most important food crop in developing countries, accounting for close to 30 percent of the total calorific intake of these populations. Rice farming is also one of the most important sources of employment in rural areas.

Under the agreement, Syngenta and FMC will both bring Tetflupyrolimet based products to key rice markets in Asia. Syngenta will register and commercialize Tetflupyrolimet in China – the world’s largest rice market. In addition, Syngenta will commercialize products containing mixtures of Tetflupyrolimet for rice in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, as well as in Japan and South Korea. FMC will register and commercialize Tetflupyrolimet and an array of products in all these countries, except in China where it will focus on mixtures for rice. Syngenta will further exclusively commercialize Tetflupyrolimet for rice in Bangladesh.

Northlanders are being asked to keep an eye out for new patches of Manchurian wild rice grass within a formal ‘Eradication Zone’ that covers much of the region amid fears the invasive pest plant could have been spread during recent flooding.

The Northland Regional Council says in Northland, the core rice grass infestation (referred to as the ‘Progressive Containment Zone’) occurs in the Kaipara District on the banks of the Wairoa River and its tributaries, and on adjacent farmland.

Councillor Geoff Crawford, who chairs the Northland Regional Council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says beyond this core area there are scattered infestations on pasture and cropping land, roadsides, and in and around creeks and farm drains.

“Small infestations also occur near Whangārei, Kerikeri, Mangawhai and Mangakahia areas.”

Councillor Crawford says because of the scale of the infestation, total eradication is not possible with current technologies, but the goal is to progressively contain Manchurian wild rice to prevent spread and reduce its distribution.

“Manchurian wild rice (Zizania latifolia) is a Notifiable Organism and is subject to a ‘National Interest Pest Response’ programme administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries.”

The programme – which has been running since 2008 – focuses control efforts on eradicating infestations outside of the mapped Progressive Containment Zone (essentially the rest of Northland).

Councillor Crawford says due to the recent flooding, land in the Eradication Zone which hasn’t previously flooded or ever been exposed to rice grass, may end up with rice grass clumps or rhizomes being deposited in flood debris. It needs to be controlled as soon as possible before it spreads.

Manchurian wild rice is a giant grass that grows up to four metres high. Native to Asia, it arrived unintentionally in ship’s ballast water near Dargaville more than 100 years ago.

It has harsh, dull green leaves that are one to two centimetres wide and grow in fans.

Councillor Crawford says Manchurian wild rice spreads rapidly and is extremely difficult to kill once established so early detection of new infestations provides the best chance of eradicating it quickly.

“It forms dense stands, with underlying rhizome beds, that displace all other species and can alter natural water systems causing habitat loss and increasing the risk of flooding.”

“If left unmanaged, this invasive grass represents a major threat to all river, stream and wetland systems in Taitokerau, as well as to production environments as it also readily invades pasture.”

Councillor Crawford says during floods Manchurian wild rice is prone to break off in chunks from the edges of drains and riverbanks and can be deposited elsewhere.

“Where depends on the flow of the water at the time…it’s not always downstream as it can be pushed back upstream depending on tides or it can be pushed outwards onto farmland.”

Councillor Crawford says due to the urgency of damage control after the recent flooding, machinery hygiene practises may also have slipped.

“Please monitor all areas where contract machinery has come onto site as they might have carried in root fragments of rice grass that can easily establish at a new site.”

He urges those in the Eradication Zone whose property has not had rice grass before to stay vigilant and become familiar with the plant.

It should not be confused with raupo, with key differences between the two plants including:

• Raupo dies back over winter; rice grass does not
• Raupo twists at the end of the foliage, rice grass is pointed.
• Raupo has a smooth thick leaf whereas rice grass has a veiny leaf and a thick midrib.
• Raupo has a bullrush head when in seed, rice grass has a flower type seed head.

By NELSON JOE

Stalks of rice at Fimito valley in Mimanalo local level government of Goroka district in Eastern Highlands Province yields 100 per cent of high-quality grain.

Governor Simon Sia was impressed with this potential on his visit to the field last week Tuesday.

Professor Lin Yingxing, director of the Goroka-based China Aid Upland Rice Project to PNG, accompanied by other officers, told Mr Sia one hectare of the field could produce six to eight tonnes of rice.

“Rice import countries, especially in Asia, can harvest two to three tonnes of rice from a hectare of land but six to eight tonnes of rice can be harvested from a hectare of lands in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“We have not applied any chemicals like fertilisers or pesticides.

“They are organic rice with their natural taste intact.

“The result so far from many tests we have been conducting throughout the country, including Fimito rice fields, are positive.

“Rice import can easily be replaced with our own cultivated from the whole valley from Asaro in Daulo district to Keiya valley in lower Bena in Unggai-Bena district.”

He said Goroka was within the altitude range between 900 and 1500 metres above sea that was best for farming dry land rice.

Juncao Upland Rice project coordinator Timothy Ukii said they had not replaced the first brand of rice seedlings they had introduced in 1999.

“The Golden Mountain A-1 brand is perennial and yields premium quality of grain,” he said.

“It is like the Jasmine rice that we get from the store.

“This is the first brand of rice seedlings we have introduced and they have shown good results consistently over the years.”

He said they could harvest twice from one stem, given that they were planted during the wet season. An impressed governor made a quick calculation that a 50kg of rice lasting an individual for a year.

“This is like 12 years from one harvest from a hectare of land by a farmer,” Mr Sia said.

Meanwhile, Fimito community leader Francis Warigiso told Sia that the rice farming pilot project had been going on at the valley for more than two decades without serious commitment from the authorities and stakeholders to commercialise the rice fields on.

Mr Sia said the provincial government would help where there was a will.

“The people must release their land to whoever wants to grow rice so that we can work together to realise our potential in the rice industry,” he said.

Prof Yingxing said they had the expertise and technology to encourage rice production and were committed to ensure food security for Papua New Guinea through rice.

He said they had contributed in the development of the Rigo rice project in Central Province and were committed to do the same where there was partnership.

PETALING JAYA: A controversial plan by the Kedah Mentri Besar to convert 20% of padi land in the state could see Malaysia having to import an extra 306,000 tonnes of rice each year.

It will also displace about 11,400 farmers who would lose their source of income, contradicting the state’s plan to increase the income of ordinary Kedahans, say food and agriculture experts.

These are just some of the adverse impacts of a plan by Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor to turn 20% of all padi land – or nearly 43,000ha – in Kedah into industrial zones. He has claimed such a move would help increase the state’s coffers.

“Where will these farmers go? They are not qualified to work in other industres except padi farming,” said agriculture expert Prof Dr Fatimah Mohamed Arshad.

“By taking away their farms, the state will send these farmers into poverty,” said Fatimah, who is part of Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security.

“Why should we import rice when we already produce it?”

According to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Kedah produces about 44%, or 914,000 of the 2.356 million tonnes of rice grown nationwide.

Malaysians consume about 2.7 million metric tonnes of rice per year, according to a 2016 Khazanah Research Institute finding. Of the total, 70% is produced locally while the rest is imported.

In an interview with The Star on May 21, Sanusi blamed Kedah’s poverty on the fact that it has been designated as the nation’s rice bowl, and that much of its land is used for padi farming.

He said this affected the state’s revenue as taxes on farm land was low, despite the crop’s importance.

In order to overcome this, Sanusi proposed to turn 20% of the estimated 214,300ha of padi land into industrial zones, which would command higher land taxes and revenue.

Sanusi also wanted to increase the yield from the remaining plots.

“We can’t keep guaranteeing food supply for others while we remain poor. The one who guarantees food supply should be the wealthiest,” Sanusi said.

Another food security expert Nur Fitri Amir Mohammad said Sanusi was right when he said that Kedah’s farmers were poor but felt the Mentri Besar’s solution was wrong.

“His proposal would turn land-owning farmers and entrepreneurs into wage earners,” said Nur Fitri Amir, coordinator of the Food Security and Sovereignty Forum, a group of experts and scholars working on agriculture reform.

“The solution is to reform practices in rice production and to invest in more infrastructure to increase the yield,” said the secretary of PeSAWAH, a rice farmers’ civil group.

Fatimah also said Kedah’s poverty was due to poor management by its leaders, as the state had natural resources like farm land, fishery areas and forests.

It also has tremendous opportunity for cross border trade with Thailand, she said.

However, its economic output in gross domestic product (GDP) was about RM47 billion in 2021, half that of Penang with RM98 billion, despite the fact that the latter is only 11% of Kedah’s size.

“Similarly, Melaka which is about 3% of Kedah in terms of land area has GDP that’s on par with Kedah. This suggests that with the right management of resources, a state can achieve high GDP,” Fatimah said.

“Poor economic performance is mainly determined by domestic policies rather than an external force,” she said.

Inflation driven by economic instability and the fallout from the war in Ukraine and COVID-19 have pushed the staple meal out of reach for many in West Africa.

A man covers harvested rice in a rice field in Nanan, Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire [Thierry Gouegnon/Reuters]

For Nashirata* (last name withheld), breadwinner for her husband and three children, jollof rice, the beloved West African staple dish, is often a lifesaver.

Jobs are hard to come by in Accra, Ghana where she lives, so her high school teaching job is coming in handy until her master’s degree in public health opens the doors to a better one. And on her modest salary, jollof rice – a simple meal of rice cooked with a spicy tomato and pepper base, seasoning and fish or meat –  is often an affordable option for her family.

But now it is getting more expensive to cook.

On the eve of May Day, Nashirata’s pot of jollof rice cost 80 Ghanaian cedi ($7.40), almost twice the regular cost. Still, it was one of the “plainest meals” she had ever made, she said, as she could not afford meat and other condiments at their current prices.

“If I looked at what I prepared yesterday,” Nashirata told Al Jazeera, “I would have loved to add other ingredients. But what we are experiencing, we cannot really have what we want. You can only really make do with what you have.”

Elsewhere in West Africa, in Lagos, the Nigerian commercial capital, the price of restocking monthly groceries has risen from approximately 40,000 naira last year ($86.80) to 80,000 naira ($173.61) today for Esther Louise, a mother of four.

And these days when she cooks jollof rice, she has replaced turkey – which has gone from 3,500 naira ($7.60) per kilogramme to 5,000 naira ($10.85) – with the considerably cheaper Titus fish. It now costs her approximately 8,000 naira ($17.36) to make a pot of rice, 30 percent up from 5,500 naira ($11.94) in April.

Since 2020, people across West Africa have been grappling with rising food inflation, as popular meals go out of reach for low-income households.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, food inflation as of March stood at 50.8 percent. In Nigeria and Senegal, the rates have been considerably less, at 24.61 percent and 11.90 percent, respectively.

In crisis-hit Burkina Faso, food prices have also increased by 30 percent this year, according to the International Rescue Committee. In Mali, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projects acute food insecurity is expected to increase by 30 percent between June and August.

For low-income households across the region, these numbers translate into reduced food security, even as people’s earnings largely stay the same.

“We all know that prices [of commodities] have, in fact, shut up astronomically compared to last year. You cannot even compare the two,” Nashirata said

Import-driven economies

A recent survey by SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical consultancy, examines the rising costs of cooking a pot of jollof rice for an average family of five in several markets in parts of Nigeria and Ghana.

In 14 markets surveyed across Nigeria, the price increased between 2.9 percent and 14.7 percent, peaking at 13,150 naira ($28.54) between the third quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s monthly minimum wage stayed at 33,000 naira ($71.61).

In Ghana, where the monthly minimum wage is 401.76 cedis ($37.18), a pot of jollof rice cost 287.5 cedis ($26.61), 294.5 cedis ($27.26) and 274 cedis ($25.36) in the first three months in Accra and 268 cedis ($24.80), 278 cedis ($25.73) and 274 cedis ($25.36) in Kumasi, respectively.

“The index underscores the fragility of the region’s economies,” said Ikemesit Effiong, head of research at SBM Intelligence.

And while underdeveloped agricultural and farming systems and inadequate policy support have long been noted as reasons for price inconsistencies, experts say the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war have also contributed to the rise in food prices.

Like most of the African continent, West African countries are heavily reliant on grains, wheat, flour and, to a lesser degree, fertilisers from the Black Sea region, a key geopolitical axis that includes Russia and Ukraine.

According to a 2022 joint study by the Economic Community of West African States, the UN World Food Programme and FAO, almost half of the wheat flour imported into West Africa comes from Russia and Ukraine.

“The way West African economies have been structured, they are largely import driven,” said Daniel Anim, chief economist at the Accra-based Policy Initiative for Economic Development.“[It is] making it very difficult for the average citizen within the region to be able to afford goods and services.

“The disposable income of the citizens has been reduced due to the effect of the inflationary rate, and it is affecting the standard of living of the citizens to the extent that it might have an effect on the nutritional value of the citizens, which invariably will affect productivity,” he added.

Beyond the global dynamics, ongoing political, economic and climate crises are also impacting economies in the region.

Mali and Burkina Faso have been experiencing violence by armed rebels for years, as well as multiple coups since 2020. In that period, there have also been attempted coups in Niger, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau as dissatisfaction with tackling insecurity persists and as the cost of living continues to rise.

Last year, acute flooding wiped out thousands of farmlands, killed more than 600 people and displaced 1.4 million others across Nigeria’s food-producing states – after there had already been years of armed attacks against farmers by armed groups in the region. A botched currency swap earlier this year led to more inflation and hurt small and medium businesses, according to the World Bank.

Ghana is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a $3bn dollar bailout. And as of December 2022, Nigeria’s total public debt stocks were at $103.11bn.

Rising debt stock has also hampered economic growth in stable economies like Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. In 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire are reported to have a debt-to-GDP ratio of 77 percent and 56 percent, respectively.

“If you take the West Africa subregion as an economic bloc over the years, it appears that the focus has been on addressing political issues as against economic issues outlined in the various protocols and documents aimed at growing the respective economies in the subregion,” Anim told Al Jazeera.

‘You have to manage’

Experts say the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), designed to ease the movement of goods across the continent but yet to launch, could help halt declining food supply and increasing prices.

“The solution lies around the nature of access – access to capital on one side and access to infrastructure and market,” Akinyinka Akintunde, president of Lagos-based commodities exchange AFEX, told Al Jazeera. “When land and finance are not available with insurgency on the land and [there is ] no access to finance because there is no subsidy in place because the government is not playing the role or there is no infrastructure to access it, then there will be high prices.”

“If there is no seamless mechanism of getting produce at fair, transparent prices, the project is dead on arrival because the access to market has a lot of dynamics to it.”

For regular people like Nashirata, having daily meals cost more than their means is a bitter experience. “Now,” she said, “you cannot just go out and say you want to buy what you want, go home and prepare a meal for your family. You have to manage.

Feature: Legacy of Chinese "Father of Hybrid Rice" continues amid food security concerns

by Xinhua writers Liu Kai, Yan Jie

MANILA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Amid rising concerns about global food security, the legacy of Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping, also known as the Father of Hybrid Rice, continues at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines.

Yuan's hybrid rice was first introduced on the international stage at IRRI, which is located at the foot of the hills and inactive volcano in Laguna province, about 60 kilometers south of the Philippine capital Manila, even before his invention revolutionized global hunger, lifting billions of people out of poverty.

Jauhar Ali, a hybrid rice breeder at IRRI, is one of the rice scientists inspired by the Chinese agronomist who died on May 22, 2021.

One of Ali's photos on Facebook shows him smiling brightly in the middle of a rice field, celebrating Yuan's birthday in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, when he was invited as an IRRI expert to an international conference on rice research held in Changsha.

"That's a memorable, touching moment," said Ali, who had known Yuan since the late 1980s when the Chinese scientist went to India, Ali's birth country, to support local rice research.

Indeed, Yuan's story with IRRI, a leading research organization dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger through rice science, dates back to the 1970s.

Yuan's pioneering research on hybrid rice began in 1964. After nine years of painstaking research and intensive testing, his team successfully cultivated the world's first high-yield hybrid rice strain in 1973.

In 1979, he attended an international rice research conference held by IRRI in the Philippines, where he debuted his research on hybrid rice to the world.

Three years later, when participating in another meeting of IRRI, Yuan was reputed as the "Father of Hybrid Rice" by his peers worldwide.

Ali treasures a digital archive of selected papers from that conference in 1979, among which Yuan's co-authored paper "Hybrid Rice Breeding in China" is well presented.

"So Professor Yuan Longping came and presented this to the world. Eventually, everyone started. This spark ignited a fire across the entire world and people all started working on hybrid rice," Ali told Xinhua in an interview.

Over four decades, hybrid rice technology has been promoted in more than 60 countries and regions, with millions of hectares of farmland growing hybrid rice, feeding billions of people on the planet.

"With the hybrid rice, you can see at least not only the production of more food, but at the same time, you save on the input cost side," said Hans Raj Bhardwaj, research director and head of the rice breeding innovations platform at IRRI.

According to IRRI, rice is the world's most important staple food for some 4 billion people. Rice farming is deeply associated with poverty, with about 900 million of the world's poor depending on rice as producers or consumers.

However, rice farming is now threatened by climate change, including higher temperatures, more frequent droughts, flooding, and rising sea levels. IRRI warns that reduced global rice production may endanger food security and hamper low-income consumers and producers emerging out of poverty.

"One way to mitigate that challenge is to develop varieties of the plants, which can tolerate the stress, but can still produce adequate yields," said Bhardwaj, adding much of the research today is "focused on some of those stressed rates, whether it could be droughts, heat, or floods."

The headquarters of IRRI, founded in 1960, is part of a 190-hectare property consisting of experimental rice fields, laboratories, screen houses, glass houses, and phytotron, among others.

Ali, who started working at IRRI in the early 2000s, is head of a program developing extreme-weather-tolerated rice varieties. He attributed his career motivation to the inspiration of Yuan, whom he described as "a down-to-earth person" and a "very kind-hearted, true gentleman."

"Yuan is not only the 'Father of Hybrid Rice', but also the father or grandfather of all rice researchers," said Ali.

"All credit goes to Dr. Yuan Longping. And we must all feel so grateful for his invention, his drive, and the efforts he put behind promoting and developing this technology," said Bhardwaj.

"It certainly helped with food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition. So this is one of the most significant or important technologies which has a large impact on food production and food security," he added. 

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government says the recently commissioned large-scale Integrated Rice Mill will expand domestic rice production as well as achieve self-sufficiency in the country.

The event, which took place at Sheda, Kwali Area Council, Abuja recently, was in line with the federal government’s mandate to achieve food sufficiency, security and income generation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, revealed that for the past eight years, the government has intensively promoted and supported agricultural development in the country through the Anchor Borrower’s Programme, the Grain Aggregation Centers amongst others.

He noted that these programmes demonstrate the federal government’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructural projects and in keeping with the ideals of the Change Agenda, which is geared towards economic diversification from oil and gas to agricultural sectors.

President Buhari pointed out that “we have witnessed the rapid increase in domestic rice production from the incentives given to farmers and processors over the period as a resolution of leveraging our potentials, producing what we consume and patronising locally made products”.

Speaking further, he emphasized that the country’s paddy yield per hectare has significantly increased to the extent of being adequate for raw material production.

He, therefore, encouraged Nigerian farmers to invest in any aspect of agricultural value chains by using the available incentives, and undertake agribusiness to aid food production in the country.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Mustapha Baba Shehuri, emphasized that the plant mill commissioned was one of the 10 Integrated Rice Mills that President Buhari approved under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model based on the “build, operate and own”.

The Minister commended Messr. Ocean Glory (Development partner) for their full support to ensure the successful delivery of the mill, adding that the successful execution had acted as a catalyst for the speedy delivery of the remaining mills located in Adamawa, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Niger and Ogun States.

He expressed optimism that the remaining nine Rice Mills would be commissioned soon.

In his goodwill message, the representative of the FCT Minister, the Secretary for Agric and Rural Development, Mr Abubakar Ibrahim, pointed out that the occasion marked a momentous step towards achieving the goal of self-sufficiency in rice production and transforming the Agricultural land scale for a great nation.

MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has urged the Department of Education and the national government to hasten the release of one-time rice assistance to all public school teachers and ensure that its quality is fit for human consumption.

In a statement issued yesterday, the ACT said it has received complaints from teachers in Nueva Ecija, Mindoro and Bacolod City that the rice given to them were inedible.

Meanwhile, rice provisions for the rest of the regions have yet to be released to teachers, according to the group.

“Our teachers were extremely dismayed with the quality of the rice they received as they were no longer edible. The rice given (to teachers) in Mindoro were yellowish and have a foul smell. The rice distributed in Nueva Ecija were blackish and appeared to be rotten while the rice distributed in Bacolod City were infested with bugs, thus, were just fed to the hens,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said in Filipino.

As per Administrative Order No. 2, series of 2022, signed by President Marcos on Dec. 16 last year, all government employees, including public school teachers, are entitled to a one-time P25-per-kilo rice allowance from the national government.

“This rice provision was ordered by the President last year, but we are now nearing the end of May, and yet, the majority of our teachers has yet to receive any rice allowance,” Quetua said.

He added that they also received reports that in some regions, teachers had been asked to sign acknowledgment receipts already even if the rice assistance had yet to be given to them.

Quetua noted that the government spent around P1.183 billion for the rice assistance of almost 1.83 million government employees and public school teachers, which translates to P25 per kilo of rice found to be inedible by recipient teachers.

MANILA, Philippines — A senior official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) yesterday gave assurance that the rice supply during lean months is enough with the two-month inventory at the end of June 2023.

In a radio interview, Agriculture Undersecretary for rice industry development Leocadio Sebastian noted that more than 1.4 million metric tons (MT) of imported rice also arrived in the country from January to May 11, 2023.

“Based on our monitoring, we have a good harvest for the first semester. We don’t see any shortage as the volume of imported rice is also high as more than 1.4 million metric tons have already arrived,” he said.

Sebastian made the assurance following an earlier warning from the Federation of Free Farmers on the possible rice crisis during the lean months – July, August and September – when production is low.

“We still have local production at that time and we expect more imported rice to arrive in the coming months, so our supply will be enough,” he said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has said that the country’s rice inventory remained on a downward trend, declining by 14 percent in March. Its latest data showed a total rice inventory of 1.41 million MT as of March, which is 13.7 percent lower than the previous year’s level of 1.63 million MT. Similarly, this is 7.5 percent below the previous month’s stock of 1.52 million MT.

Meanwhile, Sebastian also assured the public that the retail prices of the staple would stabilize amid the spike in the cost of the grains in the past months.

“There was an increase in the cost production of our farmers because of the high prices of fertilizer but we also expect the prices to stabilize,” he said.

Based on monitoring of the DA in Metro Manila markets, the retail price of local regular milled-rice ranged between P34 and P42 per kilo; local well-milled rice, between P39 and P47 per kilo; local premium rice, between P40 and P49 per kilo; and local special rice, between P48 and P60 per kilo.

Meanwhile, imported regular milled rice range between P37 and P38 per kilo; imported well-milled rice, between P40 and P46 per kilo and special imported rice, between P50 and P58 per kilo.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary and spokesman Kristine Evangelista said that she personally monitors the retail price of regular milled rice.

“I monitor the retail price of regular milled as it will be a cause for concern if there is no P34 per kilo. As of now, we still have P34 based on our price monitoring,” Evangelista said.

Govt concerned about elevated domestic prices.

To safeguard consumers from any spike in domestic prices in the coming months, the government is understood to have decided against lifting the ban on exports of wheat and wheat products such as atta this year.

It is not considering lifting the prohibition on shipment of broken rice either. The export tax of 20% on white rice imposed in September 2022 will also likely stay through this fiscal.

Retail inflation in wheat and rice stood at 15.46% and 11.37% respectively in April.

“We are keeping the option of imposing stock-holding limits to improve supplies,” an official told FE. “We are still competitive globally despite export taxes on certain varieties of rice,” the official said, negating the chances of any relaxation on export restrictions.

India’s rice exports rose by more than 15% on year to a record $11.1 billion in FY23 and 22 million tonne (MT) in terms of volume despite imposition of restriction on rice shipments.

The ban on shipment of wheat in May 2022 except on shipments under government-to-government arrangements for food security — was necessitated by a drop in the production of the cereal in the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) and procurement by government agencies dropping 56.6% to only 18.8 MT against 43.3 MT purchased from the farmers in the 2021-22 season (April-June).

In September, India, the world’s biggest rice exporter with 40% share in global trade, had imposed ban on broken rice exports and put 20% export tariffs on the non-basmati and non-parboiled rice, a measure that was aimed at improving domestic supplies amid expectation of a decline in production in 2022-23 crop season (July-June).

However, in February this year, the agriculture ministry estimated rice production for the 2022-23 crop year at a record 130.83 MT.

A high-level inter-ministerial committee has been monitoring prices of essential commodities on a regular interval.

Currently, the mandi prices of wheat are ruling around the minimum support price (MSP) of `2,125/quintal for 2023-24 season.

Sources said that with the government buying more than 26 MT from farmers under the MSP operations in 2023-24 season so far, up 39% on year, there would be sufficient grain available to carry out open market sale of the commodity for bulk purchasers if prices rise.

The government is also likely to initiate open market sale of wheat from July if there is a spike in prices in the coming months. As per earlier policy, the Food Corporation of India has been selling surplus wheat to bulk buyers such as flour millers and food companies during the lean season (January-March).

The procurement of rice in the 2022-23 season (October-September) by FCI and state agencies has crossed 51.56 MT so far against total purchase during previous year’s 57.58 MT.

As on May 18, FCI has wheat and rice stock of 31.95 MT and 27.14 MT respectively. Buffer for July 1 is 27.58 MT (wheat) and 13.54 MT (rice).

For implementation of the national food security act, the government needs 36 MT of rice and 18.4 MT wheat annually. Current grain stock of 59 MT includes 15.3 MT of rice yet to be received from millers.

Farmers in Kyondoe Township Under Pressure: Restrictions on Rice Planting near Military Areas

During this year's planting season, local villagers have reported that the Light Infantry Battalions 545 and 546, based in Kyondoe Township, have issued orders to halt rice cultivation in the farmlands surrounding the villages where the military is stationed.

Furthermore, it has been mandated that only a maximum of three individuals are permitted to be present at the workplace, despite the allowance for cultivation in other areas.

A Kawtwarle villager, who did not wish to be named, said, “The military has ordered that no fields should be planted near Kawtwarle village and the 545/546 battalion. If people still want to plant, they can only do so in groups of three or less.

This makes it difficult for us to grow rice. The military has occupied schools in the villages, and they are hiding outside the village near the rubber farm, which prevents people from going out to work. Trenches have been dug along the Gyaing River, Haungthayaw River, and the path from Kawtwarle to Naungtaman, Ka Toot Min Pagoda, causing fear among the villagers and making them hesitant to go anywhere.”

The villagers of Kawtwarle have reported that the military has issued orders prohibiting rice cultivation in the village farms this year. The purpose behind this directive, as stated by the villagers, is to prevent the revolutionary joint forces from ambushing, attacking the Kyondoe-based Light Infantry Battalion 545/546, and launching drone-based bomb attacks from the farmlands surrounding the battalion.

Currently, residents have reported that artillery shells are being fired from two military camps, targeting the villages in Kyondoe on a daily basis, both during the day and at night. As a result, the residents have expressed that no one has returned to their village from the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp due to the ongoing shelling.

A resident of Naungtaman village said, “Artillery shells were fired on both the east and west banks of Kyondoe, causing destruction to houses. Thankfully, there were no people present at the time, otherwise, they would have been in great danger. Considering the situation, I feel compelled to look back at my village and constantly return to the place where I sought refuge from the war. It has become challenging to engage in farming or planting, making it difficult to sustain a livelihood in the long term.”

As of now, it has been reported that the military has destroyed and blocked the roads connecting the villages of Kawkareik and Taungkyarinn. This action has resulted in the disruption of rural-urban transport links, preventing the free movement of people and goods between these areas.

The residents of Kawkareik/Kyondoe have reported that soldiers hiding along the roads leading from the village to the town, combined with ongoing combat operations, have caused significant challenges in accessing food, shopping, healthcare, and education services.

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique (PNA) – Vegetables, fruits, and other commodities sold at lower prices, including President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) rice sold at P20 per kilo, are available in 16 Kadiwa trading stores in Antique.

Engr. Israel de Guzman, general manager of the Jubilee Agila Bayanihan Agriculture Cooperative in Antique, in an interview on Friday, May 19, said 16 trading posts or Kadiwa retail stores have been established in seven municipalities of the province.

They can be found in Pandan, Libertad, Sebaste, Hamtic, Tibiao, Sibalom, and Belison with two or three stores either at the town proper or in barangays, he said.

“We first established the Kadiwa store in Pandan on March 8 this year. Mayor Tomas Estoperez Jr. was interested in opening the Kadiwa store in his hometown because of the low prices of rice and vegetables being offered by the traders to the farmers,” he said.

He said that to make the enterprise sustainable, they have come up with a scheme that an indigent can only buy two kilos of rice from the store daily so that others would also have the chance to purchase the staple food.

“We also encourage those who want to acquire the low-priced rice to first buy P100 worth of vegetables to help farmers,” he said.

Apart from selling agri-fishery products at affordable prices, he said farmers can also sell their produce at a higher rate. Farmers can now sell newly harvested palay, for instance, at P18 per kilo compared to the P15 per kilo offered by traders.

Their ampalaya produce is bought at P55 per kilo, thrice higher than the buying price of traders, and sold at P60 a kilo.

Kadiwa stores also bought onions at a maximum price of P90 per kilo and sold to buyers between P100 to P120 for every kilo.

Kadiwa is a marketing initiative of the Department of Agriculture that aims to provide a direct link between the producer and consumer, reducing intermediaries, thus farmers earn higher while fresh quality and quality products are made affordable to the consuming public.

PBHF creates awareness to enhance the output of basmati rice in Pakistan with quality seeds and pesticides

Pakistan Basmati Heritage Foundation (PBHF), a consortium of Basmati rice exporters, arranged seminars to create awareness amongst the growers and other stakeholders of the rice value chain for improving productivity and food safety through the usage of certified seeds and judicious application of pesticides.

The seminars held at Narowal and Mandi Bahauddin were attended by the farmers, exporters, and representatives of Ebro Foods (an international grain company) and Eurofins providing testing, certification and other facilities to exporters.
Juan Parious Soto Commercial Director of Ebro Foods speaking on this occasion said that better crop productivity for higher volumes through certified seeds & monitoring of pesticides residue was very important since Import Tolerances (IT) were being revised periodically by the European Union (EU), USA & Gulf countries.
He said that our products are going to the high-end market and we have to keep the pesticide residue below the IT standards.

Antonio Hernandez Chairman of Ebro Foods (Ebro, Herba & Tilda) told the audience that being the world’s largest importer of basmati rice he was ambitious to double the Basmati rice import. Tariq Mahmood Focal Person of Ebro Foods &CEO of GRS added that Compliant Exportable Basmati rice means purity, quality, traceability & food safety.
Dr Alexander Zahm MD Eurofins Germany along with Dr Werner Nadder Former MD Eurofins shared the comparison of export dynamics of Basmati rice between India & Pakistan including rapid alerts generated for pesticides & aflatoxin.
Sh. Adnan Aslam Co-convener of PBHF and Executive Director of MAP Rice welcomed the foreign guests for visiting Pakistan & shared a snapshot of the rice sector, particularly basmati rice. He apprised the participants regarding the potential of exports by boosting rice productivity while keep ensuring food safety.
Imran Sheikh & Raja Arslan Khan National Coordinators of PBHF moderated both seminars & explained the context of the visit of international buyers. He underlined the usage of certified seed & responsible use of pesticides to meet import tolerance standards.
REAP Senior Vice Chairman Haseeb Khan and MC member Ali Narang shared their insights for increasing the share of basmati rice exports in the global market through new seeds and pesticide stewardship.
Samee Ullah Naeem Former Chairman Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan threw light on the importance of agriculture and advised the policymakers to devise farmer-centric policies for transforming the agriculture sector. He said that we need to focus on producing more food including rice per unit of land. Address the water & agrochemicals in the challenging scenario of the scarcity of above with added climate change & multiple risk factors, he emphasized.
Dr. Anjum Ali Buttar DG Agri. Ext. briefed about the insights & outcomes of the PM Emergency Rice Productivity project for promoting mechanization, & certified seeds.
Dr Ihsan ul Haq, Dr Amir Mumtaz & Dr Farrrukh Mehboob Program Leaders of IPM, Post-Harvest & Ecotoxicology respectively from the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) sensitized the participants on the safe & responsible use of agrochemicals in rice production for ensuring food safety & quality.
Shahid Tarer Convener (PBHF) & MD Galaxy Rice explained about the vision of PBHF in bringing together all supply chain actors for better integration of forward & backward basmati rice value chain through solution-oriented strategies to address underlying challenges of the rice sector. He briefed the participants about the role of PBHF in establishing the National Chapter of SRP in Pakistan.
Javed Iqbal & Dr. Irfanullah Warraich Divisional Directors Agri. Ext Gujranwala & Gujrat addressed farmers on good agriculture practices for obtaining better yields & income. He appreciated the PBHF for implanting SRP standards & digitization of traceability from farm to fork.
Rana Faqir Ahmed DG of Pest Warning & Quality Control sensitizes farmers on the importance of the right application timing based on pest ETL (Economic threshold level) & PHI (Pre-harvest interval) to keep rice grains free from pesticide residues. Dr. Hiz Jamali from Asian Development Bank & Dr. Kashif Salik from Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) also participated.

PR 126 was the most popular rice variety last year, occupying 22% of the total cultivation area.

Rice experts of Ludhiana’s Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have advised farmers to transplant 25-30-day-old nursery of the PR 126 variety between June 25 and July 10 and 30-35-day-old nursery of other rice varieties after June 20.

PR 126 was the most popular rice variety last year, occupying 22 per cent of the total cultivation area followed by PR 121, which occupied 14 per cent of the area, according to the university.

Dr G S Mangat, additional director, research (crop improvement), and senior rice breeder Dr Buta Singh Dhillon said that PR 131 was highly sought after in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur, whereas PR 128 gained momentum in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Patiala districts.

Besides, PR 126 has also been the choice of farmers in all districts. Next in popularity is PR 131, the seed of which is in great demand in Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda districts and is replacing PR 114, said Dr Mangat.

In addition, farmers of Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, SAS Nagar and SBS Nagar prefer the PR 130 variety, which has been developed by crossing two varieties, namely PR 121 and HKR 47, according to Dr Dhillon.

“Taking 105 days to mature after transplanting, it possesses long, slender, clear and translucent grains with high total and head rice recoveries. The variety resists the attack of all the 10 presently prevalent pathotypes of bacterial blight pathogen in the Punjab state and its average paddy yield is 30.0 quintals per acre,” he added.

Dr Mangat said that about a dozen rice varieties recommended by the university yielded more during late sowing. These varieties were cultivated on about 70 per cent of the paddy area in the state, he added.

“As per the survey conducted by PAU, PR varieties’ yield was high when sowed near June 25, whereas PR 126 performed better when sowed in July. Their early transplanting resulted in lower yield due to the high temperature and more attacks of insect-pests such as false smut and sheath blight. Basmati, when attacked by stem borers and planthoppers, resulted in crop loss to farmers due to the delay in the adoption of control measures,” Dr Dhillon said.

MUMBAI/HANOI/BANGKOK/DHAKA: Prices of rice from Thailand held near a four-month high this week helped by domestic buying, while traders across Asian hubs flagged concerns over a potential hit to output from the emergence of the El Nino weather pattern this year.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices rose to about $500 per tonne from $498-$500 last week, its highest since January. “Prices have gone up due to more internal demand,” a Bangkok-based trader said. Prices should stay strong for some time, amid a strong baht, because the new harvest is taking some time to be released, another trader said, adding there could be less output from other countries due to climate-related risks.

Triggering concerns about crop production globally was the possible onset of El Nino, when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean rise above normal.

Traders in Vietnam also warned of the adverse impacts on global rice production this year. Vietnam’s 5% broken rice were offered at $485-$495 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from last week. “Domestic supplies are running low, while demand remains high,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said, adding “output from other rice producing countries, including Myanmar and Pakistan, are lower this year.”

Meanwhile, farmers in some Mekong Delta provinces have started sowing for the summer-autumn crop, a trader said. The El Nino phenomenon could also impact the crucial monsoon season in top exporter India.

BASF, Kubota and ZEN-NOH will collaborate to help improve and optimise rice production in Japan

The field trials will be held during the 2023 growing season. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The collaboration consists of two phases, beginning with the integration of BASF’s advanced xarvio FIELD MANAGER crop optimisation platform with Kubota’s state-of-the art KSAS operating platform to assess operability.

The main aim of platform integration is to deliver greater convenience, increase yield, optimise fertiliser use, and provide a higher return on investment for farmers. This outcome would tackle many of the challenges affecting rice production in Japan, including an ageing workforce, labour shortages, and the consolidation of farmland. It would also help farmers become more sustainable, globally competitive and meet established fertiliser reduction targets listed in the country’s MeaDRI strategy for sustainable food systems.

Phase two of the collaboration will test the performance of platform integration through field trials in rice crops, which will be managed by ZEN-NOH.

The field trials will be held during the 2023 growing season and involve farmers experienced with using xarvio FIELD MANAGER, Kubota’s KSAS platform and its machinery. Here, farmers will use the KSAS platform and Kubota rice transplanters to implement field-specific, xarvio FIELD MANAGER variable application maps for fertilisation.

The results of these new field trials will complement those achieved in more than 100 field trials conducted in rice crops last year by ZEN-NOH and BASF. In last year’s field trials, xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps for fertilisation were used and compared to standard fertilisation application practices. By using xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps, yield increases of 15% to 20% were achieved, with an average fertiliser input reduction of 10% recorded. In some cases, depending on field conditions, fertiliser use was reduced by up to 50%.

Konstantin Kretschun, global head of BASF Digital Farming, commented, “Rice farmers in Japan recognise the need to become more sustainable and globally competitive, while reducing environment impacts and meeting MeaDRI strategy targets. Climate smart farming technology provides a proven, effective and available solution to help them achieve these goals. By working closely with Kubota and our valued partner in ZEN-NOH to connect offerings, we can together deliver even greater value to farmers and positively transform rice production in Japan.”

In April 2021, BASF and ZEN-NOH launched xarvio FIELD MANAGER in Japan. Its success, particularly its strong adoption rate among farmers, is based on its ability to deliver consistent, field-specific, measurable agronomic benefits. The digital product uses proven plant models and agronomic algorithms in combination with multiple data inputs, including historical agronomic information, in-season risks, weather data and satellite-based biomass images to provide farmers with clear and prompt, field-specific agronomic recommendations to apply crop fertilisation and crop protection.

By connecting xarvio FIELD MANAGER with Kubota’s powerful KSAS farming and service support system, the seamless transfer and use of xarvio FIELD MANAGER’s variable application maps for fertilisation by KSAS compatible rice transplanters is realised, without the need for an added device for data transfer.

It is anticipated that full integration between xarvio FIELD MANAGER and Kubota’s KSAS platform will be commercially available in Japan from spring 2024.

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers preparing to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows rice fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This aerial photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

This photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows farmers driving an agricultural vehicle to transplant seedlings of rice in fields of Chahe Town in Fengnan District of Tangshan city, north China's Hebei Province. Fengnan District is expected to sow 130,000 mu (8666.7 hectares) of rice this year. (Xinhua/Zhu Xudong)

May 18, 2023 (MLN): Rice prices in Asia, one of the most consequential metrics in global commodity markets – have the potential to climb to multiyear highs, as Bloomberg reported.

Supplies may be challenged this year as weather risks build, mainly hotter-than-normal temperatures already seen, and, as 2023 unfolds, the possibility of a crop-scorching El Nino event, it added.

Rice is the region's key staple and an important component of local Consumer Price Index (CPI) baskets.

It further added that Thailand, an exporting powerhouse has reportedly asked growers to harvest a single crop this season, instead of the usual two.

That stands to reduce output just as external demand climbs if harvests elsewhere miss expectations, especially in Indonesia or the Philippines, it said.

The price of one the Thailand's benchmark grades advanced to $515 per ton this week, on course for a third monthly gain, it noted.

Should it top January's peak of $523 per ton, that would be the most in more than two years, and a further climb above $579 per ton would be a decade high.

A Clemson University researcher is part of a multi-state, multi-disciplinary study to improve rice farming sustainability and profitability through research innovations that advance climate-resilient crops.

Raghupathy Karthikeyan, Newman Endowed Chair Professor of Natural Resources Engineering and a professor in Clemson’s Agricultural Sciences Department, is collaborating with researchers from other land-grant institutions and the United States Department of Agriculture to learn how the development and adoption of climate-smart crop production technologies and practices can enhance rice production.

This $10 million project is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Sustainable Agricultural Systems program. The project addresses the three pillars of the land-grant mission – research, education and the Cooperative Extension Service.

“During this project, we will work to identify climate resilient rice, particularly salt-tolerant rice cultivars and appropriate management practices for rice growers,” Karthikeyan said. “The outcome of this project will allow for development of a skilled workforce that will continue research and development and help distribute information related to using climate resilient technologies.”

Rice once was a dominant agricultural staple in South Carolina before saltwater intrusion forced farmers to grow other crops.

During this project, the researchers will: assess socio-economic and environmental impacts of current farming practices and identify barriers to adopting climate-smart technologies; design climate-smart rice cultivars; develop climate-smart management practices; and develop and implement effective Extension programming. Knowledge gained will be used to identify rice varieties that can adapt to a changing climate.

For his part in the study, Karthikeyan will calibrate and validate the rice crop model, CERES-Rice, a model from Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer – DSSAT suite, using different environmental and management conditions. This model is used for crop management design. Karthikeyan will use this model to forecast rice yields across different management practices under variable climate scenarios.

“Crop simulation models simulate growth, development and yield as a function of interactions between soil, plant and the atmosphere,” Karthikeyan said. “Optimum management practices to increase rice production can be identified using CERES-Rice simulations.”

Field trials will be conducted on salt-tolerant rice lines at the Clemson Coastal Research and Education Center (REC) in Charleston, South Carolina.

Clemson researchers will apply the CERES-Rice model to assess responses of different rice cultivars using projected climate change. Once calibrated, the model will be used to make on-farm management decisions in current and future climatic conditions. This farm modeling system uses data from across the agricultural production chain and includes social and regional considerations to maximize economic, environmental and societal benefits.

Karthikeyan also will develop and teach a special topics class and coordinate a mini-symposium on sustainable and climate-resilient rice production at Clemson University.

In addition to Clemson, this Louisiana State University-led project also includes researchers from the University of Arkansas, Texas A&M University AgriLife Research, Mississippi State University and the USDA-Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center. These researchers have expertise in plant breeding, genetics, plant physiology, plant pathology, entomology, agronomy, soil science, precision agriculture, microbiology, mechanical engineering, modeling, artificial intelligence, sociology, economics and Extension education.

Karthikeyan said this expertise will help the researchers share their knowledge with rice growers today, as well as with rice growers of the future.

“We will use Extension and education activities to equip the current and next generation of rice farmers, consultants and researchers with knowledge and skills needed to embrace new climate-smart agriculture technologies and production practices,” Karthikeyan said. “Growers will learn how to make the correct decisions at the correct times to help reduce yield losses, land use, labor and consumer energy.”

This grant is part of a $70 million dollar investment from USDA to establish robust, resilient and climate-smart food and agricultural systems.

To help revive the South Carolina rice industry, another Clemson-led project is iCORP – Increasing Coastal Organic Rice Production in South Carolina Using Salt Tolerant Cultivars. During this project, researchers will detail cultivation practices and economics of growing rice in salt-affected coastal areas to help growers to make informed crop-related decisions.

MANILA, Philippines — Palay production in Nueva Ecija, the rice granary of the country, will drop by 30 percent if the super diversion canal in the province will not be repaired, according to a group of irrigators.

National Confederation of Irrigators Association treasurer and board of trustees member Dante Lazatin said around P1.5 billion is needed to fund the restoration of the super diversion canal in Nueva Ecija.

“We will have a problem, especially with the impending El Niño if the super diversion canal is not fixed,” Lazatin said.

He said 17,000 hectares of rice fields would have no access to irrigation with limited supply of water from the canal.

“The super diversion canal can provide 60 cubic meters per second of water, but we can only supply a maximum of 43 cms because of its damage,” Lazatin said.

He appealed to President Marcos to act on requests for the government to provide funds for the repair of the water channel.

Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. president Danilo Fausto said palay production would drop by 315,000 metric tons if the 17,000 hectares of rice fields in Nueva Ecija will have no access to irrigation.

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s rice inventory remained on a downward trend, declining by 14 percent in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

Latest data from the PSA showed that total rice inventory stood at 1.41 million metric tons as of March, 13.7 percent lower than the previous year’s level of 1.63 million MT.

Similarly, this is 7.5 percent below the previous month’s stock of 1.52 million MT.

Households had more than half of the total inventories at 57.6 percent, while commercial warehouses held about 35.1 percent. Supplies from the National Food Authority depositories comprised 7.3 percent of the total.

On a monthly basis, rice stocks inventory in households, commercial warehouses and NFA depositories all declined – by 7.5 percent, 8.7 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture forecast supply deficits of rice, corn, raw and refined sugar, pork and fish this year.

For rice, 10.4 percent of the demand equivalent to 42 days is the projected deficit. The government plans to import some three million metric tons of rice to fill the gap.

A deficit of 2.8 million MT is also seen in yellow corn, 73,546 MT for refined sugar, 309,100 MT for pork and 648,300 MT for fish.

The government’s Interagency Committee on Inflation and Market Outlook has recommended timely and data-supported importations to fill the supply gap.

It also called for the strategic prepositioning of rice buffer stocks in time for the El Niño, improvement and expansion of the Kadiwa program and fast-tracking the distribution of targeted subsidies to fishers and farmers in the short term.

WASHINGTON, DC – The Association for the Administration of Rice Quotas, Inc. (AARQ) recently donated $250,000 to The Rice Foundation, a 501c(3) organization that represents all segments of the U.S. rice industry with a mission to further the well-being of its members and ensure the long-term sustainability and future competitiveness of U.S. rice.

The Foundation receives funding from several sources, however since it’s creation many years ago, funding from the AARQ has been extremely important.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors of AARQ, I would like to say that the recent decision was made as a show of confidence in the good work of The Foundation,” said Chris Crutchfield, CEO of American Commodity Company in California, and chair of the AARQ Board of Directors.  “It’s been a trying couple of years for AARQ, and we could not make the normal disbursements to The Foundation.  However, collective fiscal responsibility through those times made this donation possible and we anticipate a return to engagement with AARQ as a normal course of business.”

The AARQ is a not-for-profit corporation that manages the tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for milled rice granted by the European Union (EU-27) and the United Kingdom (UK) to the United States.  Since 1996, the AARQ has conducted open auctions to allocate the 38,721 metric ton milled rice TRQ and the proceeds of those auctions are distributed to The Rice Foundation and the state rice research boards.

Over the past two years, sales of U.S. rice to the EU and UK have been lacking so funds generated by these sales have been almost non-existent.  Recently these sales have increased which allowed for this donation.

“The donation at this time is a godsend for The Rice Foundation as we had been struggling financially,” said Texas rice farmer Timothy Gertson who is chair of The Rice Foundation Board of Directors.  “This generous funding will allow for a continuation of the Foundation’s work of identifying and financing research projects, and supporting leadership and education programs, both areas that are critical for the U.S. rice industry.”

Manila to Host World's Largest Rice Congress: Co-organized by Philippine Agri Dept & IRRI

The Philippine government considers rice to be a priority area for achieving food self-sufficiency and improving the livelihoods of Filipino farmers.

The sixth edition of the International Rice Congress (IRC) will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Philippines on 16-19 October-2023. The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Philippines has committed to supporting the organization of the world's largest gathering focused on rice-based food systems. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) will co-host the event.

The upcoming IRC in 2023 will provide an opportunity to learn about recent advancements in genetic, digital, and nature-based solutions. These insights will be invaluable in addressing the diverse challenges faced by the rice industry in the Philippines, according to Leocadio Sebastian, the DA Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development.

The IRC, which began in 2002, serves as a platform for scientists, experts, and decision-makers from the public, private, and government sectors to develop evidence-based solutions for the global rice sector. Rice is a critical commodity that serves as a staple food for over half of the world's population. Hence, it is crucial for farmers, consumers, and government decision-makers to collaborate and find sustainable solutions.

The IRRI Director General, Jean Balié, expressed excitement about showcasing cutting-edge technology, breakthrough studies, and innovations from around the world during IRC 2023. However, Balié also emphasized the need to focus discussions on holistic science-based solutions to address the combined impacts of climate extremes, potential rice crises, conflicts, and economic shocks on the rice value chain. The conference aims to bring together long-time partners, collaborators, as well as new players in the agricultural, climate change, and nutrition sectors to foster knowledge exchange.

The theme for this year's IRC is "Accelerating Transformation of Rice-Based Food Systems: From Gene to Globe." It aims to highlight solutions and innovations that can address critical issues related to agriculture and climate change, food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability, and human and economic development.

The conference presents a unique opportunity to gather leading experts from the agricultural industry, research and development, academia, and civil society. It allows for networking and collaboration among individuals and organizations, harnessing their potential to find areas of cooperation.

During the previous IRC, approximately 1,500 delegates from 64 countries participated. The event saw the presence of high-level representatives from organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Food Programme, International Fund for Agricultural Development, as well as the governments of India, Uganda, and Singapore.

Notable companies like Bayer Crop Science and Corteva Agriscience, along with NGOs like Oxfam, were also in attendance. The conference featured over 300 poster presentations and showcased at least 400 research presentations covering various studies conducted worldwide.

Farmers will heave a sigh of relief because new rice varieties have been introduced by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) rich in high yields for mass production.

The move is a $500,000 five-year partnership project between the Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA) and CSIR-CRI to provide improved rice seeds for farmers. 

The new rice varieties will be cultivated on 100-hectare land at the Council’s project site at Dawhenya in Accra.

Speaking to Citi News, Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lim Jung Taek indicated that the project will complement government Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme.

“We produce a lot of rice varieties which include high yields variety, we want to provide the highest variety to the Ghanaian market. We hope to contribute to the success of rice production in Ghana,” Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lim Jung Taek.

A rice farmer, Richard Martey expressed his excitement and indicated that the new rice varieties will generate a lot of income for them.

“It’s a promising variety, and I’m told the taste is palatable. It is going to increase our yields component, we will also have a lot of money in our pockets,” Richard Martey noted.

Two flood-resistant rice varieties are helping farmers in Africa to improve productivity, with huge potential returns for countries affected by climate change, agricultural food experts say.

Scientists at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) say the rice they developed could survive for more than two weeks under complete submergence, whereas existing rice varieties die after one week of flooding.

The experts found that it can generate up to two tons per hectare more than rice varieties vulnerable to flooding.

"Until recently, no flood-tolerant rice varieties existed in Africa and farmers suffered enormous losses due to floods," says Venuprasad Ramaiah, head of the International Rice Genebank at the IRRI.

"Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria and Tanzania are among the most flood-affected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa."

Ramaiah says the new varieties also produce a higher yield than existing types, even in drier periods.

"Their cultivation is expected to generate income that is comparable with other improved varieties in the market, in years with no floods," he added.

Ramaiah explains that a gene for submergence tolerance (SUB1 gene) was created and transferred into flood-susceptible African rice varieties.

Baboucarr Manneh, director-general of AfricaRice, tells SciDev.Net that the SUB1 gene was discovered in 1996 and scientists began transferring it into the farmer-preferred variety in the early 2000s. The first high-yielding submergence-tolerant rice variety called "scuba rice" was released in 2009 in Asia.

"This goes to show that the technology has been validated and proven successful and what we're doing is taking it further to tailor the needs of Sub-Saharan African rice farmers," says Manneh.

During the flood season, the new varieties sustain productivity, helping farmers maintain a stable income in both stressed and non-stressed years.

Rice-producing African countries such as Tanzania are highly vulnerable to climate change but rice farmers are particularly vulnerable to the crop as it suffers harsh climatic impacts including drought and flooding.

Financial rewards

"Most African countries have an ambitious plan to be self-sufficient in rice and potentially become the new rice bowl of Asia, but flooding poses a threat to these ambitions," Ramaiah adds.

Ramaiah said that the two released varieties have reached more than 30,000 farmers in Nigeria.

"We are not stopping there yet," says Ramaiah, adding that IRRI and AfricaRice are working with private seed producers, millers, rice traders, farmer cooperatives, and community organizations to design distribution schemes to get the rice to farmers in areas of need.

"With improved flood-tolerant rice varieties, smallholder farmers in the region are able to adapt better to the floods that used to destroy their crops, ensuring farmers' yields and income."

Ramaiah says the innovation has the potential to generate at least US$3 billion in returns for African countries experiencing flooding in the next five years.

Olawale Ojo, managing partner at Agricatalyst Innovations in Nigeria, tells SciDev.Net that flood-tolerant rice varieties could increase farmers' income, build climate resilience, and bring a US$43 return for every dollar invested.

He says funding for agricultural technologies is crucial for food security in Africa, adding, "Expanding the distribution of these varieties in Sub-Saharan Africa will benefit farmers and improve their livelihoods."

The IRRI/AfricaRice innovation won US$150,000 this month (May 1) at the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AgriTech in the United States.

"With the winning prize, there is now the potential to expedite the positive results from field condition tests… and scaling up of adoption pathways," says Manneh.

Provided by SciDev.Net

Balochistan Agriculture Secretary Umaid Ali Khokhar said that the supply of free rice seeds to the farmers in four districts of Balochistan has been commenced and 60 thousand farmers will be provided with the best rice seeds till May 31. “Farmers should also increase production by adopting modern methods of agriculture,” he said while addressing a ceremony to provide free rice seeds to farmers with the help of Asian Development Bank and FAO in Naseerabad Division on Tuesday.

DG Agriculture Irfan Ali Bakhtiari, FAO Balochistan Chief Waleed Mehdi, Asian Development Bank Pakistan Banaras Khan, Deputy Commissioner Naseerabad Ayesha Zehri, FAO Project Officer Waheed Anwar, Spokesman Agriculture Department Abdul Karim Jafar were also present. Secretary Agriculture Umaid Ali Khokhar thanked the officers of FAO, the Asian Development Bank, the District Administration, and the agriculture department who worked hard day and night to bring this effort to the final stages of successful completion in this project.

He said that after last year’s floods, the Balochistan government distributed the best wheat seeds worth 2.2 billion rupees to the entire province for free. “By the grace of Allah, it was found that for the first time in history, Balochistan has produced about one lakh metric tons of wheat more than its requirement as Balochistan requires 15 lakh metric tons of wheat. He further said that after achieving self-sufficiency in wheat, the Department of Agriculture is starting a project for the entire Balochistan with the support of the Asian Development Bank to provide solar tube wells and solar panels through the on-farm water management department.

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called for research on high-yielding, climate-resilient rice seeds, and for increased technical assistance to farmers to help them produce high-quality rice that meets market demand.

Addressing the graduation ceremony of the Royal University of Agriculture, Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture and Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture and senior government officials at Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in the capital, the Premier said, “High-quality seeds and sufficient water irrigation are essential for high rice yields,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Hun Sen called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and relevant ministries and institutions to work closely together to research and develop high-quality, commercially viable seeds for farmers.

The premier advised relevant officials to continue zoning for appropriate agricultural crops and to offer technical assistance to farmers and agricultural cooperatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries launched a new fragrance rice variety, Champei Sar 70 (CPS 70), on Wednesday after nearly a decade of research and development.

CPS 70 is a fragrant rice variety that matures after three months. It was developed from an award-winning Cambodian rice variety, Phka Rumduol, and CNi9024.

Global demand for fragrant rice is high, and it accounts for more than 60 percent of Cambodia’s total milled rice exports. The Kingdom aims to export 1 million tons of milled rice by 2025.

Cambodia’s rice cultivation in 2022 covered 3.40 million hectares and the total yield was 11.62 million tonnes.

The Kingdom exported 176,581 tons of milled rice in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 3.5 percent from the same period in 2022, according to a report from the Cambodia Rice Federation.

Cambodia earned $126 million from milled rice exports in the first quarter of this year. It exported milled rice of different varieties, including premium aromatic rice, fragrant rice, long grain white rice, parboiled rice, and organic rice.

Agriculture is a major contributor to the Cambodian economy, accounting for nearly a quarter of GDP in 2021. It also employs over a third of workforce, with women making up more than half of those employed in agriculture.

ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed a mix trend during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder, here on Saturday.

The wholesalers and retailers at different markets said that prices of some of the items remained on the high side; however, prices of some kitchen items also witnessed a decline during the last week past.

The survey noted that prices of tomatoes, wheat flour bag 20 kg, potatoes, cooked daal, eggs, rice, masoor, maash, milk fresh, sugar, and curd increased during the week past as compared to the precious week while a decline was observed in the prices of average onions, chicken, LPG, garlic, pulse gram, and mustard oil.

Chicken price went down from Rs 16,500 per 40kg in the wholesale market to Rs 16,000, which in retail is being sold at Rs415 against Rs425 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs650 per kg against Rs680 per kg, egg price went up from Rs 7,300 per carton to Rs 7,350, while in retail, eggs are being sold in the range of Rs275-285 per dozen.

Sugar price has went up slightly from Rs5,700 per 50kg bag to Rs5,750 in wholesale market which in retail is being sold at Rs132-135 per kg.

Wheat flour price witnessed an upward trend as its price went up from Rs 2,690 per 20kg bag to Rs 2,700 per bag. Normal quality wheat flour bag is being sold at Rs 2,140 per 15kg bag against Rs 2,130 in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,156 per bag.

Rice prices witnessed an increase as best quality basmati rice is available at Rs 12,720 per 40kg bag against Rs 12,700 per 40kg bag, while the retailers are selling at Rs350-360 per kg, normal quality Basmati price went up from Rs 10,600 per 40kg bag to Rs 10,610, which in retail is being sold at Rs290-300 per kg against Rs290-295 per kg.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

• Thai farmers asked to grow one crop this year instead of two
• It’s an early sign of the weather pattern hitting food output

Thailand, the world’s second-biggest rice exporter, is asking farmers to grow only one crop this year — instead of the usual two — as a likely El Nino looks set to reduce rainfall. 

Rice is highly water-intensive and is dependent on irrigation and enough precipitation. It’s an early sign of how the disruptive weather pattern is threatening global food production. The resulting drop in rice output also has the potential to push up prices of a staple food for more than half the world’s population.

The request was reported in the Bangkok Post, which cited Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources.

The emerging El Nino is already contributing to severe heat that’s roasted Southeast Asia in recent weeks. The weather pattern typically results in hotter, drier conditions in many parts of Asia. As well as rice, it’s a risk to output of crops including palm oil, cocoa and sugar, of which Thailand is also a major producer.  

Thai sugar production may drop to the second lowest since 2009-10 in the season that runs from October, trader Czarnikow Group Ltd. said in a note.

The Thai wet season, which normally begins in the third week of May, will start a bit later this year with a period of intermittent rain in June, the Bangkok Post reported. The national water agency has developed a management plan for the country’s dams to help preserve water, which would require close cooperation from all, especially farmers.

Prices of rice in major exporter Thailand climbed to a near four-month high this week, while Vietnam rates steadied closer to their best level in over a year, buoyed by increasing orders from neighbouring countries.

In the first four months of 2023, Vietnam saw a 23.4% jump in shipments from a year earlier to 1.85 million tonnes, government customs data showed.

They rose 80% from March to 961,608 tonnes in April.

“Trading activity is robust as exporters are pushing their purchases to fill signed contracts,” a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr at a regional meeting that Vietnam was willing to supply rice to the Philippines for the long term at reasonable prices.

Philippines is Vietnam’s largest buyer. Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $485-$495 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from last week yet close to highs last seen in April 2021.

In Thailand, 5% broken rice prices rose to their highest since January at $498-$500 per tonne, from last week’s $485, with traders attributing the rise to increasing demand and a strengthening baht.

A stronger domestic currency makes exports from the country expensive in dollar terms.

Bangladesh’s agriculture ministry advised farmers to harvest 80% of paddy and other crops to limit damages during cyclone Mocha, which is expected to make landfall this weekend.

Producing around 35 million tonnes annually, Bangladesh often requires imports to cope with shortages of the staple grain caused by floods or droughts.

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety prices were unchanged at $376-$380 per tonne, their lowest since December.

“Demand is weak. Supplies from the winter crop are also getting delayed because of untimely rainfall in the last few weeks,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Thai farmers have been asked to grow only one rice crop this coming season as rainfall will be below average because of the El Nino weather pattern, said the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).

Bangkok (VNA) - Thai farmers have been recommended to grow only one rice crop this coming season as rainfall will be below average because of the El Nino weather pattern, said the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).

ONWR Secretary-General Surasee Kittimonthon said that the rainy season, which normally begins in the third week of May, will start a bit later this year with a period of intermittent rain in June.

“We can provide water to farmers for the first rice crop, starting in the rainy season,” he said. “But for the second or third crops, we would like farmers’ cooperation to grow other plants that need less water to help limit the water shortage.”

On May 11, the office discussed water management for the rainy season with the Royal Irrigation Department, the Meteorological Department, the Department of Water Resources, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and other agencies.

As a result of El Nino, Surasee said rainfall may be 5% less than average. Heavy rainfall will be seen from August to September, covering 60-80% of the country.

He said that at least two tropical storms would hit the country in August and September, which can top up water in some dams. He also warned of heavy rain in the North, the Northeast and the East this weekend as Cyclone Mocha will reach Myanmar on May 13./.

Authorities advise against second crop as El Nino will reduce rainfall this year

Farmers are being asked to grow only one rice crop this coming season as rainfall will be below average because of the El Nino weather pattern, says the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR).

The rainy season, which normally begins in the third week of May, will start a bit later this year with a period of intermittent rain in June, said Surasee Kittimonthon, the ONWR secretary-general.

The agency has devised a water management plan for the country’s dams to help preserve water. Its success, he said, would depend on close cooperation from all stakeholders, especially farmers, to save water.

“We can provide water to farmers for the first rice crop, starting in the rainy season,” he said. “But for the second or third crops, we would like farmers’ cooperation to grow other plants that need less water to help limit the water shortage.”

The ONWR on Thursday discussed water management for the rainy season with the Royal Irrigation Department, the Meteorological Department, the Department of Water Resources, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and other agencies.

As a result of El Nino, Mr Surasee said rainfall would be 5% less than average. Heavy rainfall will be seen from August to September, covering 60-80% of the country.

He said that at least two tropical storms would hit the country in August and September, which could top up water in some dams. He also warned of heavy rain in the North, the Northeast and the East this weekend as Cyclone Mocha would reach Myanmar on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the royal irrigation department said the water in the resorvior of the bhumibol dam in tak province was currently at 43% of capacity, while the figure for the sirikit dam in uttaradit was 22%.

• Thai farmers asked to grow one crop this year instead of two
• It’s an early sign of the weather pattern hitting food output

Thailand, the world’s second-biggest rice exporter, is asking farmers to grow only one crop this year — instead of the usual two — as a likely El Nino looks set to reduce rainfall. 

Rice is highly water-intensive and is dependent on irrigation and enough precipitation. It’s an early sign of how the disruptive weather pattern is threatening global food production. The resulting drop in rice output also has the potential to push up prices of a staple food for more than half the world’s population.

The request was reported in the Bangkok Post, which cited Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources.

El Nino Threatens Thailand's Rice Shipments

Share of global rice exports in 2022-23

Source: US Department of Agriculture

The emerging El Nino is already contributing to severe heat that’s roasted Southeast Asia in recent weeks. The weather pattern typically results in hotter, drier conditions in many parts of Asia. As well as rice, it’s a risk to output of crops including palm oil, cocoa and sugar, of which Thailand is also a major producer.  

Thai sugar production may drop to the second lowest since 2009-10 in the season that runs from October, trader Czarnikow Group Ltd. said in a note.

The Thai wet season, which normally begins in the third week of May, will start a bit later this year with a period of intermittent rain in June, the Bangkok Post reported. The national water agency has developed a management plan for the country’s dams to help preserve water, which would require close cooperation from all, especially farmers.

KARACHI: Rice exporters have strongly opposed a ban on rice cultivation in the various districts of Sindh province. Chela Ram Kewlani Chairman, Haseeb Ali Khan Senior Vice Chairman, Habibur Rehaman, Vice Chairman and Managing Committee Members of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) in an urgent meeting held on Wednesday strongly opposed the decision of Sindh Government regarding ban on rice cultivation in various districts of Sindh Province.

Chela Ram said that nowadays, the country was facing a severe economic crisis and direly needed foreign exchange to avoid the default and support the country’s economy. However, on the other side the government policies are discouraging exports.

He said that rice was the second largest export commodity and earner of over $2.5 billion valuable foreign exchange annually for the country. Further, rice was a surplus crop for export purposes, as it was not the mass staple diet, he added. “We are already facing crop shortage this year and due to this ban, it is very difficult to achieve our export target of over $2 billion,” he mentioned.

Chela Ram has appealed President of Pakistan Arif Alvi, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Ministers for Commerce Naveed Qamar and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah to review this decision, so as to get maximum rice crop for export purpose and fetch the much-needed foreign exchange for the country. He has requested the Sindh Government that Shaheed Benazirabad, Tando Muhammad Khan and Sukkur were mainly rice growing areas and there was no justification to ban rice cultivation in those areas.

KARACHI-Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Mu­rad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Water Syed Khursheed Shah along with provincial ministers discussed waterlogging and increasing wa­ter table issues along the left bank of the River Indus in the post-flood scenario and decided to impose a ban on rice cultivation.

The meeting was attended by pro­vincial ministers, Manzoor Wassan, Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Nasir Shah, Jam Ikram, Chief Secretary So­hail Rajput, Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh, Secretary Irrigation Sohail Qureshi, Secretary Agriculture Ai­jaz Mahesar, Commissioner Sukkur Mustafa Phul, Commissioner Mir­purkhas Shafiq Mahesar and deputy commissioners of different districts through video link.

The meeting observed that the is­sue of water logging has remained persistent for a long. This situation has been further aggravated by the recent floods which have increased the water table further. The partici­pants of the meeting observed that the growers of perennial canals such as the Ghotki Feeder, Rohri Canal, Nara Canal, and Khairpur West & East feeders were cultivating rice despite a complete ban.

The CM keeping in view the grav­ity of the situation decided to im­pose a ban on the cultivation of rice crops in the districts of Ghotki, Suk­kur, Khairpur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Shaheed Benazirabad, Naushehro Feroz, Matiari, Hyder­abad, Tando Allahyar, Tando Mu­hammad Khan (Partially), and Badin (Partially). Shah directed the rel­evant Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to depute their Assistant Commis­sioners (ACs), mukhtiarkars, and tapers to advise the grower to opt for other Kharif crops in place of the Rice Crop which has been banned for cultivation.

The CM directed the Senior Mem­ber Board of Revenue to issue a no­tification under the West Pakistan Rice (Restrictions On Cultivation) Or­dinance, 1959, imposing a complete ban on Rice Cultivation for the year 2023 on perennial Canals - Ghotki Feeder, Rohri Canal, Nara Canal, and Khairpur West & East feeders. Mean­while, Shah directed the Irrigation department to release water in time so that growers of the left bank of the river Indus could grow other crops.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Tuesday said that Ethiopian Airlines had resumed its Karachi operation after a lapse of four decades which opened new vis­tas of trade and commerce, invest­ment, and tourism between Pakistan and African countries. This he said while talking to media persons just after receiving the inaugural flight of Ethiopian Air which landed at Old Terminal with 110 passengers, in­cluding three Ethiopian state minis­ters. He was accompanied by Provin­cial Ministers, Sharjeel Memon, Jam Ikram, Syed Nasir Shah, and Advisor Murtaza Wahab.

USA Rice Federation and Costco Taiwan are working together on a promotion to sell U.S. long grain enriched rice grown in the southeast United States.

USA Rice director of Asia promotion programs Jim Guinn said the rice used in the promotion includes rice that was likely from Arkansas or Louisiana.

"It's definitely from somewhere in the South and best guess is it's either Arkansas or Louisiana or maybe a combination of the two," Guinn said.

Costco Taiwan is selling new packages of the U.S. grown rice as its Kirkland Signature house brand at all of the company's 14 warehouses across the island nation.

During the first phase of the promotion, there were sales of 200 packages that weigh 20 pounds each, Guinn said.

"In the first phase, they were able to taste just cooked rice, not a recipe per se, but in future promotions, we'll actually be creating recipes and cooking rice dishes that the consumers can taste in the Costco stores," Guinn said.

USA Rice has never worked with Costco Taiwan for this kind of rice promotion before, but has worked on similar promotions with Costco in South Korea and Japan.

"With Costco Japan, right now we're not doing any promotions, it's been California Calrose rice that's been going into that market, but with the high prices and the lack of availability of Calrose California rice in the market, we're no longer doing those promotions until after this year's harvest," Guinn said.

USA Rice has worked with Costco on rice promotions in Japan for three years and in South Korea for one year, Guinn said.

"And actually, in [South] Korea, we're not promoting rice per se, we're promoting a product that's made from U.S. rice flour, made from U.S. rice that was imported into South Korea and processed into flour," Guinn said, adding the promotion was in November.

"The product we're promoting there is actually a hotdog or a corndog product and the coating contains rice flour made from U.S. rice."

Taiwan has a history of buying U.S. grown medium grain rice but USA Rice began encouraging importers of American rice to buy long grain rice in 2020, which is now a more common purchase for importers, Guinn said.

USA Rice began marketing and promotional efforts, as well as educational events involving professional chefs, to promote U.S.-grown long grain rice last year.

Taiwan imports southern medium grain, long grain, long grain parboiled, long grain jasmine, short grain glutinous and Calrose rice from California; Taiwan imports a four-year annual average of 65,000 tons of U.S. grown rice worth $30 million, according to USA Rice.

Print Headline: Costco Taiwan promotes U.S. rice

SINGAPORE — Asia's rice output is set to climb this year as higher prices spur farmers to expand acreage and use more fertilizer, easing supply concerns after production suffered its first decline in seven years last year.

Production from recently harvested off-season rice crops in India and Thailand, the world's top two exporters, has exceeded last year's levels, and farmers are gearing up for main crops to be planted in coming months, with prices hovering near two-year highs.

Major northern hemisphere producers, including India, Pakistan and Thailand, will start planting their main crops this month and next, said Shirley Mustafa, an economist at the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization.

Higher production

A greater area will be planted with rice "in response to increase in rice prices, and greater access to fertilizers could sustain an output expansion from these crops", Mustafa said.

Production from winter-sown rice in India rose to 22.8 million metric tons from 18.5 million tons a year ago as above-average rainfall in September-October allowed farmers to expand the cultivation land.

In Thailand, output from this year's off-season crop is expected to rise to 5.1 million tons, up 24 percent from a year ago, the FAO said.

Globally, the area under rice cultivation is forecast to climb to 165.70 million hectares in 2023-24, from 163.74 million hectares, the International Grains Council said. World production is projected to climb to 521.49 million tons, up from 509.30 million tons.

"Prices are higher, and we are expecting that to encourage plantings for the 2023-24 crop, particularly in the major exporters," said Peter Clubb, a market analyst at the IGC.

Rice producers, encouraged by higher grain prices and lower costs of crop nutrients, are also expected to use more fertilizer to boost yields.

Prices of fertilizers fell in the January-to-March quarter as supply from Belarus, the third-largest potash exporter, resumed and costs of key inputs, including nitrogen, fell from 2022 highs.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) thanked the Punjab governor on Monday for honouring the private sector for developing two new varieties of rice seeds. In two separate letters to Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guard Rice Shahzad Ali Malik, LCCI President Kashif Anwar said it was a matter of great pride that Guard Agriculture Research institute had proved that Pakistani researchers have all abilities to compete with the global partners. “The recognition will highlight the excellence of Pakistan’s agricultural research on the global stage,” he remarked.

He said that development of these new rice seed varieties showcased the innovative efforts and dedication of Pakistani researchers in enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to the country’s agricultural sector. This achievement not only benefits the farmers by providing them with improved seed options but also strengthens Pakistan’s position in the international agriculture market.

The LCCI president said that agricultural research played a crucial role in addressing global food security challenges, improving agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and ensuring the overall well-being of rural communities.

He said that the global population was growing rapidly, and agricultural research was essential to develop innovative techniques and technologies that could increase food production. He said by studying plant genetics, crop breeding, and optimizing farming practices, researchers could develop high-yielding and disease-resistant crop varieties, improve irrigation methods, and enhance agricultural systems to meet the growing demand for food.

It is important to note that Punjab Seed Council has approved the open pollinated extra-long grain rice varieties Guard 101 and 102 that ensured around 25 per cent higher per acre yield.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with the entire business community, congratulated Shehzad Ali Malik on this well-deserved award and expressed confidence in the continued success and advancement of Pakistan’s agriculture sector through dedicated research and development efforts.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8 – The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is working with researchers and industry players to tame rising cases of fake basmati rice.

KEBS managing director Bernard Njiraini says the agency is working with farmers, suppliers, researchers, and government bodies to protect the local basmati rice industry.

Local universities and international researchers will also be roped in to develop innovative solutions, including advanced sensor technologies and blockchain-based traceability systems that will detect fake grains.

The above cutting-edge approaches, it said, will empower consumers to verify the authenticity and quality of the basmati rice they purchase, fostering trust and driving demand for genuine, unadulterated products.

Evans Nyaboga, senior lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Nairobi, highlighted the crucial role of advanced scientific techniques in tackling rice adulteration and counterfeiting.

He explained that utilizing nucleic acid drives is key to ensuring rice varietal authenticity and integrity.

“Rice is the most important grain for human nutrition and caloric intake worldwide, as well as a major staple food in Kenya. In order to prevent adulteration, it’s essential to accurately and quickly determine the rice variety,” Nyaboga said.

“This statement emphasizes the importance of applying cutting-edge scientific methods to safeguard the quality of rice in Kenya and beyond,” added Nyaboga.

Additionally, KEBS is implementing educational campaigns to raise awareness among farmers and suppliers about the long-term consequences of Basmati rice adulteration.

The initiatives will provide practical guidelines on best practices for harvesting, processing, and marketing Basmati rice, ensuring that Kenyan farmers and suppliers can thrive in a competitive global market.

Sheila Kemboi, a laboratory analyst, highlighted the advanced methods developed to detect and quantify Basmati rice adulteration.

Whereas a DNA-based method offers a high throughput solution for rice sector professionals and government agencies, a bio-chemical method allows standards bodies like KEBS to determine exact blending percentages as per East African and Kenyan Standard KS2086-2009 and KS2087-2009 ratios.

“By harnessing the power of science and technology, we can safeguard the genetic diversity of Basmati rice genotypes commonly grown in Kenya, paving the way for the development of high-yielding, high-quality, and aromatic varieties that will elevate the economic well-being of our farmers and strengthen our nation’s food security,” Kemboi asserted.

Scientists have shown that the loss of function of two paralogous starch biosynthetic genes contributes to an increase in resistant starch (RS) content in cooked rice, providing insights into the generation of high-RS varieties in rice and possibly other cereals.

This study, conducted by Prof. LI Jiayang's team from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology (IGDB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. Wu Dianxing's team from the Zhejiang University, was published online in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on May 1.

Sedentary lifestyles and long-term overeating lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes and related complications, which have become a major threat to global health. This incidence could potentially be reduced through appropriate dietary approaches by regulating glucose homeostasis.

In contrast with rapidly digested starch, RS is a type of special starch that cannot be digested in the small intestine but is transferred to the large intestine for slow fermentation, which is beneficial to intestinal health and may improve various related conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and weight management.

Rice is an excellent source of starch, but most cooked rice contained low levels of RS (< 2%). Therefore, the identification of new RS genes has important theoretical and practical significance for improving the nutritional value of rice.

SSIIIa, previously reported by Li and Wu's teams, is a high-RS gene. The RS content in the loss-of-function ssIIIa mutant in the indica rice background with a Wx^a allele increased to ~6%. Although SSIIIa and Wx contributed to RS formation, more functional RS genes were still desired.

In view of this, the researchers used a high-RS mutant rs4 (~10% RS content) generated by physical mutagenesis. Through genetic analysis, resequencing, and cloning of the segregating population, they identified a novel high RS gene, SSIIIb, that harbors a frame-shift mutation in the rs4 mutant in addition to the SSIIIa deficiency.

They found that the ssIIIb single mutation had no effect on RS levels, but when it pyramided with ssIIIa to form the double mutant ssIIIa ssIIIb, RS levels further increased to 10% in the indica rice background. The increased RS levels in ssIIIa and ssIIIa ssIIIb mutants were associated with increased amylose and lipid levels.

Furthermore, the researchers showed that SSIIIb and SSIIIa proteins derive from paralogous genes of the rice SSIII family, whereas SSIIIb functions mainly in leaves and SSIIIa mainly in endosperm due to their divergent tissue-specific expression patterns. SSIII underwent gene duplication in different cereals, with one SSIII paralog being expressed mainly in leaves and another in the endosperm. SSII also showed an evolutionary pattern similar to that of SSIII. The duplication of SSIII and SSII was associated with high total starch content and low RS levels in the seeds of tested cereals, compared with low starch content and high RS levels in tested dicots.

These results provide important genetic resources for breeding high-RS rice varieties, and the evolutionary characteristics of these genes may facilitate the generation of high-RS varieties in different cereals.

Food commodity prices rise amid “worrisome” rice hikes and Ukraine export uncertainty, reveals FAO

08 May 2023 --- The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s Food Price Index has increased amid higher international quotations for sugar, meat and rice. According to the FAO’s latest figures, the benchmark index of global food commodity prices rose in April for the first time in a year. 

Meanwhile, prices for wheat, maize, dairy products and vegetable oils are in decline.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 127.2 points in April 2023, up 0.6% from March.

At that level, the Index was 19.7% below its level in April 2022 but still 5.2% higher than in April 2021.

“It is important that we continue to closely track the evolution of prices and the reasons for price increases. As economies recover from significant slowdowns, demand will increase, exerting upward pressure on food prices,” comments FAO chief economist Maximo Torero. 

“At the same time, the increase in rice prices is extremely worrisome, and it is essential that the Black Sea initiative is renewed to avoid any other spikes in wheat and maize,” he adds.

Sugar and meat prices rise 
The FAO Sugar Price Index rose significantly by 17.6% from March, reaching its highest level since October 2011. The sharp increase was due to reduced production expectations and outcomes in India, China, Thailand and the EU caused by dry weather conditions and a slow start of the sugarcane crop harvest in Brazil.

Another factor is higher international crude oil prices, which can increase demand for sugarcane-based ethanol.

The FAO Meat Price Index also rose by 1.3% during the month, driven primarily by higher pig meat quotations, followed by poultry prices, which increased amid Asian import demand and production curbs spurred by animal health issues. 

International bovine meat prices also increased due to a decline in cattle supplies for slaughter, especially in the US.

Declines still prevalent 
In the meantime, price indices for other major food commodity categories, except rice, continued their declining trend.

The FAO Cereal Price Index dipped 1.7% from March and averaged 19.8% below its April 2022 value. 

International wheat prices declined 2.3% due to sizable exportable availability in Australia and Russia. 

World maize prices fell 3.2% as supplies in South America seasonally increased with ongoing harvests. On the other hand, against a backdrop of reduced yields caused by higher input costs and adverse weather, especially outside of Asia, sales to Asian buyers sustained an increase in international rice prices.

The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index declined by 1.3%, registering its fifth consecutive monthly decline. World palm oil prices were stable, while quotations for soy, rapeseed and sunflower oils fell with seasonal harvest pressure from Brazil’s potentially record soybean crop.

The FAO Dairy Price Index dropped by 1.7%, impacted by the persistent slack global import demand for milk powders and higher cheese export availability in Western Europe.

Production and trade forecasts
In a new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, FAO adjusted its world wheat production forecast for 2023. The global outturn is now pegged at 785 million metric tons, the second largest on record. However, it is down from last season primarily on declines in Australia and Russia from their record 2022 outputs.

Brazil’s production is expected to reach a record high for maize, while that of Argentina is projected to drop below average levels due to prolonged dry conditions and heat waves. 

Conducive weather conditions have bolstered yield expectations in South Africa, which expects the second-highest harvest on record.World maize prices fell 3.2% as supplies in South America seasonally increased with ongoing harvests.

Meanwhile, 2023/24 prospects for rice production along and south of the equator are mixed, largely due to the regionally varied impact of the La Niña event. In the future, the possible emergence of the El Niño phenomenon during the northern hemisphere summer will need to be closely watched. 

FoodIngredientsFirst recently reported that La Niña has left the global atmospheric scene after a three-year presence. That could relieve some drought-affected areas, such as the Horn of Africa, but may spell trouble for other regions.

FAO raised its earlier projection for world trade in cereals in 2022/23 to 472 million metric tons, now some 2.2% below its record level in the previous season. 

Further, global wheat trade is forecast to rise 2.3%, while global trade in coarse grains will likely be 5.5%. International trade in rice in 2023 is predicted to contract by 4.4% year-to-year.

Last week, the European Commission announced “exceptional and temporary preventative measures” to allow some nations to limit the import of foodstuffs coming from Ukraine and ease logistical bottlenecks. The restrictions to free food circulation will apply to wheat, maize, rapeseed and sunflower seed and can be enforced in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, effective from May 2 until June 5, 2023.

World cereal utilization in 2022/23 is forecast at 2,780 million metric tons, and worldwide stocks by the close of the season stand at 855 million metric tons. Based on these latest forecasts, the 2022/23 global cereal stocks-to-use ratio would stand at 29.8%, down slightly from 30.8% during the previous 12 months. However, these levels still indicate a relatively comfortable supply globally, FAO underscores.

A study led by researchers at Peking University in China suggests that extreme rainfall will significantly threaten global food production due to climate change and the accompanying extreme weather events.

The paper, "Extreme rainfall reduces one-twelfth of China's rice yield over the last two decades," published in the journal Nature Food, used long-term weather observations and multi-level rainfall manipulative experiments to explore the magnitude and mechanisms of extreme rainfall impacts on rice yield.

The study found reductions due to extreme rainfall were comparable to those induced by extreme heat over the last two decades, projecting up to 8.1% in lost yield by the year 2100. Jonathan Proctor has published a News & Views article in the same journal issue discussing the study.

Researchers designed a comprehensive series of conditional rainfall experiments to isolate the mechanisms related to extreme rainfall impacts. In the experiments, four rainfall levels of intensity and event frequency were used to observe the impacts on three different growth phases; vegetative, reproductive, and ripening.

Under various conditions of rain intensity, water volume, plant exposure and nitrogen manipulation, with multiple controls, the researchers could differentiate biophysical and biochemical mechanisms operating on distinct growth phases.

Extreme rainfall with high intensity damaged plant tissues directly in some instances. In other scenarios, high-volume rain limited nutrient uptake by washing out or waterlogging soil. There was also a clear sign that during the reproductive phase extreme rainfall was preventing successful pollination.

Rainfall simulations across China showed that physical disturbance induced by extreme rainfall was the most critical yield determinant across 47% to 95% of rice sowing areas, accounting for approximately an 8% reduction in yield already, separate from the projected 8.1% reduction by the end of the century. The authors suggest that future farmers of China could choose areas to sow that will be less affected by increases in extreme weather events.

A substantial percentage of humans live in China, with more than 18% of all humans calling it home. Conditions that affect the food supply of China have wide-ranging impacts on economies, agriculture and water usage around the world.

China currently imports rice from Vietnam, Pakistan, India, Burma, Thailand and is Asia's largest buyer of California rice. Each of these regions will have their own issues with crop yield due to a changing climate, so understanding the mechanisms behind these impacts helps all producers better prepare for an agricultural future that is changing along with the climate.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will implement a new rice production program that will aid farmers based on 2022 planted and prevented planted acres. USDA has the authority and funding to provide up to $250 million for this program.

Beginning this week, eligible Arkansas rice farmers will receive pre-filled applications from the Farm Service Agency (FSA).

“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Boozman for advocating on behalf of rice farmers,” said Arkansas Rice Federation Chairman David Gairhan. “We experienced sky-high input costs and antiquated rice prices last year on our farms and many farmers haven’t recovered. We work hard every day to grow a staple crop that we can share with our neighbors in Arkansas and around the world.”

Once completed, farmers should return their applications and all additional forms to their local FSA county office by July 10.

The initial payments will be made at a reduced rate of one cent per pound. If there are any remaining funds, a second payment may be issued to eligible farmers. A prevented planted factor of 60% will be applied if applicable.

Ganjam Collector Dibya Joyti Parida inaugurated a Sachetanata Rath here on Wednesday to sensitise the public on ‘Vitamin Rice’ (FRK Rice) under World Food Programme, CYSD.

The chariot will visit every block and NAC of the district till May 13.

The basic objective is to explain to the people about the use and benefits of FRK rice and its impact on health. During these 11 days, the chariot will cover a total of 11 blocks and districts. The Chief CSO, Ganjam in a notification issued on Tuesday requested the DEO, DSWO, BDOs, CDPOs, and the entire EOs of ULBs of Ganjam district to extend necessary support and cooperation for successful conduct of the IEC activities in the district.

Prices of rice exported from top hub India fell for a third straight week on sluggish demand, while Vietnamese rates eased off two-year highs in quiet trading after a long holiday.

India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $376-$380 per tonne on Thursday, compared with $378-$382 last week.

“Buyers are postponing purchases as prices are coming down. They want to see how much prices could fall further,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $485-$495 per tonne, down from $495-$500 a week ago - a level last seen in April 2021.

“Trading activity has not picked up following a long holiday that ended on Wednesday,” a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. Vietnam’s April exports nearly doubled year-on-year to 1.1 million tonnes, according to the government’s General Statistics Office, with shipments in the first four months of 2023 rising 43.6% from a year earlier, valued at $1.56 billion.

Bangladesh’s rice output from the summer crop was likely to exceed the target and hit 22 million tonnes, as farmers raised acreage to cash in on higher prices, agriculture ministry officials said.

Retail prices of coarse rice ranged from 65 to 70 taka ($0.6107-$0.6576) per kilogram this week.

The summer-sown crop, or ‘Boro’, usually makes up more than half of Bangladesh’s typical annual output of around 35 million tonnes.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices slipped to about $485 per tonne.

Prices had jumped to a more then two-month high of $490-$495 per tonne last week, driven by demand from Indonesia and due to depleting local supplies with the harvest season coming to an end.

Exporters were still fulfilling shipments to Indonesia after an increase in orders since last week.

“Prices should remain at this level for a while as supply slows near the end of harvesting period,” said a Bangkok-based rice trader.

Heavy rain triggered by climate change is forecast to reduce rice production in China by 8 per cent by the end of the century

Extreme rainfall made more intense and more frequent by climate change poses a major risk to China’s food security, according to a new study which forecasts an 8 per cent fall in rice yields by the end of the century.

China is the world’s largest rice grower, producing around 214 million tonnes a year. It is a staple foodstuff for the majority of the country’s 1.4 billion people.

Studies have warned that increasingly severe droughts – driven by climate change – will cause a decline in yields over the coming decades, but little research has been done on the potential impact of extreme rainfall on the crop.

Jin Fu at Peking University, China, and her colleagues used data from nationwide observations and field experiments to model the impact of extreme rainfall on current and future rice yields across the country.

They found that extreme rainfall has already reduced rice yields by 8 per cent compared with a world without human-made warming, a reduction comparable in magnitude to the impact of extreme heat.

In the coming decades, yields are expected to fall a further 8 per cent under climate scenarios in which average temperatures rise by 2 to 3°C by the end of the century.

“Extreme rainfall is normally an overlooked disaster for food security,” says Fu. But she says it “could really cause a big disaster” for food production in China and beyond.

Heavy rain affects rice crops in two main ways. Firstly, excess water in paddy fields dilutes nitrogen levels in soils, leading to slower growth and lower yields. Meanwhile, torrential rain can damage the delicate flowers, disrupting the plant’s grain production.

Fu says the study’s findings are conservative assessments because the modelling didn’t account for the additional impacts on yields of stronger winds, lower levels of sunshine and colder temperatures that can accompany rainy weather.

The findings suggest other countries in South-East Asia that also grow a lot of rice could see even larger declines in yield, because climate models suggest they will suffer even more intense rainfall than China.

Fu says research is now needed to establish whether farmers can mitigate some of the negative impacts of extreme rainfall, by shifting the location of paddy fields to part of China less likely to be affected, co-planting rice with upland crops that could do well when rice fails, such as maize, or applying more nitrogen fertiliser to fields to compensate for the additional rainfall.

Allison Thomson at the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research, a non-profit organisation based in the US, says: “I think this type of research is important not just to quantify the impact on food security, but also to help us better understand what adaptations are needed – so knowing what the impacts might be, how can farmers better prepare to minimise the impact of these extreme rainfall events in the future?”

Could artificial intelligence and drone tracking get a handle on fungal attacks?

05 May 2023 --- Fungal diseases are decimating crops, with farmers losing 10% to 23% of their harvests to infections yearly – plus more in postharvest losses. Diminishing yields threaten global food security and scientists are urging agencies worldwide to come together to find new ways to combat infection, including exploring technologies like AI and drone use to spot fungi risks faster.

A report for the National Library of Medicine reveals that the loss of commodity crops to fungal disease can destabilize the economies of developing nations and that climate change is accelerating the potentially devastating damage caused by fungi. 

“Fungal infections are threatening some of our most important crops, from potatoes to grains and bananas. We are already seeing massive losses, and this threatens to become a global catastrophe in light of population growth,” says Sarah Gurr, chair in food security at the University of Exeter and co-author of the report.

Across the five most important calorie crops – rice, wheat, maize (corn), soya beans and potatoes – losses from infections amount to enough food to provide some 600 million to 4 billion people with 2,000 calories every day for one year.

Moreover, accelerating climate change is set to worsen the prevalence of fungal infections damaging harvests, according to Nature. Growers in England and Ireland have already reported wheat stem rust infections, which normally occur in the tropics. 

Modern farming using vastly genetically uniform crops creates the perfect conditions for a prolific and fast-evolving group of organisms to spread. (Image Credit: Janine Haueisen).Resistant seeds and early detection
Innovative farming practices may hold the key to solving the issue. 

A study in Denmark showed promise by planting seed mixtures that carry a range of genes resistant to fungal infection, according to Gurr.

Moreover, in 2020, a team at the University of Exeter discovered a new chemistry that will allow new antifungals to create mechanisms that prevent fungi from developing resistance. The scientists found the new antifungal could be used against Septoria tritici blotch on wheat, rice blast and corn smut and against the fungus that causes Panama disease in bananas.

“Technology may prove crucial,” Gurr says. Artificial intelligence, citizen science and remote sensing tools such as drones allow for early detection and the control of outbreaks.

The authors reiterate that protecting global crops requires a unified approach that brings together farmers, the agricultural industry, plant breeders, biologists, governments, policymakers and funders.

“Recently, we’ve seen the world unite over the human health threat posed by COVID-19. We now urgently need a globally united approach to tackling fungal infection, with more investment to build on the seeds of hope and stop this developing into a global catastrophe which will see people starve,” Gurr highlights. 

The Last of Us effect
The apocalypse series “The Last of Us” about cordyceps fungi turning humans into zombies has brought fungi interest to a general audience.

“While the storyline is science fiction, we are warning that we could see a global health catastrophe caused by the rapid global spread of fungal infections as they develop increasing resistance in a warming world,” Gurr underscores.

Why are fungi so pervasive?Accelerating climate change is set to worsen the prevalence of fungal infections damaging harvests.
The scientists warn in the report of a “perfect storm” that is causing fungal infections to spread rapidly.

“Among the factors is the fact that fungi are incredibly resilient, remaining viable in the soil for up to 40 years, with airborne spores that can travel between continents. They are also extremely adaptable, with ‘phenomenal’ genetic diversity between and among species,” the researchers explain.

Furthermore, modern farming using vastly genetically uniform crops creates the perfect conditions for a prolific and fast-evolving group of organisms to spread. 

Fungi are also “well-equipped” to evolve beyond traditional means to control their spread.  

“The increasingly widespread use of antifungal treatments that target a single fungal cellular process means fungi can evolve resistance to these fungicides so that they are no longer effective. This forces farmers to use ever-higher concentrations of fungicide in a bid to control infection, which can accelerate the pace of resistance developing,” detail the scientists.

“Forgotten crops” might be key to boosting the agri sector’s resilience. 

Through climate niche modeling, new research has identified how forgotten food crops can diversify or replace major staple crops in sub-Saharan Africa by 2070 and benefit micronutrient supply.

Food biodiversity is a topic “often missing from conversations,” Dan Saladino, author of “Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them,” told FoodIngredientsFirst previously.

By Marc Cervera

Tired of Cuban Inefficiency

The area of La Sierpe, in Sancti Spíritus, was the main bet of the collaboration between both countries

By Mercedes Garcia (14ymedio)

HAVANA TIMES – The residents of La Sierpe, in Sancti Spíritus, glued their eyes and ears to national television this weekend while the news of the official visit of senior Cuban officials to Vietnam was presented.

The tone disseminated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was exalted. “For Vietnam we are still willing to give even our blood,” Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party and former Minister of Public Health, said in Ho Chi Minh City.

What many residents in La Sierpe expected was a mention that would give them hope for the return of the Vietnamese technicians, who, in the middle of last year, broke their collaboration agreement with the Island to support rice production in the area and packed their bags to go home.

“With the departure of the Vietnamese we all felt a loss,” laments Diosdado, 68 years old and a resident in the vicinity of the Agroindustrial Company of Granos Sur del Jíbaro. “They arrived 20 years ago but got tired, because this was worse than plowing the sea; it was plowing in a sea of inefficiency,” says the farmer, one of the producers of the municipality who benefited from the agreement between the two countries.

The collaboration project began in 2002, and, in addition to providing equipment and machinery to Cuban producers, it kept dozens of Vietnamese specialists and technicians in Cuba. The area of La Sierpe was the main focus of this collaboration, and dikes were built, canals were cleaned and local specialists were trained.

But, over the years, the performance of the rice fields failed to meet the expectations of the Vietnamese, who also had to deal with the clumsy state bureaucracy, the lack of a stable supply of fuel and the inefficiency of the Agroindustrial Company. The final blow to the relationship occurred last year, when the hydrocarbon crisis deepened.

“The Vietnamese technicians demanded a quota of fuel to keep working, advising and connecting directly with what was happening in the fields,” Diosdado tells 14ymedio. “But the amount they needed almost never arrived, and then they were told that they had to supply it themselves, buy it abroad and bring it to the Island.”

In the end, “the Vietnamese did not renew the contract, as they had in previous years, and the technicians left,” an employee of the administrative area of the Agroindustrial Company tells this newspaper. “The Communist Party bosses gathered us at the beginning of this year to tell us that the Vietnamese were leaving, and they warned us not to say anything about it.”

The company’s national employees were faced with a problem. “They had to be sent to look for farmers in the area who wanted to request part of the rice cultivation area in usufruct, in order to save the current campaign, but they could not be told why the Vietnamese were no longer there,” explains the state worker.

“But it hasn’t stopped there. Now we are in the middle of a dispute with Vietnam because, since the agreement was not renewed, they want to take back a lot of the equipment they had brought,” he says. “Without those machines, we will have to go back in time to harvest the rice.”

In the nearby Mapos Basic Unit of Cooperative Production (UBPC), which was also part of the project, some affiliated producers feel the departure of the Vietnamese is the prelude to the collapse of the sector in the province. “What had been achieved was the result of their insistence and industriousness,” acknowledges a local farmer, who prefers anonymity. “They were very persistent people, who got up in the morning and immediately went to the fields. They followed every step of the rice crop.”

“It was possible to improve performance a lot after they arrived,” admits the farmer. “Now there are almost no more than three tons of grain per hectare, but when the project with the Vietnamese was at its best, back in 2015, up to five tons per hectare were extracted. It seemed that we were never going to lack rice in the province, and it’s hard to believe the situation we’re in now.”

In the Sancti Spíritus agricultural markets this week one pound of the grain was sold at 160 pesos [$7]. “And it’s not even good rice;  it has a high percentage of broken grains, and customers buy it because there’s nothing else, but it’s a product that looks more like animal feed than something to put on a table at home,” he says.

In the port of Nuevitas, Camagüey, another employee of the commercial department confirms that “the Vietnamese took out a good part of the rice that was harvested in La Sierpe to export it. It was part of the agreement: they kept a percentage of the harvest and sold it on the international market.” According to this source, the non-payments on the Cuban side were due to tons of the product that were left for national consumption, but the expense was never repaid to Vietnam.

In December of last year, when the Vietnamese had already left, the official press alluded to the debacle that the sector was experiencing and predicted that for the cold season it was intended to plant only about 7,500 hectares of the up to 13,000 that they had reached with the Vietnamese collaboration. They added that La Sierpe had been “hit” by a “contraction of resources that endangers a scenario of optimal development in Cuba for the cultivation of rice.”

“Of the 7,500 hectares provided for in the cold-planting plan until February, around 2,600 hectares are protected, but for the rest there are no inputs. The producers are going to risk planting the area by alternative, biological means,” Edemir Hernández Meneses, technical productive director of the Agroindustrial Company, acknowledged at the time.

Reality seems to have further sunk the poor forecasts. “We didn’t get the seeds on time, and there is no fuel to irrigate or to transport the workers, not to mention the fertilizers. There were farmers who risked planting without knowing if they were going to be able to get what was necessary to achieve the harvest, but most said no, rice cannot be grown this way,” says Diosdado.

“Today’s visit to the Coop Mary market and the Smart N Green Joint Stock Company shows us how much more we can do in Cuba,” Morales Ojeda, writing from Vietnam. posted enthusiastically on his Twitter account on Monday. Thousands of kilometers from there, in the plains of Sancti Spíritus, rice farmers also know what to do, but they don’t have the resources to achieve it.

BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- In a laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in northern Beijing, researchers are busy tagging and editing genes in rice, a key component of the complex breeding process of green super rice (GSR).

As its name suggests, this variety of rice boasts high yields while remaining environmentally friendly.

"We apply the method of genetic screening to put the quality or the traits that we need in the rice," said Xu Jianlong, a professor at the Laboratory for Molecular Rice Breeding under the Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS.

Since 2008, under the support of Chinese government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the laboratory began to develop GSR varieties to boost the agricultural development in resource-poor areas in Africa and Asia.

"We have been breeding different GSR varieties that are able to adapt to different ecological environments in different countries. In Africa, for example, we breed varieties that are more resilient to drought and high temperature, while in Southeast Asia where typhoons are common, we produce rice that is resilient to collapse and diseases such as bacterial blight," Xu explained.

According to the expert, when super typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, all crops of local rice varieties at the island of Leyte were wiped out. "However, the GSR8 variety we trialed planting there showed better tolerance to flooding, drought and salt damage, with a harvest of 1.2 tons per hectare."

The Philippine government then decided to promote the use of GSR8 seeds, resulting in the rapid expansion of GSR variety to cover 430,000 hectares in 2014. As of 2018, the GSR varieties have been promoted in the Philippines for a total of 1.09 million hectares, accounting for 22.64 percent of the country's rice acreage. By 2021, the cumulative area of GSR varieties reached 10.8 million hectares in the Philippines.

Successful stories were also found in other Asian countries. The NIBGE-GSR1, which was promoted in Pakistan, has an average yield of about 9.5 tons per hectare, compared to 7 tons for the local variety. Currently, six GSR varieties, including NIBGE-GSR1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and NIAB GSR39, have been certified by the Pakistani authorities, according to CAAS.

Xu Jianlong (2nd R), a professor at the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, explains how to conduct seed selection of green super rice at a farm in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, Nov. 13, 2022. (CAAS Institute of Crop Sciences/Handout via Xinhua)

For the CAAS experts, the roll-out of the GSR in Africa has been quite challenging, since the agricultural infrastructure there is relatively poor.

With the technical support of CAAS, Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd., attached to Chinese construction company CGCOC Group, has developed the GSR variety GAWAL R1 to help increase rice production. Validated in Nigeria in 2017, GAWAL R1 yielded about 30 percent more than the local variety Faro 44. With its popularization, the average rice yield across Nigeria rose from 1.98 tons per hectare in 2019 to 2.5 tons per hectare in 2022.

"We will make more efforts to help West African countries establish rice seed industry systems and ease their tight food demand," Xu said.

According to CAAS, over the past decade, 78 GSR varieties developed by the GSR project group have been tested, certified, and promoted in 18 countries and regions in Africa and Asia, with a cumulative planting area of over 6 million hectares, benefiting over 1.6 million farmers.

China's experience in rice cultivation and production has made a significant contribution to the food security of Asian and African countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which launched nearly 10 years ago, Xu said.

As for their future plans, the expert believes that it is very important to "teach them how to breed rice" instead of just "giving them rice."

Currently, 58 postgraduate students from 15 countries are pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in Chinese research institutes.

"Also, we have provided advanced training in GSR breeding techniques to nearly 943 scientists and technicians from 15 countries, and there will be more training in the days to come," Xu said.

The expert believes that using Chinese technology to ensure food security in developing countries is of great importance to the BRI construction and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Our ultimate goal is to help farmers in those countries become self-sufficient in rice production," Xu added.  

Rice millers are not entitled to directly contact the farmers for the paddy procurement process, says Civil Supplies Minister

Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao on Wednesday said that at least 30 mobile mini rice mills would be deployed to determine the percentage of broken rice in the presence of the farmers in the Godavari region from May 4.

Mr. Venkata Nageswara Rao reviewed the paddy procurement, and challenges of the farmers and rice millers during a meeting held here in West Godavari district on Wednesday. Officials and rice millers from across the Godavari region were present. 

“The 30 mobile mini rice mills will process the paddy on the field and determine the broken rice percentage before the paddy is procured by the State government. It will clear the doubts of the farmers and the rice millers on the percentage of broken rice in the Godavari region,” Mr. Venkata Nageswara Rao told the gathering.

The Minister added that the farmers are yet to understand that they should not visit the rice mills during the paddy procurement exercise, with the farmer’s role ending with handing over of the yield to the Rythu Bharosa Kendra.

“In West Godavari district, we have seized two rice mills after the rice millers invited the farmers to visit the rice mills to discuss the broken rice percentage. The rice millers are not entitled to directly contact the farmers for the paddy procurement process,” said Mr. Venkata Nageswara Rao.

Gunny bags

The West Godavari Rice Millers Association has pledged to supply 20 lakh gunny bags to be supplied across the Godavari region from May 4. 

On the pending payment of ₹33 crore in the Godavari region, the Minister stated that the payment was unsuccessful due to a mismatch of banking details of the farmers.

Civil Supplies Corporation Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Veera Pandyan, Joint Collectors of East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Kakinada, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts and rice millers were present.

Arkansas Rice Farmer Discusses Needs for Farm Bill Safety Net Improvements before Senate Ag Panel

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rich Hillman, an Arkansas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors, testified before the Senate Agriculture Commodities, Credit, and Trade Subcommittee during a hearing Tuesday on Farm Bill commodity programs.

The hearing, which was split into two panels, featured leaders from two general farm organizations as well as 10 commodity organizations. One theme became evident from the hearing – U.S. farmers need an improved safety net.

Hillman focused his testimony on the need to increase and index the Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program rice reference prices to ensure rice farmers have a reliable safety net – USA Rice’s number one priority for the 2023 Farm Bill.

He reviewed the rice financial situation over the past several years and the extraordinarily dire situation rice farmers faced in 2022.

“Rice was not as fortunate as many other commodities that saw large run ups in market prices in 2020 and 2021 all while contending with an unprecedented increase in costs of production,” said Hillman. “A Texas A&M University study in 2022 predicted two-thirds of rice farms would have negative net cash farm income for the 2022 crop year. USDA also reports a more than 30 percent increase in operating costs for 2022. On our farm that was even higher.

“Thank you all, and particularly Senator Boozman, for providing vital assistance to rice farmers for the 2022 crop year in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill. It was truly critical for rice farmers.”

Hillman then spoke to the inadequacies of the current rice reference prices.

“Current cost of production is nowhere near 2012 levels – when the current PLC reference price was calculated, and established in the 2014 Farm Bill, rendering the program unworkable for rice presently,” Hillman told the Subcommittee members. “The importance of economies of scale has only become more evident. To keep pace with capital and other costs, we must farm more land and take on more risk.”

He expanded on why a strong farm safety net is important for rice farmers.

“As a high-cost input crop subject to severe global market distortions due to predatory trade practices of foreign countries, U.S. rice farmers are more vulnerable to the impacts of inflation and global events that have caused cost increases to fuel, fertilizer, labor, as well as the highest interest rates many farmers today have ever experienced.”

Hillman also noted that rice is one of the most government-manipulated commodities in the world, and the egregious actions of countries like India that put U.S. rice farmers at a disadvantage.

“The PLC program has traditionally been our true safety net. It’s allowed us to better compete on a lopsided global playing field impacted by foreign subsidies, tariffs, and non-tariff trade barriers. India subsidizes its rice producers by upwards of 90% and injected billions to offset escalating input costs.”

Hillman’s underlying message to the Subcommittee was simple: “USA Rice strongly believes reference prices under PLC need to be meaningfully increased and indexed to provide a safety net that remains relevant over the long haul to ensure the long-term viability of the U.S. rice industry.”

In response to a question from the Subcommittee’s ranking member, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), on the need to increase the rice PLC reference prices Hillman explained that costs to produce a crop of rice are “out of control” and that U.S. rice farmers can compete against any other farmer around the world, but U.S. rice farmers cannot compete against foreign governments that step in and over-subsidize their rice producers-one of the leading factors to why U.S. rice farmers need a functioning farm safety net.

In FY23, India exported 17.79 million tonnes (MT) of non-basmati rice as compared with 17.3 MT in FY22, while broken rice exports were 23% lower on year at 3 MT because of a ban on shipments imposed to keep domestic prices down.

New Delhi: India’s rice exports are expected to decline in this financial year as the impact of export curbs starts showing. This may cause India to lose its position in the global trade market, exporters said.

India’s non-basmati rice exports hit a record high in FY23.

But exports are seen declining in FY24 as the impact of a 20% export duty on non-basmati varieties is expected to start reflecting from April onwards, said Vinod Kaul, executive director of All India Rice Exporters Association.

In FY23, India exported 17.79 million tonnes (MT) of non-basmati rice as compared with 17.3 MT in FY22, while broken rice exports were 23% lower on year at 3 MT because of a ban on shipments imposed to keep domestic prices down.

In value terms, non-basmati rice exports were 4% higher on year at $6.36 billion, as per the official data.

“Execution of an export order takes a few months, and coming months will define the course of exports for the ongoing financial year started April," said Kaul.

Despite the ban, the Centre allowed 400,000 tonnes of shipments on requests from traders and embassies. Broken rice exports will decline to zero this year unless there is a change in the duty structure, Kaul said. For semi and wholly milled rice exports, a 15-20% drop is expected.

“The loss of around 5 MT is expected to shake India’s position in the global market, providing an opportunity to competitors such as Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan," Kaul said.

“Regaining that market for India will be next to impossible Therefore, it has a long-term impact as far as the trade is concerned."

India, the largest rice exporter, accounts for about 40% in the global trade.

Queries sent to the ministries of food, commerce and agriculture remained unanswered at press time.

Its rice prices in the global market are more attractive for than those of Vietnam and Thailand, which shields weaker economies in Africa like Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon.

India’s 25% broken rice is quoted at $442 per tonne, while 5% broken rice of Thailand and Vietnam at $487 per tonne and $480 a tonne, a Delhi-based dealer with a global trading firm said, requesting anonymity.

“The decision of imposing a ban on broken rice is justified to an extent that the share of broken rice in ethanol production is only 11% as compared to 65% from molasses, a by-product of sugar. The target of 20% ethanol blending by 2025 cannot be met by sugarcane alone. As a result, the government is also exploring the potential of other food grains like maize to meet the target" said a Bengaluru-based expert associated with a global trading firm.

To meet domestic requirements under Ethanol Blending Programme, India had allowed grain-based ethanol and in 2020-21 (December-November), Food Corporation of India has also been allowed to sell rice to ethanol plants for fuel ethanol production.

A farmer-led organization on Tuesday, May 2, called on the national government to protect the rights of small-scale farmers and support organic farming.

“We call on the national government and the local government units (LGU) to listen to the small farmers and support organic farming,” said Magsasaka at Siyentipiko Para sa Pag-Unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) Visayas Regional Management Team Chair Rodolfo Cortez on Tuesday.

The peasant group stressed that government support is essential for the entire country to find a "more sustainable way" of achieving safe and affordable food for all Filipinos.

Along with its calls to support organic farming, the organization welcomed the Supreme Court’s issuance of writ of Kalikasan, halting the commercial release of genetically modified rice and eggplant products.

MASIPAG, along with other peasant organizations and advocates, previously stated that genetically modified crops pose threat not only to consumers’ health but also to the environment.

“[W]e strongly believe that [genetically modified] rice or golden rice and Bt eggplant will not benefit us, and will do more harm than good,” Cortez furthered.

In relation to its calls regarding organic farming, MASIPAG urged the national government and all local government units (LGUs) across the archipelago to grant the passage of an ordinance that will prevent the entry of genetically modified crops, saying that this would protect the farmers’ and consumers’ right to healthy and safe food.

• Luckily, there is product which can easily make in a minimum time.
• There's a little-known feature to stop your pack of rice from falling over as it heats up.
• The creator who discover this unique life hack explained

When you are in hurry to cook something you always look something which is convenient and cooked fast.

3

The creator who discover this unique life hack explained.

Luckily, there is product which can easily make in a minimum time, Women who loves microwavable rice has recently discovered the 'life-changing' tip that makes the process even easier.

According to the video shared on TikTok, there's a little-known feature to stop your pack of rice from falling over as it heats up.

The creator who discover this unique life hack explained: 'I was today years old when I discovered this hack.'

She then go for the golden veg micro rice before gently pulling apart two tabs to create a stand.

In the caption, the parent added “I was today years old when I discovered this life hack anyone else not realize that if you pull these bits open at the bottom of the rice, it stands up and doesn’t fall over in the microwave”

 'No more falling over,' the mum praised as she showed off the results.

In a laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in northern Beijing, researchers are busy tagging and editing genes in rice, a key component of the complex breeding process of green super rice (GSR).

As its name suggests, this variety of rice boasts high yields while remaining environmentally friendly.

"We apply the method of genetic screening to put the quality or the traits that we need in the rice," said Xu Jianlong, a professor at the Laboratory for Molecular Rice Breeding under the Institute of Crop Sciences, CAAS.

Since 2008, under the support of Chinese government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the laboratory began to develop GSR varieties to boost the agricultural development in resource-poor areas in Africa and Asia.

"We have been breeding different GSR varieties that are able to adapt to different ecological environments in different countries. In Africa, for example, we breed varieties that are more resilient to drought and high temperature, while in Southeast Asia where typhoons are common, we produce rice that is resilient to collapse and diseases such as bacterial blight," Xu explained.

According to the expert, when super typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in 2013, all crops of local rice varieties at the island of Leyte were wiped out. "However, the GSR8 variety we trialed planting there showed better tolerance to flooding, drought and salt damage, with a harvest of 1.2 tons per hectare."

The Philippine government then decided to promote the use of GSR8 seeds, resulting in the rapid expansion of GSR variety to cover 430,000 hectares in 2014. As of 2018, the GSR varieties have been promoted in the Philippines for a total of 1.09 million hectares, accounting for 22.64 percent of the country's rice acreage. By 2021, the cumulative area of GSR varieties reached 10.8 million hectares in the Philippines.

Successful stories were also found in other Asian countries. The NIBGE-GSR1, which was promoted in Pakistan, has an average yield of about 9.5 tons per hectare, compared to 7 tons for the local variety. Currently, six GSR varieties, including NIBGE-GSR1, 2, 3, 7, 8, and NIAB GSR39, have been certified by the Pakistani authorities, according to CAAS.

For the CAAS experts, the roll-out of the GSR in Africa has been quite challenging, since the agricultural infrastructure there is relatively poor.

With the technical support of CAAS, Green Agriculture West Africa Ltd., attached to Chinese construction company CGCOC Group, has developed the GSR variety GAWAL R1 to help increase rice production. Validated in Nigeria in 2017, GAWAL R1 yielded about 30 percent more than the local variety Faro 44. With its popularization, the average rice yield across Nigeria rose from 1.98 tons per hectare in 2019 to 2.5 tons per hectare in 2022.

"We will make more efforts to help West African countries establish rice seed industry systems and ease their tight food demand," Xu said.

According to CAAS, over the past decade, 78 GSR varieties developed by the GSR project group have been tested, certified, and promoted in 18 countries and regions in Africa and Asia, with a cumulative planting area of over 6 million hectares, benefiting over 1.6 million farmers.

China's experience in rice cultivation and production has made a significant contribution to the food security of Asian and African countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which launched nearly 10 years ago, Xu said.

As for their future plans, the expert believes that it is very important to "teach them how to breed rice" instead of just "giving them rice."

Currently, 58 postgraduate students from 15 countries are pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in Chinese research institutes.

"Also, we have provided advanced training in GSR breeding techniques to nearly 943 scientists and technicians from 15 countries, and there will be more training in the days to come," Xu said.

The expert believes that using Chinese technology to ensure food security in developing countries is of great importance to the BRI construction and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Our ultimate goal is to help farmers in those countries become self-sufficient in rice production," Xu added.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - Arkansas is known for producing rice and while the weather has provided some issues, farmers are ahead of schedule.

Arkansas farmers have planted over 30% of the 1.2 million rice acres as of mid-April, nearly two-thirds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jarrod Hardke, the extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, says while Arkansas has seen its fair share of rain and storms, Northeast Arkansas can keep on working without much delay.

“With lighter rains, they’ve been able to keep hammering away,” Hardke explained. “There are a lot of growers up there who are either done planting rice or are about to be.”

While planning is always good, it can present some issues down the road.

“The issue is going to be managing all of those crops in a timely manner during the season, and then getting all out of harvest when they begin to stack on top of each other,” Hardke said. “They’ll be some interesting dynamics as the season plays out.”

Copyright 2023 KAIT. All rights reserved.

Exports hits a new high in FY23 despite levy of 20% duty and reduced offtake by Asian majors

Indian non-basmati rice exporters hope to sustain the record-high shipments this fiscal as witnessed in the 2022–23 fiscal. In 2022-23 fiscal, shipments touched a new peak in volumes and value on the robust demand for the cereal.

Indian non-basmati rice exports, despite a levy of 20 per cent duty, a ban on broken rice and a decline in purchases by Asian buyers such as Bangladesh and China, touched a record 17.78 million tonnes valued at over $6.35 billion in 2022–23. In the previous year, non-basmati shipments were at 17.26 million tonnes valued at $6.12 billion. Overall, Indian rice exports in FY23 stood at over 22.28 million tonnes valued at over $11.13 billion.

African demand

The higher demand for Indian non-basmati rice from traditional buyers from African countries such as Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, and Senegal helped offset the decline in off-take from Asian customers such as Bangladesh, China, Nepal, and Vietnam.

Benin, with purchases exceeding 1.55 million tonnes, was the largest buyer of non-basmati rice , compared with 1.52 million tonnes a year ago. Cote d’Ivoire at 1.21 million tonnes (0.93 mt a year ago), Senegal at 1.33 mt (1.09 mt), and Togo at 0.94 million tonnes (0.67 mt) were among the large African buyers. China reduced its rice purchases to 1.5 mt (1.63 mt), while Bangladesh almost halved it to 0.84 mt (1.62 mt) whereas Nepal also reduced the offtake sharply at 0.76 mt (1.38 mt) and Vietnam at 0.64 mt (0.70 mt) during the year. India gained market share from Pakistan, which had a bad crop last year.

“We expect to maintain the same figures both in value and volumes this year as there is strong demand for Indian rice,” said BV Krishna Rao, President, The Rice Exporters Association, commenting on the export outlook. There is no other country that can replace India as a rice supplier, he said. India accounts for about 45 per cent of the global rice trade.

Despite the levy of a 20 per cent duty last year, the demand for Indian rice is intact. “With shipments of 22 million tonnes in 2021–22, we clocked $10 billion, and last year we clocked over $11 billion with almost the same volumes. The higher value is because of the duty,” Rao said.

On potential concerns about El Nino in the upcoming kharif season, Rao said it is unlikely to have any impact on the supplies. Even last year, weak rains in eastern India, mainly in Bihar and parts of West Bengal, did influence output, but higher supplies from other States, including Telangana, offset the impact, he said.

More than 60 million people benefit from a ration card that each household receives in Egypt

Egypt is planning on gradually increasing the price of basic commodities distributed through ration cards which are used by more than half of the North African country's population, according to the country's supply minister.

The hikes include a bottle of vegetable oil increasing to EGP 30 ($0.97) from EGP 25 ($0.81), while one-kilogram sacks of sugar and rice will go up to EGP 12.60 ($0.41) from EGP 10.50 ($0.34).

Egypt's population is just under 110 million people and more than 60 million people benefit from a ration card that each household receives. For each household with a ration card, there is EGP 50 ($1.62) per month per person to buy around 32 types of goods at subsidised prices, which include pasta, flour, and fava beans, Reuters reported.

“The hike of subsidised commodities prices distributed through ration cards now force us to review the prices or otherwise the government will not be able to fund or provide these commodities,” Supply Minister Ali El-Mosilhy said at a press conference in Cairo. He added that the review process would start in the coming days.

According to Mosilhy, due to high inflation and a dollar shortage, the Egyptian government deliberately reduced the supplies of some items imported from abroad, such as wheat and vegetable oils. 

Mosilhy also added that the government is considering adopting local currencies between Egypt and other countries with which it trades. Though nothing has been decided yet, there are ongoing negotiations with Russia, China, and India, Bloomberg reported.

The announcement comes as Egypt is facing a foreign currency crunch that has led to a shortage of basic goods and record inflation. Cairo was forced to turn to the International Monetary Fund last year for its fourth loan from the lender in six years.

And with the sharp rise in food prices, Egyptians are having to pay substantially more to cover their daily needs

Last month, the IMF wanted to see Egypt accelerate reforms before it carried out its first review of a $3bn rescue programme intended to shore up the North African country's crippled economy.

Ferid Belhaj, the World Bank’s vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, said Egypt was not moving fast enough to address an economic crisis that has sent the cost of basic goods skyrocketing and pushed millions into poverty. 

Egypt's reluctance to move away from a de facto peg of its currency to the US dollar is one of the main holdups. Although the Egyptian pound has lost about half its official value over the past year, analysts say it is still overvalued.

Cairo has tried to implement a series of government initiatives to bring in enough US dollars for import operations and the repayment of accumulating debts.

In March, the country eased its citizenship restrictions for foreigners, declaring that foreigners could obtain citizenship by investing $300,000, rather than $500,000, in the purchase of real estate - including plots of land and buildings owned by the government.

The first colonizers of the Red Planet might be living on rice grown in the Martian soil, suggests a new study.

Although Matt Damon, who played Mark Watney in the hit film "The Martian," starts growing potatoes, researchers think gene-edited rice will be a better bet.

One of the biggest challenges to growing food on Mars is the presence of perchlorate salts, which have been detected in the planet’s soil, or regolith and are generally considered to be toxic for plants.

Peter James Gann, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, said that the project began when he met Dr. Abhilash Ramachandran for coffee in the student union of the University of Arkansas.

They formed a team that began looking into the problem and experimented with different types of rice.

They used 'Martian' soil, a basaltic-rich soil mined from the Mojave Desert, called the Mojave Mars Simulant, or MMS, which was developed by scientists from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

They grew one wild-type and two gene-edited lines of rice with genetic mutations that better enable them to respond to stress, such as drought, sugar starvation or salinity.

These varieties were grown in the MMS, as well as a regular potted mix and a hybrid of the two.

While plants were able to grow in the Martian simulant, they were not as developed as those grown in the potting soil and hybrid mix.

Replacing just a quarter of the Martian simulant with potting soil resulted in improved development.

The team also experimented with the amount of perchlorate in the soil, finding that 3 grams per kilo were the threshold beyond which nothing would grow, while mutant strains could still root in 1 gram per kilo.

Their findings, presented at the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference,

suggest that there might be a way forward for different genetically modified rice to be grown in Martian soil.

And even if the idea never reached the red planet, Dr. Ramachandran said he had met with Australian scientists looking to find ways to overcome high salinity in their soil.

He said: “We could use Earth as a terrestrial analog before the seeds ever get sent to Mars.”

Talking of their first meeting, Mr Gann, a doctoral student said: “He was new here at the university, and we shared the things we were doing in our respective laboratories.

"Since he works on planetary science, and I specialize in cell and molecular biology, we decided to try out plants.”

Next they plan to experiment with a newer Martian soil simulant called the Mars Global Simulant, as well as other rice strains that have increased tolerance for higher salt concentrations.

An important part of the research will be determining to what degree perchlorate may be leeching into the plant from the soil.

Farther down the road, the researchers would like to introduce rice into a closed habitat chamber and place it in a Mars simulation chamber that replicates the temperature and atmosphere of the planet.

Mr Gann is pleased with how his initial conversation with Dr Ramachandran has turned out.

He added: "Relevant and interesting research can emanate from talking to strangers over a cup of coffee or a glass of beer."

Arkansas is the nation’s top rice producer and during the last several growing cycles planting has started slowly. This has been due to the unusual weather and heavy rains that have pelted the state. Not this year.

Rice growers, particularly in northeastern Arkansas, are far ahead of schedule. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the state’s growers had planted 33% of their 1.2 million planned rice acres as of mid-April, about two-thirds better than the five-year average of 20% for this point in the season.

Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said USDA’s estimate is likely conservative.

“Based on conversations with agents and growers and my own observations, I thought we were pretty close to 40% planted on Monday (April 24),” Hardke said. “By Wednesday (April 26), I realized I was probably underselling it. At this point, we could be bumping 60% planted rice acreage by the end of the (last) week.”

Although much of the region has experienced substantial rainfall and tornadoes throughout the spring, the northeastern corner of the state has seen more moderate rains that have managed to keep soils moist without bringing work to a halt, he said.

“Growers up there got a lot of land preparation done in the fall, so they were ahead of the game anyway,” Hardke said. “With the lighter rains, they’ve been able to keep hammering away. There are a lot of growers up there who are either done planting rice or are about to be.”

Of course, that has not been everyone’s experience. While rice growers in the central-east corridor made substantial progress early in the season, heavy rainfall and tornado-related destruction slowed and even reversed progress for those growers. Planting progress in the southeastern corner of the state has also slowed significantly in the last two weeks.

Hardke said that while this year’s rice planting is far ahead of the five-year average at this point, it’s still not in the top three years over the past decade.

“Now, if by next Monday, we’ve jumped another 25%, we’re going to be in the neighborhood of some of the absolute fastest planting we’ve ever had,” he said. “You might call this extraordinary progress.”

A typical side-effect of a successful early-plant year is that growers will expand rice beyond their original planned acreage. Hardke said that growers seem to be acquiring additional seed where available.

“In any given year, our final acreage for long-grain rice will go back to what kind of April we have. And so far, it’s been a pretty good one,” he said. “Barring a major stoppage, I think we could hit 1.4 million acres of rice planted.”

While there are no inherent drawbacks to completing planting quickly, Hardke said aggressive planting earlier in the season can lead to management challenges when harvest approaches.

“Guys are planting anything and everything they can get in the ground right now,” he said. “They’ve been planting rice, beans and corn. Some guys are completely done with all three crops already. The issue is going to be managing all of those crops in a timely manner during the season, and then getting them all out at harvest when they begin to stack on top of each other. They’ll be some interesting dynamics as the season plays out,” he said.

Arkansas rice accounts for more than 47% of total U.S. rice production, with rice grown in 40 of the state’s 75 counties, primarily in the eastern half of the state. Arkansas has consistently harvested more than one million acres since 1983. It has a more than $1 billion impact on the state’s economy.

* Initiative is part of cooperation project between department of agriculture and rural affairs of central China's Hunan province and Dominican Agriculture Ministry's department of international cooperation

A team of Chinese experts is imparting China’s rice-growing technology in the Dominican Republic to help the country improve the yield and quality of rice.

Since October, the three-member team has been experimenting on 1.3 hectares of land provided by the Dominican National Rice Training Center in Banao, a town some 80 km northeast of the capital Santo Domingo.

The initiative is part of a cooperation project between the department of agriculture and rural affairs of central China’s Hunan province and the Dominican Agriculture Ministry’s department of international cooperation.

“We have selected five local varieties of rice for field cultivation, and those varieties have entered the binding and uprooting stage,” Chinese agricultural expert Yu Yunxiang told Xinhua.

The resulting crop, said Yu, will be studied to analyze the state of rice output and growth in a tropical country with abundant rainfall, heat, flat terrain and fertile soil, which are favorable natural conditions for rice-growing with great production potential. Meanwhile, high temperatures and humidity make crops prone to pests and diseases, so more observation and research into potential solutions are needed, he added.

“Starting in June, we are going to select from 18 Chinese hybrid rice varieties, five high-yield, high-quality and stress-resistant ones that will be used for demonstration in two paddy fields of about 6.6 hectares,” said Yu.

The seeds to be planted in these fields were specially brought from Hunan, the cradle of Chinese hybrid rice and one of the first Chinese provinces to develop cooperation projects with the Dominican Republic after diplomatic relations were established on May 1, 2018.

Agricultural machinery and equipment from China will also be used, along with planting technology that should help the country improve its level of mechanized production, and prevent and control diseases and pests that harm agricultural production.

“We expect the average yield of demo varieties to increase by 25 percent compared to local varieties,” Yu said.

Agricultural cooperation is expected to go beyond rice to include premium Chinese vegetables to be planted in other parts f the Dominican Republic.

The goal is to promote cultivation techniques for these high-yield vegetables in greenhouses to raise local production levels and help the Caribbean country earn more foreign revenue by exporting agricultural goods.

“We are optimistic about cooperation because the prospects are very good,” Yu said. Julio Cesar Lopez, an experienced agronomist at the Dominican Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research, said China has outstanding experience in growing rice and the Dominican Republic aims to absorb as much of this knowledge as possible “so that our producers make progress.”

“We want to combine the efforts of a culture like China, which has been consuming and producing rice for thousands of years, with what we have to get the best out of it,” Lopez said.

The Caribbean country is just taking its first steps in cultivating hybrid rice because producing seeds is hard work, he said. This initiative also hopes to reduce production costs as much as possible so Dominican producers can expand their profit margins delivering better rice to the market, he added. The Dominican Republic is self-sufficient in rice production, with an average annual output of approximately 600,000 tons roduced by some 300,000 farmers.

Perfect for the region’s cold climate, Mushkbudij, an aromatic rice variety of Kashmir, is all set to hit foreign markets as the agriculture department is expanding the cultivation area in the valley due to its huge demand.

Mushkbudji, an aromatic variety of rice grown only in the valley has already gained GI tag while conservation of the rice variety has been appreciated at state and centre level by awarding a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh as “Genome Saviour Community Award”.

Around 30 years back, Mushkbudji rice variety of Kashmir was grown on a large scale. However, its cultivation took a back seat when exotic varieties, which were giving more returns to farmers, were introduced in the valley.

The revival programme started way back in 2007 with the survey of niche areas where these strains could be traced out through different sources.

Under the revival programme, village Sagam in Kokarnag belt and adjoining villages were identified for demonstration on purified Mushk Budji. In the process of popularizing variety among farmers in mid belts of district Anantnag an excellent example of coordination between SKUAST-Kashmir, department of agriculture and the farming community could be seen.

According to the figures there was around five thousand quintal production of Mushkbudij rice in the last three years in Kashmir valley.

“Mushkbudij rice production in Anantnag, Ganderbal and Baramulla district in 2020 was 14.54 quintals, in the year 2021 it was 17.45 quintals while in 2022 it was 17.38 quintals,” figures revealed.

Figures state that Anantnag district in south Kashmir alone produces 44.86 quantals. “Besides Anantnag, Baramulla and Ganderbal, the cultivation of Muskbudji rice will be expanded to Kulgam and Kupwara districts also,” the date shows

It shows 244 hectares of land under cultivation of Muskbudji rice in 2020, 248 hectares in 2021 and 280 hectares in 2022. “For next five years the proposed plan for expansion of Muskbudji rice in Kashmir valley is 999 hectares of land,” the data states.

Dr. Tasneem Mubarak, Chief Scientist Agronomy MRCFC—SKUAST-K said that Mushkbudji was a traditional crop in Kashmir but due to blast disease and new varieties with high yield and disease resistance, people abandoned it.

Leaf blast affected the production following which SKUAST-K started a programme for its revival and all strains were collected, and screened.

He said that all such areas are being identified where the environment is favourable for it so that it can be cultivated. “University developed a blast resistant version of Mushk Budji that can be tried in plain areas but it is still under testing. Demand for it is growing with each passing day,” Tasneem said.

Director Agriculture Kashmir Chowdhary Muhammad IIqbal said that Muskbudji rice has got GI tagging and more and more areas are being brought under cultivation. “There is a demand for the same in the international market,” he said. Iqbal said that there were 120 hectares under it and we have taken it to 500 hectares and efforts are on to increase it to 1000 hectares, he said. He said that it costs around Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per quintal. (KNO)

The world's second most consumed cereal increases in price

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), world rice production for the 2022-2023 season is forecast at 516 million tonnes, 1.6% below the previous year's output. This is the lowest global production since the 2019-2020 season. 

FAO has forecast world cereal stocks at the end of the 2023 seasons to decline by 1.2% from their initial levels to 844 million tonnes, due to a projected reduction in global stocks of coarse grains and rice, offsetting an increase in wheat stocks. While production is forecast to increase in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Uzbekistan, it will be reduced in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, the European Union and Vietnam. 

China is the world's largest rice producer, harvesting 25% of global rice production. The country's total rice production has increased in 20 years from 178 megatonnes to 213 megatonnes in 2021. The increase in rice production is attributed to many factors, including an increase in irrigated areas, high-yielding rice varieties, use of agrochemicals, etc

Spain produces more than 720,000 tonnes of rice per year, making it the largest rice producer in the European Union, behind Italy. In 2018, 78.6% of Spanish rice exports went to European Union countries, with a concentration in countries such as Belgium with 25.6% and the United Kingdom with 15.8%. Andalusia produces more than a third of the country's rice production. However, last year's droughts caused production to decline. In 2023, if it does not rain in April and May, rice harvests could be severely depleted throughout the peninsula. 

Rice production affects the food security and socio-economic situation of half of the world's population because it is the second most consumed cereal on the planet. It is therefore one of the main staple foods in Asia, West Africa and Latin America. Therefore, an excessive price increase can have serious consequences for the food security of the poorest populations in these three continents. Globally, although international prices have moderated in 2023, local food prices remain high and continue to severely hamper access to food.

According to FAO, 45 countries need external food aid this year. The prospect of persistent drought in East Africa raises serious concerns about levels of acute food insecurity. According to the UN, up to 828 million people are unsure where their next meal will come from. According to Action Against Hunger, from 2019 to 2022, the number of undernourished people increased by up to 150 million, a crisis largely driven by conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Conflict, economic shocks, weather extremes and soaring fertiliser prices are combining to create a food crisis of unprecedented proportions.

Rice is one of the world's most water-intensive crops, requiring around 2,500 litres of water to produce 1 kilogram of rice.  This is why droughts are compromising its production. Most of the large-scale rice production takes place in tropical or riverine areas.

Currently, more than 733 million people, approximately 10% of the world's population, live in countries with high and critical water stress. Water scarcity, drought, floods, pollution and other crisis impacts are key challenges for sustainable agriculture and rural development. Challenges in agriculture are increasing due to climate change, rampant degradation of ecosystems that support food production, rapid population growth and unequal access to resources.

Recent climatic conditions in parts of Pakistan and China have led to sudden rise in the price of rice. Will this bring an opportunity for rice exporting companies of India and also the retail investors ?

Prices of select agricultural products like rice and sugar are trading at close to the 10 to 15 years high. Neither it first, nor the last time that this trend has been visible. More important is whether this trend is sustainable, if yes, than what it means for companies which are part of the whole chain, either as consumer or supplier. Another important issue is whether retail investors should look at these stocks as tactical plays or as long term investment. To understand whether the up trend would be sustained or not, we have to look at the reasons for why prices are moving upward.

First, is the Ukraine war, which led to logistic issues at some important ports. Second, countries are becoming more protectionist. Third,sudden changes in climatic conditions lead to a drop in production of rice.

War will get settled, hopefully sooner than mater, but if the prices stay at elevated levels, protectionist policy will get further push as no government would want food inflation to stay at higher levels, especially for locally produced agricultural products. As far as climatic changes are concerned, they keep happening in different parts of the world and impact different crops. The only thing which may happen is that the frequency of these disturbances may get higher.

The current wave of rising prices brings in a mixture of head and tailwinds. Companies which are exporting rice and that too branded are likely to gain. Companies where 

agro products like sugar and rice go as inputs are likely to face some pressure on margins.

When we looked at companies in the sector, of the four companies, only two had ratings from analysts. Given the fact that most of these companies are in small cap space they don't get much attention from institutional investors. But if one looks at the price performance of these stocks in the last month it is clear that the street is smelling the aroma of basmati rice.

The data used in screening down these stocks has been gathered from Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus. The data used in screening the following 5 stocks has been gathered from the latest Refinitiv’s Stock Reports Plus report dated April 30, 2023.

About Companies
KRBL Limited is a basmati rice processing company. The Company is engaged in seed development, contract farming, procurement of paddy, storage, processing, packaging, branding and marketing of basmati rice. It operates in Domestic Agri-division, which includes agricultural commodities, such as rice, Furfural, seed, bran and bran oil, and others; and Power division, which includes power generation from wind turbine, husk-based power plant and solar power plant. The Company's geographical segments include Sales within India and Sales outside India, including the Middle East and Other than the Middle East. The Company offers its rice under a range of brands, including India Gate, Nur Jahan, Telephone, Train, Unity, Lotus, Lion, Doon, Aarati, Shubh Mangal, Al Wisam, Al Bustan, Alhussam, Blue Bird, City Palace, Necklace, Southern Girl, Taj Mahal Tilla, Bemisal and Indian Farm, among others. It exports its products to Saudi Arab, Iran, Iraq, Yemen Republic, Kuwait, and others.

LT Foods Limited is a consumer food company. The Company operates through the manufacture and storage of rice segment. It operates in three principal geographical areas of the world: India, America, Europe and other countries (Rest of the world). The Company is primarily in the business of milling, processing and marketing branded and non-branded basmati rice and manufacturing of rice food products in the domestic and overseas market. Its operations include procurement, storage, processing, packaging and distribution. The Company is also engaged in research and development to add value to rice and rice food products. The Company's rice product portfolio comprises brown rice, white rice, steamed rice, parboiled rice, organic rice, quick-cooking rice, value-added rice and flavored rice in the ready-to-cook segment. Its brands include Daawat, Heritage, Devaaya, Chef Secretz and Rozana, which cater to a diverse customer portfolio.

Chaman Lal Setia Exports Limited is a company which is engaged in the business of milling and processing of basmati rice. The Company exports to approximately 80 countries around the world, which included European, Middle eastern, American, Asian and many other markets. The Company has a manufacturing unit located in Karnal, Haryana, which has an installed capacity of approximately 12 metric tons per hour, this facility is a state of art and automated rice processing unit. The Company also has grading and sorting facilities in Amritsar, Punjab, and Kandla, Gujarat. The Company processes rice in-house and uses a parboiled, raw, steam process. The Company's brands include Maharani, Mithas and Begum basmati brands. It is also involved in selling non-basmati rice under its brand Green World A romatic Rice. The Company also sells other products, such as Maharani Diabetics Rice and Basmati Rice Plus, and organic products, such as Maharani - Brown Basmati Rice.

Kohinoor Foods Limited is a company that is engaged in the business of manufacturing, trading, and marketing food products. The Company's assortment of food products includes Basmati Rice, Wheat Flour, Ready to Eat Curries and Meals, Simmer Sauces, Cooking Pastes to Spices, Seasonings and Frozen Food. It also offers Pure Ghee, Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese), Ready Mixes, Namkeens and Sweets. Its Basmati Rice includes Premium Basmati, Organic Basmati, Brown Basmati, Special Rice and Sela (Parboil) Basmati. Its packaged food includes dairy, biscuits and cookies, pickles, dry fruits and rice brain oil. The Company offers its products under the Kohinoor brand name. The Company's offerings are preferred by connoisseurs across the globe ranging from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to the Middle East and southeast Asian countries.

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The group says the propagation of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant must be stopped to protect rice diversity against the threat of gene contamination

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG), a network of farmer-scientists, has called on local governments to take the lead in preventing the commercial release of genetically modified crops Golden Rice and Bacillus thuringiensis eggplant, citing potential dangers. 

The call came even as the Supreme Court en banc issued a Writ of Kalikasan against the release of the genetically modified crops on April 18. 

MASIPAG-Mindanao coordinator Leo Fuentes said, “The government should promote safe, healthy, and sustainable food production by supporting genuine pro-farmer agriculture and a pro-people food system.” 

Fuentes warned of the irreversible damage the genetically modified crops bring to the environment, rice and eggplant biodiversity, and human health. 

Instead, the group has been promoting the consumption of thousands of traditional varieties of crops developed and cultivated by small-scale farmers and indigenous peoples. 

In the writ, the High Tribunal required the secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), and heads of the Bureau of Plant Industry under the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Philippine Rice Research Institute, and the University of the Philippines–Los Baños to file a verified return within 10 days from service. 

MASIPAG national coordinator Alfie Pulumbarit hailed the SC decision. “We welcome this move by the Supreme Court in issuing the Writ of Kalikasan on Golden Rice and Bt eggplant and its recognition that these genetically modified crops pose a grave danger to our environment and health,” he said. 

The group had sought a temporary environmental protection order (TEPO) against the DA to stop the commercial cultivation of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant until proof of safety, and compliance with legal requirements is shown.

Pulumbarit said. “It is urgent that the propagation of Golden Rice and Bt eggplant be stopped as our local rice diversity and associated biodiversity are at stake with the threat of gene contamination from these genetically modified crops.”

MASIPAG had also sought the declaration of all biosafety permits for Golden Rice and Bt eggplant to be declared null and void and prodded the DA to conduct independent risk and impact assessments on the products, and obtain prior and informed consent from farmers and indigenous peoples.

In its October 12, 2022 petition, MASIPAG asserted that Golden Rice and Bt eggplant were genetically modified organisms that pose risks to the environment and the health of consumers. 

The group alleged that Golden Rice was modified by inserting a gene from maize and a gene from bacteria extracted from soil. 

Golden Rice was developed by Ingo Potrykus in Zurich and Peter Beyer in Germany from 1991 to 2000. It was bought and patented by the transnational agrochemical corporation Syngenta. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supported its food testing for US$10 million.

The rice has been promoted by the DA and IRRI as a new type of rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A that could help address malnutrition.

MASIPAG has also claimed that Bt eggplant was harmful since the genetically modified crop produces its own toxin to kill insects that usually consume and damage regular eggplants. – Rappler.com

The Federal Government has revised Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) for Implementation of ECOW CET (2022-2026), raising tariffs on importation of rice as well as wheat. The 2023 revised document, raised tariff on rice packing of more than 5kg or in bulk and in packing of 5kg or less to 60 per cent from 50 per cent.

Similarly, importation of wheat or meslin flour now attracts 70 percent tariffs as against 50 in 2022-2026 ECOWAS CET. This was stated in a document by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

The document titled ‘Revised Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) for Implementation of ECOW CET (2022-2026), 2023 fiscal policy measures, according to reported by BusinessDay.

The document read “This is to confirm that his excellency Mr President has approved for the implementation of the 2023 fiscal measures made up Supplementary Protection Measures (SPMs) for the implementation of ECOWAS Common External Tariff 2022-2026 and revised excise duty rate on alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products as well as introduction of excise duty on Single Use Plastics (SUPs)”, she said.

Last year, the Minister of Finance ha issued a Circular communicating that President Buhari has approved the implementation of the 2022 Fiscal Policy Measures which comprise Supplementary Protection Measures (SPM) for the enforcement of the Economic Community of West Africa States Common External Tariff (ECOWAS CET) 2022 – 2026, and excise duties on goods such as non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products, and telecommunication services with effect from 1 April 2022.

CET is the application of the same customs duties, import quotas and preferences by a group of countries in a customs union. The said import duties, quotas and preferences are applicable to good entering the region of the customs union irrespective of the country of first entry of the goods. The Common External Tariff is one of the principal instruments for harmonising ECOWAS Member States and strengthening its Common Market.

After a long tortuous wait, Lagos State government has assured residents that the commercial sale of Eko Rice will commence by the end of this month.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Rice Mill Initiative, Dr. Oluwarotimi Fashola, who disclosed this during an agreement signing with the Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE) and key capital market operators, said the rice was used by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for palliatives, adding that the development is meant to lay a foundation that subsequent administrations can work on and leverage.

While noting that the agreement is meant to provide sustainable finance to the ecosystem through the generation of tradable financial instruments, Fashola said the partnership was a historic development that would ensure liquidity to support the continuous supply of paddy for the rice mill in Imota and availability of finished rice in the market.  

“The Eko rice is already in the system and the good thing is that this partnership will create direct access to it for everyone and also ensure sustainability. The rice was used by Mr. Governor for palliative and by the end of this month; the commercial sale of Eko rice will hit the market.

“What we are doing is laying a foundation that subsequent administrations can work on and leverage. So, this partnership is a win-win for everybody,” Fashola said.

“Our par-capital consumption of rice is the highest in Nigeria and it is one of the highest in Africa. It is about 40 kilogramme per person per year and that is almost 50kg of rice per year and if that is multiplied by our population of over 22 million, the demand for rice in Lagos will be better situated,” he said.

Describing the rice as the best in Nigeria today, Fashola said the Lagos rice mill in Imota has come to challenge the status quo with regard to the quality of rice, adding that there was a need to ensure the ceaseless flow of raw materials to make it function optimally.  
 
“If we do not have rice paddy, which is our major raw material, then the entire equipment and infrastructure we have in Imota will be useless. This partnership, therefore, is about how to sustain the continuous flow of paddy into Imota.

“Imota mill will be requiring over 200,000 tonnes of paddy, yearly. It is not cheap. In Nigeria as of today, that is going into almost N100b, and N100b of taxpayers’ money being taken from the government will not be the easiest to do in any financial year, but with the partnership with Commodities Exchange, we can maintain the flow of paddy to the mill, as it continues to run, we have a comparative advantage of having a good price and at the same time, the finished rice becomes available in the market,” he said.

The Special Adviser, who lauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for the vision, strong support, and leadership that has brought about the consummation of the partnership and other stakeholders, said the state has become the first sub-national that will have such an engagement with commodities exchange.

“A lot has been said about the consumption of rice in Lagos and I am sure everyone would have had to eat rice in the course of this week.”

Earlier, the Managing Director of LCFE, Mr. Akinsola Akeredolu-Ale, said its duly licensed capital market professionals are already working on various financial instruments to deepen the Rice Value Chain.

“Investors are eager to start investing in the rice mill and other rice-backed commodity instruments. Exchange aggregators have already started supplying paddy to the mill and more are en route to the mill as we speak,” he said.
 
Akeredolu-Ale added that the signing ceremony represented a great stepping-stone to building stakeholder confidence for a great reception of the financial instruments by the capital market, assuring that the exchange would drive the support of the market towards the ecosystem. 
 
He added that the liquidity would be raised in batches, with N5b targeted for the first batch, while N30b is expected to be raised within six months and thereafter the N100b yearly target.

Pakistan’s basmati rice exports surged strongly in March 2023, if reports from PBS are to be believed. Dollar earnings against monthly basmati exports were up 17.2 percent against same period last year, and 39.3 percent against Feb 2023, suggesting some reprieve for country’s exports amid an across-the-board decline or stagnation elsewhere. But will it be enough?

Don’t let the headline numbers fool you. Basmati rice exports make up a little over one-fourth of total earnings from rice exports each year, bulk of which are contributed by export of other rice varieties such as IRRI, and hybrid rice. In absolute terms, basmati rice exports average under $0.7 billion per annum, against annual rice export revenue of $2.25 billion over the last several years.

Meanwhile, coarse rice exports were down in Mar 2023, declining 9 percent compared to same month last year, and 21.4 percent against Feb 2023. Even though prices are on the rise, the country recorded its worst March for coarse rice exports, barring the Covid years.

No doubt, the price impact has been strong during the ongoing fiscal. For the 9MFY23 period ending Mar 2023, average unit price for the 2.8 million metric tons of total rice exported stood at $570 per ton, which is the highest in well over a decade. Average unit price for all rice exports during 9MFY22 stood at just $500 per ton last year, The rise in unit price is broad based, with basmati unit prices rising by 21 percent over same period last year (9MFY22) and coarse rice average export unit price rising by 12 percent.

But the rising tide of higher prices will most certainly won’t lift the full year export revenue higher than last year. In volume terms, Pakistan’s coarse rice exports are at their weakest in a decade, standing under 2.5 million metric tons against 3.1 million metric tons against during the 9MFY23 last tear. Overall export earnings may very well shy away from the $2 billion dollar mark, far cry from $2.5 billion breached during FY22.

Export prices of rice from Thailand jumped to their highest in more than two months this week on growing orders and depleting supplies as the harvest season nears end, while rates in top exporter India fell for a second week to mid-January lows.

Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices were quoted at $490-$495 per tonne, their highest since the week to Feb. 3. Last week, they were quoted at $480 per tonne.

Traders attributed the rise in Thai rates to exchange rate fluctuations, an increase in orders from Indonesia, and dwindling supplies.

Indonesia bought some 500,000 tonnes of rice, supporting prices, a Bangkok-based trader said.

Thailand’s rice exports in the first quarter of 2023 were at 2.06 million tonnes, up 18.48% from a year earlier, the Commerce Ministry said on Monday.

Top exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $378-$382 per tonne this week, down from last week’s $382-$388 range, and hitting their lowest since Jan. 13.

Demand is sluggish and prices are coming down, said Himanshu Agarwal, executive director at Satyam Balajee, a leading rice exporter in India.

Vietnam’s 5% broken rice was offered at $495-$500 per tonne on Thursday, unchanged from a week ago, when they matched levels last seen in April 2021.

“Supplies are getting thinner as the main harvest of the year has ended,” a trader based in the Mekong Delta An Giang province said, adding that the next harvest would arrive at the end of May or early June.

Traders, however, increased purchases from farmers in anticipation of higher demand from foreign markets.

Vietnam exported 2.37 million tonnes of rice this year, as of April 15, up 33.7% from a year earlier, according to the country’s Food Association.

In RMS 2022-23, the procurement was 188 LMT. However, till 26 April 2023, wheat procurement during RMS 2023-24 is 195 LMT.

The procurement of wheat during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2023-24 has already surpassed the total procurement of RMS 2022-23.

In RMS 2022-23, the procurement was 188 LMT.  However, till 26 April 2023, wheat procurement during RMS 2023-24 is 195 LMT.  This has largely benefitted the farmers. The MSP outflow of about Rs 41,148 crore has already been made to about 14.96 lakh farmers during the ongoing wheat procurement operations.

Notably, a major contribution in the procurement comes from three wheat procuring states of Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh with procurement of 89.79 LMT, 54.26 LMT and 49.47 LMT respectively.

One of the major factors contributing to the progressive procurement this year is the grant of relaxation by the government of India in quality specifications of wheat being procured, in view of untimely rains leading to luster loss. This will reduce the hardship of farmers and check any distressed sale.

The Centre has also allowed all the states to open procurement centres at the village/panchayat level and to carry out the procurement through Cooperative Societies/Gram Panchayats/ Arhatias etc. in addition to already existing designated procurement centres, for better outreach.

In addition, rice procurement is also progressing smoothly. The combined stock position of wheat and rice in the Central Pool has surpassed 510 LMT which puts the country in a comfortable position to meet its requirements of food grains. With the ongoing procurement of wheat and rice, the food grains stock levels are on the rise in government granaries.

MANILA, Philippines—Back in the first month of 2023, the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture already stressed that there will be an expected shortage in rice this year, especially because of higher production cost.

So what should be done?

As explained by the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), there was an immense drop in palay production in 2022 since farmers were discouraged from tilling their lands because of the spike in key farm inputs.

It said based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Bureau of Customs, palay output decreased to 16.4 million metric tons last year, which is 3.57 million metric tons or almost 18 percent lower than in 2021.

The government also stressed the need to prepare for the worst-case scenario, stating that rice supply could be affected by the expected El Niño phenomenon, which will likely develop starting July this year.

The government also stressed the need to prepare for the worst-case scenario, stating that rice supply could be affected by the expected El Niño phenomenon, which will likely develop starting July this year.

Despite these, however, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said there would be no rice shortage, stating that rice supply is in “good shape” and that the government will look into ways to control the price of the grain.

But while the certainty of a rice crisis still hangs, Teodoro Mendoza, a retired University of the Philippines Los Baños crop science professor, said “it is high time for us to look into our consumption.”

‘Consumption should be adaptive’

Mendoza told INQUIRER.net that rice consumption in the Philippines clearly increased as more people shifted to the grain: “Consumption should be lessened by considering other energy sources.”

He shared that before, a person only consumes 90 kilos of rice a year, but as years passed, based on data from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), consumption increased to 107.77 kilos in 1999 to 2000 and 119.08 kilos in 2008 to 2009.

Mendoza said the impending crisis is “a result of people eating rice as usual,” stressing that South Korea is “now rice surplus because they eat less rice to address type 2 diabetes.”

He also compared the Philippines to Thailand, where there are 70 million people and 10 million hectares of farmland. He stressed that in the Philippines, there are 113 million people but there are only 2.7 million hectares.

“This is one of the reasons why our rice deficit grew and grew,” Mendoza said, stating that, “even if we eat only a half of dehulled or brown rice, we [can] become rice self-sufficient.”

The Department of Agriculture (DA) had said the government is eyeing 100 percent rice self-sufficiency by 2027 through its Masagana Rice Program, which is expected to stabilize rice supply from 24.99 million metric tons to 26.86 million metric tons.

As explained by PhilRice, factors affecting rice consumption of every Filipino are real and arithmetical in nature: “Real factors include the shift in consumers’ preference from other staples to rice and the increase in the number of poor families.”

Based on data from PhilRice, the share of each commodity to total consumption changed significantly in 2008 to 2009 from the levels in 1999 to 2000.

‘Develop more energy sources’

As stressed by Mendoza, “to me, this rice shortage will lead to the development of corn, kamote, cassava, taro, and saging na saba as food, and they are a better source [of energy].”

“They need less water and are much easier to grow. They are high in fiber, possess complex carbohydrates [that are] not precursor of type 2 diabetes. [They are] better for our health, environment, and for our food security,” he said.

As stressed in the medical website HealthLine, “there are risks to having too much rice in your diet.”

A study in the British Medical Journal found that people who eat high amounts of white rice may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes: “This means that if you have prediabetes, you should be especially conscientious about your rice intake.”

Last year, Iloilo Rep. Janet Garin asked the DA to promote kamote or sweet potato as an alternative to rice, by increasing production and making necessary investment in root crops when it comes to agricultural research, food technology, or marketing.

“The nutritious content of rice cannot compare to that of kamote since rice transforms into sugar in the body, making one susceptible to diabetes, while kamote is high in fiber and is one of the best foods that one can eat to prevent cancer,” Garin said.

Andy Weir’s bestselling 2011 book, The Martian, features botanist Mark Watney’s efforts to grow food on Mars after he becomes stranded there. While Watney’s initial efforts focus on growing potatoes, new research presented at the 54th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference by a team of interdisciplinary researchers from the U of A suggests future Martian botanists like Watney may have a better option: growing rice.

As outlined in the team’s abstract, Rice Can Grow and Survive in Martian Regolith with Challenges That Could be Overcome Through Control of Stress-Related Genes, one of the biggest challenges to growing food on Mars is the presence of perchlorate salts, which have been detected in the planet’s soil and are generally considered to be toxic for plants.

The team was able to simulate Martian soil using basaltic rich soil mined from the Mojave Desert, called the Mojave Mars Simulant, or MMS, which was developed by scientists from NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 

The teams then grew three varieties of rice, including one wild-type and two gene-edited lines with genetic mutations that better enable them to respond to stress, such as drought, sugar starvation or salinity. These varieties were grown in the MMS, as well as a regular potted mix and a hybrid of the two. While plants were able to grow in the Martian simulant, they were not as developed as those grown in the potting soil and hybrid mix. Replacing just a quarter of the Martian simulant with potting soil resulted in improved development.

The team also experimented with the amount of perchlorate in the soil, finding that 3 grams per kilogram was the threshold beyond which nothing would grow, while mutant strains could still root in 1 gram per kilogram. 

Their findings suggest that there might be a way forward for genetically modified rice to find purchase in Martian soil.

L-R: Peter James Gann, Abhilash Ramachandran, Dominic Dharwadker, Yheni Dwiningsih and Vibha Srivastava.

Next steps will include experimenting with a newer Martian soil simulant called the Mars Global Simulant, as well as other rice strains that have increased tolerance for higher salt concentrations. An important part of the research will be determining to what degree perchlorate may be leeching into the plant from the soil. Farther down the road, the researchers would like to introduce rice into a closed habitat chamber and place it in a Mars simulation chamber that replicates the temperature and atmosphere of the planet.  

Whether humans ever colonize Mars, the team’s research could have applications here on Earth. Second author on the abstract, Abhilash Ramachandran, a post-doctoral fellow at the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, noted that he spoke with an Australian researcher from an area where the soil had high salinity, and saw their work as a potential way to grow food there. He added, “We could use Earth as a terrestrial analog before the seeds ever get sent to Mars.”

First author on the abstract, Peter James Gann, a doctoral student in cell and molecular biology, said that the project began when he met Ramachandran for coffee in the student union. “He was new here at the university, and we shared the things we were doing in our respective laboratories. Since he works on planetary science, and I specialize in cell and molecular biology, we decided to try out plants.”

They were joined by co-authors Yheni Dwiningsih, a post-doctoral associate in plant sciences; Dominic Dharwadker, an undergraduate student in the Honors College; and Vibha Srivastava, a professor in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences who has a joint appointment with the U of A System Division of Agriculture.

Gann, for one, is pleased with how his initial conversation with Ramachandran has turned out. “Relevant and interesting research can emanate from talking to strangers over a cup of coffee or a glass of beer,” he said, before adding: “Ain't that cool?” 

LAHORE: Pakistan’s food trade balance was a deficit of $3.6 billion in the Financial Year 2022. Compulsion to import food commodities along with Pakistan’s perilous shortage of foreign reserves in the wake of global commodity price levels and transport congestion leads to apprehension of great food insecurity in the years to come — tougher for the poor.

This has been claimed in a report ‘State of Pakistan’s Agriculture’ launched by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC).

It states that the massive rise in global commodity prices since 2022 has brought a wave of inflation to Pakistan turbo-charged with sharp depreciation in the value of the rupee.

“As a result, food inflation has persisted at historic highs and rendered food less accessible to the poor. This comes in the context of two factors that have been eating away Pakistan’s food security over the years: (i) rising population means a rising food requirement, while (ii) yields have stagnated in many crops,” stated the report.

The report mentions that Pakistan cannot tackle the issues of the 2020s with the institutional and commercial mechanisms of the 1960s.

“No crop typifies agriculture’s issues better than wheat. Wheat is the only crop that the government actually purchases in Pakistan. The government announces a support price at which it will purchase wheat ‘from farmers’ every season. But this purchase process is captured by middlemen so most farmers do not get the full support price.”

“The government borrows hundreds of billions of rupees to purchase this wheat—the original circular debt—and stores it in government godowns. This wheat is later sold to flour millers in the name of cheap flour for the poor,” reasoned the report.

But enforcement is weak, so the government ends up attempting to subsidise flour at its utility stores as well.

“This institutional mechanism was put in place in the 1960s to help Pakistan achieve self-sufficiency in wheat. Pakistan achieved this self-sufficiency in the 1980s and, since then, this mechanism has become a source of economic stagnation for Pakistan’s agriculture sector,” stated the report.

The report further states that the capture by middlemen is so strong that efforts to transition this rigid system to a more market-based wheat value chain have all floundered and the most unfortunate outcome is that the system neither rewards wheat quality nor greater yield.

“So, wheat yields have stagnated close to 3 tons per hectare (30 maunds per acre) when progressive farmers within Pakistan are achieving 4.5 tons per hectare and other countries are achieving even more,” reveals the report, adding that as a result, despite so much government involvement in the crop, no serious investment in wheat seed development, mechanization, storage, and processing stands on the ground.

“In fact, wheat imports have become common. A sharp contrast is seen in the maize and rice crops which have hardly any government intervention: maize yields have tripled over the past two decades completely on the steam of the private sector.”

“In rice, exporters have brought high-yielding hybrid seed to farmers and invested in mechanization. The scale of business opportunities in agriculture is enormous. Just three crops—wheat, rice paddy, and maize—have a farm-gate value of about $12 billion of which nearly $1 billion is lost in quality and quantity due to traditional drying practices, sub-optimal warehousing, unfair market practices, and traditional logistics,” stated the report.

The report suggests that for such business opportunities to be realized agriculture’s business model has to change from government-driven to private sector-driven, from rigid to entrepreneurial, from traditional to technology-based, and from patronage to global competition.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Chairman Pakistan Hi Tech Hybrid Rice Association (PHHSA) Shahzad Ali Malik Tuesday said that despite climatic damage to major crops such as cotton and wheat, most of the rice crop has remained unhurt by flood devastation.

Talking to a delegation of progressive farmers led by Momin Ali here today he said It is really a blessing that the cash crop of rice has survived the onslaught of floods and can fetch a substantial amount in export earnings, while most of the other summer crops were destroyed. Despite the floods and various other challenges being faced by the economy, exporters are gearing up for rice shipments as much as possible.” About flood damage, he said Punjab’s rice belt remained nearly unscathed. He said Sindh too had a similar rich crop but unfortunately it was partly wiped off.He brushed aside the rumours on social media that Pakistan should ban rice exports as the crop had been totally damaged. “No iota of truth in such baseless news. The varieties we export are not consumed locally, as those are used in feed mills only. Therefore, the ban is not required at all,” he emphasised. PHHSA Chief Shahzad Ali Malik pointed out that there was a surplus stock of Basmati and non-Basmati varietiesas well as maize.

He said rice of production has increased due to use of quality seeds as farmers are using hybrid seeds that produce good quality rice and increase output. He said the Governor Punjab Eng Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman has felicitated the Guard Agricultural Research and Services for evolving two new more best quality varieties of rice in private sector for help boosting cash crop production in the country besides earning direly needed foreign exchange.

He said Punjab Seed Council after successful completion of thorough process approved ” Open Pollinated” extra long grain rice varieties Guard 101 and Guard 102 that ensures 20-25 percent higher per acre yield with maturity within 90 days of sowing.He said new varieties are beneficial for the country due to high exports potential and attractive for farmers due to the low cost and higher per acre yield.

Shahzad Ali Malik said “we have been engaged in rice seed research since 1989 in collaboration with Chinese in private sector without any government support” and contributing lots for the country. He said we have already successfully developed 5-Hi tech Hybrid rice seeds varieties which suit to our climate and giving better production. He said we along with rice, are also conducting research and development on cotton and wheat Hybrid seeds in collaboration with Chinese academic institutes and hoped to make a breakthrough.

First, Let’s Talk About Rice and its Production in Nigeria

By Abdulsalam Mahmud

It is what most citizens, especially little children, of our beloved nation savour. They often relish to have it on their menu. Either at home or outdoors. At social events, ceremonies, in eateries and during all kinds of cultural and religious festivals.

Rice is what many will instantly order for. Because it is what they will love to eat. In Nigeria, many farmers cultivate rice. While some do it on a subsistence level, others go commercial.

Commercial rice farmers cultivate the staple food on large acres. Those who engage in subsistence rice farming need not have a plot of land, that is so massive.

Nigeria is among world nations that tremendously cultivates rice. Though the agricultural commodity is imported into the country, on a gargantuan scale.

There are however, many unknown things and interesting facts about the popular foodstuff. They may be a common knowledge to a few, but a majority will eagerly wish to know.

Okay, here they are. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa (Asian rice) or less commonly Oryza glaberrima (African rice). As a cereal grain, domesticated rice is the most widely consumed staple food for over half of the world’s human population, particularly in Asia and Africa.

It is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize. Since sizable portions of sugarcane and maize crops are used for purposes other than human consumption, rice is the most important food crop with regard to human nutrition and caloric intake, providing more than one-fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by humans.

There are many varieties of rice and culinary preferences tend to vary regionally. Unfortunately, the production and consumption of rice is estimated to have been responsible for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2010.

There are factors that affect the growth and production of rice. They include environment, soil properties, biotic conditions, and cultural practices.

Environmental factors include rainfall and water, temperature, photoperiod, solar radiation and, in some instances, tropical storms. Soil factors refer to soil type and their position in uplands or lowlands. Biotic factors deal with weeds, insects, diseases, and crop varieties.

Rice contains carbohydrates, which gives energy, but it can also raise blood sugar. Again, rice is one of the oldest cereal grains in the world, and people have grown it for at least 5,000 years.

It is a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, and 90% of the world’s rice comes from Asia.

White rice is the most common type, though brown rice offers more health benefits. Brown rice comes in a variety of shades, including reddish, purplish, or black.

Rice requires warm, moist conditions for growth and is grown world-wide in tropical and warm temperate habitats. Rice has a typical grass structure with a series of leaves that form a false stem through which emerges the main stem when the plant flowers and fruits.

Rice reproduces sexually, producing bisexual flowers that develop into fruits (cereal grains) after pollination and fertilization. Aside from being an essential source of food, rice also plays a significant role in the economies of many countries.

Rice farming is a vital industry worldwide, with an estimated 150,000 varieties of rice cultivated globally. Rice farming originated in Asia more than 5000 years ago.

According to historians, rice was first domesticated in the Yangtze River valley in China. From China, rice cultivation spread to other parts of Asia, such as India, Southeast Asia, and Korea. Rice farming also spread to other parts of the world through trade routes, such as Africa and Europe.

Nigeria is the largest producer of rice in Africa, producing about 8,435,000 tonnes annually, followed by Egypt, Madagascar, Tanzania and Mali, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Ironically, Nigeria is the 3rd highest importer of milled rice in the world, importing about 2 million metric tonnes of rice into the country.

Rice farming is one of the most lucrative types of farming in Nigeria. The staple food crop is also one of the most consumed staple foods and important cereal in Nigeria. It is estimated that almost 7 million tonnes of rice are consumed per year, in the country.

In July 2015, when the Federal Government announced plans to place a ban on the importation of rice into the country, Nigeria’s local rice production started experiencing growth.