

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.
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.
RICHVALE, CALIF. — Lundberg Family Farms has launched Regenerative Organic Certified rice and aims to certify all the organic rice it grows by 2027. The Richvale-based company grows organic rice and makes packaged rice and rice snacks.
The rice will be available at Whole Foods Market nationwide and at Lundberg.com beginning April 4.
“Lundberg Family Farms has always aspired to, in my grandpa Albert’s words, leave the land better than we found it,” said Bryce Lundberg, vice president of agriculture and third-generation farmer at Lundberg. “We’re grateful that we were able to achieve certification, which validates that our farming practices align with Regenerative Organic Certified standards. We believe our family has been farming regeneratively for generations by prioritizing the health of our soil and supporting the ecosystem around our rice fields.”
The non-profit Regenerative Organic Alliance, in offering Regenerative Organic Certified, uses the US Department of Agriculture’s certified organic program as a baseline and adds other criteria and benchmarks related to regenerative agriculture.
Lundberg Family Farms prioritizes soil health through compost and cover crops, which help sequester carbon, restore nutrients to the soil, reduce weeds and prevent erosion. Each winter the company floods a portion of its fields to provide habitat and nutrition for wintering waterfowl. The feet of the waterfowl press rice straw into the soil, which helps decompose the straw and turn it into mulch for next year’s crop.
The amount, 3.2 metric tonnes/ha claimed in a Sinhala article by Upali de Sarem (Jan 2023) using modern fertilizer is still very low compared to the usual yields in Sri Lanka (4-5 metric tonnes/ha).
Furthermore, if optimal agronomy is used (as in Batalagoda or MahaIlluppallama research stations), 6-8 metric tonnesor more may be achieve with the right variety of seed, with less water and no-tilling or ploughing (but using benign herbicides) to remove weeds.
Comparisons of organic paddy and modern fertilizer-based farming outputs, costs etc., were done about a decade ago in the Agricultural Research Stations and also at Peradenitya University (Bandara et al).
I discussed one of those in detail in Newspaper articles, and in the Colombo Telegraph in 2015. If I remember correct, various writers who are prominent in Lanka web, and linked with Ven. Ratana criticized me, and Mr. Dilrook Kannangara sided largely with them. He re-iterated his position when I criticized the Hiru-Govi Sangramaya sponsor by Hiru TV, eulogizing traditional agriculture.
There too Dr. Ivan Amarasinghe (IA) stated how he even now cultivates his paddy lands in a traditional way using only “Gerikatu pohora (bone emal)” and “gendagam” (sulphur, a toxin used by organic farmers). The same line of thinking led them to claim that the Corona virus and the Covid-19 pandemic can be treated using traditional herbal cures. Jayasumana went on TV supporting the Dhammika Paeniya.
IA used to end his email messages with the slogan Prof. Jayasmana will have the last laugh”.
We don’t have to go to Egypt to learn about the best paddy cultivation practices. There are 24 booklets issued by the agriculture Dept. for the 24 districts, giving the best approach, depending on the soil type, based on recommendations from the Agricultural research Institutes.
All the leading scientists of the world, be them from USA or Egypt or Japan and India, made pilgrimages to Maha Illuppallama and Batalagoda (as they were must vsit” places), until about the late 1980s, early 1990, as they had become world famous for their rice research.
But in Sri lanka we don’t value the work of SL scientists, instead even a bit of idiocy, if it comes from somewhere else, is held to be better, esp. by the NGO green lobby. The research stations declined due to increasing lack of government support, with the JRJ government leaving everything to the Free Market.
Then came the nationalists Ven. Ratana, Nalin de Silva, Jayasumana types talking about ancient agriculture and some other nationalists pushing “traditional seeds” claiming that they have “immense health and nutrient benefit” – it is exactly that myth that people like Malinda Seneviratne had also picked up, at least in part.
But one must by now see that these so-called huge nutritional benefits” are mere deviations of the order of a few percent found for in vitro chemical analysis, and NOT from clinical trials. At the food preparation level under heating, washing etc, and with several foods on the plate, these differences get wiped out even with rice being the staple.
What matters is the difference among raw rice, par-boiled rice, and polished rice, irrespective of the variety. The rice which is less polished and most fresh is nutritionally the better rice. The variations in fats, anti-oxidants, and carbohydrate level, vitamins etc., are too small to mount to anything significant in the overall diet unless strong fortification is used by genetic modification as in Golden rice, a GMO rice developed in India.
Vanadana Shiva, the Indian equivalent of Nalin de Silva-Ratana cabal, prevented the use of Golden rice for decades, and at last it has been approved for use.
Today, the controversial Arhath” Samanthabadhra with his followers have also popularized a false model, show casing Umandawa, where he claims that he can produce crops without fertilizers. It is this sort of nonsense that misleads ignorant politicians and even educated members of the public who may know little about agriculture, but think they know it as if by instinct!
If tonnes of harvest (made up of nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon etc., are removed from the field, they should be put back if the soil is to remain productive. That is why fertilizers are added. If not, after a few harvests, the land has to be left fallow (for a significant length of time) for it to recover. In the olden days people left the land to fallow for a few years and opened up a new chena by burning up forest (that produced mineral fertilizer as ash), but today we don’t have land to engage in such wasteful types of agriculture.
This ensures that soil nutrients are not washed off by water (used to flood the paddy fields to kill weeds, a practice used in organic and traditional farming. Filling up the kumbura” with water also encourages anaerobic microbial processes and produces excess Green House Gases like Methane which is 30 times worse than CO2. So organic farming is BAD for the environment, contrary what Eco-extremists and Western funded NGO, so-called “Environmental Justice” and MONLAR activists say. They are uncritically following the completely unscientific, politically motivated erroneous policies of the European Green Deal popular in the EU.
Chandre Dharmawardana
By Peter Egwuatu
As part of its organic growth strategy, Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE), has concluded arrangements to onboard the trading of electronic receipts of rice and its derivatives of Imota Rice Mill as the Company is scheduled for inauguration tomorrow by President Mohammadu Buhari.
Imota Rice Mill, promoted by the Lagos State Government, is the largest in Africa and the third largest in the world, with installation capacity of 32 Metric Tonnes per hour. It is located at Imota area of Ikorodu division owned by the Lagos State Rice Company Limited to drive development of the Rice Value Chain and meet the rice demand needs of the nation.
The Mill requires about 200,000 Metric Tonnes of Paddy Rice annually, to produce head rice of about 120,000 metric tonnes and other derivatives. It is estimated to generate 1, 500 direct jobs and 254, 000 indirect jobs.
The LCFE’s Managing Director, Akin Akeredolu-Ale said, “Our Exchange is proud to partner with Imota Rice Mill to fulfil its objectives for the development of the commodities ecosystem to meet demand for rice in Nigeria and drive the country’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) through the Commodities ecosystem. This partnership will promote an enabling environment for the alignment of all stakeholders in the rice production value chain and the capital market.” The onboarding of Imota Rice Mill on the Exchange is expected to drive steady flow of Paddy to the Mill and ensure effective trading of rice contracts on the Exchange.
The Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has launched a new rice variety with a farming option of two to three times a year and a yield of 4.5 tons per hectare.
Named ‘Champei Sar 70’ with nine years of research, the new rice variety allows cultivation in a short time and is resistant to weather.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, through CARDI, released a new rice variety, fragrant rice, in late 2022, said CARDI official Orn Chhour.
It is a good quality rice, similar in length to Romduol fragrant rice variety and with an aromatic fragrance, he said.
The rice variety has been bred from the Romduol fragrant rice variety for nine years of research, which was started in 2013 and released in 2022.
“Farmers can do it two to three times a year, which can supply the market for a whole year, unlike the romduol variety, which can only be done once a year,” he said.
The CARDI is now working to supply the seeds to the community, Chhour said.
Although the rice variety of Champei Sar 70 has not yet been produced for sale, CARDI encouraged farmers to choose this rice variety to grow because of its weather and insect-resistant qualities and planting in the short term, which will make farmers reduce costs, including that of fertilizers.
“Based on experiments, this rice variety has a yield from 4 tons to 4.5 tons per hectare,” he said.
This new rice variety will be supported by consumers both in the country as well as the international market, as it provides standard rice that meets the needs of the international market, according to CARDI.
CARDI will start supplying new rice varieties nationwide through farmers, mills and farming communities.
In a visit to CARDI on Monday, Agriculture Minister Dith Tina applauded CARDI’s effort in rice research and development, saying that despite some difficulties, CARDI is still able to develop a new rice variety that is good and important for farmers.
“The development of this new variety can be considered a great achievement for the Institute and the agricultural sector, as well as the image of Cambodia,” Tina said.
Cambodia exported 637,004 tons of milled rice to international markets in 2022, up 3.2 percent, from 617,069 tons a year earlier, according to the Cambodia Rice Federation.
Cambodia bagged around $414 million in revenue from exports to 59 countries and regions last year.
Exported milled rice varieties included premium aromatic rice, fragrant rice, long grain white rice, parboiled rice, organic rice and glutinous rice, CRF said.
Under People-Led Development Program, farmers can find real solutions to their own problems
Bitter weather did not prevent hundreds of ethnic farmers in Vietnam from joining hands to promote organic farming.
Some 160 farmers in Da Lat Diocese attended the two-day gathering on Jan.5, organized by the local arm of Caritas at the Pastoral Center in Da Lat, capital of Lam Dong province.
They brought over 100 kinds of seeds of rice, beans, vegetables, and chili. Most of the seeds were locally produced and some were gifts from farmers in Nepal and the Philippines.
“This is the first time I have tasted various traditional dishes from indigenous groups,” said Simon Long Ding Haonh from the Chin ethnic group in Dung K’noh Parish.
The 35-year-old father of four, who cultivates coffee and gathers honey from forests for a living, said local preparation methods should be passed on to younger generations to preserve ethnic traditions.
Under the People-Led Development Program, volunteers from Caritas imparted lessons on climate change and on the mass extinction of plant species.
The program, initiated by Caritas Da Lat in 2014, encourages local farmers to find real solutions to their own problems.
Under the program, over 10 communities from Chau Ma, Chin, Chu Ru, K'hor and Mnong ethnic groups are participating in sustainable farming by using compost instead of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Before they exchanged seeds to propagate them in their areas, they prayed in their own languages. The meeting also discussed organic farming activities as a way to protect the environment.
They also took part in traditional competitive games, including pounding rice in the compound. They prepared over 100 traditional simple dishes from fish, vegetables, fruits and roots which they collected from their local areas.
At the event, participants performed folk dances in traditional costumes.
AUSTIN, TX — Organic rice accounts for a small percentage of the rice produced in the United States but total acreage is on the upswing as more and more consumers prefer organically-produced foodstuffs. The USA Rice Outlook Conference addressed this growing trend last week with an excellent breakout session focused on organic rice production in the U.S. featuring three panelists representing diverse operations and growing regions.
Michael Bosworth is a California grower and marketer from Olivehurst, Daniel Cavazos is the director of rice and organic farming for Florida Crystals Corporation near Belle Glade, Florida, and Ken Danklefs is a rice producer near Garwood, Texas, west of Houston. All three produce both organic and conventional rice in their operations so were able to provide perspectives on the differences between the two types of production.
The speakers discussed the significant requirements associated with organic rice production, including the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, instead relying on animal manures, crop residues, green manures, tillage, water, and other biological measures to supply plant nutrients and minimize pest damage. Only products that have been certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) can be used in organic production.
In addition, fields to be used for organic production must have been free of application of any non-organic approved products for the previous three years. Hence, one of the biggest constraints is finding land suitable for organic production. Danklefs said that if enough such land was readily available, he would likely be 100 percent organic.
While diseases and insects can be troublesome, weeds are a major challenge in organic production. Bosworth gave an example of a field that had a yield reduction of 50 percent from one year to the next and finally was taken out of organic production because of weed pressure.
Cavazos said he plants all of his organic rice prior to seeding his conventional crop to give him somewhat of an advantage on some of the major organic production constraints.
All three agreed that yields on organic production are typically below that on conventional rice and, in some cases, significantly reduced. This can vary from year to year and field to field.
Each producer has a different approach to marketing their product. Florida Crystals has their own rice mill (Sem-Chi). All of their production is milled there and most of it is sold in Florida. Danklefs sells his rice to one of the two mills in Texas that handle organic rice – Douguet’s Rice Milling and Gulf Pacific Rice. Bosworth has his own food distribution business, called Next Generation Foods, and sells his organic packaged products under the “True Origins Foods” brand.
While organic rice production can be challenging and is not for everyone, it was apparent listening to these three farmers that they enjoy the challenge and are in it for the long haul. All three also participated in a podcast which will be available soon as part of The Rice Stuff podcast series.
The government on Tuesday lifted the ban on exports of organic non-basmati rice, including broken rice after the easing of domestic supplies moderated prices.
The government on Tuesday lifted the ban on exports of organic non-basmati rice, including broken rice, a move which would help in promoting the outbound shipments of the commodity.
The government had, in early September, banned the export of broken rice with an aim to increase domestic availability.
This followed a 20 per cent duty on the export of non-basmati rice aimed at shoring up domestic supplies after prices surged in retail markets.
In a notification, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said the export of organic non-basmati rice, including organic non-basmati broken rice, will now be governed by rules that prevailed before the September ban.
Rice exports stood at USD 5.5 billion during April-September this fiscal. It was USD 9.7 billion in 2021-22, according to the commerce ministry data.
"India exports about 10,000-15000 tonnes of organic rice (basmatic and non basmati) annually. The exports of organic basmati and non-basmti rice was growing rapidly in the last 4-5 years and the government has taken the right step to lift the ban," All India Rice Exporters Association past president Vijay Setia said.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) MD Ashok K K Meena on November 23 has said that the government is regularly monitoring the price scenario of essential commodities and taking corrective measures as required.
"In comparison to last month, there is a marginal increase in retail and wholesale prices of wheat and wholesale price of rice. There is negligible hike in the retail price of rice and prices are under control," he had said.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
How Neal Family Vineyards Achieved 1st Regenerative Organic Certification In Napa Valley
Mark Neal, founder and owner of Neal Family Vineyards, credits his Greek grandmother for influencing his organic farming philosophy. Growing up on the island of Crete, her family didn’t just grow grapes, but also farmed vegetables, fruit, olives, and raised animals, as part of a naturally biodiverse farming system. These same practices were adopted by his parents when they moved to Napa Valley in 1968 to purchase land and start an organic farm.
“They farmed tomatoes, grapes, prunes, walnuts and raised cattle,” stated Neal, in an online interview. “Everyone in Napa Valley farmed diverse crops back then. It was a way to hedge our bets as farmers, because you never knew what Mother Nature would bring.”
Now that same focus on biodiversity is back in style, prompted not only by changing climate conditions, but by consumers who are becoming more concerned with sustainable and organically farmed products. And because of all of the hard work the Neal family has performed in obtaining previous organic and biodynamic certifications for their vineyards, it was relatively a quick process to achieve the first regenerative organic certification in Napa Valley.
Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC) is the newest in a pyramid of sustainably-minded certifications available for agriculture, and is considered to be the highest. Established in 2018 by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, to date there are only 5 vineyard estates in the world to hold this status, and Neal Family Vineyards became the first in Napa Valley this November.
“Regenerative organic agriculture is a collection of practices that focus on regenerating soil health,” reported Neal, “ensures fairness to farmers and farm workers, and improves animal welfare.” In order to be eligible to apply, Neal Family Vineyards had to first achieve organic certification, which they started in 1984, and then began pursuing Demeter biodynamic certification in the 1990’s when Neal did some work with Grgich Hills Estate.
“Today we farm 1800 vineyard acres that are California Certified Organic Farming (CCOF),” stated Neal, “and manage 720 vineyard acres that have Demeter Biodynamic certification. So when we decided to apply for ROC, we wanted to start slowly and focused on our Howell Mountain Estate, which is 12 acres in total. Next we hope to start the ROC certification process on our Rutherford Estate vineyard.”
Neal explained that the first part of the ROC process was completing the application and obtaining all of the necessary documentation. Next they had to schedule several days of interview with the auditors, who not only interviewed employees, but also inspected the vineyards, winery, animals, and supplies. Then everything had to be reviewed, and finally the certification was achieved this November, just after the conclusion of the 2022 harvest. The total process took them 8 months and around $1000 in fees for the first year.
Whereas organic certifications primarily look at products used in farming, and biodynamics looks at the ecosystem of the land, ROC is unique because of its in depth focus on employees, animal welfare, and soil health.
“Our employees were a little surprised that they had to be interviewed,” stated Neal. “Many of them have worked for our family for 40 years, but once we explained about this new certification, they were happy to help.” ROA interviews employees on working conditions, wages, benefits, and work culture.
For the animals, ROA inspected the cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, and turkeys that Neal Family Vineyards uses in its operations. “They checked to make sure we provide clean water, a good food source, shade, shelter, and free-run pastures,” said Neal.
He further explained that the sheep and goats are used in the vineyard for weed control, wildfire suppression, and fertilizer, and that the turkeys and chickens eat bugs and till the soil with their feet. Cattle dung is used for fertilizer. In addition to their own 4000 case estate winery, the Neal’s manage hundreds of acres of organic and biodynamic vineyards for other Napa Valley wineries, and loan out their sheep and goats to mow those vineyards.
The soil health part of the certification focuses on increasing organic matter, adaptive grazing, and adopting a low or no-till regime.
One aspect of regenerative agriculture that has created some controversy is the concept of ‘no tilling.’ The idea is not to plow up the soil, because it releases carbon into the atmosphere, which can worsen global warming. However, tilling of soil, especially in vineyards, has been practiced for hundreds of years.
The ROC has three levels of tilling that are considered to be certified: 25%, 50%, and 75%. “We are certified for 50% tilling,” explained Neal. “That means that we use cover crop in our vineyard, but plow up every other row, or 50% tilling. The reason we till is because we want to mow the nutrients from the cover crop back into the soil, and also to reduce competition for water. If we have a drought year with very little rain – like now – the cover crop takes the water from the vines.”
“In every certification there is a trade-off,” continued Neal. “If we don’t till, then we have to use more water. This means power to turn on a pump. We have to look at these things.’
“I am happy, and I believe are employees and neighbors are pleased, that we are continuing to focus on improving our land and community,” stated Neal. “I didn’t realized that we would be the first vineyard in Napa Valley to receive the regenerative organic certification, but it is an honor.”
Moving forward, Neal has just finished his 56th harvest this year. “We started in mid-July and didn’t harvest the last vineyard until Oct. 31 this year,” he said. “It was one of the longest harvests ever.” But Neal seems pleased with the long days in the vineyards, and now has his two daughters, Jessica and Demitria Neal, assisting in the cellar and with marketing. “We are now working with the third generation of our family in Napa Valley,” he said proudly.
The wines produced at Neal Family Vineyards are crafted by winemakers, Martin MacKenzie and Jeff Keene, along with consulting winemaker, Tony Biaji. They use low intervention techniques with natural yeast to allow the flavors of the organic vineyards to shine through. The winery produces stunning Howell Mountain and Rutherford cabernet sauvignons, as well as a unique white wine from the vermentino grape.
Other California vineyards to receive Regenerative Organic Certified® include Fetzer Vineyards, Bonterra Vineyards, Truett Hurst, and Tablas Creek.
Farmers in China are now growing a perennial variety of rice which does not need to be planted every year. The invention could transform rice farming by making it climate-friendly, besides using less of labour and other inputs. Mint takes a close look.
What is the perennial variety of rice?
Researchers at the Yunnan University have developed a variety of perennial rice named PR23 by cross-breeding regular annual rice Oryza sativa with a wild perennial variety from Africa. Unlike regular rice which is planted every season, PR23 can yield eight consecutive harvests across four years (as these plants with stronger roots grow back vigorously after each harvest). PR23 yields, reported at 6.8 tons per hectare, are comparable to regular irrigated rice. But growing it is much cheaper since it requires less labour, seeds and chemical inputs. In 2021, the variety was grown by more than 44,000 farmers in southern China.
The Kingdom of Cambodia, which is striving to promote the country as a “rice basket” and a major rice exporter, is aiming to ship at least one million tons of rice per year – 2023 onwards – and earn revenue of around $800 million annually from the export of milled rice and over $1 billion from value-added products made from rice.
“For the next five years, the Cambodia government wants to keep exporting at least one million tons of rice per year,” the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) official told Khmer Times.
The Kingdom is also looking at contributing to the huge global market of around 150,000 tons of rice products and earning $7,000 per ton revenue per year, it said.
Thus the rice shipment growth is likely to be supported by value-added products made from rice, the development of new markets, demand recovery in the European Union, and, of course, the China market.
“The government wants to support local entrepreneurs, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to diversify into production of value-added products of rice for the new markets,” the CRF told Khmer Times in reply to a set of emailed questions.
“We believe in the next few years there will be growth in the domestic processing industry and it will be able to meet local demand as well as export internationally,” it said.
The Government has opened new markets through free-trade agreements (FTAs), the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA), and several memoranda of understanding (MoUs), said CRF, a government-recognised organisation, representing over 240 members from the farm sector.
The Kingdom has signed MoUs with East Timor (Timor Lester), the Philippines, Bangladesh and China, and talks for rice export and investment in the farm sector are continuing with several countries.
And the targets can hardly be termed far-fetched.
In January-October 2022, the Kingdom shipped 509,249 tons of rice worth $323.90 million, which was an increase of 10.67 percent over 10 months of the previous year, said Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak at a meeting on November 23. The rice reached the shores of 56 countries.
During the 10 months, Cambodia earned $3.07 billion in revenue by exporting 7.62 million tons of agricultural products, stated a Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) report on Saturday.
Of the total milled rice shipped by Cambodia in January-September 2022, China purchased 198,107 tons (44.09 percent). Along with China, nine countries accounted for over 81 percent of the Southeast Asian nation’s export market.
France accounted for 14.83 percent, Malaysia 5.58 percent, the Netherlands 4.65 percent, Italy 2.65 percent, Gabon 2.63 percent, Brunei 2.44 percent, the United Kingdom 2.25 percent, and Germany 2.08 percent. The rest of the rice was bought by 48 other countries.
According to the September food prices report of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Agriculture Ministry, in January-September Cambodia exported nearly $287 million worth of milled rice (450,000 tons), which was a 10 percent rise over the 9 months of last year.
Over 2.36 million tons of paddy worth some $564 million were exported in the period. “Export prices have decreased as global rice rates are decreasing due to surplus output in rice-producing countries,” the WFP report said.
Similarly, of the total milled rice shipped in January-August, fragrant rice accounted for 65.8 percent, white rice 30 percent, parboiled rice and organic rice were over 2 percent each.
In 2021, Cambodia exported 617,069 tons of milled rice worth $527 million, according to the MAFF. It was 10.68 percent less than the 2020 shipment. Of this, 74.13 percent (457,415 tons) were fragrant rice, 24.16 percent (149,080 tons) white rice, and 1.71 percent (10,574 tons) parboiled rice, the Ministry statement read.
While China remained the biggest market of Cambodian milled rice at 309,709 tons, EU countries bought 155,773 tons and ASEAN member states imported 63,165 tons. The remaining 88,422 tons were downloaded at other destinations.
According to the Ministry, the Kingdom also exported 3.52 million tons of paddy to Vietnam, which was an increase of 61.16 percent over 2020 and generated over $631 million in revenue.
Agriculture, one of the key stakes of the Cambodian economy, contributed 24.4 percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The output of paddy, the key crop, at 12.2 million tons increased by 11.6 percent over 2020, it said.
In 2019, agriculture accounted for 31.2 percent of jobs and 20.7 percent of GDP. Rice accounts for around half of the agricultures contribution to the GDP.
As the Cambodian government has set the one million tons export target for 2023 onwards, the federation will seek to encourage farmers to increase farm output, particularly fragrant rice that has higher market demand, said the CRF.
“The plan is to produce rice varieties that are resilient to climate, high yield, and low cost to boost the quality of rice for exports,” it said. “We will also consider more reasonable selling prices without having to sell at high prices in competing countries,” the CRF recently said.
Dusit Hotels and Resorts is the first hotel chain in Thailand to offer 100 per cent organic rice across its entire portfolio of properties nationwide, aligning with the company’s ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept.
While benefiting guests, customers, and employees, this also provides sustainable income gains and life-changing developments to agricultural communities in the kingdom’s Thung Kula Rong Hai area, specifically Surin and Sisaket provinces.
The initiative sees Dusit work directly with farm collectives and provide all the support they need – from quality control, training, packaging to distribution – to deliver well-packaged, high-quality organic Jasmine rice to its hotel, restaurant, and catering businesses.
Four farming communities were carefully selected to work with Dusit based on their passion for high-quality produce and eagerness to co-develop and enhance their agricultural offerings – these include farming collectives in Surin Province’s Cor Ko and Nhong Pai subdistricts, and Sisaket Province’s Huai Thap Than and Nong Khae subdistricts.
Siradej Donavanik, vice president – hotel business development, Dusit International, and chairman of Dusit’s sustainability committee, said that the organic rice initiative is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its culinary offerings: “Jasmine rice from Thung Kula Rong Hai is known around the world for its strong aroma, soft texture, and slender grain – the long-grain white rice we source is among the finest of its kind.
“As a business, our organic rice model helps to optimise quality and overall costs within the group, so it’s truly a win-win.”
Dusit is also working closely with the farms to help enhance their output so they can reach more customers and grow their business, ultimately driving sustainable development with long-term benefits for all farmers involved. Some examples are purchasing new rice mills to help speed up production and enhance their capacity to generate more sales, selling the rice on online channels, and using the rice in the culinary offerings of other business units.
Other subsidiaries under Dusit International that are using the organic Jasmine rice in Thailand include Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, and Epicure Catering, the leading provider of quality food services to the educational sector in Thailand, which Dusit acquired in 2019. More business units are expected to follow next year.
Mr Krisada Techamontreekul, MD, Dusit Foods (left), regularly visits the organic farms with his team. Courtesy of Dusit Hotels and Resorts
Following a ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept, the company is working directly with farm collectives in northeastern Thailand to source the finest organic Jasmine rice for use in its restaurants and staff canteens – all while supporting sustainable development.
BANGKOK, Oct. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Dusit Hotels and Resorts, under Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has become the first hotel chain in Thailand to offer 100 percent organic rice across its entire portfolio of properties nationwide, bringing nutritional benefits to guests, customers, and employees, and sustainable income gains and life-changing developments to agricultural communities in the kingdom’s Thung Kula Rong Hai area, specifically Surin and Sisaket provinces.
Driven by Dusit International’s food business unit, Dusit Foods, and the company’s Sustainability Committee, the initiative sees Dusit work directly with farm collectives and provide all the support they need – from quality control to training to packaging to distribution – to deliver well-packaged, high-quality organic Jasmine rice to its hotel, restaurant, and catering businesses. All Dusit Hotels and Resorts in Thailand, as well as Dusit’s standalone restaurant concept, Baan Dusit Thani, in Bangkok, are now using rice to create nutritious and delicious meals for customers and employees.
Fully embracing a ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept, Dusit’s team has carefully selected four farming communities to work with based on their passion for high-quality produce and eagerness to co-develop and enhance their agricultural offerings with Dusit. This includes farming collectives in Surin Province’s Cor Ko and Nhong Pai subdistricts and Sisaket Province’s Huai Thap Than and Nong Khae subdistricts.
Mr Siradej Donavanik, VP – Development Global, Dusit International, and Chairman of Dusit’s Sustainability Committee, said that the organic rice initiative is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its culinary offerings in line with the four pillars of Dusit Graciousness – namely Service (personalised and gracious), Well-being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), and Sustainability (having a positive impact on people and the environment while bringing enduring value to stakeholders).
“Our mission is to bring enduring value to Thailand’s rural communities while benefiting our customers and employees too,” said Mr Donavanik. “Jasmine rice from Thung Kula Rong Hai is known around the world for its strong aroma, soft texture, and slender grain. And the long-grain white rice we source is among the finest of its kind. By sourcing this rice directly, not only are we giving guests, customers, and employees access to high-quality nutrition, but we are also giving the farming collectives we work with access to consistent income, which will help to improve their quality of life. At the same time, as a business, our organic rice model helps to optimise quality and overall costs within the group, so it’s truly a win-win.”
Mr Donavanik said that Dusit is also working closely with the farms to help enhance their output so they can reach more customers and grow their business, ultimately driving sustainable development with long-term benefits for all farmers involved.
“We aim to help put in place systems and processes that help the farms to increase their yields so they can generate more revenue overall,” he said. “As part of this, where possible, we plan to directly invest in the communities by purchasing new rice mills that can help speed up production and enhance their capacity to generate more sales. We also hope to increase our own purchases of the organic rice by selling it on online channels and using it in the culinary offerings of our other business units.”
Mr Tewin Phanarkart, a representative of the Huai Thap Than farming collective in Sisaket Province, said, “We work with all our hearts to grow high-quality organic rice, and we’re delighted to finally have a big and respected buyer that recognises this and is willing to pay a fair rate for our efforts. Alongside the financial relief that Dusit’s large order brings, we greatly appreciate the company’s support towards enhancing our yield, which puts us in a great position to continue doing what we love and grow our organic business overall. We take great pride in our work, and we’re very proud that our organic rice will be enjoyed by people from around the world at Dusit’s five-star hotels and other businesses. Our community has been waiting for a life-changing opportunity like this, and we are very grateful for it.”
Other subsidiaries under Dusit International that use organic Jasmine rice in Thailand include Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School and Epicure Catering, the leading provider of quality food services to the educational sector in Thailand, which Dusit acquired in 2019. More business units are expected to follow next year.
Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.
The group’s portfolio of hotels, resorts, and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under six brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 16 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Dusit International’s diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion, and diversification.
Krisada Techamontreekul, MD, Dusit Foods (left), regularly visits the organic farms with his team.
Dusit Hotels and Resorts, under Dusit International, has become the first hotel chains in Thailand to offer 100% organic rice across its entire portfolio of properties nationwide. Bringing nutritional benefits to guests, customers, and employees, and sustainable income gains and life-changing developments to agricultural communities in the kingdom’s Thung Kula Rong Hai area, specifically Surin and Sisaket provinces.
Driven by Dusit International’s food business unit, Dusit Foods, and the company’s Sustainability Committee, the initiative sees Dusit work directly with farm collectives and provide all the support they need – from quality control to training to packaging to distribution – to deliver well-packaged, high-quality organic Jasmine rice to its hotel, restaurant, and catering businesses. All Dusit Hotels and Resorts in Thailand, as well as Dusit’s standalone restaurant concept, Baan Dusit Thani, in Bangkok, are now using the rice to create nutritious and delicious meals for customers and employees.
Fully embracing a ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept, Dusit’s team has carefully selected four farming communities to work with based on their passion for high-quality produce and eagerness to co-develop and enhance their agricultural offerings with Dusit. This includes farming collectives in Surin Province’s Cor Ko and Nhong Pai subdistricts, and Sisaket Province’s Huai Thap Than and Nong Khae subdistricts.
Siradej Donavanik, VP – development global, Dusit International, and chairman of Dusit’s Sustainability Committee, said that the organic rice initiative is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its culinary offerings in line with the four pillars of Dusit Graciousness – namely Service (personalised and gracious), Well-being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), and Sustainability (having a positive impact on people and the environment while bringing enduring value to stakeholders).
“Our mission is to bring enduring value to Thailand’s rural communities while benefiting our customers and employees too,” said Donavanik. “Jasmine rice from Thung Kula Rong Hai is known around the world for its strong aroma, soft texture, and slender grain. And the long-grain white rice we source is among the finest of its kind. By sourcing this rice directly, not only are we giving guests, customers, and employees access to high-quality nutrition, but we are also giving the farming collectives we work with access to consistent income, which will help to improve their quality of life. At the same time, as a business, our organic rice model helps to optimise quality and overall costs within the group, so it’s truly a win-win.”
Donavanik said that Dusit is also working closely with the farms to help enhance their output so they can reach more customers and grow their business, ultimately driving sustainable development with long-term benefits for all farmers involved.
“We aim to help put in place systems and processes that help the farms to increase their yields so they can generate more revenue overall,” he said. “As part of this, where possible, we plan to directly invest in the communities by purchasing new rice mills that can help speed up production and enhance their capacity to generate more sales. We also hope to increase our own purchases of the organic rice by selling it on online channels and using it in the culinary offerings of our other business units.”
Tewin Phanarkart, representative of the Huai Thap Than farming collective in Sisaket Province, said, “We work with all our hearts to grow high-quality organic rice, and we’re delighted to finally have a big and respected buyer that recognises this and is willing to pay a fair rate for our efforts. Alongside the financial relief that Dusit’s large order brings, we greatly appreciate the company’s support towards enhancing our yield, which puts us in a great position to continue doing what we love and grow our organic business overall. We take great pride in our work, and we’re very proud that our organic rice will be enjoyed by people from around the world at Dusit’s five-star hotels and other businesses. Our community has been waiting for a life-changing opportunity like this, and we are very grateful for it.”
Other subsidiaries under Dusit International that are using the organic Jasmine rice in Thailand include Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, and Epicure Catering, the leading provider of quality food services to the educational sector in Thailand, which Dusit acquired in 2019. More business units are expected to follow next year.
Following a ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept, the company is working directly with farm collectives in northeastern Thailand to source the finest organic Jasmine rice for use in its restaurants and staff canteens – all while supporting sustainable development.
Bangkok, Thailand – Dusit Hotels and Resorts, under Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has become the first hotel chain in Thailand to offer 100% organic rice across its entire portfolio of properties nationwide, bringing nutritional benefits to guests, customers, and employees, and sustainable income gains and life-changing developments to agricultural communities in the kingdom’s Thung Kula Rong Hai area, specifically Surin and Sisaket provinces.
Driven by Dusit International’s food business unit, Dusit Foods, and the company’s Sustainability Committee, the initiative sees Dusit work directly with farm collectives and provide all the support they need – from quality control to training to packaging to distribution – to deliver well-packaged, high-quality organic Jasmine rice to its hotel, restaurant, and catering businesses. All Dusit Hotels and Resorts in Thailand, as well as Dusit’s standalone restaurant concept, Baan Dusit Thani, in Bangkok, are now using the rice to create nutritious and delicious meals for customers and employees.
Fully embracing a ‘Farm-to-Table’ concept, Dusit’s team has carefully selected four farming communities to work with based on their passion for high-quality produce and eagerness to co-develop and enhance their agricultural offerings with Dusit. This includes farming collectives in Surin Province’s Cor Ko and Nhong Pai subdistricts, and Sisaket Province’s Huai Thap Than and Nong Khae subdistricts.
Mr Siradej Donavanik, VP – Development Global, Dusit International, and Chairman of Dusit’s Sustainability Committee, said that the organic rice initiative is part of the company’s strategy to optimise its culinary offerings in line with the four pillars of Dusit Graciousness – namely Service (personalised and gracious), Well-being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), and Sustainability (having a positive impact on people and the environment while bringing enduring value to stakeholders).
“Our mission is to bring enduring value to Thailand’s rural communities while benefiting our customers and employees too,” said Mr Donavanik. “Jasmine rice from Thung Kula Rong Hai is known around the world for its strong aroma, soft texture, and slender grain. And the long-grain white rice we source is among the finest of its kind. By sourcing this rice directly, not only are we giving guests, customers, and employees access to high-quality nutrition, but we are also giving the farming collectives we work with access to consistent income, which will help to improve their quality of life. At the same time, as a business, our organic rice model helps to optimise quality and overall costs within the group, so it’s truly a win-win.”
Mr Donavanik said that Dusit is also working closely with the farms to help enhance their output so they can reach more customers and grow their business, ultimately driving sustainable development with long-term benefits for all farmers involved.
“We aim to help put in place systems and processes that help the farms to increase their yields so they can generate more revenue overall,” he said. “As part of this, where possible, we plan to directly invest in the communities by purchasing new rice mills that can help speed up production and enhance their capacity to generate more sales. We also hope to increase our own purchases of the organic rice by selling it on online channels and using it in the culinary offerings of our other business units.”
Mr Tewin Phanarkart, representative of the Huai Thap Than farming collective in Sisaket Province, said, “We work with all our hearts to grow high-quality organic rice, and we’re delighted to finally have a big and respected buyer that recognises this and is willing to pay a fair rate for our efforts. Alongside the financial relief that Dusit’s large order brings, we greatly appreciate the company’s support towards enhancing our yield, which puts us in a great position to continue doing what we love and grow our organic business overall. We take great pride in our work, and we’re very proud that our organic rice will be enjoyed by people from around the world at Dusit’s five-star hotels and other businesses. Our community has been waiting for a life-changing opportunity like this, and we are very grateful for it.”
Other subsidiaries under Dusit International that are using the organic Jasmine rice in Thailand include Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School, and Epicure Catering, the leading provider of quality food services to the educational sector in Thailand, which Dusit acquired in 2019. More business units are expected to follow next year.
Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.
The group's portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under a total of six brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 16 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Dusit International's diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification.
The agricultural debacle that wrecked the economy offers crucial lessons for other countries
Tracing the origins of the disastrous agricultural policy that was one of the factors that led to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ouster as president and downfall of the Sri Lankan economy, we can see his dynamism being displayed when he promised a “revolution” in fertilizer use in his election manifesto. But the fact is that this was supposed to have happened over a 10-year span, not overnight.
In April 2021, the Sri Lankan president announced that the import of synthetic fertilizers was banned and no more would be procured once the stocks ran out. Rajapaksa stated that the synthetic agricultural inputs were causing “adverse health and environmental impacts.”
The main driver behind this decision was the hope that it would save the nation the approximately US$400 million it had been spending annually to import synthetic fertilizers and pesticides over the last few years.
After the ban, farmers in Sri Lanka could not afford the cost of organic farming, and the yield was much lower than expected. The production of rice fell by 20% in the next six months. Sri Lanka lost its self-sufficiency in rice production and had to import it from other countries.
The situation became so bad that Sri Lanka had to resort to importing 60,000 tons of substandard rice from countries that use harmful chemicals such as monocrotophos and glyphosate for paddy cultivation.
The fuel shortage in Sri Lanka also affected the transportation of paddy. The farmers who survived all this and successfully harvested rice were met with a new surprise. The government had authorized import of cheap rice that pushed down the market price of paddy in the nation, which meant the farmers could not sell their produce at sustainable prices.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations stated in its Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission report that rice production in Sri Lanka would hit its lowest point after the drought in 2017, seeing a 42% decline year on year. The 6.2 million people (28% of the population) who are already suffering from food insecurity are set to face more problems.
Only 42.2% of the cereals required for the population were imported in the first six months of 2022 and the FAO believes that the country will not be able to meet its food-import requirements this year. The acute decline in production of export-oriented crops such as tea, rubber, coconut and spices has resulted in a reduction in household income as well as in revenues from exports.
Combined with this, the food inflation rate ballooned to 94% this August. This situation has forced the people to adopt coping strategies such as reducing the number of meals eaten in a day, altering portion sizes, dipping into their savings to purchase food, and borrowing money to purchase food.
The Sri Lankan experience offers some insights in the area of developmental policies. When we look at this case in terms of the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework, we see that when the Sri Lankan government tried to advance UN SDG 13 (Climate Action) through an abrupt overnight move, it negatively affected SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) to the point that the entire economy is in crisis now.
The SDG Framework has some flaws that prevent targeted policy action from being implemented and hinders forecasting the outcome of these actions.
The second lesson is that sustainable development cannot be achieved if developmental policies are not appropriately analyzed in tandem with available resources. Lifting successful policies from the developed nations and planting them in developing nations without tweaking them according to the local requirements will lead to counterproductive results, as we have seen in Sri Lanka.
For instance, this abrupt shift to organic farming could have been implemented without any trouble in a developed nation, since the rich countries have the necessary infrastructure, knowledge and skilled workforce. But when it was done in Sri Lanka, which lacked adequate infrastructure and had scanty production of agrochemicals, it had a detrimental effect on the domestic economy.
Sri Lanka tried to do a course correction in November 2021 by lifting the ban after huge protests from farmers’ organizations. The administration imported both rice and fertilizers using credit lines from friendly neighbors. The government also announced a compensation program for farmers, which would widen the budget deficit even more.
But it was too late, as the damage done to domestic production had become irreversible by then. Immediately after this, Sri Lanka asked India to deliver urgently 100 metric tons of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizers, which was accepted by India. India also extended a $55 million credit line to Sri Lanka for it to import urea fertilizer for the “Yala” cultivation season, which is effective during the monsoon period from May to end-August every year.
The government is currently looking to reduce rice imports because of the market-price problem discussed above. Sri Lanka also plans to infuse funds into its Paddy Marketing Board, which has assured farmers that it will procure rice from them at a floor price of 120 Sri Lankan rupees (33 US cents) per kilogram.
The key takeaway from the Sri Lankan organic-farming debacle is that it provides valuable lessons to other South Asian countries on implementing developmental policies in a contextualized manner rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
These policies can ravage the agriculture sector if they are implemented without the necessary knowledge and technical resources in place and if the people employed in the sector are not given proper training and support to enable a smooth transition.
In the case of Sri Lanka, the failed policy had a cascading effect that brought down the entire economy.
The author acknowledges Aravind J Nampoothiry at the National Law School of India University in Bangalore for his research assistance on this article.
Two international rice processing companies, Signature of Asia Co.,Ltd and Golden Rice Cambodia Co. Ltd, agreed to buy 2,500 tonnes of organic rice from 10 communities in Preah Vihear province through contract farming before the end of the year.
The contract for this was signed on Monday at the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Peng Trida, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for Preah Vihear told Khmer Times that the agreement would benefit 1,514 farmers of organic rice from the 10 farming communities.
“So far this year agreements were signed for the purchase of 80,000 tonnes of organic farm produce. This included 15,350 tonnes of rice, 55,000 tonnes of cassava, nearly 500 tonnes of cashews and 30 tonnes of peanuts produced by 32 farming communities in Preah Vihear province,” Trida said.
Sao Sonita, Deputy General Director of Golden Rice said that this is the fourth year that the company is partnering with farmers in Preah Vihear province and purchasing organic rice for processing and export to the international market. The export markets are in Asia, Europe and
the United States.
“In the first year, the company signed a contract to purchase 4,000 tonnes, in the second year 3,500 tons, in the third year 1,500 tonnes, and in the fourth year again 1,500 tonnes. In 2023, the company will expand the volume even further,” she pointed out.
Kim Rithy, Governor of Preah Vihear Province, appreciated the well-coordinated efforts of all stakeholders in making the plan a success. “The efforts of the Department of Agriculture led to the contract. Producers and buyers are also working together with trust and transparency based on three main principles – ensuring sustainable supply, product quality and value. In the future, the agricultural sector in Preah Vihear Province will expand organic farming to take it to the next level,” Rithy said.
Industry experts said Cambodia’s exporters need to make constant efforts to improve the quality, safety and sustainability of the produce to compete globally. The government also has introduced an organic agriculture policy to boost production and export, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
With the help of smart farming, the traditional rice brand, Xiaozhan Rice, in north China's Tianjin has revived in recent years.
Researchers have explored ways to integrate multiple devices into one platform to help farmers monitor crop growth and make decisions, according to Xu Xingang, principal researcher of a smart farming project and researcher from the National Engineering Research Center for Information Technology in Agriculture (NERCITA).
"We use satellites, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and portable devices to help with this," Xu told CGTN. "A single development of one device is not rare, it is hard to combine multi-devices into one to serve farmers with the lowest cost and the best effectiveness."
Xu said that with the help of China's Gaofen satellites, remote sensing images with high spatial and temporal resolution have made it possible to monitor the process of crop growth.
Maps of Xiaozhan Rice derived from the Gaofen satellite images from 2019 to 2021. /NERCITA
Flying in the sky, the UAVs helps monitor and assess seedling condition, nutrition status and lodging in rice. "Equipped with high-resolution multispectral cameras and laser radar, the UAV-based technology can help save 5 to 12 percent nitrogen fertilizers," said Xu.
Xu said his team has also developed a portable instrument to help with monitoring for smaller farms. Key crop growth indicators, such as leaf area index, fractional vegetation cover and chlorophyll content, can be measured with the device. It can help recommend the amount of nitrogen fertilizer and predict yield to farmers, Xu said.
The portable instrument for monitoring crop health (the upper three images), its working mode, a prescription map for fertilization and a map to forecast yield (the lower three images). /NERCITA
Using these technologies, two demonstration farms have been established, with a total of 5500 mu (around 367 hectares). They have also offered technical training to 150 personnel to better serve farmers.
Big data-driven dynamic monitoring system for smart farming. /NERCITA
Traditional rice brand get 'rejuvenated'
Xiaozhan Rice is an old brand. The rice originated from Xiaozhan Town in Jinnan District, Tianjin. The town had been a place of strategic importance and an army was stationed there in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The troop training in the town made the place famous and it was the only Chinese town marked on maps published in Europe and the United States in the late 19th century. It created the country's first new-style army based on a modern military system, with soldiers equipped with modern weapons and equipment, according to a report by Xinhua News Agency.
Xiaozhan Rice was bred based on the original rice and other high-quality rice genes with the rise of troop training in the town. Nowadays, the breeding of Xiaozhan Rice uses a combination of traditional agricultural techniques and new technologies.
Since 2018, Tianjin launched a campaign with methods including exploring digital technology into the planting and injecting funds into rice planting.
In addition, efforts were made to new rice breeds. Several high-yield, high-quality varieties have been cultivated, such as Jinyuan U99, Jindao 919 and Jinchuan No.1, which were marked by features like resilience to diseases and pests, drought and salinization.
Xiaozhan Rice in in north China's Tianjin Municipality. /Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of Tianjin Municipality
Farmers have also used their rice fields to breed crabs, shrimp and fish, with the crabs fertilizing the paddy soil and larvae in the field providing green feed for crabs.
At present, the planting area of the rice has grown from over 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares) in 2016 to more than 1 million mu (around 66,700 hectares) for two consecutive years, according to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of Tianjin Municipality.
"We've established 100,000 mu (6,670 hectares) standardized demonstration areas for rice seedling raising and cultivation till now," said Wang Haiyuan, an official at the committee's Planting Administration Office.
"Using standardized production technology, the yield per mu of the rice increased by more than 10 percent, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer reduced by more than 20 percent, and the amount of pesticide reduced by more than 30 percent," Wang told CGTN.
Panchabati Baske of Damodarpur village and Nirmala Mahato of Murakhati village are trendsetters in their respective villages in West Bengal’s Jhargram district. Though not highly educated, Ms. Baske and Ms. Mahato have started a revolution by cultivating indigenous varieties of rice organically, without using any chemical fertilisers. There are 55 women farmers in Damodarpur village and 21 women farmers in Murakathi village following in their footsteps by growing indigenous varieties of rice.
Hundreds of women farmers have taken up the cultivation of indigenous rice varieties like Kalabhat (Black rice), Mallifullo (brown rice) and Kerala Sundari (raw aromatic full bran folk rice) and Red Rice, locally called as Sathia, in the remote villages of Jhargram.
What started in 2017 with a dozen women has taken the form of a company with 2,677 women farmers as shareholders to Aamon Mahila Chasi Producer Company Limited. The number of women cultivators, across the five-gram panchayats of Nayagram block in Jhargram, participating in this initiative now stands at over 4,500. The area of land cultivated this year is more than 1,100 hectares .
Ms. Baske started by cultivating the indigenous rice varieties in two to three cottahs of land in 2016-17. This year, she has cultivated black rice in 1.5 bighas (1 bigha = 20 cottahs) of land and Sathia rice in one bigha land. “We are saving ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 per bigha on fertilisers and there is not much difference in the yield,” she said. Both Ms. Baske and Ms. Mahato told The Hindu that they have made profits by cultivating organic indigenous rice varieties. They also said that as stakeholders to Aamon, they have a greater say in decision making when it comes to farming.
PRADAN, a non-government organisation, have hand-held the women by providing training in the cultivation process. The body has also set up a rice processing mill and has started marketing the indigenous produce to different parts of the country. A bio- fertiliser unit has also come up in the region replacing the chemical-based fertilisers used in high-yielding varieties by farmyard manure and other natural inputs.
Madhura Kanjilal, an executive with PRADAN, said that the turnover for Aamon this year is pegged at ₹3 crore. “The women who are part of Aamon have a voice now. Though agriculture is considered a male domain, most of the labour is provided by women. Women farmers at Aamon have the final say as to what to do when it comes to agriculture,” she said.
According to the women farmers, the yield varies with the varieties. While it is about five to six quintals per bigha for indigenous varieties, for the high-yielding paddy cultivated with chemical fertilisers, this can be about nine to ten quintals. With the price of the indigenous varieties being three times, the women farmers are making profit.
Aamon has also provided the women farmers with control over what seeds they could use to grow their food, thereby relieving them of dependence on the high-yielding varieties available in the market which require chemical-based fertilisers. Along with rice, the women also produce plates made of sal leaves, which are abundantly found in the region. This year onwards, the women farmers are also selling this ecofriendly product.
Buddhadeb Jana, manager at Aamon, who looks after the marketing of the indigenous organic rice varieties, said that the challenge remains to reach individual customers. “We have customers in different parts of the country from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu. We at Aamon are mostly dependent on institutional buyers but are ready to sell those seeking orders above 50 kgs,” he said.
Mr. Jana also added attempts are being made so that the rice varieties are available to individual customers through online platforms.
RICHMOND, Calif., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lotus Foods, the leading heirloom and organic rice company, has launched Organic White Quick Cook Rice, a short grain rice that is ready in just 10 minutes or about half the time of most white rice. Perfect for any savory or sweet dish, this unique tiny grain is sometimes referred to as "baby basmati" due to its tender texture, fragrant aroma and delicate flavor.
Organic White Quick Cook Rice is a beloved heirloom rice variety called Kalijira, grown by family farmers in West Bengal, India, using regenerative More Crop Per Drop® practices that minimize water usage, empower women, financially reward farmers and reduce climate impact.
Traditionally reserved for special occasions, this innovative new offering now makes it easy to save time when cooking many varieties of global cuisine, all without sacrificing texture and flavor. Organic White Quick Cook Rice will be available at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide this spring and at other major retailers this summer for an MSRP of $4.99 for a 15oz bag. Like all Lotus Foods products, it is certified organic, gluten-free, and non-GMO, and is grown by family farmers who grow rice using organic and regenerative practices.
Lotus Foods is known for sourcing exceptional rice varieties from around the world, each chosen for its unique flavor, nutritional value and ease of cooking. New Organic White Quick Cook Rice is the latest innovation in flavor and convenience from Lotus Foods, which in 2021 introduced three varieties of Heat & Eat Rice Pouches that are ready in as little as 90 seconds. Lotus Foods also expanded its beloved line of organic rice noodles in 2021 to now include Soba, Pho, Udon and Pad Thai.
"We're thrilled to expand our organic rice offerings to include a variety that works with so many dishes and makes getting a healthy meal on the table easier without having to compromise quality," said Caryl Levine, Co-Founder/Co-CEO of Lotus Foods. "We are constantly trying new rice varieties in hopes of finding something new we know people will love. Our goal is to introduce innovative, modern products while supporting our global network of family farmers who are growing rice more sustainably."
About Lotus Foods
Since 1995, Lotus Foods has partnered in direct and fair trade with small family farmers around the world who are growing rice more sustainably while preserving rice biodiversity. Lotus Foods' product line includes pigmented heirloom and organic rice varieties such as Forbidden Rice®, Jade Pearl Rice™, Red Rice, traditional Basmati and Jasmine Rice and Tri-color Rice as well as Rice Ramen, Pad Thai Rice Noodles and Rice Ramen Noodle Soup Cups. Products are available at major retailers nationwide. As a certified B Corporation, Lotus Foods is committed to "Changing How Rice Is Grown around the World" by focusing on rice grown using the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which we call More Crop Per Drop®. SRI minimizes water usage, empowers women, financially rewards farmers and reduces climate impact. As a business co-founded and co-owned by an Asian American, and with a global supply network encompassing family farmers throughout Asia, Lotus Foods stands with the AAPI community and condemns racial violence.
SOURCE Lotus Foods
the transition to organic farming has emerged as an effective solution for the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu to cut costs and promote sustainable agricultural production.
Bac Lieu (VNA) – The transition to organic farming has emerged as an effective solution for the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu to cut costs and promote sustainable agricultural production.
The province is believed to have what it takes to expand organic farming as it is home to more than 40,000 hectares of agricultural areas cultivated under the “Fragrant rice – Clean shrimp” production model that applies organic practices.
Ba Dinh Cooperative in Vinh Loc A commune in Hong Dan district is among the pioneers of organic rice farming. All members of the cooperative have adopted the integrated rice-shrimp farming model, said its director Nong Van Thach, adding that they focus specially on organic practices for rice cultivation.
With the expansion of the model, farmers have been encouraged to shift to more environmentally-friendly production to reduce costs, increase productivity and product quality, and increase their earnings.
Farmers have received support from local authorities, especially the provincial agricultural extension centre, to scale up climate-resilient, organic rice areas, and also from businesses to access supplies of quality input materials like seeds, fertiliser and biopesticides, and to distribute their products.
An alliance of “Fragrant rice – Clean shrimp” cooperatives has been established in the province with 21 cooperative members who are enabled to participate in sustainable value chains.
The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is expanding the use of organic fertilisers in rice cultivation to improve farmer’s incomes and protect the environment.
Bac Lieu (VNS/VNA) - The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu is expanding the use of organic fertilisers in rice cultivation to improve farmer’s incomes and protect the environment.
In the last winter-spring rice crop, Phuoc Long district’s Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development launched a pilot programme for increasing the use of organic fertilisers and reducing the use of chemicals on a total area of 110ha, with 60 farmers involved.
Pham Van Cau, one of the farmers, said: “The prices of inputs, especially fertilisers, have shot up, and so the use of organic fertilisers helps farmers reduce costs while rice plants still have high yields and quality.”
He grew 2ha of Dai Thom 8, a speciality rice variety, and got nearly 10 tonnes per hectare, and earned more than 300 million VND (13,000 USD), he said.
Organic fertilisers cost less than chemical fertilisers, and farmers in fact can make them themselves from animal waste, leaves and other agricultural by-products.
Thai Thi Loan, deputy head of the bureau, said organic fertilisers improve soil quality and help rice plants grow well and prevent diseases.
The pilot programme helped reduce the use of chemical fertiliser by 50-70 percent, she said.
The bureau plans to expand the organic rice cultivation, she added.
In the last winter-spring rice, the province Agriculture Extension Centre implemented organic rice farming models on a total of 300ha in Phuoc Long, Hoa Binh and Vinh Loi districts.
Farmers who took part in them were given free seeds and biological pesticides, and taught advanced farming techniques.
Huynh Quoc Khoi, director of the centre, said the models reduced costs by 10-20 percent while yields were still high and farmers got higher prices for their clean rice.
Bac Lieu has great advantages in adopting to organic standards since it has more than 40,000ha of lands where rice is grown in the rainy season and shrimp is bred at other times.
This model is naturally clean with farmers required to use few chemicals.
Local authorities encourage farmers to join co-operatives and tie up with companies to implement the model to ensure they can sell their produce and also grow high-quality rice for export.
Ba Dinh Cooperative in Hong Dan district was one of the first co-operatives to grow rice to organic standards, and its members now have 300ha under shrimp-rice.
In the last winter-spring rice crop, they planted ST24 and ST25 rice varieties, which have won awards as the world’s best.
Nong Van Thach, director of the co-operative, said: “All the rice was planted to organic standards.”
The co-operative guarantees outlets for all members’ produce, buying the rice at 15-20 percent above market prices and selling it to HCM City, he said.
Bac Lieu has established the Fragrant Rice - Clean Shrimp Co-operative Alliance with the participation of 21 co-operatives which have more than 4,000ha under shrimp-rice.
The co-operatives have created favourable conditions for establishing value chains for their products.
Speaking to DT Next, she gives us a lowdown on lesser-known rice varieties rich in nutrients required for the body.
CHENNAI: We are the bridge that connects farmers and consumers. We are the middlemen so to speak,” Dr. Vijayalakshmi, Director of Sempulam Sustainable Solutions laughs.
Sempulam Sustainable Solutions is a 30-year-old company that offers consultancy services to individuals keen on embarking upon sustainable and organic farming, at any scale.
Vijayalakshmi is backed by a team of researchers, scientists, and farmers aiming to produce healthy and organic rice varieties.
Speaking to DT Next, she gives us a lowdown on lesser-known rice varieties rich in nutrients required for the body.
Arbutham Kuruvai:
This rice variety is a short-term variety of rice that is cultivated in 60-70 days and hence the name. Arbutham Kuruvai is normally cultivated during the period Dec 15 to Mar 15 (Navarai and Kuruvai). This rice variety is rich in proteins, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium. Dishes like idli, dosa, idiyappam, puttu, porridge, and kozhukattai can be made with this rice variety. Since each variety has different cooking points, the method to cook this rice is a 1:2 rice to water ratio with three whistles on a pressure cooker.
Raktashali:
It is dark red in colour with normal texture. Other than it being used for cooking, this rice variety has medicinal properties and is considered nearly an extinct variety of medicinal rice. Ayurveda uses this rice to cure bodily imbalances, purify the blood, and also act as an immunity booster because of the high zinc content. This rice is recommended for lactating mothers. To cook this rice, it is recommended to soak the rice for a couple of hours and use the same water for cooking.
Anandanoor Sanna:
This rice gets its name from the region, Anandanoor where it is grown. Sanna which means fine and thin in Tamil indicates the quality of rice. It is generally cultivated from July 15 to January 14 (Samba) since the preferred soil for cultivation must be clayey in texture. The rice to water ratio is 1:2 with four whistles on the pressure cooker. It is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, and protein.
Iravai Pandi:
This rice variety is named after a king. It is usually cultivated from July 15 to January 14 (Samba) and needs sandy clay soil. This rice variety is most suitable for South Indian dishes. Soak the rice five hours before cooking. The rice to water ratio is 1:3 with four whistles. It is rich in calcium, potassium, and zinc.
Karuthakaar:
This rice variety is cultivated during Samba and is used by people with diabetes. It majorly helps the body build immunity to jaundice. It can be used to make idli, dosa, and other meals. Soak the rice four hours before cooking. The rice to ratio is 1:3 with four whistles. The texture of the cooked rice is coarse.
The Thai Government has urged relevant agencies to step up the promotion of organic rice to raise the income of farmers and create sustainability in the agricultural sector.
Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai Government has urged relevant agencies to step up the promotion of organic rice to raise the income of farmers and create sustainability in the agricultural sector.
According to Boonyarit Kalayanamit, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as Chairman of the National Rice Policy Committee, recently ordered related agencies to rev up promotion of the second phase of the organic price promotion plans for 2022-25.
The PM also assigned responsible agencies to focus more on research, plant breeding and rice technology to upgrade farmers' income and quality of life, while the government should be able to lower its financial burden for the price guarantee scheme over the long term, Boonyarit said.
There is 700,000 rai of organic rice, mainly planted in the Northeast (a rai equal to 1,600 square metres).
In a related development, the National Rice Policy Committee approved 146 million baht (4.2 million USD) to support organic rice farming this year.
Fortunately, in this decade, synthetic pesticides like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), endrin, and others entered the market. Another spectacular discovery was that of the high-yielding hybrid wheat and rice. The high-yielding wheat was discovered by Norman Borlaug (Nobel Prize winner) and was rapidly adopted by India largely due to the pioneering work of Dr Swaminathan and MV Rao.
Swaminathan is remembered as the ‘father of Green Revolution’ and Rao as the “wheat man of India”. With hybrid varieties and synthetic fertilisers and insecticides, the production of rice per acre increased to 40 quintals from 10 quintals, a tremendous victory in fighting hunger. There were also some setbacks during the 1960s and 70s. India’s budget (read agriculture) is dependent on the monsoon season, as George Curzon pointed out in 1905. Due to drought from 1964-70, India had to import food and became heavily dependent on the United States for wheat supplies under the Public Law 480 agreement. At one time, we were eagerly waiting for the arrival of a ship full of wheat at the Mumbai port. The late former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri gave a call to “miss a meal” on Monday nights as a part of the Jai Kisan movement. Green Revolution Ultimately, the Green Revolution was initiated. The theme of the initiative was to boost food grains production of rice and wheat using any method and at any cost. Success followed many setbacks. Biologist-turned-science-writer Rachel Carson published a seminal book called Silent Spring, focused on the harmful effects of pesticides, primarily DDT on our health and environment. DDT was found to be non-biodegradable and its remnants were traced everywhere — in our body, soil and water. Studies showed its effects on liver and kidneys, including causing cancers. Scientists rapidly found alternatives and advocated Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a need-based use of pesticides, alternating crops, intercropping as well as usage of bird perches where birds rest, detect insects on crops and eat them. After DDT, other insecticides like monocrotophos, metasystox, cypermethrin came into use but these are equally harmful to humans, livestock and fish. The “turn to nature” to get pesticide-free food has become a priority. The order of the day is organic farming — natural farming or zero-budget agriculture — which is welcome and most wanted in the agriculture sphere.Not without setbacks
The first and foremost sound solution is the usage of organic manures from compost, cow dung and ploughing and mulching of leguminous plants. Several plant-based botanical pesticides were discovered. Neem oil, neem kernel extracts, which contain azadirachtin, is the active principle discovered by Germans, the United Kingdom and US. Neem revived the hope of using harmless pesticides but its availability is very low. Several commercial formulations were available in India. Karanj oil (Karanjin active principle), several leaf extracts like Adathoda and garlic-buds aqueous extracts are found to be effective to some extent as active repellants but they cannot replace synthetic pesticide. There is a growing awareness in India to cultivate the crops by natural fertilisers such as cow dung, leguminous green manures, compost, vermicomposting and biopesticides fungi, bacteria and virus-based pesticides like Bacillus thuringiensis, Pseuedomonas aegle, Trichoderma verdi. These bio-pesticides are chiefly produced from diseased insects and soil, among other things. However, it only has limited use on too few fruit and vegetable crops. The problem with the bio-pesticide production is that it is confined to a small industry with no standardisation and doubtful efficacy. Several symposia are held by non-governmental organisations, ideal farmers and governments. Many agricultural magazines hail the miracles of higher yields from organic farming. Particular mention should be made about jeevamrutham — a recently designed concoction called Ramabanam, which gained prominence. These concoctions are made from jaggery, ginger, cow milk, cow curd, cow dung, cow urine, asafoetida. All the ingredients are mixed and fermented for a week, diluted and sprayed on crops. It is claimed that the product can be used as a fertiliser and a pesticide. The farmers who experimented were quick to endorse the products. Their studies on organic farming presented in symposia on organic farming, however, were confined to few vegetables like tomatoes over a limited area. The yield, the farmers said, is high but not quantified with randomised block design studies. The active principle of such concoctions is unknown and doesn’t stand scientific security. Moreover, the cost of these concoctions is as high as pesticides and starting products like cow dung are not available in plenty as of today. For about 90 per cent Indians, rice or wheat are almost exclusively the staple food. So, encouragement of organic farming in a country like India will be meaningful, if applied for rice / wheat. Studies on these crops should also be prioritised. The inconvenient truth, as many farmers put it, is that the land is infertile now without urea in the first few days of rice plantation, and with no application of synthetic pesticides, the entire crop is prone to pests resulting in no yield. The challenge for agriculture scientists is how to maintain the current volume of yield (40 quintals per acre) with organic farming. We need to take with caution some sporadic success stories of organic farming on vegetables and fruits grown in an acre or two. Thus, all the available tools we have with us, like bio-fertilisers, bio-pesticides, green manure and vermicompost, their limitation is discussed herein. Constraints of sustainable organic farming are: None of the organic farming tools are available, especially for organic farming of rice that is the staple food in India. Importantly, the whole organic farming depends on cow dung, which is dwindling even as we are particular about their protection (gosamrakshana). The staple food for cattle is rice straw. While we claim rice production is high and in surplus, the cost of rice remains very high and is not affordable for the poor man. Thus, the increase of cattle population is linked to paddy by rice production. Both are interlinked. Quantification for pesticide residues in food should be done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography / Mass Spectra / Mass Spectra (HPLC / MS / MS) method. The sophisticated method has been adopted by advanced countries but is still not in use in India. The real structure of crop production is dependent on high-yielding hybrid seeds. Continuous research on high yielding varieties by cross breeding with pest resistant wild varieties is essential.Compost from urban areas and vermicompost, in particular, don’t seem to have been examined for pesticide residues and harmful trace elements such as arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead is needed by using HPLC /MS / MS method and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Introduction of transgenic varieties is not recommended for organic and natural farming. Therefore, it is wise to use the first three sprays on crops with natural organic materials and the last two sprays with synthetic pesticides. Research on organic farming should be done using robust scientific methods only. Surprisingly, rice was found to contain high pesticides and trace elements. This technique should be standardised in India. Our slogan should be “natural and organic farming with high yields at an affordable price to the common man”. India’s wheat exports surpassed $872 million (2021-22) and rice exports in 2021-22 is likely to surpass the record $10 million, according to the agriculture department of the Government of India.It was then that Saroja thought of switching over to selling organic food and products. “I was always interested in cooking using millets and other traditional food grains. My husband grew organic vegetables and foodgrains like jowar, ragi, paddy and millets. So, I decided to sell the [harmful] chemical-free produce and traditional recipes using our farm fresh harvest,” she says.
Saroja started the business informally. But it was only after her products were appreciated and received a better value in the market that many farmers approached her. “I started teaching women and men alike to effectively use available farm resources for organic pest management, increasing soil quality and yield,” she adds. Her work was recognised by the agriculture department officials who approached her to promote organic farming. She then joined the officials travelling around 20 villages near Harihar and other parts of the state, guiding farmers. “I became a better teacher, but also learned new techniques to grow crops from other farmers,” she says, adding, “The learning and earnings from agriculture helped me improve my family’s financial condition.” Saroja then felt the need to scale up and promote the goodness of organic food to a larger audience.Her banana flour, too, became an instant hit. “The product is made by drying bananas and making a powder through processing. It is a healthy replacement for maida or other types of flour. The daily use product was unique during those days and received a significant demand. I also shared 15 healthy recipes, including cake and spicy items like thakali (tomato rice), which customers liked,” she adds.
Today, Saroja earns a monthly business of Rs 50,000 and is content with her achievements. “I have employed 20 women working part-time as per their convenience. I aim to promote organic food. Many products available in the market are adulterated and I want to encourage people to choose healthier food,” she says.
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The senior IAS officer said that the APEDA is all set to groom a group of 100 progressive farmers or Farmers' Producer Organisations from Andhra Pradesh and connect them to the global market to export their respective products including horticulture crops and maize.
BANGKOK, July 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand, has introduced a project called "Think RICE, Think THAILAND" to encourage international community to pay attention to consumer health and to raise awareness on the national crop by providing a wider range of knowledge, ranging from national agricultural history, standards and Thai rice quality.
The Ministry of Commerce explained that Thailand, as a leader in rice production and exports, has rapidly expanded its organic rice farming due to the increasing preference for organic food amongst consumers around the world. The country aims to become ASEAN's organic rice production hub with efficient production and product traceability, from grain selection to packaging.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, encourage farmers and traders to produce quality organic rice that meets the requirements of international standards including: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, EU Organic, USDA National Organic Program, Canada Organic Regime, Japanese Agricultural Organic Standard, China Organic Food Certification Center and Ecocert.
To produce Thai organic rice, the country starts with quality grains selection from organic rice suppliers, then, carefully preparing soil to minimize weeds without using chemicals. Next, it is about selecting fertile farmlands with controlled irrigation to prevent contamination from outside water sources and enrich the soil with organic plant fertilizers. Eliminating weeds is done by using non-chemical methods along with microbial pesticides. To prevent and eliminate diseases, a natural balance and proper irrigation to strengthen the rice's immunity to diseases provided. The country relies on natural predators to prevent and eliminate pests. Moreover. Thai organic rice farmers also focus on the chemical contamination prevention, before and after harvest to maintain the organic chain. Paddy rice must be stored in its suitable environment. As for pack milled rice, using either the vacuum packing method or CO2 technique.
Think Rice, Think Thailand.
Visit us: www.thinkricethinkthailand.com
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Overall U.S. organic sales were about $47 billion in 2016. Sales of organic non-food products increased 8.8% to $3.9 billion. Organic food accounted for 5.3% of total U.S. food sales.
Organic fruits and vegetables, the largest organic food category, accounted for nearly 40% of all organic food sales, rising 8.4% to $15.6 billion in 2016. Organic fruit and vegetables made up almost 15% of the produce that Americans ate in 2016.
Sales of organic meat and poultry rose more than 17% in 2016 to $991 million. Organic dips and organic spices, although still smaller categories, recorded double-digit jumps in sales. Organic dip sales increased 41% to $57 million, and organic spice sales increased 35% to $193 million.
More than 60% of all organic businesses with more than five employees reported an increase in full-time employment in 2016.
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Laura Batcha, executive director of the Organic Trade Association. |
“Organic farmers are not just staying in business, they’re often expanding,” said Laura Batcha, executive director of the Organic Trade Association. “Organic handling, manufacturing and processing facilities are being opened, enlarged and retooled. Organic farms, suppliers and handlers are creating jobs across the country, and the organic sector is growing and creating the kinds of healthy, environmentally friendly products that consumers are increasingly demanding.”
She added the organic sector needs help in meeting demand.
“We need more organic farmers in this country to meet our growing organic demand, and the organic sector needs to have the necessary tools to grow and compete on a level playing field,” Batcha said. “That means federal, state and local programs that help support organic research and provide the organic farmer with a fully equipped tool kit to be successful.”
Nutrition Business Journal conducted the survey on behalf of the Organic Trade Association. More than 200 companies responded to the survey, which took place from Feb. 2 to March 31.26-year-old Likitha Bhanu along with her mother Padmaja Bhanu strikes a pose with staff at the Terra Greens Organic Food Company established by the duo in Hyderabad in 2013. (Photo: DC)
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