5th may,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine (1)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter May 05,2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

Food Stories: Zarda BISMA TIRMIZI

This simple sweet rice delight fell in the premium 'sufiyana' class of cuisines during the Mughal era. — Photo by Fawad Ahmed

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'Zarda' happens to be the simplest of desserts, defining the best of joys; a sweet delight served at shaadi (weddings), raksha bandhan (a Hindu festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters) and many other sub-continental celebratory occasions.For me, zarda never held much appeal, until maturity set in and I started appreciating the subtle sweetness of diluted sugar playing magic with basmati rice, the royal fragrance of cardamom and the golden hue of our life force, the sun.Rice desserts are an ancient cuisine; they have been enjoyed by people over a multitude of ethnicities, cultures and eras. Rice pudding can be traced back to grain pottage developed

by Middle Eastern cooks.Lizzie Collingham in her book Curry talks about 'zard biranj', the original food that evolved to the modern day zarda.Many of the recipes, like the one for zard biranj, used large quantities of raisins and pistachios. Combinations of meat and dry fruit were common in Persian dishes.

Cartloads of sultanas, dried apricots, figs, and almonds were imported into India along the new roads that were constructed to facilitate trade throughout northern India, central Asia, and Persia.Indeed, the development of Mughlai cuisine was sustained by the availability of a wide variety of new and imported ingredients, which made it all the more delectable.

By synthesising different cuisines [from Hindustan, i.e. the subcontinent, Arabia, Persia, central Asia and Europe] and importing raw ingredients, the Mughals gave the region the sweet rice delight zarda and the sweet and savory mantanjan.Many of the modern sub-continental foods have evolved to their current form, and are greatly influenced by the cuisine prepared in the royal kitchens of the Mughals. It is well established that Akbar, the grandson of Babar, actively participated in the happenings of the royal kitchen. He enforced stringent rules of kitchen etiquette that the staff adhered to without exception.

The Ain-i-Akbari (the life chronicles of Akbar the Great, as written by Abul Fazl), categorically suggests three classes of cooked dishes, in order of hierarchy.'Sufiyana' was considered the premium class of food; meatless and consumed by the Emperor on his days of abstinence. It included rice dishes such as zard

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine biranj (modern day zarda) sheer biranj, khushka and khichree, wheat dishes, various kinds of lentils, some greens and varieties of sherbets and halwas.

Needless to say, zarda falls in the premium category, hence its celebratory significance in the subcontinent.

The recipe of zard biranj as chronicled by the courtier Abul Fazl in Ain-i-Akbari: 10 seer of rice; 5 seer of sugar candy 3½ seer of Ghee ½ seer of each: raisins, almonds, and pistachios ¼ seer of salt 1/8 seer of fresh ginger 1½ dams saffron 2½ misqal of cinnamon (1 seer = 2 ½ lbs., 1 dam = ¾ oz., 1 misqal = 6.22 grams) This will make four ordinary dishes. Some make this dish with fewer spices, and even without any.

The yellow zarda is a favoured dessert distributed at Sufi shrines that dot the subcontinent. I have enjoyed eating it at Baba Abdullah Shah Ghazi‘s Shrine, Lal Shabbaz Qalandar‘s Shrine and at Mongo Pir, and since, at the time, I was never a big fan of zarda, I always mixed it up with savory biryani or pulao to make a mantanjan of sorts.

When it was my time to make zarda, I asked my dear Gulzar auntie, a fabulous cook, for her recipe. Here it is, from my kitchen to yours.

Ingredients 2 cups basmati rice 4 oz. butter 1 cup and 1 tbsp. sugar 1/4 to 1/3 cup blanched and halved almonds ¼ cup raisins Pistachio (optional, I prefer not to add them) 2 to 3 tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice ½ to 1 tsp. orange zest

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 4 to 6 green cardamoms 2 to 3 strands saffron (optional) Yellow food colouring Method Parboil rice with yellow food colouring and set aside.

In a pan, melt butter, adding sugar and stirring for a few minutes (ensuring not to over cook), adding nuts, cardamom, orange juice, orange zest, (saffron and pistachio, if desired) parboiled rice and a little water, eyeballing the amount of water.

On adding the rice and water, initiate dum (seal pot method of cooking in steam) on low heat.

Maintain low heat for 10-20 minutes, or until the rice is fluffy and puffed.

Enjoy the warmth of simple sweet goodness like none other. —Photos by Fawad Ahmed

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 5 Nagpur, May 5 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar showed firm tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on good buying support from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions because of heavy unseasonal rains yesterday evening. Notable rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses also boosted sentiment, according to sources.

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties reported strong in open market on renewed marriage season demand from local traders amid thin supply from millers.

TUAR * Tuar varieties touched to a record high in open market here on increased buying support from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions. Reports about weak overseas arrival jacked up prices. * Masoor, Moong and Udid varieties too zoomed up in open market on increased marriage season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing belts. * In Akola, Tuar - 6,900-7,200, Tuar dal - 9,700-10,100, Udid at 9,100-9,600, Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,100-9,400, Moong Mogar (clean) 10,900-11,200, Gram - 4,300-4,600, Gram Super best bold - 5,300-5,600 for 100 kg.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in poor trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,800-4,400 3,750-4,320 Gram Pink Auction n.a.

2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 5,400-6,990 5,400-6,920 Moong Auction n.a.

6,000-6,300 Udid Auction n.a.

4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 5,700-6,000 5,500-5,700 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,500-5,600 5,200-5,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 4,900-5,000 4,600-4,700 Desi gram Raw 4,500-4,600 4,300-4,450 Gram Filter new 5,000-5,100 4,800-4,950 Gram Kabuli 5,000-6,800 5,000-6,800 Gram Pink 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500 Tuar Fataka Best 10,000-10,500 9,800-10,200 Tuar Fataka Medium 9,900-10,200 9,600-9,800 Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,400-9,700 9,200-9,400 Tuar Dal Medium phod 8,800-9,200 8,500-8,900 Tuar Gavarani New 7,400-7,500 7,100-7,200 Tuar Karnataka 7,600-7,800 7,200-7,400 Tuar Black 10,400-10,800 10,100-10,500 Masoor dal best 7,400-7,600 7,300-7,500 Masoor dal medium 6,900-7,300 6,800-7,200 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 11,200-11,600 10,700-11,100 Moong Mogar Medium best 10,500-10,800 10,100-10,400 Moong dal Chilka 9,800-10,000 9,600-9,900 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 10,100-10,500 9,700-10,000 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,000-11,500 10,800-11,200 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,000-10,800 10,000-10,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 8,400-8,900 8,000-8,500 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,700-3,800 3,700-3,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,450-1,750 1,450-1,750 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,950 1,850-1,950

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,300 2,050-2,300 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,300 2,900-3,300 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,550-2,800 2,550-2,800 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200 Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,700 3,300-3,700 Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200 Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500 Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,200 4,500-5,200 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,000-7,500 6,000-7,500 Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,200 4,600-5,200 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,000 5,500-6,000 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 40.5 degree Celsius (104.9 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

23.0 degree Celsius (73.4 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night.

Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 40 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N0XW2FJ20150505

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Vietnam rice boom puts pressure on farmers Tuesday, May 05, 2015 04:24

Vietnam rice boom puts pressure on farmers Bloomberg Tuesday, May 05, 2015 04:24

Farm hands, wearing conical hats, harvest rice grain at a farm in Can Tho Province, Vietnam. Photo: Bloomberg

Rice farmer Nguyen Hien Thien is so busy growing his crops that he has never even visited Can Tho, a town only a few kilometres from his farm in the southern Mekong Delta."When I was a child, we grew one crop of rice per year -- now it's three. It's a lot of work," 60-year-old Thien, who's been farming since childhood, told AFP.Experts say Vietnam's drive to become one of the world's leading rice exporters is pushing farmers in the fertile delta region to the brink, with mounting costs to the environment.The country is already the world's second largest exporter of the staple grain. But intensive rice cultivation, particularly the shift to producing three crops a year, is taking its toll on farmers and the ecosystem.

"Politicians want to be the world's number one or two rice exporter. As a scientist, I want to see more being done to protect farmers and the environment," said Vietnamese rice expert Vo Tong Xuan.A major famine in 1945 and food shortages in the post-war years led to the government adopting a "rice first" policy.This now generates far more of the crop than needed to feed Vietnam's 90 million population and has spawned a thriving export industry.Rice yields have nearly quadrupled since the 1970s, official www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine figures show, thanks to high-yield strains and the construction of a network of dykes that today allow farmers to grow up to three crops per year.The amount of land under cultivation in the Mekong Delta has also expanded and quotas are in place to prevent farmers from switching to other crops.

But experts question who really benefits.According to Xuan, farmers don't reap the rewards of the three crop system -- the rice is low quality and they spend more on pesticides and fertilisers, which become less effective year by year.He argues the delta would be better off if farmers cultivated a more diverse range of crops, from coconuts to prawns, with just the most suitable land used to grow rice.The country should consider abandoning the third crop and focus on improving quality and branding to sell Vietnamese rice at higher prices, he said.Currently, the bulk of Vietnam's rice is exported at cut-price costs on government-to-government contracts through large state-owned enterprises (SOEs) like the Southern Food Corporation, known as Vinafood 2.

"Over the last five years, the trend is towards lower-quality rice," admitted Le Huu Trang, deputy office manager at the firm.Some argue that such SOEs have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo as they earn lucrative kickbacks from the huge contracts.But even as salt water intrusion, drought and flooding increase in the delta -- to say nothing of agricultural chemical pollution -- it is also hard to convince farmers to change."The prevailing mindset is to grow three crops... we have to explain two crops is better," said Nguyen Tuan Hiep from the Co Do Agriculture company.Over the last 20 years, Co Do -- which is state-run but a flagship model of how the industry could evolve -- has identified the best rice-growing land in the delta and helped farmers expand their farms.They now work with 2,500 families on 5,900 hectares of land, enough for each family to make a living -- typically the average rice farm in the delta spans less than one hectare.

The firm invests heavily in high-quality seeds and improving irrigation, while also advising farmers on the best chemicals to use."Two crops is more sustainable long term -- the soil is not degraded, the environment isn't polluted, and value of the rice increases," Hiep said.Climate change is another factor threatening the delta, according to the World Bank Group's vice president and special envoy for climate change Rachel Kyte."This is really ground zero for some of the most difficult adaptation, planning challenges that any country in the world has," she said.Ultimately, Vietnam has tough choices to make, including whether to help people transition from a rice-based economy to aquaculture or other crops, Kyte added.

The environmental costs of maintaining Vietnam's current level of rice production are also rising.The system of dykes, which blocks flood water, is preventing soil nutrients from flowing freely and over time "soil fertility will fade", said Tran Ngoc Thac, deputy director of Vietnam's Rice Research Institute.Scientists there are busy trying to breed new strains of rice that require fewer fertilisers and can survive in extreme weather."If farmers don't change, if we can't find a suitable new rice strain, pollution will continue and incomes will drop," Thac said, adding these measures were essential to save the delta

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Thailand occupies more than 60% of rice market in Hong Kong Tuesday, 05 May 2015By NNT

BANGKOK, 3 May 2015 - The Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department imported 49,900 tons of rice from Thailand in the first quarter 2015, a 48.9% increase compared to the same period last year. The higher rice exports to Hong Kong brought Thailand‘s rice exports to all markets to 62.2% in the first quarter 2015.Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce Duangkamon Chiambut said the Hong Kong Trade and Industry imported 80,400 tons of rice during the first three months this year, increasing by 0.75%.

Drop in Thai Hom Mali rice price and importers‘ higher confidence in Thai rice were important factors which led to the first quarter growth, the spokesperson added. The strengthening of relations between the Thai government and Hong Kong rice importers also helped Thai rice exports achieved a growth target of higher than 60%, she said.In 2013, Thailand exported 6.6 million tons of rice, worth 4.42 billion USD, worldwide. In 2014, Thai rice exports were 10.9 million tons or 5.34 billion USD. - See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/business/thailand-occupies-more-than-60-of-rice-market-in-hong-kong46816#sthash.CWJVkU3N.dpuf

Rice planting halted by frequent rains Posted by: For the MBJ in Agribusiness, NEWS May 1, 2015

Rice that has emerged looks very good, but it needs sunshine and warm weather to begin growing vigorously. This rice was photographed April 28, 2015, in Washington County, Mississippi. (Photo by Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station/Richard Turner) STARKVILLE — On paper, Mississippi‘s rice crop is right on schedule, with half the crop planted by late April, but the reality is that recent rains have left planting at a near standstill.In the Crop Progress and Condition Report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 49 percent of the state‘s rice was planted and 30 percent emerged by April 26.Those numbers are in line with the five-year average, but they do not tell the whole story, said Bobby Golden, an agronomist and researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Stoneville. Rice growers were able to get a lot done in a very short amount of time, but now soggy fields halt their progress. ―Early in the rice planting season, we had some very favorable weather in some strong ricegrowing areas,‖ Golden said. ―We got those areas planted, but the rest of the rice acres are waiting for the ground to dry enough for planting to resume, just like other row crops in the rest of the state.‖Rice planting began this year with a few acres planted the last week of March, but most were planted in the first two weeks of April. Much of the rice has emerged, and Golden said it looks very good. ―We‘re off to a better start as of April 28 than we were last year,‖ he said. ―The rice is up, but it needs some sunshine and warm weather to get it growing well.‖Rice benefits from early planting because it allows the crop to reach critical maturity stages before temperatures are too high, and the crop can be harvested before hurricane season threatens.Growers are now hoping for longer breaks in the rain so they can plant remaining acreage. Once rice is planted, growers will need dry weather again to apply fertilizer and postemergence herbicide before the fields are flooded. ―For the most part, on those rice acres that are up, the rains haven‘t delayed anything to date,‖ Golden said. ―But if rains don‘t end by early May, it will cause management problems, not unlike some of those we faced last year.‖USDA has predicted 211,000 rice acres in Mississippi this year, which would be up from the 191,000 planted in 2014. The state‘s rice acreage was 305,000 in 2010, but rice acreage dipped to a low of 125,000 in 2013. ―We‘re on pace to be where we were with acreage last year,‖ Golden said. ―I‘m not sure if we‘ll get the needed bump to go over 200,000 acres this year, but I have heard from a few growers who are getting back into rice after not producing a rice crop in the last several years.‖Brian Williams, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said May rice futures are trading for around $9.85 per hundredweight.―Prices have been trending lower since late March when they were at or slightly above $11,‖ Williams said. ―Rice is much lower than a year ago when May futures contracts were trading for $15.39 per hundredweight.‖ Despite lower prices, Mississippi‘s rice acreage is expected to increase slightly while the national acreage will be down, Williams said.―With prices of many of the state‘s other crops falling as well, rice becomes a more attractive alternative to Mississippi producers,‖ Williams said.

By Bonnie Coblentz MSU Ag Communications http://msbusiness.com/2015/05/rice-planting-halted-by-frequent-rains/

Bangladesh to send 100,000 tons rice for Nepal quake victims Last Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 12:10

Dhaka: Bangladesh will provide at least 100, 000 tons of rice and other relief materials including drinking water to help the earthquake victims in Nepal."We have decided to send around 50,000 metric tons of rice to Nepal and sufficient amount of water on emergency basis," Xinhua quoted Bangladeshi Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury as saying on Monday."We will send more 50,000 metric tons of rice and other relief materials later."Bangladeshi Food Minister Qamrul Islam has already been called for initiating an immediate measure in this regard, the agriculture minister said.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Bangladesh has been sending relief materials to Nepal regularly following the earthquake that killed at least 6,700 people so far, she said.Bangladesh wants to stand beside Nepal as it played an important role in favor of Bangladesh`s independence in 1971, Matia said.Meanwhile, four cargo trucks carrying approximately 25 metric tons of essential relief materials for earthquake victims in Nepal left Dhaka on Monday afternoon.The cargoes would travel through Banglabandh-Fulbari-Panitanki- Kakarbhitta land route.

The relief materials include 3000 cartons (12 metric tons) of dry food and fruit juice donated by local organisation Pran, and 5000 pieces of blankets donated by leading development organisation BRAC, according to a press release of the Nepalis embassy in Bangladesh.Some of the materials were donated by various private companies, charitable organisations and educational institutions and others were collected

by Nepalis and Bangladeshi volunteers.

IANS

Weed scientists offer new definition for 'superweed' Posted: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 12:00 am

On April 28 the Weed Science Society of America joined with six sister organizations to recommend a new definition for ―superweed‖—a catchall term used by many to describe weeds that are perceived to be more invasive and to grow more aggressively after developing resistance to herbicides.Use of superweed has snowballed in recent years, along with considerable misinformation that isn‘t supported by scientific facts. Most online dictionaries, for example, associate superweeds with herbicide resistance caused by the suspected transfer of resistance genes from crops to weeds.

To date, there is no scientific evidence to indicate that crop to weed gene transfer is contributing to the herbicide resistance issues faced by farmers.―Since superweed is now clearly part of the public vernacular, we decided to offer a definition that more clearly reflects the true source of herbicide resistance,‖ says Lee Van Wychen, Ph.D., WSSA science policy director.The sciencebased definition developed by WSSA focuses on the ability of weeds to develop resistance to virtually any treatment method that is used repeatedly—and exclusively.

Superweed—Slang used to describe a weed that has evolved characteristics that make it more difficult to manage due to repeated use of the same management tactic. Over-dependence on a single tactic as opposed to using diverse approaches can lead to such adaptations.The most common use of the slang refers to a weed that has become resistant to one or more herbicide mechanisms of action due to their repeated use in the absence of more diverse control measures.

Dependence on a single mechanical, biological, or cultural management tactic has led to similar adaptations (e.g., hand-weeded barnyardgrass mimicking rice morphology, dandelion seed production in a regularly mowed lawn, knapweed resiliency to gall fly biocontrol).

Two common misconceptions about a superweed are that they are the result of gene transfer from genetically altered crops and that they have superior competitive characteristics. Both of these myths have been addressed by the Weed Science Society of America at www.wssa.net/weed/wssa-fact-sheets. WSSA has also created a variety of free educational

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine materials and recommendations concerning herbicide resistance and how to avoid it, available at www.wssa.net/weed/resistance.

Though the term superweed is most often associated with weeds resistant to one or more herbicides, scientists point out that resistance can result from overdependence on mechanical, biological or cultural management tactics as well. Repeated hand-weeding of barnyardgrass growing in rice fields, for example, has led to weeds that escape control by mimicking the appearance of rice plants. Similarly, spotted knapweed has become increasingly resilient to the gall flies used repeatedly as a biological control. Even dandelions growing in a regularly mowed lawn can evolve to avoid the mower, produce seeds and spread.WSSA‘s new definition has been endorsed by the Aquatic Plant Management Society, Canadian Weed Science Society, North Central Weed Science Society, Northeastern Weed Science Society, Southern Weed Science Society and the Western Society of Weed Science.

The Weed Science Society of America, a nonprofit scientific society, was founded in 1956 to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment. The Society promotes research, education and extension outreach activities related to weeds, provides science-based information to the public and policy makers, fosters awareness of weeds and their impact on managed and natural ecosystems, and promotes cooperation among weed science organizations across the nation and around the world. For more information, visit www.wssa.net.

$5.5M NSF grant aims to improve rice crops with genome editing ByKrishna Ramanujan A new project will harness the power of genome editing – a technique that allows researchers to precisely target, cut, remove and replace DNA in a living cell – to improve rice, a staple crop that feeds half the world‘s people.The project, led by Cornell researchers and funded by a four-year, $5.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant as of May 1, will serve in part as proof of principle that genome editing can be used to address quantitative traits. These are traits, such as height or yield, that are expressed to varying degrees in different individuals. Very little is known about quantitative traits, as they require complex orchestration of many genes.

Scientists are also in a race against time to double the production of cereal crops on limited arable land by 2050, when the global population could reach 9.5 billion.The editing technique will focus on such quantitative traits in rice as disease resistance and tolerance to acidic soils. Acidic soils hinder crop growth in 40 percent of the world‘s arable land, according to Cornell researchers.―We have the ability to open the genome like a book, go to a certain chapter and a specific word and change the word or correct its spelling,‖ said lead scientist Adam Bogdanove, where words are the DNA sequences that make up genes. Bogdanove, a professor of plant pathology and plant-microbe biology, is principal investigator of the NSF grant and a co-creator of TALENs, a key molecular tool used in genome editing. www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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The researchers already have identified particular stretches of DNA as candidates for the quantitative traits of interest, Bogdanove said.

While geneticists have made many advances in DNA sequencing, one grand challenge is defining the specific functions of each DNA sequence. Statistical analyses can determine whether particular stretches of DNA correlate with this or that trait, but the task remains to directly test whether a sequence in fact causes or contributes to a particular trait. That‘s where genome editing comes in.―We can test the hypothesis that these DNA sequences are important, and use them for crop improvement,‖ Bogdanove said. Traditional breeding is exceedingly difficult with quantitative traits that are linked to many genes. ―Now, we don‘t have to do years of breeding; we can just make the precise changes needed in a few short steps.‖

For their work, the researchers will use a newly released dataset for 3,000 rice genomes, and they will test DNA sequences from this set and other rice genomes that are associated with beneficial traits.

Rice geneticist Susan McCouch, a co-PI on the project, has been a key contributor to the rice genome dataset.Along with developing a new system that employs genome editing for plant breeding, the researchers also hope to develop new lines of rice that breeders could use to address diseases and acid soils.

Additionally, the project team will develop related educational materials for middle and high school students and undergraduates, provide genome editing training workshops for plant biologists, and continually update a public project website, RiceDiversity.org.The researchers are careful to note that genome editing should not be confused with genetic engineering; genome editing entails making precise changes, whereas genetic engineering is ―akin to inserting a particular sentence somewhere at random into the book,‖ Bogdanove said.

Other co-PIs include Jan Leach, professor of bioagricultural sciences and pest management at Colorado State University; Erin Doyle, assistant professor of biology at Doane College; and Daniel Voytas, professor of genetics, cell biology and development at the University of Minnesota. Other Cornell team members include Jason Mezey, associate professor of biological statistics and computational biology, and Stefan Einarson, director of transnational learning. http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2015/05/55m-grant-aims-improve-rice-crops-genome-editing

Banaue rice terraces, the ‗heirloom rice‘ project, and community development in the Cordilleras

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine CROSSROADS (Toward Philippine Economic and Social Progress) By Gerardo P. Sicat (The Philippine Star) | Updated May 6, 2015 - 12:00am How do we interrelate the safekeeping of the works of famed painter – Vicente Manansala the National Artist – with the continued survival of our unique rice terraces as living monuments of mountain rice growing?

Philippine art, cultural history, rice farming and biology converge. The answer to this question will be partly answered on May 14, 2015. A program jointly sponsored by the National Museum, the Department of Agriculture and the IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) will feature the formal recognition of two landmark murals, originally undertaken by Manansala for the IRRI, as ―National Cultural Treasures‖ at the National Museum.Along with this event, there will be a presentation of scientific efforts to conserve and further develop heirloom rice varieties from the Cordilleras. Called the Heirloom Rice Project, this project of the IRRI is also heavily supported by the Department of Agriculture and by the PhilRice (Philippines Rice Research Institute).

The dictionary defines ―heirloom‖ as any valuable or interesting possession that is handed down from generation to generation. Heirloom rice varieties are those varieties of rice that have been grown indigenously by farmers over generations.The Heirloom Rice Project is a program that is focused on the planting and conservation of these rice varieties to improve the livelihoods of upland farmers of the Cordilleras. Several of Metro Manila‘s leading chefs will demonstrate their dishes using heirloom rice during the dinner part of the program.

The guests for this event include selected members of the Cabinet, the diplomatic corps, the friends of Manansala, as well as other partners and patrons of the arts. In attendance also will be some of the rice farmers of the Banaue rice terraces, key scientists of the IRRI, the PhilRice and trustees of these institutions and the National Museum.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 My essay today is a tribute to this important occasion as well as a statement of great regret at missing it as it coincides with my long summer road trip to the provinces of Mindanao via Luzon and the Visayas.I learned much about this project by reading a recent issue of Rice Today (published by IRRI, Oct.-Dec., 2014)), admiring a wall calendar picture of heirloom rice varieties (also produced by IRRI for 2015), and accessing the Internet site, www.heirloomrice.com.

Our heirloom rice varieties are vanishing and it is time to arrest and conserve those that we still have. The Department of Agriculture‘s (DA‘s) latest listing of heirloom rice varieties of the Cordilleras reveals that many of them are no longer being grown by farmers.Almost a decade ago, there were around 300 heirloom rice varieties grown in the Cordillera region (that included Abra, Kalinga, Ifugao and Mountain Province). The latest survey undertaken – in 2009 – shows a noticeable and dangerous decline in the planting of these indigenous rice varieties.

Many farmers have shifted to foreign varieties that are known for higher productivity and shorter growing period that are adaptable to mountain conditions. Such foreign rice varieties have higher yields and have shorter growing period compared to the heirloom native varieties.But there are some major ―losses‖

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine incurred as a result of their displacement in farming. For one, there are many properties of heirloom rice that need fuller appreciation.

The heirloom varieties are exotic and aromatic and the grains contain richer nutrients for health. Thus, they have unique health qualities that need to be understood and preserved.To the old folks of the Cordilleras who ate these rice varieties, it served as complete meals most days of the year. It helped keep them healthy. The different varieties were multiple energy foods in themselves. Today‘s younger people are more susceptible to diabetes and other food-related diseases.

These heirloom rice varieties are strongly connected to the mountain environment. Thus, they sustain a healthy ecological balance within that agricultural setting. Their disappearance could mean a loss of biodiversity that has been part of the cropping patterns of agriculture in the mountains.An important development for the retention and continued planting of native rice varieties has to be found. One avenue for this is to anchor it toward a sustainable economic reason for their cultivation. Finding commercial possibilities and creating a permanent demand for them is critical for their survival as sources of food.

Such an approach also contributes toward strengthening natural resource management in the mountains, specifically the preservation of the watersheds via biodiversity. In doing so, it could protect farming in rice terraces and enhance tourism based on them.Brief history of the heirloom rice project. The trick could be to develop programs and activities that heighten the demand for heirloom rice varieties as a niche market. This is a commercial approach that promise lasting contribution also to community development in the Cordilleras.

Pioneering developmental work to create a commercial market for Cordillera heirloom rice varieties in the US could be traced to Ms. Mary Hensley. She is a former US Peace Corps volunteer who was assigned in that region and who was much impressed by her personal experience. There is also a Filipina community worker, Ms. Victoria Garcia. Together, they forged a collaborative work that began in 2004.

This pioneering work attracted more attention and support among civic groups, local government executives, government institutions and also the IRRI. The market possibilities for heirloom rice also attracted attention from the Department of Agriculture.Today, both women are still part of the Heirloom Rice Project. An IRRI scientist, Dr. Casiana Vera Cruz, another woman, is overall leader of the project.

The project is multi-faceted. One of these is to ―systematically characterize traditional varieties of the Cordilleras and conserve them‖ for posterity and future use.

Another facet is that the project could serve as an instrument to pool support for a common goal. Thus government agencies, local government units, state colleges and universities, farmers‘ groups, and private entities all stand to learn from the experience in creating and strengthening the value chain work for the rice growing industry for heirloom varieties.Success of this project will improve incomes of rice farmers in the Cordilleras. It will create incentives to preserve the rice terraces for continued farming so that they continue to serve as living monuments of rice growing culture, Philippine style.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine My email is: gpsicat@gmail.com. Visit this site for more information, eedback and commentary: http://econ.upd.edu.ph/gpsicat/

http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/05/06/1451565/banaue-rice-terraces-heirloom-rice-project-andcommunity-development#sthash.FkxxalaH.dpuf

Thai researchers successful in producing aromatic popped rice Wednesday, 06 May 2015By NNT BANGKOK, 5 May 2015 - Success of Thai researchers in improving popped rice as container of essential oil could add high value to the normal rice karnels, Asst.Prof.Sanong Ekgasit, a researcher from Chulalongkorn University revealed.Asst.Prof.Sanong said the internal porous structure of the rice kernels provides higher capacity to keep essential oils inside and gradually release their aromas for three months. When the oils run out, the popped rice can naturally biodegradable with no harms to the environment.

The aromatic popped rice is now sold in ready-to-use packets which can be placed at different places such as wardrobes and cars. Researchers have plans to add a wider range of essential oils into the popped rice, hoping to meet different tastes of customers.The innovation and development of the aromatic popped rice are supported by the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand. It is selected to be one of Thai innovations to be displayed at the 26th International Invention and innovation Exhibition 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during 21-23 May. http://www.pattayamail.com/business/thai-researchers-successful-in-producing-aromatic-popped-rice46840#sthash.HFIg102r.dpuf

Thailand Registers 48.9 Percent Rise in Rice Imports to Hong Kong in Q1 5/5/2015

South East Asian News (India)

BANGKOK, May 5 -- According to recent statistics, in the first quarter of the current year, Thailand exported 49,900 tons of rice to the Hong Kong Trade and Industry Department, which is a 48.9 percent augmentation as compared to the corresponding period in 2014.Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce stated that in the first three months of this year, the Hong Kong Trade and Industry imported 80,400 tons of rice, which was a 0.75 percent rise. She further said that a decline in rates of Thai Hom Mali rice coupled with a boost in importers'confidence in country's rice were major aspects that resulted in rise in exports.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine She added that a boost in ties between both government of Thailand and Hong Kong rice importers was also a significant factor, which led to the growth in exports.Published by HT Syndication with permission from South East Asian News. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2356609323

Nigeria's Agric. Minister Adesina' Enmeshed in N35bn Rice Import Duty 'Fraud' Discussion in 'Business News' started by Lequte, Yesterday at 9:38 AM. Nigeria - Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has been summoned by the House of Reps. or failing to appear in respect of an ongoing investigation into an alleged rice import duty evasion by some importers in the country, Punch reports.Reports say some of the importers exceeded their import quotas and did not pay duties of over N35bn under a Federal Government import policy targeted at encouraging local production of rice.Chairman of the ad hoc committee investigating the alleged ―fraud,‖ Mr. Leo Ogor, expressed surprise that the minister shunned the hearing in spite of being duly invited.According to him, the hearing was mandated by the House to investigate alleged fraud, abuses, evasion of import duties by rice importers. ―You are a servant of the people just like we all are. What we are doing here is for the benefit of our nation‘s economy. Before the end of the hearing, we are hoping to see people from the ministry come in, otherwise we may be forced to make some very strong pronouncements.‖The committee said complaints reaching it indicated that the minister facilitated the non-payment of the duties for the affected importers and raised questions on the powers of the minister to grant such duty exemptions.One of the beneficiaries, Olam Farms Limited, claimed that it was never aware of a government directive that it was expected to pay duties for exceeding its import quota but accepted to pay outstanding dues.The company‘s Business Development Head, Mr. Anil Nair, added that as a major stakeholder in the sector, his firm was aware of the rules and could not have deliberately breached any http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/threads/nigerias-agric-minister-adesina-enmeshed-in-n35bn-rice-importduty-fraud.111284/

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Restricting cheaper rice imports Rahman Jahangir Rice forms the very foundation of food security in Bangladesh as the Bangalees will continue to eat rice as a staple in the decades ahead as they did since time immemorial. Even in villages today, farmers, who toil day and night, like to take three meals of rice a day. Various kinds of cakes are still being made out of rice.But then experts have warned, any distortion in rice prices in the country due to losses farmers incur will not only drive farmers from cultivating paddy to other lucrative vocations but also pose a serious threat to food security in the long run. Although the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has predicted good rice harvests in 2015 and 2016, it is still unpredictable as to whether such harvests could be sustained as paddy cultivation is highly dependent on vagaries of nature.

Huge imports of cheaper rice from neighbouring India by the private sector into the country have already made paddy cultivation uneconomic in terms of prices. It was found that imported rice cost 20-25 per cent less than that of local rice. For example, import cost of Swarna variety is Tk 22.5 to Tk 24.5 for a kilogram when it is Tk 27 to Tk 29 for the local variety.And millers have done what they are bound to do in an open market operation. About 60 per cent of them stopped milling rice in the Aman season.

Official statistics show, private importers brought in 1.3 million tonnes of rice from India in July-April period of this financial year (FY'15) when overall import was 0.374 million tonnes in FY'14.Realising the gravity of the situation, the ministry of food has already asked the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to impose duty on rice imports to protect the farmers from price debacle. But then the NBR is yet to rise to the occasion.

On the other hand, thanks to timely distribution of seed and fertilizer, favourable weather and uninterrupted supply of electricity, the production of paddy, particularly Aman and Aus, is set to increase in the current fiscal year. The rise is predicted despite a fall in harvesting area. Aman production of financial year 2014-15 has been estimated around 14 million metric tons, an increase of 1.3 per cent compared with 13 million metric tons in the same period a year earlier, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). During the period, Aus production has been estimated at 232.8 million metric tons, which is 0.08 per cent higher over the last year despite declining harvesting area by 0.6 per cent.

The NBR should take a quick decision on imposition of import duties on cheaper rice imports temporarily. This is because farmers do not know what the NBR is or what duties mean. They care about prices their produces fetch in local markets and accordingly take decisions on cropping. arjayster@gmail.com http://thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/05/06/91511

Import of Indian rice affects local production 700 of 850 rice mills in Pabna halt operation

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Commercial husking in the famous rice producing district sees drastic fall for the last couple of months amid large-scale import of cheap Indian rice. ―Over 700 of the 850 rice mills in the district have already suspended production due to poor sale of local rice. More than 10,000 workers have become jobless due to the situation,‖ said Idris Ali Biswas, president of Pabna rice millers association. ―During the first three months of this year, BNP-led 20 party's non-stop blockade hampered rice production. Now relief from the blockade fails to make us happy as import of cheap Indian rice continues,‖ he said.Each 50-kg bag of imported Indian rice is selling for Tk 1500 to Tk 1700 while one has to pay Tk 1750 to 2000 for the same variety of local rice, stakeholders said, adding that at retail level, imported coarse rice and similar local variety are selling at Tk 28-29 and Tk 35-36 per kg respectively. ―I kept my two mills closed from last February due to the poor sale of local rice. Still I have to pay Tk 50 thousand per month as rent for two mills. Besides, I am spending Tk 40 to 50 thousand as labour payment and electric bills. To recover the loss, I am now using the rice mills for corn processing to sell it as poultry feed,‖ said Anwar Hossain Nantu, a rice miller of Joynagar village in Ishwardi upazila. The upazila alone has 650 rice mills, over 500 of which are now out of production due to poor demand of local rice, said Fazlur Rahman Malitha, president of Ishwardi Rice Producers' Association.Rice millers have appealed to the government to stop importing Indian rice to save commercial rice production industry in the district. http://www.thedailystar.net/country/import-indian-rice-affects-local-production-80652

Nigeria: Represntatives Threaten Adesina Over Alleged Rice Import Duty Waiver

By Terhemba Daka

Abuja — Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan ; his wife, Roli; Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina; Chairman, Innoson Motors, Innocent Chukwuma and Chairman, Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, during the 2014 Silverbird Man of the Year award in Lagos at the weekendTHE ad-hoc committee set up by the House of Representatives to look into the alleged fraud and evasion of rice import duties and levies by importers has threatened to sanction the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for shunning an invitation to appear before the panel's investigative hearing yesterday.

Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, gave the indication in Abuja yesterday after stakeholders accused the Ministry with regards to the administration of government policy on rice importation and payable duties/levies on import quota by investors.Ogor, in his opening address declared that, "this hearing was sequel to a resolution of the House mandating the ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged fraud abuses and evasion of import duties by rice importers." http://allafrica.com/stories/201505051260.html

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PARC introduces 11 new high-yielding rice varieties May 04, 2015

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) approved eleven new high-yielding rice varieties including seven (7) hybrid and four (4) Open-Pollinated (OP) seed for cultivation in various ecologies. The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) on Rice was held here at PARC headquarters under the Chairmanship of Member Plant Sciences Division, Dr. Muhammad Shahid Masood.In total nineteen (19) rice varieties were presented before the VEC including 14 hybrid and 5 OP varieties, out of which 11 were approved and 8 rejected due to Bacterial-Leaf-Blight (BLB) disease susceptibility and poor grain quality performance.

The approved varieties have been recommended to National Seed Council.Details show that the hybrid varieties approved by the VEC have yield potential up to 92 mound per acre whereas the OP rice varieties have potential to produce much yield than the existing IRRI-6 and KSK-133 varieties.The OP varieties have been developed from the Green Super Rice (GSR) germ-plasm provided by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) Philippines to PARC and National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE).These OP varieties have high yield potential and also submergence, salinity and water stress tolerance characters.

"With the addition of new recommended hybrids of rice in the national system of the country, it is expected that there will be a significant improvement in rice production in Pakistan," Dr. M. Shahid Masood Chairman VET said.He appreciated role of the stakeholders for taking interest in rice research and development and working in close collaboration with the public sector.The VEC meeting, among others, was attended by twenty technical members of the committee from National Agriculture Research System (NARS) of the country including rice breeders, agronomists, entomologists, pathologists, seed experts, policy-makers, private seed companies' representatives and provincial seed cooperation representatives. http://nation.com.pk/business/04-May-2015/parc-introduces-11-new-high-yielding-rice-varieties

Filipino heirloom rice part of Spanish festival Monday, 04 May 2015 12:09 The Philippines’ heirloom rice, inherently unique in its natural features and quality, was featured at the Madrid Fusion Manila (MFM), Spain, in April 2015 In the Philippines, heirloom rice varieties are grown in CAR and certain regions of Mindanao such as the Arakan Valley Complex and Lake Sebu in Cotabato. (Image source: IRRI)

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Heirloom Rice Project (HRP) project leader Casiana Vera Cruz said, ―Heirloom rice is in high demand in the export market and is now being promoted locally as an important and exceptional ingredient in Filipino cuisine.―More importantly, it is grown by farmers in highland communities, mostly in marginal environments.‖The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is funding the HRP as part of its bigger efforts to provide holistic support to increasing rice productivity in the Philippines to help heirloom rice farmers harvest more while making sure that the traditions attached to the production of these special rice varieties is preserved.

Studies have shown that heirloom rice has high nutritional value compared with common rice varieties. HRP also seeks to secure a geographical indication (GI) tag for Philippines heirloom rice.Some 20 heirloom rice varieties from four provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) — Kalinga, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao — were showcased in the exhibition held from 24-26 April as well as in the food tasting and ‗food tunnel‘ sessions of the event.In the food tasting session, varieties ominio, ingud-pur, minaangan, kalinga jekotandtinawon were introduced. These varieties were transformed into culinary specialities by renowned Filipino chefs Amy Besa, Robby Goco, and Jessie Sincioco in dishes served during the food tunnel sessions.The HRP is being implemented by DA-CAR regional office, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the DA-Philippine Rice Research Institute. http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5663:fil ipino-heirloom-rice-part-of-spanish-festival&catid=1083&Itemid=98

GenSan studies ‘half-rice’ ordinance to reduce wastage ByMindanewson May 5 2015 5:30 pm GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/05 May) — The city council has launched a series of consultations for a proposed ordinance that seeks the inclusion of half-cup serving of rice or ―half-rice‖ in the menus of food establishments within the city.Vice Mayor Shirlyn L. BañasNograles said the council‘s committee on trade, commerce and industry, is currently studying the provisions of the measure that also aims to set the ―half-rice‖ as the default serving in restaurants and other related establishments in the area.She said the move is in line with the national government‘s ―Be RICEponsible‖ campaign that calls for responsible rice consumption.―Our main goal is to help reduce rice wastage at the consumer level in the city,‖ said Nograles, author of the proposed ordinance.

The proposed measure requires all food service establishments in the city to include and display the half-cup rice serving in their regular menus, with the price set at exactly half of the regular one cup serving.A half-cup rice serving refers to one-half cup of the regular serving of cooked www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine rice or not more than 80 grams.It specifically covers businesses and institutions in the city that are engaged in the preparation of plated, packed or combo meals for a fee.These include restaurants; school, office and hospital cafeterias; catering establishments; canteens, eateries, fast-food chains and other similar establishments.―Food establishments are mandated to make the one-half cup of rice as the default serving for packed and combo meals as well as plated caterings,‖ it said.Nograles said the proposed ordinance included penalties for establishments that would fail to implement its provisions.

She said a fine of P1,000 was set for the first offense, P2,000 for the second offense and P3,000 and cancellation of business permit for the third and succeeding offenses.In 2008, several fast food chains started offering ―half-rice‖ serving in response to the national government‘s call then to conserve the country‘s staple food.Studies made by the Philippine Rice Research Institute showed that Filipinos waste an average of two tablespoons of cooked rice or 9 grams of uncooked rice on a daily basis.The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology also said each Filipino reportedly waste an average of 3.29 kilos of rice every year.Such wastage reaches around 296,869 metric tons or around P8 billion in terms of value. (MindaNews) http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/05/05/gensan-studies-half-rice-ordinance-to-reduce-wastage/

Green revolution wheat,rice varieties not drought resistant' New Delhi May 4, 2015 Last Updated at 18:42 IST

Varieties of wheat and rice introduced during green revolution period are not resistant to drought and flood situation, agri-research body ICAR has said. Replying to an RTI application, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) said that the green revolution varieties give better yield only when such crops are provided with abundant water along with fertiliser. With the changing climate, the temperature is rising across the globe which is adversely affecting the wheat production, the government research body said. "Green revolution varieties of wheat and rice gives better yield only in case of abundant water and fertiliser, while these varieties don't have the ability to bear drought and flood situation," ICAR said in the reply.

ICAR said that from last few years scientists have been developing seeds that are drought and climate resilient to meet these challenges. Besides wheat, the research for such drought and flood resilient seeds have also been done for tomato and split red gram (arhar dal). For the current crop year (July-June), government has estimated wheat production at 95.76 million tonnes. But due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms the production is estimated to decline by 4-5 per cent. The Green Revolution in India began in the late 1960s with the introduction of high-yield crop varieties and application of modern agri-techniques. http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/green-revolution-wheat-rice-varieties-not-droughtresistant-115050400710_1.html

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

APEDA India News International Benchmark Price Price on: 01-05-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

5850

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

4375

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3425

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

Apricots

Garlic

Ginger

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 05-05-2015 Domestic Prices

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

3200

3400

Rice

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 2

Bargarh (Orissa)

Other

2200

2400

3

Taliamura (Tripura)

Other

2500

2700

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1200

1760

2

Chakulia (Jharkhand )

Other

1820

2010

3

Aklera(Rajasthan)

Other

1360

1550

1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

1600

1900

2

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

1500

1800

3

Kashipur(Uttrakhand)

Other

800

900

1

Nilagiri (Orissa)

Other

1700

1900

2

Bilga (Punjab)

Other

1500

1500

3

Kharupetia(Assam)

Other

1000

1200

Wheat

Papaya

Carrot

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No

Price on 04-05-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

288

2

Chittoor

303

3

Hyderabad

248

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 04-05-2015

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Onions Dry

High Package: 50 lb sacks

1

Atlanta

Mexico

Yellow

22

24.50

2

Baltimore

California

Yellow

21

21

3

Detroit

Michigan

Yellow

7

9

Cucumbers

Package: cartons film wrapped

1

Atlanta

Canada

Long Seedless

9.50

12

2

Detroit

Canada

Long Seedless

8

10

3

Miami

Mexico

Long Seedless

11

12

Grapefruit

Package: 4/5 bushel cartons

1

Atlanta

Florida

Red

16

16

2

Chicago

Florida

Red

14.50

16

3

Miami

Florida

Red

13

13

Source:USDA

Green revolution wheat, rice varieties not drought resistant: ICAR

By PTI | 4 May, 2015, 07.41PM IST

ICAR said that from last few years scientists have been developing seeds that are drought and climate resilient to meet these challenges.NEW DELHI: Varieties of wheat and riceintroduced during green revolution period are not resistant to drought and flood situation, agri-research body ICAR has said. Replying to an RTI application, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) said that the green revolution varieties give better yield only when such crops are provided with abundant water along with fertiliser. With the changing climate, the temperature is rising across the globe which is adversely affecting the wheat production, the government research body said. "Green revolution varieties of wheat and rice gives better yield

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine only in case of abundant water and fertiliser, while these varieties don't have the ability to bear drought and flood situation," ICAR said in the reply. ICAR said that from last few years scientists have been developing seeds that are drought and climate resilient to meet these challenges. Besides wheat, the research for such drought and flood resilient seeds have also been done for tomato and split red gram (arhar dal). For the current crop year (JulyJune), government has estimated wheat production at 95.76 million tonnes. But due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms the production is estimated to decline by 4-5 per cent. The Green Revolution in India began in the late 1960s with the introduction of high-yield crop varieties and application of modern agri-techniques http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/green-revolution-wheat-ricevarieties-not-drought-resistant-icar/articleshow/47151568.cms

APEDA India News International Benchmark Price Price on: 01-05-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

5850

2

Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)

4375

3

Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)

3425

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

Apricots

Garlic

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Ginger 1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 05-05-2015 Domestic Prices

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Product

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

3200

3400

2

Bargarh (Orissa)

Other

2200

2400

3

Taliamura (Tripura)

Other

2500

2700

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1200

1760

2

Chakulia (Jharkhand )

Other

1820

2010

3

Aklera(Rajasthan)

Other

1360

1550

1

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

1600

1900

2

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

1500

1800

3

Kashipur(Uttrakhand)

Other

800

900

1

Nilagiri (Orissa)

Other

1700

1900

2

Bilga (Punjab)

Other

1500

1500

3

Kharupetia(Assam)

Other

1000

1200

Rice

Wheat

Papaya

Carrot

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No

Price on 04-05-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Pune

288

2

Chittoor

303

3

Hyderabad

248

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package

Price on 04-05-2015 Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Onions Dry

High Package: 50 lb sacks

1

Atlanta

Mexico

Yellow

22

24.50

2

Baltimore

California

Yellow

21

21

3

Detroit

Michigan

Yellow

7

9

Cucumbers

Package: cartons film wrapped

1

Atlanta

Canada

Long Seedless

9.50

12

2

Detroit

Canada

Long Seedless

8

10

3

Miami

Mexico

Long Seedless

11

12

Grapefruit

Package: 4/5 bushel cartons

1

Atlanta

Florida

Red

16

16

2

Chicago

Florida

Red

14.50

16

3

Miami

Florida

Red

13

13

Source:USDA

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Seed associations of Bangladesh, India sign trade agreement May 05, 2015

Seed associations of Bangladesh and India have inked a pact to facilitate traders of both nations to increase business in highyielding varieties of rice seeds, think-tank CUTS international said today.The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Bangladesh Seeds Association and the National Seed Association of India here.This MoU will facilitate traders, exporters and importers of both the countries to initiate the cross-border trade in highyielding varieties of rice seeds."It will also enable a favourable environment for knowledgesharing in such seeds production and trade," CUTS said in a statement.It added that the move would help in ensuring greater cooperation in agriculture sector between both the neighbours.

High quality seeds produced in one country, it said, should be expeditiously made available for cultivation in neighbouring countries having similar agro-climatic conditions so that farmers in the region are benefited from the varieties."In Bangladesh and India, serious problem with regard to making variety rice seeds available and accessible to farmers is noticed."Significant gap exists between demand and supplies of most-desired and adaptable varieties. Increased cooperation between the two countries can significantly improve the situation," it added.The bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh stood at USD 6.65 billion in 2013-14. http://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/news/Newssearch.aspx?newsid=19918&Date=05May2015

Spring 2015 Issue of USA Rice's Whole Grain Delivers Sneak preview ARLINGTON, VA -- The next issue of USA Rice's Whole Grain tabloid newspaper hits the streets -- and your mailbox -- next week! And while our circulation is extensive at 21,000+, we ordered extra copies for distribution to places like mills, offices, and favorite local watering holes as a way to expand our reach. We welcome your suggestions for appropriate showcases for the Whole Grain, and please let us know if you would like extra copies to distribute in your area.

Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444

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New University of Arkansas Rice Pocket Guides Now Available STUTTGART, AR -- The University of Arkansas has developed an Arkansas Rice Pocket Guide for rice producers to provide brief and specific recommendations for rice production in Arkansas.

"This is a supplement to the Arkansas Rice Production Handbook, which provides more detailed information and support for recommendations," said Dr. Jarrod Hardke, University of Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist.

"The Pocket Guide, on the other hand, is designed to serve as a quick reference guide for recommendations with pictures, tables, and bullets for management decisions." Rice Pocket Guides are available from local County Extension offices, or they can be ordered directly from the UofA Extension webpage at: http://pubs.uaex.edu/pubsWebuser.asp and searching for Rice Pocket Guide.

Another option is to be downloaded directly in PDF format: http://www.uaex.edu/publications/mp-533.aspx.

Contact: Chuck Wilson (870) 673-7541

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 5 Month Price

Net Change

May 2015

$9.720 - $0.130

July 2015

$9.975 - $0.130

September 2015$10.245- $0.130 November 2015 $10.495- $0.130 January 2016

$10.730- $0.145

March 2016

$10.780- $0.145

May 2016

$10.780- $0.145

France delegation promotes Native products Monday, May 04 2015 Written by Jon Lurie,

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The idea of becoming a Native American trade ambassador came to Diane Gorney during one of her recent excursions to France. ―Walking down the streets in Paris people kept coming up and offering to buy the jewelry right off of me,‖ says the Minneapolis resident and White Earth descendant.Gorney refused to sell the stunning beaded earrings, necklaces and bracelets she had purchased from Ojibwe artists back home. From those interactions, however, she came to understand the appetite French people have for all things Native American. In their hunger Gorney saw an opportunity to help her Ojibwe people.

She investigated the availability of American Indian items such as traditional art and jewelry, and hand-harvested Minnesota wild rice.The ―Native American art‖ Gorney found in Parisian shops was of poor quality and manufactured in China. Gorney‘s search for wild rice led her across the French capital. French cookbooks and menus frequently reference an ingredient called ―riz sauvage (translation: wild rice),‖ so Gorney was mystified when she couldn‘t find it in stores. Finally, at an obscure kosher market, Gorney ran across riz sauvage, but found the product nothing like the natural cereal grain which flourishes upon Minnesota‘s northern waters.The graphic on the packaging of France‘s leading brand of riz sauvage, Tilda Giant Wild Rice, lends the impression the black rice is harvested by Native Americans. Its box cover contains an image of two American Indians poling a birch bark canoe through a wild rice bed. But a closer look reveals the truth: the product marketed in France as Native American wild rice is actually Indonesian, paddy-cultivated, black basmati rice, packaged and distributed by a Britain-based food brand selling in over 50 countries.

Gorney, a former art teacher, soon returned to Paris with a suitcase full of White Earth wild rice. She handed out one-pound bags to chefs and others whom she hoped would spread the word about the nutritious, delicious and sacred grain. ―I wanted them to share, but people loved it so much they kept it for themselves. So my efforts were dead on arrival.‖Back in Minnesota, Gorney converted her frustration into action, assembling a team to open the French market to Native American goods from Minnesota. As this issue of The Circle went to press in late April, Gorney and her delegation were departing for Paris where they were scheduled to meet with trade officials at the U.S. Embassy and promote Native goods from Minnesota at one of France‘s largest provincial fairs, the Foire de Tours. ―I just want to get Minnesota Native arts and wild rice sold in France,‖ Gorney said. ―It seems very logical for these to be available there. If we are successful, it will mean access to real arts and wild rice for the French, and more money for our people on the rez.‖Greg Bellanger, a member of the White Earth Nation and owner of Northland Visions: Native American Fine Art and Gifts from the Northland (1113 East Franklin Ave., Minneapolis), is a participant in the trade delegation. He says his efforts are motivated by a desire to ―create a greater demand for Minnesota Native goods, so that we can increase the number of tribal members able to make a living as artists and traditional wild rice harvesters.‖ When his father, Ken Bellanger, opened the store in 2000, he sold 500 pounds of Wild Rice in the first 12 months, which he purchased directly from White Earth and Leech Lake band citizens. Today, Northland Visions sells over 3,000 pounds of Native-harvested Minnesota wild rice annually. Despite the increasing demand, Greg Bellanger www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine says there is plenty more wild rice available. ―A ton of rice is left behind at the end of each season. My people at White Earth and Leech Lake are capable of harvesting as much rice as we will need.‖Bellanger doesn‘t anticipate selling anything on the initial trip. He‘s only carrying wild rice samples and photographs that represent available artworks. ―This trip is all about relationship building,‖ he said. ―We‘re going there to meet and greet, shake hands, have dinner and get to know each other. That‘s the way the French do business.‖Bellanger expects the wild rice to practically sell itself. ―We‘re going to stress the fact that each rice harvest is limited edition. It can only be harvested once a year. It can only be cultivated in this part of the world. And we only sell hand harvested rice from tribal members. Which, when people understand this, adds to the value of the product. It is also completely wild organic,‖ he said. ―Our biggest challenge will be marketing, making the French public aware that what we‘re offering is not the same as riz sauvage,‖ Mike O‘Dell, the delegation‘s export management director, said. To avoid confusion, O‘Dell said the trade group plans to present Minnesota wild rice by its Ojibwe name, manomin (―good berry‖).O‘Dell, who has a master‘s degree in international marketing, spent eight years living in France and speaks fluent French, says the question the delegation will be asking is ―Why haven‘t efforts to sell manomin in France and other European markets succeeded in the past.‖ O‘Dell believes one reason is the two-year tribal government election cycle. ―Any efforts that have been initiated have been abandoned with changes in leadership. There has been no consistency driving an export program.‖ O‘Dell believes, however, that this delegation has the right mixture of passion and expertise to make wild rice a staple of the French table.―My French friends are very excited. The French love all things Native American. They also love high quality food. Minnesota Native, handharvested, and fire roasted manomin has the potential to become very popular is France. We hope it will find a lasting place among the many other luxury food items the French love to use in their cuisine,‖ O‘Dell said.PHOTO: Greg Bellanger, Diane Gorney, Mike O'Dell constitute a delegation of Ojibwe entrepreneurs who are meeting with trade officials at the French U.S. Embassy to promote Native goods from Minnesota at one of France‘s largest provincial fairs, the Foire de Tours. (Courtesy photo).

Five steps government can take to fix ongoing farm crisis

Five steps government can take to fix ongoing farm crisis Experts outline steps to tackle the woes of the rain-dependent sector, with Met dept seeing a below-normal monsoon

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On the one hand farm incomes have been dented by falling prices of crops, on the other, a drought-like situation in several states last year and unseasonal rains more recently have damaged crops. Photo: Mint

Agriculture in India is going through one of its worst periods in recent times. On the one hand farm incomes have been dented by falling prices of crops—both of key crops like rice, wheat and cotton as well as cash crops like rubber, basmati rice, guar gum and potatoes. On the other, a drought-like situation in several states last year and unseasonal rains more recently have damaged crops. The future too appears bleak for the rain-dependent sector as the Met department has predicted a below-normal monsoon.Stocks in the granaries may still be intact, but rural livelihood has been affected as farmers are unable to recover costs and debts are piling up.Mint spoke to experts on the immediate and long-term steps that the government can take to deal with the situation: Ramesh Chand, director, National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, Delhi, and member, national task force on agriculture, NITI Aayog1. Devise ways to address price- and production-related risks. In addition to insurance and immediate relief for crop loss, the government can make ―deficiency price payment‖ when prices crash. Under such a system,

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine farmers get the difference between the market price and a pre-agreed price that will act as a form of price insurance.

2. Connect the lab to the field: agriculture cannot grow without the aid of modern scientific research.

3. Pay attention to resource-use efficiency—in water and fertilizers.4. Restructure the marketing framework to allow free movement of farm products. Follow the example of how a highly perishable commodity like milk travels across the country.5. Provide alternative jobs to farmers as it is difficult to earn a living from small pieces of land (average land holding is a little over one hectare in India). Liberalize land lease markets as small farms are not viable.Himanshu, associate professor of economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi1. Inject funds into rural India to kick-start demand. Announce a package which can revive wage employment by, say, creating rural infrastructure.

2. Increase irrigation-related investments in rain-fed areas as the uncertainties of monsoon are here to stay.

3. Devise protection measures like price stabilization and credit at concessional rates and strengthen minimum support price (MSP) operations as price shocks will be more frequent in the future.

4. Bring extension services back on the agenda. Farmers need to know about better seeds, proper use of fertilizers and should get access to better technologies. Information and communications technology-based services like kisan call centres aren‘t enough.

5. Revamp marketing infrastructure and extend it to crops for which there is no MSP support.

Sudhir Panwar, leader of Kisan Jagriti Manch, a farmers‘ forum, in Lucknow and member of the Uttar Pradesh State Planning Commission 1. Announce a partial debt waiver (on loans taken for the winter crop) for farmers affected by unseasonal rains as the immediate relief for crop loss is inadequate.

2. Spell out the loan eligibility criteria for farmers who are unable to repay crop loans. At present, debt restructuring is only an advisory for banks and not binding upon them.

3. Make crop insurance more effective. Increase penetration and subsidize premiums so that farmers can avail insurance; carry out damage assessment at the field level to settle claims.

4. Undertake long-term research on how the crop cycle can be aligned with the changing monsoon. Improve availability of early maturing, drought resistant and short duration crops that can handle weather uncertainties.

5. Increase long-term investment in agriculture to ensure irrigation and address price shocks.

The Rs.500 crore Price Stabilisation Fund Scheme for perishable horticultural crops is insufficient.

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