10-12th October,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter

10-12 October, 2018

Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

by Riceplus Magazine www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com Philippine rice shortage drives push for reform as inflation bites Duterte throws his weight into debate over 'tariffication' of rice imports MIKHAIL FLORES, Nikkei staff writerOctober

11, 2018 13:58 JST

The cracked soil at a dried up rice field in the town of Baliuag, Bulacan Province, north of Manila, symbolizes the Philippines' current rice plight. Š Reuters

MANILA -- Ronald Gabuat regularly waits half an hour to buy subsidized rice at a market in a northern area of the capital, but on a recent visit he had no luck.

"Only a handful of people were able to get any rice," the 42-year-old security guard said. "People were angry with the shortage."

The rice Gabuat was trying to buy is brought in from neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand. Stocks are low because the Philippine government this year

deferred imports, believing the country's farmers would be able to meet the needs of households.

That decision is one of a number of problems affecting the Philippines' rice market. At a nine-year high, inflation is another. The central bank has conceded that a series of aggressive interest rate hikes won't begin to have the desired effect until next year.

These two factors have the government looking at a new rice policy to help keep prices in check.

The House of Representatives has approved legislation to replace current restrictions on rice imports with tariffs. Under the so-called "tariffication" proposal, a 35% duty would be levied on rice from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and a 180% rate would be applied to rice imports from outside the bloc.

The measure to end the National Food Authority's monopoly on rice import is under debate in the Senate. But with the upper chamber split on the issue, the window to enact it is closing as Congress is scheduled to begin a monthlong break on Friday.

And with midterm elections in May, lawmakers are already shifting into campaign mode.

But seeing the cost of rice as an urgent national issue, President Rodrigo Duterte has stepped in to throw his weight behind tariffication.

The leader on Monday called for the "unimpeded" importation of rice. While not an executive order, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte's move "was the ultimate means to rein in inflation as far as food items are concerned."

The move could also help stem a decline in Duterte's popularity.

Support for the president stood at 75% in September, 13 points lower than in June, according to Pulse Asia Research. A separate survey showed nearly two-thirds of Filipinos consider controlling inflation as the nation's most urgent concern.

Due to short supplies, the price of rice is rising at a 20% clip. This puts Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in a fix. The central bank projects overall consumer price increases of 5.2% this year and 4.3% in 2019. Both figures are beyond the bank's 2% to 4% target range.

BSP Assistant Gov. Francisco Dakila said on Sept. 27 that the tariffication system, if adopted next year, could help bring inflation back into the target range, as it would shed 0.7 of a percentage point from the overall rate.

For now, the central bank is urging government offices to step up their non-monetary responses while it further tightens the country's policy rates. In September, it raised interest rates 50 basis points for the second time in as many months.

Protesters picket the National Food Authority over the shortage of rice in the Philippines Š AP

Surging prices have shined a spotlight on the country's decadeslong ambition to become rice self-sufficient. Despite the fact that Filipino leaders from the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos (1965 to 1986) to Duterte have shaped agriculture policy around

the staple, the Philippines has struggled to produce enough of the grain to feed its population.

The average Filipino consumes over 100 kg of rice a year, and the staple accounts for one-fifth of the spending of poor households. More than 2 million people, or 5% of the labor force, are rice farmers.

In June, Duterte conceded that his government's rice goal is unattainable.

"We will just have to import rice," he said. "I do not believe that we can be rice sufficient."

One reason the Philippines has trouble providing enough rice for itself is that it has failed to adopt the advanced production methods that other Southeast Asian nations use. This failure means it costs more to farm rice in the country than elsewhere in the region.

Kelly Bird, the Asian Development Bank's country director for the Philippines, said the current system has failed both to lift farmers' incomes and ease prices.

"Productivity is fairly stagnant," Bird said. "Then we see rice prices are often quite volatile."

"The National Food Authority's [trading system] is not working," she added. "It's important to review that. I think the government's approach in removing quantitative restrictions and replacing them with tariffs are important."

Dr. Ramon Clarete, an economics professor at the University of the Philippines, said that due to low yields, a majority of rice farmers become rice consumers themselves for most of the year.

"This is particularly true if poor farmers have borrowed money from traders who [then compel the farmers] to sell their rice to them," Clarete said.

The market that Gabuat struck out at is around eight minutes by public transport from a National Food Authority warehouse, which stores the imported rice. Some of the market's regulars would not mind having a look inside the store room.

"I don't know," said Gabuat, a father of five, "if the authority is controlling the supply or if there really isn't enough." https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Philippine-rice-shortage-drives-push-for-reform-as-inflation-bites

Salt-resistant rice crop grown successfully in northern China 1

2018-10-11 15:38:56chinaplus.cri.cnEditor : Li YanECNS App Download

Rice with a high tolerance to water salinity have been successfully grown in Qingdao in Shandong Province, according to a Xinhua report published on Wednesday.

In May, the seawater rice research center in Qingdao planted trial fields of the new rice strain in Qingdao and five other sites around the country.

The trial field in Qingdao used to be a saline-alkaline wasteland. But thanks to the development of the new salt-resistant rice strain, scientists have been able to turn it into productive farmland. http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2018-10-11/detail-ifyyuymk1876083.shtml

Duterte Scraps Philippines Rice Import Cap to Fight Inflation Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the lifting of two-decade-old restrictions on rice imports, his spokesman said on Tuesday, paving the way for unlimited purchases of the diet staple as the government strives to tame soaring inflation. Reuters Photo/Eloisa Lopez) By : Enrico dela Cruz | on 3:00 AM October 11, 2018 Category : International, SE Asia

Manila. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the lifting of two-decade-old restrictions on rice imports, his spokesman said on Tuesday, paving the way for unlimited purchases of the diet staple as the government strives to tame soaring inflation.

Rice is the biggest food item in the country's consumer price index, which rose 6.7 percent in September from a year earlier, the fastest since February 2009 as low stockpiles caused domestic prices to rise sharply.

Duterte ordered the "unimpeded" imports of rice during a cabinet meeting on Monday, Harry Roque told a news briefing.

"There are no more restrictions as long as tariffs are paid," he said. "It's a free market now for rice."

That means scrapping a government cap on rice imports, in place for more than 20 years, a policy intended to protect domestic rice farmers. It also means ending a decades-long monopoly of rice purchases by the state's National Food Authority (NFA).

Lawmakers are currently working to replace the cap, or the so-called quantitative restriction, with a bill setting the tariff at 35 percent for supplies from Southeast Asia – the same as an existing regional trade agreement – and up to 180 percent for imports from elsewhere.

But Duterte's order suggests there is no need to wait for the new law as long as importers pay the tariffs.

Liberalizing "the importation of rice was really the ultimate means by which to rein in inflation as far as food items are concerned," Roque said.

The spokesman said Duterte's order means there is no need now for the NFA to approve how much should be shipped in or accredit importers.

Despite his order, Duterte said there was enough domestic rice supply and that inflation was driven mainly by high oil prices. In a televised media briefing later on Tuesday, he said the government might suspend the imposition of excise tax on fuel products, without elaborating.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, however, clarified that rice imports would not be totally liberalized because there are still other conditions, apart from tariff payments, that importers need to meet, such as sanitary requirements.

The Philippines is already on a rice buying spree this year, with import approvals by the NFA hitting 2.4 million metric tons, just below the record 2.45 million tons bought in 2010 when rising global food prices stoked shortage fears.

With more rice imports coming in, Pinol said local prices have begun to stabilize and that "things are going to get better" next month.

The Philippines' rice imports, which are much cheaper than locally grown varieties, usually come from Vietnam and Thailand, where production costs are much lower. https://jakartaglobe.id/international/duterte-scraps-philippines-rice-import-cap-fight-inflation/

FAST FACTS: Rice prices in the Philippines A kilo of rice costs almost P50, and even P66 in Sulu, as of the 4th week of September 2018 Miguel Imperial Published 5:54 PM, October 11, 2018 Updated 7:45 AM, October 12, 2018

Individuals queue to buy NFA rice at P27 per kilo at the commonwealth Market on September 5, 2018, amids shortage of NFA rice and high cost of commercial rice. Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – How much a kilo of rice costs has a major impact on how Filipino families eat, or if they will eat at all.

In November 2017, a kilo of rice cost P42.17. This has increased since, rising to P49.37, even to as much as P55 to P66 in some provinces as of the 4th week of September.

Despite the price increases, the President and his spokesperson have denied there is a rice shortage in the country. But should we get worried?

Take a quick look at the numbers and controversies revolving around our staple food.

Rice crises, past and present Rice available in the market has two types: regular milled rice (RMR) and well-milled rice (WMR). The latter is more expensive, but the prices for both have been increasing since 2007.

Rice prices data with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) go back to January 2007 only.

RMR is rice in which 10%-30% of the lengthwise streaks of the bran layer (hard external layer) are still present on the kernel, while WMR has only less than 10% of bran layer presence. In short, RMR is less polished than WMR. In July 2008, a global rice crisis occurred from January to May. The year started with the WMR retail price pegged at P25.67 in January reaching P39.76 in July. This subsequently decreased to P32.50 in December. Globally, the cost of a ton of rice increased by 300% ($300 to $1,200) in the first 4 months of 208.

A 2009 research done for the Center for Global Development attributed the escalating prices during the crisis to 4 reasons:    

government failed to secure adequate amount of stock rice statements and actions of government officials "encouraged" long lines and hoarding government set a low buying price for domestic rice during the dry seasons, resulting in low stocks the National Food Authority's (NFA) decisions "destabilized" both the local and global market

The Arroyo administration in April 2008 launched P43.7-billion worth of agricultural assistance named "Fields" to ensure food security (fertilizer, irrigation, extension and education, loans and insurance, dryers, and seeds).

There was also a spike in rice prices in 2014 during Benigno Aquino III's administration. The year started with increasing prices since May 2013. WMR retail was at P39.49 in January 2014 and reached its highest on September 14 at P44.02. Since then, prices have decreased till January 2018.

The Aquino government resorted to importing 500,000 metric tons (MT) in addition to the 800,000 MT for the year 2014. Rice hoarding also reached 2.3 million MT under Aquino from 2011-2014. At the end of his administration, RA 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 was signed into law.

According to economist JC Punongbayan, the 2008 rice crisis was more global in nature while the crises in 2014 and 2018 were "self-inflicted" due to bad policies and corruption.

According to the rice and corn price index of PSA, as of the 4th week of September 2018, for RMR, the wholesale and retail prices of rice stand at P43.12 and P45.83 per kilo, respectively.

WMR wholesale and retail prices were pegged at P46.04 and P49.37, respectively.

Since January 2007, the highest price for retail WMR was felt in the 4th week of September, when it reached a national average of P49.37. For Metro Manila alone, it was P48.

In 2018, the province of Sulu in Mindanao had the highest price of retail WMR at P66 per kilo as of the 4th week of September, almost P17 higher than the national average. Second is Zamboanga del Norte at P58 and third are Mountain Province, Palawan, Bohol, Iloilo, and Southern Leyte, each at P55 per kilo. The cheapest price is in Tawi-Tawi at P34 per kilo.

But with rice shortage, surging prices, and weevil-infested rice, a crisis was again felt in the country.

Do we have enough rice?

The National Food Authority (NFA) is the public agency tasked to store stocks of rice and stabilize rice prices in the country to ensure food security. However, in early April, rice stocks of the agency were ―completely gone.‖ During that time, the rice reserve went down to two days‘ worth of supply instead of 15 days which the NFA is required to maintain.

The NFA rice is subsidized by the government, therefore making it cheaper. Household rice is what people stock for themselves while commercial rice is what can be bought in the market.

To replenish the supply, the agency can buy from local farmers or import from foreign suppliers.

The NFA said they cannot buy from local farmers since they would rather sell their yield to other buyers instead of the agency which has a low buying price of P17 per kilo. Selling to private entities can yield as high as P29 per kilo.

Instead, the NFA chose to import 250,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam and Thailand. The latter delivered 133,000 sacks of rice on August 2 in Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Later on, the majority of the sacks were discovered to have been infested with rice weevils.

Since 2012, ―NFA rice‖ or the cheaper version of commercial rice reached its lowest stocks inventory level yet in June 2018 according to the agency‘s Beginning Rice Stock Inventory, reaching up to only 21,000 metric tons.

There was also the issue of weevil infestation. On August 22, NFA authorities said that at least 100,000 sacks of imported rice from Thailand were infested by bukbok or rice weevil.

The NFA said that rice is safe to eat after fumigation. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol even did a demo on live television on August 31, showing that eating the rice is safe.

The President initially denied the problem of rice shortage and said there is ―ample‖ rice supply.

He later admitted that prices of goods, particularly rice, have increased and suggested ancient barter trade as a solution.

Is rice still affordable?

While denied by Piñol, there are reports of the price of rice reaching as much as P70 per kilo in Zamboanga City. Rice prices have been on a steady increase since the start of 2018.

(READ: Rice prices soar as Duterte marks 2nd year in office) This could be traced back to low supply and the administration's Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law as mentioned by a 2018 study by the Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) under the DA. The study found that operational expenses of farmers increased (including the cost of gasoline used for machines), while decreasing profit by 10%.

An increase in operational expenses leads to an increase in market price as well.

The PSA announced that the inflation rate which hit a 9-year high of 6.7% in September also affected rice prices.

How do leaders propose to solve the crisis?

The crisis has elicited various solutions from lawmakers and experts. (READ: Taming rice prices: What lawmakers, experts say) House Speaker Gloria Macapal Arroyo wants to import more rice and file charges against smugglers, which is different from Piñol‘s suggestion of legalizing rice smuggling.

Senator Cynthia Villar proposes to declare a state of calamity on rice, impose price controls, and put a high tariff on high imports while providing subsidies to local farmers to make them competitive with foreign suppliers. A tariff is a payment on imports or exports that enter and exit a country‘s market.

There are also calls to abolish the NFA and fire its executives, along with Piñol.

On October 8, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to greenlight the lifting of restrictions on rice importationfollowing a "fierce" discussion between Piñol and Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez during a Cabinet meeting.

Dominguez reportedly pushed for lifting restrictions, while Piñol wanted to impose an obligation for rice to be sold at certain prices. — Rappler.com https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fast-facts/211310-things-to-know-rice-prices-philippines

House members thumb down free-for-all rice importation Published October 11, 2018, 4:05 PM

By Ellson Quismorio Pro-farmer congressmen on Thursday slammed the unimpeded rice importation policy set by the Duterte administration. ―[First], it‘s a death warrant to the agriculture sector especially our farmers. Second, it does not guarantee the lowering of prices because it enables and strengthens cartel operations,‖ said Anakpawis Party-List Rep. Ariel.

Casilao.

(Flickr | Manila Bulletin)

He stressed that the move would be of no benefit to Filipinos, most especially farmers. ―Kung ngayon nga ay hindi nabawasan yung control ng cartel (the control of the cartel couldn‘t be reduced now), how much more if you liberalize importation not only to certain or those who can acquire import permits. Pero lahat na (this means everyone),‖ explained the Makabayan solon.

For Butil Party-list Rep. Cecil Chavez, this new government policy should just be a temporary thing. ―At best, the policy of import-till-you-drop should be an ad hoc, temporary measure in answer to an emergency,‖ she said, adding, ―We have to realize the great folly on relying on imports to fill our food security requirements.‖ Chavez opined that the free-flowing rice import directive should be rescinded as soon as the country‘s supply of the staple grain becomes secure. According to her, a ―production-driven rice adequacy policy‖ should replace it.

Chavez also offered a perspective on the factors that caused the Philippines–an agricultural country of 100 million people–to have rice supply woes in the first place. ―The trinity of delayed imports, natural calamities, and the failure to fund a viable rice production program caused the acute rice shortage, and of the three, only the factor of calamities is the one that cannot be reversed,‖ she said.

Chavez couldn‘t help but take a jab at the Duterte administration‘s economic managers for failing to give Filipino farmers the assistance that they need in the production equation.

―The problem is rooted in support, which the economic managers have denied to agriculture.‖ Meanwhile, Casilao warned that the rice cartel might end up calling the shots as far as pricing is concerned in this liberal importation era to the detriment of Filipinos. ―Ito po ay magiging desisyon ng mga nagmomonopolyo at magiging cartel dito. And eventually yung pagtakda ng presyo, sila po ang magtatakda niyan, hindi gobyerno. (This will be the decision of those monopolizing the imports and forming the cartels here. And eventually, they will be the ones dictating the price, not the government),‖ he said.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/11/house-members-thumb-down-free-for-all-rice-importation/

Duterte approves ‗unimpeded‘ rice imports to reduce inflation — Palace

BY THE MANILA TIMES ON OCTOBER 9, 2018LATEST STORIES, TODAY'S BREAKING NEWS

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AMID the soaring inflation in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to ―liberalize‖ the importation of rice to allow the ―unimpeded‖ flow of staple in the market, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte‘s order removed restrictions in the importation of rice, which the government expects to result in reduced rice prices. ―The President approved unimpeded importation of rice as a measure to reduce inflation…Wala na pong restrictions ngayon, basta magbayad lang ng taripa (There are no more restrictions, as long as the tariffs are paid),‖ Roque told reporters. ―He (Duterte) wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other prices of oil should go up still further, that the people will have access to affordable rice,‖ he added.

The Palace official claimed there was a thorough discussion of the issue during Monday‘s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang. ―It was a very hot issue. It was very animated and we were one of three, who had very strong views about the need of controlling inflation through increasing the supply of rice in the country,‖ Roque said. ―Inaasahan po natin na (We expect that) with this kind of order, even giant Filipino companies like San Miguel Corporation, which was specifically mentioned in the Cabinet meeting yesterday, will now be able to import rice and that this increase in supply of rice will result in overall lowering of prices,‖ he said.

Roque said Duterte‘s order stripped the National Food Authority (NFA) of the power to regulate the amount of imports and the power of accrediting rice importers. CATHERINE VALENTE https://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-approves-unimpeded-rice-imports-to-reduce-inflationpalace/450116/

ASIA RICE-INDIA PRICES SLIP FOR 3RD STRAIGHT WEEK ON SLOW DEMAND 10/11/2018

* Bangladesh imports slow due to tax * Vietnamese prices unchanged, Thai rates firm * India's production of summer-sown rice seen up 1.8 pct

By Sumita Layek BENGALURU, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India eased for a third consecutive week due to waning demand and prospects of fresh supplies, while markets in Thailand and Vietnam were propped up by expectations of orders from China and Philippines.

Rates for top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5P1> fell to $365-$370 per tonne from $367-$373 last week, as demand remained tepid, traders and dealers said.

"As prices are falling every week, buyers are postponing purchases," said an exporter based in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Also weighing on prices, was a plunge in the Indian rupee to a lifetime low on Thursday, allowing exporters to lower their offers.

Supplies from summer-sown crop will become available for exports from the next month, dealers said.

The country's production of summer-sown rice is estimated to grow 1.8 percent to 99.24 million tonnes.

In neighbouring Bangladesh, imports slowed down to 80,000 tonnes in JulySeptember owing to the imposition of a tax on rice imports in June, the country's food ministry data showed.

The south Asian country, which emerged as a major importer in 2017 after floods damaged crops, imposed the 28 percent duty to support its farmers after local production revived.

In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> prices were quoted at $398-$400 per tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, versus $390â&#x20AC;&#x201C; $403 last week.

Traders said activity was muted, despite speculation of new deals with countries including Indonesia, Japan, and Philippines.

Many Thai private exporters who have been involved in a recent sale of 100,000 tonnes of rice to China are also speculating that China may purchase more Thai rice before year end, said a trader in Bangkok.

"There are talks that the Chinese may order more rice and that could help drive up the price before the end of the year."

In Vietnam, rates for 5 percent broken rice <RI-VNBKN5-P1> were unchanged from last week at $400-$405 a tonne.

"Trade is slow as domestic supplies are running low," a Ho Chi Minh Citybased trader said. "The Philippines has announced it will buy more rice for the rest of the year and that may be supportive for prices."

Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade said Thursday the value of the country's rice exports this year would likely rise 26.9 percent to $3.2 billion$3.3 billion.

Customs data released this week showed Vietnam exported 4.89 million tonnes of rice in the January-September period, up 6.7 percent from a year earlier. Rice export revenue rose 21.3 percent in the period to $2.46 billion. (Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Rajendra Jadhav in

Mumbai and Ruma Paul in Dhaka Editing by Arpan Varghese in Bengaluru and Edmund Blair) https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/asia-rice-india-prices-slip-for-3rd-straight-week-on-slowdemand

Vietnam seeks to reduce reliance on Asian rice markets, raise exports to Africa, Americas

Grains are seen on assembly line of a rice processing factory in Vietnam's southern Mekong delta city of Can Tho. Photo: Reuters 11 OCTOBER, 2018

UPDATED 11 OCTOBER, 2018 HANOI - Vietnam is seeking to reduce its reliance on Asian rice markets while boosting the output of high-quality grain to better position itself in the global market, the government said on Thursday.

The Southeast Asian country aims to reduce its rice shipments to Asian markets to 50 percent of its total exports by 2030, from the current of 60 percent, the government said in a statement.

Vietnam is the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand, with key buyers including China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The government said it will seek to boost exports to Africa to 25 percent of its exports and to 10 percent for markets in the Americas. "(Vietnam's) rice production in the coming time will focus on clean and organic rice and on diversifying its processed rice products," Tran Thanh Hai, the deputy head of the trade department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in the statement.

The value of Vietnam's rice exports in 2018 may rise to between $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion, an increase of up to 26.9 percent from $2.6 billion last year, the trade ministry said on Thursday in a separate statement on its official Facebook page.

The country is trying to increase the quality and variety of the rice it exports as well as branding of the grain to boost exports value, the ministry said.

Vietnam plans to reduce the amount of low-quality rice and increase exports of fragrant, speciality and Japonica rice, the trade ministry said, without giving an estimate of 2018 rice exports volume.

To achieve this, the ministry plans to open the rice market, enhance negotiations, promote rice trading and build the Vietnamese rice brand, the statement said.

The nation exported 4.89 million tonnes of rice in the first nine months of 2018, up 6.7 percent from a year earlier, while rice exports revenue in the nine-month period jumped 21.3 percent annually to $2.46 billion, official data showed. REUTERS https://www.todayonline.com/world/vietnam-seeks-reduce-reliance-asian-rice-markets-raise-exportsafrica-americas

ARAP stakeholders poised to boost rice production and trade | Source: GNA

Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) on Tuesday held a learning event to address ways of enhancing the production of rice on the continent as well as improving trade between member countries to help curb the increased importation of rice.

The ARAP, created in 2016, through the Competitive Africa Rice Initiative (CARI), in conjunction with J.A. Kuffour (JAK) Foundation, seeks to create a common platform for various Africa regional economic blocks, to promote trade and address challenges confronting the local rice market to boost production.

Speaking at the event, Professor Baffour Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer of the JAK Foundation, enumerated the significance of creating the ARAP platform to address the various challenges confronting the African rice market and finding ways to resolving those challenges. ''The rice business in Ghana and Africa has been of key interest to the former President, and he sees the significance of supporting rice production across Africa. ''So the whole idea about promoting rice production is to counteract the increase in the importation of rice, which is certainly inimical to the economic health of the continent.

â&#x20AC;&#x2014;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;So it's important we seek areas of cooperation between East Africa and ECOWAS member countries to see how we can begin to harmonise our policies and approaches to solving this particular problem.

He further encouraged the creation of a business atmosphere between ECOWAS and other African countries to plan and execute strategies that will promote local rice production and reduce the importation of rice.

In his address, the Acting ARAP Chair, Mr. Julius Wambura, highlighted how most African rice markets share their challenges, which gives them the opportunity to build a platform to facilitate activities within the Africa rice markets. ''It's shameful for Africa to be importing rice to the tune of $4billion yearly while our farmers are complaining about not having enough market for their produce and this situation has to be corrected.

He further highlighted how to improve the standards of rice production to meet the general standardized requirements to facilitate easy trade among African countries. Al- Hassan Imoro, a national rice desk officer at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said rice was one of the priority crops, and as such government remains poised to increase rice production, as various policies such as the Planting for Food and Jobs had been initiated to solve the challenges. https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/174094/ARAP-stakeholders-poised-to-boost-riceproduction-and-trade

Thai government pushes reform in agriculture sector

Plan to increase livelihoods for 1.3 million rice farmers by growing alternative crops and help offered to sugarcane growers

By DUSITA MANEEMUANG OCTOBER 11, 2018 7:29 PM (UTC+8) Rice farmers in Thailand working in their fields. Photo: AFP SOUTHEAST ASIATHAILAND

The Thai government is pushing ahead with plans to increase the incomes of 1.3 million farmers who have been relying on their rice crops to make a living.

Krisadaa Bonraat, who is in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, on Wednesday revealed a productivity and marketing plan aimed at improving the livelihoods of farmers plagued with low prices for their produce due to oversupplies.

The Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives have created an agriculture productivity plan to reduce off-season rice crops in some areas and propose growing other crops instead.

They say the plan could increase earnings to 2,750 baht per 1,600 square meters for 1.3 million farmers, adding up to a total of 2.3 billion baht. The proposal includes using about 1,300 agricultural cooperatives to do food processing businesses and also open marketing routes for the private sector to buy rice from farmers, which will help reduce the oversupply in the market. It would also increase the price of rice, they say.

In the dry season, in November, Krisadaa suggested farmers grow corn for animal food – if comparing the profit with growing rice in the off-season and growing corn, corn gives 10 times more profit than rice and there is also a better market for corn.

The debts of 36,000 farmers has been paid off through the agriculture productivity plan.

However, the low price of rice has been overshadowed this week by the fall in the price of sugarcane and the Thai government is giving 6.5 billion baht worth of financial aid to sugarcane farmers.

World sugar prices have decreased 75%, hitting growers and Thailand‘s sugar industry hard. In January, the price of domestic sugar was 17-18 baht per kilogram, down from 19-20 baht per kilogram in the same period last year. The cane price this year is 680 baht per ton, the lowest in five years. http://www.atimes.com/article/thai-government-pushes-reform-in-agriculture-sector/

Piñol disputes Roque's claim Duterte ordered 'unimpeded' rice imports ABS-CBN News Posted at Oct 09 2018 11:24 PM

MANILA - Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol on Tuesday disputed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the unimpeded importation of rice to tame soaring inflation.

Roque earlier said the move is expected to bring down prices of rice while the executive branch is still waiting for the passage of the rice tariffication bill.

He added that there's no need for an executive order...to implement the measure.

Piñol, however, rejected Roque's statements, explaining that the President's order was just a validation of an earlier issued executive order easing the entry of imported rice.

"I understand that the confusion right now stemmed from the statement of President Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque which was understood by many as just simply brushing off all other requirements and just bringing your rice.

"It's not gonna happen that way, there are still requirements that must be met like sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. You can't just bring in rice without satisfying the sanitary inspections of the department of agriculture. You can't just bring in rice without, you know, just having yourself as an importer of rice. These are the regular requirements."

The agriculture chief also insisted that elevated inflation is not driven by the rising rice prices alone.

Piñol also echoed Duterte by blaming rising prices of fuel as the "real culprit" behind the quickening inflation.

He said rice prices will stabilize by next month.

"Things are going to get better by the end of November. We will put everything in order in the rice market like we will do away with the deceptive and misleading names of rice varieties like sinandomeng, dinorado," he said.

"The NFA council has passed a resolution yesterday morning classifying rice to be sold in the market in only four classifications: regular milled, well-milled, whole grain head rice, and special rice." with reports from Kori Quintos and Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/09/18/piol-disputes-roques-claim-duterte-ordered-unimpeded-riceimports

With Duterte directive, anyone can import rice By: Christine O. Avendaño - @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:22 AM October 10, 2018

Anyone may now import rice at any quantity.

President Duterte has issued the directive to fully liberalize rice importation to rein in inflation after he was informed that rising prices of the staple caused inflation to surge to a fresh nine-year high. ―He wants to flood the market with rice that even if the price of oil should further go up, the people will have access to affordable rice,‖ presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said on Tuesday.

Roque said an executive order was not needed to liberalize rice importation. ―With the President‘s directive, the National Food Authority (NFA) no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported,‖ he said. ―Anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs will be allowed to import rice.‖ Roque said the tariffs would be used to help local farmers. ‗Animated‘ Cabinet meet The ―hot‖ issue of inflation, he said, was the subject of an ―animated‖ discussion in the Cabinet meeting on Monday night.

The President, according to Roque, eventually approved the ―unimpeded importation of rice‖ to reduce inflation.

His decision came after Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III made a presentation to the Cabinet showing that high rice prices were primarily responsible for the high inflation in September.

Using graphs, Dominguez showed that aside from tobacco, oil and nonfood items, rice was the most important commodity, whose price increase led to the spike in inflation.

Last month‘s inflation rose to 6.7 percent, angering the public more as they continue to grapple with a series of fuel price increases, which rose for the ninth time in as many weeks on Tuesday.

Big companies Roque said the Palace expected big companies such as San Miguel Corp. would now be able to import rice. The company, he noted, was mentioned at the Cabinet meeting.

San Miguel has made known its intention to import rice to help beef up current stocks in the country after the NFA reserve supply was almost depleted. The low NFA buffer has led to skyrocketing rice prices.

―This increased supply of rice will result in overall lowering of the price of rice,‖ Roque said.

He also said it was now a free market for rice.

No one will be required to get an accreditation to import although getting an import permit will still be a requirement. ―But no one will have to approve the importation anymore. They just need to comply with the documentary requirements,‖ Roque said.

‗Flood market with rice‘ Duterte lifts import control after ‗fierce Cabinet debate‘ posted October 09, 2018 at 10:27 pm by Nathaniel Mariano

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the unimpeded importation of rice to counter inflation, the Palace said Thursday, following a ―fierce‖ debate between two Cabinet secretaries.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte has lifted the restrictions on rice imports to allow the smooth flow of the staple into markets.

Roque did not say who engaged in the debate, but it was apparent that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, had won out after he illustrated with graphs that food was primarily responsible for the increased rate of inflation in September. ―The President… wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other oil prices should go up still further, the people will have access to affordable rice,‖ Roque said.

The Palace expects giant local companies like San Miguel Corp. to be able to import rice. ―This increase in the supply of rice will result in an overall lowering of prices,‖ said Roque.

Open importation means anyone who can afford to pay its tariff will be allowed to import rice.

―With the President‘s directive, the NFA [National Food Authority] no longer has any say on how much should be imported,‖ he said.

Roque said a ―principled and fierce‖ discussion preceded the President‘s decision. ―It was a very hot issue. It was very animated, and we were one of three who had very strong views about the need of controlling inflation through increasing the supply of rice,‖ Roque said.

He, however, did not confirm whether the heated argument was with Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who is also chairman of the NFA. Piñol has expressed concern that unimpeded rice imports will hurt local farmers, whose products will not be able to compete with cheap rice from abroad.

On Friday, the Philippine Statistics Authority announced that inflation rose to 6.7 percent in September, soaring to a new 9-year high.

The PSA said the rise was caused by heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Also on Tuesday, Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said two of three ships loaded with smuggled rice worth P23 million that went missing from the Port of Zamboanga were owned by Bongao, TawiTawi Mayor Limuel Que. Personnel from the Coast Guard, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Intelligence Service, Armed Forces of the Philippines intercepted the three vessels containing 23,015 sacks of smuggled rice.

Lapeña has already informed the secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government following the result of their investigation into the missing smuggled rice at the Port of Zamboanga.

Lapeña has filed administrative charges against the four Customs officials who were suspended over the missing smuggled rice.

Charged for neglect of duty and grave misconduct were Customs Port of Zamboanga District Collector Lyceo Martinez, BOC district commander police Lt. Filomeno Salazar,; Customs Operations Officer and acting chief of the Port Operations Division Vicente Eduardo Torres; and Special Agent I Oscar Farin. With Vito Barcelo http://www.manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/277592/-flood-market-with-rice-.html

Duterte certifies rice tariffication bill as urgent

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News Posted at Oct 10 2018 07:10 PM

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent in a bid to bring down the prices of rice in the market, a key driver of inflation.

In letters sent to House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Duterte sought the â&#x20AC;&#x2022;immediate enactmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2013; of Senate Bill No. 1998.

The President said the proposed measure would address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, prevent artificial rice shortages, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.

Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino said the bill is key to bringing down rice prices by P2 to P7 per kilo. ―Tariffication also means that non-tariff barriers are also taken down such as removing the need to get an import license from the NFA (National Food Authority), which is one reason for high rice prices,‖ Lambino told reporters.

Lambino said the finance department is supporting the Senate version of the bill. ―In the bicam (bicameral conference), we must support the Senate version as the House version retains the import licensing power of NFA,‖ he said.

Lambino outlined three benefits from imposing tariffs on rice: lower prices, lower inflation and resources to support farmers.

He said the central bank estimates this could cut the inflation rate by 0.7 percentage point by 2019 once the bill is passed into law.

The tariffs that will be collected, meanwhile, will be used to help improve the lives of farmers, among the poorest sectors in the country.

Economic managers have called the removal of rice import quotas as an important measure to bring down prices of the staple and help control inflation.

Farmers' groups, however, are worried that local rice growers may be put at a disadvantage by cheaper rice imports. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/10/18/duterte-certifies-rice-tariffication-bill-as-urgent

NFA regulations still in place despite ‗unimpeded‘ rice import order

By PTV News - FFF October 10, 2018

MANILA – The National Food Authority (NFA) is still in the process of ―harmonizing‖ President Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s order on the unimpeded importation of rice with its own regulations.

NFA Regional Director Angel ―Gerry‖ Imperial, Jr. made this clarification a day after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced Duterte‘s directive which allows rice dealers to import rice sans licensing and accreditation.

Roque earlier said Duterte wanted to ―flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other oil prices should go up still further, people will have access to affordable rice.‖ Imperial, however, said the NFA Council had to harmonize first the President‘s order with its own current regulations to assure that proper guidelines are in place. ―We are managed by the (NFA) Council and all the things that we will be implementing should be approved by the Council so we have real guidelines to follow,‖ Imperial said in a Palace briefing on Thursday.

Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo, a member of the NFA Council, further clarified Roque‘s statement saying that NFA regulations, although less restrictive, are still in place pending the Congressional approval of the rice tariffication law. ―It is the President‘s directive and direction to make importation unimpeded and hassle-free, and with less restrictions. But currently, since we have the NFA regulation still in place while waiting for the rice tariffication law, we still follow regulations although this is now less restrictive and easier for importers to bring in rice,‖ Castelo said.

By less restrictive, she said that there would probably be no need for accreditation for as long as permits given by the NFA Council. ―I understand that we also requested the NFA Council, especially for some retailers‘ applications, for NFA to waive some fees. So it can be probably done by the NFA now going towards rice tariffication pursuant to the President‘s directive,‖ she added.

Tariffication law Finance Assistant Secretary Tony Lambino stressed that despite the number of issuances and measures in place to combat inflation, there is still an urgent need to pass a tariffication law.

Lambino said the measure is currently in the Senate plenary and is set to be passed within the week.

Both chambers of Congress are expected to reconcile their versions in a bicameral conference.

He said the passage of a rice tariffication law will lower the prices of rice, bring down inflation, and provide resources to support farmers.

Last month, Duterte signed Administrative Order (AO) No. 13 to streamline procedures on the import of agricultural products, including rice.

Alongside this order, Memorandum Order (MO) Nos. 26, 27, and 28, were also signed to stabilize the prices of basic agricultural commodities at reasonable levels and maintain their sufficient supply in the domestic market.

Castelo described AO No. 13 as a ―preparatory to rice tariffication.‖ ―In effect, AO 13 is preparatory to rice tariffication ‗cause if you take note of section 1, removing the non-tariff barriers and streamlining one provision says to liberalize issuance of permits and accreditation of traders who want to import rice to break the monopoly , eventually we go to rice tariffication. For now we start liberalizing,‖ she said.

Top inflation driver Lambino said rice contribution to inflation was just 0.1 percentage point in 2017, but between January to September 2018 it grew 10 times – to one percentage point — making it the number one driver of inflation last September.

He admitted that had the government managed the rice problem better, September inflation of 6.7 percent would have been 5.7 percent to 5.8 percent.

The finance official, meanwhile, said the government has learned from supply problems in the past and we will not allow it to happen again. ―Through tariffication also means that non-tariff barriers are also taken down such as removing the need to get an import license from the NFA which is one reason for high rice prices,‖ Lambino said. ―This is reflected in the Senate version which is already in plenary; it is in the period of amendments.

In the bicam, we must support the Senate version as the House version retains the import licensing power of NFA,‖ he added. (Azer Parrocha/PNA) https://ptvnews.ph/nfa-regulations-still-in-place-despite-unimpeded-rice-import-order/

Rice tariff scheme remains goal despite ‗surprise‘ order to import more freely October 10, 2018 | 10:16 pm

PHILSTAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte‘s order for the ―unimpeded‖ importation of rice has caught economic agencies off guard, though they pointed to the ultimate goal remains a rice tariff accompanied by freer inbound movement of the commodity.

National Food Authority (NFA) Director Angel G. Imperial, Jr., the agency‘s spokesman, said he was ―surprised‖ by Mr. Duterte‘s directive. ―We were really surprised… that is why we did not know what to say yesterday,‖ Mr. Imperial told BusinessWorld in Filipino in a chance interview at the Palace on Wednesday after his economic briefing with Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II and Trade Undersecretary for Consumer Protection Ruth B. Castelo.

During the briefing, Mr. Imperial said the President‘s directive is not currently possible to implement because of the need to ―submit it to the (NFA) Council so that we would have clear guidelines to follow.‖ ―Our principal, the Council, will still clarify this, at least with the chairperson of the Council, Secretary (Emmanuel F.) Piñol,‖ he added.

For his part, Mr. Lambino said: ―The directive was issued Monday night. We are less than two days from that time. So we are, of course, happy that there is a massive streamlining that is underway. But what we want to get to is a tariffied regime.‖ He added: ―For that, we should be watching very closely and support, as much as we can, the movement in the Senate of the Rice Tariffication Bill. It is in amendment phase at the Senate, which means it‘s in plenary then needs to go to bicam, before being signed into law.‖ Mr. Imperial said, ―We are managed by the (NFA) Council and all the things that we will be implementing should be approved by the Council so that there will be really clear guidelines to follow.‖ The Department of Trade and Industry‘s Ms. Castelo said: ―Just a clarification on… the unimpeded importation of rice and vis-a-vis the NFA Council, NFA regulations on licensing and accreditation, it is the President‘s directive and direction to make importation unimpeded, hassle-free, and with less restrictions; but currently, since we have the NFA regulations still in place while waiting for the Rice Tariffication Law, we still follow regulations although this is now less restrictive and easier for importers to bring in rice.‖ ―We‘ll get to that destination as soon as we have the rice tariffication law. At the moment, we are still easing up the restrictions,‖ she added.

As for the timeline, Mr. Imperial said: ―So far, I do not know. We will check.‖

On Tuesday, Palace spokesperson Herminio L. Roque, Jr. announced that the President has ordered the unimpeded importation of rice in a bid to tame inflation.

Mr. Roque added that ―the NFA no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported; anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs will be allowed to import rice.‖ ―It‘s a free market now for rice. No accreditation, no permits. Well, of course, they need to procure import permits, otherwise they might run into problems. But no one will have to approve the importation anymore, as long as they comply with the documentary requirements,‖ Mr. Roque said. — Arjay L. Balinbin https://www.bworldonline.com/rice-tariff-scheme-remains-goal-despite-surprise-order-to-import-morefreely/

Banks required to meet capital demands of rice exporters Update: October, 10/2018 - 16:36Việt Nam exported nearly 5 million tonnes of rice abroad in the first nine months of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) has directed commercial banks to prepare funds in a move to timely meet capital demands of rice exporters as regulated in Decree 107/2018/NĐ-CP on rice export operations.

Under a document released this week, SBV required the banks to implement Decree 107, which has taken effect since October 1 this year, to lend to rice traders for constructing warehouses, milling and grinding establishments, rice and paddy processing establishments as well as farmers producing rice for export.

In case prices of rice and paddy drop to a lower level than the Ministry of Finance‘s reference price and cause losses for farmers, banks are required to take detailed measures to regulate the market in a move to minimise farmers‘ losses according to instructions by the Prime Minister and guidance of the SBV in each period, the SBV‘s document notes.

Decree 107/2018/NĐ-CP, which replaced Decree 109/2010/NĐ-CP, is aimed at removing difficulties and legal barriers for rice businesses to expand into foreign markets.

Under the new decree, rice-exporting businesses will no longer be required to own rice storage, paddy milling and grinding facilities with processing capacities of 5,000 tonnes of rice and 10 tonnes of paddy per hour, respectively.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viáť&#x2021;t Nam shipped nearly 5 million tonnes of rice abroad in the first nine months of this year, earning US$2.5 billion, up 8.5 per cent in volume and 23.2 per cent in value year-on-year.

China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 23.2 per cent of the total.

The price of the grain during January-August was averaged at $504 per tonne, a yearon-year rise of 14.6 per cent. Markets posting surges in the price included Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Analysts predicted that the domestic rice market would thrive in the fourth quarter of this year thanks to increasing demand from such importers as the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Nigeria and Egypt. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; VNS

Read more at http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/467565/banks-required-to-meetcapital-demands-of-rice-exporters.html#98XHm3mkLUUBD4Pd.99

Vietnam pockets 2.5 billion USD from rice exports in nine months VNA MONDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2018 - 14:35:00 PRINT

Vietnam exports nearly 5 million tonnes of rice in the first nine months of 2018 (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Vietnam shipped nearly 5 million tonnes of rice abroad in the first nine months of this year, earning 2.5 billion USD, up 8.5 percent in volume and 23.2 percent in value year-on-year, statistics show.

China remained the largest importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for 23.2 percent of the total, according to the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The price of the grain during January-August was averaged at 504 USD per tonne, a year-on-year rise of 14.6 percent. Markets posting surges in the price included Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Analysts predicted that the domestic rice market would thrive in the fourth quarter of this year thanks to increasing demand from such importers as the Philippines, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Nigeria and Egypt.

Egypt has recently agreed to import 1 million tonnes of white rice from Vietnam in the next three to four months after it reduced some the area for the cultivation of the grain due to a lack of water.

Typhoon Mangkhut, which hit the Philippines in mid-September, caused a loss of around 250,000 tonnes of rice in the country, thus leading to a year-on-year increase of 15-20 percent in its rice price. Therefore, the Philippine Government is expected to soon buy in via both G2G and B2B contracts to supplement for the national stockpile and stabilise domestic rice price.

The RoK has also declared to import additional 350,000 tonnes of rice for domestic reserves and international assistance.

In Nigeria, floods damaged 21,000 hectares of rice, which can produce 168,000 tonnes of rice, also resulting in a spike in domestic rice price. Although its government has banned rice imports since the beginning of this year, it may soon buy in due to limited domestic supply.

According to Nguyen Quoc Toan, acting Director of the Agro Processing and Market Development Authority, there is a competition in price with Thailand and India, as their domestic currencies‘ weakening against the US dollar has caused a fall in local rice prices.

In addition, China‘s permission of 19 Indian companies‘ exports and its signing of a contract on the purchase of 10,000 tonnes of rice with Thailand also make the export of Vietnamese rice to China tougher, Toan added.-VNA https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-pockets-25-billion-usd-from-rice-exports-in-nine-months/139670.vnp

Rice exports off to a flying start Mohiuddin AazimUpdated October 09, 2017

RICE exports have started the current fiscal year on a positive note, giving rise to hopes that the full-year proceeds will hit $2 billion after a gap of two years.

The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s rice exports jumped 40 per cent year-on-year to $224 million in the July-August period, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

Basmati rice exports rose more than 10pc to $63m during the two months despite a negligible increase in the volume, which rose 0.4pc to 59,433 tonnes.

Some exporters are re-establishing their brands by improving quality of processing and packaging while others are switching over from shipping large quantities of loose coarse rice to exporting it in wholesale or even retail packaging However, exports of non-basmati varieties saw a big rise of about 47pc to 369,560 tonnes during the period.

Accordingly, export earnings surged 57pc to $161m.

A rise in export earnings of basmati with negligible change in volume is both good and bad. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s good as it points to a rising trend in per-unit price of basmati varieties. On the downside, higher per-unit price could give further edge to Indian exporters, who have already grabbed more than 70pc share of the Saudi rice market and are increasing their share in other Gulf Cooperation Council countries as well.

As for non-basmati or coarse rice varieties, their exports are growing for severalreasons, including higher production of rice in 2016-17 as compared to 2015-16.

Moreover, exporters are reaching out to new markets. Some of them are re-establishing their brands by improving quality of processing and packaging while others are switching over from shipping large quantities of loose coarse rice to exporting it in wholesale or even retail packaging.

Besides, the use of online trading portals for client searching is also picking up pace. â&#x20AC;&#x2022;Rice exports in this fiscal year can hit $2bn mark again (as they did in FY15),â&#x20AC;&#x2013; says an official of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP).

Officials say that recent efforts to mobilise foreign missions in helping exporters grab a larger share of traditional rice markets and explore new ones have also started paying off.

In the last fiscal year, Pakistan produced 6.85m tonnes of rice, up from 6.8m tonnes in FY16 but still short of the 7m tonnes mark achieved in FY15. This has eased pressure to some extent on prices of exporters-driven purchases, and many of them are able to export more during this fiscal year than they did in the last year.

Exporters also hope to partly regain the lost ground in Saudi Arabia, where our rice exports declined to $54m in FY17 from $83m in FY16.

Some other exporters say that regaining our lost status in Afghanistan (where Pakistan‘s rice exports slumped to $77.5m in FY17 from $128m a year ago) and China (where exports plunged to $105m in FY17 from a peak of around $277m a year ago) is crucial if we want to hit the $2bn mark in rice exports in FY18.

In case of Afghanistan, political tension between Islamabad and Kabul, and repeated closure of border trade are blamed by exporters for decline in exports of not only rice but of other commodities as well.

However, rice exports to China suffered last year mainly due to depressed demand there, though inefficient marketing and logistics issues also had a hand in it. ―In the last three months, we‘ve received orders from both countries. I hope exports to Afghanistan and China will increase this year,‖ an official of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) told this writer.

He said that during a recent visit of the Kenyan high commissioner to REAP‘s headquarters, steps to further increase rice exports to Kenya came under discussion. Rice exports to Kenya rose to $198m in FY17 from $184m a year earlier.

During the previous fiscal year, Pakistani exporters penetrated into such non-traditional markets as Nigeria, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Thailand, which itself is a big rice-exporting country. Combined earnings from these markets totalled about $80m, REAP officials say.

Besides, rice exporters are also making efforts to sustain markets like Kenya, Chile, Denmark, Djibouti, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger and Zimbabwe, where their exports saw phenomenal growth in FY17.

Pakistan‘s rice exports to Indonesia got a boost in January last year when the two countries signed a deal to enable our exporters to ship $400m of rice in four years. ―Under that agreement rice exports to Indonesia are going on and during this fiscal year we may fetch $50m to $100m depending upon Indonesian requirements,‖ says a TDAP official.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, October 9th, 2017

https://www.dawn.com/news/1362576

https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-hindu-business-line/20181010/282093457692952

Rice cultivation - CC via Max Pixel

265 tons of rice seized before being sold in black market By: Egypt Today staff

Wed, Oct. 10, 2018

CAIRO - 10 October 2018: The inspection campaigns, launched by the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade in six governorates, seized 264.848 tons of rice hidden by vendors to be released in the black market in a breach to decree no. 189/2018.

The campaigns took place in Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Sharkeya, Gharbeya, Damietta and Daqahleya to ensure that wholesalers and retailers are abiding by the ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s regulatory decrees. Culprits have been referred to the public prosecution.

The articles of the decree issued in September are as follows: 1) Farmers and producers must supply and sell local barley rice to licensed entities.

2) Only licensed public and private firms are allowed to trade in or stock local barley rice.

3) Suppliers, wholesalers, and any entities involved in rice trade and marketing are allowed to only deal with licensed firms for buying, selling, packaging, stocking, and trading.

4) Farmers, producers, suppliers, firms, wholesalers, factories, and others are prohibited from stocking rice for the purpose of supply reduction and market manipulation, not following trade norms.

On June 5, the government announced its plan to import rice (paddy, mulled and cargo rice), in a way to reduce the rice-cultivated areas due to the water shortage crisis the country is suffering from.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified on May 21, the newly-passed amendments to the Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, per which the government will determine the areas to cultivate certain water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane, amid the water shortage crisis in order to rationalize water usage.

Also, Article 101 of the law stipulates that those who violate the ministerial decrees issued to implement Articles 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Agriculture Law shall be punished with a fine not less than LE 20,000 (about $1,119) and not more than LE 50,000.

On May 2, the Egyptian government agreed to increase the area allocated for rice cultivation by 100,000 feddans (one feddan equals 1.038 acres) for this season only, bringing the total area allocated for rice cultivation to 820,000 feddans, Abdel Latif Khaled, head of irrigation sector in the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, stated.

Thus, it is expected that Egypt will produce about 3.3 million tons this year as one feddan produces 4 tons, while Egypt's annual consumption of rice is estimated at 4.3 million tons.

However, the cultivated areas will be shrunk in the coming seasons as a result of water scarcity, given that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water. http://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/58714/265-tons-of-rice-seized-before-being-sold-in-black

ARAP stakeholders poised to boost rice production and trade 1d ago | Source: GNA

Africa Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP) on Tuesday held a learning event to address ways of enhancing the production of rice on the continent as well as improving trade between member countries to help curb the increased importation of rice.

The ARAP, created in 2016, through the Competitive Africa Rice Initiative (CARI), in conjunction with J.A. Kuffour (JAK) Foundation, seeks to create a common platform for various Africa regional economic blocks, to promote trade and address challenges confronting the local rice market to boost production.

Speaking at the event, Professor Baffour Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer of the JAK Foundation, enumerated the significance of creating the ARAP platform to address the various challenges confronting the African rice market and finding ways to resolving those challenges. ''The rice business in Ghana and Africa has been of key interest to the former President, and he sees the significance of supporting rice production across Africa. ''So the whole idea about promoting rice production is to counteract the increase in the importation of rice, which is certainly inimical to the economic health of the continent. â&#x20AC;&#x2014;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;So it's important we seek areas of cooperation between East Africa and ECOWAS member countries to see how we can begin to harmonise our policies and approaches to solving this particular problem.

He further encouraged the creation of a business atmosphere between ECOWAS and other African countries to plan and execute strategies that will promote local rice production and reduce the importation of rice.

In his address, the Acting ARAP Chair, Mr. Julius Wambura, highlighted how most African rice markets share their challenges, which gives them the opportunity to build a platform to facilitate activities within the Africa rice markets. ''It's shameful for Africa to be importing rice to the tune of $4billion yearly while our farmers are complaining about not having enough market for their produce and this situation has to be corrected.

He further highlighted how to improve the standards of rice production to meet the general standardized requirements to facilitate easy trade among African countries. Al- Hassan Imoro, a national rice desk officer at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, said rice was one of the priority crops, and as such government remains poised to increase rice production, as various policies such as the Planting for Food and Jobs had been initiated to solve the challenges. https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/174094/ARAP-stakeholders-poised-to-boost-riceproduction-and-trade

(LEAD) S. Korea pushes to raise target price for rice 2018/10/10 16:19

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(ATTN: ADDS details in third para; UPDATES with quarantine measures in last four paras) SEOUL, Oct 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agriculture ministry said Wednesday it will push to raise the target price of rice in line with inflation to guarantee a stable level of income for local farmers.

Lee Gae-ho, the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, said the government will submit the new target price to the parliament in early November, but he didn't disclose the specific price range.

The policymaker earlier said the price should be over 194,000 won (US$173.8) per 80 kilograms, while farmers' associations have demanded more than 200,000 won. The current target price was set five years ago.

"We are pushing to reflect the inflation rate in the target price of rice in the process of negotiation with the parliament," Lee said during a parliamentary audit. "We will change the target price to improve income for farmers and will push for a revision of the rice subsidy system that meets public expectations."

Lee Gae-ho, South Korean minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs, speaks during a parliamentary audit held at the National Assembly in Seoul on Oct. 10, 2018. (Yonhap)

In South Korea, the government annually purchases homegrown rice to stabilize the domestic market, which is grappling with oversupply, and provides subsidies for rice farmers.

The chronic oversupply of rice comes as a growing number of South Koreans have been reducing their rice intake and diversifying their diets with alternatives like wheat, barley, beans and corn.

The minister also vowed to step up quarantine efforts to prevent chronic outbreaks of contagious animal disease, including avian influenza (AI) and footand-mouth disease (FMD).

Outbreaks of bird and swine flu have been prevalent in South Korea during the winter season, prompting the government to upgrade quarantine inspections and other preventive measures.

"The government has set a special quarantine period from this month to February to promptly deal with emergency situations," Lee said. "We will adopt strong quarantine measures against AI and FMD to lessen the burden on local farms."

Highly pathogenic avian influenza comprises a range of viruses that cause

severe disease in birds and result in high death rates, leading to massive culling of chickens and ducks.

FMD is an acute infectious viral disease of livestock that causes fever followed by the development of vesicles chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. It is one of the most infectious diseases for livestock and can spread rapidly if uncontrolled.

In light of the recent discovery of thousands of red fire ants in the nation, Lee said the government will expand quarantine inspection to a wider range of items, including industrial goods.

The ministry has strengthened inspections into agriculture and fishery products after the discovery of the foreign insects in Pyeongtaek in June, but about 5,900 red fire ants were spotted inside a container in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, earlier this month.

"We take the red fire ant problem very seriously," Lee said. "We will make efforts to expand the quarantine inspection not only to agriculture and food products but also to industrial goods if needed."

Red fire ants have a sting that can cause a severe allergic reaction, including breathing problems, and in severe cases can lead to death. http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/10/10/0200000000AEN20181010003451320.html

One of the world‘s most important crop gene storehouses just got a funding boost

By Erik StokstadOct. 11, 2018 , 7:00 PM

Rice is one of the world‘s most important crops.

SVETLANA LUKIENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK

When plant breeders want to improve crops, they turn to the diversity stored in gene banks around the world. But many of these critical storehouses, which hold seeds and other plant tissues, are in poor condition as a result of funding shortages. Now, the Crop Trust, a nonprofit based in Bonn, Germany, is aiming to help crop gene banks find firmer footing by providing a steadier source of cash. And today it announced its first award, a 5-year, renewable grant of $1.4 million annually, to the gene bank of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines. ―These crop collections are too important to the world to be left to uncertainty,‖ says Marie Haga, executive director of the Crop Trust, which was founded in 2004. ―They can‘t depend on budgets that go up and down.‖ The trust is best known for its work on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a storage facility dug into an Arctic mountain in Norway. It contains nearly 1 million samples of crop seeds gathered from gene banks over the world, kept in case disaster strikes. But the organization also has been quietly working to improve the ability of gene banks to conserve and distribute seeds, and helping the banks meet standards that qualify them for long-term funding from an endowment established by the trust. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/10/one-world-s-most-important-crop-gene-storehouses-just-gotfunding-boost

Gene editing advancements critical to feeding a hungry planet Professor Jan Leach, left, watches assistant professor Hongxia Liu inoculate rice plants with bacteria at CSU. A researcher at Cal-Davis fears that Agriculture Department oversight of the bacteria will drive her out of the research field.

By KRISTA KAFER | Columnist for The Denver Post October 11, 2018 at 11:57 pm

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And now for some good news: because of the scientific research at Colorado State University and other research institutions we may be able to feed all nine billion people in 2050 and confront the ... https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/11/gene-editing-advancements-feeding-hungry-planet/

Six beauty benefits of using rice water Yvonne Miranda 11th Oct 2018

What is rice water? It is the starch water left over after rice is left to soak or after cooking.

Popular in Asia, it is a natural skin toner which promotes cell growth, stimulates blood flow and keeps the skin smooth and bright.

Amongst other benefits, it contains vitamins which helps to reduce dark skin pigmentation, minerals which tighten the skin's open pores and has amino acids which are essential for beautiful hair and skin.

It also contains ferulic acid, a power antioxidant and allantois which contains antiinflammatory properties.

Below are five beauty benefits of using it on a regular basis.

1. Relieves acne and dermatitis It naturally soothes skin inflammation, rashes and other skin problems.

According to a 2002 study from the Department of Toxicology at Vrije University in Brussels, the Belgians found out that patients suffering from atopic dermatitis are able to improve the condition by bathing in rice water for at least 15 minutes twice a day.

It heals acne and calms the redness of an outbreak as it acts as an astringent on the skin by tightening the pores. It is advisable to refrigerate the water then apply it on the face using a cotton pad.

Leave it for at least 10 minutes and rinse with water.

2. Treats damaged, aging skin It helps to get rid of the dark age spots and to minimize free radical damages from the environment such as sun rays and aging.

It also smoothens the skin texture, addresses hyperpigmentation, tightens skin, reduces pore sizes and leaves a soft porcelain like finish for the face.

ALSO READ: Common causes of hair loss in women 3. Facial cleanser This is achieved by dipping a cotton pad into the liquid and gently massaging it into the skin for two minutes and let it air dry. Its regular use makes the face supple, soft, tight and radiant.

It also contains vitamins and minerals which help revitalize skin and keep it smooth and bright.

4. Softens and makes hair grow healthy The rice water helps to detangle and improve hair elasticity.

According to International Journal of Cosmetic Science, researchers found out that using rice water as a hair treatment offered significant benefits such as reducing surface friction and increasing the mass of hair.

After using shampoo and conditioner, rinse your hair with rice water to add shine to it and it also helps to keep it strong, healthy and growing longer.

5. Hair conditioner This is achieved by adding rosemary, lavender or geranium essential oil to the rice water and apply on the hair.

Allow it to stay for 10 minutes then wash it off. It is important since it is rich in amino acids that will improve the volume and strength of the hair. It also balances the scalps PH levels as it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t have any chemicals nor preservatives.

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Evewoman.co.ke https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/evewoman/article/2001298701/six-beauty-benefits-of-using-ricewater

How GIZ innovation improves rice production in Benue October 12, 2018

By Caleb Onwe Abuja

Small scale rice farmers and millers in Benue state have attributed the increased productivity, quality and values in local rice production to innovation introduced in the sector by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through its Green Innovation Centre for Agriculture and Food Sector in Nigeria.

Some of the stakeholders and farmers, who called for more adoption of technology in developing the agriculture sector in the country, said that one of the innovations, ―False Bottom,‖ introduced

by GIZ as rice parboiling method, had improved the quality of the local rice in the state, with more monetary values.

One of the stakeholders, Amile Terlumun, stated that rice value chain in Benue state was experiencing an unusual boom with enhanced values both for the farmers, millers and consumers, following the adoption of the innovation by the German agency.

Terlumun, who is also a trainer for the agency, noted that the ―false bottom‖ method of rice parboiling had helped the farmers to reduce the incidences of rice breakages and damages associated with the traditional method.

He stated that the new approach to rice parboiling and processing did not just come as an eye opener, but as a liberating force to his people, who now approach their daily activities of rice value chain with a business sense.

He noted that the traditional method of rice parboiling, which the local rice farmers were used to, did not just reduce the quality, but subjected the farmers and processors to penury. https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/10/how-giz-innovation-improves-rice-production-in-benue/ Oct 12, 2018, 12:02 AM; last updated: Oct 12, 2018, 12:02 AM (IST)

Farmers warned not to bring paddy with high moisture



Dry produce under the sun Despite this campaign, some farmers who have brought their produce with high moisture content have to dry it under the sun by spreading the grain during the day for drying and covering it at night to save it from the dew drops.

Hoardings warning farmers against bringing paddy with high moisture content to mandis.

Balwant Garg Tribune News Service Faridkot, October 11 To persuade farmers not to bring the paddy in mandis with moisture content above the permissible limit of 17 per cent, commission agents and rice millers have joined hands in the area.

They have put up big flex boards, hoardings and posters in the area around the grain mandis, warning the farmers of the harassment and problems they would face due to high moisture content in paddy. â&#x20AC;&#x2022;As high moisture content in paddy is a big hindrance in its procurement process that leads to its large-scale rejection by the government procurement agencies and many times, the farmers are forced to sell it below the minimum

support price (MSP), we want the farmers not to ignore the government-fixed permissible limit of 17 per cent moisture in paddy,‖ said a senior functionary in district mandi office in Faridkot.

Despite this campaign, some farmers who have brought their produce with high moisture content have to dry it under the sun by spreading the grain during the day for drying and covering it at night to save it from dew drops. ―Incomplete or uneven drying will result in qualitative and quantitative losses, which include yellowing or discoloration caused by mold development and heat build-up from respiration, reduced milling yields caused by high temperatures and damages caused by insects that are more active in higher moisture levels,‖ said Faridkot Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Prashar.

So far 25,999 metric tonne paddy has been procured in the district. Though the arrival of paddy in the mandis is much higher, due to high moisture, the procurement agencies are facing problem in purchasing, said the Deputy Commissioner, requesting the farmers to bring dry paddy in the mandis. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/bathinda/farmers-warned-not-to-bring-paddy-with-highmoisture/666729.html

Paddy production could drop in Maharashtra‘s Konkan district 11 October, 2018 9:51 AM IST By: Abha Toppo

Production of paddy in the Konkan region of Maharashtra could have a big impact due to irregular monsoon rains and fungal diseases. In 2017, the region had reported around 12.5 lakh tonnes of production, which could dip by 15 -20 percent this season.

It must be noted that out of 33 districts, paddy is cultivated in 32 districts but Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Sindhudurg are the major areas of production. After the initial arrival of monsoon, there has been a long dry spell that has affected the paddy production.

According to agriculturist, Vivek Bhide from Ratnagiri district, ‗though Konkan region has reported 106 percent of standard rainfall this year, but instability in rains has led to fungal diseases‘. Rice millers have also reported lower quantities of paddy being bought for processing. Bhide said that keeping in mind the topography of Konkan regions, terrace farming techniques are widely used here. And it has been observed that farms on top of the terrace have received less rainfall.

A senior official of Maharashtra Government said, growers who had planted the rice before the arrival of monsoon are harvesting their crops but with a dip of 15 -20 percent in production. Moreover fungal diseases are also increasing and fungicides are getting costly thus, growers are using it in diluted concentrations, to prevent high input costs.

https://krishijagran.com/news/paddy-production-could-drop-in-maharashtra-s-konkan-district/

Bangladesh releases 2 new rice varieties with high yield potentials 

UNB NEWS

 

PUBLISH DATE - OCTOBER 10, 2 018, 05:34 PM UNB NEWS - UNB NEWS

BRRI dhan89 in rice field. Photo: Courtesy

Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNB) – Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed two new high yielding rice varieties having higher yield potentials over the two most popular existing rice varieties in the country.

The two new varieties suitable for cultivation during Boro season – BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89 – released at a time when two of the country‘s most productive rice varieties – BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 – are fast losing potential due to ageing.

National Seed Board (NSB) in its meeting on Tuesday gave approval for the cultivation of the two new varieties having up to one tons (per hectare) of yield advantage over the BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 when the latter two are degenerating and suffering from increased pest infestation.

BRRI scientists told UNB on Wednesday that the newly released BRRI dhan88 has a yield potential of 7 tons per hectare comparing to BRRI dhan28‘s 6 ton. Its life cycle is similar to BRRI dhan 28 but pest and disease infestation in BRRI dhan88 is comparatively lesser.

The average yield of the BRRI dhan89 is within eight ton per hectare, half ton to one ton more than BRRI dhan29‘s average yield. It matures nearly a week earlier that the BRRI dhan29. The cooked rice out of this variety is non-sticky and delicious. BRRI expects this variety to become popular among the farmers.

Over the years BRRI developed as many as 92 rice varieties. And all of those have diverse features and respective advantage points like some are good for one season over the others while some are submergence tolerant, some are salt-tolerant while some are good for having finer and scented grain quality etc.

However, since their release in 1994, two BRRI varieties won farmers heart all over Bangladesh – these are BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 for their high yield potentials during Boro season.

Now the new two varieties – BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89 – are expected to replace the two most popular Boro rice varieties in Bangladesh.

Of the three rice seasons – Aus, Aman and Boro – the last one being the irrigated dry season rice gives the country more than half of the yearly rice output (19 million MT out of 35 million MT).

And BRRI dhan 28 and 29 are grown in over 60 percent of rice lands during the Boro season.

But after over two decades of high performance, these varieties are now getting vulnerable to degeneration and pest infestation. That‘s why BRRI scientists developed the two new varieties, BRRI plant breeder and Director (Research) Dr Tamal Lata Aditya told UNB. http://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/bangladesh-releases-2-new-rice-varieties-with-high-yieldpotentials/3949

Fifth International Rice Congress and Trade Show 2018 Created: Thursday, 11 October 2018 12:05

The fifth International Rice Conference (IRC) and Trade Show will be held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore from 15-17 October 2018

IRC 2018 will be held in Singapore. (Image source: IRRI) It is organised jointly by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and German Agricultural Society (DLG).

Thought leaders, scientists, policymakers, agriculture experts, and technology providers in the rice sector will come under one roof making it a venue for all players in the industry to meet, share, and learn about the latest gamechanging innovations, cutting-edge technologies, and crucial policies shaping the future of the globe's most important staple crop.

IRC 2018 will feature the International Rice Research Conference (IRRC 2018) and the 8th Rice Genetics Symposium (RG8).

More than 2,000 attendees from over 30 countries are expected to grace the three-day event that will feature five plenary sessions, more than 30 side events and 50 groundbreaking flash talks.

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/fifth-international-rice-congress-and-tradeshow-2018

Successful Online Promotions in Korea

By Sarah Moran

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- Auctions for U.S. medium grain table rice here had been suspended for several months which led to a dearth of U.S. rice in the market. This caused online retailers of U.S. rice to lose a number of regular, mostly household customers. Fortunately, 2016 tariff rate quota (TRQ) table rice auctions restarted in April and U.S. medium grain rice auctions created great

interest.

To assist these important distributors in their efforts to reclaim lost online sales, USA Rice partnered with Rice Green, one of Korea's top online retailers handling imported rice and other grain products, for two months (July and August) to promote U.S. rice in online markets. The promotion was conducted through the top four online malls and the number one social commerce market.

USA Rice-generated advertisements that included information about U.S. medium grain rice, U.S. rice

recipes, and cooking tips appeared on all five online markets," said Jim Guinn, director of USA Rice Asia Promotion Programs. "Participating retailers added to the promotion by giving every customer two 100g (.22 pound) packages of rice as a bonus on their purchase."

As a result of the promotion, 106 tons of U.S. medium grain was sold - a 50 percent increase from the prior two months - and almost 10 tons of free rice was distributed, and more than 95 percent of regular customers said in a survey that they would continue to purchase U.S. medium grain rice regularly.

"Based on this success, USA Rice plans to request Agricultural Trade Promotion funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to continue this promotional effort," said Guinn.

WASDE Report Released

WASHINGTON, DC -- The 2018/19 rice crop is reduced 700,000 cwt to 218.8 million on lower yields. The average yield forecast is lowered 24 pounds per acre to 7,539 pounds. Decreases are in Texas and California. The longgrain crop is reduced 500,000 cwt to 159 million. Mediumand short-grain production is lowered 200,000 cwt to 59.8 million. All rice ending stocks are lowered 700,000 cwt to 44.2 million as no other supply and demand changes are made this month. The all rice season-average farm price is unchanged at a range of $11.20 to $12.20 per cwt with the midpoint at $11.70.

Foreign rice supplies for 2018/19 are raised 900,000 tons mainly on increased production. India's crop is raised 1 million tons and Madagascar is raised 400,000, both on updated government data. Partly offsetting is a 500,000-ton reduction for Egypt on new government policies that restrict rice production. Global trade and consumption are only changed fractionally. With supplies rising more than use, global ending stocks are increased 800,000 tons to 145.2 million.

Read the full report here.

https://www.ippmedia.com/en/news/researchers-come-strategy-produce-quality-resistant-seeds

Awareness session for rice growers held  

October 11, 2018

Rawalpindi Agriculture Department has organized a seminar for awareness of rice growers. Malik Nouman Ahmad Langerial Minister for Agriculture Punjab participated as chief guest. Benish Fatima Sahi Additional Secretary (Task Force), Dr. Abid Mahmood Director General Agriculture (Research), Syed Zafaryaab Haider Director General Agriculture (Ext & AR), Rai Mudassar Abbas Deputy Director Agriculture Information along with large gathering of farmers also attended this seminar. On this occasion, Minister for Agriculture Punjab Malik Nouman Ahmad Langerial said that Basmati Rice of Pakistan is popular throughout the World. Pakistan is earning worth of billion rupees through its export. During 2017-18, rice of quantity 2.29 million tonnes were imported and Pakistan get more than $ 1.06 Billion. Minister for Agriculture Punjab has also said that the current regime believe in farmer‘s betterment as whole economy depend on Agriculture. Our Government as in accordance to Vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan is launching many program for farmer‘s welfare.

https://pakobserver.net/awareness-session-for-rice-growers-held/

In US-China trade war, Pakistan gets extra export orders

In US-China trade war, Pakistan gets extra export orders

By Imran Rana Published: October 11, 2018

FCCI president insists orders can be doubled if govt resolves liquidity problem. PHOTO; FILE

FAISALABAD: The present tense relations between the US and China have

proved to be a blessing in disguise for Pakistan as its exporters are getting extra orders from the US in the prevailing circumstances, said Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Syed Zia Alumdar Hussain.

Speaking to trainees of the Pakistan Institute of Trade and Development (PITAD) at the FCCI, Hussain said Faisalabad was a main industrial and economic hub of Pakistan as the city had Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s biggest sock manufacturing units, the largest knitwear factory, rice mill, yarn market and a state-of-the-art agriculture university.

―The share of Faisalabad in total textile exports is around 55%,‖ he pointed out. ―Although textile is the mainstay of Pakistan‘s economy, many other sectors like oil, chemicals and beverages are also contributing to the national economy in a big way.‖ He emphasised that the basic objective of the FCCI was to protect the economic interests of its 7,000 members in addition to developing a cooperative working relationship between the government and business community.

Hussain revealed that FCCI office-bearers had chalked out their roadmap which consisted of ‗Triple E‘. ―We will focus on the economy, exports and education as these sectors will be our priority for the year 2018-19.‖ Regarding the impact of deteriorating US-China ties, he said Pakistan was already getting additional orders from the US. ―These orders could be doubled provided the government resolves the country‘s liquidity problem by ensuring immediate payment of tax rebate, refund and Drawback of Local Taxes and Levies (DLTL) claims,‖ he said.

He specifically mentioned the recent visit of Finance Minister Asad Umar to the FCCI and told the trainees that the chamber had played a major role in drafting the textile policy for the next five years. He expressed satisfaction over the government‘s efforts to implement uniform gas tariffs across the country, especially for the five major export-oriented sectors including textile. ―Punjab is getting gas for Rs1,600 per unit while it was supplied in other provinces at only Rs488 per unit,‖ he lamented. ―This disparity has made our exports uncompetitive even within the country.‖ Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2018.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1822967/2-us-china-trade-war-pakistan-gets-extra-export-orders/

Rice SRP in place by month's end: Piñol ABS-CBN News Posted at Oct 10 2018 09:06 AM | Updated as of Oct 10 2018 06:30 PM

A vendor waits for customers at a rice and egg shop in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines August 7, 2018. Erik De Castro, Reuters

MANILA - The government will impose suggested retail prices (SRP) for rice by late October amid the rising cost of commodities, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said Wednesday.

Piñol said stakeholders agreed in a meeting last week to the following SRPs for every kilo of rice:   

Regular milled rice - P38 to P39 Well-milled rice - P40 to P41 Whole grain head rice - P42 to P44

Rice prices are expected to slide by the end of the month due to the start of the local harvest season and the arrival of imported staple grains, the official said.

At the same time, "misleading" names of rice varieties like "Sinandomeng," "Dinorado," "Angelica" and "Yummy-Yummy" will also be removed from the description of special rice varieties, he said.

Rice products will instead be labeled only as regular milled, well-milled, long grain head and special rice, he said.

"The traders and the retailers can actually change the names at the risk of losing their licenses," he added.

By mid-2019, authorities will also ban the display of rice products in open containers as this is "unsafe and unhealthy," said Piñol.

Retailers will be required instead to sell the staple in vacuum-sealed bags that contain information on which group of farmers produced the rice, their contact number, and the products' date and place of milling, he said. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/10/18/rice-srp-in-place-by-month-end-piol

‗Free-for-all‘ rice importation OK‘d

Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) - October 10, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has approved recommendations to liberalize rice importation in a bid to address the soaring prices of commodities that led to inflation of 6.7 percent last month.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III made the recommendation to liberalize the importation of rice, which led to heated debates among Cabinet officials, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

Roque said the debates were ―close to tempers flaring‖ between concerned officials, although he did not identify those who were opposing Dominguez‘s recommendation.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Dominguez clashed when he pushed for liberalization of rice imports to address the rising prices of commodities, which was a cause of the soaring inflation rate.

Before this, Duterte issued Administrative Order No. 13 which removed non-tariff barriers and streamlined administrative procedures on the importation of agricultural products.

Roque though did not confirm if there was a shouting match between Dominguez and Piñol but he confirmed there were intense debates among officials about the rice importation issue. ―I don‘t think it was a shouting match. I think it was just people being assertive about their views,‖ Roque said. ―It was a principled and fierce discussion about how to characterize the current system and the possible solution to the problem,‖ he said.

The President listened to both sides but decided to go with liberalizing rice imports, Roque added.

Roque said Duterte eventually decided to allow ―unimpeded‖ rice importation, following the explanations of his Cabinet members, in a bid to flood the country with rice. ―There are no more restrictions and we will use the tariffs for the Filipino rice farmers,‖ Roque said.

Roque categorized the rice shortage as a ―hot issue‖ to begin with. ―It was a very hot issue, it was very animated and we were one of three who had very strong views about the need for controlling inflation through increasing the supply of rice in the country,‖ Roque said.

With the President‘s directive, Roque said the National Food Authority will no longer have a say on how much rice should be imported and that anyone who can pay tariff will be allowed to import rice. ―We are hoping that with this kind of order, even giant companies like San Miguel Corporation, which was specifically mentioned in the Cabinet yesterday, will be able to import rice, and this increase will result in overall lowering of price of rice,‖ Roque said.

Roque said the President approved unimpeded importation of rice as a measure to reduce inflation after Dominguez stressed that food items are ―primarily responsible for uneven inflation rate for the last month.‖ ―The President ordered the unimpeded importation of rice, he wants to flood the market with rice so that if the prices of crude and other oil prices should go up a step further, that the people should have access to affordable rice,‖ Roque said. ―I underscore that this was after the finance secretary illustrated by way of graphs that food items – together with tobacco and oil – were responsible for the increase in inflation and that rice in fact was the most important commodity whose price increase led to the spike in inflation,‖ he said.

Quoting Piñol, Roque said the prices of commodities have started to drop following the importation of over two million metric tons of rice.

On the other hand, the government continues to implement a temporary ban on importation of pork from six countries amid several outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF).

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has instituted the ban on importation of domestic and wild pigs including pork meat and semen from Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Moldova, South Africa, Zambia and Belgium.

Last month, the DA banned pork imports from Latvia, Poland Romania, Russia, Ukraine and China.

Based on the report submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health, there were outbreaks of ASF virus affecting domestic and wild pigs in these countries.

ASF is a highly contagious hemorrhagic disease of pigs, warthogs, European wild boar and American wild pigs. Mortality rates are high as 100 percent.

Piñol issued an immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of the application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) import clearance to the commodities.

Piñol said there will be stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of the commodities into the Philippines by all DA veterinary quarantine officers at all major ports.

There will also be confiscation of meat and their products brought in by arriving passengers from the aforementioned countries.

The memorandum order was issued to prevent the entry of the virus to protect public health and the local swine population and is set to take effect immediately. – With Louise Maureen Simeon, Evelyn Macairan

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/10/10/1858848/free-all-rice-importationokd#7X0MGyl5p0ihIbOU.99

'Unimpeded' rice import to moderate inflation: study

By Joann Villanueva October 10, 2018, 3:43 pm MANILA -- An ING Bank report sees a possible deceleration in the Philippines‘ inflation rate as a result of the liberalization of rice importation, which will immediately address supply issues in the domestic market.

Citing reports, ING‘s publication THINK, issued last Oct. 9, and jointly written by ING Bank Senior Economist for the Philippines Nicholas Mapa and economist for Asia Prakash Sakpal, said President Rodrigo Duterte's decision to greenlight liberalized importation of the country‘s staple food will temper food inflation. ―Rice accounts for 9 percent of the CPI (consumer price index) basket and controlling inflation of this important food item could help lower overall inflation and anchor inflation expectations in the coming months,‖ it said.

Domestic inflation has been on the rise and has breached the government‘s 2 percent to 4 percent target band since last March when consumer prices registered a year-on-year uptick of 4.3 percent.

Authorities have traced faster inflation of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index due to supply constraints on rice, fish, meat and vegetables due to weather-induced and management issues.

Other contributory factors are the jump in the prices of petroleum products in the international market and efficiency issues in the implementation of "sin taxes".

To address the lack of supply of these basic commodities, with rice in particular, MalacaĂąang has issued several directives targeted to boost supply and help reduce consumer prices.

These directives include Administrative Order (AO) No. 13, which removes non-tariff barriers and streamlines administrative procedures on the import of basic agricultural commodities.

The Office of the President also issued Memorandum Order (MO) No. 26, which directs the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement measures that would reduce the gap between farm-gate and retail prices of agricultural products.

It has also issued MO No. 27, which directs the DA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure efficient and seamless delivery of imported agricultural and fishery products from ports to markets.

MO 28, meanwhile, directs the National Food Authority regarding the immediate release of about 230,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in its warehouses nationwide and the immediate distribution of the 100,000 MT of rice that have been contracted and are expected to be delivered by the end of last month. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1050577

Use rice tariffs to boost rural productivity â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Recto October 10, 2018, 7:56 PM

By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday urged the government to ensure that the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s farmers will not be left out as it opened the importation of rice to private traders.

Senator Ralph Recto (JOHN JEROME GANZON / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Recto made the appeal after the Palace announced Tuesday that President Duterte has approved the ―unimpeded importation of rice‖ by lifting the import quota on rice in a bid to reduce the rising prices of commodities.

Groups raised concern that the liberalizing rice importation would hurt local farmers as they would not be able to compete with imported rice. Recto, for his part, also believed that it ―will hit our rice farmers hard.‖ ―This is a tough balancing act. We must hit the sweet spot that will protect farmers from bankruptcy and spare consumers from high rice prices,‖ Recto said in a statement. ―Hindi pwedeng busog ang isa, gutom naman yung isa (One should not be full, while the other is starving). We should give what the rice-consuming poor want without harming the rice-producing poor,‖ he appealed. ―The challenge is to fill the pots with rice without leaving the pockets of farmers empty, or their farms abandoned,‖ Recto added.

Farmers affected Recto said at least two billion local rice farmers could lose P19,200 income per hectare or P87.9 billion a year should the government fail to assist them in allowing traders to imported rice.

He said this could result to an ―endo of massive scale.‖

Recto said the government should use the tariffs paid on imported rice to boost rural productivity. He said it should not just apply to rice ―but all farm produce.‖ ―I think there is no orthodoxy in proposing direct cash aid to the severely affected farmers,‖ Recto said.

Echoing Recto, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said that while he is not objecting to the Palace‘s move to lift the restrictions on rice import, the administration should help farmers in modernizing their methods and improving their income.

Plenary debates are ongoing in Senate on the Senate Bill No. 1998, which seeks to lift the quantitative import restrictions on rice and replace it with tariffs.

Under the bill, an annual P10-billion competitiveness enhancement fund would be allotted for the rice sector.

The Palace said they would continue to support the measure despite the President‘s move to lift rice restrictions ahead of Congress.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/10/use-rice-tariffs-to-boost-rural-productivity-recto/

Rice tariffication certified urgent posted October 11, 2018 at 01:10 am by Nathaniel Mariano and Macon Ramos-Araneta

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday certified the rice tarrification bill as urgent to aid the passage of the proposed measure to help temper inflation, which hit a new nine-year high of 6.7 percent last month.

Addressing the certification to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Duterte cited the ―urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.‖ Bills certified as urgent by the President can sail smoothly through the legislative process, especially with Duterte‘s allies having the numbers in Congress. The House passed its version of the bill in August, while the Senate has a counterpart bill under deliberation.

This developed as Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said suggested retail prices for rice will be implemented by late October, amid the rising costs of fuel and other commodities.

The Departments of Agriculture and Trade are also planning to impose SRPs for chicken to be updated every three days and pork to be updated every week, Piñol added.

However, Albay Rep. Joel Salceda, economic adviser of Duterte ally and former president Arroyo, this ―economic tokhang‖ or monitoring of prices was beyond the government‘s regulatory capacity.

―How can they monitor that many wet markets, that many groceries?‖ Salceda told ANC television.

A more efficient way to lower the prices of pork and chicken, the lawmaker said, is to lift the tariff on the importation of these meats for six months so supply could increase. The government could also import rice from Vietnam at only P21 per kilo, Salceda added.

In another development, Duterte said late Tuesday he sees the possibility of appointing a Chinese businessman to head the National Food Authority. ―I‘m looking for somebody else. I‘m looking for a Chinese who‘s been there in the business maybe 20 years. I‘ll just ask him, in the meantime, to be the NFA [chief]. It‘s their business, he knows,‖ he told Palace reporters in a press interview.

He did not say why he seemed to have changed his mind about appointing retiring Army chief Lt. Gen. Rolando Bautista to the post.

He now wants Bautista to head the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Earlier, Duterte lifted all restrictions on rice imports to bring prices for the grain down.

The Palace said anyone who can afford and pay the tariff may import rice without the need for an executive order from the President.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said he did not object to lifting restrictions on rice imports if local farmers are given the support they need to ensure that their farming methods are modern and that their incomes improve.

He also warned that food security would be a problem if local farmers stopped growing rice.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said imports would reduce prices of rice and lower inflation but will hit local rice farmers hard. ―That‘s why it‘s important to craft a good law that will reduce prices of rice and compensate farmers and increase agricultural productivity at the same time,‖ he said. http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/277672/rice-tariffication-certified-urgent.html

Improving Local Rice Production In Nigeria October 10, 2018

By ANN

Rice, a staple food in most Nigerian homes has always enjoyed increasing demand across the country. As a staple that is easy to cook, there is hardly nowhere around the country that this grain is not consumed. However, festivities and other social function, often place huge demand on the availability of this popular food item.

The wide acceptance of rice as a regular item on most families‘ menu list in the country is responsible for the huge amount of money that has over the years been expended on its importation. For instance, the country imported about 17 million tonnes of rice in the five years preceding the current Buhari administration. As it is often said, necessity is the mother of invention; smugglers adopt various devices to illegally bring rice into the country.

The intervention of players such as Olam into local rice farm in 2012 as a response to government support for local players did not yield any noticeable dividend. This is a farm of 4,500 hectares with mill, very close to Benue River and is equipped with silos that have capacity to store 228,000 tonnes of rice. Yet, the 50,000tonnes of rice grown by the company each year was of small fraction of Nigeria‘s rice consumption demand.

Our reliance on importation of rice has been to the disadvantage of our local economy.

Resources that could have been spent to boost capacity of agro-economy were channeled to the importation of rice which has lost its nutritional value due to years of preservation. In 2016, Nigeria rice importation stood at 2.3 million tonnes, with $5 million averagely spent on each shipment. It is not by surprise then that Nigeria gradually worked her way into recession.

The abundance of arable land without capacity in terms of finance, necessary infrastructures and agricultural technology to maximize the potentials of farmers remains a serious setback to the growth of the industry. A once thriving sector that has fed the nation was abandoned to the whims and caprices of importing over processed products that add no value to our existence, other than malnutrition.

Much agriculturally vibrant manpower that is supposed to be on the farm is in the city in search of menial/casual work while the few left on the field keep struggling to produce the quantity that is barely enough to feed their family members and immediate community. Consequently, so much energy and efforts are dissipated on farm without much meaningful results. Sadly, Local Governments all over the country whose responsibility is to provide agricultural tractors and other essential farm tools at lease to farmers are now depending solely on federal allocation and rates for survival.

The state of the nation‘s economy which went into recession at the inception of the present administration became an eye opener which eventually made the Federal Government to challenge all major stakeholders into looking inward to diversifying economy as a measure to reduce dependence on oil revenue. According to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Audu Ogbeh, the culture of importing what could be locally produced has to stop. ―Those who keep talking of imports either don‘t mean Nigeria well or simply refused to recognize the fact that we can no longer afford the imports‖. This was what, perhaps, ultimately informed the Federal Government‘s decision to place a ban on the importation of rice, while providing facilities for local production.

Expectedly, the ban triggered the price of imported rice to about N20, 000 for a bag of 50kg.

However, the situation was seen by critical stakeholders as an avenue to invest and innovate in the sector. One of such stakeholders that frontally seized the opportunity are the Lagos and Kebbi State Governments who explore the economic diversification in agro-economy to enhance food security in the country.

It is this innovative partnership that gave birth to the now popular Lake Rice which debut in 2016. This has, no doubt, been affording Lagos residents as well as those in neighbouring states the opportunity of getting quality rice at affordable price. The coming of Lake Rice eventually led to reduction in the price of imported rice. Packaged in different sizes of 50kg, 25kg, 12.5kg and 6kg, Lake Rice is really helping to give residents access to the staple commodity. The speculative buying or hoarding against festive period of Christmas, Eid-kabir, Eid-fitri have been rested as the State government has vowed to continue to put structures in place for the productâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s availability, in and out of season.

Today, Lake Rice has become a model for other states of the Federation to emulate. The partnership has attracted direct/indirect investments in the introduction agricultural practice to maximize yields, mills to process harvest and silos to store products from wastage. The commitment of the Lagos and Kebbi State Governments towards the sustenance of the initiative has become a litmus test of the capacity of the nation to provide food for her citizenry as well as engaging the unemployed through numerous agricultural value chain available.

With a growing population of over 200million, it is clearly wise and convenient for all tiers of governments to embrace food security. Aside hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity equally results in a wide range of other problems such as health, environmental degradation, and high rate of crime. Hence the need for governments at all levels to encourage young and unemployed school leavers to embrace farming through the provision of lands, seedlings, mechanized infrastructure and easy access to loan.

The Lagos State government is already doing something in this positive direction as it has empowered young rice farmers with inputs ranging from land preparation, seeds and fertilizer provision as well as access to irrigation. Equally, in order to boost productivity, farmers in parts of the country where scarcity of rain is usually experienced should embrace micro- irrigation.

This technology enables farmers to enjoy water supply all year round and essentially it efficiently irrigate, grow crops and boost their farming income and outcome.

If we must boost food security in the country, this is the time to stop paying lip services to the issue of agriculture and walk the talk. https://annafrica.net/2018/10/10/improving-local-rice-production-in-nigeria/

Importation Of $4bn Worth Of Rice Shameful... |

10-Oct-2018

The President of the African Rice Advocacy Platform (ARAP), Julius Wambura, has described as shameful the importation of $4 billion worth of rice into the African continent.

According to him, Africa is supporting other Asian economies with over $4 billion through the importation of rice whiles the industry in Africa needs boost.

Speaking at the ARAP learning event

supported by the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation on Tuesday, 9 October 2018, Mr Wambura charged African farmers to take advantage of the large available market for the commodity.

He called on other African countries who are not part of the platform to join the group to ensure that Africans make strides in promoting rice production.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, Professor Baffour Agyemang Duah, believes Ghana has not been able to take advantage of the African Rice Advocacy Platform which was formed two years ago under the Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) with John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation as a partner.

The project aims to substantially increase the income of local rice farmers in the selected countries through their integration into competitive and sustainable business models.

According to Professor Duah, Nigeria was able to take advantage of the platform to improve their production such that Nigeria at the moment has ceased the importation of rice whilst Ghana still imports rice worth GHS1.2 billion.

He emphasised the need for Ghanaian farmers to also change their strategies in order to benefit from the rice industry. http://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/business/news/201810/364994.php

Palace orders â&#x20AC;&#x2014;unimpededâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; rice imports

October 10, 2018 | 12:33 am

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte has ordered ―unimpeded‖ importation of rice, adding to steps meant to ease inflation which has been hitting multiyear peaks, Malacañang‘s spokesman said on Tuesday. ―… [W]e… had the 30th Cabinet meeting yesterday and I think the most important highlight of that meeting was the President approved unimpeded importation of rice as a measure to reduce inflation,‖ Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing.

Mr. Roque recalled that, in a presentation in that meeting, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III had said ―that food items now are primarily responsible for and even increased inflation rate for the last month…‖ Latest available Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data show headline inflation rising for the ninth straight month — and breaching the government‘s 2-4% full-year target for 2018 for the seventh consecutive month — to a fresh nine-year-high 6.7% in September.

Rice alone accounts for 9.6% of the theoretical basket of widely consumed goods that is used to compute year-on-year overall price changes, making it a key contributor to inflation.

Hence, ―the President ordered the unimpeded importation of rice,‖ Mr. Roque said on Tuesday. ―He wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other oil prices should go up still further, the people will have access to affordable rice,‖ he explained. ―The NFA (National Food Authority) no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported; anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs will be allowed to import rice,‖ Mr. Roque added. ―Wala na pong… mga (There are no more) restrictions. It‘s a free market now for rice. Wala nang (There will be no more) accreditation, wala nang permiso (no need for permission) — well of course they need to procure import permits… But no one will have to approve the importation anymore, basta (so long as) they comply with the documentary requirements.‖ Asked about a time frame for carrying out Mr. Duterte‘s latest directive, Mr. Roque replied: ―… [T]here was no time frame agreed upon, basta liberalize the importation of rice, full liberalization.‖ He said that Mr. Duterte made the decision ―after the Finance Secretary illustrated by way of graphs… that rice in fact was the most important commodity whose price increase… led to the spike in inflation.‖ Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol insisted in an interview over the ABS-CBN News Channel that ―… for those importing rice, government must not make it difficult for them, that was the essence of the statement of the President…‖, adding that he sat ―beside the President‖ when Mr. Duterte gave his directive.

Malacañang has been pressing Congress to approve a measure that would replace the current quota-based rice import scheme with a regular tariff system that is expected to slash retail prices of the politically sensitive staple by P7 per kilogram (/kg).

Latest PSA data show average retail price of regular milled rice at P45.83/kg in the final week of September, 20.45% more than the P38.05/kg a year ago, while that of well-milled rice was at P49.37/kg, up 16.80% from the year-ago price of P42.27/kg.

Sought for comment, Rolando T. Dy, executive director of the University of Asia & the Pacific‘s Center for Food and Agri Business, said in a telephone interview that ―allowing the private sector to import as long as they pay the tariffs… it‘s good for the country.‖ ―… [I]f you are talking about the average of… over P40 of retail price of rice… We are talking about 10% decline of the retail prices.‖ Malacañang last month unveiled a host of non-tariff measures aimed at bringing produce faster from farm to market.

Mr. Roque described Tuesday‘s Cabinet discussion on rice as ―very animated.‖ ―It was a very hot issue,‖ he said of rice. ―It was very animated… There was a principled and furious discussion about… the possible solution to the problem.‖ While Mr. Roque declined to name the Cabinet men involved in ―furious discussion‖ of the issue, Mr. Piñol, in previous television interviews, has smarted from statements by state economic managers attributing inflation‘s rise partly on rice, arguing that the unabated increase in oil prices was a bigger factor. He agrees with other economic managers, however, that the problem with rice can be traced to a ―miscue‖ of rice importation — caused by opposing views last year within the NFA Council itself on

the best importation scheme — that in turn caused much-needed foreign rice to arrive in September rather than in this year‘s first quarter.

MORE RICE IMPORTS EYED Mr. Piñol had said on Monday that the Philippines will allow major rice retailers to import up to 350,000 tons of the grain, potentially bringing total purchases this year to 2.4 million tons which would be the second highest on record.

The Philippines buys rice largely from Vietnam and Thailand.

This year‘s approved purchases would mark the largest rice imports by the country since 2010, when shipments reached a record 2.45 million tons amid fears of shortages following spikes in global food prices.

Mr. Piñol said the NFA has ―approved in principle‖ the Trade department‘s proposal to allow retailers to ship in additional volumes. The 350,000 tons that retailers can bring in would be on top of the 750,000 tons that the NFA is set to import before yearend. The NFA already bought 500,000 tons of rice earlier this year, and private traders were allowed to ship in up to 805,200 tons under an annual quota scheme. — Arjay L. Balinbin and Reuters RECOMMENDED https://www.bworldonline.com/palace-orders-unimpeded-rice-imports/ https://newspublicist.com/global-paddy-rice-market-report-includes-market-potential-growth-withmarket-share-analysis-manufacturing-process-machinery-raw-materials-cost-and-revenue-2023/

Bill requires restos to have ‗half-cup‘ rice orders October 10, 2018, 12:02 PM

By Ellson Quismorio A Mindanao lawmaker has proposed the reintroduction of ―half-cup‖ orders of rice at fast-food joints and restaurants in response to the country‘s current rice supply woes.

(WIKIPEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Davao Oriental 2nd district Rep. Joel Mayo Almario authored and filed in the current 17th Congress House Bill (HB) No. 7034, otherwise known as the ―Half-Cup Rice Act of 2018.‖ Almario said the bill aims to achieve a fourfold goal of reducing food wastage, attaining self- sufficiency in rice production, lessening consumer expense, and promoting health through balanced eating. ―The food industry must do their part by offering portion sizes or half-cup rice servings,‖ he said in a statement.

It can be recalled that popular fast food establishments voluntarily introduced half-cup servings of rice in their menu years ago during a similar phase when the country‘s buffer stock of the grain wasn‘t as abundant.

However, customers slammed it as a profiteering move since orders of half-cup rice and one-cup rice cost the same.

In Almario‘s bill, he specified that the half-cup would rice will be 50 percent cheaper than the full one-cup order. ―Rice in fast food chains are now priced an average of P30 per cup. Should HB 7034 get the nod of both houses of Congress, the public can see a reduction of at least P15 in their daily expenses,‖ his statement read.

―Customers are forced to buy a whole cup of rice because that is all most restaurants offer, but not all customers can consume what they order. With the passage of this bill, consumers will be given the option to order only the amount of rice they can eat or what is within their budgets,‖ Almario further said in justifying his measure.

A Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) study shows that each Filipino wastes an average of two tablespoons of cooked rice each day.

When totaled, the amount is equivalent to 12 percent percent of the country‘s annual rice imports or a whopping P7.2 billion annually. ―The current trend in rice consumption runs counter to the government response of importing rice to resolve the effects of inflation. Even if the supplies start pouring in, if there is too much wastage, then everything is for naught,‖ Almario pointed out.

Rice is the staple food of the Philippines, a country of over 100 million people.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/10/10/bill-requires-restos-to-have-half-cup-rice-orders/

BRRI develops 2 new rice varieties Mohammad Ali Zheelon . Gazipur | Published: 00:58, Oct 11,2018 | Updated: 01:13, Oct 11,2018

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute has developed two new high yielding rice varieties - BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89.

Both the varieties are suitable for cultivation in Boro season.

MA Kashem, technical editor and head of publications and public relations division at BRRI, told New Age that the National Seed Board in its meeting on Tuesday gave approval for cultivation of the grain as BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89.

Acting secretary of the agriculture ministry Md Nasiruzzaman presided over the NSB meeting while BRRI director general Md Shahjahan Kabir and other senior officials of different organisations were present.

The average yield of the newly released BRRI dhan88 is seven tonne per hectare which is o.5 tonne higher than BRRI dhan28 and its life cycle is similar to BRRI dhan28.

Pest and disease infestation in BRRI dhan88 is comparatively lesser than the other conventional varieties.

The average yield of the BRRI dhan89 is within eight to nine tonne per hectare, which is one tonne higher than BRRI dhan29. Its life cycle is 154-158 days.

The cooked rice out of this variety is non-sticky and delicious. That is why it is likely to be popular among the farmers.

http://www.newagebd.net/article/52901/brri-develops-2-new-rice-varieties

Bangladesh releases 2 new rice varieties with high yield potentials 

UNB NEWS

 

PUBLISH DATE - OCTOBER 10, 2018, 05:34 PM UNB NEWS - UNB NEWS

BRRI dhan89 in rice field. Photo: Courtesy

Dhaka, Oct 10 (UNB) – Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed two new high yielding rice varieties having higher yield potentials over the two most popular existing rice varieties in the country.

The two new varieties suitable for cultivation during Boro season – BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89 – released at a time when two of the country‘s most productive rice varieties – BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 – are fast losing potential due to ageing.

National Seed Board (NSB) in its meeting on Tuesday gave approval for the cultivation of the two new varieties having up to one tons (per hectare) of yield advantage over the BRRI dhan28

and BRRI dhan29 when the latter two are degenerating and suffering from increased pest infestation.

BRRI scientists told UNB on Wednesday that the newly released BRRI dhan88 has a yield potential of 7 tons per hectare comparing to BRRI dhan28‘s 6 ton. Its life cycle is similar to BRRI dhan 28 but pest and disease infestation in BRRI dhan88 is comparatively lesser.

The average yield of the BRRI dhan89 is within eight ton per hectare, half ton to one ton more than BRRI dhan29‘s average yield. It matures nearly a week earlier that the BRRI dhan29. The cooked rice out of this variety is non-sticky and delicious. BRRI expects this variety to become popular among the farmers.

Over the years BRRI developed as many as 92 rice varieties. And all of those have diverse features and respective advantage points like some are good for one season over the others while some are submergence tolerant, some are salt-tolerant while some are good for having finer and scented grain quality etc.

However, since their release in 1994, two BRRI varieties won farmers heart all over Bangladesh – these are BRRI dhan28 and BRRI dhan29 for their high yield potentials during Boro season.

Now the new two varieties – BRRI dhan88 and BRRI dhan89 – are expected to replace the two most popular Boro rice varieties in Bangladesh.

Of the three rice seasons – Aus, Aman and Boro – the last one being the irrigated dry season rice gives the country more than half of the yearly rice output (19 million MT out of 35 million MT).

And BRRI dhan 28 and 29 are grown in over 60 percent of rice lands during the Boro season.

But after over two decades of high performance, these varieties are now getting vulnerable to degeneration and pest infestation. That‘s why BRRI scientists developed the two new varieties, BRRI plant breeder and Director (Research) Dr Tamal Lata Aditya told UNB. http://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/bangladesh-releases-2-new-rice-varieties-with-high-yieldpotentials/3949

Duterte certifies rice tariffication bill as urgent

By Robert Vergara, CNN Philippines

Updated 16:18 PM PHT Thu, October 11, 2018

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 10) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday called on Congress to immediately pass a bill that seeks to abolish quantitative restrictions on rice imports.

In letters addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, Duterte certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent.

The move, the President said, aims to "address the urgent need to improve availability of rice in the country, prevent rice shortage, reduce prices of rice, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry."

Once enacted, businesses and individuals can outsource rice from the country's Southeast Asian neighbors, but will have to comply with 40 percent tariff. Tax proceeds will be used to fund programs aimed at helping farmers such as mass irrigation, rice storage and research initiatives.

The House of Representatives in August passed its version of the measure. The Senate, however, has yet to act on the proposal.

Once the Senate comes up with a counterpart, a bicameral meeting will be held to discuss a unified version of the proposed policy. It will, then, be sent to the President.

The bill is seen as among the measures that will help address the rising prices of widely-used goods in the country or inflation, which hit a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September. http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2018/10/10/president-rodrigo-duterte-rice-tarrification-bill-urgent.html

Red flags in rice tariffication October 8, 2018 | 10:17 pm

Introspective

By Ramon L. Clarete

The House of Representatives has passed its version of the rice tariffication law.

Apparently, they did that to make good (finally after 23 years) the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s obligation under the WTOâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s agreement of agriculture to convert a quantity restriction or QR on rice imports into ordinary tariff protection.

Putting down the current inflation problem is the stronger motive. Inflation rate in September rose to 6.7%, higher by three tenths of a percent a month ago. Food price inflation, says PSA, was 9%. The rate is a five-year high.

Inflation is costing us high in terms of investments forgone, fewer jobs created, and higher economic growth missed.

But most of all, it imposes a very heavy burden on lower income households, which spend about 20% of their meager incomes on rice.

Significant reduction of the rice price cools down inflation. Yes, the problem has other factors, such as the spike of world petroleum prices and the tax reform law, which increased excise taxes. Holding them constant, we can fight inflation if we can just reduce rice prices.

In 2017, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the average price of wellmilled rice was 39 pesos a kilo. The landed cost of Vietnamese rice, 25% broken, at the exchange rate of 54 pesos, plus the tariff rate of 35% and a 10% marketing cost could bring down local rice prices to only 31 pesos a kilo, or 25 percentage lower than its 2017 level. With its weight of nearly 10% in the CPI, inflation may go down by 2.5 percentage points, and about twice that of the poor‘s CPI. That can be realized if our lawmakers would craft the rice tariffication law right.

Consider the following red flags: • Both House and Senate versions affirm our commitment in ASEAN to import rice at 35% tariff. However, the House version continues to give licensing authority on rice imports to the NFA. This introduces potential quantity constraints to import restrictions depending on how the NFA exercises its licensing power. The antidote for it so we can fight rice price inflation effectively is to take it out.

• The import licensing that is allowed to continue is for protecting us from ―bukbuks‖ and ―hanips,‖ other pests, or pathogens, which imported rice may bring into the

country. The Bureau of Plant Industry enforces this measure, called the sanitary and phyto-sanitary (SPS) import measure. However, this can be abused as Senator Villar, the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, knows very well.

Recall the garlic cartel, where few BPI officials were accused of conniving with it to corner the volume of imported garlic and keep garlic prices high? Corrupt BPI officials in charge of SPS could do likewise in rice. When this problem happened, garlic prices increased by 300%.

The remedy is for the law to have a clear provision against abuse of SPS licensing authority to corner the supply of rice in the country benefitting the rice cartel, with penalties meted out for abuses. SPS measures are automatic licenses, i.e. if the importer proves that the imported rice meets the standards and technical regulations of BPI, it should issue the SPS license. â&#x20AC;˘ The role of the public rice stock in food security is less appreciated in the Senate version of the law. The Senate Committee on Agriculture allows direct importation of rice by the NFA, when local supply is not sufficient to ensure rice security. This provision is unnecessary. With rice tariffication, commercial importers can decide on their own to bring in more rice if such a situation occurs in the future. There is no longer a quantity restriction on imported rice, just a tariff measure. So if commercial importers figure out they still can earn after tariffs, they would import rice, closing the deficiency in local rice supply.

But there is another risk that we have to prepare for: what if rice prices in the world market are simply very high and the commercial importers would not import rice because they couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;t find a supplier.

Remember 2008? Major exporters like India and Vietnam restricted their exports of rice, India to keep their rice only for the domestic market, while their wheat harvest was not good and Vietnam on the belief that its rice crop in the North was destroyed by frost. Both information turned out factually incorrect, but policies to restrict exports occurred and world prices started to surge.

The same contingency may occur if there are major harvest failures in China. China is hardly buying from the world market, but it will be compelled to do so if its rice harvest is below normal.

Without a buffer stock for such contingency, domestic prices have to go up.

We see this now in the case of petroleum markets. World prices go up and the following day domestic prices go up.

The difference between the two is that we don‘t go hungry with petroleum, but if that happened with rice, many people would go hungry and would blame the government.

The rice tariffication law has to have provisions for information dissemination and for a contingency public buffer stock.

World market developments would have to be monitored closely by the PSA and information disseminated so private sector importers can adjust to the developing situation. However, holding a good size inventory for this contingency can be costly, and if they are in doubt, if they can pass on to rice consumers the added cost of holding a bigger inventory, they would likely settle for a private commercial rice stock that is less than desired. In other words there is a market failure: country‘s rice stock is less than optimal.

This is where we need a contingency buffer rice stock of an appropriate size be maintained, besides that for emergency purposes. There has to be an entity that decides on this and contracts the services of a rice trading company to maintain the buffer stocks.

Currently the Senate Bill is assigning this policy and regulatory mandate to the NFA Council. But if we get to scrapping PD 4, this entity could be called the ―National Rice Authority‖ a la RICOB in the 1960s or the Rice and Corn Board, before former Pres. Marcos created the National Grains Authority in 1972 with PD 4. The authority is not a player in the market, but a regulator created by law to, among other functions, decide on the appropriate size of the contingency buffer stock based on its assessment of the tightness in world rice markets. The commercial/proprietary function may be served by the stripped down NFA or a private commercial trader, contracted by the Authority to provide the service.

The rice tariffication bill articulates the State‘s policy of ensuring food security. But what does it mean? Judging from the sentences which follow the Senate‘s version of the bill, it means making rice farming viable, efficient, and competitive. We are all for that. But if this is the only meaning of food security then we lose the more important

point of tariffying the rice QR to make sure rice, which is our country‘s staple, is accessible and affordable to all of us, especially the poor. https://www.bworldonline.com/red-flags-in-rice-tariffication/ More rice importers may harm industry

Monday, October 8th, 2018 at , Business | News

According to an NGO, the govt has misunderstood the situation faced by the local rice industry

By SHAZNI ONG / Pic By BLOOMBERG THE plan to allow more rice importers could impact the local rice industry and put the country at risk, especially in times of crisis.

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) and rice industry coalition Padi Rescue said the government has misunderstood the situation faced by the industry.

Its coordinator Nurfitri Amir Muhammad said the government‘s understanding on the country‘s food security is superficial and is influenced by the idea of having an open market to facilitate the entry of foreign food into the country. ―It is said that when more people are importing rice, the domestic rice supply will always be guaranteed.

―The idea is wrong and dangerous as when there are more rice importers, more rice leakage will occur and cheaper foreign rice will flood the Malaysian market,‖ he told The Malaysian Reserve.

The government is looking to increase the number of local rice importers and create a long-term model for the industry, which will enhance the country‘s food security.

The model — which is being formulated — will reduce the dependence on a single importer, improve access to the staple food, and create an umbrella body to oversee and represent the industry, millers and producers.

Presently, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) is given the sole right to import rice.

Nurfitri said farmers in the industry would be the most affected from the situation, as local factories would not be interested in buying the rice they produce. ―Hence, there will be a high deduction rate and farmers would get lesser income. Although the price of rice is fixed at RM1,200 per tonne, high cut rates will still cause their income to be uncertain. ―When this happens, the farmers‘ motivation will fall and they will not be interested in planting rice. As a result, paddy production in the country will decrease and the government will continue to depend on other countries to get more rice,‖ he said.

Nurfitri said the appointed private importers who are given full responsibility for importing rice face a greater risk of failing to import — especially during crisis situations, such as when the global rice supply is reduced. ―Firstly, exporting countries will prioritise exports to countries importing rice through government agencies (government-to-government) rather than via private (private- to-private). ―This is because in a crisis situation, political considerations are more important than business considerations.‖ Citing the example of when the global rice price went up four times during a past crisis, Nurfitri said private companies would surely want to wash their hands off the matter as they do not want to make a loss. ―Although these rice are bought at a price, they will be forced to sell at a low price in the country because there is a price control of RM2.60 per kg. In the end, the government had to intervene and import rice as it did during the 2008 global rice crisis,‖ he said.

Nurfitri said the government itself at that time had to import 500,000 metric tonnes of rice at a cost of RM725 million. ―We see the private sector is only interested in managing imports when it comes to profitability during normal circumstances, but will force the government to incur losses when it comes to crisis situations,‖ he said.

Nurfitri said in 1996, Bernas conti- nued to play a major role in the deve- lopment of the paddy and rice industry in the country by taking over the social and commercial obligations that have been dissolved by the dissolved National Rice Board.

These include representing the government in managing and paying subsidies to farmers, managing the Bumiputera Rice Manufacturing Scheme, buying rice from farmers at a guaranteed minimum price and acting as the last buyer of paddy from farmers.

Nurfitri said in response to these social obligations, Bernas has been granted the right to import rice for 15 years from 1996 to 2012.

This right was extended one year in 2013 and in 2014, and the right to be the sole importer of national rice was continued until 2021.

However, the operation of the private sector is definitely based on profits and losses. ―Bernas‘ commercial function will definitely be preferred over social functions if there is a risk of losses,‖ he said.

He also said any model should increase the income of farmers and developing Bumiputera factories.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said it is important to rely less on Bernas, whose concession ends in 2021, due to the implications to the country‘s imports and food security. ―The idea is to not have a monopoly. In the long run, it‘s not safe in terms of security because only one player controls the industry. ―If anything happens in the future, it will jeopardise the country and our people, so we need to break the monopoly,‖ Salahuddin said.

According to Nurfitri, Padi Rescue together with the Bumiputera Economic Action Council have been campaigning since 2016 for the government to end the Bernas monopoly in the rice and paddy industry.

He said the worries are that the monopoly had dominated the industry vertically and horizontally at the retail, wholesale and manufacturing levels.

Such practice, Nurfitri claimed, has removed the competitiveness of local competitors. https://themalaysianreserve.com/2018/10/08/more-rice-importers-may-harm-industry/

Duterte green-lights 'unimpeded' rice importation Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News Posted at Oct 09 2018 12:35 PM | Updated as of Oct 09 2018 11:21 PM

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to ―liberalize‖ rice importation which will allow the ―unimpeded‖ flow of the staple to the market, the Palace said Tuesday, as the government scrambles to tame soaring inflation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte‘s order removes restrictions in the importation of rice to the country and the government expects such a move will result in lower rice prices.

―Currently there is an accreditation of importers… With the [President‘s] order, there will be no more restrictions. It‘s a free market now for rice,‖ Roque said in a Palace press briefing. ―With the President‘s directive, the NFA (National Food Authority) no longer has any say on how much should be imported.‖ Consumer prices rose 6.7 percent in September, slightly below forecasts, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday, as government economic managers and analysts pointed to signs that inflation was easing.

The rise in consumer prices accelerated for the ninth straight month, from 6.4 percent in August.

At 6.7 percent, September inflation was the fastest since February 2009.

Duterte recently issued orders removing non-tariff barriers in the importation of agricultural products, as the country‘s economic managers point out that soaring inflation is supply driven. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/18/duterte-green-lights-unimpeded-rice-importation

Piñol disputes Roque's claim Duterte ordered 'unimpeded' rice imports ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol on Tuesday disputed Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's claim that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the unimpeded importation of rice to tame soaring inflation.

Roque earlier said the move is expected to bring down prices of rice while the executive branch is still waiting for the passage of the rice tariffication bill. 

READ: Duterte green-lights 'unimpeded' rice importation

He added that there's no need for an executive order...to implement the measure.

Piñol, however, rejected Roque's statements, explaining that the President's order was just a validation of an earlier issued executive order easing the entry of imported rice.

"I understand that the confusion right now stemmed from the statement of President Duterte's spokesperson Harry Roque which was understood by many as just simply brushing off all other requirements and just bringing your rice.

"It's not gonna happen that way, there are still requirements that must be met like sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. You can't just bring in rice without satisfying the sanitary inspections of the department of agriculture. You can't just bring in rice without, you know, just having yourself as an importer of rice. These are the regular requirements."

The agriculture chief also insisted that elevated inflation is not driven by the rising rice prices alone.

Piñol also echoed Duterte by blaming rising prices of fuel as the "real culprit" behind the quickening inflation.

He said rice prices will stabilize by next month.

"Things are going to get better by the end of November. We will put everything in order in the rice market like we will do away with the deceptive and misleading names of rice varieties like sinandomeng, dinorado," he said.

"The NFA council has passed a resolution yesterday morning classifying rice to be sold in the market in only four classifications: regular milled, well-milled, whole grain head rice, and special rice." with reports from Kori Quintos and Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/10/09/18/piol-disputes-roques-claim-duterte-ordered-unimpeded-riceimports

NFA assures sufficient rice supply in Northern Mindanao

By Hazel Belacho Published On October 8, 2018

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, October 5 (PIA)--The National Food Authority (NFA) in region 10 assured the public that the region has and will have sufficient supply to be able to carry out its mandates on price and supply stabilization and food security this year.

NFA-10 Regional Director Dianne Santos Anildes-Silva through a press conference led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office -10 on September 27, 2018 shared plans on how the agency will improve rice supply and production for region 10.

"With 250,000 MT government rice importation earlier approved by the NFA Council which is expected to arrive in November this year, there is another 500,000 metric tons approved rice imports for NFA," said NFA region 10 director Dianne Silva.

"On top of the said 750,000 MT, another 1 million MT import is on standby authority for the 2019 first semester supply," she added.

NFA-10 Regional Director Dianne Santos Anildes-Silva through a press conference led by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office -10 on September 27, 2018 shares plans on how the agency will improve rice supply and production for region 10.

Following the intensified sale of NFA rice in the markets and barangays thru the NFA accredited outlets, and special programs like the Tagpuan Rice Response Delivery (TRRD)/Rolling Stores and Bigasan sa NFA Compound programs, prices of commercial rice have gone down by P1.004.00/kg in Cagayan de Oro and some parts of Region 10.

Also, according to NFA, it is already harvest season and more imported rice thru private importation under the minimum access volume (MAV) has arrived and the mentioned supply augmentation coming from the government.

Region-10's distribution of P27. 00 per kilogram NFA rice is sold thru special programs like the Tagpuan Day Rice Response Delivery (TRRD), NFA Bigasan sa Compound and to some Barangay Food Terminals (BFT) situated in far-flung areas, while P32.00/kg in public markets and barangay bigasan outlets.

The conference also gave updates to address current agri-fisheries concern such as price increase, production and supply situationer from DA and its attached agencies. (NFA 10)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1013588

PHILIPPINES' DUTERTE ORDERS 'UNIMPEDED' RICE IMPORTS IN BID TO FIGHT INFLATION 10/9/2018

MANILA, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the lifting of two-decade-old restrictions on rice imports, his spokesman said on Tuesday, paving the way for unlimited purchases of the diet staple as the government strives to tame soaring inflation.

Rice is the biggest food item in the country's consumer price index, which rose 6.7 percent in September from a year earlier, the fastest since February 2009 as low stockpiles caused domestic prices to rise sharply.

Duterte ordered the "unimpeded" imports of rice during a cabinet meeting on Monday, Harry Roque told a news briefing.

"There are no more restrictions as long as tariffs are paid," he said. "It's a free market now for rice."

That means scrapping a government cap on rice imports, in place for more than 20 years, a policy intended to protect domestic rice farmers. It also means ending a decades-long monopoly of rice purchases by the state's National Food Authority (NFA).

Lawmakers are currently working to replace the cap, or the so-called quantitative restriction, with a bill setting the tariff at 35 percent for supplies from Southeast Asia - the same as an existing regional trade agreement - and up to 180 percent for imports from elsewhere.

But Duterte's order suggests there is no need to wait for the new law as long as importers pay the tariffs.

Liberalising "the importation of rice was really the ultimate means by which to rein in inflation as far as food items are concerned," said Roque.

The spokesman said Duterte's order means there is no need now for the NFA to approve how much should be shipped in or accredit importers.

The Philippines is already on a rice buying spree this year, with import approvals by the NFA hitting 2.4 million tonnes, just a tad below the record 2.45 million tonnes bought in 2010 when rising global food prices stoked shortage fears.

The Philippines' rice imports, which are much cheaper than locally grown varieties, usually come from Vietnam and Thailand, where production costs are much lower. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz Editing by Manolo Serapio Jr. and Kenneth Maxwell) https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/philippines-duterte-orders-unimpeded-rice-imports-inbid-to-fight-inflation

Marawi rehab groundbreaking set Oct. 17 Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The government will finally push through with groundbreaking rites on Oct. 17 to signal the start of the rehabilitation of ground zero in war-torn Marawi City.

The date marks the first year since President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city‘s liberation. Combat operations ended on Oct. 23.

Task Force Bangon Marawi chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario said the groundbreaking will begin with debris clearing at a 6-hectare area ―most affected‖ by the 5-month conflict.

Worth P75 million, the debris clearing operations will be carried out by a local firm. ―After debris clearing, we will undertake road network construction with underground facilities.

Once it is done, we will proceed with vertical structures, construct 320 classrooms, 24 barangay

centers, a convention center, grand central market, school for living tradition, parking area, and so forth,â&#x20AC;&#x2013; Del Rosario said in a Palace press briefing.

The government had initially set in June the groundbreaking for Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s rehabilitation, pegged at a total cost of about P16 billion, but problems in the procurement process forced the government to postpone it several times.

Del Rosario also allayed fears that the city's ground zero is not yet ready for rehabilitation due to the presence of unexploded ordnance left after the siege.

He said the military has already cleared the area of about 80 percent of unexploded ordnance while the local firm tasked to carry out debris clearing also has the capability to detect bombs still in the area.

Del Rosario said the government targets to complete rehabilitation of ground zero by the fourth quarter of 2021, months before the President steps down from office.

At least 1,100 people, mostly terrorists, were killed in the 5-month siege that erupted between state forces and Islamic State-inspired terrorists in May 2017.

The firefights left much of the once bustling urban and cultural center in ruins.

The terrorists were aiming to establish an ISIS stronghold in Mindanao, supposed to then serve as the center of a caliphate. The government and security experts believe that the threat ISIS poses in the region remains, complicating efforts to bring the city back to normal. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/12/18/marawi-rehab-groundbreaking-set-oct-17

Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; rice imports may hit 2.4 million tons, second biggest on record

By Reuters October 9, 2018 - 12:10 PM

Sacks of rice being distributed by the National Food Authority. (The STAR/File photo) MANILAâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The Philippines will allow major rice retailers to import up to 350,000 tons of the grain, its agriculture secretary said on Monday, potentially bringing the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s total purchases this year to 2.4 million tons, the second highest on record.

The Philippines, which buys rice from neighbors Vietnam and Thailand, is aggressively boosting purchases to replenish storm-hit stocks and tame high prices that have helped push inflation to the highest in nearly a decade.

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s approved purchases would mark the largest rice imports by the Southeast Asian country since 2010, when shipments reached a record 2.45 million tons amid fears of shortages following spikes in global food prices.

Expectations of new orders from the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan helped lift rice export prices in Thailand last week, traders said.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the National Food Authority (NFA) has ―approved in principle‖ the trade ministry‘s proposal to allow retailers to ship in additional volumes to boost supplies and reduce high prices of the staple.

The 350,000 tons that retailers can bring in would be on top of the 750,000 tons that the NFA is set to import before the end of the year.

The NFA has already bought 500,000 tons of rice earlier this year, and private traders were allowed to ship in up to 805,200 tons under an annual quota scheme.

Piñol has blamed rice hoarders for the price spikes, but some have also criticized the NFA for not importing rice promptly to prevent the shortage in government stocks. ―The NFA council will no longer tolerate a messy rice industry,‖ Piñol, who now chairs the council following a revamp, told reporters. ―We will have to put things in order, we will have to protect the consumers and at the same time, ensure that the farmers are also given their rewards if they produce good quality rice.‖

The Philippines imports around a tenth of its annual rice consumption, with the annual paddy rice crop of about 19 million tons often at risk from an average of 20 typhoons that hit the country each year.

More than 250,000 tons of paddy rice were destroyed by Typhoon Mangkhut in September, government estimates showed. —Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz Editing by Sunil Nair and Manolo Serapio Jr.

http://www.interaksyon.com/national/2018/10/09/135443/philippines-rice-imports-may-hit-2-4-milliontons-second-biggest-on-record/

Indian rice exporters face $200m loss over Iranian importer Iranian rice importer Mohsin, which recently defaulted on $140m payments, has filed for bankruptcy Indian rice exporters are grappling with the payment defaults by Iranian companies even as they stare at the possibility of exporting to that country coming to a halt due to the impending US sanctions against it, kicking in from November.

Leading Iranian rice importer Mohsin, which has recently defaulted on payments to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crore (Approx $140 million) to several Indian rice exporters, is understood to have filed for bankruptcy in Iran, putting a big question mark over chances of recovery of the payments, according to trade and industry sources in India.

The development has sent ripples across Indian rice exporters who fear this could even lead to many of the small and medium-size rice exporting firms in India shutting shops due to heavy losses.

Indian rice exporters are grappling with the payment defaults by Iranian companies even as they stare at the possibility of exporting to that country coming to a halt due to the impending US sanctions against it, kicking in from November.

Though the exact amount of payments Mohsin and other Iranian rice importers have defaulted to their Indian exporters could not be ascertained, rice industry sources have put it in the range of Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,500 crore ($110 million to $205 million approx). Indian exporters allege that Mohsin might have siphoned off the money, leading to defaults by the company.

Discounted rates

Large-scale payment defaults by Mohsin and some other Iranian importers to Indian rice exporters came to light in August this year.

Basmati rice accounts for bulk of Indian rice exports to Iran. Incidentally, the Iranian Government provides USD and Euro at highly discounted rates to the food importing firms there to compensate the steep fall in the Iranian currency Rial due to the looming US economic sanctions against the country. â&#x20AC;&#x2022;We have taken up the issue of payment defaults by Iranian rice importers including that by Mohsin with the Indian commerce ministry as well as the Iranian Embassy officials in Delhi and have been pursuing vigorously for recovery of the payments,â&#x20AC;&#x2013; Vijay Setia, President, All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA), told Arabian Business.

However, he said the association will now try to ascertain the information about bankruptcy filing by Mehsin in Iran, before chalking out the next course of action. Mohsin is said to account for lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s share of defaults by the Iranian importers.

Mohsin brand

Meanwhile, the Ahmedabad-based Adani Wilmar, a leading player in the agri-processed foods and edible oil sector, has reportedly acquired the Mohsin brand from the Iranian company.

Though the company has fallen on bad days, its brand is billed as one of the leading food brands in Iran.

Industry sources said Adani Wilmar has only acquired the Mohsin brand and would not be liable for the Iranian companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s liabilities.

Industry body officials, however, said there could be a possibility of the affected rice exporters knocking on the doors of Adani Wilmar for exploring possibilities for at least partial recovery of the payments.

Despite repeated attempts, Adani Wilmar executives could not be reached for their comments on the issue.

Basmati rice exports

One of the Indian rice exporting firms which is the victim of payment default by Iranian importers, recently approached the Delhi High Court, which, in turn, has directed the nodal Government authority - the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development (APEDA) to pursue the matter at Government level.

India exports about 25% of its total Basmati rice exports to Iran, which opens a 4-month window till September for rice imports at discounted imported duty. Iranâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s domestic rice prodution comes into the market after this period, because of which it imposes higher import duty to discourage imports of rice into the country.

Iran allows rice imports both through private traders as well as direct government purchases through the tendering process. While private label exports command much higher margins, Iranian Government purchases offer very low margins due to the competitive tendering process.

Industry sources in India said because of the limited window available for pushing exports to the lucrative Iranian market, some of the Indian exporters might have routed their rice exports to Iran through Dubai, without the mandatory filing with APEDA or opening up of LCs (Letter of Credits) for payments.

Such trade practices would make the payment recovery process more complicated and difficult for exporting firms which might have resorted to this route.

For all the latest business news from the UAE and Gulf countries, follow us on Twitter and Linkedin, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily. https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/405838-indian-rice-exporters-face-200m-loss-overiranian-importer

Rice review set to double levy to $6 a tonne MADELEINE STUCHBERY, The Weekly Times

October 9, 2018 6:00pm

RICEGROWERS could pay $6 for every tonne of rice they produce instead of $3 a tonne, if the Rice Growers Association of Australia proposal to increase the levy is accepted.

The Rice Research and Development Levy is presently set at $3 a tonne of rice.

But the RGA has proposed doubling the levy with the aim to generate an additional $1.6 million a year.

A review into the levy by Betzner Consulting claimed an increase of $3 a tonne of rice would deliver benefits for all growers in all rice growing regions through significantly increasing returns per megalitre.

RGA president Jeremy Morton said RGA had worked closely with the greater rice industry on the levy proposal. ―It‘s been a pretty extensive process deciding what the levy might be,‖ Mr Morton said.

―Initially it came off the back of resolutions of each of our branches, to look at a proposal to increase the levy.‖ Mr Morton said additional funds generated each year by the levy would go into research and development programs. ―Research and development … it‘s a six to one payback,‖ Mr Morton said. ―For every dollar you pay you get $6 back on that return, and that comes in all sorts of forms such as production systems, plant breeding, and more. ―Obviously you need to invest the money wisely, so you get a good return.‖ The rice R & D levy is applied to all rice produced in Australia, and is co-funded by the Federal Government which matches levy investments in research, development and extension to a cap of 0.5 per cent of the gross value of production.

Additional funds for rice research, development and extension are provided by NSW Department of Primary Industries and SunRice via the Australian Rice Partnership, as well as from other government grants and external funding sources.

Growers can register for the rice levy postal vote at www.rga.org.au https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/rice-review-set-to-double-levy-to-6-atonne/news-story/cac4f758fb2d329cd8e4665393f87991

Zero hunger in PHL

By BusinessMirror Editorial October 10, 2018

Ending world hunger is the focus of this year‘s celebration of World Food Day on October 16. Through the event, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hopes that countries around the world will support its bid to wipe out hunger by 2030.

Ending hunger, along with achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture are part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

The Philippines is one of the countries that have committed to end hunger and achieve the other SDGs by 2030. Hitting the zero-hunger target, however, may be a tall order for the Philippines, partly due to inflation. Millions of Filipino families are regarded

as â&#x20AC;&#x2022;subsistence poorâ&#x20AC;&#x2013; or food poor, based on the latest available data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

PSA figures showed that the number of subsistence poor families in the Philippines remained above 1 million. In 2015, 1.303 million families were regarded as food poor.

In terms of population, there were 8.225 million food poor Filipinos in 2015. These are people who earn less than the per-capita food threshold, or the amount required to meet their basic food needs.

The highest subsistence incidence, according to PSA data, was recorded in Mindanao, where the poorest provinces are found. The highest subsistence incidence among families was observed in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao at 17 percent.

This means that nearly 2 out of 10 families in the ARMM are food poor and cannot meet their basic food needs. Among the provinces that make up the ARMM, Lanao del Sur recorded the highest subsistence among families at 33 percent, which indicates that 3 out of 10 families are unable to meet their basic food needs. The figure is also the highest in the Philippines.

Data from the PSA also showed that provinces where subsistence incidence breached 10 percent are areas that rely on agriculture. These figures bolster claims that farming is no longer a profitable venture in these areas, making it more difficult for farmers to produce enough food to feed the entire country. Sans policies that would help improve the profitability of farming, planters would continue to leave the sector in droves and cause food production to fall significantly.

Apart from providing the need to increase production to meet the food requirements of a growing population, the government must step up its campaign against food waste. While millions of people go hungry, the FAO said one third of all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. The global cost of food waste has been estimated at $2.6 trillion per year.

In the country, the Philippine Rice Research Institute noted that rice wasted in 2008 alone was equivalent to 12.2 percent of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s total rice imports of P7.27 billion that year. Citing data from the Food and Nutrition Research, rice wasted in 2008 could feed around 2.5 million Filipinos in a year. Citing the 2016 report of the

PSA, PhilRice said each Filipino wastes an average of 335 grams of rice. This figure only accounted for the leftovers on plates after eating and did not include those intentionally cooked and fed to house pets.

The FAO had outlined recommendations that the government can adopt to achieve zero hunger by 2030. These include boosting social protection interventions, empowering local and subnational authorities, having â&#x20AC;&#x2022;zero-hungerâ&#x20AC;&#x2013; budget allocations and partnering with academia. These recommendations are doable but also require a lot of political will, something that this administration has shown in its war on drugs. https://businessmirror.com.ph/zero-hunger-in-phl/ Levy increase: The Rice Growers Association of Australia has proposed to increase the Rice Research and Development Levy.

Rice review set to double levy to $6 a tonne MADELEINE STUCHBERY, The Weekly Times

October 9, 2018 6:00pm

Subscriber only

RICEGROWERS could pay $6 for every tonne of rice they produce instead of $3 a tonne, if the Rice Growers Association of Australia proposal to increase the levy is accepted.

The Rice Research and Development Levy is presently set at $3 a tonne of rice.

But the RGA has proposed doubling the levy with the aim to generate an additional $1.6 million a year.

A review into the levy by Betzner Consulting claimed an increase of $3 a tonne of rice would deliver benefits for all growers in all rice growing regions through significantly increasing returns per megalitre.

RGA president Jeremy Morton said RGA had worked closely with the greater rice industry on the levy proposal. ―It‘s been a pretty extensive process deciding what the levy might be,‖ Mr Morton said. ―Initially it came off the back of resolutions of each of our branches, to look at a proposal to increase the levy.‖ Mr Morton said additional funds generated each year by the levy would go into research and development programs. ―Research and development … it‘s a six to one payback,‖ Mr Morton said. ―For every dollar you pay you get $6 back on that return, and that comes in all sorts of forms such as production systems, plant breeding, and more. ―Obviously you need to invest the money wisely, so you get a good return.‖ The rice R & D levy is applied to all rice produced in Australia, and is co-funded by the Federal Government which matches levy investments in research, development and extension to a cap of 0.5 per cent of the gross value of production.

Additional funds for rice research, development and extension are provided by NSW Department of Primary Industries and SunRice via the Australian Rice Partnership, as well as from other government grants and external funding sources.

Growers can register for the rice levy postal vote at www.rga.org.au https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/cropping/rice-review-set-to-double-levy-to-6-atonne/news-story/cac4f758fb2d329cd8e4665393f87991

RESPONDING TO THE QUERIES OF FARMERS

By Julio Yap Jr. Wednesday, October 10, 2018

EVERY cropping season, beginning and veteran rice farmers are always asking about seed quality and varietal information.

Aside from asking if what to plant, they are also concerned about their yield and sustainability under local conditions.

The need to answer these queries motivated ICT specialists at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to develop the Binhing Palay app with the National Cooperative Testing Group.

Launched during the recent National Rice Research for Development Conference, the digital application features a catalogue of all released rice varieties in the Philippines.

The app, which can be downloaded in the Google Play Store, provides fast and easy access to basic and updated varietal information.

It also works on offline mode.

The researchers said that by using their smartphones or tablets, farmers, seed growers, extension workers, and other agriculture enthusiasts can use the app to get the latest information on modern rice varieties.

The app currently contains 289 rice varieties including their agronomic characteristics, pest and disease resistance, and grain quality.

It automatically updates every time a new variety is released and has a sort and filter list feature.

App users can filter through the list based on location, environment, season, crop establishment, seed classification, or year of release, PhilRice said.

Recommendations for the dry and wet cropping season based on reports from the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices are also included in the app.

On the other hand, worries of farmers during rainy season may soon be reduced with the development of a line that is resistant against bacterial leaf blight (BLB), one of the most destructive rice diseases occurring during continuous heavy rains.

Developed by PhilRice, Line 27 (PR37171-1-1-1-2-2-1-1) withstood attacks of major BLB races found in the country.

PhilRice says that Line 27 has broad-spectrum resistance to diseases based on tests conducted, which used 12 strains representing 10 BLB races.

A cross combination of NSIC Rc 120 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a tungro-resistant variety, and AR 32-19-3-4, a BLB resistant elite line, Line 27 was found to have four resistant genes against Xanthomas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal organism of BLB. PhilRice also said that Line 27 will be further bred as a variety for farmers to plant.

The variety will be suited in Northern and Eastern Samar where BLB incidences are prevalent last 2017.

The variety may be expected in 6 to10 years.

Currently, the line is also being used in developing new hybrid varieties, which are known to be highly susceptible to BLB and tungro, and Golden rice, a variety being bred containing beta carotene.

With these new results, PhilRice is hopeful to improve or develop a BLB and tungroresistant parental, which can be useful in the development of high-yielding varieties.

Reducing farmers‘ yield by up to 60 percent under severe infestation, BLB causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves.

The disease hinders the growth of grains by affecting the crop‘s food production process.

BLB can also easily attack susceptible rice varieties applied with high amount of nitrogen fertilizer. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN) https://www.panaynews.net/responding-to-the-queries-of-farmers/

Food Crops From Corn to Rice Are Seen at Risk From Warmer Change By Jeremy Hodges October 8, 2018, 4:04 PM GMT+5 

UN report finds risk to yields for corn, wheat, rice, soybeans 

Scientists say they underestimated climate impact on farming Farming food crops of all kinds is likely to become more difficult as global temperatures increase, depressing yields for corn, soybeans, rice and wheat.

That‘s the bleak assessment set out by a United Nations panel of scientists gathered to assess the impact of a climate change. It warned the world is 1 degree Celsius (1.8 Fahrenheit) hotter than it was at the start of the industrial revolution and is on track to warm 3 degrees by the end of the century.

The global corn crop may shrink by 10 percent if temperatures rise 1.5 degrees, a threshold the panel expects may be reached by 2035. There‘s a similar threat for other food crops, along with a hit to livestock from cattle to pigs both because of higher temperatures and the threat to food supplies for those animals. ―If we do not keep climate change to below 2 degrees, we face more and more disruption to food supplies,‖ said Tim Benton, a professor of ecology at the University of Leeds in northern England. ―Almost every country depends on food grown elsewhere. A drought in one place can impact food prices anywhere. As weather becomes more extreme, there is the risk of increasing volatility in food supply and prices.‖

Hotting up African corn yields could reduce by 20% if temperatures continue to rise Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming of 1.5°C

The report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published Monday in Incheon, South Korea, suggested increasing pressure for higher food prices in the coming decades as more extreme weather makes growing conditions increasingly difficult. For example, just this year a drought in major wheat growers from the European Union to Australia has sent prices on a surge.

Squeeze Coming Climate change will add to strain on food prices, which are already headed for a squeeze as the global populationbooms. The UN estimates there will be 11.2 billion people on the planet by the end of the century, more than a third higher than the 7.6 billion in 2017.

The biggest impacts on crop yields won‘t be confined to just the poorest countries in the world. From the Mediterranean to the Amazon, local crops will be harmed -including olives and grapes.

Even under 2 degrees of warming, losses of 8 percent to 14 percent are projected in global corn production. Any higher than that would push losses to about 20 percent in

some parts of the world. There‘s a risk of a doomsday scenario where crops collapse completely in some areas, the report said.

There will be a one-third decline in per-capita crop production in Southeast Asia if it‘s 2 degrees hotter, while in west Africa significant reduction in crop yields may cause serious regional food shortages, according to the report.

Envoys at the 2015 Paris Agreement talks asked the IPCC to study what it would take to limit warming to 1.5 degrees instead of the previous 2-degree target. The scientists concluded that carbon dioxide emissions should be cut 45 percent by 2030 from 2010 levels then reduced to zero by 2050.

Should global warming tip over 3 degrees Celsius rice crops in South East Asia would become less nutrient rich by an amount that‘ll harm the health of up to 600 million people who rely on the crop as a staple, scientists suggest. ―Previous assessments may have underestimated how sensitive natural and human systems are to climate change,‖ the IPCC wrote in the report.

— With assistance by Agnieszka de Sousa https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-08/food-crops-from-corn-to-rice-are-seen-at-riskfrom-warmer-change

Paddy allotment delayed, millers allege Oct 10, 2018, 1:26 AM; last updated: Oct 10, 2018, 1:26 AM (IST)

harassment Tribune News Service Sangrur, October 9 Sangrur rice millers have alleged harassment and corruption as the authorities have delayed the paddy allotment to millers without giving any reason.

Nine days after the start of the official purchase of paddy, the authorities have allotted it to just 120 millers out of 650, causing inconvenience to them.

The authorities have cited lack of required documents, as per the new milling policy, with millers. However, millers have alleged that they had completed all documents, but officers are harassing them by giving unnecessary excuses. ―Generally, allotment of paddy to millers starts before the official purchase. But this year nine days have passed, the authorities are harassing millers without any valid reason. The delay is causing inconvenience to all,‖ said Rajnish Kansal, state media incharge of the Rice Millers Association, Punjab.

Millers alleged that in the new milling policy, the government had imposed numerous conditions and none could fulfil all. They alleged that if required changes were not made in the policy, it would ruin the milling industry. ―The allotment has been delayed because millers do not have required documents,‖ said Sangrur DFSC Jaspreet Kahlon. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/paddy-allotment-delayed-millers-allegeharassment/665915.html

Recycling of ‗rice for poor‘ comes under CVC scanner Vigilance division of FCI wants details | Last reminder sent in June

Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 9 The issue of alleged recycling of rice meant for the poor under the public distribution system (PDS) in the paddy procurement process has caught attention of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

The vigilance division of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), set up under CVC guidelines, is probing complaints regarding the reportedly fictitious purchase of paddy and recycling and diversion of PDS rice from other states.

Sulabh Chaturvedi, Manager (Vigilance) of the FCI, has taken up the matter with the Haryana region Managing Director of the corporation. The vigilance division has been taking up the matter with the MD since March 21, 2017, asking him to provide certain information to get to the bottom of the scam. The last of the reminders was sent in June this year.

Chaturvedi sought information for the past five years regarding total area under paddy cultivation, average yield of paddy, total production of premium varieties of paddy and rice, varieties procured under MSP operations, paddy purchased by millers and the FCI and rice delivered district-wise in the central pool.

An inter-office note of the vigilance division, referring to a particular rice miller, stated, ―The rice purchased from out of Haryana on bills by that rice miller is to the tune of more than 40 per cent of the total rice delivered to the FCI against paddy bills procured from commission agents. Actually, paddy was neither received nor milled and only rice was purchased, which was delivered to the FCI. The quality of rice purchased from outside the state is of the rice distributed under the PDS in that state.‖ The process used 



Gate passes and Form J (sale voucher for agricultural produce) were issued in various mandis of the state for stocks of paddy which were never brought to the grain markets The millers reportedly used such documents to show fictitious procurement of paddy for custom milling and deliver rice purchased from other states, mostly PDS rice, to the FCI against the paddy so ―procured‖

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/recycling-of-rice-for-poor-comes-under-cvcscanner/665798.html

Three harvests step toward commercial use for seawater rice 2018-10-11 10:44:00China DailyEditor : Mo Hong'e

Researchers put ears of rice into a thresher to calculate the yield of seawater rice in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Wednesday. (Photo/China Daily)

Three experimental fields of seawater rice were harvested in China on Wednesday, a further step toward its future commercial viability.

Also known as saline-alkali tolerant rice, seawater rice is designed to grow in tidal flats or other areas with heavy salt content and has been developed by plant-breeding experts through crossbreeding and other technologies.

One type of seawater rice growing in Qingdao's Chengyang district, Shandong province, yielded 3.9 metric tons per hectare, experts announced.

Zhang Guodong, executive deputy director of the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center, said the yield was from big paddies and could be improved.

"Once widely planted on a large scale, the yield could be much higher," he said.

The Qingdao center, led by renowned Chinese agricultural scientist Yuan Longping, was established three years ago.

It set itself a three-year target of developing a salt-resistant rice strain capable of yielding 4.5 tons a hectare, which guarantees growers the minimum acceptable level of profit. The average rice yield in China is 6.75 tons a hectare.

Planting in the experimental field in Chengyang district and five other plots of salinealkali land started at the end of May. The five other plots were in Dongying, Shandong province; Wenzhou, Zhejiang province; Yan'an, Shaanxi province; Kashgar, in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; and Daqing, Heilongjiang province.

The sites represent virtually every type of saline-alkali land in China and researchers aim to cultivate different strains able to cope with different climate, salinity and soil structure conditions.

The test crops in Kashgar and Daqing were also harvested on Wednesday.

In Kashgar, the yield reached more than 7.5 tons per hectare, according to experts' tests, much higher than expected.

Zhang said the harvest in Kashgar was satisfactory. "The result means it is possible to plant such salt-resistant rice in southern Xinjiang in the future," he said.

Wu Zhanyong, an official from the Qingdao center, said, "Xinjiang has about 2 million hectares of saline-alkali land that have the potential to be planted with salt-resistant rice, and if it is widely planted it will substantially improve rice production in the region."

The seawater rice strain grown in Daqing only yielded 3.1 tons per hectare. A live video clip on Shandong TV showed growers appearing a little disappointed by the result, as they hoped the experts' endeavor would boost production.

Mu Ping, a professor from Qingdao Agricultural University who has worked in Daqing for months, said the water and soil conditions at the site were not ideal, and the pH level was extremely high

Violations rampant at most rice mills Jaswant Shetra Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 10 A large number of rice mills are operating in violation of the government norms in the district. The Food and Civil Supplies Department has failed to check these violations.

Teams of the department have been conducting raids at rice mills in the area following the recovery of rice belonging to the Public Distribution System (PDS) from some mills. However, these raids on dozens of rice mills in the area appear to be just mere eyewash, as nothing objectionable was found.

According to sources, a majority of rice mills do not comply with the landrelated norms. These rice mills are being run in an illegal manner in connivance with the unscrupulous staff of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, said an official.

Another RTI activist, Kapil Bansal, said he raised the issue with the officials of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and even lodged a complaint demanding an inquiry into the matter. ―But the authorities concerned did not carry out any investigation. I asked for the record of some rice mills under the Right to Information Act but I was provided the record of only those rice mills which comply with the norms,‖ said Bansal.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said there might be some shortcomings at the rice mills, but it would take some time to streamline the system. ―We have already tightened grip on rice mill owners who are violating the norms. We are trying our best to streamline the whole system but it is a time-consuming exercise. The paddy season has already set in and for the milling of paddy, rice millers need to be given some relaxation,‖ he added. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/ludhiana/violations-rampant-at-most-rice-mills/666297.html

Central Luzon registers lowest inflation rate in PH PRINCESS CLEA ARCELLAZ October 9, 2018

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Central Luzon has registered the lowest inflation rate in September this year, compared to other regions in the Philippines.

According to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Judith Angeles, Central Luzon‘s inflation rate remains to be the lowest in the country at 4.5 percent last month. ―Based on the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the inflation rate in the country for September is 6.7 percent or 0.3 percent higher than the 6.4 percent inflation rate in August,‖ Angeles said.

She furthered that the DTI will ensure the sufficient supply of basic and prime commodities and that prices are stable. ―The DTI has intensified its monitoring activities nationwide including rice and agricultural products, especially in wet markets,‖ noted Angeles.

She disclosed that DTI already met with rice millers in Bulacan, the United Broilers Association and the Pork Producers Federation of the Philippines to make sure that supply of food and meat are sufficient along with reasonable and stable prices. ―Our provincial offices in Central Luzon have already been instructed to coordinate with the Local Price Coordinating Council to assess the price and supply situation in their respective localities and to ensure that local government units support the effort of DTI in mitigating the effects of the rising inflation rate in the country,‖ Angeles added. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1768426

Rice 'safely conserved' in Philippines gene bank

By Helen BriggsBBC News 

12 October 2018

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionRice being harvested in Northwest Vietnam

Scientists say that more than 100 thousand varieties of rice have been safeguarded for the future.

Samples in the world's largest rice gene bank in the Philippines are being used to help farmers develop rice crops that can survive drought and flooding.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) gene bank has secured permanent funding from the Crop Trust.

It is part of international efforts to store seeds in gene banks to protect food supplies in a warming world.

"These seeds are miracles - we believe that in this natural diversity of rice you have almost any trait that you would want to look for," said Marie Haga, executive director of the international non-profit organisation, the Crop Trust.

She said rice is relatively easy to store, and should survive preservation for hundreds of years at low temperatures.

The rice contains the genetic diversity that can be used to breed new rice crops capable of withstanding pests and disease as well as flooding and drought.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

Rice food facts ď&#x201A;§

Rice accounts for over 20% of global calorie intake

ď&#x201A;§

Over 90% of the world's rice is produced and consumed in Asia with six countries (China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Japan) accounting for 80% of the world's production and consumption



By 2050, annual rice consumption is estimated to rise from 420 to 525 million tonnes.

One recent advance from IRRI, which is based in Los Banos, Philippines, is a strain of rice that can survive areas hit by flooding.

"Scuba rice" has been introduced in Asia and is now being adapted for growing in Africa.

Image copyrightIRRIImage captionThe IRRI gene bank holds wild species of rice from around the world Ruaraidh Sackville-Hamilton, an evolutionary biologist who manages the IRRI genebank, said the work to conserve rice has a proven track record in bringing benefits to the world.

"With this collection safely conserved, we can continue to use it to develop improved rice varieties that farmers can use to respond to the challenges in rice production, and to adapt to the changing tastes and preferences of consumers everywhere," he said. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-45828150

Planting of ‗sea rice‘ in Qingdao successful, despite lower yield than hope for Source:Global Times Published: 2018/10/11 20:28:42

The Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center has begun to harvest alkaliresistant "sea rice" planted at a demonstration base in the Chengyang district of Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, on Wednesday.

Experts calculated that the yield per mu would be 261.39 kilograms of theoretical yield. The result was less than the 669.24 kilograms they were aiming for, but it marks the initial success of sea rice planting at this demonstration base. The base is used to identify the best ways to farm on saline-alkali land and improve yields.

"Sea rice," which can be grown in saltwater, was developed by Yuan Longping, China's "father of hybrid rice," and he helped establish the Qingdao center. Sea rice is sometimes found in saline-alkaline soil at the junctures where rivers join the sea.

In order to ensure the accuracy of the data, the base chose to manually harvest the sea rice. The experts then took measurements while harvesting, threshing, weighing, removing impurities and measuring moisture in the rice.

The yield per mu was high enough to signal that the salt alkali land in Chengyang district can be transformed into green farmland.

On May 28, the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development Center planted rice seeds across six testing bases, which are located across the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and the provinces of Heilongjiang, Shandong, Zhejiang, and Shaanxi, for screening the superior sea rice varieties suitable for the large areas saline-alkali land found in China.

A section of land at each testing base will be used for soil amelioration using a technique created by the Qingdao center. It is expected to transform the saline land into arable land within two to three years.

Yuan said that if 6.7 million hectares of saline land can be used to grow saline-alkali tolerant rice, the country could produce an extra of 30 billion kilograms of rice if production per hectare reaches 4.5 tons.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1122601.shtml

VN rice exports reaches new heights Update: October, 12/2018 - 09:00

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ examines rice products‘ on show at the conference. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Rice production and exports has shifted towards quality and added value, promoting safe production and applying high technology while organic agriculture has been given special attention for development.

That was the message from Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ delivered at the 10th World Rice Conference held in Hà Nội on Thursday.

Huệ said agriculture and rural development is a major policy of the Vietnamese Party, State and Government, in which rice production and export play an important role in contributing to food security for Việt Nam, the region and the world.

Despite a strong industrialisation and modernisation process, rice fields now account for around 60 per cent of Việt Nam‘s total arable area, and production is essential for the livelihoods of nearly nine million farming households in the country.

After more than 30 years of renewal, Việt Nam has risen from a poor country which had to import food to one of the three largest rice exporters in the world.

Last year, Việt Nam exported nearly six million tonnes of rice, earning US$2.6 billion, up 21 per cent in volume and 22 per cent in value year-on-year.

Vietnamese rice is available in 150 nations and territories, Huệ said, adding that Việt Nam is eyeing potential markets in Europe, America and Oceania, along with its traditional ones such as China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Cuba and African nations. ―Vietnamese rice is also able to meet all criteria to enter the most picky markets in the world, as the country has paid much attention to applying high technologies in production and developing organic agriculture,‖ he said.

The Vietnamese Government has set a target of intensifying production and export connectivity through a value chain, he added, ensuring the quality of exported rice, and entering more deeply into the global rice value chain so as to build and confirm the prestige of Vietnamese rice trademark.

Although rice production is facing numerous challenges from climate change, the Deputy PM expressed his belief that new scientific and technological advances would help the rice sector to produce new varieties that could adapt.

Minister of Industry and Trade Trần Tuấn Anh said Việt Nam holds an increasingly important role in co-ordinating with rice importers, exporters and partners to effectively participate in the globe‘s rice product chain and food security.

The country‘s rice export market development strategy for the 2017-20 period with a vision to 2030 focuses on developing export markets, helping raise farmers‘ income, ensuring domestic food security and social welfare, and protecting the ecoenvironment. The strategy also targets to build Vietnamese rice trademark and intensify connectivity through a value chain from production to consumption and export, Anh added.

Jeremy Zwinger, The Rice Trader (TRT) President and CEO, said Việt Nam‘s hosting of the 10th conference shows its Government‘s commitment to the development and trade of rice.

He said Việt Nam‘s rice production and trade has seen positive progress and expressed his confidence in the Vietnamese Government‘s attention to developing the rice value in the future.

With a message of ―investing in the rice sector in future‖, delegates discussed global trends on rice production and trade in 2018 and the following years, shared experience in producing rice sustainably, controlling the supply chain, developing rice trademark and applying technology in this sector. Many stressed unpredictable changes in global trade, especially rice trade, as rice is a sensitive commodity with high requirements on food safety and environment protection.

The event is the world‘s most premier conference focusing solely on rice. Attending the event were leading officials of Việt Nam‘s Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Agriculture and Rural Development, representatives of the world‘s major importers and exporters and major companies, and experts from more than 30 nations and territories all over the world.

The 2018 World Rice Conference is jointly held by The Rice Trader and Việt Nam‘s Ministry of Industry and Trade. — VNS http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/467691/vn-rice-exports-reaches-newheights.html#gyblFA79AmGSEogM.99

Midnight Raids: Reps ask Customs to return seized Rice Posted By: Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja On: October 11, 2018 In: City Beats,News Update

FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInWha tsApp The House of Representatives on Thursday told the Nigerian Customs Service to return the large quantity of rice they carted away from Kofar Ruwa and Sigha markets in Kano.

The rice was allegedly seized alongside other essential commodities in midnight raids by men of the Customs.

The House also resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the invasion and reasons behind the carting away the magnitude of rice from the two markets in Kano.

The resolution was sequel to a motion by a member, Aliyu Madaki titled: â&#x20AC;&#x2022;The illegal seizure of rice and the brazen abuse of law by the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at Kano Markets.â&#x20AC;&#x2013;

While moving the motion, Madaki said that the ―Customs carted away thousands of bags of rice from the Kofar Ruwa market and in the open shared to themselves and other security operatives in the operation. ‖ Aware that the Customs again invaded the Singha market in the dead of the night and carted away with over 10 trailers loaded with rice and other essential food commodities. ‖ The lawmaker expressed concern that the operations of the men and officer‘s of the Customs Service has affected the growth of business in Kano and by implication Nigeria economy. http://thenationonlineng.net/midnight-raids-reps-ask-customs-return-seized-rice/

Rice-driven inflation entails policy change, says Finance posted October 11, 2018 at 10:18 pm by Julito G. Rada and Macon Ramos-Araneta, Maricel V. Cruz

The contribution of rice to the inflation rate grew 10 times this year, signaling a need for food policy reforms, the Department of Finance said Thursday.

In a report, the DoF said basic food items such as rice, fish, meat, and vegetables have been major drivers of inflation this year, with the contribution of rice alone rising 10 times to 1 percentage point of the inflation rate.

Philippine Statistics Agency data showed that rice was the number one contributor to inflation in September 2018, and that food items in the consumption basket accounted for more than half of the inflation rate in the same month.

In its presentation during the latest Cabinet meeting, the DoF said that in contrast, the contribution of nonfood items such as electricity, gas and other fuels has slowed down since July this year. ―Rice tariffication and reforms in food policy are needed to address the repeated rice supply problems,‖ Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said during the Cabinet meeting.

The rice tariffication bill, once passed into law, is expected to liberalize the importation of rice. It is aimed at lowering rice prices while providing enough support for local farmers who will be affected by the influx of cheaper rice imports.

This measure has been certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte. Economic managers said liberalizing rice imports will lower the retail price of rice by P2 to P7 per kilo (based on latest estimates), and reduce inflation rate by 0.4 percentage points.

Inflation in September climbed to 6.7 percent from 6.4 percent a month ago, bringing the first nine months‘ average to 5 percent, surpassing the target of 2-4 percent set by the government earlier.

Among the short-term measures recommended by the DOF during the meeting were for the Department of Agriculture to undertake steps to bring down food prices, and for the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and of Transportation to speed up the release and distribution of cash cards to the poorest households and fuel subsidy cards to operators of public utility vehicles, respectively.

The release of unconditional cash transfers by the DSWD and fuel subsidies through the Pantawid Pasada Program are among the social mitigation measures under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) that are meant to cushion the impact of inflation on vulnerable sectors.

Inflation has continued to rise, however, hitting nine-year highs. ―Food inflation is the main driver of inflation, especially in recent months. The DA, which is the key to bringing down food prices, has been empowered under several presidential directives to put in place measures to increase food supply and bring down food prices,‖ said Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito Lambino II in a Malacañang press briefing.

These presidential directives include Administrative Order No. 13, which removed administrative restrictions on the importation of agricultural products.

The President also issued Memorandum Order 26 directing the DA and the Department of Trade and Industry to implement measures to reduce the gap between the farm gate and retail prices of agricultural products.

MO 27, meanwhile, ordered the DA, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and the Metro Manila Development Authority to ―adopt measures to ensure the efficient and seamless delivery‖ of imported agricultural and fishery products from ports to markets; while MO 28 directed the National Food Authority to immediately release existing rice stocks in its warehouses.

Lambino said the contribution of fish to inflation has been growing since 2017 while vegetables added to the inflation rate largely because of supply issues due to weather disturbances. The contribution of meat to inflation also rose reflecting a ―pricing mismatch.‖ The directives issued by the President formed part of the measures unveiled in early September by the Economic Development Cluster of the Cabinet to help rein in inflation.

The DA, meanwhile, announced a massive procurement of rice from local farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol said they will begin by scouting areas where the price of rice is low such as Mindoro and Bicol to help local farmers.

The NFA will buy each kilo of rice for P17 with incentives of up to P3.70. ―A farmer who brings his rice to the NFA at 14 percent moisture content, will be earning P20.70 for every kilo of paddy rice that he brings to the NFA,‖ said Piñol.

The DA will station drying facilities in all NFA buying stations across the country, which farmers may use for free, he said.

Farmers cooperatives may also use the accumulated points in exchange for farming equipment from the DA such as tractors, rice harvesters and solar power irrigation systems.

Piñol said these measures are aimed at reducing the impact of rice imports on local farmers.

Also on Thursday, Senator Grace Poe said a bill liberalizing rice imports would also provide for a fund that would subsidize local farmers.

Poe is a co-author of Senate Bill 1998 that seeks to lift quantitative restrictions or quota on rice importation by amending Republic Act 8178.

She said the measure is expected to temper inflation, as food prices continue to be the main driver for the rise in commodity prices.

Under SB 1998 or the Rice Tariffication bill sponsored last month by the Senate agriculture committee, rice imports will be slapped a 35 percent tariff rate in lieu of quantitative restrictions that limit the volume of rice imports every year.

The restrictions were originally aimed at protecting local farmers.

As part of the World Trade Organization, the Philippines has secured several extensions of the QR on rice imports, but the last ―waiver on the special treatment of rice‖ expired in June last year.

The legislation also establishes a Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which will mainly be sourced from rice tariffs, to finance the procurement of farm machinery and equipment, irrigation, subsidies and credit to farmers and rice research to improve the competitiveness of the country‘s rice sector.

A party-list lawmaker, meanwhile, said the government‘s ―unimpeded‖ rice importation policy should be set aside when the supply situation stabilizes in favor of a production-driven policy that would ensure an adequate supply of the staple. ―At best, the policy of import-till-you-drop should be an ad hoc, temporary measure in answer to an emergency,‖ Butil Party-list Rep. Cecil Chavez said, as she warned of the dangers of relying on imports to fill in the country‘s food security needs.

Chavez, member for the majority bloc of the House of Representatives‘ committee on agriculture and food, said delayed imports, natural calamities and the failure to fund a viable rice production program caused the acute rice shortage. And of the three, natural calamities is the one that is irreversible. ―Given the right support, the country‘s paddy production could produce the yearly national requirements,‖ Chavez said. ―The problem is with the country‘s economic managers who have belittled agriculture and rice production from Day One of President Duterte‘s administration,‖ she added.

She also cited claims of the country‘s economic managers that the country is now a ―service economy‖ and so agricultural investments are not worth pursuing. ―According to data, roughly 30 percent of the country‘s workforce is still agriculture-based and that alone should push the government to make agricultural investments a priority,‖ she said. ―Sadly, this is not reflected in the 2019 agriculture budget of barely over P50 billion.‖ She said the government must be able provide an-all out support to Filipino farmers, having the International Rice Research Institute and the Philippine Rice Institute provide the frontier research work necessary for an intensified rice production program. ―The country‘s rice farmers, inheritors of a proud-rice production culture are still the best rice farmers in the ASEAN once given the support of Thai and Vietnamese rice farmers,‖ Chavez said. http://www.manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/277746/rice-driven-inflation-entails-policy-change-saysfinance.html

Salt-resistant rice crop grown successfully in northern China 2018-10-11 15:38:56chinaplus.cri.cnEditor : Li Yan

Rice with a high tolerance to water salinity have been successfully grown in Qingdao in Shandong Province, according to a Xinhua report published on Wednesday.

In May, the seawater rice research center in Qingdao planted trial fields of the new rice strain in Qingdao and five other sites around the country.

The trial field in Qingdao used to be a saline-alkaline wasteland. But thanks to the development of the new salt-resistant rice strain, scientists have been able to turn it into productive farmland. http://www.ecns.cn/news/sci-tech/2018-10-11/detail-ifyyuymk1876083.shtml

How Three Minutes Can Change Your Life

By Deborah Willenborg

ARLINGTON, VA -- Three minutes of innovative storytelling about U.S.-grown rice is all it takes to earn money for college!

If you're a high school graduating student from Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Texas, submit a three-minute video that creates awareness and promotes U.S.-grown rice, September National Rice Month, and the importance of rice to your state, for a chance to win this year's National Rice Month Scholarship.

"Winning the National Rice Month scholarship was an incredibly unique and exciting experience, and helped fund my first year of college," said Heaven McKinley, from Grand Prairie, Texas. McKinley won the first ever video contest in 2016 for her entry, "Power Plants," and is now studying environmental engineering at Colorado School of the Mines.

Jared Fitton, last year's grand prize winner who attends the University of California at Santa Barbara working on his degree in computer science, said, "Participating in this scholarship helped me to not only pay for college, but also to discover a whole industry that was right in my backyard!"

Three scholarship prizes, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, totaling $8,500 will be awarded. The grandprize winner will receive a $4,000 scholarship and a trip with a chaperone this December to the awards ceremony at the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference in San Diego, California. The second-place winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship, and third-place $1,500.

Entries are due by October 31, and will be judged on creativity, quality, popularity, and effectiveness in promoting U.S.-grown rice. Sample topics include: rice production, nutrition (think about incorporating USDA's MyPlate MyState), sustainability, marketing/promotion ... the list goes on!

For more information and to submit an entry, visit the NRM scholarship page

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/recycling-of-rice-for-poor-comes-under-cvcscanner/665798.html

Gene editing advancements critical to feeding a hungry planet Krista Kafer 10/11/2018 11:57:40

And now for some good news: because of the scientific research at Colorado State University and other research institutions we may be able to feed all nine billion people in 2050 and confront the agricultural challenges of a warming planet. CSU scientists are using the newest CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to identify disease resistance and other important attributes in wheat and rice, two of the most important cereal grains. Their work could mean the difference between eating and starvation for millions in the future.

To understand why this work is so important, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s back up a step or two. Humans have been genetically modifying plants and animals for 10,000 years, longer in the case of dogs. Through selective breeding, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ve transformed wild species that were small, sometimes inedible, or liked to bite into the useful crops and livestock we have today. That juicy ear of sweet corn on your plate looks nothing like the tiny, hard kernel cob of the wild grass from which it descended. The almonds in that heavenly marzipan once contained lethal cyanide. The dachshund at your feet is a genetically modified wolf.

In the 1930s, scientists discovered that they could hasten the process of genetic modification in the lab with the help of radiation. By bombarding seeds with X-rays, scientists could induce the kind of genetic mutations that happen randomly in nature. The delicious dark pink grapefruit you had for breakfast came from a tree with a pink fruit gene that was accentuated in the lab through radiation.

The peppermint oil in your gum comes from plants modified in the same way. Although faster than relying on selective breeding, genetic manipulation through radiation is still a slow and haphazard process.

The next advancement in genetic modification came in the 1980s; scientists created the revolutionary technology of recombinant DNA which bridges the species barrier. Diabetics can get human insulin thanks to the work of these scientists instead of depending on insulin taken from the pancreases of pigs and cows.

This marvel of science was achieved because all plants and animals share the same building blocks of life - DNA. DNA functions as a kind of recipe book. If you have red hair, for example, it is because your DNA has a red hair recipe that your scalp cooks up. From wolves to corn to bacteria, the recipe book of all living things is made of the same stuff - thymine (T), cytosine (C), adenine (A), or guanine (G). It‘s helpful to think of these nucleotides as the letters that spell out the recipe book.

Three decades ago, scientists figured out they could take the recipe for human insulin and put it into a bacteria and that bacteria would follow the recipe to make human insulin.

Since that time, scientists have been working to decode and interpret the DNA recipe book, or genome, of important plants and animals. They have decoded the genomes for wheat and rice. Now scientists at CSU and other institutions can look at varieties of these essential staples and pinpoint the recipes for resistance to drought, heat, pests, and diseases. They achieve this wonder with the help of an enzyme derived from bacteria - CRISPR-Cas9 (pronounced ―crisper‖) which stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. The enzyme allows scientists to edit the genome by taking out certain recipes or altering others and then determining whether the change improved the plant‘s attributes. These researchers are not introducing DNA from other species but working to improve existing crop genomes.

What makes this work so important is that we don‘t have time to rely on conventional breeding or radiation experiments. A single degree rise in night temperatures in Asia has already reduced the rice yield. Dr. Jan Leach, Associate Dean for Research at the College of Agricultural Sciences at CSU told me that the production of rice must increase by 50 percent in order to keep up with rising populations; ―If we don‘t move faster we may not be able to keep up with the demand.‖ The clock is ticking but thanks to these scientists we have reason to be hopeful. Go Rams!

Krista Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail. http://www.burlington-record.com/ci_32201983/gene-editing-advancements-critical-feeding-hungryplanet

RESPONDING TO THE QUERIES OF FARMERS

By Julio Yap Jr. Wednesday, October 10, 2018

EVERY cropping season, beginning and veteran rice farmers are always asking about seed quality and varietal information.

Aside from asking if what to plant, they are also concerned about their yield and sustainability under local conditions.

The need to answer these queries motivated ICT specialists at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to develop the Binhing Palay app with the National Cooperative Testing Group.

Launched during the recent National Rice Research for Development Conference, the digital application features a catalogue of all released rice varieties in the Philippines.

The app, which can be downloaded in the Google Play Store, provides fast and easy access to basic and updated varietal information.

It also works on offline mode.

The researchers said that by using their smartphones or tablets, farmers, seed growers, extension workers, and other agriculture enthusiasts can use the app to get the latest information on modern rice varieties.

The app currently contains 289 rice varieties including their agronomic characteristics, pest and disease resistance, and grain quality.

It automatically updates every time a new variety is released and has a sort and filter list feature.

App users can filter through the list based on location, environment, season, crop establishment, seed classification, or year of release, PhilRice said.

Recommendations for the dry and wet cropping season based on reports from the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices are also included in the app.

On the other hand, worries of farmers during rainy season may soon be reduced with the development of a line that is resistant against bacterial leaf blight (BLB), one of the most destructive rice diseases occurring during continuous heavy rains.

Developed by PhilRice, Line 27 (PR37171-1-1-1-2-2-1-1) withstood attacks of major BLB races found in the country.

PhilRice says that Line 27 has broad-spectrum resistance to diseases based on tests conducted, which used 12 strains representing 10 BLB races.

A cross combination of NSIC Rc 120 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a tungro-resistant variety, and AR 32-19-3-4, a BLB resistant elite line, Line 27 was found to have four resistant genes against Xanthomas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal organism of BLB. PhilRice also said that Line 27 will be further bred as a variety for farmers to plant.

The variety will be suited in Northern and Eastern Samar where BLB incidences are prevalent last 2017.

The variety may be expected in 6 to10 years.

Currently, the line is also being used in developing new hybrid varieties, which are known to be highly susceptible to BLB and tungro, and Golden rice, a variety being bred containing beta carotene.

With these new results, PhilRice is hopeful to improve or develop a BLB and tungroresistant parental, which can be useful in the development of high-yielding varieties.

Reducing farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; yield by up to 60 percent under severe infestation, BLB causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves.

The disease hinders the growth of grains by affecting the cropâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s food production process.

BLB can also easily attack susceptible rice varieties applied with high amount of nitrogen fertilizer. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)

https://www.panaynews.net/responding-to-the-queries-of-farmers/

Foreign Agro-Scientists Visits Sivasagar District October 10, 2018

JOYSAGAR: A high-level team of agro-scientists of different countries visited Sivasagar district on Tuesday as part of the Government of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s initiative for Global Agro-Scientists Cooperation and Development of the Agro-Sector which was implemented in 2016. The team of agro-scientists reached Assam on October 4 and has been visiting various places of the State since then. Finally, the team arrived in Sivasagar. Agro-scientists from Philippines, Norway, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh visited many places of the district and took stock of various farming processes being adopted by the local farmers. They also inspected many paddy fields.

The foreign agro-scientists were accompanied by Indian scientists from Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal. The team inspected the greater Dikhowmukh, Gaurisagar, Amguri, Bharalua, Gatonga and Rupahimukh areas where the local farmers have cultivated various varieties of rice and also taken up mustard cultivation.

Besides, many agro-scientists from Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, and Assam Rice Research Centre, Titabor, also arrived in Sivasagar on Tuesday and accompanied the team. They held discussions on modern cultivation methods. The team will travel to West and South India to get an overall idea of the Indian farming systems and finally exchange their views to help Indian farmers adopt the post-modern farming culture with the help of modern agro-Scientific equipment. Earlier in the morning, the team was formally welcomed by Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner PG Jha and Sivasagar Agriculture Department Senior Scientist Dr. P. Handique and Dr. P Dutta in the Circuit House. https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/foreign-agro-scientists-visits-sivasagar-district/

Agri dept organises seminar for rice growers Staff Reporter October 10, 2018

LAHORE - Agriculture Department has organized a seminar for awareness of rice growers in Gujranwala. A statement issued from here said Agriculture Minister Malik Nouman Langerial participated as chief guest while Additional Secretary Task Force Benish Fatima Sahi, Agriculture Research DG Dr Abid Mahmood, DG Extension Syed Zafaryaab Haider and others attended the event.

Langerial said that Basmati rice of Pakistan was popular throughout the world. Pakistan was earning billions of rupees through rice export, he said. During 2017-18, 2.29 million tonnes of rice worth Rs 1.o6 billion was exported from Pakistan, he said, adding PTI government believed in farmers‘ betterment as whole economy depends on agriculture. ―Our government is launching different programs for farmers‘ welfare. We are well aware of the fact that farming community was neglected in past. ―Our neighbouring country leads us far behind in agriculture sector. Now we are trying our level best to develop agriculture sector,‖ he said.Dr. Zafaryaab appealed rice growers to abstain from rice stubble burning as it contributes to environmental pollution (smog) which is harmful for human health. He said agriculture teams were monitoring incidents of rice stubble burning this year to avoid smog. https://nation.com.pk/10-Oct-2018/agri-dept-organises-seminar-for-rice-growers

Scientists use cake rusk crumbs to create lowcost supercapacitors Scientists have used cake rusk leftovers to develop low-cost supercapacitors - a electronic component that is used to store charge and has a wide range of applications in everyday modern devices.

By: PTI | Chennai | Published: October 9, 2018 11:58 AM

The researchers from SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai wanted to create low cost alternatives by recycling waste materials and converting them into products that have high demand.

(Representational Image)

Scientists have used cake rusk leftovers to develop low-cost supercapacitors â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a electronic component that is used to store charge and has a wide range of applications in everyday modern devices. Owing to the ever growing energy demand, electrochemical energy storage systems with higher energy and power densities such as lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors have attracted tremendous attention in recent years.

The researchers from SRM Institute of Science and Technology in Chennai wanted to create low cost alternatives by recycling waste materials and converting them into products that have high demand. For a study published in the journal Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, they collected waste cake rusk crumbs from local bakeries and heated them in nitrogen gas to obtain highly porous carbon with very high surface area. â&#x20AC;&#x2022;The carbon materials obtained from Indian cake rusk have very high porosity, surface area and pore volumes which are superior than the other waste materials investigated,â&#x20AC;&#x2013; M

Sasidharan, a professor at SRM University, told PTI. ―The above attributes are very essential for percolation of electrolyte, and high charge storage in any electrical device,‖ said Sasidharan, principal investigator of the study.

Supercapacitors are devices that can store and deliver charge much faster than batteries, and tolerate many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries. It has widespread application from a range of devices such as smartphones, laptops and portable media players. They are also used as voltage stabilisers, in medical devices and as energy harvesters.

The device fabricated by the researchers can light up few LED bulbs. In future, the materials may be extended to high end applications, researchers said. Sasidharan said that the research may bring down the cost of supercapacitors by 70 per cent, since the raw materials are inexpensive. Any food waste which provide carbon materials with high porosity and surface area can be considered for this application, researchers said. ―Right now we are focusing on different farm wastes which can give better performance than the already studied rice husk, bagasse waste, waste tea, waste tire, puffed rice etc,‖ Sasidharan said. The researchers are currently working on scaling up the production process to optimise it for commercial applications.

Get live Stock Prices from BSE and NSE and latest NAV, portfolio of Mutual https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/science/scientists-use-cake-rusk-crumbs-to-create-low-costsupercapacitors/1342669/

Inland waterways transport proving to be a game changer Sumit Moitra Updated: Oct 10, 2018, 05:25 AM IST

On August 31, 1,233 tonne of fly ash set sail from Ganga to Brahmaputra for a 2,085 km long haul from National Thermal Power Corp's (NTPC) Kahalgaon power plant in Bihar off National Waterway 1 to Pandu in Assam meant for Star Cement's plant.

And on September 18, the two barges of 1,000-tonne capacity each reached Pandu Island port near Guwahati via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route, completing the country's longest hauls in inland waterways movement sticking close to its 20-days travel schedule.

"This movement will evince confidence and interest in the inland waterways sector and vessel operators as more than 10 such pilot movements have been successfully completed lately on various stretches of national ways," says an official of the National Waterways Authority of India (NWAI).

"This endeavour will also establish the water highway route from Kahalgaon to Pandu in Assam via Bangladesh border helping transportation of other goods also," said an official with NTPC. Not just fly ash, an otherwise useless by-product of power plants using coal but in high demand from cement and brick makers, all kinds of commodities from coal to cement are now being transported via inland coastal and also sea routes.

Recently, the fourth cement terminal at Cochin Port started operations with the arrival of vessel 'PennaSuraksha' carrying 25,000 tonne of cement from Krishnapatnam, which would help more cement to be transported through coastal shipping.

"This will reduce cement cost, help in rebuilding Kerala state after the floods. Cement being a high-volume, low-value product, lower-cost sea transport is very important as a game changer in logistics. And this modal shift in the transport of cement from road and rail to sea is another step towards promoting coastal shipping as cost-effective and environment-friendly means of transportation as envisaged under the Sagarmala project," said an official with Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

Ports in the east like Krishnapatnam are set to assume greater importance with the expected rise in exports to China starting with non-basmati rice.

Even before the fly ash consignment reached Assam, the first consignment of nonbasmati rice of 100 tonne set sail for China from Nagpur on September 29. The rice, meant for China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corp, one of China's stateowned food processing holding companies, would reach the destination.

The pact to export rice to China is part of a deal between General Administration of Customs of China, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and Farmers Welfare of India signed in June during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China.

Following the deal, 19 rice mills and processing units were registered for export of non-basmati rice from India to China.

This trade is important for India from the strategic point as well, as Pakistan has so far dominated exports of rice to China shipping 2.33 lakh metric tonne worth $83 million in the eight-month period till February 2018.

Exporters from Nagpur would be using the multi-modal connectivity model launched earlier by the state-owned Concor, which started container service over rail connecting Nagpur with the port.

Connecting hinterland with ports is the objective of the Jal Marg Vikas project set up for a capacity augmentation on Varanasi-Haldia stretch of the national waterways at a cost of Rs 5,369 crore with technical assistance and investment support from the World Bank.

The cargo traffic on national waterway 1 (NW-1) was about 5.5 million tonne in FY18 and is expected to touch 21.89 million tonne by 2021 with the implementation of a slew of intermodal transport project, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said recently. https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-inland-waterways-transport-proving-to-be-a-game-changer2673583

Duterte approves 'unimpeded' importation of rice to combat inflation Inflation surged to a fresh nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September, spurring calls for another interest rate hike to anchor elevated inflation expectations and temper consumer demand that could have lifted prices.

Ian Nicolas Cigaral (philstar.com) - October 9, 2018 - 3:16pm

Government to impose price caps on chicken, pork MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the ―unimpeded‖ importation of rice in a bid to douse inflation that is now the hottest in Asia.

At a press conference Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte ordered the liberalization of rice importation during a Cabinet meeting last Monday, where policymakers had a ―fierce‖ discussion on possible solutions to the country‘s inflation problem.

Roque explained that under the presidential order, individuals and businesses can import additional volumes of the crop from abroad but will have to pay the tariffs.

The Palace official added that the National Food Authority will no longer have a say on the amount of rice to be imported and on individuals who will be allowed to buy cheap rice from other countries. ―He (Duterte) wants to flood the market with rice so that even of the price of crude and other oil prices should go up further that the people would have access to affordable rice,‖ Roque said. ―There are no more restrictions as long as tariffs are paid. We will use the collected tariffs to help Filipino rice farmers."

Prices began soaring at the start of the year after the government slapped higher excise taxes on fuel and other commodities. The price hikes quickly spread to cover more goods like rice amid persistent supply bottlenecks, while a weakening currency added to the country‘s inflation woes.

Rice is a Filipino main staple and pivotal political commodity in the Philippines. It is a heavy item in the basket of goods and services used to compute inflation and accounts for 20 percent of the consumption of lowincome households.

In September, inflation surged to a fresh nine-year high of 6.7 percent, spurring calls for another interest rate hike to anchor elevated inflation expectations and temper consumer demand that could have lifted prices.

But some analysts have pointed out that monetary policy tightening alone is not enough to bring down inflation, as higher prices in the Philippines are still supply-driven.

To combat multi-year high inflation, multiple reports say the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture will sign an agreement imposing suggested retail prices on chicken and pork, on top of other measures that seek to stabilize prices of farm products.

According to Roque, the Palace will still support the Rice Tariffication Bill, but will not wait for the measure to be passed as surging prices continue to crush Filipino families‘ budgets.

EXPLAINER: Rice tariffication: What it is and how it can ease inflation ―In effect, we did not wait for the [rice tariffication bill]. The consensus was there was no need for anything,‖ Duterte‘s spokesman said. ―The president can already order the liberalization of rice importation because again the language found in relevant instruments is ‗minimum access volume.‘ So there is no maximum,‖ he added.

Read more at https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/10/09/1858621/duterteapproves-unimpeded-importation-rice-combat-inflation#f9q8uKryuVh67ddi.99 https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/10/09/1858621/duterte-approves-unimpededimportation-rice-combat-inflation

Duterte orders 'unimpeded' rice importations to tame inflation RUTH ABBEY GITA October 9, 2018

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the "unimpeded" importation of rice as one of the measures to tame the elevated inflation rate.

Duterte gave the instruction after Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, during the 30th Cabinet meeting held on Monday, October 8, informed the Chief Executive that the food basket contributed largely to the inflation rate, which accelerated further to a nine-year high of 6.7 percent in September.

"The most important highlight of that meeting was the President approved unimpeded importation of rice as a measure to reduce inflation," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told a press conference.

"The President ordered the unimpeded importation of rice. He wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other prices of oil should go up still further, that the people will have access to affordable rice," he added.

Roque said rice traders would no longer be restricted from importing rice, as long as they pay tariffs..

He added that the President's order effectively stopped the National Food Authority (NFA) from limiting the amount of rice imports allowed to enter the country.

"The issue was whether the status quo actually impedes the importation of rice. Although the position of some is that we are not impeding the importation of rice, the reality was there were maximum volumes allowed, and it was still the NFA dictating how much rice should be imported by the country," the Palace official said.

"With the President's directive, the NFA no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported. Anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs will be allowed to import rice," he added.

On September 12, Duterte signed Administrative Order (AO) 13 removing non-tariff barriers and streamlining administrative procedures on the importation of agricultural product, after inflation reached a nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August.

Three memoranda were also signed to reduce the gap between farmgate prices and retail prices of agricultural products, ensure the efficient and seamless delivery of imported agriculture and fishery products from the ports to markets, and stabilize the prices of basic agricultural commodities at reasonable levels. (SunStar Philippines) https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1768310

RESPONDING TO THE QUERIES OF FARMERS By

Julio Yap Jr. Wednesday, October 10, 2018

EVERY cropping season, beginning and veteran rice farmers are always asking about seed quality and varietal information.

Aside from asking if what to plant, they are also concerned about their yield and sustainability under local conditions.

The need to answer these queries motivated ICT specialists at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to develop the Binhing Palay app with the National Cooperative Testing Group.

Launched during the recent National Rice Research for Development Conference, the digital application features a catalogue of all released rice varieties in the Philippines.

The app, which can be downloaded in the Google Play Store, provides fast and easy access to basic and updated varietal information.

It also works on offline mode.

The researchers said that by using their smartphones or tablets, farmers, seed growers, extension workers, and other agriculture enthusiasts can use the app to get the latest information on modern rice varieties.

The app currently contains 289 rice varieties including their agronomic characteristics, pest and disease resistance, and grain quality.

It automatically updates every time a new variety is released and has a sort and filter list feature.

App users can filter through the list based on location, environment, season, crop establishment, seed classification, or year of release, PhilRice said.

Recommendations for the dry and wet cropping season based on reports from the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional offices are also included in the app.

On the other hand, worries of farmers during rainy season may soon be reduced with the development of a line that is resistant against bacterial leaf blight (BLB), one of the most destructive rice diseases occurring during continuous heavy rains.

Developed by PhilRice, Line 27 (PR37171-1-1-1-2-2-1-1) withstood attacks of major BLB races found in the country.

PhilRice says that Line 27 has broad-spectrum resistance to diseases based on tests conducted, which used 12 strains representing 10 BLB races.

A cross combination of NSIC Rc 120 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a tungro-resistant variety, and AR 32-19-3-4, a BLB resistant elite line, Line 27 was found to have four resistant genes against Xanthomas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), the causal organism of BLB. PhilRice also said that Line 27 will be further bred as a variety for farmers to plant.

The variety will be suited in Northern and Eastern Samar where BLB incidences are prevalent last 2017.

The variety may be expected in 6 to10 years.

Currently, the line is also being used in developing new hybrid varieties, which are known to be highly susceptible to BLB and tungro, and Golden rice, a variety being bred containing beta carotene.

With these new results, PhilRice is hopeful to improve or develop a BLB and tungroresistant parental, which can be useful in the development of high-yielding varieties.

Reducing farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC; yield by up to 60 percent under severe infestation, BLB causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves.

The disease hinders the growth of grains by affecting the cropâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s food production process.

BLB can also easily attack susceptible rice varieties applied with high amount of nitrogen fertilizer. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN) https://www.panaynews.net/responding-to-the-queries-of-farmers/

Catch Up with Focus on the Farmer Series

By Deborah Willenborg

ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice "Focus on the Farmer" Facebook series started again yesterday with posts featuring Jason Waller, a rice farmer from Mer Rouge, Louisiana. Jason is a fourth generation farmer with twenty years' experience growing rice, corn, cotton, and soybeans in northeast Louisiana.

Follow along with Jason all week, and look, "like," and, most importantly, share the posts to help spread the U.S. rice story!

Milling with a personal touch Ducks and Rice on the National Mall

By Lesley Dixon

WASHINGTON, DC -- Riceland Foods and Ducks Unlimited represented U.S. rice at the second annual Co-op Festival here this weekend, joining dozens of other cooperatives from a wide range of industries for two days of music, food, and public outreach. In honor of October being National Co-op Month, the National Cooperative Business Association and Cooperative League of the USA (NCBA CLUSA) holds the festival every year on the National Mall, educating visitors on the benefits of cooperative enterprise.

Situated in a scenic spot between the Capitol building and Washington Monument, the Riceland booth enjoyed a steady stream of traffic as they handed out free samples of freshly milled rice, still warm from their table-top milling machine. It's a hands-on way to show people how their rice is processed, from rough paddy rice to brown rice to white rice, and the hulls and rice bran produced along the way.

"We've had a ton of traffic this weekend, and we've been giving away lots of rice samples," said Kevin McGilton, Riceland vice president of government affairs. "It's been a great experience because it's an educated audience that's really engaged with where their food comes from and very receptive to our messaging about all the positive qualities of U.S. rice."

Ducks Unlimited joined the fun with a duck blind that visitors could climb inside, surrounded by a gaggle of duck decoys. Aside from being an excellent photo booth opportunity, the setup was a great way to engage with the public about the U.S. rice sustainability story and the role of rice fields as wildlife habitat.

McGilton pointed out that it's probably the first and only duck blind set up with the Washington Monument in the background, and in that moment it was hard to imagine a more American image.

"It's been funny to watch all the little kids try and sneak up on the duck decoys. They creep up, and when they reach down to touch them to see if they're real, I'm ready with this," said McGilton, quacking loudly on a duck call.

It gets them every time.

Hidden among the monuments on the National Mall

Rice Webinar: Thursday October 11 Tune in Thursday, October 11 at 10:00 a.m. Central Time, for a new rice webinar hosted by Dr. Bobby Coats, with the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Kristine A. Tidgren, an adjunct assistant professor in the UofA Agricultural Education & Studies Department and the Director for the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, will review the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on farming businesses. In particular, Tidgren will discuss issues impacting owners of small C corporations, S corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

Go here to register for the webinar.

Suggested retail prices for rice, chicken set A worker rests on sacks of rice at a National Food Authority warehouse in Quezon City yesterday. The NFA will be conducting periodic inspections of rice outlets in Metro Manila and other areas to ensure that the Filipinos‘ staple is not overpriced.

Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) - October 9, 2018 - 12:00am MANILA, Philippines — The government decided yesterday to impose suggested retail prices (SRP) for rice and chicken amid the spikes in the prices of oil and other basic commodities. ―By end of October, we will implement an SRP. Rice sold in retail outlets will be identified as local or imported,‖ Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, who also chairs the National Food Authority Council (NFAC), told reporters.

The SRP for chicken will be updated every three days to keep prices in the market in check, according to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

The NFAC agreed with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and NFA to impose SRP for rice and chicken during a meeting yesterday.

Piñol said the NFA would conduct periodic inspection of rice outlets in Metro Manila and other areas to ensure that the Filipinos‘ main staple is not overpriced.

In three weeks‘ time, he said regular milled-rice should be sold at P39 per kilo, well-milled rice at P42 per kilo and long grain or premium rice at P44 per kilo. ―The NFA will exercise its full power and cancel permits of those who will violate the SRP,‖ Piñol said.

Chicken prices The DTI also agreed with the DA to cap the difference between the farm gate price and retail price of chicken at P50. ―We will issue a memorandum of agreement with the DA to impose a moving price ceiling,‖ Lopez said.

He said the price ceiling would move with the farm gate prices.

At a farm gate price of P82, retailers would be allowed to sell chicken at P132.

After the prices are updated, the government would meet with market masters to ensure the selling prices of vendors would be aligned with the SRP. ―When we have the SRP for chicken, we will run after violators and penalize them,‖ Lopez said.

He said those found selling chicken above the SRP would first be issued a letter of inquiry to allow them to correct their pricing.

If the retailer keeps selling above the SRP, the DTI would issue a notice of violation and a penalty would be imposed, depending on the size of the business. ―In principle, this is what will happen. We will put it in writing so we can have SRP in place, hopefully in two days,‖ Lopez said.

He said the government is also planning to set SRP for pork once discussions are finalized.

More rice imports The NFAC has given the green light for the procurement of an additional 350,000 metric tons (MT) of rice to be sold exclusively in supermarkets.

Piñol said the NFAC approved the proposal of the DTI to partner with private traders for rice distribution in supermarkets. ―We approved the allocation of 350,000 MT for DTI provided that there will be a deed of undertaking to ensure that imported rice will only be sold at P38 per kilo,‖ Piñol said.

Lopez said at least four groups of retailers and wholesalers have expressed their intention to import rice.

―The others are computing whether or not they can commit to the P38 per kilo. We will also see the timing of the arrival as we plan to do it in phases but the whole volume should arrive before the year ends,‖ Lopez told reporters.

The first batch of the 350,000 MT of rice is expected to arrive in the country by the first week of November.

Lopez clarified that the issue on the licensing fee for supermarkets has been addressed. ―It was just a misunderstanding. The NFA has committed that they won‘t make it difficult to facilitate,‖ he said.

The NFA maintained that it only charges a minimum of P165 to P11,000, depending on capitalization, for a rice retailer‘s license, and not P115,000 as claimed by the Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association (PAGASA) for a permit to sell rice.

The additional rice imports will bring to 1.6 million MT the total imports for the year.

This includes the earlier 500,000 MT and the 750,000 MT yet to be bidded out by the government.

Higher rice prices Despite the arrival of imports and start of the harvest season, rice prices continue to increase even if the farm gate price of palay went down to P22.93 per kilo, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

In its regular update on palay, rice and corn prices, the PSA said the average wholesale price of well-milled rice rose to P46.06 per kilo in the last week of September while week-on-week prices inched up by a percentage point.

Its average retail price also increased to P49.37 per kilo.

The wholesale price of regular-milled rice increased to P43.12 per kilo. Its average retail price also increased to P45.83 per kilo.

Sellers of NFA rice in Bicol have been complaining of low sales after rice imports flooded the markets. ―Commercial rice traders are not happy and they want the NFA not to sell rice on Sunday so they can increase their sales,‖ Tomas Enrile, regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation, said.

Enrile said they have not received reports of rice hoarding in Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte. – With Celso Amo

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/10/09/1858556/suggested-retail-prices-rice-chicken-set

Duterte orders unimpeded rice importation

By Azer Parrocha October 9, 2018, 3:47 pm

MANILA -- President Rodrigo R. Duterte has approved the unimpeded importation of rice as part of government efforts to combat rising inflation and lower prices, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said this decision was reached during the 30th Cabinet meeting on Monday (Oct. 8), describing it as a ―very hot issue.‖ ―The President approved unimpeded importation of rice as a measure to reduce inflation. He wants to flood the market with rice so that even if the price of crude and other oil prices should go up still further, that people will have access to affordable rice,‖ Roque said in a Palace briefing.

According to Roque, this means that the National Food Authority (NFA) will no longer have the power to accredit which rice dealers will be allowed to import rice, and determine how much rice to import. ―The issue was whether or not the status quo actually impedes importation of rice. Although the position of some is we are not impeding the importation of rice, the reality was there were maximum volumes allowed.

And it was still the NFA dictating how much rice should be imported in the country,‖ Roque said. ―With the President‘s directive, the NFA no longer has any say on how much rice should be imported. Anyone who can afford it and will pay tariffs for rice will be allowed to import rice,‖ he added.

Roque said as long as rice dealers have permits, the NFA will no longer have to approve the importation as long as they comply with documentary requirements.

He explained that the President‘s directive did not require the issuance of an executive order (EO) since ―there was no need because the provision found is minimum access volume (MAV).‖ Roque, meanwhile, said there is no timeframe set for the unimpeded rice importation.

He expressed hope that with this order, giant Filipino companies like San Miguel Corp. will be allowed to import rice. This increase in rice supply will result in overall lowering of prices of rice.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte urged Congress to deem as urgent the passage of the crucial rice tariffication bill.

Roque said during the Cabinet meeting, the consensus was that they need not wait for a rice tariffication bill to remove unnecessary government intervention in the rice market. ―In effect we did not wait for tariffication. The consensus was there was no need for anything. The President can already order the liberalization of rice importation because again, the language found in relevant instruments is minimum access volume so there is no maximum,‖ Roque said.

Roque noted that Duterte is still expecting the passage of a rice tariffication bill but noted that the Palace ―will not wait for it.‖ He also assured that tariffs paid will be set aside for local farmers.

Last month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Administrative Order (AO) No. 13 to streamline procedures on the import of agricultural products, including rice.

Alongside this order, Duterte also signed Memorandum Order (MO) Nos. 26, 27, and 28, which are measures to stabilize the prices of basic agricultural commodities at reasonable levels and maintain their sufficient supply in the domestic market. (PNA)

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1050433

Brewing Beer from Rice in Princeton

By Steve Beckley

Bill Weller farms in Glenn County, currently producing rice, almonds, walnuts, and wheat. Their family farm has been in operation since the 1800s.

Like many farmers, Bill was looking for opportunities to add value to the products that he produces and has started Farmers Brewing Company. Home brewing started as a casual hobby, and he has now expanded it into a viable business. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s joined by his wife, Kristin, in producing this â&#x20AC;&#x2022;Farm to Glassâ&#x20AC;&#x2013; product using farm-grown rice, barley and wheat.

I went up to Princeton, expecting to find a farmer brewing beer in a vacant space in the equipment yard or shop. Instead, I found an individual committed to producing great beers that are sold at many restaurants and other establishments in the Sacramento Valley. When I toured the current brewery and the farm with Bill, he was excited that Glenn County has approved the site plan for a 20-barrel brewery. Construction on the new brewery will start soon, once all permits are in place.

In the spirit of additional research, I dropped by the Tap Room at Colusa Made where Bill and Kristin were pouring their beer. It was evident that everybody was enjoying this local product.

Bill took time to visit with many of the individuals enjoying the beer, including a few local farmers.

If you want meet some great people, see some great country, waterfowl and fill your growlers, the brewery will be having a growler fill day on October 20, information is at farmersbrewing.com/news.

To learn more about Bill, his family, farm and beer more information is at farmersbrewing.com, which also has links to their other social media pages.

I know when I stop at some of my Sacramento Valley restaurants and watering holes, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ll be ordering a beer from Farmers Brewing Co. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s always good to know the farmer and brewer that made your beer.

Steve Beckley was born in Colusa, raised in Grimes and has a great passion for the Sacramento Valley. He graduated from Pierce High School in Arbuckle and Chico State University before em http://calrice.org/brewing-beer-from-rice-in-princeton/

Illegal outflows of rice to be controlled Submitted by Eleven on Tue, 10/09/2018 - 10:25

The country needs to control illegal outflows of rice to other countries including China and to systematically store rice for the country‘s food security, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein.

Last year, the rice export industry achieved great successes. But increasing effects of global warming caused by climate changes is highly likely to have an impact on crop plantations, he added.

Nay Lin Zin, General Secretary of Myanmar Rice Millers Association said: ―The monsoon paddy harvest season is approaching. Thousands tons of newly-harvested paddy are being exported to China via illegal routes. The association has reported it to the relevant ministries. But the ministries are not in a position to control illegal outflows of paddy.‖ It has been around three years merchants started exporting large volumes of rice to China illegally.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/local/15404

Irregular monsoon rains to hit paddy production in Konkan region RAHUL WADKET+ T-

Although Konkan region has reported over 106 per cent of average rainfall this year, volatility in rains has led to fungal attacks MUMBAI, OCTOBER 9 Irregular monsoon rains coupled with fungal diseases could have a major impact on paddy production in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Last year, the region had reported 12.5 lakh tonnes of production, which could dip by 15 to 20 per cent. Paddy is cultivated in 32 out of 33 districts but Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are the major production areas of the State. After the initial onset of monsoon, there has been a long stretch of dry spell, which has affected the crop.

Agriculturist Vivek Bhide from Ratnagiri said that although Konkan region has reported over 106 per cent of average rainfall this year,

volatility in rains has led to fungal attacks. Rice millers have reported lower volumes of paddy being bought for processing.

Bhide, who has been nominated to a number of State Government committees on agriculture and horticulture, said that keeping in mind of the Konkan region‘s topography, terrace farming techniques are used extensively. It has been found that farms on the top of the terracehave received lesser rainfall.

A senior Maharashtra Government official that those farmers, who had planted rice just before the onset of monsoon rains, are harvesting their crops but with a dip of about 15 to 20 per cent in production.

Fungal diseases are also on the rise but fungicides are getting more and more expensive. Therefore, farmers are using it in diluted concentrations, to prevent higher input costs. In the past, such weather irregularities have also been observed in mango and cashew crops. If such weather phenomenon continues, then the farmers may have to consider shifting to some other crops, which could absorb such weather induced stress, the official said. https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/irregular-monsoon-rains-fungal-diseases-to-hitpaddy-production-in-konkan-region/article25166242.ece

Irregular monsoon rain likely to hit paddy production in Konkan region 

The Hindu Business Line



10 Oct 2018

Irregular monsoon rains coupled with fungal diseases could have a major impact on paddy production in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Last year, the region had reported 12.5 lakh tonnes of production, which could dip by 15 to 20 per cent.

Irregular monsoon rains coupled with fungal diseases could have a major impact on paddy production in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. Last year, the region had reported 12.5 lakh tonnes of production, which could dip by 15 to 20 per cent.

Paddy is cultivated in 32 out of 33 districts but Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are the major production areas of the State. After the initial onset of the monsoon, there has been a long dry spell, which has affected the crop.

Paddy is cultivated in 32 out of 33 districts but Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg are the major production areas of the State. After the initial onset of the monsoon, there has been a long dry spell, which has affected the crop.

Agriculturist Vivek Bhide from Ratnagiri said that although the Konkan region has reported over 106 per cent of average rainfall this year, volatility in rains has led to fungal attacks. Rice millers have reported lower volumes of paddy being bought for processing.

Agriculturist Vivek Bhide from Ratnagiri said that although the Konkan region has reported over 106 per cent of average rainfall this year, volatility in rains has led to fungal attacks. Rice millers have reported lower volumes of paddy being bought for processing.

Bhide, who has been nominated to a number of State Government committees on agriculture and horticulture, said that keeping in mind the Konkan regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s topography, terrace farming techniques are used extensively. It has been found that farms on the top of the terraces have received lesser rainfall.

A senior Maharashtra Government official that those farmers, who had planted rice just before the onset of monsoon rains are harvesting their crops but with a dip of about 15 to 20 per cent in production.

A senior Maharashtra Government official that those farmers, who had planted rice just before the onset of monsoon rains are harvesting their crops but with a dip of about 15 to 20 per cent in production.

Fungal diseases are also on the rise but fungicides are getting more and more expensive. Farmers are therefore using them in diluted concentrations, to prevent higher input costs.

Fungal diseases are also on the rise but fungicides are getting more and more expensive. Farmers are therefore using them in diluted concentrations, to prevent higher input costs.

In the past, such weather irregularities have also been observed in mango and cashew crops. If such weather phenomena continue, farmers may have to consider shifting to some other crops, which could absorb such weather-induced stress, the official said.

Beauty from the most basic grain Rice gives cosmetics and skincare a boost. By Wichit Chantanusornsiri ď&#x201A;ˇ ď&#x201A;ˇ

10 Oct 2018 at 04:00 0 comments NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: WICHIT CHANTANUSORNSIRI

Manvee Suchyakharkul, managing director of Madeena Good Friend, shows her products.

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Rice has long been a farm-to-table product in Thailand, but it has become an increasingly popular ingredient in cosmetics and skincare items such as serums, eyeliner and face masks thanks to innovation, creating value-added products.

These are effective solutions to shield rice growers from low prices, boosting their income in a sustainable way.

Rice can be developed into various value-added products, such as young rice aged 12 days, which can be turned into rice milk and sold for 32,000 baht per tonne, said Adul Chotinisakorn, director of the Commerce Ministry's Department of Foreign Trade.

Value-added products can reduce the rice supply glut, he said.

Surgical haemostatic agents made from rice starch extracted from broken rice is far cheaper than and has better efficacy than gelatin-based haemostatic agents, given that the former can decompose within three weeks while the latter is does not decompose.

Surgical haemostatic agent product based rice starch is priced at 100 baht each, while gelatinbased haemostatic agents are sold at 350 baht.

Mr Adul said that innovation in rice has been the first of the promoted innovations by the Agricultural Product Innovation (API) Division, established with the main objective to promote value-added innovations in agricultural products, with over 600 food and non-food products supported by the API. API is focused on research projects that add value to agricultural products for the market.

"The research must be market-driven," he said, adding that API has plans to promote innovative agricultural products in the international market, such as Hong Kong.

Netnapha Lertmalaimaal, pharmacist and researcher for extracted rice converted into natural ceramide, explained that ceramide helps revive dry skin that has suffered from allergies and is suitable for skin problems, skin inflammation and acne.

Her inspiration for the research, which has cost her over 5 million baht personally, comes from her kid who has problematic skin which causes the skin to peel. Despite the use of imported products from overseas, the condition hasn't improved, so the pharmacist took the lead to conduct the research herself.

"Ceramide is a substance present in many plants, including rice," said Mrs Netnapha.

She extracts ceramide from rice bran, which costs five baht per kilogramme, and when extracted into ceramide, has a price of 100,000 baht per kilogramme.

Ceramide is available in capsule form and has been sold for two years under the brand Smith I, the company she owns. Consumers buy her products to resell in Cambodia. There are also potential investors from Singapore.

She said there are about 800 varieties of Thai rice and 200 varieties of jasmine rice.

"Rice has antioxidants and ceramides, which is a fatty acid that is an anti-inflammatory for the skin. Our products are supplied as food supplements that have met standards for the Food and Drug Administration [FDA], Halal and ISO 22000."

Acharya Wongsanitkul, manager of BIJA, which means seed or source in Sanskrit, has developed skin products from rice as well. One of these is a cleanser made from rice powder mixed with turmeric that softens the skin.

She is also working on a face mask that uses rice to form fibres as a residual from bacteria. The face mask is considered to be superior to ordinary face masks because it opens up pores to aid the absorption of creams applied after using the face mask.

Manvee Suchyakharkul, managing director of Madeena Good Friend, said the company has introduced the use of stem cells from Thai glutinous black rice for use in eyeliner and eyebrow products. It has the same properties as basic eye liner and also nourishes and makes eyelashes and eyebrows healthier.

Madeena Good Friend's products have already been approved by the FDA and are being prepared to reach the Chinese market in six months.

"Chinese have light eyebrows and eyelashes, so there's high demand for this product. This product differs from other eyeliners on the market because it nourishes, so there are no competitors in the market. It's also easy to wash off," she said.

Researchers come up with strategy to produce quality resistant seeds 12Oct 2018 The Guardian Reporter DODOMA News The Guardian Researchers come up with strategy to produce quality resistant seeds

RESEARCHERS from eighteen agricultural research institutes that operate under the Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI) have come-up with a strategy to produce quality seeds resistant to diseases.

The seeds are mainly for cultivation of major food and cash crops such as cotton, sisal, palm oil, coconut, sunflower, rice and maize. The research institutes will also work to improve cereals seeds in a bid to support the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s industrialization drive.

Cereals, according to them will be in high demand in future following the various interventions to construct processing factories.

The five-year seed production plan will ensure timely delivery of the seeds to farmers as well as selling them at affordable prices.

TARI dircetor, Geofrey Mkamilo said this when speaking at a workshop in Dodoma yesterday which brought together agricultural researchers to discuss their role in enhancing the industrialization move, as well as increasing contribution of the agricultural sector to the national income.

The agriculture sector is currently contributing 30.1 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), he said.

Dr Mkamilo, explained that each of the institutes had been tasked to work on specific seeds whereby the Mikocheni Agricultural Research Institute (MARI) will produce coconut seeds to serve farmers in the Coast Region while Ifakara and Dakawa Agricultural Research Institutes will specifically produce quality paddy seeds to serve farmers in Morogoro Region.

He said that agricultural research institutes based in Kigoma and Tabora regions will manufacture over 20 million palm oil seeds to boost production of edible oil in the country.

Director, Tumbi agricultural research institute in Tabora, Dr Kiddo Matunda said they will produce quality improved palm oil seeds dubbed ‗Tenela‘ which can produce a lot of cooking oil. He said that wastes from Tenela seeds can be used to manufacture bar soaps.

Dr Matunda said the seeds will be distributed to palm oil cultivating regions of Kigoma,Tabora,Tanga and Mbeya.

―Farmers will be educated on how to properly use the seeds‖, he noted.

Dr Joseph Ndunguru is the director, Selian agricultural research institutes in Arusha, said the centre will produce quality wheat, beans and maize seeds.

Coordinator, Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Dr Fortunus Kapinga said they will produce cashewnut seeds for framers in Nachingwea and Tandahimba districts.

Dr Kapinga added that they will also produce sunflower and groundnut seeds. He said the government has already disbursed 2bn/- for the activities.

Director, Uyole agricultural research institute, Dr Tulole Lugendo said they have set aside about 4000 hectares of land for production of quality seeds.

Foreign Agro-Scientists Visits Sivasagar District October 10, 2018

JOYSAGAR: A high-level team of agro-scientists of different countries visited Sivasagar district on Tuesday as part of the Government of Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s initiative for Global Agro-Scientists Cooperation and Development of the Agro-Sector which was implemented in 2016. The team of agro-scientists reached Assam on October 4 and has been visiting various places of the State since then. Finally, the team arrived in Sivasagar. Agro-scientists from Philippines, Norway, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh visited many places of the district and took stock of various farming processes being adopted by the local farmers. They also inspected many paddy fields.

The foreign agro-scientists were accompanied by Indian scientists from Odisha, Kerala and West Bengal. The team inspected the greater Dikhowmukh, Gaurisagar, Amguri, Bharalua, Gatonga and Rupahimukh areas where the local farmers have cultivated various varieties of rice and also taken up mustard cultivation.

Besides, many agro-scientists from Assam Agriculture University, Jorhat, and Assam Rice Research Centre, Titabor, also arrived in Sivasagar on Tuesday and accompanied the team. They held discussions on modern cultivation methods. The team will travel to West and South India to get an overall idea of the Indian farming systems and finally exchange their views to help Indian farmers adopt the post-modern farming culture with the help of modern agro-Scientific equipment. Earlier in the morning, the team was formally welcomed by Sivasagar Deputy

Commissioner PG Jha and Sivasagar Agriculture Department Senior Scientist Dr. P. Handique and Dr. P Dutta in the Circuit House.