12th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily

Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com

January 12, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I

News Detail…

GMO Biotechnology Categorized as “Biological Weapons of Mass Destruction”, Pakistan, Russia

By Global Research News Global Research, January 09, 2015

Chemical Concern Region: Middle East & North Africa, Russia and FSU Theme: Biotechnology and GMO

health.‖ He warned that effects of the genetically-engineered organisms were not yet known but ―they are suspected of causing dangerous allergies and even cancer.‖ He asked the government to promote organic farming in Pakistan for which the country had a far better environment.

In July last year, Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta, multinational companies and a number of national firms approached Pakistan’s Ministry of Food Security seeking licences to raise geneticallymodified (GM) food products in Pakistan.

Imran Ali Teepu reported for Dawn that a senior federal government official, who did not wish to be named, told Dawn that ―a request in this regard has been received by the Ministry of Food Security a few weeks back and is being reviewed‖.The director general of the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, Asif Shuja, said: ―Research is still continuing internationally into whether the genetically-modified products have an impact on human health.

Many of the local companies want to import genetically-modified food products from China and we have not given any approval in this regard‖.Meanwhile, Dr Jawad Chishtie, a public health and environment management specialist, said: ―Geneticallymodified products have been rejected in Europe, and most recently in France, for damaging crops and endangering human

In May this year Jamal Shahid reported that Lahore High Court ordered the government to stop issuing licences for geneticallymodified (GM) varieties of cotton or corn until a legal framework is put into place to assess new types of genetically modified organisms.

Shahid continues: ―The Farmers Association of Pakistan had been complaining about the sale of poor quality Bt cotton seeds in the open market for quite some time. He quotes Chaudhry Gohar, a progressive cotton farmer from Multan, who told Dawn that the use of uncertified varieties of GM seeds increase input costs for farmers. The low levels of pest resistance in these seeds have increased insects‘ immunity, necessitating the use of nearly double the normal amount of pesticides. Pakistan Agriculture Research (NBC) also relaxed germination levels for crops from 75% under Seed Act, 1976 to less than 50%.EPA DG Muhammad Khurshid observed that the authority treats GMOs ‗very seriously‘: ―The Foreign Office has also conveyed its concern to the Climate Change Division that the subject of GMO seeds is a matter of grave concerns for national security and trade. The Foreign Office treats GMOs as potential ―biological weapons of mass destruction‖, which could be used to destroy Pakistan‘s major crops such as potato, wheat, rice, corn, cotton and vegetables

through modified viruses, bacteria and other parasites.Russian lawmakers also want to address GMO-related activities that may harm human health and impose criminal liability on producers, sellers and transporters of genetically modified organisms, according to Izvestia.Itar-Tass reports that a bill to this effect was submitted to the Russian State Duma – lower parliament house; under its terms criminal responsibility would apply only to companies and government officials, but there is a move to expand liability for GMOinflicted harm to include state and local selfgovernment officials. http://www.globalresearch.ca/gmobiotechnology-as-biological-weapons-ofmass-destruction-pakistan-russia/5423645

2013-14 stocks: government urged to direct TCP to purchase 0.5 million tons of Basmati rice January 10, 2015 ZAHID BAIG

Growers Association (BGA) has urged the federal government to direct Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for purchasing 0.5 million tons of Basmati rice from 2013-14 stocks at the rate of Rs 4000 per 40 kilograms and export it to Iran. It also suggested that the procurement should be made through outsourced company/companies as the TCP lacks the capacity to make such purchases and sales while the outsourced company/companies could perform the task on behalf of the TCP with guarantees of performance and quality or any other such assurance as TCP may deem appropriate. BGA President Chaudhry

Hamid Malhi has proposed this in a letter to the Federal Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan, copy of which also released to the media on Friday. The letter said Basmati rice purchased could be exported to Iran and some of the proceeds could be deducted by Iran as Rs 500 million of outstanding electricity payments lying with the Pakistan government, while, Pakistan government can pay these dues to exporters/farmers. In the meanwhile a waiver for trade with Iran could be sought to enable the State Bank of Pakistan to open a banking channel for export payment transfers.

This would also add 50 billion to the economy. A joint committee of MoC, exporters, traders and growers could supervise the activity to make it workable and suggest timely amends where necessary. "It is also important to note that Iran imported 1.44 million tons of Basmati rice from India during 2013-14, while our Basmati exports world-wide decreased to 0.733 million tons in the same year," the letter added.

It said that in contrast to India, Pakistan could only export 6511 tons of Basmati rice to Iran in year 2013-14. The Basmati farmers were the biggest losers this year.

Paddy prices were down by 50 percent and with no remedy in sight for the next year, Basmati production could be at risk in the country, the letter mentioned. Letter further stated that directives to expedite matters in the manner suggested above, could improve the situation to the relief of the Basmati rice sector. Chaudhry Hamid Malhi also regretted that the subsidy of Rs 5000 per acres announced by the Punjab government to Basmati farmers is also in doldrums as time passes. He said that rice farmers suffered heavy losses because of floods and price crash and the government announced to compensate them and made lists of

farmers but growers are still awaiting any good news from the rulers. http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-aallied/183/1141000/

farmers can save more time and money as it does not require re-plantation. About 68 kgs of rice can be obtained by milling a quintal of paddy of this variety, he said.

RRI develops new varieties of drought-resistant paddy in

Apart from this, Sachala (CR Paddy-203) and Gopinath are also immune to certain diseases and can be harvested in 110 days.

The cultivation and harvest are the same like the Ankit variety, he added.―Maudamani (CR-307), which is a small, fatty and pestresistant variety of paddy, can be cultivated in the irrigated lands. About 50 quintals per hectare of this variety can be harvested in normal conditions.‖ Pradhan said.Talking about the newly developed Chakaakhi (CR408), Pradhan informed that this fatty and longer variety can withstand flood conditions and pest attack and grow up to 130 to 140 centimetres. The harvest period of this paddy is 160-165 days. It also makes it easy for farmers to clean unwanted grass from the field due to its dark coloured roots which is different from the colour of grass that grows around paddy. This rice would be suitable for preparation of watered rice (Pakhala).

OdishaOdisha Sun Times Bureau Bhubaneswar, Jan 12:

Scientists at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Odisha‘s Cuttack city have developed four new varieties of drought-resistant paddy and another variety that can be grown in less water conditions.The new varieties named as Ankit, Sachala, Gopinath, Maudamani can meet the drought condition while another variety, named Chakaakhi, can grow in less water and survive flood conditions up to a week. Besides, it can also withstand high winds.

They have been prepared specifically to deal with the changing climate and pattern of rain in Odisha.As per the information provided

by Sharat Kumar Pradhan, chief scientists of CCRI, ―Ankit (CR Paddy-101) can be harvested in three and half months can be cultivated in high lands with less water requirement.This medium thin variety can be harvested up to 40 quintal per hectare in normal condition and up to 28 quintal per hectare under drought condition. Besides, given its immunity to certain diseases and the ability to be grown through sowing,

It may be noted that the State Variety Release Committee has developed nine different varieties of paddy this year of which CRRI has developed five.The CRRI scientists had invented three more varieties of paddy in November last year to meet the climatic conditions of other states.However, it may take another two years to provide adequate amount of these new varieties of paddy to the farmers of the state,‖ Pradhan http://odishasuntimes.com/107707/crridevelops-new-varieties-drought-resistant-paddyodisha/

Women seed entrepreneurs at community level M. G. Neogi Women seed entrepreneurs at community level Rexonara Khatun, a trained seed producer, storing her quality seeds in IRRI Super Bag at their house at Triphol kathi village, Shyamnagar, Satkhira.

Seeds are the most important input to increase crop production. They enhance food security and alleviate poverty in the agro-based developing countries. It is believed that good seeds alone can increase 20-25 per cent yield. If the seed is capable of ensuring higher yield, then the use of other inputs like fertilisers, irrigation, pesticides, etc. becomes fruitful. Otherwise, these become futile. Therefore, the best techniques need to be followed to produce and preserve good quality seeds.In Bangladesh, a large number of farmers throughout the country use their selfproduced and preserved seeds to cultivate rice. The seeds comprise more than 50 per cent of the total rice seed requirement of the country. Eighty-five per cent of selfpreserved seeds are used by the poor farm households.

Almost hundred per cent of the seeds are processed at farm household-level by women, and they are solely involved in drying, cleaning and storing these seeds. A 2011 survey report indicates that from 1999 to 2006, participation by men in the agricultural labour force is declining, while

female agricultural labourers are increasing in the crop fields. The said report notes that as men move from farming to the service industry and other non-agricultural sectors, women are gaining more acceptance as paid farm workers and post-harvest processors.

Women are now working in crop fields along with men, a rare scene in the past.

They prepare seedbeds, transplant seedlings, engage in activities like weeding, harvesting, and threshing of crops. Most importantly, almost hundred per cent women farm households are solely involved in cleaning, sun-drying and storing the crops and their seeds at their houses.

But most of the women farm households are not capable enough to produce quality seeds and they have very shallow knowledge on how to produce and process quality rice seeds. Normally, farm households are cultivating rice for their consumption and sale, and they save a portion of it as seed, which is never maintained properly as seed.

These seeds are usually inferior in quality with mixtures of other varieties, and thus the farmers incur a huge loss, because of poor yield-capability.

The awareness and knowledge of women of farm households about quality seeds, their importance and seed processing, as well as preservation techniques, are very limited.

They are not able to maintain quality storage facilities at household level due to their poor housing condition. Although women are directly involved with seed processing and preservation at their households, there is no institutional linkages in order to improve their awareness and skills. A huge number of women households in rural areas are

involved with micro-credit programmes, but they have very limited access to 'know-how' on quality seeds. Effective storage equipment is also one of the most important components to keep the seeds at quality level, as most of the women farm households store their rice seeds in traditional containers, like jute bags, soilmade containers, tin boxes, gunny bags, etc. which are not found to be satisfactory in storing rice seeds and maintaining their quality.

Through using quality seeds, yields can be increased between 15 to 30 per cent.

Farmers will get more food and have more income for their families, if they use quality seeds.

Under USAID and BMGF (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation) support, IRRI works with rural poor farm households, where NGOs, private local seed producers and the government agricultural extension department (DAE) are the partners of this project.

With the available production technologies, it is possible to produce around six tonnes of crop on one hectare of land, but the average production is less than three tonnes per hectare. Among the many constraints, awareness and knowledge at women farm household level, quality seeds, post-harvest drying and storage facilities are considered the major barriers to improved rice production technologies. Therefore, there is the need for making the farmers aware and train them, especially the women farm households, for quality seed production, processing and preservation by using simple and affordable technologies.

The three major areas like roughing, drying and storing proved the most important factors to improve seed quality. A polyethylene bag which has been developed

by IRRI named as IRRI Super Bag has also been proved to be unique and affordable equipment for the farm households of rural areas to store rice seeds at household level maintaining its quality. The IRRI has provided 25,000 IRRI Super Bags to 8,500 households (mainly women), through the partner organisations like the government extension agencies such as DAE, local NGOs and local seed producers.

It is proved that the traditional methods of seed storage cause lower germination and infestation of seeds by pests and diseases, which ultimately leads to lower production.

As the requirement of quality seed production and preservation is a serious constraint for improved rice production, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) strongly feels about an immediate need to equip grassroots farmers with training through local seed producing associations for quality seed promotion in rural areas.

Seeds preserved in the IRRI Super Bag as storage equipment maintain higher germination, viability and vigour as well as disease-free plants, and thus yield is comparatively much higher than from the seeds available from other sources. Hence the seed production technology as well as seed processing and preservation technology under this component is treated as a complete package programme. The seeds production and preservation technology has been provided to the poor community households enabling them to produce quality

seeds at community level. In the same way, seed processing and preservation training can be provided to women of farm households to keep the seeds on right track as post-harvest technology. Based on practical learning, women are now more aware of moisture percentage in seeds and are interested to store them in storage equipment (IRRI Super Bag) for airtight preservation.

A trained woman of a farm household, Rexonara Khatun, speaks about the usefulness of this storage equipment.

Rexonara and her husband Arafat Hossain live in Aila-affected saline-prone village named Treefol Kathi of Ishwaripur union under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district. They have 60 decimals of land.

Before Aila, they cultivated rice and received a very good harvest. But due to Aila, their land was affected by saline water and they failed to have any reasonable harvests after the Aila storm. Through a group meeting with Nakshikantha - a NGO, in 2012, she came to know that a newlydeveloped salt-tolerant rice variety can grow in salt-affected land. She showed her interest about the rice variety and received Binadhan-8 rice seeds as salt-tolerant rice variety from Nakshikantha and cultivated that in their land and got a good yield of around 3.8 tonne/ha. This was the first time after the Aila, when they cultivated crop and harvested such an amount of rice. Rexonara also received training on how to produce and process as well as store the rice seeds.

She got IRRI Super Bag during a training programme. She stored dry and cleaned

quality Binadhan-8 rice seeds in IRRI Super Bags in airtight condition.

Inspired by the achievement of Rexonara, her neighbouring farm households are demanding seeds of this variety. Rexonara decided to keep seeds in her IRRI Super Bags to maintain their quality and sell them to her neighbours in the next season.

Hundreds of trained women of farm households are now producing quality seeds at household level and are getting higher yields. They also supply their surplus seeds to their neighbours, relatives and other farmers.A number of trained women of farm households have become seed entrepreneurs at community level getting benefits and enjoying better livelihood.As the quality seed production and preservation is a serious challenge for improved rice production, IRRI strongly feels the immediate need for equipping grassroots farmers with training through local seed producing associations. It also feels the urgency for quality seed promotion in rural areas.

The article is adapted from a paper Dr. M. G. Neogi, a consultant with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), presented at the International Rice Congress held at Bangkok in 2014. mgneogi@gmail.com

UDâ€&#x;s research institute to develop low-cost fuel tanks

By Jill DruryPublished: January 9, 2015, 11:56 am

high-strength compressed-gas fuel tank.‖The group‘s goal is to make the materials lowcost and easy to produce.Ohio will commit $10-million of the estimated $259-million project. http://wdtn.com/2015/01/09/uds-researchinstitute-to-develop-low-cost-fuel-tanks/

University of Dayton. (WDTN Photo)

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The University of Dayton Research Institute says it will lead an Ohio-based research team with the development of affordable natural-gas vehicle fuel tanks.The initiative was announced by President Barack Obama in Tennessee where the research will be led.The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the technology.The group of founding partners, including UDRI, will work to advance fiberreinforced polymer composites that are lighter and stronger than steel, with development taking place from laboratories to production lines.These types of technologies are already used in the aircraft and military vehicle industries as well as in luxury cars, but the materials are expensive.UDRI will lead the initiative for the development of compressed-gas storage vessels for the automotive and trucking industry. ―The demand for compressed natural gas as a lower-cost, cleaner-burning alternative to diesel and gasoline fuel for vehicles continues to grow,‖ said Brian Rice, Research Institute director. ―In order for natural gas fuel to be efficiently and safely used to power vehicles, the transportation industry needs an affordable, lightweight but

University rejects renaming „Hindu‟ rice varieties Jan 10, 2015 - Rabindra Nath Choudhury | Raipur

The Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya here was on Friday caught off guard following ―rumours‖ that the institution was initiating a move to replace names of Hindu deities given to new rice varieties developed in the state.The rumour that there was a serious move by the university to rechristen the new rice varieties developed by the research units functioning under the institution has been making rounds in the state for the past couple of days.As per the speculation, a plan is afoot by the university to rename the popular varieties of rice such as ―Mahamaya‖, ―Durga‖, ―Vishnubhog‖, ―Samales-wari‖, ―Rajeswari‖, ―Dur-ga‖ and ―Danteswari‖.

Incidentally, the rumours have surfaced in the wake of the recent release of the controversial Hindi film PK, which is facing opposition from the Hindutva brigade for, what they claim, is the ―improper projection‖ of Hindu deities.―We are absolutely taken aback by the baseless rumours that we are planning to replace names of Hindu deities given to the new varieties of rice developed by the university.

I want to make it clear that there is no such move. We are wondering where such a rumour has been generated,‖ a senior officer

of the university told this newspaper on Friday.When contacted, university spokesman and professor (soil science department) K.K. Sahu said, ―I am not aware of any such move. ‖Many new rice varieties developed in the state have been christened after names of famed local deities such as Danteswari of Bastar region and Mahamaya of the plains of Chhattisgarh.The university is credited with conserving the second-largest reserve of rice plasmas in the world after the International Rice Research Institute in Manila, the Philippines.

Turning Waste from Rice, Parsley and Other Foods into Biodegradable Plastic Your chairs, synthetic rugs and plastic bags could one day be made out of cocoa, rice and vegetable waste rather than petroleum, scientists are now reporting.

By American Chemical Society | August 22, 2014 Waste husks from rice (in the small vial) can be transformed into bioplastic.A. ABRUSCI – ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIAThe novel process they developed and their results, which could help the world deal with its agricultural and plastic waste problems, appear in theAmerican Chemical Society journal Macromolecules.Athanassia Athanassiou, Ilker S. Bayer and colleagues at the Italian Institute of Technology point out that plastic's popularity is constantly growing. In 2012, its production reached 288 million tons worldwide, but its ubiquity comes at a cost. Synthetic plastics persist for hundreds or thousands of years while releasing toxic components with the

potential to harm the environment and human health. Also, plastics are made out of petroleum, which is a nonrenewable source.

The shift to more environmentally friendly bioplastics has been challenging and expensive. Athanassiou's team wanted to find a simple, less costly way to make the transition.

They turned to an organic acid that also occurs naturally and can process cellulose, which is the main building component of plants and also the most abundant polymer in nature. They mixed the acid with parsley and spinach stems, and husks from rice and cocoa pods. Then, they poured the resulting solutions into lab dishes. When tested, the films that formed showed a promising range of traits from brittle and rigid to soft and stretchable — similar to commercial plastics. "This opens up possibilities for replacing some of the non-degrading polymers with the present bioplastics obtained from agro-waste," the researchers conclude.

Categories: News Tags: American Chemical Society, plastics, green technology, materials science, Industry News

http://www.labmanager.com/news/2014/08/turni ng-waste-from-rice-parsley-and-other-foodsinto-biodegradable-plastic#.VLRNndLF_Jc

Santiago launches hybrid rice center

By Brenda Jocson Gaudia | Jan. 10, 2015 at 12:01am SANTIAG O CITY, Isabela— Mayor Joseph Tan on Friday launched an accelerated learning module on hybrid rice here at the Agricultural Training and Seed Center.―We expect that the new farming methods will raise harvest from 100 cavans per hectare of traditional farming practice to 200 cavans per hectare,‖ he said.

Tan The facility in Barangay Balintocatoc was established in partnerships with the Philippine Rice Center, Department of Soil and Water Management, Cagayan Valley Rice Research Center (CVRRC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the city government.―We have come up with this endeavor to help and support the displaced cabesillas or community service providers consisting of almost 14 percent of the farm labor force in the city,‖ Tan said.―But I believe that in due time, these displaced farm laborers will soon be trained by the national government through TESDA and become productive in their chosen field of expertise in the operation the new farming technology.‖

According to Tan, TESDA-Santiago has trained 200 heavy equipment operators with special funding from the city mayor‘s office. We have also allocated P500,000 for farmers livelihood programs to every barangay under our local poverty reduction action program,‖ he said.Meanwhile, the city has alloted P42 million for cooperatives and groups in acquiring reapers, tractors, mechanical transplanters for them to offer services to small landowners who could not afford to buy mechanized farm machineries.

CVRRC chief Rosemarie Aquino said mechanization would enable planters to cope with the requirements of an integrated market of South East Asian countries.―Our soil is so fertile that seeds easily sprout and with the introduction of farm mechanization we will make our products more competitive in Asia,‖ she said.Aquino said CVRRC has also created a new technique in seedling propagation using carbonized water, rice bran and garden soil from river banks. http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/10/sant iago-launches-hybrid-rice-center/

Vietnam clinches one million tonnes of rice deal in 2015 Friday, 09 January 2015 03:51

The volume is 200,000 tonnes higher than the same period last year. (Image source: IRRI)

Member enterprises of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) have already clinched export contracts for at least one million tonnes of rice with delivery scheduled for this year

Vietnam.According to VFA, Vietnam had exported 5.96mn tons of rice from 1 January to 18 December 2014, falling 11 per cent against the previous year. Up to 83 per cent was shipped to Asian and African countries and the rest to America, Europe and Oceania.

According to VietnamNet, most of the volume would be delivered to customers in 2015, based on the contracts that VFA‘s member enterprises signed with importers last year.

The volume is 200,000 tonnes higher than the same period last year.Huynh The Nang, general director of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2), however, said local rice exporters might face many more difficulties this year.The rice demand of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia is forecast to jump, but Vietnam would have to compete with Thailand, which wants to reduce its huge rice stockpiles, The Nang added.China, a major importer of Vietnamese rice in recent years, has signed an MoU to purchase two million tonnes of rice from Thailand in 2015.Concerns have also risen among domestic rice exporters for tougher competition from India and Pakistan as these two nations have cut prices of their low and medium-grade rice to compete with similar products of Vietnam.

Currently, India and Pakistan sell five per cent broken rice at US$385-395 per tonne and US$380-390 per tonne respectively, compared to US$380-390 per tonne for Vietnam‘s same type. Their 25 per cent broken rice is priced at US$350-360 per tonne and US$335-345 per tonne compared to US$350-360 per tonne of

In order to boost rice shipments this year, Vietnam‘s Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested rice exporters diversify markets and seek to make full use of the opportunities from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and follow updates on importing markets. http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agri culture/vietnam-clinches-one-million-tonnes-ofrice-deal-in-2015 Last update 07:50 | 11/01/2015

Vietnam needs to develop a national rice brand VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam was the world’s second-largest rice exporter in the world in 2014, but it is in urgent need of investment to develop a national brand to increase the value of its rice harvests.

In recent years, the Mekong Delta region has spared no effort to attract investment in the

field of rice production. Numerous international organizations and foreign investors have also been expanding the production model.However, to date these have only been pilot programs and have had no real global impact on rice production in Vietnam.Scientists and managers are now pondering alternative approaches to improve rice growers‘ living conditions, by building a national rice brand name and creating added value for Vietnamese rice.

On a positive note, Vietnamese rice was exported to 135 nations around the globe in 2014 including the demanding markets of the US, EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore.However, the Asian market accounts for the lion‘s share, or 77%, of exports. Despite huge export volume, the quality and competitive edge of Vietnamese rice remain low, which is not appealing to foreign investors.Huynh The Nang, Southern Food Corporation‘s (Vinafood) general director, said Vietnamese rice cannot penetrate into the high-end markets due to lack of high-quality rice varieties, high post-harvest losses and poor regional connectivity, as well as a lack of collaboration between the government, scientists, businesses and farmers.

Associate Professor and Dr. Nguyen Van Sanh, Director of the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute, said rice growers remain poor as the price of rice is insufficient to offset rising production costs, leading to low earnings.Sanh said that Vietnam should make radical reforms to improve competitive capacity and reduce product costs for its rice. He stressed the need to reform activities of cooperatives in the Mekong River Delta to connect to businesses effectively.

For his part, Dr Le Van Banh, head of the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, underscored the need to study the production

value chain and seek solutions to improve the value chain in terms of production, postharvest treatment, quality, infrastructure and distribution, and gradually develop brand names for Vietnamese rice.To ensure national food security, the State should devise proper policies in the coming time to help rice growers pay attention to their work. It is inevitable that farmers will turn their back on rice if they cannot earn enough income, he said.On a more positive note, in 2014 a pilot program in the Mekong Delta for model paddy fields was successful in generating higher earnings for farmers and creating higher value for Vietnamese rice, which could lead to production of highquality rice in vast quantities in the future.

VOV Tags:national rice brand,

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/12063 1/vietnam-needs-to-develop-a-national-ricebrand.html

View Point: Padang restaurants can help or foil rice self-sufficiency goal Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta | Opinion | Sun, January 11 2015, 9:46 AM A recent visit to a Padang restaurant raised my doubts about the likelihood of Indonesia becoming self-sufficient in rice, a goal that President Joko ―Jokowi‖ Widodo wants to achieve within the next three years. The popular eateries, run mostly by Minang people from West Sumatra and found almost everywhere in Indonesia, have a habit of giving generous servings of rice. For takeout, they even serve two large scoops.

Tambuah ciek, meaning ―one more serving please‖, is the most popular Minang

expression, which patrons of all ethnic groups shout out to the waiters, often before they even cleared the rice on their plate.

You can‘t eat delicious and spicy Padang dishes like gulai, rendang and dendeng balado without rice. The spicier the dish, the more rice you need. Padang restaurants may have a lot to do with why Indonesians are the exception to the rule among Asian countries where rising prosperity means eating less rice. As Indonesia joins the rank of middle-income countries, we eat more rice.

consumption, unlike in Japan, Korea and China, where they managed to diversify their dietary habits. In 2004, the average Indonesian ate 124 kilograms of rice, in 2009 that figure rose to 127 kg, according to the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).Excluding poorer Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar and Cambodia, Indonesia‘s rice consumption ranks among the highest in Asia. The average Malaysian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese, ate 74, 54, 81 and 76 kg respectively in 2009.

This is bad news for Jokowi‘s goal to make Indonesia self-sufficient in rice, the staple diet of the nation‘s 250 million people, by 2017. The president is pumping out a lot of money, repairing and building reservoirs and irrigation networks, clearing land for new rice cultivation outside Java and giving assistance to farmers. He seems adamant he can achieve this, for he has made it clear that he would fire Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman if the goal is not met.The more pertinent question however is whether rice self-sufficiency is sustainable. In the 1980s, President Soeharto went all out to turn Indonesia, which for years had been the biggest buyer in the world rice market, to become self-sufficient.

Only the Thais and Vietnamese eat more rice than Indonesians, with per capita consumption of 133 and 141 kg in 2009. But then they are large exporters, and Indonesia usually buys from them.With the volume of rice traded in the world market thin, supplied by a few exporters, relying on imports makes Indonesia susceptible to price volatility. As more African nations eat and import rice, Indonesia faces a serious food security challenge. Jokowi was right in gunning for self sufficiency in rice, as well as in corn and soybeans.

1985, he collected a prestigious UN award for this achievement. A few years later, however, the nation returned regularly to the rice market to make up for its output gap, until today.In the absence of any change in eating habits, Indonesia‘s rising population means that the country must produce more rice to keep up with demand. Rising income has also meant higher per-capita rice

Part of the solution to Jokowi‘s rice selfsufficiency challenge must come from changing the dietary habits of the burgeoning middle class, many of whom continue to eat as much rice, if not more, than before even as their income improves.How can you resist nasi goreng for breakfast? How can you keep away from the various rice-based snacks like lemper and arem-arem?

And how can you say no to that extra rice serving at Padang restaurants?

including on how to lead a simple life.What about replacing rice with more fish, now that Jokowi has stopped fishermen from neighboring countries from stealing in our waters? Would that not also befit the maritime nation that we aspire to be?

Replacing carbs with protein in our daily diet would be a perfect and healthy way of diversifying away from rice.

Where does restaurants?

It is not uncommon to hear the new middleclass Indonesians hitting rice at home after a heavy meal like steak or burgers at Western restaurants. ―If I haven‘t eaten rice, I don‘t feel like I have eaten at all,‖ is their classic excuse. Yes, it‘s all in the mind rather than in the stomach.It is no wonder why today we find more and more Indonesian men, both young and middle age, with bulging stomach. Those are rice guts rather than beer guts. They have more carbohydrate intake than their body can burn, thanks largely to all the rice they eat.Jokowi doesn‘t look like most middle-class Indonesian men.

He often self-deprecates about his thin figure as orang ndeso, someone who comes straight from a village. His figure makes him the perfect role model or icon for a government campaign to change the nation‘s dietary habits to eat less rice, targeting in particular the rising middle class, many of whom continue to eat rice three times a day.

What‘s the President‘s secret to stay slim anyway? Perhaps he cares to share it with the nation. No doubt many would even follow suit. After all, we have a president who has already set a few life style trends,

this

leave

the

Padang

They can and must be part of the solution.

For one, they can start serving smaller rice portions. One scoop for takeouts, rather than two. They can create a greater variety of fish dishes. And they can make their food less spicy and stop us from shouting tambuah ciek (one more).

The writer is senior editor at The Jakarta Post. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/11/vie w-point-padang-restaurants-can-help-or-foil-riceself-sufficiency-goal.html#sthash.yE81e4R4.dpuf

Outstanding global Filipino returns

By Anna Leah G. Estrada | Jan. 10, 2015 at 10:20pm Former Agriculture secretary William Dar has recently returned from a 15-year stint in India, where he made his mark as a Filipino technocrat heading a global non-profit organization that seeks ways to improve farm production in continents and countries with dry lands.Dar, who served as secretary

of the Agriculture Department from July 1998 to May 1999, became the only Filipino heading a global agricultural research and development facility.

Former Agriculture secretary William Dar (center) leads the launching of hissecond book ‗Greening the Grey: Expanding the Green Revolution,‘ at the Bureau of Agricultural Research in Quezon City. With him are (from left)UPLB Chancellor Fernando Sanchez Jr., PCAARRD executive directorPatricio Faylon, BAR director Nicomedes Eleazar and Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur Mayor Edgar Florendo.He concluded an unprecedented 15-year term on Dec. 31, 2014 as director-general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in India. ICRISAT is among the 15 global research centers under the CGIAR Consortium that also includes the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Laguna.

CGIAR, which used to be known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, groups nearly 10,000 scientists, researchers, technicians and staff working to create a better future for the world‘s poor.At ICRISAT, Dar leaves behind a legacy benefitting millions of farmers in India, Africa and other dry land countries in the world including the Philippines. He served an unprecedented three five-year terms at ICRISAT, which is headquartered in Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The global institute has two regional hubs and five country offices in sub-Saharan Africa.

ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political organization that conducts agricultural research for development in Asia and sub-

Saharan Africa. Covering 6.5 million square kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semiarid tropics have over 2 billion people, of whom 644 million are the poorest of the poor.ICRISAT innovations help the dry land poor move from poverty to prosperity by harnessing markets while managing risks through a strategy called Inclusive MarketOriented development. ICRISAT is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future.―We have turned around ICRISAT into a financially-stable, and a leading global research institute, receiving several awards particularly from the CGIAR,‖ said Dar. With the innovative research-fordevelopment programs that Dar introduced, ICRISAT continues to attract R&D investments into the development of modern, climate-smart and sustainable crop cultivars and technologies of its five major commodities (pearl millet, chickpea, cowpea, groundnut and sorghum) that are farmed by millions of smallholder farm families in semi-arid countries.Among the top donors to ICRISAT is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, contributing about $18 million a year, which is allotted to the conduct of ICRISAT‘s major research and development initiatives.

Two projects being funded by the foundation are the HOPE project, which stands for Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement of Sorghum and Millets, and the Tropical Legumes II project.The HOPE project seeks to increase by 30 percent the productivity of sorghum and millets in 200,000 farmers‘ fields in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while TL-II aims to enhance productivity of six legume crops (groundnut, cowpea, common

bean, chickpea, pigeonpea and soybean) by at least 20 percent through improved cultivars and management practices and the development of markets and value chains.

At ICRISAT, Dar oversaw the formulation of a new, more dynamic institutional strategy known as Inclusive MarketOriented Development, which shifted ICRISAT‘s focus towards enabling poor farmers to harness markets for poverty escape.The institute also established centers of scientific excellence for genomics, transgenic and climate change research, and information and communications technology innovations for agriculture.

ICRISAT adopted an inclusive and technology-based entrepreneurship and agribusiness program through public-private partnerships to bring science-based technologies and products to the market for the benefit of smallholder farmers.Dar was among the 32 overseas Filipinos who received from President Benigno Aquino III the Pamana ng Pilipino Award on Dec. 5, 2014.A native of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, the 61-year-old scientist was cited for ―his exemplary leadership in successfully extending the frontiers of science and technology to ensure food security for all, and for his staunch advocacy of the important role of professional horticulturists in this endeavor. ‖―It is a humbling experience, and I dedicate the Pamana Award to all Filipino farmers. I look forward to serving them again,‖ said Dar.Dar has transformed ICRISAT into one of the best agricultural research institutes in the world in terms of innovative research programs, impact to clienteles and financial stability. Under his leadership and governance, the income and investments in

ICRISAT has quadrupled since Dar took over, from $21 million in 2000 to $85 million in 2014.In the Philippines, ICRISAT teamed up with the Bureau of Agricultural Research and shared modern sustainable farming technologies and cultivars of sweet sorghum, peanut, cowpea (garbanzos) and chickpea (kadyos) to farmers in Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Southern Luzon and Southern Mindanao.

Dar vowed upon his return this year to share management and technical experience with Filipino farmers to transform barren rain-fed and dry lands into productive, sustainable and climate-smart farms through the socalled Inang Lupa social movement.The movement aims to enhance the country‘s food, nutrition and energy security, increase the productivity and incomes of small farmers through soil rejuvenation, sustainable and integrated natural resource management, use of improved cultivars and hybrids, and advocating for relevant policies and reforms in agriculture.Dar, in a speech during the 2nd National Congress of the Philippine Association of Agriculturist Inc. in Tagaytay City in November last year, cited the need to make Philippine agriculture competitive.

He said the agriculture sector should be inclusive, science-based, resilient and market-oriented to cushion the impact of the upcoming Asean economic integration. The Asean Economic Community envisions a single market and production base, a highly competitive economic region and equitable economic development by the end of 2015.―Any strategy to make Philippine agriculture competitive should balance between ensuring food security and wellplanned crop diversification to enhance

income levels of farming households by increased exports,‖ Dar said. ―This calls for achieving self-sufficiency in rice production along with diversifying into high-value crops in which the country has a comparative advantage,‖ he said.Dar said that the government should also help small farmers gain access to markets and ensure that good agricultural practices are met.He cited the role of science in improving farm production and meeting the sanitary and phytosanitary measures imposed by other countries.―Agricultural and food exporters will have to grapple with many of the EU‘s food safety requirements.

These include standards pertaining to maximum residual levels for pesticides and other chemical inputs used in food production, the general food law which requires traceability of food across the supply chain and the food and feed controls regulations, among others,‖ Dar said.Dar said that public investment in the agriculture should be increased to attract more private sector participation. ―This will ensure sustainable economic growth by increased volumes of trade with the integration of the country into the AEC,‖ he said.―Increased public investments will eventually result in more flow of private capital for investment and ultimately result in economic growth with development,‖ Dar said. http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/10/outs tanding-global-filipino-returns/

UC Davis scientists work to ID food crops that can survive global warming

By Pat Bailey UC Davis News Service Created: 01/10/2015 04:37:38 PM PST0 Scientists are working on ways to make corn and maize adaptable to climate change.

Sometimes it pays to have wild and quirky relatives. That's certainly the case for staple crops that help feed the world. It also helps — both the plants and the people who depend on them — to have leading geneticists searching for family traits that could ensure those crops thrive in a warmer, drier world.Researchers at UC Davis and around the world are scrambling to develop new varieties of food and fiber crops that will produce abundant yields despite drought and other effects of climate change.

They're also exploring more water-efficient ways to grow existing crops.

It's estimated that 38 percent of the world and 70 percent of its agricultural output are already impacted by drought — numbers that will likely rise as climate change intensifies. To make matters worse, global population is spiraling upward, expected to soar past 9 billion by the year 2050.In short, we're headed toward a future that will have billions of more mouths to feed with much less water, higher temperatures and no room to expand the global farm.

To be sure, there is no "silver bullet" to take down the twin beasts of drought and climate change. Here's why: •It's not just about developing less-thirsty crops.

With reduced rain and irrigation water, you also get higher salt concentrations in the soil, meaning that many crops of the future will need to be salt-tolerant.

•And to dodge the warming temperatures, some crops now grown during the summer months will, in certain regions, become winter-season crops — meaning they'll also have to get by on the shorter stretches of daylight that accompany winter.Juggling, heat, light, salt and scarce moisture is a tall order, but scientists are already finding such multifaceted solutions in the genes of both domesticated plants and their ancestors.

and is five times the size of the human genome.Plant geneticists Jorge Dubcovsky, Jan Dvorak and colleagues are mapping, isolating and cloning genes from the massive wheat genome, investigating the critical stages of the development cycle, including genes that impact a plant's drought tolerance.For example, genes that allow wheat to flower a few days early — saving precious irrigation water — could be used to develop new climate-flexible wheat varieties. Dubcovsky's laboratory also has recently identified a region of a rye chromosome that, when introduced into wheat, increases yield and improves the water status of the plant under limited irrigation. Dvorak's lab is working to develop salt-tolerant wheat that could be irrigated with poor-quality water, saving the better water for other uses.

With some plants, they're searching for genetic "markers" that will identify the genes responsible for various stress-tolerance traits, speeding up conventional breeding. In other cases, they expect to insert genes from the wild relatives into existing crop varieties, better equipping them to adapt to climate change.Here are snapshots of four crops and the scientists studying them:

•The commercially grown modern peanut emerged thousands of years ago from a natural hybrid fusion between two wild peanut ancestors, meaning that scientists find themselves studying something of a double genome.Research scientist Lutz Froenicke in Professor Richard Michelmore's laboratory at the UC Davis Genome Center developed "ultrahigh density" genetic maps for the two peanut ancestor genomes.

•To make rice around the world more tolerant of drought conditions, plant scientist Eduardo Blumwald and his lab colleagues are investigating rice genes that will delay "leaf senescence" — that normal phase when the older leaves begin to decline and the plant, like an aging factory, begins to shut down.Blumwald and team hope to develop rice varieties that don't rush quickly into senescence during drought conditions, but rather continue the leaf-based photosynthetic process that yields the nutrients necessary to make the rice grains.

These maps serve as frameworks for sorting the pieces of the legume's genomic puzzle and then putting them back together at the chromosome scale, better equipping the world to make sure that peanuts keep producing as the climate changes.•Maize spans global cultures and eons of time, having been domesticated some 9,000 years ago from wild tiosente grasses in Mexico and elsewhere in Central America.Plant geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra is studying the genetic diversity and domestication of maize, as well as maize breeding.

•The wheat genome contains 16 billion base pairs — the molecules that make up DNA —

He's particularly interested in how maize adapted from its origin in the lowlands of

Mexico to growing in the high altitudes of Central and South America.Genes for those adaptive traits might also prove invaluable in developing corn or maize varieties that can adjust to climate change.•For millions of the world's poorest people, who are the most vulnerable to famine, Simon Chan's research offers hope for more resilient staple crops.Until recently, ensuring a plant inherited its parents' most valuable traits — such as drought tolerance or pest resistance — required generations of inbreeding.

Chan's "breeding true" discovery bypassed the laborious process.With support from some of the most prestigious grants in science, Chan was working to apply his discoveries to staple foods of the world's most impoverished regions. Just months after he received tenure in UC Davis' plant biology department, however, he died from a rare autoimmune disease at the age of 38.

Inspired by his commitment to mentoring students and his impact on modern agriculture, his colleagues launched the Simon Chan Memorial Endowment — with a gift from an anonymous donor — in order to realize the global potential of his work. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_272972 43/uc-davis-scientists-work-id-food-crops-that

Basmati rice rates drop by nearly 40% TNN | Jan 11, 2015, 12.28AM IST Pune: Premium rice variety Basmati seems to have become affordable for the common man. The rates dropped nearly 40% over the last season as retail prices hovered around Rs 80-90 per kg. The fall in prices could be attributed to higher production and a ban on import of rice by the Iran government, traders said on Saturday. Angshu Mallick, chief operating officer of Adani Wilmar Ltd,

which entered the rice business this year, told mediapersons that the new crop is now available for yearly stocking at a very attractive price.

India exports 38 lakh tonne of Basmati rice every year with Iran buying about 40% of it.

The home market for Basmati is 12 lakh tonne, with Maharashtra ranking highest in consumption. Though the selling price has come down, growers will not face losses as high volume will make up for the set back caused by lower purchase price, Mallick said. Rajesh Shah of Jairaj & Company said that Basmati is now available for a price ranging from Rs 23 per kg to Rs 80 per kg for the full-long grain variety. "There are two varieties which people commonly purchase for annual stocking: the Pusa 1121 and the traditional one with the latter accounting for most of the sales," Shah said, adding that last year's stock of Basmati is available for a price of about Rs 110 per kg.

Besides the two main varieties of Basmati — Pusa 1121 and the traditional variety — Pusa 1509, a new variety, is making inroads into the markets. Scientists who developed the variety are confident of the new rice's success because of its high yield. The Basmati market in India is worth Rs 50,000 crore (2013-14) with exports accounting for nearly 75% of the consumption. Saudi Arabia and Iraq are among the importers.

Punjab and Haryana are the major Basmatigrowing states. The variety is also grown in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and parts of Rajasthan. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Bas mati-rice-rates-drop-by-nearly40/articleshow/45838377.cms

Nigeria Set to Achieve Selfsufficiency in Rice Production, Say Investors 11 Jan 2015 Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina

By Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja

The Nigerian Rice Investors‘ Group has said that the rice import quota policy of the federal government would ensure selfsufficiency in rice production in the country.

The group also stated that the import quota allocation given to rice investors went to importers with verifiable local investments in rice production, contrary to claims that it was wrongly allocated.National President of the Nigerian Rice Investors group, Mr. Tunde Owoeye, in a joint press briefing weekend in Abuja, noted that the rice policy of the present administration is feasible and visible. According to him, the import quota was being allocated to the right people with verifiable investments in rice production in the country. ―We have seen some of our members who were pure traders make huge investment in local rice production. We also have seen serious increase in employment and value creation in the rice sector,‖ he said.Owoeye added that the federal government provided rice investors with improved seedlings, for which reason rice production is getting better. ―If you travel through Zamfara, Niger, Benue, Sokoto and many other states in the country, you will see vast plantations of rice in the last two years,‖ he said.

Also at the briefing, Secretary of Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN) and former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr. Michael Aondoakaa (SAN) stated that the rice quota allocations

were directed to wrong hands prior to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.―The truth is that many have wished the old system where some highly connected people influence rice quota allocation, this administration made sure it went to rice farmers with visible investments,‖ he said.

Meanwhile, the National President, Rice Millers, Importers and Distributors‘ Association of Nigeria (RMIDAN), Abubakar Mohammed, observed that there was only one processing mill in the whole of Nigeria in the last five years, and the number has increased to 24 mills by 2014.―We process 800,000 tonnes of paddy rice annually and the government is putting measures in place to produce additional 360,000 tonnes. All these happened by the help of President Goodluck Jonathan and the minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina,‖ Abubakar stated.

Tags: Akinwunmi Adesina, Featured, Nigeria, Business

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-setto-achieve-self-sufficiency-in-rice-productionsay-investors/198843/

Minister Dr. Damodar Rout says MSME sector in Odisha has huge scope for development and growth Saturday, January 10, 2015 Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: The State Government is organizing the 3rd MSME Trade Fair 2015 from 8th January to 14th January at Bhubaneswar. As a part of MSME Trade Fair, several workshops and seminars are being held every day on different topics.

Today, a workshop on Promotion & Development of MSMEs through Cluster Approach was held. Dr. Damodar Rout, Hon'ble Minister Cooperation & Excise, Govt. of Odisha formally inaugurated the workshop.

In his inaugural address he appreciated the effort towards MSME development and promotion by the state Government in recent years. Adding that MSME sector in Odisha has huge scope for development and growth, he stated that if the sector is properly developed, then Odisha won‘t have poverty.Sri Panchanan Dash, Secretary MSME, Govt. of Odisha participating in the workshop explained in details about various cluster development initiatives of the State Government. He focused on how the cluster development approach will help the MSMEs to compete in the global market as well as with big industries. He requested for quick approval of several Cluster development proposals submitted by the state Government but still pending with the Government of India.

Sri Samarendra Sahu, Add'l Development Commissioner (MSME), Govt. of India gave the assurance to try for quick approval of the cluster development proposals of the state Government while adding that he would initiate steps to provide all support towards MSME development in Odisha. Sri Nityanand Palai, Director of Industries briefed the participants on cluster

development programme.Sri Mukesh Gulati, Ex-Country Head, UNIDO and presently Executive Director of Foundation of MSME Clusters made presentation on successful Models of MSME clusters across the country and globe.

Representative from National Productivity Council and CTTC, Bhubaneswar explained the details on Lean Manufacturing and Design Clinic respectively. Overview on financial appraisal of PPP projects in cluster mode was briefed by representative from SIDBI. Invitees from Ahmadabad based Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India and Indian Institute of Packaging, Kolkata made presentation on successful PPP projects in cluster mode across the countries, packaging options and how MSME products can be well packaged.

Sri B.K. Dash, Additional Director of Industries extended vote of thanks to the participants.Around 300 entrepreneurs participated in the workshop. Sri Rohit Singhal of M/s Bargarh Rice Millers Consortium Private Limited shared his experience in establishment of Solvent Extraction Plant in Rice Milling Cluster at Bargarh. A case study on Material Flow Cost Accountancy was presented by Sri S. Maiti, NPC, Kolkata.

30,000 visitors visited the trade fair and total business to the tune of Rs. 57.16 lakh was achieved with 1945 numbers of enquiries for generation of business amounting to Rs. 741.20 lakhs approximately so far. http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=56372#st hash.5F4m4Gmo.dpuf