14th february 2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Rice News Headlines…                     

Redefining NFA’s role Palace backs NFAC call to review rice-buying price Price of Rice Unchanged Despite President Weah’s Intervention Golden Rice: The GMO crop Greenpeace hates and humanitarians love Band-aid solution to shortage, critics say of rice imports Rice Leadership Development Class Graduates NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice Govt okays rice imports after harvest season LCCI vows to enhance Pakistan’s share of Malaysian imports Govt okays rice imports after harvest season State moving in right direction to be self-sufficient in rice’ A single gene's mutation makes rice hybrid possible Gov’t to sell commercial rice to counter effects of NFA rice lack NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice Agricultural exports grew by 11 percent last year Rice basmati slips on muted demand Increasing Food Security in Bangladesh Brown Rice United States Market 2018: Market Insights, Status, Gross Margin and Outlook Organic Rice Flour Market – Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, Rose Brand, CHO HENG, Koda Farms, BIF, Lieng Tong Chinese Rice Wine Market – China Shaoxing Yellow Wine Group Corp, Kuaijishan, Jinfeng Wine, PAGOOA, Nuerhong, Jimo, Jiashan Policy Pennings: Losses continue, but rice prices are headed higher

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News Detail…

Redefining NFA’s role

By BusinessMirror Editorial February 13, 2018 A few days before the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced that paddy production rose to 19.27 million metric tons (MMT) in 2017, from the previous year’s 17.62 MMT, the National Food Authority (NFA) sounded the alarmthat its stockpile must be augmented soon, as it was only good for three days. This prompted the food agency to request the permission of the NFA Council (NFAC) to green light the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.

Despite the increase in paddy production, the NFA was unable to buy rice from farmers to boost its buffer stock. It was in 2008 when the NFA, then under the DA, had targeted to purchase around 1 MMT of paddy from farmers. That year, when the global food price crisis reached its peak, the Philippines learned the hard way that even if the government had the money to buy imported rice, traditional suppliers would prioritize their citizens’ needs. This prompted the government to roll out interventions to significantly increase rice output and to step up the procurement of local paddy. To encourage more farmers to plant rice and sell their crop to the NFA, the government raised the agency’s buying price to P17 per kilogram (kg), from P11.50 per kg, in April 2008.

Despite the hike in its buying price, the NFA would never be able to meet its annual palay procurement target. In recent years, the justification given by the food agency is that private traders also raised their prices. Farmers also complained earlier that the stringent procurement standards set by the NFA discouraged them from selling their crop to the government. Rice bought from farmers and imports make up the NFA’s stockpile. Part of this rice inventory is sold to the poor at P27 per kg (regular milled) and P32 per kg (well-milled).

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This year it appears that the NFA would not be able to meet its procurement target again. It also remains to be seen if hiking its buying price would boost its chances of buying more locally produced rice. This is a cause for concern since the NFA would have no other recourse but to rely on local procurement to beef up its stockpile from now until the first week of June. The food agency’s inability to compete with private traders was the primary reason behind its request to import rice last year.

The debacle faced by the NFA last year should have prompted the Duterte administration to act immediately and ensure that it would not happen again. But as it is, the NFA found itself grappling with the same dilemma this year. Following the government’s announcement that it had permitted the importation of rice, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. said that the council wants to start evaluating the procurement and distribution strategies of the NFA. This should have been done last year, especially if the administration has plans of restructuring the NFA. Currently, there are efforts in Congress to amend Republic Act 8178, or the Agricultural Tariffication Act, to convert rice import caps into tariffs as part of the Philippines’s commitment to the World Trade Organization. The conversion of the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice is of paramount concern, but the Duterte administration should not stop there. It must now launch efforts to seriously look at the role of the NFA and to determine whether there is a need for it to continue selling rice to the public. Once the QR is converted into tariff, more rice imports are expected to enter the country. The NFA’s role must be redefined based on this scenario. https://businessmirror.com.ph/redefining-nfas-role/

Palace backs NFAC call to review rice-buying price By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz & Bernadette D. Nicolas February 13, 2018

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Malacañang backed the proposal of the National Food Authority Council (NFAC) for the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) to again review the government’s palay-buying price.

Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. admitted in a news briefing on Tuesday that the P17- per-kilogram (kg) support price of the National Food Authority (NFA) is “too low” and discourages farmers from selling their crop to the government.

“The buying price of the NFA is too low, that’s why farmers don’t want to sell their rice to the NFA. If there would be an adjustment in the price and it is realistic, NFA stock wouldn’t be a problem anymore,” Roque said.

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He issued the statement after Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol on Monday urged the Neda to look into the possibility of raising the government’s palay-buying price.

Economic managers, including the heads of the Neda, Department of Finance and Central Bank, who are part of the NFAC, earlier thumbed down the hike in support price, as it would open the floodgate for inflation on all commodities, Evasco said in a news briefing on Monday.

He also announced during the briefing that the NFAC is pushing through with the NFA’s purchase of 250,000 metric tons of imported rice via the “government-to-private” scheme. The volume is set to arrive in the country by June, after the rice-harvest reason. Evasco said the government ensured that the timing of the arrival of imports would not coincide with the harvest season, as this could cause farm-gate prices to fall drastically.

The NFA said it was unable to meet its paddy-procurement target last year as traders bought rice from local farmers at P18 to P20 per kg, higher than its buying price of P17 per kg.

The food agency earlier asked the NFAC to increase the NFA’s support price to P22 per kg.

Supply probe PARTY-LIST Rep. Jose Panganiban Jr. of Anac-IP Partylist, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, said the panel will start next week its investigation on the alleged shortfall in the buffer stock of the NFA.Panganiban told reporters in a news briefing that there is a need to immediately address the situation to stabilize the price of commercial rice.

The lawmaker is one of the authors of the resolution calling for the investigation into the country’s rice inventory and the buffer stock of the NFA.

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“In recent report, the NFA admitted that there were only 65,200 metric tons of NFA rice, which would only last for two days due to relief operations for victims of unrest and typhoon last year,” the lawmaker said.

Panganiban also joined other lawmakers in urging the NFAC to raise the government’s palaybuying price to P20 per kg, from the current P17 per kg. Earlier, Rep. Roger G. Mercado of the Lone District of Southern Leyte also asked the NFA to raise its buying price for palay to as much as P25 per kg.

Party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao of Anakpawis has also filed a resolution calling for the increase in procurement of local palay, instead of importing rice from other countries. https://businessmirror.com.ph/palace-backs-nfac-call-to-review-rice-buying-price/

Price of Rice Unchanged Despite President Weah’s Intervention Monrovia - Rice prices remain the same despite President George Weah’s recent intervention and that rice importers have responded to his request to reduce the price of Liberia’s staple food.

Report by Al-Varney Rogers al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com

President Weah said: “If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible.”Many are now wondering whether the President’s statement is a mere bluff or just another political statement.Kebeh Mulbah, a mother of four, who purchase rice by cup (retail), said the price hasn’t changed from the day of the announcement. She stressed that dealers are still selling rice at the same prices.

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Those who are unable to buy 25kg bag of rice, daily purchase rice by cup to feed their family.Mulbah said she was filled with excitement when news broke that the President had reduced the country’s stable food.

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“We were happy when the President said the rice price will reduce but since that time, rice price is still the same,” Madam Mulbah said.

“I don’t know why the business people are refusing to obey the President’s mandate, Liberian people like hard hand, if this were (Former President) Taylor, who had said it, the next day the price would have dropped to that price that he wants.”

A shop owner Leroy Kollie said, from the day it was announced that the price of rice has reduced, he is constantly confronted with tons of questions from customers why the price of rice hasn’t change.

“We sell base on how we buy; if the importers drop the rice price, we do not need any announcement we will drop the price of rice,” Kollie said.

Kollie further stated that the President’s statement is not backed by action adding that the importers are still selling at the same rate.Kollie also claimed that continual increase in exchange rate is also responsible that the price of rice is still the same.

“Most of our customers buy from in Liberian dollars and we buy from the importers in United States dollars,” Mulbah said. President Weah said rice importers have reduced the price of a 25kg bag by US$2 while the price of a 50kg bag is reduced by US$4.According to an Executive Mansion release, the purported reduction had come as a result of increased pressure on rice importers by President Weah, who believed it is intolerable for the price of the national staple, to continue to increase amidst the high cost of living in the country.

A student of Economics, Darlington Johnson, said President Weah should have commissioned a study before announcing the reduction in the price of rice.

“There President should have allowed his economic management team to do a study before pronouncing the reduction of price.""It is not just about asking people to reduce rice price, but the sustainability of the reduction. Rice and petroleum are the fastest selling commodities and the government depends on those commodities to generate millions to support its budget,” Johnson said.

He further stated that the government should provide better incentive for the importers in order for the reduction to be effective.

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“So you need to look at all the indicators; the next thing is, what incentive is the government providing those business people to warrant the reduction, if the government forces the reduction we will experience artificial shortage, the government is under obligation to provide an enabling environment for businesses and also to protect the interest of the Liberian people,” Johnson added.

During the meeting with rice importers, President Weah reiterated his determination to ensure that something was immediately done to reduce the price and make it affordable and available to averaged Liberians.

At the end of the negotiations, officials of the Association of Liberian Rice Importers consented to effect a reduction of the price.

The Association of Rice Importers headed by their Chairman John Bestman, agreed to reduce the price of the 25Kg bag of rice by US $2 while the price of 50kg bag of rice will be reduced by US $4 with immediate effect.

President Weah had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3 but due to some constraints proffered by rice moguls, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost of a 25kg bag of rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market were addressed and the modalities worked out. https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/business/6923-price-of-rice-unchanged-despitepresident-weah-s-intervention

Golden Rice: The GMO crop Greenpeace hates and humanitarians love Paul McDivitt | Genetic Literacy Project | February 13, 2018

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olden Rice is back in the news.

The Philippines and Bangladesh are moving closer towards commercialization of the GMO food crop to combat vitamin A deficiency, a serious public health issue in Asia.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the countries’ joint food safety regulator, recently recommended Golden Rice be approved for import sale in order to limit trade disruptions with countries in Asia that adopt Golden Rice.

But not everyone is supportive.

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Anti-GMO group GE-Free New Zealand launched a campaign calling on the country’s minister for food safety to review FSANZ’s draft recommendation. The group echoes many of the worries about Golden Rice that environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), led by Greenpeace, have been promoting for years. "'Golden' rice is a proposed but not practically viable crop solution that has never been brought to market," Greenpeace International declares on its website. "It is also environmentally irresponsible and could compromise food, nutrition and financial security."

“We/I believe there is not enough safety information provided for me as a parent, consumer to safely feed my family this food,”GE Free NZ’s “Call to Action” letter template reads. “There is no advantage to the consumer, but there could be unknown risks to public health.”

Claire Bleakley, the group's president, also questioned Golden Rice’s effectiveness in combating vitamin A deficiency.

“A person would have to eat 4 kg [8.8 pounds] of cooked rice, (assuming it was fully absorbed and eaten immediately after harvest with minimal cooking) to get the same level of vitamin A that one medium carrot or 1 tsp. parsley would provide," she said.

With claims about Golden Rice’s effectiveness and impact on human health and the environment swirling, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the controversial crop: What is Golden Rice?

Golden Rice is conventional rice that has been genetically engineered to have high levels of betacarotene, the precursor to vitamin A. Beta-carotene is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (it's what makes carrots orange), but rice, which can make up to 80 percent of the daily diet in Asia, contains few micronutrients.

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The Golden Rice prototype was developed in the 1990s by European scientists Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer without any direct corporate involvement, and was greeted with much enthusiasm. Potrykus appeared on the cover of Time Magazine in 2000 along with the headline "This Rice could save a million kids a year."

However, the prototype didn’t contain high enough levels of beta-carotene to be an effective source of vitamin A.Recognizing the need to improve upon their breakthrough discovery, the scientists licensed their intellectual property to Syngenta on the condition that it would be made available to farmers in the developing world for free. The company developed an improved Golden Rice variety with much higher levels of beta-carotene in 2005 and decided not to commercialize it in the developed world as there was no market for it. Syngenta continues to support the project with advice and scientific know-how, but has no commercial control over it.

The current version of Golden Rice has two transgenes, or genes from another species. One is from corn and the other comes from a commonly-ingested soil bacterium. These two genes activate rice’s metabolic carotenoid pathway, which produces beta-carotene.

Contrary to popular perception, Golden Rice is not a single rice variety. The nutritional traits that were originally inserted in rice plants using genetic engineering have been crossed with many local rice varieties via conventional breeding. This means that farmers in the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Vietnam can maintain the advantages of the cultivars they’ve been growing, improving via conventional methods and eating for years.

How big of a problem is vitamin A deficiency?

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the most important issues in terms of global public health, according to the World Health Organization. It is a leading cause of childhood blindness in the developing world, and weakens the immune system, increasing vulnerability to illnesses such as measles, respiratory infections and diarrhea, often leading to death.

The condition affects more than 140 million pre-school children in 118 nations, and more than seven million pregnant women. UNICEF estimates that 1.15 million child deaths are precipitated by vitamin A deficiency each year.

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According to a 2001 World Health Organization study, 1 million of the estimated 1.5 million blind children in the world live in Asia. “Each year there are half a million new cases, 70 percent of which are due to vitamin A deficiency,� the authors wrote in 2001. At the time, the authors estimated that a child went blind somewhere in the world every minute. Worst of all, the study points out, the

majority die within the first year.

Click image to enlarge (Source: VIB) In the Philippines, vitamin A deficiency affects around 4.4 million children between the age of six months and five years. In addition, one in ten pregnant women in the country suffers from vitamin A deficiency.

In Bangladesh, one in five children between the age of six months and five years are affected by vitamin A deficiency.

Of the estimated 190 million children globally suffering from vitamin A deficiency, 78 million are in India. Research has shown that Golden Rice has the potential to decrease vitamin A deficiency by 60 percent in the country and prevent 40,000 deaths per year.

Will Golden Rice be effective at combating vitamin A deficiency?

Ian Godwin, a professor of plant molecular genetics at the University of Queensland in Australia, told me his review of the academic literature contradicts claims by Greenpeace and GE Free NZ’s that the latest generation of Golden Rice is a failure.

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Genetically engineered Golden Rice grown in a facility in Los Baños, Laguna Province, in the Philippines."GE Free NZ is relying on old data based on the original Golden Rice variety from the 1990s,” Godwin said. “The new variety produces up to 23 times more beta-carotene than the original."According to a 2009 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the improved Golden Rice strain, now being tested in the Philippines and Bangladesh, is as effective as vitamin A capsules, which are difficult to distribute on a sustained basis, and works better than the natural beta-carotene found in spinach.

“Daily consumption of a very modest amount of Golden Rice—about a cup—could supply 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A for an adult,” said rice breeder Russell Reinke, who leads the Healthier Rice Program at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the organization that has been conducting field trials in the Philippines. “Ms. Bleakley’s statement is inaccurate and unsubstantiated.”

Golden Rice is meant to complement, not replace, other efforts to address VAD, according to the IRRI. Its goal in the Philippines is to supply 30-50 percent of the estimated average requirements for vitamin A for preschool age children and pregnant or lactating mothers, with vitamin A supplements and diet diversification providing the rest.

Supplementation requires substantial and consistent funding in order to distribute the capsules to those who need them when they need them. While many foods contain beta-carotene, they can be expensive to buy and difficult to grow in regions where VAD is an issue. Rice is a staple crop in many countries in South and Southeast Asia, and is widely grown by smallholder farmers. Thus Golden Rice could be a cheap, wide-reaching, sustainable approach to fighting VAD. Will corporations control Golden Rice and charge farmers to use it?

Anti-GMO meme.

Because the two academic scientists who developed the original Golden Rice stipulated that it be made available to poor farmers for free, Syngenta, or any other corporation, does not own the intellectual property in developing countries and therefore cannot charge royalties. According to IRRI, the terms of the licenses in place in the Philippines and elsewhere ensure that Golden Rice varieties will cost no more than their conventional equivalents. This means that farmers will be able to save and replant Golden Rice seeds.

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Syngenta could in the future choose to commercialize Golden Rice in developed countries, likely as a substitute for vitamin A pills.

Why is Golden Rice still not available for distribution or on the market?

Genetically engineered crops take longer than conventional crops to reach consumers for a variety of reasons. First, crop genetic engineering is a relatively new and complex technology, and therefore demands substantial time and money. Second, all countries that allow GMO crops have strict regulations governing their use, and require lots of testing, including field trials, which are timeconsuming and expensive. Conventional crops are not subject to any of these requirements. The average time it takes for a new biotechnology crop to reach the market (starting from its initial discovery) is 13 years, according to a 2011 industry survey.

"The development of Golden Rice is on pace with this timeframe," according to IRRI officials. "In 2006, IRRI and its partners began working with a new version of the Golden Rice trait that produces significantly more beta-carotene than the 1999 prototype, and it is this version of Golden Rice that is still under development and evaluation.�

However, Golden Rice has hit bumps along the way, including problems integrating the nutritional traits with local varieties. See the question below, “Does Golden Rice have the same yields as conventional rice?�, for more on this issue.

Does Golden Rice have the same yields as conventional rice?

A field trial of Golden Rice.

In 2014, IRRI reported that field trials revealed the most advanced version of Golden Rice at that time, GR2R, showed a lower yield compared to its conventional equivalent. This only became apparent when the crop was exposed to wind and rain in open, multilocation field trials (MLTs).

Results showed that while the target level of beta-carotene in the grain was attained, the average yield was lower than that of comparable local varieties preferred by farmers.

To remedy this, IRRI initiated new breeding programs in 2014 to develop high-yielding versions of Golden Rice.

Results from confined field trials (CFTs), which took place from October 2014 to July 2017, showed no unintended effects of the GR2E variety on agronomic performance, yield, and grain quality.

Moreover, there were no observed differences in pest and disease reactions. Except for the intended

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production of beta-carotene, all other nutritional components of the rice were the same as conventional varieties.

IRRI’s GR2E variety is currently undergoing MLTs to confirm the results from the CFTs. Does Golden Rice pose health risks to consumers?

Before being approved, all genetically engineered crops are subject to rigorous testing and stringent food safety regulations by the countries reviewing them. There has been no study suggesting any health issues related to the consumption of vitamin-enhanced genetically engineered rice.A recent report by Australia and New Zealand’s food safety regulator FSANZ found that consumption of Golden Rice “is considered to be as safe for human consumption as food derived from conventional rice cultivars.” The FSANZ safety assessment found “no concerns regarding the potential toxicity or allergenicity.” “There is no reasonable argument that would support any public health, human toxicological or any other adverse effect in respect of carotenoids,” the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board writes, in reference to the beta-carotene produced by Golden Rice. “Indeed, carotenoids are more generally associated with imparting important health benefits.”

Could Golden Rice be bad for the environment or “contaminate” non-GMO rice?

According to a report by VIB, a life sciences research institute in Belgium, Golden Rice’s potential to cross-pollinate other rice varieties has been studied and found to be limited, because rice is typically self-pollinated.

Many plants produce beta-carotene, and their ability to do so doesn’t provide a competitive advantage, or disadvantage, that could affect the survival of wild varieties should cross-pollination occur. Research at IRRI and elsewhere has demonstrated that the chance of “gene flow” is very low because rice is self-pollinating and rice pollen is only viable for 3-5 minutes. Preventative measures such as staggered flowering dates and observing recommended distances to other rice fields could further limit this risk.

Who is opposed to Golden Rice?

A variety of environmental and public safety groups and activists oppose Golden Rice because it is genetically modified.

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Soon after the Golden Rice prototype was announced, influential food author Michael Pollan wrote an article in the New York Times Magazine criticizing Golden Rice as a kind of Trojan horse––a way for agricultural biotechnology companies to “win an argument rather than solve a public-health problem.” He and other critics of biotechnology have aggressively promoted many of the criticisms voiced by Greenpeace and other anti-GMO activist groups.

Protesters break through a fence before destroying a field trial of Golden Rice in the Philippines.Greenpeace has been especially vocal in its opposition to Golden Rice, issuing reports, organizing protests, and working to sow public doubt and fear in developing and developed countries. The group claims that Golden Rice is not a “practically viable crop solution,” is “environmentally irresponsible,” and could “compromise food, nutrition and financial security.” Similar to Pollan, Greenpeace has also promoted the argument that Golden Rice is a Trojan horse aimed at paving the way for multinational corporations to deceptively hook developing countries on genetically engineered crops.

Several groups in developed and developing countries have adopted Greenpeace’s arguments against Golden Rice.

In August 2013, 400 protesters smashed down the fences surrounding an IRRI field trial of Golden Rice in the Philippines and uprooted the rice plants.

Who supports Golden Rice?

Golden Rice has the support of the vast majority of scientists with and without expertise in agricultural biotechnology. In June of 2016, a group of 110 Nobel laureate scientists penned a letter criticizing Greenpeace for its campaign against GMOs, specifically its effort to block Golden Rice.

The letter states:

We urge Greenpeace and its supporters to re-examine the experience of farmers and consumers worldwide with crops and foods improved through biotechnology, recognize the findings of authoritative scientific bodies and regulatory agencies, and abandon their campaign against 'GMOs' in general and Golden Rice in particular.

The list has since grown to 129 Nobel laureates.

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The Golden Rice project has received funding and support at various stages from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Union, the US Agency for International Development and various other humanitarian groups.

Band-aid solution to shortage, critics say of rice imports Feb. 14, 2018 DAVAO TODAY

Duterte told to focus on boosting local production instead

MANILA, Philippines – Various rice-watch groups and a lawmaker have denounced President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration for allowing the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as the supply of government-subsidized rice dwindled in the past weeks.In a press conference on Monday, February 12, Bantay Bigas spokesperson Cathy Estavillo lamented how Duterte chose to depend on importation instead of increasing the local palay production and boosting the National Food Authority’s (NFA) local palay procurement.

“Ensuring the country’s food security is the state’s responsibility to its people. However, instead of increasing local palay production and boosting NFA’s local palay procurement, Duterte, like his predecessors chose to depend on importation without a second thought,” Estavillo said.

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NFA spokesperson Rebecca Olarte earlier bared that NFA’s buffer stock of about 64,000 MT at the end of January was at its “lowest monthly holding in 10 years.”

But on Monday, the NFA Council green-lighted the importation of 250,000 MT of rice in a bid to ensure rice availability and stabilize rice stock in the country.

For her part, Amihan (National Federation of Peasant Women) Chairperson Zen Soriano said the rice price hike had already taken its toll on peasant families.

“Most farmers earn barely enough due to the high cost of production. Almost every peso spent in rice production as well as the family’s basic needs are from lending and microfinancing institutions,” Soriano said.

“Peasant women are forced to borrow money from such institutions; many depend on two or three of those just to meet the needs of their families. Ang kababaihang magbubukid, nagungutang para may ipambayad ng utang. Ang mga magsasaka nagiging magsasako na lang pagkatapos ng anihan sa dami ng binabayaran,” she added.

Soriano stressed that importation would not solve but would only make the crisis of the local rice industry worse, especially that imported rice arrives in the country in time for the harvest season.

She said the government is willing to spend billions for private traders but not for its local farmers who have long been calling to uphold the mandate of the NFA. ‘Band-aid solution’ AGHAM-Advocates of Science and Technology for the People, meanwhile slammed the Duterte administration’s move as a mere “band-aid” solution to the NFA rice shortage.

The group said the recently-approved importation will be on top of the 325,000 MT of imports under the Minimum Access Volume (MAV) scheduled to arrive this month.

“Rice importation will not resolve the chronic crisis of food insecurity because the global rice market is volatile. We are not assured of its availability and its price in the market,” it said.

The group pointed out that a genuine agrarian reform law, and the development of the local rice industry are the true solutions to the country’s perennial problem on food security and selfsufficiency.

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Inquiry launched Last week, Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao filed House Resolution 1676, which called for an investigation into the reported NFA rice shortage in the country.

Casilao echoed the sentiments of progressive groups, saying the Duterte government should prioritize the procurement of palay of local producers and act on HB 555 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill.

“We have four million hectares of agricultural lands, if it utilized mainly for food production, especially palay, we don’t need to import rice,” Casilao said. (davaotoday.com)

http://davaotoday.com/main/economy/band-aid-solution-to-shortage-critics-say-of-rice-imports/

Rice Leadership Development Class Graduates

By Deborah Willenborg

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Rice Leadership Development Program's Class of 2016-18 graduated from the prestigious program during a special ceremony at the USA Rice Federation's

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2018 Government Affairs Conference yesterday. Rice Foundation Chairman Charley Mathews and USA Rice Chairman Brian King presided over the ceremony, congratulating the graduates and thanking program sponsors, John Deere, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company.The class is made up of five rice producers: Michael Bosworth, Olivehurst, CA; Imran Khan, Chico, CA; Allen McLain, Abbeville, LA; Sidney Robnett, Stuttgart, AR; and Brandon Truax, Gillett, AR; and two industry-related members: Sunny Bottoms with Horizon Ag, and Kristopher Riggs with Anheuser-Busch.

Sidney Robnett served as class spokesperson. He expressed his appreciation to the many people the class met and the staggering amount of information the class was exposed to "by some of the greatest minds within the U.S. rice industry."

Robnett concluded his commencement speech with encouraging words for his fellow classmates. "I believe this class has prepared each one of us to take up the role of future leaders; to help in whatever role necessary to ensure that USA Rice has a bright and prosperous future. A future that we can be proud of for our kids and grandkids."

The class was immediately put to work representing the rice industry during the conference, participating in multiple meetings with Members of Congress, staff from key Congressional Committees, and agency representatives.

They also met with officials at CropLife America to discuss the responsible use of environmentally sound crop protection products, and got a lesson in the intricacies of the pesticide registration process at the Environmental Protection Agency.

While in Washington, the group is also scheduled to meet Ambassador Camilo Reyes of the Colombian Embassy to discuss the remarkable success of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement that allowed Colombia to become one of the top fifteen U.S. export markets, as well as attend the USA Rice World Market Price Subcommittee meetings.

The Rice Leadership Development Program gives young men and women a comprehensive understanding of the U.S. rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication training. During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions that are designed to strengthen their leadership skills.

If you have interest in applying for the 2019 Rice Leadership Development Program, contact Steve Linscombe at slinscombe@usarice.com

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NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice By: Philip C. Tubeza- @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:50 AM February 13, 2018 The National Food Authority (NFA) Council yesterday approved the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice to replenish the NFA buffer stock that is used in part to help stabilize rice prices, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr said.

Evasco, chair of the NFA Council, said the council met yesterday morning and approved the rice importation, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand.

“The standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons is approved considering the importation should arrive after the harvest or the first week of June,” Evasco said in a press conference.

“We assure the public there is no rice shortage. This importation is for the NFA’s buffer stock,” he added.

The NFA Council, with representatives from agencies like Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Finance, must approve all plans to import rice.

Evasco also noted that President Duterte had given a verbal order approving the importation of the 250,000 metric tons of rice.

To ensure that the importation process will be “more inclusive and transparent,” Evasco said the mode of importation would be “government to private importation or open tender procurement.”

NFA management earlier asked that it be allowed to use its standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons of rice as its buffer stock of rice was down to only 64,000 metric tons, or good only for two days, when the agency is required to maintain 15 days worth of rice supply at any given time.

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“We’ll be expecting El Niño. We’ll be expecting typhoons to come but the stock is down when the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) issued a resolution that the buffer stock should be 15 days during harvest and 30 days during low season,” he said.

Evasco said the country had no rice shortage, as 3.8 million metrics ton of rice or equivalent to 121 days of rice supply were available.

He added that the NFA council also discussed hiking the NFA’s buying price of P17 per kilo for clean and dry palay but the BSP, NEDA Board, and the DOF objected as this would be inflationary, or would cause prices of basic commodities to increase.

https://business.inquirer.net/245888/nfa-set-import-250000-mt-rice#ixzz574lP2ebz

State moving in right direction to be self-sufficient in rice’ February 13, 2018, Tuesday Rintos Mail, reporters@theborneopost.com Sagah (fourth left) and Nogeh (second left) listen to a briefing by a Mardi officer on the MRQ 98 rice.KUCHING: The state government is moving in the right direction by emphasising largescale rice production to achieve self-sufficiency.

In stating this, Assistant Minister of Native Land Development Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the government is now vigorously putting in money to develop all areas in Sarawak which are suitable for paddy planting.

He noted that to date there are 66 irrigation schemes in the state, which include Skuduk Chupak (236 hectares), Tg Bijat (1,060 hectares), Daro in Mukah (1,575 hectares) and Asajaya in Samarahan (850 hectares).

He said there were also small irrigation schemes for wet paddy planting, which include the ones at Tanjung Purun (90 hectares), Sebubok Engkala (114 hectares) and Tanjung Seduru (58 hectares).

Sagah said all these irrigation schemes were implemented to increase paddy production and the income of farmers in the state.

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“Now, we don’t have enough rice for local consumption yet, but we are hoping that we have enough. That is why we have a programme to get all the identified areas fully planted with paddy so that we can achieve at least a self-sufficiency level.

“Of course our target is to achieve export level, which is much better,” he told a press conference after the declaration of MRQ 98 or Mardi Warna 98 as a new paddy variety by the Malaysian Agriculture Research Development Institute (Mardi) at Kampung Plaman Payang, Serian yesterday.

Sagah said Sarawak needs to increase its self-sufficiency of rice and eventually, for export.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Datuk Anthony Nogeh, who accompanied Sagah, urged Mardi to do more research and produce more new varieties especially those that mature very fast so farmers in Sarawak can go for at least two-cycle cultivation per year.

“I want Mardi to produce more varieties that can increase the quantity. If the yield is high, we are also helping to increase the income of our farmers. That is important,” he said. https://www.theborneopost.com/2018/02/13/state-moving-in-right-direction-to-be-self-sufficient-in-rice/

Rice Farming TV Published on Feb 11, 2018

Watch Video on

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CMttAwPMnQ&feature=youtu.be

Govt okays rice imports after harvest season

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018TOP STORIES

TRADERS may have to open their warehouses for inspection and face charges of economic sabotage if they are found hoarding rice, Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. said on Monday, as he announced the National Food Authority (NFA) Council’s approval of the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.

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In a news conference in Malacañang, Evasco, chairman of the NFA Council, instructed the NFA to “proactively monitor” and inspect warehouses of “private traders” and called for the prosecution of those found hoarding stocks of the staple.

“Criminal offense talaga `yan pag mag-hoarding ka (Hoarding is really a criminal offense). That’s economic sabotage. Can you sleep at night when a lot people don’t have anything to buy and yet you’re hoarding and keeping so much?” Evasco said.

“There is really a need to be very, very proactive on the part of NFA to look into the bodegas, warehouses managed and run by private traders, kasi tinatago (because they might be hoarding [rice])…(The NFA) should monitor kasi part iyan ng trabaho nila (because that’s part of their job). If they (rice traders) are found to be hoarding, [we will]prosecute, arrest [them],” he added.Evasco issued the warning amid reports of a looming rice shortage because of the dwindling supply of government-subsidized rice in the country.

Evasco said the NFA Council, in a meeting held earlier Monday, agreed to approve the standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons.

This, he said, after President Rodrigo Duterte gave him a “verbal” instruction to activate the standby authority subject to the NFA Council’s “assessment on timing and mode of procurement.”

Evasco said the importation would be done after the harvest season. The government projects production of 4.9 million metric tons of palay, equivalent to 3.6 million metric tons of milled rice.

“The standby authority to import 250,000 MT is approved and considering the timing of the harvest season, the importation should arrive after the said harvest season, first week of June,” he said.

To ensure that importation is “inclusive, open and transparent,” he said the NFA Council chose the method of government-to-private (G2P) importation or open tender based on the same terms of reference in the 2017 G2P procurement.

G2P importation is when the government buys imported rice from private importers who use permits under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme to import rice. The NFA Council last year introduced guidelines to the scheme to ensure it is not abused.

But Evasco was quick to clarify that there was no rice shortage, especially in the stock of government-subsidized rice.

“We assure the public that there is no rice shortage and this importation is only as to NFA’s buffer stock. In this manner, the NFA Council has issued a directive on the reassessment of the inventory of the NFA, including its procurement and distribution strategies,” Evasco said. http://www.manilatimes.net/govt-okays-rice-imports-harvest-season/379790/

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LCCI vows to enhance Pakistan’s share of Malaysian imports Earlier this week, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Malik Tahir Javaid expressed a resolve to make all out efforts to enhance Pakistan’s share in Malaysian imports of 163.4 billion. Malik was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Pakistani High Commissioner in Malaysia, Nafees Zakaria, in honour of the LCCI delegation arriving in Malaysia after a very successful visit to Indonesia.

Pakistan and Malaysia have had close and cordial relations since long and this relationship is still growing, but this should be reflected more in mutual trade and economic ties, saud Mailk.

Brecorder.com quoted Malik as saying the Pakistan business community was trying its best to make good use of the FTA but it lacked support from by the Ministry of Commerce and especially the commercial section of Pakistan’s High Commission in Malaysia. “We want to acquire a justifiable share in the trade with Malaysia. There is a huge potential of exporting Pakistani rice, fresh fruits like citrus and mango to Malaysia.” http://www.freshplaza.com/article/189297/LCCI-vows-to-enhance-Pakistans-share-of-Malaysianimports

Govt okays rice imports after harvest season

BY CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018TOP STORIES

TRADERS may have to open their warehouses for inspection and face charges of economic sabotage if they are found hoarding rice, Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco Jr. said on Monday, as he announced the National Food Authority (NFA) Council’s approval of the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice.

In a news conference in Malacañang, Evasco, chairman of the NFA Council, instructed the NFA to “proactively monitor” and inspect warehouses of “private traders” and called for the prosecution of those found hoarding stocks of the staple.

“Criminal offense talaga `yan pag mag-hoarding ka (Hoarding is really a criminal offense). That’s economic sabotage. Can you sleep at night when a lot people don’t have anything to buy and yet you’re hoarding and keeping so much?” Evasco said.

“There is really a need to be very, very proactive on the part of NFA to look into the bodegas, warehouses managed and run by private traders, kasi tinatago (because they might be hoarding

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[rice])…(The NFA) should monitor kasi part iyan ng trabaho nila (because that’s part of their job). If they (rice traders) are found to be hoarding, [we will]prosecute, arrest [them],” he added.Evasco issued the warning amid reports of a looming rice shortage because of the dwindling supply of government-subsidized rice in the country.

Evasco said the NFA Council, in a meeting held earlier Monday, agreed to approve the standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons.

This, he said, after President Rodrigo Duterte gave him a “verbal” instruction to activate the standby authority subject to the NFA Council’s “assessment on timing and mode of procurement.”

Evasco said the importation would be done after the harvest season. The government projects production of 4.9 million metric tons of palay, equivalent to 3.6 million metric tons of milled rice.

“The standby authority to import 250,000 MT is approved and considering the timing of the harvest season, the importation should arrive after the said harvest season, first week of June,” he said.

To ensure that importation is “inclusive, open and transparent,” he said the NFA Council chose the method of government-to-private (G2P) importation or open tender based on the same terms of reference in the 2017 G2P procurement.

G2P importation is when the government buys imported rice from private importers who use permits under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme to import rice. The NFA Council last year introduced guidelines to the scheme to ensure it is not abused.

But Evasco was quick to clarify that there was no rice shortage, especially in the stock of government-subsidized rice.

“We assure the public that there is no rice shortage and this importation is only as to NFA’s buffer stock. In this manner, the NFA Council has issued a directive on the reassessment of the inventory of the NFA, including its procurement and distribution strategies,” Evasco said. http://www.manilatimes.net/govt-okays-rice-imports-harvest-season/379790/

A single gene's mutation makes rice hybrid possible Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-13 13:35:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japanese scientists have identified the gene that causes hybrid sterility in rice, a major reproductive barrier between species.

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The findings, published on Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are important not only for understanding the evolutionary biology of speciation, but also for improving crops for food production.

There are only two cultured rice species in the world: an Asian one and an African one. The African species is tolerant of various abiotic and biotic stresses such as high temperature, providing a valuable source of genes that could be useful in rice production.

However, the interspecific reproductive barrier stands in the way of using the African species in breeding programs with the Asian species. Plants obtained from hybridizing the two species yield almost no seeds when they are cultivated. This is known as hybrid sterility.

A Japanese team found that a peptidase-coding gene called SSP causes the hybrid sterility.

The team then studied the evolutionary pathways of SSP and found that the gene is present only in the African species and some other wild species, not in the Asian one, hence leading to the interspecific boundaries.

"Our study shows the interspecific reproductive barrier can be overcome by a disruption of a single gene. Further research could help improve breeding programs and enhance rice yields to address food shortages in growing populations," said Yohei Koide, assistant professor of Hokkaido University and the paper's lead author. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-02/13/c_136972272.htm

Gov’t to sell commercial rice to counter effects of NFA rice lack Published February 13, 2018 6:35pm The Department of Agriculture on Tuesday said that it would set up outlets where it could sell more affordable commercial rice to counter the effects of the lack of government-subsidized NFA rice in the markets.

According to a report on Balitanghali by Joseph Morong, the DA said commercial rice will be sold at these outlets for P38 per kilo.

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This developed more than a week after the National Food Authority (NFA) suspended the distribution of its subsidized rice to accredited retailers, saying that its buffer stock was down to two days worth of supply.

Compared to commercial rice at prices ranging from P36 to over P65 per kilo, NFA rice is more affordable at P27 to P32 per kilo.

The NFA is required to secure at least 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season.

On Monday, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio "Jun" Evasco Jr. had ordered the NFA to monitor and inspect warehouses of traders and called for the prosecution of those found hoarding stocks of the staple.

"Can you sleep at night when a lot of people don't have anything to buy and yet you're hoarding, you are keeping so much?" the Palace official said.

To replenish the buffer stock, the NFA has secured the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte to import 250,000 metric tons of rice.

In addition, the report said local farmers are expected to produce 3.6 million metric tonnes this harvest season in June.

"The more rice getting into the market, prices will be stabilized," Evasco said.

A Senate inquiry on the NFA's low buffer stock has been set for February 27.

The Palace has warned traders allegedly hoarding rice in order to justify price increases of being charged for economic sabotage. —NB, GMA http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/643229/gov-t-to-sell-commercial-riceto-counter-effects-of-nfa-rice-lack/story/

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NFA set to import 250,000 MT of rice By: Philip C. Tubeza- @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:50 AM February 13, 2018 The National Food Authority (NFA) Council yesterday approved the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice to replenish the NFA buffer stock that is used in part to help stabilize rice prices, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr said.

Evasco, chair of the NFA Council, said the council met yesterday morning and approved the rice importation, mainly from Vietnam and Thailand.

“The standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons is approved considering the importation should arrive after the harvest or the first week of June,” Evasco said in a press conference.

“We assure the public there is no rice shortage. This importation is for the NFA’s buffer stock,” he added.

The NFA Council, with representatives from agencies like Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the National Economic Development Authority and the Department of Finance, must approve all plans to import rice.

Evasco also noted that President Duterte had given a verbal order approving the importation of the 250,000 metric tons of rice.To ensure that the importation process will be “more inclusive and transparent,” Evasco said the mode of importation would be “government to private importation or open tender procurement.”

NFA management earlier asked that it be allowed to use its standby authority to import 250,000 metric tons of rice as its buffer stock of rice was down to only 64,000 metric tons, or good only for two days, when the agency is required to maintain 15 days worth of rice supply at any given time.

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“We’ll be expecting El Niño. We’ll be expecting typhoons to come but the stock is down when the Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) issued a resolution that the buffer stock should be 15 days during harvest and 30 days during low season,” he said.

Evasco said the country had no rice shortage, as 3.8 million metrics ton of rice or equivalent to 121 days of rice supply were available.

He added that the NFA council also discussed hiking the NFA’s buying price of P17 per kilo for clean and dry palay but the BSP, NEDA Board, and the DOF objected as this would be inflationary, or would cause prices of basic commodities to increase. https://business.inquirer.net/245888/nfa-set-import-250000-mt-rice

Agricultural exports grew by 11 percent last year A man cuts cassava root on a farm in Pailin. Reuters

Sok Chan / Khmer Times During the last five years, agricultural exports have grown on average 7 percent per year, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Agriculture’s general directorate of agriculture (GDA).Nearly 24,000 sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certificates were issued last year alone, with agricultural exports reaching 5.13 million tonnes, including 76 different products.

According to the ministry’s report, exports of agricultural products grew 11 percent in 2017, with sliced cassava topping the list for most exported Cambodian commodity, with more than 2.83 million tonnes shipped abroad.

It was followed by fresh cassava (936,984 tonnes), rice (635,679 tonnes), corn (168,685 tonnes), and cassava starch (76,093 tonnes).

Hean Vanhan, Ministry of Agriculture’s director general, said the ministry’s focus is on increasing productivity and diversifying crops in the sector, with the ultimate objective of achieving 10 percent growth in exports for every product by the end of the year.

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He said his department is prioritising research and product quality while working to increase efficiency and sustainability through contract farming schemes and adequate land management.

Mr Vanhan also said that the government has successfully negotiated better SPS terms with Vietnam for the exportation of dragon fruit and banana, adding that negotiations are ongoing for longan, green orange, rambutan, wax apple, and jack fruit.

Finally, he commented on a law on plant protection and SPS, saying that a draft will be ready before the July elections and that it will provide a boost to the sector by ramping up the competitiveness of local crops.

“The draft law on plant protection and SPS will allow the ministry’s SPS officers to check agricultural imports and exports at the border,” Mr Vanhan said.

The ministry’s Secretary of State, Ty Sokun, said the sector has thrived in the last two years, with yields, exports and prices on the rise, but added that to continue on this impressive trajectory the country must focus on improving productivity and finding new markets.

“We should diversify our agriculture production through knowledge, technology and innovation in order to be http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50108283/agricultural-exports-grew-11-percentlast-year/able to compete with neighboring countries,” he said.

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Rice basmati slips on muted demand 13 FEBRUARY 2018 Last Updated at 2:56 PM

New Delhi, Feb 13 Prices of rice basmati drifted lower by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today owing to slackened demand.

Wheat also slipped on adequate stocks position against reduced offtake by flour mills.

Traders said sluggish demand against sufficient stocks position mainly led to decline in rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, rice basmati common and Pusa- 1121 variety fell by Rs 100 each to Rs 8,000-8,100 and Rs 6,700-6,800 per quintal respectively.

Wheat dara (for mills) also declined by Rs 20 to Rs 1,765-1,770 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,775-1,780 per 90 kg.

Sooji too shed Rs 20 to Rs 1,030-1,040 per 50 kg.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,080-2,280, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,765-1,770 Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,775-1,780, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 260-300, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 955-965 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg)and Sooji Rs 1,030-1,040 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,800, Basmati common new Rs 8,000-8,100, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,700-6,800, Permal raw Rs 2,325-2375, Permal wand Rs 2,375-2,425, Sela Rs 2,800-3,000 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,975-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,200-1,205, Jowar yellow Rs 1,400-1,450, white Rs 2,8002,900, Maize Rs 1,400- 1,405, Barley Rs 1,490-1,500. https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/rice-basmati-slips-on-muted-demand/1252194

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Increasing Food Security in Bangladesh

BY RON SINGH ON FEBRUARY 13, 2018 SEATTLE — Despite impressive gains in recent years, many concerns remain regarding Bangladesh’s food security. In October 2016, the World Food Programme (WFP) found that one in three childrenare still affected by stunted growth and that climate change threatens food security. However, efforts are being made to improve food security in Bangladesh.

Farming Assistance from ActionAid Bangladesh’s soaring temperatures often cause farmers’ chickens to die before they can be sold.

In April 2016, the organization ActionAid helped Bangladesh’s women farmers find new ways of preserving the chickens. The organization enlisted the help of local scientists to breed a “climate-resilient chicken” that tolerates heat better than an ordinary one.

“Having these chickens has meant I can feed my children properly and make more money,” said Bulbuli, a Bangladeshi farmer. Bulbuli added that having a climate-resilient chicken helps her and other farmers avoid debt risks. Being able to sell chickens helps Bangladesh farmers avoid taking out loans for additional income.

Helen Keller International Helping Women Farmers Helen Keller International (HKI) has aided food security in Bangladesh since the 1990s. Through HKI’sEnhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) program, Bangladesh’s women farmers establish yearly gardens to grow diverse varieties of fruits and vegetables for their families. HKI

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has also trained the farmers to raise poultry and discuss behaviors that contribute to better nutrition for themselves and their children.

“We know the program is increasing household access to and consumption of nutrient-rich foods, and allows for more interesting and varied diets,” said Jennifer Nielsen, HKI’s senior nutrition advisor. However, there was uncertainty in the program on how to improve child growth and health. In June 2016, Heidelberg University researchers made efforts to fill this gap via the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM) study.

Research Evaluating the EHFP Program The researchers are evaluating the EHFP program in Bangladesh’s Habiganj district of the Sylhet Division. The FAARM study includes 2,600 women in 96 Bangladesh communities. Women chosen randomly from 48 communities receive HKI’s support to create productive gardens, raise chickens and adopt better dietary practices.

Following the study’s completion in 2019, the researchers will compare whether the farmers’ children less than three years old show improved health and growth. The children will be evaluated based on their growth in comparison to the children of 48 other villages where farmers did not participate in the study.

However, the researchers still conclude that HKI’s program is making a difference for food security in Bangladesh. EHFP has helped Bangladesh’s women farmers gain greater respect in their households because their gardens have become more prolific. “Their new skills give them greater self-confidence,” said HKI’s senior nutrition advisor.

Production of New Rice Varieties In July 2017, the Bangladesh government revealed that 13 new rice varieties were helping the country’s agricultural sector. The rice is made via nuclear techniques and has helped Bangladesh farmers substantially increase rice production in the last few decades. “Plant mutation breeding” are some of the techniques used for producing the new varieties.

One of the new varieties, Binadhan-7, has become a popular rice variety in northern Bangladesh.

“I have more rice for my family, and I now earn almost double with the rice and mustard seed I grow compared to before,” said Suruj Ali, one of the farmers using Binadhan-7 for rice production. Varieties like Binadhan-7 have helped stabilize food security in Bangladesh, shifting the country from an importer to exporter of rice.

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Bangladesh’s National Plan of Action on Nutrition On August 14, 2017, the Bangladesh National Nutrition Council and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the 2nd National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN). The NPAN’s goal is to improve all Bangladesh citizens’ nutritional status. NPAN will particularly focus on Bangladeshi children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

“The key stakeholders were involved in the development of the plan,” said Dr. Iftekhar Rashid, a core committee member for the NPAN’s finalization. The NPAN comprises direct actions in an array of sectors including agriculture, fisheries and livestock. The NPAN is also a step toward the country’s commitment to sustainable nutrition and other development goals toward food security in Bangladesh.

Food Security for Bangladesh’s Flood Victims In mid-August 2017, heavy monsoon rains and landslides devastated residents of Bangladesh and other neighboring territories. On August 25, 2017, the WFP completed a week-long distribution of emergency food supplies to more than 200,000 Bangladeshi flood victims. The WFP also supplied 3.75 kilograms of biscuits to families who lost their homes.

The WFP reported that Bangladesh was at risk of “devastating hunger” due to the destroyed crops. “People need food right now, and the full impact on longer-term food security threatens to be devastating,” added the WFP. The military helped the WFP by using Air Force helicopters to drop packets of food, water and medicines to flood victims camping on higher ground.

Many entities are working to increase food security in Bangladesh. Farmers are able to produce more rice for their families via new agricultural techniques. Bangladesh’s government is also working to ensure food security for all of the country’s citizens in the coming years. Other efforts to improve Bangladesh’s food security will continue to be made http://www.borgenmagazine.com/increasing-food-security-in-bangladesh/

Brown Rice United States Market 2018: Market Insights, Status, Gross Margin and Outlook "Brown Rice market" HTF MI recently broadcasted a new study in its database that highlights the in-depth market analysis with future prospects of Brown Rice market.

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The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for managers, industry executives and other key people get ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges.

Some of the key players mentioned in this research are Asia Golden, T.K. Mills, Shiva Shellac & Chemicals, Daawat, Amira Nature Foods, Riviana Foods, Chandrika Group, Ebro Foods, Sun Food & Agistin Biotech.

Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-beforebuy/941480-united-states-brown-rice-market-1 The research covers the current market size of the United States Brown Rice market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [The West, Southwest, The Middle Atlantic, New England, The South & The Midwest], by product /end user type [Long Grain, Medium Grain & Short Grain], by applications [Super/ Hyper Stores, Department Stores, Grocery & Online Retailers] in overall market. The indepth information by segments of Brown Rice market helps monitor performance & make critical decisions for growth and profitability. It provides information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the United States Brown Rice Market.

This study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of United States Brown Rice Market, some of them are Asia Golden, T.K. Mills, Shiva Shellac & Chemicals, Daawat, Amira Nature Foods, Riviana Foods, Chandrika Group, Ebro Foods, Sun Food & Agistin Biotech. The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new vendor entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.

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United States Brown Rice (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Long Grain, Medium Grain & Short Grain Market Segment by Type Long Grain -Change (%) Medium Grain -Change (%)

2016 xx xx% xx xx%

2017 xx xx% xx xx%

2018 xx xx% xx xx%

2019 xx xx% xx xx%

2020 xx xx% xx xx%

2021 Xx xx% Xx xx%

2022 xx xx% xx xx%

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Short Grain -Change (%)

xx xx%

xx xx%

xx xx%

xx xx%

xx xx%

Xx xx%

xx xx%

The research study is segmented by Application such as Super/ Hyper Stores, Department Stores, Grocery & Online Retailers with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.

United States Brown Rice (Thousands Units) by Application (2017-2022) CAGR (%) Market Segment by Application

2012

2017

2022

Market Share (%)2022

Super/ Hyper Stores Department Stores Grocery Online Retailers Total

xx xx xx xx xx

xx xx xx xx xx

xx xx xx xx xx

xx% xx% xx% xx% 100%

(2017-2022) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%

Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Brown Rice in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering Market Segment by Regions The West Southwest The Middle Atlantic New England The South The Midwest Total

2012 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

2017 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

2022 xx xx xx xx xx xx xx

Share (%) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%

CAGR (2017-2022) xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx% xx%

Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/941480-united-states-brown-rice-market-1 Key questions answered in this report - United States Brown Rice Market Report 2018 What will the market size be in 2022 and what will the growth rate be What are the key market trends What is driving United States Brown Rice market What are the challenges to market growth Who are the key vendors in United States Brown Rice market space?

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What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the United States Brown Rice market?

What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the United States Brown Rice market?

Buy PDF version of this research report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buynow?format=1&report=941480 There are 15 Chapters to display the United States Brown Rice market.

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Organic Rice Flour Market – Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, Rose Brand, CHO HENG, Koda Farms, BIF, Lieng Tong

By Victor Pace February 13, 2018 Global Organic Rice Flour Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 provides Market information about industry Top Key Players, Countries, Type and Application. This Organic Rice Flour Industry report also states Company Profile, sales, Organic Rice Flour Market revenue and price, market share, market growth and gross margin by regions, Strategic recommendations for the new entrants, Market forecasts for a minimum of 5 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets.

Organic Rice Flour Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations) Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations.

Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends.

Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments.

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This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Organic Rice Flour market. Organic Rice Flour Market has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Top Key Players:Burapa Prosper Thai Flour Industry Rose Brand CHO HENG Koda Farms BIF Lieng Tong Browse Report : https://www.1marketresearch.com/market-reports/2018-organic-riceflour-market-139250/ On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into Rice Flour Brown Rice Flour Glutinous Rice Flour Other On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta

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Key Questions Answered in this Organic Rice Flour Market Report Future market size and what will the growth rate?

What are the key market trends?

What is driving this market?

What are the challenges to market growth?

Who are the key vendors in this market space?

What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?

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A principal diagram of the Organic Rice Flour market is introduced to the perusers with the assistance of market definition, order, different applications, and production network examination. The Organic Rice Flour report covers the investigation of conventional and the developing markets. The report more expresses the Organic Rice Flour showcase rivals, their business profiles, freshest news, their piece of the overall industry, developing arrangements and methodologies, client volume and creating strategies.

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Policy Pennings: Losses continue, but rice prices are headed higher Harwood D. Schaffer and Daryll E. Ray

In this series, thus far, we have looked at the costs and returns for corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton. Before we look at rice in this week’s column, we thought it would be important to step back and explain a bit of jargon we have been using — the term “crop marketing year.” The crop marketing year varies among the crops.

For instance, corn for grain, grain sorghum, sweet potatoes and hops have a crop marketing year that begins on Sept. 1 of a given year, say 2016. That means the corn crop that is planted in the spring of 2016 and is harvested in the fall of the same year is assumed to be marketed between Sept. 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017.

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The profitability of the 2016 crop cannot be finally calculated until after the end of the crop marketing year in 2017. That is why, even though we are writing this column early in 2018, the last crop marketing year for which we have final costs and returns is the 2016 crop.

The crop marketing year for cattle, sheep, lambs, wool, mohair, milk, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, strawberries, sweet corn and tomatoes begins on Jan. 1. For hay, the crop marketing year begins May 1.

Barley, oats and wheat have a June 1 date for the beginning of the marketing year. For cotton, peanuts and rice, the crop marketing year begins Aug. 1. Dec. 1 is the beginning date for the marketing year for broilers, eggs and hogs.

In 2016, U.S. farmers planted 3.105 million acres of rice, 480,000 acres more than they planted a year earlier, an increase of 18.3 percent. They harvested 3.097 million acres, 512,000 acres more than in 2015. There were 8,000 abandoned acres, well below the prior five-year average of 33,000 acres.

Rice farmers were able to reduce their operating costs by $27.47 per planted acre. The largest cost reduction in operating costs was $19.10 in fertilizer purchases, followed by $8.97 in fuel, lube and electricity; $3.29 in commercial drying; and $2.74 in seed.

Three of the four reductions in operating costs were in the double digits on a percentage basis.

The exception was the cost of seed.

Increases in operating costs were chemicals, $3.72 per planted acre; custom operations, $1.73; interest on operating capital, 70 cents; purchased irrigation water, 47 cents; and repairs, 1 cent.

The largest increase in operating costs was seen by interest on operating capital 159.1 percent.

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Allocated overhead was reduced by rice farmers a total of $8.63 per planted acre. Contributing to that decline were opportunity cost of land, the rental rate, at $12.95 per planted acre and taxes and insurance at 8 cents per planted acre.

Increases in allocated overhead were seen in opportunity cost of unpaid labor, the farmer, at $2.37 per planted acre, hired labor, $1.16; capital recovery of machinery and equipment, 61 cents; and general farm overhead, 28 cents. The largest percentage decline in allocated overhead was seen in the opportunity cost of land.

As a result of declines in operating costs and allocated overhead, the total reduction in costs for rice, compared to the prior year, was $36.10 per planted acre or 3.7 percent.The rice yield was 78 hundredweight per planted acre, 3 hundredweight below a year earlier, a 3.7 percent decline. The season average price received by farmers was $10.40 per hundredweight, $1.80 below the price for the prior marketing year’s crop, 14.8 percent. As a result of a decline in both yield and price, rice farmers saw their revenue per planted acre fall by $177.00 per planted acre, in the 2016 crop marketing year compared to the prior year.

The decline in rice revenue per planted acre for the 2016 crop marketing year was partially offset by the $36.10 decline in costs, resulting in a total loss of $140.90 per planted acre.

This is compared to the 2015 crop marketing year, which showed a $16.60 profit.For the 2017 crop year, the midpoint of the price projection for rice is $12.80 per hundredweight, and the projected yield is 71.6 hundredweight per planted acre. That would result in revenue of $916 per planted acre. If rice farmers are able to maintain costs at the 2016 crop marketing year level of $935.50 per planted acre, they would see a loss of $19.02 per acre.This is relatively comparable to the projected losses of $13 per planted acre for cotton, so there is little economic incentive for farmers to shift production between the two crops. http://www.agrinews-pubs.com/opinion/policy-pennings-losses-continue-but-rice-prices-areheaded-higher/article_41c154cf-dd82-5bfd-8f38-f58abdddf75b.html

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