17th march,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

17th March, 2017

Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-newsletter www.riceplusmgazine.blogspot.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Unedited Version

Less fertilizer, greater crop yields, and more money: China’s agricultural breakthrough Lacy Cooke

Nearly 21 million farmers in 452 counties across China have adopted recommendations from scientists in a 10-year agriculture sustainability study to reduce fertilizer use. According to Nature, their efforts are paying off: all told, the farmers are now $12.2 billion better off than they were before.

46 scientists, led by Cui Zhenling of China Agricultural University, were part of the landmark study aiming to cut fertilizer use. Chinese farmers use around four times the global average of nitrogen without lowering yields, which has myriad environmental consequences. The researchers conducted 13,123 field studies between 2005 and 2015 all across China at wheat, rice, and corn farms, testing ―how yields varied with different crop varieties, planing times, planing densities, fertilizer, and water use. They also measured sunlight and the effect of the climate on farm production,‖ according to Nature.

The scientists came up with tailored advice for farmers depending on conditions in their location. Nature gave northeast China rice farms as an example: there the researchers suggested farmers cut overall nitrogen use by around 20 percent. They said farmers could plant seeds closer together and increase nitrogen applied late in a growing season.

Between 2006 and 2015, millions of farmers adopted the suggestions, and the scientists held around 14,000 workshops and outreach programs. Cui said, ―The [farmers] were skeptical, but we gained their trust, and then they depended on us — that was our greatest reward.‖ That trust seemed to pay off: according to the China Agricultural University‘s press release, the practices ―increased grain production by 33 million tons,

reduced nitrogen fertilizer use by 1.2 million tons, and increased income by 79.3 billion yuan.‖ Some researchers think the lessons learned in the $54 million project may not translate easily in other countries. University of Leeds scientist Leslie Firbank told Nature, ―It would clearly have benefits across sub-Saharan Africa, but an approach is needed that crosses borders, organizations, and funders.‖ Nature published the study online earlier in March.

+ Nature + China Agricultural University Via Nature News Images via Depositphotos and Wikimedia Commons





 VIEW COMMENTS



HOW TO: Grow an Avocado Tree from an Avocado Pit

ï‚·

ï‚·



STARTSLIDESHOW







HOW TO: Grow an Avocado Tree from an Avocado Pit

DESIGN

    

05/05/2015 under carousel showcase, Design, DIY, Features, Gardening and Plants, Innovation 148 Comments Flip

by Jill Fehrenbacher

VIEW SLIDESHOW

Avocados are one of the wonderful fruits of summer. High in nutrition and flavor, nothing signals the start of summer like a zesty lime guacamole dip with tortilla chips. The next time you‘re making guacamole or slicing an avocado for a salad, try saving your pits to grow into avocado trees. It‘s surprisingly easy to grow your own avocado tree from seed, and it makes a great educational project for home and classrooms. Check out our handy-dandy guidebelow, complete with photos, to learn how to grow an avocado tree from seed.





















STEP 1 – REMOVE & CLEAN PIT You‘ll need to start by removing the pit from the avocado carefully (without cutting it), and then washing it clean of all the avocado fruit (often it helps to soak the pit in some water for a few minutes and then scrub all the remaining fruit off). Be careful not to remove the brown skin on the pit – that is the seed cover.

STEP 2 – LOCATE WHICH END IS ‗UP‘ AND WHICH IS ‗DOWN‘ Some avocado pits are slightly oblong, whereas others are shaped almost like perfect spheres – but all avocado pits have a ‗bottom‘ (from where the roots will grow), and a ‗top‘ (from which the sprout will grow). The slightly pointier end is the top, and the flat end is the bottom. In order to get your pit to sprout, you will need to place the bottom root end in water, so it‘s very important to figure out which end is the ‗top‘ and which is the ‗bottom‘ before you go piercing it with toothpicks.

STEP 3 – PIERCE WITH FOUR TOOTHPICKS Take four toothpicks and stick them at a slight downward angle into the avocado seed, spaced evenly around the circumference of the avocado. These toothpicks are your avocado scaffolding, which will allow you to rest the bottom half of the avocado in water, so therefore the toothpicks need to be wedged in there firmly. I recommend sticking them in at a slight angle (pointing down), so that more of your avocado base rests in the water when you set this over a glass.

STEP 4 – PLACE AVOCADO SEED HALF SUBMERGED IN A GLASS OF WATER And set on a quiet windowsill with sunlight. It‘s helpful to use a clear glass so you can easily see when roots start to grow, and also when the water needs to be changed.

Many guides recommend to change the water every day, but I found, through trial and error, that it is better to change the water every five days to a week or so. You do want to make sure you change the water regularly, to prevent mold, bacteria and fungus growth, which can doom your little avocado sprout.

STEP 5 – WAIT FOR YOUR AVOCADO SEED TO SPROUT! Many online guides I have read say that sprouting can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks, but in my experience, it usually takes at least 8 weeks to get a sprout, so be patient.

Here is the process you will witness: 1. The top of the avocado pit will dry out and form a crack, and the outer brown seed skin will slough off.

2. The crack will extend all the way to the bottom of the avocado pit, and through the crack at the bottom, a tiny taproot will begin to emerge.

3. The taproot will grow longer and longer (and may branch), and eventually a small sprout will peek through the top of the avocado pit.

4. Do not allow your taproot to dry out unsubmerged EVER – doing so will be the death of your plant.

STEP 6 – POT IN SOIL WHEN TREE IS ABOUT 6‖ TALL When the stem is 6-7 inches long, cut it back to about 3 inches, this will encourage new growth. When it hits 6-7 inches again, pot it up in a rich humus soil in an 8-10″ diameter pot, leaving the top half of the seed exposed. Place on a sunny windowsill.

Avocados love sun – the more sun the better.

STEP 7 – WATER & WATCH IT GROW Give it frequent waterings with an occasional deep soak. The soil should always be moist, but not saturated. Yellowing leaves are a sign of over-watering; let the plant dry out for a few days.

STEP 8 – PINCH OUT TOP LEAVES TO ENCOURAGE BUSHINESS When the stem reaches 12 inches tall, pinch out the top two sets of leaves. This will encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more leaves, making it bushy. Each time the plant grows another 6 inches pinch out the 2 newest sets of leaves on top.

STEP 9 – TROUBLESHOOTING BUGS My avocado trees seem to collect aphids – the nasty critters can‘t get enough of the delicious avocado leaves. If you get them, here‘s how to get rid of them: Wash all of the aphids off the plant by spraying your plant down with a hose outside or in the sink/shower. Once the little pests are off, spray your plant with a mixture of water with a small squirt of dishwashing liquid and a teaspoon of neem oil. This will keep aphids from returning. Check your plant every 4-5 days and re-clean and spray when necessary.

STEP 10 – WINTERING Baby avocado trees can kick it outdoors in summer, but if you live anywhere where it gets cooler than 45 degrees F, you‘ll need to bring them back indoors in the fall/winter, before the temperatures fall.

WILL MY AVOCADO TREES EVER GROW FRUIT? Hard to say! Sometimes avocado plants will begin growing fruit after they‘re 3 or 4 years old, others take 15+ years to grow fruit, and some never do. It helps to have several avocado trees growing together to aid with pollination. However, don‘t expect the fruit to be anything like the avocado that yielded your seed. Commercial avocados are grown from grafted branches to control the outcome of the fruit – a naturally grown avocado may be very different than its parent! https://inhabitat.com/less-fertilizer-greater-crop-yields-and-more-money-chinas-agriculturalbreakthrough/

Three new varieties of rice to boost Bengal’s paddy production image: http://www.uniindia.com/cms/gall_content/2018/3/2018_3$largeimg17_Mar _2018_104143197.jpg

Kolkata, Mar 17 (UNI) Scientists of the State Agriculture Department have developed three new varieties of rice, which will ensure further increase in Bengal’s paddy output.

The scientists of the Department, who are posted at different research institutes, have been researching on this for some years now.

The three new varieties of rice that will be available soon in the markets are Bhupesh, Rajdip and Dhruba.

The production of these varieties has already been started in some places, following necessary tests by the Department’s scientists.

The State Agriculture Department has chalked out an elaborate plan to ensure that all the three varieties are produced throughout the state.

The varieties of aromatic flavour will further increase the demand for rice from Bengal.

The new varieties of rice will be cultivated across the state and is expected to increase the yield several times, thus proving beneficial for the farmers.

Read more at http://www.uniindia.com/three-new-varieties-of-rice-to-boostbengal-s-paddy-production/states/news/1170674.html#7Tr85X3FjdYq9q3c.99

Our food self-sufficiency and SKUAST (K)

By M Unis -

Published at: Mar 17, 2018 84 Views

Share on Facebook

Tweet on Twitter

Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own wine-press, says Khalil Gibran.

Since the immemorial times Kashmir has predominantly been an agriculturist country, according to Walter R. Lawrence in his book ―the Valley of Kashmir‖.

Agriculture is a type of cultivation that is used to produce food and the products associated with it. Over the past decade agriculture of the state continues to be in decline. Its contribution to the state‘s gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen by 8 per cent.

In the recently concluded assembly session, JK Minister for agriculture has expressed his anguish over the shrinking state agricultural land.

According to the report submitted by the Agriculture department, Jammu and Kashmir the state has lost 10 lakh kanal of agriculture land to non-agriculture purpose in the last ten years because of non-implementation of the land conversion law.

Kashmiris according to Marion Doughty, she writes in her book, Afoot through the KASHMIR VALLEY, ―The Kashmiris are great connoisseurs in rice, and even while in leaf they will distinguish between the sixty odd varieties grown in the valley, and when well enough off to do so, will be particular to the sort they prefer for their food, as they are knowing their choice of drinking water. The red varieties are decorative in cooking, but not so good as white, and there are an infinity of degree in both.‖ Before the land Revenue Settlement 1887 land has no value and after this it was eagerly sought by all, cultivation has extended and improved, many reforms were made in agriculture production.

Subsequently government has established a Food and Supplies department in Gulabgagh Srinagar for ensure the smooth supply of food grains to those residents of Srinagar having no agricultural land of their own. The government used to procure the food gains from the cultivators and was supplied to the city dwellers on the concessional rates in the local parlance.

Every year before making the supply to the people the quality of the grain was checked by non other than himself by the Maharaja. And in case it was not fond good for consumption there were orders for burning these food grains then and there.

Even up to recent times the people of the valley were averse of using any agricultural product that was not produced locally and these products were then known as Punjabi Rice, Punjabi eggs and Punjabi hens.

The agricultural scientists all over the world are trying their best to produce more and more on the available fields.

In this changing global scenario Jammu and Kashmir besides being having its glorious agricultural past history is no exception, it has also began to pick up the momentum. So to give the boost to its agricultural production the Jammu and Kashmir government has established Government Agriculture College, at Wadura in Sopore in the year of 1960 after its successful achievements in the field of agricultural sector the government has subsequently felt the need for establishing an university that would meet the need and basic requirements of agriculture.

In 1982 the government established an agriculture university under the name ofSher -e-Kashmir

University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (J&K).

Since then it has kept trying to facilitate the research in the various fields of agriculture Science, never ideas were explored, it catered all the needs of the farming community of the J&K state. It has also the reputation of producing eminent scholars in the field of agriculture science, it produced good administrators and other personalities in civil service and corporate world.

Notwithstanding its achievements in the various fields of agricultural research social sector, it was not given any good environment to have a sigh of relief as in the year of 1997-98 it come under the axe of regional bias which has forced the government of the time to hewed it into two separate entities like SKUAST (J) and SKUAST (K).

The SKUAST (K) requires large area of land as the trial fields, it needs libraries, laboratories, irrigation facilities, good pastures for its livestock products.

It requires pounds and water for its aqua produce. SKUAST (K) was never given the support it needed to illustrate its potential in the field of agricultural science.

Though the promise was made by the government that it would provide the university substitute of land in SagamLarnoo but no transfer of land was made there. Then assurance was given that substitute of the land would be provided in Ganashpora, that too has not materialized. Now it is said that the land would be provided in Seer Salaia but virtually that too has not yet been transferred to Rice Research Station Khudwani. Similarly, a large portion of the land of Mountain livestock Research Institute Mansbal is under the occupation of security forces.

No doubt, agriculture is considered one of the pillars of financial solidarity in the major economies in the world, but horticulture being a form of agriculture has a good prospective to grow as a separate entity especially in Kashmir.

SKUAST (K) is still going through its initial stages of development it has not achieved the mark it deserves, it has the potential to grow as world class university but it seems that it does not have proper support to utilize its full potential. A big applause should be given to the members of governing body especially Vice Chancellor, Scientists, teaching and non-teaching staff for making this year‘s gala Kisan Mala ( Grand farmers fair) a great success.

In the university stalls of various agricultural products were laid which besides including various qualities of agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture, apicultural, floricultural, sericulture produc ts forestry plants poultry birds, fish. There were also stalls of various farm equipments, machinery,

and tools the agricultural engineers have devised for the farming community.

The university campus of Shalimar was abuzz a people from all walks of live thronged to purchase these products, experts were available to give on spot opinion to farmers related to various agricultural issues. The SKUAST (K) still needs much more support from the government for its development.

(Author can be reached at: younis.2007@rediffmal.com)

https://kashmirmonitor.in/Details/145069/our -food-self-sufficiency-and-skuast-kChina dominating in rice could offer export opportunities 16.03.2018

| UkrAgroConsult As it has with other crops, including cotton, corn and wheat, China is fast becoming the 800-pound gorilla in the world‘s rice markets.

Based on what‘s happened in recent years, China is now the top producer, top consumer, top stockholder, top importer and a ―rising exporter‖ of rice, according to a USDA Foreign Agriculture Service international economist. ―One thing to note, as was highlighted in the February 2018 Grain World Market and Trade Report, is China has strengthened its importance in global rice trade not only as an importer but now strikingly also as an exporter,‖ says USDA‘s Rachel Trego.

Trego, who is team leader for food grains analysis at USDA-FAS‘ Office of Global Analysis, said China‘s exports have been relatively limited because of the high domestic rice prices within the country until recent months. Most Chinese exports have tended to be to the nearby regional markets such as South Korea, Mongolia and Hong Kong.

Part of that, Trego says, is that China has begun resuming exports to Africa. ―These dwindled and virtually were down to nothing by the time of 2012, but, in 2017, approximately two-thirds of Chinese exports were to Africa. ―There have been a couple of reasons they have been able to enable these exports. China has begun to have some more available supplies of some of the multi-year-old rice from the stocks. China is beginning to auction off and have increasing amounts of sales from the auctions of some of the 2013 rice from the government temporary reserves.‖

Less

from

Thailand

Meanwhile, the amount of rice Thailand has been exporting, especially to Africa, has dwindled, as Thailand is left with only the no-longer-good-for-human consumption rice within the country‘s domestic stocks. ―Given Thailand‘s ending of exporting especially low-priced rice to Africa, China has been able to see some in roads into Africa, as well as beyond,‖ said Trego, who is a regular contributor to USDA‘s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. ―Notably, China‘s average export price as reported by China‘s custom data developed precipitously in 2017, and this has been quite interesting in that the Chinese customs data also shows that the exports have primarily been of medium-grain rice. Seeing prices in the $500 per range on average for total exports is certainly a shift from where they have been in the past.‖ With China becoming a top importer of rice, as well, U.S. growers are asking where the U.S. stands on its ability to tap into the Chinese import market, which up to now has been confined primarily to nearby riceproducing countries such as Burma and Cambodia. ―USDA has been working actively on a phytosanitary protocol for access of rice to China, and this process has lasted for more than a decade,‖ Trego said. ―On the U.S. side, USDA‘s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service has been working with the AQSIQ, the comparable agency in China. We had it signed a couple years ago at the technical level, but we were waiting for it to be signed at the political level, which was finally accomplished in 2017. ―Although the phytosanitary protocol has been signed, there remain a few steps, including a questionnaire that has been sent to the United States regarding some of the facilities as well as audits,‖ Trego noted. ―While the phytosanitary protocol has been signed, there are still some steps to take before we can begin to see U.S. shipments of rice to China.‖ Judging from Chinese domestic prices relative to some of the California export prices, U.S. export quotes at times have been lower than Chinese retail prices. ―That may suggest some opportunities to be able to ship to China if given the opportunity once the phytosanitary protocol and the necessary arrangements are accomplished,‖ Trego said.

Types

of

rice

During the question and answer session of the webinar, Trego was asked what types of U.S. rice would be competitive in China‘s markets?

―The predominant suppliers right now to the China market have been some of the neighboring countries that are sending long-grain rice,‖ she said. ―As noted from that exporter export quote chart earlier, the Asian prices for long-grain are quite a bit lower than those for the U.S. ―So for long-grain it would primarily be focusing on some of the high-end and niche markets. China has been importing, especially because of price, but also because of concerns on food safety, and so really targeting the high end would be helpful for that on long grain.‖ For the medium- and short-grain, China has a Tariff Rate Quota for medium-grain, and the U.S. is a predominant medium-grain exporter and is relatively competitive. ―Given the price chart I shared earlier for Chinese retail versus U.S. prices, given the limited competition from other medium-grain suppliers in that market, there could be some great opportunities http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/china-dominating-in-rice-could-offer-export-opportunities

Paddy procurement scam: ED attaches assets of 3 rice millers TNN | Mar 17, 2018, 13:18 IST

Picture for representational purpose only.

PATNA: Sleuths of Bihar-Jharkhand zonal office of Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday seized movable and immovable properties worth around Rs 1.1 crore of owners of three rice mills in Nalanda district. These rice millers were allegedly involved in the paddy procurement scam.

ED sources said properties of Priti Rice Mill owner Pankaj Kumar, Modern Rice Mill owner Rajesh Rai and Ramdas Agro Industries owner Purushottam Jain were seized.

All three are accused in different FIRs lodged by Bihar police in connection with the scam. The trio had allegedly caused a loss of Rs 3.5 crore to the state exchequer by selling rice in open market instead of giving it to the state government after milling.

ED sources said Rajesh‘s one plot land each at Nagarnausa and Hilsa, a motorcycle and deposits in two bank accounts with Madhya Bihar Grameen Bank and State Bank of India were attached.

―Four plots owned by Pankaj at Hilsa and three plots at Karaiparshurai, a truck, a tractor and seven bank accounts with four different banks were also attached. Two plots owned by Purushottam at Hilsa and his deposits in three bank accounts were attached,‖ ED sources said, adding some other rice mill owners were also under ED scanner.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/assets-of-3-rice-millersattached/articleshow/63336895.cms

CARI trains 16 integrated rice millers In paddy grading standard Posted by: Admin2 SundiataPost in News 19 hours ago

Spread the love       

1 Share

By Kudirat Musa Abuja – The Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) has started the training of 16 integrated rice millers in the country in paddy grading standard so as to boost the quality of Nigerian rice.

Dr Andrew Efisue, the Country Operations Manager of CARI — a programme aimed at boosting the competitiveness of domestic rice supply in selected African countries — made this known Friday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the training in paddy grading standard in Abuja was organised to enable the rice millers to use uniform standard in grading paddy, instead of using personal standards that were different from one another.

He said that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) had come up with a grading paddy standard which should be used by all millers across the country. ―Some mills have their own grading standard but once SON grading standard comes into force, the standards of the rice mills are expected to be synchronised with the SON standard and a uniform grading standard would be applied to paddy in all the mills.

Related Story: Gov. Almakura warns against encroachment on govt’s land

―The non-uniform grading has been causing confusion for rice farmers because if farmers sell paddy directly or indirectly to millers, the same paddy would attract different grades in different mills. ―The standard guideline, which has been signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, relevant agencies and stakeholders, will mandatorily be used and sub-standard paddy cannot be officially traded,’’ he said.

Mr Mike Nasamu, Managing Director, Minaaz Agro Services, said that CARI was training rice millers, especially paddy buyers, quality control managers and relevant officers of the integrated rice mills, in the paddy grading standard.

Nasamu, who is also a Lead Trainer and Consultant, said that one of the objectives of the training was to know how to process rice in Nigeria in ways that conform to international standards. ―The only way to achieve that is to process quality paddy, and the selected trainers will go back to their respective states to step the knowledge down to rice farmers and other stakeholders. ―Farmers do accept the results of the grading and even receive the payment of cheaper prices because most of them cannot go to rice mills or afford equipment for paddy grading to verify the exact grade of their produce.

Related Story: Army committed to rescuing missing Dapchi school girls– Buratai

―The standard manual will make the process simple and save time, while farmers will be able to ascertain the grade of their paddy with less expensive tools,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Alhaji Shuibu Ishaka, Chief Agriculture Superintendent, FMARD, said that the selected integrated millers were trained on how to identify quality paddy before processing it to avoid its mix-up with other kinds of paddy. ―The training will empower the millers with skills on how to get quality paddy, mill rice and train the farmers who supply the paddy to them. ―A farmer can discuss with the miller over particular grades, if the mill gives his or her paddy a grade that is lower than the expected grade. ―We will show them our laboratory that has been equipped by JICA; we will also train them on how to use the equipment if any of the integrated mills have some of the equipment,’’ he added.

https://sundiatapost.com/2018/03/16/cari-trains-16-integrated-rice-millers-in-paddy-grading-standard/

Buhari Constitutes Food Security Council 11 hours ago 

News



Headlines



Opinion



Sports



Entertainment



Lifestyle



Business



Politics

Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday constituted the National Food Security Council few days after announcing the establishment of the council.

Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, made the announcement in a statement in Abuja.

According to Shehu, the council, to be chaired by the president will be inaugurated on March 26, and it will have as members, the governors of Kebbi, Taraba, Plateau, Lagos, Ebonyi and Delta.

He said that other members of the council would include the secretary to the government of the federation; the chief of staff to the president; the national security adviser and seven ministers. “The ministers to be represented are for agriculture and rural development; finance; interior; industry, trade and investment; water resources; environment and budget and national planning.’’ Other people named in the council are the chief of defence staff; governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); directors-generals of the department of state services and the National Intelligence Agency as well as the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

Shehu listed the objectives of the council to include developing sustainable solutions to farmers/herdsmen clashes; climate change and desertification.

The council is also to appraise the impact of the issues on farmland; grazing areas and lakes, rivers and other water bodies; oil spillage

and its impact on Niger Delta fishing communities and agricultural research institutions and extension services.

It will also take interest in regional and global policies and trends that bear implications for food security in Nigeria as well as address the problem of smuggling, piracy and banditry.

On March 13, Buhari at a meeting with the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Rice Millers Association and Rice Distributors, including the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefile and governors of Jigawa and Kebbi, Abubakar Badaru and Atiku Bagudu, respectively, announced the establishment of the council. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2018/03/16/buhari-constitutes-food-security-council/

Our food self-sufficiency and SKUAST (K)

By M Unis -

Published at: Mar 17, 2018 85 Views

Share on Facebook

Tweet on Twitter

Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own wine-press, says Khalil Gibran.

Since the immemorial times Kashmir has predominantly been an agriculturist country, according to Walter R. Lawrence in his book ―the Valley of Kashmir‖.

Agriculture is a type of cultivation that is used to produce food and the products associated with it. Over the past decade agriculture of the state continues to be in decline. Its contribution to the state‘s gross domestic product (GDP) has fallen by 8 per cent.

In the recently concluded assembly session, JK Minister for agriculture has expressed his anguish over the shrinking state agricultural land.

According to the report submitted by the Agriculture department, Jammu and Kashmir the state has lost 10 lakh kanal of agriculture land to non-agriculture purpose in the last ten years because of non-implementation of the land conversion law.

Kashmiris according to Marion Doughty, she writes in her book, Afoot through the KASHMIR VALLEY, ―The Kashmiris are great connoisseurs in rice, and even while in leaf they will distinguish between the sixty odd varieties grown in the valley, and when well enough o ff to do so, will be particular to the sort they prefer for their food, as they are knowing their choice of drinking water. The red varieties are decorative in cooking, but not so good as white, and there are an infinity of degree in both.‖ Before the land Revenue Settlement 1887 land has no value and after this it was eagerly sought by all, cultivation has extended and improved, many reforms were made in agriculture production.

Subsequently government has established a Food and Supplies department in Gula bgagh Srinagar for ensure the smooth supply of food grains to those residents of Srinagar having no agricultural land of their own. The government used to procure the food gains from the cultivators and was supplied to the city dwellers on the concessional rates in the local parlance.

Every year before making the supply to the people the quality of the grain was checked by non other than himself by the Maharaja. And in case it was not fond good for consumption there were orders for burning these food grains then and there.

Even up to recent times the people of the valley were averse of using any agricultural product that was not produced locally and these products were then known as Punjabi Rice, Punjabi eggs and Punjabi hens.

The agricultural scientists all over the world are trying their best to produce more and more on the available fields.

In this changing global scenario Jammu and Kashmir besides being having its glorious agricultural past history is no exception, it has also began to pick up the momentu m. So to give the boost to its agricultural production the Jammu and Kashmir government has established Government Agriculture College, at Wadura in Sopore in the year of 1960 after its successful achievements in the field of agricultural sector the government has subsequently felt the need for establishing an university that would meet the need and basic requirements of agriculture.

In 1982 the government established an agriculture university under the name ofSher -e-Kashmir

University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (J&K).

Since then it has kept trying to facilitate the research in the various fields of agriculture Science, never ideas were explored, it catered all the needs of the farming community of the J&K state. It has also the reputation of producing eminent scholars in the field of agriculture science, it produced good administrators and other personalities in civil service and corporate world.

Notwithstanding its achievements in the various fields of agricultural research social sector, it was not given any good environment to have a sigh of relief as in the year of 1997-98 it come under the axe of regional bias which has forced the government of the time to hewed it into two separate entities like SKUAST (J) and SKUAST (K).

The SKUAST (K) requires large area of land as the trial fields, it needs libraries, laboratories, irrigation facilities, good pastures for its livestock products.

It requires pounds and water for its aqua produce. SKUAST (K) was never given the support it needed to illustrate its potential in the field of agricultural science.

Though the promise was made by the government that it would provide the university substitute of land in SagamLarnoo but no transfer of land was made there. Then assurance was given that substitute of the land would be provided in Ganashpora, that too has not materialized. Now it is said that the land would be provided in Seer Salaia but virtually that too has not yet been transferred to Rice Research Station Khudwani. Similarly, a large portion of the la nd of Mountain livestock Research Institute Mansbal is under the occupation of security forces.

No doubt, agriculture is considered one of the pillars of financial solidarity in the major economies in the world, but horticulture being a form of agriculture has a good prospective to grow as a separate entity especially in Kashmir.

SKUAST (K) is still going through its initial stages of development it has not achieved the mark it deserves, it has the potential to grow as world class university but it seems th at it does not have proper support to utilize its full potential. A big applause should be given to the members of governing body especially Vice Chancellor, Scientists, teaching and non-teaching staff for making this year‘s gala Kisan Mala ( Grand farmers fair) a great success.

In the university stalls of various agricultural products were laid which besides including various qualities of agricultural, horticultural, aquaculture, apicultural, floricultural, sericulture products forestry plants poultry birds, fish. There were also stalls of various farm equipments, machinery,

and tools the agricultural engineers have devised for the farming community.

The university campus of Shalimar was abuzz a people from all walks of live thronged to purchase these products, experts were available to give on spot opinion to farmers related to various agricultural issues. The SKUAST (K) still needs much more support from the government for its development.

(Author can be reached at: younis.2007@rediffmal.com) https://www.kashmirmonitor.in/Details/145069/our-food-self-sufficiency-and-skuast-k

ED attaches rice millers' riches worth Rs 1 crore Dipak Mishra Mar 17, 2018 00:00 IST Patna: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday attached movable and immovable property worth around Rs 1.10 crore belonging to three rice mill owners.

The properties were attached on the basis of a case lodged by the food and consumer affairs department in 2015, accusing the millers of not depositing milled foodgrain with the State Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. The mill owners are Pankaj Kumar, Rajesh Rai and Puroshottan Jain.

The ED investigated the charges against them and found that they lifted grains for milling from the Bihar State Food & Civil Supplies Corporation and were supposed to return 65 per cent of it as rice. But they did not do so, instead selling it in the market.

The state suffered a loss of Rs 3.5 crore. The ED maintained that the money was used by millers to purchase land and property and has been deposited into bank accounts.

The ED has seized land and money kept in the bank accounts. https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/bihar/ed-attaches-rice-millers-riches-worth-rs-1-crore-216243

USDA and USAID Laud Rice Success Story

By Rebecca Bratter

WASHINGTON, DC -- Last month, members of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee met with key leadership staff from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Food for Peace and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Assistance Division to discuss the increased use of fortified rice in global feeding programs.

While the use of all rice increased to more than 100,000 MT in 2017, this was buoyed in part by the introduction of fortified rice. Implementing agencies are adding fortified rice to their food rations with greater frequency as a superior micronutrient fortified food that can save and improve lives around the world. In one year alone, the use of fortified rice in global feeding programs increased to 25,000 MT from a few hundred tons the previous year.

USDA released a revised commodity specification document for fortified rice at the start of 2017 allowing for the use of both extruded and rinse resistant coated versions. Previously, only extruded fortified rice was approved for use in global feeding programs.

"The inclusion of a second fortification technology provides more availability and pricing options, and is particularly attractive to USA Rice members who participate in food aid tenders," said Bobby Hanks, chairman of the USA Rice Food Aid Subcommittee. "We expect to see not only an increase of fortified rice tonnage in food assistance, but increased participation in future tenders as well."

While fortified rice is already being used in significant amounts in USDA's food assistance programs, there was new news from USAID about their commitment to use increasing quantities of fortified rice this year and beyond.

"Both USDA and USAID were emphatic that they view the process of introducing, approving, and utilizing fortified rice as a major success story," Hanks said. "Both agencies credit USA Rice for the technical input along the way, the close collaboration in the implementation process, and the ongoing partnership in rolling out a superior product that will make a significant contribution to ending global malnutrition."

Over the next months, USA Rice will work with partners at both agencies to finalize the revised tender language, work on packaging solutions for improved shelf life, and ensure that the food

aid bags provide maximum protection for the micronutrient contents.

Hanks concluded, "This is a perfect example of the success of the public/private partnership between USA Rice, USDA, and USAID."

Heart healthy donuts - yes!

USA Rice Instagram Campaign Urges Everyone to Have a Healthy Heart

By Cameron Jacobs

ARLINGTON, VA -- In February, USA Rice partnered with 12 social media influencers in honor of American Heart Health Month to promote the health benefits of U.S.-grown rice. This strategy used visual storytelling via Instagram to raise awareness and highlight the significant role U.S.grown rice can play in attaining or maintaining a healthy heart.

Each influencer created a unique Instagram post featuring a rice recipe accompanied by one recipe image and a video guiding viewers through the recipe. To further increase exposure, the posts were pushed out via each influencer's social channels including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and blogs. The posts were amplified by USA Rice on Facebook and Instagram.

The campaign concluded with 583 rice recipe posts all with U.S.-grown rice messaging. Together, the recipe posts and videos created more than 10.5 million impressions and 51,778 interactions. The campaign saw an engagement rate of 12.5 percent on Instagram - more than 10 percent higher than Instagram's average engagement rate.

In addition to the immediate impact of the campaign, USA Rice retained and owns all of the influencers' videos and photos to use across social media channels in the future.

"We worked with great partners who helped tell the positive health story of U.S. rice in a compelling way," said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion. "We are grateful that these influential folks are willing to stake their hard-earned reputations on U.S. rice, which is a testament to our product, and our ability to serve as a reliable and credible source for health and nutrition-minded influencers and consumers."

USA Rice Daily

Plight of rice exporters: Pakistan needs a new bank that deals in regional currencies News Desk March 16, 2018

65 SHARES

ShareTweetPrintMail News Analysis | Pakistan is an agriculture based economy since the majority of the population is, directly or indirectly, employed in the agricultural industry. It contributes to about 24 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Pakistan and is the one of the biggest source of foreign exchange earnings in the country. Rice has been one of the most important exports of Pakistan in the agricultural industry and Iran has been one of the chief importers of Pakistan’s Basmati rice.

In the past 5 years, Pakistan has been gradually losing its Basmati rice market in Iran to India. The chief reason for the loss was the sanctions imposed on Iran by the international world for pursuing its nuclear program and developing missile technology.

In May 2011, the US blacklisted Iranian central bank followed by further sanctions in 2012. This seriously hampered Pakistan’s trade with Iran and the market was gradually taken over by India.

The issue of Letter of Credit will also be resolved since Pakistan won’t have to deal with US banks. Pakistan will be added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list in June 2018. The increasing hostility from the USA might also result in sanctions against Pakistan.

GVS spoke to a few members of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) who informed us that Pakistan lost 90% of its market to India when sanctions were imposed on Iran. Despite permission of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to trade with Iran, no bank in Pakistan got involved in the trade. The main reason for it is that all banks in Pakistan deal in US dollars and while making an international transaction, they have to obtain a letter of credit (LC) from the US.

Read more: State Bank of Pakistan performing despite obstructions Since the US has put sanctions on Iran, the transactions were frozen at the US and exports and banks were unable to obtain their required amount. Another major reason

that the REAP members pointed out is that Pakistani grain cannot compete with the new Indian grain 1121 which is longer in size and cooks much better than the Pakistani grain. They further told us that with the efforts of the REAP, the exports were increased by up to 15-20% but Pakistan still lacks control of the Iranian market.

How did India find a way around the Sanctions?

All banks in India also deal with in the US dollars and Indian exporters faced the problems as Pakistani exporters but the Indians found an ingenious solution to this problem. India chose a small state owned bank called UCO bank to trade with Iran. It does not deal in the US dollars but in the local currencies, that way it doesn’t have to engage with the US to obtain a letter of credit (LC).

The REAP proposed that the SBP needs to create a separate bank with focus on regional trade, one which deals with regional currencies like Chinese Yuan, Iranian rial, Saudi rial etc.

India has traded with Iran using the barter system; the deals are made in the US dollars but paid in the Indian rupees after conversion. When India imports oil from Iran, rather than paying immediately, the money is credited at the UCO bank and when Iran exports something from India, the amount is subtracted from the credit at the UCO bank.

Read more: State Bank Pakistan reports decline in Foreign Direct Investment India mainly exports rice, wheat, oilseeds, cotton, tea, potato, dairy products, textile products, chemical products, food products, steel, cement, coconut and banana to Iran.

The trade value between Iran and India was 13 billion dollars in the year 2014-2015 while it was only 1.13 billion dollars with Pakistan in the same year.

The new Indian Rice The other major reason for the India takeover of the market is that India developed a new rice seed called Pusa 1121 in 2003 which became widely used in 2007. It has greater yield for a lower cost and it has greatly enhanced Indian rice exports. The grain is also one of the chief reasons for Indian takeover of Pakistani rice markets.

India greatly invested in agricultural research and produced rice of superior quality compared to that of Pakistan. On the other hand, Pakistan did not invest enough on agricultural research and the same old techniques and crops are being used for several decades.

Read more: More investment in Pakistan: Telenor signs deal with Ant Financial

What needs to be Done?

A challenge for Pakistan turned out to be an opportunity for India. They adapted with the needs of India and evaded international pressure while dealing with Iran. Pakistan failed to create new institutes to cope up with the growing needs of time and lost 90% of its rice market in Iran to India. There have been reports of surges in trade volume but they are nowhere close to the old export rates.

India chose a small state owned bank called UCO bank to trade with Iran. It does not deal in the US dollars but in the local currencies, that way it doesn’t have to engage with the US to obtain a letter of credit (LC).

The REAP proposed that the SBP needs to create a separate bank with focus on regional trade, one which deals with regional currencies like Chinese Yuan, Iranian rial, Saudi rial etc. that way, Pakistan would be able to bypass the sanctions imposed by the US and deal directly with these countries without the need of US dollars to support the transactions. The issue of Letter of Credit will also be resolved since Pakistan won’t have to deal with US banks.

Read more: Pakistan on its way to becoming a cashless economy Pakistan will be added to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list in June 2018. The increasing hostility from the USA might also result in sanctions against Pakistan. If such a situation arises, Pakistan needs to have a back-up plan and lower its reliance on the US dollar. Opening a bank for regional currencies will also promote trade with other Central Asian and South Asian countries.

https://www.globalvillagespace.com/plight-of-rice-exporters-sbp-needs-to-open-a-new-bank-thatdeals-in-regional-currencies/

Iran Invited to Invest in Pakistan’s Sindh Province

1. Economy 2. Domestic Economy Thursday, March 15, 2018

Iran Invited to Invest in Pakistan’s Sindh Province

P

akistan’s southeastern Sindh Province boasts vast investment

opportunities, particularly in energy, infrastructure development, education, health, agriculture and in various other sectors.

This was stated by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah while addressing the Iran-Pakistan Business Forum on Tuesday, Pakistani newspaper The Nation reported.

The program was attended by a large number of Iranian businessmen led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

The chief minister said Zarif was leading a high-level delegation of Iranian businessmen to explore investment opportunities in Sindh and boost trade between the two countries. ―His personal interest, experience and stature would definitely make difference in his endeavors,‖ he said. ―We [the Sindh government] have introduced Public Private Partnership concept that is producing best results.‖ Shah added that some of the projects launched under the PPP mode were Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road, Jhirk-Mulakatiar Bridge on River Indus among many others.

The chief minister said new projects being launched under the PPP mode is Kandhkot-Ghotki Bridge on River Indus. He added that trade between the two countries showed a 33% growth compared to the previous year. ―In the last nine months, as a result of the facilities provided by the Iranian side to Pakistani rice exporters, the volume of Pakistani rice export to Iran has jumped by 42%,‖ he said. ―In Sindh, Sukkur and Larkana divisions are rice producing divisions, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad division are rich in mango production, Larkana has guava,‖ he added, calling for investment in the agriculture sector.

Bilateral banking ties between the two countries are developing.

“I know the process is very slow but hope it would be done. Banking relations are necessary to expand bilateral trade that currently stands at $1.2 billion. The target is to increase it to $5 billion per annum over

the next few years,” Shah said. https://financialtribune.com/sites/default/files/field/image/17januar

Basmati Rice Market By Applications, Types, New Technology – Opportunity Analysis And Forecast: 2017 – 2022 y/pakistan_354-ab.jpg

March 15, 2018 - by amit.p

Basmati Rice Market report helps to analyse competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Basmati Rice Sales Market 2017 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022.

Global Basmati Rice market is a growing market in Agriculture sector at present years. The Basmati Rice has uncovered rapid development in the current and past years and is probably going to proceed with a continuing development in the upcoming years.

Top Key Players of Basmati Rice Market: KRBL Limited,Amira Nature Foods,LT Foods,Best Foods,Kohinoor Rice,Aeroplane Rice,Tilda Basmati Rice,Matco Foods,Amar Singh Chawal Wala,Hanuman Rice Mills,Adani Wilmar,HAS Rice Pakistan,Galaxy Rice Mill,Dunar Foods,Sungold.

Get PDF Sample @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/request-sample/11351328 After the basic information, the report sheds light on the production. Production plants, their capacities, production and revenue are studied. Also, the Basmati Rice market growth in various regions and R&D status are also covered Major classifications are as follows: Indian Basmati RicePakistani Basmati Rice Kenya Basmati RiceOther .

Major applications are as follows: Application1, Application2. & more.

Following are major Table of Content of Basmati Rice Industry:  

Basmati Rice Market Sales Overview.

Basmati Rice Market Sales Competition by Manufacturers.

   

Basmati Rice Market Sales Analysis by Region.

Basmati Rice Market Sales Analysis by Type.

Basmati Rice Market Analysis by Application.

Basmati Rice Market -Manufacturers Analysis.

Request for Discount @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/requestdiscount/11351328 Furthermore, the study offers a detailed overview of the Basmati Rice market in terms of the competitive scenario. A list of all the leading players operating in the Basmati Rice market has been listed in the study, along with the key strategies that are being used by them in order to flourish and sustain in the market The regions which have been studied in depth are North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, India. This helps gain better idea about the spread of this particular market in respective regions. A list of leading manufacturers has been given prime value to ensure their strategies are understood in this particular market.

Price of Report: $2900 (Single User) Purchase This Report@ http://www.absolutereports.com/purchase/11351328 Scope of Basmati Rice: Basmati Rice Market report evaluates the growth rate and the market value based on market dynamics, growth inducing factors. The complete knowledge is based on latest industry news, opportunities, trends. The report contains a comprehensive market analysis and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.

In conclusion, Basmati Rice market 2017 report presents the descriptive analysis of the parent market based on elite players, present, past and futuristic data which will serve as a profitable guide for all the Basmati Rice industry competitors.

Our expert research analysts team has been trained to provide in-depth market research report from every individual sector which will be helpful to understand the industry data in the most precise way.

Basmati Rice Market By Applications, Types, New Technology – Opportunity Analysis And Forecast: 2017 – 2022 March 15, 2018 - by amit.p

Basmati Rice Market report helps to analyse competitive developments such as joint ventures, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, new product developments, and research and developments in the Basmati Rice Sales Market 2017 Industry Trend and Forecast 2022.

Global Basmati Rice market is a growing market in Agriculture sector at present years. The Basmati Rice has uncovered rapid development in the current and past years and is probably going to proceed with a continuing development in the upcoming years.

Top Key Players of Basmati Rice Market: KRBL Limited,Amira Nature Foods,LT Foods,Best Foods,Kohinoor Rice,Aeroplane Rice,Tilda Basmati Rice,Matco Foods,Amar Singh Chawal Wala,Hanuman Rice Mills,Adani Wilmar,HAS Rice Pakistan,Galaxy Rice Mill,Dunar Foods,Sungold.

Get PDF Sample @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/request-sample/11351328 After the basic information, the report sheds light on the production. Production plants, their capacities, production and revenue are studied. Also, the Basmati Rice market growth in various regions and R&D status are also covered Major classifications are as follows: Indian Basmati RicePakistani Basmati Rice Kenya Basmati RiceOther .

Major applications are as follows: Application1, Application2. & more.

Following are major Table of Content of Basmati Rice Industry:      

Basmati Rice Market Sales Overview.

Basmati Rice Market Sales Competition by Manufacturers.

Basmati Rice Market Sales Analysis by Region.

Basmati Rice Market Sales Analysis by Type.

Basmati Rice Market Analysis by Application.

Basmati Rice Market -Manufacturers Analysis.

Request for Discount @ https://www.absolutereports.com/enquiry/requestdiscount/11351328 Furthermore, the study offers a detailed overview of the Basmati Rice market in terms of the competitive scenario. A list of all the leading players operating in the Basmati Rice market has been listed in the study, along with the key strategies that are being used by them in order to flourish and sustain in the market The regions which have been studied in depth are North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, India. This helps gain better idea about the spread of this particular market in respective regions. A list of leading manufacturers has been given prime value to ensure their strategies are understood in this particular market.

Price of Report: $2900 (Single User) Purchase This Report@ http://www.absolutereports.com/purchase/11351328 Scope of Basmati Rice: Basmati Rice Market report evaluates the growth rate and the market value based on market dynamics, growth inducing factors. The complete knowledge is based on latest industry news, opportunities, trends. The report contains a comprehensive market analysis and vendor landscape in addition to a SWOT analysis of the key vendors.

In conclusion, Basmati Rice market 2017 report presents the descriptive analysis of the parent market based on elite players, present, past and futuristic data which will serve as a profitable guide for all the Basmati Rice industry competitors.

Our expert research analysts team has been trained to provide in-depth market research report from every individual sector which will be helpful to understand the industry data in the most precise way.

https://businessservices24.com/46167/basmati-rice-market-by-applicationstypes-new-technology-opportunity-analysis-and-forecast-2017-2022/

Science and technology reach Bolivian producers and increase crop yields up to 100 per cent

REPORT from World Bank Published on 15 Mar 2018 —View Original

YapacanĂ­, in Santa Cruz-Bolivia, is home to hundreds of farming families. The extensive fields of rice, corn, yucca, potatoes and bananas show that in this community the agricultural activity is intense.

The farmers are familiar with the work of the National Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (INIAF), that was supported by the World Bank for five years, through the Innovation and Agricultural Services Project - PISA, completed in February 2017.

The project played a central role to improve the production yield and to deal with pests, diseases and climate impacts that affect crops and, subsequently, the farmers' income.

"We participated in events in which the technicians taught us new methods to prepare the land and store water. In addition, the use of seeds certified by INIAF has really helped us to improve our production", says Segundo Maldonado, a rice farmer.

In fact, the seed strengthening certification system was one of the most successful components of the project. The use of certified seeds increased the yield and productivity of crops nationwide by 25 percent and, along with other scientific innovations, contributed to fighting pests since they were developed with tolerance to pathogens that diminish the productivity in the sector.

The volume of certification increased from 78,691 tons in 2011 to 119,124 tons in 2015. Since 2012, the certification has been extended from 210 to 284 varieties including fruits and medicinal plants and, during the five years of project activity, certified seedlings have gone from one million to 10 million. Today it is estimated that more than 50 percent of the agricultural area in Bolivia uses certified seed.

The INIAF certification services reached about 4,500 producers and 300 seed associations annually, which represents benefits for more than 14,000 families in the rural area.

YapacanĂ­ is just one example of the scope of PISA. At a national level, the wheat and rice research programs that INIAF developed, in partnership with international centers, managed to introduce 10,000

genotypes that have been adapted by local researchers to different production contexts. Producers increased crop yields by 100 percent. This is an impressive result.

It is expected that in the following years these new varieties will replace a significant percentage of the area under cultivation in the country, generating a significant increase in value. The challenge now is to disseminate these technologies quickly.

INIAF also assumed a leading role in the project to train and technically assist farmers. Since its inception, the entity advised 193 municipalities and 1,505 communities in the nine departments of the country, reaching about 36,336 beneficiaries, of which 34 percent were women.

Francisco Obreque, agriculture specialist at the World Bank in Bolivia and manager of the project considers this work “strengthened the capacity of producers to adapt to climate change and increased productivity in strategic areas, through partnerships with multiple actors".

Objectives achieved “One year after the end of the PISA, INIAF has the capacity to articulate the National System of Agricultural and Forestry Innovation (SNIAF) and develop research that allows the generation of agricultural and forestry technology to improve the productivity of the sector”, said Carlos Osinaga, general executive director of INIAF. There are other goals achieved in these five years: 

The Innovare event has been institutionalized and, in its fifth edition in 2017, has consolidated the process of promoting innovations in the agricultural, livestock, forestry and aquaculture fields.



31 strategic varieties were released, such as corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, vegetables and quinoa, with characteristics of high productivity and quality, tolerant to diseases and extreme temperatures caused by climate change.



The national system of conservation of genetic resources and the actions of collection, characterization and use are articulated, keeping to date 19,073 records of genetic material.

Key learnings of the project The first lesson is that the needs for innovation should be identified in a participatory process (from the bottom up). By the other side, building alliances with producer organizations, research institutes, universities, NGOs and private companies leads public agencies to improve their capacity to promote the adoption of innovations. Finally, the collaboration between co-financiers - in this case, the World Bank, DANIDA and COSUDE - add value to the projects in terms of greater availability of resources and complementation of technical support.

The PISA project contributed to the growth of productivity, sustainable rural development, and the improvement of the income of thousands of families that depend on agriculture and forestry activities.

Segundo Maldonado in Yapacaní is one of the 30,000 producers that benefited from its implementation.

https://reliefweb.int/report/bolivia-plurinational-state/science-and-technologyreach-bolivian-producers-and-increase-crop

Rhizobacteria can help boost rice yield 0

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ ON MARCH 16, 2018AGRIBUSINESS

Twitter Graduate CLSU student makes major discovery A research conducted by a graduate student from the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Munoz, Nueva Ecija, has shown the potential of rhizobacteria to enhance the growth and yield of rice.

The study entitled ―Enhancement of Growth and Yield of Aerobic Rice [Oryza sativa L.] by Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria‖ revealed rhizobacteria can be an effective growth promoter of rice in vitro, or taking place outside a living organism such as test tube.

According to Eduardo Jimmy Quilang, head of the Agronomy, Soils, and Plant Physiology Division of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the research was carried out by Harry Jay Cavite, a graduating student from the CLSU.

Cavite conducted the research in three studies.

The first study revolved on isolation, selection, and identification of rhizobacterial isolate (a culture of microorganisms that was set apart for a study) the from the upland rice ecosystem. Twenty-five rhizobacterial isolates were initially obtained from upland rice rhizosphere (the portion of soil surrounding a plant root). From the isolates, four were selected to proceed for examination in the next studies. The isolates were selected based on their plant growth-promoting activities.

The following study evaluated the selected isolates in enhancing rice seedling growth in vitro using PSB Rc23 seedlings. Significant results showed two isolates had better effect on shoot (isolate Ralstonia pickettii) and root length (isolate IBBw1a) by 23 percent and 60 percent, respectively, compared with the control treatment.

Moreover, isolate IBBw1a performed 53 percent better than control in terms of seedling vigor.

From in vitro, the third study examined the isolates under screenhouse conditions. Isolates were studied for two factors: different soil treatments and inoculation-fertilization treatments.

Results show that one isolate (A. delafieldii) in combination with half fertilization rate, while inferior to treatment with 100-percent recommended rate of inorganic fertilizer, has comparable growth promotion in terms of root fresh weight, shoot, and root oven dry weights, plant height, productive tiller count, grain yield, and NPK (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) uptake.

Cavite concluded isolates were proven to be effective growth promoters in vitro but not totally effective under screenhouse conditions.

He recommended further assessment of rhizobacteria under field conditions. He added there is a need to look into the use of molecular techniques to identify and further assess the characteristics of selected rhizobacterial isolates.

Following his presentation, Cavite conversed with PhilRice researchers in an open forum where alternative recommendations for further studies were discussed.

Cavite is finishing his master‘s degree on crop science. He is a Department of Science and Technology scholar and has received awards from the study. One of his awards was from the International Conference on Integration of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are a group of free-living bacteria that colonize the rhizosphere and benefit the root growth.

PGPR exert a direct effect on plant growth by production of phytohormones, solubilization of inorganic phosphates, increased iron nutrition through iron-chelating siderophores and volatile compounds that affect the plant‘s signaling pathways.

http://www.manilatimes.net/rhizobacteria-can-help-boost-rice-yield/386428/

Madhya Pradesh loses basmati war, fails to get GI tag A Subramani| TNN | Mar 16, 2018, 19:14 IST

Basmati rice

CHENNAI: Madhya Pradesh‘s bid to get geographical indication (GI) tag for its basmati rice and join an elite ‗basmati league‘ failed, as the nation‘s GI registry rejected its claim as being the original and unique basmati growing region.

On March 15, the assistant registrar of the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai, Chinnaraja G Naidu, rejected the opposition raised by the Madhya Pradesh government and some other entities like New Darpan Social Welfare Society,

which was represented in the forum by IPR attorney and advocate P Sanjay Gandhi. ―The documents and evidence filed by Madhya Pradesh show the importance, special characters of rice cultivated in Madhya Pradesh but not the basmati cultivation in the traditional growing area. It has, therefore, failed to satisfy the fundamental requirement of ‗popular public perception‘ of basmati-cultivation in Madhya Pradesh,‖ said Naidu, adding that the state had filed the plea without supported of any corroborative evidence.

No documents had been produced before the tribunal to substantiate the claim of Madhya Pradesh as being a part Indo-Gangetic plain, he added.

In May 2010, GI status was given to basmati grown only in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand and parts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Madhya Pradesh moved a statutory opposition demanding that its 13 districts be recognised as traditional Basmati growing regions.

GI is recognition of the uniqueness of a handicraft or agricultural product traceable to specific geographical locations. Once granted, product-makers have to comply with certain protocol and quality standards and those not belonging to the geographical area or not recognised by the GI tag-holder cannot claim the product name which, in this case, is basmati.

The 13 districts of Madhya Pradesh which would now find themselves in a fix are Monera, Vidisha, Bhind, Raisen, Gwalior, Sehore, Sheopur, Hoshangabad, Datia, Jabalpur, Shivpuri, Narsinghpur and Guna.

Oppositions were filed questioning the notification published in GI Journal dated May 31, 2010. The Intellectual Property Appellate Board directed the GI registry to issue a

certificate of registration within four weeks to the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and asked the tribunal to consider Madhya Pradesh‘s claim afresh by affording a reasonable opportunity to both sides.

Madhya Pradesh said these 13 districts had been growing basmati for several decades and they were located in the Indo-Gangetic plains having climatic condition favourable for cultivation of basmati. Non-inclusion of the state in the basmati growing areas would have an adverse effect on the lives of farmers who mainly depend upon basmati cultivation, it said, adding, ―it will also affect the export potential, which will indirectly reduce the country's turnover from the export of basmati.‖

The APEDA, however, denied that the rice produced in Madhya Pradesh had all the required characteristics of basmati -- like long, slender kernels with high length to breadth ratio, an exquisite aroma, sweet taste, soft texture, delicate curvature, intermediate amylase content, high integrity of grain on cooking and linear kernel elongation with least breadth wise swelling on cooking. It said self-styled areas would not fall within the defined geographical region of Indo-Gangetic Plains and there was no public perception that basmati was grown and cultivated in Madhya Pradesh. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/madhya-pradesh-loses-basmati-warfails-to-get-gi-tag/articleshow/63334747.cms

Madhya Pradesh denied GI tag for basmati, will need to find new name for its rice Currently, over two lakh hectares area in MP is reported to be under cultivation of improved basmati varieties such as Pusa-1 and Pusa-1121. This constitutes nearly 10 per cent of the estimated total area under cultivation in the country.

0 SHARES 

SHARE

   Written by Harish Damodaran , Milind Ghatwai | New Delhi | Updated: March 17, 2018 7:33 am

APEDA, a statutory body under the Union Commerce Ministry, had in November 2008 filed an application for GI registration of basmati grown in the seven states.

MADHYA PRADESH has lost its claim to market rice under the basmati tag, with the Geographical Indications (GI) Registry issuing an order excluding the state from the area officially demarcated for cultivation of this aromatic paddy variety. ―Farmers in MP can continue growing the premium rice, but it cannot be called basmati. The GI certification rights for basmati cultivation will be limited only to seven states in the IndoGangetic plains on the foothills of Himalayas: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (west) and two districts of Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu and Kathua),‖

a top official from the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) told The Indian Express.

MP principal secretary (agriculture), Rajesh Rajora, said the state government would challenge the GI Registry‘s order in the Madras High Court Monday. ―Many facts submitted by us have not been taken into consideration,‘‘ he said.

The Chennai-based Registry operates under the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks.

The APEDA, a statutory body under the Union Commerce Ministry, had in November 2008 filed an application for GI registration of basmati grown in the seven states. However, in December 2013, the GI Registry asked APEDA to also include MP, Rajasthan and other states where basmati varieties are grown, and submit an amended application. This was challenged by APEDA, which filed an appeal in February 2014 before the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB).

Backed by rice miller-exporters and farmer organisations in Punjab and Haryana, along with the two state governments, the main argument put forth by APEDA was that adding MP and others to the list of states eligible to be issued GI mark would result in basmati losing its premium tag and a beating down of prices.

In February 2016, the IPAB upheld APEDA‘s appeal and ordered the GI Registry to grant recognition for basmati rice grown only in the seven states. But it also directed the MP government to provide additional evidence to show that the state had an established tradition of growing basmati to warrant a GI tag, while asking the Registry to consider these claims afresh. ―The GI Registry has now rejected MP‘s case,‖ said the APEDA official.

The ruling would imply that farmers in Morena, Bhind, Sheopur, Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Hoshangabad, Narsinghpur and Jabalpur — the 13 districts for whose inclusion MP had staked claim — cannot technically grow basmati rice.

Currently, an area of over 2 lakh hectares in MP is reported to be under cultivation of improved basmati varieties, such Pusa-1 and Pusa-1121. This constitutes nearly 10 per cent of the

estimated total area under cultivation in the country — about 18 lakh hectares, including 7 lakh hectares in Haryana, 6 lakh hectares in Punjab and 2.5 lakh hectares in UP. The GI Registry‘s judgment is expected to impact not just farmers but also companies such as LT Foods, which sells basmati rice under the popular Daawat brand, SSA International and Narmada Cereals Pvt. Ltd. All of them source significant quantities of basmati from MP and have set up modern rice mills near Bhopal.

In his order dated March 15, Chinnaraja G Naidu, Assistant Registrar, Trade Marks & GI, stated: ―The documents and evidence filed by opponents (MP government and the above three companies) shows the importance [and] special characters of rice cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, but not Basmati cultivation.Opponent has therefore failed to satisfy the fundamental requirement of Popular Public perception of Basmati cultivation in Madhya Pradesh.The tribunal reaches a conclusion that there is proper demarcation of cultivation area in the GI application filed by the respondent/application (i.e. APEDA). The opponent failed to prove the Basmati cultivation in the claim with supporting documents. A mere plea, without supported by any corroborative evidence, has no gravity in the eye of law.‖ Priyanka Mittal, director of KRBL Ltd, India‘s largest basmati exporter and owner of India Gate, welcomed the order. ―It restores the sanctity and preserves the heritage of basmati as a premium rice indigenous to the Indo-Gangetic plains on the Himalayan foothills. We should protect basmati the way France has done for champagne. The basmati brand was getting diluted to the extent where even states like Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were taking up cultivation and sale of basmati. They should develop their own aromatic rice varieties,‖ she said.

For the BJP government in MP, the order comes at an inopportune time, when it has been trying to placate farmers after the unrest in June 2017 that led to police firing near Mandsaur. Besides, assembly elections are due in the state later this year.

During the legal battle, the state pointed out that its farmers had been growing basmati for decades using traditional and new techniques. Its petition also argued that the Madhya Pradesh Seed and Farm Development Corporation had been distributing basmati seed varieties to farmers, and that there was no consensus on traditional basmati growing areas in the country.

Times of India

Rice Protein Market Size, Growth rate, Global trends and Future Forecasts to 2025 March 15, 2018 - by lewis

Rice Protein Market Research Report The Rice Protein market research report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the global Rice Protein industry with a focus on the regional market. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Rice Protein manufacturers and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the industry.

Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, applications and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international and regional major industry players in detail. In this part, the report presents the company profile, product specifications, capacity, production value, and market shares for each company. Through the statistical analysis, the report depicts the global and regional total market of Rice Protein industry including capacity, production, production value, cost/profit, supply/demand and import/export details. The total market is further divided by company, by country, and by application/type for the competitive landscape analysis. The report then estimates market development trends of Rice Protein industries. Analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand and current market dynamics is also carried out.

Get Sample report of Rice Protein Market @ http://garnerinsights.com/Global-RiceProtein-Market-Research-Report-2018#request-sample All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2013 to 2025. Relevantly, the report and company profiles specify the key drivers that are impacting the demand in global Rice Protein markets.

This report studies Rice Protein in Global market, especially in North America, AsiaPacific, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Japan and India.

Major Key Players in Rice Protein Market Research report: Axiom Foods, Shafi Gluco Chem, AIDP, Jiangxi Yiwanjia Organic Agricultural, OPW Ingredients.

Analysis of Rice Protein Market based on Types: Rice Protein Concentrates, Rice Protein Isolates, Other Rice Protein Types.

Analysis of Rice Protein Market based on Applications: Healthcare Food, Sports Nutrition, Beverage, Others.

Features of the report: 1.The analysis of Rice Protein Market, their Growth, Demand, position, size and share from different regions are mentioned in detailed.

2. The key players in the market and their share in the global market are discussed.

3. The New strategic plan and Suggestions that will help old as well as new market players to maintain the competitiveness are also discussed.

4. Rice Protein Market report provides some important points related to growth factors, challenges, Opportunities, end-user analysis, achievement and so on.

5. The latest trends that are being followed in the market are included along with an example.

6. How technological advancement and research, as well as development activities, are impacting the market is explained in detail.

7. The development plans and policies are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures too are discussed.

Check Discount for this Report @ http://garnerinsights.com/Global-Rice-Protein-MarketResearch-Report-2018#discount As the report advances further, it explains developing plans and policies, making processes, cost structures of Rice Protein market as well as the leading players. It also concentrates on the aspects like company profile, product images, supply chain relationship, import/export details of Rice Protein Market, market statistics of Rice Protein Market, upcoming development plans, Market gains, Contact details, Consumption ratio.

Ultimately, Rice Protein Market report includes an in-depth analysis of sub-segments, market dynamics, feasibility study, key strategies used by leading players, market share study and growth prospects of the industry. The report also evaluates the growth established by the market during the forecast period and research conclusions are offered.

Some Points From TOC: 1.Market Overview, Development, and Segment by Type, Application & Region 2. Rice Protein Market by company, Type, Application & Region 3. Rice Protein Market Dynamics, Market Opportunities, Challenges and Risk Factors.

4. Company (Top Players) Profiles 5. Company information, Sales, Cost, Margin etc.

6. Rice Protein Market Size, Status and Forecasts by Regions, Type and Application 7. Market Constraints and Threat 8. Competitors Analysis by Players 9. Market Effect Factors Analysis 10. Research Finding/Conclusion 11. Continue…

In the end, The report covers the precisely studied and evaluated data of the global market players and their scope in the market using a number of analytical tools. The analytical tools such as investment return analysis, SWOT analysis and feasibility study are used to analyze the key global market player’s growth in the Rice Protein industry.

https://businessservices24.com/49739/rice-protein-market-size-growth-rateglobal-trends-and-future-forecasts-to-2025/

Bangladesh exceeds its Boro rice cultivation target Farmers were given the target of planting over 4.99 lakh hectares of land but finally, they planted Boro rice seedling in 5.08 lakh hectares of land.

Devdiscourse News Desk 14 Mar 2018, 01:05 PM Views : 79 







Around 2.25 lakh irrigation devices have been introduced for irrigation of Boro rice fields. (Image credits: Youtube)

The farmers have overpassed the fixed cultivation target of Boro rice in the agriculture region of Rangpur, achieved by various pro-farmer and effective steps taken by the government.

There is an excellent growth in Boro rice plants and government is looking for the bumper production of the crop, says Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

As per Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, heavy production of Boro rice will meet half of the demand in the northern region.

Farmers were given the target of planting over 4.99 lakh hectares of land but finally, they planted Boro rice seedling in 5.08 lakh hectares of land, 8,686 hectares more. This has been achieved in one season.

The scientists are providing practical knowledge and assistance along with the latest technology to meet the production target. The government has a fixed target to produce over 20.70 lakh tonnes of Boro rice from 4.99 lakh hectares of land, says Horticulture Specialist of DAE, Khondker Md Mesbahul Islam.

As per the programme, from 1.40 lakh hectares of land, around 6.69 lakh tonnes of hybrid Boro rice and 13.97 lakh tonnes of high yielding variety of Boro rice from the 3.56 lakh hectares of land is to be produced.

The farmers have reached 2,638 hectares of land for cultivation of local variety Boro rice and over 3.24 lakh hectares of land for high yielding variety of Boro rice.

Around 2.25 lakh irrigation devices have been introduced which includes 2.21 lakh shallow tube wells, 2,694 deep tube wells, and 440 low lift pumps for irrigation of Boro rice fields.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/Article/1471-bangladesh-exceeds-its-boro-ricecultivation-target

Rice Flour Market Demand and Competitive Analysis by Leading Manufacturers (Rose Brand, Cho Heng, Koda Farms, BIF, Lieng Tong) March 15, 2018 - by info@htfmarketreport.com

A new research study from HTF MI with title Asia-Pacific Rice Flour Market Report 2018 provides an in-depth assessment of the Rice Flour including key market trends, upcoming technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies, key players company profiles and strategies. The research study provides forecasts for Rice Flour investments till 2022.

Access Sample Copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1012902-asiapacific-rice-flour-market-2 If you are involved in the Rice Flour industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. It’s vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta, Sweets and Desserts, Snacks, Bread, Thickening Agent & Other, Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour, Glutinous Rice Flour & Other and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.

Buy this research report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buynow?format=1&report=1012902 The Study is segmented by following Product Type: Rice Flour, Brown Rice Flour, Glutinous Rice Flour & Other Major applications/end-users industry are as follows: Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta, Sweets and Desserts, Snacks, Bread, Thickening Agent & Other Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions such as China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Southeast Asia & Australia, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Asia-Pacific Rice Flour in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast) Early buyers will receive 10% customization on reports. Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1012902-asia-pacific-rice-flour-market-2 Major companies covered in the report are Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, Rose Brand, Cho Heng, Koda Farms, BIF, Lieng Tong, Bob‘s Red Mill Natural Foods, Pornkamon Rice Flour Mills & Huangguo This study also contains company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of various international, regional, and local vendors of AsiaPacific Rice Flour Market. 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.

Some of the key questions answered in this report: – Detailed Overview of Asia-Pacific Rice Flour market helps deliver clients and businesses making strategies.

– Influential factors that are thriving demand and constraints in the market.

– What is the market concentration? Is it fragmented or highly concentrated?

– What trends, challenges and barriers will impact the development and sizing of Rice Flour market?

– SWOT Analysis of each key players mentioned along with its company profile with the help of Porter‘s five forces tool mechanism to compliment the same.

– What growth momentum or acceleration market carries during the forecast period?

– Which region is going to tap highest market share in future?

– What Application/end-user category or Product Type may see incremental growth prospects?

– What would be the market share of key countries like United States, France, UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, Australia, Japan, China or Brazil etc.?

– What focused approach and constraints are holding the market tight?

– Make inquiry before purchase @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-beforebuy/1012902-asia-pacific-rice-flour-market-2 There are 15 Chapters to display the Asia-Pacific Rice Flour market.

Chapter 1, About Executive Summary to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Rice Flour market, Applications [Rice Noodle and Rice Pasta, Sweets and Desserts, Snacks, Bread, Thickening Agent & Other], Market Segment by Regions; Chapter 2, to analyze objective of the study.

Chapter 3, to display Research methodology and techniques.

Chapter 4 and 5 , to show the Overall Market Analysis, segmentation analysis, characteristics; Chapter 6 and 7, to show the Market size, share and forecast; Five forces analysis (bargaining Power of buyers/suppliers), Threats to new entrants and market condition; Chapter 8 and 9, to show analysis by regional segmentation[China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, India, Southeast Asia & Australia ], comparison, leading countries and opportunities; Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis Chapter 10, focus on identifying the key industry influencer‘s, overview of decision framework accumulated through Industry experts and strategic decision makers; Chapter 11 and 12, Market Trend Analysis, Drivers, Challenges by consumer behavior, Marketing Channels and demand & supply.

Chapter 13 and 14, describe about the vendor landscape (classification and Market Positioning) Chapter 15, deals with Asia-Pacific Rice Flour Market sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.

Check for discount @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/1012902-asiapacific-rice-flour-market-2 Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.

About Author: HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the ―Accurate Forecast‖ in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their ―Goals & Objectives‖.

Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA – 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@htfmarketreport.com Connect with us at https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Htfmarketreportinsights https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport

https://thefinancialconsulting.com/rice-flour-market-demand-and-competitiveanalysis-by-leading-manufacturers-rose-brand-cho-heng-koda-farms-bif-liengtong/281093/

Fire at rice mill destroys stock worth 1 crore THE HANS INDIA | Mar 14,2018 , 11:20 PM IST

Fire at rice mill destroys stock worth 1 crore

Pithapuram: A major fire broke out at Ayyappa traders rice mill in Gollaprolu near here on Wednesday. Electric short-circuit was stated to be the cause for the mishap. The loss of property due to fire accident was put at Rs 1 crore.

While paddy is being milled, at once fire broke out in the machine section and the mill workers raised a hue and cry and ran out of the mill. Rice mill machinery, paddy bags, plastic rice bags, packing machines, electric equipment and other goods were destroyed in the mishap. Tonnes of paddy and rice kept ready for milling caught fire.

To bring the flames under control became a Herculean task as the mill‘s upper part caught fire. Fire brigade personnel led by divisional fire officer Ratnaraju, tried to bring the flames under control. Mill owner Velugula Ayya Rao put the loss due to the mishap at Rs 1 crore. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2018-03-14/Fire-atricemill-destroys-stock-worth1-crore/366250

Mechanisation can double rice production in five years, says PwC Posted By: Chikodi Okereocha On: March 16, 2018 In: Industry

0

FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedIn WhatsApp Low mechanisation is one of the major production constraints in the rice value chain.

The low rice mechanisation impacts negatively on the rice yields and production, as

Nigeria‘s rice yield is one of the lowest globally at two tonnes per hectare, relative to 4 – 7 tonne per hectare in Asia.

So, for the country to boost rice production, there is a need to increase rice mechanisation rate from the current 0.3 horsepower per hectare (hp/ha) to 0.8 hp/ha in the next five years. This will double the rice production capacity, which peaked at 3.7 million tonnes in 2017 to 7.2 million tonnes.

These were key highlights of the latest report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC Nigeria). The report titled: ―Boosting Rice Production Through Increased Mechanisation,‖ said for Nigeria to double production, there is the need to, at least, triple its current stock of machinery over the same period.

The report, which was made available to The Nation, said in addition to raising production, adequately increasing mechanisation has the capacity to raise yields, increase labour productivity, reduce post-harvest losses and increase income generated by farmers while also deepening import substitution.

It noted that in recent years, government has changed its approach to mechanisation from providing machinery through subsidised sales to private-sector-led hiring services.

This model, the report said, facilitates the establishment of hiring centres, enabling farmers‘ access to machinery without an outright purchase. In addition, subsidies are provided to small-scale farmers who require agricultural machinery. ―The hiring services model, if successfully implemented, has the potential to change the agriculture mechanisation landscape in Nigeria as it did in India. The hiring services

scheme in India increased mechanisation from 0.63hp/ha to 1.96 hp/ha, promoting selfsufficiency in rice production and placing the economy as the second largest rice producer in the world,‖ the report added.

It, however, said Nigeria‘s mechanisation gap provides numerous opportunities for investment across the agricultural value chain. And to attract the required investment, the PwC report said there is need for government to create an enabling environment that ensures mechanisation is profitable. ―In terms of priorities, the government should concentrate on addressing challenges around land tenure and ownership, providing rural infrastructure and extension services, and ensuring incentives are transparent and accessible to all investors‘‘, the report, authored by seven experts at PwC Nigeria, advised.

These measures, the report said, were necessary to address Nigeria‘s low mechanisation, relative to other countries. It said, for instance, that Nigeria‘s mechanisation rate is low at 0.3 hp/hectare, relative to India‘s 2.6 hp/hectare, Vietnam‘s 2.2hp/hectare and China‘s 8hp/hectare.

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) identified mechanisation as a key input for developing the agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa, recommending a minimum of 1.5 hp/hectare.

In Africa, 80 per cent of agricultural area is cultivated by human power, with only five per cent by tractors. The remaining activities are facilitated by draft animals and manual processes, accounting for 15 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively.

The report said low income and lack of technical skills limited the adoption of mechanisation in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa, noting that smallholder farmers, who account for 80 per cent of the agricultural production in Nigeria, have low income and limited access to credit facilities. ―Hence, high acquisition and maintenance cost of agricultural machinery has limited their capacity for investment in agricultural machinery. Also, low technical skills have constrained the adoption of mechanisation. Without training, smallholder farmers do not have the technical capabilities to operate machinery and equipment,‖ it said.

The report, however, said the impact of government‘s intervention in agricultural mechanisation has been limited, noting that from the 1980s till date, the Federal Government has sought to enhance mechanisation through several agriculture policy interventions. ―These range from the establishment of National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) in 1990, to the recent Mechanisation Implementation Programme (MIP). ―Similarly, many states have attempted to increase mechanisation through the provision of subsidies for tractor hire. However, the adoption of mechanisation is still low as a result of the bureaucratic processes and inadequate agricultural machinery.‖ PwC said.

The firm emphasised that mechanisation can double rice production in the next five years. Citing a study, which analysed the drivers of increased rice production in five sub-Saharan African countries, including Nigeria, PwC said farmers who ploughed with

a tractor increased their production by 51 per cent relative to those who utilised manual methods.

In addition, mechanisation reduces production costs and post-harvest losses. The introduction of mechanisation in rice farming reduced production costs by 27 per cent and increased profits per hectare by 36 per cent in Nepal, for instance.

Also, the Africa Rice policy stated that the use of appropriate technologies could reduce a country‘s rice imports by 151 7 per cent. ―Based on our analysis, we estimate that an increase in mechanisation rate from 0.3hp/ha to 0.8hp/ha in the next five years, can double rice production to 7.2 million tonnes,‖ the report concluded.

http://thenationonlineng.net/mechanisation-can-double-rice-production-fiveyears-says-pwc/



Beef Central



Sheep Central



Jobs Central



Property

                

News Agribusiness Weather Cropping Markets Trade Machinery Property Newsletter Sign up

About Us Profiles Henry Wells Neil Lyon Jon Condon James Nason Rod Hibberd Sally Inslay Advertising Media Kit Website Hints Enlarging Grain Central’s text size Website Search Tips Contact Us Comment Policy Cropping News Hot Topics     

wheat research Western Australia Cotton canola

×

This content is copyright protected However, if you would like to share the information in this article, you may use the headline, summary and link below:

New water-saving premium rice variety launched

By Grain Central, 15 March 2018 The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has today launched a new rice variety, Viand, which combines water-saving attributes with the ability to fit high-value markets. https://www.graincentral.com/cropping/new-water-saving-premium-rice-variety-launched/ Close

New water-saving premium rice variety launched

by Grain Central, 15 March 2018 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share via Email

THE NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has today launched a new rice variety, Viand, which combines water-saving attributes with the ability to fit high-value markets.

Speaking at the rice industry field day at the Yanco Agricultural Institute, NSW DPI plant systems group director, Dr Alison Bowman said Viand offers growers up to 10 per cent water-use efficiency gains on existing varieties. ―NSW DPI, in partnership with SunRice and AgriFutures Australia, has bred a high-yielding, fast maturing, medium grain rice, which delivers water saving advantages through its shorter growing season,‖ Dr Bowman said. ―In late sown on-farm trials Viand outperformed medium grain Reiziq rice by 107 per cent per megalitre of water.‖ ―Shorter season varieties add flexibility to farming systems, giving growers options to manage risk and extend the sowing window for rice.‖ Local rice growers, Chris and Sue Hardy, grew Viand in commercial trials when it was known as YRM70 and were able to double crop with irrigated winter crops and extend the rice sowing window to utilise late irrigation water allocations.

―We grew five Viand crops in two and a half years in a 25-hectare paddock, alternating Viand with winter cereals on an irrigation layout of beds in bays,‖ Mr Hardy said. ―Double cropping improved our returns, allowing us to take advantage of available water to deliver a system which arguably gives us the best return on our available asset base.‖ AgriFutures Australia general manager research and innovation, Michael Beer, said the new variety addresses the key industry challenge of growing more rice with less water. ―Rice growers can look forward to the benefits of Viand, backed with a sound agronomic package and a variety bred with more tolerance to cold damage, this new rice variety allows for better yields across seasons,‖ Mr Beer said.

Aimed at maximising grower returns, Viand meets the requirements of high value domestic and export markets and should prove popular with growers and consumers.

The release of Viand marks 90 years of rice breeding by NSW DPI and the 110-year anniversary of the research station at Yanco.

Source: NSW DPI

https://www.graincentral.com/cropping/new-water-saving-premium-rice-varietylaunched/

Global Rice Milling Machinery market based on product types, major applications, and important regions, Report 2018 to 2023 March 15, 2018 - by pr@letsbrandconsultancy.com

MarketResearchNest.com adds ―Global Rice Milling Machinery Industry Market Research Report‖new report to its research database. The report spread across in a 126 pages with table and figures in it.

Report Description

This report mainly elaborates the definition, types, applications and major players of Rice Milling Machinery market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2013-2018), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2018-2023), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Rice Milling Machinery market. The Rice Milling Machinery market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.

The Rice Milling Machinery market revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2013, grew to xx.xx Million USD in 2017, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2018-2023. Based on the Rice Milling Machinery industrial chain

Browse full table of contents and data tables at https://www.marketresearchnest.com/Global-Rice-Milling-Machinery-Industry-MarketResearch-Report.html

Major Players in Rice Milling Machinery market are: Shenzhen Seetop Science and Technology, American Milling Group, Satake, Zaccaria Brazil, Kingka Tech Industrial Limited, Alvan Blanch, Shenzhen Wandaan Precision Technology, Lushan Win Tone Machinery Manufacture, Zhengzhou Whirlston Machinery, Lianyungang Huantai Machinery, Buhler, Beijing Time Progress Technology

Major Regions play vital role in Rice Milling Machinery market are: North America, Europe, China, Japan, Middle East and Africa, India, South America, Others

Most important types of Rice Milling Machinery products covered in this report are:    

Capacity <1.5 Tonne/Hour Capacity 1.5 – 3.0 Tonne/Hour Capacity 3.0 – 4.5 Tonne/Hour Capacity >4.5 Tonne/Hour

Most widely used downstream fields of Rice Milling Machinery market covered in this report are:    

Rice Flour Beans Wheat Others

Request a sample copy at https://www.marketresearchnest.com/report/requestsample/323140

There are 13 Chapters to thoroughly display the Rice Milling Machinery market. This report included the analysis of market overview, market characteristics, industry chain, competition landscape, historical and future data by types, applications and regions.

Chapter 1: Rice Milling Machinery Market Overview, Product Overview, Market Segmentation, Market Overview of Regions, Market Dynamics, Limitations, Opportunities and Industry News and Policies.

Chapter 2: Rice Milling Machinery Industry Chain Analysis, Upstream Raw Material Suppliers, Major Players, Production Process Analysis, Cost Analysis, Market Channels and Major Downstream Buyers.

Chapter 3: Value Analysis, Production, Growth Rate and Price Analysis by Type of Rice Milling Machinery.

Chapter 4: Downstream Characteristics, Consumption and Market Share by Application of Rice Milling Machinery.

Chapter 5: Production Volume, Price, Gross Margin, and Revenue ($) of Rice Milling Machinery

by Regions (2013-2018).

Chapter 6: Rice Milling Machinery Production, Consumption, Export and Import by Regions (2013-2018).

Chapter 7: Rice Milling Machinery Market Status and SWOT Analysis by Regions.

Chapter 8: Competitive Landscape, Product Introduction, Company Profiles, Market Distribution Status by Players of Rice Milling Machinery.

Chapter 9: Rice Milling Machinery Market Analysis and Forecast by Type and Application (2018-2023).

Chapter 10: Market Analysis and Forecast by Regions (2018-2023).

Chapter 11: Industry Characteristics, Key Factors, New Entrants SWOT Analysis, Investment Feasibility Analysis.

Chapter 12: Market Conclusion of the Whole Report.

Chapter 13: Appendix Such as Methodology and Data Resources of This Research.

Order a Purchase Report Copy at Top of Form Bottom of Form https://www.marketresearchnest.com/report/purchase/323140 https://www.satprnews.com/2018/03/15/global-rice-milling-machinery-market-based-on-producttypes-major-applications-and-important-regions-report-2018-to-2023/

PWC sees Nigeria double rice production to 7.2m tonnes in five years

by Modestus Anaesoronye | March 15, 2018 12:45 am

An estimated increase in mechanisation rate in Nigeria from 0.3hp/ha to 0.8hp/ha in the next 5 years, can double rice production to 7.2 million tonnes. To achieve this, Nigeria will need to at least

triple its current stock of machinery over the same period, says a PWC report. Rice is one of the most consumed…

This content is for Standard & Premium Digital Subscribers only.

https://www.businessdayonline.com/pwc-sees-nigeria-double-rice-production-7-2m-tonnes-five-years/

Duterte to resolve NFA row next week 0

BY LLANESCA T. PANTI, TMT ON MARCH 17, 2018TOP STORIES

Twitter Last of two parts PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte plans to meet the National Food Authority (NFA) Council next week to personally address the shortage of buffer stock of subsidized rice.

Leoncio Evasco, the secretary to the Cabinet who also heads the NFA Council, made the disclosure in an interview with The Manila Times, when asked about the controversies hounding the state grains agency. ―The President will join the meeting of the NFA council, and he will make a statement on this matter. We will have a resolution after the meeting,‖ Evasco said.

The shortage of stocks of subsidized rice has revived persistent allegations of a ―rice cartel‖ or mafia in the government‘s rice procurement program.

Because of the dwindling buffer stock, the agency stopped selling rice to accredited retailers, resulting in the unavailability of affordable rice in the market that then led to the spike in prices of commercial rice.

NFA Administrator Jason Aquino has welcomed any audit or inquiry into the agency‘s rice distribution system.

But no less than Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol has claimed there were many instances of NFA rice being sold to ―favored‖ retailers.

Most indebted agency At the resumption of the Senate hearing on the NFA rice shortage, Roehlano Briones, senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, told lawmakers the NFA was the most indebted government agency with a net worth of negative P150 billion based on 2017 data of Department of Budget and Management.

The NFA was also ineffective in its price stabilization function, which adheres to the policy of ―buying high‖ from farmers and ―selling low‖ to consumers.

He said the NFA‘s objectives of ensuring farmers a reasonable return to their investment in rice cultivation and provide low prices for consumers were clearly in conflict with each other, and had led to huge losses.

Yet the average share of actual NFA palay (paddy rice) procurement to total production was only at 1.89 percent from 2000 to 2017.

Moreover, the agency‘s annual procurement targets were never reached, except in 2008 and 2015, Briones said.

The volume of NFA rice distributed to consumers was also too small to influence retail prices. The NFA has failed to meet its annual distribution targets, except in 2013 and 2018.

Not the poor Briones‘ presentation also showed that 48 percent of the beneficiaries of NFA rice were not even poor. ―The buffer stocking and price stabilization interventions of the NFA have done little in improving food security and have resulted in high fiscal cost on the part of the government,‖ Briones said in his presentation on Friday.

Briones presented two options for the NFA: one is to allow the status quo and maintain its importation monopoly, and the second, restrict the agency to buffer stocking.

Sen. Cynthia Villar said the Senate agriculture committee, which she leads, was looking at the removal of the rice import function and regulation of the NFA and allow the private sector to take over. ―Definitely, status quo is out, we want to look at the reforms,‖ Villar told reporters.

The committee is also looking at the model of the sugar industry, which keeps 15 percent of production as buffer stock that the government can buy if needed. ―We will look into the practice of the Sugar Regulatory Authority (SRA) where farmers are under agreement with SRA to sell stocks when the need arises,‖ she added. http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-to-resolve-nfa-row-next-week/386620/

NFA rejects higher palay buying price By: Karl R. Ocampo- @inquirerdotnet Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:35 AM March 16, 2018

The policymaking body of the National Food Authority (NFA) has rejected lawmakers‘ proposal to increase the agency‘s buying price for paddy rice (palay) so it could immediately replenish its rice stock.

During a hearing in the Senate on Thursday, Development Bank of the Philippines director Teodoro M. Jumamil, a member of the NFA Council, said the body rejected the proposal because increasing the buying price for paddy rice would result in additional spending that would amount to P800 million.

Farmers’ incentives Jumamil said the council decided to provide additional incentives to local farmers to entice them to sell their produce to the NFA. ―For every individual farmer who will sell 2 kilos of their palay to the NFA, they will be given a coupon that will entitle them to 1 kilo of rice. This will help them a lot since 39 percent of their total budget go to rice,‖ he said.

â&#x20AC;&#x2022;For farmer cooperatives and organizations, for every 1 ton of palay they will sell to the NFA, we will also give them 1-ton worth of import quota. Whatever is their opportunity loss, they can easily recover through the import quota,â&#x20AC;&#x2013; Jumamil added.

Problem at harvest time Sen. Cynthia Villar, head of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, said the plan might solve the problem of poor farmers who could not afford their own harvest.

She said, however, that the NFA must be quick in procuring paddy rice and must not wait for the farmers to come to the agency.

But NFA Administrator Jason Aquino said that even with the additional incentives and the availability of rice in the market, farmers were unwilling to sell their produce to the agency because rice traders buy their paddy rice at a higher price.

The NFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s buying price is P17 per kilogram.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/975729/nfa-rejects-higher-palay-buying-price

Rice Prices as on : 16-03-2018 11:28:38 AM Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

Arrivals Current

Price % change

Season cumulative

Modal

Prev.

Modal

Prev.Yr %change

Rice Hapur(UP)

40.00

NC

1090.00

2680

2680

17.54

Jasra(UP)

25.00

-16.67

303.50

2400

2450

-

Silapathar(ASM)

6.20

12.73

42.30

2600

2600

-13.33

Chhibramau(Kannuj)(UP)

5.00

25

169.50

2250

2240

0.90

Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)

2.50

25

59.40

2800

2800

12.00

Khairagarh(UP)

1.20

9.09

48.30

2520

2520

-1.56

Jagnair(UP)

0.80

-27.27

41.40

2530

2500

-1.17

Published on March 16, 2018 https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article23268671.ece

Myanmar returns confiscated land to farmers in eastern state Source: Xinhua 2018-03-16 09:52:45

YANGON, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar government has returned some 385 acres (156 hectares) of land out of 1,081 acres, confiscated by the Ministry of Defense, to 82 farmers in Tachileik, the country's eastern Shan state, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday.

Other 696 acres of such land have also been given back to the Shan state government.

Second Vice President U Henry Van Thio, who is also Chairman of the Central Committee for Scrutinizing Confiscated Farmlands, stressed the importance of improving the living standard of farmers and finding markets for agricultural products after the return of the confiscated land to farmers who make up 70 percent of the country's rural population.

He urged related departments to continue to work for returning the remaining confiscated land and preventing exploitation of farmers.

Myanmar saw a rice export of 3.2 million tons in the current fiscal year of 2017-18, a highest record in more than seven decades.

Earlier, Myanmar government had returned 622.48 acres of land, confiscated by the Ministry of Defense, to 356 farmers in Taunggyi, the capital of the country's Shan state, with 1,347 acres given back to the Shan state government.

Myanmar government has been taking measures since last year to return seized land to farmers, the original owners, across the country.

During the tenure of the former government, private companies and government departments were allowed to confiscate land, including farmland, in accordance with the 2012 Farmland Law under the pretext of urbanization and industrialization, which brought about land disputes between the government, landowners and investors.

More than one month after taking office in April 2016, the new government voiced commitment to the speedy resolution of farmland confiscation issue and the prompt return of confiscated land to their lawful owners. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-03/16/c_137042907.htm