1st march,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

1st March,2018

Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com

Rice planting seen flat after output adjustment inShare

8:25 pm, February 28, 2018

Jiji PressTOKYO (Jiji Press) — Rice planting for harvest during 2018 is seen generally flat from the previous year across the nation, following the end of the government‘s production adjustment policy this year, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday.

Planting of rice, excluding that for processed food and feed, is projected to be flat in 36 of the 47 prefectures, reflecting concerns about a fall in rice prices on a possible production increase without the adjustment policy.

Rice planting is expected to expand in the northeastern prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Akita and Fukushima and the western prefectures of Tottori and Yamaguchi, but shrink in the eastern prefecture of Chiba, the western prefectures of Osaka, Wakayama and Kochi and the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima.

In many places across the country, rice will be planted around the Golden Week holiday period in early May. The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to scrap the output adjustment policy as part of its agricultural sector reform initiative.

The central government will no longer get involved in output planning by prefectural governments or pay subsidies to rice farmers for production cuts.

Meanwhile, domestic rice consumption is declining at an annual pace of 80,000 tons, in line with the Westernization of the diet in Japan.

Rice prices have still been on an uptrend in recent years, thanks to the government‘s production-capping policy.Speech http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0004272217

Anambra govt. targets 600,000 metric tons of rice in the year 2018 February 28, 2018

Michael Ovat - Awka Latest News Following the introduction of new irrigation technology in rice production in the eight local government areas of the state where thecrop was grown in large quantity, Anambra State government says it is targeting increase in yield from the current 345000 metric tons to 600000 metric tons this year.

The state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, who spoke during the inspection of the multi-million naira Center Pivot Irrigation Systemat Egwe Agwa Ogbakuba in Ogbaru local government area, said the state would become a net exporter of rice once the target was met as its local demand would have been surpassed.According to the governor, the installation of the new irrigation of the system in four locations in the state was to ensure all year round rice production, with the attendant multiplier effect of empowering of about 2500 farmers in the state.

He explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had agreed to provide funds to Anambra State government to buy off all the paddy rice produced in the state, while millers would buy all the paddy rice from government, adding that by so doing, the issue of unsold rice produced by the farmers would not arise.

He also said the state government would support the training of youth farmers to update their knowledge in modern agriculture and commended the people of the state for keying into the state government‘s agricultural policy.

Obiano further said that Sorghum would be added among the crops to be grown under the FADAMA 111 additional funding, stating that the Onitsha –based Sabmiller Breweries was a ready market for the sorghum to be produced in the state.The state coordinator of FADAMA 111additional financing, Mr Chukwuka Egbueh said that as part of efforts to ensure increased rice output, 11 rural roads leading to the rice production belts in the state were being constructed, just as 18 youth and women groups had been assisted through the provision rice mills, tricycles, threshers and de-stoners to ease their production activities.

He also said that FADAMA had built drying slabs at Umumbo, Ogbaru, Amanuke and Ifite Ogwari to ensure faster drying of rice, adding that the envisaged target would surely be met with the inputs by the state government.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/anambra-govt-targets-600000-metric-tons-of-rice-in-the-year-2018/

Higher rice, pulse yields lift farm output to record 277.5 mt OUR BUREAUT+ T-

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 27 Our Bureau Record production of rice, pulses and coarse cereals coming in the wake of a good monsoon could push up total food crop output this year to a new high of 277.5 million tonnes (mt), according to the Second Advance Estimates of production of major crops released by the farm ministry on Tuesday.

In comparison, the total foodgrain output last year was 275 mt, which itself was a record then.

Rice output rises For the first time, rice production breached the 111 mt mark – which was about 2.5 mt more than the target of 108.5 mt set for the year.

Much of the increase is expected to come from the rabi season, which has seen a substantial increase in area under rice cultivation. Last year, the total rice production was 109.7 mt.

Pulses, wheat gain Similarly, pulse production would surpass the target by a staggering 1 mt this year to touch 23.95 mt, making it the second consecutive year of bountiful production. Total pulses output last year 23.13 mt, according to the estimates.

Wheat output, on other hand, is estimated to go up marginally to 96.48 mt (96.30 mt). The production of coarse cereals too is projected to increase by 1.65 million tonnes to 45.42 mt mainly on a boost in maize yield.

Oilseeds fail However, a major setback is expected on oilseeds segment, which is projected to fall below 30 mt, as compared to 31.28 mt last year. The target for the year was set at 35.5 mt.

Much of the shortfall in oilseeds was due to a slump in the production of soyabean and rapeseed/mustard which came down drastically to 11.4 mt from 13.12 mt (2016-17) and to 7.54 mt from 7.92 mt respectively.

Groundnut output, on the other hand, is estimated to go up to 8.22 mt from 7.5 mt last year.

Cash crops Sugarcane output, as expected, would go up to 353.2 mt (306 mt). Similarly, cotton production is projected to be at 33.9 million bales of 170 kg, which is 4 per cent more than last year, the data showed.

Published on February 27, 2018 https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/higher-rice-pulse-yields-lift-farm-outputto-record-2775-mt/article22890438.ece

Thailand likely to export 9.5 million tonnes of rice this year VNA WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2018 - 18:13:00

President of the Rice Exporters Association of Thailand Charoen Laothammatas expects that the association will be able to export around 9.5 million tonnes of rice this year (Photo: www.thaivisa.com)

Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - President of the Rice Exporters Association of Thailand Charoen Laothammatas expects that the association will be able to export around 9.5 million tonnes of rice this year. Laothammatas said 9.5 million tonnes is an appropriate quantity from the country‘s 30-million-rice production in 2018.

As for this year‘s jasmine rice production, the president said it decreased more than the normal level due to rain and flooding. Rice farmers turned to other crops instead of rice, resulting in the lower production, he added.

Laothammatas therefore forecast that the price of jasmine rice will be stable at 1,100 - 1,150 USD per ton until rice in the new season is harvested. Despite the baht's appreciation, the Thai rice price won't be lower than last year since old stock has been sold out, he said.-VNA

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-likely-to-export-95-million-tonnes-of-rice-this-year/127134.vnp

Vietnam Jan-Feb coffee exports estimated up 17.6 pct y/y, rice up 14.6 pct Reuters Staff 2 MIN READ

HANOI, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Vietnam‘s coffee exports for January-February rose an estimated 17.6 percent annually, while rice exports grew an estimated 14.6 percent during the same period, government data on Wednesday showed.

COFFEE Coffee exports from Vietnam will rise an estimated 17.6 percent in January-February from a year ago to 336,000 tonnes, equal to 5.6 million 60-kg bags, the General Statistics Office said in a report on Wednesday.

Coffee export revenue for Vietnam, the world‘s second biggest producer of the bean, edged up 0.8 percent annually to $652 million in the two-month period, the report also said.

February coffee exports was estimated at 135,000 tonnes, worth $260 million, higher than traders‘ estimates.

RICE Rice exports in January-February from Vietnam were forecast to rise 14.6 percent annually to 842,000 tonnes. Revenue from rice exports in the period was seen leaping 32.1 percent year-on-year to $413 million.

February rice exports from Vietnam, the world‘s third-largest shipper of the grain, was recorded at 350,000 tonnes, worth $174 million.

ENERGY Vietnam‘s January-February crude oil exports fell 27 percent year-on-year to an estimated 766,000 tonnes, or 95,000 barrels per day (bpd).

Crude oil export revenue in the first two months of 2018 fell 12.9 percent to $395 million.

Oil product imports in the two-month period increased 35 percent from the same time last year to an estimated 2.24 million tonnes, while the value of the product imports rose 50.8 percent to $1.4 billion.

Vietnam‘s January-February liquefied petroleum gas imports increased 17.1 percent from a year earlier to 226,000 tonnes. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Vyas Mohan) https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N1QE097

New Consumer Rice Recipes Don't Break the Bank

By Cameron Jacobs ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice chefs have created five new rice recipes, designed to be affordable to all, that cover multiple meals and incorporate various varieties of U.S.-grown rice types.

The new recipes are designed to work for breakfast, appetizers, side dishes, and main dishes.

"Consumers look for the best use of their money, and while most are aware of the affordability of U.S.grown rice, the next step to encouraging rice usage for shoppers is to provide easy-to-prepare recipes that emphasize the economics, " says Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of marketing and domestic promotion. "I am excited to have USA Rice offer these recipes as resources for cost-savings but for highquality, nutritious food, too."

The new rice recipes include: breakfast rice burritos, fast-fix meatloaf & roasted carrots, Cajun sausage and rice, Mediterranean rice salad, and an Italian pepperoni rice bake. The cost of each recipe ranges from $6-$10 and yields four generous servings.

"While these recipes can be enjoyed by all, they're especially suited for folks on a tight budget, namely students, millennials, and working families," said Klein.The five new rice dishes are available to consumers through the ThinkRice online consumer recipe database.

Matco Foods participates in Gulfood RECORDER REPORT FEB 28TH, 2018 KARACHI Pakistan's leading food processing and rice exporting company Matco Foods participates in Gulfood 2018. Gulfood is one of leading exhibitions of food products and held every year in Dubai. Earlier, Anuga Germany and Sial Foods France were well-known food exhibitions in the world. However, after 9/11 incident and visas issues Gulfood Dubai attracted food companies of the world.

Fazain Ali Ghori Director Finance Matco Foods informed that in a very short span Gulfood became number one food exhibition which covers big region and thousands of foods companies participate in Gulfood every year. Gulfood began in 1987 and has become the most important food trade show of the year. He said the location of Gulfood was convenient as all buyers and sellers gather together in one place over a course of five days and they can meet under one roof to discuss their business deals. "Previously, Pakistani exporters were required to travel extensively over multiple countries to finalize the business deals, however now it is a matter of minutes", he added.

Fazain informed that this year Pakistan's prominent food brands set up their stall in Gulfood Matco Foods was among one of them. "Matco Foods had a terrific and very successful trade show in Gulfood and received a number of inquiries, especially since after the company IPO, under which some Rs 757 million has been raised for extension of Rice Glucose and Protein Plant up to 30,000 metric tons and 1,000 metric tons respectively," he added.

He said that mainly public companies are more trusting of companies and it definitely gave

Matco an edge over the competition. Gulfood is a great hub for new ideas and products in the global food industry and is a must attend event in their annual calendar. Fazain said events like this will help Matco to update with current trends. This year 4,237 food companies from all over the world participated in Gulfood. From Pakistan 89, India 307, Bangladesh 43, China 207, US 163, UK 91, Sri Lanka 54 and Iran 58 participated in Gulfood respectively, he mentioned.

This year some stalls of non-traditional food items and frozen foods such as Ambala Sweets, Qasr-e-Shireenwere also seen. TDAP may enhance the volume of export if the subsidy be given on the participation fees of Gulfood so that upto 200 food companies from Pakistan could participate in next Gulfood. https://fp.brecorder.com/2018/02/20180228347797/

New Method to Better Flowering in Rice

By Smita Deshmukh February 27, 2018

It has been noticed that usage of nitrogen fertilizers results in a delay in flowering, thus upping the chances of exposure of crops cold weather in the end of the harvesting season. This can damage grain filling. However, scientists may have the solution for it since in a recent study of rice, which is a staple food for all of us, they uncovered a nitrate transporter (NRT) which could help in early flowering. Their findings have been published in The Plant Cell.

Process Uses NRTs Various NRTs transport nitrogen from the soil to the roots and also along the entire length of the plant. In fact, some NRTs can gauge the level of nitrogen and respond accordingly. The study revealed that rice OsNRT1.1A is capable of affecting flowering time as well as nitrogen use. Lines which are mutant and do not have NRTs revealed lesser uptake of ammonium and nitrate.

The mutants also revealed lesser induction of genes compared to the absorption of ammonium and nitrate. This meant that the OsNRT1.1A functions both as a nitrogen sensor and transporter in plants.

The mutants resulted in 80.0% lesser grain compared by regular rice. They also flowered later.

The authors created rice lines that result in additional OsNRT1.1A. This was done to see if the time to flowering and yield improved. And it did. Plants grew taller and greener and had more biomass.

The plants also absorbed nitrate and ammonium from the medium in the hydroponics experiments.

http://www.editiontruth.com/new-method-better-flowering-rice/

How Nigeria Can Develop Rice Varieties As Response To Large Methane Emission Published 1 day ago on February 28, 2018 By CHIKA IZUORA A recent report by World Resources Institute (WRI) and Food and Agricultural Organisation, (FAO) says that Green House Gas released by rice farms alongside other agricultural practices are major environmental polluters. In this piece, CHIKA IZUORA dissects experts‘ opinions on a way out, as Nigerian economy shifts to agriculture. When the administration of Muhammadu Buhari took office in Nigeria in May 2015 against a backdrop of mounting economic crises, it realized that in just one year earlier, Nigeria had overtaken South Africa to become the continent‘s biggest economy, but optimism quickly faded as oil prices fell and production declined due to renewed militant activities in the Niger Delta.

The resulting economic slowdown, which was confirmed as a recession in the summer of 2016, focused minds on the long-neglected task of reducing Nigeria‘s reliance on the petroleum sector, which accounts for 11 percent of GDP but 95 percent of the nation‘s export revenue. Included in the election manifesto that brought President Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) to power was a pledge to move the economy away from oil in part by reviving the agriculture sector. Analysts believe there are good reasons for the administration to focus on agriculture.

First, it is a sector with high growth prospects, particularly if value chains can be developed that turn raw commodities into processed goods for domestic consumption or export. Second, although agriculture already employs more than 70 percent of the population, there are opportunities to expand both the number and variety of jobs in the sector by making it easier and more attractive to farm. In addition, by diversifying the agriculture sector, it can be made more appealing to a vast youth population that is turned off by farming but might be attracted to processing, marketing, and other business opportunities along the value chain. When the opportunity finally came, in June 2016, the government launched then Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) which emphasized the importance of continuing and building upon the efforts of the previous administration.

In the new agriculture policy specific goal was set to exit rice import by 2018 which throws up more activities in the area of rice cultivation. A confirmation of this came from Lai Mohammed the minister of information who told the media last year that the Nigerian government will soon attain its goal of selfsufficiency in rice production for the country, come 2018. Mohammed, said this in a press conference in Abuja while briefing journalists on the administration‘s growing achievements to revamp the economy and that Nigeria is inching closer to self-sufficiency in rice production, due to the successes recorded in the local production of rice. He cited a report by a Thai rice export association to support his claim, saying ―In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years –

from September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria‘s rice importation dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT. ―There is more good news to report: As a result of this administration‘s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria, and this is sure to further boost rice production in Nigeria. ―The increased rice production has, in turn, led to the establishment of rice mills, including the 120,000MT WACOT Mill in Kebbi and the 1,000,000MT Dangote Rice Mill,‖ Mr. Mohammed said.

He added that Nigeria targets the production of seven million metric tons of rice in 2018‘. ―So what does the increased production of rice portend for the country? It means, as I said earlier, that Nigeria is very close to achieving self-sufficiency in rice. By 2018, the administration targets rice production of 7 million MT. As at 2015, rice demand in Nigeria stood at 6.3 million MT,‖ he added. Agriculture As A Major Environmental Polluter While Nigeria is focusing effort in this direction, a report points to environmental challenges from the agriculture sector. It says that when people think about threats to their environment, what comes to their mind is industrial pollution and car emission, not the food they eat but the truth is that, our efforts in poverty reduction and finding solution to end hunger, are making agriculture a major ‗killer‘ of the mother earth. Agriculture is posing one of the biggest dangers to the planet with carbon dioxide emission the main contributor to global warming.

An analysis by the World Resources Institute, WRI, and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, UN FAO, estimated that between 14 and 18 percent of all man-made emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) are associated with the agricultural sector. Even the lowest estimate (14 percent) is still equal with WRI‘s estimated emissions for the transportation sector (13.5 percent). This means that, agriculture is among the greatest contributors to global warming, emitting more greenhouse gases (GHG) than all our cars, trucks, trains, and airplanes combined. The GHG in agricultural sector is largely from methane (CH4) released by cattle and rice farms, nitrous oxide (N2O) from fertilized fields, and carbon dioxide from the cutting of rain forests to grow crops or raise livestock.

So, are we being naïve to feed the rapidly growing global population, and threaten our own existence. As in most other sectors, agricultural carbon footprint is fast increasing, since farming is expanding to produce more food for a growing world population. In fact, food production will need to double from current levels if projections of more than 9 billion people in 2050 prove correct. So meeting the growing demand for food by using more land would have serious impacts on the environment and the climate.

Remember that areas that are most suitable for agriculture in most countries are already cultivated to a large extent, making fertile agricultural land a limited resource across the world.

The fact is that massive unguided farming is never the solution to end poverty, because the more we engage in such activities, the more climate change continue to affect the quality and quantity of food we Production. The uplifted living standard and spread of prosperity across the world, especially in the world‘s most populated countries – China and India, is driving an increased demand for balance diet such as meat, eggs, and dairy. This has added pressure to cultivate more foods and engage in more animal husbandry more livestock husbandry. Unfortunately, key resources such as land and water needed to produce these foods are scarce globally.

While the majority of global warming activities give off carbon dioxide – the main contributor to global warming, but it is not the only greenhouse gas to worry about, the next two most common GHG in the

atmosphere are methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), primarily emitted by agricultural sector. Most of this methane are emitted by cows, which also are more damaging to the environment. For instance, ruminant animals (cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels) produce methane as part of their normal digestion system – a process known as enteric fermentation. In fact, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, the CH4 produced from ―enteric fermentation‖ (cows farting) represents almost one-third of the emissions from the U.S. agricultural sector. Also, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization‘s (FAO) report on ‗Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use Emissions by Sources and Removals by Sinks‘ shows that, around 40 per cent of agricultural emissions came from methane produced by livestock between 2001 and 2011, not including emissions from manure (25 per cent of agricultural emissions).

Together, these gases plus CO2 make up about 99 percent of all GHG in the atmosphere. It is not just the actual farming that makes agriculture so detrimental to the environment. In almost every case, land use changes such as deforestation to clear space for agriculture, is also a contributor to carbon emissions and land degradation. Records indicate that 75 per cent of global deforestation comes from agriculture. So when we clear areas of grassland and forest for farms, we lose crucial habitats and make agriculture a major driver to the loss of biodiversity. Similar to many other land-use changes, converting forest areas into agricultural land is not the right solution to end hunger.

This process is a source of greenhouse-gas emissions and undermines nature‘s ability to cope with climate change impacts, such as absorbing heavy rainfall, that threaten food security globally. For instance: Solution for Sustainable Agriculture How can the rapid growing global population be fed and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) to end poverty and hunger be met with minimal environmental footprints? The answer lies in a sustainable agricultural system – a form of agricultural technique that provides foods and industrial inputs to serve the needs of the present generation without posing socio-environmental risks and compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. We can start to tackle food waste in economically rich countries where food waste occurs in homes, restaurants, or supermarkets, as well as in developing countries where food is often lost between the farmer and the market due to unreliable storage and transportation.

A shift to increase yields on less productive farmlands, using high-tech, precision farming systems, and organic farming would also be effective ways to reducing agricultural footprints. Responding to this while speaking with our Correspondent, Bekeme Masade-Olowola, a Harvard-trained social entrepreneur and currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of CSR-in-Action, an organisation dedicated to promoting the advancement and awareness of Corporate Social Responsibility, good governance and sustainable development in Nigeria, said government effort in protecting environment are very minimal. We tend to be playing catch up on our previous environmental challenges and our leaders are more interested in reeling out figures of growth without looking at the long-term implications. It would be easier to feed the nation with diversification to agriculture, if more of the crops we grow will end up in human stomachs.

Sometimes, some crops which should have been made available for human consumption are diverted for feeding livestock or for industrial uses, and only a fraction of the calories in feed given to livestock make their way into the meat and milk that we consume.

For instance, only 55 percent of the world‘s crop calories feed people directly; the rest are fed to livestock (about 36 percent) or turned into biofuels and industrial products (roughly 9 percent). Nigeria needs to find more efficient ways to feed the livestock and grow meat through non-agricultural means to avoid compromising the capacity of agriculture to feed the povertystricken nation‖.

Such an alternative, she said could be a switch from grain-fed livestock to pastureraised livestock which would free up substantial amounts of food to be made available for human consumption in Nigeria; a shift to increase yields on less productive farmlands, using high-tech, precision farming systems, and organic farming would be effective ways to reducing agricultural footprints; and organic farming can also greatly reduce the use of water and chemicals—by incorporating cover crops, mulches, and compost to improve soil quality, conserve water, and build up nutrients.

According to her, many farmers have also gotten smarter about water, replacing inefficient irrigation systems with more precise methods, like subsurface drip irrigation. Advances in both conventional and organic farming can give us more ―crop per drop‖ from our water and nutrients. On rice farm pollution, Masade-Olowola stated, ―We could develop rice varieties which emit less methane. Secondly, since irrigated rice farming is the other main agricultural source of methane accounting for about a fifth of total man-made emissions, switching to more heat-tolerant rice cultivars, management of water, adjusting sowing dates, adaptations to drainage regimes and mid-season drainage can help to reduce CH4 released by rice.

In this way, yield declines due to temperature increases can largely be prevented, thereby reducing the effect of warming on CH4 emissions per yield. Whereas several studies have focused on mid-season drainage (MD) to mitigate GHG emissions, early-season drainage (ED), varying in timing and duration, has not been extensively studied. However, such ED periods could potentially be very effective since initial available C levels, and thereby the potential for methanogenesis, can be very high in paddy systems with rice straw incorporation. For instance, a study by some scholars of the Universities of Copenhagen, Wageningen and International Rice Research Institute titled ‗The effective mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies without compromising yield by early-season drainage‘, tested the effectiveness of seven drainage regimes varying in their timing and duration (combinations of ED and MD) to mitigate CH4 and N2O emissions in a 101-day growth chamber experiment. It showed that emissions were considerably reduced by early-season drainage compared to both conventional continuous flooding (CF) and the MD drainage regime.

The results suggest that ED + MD drainage may have the potential to reduce CH4 emissions and yieldscaled GWP by 85–90 per cent compared to CF and by 75–77 per cent compared to MD only. A combination of (short or long) ED drainage and one MD drainage episode was found to be the most effective in mitigating CH4 emissions without negatively affecting yield‖. Copyright LEADERSHIP. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from LEADERSHIP. Contact: editor@leadership.ng https://leadership.ng/2018/02/28/nigeria-can-develop-rice-varieties-response-large-methane-emission/

800 quintals of PDS rice seized HYDERABAD FEBRUARY 28, 2018 00:55 IST UPDATED: FEBRUARY 28, 2018 00:57 IST SHARE ARTICLE 3 PRINT A A A A repeat offender accused of illegally selling PDS commodities was arrested by Rachakonda police and provisions of Prevention of Black-marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of the Essential Commodities Act, 1980, were invoked against him. Policemen identified the accused as Enshetty Sudarshan, 57, who is a resident of Ramnagar. The accused is involved in as many as seven cases of cheating and hoarding PDS rice. Mr. Sudershan was earlier detained under the PD Act in May 2016. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/800-quintals-of-pds-rice-seized/article22872043.ece

Scientists and Yolo County Farmers using Rice Fields to Grow Food for Endangered Salmon The winter-run chinook salmon population continues to hover around historic lows in the Sacramento River, but farmers in Yolo County are working together with scientists to grow fish food on their rice fields in hopes of reversing this troubling trend.The pilot project – Fish Food on Floodplain Farm Fields – is a partnership between UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, Cal Trout and California rice farmers. The group will use existing fields to produce tons of bugs that fish like salmon love to devour.―We like to think of these bugs in the water as floating fillet for the salmon,‖ said Cal Trout Senior Scientist Jacob Katz. ―The fatter these fish get from these bugs produced on the rice fields, the better chance they have to survive the treacherous journey to the ocean.‖

Scientists from UC Davis and Cal Trout are proving that 1,500x more fish food is produced on the flood plains (rice fields) versus canals or the river. The project aims to get more of the food back in to the river system.

Early tests by scientists in the pilot project are already

yielding results that reveal great promise in

producing the amount of bugs needed to make a significant impact. ―The amount of zooplankton and invertebrates (fish food) thriving on the rice fields have far exceeded our expectations,‖ said Carson Jeffres, a researcher with the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. ―We have great hope that this project will serve as a model that can be implemented at a larger scale in the near future.‖This is the latest effort tied to the Sacramento Valley Salmon Recovery Program, which aims to reverse the population decline of the winter run Chinook salmon.

Cal Trout‘s Jacob Katz gathers samples in a Yolo County rice field as part of a program to grow food for endangered fish.

Recent surveys are startling, revealing less than 2,000 fish are making the journey each winter from the San Francisco Bay to the upper channels of the Sacramento River. In the mid-1970s, those numbers totaled more than 25,000.

Farmers like Roger Cornwell of River Garden Farms in Knights Landing saw an explosion in the bird populations since the 1980s once fields were flooded to break down the rice crop in the winter months. Today, he and other farms are finding another use for their fields – feeding the salmon. ―By borrowing water from the river for a few weeks, and then returning it full of fish food, we

can have a dramatic impact on the ecosystem,‖ Cornwell said.The water is pumped onto the fields and as the shallow water sits, it starts to breakdown the plants that grew during the previous summer. That carbon then creates algae, and the algae feeds the bugs that are vital for a salmon‘s survival. ―We are getting more pop for each drop,‖ Cornwell said. ―And it is supplying a water system that is starved for this type of energy activity.‖ This effort is crucial because the river is too swift and deep to create the type of food energy source that the salmon need for their arduous journey to the Pacific Ocean. ―Farmers are essentially reconnecting this historic floodplain that provides a great deal of energy to the river system. It‘s a system that has been cut off for a century,‖ Katz said. ―Without these collaborative efforts, the fish remain in danger and have little hope. This project creates a winwin for everyone. It means a healthy ecosystem for fish, birds and people.‖The pilot project is in year two of a three-year experiment.

Next winter, the focus will shift, uncovering the best delivery practices to ensure the largest number of bugs grown in the fields make it to the river.

The key to this project is the cooperation between farms, water districts, government agencies, conservation groups, and scientists.―This new way forward means we are all working together to use the water more efficiently, while making a difference for endangered salmon populations,‖ Cornwell said.State Water Contractors and San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority also helped contribute funding to the project. http://www.westsac.com/news-ledger/2018/02/28/saving-the-salmon/

Does Arsenic in Rice Cause Fatty Liver Disease?

February 28, 2018

In a recent US study, researchers investigated how arsenic exposure from rice may put certain individuals at risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common fatty liver disorder in developed countries. In the US, approximately 30% of adults suffer from NAFLD, which can progress to liver inflammation, fibrosis, and liver cancer later in life. While NAFLD occurs primarily in those who are obese, it is also thought to be influenced by genetics and exposure to environmental pollutants.

Recent evidence has suggested that arsenic may be to blame. Despite government regulations to control arsenic levels in public drinking water, the heavy metal can accumulate in the soil, where its then absorbed by certain plants. Rice, specifically, has been known to store excess arsenic in the

grain, which is then transferred to humans when consumed. In the U.S., every quarter cup per day increase in rice consumption raises arsenic levels in the blood by 14%.

Arsenic Leads to Fatty Liver Disease in Mice To investigate a potential link between arsenic exposure and increased risk of NAFLD, scientists first looked to mouse models. Researchers found that mice exposed to arsenic experienced the highest degree of liver damage and inflammation, even more so than those fed a high-fat diet.

To determine whether the same link could be observed in humans, scientists surveyed 8,516 Americans of varying age, weight, sex, and ethnicity between 2005 and 2014. To avoid performing liver biopsies on every participant, NAFLD was assessed instead using blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a liver enzyme often elevated in patients with fatty liver diseases.

Arsenic exposure was assessed using urine samples, which reflects the patient‘s average arsenic uptake in the last three days. The results were recently published in Environmental Health.

Certain Ethnic Groups More at Risk The researchers found that higher arsenic levels in the urine did reflect an increased likelihood of NAFLD. This was true regardless of the individual‘s weight, meaning obesity didn‘t seem to play as large a role as previously thought. However, the researchers did find that being obese made things worse, with obese patients exposed to arsenic having even higher ALT levels.

The scientists also found that certain ethnic groups were more likely to be exposed to arsenic than others. The most significant association was found amongst Mexican Americans, with other Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans also at higher risk. The researchers believe that this may be associated with variations in cultural diets. Those where rice was a staple food were more likely to be exposed to higher levels of arsenic, however, the scientists would have to determine each participant‘s diet to be sure.

The research team is now looking to confirm this hypothesis by surveying patients diagnosed with NAFLD. By understanding who might be at risk of the disease, the team hopes to develop community programs to help those affected early on, before severe liver damage and cancer can develop. This is the first study to evaluate this association in humans and the researchers hope that this study, along with future research, can help to identify the biological mechanisms involved. They also hope this study will lead to more strategies to prevent or reduce the effects of arsenic exposure.

Written by Calvin J. Chan, B.Sc. Reference: Frediani, J.K., Naioti, E.A., Vos, M.B., Figueroa, J., Marsit, C.J. and Welsh, J.A. (2018).

Arsenic exposure and risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among U.S. adolescents and adults: an association modified by race/ethnicity, NHANES 2005-2014. Environmental Health. 17:6. https://www.medicalnewsbulletin.com/arsenic-cause-fatty-liver-disease/

Odisha Demands More PDS Rice From Centre February 28, 2018

Bhubaneswar: As PDS beneficiaries prefer rice to wheat across the state, the Odisha government has asked the Centre to allocate rice as per the need of the state under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi has written a letter to Union Food and Public Dstribution Secretary Ravikant in this regard.A P Padhi said that Odisha should be given more rice to meet the demand of beneficiaries. He has mentioned that Odisha is mainly a rice consuming state.

Since 2015 to 2017, the Union Government has been making provisions for more wheat ignoring repeated requests by the state government.Now, there is a shortfall of around one lakh tonne of rice, which is posing a serious problem for the state government.

As the Centre has not taken a reasonable approach in fixing incidental charges, the state government has not been able to pay such charges to rice millers. The incidental charges fixed for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2017-18 is abnormally low and highly unfeasible, A P Padhis‘s letter complained.

A P Padhi pointed out that paddy procurement is in full swing and the state has so far procured 32.5 lakh tonnes of paddy and 7.5 lakh tonnes of rice from the millers. But the millers are now reluctant to participate in the paddy procurement for low incidental charges. For example, rates of transportation charges for paddy have been fixed at Rs4.65 per quintal for 2017-18 whereas during 2016-17 the rate was Rs 36.18 per quintal.

With costs increasing every year, practically it is not possible to transport at this abnormally low rate fixed by Government of India, Chief Secretary pointed out. Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Secretary V V Yadav pointed out that while Odisha is preparing for procurement of Rabi paddy in a few weeks‘ times, it would be difficult for the state government to convince millers to participate in procurement process without clearance of pending dues and an increased incidental charge.

The Chief Secretary has also requested the Union Secretary to finalise the accounts and fix reasonable incidental charges to facilitate smooth paddy procurement and rice in the state.

https://odishasamaya.com/uncategorized/odisha-demands-more-pds-rice-from-centre/100271/

Anambra Targets Boost In Rice Production

By Chukwujekwu Ilozue February 28, 2018

Willie Obiano The Anambra State government is targeting a boost in rice production this year according to the state Governor Chief Willie Obiano.This is as a result of irrigation technology in rice production in the eight local government areas of the state where the crop was grown in large quantity.

For this reason, the State government said it is targeting to double the current production of 345,000 metric tons to 600,000 metric tons.Governor Obiano, who spoke during the inspection of the multimillion naira Center Pivot Irrigation System at Egwe Agwa Ogbakuba in Ogbaru local government

area, said the state would become net exporter of rice once the target was met as its local demand would have been surpassed.

According to Obiano the installation of the new irrigation system in four locations in the state was to ensure all year round rice production, with the attendant multiplier effect of empowering of about 2,500 farmers in the state. He explained that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had agreed to provide funds to Anambra State government to buy off all the paddy rice produced in the state, while millers would buy all the paddy rice from government, adding that by so doing, the issue of unsold rice produced by the farmers would not arise.

He also said the state government would support the training of youth farmers to update their knowledge in modern agriculture and commended the people of the state for keying into the state government‘s agricultural policy.

According to him, Sorghum would be added among the crops to be grown under the FADAMA III additional funding, stating that the Onitsha –based Sabmiller Breweries was a ready market for the sorghum to be produced in the state.

The state coordinator of FADAMA III additional financing, Mr. Chukwuka Egbueh said that as part of efforts to ensure increased rice output, 11 rural roads leading to the rice production belts in the state were being constructed, just as 18 youth and women groups had been assisted through the provision rice mills, tricycles, threshers and de-stoners to ease their production activities.

He also said that FADAMA had built drying slabs at Umumbo, Ogbaru, Amanuke and Ifite Ogwari to ensure faster drying of rice, adding that the envisaged target would surely be met with the inputs by the state government. https://independent.ng/anambra-targets-boost-rice-production/

Jasmine rice shortage is hitting home, while price rising

By Thai PBS FEB 28, 2018 12:19 PM Thailand is now running shortage of jasmine rice as latest survey in 23 rice cultivation provinces in the Northeast and Northeast showed rice production is over two million tons below target.The survey was conducted by the Department of Rice and the Thai Rice Miller‘s Association in 20 northeastern provinces and three northern provinces since November last year.Rice millers association president Hasdin Suwatanapongches disclosed yesterday that the survey showed jasmine rice production fell to 7.1 million tons, or lower than what the Ministry of Agriculture has earlier projected at 9.9 million tons.

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/jasmine-rice-shortage-hitting-home-price-rising/

https://news.thaivisa.com/article/16950/jasmine-rice-shortage-is-hitting-home-while-price-rising

Quit if job is too hard for you, Malacañang hints at NFA chief

By JOCELYN MONTEMA...

March 01, 2018 PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Harry Roque Jr. yesterday said appointees of President Duterte may consider resigning should they find their jobs difficult to handle. Roque made the statement during an interview over radio dzMM after being asked about the results of the Senate hearing on the National Food Authority‘s rice supply and its declaration about a supposed rice shortage that resulted in panic.He echoed the pronouncements of Sen. Cynthia Villar that the NFA announcement was uncalled for especially since it is not true.He added that it appears there is again some internal row among officials of the NFA.Villar has said NFA Administrator Jason Aquino should not have announced a shortage, and should just have acted on the problem. ―First of all, what they said that there is no rice supply is not true. The position of Senator Villar is also correct that they should not have said it and they should have not made such a declaration because it creates panic among the public,‖ Roque said.―Our call on those in government, especially the appointees of President Duterte is: you are there to serve the public and if you are having difficulties providing services, maybe you can consider finding another career in the private sector,‖ he added.Roque did not elaborate as to who he was referring to but said the NFA Council, headed by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., has decided that the country would be

importing 250,000 metric tons of rice to augment the buffer stock.

The NFA Council early in February announced that there is no rice shortage in the country, even if the buffer stock of the NFA is slowly being depleted. The 250,000 metric tons that will augment the buffer stock is expected to be delivered by June.Roque said the rice supply situation in the country may be among the issues that would be taken up during the next Cabinet meeting on March 5.Sen. Grace Poe joined the call for Aquino to resign for his failure to ensure sufficient supply of cheap rice for the Filipinos.Poe said the Aquino‘s inefficiency has resulted in the shortage of rice in the market, causing its price to skyrocket beyond the reach of poor Filipinos.

She expressed hope the President would be able to find a capable replacement for Aquino.―So if he has delicadeza or a conscience, perhaps he should quit,‖ she added.Poe also questioned Aquino‘s leadership and choice of personnel and his decision to remove personnel from the ports to check on the rice imports.Poe made the call a day after Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV asked Aquino to quit.―We are talking about food security for the poorest Filipino families. We need someone who can get the job done,‖ Aquino said.The NFA administrator admitted during the hearing that the agency has failed to comply with the 15-day buffer stock policy for almost a year. With no lower-priced rice available in the market, prices of rice skyrocketed, making the expensive variety the only available option for Filipinos.The NFA administrator also admitted the country‘s current buffer stock for NFA rice is just 1.7 days. http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/quit-if-job-too-hard-you-malacañanghints-nfa-chief

NFA-La Union assures enough rice supply

BY WILLIAM DEPASUPIL, TMT ON MARCH 1, 2018

SAN JUAN, La Union: The National Food Authority (NFA) here assured the public that there are enough rice stocks in the province until the next importation arrives in June.Fortunato Bulao, NFALa Union provincial manager, said there are 692,453 bags available in the province now, adding that they are expecting production of 115,375 more bags this month.About 250,000 metric tons or 400,000 bags of imported rice have been allocated for Region 1 and expected to arrive in June.

As soon as the supply arrives, 75,000 bags will be set aside for La Union.Bulao said rice consumption of the province at present, according to NFA figure, is 5,800 bags daily or 162,400 bags a month.

The available stocks are expected to last for less than four months or until May this year.

In the NFA warehouse here, some 8,000 bags available, of which 2,000 bags are reserved for emergency relief operations, the reason why the government‘s only option was to import rice.―We are anticipating that the rice importation will come just in time, before the lean months,‖ Bulao said.

The average price of NFA rice in the market is P32 a kilo while the commercial rice is P43.50 a kilo.

The buying price for palay (unhusked rice) is P17.70 a kilo.Meanwhile, farmers in Northern Mindanao urged the national government to stop the ―cartelization‖ of rice supply in the country to stabilize the prices of the prime commodity.

Ireneo Udarbe, regional secretary of the Kilusang Mabubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP), said the prices of rice have gone up to more than P40 per kilo in the market today – in contrast to the usual P30 per kilo last week.Udarbe blamed the rising prices of rice in the local market on private businessmen, particularly the Minimum Access Volume (MAV), a group of big private rice traders, authorized by the government to import rice. ―The MAV is expected to deliver 350,000 metric tons of imported rice any time in February or March this year, but whether the supply could pull down the prices of the rice in the market remains to be seen,‖ Udarbe said.

He added that the government should be responsible for the importation of rice so that prices could be effectively controlled and should not be given to private importers who dictate the prices in the local market.―Allowing the big-time private rice importers to control the supply and prices of rice in the market simply means ‗cartelization‘ of the prime commodity,‖ he added.

In a dialogue with the farmers, NFA Regional Director Fernando Nuñez said the 250,000 metric tons of imported rice from Vietnam and Thailand are expected to arrive in the country in June this year.

Nuñez said the NFA has a buffer rice supply in its warehouses, but is releasing the supply gradually until the imported rice arrives. The KMP also urged the NFA to buy locally produced rice at competitive prices. The NFA is buying the locally produced rice at P 17.00 per kilo while the local rice traders purchase it at P 22.00 per kilo, Udarbe said.Nuñez said the NFA has also recommended to the NFA National Council the increase in the NFA buying price of P 22 per kilo but the council is yet to act on the request. http://www.manilatimes.net/nfa-la-union-assures-enough-rice-supply/383295/

Rice Noodle Market Size, Share, Outlook and Forecast Report 2018

Rice noodles are manufactured using rice and are typically popular in Eastern and Southeast Asian cuisines due to their texture, which is slightly springy and chewy. They have a delicate flavor that goes well with all kinds of sauces and seasonings. This variety of noodles is available

in fresh, dried, or frozen forms, as well as in different shapes and thickness. The global noodles market is currently growing at a steady rate owing to factors like increasing demand for regional and ethnic flavors in noodles, increasing the popularity of Asian cuisines across the globe, growth in the organized retail sector, and others.

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2018 -- The latest study on the Rice Noodle market for the forecast period, 2018 to 2025 classifies the industry into various segments based on the product type, end-use and application. Besides, these segments are assessed in detail by incorporating industry estimates at both the regional as well as country level. This segment evaluation is beneficial in helping stakeholders, business owners and marketing personnel get an understanding of the growth areas and potential opportunities for the Rice Noodle industry. The market intelligence report further covers the competitive landscape of the industry across different regions.

Request for Sample Copy: https://www.marketexpertz.com/sample-enquiry-form/2097 Scope of the Report: The detailed examination of recent developments including collaboration, mergers and acquisitions, investment and product launches have also been performed during the research on the Rice Noodle market. Overview of the gradual shift in the customer preference, spending power, consumption volume and production capability helps business owners understand where the market will be heading in the years to come. Vital statistics on distribution channel and supply chain management across different regions are presented through different resources such as tables, charts and graphic images.

Market Segment: By manufacturers: - JFC International - American Roland Food Corp.

- Eskal - Nan Shing Hsinchu - Cali Food - Nature soy - Mandarin Noodle Manufacturing - Ying Yong Food Products - J.D. Food Products - Leong Guan Food Manufacturer

For Detailed Reading Please visit Reports @ https://www.marketexpertz.com/report-detail/globalrice-noodle-sales-market-report-2018 By geographical regions: United States, China, Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, India By types: - Chinese Style - Western Style - Other By applications: - Direct Consumption - Processing Consumption Buy Report@: https://www.marketexpertz.com/checkout-form/2097 When accessing the major driving forces shaping the progress of the Rice Noodle industry the researchers also focus on the growth of the customer base in various emerging regions.

Advantages offered by the products such as improved shelf life as well as durability and how they are impacting the development of the industry are also assessed during the research. While examining the major restricting factors researchers make an attempt to analyse the strict environmental regulations affecting the market.

The research provides answers to the following key questions: - What is the expected market size, share and development rate of the Rice Noodle industry by 2025?

- What are the prominent market drivers responsible for shaping the progress of the Rice Noodle market worldwide?

- Who are the key market players operating in the Rice Noodle industry and what competencies have they embraced to stay competitive in the market?

- What are the current and emerging trends shaping the development of the market across different nations?

- What are the types of opportunities in store of the business owners in the years to come?

There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Rice Noodle market.

The report is distributed over 15 Chapters to display the analysis of the global Rice Noodle market.

Chapter 1 covers the Rice Noodle Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force; Chapter 2 talks about the top manufacturers and analyses their sales, revenue and pricing decisions for the duration 2018 - 2025; Chapter 3 displays the competitive nature of the market by discussing the competition among the top manufacturers. It dissects the market using sales, revenue and market share data for 2018 2025; Chapter 4, shows the global market by regions and the proportionate size of each market region based on sales, revenue and market share of Rice Noodle, for the period 2018- 2025; Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, are dedicated to the analysis of the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions; Chapter 10 and 11, talk about the application and types of Rice Noodle in the market using the same set of data for the period 2018-2025; Chapter 12 provides the market forecast by regions, types and applications using sales and revenue data for the period 2018-2025; Planning to invest in market intelligence products or offerings on the web? Then marketexpertz has just the thing for you - reports from over 500 prominent publishers and updates on our collection daily to empower companies and individuals catch-up with the vital insights on industries operating across different geography, trends, share, size and growth rate. There's more to what we offer to our customers. With marketexpertz you have the choice to tap into the specialized services without any additional charges.

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Nutritious red rice developed for the U.S.

By Krishna Ramanujan | Jason Koski/University Photography Susan McCouch, professor of plant breeding and genetics, with grains of Scarlett, a new red rice cultivar she co-developed with collaborator Anna McClung, a researcher at the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

February 28, 2018 Jason Koski/University Photography Scarlett is a nutritious whole-grain rice with a nutty, rich flavor.Researchers from Cornell and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service announced today they are releasing a nutritious red rice cultivar that should appeal to people interested in alternative grains.

The new rice, called Scarlett, is whole-grain rice and has a nutty, rich flavor. It is also packed with nutrients: The red bran on the rice has high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids that are common in red-colored grains and fruits, along with naturally produced vitamin E. ―If people find brown rice nutritious and delicious, this rice is even better,‖ said Susan McCouch, professor of plant breeding and genetics, who co-developed Scarlett with collaborator Anna

McClung, director and research leader at the USDA Agricultural Research Service‘s Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

McCouch and her team did the back-crossing between the two parents and the genetic analysis, while McClung did the phenotypic evaluation and made the final breeding selection.

Field trials showed that Scarlett rice is high-yielding and disease-resistant, and also grows extremely well under organic conditions. It is being commercially produced and will be available to the public later this year. ―We‘re working with chefs in South Carolina to come up with some new recipes that will highlight the particular culinary opportunities that the new rice presents,‖ McCouch said.

This is the first time a cultivated rice variety with a red pericarp, the seed‘s bran layer, will be released in the United States. Most red rice in the United States is considered a ―noxious weed‖ because the genes that lead to red pericarp are linked with such unfavorable ―weedy‖ traits as seed dormancy and shattering (where seeds fall easily from stalks), making it hard to get rid of weedy red rice from the field. During the breeding of Scarlett, these linkages were broken, so the red pericarp in the new variety is not accompanied by any weedy characteristics.

Scarlett is a cross between an elite U.S. long-grain tropical japonica variety called ―Jefferson‖ and a strain of Oryza rufipogon, the wild ancestor of Asian rice, collected in Malaysia.

The variety is the outcome of basic research in McCouch‘s lab, investigating the genetics of wild-rice species and exploring crosses between Jefferson and strains of hardy but agronomically poor O. rufipogon. One of the offspring proved to be resilient and high-yielding while retaining its red bran.

To get rid of the weedy traits, researchers repeatedly back-crossed (bred favorable offspring with the Jefferson parent) and selected until they had a variety with long grain, high yield and disease resistance. Along with genetic testing, they ran field trials in eight locations over the last six years to ensure that no hidden wild traits would show up in different growing environments.

Ming-Hsuan Chen, chemist with USDA, determined that the red grain of Scarlett was unique in that it has high levels of various anti-oxidant compounds that have been associated with health benefits in other foods.

Scarlett is adapted to subtropical climates of the southern United States, and similar to growing environments found in Uruguay and Argentina, where it may also be grown. The climates in parts of West Africa and Asia are also favorable, but the grain quality may not be preferred in those cultures, McCouch said. Due in part to the plant‘s flowering time, it is not adapted to the northern United States, but McCouch and McClung may look for lineages that flower earlier and would be suitable for a northern climate.Scarlett is being released as a public variety with no intellectual property restrictions and is royalty free.

http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2018/02/nutritious-red-rice-developed-us