21st october,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

21st October , 2014

Daily Rice News Headlines:                  

News Feature: The truth behind 'Angelica' rice IRRI and partners hold training on modern rice seed production Rice growers wrap up drought-diminished harvest Rice mill sector headed for crisis Rice value chain development in Nigeria and Africa BAAC begins cash handouts to rice farmers DOAE: No help for off-season rice planting in prohibited areas Cambodia promotes rice to international buyers Gambia Spends U.S.$5 Million Annually On Rice Importation, Says Special Adviser On Agriculture TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi- October 21 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 21 DOAE: No help for off-season rice planting in prohibited areas Scholarships available for Ph.D.-level studies in rice science Good investment Reach For Rice!" Rice Bowl Contest Winners Announced USA Rice's Ward Promotes Industry Initiatives at Women in Ag Event CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures Goya Foods to expand West Coast headquarters in Industry

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News Feature: The truth behind 'Angelica' rice Tuesday 21st of October 2014 As the country’s leading institution for rice research, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) develops technologies that will make rice farming truly reviving and rewarding. With its goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency through research and development in rice industry, the Institute keeps on studying and discovering new technologies and breeding new rice varieties that would cater farmers’ needs with concern to climate change.

One of the excellent varieties discovered and approved is the gorgeous NSIC Rc122.NSIC Rc122, popularly known as 'Angelica' rice whom was named after the stunning beauty of the governor of Agusan del Norte, Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante-Matba was finally approved in 2003 by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) from the line designation IR61979-138-1-32-3.In terms of agronomic characteristics, ―Angelica‖ rice has an average yield of 4.7t/ha and a maximum yield of 8.9t/ha.

It matures within 121 days after seeding (DAS), can attain a height of 106 cm, and can produce up to 14 tillers. NSIC Rc122 ―Angelica‖ rice is resistant to the attacks of blast and stem borer and has an intermediate reaction to bacterial leaf blight (BLB), tungro, brown plant hopper (BPH)

and to green leafhopper (GLH). This variety has long grain and has a milling recovery of up to 65.4%.When it comes to eating quality it rates medium that means quite good or even excellent that passed the standards considering the Filipino taste and other criteria before it became a variety.

It started to attract attention in the field after it was released in the year 2003.Seeds of these varieties, along with other cultivars, were requested by and distributed in the dry season of 2005 to members of the Rice Seed Production Network (SeedNet) situated in the provinces of at least ten different regions.For NSIC Rc122 alone, more than 800 kilos of breeder seeds were disposed by PhilRice-CES between January and September of 2004.

The National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS), released the status of NSIC Rc122 (Angelica) rice seed production in the year 2013 dry season covering the whole Caraga region. As of March 26, 2014 data shows that in terms of area there were 0.08ha planted with NSIC Rc122 breeder seeds, 6.5ha planted with foundatio and 8ha planted with registered seeds.In previous year’s first cropping season, it is noted that there are seven hectares of land planted with NSIC Rc122 (Angelica) registered seeds and it doubled to 14 hectares in the cropping season in that same year 2013.

Meanwhile, the beauty and popularity of ―Angelica‖ rice still linger in the heart, mind and field of the rice farmers especially in Caraga because to them it’s not an ordinary rice variety as it is but the persona behind is worthy to be named and remembered as such. (Ginalyn V. Arbutante, PhilRice Agusan/PIA-Agusan del Norte)

IRRI and partners hold training on modern rice seed production International Rice Institute | Updated: 10/20/2014

Research

The International Rice Research Institute, in collaboration with Banaras Hindu University (BHU), the Directorate of Seed Research (DSR), and the National Seed Research and Technology Centre (NSRTC), organized an international hands-on training on quality rice seed production at BHU, Varanasi, India, on Oct. 6-10.The aim of the training was to improve the skills of researchers and trainers in quality seed production and discuss seed production problems encountered by farmers, researchers, and pertinent agencies.

The training included a series of lectures by eminent scientists and experts on varied topics on seed production, quality control, new innovations in seed research, postharvest technologies, and storage.Thirty participants from 10 South and Southeast Asian countries attended the training.

Participants were exposed to a two-day rigorous hands-on field to nursery bed

preparation, seed cleaning, field preparation, transplanting, rouging, among others.

Rakesh Kumar Singh, senior scientist at IRRI and training coordinator, and Dr. P.K. Singh, professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, BHU demonstrated panicle selection, emasculation, tagging and bagging.

Participants also visited the seed processing unit of the university and apprised about seed processing techniques. The team visited the demonstration field and various laboratories at DSR for an overview of new seed management research and technologies.Despite the use of modern production technologies it is still a great challenge to bridge the yield gap as average yield lies much below the attainable yield of rice varieties in the region.

The seed being the basic input in agriculture, good quality seed alone can increase grain yield by 5-20%. In view of the importance of quality seed in enhancing rice productivity.―It is important to ensure the purity of seed and availability of quality seed to cater the growing demand and increase the rice production,‖ said Prof. Ravi Pratap Singh, director of the Institute of Agricultural Sciences at BHU, during his opening remarks. ―Optimization of water management technologies is also important to harness the potentials of high yielding rice varieties.‖Dr. Umesh S. Singh, IRRI senior scientist and

STRASA South Asia Regional Project coordinator applauded the contribution of BHU in rice research and thanked the University for providing valuable support to the training.

Rice growers wrap up droughtdiminished harvest

―It is important to tone and rebind, time and again the mechanism of quality seed production,‖ said Dr. U.S. Singh.Mukesh Gautam, managing director, Uttar Pradesh Seed Development Corporation, distributed

Published: October 21, 2014 4:53PM

certificates to the participants at the end of the training. He also shared his insights on quality seed production and processing. ―Production and productivity of rice increased considerably over the last 2-3 years in Uttar Pradesh with higher seed replacement rate,‖ Dr. Gautam. ―The STRASA model is fine example of adoption of new technologies that increased rice yield in very short time.‖The training was concluded with vote of thanks by Dr. Manzoor Hussain Dar, senior associate acientist at IRRI. Among the dignitaries who attended the event were Dr. S. Rajendra Prasad, director, DSR; Dr. R.K.

Tim Hearden Capital Press

PHOTO COURTESY CFBF/AG ALERT

Farmer Greg Van Dyke harvestts short-grain rice in a field in Pleasant Grove, Calif.

Growers in many areas are wrapping up their rice harvest, with early varieties showing the best yields.

California rice farmers are wrapping up their harvest of a crop that's expected to be 23 percent smaller than last year's.

Good yields on many of the acres that were planted will help make up at least a small part of the loss of revenue, as will sales of rice straw.WILLIAMS, Calif. — As rice growers in California wrap up their harvest of a drought-diminished crop, good yields and more widespread sales of rice straw are helping them to at least partly make up for lost acreage.

Trivedi, director, NSRTC, Varanasi, and deputy commissioner for Quality Control, Ministry of Agriculture; and Dr. A. Vaishmapayan, dean of the College of Agriculture, BHU.The training on quality rice seed production was supported by STRASA, CURE, GRiSP, IRRI, BHU, and Trukai Industries Ltd, Papua New Guinea.

The rice harvest was 85 percent complete as of Oct. 19, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Leo LaGrande, a grower here, finished work over the weekend and said his yields deteriorated as the season went along.―We

had some fields that looked good earlier and we thought it would be better, but it didn’t quite mature to the yields we wanted,‖ he said. ―I would call it an average year for us.‖But yields remained strong for Marysville, Calif., grower Charley Mathews, who also finished harvesting last weekend, he said. Good weather during crop development led to rice that grew tall and went flat, making for slow going during harvest, he said. ―It helps,‖ Mathews said of the big yields. ―The yields might be up ahead of last year’s state average, but not enough to close the gap in our shortfall (in acreage).‖California rice growers are expected to produce 36.8 million hundredweight, down 23 percent from last year, NASS estimated. About 140,000 acres of rice went unplanted this year because of water shortfalls — a 25 percent decrease from last year’s crop, according to the California Farm Bureau Federation.LaGrande had to leave about one-quarter of his land unplanted, he said.―We thought we were very fortunate because some of our neighbors had to leave 100 percent out,‖ he said.However, the yield forecast of 8,000 pounds per acre would be a 1 percent increase from last year and would tie records set in 2004 and 2008, according to NASS’ office in Sacramento.

The optimistic outlook for yields follows a spring planting season that was more drawnout than usual because exchange contractors along the Sacramento River agreed to space out their water delivery schedules to maintain the right river temperatures for winter run salmon.Rice is typically planted between mid-April and mid-May, with harvests coming six months later, but many growers didn’t get started until mid-May and were still planting in June. Those that were still harvesting this week ran into a

rainstorm on Oct. 20 that stopped their work.While farmers welcome the rain, their water worries aren’t over. Many are unsure if there will be enough water to decompose rice straw left in fields.

Willows, Calif., grower Larry Maben may pump water from wells into his fields after harvest if there isn’t enough rain, which is ―an awfully expensive source of water,‖ he said.―It’s going to be kind of a balancing act,‖ Maben said.With not as much water available for decomposition, more producers are baling and selling straw ―than I’ve ever seen,‖ said Mathews, who’s on the USA Rice Federation’s executive committee.University of California researchers reached out to growers this summer to promote converting their rice straw into ―strawlage,‖ a feed that the scientists say is on a par with a low-quality alfalfa.

UC Cooperative Extension advisors said the straw would be a good alternative for livestock producers confronted with feed shortages because of the drought.The straw can also be used for erosion control in forest fire recovery projects, Mathews said. While decomposition helps the soil, growers can make up for the lack of straw by adding nutrients before planting next spring, he said.LaGrande said he’ll probably bale 60 percent of his rice straw, the majority of which will be fed to cattle.―It’s huge,‖ he said. ―I think the dairy industry is grabbing onto it more every year. And this year with the drought, some cattlemen who really never tried rice straw before are buying into it. At $300 a ton for alfalfa or $40 a ton for rice straw, you’re going to try it.‖

Rice mill sector headed for crisis

DC CORRESPONDENT | October 21, 2014, 02.10 am IST Barely one third of the 200 raw rice units and 12 of the 32 parboiled units are

functioning in the district Khammam: The rice mill sector in the district is headed for a crisis. A majority of the rice mills are on the verge of closure. The agrarian crisis on one hand, coupled with no minimum support pledge by the government and the power holidays have impacted the rice mills, particularly parboiled mills to the extent that their revival seems an impossibility.

The situation is such that barely one third of the 200 raw rice units and 12 of the 32 parboiled units are functioning in the district. With the big parboiled mills turning sick, about 3,000 people have been deprived of work, while the closure of raw rice mills has affected an equal number of hamalis. Adding to the problems is the fact that the Food Corporation of India has said that it would take only 25 per cent of the rice production as levy from this year. R. Venkateswara Rao, a rice miller, said that the decision of the Centre on levy is a huge blow to rice mills in the state. He said that they explained the problem to the state government already and plan to approach the Centre too.

Millers found themselves at the receiving end mainly because of the fall in the demand for boiled rice outside Telangana state.Rice production was up in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Odisha and this has affected the local market. Production of finer varieties of raw rice was also affected in Khammam district because of the delayed supply of water to the command area of Nagarjunasagar left canal

Rice value chain development in Nigeria and Africa 21.Oct.2014 DISQUS_COMMENTS Francis Nwilene

Dr

Nigeria is the largest producer of rice in West Africa sub-region. Today, rice is no longer a luxury food to millions of Nigerians but has become the cereal that constitutes a major source of calories for the rural and urban population with demand growing at an annual rate of 5%. Urbanization, changes in employment patterns, income levels, and rapid population growth have significantly contribution to widening the gap between supply and demand in Nigeria.

The rate of population increase demands a marching increase in food production at levels that must meet demands. Rice is one crop in which Nigeria can easily become self-sufficient given the huge potential that exists in the country.

The potential land area for rice production in Nigeria is 5 million ha. Out of this, only about 2 million ha—or 40% of the available

land area—is presently cropped for rice.The main production ecologies for rice in Nigeria are rainfed lowland, rainfed upland, irrigated lowland, deep water/floating and mangrove swamp. Amongst these, lowland rice has the highest priority being the ecology that represents the largest share of rice area and rice production. Small-scale farmers with farm holdings of less than 1 hactare cultivate most of the rice produced in Nigeria.

However, rice productivity and production at the farm level are constrained by several factors.

These constraints include insufficient appropriate technologies, among others. A recent assessment of the Nigerian rice sector showed that the challenges facing the development of the sector are basically threefold: high rice production costs, poor rice quality and uncertain policy and market environment.

Where are we coming from?

rainfed agriculture. Africa has the potential to irrigate 20% of its arable land (only 4% is currently irrigated).

In Nigeria, only 0.8% is currently irrigated compared to Thailand’s 28%.Mechanization: The low level of mechanization in Nigerian agriculture has continued to serve as a huge challenge towards advancing the sector, as the high cost of land clearing is a major disincentive for the expansion of cultivated area, especially in the southern parts of the country due to the dense vegetation. The number of tractors per 100 square kilometres in Nigeria is less than 10, in comparison to over 728 in the UK, 257 in the USA, 200 in India, 130 in Brazil, and 125 in the Philippines.Infrastructure: Most food products were unable to find their way to markets due to weak market information, high transport costs and poor road infrastructure and networks.

The Green Revolution that transformed Asia from a land of hopelessness into a land of economic growth did not happen in subSaharan Africa (SSA) because many African countries after independence did not give priority to agriculture and have no comprehensive agricultural strategy. Their focus was on import of agricultural products to close the gap between production and consumption. Also Africans were unable to compete in the following areas:

Capacity building: Most of the experienced rice scientists in the NARS programs are aging. Majority of people engaged in agriculture have limited access to training.

Our agricultural graduates are not in the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutions or on the farms.Policy environment: Most policies of the government were inappropriate and inconsistent. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems (NARES) are inadequate and under-financed.

Agricultural inputs: In Africa, rice farmers have little or no access to farm inputs such as fertilizers and seeds. On average, 13 kg of fertilizer are applied per hectare in Nigeria compared with about 100 kg in Asia and over 150 kg in the developed countries.Production systems: The focus of Nigeria production systems has been on

The important lessons that Africa can draw from the Asian Green Revolution is that the development of high-yielding varieties could not have alone boosted India’s rice production in the 1960s that led to its Green Revolution, but a combination of success factors that included the Government’s

decision to support its rice farmers by providing fertiliser subsidy, price support, a ready market, in addition to facilities such as irrigation, roads, and machinery.

Possibility of replicating Revolution in Africa

Green

The international agricultural research centres (IARCs) and partners have contributed their quota in trying to replicate a green revolution in Africa. The New Rice for Africa (NERICA), developed by AfricaRice and its partners is one such example. Today, NERICA is a symbol of hope for millions of rice farmers in Africa.

A technological breakthroughs against the cassava mealy-bug by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is bringing farmers benefit worth over 2 billion dollars today.

2008 food crisis in Africa The food crisis in 2008 provided the wakeup call for African countries that we must begin to do things differently and that the days of imported food are over. It also pointed to the fact that we need to refocus and redouble our efforts to build strong and resilient rice sector.

Rescue mission: What must be done?

Courtesy of the value chain approach, the Federal Government of Nigeria embarked on an aggressive Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) for rice and other food crops. The goal of Agricultural Transformation Agenda is not only about providing food security for Nigerians, it is also about building an industrialized, highgrowth diversified economy that will create jobs for our youths and create wealth for millions of our smallholder farmers.

Consortium approach for agricultural development To help lift our farmers out of the poverty trap, the FMARD needs committed partnerships from all major stakeholders which include Nigerian institutions (research institutions, universities, banks, private sectors–Notore, agro processors, plant quarantine, NASC, seed companies, State governments, farmers), donors – IFAD, AfDB, USAID, FGN); NGOs – Catholic Relief Services, Sasakawa Global 2000; and IARCs – AfricaRice, IITA, ICRISAT. There is no way they can do it all alone.

Major achievements of the rice value chain 1. Seed production Good quality seed of improved high yielding rice varieties is required to bring about the desired attainment of rice sufficiency in Nigeria. Through the RTA, farmer access to seed of improved rice varieties has increased considerably.

The number of accredited and active seed companies has risen from 25 in 2011 to 65 in 2014.

2. Agricultural inputs The fertiliser and seed sectors reform gave birth to the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES). Currently, over 6 million rice farmers have been registered across the country. Of the 6 million farmers, about 3 million have received improved rice seeds and fertilizer under the GES. The GES is a partnership programme between the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and state governments. The scheme allows farmers to receive a 50% (25% by FGN and 25% by state) subsidy on a maximum of two bags of

fertilizer. The subsidy is to go from state to farmer directly. Farmers can pay either via a mobile phone platform called the ―e-wallet‖ or by the voucher systems for those who cannot access the mobile phone platform.

3. Mechanisation Appropriate, low-cost machinery for postharvest activity has to be developed or introduced and adapted to local conditions for efficient large-scale rice production in Nigeria.

For example, AfricaRice successfully trained 24 local fabricators from 13 manufacturing companies in Nigeria at the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM), Ilorin, Kwara State, in December, 2013.

The establishment of the 1,200 private sector driven Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) across the states is a major boost to large scale rice production in the country.

For the first time, a road map on the Rice Transformation Action Plan (RTAP) was prepared by the FMARD to guide major stakeholders in the rice sector. The present RTA has political commitment from the highest level. Fifty two Paddy Aggregation Centers (PACs) are in the offer to improve paddy supply to integrated mills. New rice policy to combat smuggling of rice has been approved (to bridge the demand-supply gap) and it is skewed to favour investors with verifiable backward integration.

7. Branding and marketing It is important to recognise that uniform paddy is required for milling, polishing, and branding of local rice. The RTA has supported the roll-out of high quality local rice by Ebony Rice, Ashi Rice, Mikap Rice and Umza Rice, whose products satisfied consumer expectations.

Challenges of the rice value chain

5. Capacity building

The total national rice seed output production by seed companies is estimated at 73,585 MT, thus leaving a deficit of 226,415 MT to meet national requirements of 300,000 MT. Newly established integrated mills are still facing problems in infrastructure and power supply; paddy not easily accessible by some millers because it exists in pockets around villages and across regions.

To create jobs for our teaming youths, the youth and women empowerment division has been set up within the FMARD because they will be the farmers and food processors of tomorrow. They must have modern equipment and tools to do their job – youth agribusiness. They must be linked to the global storehouse of knowledge.

In conclusion, the rice sector in Nigeria needs to be controlled by the private sector, with no government interference except in regulation and certification. Lowering taxes on inputs and equipment should be some of the supportive fiscal policies put in place.

There must be banks for agricultural lending to genuine farmers and committed

4. Rice processing facilities Cottage mills cannot produce the higher quality rice demanded by consumers. Are there enough integrated rice mills in Nigeria? The answer is no! For Nigerian rice to compete with imported rice from Asia and America, we need about 100 integrated rice mills in the country.

6. Rice policy

partnerships (trust, win-win, equity) from all major players in the rice supply chain.

branches will transfer the money directly to the accounts of the farmers by Nov 10.

Being an abridged paper presented Dr Nwilene, Regional Representative, Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), at the 38th annual conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) last week.

BAAC President Luck Wajananawat said the cabinet approved the subsidies to help farmers cope with the low prices of rice. The bank will pay subsidies totaling about Bt40 billion to 3.49 million households of rice growers in the 2014/2015 crop season.The payment is starting in eight provinces where farmers’ registrations are ready.They are Phitsanulok, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Lop Buri, Khon Kaen, Si Sa Ket, Surin, and Maha Sarakham provinces.All payment will be completed within Nov 30.

BAAC begins cash handouts to rice farmers Tuesday, 21 October 2014By MCOT

BANGKOK, Oct 20 The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) began cash handouts to rice farmers today at Bt1,000 per rai (1,600 square meters) of paddy fields to help offset costs. Some 3.4 million households will benefit from the scheme.The payment disbursements for poor rice growers started in a lively manner at the BAAC's Pho Thale district branch in Phichit province earlier today.

About 1,300 farmers were set to receive subsidies worth altogether Bt18 million there today.In Khon Kaen province, payments began at the BAAC's Nong Rua branch.About 166,000 families of rice growers in Khon Kaen will obtain subsidies worth altogether Bt2.34 billion.In Kamphaeng Phet province, 2,990 farmers were scheduled to receive subsidies of Bt42 million today.About 46,000 rice growers are registered there and 17 local BAAC

DOAE: No help for off-season rice planting in prohibited areas BANGKOK, 21 October 2014 (NNT) – Mr. Olarn Phitak, Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has reminded farmers in 26 provinces in the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins that they are prohibited from off-season rice planting during this dry season.

The prohibition is contained in a cabinet resolution on 14 October 2014 when reports were made to the Cabinet that the volume of water in the country’s main dams and reservoirs had dropped to the lowest level in 15 years. The Director-General warns that farmers who do not abide by the decision will not receive any financial assistance from the government in case their agricultural products are affected by the drought disaster. However, he said that the government has already devised principal

and supplementary measures to help the farmers in the two Basins earn substitution income.

and to exchange experience on rice production and market among experts," he said at a press briefing after the forum.

The principal measure calls for farmers to apply for jobs in canal maintenance currently provided by the Royal Irrigation Department. Or they can opt to supplementary measures which include jobs in livestock and fishery sectors, taking vocational training or trying cultivation of less water-consuming plants. Farmers can choose both options, but may take only one of the supplementary measures because the government wants to make sure that the assistance will cover nearly 400,000 farmers in 11.7 million rai of farmland in the two river basins.

He added that Cambodian fragrant rice is famous for its delicious flavor, and the rice was awarded the world's best rice for two consecutive years at the Global Rice Tasting Competitions held in Indonesia in 2012 and in China's Hong Kong in 2013.With more than 80 percent of the population being farmers, Cambodia produced 9.4 million tonnes of paddy rice last year. With the amount, it has over 3 million tonnes of milled rice left over for exports this year.

Cambodia promotes rice to international buyers (Globalpost/GlobalPost) Advertisement Cambodia promotes rice to international buyers PHNOM PENH, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -Cambodia held the 4th rice forum on Tuesday with an aim to promote milled rice to local and international buyers, an organizer said.Potential buyers from China, Singapore, Nigeria, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Iraq, South Africa, the United States, Italy, Poland, Germany, India, and Myanmar were invited for the event, said Te Taing Por, president of the Federation of Cambodian Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises."The conference was to promote Cambodian rice

In 2010, the country set its goal toward exporting one million tonnes of milled rice by 2015.An official data showed that during the first nine months of this year, Cambodia exported 269,370 tonnes of milled rice, up only 1.2 percent compared to the same period last year.Some 77 companies have brokered Cambodian rice for 57 countries and regions around the world.France, Poland, Malaysia, the Netherlands and China are the main buyers.

Copyright 2014 Xinhua News Agency.

Xinhua is China's state-run news agency.

All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Gambia Spends U.S.$5 Million Annually On Rice Importation, Says Special Adviser On Agriculture

By Abdoulie Nyockeh Professor Wale Adekunle, the special adviser to President Yahya Jammeh on agricultural issues, has said The Gambia's annual import bill on rice from Thailand and India stands at US$50 million.Prof. Wale, who came to The Gambia three weeks ago from Nigeria and is in the country as a special adviser to the Gambian leader on agricultural issues, was speaking during a two-day field visit of meetings with farmers and regional agricultural directors, project coordinators andthe permanent secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, at the Chamen Seed Multiplication Centre in NBR and Garawol village in URR.

thought it wise to ensure that this unfavourable situation is brought to an end.

The field visits were spearheaded by the office of the Director General Department of Agriculture, for technicians to meet with farmers and share knowledge, learn best practices in improving agricultural production and productivity, as well as to popularize Vision 2016 declared by President Yahya Jammeh.Professor Wale raised great concern over the huge amount of money countries like Nigeria, Ghana and The Gambia are spending on rice importation annually from Thailand and India.

Professor Wale said it is not impossible to accomplish Vision 2016 and end rice importation to The Gambia.He expressed optimism that The Gambia "will achieve the Vision 2016 initiated by the President".All what is needed is commitment, hard work, devotion and unity, as well as taking ownership of the vision for the development of the country, Professor Wale asserted."I have no doubt that with the kind of leadership that The Gambia has, the vision will be attained," he emphasised.Speaking at one of the sites, Professor Wale said his mission to the Gambian leader on agricultural issues is about Vision 2016 pronounced by President Jammeh to end rice importation into the country.

Nigeria alone is spending US$5 billion to import rice every year, Ghana one million dollars and Gambia US$50 million from Thailand and India, he said.The importation of this rice is not free of charge, but is money from farming and salaries that are used to import rice from Thailand, he added."Therefore,we are creating more opportunities for Thailand making them build storage buildingsand shelters through our money, while the rice imported is not even of quality to our health," he said.Considering the huge amount of money that is spent annually on rice importation from other countries, the Gambian leader

The President, Prof Wale noted, decided to introduce Vision 2016 to end the decadeslong rice importation into The Gambia by using "our own resource to produce high yields of rice, and put more money into the pocket of farmers of this country"."We are looking at how to plant rice three times a year by January in The Gambia. We are going to use the tidal irrigation, and will alsouse pump irrigation where possible," he said.

Vision 2016 attainable

Professor Wale, a Nigerian who has worked in many countries in the world including America, as well as spent 7 years in Ghana, is now in The Gambia where he would stay for two years."Vision 2016 is the latest vision and people are sceptical whether this vision is attainable, but with the political will of the Gambian people and the courage from the President, this vision will be achieved," the Professor said.Hereminded Gambians to recall that when the President Jammeh took over the country, Banjul

International Airport was not a standard airport whilst the people were yearning for a befitting airport.Whilst the effort was being made for the country to get a standard airport, some people were sceptical about it.

"Despite all those critics, the President was able to build and transform Banjul International Airport to a standard airport," Professor Wale recalled."Again Gambians said they needed a TV station and some said he is a dreamer, and the President did it," Professor Wale recounted.He further said that when the Gambian leader stated that there was need for a university in The Gambia so that Gambian children would not go to Nkrumah University in Ghana or other countries,many said it would not happen, but the President did it and has attained a very standard university in The Gambia."Today the President is talking about Vision 2016, but many are saying it would not be possible including some African presidents; but by the grace of Almighty Allah with the kind of leadership that The Gambia has the vision will be achieved," Professor Wale assured Gambians.

TABLE-India Grain PricesDelhi- October 21 Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:49pm IST Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi Tel: 011 2619 1464 Indicative Previous Grains opening close (in rupees per 100 kg unless stated) --------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi 1,900-2,600 1,900-2,600.

Wheat Dara 1,600-1,750 1,600-1,750.

Roller Mill (per bag) 1,700-1,800 1,750-1,800.

Maida (per bag) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900.

Sooji (per bag) 2,050-2,150 2,000-2,100.

Rice Basmati(Common) 7,600-8,400 7,600-8,400.

Rice Permal 2,050-2,300 2,100-2,300.

Rice Sela 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700.

I.R.-8 1,800-1,950 1,9002,000.

Gram 2,950-3,500 2,950-3,500.

Peas Green 2,300-2,900 2,300-2,900.

Peas White 2,300-3,500 2,300-3,700.

Bajra 1,200-1,400 1,200-1,400.

Jowar white 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600.

Maize 1,200-1,400 1,200-1,400.

Barley 1,500-1,650 1,500-1,650.

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- October 21 Tue Oct 21, 2014 3:47pm IST Nagpur, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Gram prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) firmed up again on renewed festival season demand from local millers amid tight supply from producing regions. Healthy rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries from South-based millers also boosted prices, according to sources.

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FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Desi gram raw recovered further in open market increased seasonal buying support from local traders amid thin supply from producing belts.

TUAR * Tuar varieties ruled steady here matching the demand and supply and position. * Batri dal zoomed up in open market on good demand from local traders amid restricted arrival from producing regions. * In Akola, Tuar - 4,600-4,700, Tuar dal 7,100-7,400, Udid at 7,000-7,200, Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,800-8,100, Moong - 6,900-7,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 8,300-9,000, Gram - 2,600-2,800, Gram Super best bold - 3,600-3,900 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading activity, according to sources.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/openmarket prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS prices Previous close Gram Auction 2,420-3,010 Gram Pink Auction 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,950-4,200 Moong Auction 5,200-5,500

Available 2,500-3,045 n.a. n.a. n.a.

Udid Auction n.a.

4,3004,500 Masoor Auction n.a.

2,600-2,800 Gram Super Best Bold 3,8504,200 3,850-4,200 Gram Super Best n.a.

Gram Medium Best 3,650-3,750 3,650-3,750 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.

Gram Mill Quality 3,450-3,550 3,450-3,550 Desi gram Raw 2,900-2,950 2,850-2,900 Gram Filter new 3,200-3,600 3,200-3,600 Gram Kabuli 8,500-9,800 8,500-9,800 Gram Pink 7,200-7,400 7,200-7,400 Tuar Fataka Best 7,400-7,600 7,400-7,600 Tuar Fataka Medium 7,150-7,250 7,150-7,250 Tuar Dal Best Phod 7,100-7,200 7,100-7,200 Tuar Dal Medium phod 6,8007,000 6,800-7,000 Tuar Gavarani 5,050-5,100 5,050-5,100 Tuar Karnataka 5,500-5,600 5,500-5,600 Tuar Black 8,300-8,600 8,300-8,600 Masoor dal best 6,700-6,800 6,700-6,800 Masoor dal medium 6,500-6,600 6,500-6,600 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold 9,000-9,800 9,000-9,800 Moong Mogar Medium best 8,2008,600 8,200-8,600 Moong dal super best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,200

Moong dal Chilka 7,500-7,700 7,500-7,700 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 7,000-8,500 7,000-8,500 Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-8,200 8,000-8,200 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,900-7,500 6,900-7,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,700 6,200-6,700 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,800 4,000-4,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 2,9003,100 2,900-3,100 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,2003,400 3,200-3,400 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,2503,350 3,250-3,350 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,400-5,200 4,400-5,200 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,2001,500 1,200-1,500 Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,750 1,700-1,750 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,3001,500 1,300-1,500 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,450 2,100-2,450 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,000 1,850-2,000 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 2,8003,200 2,800-3,200 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,350 1,950-2,350 Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,2001,300 1,200-1,300 Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,5001,800 1,500-1,800 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,0003,500 3,000-3,500 Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,7001,900 1,700-1,900

Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,600 2,300-2,600 Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400 Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,800 4,800-5,800 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,200-13,300 10,200-13,300 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,200-9,800 7,200-9,800 Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,2005,700 5,200-5,700 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,400-1,600 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,7001,800 1,700-1,800 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 35.0 degree Celsius (95.0 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

20.0 degree Celsius (68.0 degree Fahrenheit) Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : 0.0 mm FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 20 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

ATTN : Soyabean mandi and wholesale foodgrain market of Nagpur APMC will be closed between Wednesday and Saturday on the occasion of Diwali.

DOAE: No help for off-season rice planting in prohibited areas

BANGKOK, 21 October 2014 (NNT) – Mr. Olarn Phitak, Director-General of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has reminded farmers in 26 provinces in the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong river basins that they are prohibited from off-season rice planting during this dry season. The prohibition is contained in a cabinet resolution on 14 October 2014 when reports were made to the Cabinet that the volume of water in the country’s main dams and reservoirs had dropped to the lowest level in 15 years.

The Director-General warns that farmers who do not abide by the decision will not receive any financial assistance from the government in case their agricultural products are affected by the drought disaster. However, he said that the government has already devised principal and supplementary measures to help the farmers in the two Basins earn substitution income. The principal measure calls for farmers to apply for jobs in canal maintenance currently provided by the Royal Irrigation Department.

Or they can opt to supplementary measures which include jobs in livestock and fishery sectors, taking vocational training or trying cultivation of less water-consuming plants.

Farmers can choose both options, but may take only one of the supplementary measures because the government wants to make sure that the assistance will cover nearly 400,000 farmers in 11.7 million rai of farmland in the two river basins.

Scholarships available for Ph.D.-level studies in rice science on 16 October 2014.

Calling all scientists in the early stages of their careers who want to help feed half the world. You are encouraged to apply for the Global Rice Science Scholarships (GRiSS) for Ph.D.-level study and research in various areas of rice science.GRiSS envisions a new generation of rice scientists who will take on leadership roles in the global fight against poverty and hunger. More than 3.5 billion people—half of humanity—rely on rice as food or livelihood.The increasing cost of higher education and the huge decline in enrollment in agriculture programs are two big hurdles that international efforts for food security need to overcome.

The "best and the brightest" who wish to dedicate their professional lives to helping secure food for the world must be empowered to do so, and this is what the GRiSS program seeks to accomplish.

GRiSS is implemented under the IRRIled Global Rice Science Partnership (GRiSP), which coordinates global research efforts on rice. It aims to increase global technical and research capacity to address major problems in rice production. romising agricultural scientists can avail of this opportunity to develop their expertise and leadership in an area of rice science.In 2011, the GRiSP host institutions—the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), AfricaRice,International Center for

Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Agricultural Research for Development(CIRAD), and Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD—were given funding to support 31 scholars from Asia (17), Africa (9), South America (4), and Europe (1).

materials can be found here. You may also email for an application packet.

Good investment

Winner, winner rice bowl dinner!

Phung Thi Phuong Nhung, IRD-CIRAD Ph.D. scholar, started a research project in 2011 on identifying new genes associated with root developmental traits in a core collection of Vietnamese rice varieties. She has recently identified 214 varieties and grouped them based on their root systems."I feel very lucky to have been chosen as a scholar," she says.

"This has allowed me to finish my data collection." Nhung’s work is important because water scarcity is an imminent threat to rice production because of climate change. By 2025, about 15–20 million hectares of irrigated rice will suffer some degree of water scarcity and Nhung’s findings could very well be part of the solution, and is a major return on investment.

Apply now The GRiSS scholarships are open for applications until 30 November 2014. More information, requirements, and application

Reach For Rice!" Rice Bowl Contest Winners Announced Wild and Brown Roasted Grape Rice Bowl

ARLINGTON, VA-Today the USA Rice Federation announced that Cheryl Snavely of Hagerstown, Maryland was the recipient of the grand prize in the "Reach for Rice" consumer recipe contest. Her dish was the delicious and healthy Wild and Brown Roasted Grape Bowl. The contest, which was promoted through social media platforms, instructed participants to submit an original rice bowl recipe during the month of September in honor of National Rice Month.

Rice bowls are quickly gaining traction as a popular meal time staple. The New York Times recently wrote that rice bowls "are visually inviting, with grains, vegetables, protein and well-chosen condiments together in one vessel and arranged into a vibrant, colorful tableau."

More than 80 unique rice bowl recipes were submitted to the "Reach for Rice" contest, featuring a wide variety of ingredients.

Snavely ultimately won the top spot for her simple-to-prepare, yet complex on the palate, Wild and Brown Roasted Grape Bowl.

Snavely is a full-time sales representative with a passion for cooking. She has won recipe contests in the past for her creative and tasty dishes. "I love this rice bowl," she said. "It is a great potluck dish for family gatherings or holidays. It is equally good warm or room temperature and even cold the next day!" Second prize was awarded for Beer, Brats, and Rice Bowl, while third place went to the Mediterranean Breakfast Kale Rice Bowl.

Contact: Colleen Klemczewski (703) 2361446

USA Rice's Ward Promotes Industry Initiatives at Women in Ag Event Girl in rice field One day all of this will be hers WASHINGTON DC -- Yesterday, USA Rice Federation president and CEO Betsy Ward particiapted in an invitation-only USDA event, "Dialogue on Women Leaders in Agriculture," intended to identify ways to recruit, retain, and promote women to leadership positions in agriculture. The event, organized by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, and the Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council Cecilia Munoz, included both female farmers and company and trade association leaders who shared their experiences managing farms and ranches, leading agricultural policy, and

working at the helm of agribusinesses."The session was valuable in advancing the conversation about women in agriculture, especially when you consider that women are the most rapidly growing segment of the ag landscape," said Ward.

She pointed to USDA statistics that the number of farms and ranches owned and operated by women has been steadily increasing, from 5.2 percent of all farms in 1978, to 9 percent in 1997, and up to 14 percent today - which outpaces the growth in the number of farmers overall.

Ward shared with the participants, including Secretary Vilsack, her belief that finding effective mentors is essential. She highlighted the role of the Rice Leadership Program and the National Rice Month Scholarship, among other programs, that the U.S. rice industry utilizes to identify and mentor the next generation of women leaders in the industry.

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for October 21

Month

Price

Net Change

November 2014

$12.555

+0.055

January 2015

$12.715

+0.065

March 2015

$12.975

+$0.060

May 2015

$13.170

+$0.060

July 2015

$13.350

+$0.060

September 2015

$12.715

+$0.060

November 2015

$12.690

+$0.060

Goya Foods to expand West Coast headquarters in Industry

By Kevin Smith, San Gabriel Valley Tribune POSTED: 10/20/14, 6:07 PM PDT | Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, will unveil its newly expanded West Coast headquarters on Thursday with a new facility and distribution center in Industry.The 250,000-square-foot facility at 14500 Proctor Ave. will boost Goya’s distribution capabilities of healthy and authentic Latin food and strengthen the company’s position and growth in the West.

The new operation is about a mile and a half from the company’s former 68,000-squarefoot facility.Robert A. Unanue, who spearheaded the expansion of Goya California and whose great grandfather Don

Prudencio founded Goya Foods in 1936, said the extra room is definitely needed.―Based on our current sales and the influence of Latin culture on the food industry it’s an opportune time to expand in California, a marketable region that represents high-growth for Goya,‖ said Unanue, Goya’s emerging markets manager. ―The new California facility will allow us to accelerate our reach and secure our position in one of the top regions of the United States while simultaneously allowing us to focus on the expansion of our healthy product lines.‖The new facility will serve as Goya’s West Coast hub, servicing the company’s operations in California, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. It’s part of Goya’s $300 million global expansion, which also includes new facilities in Texas, Georgia and New Jersey.

The new Industry headquarters features increased capacity for packing and freezing and railroad transportation that strategically runs through the West Coast and links to Goya’s new facility in Houston, Texas. The Industry operation currently employs about 90 workers and that will likely be boosted to 100, Goya spokeswoman Oralia Michel said.Goya manufactures packages and distributes more than 2,200 food products from Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

As part of Goya’s 2011 collaboration with first lady Michelle Obama’s MyPlate/MiPlato campaign, Goya has focused on expanding its healthy product lines which include everything from low sodium and organic beans, organic rice and brown rice to diet beverages.

For Advertising SPECS & RATES Contact: Advertising Department Mujahid Ali mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com +92 321 369 2874