27th october,2014 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

27th October, 2014

Rice News Headlines:                  

Mandya scientists to present research papers in Bangkok IRRI's new breeding factory Women who moved mountains.

Rice revival in the land of maize Adding value to Africa’s rice Keeping rice arsenic free 2014 Senadhira awardee is Filipino NBRI celebrates annual day Stomach Infrastructure: Ekiti rice processors, millers, growers task Fayose UQ scientists help unlock the secrets of photosynthesis Two scientists, two blockbuster crop varieties Thai govt offers loans to farmers to delay rice sales Louisiana soybean yield reported as one of the best Research and Markets: European Rice Market Report 2014 Analysis and Forecast to 2020 2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference Rice Production: Nigeria to Surpass 2015 Targeted 20 Million Metric Tons by December 2014 – Jonathan PhilRice facility uses nipa to power up towns Filipinos urged to stop wasting rice

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News Detail….

Mandya scientists to present research papers in Bangkok M. T. Shiva Kumar

Two scientists from Zonal Agricultural Research Station (ZARS), V.C. Farm, on the outskirts of the city, will present research papers at the Fourth International Rice Congress-2014 (IRC2014) at Bangkok in Thailand.D.K. Sidde Gowda, professor and Head of the Department of Entomology, and S.B Yogananda, Senior Farm Superintendent are participating in the IRC2014 that will be held from Monday to November 1, 2014, sources at the V.C. Farm told The Hindu.

The International Rice Congress is held once in four years and known to be the world‘s largest gathering of rice scientists, researchers, and technical experts. While Mr. Gowda would present a research paper on ―Pathogenicity of native isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae Sorokin against brown planthopper and Nilaparvata lugens‖, Mr. Yogananda is presenting his research work on ―Enhancing productivity of rice through organic means,‖ sources added.

IRRI's new breeding factory Written by Lanie Reyes.

The road toward global food security is not without challenges. The population will balloon to 9 billion in 2050. The signs of climate change have never been so real—

frequent floods, droughts, and storm surges.

Storm surges make farmland in coastal areas too salty for most crops to grow. Also, pathogens and pests evolve. Therefore, a rice variety may lose its resistance to new strains of pathogens or insects.

"With so many challenges that we are facing now, we can't just continue with what we are doing," said Eero Nissilä, head of the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology Division (PBGB) at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). "There need to be changes in the way we do breeding at IRRI."IRRI plant breeder Bert Collard agrees. "A revolution in rice breeding is what we need now," Dr. Collard said. "Not much has changed for the last 50 years. The methods used today in Asia are generally the same as the ones used in the 1960s-'70s.

More importantly, the rate of yield increase or genetic gain for irrigated varieties is less than 1% per year."

Doubling genetic gains Thus, Dr. Nissilä and his team are now restructuring IRRI‘s entire breeding operations. Transforming Rice Breeding (TRB), a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is one important component of this new breeding factory, which focuses on irrigated rice. IRRI is aiming to double the rate of genetic gains— the increase in crop performance that is achieved through genetic improvement programs per unit time of breeding—or even make it higher (more than 2%)."To make breeding more efficient, we need to change how we organize our breeding operations,"

Dr. Nissilä said. "We need to restructure the overall breeding pipeline."

‗good to have traits' in our breeding objectives."

A shorter cycle

The team recognizes that national programs have different needs. It could be a breeding line, a gene donor, or a gene marker. If a researcher needs only a gene marker and wants to do the breeding in a lab himself or herself, IRRI will provide some help on how to use that marker. If a national program is interested only in salinity tolerance, the team will use its trait pipeline to provide the best package of salinity tolerance for the national program‘s breeding. On the other hand, if a national program needs a new rice variety, then the team will use its product development pipeline.

Traditional breeding takes 8 to 9 years to develop a variety and even longer for the variety to reach farmers. Now, the breeding process has been shortened to about 6 years (See How a modern variety is bred )."In breeding, one year is significant," said Dr. Nissilä. "Investments in plant breeding with costs incurred during the phase of developing varieties are only realized when farmers grow the varieties. A longer breeding cycle means economic opportunity cost to farmers of losing the chance to grow better varieties earlier."A 1999 study conducted by IRRI shows that reducing a breeding cycle by 2 years has an economic benefit of about US$18 million over the useful life of the variety.1 Breeding by demand

"We can help organize a national program's overall product development and product profiling when needed," Dr. Nissilä said.

"We will not only give a trait, say, salinity tolerance, but, it can be combined with many traits that one needs in one's 'market,' so to speak. We can fit their needs.

"But, our aim in the future is that we won‘t be doing the 'job,'" he added. "We want them to do it themselves. Our role will be more of a consultant and provider of training. Then, we exit when they are already able to do the work."

Taking a cue from breeding in the private sector, IRRI's breeding pipeline should run like a business operation—production by demand. For Dr. Nissilä, this should be the underlying philosophy of the new breeding pipeline."That's why the TRB team is working closely with IRRI‘s Social Sciences Division to better understand the needs of farmers," said Dr. Collard. "This will help guide us in 'must have' traits as well as

The role of hubs "But, if national programs want us to do this in the first round, we will breed the variety itself," said Dr. Nissilä. "This is where our regional breeding hub system comes into the picture. Our hubs in India, for the South Asian region, and in Burundi, for East and Southern Africa, allow us to localize the breeding process— we select and produce

the material in the region where it will be used."

IRRI now has many modern breeding options for a more efficient and costeffective process than the conventional pedigree method. The conventional breeding way goes like this: choose plants with the desired trait, cross-pollinate them, wait for the offspring to reach maturity, select the best performers, and then repeat the process to the nth degree until one obtains a plant that fits farmers' need.

Today, these modern methods include marker technology, multilocation trials, and rapid generation advance (RGA). RGA produces fixed lines or plants that no longer segregate.

Scientists call them "homozygous" or "genetically stable." "In RGA, plants are grown at high density with low nutrients in greenhouses or screenhouses so that they flower and mature earlier, thus shortening their life cycle," said Dr. Collard. "Therefore, several generations (e.g., three to four) can be advanced in one year." In addition to time savings, this method also saves labor and resources, and costs considerably less than other methods.

national programs to follow. Historically, the national partners have modeled their programs on IRRI‘s old system."We hope that the new processes of rice breeding at IRRI will help catalyze new thinking in the national programs so they can also restructure their own factory," Dr. Nissilä said.

"There is a great interest in Africa and Asia to do the same," said Dr. Collard. "There may be some reluctance about specific aspects because it is a 'big change' generally.

But with the criteria of time and efficiency, it wins hands-down."

Breeding economics To have an evidence-based comparison between the old and the new system, IRRI will conduct a benefit-cost analysis."IRRI has never put value to its costs until recently," Dr. Collard recalled.

In terms of full-cost recovery, IRRI‘s breeding pipeline is working to improve efficiency in three areas. First is the use of knowledge capital. The pipeline should maximize the use of expertise in the Division.

New breeding pipeline model Second is the use of a running budget. Will it be split into a hundred small activities or put in a strategically based operation?

The new structure of IRRI‘s breeding pipeline will hopefully be a model for the

Third is the use of investment. "This is important since it is a technology-driven operation and this will ensure an efficient use of investment," said Dr. Nissilä. "This is where our cross-cutting strategy comes in.

For instance, instead of adding seven more molecular labs, we will have one worldclass lab!" With one state-of-the-art facility

servicing all breeding pipelines, the use of expertise will be more efficient because activities won‘t overlap or be duplicated compared to having several scientists working on their own in their respective small labs.

story of service, because the technology upstream is developing,― Dr. Nissilä explained. Things that are not normal today will be routine tomorrow. To stay alive in this business, we need to have a very wide product portfolio and diverse expertise.

Moreover, Dr. Collard mentioned that the team is implementing computerized systems for data collection and exploring using mechanization in field trials to save on time and labor.So, with efficient use of knowledge capital, a running budget, and investment capital coming into play, Dr. Nissilä concluded that there is no better way of organizing breeding operations.

"Besides, the needs are very wide. For example, in Rwanda, they will need our lines while in India we need collaboration in genomics and biotechnology applications."

Measuring success In any business operation, one is usually asked how to be sure that the money is used efficiently for its intended purpose.

According to Dr. Nissilä, the new breeding pipeline has put in place some indicators of success.The first is cost-efficiency. What costs what? The second is progress. Have we increased the genetic gain as promised?

The third is impact. What products are used in the national programs? How many farmers' seeds were produced? How much income did these products make for farmers?

'And, of course, one more measure of success is making our national partners more independent and their breeding activities more sustainable," Dr. Collard said.

A never-ending story of service Will there be a time when IRRI‘s new breeding pipeline will no longer be needed in the future? ―Breeding is a never-ending

The story has started But, even before the funding of the foundation arrived in November 2013, Dr. Nissilä and his team had started carrying out some changes in IRRI's rice breeding pipeline (See The pipeline grows stronger).

They restructured the breeding activities from research-centric to a product-oriented pipeline. Now, the TRB project brings the resources as the fuel to propel the new factory of irrigated variety pipelines.

Many examples of change are brewing in IRRI's new breeding factory. One is the modernization of IRRI's data collection and analysis and the organizing of a load of information on rice breeding.

In fact, the Institute has come a long way in terms of its baseline. In IRRI‘s classic book on breeding called Rice Improvement by Jennings, Coffman, and Kauffman,2 published in 1979, data or analysis was not even mentioned, Dr. Collard said. "During that time, plant breeders decided whether a plant was good or bad 'by eye assessment,'" he added.

Today, decision-making strongly depends on data collection and analysis. "After field

work, we spend a significant time in our office analyzing data," said Dr. Collard.

"Modern techniques such as the use of new statistical analysis, computerized data management, and molecular breeding approaches may be small things. But, the sum of which was all these spells a great difference in streamlining high-quality data for a more efficient way of breeding."

A significant improvement of IRRI‘s breeding program in the last 2 years has been its testing of breeding materials at multilocations much earlier than before.

With this multilocation trial system and regional hubs, the effectiveness of the development of new varieties will improve.

Furthermore, decentralized breeding in hubs allows easy seed transfer of IRRI breeding material to the region.

With the TRB project, Dr. Nissilä and his team in the PBGB Division are looking forward to a future when farmers need not wait long to plant an improved variety apt for the challenges of the time."The TRB project aims to accelerate the current breeding pipeline in developing varieties, shorten the breeding cycle, and dramatically increase the efficiency of breeding operations," said Dr. Collard. "But, the big picture of this project is to help resourcepoor farmers in Asia and Africa improve their food and income security."

Women who moved mountains . Written by Ma. Lizbeth Baroña-Edra.

The jostling streams and golden patches that paint the scenery tucked deep in the crevices of the Cordilleras in the Philippines are common places in the bustling communities nearby. But to those who have never set foot

in this world, shaped by the arduousness of the terrain and richness of its traditions, the Cordilleras are anything but humdrum.Mary Hensley, then a 22-year- old Peace Corps volunteer from Montana in the U.S., was one such person captivated by the land.

Today, Ms. Hensley is the founder of Eighth Wonder Inc., which markets the traditional rice grown in the Cordilleras to the U.S., in partnership with the Philippines nonprofit RICE, Inc.Ms. Hensley has not only brought the heirloom rice to the shores of the United States, but she created economic opportunities for what was previously regarded as a dying farming practice in the famed rice terraces that UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site in 1995.And it all started with renewing old friendships in Kalinga Province, a familiar region where the Peace Corps had originally stationed her.

Are you lost?

"It was usually the first question people asked me," recalled Victoria Garcia,

executive director of RICE, Inc., which successfully linked heirloom rice to the market. Reaching out to the farmers was hard because of the fragmented communities nestled in different corners of the mountain range."At a waiting shed, I'd usually strike a conversation with farmers waiting for transportation," said Ms. Garcia.

"My goal was to establish con- tact with one farmer and, eventually, he would take me to his relatives, and into their community.

Sometimes, we went to farmers' meetings organized by the local government. But mostly, it was farmer-to-farmer outreach.

Mary happens to still have friends in the areas where she served decades ago. So, we started with them."

"Hope pulled me in" However, being accepted by the farming communities was just the beginning. "When the project started, it was like working with a clean slate," Ms. Garcia recalled. "There was almost nothing to start with. Farm-tomarket roads were few and there was no electricity to run the milling machines. I talked to the Department of Public Works and Highways, to the National Irrigation Authority, to electricity providers. The idea of quality had to be taught to the farmers.""There was a point in the beginning when Vicky said she could not do it," shared Ms. Hensley. "She found it daunting." But their common passion for

community development got them through the moments of doubt.

"The farmers are really hopeful," said Ms. Garcia. "They understood that they have a chance to preserve their traditions and heirloom rice. Now, they have a reason to continue planting." The hope she saw in the farmers overpowered her initial reluctance.

"I felt as though I was bringing the rain to them after a long time of living with parched dreams."

Momentum of partnerships The two wom en foun d an ally in UN ESCO Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, who was, at that time, advocating for the preservation and restoration of the rice terraces."Their advocacy was not gaining much traction," shared Ms. Garcia. "So, in 2006, when I heard that there was going to be a UNESCO workshop, I decided to attend, uninvited, and shared the idea of marketing heirloom rice." At this point, partnerships started to take shape. ―Abraham Akilit, a former director of the National Irrigation Authority of the Cordillera Administrative Region and now mayor of the town of Bauko, immediately saw how the project complemented their work with farmer irrigators,‖ said Ms.

Garcia.In 2007, OB Montessori School, through Ambassador Soliven, donated more than PHP 100,000 (US$2,000) to RICE, Inc. Ms. Garcia used the fund to have a milling machine custom-made for traditional Cordillera rice varieties. "Experts at the Bureau of Postharvest Research and Extension and the Philippine Rice Research Institute provided technical assistance," she said.

Culture is key There is something romantic about the role heirloom rice plays in binding the indigenous communities of the Cordilleras.

Reverentially selected and planted, their seeds are preserved and handed to the next generation. But to be part of the modern world, changes were necessary."Their rice is aromatic and beautiful. But the grains are of different sizes and broken," Ms. Garcia added. "We provided training activities on quality control so they could produce unbroken, uniformly sized grains.

We trained them to be good entrepreneurs.

We taught them skills such as keeping tabs on how much they produce and managing their product.""Being sensitive to the culture of the different farmer groups is key to engaging them," she added. "We want them to be better farm managers but without losing their identities and traditions."When orders poured in, farmers were asked to make "pledges." The project shied away from getting "commitments" from the farmers, as this gives a sense of being "forced" to produce something. "The concept of preparing and processing more rice than they need for a couple of days is new to them," said Ms. Hensley.

"We made them understand that a 'pledge' is something they are free to make," Ms. Garcia explained. "We made them understand that someone wants to buy their rice and that it will help their families."One of the good things that came out of this project was that the Department of Agriculture has institutionalized technology transfer sensitivities to the Cordillera farmers. "The government now recognizes that it must support the traditional way of farming" she said.

Ms. Garcia and Ms. Hensley are now working with the Heirloom Rice Project, funded by the Department of Agriculture and led by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The Project seeks to widen the initial marketing success of Rice, Inc. and Eighth Wonder and bring the production of heirloom rice to the attention of the national government for developing policies for the industry. The Heirloom Rice Project will also systematically characterize traditional varieties of the Cordilleras and conserve them.

"A very important part of the project is helping farmers produce quality heirloom rice seeds, which help produce more for the market," said Dr. Casiana Casiana Vera Cruz, a scientist at IRRI and overall leader of the Project. "We want to empower highland smallholders to manage their own enterprise, conserve their rice biodiversity, and preserve their cultural heritage.""We are excited to build upon the successes of Vicky and Mary," said Dr. Digna Manzanilla, project co-lead and coordinator of the Consortium for Unfavorable Rice Environments at IRRI. "The Heirloom Rice Project, which pulls together government agencies, local government units, state

colleges and universities, farmers‘ groups, and private entities, stands to learn from their experiences in how to make the value chain work."

The future of ancient rice When Ms. Hensley and Ms. Garcia started their project, they were told that they would fold up after 3 years. Now, they are in their ninth year of providing a sustainable livelihood to farmers in one of the most marginal rice ecosystems in the country. In 2013, 29 tons of Cordillera heirloom rice were shipped to the United States, valued at $38,079. This year, 19 tons valued at about $26,000 have been produced."We‘re working with 272 farming families," said Ms. Hensley. "There are about 100,000 of them in the region. There is a long way to go.""I believe that the farmers in the project have found a new sense of pride in their culture and their work," said Ms. Garcia.That pride is palpable as one traverses the mountainsides of the Cordilleras—and it will save the treasured heirloom rice of the mountains.

campaign—led by the Mexican Rice Council and its partners—to revive national production. That may sound like odd advice.

After all, Mexico is not widely perceived as being strong on rice—a distinction that in Latin America goes instead to Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and others.

Maize gods, move over!

On the contrary, this is the country where, thousands of years ago, farmers domesticated maize, which was central to Mexico‘s pre- Columbian cultures and continues to be a mainstay of the national diet. More than half a century ago, Mexico also provided Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug with an ideal setting in which to breed modern wheat varieties, which formed the genetic foundations of a global Green Revolution.

_________________________________________ Ms. Baroña-Edra is a science communications specialist at IRRI

Rice revival in the land of maize

Both crops are now the focus of a major initiative—called MasAgro—aimed at strengthening Mexico‘s food security, in which the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is working closely with the country‘s Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food (SAGARPA).

Written by Nathan Russell.

Anyone worried about the impacts of trade liberalization on developing-country rice sectors should take a close look at Mexico‘s experience and learn from a recent

Yet, within this country‘s original but eclectic culinary traditions, rice has also found a place of distinction. This began when rice was introduced from Spain during colonial times and came to fruition in the

country‘s postrevolutionary period. As Mexican society quickly urbanized and incomes rose after the 1940s, more and more consumers turned to rice, because it offered convenience, while also contributing to a diverse and nutritious diet.

The simple dish of Mexican-style rice— prepared with a tomato sauce and generally served separately as sopa seca (dry soup)— thus became a standard feature of the national cuisine. Particularly in rural areas, it is hard to imagine a wedding or other family gathering without big clay pans of Mexicanstyle rice. The grain is used in more elaborate dishes as well, mixed with seafood and other local ingredients. It even takes the form of orchata, a refreshing drink made from boiled rice water with cinnamon, and a popular dessert consisting of arroz con leche (rice with milk).

Institutional green revolution Mexico's rice production rose to meet increasing demand, reaching more than 800,000 tons on nearly 270,000 hectares by 1985.The country‘s varied agroecosystems provide diverse, low-lying niches for irrigated and rainfed rice, giving farmers a welcome alternative for rotation with sugarcane and other crops. Today, rice cultivation is scattered across a dozen states, with four of them—Nayarit, Campeche, Veracruz, and Michoacán— accounting for about two-thirds of national production.

The worldwide Green Revolution in rice greatly boosted the production of the crop in

Mexico, starting in the 1960s. Impressed with the high yields of IR8—the world‘s first modern semidwarf rice—growers quickly embraced the new variety, which had resulted from the work of Peter Jennings and others at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Known in Mexico as Milagro Filipino or "Philippine Miracle," it is still the country‘s most widely grown rice variety.

So, just as a Mexican political party institutionalized the country's postrevolutionary socioeconomic program, farmers moved to institutionalize the Green Revolution in rice by making IR8 an enduring feature of the nation‘s diet and agricultural landscape.

Down but not out Mexico‘s rice revolution lost ground, however, when the government began implementing trade in Nayarit State (star on map). liberalization policies in the 1980s. By 2013, domestic production had steadily declined to just 200,000 tons, while imports had expanded to 800,000 tons.

Even as the country was flooded with cheap long-grain rice, Mexican growers clung to Milagro Filipino. The reason is that its medium-sized grain and special cooking properties had earned the loyalty of many consumers in central and western Mexico, securing a premium-price niche for this variety in the market.

The country's rice sector faced especially trying times in the wake of the global food price crisis of 2007-08, explained Ricardo Mendoza, CEO of the Mexican Rice Council, which receives support from both

the rice processing industry and producers.

The government reacted by eliminating rice import duties to avoid shortages. Several Asian countries—Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam—seized the opportunity by boosting rice exports to Mexico. This put even greater pressure on Mexican growers and also revealed how excessive dependence on rice imports was undermining national food security.

A comeback in the making Mexico's rice sector has confronted this situation through a two-pronged strategy focused on (1) creating a fair playing field for the country's rice producers and (2) making the home team more competitive.

The strategy's modest aim is to restore a prudent balance between domestic production and rice imports.

To this end, the Mexi can Rice Coun cil— together with the National Rice Production Committee and the National Council of Mexican Rice Producers—has made a strong case to the government for restoring a 20% duty on imported rice from countries with which Mexico does not have trade agreements. This will prevent dumping of cheap rice in the Mexican market. The measure is strongly supported by SAGARPA and is widely expected to be finally approved by the Economics

Secretariat within the coming months, according to Mr. Mendoza.

He also believes that Mexico can be more competitive in rice production, especially if growers take up more productive longgrained varieties on a large scale. To this end, the country has introduced experimental rice lines from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the CIAT- supported Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR).

Several new varieties developed from these lines by researchers at the National Institute of Agricultural, Livestock, and Fisheries Research (INIFAP) have been released recently.

The country's rice organizations have also obtained extensive training from FLAR scientists in improved management practices (including the use of water harvesting), which will narrow the gaps between the high genetic potential of the new varieties and their actual performance in farmers‘ fields.

This is critical for giving Mexican rice growers a competitive edge in high-potential production areas.

"FLAR's integrated approach to crop management helped us a lot," said Mr. Mendoza.

If all goes well, he expects that, by 2018, Mexico's rice production should be able to meet 40% of demand. "We‘re hoping that 2015 will be the year of the turnaround," he said. ____________________________________ _____

Mr. Russell is the head of Communications and Knowledge Management at CIAT.

Rice Center (AfricaRice) in Quality matters for rich and poor alike.

Quantity versus quality

Adding value to Africa’s rice

Until recently, R&D thrusts in Africa have focused mainly on how to increase rice production but relatively less on how to improve the quality of rice.

Written by Savitri Mohapatra.

Mohapatra.

About onethird of the food produce d in the world never reaches our plates. Not only is this a colossal loss but all the resources used to produce, harvest, process, and market it are also squandered.Postharvest grain losses account for US$4 billion in Africa alone, according to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security.

This is enough to meet the minimum annual food requirements of 48 million people.

In Africa, both the quantity and quality of rice suffer huge losses, especially during postharvest operations.

"The qualitative losses come mainly as a result of poor handling after harvesting and poor processing techniques," wrote John Manful, a grain quality scientist at the Africa

"Since the food crisis in 2007-08, governments in African countries have made great efforts to increase rice production, but still quality is less emphasized," said Dr. Rose Fiamohe, policy economist at AfricaRice.

In many African countries, locally milled rice is of variable quality and it has a high percentage of broken grains. Sometimes, unhusked grains as well as bran and husk fractions are found in the milled rice. The inferior quality of local rice makes it less competitive against imported rice on the market. Thus, African rice farmers find it so difficult to sell their rice because locally produced rice is widely perceived as being of poor quality.

'If you raise the production of local rice but you are not doing anything to change the perception of the people, you will not progress much in promoting local rice consumption," said Ms. Lena Forson, doing an MPhil student at the husks and straw.

However, Africa‘s rice sector is now more aware that producing just more rice is not enough and that quality is essential. To be competitive, Africa‘s rice sector needs to make rice quality and marketing important.

The postharvest challenge Rising to the challenge, Canada‘s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) and AfricaRice, in partnership with McGill University, are spearheading an ambitious project on food security in Africa with a focus on rice postharvest handling and marketing.

The project involves Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Uganda. It seeks to introduce improved harvesting and postharvest practices and equipment throughout the value chain to achieve high-quality grain.

More smallholder farmers and processors in Africa‘s rice sector are women who often have fewer rights than male farmers to access the vital resources they need to farm, process, and sell. The project will therefore make sure that women farmers will obtain their fair share of attention in rice R&D. The project also aims to develop new ricebased products, explore innovative uses of husks and straw, improve the policy environment, and build the capacity of rice stakeholders. By 2020, postharvest losses are expected to decline by 10% and this will help increase farmers‘ nominal annual income in the eight project countries by about $32 million.

The project has conducted baseline studies on postharvest practices in the eight countries. "This is the first of its kind for rice in Africa," said Dr. Manful. "We now have reliable data on postharvest losses in rice from these countries."

Surveys are being conducted to develop a map of rice consumer preferences for some of the countries. Project countries have been provided with lab equipment to do basic quality analysis of rice.

The project is testing and introducing mini combines, threshers, dryers, and cleaners that are affordable for farmers and processors. Most of these machines are being made and maintained locally. Senegal, Mali, and Ghana have started building mini combines after receiving training. Milling machines that will improve the separation of husk and bran are also being identified.

"Each project will have national fabricators; we train one lead fabricator who will continue training others," said project coordinator Dr. Jean Moreira.

In 2013, 57 fabricators from 10 countries were trained to construct the ADRAOSAED-ISRA (ASI) thresher-cleaner. A light thresher has also been developed especially for women farmers in Uganda.

The project has promoted the development of equipment for parboiling.

McGill University is providing technical backstopping to national partners to develop a parboiling pilot plant.

New rice-based products in Africa Also, the project will enable screening of African rice (Oryza glaberrima) germplasm for constituents that make cereal grain slow-

digesting to help consumers with Type II diabetes. It is also testing the use of lowvalue broken rice as the basis of a breakfast porridge fortified with proteinrich groundnut or soybean for undernourished babies and children.

Rice husks: Traditionally, rice husks (or hulls) are wasted in Africa. Stockpiles of rice husks are either dumped near the mills, where they rot, producing methane (a potent greenhouse gas), or burned in the fields, thus polluting the atmosphere.

The project is using flour from broken rice to prepare food products such as noodles, biscuits, and porridges. "Tasty and innovative uses of rice can catalyze rural enterprises and raise income, especially for women farmers and processors in our region," said Ms. Lynda Hagan, scientist at the Food Research Institute (FRI) in Ghana.

The project has developed a machine to compress rice husks to make briquettes, which burn efficiently in any well-ventilated stove. ―This, we think, is an important step in reducing deforestation,‖ said Dr. Sali Atanga Ndindeng, grain quality and postharvest scientist at AfricaRice.

Rice policy

Reusing waste products Rice straw: Farmers in Africa mostly dispose of rice straw from fields by burning it, which helps control rice disease and pest problems.

However, burning of rice straw emits carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the major cause of global warming.

As part of the project, AfricaRice, in partnership with FRI, is supporting a study in Ghana to assess rice straw and husk as potential substrate in cultivating oyster mushroom. The study also ascertained the potential of the spent compost (the organic matter left over after mushrooms grown on rice straw have been harvested) as a biofertilizer.

The project will feed into AfricaRice‘s ongoing efforts to harmonize rice policy across the region through the regional economic communities.

"In the long run, rice will be cheaper when the continent is producing most of its rice from here," remarked Dr. Aliou Diagne, former program leader of Policy, Innovation Systems and Impact Assessment at AfricaRice.

Scientists are working with producers to improve quality and processing, while also working with consumers to encourage them to buy local rice. Experimental auctions have revealed that consumers choose local rice and are also willing to pay more for it.

Building capacity in rice postharvest technology Building the capacity of rice stakeholders throughout the value chain, from farmers, through millers and parboilers, to marketers is a vital part of the project.

"We have had lots of crossfertili zation of ideas and scientific outputs thanks to the project," observed Dr. Paa Nii Johnson from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Ghana. "Some of the success stories can be replicated and scaled up through the Rice Hubs network initiated

by AfricaRice."

from traveling into grains. Rice (Oryza sativa) is

By helping actors along the value chain add value to rice, the project is helping raise income, improve rice quality, and expand the market for locally produced rice products.

absorb all of the arsenic that it take sup, for the

Ms. Mohapatra is the head of Marketing and Communications at AfricaRice.

have shown that a rice transporter protein called

Keeping rice arsenic free Tim Sandle.

LIKE THIS ARTICLE

BY TIM SANDLE SCIENCE

a staple crop for half of the world‘s population.

However, rice can accumulate high levels of arsenic. When consumed over time, arsenic can lead to cancer and skin lesions in people.

Arsenic is found in the soil, either as a naturally occurring element and as industrial byproduct.

Although many plants take up arsenic,rice is different because it takes up arsenic from soil and water more readily than other grains. New research demonstrates that rice does not simply

plant has its own mechanisms for fighting arsenic accumulation.

Researchers based in South Korea and Japan

OsABCC1 prevents arsenic from damaging plant tissues by moving the element in vacuoles.

According to The Scientist, due to this, potentially harmful arsenic remains in these cellular waste containers rather than building up

OCT 25, 2014 IN

in rice grains. Based on these findings, scientists hope to find rice plants that express high levels of OsABCC1 or to genetically engineer rice to over express the transporter. The findings have been published in the journal PNAS. The paper is titled "A rice ABC transporter, OsABCC1, reduces arsenic accumulation in the grain."

Scientists have identified a transporter protein in rice that shifts arsenic in to vacuoles. This mechanism helps to prevent the toxic element

2014 Senadhira awardee is Filipino Written by The Web Team Thursday, 23 October 2014

The first ever Filipino and the first woman to receive the Asian-wide Senadhira Rice Research Award is a PhilRice breeder.Thelma F. Padolina, a chemistturned-breeder, who has been breeding for more than 30 years, will receive this award on Oct. 30 during the International Rice Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.―When I was informed that I am chosen to receive the award, I was overwhelmed with joy. This award is important for me because my efforts as a breeder are recognized,‖ she said.IRRI established this award in memory of Dr. Dharmawansa Senadhira, a Sri Lankan researcher who led IRRI‘s floodprone research program from 1996 to 1998.

It is given to qualified scientists who have made outstanding contributions to rice research, especially for those involved in rice breeding and genetics, increasing tolerance for abiotic stresses, and improving micronutrient density.Among many achievements, Padolina is a recipient of seven research-related awards, and a principal breeder of over 20 varieties.

Before the establishment of PhilRice, she co-developed varieties for irrigated lowland, cool elevated and other varieties for adverse conditions.

She had major contributions in the development of BPI Ri10, BPI Ri12, PSB Rc6 and PSB Rc8 under the Maligaya Rice Research and Training Center and Bureau of Plant Industry from 1978 to 1985.While working in PhilRice, she had the opportunity to work in the international research scene. She has networked with IRRI scientists on various

activities (Phenotyping, TRRC, GRIsPMET, RDA-GUVA), other international institutes (IAEA, JIRCAS, KOICA, JICA, KOPIA), and foreign countries (Brunei, China). ―I am grateful for the support of PhilRice. I was trained to breed by international experts through the collaboration of PhilRice with them,‖ she said.

She further said that being a female breeder is a challenge because there are people who tend to prefer men over women, but she was able to surmount these challenges with the love and passion she has for her work.Padolina challenged other researchers to always have passion for their work, have the heart to learn continuously, and work with other experts and learn from them.

Moreover, she encouraged breeders to pass their knowledge to others.―Skills are earned through experience. Through time, you gradually learn and have an eye to decide which is better,‖ Padolina said.

NBRI celebrates annual day The author has posted comments on this articleArunav Sinha, TNN | Oct 25, 2014, 08.47PM IST LUCKNOW: National Botanical Research Institute (an institute under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) on Saturday celebrated its annual day. Dr CS Nautiyal, the director of the institute presented the annual report of the institute, and elaborated upon the various activities undertaken and major achievements made by the institute in the calendar year.

Highlighting the work carried out during the year 2013-14, he said, "The institute published

218 research papers in leading national and international journals. Out of these, 126 were in SCI journals with an impact factor of 2.26 per paper and total IF (impact factor) of 284.784. A new facility in the NBRI Botanic Garden viz. Jurassic Gallery was developed and a new Gladiolus cultivar, 'NBRI-Heerak' was released by BL Joshi (former governor of UP)." Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi was felicitated for the best research paper of the institute, with an impact factor of 5.906.

He also mentioned that NBRI, Lucknow and Rice Research Station, Chinsurah (West Bengal), have developed an arsenic-free rice variety (CN-1794-2-CSIR-NBRI) that would contain safer levels of arsenic even if produced in areas with high levels of arsenic in ground water or soil.

Plant genetic expert of international repute Prof Deepak Pental, Director, Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP), University of Delhi South Campus and Rajan Shukla, principal secretary, coordination, government of UP also addressed the gathering. In his lecture titled 'Polyploidy and Angiosperm Evolution', Prof Pental mentioned that the flowering plants are represented very strongly in the terrestrial flora of earth. Rapid radiation of flowering plant families is an interesting feature of earth's history. Rajan Shukla, released the Hindi Magazine 'Vigyan Vani'. In his address, he said, "Scientists should carry out meaningful research, research should percolate from laboratories to the fields and the research must be beneficial to everybody."

Stomach Infrastructure: Ekiti rice processors, millers, growers task Fayose 26.Oct.2014 DISQUS_COMMENTS Sam Nwaoko -Ado-Ekiti Rice stakeholders in Ekiti State have charged Governor Ayo Fayose to look in their direction as he begins the quest to restructure the economy of the state with his new government.Rice processors, millers and traders in the state, as well as growers in the rural communities said they were ready to partner Governor Fayose and his administration in his bid to bring about a turnaround in the economic fortunes of the people of the state.President of the Association of Rice Processors, Millers and Traders in the state, Mr. Moses Adekola, told Sunday Tribune in Ado Ekiti at the weekend that ―all of us are in support of Governor Fayose‘s plan to rejuvenate the economy of the state through the empowerment of the people, a concept he has tagged ‗stomach infrastructure‘. ‖Adekola said the concept would encourage local industries, saying ―rice processors, millers and traders in Ekiti State have already positioned themselves to partner the state government in ensuring the success of the concept.‖According to him, the association had brought in an expert in rice production from India to train the local people in Ekiti, saying ―the expert was brought with support from Igbemo Rice Processing Company Limited which is the prime promoter of the local rice industry.‖Adekola sought the support of the new government in Ekiti State for members of his association and expressed the belief that ―providing quality and healthy rice will

not only improve the life of the people but also their economy as there are enough produce by Ekiti rice farmers.‖

UQ scientists help unlock the secrets of photosynthesis The Queensland node of the centre will be led

by Professor Graeme Hammer from UQ‘s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.

24 October 2014

Queensland scientists will play a key role in a new Australian research centre working to increase major food crop yields. University of Queensland researchers will form the Queensland node of the $22 million Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, launched in Canberra today (24 October).Photosynthesis is the process plants use to convert sunlight into chemical energy to fuel the plant‘s growth and functions.

Centre Director Professor Murray Badger, of the Australian National University, said photosynthesis was important for all life on earth, but scientists had only recently developed the technology to manipulate it at

a molecular level.―We have now tools that could initiate a new agricultural revolution through enhanced photosynthesis,‖ he said.The new centre will explore how changes to photosynthesis can increase the yield of important staple crops such as sorghum.The photosynthetic process varies among species and within locally adapted crop populations, which suggests some plants have evolved novel ways of converting sunlight into energy and processing carbon.

Professor Badger said this was an underexploited area of science that could help feed future populations.The Queensland node of the centre will be led by Professor Graeme Hammer from UQ‘s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation.The UQ research component will include major projects on photosynthetic variation in sorghum and mathematical modelling of photosynthesis.A UQ project investigating the mechanisms and genes regulating photosynthetic performance in sorghum will be led by Associate Professor David Jordan.UQ research on developing a dynamic crop model linking leaf function and field performance will be led by Professor Hammer. ―In collaboration with participants from ANU and CSIRO, we will be linking a model of a leaf‘s photosynthetic biochemistry to canopy growth and crop yield models for major cereals,‖ Professor Hammer said.The centre will bring together world leaders in photosynthesis research from six institutions: Australian National University, UQ, the University of Sydney, the University of Western Sydney, CSIRO and the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.

It features state-of-the-art plant science facilities and the most sophisticated suite of photosynthetic measurement technologies in Australia.Australian Research Council CEO Professor Aidan Byrne said one of the key features of the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme, in addition to long-term funding, was that it allowed relationships to be built nationally and internationally between universities and industry. ―This particular centre has established links that will enhance the prospects of translating genetic improvements into crops,‖ he said.―This is an important research program at a time when there is unprecedented demand on food supply and food security,‖ he said.Media: Professor Graeme Hammer 07 3346 9463, g.hammer@uq.edu.au, Margaret Puls 07 3346 0553, m.puls@uq.edu.au

department‖.

The message went on to say that Singh had not just given farmers paise or rupees, but had made them ―lakhpatis‖.Virk‘s praise wasn‘t without reason.Singh is the chief breeder of Pusa-1509, a basmati rice variety that farmers have grown on almost 5 lakh hectares this kharif season, compared to 5,000

hectares

last

year.Pusa-1509‘s

advantage is its yield. The average 25 quintals paddy per acre from the variety are way above 10 quintals from traditional basmati varieties such as Taraori and Dehraduni.

Two scientists, two blockbuster crop varieties

It surpasses even the 20 quintals for Pusa1121, which now accounts for over half of

Farmer Pritam Singh (left) with IARI head A K Singh (centre)

India‘s two-million-plus hectares sown with basmati.Deepak Pental, professor of genetics

Written by Harish Damodaran | Panipat | Posted: October 26, 2014 3:02 am Jock Safari Lodge, Kruger When A K Singh was appointed head of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute‘s (IARI) Genetics Division last month, he got a congratulatory SMS from Baljeet Singh Virk, a farmer from Bathinda in Punjab, for becoming the top man at the ―jenatics

and a former vice-chancellor of Delhi University, said Pusa-1509 represented ―a very fine example of what publicly funded farm research can really do‖.No less a success story in public breeding is HD-2967, a wheat variety that was released for commercial cultivation in September 2011.

In the 2013-14 rabi season, this variety — bred by IARI scientists led by its Joint Director (Research) K V Prabhu — was grown in about six million hectares.No

variety or hybrid of any crop has ever

at Rs 2,500-2,600 a quintal, below the Rs

covered such a large area in as short a time;

2,900-3,000 for Pusa-1121. This, he felt, had

even Bt cotton took five years from 2002 to

to do with the higher percentage of broken

2007 to cross six million hectares in India.

kernels on milling.―The head rice (i.e. unbroken kernels) recovery is only 47-48 kg

Pritam Singh from

Urlana Khurd in

Panipat‘s Madlauda tehsil has harvested 27 quintals per acre with Pusa-1509 this time.

Major Singh of Barsat, a village in Gharaunda tehsil of Karnal, has managed 29.5 quintals.Both Pusa-1121 and Pusa-1509

from every quintal of parboiled Pusa-1509 paddy, while 53-54 kg for Pusa-1121. But from the farmer‘s standpoint, the five quintals extra yield and 25 days less duration

(in

maturing)

more

than

compensates for any lower

have lower plant heights than the 160 cm levels for traditional basmatis, making them more responsive to fertiliser application. ―The Pusa-1509 plant is only 80 cm tall,

Thai govt offers loans to farmers to delay rice sales Fri Oct 24, 2014 2:37pm GMT

below even the 120 cm for Pusa-1121,‖ says

By Kaweewit Kaewjinda

A K Singh, who was also associated with

BANGKOK Oct 24 (Reuters) - Thailand will offer interest-free loans to farmers as an incentive to delay sales of rice, its prime minister said, as the interim government seeks to support farmers hurt by falling global commodities prices.Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday the staterun Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives would provide four-month loans to rice farmers to hold on to their stocks until after the harvest period, which begins in November, as a means of stabilising prices.

the breeding of Pusa-1121, that generated three-fourth of India‘s $4.9 billion earnings from basmati exports in 2013-14.But yield isn‘t the sole attraction. ―Pusa-1509 matures within 120 days. Since transplantation can be done after monsoon arrival, I have to give only 10-11 irrigations, whereas it is 15-16 for Pusa-1121 that grows over 145 days,‖ said Pritam Singh.

Anil Mittal, chairman of KRBL Ltd, India‘s largest basmati exporter, however, noted that Pusa-1509 paddy was currently selling

Effective Nov. 1, farmers would be offered 14,400 baht ($444) for every tonne of fragrant rice paddy they produce and an additional handout of 1,000 baht per tonne to store it themselves. Loans of 11,700 baht per

tonne would be offered for holding back glutinous rice."We have policies that will take care of rice farmers. We are approaching the first harvest season and are taking measures to not let prices be affected," Prayuth told reporters after a government meeting to discuss rice policy.

Thailand's military-dominated government has been taking steps to appease farmers, an important support base for the administration that the generals overthrew in a May 22 coup.A $1.8 billion state subsidy plan was approved on Tuesday to help rubber farmers, who have threatened protests.Commodity prices are slumping at a critical time for the government, which is struggling to revive an economy hurt by weak spending and exports.A Reuters poll on Friday showed exports probably fell for a third straight month.

The commerce ministry is also offering two months of interest-free loans of 2,000 baht for every rai (0.16 hectare) of land used by farmers for their crops.Deputy Commerce Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the rice loans would be capped at 20 tonnes or 300,000 baht per household, with a total cap on the project at 2 million tonnes.Thailand had around 18 million tonnes of rice in state stockpiles, accumulated under an intervention scheme by the ousted government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. An audit by the military government found that a fifth of the stockpile was either rotten or had gone missing.

The stockpiles amassed under a programme that paid farmers well above market rates for

their produce won widespread rural support but effectively priced the grain out of world markets.The intervention price made Thai grain so expensive Thailand lost its position as the world's top rice exporter, overtaken

by India and Vietnam. The price of Thai 5 percent broken rice was $423 a tonne, free on board, on Friday.Prayuth ordered an immediate halt to state rice sales after he took power in the coup. He has said there will be no new intervention scheme to avoid distorting market mechanisms. ($1 = 32.4100 baht) (Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Pracha Hariraksapitak; Editing by Martin Petty and Jane Baird)

Louisiana soybean yield reported as one of the best

By Associated Press 10/24/2014 03:08 PM Most Louisiana farmers harvesting this year's soybean crop are reporting one of their best years. Most Louisiana farmers harvesting this year's soybean crop are reporting one of their best years.According to LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ron Levy said this will be another record year in Louisiana for soybeans.

Levy spoke Oct. 22 at the Evangeline Parish Rice and Soybean Advisory Committee meeting. Levy said this year's harvest is stacking up to be the best ever for Louisiana, and it's the third consecutive year

that a record has been set. The state average yield will be 53-54 bushels per acre.

Louisiana farmers grew 1.4 million acres of soybeans this year, up by 300,000 acres from 2013. Levy said several growers in north Louisiana have reported yields of 80 bushels an acre, and in northeast Louisiana some have even broken the 100-bushel mark on some fields.Some areas in Avoyelles, Evangeline and St. Landry parishes received sudden heavy rainfall that flooded the crop. Levy said, "Where they got those big rains, it hurt yields, especially those that planted early."Yields also were down slightly at the AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station near Alexandria because of excessive rainfall.Grain quality is excellent because of the low insect and disease pressure in most areas.Prices for soybeans have fallen below $10 a bushel, but AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry said strong demand from China continues.U.S. soybean processors were paying a premium for soybeans because the stockpile had been almost depleted.Guidry said, "Until we started harvesting this year, we had run out of soybeans.

"Guidry said the South American soybean planting is late, and by January and February, buyers will have no choice but to purchase U.S. soybeans.This year's rice crop was one of the best for Evangeline Parish, growers agreed, with the parish average yield in the upper 40-barrel level. In addition, they said, grain quality was excellent.Steve Linscombe, director of the AgCenter Rice Research Station, said some farmers had better rice yields this year than in 2013 when a record yield was

recorded.Neal LeJeune said his rice crop averaged 55 barrels an acre, and his milling yield was the best he's ever seen.But some farmers said they are unsure how much rice they will plant next year because of low prices.

Copyright 2014 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Research and Markets: European Rice Market Report 2014 - Analysis and Forecast to 2020 Press Release: Research and Markets – Fri, Oct 24, 2014 17:17 BST DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE) Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/resear ch/nlg4g8/eu_rice_market) has announced the addition of the "EU: Rice - Market Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2020" report to their offering.

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the EU Market of Rice. It presents the latest data of the market size and volume, domestic production, exports and imports, price dynamics and turnover in the industry.

The report shows the sales data, allowing you to identify the key drivers and restraints.

You can find here a strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market. Forecasts illustrate how the market will be transformed in the medium term. Profiles of the leading companies and brands are also included.

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Semi-milled Wholly milled rice Polished Glazed Broken rice.

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7. Prices 

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Key Findings Market Trends

3. Market Overview    

Market Volume And Value Market Structure By Countries And Types Drivers And Restraints Forecast Of Consumption To 2020

4. Domestic Production  

Production In 2005-2013 Production By Countries And Types

5. Imports   

Imports In 2005-2013 Imports By Countries Import Prices By Countries

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Exports In 2005-2013

Producer Prices On The Domestic Market Producer Prices On The Non Domestic Market Import Prices In Industry

8. Turnover And Sales In Industry

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Exports By Countries Export Prices By Countries

Turnover And Volume Of Sales Monthly Comparison By Sector And By Country Annual Comparison By Sector And By Country

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For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/researc h/nlg4g8/eu_rice_market Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Sector: Breakfast and Cereals

2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference

December 7 - 9, 2014

VENUE Statehouse Convention Center One Statehouse Plaza Little Rock, AR 722201 HOTEL Little Rock Marriott Three Statehouse Plaza Little Rock, AR 72201 Phone: 501-906-4000 Contact: Jeanette Davis, jdavis@usarice.com, Phone: 703-236-1447

Rice Production: Nigeria to Surpass 2015 Targeted 20 Million Metric Tons by December 2014 – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, stands by bags of rice fresh from Olam Integrated Rice Mill July 14, 2014 – Nigeria‘s President, Dr.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said on Monday

that rice production in the country has peaked such that there are signs that it will surpass the 2015 target of 20 million metric tons by December, 2014. The President who spoke at the inauguration of Olam Integrated Rice Mill in Nasarawa State, said that over the years farmers have produced over 17 million metric tons of rice, adding that the 2015 target will be met this year. ―Over the past three years, our farmers have produced over 17 million metric tons of food. Steadily on this path, we expect to surpass our 2015 target of 20 million metric tons of food, by the end of this year. Now with better policy articulation and enhanced technology, our farmers, small and large, are all being touched by the new drive for food production across the country‖, he said.

He said that government is committed to continue to reduce our food importation bill to the barest minimum.―To demonstrate our commitment, I am glad to report to Nigerians that from a total food import bill of One trillion, one hundred billion naira (N1.1tr) ($6.9billion dollars) as at 2009, we have reduced our food import bill to Six hundred and eighty four billion, seven million naira (N684.7billion) ($4.35billion dollars) as at December 2013. ―Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Nigeria must be self-sufficient in food production. In this regard, our rice production programme has continued to receive very focused attention. I launched the national dry season farming policy last year, so that we can grow two or three cycles in the year, instead of only once each year. It is encouraging that our national paddy rice production has grown by an additional 7 million metric tons within three years. This is remarkable but we have to work harder still‖, he said.

He recalled that when he launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011 the goal was to add an extra 20 million metric tons of food to domestic food supply by 2015.―Our progress in this direction has been remarkable. The innovative electronic wallet system has empowered 10 million farmers with access to subsidized high quality seeds and fertilizers. We were the first country in Africa to launch this system that has now assured greater transparency and better productivity in the sector‖, he said.

He explained that the mills are producing high quality local rice that meets international standards, and competes well with imported rice. ―And don‘t forget, Nigerian rice is tastier and healthier than imported rice, because our local rice is fresh from the farm. Let me add that I am also speaking as a proud consumer of our Nigerian rice. Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by encouraging large commercial farms that will complement our small-scale farmers. ―Large mechanized rice farms like OLAM‘s 6,000-hectare farm will not only boost food production, but also provide significant opportunities for jobs in rural areas. Our youths will be supported to go into mechanized farming, and to pursue agriculture as a business‖, the president assured.

Edited by Emmanuel Thomas

PhilRice facility uses nipa to power up towns Bioethanol plant pioneers use of alternative fuel Ronnel W. Domingo

1:52 AM | Monday, October 27th, 2014 The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and its partners in Cagayan province recently launched a bioethanol production facility that uses nipa as raw material to provide rural communities with an alternative source of energy.

PhilRice executive director Eufemio T. Rasco Jr. said in a statement that the facility opened earlier this month in Barangay Cabana, Pampalona town.Rasco said that the production of bioethanol in Cagayan, which is teeming with nipa, should help meet the local demand for alternative fuel.―This project with the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) will increase farmers‘ competitiveness as nipa is a renewable energy that can fuel farm machinery and pump boats,‖ Rasco said.

The provincial government is helping implement the project, which is being led by Shirley Agrupis of MMSU. Also on hand to assist is project consultant Fiorello Abenes, a senior Fulbright fellow.Rasco, himself a pioneer in nipa research, explained that the plant produces an ample amount of sap that can be converted to alcohol—specifically, bioethanol or water-free alcohol.A hectare of farm planted with nipa can produce as much as 26,000 liters of alcohol a year.

This makes nipa four times more productive than sugarcane, which is currently the main source of alcohol, but produces only 6,700 liters per hectare a year.Rasco said the facility, which was tested through a retrofitted water pump, produced up to 96 percent bioethanol during a ceremonial run last Oct. 7.Citing data from MMSU‘s Nathaniel R. Mateo, who is helping with the project, PhilRice said the facility could produce seven to nine liters of bioethanol from 100 liters of nipa sap in four and a half

hours.Rasco said that the prices of food, especially rice, could rise, along with that of oil, which was what happened in 2007 and 2008. ―That event heightened the importance of developing a new energy system that is renewable, decentralized and diversified,‖ Rasco said.He added that nipa would be a good source of bioethanol because it does not compete as a food source, unlike corn, cassava, sorghum or sugarcane.―We hope to have this facility in more places in the Philippines and make nipa a widely used fuel by farmers and fisherfolk,‖ the PhilRice chief said.

Filipinos urged to stop wasting rice Philippine Daily Inquirer 4:40 PM | Monday, October 27th, 2014

MANILA , Philippine s — Education Secretary Armin Luistro urged schools nationwide to actively participate in the observance of National Rice Awareness Month in November, saying the amount of rice Filipinos waste every day could feed 2.5 million people a year and adds up to more than P7 billion annually.

The month-long activities, according to a memorandum issued by Luistro, are aimed at teaching students the value of the staple and the hard work put in by farmers to produce the grain.

He cited a finding by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) which said that

the nine grams or two to three spoons of rice wasted by Filipinos daily can actually feed 2.5 million people for a year. Rice is generally wasted when too much is cooked and left uneaten.

Luistro said the activities are aimed at promoting the ―rice-ponsibility‖ of every Filipino, which includes: stop wasting rice; switch to the brown variety; mix rice with other forms of staple for better health; and to think of the farmers‘ hard work in producing the staple.Luistro encouraged all DepEd officials, employees, teachers and students in both public and private schools nationwide to launch information campaigns for the celebration and to recite the ―Panatang Makapalay (Rice Pledge),‖ at the end of every flag-raising ceremony in November.

The Panatang Makapalay includes a pledge to stop wasting rice; to consume brown or unpolished rice and other alternatives, such as banana, root crops, or corn; and to eat rice responsibly because ―every grain saves a life.‖Luistro also advised all public and private schools nationwide to serve in their cafeterias only brown rice on November 14 and a rice-corn mix on November 21.

Brown or unpolished rice is considered healthier because it has rice bran, which contains vitamins B1, B3, B6, B9, dietary fiber, antioxidants, protein, manganese, phosphorus and iron which can reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, and high blood pressure.According to PhilRice each Filipino wasted 9 grams or 2 to 3 spoons of rice daily in 2008 which would have sufficed to feed 2.5 million persons. The total cost of the wastage, the agency said, was 12 percent of rice imported for that year and cost approximately P7.3 billion.