29 december,2017 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter December 29, 2017

 KYZYLORDA SCIENTISTS INVENTED A Volume 9 | Issue XII KNOW-HOW THAT TURNS THE PLANT WASTE INTO  Pakistan Fruit Cargo Arrives in Kazakhstan via Iran  Pakistan uses Iran corridor to transit fruits to Central Asia  It’s a flavor Fort Mill lacked. How two “foodies” teamed to bring a taste of India.  Thailand Rice Exports to Cross a Record 11 Mln T in 2017  Asia rice-markets slow into year-end; Bangladesh awaits India shipments  West Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook, December 28, 2017  Boroh: Rice Project, Best Initiative of Amnesty Programme  Amnesty Programme: Agric Revolution Produces 500 Bags Of Rice  GMO Opponents Are Immoral, Argues Purdue University President Mitch Daniels  It's past time to tell your anti-GMO friends, family and neighbors they are helping to kill poor people.  CBN, RIFAN Set To Crash Rice Prices  Buchireddypalem Palem Circle Inspector 1 suspended  Odisha farmers resent delay in paddy procurement  Civil Supplies Teams Raid Rice Mills Over www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com IrregularitiesContact In Paddy Procurement Online Advertisement : mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell: 0321 369 2874

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter News Detail‌

KYZYLORDA SCIENTISTS INVENTED A KNOW-HOW THAT TURNS THE PLANT WASTE INTO A USEFUL RAW MATERIAL 28.12.2017 11:29 153 Kyzylorda scientists invented a knowhow that turns the plant waste into a useful raw material. The researchers suggest making activated carbon from rice husks. The innovative project will help to prevent environmental pollution. Nearly 500,000 tonnes of rice have been harvested in the Aral region this season. One fifth of this volume is the rice processing waste.

RAKHMETULLA ZHAPPARBERGENOV, LABORATORY ENGINEER: - Alloys of expensive metals are used as catalysts in many industries nowadays. They are expensive even in small quantities. The technology developed by us reduces expenditures by thousand times. It is based on activated carbon. We place nanoparticles of catalyst on it, and obtain activated carbon from rice waste. Activated carbon is widely used not only in medicine, chemistry, but also in industry. It is used in special masks and respirators.

At present, Kyzylorda scholars are waiting for approval and funding for their innovative development from the Science Committee. NURBOL APPAZOV, HEAD OF LABORATORY: - Coal coke is used to extract metals from ore. It is obtained from coal and oil waste. We want to find application for rice waste in this area. We are planning to achieve good results. The development of Kyzylorda scientists is very cost-effective. If activated carbon has been obtained from wood, then the know-how allows the use of cheap raw materials, moreover, there are more than enough reserves of it in the region. http://kazakh-tv.kz/en/view/hi-tech/page_189838_kyzylordalyk-halymdar-kyrishtin-kauyzyn-belsendirilge

Pakistan Fruit Cargo Arrives in Kazakhstan via Iran Thursday, December 28, 2017

Iran has handled a consignment of tangerines from Pakistan to Kazakhstan in an initiative that could open a new corridor for shipment of food from Southeast Asia to markets as far as Russia.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The consignment of 350 tons of tangerines arrived in Iran’s southeastern city of Zahedan by train from Pakistan’s Quetta region and was moved to the port city of Octave in Kazakhstan. It was then loaded on ships going to Russia, Fars News Agency reported on Wednesday.

In April, the first transit consignment from Quetta was sent to Octave through the same route. It comprised of potatoes, mango, tangerine and rice.

Majid Arjoni, director general of Iran’s Southeast Railway Department says Iran expects to improve its transit trade to one million tons through Zahedan-Quetta railway every year. The railroad is 650km long and it takes about 33 hours for trains to travel between the two cities.

The railroads between Iran and Pakistan are different in terms of track width and infrastructure and transit cargo should move through a trans-ship operation when it reaches the border point between the two neighboring countries. https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/78818/pakistan-fruit-cargoarrives-in-kazakhstan-via-iran

Pakistan uses Iran corridor to transit fruits to Central Asia 0

BY TOBY MURPHY ON DECEMBER 26, 2017 TEHRAN, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) — Recently major consignment of fruits from Pakistan to Kazakhstan has been transited through Iran which could open a new corridor for shipment of food items from Southeast Asia to markets as far as Russia, IRAN Daily reported on Tuesday.

The consignment that comprised 350 tons of tangerines was railed to Iran’s southeastern city of Zahedan from Pakistan’s Quetta and is on its way to the port city of Octave in Kazakhstan. It would be then loaded on ships to be transited to Russia, the report said.

In April, the first transit consignment from Quetta was sent to Octave through the same route. It comprised potatoes, mango, tangerine and rice, Press TV wrote.

Pakistan is expected to transit as much as one million tons of goods through Zahedan-Quetta railway every year, Majid Arjoni, the director general for Iran’s Southeast Railway Department, said. The railway is 650 kilometers long and it takes almost 33 hours for trains to travel between the two cities.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Iran hopes to use rail track for the transit of goods from its southeastern port of Chabahar to Central Asia and Europe in what would eventually become a major East-West corridor.

The project to develop Shahid Beheshti Port in Chabahar started in 2007 through investment of one billion U.S. dollars and President Hassan Rouhani inaugurated the port project early this month.

According to the report, the annual cargo tonnage of the port is currently almost as high as 8.5 million tons.It can also accommodate 100,000-tonne ships, what officials say can help promote the country’s international trade activities.

The overall development of the project will bring the port’s total annual cargo capacity to 82 million tonnes. http://www.infosurhoy.com/cocoon/saii/xhtml/en_GB/topstories/pakistan-uses-iran-corridor-to-transitfruits-to-central-asia/

It’s a flavor Fort Mill lacked. How two “foodies” teamed to bring a taste of India.

BY JENNY ARNOLD Special to The Fort Mill Times DECEMBER 28, 2017 12:47 PM

UPDATED DECEMBER 28, 2017 02:03 PM Customers gathered at the doors of Persis Indian Grill, Fort Mill’s newest restaurant, before they even opened on the first day of business — Christmas Day.The franchise’s owners, childhood friends Kumar Patel and Nirav Patel, say reaction on the first day was good.“People were saying ‘five stars’ about the food and the service,” Kumar said. “They were posting pictures and reviews on Google.”

Business was steady on Christmas, and on the following day, Kumar and Nirav rushed from the kitchen to tables in the dining room, taking customers’ orders and running food out from the kitchen as the dinner crowd picked up.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter While many Indian restaurants specialize in the cuisine of just one region of India, Persis offers a little bit of everything from north to south, east to west.

“This restaurant has all the flavors,” Kumar said.

On the menu are a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian appetizers and entrees (including fish and goat), chaat (Indian street food), curries and biryani — rice dishes made with different meats or vegetables with a blend of spices Kumar calls “mouth-watering.”

The restaurant’s chefs all have their specialties. One chef makes the tandoor offerings, which are typically marinated in yogurt and spices, then cooked in a clay oven over charcoal.

Choices include paneer tikka, fish tikka and several different kinds of kebabs. The chicken tikka is tender and flavorful. A side of aromatic green basmati rice blended with spinach and cilantro and finished with edible flowers and strands of saffron compliments the dish.

The tandoor lamb chops are equally tender, delicately spiced and served atop a bed of mashed potatoes, and garnished with microgreens.

Another Persis chef specializes in the restaurant’s spicy curry dishes, while a third makes the appetizers.

Kumar and Nirav obtained their MBAs together, and Kumar worked as a business analyst and Nirav as a database analyst in San Francisco.

Nirav later moved to New Jersey and then to Charlotte three years ago, where he worked for Bank of America.

The men had talked about opening a business together in the booming Fort Mill area, and first considered a liquor store, hotel or gas station as possibilities.

“But, we’re foodies,” Nirav said.

After visiting area Hindu temples, the businessmen learned of the need to open a restaurant in Fort Mill. Charlotte has a number of Indian restaurants and there are also Persis locations in Charlotte, Ballantyne, Columbia and Greenville, but Kumar and Nirav said residents in the Rock Hill, Fort Mill and Tega Cay areas were looking for a convenient Indian restaurant closer to home.

Kumar moved from San Francisco a year ago, specifically to open the business. The friends scouted several locations, including Baxter Village and the newer Kingsley complex, but they couldn’t find the perfect location that offered the space and parking they wanted.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter “We wanted something spacious, with a good atmosphere,” Kumar said.

They settled on a location near Baxter and Kingsley in the former Baxter’s Bunch Playhouse building, at 1504 Carolina Place Drive. They began renting the roughly 4,000-square-foot space in May and renovations started in September.

The restaurant has a full bar and there will be nightly drink specials. In mid-January, Persis will begin offering daily lunch combinations, with appetizer, entree and dessert.

“Thirty days, 30 different combos,” Kumar said.

Persis is open every day from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5:30-9:30 p.m. for dinner.

And although the restaurant is a franchise, Persis Indian Grill in Fort Mill is still a family and friends affair. Nirav’s wife, Disha, is the manager, and Kumar’s wife, Pooja, who works in information technology by day, will lend a hand at Persis in the evenings. Kumar’s father, Bhavin, and Nirav’s father, Dipak, are also helping supervise the restaurant.

Kumar is excited about offering Fort Mill its first taste of Indian food.

“It’s something new in my life,” he said.

Although he may eventually return to work in the IT field, right now, it’s all about the food he loves.

“I love the tandoori items,” he says, when asked to pick a favorite dish. “I love everything.”

For more, call 803-396-0444 or view the menu at persisfortmill.com. http://www.heraldonline.com/news/local/community/fort-mill-times/article191955624.html

Thailand Rice Exports to Cross a Record 11 Mln T in 2017 By admin December 29, 2017

Thailand expects to export more than 11 million tons of rice in 2017, the country’s rice export association said on Wednesday (27/12), a record high for the world’s second-biggest exporter of the grain.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

“This year it should be 11.2 million tons because right now the commerce ministry’s figures for January to November are at 10.4 million tons already and for December it will definitely … be around 700,000 to 800,000 tons,” Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Thai rice prices were also in line with that of competitors, he said, which helped exports in 2017.

“This year will be a record high. We have never reached 11 million tons,” he said. “But still, we exported less than India.”

Thailand also sold “old rice” from government warehouses at competitive prices this year, Chookiat said.

The military government has managed to sell most of the about 18 million tons of rice accumulated during a rice scheme introduced by the previous, civilian government that it ousted in a 2014 coup.

The scheme, which was introduced in 2011, bought rice at above-market prices from farmers and was popular in the rural northeast.

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But the scheme’s public losses fueled street protests in 2013/14 against then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who was eventually removed from power weeks before the 2014 coup.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter The scheme also saw Thailand lose its crown as the world’s top rice exporter to other countries, notably Vietnam and India.

http://riceoutlook.com/thailand-rice-exports-to-cross-a-record-11-mln-t-in-2017/

Asia rice-markets slow into year-end; Bangladesh awaits India shipments THU, DEC 28, 2017 - 9:52 PM [BENGALURU] Rice markets in major Asian centres remained muted this week, with trades few and far between due to the holiday season and the approaching year-end, while Bangladesh awaited shipments from India as part of a previously announced deal.Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major importer this year after floods damaged its crops, has signed a deal, announced earlier this month, to import 150,000 tonnes of rice from India at US$440 a tonne, Badrul Hasan, head of Dhaka's state grains buyer, told Reuters on Thursday.

Another deal with Thailand to import 150,000 tonnes of parboiled rice at US$465 a tonne could be signed next week, he added.

"We have already purchased or finalised deals to fulfil our target," said Hasan, adding that the state grains buyer aims to import 1.5 million tonnes in the year to June 2018.The cost of rice imports has increased in recent weeks due to weakening of the local currency against the dollar, amid an appreciation in the Indian rupee, a Dhaka-based trader said.

In August, Bangladesh cut a duty on imports of the grain for the second time in two months to boost stocks and combat high domestic rates, prompting purchases by private dealers, with most of the deals being struck with neighbouring India.In top exporter India, the 5 per cent broken parboiled rice prices were unchanged from last week's US$418-US$421 per tonne level.

"Due to Christmas and New Year holidays, trading volume is down significantly. Traders are in vacation mood," said an exporter based in Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.The Indian rupee was trading near its highest level in three months, slashing exporters' returns from overseas sales.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "The appreciating rupee is keeping prices firm for overseas buyers. In the last few days, demand from Bangladesh has been weak," said another exporter in Kakinada.In Thailand, the benchmark 5 percent broken rice ticked up to US$398-US$400, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from US$390-US$398 last week, even as the market remained subdued, traders said.

Trade was quiet as the end of the year approaches and foreign buyers are not placing orders, a Bangkok-based trader.Meanwhile, the Thai Rice Exporters Association forecast rice exports to exceed 11 million tonnes in 2017, a record high."Some of that is old rice in state warehouses, as announced by the commerce ministry," the trader said.

The market for the staple grain remained quiet in Vietnam as well, with traders quoting the benchmark 5 per cent broken rice at US$390-395 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) Saigon, the same as last week.Rice exports from Vietnam in December were forecast higher than last month at 400,000 tonnes, a government report said, with traders attributing the increase to shipment of previously signed deals. http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/asia-rice-markets-slow-into-year-endbangladesh-awaits-india-shipments

West Africa Regional Supply and Market Outlook, December 28, 2017 REPORT from Famine Early Warning System Network

28 Dec 2017 —View Original

Download PDF (2.29 MB)

KEY MESSAGES • For the fourth consecutive year, aggregate regional cereal production (milled rice, maize, and millet/sorghum) is projected to increase during the 2017/18 marketing year (MY). This trend is supported by favorable agro-climatic conditions, increased area planted, improved seeds, and agricultural programs and policies. Above average regional production will contribute to filling local deficits. Rice and maize production have expanded, while millet and sorghum production have stagnated.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter •

West Africa is expected to have a gross marketable surplus of 2.2 million metric tons (MMT) of cereals. The region remains structurally-deficit with respect to rice, despite growth in rice production and decreasing regional rice imports. Rice and wheat Imports will persist from well supplied international markets.• During the second half of MY 2016/17, staple food prices unexpectedly increased across much of the central basin.

This was driven by localized deficits and early depletion of stocks due to atypically high demand from Niger (normally be filled by Nigeria). At the beginning of MY 2017/18, staple food prices remain above the recent five-year average. The depreciation of local currencies across the region’s coastal countries and resulting impacts on the cost of imports also contribute to higher prices. Staple food prices will be above average in most countries throughout MY 2017/18, except in Chad. Nigeria’s macroeconomic situation has slowly improved, but prices remain elevated and inflation remains high.

• Pastoral conditions are characterized by below average forage and water availability in the major livestock producing countries (Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad).

The pastoral lean season is expected to begin early. High projected cereal prices will contribute to relatively low livestock to cereal terms of trade (ToT).

• Cereal harvests in the Greater Lake Chad basin are expected to be below average, with major deficits anticipated in the typically surplus-producing Far North Region of Cameroon. Several markets remain closed or function at reduced levels across the basin. Prices are expected to be elevated. Many households will remain in need of humanitarian assistance through the 2017/18 lean season.

• Regional institutional procurement is expected to take place at normal levels across the region, except in Niger where the planned institutional purchase quantities will be above average. Local and regional procurement may be feasible, primarily in the Central Basin, but could drive projected prices higher.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

https://reliefweb.int/report/nigeria/west-africa-regional-supply-and-market-outlookdecember-28-2017

Boroh: Rice Project, Best Initiative of Amnesty Programme December 29, 2017

Paul Boroh 4

The production of the Presidential Amnesty Rice is perhaps the best initiative undertaken so far by the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), the Special Adviser to the President on Niger

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-General Paul Boroh (rtd), has said.

Boroh, who spoke when he received the first 500 bags of the Amnesty Rice in Abuja, said the Presidential Amnesty rice is coming handy this yuletide season and that the target was to commence full production in 2018, which would provide jobs for thousands of people, contribute to food self-sufficiency and security in the country, and grow the economy, as well as save some foreign exchange for the country.

In a statement issued by the Head, Media, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Owei Lakemfa, he stated that before the agriculture revolution of the Buhari administration, the country expended $2.41 billion on the importation of rice alone between January 2012 and May 2015.

Boroh noted that the Presidential Amnesty Rice, cultivated in Ogoja, Cross River State is the beginning of similar initiatives by the Amnesty Office to mass-produce rice in the Niger Delta, adding that some beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now cultivating rice in Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

According to him, locally-produced rice is tastier and more nutritious than the imported rice which

is

over

polished.

“The Amnesty rice is also healthier for consumption as most of the imported rice are stored in warehouses for long periods before being freighted for months across oceans to our country,” he argued.

Boroh urged more people to go into rice cultivation and production, adding that “with over 180 million mouths to feed and the growing preference for rice, the country is a huge market and can accommodate

many

more

producers.

“We can actually move from being a net importer of rice to a net exporter of rice. Weaning many

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Nigerians from their preference for imported rice, and the sustained promotion and consumption of local rice is a winner any day,” the presidential aide said. https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/12/29/boroh-rice-project-best-initiative-ofamnesty-programme/

Amnesty Programme: Agric Revolution Produces 500 Bags Of Rice Bags of rice

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says its agriculture revolution initiative has so far produced 500 bags of rice.

PAP’s Coordinator, retired Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh said this in a statement signed by PAP’s Head of Media, Mr Owei Lakemfa, on Thursday in Abuja.Boroh, who is also Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, described the initiative as one of the best programmes of the Buhari-led administration, saying the ex-agitators produced the rice.

The presidential aide noted that the Presidential Amnesty Rice was handy during the yuletide season, assuring that full scale production of the crop would begin in 2018.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter According to him, the initiative will provide jobs for thousands of people and contribute toward nation’s food self-sufficiency and security to grow the economy as well as save some foreign exchange to be used for importation.The Special Adviser recalled that before the agriculture revolution of the Buhari administration, the country from January, 2012 to May, 2015 expended 2.41 billion dollars on the importation of rice alone.

He said that Presidential Amnesty Rice cultivated in Ogoja, Cross Rivers State was the beginning of similar initiatives by the Amnesty Office to mass produce rice in the Niger Delta.He added that some beneficiaries of the PAP had started cultivating rice in Delta, Bayelsa andRivers States.

The Coordinator noted that rice produced locally was more nutritious than the foreign rice which, according to him, “is over polished’’.“The Amnesty rice is also healthier for consumption as most of the imported rice are stored in warehouses for long periods before being freighted for months across oceans to our country,” he said.

He advised Nigerian youths to venture into rice farming, saying, “with more than 180 million mouths to feed and the growing preference for rice, the country is a huge market.’’

“We can actually move from being a net importer of rice to a net exporter of rice. Weaning many Nigerians from their preference for imported rice, and the sustained promotion and consumption of local rice is a winner any day,’’ Boroh explained He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative, and the CBN for its Anchor Borrowers Programme targeted at farmers and massive agriculture production in the country.

Boroh also praised state governments for investing in massive agriculture, especially rice production.He described as “seamless collaboration” between the Kebbi and Lagos State Governments on the production and marketing of Lake Rice, as a worthy model.

He specifically commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing the initiative, environment and leadership that had brought about the agricultural revolution in the country. https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2017/12/28/amnesty-programme-agric-revolutionproduces-500-bags-rice/

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GMO Opponents Are Immoral, Argues Purdue University President Mitch Daniels It's past time to tell your anti-GMO friends, family and neighbors they are helping to kill poor people.Ronald Bailey|Dec. 28, 2017 1:35 pm

International Rice Research InstituteMitch Daniels is right: It's past time to tell your anti-GMO friends, family and neighbors they are helping to kill poor people.

Today in a Washington Post op-ed, the former Indiana governor and current president of Purdue University cogently argues, "Avoiding GMOs isn't just antiscience. It's immoral." Daniels observes: Of the several claims of "anti-science" that clutter our national debates these days, none can be more flagrantly clear than the campaign against modern agricultural technology, most specifically the use of molecular techniques to create genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Here, there are no credibly conflicting studies, no arguments about the validity of computer models, no disruption of an ecosystem nor any adverse human health or even digestive problems, after 5 billion acres have been cultivated cumulatively and trillions of meals consumed.

And yet a concerted, deep-pockets campaign, as relentless as it is baseless, has persuaded a high percentage of Americans and Europeans to avoid GMO products, and to pay premium prices for "non-GMO" or "organic" foods that may in some cases be less safe and less nutritious.

Daniels properly excoriates academic scientists, regulators, along with food and agricultural companies for their cowardly reticence in challenging "an aggressive, often self-interested antiGMO lobby that is indifferent to the facts and quick with ad hominem attacks."

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter So what should be done? Daniels asserts: It's time to move the argument to a new plane. For the rich and well-fed to deny Africans, Asians or South Americans the benefits of modern technology is not merely anti-scientific. It's cruel, it's heartless, it's inhumane — and it ought to be confronted on moral grounds that ordinary citizens, including those who have been conned into preferring non-GMO Cheerios, can understand.

Travel to Africa with any of Purdue University's three recent World Food Prize winners, and you won't find the conversation dominated by anti-GMO protesters. There, where more than half of the coming population increase will occur, consumers and farmers alike are eager to share in the life-saving and life-enhancing advances that modern science alone can bring. Efforts to persuade them otherwise, or simply block their access to the next round of breakthroughs, are worse than anti-scientific. They're immoral.

The Journal of Markets and Morality asked me two years ago to debate statistician Nassim Taleb on the question "Do GMOs [genetically modified organisms] present cause for moral concern?"

The editor of the journal explained, "The goal of this controversy is to assist our readership (economists, political scientists, theologians, moral philosophers, ethicists) in developing a more informed understanding of the issues at stake in the current state of the GMO debate, addressing concerns of fact, morality, and policy."

In my initial essay, I detailed the strong scientific consensus is that current versions of genetically enhanced crops are safe for people and the natural environment. In addition, I pointed out that modern biotech crops could play a big role in helping to increase the availability of healthful food to the poor around the world. I concluded, "Fallacious arguments against developing and growing modern biotech crops is cause for great moral concern."

Taleb was invited to participate because he and some colleagues had put together a mish-mash of a paper filled with statistical mystifications and handwaving to argue the modern crop biotechnology could lead to the extinction of the human race.

After reading my essay Taleb withdrew from the debate and, for good measure, called me an "idiot."

I am not alone in arguing that opposition to modern biotech crops is immoral. Last year, 100 Nobel Laureates signed an open letter demanding that Greenpeace and other activists groups stop killing and blinding poor children in developing countries. Specifically, the laureates urged,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter "Greenpeace to cease and desist in its campaign against Golden Rice specifically, and crops and foods improved through biotechnology in general."

Golden rice is genetically enhanced to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency in poor countries results in hundreds of thousands of deaths and cases of blindness annually. It was created by a non-profit consortium of researchers and is being developed by the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines. Thugs associated with Greenpeace attacked and destroyed golden rice research plots at IRRI back in 2013.

In their letter, the Nobel laureates pointed out that "scientific and regulatory agencies around the world have repeatedly and consistently found crops and foods improved through biotechnology to be as safe as, if not safer than those derived from any other method of production.

"There has never been a single confirmed case of a negative health outcome for humans or animals from their consumption. Their environmental impacts have been shown repeatedly to be less damaging to the environment, and a boon to global biodiversity." http://reason.com/blog/2017/12/28/gmo-opponents-are-immoral-argues-purdue BUSINESSECONOMY

CBN, RIFAN Set To Crash Rice Prices

By The Eagle Online On Dec 28, 2017

Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, the National President, Rice Farmers Association, has assured Nigerians that the market prices of locally produced rice will soon crash.Goronyo told News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday that the price a 50kg bag of locally produced rice would plummet from N18,000 to between N6,500 and N7000 by April 2018.He said the price-reduction plans would be achieved under a joint programme of RIFAN and the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria, which would be launched in Abuja on January 13, 2018.

Goronyo said 12 million rice farmers in the country would benefit from the one-year partnership, adding, however, that 300,000 rice farmers from 20 states would be supported at the beginning of the programme in January.

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He said under the new initiative, the CBN had modified the programme to facilitate its direct relations with RIFAN so as to ensure timely disbursement and full repayment of loans, unlike what obtained in the past.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

He said the new initiative would double the achievements of the earlier edition of ABP, which was launched on November 17, 2015 in Kebbi State, with a target to produce additional 2.5 million tonnes of paddy rice.

He said in 2015, Nigerians spent not less than N1 billion daily on rice consumption, adding that while the spending had reduced drastically, rice consumption had increased significantly because of the increase in local production of rice.

Goronyo said the available statistics indicated that the rice consumption rate in the country now had increased from 7.9 million tonnes to over 8 million tonnes, while the volume of rice production had increased from 5.8 million tonnes to 6.9 million tonnes per annum.

He, however, noted that several efforts had been put in place to cut down the price of rice, adding that some of the efforts included collaborations with Competitive African Rice Initiative and other African countries to boost rice production and exports in Africa.

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Goronyo stressed that rice prices would further drop, as there were currently bumper harvests in rice farms across the country, while RIFAN was collaborating with rice millers on the pricing of the commodity.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Besides, the RIFAN president said RIFAN had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Customs Service on how to contain rice smuggling into the country through the land borders.

Goronyo said the efforts being put in place and the current economic situation in the country had made it somewhat difficult for people to import rice into the country and make profit.

He said: “The landing cost of a 50kg bag of imported rice is now N19,500.

“Then, how much should the 50kg bag of rice be sold?

“The smuggled rice that comes into Nigeria is just five per cent of what we consume and the rice comes in through the informal sector.”

The ABP, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015, is aimed at creating linkages between companies involved in rice processing

https://theeagleonline.com.ng/cbn-rifan-set-to-crash-rice-prices/

Buchireddypalem Palem Circle Inspector suspended THE HANS INDIA | Dec 29,2017 , 01:25 AM IST

Buchireddypalem Palem Circle Inspector suspended

Nellore: Buchi reddypalem Circle Inspector P Subba Rao was suspended by the Guntur Range DIG for indulging in corruption and threatening the local businessmen and residents for the bribes.

District SP, who received complaints from the local traders, ordered for an enquiry.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Based on probe report, he recommended to the DIG for CI’s suspension. Subba Rao used to ask bribes from the traders, rice millers, complainants and has been harassing them that he would book cases against them if they fail to pay bribes to him.

He was accepting bribes and was diluting the cases. The enquiry officials found that he was tarnishing image of the department with his behaviour and was suspended from the duties on Wednesday. http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-12-29/Buchireddypalem-PalemCircle-Inspector-suspended/348670

Odisha farmers resent delay in paddy procurement

By Express News Service | Published: 29th December 2017 03:44 AM | Last Updated: 29th December 2017 12:51 PM

Image used for representational purpose only BHUBANESWAR: With farmers facing problems to sell their paddy to agencies appointed by the State Government due to non-cooperation of officials, the Krushak Morcha of State BJP has decided to gherao offices of civil supplies officers (CSOs) in districts where farmers have to wait for long.

State unit president of Krushak Morcha Sivaji Mohanty said delay in procurement of paddy

by Government agencies has been reported from several districts including Kalahandi,

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter Bargarh, Keonjhar and Balasore. Farmers have to sleep in the open in the cold climate as officials of procurement agencies failed to turn up.

Alleging nexus between Supplies Department officials and rice millers, Mohanty said some farmers are complaining that they are asked by mandi officials to sell their stock to millers if they want to get back home early. The millers will keep their cut of about 15 kg per quintal of paddy and pay less than the minimum support price announced by the Government. “In the first phase, we are planning to gherao some mandis in Dharamgarh block of Kalahandi district where such discrepancies have been reported. We will organise such protests in other areas where farmers are facing similar problems. If their problems are not sorted out, our target will be the offices of civil supplies officers of district concerned,� Mohanty said.

Mandis have not been opened by several Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) as they do not have requisite infrastructure for grading, weighing machine and people to h elp loading and unloading.

Delay in paddy procurement in some parts of Balasore and Keonjhar districts have been resented by the farmers, he added

Civil Supplies Teams Raid Rice Mills Over Irregularities In Paddy Procurement

By Odishatv Bureau Last updated Dec 29, 2017

Malkangiri: Cracking a whip on rice mills after allegations of illegal paddy procurement, officials of the Civil Supplies department today raided as many as 21 mills in Malkangiri.

The raids come after alleged embezzlement of nearly 5 to 7 kg of paddy per quintal at rice mills was reported.

As per the instruction of the Collector, 21 teams led by the Sub-Collector raided the rice mills. Assistant Civil Supply Officer (ACSO) Manoj Kumar Pradhan said presently raid is underway and the final reports will be submitted to the Collector by today evening. Thereafter the Collector will take the necessary action, he said.

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Sources said allegations of paddy embezzlement have been levelled against as many as 60 rice mills across the district where rice millers are using illegal methods for misappropriating paddy.

http://odishatv.in/odisha/body-slider/civil-supplies-teams-raid-rice-mills-over-irregularities-inpaddy-procurement-264367

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