3rd may ,2017 daily globa regional & local rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice

E-Newsletter

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May 03,2017 Vol 8 Issue IV

Today Rice News Headlines...               

Iran Rice Imports Down 24.4% Rice millers balk at export fees Indonesia to create 80,000 hectares of new rice fields Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 02, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 03, 2017 Millers shun rice crisis loan fund Bumper paddy production in yasangi Wheat, rice basmati slide on reduced offtake UNISAME URGES CHAIRMAN IPO FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SINDH TRIBUNAL FOR EARLY DECISIONS Storms Bring Disaster to Arkansas Rice Country Soggy fields slow start of rice planting Rice monopoly on hold World's best: 10 rice dishes you need in your life AG distances himself from ‘rice monopoly’ controversy Projects Boost Food Security in Arab Countries, Improve Rice Production and Address Plant Health

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News Detail...

Iran Rice Imports Down 24.4%

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ome 76,500 tons of rice worth $52.9 million were imported by the Government

Trading Corporation of Iran during the 11 months to February 18, indicating a 23.3% and 24.4% decline in tonnage and value respectively compared with the corresponding period of the previous year.

GTC is a government-owned company specializing in the purchase, import and distribution of essential foodstuff. It is the lever for enforcing market controls.

The company is also in charge of maintaining a supply of wheat, rice, cooking oil and meat as the country‘s strategic reserve of essential goods, IRNA reported.

According to Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq, the head of Iran Rice Council, about 2.25 million tons of rice were produced in Iran in the last Iranian year (March 2016-17) and this year‘s output is expected to hit the same level.

Iranians consume about 3.2 million tons of rice a year

https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/63566/iran-riceimports-down-244

Rice millers balk at export fees Wed, 3 May 2017

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A woman works in a rice processing factory in Battambang province. Heng Chivoan

Cheng Sokhorng

Numerous members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the body tasked with lobbying on the sectors behalf, have stopped paying membership dues and export fees, claiming that they cannot afford to as the industry continues to struggle with high production costs and regional export competition.

According to the terms of CRF membership, each miller is required to pay $200 annually and an export fee of $0.50 per tonne on white rice and $1 per tonne on fragrant rice.

Chray Son, deputy director of Capital Food Cambodia, said that despite the CRF‘s efforts to provide relief to its members, the body had achieved little in lobbying the government and instead praised emergency assistance provided by the state-owned Rural Development Bank.

Nevertheless, he added that with monthly losses during the current harvest season amounting to $10,000 to $15,000, CRF fees were exorbitant and exploited millers that were on the verge of bankruptcy. ―We cannot afford to pay the CRF‘s required amount, and we disagree with the current payment fee as we have already faced heavy losses,‖ he said. ―Rice millers are trying to reduce their

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production costs, and the CRF must understand this and lower the fees, not just keep them at the same level, otherwise we will go bankrupt by next year.‖ However, he added that if members felt that the CRF was operating transparently and actually achieved tangible results for its beleaguered millers, members would happily comply. ―If the CRF can help us find new export markets and operate transparently with its millers, we would be able to make a profit and pay the fees,‖ he said.

According to his calculations, 90 percent of CRF‘s members have willfully decided not to pay export fees during the current harvest season.

Phuor Sokleang, marketing manager of Phour Kokky, a rice miller in Pursat province, said the CRF should not demand the fee payments while it had done nothing to support the sector and achieved none of its promises. ―It is not appropriate to take fees from rice millers when the CRF has not done anything for us,‖ she said. ―The government and relevant ministries are the only ones that have provided support.‖ She added that her anger with the CRF stemmed from being taken off of the list of the 26 approved rice millers allowed to export to China. ―When I asked why I was not included in the list for approved access to China, the CRF could not explain to me and told me to check with the Ministry of Commerce,‖ she said. ―So in my opinion the CRF means nothing to me.‖ Norng Veasna, director of sales and marketing at Nikoline Rice Mill, said that the top 10 rice exporters would soon meet with CRF to demand reduced export fees. ―We know the CRF plays an important role in helping the rice industry, but right now we are not profitable,‖ he said. ―We hope the CRF will accept its members request and reduce export fees to $0.25 per tonne for all kinds of rice.‖ Hun Lak, vice president of the CRF, said the export and membership fees had been in place since 2015 and that despite the organisation‘s best efforts, millers too often placed the blame on them. ―We work to help the whole rice industry,‖ he said. ―And we understand that we have not fulfilled all of the rice millers‘ demands. But we have documented our accomplishments to prove to them what we have done.‖ He added that the CRF had successfully negotiated a reduction in the cost of electricity for its members, provided an exemption from the value-added tax (VAT), trimmed down logistical costs at the Kingdom‘s ports and helped millers receive international export certification. ―The CRF will discuss and talk with our members about these issues again,‖ he said. ―However, if we are going to achieve any of our goals we need to be unified instead of just complaining.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-millers-balk-export-fees

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Indonesia to create 80,000 hectares of new rice fields Tuesday, 02 May 2017 07:16

The new rice fields will be created outside Java. (Image source: Prabowoid/Pixabay)The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry has expressed its plans to create arpund 80,000 hectares of new rice fields this year as targeted by the government as part of the country’s food security program The Ministry‘s agricultural infrastructure director general Pending Dadih Permana said the new rice fields would be created outside Java, The Jakarta Post reported. ―Many plots of land have not been developed [by the owners]. We will help them convert the land into rice fields. We will prioritise owners who are ready to cultivate their land,‖ said Pending during a hearing with members of the House of Representatives‘ Commission IV overseeing agriculture affairs.

Ground work, including investigations and design surveys, will be carried out in the areas to be used before the rice fields are created. Flattening of land and construction of rice field paths, as well as the development of roads and irrigation infrastructure will also be taken up as part of the initiative.

The ministry has stated that the rice field construction will involve the assistance of the Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel.

Last year, the ministry created 129, 096 hectares of new rice fields in 27 provinces, slightly lower than the target of 132,167 hectares

http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/indonesia-to-create-80-000hectares-of-new-rice-fields

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Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 02, 2017 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-May 2 Nagpur, May 2 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices reported down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on lack of demand from local millers amid good supply from producing belts. Fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and release of stock from stockists also pulled down prices in thin trading activity.

About 3,000 bags of gram and 1,700 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on lack of demand from local traders amid good supply from millers.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani reported strong in open market on increased marriage season demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts. * Moong dal Chilka moved down in open market here on poor demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 3,800-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,100-6,400, Udid Mogar (clean) – 9,500-10,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,100-7,400, Gram – 5,900-6,200, Gram Super best bold – 8,100-8,400 for 100 kg. * Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Gram Auction Gram Pink Auction Tuar Auction Moong Auction Udid Auction Masoor Auction

Available prices Previous close 5,300-5,765 5,350-5,790 n.a.

2,100-2,600 3,500-3,900 3,500-4,020 n.a.

4,000-4,400 n.a.

4,300-4,500 n.a.

2,600-2,800

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Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,596 1,500-1,590 Gram Super Best Bold 8,500-8,800 8,500-9,000 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,300 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900 Desi gram Raw 6,100-6,300 6,200-6,400 Gram Yellow 8,000-8,200 8,200-8,400 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400 Tuar Gavarani New 4,000-4,200 3,750-3,950 Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,600 6,000-6,900 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,800 6,900-7,800 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,900-11,000 9,900-11,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-9,000 7,800-9,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,400 5,800-6,400 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,900-4,400 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,800-2,000 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,250 2,100-2,250 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,500 3,200-3,500 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,400 2,800-3,400 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,400 2,250-2,400 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600

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Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-4,800 4,600-4,800 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,000 6,500-7,000 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,300 6,000-6,300 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-14,000 10,000-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,000 5,500-7,000 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,700-5,900 5,700-5,900 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 41.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 25.0 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 26 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices) http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1I42LR

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- May 03, 2017 Reuters | May 3, 2017, 01.35 PM IST

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC/Open Market-May 3 Nagpur, May 3 (Reuters) Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) auction on poor buying support from local millers amid increased supply from producing belts. Reports about bumper tuar arrival in all over Maharashtra and weak trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses also affected prices.

About 3,900 bags of gram and 2,900 bags of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. TUAR * Tuar varieties quoted static in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in

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ready position. * Watana dal reported weak in open market here on lack of buying support from local traders. * Wheat varieties recovered in open market good seasonal demand from local traders amid thin arrival from producing regions like Punjab and Haryana. * In Akola, Tuar New - 3,800-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) 6,100-6,400, Udid Mogar (clean) - 9,500-10,900, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,100-7,400, Gram - 5,900-6,200, Gram Super best bold - 8,100-8,400 for 100 kg. * Rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 5,2505,630 5,300-5,760 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction 3,400-3,880 3,500-3,940 Moong Auction n.a. 4,000-4,400 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,500-1,596 1,500-1,590 Gram Super Best Bold 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 7,800-8,200 7,800-8,200 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,8005,900 5,800-5,900 Desi gram Raw 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300 Gram Yellow 8,0008,200 8,000-8,200 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,500 12,400-13,500 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200 Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,0005,400 5,000-5,400 Tuar Gavarani New 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200 Tuar Karnataka 4,200-4,300 4,200-4,300 Masoor dal best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,200-7,500 7,200-7,500 Moong Mogar Medium 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Moong dal Chilka 5,800-6,600 5,800-6,600 Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,800 6,900-7,800 Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 9,90011,000 9,900-11,000 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,800-9,000 7,800-9,000 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,400 5,800-6,400 Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,500-3,800 3,500-3,800 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,100 3,000-3,200 Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,3003,500 3,300-3,500 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,400 3,900-4,400 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,050 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,350 2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan new (100 INR/KG) 1,850-2,050 1,800-2,000 Wheat Lokwan best (100 Online Advertisement:mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com Cell # 0321 369 2874 www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com www.ricepluss.com

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INR/KG) 2,200-2,350 2,100-2,250 Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,0002,150 2,000-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,600 3,200-3,500 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,500-2,700 Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,500-4,000 3,500-4,000 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,450 2,250-2,450 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,700 2,600-2,700 Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,4002,500 Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500 Rice Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 6,0006,200 6,000-6,200 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,300-14,000 10,300-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-7,500 5,500-7,500 Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,5005,800 5,500-5,800 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 42.1 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 27.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 43 and 27 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-pricesopen-may-03-2017/articleshow/58493143.cms

Millers shun rice crisis loan fund Rice millers have taken up less than a quarter of a $27 million emergency loan fund to stabilise prices of the grain, blaming late disbursement for the poor take up.Following a price crash last year, the government told the Rural Development Bank (RDB) to disburse the loans to millers to buy paddy rice from farmers at 840 riel ($0.21) per kg. The rice was to be stored in warehouses and processed for export.But Kao Thach, chief executive of RDB, said few millers applied for the loans.―Five rice millers asked for loans totalling nearly $5 million,‖ Mr. Thach said.He said a drop in world rice prices could have put millers off buying rice, despite having sufficient

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capital.―Some rice millers didn‘t want to take the risk of buying rice for stocks,‖ he said.Of the five millers who borrowed money, all but one has repaid the RDB. The annual interest rate is 7 percent.Mr. Thach said he was unsure if the loans would continue to be available.―It depends on the government,‖ he said. ―If the government allows us, we could broaden the use of the fund to address other problems.

Rice millers are giving the government‘s emergency fund a miss. KT/Chor Sokunthea However, there has not been any decision yet. It was designated as an emergency loan for the rice crisis at that time.‖Last June, the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) announced that the government had agreed to the $27 million fund to help rice millers purchase paddy from farmers.Loans were to be made to CRF through the RDB, with the foundation acting as guarantor.The CRF in turn would screen applicants and hand money to deserving rice millers, who were reeling after a severe drought and facing stiff competition from low-grade rice flowing into the country from Vietnam.Cambodia‘s milled rice exports only grew by 0.7 percent last year compared with 2015.

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37927//

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Bumper paddy production in yasangi Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s endeavour has been to strengthen the rural economy and make farming not only a sustainable activity but to convert it into a profit-making venture.

By Mandhumula Pradeep | Published: 1st May 2017 11:30 pm

Timely supply of water among several other initiatives and schemes are being attributed for the record bumper harvest.

Hyderabad: The various initiatives taken up by the State government for strengthening the farm sector have begun yielding results with paddy harvest during the yasangi season expected to touch a whopping 60 to 70 lakh tonnes, almost 50 per cent higher than last year‘s yield.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao‘s endeavour has been to strengthen the rural economy and make farming not only a sustainable activity but to convert it into a profit-making venture.

Timely supply of irrigation water from various projects, adequate supply of fertilizers and appropriate advice to farmers by agronomists, among several initiatives and schemes, are being attributed for the record bumper harvest during the summer season, a first after the formation of the State.

Host of measures Thanks to the measures taken by the State government to raise the production of paddy by introducing scores of measures, which include timely supply of irrigation water under various

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projects, appropriate supply of fertilizers, urea and suitable advice by widely recruited agronomists.

Expressing happiness over the bumper yield, Minister for Agriculture Pocharam Srinivas Reddy told Telangana Today that the all-out efforts of the government were now giving tremendous results. ―The Chief Minister is committed to bring prosperity to farmers, and his vision is now bearing fruit,‖ Reddy said.

Water management Farmers who used to cultivate only half of their total land extent during the yasangi season are now going for cultivation over their entire holding, thanks to availability of plenty of irrigation water. The government had released water to irrigate about six lakh acres under Nizamsagar, Alisagar, Sriramsagar and Kadem projects which prevented drying of standing crops, officials said.

Of the total of 55 lakh acres of cultivable area, paddy was sown in about 21.64 lakh acres. ―Every year, we used to cultivate paddy in 3-4 acres due to scarcity of water and fertilizers, but during this yasangi, we are cultivating paddy in all the eight acres and have got bumper harvest as the government supplied water from Nizamsagar project without any break,‖ S Krishna Reddy, a farmer from Varni mandal in Nizamabad district, said.

Groundwater factor Farmers were also happy that borewells also supplied uninterrupted water as the groundwater was replenished following the implementation of Mission Kakatiya programme. ―In a mission mode, the Irrigation Department has completed desiltation of 24,000 tanks out of 46,000 village tanks in phase I and II,‖ an official said. ―Our village tank reached FTL after several years, which has resulted in improved groundwater levels in our village, and for this, the credit goes to Mission Kakatiya programme,‖ said M Kishan Rao of China Adirala village of Balanagar mandal in Mahbubnagar district. He too said he had reaped a good harvest of paddy.

The government has not only taken care to improve production but also made elaborate arrangements for hassle-free procurement and purchase of paddy. Indra Kranthi Patham (IKP) self-help groups were pressed into action along with the Civil Supplies Department officials for procurement of paddy.

Govt directives The State government gave clear directions to the procurement agencies that stock should be weighed and shifted from the market yards within 24 hours to prevent damage from summer showers and payment to farmers will be credited within 48 hours. Civil Supplies Minister Etela Rajender has already alerted top officials and directed them to be on vigil during procurement to prevent middlemen from taking advantage besides ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers.

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Wheat, rice basmati slide on reduced offtake Press Trust of India | New Delhi May 2, 2017 Last Updated at 14:28 IST NGT orders closure of 13 industries violating pollution normsMaha govt amends Contract Labour Act to boost industriesHalving of LNG duty to save Rs 900 cr for consuming industriesNGT seeks UP govt's figure of industries on Ganga banksANG Industries to hold board meeting Weak conditions prevailed at the wholesale grains market today as prices of wheat and rice basmati drifted lower by up to Rs 300 per quintal due to reduced offtake by flour mills and stockists against ample stocks position. A few other bold grains also eased on lack of demand from consuming industries.

Traders said reduced offtake by flour mills against sufficient stocks position due to increased supplies from producing belts mainly led to the decline in wheat prices.

They said tepid demand kept pressure on rice basmati prices.

In the national capital, wheat MP (desi) and wheat dara (for mills) fell by Rs 50 and Rs 40 to Rs 2,150-2,450 and Rs 1,695-1,700 per quintal, respectively. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and traded lower by a similar margin to Rs 1,700 -1,705 per 90 kg. Atta flour mills, maida and sooji also settled lower at Rs 940-950, Rs 955-965 and Rs 1,030-1,040 as compared to previous levels of Rs 960-970, Rs 1,000-1,020 and Rs 1,100-1,110 per 50 kg, respectively in line with wheat trend.

In the rice section, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety fell by Rs 300 each to Rs 8,0008,100 and Rs 6,300- 7,400 per quintal, respectively.

Non-basmati rice permal raw, wand, sela and IR-8 were quoted lower at Rs 2,275-2,325, Rs 2,400-2,450, Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rs 2,000-2,025 against last close of Rs 2,300-2,350, Rs 2,4502,500, Rs 3,100-3,200 and Rs 2,050-2,100 per quintal.

Other bold grains like, bajra, maize and barley were down by Rs 20 each to Rs 1,370-1,380, Rs 1,500-1,510 and Rs 1,550-1,570 per quintal respectively. Jowar yellow and white too lost Rs 50 each at Rs 1,600-1,650 and Rs 3,300-3,500 per quintal, respectively.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,150-2,450, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,695-1,700, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,700-1,705, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 240, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 240, Roller flour mill Rs 940-950 (50 kg), Maida Rs 955-965 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,030-1,040 (50 kg).

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Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 8,000-8,100, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 6,300-7,400, Permal raw Rs 2,2752,325, Permal wand Rs 2,400-2,450, Sela Rs 3,000-3,100 and Rice IR-8 Rs 2,000-2,025, Bajra Rs 1,370-1,380, Jowar yellow Rs 1600-1650, white Rs 3,300-3,500, Maize Rs 1,500-1,510, Barley Rs 1,550-1,570.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/wheat-rice-basmati-slide-onreduced-offtake-117050200474_1.html

UNISAME URGES CHAIRMAN IPO FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SINDH TRIBUNAL FOR EARLY DECISIONS The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) greeted Shahid Rashid the chairman of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) on' World IPO Day' and complimented him on his dedicated work on the geographical indications (GI) issue and invited his attention to the other issues faced by the sector due to lack of prompt action on the part of the policy makers. The basmati rice issue calls for the immediate attention of the IPO..

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver appreciated the efforts of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) for celebrating World IPO Day on 2nd May 2017 but was disheartened when the issues were not openly discussed at the forum and no question and answers session was held. Much time was spent on speeches and distribution of shields to the guest by the host and by the guests to the host. This practice of distributing shields must end. The shields must be given only for outstanding contribution to the cause of the business community.

The participants were expecting an update on the GI approved draft which is on the threshold of becoming a law.

Thaver said the speech of the chief guest the governor of. Sindh Muhammad Zubair was really encouraging and inspiring. The governor assured his full support and expressed his availability for the business community. He recognized the importance of IP rights as a tool for promotion of entrepreneurship and foreign direct investment.

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Thaver said there is no IPO tribunal operating in Sindh although there are two operating in Punjab.The aggrieved have to go to the high court which takes many years to conclude due to heavy burden of cases.

Secondly he said the basmati rice case is in the high court under appeal as although the learned registrar gave an exhaustive 92 page order on the subject of basmati trade mark ownership, the stakeholders were compelled to move the high court and the matter is now in the high court. The basmati issue demands an urgent decision as the HC will take time to decide. In the meantime it is urged that all the cases need to be transferred to the tribunal, which could decide faster.

Thirdly he said the IPO needs to work closely with the trade associations and the different chambers of commerce and industry to enlighten them on the subject of IP rights, trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents. The associations must also make efforts for the protection of the rights of their members and educate them on the subjec

Storms Bring Disaster to Arkansas Rice Country

By Josh Hankins

LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS -- The storms that started Saturday night overflowed rain gauges up and down the Arkansas Delta, and forecasts show another rain event coming through tomorrow to add to the area's already swollen waterways.

Jeff Rutledge, a rice farmer in Jackson County, whose farm is located where the surging Black and White Rivers merge, said, "As of now, the only way we can get to our farm shop is by boat. We are headed up in a plane later today to determine the scope of damage."

Governor Asa Hutchinson has declared a state of emergency as the powerful storms continue to wreak havoc, particularly in the northeast part of the state, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports rivers in that area, already well above flood stage, are expected to rise on into the coming weekend.

"At this point, it looks like we could lose 100,000 acres of rice in the state, but that could be lowballing it as the heaviest floodwaters are due later in the week," said Jarrod Hardke, an Extension rice agronomist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. "Similar to the 2011 flood, the Black River is expected to exceed historic levels. But unlike 2011 when only 45 percent of the rice had been planted, 89 percent of this year's crop is already in the ground. That loss on input costs will push the overall impact of this weather event even higher. In addition, downstream areas have not realized the full impact of flooding as waterways have yet to reach their projected flood levels."

"The excessive rainfall hit us hard and then the lack of drainage due to flooding rivers only

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compounds the problem," said Jennifer James, another rice farmer in Jackson County. "We were off to a really good start on this crop year and Mother Nature had other plans. In the end, it will likely be weeks before the extent of the damage and losses can accurately be determined."

Assistance from the Federal government that takes the form of low interest loans from either the Small Business Administration or the Farm Service Agency at USDA requires a federal disaster declaration.

"At the moment, the best the rice industry can hope for is quickly receding waters, but the rain hasn't even stopped yet," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "Private crop insurance assistance, in the form of replanting or preventative planting coverage can't begin to be calculated until June 10 - the last day of potential planting."

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Soggy fields slow start of rice planting Share5 Issue Date: May 3, 2017

By Ching Lee

Yuba County rice farmer Keith Davis examines a chunk of wet soil from a field in Marysville he was trying to prepare for planting last week. Soggy weather in April kept many Sacramento Valley farmers from working their ground, resulting in a late start to the planting season.

Photo/Ching Lee planting.

All last month, the Sacramento Valley should have been buzzing with tractors working the ground in preparation for seeding. Instead, soggy weather kept many farmers twiddling their thumbs or biting their nails as they waited for their fields to dry out.

"It's really getting nerve-racking at this point," Yuba County farmer Keith Davis said.

Most of the ground he farms on the east side of the valley was "still too wet to do anything with," he said, so he's focusing on a small area where the soil is lighter and he can begin turning it. But his fields with red clay dirt in the lower foothills were "extremely wet" and needed more drying time.

Spring rains have caused planting delays in the past, Davis noted, but they were usually followed by drying periods long enough for farmers to get in the field. This year, fields were so saturated that growers didn't have that opportunity, he added.

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Typically, his fields would have been planted by May 15, but Davis said that date is "almost unreachable now." The final planting date for California rice is June 1, after which farmers with crop insurance could seek compensation for prevented planting. Trying to plant after June 1 is considered risky because it pushes harvest into the rainy fall season, which could hurt yield and quality if the crop gets soaked.

Mike DeWit, who farms rice in Yolo and Sutter counties, said he's tried planting as late as June and "got burned," so he won't take that gamble again. Without crop insurance, he said he'd be "real stressed out and a mess right now," as the indemnity helps pay the rent when he can't grow a crop. In a down market year such as this, he said "it's not a bad option to have."

He already knows he won't be able to plant 50 percent of his acreage—land in the Yolo Bypass that's still underwater. On his drier ground, he started some field work last week; normally, he would have started on April 1. If weather cooperates, he said he hopes to get his first field planted by the week of May 22.

"We're going to be under the gun and may bunch the planting up more than we'd like to," he said.

The bunching could result in other delays. Irrigation districts with small canals and outlets are not able to deliver water to fields all at once, Davis said, noting that it could take 20 to 30 days to put water in fields before they could be seeded. Farmers may also be standing in line for agricultural planes that seed their fields. On the back end, DeWit said delayed planting could result in a logjam at rice dryers in the fall if farmers try to harvest at the same time.

California farmers are expected to plant 539,000 acres of rice this year, down from 541,000 in 2016, according to a prospective plantings report released in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The department reported that zero acres had been planted in the state as of the week ending April 30.

With the adobe clay soil he farms in Butte County, grower Matt Tennis said he'll be lucky to get 50 percent of his crop planted this year. He's already made the decision to switch to growing a short-season variety because of the narrow planting window he has left. As of last week, his ground was still too wet to do any work and he said he likely wouldn't start until the end of this week.

Field preparation takes time and patience, he said, as several passes are needed to work up the soil, level the ground and produce a good seed bed.

"We don't have an unlimited number of tractors sitting in a barn ready to go out and get it all done," he said. "By the time we can get in the ground, we would've lost one month."

With the late start, Tennis said he wants to plant as much as he can, but conditions must be right so he could do a good job.

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"If you cut corners and slam your crop in, you're going to have greater weed pressure and undesirable yield," he said. "This is not the kind of year where I'd want to cut corners in planting my rice crop."

Not all areas of the valley were as sopping wet. In Colusa County, farmer Mark Sutton has made some progress, having started working his fields early last week. He said he expects to be finished planting by the second week of June, as long as he doesn't have any more rain. Unlike growers farming along the river bypass and dealing with floodwaters, Sutton said his biggest problem has been with spring rains, but he noted most of his fields are now dry enough.

"We're a week behind, but it's not the end of the world," he said. "Farmers who plant earlier varieties are in a lot worse spot than we are, because their planting window is right now."

Because a late-planted crop is usually also smaller, Sutton said he hopes prices will improve to counter what may be lower yields this fall.

If the weather warms up and stays dry from here on out, Glenn County grower Larry Maben said he thinks he can have everything planted by June 1. His fields are drying slowly and he's about two weeks behind schedule.

"It will definitely affect the yield, but it's not necessarily going to be a tragedy," he said. "I've gotten good yields planted late in the season."

With the current weak market, Maben said farmers are "pretty close to break-even" at this point.

Those who watch their production costs "should be able to perhaps turn a profit," he said, but much will depend on whether they have reduced yields.

Because it's so late, Maben said he expects some farmers will skip a step or two to try to save fuel and time.

Rather than waiting for one field to dry out, Davis, who also grows wild rice in Yuba County, is allowing wild-rice volunteers to establish in that field as an experiment. He said he's never done this before and is not sure it will produce a viable crop, but with his planting window closing, he said if the experiment works, he will be better off than planting nothing on that ground.

Despite their early struggles, farmers agree their year may still turn out fine. Get some 75- to 80degree temperatures and some north winds blowing, and fields will dry out quickly, Davis said.

"We could have an ideal growing season from today until the middle of September and have perfect harvesting conditions, and then nobody will even think about the planting date," DeWit said.(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@cfbf.com.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item

http://agalert.com/story/?id=10824

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Rice monopoly on hold May 2, 2017 OBSERVER

A controversial deal involving the importation and distribution of bulk rice and sugar has been halted on the intervention of Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

The Central Marketing Corporation (CMC) was expected to become the sole importer of both commodities through a partnership with a private company, BOAD Aggregates Limited, with which the son of the country‘s attorney general is affiliated.

Sparks flared on the weekend when details of the agreement were disclosed via the media.

Browne acknowledged the concern indicating the management of the corporation has been advised to not go forward with the deal until the concerns are addressed. ―I understand that there are some concerns and we have since placed the deal on hold until we can get further and better particulars,‖ he said. ―The intent here is not to preclude existing suppliers of rice and other products from importing.

My understanding of the intent was to deal specifically with basmati rice and to have the unfinished product imported to Antigua and to have the polishing take place here …,‖ the PM said.

Based on documents obtained by OBSERVER media, BOAD has proposed to supply CMC with a minimum of 100 tonnes of rice each month — the equivalent of four 20-foot containers — and 100 tonnes of sugar.

However, CMC indicated in the draft document that it would not be able to achieve the feat without a full monopoly on the importation of rice in Antigua.

CMC also presented similar concerns over the quantity of sugar, which BOAD presented in its draft agreement.

The statutory corporation also warned that there would be serious negative political implications for the current administration ―especially at this critical stage of its tenure, should a monopoly be granted‖.

Both parties had agreed to have follow-up talks to address the concerns. http://antiguaobserver.com/rice-monopoly-on-hold/

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World's best: 10 rice dishes you need in your life

To celebrate Chinese week on #TheChefsLine we're rounding up some of our favourite rice recipes from around the globe.

By SBS Food bite-sized

2 MAY 2017 - 2:34 PM UPDATED YESTERDAY 5:36 PM

0

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Coming in various shades and sizes, this globetrotting grain goes from sweet to savoury, rich to wholesome and everywhere in between.

1. Malaysia: Nasi lemak While traditionally eaten at breakfast, you'll find nasi lemak available in Malaysia all throughout the day. Considered the country's national dish, this banana leaf-wrapped package contains a plethora of flavours and textures. First, there's the fragrant coconut and pandan-scented rice, beside which you'll find sambal ikan bilis, toasted peanuts, hard-boiled egg and slices of cucumber for freshness. Curry rendang and fried chicken may also come as an acco mpaniment to this street food classic.

2. Iran: Persian steamed saffron rice (chelo) Best served as part of a Persian banquet, this rich, crusted rice is not your average side. The grains are soaked in water for 2 hours or, ideally, overnight, before being mixed with saffron natural yoghurt, saffron threads and a healthy serving of ghee. For a decorative centrepiece, scatter your chello with pomegranate or barberries.

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3. Morocco: Chicken pumpkin tagine with almond pilaf Rather than serve simple steamed rice, jazz up your basmati into a Moroccan-style pilaf. This recipe uses chicken stock to imbue the grains with richness, while fresh ginger, garlic and coriander leaves add a touch of zing. A generous sprinkling of toasted almonds will take the pilaf to new heights. Oh and marinated chicken cooked with pumpkin, raisins and spices is rather decent, too.

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4. Greece: Zucchini flowers stuffed with herbs and rice From vine leaves to capsicums, the Greeks adore stuffing edible vestibules with herbaceous rice and tomato mixtures. In this gorgeous dish, zucchini flowers are paired with a dill, mint and cumin-spiced mixture then baked to perfection.

5. Vietnam: black sticky rice creams Sticky rice is adored across Vietnam, where it is commonly boiled, sweetened and turned into a pudding. Upon cooking, the black-ish grains turn deep purple and develop a delightfully yielding bite. This creamy version is adorned with palm sugar and shavings of coconut.

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6. Senegal: Jollof rice (Senegalese ceebu jen) One of West Africa's best known dishes, jollof rice can be somewhat compared to Spain's paella.

Featuring firm fish fillets, vegetables and parboiled long-grain rice, the dish is jazzed up with obe ata (African sauce), a sofrito of sorts.

7. Albania: Baked lamb and rice with yoghurt (tave kosi) Carrying a decidedly Mediterranean vibe, this Albanian classic is comfort food to a tee. Picture chunks of tender, garlicky lamb, oregano-spiked rice and a cheese-like yoghurt crust.

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8. Korea: Mixed rice (bibimbap) Served in a hotpot this all-in-one dish can contain any number of ingredients, but julienned vegetables, crispy rice and marinated meat are the usual suspects. Korean for "mixed meal", bibimbap is meant to be stirred about before eating.

9. China: Healthy sweet congee A classic breakfast dish, this wholesome congee can be enjoyed warm or cold. Harnessing the goodness of fungus, goji berries and gingko nuts, it's thought to boost health and vitality.

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10. India: Hyderabadi-style chicken biryani Biryani is enjoyed across India, but this version blends Mughal and Andhra Pradesh cuisines. It's said the key to this biryani is cooking your chicken and rice in an airtight pot over a very low flame. This will ensure the grains, which should remain separate and in tact, absorb the rich flavours.

Bonus round: Barbecue pork with prawn fried rice China Doll apprentice chef Wing took home the trophy for 'best char sui' on Monday night's The Chefs' Line, but it's that sambal-spiced fried rice we're loco about. Find the recipe here and, if you missed the episode, catch it on On Demand.

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AG distances himself from ‘rice monopoly’ controversy

Attorney General Steadroy Cutie Benjamin (file photo)

The country‘s Attorney General Steadroy ―Cutie‖ Benjamin has disassociated himself from a sugar and rice monopoly business proposal between a private entity and the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC).

The AG said, yesterday, that his office is not being used and will not be used to push the negotiations as he decided to keep out of it.

He also said he was not part of the discussions in the Cabinet nor the negotiations between BOAD Aggregates Limited and CMC. Benjamin said his son is the one advising the investors.

This was confirmed in documents that Damien Benjamin is the legal advisor for the company.

Damien Benjamin also declined to comment on the matter, saying this would be a breach of the expected confidentiality and legal privilege between an attorney and client.

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OBSERVER media tried to secure details about the company and its directors but the documents were not immediately available from the Intellectual Property Office.

According to documents, BOAD has proposed to supply CMC with a minimum of 100 tonnes of rice each month as well as 100 tonnes of sugar.

However, CMC expressed concern about the proposal, saying it had serious negative political implications for the administration in face of the request for a monopoly.

The proposal has been placed on hold amidst heightened concern from the public

http://antiguaobserver.com/ag-distances-himself-from-rice-monopoly-controversy/

Projects Boost Food Security in Arab Countries, Improve Rice Production and Address Plant Health UN Photo/Isaac Billy

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An ICARDA-led project increased wheat yields in Arab countries, reducing reliance on food imports.

The World Bank released a report on how to improve public spending on agriculture in Africa.

FAO, ITPGR and IRRI enhanced collaboration on sustainable rice production and on the exchange of rice genetic resources.The IPPC adopted an International Standard on Phytosanitary Measures addressing the international movement of seeds.

April 2017: Developments in food production in Arab countries, research on public spending for agriculture in Africa, collaboration to support sustainable rice production, and a new standard to safeguard plant health in international seed trade have recently contributed to global efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal on zero hunger (SDG 2).

Improving Food Production in the Arab Region Producing food in the Arab region is challenging as many countries face variable weather patterns, water scarcity, degraded land resources and pests and diseases. To ensure food security for their populations, many Arab countries rely on importing staple crops, especially wheat, which makes them vulnerable to swings in international food prices. Several international projects therefore work towards improving crop production within the Arab region to reduce the need for food imports. Two of these projects reported on their progress.

The ‗Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries‘ initiative of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) aims to enhance agricultural productivity across the region focusing on wheat production. ICARDA reported that during the initiative‘s first phase (2011-2014) an average yield increase of 28% was achieved across all demonstration sites, noting that the trend continued during the second phase (2014-2018).

According to ICRADA, the success was in part due to the use of new communication technologies for extension and the dissemination of modern production technologies. The Institute also stated that the US$5.3 million invested during the initiative generated ―in-pocket gains‖ of US$54.2 million thus far. During the remainder of the second phase, the initiative will focus on expanding the reach of the project to ensure the widest possible uptake of technologies and innovations. The initiative is supported by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ICARDA is a member of the CGIAR Consortium. [ICARDA Press Release] [Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries website] To assess whether projects are effective in improving food security it is necessary to develop a regional food security monitoring system. This was the objective of the first consultative meeting

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‗Food Security Assessment in the Arab Region‘ held by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) the 11-12 April in Beirut, Lebanon. The meeting reviewed the results of a regional exercise to map national food security policies and strategies as well as indicators of food security used in Arab countries. Participants also considered how the regional food security monitoring system can be linked with the 2030 Agenda at national and regional levels.

The meeting was held as part of a project titled ‗Promoting Food and Water Security through Cooperation and Capacity Development in the Arab Region,‘ which aims to enhance food security in Arab countries through, among other activities, improved policy design and coordination, capacity building and strengthening of the regional knowledge base. [UNESCWA Press Release] [Meeting Concept Note] [Project Website: Promoting Food and Water Security Through Cooperation and Capacity Development in the Arab region] Improving Public Spending for Food Security in Africa The World Bank released a report that assesses the performance of public agricultural spending.

Titled ‗Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity and Growth,‘ the study reviews the trends and composition of public spending in African countries and how it impacts agriculture, including long-term returns. The analysis shows that public spending on agriculture in Africa is not only lower than in other countries, but its effectiveness is also hampered by the focus on subsidy and transfer programmes that benefit elites rather than poor people and agricultural producers. The report recommends addressing not only the quantity of public spending, but also its quality by implementing reforms that favor smart subsidies, support research and development, eliminate barriers to the uptake of innovative technologies, and improve market access and land governance. The study suggests that more efficient use of public funds will lay the foundation for agricultural transformation as it has done in other regions.

In related news, the World Bank announced that Madagascar will receive US$78.7 million for a project aiming to improve access to irrigation services, agricultural inputs and service delivery for rice farmers, while reducing natural resource degradation. The funding includes a World Bank credit of US$65 million and a US$13.7 million grant provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).[World Bank Press Release] Improving Rice Production The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the CGIAR Consortium, entered into a partnership to support sustainable rice production in poor countries and improve food security and livelihoods. The partnership focuses on building the capacity of governments to develop and implement policies and strategies that benefit small-scale farmers, especially women. The two organizations will assist countries in their efforts to, among other objectives, enhance the availability of certified

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seed, adopt improved rice varieties, improve knowledge transfer, strengthen post-harvest handling and develop value-added rice by-products.

IRRI also recently hosted a workshop on the mutually supportive implementation of two international agreements governing the exchange of plant genetic resources, including rice genetic resources managed by IRRI. The workshop provided an opportunity for national focal points from Asian countries to discuss complementary policies and procedures to jointly implement the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Participants considered national challenges in the coordinated implementation of these agreements to support access and benefit sharing, while also enhancing exchange of genetic materials for research.

Ensuring Plant Health in International Seed Trade Another aspect of international exchange of plants and seeds for agriculture is plant health.

International trade in seeds and materials for planting represents a greater risk of introducing pathogens and pests than trade in food crops destined for consumption. Pathogens and pests introduced via seeds can establish themselves and spread after planting and devastate crops, creating a risk for food security.

To address the risk of such introductions, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) adopted an International Phytosanitary Standard (ISPM) on the International Movement of Seeds‘ during the twelfth session of its Governing Body, the Commission of Phytosanitary Measures (CPM 12). The standard harmonizes approaches to addressing phytosanitary risks associated with international seed trade, including, for example, risk analysis, laboratory testing, planting under restricted conditions, and pest management in seed production. This harmonization is expected to facilitate international trade in seeds, while safeguarding plant health and preventing international outbreaks of plant pests that result in crop failures.

Aside from this standard, CPM 12, adopted or updated 14 phytosanitary ISPMs, established an Implementation and Capacity Development Committee, initiated the development of its 20202030 Strategic Framework, and agreed on the need for a long-term sustainable and predictable finding mechanism for implementing its Work Programme. CPM 12 also marked the Commission‘s 65th anniversary with a series of dedicated events highlighting IPPC achievements.

http://sdg.iisd.org/news/projects-boost-food-security-in-arab-countries-improve-rice-productionand-address-plant-health/

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