5th february,2018 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

5th February,2018

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

Crop Tech Corner FDA Approves Bt Rice from China for U.S. Consumption 2/5/2018 | 6:31 AM CST

By Emily Unglesbee , DTN Staff Reporter Connect with Emily: @Emily_Unglesbee 4

A new Bt rice variety from China has been approved for import and consumption in the U.S., to the chagrin of some American industry groups. (DTN photo illustration by Nick Scalise)

ROCKVILLE, Md. (DTN) -- This bi-monthly column condenses the latest news in the field of crop technology, research and products.

FDA GIVES NOD TO BT RICE FROM CHINA The Food and Drug Administration declared a Bt rice variety, developed by Chinese researchers, safe for consumption in the U.S. on Jan. 9. The move has raised the hackles of the industry group USA Rice. "The marketplace does not want GM rice, so neither do we," USA Rice president and CEO Betsy Ward said in a press release.

Developed by researchers from Huazhong University, Huahui No. 1 rice is engineered to express the Bt protein Cry1Ab/Cry1Ac, which targets lepidopteran pests and is familiar to U.S. Bt corn and cotton growers.

The GM rice product is now in a curious position. Since it also received EPA approval regarding its pesticide residues, it has legal clearance for import and consumption in the U.S. However, the rice is not yet commercialized in its own home country of China, which currently doesn't permit any GM grain production.

Lacking deregulation from the USDA, it cannot be grown in the U.S. either.

Ward urged rice importers to avoid the Huahui No. 1 rice from China, which is not a major source of imported rice in the U.S. In 2017, the U.S. only imported around 6,000 metric tons of Chinese rice -- compared to 455,000 metric tons from Thailand, the leading source of imported rice here. USA Rice noted that American

consumers can purchase U.S.-grown rice if they wanted to be sure of a non-GM product. "While GMOs are perfectly safe, the fact that there is no GMO rice in commercial production in the U.S. resonates very strongly with customers, dietitians and importers around the world," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice manager of domestic promotion.

You can see the FDA's approval letter here: http://bit.ly/…

More Recommended for You You can see USA Rice's statement here: http://bit.ly/…

THE WHEAT THAT NEVER SLEEPS How do you get wheat plants to hurry up and reproduce already? Never let them rest. Australian researchers are using a technique first devised by NASA scientists to induce "speed breeding" in wheat plants, effectively doubling the number of wheat generations breeders can grow in a year. The University of Queensland scientists exposed the wheat plants to continuous light in specially designed greenhouses. In a single year, these wakeful conditions allowed researchers to produce six generations of wheat, chickpea and barley and four generations of canola. Already, the technique has helped the Queensland researchers develop a wheat variety that better tolerates wet weather at harvest, in partnership with Dow AgroSciences.

Read the University of Queensland press release here: http://bit.ly/…

See the study here: http://go.nature.com/…

HUNTING A FUNGUS Researchers are always poring through plant genomes, hunting for genes that resist diseases. Now a team of scientists led by the University of Illinois has turned that equation on its head, by looking for the genes in a fungus that allow it to outsmart a plant's genetic resistance.

The fungus in question causes Northern Corn Leaf Blight, a common and damaging disease for Midwestern corn growers. To date, researchers have found four corn genes that help plants resist damage from the fungus, Ht1, Ht2, Ht3 and HtN, according to a University of Illinois press release. The researchers picked two strains of NCLB fungus, one that was susceptible to Ht1 plants and one that was resistant to them. They mated the two and mapped the genes of the resulting fungal strain. They found two gene locations likely responsible for evading Ht1's effect in corn plants.

The researchers hope these findings will help farmers more precisely defend their corn crop from NCLB. "Now that we have molecular markers, we could sample the environment and find out which strains of the pathogen are out there," University of Illinois plant pathologist Santiago Mideros said in the release.

"Eventually, farmers might be able to plant corn varieties that are resistant to specific pathogens present in their area."

See the Illinois press release here: http://bit.ly/…

Emily Unglesbee can be reached at emily.unglesbee@dtn.com https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/crops/article/2018/02/05/fda-approves-bt-rice-china-u-s

Leading Rice Producer Wants Gov’t to Empower Local Producers 05.02.2018

| UkrAgroConsult President George Weah has announced that after two meetings with Liberia’s major rice importers, the importers agreed to reduce the price of rice. However, a leading local producer of rice says the government needs to divert some of its attention to supporting local producers.

On Friday, the Executive Mansion announced that rice importers in the country had agreed to reduce the price of a 25kg bag of rice by US$2.00 and US$4.00 for a 50kg bag. In his initial meeting with the importers, Weah had vowed to ensure that the price of the country’s staple food was reduced.

“If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible,” he said.

The president had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 in the price of rice, but the rice dealers agreed to start at US$2.00 due to current constraints that affect the sector, according to the press release. Weah acknowledged the decision of the importers and promised to help improve business conditions for them.

However, Jeanine Cooper, the senior managing partner of FARBAR Liberia, told The Bush Chicken in an interview that although the government has continued to facilitate efforts aimed at reducing the cost of imported rice on the market, empowering local producers and prioritizing locally produced rice would be more sustainable.

Weah’s move was part of a trend started by his predecessor. Last year, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued Executive Order No. 87, extending Executive Order No. 80 to suspend tariffs on imported rice. This order went into immediate effect on August 22.

At the time, the government said the decision to suspend the tariffs was in response to its commitment to ensuring that the prices of rice and other basic commodities on the market are affordable and do not impose an unnecessary burden on citizens. The government said the move followed an assessment and evaluation conducted on the causes of the high costs of strategic essential commodities in the country.

However, Cooper believes that aligning with importers and producers prevents a long-term solution to the high cost of rice, which is the country’s staple food.

She said it is a contradiction to the government’s goal when it waives taxes on rice importation, but charges local producers a four-percent income tax, even with the high costs of production.

In addition to the corporate income tax, Cooper said local producers must pay withholding and real estate taxes, which make it difficult to compete with importers.

She said even though the government has a stated policy to prioritize locally produced goods and services, government agencies still prioritize imported rice. She said the Armed Forces of Liberia, government medical and prison facilities, all use imported rice instead of going for local content.

“They

tell

me

very

frankly

that

my

rice

is

expensive,”

she

said.

A 25 kg bag of FABRAR rice is sold on the market for US$19, at least US$4.00 higher than the 25 kg bag of the popular Bella Indian parboiled rice.

“If the local production is more expensive, that’s where the government could support local producers by paying the most expensive for the local production and let the rest of the consumers go on the market for the cheaper importer rice,” she said.

However, Cooper said its costs around US$18.50 to produce a 25 kg bag of FABRAR rice, excluding taxes. She said the US$0.50 she generates on a 25 kg bag after deducting production cost also goes toward government taxes.

As a result, the FABRAR senior managing partner said the business is not generating profit. “The only reason why I keep going is because I have a couple of grants from donors,” Cooper said.

She said her company’s only prospect for generating profit is exporting the red colored rice it produces.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/leading-rice-producer-wants-gov2019t-to-empowerlocal-producers

Cameroon: Alleged Scarcity of Basic Commodities Trade Minister Refutes Claims

By Fred Vubem Toh

Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana made the observation during a field visit to importers in Douala on February 1,2018.

In reaction to allegations that there was scarcity of some basic commodities like fish and rice in the market ushering a price hike, the Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana made an inspection visit to some major suppliers in Douala to attest the veracity.

The visit took him to Congelcam which deals in the supply of fish and also to SOACAM and AGRIEX dealing with the supply of cereals like rice. It came out from the visit that there was enough fish and rice in the market but the problem had to do with the price which the Minister said depends on the dynamics of the market.

"Fish has not got to have only one price in the market because the price depends on the dynamics of the market at a given time", he said. "The important thing is that there is enough fish and rice in the market", he added.

The Congelcam warehouse near the Port of Douala, there were stock piles of cartons of fish in giant cold rooms, ready to be distributed to the market. Workers could be found loading cartons of fish into trucks for onward transmission to the market. At the SOACAM and AGRIEX, it was the same scenario with tons of bags of rice stock-piled waiting for wholesalers to come and collect.

According to the president of the orientation committee at the Agro-alimentary technical centre, Jacquis Kemleu Tchabgou, his company imports rice only to complement the deficit in the Cameroon market and that they make sure to import good quality rice which they sell at a stable price.

The Minister on each stop urged the suppliers to make sure these commodities were in constant supply and that they should not only be interested in importing but also get involved in local production.

It is worthy to note that there has been a hike in the price of fish of recent in the economic capital giving the impression there was a shortage in supply. A kilo of 'maquereau' which used to cost FCFA1,350 now sells for FCFA 1,450 and sellers attribute the increase in price to shortage of supply, which is not true.

Speculators also create artificial scarcity so as to provoke price increase. Prior to the field visit, the Minister of Trade took part in a press briefing announcing a new trade fair to take place in Douala from March 24th to April, christened FIAC. Cameroon Tensions Flare in the Country's Anglophone Regions Tensions continue to climb in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon as separatist groups demand the release of their leader… Read more »

http://allafrica.com/stories/201802050879.html

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- February 05, 2018 

FEBRUARY 5, 2018 /

 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-February 5, 2018 Nagpur, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Gram and Tuar firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on good buying support from local millers amid weak supply from producing belts. Fresh rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses and reported demand from South-based millers also pushed up prices.

About 250 bags of gram and 900 bags of tuar reported for auction in Nagpur APMC, according to sources.

FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders amid ample stock in ready position.

TUAR * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka reported higher in open market here on renewed seasonal demand from local traders.

* Lakhodi dal reported own in open market here poor demand from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New – 4,100-4,300, Tuar dal (clean) – 6,400-6,600, Udid Mogar (clean) – 7,600-8,700, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-7,600, Gram – 3,500-3,600, Gram Super best – 5,200-5,700 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS

Available prices

Gram Auction

3,100-3,925

Gram Pink Auction

n.a.

Tuar Auction

3,000-3,900

2,100-2,600

4,000-4,550

Moong Auction

3,900-4,500

n.a.

Udid Auction

3,900-4,200

n.a.

Masoor Auction

Previous close

4,300-4,500

n.a.

2,600-2,800

Wheat Mill quality Auction

1,600-1,712

Gram Super Best Bold

6,000-6,500

Gram Super Best

n.a.

Gram Medium Best

6,000-6,500

n.a.

5,500-5,700

Gram Dal Medium

n.a.

Gram Mill Quality

3,800-3,900

Desi gram Raw

5,500-5,700

n.a 3,800-3,900

3,800-3,850

Gram Kabuli

1,600-1,704

3,800-3,850

12,500-13,100

Tuar Fataka Best-New

12,500-13,100

6,400-6,600

Tuar Fataka Medium-New

6,400-6,600

6,100-6,300

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New

6,100-6,300

5,600-5,800

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New Tuar Gavarani New

5,600-5,800

5,500-5,700

4,250-4,550

5,500-5,700

4,200-4,500

Tuar Karnataka

4,600-4,800

4,550-4,750

Masoor dal best

4,800-5,000

4,800-5,000

Masoor dal medium Masoor

4,500-4,700

n.a.

4,500-4,700

n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New)

7,500-8,000

Moong Mogar Medium

6,500-7,000

Moong dal Chilka

5,800-6,500

7,500-8,000 6,500-7,000

5,800-6,500

Moong Mill quality

n.a.

n.a.

Moong Chamki best

7,500-8,000

7,500-8,000

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,200-7,700

7,200-7,700

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)

5,600-7,000

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)

5,600-7,000

5,800-6,200

5,800-6,200

Batri dal (100 INR/KG)

4,700-5,000

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)

2,550-2,650

3,150-3,250

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)

4,700-5,000

2,500-2,600 4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)

3,150-3,250 4,200-4,300

1,900-2,000

1,750-1,850

1,750-1,850

2,150-2,350

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)

2,150-2,350

2,300-2,400

2,200-2,400

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)

n.a.

3,200-3,700

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)

3,200-3,700

2,400-2,700

3,500-4,000

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,700 3,500-4,000

3,000-3,200 3,300-3,500

2,500-2,700

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)

3,000-3,200 3,300-3,500

2,500-2,700

2,600-2,800

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)

2,600-2,800

2,400-2,500

2,400-2,500

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG)

2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

4,500-4,800

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)

2,000-2,200

n.a.

4,500-4,800

3,900-4,300

3,900-4,300

Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG)

4,000-4,400

4,000-4,400

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG)

5,200-5,600

5,200-5,600

Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)

4,700-4,900

4,700-4,900

Rice Shriram new (100 INR/KG)

4,800-5,200

4,800-5,200

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)

9,500-14,000

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)

5,000-7,500

6,100-6,300

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG)

9,500-13,500 5,000-7,500

6,100-6,300

5,500-5,700

5,500-5,700

Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)

5,600-5,800

5,600-5,800

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)

2,000-2,200

2,000-2,100

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)

1,800-2,000

1,700-2,000

WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 33.0 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 14.2 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 15 degree Celsius respectively.

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

https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-february05-2018-idINL4N1PV37O

Kazakhstan increases rice production and export 3 February 2018 14:15 (UTC+04:00) 827

By Trend Kazakhstan exported 25,000 tons of rice in four months (September-December) of 2017-2018 marketing year (MY), 63 percent more compared to the previous season, according to data from the Statistics Committee of the Kazakh National Economy Ministry.

In the same period of the last MY, Kazakhstan exported about 15,300 tons of rice to foreign markets.

The main sale markets for Kazakh rice are Tajikistan, Ukraine, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Rice production in the country totaled 185,700 tons in 2017, 3.3 percent higher than in 2016.

Rice cultivation in Kazakhstan is mainly concentrated in Kyzylorda Region. Total rice cultivation area in 2017 was more than 90,000 hectares, 10,000 hectares more compared to 2016.

Farmers in Kyzylorda ground 174,900 tons of rice, 3.1 percent more than in 2016.

---

Prices of home-grown rice significantly fall in Iran 4 February 2018 15:40 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend: The wholesale prices of various types of domestically produced rice have dropped by at least 10 percent in the country.

Aliakbar Mehrfard, an Iranian deputy minister of agriculture, has said the prices of domestic rice have dropped between 10 and 18 percent compared to the same time of last year, ISNA news agency reported.

Saying that a further fall in the prices would implicit damage on the farmers, he added that the ministry in order to provide support for the domestic farmers has decided to purchase the product.

Iranian farmers provide about two third of the country’s required rice and about 30 percent of the product is imported.

The decline in the prices has appeared in a situation that the production costs have jumped by ten percent, the official said.

Iran imported about one million tons of rice over the first half of the current fiscal year (starting March 20).

While various types of home-grown rice range in price from 80,000 rials to 150,000 rials, the prices of imported rice stand at about 80,000 rials.

--https://www.azernews.az/region/126590.html

https://www.azernews.az/region/126551.html

Leading Rice Producer Wants Gov’t to Empower Local Producers Gbatemah Senah

MONROVIA, Montserrado – President George Weah has announced that after two meetings with Liberia’s major rice importers, the importers agreed to reduce the price of rice. However, a leading local producer of rice says the government needs to divert some of its attention to supporting local producers.

On Friday, the Executive Mansion announced that rice importers in the country had agreed to reduce the price of a 25kg bag of rice by US$2.00 and US$4.00 for a 50kg bag. In his initial meeting with the importers, Weah had vowed to ensure that the price of the country’s staple food was reduced.

“If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible,” he said.

The president had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 in the price of rice, but the rice dealers agreed to start at US$2.00 due to current constraints that affect the sector, according to the press release. Weah acknowledged the decision of the importers and promised to help improve business conditions for them.

However, Jeanine Cooper, the senior managing partner of FARBAR Liberia, told The Bush Chicken in an interview that although the government has continued to facilitate efforts aimed at reducing the cost of imported rice on the market, empowering local producers and prioritizing locally produced rice would be more sustainable.

Weah’s move was part of a trend started by his predecessor. Last year, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf issued Executive Order No. 87, extending Executive Order No. 80 to suspend tariffs on imported rice. This order went into immediate effect on August 22.

At the time, the government said the decision to suspend the tariffs was in response to its commitment to ensuring that the prices of rice and other basic commodities on the market are affordable and do not impose an unnecessary burden on citizens. The government said the move followed an assessment and evaluation conducted on the causes of the high costs of strategic essential commodities in the country.

However, Cooper believes that aligning with importers and producers prevents a long-term solution to the high cost of rice, which is the country’s staple food.

She said it is a contradiction to the government’s goal when it waives taxes on rice importation, but charges local producers a four-percent income tax, even with the high costs of production.

In addition to the corporate income tax, Cooper said local producers must pay withholding and real estate taxes, which make it difficult to compete with importers.

She said even though the government has a stated policy to prioritize locally produced goods and services, government agencies still prioritize imported rice. She said the Armed Forces of Liberia, government medical and prison facilities, all use imported rice instead of going for local content.

“They tell me very frankly that my rice is expensive,” she said.

A 25 kg bag of FABRAR rice is sold on the market for US$19, at least US$4.00 higher than the 25 kg bag of the popular Bella Indian parboiled rice.

“If the local production is more expensive, that’s where the government could support local producers by paying the most expensive for the local production and let the rest of the consumers go on the market for the cheaper importer rice,” she said.

However, Cooper said its costs around US$18.50 to produce a 25 kg bag of FABRAR rice, excluding taxes. She said the US$0.50 she generates on a 25 kg bag after deducting production cost also goes toward government taxes.

As a result, the FABRAR senior managing partner said the business is not generating profit. “The only reason why I keep going is because I have a couple of grants from donors,” Cooper said.

She said her company’s only prospect for generating profit is exporting the red colored rice it produces.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah

http://www.bushchicken.com/leading-rice-producer-wan

Liberian Rice Importers Reduce Cost by US$2-4 After Meeting With Pres. Weah

Monrovia – President George Weah has acknowledged the favorable response of rice importers to his request for reduction in the price of the nation’s staple food. The rice importers have reduced the price of a 25kg bag by two United States Dollars while the price of a 50kg bag is reduced by US$4.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the welcoming news comes as a result of increased pressure on rice importers by President Weah who believes it is intolerable for the price of the national staple, to continue to increase amidst the high cost of living in the country.

President Weah and officials of the rice Importers Association, for the second day running, met Friday, February 2, 2018, to continue negotiations on the reduction of the price of rice. The discussions started Thursday, February 1, at which time the Liberian leader promised to do everything possible to ensure that the rice market price was reduced.

On Thursday, the President said: “If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible.�

During the Friday meeting with rice importers, President Weah reiterated his determination to ensure that something was immediately done to reduce the price of the rice and make it affordable and available to average Liberians.

At the end of the negotiations, officials of the Association of Liberian Rice Importers consented to effect a reduction of the price. The Association of Rice Importers headed by their Chairman, John Bestman, agreed to reduce the price of the 25Kg bag of rice by US $2.00 while the price of 50kg bag of rice will be reduced by US $4.00 with immediate effect.

The meeting was attended by Hon. Nathaniel Falo McGill, Minister of State, Hon. Samuel Tweah, Prof.

Wilson K. Tarpeh, Minister of Commerce designate, Minister of Finance, Hon. Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, and Hon. Archie Bernard, Legal Advisor to the President.

President Weah has earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 but due to some constraints proffered by rice moguls, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost of a 25kg bag of rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market were addressed and the modalities worked out. https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/news/6824-liberia-riceimporters-reduce-cost-by-us-2-4-after-meeting-with-pres-weah

Global Rice Flour Market Size 2018 Burapa Prosper, Thai Flour Industry, Rose Brand and CHO HENG

By Lori Lobato February 5, 2018

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Golden Rice release in Bangladesh February 5, 2018

Dhaka, Feb 5 : Bangladeshi rice scientists have advanced a beta carotene-rich rice to a varietal release stage, heralding a new era in fight against vitamin-A deficiency.

They said the wait is nearly over for release of Golden Rice, a long touted remedy to VAD. According to the World Health Organization’s global VAD database, one in every five pre-school children in Bangladesh is vitamin A-deficient. Among the pregnant women, 23.7 per cent suffer from VAD. Upon receipts of positive outcome from two successive years of ‘confined’ field trials, the breeders at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) have just gone for a final cycle of multi-location field trials and sought regulatory approval from the government for an ‘unconfined’ field test prior seeking variety release approval.

BRRI senior plant breeder MA Kader said that in last Boro season they’ve got 10 to 12 ?g/g (micrograms/gram) beta carotene in a BRRI dhan29 line genetically converted into Golden Rice, which should be enough to address half of rice-eating consumers’ daily deficiency of vitamin-A.

‘This season (Boro) we’ve gone for ‘confined’ field trials in five different agro-ecological locations again. Besides, we’ve also sought permission for an open field trial prior starting the process of varietal release,’ explained Kader, now overseeing the Golden Rice programme at BRRI. Donald J MacKenzie, regulatory affairs and stewardship leader of the Golden Rice Project of the International Rice Research Institute, now on a visit to Bangladesh, said that Bangladeshi rice scientists have advanced the beta carotene-rich rice to a stage very close to release of Golden Rice.

The Philippines, Indonesia are also developing the Golden Rice but I think Bangladesh is marching ahead,’ said Donald.

Beta carotene, also known as pro-vitamin A, is a substance that the human body can convert to vitamin A. With this development, a long wait is nearly over for rice breeders who have been trying since 1999 for a varietal development and release of Golden Rice, long being touted by the scientist fraternity as a key remedy to acute VAD problem.Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Available in All Six Rice States

By Emily Woodall LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Rice producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for a special Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) led by the USA Rice-Ducks Unlimited Rice Stewardship Partnership, the Sustaining the Future of Rice Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

"NRCS has updated the program to help producers better evaluate their conservation options and the benefits to their operations and natural resources," said Josh Hankins, USA Rice director of grower relations and rice stewardship partnership. "Partnership staff can help producers determine whether they are meeting stewardship thresholds, and allow for customization of practices and enhancements that work for their specific

conservation objectives. These tools also enable producers to see potential payment scenarios for conservation early in the process."

Applications must be received by March 2, 2018, to be considered for this funding period.Eligible counties and parishes include: Arkansas - Randolph, Clay, Lawrence, Greene, Independence, Craighead, Mississippi, Jackson, Poinsett, Cross, Crittenden, Woodruff, White, Faulkner, Conway, Pope, Saint Francis, Lee, Monroe, Prairie, Lonoke, Pulaski, Phillips, Arkansas, Jefferson, Lincoln, Desha, Drew, Ashley, and Chicot California - Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, and Yuba Louisiana - Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion, and West Carroll.

Mississippi - Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Leflore, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, and Washington Missouri - Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Pemiscot, Mississippi, New Madrid, and Stoddard Texas - Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Jackson, Jefferson, Lavaca, Liberty, Matagorda, Waller, and Wharton Those interested in CSP should contact their local USDA service center or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted.

#ThinkRice for a healthy heart

USA Rice Kicks Off Inflencer Campaign in Honor of Heart Health Month

By Cameron Jacobs

ARLINGTON, VA -- February marks the start of Heart Health Month and USA Rice has partnered with 12 social media influencers to promote the heart health benefits of U.S.grown rice. The variety of influencers range from active lifestyle to healthy living and foodies.

"We are partnering with these influencers, all of whom have large and engaged followings on Instagram to broaden the audience exposed to our messages," said Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president of domestic promotion. "It's important for people to know that research has shown rice eaters have a 34 percent reduced risk for high blood

pressure and a 21 percent reduced risk of metabolic syndrome both of which increase one's risk of heart disease and other heart related issues."

Each influencer will create a unique Instagram post highlighting a rice recipe accompanied by one recipe image and a recipe video. The content will also be amplified through each influencer's blog and additional social media channels as well as through USA Rice's channels. The featured posts will cover all meals from breakfast to dessert and represent different U.S.-grown rice varieties.

"Instagram is the best platform for this campaign due to its high engagement rate and ability to prompt users into taking action. We expect to see high traffic on our website and social media channels after consumers see these sponsored posts," said Klein. "The goal is to keep U.S.-grown rice on top of the consumer's mind when taking action for heart health and position USA Rice as both a resource to consumers and nutrition & health professionals."

The campaign kicked off on February 1 with a recipe for a grilled chicken and veggie rice bowl using U.S-grown brown jasmine rice and one quick recipe video that both included U.S.-grown rice messaging.

"Stay tuned and follow #ThinkRice on Instagram to stay up to date on the most recent posts from our influencer partners as they promote the heart health benefits of U.S.grown rice throughout the month," concluded Klein. "And if you have a social media

account, be sure to share and repost the recipes and videos to help our U.S.-rice messaging reach more people!"

DA welcomes Chinese investors for collaboration Sunday, February 04, 2018

HOME / PAMPANGA / LOCAL NEWS / DA WELCOMES CHINESE INVESTORS FOR COLLABORATION Time to read less than 1 minute Share 10 0 Print a- a+ Read so far By IAN OCAMPO FLORA CITY OF SAN FENANDO -- Delegates from the People’s Republic of China visited the country recently and were welcomed by the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Luzon. The delegates visited the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija for possible partnership in agriculture development. They were personally welcomed by the Assistant Secretary for Planning, Project Development and Special Concerns Lerey Panes, DA Regional Executive Director Engr. Roy Abaya, PhilRice Executive Director Sailila Abdula and DA Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extensions Crispulo Bautista, Jr. Abdula discussed the country’s rice program, hybrid production and commercialization. The visitors were Dr. Changxiang Mao Chief Expert of Agricultural Project of Air Farmer Co., Ltd., Ms. Xiao Langmu, Founder and Director of Air Farmer Co., Ltd., and Ms. Roman, Sales Assistant. Langmu presented the tidy rice, a weedicide resistant that may be beneficial for Filipino farmers. “We are open for possible collaboration. I will ask my staff to construct a memorandum of agreement and come-up with the terms of reference,” Abdula said. “We are positive about this possible partnership and we are hopeful that everything will go smoothly," Mao said. Meanwhile, the delegates were toured at the National Cooperative Tests (NCT) Hybrids Trial Areas and interviewed farmers engaged on hybrid rice commercial production. The activity was hosted by the DA-3 in cooperation with PhilRice. Tags: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUREDACHINESEINVESTORSINVESTMENTSCENTRAL LUZON Published in the SunStar Pampanga newspaper on February 05, 2018. Latest issues of SunStar Pampanga also

available on your mobile phones, laptops, and tablets. Subscribe to our digital editions at epaper.sunstar.com.ph and get a free seven-day trial.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2018/02/04/da-welcomes-chinese-investorscollaboration-587227

A Japanese crested ibis looks for food in a submerged rice field during the winter on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. | SADO MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT / VIA CHUNICHI SHIMBUN

Sado rice farmers get contact lens solution to crested ibis dilemma CHUNICHI SHIMBUN 

FEB 5, 2018

The habitat of the Japanese crested ibis, one of the nation’s special natural treasures, is improving on Sado Island thanks to new technology for cleaning contact lenses.

To let the birds feed on water creatures, farmers on the island in Niigata Prefecture have been leaving their rice fields submerged even during winter. However, this means they cannot clear out leftover rice straw, which subsequently interferes with rice cultivation.

To address this problem, Nagoya-based contact lens maker Menicon Co. used its stain removal technology to create a substance to accelerate the decomposition of rice straw. Since the substance can simply be sprinkled on rice fields, it encourages more farmers to leave them flooded after harvest.

This in turn has helped revive the wild population of the crested ibis, which had been extinct outside of captivity for decades. More than 300 of the birds now live on the island together with Sado’s residents.

Menicon has devoted many years to researching an enzyme that can break down and remove stains that adhere to contact lenses. During its research, the firm discovered an enzyme that can cut through plant fiber such as rice straw and commercialized it as an agricultural material in 2003.

“At first, we marketed it as an alternative to burning rice fields, which is how farmers typically dispose of rice straw after harvest,” said 54-year-old Yutaka Matano, the chief researcher at Menicon who developed the product.

On Sado, however, they found a different purpose for it.

In an effort to restore the bird’s habitat, farmers recently adopted the practice of reflooding their rice fields each November after the annual harvest.

This helps loaches and other creatures survive the winter, thereby providing food for the ibis. But the leftover rice straw cannot be decomposed by microorganisms and is left underwater to rot at the bottom of the fields, inhibiting the growth of seeds for the following year’s harvest.

Upon learning of the problem, Menicon suggested sprinkling its decomposition accelerator on the fields to help farmers who were keeping their paddies flooded.

The firm claimed that one sprinkling is enough to produce results. The powder costs about ¥3,000 per 2-kg bag.

According to a local agricultural cooperative, about 4,000 bags were sold in 2017, up from 150 in 2006 when they first went on sale. A quarter of the bags were used to treat the reflooded rice paddies.

“Because it can reduce the impact on the following year’s harvest, I think it gives farmers peace of mind,” a cooperative official said.

In the past decade, the area covered by paddies flooded during winter has expanded by 300 hectares to roughly 675 hectares.

“It’s an honor to be able to contribute to improving the habitat of the crested ibis,” said Matano, the Menicon researcher, who happens to be from Niigata.

Menicon has been applying its lens cleaning know-how to agriculture since the 2000s. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/05/national/sado-rice-farmers-get-contact-lens-solutioncrested-ibis-dilemma/#.Wnl-wa6Wbm4

Global Brown Rice Sales Market Forecast To 2023 Published

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All possible factors that influence the markets included in this research study have been accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to get the final quantitative and qualitative data. The market size for top-level markets and subsegments is normalized, and the effect of inflation, economic downturns, and regulatory & policy changes or other factors are not accounted for in the market forecast.

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+44-20-3290-4151 Connect with us http://www.satprnews.com/2018/02/05/global-brown-rice-sales-market-forecast-to-2023published-by-research-firm/

Drop Import Permit Declarations (IPDs) And Open Rice Market To All

SHORTLY AFTER ASSUMING the Liberian presidency in 2006, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf came under fire from critics, including many from the current ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, then the Congress for Democratic Change over a decision to give rice monopoly to Sinkor Trading Company, believed to be owned at the time by Mr. Allen Brown, who was believed to be one of Sirleaf’s major campaign financiers.

THE DECISION put an abrupt halt to the lucrative rice empire of George Haddah, K &K, and other importers of rice from importing and otherwise dealing in rice in Liberia.

HADDAH AND OTHERS were accused of having alleged close ties with former President Charles Taylor.

ACAROUS MOSES GRAY, then a Senior Executive of the CDC, now representing District No. 8 Montserrado County went as far as to publicly denounce the inauguration of Sirleaf, who he described as “an unpopular President”.

GRAY WENT on to remind President Sirleaf of her campaign promises of a free market, instead of flooding the rice market with what he termed as “political midfielders” such as: Mr. John Bestman, Abdallah Sherif, and Allen Brown, among others.

LIBERTY PARTY, another opposition political institution would later slam the Sirleaf government for allegedly accumulating millions by exploiting the poor Liberian people by phasing Sinkor Trading out of the rice business and arranging an oligopoly of John Bestman, her campaign manager and senior executive of Unity Party, and other members of Unity Party and her friends and supporters to dominate the rice market.

TODAY, MUCH of the criticisms of the past appear to be coming full circle or simply falling by the wayside and it was no coincidence that Mr. Bestman was amongst those in attendance when rice importers met with President Weah has week.

IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, the new government headed by George Manneh Weah has released photos of meetings with foreign rice importers with statements suggesting that efforts are underway to ensure the price of the nation’s staple food is substantially reduced and made affordable for ordinary Liberians. “I am ready to work with you and resolve all the issues that underpin the galloping price of rice so that our people will afford to buy,” President Weah told Association of Rice Importers today in the presence of Commerce and Industry Minister Designate Prof. Wilson Tarpeh.

AFTER TWO DAYS of meeting with rice importers, the Executive Mansion announced that President Weah had negotiated a reduction in the price of a 25kg bag by two United States Dollars while the price of a 50kg bag is reduced by US$4.

THE MANSION STATEMENT went on to say that President Weah had earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 but due to some constraints proffered by “rice moguls”, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost of a 25kg bag of rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market were addressed and the modalities worked out.

THE President DID not stop there and went as far as to pledge tax reduction for importers, something many other Liberian-owned businesses have not been lucky to benefit from. Today, scores of containers have been abandoned at the Freeport of Monrovia by struggling Liberians living and working in the Diaspora as well as those in Liberia, but simply could not benefit from tax breaks foreign business owners enjoy.

SAID THE President: “If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assure that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible.”

WHILE WE APPLAUD any effort to alleviate suffering on the Liberian people, we find it disturbing that the new government’s most pressing concerns is to focus on rice importation and the foreign-dominated retailers’ cartel, while offering very little in terms of addressing the plight of local farmers and efforts to increase local production of rice and other foods.

WE FIND IT TROUBLING ALSO that the new government has said and done nothing to address the plight of farmers or a plan to encourage mass production and export of locally-produced rice which is even much healthier than the many substandard rice the so-called cartel, have been importing to Liberia.

WE FIND IT MUCH more troubling that the new government has said nothing about what it intends to do with the controversial Import Permit Declarations or IPDs which has been one of the major bottlenecks deterring local business people from even attempting to enter the rice importation business.

INSTEAD OF FOCUSSING on a cartel of rice importers, and limiting the entire country at their mercies, the Weah-led government must immediately begin working toward improving the regular import of rice by encouraging competition and widening the number of traders able to access Import Permit Declarations (IPDs).

WHAT THE NEW government which ran on the mantra of “Change for Hope”, should be doing is to begin pursuing long-term supply agreements with friendly neighboring governments in a bid to guarantee at least a minimum quantity of butter rice at a price not to exceed a maximum price as defined in the agreement.

WHAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER is for the Weah-led government to remove the IPD and allow both Liberians and foreign businesses people to compete fairly to bring in rice and let the market forces determine the price.

THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR impediment of the previous government which stifled calls to drop the IPD’s allowing an entire nation to lean on a cartel of foreign rice importers who dictate the market price for the country’s staple food.

IT WAS WRONG WHEN the Sirleaf government gave importation monopoly to Allen Brown and others, and it is wrong now.

President WEAH must work to ensure that the pro poor governance he stressed in his inaugural address is implemented to the core and forcefully ensure that his pledge to stamp out corruption, transform the economy and ‘construct the greatest machinery of pro-poor governance in the history of this country’ is enforced.

THE IPD SETUP is a recipe for failure and corruption. By putting a simple but critical step in the process for rice importation in the hands of one or two ministers, Mr. Weah is following a pattern that drew massive criticisms toward his predecessor and goes against everything preached in his party’s Change for Hope argument.

THE WEAH-LED GOVERNMENT must simply leave the market open so everyone and anyone can bring in rice. Those who can make profit under that regime will continue to import because it is a political commodity.

But focussing too much on a cartel, protects a few and goes against the argument that Liberians will not be spectators in the new political arrangement.

WEAH SAID it best in his inaugural address, as he indicated that Liberian owned businesses will not be marginalized but given equal opportunities with foreign businesses or investors during his administration. “As we open our doors to all foreign direct investments, we will not permit Liberian-owned businesses to be marginalized. We cannot remain spectators in our own economy,” President Weah said in January.

FOR TOO LONG, Liberians have relied on rice imports. Butter rice, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is consumed by 85 percent of households and is more important compared to local rice among urban consumers and among less poor households.

WEAH AND HIS government must understand that measures to reduce prices in imported rice will for a short while, have important distributional impacts that may not necessarily favor the poorest among Liberia’s population.

THE QUESTION WE SHOULD be asking now is, how will these reduced prices affect those in rural Liberia where transportation costs affect the overall prices of not just rice but a lot of other goods. Will those in rural Liberia benefit from this supposed price reduction? Who will monitor and ensure that they do? The same Commerce Ministry that has been unable in the last decade to enforce prices in just the capital city alone?

A COUNTRY consistently reliant on foreign aid must begin to think outside the box and revisit interests in the agriculture sector especially in the wake of declining prices in once-profitable mineral and natural resources.

We must begin to empower our own people and make them believe in the value of hard work and not men and those at the helm of power.

WE HAVE THE SOIL and a lot of unemployed people who should be put to work.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, if the market forces freely decide the price of rice by allowing a lot of local and foreign businesses to compete and bring in rice, President Weah and the CDC-led government will have a pro-poor government on a silver platter and be on their way to addressing a major political hurdle that has dogged Liberia for nearly a century and sparked a 1979 rice riots that offers a chilling reminder of how a simple bread and butter issue can turn the tide of a nation forever stained in corruption, greed and ignorance.

https://www.frontpageafricaonline.com/index.php/editorial/6830-drop-import-permitdeclarations-ipds-and-open-rice-market-to-all

Shortage of NFA rice raising prices

By Paolo Romero (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 5, 2018 - 12:00am

Binay MANILA, Philippines — The shortage of rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) is real and raising prices of the staple, Sen. Nancy Binay warned yesterday.

In a statement, the senator asked the inter-agency NFA Council to address its dwindling supply of the country’s primary food staple.

“It’s true there is rice in our markets, but the supply of NFA rice is fast dwindling,” Binay said in a statement. “Because of the lack of NFA rice, our countrymen are forced to buy expensive rice.”

Binay cited a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing prices of regular and well-milled rice rising by P1 to P3 pesos per kilo in six regional centers including Kidapawan City, Naga City and the National Capital Region.

Although the NFA cannot control the prices of commercial rice, it sells rice at more affordable prices as part of its mandate to ensure food security through enough supply of affordable rice for Filipinos.

Currently, NFA sells rice at P27 per kilogram and P32 per kg, while commercial rice varieties of comparable quality are sold at P36 to P41 per kg.

Binay also asked the council why it chose to defer the importation of 250,000 metric tons (MT) of rice despite the NFA admitting its current rice buffer stock is good for only three days.

“The council should not rely on mere projections and instead be flexible and sensitive to the needs on the ground,” she said.

Binay noted the NFA recently admitted that its buffer stock of rice is only good for three days.

“What happened to our policy to have a 15-day buffer stock?” Binay asked.

The NFA is required to have at least 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30-day buffer stock during lean season, which usually starts in July until September.

Binay reiterated her call on the NFA to bare all suppliers given import permits under the minimum access volume (MAV) scheme.

“This is in the interest of transparency and to prevent issues like conflict of interest and corruption,” she said.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture, earlier held a hearing on bills seeking to lift the quantitative restrictions on rice imports and the creation of rice fund for farmers.

The senator also said it is NFA’s duty to inform consumers not to worry about higher cost of rice even if pump prices have increased due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

Villar said there is no reason for the prices of rice to spike because of the implementation of TRAIN. “Doesn’t the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) have a price monitoring team? They should be active and stop unreasonable price increases,” Villar said.

She said fuel, which was hit by TRAIN, is only a small part of the rice production costs.

Villar warned it was possible that the new taxes were being used as an excuse by some traders to jack up rice prices.

http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2018/02/05/1784693/shortage-nfa-rice-raisingprices

Pakistan’s trade imbalance with Indonesia is its own fault

By Farhan Zaheer Published: February 5, 2018

Containers at a port. PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: Pakistan and Indonesia – despite close political relations – have

been trying to increase bilateral trade with insignificant success. The little success achieved has been lopsided in the latter’s favour.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populated country, has significantly increased its exports to Pakistan in the last few years. Pakistan, the world’s sixth most populated country, on the other hand has been unable to increase its traditional exports (like textiles, grains, fruits, vegetables) in which it has an edge over other countries.

So where does the main problem lie? The main problem is with Pakistan’s policies and its exporters and not Indonesia’s acceptance of Pakistani products.

There is nothing wrong in doing trade with Indonesia despite the huge trade deficit. But what should be a concern for Pakistani policymakers is that the country is unable to take benefit of this trade relationship despite having huge export opportunities.

“Indonesia is a fast growing economy whose trade is increasing with almost every other country. So it is our fault if we are unable to increase our exports to Indonesia,” Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice-President Waheed Ahmed commented.

Trade between Pakistan and the Southeast Asian giant has been growing strongly for the last couple of years. The volume of bilateral trade grew from $700 million in 2010 to $2.3 billion in 2016, up 229%.

“Pakistan’s problem is that it is not ready to explore Far-Eastern markets, including Indonesia. Unless, our exporters go for innovation and branding, the situation is not going to change,” said Ahmed.

The two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2005 and the preferential trade agreement (PTA) in 2012, which became operational in 2013.

Just as experts warned, the situation turned horrible for Pakistan since the implementation of the PTA in 2013.

During the recent visit of Indonesia’s President to Pakistan, Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik accepted that the imbalance in bilateral trade following the implementation of the PTA raised questions about the viability of the agreement and threatened the transformation of the original plan into a freetrade agreement (FTA).

According to a Pakistan Business Council (PBC) report of 2015, high potential items left out of the PTA between Pakistan Indonesia include three plastic items with trade potential of $140 million and 16 cotton items with trade potential of $500 million.

Indonesia’s exports to Pakistan increased from $1.2 billion in 2012 to $2.2 billion in 2016-17 while Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia unfortunately declined from $196 million to $137 million.

Pakistan’s major exports to Indonesia include textiles and clothing, rice, vegetables and fruits (mainly oranges) while its major import item from Indonesia is palm oil.

“Pakistan can increase its rice exports to Indonesia but there are many structural issues,” said Jawed Ali Ghori, managing director at Matco — one of the country’s leading basmati exporter.

The Indonesian government directly imports rice which is why it is not easy for any basmati rice exporter to grab this market by just marketing its products there, he added.

Following the one-sided growth in bilateral trade, the two countries are now reviewing the PTA. To address the imbalance, Indonesia has agreed to remove impediments to Pakistan’s current exports and has unilaterally granted zero-rated market access for 20 priority items of Pakistan’s export interest, including mangoes and rice.

Indonesia imports over $650 million worth of fruits and $550 million worth of vegetables annually. With over $650 million exports of fruits and vegetables, Pakistan can easily increase its exports to Indonesia.

Last year, Pakistan exported oranges worth about $19.8 million. Now that Indonesia has allowed quota free imports of oranges from Pakistan, fruit exporters believe the export of oranges could be increased by 40% this year.

However, all these measures are not enough to make any significant impact on Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia. These are just a fraction of the trade deficit that Pakistan is running with Indonesia – a trillion dollar economy that is expected to grow much faster in coming years.

The government and exporters need to come out of their shells and explore new markets instead of relying on traditional North American and European markets to increase exports.

The writer is a staff correspondent

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1626471/2-pakistans-trade-i

Pune: Soon, rice cultivated by tribal farmers to be sold under brand in stores in urban areas  

By IE | Monday | 5th February, 2018

Express fileTribal farmers in Pune district cultivating rice would soon get access to markets dominated by branded rice. Under the scheme, farmers will be encouraged to grow non-Indrayani rice varieties, which will then be branded and marketed. Express

file Farmers will be encouraged to grow non-Indrayani rice varieties. In the first phase, the district authorities aim to mobilise farmers to shift to cultivation of non-Indrayani rice varieties. Farmers will be encouraged to grow non-Indrayani rice varieties.

Farmers will be encouraged to grow non-Indrayani rice varieties. Express file Farmers will be encouraged to grow non-Indrayani rice varieties. Express file Tribal farmers in Pune district cultivating rice would soon get access to markets dominated by branded rice. District authorities have taken up a special scheme for such farmers that aims to commercialise rice cultivation in the area and sell it under a brand in urban markets such as Pune and Mumbai.

Ayush Prasad, assistant collector and sub-divisional magistrate of Khed, said the scheme would be implemented among the tribal farmers of Khed, Ambegaon, Junnar and Maval.

“Farmers in these areas have long been cultivating rice but mostly for sustenance, cultivating enough to feed themselves. Also, majority of the farmers in these areas generally go for the common Indrayani rice variety, which is not a niche product,” he said.

Aimed at bettering the income of farmers, the scheme will go into operation during the upcoming kharif season. Under the scheme, farmers will be encouraged to grow nonIndrayani rice varieties, which will then be branded and marketed.

“The Sahyadri School in Khed runs a special conservation scheme for rice and have around 40 varieties. The nursery has rice meant for children, porridge etc. These special varieties of rice, marketed well, will surely fetch a premium for the farmers,” Prasad said.

The rice produced will be marketed and sold under a brand name and B-school students will be roped in for the task. “We will offer paid internship to students to help us explore markets and create a brand,” he said. Also, district authorities plan to tap organised retail to help them market this rice in urban markets.

In the first phase, the district authorities aim to mobilise farmers to shift to cultivation of non-Indrayani rice varieties. Gram sevaks, village-level agricultural assistants and others will be roped in to spread awareness about the move. Self-Help Groups of farmers will be formed and, at the taluka level, a farmers’ producer company (FPC) will be established to help farmers market their produce. Prasad said in the initial stages, the Sahyadri School would provide seeds to farmers.

The step, to be first tried out among around 500 farmers in Khed, will aim for organic cultivation of rice with no chemical inputs used. “This will make the produce niche and command a premium,” he said. A rice mill and packaging facilities will be provided.

Source:-http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/pune-rice-cultivation-tribal-farmersmaharashtra-5051739/ https://www.nyoooz.com/news/pune/1026222/pune-soon-rice-cultivated-by-tribal-farmers-to-be-soldunder-brand-in-stores-in-urban-areas/

Govt to seek 75% bank guarantee from rice millers Feb 5, 2018, 12:24 AM; last updated: Feb 5, 2018, 12:24 AM (IST)

Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 4 Even as rice millers in the state are demanding extension in date for clearing the custom milled rice (CMR), the state government has decided to act tough and demand 75 percent bank guarantee from the next paddy season.

ACS (Food and Supplies Department) Ram Niwas on Thursday confirmed that the government has taken a decision to demand 75 percent bank guarantee from rice millers for the paddy given to them for CMR from the next paddy season.

“The CM has already cleared the file and orders in this regard will be circulated within a day or two,” he said.

The ACS said that the decision has been taken in view of frauds committed by rice millers, who failed to deliver custom milled rice after getting government paddy for CMR. He said, in future, the government will give paddy to millers in proportion to the bank guarantee given by them.

Presently, the millers don’t have to give any security or bank guarantee to the government for obtaining paddy for custom milling.

“We will refuse to lift paddy for custom milling, if the state government asks us for bank guarantee. We don’t have the wherewithal to give such a huge bank guarantee,” said Ashok Aggarwal, cashier, Haryana Rice Millers’ Association.

He alleged that the state government had already imposed an arbitrary clause and asked them to deliver custom milled rice by March 31 though the FCI has demanded it by June 30.

Under the new guidelines introduced by the state government from the current season, the millers have to clear their CMR by March 31. After this date, they will have to pay holding charge of Rs 1.5 per quintal till June 30. The rice millers had demanded extension in the date of clearance on Thursday and also opposed physical verification of stocks by the authorities.

Sources said that in the past three to four seasons, a number of rice millers had failed to deliver CMR to the tune of Rs 400 crore.

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V

Syndicates could cause another hike in rice prices  

Md Shafiqul Islam Published at 03:05 PM February 04, 2018



Last updated at 06:12 PM February 04, 2018

The total food grain reserve in government warehouses was 1,190,000 metric tons as of January 30, 2018Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune

There are also predictions that the demand of rice will increase this year, due to the approaching general polls, and these syndicates could use the situation to their advantage With the 11th general election is just around the corner, there are concerns that a number of syndicates that manipulated the rice market in 2017 could become active again.

A number of insiders have warned that these culprits are just waiting for another opportunity to destabilize the rice market like last year, with the motive to gain profit from the situation as much as they can.

Rice farmers witnessed a severe drop in crop production last year due to flash floods in the central region, and in the wetlands of Bangladesh. The government food grain reserves were also affected by these natural disasters.

Around 1,000,000 Rohingya refugees that entered Bangladesh from Myanmar since August 25, 2017, also increased the pressure on the food reserves.

There are also predictions that the demand of rice will increase this year due to the approaching general polls.

Bangladesh could witness a shortage of food grains if the reserve becomes inadequate to meet the demand.

These different factors could lead to the rice price going up once again.

Sources from the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that flash floods have destroyed at least 1,000,000 metric tons of Boro crop last year.

At the end of March, 2017, Boro crops in the six wetland districts were washed away by landslides and flash floods.

There are allegations that a number of businessmen increased the price of rice, using the flash floods in wetlands as an empty excuse.

Months have passed since the price increase of rice hit the consumers but the market is yet to become stable again.

Following the flash floods and the landslides in 32 districts, prices of coarse rice went up from Tk30-32 to Tk50-52 per kg in 2017.

The crisis deepened as the government faced difficulties while trying to buy rice from mill owners, as they refused to sell for the stipulated price. This caused the government reserves to go further down.

At that time, coarse rice was being sold in the retail market for Tk56-60 per kg.

Ruling party lawmakers and ministers blamed the millers for destabilization of the rice market. Responding to the crisis, the Ministry of Food blacklisted many rice dealers.

Later, the government slashed import taxes for rice from 28% to 2%, aiming to boost the supply in domestic markets. These initiatives caused the coarse rice prices to drop but not below Tk50 per kg.

Current food grain reserves The Boro collection drive began on May 2, 2017 and ended on November 15. During that period, government purchased 334,469 metric tons of Boro rice and 4,702 metric tons of Boro paddy.

In the Amon collection drive for the current fiscal year, 392,177 metric tons of parboiled rice has been purchased from December 3, 2017 to January 30, 2018.

The total food grain reserve in government warehouses was 1,190,000 metric tons as of January 30. Of the reserve, 837,000 metric tons is rice and the rest is wheat.

A total of 96,000 metric tons of rice also is waiting at the docks, to be delivered to the warehouses.

What are the opinions of the ministers?

Earlier in the parliament, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed previously said: “A total of 2,200,000 metric tons of rice have been imported by both the government and the non-government entities, as of the first quarter of the current fiscal year.”

However, commenting on the matter, Food Minister Qamrul Islam told the correspondent: “The government has a projected target of importing 1,500,000 metric tons of rice this fiscal year.”

The minister added: “After flash floods damaged the crops, we suffered a shortage of food grains last year. A group of corrupt businessmen and the coverage from media caused the rice prices to skyrocket. That crisis has been averted.”

Responding to a query, Qamrul Islam said: “Bangladesh currently has a reserve of 824,491 metric tons of rice, and the reserve will exceed 1,000,000 metric tons after next month.”

Visiting a number of retail markets in Dhaka, the correspondent has found that coarse rice was being sold at Tk50 per kg, and fine rice at Tk65-75 per kg.

The commerce minister in Thursday said: “It will be illogical to bring down rice prices below Tk40, as the farmers could suffer financial losses. If they [farmers] lose interest in rice farming, we could be in a lot of trouble.”

However, Finance Minister AMA Muhith had opined that rice, if sold at Tk40 per kg, will be bearable for the average consumer.

Despite the opinions of these two ministers, there is no variety of rice in the market that is available at the price of Tk40 or less per kg.

What would the farmers do?

Under the circumstances, a committee formed by the Food Ministry had set a price of Tk39 per kg of Amon rice while purchasing from farmers. The food minister is the committee president, while the ministers of finance and commerce are members.

There are serious concerns that the farmers will prefer to sell rice at the markets instead of to the government because the open market will pay more. This could disrupt the ongoing Amon collection drive of the government, warned sources concerned.

The syndicates that manipulated the rice market in 2017, could take advantage of the above mentioned situation and increase the price of rice again in 2018.

Nizam Uddin, general secretary of Badamtali-Babubazar Chaul Aartadar Samiti, told the correspondent: “If supply remains normal in the markets of Northern region, we will face no issues this year.

“It is the government’s duty to look after that market.”

He also commented that no one should be allowed to spread false rumours regarding rice supply and prices.

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2018/02/04/syndicates-cause-another-hikerice-prices/

Food exports gains not enough to plug deficit Mohiuddin AazimUpdated February 05, 2018

FOOD exports are growing faster this fiscal year, but the quality of exports is not such that it can make enough and immediate impact on stubbornly high food trade deficit.

The food trade deficit was $1.31 billion in the first half of this fiscal year compared to $1.21bn a year ago, as food imports jumped to $3.24bn from $2.86bn but exports rose somewhat slower to $1.93bn from $1.65bn.

In the July-December period, additional earnings of $181 million came from sugar and $130m from rice exports. The exports of the two commodities are expected to grow in the second half too.

In the near future, the current pattern will not help in accelerating exports to make an impact on food trade deficit, which can only be squeezed through quicker and larger increases

Performance of other food items has remained mixed: growth impact in some items, e.g. fish and fish preparations, has offset decline in case of others like meat and meat products.

In the near future, the current pattern will not help in accelerating exports to make an impact on food trade deficit, which can only be squeezed through quicker and larger gains.

At the same time, controlling food imports seems difficult amid higher demand and the economy expected to grow by six per cent.

Bumper sugar cane production and enough installed capacity of cane crushing ensure the creation of surplus.

Export marketing, too, has improved over the years. “For us, the problem is pricing,” says an official of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association.

The government will hopefully not delay the finalisation of sugar export plans in coming years as the country has suffered badly on this account.

“Exporters now ought to focus on value-added products and diversified export markets,” says an official of the Ministry of Commerce. “For example, they can increase exports of brown sugar, which typically fetches higher per-unit value than white sugar. Similarly, they can explore new markets in Central Asia and East Asia.”

The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has recently announced to reward sizable buyers of Pakistani rice. That’s a right step in the right direction. Indonesia has long been doing this.

REAP expects rice exports to touch $4bn a year from about $2bn now if the government and rice millers focus on export promotion.

However, millers will have to go beyond demanding incentives, and should come up with the specifics: what markets they are looking at and how exactly the government can help them in overcoming obstacles in those markets? What are they doing for producing more value-added brand products?

Exports of fish and fish preparations have risen to $200m in July-December from $183m in the year-ago period. But since this 9pc rise in export earning came as a result of a larger 13pc increase in export volumes, the quality of export growth is clearly poor.

The government and the private sector need to jointly work out ways for boosting the per-unit value of exports.

That can come from a combination of high-end processing and value-addition in export products as well as from targeting richer segments of export markets.

Exports of meat and meat products, on the other hand, continue to fall and have now slipped below $100m in the six-month period under review.

Why the private sector has failed to fully avail itself of the tax incentives allowed a few years ago for setting up export-oriented abattoirs? Why meat processing and packaging remains wanting on several counts? Why our meat export market remains heavily concentrated in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (88pc in the 2016-17 fiscal year)? Has establishing the halal certification authority in the country made any real impact on meat exports — and if not, why?

Unless we have clear answers to these and similar questions, growth in exports of meat and meat products will continue to suffer or, at best, remain stagnant.

Food exports data published by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) every month does not give a clue about the pace of growth in value-added food products.

But another set of monthly data published by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) based on export receipts of banks shows that exports of prepared foodstuffs and beverages more than doubled to about $460m in the first five months of this fiscal year. However, this was owing to exports of sugar, confectionary and beverages. The point is exports of value-added food products need a dramatic rise to ensure a sustainable and fast growth in food exports.

Fruit and vegetables’ exports remain erratic, too. But recently, per-unit prices of such exports have started showing an increasing trend.

This is evident from the fact that despite a 25pc volumetric decline in fruit exports in July-December, the exports value slid only 9pc to $180m. Exports of vegetables fell about 8pc in volume, but earnings somehow increased modestly to $63m from $59m.

Obviously this is not enough. Unless fruit and vegetable exports along with exports of seafood and meat rise at a double-digit rate for some years, the dream of reducing the huge food trade deficit cannot be materialised.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, February 5th, 2018

https://www.dawn.com/news/1387361/food-exports-gains-not-enough-to-plug-deficit

Tacloban farmers receive P8.5-million farm machinery

By Elmer Recuerdo February 5, 2018

TACLOBAN CITY—Farm machinery worth more than P8.5 million was handed over to farmer-beneficiaries as part of the city government’s comprehensive program on food sufficiency and improved farm production.

Bankrolled under the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BuB) program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the farm equipment and organic farm inputs were distributed to 18 farmers’ associations in Tacloban.

A simple turnover ceremony was attended by officer in charge (OIC) City Agriculturist Victoria Collantes, City Livelihood Coordinator Eunice Alcantara, DA Regional Director for Research and Development Elvira Torres and BuB Action Officer Mayflor Realino.

The distributed farm equipment included 16 units of multi-tilling machine, 34 power sprayers, seven water pumps, 18 units shredding machine, five rice planters, three rice reapers and four tractors with trailer.

Torres said the turned-over equipment was part of seven projects the city government proposed for funding under BuB amounting to P28.7 million. She added these initiatives

of the local government would enable farmers in Tacloban City to have sufficient production and increase their income for inclusive growth.

Cesar Mamites, president of Barangay San Isidro Integrated Farmers Association, one of the beneficiaries of the farm equipment distribution, said, “This is a big help, as this will lessen our overhead cost, especially in planting rice.”

Meanwhile, Christopher de la Cruz, president of the 150-member Association of Tagpuro Farmers United for Progress (Atrup), said the equipment would help increase their production as they would no longer have to depend on crude farm tools.

Collantes, meantime, reminded the beneficiaries to come up with guidelines on the use of the farm equipments so these would be fully utilized. The OIC city Agriculturist added they would start on February 6 a training on the use of organic farm inputs (fertilizers) in the barangays to be conducted by technicians from the city agriculturist’s office. https://businessmirror.com.ph/tacloban-farmers-receive-p8-5-million-farm-machinery/

Rice and sustainability In this guest column, Lonoke County, Arkansas, rice producer Mark Isbell writes about the importance of engaging with groups developing sustainability initiatives to ensure the nuances of rice production are valued and compensated.

By Mark Isbell

The Rice Checker, which Arkansas rice producer Mark Isbell builds and markets, is one of the many tools he uses to reduce the carbon footprint of rice production.

Let’s be honest. You are probably getting tired of hearing the word sustainability.

I know that I sometimes do.

At its best, the word can sometimes still be vague and nebulous – fluid in its meaning depending on who it is that’s saying it. At its worst, it can be a word that co-opts and misappropriates the credit for activities done by farmers who have been focused on stewardship long before anyone determined that “sustainability” would be the word of choice by eager marketing departments.

Nevertheless, it is the word that we have.

As an industry that in the last 20 years has reduced land and energy use by over a third, water use by over half, and made significant contributions to waterfowl and wildlife habitat, sustainability – regardless of what word you use to describe it – is something that our industry is doing well.

But as the marketplace continues telling our industry’s story, how can we best own the value of our actions?

Measuring sustainability The sustainability movement is global. When you look at what is happening with rice and sustainability around the world, you encounter an alphabet soup of acronyms and abbreviations for platforms and initiatives created by organizations far and wide.

Lately, there is increased pressure for farmers to adopt some of these global platforms and initiatives on their farms here in the United States. These platforms and initiatives include SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative), SRP (Sustainable Rice Platform) and others.

The goal is for the supply chain to be able to provide confidence to consumers that genuine sustainable practices are being adopted or continued. Just because we know the things we are doing doesn’t mean that consumers do.

The good news is that most U.S. rice farms score quite well on these compared to rice from other countries. The bad news is that using these tools can be time-consuming and tedious. Most of all, they are not our tools. They were created by someone else.

Someone once said that if you aren’t at the table, you might end up on the menu. For this reason, I think it is important to engage with these and other platforms in a way that ensures the concerns and nuances of our practices here in the United States are well accounted for, valued and compensated.

One place our industry has been at the table is at Field to Market (FTM), an alliance of corporations and producer groups from multiple commodities that have come together to illustrate continual improvement in sustainability using the Field Print Calculator.

Engaging with Sustainable Rice Platform and Sustainable Agriculture Initiative is a bit more difficult. But some progress has been made to align some of these global tools with FTM’s Field Print Calculator, which could be a helpful shortcut.

Another new initiative that we should all be aware of is the American Carbon Registry’s pilot Sustainable Rice Standard.

This voluntary certification tool is being built on the Sustainable Rice Platform, a global tool. But the carbon registry seeks to adapt and amend this tool for U.S.-specific activities that aren’t addressed in the global tool.

Since this program is in the development phase, we have the opportunity to provide useful feedback. And the timing is good since the platform will be undergoing trial testing on some U.S. rice farms during the 2018 growing season.

An important question Whatever you may think of any one of these programs, the overarching question remains: Is a sustainability standard something we want or need?

Where I have arrived is this: Whether a large portion of our industry ever seeks to adopt or endorses such a standard, for now we should engage with the process. To not engage or participate will be to cede the story of U.S. rice to others.

Let’s keep telling our good stories, but let’s also engage with others who are developing tools that could help us tell those stories.

The cost of not engaging with all of the sustainability tools, initiatives, and platforms could be substantial; the cost of engagement and participation will only be our time.

Any tool that seeks to measure sustainability in rice production should include a diversity of opinion and input from all rice growing states and all rice growing practices.

To see the tool the American Carbon Registry is developing and to provide feedback, please visit: https://www.winrock.org/ms/winrock-sustainable-rice-initiative/ To learn more about Sustainable Rice Platform: http://www.sustainablerice.org/ To learn more about Sustainable Agriculture Initiative: http://www.saiplatform.org/ To learn more about the great work U.S. rice farmers are already doing in sustainability: https://www.usarice.com/public-policy/conservation Mark Isbell is a fifth-generation rice farmer in Lonoke County, Arkansas, and a member of the USA Rice Sustainability Committee, liaison to Field to Market and a steering committee member for the American Carbon Registry initiative.

https://www.ricefarming.com/departments/industry-news/rice-and-sustainability/

California rice growers hear from national leader

California rice growers will have chance later this year to elect one of their own to lead USA Rice board Todd Fitchette | Feb 05, 2018 Tim Johnson, left, president and CEO of the California Rice Commission and Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice, updated California rice growers at two northern California meetings on issues the two organizations are involved with.

USA Rice Chief Executive Betsy Ward told a combined audience of about 200 California rice growers at meetings in Yuba City and Colusa that efforts to open Chinese markets to U.S. rice will take time.

Ward said the efforts of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to open those markets was welcome, but now the devil is in the details as China wants U.S. rice mills to answer “intrusive” questions that have nothing to do with phytosanitary issues.

Matters like this could affect more than rice as Ward believes hostile trade discussions between the two nations could spill over into other commodities.

She also mentioned USA Rice hopes the United States remains a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) because of the importance of rice exports. Sound trade agreements are vital for U.S. rice growers because of the “unfair competition” within global rice markets, she said.

On a national level rice acreage has fallen, and with it the income USA Rice receives through assessments.

“The range of issues doesn’t change, but we have to tighten our belts as you do the same,” she said referring to soft grower prices for rice.

She referenced opportunities for medium and short-grain rice out of California, particularly in Japan as consumers there appear to favor California rice. USA Rice currently supports a Japanese Free Trade Agreement with the same meaningful market access objectives under the former Trans Pacific Partnership.

Ward briefly discussed the success of the rice PAC, currently chaired by California rice grower Sean Doherty, and reported that in the decade since she has been at the helm of USA Rice, PAC funds have increased four-fold – 31 percent since Doherty has chaired the committee.

Ward also informed the California audience that later this summer the U.S. rice industry will have an opportunity to choose a California rice producer to chair the national organization after the term of the current board chairman expires.

http://www.westernfarmpress.com/rice/california-rice-growers-hear-national-leader

Pakistan’s

trade imbalance with Indonesia is its own fault

By Farhan Zaheer February 5, 2018

Containers at a port. PHOTO: REUTERS

KARACHI: Pakistan and Indonesia – despite close political relations – have

been trying to increase bilateral trade with insignificant success. The little success achieved has been lopsided in the latter’s favour.

Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populated country, has significantly increased its exports to Pakistan in the last few years. Pakistan, the world’s sixth most populated country, on the other hand has been unable to increase its traditional exports (like textiles, grains, fruits, vegetables) in which it has an edge over other countries.

So where does the main problem lie? The main problem is with Pakistan’s policies and its exporters and not Indonesia’s acceptance of Pakistani products.

There is nothing wrong in doing trade with Indonesia despite the huge trade deficit. But what should be a concern for Pakistani policymakers is that the country is unable to take benefit of this trade relationship despite having huge export opportunities.

“Indonesia is a fast growing economy whose trade is increasing with almost every other country. So it is our fault if we are unable to increase our exports to Indonesia,” Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Vice-President Waheed Ahmed commented.

Trade between Pakistan and the Southeast Asian giant has been growing strongly for the last couple of years. The volume of bilateral trade grew from $700 million in 2010 to $2.3 billion in 2016, up 229%.

“Pakistan’s problem is that it is not ready to explore Far-Eastern markets, including Indonesia. Unless, our exporters go for innovation and branding, the situation is not going to change,” said Ahmed.

The two countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2005 and the preferential trade agreement (PTA) in 2012, which became operational in 2013.

Just as experts warned, the situation turned horrible for Pakistan since the implementation of the PTA in 2013.

During the recent visit of Indonesia’s President to Pakistan, Commerce Minister Pervaiz Malik accepted that the imbalance in bilateral trade following the implementation of the PTA raised questions about the viability of the

agreement and threatened the transformation of the original plan into a freetrade agreement (FTA).

According to a Pakistan Business Council (PBC) report of 2015, high potential items left out of the PTA between Pakistan Indonesia include three plastic items with trade potential of $140 million and 16 cotton items with trade potential of $500 million.

Indonesia’s exports to Pakistan increased from $1.2 billion in 2012 to $2.2 billion in 2016-17 while Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia unfortunately declined from $196 million to $137 million.

Pakistan’s major exports to Indonesia include textiles and clothing, rice, vegetables and fruits (mainly oranges) while its major import item from Indonesia is palm oil.

“Pakistan can increase its rice exports to Indonesia but there are many structural issues,” said Jawed Ali Ghori, managing director at Matco — one of the country’s leading basmati exporter.

The Indonesian government directly imports rice which is why it is not easy for any basmati rice exporter to grab this market by just marketing its products there, he added.

Following the one-sided growth in bilateral trade, the two countries are now reviewing the PTA. To address the imbalance, Indonesia has agreed to remove impediments to Pakistan’s current exports and has unilaterally granted zero-rated market access for 20 priority items of Pakistan’s export interest, including mangoes and rice.

Indonesia imports over $650 million worth of fruits and $550 million worth of vegetables annually. With over $650 million exports of fruits and vegetables, Pakistan can easily increase its exports to Indonesia.

Last year, Pakistan exported oranges worth about $19.8 million. Now that Indonesia has allowed quota free imports of oranges from Pakistan, fruit exporters believe the export of oranges could be increased by 40% this year.

However, all these measures are not enough to make any significant impact on Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia. These are just a fraction of the trade deficit that Pakistan is running with Indonesia – a trillion dollar economy that is expected to grow much faster in coming years.

The government and exporters need to come out of their shells and explore new markets instead of relying on traditional North American and European markets to increase exports.

The writer is a staff correspondent

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1626471/2-pakistans-trade-imbalance-indonesia-fault/

Philrice to open satellite station in Zamboanga Sunday , February 04, 2018 By BONG GARCIA THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) is setting up a P5.98-million satellite station here in Zamboanga City. City Agriculturist Diosdado Palacat said the station will be constructed at the compound of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) at Sitio San Ramon in the village of Talisayan. Palacat said the establishment of the Philrice satellite station is to ensure the availability of new varieties of

palay for local farmers. The construction of the project is expected to be completed in five months. Philrice is an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA) engaged in the development of high-yielding and cost-reducing technologies for farmers. Palacat represented Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar during the laying of the time capsule ceremony on January 31. The event was also attended by Philrice officials led by Acting Executive Director Sailila Abdullah, WMSU officials and faculty and staff of the College of Agriculture. (SunStar Philippines) http://www.sunstar.com.ph/zamboanga/local-news/2018/02/04/philrice-open-satellite-stationzamboanga-587258

Myanmar to hold rice trade forum VNA SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 04, 2018 - 16:36:00 PRINT

Illustrative image (Source: moi.gov.mm) Hanoi (VNA) The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) will hold a forum for sustainable development of rice industry this month, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported on February 3.

Under the title "Rice Trade Development Forum," the event aims to maintain the status of the country's rice sector and exchange views for the sectoral development.

The forum will also host panel discussions on controlling the rice price, farmers' problems, gaining appropriate profits for rice millers, rice merchants and exporters, and providing assistance to small and medium enterprises.

Official figures show Myanmar earned about 700 million USD from exporting 2.6 million tonnes of rice as of January 19 in the current 2017-18 fiscal year.

During the period, the country's agriculture product export hit 2.4 billion USD, accounting for 25 percent of the total exports.

Challenging with erratic weather, dependence on foreign market demand, and request to increase value-added products, Myanmar is making efforts to promote agricultural production, while addressing the issue of high transportation cost.

In September 2017, Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding on exporting 300,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh in line with a previously signed inter-governmental agreement.

Accordingly, Myanmar will ship 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice to Bangladesh each year up to 2022.-VNA

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/myanmar-to-hold-rice-trade-forum/126073.vnp

New technique boosting rice production in Mwea SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3 2018

Experts work on developing new rice varieties in one of the rice labs at Kalro in Mwea. Dr Daigo Makihara the lead researcher in the programme notes that efforts are underway to develop varieties that are robust, resilient, and adaptable for wide-ranging ecological settings. PHOTO | BRIAN OKINDA | NMG

In Summary 

RiceMAPP involves use of production knowledge and technologies in water management and crop care to increase harvest.



Farmers at the Mwea Irrigation Scheme can now attain maximum yields and earn profits.



Jica’s Rice-based and Market-oriented Agriculture Promotion Project (RiceMAPP) has strove to alleviate these challenges through its innovative concepts.



Line planting is the third principle with the recommended spacing of 30cm by 15cm rather than randomly planting the rice seedlings.

By BRIAN OKINDA More by this Author

Paddies on either side of the road stretch as far as the eye can see as you enter Mwea Constituency in Kirinyaga County.

Rice is the primary source of livelihood in the region with the Basmati 370 being the most widely cultivated variety.

For a long time, 40-year-old John Gakuya Nyamu, one of the farmers at the 22,000-acre Mwea Irrigation Scheme has exclusively depended on the crop.

The farming engagement provided just enough to ensure his family is well-provided for with no additional profits.

“From the two leased paddies that I farm, I used to get about 20 bags of rice. While it was enough to cater for my family, I did not realise I could earn much more,” says Nyamu.

Luckily for Nyamu and other farmers, things have changed for the better.

Today innovative technologies have been introduced that have seen an increase in rice production and a drop in production costs.

This has been made possible through a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), which brought in stakeholders like Mwea Irrigation Agricultural Development (MIAD), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro), Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), National Irrigation Board (NIB) and several universities both in Kenya and in Japan, among other backers.

Through the partnership’s programme, Science and Technology Research for Sustainable Development (SATREPS)project, key constraints that hinder effective cultivation of rice in the country were identified and efforts to alleviate them effected.

“Cold weather, rice blast disease, drought and water saving inadequacies, and low fertility and soil salinity were identified as factors that have been constraining the crop’s effective cultivation in various regions countrywide,” says Dr Daigo Makihara the lead

researcher in the programme and associate professor at the International Cooperation Centre for Agricultural Education at Nagoya University in Japan.

He notes that efforts are underway to curb these challenges by developing rice varieties that are robust and resilient, and adaptable for wide-ranging ecological settings.

He said this is possible through advancement of technological innovations and resourceful yet sustainable ways to cultivate the crop FIVE PRINCIPLES Dr Makihara says technologies such as molecular breeding of rice and DNA-marker assisted selection are currently applied in the programme at Kalro in Mwea to come up with rice varieties that carry suitable genes to overcome stress conditions in different geographical and ecological settings in the country.

And in reiteration of the importance of rice as a top food security crop and encouraging its cultivation, Dr John Kimani the managing director of Kalro-Mwea says up to 16 new rice varieties have so far been developed for varied environments in the country; for both uplands and irrigated conditions.

But water has proven to be the most serious challenge for farmers at the scheme.

Jica’s Rice-based and Market-oriented Agriculture Promotion Project (RiceMAPP) has strove to alleviate these challenges through its innovative concepts.

Workers hand-level a paddy ready for planting at the vast Mwea Irrigation Scheme in Kirinyaga. Handleveling results in successful transplanting and easy water management in the paddy. PHOTO | BRIAN OKINDA| NMG

“For a long time, there have been water related conflicts in the scheme but the situation is now better,” says David Njogu, a former RiceMAPP project manager at Mwea. His view was echoed by John Ndegwa, a rice farmer in the scheme.

Ndegwa says his production has now increased hence his profits and savings have improved. He says conflicts with other farmers have gone down and expenses involved in the crop’s production have decreased.

“Through the water saving rice culture, I now harvest up to 30, 100-kilo bags from one paddy from my initial 13 to 19 bags, while my water usage has gone down too,” he says.

The RiceMAPP project involves use of rice production knowledge and technologies to promote income sustainability of the farmers and water management in rice farming is one of its key components.

“By following the five principles of RiceMAPP’s water saving rice culture and using improved, certified and recommended seeds, higher production even from a single paddy is guaranteed,” says Wilson Oyange, RiceMAPP’s current project manager at MIAD. He says through it, a farmer can earn up to Sh400,000 in six months from one paddy.

This involves hand levelling of the paddy resulting in successful transplanting and easy water management and using healthy seedlings which should be pre-germinated by socking in water for 24 hours then incubated for 48 hours to attain higher and even germination rate.

INCREASE ACREAGE Line planting is the third principle with the recommended spacing of 30cm by 15cm rather than randomly planting the rice seedlings.

This is followed by improved weeding using a push-pull weeder which is more effective and requires less manpower compared to manual weeding and intermittent irrigation which involves supplying only the required amount of water whenever it is required and not flooding the paddy.

“Intermittent irrigation involves alternatingly flooding the paddy for three days and leaving it unflooded for three days, each 10 days, repeatedly for 30 to 45 days until the rice starts to flower. This facilitates oxygen absorption into the soil as well as saving water,” says Vincent Koskei, NIB’s research officer at the Wang’uru Station.

Koskei says adhering to these principles as well as proper crop management practices and using the right nutrients such as potassium-based fertilisers will boost a farmer’s chances of attaining maximum rice production, and earning profits even from the second rice crop that is allowed to grow after harvesting the main crop, commonly called rice ratoon crop.

He adds that use of machinery in harvesting and processing the crop is equally important rather than the manual harvesting as it averts loss and wastage of the harvest, saying using paddy reapers and threshers, and combine harvesters ensures effective rice harvesting.

“Challenges such as weeds like echinochloa crus-galli, sages and nylon grass, the highly destructive rice blast disease, water shortage and migratory birds, among others, have always been obstacles affecting rice production,” he notes.

But the NIB and its partners have put measures in place to ease these challenges with the anticipated construction of the Thiba Dam set to fully end the water shortage situation at Mwea and boost its production as well as increasing the acreage of the scheme to accommodate more farmers.

Engineer Yunoki Yuji, the project’s consultant says on completion of the dam, the scheme’s rice production is expected to double from the current 60,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes and accommodate even more farmers. https://www.nation.co.ke/business/seedsofgold/The-new-technique-boosting-rice-production/23012384289082-w5xoxsz/index.html

Meet lays stress on public awareness to conserve wetlands KOCHI, FEBRUARY 03, 2018 01:50 IST

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World Wetlands Day celebrated Public awareness to realise the need to conserve wetlands is crucial, Renjith Thampan, Additional Advocate General of the High Court of Kerala, has said.

He was inaugurating a panel discussion on ‘Wetlands for Kochi’s sustainable future’ to mark World Wetlands Day at the Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary in the city on Thursday.

Scientists, conservationists, lawyers, and students participated in the half-day event organised by the Community Environment Resource Centre of the Asoka Trust for Ecology and Environment (ATREE) and the Indian Association of Lawyers. The programme focused on the need for better water quality in wetlands and streamlining of wetland policies to conserve ecosystems.

With the new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, introduced last year, the Centre has washed its hands off its responsibility for wetlands and their conservation by putting the onus on State wetland authorities, said moderator Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan (senior fellow, ATREE). Apart from changing the definition of what a wetland is, the new rules have also changed the way wetlands should be identified, said panelist Harish Vasudevan Sreedevi, an advocate practising at the Kerala High Court.

“Studies show that one hectare of wetland produces at least ₹20 lakh worth ecosystem services. We need more such scientific supporting documents that show the value of wetlands in terms of money, because that is the only language people now understand,” he added.

Panelist Shylaraj K.S., director of Kochi’s Rice Research Institute, touched on the importance of conserving the completely-organic Pokkali system of rice farming to save wetlands, for, along with the indigenous Pokkali rice variety and fish / prawn farms, the system supports mangroves (which qualify as coastal wetlands) along its edge.

The event, organised in association with Sacred Heart College, Thevara; Cochin Natural History Society, and Cochin University of Science and Technology, was supported by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/meet-lays-stress-on-public-awareness-toconserve-wetlands/article22639180.ece

GROWING CONCERN OF MORE SECOND CROP CULTIVATION PROMPTS GROWING CONCERN OF MORE SECOND CROP CULTIVATION PROMPTS MINISTRY TO MAKE RICE SURVEY

The agriculture minister has ordered agriculture officials in the central provinces to survey the second rice cultivation for the 2017/2018 crop year as there is possible trend that farmers are planting more second rice crop. The order by Agriculture Minister Krissada Bunraj came as there was report from village headmen and community leaders that farmers in some provinces in the central region are growing more second rice crops because rice is fetching good prices and there is sufficient water supply this year. Full Story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/growing-concern-second-crop-cultivation-prompts-ministry-make-ricesurvey/

Two-stage gas sensor reports on soil dynamics Rice University biosensor delivers robust report on microbes' health, activity 

Feb 3, 2018

Rice University graduate student Hsiao-Ying (Shelly) Cheng led a project to develop two-stage microbial sensors that can observe and report on gene expression and the bioavailability of nutrients in environments like soil and fluids without disturbing them. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University.)

A gene “genie� developed by Rice University scientists grants researchers valuable data about microbes through puffs of gas from the soil. The latest version is a robust two-stage microbial sensor that will help bioengineers, geobiologists and other researchers observe gene expression and the bioavailability of nutrients in laboratory facsimiles of environments like soil and sediments without disturbing them.

The gas is produced by microbes genetically engineered to report on both their environment and activity and mixed into soil samples in contained laboratory experiments. One gas that seeps out tells researchers how many of the target microbes are present and a second gas tells researchers what the microbes are doing. Eventually, the Rice team would like the programmed microbes to reveal whether and how they communicate with each other.

Details about the sensors appear in the American Chemical Society journal ACS Synthetic Biology.

The ongoing research began in 2015 with a $1 million grant by the W.M. Keck Foundation and is led by Rice synthetic biologist Jonathan Silberg, biogeochemist Caroline Masiello and graduate student and lead author Hsiao-Ying (Shelly) Cheng. Their goal has been to measure bioactivity in opaque environments, especially those where changing the environment would alter the results. +1

The two-stage biosensors developed by Rice University graduate student Hsiao-Ying (Shelly) Cheng are programmed to release puffs of gas to report on their presence and activity levels in genetically engineered bacteria like E. coli. They mimic the features of fluorescent sensors scientists use to monitor biological activity, but in opaque environments like soil. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University.)

Silberg said the new gas-emitting microbes operate on the same principle as those that contain two fluorescent proteins; for example, a green-fluorescing protein would tag all the cells in a dish and a red one would light up when triggered by a microbial activity, like protein expression or proximity of a specific molecule.

“In those systems, you can check the ratio of green to red and know, on average, what the cells are doing,” he said. “But that doesn’t work in soils.”

Currently, researchers measure microbial activity in soil by grinding samples and using processes like high-performance liquid chromatography to quantify their contents. That not only eliminates the opportunity to study the same sample over time, it also limits the scope of the data.

“Our system answers the right question,” Masiello said. “Do microbes know these compounds are present, and what are they doing in response to them?”

In the Rice lab’s ratio-metric system, gases that emerge from modified E. coli or other microbes could help scientists measure soil development. Ratio-metric means the output of gas is directly proportional to the input, in this case the level of activity the microbe senses.

In one test, E. coli was modified to express enzymes that synthesize ethylene and bromomethane.

The bacterium continuously made ethylene, which allowed the researchers to monitor the size of the microbe population, but only made bromomethane when triggered by, in this case, the bioavailability of acylhomoserine lactones, molecules that facilitate signaling between bacteria.

After Cheng put the E. coli in agricultural soil and set the temperature to maximize gas signals, she found that adding short- and long-chain AHL did not affect ethylene output but dramatically affected bromomethane. The highest concentration of short-chain AHL increased the

bromomethane signal more than an order of magnitude, and long-chain AHL almost two orders of magnitude.

Tests with another bacteria, Shewanella, whose native habitat is a sediment, showed similarly robust results. “The dynamic range for sensing chemicals with what Shelly’s built is very good,” Silberg said. “It will vary with the organism, but synthetic biology is really about tuning all of that.”

“The particularly useful aspect of this work is the potential to distinguish between what’s chemically extractable in a marine or soil environment and what a microbe perceives is there,” Masiello said. “Just because we can grind up a soil and measure something doesn’t mean that plants or microbes know what’s there. These tools are what we need to be able to, for the first time, measure microbial perception of their environment.”

The modified microbes are meant to be used for lab testing and not in the wild. But tests would be much faster than current processes and allow labs to monitor a sample continuously over time.

The researchers anticipate applications not only in synthetic biology and environmental science but also for tracking the environmental fate of gut bacteria being developed for diagnostics and therapeutics.

Going forward, the Rice lab intends to focus its effort on the conditional output part of the sensor. “As we’ve been building this, people like (Rice bioscientist) Jeff Tabor and others are standardizing the sensing modules,” Silberg said. “We’re building new output modules that you could then couple to the great diversity of sensors they are building.

“Shelly’s really led the way to prove that we can do gas reporting, and she was the first to do it in soils,” he said. “She then showed we could do it with horizontal gene transfer as part of our proof of concept, and now this. The tools are just getting there, and I think applications will be next.”

Co-authors of the paper are graduate student Ilenne Del Valle in the Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology graduate program, research scientist Xiaodong Gao and George Bennett, the E. Dell Butcher Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, all at Rice. Silberg is an associate

professor of biochemistry and cell biology. Masiello is a professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences.

The research was supported by the W.M. Keck Foundation, Rice University, a Taiwan Ministry of Education Scholarship, the National Science Foundation Long-term Ecological Research Program, Michigan State University AgBioResearch and the Department of Energy Offices of Science and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.   

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http://www.hpj.com/crops/two-stage-gas-sensor-reports-on-soil-dynamics/article_b24d4720-67d5-5fc2-b502-

7c26f36e7c50.html

Chasing the innocents (Part 1) Published February 3, 2018, 10:00 PM

By Dr. Emil Q. Javier

Dr. Emil Q. Javier

‘There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?’ – Robert Kennedy This column was prompted by two recent events involving academics and scientists in the government service who were being unjustly prosecuted for allegedly running afoul of the law in the performance of administrative (non-academic, non-scientific) duties.

The first was the dismissal by the Ombudsman of Dr. Ester B. Ogena.

President of the Philippine Normal University (PNU) and her three senior colleagues, for grave misconduct related to an advertising contract worth US$25,000 the university entered into with an international publication intended to showcase to the world the country’s strides in higher education.

The second was the criminal information filed by the Ombudsman in the Sandiganbayan against the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) for “conspiring with one another, acting with manifest partiality, evident bad faith and/or gross inexcusable negligence, willfully, unlawfully and criminally gave unwarranted benefits and advantage to PhilRice’s Car Plan beneficiary-employees” (numbering 10).

Among those indicted were: 1) Arthur Yap, then Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and ex-officio Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PhilRice, and now congressman of the 3rd District of Bohol, 2) the late National Scientist Dr. Gelia T. Castillo, 3) Academician and President of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and former Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Dr. William G. Padolina, 4) agricultural engineer and then President of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), Dr. Rodolfo Undan, 5) rice researcher and Regional Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Fe Laysa, 6) private sector representative, agribusiness entrepreneur, and former Secretary of DA, Senen Bacani and 7) private sector representative and farmer, Winston Corvera.

I am deeply moved by the undeserved pain and humiliation all the respondents and their families must be suffering. My family and I went through a similar ordeal 35 years ago after I was criminally charged for technically malversing funds for the construction of two tennis courts in the science complex in Bicutan, in my capacity as science minister, only to be exonerated after nine long years of hearings (1983-1992). Fortunately in my case, then Budget Secretary Manuel Alba and his kind deputy, Dakila Fonacier, and Atty. Sofronio Bautista of the Commission on Audit came to my defense. And most propitiously a bright young law graduate from Ateneo University, Atty. Eulalio Ventura, whom I did not know before, convinced of my innocence volunteered to take my case pro-bono.

I speak for many members of the academic and scientific community. We know the respondents well and can vouch for their personal integrity and professionalism. We are appalled and dismayed at the shabby treatment meted upon them by our justice system, fully aware that their transgressions, if at all, are at worst technical and procedural lapses, for which they did not materially gain, nor caused government any demonstrable loss.

Had the Ombudsman and its public prosecutors been more thorough, competent and fair, they should have realized they have better things to do than wasting time chasing after the innocents, not real thieves.

Unjust dismissal of the PNU president The case of Dr. Ester Ogena (and her three subordinates at PNU) is particularly tragic and ironic. Ester Ogena was an outstanding alumna of PNU, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in education. She obtained her masters and doctoral degrees in mathematics teaching from University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. She spent most of her public service career at the DOST where she rose through the ranks to become Director of the Science Education Institute (SEI). From SEI, she was recruited by the PNU Board of Regents to become her alma mater’s 10th president. Testaments to her outstanding and blemish-free record of public service were the Presidential Lingkod Bayan award conferred to her no less than by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the prestigious, The Outstanding Women of the Nation (TOWNS) award for education.

All of these for naught because of the case of grave misconduct frivolously and so unjustly brought upon her and her colleagues by the Ombudsman.

Dr. Ester Ogena and her three colleagues were found guilty of grave misconduct and were meted the penalty of dismissal from the service including all the accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of leave credits and retirement benefits, and disqualification for re-employment in government service. The irony of it all was they were only complying with orders from higher authority, and did not stand to gain any personal benefit from the alleged infraction.

The case stemmed from the supposed irregularity in the award without public bidding of an advertising contract worth US$25,000 PNU entered into with Universal News Ltd. in a special issue of the Foreign Policy Magazine.

No less than the Chairperson of the PNU Board of Regents, until recently CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan, confirmed that the advertisement was upon her instructions. Further it was not Dr. Licuanan’s individual initiative/decision, but was part of a broader Aquino cabinet effort involving the communications and economic clusters to cast the country in a favorable light by way of prestigious international publications in order to attract foreign investments.

In fact, the June 2011 issue of the Foreign Policy Magazine where PNU advertised also featured the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and several other ASEAN universities like: 1) the Open University of Malaysia 2) The National University of Malaysia (counterpart of the University of the Philippines), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 3) DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore, and Universitas Brawijaya, a leading university in Indonesia.

There was therefore nothing unusual, wasteful nor sinister in PNU’s expenditure of public funds for the international publication advertisement. Further proof that the respondents Dr. Ogena and colleagues did not act on their own, was the advertisement by the Philippine’s economic cluster in the December 2011 issue of the same magazine.

Exceptions to competitive public bidding The alleged misconduct actually revolves around the contention that the respondents violated the law by awarding the advertising contract without the benefit of public bidding. In their defense the PNU officers pointed out that while indeed competitive bidding is the general rule, the law allows exceptions, and permits alternative methods of compliance… “subject to prior approval of the Head of Agency, or duly authorized representative, and whenever justified by conditions, may in order to promote economy and efficiency, resort to any of the following alternative methods… (Section 48 of RA 9184, otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act).

One such alternative method is “direct contracting or single source procurement” which does not require elaborate Bidding Documents because the supplier is simply asked to submit a price quotation or a pro-forma invoice, together with the conditions of sale, which offer may be accepted immediately or after some negotiation.

Moreover, specifically Section 53.6 of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 9184, clearly states that “Negotiated procurement is expressly allowed when the requirement is for media documentation, advertisement, or announcement through television, radio, newspaper, internet and other communication media.”

The fact that the advertisement was upon instructions of the Chairperson of PNU Board of Regents, and subsequently approved by the full Board satisfies the first requirement of approval by the Head of Agency. Since the purpose of the project was for the country to gain international mileage by way of a special issue of the Foreign Policy magazine which is an influential and credible periodical, public bidding is therefore out of the question. Hence, the resort to “direct contracting” with the magazine publisher.

How the prosecutor(s) ignored or overlooked these facts beggar the imagination!

To be continued . . . Part 2 ***** Dr. Emil Q. Javier is a Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and also Chair of the Coalition for Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP). For any feedback, email eqjavier@yahoo.com.

https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/02/03/chasing-the-innocents-part-1/

President Weah’s Request to Rice Importers For Price Reduction Gains Result, As Fouta Corporation Takes The Lead February 3, 2018 Cholo Brook

President Weah with members of the Rice Importer Association of Liberia

Recent President George Weah’s meeting with rice importers in the country with a call to reduce the price of the commodity which is also the stable food of Liberia, one of the importers, Fouta Corporation has with immediate effect ordered all of its warehouses around the Country to effect the change by taken up US$2.00 for 25kg bag and US$4.00 50kg bag.

Rice the stable food of Liberia has always been the concern of consumers as the high price of the commodity at most time created mixed feelings of Liberians; the 25kg was sold at US$18 to US20.00 while the 50kg was being sold at US$45 to US450.00, some Liberians who could not afford to purchase a bag of the commodity were compelled to purchase by cup.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the GNN today, February 3, 2018, the Chief Executive Officer of Fouta Corporation, one of Liberia’s leading rice importers, Mr. Mohamed Sow said he has ordered his staff around the Country to with immediate effect carry out the mandate given by the Liberian leader to reduce the price of rice in the Country in order for the stable food to be available to all Liberians.

Mr. Sow said the request by the Liberian leader to call on importers of rice in the Country to reduce the price of the commodity should be welcomed by all businesses, especially those in the sector, noting, “This President is a true leader, his concern for the people of this nation must be appreciated; reducing the price of the Country’s stable food (Rice) must be lauded,” Mr. Sow told GNN at his Bushrod Islands office.

However, President George Manneh Weah has acknowledged the favorable response of rice importers to his request for reduction in the price of the nation’s staple food. The rice importers have reduced the price of a 25kg bag by two United States Dollars while the price of a 50kg bag is reduced by US$4.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the welcoming news comes as a result of increased pressure on rice importers by President Weah who believes it is intolerable for the price of the national staple, to continue to increase amidst the high cost of living in the country.

President Weah and officials of the rice Importers Association, for the second day running, met Friday, February 2, 2018, to continue negotiations on the reduction of the price of rice. The discussions started Thursday, February 1, at which time the Liberian leader promised to do everything possible to ensure that the rice market price was reduced.

On Thursday, the President said: “If government-imposed tax is an issue, you can rest assured that my government is more than ready to grant reasonable adjustments in the tax regime to make the reduction of rice price possible.”

During the Friday meeting with rice importers, President Weah reiterated his determination to ensure that something was immediately done to reduce the price of the rice and make it affordable and available to average Liberians.

At the end of the negotiations, officials of the Association of Liberian Rice Importers consented to effect a reduction of the price. The Association of Rice Importers headed by their Chairman, John Bestman, agreed to reduce the price of the 25Kg bag of rice by US $2.00 while the price of 50kg bag of rice will be reduced by US $4.00 with immediate effect.

The meeting was attended by Hon. Nathaniel Falo McGill, Minister of State, Hon. Samuel Tweah, Prof. Wilson K. Tarpeh, Minister of Commerce designate, Minister of Finance, Hon. Eugene Nagbe, Minister of Information, and Hon. Archie Bernard, Legal Advisor to the President.

President Weah has earlier proposed a reduction of US$3.00 but due to some constraints proffered by rice moguls, it was agreed that the US$3 reduction from the cost of a 25kg bag of

rice would not be possible immediately, but that it could still be possible in the future once a few challenges facing the rice market were addressed and the modalities worked out.

Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists.

http://gnnliberia.com/2018/02/03/president-weahs-request-rice-importers-price-reduction-gains-result-foutacorporation-takes-lead/

Researchers learn to write, talk like regular people in 'antiscience' environment Tem ex es et et id quunt a volorep errunti odisinv erferum accullaboremOCampuses encourage faculty, students to communicate effectively.

By Lindsay Ellis February 3, 2018



Photo: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle

IMAGE 1 OF 3 Eder Perez, 11, a fifth-grader a Ursula Stephens Elementary, went to the recent STEM Mars Rover Celebration at UH. Students are learning that clarity is key to explaining research.

A Texas A&M University geography student starts discussing her research on rip currents by describing a day at the beach - and Michael Phelps' swimming speeds.

The three-minute presentation is not intended for her fellow scientists. Instead, she's hoping to distill down her research - for example, by comparing the speed of a rip current to how fast the well-known Olympian can swim –so that anyone can understand it.

"I'm able to calculate daily maps of potential rip current locations," said the student, Sarah Trimble, at a competition in which students explain their work for outsiders.

"The National Weather Service may soon be able to offer you a map of predicted

locations of rip currents and their strengths‌and just by chance, it may say across the bottom, brought to you by research from Texas A&M." Houston and Texas universities have long invested in research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. But a new push on these campuses encourages faculty and students to better communicate their findings. The push comes amid surveys showing eroding Republican support for higher education and a social climate that casts academics as elitist and out of touch.

Workshops, classes and conferences at Texas colleges and universities encourage STEM researchers to ditch technical or complicated jargon so broader audiences can understand the importance of what they do.

"We haven't done a really good job in communicating why it's important for your taxes to fund this research," said Carolyn Nichol, who directs Rice University's office of STEM Engagement. "(Research is) going to help you be healthy, or have a faster phone or have clean drinking water. The pace of research is accelerating, but I think showing that the research really matters is something that scientists may have not thought about in the past."

Trimble, who studied rip currents at A&M before graduating late last year, said there's a more basic motivator.

"If I am given this awesome opportunity in my career, I want to make sure it's going to be used by someone, somewhere, somehow," she said. "If I'm going to pour in hours and years and lots of sweat and tears, when I finally find an answer or move closer to finding an answer, I want to communicate (it)."

Teaching how to be clear In March, Rice and the University of Houston are co-hosting a second-annual workshop on the communication of science, and Texas A&M's science students are required to take two writing-intensive or communication-intensive courses.

At Rice, a STEM outreach class launched last September encourages students to make their work clear enough that a fourth-grader could understand it.

Some Texas graduate students - from College Station to Austin to Huntsville compete in a competition called the three-minute thesis, encouraging sharp communication skills.

This level of activity abounds on Texas' campuses. Faculty members have pursued individual projects ranging from UH's work on nanotechnology solutions to purify water to Rice's work on gene therapy. UH, UH-Downtown and Rice have entered the field of data science, a burgeoning area that they say can impact Houston industry.

Universities across the state and region are deep in projects related to Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath.

But this work cannot make a difference without scientists learning perhaps a more basic skill - communication - said Thuy Le, a UH chemical and molecular engineering student who is organizing the March science communication conference at UH and Rice.

'Anti-science' climate "Scientists and researchers are viewed as elitists," she said. "The public doesn't understand how pervasive STEM is in their lives."

Recent surveys found that many white Americans, Republicans and right-leaning respondents believe higher education had a negative effect in the country and that college is a "risky gamble."

Meanwhile, politicians at the state and federal level questioned how much to invest in and how to tax higher education institutions this year.

Texas lawmakers threatened to strip back state funding, though in the final budget, the state's biggest research universities remained unscathed.

Encouraging good communication is crucial in light of this "anti-science" social climate, said Barbara Gastel, a Texas A&M veterinary investigative biosciences professor. Writing is a survival skill, she said. http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/Researchers-learn-to-write-talk-like-regular12549345.php.