Rice News Headlines:

Mandya scientists to present research papers in Bangkok

IRRI's new breeding factory
Women who moved mountains.
Rice revival in the land of maize
Adding value to Africas rice
Keeping rice arsenic free
2014 Senadhira awardee is Filipino
NBRI celebrates annual day
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task Fayose
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Analysis and Forecast to 2020
2014 USA Rice Outlook Conference
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Metric Tons by December 2014 Jonathan
PhilRice facility uses nipa to power up towns
Filipinos urged to stop wasting rice

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter
27
th
October, 2014
News Detail.
Mandya scientists to
present research papers in
Bangkok
M. T. Shiva Kumar
Two scientists from Zonal Agricultural
Research Station (ZARS), V.C. Farm, on the
outskirts of the city, will present research
papers at the Fourth International Rice
Congress-2014 (IRC2014) at Bangkok in
Thailand.D.K. Sidde Gowda, professor and
Head of the Department of Entomology, and
S.B Yogananda, Senior Farm
Superintendent are participating in the
IRC2014 that will be held from Monday to
November 1, 2014, sources at the V.C. Farm
told The Hindu.
The International Rice Congress is held once
in four years and known to be the worlds
largest gathering of rice scientists,
researchers, and technical experts. While
Mr. Gowda would present a research paper
on Pathogenicity of native isolates of
Metarhizium anisopliae Sorokin against
brown planthopper and Nilaparvata lugens,
Mr. Yogananda is presenting his research
work on Enhancing productivity of rice
through organic means, sources added.
IRRI's new breeding
factory
Written by Lanie Reyes.
The road toward global food security is not
without challenges. The population will
balloon to 9 billion in 2050. The signs of
climate change have never been so real
frequent floods, droughts, and storm surges.
Storm surges make farmland in coastal areas
too salty for most crops to grow. Also,
pathogens and pests evolve. Therefore, a
rice variety may lose its resistance to new
strains of pathogens or insects.
"With so many challenges that we are facing
now, we can't just continue with what we are
doing," said Eero Nissil, head of the Plant
Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology
Division (PBGB) at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI). "There need to be
changes in the way we do breeding at
IRRI."IRRI plant breeder Bert Collard
agrees. "A revolution in rice breeding is
what we need now," Dr. Collard said. "Not
much has changed for the last 50 years. The
methods used today in Asia are generally the
same as the ones used in the 1960s-'70s.
More importantly, the rate of yield increase
or genetic gain for irrigated varieties is less
than 1% per year."
Doubling genetic gains
Thus, Dr. Nissil and his team are now
restructuring IRRIs entire breeding
operations. Transforming Rice Breeding
(TRB), a project funded by the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, is one important
component of this new breeding factory,
which focuses on irrigated rice. IRRI is
aiming to double the rate of genetic gains
the increase in crop performance that is
achieved through genetic improvement
programs per unit time of breedingor even
make it higher (more than 2%)."To make
breeding more efficient, we need to change
how we organize our breeding operations,"
Dr. Nissil said. "We need to restructure the
overall breeding pipeline."
A shorter cycle
Traditional breeding takes 8 to 9 years to
develop a variety and even longer for the
variety to reach farmers. Now, the breeding
process has been shortened to about 6 years
(See How a modern variety is bred )."In
breeding, one year is significant," said Dr.
Nissil. "Investments in plant breeding with
costs incurred during the phase of
developing varieties are only realized when
farmers grow the varieties. A longer
breeding cycle means economic opportunity
cost to farmers of losing the chance to grow
better varieties earlier."A 1999 study
conducted by IRRI shows that reducing a
breeding cycle by 2 years has an economic
benefit of about US$18 million over the
useful life of the variety.
1

Breeding by demand
Taking a cue from breeding in the private
sector, IRRI's breeding pipeline should run
like a business operationproduction by
demand. For Dr. Nissil, this should be the
underlying philosophy of the new breeding
pipeline."That's why the TRB team is
working closely with IRRIs Social Sciences
Division to better understand the needs of
farmers," said Dr. Collard. "This will help
guide us in 'must have' traits as well as
good to have traits' in our breeding
objectives."
The team recognizes that national programs
have different needs. It could be a breeding
line, a gene donor, or a gene marker. If a
researcher needs only a gene marker and
wants to do the breeding in a lab himself or
herself, IRRI will provide some help on how
to use that marker. If a national program is
interested only in salinity tolerance, the team
will use its trait pipeline to provide the best
package of salinity tolerance for the national
programs breeding. On the other hand, if a
national program needs a new rice variety,
then the team will use its product
development pipeline.
"We can help organize a national program's
overall product development and product
profiling when needed," Dr. Nissil said.
"We will not only give a trait, say, salinity
tolerance, but, it can be combined with
many traits that one needs in one's 'market,'
so to speak. We can fit their needs.
"But, our aim in the future is that we wont
be doing the 'job,'" he added. "We want
them to do it themselves. Our role will be
more of a consultant and provider of
training. Then, we exit when they are
already able to do the work."
The role of hubs
"But, if national programs want us to do this
in the first round, we will breed the variety
itself," said Dr. Nissil. "This is where our
regional breeding hub system comes into the
picture. Our hubs in India, for the South
Asian region, and in Burundi, for East and
Southern Africa, allow us to localize the
breeding process we select and produce
the material in the region where it will be
used."
IRRI now has many modern breeding
options for a more efficient and cost-
effective process than the conventional
pedigree method. The conventional breeding
way goes like this: choose plants with the
desired trait, cross-pollinate them, wait for
the offspring to reach maturity, select the
best performers, and then repeat the process
to the n
th
degree until one obtains a plant
that fits farmers' need.
Today, these modern methods include
marker technology, multilocation trials, and
rapid generation advance (RGA). RGA
produces fixed lines or plants that no longer
segregate. Scientists call them
"homozygous" or "genetically stable." "In
RGA, plants are grown at high density with
low nutrients in greenhouses or
screenhouses so that they flower and mature
earlier, thus shortening their life cycle," said
Dr. Collard. "Therefore, several generations
(e.g., three to four) can be advanced in one
year." In addition to time savings, this
method also saves labor and resources, and
costs considerably less than other methods.
New breeding pipeline model
The new structure of IRRIs breeding
pipeline will hopefully be a model for the
national programs to follow. Historically,
the national partners have modeled their
programs on IRRIs old system."We hope
that the new processes of rice breeding at
IRRI will help catalyze new thinking in the
national programs so they can also
restructure their own factory," Dr. Nissil
said.
"There is a great interest in Africa and Asia
to do the same," said Dr. Collard. "There
may be some reluctance about specific
aspects because it is a 'big change' generally.
But with the criteria of time and efficiency,
it wins hands-down."
Breeding economics
To have an evidence-based comparison
between the old and the new system, IRRI
will conduct a benefit-cost analysis."IRRI
has never put value to its costs until
recently," Dr. Collard recalled.
In terms of full-cost recovery, IRRIs
breeding pipeline is working to improve
efficiency in three areas. First is the use of
knowledge capital. The pipeline should
maximize the use of expertise in the
Division.
Second is the use of a running budget. Will
it be split into a hundred small activities or
put in a strategically based operation?
Third is the use of investment. "This is
important since it is a technology-driven
operation and this will ensure an efficient
use of investment," said Dr. Nissil. "This is
where our cross-cutting strategy comes in.
For instance, instead of adding seven more
molecular labs, we will have one world-
class lab!" With one state-of-the-art facility
servicing all breeding pipelines, the use of
expertise will be more efficient because
activities wont overlap or be duplicated
compared to having several scientists
working on their own in their respective
small labs.
Moreover, Dr. Collard mentioned that the
team is implementing computerized systems
for data collection and exploring using
mechanization in field trials to save on time
and labor.So, with efficient use of
knowledge capital, a running budget, and
investment capital coming into play, Dr.
Nissil concluded that there is no better way
of organizing breeding operations.
Measuring success
In any business operation, one is usually
asked how to be sure that the money is used
efficiently for its intended purpose.
According to Dr. Nissil, the new breeding
pipeline has put in place some indicators of
success.The first is cost-efficiency. What
costs what? The second is progress. Have
we increased the genetic gain as promised?
The third is impact. What products are used
in the national programs? How many
farmers' seeds were produced? How much
income did these products make for
farmers?
'And, of course, one more measure of
success is making our national partners more
independent and their breeding activities
more sustainable," Dr. Collard said.
A never-ending story of service
Will there be a time when IRRIs new
breeding pipeline will no longer be needed
in the future? Breeding is a never-ending
story of service, because the technology
upstream is developing, Dr. Nissil
explained. Things that are not normal today
will be routine tomorrow. To stay alive in
this business, we need to have a very wide
product portfolio and diverse expertise.
"Besides, the needs are very wide. For
example, in Rwanda, they will need our
lines while in India we need collaboration in
genomics and biotechnology applications."
The story has started
But, even before the funding of the
foundation arrived in November 2013, Dr.
Nissil and his team had started carrying out
some changes in IRRI's rice breeding
pipeline (See The pipeline grows stronger).
They restructured the breeding activities
from research-centric to a product-oriented
pipeline. Now, the TRB project brings the
resources as the fuel to propel the new
factory of irrigated variety pipelines.
Many examples of change are brewing in
IRRI's new breeding factory. One is the
modernization of IRRI's data collection and
analysis and the organizing of a load of
information on rice breeding.
In fact, the Institute has come a long way in
terms of its baseline. In IRRIs classic book
on breeding called Rice Improvement by
Jennings, Coffman, and Kauffman,2
published in 1979, data or analysis was not
even mentioned, Dr. Collard said. "During
that time, plant breeders decided whether a
plant was good or bad 'by eye assessment,'"
he added.
Today, decision-making strongly depends
on data collection and analysis. "After field
work, we spend a significant time in our
office analyzing data," said Dr. Collard.
"Modern techniques such as the use of new
statistical analysis, computerized data
management, and molecular breeding
approaches may be small things. But, the
sum of which was all these spells a great
difference in streamlining high-quality data
for a more efficient way of breeding."
A significant improvement of IRRIs
breeding program in the last 2 years has
been its testing of breeding materials at
multilocations much earlier than before.
With this multilocation trial system and
regional hubs, the effectiveness of the
development of new varieties will improve.
Furthermore, decentralized breeding in hubs
allows easy seed transfer of IRRI breeding
material to the region.
With the TRB project, Dr. Nissil and his
team in the PBGB Division are looking
forward to a future when farmers need not
wait long to plant an improved variety apt
for the challenges of the time."The TRB
project aims to accelerate the current
breeding pipeline in developing varieties,
shorten the breeding cycle, and dramatically
increase the efficiency of breeding
operations," said Dr. Collard. "But, the big
picture of this project is to help resource-
poor farmers in Asia and Africa improve
their food and income security."
Women who moved
mountains
. Written by Ma. Lizbeth Baroa-Edra.
The jostling streams and golden patches that
paint the scenery tucked deep in the crevices
of the Cordilleras in the Philippines are
common places in the bustling communities
nearby. But to those who have never set foot
in this world, shaped by the arduousness of
the terrain and richness of its traditions, the
Cordilleras are anything but humdrum.Mary
Hensley, then a 22-year- old Peace Corps
volunteer from Montana in the U.S., was
one such person captivated by the land.
Today, Ms. Hensley is the founder of Eighth
Wonder Inc., which markets the traditional
rice grown in the Cordilleras to the U.S., in
partnership with the Philippines nonprofit
RICE, Inc.Ms. Hensley has not only brought
the heirloom rice to the shores of the United
States, but she created economic
opportunities for what was previously
regarded as a dying farming practice in the
famed rice terraces that UNESCO declared a
World Heritage Site in 1995.And it all
started with renewing old friendships in
Kalinga Province, a familiar region where
the Peace Corps had originally stationed her.
Are you lost?
"It was usually the first question people
asked me," recalled Victoria Garcia,
executive director of RICE, Inc., which
successfully linked heirloom rice to the
market. Reaching out to the farmers was
hard because of the fragmented communities
nestled in different corners of the mountain
range."At a waiting shed, I'd usually strike a
conversation with farmers waiting for
transportation," said Ms. Garcia.
"My goal
was to
establish
con- tact
with one
farmer
and,
eventually, he would take me to his
relatives, and into their community.
Sometimes, we went to farmers' meetings
organized by the local government. But
mostly, it was farmer-to-farmer outreach.
Mary happens to still have friends in the
areas where she served decades ago. So, we
started with them."
"Hope pulled me in"
However, being accepted by the farming
communities was just the beginning. "When
the project started, it was like working with
a clean slate," Ms. Garcia recalled. "There
was almost nothing to start with. Farm-to-
market roads were few and there was no
electricity to run the milling machines. I
talked to the Department of Public Works
and Highways, to the National Irrigation
Authority, to electricity providers. The idea
of quality had to be taught to the
farmers.""There was a point in the
beginning when Vicky said she could not do
it," shared Ms. Hensley. "She found it
daunting." But their common passion for
community development got them through
the moments of doubt.
"The farmers are really hopeful," said Ms.
Garcia. "They understood that they have a
chance to preserve their traditions and
heirloom rice. Now, they have a reason to
continue planting." The hope she saw in the
farmers overpowered her initial reluctance.
"I felt as though I was bringing the rain to
them after a long time of living with parched
dreams."

Momentum of partnerships
The
two
wom
en
foun
d an
ally
in
UN
ESCO Ambassador Preciosa Soliven, who
was, at that time, advocating for the
preservation and restoration of the rice
terraces."Their advocacy was not gaining
much traction," shared Ms. Garcia. "So, in
2006, when I heard that there was going to
be a UNESCO workshop, I decided to
attend, uninvited, and shared the idea of
marketing heirloom rice." At this point,
partnerships started to take shape.
Abraham Akilit, a former director of the
National Irrigation Authority of the
Cordillera Administrative Region and now
mayor of the town of Bauko, immediately
saw how the project complemented their
work with farmer irrigators, said Ms.
Garcia.In 2007, OB Montessori School,
through Ambassador Soliven, donated more
than PHP 100,000 (US$2,000) to RICE, Inc.
Ms. Garcia used the fund to have a milling
machine custom-made for traditional
Cordillera rice varieties. "Experts at the
Bureau of Postharvest Research and
Extension and the Philippine Rice Research
Institute provided technical assistance," she
said.
Culture is key
There is something romantic about the role
heirloom rice plays in binding the
indigenous communities of the Cordilleras.
Reverentially selected and planted, their
seeds are preserved and handed to the next
generation. But to be part of the modern
world, changes were necessary."Their rice is
aromatic and beautiful. But the grains are of
different sizes and broken," Ms. Garcia
added. "We provided training activities on
quality control so they could produce
unbroken, uniformly sized grains.
We trained them to be good entrepreneurs.
We taught them skills such as keeping tabs
on how much they produce and managing
their product.""Being sensitive to the culture
of the different farmer groups is key to
engaging them," she added. "We want them
to be better farm managers but without
losing their identities and traditions."When
orders poured in, farmers were asked to
make "pledges." The project shied away
from getting "commitments" from the
farmers, as this gives a sense of being
"forced" to produce something. "The
concept of preparing and processing more
rice than they need for a couple of days is
new to them," said Ms. Hensley.
"We made them understand that a 'pledge' is
something they are free to make," Ms.
Garcia explained. "We made them
understand that someone wants to buy their
rice and that it will help their families."One
of the good things that came out of this
project was that the Department of
Agriculture has institutionalized technology
transfer sensitivities to the Cordillera
farmers. "The government now recognizes
that it must support the traditional way of
farming" she said.
Ms. Garcia and Ms. Hensley are now
working with the Heirloom Rice Project,
funded by the Department of Agriculture
and led by the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI). The Project seeks to widen
the initial marketing success of Rice, Inc.
and Eighth Wonder and bring the production
of heirloom rice to the attention of the
national government for developing policies
for the industry. The Heirloom Rice Project
will also systematically characterize
traditional varieties of the Cordilleras and
conserve them.
"A very important part of the project is
helping farmers produce quality heirloom
rice seeds, which help produce more for the
market," said Dr. Casiana Casiana Vera
Cruz, a scientist at IRRI and overall leader
of the Project. "We want to empower
highland smallholders to manage their own
enterprise, conserve their rice biodiversity,
and preserve their cultural heritage.""We are
excited to build upon the successes of Vicky
and Mary," said Dr. Digna Manzanilla,
project co-lead and coordinator of the
Consortium for Unfavorable Rice
Environments at IRRI. "The Heirloom Rice
Project, which pulls together government
agencies, local government units, state
colleges and universities, farmers groups,
and private entities, stands to learn from
their experiences in how to make the value
chain work."
The future of ancient rice
When Ms. Hensley and Ms. Garcia started
their project, they were told that they would
fold up after 3 years. Now, they are in their
ninth year of providing a sustainable
livelihood to farmers in one of the most
marginal rice ecosystems in the country. In
2013, 29 tons of Cordillera heirloom rice
were shipped to the United States, valued at
$38,079. This year, 19 tons valued at about
$26,000 have been produced."Were
working with 272 farming families," said
Ms. Hensley. "There are about 100,000 of
them in the region. There is a long way to
go.""I believe that the farmers in the project
have found a new sense of pride in their
culture and their work," said Ms.
Garcia.That pride is palpable as one
traverses the mountainsides of the
Cordillerasand it will save the treasured
heirloom rice of the mountains.
_________________________________________
Ms. Baroa-Edra is a science communications
specialist at IRRI
Rice revival in the land of
maize
Written by Nathan Russell.
Anyone worried about the impacts of trade
liberalization on developing-country rice
sectors should take a close look at Mexicos
experience and learn from a recent
campaignled by the Mexican Rice
Council and its partnersto revive national
production. That may sound like odd advice.
After all, Mexico is not widely perceived as
being strong on ricea distinction that in
Latin America goes instead to Brazil,
Colombia, Peru, and others.
Maize gods, move over!
On the contrary, this is the country where,
thousands of years ago, farmers
domesticated maize, which was central to
Mexicos pre- Columbian cultures and
continues to be a mainstay of the national
diet. More than half a century ago, Mexico
also provided Nobel Peace Prize winner
Norman Borlaug with an ideal setting in
which to breed modern wheat varieties,
which formed the genetic foundations of a
global Green Revolution.
Both crops are now the focus of a major
initiativecalled MasAgroaimed at
strengthening Mexicos food security, in
which the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is working
closely with the countrys Secretariat of
Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development,
Fisheries, and Food (SAGARPA).
Yet, within this countrys original but
eclectic culinary traditions, rice has also
found a place of distinction. This began
when rice was introduced from Spain during
colonial times and came to fruition in the
countrys postrevolutionary period. As
Mexican society quickly urbanized and
incomes rose after the 1940s, more and more
consumers turned to rice, because it offered
convenience, while also contributing to a
diverse and nutritious diet.
The simple dish of Mexican-style rice
prepared with a tomato sauce and generally
served separately as sopa seca (dry soup)
thus became a standard feature of the
national cuisine. Particularly in rural areas, it
is hard to imagine a wedding or other family
gathering without big clay pans of Mexican-
style rice. The grain is used in more
elaborate dishes as well, mixed with seafood
and other local ingredients. It even takes the
form of orchata, a refreshing drink made
from boiled rice water with cinnamon, and a
popular dessert consisting of arroz con leche
(rice with milk).
Institutional green revolution
Mexico's rice
production rose
to meet
increasing
demand,
reaching more
than 800,000 tons on nearly 270,000
hectares by 1985.The countrys varied agro-
ecosystems provide diverse, low-lying
niches for irrigated and rainfed rice, giving
farmers a welcome alternative for rotation
with sugarcane and other crops. Today, rice
cultivation is scattered across a dozen states,
with four of themNayarit, Campeche,
Veracruz, and Michoacn accounting for
about two-thirds of national production.
The worldwide Green Revolution in rice
greatly boosted the production of the crop in
Mexico, starting in the 1960s. Impressed
with the high yields of IR8the worlds
first modern semidwarf ricegrowers
quickly embraced the new variety, which
had resulted from the work of Peter Jen-
nings and others at the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI). Known in Mexico
as Milagro Filipino or "Philippine Miracle,"
it is still the countrys most widely grown
rice variety.
So, just as a Mexican political party
institutionalized the country's
postrevolutionary socioeconomic program,
farmers moved to institutionalize the Green
Revolution in rice by making IR8 an
enduring feature of the nations diet and
agricultural landscape.
Down but not out
Mexicos rice revolution lost ground,
however, when the government began
implementing trade in Nayarit State (star on
map). liberalization policies in the 1980s. By
2013, domestic production had steadily
declined to just 200,000 tons, while imports
had expanded to 800,000 tons.
Even as the country was flooded with cheap
long-grain rice, Mexican growers clung to
Milagro Filipino. The reason is that its
medium-sized grain and special cooking
properties had earned the loyalty of many
consumers in central and western Mexico,
securing a premium-price niche for this
variety in the market.
The country's rice sector faced especially
trying times in the wake of the global food
price crisis of 2007-08, explained Ricardo
Mendoza, CEO of the Mexican Rice
Council, which receives support from both
the rice processing industry and producers.
The government reacted by eliminating rice
import duties to avoid shortages. Several
Asian countriesPakistan, Thailand, and
Vietnamseized the opportunity by
boosting rice exports to Mexico. This put
even greater pressure on Mexican growers
and also revealed how excessive dependence
on rice imports was undermining national
food security.
A comeback in the making
Mexico's rice sector has confronted this
situation through a two-pronged strategy
focused on (1) creating a fair playing field
for the country's rice producers and (2)
making the home team more competitive.
The strategy's modest aim is to restore a
prudent balance between domestic
production and rice imports.
To
this
end,
the
Mexi
can
Rice
Coun
cil
together with the National Rice Production
Committee and the National Council of
Mexican Rice Producershas made a
strong case to the government for restoring a
20% duty on imported rice from countries
with which Mexico does not have trade
agreements. This will prevent dumping of
cheap rice in the Mexican market. The
measure is strongly supported by
SAGARPA and is widely expected to be
finally approved by the Economics
Secretariat within the coming months,
according to Mr. Mendoza.
He also believes that Mexico can be more
competitive in rice production, especially if
growers take up more productive long-
grained varieties on a large scale. To this
end, the country has introduced
experimental rice lines from the
International Center for Tropical Agriculture
(CIAT) and the CIAT- supported Latin
American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR).
Several new varieties developed from these
lines by researchers at the National Institute
of Agricultural, Livestock, and Fisheries
Research (INIFAP) have been released
recently.
The country's rice organizations have also
obtained extensive training from FLAR
scientists in improved management practices
(including the use of water harvesting),
which will narrow the gaps between the high
genetic potential of the new varieties and
their actual performance in farmers fields.
This is critical for giving Mexican rice
growers a competitive edge in high-potential
production areas.
"FLAR's integrated approach to crop
management helped us a lot," said Mr.
Mendoza.
If all goes well, he expects that, by 2018,
Mexico's rice production should be able to
meet 40% of demand. "Were hoping that
2015 will be the year of the turnaround," he
said.
____________________________________
_____
Mr. Russell is the head of Communications
and Knowledge Management at CIAT.


Adding value to Africas rice
Written by Savitri Mohapatra.
Mohapatra.

About
one-
third of
the food
produce
d in the
world
never
reaches
our
plates. Not only is this a colossal loss but all
the resources used to produce, harvest,
process, and market it are also
squandered.Postharvest grain losses account
for US$4 billion in Africa alone, according
to the CGIAR Research Program on Climate
Change, Agriculture and Food Security.
This is enough to meet the minimum annual
food requirements of 48 million people.
In Africa, both the quantity and quality of
rice suffer huge losses, especially during
postharvest operations.
"The qualitative losses come mainly as a
result of poor handling after harvesting and
poor processing techniques," wrote John
Manful, a grain quality scientist at the Africa
Rice Center (AfricaRice) in Quality matters
for rich and poor alike.
Quantity versus quality
Until recently, R&D thrusts in Africa have
focused mainly on how to increase rice
production but relatively less on how to
improve the quality of rice.
"Since the food crisis in 2007-08,
governments in African countries have made
great efforts to increase rice production, but
still quality is less emphasized," said Dr.
Rose Fiamohe, policy economist at
AfricaRice.
In many African countries, locally milled
rice is of variable quality and it has a high
percentage of broken grains. Sometimes,
unhusked grains as well as bran and husk
fractions are found in the milled rice. The
inferior quality of local rice makes it less
competitive against imported rice on the
market. Thus, African rice farmers find it so
difficult to sell their rice because locally
produced rice is widely perceived as being
of poor quality.
'If you raise the production of local rice but
you are not doing anything to change the
perception of the people, you will not
progress much in promoting local rice
consumption," said Ms. Lena Forson, doing
an MPhil student at the husks and straw.
However, Africas rice sector is now more
aware that producing just more rice is not
enough and that quality is essential. To be
competitive, Africas rice sector needs to
make rice quality and marketing important.
The postharvest challenge
Rising to the challenge, Canadas
Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and
Development (DFATD) and AfricaRice, in
partnership with McGill University, are
spearheading an ambitious project on food
security in Africa with a focus on rice
postharvest handling and marketing.
The project involves Cameroon, Gambia,
Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, and Uganda. It seeks to introduce
improved harvesting and postharvest
practices and equipment throughout the
value chain to achieve high-quality grain.
More smallholder farmers and processors in
Africas rice sector are women who often
have fewer rights than male farmers to
access the vital resources they need to farm,
process, and sell. The project will therefore
make sure that women farmers will obtain
their fair share of attention in rice R&D.
The project also aims to develop new rice-
based products, explore innovative uses of
husks and straw, improve the policy
environment, and build the capacity of rice
stakeholders. By 2020, postharvest losses
are expected to decline by 10% and this will
help increase farmers nominal annual
income in the eight project countries by
about $32 million.
The project has conducted baseline studies
on postharvest practices in the eight
countries. "This is the first of its kind for
rice in Africa," said Dr. Manful. "We now
have reliable data on postharvest losses in
rice from these countries."
Surveys are being conducted to develop a
map of rice consumer preferences for some
of the countries. Project countries have been
provided with lab equipment to do basic
quality analysis of rice.
The project is testing and introducing mini
combines, threshers, dryers, and cleaners
that are affordable for farmers and
processors. Most of these machines are
being made and maintained locally. Senegal,
Mali, and Ghana have started building mini
combines after receiving training. Milling
machines that will improve the separation of
husk and bran are also being identified.
"Each project will have national fabricators;
we train one lead fabricator who will
continue training others," said project
coordinator Dr. Jean Moreira.
In 2013, 57 fabricators from 10 countries
were trained to construct the ADRAO-
SAED-ISRA (ASI) thresher-cleaner. A light
thresher has also been developed especially
for women farmers in Uganda.
The project has
promoted the
development of
equipment for
parboiling.
McGill
University is
providing
technical backstopping to national partners
to develop a parboiling pilot plant.
New rice-based products in Africa
Also, the project will enable screening of
African rice (Oryza glaberrima) germplasm
for constituents that make cereal grain slow-
digesting to help consumers with Type II
diabetes. It is also testing the use of low-
value broken rice as the basis of a breakfast
porridge fortified with proteinrich groundnut
or soybean for undernourished babies and
children.
The project is using flour from broken rice
to prepare food products such as noodles,
biscuits, and porridges. "Tasty and
innovative uses of rice can catalyze rural
enterprises and raise income, especially for
women farmers and processors in our
region," said Ms. Lynda Hagan, scientist at
the Food Research Institute (FRI) in Ghana.
Reusing waste products
Rice
straw:
Farmers
in Africa
mostly
dispose
of rice
straw
from fields by burning it, which helps
control rice disease and pest problems.
However, burning of rice straw emits carbon
dioxide (CO
2
), which is the major cause of
global warming.
As part of the project, AfricaRice, in
partnership with FRI, is supporting a study
in Ghana to assess rice straw and husk as
potential substrate in cultivating oyster
mushroom. The study also ascertained the
potential of the spent compost (the organic
matter left over after mushrooms grown on
rice straw have been harvested) as a
biofertilizer.
Rice husks: Traditionally, rice husks (or
hulls) are wasted in Africa. Stockpiles of
rice husks are either dumped near the mills,
where they rot, producing methane (a potent
greenhouse gas), or burned in the fields, thus
polluting the atmosphere.
The project has developed a machine to
compress rice husks to make briquettes,
which burn efficiently in any well-ventilated
stove. This, we think, is an important step
in reducing deforestation, said Dr. Sali
Atanga Ndindeng, grain quality and
postharvest scientist at AfricaRice.
Rice policy
The project will feed into AfricaRices
ongoing efforts to harmonize rice policy
across the region through the regional
economic communities.
"In the long run, rice will be cheaper when
the continent is producing most of its rice
from here," remarked Dr. Aliou Diagne,
former program leader of Policy, Innovation
Systems and Impact Assessment at
AfricaRice.
Scientists are working with producers to
improve quality and processing, while also
working with consumers to encourage them
to buy local rice. Experimental auctions
have revealed that consumers choose local
rice and are also willing to pay more for it.
Building capacity in rice postharvest
technology
Building the capacity of rice stakeholders
throughout the value chain, from farmers,
through millers and parboilers, to marketers
is a vital part of the project.
"We have
had lots of
crossfertili
zation of
ideas and
scientific
outputs
thanks to the project," observed Dr. Paa Nii
Johnson from the Council for Scientific and
Industrial Research in Ghana. "Some of the
success stories can be replicated and scaled
up through the Rice Hubs network initiated
by AfricaRice."
By helping actors along the value chain add
value to rice, the project is helping raise
income, improve rice quality, and expand
the market for locally produced rice
products.
Ms. Mohapatra is the head of Marketing and
Communications at AfricaRice.
Keeping rice arsenic free
Tim Sandle.
LIKE THIS ARTICLE
BY TIM SANDLE OCT 25, 2014 IN
SCIENCE
Scientists have identified a transporter protein in
rice that shifts arsenic in to vacuoles. This
mechanism helps to prevent the toxic element
from traveling into grains. Rice (Oryza sativa) is
a staple crop for half of the worlds population.
However, rice can accumulate high levels of
arsenic. When consumed over time, arsenic can
lead to cancer and skin lesions in people.
Arsenic is found in the soil, either as a naturally
occurring element and as industrial byproduct.
Although many plants take up arsenic,rice is
different because it takes up arsenic from soil
and water more readily than other grains. New
research demonstrates that rice does not simply
absorb all of the arsenic that it take sup, for the
plant has its own mechanisms for fighting
arsenic accumulation.
Researchers based in South Korea and Japan
have shown that a rice transporter protein called
OsABCC1 prevents arsenic from damaging
plant tissues by moving the element in vacuoles.
According to The Scientist, due to this,
potentially harmful arsenic remains in these
cellular waste containers rather than building up
in rice grains. Based on these findings, scientists
hope to find rice plants that express high levels
of OsABCC1 or to genetically engineer rice to
over express the transporter. The findings have
been published in the journal PNAS. The paper
is titled "A rice ABC transporter, OsABCC1,
reduces arsenic accumulation in the grain."
2014 Senadhira awardee is
Filipino
Written by The Web Team
Thursday, 23 October 2014

The first ever Filipino and the first woman
to receive the Asian-wide Senadhira Rice
Research Award is a PhilRice
breeder.Thelma F. Padolina, a chemist-
turned-breeder, who has been breeding for
more than 30 years, will receive this award
on Oct. 30 during the International Rice
Congress in Bangkok, Thailand.When I
was informed that I am chosen to receive the
award, I was overwhelmed with joy. This
award is important for me because my
efforts as a breeder are recognized, she
said.IRRI established this award in memory
of Dr. Dharmawansa Senadhira, a Sri
Lankan researcher who led IRRIs flood-
prone research program from 1996 to 1998.
It is given to qualified scientists who have
made outstanding contributions to rice
research, especially for those involved in
rice breeding and genetics, increasing
tolerance for abiotic stresses, and improving
micronutrient density.Among many
achievements, Padolina is a recipient of
seven research-related awards, and a
principal breeder of over 20 varieties.
Before the establishment of PhilRice, she
co-developed varieties for irrigated lowland,
cool elevated and other varieties for adverse
conditions.
She had major contributions in the
development of BPI Ri10, BPI Ri12, PSB
Rc6 and PSB Rc8 under the Maligaya Rice
Research and Training Center and Bureau of
Plant Industry from 1978 to 1985.While
working in PhilRice, she had the opportunity to
work in the international research scene. She has
networked with IRRI scientists on various
activities (Phenotyping, TRRC, GRIsP-
MET, RDA-GUVA), other international
institutes (IAEA, JIRCAS, KOICA, JICA,
KOPIA), and foreign countries (Brunei,
China). I am grateful for the support of
PhilRice. I was trained to breed by
international experts through the
collaboration of PhilRice with them, she
said.
She further said that being a female breeder
is a challenge because there are people who
tend to prefer men over women, but she was
able to surmount these challenges with the
love and passion she has for her
work.Padolina challenged other researchers
to always have passion for their work, have
the heart to learn continuously, and work
with other experts and learn from them.
Moreover, she encouraged breeders to pass
their knowledge to others.Skills are earned
through experience. Through time, you
gradually learn and have an eye to decide
which is better, Padolina said.
NBRI celebrates annual
day
The author has posted comments on this
articleArunav Sinha, TNN | Oct 25, 2014,
08.47PM IST
LUCKNOW: National Botanical Research
Institute (an institute under the Council of
Scientific and Industrial Research) on
Saturday celebrated its annual day. Dr CS
Nautiyal, the director of the institute presented
the annual report of the institute, and
elaborated upon the various activities
undertaken and major achievements made by
the institute in the calendar year.
Highlighting the work carried out during the
year 2013-14, he said, "The institute published
218 research papers in leading national and
international journals. Out of these, 126 were
in SCI journals with an impact factor of 2.26
per paper and total IF (impact factor) of
284.784. A new facility in the NBRI Botanic
Garden viz. Jurassic Gallery was developed
and a new Gladiolus cultivar, 'NBRI-Heerak'
was released by BL Joshi (former governor of
UP)." Dr Prabodh Kumar Trivedi was
felicitated for the best research paper of the
institute, with an impact factor of 5.906.
He also mentioned that NBRI, Lucknow and
Rice Research Station, Chinsurah (West
Bengal), have developed an arsenic-free rice
variety (CN-1794-2-CSIR-NBRI) that would
contain safer levels of arsenic even if
produced in areas with high levels of arsenic
in ground water or soil.
Plant genetic expert of international repute
Prof Deepak Pental, Director, Centre for
Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants
(CGMCP), University of Delhi South Campus
and Rajan Shukla, principal secretary,
coordination, government of UP also
addressed the gathering. In his lecture titled
'Polyploidy and Angiosperm Evolution', Prof
Pental mentioned that the flowering plants are
represented very strongly in the terrestrial
flora of earth. Rapid radiation of flowering
plant families is an interesting feature of
earth's history. Rajan Shukla, released the
Hindi Magazine 'Vigyan Vani'. In his address,
he said, "Scientists should carry out
meaningful research, research should
percolate from laboratories to the fields and
the research must be beneficial to everybody."

Stomach Infrastructure: Ekiti
rice processors, millers,
growers task Fayose
26.Oct.2014 DISQUS_COMMENTS Sam
Nwaoko -Ado-Ekiti
Rice stakeholders in Ekiti State have
charged Governor Ayo Fayose to look in
their direction as he begins the quest to
restructure the economy of the state with his
new government.Rice processors, millers
and traders in the state, as well as growers in
the rural communities said they were ready
to partner Governor Fayose and his
administration in his bid to bring about a
turnaround in the economic fortunes of the
people of the state.President of the
Association of Rice Processors, Millers and
Traders in the state, Mr. Moses Adekola,
told Sunday Tribune in Ado Ekiti at the
weekend that all of us are in support of
Governor Fayoses plan to rejuvenate the
economy of the state through the
empowerment of the people, a concept he
has tagged stomach infrastructure.
Adekola said the concept would encourage
local industries, saying rice processors,
millers and traders in Ekiti State have
already positioned themselves to partner the
state government in ensuring the success of
the concept.According to him, the
association had brought in an expert in rice
production from India to train the local
people in Ekiti, saying the expert was
brought with support from Igbemo Rice
Processing Company Limited which is the
prime promoter of the local rice
industry.Adekola sought the support of the
new government in Ekiti State for members
of his association and expressed the belief
that providing quality and healthy rice will
not only improve the life of the people but
also their economy as there are enough
produce by Ekiti rice farmers.

UQ scientists help unlock
the secrets of
photosynthesis
The Queensland node of the centre will be led
by Professor Graeme Hammer from UQs
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food
Innovation.
24 October 2014
Queensland scientists will play a key role in
a new Australian research centre working to
increase major food crop yields. University
of Queensland researchers will form the
Queensland node of the $22 million
Australian Research Council Centre of
Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis,
launched in Canberra today (24
October).Photosynthesis is the process
plants use to convert sunlight into chemical
energy to fuel the plants growth and
functions.
Centre Director Professor Murray Badger, of
the Australian National University, said
photosynthesis was important for all life on
earth, but scientists had only recently
developed the technology to manipulate it at
a molecular level.We have now tools that
could initiate a new agricultural revolution
through enhanced photosynthesis, he
said.The new centre will explore how
changes to photosynthesis can increase the
yield of important staple crops such as
sorghum.The photosynthetic process varies
among species and within locally adapted
crop populations, which suggests some
plants have evolved novel ways of
converting sunlight into energy and
processing carbon.
Professor Badger said this was an
underexploited area of science that could
help feed future populations.The
Queensland node of the centre will be led by
Professor Graeme Hammer from UQs
Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and
Food Innovation.The UQ research
component will include major projects on
photosynthetic variation in sorghum and
mathematical modelling of photosynthesis.A
UQ project investigating the mechanisms
and genes regulating photosynthetic
performance in sorghum will be led by
Associate Professor David Jordan.UQ
research on developing a dynamic crop
model linking leaf function and field
performance will be led by Professor
Hammer.
In collaboration with participants from
ANU and CSIRO, we will be linking a
model of a leafs photosynthetic
biochemistry to canopy growth and crop
yield models for major cereals, Professor
Hammer said.The centre will bring together
world leaders in photosynthesis research
from six institutions: Australian National
University, UQ, the University of Sydney,
the University of Western Sydney, CSIRO
and the International Rice Research Institute
in the Philippines.
It features state-of-the-art plant science
facilities and the most sophisticated suite of
photosynthetic measurement technologies in
Australia.Australian Research Council CEO
Professor Aidan Byrne said one of the key
features of the ARC Centres of Excellence
scheme, in addition to long-term funding,
was that it allowed relationships to be built
nationally and internationally between
universities and industry.
This particular centre has established links
that will enhance the prospects of translating
genetic improvements into crops, he
said.This is an important research program
at a time when there is unprecedented
demand on food supply and food security,
he said.Media: Professor Graeme Hammer
07 3346 9463, g.hammer@uq.edu.au,
Margaret Puls 07 3346 0553,
m.puls@uq.edu.au
Two scientists, two blockbuster
crop varieties

Farmer Pritam Singh (left) with IARI head A K
Singh (centre)
Written by Harish Damodaran | Panipat |
Posted: October 26, 2014 3:02 am
Jock Safari Lodge, Kruger
When A K Singh was appointed head of the
Indian Agricultural Research Institutes
(IARI) Genetics Division last month, he got
a congratulatory SMS from Baljeet Singh
Virk, a farmer from Bathinda in Punjab, for
becoming the top man at the jenatics
department.
The message went on to say that Singh had
not just given farmers paise or rupees, but
had made them lakhpatis.Virks praise
wasnt without reason.Singh is the chief
breeder of Pusa-1509, a basmati rice variety
that farmers have grown on almost 5 lakh
hectares this kharif season, compared to
5,000 hectares last year.Pusa-1509s
advantage is its yield. The average 25
quintals paddy per acre from the variety are
way above 10 quintals from traditional
basmati varieties such as Taraori and
Dehraduni.
It surpasses even the 20 quintals for Pusa-
1121, which now accounts for over half of
Indias two-million-plus hectares sown with
basmati.Deepak Pental, professor of genetics
and a former vice-chancellor of Delhi
University, said Pusa-1509 represented a
very fine example of what publicly funded
farm research can really do.No less a
success story in public breeding is HD-2967,
a wheat variety that was released for
commercial cultivation in September 2011.
In the 2013-14 rabi season, this variety
bred by IARI scientists led by its Joint
Director (Research) K V Prabhu was
grown in about six million hectares.No
variety or hybrid of any crop has ever
covered such a large area in as short a time;
even Bt cotton took five years from 2002 to
2007 to cross six million hectares in India.
Pritam Singh from Urlana Khurd in
Panipats Madlauda tehsil has harvested 27
quintals per acre with Pusa-1509 this time.
Major Singh of Barsat, a village in
Gharaunda tehsil of Karnal, has managed
29.5 quintals.Both Pusa-1121 and Pusa-1509
have lower plant heights than the 160 cm
levels for traditional basmatis, making them
more responsive to fertiliser application.
The Pusa-1509 plant is only 80 cm tall,
below even the 120 cm for Pusa-1121, says
A K Singh, who was also associated with
the breeding of Pusa-1121, that generated
three-fourth of Indias $4.9 billion earnings
from basmati exports in 2013-14.But yield
isnt the sole attraction. Pusa-1509 matures
within 120 days. Since transplantation can
be done after monsoon arrival, I have to give
only 10-11 irrigations, whereas it is 15-16
for Pusa-1121 that grows over 145 days,
said Pritam Singh.
Anil Mittal, chairman of KRBL Ltd, Indias
largest basmati exporter, however, noted
that Pusa-1509 paddy was currently selling
at Rs 2,500-2,600 a quintal, below the Rs
2,900-3,000 for Pusa-1121. This, he felt, had
to do with the higher percentage of broken
kernels on milling.The head rice (i.e.
unbroken kernels) recovery is only 47-48 kg
from every quintal of parboiled Pusa-1509
paddy, while 53-54 kg for Pusa-1121. But
from the farmers standpoint, the five
quintals extra yield and 25 days less
duration (in maturing) more than
compensates for any lower
Thai govt offers loans to
farmers to delay rice sales
Fri Oct 24, 2014 2:37pm GMT
By Kaweewit Kaewjinda
BANGKOK Oct 24 (Reuters) - Thailand
will offer interest-free loans to farmers as an
incentive to delay sales of rice, its prime
minister said, as the interim government
seeks to support farmers hurt by falling
global commodities prices.Prime Minister
Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday the state-
run Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural
Cooperatives would provide four-month
loans to rice farmers to hold on to their
stocks until after the harvest period, which
begins in November, as a means of
stabilising prices.
Effective Nov. 1, farmers would be offered
14,400 baht ($444) for every tonne of
fragrant rice paddy they produce and an
additional handout of 1,000 baht per tonne
to store it themselves. Loans of 11,700 baht per
tonne would be offered for holding back
glutinous rice."We have policies that will
take care of rice farmers. We are
approaching the first harvest season and are
taking measures to not let prices be
affected," Prayuth told reporters after a
government meeting to discuss rice policy.
Thailand's military-dominated government
has been taking steps to appease farmers, an
important support base for the
administration that the generals overthrew in
a May 22 coup.A $1.8 billion state subsidy
plan was approved on Tuesday to help
rubber farmers, who have threatened
protests.Commodity prices are slumping at a
critical time for the government, which is
struggling to revive an economy hurt by
weak spending and exports.A Reuters poll
on Friday showed exports probably fell for a
third straight month.
The commerce ministry is also offering two
months of interest-free loans of 2,000 baht
for every rai (0.16 hectare) of land used by
farmers for their crops.Deputy Commerce
Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the rice
loans would be capped at 20 tonnes or
300,000 baht per household, with a total cap
on the project at 2 million tonnes.Thailand
had around 18 million tonnes of rice in state
stockpiles, accumulated under an
intervention scheme by the ousted
government of Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra. An audit by the military
government found that a fifth of the
stockpile was either rotten or had gone
missing.
The stockpiles amassed under a programme
that paid farmers well above market rates for
their produce won widespread rural support
but effectively priced the grain out of world
markets.The intervention price made Thai
grain so expensive Thailand lost its position
as the world's top rice exporter, overtaken
by India and Vietnam. The price of Thai 5
percent broken rice was $423 a tonne, free
on board, on Friday.Prayuth ordered an
immediate halt to state rice sales after he
took power in the coup. He has said there
will be no new intervention scheme to avoid
distorting market mechanisms.
($1 = 32.4100 baht) (Additional reporting by
Panarat Thepgumpanat and Pracha
Hariraksapitak; Editing by Martin Petty and
Jane Baird)
Louisiana soybean yield
reported as one of the best
By Associated Press
10/24/2014 03:08 PM
Most Louisiana farmers
harvesting this year's
soybean crop are
reporting one of their
best years. Most Louisiana farmers
harvesting this year's soybean crop are
reporting one of their best years.According
to LSU AgCenter soybean specialist Ron
Levy said this will be another record year in
Louisiana for soybeans.
Levy spoke Oct. 22 at the Evangeline
Parish Rice and Soybean Advisory
Committee meeting. Levy said this year's
harvest is stacking up to be the best ever for
Louisiana, and it's the third consecutive year
that a record has been set. The state average
yield will be 53-54 bushels per acre.
Louisiana farmers grew 1.4 million acres of
soybeans this year, up by 300,000 acres
from 2013. Levy said several growers in
north Louisiana have reported yields of 80
bushels an acre, and in northeast Louisiana
some have even broken the 100-bushel mark
on some fields.Some areas in Avoyelles,
Evangeline and St.
Landry parishes received sudden heavy
rainfall that flooded the crop. Levy said,
"Where they got those big rains, it hurt
yields, especially those that planted
early."Yields also were down slightly at the
AgCenter Dean Lee Research Station near
Alexandria because of excessive
rainfall.Grain quality is excellent because of
the low insect and disease pressure in most
areas.Prices for soybeans have fallen below
$10 a bushel, but AgCenter economist Kurt
Guidry said strong demand from China
continues.U.S. soybean processors were
paying a premium for soybeans because the
stockpile had been almost depleted.Guidry
said, "Until we started harvesting this year,
we had run out of soybeans.
"Guidry said the South American soybean
planting is late, and by January and
February, buyers will have no choice but to
purchase U.S. soybeans.This year's rice crop
was one of the best for Evangeline Parish,
growers agreed, with the parish average
yield in the upper 40-barrel level. In
addition, they said, grain quality was
excellent.Steve Linscombe, director of the
AgCenter Rice Research Station, said some
farmers had better rice yields this year than
in 2013 when a record yield was
recorded.Neal LeJeune said his rice crop
averaged 55 barrels an acre, and his milling
yield was the best he's ever seen.But some
farmers said they are unsure how much rice
they will plant next year because of low
prices.
Copyright 2014 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.
Research and Markets:
European Rice Market Report
2014 - Analysis and Forecast to
2020
Press Release: Research and Markets Fri,
Oct 24, 2014 17:17 BST
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)
Research and Markets

(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/resear
ch/nlg4g8/eu_rice_market) has announced
the addition of the "EU: Rice - Market
Report. Analysis and Forecast to 2020"
report to their offering.
The report provides an in-depth analysis of
the EU Market of Rice. It presents the latest
data of the market size and volume,
domestic production, exports and imports,
price dynamics and turnover in the industry.
The report shows the sales data, allowing
you to identify the key drivers and restraints.
You can find here a strategic analysis of key
factors influencing the market. Forecasts
illustrate how the market will be
transformed in the medium term. Profiles of
the leading companies and brands are also
included.
Product coverage:
Semi-milled
Wholly milled rice
Polished
Glazed
Broken rice.
Why buy this report?
Get the full picture of the market
Assess future market prospects
Identify Key success factors on the
market
Adjust your marketing strategy
Key Topics Covered:
1. Introduction
Report Description
Research Methodology
2. Executive Summary
Key Findings
Market Trends
3. Market Overview
Market Volume And Value
Market Structure By Countries And
Types
Drivers And Restraints
Forecast Of Consumption To 2020
4. Domestic Production
Production In 2005-2013
Production By Countries And Types
5. Imports
Imports In 2005-2013
Imports By Countries
Import Prices By Countries
6. Exports
Exports In 2005-2013
Exports By Countries
Export Prices By Countries
7. Prices
Producer Prices On The Domestic
Market
Producer Prices On The Non Domestic
Market
Import Prices In Industry
8. Turnover And Sales In Industry
Turnover And Volume Of Sales
Monthly Comparison By Sector And By
Country
Annual Comparison By Sector And By
Country
9. Business Environment Overview
Structural Profile
Sectoral Analysis
Country Analysis
Size Class Analysis
10. Company Profiles
Company Details
Production And Financial Data
Business Strategy
For more information visit
http://www.researchandmarkets.com/researc
h/nlg4g8/eu_rice_market
Contact:
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470
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Sector: Breakfast and Cereals
2014 USA Rice Outlook
Conference


December 7 - 9, 2014
VENUE
Statehouse
Convention Center
One Statehouse Plaza
Little Rock, AR
722201
HOTEL
Little Rock Marriott
Three Statehouse
Plaza
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-906-4000
Contact: Jeanette Davis,
jdavis@usarice.com, Phone: 703-236-1447
Rice Production: Nigeria to
Surpass 2015 Targeted 20
Million Metric Tons by
December 2014 Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria,
stands by bags of rice fresh from Olam
Integrated Rice Mill
July 14, 2014 Nigerias President, Dr.
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said on Monday
that rice production in the country has
peaked such that there are signs that it will
surpass the 2015 target of 20 million metric
tons by December, 2014. The President who
spoke at the inauguration of Olam Integrated
Rice Mill in Nasarawa State, said that over
the years farmers have produced over 17
million metric tons of rice, adding that the
2015 target will be met this year.
Over the past three years, our farmers have
produced over 17 million metric tons of
food. Steadily on this path, we expect to
surpass our 2015 target of 20 million metric
tons of food, by the end of this year. Now
with better policy articulation and enhanced
technology, our farmers, small and large, are
all being touched by the new drive for food
production across the country, he said.
He said that government is committed to
continue to reduce our food importation bill
to the barest minimum.To demonstrate our
commitment, I am glad to report to
Nigerians that from a total food import bill
of One trillion, one hundred billion naira
(N1.1tr) ($6.9billion dollars) as at 2009, we
have reduced our food import bill to Six
hundred and eighty four billion, seven
million naira (N684.7billion) ($4.35billion
dollars) as at December 2013.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
Nigeria must be self-sufficient in food
production. In this regard, our rice
production programme has continued to
receive very focused attention. I launched
the national dry season farming policy last
year, so that we can grow two or three
cycles in the year, instead of only once each
year. It is encouraging that our national
paddy rice production has grown by an
additional 7 million metric tons within three
years. This is remarkable but we have to
work harder still, he said.
He recalled that when he launched the
Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011
the goal was to add an extra 20 million
metric tons of food to domestic food supply
by 2015.Our progress in this direction has
been remarkable. The innovative electronic
wallet system has empowered 10 million
farmers with access to subsidized high
quality seeds and fertilizers. We were the
first country in Africa to launch this system
that has now assured greater transparency
and better productivity in the sector, he
said.
He explained that the mills are producing
high quality local rice that meets
international standards, and competes well
with imported rice. And dont forget,
Nigerian rice is tastier and healthier than
imported rice, because our local rice is fresh
from the farm. Let me add that I am also
speaking as a proud consumer of our
Nigerian rice. Our goal of making Nigeria a
net exporter of rice will be achieved faster
by encouraging large commercial farms that
will complement our small-scale farmers.
Large mechanized rice farms like OLAMs
6,000-hectare farm will not only boost food
production, but also provide significant
opportunities for jobs in rural areas. Our
youths will be supported to go into
mechanized farming, and to pursue
agriculture as a business, the president
assured.
Edited by Emmanuel Thomas
PhilRice facility uses nipa to
power up towns
Bioethanol plant pioneers use of alternative fuel
Ronnel W. Domingo
1:52 AM | Monday, October 27th, 2014

The Philippine Rice Research I nstitute
(PhilRice) and its partners in Cagayan
province recently launched a bioethanol
production facility that uses nipa as raw
material to provide rural communities with an
alternative source of energy.
PhilRice executive director Eufemio T.
Rasco Jr. said in a statement that the facility
opened earlier this month in Barangay
Cabana, Pampalona town.Rasco said that the
production of bioethanol in Cagayan, which
is teeming with nipa, should help meet the
local demand for alternative fuel.This
project with the Mariano Marcos State
University (MMSU) will increase farmers
competitiveness as nipa is a renewable
energy that can fuel farm machinery and
pump boats, Rasco said.
The provincial government is helping
implement the project, which is being led by
Shirley Agrupis of MMSU. Also on hand to
assist is project consultant Fiorello Abenes,
a senior Fulbright fellow.Rasco, himself a
pioneer in nipa research, explained that the
plant produces an ample amount of sap that
can be converted to alcoholspecifically,
bioethanol or water-free alcohol.A hectare
of farm planted with nipa can produce as
much as 26,000 liters of alcohol a year.
This makes nipa four times more productive
than sugarcane, which is currently the main
source of alcohol, but produces only 6,700
liters per hectare a year.Rasco said the
facility, which was tested through a
retrofitted water pump, produced up to 96
percent bioethanol during a ceremonial run
last Oct. 7.Citing data from MMSUs
Nathaniel R. Mateo, who is helping with the
project, PhilRice said the facility could
produce seven to nine liters of bioethanol
from 100 liters of nipa sap in four and a half
hours.Rasco said that the prices of food,
especially rice, could rise, along with that of
oil, which was what happened in 2007 and
2008.
That event heightened the importance of
developing a new energy system that is
renewable, decentralized and diversified,
Rasco said.He added that nipa would be a
good source of bioethanol because it does
not compete as a food source, unlike corn,
cassava, sorghum or sugarcane.We hope to
have this facility in more places in the
Philippines and make nipa a widely used
fuel by farmers and fisherfolk, the PhilRice
chief said.
Filipinos urged to stop wasting
rice
Philippine Daily I nquirer
4:40 PM | Monday, October 27th, 2014
MANILA
,
Philippine
s
Education
Secretary
Armin
Luistro
urged schools nationwide to actively
participate in the observance of National
Rice Awareness Month in November, saying
the amount of rice Filipinos waste every day
could feed 2.5 million people a year and
adds up to more than P7 billion annually.
The month-long activities, according to a
memorandum issued by Luistro, are aimed
at teaching students the value of the staple
and the hard work put in by farmers to
produce the grain.
He cited a finding by the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice) which said that
the nine grams or two to three spoons of rice
wasted by Filipinos daily can actually feed
2.5 million people for a year. Rice is
generally wasted when too much is cooked
and left uneaten.
Luistro said the activities are aimed at
promoting the rice-ponsibility of every
Filipino, which includes: stop wasting rice;
switch to the brown variety; mix rice with
other forms of staple for better health; and to
think of the farmers hard work in producing
the staple.Luistro encouraged all DepEd
officials, employees, teachers and students
in both public and private schools
nationwide to launch information campaigns
for the celebration and to recite the
Panatang Makapalay (Rice Pledge), at the
end of every flag-raising ceremony in
November.
The Panatang Makapalay includes a pledge
to stop wasting rice; to consume brown or
unpolished rice and other alternatives, such
as banana, root crops, or corn; and to eat rice
responsibly because every grain saves a
life.Luistro also advised all public and
private schools nationwide to serve in their
cafeterias only brown rice on November 14
and a rice-corn mix on November 21.
Brown or unpolished rice is considered
healthier because it has rice bran, which
contains vitamins B1, B3, B6, B9, dietary
fiber, antioxidants, protein, manganese,
phosphorus and iron which can reduce the
risk of cancer, diabetes, cardio-vascular
diseases, and high blood pressure.According
to PhilRice each Filipino wasted 9 grams or
2 to 3 spoons of rice daily in 2008 which
would have sufficed to feed 2.5 million
persons. The total cost of the wastage, the
agency said, was 12 percent of rice imported
for that year and cost approximately P7.3
billion.