10th November, 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newlsetter

November 10 ,2018
Vol 9 ,Issue 11
1|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
USA Rice will be closed November 12, in observance of
Veterans Day
USA Rice Daily will resume publication on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.
November 9, 2018
Dr. Stephen Ostroff
Rice Matters at FDA Discussion
By Lydia Holmes
JACKSON, MS -- Last week the Mississippi Farm Bureau hosted Dr. Stephen
Ostroff, deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), for an agricultural roundtable to discuss a range of recent FDA
regulations including implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act
(FSMA), added sugars labeling, cell-based meat, and Standards of Identity for
packaged foods. Kirk Satterfield, a rice farmer from Benoit and a member of
both the USA Rice Farmers and Rice Council Boards, represented the rice
industry on the "rice pretenders" issue.
Rice pretenders is a term the industry uses to describe food products that are
marketed as rice, but contain no rice at all. They are typically vegetable crumbles made to loosely
resemble rice but their marketing is misleading and confusing to consumers.
Because rice does not have a Standard of Identity under the FDA, there are currently no regulatory
avenues to defend 'rice' from being used on non-rice products, such as cauliflower, that are using the word
rice in their name.
"A consumer should be able to pick up a bag of "rice" and know they're getting a grain," said Satterfield.
"That shouldn't be something consumers have to guess or check the label to know for sure."
USA Rice has registered formal complaints with several major supermarket chains via letters requesting
accountability and transparency.
"We believe there is room in shopping carts for all of us, and while we recognize you have an obligation
to sell products your customers want, and consumers should be allowed to purchase the food they desire -
even rice pretender products - we want to ensure these choices are not made in error," the letter says.
USA Rice continues to ask FDA to create a Standard of Identity for rice to mitigate consumer confusion
and potentially misleading marketing and advertising claims.
Despite stigma, GMOs can solve food and nutrition issues

By Anna Curtis
On November 9, 2018
Whenever a change is on the horizon, human nature tends to fear it. When faced with
―Frankenfoods,‖ better known as GM or GE crops in our supermarkets, consumers run the other
way. But are these products all that scary?
The World Health Organization defines a GMO as, ―foods that are derived from organisms
whose genetic material has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the
introduction of a gene from a different organism.‖
Several resources cite that an number of scientists believe these products are safe for human
consumption and allow for improved yields to meet food demands as the world population
continues to increase, which is a view that the WHO endorses.
However, only around a third of consumers share this belief. The consumer‘s fear of the
unknown has companies scrambling to test their products to prove that their products are safe.
In Asia, a GE crop called golden rice has been quite successful because of ever-increasing
mandates for research and the demand for food worldwide.
Through research, it is found that golden rice is a product approximately thirty years in the
making. This product contains a beta-carotene the source of vitamin A.
In this highly populated region of the world, many people don‘t get the vitamins and nutrients
that they need on a daily basis.
According to the International Rice Research Institute, (IRRI) a single bowl of golden rice can
provide 30-50% of a child‘s daily vitamin A requirement. However because of fierce criticism
from activists, it hasn‘t been readily available on the market despite its benefits.
Golden rice isn‘t the only GE crop to face scrutiny. Seed giant Monsanto has faced the backlash
from activists against Roundup Ready Soybeans and other GMO products.
These soybeans are resistant to the herbicide Roundup, allowing farmers to apply it directly to
their fields.
As a result, these soybeans can produce higher yields. For a world population that is
continuously increasing, higher yields are critical for feeding everyone.
Monsanto‘s soybeans have been on the market since the late 1990s. Like other GE crops, they
are nutritionally no different than traditional crops.
Millions have consumed GE products and have had no adverse side effects. Researching new
technologies is essential but, in the meantime, the consumer‘s fear of the unknown is preventing
people that would benefit most from these technologies from receiving them.
Govt optimistic on rice prices but experts not sure of

sustainability
Economy November 09, 2018 01:00
By THE NATION
Sonthirat
THE COMMERCE MINISTER is upbeat that rice prices are on the up trend, citing the large
number of foreigners placing orders, but exporters and economists are cautious about its
sustainability.
―The price of fragrant Thai Hom Mali rice has risen fast between Bt16,000 and Bt17,000 per
tonne of paddy rice. We expect total rice exports to reach 11 million tonnes this year,‖ Sonthirat
Sonthijirawong said yesterday.
His comments came after a meeting with 160 rice importers from 28 countries. He expected rice
importers to place orders worth about Bt1.5 billion this year and Bt30 billion next year. The
Commerce Ministry has invited rice importers to meet Thailand‘s counterparts, as the ministry
tries to push exports. Key markets include China, Hong Kong, Canada, United States, Europe,
Africa, Middle East and Asean countries.
As of September, total rice exports increased to 8.12 million tonnes worth US$4.1 billion (Bt135
billion), up 14.13 per cent from the same period last year. Large markets this year include Benin,
the US, Indonesia, China and the Philippines. Hom Mali rice accounted for 45 per cent of rice
exports, white rice 25 per cent and processed rice 3 per cent.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Economy/30358206
Wet season rice production down in Laos due to flood

Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-09 14:23:02|Editor: Liangyu
VIENTIANE, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Wet season rice production in Laos is expected to be reduced
by about 300,000 tons after widespread flooding this year that affected many parts of the
country.
The Lao government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has encouraged
farmers around the country to produce 3.5 million tons of rainy season rice, but authorities
expected the harvest to achieve about 3.2 million tons, local daily Vientiane Times on Friday
quoted the ministry officials as saying.
A total of 101,000 hectares of wet season rice were impacted by flooding, about 12 percent of
the total planted area of 817,800 hectares. Some 66,000 hectares of the rice crop was estimated
to have been destroyed by this year's deluge in Laos.
Consequently, to ensure food security and commercial sustainability, the Lao Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry ordered that technical teams be assigned to joint local agricultural
authorities to rehabilitate production capacity after the flooding.
Under close cooperation across various sectors, the ministry will encourage farmers to plant
100,000 hectares of rice and 185,000 hectares of other crops in this coming dry season.
The irrigation sector will guarantee to supply water for this dry season, covering about 89,150
hectares of rice and 65,000 hectares of other crops, General Director of the Irrigation Department
Maykong Phonephommavong told local media recently.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is planning technical training for farmers during the dry
season in a bid to boost yields and the overall harvest.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-11/09/c_137594627.htm
Ghana spends $1.1 billion on rice importation – Deputy

Trade Minister reveals
play videoRobert Ahomka Lindsay, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry,
Robert Ahomka Lindsay has disclosed that
Ghana imported rice worth $1.1 billion in 2017.
According to him, rice importation ―takes 82%

of all imports into the country‖.
Mr. Lindsay said, the leading product imported

into Ghana every year from Vietnam is rice,
which is by far the largest contributor to the
import quota.
The Deputy Minister indicated, ―We spent $1.1 billion last year on rice importation to Ghana‖.
He strongly believe it is about time Ghana added value to its raw materials for exports in order to
gain more from the resources of the country.
―This government‘s focus and direction is on industrial transformation thus transforming our
economy, the same transformation Vietnam went through some years ago led by its SME,‖ he
said.
He said, Vietnam has managed to move from being a huge importer of rice to the largest or the
second largest exporter of rice in the world making its economy the ―Asian tiger‖ and that is
what Ghana seeks to achieve.
―We can partner with Vietnam and by the same or similar model, Ghana‘s economy will also
become the African tiger‖ he noted.
The minister stressed the importance of exporting refined products to the Ghanaian economy
saying, ―In 2017 Ghana recorded a trade surplus of US$52.3 million with a total exports value of
US$320.6 million, this is according to the Vietnam customs‖.
He said, with the right support and determination the Ghanaian economy can be transformed.
The Deputy Minister was speaking at the Ghana-Vietnam trade and investment promotion forum
held in Accra.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-spends-1-1-billion-on-rice-
importation-Deputy-Trade-Minister-reveals-699410
Can rice actually kill birds?

By Chrissy Sexton
Earth.com staff writer
11-09-2018SCIENCE
Today‘s Video of the Day from the American Chemical Society disproves the theory that rice
can kill birds.In fact, the researchers found no evidence whatsoever that rice could harm birds.
Even instant rice – although it was not a popular choice when offered to birds – did not have any
negative influence on the animals.
The results of the study suggest that there is no reason to ban rice from being thrown at
weddings.
By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
Video Credit: American Chemical Society
https://www.earth.com/video/can-rice-actually-kill-birds/
Rice Prices
as on : 09-11-2018 12:41:30 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current % Season Modal Prev. Prev.Yr

change cumulative Modal %change
Rice
Manjeri(Ker) 290.00 NC 8410.00 3500 3500 -5.41
Kalna(WB) 90.00 -1.1 3155.00 3000 3000 -4.76
Beldanga(WB) 65.00 -7.14 1835.00 2600 2600 4.00
Chintamani(Kar) 62.00 -81.87 1472.00 1950 1900 -7.14
Ahirora(UP) 11.00 8.91 255.15 2300 2300 10.05
Ruperdeeha(UP) 7.00 -12.5 57.00 1600 1600 -
Kalyani(WB) 3.50 16.67 247.50 3400 3400 NC
Mirzapur(UP) 3.00 -25 909.00 2240 2240 -
Doharighat(UP) 1.50 NC 36.00 2000 2000 -
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25451931.ece
DOJ indicts suspected rice smuggler Bangayan, 5 others

Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News
Nov 09 2018 07:05 PM
Davidson Bangayan, the alleged "rice smuggling king" also known as David Tan, is interviewed by the
media after showing up at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) headquarters in Manila in
2014. ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has found probable cause to charge suspected rice
smuggler Davidson Bangayan and 5 others of conspiring to rig the bidding of rice imports to increase
the market price of rice in 2014.
The DOJ said Bangayan will also be charged for the unauthorized use of the alias ―David Tan.‖
In a 14-page resolution dated Nov. 5 and released to the media only on Friday, Senior Deputy State
Prosecutor Miguel Gudio Jr. affirmed the findings of the DOJ panel of prosecutors who found that
Bangayan acted as financer of some cooperatives who took part in the bidding of rice imports.
Bangayan was found to have worked with one Elizabeth Faustino, who facilitated the documentary
and financial requirements of cooperatives Riverview MPC, Umasaka MPC, Sitio Muzon MPC, Sta.
Cecilia MPC, Formosa MPC, and GPI San Miguel MPC.
Meanwhile, in a separate transaction, one Eleanor Rodriguez was found to have acted as broker and
facilitator of import requirements, Leah Echeveria as co-signatory of bank accounts opened for rice
importations, and spouses David and Judilyne Lim as financers of cooperatives Kapatirang Takusa
MPC, Ugnayang Magbubukid ng San Isidro Inc, Samahan ng Kapampangan at Katagalugan MPC
and Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Kalawitan MPC.
The Office of the Prosecutor General found that the cooperatives were merely used as dummies in
the bidding in order to manipulate the price of rice in the market, in violation of Article 186,
paragraph 3 of the Revised Penal Code.
10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o g s p o t . c o m ,
―The financial and technical support provided by the respondents to these farmers‘ cooperatives, to
the extent of undertaking all the processing of the governmental requirements and paying all the
necessary expenses, as well as the fact that the cooperatives were required to assign their respective
importations only to the respondents, clearly indicate respondents‘ intention to use these entities as
dummies with the end in view of monopolizing and manipulating the rice supply in the country,‖ the
resolution said.
The criminal offense carries with it a penalty of up to 12 years in prison and/or a fine of up to P6,000.
The complaints against 9 other respondents for the same offense were dismissed because the
National Bureau of Investigation failed to allege specific wrongful acts.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General also found probable cause to charge Bangayan of unauthorized
use of the name ―David Tan,‖ in violation of Commonwealth Act No. 142.
It cited the affidavits of 2 witnesses and a copy of a document in a civil case where Bangayan was
impleaded as defendant and did not deny that he was known as ―David Tan.‖
In the same breath, it dismissed the complaint for fictitious use of name because the use of ―David
Tan‖ was in conjunction with the use of his real name and it was not shown that he used the alias to
mislead the public of his true identity.
The unauthorized use of alias is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of up to

P10,000.
In the same resolution, the Prosecutor General absolved Bangayan and the other respondents of
violating the Procurement Act because rice bidding through farmers' cooperatives is not considered a
form of government procurement.
WHO IS BANGAYAN?
Bangayan was the subject of a Senate inquiry in 2014 over an alleged rice cartel which manipulated
the supply, and in turn, the price of rice in the market.
The NBI submitted to the DOJ a copy of the Senate committee report.
During the Senate probe, no less than then Davao City Mayor and now President Rodrigo Duterte
testified that David Bangayan and David Tan were one person and the ―go-to-guy‖ for rice
smuggling.
―If this guy would go to Davao and start to unload [smuggled rice] and I catch him, I will gladly kill
him,‖ he said during the inquiry.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/09/18/doj-indicts-suspected-rice-smuggler-bangayan-5-
others
European customers would suffer from proposed EU rice

duties
By Dominic Cuthbert
8th November 2018
Credit: Shutterstock.com/ Niran Phonruang
The Italian government has asked the European Commission to employ the safeguard clause on rice
imports from Cambodia and Myanmar in order to ―protect Italian rice growers‖.
However, Luca Bertoletti, European Affairs Manager of the Consumer Choice Centre, criticised the
request and said that it‘s time the European Union stopped pushing forward protectionism.
―The reasoning behind trade barriers is to protect a specific industry – in this case Italian rice growers
– from competition,‖ he said.
―What‘s usually overlooked though is that whilst taking the producer side, protectionist policies end
up causing a great harm to consumers who get stripped of the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of
free trade.
―The Italian government is simply asking to limit the affordability of rice.‖

He added: ―The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the third largest trading
partner of the EU. In 2017, co-operation with the ASEAN resulted in the output of more than € 227,3
billion in goods.
―As part of this economic engagement, the European Union has been actively trading with both
Myanmar and Cambodia and therefore using the agricultural imports, in particular rice, to feed up the
EU market.
―Before employing another protectionist measure, the European Commission should ask itself
whether it wants to ensure European consumers are able to enjoy a great supply of rice and
consequently a favourable pricing or whether it is the unwillingness of one group to compete which
matters more.‖
https://fdiforum.net/mag/european-customers-would-suffer-from-proposed-eu-rice-duties/
500,000 jobs created through Anchor Borrowers

Programme
– CBN ON NOVEMBER 7, 20189:19 PMIN BUSINESS, NEWS5 COMMENTS By Babajide
Komolafe & Elizabeth Adegbesan The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that its Anchor
Borrowers Programme has added two million metric tons to rice supply in the country while also
creating 500,000 jobs. Meanwhile the apex bank has dismissed reports that the country imports
up to 400,000 metric tons of rice, stressing that figures obtained from the two leading rice
exporting countries to Nigeria show otherwise.
According to the Director of Corporate Communication Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor,
―The volume of rice importation into Nigeria (in metric tonnes) has declined drastically in 2018,
judging by figures obtained from various official sources. Indeed, figures obtained from India
and Thailand, which are dominant rice exporters to Nigeria indicate that as at September, the
latter had so far exported about 5,161 metric tonnes of rice to Nigeria, while the former sold only
a paltry 426 tonnes as at July 2018. Okoroafor attributed the reduction in rice importation to
concerted effort of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the
interventions of CBN. He also confirmed that the apex bank had not allocated any foreign
exchange for the importation of rice this year. He averred that the figures being bandied in
certain quarters were based on unrealistic assumptions such as satellite mapping of farms,
expected demand by politicians for election campaigns as well as expected losses from flooding,
all of which led to unauthentic conclusions that the country had imported or could import
400,000 more metric tonnes. He further noted that the combined figure of 5, 587 tonnes of rice
imports from India and Thailand may have been rice imported on not-valid-for-forex basis. The
Half year 2018 economic report of the apex bank showed that the country has made significant
progress in its quest to achieve self sufficiency in rice production. According to the report, the
Anchor Borrowers Programme, which was introduced in 2015, has added 2 million metric tons
to rice supply across the country. The ABP was introduced to curb the nation‘s food import bill,
by boosting domestic production of food crops especially rice and wheat which formed part of
four items that consumed a N1 trillion in foreign exchange. According to the half year 2018
report of the CBN, the apex bank has so far disbursed N91.90 billion, to 412,037 small-holder
farmers since the inception of the programme. The report stated: ―The implementation of the
Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme continued in the review period with the disbursement of N36.37
billion to 155,732 farmers, compared with N12.57 billion to 27 farmers in the first half of 2017.
This brought the cumulative disbursements, since inception, to N91.90 billion, with 412,037
small-holder farmers as beneficiaries.
The Programme was being

implemented in 36 states and
the Federal Capital Territory
through thirteen (13) state
government anchors and one
hundred and twenty-seven
(127) private-led anchors. ―In
the review period, the sum of
N1.57 billion was repaid,
bringing the cumulative
repayment since inception to
N12.19 billion. The
commodities being financed under the Scheme included: rice, maize, wheat, soya beans, cotton,
cassava, groundnut, fish and poultry. The Scheme has created over 500,000 jobs and added 2.0
million metric tons to domestic rice supply.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/500000-jobs-created-through-anchor-borrowers-
programme-cbn/
House seeks stronger measures vs inflation

Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) - November 8, 2018 - 12:00am
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who is Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo‘s economic adviser, reiterated the
House leaders‘ proposal for President Duterte to reduce or remove tariff on food imports
MANILA, Philippines — Leaders of the House of Representatives called yesterday for stronger
counter-inflation measures with the rate of increase in the cost of goods and services remaining
at 6.7 percent in October, the same level as the previous month.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, who is Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo‘s economic adviser,
reiterated the House leaders‘ proposal for President Duterte to reduce or remove tariff on food
imports.
Another resident economist in the larger chamber of Congress, Rep. Michael Romero of 1-
Pacman, urged the government to create a ―national strategic rice reserve‖ that could be tapped
whenever rice prices go up.
Salceda said the window for the President to reduce tariff on food imports through an executive
order ―closes on Nov. 12 when Congress returns to session.‖
―Aside from reducing costs, lower tariffs also induce lower prices as markets for food products
become more contestable,‖ he said.
He said the National Food Authority (NFA) should expedite the importation, delivery and
distribution of 800,000 metric tons of rice.
He noted that increased rice and fish prices were the major drivers of the 6.7-percent inflation in
October, ―suggesting that government measures have yet to make a dent and take traction.‖
Salceda pointed out that rice prices ―continued to accelerate from 10.4 percent in September to
10.7 percent in October as importation remain logistically constrained,‖ while fish prices further
rose by 13.8 percent from 13.4 percent despite imports.
He also called on regulatory agencies to postpone or defer implementation of ―regulated price

hikes‖ like those on fuel, water and transportation.
In proposing the creation of a national strategic rice reserve, Romero said the rice market ―is
often beset with wild price swings.‖
―We must be ready for those swings. We must have a strategic rice reserve that will be
continually maintained, drawn from and replenished to make sure the stocks are always new.
This strategic rice reserve is what will shield Filipinos from fluctuations of rice prices,‖ he said.
He said this could be a new role for the NFA when rice importation is liberalized with the
replacement of volume restrictions with tariff on rice imports.
Romero explained that a buffer, such as what NFA is trying to maintain, is often insufficient to
influence prices, while reserves are intended to flood the market to force prices down.
Another House member, Leyte‘s Henry Ong, expressed support for his colleagues‘ call for more
vigorous measures to fight inflation.
―With the October inflation rate staying at 6.7 percent, the same level as in September, there very
clearly is a great and urgent need for much stronger anti-inflation measures,‖ he said.
He urged President Duterte to heed the clamor for the scrapping of fuel taxes.
Palace discretion
Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Lambino Jr. said it‘s Malacañang‘s discretion to push
through or not with the suspension of additional fuel excise tax by next January.
―The economic managers submitted their recommendation to suspend the next tranche of the
increase in excise scheduled for January 2019. That recommendation stands,‖ he said at a press
briefing in Malacañang.
―It is an official document that we need to receive from the Office of the President in order to
implement that recommendation,‖ he said.
Lambino was referring to the DOF recommendation made when the price per barrel for Dubai
crude and MOPS was above $80. The economic team also took into consideration the futures
markets that showed prices at $80 and above for November and December.
―If we look at the increase in diesel from December 2017 to October 2018, we can see a P15 per
liter increase,‖ he said, and that this means P2 should be added to the excise tax for January next
year.
Amid rising food prices, the country‘s agriculture sector meanwhile failed to maintain its upward
streak, contracting nearly one percent in the third quarter.After six quarters of growth, the latest
report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the local farm sector declined
0.83 percent in the July to September period, a reversal from the 2.32 percent growth in the same
period last year.
For the nine-month period, the agriculture sector only grew 0.15 percent compared with the
expansion of 4.64 percent in the first nine months of last year.The Department of Agriculture
(DA) already said it sees no significant increase in the third quarter in view of recent consecutive
typhoons that devastated Central Luzon.
―Climate change is now the biggest challenge to agriculture, especially the crops sector. The DA,
in coordination with local government units and other agencies, will have to review the planting
calendar while fisheries will have to focus more on aquaculture and mariculture,‖ Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a statement.
University of Asia and Pacific professor and agriculture economist Rolando Dy said the sector‘s
performance for the whole year would just be flat.
―The third quarter is already expected. I was even projecting a decline of one to two percent. The
likelihood of negative growth for 2018 is given,‖ Dy told The STAR.
Meanwhile, the agricultural sector, at current prices, grossed P409 billion, up seven percent from
P383 billion recorded in 2017.Total value for the first nine months reached P1.29 trillion, seven
percent higher than the P1.21 trillion in the comparative period. – Christina Mendez
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/11/08/1866770/house-seeks-stronger-measures-vs-
inflation
Indian Food and Agro Buyer Seller meet to be held in
Jeddah to explore business opportunities
Indian Food and Agro Buyer Seller meet to be held in Jeddah to explore business opportunities
New Delhi, Nov 9 (KNN) Indian exporters of four key commodities of rice, tea, spices and dry
fruits will be meeting the major importers in Saudi Arabia during a Food and Agro Buyer-Seller
Meet (BSM), which will help the commodities to have great prospects for furthering Indian
exports to Saudi Arabia.
It is organized by Consulate General of India in Jeddah in association with Jeddah Chamber and
Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI).
The BSM will be an ideal platform for Indian participants to explore the business opportunities
for trade, acquaint with new consumer trends and initiate marketing tie-ups and joint ventures.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a major food and beverages (F&B) market for India.
Saudi Arabia is India‘s one of the most important trade partners and is a major FDI partner of
India after the UAE in Gulf region.
India‘s export to Saudi Arabia was worth USD 5 billion in 2017.
India is seeking to reduce the trade deficit by enhancing exports in areas where Saudi Arabia is
importing from the world.
Basmati rice export continuously dominates India‘s rice export basket.
India accounts for around 72% of the total Basmati rice produced and it offers India not just the
leading producer tag but also very high product visibility in the world market.
Indian tea is among the finest in the world owing to strong geographical indicators, heavy
investments in tea processing units, continuous innovation, augmented product mix and strategic
market expansion.
India is the 2nd largest producer and 4th largest exporter of tea in the world with a 23% share in
global production and a 7.5% share in world tea exports.
India exports tea to more than 60 countries globally with Iran, Russia, UK, USA and the Gulf
countries being major markets.
Indian spices too are much in demand in the GCC countries, given their exquisite aroma, texture
and taste. Saudi Arabia primarily imports pepper, chilli, turmeric, ginger and cardamom from
India.
The major products exported by India to Saudi Arabia were rice, chemicals, refined petroleum
oil and motor vehicles and its parts. India‘s import from Saudi Arabia was worth USD 21 billion
in 2017, amounting to a huge trade deficit of USD16 billion.
The major products imported by India from Saudi Arabia were petroleum products.
India exported F&B products worth USD 4.6 billion in 2017.
During 2017, India‘s total exports in F&B products stood at USD 33 billion while the exports to
Saudi Arabia in this sector during the same period stood at only USD 1.43 billion.
BSM will be inaugurated by Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh, Consul General of India in Jeddah and
Hassan Ibraheem Dahlan, Secretary General of Jeddah Chamber on November 11, 2018.
https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/global/indian-food-and-agro-buyer-seller-meet-to-
be-held-in-jeddah-to-explore-business-opportunities
Emefiele Berates Banks For Not Stimulating Economy

November 9, 2018
By BUKOLA
IDOWU
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, has said the apex bank is
unhappy with deposit money banks in the country as they would rather invest in Treasury Bills
than perform their basic role which is to stimulate the economy.
Emefiele also said reports that Nigeria‘s rice importation rose by 400,000 metric tonnes is false
and fake news.
Speaking at the Nigeria Investment Conference hosted by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Society Nigeria, the CBN governor disclosed that the role of banks is to stimulate the economy
to act as catalysts to growth and development of the country.
Rather, he said they invest in Treasury Bills where they can have quick and high returns.
Emefiele who was talking on the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) noted that banks are
expected to partner with the CBN in achieving the goal of stimulating the economy.
―That is part of the problem we have with banks, yes you have a responsibility to work for your
shareholders which is to maximise profit and what you do is to take deposits and put it in
treasury bills because we feel the yield is good. We are not happy with you about that.‖
Meanwhile, he affirmed that the ABP targeted at creating credit lines for small holder farmers
and specific crops such as rice and cassava, has been yielding results, he queried figures of rice
importation which was reported recently.
The United States Department of Agriculture World Markets and Trade Report had said
Nigeria‘s rice importation rose by 400,000 metric tonnes to three million in 2018. A figure the
CBN governor said is false.
―I was reading a report where the United States said the volume of imports of rice increased by
400,000 tonnes. I am not a politician but people should be very mindful when they open their
mouths to say what is untrue because we would come out at central bank to attack it particularly
if you use data incorrectly. I seize the opportunity to say that it is untrue.
―The data that we have today shows that rice imported illegally into the country is less than
25,000 tonnes in 2018 so far. Then how come an agency that has not been to Nigeria or even
been to the farms to see what we are doing would just come up and say that Nigeria has imported
400,000 tonnes above what it normally should import. Go to the data of countries that export
rice, you would see their data; you would find the quantity of rice imported by Nigeria. This is
false and fake news.
―I can tell you that we have empowered 800,000 farmers directly, we are not looking at the fall
out. We have disbursed over N400billion to these communities and that is why it is painful when
people come over and begin to say it hasn‘t worked and that we are importing rice. It is very
discouraging and that is why I say if you cannot join us, just keep quiet.‖
https://leadership.ng/2018/11/09/emefiele-berates-banks-for-not-stimulating-economy/
School Children Enjoy Locally Produced Rice

By Judoemue Kollie
November 8, 2018
Mr. Bhutto serves some of the students at Ylamba Public School in Sacleapea.
The World Food Program (WFP) and the Government of Liberia (GoL), along with other
partners, continue to demonstrate commitment by providing nutritious and locally produced rice
to school children. This is evidenced by some 20,000 students in 62 public schools in Nimba
County, who are currently enjoying the daily rice produced by local farmers.
The rice is being purchased by WFP as part of plans to directly support smallholder farmers, in
order to boost production, improve school children‘s nutrition and education status as well as
develop social and productive safety nets.
Recently, a high-powered WFP-Liberia team headed by its deputy country director, Asif Bhutto,
visited two schools in Nimba County where WFP and partners are also implementing the school
feeding program.
Bhutto, who spoke to students and school administrators, said that WFP is pleased to support the
school meals program with food commodities bought from local farmers as a way of supporting
them to produce more food instead of buying the food from overseas.
He said the organization‘s activities throughout the country are in line with the government‘s
development plan as articulated in the Pro-Poor Agenda.
Under its Home-Grown School Feeding Program, the WFP, in collaboration with the ministries
of Education and Agriculture, buy rice, cassava, eddoes, potatoes, vegetables, and palm oil from
smallholder farmers in the country and then supply these to selected schools.
Locally produced rice and beans and Bunadin, Nimba County, ready for sale to WFP for school
meals.
The Home-Grown School Meals Program – known for its integrated agriculture, nutrition,
education and social safety net approaches – is a WFP and Government of Liberia‘s innovative
and multifaceted development effort, which benefits both the food security and education sectors
through the production of nutritious food commodities for use in school feeding.
School administrators are lauding the effort as ―extremely wonderful and good for improving
education.‖ Principal Joseph S. Adjei of Liberia National Red Cross High School in Saclepea
could not hold back his admiration for the home-grown school meals program. ―We have
changed from vegetable oil to palm oil and to country rice and eddoes – you name it – and the
students love it,‖ he said.
Mr. Adjei outlined the immediate benefits of the new meals program in his school. ―Right now
we have 560 students. When we started in September, it was less than that but when the feeding
started in October, the news spread and more students came,‖ he said.
WFP-supported Community Grain Reserves (CGR) in Nimba County are also supporting the
school meals program by selling local rice and beans to WFP. CGR are owned and managed by
rural women farmer groups that WFP trained and provided with initial amounts of milled rice for
use as loan to other farmers and community residents during the peak of the hunger season.
Sampson Toko, secretary-general of the Gleyeekwa-doo (the residents of Gelyee are one)
farmers group in Bunadin, said their CGR was milling at least 300 bags of 25kg rice for sale to
WFP. ―We are providing WFP school feeding people with rice, beans and red oil that we
ourselves produced. We are going to produce more, because there is market to buy from us. One
year from now we will increase our paddy rice production field from six to eight hectares.‖
Up to 2017, WFP, in collaboration with authorities of the Ministry of Education, provided daily
school meals to over 120,000 students in 577 rural public primary schools in nine counties.
Additionally, over 4,000 school-going girls received monthly rations of rice and oil under the
WFP Girls take-home rations, which is aimed at boosting girls‘ enrollment, attendance and
retention. The support was provided in areas where girl child enrollment was noticeably low as
compared to boys.
In late 2017, WFP experienced huge financial constraints that forced the organization to suspend
school meals program in early 2018. The resumption of school meals program in October 2018
was made possible through a multilateral donor support.
https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/school-children-enjoy-locally-produced-rice/
NFA-Bicol orders public markets, retailers to lower rice prices

November 7, 2018
LEGAZPI CITY — The National Food Authority (NFA) regional office here has lowered the
price of its rice sold in public markets and accredited retailers.
Henry Tristeza, NFA regional director, in an interview on Tuesday, said the move was in
compliance with Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol‘s directive to lower the price of NFA rice in
all public markets from PHP32 to PHP27 per kilo.
―The decision to lower down the prices of NFA rice is to cushion the effect of the high inflation
rate in Bicol and the increasing prices of prime commodities in the country,‖Tristeza said.
―Tulong ito ng gobyerno sa lahat ng mamamayan lalo na ang mga nasa poverty line ng bansa
(It‘s the government‘s way to help the people, especially those who belong to the poverty line),‖
he added.
According to Tristeza, their accredited retailers who bought rice at higher price from NFA
warehouses region-wide will not be affected by the decision because most of them are almost
running out of stocks and they are about to buy another round of stocks.
Tristeza also warned retailers not to take advantage of the lower price of NFA rice by labeling
their stocks as commercial rice.
―We have a ‗One strike policy‘ and whoever violates would be meted out penalties and fine,‖ he
said.
The official also said that on Friday, NFA-Bicol will implement the SRP, or suggested retail
price, on all commercial rice in the region.
They will require all the commercial rice traders to put SRPs beginning Friday.
―We are just waiting on the guidelines regarding the SRP program from our central office in
Manila, we will convene the inter-agency to discuss about the implementation,‖ Tristeza said.
Meanwhile, the regional director said that based from their latest monitoring, prices of
commercial rice sold in public markets are now PHP2 to PHP3 lower per kilogram.
The NFA expects traders and retailers to gradually lower prices of commercial rice as more NFA
rice imports are expected the flood the markets soon. At the same time, the agency continues to
buy palay from farmers.
Tristeza said they have been given the go-signal to procure palay from farmers at a higher price.
They are buying palay from farmers at PHP20.70 per kilo or an additional of PHP3 per kilo as
buffer stock incentive and additional of 30 centavos per 30 kilometers as delivery incentive from
the origin to NFA warehouse. (Jorge Hallare/PNA)
https://www.ptvnews.ph/nfa-bicol-orders-public-markets-retailers-to-lower-rice-prices/
Mwea farmers want govt to facilitate purchase of their rice

Rice farmers under the Mwea rice irrigation scheme, Kirinyaga County are calling on the
government to facilitate purchase of their produce by the National Cereals and Produce Board.
They further want rice recognized as strategic food reserve and accorded the same status as that
of maize this they say will boost rice production and secure [ ] The post Mwea farmers want govt
to facilitate purchase of their rice appeared first on KBC | Kenya s Watching.
https://kenya.shafaqna.com/EN/AL/355329
PH to Conduct another bidding for rice imports

Follow next link to View the News
https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/panay-news/20181109/281767040241502
https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/panay-news/20181109/281767040241502
Paddy purchase for food security may fall 8%

By Parshant Krar, ET Bureau|
Nov 09, 2018, 09.53 AM IST
Farmers are harvesting a lower yield per acre in key rice producing states of Punjab, Haryana
and UP.
Paddy procurement for federal food security system is likely to decline 6-8% in India as farmers
are harvesting a lower yield after heavy rains in September had hit the harvest-ready crops in the
northern states. The overall decline in output of paddy is likely to impact government
procurement as well as export of non-basmati paddy from India.
Farmers are harvesting a lower yield per acre in key rice producing states of Punjab, Haryana
and UP. The drop in yield has fuelled the price of paddy and likely to reduce government
purchase of the cereal this season.
―The total output is likely to touch 160-165 lakh tonnes this season as rains seemed to have
checked the possibility of record output,‖ KAP Sinha, principal secretary, Punjab Food and
Supplies, said. The arrival of paddy for government procurement is delayed by 20-30%
compared to the last season as crop maturity has been affected.
The September rains had affected paddy at the pollination stage and early-sown basmati at the
time of maturity. The state government had pegged the total output of paddy at around 200 lakh
tonnes this year, after the initial crop estimates indicated a bumper harvest.
Heavy rains had also affected paddy crop in UP where procurement will begin next week.
―Maturity of the crop is late by at least 10 days due to rains and each passing day hampers the
yield,‖ Soraaj Singh, director, Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Department, said. He maintained that
the actual loss of yield could be accessed after the crop arrival , he said.
The overall loss of yield is expected to be around 10-15% in Uttar Pradesh.
―The yield, due to unfavourable weather and overall output, may fall and it may also affect
government procurement,‖ an official of Food Corporation of India based in UP said. India is
among the top exporters of non-basmati rice in the world with consignments of 8.6 lakh tonnes
traded last year.
Private rice millers who buy paddy directly are pegging loss in yield of more than 20-30% this
season.
Researchers investigate effects of fertilizer

choice on methane emissions from rice
 By Fred Miller U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
Methane emissions tied to microbial activity in flooded rice fields
Choice of nitrogen fertilizer affects methane emissions from rice
Methane is 25-30 times more powerful greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide
FAYETTEVILLE — Use of nitrogen fertilizers, like ammonium sulfate, that have little or no
carbon content can help reduce methane emissions from Arkansas rice fields, according to
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture research.
Rogers is now an assistant professor at the University of Idaho‘s Aberdeen Research and
Extension Center.
Current estimates indicate that 9 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in the United States
come from agriculture. Livestock agriculture accounts for the largest percentage of methane
emissions, but rice accounts for most of the methane released from plant crops in Arkansas,
according to ―Nitrogen Source Effects on Methane Emissions from Drill-Seeded, Delayed-Flood
Rice Production,‖ a recent Division of Agriculture research paper from Rogers, Smartt, Brye and
Richard J. Norman, professor of soil fertility in the department of crop, soil and environmental
sciences.
Methane is produced in rice fields, Brye said, because the fields are flooded for most of the
growing season. ―Under flood, the soil becomes reduced to an anaerobic state,‖ he said.
―Basically, the soil loses most of its oxygen content.‖
The lack of oxygen in the soil spurs a group of microorganisms called methanogens to feed on
carbon and produce methane, Smartt said.Brye said the water acts as a cap on the soil, containing
the methane in the ground. But the gas escapes by at least two common means. From time to
time, someone has to walk through a flooded rice field.
―Sometimes you take a step and a bubble of gas burps out of the ground,‖ Brye said. ―That‘s
methane escaping because the soil was disturbed.‖
But the primary avenue for methane escape is through the rice plant, Brye said. The gas is
passively taken up by the rice plant roots, transported upward through the plant tissues and
emitted into the air.
Brye said a lot of factors affect the volume of methane emitted. Rice fields of silt loam soils,
with their coarser grain size that permits easier transport of the gas and promotes more microbial
activity, emit more methane than those in finer-grained clay soils.
Conventional rice varieties emit more methane than hybrid rice, Brye said. The hybrids have
higher yields, higher biomass and denser root systems. All that activity tends to keep the soil
more oxygenated under flood than conventional varieties, inhibiting methane production.
Hybrids also tend to have shorter growing seasons. This means the soil spends less time under
water. Also, Brye said, fields without plants produce much less methane than planted fields, even
under flood.
Some fertilizers add carbon to the soil, feeding those hungry methanogens and spurring higher
methane production and emission in some soils, Brye said.
Part of the research Rogers conducted during his Ph.D. program compared three nitrogen
fertilizers — pelletized poultry litter, with high carbon content; urea, with moderate carbon
content; and ammonium sulfate, which has no carbon.
As expected, fields fertilized with ammonium sulfate emitted significantly less methane than
urea or pelletized poultry litter. The difference was significantly greater in silt loam soils.
―Clearly, choice of fertilizer nitrogen source, especially ammonium sulfate in silt loam soils, has
the potential to significantly mitigate methane emissions from Arkansas rice fields,‖ Brye said.
Brye and his research team are also exploring other management practices that could help reduce
methane emissions.
Water management choices also make a difference, Brye said. Furrow-irrigated rice generally
emits less methane because the field is not permanently flooded during the growing season. But
they have measured significant differences between the higher end of a field, where irrigation
water enters the rows, and the lower end, where the water pools up before draining out.
―The bottom of the field acts almost like a flooded rice field,‖ Brye said.
After years of field research, quantifying many of the variables that affect methane production in
rice, Brye said he has generated the most comprehensive, replicated, plot-scale data sets on the
subject for Arkansas.
The information will be important to developing rice fertilizer and irrigation recommendations
that will be sought for sustainable rice production in Arkansas.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural
Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch.
http://newtoncountytimes.com/news/researchers-investigate-effects-of-fertilizer-choice-on-
methane-emissions-from/article_2fc76184-e43b-11e8-aea2-e7fd9701538b.html
Video: Restoring wild rice to the wetlands

Amy Carrozzino-Lyon is a UW-Green Bay research specialist with Natural and Applied
Sciences. In one of here many projects to support restore the bay of Green Bay. In the video she
explains working with many community partners for this project and the reason that bringing
back wild rice to the bay is so important to the habitat and its inhabitants. For more, see the press
release.
This entry was posted in News and tagged College of Science Engineering and
Technology, DNR, Natural and Applied Sciences on November 9, 2018 by Sue Bodilly.
https://news.uwgb.edu/log-news/news/11/09/video-restoring-wild-rice-to-the-wetlands/
How the Green Revolution contributed to India’s air
pollution crisis
The agricultural reforms increased crop production but caused the problems that require
stubble burning and pollution, writes Siddharth Singh in a new book.
HT Photo
Yesterday · 08:30 am
Siddharth Singh Print

Contrary to popular perception in urban India, residue burning is not an age-old practice. The
practice – at this magnitude, frequency and scale – can trace its origins to only a few decades ago
and is the result of the evolution of farming operations, government policy, and changing labour
markets, which were triggered by the Green Revolution of the late 1960s and 1970s and the
agricultural policies that followed. Prior to the Green Revolution, Punjab and Haryana were not
producers or consumers of rice and did not have the RWCS [rice-wheat cropping system] in
place, and therefore there was no large-scale instance of crop residue burning. While it is hard to
pinpoint the exact year when stubble burning became a mainstay in this region, such burning has
been blamed for poor air quality in Punjab and Haryana since the early 2000s.
The Green Revolution itself, however, had the noblest intentions and has played a significant
role in improving the fortunes of the region and bringing food security to India. That a revolution
in agriculture was necessary is by itself not up for debate.
What the revolution and subsequent policies did, however, was to contribute to the
creation and timing of the air pollution crisis and also to the rapidly depleting
groundwater levels; this has been termed as an “agro-ecological” crisis.
There were two main schools of thought on agricultural reforms: those that wanted a
technological revolution and those that wanted a social one. The group that wanted a
technological revolution in agriculture favoured unprecedented access to pesticides, fertilisers,
credit – but most of all, hybrid seeds. In 1961, MS Swaminathan, a scientist at the Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, citing the recent successes of other countries, advocated that the
Indian government purchase expensive high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds from abroad and
then offer a price guarantee to farmers to assure them a return on their investment.
This met with resistance, in particular from the Planning Commission. However, in 1964, led by
the agriculture minister, C Subramaniam, the government turned and favoured the idea of
importing seeds and providing price guarantees. There was expected political opposition from
those that favoured social revolution, arguing that this would only favour large farmers and harm
consumers.
The debate was put to rest soon after US President Lyndon B Johnson assumed office in 1963.
He did not have a good equation with the Indian government. ―You can‘t give all this [food aid]
away and run around dewy-eyed. You‘ve got to be a little practical as to what it does and what
India builds and we can‘t keep doing it forever,‖ Johnson said. In 1966, Johnson put in place the
―ship-to-mouth‖ policy, where food shipments to India would be released just in time for them to
be consumed, leaving nothing for storage and keeping India on the edge of its charpoy in
anticipation of the next shipment.
This was perceived by India as a humiliation at the hands of President Johnson and was used by
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to ignore the opposition and push for a technological revolution
backed by price support, thus triggering the Green Revolution as we know it. This led to a
whopping 40% increase in wheat production (from 12 million to 17 million tonnes)
within a year.
The Green Revolution and the basket of policies that followed led to agricultural production in
India rising significantly, and the country went on to ultimately end reliance on foreign aid to
feed its population. These policies, however, also brought in a few significant changes to the
cropping pattern in India – this has ultimately led to the ―agricultural shock‖ caused by stubble
burning. It was these policies of price support, the introduction of HYV seeds, the boom in tube
well irrigation, the proliferation of combine harvesters and bureaucratic schedules in agriculture
that led to the creation of the RWCS and the squeezing out of days between the two crops. This
fuelled the practice of stubble burning, leading to the air pollution crisis in the region.
During the Green Revolution, an HYV of rice had been introduced that was developed by the
International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines – it could produce seven tonnes of rice
per hectare instead of the existing varieties that produced only two tonnes per hectare, and it also
took much less time to hit full maturity.
This HYV rice could not be used in traditional rice-growing areas in southern India at that
time. The existing varieties of rice had involved a cycle starting in June, with the onset of
the monsoon, to harvesting in December.
If the HYV rice was to follow the same schedule, it would start in June but mature in October,
which would involve the destruction of harvest due to the ongoing rains at that time.
The breakthrough for this HYV rice eventually came in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar
Pradesh in the 1970s, where owing to tube-well development, the land was already well
irrigated. The tube wells that were installed on the back of gains made by wheat cultivation went
on to become useful for HYV rice. These regions were not traditional rice-growing areas prior to
the Green Revolution. The farmers here were therefore free from the constraints that had
prevented HYV rice being used in traditional rice-growing areas.
ADVERTISEMENT
As rice cultivation expanded, rice production in Punjab as a share of the national production
went from 0.7% in 1960 to 7% by 1979. This was promoted by the state, with the government
procuring around 80% of the rice produced in Punjab in the 1980s. There were similar gains in
Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. And just like that, the region was producing two crops on a
large scale: rice and wheat, with wheat being sown and harvested in the dry winter season, and
rice to coincide with the monsoon season. The RWCS had been established.
This cropping system had support from the government. The state governments of Punjab and
Haryana had mandated that the timing of the rice planting should coincide with the monsoon
rains which lash the region starting early July. Since 2009, there has even been a law called the
Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act that has prohibited the cultivation of paddy before a
date is decided by the government.Owing to such mandates and regulations, the two crop periods
of Kharif and Rabi in the case of rice and wheat moved close to one another, leaving about
fifteen days in between the two crop cycles.
This put pressure on farmers to prepare the farm for the next crop in a handful of days,
and burning the residue has proven to be the cheapest and quickest way to do so.
Such a cropping pattern is not a global phenomenon as India‘s monsoons are quite unique, as is
the RWCS. Europe, for instance, with its sporadic rainfall through the year, does not have a
monsoon season the way India does. Monsoons are defined by meteorologists as the shift in
prevailing wind caused by the heating differential between land and sea that brings a seasonal
and predictable period of significant rainfall. India‘s south-westerly monsoon is cited as among
the world‘s best instances of such a phenomenon. The RWCS was developed in Punjab, Haryana
and western Uttar Pradesh owing to India‘s monsoon patterns as well as the basket of policies
that originated from the Green Revolution. India‘s crop residue burning practice in October and
November is therefore not only unique, it is also a recent phenomenon.
The RWCS has undoubtedly been successful in raising the production of the two crops and
enhancing food security in India. But there have also been negative externalities, with stubble
burning being a relevant example. Scientists have estimated that the poor air quality from stubble
burning has led to decreasing crop yield in India.
The stubble burning itself was made inevitable to the farmers of the region for multiple reasons.
For one, the HYV rice ensured that the residue left was much taller than the basmati residue,
while at the same time being less palatable as fodder for animals. More importantly, the
proliferation of combine harvesters, while it has had positive outcomes for production, leaves a
farm in a condition that makes crop residue management harder.
Prior to the arrival of these combines, manual labour was employed to cut down the plant and
then separate the edible part. Because this process was manual, workers were able to both
remove the edible and marketable part of the plant and also uproot the rest alongside. This was,
however, a labour-intensive and time-consuming process.
These combine harvesters changed all that. They were very effective in the job they did – that is,
cut, thresh and clean the grains using rotating blades, wheels, sieves and elevators. But they had
a downside: they would leave behind the rest of the plant, which portion was about one foot tall.
Farmers claim that these harvesters leave this residue in such a condition that it becomes even
harder to remove manually than otherwise. Farmers complain that the residue is often too sharp,
which not only injures them, but also makes it difficult for animals to graze on.It is necessary to
remove the residue because if they do not, straw would get stuck in the machines that plant the next
crop. The cheapest way to rid the farms of this residue is to pour kerosene or any other fuel on the earth
and set it on fire.
Over 26,000 combine harvesters are in use in India today, half of which are in north-western
India.25 These combine harvesters have triggered a practice that is now a major contributor to air
pollution in India. The increased purchase and use of machinery has not only displaced manual
labour, but also animal labour on the farms. The crop residue that was once valued as feedstock
for farm animals was no longer needed as the use of farm animals was replaced by machinery,
thus further incentivising the burning of it. In Punjab and Haryana in particular, the residual rice
straw that remains is non-palatable to animals and impacts the quality and quantity of milk
produced by cows, owing to which farmers refuse to go the extra mile to collect and sell this
residue.
Naturally, when hundreds of thousands of farm owners burn their crops in a region where
farming is the largest employer, and at the time of year when the winds have slowed down, the
whole region will be engulfed in smoke and haze – which is exactly what makes the great smog
an annual affair in not only Delhi, but also the rest of the northern Indian region. This time of
year has a dangerous cocktail of emissions from other sources combining with slow winds and
low temperatures that ensure particulate matter settles down to lower altitudes.
The Green Revolution set in motion a sequence of events that brought technology and better
seeds into the country, price support to certain crops and certain agricultural practices. Beyond
these initial measures, agricultural reforms stalled, owing to which many social and structural
problems continue to ail the sector. Owing to this, the farm sector is still in distress, which has
slowed down the large-scale adoption of newer technologies, including those that can deal with
the agricultural air pollution shock.
Excerpted with permission from The Great Smog of India, Siddharth Singh, Penguin
Random House India.
https://scroll.in/bulletins/140/can-we-stop-our-cities-from-imploding
Experts for cultivating flood-tolerant paddy varieties

Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Lalmonirhat | Published: 01:05, Nov 10,2018
Experts at a function in Lalmonirhat stressed the need for cultivation of flood-tolerant paddy
varieties in flood prone areas to increase production in the country.
They said cultivation of flood-tolerant rice varieties was gaining popularity among farmers in the
areas vulnerable to climate change and which helped to increase the country‘s rice production,
ensuring food security.
The event was arranged to harvest a short-duration variety, flood-tolerant BINA dhan 11, at the
demonstration plot of farmer Mofizul Islam at village Chondimari in Aditmari upazila on
Thursday afternoon.
The Department of Agriculture Extension and the RDRS Bangladesh jointly organised the field
day with support from the International Rice Research Institute under its stress-tolerant rice for
South Asia and Africa IRRI-STRASA project, a press release said on Friday.
The main objective of the event was to exhibit the farming techniques of BINA dhan11 rice and
popularise its cultivation among farmers.
With IRRI-STRASA project assistance, five kilograms of seeds of flood-tolerant BRRI dhan51,
BRRI dhan52, BINA dhan7 and BINA dhan11 rice were distributed among 50 farmers of the
upazila for expanding paddy cultivation during the Aman season.
The DAE deputy director Bidhu Bhushan Roy attended the event as the chief guest with RDRS
field supervisor Abdul Mazed Mian in the chair.
Sub-assistant agriculture officers of the DAE Biswambhor Chandra Modak and Mokhlesur
Rahman, agriculture officer of RDRS Bangladesh Mozidul Islam and president of
Mohishkhoncha Union Federation Mozmul Haque spoke on the occasion.
Farmers Mofizul Islam, Nazmul Sarder and Abdul Baten shared their experiences on cultivating
of floodtolerant BINA dhan11 rice which had a submergence tolerant capacity of 20 to 25 days
to produce better yields.
http://www.newagebd.net/article/55615/experts-for-cultivating-flood-tolerant-paddy-varieties

10th November, 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newlsetter

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November 10 ,2018

Dr. Stephen Ostroff

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Mr. Lindsay said, the leading product imported

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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: American Chemical Society

Current % Season Modal Prev. Prev.Yr

Manjeri(Ker) 290.00 NC 8410.00 3500 3500 -5.41

Kalna(WB) 90.00 -1.1 3155.00 3000 3000 -4.76

Beldanga(WB) 65.00 -7.14 1835.00 2600 2600 4.00

Chintamani(Kar) 62.00 -81.87 1472.00 1950 1900 -7.14

Ahirora(UP) 11.00 8.91 255.15 2300 2300 10.05

Ruperdeeha(UP) 7.00 -12.5 57.00 1600 1600 -

Mirzapur(UP) 3.00 -25 909.00 2240 2240 -

Doharighat(UP) 1.50 NC 36.00 2000 2000 -

DOJ indicts suspected rice smuggler Bangayan, 5 others

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European customers would suffer from proposed EU rice

8th November 2018

Credit: Shutterstock.com/ Niran Phonruang

―The Italian government is simply asking to limit the affordability of rice.‖

500,000 jobs created through Anchor Borrowers

The Programme was being

House seeks stronger measures vs inflation

He also called on regulatory agencies to postpone or defer implementation of ―regulated price

India‘s export to Saudi Arabia was worth USD 5 billion in 2017.

Basmati rice export continuously dominates India‘s rice export basket.

India exported F&B products worth USD 4.6 billion in 2017.

Emefiele Berates Banks For Not Stimulating Economy

School Children Enjoy Locally Produced Rice

NFA-Bicol orders public markets, retailers to lower rice prices

Mwea farmers want govt to facilitate purchase of their rice

PH to Conduct another bidding for rice imports

Paddy purchase for food security may fall 8%

The overall loss of yield is expected to be around 10-15% in Uttar Pradesh.

Researchers investigate effects of fertilizer

Methane emissions tied to microbial activity in flooded rice fields

Choice of nitrogen fertilizer affects methane emissions from rice

Video: Restoring wild rice to the wetlands

Siddharth Singh Print

Experts for cultivating flood-tolerant paddy varieties

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