21st October, 2016 Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Daily
Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter
October 21,2016
Vol 7 , Issue 10
Global, Regional & Local

Rice E-Newsletter
www.ricepluss.com / www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
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Today Rice News Headlines...
2.1m hectares of irrigated rice area to face water scarcity by 2025

UNISAME PROPOSES VALUE ADDITION BUREAU UNDER
SMEDA
Exports of Basmati rice fall
Private sector must invest in local rice industry
85 per cent paddy has arrived in markets
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Oct 20
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1580
IGKV adopts Anther culture for better crop yield
New slow-digesting rice could help combat diabetes, obesity
Of Fight Malnutrition, Indian Researchers Develop Protein-Rich Rice
Misplaced fears on rice QRs
Month-long uptrend of price spiral hits consumers hard
Rice millers resume operations
Nigeria to stop importation of rice before the end of 2017 Audu
Ogbeh
P20-billion loan to plant rice
Cambodian rice exports cause a stir in Italy
World Market Price Meeting Focuses on Flooding, Foreign
Competition
Rice Milk Market Research Report Now Available at Research
Corridor
Latest Rice Almanac focuses on climate change, food security
NARI Boss on Role of the Agricultural Research Institute
Editorial Board
Chief Editor
Hamlik
Managing Editor
Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah
Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
Maryam Editor
Legal Advisor
Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha
Ch.Hamid Malhi
Dr.Akhtar Hussain
Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal

University DIK
Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
News Detail...
Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
2.1m hectares of irrigated rice area to face water

scarcity by 2025
By Webmaster
October 20, 2016
Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology

2
ART, Peshawar
Amanullah Khan

KarachiPakistans 2.1 million hectares of irrigated rice
area will face physical water scarcity by 2025, and in order
to sustain such pressures to keep outputs and livelihoods
intact, the farming community needs efforts like RAHBAR
to educate them on conservation agriculture, in addition to
best practices for higher yields, less wastage, and
consequently greater profits.
This was stated by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Sikandar Hayat Khan
Bosan while appreciating lauded Engros RHBAR program hailing it as a unique initiative
introduced to address and find solutions that would, in the near future, improve Pakistans food
security as well as drive sustainable economic growth within the country. Sikandar Hayat Khan
Bosan appreciated the efforts being made by Engro to help farmers at the grass root level to
overcome challenges faced by them in terms of outdated farming methods, lack of knowledge and
technology.These farmers are not only a vital element of poverty alleviation and global food security,
but they also have the potential to boost local economies and communities.
Rahbar is an initiative by Engro Fertilizer & Engro Foundation, actively focusing on inspiring our
farmers towards better farming methods leading to improved prosperity. The program is not only
about educating farmers on best crop management practices and conservation-agriculture, it is also
about exposing them to innovation and use of technology in modern agriculture.The project was
rolled out in September 2015 in Sheikhupura, and has already successfully impacted 5000 farmers in
the area with an impressive record of 26 per cent yield improvement in Rahbar supervised plots vs
conventional farms.
In the near future, it is estimated that 500,000 farmers in 12 districts in Sindh and Punjab would
benefit from the Rahbar Program.The Minister while applauding the initiative, said that Engros
commitment to leverage modern technology to bring crop yield productivity at par with global
standards is commendable, and he hoped that other companies in the private sector would also follow
to help boost our agricultural sector.
http://pakobserver.net/2-1m-hectares-of-irrigated-rice-area-to-face-water-scarcity-by-2025/

UNISAME PROPOSES VALUE ADDITION BUREAU
UNDER SMEDA
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has urged the prime minister (PM)
Nawaz Sharif to set up the Value Addition Bureau (VAB) for increasing exports and the benefit
of the SME sector to inculcate and educate the sector for adding value to their products and
services by taking their products and services to the next level.President UNISAME Zulfikar
Thaver who is also chairman of working group of Capacity Building in Technical Committee of
National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) said it is indeed very painful to see the
entrepreneurs not fully involved in value addition which is the key to growth and progress. The
entrepreneurs are missing the opportunity.
He said the first thing the PM needs to do is to put the Small and Medium Enterprises
Development Authority (SMEDA) under the cabinet division to stimulate it and also have direct
access to the authority. In all advanced countries of the world the SME promotion and
development is under the chief executive be it the PM or the president as the case may be. In our
country it is under the ministry of industries and much time and energy goes in recommendations
and decisions. To avoid all this the PM needs to have this as his pet project because it is for the
benefit of the majority sector and needs special attention.
Thaver pointed out that the country needs to focus on value addition in letter and spirit in
manufacturing and services. The VAB under SMEDA could select one industry after another and
educate the sector to add value in each and every agricultural produce from peanuts to potatoes,
from cotton to cloth, in each and every fruit, vegetable, crops like rice, wheat, maize, pulses, also
flowers.The services sector also needs to increase its efficiency and productivity and also
introduce value added services to its orthodox style.
Much has been spoken on value addition but what is required is practical education and adoption
to make value addition a manufacturing style. The country is exporting substantial quantities of
agricultural produce and even if a portion is exported after value addition it will open their eyes
to what they can earn with value addition.The VAB needs to be set up under SMEDA for regular
contact with the SME units to educate them on value addition manufacturing.
UNISAME

Exports of Basmati rice fall
October 20, 2016
The exports of Basmati rice have registered a decline of 40.54 percent during last five years from
1,137,943 metric tonnes in 2010-2011 to 676,630 metric tonnes in 2014-15 while non-Basmati
rice exports have witnessed a growth of 19.15 percent from 2,563,664 metric tonnes to 3,054,680
metric tonnes during the same period.
The Rice Research Institute (RRI) Kala Shah Kaku's sources said the Basmati rice exports in
term of value has declined from US $1.137 billion in 2010-11 to US $676, 630 million in 201415 against the non-Basmati rice whose exports have increased from $1.138 billion to $1.167
billion during the same period.
The boost in non-Basmati rice exports was mainly because of the increment in Hybrid cultivated
area in Sindh, Guard Agricultural Research & Services (pvt) Ltd, Shahzad Ali Malik said.
Quoting the figures of the Ministry of National Food Safety and Research, Malik in a
presentation given to Lahore Economic Journalists Association, said that hybrid area of
cultivation has increased in Sindh form 84300 hectares in 2008-09 to 3, 022, 000 hectares in
2014-15 showing a growth of 258-percent.
He said the hybrid rice cultivation area is being increased rapidly due to high per acre yield up to
120 mounds. He revealed that Irri (International Rice Research Institute) production is
persistently witnessing a decline that has dwindled from 19,493,000 tonnes in 2008-09 to
11,615,000 tonnes in 2014-15 showing a negative growth of 40.41 percent. "We have started
hybrid rice seed production with 20 acres in 2005 in Sindh but now the area of seed production
has increased to 900 acres in the Sindh province.
He said the Guard Agricultural Research & Services is aggressively working on research to
develop extra long grain Basmati rice to 8mm, heat tolerant, drought tolerant and salinity
resistant verities. The success in developing drought tolerant and salinity verities would not be
less than a revolution which would help enhance rice exports from Pakistan besides uplifting the
farmers' life, he said.
Shahzad Ali Malik said that his company has entered into a joint venture with Yuan Longping
High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited China headed by founder of hybrid rice Professor
Yuan Longping while transfer of Chinese hybrid rice technology to Pakistan was made way back
in 1999. "The research, particularly in the agriculture sector, is a lengthy job that requires high
degree of patience" he added. We set up rice research centres in Golarachi (Sindh) in 1999, in

Larkana (Sindh) in 2003, Kandh Kot (Sindh) in 2005 and Manga Mandi (Punjab) in 2012, he
maintained.
He said the hybrid rice technology has resulted in double the yield of Irri rice and double the
farmers' income. Malik said that his company is now working on enhancing the per acre yield of
8mm rice to 80-100 mounds in Punjab whose seed would commercially be available in 2019. "
We would not only restrict to rice but evolved a plan to include other crops like wheat, maize, oil
seed of sunflower besides vegetable crops including tomato and chili" he disclosed. To a
question, he said the Guard Basmati Rice is currently being exported to 38 countries.
He was of the view that Pakistan Agriculture Research Council was the appropriate organisation
for granting approval of seed varieties but due to the 18th Amendment, the agriculture
department has come under the domain of provincial government. He, however, urged the
authorities concerned to designate an impartial body to approve/certify the seed for commercial
purpose. The Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku (a public sector organisation) which is also
a competitor of private sector should be restricted to the evaluation role rather than granting
approval of rice varieties, he demanded.
http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/94757/
Private sector must invest in local rice industry

Stakeholders in the rice industry have urged the private sector to heighten their interest in domestic rice
production by investing more in the sector.This was said at the 3rd Ghana Rice Festival organised by the
Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB) in Accra.
In an interview with the B&FT, Mike Bartels, German CooperationGreen Innovation Center for The
Agriculture and Food Sector, Ghana, said there is tremendous opportunity in the rice industry to thrive if
the private sector increases its participation.
We believe that there is a huge potential in the rice production in Ghana which is untapped. I dont
believe that it is the task of only the government to promote the local rice industry. It is the responsibility
of the government to create a conducive framework for innovations that work so that the private sector
takes over the task of investing in machinery and logistics that will help the industry thrive, he said.
Also speaking at the function, the Minister of Food and Agriculture (Crops), Dr Ahmed Yakubu
Alhassan, said, for the rice sector to develop, there is the need for the private sector to complement
governments efforts in the rice value chain.

He maintained that government takes the rice sector very seriously, and to that effect, introduced certain
initiatives to boost production and consumption of local rice.
Some of the interventions, he said, include the Rice Sector Support Project (RRSP), West Africa
Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP) which is managed by the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture (MOFA) and implemented by the Enhanced Access to Quality Rice Seed Initiative
(EAQRSI).
These selected projects have on their own contributed and impacted 18,392 farmers and resulted in the
cultivation of 15,692 hectares with resultant yields of 52,720mt in 2015. This has been done through the
provision of seeds, improved agric-inputs, technical training on good agronomic practices, land
development and better water management systems, Dr Ahmed said.
He further stated that some irrigation schemes had been introduced to ensure that rice farmers can
produce all-year-round, adding that, Ghana has been able to produce more than 50percent of its rice
consumption domestically since 2014.
Because government realises a need for more than one crop in a year to maximise production volumes,
some irrigation schemes have been identified for development for rice production. A 10,000 hectare Nasia
Nabogo Project is ongoing and prospective developers, and farmers have been identified.
The objective is to produce rice under a rain water harvest management system of about 3,000 hectares
within a period of three years with the potential yield of 12,000mt, he said.
Local rice consumption is estimated at 770,000mt per year, with premium rice comprising 24percent of
the total market.
Typically, local rice is regarded as inferior to imports, with urban consumers willing to pay a 113percent
premium for imported rice.
This, the President of the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB), Imoro Amoro, has called for more
patronage of locally produced rice as he maintains that the local rice producers have put in a lot of efforts
and resources to ensure that rice produced in the country matches international standards of quality.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Private-sector-must-invest-in-local-riceindustry-479104

85 per cent paddy has arrived in markets
Heaps of paddy at grain market in Attari. photo: vishal kumar
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 19
The procurement of paddy will end within a week in markets of the district. According to officials of the
Punjab Mandi Board 2,57,000 metric tonne (MT) paddy crop has arrived in markets of the district till
date. Officials are expecting paddy arrival to stop within a few days. Out of the total procurement,
government agencies have purchased 2,12,000 MT paddy and private millers bought 4,50,00 MT. Mandi
officials claimed that Arthiyas were giving payment to farmers on the spot.
Meanwhile, arrival of the Basamti 1121 is on its peak nowadays. As per the data, 8,70,00 MT Basamti
varieties arrived in markets of the district till date. Basamti arrival in markets will continue till March.

District Mandi Officer Jasbir Singh Pannu said, Almost 85 per cent paddy has come in the market. Only
15 per cent crop remains in fields. It will arrive within next three to four days. We are expecting 20,000
MT paddy in markets
He said, Farmers in the Jandiala, Raya and Mehta area cultivate short duration varieties of paddy and
sow three crops in a year. We are expecting that paddy varieties will reach these mandis. It is pertinent to
mention here that the procurement of paddy had started in the district on October 1 and completed within
20 days. The state government had instructed farmers of the border areas to leave their villages after
surgical strikes on the POK. Due to fear of war, farmers in the district harvested the crop within a short
span. The government also paid farmers on the time due to the upcoming Assembly elections.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/cities/amritsar/-85-per-cent-paddy-has-arrived-inmarkets/312121.html
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Oct 20

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices - APMC & Open Market-October 20
Nagpur, Oct 20 Gram prices touched to a record high in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC)auctions on increased buying support from local millers amid
weak
arrival from producing region. Sharp rise in gram in other mandis in the region, fresh hike
Madhya Pradesh gram and repeated enquiries from South-based millers also boosted prices,
according to sources.
*
FOODGRAINS & PULSES

GRAM
* Desi gram zoomed up again in open market on festival season demand from local
traders amid weak supply from producing region.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local traders
amid good supply from producing belt.
* Batri dal and watana dal recovered in open market on good demand from local traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New - 6,200-6,300, Tuar dal (clean) - 10,800-11,200, Udid -

10,700-11,000, Udid Mogar (clean) - 13,400-13,700, Moong 6,100-6,300, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,800-7,200, Gram - 9,000-9,500,
Gram Super best bold - 11,400-11,700 for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals, settled at last levels.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction
8,500-10,400
8,100-9,900
Gram Pink Auction
n.a.
2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction
5,400-6,300
5,300-6,300
Moong Auction
n.a.
6,400-6,600
Udid Auction
n.a.
4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a.
2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold
11,700-12,000
11,700-12,000
Gram Super Best
n.a.
n.a.
Gram Medium Best
11,200-11,500
11,200-11,500
Gram Dal Medium
n.a.
n.a
Gram Mill Quality
9,600-9,700
9,600-9,700
Desi gram Raw
9,500-9,700
9,300-9,500
Gram Yellow
12,300-12,700
12,300-12,700
Gram Kabuli
12,700-14,000
12,700-14,000
Gram Pink
12,000-12,500
12,000-12,500
Tuar Fataka Best-New
11,200-11,500
11,200-11,500
Tuar Fataka Medium-New
10,600-11,000
10,600-11,000
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New
9,200-9,500
10,000-10,500
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
8,500-9,000
8,500-9,000
Tuar Gavarani New
6,450-6,550
6,450-6,550
Tuar Karnataka
6,800-6,950
6,800-6,950
Tuar Black
11,800-12,300
11,800-12,300
Masoor dal best
6,400-6,500
6,400-6,500
Masoor dal medium
6,000-6,200
6,000-6,200
Masoor
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New)
6,800-7,200
6,800-7,200
Moong Mogar Medium
6,300-6,600
6,300-6,600
Moong dal Chilka
6,200-6,500
6,300-6,500
Moong Mill quality
n.a.
n.a.
Moong Chamki best
6,500-7,000
6,500-7,000
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 12,500-13,000
12,500-13,000
10

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,500-11,600
10,500-11,600
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
7,200-7,500
7,200-7,500
Batri dal (100 INR/KG)
6,400-6,800
6,300-6,700
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
4,600-4,800
4,600-4,800
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)
3,150-3,250
3,100-3,200
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
3,400-3,600
3,400-3,600
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500
4,000-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,000
1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000
1,900-2,000
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,750-1,950
1,750-1,950
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,250-2,450
2,250-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,950-2,250
1,950-2,250
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-4,000
3,300-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-3,000
2,400-3,000
Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,250
2,800-3,250
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,300-2,650
2,300-2,650
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG)
2,200-2,500
2,200-2,500
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,450
2,100-2,450
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)
1,800-2,000
1,800-2,000
Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG) 3,450-3,800
3,450-3,800
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,600-3,000
2,600-3,000
Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500
4,200-4,500
Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,100
3,800-4,100
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,000-13,500
9,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-8,000
6,500-8,000
Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,600
5,300-5,600
Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,100
4,900-5,100
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,200
1,900-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,700-1,850
1,700-1,850
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 33.2 degree Celsius (93.6 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
15.9 degree Celsius (60.6 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : Nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 34
and 16 degreeCelsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1CQ2W4
11

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1580
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 19-10-2016
Domestic Prices
Product
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Dibrugarh (Assam)
Other
2000
2900
Hassan (Karnataka)
Other
2100
2410
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1840
1860
Kadi (Gujarat)
Other
1725
2065
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
2200
2600
Satna (Madhya Pradesh)
Other
1500
1760
Jagraon (Kerala)
Other
2400
2500
Taura (Haryana)
Other
2500
2500
Jajpur (Orissa)
Other
800
1000
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2200
2257
Bargarh (Orissa)
Other
1400
1500
Shillong (Meghalaya)
Other
1800
2200
Rice
Wheat
Papaya
Brinjal
Source:agmarknet.nic.in
12
IGKV adopts Anther culture for better crop yield

Thu,20 Oct 2016
Summary: RAIPUR: Scientists of Indira

Gandhi Agricultural university (IGKV) have
successfully adopted a complex technique of
modern breeding tool called Anther Culture.
Conventional rice breeding methods require 7-8
years for achieving stability in field
performance and release of new variety." With
this technique breeders will be able to release a
crop variety in two years which generally takes
a long span of 7-8 years for seed production.
New rice varieties with good yield and quality
should be released in a speedy manner . Anther
Culture reduces the breeding time for
development of new rice variety and requires
only about four season compared to conventional breeding which requires more than nine
season.Talking to TOI, the Agricultural University's scientists said, "To meet the demand of
growing population, rice production needs to be increased in coming years .
RAIPUR: Scientists of Indira Gandhi Agricultural university (IGKV) have successfully adopted
a complex technique of modern breeding tool called Anther Culture. With this technique
breeders will be able to release a crop variety in two years which generally takes a long span of
7-8 years for seed production. Anther Culture reduces the breeding time for development of new
rice variety and requires only about four season compared to conventional breeding which
requires more than nine season.Talking to TOI, the Agricultural University's scientists said, "To
meet the demand of growing population, rice production needs to be increased in coming years.
New rice varieties with good yield and quality should be released in a speedy manner .
Conventional rice breeding methods require 7-8 years for achieving stability in field performance
and release of new variety.".
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/IGKV-adopts-Anther-culture-for-bettercrop-yield/articleshow/54951502.cms
http://www.nyoooz.com/raipur/639257/igkv-adopts-anther-culture-for-better-crop-yield
13

New slow-digesting rice could help combat diabetes, obesity
Researchers in Tasmania have created a new
form of rice that could help reduce rates of
diabetes and obesity.The scientists have
discovered a way to increase the production
of resistant starch in rice, which can improve
digestibility.Professor Steven Smith from the
University of Tasmania said the discovery
could
have
numerous
health
benefits."Normally rice is digested relatively
quickly, and because most of the component
of the rice is starch, which is made up of
sugars, that essentially gives you a sugar hit,"
he said."So the modified rice contains this different kind of starch which is digested more slowly and
therefore you don't get that same sugar hit."In combination with a healthy diet, Professor Smith said the
rice could help reduce instances of diet-related health problems like obesity and diabetes.
Professor Smith said there was potential for the new rice to help a large number of people in Asian
countries where rice is a significant part of local diets, but he envisaged it would benefit a more specific
consumer group."It will be more likely to be targeted to those people who may be susceptible or who are
actively trying to control their sugar intake," he said."I don't see it as a widespread adoption of this new
kind of rice but rather something that's available for particular use to help people contain their sugar
intake."Further trials and assessment of the rice still need to be undertaken before it can be introduced to
market.
"We could see this going into production within a few years let's say five years," Professor Smith
said."I would suspect that there will be other questions that will arise in terms of the benefits to farmers,
the production systems and so on, so realistically it could take longer."The study has been published in
the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
PHOTO: The new rice could help people trying to contain their sugar intake. (ABC Rural: David
Sparkes)
MAP: TAS
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-21/new-modified-rice-could-help-diabetes-andobesity/7955448
14

Of Fight Malnutrition, Indian Researchers Develop ProteinRich Rice
Press Trust Of India
October 21, 2016
Over 5 lakh children in the Chhattisgarh are underweight, with tribal districts like Bastar, Dantewada,
Kondagaon and Narayanpur high in malnourishment.
Raipur: A protein-enriched rice variety has been developed by the Indira Gandhi Krishi
Vishwavidyalay (IGKV) in Raipur and researchers hope it would serve as a boon for malnourished
population, especially children, in the tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh.
15

Our researchers worked for seven years to develop the variety of rice that is rich in protein along
with high zinc content, said Dr Girish Chandel, Professor in Department of Plant Molecular Biology
and Biotechnology, IGKV.
The rice variety will play a crucial role in fighting protein deficiencies, claimed Dr Chandel, who
led the research.Since rice is the staple food of the state and consumed on a regular basis, the
research focused on enhancing its micro-nutrients and protein contents. For majority of the people
who do not eat meat products or cant afford pulses, rice could be a good source of proteins, he said.
Our present varieties of rice are not rich in protein content as it mainly consists of carbohydrates, so
we are developing zinc-rich rice varieties along with rich protein content, he added.
He further said that the new developed rice variety has over 10 per cent protein content, which is
three per cent more than what is found in any popular variety and has 30 PPM zinc content.As per a
survey last year, very high rate of malnutrition was found among pre-school children in tribal areas
16

showing conditions like being underweight and stunted growth, which indicates a critical situation,
he said.
Over five lakh children in the state are underweight, with tribal districts like Bastar, Dantewada,
Kondagaon and Narayanpur having a comparatively higher rate of malnourishment then other
districts.However, the government has been making several efforts with schemes like Vazan
Tyohar (weight festival) and nutritious meal week to overcome the malnutrition menace.
Malnutrition leads to underweight and stunted growth in children, most commonly seen in tribal
districts.
The Women and Child Development Department last month informed that malnutrition rate in
Chhattisgarh has declined to 29.8 per cent from 47.1 per cent registered in the National Family
Health Survey 2005-06 (weight-based), Chandel said.He said the new rice varietys high nutritional
content will be helpful in governments efforts to eradicate malnutrition in the state.
The rice variety will be sent to the states variety identification committee within six months for
final release following which it is likely to be ready for cultivation next year, he said.Hailing the
efforts of IGKV, a nutrition expert in the state said researches should be undertaken to improve the
protein quality in several other foods, besides rice.Every year, new variety rice is identified. For
research purpose, the development is good. But the important thing is when it will arrive in the
market on a large scale so that people could take its advantage, nutritionist Dr Aruna Palta said.
Besides, quality is more important as compared to quantity. Hence, the focus should be on improving
the quality of protein rather just quantity, she said.The way scientists have developed high protein
rice, researches should also be done to improve the protein quality in other food items like pulses and
wheat which are also key components of Indian meal, she added.
http://everylifecounts.ndtv.com/to-fight-off-malnutrition-indian-researchers-develop-protein-rich-rice6129
17

Misplaced fears on rice QRs
By: Cielito F. Habito / @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:28 AM October 21, 2016
Will lifting quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports next year, as required of us by the World
Trade Organization (WTO), deal a fatal blow to Filipino rice farmers, as is feared by some? Is
seeking yet another extension (the fourth in the course of the last 21 years) in the best interests of
the country?
Last August, the economic cluster of the Duterte Cabinet decided not to seek this fourth extension
from the WTO, and instead do what many believe we should have done long ago: get government
out of the business of rice importation and trading. Dissenters, including the Department of
Agriculture (DA), are painting a dire picture of domestic rice prices plummeting to levels that
would drive rice farmers out of their livelihoods. But will removing rice QRs necessarily bring
about a dramatic drop in the domestic rice price?
Actually, no. The idea behind the age-old recommendation to remove rice QRs (hence the National
Food Authoritys control over rice importation) is not to let imported rice enter the country dutyfree. We can convert the existing import quota into an equivalent tariff rate (i.e., tariffy the QR)
that will ensure that domestic rice prices would not change. (We could even conceivably impose a
tariff duty that would make prices go up!) The WTO frowns on QRs because of the discretion it
gives governments, which are never a good judge of market supply and demand conditions, and
invariably foul things up and create serious distortions ultimately harmful to the people. Import
tariffs are preferred because they are transparent on the protection given local producers.
ADVERTISEMENT
How can we avoid a dramatic drop in domestic rice prices that is feared to threaten rice farmers
livelihoods? With imported rice now costing about half of what it takes to produce rice
domestically, lifting the QR but imposing a 100-percent import tariff will keep domestic prices
unchanged. This assumes that we do not tolerate large-scale rice smugglingi.e., allow rice
18

importers to get away with not paying import duties. But stopping rice smuggling is a given that
the government must do whether we maintain QRs via the NFAs control over imports, or adopt
the tariffied system where private importers may import the commodity subject to the equivalent
tariff. The clear advantage of the latter is that the government earns substantial revenues from the
tariff on rice imports, instead of pouring taxpayer money on a losing government institution that
the NFA has been through the years (with debt reportedly running up to P167 billion).
The real question before us is: Do we want domestic rice prices to stay where they are? Do we
want rice to be twice more costly than it needs to be, for the benefit of 2.4 million rice farmers, but
to the detriment of 102 million rice consumers? Most of our estimated 2.4 million rice farmers are
indeed poor, and most certainly deserve help. But there are 10 times as many poor Filipinos who
are not rice farmers, and whose numbers could be significantly reduced if only they could buy the
food staple at prices closer to what Thai and Vietnamese consumers do. Ironically, our fixation on
100-percent self-sufficiency in rice has led to large numbers of food-insecure Filipinos and
alarming rates of malnutrition and stunting (33.5 percent) among young Filipino children, who are
condemned to irreparable lifelong damage in brain and physical development.
Our longer-term goal must be to narrow and eventually eliminate this price gap, by achieving
higher productivity in Philippine rice farms. In our historical experience, such productivity
improvement only finally happened in other industries when trade was opened up, as trade
protection invariably bred complacency. Im confident that tariffying our rice QRs, then phasing
down the tariff through time would push the government to finally do things right, until our
production costs approach those of our neighbors. If we can achieve that, and still be able to
produce all the rice we need, it would be ideal.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/98383/misplaced-fears-on-rice-qrs
Month-long uptrend of price spiral hits consumers hard

19
FE Report
Prices of most of the essentials have skyrocketed over the last

month despite adequate supply and almost steady price trend in the
global market, hitting the consumers hard, market observers
said.Prices of rice, cooking oil, sugar, salt, vegetables, chicken,
garlic, ginger, onion have gone up notably compared to a month
back, Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data
showed.According to data available with the commerce and
agriculture ministries, barring a few items, supply of the essentials
is good enough to meet the local demand.
Market analysts put the blame for the unbridled price spiraling on poor market monitoring by the
government agencies and absence of penalty for the price manipulators.As per accounts of the TCB and
Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), prices of rice (coarse and medium varieties) soared by 2025 per cent (pc), vegetables 20-100 pc, edible oil 7-10 pc, salt 20 pc, sugar 17-18 pc, onion eight pc,
garlic 10 pc and ginger 20 per cent during the period.
According to the commerce and agriculture ministries, the country's rice production was 34.57 million
(3.457 crore) tonnes against the demand of 31.0 million tonnes, edible oil import exceeded 1.9 million
tonnes in the last 12 months against the demand of 1.5 million tonnes and stock of salt was 1.8 million
tonnes against the demand of 1.67 million tonnes.
Supply of onion was 2.4 million tonnes, including 1.704 million tonnes of local production, against its
demand of 2.0 million tonnes, ginger's stock was 0.45 million tonnes against the demand of 0.35 million
tonnes and supply of garlic was 0.5 million tonnes against the need of 0.5 million tonnes.
Sugar and oil refiners raised the prices of the two essentials recently ignoring the Bangladesh Tariff
Commission (BTC)'s recommended prices, a commerce ministry official said.Bottled soybean oil of
different brands was selling at Tk98-Tk102 a litre against the BTC recommended Tk97 a litre, he said.
Sugar was selling at Tk66 a kg at mill-gates against BTC-proposed Tk64.
The commodity was retailing at Tk70-Tk75 a kg.The commission recommended Tk35 a kg for super
refined salt and Tk22 for thick quality salt but the refiners were selling the products at Tk42 a kg and
Tk28 a kg respectively, said the official.
Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan said the refiners bought
crude salt at Tk4.5 to Tk 7 a kg at the growers' level and imported 0.25 million tonnes of the item at
Tk4.0-Tk5.0 per kg.
20

He said production of one kg refined sugar cost not more than Tk30. Rice millers and importers are
making windfall profits hurting common consumers, he commented.Munshi Shafiul Haque, additional
secretary of the commerce ministry, claimed the Price Monitoring and Forecasting Cell (PMFC) of the
ministry was closely monitoring the price situation.
Prices of soybean and sugar rose to some extent in the global market, which has reflected in the local
kitchen markets.Salt refiners has committed to the ministry to reduce the price by Tk4 per one-kg
pack.Prices of rice might ease down within a few days with the beginning of Aman harvest, he expected.
However, most of the vegetables sold at Tk50 (pointed gourd) -Tk120 (tomato) a kg in the market for the
last two weeks. Papaya was the cheapest vegetable sold at Tk30 a kg on Thursday.Brinjal sold at Tk60Tk80 a kg from Tk30-Tk 40 a month ago while Chilli was selling at Tk140-Tk 200 a kg.End of stock of
Kharip-2 vegetables and water logging in many districts hindered farming of early Rabi season vegetables
which caused the price hike, said Md Emran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arot Malik
Samity, a Karwan Bazar-based wholesalers association in the city.
He said best quality Brinjal was selling at Tk 50 in Karwan Bazar which was trading at Tk80 a kg in
Hatirpool and Newmarket--- a 60 per cent price gap.However, after being steady for the last three months,
prices of broiler chicken increased by Tk15-Tk 20 last week that ended Thursday as broiler was sold at Tk
140-Tk 150 a kg.Prices of garlic, chilli and some vegetables, further increased by Tk3-Tk 20 a kg in a
week.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/10/20/50137/Month-long-uptrend-of-price-spiral-hitsconsumers-hard
Rice millers resume operations

Keshav Agrawal| TNN | Oct 20, 2016, 21:37 IST
Pilibhit: Rice millers, who had gone on a strike from October 16, have resumed operations in
Uttar Pradesh.Around 4,000 rice millers across UP had stopped work in protest against the
flawed policy of the state government. The rice millers association called off the strike on
Wednesday evening after an assurance by the chief secretary, government of UP, to resolve their
problems within one week. Prior to this, the chief secretary had sought two days time from the
rice millers at a meeting held in Lucknow on October 17 to resolve the matter.
21

The process of procuring paddy from farmers by government agencies had been adversely
affected as rice mills stopped work and refused to accept any of paddy. With neither government
agencies nor farmers having any storage facility, the latter was forced to sell their produce at
lower rates to private buyers.
According to Puranpur-based senior vice-president of the UP Rice Millers Association, Ajmer
Singh Chheena, chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar had informed the mill leaders that he had
discussed the issue on Wednesday with chief minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav who had given an
assurance that the matter would be resolved shortly in a positive way.
Cheena said a fresh meeting of state leaders of rice millers had been called by Bhatnagar on
Friday in Lucknow to scrutinize the situation and the demands of millers. When asked why the
strike was called off, Cheena said the association was swayed by the appeal made by the chief
secretary to millers to protect interests of paddy growers.Meanwhile, secretary of APMC
(Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee) Manish Singh said with the revival of operations by
mills, the rates of paddy in the mandi were expected to go up from Friday. Fresh ar
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/Rice-millers-resumeoperations/articleshow/54962999.cms
Nigeria to stop importation of rice before the end of 2017

Audu Ogbeh
By Ameh Comrade Godwin on October 21, 2016@dailypostngr
Nigeria is expected to stop the importation of rice before the end of 2017, the Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has assured.Ogbeh gave this assurance
while speaking during an assessment tour of Coscharis Rice Farm in Anaku, in the Ayemelum
Local Government Area of Anambra state.He said Nigeria spends over $3billion on food import
annually, stressing that this was unacceptable for a country with huge potential to produce
food.He said, When we go round the country, we begin to have great confidence in our rich
22

endowments and I
think
Nigerias
independence is just
begining
to
be
established, because
unless a country can
feed itself and feed
well, every other
dream
cant
be
fulfilled.
The
minister
wondered how much
investments
the
Coscharis Group had made on rice farming in just two years, stressing that by replicating such
ventures across 26 states with potential to produce rice, Nigeria would save so much in foreign
currency.I have seen similar things in Kebbi and I am seeing this big one, I am very proud of
Coscharis and the effort the governor of Anambra state is making to support him.In another
year, we will have no need to import one grain of rice into this country.In fact we may stop rice
importation sooner than that. It is final word I am telling you, because Nigerians have proven
that they can do it and I am proud that I can see this thing in Anambra. Because people who
dont know Anambra do not even know what potential sexist for agriculture. I am also proud of
the role the CBN is playing because they are giving a lot of credit support, even allocating the
scarce foreign exchange that we have to a critical sector like agriculture.
This is heavily mechanised, the smaller farmers dont have all these machineries but they
contribute immensely. So jobs, jobs and jobs, the millers are there, the marketers, the
transporters, the distributors, all of them will be part of this business, just for rice. We have not
even talked about cassava, of maize, of soghurm, of millets, beans, yams so the future is huge,
the jobs are there.
Also speaking, the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said the bank was spurred to
support agriculture because the country ran into a situation where its reserves had been badly
depleted, largely due to massive importation of rice when indeed it can grow rice,.He said: we
import tomatoes, when we can grow tomatoes, we are importing milk, when we can grow diary.
23

We have people and companies in Nigeria that can take up the initiative, but we have been
importing milk for over 60 years.
There is a company that has been producing milk for 60 years, and I say it is time those kind of
companies began to produce our diary in Nigeria.Emefiele said the apex bank would
continue to encourage investors like the Coscharis Group because of their commitment in the
business.
We started this with him, almost about two years ago when we granted him a N2 billion
Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS).With his own resources, he added to it and
that is why he is where he is today. Those are the type of things we need to continue to
encourage.And about a month ago, he came to the CBN that we need to come and see what he
has done with the CACS fund we gave to him. I must say that I am delighted that he has used the
money well. And when he came, he requested for more money because he wants to have the
capacity to produce rice all-year round, that is three harvests in a year.
To do so, he needs irrigation and he needs his mill. And I am happy to say yesterday, the
Committee of Governors of CBN gave approval for him to set up a mill here and also set up his
irrigation. That is the kind of support we would give people who have shown interest, because
there is no foreign exchange to import food, when we can produce food in the country.After
that, the next stage is to begin to encourage him, together with the state governor for supporting
the initiative, to be able to create jobs for the youths
http://dailypost.ng/2016/10/21/nigeria-stop-importation-rice-end-2017-audu-ogbeh/
P20-billion loan to plant rice

By Dahli Aspillera
October 21, 2016
GROWTH Publishing and Maricar Bou tell us that the Duterte administration will secure a P20
billion government-to-government loan from China to finance its hybrid rice expansion to one
million hectares. This is to fulfill its promise to uplif Filipino farmers lives and poverty
reduction, according to SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong, a delegate
with DU30 to China.
Lim: If we have one million hectares for hybrid, we will be rice sufficient. Beyond one million
24

hectares, we will be an exporter. Land should be allotted at 800,000 hectares in the dry season
and 200,000 hectares, wet season. P2,300 per bag (one bag per hectare) of hybrid seeds. Thus, at
just half of the targeted area, 500,000 hectares, this amounts to P1.15 billion just for hybrid seeds
alone. Hybrid rice farmers can earn P100,000-P150,000 per hectare. With a production cost of
P30,000-P35,000 per hectare using hybrids, they are able to harvest 9-10 MT per hectare, a
significant gain compared to the national average rice yield of just close to 4 MT per hectare.
DepAgris current budget for this expansion has apparently run out. But since hybrid rice
planting is claimed to be economically viable, a soft loan can well fund the expansion. We may
as well finance seed for farmers, or we will be importing more rice which is more expensive,
said Obien.
We (SLAC alone) have a target to supply to 500,000 hectares for the year (crop year 20162017, dry and wet seasons)....Thats possible because we have achieved 320,000 hectares the
previous year. SLAC has been pushing in the last 15 years for government support for hybrid
rice expansion since at one time the countrys rice imports had skyrocketed to around P45
billion. If hybrid rice expansion is financed, farmers lives are uplifted.
And the economy can benefit eventually from the stability of rice supply and the Philippines may
even enjoy being rice exporters. This was the vision back in the 70s during the excitement in the
Philippines over the wonderful High Yielding Variety, HYV, rice seeds.
From 2005-2010, Lim reminds us [as if we could forget] that the Philippine government
imported 800,000 to 1.2 million MT of rice yearly. Import cost was P18 to P34 billion a year and
shot up to P50 billion at one time when traded rice price soared to around $1,000 per MT. In fact,
it is very lucrative for certain Filipinos and multinational rice merchants for the Philippines to
import rice.
From the present 18.15 million MT paddy rice (palay) production, this annual production level
will increase by 1.6 million MT with one million hectares for hybrids. Present hybrid area is
around 400,000-500,000 hectares out of total harvested rice area of 4.65 million hectares.
When milling recovery is raised to 65 percent from around 50-60 percent, added rice production
will be 2.5 million MT, more than enough to feed the nation... With only a P4.5 billion yearly
budget for hybrid seeds (P4,500 per hectare for one million hectares), the Philippines can
become rice sufficient, Lim said.
25

The news of a P20 billion debt the Philippines is getting into, to invest in planting hybrid rice:
The senders should define hybrid rice--what expensive inputs (foreign-bought chemicals,
different kinds of expensive pesticides, herbicides, rodenticides, fertilizers, continuously flowing
ample irrigation, etc.) By being forced to plant hybrid seeds, subsistence farmers are compelled
to spend for expensive, state-of-the-art inputs, and get in debt. Is this hybrid rice being promoted
the same as high-yielding-variety (HYV) rice? HYV rice was a frustration, a failure for smalltime farmers in tropical areas.P20 billion to be spent for hybrid seeds, chemicals, expensive rice
hybrid input manufactured and purchased bought with dollars from abroad? HYV rice requires
very expensive input to produce. Hybrid seeds will not grow without modern chemical input.
HYV have short, stocky stalks, excessively overloaded with rice grains. The wind and rains
come, and bends the grain-loaded stalk down to the flooded field. The HYV stalk heaping with
grains get water-logged; the stalk unable to lift all those wet grains out and up from the flood.
Even after the storm, when the sun comes out, the water-logged grains remain underwater; the
plant and grains rot under water. Thousands of hectares of hybrid rice rotting after each storm
flood.
With the old, traditional non-hybrid rice plant, the stalk does not get overloaded with grain.
When the wind and rain push the thin, tall stalk down into the flooded field, the plant does not
get too weighed down by too many grains. After the storm, when the sun comes up, the
traditional plant readily springs upward to dry and to continue to grow. it is not weighed down by
heavy, water-logged grains. The stalk springs out of the flood, to dry and to continue growing.
Filipino rice farmers will earn at least P150,000 per hectare with hybrid seeds, flaunts Lim Bon
Liong and DA rice consultant Dr. Santiago Obien. Might this be counting the chicks before the
eggs are laid?
http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/opinion/p20-billion-loan-plant-rice
Cambodian rice exports cause a stir in Italy

Fri, 21 October 2016
Post Staff
Ente Nazionale Risi (ENR), Italys national rice agency, has raised concern over increased European rice
imports from countries such as Cambodia, according to rice industry publication Oryza.
ENR denounced the Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme, under which Cambodian rice exports receive
preferential export status, saying that falling rice prices in the Kingdom, despite increasing exports to
Europe, show that EBA terms benefit European traders and not farmers in Cambodia.
Previously, ENR opposed increased duty-free imports of rice from Cambodia and the region because of
the negative effect it had on Italian rice production and sales
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodian-rice-exports-cause-stir-italy
26

World Market Price Meeting Focuses on Flooding, Foreign
Competition
By Kristen Dayton Keith Glover
October 20, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC -- Tuesday, the World Market Price subcommittee held their final meeting of 2016
here where USA Rice Members met with representatives from the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), the Economic Research Service (ERS), the Farm Service Agency (FSA), and the Foreign
Agricultural Service (FAS) to discuss a variety of domestic and international issues facing the rice
industry.On the domestic front, the main topic was the recent flooding in Louisiana and Arkansas.
Representatives from USDA were asked how they were helping rice farmers affected by the flooding, and
what sort of impact these events would have on supply and demand.
"We shared important information about the impacts of flooding in Louisiana and Arkansas with
representatives from NASS, FSA, and ERS," said Keith Glover, chairman of the USA Rice World Market
Price Subcommittee. "As an industry, we have to make sure the government understands what is going
on in these areas right now. lover said, "Representatives from each rice producing state also shared with
USDA their observations about this year's rice crop with regard to average field yields and milling quality
for their state. And FSA reported that Price Loss Coverage (PLC) payments are on schedule."
On the international front, FAS representatives reported on U.S. export markets including information
that some competitors continue to practice illegal price support and export subsidies, making this a
potentially difficult environment for U.S. rice. Glover remarked, "The rice industry is dealing with low
prices, large stocks, and an even larger crop for 2016/17 so it is imperative we find more export markets.
Our meeting with USDA focused on both short-term ways to export U.S. rice and long-term moves to
secure access to important markets."
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http://www.republic-news.org/news/rice-milk-market-research-report-now-available-research-corridor/
Latest Rice Almanac focuses on climate change, food

security
by BusinessMirror - October 20, 2016
By Johnny F. Goloyugo | Correspondent
ENGLISH philosopher Roger Bacon, the famous Doctor Mirabilis (wonderful teacher) from
England, must have first used the word almanac in the latter part of the 13th century. Although
the origin of the word is obscure, early almanacs were actually calendars that dealt with detailed
movements of the heavenly bodies, as well as agricultural and meteorological data.
There are other known almanacs available in the market, like astrological and fictional almanacs,
including almanac calculators. All these conjure images of statistics, graphs, illustrations,
diagrams, tables and, of late, digitized photographs.
But what is interesting is that despite the presence of agriculture almanacs as early as the 17th
and 19th centuries, such as the Harriss Farmers Almanac (1692-present), Blums Farmers
Almanac (1828-present) and Farmers Almanac (1818-present), it was only in 1993 that an
Asian-focused Rice Almanac,published by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based
28

in Los Baos, Laguna, came about in response to the long-felt need to bring together general
information about riceits origin, its growth and production.Until recently, the Global Rice
Science Partnership (GRISP), a three-member consortium within the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), led by IRRI (the two others are Africa Rice Center
and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture) released the fourth edition of theRice
Almanac, a source book for one of the most important economic activities on Earth.GRISP
Director Bas Bauman said this 283-page edition is breaking a new ground in its coverage of
issues related to rice production, both environmentalincluding climate changeand
importance of food security and the global economy.
The chapter on Rice and the Environment focuses on rice environments and cropping systems,
soils, water use and water productivity, ecosystem services, managing pests in the rice
ecosystem, environmental impacts and rice and health.Rice production mainly affects the
environment by releasing or sequestering gases or compounds that are active in the atmosphere
or troposphere and by changing the chemical composition of the water flowing through rice
fields. Rice is, in turn, affected by environmental changes, such as global climate change, the
almanac reveals.Climate change is expected to raise carbon-dioxide levels and temperatures
and, possibly, increase the frequency of extreme climatic events in some areas, such as storms,
droughts and heavy rainfall in monsoon climates, that will increase the incidence of flooding.
Rising sea levels are expected to increase flood risk and salinity intrusion in rice-growing
environments, the almanac says.
Global rice production and consumption, production and yield trends, international and domestic
rice markets, domestic policy instruments and changes in demography and the rice economy are
discussed in the Rice in the Economy chapter.Also highlighted are rice-production challenges,
challenges for future cropping systems and response options.Rice around the world highlights
rice and food security in Asia; rice in Latin America and the Caribbean, West Africa, East and
Southern Africa, South America and Europe.
Also featured are 10 countries in AsiaBangladesh, Cambodia China, India, Indonesia, Japan,
Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.Of special interest are rice-production
opportunities in the Philippines. TheRice Almanac states that to become self-sufficient in rice, it
has to adopt existing technologies, such as improved varieties and know-how to have yield
increase by 1 to 3 ton per hectare. Better-quality seed combined with good management,
including new postharvest technologies, is the best way to improve rice yields and the quality of
production.The almanac further says, The [Philippine] government must implement a strategy
to reduce population growth since the actual volume of rice produced in the country is not
enough to match rice demand because of the high increase in population.If population growth
will be higher than the growth in yield, the country will continue to import rice from other
countries to meet domestic demand for rice in the coming years, the almanac concluded.
Also featured are Sub-Saharan AfricaMadagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania; and
Latin AmericaArgentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Uruguay.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/latest-rice-almanac-focuses-on-climate-change-food-security/
29

NARI Boss on Role of the Agricultural Research Institute
Oct 20, 2016
The director general of the National Agricultural Research Institute has remarked that NARI is set up
with the mandate to improve agriculture production through client oriented adaptive research and
improve production of crops, livestock and sustainable natural resource management in production
systems.
Ansumana K. Jarjue, speaking during an interview with the Daily Observer, said the Efficacy of Aflasafe
Biological Products in Gambia Field programme is part of a pilot project in Africa. The Gambia joined
12 others countries in Africa that have benefited in the implementation of this new project called Aflasafe
initiative. Although without clear cut funding at institutional level, it is expected to last for five years in
The Gambia and hosted at NARI, he added.
Jarjue disclosed that the Aflasafe initiative is a programme designed to protect Gambias agricultural
products from being contaminated with aflatoxin, saying the project was facilitated by the ECOWAS
Agricultural Commission and Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA).
Objectives
DG Jarjue stated that NARI is working towards contributing to enhancing the quality of crop products
through reducing aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and maize in The Gambia by 90%, and also
contribute to enhancing groundnut and maize marketing for export trade for the country. Its also an
objective for the institution to contribute to minimising health risks caused by aflatoxin contamination in
The Gambia.
He further explained that in the first year, results have showed generally that, aflatoxin concentration in
groundnut was higher than in maize in untreated fields.
He added that among the key achievements of NARI is the releasing and adoption of important varieties
of major crops including rice, maize, millet and sorghum. These have proven to be scientifically high
yielding, early maturing, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses (pest, diseases, salinity, irony toxicity,
etc), he noted.
Aquaculture Research
He disclosed further that NARI is culturing indigenous species of fish such as tilapia, catfish and others,
which has developed technology agriculture bio-products such as rich bran, moringa leaves and palm oil.
NARI in collaboration with Africa Rice Research Centre has developed ASI (Rice) thresher to reduce
the post-harvest loss and ensuring the quality of rice paddy after threshing. 10 local artisans have been
trained to scale out the knowledge gained to young Gambian entrepreneurs for self development.
He explained further that in NARIs efforts to ensure food security in the country, the institute conducted
series of tests on quality assurance for imported and exported agricultural products in the areas of
aflatoxin and other chemical analysis such as free fatty acid, oil content, moisture content, soluble and
insoluble impurities, amongst others.
NARI developed technologies in the use of indigenous multipurpose shrubs and tree species pruning for
livestock feed and soil fertility enhancement. This is under speedy adoption in North Bank Region and
application in communities where cereal/legume rotation farming is predominant. There is however, a
room for out scaling the technology, he noted.
Jarjue concluded that despite considerable progress made by NARI since its inception in 1993 and the
speedy takeoff by the new management, there is however still a great deal to be done. For instance NARI
has generated several technologies with high potentials but the impact of the technology on farmers
productivity, livelihood and quality of life has to be consolidated, he concluded.
by Modou Lamin Jammeh
https://observer.gm/nari-boss-on-role-of-the-agricultural-research-institute
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21st October, 2016 Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

Global, Regional & Local

Daily Global, Regional and Local Rice E-Newsletter

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Abdul Sattar Shah

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim

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