1st & 2nd November 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

November 1st & 2nd ,2018
Vol 9 ,Issue 11
1|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
SINO-Pak Hybrid Rice Research Center inaugurated in
China
BY STAFF REPORT , (LAST UPDATED
KARACHI: University of Karachi‘s (KU) International Center for Chemical and Biological
Sciences (ICCBS) in collaboration with the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI)
recently inaugurated SINO-Pak Hybrid Rice Research Center (SPHRRC) in China‘s city
Hangzhou, it was learnt on Thursday.
The purpose of the centre is to attempt to carry out quality research and development for having
different kinds of quality rice through crossbreeding.
Higher Education Commission former chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rahman China‘s Federal Minister
for Science and Technology Dr Peisong Hu and General China National Rice Research Institute
(CNNRI) deputy director inaugurated the centre.
ICCBS Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and China‘s Department of International
Cooperation (Division of Asian, Americans and Multilateral Affairs) Director Lu Yexin also
attended the inauguration ceremony.
It is pertinent to mention here that according to the bilateral agreement between the two
institutes, two branches SPHRRC had to be established in total, one in Pakistan and the other in
China.
It is also worth mentioning here that the branch of the SPHRRC in Pakistan has already been
opened at the ICCBS, last year.
The ICCBS officials said that the centre is the first hybrid rice research centre of Pakistan
established in collaboration with CNNRI with the objectives that it will provide suitable numbers
of hybrid rice seeds varieties for testing at different locations in Sindh and other climatic zones
of Pakistan during the next two years to Pakistan.
The centre will also facilitate the field trials process of these verities of hybrid rice in Pakistan
and train young Pakistani researchers in the field of agriculture so that they can effectively utilize
the modern agriculture techniques to improve their local rice verities, it was said.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/11/01/sino-pak-hybrid-rice-research-center-
inaugurated-in-china/
Meet the Charles Rice post-graduate research fellows

November 1, 2018 Kevin Leon
Alum Doug Hickey, ‘15, will spend a year abroad helping veterans struggling with their mental
health, a topic he is deeply passionate about.
―Growing up in a small rural community with a strong culture of service in the armed forces, I
thought of the many classmates, friends, and relatives who joined the service after turning 18,‖
Hickey said. Some of them died, ―[and] in over half of these cases, the fallen soldier had not died
overseas, but on the battlefield at home by their own hands.‖
Hickey will travel to Australia, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. He will study
the psychological effects of war on combat veterans, according to the UC website. His travel is
funded by The Charles Rice Postgraduate Research Fellowship.
The new fellowship honors former Ursinus chaplain Rev. Charles Rice‘s passion for assisting
students in their faith, lives, and careers, while providing them tools to analyze social injustice.
As a way to keep Rice‘s influence alive and inspire others to pursue justice in the world, the
fellowship granted two alumni $15,000 each to study abroad and research topics of their
choosing, and then publish a manuscript after their year-long adventure ends.
The other recipient, Roseangela Hartford ‗18, will observe and work with organizations
throughout Peru, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic to investigate how religious-affiliated
institutions aid in the healing process for women who have survived domestic and sexual
violence, and their families.
Hickey discussed his undergraduate life at Ursinus and his future plans for the project.He aims to
discover the psychological impacts of war and Moral Injury (MI) on combat veterans. ―I plan to
work with various institutions and researchers to reconstruct the current conceptual models of MI
to adequately address the inherent spiritual component that is indivisible from the condition,‖
Hickey explained.
Hickey said his main goals are ―to refine the current understanding of the spiritual component of
MI, [and] under the tutelage of Dr. Edward Tick, [he] will study and facilitate psycho-spiritual,
cross-cultural, and international community-based reconciliation practices.‖
Hickey described the different types of work he would being doing during his year.
―[I will be] facilitating various retreats, workshops, institutes and programs with Soldier‘s Heart,
a spiritual faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to ‗transform the emotional,
moral, and spiritual wounds that often result from military service,‘ culminating in a
humanitarian, serviced-based journey of reconciliation and transformation through Japan, Korea,
and Vietnam,‖ he said.
In Australia and the Czech Republic, Hickey‘s plans will be more ―research and academically
based, while the Healing Retreat through Japan, Vietnam and South Korea will be largely
experientially based.‖
Hickey was a Psychology and Philosophy double major and minored in Neuroscience. He was
―involved in a little bit of everything‖ at Ursinus, and said that Rev. Charles Rice had a major
impact on his life, like he did many students. Through talking with Rev. and developing a
relationship with him, ―every conversation [they] would have would circle back to social
institutions and systems of injustice.‖ When Hickey heard about the fellowship, he ―felt as
though applying for it would not only allow [him] to pursue something that [he is] very
passionate about, but also to have the opportunity to honor the impact that Rev. had on the
Ursinus community.‖
Given his childhood experiences, Hickey felt it was his duty ―to serve [wounded soldiers and
those who passed] as they have served us—with selflessness, honor and integrity.‖
Hickey is excited to contribute to MI research about veterans and to travel the world while also
helping people, and the Ursinus community looks forward to reading his manuscript on the
journeys.
https://www.ursinusgrizzly.com/meet-the-charles-rice-post-graduate-research-fellows/
H still Asia‘s biotech leader – USDA

BY EIREENE JAIREE GOMEZ
NOVEMBER 02, 2018
PH STILL ASIA’S BIOTECH LEADER – USDA
The Philippines continued to be Asia‘s leader in biotechnology as sustained developments in

science and technology greatly contributed to the advancement of its farm sector, the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.
In the Global Agricultural Information Network (Gain) report made by its Foreign Agricultural
Service (FAS) in Manila, USDA cited the country‘s lead in terms of plant and animal
biotechnology.
The study recognized the Philippines as the first Asian country to allow the planting of a
genetically engineered (GE) crop and move forward on a regulatory framework for GE animals.
However, the USDA expressed fear a change in GE plant regulations, as embodied in

Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative Order No. 8 (DA-AO 8) to the Joint Department
Circular (JDC) in April 15, 2016, may further worsen the slow processing of biosafety
applications.
―There have been no major trade disruptions, but the delay in approvals has the potential to
disrupt U.S trade. It likewise may gradually erode the country‘s GE leadership status in the
region,‖ the report said.
It was in 2003 when the Philippines introduced its first GE crop–Bt corn. Since then, GE corn
area planted has reached over 5.9 million hectares.
From April 2016 to March 2017, GE corn was planted on an estimated 655,000 hectares,
relatively flat compared to the previous year‘s level.
Through the years, the country has produced more Bt crops including the fruit and shoot borer-
resistant eggplant (Bt eggplant) from the Institute of Plant Breeding of the University of the
Philippines at Los Banos (IPB-UPLB), the beta-carotene-enriched rice or Golden Rice (GR2E)
from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the delayed ripening papaya with ring
spot virus-resistance from IPB-UPLB, and the Bt cotton which is currently being promoted by
the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Administration.
While these developments are highly recognized worldwide, the USDA emphasized the need for
the government to closely look at plant biotechnology marketing issues to keep the firm support
of local farmers as well as consumers for GE products.
―Support for GE products remains strong among local corn farmers, hog and poultry raisers, feed
millers, food processors, academe, and other end users. Although supportive, large domestic
food and agribusiness companies that are already using GE products prefer to remain silent on
the issue,‖ the USDA said.
―On the other hand, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including environmental groups,
organic agriculture advocates, and other civil society groups represent vocal opposition to
agricultural biotechnology. The overwhelming majority of Filipinos remain indifferent,‖ it
added.
In animal biotechnology, meanwhile, the USDA projected there would be no Philippine genome-
edited animals (clones) introduced in the market within the next five years due to being stuck in
the conventional techniques.
―The Philippines uses conventional techniques to improve livestock, including artificial

insemination, embryo transfer, in-vitro embryo production, and ovum-pick,‖ the agency said.
―There is currently no legislation or regulations in place covering the development, use, import,
or disposal of livestock clones, GE animals, or products derived from these animals or their
offspring in the Philippines,‖ it added.
The USDA recommended that for the Philippines to start progress in animal biotechnology, the
country must invest on a variety of studies and later on work on market acceptance to increase
revenues.
Earlier this month, House deputy speaker Sharon Garin called on the government for the passage
of House Bill 7926, or the Modern Biotechnology Act of 2018.
The bill seeks the creation of a Biotechnology Authority of the Philippines (BioAP), which shall
serve as the policy-making body on biotechnology in the country.
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https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-still-asias-biotech-leader-usda/460937/
New USA Rice Research Focuses on Infants and Toddlers

By Deborah Willenborg
WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week at the 2018 Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)
here, USA Rice presented findings on the Association of Rice Consumption with Nutrient Intake
in Infants/Toddlers. The research study, funded by The Rice Foundation and rice research
boards in Arkansas, Louisiana, California, and Mississippi, was conducted and presented by
Victor Fulgoni, Ph.D., a scientist with the Campaign for Essential Nutrients, an industry group
providing education about the role daily vitamin and mineral supplements can play in providing
nutritional support.
Fulgoni studied National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to
determine how the nutrient intake of infants and toddlers who consume rice differs from non-rice
consumers. NHANES is a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status
of adults and children in the United States, and is unique in that it combines interviews and
physical examinations.
The research indicates that infants and toddlers (0-23 months old) who reported rice
consumption had greater intake of key nutrients like calcium, iron, magnesium, niacin,
riboflavin, thiamine, zinc, and vitamins A, B6, and C. Rice consumers also had lower intake of
added sugar, cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fats.Overall, consumption of rice from age 0-23
months is linked to better nutrient intake.
"The takeaways from this research are significant as they demonstrate the link between rice
consumption and overall better nutrient intake in infants and toddlers," said USA Rice Domestic
Promotion Manager Cameron Jacobs. "The fact that this research was accepted by the Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics to be a poster session at FNCE is noteworthy because it allowed that
audience of dietitians, nutrition scientists, and policy makers to be exposed to our research.
Their enthusiastic acceptance of the content bodes well for the future publication of the research
manuscript."
The research will now move into manuscript development for publication. During this process,
further analyses on food sources of nutrients in rice consumers and non-consumers along with
additional analyses will take place to provide even more understanding of the contribution of rice
foods to the diets of infants/toddlers.
No need to import rice: Bulog

News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, October 31, 2018 | 01:31 pm

State-owned logistics company Bulog president director Budi Waseso (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) says its rice stock of 2.4 million tons is adequate to meet
domestic demand. Therefore, the company assures that the country does not need to import the
commodity.
―It indicates that we have strong stock,‖ Bulog president director Budi Waseso said in a
statement on Wednesday.
He said Bulog was committed to implementing its main duties – purchasing rice from farmers,
carrying out market operations to stabilize prices and maintaining strong rice stocks to assure the
availability of the commodity.
The agency is required to maintain between 1 and 1.5 million tons of rice that should be ready to
be distributed to Bulog‘s warehouses across the country at any time.
―As a price stabilizing institution, Bulog continuously carries out market intervention. With it,
the commodity should always be available and of good quality,‖ Budi said, adding that since
January, Bulog had released 384,328 tons rice for market operations, an average of 2,500 per
day.
Bulog will continue to monitor rice prices, said Budi.
Bulog purchases 3,000 tons of unhusked rice from farmers every day, he said, adding that with
the absorption of farmers‘ rice, Bulog could also stock up until the end of 2018.(bbn)
China to open its USD 2 bn rice market to India

31 October, 2018 5:05 PM IST By: Sreeja
India has made a deal with China to open up its 2 billion USD rice import based on an agreement
signed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China.
At Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit a protocol on the exports of non-Basmati Rice

was signed. Later Chinese authorities visited Indian rice mills and out of that 24 Indian mills
were approved for exports of rice to China.
Six out of 24 approved mills, attended seminars and business to business meeting. In which 44
Chinese importers including China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO)
took part.
India has established itself as the biggest exporter of rice in the world. Prashant
Lokhande, Economic and Commercial Counselor said that the bilateral trade has enabled
prospects of exports.
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 ,
AK Gupta of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority, added that before this Indian rice variety has never reached China and also he
appealed Chinese importers to try rich varieties of Indian rice
https://krishijagran.com/commodity-news/china-to-open-its-usd-2-bn-rice-market-to-india/
5th International Rice Congress - Singapore 2018
A deeper, more meaningful worldview of RICE.
Want to know how your current work, research, business, or partnerships could impact the world
far beyond rice? Be among the first to witness, experience, and interact with IRRI‘s latest
innovations, services and products, and leading rice experts at the 5th International Rice
Congress -Singapore 2018.
For more information visit: http://ricecongress2018.irri.org

https://www.cgiar.org/news-events/event/5th-international-rice-congress/
Basmati producers allege harassment by pvt traders

Oct 31, 2018, 1:13 AM; last updated: Oct 31, 2018, 4:22 PM (IST
Say being offered low price for popular aromatic Pusa 1121 variety
Heaps of paddy lying in the Fazilka grain market. Tribune photo
Our Correspondent
Fazilka, October 30
Farmers producing basmati have alleged that they are being fleeced by private traders who are
bulk buyers of the variety in the district.
―Farmers are being offered low price for popular aromatic Pusa 1121 variety of paddy. They are
being paid Rs 3,100 to 3,200 per quintal, but it is being sold at Rs 3,300 to 3,400 in nearby
markets,‖ said Vaneet, a farmer.
In the absence of any minimum support price, farmers are compelled to sell their produce to
private traders, including rice millers and the exporters. ―Traders have set up the cartel to keep
the prices low,‖ said block president Prem Chand.
―The government has not made any concrete policy on basmati variety, which consumes less
water as compared to other varieties,‖ said Niab Singh, a farmer.
A deputation of the farmers led by Uday Singh Ghuriana, district president, Bhartiya Kisan
Union, (Ekta Sidhupur), met Deputy Commissioner, Manpreet Singh today and gave submitted a
memorandum in this regard.
The farmers have demanded that open auction should be conducted to buy the produce as only
one or two traders visited a shop to buy basmati.
Manjit Singh Sandhu, district mandi officer, Fazilka, said the prices of the basmati variety vary
everyday and it was offered to the farmers as per the price of the rice prevailing in the market.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/basmati-producers-allege-harassment-by-pvt-
traders/676396.html
Govt. moves to plug leakages in public distribution system

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
VIJAYAWADA, NOVEMBER 01, 2018 07:49 IST
J.R. Pushparaj | Photo Credit: arranged
Violators alone will be targeted and FP dealers in general have nothing to

fear, says food panel chairman
The government has come out with the Andhra Pradesh State Public
Distribution System (Control) Order which envisages strict action against not
just the erring fair price shop dealers but also against wholesale dealers, rice
millers or even ration card-holders if found guilty.
―Action will be taken only against violators of rules and FP shop dealers who
go by the book will not be harassed,‖ said J.R. Pushparaj, Chairman of AP
Food Commission, at a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said the Commission had reviewed key issues of ICDS projects, mid-day
meal scheme, targeted public distribution system and maternity entitlement
under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana scheme. Mr. Pushparaj said the
government was keen on improving quality of food and nutrition levels for
beneficiaries of PDS through fair price shops but the result was not on
expected lines at the ground level.
He said fortified rice was being given to Anganwadi centres and for the mid-
day meal scheme in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, Kurnool and West
Godavari. The Commission had also recommended supply of unpolished rice
(brown rice) as diabetes was rampant in rural areas of Krishna, Prakasam and
West Godavari districts. Similarly, red gram, sugar and millets like ragi and
jowar besides double fortified salt were being supplied but the consumption
was very low. The food commission chief said the civil supplies wing should
take up an extensive campaign to make people aware of the significance of
consuming food items with high nutritional value.
Aid for Titli victims

He said the Civil Supplies Department had distributed rice, dal, ragi, sugar,
palmolien oil, potatoes and onions to the 2.48 lakh cyclone-affected victims.
He said based on a recommendation by the Food Commission, the
government had asked for constitution of district-level task force, a five-
member body to prevent recycling of or supply of inferior quality rice. ―Many
of the districts have not constituted the task force till date,‖ he said. Following
complaints of corruption in supply of eggs to Anganwadi centres and mid-day
meal schemes, the State had decentralised the purchase system and had
blacklisted the three suppliers, he said. Commission‘s member-secretary Ravi
Babu said a legal cell had been set up to take action against those resorting to
malpractice.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/govt-moves-to-plug-leakages-in-public-
distribution-system/article25386471.ece
Gold-Palladium Alloys Are Better For Hydrogen Storage, And Now We Know Why
New Type Of Gyroscope Is Smaller Than Grain Of Rice

 MATTER & ENERGY
 /OCT 31, 2018
 /0 COMMENT
Primary tabs
How does your phone flip into landscape mode or come alive when you pick it up? It has a
gyroscope, which is a particular type of sensor that lets electronic devices know which way
is 'up!'
The gyroscope has had a long history already, and this came from relatively humble beginnings.
Now, at least one of these is found in every high-tech gadget, including smartphones, drones, and
even spacecraft. Gyroscopes are likely to become so extensive that even more sophisticated and
streamlined devices will be needed in the future.
These components will also need to function at the nanometric scale, particularly in the case of
precision-oriented space-going vehicles and robots. In addition, current-day gyroscopes will need
to be robust against factors that could throw them off. These include changes in temperature,
physical damage, and manufacturing flaws.
Finally, they will also need to be robust against factors that could throw them off. They include
changes in temperature, physical damage and manufacturing flaws.
A recently-developed invention could address all these needs and take the gyroscope into the
third decade of the 2000s.
MEMS Gyroscopes
The new type of gyroscope is a nano-optical sensor, as opposed to their current state-of-the-art
counterparts of today. The latest ones are microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS), which,
unlike the wooden or metal wheel-form gyroscopes of olden times, are extremely small devices
that can fit into the average phone.MEMS scopes contain two equally-sized objects that move in
relation to each other but in opposite directions. The rest of the individual MEMS measure the
forces acting on these objects, and thus, its position in a three-dimensional space.
https://www.evolving-science.com/information-communication/gyroscope-grain-rice-00826
Tiny beetle half the size of a grain of rice trapped in amber

99 million years ago reveals clues about how modern-day
continents were formed from one giant supercontinent
 Propiestus archaicus had long antennae, a flattened body and short legs
 It lived during the time of the dinosaurs and survived in foliage and rotten trees
 It was found in Myanmar and is related to modern-day animals in South America
 Scientists claim this huge geographical difference helps explain the rapid continental movement after
the break up of Pangaea
By JOE PINKSTONE FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 16:17 GMT, 31 October 2018 | UPDATED: 16:50 GMT, 31 October 2018
A tiny beetle that was first trapped in amber 99 million years ago has been discovered by
scientists.
The diminutive specimen is only half the length of a grain of rice and was unearthed in Myanmar.
Named Propiestus archaicus, the animal is a distant relative of the Rove beetle that exists today
in South America and the southern part of Arizona.
Scientists claim that the huge geographical difference between the two locations provides clues to
explain how the Earth's continents moved over time following the disintegration of the
supercontinent Pangaea.
Scroll down for video
Named Propiestus archaicus, the tiny beetle (pictured) measures only 0.1 inches long and it relied on its
antennae, flattened body and short legs to navigate through foliage and underneath rotten trees
'This is a very rare find,' said Shuhei Yamamoto, a Field Museum researcher and lead author of the
paper, published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
Researchers now believe the beetle existed on Earth at a time when the super-continent Pangaea
broke up and formed a land mass called Gondwanaland.
'Like koalas and kangaroos today, certain animals that we think lived in Gondwanaland are only
found in one part of the world,' Dr Yamamoto explained.
'Although Propiestus went extinct long ago, our finding probably shows some amazing
connections between Southern Hemisphere and Myanmar.
'Our finding fits well with the hypothesis that, unlike today, Myanmar was once located in the
The beetle existed during the late Cretaceous at a time when dinosaurs dominated the world but the
researchers say the animal's elongated antennae allowed it to flourish.
WHAT IS AMBER?
Amber has been used in jewelry for thousands of years, and is often found to hold remarkably
well-preserved materials from eras long since passed.
The golden-coloured translucent substance is formed when resin from extinct coniferous trees
became hardened and then fossilised.
Often insects, plant material, pollen and other creatures became trapped in the resin, causing them
to be entombed within after it solidified.
Measuring only 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) long, the beetle relied on its antennae, flattened body and
short legs to navigate through foliage and underneath rotten trees.
'The antennae probably had a highly sensitive ability as a sensory organ,' Dr Yamamoto said.
'There wouldn't have been a lot of space available in the beetle's habitat, so it was important to be
able to detect everything.
'This fossil helps us understand life in the Mesozoic era,' he concluded. 'We need to think about
everything from that time, both big and small.'
Propiestus is just one of thousands of Burmese amber specimens that entombed small insects that
lived during the Cretaceous era.
Originally a highly viscous tree sap it hardens over time and eventually produces amber which
preserves any organic matter trapped within it.
+Propiestus is just one of thousands of Burmese amber specimens that entombed small
insects that lived during the Cretaceous era. Originally a highly viscous tree sap it hardens
over time and eventually produces amber which preserves any organic matter trapped
within it
An unremarkable object to begin with, the amber looks like a normal rock to the untrained eye.
Experienced amber spotters can identify the material and sell it to either jewellers or researchers.
This particular specimen was subjected to a gentle sandpaper treatment to carefully polish the
amber in order to make the specimen clearly visible.
'It was very exciting, because the cutting process is very sensitive,' Dr Yamamoto said.
'If you cut too fast or apply too much pressure, you destroy the inclusion inside very quickly.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-6338519/Tiny-beetle-trapped-amber-99-million-
years-ago-reveals-clues-land-masses-shifted.html
Traditional medicinal rice variety conservation gaining ground
Archana Rohit
October 31, 2018
Traditional food and dishes have a historic precedent in national, regional or local cuisine.
However, the benefits of traditional food are fading away without any trace due to the heavy
influence of Western food.
Unfortunately, the rich heritage of consuming various varieties of rice has been vanishing
since the green revolution. There were more than 3 lakh rice varieties in the country and
more than 5,000 varieties were available in Tamil Nadu, say agriculture scientists. However,
nearly 200 varieties of rice have been saved in Tamil Nadu. Besides, nutritional and
medicinal benefits, the by-products of rice are equally important and beneficial, says expert,
Menakathilarajan, owner of Mannvasnai Organic shop
Each type of rice has unique properties like taste, size and texture. Here is a guide to some
varieties of rice with its medicinal purposes.
1. Kala Namak (Crop duration – 120 days)
It is one of the finest quality rice in the country. It derives its name from black husk (kala =
black; the suffix ‗namak‘ means salt). This variety is in cultivation since the Bu ddhist
period (600 BC). It is believed to be better than basmati in all aspects except grain length
and is considered the finest quality of rice in international trade
Medicinal properties: Cures diabetes, BP and problems related to kidney, skin, blood,
cancer and brain.
According to farmer Mani: ―Buddha is believed to consume only this rice and even today
Buddhist monks carry this wherever they go. The reason they live longer is that they
consume this rice.‖
2. Tooyamali (Crop duration – 140 days)
Thooyamalli, also known as ‗Maapilai Samba‘, is a traditional rice variety and gets its name
from its striking resemblance to jasmine buds. It used to be a tradition to feed bridegrooms
with this rice before the wedding. It is suitable for preparing biryani.
Medicinal properties: Increases nerves strength, improves digestion, cures mouth ulcers and
helps reduce diabetes.
3. Kullakkar (Crop duration – 90 to 105 days)
Kullakkar, is short red rice cultivated in summer. The crop is highly drought, pest and
disease-resistant and locally the straw is a preferred to thatch roofs. The rice can be used in
the preparation of idli, dosa, puttu or porridge as well. Red rice varieties have antioxidant
properties and a higher content of zinc and iron than white rice
Medicinal properties: Revitalizes and energizes the body, helps to bring down bad
cholesterol levels and controls blood sugar levels.
4. Seeraga Samba (Crop duration – 120 to 125 days)
Seeraga Samba is an aromatic rice. It derives its name because the small white ovula r fine
grains resemble seeds of seeragam/Jeera/cumin. It is mostly cultivated in the Samba season
(August to January). The grains are much smaller than other varieties and when cooked less
‗fluffy‘ and loose in texture with a starchy/corny flavour. Rich in vitamins, it is high in
calorie. Traditionally, it is used in the preparation of variety rice like biryani, tomato rice,
lemon rice and tamarind rice.
Medicinal properties: Prevents colon and intestine cancer, reduces cholesterol. It is rich in
fibre. Hence, it reduces the LDL cholesterol and increases HDL in the body.
5. Karung Kuruvai (Crop duration – 110 days)
Karung kuruvai rice has got a ‗kayakalpam‘ property which will protect our body. Siddha
doctors use this rice variety to prepare medicines. According to farmer Mani: ―This rice
helps dilute all the bad cholesterols in our body. It can be consumed as rice and it is also
very much suitable for idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Helps treat people suffering from Elephantiasis.
6. Poongar (Crop duration – 70 days)
Poongar is also called as ‗Arubatham Kodai‘. The crop can grow even during extreme
climatic conditions and can withstand floods and grow with less water. It is also suitable for
idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Provides strength to the body. It is believed that consuming this rice
during pregnancy leads to normal delivery.
7. Kattuyam (Crop duration – 180 days)
This rice is very rich in minerals and used majorly as ‗kasayam‘ and also good for making
rice, idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Helps control diabetes, prevents heart problems.
8. Kavuni (Crop duration – 130 days)
This rice has been in existence from the Chola period. Red and black kavuni rice are
available in the market.
Medicinal properties: Provides strength to the body. Black kavni rice is used to treat dog
bites.
Meneka also added, ―Kichadi Samba rice is good for preparing pongal and sundaram.
Kichadi samba rice has got high medicinal property and is good for treating skin problems.‖
Urbanisation and hectic lifestyle have made people dependent on easily available fast food
items, resetting our taste buds. Institutions like Create and Ciks are trying to save these
traditional rice varieties. As citizens, it is our social responsibility to save our traditional
food, culture, including rice varieties and pass the same on to the next generation.
https://www.covaipost.com/tamilnadu-news/traditional-medicinal-rice-variety-conservation-
gaining-ground/
Minister signs MoU to modernize agriculture

The MoU among other things will help enhance the income of farmers in Northern Region
The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) has signed a Memorandum of

Understanding (MOU) with Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences(JXAAS), a Chinese
institution, to help modernize agricultural production in the Region.
The focus of the MoU, signed in Tamale on Tuesday, is the production of vegetable and fruits,
vegetable oils, flower varieties, animal husbandry, training of researchers and technicians in
China and the Northern Region among others.
Mr Salifu Saeed, Northern Regional Minister, signed on behalf of the NRCC whiles Mr Yin
Jianhua, Director of Rice Research Institute at JXAAS, signed on behalf of JXAAS.
In 2017, a similar MoU was signed between both institutions leading to the introduction of new
rice seed varieties, which were tested and cultivated in the northern part of the country through
the supervision of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Savanna Agricultural
Research Institute (CSIR-SARI).
Mr Saeed said the northern part of the country was endowed with enough arable land, and water
bodies to support large scale agricultural production, but the area lacked technology for
improved production hence the MoU.
He expressed gratitude to JXAAS for its support for agriculture in the Region, assuring that the
NRCC would continue to partner with it to help to improve on agricultural production in the
Region.
Mr Jianhua, as part of the MoU, said JXAAS would work to help enhance the income of farmers
in the Northern Region through the production of its new rice varieties.
He assured that JXAAS would offer technological and technical support to stakeholders in the
Region to increase agricultural production.
Dr Wilson Dogbe, Principal Research Scientist at CSIR-SARI said through the partnership with
JXAAS last year, CSIR-SARI had received equipment such as jab-type planter and a thresher to
support the production of the new rice varieties.
Dr Dogbe said two out of the five rice seed varieties introduced by JXAAS last year, recorded
higher yields compared to others.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Minister-signs-MoU-to-modernize-
agriculture-696905
Pakistan. Federal Govt Only Announces Support Price Of Wheat

30.10.2018
| UkrAgroConsult
Minister for National food Security and Research Sahibzada Muhammad Mehboob Sultan on
Monday said that federal government only announces the support price of wheat, in consultation
with provinces.
Replaying to a question in the National Assembly during a question hour, the minister said that
sugarcaneprices are announced by Provincial governments under Sugar Factories Control Act,
1950.
He said the price of rice is not announced by the federal and provincial governments adding that
federal and provincial governments announce only the prices of wheat and sugarcane crops. The
price of rice crop is determined by the market mechanism, he said.
The Minister said that consultations with the provinces for announcement of support price of
wheat are in process, three provinces including KPK, Punjab and Balochistan have given
response while federal government is waiting response of Sindh province in this regard.
http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/pakistan-federal-govt-only-announces-support-price-of-wheat
Indonesia Building Rice Data System

On 31 Oct 2018
By : Leo Jegho
Tag: Data,Import, Indonesia, news, Rice
President Jokowi wants to make Indonesia self-sufficient in rice production
A rice paddy field in Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo source: GIV/MB)
Jakarta, GIVnews.com – The government is taking special steps to produce correct data about
local rice production and consumption. With such data the government can decide whether the
country has to import rice and if it is the case, by how much.
President Joko ‗Jokowi‘ Widodo said last Thursday (25/10) that rice imports over the past years
have been based on inaccurate data provided by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).
For this reason, the President said, the government has now decided to produce a Single
Reference Data (DAT) based on Area Sample Scheme (KSA) in cooperation with the BPS,
Technology Development and Assessment Agency (BPPT), the National Institute of Aeronautics
and Space (LAPAN), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), and the Ministry of Agrarian
and Spatial Planning.
The government‘s move followed a previous brouhaha between government agencies over
Indonesia‘s rice imports this year. Based on BPS data that Indonesia‘s rice production would be
about 32.4 million tons in 2018, which is 32 percent lower than the Ministry of Agriculture‘s
estimate, the Ministry of Trade decided in January of this year to import 500,000 tons of rice
through an open tender. But, due to a reportedly declining domestic rice production, in March of
this year the government decided to import an additional 500,000 tons. Then again, in April the
government decided to import another one million tons, also due to a reported fall in domestic
production. This is according to a Cnnidonesia.com report.
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Chief Budi Waseso, who took up his post in April of this year,
was against such rice imports. He argued that Bulog would be able to manage up to three million
tons by the end of 2018 and that the country would not have to import rice through June 2019.
The former three-star police general said Bulog would buy 4,000 tons of unhusked rice from
farmers every day. As reported by Thejakartapost.com, Budi Waseso said Bulog has formed a
special team of experts to help make this happen. He expressed his stance when Indonesia was
struggling to reduce its trade deficits.
Despite Budi Waseso‘s claims, it seems impossible that the government would revoke its rice
importation plans for this year. Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukito insisted that he had no
authority to do so since the rice importation plans had been made in a cabinet coordination
meeting.
Indonesia achieved self-sufficiency in rice production in 1984. But, in 1997 the country started
importing rice again due to a decline in domestic production caused by climate problems and
other reasons. Rice imports then stopped in the 2016-2017 period.
President Jokowi, before and after taking up his post in 2014, promised to make Indonesia self-
sufficient in rice production. His assurance went with many people‘s question on why such a vast
and fertile archipelagic country has to import rice. In the past years Indonesia imported rice from
a number of countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
You may also be interested in this article: Is Indonesia‘s Rice Production Data Inaccurate?
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/33486/indonesia-building-rice-data-system/
Rice tarrification can help ease rising inflation —
gov’t execs
By Jose Santino S. Bunachita|October 30,2018 - 09:17 PM
Central Visayas Trade Director Asteria Caberte discusses the price of basic goods situation and
the country‘s rising inflation rate in a forum in Cebu City on Oct. 26. CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE
MENDOZA
GOVERNMENT officials are pushing for rice tariffication as a bid to help temper the country‘s
high inflation rate.
Department of Trade and Industry in Central Visayas (DTI-7) Regional Director Asteria Caberte
said that it is important to address the high cost of rice which is one of the major contributors to
the country‘s inflation.
―Based on estimates by the central bank, allowing cheap rice imports with tariffs will
immediately lower the inflation rate by 0.4 percentage points,‖ she explained.
The Duterte administration wants to amend the two decade-old Agricultural Tariffication Act of
1996. The amendments will pave the way for the lifting of quantitative restrictions that have
allowed Philippine authorities to limit the volume of rice imports ever year.
Aside from lowering inflation, Caberte said another potential impact of more rice imports is that
prices of rice can fall between P2 to P7 per kilo.
Caberte said that the rice tariffication bill, which is currently pending in Senate, would mean
more importers will bring in imported rice into the country in order to flood the market with rice
supply.
―As long as they pay the right tariff and import legally and sell it, they can import. The tariff
revenue is to improve productivity of agriculture,‖ Caberte said.
She added that while the quantitative restriction on rice importation will be lifted once the bill is
passed, this does not mean that anyone can just import rice.
Importers will also have to follow regular importation guidelines and follow standards on
quality.
The Senate has already started deliberations on proposed rice tariffication bill.
According to Senator Cynthia Villar, even if the bill will mean more importation of rice, the
government continues to look out for local farmers as tariff revenues will be used to help them.
―All the proceeds of the tariff will go to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
which will amount to P10 billion a year. And then we will give that to the rice farmers so they
can mechanize and improve their seeds,‖ she said in an earlier interview.
Under the bill, of the P10 billion RCEF, P5 billion will be set aside for mechanization efforts of
farmers; P3 billion for seeds; P1 billion for training; and P1 billion for credit.
She added that the government has already identified the 57 provinces in the country and 1,110
towns whose farmers can be eligible for the RCEF.
―This is to help them compete with Vietnam because the competition with Vietnam is quite
strong. So we have to tariffy and give them a fund so we can hasten mechanization and
improvement of seeds which are very necessary for them to be competitive,‖ Villar said.
The bill will also mandate the Department of Finance (DOF) to implement a National Single
Window System to prevent illegal smuggling of rice.
The Senate has already started deliberating the rice tariffication bill but could not pass it before
they went on recess.
Villar said there were a lot of questions and amendments suggested by senators which was why
the Senate could not approve their version right away.
https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/201369/rice-tarrification-can-help-ease-rising-
inflation-govt-execs#ixzz5VglZq666
Iran makes first export of rice since 1979 Islamic

Revolution: IRNA
Tue Oct 30, 2018 01:14PM
Farmers harvest their rice crop in Mazandaran, Iran in this photo dated Sept. 1, 2016 by Mizan
news agency.
Iran has sold 74 tonnes of rice to Canada, marking the first export of the crop since the Islamic
Republic in 1979, state news agency IRNA has reported.
The indica grade of type Tarom Hashemi was shipped in three consignments by the private
sector, commercial director of Mazandaran Agriculture Jihad Organization Soleiman
Hatamnejad told the agency.
The Tarom Hashemi cultivar is especially valued for its aroma and Hatamnejad said it had been
selected for export because of its nutritional value and distinctive taste.
While the volume is relatively minuscule in global trade terms, it is a significant watershed in the
country's long-term food security program.
Rice is mostly produced in northern Iran, in Mazandaran and Gilan provinces on the Caspian
shores. Annual production stands at around 2.2 million, with another million tonnes imported.
Mazandaran, with 230,000 hectares of paddies, produces about one million tonnes of rice a year,
or 42 percent of the country's total.
According to secretary of Iran Rice Association Jamil Alizadeh Shayeq, irregular imports by
some profiteers are becoming a headache for local farmers.
The country is also facing the problem of continued rice cultivation in the provinces which are
facing a drought, such as Isfahan and Shiraz.
Last year, the government banned growing rice anywhere outside Gilan and Mazandaran but
officials say some farmers do not observe the regulation.
A rice grower harvests his crop in Mazandaran, Iran. (Photo by Mizan)

The government also imposes seasonal import ban on rice to support local prices during the
harvest season, but there are regular complaints of import quotas being breached by some
traders.
Food security
Iran's food security index stands at around 96 percent but US sanctions and a protracted drought
are affecting the country‘s inflationary trends and impacting access to food and its affordability.
As a result, Iran is facing challenges for long-term food security.
In 2016, Iran‘s ambassador to Kenya said the country was looking to lease land in Africa for
large-scale food production to serve local and export markets.
About a dozen Iranian companies had expressed interest in growing and processing rice, corn
and wheat in East Africa, Hadi Farajvand said then.
Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati has said the government had envisioned investment on
500,000 hectares of farmland in a number of countries to produce food.
PressTV-'Iran to grow rice, wheat in Africa'

Iran is reportedly looking to lease land in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for large-scale food
production to serve local and export markets.
Water-intensive rice and corn crops as well as oilseeds and livestock inputs have been cited by
Agriculture Ministry officials as the target products which Iran seeks to grow on farmlands
overseas.
Iran is also witnessing a change in dietary habits. While the traditional diet is based on wheat,
fruits and vegetables, Iranians now consume more sugar, fat and oils.
Self-sufficiency plans
Since 1979, Iran has put self-sufficiency at the heart of its policies, especially in wheat which is
the country‘s staple food.
According to the United States Institute of Peace, Iran imported 65 percent of its food in 1979,
but it now produces 66 percent of its food basket.
In doing so, the country has managed to reverse the upward trend of import dependence, but it
still needs to import a significant amount of its food.
A
traditional rice grower harvests the crop on a field in Mazandaran, Iran. (Photo by Mizan)
With US sanctions reimposed in August, Iranian shipments might be headed for choppy waters.
Foodstuffs are purportedly not restricted by US sanctions, but banking sanctions and asset
freezes are making it difficult for trading houses to do business with Iran.
Last week, an official said the Iranian government needs no more wheat imports thanks to
favorable crop harvest and procurement from local farmers at a time of diminishing grain stocks
around the world.
Wheat is the dominant cereal crop accounting for almost 70 percent of the aggregate cereal
production in Iran.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/10/30/578546/Iran-agriculture-rice-export-food-security
Japanese farmers worried over effects of trans-Pacific trade pact

Oct. 31 04:03 pm JST
A farmer plants saplings in a rice field in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima

Prefecture. Photo: REUTERS filePolitics
TOKYO
Japanese farmers expressed concern Wednesday about an expected influx of imports and other
effects of a trans-Pacific free trade agreement led by Japan that is set to enter into force on Dec
30.
Australia said earlier in the day it has become the sixth nation to ratify the Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, fulfilling the requirements for the 11-
member tariff-cutting framework to take effect.
Reaching the required number of states to have ratified the deal occurred "rather fast," said 60-
year-old Tatsumi Dejima, who runs a farm in the village of Sarabetsu in Hokkaido, known for
producing half of Japan's raw milk.
"If cheap dairy products start coming in from overseas, consumers will probably choose the
imports. I fear it would be too late if countermeasures are taken after we start to be affected," he
said.
Japan, the leading economy in the deal, is one of the five other countries to have ratified it, along
with Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand and Canada.
The members yet to finish domestic procedures are Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, Peru and Vietnam.
In the southwestern prefecture of Kagoshima, which raises the largest number of pigs in Japan,
Michio Ushidome, the head of an association of black-pig producers, expressed doubts about the
touted benefits of the pact.
"Small farmers like us are unlikely to enjoy benefits from it," he said, adding he hopes the rift
between the pact's signatories and the United States, which pulled out of the framework in 2017,
would not grow to affect exports of Japanese farm products.
"We want (the government) to make sure it takes support measures if pig-farming businesses
begin to feel the crunch," Ushidome said.
Other farmers, including rice producer Mitsuo Ota in Daisen, Akita Prefecture, also worry about
lower tariffs.
"It is something the government decided in consideration of the country's trade overall. No
matter how much we farmers oppose it, we have to follow the decision in the end," said Ota.
Japan's business sector, in contrast, welcomed the pact's expected entry into force.
"It is an enormous achievement. We, as corporate managers, very much welcome the move,"
said Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of Japan's largest business lobby the Japan Business
Federation, commonly known as Keidanren.
Nakanishi said that even though he can understand the reasons behind the United States'
withdrawal from the framework, Japan needs to promote free trade deals.
"People should understand each country has its own circumstances to consider," Nakanishi said.
https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-farmers-worried-over-trans-pacific-trade-pact-
taking-effect
Philippines inflation expectations high despite easing

rice prices: Citi
NOVEMBER 01, 2018 - 2:32 PM
Though retail rice prices have started to fall in several regions of the Philippines, increased
inflation pervasiveness and high inflation expectations suggest that inflation may not return to
the policy target quickly, said Citi analyst Nalin Chutchotitham in a Philippines Economics Flash
release on Oct 31. Despite noting dovish remarks from policymakers recently, Citi expects
another 50bp rate hike for the fourth quarter of 2018, with possibly another 50bp hike in the first
quarter of 2019.
Rice prices easing
Retail rice prices -- which have a 9.6 per cent weight in the consumer price index -- have fallen
in several regions, though they remain significantly above early-2018 levels. This could be due
to new harvests, orders to release government stocks in September, and a possible reduction in
hoarding after official signals on import liberalisation, said Citi, noting prices might have fallen
faster if not for delayed imports.
"Planned rice imports could bring down inflation by 1 percentage point over time by reducing
supply constraints, but there could still be bureaucratic delays, as well as uncertainty on local
production (6.8% import dependency in 2013-17) due to natural disasters," said Citi.
Inflation outlook
The central bank has forecast October inflation to come in between 6.2 and 7 per cent year-on-
year, citing lower food and electricity costs despite higher petroleum prices and water rates. The
Department of Finance expects the CPI to rise 0.5 per cent month-on-month, due to higher crude
oil prices and a weaker peso. Citi's estimate is for inflation to ease to 6.6 per cent in October,
compared to 6.7 per cent in September, partly due to energy price base effects.
However, upside inflation risks remain, including pressures from wage and transport fare hikes.
Recently approved were a 4.9 per cent minimum wage hike in Manila and a one-peso increase in
the minimum fare for jeepneys in Manila, central Luzon, and Calabarzon, as well as in the
minimum bus fare in metro Manila. Effective in November, road transport could contribute 0.2
percentage points to inflation, said Citi.
Inflation pervasiveness is growing, with more items in the CPI basket recording inflation of over
4 per cent. Inflation expectations also remain high -- "likely still too high for (the central bank's)
comfort", said Citi -- with the Bloomberg consensus in October standing at 5 per cent for 2018,
significantly above the 3 per cent mid-point of the central bank's target.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/asean-business/philippines-inflation-expectations-high-
despite-easing-rice-prices-citi
Unstoppable inflation sees Philippines cap rice prices

By Stella-maris Ewudolu on November 1, 2018
The Philippines set suggested retail prices (SRP) for rice this week in an attempt to combat
soaring inflation, with a top official warning that violators could face up to four years in jail.
The joint move by the Department of Agriculture, National Food Authority (NFA) and
Department of Trade and Industry also instituted reforms in the rice trading and retailing
industry. It comes as inflation in the Philippines reached its highest point since February 2009.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol was quoted by news website Rappler as saying that those
found violating the guidelines will face imprisonment of up to four years, a fine of up to $18,700
and the possible revocation of operating permits under the Price Act of 1992.
Originally due to be implemented on October 23, the measure was delayed for four days at the
request of the rice industry. Stakeholders have been given two weeks to adjust their prices, with
the SRPs applicable at this stage to Metro Manila and it‘s suburbs only.
Under the new SRPs, imported ‗well-milled rice‘ will be capped at PHP39, or about $0.73, per
kilogram (about 2.2lbs). Imported premium grade 1 rice will be sold at PHP43 ($0.81) per
kilogram and imported premium grade 2 rice has a ceiling price of PHP40 ($0.75). Local well-
milled and local premium grade rice were capped at PHP44 ($0.82) and PHP47 ($0.88) per
kilogram respectively.
National Food Authority Regional XI
The Philippines has set a suggested retail prices for rice at a range of P39/kilo to P47/ kilo to
combat inflation
Special rice varieties such as red and black rice, Cordillera Heirloom rice, organic brown, and
other indigenous rices are excluded from the SRPs. Fancy names, however, are not excluded.
Under the new rules rice nicknames such as ‗Super Angelica‘, ‗Yummy rice‘, ‗Sinandomeng‘,
and others are banned, with those continuing the practice face jail and other penalties.
―Though SRPs in Metro Manila will serve as a basis, there will be separate regional SRPs for
Negros Occidental which will depend on the cost structure analysis‖, said Mr Piñol, adding that
figures are not constant. ―It may be lower or higher depending on the transport cost‖.
Rice shortage, roaring inflation, Presidential denials
The new rules comes amid rising prices for consumer goods, alleged malfeasance in the NFA,
and rice shortages in Zamboanga City. In late August rice prices there soar to as much as PHP70
($1.31) per kilo and a state of calamity was declared. (See: Typhoon Ompong threatens to
deepen Philippine rice crisis).
According to the Philippines Statistics Authority, inflation has increased for nine consecutive
months, hitting 6.7 per cent in September, from 6.4 per cent in August. The food and non-
alcoholic beverages index increased by 9.7 per cent alone in September, and many economists
are expecting it to have hit 7 per cent last month, with no end in site.
In September the cost of fish reportedly increased 12 per cent, while meat and
vegetables increased 7 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier denied there was any rice shortage in the country, saying,
―we have lots of rice… there‘s even an excess‖.
Trading Economics
The Philippines‘ roaring inflation appear unstoppable
The Philippines has imported one million tons of rice so far in 2018, with the the NFA announcing
approval for the import of an additional 750,000 tons. Mr Piñol said approval for one million tons of
rice imports in 2019 has also been given.
According to the guidelines the rice can be sourced from any country, with those from Asean
member states attracting a 35 per cent tariff and those from elsewhere 50 per cent.
Traders and importers are able to import a maximum of 20,000 tons. Rice must be imported within
90-days of approval. While the rice can be discharged at any Philippines port, importers must agree
to immediately transfer stock to Zambasulta province if instructed.
Rice floodgates not opened

On August 14, House of Representatives approved lifting quantitative restrictions on rice imports,
which some critics warned would allow entry of cheaper and/ or inferior rice that could hurt local
farmers or consumers. Proponents of the move said that lifting the restrictions would raise revenues,
enhance competitiveness in the agricultural sector, and improve farmers‘ revenue.
It‘s not open slather though. Claims at the time by former presidential spokesperson Harry Rogue
that Mr Duterte had ordered ‗unimpeded importation‘ of rice have proved to be fake news.
According to Mr Piñol ―The President never used the word ‗unimpeded importation‘ because that
would be a disservice and injustice to the Filipino people. He directed us to ensure sufficient rice
supply‖, he said.
https://aecnewstoday.com/2018/unstoppable-inflation-sees-philippines-cap-rice-prices/
Special status for rice sector proposed to boost exports

Parvaiz Ishfaq RanaUpdated November 01, 2018
Rice sector fetches $2 billion per annum in foreign exchange and is the second largest export
commodity. — File
KARACHI: The commerce ministry has prepared a proposal to include rice in the list of
sectors under special incentives to promote exports and earn foreign exchange, said the
ministry officials on Wednesday.
The ministry will put up the proposal before Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in the
next meeting.
Rice sector fetches $2 billion per annum in foreign exchange and is the second largest export
commodity. The country is net exporter of rice and produces 60 per cent more than domestic
demand.
Currently, five sectors enjoy government incentives to promote exports. These export-oriented
sectors are exempted from sales tax, electricity load shedding, and gas load shedding — for
period between December to February — in addition to enjoying reduced electricity tariffs.
Exporters have time and again urged the government to include rice among export-oriented
sectors and the issue was also raised by the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) in a
recent meeting with Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile Industry and Production
and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood.
REAP Chairman Safdar Hussain Mehkri also took up the issue with Finance Minister Asad
Umar who agreed to include rice sector among export-oriented sectors after Mehkri highlighted
that rice make ups for almost 10pc of country‘s total exports.
Talking to Dawn, Mehkri said that successive governments have repeatedly asked rice producers
to increase exports but were reluctant to offer incentives.
He said that rice exporters face tough competition from India and after recent devaluation of
Indian rupee, the situation has worsened. He also said that rice crop yield in India is higher than
in Pakistan due to cheap farm inputs.
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2018
https://www.dawn.com/news/1442728
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- NOV 02, 2018

NOVEMBER 2, 2018 / 1:09 PM

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-November 2, 2018 Nagpur, Nov 2 (Reuters) –
Gram and tuar prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee
(APMC) on poor buying support from local millers amid good supply from producing belts.
Weak trend in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and release of stock from stockists also pushed
down prices. About 400 bags of gram and 150 bags of tuar reported for auctions in Nagpur
APMC, according to sources.
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local
traders.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties quoted static in open market here but demand was poor.
* Wheat varieties reported higher in open market here good festival season demand
from local traders.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 3,900-4,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,800-6,000, Udid Mogar
(clean)
– 6,800-7,800, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,700-8,600, Gram – 4,150-4,250, Gram Super

best
– 5,700-5,900 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,400-4,100 3,500-3,200
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,500-4,030 3,550-4,030
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,950-2,020 1,900-2,000
Gram Super Best Bold 5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,000-4,150 4,000-4,150
Desi gram Raw 4,150-4,250 4,150-4,250
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,800-5,900 5,800-5,900
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,500-5,750 5,500-5,750
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 5,000-5,400 5,000-5,400
Tuar Gavarani New 3,950-4,050 3,950-4,050
Tuar Karnataka 4,450-4,550 4,450-4,550

Masoor dal best 5,200-5,400 5,200-5,400
Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,800-8,800 7,800-8,800
Moong Mogar Medium 6,800-7,500 6,800-7,500
Moong dal Chilka New 6,200-7,400 6,200-7,000
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-8,000 7,000-7,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,200 4,000-4,200
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,000-4,100 4,000-4,100
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,500 5,400-5,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,100 5,800-6,100
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,150-2,200 2,150-2,200
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,400-2,600
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,450 2,250-2,350
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-4,000 3,200-4,000
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-3,000 2,400-2,800
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,100 2,700-3,100
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,650-2,750 2,650-2,750
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,700
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,500 4,000-4,500
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,200 4,800-5,200
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 9,000-14,500 9,000-14,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,100-6,400 6,200-6,400
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,300-2,500
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,000-2,200 WEATHER (NAGPUR)

Maximum temp. 31.2 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 18.5 degree Celsius Rainfall :
Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be
around and 32 and 19 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils,
transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-nov-02-2018-
idINL3N1XD34X
Asia Rice: Thailand eyes deals with Philippines,

China; India demand tepid
Vijaykumar Vedala
NOVEMBER 1, 2018 / 6
BENGALURU (Reuters) - A weaker baht pushed rice export prices in Thailand lower this week,
although there were expectations of new deals with the Philippines and China, while rates in
India languished at the 21-month lows hit last week due to sluggish demand.
Farmers plant saplings in a rice field in Srinagar June 5, 2018. REUTERS/Danish Ismail
In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices were quoted at $380-$400 per tonne, free on
board (FOB) Bangkok, dropping from $400-$402 last week.
The weakening of the baht against the U.S. dollar was the main factor behind the drop in prices
this week, Bangkok-based traders said, adding that overseas demand for Thai rice remained flat
and the market also expected additional supply from the new crop.
―The end of rainy season means rice from the new harvest will enter the market and this has led
to a slight price drop but it is seasonal,‖ a Bangkok-based rice trader said.
However, Thai rice exporters are expecting a deal with the Philippines before the end of the year
and a possible government-to-government rice sale to China, another Bangkok-based trader said.
The Rice Exporters Association of Thailand this week said it expects Thailand to meet the 11
million tonne rice export target before the end of the year.
In top exporter India, the 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted around $361-$367 per
tonne this week, unchanged from last week, when it hit the lowest since January 2017. [RIC/AS]
Supplies from the new crop will rise in coming weeks, but demand could also improve as Indian
shipments are cheaper than other origins, said one exporter based at Kakinada in the southern
state of Andhra Pradesh.
Government buying of local paddy rice could limit the downside to export prices, the exporter
said.
The government has raised the prices paid to local farmers for common grade paddy rice by 13
percent from a year ago to 1,750 rupees per 100 kg for the new season crop.
Neighbouring Bangladesh, which became a major importer in 2017 due to depleted stocks and
record local prices after regional flooding, will procure more rice locally after output revived.
―We are getting a good response in our local procurement drive and will continue it,‖ a food
ministry official said.The government has already procured around 1.4 million tonnes of rice
locally.
In Vietnam, rates for 5 percent broken rice were unchanged from a week earlier at $410-$415 a
tonne.―Exporters haven‘t clinched any new deals recently as domestic supplies are so low now,
despite prices remaining attractive,‖ a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. Traders said
domestic stockpiles now total around 300,000 metric tonnes. Vietnam‘s rice exports in January-
October were forecast to rise 3.4 percent from a year ago to 5.24 million tonnes, government
data showed.
https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/asia-rice-thailand-eyes-deals-with-philippines-china-india-demand-
tepid-idINKCN1N652K
Additional imported rice to arrive on November 15

November 1, 2018, 10:00 PM
By Madelaine B. Miraflor
Additional imported rice of about 47,000 metric tons (MT) should start arriving in the country by
November 15, a top agriculture official insisted.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol
It was just two weeks ago since the NFA failed to secure suppliers for most of the first 250,000
MT of rice it has been authorized to import for the remainder of the year.
During such bidding process, foreign companies found it too hard to meet NFA‘s buying price of
US$428.18 per ton, with only three of 20 bidders being able to secure import contracts with the
country under this particular importation.
These companies are Thai Capital Crops Company Limited, Vietnam Northern Food Corp.
(VINAFOOD 1), and Vietnam Southern Food Corp. (VINAFOOD 2).
Combined, they offer to supply the country with only 47,000 MT of rice.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the Philippine government wants to see some of
these stocks delivered here in 15 days.
―Delivery will stretch bet November 15 to November 30 for the 47,000 MT,‖ Piñol said.
In the meantime, the NFA is set to bid out on November 6 the import contracts for the remaining
203,000 MT of rice. This will be done through a government to government importation.
This will be followed by a government to private importation for another 500,000 MT.
―After a week, everything will be arranged and the shipment will start,‖ Piñol said.
Piñol said he is not worried about imported rice flooding the market amid harvest season.
If anything, he said this will make the country ready if ever another typhoon hits the country
before the end of the year.
By the end of the 2018, the expected buffer rice stock for NFA, household, and commercial
would be around 134 days.
Meanwhile, the price of both milled and unhusked rice went down on a weekly basis as harvest
season peaks.
A data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that during the second week of
October, the average farmgate price of palay went down by 3.16 percent to P21.17 per kilogram
(/kg).
Year on year, this is still higher by 13.03 percent from the price level of P18.73/kg.
https://business.mb.com.ph/2018/11/01/additional-imported-rice-to-arrive-on-november-15/
Rice prices continue to ease
By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:18 AM November 01, 2018
Rice prices continued to decline as of the second week of October, although by a modest amount
from the first week, as the harvest season and the arrival of cheaper rice imports continued to help
stabilize prices.
The latest price monitoring report of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the farm-gate
price for palay declined by 3.16 percent from the previous week to P21.17 a kilo, although still
higher by 13.03 percent from the average price a year ago.
Average wholesale prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice also decreased by 1.03 percent and
0.64 percent, respectively, to P42.20 a kilo and P45.16 a kilo. Compared to prices a year ago, these
were higher by 18.34 percent and 15.38 percent.
Retail prices also declined, although at a slower pace from last week.
A kilo of regular-milled and well-milled rice were sold at P45.72 a kilo and P48.83 a kilo,
respectively. These were lower by 0.33 percent and 0.35 percent from a week ago but higher by
20.22 percent and 15.68 percent from last year.
The departments of agriculture and of trade and industry have imposed suggested retail prices
(SRPs) on rice starting last weekend and rice prices are expected to drop further thereafter.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on his Facebook page that the implementation of the
SRPs would effectively solve rice hoarding and market speculation—two reasons that were seen as
the major drivers for prices to spike as they resulted in the volatility of supplies and prices of the
staple in the market.Rice has been one of the major drivers of the country‘s inflation this year with
its contribution rising 10 times to 1 percentage point of the inflation rate, according to the
Department of Finance.
Economic managers said the deregulation of rice imports was expected to tame prices further and
reduce the inflation rate by 0.4 percentage point.
https://business.inquirer.net/259848/rice-prices-continue-to-ease#ixzz5Vgvdzbbh
‗SRP eased pressure on govt to sell cheap rice‘
By Jasper Y. Arcalas
November 1, 2018
THE National Food Authority (NFA) will soon reduce the volume of state-subsidized rice it sells
in local markets as prices have started to decline, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel
F. Piñol.
From the current 20 percent, Piñol said the NFA‘s market-participation rate would revert to 10
percent. He said the suggested retail price (SRP) imposed on rice has effectively reduced the
price of the staple to P43 per kilogram, from as high as P70 per kg.
Because of this, the agriculture chief said the pressure on the NFA to sell more affordable rice
has eased.
―Unlike before, where so much pressure was placed on the NFA rice stocks because of the huge
difference in prices between commercial rice and NFA rice, right now the NFA could just limit
market participation to 10 percent because of the availability of cheap rice,‖ he said in a recent
interview with reporters.
Piñol also said there are ―early indications‖ pointing to the possibility that the SRP on rice would
soon be revised. ―There are already indications that, after the first month maybe, we may have to
review the SRP, and we may even bring the prices down.‖
Last month, the NFA Council ordered the state-run grains agency to hike its market participation
to 20 percent, from 10 percent, to make rice more affordable and ease high inflation.
The agriculture chief assured that traders and retailers will not be able to take undue advantage of
the reduction in NFA rice sold in local markets due to the SRP.
Piñol said commercial rice retailers cannot price the staple beyond the SRP, as they would face
hefty fines, which include revocation of their licenses and monetary sanctions.
―Traders and even big-time retailers adjusted the selling prices of rice when they felt that the
supplies were limited, especially during the lean months of June, July and August,‖ he said in a
separate Facebook post.
―This was precisely what happened this year, when the absence of the government-subsidized
rice sold by the NFA in the market resulted in a spike in the prices of commercial rice, both local
and imported,‖ he added.
Rice imports
THE NFA has released the terms of reference (TOR) for its purchase of 203,000 metric tons
(MT) of rice via government-to-government (G2G) mode.
Under the TOR, the bidding for the volume would be on November 6, and only countries with
existing memoranda of agreement with the Philippines can participate.
At present, only Thailand and Vietnam could supply rice to the Philippines via G2G mode.
Udner the TOR, the rice imports should be 25-percent brokens and must be harvested from June
2018 onward.
The rice imports must arrive to their designated ports not later than December 15, according to
the TOR.
The NFA has divided the 203,000 MT into 10 discharge ports with corresponding volume:
Manila (65,000 MT), Subic (55,000 MT), La Union (30,000 MT), General Santos (14,000 MT),
Tacloban (10,000 MT), Davao (8,000 MT), Zamboanga (8,000 MT), and 5,000 MT each in
Cebu, Surigao and Cagayan de Oro.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/srp-eased-pressure-on-govt-to-sell-cheap-rice/
Food prices dip in October
from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
01 Nov 2018
Unloading maize in Ukraine.
Abundant export supplies for key commodities more than offset jumping sugar prices
1 November 2018, Rome - International food commodity prices dipped in October, as falling
dairy, meat and vegetable oils prices more than offset a surge in sugar prices, the United Nations
said today.
The FAO Food Price Index, a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket
of food commodities, averaged 163.5 points in October, down 0.9 percent from September and
7.4 percent below its level a year earlier.
The FAO Dairy Price Index led the overall decline, slipping 4.8 percent from the previous month
and 34 percent below the peak reached in February 2014. The weaker prices reflect increased
export supplies across all major dairy products, especially from New Zealand.
The FAO Meat Price Index declined 2.0 percent from September, with ovine, pig, bovine and
poultry meat all posting drops due mostly to abundant export supplies.
The FAO Vegetable Oil Price Index fell by 1.5 percent, its ninth consecutive monthly drop, to
reach its lowest level since April 2009. The latest slide was mostly driven by sluggish global
import demand for palm oil and large inventories held by the commodity's major exporting
countries. International soy oil prices increased slightly.
The FAO Cereal Price Index rebounded, rising 1.3 percent from September, mostly due to firmer
maize quotations from the United States of America. Rice prices, by contrast, fell, partly
influenced by currency movements weighing on Japonica and fragrant varieties.
The FAO Sugar Price Index surged 8.7 percent, mostly as a result of negative climate-related
production prospects in India and Indonesia as well as indications of an increasing share of
Brazil's sugarcane output being used to produce ethanol.
World cereal output forecasts raised
FAO has also raised its forecast for global cereal production in 2018 to 2 601 million tonnes,
primarily due to higher estimates for wheat production in Canada and China. Nonetheless, the
new forecast remains 2.1 percent below the record level achieved in 2017.
Global rice output this year is expected to surpass last year's all-time high by 1.3 percent,
reaching 513 million tonnes, according to FAO's latest Cereal Supply and Demand Brief, also
released today.
World wheat production in 2018 is now forecast at around 728 million tonnes, marking a 4.3
percent decline from the previous year. Winter wheat crops, to be harvested in 2019, are
currently being sown in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the European Union, the United
States and India generally remunerative prices are expected to stimulate an increase in plantings.
Worldwide output of coarse grains is forecast at 1 360 million tonnes, a 2.2 percent drop from
2017. Coarse grain crops are currently being planted in the Southern Hemisphere countries, and
early prospects indicate an expansion in maize plantings in South America.
FAO expects world cereal utilization to rise by 0.2 percent to a record 2 653 million tonnes,
spurred by higher feed and industrial uses of maize, especially in China and the United States.
The use of wheat for food consumption is anticipated to rise by 1.0 percent, while that for rice to
increase by 1.1 percent.
Worldwide cereal stocks at the close of seasons in 2019 are now forecast to reach almost 762
million tonnes, some 6.5 percent below their record-high opening level.
Total inventories of coarse grains are expected to fall for the first time in six years, while those
of wheat are set to decrease by 4.5 percent, with drawdowns to be led by major exporters. World
rice stocks, by contrast, are expected to rise by 2.6 percent to 176.6 million tonnes.
International trade in cereals is now forecast to decline 1.1 percent from the 2017/18 record
level, with trade in both wheat and rice contracting. World trade in coarse grains is still forecast
to remain close to the previous year's record level, at around 195 million tonnes, with maize
volumes increasing while those of sorghum declining.
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/food-prices-dip-october
‗SRP eased pressure on govt to sell cheap rice‘
By Jasper Y. Arcalas
November 1, 2018
THE National Food Authority (NFA) will soon reduce the volume of state-subsidized rice it sells
in local markets as prices have started to decline, according to Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel
F. Piñol.
From the current 20 percent, Piñol said the NFA‘s market-participation rate would revert to 10
percent. He said the suggested retail price (SRP) imposed on rice has effectively reduced the
price of the staple to P43 per kilogram, from as high as P70 per kg.
Because of this, the agriculture chief said the pressure on the NFA to sell more affordable rice
has eased.
―Unlike before, where so much pressure was placed on the NFA rice stocks because of the huge
difference in prices between commercial rice and NFA rice, right now the NFA could just limit
market participation to 10 percent because of the availability of cheap rice,‖ he said in a recent
interview with reporters.
Piñol also said there are ―early indications‖ pointing to the possibility that the SRP on rice would
soon be revised. ―There are already indications that, after the first month maybe, we may have to
review the SRP, and we may even bring the prices down.‖
Last month, the NFA Council ordered the state-run grains agency to hike its market participation
to 20 percent, from 10 percent, to make rice more affordable and ease high inflation.
The agriculture chief assured that traders and retailers will not be able to take undue advantage of
the reduction in NFA rice sold in local markets due to the SRP.
Piñol said commercial rice retailers cannot price the staple beyond the SRP, as they would face
hefty fines, which include revocation of their licenses and monetary sanctions.
―Traders and even big-time retailers adjusted the selling prices of rice when they felt that the
supplies were limited, especially during the lean months of June, July and August,‖ he said in a
separate Facebook post.
―This was precisely what happened this year, when the absence of the government-subsidized
rice sold by the NFA in the market resulted in a spike in the prices of commercial rice, both local
and imported,‖ he added.
Rice imports
THE NFA has released the terms of reference (TOR) for its purchase of 203,000 metric tons
(MT) of rice via government-to-government (G2G) mode.
Under the TOR, the bidding for the volume would be on November 6, and only countries with
existing memoranda of agreement with the Philippines can participate.
At present, only Thailand and Vietnam could supply rice to the Philippines via G2G mode.
Udner the TOR, the rice imports should be 25-percent brokens and must be harvested from June
2018 onward.
The rice imports must arrive to their designated ports not later than December 15, according to
the TOR.
The NFA has divided the 203,000 MT into 10 discharge ports with corresponding volume:
Manila (65,000 MT), Subic (55,000 MT), La Union (30,000 MT), General Santos (14,000 MT),
Tacloban (10,000 MT), Davao (8,000 MT), Zamboanga (8,000 MT), and 5,000 MT each in
Cebu, Surigao and Cagayan de Oro.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/srp-eased-pressure-on-govt-to-sell-cheap-rice/
Rice prices continue to ease

By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:18 AM November 01, 2018
Rice prices continued to decline as of the second week of October, although by a modest amount
from the first week, as the harvest season and the arrival of cheaper rice imports continued to help
stabilize prices.
The latest price monitoring report of the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the farm-gate
price for palay declined by 3.16 percent from the previous week to P21.17 a kilo, although still
higher by 13.03 percent from the average price a year ago.
Average wholesale prices of regular-milled and well-milled rice also decreased by 1.03 percent and
0.64 percent, respectively, to P42.20 a kilo and P45.16 a kilo. Compared to prices a year ago, these
were higher by 18.34 percent and 15.38 percent.Retail prices also declined, although at a slower
pace from last week.A kilo of regular-milled and well-milled rice were sold at P45.72 a kilo and
P48.83 a kilo, respectively. These were lower by 0.33 percent and 0.35 percent from a week ago
but higher by 20.22 percent and 15.68 percent from last year.
The departments of agriculture and of trade and industry have imposed suggested retail prices
(SRPs) on rice starting last weekend and rice prices are expected to drop further thereafter.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said on his Facebook page that the implementation of the
SRPs would effectively solve rice hoarding and market speculation—two reasons that were seen as
the major drivers for prices to spike as they resulted in the volatility of supplies and prices of the
staple in the market.
Rice has been one of the major drivers of the country‘s inflation this year with its contribution
rising 10 times to 1 percentage point of the inflation rate, according to the Department of Finance.
Economic managers said the deregulation of rice imports was expected to tame prices further and
reduce the inflation rate by 0.4 percentage point
https://business.inquirer.net/259848/rice-prices-continue-to-ease#ixzz5Vgmu1xtn
Navy intercepts 257 bags of foreign rice in Cross River
October 31, 2018
Mudiaga Affe, Calabar
The Nigerian Navy Ship Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, on Tuesday, disclosed the arrest
of four suspects in connection with the smuggling of 257 bags of foreign rice worth N4.62m.
The smuggled bags of rice were shipped into the country in a wooden boat from Cameroon via
the Calabar waterways.
The Commander, NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, made this known at the command‘s
jetty in Calabar while handing over the four suspects and the confiscated foreign rice as well as
the wooden boat to officials of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the boat was intercepted in the early hours of Monday, October 29, 2018, while trying to
navigate its way to Calabar.
Nwagu said, ―In the early hours of October 29, 2018, our men who were on patrol intercepted a
wooden boat loaded with 257 bags of foreign rice valued at N4.62m.
―The boat was brought to the base with the four men who were arrested with the consignments.
We are handing over the suspects and the consignment to the Customs for further investigation
and prosecution.
―The Federal Government has long ago banned the importation of foreign rice into the country.
―The importation of such contraband is not a viable business. When you invest your money in
such business, you will not only lose the money, you will also be prosecuted.
―We are by this arrest reiterating that the ban on foreign rice is still in force.‖
He added that between April and August this year, the command confiscated over 10, 000 bags
of foreign rice, adding that smugglers might have started receding following the constant arrests.
Receiving the suspects, an Assistant Controller of Customs in charge of the Eastern Marine
Command base in Calabar, Mr Omachi Joshua, said the items would be taken to the government
warehouse and the suspects would be prosecuted according to laid down rules.
https://punchng.com/navy-intercepts-257-bags-of-foreign-rice-in-criver/
Farmers, paddy purchasers at loggerheads in Fazilka

Nov 2, 2018, 1:14 AM; last updated: Nov 2, 2018
The paddy purchasers‘ union protests at the market committee office in Fazilka. Tribune photo
Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, November 1
The purchase of basmati remained suspended in Fazilka and its adjoining Ladhuka grain markets
following a dispute between farmers and paddy purchasers.
The paddy purchasers abstained from going to the grain markets today due to which no basmati
variety of paddy could be purchased. Notably, the purchasers buy paddy on behalf of private
traders, including rice millers and exporters.
Paddy Purchasers Union‘s Ladhuka president Ram Singh said as soon as they entered in the
Ladhuka mandi on Wednesday to buy paddy, they were allegedly abused and the farmers
misbehaved with them. They then approached the Fazilka purchasers‘ union and boycotted the
purchase of paddy today.
Notably, some farmers under banner of Punjab Kisan Sabha Mandi, Lakhuka block, staged a
protest in the market against the alleged highhandedness of the private traders and buying their
produce at a lesser rate as compared to the market of adjoining districts by making a cartel.
Kisan Sabha Ladhuka president and Ladhuka mandi sarpanch Darshan Ram denied the
allegation. He alleged that the private traders had made a cartel to fleece the farmers to buy
paddy at low rates and so the traders were trying to presssurise the farmers by using the
purchasers.Purchasers‘ union Fazilka president Surinder Sharma said they have been offering the
price of paddy, keeping in view the quality and moisture content in it. Hence no question of
fleecing the farmers.When contacted, Ajaypal Singh Brar, Secretary, Market Committee, said the
purchaser had met him today and have demanded security from the government. He expressed
hope that the purchase would start from Friday.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/farmers-paddy-purchasers-at-loggerheads-in-
fazilka/677544.html
SINO-Pak Hybrid Rice Research Center inaugurated in China
BY STAFF REPORT , (LAST UPDATED 19 HOURS AGO)
KARACHI: University of Karachi‘s (KU) International Center for Chemical and Biological
Sciences (ICCBS) in collaboration with the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI)
recently inaugurated SINO-Pak Hybrid Rice Research Center (SPHRRC) in China‘s city
Hangzhou, it was learnt on Thursday.
The purpose of the centre is to attempt to carry out quality research and development for having
different kinds of quality rice through crossbreeding.Higher Education Commission
former chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rahman China‘s Federal Minister for Science and Technology Dr
Peisong Hu and General China National Rice Research Institute (CNNRI) deputy director
inaugurated the centre.
ICCBS Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and China‘s Department of International
Cooperation (Division of Asian, Americans and Multilateral Affairs) Director Lu Yexin also
attended the inauguration ceremony.
It is pertinent to mention here that according to the bilateral agreement between the two
institutes, two branches SPHRRC had to be established in total, one in Pakistan and the other in
China.
It is also worth mentioning here that the branch of the SPHRRC in Pakistan has already been
opened at the ICCBS, last year.
The ICCBS officials said that the centre is the first hybrid rice research centre of Pakistan
established in collaboration with CNNRI with the objectives that it will provide suitable numbers
of hybrid rice seeds varieties for testing at different locations in Sindh and other climatic zones
of Pakistan during the next two years to Pakistan.
The centre will also facilitate the field trials process of these verities of hybrid rice in Pakistan
and train young Pakistani researchers in the field of agriculture so that they can effectively utilize
the modern agriculture techniques to improve their local rice verities, it was said
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2018/11/01/sino-pak-hybrid-rice-research-center-
inaugurated-in-china/
Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Air quality inches towards

'severe', construction activities banned till Nov 10
Acting on the advice given by task force on Graded Response Action Plan, Environment
Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) moved to shut construction activities, till
November 10.
Edited by: India TV News Desk, New Delhi [ Updated: November 02, 2018 7:37 IST ]
Air quality in Delhi-NCR inches closer to severe.Delhi's air quality on Thursday inched closer to
"severe" level with stubble burning and local pollution sources being the major causes. The three
cities of the National Capital Region (NCR)- Gurugram, Faridabad and Noida- figured on the list of the
most polluted cities.
Acting on the advice given by task force on Graded Response Action Plan, Environment
Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) moved to shut construction activities, till
November 10.
"All construction activities involving excavation, civil construction (excluding internal
finishing/work where no construction material is used) to remain closed in NCR districts from
November 1 to 10", said the EPCA.
All stone crushers, hot mix plants generating dust pollution to remain closed in the districts
during the period, it said.
EPCA asked all biomass and coal based industries in the NCR region to help contain the rising
air pollution.
In view of the rising air pollution, EPCA has issued a directive asking around 500 rice mills
across Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to stop operations from November 4 until the
further orders.
Expressing displeasure with the move, Millers rued that the shutdown will affect quality of the
product and basmati export.
Pollution is set to worsen until at least November 4, with high moisture trapping the pollutants
and calm wind not allowing them to disperse, according to the System of Air Quality and
Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
―For the first time, EPCA members have been asked to visit at least one hot spot such as Punjabi
Bagh, DTU, Mundka and landfill sites of Ghazipur and Bhalswa and submit reports on what is
triggering pollution, and suggest solutions,‖ said Bhure Lal, chairman of EPCA, who himself has
taken charge of Anand Vihar, one of the most polluted areas of Delhi.
The stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana has about 30 per cent impact on Delhi's air quality,
say experts from Central Pollution Control Board (CPSB).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday was 393 in Delhi, considered "very poor" or near
"severe". Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh saw a slight improvement with an AQI of 377.
Haryana's Gurugram had an AQI of 427, while Faridabad and Noida had 407, making them the
three most polluted cities in the country on Thursday.
―There is moderate moisture in the air. This is likely to maximise by November 4 (Sunday),
resulting in enhanced air holding capacity and faster growth in pollution levels,‖ a SAFAR
scientist said
On Thursday, business venture Blueair collaborated with East Delhi Municipal Corporation to
distribute 5,000 N-95 mask among the municipal workers.
Delhi on Thursday saw a rise in particle pollutants with average dispersion of PM2.5 and PM10,
or particles with diameter less than 2.5mm and 10mm, being 241 and 437 microgrammer per
cubic meters -- about 4 times the permissible limit.
Chandni Chowk, Dwarka sub-city, Rohini, R.K. Puram, Narela and Punjabi Bagh were among
the 18 regions out of 36 which reeled under 'severe" air quality with PM2.5 above 400 units.
The permissible limit for PM2.5 and PM10 is 60 and 80 units by national standards and 25 and
50 units by international standards.
Meanwhile, SAFAR advised people to avoid all outdoor physical activities and those with
asthma to keep relief medication handy.
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india-delhi-ncr-air-pollution-ban-on-construction-activities-
478576
Doubling farmers’ income: It’s possible! How much-needed

policy can work; all you need to know in 5 points
By: FE Online | Published: November 1, 2018 1:40 PM
While the idea of doubling farmers' income talks about using better seeds and
enhancing productivity by using better technologies, it can also be done by minimising the struggles
faced by small and marginal farmers.
Small Farmers, Large Field (SFLF) model improved average per acre profit doubled as compared to
the previous year from Rs 12,130 to Rs 24,830
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the target of doubling the farmers‘ income by 2022. And it can
be achieved even with small landholdings. While the idea of doubling farmers‘ income talks about
using better seeds and enhancing productivity by using better technologies, it can also be
done by minimising the struggles faced by small and marginal farmers.
In an article in The Indian Express, agriculture expert Samarendu Mohanty and Sampriti Baruah have
said that using the ―Farmer Producer Organisation/ Company approach is one way to enable them
(small and marginal farmers) to improve their bargaining power, by pooling resources and linking them
to the market.‖
Giving an example of Small Farmers, Large Field (SFLF) model, which was conceptualised in
Vietnam, and piloted in India in 2016/17 rabi season, the experts said, it improved average per acre
profit doubled as compared to the previous year from Rs 12,130 to Rs 24,830.
Here’s all you need to know about the model in 5 steps:
First, 54 of the 90 farmers in the villages agreed to farm on the combined landholding of 90 acres with
the help of an eight-member coordination committee. The farmers decided to grow a single paddy
variety and procure its seeds from a certified producer.
Second, the farmers set up mat nurseries to prepare paddy seeling in 90 acres of land. Earlier, it was
difficult as moving tractors in small land-fields was tough and costly.
Third, the farmers‘ group then placed a single order with Indian Farmers‘ Fertiliser Cooperative
(IFFCO), which they got for below retail price.
Fourth, local rice millers were appointed, who were ready to pay a premium for the paddy produced as
they were getting a single variety.
Fifth, the combined effect of less investment and more return was seen. The estimate showed that the
average per acre profit of farmers was Rs 24,830, as compared to Rs 12,130 in the 2015/16 rabi season.
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Ease of doing business 2018: Modi’s India can beat China next year; these 3
things will make it possibleEase of doing business 2018: Modi’s India can
beat China next year; these 3 things will make it possibleIf the Narendra Modi
government is able to get its focus right on 3 key areas, come 2018, India may very well perform better
than China in the World Bank 'Ease of Doing Business' Rankings as well!FinancialExpress
Who is Pinky Lalwani? Meet former Kingfisher air hostess Vijay Mallya is
reportedly set to marryThe 62-year-old liquor baron Vijay Mallya is reportedly set to marry his
longtime girlfriend and former Kingfisher air hostess Pinky Lalwani. This will be Vijay Mallya's third
marriage. His first wife was Sameera Tyabjee and second wife (who he is still legally married to) is
Rekha Mallya, a childhoFinancialExpress
Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity: CAG rap, Chinese input, record breaks;
stunning facts about Modi’s pet projectSardar Patel’s Statue of Unity: CAG
rap, Chinese input, record breaks; stunning facts about Modi’s
pet projectThe Sardar Patel 'Statue of Unity' is located approximately 3.5 km downstream from the
Sardar Sarovar Dam, on Sadhu Hill on the bed of the river Narmada.
https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/doubling-farmers-income-its-possible-how-much-needed-
policy-can-work-all-you-need-to-know-in-5-points/1368947/
Nepal harvests record-high paddy output by growing
Chinese hybrid rice
Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-30 18:54:25|Editor: mmm
KATHMANDU, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The total paddy production in Nepal has reached 5.23
million metric tons this year, the highest harvest in the country's history and the country's
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has attributed the record-high paddy output
to cultivation of Chinese hybrid rice.
Timely rainfall and availability of developed seeds and chemical fertilizers have attributed to the
rise in paddy production by nearly 30 percent as compared to the harvest of 2017-18 fiscal year,
officials claimed.
Though the Nepali government had projected the paddy production of only 5 million metric tons,
the higher output has been regarded as a significant contributor to the gross domestic product
(GDP) of the country and economic growth in overall. The agriculture sector constitutes 33
percent of the total GDP in which paddy accounts for as high as 20 percent.
According to the agriculture ministry, the record harvest would help cutting down the rice
imports from different countries and contribute to reduction of rice deficit.
The optimism comes at a time when the Chinese hybrid rice, spreading over 300 hectares of
land, is doing excellent performance in the country.
On Monday, a team of government officials from both Nepal and China, and research scientists
and representatives of the World Food Program (WFP) visited the high-yield demonstration field
of Chinese hybrid rice located within the premise of the National Agricultural Research Council
in Lalitpur.
Noting that the performance of Chinese hybrid rice is excellent in Nepal, the Nepali side
expressed willingness to produce hybrid rice in large scale to have large yields and resolve rice
scarcity.
"The performance of Chinese hybrid rice is very nice and exciting," Baidya Nath Mahato,
executive director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, told Xinhua.
Under the first phase of three-year long China-Nepal agricultural technical cooperation project
that started in February 2016, China has been providing economic and technical assistance in the
agricultural sector for Nepal, especially for cultivating rice and maize.
The Chinese government has also been helping Nepal promote adoption of hybrid rice varieties
and conducting technical demonstration and training on post-harvest processing technology,
farm machinery operation and maintenance technology.
For this end, Yuan Longping High-tech Agriculture Co. Ltd, a Chinese implementing agency, is
working in cooperation with the Nepal Agricultural Research Council.
According to the officials, in the past two years, 67 hybrid rice varieties have been introduced
from China and tested in various parts of Nepal. Among them, one variety has already been
approved by the Seed Quality Control Centre under Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
Development.
Chinese hybrid rice has been popular among the farmers of the country due to higher yield,
strong tillering ability, straight leaves with no drooping, more effective panicles per unit area,
more grains and good taste, among others.
Ananda Kumar Gautam, a senior scientist of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, told
Xinhua that "we are very much impressed by the performance of Chinese hybrid rice and the
response from the farmers is very positive."
In the budget for the current fiscal year, the Nepali government has announced a plan to make
the country self-reliant in food within next few years. Experts believe that Chinese hybrid rice
can resolve the food deficit and help Nepal ensure food security.
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-10/30/c_137569494.htm
Traditional medicinal rice variety conservation gaining ground
Archana Rohit
October 31, 2018
Traditional food and dishes have a historic precedent in national, regional or local cuisine. However, the
benefits of traditional food are fading away without any trace due to the heavy influence of
Western food.
Unfortunately, the rich heritage of consuming various varieties of rice has been vanishing
since the green revolution. There were more than 3 lakh rice varieties in the country and
more than 5,000 varieties were available in Tamil Nadu, say agriculture scientists. However,
nearly 200 varieties of rice have been saved in Tamil Nadu. Besides, nutritional and
medicinal benefits, the by-products of rice are equally important and beneficial, says expert,
Menakathilarajan, owner of Mannvasnai Organic shop
Each type of rice has unique properties like taste, size and texture. Here is a guide to some
varieties of rice with its medicinal purposes.
1. Kala Namak (Crop duration – 120 days)
It is one of the finest quality rice in the country. It derives its name from black husk (kala =
black; the suffix ‗namak‘ means salt). This variety is in cultivation since the Buddhist
period (600 BC). It is believed to be better than basmati in all aspects except grain length
and is considered the finest quality of rice in international trade
Medicinal properties: Cures diabetes, BP and problems related to kidney, skin, blood,
cancer and brain.
According to farmer Mani: ―Buddha is believed to consume only this rice and even today
Buddhist monks carry this wherever they go. The reason they live longer is that they
consume this rice.‖
2. Tooyamali (Crop duration – 140 days)
Thooyamalli, also known as ‗Maapilai Samba‘, is a traditional rice variety and gets its name
from its striking resemblance to jasmine buds. It used to be a tradition to feed bridegrooms
with this rice before the wedding. It is suitable for preparing biryani.
Medicinal properties: Increases nerves strength, improves digestion, cures mouth ulcers and
helps reduce diabetes.
3. Kullakkar (Crop duration – 90 to 105 days)
Kullakkar, is short red rice cultivated in summer. The crop is highly drought, pest and
disease-resistant and locally the straw is a preferred to thatch roofs. The rice can be used in
the preparation of idli, dosa, puttu or porridge as well. Red rice varieties have antioxidant
properties and a higher content of zinc and iron than white rice
Medicinal properties: Revitalizes and energizes the body, helps to bring down bad
cholesterol levels and controls blood sugar levels.
4. Seeraga Samba (Crop duration – 120 to 125 days)
Seeraga Samba is an aromatic rice. It derives its name because the small white ovular fine
grains resemble seeds of seeragam/Jeera/cumin. It is mostly cultivated in the Samba season
(August to January). The grains are much smaller than other varieties and when cooked less
‗fluffy‘ and loose in texture with a starchy/corny flavour. Rich in vitamins, it is high in
calorie. Traditionally, it is used in the preparation of variety rice like biryani, tomato rice,
lemon rice and tamarind rice.
Medicinal properties: Prevents colon and intestine cancer, reduces cholesterol. It is rich in
fibre. Hence, it reduces the LDL cholesterol and increases HDL in the body.
5. Karung Kuruvai (Crop duration – 110 days)
Karung kuruvai rice has got a ‗kayakalpam‘ property which will protect our body. Siddha
doctors use this rice variety to prepare medicines. According to farmer Mani: ―This rice
helps dilute all the bad cholesterols in our body. It can be consumed as rice and it is also
very much suitable for idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Helps treat people suffering from Elephantiasis.
6. Poongar (Crop duration – 70 days)
Poongar is also called as ‗Arubatham Kodai‘. The crop can grow even during extreme
climatic conditions and can withstand floods and grow with less water. It is also suitable for
idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Provides strength to the body. It is believed that consuming this rice
during pregnancy leads to normal delivery.
7. Kattuyam (Crop duration – 180 days)
This rice is very rich in minerals and used majorly as ‗kasayam‘ and also good for making
rice, idly and dosa.
Medicinal properties: Helps control diabetes, prevents heart problems.
8. Kavuni (Crop duration – 130 days)
This rice has been in existence from the Chola period. Red and black kavuni rice are
available in the market.
Medicinal properties: Provides strength to the body. Black kavni rice is used to treat dog
bites.
Meneka also added, ―Kichadi Samba rice is good for preparing pongal and sundaram.
Kichadi samba rice has got high medicinal property and is good for treating skin problems.‖
Urbanisation and hectic lifestyle have made people dependent on easily available fast food
items, resetting our taste buds. Institutions like Create and Ciks are trying to save these
traditional rice varieties. As citizens, it is our social responsibility to save our traditional
food, culture, including rice varieties and pass the same on to the next generation.
https://www.covaipost.com/tamilnadu-news/traditional-medicinal-rice-variety-conservation-
gaining-
ground/
Newly discovered toxic pollutant found in homes,

environment
ByAllen Cone
Scientists found high levels of a previously unsuspected pollutant in homes, in an electronic waste
recycling facility and in the natural environment. Photo by johnpotter/pixabay
Oct. 30 (UPI) -- People are likely being exposed to a newly detected toxic pollutant by
breathing contaminated dust or through skin contact, according to a study.
Researchers at Indiana University discovered high levels of the chemical, tri(2,4-di-t-

butylphenyl) phosphate, or TDTBPP, in homes, an electronic waste recycling facility and in
the natural environment. Their findings were published Tuesdayin Environmental Science &
Technology.
The compound is part of the family of toxic organophosphates, which is the most widely
used class of insecticides, but is also used as a flame retardant, a plasticizer in consum er
products and can be formed when other chemicals degrade.
"We were looking at flame retardants and found this compound for the first time," Dr. Marta
Venier, a scientist at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, told UPI. "In all
samples we looked for we found it in flame retardants and as a plasticizer."
RELATED Sulfur regulations on coal power plants could improve air quality, study says
"This compound is potentially a concern because of exposure in homes and occupational

settings," she added.
Environmental chemists have had difficulty tracking down pollutants in the environment
and what kind of effects they might cause because common commercial chemicals,
including TDTBPP, are not subject to regulatory scrutiny under the U.S. Toxic Substance s
Control Act unless they are used for new purposes.
"The fact that this potentially toxic chemical is so abundant, but was previously unknown, is
another example of the ineffective management of chemicals in the United States," Venier
previously said in a press release.
Researchers believe many chemicals go undetected until a general environmental scan is
performed.
This is what Indiana University scientists performed using high-resolution mass

spectrometry. They studied dust samples from an e-waste dismantling facility in Ontario,
Canada. E-waste recycling facilities often include similar TDTBPP chemicals used in the
production of plastics, wires, printed circuit boards and electronic equipment.
Researchers also studied dust from 20 residential homes in Ontario, as well as outdoor
samples from the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, Indiana Harbor water filters and filters
from high-volume air samplers deployed in Chicago. They measured amounts of TDTBPP
in ambient air, water and sediment.
Especially high levels of TDTBPP were found in house dust.
"Our research is the first step," Venier said. "Now that we know that TDTBPP i s prevalent,
especially in homes, scientists can flag it for further study and focus on understanding the
effects of TDTBPP on people."
Working Together Brings Boat Load of Good News

By Kane Webb
LAKE CHARLES, LA -- Over the past week, Congressmen Clay Higgins and Ralph Abraham
who both represent the Louisiana rice producing region, took the opportunity to see firsthand the
results of recent rice sales to Iraq.
"Congressmen Abraham, Higgins, and several of their colleagues made supporting the sale of
U.S. rice to Iraq a priority, and what better way to say 'thank you' than to come and see the
results for yourself," said Nick Bernhard, CEO of Farmers Rice Milling Company.
During separate visits to the Port of Lake Charles, Port Director Bill Rase thanked both
Congressmen for their commitment in making this sale a reality.
"These shipments mean a lot to the Port of Lake Charles," said

Rase. "These four cargos equate to a value of $17 million per cargo,
and employ more than 90 longshoremen, working a combined 78,000
man-hours, to load these four vessels."
Todd Henderson, director of port operations, said, "This is the kind

of cargo going through the port that we love to see. It means jobs
and benefits, and that's good for the economy all around."
Bernhard and Phillip Bertrand, also with Farmers Rice Milling

Company, Robert Bond, COO of the Powell Group, and rice farmer
and NELA Rice Growers Association President Scott Franklin met
Rep. Clay Higgins Abraham and staffers from both offices at the Farmers Rice Mill
pitches in facility, where a portion of the rice sold on the first vessel bound for
Iraq is being packaged. The legislators were briefed on the many
moving parts involved in getting this rice to the vessel and the several local companies that
played a role in the process.
The enormity of the economic impact was obvious when Abraham and Higgins each entered the
multiple warehouses, stocked with pallets of rice from one end to the other, and were told this
was only enough rice to fill the first vessel.
Abraham, surrounded by stacks of rice poised for loading, said, "This
is what makes it all worthwhile. What a great day for rice!"
Upon entering the first warehouse, Higgins said, "What a beautiful

sight! You realize just how much of an impact this has on the
industry when you see it in person. All this rice came from Farmers Rep. Ralph Abraham
Rice Mill, Supreme Rice Mill, and Beaumont Rice Mill, proving that gets the details
when we work together, good things will happen."
Bond said, "The economic benefits start locally with the growers and the mills producing and
providing a high quality product, then it continues with the purchase of bags to package the rice,
hiring trucking to deliver it to the port, and labor to load the vessel. That's money that gets
reinvested back into the local economy."
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/environment-pollution-control-authority-
shuts-ncr-rice-mills/articleshow/66466931.cms
Rice Prices
as on : 31-10-2018 11:42:10 AM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current % Season Modal Prev. Prev.Yr

change cumulative Modal %change
Rice
Cachar(ASM) 40.00 -50 5482.00 2400 2400 9.09
Naugarh(UP) 25.00 25 975.20 2270 2255 9.40
Balrampur(UP) 20.00 -33.33 100.00 2250 2360 -
Champadanga(WB) 14.00 NC 576.00 3150 3250 14.55
Sahiyapur(UP) 13.00 13.04 2329.50 2235 2240 -
Vishalpur(UP) 12.00 -42.86 643.00 2400 2375 -
Vilthararoad(UP) 10.00 NC 411.00 2150 2150 NC
Paliakala(UP) 10.00 -9.09 1131.10 2300 2290 -
Fatehpur(UP) 7.30 -12.05 1016.30 2160 2175 -1.82
Ruperdeeha(UP) 6.00 20 266.00 1600 1600 -
Dibrugarh(ASM) 5.00 78.57 754.50 2920 2920 29.78
Tundla(UP) 4.60 206.67 180.50 2500 2455 -
Anandnagar(UP) 4.00 -50 88.00 2300 2100 -
Mirzapur(UP) 3.50 -30 895.00 2225 2230 -
Sehjanwa(UP) 3.00 -70 183.50 2160 2160 -
Mau(Chitrakut)(UP) 3.00 -25 53.20 1835 1835 -
Jahangirabad(UP) 2.50 -28.57 196.00 2560 2560 8.94
Amroha(UP) 2.30 4.55 50.42 2600 2600 5.26
Doharighat(UP) 1.50 NC 33.00 2000 2000 -
Nautnava(UP) 1.00 -80 38.50 2200 2250 7.84
Jagnair(UP) 0.70 -12.5 81.80 2560 2570 0.79
Published on October 31, 2018
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25377446.ece
Rice Prices
as on : 02-11-2018 11:54:47 AM
Arrivals Price

Rice
Panchpedwa(UP) 26.00 -25.71 442.00 2240 2240 -
Wansi(UP) 21.00 5 866.00 2110 2110 -
Jaunpur(UP) 10.00 -67.74 1583.80 2280 2280 8.57
Tamkuhi Road(UP) 4.50 -25 983.00 2150 2150 -
Anandnagar(UP) 2.00 -50 92.00 2200 2300 -
Achnera(UP) 0.70 16.67 22.00 2560 2550 0.39
Khairagarh(UP) 0.70 -12.5 116.60 2560 2560 1.59
Jagnair(UP) 0.60 -14.29 83.00 2560 2560 0.79
Published on November 02, 2018
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article25399829.ece
No need to import rice: Bulog
News Desk
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Wed, October 31, 2018 | 01:31 pm

State-owned logistics company Bulog president director Budi Waseso (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) says its rice stock of 2.4 million tons is adequate to meet
domestic demand. Therefore, the company assures that the country does not need to import the
commodity.
―It indicates that we have strong stock,‖ Bulog president director Budi Waseso said in a
statement on Wednesday.
He said Bulog was committed to implementing its main duties – purchasing rice from farmers,
carrying out market operations to stabilize prices and maintaining strong rice stocks to assure the
availability of the commodity.
The agency is required to maintain between 1 and 1.5 million tons of rice that should be ready to
be distributed to Bulog‘s warehouses across the country at any time.
―As a price stabilizing institution, Bulog continuously carries out market intervention. With it,
the commodity should always be available and of good quality,‖ Budi said, adding that since
January, Bulog had released 384,328 tons rice for market operations, an average of 2,500 per
day.
Bulog will continue to monitor rice prices, said Budi.
Bulog purchases 3,000 tons of unhusked rice from farmers every day, he said, adding that with
the absorption of farmers‘ rice, Bulog could also stock up until the end of 2018.(bbn)
Investors yellow cards Bakrieland Development

management
Anton Hermansyah
The Jakarta Post
Jakarta | Fri, June 22, 2018 | 06:28 pm
Investors show their displeasure by waving yellow cards at Bakrieland Development‘s management in Jakarta on
Friday. (JP/Anton Hermansyah)
Investors gave PT Bakrieland Development‘s management a "yellow card" after they rejected the
company's plan to make a reverse stock split.
The company wants a 10:1 ratio, which means that 10 stocks will be converted into one. With
the split, the price will balloon from Rp 50 (36 US cents) per stock to Rp 500.
Hidayat, one of the retail investors, said the split was useless and harmed retail investors because
the price would drop again as experienced by other Bakrie family-owned companies.
"PT Energi Mega Persada‘s price dropped by 77 percent three months after the July 2017 reverse
stock split, PT Bakrie Sumatra Plantations is now less than half the price after the February 2017
reverse stock split and PT Bakrie & Brothers was suspended after an 86 percent drop," he said in
Jakarta.
Bakrieland president director Ambono Janurianto said the reverse stock split plan was the part of
company's debt restructuring strategy.
He added that to restructure some of the debt, the company obtained a Rp 500 billion loan from
investment company PT Geo Link Indonesia, which was secured by Bakrieland‘s stock
ownership in PT Graha Andrasentra Propertindo. Bakrieland owns 38.76 percent of Graha
Andrasentra Propertindo through its subsidiary PT Surya Global Nusantara.
Bakrieland also issued 2.52 billion stock warrants to its creditors related to the restructuring. If
exercised, one warrant can be converted into 10 stocks at a price of Rp 100 per stock.
"Our creditor wanted the price of the stock at a marketable level, that is why we have to
implement the reverse stock split," Ambono said.
The Rp 50 per stock price, according to an Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) rule, is the lowest
price for stock on the regular market.
For the most part, after reaching the Rp 50 floor price, stocks are unable to bounce back because
investors do not want to bid it up. (evi)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/06/22/investors-yellow-cards-bakrieland-
development-management.html
Sierra Leone wooed by local rice

Sum Manet / Khmer Times
A selection of local rices at a recent trade show. KT/Chor Sokunthea
A government delegation from Sierra Leone is now in Cambodia to explore

partnership opportunities, particularly in the agriculture sector.
As expressed during a meeting on Monday between the Cambodian Minister of
Agriculture Veng Sakhon and his Sierra Leone counterpart Joseph J. Ndanema, the
Sub-Saharan African country is interested in importing Cambodian rice.
Mr Ndanema said during the meeting that now is the right time for both nations to
engage in comprehensive cooperation.
He praised the local agriculture sector for its swift development in recent years, and added that
his country can learn from what Cambodia has achieved.
―The success that Cambodia enjoys today, especially in rice production, is widely recognised
worldwide. Its rice is consider to be high quality and delicious, which is why it is being exported
to markets all over the world,‖ he said, adding that Cambodian rice is now ranked number one in
the world.
Mr Ndanema was likely referring to this year‘s World Best Rice competition in Hanoi, Vietnam,
where local brand Malys Angkor took home the award for best rice.
―Sierra Leone has been building and developing gradually, however, rice production is facing
problems that affect food security,‖ he said.
―This is the main reason the delegates decided to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia today to study
the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the import of milled rice from Cambodia,‖ Mr
Joseph said.
Mr Sakhon said that rice is not the only area where Cambodia has seen impressive achievements.
The Kingdom has also been praised for its excellent cassava, mango, and cashew nuts, he said,
adding that these crops offer tempting investment opportunities in processing and export.
―We exchanged experiences regarding training and skills development, organising and managing
farmer communities, applying agricultural extension services, as well as collecting market
information such as the price of agricultural products, especially vegetables.
―We have agreed to strengthen and expand agriculture cooperation between the two countries in
the future,‖ Mr Sakhon said
―Meanwhile, the government has now set out strategic plans and policies on the development of
major supporting infrastructure such as roads, ports, and the power supply.
―In particular, the ministry has been promoting human resource development, diversifying
agricultural commercialisation by modernising agriculture and promoting packaging and
processing to increase Cambodia‘s agricultural exports in the future,‖ he added.
According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia exported 389,264 tonnes of
rice in the first nine months of 2018, a drop of 8.4 percent. China continues to be Cambodia‘s top
export market
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50545688/sierra-leone-wooed-by-local-rice/
Initial rice import shipments of 47,000 MT arriving by Dec. 1

October 31, 2018 | 7:09 pm
PHILSTAR
THE 47,000 metric tons (MT) of rice awarded to bidders in the latest import auction will arrive
by Dec. 1, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said.
The 47,000 MT shipment represents the volume awarded to bidders at the auction for the first
batch of 250,000 MT out of 750,000 MT authorized for import this year by the National Food
Authority (NFA) Council.
The government failed to make a full award of the volume authorized because many bids failed
to meet the posted reference prices.
―The first arrival will be the volume bid out under the G2P (government-to-private) arrangement
of 47,000 (MT). [NFA Officer-in-Charge] Tom Escares said deliveries are expected between
Nov. 15 and Nov. 30,‖ Mr. Piñol told reporters.
He said the new auction for the unawarded 203,000 MT is scheduled for Nov. 6. Volumes
awarded at that re-bid will arrive ―between Nov. 30 and Dec. 16.‖
He added that shipments from the remaining 500,000 MT will be arriving starting the end of
2018 until February, in time for the lean months.
―We will have enough buffer stock,‖ Mr. Piñol added.
The 203,000 MT will be imported through government-to-government (G2G) agreement.
―By the end of 2018, the expected buffer stock is 134 days… or over four months‘ demand,‖ he
said, adding that the calculation includes rice held by households.
He added that the Department of Trade and Industry plans to oversee the import of a further
80,000 MT.
The DA, along with the DTI and NFA, have implemented a suggested retail price (SRP) scheme
covering well-milled, regular-milled and premium rice.
―There are fears it might affect the prices of palay (domestically-grown unhusked rice) but you
have to understand that the NFA is ready to procure… We would prefer if traders not corner the
palay market because the government will be able to build up its inventories for 2019,‖ Mr. Piñol
said. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
https://www.bworldonline.com/initial-rice-import-shipments-of-47000-mt-arriving-by-dec-1/
Indonesia Building Rice Data System

Posted On 31 Oct 2018
By : Leo Jegho
President Jokowi wants to make Indonesia self-sufficient in rice production

A rice paddy field in Sumatra, Indonesia. (Photo source: GIV/MB)
Jakarta, GIVnews.com – The government is taking special steps to produce correct data about
local rice production and consumption. With such data the government can decide whether the
country has to import rice and if it is the case, by how much.
President Joko ‗Jokowi‘ Widodo said last Thursday (25/10) that rice imports over the past years
have been based on inaccurate data provided by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).
For this reason, the President said, the government has now decided to produce a Single
Reference Data (DAT) based on Area Sample Scheme (KSA) in cooperation with the BPS,
Technology Development and Assessment Agency (BPPT), the National Institute of Aeronautics
and Space (LAPAN), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), and the Ministry of Agrarian
and Spatial Planning.
The government‘s move followed a previous brouhaha between government agencies over
Indonesia‘s rice imports this year. Based on BPS data that Indonesia‘s rice production would be
about 32.4 million tons in 2018, which is 32 percent lower than the Ministry of Agriculture‘s
estimate, the Ministry of Trade decided in January of this year to import 500,000 tons of rice
through an open tender. But, due to a reportedly declining domestic rice production, in March of
this year the government decided to import an additional 500,000 tons. Then again, in April the
government decided to import another one million tons, also due to a reported fall in domestic
production. This is according to a Cnnidonesia.com report.
State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Chief Budi Waseso, who took up his post in April of this year,
was against such rice imports. He argued that Bulog would be able to manage up to three million
tons by the end of 2018 and that the country would not have to import rice through June 2019.
The former three-star police general said Bulog would buy 4,000 tons of unhusked rice from
farmers every day. As reported by Thejakartapost.com, Budi Waseso said Bulog has formed a
special team of experts to help make this happen. He expressed his stance when Indonesia was
struggling to reduce its trade deficits.
Despite Budi Waseso‘s claims, it seems impossible that the government would revoke its rice
importation plans for this year. Minister of Trade Enggartiasto Lukito insisted that he had no
authority to do so since the rice importation plans had been made in a cabinet coordination
meeting.
Indonesia achieved self-sufficiency in rice production in 1984. But, in 1997 the country started
importing rice again due to a decline in domestic production caused by climate problems and
other reasons. Rice imports then stopped in the 2016-2017 period.
President Jokowi, before and after taking up his post in 2014, promised to make Indonesia self-
sufficient in rice production. His assurance went with many people‘s question on why such a vast
and fertile archipelagic country has to import rice. In the past years Indonesia imported rice from
a number of countries like Thailand, Vietnam, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan.
You may also be interested in this article: Is Indonesia‘s Rice Production Data Inaccurate?
http://www.globalindonesianvoices.com/33486/indonesia-building-rice-data-system/
Rice Prices
as on : 31-10-2018 11:42:10 AM
Arrivals Price

Rice
Cachar(ASM) 40.00 -50 5482.00 2400 2400 9.09
Naugarh(UP) 25.00 25 975.20 2270 2255 9.40
Balrampur(UP) 20.00 -33.33 100.00 2250 2360 -
Champadanga(WB) 14.00 NC 576.00 3150 3250 14.55
Sahiyapur(UP) 13.00 13.04 2329.50 2235 2240 -
Vishalpur(UP) 12.00 -42.86 643.00 2400 2375 -
Vilthararoad(UP) 10.00 NC 411.00 2150 2150 NC
Paliakala(UP) 10.00 -9.09 1131.10 2300 2290 -
Fatehpur(UP) 7.30 -12.05 1016.30 2160 2175 -1.82
Ruperdeeha(UP) 6.00 20 266.00 1600 1600 -
Dibrugarh(ASM) 5.00 78.57 754.50 2920 2920 29.78
Tundla(UP) 4.60 206.67 180.50 2500 2455 -
Anandnagar(UP) 4.00 -50 88.00 2300 2100 -
Mirzapur(UP) 3.50 -30 895.00 2225 2230 -
Sehjanwa(UP) 3.00 -70 183.50 2160 2160 -
Mau(Chitrakut)(UP) 3.00 -25 53.20 1835 1835 -
Jahangirabad(UP) 2.50 -28.57 196.00 2560 2560 8.94
Amroha(UP) 2.30 4.55 50.42 2600 2600 5.26
Doharighat(UP) 1.50 NC 33.00 2000 2000 -
Nautnava(UP) 1.00 -80 38.50 2200 2250 7.84
Jagnair(UP) 0.70 -12.5 81.80 2560 2570 0.79
October 31, 2018 : https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-

prices/article25377446.ece
Export body pegs India 2018-19 basmati output 6% lower at
5.3 mln tn
Tuesday, Oct 30
By Shilpa Sharma
NEW DELHI – Agricultural and Processed Food products Export Development Authority has
pegged India‘s 2018-19 (Oct-Sep) basmati rice output at 5.31 mln tn, down 6% from 5.64 mln tn
in the previous year.
At 5.31 mln tn, basmati rice output projection for 2018 is lower than the industry estimate of
5.56 mln tn.
According to a crop survey report, conducted by Agricultural and Processed Food products
Export Development Authority, the fall in basmati rice output this year was because of a decline
in acreage due to crop shift in key growing regions.
Basmati paddy is sown during Jun-Jul and harvested in Oct-Nov.
Total acreage under the notified varieties of basmati rice has declined around 2.48% on year to
1.52 mln ha, the report said.
Basmati growers have shifted to cotton, coarse cereals, sugarcane mainly in Haryana, Punjab
and western parts of Uttar Pradesh, it said.
Growers have also shifted to non-basmati varieties of paddy as the government announced
higher minimum support price for the 2018-19 kharif marketing season.
The Centre has announced a minimum support price of 1,750 rupees per 100 kg for
common grade paddy for 2018-19 (Oct-Sep) marketing season, higher than 1,550 rupees set last
year.
The minimum support price for A Grade paddy has been fixed at 1,770 rupees, higher than
1,590 rupees a year ago.
In Punjab, the top producer of basmati rice, growers have shifted to Pusa Basmati 1509 variety
from Pusa Basmati-1121, it said.
The notified Basmati varieties comprise of Basmati-370, Basmati-386, Type-3
(Dehraduni), Taraori, Ranbir, Pusa-1509, Pusa Basmati-1, CSR30 and Pusa Basmati-1121, the
report said.
According to the report, though harvest had started on time this year, but the pace has been
slow because of untimely rains at the end September.
There are seven identified regions in the country where basmati is grown –
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh,
and Uttarakhand. Basmati rice grown in these regions has a geographical indication tag. End
Edited by Rashmi Sanyal
Cogencis Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@cogencis.com
This copy was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation
©Cogencis Information Services Ltd. 2018. All rights reserved.
http://www.cogencis.com/newssection/export-body-pegs-india-2018-19-basmati-output-6-lower-
at-5-3-mln-tn/
Thailand expects more than 11 million tonnes of rice exports
VNA WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2018 - 16:35:00
The Thai Foreign Trade Department is confident that the country will sell no less than 11 million tonnes
of rice to foreigners this year. (Photo: Bangkokpost)
Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai Foreign Trade Department is confident that the country will sell no
less than 11 million tonnes of rice to foreigners this year as demand for rice continues to
increase.
Director-General of the department Adul Chotinisakorn said that Thailand is delivering the 6th
batch of rice totaling 100,000 tonnes to the China Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation
(COFCO) under the government-to-government deal between the two countries.
He added that the Philippines and Japan have been holding rice import auctions, so Thailand can
expect more orders from both countries. Thailand and Japan have already agreed on an 87,000-
tonne rice deal.
During January-October, Thailand sold 8.9 million tonnes of rice worth 4.6 billion USD, he said,
expressing his belief that this year‘s target of 11 million tonnes will be achieved.
The Ministry of Commerce said that it is keeping a close watch on fluctuations in the price of
agricultural products to prepare special measures to maintain their value. It will work closely
with relevant authorities to promote the selling of agricultural products in the last three months
of the year. The focus will be given to coconut, palm oil, rice and pineapple which are facing
excess supply.-VNA
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/thailand-expects-more-than-11-million-tonnes-of-rice-exports/141050.vnp
Rice crop damage in CAR, C. Luzon due to ‘Rosita’ hits
P112-M
By PTV News - CD
October 31, 2018
MANILA — Damage to rice production in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and
Region 3 (Central Luzon) that were hit by Typhoon Rosita reached PHP112.01 million on
Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In its report as of Oct. 31, the DA-Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) Operation
Center said the affected area is 7,429 hectares out of the total rice standing crop of 543,993
hectares, while the volume of production loss is at 6,560 metric tons.
―Most of the affected rice crops are on their reproductive stage, which was reported as partially
damaged,‖ it said.
The recent typhoon affected 4,917 farmers in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province,
Aurora, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales, it added.
The report said rice contributed to the largest share of damages and losses from Typhoon Rosita
at 99.82 percent.It said typhoon damage to high-value crops amounted to PHP199,079, affecting
19 hectares of assorted vegetables in the provinces of Ifugao, Benguet, and Mountain Province.
―This (damage) total to PHP112.21 million, affecting a total of 4,979 farmers and 7,448 hectares
of agricultural areas with an estimated volume of production loss at 6,564 metric tons. These
values are subject to validation,‖ it added.
―Rosita‖ has weakened to severe tropical storm as it leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility
Wednesday afternoon. (Leslie Gatpolintan/PNA)
https://ptvnews.ph/rice-crop-damage-in-car-c-luzon-due-to-rosita-hits-p112-m/S
Agriculture Minister Celebrates Harvest of 32,000 Hectares

of Rice Field in Central Sulawesi
Thursday, 01 November 2018 | 21:53 WIB
Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi
PARIGI MOUTONG, NNC -- Parigi Moutong Regency of Central Sulawesi Province, which has
just passed a difficult period, due to natural disasters, is now beginning to look at the future, entering
the harvest period, even though the community has not recovered 100 percent. However, at the
moment it starts to be able to carry out daily activities, harvest and directly prepare planting land,
because this time the harvest season is during the rainy season, 32,000 hectares of yellowing rice
plants decorate the entire rice field area, in 23 sub-districts of Parigi Moutong Regency.
Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman together with the Regent of Parigi Moutong
Syamsurizal Tombolotutu were present to witness the harvesting by farmers in Palipi Village,
Kesimbar Sub-district, Thursday (11/1/2018).
As many as 429 hectares of farmers' rice fields turned golden yellow, fostering a sense of enthusiasm
for returning to work. Minister Amran was also happy seeing the Parigi Moutong Regency farmers
who were eager to gather and convey various aspirations, which are not only related to farming even
education as well.
Minister Amran on the occasion of dialogue with the peasant community provided rice seeds and
coffee plant seeds, cocoa and oil palm replanting funds for two provinces of Central Sulawesi and
West Sulawesi worth IDR200 billion and various agricultural machinery, such as large 4-wheel
tractors, rice driyer, big excavator for Parigi Moutong Regency.
"Parigi Moutong must be grateful, in the midst of trials it can still reap the rewards of hard work and
good production. Life cannot stop, it must be to work continuously, we are blessed by the Almighty
with fertile land, water and seeds, so there must be life. Destiny is the right of the Almighty, but
business and works is our duty," said Minister Amran via written statement received by Netralnews.
"We have been destined to become minister of agriculture for four years, and are grateful to be here
with all the ladies and gentlemen, even so, the assistance from Jokowi-JK [Joko Widodo-Jusuf
Kall]'s government, every year remains and this government assistance is truly extraordinary,"
concluded Amran.Meanwhile, Regent Syamsurizal Tombolotutu expressed his respect and gratitude
to the central government, especially Minister Amran, who was present at this year's harvest.
Regent Syamsurizal saw and felt the presence of Andi Amran Sulaiman had grown a sense of
confidence and gave more encouragement to the Regional Government, especially farmers who had
just passed a difficult time.
"Thank you Mr. Minister, respect for the Central Government, which is very concerned about the
needs of the people," he said.
http://www.en.netralnews.com/news/business/read/25347/agriculture.minister.celebrates.harvest.of.32.00
0.hectares.of.rice.field.in.central.sulawesi
Govt to provide cash for Deepavali instead Commodities for

red colour ration card holders
Puducherry, Oct 31 (UNI) The government would provide cash for Deepavali instead of
commodities like sugar, rice and cloth.
Minister for Cooperation M Kandasamy in a release on Wednesday said that the red colour
ration card holders will get Rs 1000 into their bank account instead of free clothes distributed
through the women and child development department.
For Adi dravidar people above 18 years, a sum of Rs 500 would be remitted into their bank
account in place of free clothes provided through the Adi dravidar welfare department and the
differently abled will get Rs.500 in their bank account instead of free clothes through the social
welfare department.
Instead of free rice and sugar provided by the Civil Supplies Department, a sum of Rs 1275 will
be remitted in the account of red colour card holders and Rs 675 for yellow colour card holders.
UNI PAB CS 1647
In addition to this, Karti also failed to disclose investments made

by Chess Global Advisory, a company co-owned by him which
amounts to an offence under the Black Money Act, the department
said in its complaint.
http://www.uniindia.com/~/govt-to-provide-cash-for-deepavali-instead-commodities-for-red-
colour-ration-card-holders/States/news/1393685.html
Environment Pollution Control Authority shuts NCR rice

mills
By Parshant Krar, ET Bureau|
Nov 01, 2018, 11.28 PM IST
The measure will not only affect NCR‘s mills but also farmers
in paddy-growing states as mills restrict purchase of basmati to
check losses in processing season.CHANDIGARH: Around 500
mills across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan will have to
stop operations from November 4, under directions of the
Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority.
EPCA has asked all biomass and coal-based industries in the
National Capital Region to remain closed to help keep a check
on air pollution. The measure will not only affect NCR‘s mills
but also farmers in paddy-growing states as mills restrict
purchase of basmati to check losses in processing season.
Millers rued that the shutdown will affect quality of product and basmati exports. ―Storing paddy
stocks for several days will affect quality and market price, which branded players cannot
afford,‖ said one miller.
EPCA has been advised by the task force on Graded Response Action Plan to shut construction
activities, stone crushers and all industries using coal and biomass as fuel. Modern mills use rice
husk as fuel in boilers for drying, powdering and other functions.
Millers have been caught offguard and are worried that EPCA may extend the shutdown beyond
November 10 if air quality remains poor. ―Rice processing is a seasonal business and it is the
time when operations should be in full swing,‖ said Vijay Sethia, president, All India Rice
Exporters Association. He maintained that most mills have installed modern mechanisms to
maintain air quality standards approved by pollution authorities.
A Sonepat-based rice miller said, ―Paddy bought from farmers needs to be dried within 24 hours
to maintain high quality as it is prone to fungus and discolouration. The moisture content is as
high as 22-24%.‖
―The austerity measures are part of checking air pollution around Diwali in NCR and rice mills
come under the category of industry that uses biomass,‖ said S Narayanan, member secretary,
Haryana Pollution Control Board.
Millers were able to stop similar action when they appealed to the National Green Tribunal in the
previous year. ―Succour from the Supreme Court will take time due to holidays in the coming
days,‖ said an All India Rice Exporters Association official.
US agrees to grant India waiver from Iran sanctions

By Sanjeev Choudhary, ET Bureau|
Updated: Nov 01, 2018, 07.54 PM IST
Iran oil imports: Why India will get a waiver from US sanctions
NEW DELHI: The US has broadly agreed to grant India a waiver

from Iran sanctions, which would allow Indian oil companies to
continue to import about 1.25 million tonnes of oil a month till
March from Tehran, sources familiar with the matter said, adding
that an official announcement could come over the next few days.
The US plans to re-impose oil-related sanctions on Iran on
November 4 to choke the Islamic Republic‘s biggest source of
income and pressure it to renegotiate a new nuclear deal. Any
country, or company, trading with Iran without US consent after
sanctions kick off risks getting cut off from the American
financial system.
The US has insisted all along that it wanted everyone to reduce oil imports from Iran to zero
eventually, but was open to country-specific waivers that would allow limited imports by those
pledging ‗significant‘ cut. India and other key importing countries have been engaged for months
with the US for a waiver.
―India and the US have broadly agreed on a waiver. India will cut import by a third, which is a
significant cut,‖ a source said.
India had imported about 22 million tonnes of crude oil from Iran in 2017-18 and planned to
raise that to about 30 million tonnes in 2018-19. But, as a condition of waiver, Indian oil firms
will reduce their imports significantly, the source said. Indian companies can import 1.25 million
tonnes a month up to March 2019, the same as they ordered for October and November, the
source said. State oil firms are yet to decide on how this quantum will be split between them. A
waiver will come as a big relief to Indian Oil and MRPL, the two largest Iranian oil consumers.
How companies will pay for Iranian oil is still being negotiated between India and Iran, sources
said, adding that it‘s likely that the two countries will stick to the existing mechanism under
which 55% of payment is made in euro and 45% in rupee through UCO Bank. Under this, rupee
is used for import of rice, drugs, and other products from India while the balance proceeds in
rupee and euro sit idle in the Indian bank waiting for sanctions to go.
The Indian side, while building its case for a waiver, assured the US that this payment
mechanism ensures Iran can‘t use oil money from India for any terror-related activity, a key
American concern. During the negotiations, India also told the US that it would like to import
more American oil if it came on competitive terms, sources said.
India and Iran still have to figure out shipping and insurance details for a smooth trade.
Currently, Iran provides its tankers as well as insurance for oil cargoes to India. The US
sanctions have driven away Indian and international shippers and insurers from extending their
services for Iranian oil imports.
Refineries using Iranian oil have also faced insurance issues during renewals in recent months.
Indian and the US officials have been negotiating for months on terms of waiver from sanctions.
India prefers Iranian oil as it comes cheap and suits many refineries' technical configuration.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/oil-gas/us-agrees-to-grant-india-waiver-from-iran-
sanctions/articleshow/66454042.cms
China-Pakistan Corridor Not Tied to India-Pakistan Territorial

Dispute - Beijing
© AFP 2018 / AMIR QURESHI
WORLD
17:09 01.11.2018
BEIJING (Sputnik) - The creation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
(CPEC) has no relevance to the Indian-Pakistani territorial dispute and will not influence
China's stance on Kashmir, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said on
Thursday.
Bus service between the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China's west and the city
of Lahore of Pakistan's Punjab province is set to be launched on November 3.
READ MORE: India, Pakistan Competing to Capture China's Rice Market

This prompted New Delhi to voice protest to Beijing and Islamabad, as India qualifies the move
as a violation of its territorial integrity since buses will run through the Jammu and Kashmir
region, disputed between India and Pakistan. Pakistani media reports have claimed that the bus
service is part of the CPEC.
"I don't have any information on this issue yet. But I would like to say that the CPEC has
nothing to do with the territorial dispute and will not influence China's stance on Kashmir,"
Lu told reporters at a press briefing.
The CPEC is a $46 billion-worth infrastructure project funded by China that aims at increasing
the region‘s integrity by connecting the Pakistani port city of Gwadar and the Xinjiang Uyghur
Autonomous Region via transportation routes. India opposes the project because the creation
of the corridor envisages Chinese and Pakistani economic activity in the Gilgit-Baltistan area
of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.
India and Pakistan have been disputing the status of the Jammu and Kashmir region since the end
of British rule in 1947. While the two sides signed a ceasefire agreement in 2003, they keep
accusing each other of breaching it.
China has repeatedly said that the Indian-Pakistani territorial dispute had to be settled
through dialogue between the two sides.
https://sputniknews.com/world/201811011069421645-china-pakistan-economic-corridor/
IMF delegation to arrive in Pakistan on Nov 7 for bailout

talks
Pakistan had approached IMF in Indonesia in October for loans-File Photo
A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will arrive in Pakistan on November
7 for talks on a bailout package.According to IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice, the fund‘s
executive board will be sent for talks on a staff-level agreement.
Rice did not expand on the time-table for the agreement.
This will be the last time Pakistan approaches IMF: Asad Umar
Pakistan had approached IMF in Indonesia in October for loans.
Finance Minister Asad Umar announced on October 8 the government‘s decision to go for
IMF ―immediately‖ to deal with the financial crisis.
Umar added it is to kickstart growth in capital market and improving stock exchange, while
claiming it would be the last time Pakistan approaches the IMF
https://www.geo.tv/latest/216968-imf-delegation-to-arrive-in-pakistan-on-nov-7-for-bailout-talks

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November 1st & 2nd ,2018

Hangzhou, it was learnt on Thursday.

different kinds of quality rice through crossbreeding.

(CNNRI) deputy director inaugurated the centre.

ICCBS Director Dr Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary and China‘s Department of International

attended the inauguration ceremony.

opened at the ICCBS, last year.

of Pakistan during the next two years to Pakistan.

Meet the Charles Rice post-graduate research fellows

H still Asia‘s biotech leader – USDA

PH STILL ASIA’S BIOTECH LEADER – USDA

The Philippines continued to be Asia‘s leader in biotechnology as sustained developments in

However, the USDA expressed fear a change in GE plant regulations, as embodied in

―The Philippines uses conventional techniques to improve livestock, including artificial

New USA Rice Research Focuses on Infants and Toddlers

No need to import rice: Bulog

The Jakarta Post

Jakarta | Wed, October 31, 2018 | 01:31 pm

Bulog will continue to monitor rice prices, said Budi.

China to open its USD 2 bn rice market to India

At Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit a protocol on the exports of non-Basmati Rice

5th International Rice Congress - Singapore 2018

For more information visit: http://ricecongress2018.irri.org

Basmati producers allege harassment by pvt traders

Heaps of paddy lying in the Fazilka grain market. Tribune photo

Govt. moves to plug leakages in public distribution system

J.R. Pushparaj | Photo Credit: arranged

Violators alone will be targeted and FP dealers in general have nothing to

Aid for Titli victims

New Type Of Gyroscope Is Smaller Than Grain Of Rice

Tiny beetle half the size of a grain of rice trapped in amber

Scroll down for video

1. Kala Namak (Crop duration – 120 days)

2. Tooyamali (Crop duration – 140 days)

3. Kullakkar (Crop duration – 90 to 105 days)

4. Seeraga Samba (Crop duration – 120 to 125 days)

5. Karung Kuruvai (Crop duration – 110 days)

Medicinal properties: Helps treat people suffering from Elephantiasis.

6. Poongar (Crop duration – 70 days)

7. Kattuyam (Crop duration – 180 days)

Medicinal properties: Helps control diabetes, prevents heart problems.

8. Kavuni (Crop duration – 130 days)

Minister signs MoU to modernize agriculture

The Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC) has signed a Memorandum of

Pakistan. Federal Govt Only Announces Support Price Of Wheat

Indonesia Building Rice Data System

Tag: Data,Import, Indonesia, news, Rice

President Jokowi wants to make Indonesia self-sufficient in rice production

Iran makes first export of rice since 1979 Islamic

A rice grower harvests his crop in Mazandaran, Iran. (Photo by Mizan)

PressTV-'Iran to grow rice, wheat in Africa'

Japanese farmers worried over effects of trans-Pacific trade pact

A farmer plants saplings in a rice field in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima

Philippines inflation expectations high despite easing

NOVEMBER 01, 2018 - 2:32 PM

Rice prices easing

faster if not for delayed imports.

percentage points to inflation, said Citi.

Unstoppable inflation sees Philippines cap rice prices

National Food Authority Regional XI

The Philippines‘ roaring inflation appear unstoppable

Rice floodgates not opened

Special status for rice sector proposed to boost exports

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2018

1st & 2nd November 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

1st & 2nd November 2018 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter