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November 09 ,2018

Vol 9 ,Issue 11

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China to park $2b in reserves and triple its imports from
Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: China has indicated to park about $2 billion in Pakistan‘s foreign exchange
reserves and extended a unique but unprecedented offer to triple it imports from Pakistan.

One of the cabinet members, who was part of the prime minister‘s visit to China, confided to The
News that Beijing will park almost $2 billion in Pakistan‘s reserves, but it is yet to be worked out
from both sides that out of $2 billion how much RMB -- Chinese currency -- will be kept in the
reserves.

According to the cabinet member, Finance Minister Asad Umar will announce in a press beefing
about Chinese offer to place $2 billion in Pakistan‘s reserves and will let the masses know about
the details of the China visit relating to financial issues.

More importantly, Chinese Premier Li Keianq, during the visit in clear words asked the top
leadership of Pakistan that they are ready to double the imports from Pakistan and if Pakistani
entrepreneurs have the capacity, after doubling the imports from $ 1.2 billion to $2.2 billion, they
would also increase imports from Pakistan by additional $1 billion. So China, he said, is ready to
triple the imports from Pakistan, but it all depends upon the ability of Pakistani entrepreneurs.

In addition, Beijing will also extend to Pakistan a special quota for export of sugar and rice
which will also help have a massive surge in exports to China. The cabinet member said that a
crucial meeting of Pakistan‘s top officials is going to take place in Beijing on November 9 with
their counterparts to shape up the process to finalisation of placing the dollars in Pakistan‘s
account to improve reserves situation and carve out the modus operandi to improve the export of
Pakistani goods to China.

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In the November 9 meeting, secretaries of finance, foreign affairs, commerce and governor State
Bank of Pakistan would figure out the mechanism and implementation plan to achieve the said
two targets. Both sides would also asses how much US dollars in cash and how much Chinese
currency (RMB) equal to how much value of dollars will be parked. Pakistan and China have
currency swap agreement for trade since Zardari regime which was firmed up in Nawaz era and
now it will shape up in a big way.

Currently, Pakistan exports range $120-150 million per month which improved in the July,
August, September, October and November to $200 million per month. In the remaining months,
the Commerce Ministry wants to jack up its monthly export to $400 million to materialise the
offer of China.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Trade and Industries Abdul Razzak Dawood
confirmed the development, saying that Chinese premier has asked Pakistan that his country is
ready to double its imports from Pakistan which will be triple later on. He said this is a
tremendous offer from China and he is going to have marathon meetings with Pakistani
entrepreneurs from to carve out a plan to get maximum advantage of the Chinese offer. He said
that currently, Pakistani exports to China stand at $1.2 billion per annum which can go up to $2.2
billion and then to $3.2 billion.

However, one of the top officials who is also privy to the developments, told that Pakistan
wanted market access and unilateral concession of 313 tariff lines, but the Chinese premier by
setting aside these demands offered Pakistan‘s top leadership that his country is poised to
increase its imports from Pakistan by 100 percent and later on it would also increase them by
another 100 percent.

The official said that Pakistan can increase its exports by just $500 million by sending to Chinese
market one million tons sugar and one million tons rice. He said China‘s imports stand at $2
trillion, but Pakistani entrepreneurs lack the ability to harness even 1 percent share in China‘s
total imports.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/390734-china-to-park-2b-in-reserves-and-triple-its-imports-
from-pakistan
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Agriculture, textile sectors to benefit from China boost
KARACHI: Agriculture and textile sectors are likely to be the primary beneficiaries if Pakistan‘s
exports to China get doubled under the renewed discussions between the two countries, a
brokerage said on Thursday.

Currently, the bilateral trade is immensely tilting in favour of China with Pakistan‘s exports
much below than the imports from the neighbouring country.

Pakistan‘s exports to China amounted to $1.75 billion in the fiscal year of 2017/18, while
imports from China were recorded at $11.5 billion, resulting in trade deficit of $9.75 billion.

In 2017, cotton and yarn exports to China fetched $940 million, followed by ores, slag and ash
($187m), copper and articles ($134m), cereals ($94m), raw hides and skins ($71m), articles of
apparel and clothing accessories, knitted and non-knitted ($70m), fish and crustaceans, molluscs
and other aquatic invertebrates ($60m), edible fruit and nuts, peel of citrus fruit or melons
($39m), salt, sulphur, earths and stone, plastering materials, lime and cement ($38m), and
mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation, bituminous substances ($31).

Cotton and yarn exports account for 51 percent of total exports, followed by metals (17 percent).

Other top commodities are cereals, leather, fisheries, fruits, construction and allied material and
minerals. ―We believe companies like Nishat Chunian, Nishat Mills, and Gul Ahmed would be
beneficiaries as they are already exporting yarn to China,‖ Topline Research said in a report.
―Also this would be opportunity for all the players to make entry into Chinese market.‖ Pakistan
is currently exporting two billion dollars worth of rice to global markets, which can further be
enhanced by exporting to China. Matco Foods and Habib ADM are likely to benefit from
increase in rice exports to China.

―Sugar sector can also benefit as the government already approved export of surplus
sweetener.Government officials have already underlined rice, sugar, textile and agricultural
commodities, like fruits, in a plan to increase exports to China.

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A Pakistani delegation recently concluded a four-day visit to China aimed at to garner support of
the world‘s second biggest economy for the country‘s patchy economic growth. Chinese
government agreed to widen market access to Pakistani exports, which are estimated to double
from the existing level.

The government has been stressing the need of renegotiation of free trade agreement signed
between the two countries, while industry officials have been pointing at mispricing in cross-
border trade for long.

A business advocacy group emphasised standardisation and transparency in data collection.

―There are great discrepancies between Pakistan‘s and China‘s reported data (particularly for
Pakistan‘s imports from China, where the discrepancy is $5.5 billion), due to possible under-
invoicing, which would mean that severe revenue losses and tax evasion are taking place,‖
Pakistan Business Council said in a report.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/391335-agriculture-textile-sectors-to-benefit-from-china-
boost

Worried about carbs? Healthy white rice may soon be on the


menu
An Australian organisation has developed a new variety of white rice that retains more nutrients that are
typically found in wholegrain rice.PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO

NOV 8, 2018, 11:08 AM SGT

TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) - While delicious, there is no denying that white rice can wreak havoc
on your diet - that is, unless someone could make a refined version with the same benefits of its
wholegrain brother.

Luckily, Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)


has just done that - creating a variety of rice that has an outer layer four to 12 times thicker than
usual.

That means it can be polished to remove the outer layer to make a white rice that retains more of
the nutrients found in the wholegrain variety, according to the CSIRO.

5|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
"Our obsession with rice isn't going anywhere, but unfortunately, our waistlines are, and too
much white rice isn't helping," Eliza Keck, a CSIRO communications adviser said on the
government agency's website.

"Thankfully, the demand for healthier varieties of rice has been on the rise in recent years, and
that's where our innovation comes in."

The Australian organisation says it has developed the rice with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences, and it has been successfully tested by breeders in the Asian country.

The new variety has little to no effect on the growth and yield of rice, CSIRO said.

The Asian nation, which consumes over 100kg per capita of rice every year, has a strong
incentive to see healthier varieties become more popular as it battles with the world's most
diabetic population.

CSIRO is teaming up with Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences to see if its innovation can also be applied to wheat, barley and sorghum, it
said.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/worried-about-carbs-healthy-white-rice-may-
soon-be-on-the-menu

6|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
Farmers protest ‘golden rice’ tests
By: Anselmo Roque, Armand Galang - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:06 AM November 09, 2018

CLOSURE A group of farmers serves a symbolic closure order to the Philippine Rice
Research Institute office in Nueva Ecija to protest the field tests of golden rice. –
ARMAND GALANG

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ — A group of farmers on Wednesday stormed the headquarters of


the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) here to protest the scheduled field tests of the
genetically engineered variety called ―golden rice‖ in this city and in San Mateo town, Isabela
province.

―We are calling on our local leaders in Muñoz and San Mateo to reconsider the field trials of
golden rice until the farmers and the people have the full assurance of its safety,‖ said Cris Panerio,
national coordinator of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag),
which led protesters from the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Isabela, and Pangasinan and the southern
Tagalog region.

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The farmers said golden rice was being promoted by a multinational company that wanted to
―control local food production by making farmers dependent on its seeds.‖

They also said the ―poor traits [of golden rice] will contaminate our indigenous and farmer-bred
rice varieties and prove disastrous to the already volatile rice production in the country.‖

Tests continue

Also scheduled for field trials are purple antioxidant rice and ―GM rice‖ fortified with zinc and
iron, according to Masipag.

But the PhilRice will proceed with the tests, which, Karen Eloisa Barroga, the institute‘s deputy
executive director for development, said were ―important steps in the regulatory process to ensure
the safety and bioefficacy of golden rice.‖

The PhilRice, in partnership with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), had embarked on
the development of a golden rice version of local grains, among them PSB Rc82 (Peñaranda), a
popular, high-yielding and widely grown rice variety.

But the tests must first determine if golden rice would be fit for Filipino consumers, said Reynante
Ordoño, PhilRice‘s project leader for golden rice.

IRRI said it believed golden rice might help address Vitamin A deficiency among Filipinos. The
grain is genetically engineered with beta carotene, which can be a new food-based approach to
improve the Vitamin A status of the malnourished poor, it said.

In a study conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute in 2013, about 2.1 million
Filipinos, aged 6 months to 6 years, were considered Vitamin A deficient.

Also found to be suffering from the deficiency were pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Guided by law

The PhilRice‘s involvement in the study of golden rice is guided by Republic Act No. 8976
(Philippine Food Fortification Act of 2000) that called for a food fortification program to address
malnutrition.

8|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
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Golden rice would only be made available to farmers and consumers once all the required tests and
evaluations were completed, Barroga said, adding that the PhilRice and IRRI would ―not push for
the adoption of a crop that is not yet available.‖

―As a research organization, we are interested to see first its field performance, safety and
effectiveness in increasing Vitamin A among humans following regulatory procedures,‖ Barroga
said.

Joseph Canlas, secretary general of Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon, belittled the
benefits of golden rice, saying homegrown rice is already rich in beta carotene.

In this city, the trials will be conducted at a 200-square meter lot inside the PhilRice experiment
center. The test site will be a controlled environment, so even birds will be unable to fly in and pick
up seeds, Ordoño said.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1051998/farmers-protest-golden-rice-
tests#ixzz5WMW8eXmo

Healthy white rice may soon be on the menu


ANNA KITANAKA
BLOOMBERG
| Fri, November 9, 2018 | 01:00 am

The Australian organization says it‘s developed the rice with the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
and it has been successfully tested by breeders in the Asian country. (Bloomberg/File)

While delicious, there‘s no denying that white rice can wreak havoc on your diet -- that is unless
someone could make a refined version with the same benefits of its wholegrain brother.

Luckily, Australia‘s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has just
done that - creating a variety of rice that has an outer layer four to 12 times thicker than usual.
That means it can be polished to remove the outer layer to make a white rice that retains more of
the nutrients found in the wholegrain variety, according to the CSIRO.

―Our obsession with rice isn‘t going anywhere, but unfortunately, our waistlines are, and too
much white rice isn‘t helping,‖ Eliza Keck, a CSIRO communications adviser said on the

9|www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
government agency‘s website. ―Thankfully, the demand for healthier varieties of rice has been
on the rise in recent years, and that‘s where our innovation comes in.‖

The Australian organization says it‘s developed the rice with the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
and it has been successfully tested by breeders in the Asian country. The new variety has little to
no effect on the growth and yield of rice, CSIRO said. The Asian nation, which consumes over
100 kilograms per capita of rice every year, has a strong incentive to see healthier varieties
become more popular as it battles with the world‘s most-diabetic population.

CSIRO is teaming up with Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences to see if its innovation can also be applied to wheat, barley and sorghum, it
said.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/11/08/healthy-white-rice-may-soon-be-on-the-
menu.html

PLB, Searca stage nutrition-sensitive agriculture conference


November 08, 2018 at 08:10 pm by Brenda Jocson
Tagaytay—Realizing the important role of nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), the University
of the Philippines Los Baños Interdisciplinary Studies Center on Food and Nutrition Security has
convened an International Conference on NSA and Food Systems.
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 ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
This conference aims to contribute to improving food security and health outcomes, through
production of diverse, safe and nutrient-rich food. It started Wednesday and ends Sunday at the
Development Academy of the Philippines in this city.
Themed ―Strategic Approaches to Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in
Southeast Asia‖, the conference is in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for
Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca), Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations Philippines, and Cavite State University.
Searca said the conference aims to increase awareness of various sectors on the nature and scope
of NSA, to identify the opportunities, challenges and issues involving NSA in the Philippines
and in Southeast Asia, and to formulate polices and strategies to enhance NSA in relation to food
and nutrition security.
In line with its Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security in Southeast Asia, Searca is
organizing the plenary session on case studies on integrating nutrition into agriculture.
The session will focus on lessons that can be drawn from success stories of addressing nutrition
across the different stages of the food system.
Topics in this plenary session will be discussed by experts from various parts of the world. Dr.
Marco Wopereis, Director General of the World Vegetable Center, will talk about mobilizing the
nutritional power of vegetables.
Dr. Leila S. Africa, Director and Professor of the UPLB College of Human Ecology-Institute of
Human Nutrition and Food will present outcomes of Promoting Nutrition-Sensitive School
Gardens and Feeding Programs through the School-Plus-Home-Gardens Project: The Case of
Laguna, Philippines.
Dr. Wei Fang, Director of the Center of Excellence for Controlled Environment Agriculture and
Professor of Bio-Industrial Mechatronics Engineering of the National Taiwan University, will
discuss how plant factories in Taiwan to promote food and nutrition security in an urban setting.
Emily Monville Oro, Country Director, and Dr. Julian Gonsalves, Senior Program Advisor of the
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), will speak on sustaining and scaling-up
nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Rizal G. Corales, Program Lead, Integrated Rice-based Agribiosystems of the Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice), will elaborate on the case of Palayamanan as a strategy to promote
nutrition-sensitive agriculture.
Dr. Mallikarjuna Swamy, Scientist II-Rice Breeder (Biofortification) and Lead, Healthier Rice
Breeding Group of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will tackle achieving
nutritional security through development of healthier rice: progress and prospects.

11 | 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 ,
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The plenary session is chaired by Shun-Nan Chiang, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology,
University of California, Santa Cruz, who is also a Searca Visiting Research Fellow. Dr. Pedcris
Orencio, Searca‘s Program Head for Research and Development, will provide the session
synthesis.
http://www.manilastandard.net/lgu/luzon/280009/uplb-searca-stage-nutrition-sensitive-
agriculture-conference.html

US agribusiness looks to boost sales to Cuba

11/8/18 4:32 PM

HAVANA — Representatives from the United States‘ agricultural sector arrived in Cuba on
Thursday for a conference aimed at promoting sales, one of the few U.S. business areas allowed
to deal with the island under a half-century-old trade embargo that Cuban leaders blame for most
of its economic troubles.

The U.S.-Cuba Agriculture Coalition will explore potential opportunities for American
agriculture producers seeking a market on the island. Cuba imports most of its food products
from abroad, a multibillion-dollar market that has flourished despite U.S. sanctions.

Relations between both countries normalized somewhat after former U.S. President Barack
Obama loosened the trade embargo while in office. But President Donald Trump has intensified
sanctions, making it harder for Americans to travel to Cuba and conduct business.

In 2017, the United States sold $260 million of food to the Cuba, but the figure was one of the
lowest in this decade and paled in comparison to the $450 million of U.S. food sold in 2012.

The island still cannot sell its own products in the U.S. and is not given credit to help pay for
imports as a result of the embargo.

Cuba spends about $2 billion a year to import food for its 11 million citizens, who are given
almost free rations each month of products such as chicken, rice and milk.

12 | 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 ,
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Phil Peters, a trip organizer, said U.S. agribusiness is interested in exporting more products to
Cuba and improving regulatory conditions, and in ―building a broader and more normal
relationship in which there is investment and shared business.‖

About 30 participants were meeting with officials at the conference and visiting farms and
cooperatives in the Caribbean nation. The group is scheduled to stay until Saturday.

―Our country finds itself fully updating its economic model,‖ Cuban deputy agriculture minister
Jose Miguel Rodriguez de Armas said at the opening of the conference. ―The concerns of the
agriculture sector are very important for the development of our country.‖

http://www.tribtown.com/2018/11/08/cb-cuba-agriculture-coalition/

FG, CBN Reject US Report On Rising Rice Importation

The federal government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday debunked the report
by the United States Department of Agriculture World Markets and Trade that Nigeria imported
three million metric tons of rice in 2018.The US report had said the import figure is 400,000
metric tonnes higher than the quantity of the product that was imported in 2017. The report also
stated that Nigeria‘s local rice production dropped from 2016 to 2018 compared to the situation

13 | 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 ,
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
in 2015. The report ran contrary to several claims by the Nigerian Government that local rice
production had increased while importation had dropped by up to 90 per cent. The report, which
was released in October, showed that since 2016, Nigeria had consistently milled 3,780,000
metric tons annually which is a reduction from 3,941,000 metric tons recorded in 2015. But the
Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, while briefing journalists in the State House, described
the report as false.

Mohammed, who said he had contacted the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Customs
Service (NCS), the Minister of Agriculture and rice millers on the authenticity of the report,
argued that they all dismissed the report as untrue. According to him, whereas 1.2 million metric
tons of rice was exported to Nigeria in 2014, the figure declined to 644,000 in 2015 and went
further downward to 25,000 in 2016. However, the presidential candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the claim by the administration of
President Muhammadu Buhari that it has increased rice production in the country is false.

The minister also faulted the claim by the report that local rice production in the country is
declining, saying instead, local rice production capacity has risen to 4.9 million metric tons. The
CBN has also clarified that the volume of rice importation into Nigeria (in metric tonnes) has
declined drastically in 2018, judging by figures obtained from various official sources. Indeed,
figures obtained from India and Thailand, which are dominant rice exporters to Nigeria indicated
that as at September, the latter had so far exported about 5,161 metric tonnes of rice to Nigeria,
while the former sold only a paltry sum of 426 as at July 2018. Attributing the reduction to
concerted effort by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and interventions
of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Director, Corporate Communications at the CBN, Mr.
Isaac Okorafor, in a statement yesterday, also stressed that the Bank had not allocated any
foreign exchange for the importation of rice this year.

Okorafor, argued that the figures being bandied in certain quarters were based on unrealistic
assumptions such as satellite mapping of farms, expected demand by politicians for election
campaigns as well as expected losses from flooding, all of which led to unauthentic conclusions
that the country had imported or could import 400,000 more metric tonnes. The spokesperson for
the CBN further noted that the combined figure of 5, 587 tonnes of rice imports from India and
Thailand may have been rice imported on not-valid-for-forex basis. Meanwhile, trade figures for
the second quarter of 2018 received from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that
total imports value was N2,106.7 billion; -16.3% lower than the first quarter (Q1), 2018
(N2518.26 billion) and – 19.9 per cent lower than Q1, 2017 (N2,631.65 billion). The report on
the Bureau‘s site showed that the value of imported agricultural goods in the second quarter of
2018 (N224.52 billion) increased by 21.7 per cent from Q1, 2018 (N184.49 billion) and lower by
-3.14 per cent from Q2, 2017 (N231.80 billion).
14 | 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 ,
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According to the report, raw materials imports in Q2 2018 (N261.10 billion) declined by -8.3 per
cent compared to Q1, 2018 (N284.81 billion) and lower by -14.2 per cent in Q2, 2017 (N304.43
billion). The solid minerals import in Q2, 2018 (N17.29 billion) increased by 37 per cent on a
quarter-to-quarter basis (N12.62 billion), but declined by -91 per cent on a year-to-year basis
(N193.16 billion). Energy goods imports in Q2, 2018 (N98.17 million) was 202.6 per cent higher
than Q1 2018 (N32.45 million) and 288.5 per cent higher than Q2, 2017 (N25.27 million). The
NBS reported that the value of manufactured goods imported in Q2 2018 (N1,175.86 billion)
declined by -1.2 per cent over the previous quarter (N1,189.97 billion) but increased by 1.6 per
cent over the same quarter in 2017.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the CBN had been
collaborating to reduce the volume of rice importation through what has become famed as the
Rice Revolution. Meanehile, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has
said the claim by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari that it has increased rice
production in the country is false. Atiku in a statement issued yesterday by his campaign
organisation said the recently released data from the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) World Markets and Trade Report has proven the claims by Buhari and his government
to be false.

President Buhari boasted about it when he told British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on April
16, 2018, that: ―We have cut rice importation by about 90 per cent; made a lot of savings of
foreign exchange and generated employment. People had rushed to the cities to get oil money, at
the expense of farming. But luckily, they are now going back to the farms. Even professionals
are going back to the land. We are making steady progress on the road to food security.

‖ Atiku noted that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, on May 2, 2018, also made
similar claim. According to Ogbe, ―Unemployment in Thailand was one of the lowest in the
world, 1.2 per cent, it has gone up to four per cent because seven giant rice mills have shut down
because Nigeria‘s import has fallen by 95 per cent on rice alone.‖ The former vice-president,
however, noted that the ―World Markets and Trade Report of the USDA, which is a public
document disclosed that Nigeria imported three million metric tons of rice in 2018, which is
400,000 metric tons more than the quantity of the product imported in 2017. ―It does not end
there.

The report shows that there has actually been a steep drop in commercial rice production from
its 2015 peak under the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.‖ Quoting the
report further, Atiku added that ―Nigeria had consistently milled 3,780,000 metric tons annually-
a drop from 3,941,000 metric tons recorded in 2015.‖ Atiku, therefore, appealed to Buhari and
his government to be truthful to the Nigerian public, rather than claiming progress they have not

15 | 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 ,
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made, ―because no matter how far and fast falsehood has travelled, it must eventually be
overtaken by the truth.‖
http://saharareporters.com/2018/11/07/fg-cbn-reject-us-report-rising-rice-importation-%E2%80%8B

‘Basmati hybrids hold $500mln export potential’


LAHORE: Hybrid technology can earn Pakistan an additional $500 million in rice exports and
create Rs60 to 70 billion of economic activities, a head of a research and development company
said. Sajjad Sulaiman Malik, chief executive officer of Emkay Seeds (Pvt) Ltd said the private
company has developed high-yielding Basmati rice variety having more than 40 percent average
yield potential if compared with output of contemporary varieties. ―If only 20 percent of basmati
area is sown with new hybrids of fine rice varieties in Punjab, the main growing area, Rs60 to 70
billion worth of additional economic activity can be generated,‖ Malik said.

―Pakistan can fetch another $500 million with this bonus production of basmati rice.‖ Basmati
hybrids can produce up to 80 maunds per acre of rice with proper application of production
technology. These varieties use less water and other inputs as it matures two weeks early if
compared with other basmati varieties. The company‘s head said this is the beginning of
Pakistan‘s rice revolution, which will start bearing fruits for farmers, rice millers and exporters in
near future. The company demonstrated test-trials of the newly-developed basmati hybrids last
week in Farooqabad of Sheikhupura district. The two basmati hybrids of Emkay Seeds
outperformed basmati super and Pusa 1121, an Indian variety with more than 40 percent yield
advantage in small scale trials.

The development of Basmati hybrid, having excellent cooking quality and elongation is not an
easy task as many such attempts could not bear fruits in past. Several public sector research
institutions have failed to introduce basmati hybrid despite spending millions of rupees. So much
so, Chinese leader in development of coarse varieties of rice hybrids have not either been
successful despite making untiring efforts. Malik attributed the resounding success in
development of basmati hybrid to Muhammad Bashir Cheema, who is Head of Plant Breeding
and Genetics of the company. ―Eighteen years of struggle finally proved successful,‖ he said.
―We hope that in the next two years, these superior quality basmati hybrids will be available for
commercial plantation.

This is purely a home-grown solution for enhancing output of basmati rice as Pakistan‘s own
scientists contributed in this direction.‖ On the company‘s plant breeding program, Malik said
the task to develop rice hybrid is quite challenging ―but with continued effort our company
pioneered the development of both coarse and fine varieties of rice‖.

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Three basmati and two non-basmati extra-long fine grains with 8.5 millimeter length have been
developed. The milling, cooking quality, taste and aroma of some of these lines are on par with
super basmati and other contemporary varieties. Malik said the company has been successful in
achieving rare milestone of basmati hybrid development through normal breeding without using
any of the genetic engineering techniques involving genetically modified organisms. The non-
basmati hybrid developed by the company was the pioneer back in 2008. However, these
varieties could not compete with Chinese imported hybrid seeds of coarse varieties due to
various factors. In March 2008, the company became the first to have a locally developed
medium grain rice hybrid (Emkay H-401) approved by the then ministry of agriculture.

―We have further refined our medium grain rice hybrids for Sindh and expect to launch our new
hybrid varieties next year,‖ Malik said. A number of companies are currently importing hybrid
rice seed, mainly from China. The local variety would save foreign exchange reserves. Emkay
Seeds has also developed a high yielding bacterial leaf blight-resistant rice hybrid that will
perform better in hot spots. ―We have also developed a fairly robust research program on maize
and are actively developing and testing both single cross and double cross hybrid corn,‖ Malik
said.

―These hybrids are being tested alongside the leading hybrid corn seed being sold in Pakistan by
multinationals,‖ he added. ―Significant progress has been made and in 2019 these products will
be taken into farmer fields for large scale testing. We intend to diversify our activity by including
other crops in the research program, notably sweet corn, canola and vegetables.‖
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/390948-basmati-hybrids-hold-500mln-export-potential

Study identifies relationship between smog and rice


residue burning in Punjab
Amin AhmedUpdated November 07, 2018

"The study will be instrumental in helping reduce the contribution of the agriculture sector in the
formation of smog."— AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: A new research study carried out by the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has found a relationship between smog and the
practice of rice residue burning by farmers in the rice belt of Punjab.

Findings of the study provide scientific evidence of the causes of smog, and the relationship
between smog and crop residue burning. The study will be instrumental in helping reduce the
contribution of the agriculture sector towards the formation of smog, FAO Representative in
Pakistan, Mina Dowlatchahi said on Tuesday.

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The study carried out under the ‗Remote Sensing for Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Smog‘ project
in collaboration with the Punjab government, found that the formation of smog, however, was
not dependent only on the presence or increase of these pollutants, but certain meteorological
and weather conditions also help these pollutants suspend in the lower atmosphere because of
which the pollutants from a dense visible layer of smog.

FAO responded to a request from the Punjab government in 2017 and initiated the project, which
has now been completed. It is a first of its kind evidence-based geospatial research which will
contribute to findings on emissions and drivers of smog. FAO will present the report to the
Punjab government next week with its recommendations.

The research findings were reviewed by FAO global technical experts on information with a
geographical component, methods and tools and validated by a wide array of Pakistani experts
and institutions. Representatives of the ministry of climate change and the Punjab government
were present on the occasion.

Speaking to experts, the FAO representative stated that the organisation remained committed to
support the government efforts to help devise appropriate strategies and action plans to tackle
smog in Pakistan.

Pakistan suffered one of the highest death tolls in the world from air pollution in 2015, when,
according to UN estimates, thousands lost their lives because of the high level of fine particles in
the air.

This phenomenon engulfs several cities in Punjab province, particularly Lahore, during the
winter months and has evolved into a public health and economic emergency.
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Smog is one of the several forms of air pollutants that cause harm to human functioning.
Formation of smog, however, is not dependent only on the presence or increase of these
pollutants, but certain meteorological and weather conditions also help these pollutants suspend
in the lower atmosphere because of which the pollutants form a dense visible layer of smog.

FAO is also carrying out water accounting in the Indus Basin using geospatial data and
techniques.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2018

Dawn News

Rice exports to EU to be hit by tariffs


Cambodia is looking for new markets abroad for its rice, following news of impending tariffs in
the European Union. Hun Lak, vice president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said the EU
intends to impose tariffs on Cambodian rice based on complaints raised by Italy and Spain.

―They produce their own rice and they requested that the EU protects their rice instead,‖ Mr Lak
said. ―We enjoy the benefits of the Everything-but-arms (EBA) treaty, but the new tariffs will
affect our export to the EU by making our rice less competitive. ―We must diversify away from
the EU market. We are looking at China, one of the biggest markets for Cambodia,‖ Mr Lak
said, adding that Cambodia needs to continue to reduce the cost of production and transportation
while enhancing quality. Italy, along with six other European Union countries, filed a request to
the European Union to activate a ‗safeguard clause‘ that allows EU member states to impose
barriers to protect against trade imbalances. Fragrant rice now sells for $900 per ton, while white
rice fetches $500 per ton, said Mr Lak.

The EU intends to impose tariffs of 175 euros per ton during the first year, 150 euros in the second year,
and 125 euros in the next. Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice Cambodia, commented on the ‗safeguard
clause‘ on his Facebook profile. ―It is totally biased. The Italian and Spanish farmers switched to Japonica
variety because they get higher profit margins than they do with the Indica variety. Then they blamed
Cambodia and Myanmar for exporting cheap Indica rice to the EU. ―Our farmers have to switch to other
varieties and diversify their markets to keep fighting for survival. No one will help us, only Khmers can
help Khmers,‖ Mr Saran commented. 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. In November last year, Cambodia signed memorandums of
understanding with the Export-Import Bank of China and CITIC Group Cooperation to help the Kingdom
increase paddy production and boost rice exports. The agreements aim to increase rice exports to China
beyond the 300,000 tonnes now allowed by the quota in
place.https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50548309/rice-exports-to-eu-to-be-hit-by-tariffs/

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Gov't, ruling party propose higher new target price for rice
2018/11/08 15:49
Article View Optio n

SEOUL, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's government and ruling party said Thursday they
will submit a raised purchase price for harvested rice to the National Assembly.

The ruling Democratic Party and the government said it set the target price at 196,000 won
(US$175) per 80 kilograms of the staple grain harvested from 2018 to 2022, slightly higher than
the originally proposed 188,000 won.

Agriculture minister Lee Gae-ho earlier said the price should be over 194,000 won to reflect the
country's inflation rate over the past five years, while agriculture associations demanded the price
be set at over 200,000 won.

The price is adjusted every five years to serve as a benchmark when the government calculates
subsidies for local farmers. It needs parliamentary approval before taking effect.

In South Korea, the government annually purchases homegrown rice to stabilize a domestic
market plagued by chronic oversupply and provide subsidies to rice farmers.

The supply glut comes as a growing number of South Koreans have been reducing their rice
intake and diversifying their diets with alternatives like wheat, barley, beans and corn.

The government's rice stockpile reached 1.86 million tons in 2017, more than double the target
level of 800,000 tons, the ministry said. It expressed concerns over the supply glut and the
associated rise in storage costs.

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A shopper passes by the rice section in a large discount chain in Seoul on Oct. 22, 2018.
(Yonhap)
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2018/11/08/0200000000AEN20181108006200320.html

Philippines seeking 203,000 tonnes of rice from state sellers


By Reuters

November 9, 2018 - 4:39 PM

A volunteer operates a crate lifter to carry sacks of rice for victims of Super Typhoon Mangkhut
at the Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Relief Operations Center in
Pasay City, Metro Manila, in Philippines, September 17, 2018. (Reuters/Eloisa Lopez)

HAMBURG — The Philippines‗ National Food Authority has issued a new international tender
to state-owned agencies only to purchase up to 203,000 tonnes of rice, European traders said on
Thursday.The rice is sought for December arrival.The new tender continues a recent surge in rice
purchasing by the Philippines.

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President Rodrigo Duterte on Oct. 9 scrapped 20-year-old import restrictions on rice to combat
soaring prices by increasing domestic supplies. Rising rice prices have contributed to increased
inflation in the country.

The authority on Nov. 1 also issued a separate tender to both private trading companies and state
sellers to buy up to 500,000 tonnes of rice closing on Nov. 20.

Traders said the new tender for 203,000 tonnes involved offers being submitted on Nov. 13 to
Nov. 14. ―The precise date is unclear so far,‖ a trader said.

A previous tender from the Philippines issued to state sellers only ended without success when
Vietnam and Thailand declined to offer.

The new 203,000-tonne tender seeks well milled, long grain white rice of 25 percent broken
grade. It is sought in sacks in break-bulk shipment.

Some 50,000 tonnes was sought for arrival in the Philippines by Dec. 15 and 153,000 tonnes by
Dec. 31.

Unloading is sought in a series of ports in the Philippines.

―The Philippines, although in need of rice is being tough on prices which has made it difficult to
agree purchases lately,‖ one European trader said. ―But 12 rice trading houses attended the pre-
bidding meeting for the private tender for 500,000 tonnes which closes on Nov. 20 so I think
there is good interest among private sellers.‖ — Reporting by Michael Hogan; Editing by
Mark Potter

http://www.interaksyon.com/politics-issues/2018/11/09/137815/philippines-seeking-203000-tonnes-of-
rice-from-state-sellers/

India rice export prices driven up by higher local rates


NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Sumita Layek BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India recovered this week
from their lowest in 21-months on increased rates for local paddy, while trade was muted in
Vietnam and Thailand as traders waited for fresh orders from the Philippines.Labourers remove

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dried grass from a rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India, August 30, 2016. Picture
taken August 30, 2016. REUTERS/Amit Dave/File Photo

Top exporter India‘s 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted around $362-$369 per tonne
this week, versus $361-$367 last week, the lowest since January 2017.

Supplies from the new season crop have started but are expensive due to the hike in government-
fixed buying prices, said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra
Pradesh.The government in July raised 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.

The country‘s production of summer-sown rice is estimated to grow 1.8 percent this year to
99.24 million tonnes.In Thailand, benchmark 5 percent broken rice prices stood at $380-$398 per
tonne, free on board (FOB) Bangkok, only a slight change from last week‘s $380-$400, as
demand remained flat with no fresh overseas orders, traders said.―The market still expects orders
from countries like the Philippines before the end of the year but so far things are fairly quiet,‖ a
Bangkok-based rice trader said.

―I think prices will likely drop towards the end of November and start of December, a period
when we are expecting new harvest,‖ another trader in Bangkok said, adding lower prices could
in turn attract fresh orders.

The Thai government remains confident that the country could reach its 11 million tonne rice
export target before year-end.In Vietnam, rates for 5 percent broken rice edged up to $415-$420
a tonne from $410-$415 a week earlier, but trade remained quiet.

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―We have heard the Philippines will reopen another bidding round for over 200,000 tonnes on
Nov. 14, after failing to secure offers from Vietnam and Thailand recently,‖ a trader based in Ho
Chi Minh City said. ―I don‘t think the next bidding round will have any impact on prices of
Vietnamese rice given that rates are already high. Vietnam didn‘t offer (during the last round) on
Nov 6 because the import terms were more stringent.‖

Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Rajendra Jadhav in


Mumbai; Editing by Arpan Varghese and Kirsten Donovan

https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-ironore/china-steel-heads-for-second-weekly-fall-amid-ample-supply-
idINL4N1XK1NX

Farm exports go past $9 billion mark in H1


OUR BUREAUT+ T-

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Higher pricing lifts export value despite drop in volumes
BENGALURU, NOVEMBER 8

Higher price realisations for commodities such as rice and buffalo meat, despite a decline in
volumes, have helped push up farm product exports in dollar value terms for the April-
September period in the current financial year over the corresponding period last year.

Total value of shipments under Apeda‘s product portfolio exceeded the $9 billion mark for the
said period. In rupee terms, the value of the shipments registered an increase of 8.9 per cent
aided by a weak currency at ₹61,789 crore (₹56,741 last year).

Despite a dip in volumes on account of a slowdown in purchases by key buyer Iran, basmati rice
exports in value terms were up by about 6 per cent in dollar terms and around 12 per cent in
rupee terms on higher pricing. Iran had imposed a ban on basmati imports from late July to
protect its domestic growers.

The average realisations for basmati were higher at $1,082 per tonne as against $997 in the
corresponding period of the previous year. In rupee terms, basmati rice exports stood at ₹15,331
as against ₹13,706 crore.

Like basmati, non-basmati rice shipments also suffered a slowdown on account of higher duty
imposed by Bangladesh and reduced purchases from African countries. However, the average
per-unit realisation was higher at $411 per tonne as against $407 in the corresponding of the
previous year. A similar trend was also witnessed in buffalo meat shipments during the period.

Basmati is the largest product in Apeda‘s product portfolio, accounting for a 25 per cent share of
total earnings, followed by buffalo meat at 21 per cent and non-basmati rice at 17 per cent.

However, categories such as pulses, fresh vegetables and dairy products witnessed a different
trend, wherein the volumes grew but the average per-unit realisations were down on account of a
dip in prices.
Pulses realisation down
The average realisation for pulses saw a major decline of around 40 per cent during the first half
this year at $901 per tonne as against $1,512 in the corresponding previous year. However,
export volumes of pulses have more than doubled.

Similarly, average realisations for fresh vegetables were down marginally, at $266 per tonne
($272) and for dairy products at $2721 per tonne ($2,755).

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Interestingly, exports of guargum grew both in volumes and value during the period. The per-
unit realisation for guargum increased to $1,340 per tonne as against $1,254 in the corresponding
period last year.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/farm-exports-go-past-9-billion-mark-in-
h1/article25446455.ece

South Africa Trade Mission Taps New Markets


By Sarah Moran

JOHANNESBURG/CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA -- Last week USA Rice participated in a


Trade Mission here led by Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted
McKinney and organized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thirty-four
U.S. companies and cooperator groups attended, as well as leaders from the Arizona, Georgia,
Kansas, Nevada, North Dakota, and Utah Departments of Agriculture.

The mission was based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but participants had the opportunity to

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engage with potential customers from Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar,
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

"This trade mission is part of USDA's continuing effort to tap into new markets for U.S.
agricultural products," McKinney said. "The Southern Africa region is typically a net importer
of agricultural goods, but the majority of those imports currently come from Europe, Asia, and
elsewhere in Africa. We are excited about the potential to grow the United States' market share
and cultivate new customers for high-quality, cost-competitive U.S. food and farm products."

"Rice consumption is fairly stable in South Africa with total rice imports exceeding one million
MT in 2017," said Eszter Somogyi, USA Rice director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa,
who was on the trade mission. "The market is dominated by Thai rice with 77 percent market
share, followed by India with 17 percent. However, in high end supermarkets there is a wide
variety of rice types available including long grain milled and parboiled, as well as medium
grain, brown, and fragrant rice types and wild rice mixes."

South Africa was a major importer of U.S. parboiled rice in the 1990s before sales shifted to
Asian origins in the early 2000s. In 2017 U.S. rice sales totaled 800 MT, with a value of
$736,000.

"South Africa is a price sensitive market, as are all other markets in the region," said
Somogyi. "But there is always demand by higher income groups for high quality food products,
which is where the opportunity for different U.S. rice types, including long and medium grain
rice, can be found."
During the trip with McKinney, Somogyi expressed appreciation to USDA for helping to
mitigate the impact of the retaliatory tariffs and trade tensions by organizing trade missions as
well as through the Agricultural Trade Promotion (ATP) program, where USA Rice has
submitted several innovative ideas to find new markets and to expand existing markets for
increased U.S. rice sales. USA Rice Daily

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WASDE Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- This month's outlook for 2018/19 U.S. rice is for fractionally higher
supplies, reduced exports, and higher ending stocks. The NASS November Crop Production
report indicated 2018/19 rice production is lowered slightly from the previous forecast to 218.3
million cwt with California accounting for the entire reduction. The average all rice yield is
reduced 17 pounds to 7,522 pounds per acre. Despite lower production, supplies still increased
as imports are forecast up 1 million cwt to a record of 28 million on higher medium- and short-
grain imports into Puerto Rico. The all rice export forecast is lowered 2 million cwt to 96
million with all of the reduction in long-grain on continued strong competition in Western
Hemisphere markets from South American suppliers. All rice ending stocks are increased 2.5
million cwt to 46.7 million and are 59 percent higher than 2017/18. The projected 2018/19 all
rice season-average farm price (SAFP) is raised this month $0.30 per cwt at the midpoint to a
range of $11.50 to $12.50, as a higher projected medium- and short-grain SAFP more than
offsets a lower long-grain SAFP.

Global 2018/19 rice supplies are increased by 17.7 million tons to 651.4 million, mostly due to
revisions for China. USDA incorporated China's NBS rice production revisions from 2007/08
through 2017/18, which consequently raised its supplies over this multi-year period. The
cumulative increases in China's ending stocks result in the large upward adjustment in 2018/19
global supplies. Additionally, China's 2018/19 production forecast is raised on larger harvested
area, reflecting the NBS revisions for prior years. Global consumption is fractionally lower at
488.4 million tons as reductions in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are not completely
offset by increases in other countries. World trade is lowered 600,000 tons to 48.9 million on
reduced exports for India, Argentina, and the United States. Global ending stocks are raised 17.8
million tons to a record 163 million with China now accounting for 69 percent of 2018/19 world
stocks, compared to 66 percent last month.

Go here to read the full report.

USA Rice Daily

Fearing losses, Sangrur millers too refuse to stock paddy


Nov 9, 2018, 1:56 AM; last updated: Nov 9, 2018, 1:56 AM (IST
Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, November 8

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Many rice millers of the district have stopped the stocking of paddy as they allege that the
moisture content is above 20 per cent whereas the permissible limit is 17 per cent.

―Around 300 millers of Sangrur have decided against the stocking of paddy, which is being
purchased in various grain markets of the district as its moisture content is between 20 to 25 per
cent. If we all stock paddy with moisture content higher than the permissible limit of 17 per cent,
it would cause huge losses to us,‖ said Rajnish Kansal, state media incharge of Rice Millers
Association, Punjab.

Kansal alleged that at many places, the officers concerned of various purchase agencies were
missing and arhtiyas were weighing the paddy without checking the moisture content.

Some farmers sitting in the Sangrur grain market alleged that the delay in sowing paddy had
delayed its harvest and now, the moisture content had increased.

―Had the government not pressured farmers to delay the sowing of paddy, the moisture would
not have crossed the permissible limit. Its not our fault, it is the fault of the state government so it
must give us relaxation in this regard,‖ said Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the BKU
Ugrahan.

The coordination committee of all purchase agencies met Sangrur Deputy Commissioner (DC)
Ghanshayam Thori on Friday and submitted a letter, demanding a solution for the problem. In
the letter, purchase agency employees have alleged that the moisture content in paddy had
reached 25 per cent and there was tension in grain markets as arhtiyas were weighing paddy with
high moisture content while rice millers were refusing to stock this paddy.

The DC said the administration would take all required steps for the safety of purchase agency
officers.

―Normally, up to 22 per cent moisture gets reduced to the permissible 17 per cent during a 48-
hour lifting period. We have been appealing to farmers to not bring paddy with moisture content
beyond 22 per cent,‖ said the DC.

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/fearing-losses-sangrur-millers-too-refuse-to-stock-
paddy/680294.html

Rice farmers fault Atiku, USDA on importation

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Rice importation not increasing – Farmers

By Ginika Okoye

Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has faulted and described as `fraud‘, the
publication quoted by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that rice importation increased in 2018 when
compared to previous years.

The Presidential Candidate of the People‘s Democratic Party (PDP), had quoted United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Market and Trade (USDA) report that the three
million tonnes rice importation was 400,000 tonnes more than the quantity of rice imported in
2017.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) World Market and Trade Report alleged
that Nigeria imported three million tonnes of rice in 2018.

But Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, the National President of RIFAN, told the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN) in Abuja on Thursday that the publication was meant to create fake impression.

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Goronyo said that local rice production as at 2018 stood at nine million tonnes while the annual
consumption capacity in the country was between 7.5 and 8.5 million tonnes.

He appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government through the Nigeria Customs Service
(NCS) to reduce rice smuggling, noting that it had yielded fruitful results.

―If there is anybody that will speak on the availability or in-availability of rice, it should be my
association.

―Those people making those publications are enemies of the efforts the government is making to
feed its people with locally produced rice.

―We have never done well in rice in the past 20 to 30 years than what we produced this year.

―You know that there was a flood but had it been there was no flood, we cultivated more than 15
million tonnes but even with the flood, our farmers are happy, they are harvesting currently for
those that were not affected.

―The minimum we are expecting after harvest is about nine million metric tonnes even with the
flood and our consumption capacity is between 7.5 and 8.5 million metric tonnes per annum.

―So you can see that even with the flood that affected our farmers, we still have more than
enough rice to consume in Nigeria.

―We were used to taking our huge money outside and throw it to local farmers in other countries
and create job opportunities, wealth and make other countries economic viable.

―The government is not only using the customs to enforce laws on rice importation and
smuggling but also using primary producers which are farmers by providing all necessary input
at a subsidised rate to make rice affordable and available in Nigeria,‘‘ he explained.

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The national president said that rice farmers would also begin the cultivation of rice for the dry
season by the end of November.

He disclosed that farmers were also expecting a minimum of nine million tonnes from the dry
season farming rice cultivation.

Goronyo commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for providing
inputs and mechanisation services to help farmers increase production.

On the high price of locally produced rice, he said that farmers and millers were making efforts
to ensure price control of the product.

―The Ministry of Agriculture is providing inputs and mechanisation services to rice farmers.

―The price of rice from the millers is still between N13, 500 and N14, 500 per 50 kg bag.

―We produce and sell at affordable price, millers sell at affordable price but when it goes to the
market, the price becomes exorbitant.

―That is why we are making efforts to see that we have control over this kind of price inflation.
We should help our country to progress,‘‘ he said.

https://www.nan.ng/agriculture/rice-farmers-fault-atiku-usda-on-importation/

RiceBran to acquire Arkansas milling facility


11.07.2018

By Eric Schroeder

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS — RiceBran Technologies on Nov. 5 exercised its option to


acquire the assets and operations of Golden Ridge Rice Mills‘ milling facility in Wynne, Ark.
Total consideration of the transaction is expected to be approximately $7 million to $8 million,
with newly issued shares of RBT accounting for slightly more than half of the transaction and the
assumption of debt for the remainder.

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―We believe we are paying a mid-single digit multiple of enterprise value to EBITDA based on
our current expectations for Golden Ridge‘s operations,‖ RiceBran said. ―We estimate that
Golden Ridge‘s operations will add approximately $20 million in sales as well as meaningful
EBITDA in 2019 with significant room for expansion of stabilized rice bran (S.R.B.) production.
We expect this mill to be an important component of our S.R.B. supply in the Arkansas region
while providing us with a platform to develop new products derived from S.R.B. to expand our
growth opportunities.‖

RiceBran entered into an S.R.B. supply agreement with Golden Ridge Rice Mills in July. The
three-year supply agreement calls for Golden Ridge to supply RiceBran with (and RiceBran to
purchase) at least 9.6 million lbs of S.R.B. annually, which would represent a 32% increase in
the company‘s S.R.B. supply when compared to the total 2017 S.R.B. production volume.

As part of the supply agreement, RiceBran secured a six-month option to purchase Golden
Ridge‘s milling assets. Now that RiceBran has exercised that option, the company will have 120
days from the exercise date to complete the purchase of the milling business assets.

Brent Rystrom, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, in July said the potential
acquisition of Golden Ridge‘s rice milling operation would give RiceBran a permanent physical
presence to locate additional product and production capabilities.

―We believe owning and operating mills will become an important part of our operating model
going forward in addition to maintaining and building our partnerships with non-owned mills,‖
he said.

News of the Golden Ridge mill acquisition came the same day RiceBran issued third-quarter
financial results.

RiceBran sustained a loss of $1,627,000 in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, which compared
with income of $3,299,000, equal to 30c per share on the common stock, in the same period a
year ago. Net sales were virtually unchanged, increasing to $3,463,000 from $3,445,000.
RiceBran said growth has been constrained by the lingering effects of supply chain disruptions at
its facility in Mermantau, La.

―Third-quarter adjusted EBITDA showed improvement compared to second quarter 2018, as our
Mermentau, La., facility restarted production during the quarter, helping to reduce the higher
freight costs associated with shipping from our California facilities,‖ RiceBran said. ―Gross
margins continued to be negatively impacted by higher freight costs, reduced production at our
Dillon, Mont., facility due to a large capital expenditures project related to attaining plant
certification that is expected to be completed late in the fourth quarter of this year, as well as an
approximately 18% increase in raw bran prices.‖

RiceBran said it now expects 2018 annual revenue to range from $14.5 million to $15.5 million,
up from previous guidance of $14 million to $15 million.

https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/12840-ricebran-to-acquire-arkansas-milling-facility
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NFA holds pre-bid conference for 500K MT rice import
November 7, 2018

MANILA — A total of 12 rice suppliers from Asian countries attended a pre-bidding conference on
Wednesday at the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) auditorium along Visayas Ave. in
Quezon City for the government‘s rice importation program.

The importation is for 500,000 metric tons of 25-percent broken, long grain white rice, as
additional government buffer stock.

The National Food Authority (NFA) conducted the pre-bidding conference to allow prospective
bidders to clarify the provisions of the Terms of Reference (TOR) covering the importation.

The opening of bids is set for November 20.

The 500,000 MT is divided into nine lots, with 14 designated discharge ports as follows: Subic
— 118,000 MT; Manila — 75,000 MT; La Union — 65,000 MT; Batangas — 40,000 MT;
General Santos City — 32,500; Tabaco — 30,000 MT; Cagayan De Oro — 26,700 MT; Cebu —
25,000 MT; Iloilo — 20,000 MT; Tacloban — 20,000 MT; Zamboanga — 17,300 MT; Davao
— 12,500 MT; Surigao — 10,000 MT; and Bacolod — 8,000 MT.

The first half or 250,000 MT should be delivered not later than Dec. 31, while the remaining
250,000 MT should arrive in the country not later than Jan. 31, 2019.

The NFA Council has approved the importation of an additional 500,000 MT on top of the
previous two batches of 250,000 MT rice imports delivered between June and October, and the
250,000 MT offered for bids last Sept. 18, where only three suppliers won the award for 47,000
MT.

Another bidding for the remaining 203,000 MT will be scheduled, as the second bidding
conducted on Tuesday under a government to government scheme failed to attract offers from

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the governments of Vietnam and Thailand, the only countries with a Memorandum of Agreement
for Rice Trade with the Philippines.

The series of rice importations by the NFA is intended to continuously replenish the NFA‘s
buffer stocks, in line with the President‘s directive for the government to have sufficient food
stocks at all times. (PR/PNA)

https://ptvnews.ph/nfa-holds-pre-bid-conference-for-500k-mt-rice-import/

Vietnam Rice Festival 2018 to take place in Long An in


December
VNAWednesday, November 07, 2018 13:12

The third Vietnam Rice Festival will be held in Tan An city, in the Mekong River Delta province of
Long An, from December 18 - 24, as heard at a press conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on
November 6.

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Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
The logo of Vietnam's national rice brand will be announced at the opening ceremony for the
festival.

The festival will feature numerous activities, including a rice contest, an exhibition on
Vietnamese rice exports and a number of important seminars.

The festival aims to provide trade promotion solutions in the field of agriculture and rural
development, as well as support enterprises and farmers in their operations, contributing to
improving the competitiveness of Vietnamese rice in the world market.

The event also offers an opportunity for managers, businesses, scientists and farmers to approach
and update market information and advanced technologies in rice production and business from
around the world.

Over 400 organisations and enterprises across the country have registered to take part in the third
Vietnam Rice Festival.

The first and second editions of the festival were held in Hau Giang province in 2009 and in Soc
Trang province in 2011, respectively.

http://sggpnews.org.vn/business/vietnam-rice-festival-2018-to-take-place-in-long-an-in-december-
78532.html

Northern localities work hard to improve rice


productivity
VNA WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2018 - 15:11:00

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Nam Dinh (VNA) – Vietnam‘s northern region harvested some 5.6 million tonnes of rice during
the summer-autumn crop, up more than 320,000 tonnes from the same period last year, heard a
recent conference.

Tran Xuan Dinh, deputy head of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said at the conference that each hectare of rice
produces an average of 5 tonnes, up 0.35 tonne against 2017.

Since the beginning of this year, the localities have shifted over 10,480 hectares of rice to other

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crops, a year-on-year rise of 1,800 hectares, the official
said.

As of early October 2018, the northern provinces had cultivated nearly 280,000 hectares of
vegetables, mostly corn, sweet potato, soybean and peanut, he added.

Many localities have applied science and technology in production, Dinh said, taking the organic
rice farming model in Hanoi‘s Chuong My district and the rice production-consumption chain in
Nam Dinh province which have yielded high economic values as examples.

It is forecast that the region will face water shortages during the upcoming winter-spring crop.

Given this, northern midland and mountainous provinces have taken the initiative in shifting rice
cultivation to other crops.

Apart from forming large-scale rice fields, regional localities have also continued with

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technological application in production in order to raise productivity and quality.

MARD Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh urged cities and provinces to roll out preferential
policies and incentives to attract investors in agriculture and rural areas, while developing
linkage chains among farmers as well as between farmers and businesses to ensure markets for
local products.

He also suggested expanding services of enterprises, cooperatives and farmers‘ groups in the
supply of varieties, materials and pesticide, and irrigation to cut production cost and improve
efficiency.

The region is expected to cultivate more than 1.1 million hectares of rice and garner some 7.2
million tonnes in the upcoming winter-spring crop.-VNA

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/northern-localities-work-hard-to-improve-rice-productivity/141444.vnp‘

tourist enjoys the scenery of Ban Pha Mon‘s beautiful rice terraces.

GRAINS of life
lifestyle November 09, 2018 01:00
By Jintana Panyaarvudh
The Nation
Chom Thong, Chiang Mai

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A small Karen village in the Chiang Mai hills sets out to draw visitors with its new farmer-based
tourism initiative

For most of us, especially in Asia, rice is an integral part of our culinary traditions and our diet.
It‘s a staple too for the Pga K‘nyau residents of Ban Pha Mon but to these ethnic Karen people,
the grain itself means so much more.
Located in Chiang Mai‘s Doi Inthanon National Park, seven kilometres off the main highway,
the small rural community of Ban Pha Mon is home to Pga K‘nyau Karen who migrated from
China and Myanmar and settled down in this village in Chom Thong District more than 130
years ago.
Farmers harvest rice as the sun bathes the fields in gold
A breathtaking sea of terraced rice fields and the mountains in the background have turned Pha
Mon into something of a tourist attraction since it became part of a community-based tourism
initiative more than 10 years ago.
More recently, the villagers have been conducting further research into ways they can use their
strongest point – the stunning rice terraces– to draw more tourists to their home.
―We have a bond with rice. Rice is our life, spirit, and soul. Rice is more valuable than money. If
you don‘t eat rice you will die,‖ says Boonta Pharueksachimpli, one of the village leaders.

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―Every seed [of rice] has its life. It dies three times a year to feed humans,‖ he adds.

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After harvesting, farmers thrash the rice to separate the paddy from the plant.
According to Pga K‘nyau beliefs, the rice dies the first time when it is sown in the field, a second
time when it is harvested and a third time when it is cooked, Boonta explains.
Legend has it that a millionaire and a widow argued over whether rice or money was the most
important thing in life. The millionaire gave priority to money while the widow believed rice was
more important.
One day, the son of the millionaire cried so hard that the father soaked some money in water and
had his son drink the water. But still the boy cried. The father later saw rice immersed in water
and brought the rice for his son to eat. And the son stopped crying.

Karen women demonstrate how to make “Khao Mud”, a local rice-based dessert.
The Karen have been planting rice ever since and have always given priority to the crop.
With a population of 645, Pha Mon village currently has around 264 rai of rice fields. The
community produce some 10,000 tons a year, most of it for local consumption, with the balance
sold to the Hmong people, another ethnic group living in north of Thailand.

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Boonta Pharueksachimpli, second left, and Pha Mon’s research team.
Here, perhaps more than elsewhere, the farmers pay attention to every step of the crop cycle
from the preparation of the earth, to sowing and growth, Boonta says.
Before they even start, the farmers conduct more than 30 elaborate procedures along with
spiritual rites, he adds.
For example, they will select one member, who they believe will be able to get a good yield, as
the leader to take charge of all the processes that year.
A sign reading “Ban Pha Mon, a model village for farmer-based tourism” at the entrance to the
village
Then they must choose the most auspicious day of the week to start planting.
That choice is based on the day that delivered the best-growing rice seedling during the
experimental planting they organise ahead of the season.
In Thailand‘s central and northeast regions, two to three crops are usually planted during the year
but here too the Karen are an exception, planting rice just once in the 12-month cycle.
―Our rice grows for six months. We start to plant from end of May and harvest in October to
early November,‖ says Boonta, who last year led a group of villagers to conduct research into
using rice to promote tourism under the farmer-based tourism scheme. Under this initiative,
villagers will organise tour programmes that focus on the farmer‘s way of life.

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A friendly Pga K’nyau grandma in traditional dress laughs as she watches the visitors
The research for the farmer-based tourism project, which was launched last year, is supported by
the Thailand Research Fund [TRF]‘s community-based research division and is aimed at
empowering and strengthening villagers and farmers through research as well as through using
tourism to generate extra income to elevate their quality of life.
Ban Pha Mon is one of 10 communities in the pilot project and TRF anticipates that villagers and
farmers could earn between Bt500,000 to Bt700,000 per year from tourism, with each household
benefiting from no less than Bt35,000 annually.
After a year of studying and collecting information, Boonta and his team could see that their
village has the potential for farmer-based tourism.
They can trace back their rice history through eight species, showcase some ancient farming
tools as well as the rituals and local wisdom used in the planting of rice terraces and demonstrate
the evolution in the way of rice planting.

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The researchers are now in the process of finalising the design of route trips and rice walking
tours and expect to launch the tour programme for tourists next year before the next planting
starts.

The tentative walking route will start from the rice terrace where tourists will learn how the
farmers plant and harvest the rice and even have a go at it themselves.
Visitors will also witness the spiritual rites conducted before and during planting, as well as after
harvesting to protect the crop from dangers caused by nature and humans.
Along the route, tourists will be able to learn about the ecology as well as about the herbs and
plants the villagers use to cure certain ailments.
Demonstrations of how the rice is processed into other products, including desserts, will also be
included.
Tourists can choose to stay overnight in a villager‘s home to fully immerse themselves in
community life. Numbers will however be limited to no more than 20 visitors a day.

“Bue Pha Doh” rice is the most popular rice species among the Karen.

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Revenue sharing will use the same model as the community-based tourism scheme, with those
earning income for the tourism services allocating some five to 10 per cent to the commune for
public interest spending, including scholarships for students, healthcare for the elderly and
building firebreaks.
―The Karen have a unique way of planting and thinking about their rice. To them, rice is like
God. They believe people eat the ‗virtue‘ or ‗value‘ of rice,‖ says Somkid Kaewtip, dean of the
School of Administrative Studies at Maejo University and an adviser to the TRF‘s research
division.

The research findings will also change the way others perceive rice, he adds.
―Their ‗ways of rice‘ are closely linked to their way of life. So understanding their way of
planting rice will help outsiders enjoy a better understanding of the Karen,‖ Somkid says.
IF YOU GO
- Ban Pha Mon is located in Chiang Mai‘s Doi Intanon National Park, seven kilometres off the
main highway and about 90km from downtown Chiang Mai.
- To arrange a visit, call (081) 166 4344 or join the conversation at Facebook/baan.phamon.

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Heavy rains forecast until MondayHeavy rains are predicted in many provinces in the
lower North, Central, East and South, including Bangkok, as a depression over the Gulf of Thailand is
expected to land on Prachuap Khiri Khan on Saturday, the Meteorological Department said.The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/thailand/30358224

NEF signs deal with IRRI to distribute rice seeds among


farmers
UNB NEWS

 PUBLISH DATE - NOVEMBER 08, 2018, 08:15 PM

 UPDATE DATE - NOVEMBER 08, 2018, 09:19 PM

Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza speaks at a program at the IRRI Bangladesh
Office (IBO) in the capital on Thursday. Photo: UNB

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Dhaka, Nov 8 (UNB) – Bangladesh ODI skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has expressed the hope
that the philanthropic activities of Narail Express Foundation (NEF) will inspire all to come
forward to ensure country‘s overall betterment.

―I serve the country. But I prefer the overall development of Narail as I hail from there. I want to
make it as an iconic organisation so that all people are inspired by its activities and come forward
with the same initiatives in their localities,‖ said the inspirational iconic cricketer.

He said this after an agreement was signed between the NEF and the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) at the IRRI Bangladesh Office (IBO) in the capital on Thursday.

Mashrafe signed the deal as the NEF chairman while Dr Humnath Bhandari as IRRI
Representative of Bangladesh.

The deal is an initiative of cooperation to promote and disseminate five tonnes improved
varieties and quality rice seeds among selected 1,000 farmers of three upazilas of Narail for
augmenting the rice production in the country‘s southwestern district.

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The 35-year-old cricketer said many farmers of the country are losing interest in farming and
instead migrating to cities due to low income.
Terming the deal ‗a great opportunity‘ to work with farmers and agronomists, he said, ―We want
to connect people, providing them what we have, receiving donation irrespective of small or
big.‖

―We‘ll make something good for farmers who work hard day and night to grow food for the
country. Hope we can be inspired by them,‖ Mashrafe added.

BRRI Director General Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir and NEF Secretary Tarikul Islam Anik also
spoke on the occasion.

The seed distribution will begin on November 12 among the low-income farmers from Narail
Sadar in association with NEF partner IBO and its National Agricultural Research and Extension
System (NARES).

The NEF has already selected the beneficiary farmers before the 2018-2019 Boro season in
collaboration with the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) and IBO.

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IBO also extended its hand to provide technical support through a Training of Trainers (ToT)
while BRRI, BINA, ACI are facilitating the supply of seeds.

The NEF has established volunteer network in Narail district for fulfilling various socio-cultural
agenda -- enhancing civil facilities, emphasising on specialised education system, introducing
humane education at schools, eradicating unemployment, increasing cultural activities, providing
various trainings on sports, making attractive tourist spots centring the Chitra River,
transforming the district town into an ICT one and making an entertainment-friendly city.
http://unb.com.bd/category/Sports/mashrafe-wants-to-inspire-all-through-philanthropic-activities/6040

DA promotes brown rice consumption


Banner News, Local News November 9, 2018November 8, 2018 TDG

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo


THE Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6-Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is
promoting brown rice consumption to the public.
During the launching of the 2018 National Rice Awareness Month celebration at SM City Iloilo
Northpoint Activity Center on Nov 5, 2018, DA Regional Executive Director Remelyn Recoter
said that public awareness of brown rice is slowly increasing.
―Increasing ang awareness, kay damo na gapangita brown rice. With the current situation nga
damo na mga health conscious consuming public, gusto man nila magkaon brown rice,‖ Recoter
said.
Recoter added that compared to well-milled rice, brown rice is healthier because of its additional
nutrients.
According to Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), is naturally superior to white rice in
terms of fiber, protein, good fats, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B9, and E, minerals, and antioxidants.
Clinical studies also show that regular consumption of whole-grain cereals, including brown or
whole rice, may help reduce the risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
While many consumers are confused with the variety of brown rice, PhilRice emphasized that
brown rice is actually not a variety but just rough rice (palay) without the outer covering or husk.
When it comes to production, brown rice is environmentally friendly and energy efficient
because 50-65% is saved on fuel since the polishing and whitening steps are eliminated.
Brown rice production also puts more value to the produce of the farmers through its heavier
weight, thereby boosting their income.
Eating brown rice can also help achieve rice self-sufficiency because of its 10% higher milling
recovery.In terms of supply, Recoter said that the rice processing complex situated in Brgy.
Amamaros, Pototan, Iloilo has the capacity to mill brown
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rice once there are orders.
―There are brown rice produces in the province of Iloilo and we give priority interventions to
them,‖ she added.
https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/da-promotes-brown-rice-consumption/
UPLB, Searca stage nutrition-sensitive agriculture
conference
posted November 08, 2018 at 08:10 pm by Brenda Jocson
Tagaytay—Realizing the important role of nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA), the University of the
Philippines Los Baños Interdisciplinary Studies Center on Food and Nutrition Security has convened an
International Conference on NSA and Food Systems.
This conference aims to contribute to improving food security and health outcomes, through production
of diverse, safe and nutrient-rich food. It started Wednesday and ends Sunday at the Development
Academy of the Philippines in this city.
Themed ―Strategic Approaches to Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture and Food Systems in Southeast Asia‖,
the conference is in partnership with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and
Research in Agriculture (Searca), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Philippines,
and Cavite State University.Searca said the conference aims to increase awareness of various sectors on
the nature and scope of NSA, to identify the opportunities, challenges and issues involving NSA in the
Philippines and in Southeast Asia, and to formulate polices and strategies to enhance NSA in relation to
food and nutrition security.
In line with its Umbrella Program on Food and Nutrition Security in Southeast Asia, Searca is organizing
the plenary session on case studies on integrating nutrition into agriculture.The session will focus on
lessons that can be drawn from success stories of addressing nutrition across the different stages of the
food system.Topics in this plenary session will be discussed by experts from various parts of the world.
Dr. Marco Wopereis, Director General of the World Vegetable Center, will talk about mobilizing the
nutritional power of vegetables.Dr. Leila S. Africa, Director and Professor of the UPLB College of
Human Ecology-Institute of Human Nutrition and Food will present outcomes of Promoting Nutrition-
Sensitive School Gardens and Feeding Programs through the School-Plus-Home-Gardens Project: The
Case of Laguna, Philippines.
Dr. Wei Fang, Director of the Center of Excellence for Controlled Environment Agriculture and Professor
of Bio-Industrial Mechatronics Engineering of the National Taiwan University, will discuss how plant
factories in Taiwan to promote food and nutrition security in an urban setting.
Emily Monville Oro, Country Director, and Dr. Julian Gonsalves, Senior Program Advisor of the
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), will speak on sustaining and scaling-up nutrition-
sensitive agriculture.

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Rizal G. Corales, Program Lead, Integrated Rice-based Agribiosystems of the Philippine Rice Research
Institute (PhilRice), will elaborate on the case of Palayamanan as a strategy to promote nutrition-sensitive
agriculture.
Dr. Mallikarjuna Swamy, Scientist II-Rice Breeder (Biofortification) and Lead, Healthier Rice Breeding
Group of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), will tackle achieving nutritional security
through development of healthier rice: progress and prospects.
The plenary session is chaired by Shun-Nan Chiang, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology,
University of California, Santa Cruz, who is also a Searca Visiting Research Fellow. Dr. Pedcris Orencio,
Searca‘s Program Head for Research and Development, will provide the session synthesis.
http://www.manilastandard.net/lgu/luzon/280009/uplb-searca-stage-nutrition-sensitive-agriculture-
conference.html

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