16th July, 2021 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
16 July ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 07
1|www.ricepluss.com , www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874
Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

Chief Editor
 Hamlik  Pakistan fourth largest rice exporter in world
 Hungarian companies keen to import rice from
Managing Editor
 Abdul Sattar Shah
Pakistan
 Rahmat Ullah  Webinar Series Focuses on U.S. Rice for the
 Rozeen Shaukat
Foodservice Industry in Mexico
English Editor  Imports via freight trains surge
 Maryam Editor
 Rice sector revisits tactics as exports hit
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas  Limit sushi intake warn scientists after samples
contain heavy metals
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid  Viewpoint: Warning to Sri Lanka — Tunnel vision
 Javed Islam Agha embrace of an organic-only farming model sets
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain country up for economic and environmental
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui backwardness
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 Islam Akhtar Khan
 What The FAQ: What is Rice From Heaven and can we
actually eat it?
Editorial Advisory Board
 Technical analysis: Will the rice price continue its
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal climbing?
University DIK  Rice price highest in Bangladesh among 5 countries'
 Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK  How-whip-six-dishes-packed-veggies-little-1-head
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah  Helping plants adapt to hotter climates will protect
Assistant Professor, University
of Swabi our food security
 Dr.Abdul Basir  Arkansas Rice Field Day returns to in-person format
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi Aug. 6
 Zahid Mehmood  UN’s N2b to support 377,000 Nigerian rice, maize
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
 Falak Naz Shah producers
Head Food Science & Technology  FG, Japan support 150 farmers with rice seeds, inputs
ART, Peshawar
 FG distributes rice seedling, inputs to Ebonyi farmers
 RPT-ASIA RICE-INDIA RATES GRIND TO 16-MONTH
LOWS AS SUPPLIES GROW
Pakistan fourth largest rice exporter in world

LAHORE : Pakistan is the fourth largest rice exporter in the world and is a source of earning
foreign exchange as Pakistan exports more than two billion rupees‘ rice every year. These views
were expressed by Provincial Minister for Agriculture Syed Jahanian Gardezi while addressing
the ceremony under the National Plan for increasing per acre production of paddy here in Daska
district Sialkot. ―Our Basmati rice is famous with its taste and fragrance all over the world.
Under the Agriculture Emergency program of the Prime Minister, subsidies of Rs6 billion and
3.2 million is being provided to farmers on approved varieties of paddy seed, agriculture
machinery and pesticides‖ he added.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/864760-pakistan-fourth-largest-rice-exporter-in-world
Hungarian companies keen to import rice from

Pakistan
JULY 15, 2021
LAHORE: The Hungary-Pakistan Trade & Economic Window (HPTEW), which is an initiative
of the All Pakistan Business Forum, has started yielding results, as a number of Hungarian
companies have shown their keen interest to import high quality rice from Pakistan.
During an online meeting with the Pakistan rice exporters, the Hungarian businessmen discussed
investment and trade partnership in detail with Pakistani food and rice companies.
The meeting was arranged by the APBF with collaboration of the Pakistan Embassy in Hungary
and Agriculture Ministry of Hungary.
Besides Pakistan rice exporters and Hungarian importers, the meeting was attended by
Ambassador of Pakistan to Hungary Mohemmed Aejaz, APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood,
general secretary Khurram Niaz and APBF Lahore Board President Aamir Munir while
Hungarian Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture Dr. David Bencsik represented his
country.
Dr. David Bencsik, during the meeting, observed that Pakistan rice and food products offer a
huge potential for exports, as a large segment of this industry is well-organized and has achieved
international efficiency levels.
The Hungarian companies‘ representatives intended to visit Pakistan and study its food sector‘s
market for partnerships and investment and to strengthen the bilateral trade relations with
Pakistan.
Their prime interest was the rice import from Pakistan where they were interested to develop JVs
with local counterparts.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Hungary Mohemmed Aejaz, while addressing the meeting,
appreciated the role of APBF, saying that it is the beginning of a great era between Hungary and
Pakistan to import and export agricultural products from both sides.
He said that this is a great result-oriented interactive session, leading to enhancement in bilateral
trade of the both countries.
The Ambassador also applauded Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi‘s Economic
Diplomacy as an essential part of Pakistan‘s modern diplomatic practice.
The government is now focusing on promoting economic diplomacy to attract foreign investment
as part of the efforts to make the country economically secure.
APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood, during the meeting, applauded the efforts of Ambassador
of Pakistan to Hungary Mohemmed Aejaz, as due to his efforts several Hungarian companies
had already visited Pakistan and held B2B meetings with Pakistani companies for JVs in their
respective sectors following the launch of HP TEW.
Syed Maaz Mahmood said that the HPTEW was launched in an effort to fully utilize the bilateral
trade potential of Pakistan and Hungary from current volume of meager $44.3 million, engaging
the Embassy of Hungary in Islamabad and the Pakistan Embassy in Budapest fully in this regard.
He said that the European Union is Pakistan‘s largest export market representing over 30 percent
of exports, with Hungary accounting for below 1 percent of the total EU imports from Pakistan,
which needs to be enhanced.
He said that the slogan of Foreign Minister‘s Economic Diplomacy to broaden mutually
beneficial trade and economic partnerships with European countries, has been yielding positive
results, as Pakistan‘s exports to European Union have been increasing.
Discussing the issues of Pakistan agri sector, he said the government should enhance the areas of
research to encourage indigenous technological innovations and modernize its agriculture sector,
as this has the potential source of employment.
He said that Pakistan needs to move from traditional to modern agriculture to overcome its trade
deficit and meet its socio-economic targets.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/791858/hungarian-companies-keen-to-import-rice-from-pakistan/
Webinar Series Focuses on U.S. Rice for the Foodservice

Industry in Mexico
By Sarah Moran
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – In another example of a successful pivot relating to industry shifts
because of the COVID-19 pandemic, USA Rice replaced in-person cooking workshops here with
virtual lessons. Just last week, USA Rice Ambassador Chef Giuseppe Pasquale led an impressive
cadre of 100 amateur and professional chefs through an online course sharing cooking
techniques and 15 unique recipes that explored every element of U.S.-origin rice for the hotel,
restaurant, and institution (HRI) sector.
Online classes teach

real world lessons
Nutritionists Guadalupe Esquivel and Carmen Ruiz made guest appearances, educating
participants about the health benefits of rice.
Another cooking series, consisting of five online sessions, will debut in August followed by a
third video series in October.
The webinars are produced in partnership with Coronado Culinary Arts Institute of Mexico,
Ambrosia Culinary Center, Superior Institute Mariano Moreno, and the Association of
Restaurants, Condiments, and Prepared Foods (CANIRAC). Upon completion of the rice
curriculum, each participant receives a signed diploma certified by the culinary schools.
"The HRI sector has been challenged to innovate due to the impact of COVID-19 and its
incumbent restrictions on foodservice,‖ said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director of international
promotions. "We‘re encouraged by how these operators have responded and hopeful that the
lessons learned through our webinar series on best practices and the economic benefits for
utilizing U.S.-origin rice will be implemented into the country‘s general restaurant culture."
USA Rice has a robust portfolio of promotional activities executed in Mexico annually. Last year
more than 200 virtual activities were conducted here focusing on the trade and consumers.
Mexico is the number one export market for U.S.-origin rice. In 2020, 614,000 MT of rice was
exported to the country at a value of $245 million dollars.
USA Rice Daily
Imports via freight trains surge
Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

Fri Jul 16, 2021 12:00 AM
Transportation of goods from India to Bangladesh via freight trains doubled in the last
fiscal year as the route is cost-effective and saves time.
Bangladesh Railway (BR) transported 36.93 lakh tonnes of goods from the neighbouring
country in 2020-21, up 126 per cent from 16.34 lakh tonnes a year ago, data from the BR
showed.
The railway's income from the cross-border trade also set a record in the year.
The state-run transport agency clocked 120 per cent growth in earnings at Tk 167.74
crore in FY21, which was Tk 76.59 crore in the preceding fiscal year.
"This is the highest income for the BR from the transportation of goods from India in a
single year," Shafiqur Rahman, director for traffic of the BR, told The Daily Star
yesterday.
The movement of goods by trains from India is cost-effective than carrying them by
trucks. In addition, carrying goods via trains takes less time than trucks, making it
popular.
Besides, freight trains often bring goods from the far-flung Indian provinces, which are
almost inaccessible for trucks. Transportation of bulk amount of goods is also not
possible through trucks, business people and BR officials said.
The BR operates 130 to 140 freight trains every month to bring goods from India through
four interchange stations, namely Benapole, Darshana, Rohanpur and Birol.
Another interchange station at Chilahati is likely to be operational from next month,
Rahman said.
Besides, Bangladesh and India formally started operating commercial container trains in
July last year, aiming to boost cross-border trade.
The BR mainly brings rice, wheat, stones, fly ash, poultry feed, and bolder.
The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to the sharp rise in goods transportation from
India, said an official of the BR.
There has been a huge demand for freight trains. But the BR cannot provide enough
locomotives and freight coaches even during normal times.
As the operation of passenger trains has remained suspended for a long time because of
the pandemic, the BR was able to use the workforce and locomotives to run freight trains,
he added.
The railways also received 10 locomotives from India in July last year as a gift to
overcome the locomotive shortage. Bangladesh is using them to carry goods as well. Still,
the engine shortage persists.
"There is a monthly demand for around 300 freight trains. But we can operate around 150
trains because of a lack of workforce, infrastructure and other facilities," the off icial said.
Chitta Majumder, managing director of Majumder Group of Industries, one of the biggest
rice millers and importers in Bangladesh that often brings goods from India via trains,
said the cost of goods transportation from India by trucks was around three times the cost
charged by trains.
Carrying rice through trains costs Tk 0.60 to Tk 0.70 per kg, which is about Tk 2.50 per
kg if they are brought by trucks, he said.
Besides, each goods-laden truck has to wait around 22 to 24 days at the border to enter
Bangladesh due to a lack of capacity of the land ports on the Bangladesh side.
On the other hand, it takes five to six hours to bring goods from Kolkata to Bangladesh,
Majumder said.
"However, we are not getting enough trains."
www.thedailystar.net/business/global-economy/news/imports-freight-trains-surge
Rice sector revisits tactics as exports hit

Hin Pisei | Publication date 15 July 2021 | 21:27 ICT
Cambodia shipped a total of 280,450 tonnes of milled rice to 49 international markets over the
January-June period, valued at $202.67 million, down by 23.71 per cent year-on-year. Heng
Chivoan
Cambodian milled-rice exports remain fraught with major hurdles, requiring industry players to
adopt a clear strategy in response that builds a competitive edge and ensures sustainability in the
sector, specifically as a bulwark against the persistent pressure from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) president Song Saran made the remark at a virtual
extraordinary meeting of the CRF on July 13 held under the theme ―Economic adaptation of
Cambodian milled rice exports in the context of Covid-19‖.
Some of the more pressing challenges are rising ocean freight costs, a shortage of shipping
containers, significant drops in the price of jasmine rice on the international market, rising input
prices, and millers‘ lack of capital to buy paddy for stockpiling.
Saran told The Post on July 15 that the global spread of Covid-19 was hampering Cambodia‘s
milled rice export capacity, prompting CRF members to develop careful, highly-efficient and
comprehensive approaches to ongoing and potential headaches.
―With all these challenges at hand, the federation will continue to discuss with the government to
find a solution for the exporter members that face them,‖ he said.
He said the burdens posed by the influence of Covid-19 have also been undermining plans set by
the CRF last year to export 800,000 tonnes of milled rice in 2021.
―We do not expect milled rice exports to increase as expected in 2021 because [concerns over]
shipments [such as soaring charter rates and container shortages] have not eased,‖ Saran said.
CRF chairman Hun Lak emphasised that all stakeholders of the Cambodian rice industry must
get involved in making recommendations to the federation and brainstorming suitable solutions
for the sector, especially for the upcoming harvest season and in the longer-term.
At the same time, exporters need to strengthen and improve competitiveness abroad and deepen
integration into regional and global value chains to capture a greater share in major international
markets, to provide competitive advantages to the Kingdom‘s rice sector and ensure
sustainability, he said.
In the first half of 2021, Cambodian milled-rice exports fell by 29.47 per cent year-on-year in
volume, but were similar to levels seen in the same periods of 2017-2019, the CRF reported.
The Kingdom shipped a total of 280,450 tonnes of milled rice to 49 international markets over
the January-June period, valued at $202.67 million, down by 23.71 per cent year-on-year.
The CRF ascribed the decline to the skyrocketing shipping rates and container shortages that
plague Cambodian shipments to the EU, as well as a nosedive in the price of Cambodia‘s Grade-
A fragrant milled rice, which has fallen to $730 from an average of $900 a tonne.
Saran told The Post on July 7 that the government and the CRF had been looking to increase
exports to Asian destinations, such as Hong Kong and Macau, to offset declines to the EU caused
by a host of issues.
―The CRF will hold meetings with its members to devise strategies to compile into an upcoming
plan – concerning paddy stocks and maintaining prices steady during the next harvest, as well as
assisting members with working capital to buy paddy – to propose to the Royal Government of
Cambodia for the sake of the entire Cambodian rice sector,‖ he said.
Ministry of Commerce spokesman Seang Thay said the government is speeding up negotiations
with the Chinese side to increase the import quota for Cambodian milled rice from 400,000
tonnes to 500,000.
China increased its quota by 100,000 tonnes annually from 100,000 in 2016 to 400,000 in 2019
for jasmine, fragrant, white and broken varieties of Cambodian milled rice.
Cambodia exported 690,829 tonnes of milled rice last year, marking an increase of 11.40 per
cent from 2019, according to CRF data.
China topped the list of importers, purchasing 289,439 tonnes or 41.90 per cent of the grain,
followed by the EU at 203,791 tonnes or 29.50 per cent.
Contact author: Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-sector-revisits-tactics-exports-hit
Limit sushi intake warn scientists after samples contain

heavy metals
Researchers have determined the right amount and combination of sushi to eat based on the
study of one hundred samples of different types of sushi.
Sushi smaples were found to be contaminated with heavy metals in some cases
Eight pieces of salmon-based maki, nigiri or sashimi or maki unagi (eel) is the safest
combination of sushi for adult and adolescent populations. That is one of the findings of
TecnATox (Centre for Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology), a joint research
group from the University of Rovira i Virgili in Catalonia and the Pere Virgili Health Research
Institute (IISPV), which has analysed the presence of arsenic and various heavy metals in sushi.
The consumption of sushi has increased significantly since the start of the 21st century, as has
the number of restaurants offering it throughout the region. Although eating fish is often
recommended because of its high nutritional value, it can also lead to exposure to contaminants,
such as heavy metals. Likewise, rice is a food that provides many nutrients and fibre and is low
in fat, but researchers warn it too can be source of pollutants such as arsenic.
The research group analysed the concentrations of various toxic elements (cadmium, nickel,
lead, mercury, inorganic arsenic and methylmercury) and iodine in a hundred pieces of sushi,
specifically those known as sashimi (raw fish), maki (a seaweed roll stuffed with rice, raw fish or
other ingredients) and nigiri (balls of rice with fish or seafood on top). The researchers also
calculated dietary exposure to all of these contaminants in various population groups (infants,
adolescents and adults) and evaluated the risks to health.
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The main results show a significantly higher concentration of inorganic arsenic in maki and
nigiri, compared to sashimi, a finding associated with the presence of rice. They also show
higher levels of mercury and methylmercury in sushi that contains tuna due to the
bioaccumulation and biomagnification of this metal.
The research group also wanted to determine how the consumption of this foodstuff varied in
different groups of the population. They examined an average intake of eight pieces of sushi in
adults and adolescents and an average intake of three pieces in infants and found an increase in
exposure to nickel and lead, although this remained within safe established levels.
―The most worrying finding concerns methylmercury, a highly neurotoxic compound, for which
there was an estimated exposure of 0.242 μg per kg of bodyweight in adolescents, a value higher
than the safe daily limit established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)‖, explained
Montse Marquès, one of the researchers who worked on the study.
Finally, the results were analysed as a whole to determine which combinations of sushi do not
represent a risk. ―We recommend that people combine eight pieces of salmon-based maki, nigiri
or sashimi or maki containing unagi (eel) and limit their consumption of any type of sushi
containing tuna‖, said Marquès.
The researchers stressed that the amounts of sushi analysed constitute only one of the five
recommended meals a day. This means that the consumption of other foods throughout the day
may also lead to exposure to certain toxic elements, such as arsenic (present in rice and rice-
based foods), mercury (present in tuna and swordfish) or nickel (present in vegetables, pulses
and cereals).
Due to its nutritional benefits, the researchers still recommend the consumption of sushi, but they
were also keen to reiterate the need to do so in moderation in order to minimise the intake of
certain food toxins.
https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/153397/sushi-heavy-metals/
Viewpoint: Warning to Sri Lanka — Tunnel vision

embrace of an organic-only farming model sets
country up for economic and environmental
backwardness
Parakrama Waidyanatha | July 15, 2021
A rice farmer stands in his fields near Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Credit: Anna Maria Barry-
Jester/Center for Public Integrity
This article or excerpt is included in the GLP‘s daily curated selection of ideologically diverse
news, opinion and analysis of biotechnology innovation.
A n Open Letter to Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa:
Your recent endeavor to ‗rush‘ the country from conventional farming to total organic farming,
compelled me to write this letter to give a balanced view of the issues at stake. I should on the
outset say that no well – informed agricultural scientists is against organic agriculture knowing
the benefits of organic matter in the improvement of the physical, chemical and microbial
properties of the soil which are critically important for sustained and productive crop production.
10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
However, the large majority of them are concerned about the possible negative consequence of
substantially decreased productivity, leading even to hunger and starvation, if the mission is not
based on achievable goals.
Industrial pollution
If you are driven for organic farming because of the negative aspects of conventional farming
such as environmental pollution and human health; from an economic and sustainability
perspectives, correcting the negative aspects of the latter and continuing with it should be far
more beneficial, because organic farming is not devoid of those negatives.Please consider the
following:
1. The global organic farming scenario
Organic farming is confined to 1.5% the total global farmlands of which 66% is in pasture, and a
mere 16 countries have achieved over 10% organic cover. Bhutan, for example, with access to
substantial organic material such as leaf litter and farmyard manure, on account of its huge forest
cover and animal population, set a target in 2008 to reach 100% organic by 2020.
The organic movement was supported by the royalty and the government. The country with a
total area of 763,000 square kilometers has only 8% arable land. However, it was able to achieve
only 10% of the target; and now the target date has been extended to 2035! It is critically
important to review the global scenario before rushing into any decision.
2. The taskforce
A few days ago the ‗organic taskforce‘ you have appointed, some 40 odd people, bulk of them
politicians, met you, but a notable omission from it appears to be the senior scientists from the
agricultural research and development institutions and the leading academics from the
universities in the field. Of course there were several of the die- hard ‗organic tribe‘ therein!
Interestingly, one of them was reported, some years ago, claiming to have discovered a
‗swayanjatha‘ wee (a ‗self-generated‘ rice variety) that fed the ‗dasa maha yodayas‘ (the ten
warriors) of king Dutugamunu. It was later identified as a sorghum variety by the rice scientists
of the Agriculture Department!
And the other was reported in a Sinhala newspaper as having said that the weed killer glyphosate
‗even dissolved reservoir bunds, and what talk of kidneys‘! He claimed that glyphosate was an
etiolating agent of the Rajarata kidney disease but it has now been totally disproved!
So the quality of some scientists you have appointed is questionable! You should, ideally have a
balanced team of proven agricultural and other experts in the taskforce in the relevant fields to
seek tangible views on the feasibility of achieving your objective; and accordingly an action plan
within a realistic time frame should be drawn.
The large majority of agricultural scientists are for promotion of organic farming as far as
feasible, but is of the firm view that no country can go fully organic in the current context of
population expansion and increasing demand for food from the existing farmlands. Several
expert calculations reveal that without chemical fertilizers half the global population cannot
exist!
3. The ‗Wasa visa‘ pandemic

The masses have been gravely mislead by the connotation ‗wasa visa‘ for any agrochemically-
grown produce. The misinformation has spread like a pandemic! Apart from others, some of the
key ministers are to be blamed for this fiasco and misleading the masses.
[Editor’s note: The phrase “wasa visa” translates to “poisonous substances.”]
For example, Hon. Chamal Rajapaksa, then Minister of Agriculture and Mahaweli Development,
addressing farmers in Embilipitiya last year, had remarked that Sri Lanka is the country
‗consuming the highest quantities of ‗wasa visa‘ in the world by way of agrochemical residues!
Not to be undone, Hon. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Environment recently remarked that
our water bodies are highly polluted with agrochemicals. Surely, they should have sought advice
and information from their officials before making faulty utterances. The evidence in the Tables
attached below do not support their views.
Then Dr Padeniya, a Pediatrician and strong supporter of organic farming has often claimed that
agrochemicals are responsible for many of the non-communicable diseases. Can he provide
evidence as to what the agrochemicals are and the associated diseases? He is also an ardent
promoter of traditional rice varieties, purportedly because of some nutritional benefits. He was
unaware of the fact that they yield less than half of our new improved varieties, and that some of
the latter have many of the nutritional and health benefits of the old varieties!
Anyway, the prime function of the staple is to provide the energy, and those nutritional and
health benefits are easily obtainable from the other foods. Combining his prescription of organic
farming with traditional varieties will decrease our national rice production to less than half,
needless to say with dire consequences!
Sources: www.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.COM.Fert.2S; https//www.worldometers.info

As per the World Bank data in Table 1, we consume far less fertilizers and pesticides, than most
countries in the region.
Table 2 shows that after 2002, Sri Lanka has reduced by as much as 98%, the use of the most
toxic pesticides of Classes 1, and substantially increased the use of less toxic pesticides.On the
whole, the pesticide residue levels reported, are not alarming as evident from Table 3.
However, there should be a strong division within the Central Environmental Authority or under
the Health Ministry that regularly monitor pesticides in the food and environment, establish
tolerance limits, and at the same time, be responsible for enforcing the tolerance limits in the
food and environment.
Such effective and regular services are sadly lacking in Sri Lanka and should be of highest
priority. This is not to say that everything is ‗hunky dory‘ with conventional farming. Misuse of
agrochemicals is a serious concern, and this subject will be examined later.
4. CKDu-agrochemical myth
Then there is the other widespread myth of agrochemicals causing the kidney disease of the
Rajarata. Regrettably, a 2013 WHO Report on the matter stated that several pesticides were
above reference levels in the urine of CKDu patients and some of them are nephrotoxic (toxic to
kidneys) implicating pesticides in the causation of CKDu.
Surprisingly the Report did not have the pesticide residue data of people in the non-CKDu
(Hambantota) area. However, subsequent re-analysis of the data (see Table 4) revealed that their
urine had more than double or treble the pesticide residue levels compared to that of CKDu
subjects! So agrochemicals are most unlikely to be the cause.
Then, the International Consultation on CKDu that was held in 2016 in Sri Lanka, in its Final
Report stated that there was no evidence to implicate agrochemicals in the causation of CKDu.
The most convincing finding was that people who drank water from the reservoirs, rivers and
wells in the plains did not contaminate the disease, whereas those who consumed water from dug
wells on high ground did so. It was dramatically established by the finding from two adjoining
villages in Girandhurukotte, namely, Ginnoruwa on high ground and the other, Sarabhumi, in the
plain, the people of the latter who drank water from the river or adjoining wells did not
contaminate the disease, whereas those from the former village who exclusively consumed well
water did!
It was subsequently established that the hard water and high fluoride contents in those wells were
responsible for causation of the disease. Eventually when these people stopped drinking well
water but harvested rain water, no new cases of the disease were reported! In addition, research
of the Medical Faculty , Peradeniya University with rats fed water from these wells as against
distilled water, contaminated the disease! So agrochemicals are not the aetiolating agent of
CKDu!
4. Agrochemicals & their misuse
Hardly any chemical fertilizer is harmful to human health and to other living organisms if its
quality conforms to specified safe standards and used in the correct amounts. It is excess use of
fertilizer that can be harmful. Chemical fertilizer has been used successfully by all countries for
almost two centuries to meet their food demand, and countries moved away from organic
farming as it could not produce it. We are not aware of a single country that has banned use of
chemical fertilizers or of contemplating such action at this point of time.
Furthermore, if we ban chemical fertilizers to protect our people from consuming toxins, we
should also ban importation of wheat flour from Canada, milk powder from New Zealand and
chilli, onion and masoor dahl from India and Pakistan as these countries use chemical fertilizers
liberally.
Farmer fertilizing wheat field. Credit: Ohio State University
The real problem with agrochemicals is their misuse. Most farmers work on the premise that
more is better! An outstanding local example of this is the rampant excessive use of fertilizers by
vegetable growers, especially the potato farmers, who use 5-10 times the recommended
quantities of fertilizer. The excess fertilizer via erosion and leaching ends up in the downstream
lakes in the Rajarata causing algal booms which interfere with water use, and also secrete toxins
which are reported to damage the liver and kidneys.
Misuse of pesticides is probably a more serious problem. An FAO study conducted in Indonesia,
Sweden and Canada many years ago established that 50-60 percent of the pesticide used can be
cut down without loss of crop. What is critically needed is exhaustive training of farmers and the
extension workers in the judicious use of agrochemicals. Sadly, the farmers get their instructions
from the agrochemical sellers in the villages and not extension workers.
The extension services deteriorated following its provincilization, and strengthening this service
as also the research and development systems in the country is critically needed. These are
matters the government should address as a matter of highest priority rather than switching to
organic farming!
5. The unsaid side of organic farming
Some of the products used in organic farming are as toxic as conventional agrochemicals.
Sodium nitrate used in organic farming as a nitrogen fertilizer is mined in South America. It
carries highly toxic sodium perchlorate as an impurity, which is known to enter the soil and
water bodies. Then, sulphur, copper and copper sulphate are toxins for pests allowed for use in
organic farmlands and the latter is a Class 1 toxin, which can also bio-accumulate.
Further, as large amounts of farmyard manure and other organic material of the order of 20-30
tonnes/ha are added seasonally, much larger quantities of heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic
and lead can enter the soil than through chemical fertilizer. Further, rotenone and pyrethrum
being natural pesticides are used in organic farming. However, rotenone is suspected to cause
Parkinson‘s disease and pyrethrum is carcinogenic.
In short, natural pesticides can be as toxic as synthetic ones. A serious problem with organic
agriculture is the surreptitious mixing of chemical insecticides with organic ones. Some time
ago, Prof. Nioki Motoyama of the University of Tokyo, showed that eight of the so-called
organic pesticides in the market, contained abemectin and other highly toxic chemical pesticides.
So, when expanded on a national scale organic farming can lead to as many problems of the
same scale as conventional!
Non-agricultural environmental pollution
It is regrettable that hardly any attention has been paid to air and other non-agricultural pollution
issues which can be as serious as agricultural pollution. Significant pollution with increased
industrial and population growth is obvious.
For example, release of toxins from coal power plants locally is substantial. About 3 tons of
mercury, 2 tons of arsenic, 2.9 tons of chromium and 5.7 tons of lead are reported to be spewed
out annually from them. Waterways are getting increasingly polluted with human sewage, and
air pollution within cities such as Colombo and Kandy, especially with regard to ozone gas and
fine particles, is a serious problem not addressed. The quality of air we breathe not only affects
the health of our lungs but also other organs! Motor vehicles have increased 20 times over the
last thirty years of which the three wheeler increase is the highest being 88 fold! Thus, the
importance of overall environmental pollution control cannot be overstressed.
Dr. Parakrama Waidyanatha is a scientist and former Chairman of the Coconut Research
Institute.
A version of this article was originally posted at the Sri Lanka Guardian and has been
reposted here with permission. The Sri Lanka Guardian can be found on
Twitter @srlankaguardian
The GLP featured this article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. The
viewpoint is the author’s own. The GLP’s goal is to stimulate constructive discourse on
challenging science issues.
https://www.freethink.com/health/cholera-vaccine
What The FAQ: What is Rice From Heaven and can we

actually eat it?
In today's FAQ section, we explain what the 'Rice From Heaven' is all about. You will also find
out if you can eat it. Read on
15th July 2021
Edex Live
Picture: Edexlive
Rice from heaven. Did you crosscheck the headline again when you read it in the news
yesterday? Apparently, it is something very real. In today's FAQ, we tell you what it is all about
and if you can really eat this rice.
What is 'rice from heaven'?

It is a term that is used to describe a batch of rice that was cultivated by Chinese scientists. This
particular rice was cultivated from seeds that returned from space. According to media
reports, scientists cultivated rice from 40 grams of seed that travelled with the lunar probe.
How much distance did these seeds cover, by the way?

They are said to have travelled over 76,000 kilometres to the Moon. This was in November 2020
and they returned to earth on December 17.
What will happen next?

After the harvest, the best grains of the lot will be picked from the lot and will be part of further
studies to find out how this will provide better food security. The top grains will be bred via
laboratory experiments and will eventually be planted on rice fields.
Final question. Can we eat it?

Yes. We have got to wait though. The Deputy Director at the Space Breeding Research Centre,
Guo Tao, told the Global Times, ―This particular breed being harvested from the seeds from
Space is yet to be launched in the market for the general public. It will take another three to four
years before it happens. So further research will continue uninterrupted.‖
:https://www.edexlive.com/faq/2021/jul/15/what-the-faq-what-is-rice-from-heaven
Arkansas Rice Field Day returns to in-person format Aug.

6
July 15, 2021
Visitors toured test plots and heard presentations about Division of Agriculture research during a
field day Aug. 3, 2018 at the Rice Research and Extension Center.(Division of Agriculture photo
by Fred Miller)
STUTTGART, Ark. — After COVID forced a virtual version last year, the in-person Arkansas
Rice Field Day will be back Aug. 6 at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.
―We‘re glad to be back to a face-to-face format,‖ said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist
for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. ―This is usually one of the most
well-attended field days of the year and producers and others have told me they‘re ready to come
back.‖
On-site registration opens at 7 a.m. There is no cost to attend. The traditional field day lunch of
catfish will be served.
This year‘s field day will feature two rounds of tours, one beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the other at
9:30 a.m.
―As in 2019, each tour will cover only half of the stops so attendees wishing to see all tour stops
will need to go on both the 7:30 and 9:30 tours,‖ Hardke said.
The details are still being sorted, but attendees can expect to hear from research and extension
faculty of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture:
 Rice breeding with Xueyan Sha, professor of plant rice and genetics, and Christian de
Guzman, assistant professor of rice breeding and genetics.
 Pathology update with Yeshi Wamishe, extension plant pathologist.
 Agronomy with Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist.
 Soil fertility with Trent Roberts, associate professor – soil fertility and soil testing.
 Weed management with Jason Norsworthy, professor and weed scientist.
 Insect management with Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz, and Ben Thrash, all extension
entomologists.
 Irrigation with Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer
https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/arkansas-rice-field-day-returns-to-in-person-format-aug-6/
Technical analysis: Will the rice price continue its climbing?

ANALYSIS | 7/15/2021 12:18:04 PM GMT
Recommendation for rough rice: Buy

Buy Stop: Above 13.17.
Stop Loss: Below 12.82.
RSI: Neutral.
MACD: Buy.
Donchian Channel: Buy.
MA(200): Sell.
Fractals: Buy.
Parabolic SAR: Buy.
Chart analysis
The #C-RICE technical analysis of the price chart on 4-hour timeframe shows #C-RICE, H4 is
rebounding toward the 200-period moving average MA(200) which is falling still. We believe
the bullish momentum will continue as the #C-RICE, H4 breaches above the upper Donchian
boundary at 13.17. A pending order to buy can be placed above that level. The stop loss can be
placed below 12.82. After placing the order, the stop loss is to be moved every day to the next
fractal low, following Parabolic indicator signals. Thus, we are changing the expected profit/loss
ratio to the breakeven point. If the price meets the stop loss level without reaching the order, we
recommend canceling the order: the market has undergone internal changes which were not
taken into account.
Fundamental analysis
USDA downgraded its estimate for 2021/22 rice global supply. Will the rice price continue its
climbing? United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service revised
downward rice production in 2021/22 for the global and domestic rice market. It estimated
global production at a record 506.0 million tons, down 0.6 million from the previous forecast.
USDA lowered its 2021/22 crop forecasts for Egypt and the United States. In 2021/22, global
ending stocks are forecast at 167.0 million tons, down 1.5 million from the previous forecast.
2021/22 U.S. rice crop is projected at 199.34 million cwt, down 2% from the previous forecast
and more than 12% smaller than a year earlier. This month‘s downward production revision is
the result of a smaller harvested area estimate. At 2.616 million acres, the harvested area is
45,000 acres below the previous forecast and more than 12% below a year earlier. Global supply
downgrade is bullish for rice price.
Want to get more free analytics? to get daily news and analytical materials.
This overview has an informative character and is not financial advice or a recommendation.
IFCMarkets. Corp. under any circumstances is not liable for any action taken by someone else
after reading this article.
https://coleofduty.com/military-news/2020/07/19/comprehensive-study-on-europe-rice-market-
2020-trends-drivers-strategies-applications-and-competitive-landscape-forecast-to-2024/
Rice price highest in Bangladesh among 5 countries'

Iftekhar Mahmud
Dhaka
Published: 14 Jul 2021, 21:49
Two men are winnowing paddy in Beel Pabla area of Dumuria upazila in Khulna on 6 May
2021.Saddam Hossain
Despite high yield of boro paddy, adequate stock in the government warehouses and low price at
the international markets, the rice price is very high in the local market.
According to the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), price of coarse
varieties of rice reached Tk 50 in the markets in the capital. Rice price increased by Tk 2 per kg
in a week. Rice is being sold at Tk 46-50 per kg at retail shop. The price is 13 per cent higher
than that of previous year.
Usually, rice price falls in the country during boro harvest since more than 55 per cent of total
rice is produced during this season. But this year rice price didn‘t fall and started rising before
the harvesting season ends.
The country‘s rice prices are the highest among five countries -- Bangladesh, India, Pakistan,
Thailand and Vietnam.
According to the latest report of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the daily
food crops report of the health ministry, rice price has decreased in those countries.
As a result, Bangladesh can import coarse varieties of rice at a rate of Tk 33-40 a kg -- lower
price than local market.
Price of medium and fine varieties of rice also didn‘t drop. Rice of medium BR-28 variety and
same quality were being sold at Tk 52-56 a kg at retail shops in Dhaka – a 10 per cent higher
than the price in the previous year. Fine varieties of rice are being sold at Tk 60-62 a kg and
najirshail rice at Tk 65-70 a kg – an 8 per cent rise from the previous year.
As countrywide Covid-19 restrictions decreased the income of the people working in the
informal sector, people of the lower income bracket have fallen in a crisis because of high prices
of essentials including rice, sugar and edible oil.
Former agriculture secretary and caretaker government adviser AMM Shawkat Ali told Prothom
Alo the purchasing power of poor people has dropped amid coronavirus pandemic. Many people
saw their earnings dropping during ongoing restrictions. Income of many people was also
stopped. Amid this circumstance, they may have less food due to high price of rice. The
government should expand the open market sale of rice immediately in addition to taking
initiative to increase supply, ex-caretaker government adviser observed.
More yields, godown full
Nearly 35 million (3.5 crore) tonnes of rice are produced in the country during boro, amon, aush
harvests. Nearly 19.6 million tonnes of rice were produced in last boro harvest. The agriculture
ministry estimated rice production crossed 20 million (2 crore) tonnes during this year‘s boro
harvest.
Rice stocks have reached one and a half years-high to 1.26 million (12.66 lakh) tonnes at the
government warehouses, according to the latest report.
Asked why rice price is on the rise, the owner of one of the country‘s largest rice mill Majumdar
Auto Rice Mill, Chitto Majumdar told Prothom Alo price of rice shouldn‘t be increased so much
considering the production cost. Many new middlemen have been stocking paddy in the markets.
They are increasing the price of rice and paddy. The government should take step after looking
into the matter immediately, he added.
Initiative for import
The government has taken initiative to import rice again. Food secretary Mosammat Nazmanara
Khanum told Prothom Alo, ―We have taken initiative to control the price by importing the grains
through government and private channels. A proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister‘s
Office to reduce the tariff on import for private sector.‖
Asked on the price hike, the secretary said farmers produced coarse varieties of rice less than
they did it before resulting in a low supply of rice and a price hike.
According to the USDA report on the global situation of agriculture production, released on
Tuesday, Bangladesh will have to import rice as the country‘s domestic production will reach at
35.3 million (3.53 crore) tonnes against a demand of 36.1 million (3.61 crore) tonnes.
Currently, an importer has to pay 62.5 per cent of duty to import rice. The government reduced
the amount to 25 per cent for the private sector. The tax facility was in effect till 30 April this
year. Now private sector‘s importers said they can‘t import rice with high tariff anymore.
According to the ministry sources, the government is now mulling to set a tariff on import so that
price of rice can fall and farmers won‘t be affected as well.
People also want to purchase rice at a low price.
Sadek Hossain, who drives a motorcycle on hire, went to the open market sale point of the
Directorate General of Food at the capital‘s Dhakkhin Bishil to buy rice. He said, ―Police fined
me for two days after I went out to drive the motorcycle defying the strict Covid-19 restrictions.
Now I have no money. That‘s why I came to purchase the rice at the government-run shop.‖
*This report appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten
in English by Hasanul Banna
https://en.prothomalo.com/business/local/rice-price-highest-in-bangladesh-among-5-countries
How-whip-six-dishes-packed-veggies-little-1-head
Friday, Jul 16th 2021 5PM 41°C 8PM 38°C 5-Day Forecast
As food tsar Henry Dimbleby claims healthy food is more expensive than junk, chef reveals
how to whip up six dishes packed with veggies for as little as £1 a head - including Singapore
noodles and a poke bowl
 Sugar tax tsar Henry Dimbleby told Radio 4's Today programme: 'Highly calorie dense food
is three times cheaper per calorie than healthy food'
 Recipes from chef Miguel Barclay, the £1 chef, prove cheap food can be healthy
 Miguel shares dishes packed with tasty vegetables for as little as £1 a head
 He reveals the shopping list you need to recreate the nutritional meals at home
By STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:23 BST, 15 July 2021 | UPDATED: 16:41 BST, 15 July 2021
Food tsar Henry Dimbleby said today unhealthy food is significantly cheaper than healthy food -
but these recipes prove nutritious meals packed with veggies don't need to cost a fortune.
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Dimbleby, author of the controversial National Food
Strategy, said 'highly calorie dense food is three times cheaper per calorie than healthy food',
noting millions of families on the breadline resorted to microwave meals and processed foods to
keep their children fed.
Mr Dimbleby has argued a levy on sugary and salty foods is needed to tackle unhealthy eating
habits but opponents have branded it another example of 'rich people' trying to tell the rest of
society what to do.
They estimate the so-called 'snack tax' could add £3.4billion a year to families' shopping bills, with
a 60p Mars bar costing 9p more.
But the reality is it is possible to make healthy food for as little as £1 a head, as these recipes from
Miguel Barclay prove.
UK-based Miguel, known for his One Pound Meals recipe series, has revealed how families can
whip up six nutrient-rich dishes packed with veggies and healthy carbohydrates for as little as £1 a
head.
Here, FEMAIL shares the shopping list you need - along with estimated costs - as well as the items
you'll need in your store cupboard.
Miguel writes his recipes for single servings but we have calculated the costs based on a family of
four so you can serve everyone in your household - or make enough to pop in the freezer or enjoy
as leftovers.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9791505/How-whip-six-dishes-packed-veggies-little-
1-head.html
Helping plants adapt to hotter climates will protect our food

security
By Nathanael Johnson | News | July 16th 2021
#1629 of 1629 articles from the Special Report:Climate Change
Farmer planting rice in the field. Photo by Rattasat / Pexels

Previous story
For years, scientists have been warning that higher temperatures will reduce the bounty of
farms around the globe: The National Climate Assessment forecasts smaller harvests in the
United States. One model suggests that world corn yields could fall 24 per cent by 2050. And
a study that came out in April suggests that climate change has already slashed agricultural
yields by 21 per cent.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that as many as 183 million additional
people will be at risk of going hungry by 2050 if carbon dioxide levels keep rising.
These findings conjure apocalyptic visions of famine and hunger wars. But scientists say the
body of research into the impacts of climate change on the world‘s food systems also has another
major takeaway: That we have a tremendous capacity to adapt. One critical way, they say, would
be to figure out exactly what makes plants susceptible to heat, so breeders know what to look for
as they develop hardier crops for the future.
Research on plant heat stress is blooming as techniques improve and as scientists map the
genomes of major crops. Colleen Doherty, an associate professor of biochemistry at North
Carolina State University, is one of the researchers working to figure out how we can feed
ourselves, while using less land, and allowing forests and habitats to regrow.
―And we can do it, we‘ve barely touched the potential of plants,‖ Doherty said.
What people are reading
By Max Fawcett | Opinion | July 15th 2021
Ten years ago, Doherty read an economics paper seeking to understand why rice harvests kept
rising year over year in some places, while they had begun to plateau in others. What was
different about those areas where rice yields were suffering? The economists found that the
places where yields were struggling all had warm nighttime temperatures. When Doherty read
this, the metaphorical lightbulb went on over her head: She was pretty sure she knew what was
going on.
Doherty studies the way plants tell time. Just like us, plants become groggy and inefficient when
their internal clocks are misaligned. ―If you switch a plant from North Carolina time to Pacific
time, they will get jet lag,‖ she told Grist. Plants use light and temperature to tell time — for
millennia, they have set their clocks to the reliable cooling of nighttime. When nights stay warm,
it throws the delicate work of plants — spinning atoms from the atmosphere into sugars — into
disarray.
Because Doherty studies the mechanics of this plant clockwork, she had some ideas about which
switches might be turning on daytime processes at night. Sure enough, she and a team of
scientists found a couple dozen of these cellular switches, and thousands of genes triggering
action at the wrong time in rice suffering through hot nights. The researchers published their
findings last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The next step: Zero in on the most important of these genes, and figure out how they work. Then
crop breeders can look for those genes when developing the crops of the future.
Scientists are making discoveries like this all the time. Just last week, another paper showed a
way plant breeders might develop barley plants able to produce more grain as temperatures rise.
Scientists are now finding solutions to the threats to #FoodSecurity caused by
#ClimateChange.
Krishna Jagadish, a crop scientist at Kansas State University, who worked with Doherty on the
rice research, is also digging into the way warm nights throw off the internal clocks for wheat
and corn. But, he said, university scientists almost never have the funding to turn these
discoveries into new strains of crops that farmers could plant. Private corporations usually do
that work, which can often take up to a decade. ―We get to explore, we get to innovate, and then
give leads to industry, who pick it up,‖ Jagadish said.
In other areas — from medical research to clean energy development — government funding
helps push the processes of innovation beyond exploratory research, assisting with subsequent
investigations and providing subsidies to help new technologies get a foothold. Perhaps we
should be doing that with plants as well, because when it comes down to it, Doherty said, food is
not optional.
―Every person on the planet faces the problem of eating every single day and climate change is
going to make that problem harder,‖ she said. ―People will fight if there‘s not enough food to
feed their kids — I know I would.‖
The possibilities, from understanding the inner workings of crop staples, to pioneering new
forms of farming, to benefiting from the wild diversity of plants, are huge, said Crispin Taylor,
CEO of the American Society of Plant Biologists. But the country has never treated it as
essential work — the United States spends at least an order of magnitude more money
researching cancer, than researching crops.
―Not everyone gets cancer, but everybody eats,‖ Doherty said. ―If you really want to save the
world, plants are the place to be.‖
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/07/16/news/helping-plants-adapt-climate-change-food-
security
Arkansas Rice Field Day returns to in-person format Aug. 6

July 15, 2021
Visitors toured test plots and heard presentations about Division of Agriculture research during a
field day Aug. 3, 2018 at the Rice Research and Extension Center.(Division of Agriculture photo
by Fred Miller)
STUTTGART, Ark. — After COVID forced a virtual version last year, the in-person Arkansas
Rice Field Day will be back Aug. 6 at the Rice Research and Extension Center in Stuttgart.
―We‘re glad to be back to a face-to-face format,‖ said Jarrod Hardke, extension rice agronomist
for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. ―This is usually one of the most
well-attended field days of the year and producers and others have told me they‘re ready to come
back.‖
On-site registration opens at 7 a.m. There is no cost to attend. The traditional field day lunch of
catfish will be served.
This year‘s field day will feature two rounds of tours, one beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the other at
9:30 a.m.
―As in 2019, each tour will cover only half of the stops so attendees wishing to see all tour stops
will need to go on both the 7:30 and 9:30 tours,‖ Hardke said.
The details are still being sorted, but attendees can expect to hear from research and extension
faculty of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture:
 Rice breeding with Xueyan Sha, professor of plant rice and genetics, and Christian de
Guzman, assistant professor of rice breeding and genetics.
 Pathology update with Yeshi Wamishe, extension plant pathologist.
 Agronomy with Jarr

 od Hardke, extension rice agronomist.
 Soil fertility with Trent Roberts, associate professor – soil fertility and soil testing.
 Weed management with Jason Norsworthy, professor and weed scientist.
 Insect management with Nick Bateman, Gus Lorenz, and Ben Thrash, all extension
entomologists.
 Irrigation with Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer.
https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/arkansas-rice-field-day-returns-to-in-person-format-aug-6/
UN’s N2b to support 377,000 Nigerian rice, maize producers

July 15, 2021
By Robert Egbe
The United Nations (UN) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) yesterday
launched an ambitious new financing programme to address rising hunger and poverty levels in
Nigeria and other poor countries.
The Private Sector Financing Programme (PSFP) aims to spearhead an increase in much-needed
private investment in small and medium-sized enterprises, farmers‘ organisations and financial
intermediaries.
As part of its launch, the PFSP announced its first loan of $5 million (about N2,058,151,375) to a
Nigerian social impact enterprise, Babban Gona, which has a strong background in moving
small-scale farmers from subsistence to a more market-orientated model.
The loan will help Babban Gona support 377,000 small-scale rice and maize producers in
Nigeria with a comprehensive package of training, quality inputs, and marketing services.
Babban Gona will also store and sell the harvest on behalf of its farmers when prices are higher.
They aim to create up to 65,000 jobs for women and 66,500 jobs for youth by 2025.
By committing these funds, the PSFP aims to stimulate larger contributions from other investors
and help Babban Gona meet its target to raise $150 million to reach millions of small producers.
IFAD, under the programme, aims to mobilise $200 million for the PSFP from public, private
and philanthropic sources to leverage a total of $1 billion in private investments.
This is expected to improve the lives of up to five million small-scale farmers globally. The
PSFP will focus its investments on job creation, women‘s empowerment, building farmers‘
resilience and accelerating climate change mitigation.
IFAD President Gilbert F. Houngbo explained the need for the programme in a statement to The
Nation by APO Group on behalf of IFAD.
Houngbo said: ―We can end poverty and hunger! But to achieve this, we urgently need to
stimulate more private sector investments to rural areas and unlock the immense entrepreneurial
potential of millions of rural SMEs and small producers.
―With access to capital, they can attract more investors and partners, grow their businesses and
create employment opportunities – especially for young people and women.‖
https://thenationonlineng.net/uns-n2b-to-support-377000-nigerian-rice-maize-producers/
FG, Japan support 150 farmers with rice seeds, inputs

By Michael Egbejule, Benin City
15 July 2021 | 2:21 am
[FILES] Rice Farmers
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), in partnership with the
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), on Wednesday, empowered 150 rice farmers
with improved rice seeds and other farm inputs in Edo State.
Distributing the farm inputs to the farmers in Benin, Hajia Karima Babangida, Director, Federal
Department of Agriculture, Abuja, said the effort was to ensure food sufficiency in Nigeria.
Represented by Aliyu Suleiman from the ministry, Babangida said the intervention was aimed at
supporting 1,500 farmers (150 in each state) in 10 states of Edo, Kogi, Oyo, Ekiti, Ebonyi,
Gombe, Katsina, Sokoto, Ogun and Benue.
Babangida added that 150 smallholder farmers were selected from each of the benefitting states
to cultivate one hectare of rice farm each.
She explained that each rice farmer would get 50kg of certified seeds, four bags of NPK, two
bags of Urea, one litre of soil Amender, four litres of pesticides and five litres of pre/post-
emergence herbicides.
―This (the package) is the complete inputs needed to cultivate one hectare of farmland. It would
boost the ongoing efforts of the ministry on its various interventions aimed at alleviating the
impact of COVID-19 pandemic and flood on farmers and increase production in the country,‖ he
said
Babangida, however, appealed to the state office of FMARD and the state ADP to monitor the
activities and provide extension services to the farmers.
The state Director of Edo FMARD office, Mr Wellington Omoragbon, thanked the Federal
Government for providing series of agricultural programmes to empower farmers in the state.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Peter
Aikhuomobhogbe, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for the kind gesture.
Represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Princewill Igbinedion, Aikhuomobhogbe urged the
farmers to take advantage of the inputs to create wealth and increase rice production in the state.
Also speaking, the state Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr
Emmanuel Odigie, thanked the government for the inputs.
https://coleofduty.com/military-news/2020/07/19/comprehensive-study-on-europe-rice-market-
2020-trends-drivers-strategies-applications-and-competitive-landscape-forecast-to-2024/
FG distributes rice seedling, inputs to Ebonyi farmers

ByNaija247news
July 15, 2021
Naija247news is an investigative news platform that tracks news on Nigerian Economy,

Business, Politics, Financial and Africa and Global Economy.
By Douglas Okoro
Abakaliki, July 14, 2021 Federal Government Wednesday distributed 150 bags of improved
variety of rice seedling and other inputs to farmers in Ebonyi.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, said the
gesture was intended to boost wet season rice farming in the state.
According to him, the programme is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development (FMARD) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The minister, represented by a director in the ministry, Mrs Khalima Babangida, said the items
were freely distributed to farmers to boost rice production.
Babangida, was also represented by another senior official of the ministry, Mr Augustine Okezie.
Nanono commended the Ebonyi Government for providing safe environment for farmers and
urged the beneficiaries to utilise the items to enhance rice production.
He also warned them against selling or misusing the inputs received.
He said: ―The 50-kilogramme bags of rice seedling is a high-yield improved variety (Faro 44)
and it is expected that each beneficiary will receive one bag that will cover one hecter of farm
land.
―It is also our expectation that beneficiaries will have bumper harvest and luckily, Ebonyi is the
only state in the South-East that is benefitting from the programme.
―The inputs are not for sale and this is the first time any government is doing something like this
to farmers freely. It has not happened before.
―Federal government is going to monitor how the inputs are utilised to ensure that they are not
diverted or sold.
―Much has been given to you and much is expected from you,‖ Nanono said.
He assured the farmers of federal government‘s continued assistance to ensure food sufficiency
in Ebonyi and the country at large.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of FMARD, Mr William Obazi, thanked the federal government for
its intervention and urged beneficiaries to use the items to boost rice production and make the
commodity affordable.
He said: ―Our agricultural extension officers will monitor your performances and ensure that you
are going to use the inputs wisely.
―Please, always come to us for proper assistance, if you do not know how to use or apply any of
the inputs.
―Do not sell or misuse any of the items,‖ Obazi said.
Also, the Project Manager, Agriculture Development Programme (ADP), Chief Okike
Onwuasonye, lauded the federal government and JICA for the initiative.
Onwuasonyed promised that the beneficiaries would deploy the inputs for the purpose they were
intended.
―We have not disappointed the federal government in any of the intervention programmes in the
state.
―We will do what is expected of us with the inputs so that farmers in the state will continue to
benefit from other interventions,‖ he said.
Two beneficiaries, Mr Agara Onuoha and Mrs Victoria Evo, thanked the federal government and
it‘s foreign partner for the gesture.
They said the initiative would enable them to increase rice yield this farming season.
Naija247news reports that the inputs included 600 bags of fertilizer (NPK 20-10-10 and 300
Urea brands), herbicides, pesticides and soil mender.
https://www.naija247news.com/2021/07/15/fg-distributes-rice-seedling-inputs-to-ebonyi-
farmers/
RPT-ASIA RICE-INDIA RATES GRIND TO 16-

MONTH LOWS AS SUPPLIES GROW
7/15/2021
(Repeats Thursday's story with no changes to text)
* Thai rates drop to lowest in 19 months on weak baht
* Farmers harvesting summer-autumn crop in most of Mekong Delta
* Indian farmers planted rice on 11.5 mln hectares as of July 9
* Bangladesh imported 1.3 mln tonnes of rice in the year to June
By Swati Verma
July 15 (Reuters) - Indian rice export prices hit a nearly 16-month low this week as new supplies
come into market but demand remains low, while coronavirus restrictions in Vietnam undercut
sales of the staple grain.
Top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety <RI-INBKN5-P1> was quoted in the $364-
$368 per tonne range this week, extending its slide from last week's $367-$371.
"Export demand is weak. Rice supplies have risen after government started distributing rice to
poor people," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
Indian farmers have planted rice on 11.5 million hectares as of July 9.
Vietnam's 5% broken rice rates <RI-VNBKN5-P1> were unchanged from last week at $465-
$470 per tonne- lowest level since July last year.
"Farmers have started harvesting their summer-autumn crop in most of the Mekong Delta area,
but sales to traders are slow due to coronavirus movement curbs," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh
City said.
Traders said domestic unhusked paddy prices may fall over the coming weeks as supplies from
the harvest build up, while movement curbs are expected to remain in place.
"Some of the traders have stopped buying rice from farmers due to coronavirus," another trader
in the city said.
Bangladesh has allowed private traders to import 1 million tonnes of rice to tame prices,
according to the food ministry.
The country imported 1.3 million tonnes of rice in the year to June, the highest volume in three
years.
Thailand's 5% broken rice <RI-THBKN5-P1> prices dropped to the lowest level since December
2019 at $405-$412 per tonne from $410-$425 per tonne a week ago.
Bangkok-based traders said a depreciation of the Thai baht against the U.S. dollar continued to
lower export prices.
Thailand has exported around 1.78 million tonnes of rice between January and May this year,
down 31% from the same period a year ago, government data showed. (Reporting by Rajendra
Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Patpicha Tanakasempipat in
Bangkok; Editing by Rashmi Aich)
http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/rpt-asia-rice-india-rates-grind-to-16-month-
lows-as-supplies-grow

16th July, 2021 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

16 July ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 07

Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

Pakistan fourth largest rice exporter in world

Hungarian companies keen to import rice from

Webinar Series Focuses on U.S. Rice for the Foodservice

Online classes teach

Imports via freight trains surge

Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

Rice sector revisits tactics as exports hit

Limit sushi intake warn scientists after samples contain

Viewpoint: Warning to Sri Lanka — Tunnel vision

3. The ‗Wasa visa‘ pandemic

Sources: www.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.COM.Fert.2S; https//www.worldometers.info

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Farmer planting rice in the field. Photo by Rattasat / Pexels

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RPT-ASIA RICE-INDIA RATES GRIND TO 16-

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