2021

International
Promotion
Funding
Increases for
the U.S. Rice
Industry 
By Sarah Moran
 
WASHINGTON, DC --
The 2021 Market Access
Program (MAP) and
Foreign Market
Development (FMD)
allocations were recently
announced, and USA Rice
received nearly $5 million, reflecting a 24 percent increase in FMD and a 17 percent increase in
MAP.   
 
The MAP and FMD allocations, coupled with the $5.5 million dollars of Agricultural Trade
Promotion (ATP) Program funding for 2019-2023 increases opportunities to explore new
markets and greater export potential for the rice industry.   
 
"As the industry's national trade association, USA Rice represents all rice segments and all types
and forms of U.S. rice that can be exported," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.  "We
have worked with, and will continue to work with, other rice organizations to ensure that U.S.
rice exports remain robust."

USA Rice also receives funds on behalf of the U.S. wild rice associations, the California Wild
Rice Advisory Board and the Minnesota Cultivated Wild Rice Council, to develop promotional
activities for those products as well.
 
"Next month is our international promotion planning conference where decisions will be made
on how best to allocate these important resources throughout the world to maximize promotion
and market access opportunities," said Terry Harris, chair of the USA Rice International
Promotion Committee.  "The overall increase in funding is a testament to the great work we do
promoting U.S. rice in markets all over the world."

Betsy Ward, USA Rice Federation

00:00
00:00
Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation. As
an umbrella trade organization representing the sum of the rice industry, Ward speaks to the
opportunities and challenges seen in global and domestic markets as well as the impact of the
COVID pandemic on consumers around the world. Trade barriers have been an obstacle to the
bottom line of U.S. rice producers, but recent trade agreements are bringing new opportunities
for her members. Ward says government risk management programs have been successful in
helping producers survive the cyclical nature of the industry and looks to build new relationships
in Washington to maintain a healthy and viable industry.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler

Play
Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. In a conversation just days
before the election, Administrator Wheeler discussed the agency’s recent decision to extend the
registration of certain dicamba products and amendments to the exclusion zones for ground and
aerial pesticide application. Administrator Wheeler discusses the judicial challenges that threaten
EPA jurisdiction of various chemistries as well as the request for information surrounding the
agency’s decisions to grant RFS exemptions to some of the nation’s small refineries. Wheeler
says EPA should regulate, but not dictate, options for the nation’s energy needs.

Corteva CEO Jim Collins

Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is Jim Collins, CEO of Corteva Agriscience, who describes his
company as a “startup with a rich history.” In this interview, Collins discusses the challenges of
meeting global demand for food, fiber and fuel and the opportunities of a new production
paradigm rewarding farmers for sustainability goals as well as the crops they produce. Collins
says Corteva is rapidly developing new crop protection products to replace older chemistries that
meet both producer needs and consumer demands for greener and safer products.

USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom

Play
Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is Dan Halstrom, president and CEO of the U.S. Meat Export
Federation. While the global food distribution system may have been altered by the COVID-19
pandemic, Halstrom says consumer demand for U.S. beef, pork and lamb continues to grow.
USDA data suggests strong demand for red meat thanks to recent trade agreements giving U.S.
producers a more level playing field to compete in global market. Halstrom expects recovery
from the pandemic in certain countries as well as online trends in consumer shopping to lead to
greater U.S. market share in global markets.

John Piotti, American Farmland Trust

Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is John Piotti, president and CEO of the American Farmland Trust.
In this week’s conversation, Piotti expands on the group’s mission to preserve valuable farmland
and to expand opportunities for farmers to use their land as a carbon sink to battle climate change
as well as produce food for a growing planet. Piotti sees support from private industry as well as
government policy to reward farmers for agronomic practices that sequester carbon in the soil
and improves soil health. Piotti says changes in land ownership is an obstacle to developing new
support programs for farmers and discusses the reasons behind farmland losses.

American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings

Duration:
This week’s Open Mic guest is Brian Jennings, CEO of the American Coalition for Ethanol. The
renewable fuels industry struggled from a number of significant challenges leading up to this
year, highlighted by reduced volume demand by the EPA’s Small Refinery
Exemptions. Jennings says 2020 has brought even more financial hardship including reduced
fuel demand from COVID, a crude oil price war and lost export market opportunities. While
many farmers and industries have seen financial support from Washington, the nation’s ethanol
producers have been left out. Jennings shares thoughts on consequences to the industry if
Congress remains deaf to their needs. He also discusses renewable fuel as a major issue in the
November 3rd election.
VISIT ARCHIVE

November 08, 2020

Betsy Ward, USA Rice Federation

This week’s Open Mic guest is Betsy Ward, president and CEO of the USA Rice Federation. As
an umbrella trade organization representing the sum of the rice industry, Ward speaks to the
opportunities and challenges seen in global and domestic markets as well as the impact of the
COVID pandemic on consumers around the world. Trade barriers have been an obstacle to the
bottom line of U.S. rice producers, but recent trade agreements are bringing new opportunities
for her members. Ward says government risk management programs have been successful in
helping producers survive the cyclical nature of the industry and looks to build new relationships
in Washington to maintain a healthy and viable industry.

https://www.agri-pulse.com/media/podcasts/85-agri-pulse-open-mic-interview/play/11543-betsy-
ward-usa-rice-federation

Explained: In a mirror of economy, agricultural exports

grow amid overall decline

Commodity-wise foreign trade data from the department of commerce shows exports of farm
goods from India during April-September at $18.12 billion, 4.6% higher than the $17.32 billion
for the first half of 2019-20.
Written by Harish Damodaran , Edited by Explained Desk | New Delhi | Updated: November 9,
2020 10:37:01 am
The value of rice shipments increased by well over a third to $4.08 billion in April-September.
(Representational Image)
India’s agricultural exports are up 4.6% year-on-year in dollar terms during April-September.
This comes even as the country’s overall merchandise exports for the same period have
registered a 21.2% annual decline. It also mirrors a larger trend — of the farm sector doing
reasonably well amid an economy that, according to the Reserve Bank of India, is likely to
contract by 9.5% in 2020-21 (April-March).
Commodity-wise foreign trade data from the department of commerce shows exports of farm
goods from India during April-September at $18.12 billion, 4.6% higher than the $17.32 billion
for the first half of 2019-20.
Rice on top
The star performer has been rice, with the value of shipments increasing by well over a third to
$4.08 billion in April-September. The growth has come more from the non-basmati rather than
basmati segment (see table). Total exports this fiscal are expected to surpass the previous record
of 12.7 million tonnes ($7.8 billion) achieved in 2017-18.
India exports basmati rice largely to the West Asian countries (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, United
Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Yemen), besides the US and UK. The destinations for non-basmati
are mainly West Africa (Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea and Senegal), East
Africa (Somalia and Djibouti), UAE and Nepal.

 
Source: Department of Commerce

Another agri-commodity that is on course to post all-time-high exports in 2020-21 is sugar.

Indian mills shipped out almost $2 billion worth of the sweetener in 2019-20, whereas they have
already done $1.4 billion during the first six months of this fiscal. 📣 Express Explained is now
on Telegram
Both rice and sugar exports are being propped up by rising global prices. Prices of the most
actively-traded raw sugar futures contract in New York are currently at 14.91 cents per pound,
up 18.7% from the 12.56 cents per pound a year ago. Export prices of white rice with 5% broken
grains content from Thailand are similarly at $472 per tonne, compared to $420 levels at this
time last year. Indian rice of the same quality is quoting way lower at around $ 350 per tonne,
enabled partly by diversion of cheap/free grain supplied through the public distribution system
(bit.ly/2JODFGk).
Also read | Why the sugar industry desperately needs export subsidy this season
A third commodity whose exports have done well this year, and the prospects also look good, is
cotton. In the 2019-20 season (October-September), India exported 50 lakh bales of the natural
fibre, compared to 42 lakh bales in the preceding year. There are projections by the trade of the
new cotton year’s exports hitting 70 lakh bales — the highest since 117 lakh bales in 2013-14.
The driving factors here are the depreciation in the rupee and global prices (of the benchmark
Cotlook ‘A’ Index) recovering to around 77 cents per pound, from their early-April lows of
below 60 cents.
The broader trend
The general story in most agri-commodities is that world prices, which were hardening in the
months just before the pandemic and then crashed with lockdown measures imposed by most
countries, have since resumed their earlier trajectory.
This is captured by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Food Price Index (base
year: 2014-16=100), which rose from 93.3 points in September 2019 to a 61-month-high of
102.5 in January 2020. Subsequently, it collapsed to a four-year-low of 91 points by May. But
since then, it has risen every single month to touch 100.9 points in October (see line graph).
The recovery in global prices — courtesy a combination of demand revival from unlockdowns
(opposite to what happened in April-May), continuing supply chain disruptions (including from a
shortage of shipping containers), Chinese stockpiling (in anticipation of a fresh corona outbreak
during the winter) and dry weather in producer countries such as Thailand, Argentina, Brazil and
Ukraine — isn’t bad news for Indian farmers.
India’s agricultural exports peaked at $43.25 billion in 2013-14, before plunging to $ 32.81
billion in 2015-16. This period also saw the FAO index dip from an average of 119.1 to 90
points. Farm exports recovered somewhat to $39.2 billion by 2018-19, but declined to $ 35.6
billion in the following fiscal. In the current fiscal, they have grown 4.6% even as imports are
down 15%. As a result, the overall agri-trade surplus has widened from $ 6.1 billion in April-
September 2019 to $8.6 billion in April-September 2020.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-in-a-mirror-of-economy-agricultural-
exports-grow-amid-overall-decline-7013900/

11/17/20 at 2:30 CST

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Punjab: Area under paddy down 2 lakh hectares, but

procurement up 1.2 million tonnes this year

According to the data sourced from the Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) till November 8, a total
177.40 lakh tonnes (17.7 million tonnes) paddy has been purchased by the government agencies,
while last year’s total purchase was 163.82 lakh tonnes (16.3 million tonnes).
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | November 9, 2020 5:37:25 am

Out of the total arrival, private players had purchased 79,000 tonnes till Sunday.
(Representational)
Despite having around 2 lakh hectares (5 lakh acres) less area under paddy (parmal) crop this
year as compared to the last year, Punjab has procured around 1.4 million tonnes (13.58 lakh
tonnes) more paddy then last year. The state, which has already surpassed last year’s figure in
paddy procurement in the current season, will cross the figure of 18 million tonnes soon.
According to the data sourced from the Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) till November 8, a total
177.40 lakh tonnes (17.7 million tonnes) paddy has been purchased by the government agencies,
while last year’s total purchase was 163.82 lakh tonnes (16.3 million tonnes). The current year’s
figure till date is around 13.58 lakh tonnes more than last year’s purchase. Also, the total arrival
of the paddy had reached 179.55 lakh tonnes (around 18 million tonnes) in the Punjab’s grain
markets on Sunday.
The harvesting in several districts of Malwa region is still going on and arrival of paddy in
mandis will continue in Punjab in the coming couple of weeks.
Out of the total arrival, private players had purchased 79,000 tonnes till Sunday.
Daily around 3-4 lakh tonnes paddy is arriving in the mandis and on Saturday also 2.93 lakh
tonnes paddy reached in several mandis across the state and 3.04 lakh tonnes was purchased
including 1.47 Lakh tonnes of Saturday’s late evening arrival. Government’s purchase ends at 5
pm daily, but the farmers keep coming to the mandis even in the late hours.
Punjab has brought 27.36 lakh hectares under rice cultivation this year which included nearly
20.86 lakh hectares paddy and remaining under Basmati crop while last year the area under rice
was 29.20 lakh hectares that included 22.91 lakh hectares paddy and remaining 6.29 lakh
hectares under Basmati.
By this calculation Punjab had decreased 2.05 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation this year as
compared to last year.
Experts are saying that this year paddy arrival in mandis may cross the mark of 18 million tonnes
in coming couple of days.
Meanwhile, 7.31 lakh tonnes of Basmati rice has also arrived in Punjab Mandis, the purchase of
which is being done by the private players including rice exporters and traders. Basmati arrival
continues in Punjab’s mandis even till December.
Farmers revealed that their paddy yield is around two quintals more per hectare as compared to
the last year.
Out of total purchase till date, more than half 9- million tonnes – 51 per cent — paddy has been
purchased in seven districts of Punjab out of 22 districts.
These districts included Sangrur (17.68 LT), which is on the top, Ludhiana (16.16 LT), Patiala
(14.90 LT), Ferozepur (around 12 LT), Jalandhar (10.84 LT), Moga (11.62 LT) and Tarn Taran
(10 LT). Though last year by the end of season, the total arrival and purchase of paddy in these
districts was 19.48 LT in Sangrur, 17.41 LT in Ludhiana , 13.82 LT in Patiala, 10.74 LT in
Ferozepur, around 10 LT, around 13 and around 10 LT in Jalandhar, Moga and Tarn Taran
districts, respectively.
Around 90 per cent harvesting in the state has been completed till date and farmers are bringing
the paddy turn wise.
General Manager, Punjab Mandi Board, G P S Randhawa said that paddy arrival will continue
for the coming couple of weeks in the state as the harvesting in some districts is still continued.
Punjab government had notified over 4,000 mandis this year due to Covid so that farmers can
find procurement mandis close to their place.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-area-under-paddy-down-2-lakh-
hectares-but-procurement-up-1-2-million-tonnes-this-year-7018311/

Machinery Being Provided To Farmers On Subsidy To Get Rid Of

Paddy Stubble
Sun 08th November 2020 | 10:50 PM

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Nov,

2020 ) :Punjab Agriculture department is providing latest machinery to farmers on 80 percent
subsidy to get rid of paddy stubble.
According to agriculture department sources here on Sunday, the machinery was being provided
under Prime Minister Agriculture Emergency Programme to control smog.
Sources said that this year more than 300 rice straw chopper and happy seeder were being
provided to growers.

These machines would help farmers to burry paddy stubble in land with which land fertility
would improve, sources added.

Sources further said that under this programme in two years morethan one thousand rice straw
chopper and happy seeder wouldbe provided to farmers on subsidy.

https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/machinery-being-provided-to-farmers-on-subsid-
1079967.html
Govt taking measures to quell smog: Amin Aslam
  Published On 08 November,2020 06:01 pm

He informed that around hundreds of the pairs of rice straw shredder and happy seeder
technology

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik
Amin Aslam, on Sunday said tackling smog-forming pollutant sources was the most effective
way to quell the growing challenge of smog that causes serious health hazards and environmental
hazards during winter months.

Talking to media over growing challenge of Smog in Pakistan, he pointed out that burning of
rice crop residue, burning of dirty fuel sources in traditional brick kilns, solid waste burning,
existing aging urban transport system, factories and are the typical causative factors of smog,
which starts blanketing country’s various parts, particularly those in northern Punjab provinces,
from November and continues till March.

“However, smog, which is the worst form of the outdoor air pollution, would continue to devour
the country’s gains in public health, environmental and economic sectors as long as these very
sources of smog remain unaddressed,” he cautioned.

Referring to the recent introduction of the Rice Straw Shredder and Happy Seeder technology in
Sheikhupura district on Friday (November 6, 2020), Aslam said the much-needed technology has
been finally launched and being provided to the farmers, which would help avoid burning of the
paddy crop residue and instead convert the residue into organic fertilizer for boosting fertility of
their farmlands.

He informed that around hundreds of the pairs of rice straw shredder and happy seeder
technology were being provided to the farmers under a joint multi-billion rupees initiative
launched jointly by the Agricultural Engineering Division (Lahore) of the Punjab Agriculture
Department and the Federal Ministry of Climate Change.

The technology is being introduced across the country under the government’s ambitious
national project ‘Mechanised Management of Rice Crop Residue’ for which Rs 30 billion are
being spent for disbursement of the 50,000 units of the rice straw shredder and happy seeder
technology to the farmers to stem the stubble burning, which is among the key causes of smog in
winter, Malik Amin Aslam elaborated.

He hoped, “Provision of the new technology would prove a great milestone of successful
environmental governance by the present government and help quell exacerbating challenge of
the smog, which also reflects the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government’s commitment
towards taming the smog and protect public health and environment from the heinous pollution.”

Dubbed as ‘the silent killer’, smog is composed of a mixture of air pollutants from the various
sources that poses grave risk to the human health and environment. Various human health
problems such as emphysema, asthma, allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung infections, coughing,
irritation of the eyes, chest, nose throat infections and various cancers are caused or exacerbated
by the effects of smog.

Various studies show that birth defects and low birth weights are other consequences of the smog
problems.

“Smog is highly attributed to the issues of birth defects and low birth weight. Because, pregnant
women, who get exposed to smog, have had babies with birth defects. Spina bifida – a condition
depicting malformations of the spinal column, and anencephaly – underdevelopment or absence
of only part of the brain are birth defects associated with smog exposure,” Malik Amin Aslam
noted.

Quoting a study published in the journal of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in
2018, he said that the study findings show that accumulative exposure to air pollution impacts
intelligence. Another latest study, published in the journal of Epidemiology, has also linked
exposure to air pollution from burning fossil fuels to brain cancer, he highlighted.

The prime minister’s aide Malik Amin highlighted that emissions from the transportation sector,
which aggravate the outdoor air quality, result from fossil fuel combustion in cars, trucks, buses
and motorbikes are the chief contributors of smog formation, most of which is formed in large
cities of the country.
Besides, the industrial processes employ a large amount of fossil fuels and resources that need to
be extracted for the production of materials and goods. Thus, industries equally cause harmful
gaseous emissions and fumes released into the atmosphere, which leads to the formation of
smog, he added.
He also insisted that burning of the agriculture field is among the top contributors of the smog
problem in the country’s various parts, most of which comes from neighbouring India.

“Most of the smog issue in Pakistan is linked to widespread stubble burning in northern Indian
states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where tens of thousands of farmers blaze their
fields of old rice crop stubble to get the fields cleared of the crop residue materials including
stubble and get them ready for growing wheat,” he remarked.

The PM’s aide added that though burning of the crop residue materials in October and November
months is also observed in country’s various parts, but as compared to blazing of the crop
residue in the Indian districts its much less in Pakistan.

“But despite the fact, the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government is taking all-out measures to
discourage the stubble burning in the country to address the exacerbating smog challenge as a
part of his vision for Clean Green Pakistan,” Malik Amin Aslam told media.

He highlighted that outdoor air pollution, which gets aggravated during winter months because
of smog problem, has emerged a grave challenge for the country, which kills around 135,000
people, most of them children, annually in Pakistan.

“However, the bad air quality aggravated further due to smog may spike the death rate among
the corona patients, which are again on rise, particularly in the urban areas, where air pollution is
worse than rural localities,” the PM’s aide cautioned.

Meanwhile, Malik Amin Aslam suggested that efforts including curbing emissions from
factories, closing brick kilns that fail to use fuel-efficient technology and refuse to shift on the
efficiently fuel-burning zig-zag technology and fining polluting vehicles and farmers burning
rice stubble in the winter would be needed for effectively controlling the smog problem in
particular and bad outdoor air pollution in general.

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/572431-Govt-taking-measures-to-quell-smog-Amin-Aslam

PUNJAB PUNCH: Will the farmers get their rights?

BY SHAHAB OMER 
It appears that unless one takes to the streets, their demands are not entertained in Pakistan. This

pattern in visible in the protests that took place recently, and the ones that are being held right

now.

When the protest of the paramedical staff, nurses and junior doctors ended, teachers took to the

streets to push their demands. Later, last week, farmers from different parts of Punjab protested

in Lahore for four weeks. Now, government employees are protesting in Islamabad.

Last week, hundreds of farmers of Kissan Ittehad staged a sit-in on Multan Road for four days.

Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Wednesday, removing hundreds of protesting farmers from

the site. The farmers were beaten with sticks and tear gas was used indiscriminately while 50

protesters were arrested on the spot and shifted to Central Jail. The sit-in apparently ended, and

the district administration was happy that the roads blocked by the protesters were finally open

for traffic.

A press release was also issued on the success of the talks with the farmers at the CCPO Office.

However, the farmers’ protest in Karim Block Market continued till midnight. The farmers were

of the view that they had been arrested under the guise of negotiations and said that they had yet
to accept the administration’s promises for the acceptance of their demands.

It is important to examine the demands of the farmers. They said that sugar was being sold at

Rs120 per kg, but mills were not ready to buy their sugarcane at even Rs250 per 40 kg.

It is worth mentioning here that the poor treatment is meted out to farmers every year. Sugarcane

is sold to a mill for Rs200 per 40 kg, and when the farmers reach the mills on rented trucks, they

are already long queues, and they are told for days at end that it is not their turn yet. They are

told that if they want to sell their sugarcane, then it would be purchased at Rs140 per 40 kg.

In eight days, the weight of the crop is drastically reduced, and it adds to the benefit of the mills.

To make matters worse, they are paid after several months.

Most sugar mill owners belong to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-

Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). If there is an effective alliance against poor

farmers, it is these sugar mills owners. The representatives of Kissan Ittehad have pinned their

hopes on the chief justice to take notice of their problems and to provide justice to them.

If Pakistan remained relatively safe during the Covid-19 lockdown, it was mainly because it is an

agricultural country and is -sufficient in flour, sugar, vegetable, and rice production.

However, instead of facilitating the farmers, the government has left them at the mercy of

landlords and mill owners. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of the sugar mafia, the

government should pay attention to the plight of the farmers so that there is no oppression of the

poor farmers. Farmers should be given full compensation and a permanent solution should be

found so that they are not exploited and compelled to protest.

Farmers should get the respect they deserve.

Political parties voting in the name of farmers

are not playing any role in solving their

problems, and as a result, the victims are forced

to burn their precious crops.

Shahab Omer
The writer is a member of the staff. He can be reached on Twitter: @shahab_omer, and on
email: shahab.omer@gmail.com
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/09/punjab-punch-will-the-farmers-get-their-rights/

‫ ۔۔‬Use Organic Manure, Plant Rice: Reddy

Rural dwellers have also been encouraged to establish compost pits to provide organic manure
to their farms.
By Ministry Of Agriculture
09 Nov 2020 12:04

         

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment, Mahendra Reddy speaks to farmers at
Nanoko Village, Navatusila in the Nadroga/ Navosa Province.

Farmers in rural villages and settlements have been urged to grow rice for personal consumption.
Rural dwellers have also been encouraged to establish compost pits to provide organic manure to
their farms.
The message from , Mahendra Reddy, followed his visit to the West, where he made the
commitment that the Ministry of Agriculture would assist farmers in such initiatives.
“We want every village to have their own rice field,” Mr Reddy said. “We will provide rice
seeds to villages. What villages needed to do is identify between five to ten acres of land that
will be set aside for rice production.”
“Clear the land and prepare it ready for planting. In three months’ time after planting, the rice is
ready for harvesting,” he said.
He said the ministry would assist with planting materials and machinery, to help with harvesting.
The rice was meant for personal consumption, so villagers would no longer buy rice from
supermarkets.
Mr Reddy also encouraged villages and settlements to develop communal compost pits to
produce organic fertiliser for their farms.
“Instead of using chemical fertilisers, we are strongly promoting using organic fertiliser, which is
cheaper, safer and better choice for not only the soil, but also for those that will consume your
produce,” he said. “What you need to do is, dig three compost pits for the village, and dump all
your organic waste in there, including food rubbish.”
“We will provide the lactic acid bacterium and possibly poultry manure too, to mix it all together
to you have your very own organic manure.” Training will be provided to villages on how to
develop compost pits, he said.
Mr Reddy carried out a three-day visit of the West, meeting with farmers of:
Navilawa Village, Sabeto;
Drasa Johnson Farmer’s Cluster, in Lautoka;
Nanoko Village, Navatusila;
Vatia Farmers Cluster in Tavua, and
Nandhari Farmers Cluster in Ba; before concluding his visit to the West on Friday (6.11.20).
Source: Ministry of Agriculture
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj
https://fijisun.com.fj/2020/11/09/use-organic-manure-plant-rice-reddy/

Rice Farming Leads Local Farmer to Prosperity

By  Judoemue Kollie

November 9, 2020

James K. Nyumah (middle) with agriculture minister Jeanine Cooper (3rd from left) during the
launch of Nyumah's 300 acres upland rice harvest in Fuamah district.

Mr. James K. Nyumah, a well-known farmer in Fuamah District, Lower Bong County went in to
agriculture when he couldn’t find a job to support his family. This was in 1993 when he lived in
Bong Mines, situated in the district, during the early years of the Liberian civil war that
destroyed many lives and properties.

Bong Mines is where the German Iron Ore Company once operated before the civil war. But
since the end of the war, as the result of lack of employment opportunity, the many of the
residents have seen farming as the only alternative in the area.

Nyumah once worked for the company as a yellow machine operator.  

Determined to provide food for his family, Nyumah said he started to cultivate a plot of swamp
with rice in his community with support from the Catholic Relief Service (CRS). CRS supported
relief efforts in Liberia, especially during the height of the war.

“Because I couldn’t find a job, I cultivated a portion of swamp land with rice. I was given seed
rice to grow by CRS which I harvested to obtain 20 bags. CRS give me 40 bags of imported rice
in exchange for the seed rice produced. It is this 40 bags of rice that I sold to start a table
business,” Nyumah narrated.
Nyumah’s table business grew into a shop and later to a store in the community, which greatly
inspired his dream for agriculture.

James Nyumah: “I started the small table business and my profit increased to establish a shop
which was later transformed to a store. This led me to purchase the first farmland of 100 acres,
which I planted with rice.

“I started the small table business and my profit increased to establish a shop which was later
transformed to a store. This led me to purchase the first farmland of 100 acres, which I planted
with rice. I did not have any money when I started the swamp project,” Nyumah further said.

Nyumah has used proceed of his farm to support his children’s education and has initiated
development for people of his home town in Foya, Lofa County.

“Agriculture has made me truly successful. I have used it to support the education of my 12
children, some of who are today in college and other have obtained first and second degrees. I
have also used agriculture to establish a school and clinic in my home town. These initiatives are
greatly helping the Government improve the lives of the people,” he said.

But to Nyumah’s greatest disappointment, he has farmed for more than a decade without support
from Government, something he has said is the serious hindrance to the advancement of farmers
in Liberia.

“Imagine that I have worked in this district for more than 10 years without any support from the
Government. Liberia cannot become food self-sufficient if farmers are not adequately
supported,” he said.

“There has been no support from the Government since my farming venture, except for now that
I am engaging the minister for agriculture. I would like for the Government to help us with
machinery to expand production. We do not have processing opportunity to process our
produce,” he added.

Nyumah said more Liberians need to be encouraged to prioritize agriculture.

“I am encouraging Liberians to take farming serious. If you have food, you are able to achieve
many things. This country we are able to feed ourselves but farmers just need more support to
increase production.”

Nyumah, who is now a prominent resident of Kakata, Margibi County, has become one of
Liberia’s potential farmers. He has developed an300-acre upland rice farm that was recently
launched by agriculture minister Jeanine M. Cooper; 25 acres of lowland rice; 325 acres of
improved oil palm; and 150 acres of cocoa farm in the district. His farming life is supported by
several businesses that enable him support his family and to contribute to the economic and
 social developments of Liberian communities. Nyumah hopes to attract support from the
Government to expand his farm and to create more employment for the locals.

https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/rice-farming-leads-local-farmer-to-prosperity/

La Porte-Dysart FFA member takes part in the world

food prize
 By La Porte-Dysart FFA

Tristen Heth joins the Opening Session of the World Food Prize, Translating Climate Science to
Action, with 2020 Laureate Dr. Rattan Lan and Former Vice President of the United States, Mr.
Al Gore.
The World Food Prize event was held virtually October 12 through October 16, and the Global
Youth Institute was held in conjunction October 9 through October 23.

The World Food Prize event is a famed international conference held in Des Moines, Iowa
annually and honors the legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug’s efforts to feed the world. Dr. Borlaug is
credited for saving a billion lives with his work on wheat genetics. International leaders,
scientists, and researchers typically gather in Des Moines to collaborate and celebrate the work
being completed to fight against hunger and poverty. Although this year’s conference was
virtual, the discussions of food insecurity, climate change, sustainability, and nutrition were
never more important considering the world wide pandemic. During the conference, a 2020
World Food Prize Laureate was awarded to Dr. Rattan Lal, for his efforts focused on soil health
in terms of increasing food production. This award is also known as the Nobel Prize of
Agriculture.

In conjunction with the World Food Prize, 200 students from around the world are selected to
participate in the Global Youth Institute. To be selected to attend, all applicants had to write
about a country and topic of choice and how their topic is affecting food security in their selected
country. Tristen Heth, from the La Porte-Dysart FFA Chapter, was one of the students selected to
represent Iowa at the Global Youth Institute. Heth researched the country of Cameroon and how
the HIV/AIDS epidemic is affecting the country and their food security. In April, she was a part
of the Iowa Youth Institute where she was put into small groups with other students from Iowa
along with a few industry experts. Within the small groups, the students presented their papers
and discussed global food insecurity problems. From there, Tristen was selected to be an Iowa
delegate for the Global Youth Institute, a part of the World Food Prize in October. She presented
her paper virtually to experts from the Global Teach Ag Network, International Rice Research
Institute, Iowa State University, and the Ohio State University as well as students from around
the world.

“I learned so much about how to end hunger in our community and how I can make a difference.
What I enjoyed the most from the whole experience was getting to listen to everyone’s papers
from around the world and getting to hear lectures from successful scientists and researchers,”
said Heth.

By attending the Iowa Youth Institute, each student is awarded a $500 scholarship to Iowa State
University, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and for being selected as a delegate
for the Global Youth Institute, each delegate earns another $2,000 scholarship to Iowa State
University.

http://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/vinton_newspapers/features/la-porte-dysart-ffa-
member-takes-part-in-the-world-food-prize/article_835b7fc4-b22e-5396-9e5d-
6a12c4435a29.html

Paddy ryots stopped from entering Miryalaguda

STAFF REPORTER

NALGONDA , NOVEMBER 09, 2020 09:13 IST

Following tocken system, hundreds of paddy tractors queue up for procurement

“CM KCR said sannalu (fine variety paddy) commands good rate, but now we are
forced to sell at ₹1400 and even less per quintal. MSP for grade A variety is
 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/paddy-ryots-stopped-from-entering-
miryalaguda/article33055532.ece

La Porte-Dysart FFA member takes part in the world

food prize
 By La Porte-Dysart FFA

 Nov 8, 2020

Tristen Heth joins the Opening Session of the World Food Prize, Translating Climate Science to
Action, with 2020 Laureate Dr. Rattan Lan and Former Vice President of the United States, Mr.
Al Gore.
The World Food Prize event was held virtually October 12 through October 16, and the Global
Youth Institute was held in conjunction October 9 through October 23.

The World Food Prize event is a famed international conference held in Des Moines, Iowa
annually and honors the legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug’s efforts to feed the world. Dr. Borlaug is
credited for saving a billion lives with his work on wheat genetics. International leaders,
scientists, and researchers typically gather in Des Moines to collaborate and celebrate the work
being completed to fight against hunger and poverty. Although this year’s conference was
virtual, the discussions of food insecurity, climate change, sustainability, and nutrition were
never more important considering the world wide pandemic. During the conference, a 2020
World Food Prize Laureate was awarded to Dr. Rattan Lal, for his efforts focused on soil health
in terms of increasing food production. This award is also known as the Nobel Prize of
Agriculture.

In conjunction with the World Food Prize, 200 students from around the world are selected to
participate in the Global Youth Institute. To be selected to attend, all applicants had to write
about a country and topic of choice and how their topic is affecting food security in their selected
country. Tristen Heth, from the La Porte-Dysart FFA Chapter, was one of the students selected to
represent Iowa at the Global Youth Institute. Heth researched the country of Cameroon and how
 the HIV/AIDS epidemic is affecting the country and their food security. In April, she was a part
of the Iowa Youth Institute where she was put into small groups with other students from Iowa
along with a few industry experts. Within the small groups, the students presented their papers
and discussed global food insecurity problems. From there, Tristen was selected to be an Iowa
delegate for the Global Youth Institute, a part of the World Food Prize in October. She presented
her paper virtually to experts from the Global Teach Ag Network, International Rice Research
Institute, Iowa State University, and the Ohio State University as well as students from around
the world.

“I learned so much about how to end hunger in our community and how I can make a difference.
What I enjoyed the most from the whole experience was getting to listen to everyone’s papers
from around the world and getting to hear lectures from successful scientists and researchers,”
said Heth.

By attending the Iowa Youth Institute, each student is awarded a $500 scholarship to Iowa State
University, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and for being selected as a delegate
for the Global Youth Institute, each delegate earns another $2,000 scholarship to Iowa State
University.

http://www.communitynewspapergroup.com/vinton_newspapers/features/la-porte-dysart-ffa-
member-takes-part-in-the-world-food-prize/article_835b7fc4-b22e-5396-9e5d-
6a12c4435a29.html

Help them
By MUSTAPHA TEMIDAYO 

 Share
The ugly aftermath of the nationwide looting and destruction, from the #EndSARS protests gone
awry, is hitting the country. One is the cry from the Rice Millers Association of Nigeria
(RIMAN), that not a few of its members nationwide had been the worse for it.

“RIMAN is shocked and sad at the level of havoc that was carried out on these rice mills,” a
statement by Peter Dama, the RIMAN national president said. “The resultant impact on these
rice mills will create some deficits in our members’ contribution to national food security and
rice value chain, as the affected rice mills will be shut down for a while at this critical period
with huge debts to pay.”

Mentioning two of the hit mills as Shamad Rice Mill, Yolanda and Glams Foods, Lagos, the
RIMAN president further lamented: “Regrettably, during these attacks, tonnes of milled rice,
paddy, furniture, machines, equipment and operational vehicles were destroyed and looted, while
some parts of buildings were set ablaze.”

This RIMAN angst again stresses the futility of mindless violence in any protest.  Why an anti-
police brutalisation protest should equate mobs brutalising businesses: torching, vandalising and
looting private and legitimate plants and premises, is the height of thumping illogic.

What makes the RIMAN case all the more serious, if not severe, is the food question.  All
businesses torched and destroyed need deep sympathy and urgent help. But the RIMAN case is
especially weighty.

Yes, it is private business. But RIMAN losses, from plant destruction and looting of rice, could
lead to food crisis and insecurity, with all its dire socio-economic consequences.  That moves the
problem from pure business to public policy. This is especially so with the Buhari Presidency,
that has made food security, from local cultivation, a fundamental pillar of its public policy.

Which is why the Federal Government, and even state governments where those battered mills
are domiciled, should do everything in their power to support RIMAN, and help its bruised
members re-commence their legitimate businesses, as early as they possibly could. Aside from
food security, the fate of many households — of these mill workers — depend on those urgent
and crucial aids.

That is why it is heart-warming that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has already
signed an executive order to rebuild his state, one of the epicentres of the unfortunate mass
looting and arson.  Such policies should translate to early succour for RIMAN and other affected
businesses.

Still, aside from government interventions, the RIMAN case beams the spotlight on the
imperative of insurance in any business plan. Whereas government intervention could come from
sympathy, a good insurance cover is business duty — a right to be claimed, so long as the
business premises, its machines and other assets, are insured; and requisite premium paid without
fail.

We hope all affected RIMAN members are well insured.  Insurance, and the premiums that oil it,
are often the problem.  Many businesses, for sundry reasons, treat insurance as secondary
nuisance, and premiums as meddlesome investment.  That sort of business culture must be
jettisoned.  Insurance ought to be core to any investment.  Businesses are risks epitomised. 
Though it comes with a bit more investment, insurance is the basic antidote to risk.

Somehow, however, a “Nigerian factor” has made insurance a bit low on the trust and
confidence scale.  Some investors regard insurance as secondary (which is wrong and tragic).
But that insurance cold shoulder is not helped by the reality that not a few also regard many
insurance firms as irredeemable corporate cheats.

This could well be over-stated and blown out of proportion by those whose minds are rigidly set
against insurance.  Still, any grain of distrust lowers the insurance trust and confidence levels. 
That should change.  So, for the sake of their own bottom line and general healthier economy,
the insurance industry should do more work on this score.

If adequately insured, RIMAN members would find insurance their first port of succour.  They
should therefore cull that in, while awaiting any government help which, no thanks to
bureaucracy, could be rather slow in coming.

Still, the exit message should be the futility of blind violence.  If the hungry in blind rage torch
their very food machine, how will their anger not condemn them to eternal hunger?  In a civilised
polity, there is absolutely no place for violence in protests.  That is the prime message from the
RIMAN crisis.

https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/11/help-them/

Firm reaffirms commitment to sufficient rice production

By  Benjamin Alade 

09 November 2020   |   1:08 am

As part of efforts to make Nigeria achieve food self-sufficiency, Popular Farms and Mills
Limited, an arm of Stallion Group, has reaffirmed commitment to boost rice production in the
country.
With recent data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showing how agriculture had
positively contributed to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP, the firm expressed
confidence that the Nigerian economy, which had been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,
would bounce back with collective efforts in the agricultural industry and right economic
policies.
 
Besides, annual supply chain meet by the group has been institutionalised as a formal platform to
announce the commencement of the wet harvest of paddy rice and sesame in Nigeria.
  
The firm recognised and rewarded stakeholders, such aggregators, farmers, cooperatives, logistic
coordinators, financial institutions, technical partners and NGOs, for their efforts and
contribution to the company’s paddy rice and sesame value chain backward integration
initiatives. 
 
The company awarded Sani Musa Abunaka and Nababa Isha Ibrahim from North Central region;
Abdullahi Guirin and Umar Dan Alhaji from North East and Abdullahi Izge and Shehu Bawa
from North west regions for their stupendous contributions. 
 
Managing Director of the farm, Mr Amit Kumar Rai, said the company was working in close
coordination with all stakeholders and the government to tackle the pandemic that has caused a
social and economic mayhem in the country. 

https://guardian.ng/features/agro-care/firm-reaffirms-commitment-to-sufficient-rice-production/

Ministry looks to register Basmati rice as local brand

Urges cabinet to notify TDAP as registrant body to support case
against India

Zafar BhuttaNovember 08, 2020

 PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

India has claimed Basmati rice as its brand in the European Union market, but Pakistan is all
set to challenge the claim.
However, it is alarming to note that Pakistan has not registered Basmati as a brand in Pakistan.
The Ministry of Commerce has now come into action to register it in the country after India
claimed it as its brand in the EU market. More alarming is the fact that there is no body in
Pakistan that can register Pakistani products as its brand under Geographical Indications.
In Pakistan, Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 has been enacted
in March this year. However, the year 2020 is nearly over and the commerce ministry has still
not been able to register Basmati rice as a Pakistani brand.
When the legal battle between Pakistan and India on Basmati claims intensified, the commerce
ministry moved a summary to the cabinet seeking approval for notifying the Trading
Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) as “Registrant” body for Geographical Indication
registration. This move is aimed at registering Basmati rice as a Pakistani brand to support a
case in EU against India.
The Geographical Indications (GIs) are a form of intellectual property rights. They identify a
product originating from a specific area, whose quality is attributable to its place of origin. The
number of products that have the potential to be protected under the GI tag in Pakistan, include
Basmati rice, kinnow, mango, ajrak etc.
Section 11(1) of the GI Act says, “The federal government shall be the exclusive owner of all
the geographical indications of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
Section 11(2) further elaborates, “The federal government may allow any statutory body,
public body, local or provincial governments, government enterprise or any government
organisation, person having area of responsibility covering the geographical indication of
Islamic Republic of Pakistan to apply for and register the product under geographical
indication.”
The “registrant” body is to prepare “Book of Specification” for the GI, approving “authorised
users” for further registrations with the relevant division for a cooperation agreement to enable
pre-registration processes of geographical indication.
It will also arrange consultations with producers and operators in drafting body. TDAP is a
statutory body under the administrative control of the commerce ministry. The government has
given it mandate to interact and coordinate with private stakeholders and enhance value of the
products to enhance export base of the country.
The commerce ministry has now urged the cabinet to approve the notification of TDAP as the
registrant body for GI registration of Basmati rice. The cabinet is scheduled to meet on
November 10.
The government has also shortlisted two international legal firms to fight Pakistan’s case at the
European Union to protect its own brand of Basmati rice.
 These two firms are; Messers Altius international law firm and Messers Liedekerke Wolters
Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick. The government has to select one of them.
India has applied for ‘an exclusive GI (Geographical Indications) tag for Basmati rice under
the Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and the European Union’s
official registry, the Council on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Food Stuffs.
Presently, India has a 65% share of Basmati in the world market whereas Pakistan has a 35%
share in the rice trade. Basmati rice fetches Pakistan around $800 million to $1 billion
annually.
When contacted for comments, the commerce ministry spokesperson said that the Intellectual
Property Organisation was working on the whole issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 8 th, 2020.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the
conversation.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2271452/ministry-looks-to-register-basmati-rice-as-local-brand

BRRI gets new admin director

 Tribune Desk
  Published at 04:04 pm November 9th, 2020
Md Abu Bakr Siddidique Courtesy

Prior to the new position, Siddique was serving the institute as the chief scientific officer
and head of the agricultural economics division

Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) appointed Md Abu Bakr Siddidique as its
Director (Administration and Common Service) on Sunday.

Prior to the new position, Siddique was serving the institute as the chief scientific officer
and head of the agricultural economics division, according to a press release.

He also served the institute as its coordinator for advanced studies and research.

He began his career as a scientific officer of the institute in 1994 and devotedly
performing his duties at different positions over the last 26 years.

Siddique obtained his BSc (Ag Econ) degree in 1987 from the Bangladesh Agricultural
University and MSc degree in 2000 from the same university.
He completed his PhD degree on Agricultural Economics (marketing) in 2010 from the
same university.

As a researcher, Siddique has special expertise on price system and value chain.

Siddique is directly involved in feedback and impact assessment of different rice varieties
and production technologies as well as policy research and providing policy support to
the government.

At present, he is one of the senior scientists in National Agricultural Research System

(NARS) in Bangladesh.

Since its establishment in 1970, BRRI has been serving the nation through development
of high-yielding rice varieties and improved production practices, which have been
instrumental almost in tripling the annual rice production within the last 48 years.

The high-yielding modern varieties (MVs) developed by BRRI currently covers 82% of
the Boro, 36% of the Aush, and 47% of the T-Aman cultivated areas of Bangladesh. 

The overall adoption MVs in Bangladesh is 79.55%. These varieties account for about
85% of the total annual rice production in the country.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/agriculture/2020/11/09/brri-gets-new-admin-director

Lower taxes on less-developed agricultural export products

needed as trade deals sought
Sorn Sarath / Khmer Times 
Exports of Cambodian rice are taxed because their destinations have their own rice
industry. KT/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodia, which currently depends for most on its less -developed agricultural products on
negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs), needs to urgently address this issue, say industry
watchers.

With about 80 percent of its total exports being garments and textiles, mostly under the trade
preferences provided by developed economies, the government is now boosting agricultural
products through negotiating FTAs after the country officially signed a bilateral FTA with China
(CCFTA) on Oct 12.

However, Cambodia’s rice is excluded from the list of item products under the CCFTA because
the country has received a quota framework for exports to China.

Group Chief Executive Officer of corporate finance firm Cambodian Investment Management
Anthony Galliano said that listing priority products for preferential treatment of lower tariffs
should be a core strategic initiative and outcome.

“This allows the exporting country to capitalise on the goods and services it wishes the importing
country to increase its purchase of, given the favoured treatment, and also allows the exporting
country to formulate a policy to boost production, eventually creating jobs and investment,” he
said.
“In negotiating FTAs, countries need to put their best foot forward, touting products that meet
quality and regulatory standards of the importing country, ensure that the demand exists and also
consider the limitation and advantages of quotas and tariffs.” He said the bilateral trade
relationship is reflective of Cambodia’s garment driven economy, with Cambodia’s main imports
from China being fabrics, fibres, machinery and cotton and main exports being apparel and
artificial fur.

Galliano said while the present realities of China’s rising foreign investment is the greatest
benefit of the commercial relationship – a figure that reached $3.5 billion in 2019 – the
Kingdom’s trade is still heavily reliant on exporting to the US and eurozones,” he added.

Chheng Kimlong, second vice-president of Asian Vision Institute (AVI), said that to go beyond
agriculture in a short time is not possible. However, Cambodia will have to expand and diversify
more export markets, undertake greater and faster investment in technological adoptions,
promote local small and medium enterprises  (SMEs) and economic diversification of the
economic growth base and enhance the standard and quality and standard of ease of doing
business.

“The Cambodia-China FTA would seek the opening up of the Chinese market for Cambodian
products and thus it will push greater private domestic investment and attract more investment
into Cambodia,” he said.

He said sanitary and phytosanitary issues will remain a key topic to address because China has
its own standards and certification system.

However, because both countries have strong and close political and economic cooperation, as
well as having a long history of brotherhood, trade and trade-related issues will be addressed in
good time and the signing of the FTA has clearly indicated the strong will of the two nations.

Under the CCFTA, Cambodia can trade 340 products more than Asean-China FTA. However,
the actual products so far have not yet been officially released.

Undersecretary of State and spokesperson at the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Penn Sovicheat
declined to provide more details at the movement, saying that the ministry needs to wait until the
agreement has come into effect.

Cambodian agricultural products such as peppers, bananas, mangoes, longans, cashew nuts,
rubber and cassava have the most potential for export because they have the greatest value.

Cassava is the country’s second agricultural product after rice. However, the products are in
limbo because the sector has remained hindered by factors such as lack of processing investment,
high cost of production and transportation, while markets mostly depend on neighbouring
countries to which to export raw materials.

The country is negotiating an FTA with South Korea, while looking for more FTAs with dozens
of countries in the region.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50780935/lower-taxes-on-less-developed-agricultural-export-
products-needed-as-trade-deals-sought/

Rice seed distributed to flooding victims

Khouth Sophak Chakrya | Publication date 08 November 2020 | 21:36 ICT

More than 1,000 tonnes of rice seeds were given to 10,210 families in Battambang province on
Sunday. Hun Manet Facebook Page

Minister of Interior Sar Kheng delivered more than 1,000 tonnes of rice seeds to 10,210 families
in Battambang province on Sunday as part of an effort to restore the agricultural sector in the
wake of recent flooding.

Sar Kheng said during his visit the delivery is part of the government’s response to the flood
crisis.

“During the floods, we evacuated people from flooded areas. The next steps are fixing
infrastructure like roads and helping people grow crops,” he said.

Each family received 100kg of rice seeds for planting. Sar Kheng encouraged local officials to
offer additional assistance like ploughing rice fields to accelerate rice and crop production as
quickly as possible.
Prime Minister Hun Sen originally planned to deliver the seeds but is under quarantine for 14
days after meeting Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto, who visited
Cambodia last week. Szijjarto tested positive for Covid-19 in the Thai capital Bangkok after his
visit to Cambodia.

His eldest son Hun Manet, who is the deputy head of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
(RCAF), delivered rice seeds to 17,000 farmer families in Pursat on his behalf on Saturday.

“Samdech [Hun Sen] considers bringing food and rice seeds to people as compulsory work that
cannot be delayed because it is the benefits the daily lives of people,” Manet said.

He said in the first stage of the flood, the prime minister ordered the armed forces to rescue
people and protect their properties.

Besides handing out 100kg of rice seeds to each family for replanting, the government also
assisted poor and vulnerable people, with each family receiving 25kg of rice, one box of noodles,
a box of fish sauce, a box of soy sauce and 50,000 riel ($12).

According to a report from the National Committee for Disaster Management, floods damaged
287,961ha of rice crops and 97,029ha of other crops in 20 provinces.

Roads were also damaged, including 627km of red pebble roads and 1,685km of rural roads.
Floods destroyed 49km of dams and 543km of canals.

More than 150,000 families were directly impacted and 44 people died.

Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat provinces were most affected.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/rice-seed-distributed-flooding-victims

Vietnam's rice export up in 10 months

Source: Xinhua| 2020-11-09 13:05:43|Editor: huaxia

HANOI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reaped over 2.6 billion U.S. dollars from exporting nearly
5.3 million tons of rice in the first 10 months of this year, up 8.2 percent in value and down 4
percent in volume year on year, according to the country's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development on Monday.
In October, Vietnam shipped 300,000 tons abroad, gaining 161 million U.S. dollars, down 33.2
percent and 22.5 percent, respectively.
Export prices increased in October as prolonged rains caused flooding in the southern Mekong
Delta region, which delayed the harvesting progress and limited supply, local media reported.
The country's major export markets included China, Malaysia and the Philippines.
According to Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the country has recently shifted towards
exporting more high-grade rice such as Japonica, fragrant rice and sticky rice.
Vietnam normalized its rice export in May after a temporary export ban in March to ensure
national food security amid COVID-19.
In 2019, the country sold 6.3 million tons of rice offshore, reaping 2.8 billion U.S. dollars. The
country expects to export 6.7 million tons of rice this year, according to the Vietnam Food
Association. Enditem
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/09/c_139502671.htm#:~:text=HANOI%2C%20Nov.
%209%20(Xinhua,and%20Rural%20Development%20on%20Monday.
Climb seen in Vietnam's rice export

Date
11/9/2020 1:06:12 PM

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated on Monday that, the country
gained more than USD2.6 billion from exporting almost 5.3 million tons of rice during the
January-October period of 2020, a rise of 8.2 percent in value and a drop of 4 percent in volume,
annually.

A number of 300,000 tons were shipped overseas by the country in October, earning USD161
million, in a drop by 33.2 percent and 22.5 percent, respectively.

According to local media, since rains lead to flooding in the southern Mekong Delta region,
which postponed the reaping advancement and constrained supply, export prices rose in October.

China, Malaysia and the Philippines were among Vietnam's main export markets.

MENAFN09112020000045011361ID1101095292
https://menafn.com/1101095292/Climb-seen-in-Vietnams-rice-export&source=30

DA assures 3-month rice supply despite typhoon damage 

By: Cathrine Gonzales - Reporter / @cgonzalesINQ
INQUIRER.net / 08:42 AM November 09, 2020

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured on Monday that the
country has enough supply of rice for the next three months despite the P5.6 billion damage to the
agriculture sector left behind by typhoons Quinta and Rolly.

“Dito sa damages ng Quinta at Rolly—ito ‘yung dalawang talagang sobrang losses natin—ay
meron tayong P5.6 billion na losses sa overall agriculture, pero ang pinaka-tinamaan dito ay ‘yung
sa palay,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.
(Because of Quinta and Rolly, we have recorded P5.6 billion in overall damage to the agriculture
sector. But the most affected were rice farms.)

Agriculture Secretary William Dar   (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)

“Kung i-convert natin ‘yung tama sa palay sa daily consumption natin sa Pilipinas ay apat na araw
lang ang bumaba. So apat na araw i-minus natin dyan sa meron tayong present inventory na 94
days, so minus four meron pa tayong tatlong buwan na sapat na bigas para sa ating bansa,” he
explained.

(The damage is equivalent to four  days of daily rice consumption, hence, if we subtract it from the
present inventory equivalent to 94 days, we still have three months of supply of rice in the
country.)

Dar also assured that the DA is prepared for the possible impact of the La Niña phenomenon  to
agriculture.

He added that La Niña will even be beneficial for farmers as it is predicted to become “moderate.”
Rice farmers in Nueva Ecija (File photo / ANSELMO ROQUE)

“Handang-handa po tayo sa sinasabi nila na La Niña. Sabi po nila ay moderate La Niña ito. Ang
ibig sabihin hindi po masyadong malakas at that will be very beneficial sa ating pagsasaka kung
mayroong ulan during that period until the first quarter of next year. So we are prepared for that,”
said Dar.

(We are really prepared for La Niña. They say this will be a moderate La Niña, which means rains
will not be too heavy. It will be beneficial for farming if there will be rain during that period until
the first quarter of next year. So we are prepared for that.)

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration earlier said
that most parts of the country will experience near to above normal rainfall conditions as the La
Niña season will continue to persist until the first quarter of 2021.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1358161/fwd-da-ph-has-supply-of-rice-for-3-months-despite-p5-6b-
damage-of-typhoons-to-agri

Millers, civil supplies dept at

loggerheads
Procurement under cloud

Post News Network

Updated: November 8th, 2020, 10:05 IST

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Bhawanipatana: Even as the administration has been bracing up for paddy procurement
for the current Kharif season in Kalahandi, the procurement programme is caught in a
stalemate over payment of dues – a dispute between the civil supplies department and
rice millers.

The administration allegedly shows no interest to resolve the issue. The millers have
warned of not cooperating in the paddy procurement process. Farmers in Kalahandi are
apprehensive of facing distress sale if the procurement is delayed or stalled. Besides,
thousands of labourers who are part of the procurement process will be hit in the event
the programme is stalled.

The report said the rice collection season from millers for 2019-20 has been over, but
millers have claimed that Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crores towards transport, unloading and
maintenance of paddy in godowns has not been cleared. Besides, they said they are yet
to get back 7 lakh empty gunny bags from mandis.
The millers made it clear to the Collector that unless their massive dues are cleared and
their bags returned to them, they will not take part in paddy procurement process.

On the other hand, district civil supplies officer Ashok Das refuted the claim of the
millers, saying not a single penny of the millers is pending for clearance.

The tussle is expected to make life of farmers difficult as they may not dispose their
produce in the season unless there is a solution in sight.

Delay in procurement will provide an opportunity to middlemen and trader to cash in on

the difficulties of farmers.

Some millers alleged the civil supplies department is not following procurement
guidelines as a result of which they have to incur losses.

“There is no transparency in the function of the department,” millers lamented.

The civil supplies department used to pay Rs 22.50 per km as transport fare in 2018-19.
The fee was reduced to Rs 18.50 per km in 2019-20. Owing to fare reduction, millers had
to suffer the loss to the tune of Rs 6 crore.

“Even though the cost of fuel has increased several times, reducing the transport fare
has made things worse for us,” they pointed out.

Four gunny bags are needed for a quintal of rice. The civil supplies department is
supposed to give two sacks while millers have to arrange two sacks.

Last year, the department had not given 7.5 lakh gunny bags to them, millers claimed,
adding that they have been incurring losses.

Earlier, there were 119 rice mills in the district. Now, their number has come down to
72.  47 rice mills have closed due to losses.

They also said that more mills will face closure due to faulty policy by the civil supplies
department.
PNN

Telangana: Farmers wait for unloading 4,000 tractors at rice mills

Ch Sushil Rao | TNN | Updated: Nov 8, 2020, 10:29 IST

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HYDERABAD: It’s a problem of plenty. A bumper crop this season has landed farmers, rice millers and officials at Miryalaguda in Nalgonda
district in more problems. With farmers bringing their produce to sell it to the millers and officials advising them to stay put, as many as 4,000
tractors were waiting to be unloaded as on Friday.
“It is understandable that farmers are eager to sell their produce, but they will have to wait for at least two or three days to sell their produce.
That is why we have asked them to come after a couple of days until the tractors which have reached already are unloaded,” Miryalaguda
RDO B Rohit Singh told TOI. A couple of days ago, more than 5,000 tractors were still waiting for unloading. A token system was introduced
so that unloading happens without any hassle.

Officials also got a mill closed after complaints were received that the mill was offering less than the MSP of Rs 1,885 per quintal of rice to
farmers. Nalgonda district collector Prashanth Patil and DIG AV Ranganath held a meeting with rice millers and warned them against taking
advantage of farmers either in price or weighment. A task force has been constituted with officials from revenue, police and other
departments. During the meeting, the millers agreed that they would pay Rs 1,800 per quintal if the rice was substandard or had excess
moisture, which is more than 17%.
Since the purchase of rice began on October 31, 1,500 tractors with rice made their way to Miryalaguda where nearly 70 rice mills are
located.
Traditional rice varieties are nutritional powerhouses: Study
TNN | Nov 9, 2020, 04:27 IST

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Kozhikode: Highlighting the need for conservation of the state’s indigenous rice varieties, a biochemical profiling study of traditional rice
varieties of the state has found many of them to be nutritionally superior to the two popular high-yielding rice varieties, including in crude
protein, insoluble dietary fibre, lipid content, etc.
The study conducted by researchers Chitra Pillai and BS Harikumaran Thampi of Calicut University and K V Faseela of RARS, Mele
Pattambi, under Kerala Agricultural University compared the biochemical and mineral composition of 13 traditional rice varieties with the two
popular high-yielding varieties Jyothi and Kanchana.

The study showed that traditional varieties Thavalakannan and Rakthasali had significantly higher crude protein, crude lipids and insoluble
dietary fibre content, making them nutritionally superior among tested varieties.
The study made profiling of 13 traditional rice varieties, namely Chenkazhama, Cheruvellari, Chettadi, Chitteni, Gandhakasala, Jeerakasala,
Kattamodan, Kuttadan, Rakthasali, Thavalakannan, Thekkan, Vellari and Velutha Navara and two high-yielding varieties, namely Jyothi and
Kanchana.

Traditional rice varieties of Kerala are nutritional powerhouses:

Study
TNN | Nov 9, 2020, 09:56 IST
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Picture used for representational purpose only

KOZHIKODE: Highlighting the need for conservation of the state’s indigenous rice varieties, a biochemical profiling study of traditional rice
varieties of the state has found many of them to be nutritionally superior to the two popular high-yielding rice varieties, including in crude
protein, insoluble dietary fibre, lipid content, etc.
The study conducted by researchers Chitra Pillai and B S Harikumaran Thampi of Calicut University and K V Faseela of RARS, Mele
Pattambi, under Kerala Agricultural University compared the biochemical and mineral composition of 13 traditional rice varieties with the two
popular high-yielding varieties Jyothi and Kanchana.

The study showed that traditional varieties Thavalakannan and Rakthasali had significantly higher crude protein, crude lipids and insoluble
dietary fibre content, making them nutritionally superior among tested varieties.

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The counting of votes for the 243-seat Bihar assembly is currently underway. The voting for the three-phase assembly elections concluded
on November 7 with 57% turnout. Early trends indicated, NDA was ahead on 123 seats, one more than the majority mark. The BJP was the
second-largest party with 70 seats, while the RJD was the single-largest party with 70 seats.
The study made profiling of 13 traditional rice varieties, namely Chenkazhama, Cheruvellari, Chettadi, Chitteni, Gandhakasala, Jeerakasala,
Kattamodan, Kuttadan, Rakthasali, Thavalakannan, Thekkan, Vellari and Velutha Navara and two high-yielding varieties, namely Jyothi and
Kanchana.
In crude lipid content, six traditional rice varieties outperformed the high-yielding rice variety Jyothi which had crude lipid content of 3.3%
while all 13 traditional rice varieties surpassed the crude lipid content of the high-yielding Kanchana (2.2%). Traditional rice varieties
Thavalakannan (4.8%), Gandhakasala (4.1 %), Rakthasali (3.9 %), Jeerakasala (3.9%), Thekkan (3.7%) and Vellari (3.7%) had significantly
higher lipid than Jyothi.

Palay performance pointing to improved agriculture output

November 9, 2020 | 12:03 am

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COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT is likely to have improved in the third quarter due to favorable
indications from the rice harvest, supported by good weather and the easing of quarantine
restrictions, according to the Agriculture department and industry experts.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is scheduled to release production indicators for the
farm sector today, Nov. 9.

Asked to comment ahead of the data release, Department of Agriculture spokesperson Noel O.
Reyes said the agriculture sector’s performance during the third quarter was positive.

In a mobile phone interview, Mr. Reyes based his assessment on a PSA report which estimated
the output of palay, or unmilled rice, at 3.542 million metric tons (MT) in the third quarter,
which if borne out would represent a 16.1% increase year on year.

“That increase is huge. It will affect the country’s entire agricultural output figures. Palay takes
up more than half of crop production. We are seeing that agricultural output remains positive,”
Mr. Reyes said.

In the second quarter, agricultural production rose 0.5%, propelled by growth in the crops and
fisheries subsectors, but weighed down by declining output in the livestock and poultry
subsectors.

Pampanga State Agricultural University professor Roy S. Kempis said better weather conditions
during the period led to higher rice and corn production.

“Agricultural performance in the third quarter of the year could (skew) upwards, ranging from
0.51% to 0.91%,” Mr. Kempis said in an e-mail interview.

Mr. Kempis said rice and corn planted in May and June were harvested in September, raising
overall supply of the commodities, which will be reflected in the third quarter.
“(Improvement in) fruit and vegetable production has likewise been seen in more products
displayed and sold in the market — in public markets, supermarkets, and roadside stalls that
have propped up,” he added.

Glenn B. Gregorio, director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and
Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), estimated growth in the agriculture sector at 0.8% in the
third quarter.

“However, this value needs to be significantly improved to at least 2% or higher if we are to

maximize the agriculture sector’s transformative role in the Philippine economy,” Mr. Gregorio
said in an e-mail interview.

Mr. Gregorio said fisheries output is likely to have increased due to the relaxed quarantine
protocols when compared to the two previous quarters.

“The easing of mobility restrictions has significantly fueled the increase in demand for fishery
resources, which in turn may have further spawned an increase in fishing effort,” Mr. Gregorio
said.

On the other hand, both experts are expecting a decline in livestock production, particularly the
hog subsector, due to African Swine Fever (ASF).

Mr. Kempis said major slaughterhouses in Tarlac, Cabanatuan, and Angeles City suggest a 50%
drop in hogs brought in for slaughter.

“Commercial pig farms in Central Luzon, both for hybrid and native pigs, have had their stocks
wiped out. They have not yet re-started their operations,” Mr. Kempis said.

However, he said poultry output for the third quarter is likely to have improved with contract
growers probably increasing their production as consumers seek substitutes for pork due to
worries about ASF.
 SEARCA’s Mr. Gregorio called for better biosecurity measures to ensure sustainable and safe
livestock and poultry production.

“We suspect that the ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in
unintended additional restrictions on livestock and poultry production,” Mr. Gregorio said.

“There is a need for urgent interventions like tunnel ventilation technologies along with greater
public awareness,” he added.

In October, the PSA said that the palay harvest area likely increased 15.7% to 859,533 hectares,
with a yield per hectare estimated at 4.12 MT.

According to PSA data, the farm sector accounts for about a tenth of gross domestic product and
a quarter of the workforce. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave

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