Rice production expected to improve in 2020-21

Jun 18 2020
BY RODNEY WOODS

Rice production is expected to increase in 2020-21 as Australian-grown rice is on track to run

out completely by the end of the year.
  

Australia's rice crop is expected to increase by more than four times in 2020-21,
with a return to average seasonal conditions and a fall in water prices expected in
the next 12 months.

With SunRice chairman Laurie Arthur admitting in May the country would run out of
Australian-grown rice by December, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource
Economics and Sciences’ rice markets report will provide some good news for growers,
who could only manage 57 000 tonnes in 2019-20.

https://www.seymourtelegraph.com.au/rural-news/2020/06/18/1241051/rice-production-expected-to-
improve-in-2020-21
RPT-Asia Rice-India prices hit over 2-month low on weaker
rupee, muted demand
Shreyansi Singh

JUNE 19, 2020 / 6:31 AM /

(Repeats story sent on June 18 with no changes to text)

* Vietnamese prices ease from 8-year high

* Thai rates still most expensive

* Bangladesh stocks could fall due to pandemic

By Shreyansi Singh

BENGALURU, June 18 (Reuters) - Indian export rice prices fell to their

lowest in more than two months this week due to a weaker rupee and
muted demand, while mounting supplies from an ongoing harvest
weighed on Vietnamese rates.

Top exporter India saw rates for its 5% broken parboiled variety RI-
INBKN5-P1 fall to $366-$372 per tonne, the lowest since March 26,
from $368-$373 last week.

The rupee has fallen more than 6% this year, prompting exporters to cut
rates.

“Even after lowering prices, there is no improvement in demand,” said

an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India’s rice production could surge to a record as farmers are expanding

the area under paddy because of good monsoon rains.
Demand weakened for Vietnam rice as well, with rates for the country’s
5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 slipping to $450 per tonne, the lowest
in nearly two months. Prices had hit an eight-year high of $475 on June
4 as rains hampered harvest.

“Demand from foreign buyers has weakened this week,” a trader based
in Ho Chi Minh City said.

Domestic supplies are building up amid the summer-autumn harvest,

other traders said, adding that Vietnam could export 2.3-2.5 million
tonnes from the harvest after securing enough for local consumption.

Prices of Thailand’s benchmark 5% broken rice RI-THBKN5-P1 eased

to $505-$525 a tonne on Thursday, from $505-$533 last week, with
traders attributing the slip to a stronger Baht.

“Demand remains flat because our prices are higher than India and
Vietnam,” said a Bangkok-based rice trader.

Concerns over supply lingered after a drought hampered production

earlier this year.

“More rains this monsoon season will vastly improve supply, but the
market is still slightly concerned, hence the high prices,” another rice
trader said.

Stocks in Bangladesh, the world’s fourth-biggest rice producer, will

likely fall by 8.33% in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic,
threatening food security, the Food and Agriculture Organisation said
earlier this month. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma
Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok;
Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
https://www.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/rpt-asia-rice-india-prices-hit-over-2-month-low-on-weaker-
rupee-muted-demand-idUSL4N2DV3Z3#:~:text=BENGALURU%2C%20June
%2018%20(Reuters),harvest%20weighed%20on%20Vietnamese%20rates.&text=Prices%20had%20hit
%20an%20eight,4%20as%20rains%20hampered%20harvest.

India Rice Prices Hit Over 2-Month Low On Muted Demand, Weaker
Rupee
Published on Jun 19 2020 11:39 AM in Supply Chain tagged: Trending Posts / Rice / India / Export Prices

Indian export rice prices fell to their lowest in more than two months this week due to a weaker
rupee and muted demand, while mounting supplies from an ongoing harvest weighed on
Vietnamese rates.

Top exporter India saw rates for its 5% broken parboiled variety fall to $366-$372 per tonne, the
lowest since 26 March, from $368-$373 last week.

The rupee has fallen more than 6% this year, prompting exporters to cut rates.

'No Improvement In Demand'

"Even after lowering prices, there is no improvement in demand," said an exporter based at
Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India's rice production could surge to a record as farmers are expanding the area under paddy
because of good monsoon rains.

Demand weakened for Vietnam rice as well, with rates for the country's 5% broken rice slipping
to $450 per tonne, the lowest in nearly two months. Prices had hit an eight-year high of $475 on
4 June as rains hampered harvest.

"Demand from foreign buyers has weakened this week," a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City
said.

Build Up In Domestic Supplies

Domestic supplies are building up amid the summer-autumn harvest, other traders said, adding
that Vietnam could export 2.3-2.5 million tonnes from the harvest after securing enough for local
consumption.
Prices of Thailand's benchmark 5% broken rice eased to $505-$525 a tonne on Thursday, from
$505-$533 last week, with traders attributing the slip to a stronger Baht.

"Demand remains flat because our prices are higher than India and Vietnam," said a Bangkok-
based rice trader.

Concerns over supply lingered after a drought hampered production earlier this year.

"More rains this monsoon season will vastly improve supply, but the market is still slightly
concerned, hence the high prices," another rice trader said.

Stocks in Bangladesh, the world's fourth-biggest rice producer, will likely fall by 8.33% in 2021
because of the coronavirus pandemic, threatening food security, the Food and Agriculture
Organisation said earlier this month.

https://www.esmmagazine.com/supply-chain/india-rice-prices-hit-2-month-low-muted-demand-weaker-
rupee-101270

12:00 AM, June 19, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 01:12 AM, June 19, 2020

India’s rice output could hit

record as farmers expand area
Farmers plant saplings in a rice field on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, India. Photo: Reuters/ File

Reuters, Mumbai
India's rice production is likely to surge to a record high as farmers are expanding the area under
paddy because of good monsoon rains and after the government raised the price at which it will
buy the new-season crop.

Higher output by the world's biggest rice exporter could dampen domestic prices and make
exports more competitive, compensating for lower supplies from rivals Thailand and Vietnam. It
could also force India's state-run agencies to ramp up purchases from farmers even as inventories
are bulging.

"Farmers are interested in rice. They are likely to expand area due to government support. In the
new marketing year, we could produce as much as 120 million tonnes," said B.V. Krishna Rao,
president of India's Rice Exporters Association.

The government raised the price at which it will buy new-season rice from farmers by 2.9 per
cent. India, which produced a record 117.94 million tonnes of rice in 2019/20, has started
planting the summer-sown crop as the monsoon has spread to main rice-growing areas in the
south and east.

The good monsoon rain and rising exports due to a rally in global prices have been encouraging
Indian farmers to plant more rice, said Nitin Gupta, vice president for Olam India's rice business.

Rice prices in Thailand and Vietnam, the second and third biggest exporter of the grain
respectively, hit multi-year highs this year due to limited supplies. Unlike its competitors, India
has a massive surplus for export and it will get bigger in the new season, Gupta said.

State-run agencies were holding 27.4 million tonnes of rice and another 21 million tonnes of un-
milled paddy, according to the state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI).

But another record harvest could dampen domestic prices and force the FCI to buy nearly half of
the output from farmers, said Rao.

https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/indias-rice-output-could-hit-record-farmers-expand-area-
1916961
India's rice production seen rising
PUBLISHED : 19 JUN 2020 AT 16:30
NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: REUTERS

 0
 


 


 

 0
A man walks in a filed covered with rice saplings at Kullan village in Kashmir's Ganderbal district, India,
on Thursday. (Reuters photo)

MUMBAI: India's rice production is likely to surge to a record high as farmers

are expanding the area under paddy because of good monsoon rains and after
the government raised the price at which it will buy the new-season crop.

Higher output by the world's biggest rice exporter could dampen domestic
prices and make exports more competitive, compensating for lower supplies
from rivals Thailand and Vietnam.
 It could also force India's state-run agencies to ramp up purchases from farmers
even as inventories are bulging.

"Farmers are interested in rice. They are likely to expand area due to
government support. In the new marketing year, we could produce as much as
120 million tonnes," said B.V. Krishna Rao, president of India's Rice Exporters
Association.

The government raised the price at which it will buy new-season rice from
farmers by 2.9%.

 Malaysia signs record rice deal with India

 Lockdown stalls Indian rice exports
 The future of rice production

India, which produced a record 117.94 million tonnes of rice in 2019/20, has
started planting the summer-sown crop as the monsoon has spread to main rice-
growing areas in the south and east.

"The good monsoon rain and rising exports due to a rally in global prices have
been encouraging Indian farmers to plant more rice,'' said Nitin Gupta, vice
president for Olam India's rice business.

Rice prices in Thailand and Vietnam, the second- and third-biggest exporter of
the grain respectively, hit multi-year highs this year due to limited supplies.
"Unlike its competitors, India has a massive surplus for export and it will get
bigger in the new season,'' Gupta said.

State-run agencies were holding 27.4 million tonnes of rice and another 21
million tonnes of un-milled paddy, according to the state-run Food Corporation
of India (FCI).

But another record harvest could dampen domestic prices and force the FCI to
buy nearly half of the output from farmers, said Rao.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1937348/indias-rice-production-seen-rising

Rice prices up  
 Yasir Wardad | Published:  June 19, 2020 09:40:40
File photo (collected)

The prices of all kinds of rice went up in the city market last week adding to
woes of the consumers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Prices of most rice varieties increased by Tk 3.0-4.0 per kilogram in last seven
days.

Coarse rice like Swarna, BR-11 and hybrid varieties showed a Tk 3.0 hike as
sold at Tk 40-46 a kg in the city market on Thursday.
Medium quality Brrridhan-28, Paijam, Lota were retailed at Tk 47-52 a kg
while finer rice Miniket, Jeerashail, and Najirshail at Tk 56-70 a kg on the
day.

The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a 4.0-6.4

per cent hike in rice prices in last seven days.

Traders said high price of Boro paddy has been causing a surge in rice prices
even during this peak Boro paddy harvesting season.

Market experts, however, put emphasis on strict market monitoring to prevent

any unusual hike in major staple during this pandemic.

Mohammad Asadullah, a Badamtoli- based rice trader in the city, said all
kinds of rice witnessed a hike of Tk 100-120 per 50-kg sack at mill gates in
last one and a half weeks.

"Our sources from milling hubs said prices might rise further," he added.

Md Hazrat Ali, a Nilphamari-based trader, said paddy prices have been rising
for last few weeks despite having good harvest which impacted rice prices.

Brridhan-28 paddy was selling at Tk 800 a maund which was maximum Tk

650 a maund last year, he added.

"Big millers and traders are also in a hurry to store paddy as much as they can
due to the pandemic."

Hybrid (milled) rice was selling at Tk 34-34.5 a kg while other coarse

varieties like Swarna, BR-11 at Tk 35-36 a kg, Mr. Hazratadded.

He said seasonal finer rice Miniket was wholesaled at Tk 50-56 a kg at mill-

gates in Nilphamari and Dinajpur on Thursday depending on its quality.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) secretary Humayun Kabir

Bhuiyan said the government should reinforce its mobile teams in the rice
market soon.

The current situation in the rice market is unusual he said, adding that the
government should procure rice or paddy as much as it can to tackle any
market upheaval like that of 2017.

And statistical agencies must have to deliver most authentic data on

production and demand for the staple, he added.
 However, the government could buy only 0.18 million tonnes of rice and
paddy in last two months out of its 1.95 million tonnes of target during this
Boro season, according to the Directorate General of Food (DGoF).

Now the public warehouses have a stock of 0.85 million tonnes of rice which
was 1.35 million tonnes in March.

The government is expecting 20.04 million tonnes of rice output from this
Boro season.

However, prices of broiler chicken, ginger, few vegetables and potato also
increased last week.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/rice-prices-up-1592538040

Thai govt to give rice farmers 100

billion baht in subsidies
 ASEANPLUS NEWS 
 Friday, 19 Jun 2020
9:49 AM MYT



BANGKOK (The Nation/ANN): The National Rice Policy Committee has earmarked
about Bt100 billion to provide subsidies for rice farmers for the 2020-2021 crop year.

Ratchada Thanadirek, deputy government spokesperson, said the committee chaired

by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, agreed in principle to provide subsidies to rice farmers
from Sept 1 to May 31,2021.

Initially the government will launch the rice-production enhancement project, under
which each farming family will be granted Bt1,000 per rai, limited at 20 rai.
About 4 million families will get financial aid worth a total of Bt56 billion. This
subsidy has been increased from last year’s Bt500 per rai offer, she told the press after
the meeting on Thursday (June 18).

The next step will be providing financial aid to delay the release of 7 million tonnes of
paddy rice in the market in a move to shore up the price, which usually drops when
large amounts of paddy flows into the market in the beginning of the harvest season.
This is estimated to cost a total of Bt36 billion, of which Bt30.3 billion will be spent
on loans and Bt5.7 billion in cash transfers.

Rice traders who stockpile rice, will also get a 3 per cent subsidy on interest rates,
which will cost the government a total of Bt610 million.

The third step will be organising rice marketplaces worth about Bt2.8 billion, she said.

The government is also planning to set aside Bt2.34 billion for the income-guarantee
programme, though some members of the committee are proposing an extra Bt2
billion spending on this scheme, so the new proposal will be submitted later.

Farmers will also be paid the difference between the market price and reference price
set by the government.

Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Prapat Phothasuthon said some

farmers did not benefit from the income guarantee last year, and that is why the
government may need to spend an extra Bt2 billion on this scheme.

The government last year offered a price guarantee of Bt15,000 per tonne for fragrant
rice, Bt14,000 for fragrant rice outside designated areas, Bt10,000 for ordinary rice
and Bt12,000 for glutinous rice.Rice production globally for the 2020-2021 crop year
is likely to rise by 8.1 million tonnes to 501.96 million tonnes.

While global rice stock will rise by 3.83 million tonnes to 184.18 million tonnes. The
largest stock is held by China, followed by India and Thailand.

So far, Thailand has exported 2.5 million tonnes of white rice, far from the targeted
Bt7.5 million tonnes in the second quarter. - The Nation/Asia News Network

TAGS / KEYWORDS:Thailand , Rice Farmers , Subsidy

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/19/thai-govt-to-give-rice-farmers-100-
billion-baht-in-subsidies
Rice price scheme renewed
Committee approves guarantee into 2021

PUBLISHED : 19 JUN 2020 AT 04:08

NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS
WRITER: CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

 52
 


 


 

 7
 Rice varieties sold in Pathum Thani. The rice price guarantee offers compensation if market prices fall
below the benchmark. Apichit Jinakul

The National Rice Policy Committee approved in principle on Thursday the rice
price guarantee scheme for the 2020/21 crop year, which is expected to use a
budget of 85.2 billion baht.

Of the 85.2 billion baht, 23.5 billion is allotted to price guarantees, with 56
billion allocated to support management and quality development costs for
farmers, and 5.72 billion subsidising the interest rate for loans extended to
stabilise domestic rice prices.

Rachada Dhanadirek, a deputy government spokesperson, said the annual

2020/21 scheme will be implemented between Sept 1 this year to May 31, 2021.

The guaranteed price will be decided on at the next meeting of the committee.
However, she said the price is likely to be on par with what the scheme used in
the previous season.

The scheme covers five main types of rice: white rice paddy with 15%
moisture, hom mali rice paddy, fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15%
moisture, glutinous rice paddy with 15% moisture and provincial fragrant rice
paddy.

 India's rice production seen rising

 Rice price guarantee
 Cabinet okays schemes for rice, oil palm

The rice price guarantee offers compensation if market prices fall below the
benchmark.

Under the scheme in the previous season, farmers were offered 10,000 baht per
tonne for white rice paddy with 15% moisture, limited to 30 tonnes per family
or 40 rai.

The guaranteed prices were set at 15,000 baht a tonne for Thai hom mali rice
paddy, limited to 14 tonnes per family or 40 rai; 11,000 baht per tonne of
fragrant Pathum Thani rice paddy with 15% moisture for a limit of 25 tonnes
per family or 40 rai; 12,000 baht a tonne for glutinous rice paddy with 15%
moisture, with a limit of 16 tonnes or 40 rai; and 14,000 baht a tonne for
provincial fragrant rice paddy, with a limit of 16 tonnes per family or 40 rai.

Ms Rachada said the committee also endorsed in principle measures to stabilise

the domestic rice price, with a target of 7 million tonnes of paddy, offering 36
billion baht in loans.

The loan scheme will cover farmers who agree to delay their paddy, agricultural
cooperatives who agree to gather rice and add value to the grain, and the 3%
interest rate subsidy programme for rice traders who agree to hold their stocks
for about 2-6 months.
The loan scheme for farmers who agree to delay paddy sales will cost an
estimated 19.8 billion baht, and the loan scheme for agricultural cooperatives to
gather rice and add value to rice will cost 15.6 billion.

The 3% interest rate subsidy programme for rice traders is estimated to cost the
government 610 million baht.

According to Ms Rachada, the committee also approved in principle 1,000 baht

per rai per rice farmer family with a limit of 20 rai or 20,000 baht per family,
aiming to assist 4.31 million families.

This scheme is estimated to cost some 56 billion baht.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1937260/rice-price-scheme-renewed

ness  Cambodia predicted to export 800,000 tonnes of rice in 2020

A vendor piles sacks of rice for sale in

Phnom Penh (Photo: AP)
 Cambodia predicted to export 800,000 tonnes of
rice in 2020
By

 VNA

 -

June 19, 2020

Cambodia’s rice exports are expected to reach 800,000 tonnes in 2020, an estimated rise of 29
percent compared to 2019, according to China’s Xinhua News Agency.

It quoted Ngin Chhay, an official from the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, as saying that his country had seen a remarkable increase in rice exports in the first five
months of this year due to high demand from the international market as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic.

The Southeast Asian nation exported a total of 356,097 tonnes of rice to 54 countries and territories
around the world during the January-May period, up 42 percent over the same period last year.

https://english.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodia-predicted-to-export-800000-tonnes-of-rice-in-
2020-165663/

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'Dark Matter' DNA Revealed

to be Vital for Rice
Reproduction

'Dark Matter' DNA Revealed to be Vital for Rice

Reproduction
Volume 90%
Scientists have been puzzled over non-coding DNA sequences, or 'dark matter' DNA, for a long time.
They previously thought the 'junk DNA' had no function, but a new study shows it has a bigger role in
reproduction than scientists imagined.
 Author: khou.com
Published: 9:48 AM CDT June 19, 2020
Updated: 9:08 AM CDT June 19, 2020

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https://www.khou.com/video/tech/science/amaze-lab/dark-matter-dna-revealed-to-be-vital-for-rice-
reproduction/609-09899a01-5cfc-4d1f-aceb-10bef5f4dd50

Dark matter' DNA is vital for rice reproduction

Regions of DNA that give rise to non-coding RNA are required for proper
development of plant reproductive organs.
Date:

June 19, 2020

Source:

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Summary:

Researchers have shed light on the reproductive role of 'dark matter' DNA - non-coding DNA
sequences that previously seemed to have no function. Their findings have revealed that a specific
non-coding genomic region is essential for the proper development of the male and female
reproductive organs in rice.

    
Share:

FULL STORY

Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate

University (OIST) have shed light on the reproductive role of 'dark matter' DNA --
non-coding DNA sequences that previously seemed to have no function.
ADVERTISEMENT
Their findings, published today in Nature Communications, have revealed that a specific non-coding genomic
region is essential for the proper development of the male and female reproductive organs in rice.
"Rice is one of the major global crops and is the staple food in many countries, including Japan," said Dr.
Reina Komiya, senior author of the research paper and associate researcher from the OIST Science and
Technology Group. "Further research into how these genomic regions affect plant reproduction could
potentially lead to increased productivity and more stable yields of rice."
Many previous developmental studies have focused on genes -- the sections of DNA that provide instructions
for making proteins. But in complex creatures like plants and animals, a large fraction of the genome --
typically between 90-98% -- doesn't actually code for proteins.
The vast expanse of this 'junk DNA' has long puzzled biologists, with many dubbing it the 'dark matter' of the
genome. But recent research suggests that many of these non-coding genomic regions may have a function
after all, giving rise to non-coding RNA.
Scientists have now identified numerous types of non-coding RNA, ranging from small molecules only 20-30
nucleotide bases in length to long molecules of over 200 nucleotides. Although studies show that non-coding
RNA plays a vital role in the regulation of gene expression -- the process where a gene's instructions are used
to make RNA or protein -- the precise function of each specific non-coding RNA remains poorly understood.
Dr. Komiya is particularly interested in reproduction-specific RNAs. "These are non-coding RNAs that are
produced as the reproductive system forms. I wanted to uncover what role they play in the development of
stamens and pistils, the male and female reproductive organs in plants."
Making mutants
In the study, Dr. Komiya's group focused on a reproduction-specific microRNA -- a major class of small non-
coding RNAs -- called microRNA2118.
The scientists created mutant rice strains by deleting a region of the genome that contains multiple copies of
the specific DNA sequence that gives rise to microRNA2118. They found that the mutant strains were sterile
and showed abnormalities in the structure of the stamens and pistils.
"This means that the role of microRNA2118 in the proper development of the stamens and pistils is essential
for plant fertility," said Dr. Komiya.
Revealing RNA and probing proteins
In order to delve deeper into how microRNA2118 controlled development of the anther, the scientists then
identified which other molecules were affected by microRNA2118.
They found that microRNA2118 triggered the cleavage of long non-coding RNA, producing many tiny RNA
molecules, called secondary small RNAs.
"Interestingly, these small RNAs were rich in uracil, one of the four nucleotide bases found in RNA, which is
very unusual compared to other small RNAs," said Dr. Komiya. "We hope to find out the exact function of
these small RNAs -- and whether this difference in nucleotide composition is important -- in further research."
The scientists also discovered that two Argonaute proteins that were only produced in the stamen were
dependent on the presence of microRNA2118. Previous research has shown that Argonaute proteins team up
with small RNAs to carry out many regulatory functions, such as silencing genes and cleaving RNA.
Dr. Komiya's group therefore proposes that the Argonaute proteins may interact with microRNA2118 to
trigger production of the secondary small RNAs. The proteins may also interact with the secondary small
 RNAs to silence specific regions of the genome. The team hopes to elucidate exactly how the Argonaute
proteins and secondary small RNAs affect development of the plant reproductive system in further research.
"Reproduction is an important phenomenon of passing genetic information to the next generation and is
essential for maintaining a stable yield supply. However, development of the reproductive system is
complicated, and many aspects remain unknown," concluded Dr. Komiya. "This study shows that non-coding
RNAs, derived from regions of the genome that were thought to be non-functional, are vital for plant
reproduction. Exploring non-coding RNAs further is an exciting and important area of research."

Story Source:
Materials provided by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University.
Original written by Dani Ellenby. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:
1. Saori Araki, Ngoc Tu Le, Koji Koizumi, Alejandro Villar-Briones, Ken-Ichi Nonomura, Masaki Endo,
Haruhiko Inoue, Hidetoshi Saze, Reina Komiya. miR2118-dependent U-rich phasiRNA production in rice
anther wall development. Nature Communications, 2020; 11 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16637-3

Cite This Page:

 MLA

 APA
 Chicago
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University. "'Dark matter' DNA is vital for rice
reproduction: Regions of DNA that give rise to non-coding RNA are required for proper development of plant
reproductive organs.." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 19 June 2020.
<www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200619090525.htm>.

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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200619090525.htm

Developing agriculture
Agriculture is considered the backbone of Pakistan's economy, which relies heavily on
its major crops. There are vast gaps between the acquired and actual output of
produce, which suffers due to lack of appropriate technology, use of inputs at
improper times, unavailability of water and land use and inadequate education about
insect pest control, which not only negatively affects produce but also significantly
reduces the amount of produce. Farmers mainly use synthetic chemicals for the
control of insect pests, but these are used unwisely.

To emphasize the major shortfalls and actual performance of major field crops, a
study investigated the relationship between agricultural GDP and the output of major
crops, including wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize and cotton, in Pakistan over a period of
65 years from 1950 to 2015. Time series data were collected from the Economic
Survey of Pakistan (various publications). Crop data were analysed using the ordinary
least square method and the Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, and the results
were interpreted using Johansen's co-integration test. The study found that the output
of wheat, rice and cotton has a positive and significant relationship with the
agricultural GDP of Pakistan, while the output of sugarcane has a negative and non-
significant relationship with the agricultural GDP of Pakistan. Therefore, I
recommend that the government of Pakistan should launch new funding programmes
for the development of the agricultural sector.

Taimoor Bashir Herl

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/674445-developing-agriculture

Pakistan’s rice exports may surpass 4 million

tonnes in FY20
With more orders during Covid-19, basmati exports surge 42.6pc in 11MFY20
By

 Hassan Naqvi

 -

June 18, 2020

888

LAHORE: Amid Covid-19 pandemic, food security has become the first priority across the globe,
cashing on which Pakistan is likely to achieve the highest volume of rice exports (4 million tonnes)
in FY20.
This was stated by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Shahjahan Malik in an
exclusive chat with Profit.

He informed that Pakistan’s basmati exports rose 12.88pc to 92,454 tonnes in May 2020, as
compared to 81,902 tonnes in the same month of last year.

Cumulatively, in the 11 months (July-19 to May-20) of this fiscal year, basmati rice exports
witnessed a phenomenal increase of 42.59pc, from 597,639 tonnes during the 11 months of last fiscal
to 852,177 tonnes during the period under review.

However, Malik shared, the country’s non-basmati exports in 11MFY20 remained lower by 200,000
tonnes when compared with last year.

“Overall, in this fiscal year, our rice exports will cross 4 million tonnes.”

He said that FY20 has been a satisfactory year for the country’s basmati rice exporters, as Pakistan,
for the first time in history, achieved the milestone of over 100,000 tonnes of basmati exports in a
month (109,140 tonnes of basmati rice were exported in April alone).

“We could have touched the magical figure of 1 million tonnes of basmati rice exports had the
Pakistani rice was not more expensive than India; Indian rice is cheaper by $40/60 per tonne for
C1121 steamed rice. Our overall basmati exports will be around 920,000 tonnes in FY20, much
better than our last year’s exports of over 600,000 tonnes.”   

Malik informed that domestic as well as international demand had spiked due to panic buying amid
Covid-19, owing to which Pakistan’s exports to European Union (EU) and GCC region countries
increased.

“The country’s overall rice exports are currently hovering around $2.2 billion and the government
and the exporters are trying to take it up to $5 billion by 2023,” he maintained.

LOCUST THREAT

Malik noted that the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation had recently warned of the
second locust attack in Pakistan in July this year.

“As cultivation of paddy rice initiated recently in Pakistan, the crop will be in flowering stage in
Sindh and south Punjab during July and this poses a huge threat to the country’s rice crop,” he said.
“So, the department of plant protection, which falls under the Ministry of National Food Security,
must ensure aerial spray and other measures. However, with only one aeroplane in working
condition, this seems highly unlikely.”
 Meanwhile, talking to this scribe, Muntazir Mehdi, a rice farmer from Chakwal, requested also the
food security department to safeguard his rice crop from the swarms of locusts, as this was his only
source of income.

“We have been hearing from experts that locusts’ swarms would be four times bigger this time
around…so we urge the prime minister to order timely measures in order to save our crops from the
wrath of locusts,” he added. 

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/06/18/pakistans-rice-exports-may-surpass-4-million-tonnes-in-
fy20/

Cambodia's rice exports expected to

hit 800,000 tons in 2020 due to high
demand during Covid-19
 ASEANPLUS NEWS 
 Friday, 19 Jun 2020
5:45 PM MYT



PHNOM PENH (Xinhua): Cambodia's milled rice exports to the international market are
expected to reach 800,000 tonnes in 2020, an estimated rise of 29 per cent from 620,106 tonness
last year, a senior agriculture official have announced.

Ngin Chhay, director general of agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries, said the kingdom had seen a remarkable increase in rice exports in the first five
months of this year due to high demand from the international market as a result of the Covid-19
pandemic.

He said the South-East Asian nation exported a total of 356,097 tons of milled rice to 54
countries and regions during the January-May period this year, up 42 percent over the same
period last year.

China and Europe were the biggest buyers of Cambodia's milled rice during the first five months
of this year, the official said, adding that the country shipped 136,825 tons of milled rice to
China, up 25 per cent, and 122,010 tons to Europe, up 51 per cent.
"Based on the figures in the first five months of this year, we expect that Cambodia's milled rice
exports to the international market will hit at least 800,000 tons in 2020," Chhay said in a press
conference in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia produced about 10 million tons of paddy rice last year, according to the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

With this amount, the kingdom saw paddy rice surplus of about 5.6 million tons in equivalent to
3.5 million tons of milled rice. - Xinhua/Asian News Network

TAGS / KEYWORDS:Cambodia , Rice Exports , Rising

https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2020/06/19/cambodia039s-rice-exports-expected-
to-hit-800000-tons-in-2020-due-to-high-demand-during-covid-19

8 JUNE 2020  Last Updated at 6:56 PM | SOURCE: PTI

TN seeks release of pending milled rice subsidy from Centre

       

Chennai, June 18 (PTI): Tamil Nadu has asked the Centre to release the pending
custom milled rice (CMR) subsidy of Rs 2,609 crore to facilitate paddy procurement
from farmers, state Minister R Kamaraj said on Thursday. The Minister for food and
civil supplies, who interacted through a video conference with the Union Consumer
Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan from the Secretariat here, said the Central
government would be ready to roll out the ''One Nation, One Card Scheme'' in Tamil
Nadu by September. "The subsidy of Rs 2,609 crore is pending for release from the
Centre. We request the amount to be immediately released to facilitate the paddy
procurement from the farmers," Kamaraj said in a speech copy released to the media.
The Minister recalled the Chief Minister K Palaniswami''s letter to Paswan on June 12
for extension of free supply of rice and pulses to all cardholders in the state till
September. "To mitigate the sufferings of the people during the COVID-19 lockdown,
the Chief Minister has also announced distribution of Rs 1,000 in cash to all rice
cardholders, amounting to Rs 218.35 crore," he said. On the rollout of ''One Nation,
One Card Scheme'', he said 99.72 per cent of the beneficiaries of the public
distribution system (PDS) have already been Aadhaar seeded. The government has
issued orders sanctioning Rs 38 crore to upgrade the e-point of sales devices in all the
34,773 PDS shops with procurement and installation of biometric devices. Integration
of the system would be completed by September for onboarding ''One Nation, One
Card Scheme'' and the government would be ready by September, he added. PTI VIJ
NVG NVG
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/tn-seeks-release-of-pending-milled-rice-subsidy-from-centre/
1870184

Covid-19 demand for milled rice could mean

record exports
Hin Pisei  | Publication date 18 June 2020 | 21:16 ICT
Share

Cambodia exported 356,097 tonnes of milled rice in the first five months of the year. Heng Chivoan

Cambodia could export between 800,000 and one million tonnes of milled rice this year, buoyed
by sustained demand stemming from Covid-19 uncertainty, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries senior official Ngin Chhay said on Wednesday.
Chhay, the director-general of the ministry’s General Directorate of Agriculture, told a press
conference that the Kingdom exported 350,000 tonnes of rice in the first five months of the year,
to more than 60 countries.

He said: “I hope that this year, according to estimates, rice exports may near the one million
tonne mark if the orders retain their momentum, or at least exceed 800,000 tonnes.”

At the same time, Chhay urged farmers, investors and exporters to work together to ensure that
the Kingdom’s products meet quality standards to maintain existing markets and secure new
ones.

The ministry’s Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality reported that
milled-rice exports to the international market in the first five months of this year skyrocketed
42.34 per cent to 356,097 tonnes from 250,172 tonnes during the same period last year.

The European market accounted for 122,010 tonnes, up 51.10 per cent year-on-year from 80,749
tonnes, the Chinese market 136,825 tonnes, up 25.26 per cent, ASEAN countries 45,825 tonnes,
up 45.39 per cent, and other destinations 51,437 tonnes, up 79.40 per cent.

Fragrant rice accounted for 289,287 tonnes, or 81.24 per cent, white long-grain rice 62,779
tonnes and long-grain parboiled rice 4,031 tonnes.

Last month alone, rice exports reached 55,845 tonnes, an increase of 53.38 per cent compared to
May last year, of which 51,683 tonnes was fragrant rice, 3,578 tonnes was white long-grain rice
and 584 tonnes was long-grain parboiled rice.

Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) board chairman Hun Lak said milled-rice exports showed
remarkable performance in the first five months this year compared to last year.

He attributed this to two main factors – increased domestic production and expanding stockpiles
worldwide in response to the pandemic.

Lak said: “Looking at data over the past five months, Cambodian milled-rice exports will be no
less than 800,000 tonnes, but everything depends on the outcome of the auctions.

“If everything runs as smoothly as it is now, then exports will hit the one million tonne target as
predicted.”

CRF secretary-general Lun Yeng told The Post that Cambodia is now capable of exporting
milled-rice in excess of one million tonnes per year as paddy production continues to grow
gradually.
 The surge in exports, especially of fragrant rice, will generate more revenue for the Kingdom, he
said.

“But I would not be so bold as to formulate an estimate of how much money we would bring in,
as prices are subject to fluctuation. I do, however, expect we’ll make more than last year,” said
Yeng.

Cambodia’s premium-grade fragrant rice sells for $920 per tonne on the international market,
while standard-grade fragrant rice fetches $830 and standard-grade white rice goes for $550, he
said.

Premium-grade fragrant rice accounts for more than 80 per cent of Cambodia’s total rice exports.

The government originally pledged in August 2010 to export one million tonnes of rice by 2015.

But the Kingdom exported 387,000 tonnes of milled rice in 2014, 538,396 tonnes in 2015,
542,144 tonnes in 2016, 635,679 tonnes in 2017, 626,225 tonnes in 2018 and 620,106 tonnes last
year, CRF data show.

The Kingdom’s 2019 milled-rice exports were worth about $501 million, down 4.3 per cent
compared to $524 million in 2018.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/covid-19-demand-milled-rice-could-mean-record-exports?
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T.N. seeks free rice, pulses from Centre

CHENNAI,  JUNE 19, 2020 02:46 IST

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The State government has written to the Centre seeking further free supply of rice and
pulses to all ration cardholders in the State from July to September. During a video-
conference meeting, Food Minister R. Kamaraj urged the Union Minister for Food
and Public Distribution to release the supply at the earliest. An official release said he
recalled that the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had on June 12 written to
the Centre in this regard.
Tamil Nadu also sought immediate disbursal of the due Custom Milled Rice (CMR)
subsidy of ₹2,609 crore to facilitate paddy procurement from farmers.
About 99.72% of Public Distribution System beneficiaries have already been Aadhaar
seeded, it said.
As orders were issued sanctioning ₹38 crore for the upgrading of E-PoS devices in all
the 34,773 PDS shops, system integrators would be able to complete work by
September 2020 for going onboard ‘One Nation One Card Scheme’ by September this
year.
Comments
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https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tn-seeks-free-rice-pulses-from-centre/
article31865001.ece

Food Minister: Govt to procure rice at

previously fixed rates
 Tribune Desk
  Published at 09:12 pm June 17th, 2020
File photo of Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder Collected

The minister came up with the remarks at a meeting via video

conference with Barisal division officials in the morning, reports UNB

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday said that the government would
procure rice or paddy at rates previously announced by the government and the prices
would not be hiked.

The minister came up with the remarks at a meeting via video conference with Barisal
division officials in the morning, reports UNB.
Farmers are getting proper price due to bumper yield of Boro crops under the monitoring
and direction of the government, he said, adding: “Procurement should be sped up to
maintain the market price.”

Legal action will be taken against any kind of irregularities in procuring the rice and
paddy, he warned.

Requesting mill owners, Majumder said it is time to help people during coronavirus and
step forward with an attitude of providing service.

This year’s procurement must be farmer-friendly and zero tolerance will be shown over
the standard, the minister said, adding that no farmer should sell their production to
middle-men or syndicates.

Directorate General of Food, Additional Directorate General, commissioner of Barisal

Division, Regional Food controller, deputy commissioners of Barisal, Pirojpur, Barguna,
Jhalakathi, Bhola, and Patuakhali districts were present at the video conference meeting.

https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/06/17/food-minister-govt-to-procure-rice-at-previously-
fixed-rates

New World, New Promotions   

By Sarah Moran
 
ARLINGTON, VA -- As people all over the world are changing how they work, play, and consume, USA
Rice is conducting similar changes in the organization's international marketing programs.  Meetings with
importers and utilizers of U.S. rice are happening virtually, rather than in person, and most of the
consumer-facing promotions have transitioned to social media as social distancing restrictions due to the
COVID-19 crisis are still in effect in many countries.

Other changes include taking a step back and using this time to conduct additional research on rice.

"In Mexico, we are commencing nutraceutical research, which means determining the health benefits of
rice in addition to its basic nutritional value, to help create messaging that resonates with health-conscious
consumers," said Asiha Grigsby, director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere.  "And
in Canada, we are looking to develop consumer surveys to determine how purchasing behavior has
changed over the past year."

"In Taiwan we are conducting research on cooking attributes of various types of U.S. rice to share with
the foodservice industry," said Jim Guinn, director of Asia promotion programs.  "The humanitarian
aspects of our promotions are also important, as we show appreciation for those on the front lines of the
coronavirus pandemic.  We are now working on a second event in Singapore, delivering bento boxes to
hospital workers and other unsung heroes."

"Many retail sectors are seeing significant increases in their online sales platforms," said Eszter Somogyi,
director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa.  "We're reaching out to U.S. rice importers in several
markets to develop marketing materials and activities that can help U.S. rice sales in this arena."

The only constant in life is change and USA Rice is working to ensure our overseas activities are
evolving to remain effective in increasing sales of U.S. rice and are relevant in the current environment. 

The U.S. has exported more than 1.1 million tons in the first four months of 2020, valued at $655 million
- a 5 percent increase in volume from 2019 and a 10 percent increase in value.

USA Rice Daily

Once Thought to Have No Function, “Dark

Matter” DNA Is Vital for Rice Reproduction
TOPICS:Cell BiologyDNAGeneticsMolecular BiologyOkinawa Institute Of Science And Technology
Graduate University

By OKINAWA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE

UNIVERSITY JUNE 19, 2020

The pistils in mutant strains contain a higher number of stigmas — the part of the pistil that
collects pollen — than in wildtype strains. Yellow bars indicate 1mm. Credit: OIST

Regions of DNA that give rise to non-coding RNA are required for proper development of

plant reproductive organs.

Researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)
have shed light on the reproductive role of ‘dark matter’ DNA — non-coding DNA sequences
that previously seemed to have no function.

Their findings, published today (June 19, 2020) in Nature Communications, have revealed that a
specific non-coding genomic region is essential for the proper development of the male and
female reproductive organs in rice.

“Rice is one of the major global crops and is the staple food in many countries, including Japan,”
said Dr. Reina Komiya, senior author of the research paper and associate researcher from the
OIST Science and Technology Group. “Further research into how these genomic regions affect
plant reproduction could potentially lead to increased productivity and more stable yields of
rice.”

MicroRNA2118 targets over 1000 long non-coding RNAs for cleavage to produce many
secondary uracil-rich small RNAs, which is possibly aided by Argonaute. These secondary small
RNAs then may interact with Argonaute to regulate development of reproductive organs. Credit:
OIST

Many previous developmental studies have focused on genes — the sections of DNA that
provide instructions for making proteins. But in complex creatures like plants and animals, a
large fraction of the genome — typically between 90-98% — doesn’t actually code for proteins.

The vast expanse of this ‘junk DNA’ has long puzzled biologists, with many dubbing it the ‘dark
matter’ of the genome. But recent research suggests that many of these non-coding genomic
regions may have a function after all, giving rise to non-coding RNA.

Scientists have now identified numerous types of non-coding RNA, ranging from small
molecules only 20-30 nucleotide bases in length to long molecules of over 200 nucleotides.
Although studies show that non-coding RNA plays a vital role in the regulation of gene
expression — the process where a gene’s instructions are used to make RNA or protein — the
precise function of each specific non-coding RNA remains poorly understood.

Dr. Komiya is particularly interested in reproduction-specific RNAs. “These are non-coding

RNAs that are produced as the reproductive system forms. I wanted to uncover what role they
play in the development of stamens and pistils, the male and female reproductive organs in
plants.”

Making mutants

In the study, Dr. Komiya’s group focused on a reproduction-specific microRNA — a major class
of small non-coding RNAs — called microRNA2118.

The scientists created mutant rice strains by deleting a region of the genome that contains
multiple copies of the specific DNA sequence that gives rise to microRNA2118. They found that
the mutant strains were sterile and showed abnormalities in the structure of the stamens and
pistils.

“This means that the role of microRNA2118 in the proper development of the stamens and pistils
is essential for plant fertility,” said Dr. Komiya.

Revealing RNA and probing proteins

In order to delve deeper into how microRNA2118 controlled development of the anther, the
scientists then identified which other molecules were affected by microRNA2118.

They found that microRNA2118 triggered the cleavage of long non-coding RNA, producing
many tiny RNA molecules, called secondary small RNAs.

“Interestingly, these small RNAs were rich in uracil, one of the four nucleotide bases found in
RNA, which is very unusual compared to other small RNAs,” said Dr. Komiya. “We hope to
find out the exact function of these small RNAs — and whether this difference in nucleotide
composition is important — in further research.”

The scientists also discovered that two Argonaute proteins that were only produced in the stamen
were dependent on the presence of microRNA2118. Previous research has shown that Argonaute
proteins team up with small RNAs to carry out many regulatory functions, such as silencing
genes and cleaving RNA.

Dr. Komiya’s group therefore proposes that the Argonaute proteins may interact with
microRNA2118 to trigger production of the secondary small RNAs. The proteins may also
interact with the secondary small RNAs to silence specific regions of the genome. The team
hopes to elucidate exactly how the Argonaute proteins and secondary small RNAs affect
development of the plant reproductive system in further research.
“Reproduction is an important phenomenon of passing genetic information to the next generation
and is essential for maintaining a stable yield supply. However, development of the reproductive
system is complicated, and many aspects remain unknown,” concluded Dr. Komiya. “This study
shows that non-coding RNAs, derived from regions of the genome that were thought to be non-
functional, are vital for plant reproduction. Exploring non-coding RNAs further is an exciting
and important area of research.”

###

Reference: 19 June 2020, Nature Communications.

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16637-3

This research was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Strategic
Creative Research Promotion Project PRESTO (creation of next-generation basic technology for
control of plant life phenomena in the field) and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on
Innovative Areas (RNA taxonomy).

SHARETWEETPIN

Provide free rice, pulses for 3 months:

Minister
Giving details about the progress for implementation of One Nation One Card
Scheme, the minister said 99.72 per cent of PDS beneficiaries has been Aadhaar
seeded.

     

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Published: 19th June 2020 06:13 AM  |   Last Updated: 19th June 2020 06:13
AM   |  A+A A-

Representational image (File photo| PTI))

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Food Minister R Kamaraj on Thursday urged the Centre to provide free
supply of rice and pulses to all cardholders in the State for July, August and
September. He made the request during a video conference meeting with Union
Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan.

Referring to the pending Custom Milled Rice (CMR) subsidy of Rs 2,609 crore,
Kamaraj urged the Union Minister to release the amount immediately to facilitate
paddy procurement.Giving details about the progress for implementation of One
Nation One Card Scheme, the minister said 99.72 per cent of PDS beneficiaries has
been Aadhaar seeded.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/jun/19/provide-free-rice-pulses-for-3-months-
minister-2158458.html