17th December 2021 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
17 December ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 11
1|www.ricepluss.com , www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874
Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

Chief Editor  1st LD-Writethru: Scientists explore roadmap for
 Hamlik larger, greener global rice production
Managing Editor  Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global
 Abdul Sattar Shah rice production
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rice disease immunity protein discovered by
 Rozeen Shaukat
Shanghai scientists
English Editor
 Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor rice production
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas  USACE researchers collaborate with Native American
Editorial Associates tribes to improve wildrice productivity
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid  Billion on rice imports between 2017-2020
 Javed Islam Agha
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)  Ghana spends $1bn on rice importation
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain  Senators Ask Biden Admin to Take India to the WTO
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
for Rice and Wheat Subsidies
 Islam Akhtar Khan  Crop Insurance Info Session Features Arkansas Rice
Farmer
Editorial Advisory Board
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim  India's rice exports rose by over 33% to 11.79 MT in
Assistant Professor, Gomal first seven months of current FY, likely to surpass last
University DIK
 Dr.Hasina Gul  For IBS, specific diets are less important than
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK expected
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University  Ghana spent over GH¢6.8 billion on importation of
of Swabi rice in three years - Kyerematen
 Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of  Bihar: Government to procure only parboiled rice
Swabi from now on
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar  Rice Disease Immunity Protein Discovered by
 Falak Naz Shah Shanghai Scientists
Head Food Science & Technology
ART, Peshawar
1st LD-Writethru: Scientists explore roadmap for larger,

greener global rice production
Xinhua, December 16, 2021

BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- An international group of scientists has made a global
assessment of rice-cropping systems in search of opportunities to improve rice production.
Rice is the main staple food for more than half of the global population. Although the demand
for rice is expected to grow, its production is challenged by factors like climate change, energy
shortages and resource degradation.
Researchers from China, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Uruguay and several global
research institutes assessed rice yields and efficiency in using water, fertilizer, pesticides and
labor across 32 rice-cropping systems that account for half of the rice harvested globally.
According to the results published in Nature Communications, there is still substantial room for
increasing rice production and reducing the negative environmental impact.
Yield potential is defined as the yield of a cultivar when grown in environments to which it is
adapted, with no limits on nutrients or water, and with pests, diseases, weeds and other stresses
effectively controlled.
The assessment shows the global average rice yield represents 57 percent of the yield potential,
with a wide range of gaps across rice systems.
Irrigated rice systems in Egypt, northern China, Australia and California in the United States
have reached over 75 percent of the yield potential. About two-thirds of the total rice-producing
area among the 32 evaluated cropping systems has yields less than 75 percent of the yield
potential. Average yields are low for rain-fed lowland rice in Sub-Saharan Africa and upland
rice in northern Brazil, representing 20 to 40 percent of the yield potential.
The researchers say that increasing the average yield to a level equal to 75 percent of the yield
potential in 19 cropping systems would increase global annual rice production by 32 percent,
sufficient to meet the projected global rice demand by 2030.
Nitrogen balance is a strong indicator of inefficient fertilizer use and potential reactive nitrogen
losses into the environment, which suggests a high risk of degrading soil quality.
The results show that reducing the current large nitrogen balance observed in eight cropping
systems is equivalent to a 95 percent reduction across the 32 cropping systems.
The authors say the study provides strategic insight into the yield gap and resource-use
efficiency that is essential for prioritizing national and global agricultural research and
development investments, to ensure adequate rice supply while minimizing the negative
environmental impact in the coming decades. Enditem
http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2021-12/16/content_77935685.htm
Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global rice

production
CGTN
9:14, 17-Dec-2021
Rice is the main staple food for more than half of the global population. /CFP
An international group of scientists has made a global assessment of rice-cropping systems in

search of opportunities to improve rice production.
Rice is the main staple food for more than half of the global population. Although the demand
for rice is expected to grow, its production is challenged by factors like climate change, energy
shortages and resource degradation.Researchers from China, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia,
India, Uruguay and several global research institutes assessed rice yields and efficiency in using
water, fertilizer, pesticides and labor across 32 rice-cropping systems that account for half of the
rice harvested globally.
According to the results published in Nature Communications, there is still substantial room for
increasing rice production and reducing the negative environmental impact.Yield potential is
defined as the yield of a cultivar when grown in environments to which it is adapted, with no
limits on nutrients or water, and with pests, diseases, weeds and other stresses effectively
controlled.
The assessment shows the global average rice yield represents 57 percent of the yield potential,
with a wide range of gaps across rice systems.Irrigated rice systems in Egypt, northern China,
Australia and California in the United States have reached over 75 percent of the yield potential.
About two-thirds of the total rice-producing area among the 32 evaluated cropping systems has
yields less than 75 percent of the yield potential. Average yields are low for rain-fed lowland rice
in Sub-Saharan Africa and upland rice in northern Brazil, representing 20 to 40 percent of the
yield potential.
The researchers say that increasing the average yield to a level equal to 75 percent of the yield
potential in 19 cropping systems would increase global annual rice production by 32 percent,
sufficient to meet the projected global rice demand by 2030.
Nitrogen balance is a strong indicator of inefficient fertilizer use and potential reactive nitrogen
losses into the environment, which suggests a high risk of degrading soil quality.The results
show that reducing the current large nitrogen balance observed in eight cropping systems is
equivalent to a 95 percent reduction across the 32 cropping systems.
The authors say the study provides strategic insight into the yield gap and resource-use efficiency
that is essential for prioritizing national and global agricultural research and development
investments, to ensure adequate rice supply while minimizing the negative environmental impact
in the coming decades.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-12-17/Scientists-explore-roadmap-for-larger-greener-global-
rice-production-163FWVbdIK4/index.html
Rice disease immunity protein discovered by Shanghai scientists

Li Qian
16:37 UTC+8, 2021-12-16
Ti Gong
Leading expert He Zuhua
Shanghai scientists have discovered a new immune protein against the fungal rice blast disease,
offering new approaches to reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
Rice is vulnerable to a variety of pathogens. Rice blast, described as the cancer of rice, leads to
loss of up to 10 percent of the world's rice yield. Every year, it causes China to lose 3 billion
kilograms of rice. To fight against the disease, farmers usually apply chemical pesticides, which,
however, foster severe environmental pollution.
The latest study has offered a possible solution. P1C1 was found in rice to acts as a hub for the
plant's immune mechanisms, according to the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences
(CEMPS) under the Chinese Academy of Science.
The protein plays an important role in enabling crops to obtain broad-spectrum resistance to rice
blast. It can stabilize methionine synthetases to promote the rice's defense metabolism.
Researchers further found that the natural variation of P1C1 contributes to divergence in field
blast resistance between the rice subspecies indica and japonica, providing a potential breeding
target for broad-spectrum blast resistance in crops.
The research results were published on the website of the leading scientific journal "Nature" on
Thursday.
Source: SHINE Editor: Cai Wenjun

https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2112169598/
Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global

rice production
Xinhua, December 16, 2021
BEIJING, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- An international group of scientists has made a global
assessment of rice cropping systems to explore opportunities for improving rice production.
Researchers from China, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, India, Uruguay and several global
research institutes assessed rice yields and efficiency in using water, fertilizer, pesticides and
labor across 32 rice cropping systems that accounted for half of the global rice harvest area.
According to the results published in Nature Communications, there is still substantial room to
increase rice production and reduce the negative environmental impact. Enditem
http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2021-12/16/content_77935492.htm
USACE researchers collaborate with Native

American tribes to improve wildrice productivity
Photo By Jason Scott | A healthy stand of wildrice is indicative of a highly functional ecosystem
in the... read more
VICKSBURG, MS, UNITED STATES
12.16.2021
Story by Jason Scott
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center
VICKSBURG, Miss. – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) researchers are working with
the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and other Native American tribes
to help improve wildrice (Zizania palustris) productivity. The U.S. Army Engineer Research and
Development Center (ERDC) work is supporting two six-year USACE Detroit District Planning
Assistance to States studies.
Wildrice, or ―manoomin‖ in the Anishinaabe or Ojibwe language, is found in fringe and riparian
wetlands along lakes and rivers in the Great Lakes region. It is culturally significant and an
important food source for Great Lake region Native American tribes. Wildrice is also a vital part
of traditional religious ceremonies for these tribes.
The Native American tribes harvest wildrice using traditional methods. Called ―knocking the
rice,‖ harvesters gently guide a canoe through the rice while using ―knockers‖ to carefully knock
or brush ripe rice into the canoe, taking great care not to damage the plants. This centuries-old
method helps sustain wildrice stands.
Knowledge of wildrice has been handed down through oral tradition. ERDC researchers found
the Native American tribes to be an invaluable repository of wildrice ecological and cultural
information.
In addition to its cultural significance, wildrice is also important to the region‘s ecology.
Wildrice is an annual plant that lacks a rhizome, and its seeds germinate following a prolonged
submergence in cold temperatures. In ecosystems where it is found, wildrice functions as an
aquatic habitat and food resource.
Wildrice is also sensitive to ecosystem changes. Large stands of wildrice indicate a healthy,
functioning ecosystem. However, over the last few decades wildrice production has significantly
declined.
Many factors, including precipitation, water quality, water temperature, vegetation competition,
soil properties and hydrology, impact wildrice production.
―Current ERDC research focuses on 12 lakes in the upper peninsula of Michigan,‖ said Dr. Jacob
Berkowitz, research soil scientist in the ERDC‘s Environmental Laboratory. ―There are varying
levels of wildrice productivity across these research lakes.‖
ERDC research at the lakes is focusing on three components, each important to sustaining
wildrice production: nutrient concentrations in the water column and in sediment porewater, soil
physicochemical properties and hydrology.
―The ERDC continues to work collaboratively with the Native American tribes of the upper
Great Lakes region to identify ecological threats to wildrice,‖ Berkowitz said. ―Researchers are
developing monitoring and mapping tools to help the tribes improve wildrice management.‖
The benefits of these updated management practices will include improved water quality,
reduced flood risks and ensure the future sustainability of wildrice in the region.
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/411309/usace-researchers-collaborate-with-native-american-
tribes-improve-wildrice-productivity
Billion on rice imports between 2017-2020

Source: Graphic Online
Ghana spent $1billion on rice imports between 2017-2020
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Allan Kyerematen has disclosed that Ghana
spent an estimated GH?6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to 2020.
He added that within the same period, the country also imported the following foods;
10 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
Fish - GH?3.993 billion

Chicken (processed) - GH?1.881 billion
Meat - GH?487 million
Vegetables - GH?281million
Poultry - GH?184 million
The Minister made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to respond to a question
by Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central on how
much the state spent on the importation of rice and other foodstuffs into the country over the past
four years.
Replying to another question about whether the government has lifted a ban on small rice
importers, Mr Kyeremanten said rice was a staple food in Ghana and as such one had to maintain
a delicate balance between the quantity of rice produced locally and what was imported to ensure
that there were no serious shortages.
Mr Kyeremanten stressed that the government has not lifted the ban imposed on the small rice
importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there were no shortages in the
system.
He explained that the Ministry would review its position on rice imports when there was
significant local rice production in the country.
https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/general/252894/Ghana-spent-1billion-on-rice-
imports-between-2017-2020
Ghana spends $1bn on rice importation

Source: GNA
16 December 2021 9:16am
Tamana Rice Factory, a local rice production company
Ghana spent an estimated total of ₵6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to 2020. In
addition, the country also imported the following food products from 2017 to 2020: They include Fish –
₵3.Chicken (processed) GHc1.881 billion, Meat – ₵487 million, Vegetables ₵281 and Poultry ₵184
million.
Trade Minister, Allan Kyeremanten made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to respond
to a question by Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, Tamale Central MP how much the state spent on the
importation of rice and other foodstuffs into the country in the past four years.
Mr Kyeremanten also acknowledge from the figures provided that the country was spending close to $1
billion on the importation of food items.
Responding to a question of whether the government has lifted a ban on small rice importers, Mr
Kyeremanten stated that rice was a staple food in the country and one had to maintain a delicate balance
between the quantity of rice produced locally at any point in time and what was important was to ensure
that there were no serious shortages.
He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture continue to monitor
the production of rice, and at the appropriate time when the volumes of local rice increase significantly
the government would be able to restrict the importation of rice.
Mr Kyeremanten also maintained that the government has not lifted any ban imposed on the small rice
importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there were no shortages in the system.
He noted that as and when there is significant local rice production in the country the Ministry would be
able to determine at that point what decision to take in respect of the ban.
https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-spends-1bn-on-rice
Senators Ask Biden Admin to Take India to the WTO

for Rice and Wheat Subsidies
By Peter Bachmann
WASHINGTON, DC – Earlier today, 18 U.S. Senators sent a letter led by Senator John
Boozman (R-AR) to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack expressing support for a dispute settlement case at the World Trade Organization
(WTO) against India‘s domestic supports for rice and wheat production.
The frustration among American farmers and policymakers with India‘s subsidy programs is
growing.
What's easier than that―American rice and wheat producers are operating at a clear disadvantage
compared to their competitors, primarily from India, where the government is subsidizing more
than half of the value of production for rice and wheat, instead of the 10 percent allowable under
[WTO] rules,‖ the letter reads.
While producers around the world are being financially impacted now by the shortage of
fertilizer and supply chain delays, producers in India won‘t feel a thing. The Indian government
has announced that they will increase subsidies to fertilizer companies this year, for the first time
exceeding $20 billion in support. This will ensure that Indian rice and wheat exports can
continue to undercut the rest of the world as they insulate themselves from fluctuations in input
costs.
The letter goes on to ask administration officials to ―…swiftly initiate the WTO litigation process
through a request for consultations.‖
―We commend Senator Boozman for leading this letter and for the impressive showing of
Senators that support our cause, including my home state Senators Cassidy and Kennedy,‖ said
Bobby Hanks, Louisiana rice miller and chair of USA Rice. ―Momentum is building not just here
in the U.S., but in all of the markets impacted by trade distortion stemming from India.‖
Hanks continued: ―India is a major part of the world economy, but that doesn‘t give them a pass
to skirt around the rules that they agreed to when joining the WTO. It also means they don‘t get
to hold all of the WTO reforms on the table hostage until they secure permanent public
stockholding allowances. This selfish behavior is not in the spirit of the WTO and as a result
they‘ll be left alone on an island.‖Earlier this week, a WTO dispute settlement panel ruled
against India following significant over-subsidization of their sugar industry in a case taken by
Australia, Brazil, and Guatemala.
USA Rice Daily
Crop Insurance Info Session Features Arkansas Rice

Farmer
By Jamison Cruce
WASHINGTON, DC -- Earlier this month, the House Agriculture Committee's General Farm
Commodities and Risk Management (GFCRM) Subcommittee held a roundtable focusing on the
federal crop insurance program to update and educate the Subcommittee‘s 13 members on the
workings of this federal cost-share program.
Jeff Rutledge
Leaders from two crop insurance companies and an agent from Washington state were joined by
Arkansas rice farmer Jeff Rutledge, the sole farmer on the panel.Rutledge provided detailed
insight from the farm level on what could be done to improve insurance, particularly for rice. He
highlighted the high stakes of farming and the cost-benefit analysis every farmer must make in
choosing insurance and other risk mitigating investments.He also reflected on the development
of new policies, like Whole Farm Revenue (WFRP), that have potential but need improvement to
maximize effectiveness.
Other panelists from the crop insurance industry spoke of the financial risks borne by companies
in this public-private partnership, and the delivery infrastructure that has been built out through
agents and adjusters that provides timely and competitive service to farmers — even through the
pandemic when federal employees were limited.
―USA Rice appreciates the House Agriculture Committee's General Farm Commodities and Risk
Management Subcommittee leaders for again ensuring rice is at the table for these important
discussions on farm policy,‖ said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs.
―The information and insights we can provide ahead of the next farm bill help us build an
educational foundation we can bank on as those farm bill talks begin in earnest next year.‖
As the end of 2021 quickly approaches, the US South's rice market will start the new year with various
concerns on the horizon.The most talked about and the most immediately pressing is the recent hike in
fertilizer prices. Fertilizer costs have hit all-time highs in recent months, with it widely believed this will
limit planting. In addition to the reduced area, sources typically anticipate that farmers who can, will
switch their fields to crops that are less dependent upon fertilizers, such as soybeans, or crops with more
favorable financial returns, such as corn.
One exporter said that to avoid this, the CBOT Rough Rice futures September contract needs to rally
substantially to encourage new crop planting, with corn and other competing crops coming off. The
source said that with farmers not due to finalize planting decisions until March, there was time for this to
happen.
However, a major mill pointed out that farmers would need to apply for financing in early January and
provide banks with a reasonably detailed list of what they expect to grow. As a result, the true deadline
for a turnaround in the US agricultural commodities markets is actually much shorter -- potentially only
a few weeks from now.
The exact scale of the decrease in the planted area is still a matter of conjecture, with some optimistically
expecting a similar size to this year, which was down by almost 20% from 2020. However, the
consensus is that a further major drop could happen, with one major mill speculating it could be a similar
sized decrease to last year -- certainly in Arkansas.
If any drop is recorded at all, though, it would be historic. Sources have repeatedly mentioned that back-
to-back production decreases in the South happen extremely rarely. It is typically agreed that it will be
the first time in 10 years for this to happen, with some saying it may be closer to 20 years.
Unrest in Haiti
A potentially much more pressing issue is the ongoing unrest in Haiti. The country, which is the South's
largest milled rice export market, has been in a state of turmoil for most of 2021. This notably intensified
in July with the assassination of the country's president, Jovenel Moïse.
Ships laden with US rice were briefly forced to circle around the country as they were unable to dock in
Port-au-Prince amid security concerns at the time. While this period passed relatively swiftly, gang
violence remains a major concern and a potential impediment to successfully executing rice contracts.
One major miller said the situation in general "scares the hell out of me." The source elaborated that if
the Haitian market becomes a no-go zone, exportable supplies of long grain rice will pile up and mills
may be forced to slash their export prices if the domestic market cannot absorb the excess.
The consensus is that circumstances in the country will get worse before they get better. Various sources
speculated that a revolution or armed intervention (or both) may be necessary for the situation to be
resolved and for security to eventually return to the Caribbean nation. Until security returns, though, the
country is likely to be a major concern for the industry.
Iraq returns in 2022

Another major export market for the US South, Iraq, has also been the subject of recent conjecture.
Since the country's government relinquished responsibility of rice procurement to a non-government
entity, Al-Owais, in mid-2021, the situation for US rice entering Iraq has been in flux.
While the US and Iraqi governments did have a memorandum of understanding for Iraq to purchase US
rice, this lapsed with the transfer of responsibility. Following political pressure, an almost identical
MOU was signed between Al-Owais and USA Rice, an industry lobby group, for an annual volume of
200,000 mt.
Despite financing concerns, around 120,000 mt of US rice was booked via ADM and Supreme Rice in
July, with the cargo recently starting to arrive in Iraq. As a result, approximately 80,000 mt is left to be
ordered by the end of June for the MOU quota to be fulfilled.
USA Rice is quietly confident that Al-Owais will look to book the remaining volume in early 2022,
hoping to make a success of the first year that the MOU was transferred to it. However, as the
arrangement is only an MOU, there is no obligation for the Iraqi company to buy US white rice, which
is currently the most expensive mainstream long grain white rice in the world.
One reason for the US industry to be concerned is the fact that Iraq -- via Al-Owais -- purchased Thai
rice for the first time in seven years. Not once, but five times, with the total volume sold in recent
months coming to 220,000 mt. Standard Thai 5% broken white rice is assessed by S&P Global Platts on
an FOB basis at an approximate $180/mt discount to standard US #2, 4% broken white rice.
According to a source close to the trade, initial reactions to the quality of the Thai rice have been positive
in Iraq. If so, Al-Owais will likely question why they would pay such a substantial premium for US rice.
If Iraq does return to the US market in 2022, the source said this may only occur once new crop arrives
on to the market in the South and prices weaken.
Considering the uncertainty of Iraq coming back to the market and the situation in Haiti, one miller who
has scaled back exposure to the export market said that relying on these countries for demand was "no
way to run a business."
Potential upsides
Despite all of the uncertainty in the Southern market at the moment, there are positives. Mills report
incredibly strong domestic demand as buyers restock following months of subdued buying interest,
largely caused by pandemic-related lockdown restrictions.
One major mill reported issues with domestic rail freight, including a shortage of boxcars. However,
many buyers are willing to pay around double the transportation costs to have cargo delivered via trucks.
The mill reported that even if Iraq did return to the market in early 2022, they would only want to supply
a small order as domestic demand is so strong. If the crop is dramatically reduced again in 2022, Iraq not
returning to the market may end up being a good thing so marketers are able to supply their core clients.
Additionally, and despite intense pushback in recent weeks, tariffs on US rice going to Central America
and the Dominican Republic will fall to zero starting from 2023 through the Dominican Republic-
Central America free trade agreement. Various sources reported concerns and even thinly veiled threats
from concerned Central Americans, although the US government is understood to fully support rice
provisions in CAFTA-DR and will not seek to renegotiate it.
In theory, this should continue to protect the US rice industry's position in the region, which has been
increasingly under threat from South American rice in recent years.
Despite these upsides, 2022 will likely be another incredibly unusual year for the US South following
two years of fallout from the coronavirus. If another short crop is realized, it will place immense strain
on supply lines. But, at the same time, evolving situations in both Haiti and Iraq could somewhat balance
out supply and demand, even as domestic demand remains robust.
https://www.spglobal.com/platts/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/121521-concerns-
abound-in-us-south-as-rice-planting
India's rice exports rose by over 33% to 11.79 MT in

first seven months of current FY, likely to surpass last
FY's record over 17MT
Press Information Bureau:
December 17, 2021
India‘s rice exports in FY22 is likely to exceed the record of 17.72 million tonne (MT) achieved
in FY21 on the back of a 33% YoY jump in exports to 11.79 MT between April-October 2021.
In terms of value realization, India‘s rice exports increased 38% YoY to US$ 8,815 million in
FY21. In Rupees terms, India‘s rice exports increased by 44% YoY to Rs 65,298 crore in FY21.
Despite logistical challenges, India continued to expand its footprint in Africa, Asia and
European markets thereby resulting in the largest share in global rice trade.
Basmati rice exports stood at US$ 4,722 million in FY19, US$ 4,330 million in FY20, US$
4,018 million in FY21 and US$ 1,854 million between April-October 2021.
Non-Basmati rice exports stood at US$ 3,047 million in FY19, US$ 2,014 million in FY20, US$
4,800 million in FY21 and US$ 3,454 million between April-October 2021.
Total rice exports stood at US$ 7,769 million in FY19, US$ 6,344 million in FY20, US$ 8,818
million in FY21 and US$ 5,308 million between April-October 2021.
India‘s top three export destinations for basmati rice in FY21 were Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq
with 22%, 16% and 14% of total exports respectively.
India‘s top three export destinations for non-basmati rice in FY21 were Nepal, Benin and
Senegal with 9.8%, 9.4% and 7.9% of total exports respectively.
https://www.ibef.org/news/indias-rice-exports-rose-by-over-33-to-1179-mt-in-first-seven-
months-of-current-fy-likely-to-surpass-last-fys-record-over-17mt
For IBS, specific diets are less important than expected

CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
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IMAGE: A LARGE STUDY FROM CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
AND UPPSALA UNIVERSITY, SWEDEN, SUGGESTS THAT GLUTEN AND
CERTAIN TYPES OF CARBOHYDRATES CALLED ‘FODMAPS’ HAVE LESS
EFFECT THAN EXPECTED ON IBS SYMPTOMS. NO EFFECT AT ALL COULD BE
SEEN FOR GLUTEN AND ONLY A SMALL EFFECT FOR FODMAPS. ACCORDING
TO THE METRIC USED FOR IBS SYMPTOMS (IBS-SSS), A CHANGE OF MORE
THAN 50 POINTS INDICATES A CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECT. THE
CHANGE BETWEEN FODMAPS AND THE PLACEBO WAS 42, AND JUST 10 FOR
GLUTEN AND THE PLACEBO. view more
CREDIT: CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY | ELISE NORDIN AND YEN
STRANDQVIST
Many IBS sufferers avoid certain types of food and often exclude gluten. However, a large
new study from Chalmers University of Technology and Uppsala University, Sweden, does
not show a relationship between high intake of gluten and increased IBS symptoms. The
researchers did find that a certain type of carbohydrate called ‘fodmaps’ can aggravate
intestinal problems, however, the overall results indicate that they also have less influence
than previously thought.
―IBS is a very complex disease involving many factors, but our results indicate that the effects of
specific diets are not as great as previously thought,‖ explains Elise Nordin, PhD student in Food
Science at Chalmers and lead author of the scientific article, published in the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition.
IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) affects around three to five percent of the world's population, and
involves symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhoea and constipation. In the new study, which
included 110 people with IBS, the researchers examined how people were affected by serving
them rice puddings prepared in different ways. One variety was rich in gluten while the other
contained large amounts of carbohydrate of the ‗fodmap‘ variety – that is, fermentable
carbohydrates, including certain chains of fructose and lactose. Many foods are rich in fodmaps,
including dairy products, types of bread and certain fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the specially prepared rice puddings, the researchers also served a neutral one that
served as a placebo.
Double-blind knowledge of the rice puddings

The participants in the study ate rice puddings rich in fodmaps, gluten and the placebo in random
order, for one week per category. The study was double-blind, meaning neither the participants
nor the researchers knew who ate which rice pudding and when.
―Diet studies are difficult to conduct double blind, as it can often be obvious to the participants
what they are eating. This is a big obstacle, as knowledge that something has been added to or
removed from the diet can affect the result. The fact that we succeeded in creating diets that were
completely blind, together with the large number of participants, makes our study unique,‖ says
Elise Nordin.
The subjects' gastrointestinal systems were provoked through high doses (1.5 times daily intake
in a normal population) of fodmaps or gluten. The fodmaps aggravated the symptoms, but not to
the extent that the researchers had expected based on results from previous studies. Gluten,
however, was found to have no measurable negative effect on the subjects' perceived symptoms.
―Our results are important and indicate that the psychological factor is probably very important.
IBS has previously been shown to be linked to mental health. Simply the awareness that one is
being tested in a study can reduce the burden of symptoms,‖ says Per Hellström, Professor of
Gastroenterology at Uppsala University who held medical responsibility for the study.
Distinguishing between the effect of gluten and fodmaps

In previous studies, researchers have mainly excluded fodmaps from the subjects' diets and this
has shown a clear reduction in IBS symptoms. However, these studies have had few participants
and have not been conducted double-blind, which makes it difficult to objectively evaluate the
results.
Many IBS patients exclude gluten from their diet, despite the lack of scientific evidence. Results
from previous research are inconsistent. Foods rich in gluten, such as bread, are often also rich in
fodmaps – one theory has therefore been that it is the fodmaps in these foods, not the gluten, that
causes the IBS symptoms. This shows the importance of studies for separating the effect of
fodmaps and gluten.
Examining how the diet can be individually adapted

The new study is part of a larger project in which the researchers are looking for biomarkers in
the intestinal flora or in the blood to be able to predict health outcomes. The researchers want to
investigate whether individuals can be divided into metabotypes – different groups based on how
individuals' metabolism and intestinal flora respond to different diets, and whether these groups
show different IBS symptoms.
―Finding objective biomarkers that can determine if an individual belongs to a certain

metabotype for IBS symptoms could make life easier for many individuals with IBS. There are
many indications that it is possible to use objective markers for more individually tailored dietary
advice,‖ says Professor Rikard Landberg, who leads the Division of Food and Nutrition Science
at Chalmers University of Technology.
The new IBS study also clearly shows large individual variation when it comes to how different
people are affected by a specific diet.
―Even if at group level we only see a moderate effect from fodmaps and no effect of gluten
provocation, it may well still be the case that some individuals react strongly to these foods. That
is why it is important to account for individual differences,‖ says Elise Nordin.
More about the study and fodmaps:
 Fodmap is an abbreviation for " Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides,

monosaccharides, and polyols". Examples of fodmaps are polymers of fructose, lactose,
fructo/galacto-oligosaccharides and sugar alcohols, and they are found in a variety of
foods, such as dairy products, cereals, mushrooms and fruits and vegetables. Products
that have been sweetened with xylitol, for example, are also rich in fodmaps.
 The scientific study, ‗FODMAPs, but not gluten, elicit modest symptoms of irritable
bowel syndrome: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized three-way crossover
trial‘ was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The authors of the
article are Elise Nordin, Carl Brunius and Rikard Landberg of Chalmers University of
Technology, and Per M Hellström, Uppsala University
 In the study, subjects were given high doses (1.5 times the normal daily intake) of
fodmaps (50 g) and gluten (17.3 g) and the results were compared with the placebo.
Throughout the study, all subjects ate a diet with otherwise minimal content of fodmaps
and no gluten. Each trial period was one week, followed by a one-week break. Blood and
stool samples were provided weekly as subjects also completed questionnaires about their
perceived symptoms.
 The study was funded by Formas and the Swedish Research Council.
For more information contact:
Elise Nordin, PhD student, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Chalmers University of
Technology, +46 31 772 63 50, elise.nordin@chalmers.se
Rikard Landberg, Professor, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Chalmers University

of Technology, +46 31 772 27 32, rikard.landberg@chalmers.se
JOURNAL
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/938025
Ghana spent over GH¢6.8 billion on importation of rice in

three years - Kyerematen
Alan Kyerematen, Minister of Trade and Industry
Ghana spent an estimated total of GH¢6.874
billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to
2020. In addition, the country also imported the
following food products from 2017 to 2020:
They include Fish - GHc3.993 billion, Chicken
(processed) GH¢1.881 billion, Meat - GH¢487
million, Vegetables GH¢281 and Poultry
GH¢184 million.Alan Kyerematen, Minister for
Trade and Industry made the disclosure when he
appeared before Parliament to respond to a
question by Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale Central how
much the state spent on the importation of rice and other foodstuffs into the country in the past
four years.
Alan Kyerematen also acknowledge from the figures provided that the country was spending
close to US$1 billion on the importation of food items.
Responding to a question whether the government has lifted a ban on small rice importers,
Kyerematen stated that rice was a staple food in the country and one had to maintain a delicate
balance between the quantity of rice produced locally at any point in time and what was
important was to ensure that there were no serious shortages.
He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture continue to
monitor the production of rice, and at the appropriate time when the volumes of local rice
increase significantly the government would be able to restrict the importation of rice.
Alan Kyerematen also maintained that the government has not lifted any ban imposed on the
small rice importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there were no
shortages in the system.
He noted that as and when there is significant local rice production in the country the Ministry
would be able to determine at that point what decision to take in respect of the ban.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-spent-over-GH-6-8-billion-on-
importation-of-rice-in-three-years-Kyerematen-1424926
Bihar: Government to procure only parboiled rice

from now on
Decision hailed by experts and scientists but has left mills unsure about how to deal with the
transition
Harvested paddy being shifted from a farm for thrashing

Sanjay Choudhary
Dev Raj
 Patna
 Published 16.12.21, 12:33 AM
Bihar has decided to procure parboiled rice instead of raw rice from this year, at a time the
Centre has contentiously stopped buying the parboiled variety from Odisha and Telangana citing
lack of demand.
Bihar‘s decision has been hailed by experts and scientists but has left mills unsure about how to
deal with the transition.
It is also being seen as chief minister Nitish Kumar‘s answer to Union consumer affairs, food
and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal‘s suggestion in Parliament that the rest of the
country, apart from Odisha and Telangana, does not eat parboiled rice, or rice partially boiled in
the husk.
―We have decided to procure parboiled rice because most people of Bihar, barring two or three
districts (out of a total of 38), prefer eating it. The end use of rice procured by us is through the
public distribution system (PDS) and we have taken this step for the consumers,‖ state food and
consumer protection department secretary Vinay Kumar told The Telegraph.
The kharif harvest season is over in Bihar and Vinay Kumar said the target was to procure 35
lakh tonnes of paddy from farmers. It will be milled to provide around 30 lakh tonnes of rice.
In Bihar, procurement of food grains from farmers is done by primary agricultural credit
societies at the minimum support price on behalf of the state government. These societies then
get the paddy milled and provide rice to the government for distribution through the PDS
network.
Agriculture experts and scientists hailed the decision as ―pro-people‖ and said it would also help
reduce wastage of grains, thereby boosting food security.
―Better late than never. We are happy that chief minister Nitish Kumar has realised the dietary
needs of the people and taken steps to address it. The Bihar government had continuously been
procuring raw rice, but the demand and consumption of parboiled rice never decreased,‖ said
Kishore Jaiswal, convener of the Munger-based Pragatisheel Krishi Manch — an organisation of
progressive farmers.
Bihar‘s former chief scientist for paddy and ex-principal of Veer Kunwar Singh College of
Agriculture, Ajay Kumar, lauded the state government‘s decision to procure parboiled rice but at
the same time doubted its effective implementation.
―Parboiled rice is a part of the culture and tradition of Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. It is
easily digestible and has more nutritional value than raw rice. Grain recovery is also more while
making parboiled rice. Earlier, it was prepared in village households but now there are mills as
well,‖ Ajay Kumar said.
―However, there are two problems that could hinder the implementation of the policy decision to
procure parboiled rice. All the mills in the state are privately owned and the majority of them are
located in the southwestern districts. Moreover, there are very few mills that can make parboiled
rice. Capital and time are needed to put up a system. It seems the state government has waded
unprepared into it,‖ he added.
According to government statistics, there are 1,600 rice mills in Bihar, of which just 115 have
the capability to make parboiled rice, and they are small establishments. A parboiled rice mill
needs a boiler and dryers so that paddy can be boiled and dried before the husk is removed.
Normally, 100kg paddy yields around 60kg ―head rice‖ or unbroken or full grains. The
remaining 40kg is lost while milling, cutting and polishing. On the other hand, the same amount
of paddy yields 65kg to 68kg of parboiled rice because the grains break less.
The government‘s decision has made mill owners jittery as the majority of them have
infrastructure suitable for raw rice only. Making them suitable for parboiled rice will incur huge
investments.
―We will need more land to expand our mills to fit boilers and dryers and space to keep boiled
rice. Land prices are already out of reach for most people. Getting land adjacent to the mills will
make the task next to impossible. The mills will have to spend around Rs 2 crore or more for
land and machines,‖ said Alakhdeo Rai, a rice mill owner at Bikramganj in Rohtas district.
Rai added that a majority of the mills are already saddled with the burden of repaying
government loans and are not in a position to invest more.
―The government will have to help us financially, otherwise we will not be able to pay the loan
instalments,‖ Rai said.
Vinay Kumar, the food and consumer protection department secretary, said the government had
considered these issues and had ―not eliminated raw or arwa rice from its procurement policy for
this year. We will procure arwa also this year, but will focus only on parboiled rice from next
year.‖
Vinay Kumar alleged that a lobby of raw rice millers were creating confusion over the issue
despite being sounded out about the change in policy and given time to make the necessary
changes in infrastructure.
https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/bihar-government-to-procure-only-parboiled-rice-from-
now-on/cid/
Rice Disease Immunity Protein Discovered by Shanghai

Scientists
Editor: LIU Jia | Dec 17, 2021
Shanghai scientists have discovered a new immune protein against the fungal rice blast disease,
offering new approaches to reduce the use of chemical pesticides.
Rice is vulnerable to a variety of pathogens. Rice blast, described as the cancer of rice, leads to
loss of up to 10 percent of the world's rice yield. Every year, it causes China to lose 3 billion
kilograms of rice. To fight against the disease, farmers usually apply chemical pesticides, which,
however, foster severe environmental pollution.
The latest study has offered a possible solution. P1C1 was found in rice to acts as a hub for the
plant's immune mechanisms, according to the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences
(CEMPS) under the Chinese Academy of Science.
The protein plays an important role in enabling crops to obtain broad-spectrum resistance to rice
blast. It can stabilize methionine synthetases to promote the rice's defense metabolism.
Researchers further found that the natural variation of P1C1 contributes to divergence in field
blast resistance between the rice subspecies indica and japonica, providing a potential breeding
target for broad-spectrum blast resistance in crops.
The research results were published on the website of the leading scientific journal "Nature" on
Thursday. (SHINE)
https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/cas_media

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

17 December ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 11

Editorial Board Rice News Headlines…

1st LD-Writethru: Scientists explore roadmap for larger,

Xinhua, December 16, 2021

Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global rice

An international group of scientists has made a global assessment of rice-cropping systems in

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

Rice disease immunity protein discovered by Shanghai scientists

Source: SHINE Editor: Cai Wenjun

Scientists explore roadmap for larger, greener global

USACE researchers collaborate with Native

Billion on rice imports between 2017-2020

Ghana spent $1billion on rice imports between 2017-2020

Fish - GH?3.993 billion

Ghana spends $1bn on rice importation

billion on the importation of food items.

that there were no serious shortages.

the government would be able to restrict the importation of rice.

Senators Ask Biden Admin to Take India to the WTO

USA Rice Daily

Crop Insurance Info Session Features Arkansas Rice

Iraq returns in 2022

India's rice exports rose by over 33% to 11.79 MT in

For IBS, specific diets are less important than expected

Double-blind knowledge of the rice puddings

Distinguishing between the effect of gluten and fodmaps

Examining how the diet can be individually adapted

―Finding objective biomarkers that can determine if an individual belongs to a certain

More about the study and fodmaps:

 Fodmap is an abbreviation for " Fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides,

For more information contact:

Rikard Landberg, Professor, Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Chalmers University

Ghana spent over GH¢6.8 billion on importation of rice in

Bihar: Government to procure only parboiled rice

Harvested paddy being shifted from a farm for thrashing

Rice Disease Immunity Protein Discovered by Shanghai

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