27 TH January 2022 Daily Rice News

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
27 January ,2022 Vol 7 Issue 1
1|www.ricepluss.com , www.riceplusmagazine.blosgspot.com
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874
KPT Shipping Movements Report

Published January 26, 2022 | 05:34 PM
Following were the Movements of Ships at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) during last 24 hours,
ending at 0700 hours on Wednesday.
SHIPS BERTHED
KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Jan, 2022 ) :Following were the
Movements of Ships at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) during last 24 hours, ending at 0700 hours on
Wednesday.
SHIPS BERTHED:
Osaka Container Ship
Talassa Container Ship
Kota Padang Cement
Hilda Rice
Stolt Sypress Tanker
Clemens Schulte Container Ship
SHIPS SAILED:
Dalian Express
Tarlan
Pegasus 01
Kota Naluri
EXPECTED SAILING: DATE
Adamas I 26-01-2022
NS Stella 26-01-2022
EXPECTED ARRIVAL: DATE
Georgia M 26-01-2022 D/10965 Jet oil
Hyundai Colombo 26-01-2022 D/L Container
MSC Emily II 26-01-2022 D/L Container
Daedalus Leader 26-01-2022 D/2040 Vehicle
Scarbe 26-01-2022 L/55000 Clinkers
Ginga Leopard 27-01-2022 D/2000 Xylene
Swansea 27-01-2022 D/L Container
Kmtc Colombo 27-01-2022 D/L Container
Xin Chang Shu 27-01-2022 D/L Container
MSC Sky II 27-01-2022 D/L Container
Symi 27-01-2022 L/9000 Rice
Sino Trust 27-01-2022 D/19500 General Cargo
FZ Fortuna 27-01-2022 D/8322 General Cargo
MH Langoey 27-01-2022 L/2500 Ethanol
CARGO HANDLING TURNOVER:
The total cargo handled at Karachi Port during the last 24 hours closed at 103,528 Metric Tons
The breakup shows that the port has handled 43,402 Metric Tons of export cargo and 60,126
Metric Tons of import cargo during the said period.
Commodity wise handling in metric tons is given below.
COMMODITY IMPORT EXPORT TOTAL
Container 25,964 7,315 33,279
Bulk Cargo ------- 788 788
Clinkers ------- 29,799 29,799
Dap 6,614 ------- 6,614
Cement -------- 5,3445,344
Rice ------- 156 156
Wheat 13,860 ------13,860
Yellow Soya Bean 5,438 ------ 5,438
Oil/Liquid Cargo: 8,250 ------ 8,250
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/kpt-shipping-movements-report-1456342.html
Farming launched at Kartarpur
The Newspaper's CorrespondentPublished January 27, 2022 - Updated about 11 hours ago
NAROWAL: Work has been started on a farming scheme spanning over 64 acres of
agricultural land in Kartarpur to grow wheat, rice, vegetables and fruits for Sikh pilgrims.
Kartarpur Management Unit Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Latif says a farming project
has been started on the agricultural land adjoining Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur of Baba
Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion.
He says wheat, rice, vegetables and fruits will be cultivated according to the season.
He says food will be prepared in the anchorage of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib from the produce
obtained from the land.
Mr Latif says Sikh pilgrims coming to Kartarpur from all over the world will be served with
breads, rice, vegetables and fruits. ―Baba Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life practising
farming in Kartarpur.‖
Coming from India via the Kartarpur Corridor, the Sikh Sangat, in collaboration with the
Kartarpur Management Unit formally inaugurated the farming project on Wednesday.
On this occasion, Sardar Gobind Singh [Head Giani of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur]
prayed for the success of the project and increased production.
PENALISED: The Sialkot district police officer has suspended from service a station house
officer, penalised six policemen for absence from duty and transferred 32 officials posted on
‗unnecessary duties‘ at DPO office.
According to district police spokesman Khurram Shehzad Malik, DPO Muhammad Hassan Iqbal
paid a surprise visit to various police stations on Tuesday night.
He said the DPO suspended Ringpur SHO Inspector Shaukat Ali of Ringpura for negligence in
performance of duty. ASIs Nafees Rasool, Ashfaq Ahmed, naib moharrar Javed, constables
Tauseef and Yousuf have been penalised for absence from duty.
Hassan Iqbal has immediately transferred 32 officials who have been ‗unnecessarily‘ posted at
the DPO office for the last several years.
Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022
https://www.dawn.com/news/1671654/farming-launched-at-kartarpur
Pakistani parliament censures government over Iran trade

status
Wednesday, 26 January 2022 5:40 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 26 January 2022 5:40
PM ]
File photo shows Pakistani Prime Minister's Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak
Dawood (L) during a trade meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran on November 6, 2021.
The Pakistani parliament has voiced dissatisfaction over the low level of trade between the
country and neighboring Iran as lawmakers censure the government in Islamabad for its
lack of action to get round US sanctions on Tehran to enable trade between the two
countries to boom.
A report by the Express Tribune published on Wednesday said that Chairman of the Standing
Committee on Commerce in Pakistan‘s National Assembly Naveed Qamar had demanded
explanations from senior trade officials in the country about why trade ties with Iran were
extremely low.
Qamar rejected a statement made by a representative of Pakistan‘s commerce ministry during a
hearing on Tuesday claiming that US sanctions have seriously affected trade ties with Iran.
The senior lawmaker said that even European countries have been engaged in trade with Iran
despite their adherence to the US sanctions.
Date: 27-Jan-2022
Iran reports 74% surge in exports to India in March-December
Iran‘s exports to India topped $1.34 billion in the nine months to late December.
Qamar summoned officials from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for a hearing next week where the
lender is expected to offer explanations on why banks in the country have been hesitant about
processing payments related to trade with Iran, said the report by the Express Tribune
The report added that lawmakers in the Pakistani parliament had been ―strongly displeased‖ that
Prime Minister's Adviser on Commerce and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood had been absent
from the Tuesday session of the commerce committee which was focused on Iran.
Dawood has been key to Pakistan‘s recent efforts meant to increase trade and economic relations
with Iran. The official visited Tehran in November to finalize some major bilateral agreements,
including a mechanism that could allow bartering Iranian energy products for Pakistani rice.
Press TV‘s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:
www.presstv.ir
www.presstv.co.uk
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2022/01/26/675581/Pakistan-parliament-trade-ties-Iran-US-
sanctions
Agribusiness is a precursor to economic revolution
Last Updated: 2022-01-26 17:34 | Gwadar Pro
by Muhammad Mehdi
The friendship between Pakistan and China has not only proved to be trustworthy in every
difficult time but also its new dimensions are emerging. While CPEC is an extraordinary
economic project and hearts are getting closer after its inauguration, its agricultural sector has a
fundamental importance in Pakistan's economy.
Since the consolidation of CPEC, there have been tremendous opportunities for trade in
agricultural commodities between Pakistan and China. Last year, an MoU on onion trade was
signed between Pakistan and China to make such a possibility a reality. The MoU was signed
between Pakistan's Department of Plant Protection and China's General Administration of
Customs China. Through this MoU, it was decided that the Department of Plant Protection
would conduct a world-class pest control survey during the onion production season, which
would enable Pakistan to supply world-class onions to China.
It is hoped that Pakistan will not be negligent in this regard as the season for onions has just
begun. Talks between the two countries on this MoU had been going on since January 2019. In
this regard, the departments of the two countries jointly conducted the pest risk analysis, after
which they sat together for mutual discussions on technical issues. With all these activities in
mind, it is clear that the two countries are not only serious about onion exports, but also the
possibility of opening more doors in agriculture.
This will meet the food needs of China and will significantly increase agribusiness in Pakistan.
Because there is no doubt that China has a very large market while Pakistan has fertile
agricultural land. At present in Pakistan, it is expected that Pakistani agricultural products like
rice, mango and cherry are available in the Chinese market. At the same time, dairy products can
be exported from Pakistan to China on a large scale. If we look at each other, we will see that
clearly the two countries have done much better in terms of trade in the agricultural sector and
these activities are already increasing which will further increase as a result of these measures.
Trade in agricultural products between the two countries was increased by 70% from US$ 490
million in 2011 to more than US$ 830 million in 2019.The bilateral trade is likely to grow even
more because the protocol of the second phase of the free trade agreement and both sides are
gradually bringing tariffs on 75% of products to zero tariffs. As a result of these initiatives, it is
hoped that large-scale export of onions from Pakistan to China will not be only a golden dream,
but it will be converted to reality. And it is also important for my beloved country Pakistan
because 40% of the total land area in our country is under cultivation and this is a very fertile
area. Pakistan's current annual onion production is 1.8 million tons. Pakistan is the sixth largest
onion grower in the world in terms of area and the ninth-largest in terms of production.
If we have the opportunity to take full advantage of China's agricultural research in this regard,
then our crops can perform to produce more agricultural products. At present, China is providing
these facilities to Pakistan in the fields of agricultural diseases prevention, chilli, potatoes, beef
and mutton production. For this reason, it is hoped that when cooperation in this field increases,
it will also help alleviate poverty in Pakistan in an extraordinary way. The rural areas of
Pakistan, in particular, will benefit greatly from this as it will create favourable conditions for
creating new jobs and achieving the goal of food security in Pakistan as well.
This article originally appeared on Gwadar Pro.

http://en.ce.cn/Insight/202201/26/t20220126_37291466.shtml
Rice farmers unable to get buyers
Thousands of bags of rice harvested during the last farming season in the Northern Region have
remained in the warehouses and homes as farmers struggle to find buyers.Some of the farmers
said the major rice off-takers in the region stopped buying their rice because the prices of
imported rice had become lower due to the benchmark value discount.
Alhaji Salifu Abdul Salam, Chairman of the Mechanised Agric Service Providers Association,
who spoke to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a press conference on the benchmark
value discount on rice in Tamale on Tuesday, said the situation would throw rice farmers out of
business.
Alhaji Salam said, "Members of the Association and I have over 20,000 bags of rice. Avnash
Industries, which is the major off-taker in the region, is not buying rice. When you ask them,
they will tell you they will make a loss because of the benchmark value discount on imported
rice."
He added, "We already face a lot of challenges, including the high cost of production, which has
tripled. We are trying to break even but we cannot. If something is not done about the benchmark
value discount, it will be difficult for us to farm this year."
Mr Zakaria Yahuza, a rice farmer from Dalun in the Kumbungu District said, "I have 300 bags of
rice in the house. I cannot get buyers. The right price per 85kg bag is GHc300 but some buyers
want to pay GHc140.00. I will lose a lot if I sell it at this price."
"We are forced sometimes to sell some because you have to settle some financial challenges. The
government must do something about the benchmark value discount now to save us," he added.
The Press conference was jointly organised by the Rice Millers Association of Ghana and the
Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana on the suspension of the implementation of the reversal of
the benchmark value discount policy and its impact on jobs, livelihoods and progress of the rice
sector in the country.
The government, in 2019, announced the benchmark value discount on some imported goods and
products, leading to a reduction and or stabilisation in the prices of imported products.
During the presentation of the 2022 budget, the government announced the withdrawal of the
benchmark value discount on certain products, including rice.
However, some interest groups said the move would lead to increased prices in the market,
forcing the government to suspend the implementation of the reversal of the benchmark value
discount.
Dr Charles Nyaaba, Head of Programmes and Advocacy at PFAG, who addressed the press
conference, said "The benchmark value discount has led to the flooding of our markets with
cheap imported rice."
Dr Nyaaba said, "The benefits that come with the implementation of the reversal of the
benchmark value discount are not only limited to increased revenue for the government but also
the fulfilment of government's own agenda of making Ghana self-sufficient in rice production by
2024 and the industrial transformation agenda."
He, therefore, called on the government to withdraw the benchmark value discount on
particularly agricultural produce that the country had sufficient capacity to produce, especially
rice, to save the thousands of jobs that remained under threat of collapse in the rice sector.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Rice-farmers-unable-to-get-buyers-
1453774
Over 7,800 tonnes of rice earmarked for localities on Tet

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has recently signed a decision assigning the Finance
Ministry to earmark over 7,820 tonnes of rice from the national reserve to 10 provinces on the
occasion of the Lunar New Year and the between-crop period in early 2022.
Under Decision No.133/QD-TTg, the beneficiary provinces are Binh Dinh, Ha Giang, Dak
Nong, Tuyen Quang, Dak Lak, Binh Phuoc, Quang Tri, Kon Tum, Lang Son and Lai Chau.
Specifically, Binh Dinh will receive more than 2,360 tonnes, Ha Giang 401.5 tonnes, Dak Nong
452 tonnes, Tuyen Quang 291 tonnes, Dak Lak 1,057.5 tonnes, Binh Phuoc 560.5 tonnes, Quang
Tri 1,064.7 tonnes, and Kon Tum 157.6 tonnes.
For the early 2022 between-crop period, 331.5 tonnes will be given to Lang Son, 548.2 tonnes to
Lai Chau, 498 tonnes to Dak Nong and 96.6 tonnes to Kon Tum.
The Deputy PM asked the ministries of finance, labour-invalids and social affairs to be
responsible for reported data.
Authorities of the beneficiary provinces must also bear responsibility for the accuracy of
reported data and offer timely support to the right persons in line with regulations./.
https://vietnam.vnanet.vn/english/over-7800-tonnes-of-rice-earmarked-for-localities-on-
tet/507884.html
SKIOLD and Tan Long Group launched paddy rice

handling and storage facility in Vietnam
January 26, 2022 - by Gregers Møller
Denmark-based SKIOLD has, in cooperation with Tan Long Group, launched Hanh Phuc Rice
Mill which is the largest paddy rice handling and storage facility in Southeast Asia.
In a press release, SKIOLD says that Hanh Phuc Rice Mill has a total storage capacity of
240,000 tons and is located in the area of 16 hectares in An Giang Province, the Mekong Delta of
Vietnam.
The Grand Opening event was attended by the President of Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc and
he participated in the ribbon-cutting together with the Chairman of Tan Long Group Mr. Truong
Sy Ba.
For this project, SKIOLD has been working with Tan Long in consulting, designing, and
supplying the most modern post-harvest handling and storage solutions for Hanh Phuc Rice Plant
including systems for unloading, cleaning, drying, storing, conveying, monitoring, and control
system.
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
SKIOLD is the proud supplier of this new high-end paddy rice handling facility, which will
become the most modern cleaning, drying, and storage solution fully focused on preserving the
quality of the rice under tropical climate conditions. Annually, the factory will process up to
several hundred thousand tons of rice, with a total silo storage capacity of 240,000 tons, making
it the largest project for SKIOLD in Vietnam and also the largest rice plant ever constructed in
Vietnam.
The silos standing against the sky preserve the rice under tropical climate conditions are
equipped with an intelligent control system to control the heat, humidity, level of C02 as well as
to ensure a high level of traceability for the stored paddy rice.
SKIOLD has also provided sophisticated and highly efficient unloading and cleaning system,
including the world‘s first-of-its-kind continuous mixed flow dryer that will ensure that the rice
quality is as high as can be.
Accordingly, SKIOLD Group‘s CEO Soren Overgaard states: ―The hi-tech solutions for this
project have been developed from our decades of know-how in grain handling in Denmark and
throughout Europe, adapted to the environment and operations in Vietnam. Reaching its 144th
anniversary this year, SKIOLD Group has been part of many large projects, but this one, in
particular, stands out due to the size and the technology level. This is not only a ―lighthouse‖
project for Vietnam – but it has also brought attention across Asia and across the global food
chain.‖
https://scandasia.com/skiold-and-tan-long-group-launched-paddy-rice-handling-and-storage-
facility-in-vietnam/
Research institutes vital for boosting agri yield‘

Imam says benefits of research should reach farmers
Our CorrespondentJanuary 27, 2022
The minister detailed that wheat was being harvested at around 37% area in Pakistan. photo:
reUters
LAHORE:
Latest agricultural researches should reach farmers as they can help them reduce their
production cost and increase the country’s agricultural output, Federal Minister for
National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam noted.
Presiding over a performance review meeting at Ayub Agriculture Research Institute –
Faisalabad on Wednesday, the minister stressed upon research institutions to play a pivotal role
in boosting the agricultural output of the country.
―There is a need for commercial scale implementation of agricultural projects, which will not
only increase the profits of farmers but also meet the demand of people to stabilise the prices of
agricultural commodities,‖ he remarked.
Lauding the performance of research scientists, Imam mentioned that the government, in
collaboration with research institutions, was striving to increase the production of five major
crops, namely wheat, cotton, maize, sugarcane and rice.
In this regard, a comprehensive policy would be formulated, he noted.
He detailed that wheat was being harvested at around 37% area in Pakistan.
―The second most important crop is cotton,‖ he said adding that its production had finally
improved after many years.
The government had announced Rs5,000 per maund cotton price for farmers, Imam recalled and
added that prosperity of farmers and agricultural development in the country were among top
priorities of the incumbent government.
On the occasion, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Chief Scientist Dr Akhtar revealed that
his institution had introduced 659 varieties of different crops for general cultivation.
This included 90 varieties of wheat, 58 of cotton, 32 of pulses and more than 28 varieties of
sugarcane, he added.
―Pakistan is the fourth largest sugarcane producer in the world, fifth largest producer of cotton,
sixth largest producer of mango and guava, seventh largest producer of wheat and 10th largest
producer of rice,‖ he highlighted.
―The research institute has ISO-certified labs where samplings are also checked,‖ he said, adding
that the institution had deemed 3% pesticides and 3% fertiliser samples as ―unfit‖.
The meeting was also attended by Punjab Agricultural Research Board Chief Executive Abid
Mahmood, Deputy Director Research Information Asif Ali and other agricultural scientists and
media representatives.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2340614/research-institutes-vital-for-boosting-agri-yield
BUDGET 2022: Black Bush Polder to get $20M seed dryer, 600
farmers to benefit
By Editor On Jan 26, 2022

With rice cultivation remaining the main source of economic activity in many rural farming
communities, some $20 million has been set aside in the 2022 budget for the procurement of a
seed dryer for Black Bush Polder, East Berbice Corentyne.
The announcement was made by Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh during the presentation of the
2022 fiscal plan in the National Assembly on Wednesday where he noted that more than 600 rice
farmers in the area will benefit.
In addition, a mini testing mill (polisher) will be acquired to analyse the quality of cargo rice and
paddy.
Also, in anticipation of expanded production six drying floors the government through the
Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) will expend over $300 million in plant breeding,
agronomy, plant pathology, entomology and valued-added products as part of its research and
development thrust.
Dr. Singh said that with drying floors in Regions 2, 3, 5, and 6, this year two additional drying
floors will be added in Regions 3 and 4.
Additionally, efforts to secure new markets will continue, with the British Virgin Islands,
Estonia, and Slovenia secured recently.
―Government‘s immediate priority is to help our rice farmers recover from the aftermath of the
2021 floods as quickly as possible, and then to continue to expand cultivation and production,
including more value-added varieties and products. In 2022, a total of 185,000 hectares is slated
for cultivation with plans to expand by 8,000 hectares to 193,000 hectares by 2026,‖ Dr. Singh
said.
Focus in 2022 will see improved drainage and irrigation to mitigate losses, and expanded
research on new high yielding varieties, and seed production.
In this regard, soil testing facilities were made available to farmers through the construction of a
soil laboratory at the Burma Rice Research Station last year.
Also, a value-added laboratory for rice and rice products was completed.
https://newsroom.gy/2022/01/26/budget-2022-black-bush-polder-to-get-20m-seed-dryer-600-
farmers-to-benefit/
Prices of local and foreign rice, cooking gas drops as traders

lament January low sales
by Research Team
January 27, 2022
in Exclusives, Macro-Economic News
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The prices of major staple food items have dropped in Lagos Markets compared to the prices
recorded during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
The price of cooking gas, local and foreign rice, beans as well as tomatoes recorded a significant
drop compared to the previous month‘s hike in price due to the festive season in December.
However, major food items such as egg, melon, tubers such as yam and potatoes all recorded a
month-on-month increase in price in the review month.
This is according to the latest market survey carried out in the popular markets in Lagos by
Nairalytics, the research arm of Nairametrics. The markets are namely: Oyingbo, Mushin, Mile
12, and Daleko markets.
 According to the research report, the price of a 50kg of Royal Stallion rice decreased by 7.11%
to sell for an average of N27,750 compared to N29,875 recorded in the previous month.
 Likewise, the price of a big basket of tomatoes dropped by 22.1% to sell at an average of
N13,625 compared to N17,500 recorded in December 2021.
 The price of filling a 12.5kg of cooking gas dropped to an average of N7,850 as against an
average of N8,650 recorded in the previous month.
 In the same vein, the price of beans, particularly Oloyin, dropped by 15.1% to sell for an average
of N34,375 in contrast to an average of N40,500 recorded in the previous month.
 On the other hand, the price of Bush mango seed (ogbono) increased by 11.8%, selling at an
N85,000 compared to the N75,000 recorded in December 2021.
 A crate of egg that was sold for an average of N1,838 in December also increased by 4.1%
month-on-month to sell for an average of N1,913 in January 2022.
The National Bureau of Statistics released inflation figures for the month of December in the
past week, printing a headline inflation rate of 15.63% and food inflation of 17.37%, both
representing an uptick compared to the previous month.
 According to the NBS< the increase in the country‘s food inflation rate was caused by the
significant increase in the price of bread and cereals, food product, meat, fish, potatoes, yam and
other tubers, soft drinks and fruit.
 A look at the food price list of the NBS for Lagos State, shows that the price of Agric eggs
increased by 3.1% in December 2021 in contrast to the preceding month.
 The price of an onion bulb skyrocketed by 21.8% month-on-month in the month under review.
 Other items on the NBS list, which recorded significant increase in their prices in December
2021 includes, tomatoes, yam tuber, Irish potato, sweet potato, groundnut oil, maize amongst
others.
Meanwhile, the Nairametrics food price report highlights information on items that witnessed
price increase, price decrease compared to the previous month, as well as information on special
markets, and insights.
Items that witnessed price increase
Despite the downtrend in the prices of majority of the food products comparable to the highs
recorded in the previous month, it is worth noting that some major food items also surged in the
same period.
 A big sized Tuber of Abuja yam increased by 22.81% to sell for an average of N1,750 when
compared to the initial average of N1,425 recorded last month,
 Also, the price of a medium-sized yam rose by 9.38% to sell for an average of N875, as against
the initial average of N800.
 A pack of Power Pasta 500g increased by 8.40% to sell for an average of N355 when compared
to the initial average of N328 recorded in December 2021.
 5 litres and 25 litres gallons of local Palm oil increased by 4.55% and 4.71% to sell for an
average of N4,600 and N25,000 as against the initial averages of N4,400 and N23,875
respectively.
 5 litres and 25 litres gallon of local Vegetable oil increased by 20% and 11% to sell for an
average of N5,100 and N27,750 compared to the initial averages of N4,250 and N25,000
respectively.
A big bag of garri (Ijebu) surged by 25.9% in the review month to sell for an average of N17,000
compared to an initial average of N13,500.
Items that reduced in price

The price of onions crashed in Lagos markets compared to the previous month. Notably, the
price of a big bag of dry onions dropped by 18.9% to sell for an average of N47,875 from an
initial average of N59,000.
 A 50kg bag of Royal Stallion rice that was sold for average of N29,875 in December 2021 in
now being sold for an average of N27,750, which represents a decline of 7.1%.
 The price of a bag of beans (Oloyin), also dropped by 15.1% to sell for an average of N34,375
compared to an initial average of N40,500.
 A 500g pack of Golden Penny Sugar recorded a 16.7% drop in price to sell for an average of
N375.
 The cost of filling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas also declined by 9.2% to sell for an average
of N8,650.
 The price of frozen food items also recorded a month-on-month decline in the review period.
Specifically, the price of a carton of full chicken dropped ny 1.4% to sell for an average of
N17,750.
Market insights
The decrease in the price of food items was attributed to the decline in the sales turnover as most
people already got lots of food items ahead of the new year.
The traders explained that Nigerians that January usual is a month of low sales, due to the
recessive economic nature of the month, hence the people would naturally for this period buying
stocking their food inventory before the new year.
The crash in the price of cooking gas was attributed to the increased supply of the product at the
local market which has resulted into a marginal downtrend in the price of the highly in-demand
product.
Recall, that Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) announced earlier in the year, that it would be
supplying 100% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), otherwise known as cooking gas to the
domestic market, which triggered a marginal correction in the price of gas in the country/
Mr. John, a gas dealer at Mushin Market explained to Nairametrics that the improved supply of
gas in the market has helped moderate the price of the product in the market, however, he
believes that the price of the product is very much high as a 12.5kg gas used to sell below
N4,000 earlier in the previous year.
January, a month of low sales

A major comment from most of the traders interviewed by Nairametrics Research team was that
sales have been very low since the start of the new year, attributing it to the seasonal cycle
typical of the month of January.
According to the traders, the buyers have stocked their homes with food items in the previous
month while shopping for the Christmas and New Year celebrations. While talking to Mrs Esther
at Daleko Market, she explained that it is typical for January to recorded dwindling sales because
we are heading into a new year from a period of significantly huge spending/
“In December, people spend a lot and try to ensure they have their houses stocked with food
items, because the month of January has been notoriously known for being a time when people
lack funds the most, especially with the demands from resuming schools, house rent and many
more,” she said.
About Nairametrics Food Price Survey
Nairametrics Food Price Survey is a bi-monthly household market survey that covers the prices
of major food items in Nigeria, with emphasis on five major markets in Lagos – Mushin market,
Daleko market, Oyingbo market, Idi-Oro market, and Mile 12 market
https://nairametrics.com/2022/01/27/prices-of-local-and-foreign-rice-cooking-gas-drops-as-
traders-lament-january-low-sales/
Phl attains all-time palay, corn harvests in 2021

01/27/2022 | 02:39am EST
Author: DA Communications Group | 27 January 2022

Bigger budget, focused plans and interventions, and hardworking farmers and industry partners
translate to record-breaking sectoral performance.
That, in a nutshell, is the formula of success, as the country's national palay (paddy rice) and
corn production hit record levels, at 19.96 million metric tons (MMT) and 8.3 MMT,
respectively, said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
"These palay and corn production levels are the highest in the country's history under the Duterte
administration. Thanks to our continued strong partnership with organized farmers' groups, local
government units (LGUs), the private sector, other institutions, and rice and corn industry
stakeholders," Secretary Dar said.
The palay output was 3.4 percent (%) more than the 19.29 MMT in 2020, while corn yield was
2.2% more than two years ago. These feats were attained despite the Covid-19 pandemic,
community lockdowns and logistical bottlenecks, and adverse weather conditions, the DA chief
added.
The record harvests were a result of more resources poured into both rice and corn programs,
palay procurement, and irrigation services. These included: P15 billion (B ) for the national rice
program (NRP) and rice resiliency project (RRP); P10B for the Rice Competitiveness
Enhancement Fund (RCEF); and P7B for the National Food Authority (NFA); and P30B for the
National Irrigation Administration (NIA). As for corn program, the DA spent P1.5B last year.
"With better technology, modern high-yielding seeds, farm machinery and equipment, training,
credit and marketing, the country's rice and corn farmers were able to deliver record-breaking
performance," said Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, director of the DA's Philippine Integrated Rice
Program (PIRP), which oversees the implementation of the NRP, RRP, and RCEF.
Under the RCEF program, which is in its third year of implementation, below are the notable
achievements, said Alvindia, based on survey of farmer-participants and monitoring conducted
by the DA's Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice):
 For dry season (DS) 2019 and 2021, palay seeding rate decreased by one-third or 33%,
from 96 kilograms (kg) per hectare (ha) to 64 kg/ha;
 Average yield increased by 15% or 560 kg/ha, from 3.65 metric tons (mt) per hectare (ha)
in DS 2019 to 4.22 mt/ha in DS 2021; and
 Due to the reduced cost of seeds and increased productivity, of production (COP)
decreased, farmers earned additional gross income of P10,000/ha, at P19/kg dry palay
buying price.
For farmers who plant hybrid rice, they attain bigger average yields and income per hectare, said
DA Hybrid Program Director Dr. Frisco Malabanan.
For instance, he said hybrid rice farmers in Nueva Ecija obtained the highest average yield at 7.6
mt/ha in dry season (DS) 2021 and 5.75 mt/ha in wet season (WS) 2021.
In addition to Nueva Ecija, Malabanan said hybrid rice farming is now popular and focused in 14
other provinces: Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, Isabela, Tarlac, Occidental Mindoro,
Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Leyte, Bukidnon, Cotabato, and Sultan
Kudarat.
Since 2019, the total area planted to hybrid rice has reached 1.1 million hectares, contributing
roughly 26% to total palay production.
DA-PhilRice data show that current average cost of production (COP) of palay is at P12/kg, and
that the COP of hybrid rice ranges only from P7to P8/kg, said Malabanan.
For the ongoing DS 2021-2022, the DA in partnership with private seed companies will conduct
the 14th National Rice Technology Forum Cluster Demo Farm, in Bula, Camarines Sur. It will
highlight the use of drone for direct seeding, foliar fertilizer application and pest /disease control
to reduce labor cost, Alvindia said. The event will culminate from the last week of March to
April this year.
Under the RCEF seed component, for DS 2022 DA-PhilRice has delivered 1.5 million 20-kg
bags, of which 825,126 bags were distributed to 318,348 farmers in 717 municipalities/cities in
42 covered provinces, with an estimated planted area of 381,545 hectares.
Under farm mechanization, the DA-PhilMech has delivered a total of 15,657 units of machinery
and equipment, composed of 4-wheel tractors (2,859); hand tractors (4,165); floating tillers
(1,856); precision seeders (146); transplanters (1,816); reapers (1,549); combine harvesters
(1,939); threshers (1,112); mobile rice mills (181); multi-pass rice mills (11); mobile dryers (6);
and recirculating dryers (17).
Under RCEF credit component, the Landbank of the Philippines (LDP) has released P1.43 B,
mainly for palay production (P663M); working capital-rice trading/milling (P371.6M); working
capital - relending (P297M); and purchase of farm machinery (P98.7M). These were lent to 138
cooperatives with 18,301 farmer-beneficiaries, and 8,549 individual farmers.
Meanwhile, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has lent a total of P1.296 B to
21,916 farmer-beneficiaries, broken down as: P760M - working capital; P509 M for
relending/rediscounting; and P19.8 M - acquisition of farm equipment/machinery.
As for training and extension, the ATI, TESDA, PhilMech, and PhilRice have conducted a total
of 5,017 various trainings with 109,686 participants. They also distributed 129,290 Qualification
Maps (QMs) under the TESDA scholarship programs, and developed 407 IEC titles for three
years, with 4.6 million and 3.9 million copies produced and distributed, respectively.
Rice Farmers Financial Assistance
Aside from these regular components under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF)
program, the law also provides that any excess rice tariff collections may be appropriated to
other components of the program, like financial assistance, crop diversification, crop insurance,
and land titling.
For FY 2021, excess tariff collections from FY 2019 and 2020, was appropriated to the RCEF-
Rice Farmer Financial Assistance (RFFA) Program, which provided unconditional and direct
cash assistance to rice farmers owning/tilling rice areas of two hectares and less. The cash
assistance is provided through an Interventions Monitoring Card (IMC), a QR-code-bearing
transactional card, which also serves as an identification card for the farmer-beneficiaries.
As of December 31, 2021, 908,544 farmers have received their "e-wallets", of which 589,215
were loaded with the P5,000-cash assistance.
Aside from the regular budget allotted for fertilizers, the "National Rice Program - Fertilizer
Discount Vouchers to Rice Farmers" project also provided fertilizer discount vouchers to farmers
which can be claimed at DA accredited merchants.
The beneficiaries are farmers who received high-quality seeds in targeted areas to allow them to
adopt the full high-yielding technology practices. The farmers were located in nine regions
(CAR, 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 6, 7, and 8).
To date, a total of 780,232 vouchers were claimed, amounting to P2.6B covering an area of 1.1M
hectares. Meanwhile, the other DA-Regional Field Offices (RFOs) have procured fertilizers
under the regular NRP, totaling 637,736 bags covering 236,295 hectares.
Finally, the DA through its National Corn Program (NCP) will continue efforts to increase
production of quality corn for human consumption, feed, and industrial uses, as well as empower
farmers and other stakeholders to be more cost-efficient, profitable, sustainable, and resilient.
The DA continues to organize more corn farm clusters, providing them with appropriate farm
production, postharvest and processing machinery and equipment, and facilitating marketing
agreements with processors and end-users, said National Corn Program Director Milo delos
Reyes.
To date, the DA has helped organized 188 corn clusters nationwide, which attained an average
yield of 5 mt/ha for yellow corn clusters, and 2.5 mt/ha for white corn clusters, delos Reyes said.
The DA-NCP also facilitated several marketing agreements, notably: between Mantibugao
Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Farmers' Cooperative (MARBC) in Bukidnon with Pilmico
Foods Corporation, wherein MARBC will provide the weekly 500-mt requirement of Pilmico;
and the partnership between Villa Luna Multi-Purpose Cooperative (VLMPC), in Isabela, with
San Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI) wherein VLMPC will provide SMFI 5,000 mt of yellow corn.
This year, the DA-NCP - in partnership with the corn farm clusters, LGUs, and the private sector
- aims to produce 10.22 MMT of corn, of which, 7.36 MMT is yellow and 2.84 is white; with an
average yield of at least 5 mt/ha for yellow and 2.5 mt/ha for white. ### (Dale Russeth
Gabanes/Noel Reyes, DA StratComms)
Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines published this content on 27
January 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed
by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 27 January 2022 07:38:04 UTC.
https://www.da.gov.ph/phl-attains-all-time-palay-corn-harvests-in-2021/
RCPP Signups Now Open and Rice Stewardship

Partnership Annual Report Released
By Emily Woodall
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Applications are now being accepted for two new Regional Conservation
Partnership Projects (RCPP): the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship; and RSP: Improving
Water Quality using Practice 590, Nutrient Management Renewal. These two projects are the
latest additions to the list of 13 RCPPs the Partnership has secured to date.
Many thanks to generous Partnership sponsors

The Mid-South RCPP is a four-state project focused on declining water levels across the
Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer that will target all levels of producers across the conservation
spectrum, from those who are just beginning conservation efforts, to those who are on the cutting
edge of conservation innovation, incentivizing all to increase conservation efforts at every level.
This project will also address nutrient management, wetland wildlife habitat, and inefficient
energy use. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have application deadlines of Friday, February
18, 2022, while Missouri has an application deadline of Friday, February 25, 2022.
Mid-South eligible counties and parishes:

Arkansas: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew,
Faulkner, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke,
Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White, and
Woodruff
Louisiana: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse,

Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Tensas, and West Carroll
Mississippi: Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Leflore, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Washington
Missouri: Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, and
Stoddard
The RSP: Improving Water Quality project uses planning and application of the USDA‘s Natural
Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Practice 590, Precision Nutrient Management. This
project is focused on the Louisiana Mermentau Basin with the goal of helping rice producers
ensure their management practices are used to increase uptake of fertilizers by crops through
implementation of the Four Rs – the Right source, Right rate, Right time, and Right place – and
prevent sediment and nutrient losses, resulting in water quality improvements. The application
deadline for this signup is Friday, February 18, 2022.
Improving Water Quality using Practice 590 eligible parishes:

Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Rapides, St.
Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion.
After completion of these projects, the 13 RCPP projects will have provided nearly $97 million
in conservation funds to rice farmers and impacted an additional 800,000 U.S. rice acres.
None of this would be possible without the continued support of the Partnership‘s financial
sponsors, including: the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Mosaic Company Foundation, Nestlé Purina
PetCare, Chevron U.S.A., RiceTec, Entergy, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Freeport-McMoRan
Foundation, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, BASF, American Rice, Inc. – Riviana
Foods, Inc., Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Delta Plastics, Riceland Foods,
Corteva Agriscience, Cargill, Wells Fargo, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Horizon Ag,
Turner‘s Creek & Bombay Hook Farms, MacDon Industries, Farm Credit Associations of
Arkansas, and Ducks Unlimited.
You may access the 2021 Rice Stewardship Partnership Annual Report online, and go to the
USA Rice website for more information on the Partnership.
USA rice daily
Gordon Ramsay opens new Back Bay restaurant

Ramsay‘s Kitchen on Boylston Street takes guests on a ―culinary journey around the world."
https://www.da.gov.ph/phl-attains-all-time-palay-corn-harvests-in-2021/
Inside Ramsay's Kitchen, which opened Monday. Gordon Ramsay North America
By Marta Hill
January 25, 2022
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Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay‘s first Boston restaurant welcomed guests for its opening day on
Monday.
Ramsay‘s Kitchen opened in the Mandarin Oriental, Boston on Boylston Street in the Back
Bay. The restaurant serves Ramsay‘s most popular dishes and represents a new dining concept
for the chef: taking guests on a ―culinary journey around the world,‖ according to a statement
from Gordon Ramsay North America.
―I‘m very excited to be opening the very first Ramsay‘s Kitchen at the Mandarin Oriental,
Boston, in this exceptional culinary city with so many talented chefs and incredible restaurants,‖
Ramsay said in a statement. ―This concept is very close to my heart and celebrates all of my
favorite culinary adventures and global destinations. Our team couldn‘t be more excited to take
guests on that journey.‖
The 7,000 square-foot restaurant has a bar and lounge, a main dining room, a raw bar, two
private dining areas, and a seasonal patio.
Inside Ramsay‘s Kitchen. – Gordon Ramsay North America

The menu highlights Ramsay‘s most popular dishes, ―offering an array of elevated, yet
approachable, family-style plates, entrées, and craft cocktails.‖ Right now the restaurant is open
for lunch and dinner, but according to the release, breakfast will be added later this year.
A variety of raw and chilled seafood dishes — including oysters, shrimp cocktail, and tuna
tartare — are available at both dinner and lunch.
The lunch menu includes soups and salads, sandwiches, chargrill options, signature mains, and
sides. Signature mains include: chicken pot pie with a lemon velouté sauce; crispy skin salmon
with a lemon vinaigrette; fish and chips with Ramsay‘s tartar sauce; and Ramsay‘s famous beef
Wellington served in a red wine demi.
The beef Wellington at Ramsay‘s Kitchen. – Gordon Ramsay North America
Many of the dishes on the lunch and dinner menus include nods to New England. Both menus
have a Maine-style and a Connecticut-style lobster roll.
The dinner menu has a few more options, with nine signature
mains: In addition to the mains served at lunch, at dinner patrons can order a braised lamb shank,
pan-seared scallops, and a lobster and clam bouillabaisse, among other entrees. For those looking
for a vegetarian option, both menus offer a beet burger served with a citrus herb aioli and a
chickpea tikka masala served with saffron basmati rice.
The scallops at Ramsay‘s Kitchen. – Gordon Ramsay North America
The dessert menu has four options, including a gluten-free chocolate pot de crème, and three
dessert wines. Ramsay‘s Kitchen also offers cocktails and mocktails.
ADVERTISEMENT:
Not only does the menu pay homage to the Northeast, the space does, too. The back bar was
designed to emulate the Zakim bridge, the use of blue marble is a nod to the Boston Harbor, and
the use of brick is a tribute to the city‘s historic architecture. The restaurant‘s atmosphere is
―relaxed but upscale‖ and has dark accent colors and rich furnishings.
―This concept is a true culinary destination and is one that‘s very unique. The menu and
restaurant space is unlike any other Gordon Ramsay restaurant,‖ Norman Abdallah, CEO of
Gordon Ramsay North America, said in the statement. ―We‘ve been eagerly waiting to bring
guests in to experience it and are happy to open our doors.‖
Ramsay’s Kitchen is located at 774 Boylston St. inside the Mandarin Oriental, Boston. Open for
lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through
Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. To make a reservation, visit ramsayskitchen.com or call 857-
289-0771.
https://www.boston.com/food/restaurant-openings/2022/01/25/gordon-ramsays-new-boston-
restaurant/
Trader Joe’s releases list of favorite products, as chosen by

customers
LOCAL NEWS
by: Tracy Bloom
Posted: Jan 25, 2022 / 12:11 PM PST / Updated: Jan 25, 2022 / 01:36 PM PST
This file photo shows a Trader Joe‘s sign on Oct. 18, 2013 in Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Trader Joe‘s on Monday announced its 13th annual list Customer Choice Awards and —
probably to the surprise of no one who regularly shops there — Mandarin Orange Chicken once
again came out on top.
The delicious frozen dish, which annually rates among the fan-favorites for the Monrovia-
headquartered market chain, nabbed the title of favorite overall item for the second year in a row.
Each year, Trader Joe‘s polls its customers to see which products from its eponymous label are
their favorites in a variety of categories, including frozen entrees, beverages, cheese, bath and
body, and more.
Some items always seem to pop up on the list — in addition to Mandarin Orange Chicken, Dark
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Unexpected Cheddar, Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets and
Soy Chorizo are among the perennial favorites — but the introduction of new and seasonal items
ensures at least some variety each year.
This year‘s awards, however, were compromised of mostly holdovers from the 12th Customer
Choice Awards.
Here‘s the full list:
Overall
Winner:
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Runners-up:
 Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
 Unexpected Cheddar
 Everything but the Bagel Seasoning Blend
 Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (seasonal item)
In addition to Mandarin Orange Chicken, customers also really love the Dark Chocolate Peanut
Butter Cups, Unexpected Cheddar and Everything but the Bagel Seasonal Blend, as evidenced
by the fact that all are repeats from last year‘s list of overall favorites.
Beverage
Winner:
Non Dairy Oat Beverage
Runners-up:
 Spiced Apple Cider (seasonal)
 Ginger Beer
 Sparkling Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage (seasonal)
 Tangerine Juice
Last year‘s favorite — Sparkling Black Tea with Peach Juice Beverage — didn‘t make the cut
this year, with Non Dairy Oat Beverage jumping from runner-up to take the category. Although
seasonal items, Spiced Apple Cider and Sparking Honeycrisp Apple Juice Beverage really make
an impression, as both appeared on the 2021 list as well.
Cheese
Winner:
Unexpected Cheddar
Runners-up:
 English Cheddar with Caramelized Onions
 Baked Lemon Ricotta (seasonal)
 Syrah Soaked Toscano
 Triple Crème Brie
Unexpected Cheddar tops the cheese category yet again, while English Cheddar with
Caramelized Onions and Syrah Soaked Toscano also ranked among the top 5 once more.
Sweets/Dessert
Winner:
Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones
Runners-up:
 Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
 O & H Danish Kringle (flavors vary by season)
 Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches
 Brookie
Last year‘s favorite — Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups — dropped into the runner-up
category, as Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones was elevated to the top. But Trader Joe‘s
customers seem to agree that these products are the best desserts the market has to offer, as all
five are repeats.
Entree
Winner:
Mandarin Orange Chicken
Runners-up:
 Chicken Tikka Masala
 Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
 Joe‘s Diner Mac ‗n Cheese
 Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese (seasonal)
Trader Joe‘s shoppers really can‘t get enough of the Mandarin Orange Chicken, as this frozen
chicken item also — for however many times in a row, now — topped the entree list. Chicken
Tikka Masala and Joe‘s Diner Mac ‗n Cheese are returning favorites.
Home, Bath and Body
Winner:
Scented Candle Tins
Runners-up:
 Body Butters
 Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream
 Hand Sanitizers
 Tree Tingle Shampoo & Conditioner
Scented Candle Tins, which come in a variety of scents that vary by season, are also another
returning winner, while Hand Sanitizers and Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream were previous
runners-up.
Produce
Winner:
Teeny Tiny Avocados
Runners-up:
 Bananas
 Persian Cucumbers
 Arugula
 Carrots of Many Colors
Teeny Tiny Avocados is tops once more when it comes to favorite produce item at Trader Joe‘s,
but only Arugula is a holdover from 2021.
Snack
Winner:
Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
Runners-up:
 Organic Corn Chip Dippers
 Organic Eloté Corn Chip Dippers
 Chili & Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips
 Bamba
Not surprisingly, Salted Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets topped the snack section. And this
was the only category aside from dessert that featured the same products from last year‘s awards.
(The only difference being that both Corn Chip Dippers were lumped together as one entry in
2021, making way for Plantain Chips to be in the fold on that list.)
Vegan/Vegetarian
Winner:
Soy Chorizo
Runners-up:
 Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto
 Vegetable Fried Rice
 Cauliflower Gnocchi
 Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels
Soy Chorizo — last year‘s favorite in this category — Vegan Kale, Cashew & Basil Pesto,
Cauliflower Gnocchi and Vegetable Fried Rice all continue to be popular items for meat eaters
and vegetarians alike, and are holdovers from 2021. But, perhaps again proving the love for
Trader Joe‘s Mandarin Orange Chicken, the meatless version of the dish also entered the fold
this year.
You can find out more about this year‘s awards by going to Trader Joe‘s website.
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/trader-joes-releases-list-of-favorite-products-as-chosen-by-
customers/
The Kitchn: This rice is the perfect addition to almost all of

your weeknight meals
 Sahara Bohoskey, TheKitchn.com
 Jan 24, 2022 Updated

Cilantro-lime rice is zesty and fresh.
Sahara Henry Bohoskey/TNS
I cannot get enough of cilantro. When ordering out, I‘m always missing the floral and citrusy
notes of the fresh herb. So yes, I may call for one whole bunch of it in this cilantro-lime rice
recipe, but don‘t knock it until you try it! If you love Chipotle‘s cilantro-lime rice, you‘ll love
this version — it‘s zesty and fresh, and the perfect addition to almost all of your weeknight
meals.
The simple preparation and bright flavors pair well with any protein (think: chicken tinga,
steamed fish, pork chops, you name it!). My love for making this dish is also attributed to how
easy it is to store and heat up. Make two or three times the recipe, then store extras flat in zip-top
bags in the freezer for future use. It‘s a great way to have rice on hand.
Serve rice with refried beans or chicken tinga, or use as a base for your favorite burrito bowl.
Tips for cooking rice
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A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the
community.
This recipe features a simple two-step process that you can apply to almost any rice recipe.
 Always rinse your rice. Rice, like anything grown in the ground, needs to be washed.
The grains themselves have lots of starch that need to be rinsed if you‘re looking for a
fluffy end product.
 Once you add the lid, leave it! Trapping in the steam ensures fluffy and evenly cooked
rice.
Cilantro-Lime Rice
Serves 4, Makes about 3 cups
 1 cup long-grain white rice, such as basmati or jasmine
 1 bunch fresh cilantro
 2 tablespoons olive oil
 2 cups water
 1 teaspoon kosher salt
 1 large lime
1. Rinse 1 cup long-grain white rice in a fine-mesh strainer under cold water until the water runs
clear, about 45 seconds. Shake off the excess water and set aside.
2. Finely chop the tender stems and leaves from 1 bunch fresh cilantro until you have 1 cup.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add
the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly golden-brown and aromatic, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add 2 cups water, 1/2 cup of the cilantro, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir to combine and bring
to a boil over high heat.
3. Cover the saucepan and reduce the heat to low, and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the
saucepan from the heat and let the rice steam, still covered, for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, juice 1
large lime until you have 2 tablespoons.
4. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Add the remaining cilantro and lime juice and stir to
combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt and/or lime juice as needed.
Recipe notes: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to one week and or freeze for
up to one month.
(Sahara Bohoskey is a contributor to TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who
love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)
https://tucson.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/the-kitchn-this-rice-is-the-perfect-addition-to-
almost-all-of-your-weeknight-meals/article_b64431c6-527e-5622-adeb-618c14d69907.html
Fit mum-of-four shares her THREE favourite 'summer

shredding' recipes - and the 'life-changing' tactic she
credits for her incredible figure
 Sophie Guidolin is the personal trainer behind THE BOD and a mum-of-four
 She has shared three of her favourite 'summer shredding' recipes
 They include a Vietnamese prawn noodle salad and a turkey taco bowl
 She also shared her delicious summer veg omelette perfect for breakfasts
By LAURA HOUSE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 02:23 GMT, 26 January 2022 | UPDATED: 07:17 GMT, 26 January 2022
Fitness coach Sophie Guidolin has shared three of her favourite 'summer shredding' recipes that
help keep her in top shape all season.
The Gold Coast mum-of-four, who is a qualified nutritionist and founder of THE BOD, describes
tracking macro nutrients as the 'life-changing' secret behind her incredible figure and includes them
on every recipe she shares.
Her three favourites include a Vietnamese prawn noodle salad. a turkey taco bowl and a summer
veg omelette.
This mouthwatering recipe contains 347.5 calories, 33.8 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of fat and
45.9 grams of carbohydrates per serve.
'Sweet potato noodles can be found in the Asian aisle of supermarkets,' Sophie said.
Alternatively use brown rice vermicelli noodles for the same macros.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10441977/Fit-mum-four-shar
Two women suffocate in New Year’s rice cakes as the deadly

trend continues in Japan
Amol Rajput
Mochi on a Japanese plate on December 29, 2021.

Photo Alliance via Lars Nicolaisen / Getty Images
In Japan, two women were suffocated with traditional rice cakes and four were hospitalized,
continuing the harsh New Year trend. Japan Today report.. Both women were in their 80s,
according to police and fire department officials.
Suffocate Mochi — Sticky, sweet traditional delicacy to help celebrate the New Year — is so
common that the Metropolitan Police Department Website It provides tips on how to help people
who have food in their throat.
Authorities warn people every year to chop glutinous rice cakes, especially to make them easier
to chew for the elderly and children. People also recommend eating snacks slowly.
Despite the public warning, the snack made by hitting rice Suffocation death Almost every year,
especially among the elderly. 2015, It was believed that nine people died Participate in the
annual culinary tradition.
Mochi is a staple of Japan‘s New Year‘s holiday menu. However, glutinous rice cakes, when
baked or cooked in soup or sweet beans, tend to clog people‘s throats and interfere with
breathing.
According to the 2020 letter of the medical journal resuscitationMochi accounts for up to 13.9%
of foreign body airway obstruction (FBAO) cases in Japan. In Tokyo, 482 patients were
hospitalized after choking onigiri for five years.
In 2001, a woman saved her father‘s life She used a vacuum cleaner Pull the rice cake from the
throat of a 70-year-old man.
In the photo on Saturday, December 13, 2014, a boy is eating freshly ground rice cakes, that is,
wrapped in seaweed seasoned with ―mochi‖, in a park. Annual preparations for the New Year
celebrations at a park in Yokohama near Tokyo.
Associated Press Photo / Yosuke Saruta
https://eminetra.com/two-women-suffocate-in-new-years-rice-cakes-as-the-deadly-trend-
continues-in-japan/906029/
December inflation is “temporary” – Emefiele

Assures food prices will stabilize in 2022.
by Chike Olisah
January 26, 2022

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured Nigerians that food prices will stabilize and
would not rise as people had anticipated in 2022. He also claimed the higher inflation
experienced in December was temporary
The assurance was made by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, during a chat with journalists
after presenting the outcome of the 2-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on
Tuesday in Abuja.
According to Emefiele, the rise in food prices could likely be attributed to logistical problems,
especially on transportation or maybe the destruction of food produce or perishable items from
farm to the market. He also blamed the activities of hoarders as part of the reasons for rising food
prices, said the committee would do everything possible to stop it.
https://nairametrics.com/2022/01/26/december-inflation-is-temporary-emefiele/
Rice Revolution As Panacea To Food Inflation

Posted on January 27, 2022 AuthorABDULWAHAB ISA
By enlisting 4,489,786 farmers, who in turn cultivated 5,300,411 hectares of rice and other 20
commodities on Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme platform, CBN may have located novel
approach to breaking food inflation, ABDULWAHAB ISA reports
Food security is an all-important item of man, ranking next to security. No nation is secured in
the real sense if its people, at all times, have no physical and economic access to sufficient, safe
and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy
life. Life and living are meaningless to man when food and means of accessing it are beyond his
means. Nigeria is a richly blessed and endowed nation. The country is gifted in all aspects of
food production with agriculture as its main stay for economic prosperity. The arable land is
fertile for growing every food item.
Rice is one of the leading produce Nigeria‘s arable land can sufficiently produce in abundance to
cater for the teeming population with leftovers exported. Rice is a major staple food item in most
homes. A 1991 World Bank report aptly states the importance of rice to Nigerians. The report
noted that, at least, a third of the poorest urban households in Nigeria get 33 per cent of their
cereal-based calories from rice. Rice is the country‘s staple meal for events and celebrations,
ranging from weddings to funerals to holidays. A stable and popular food item, conversely, its
procurement should be cheap and easy to afford. Not so with rice.
It‘s fast becoming a luxury food item in most Nigerian homes. While Nigeria is gifted with
arable lands suitable for rice production, the country has sunk into an import pit. Substantial rice
for consumption were imported from Thailand, Japan and other Asian rice producing nations that
are less endowed with rice production capacity to Nigeria.
Paradigm shift
Nigeria was a major recipient of rice in million tonnes from across 10 worlds‘ rice producers.
Rice was being imported uncontrollably from China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, Philippines and Brazil. Rice import was sustained from the nation‘s
scarce foreign exchange. Aside from the forex drain, job opportunities were unintendedly
exported to rice exporting nations.
The scenario endured till 2014. The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari‘s economic
policy has agriculture as a cardinal focus, a policy being overseen by the Central Bank of
Nigeria. To reverse rice misfortune and accord it its potential, CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin
Emefiele, in 2015, launched the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme (ABP). A well thought out
programme that would turn fortunes of rice and rice farmers for better in the country was kicked
in. The Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme is an agricultural loan scheme designed to boost
agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance.
The scheme has rice as one of the key food items to support. Seven years down the line of ABP,
rice production story is changing. There has been import substitution for home grown rice. This
is not to say that rice production in Nige-ria has attained its peak. Not yet there with the price
still on the high side. CBN and experts are confident that price will tone down with time. It was
seven years of ABP last week. The occasion for the unveiling of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) mega rice pyramids provided an opportunity to evaluate the programme and its impact. It
had president Muhammadu Buhari as special guest of honor where Emefiele gave a seven-year
scorecard of the scheme.
―The Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme has catalysed the rural economy and has built a sustainable
framework for financing small holder farmers in Nigeria. ―The programme has developed an
ecosystem among all nodes of the agricultural value chain and these linkages can be better
optimised through synergy among all stakeholders. As at the end of December 2021, we have
financed 4,489,786 farmers that cultivated 5,300,411 hectares across 21 commodities through 23
Participating Financial Institutions in the 36 States of the Federation and FCT.
―For example, Thailand alone exported 1.3 million metric tons of rice to.Nigeria in 2014. The
ABP was launched in 2015 to curtail these.imports, and since then, we have seen incremental
reductions in rice imports from Thailand. ―By 2016, rice imports from Thailand had fallen.to
only 58,000 metric tons. As of the end of 2021, they only exported.2,160 metric tons to Nigeria,
thereby saving us foreign exchange and.helping preserve jobs in Nigeria. Beyond increasing our
national.output from about 5.4 million metric tons in 2015 to over 9 million metric tons in 2021,
we have also significantly improved the.productivity per hectare of the smallholder farmer from
about 2.4.metric tons per ha in 2015 to between about five metric tonnes per ha in 2021.
―These expansions have not only made Nigeria the largest rice producer in Africa, but has also
unlocked enormous private sector.investment in the rice value chain as the number of Integrated
Rice Mills grew astronomically from 6 in 2015 to over 50 in 2021 with many more in various
stages of completion. Today, Nigeria‘s milled rice matches the foreign rice in quality.
―Taking a cue from our success in the rice value chain, we commenced the ―Brown Revolution‖
last year as our mantra for the transformation of the wheat value chain in Nigeria. Wheat is the
3rd mostly consumed grain in Nigeria after maize and rice. It is estimated that we only produce
about one per cent (63,000 mt) of the five to six million mt of wheat consumed annually in
Nigeria. This enormous demand-supply gap is bridged with over $2 billion annual importation of
wheat.
―As a result, wheat accounts for the second highest food import bill in Nigeria, thereby putting
pressure on the nation‘s foreign exchange reserves. We have concluded the first major wet
season wheat farming in Plateau State and planted over 100,000 hectares of wheat across 15
states in the 2021 dry season. This strategic intervention will herald progressive reduction in our
wheat import bills over the coming years. ―We also established a Strategic maize reserve with
the stock of maize submitted as loan repayment by our farmers.
This will provide a.buffer for price modulation for the poultry and feed mills nationwide. ―A
total of 241,656.76 MT was aggregated in the 2020 wet and dry seasons, out of which
217,218.53 MT has been disposed of to 18 millers and poultry farmers through the Poultry
Association of Nigeria,‖ Emefiele said. The programme was able to stabilise the poultry and
livestock sectors during the pandemic and saved the industry and consumers over N10 billion in
raw material costs,‖ Emefiele told an elated president Buhari and host of state governors in
attendance.
Breaking food inflation chain
Prices of rice and, by extension, other food items, are still relatively high, no doubt. Monthly
inflation figures from the pool of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed the rise in food
items. Prices of all major food items were high in the past eight months of monthly inflation.
And people have asked, why is rice and other foods still on high up in price despite CBN‘s
interventions? One major challenge confronting farmers is the festering security challenge;
unceasing herders/ farmers clashes.
Farmers do not have a thoroughfare to their farm lands to harvest matured produce, or the
opportunity to till new lands for cultivation. This remains a sore point freezing the gains.
Provision of security is the exclusive duty of the fiscal authority not CBN.
The Federal Government has a dormant commodity exchange lying unutilised. As majority
stakeholder of National Commodity Exchange (NCX), the bank has unveiled a strategic roadmap
to revamp the Exchange. Commodity exchange is a key driver of economic growth. It ultimately
leads to reduction in food items. To break the food inflation chain, and give farmers economic
leverage, NCX is currently undergoing transformation. Emefiele lamented that previous efforts
by the bank to contain spiral increase in food items via various funding interventions had been
thwarted by commodity dealers and middlemen profiteers in the agriculture value chain. These
people, Emefiele said, were responsible for creation of artificial scarcity of food items.
―We will not allow some selfseeking private exchange commodity to be holding agricultural
products and be creating problems for prices because price stability is the cure mandate of CBN
and we cannot shy away from the responsibility. Luckily, the CBN owns 60% of Nigeria
commodity exchange and we take control of it and will run it the way commodity exchanges are
supposed to be run in any part of the world. That is one way that we would work to stabilize
prices in Nigeria,‖ he said. To restore NCX, it made provision for fund injection of N50 billion.
Government halted its privatisation and empowered CBN to constitute a steering committee
to.bring up moribund exchange to optimum operation. A new board headed by the Deputy
Governor of CBN is in place to oversee affairs of NCX and a steering the management to drive
day to day processes.
Food security achievable
Concerted efforts in the agriculture value chain by CBN are thrusting positive signals to cheer
about. Rice production, one of the priority items of ABP, is being productive mass scale locally.
Rice import has been drastically cut back. Commenting on rice prospects last week, National
President, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, was optimistic
of Nigeria exporting rice in a few years to come. ―CBN financed a lot of farmers. In rice, which
is my sector, the CBN finance has created about three million jobs, especially for farmers and
suppliers. About five million jobs are provided every year through this financing,‖ he said.
Last line
The rice revolution started by CBN, if sustained and similar push extended to other food items,
will force food prices down to acceptable level in no distant
time.https://www.newtelegraphng.com/rice-revolution-as-panacea-to-food-inflation/
Rice ‗pyramids‘: Buhari‘s misguided glorification of

peasant farming
January 27, 2022
BY Olu Fasan
SINCE 2018, Nigeria has earned the moniker: ―poverty capital of the world‖. The United
Nations also named Nigeria among the six countries in the world where hunger is most rife.
Which makes it strange that a Nigerian government could indulge in the utter charade of
exhibiting ―the world‘s largest rice pyramids‖?
Yet, that‘s what President Muhammadu Buhari did last week, on January 18, when he unveiled,
reportedly, 15 pyramids, each purportedly containing one million bags of paddy rice.
Public trust in Buhari‘s government is extremely low, so cynicism abounds. Many Nigerians
questioned the veracity of the government‘s claims: Were there 15 pyramids? Did each contain
one million bags? And where, by the way, did the rice come from? But beyond the doubts about
provenance and facts, there are deeper concerns about motives and appropriateness.
Let‘s face it, the unveiling of the rice pyramids smacked of a political gimmick. Where is the
wisdom in talking of ―the world‘s largest rice pyramids‖ when Nigeria is nowhere near China,
India, Indonesia and many other countries in rice production? What‘s the rationale for the chest-
beating when rice consumption outstrips production, thus challenging the notion of food
security? And why, if Nigeria has ―the world‘s largest rice pyramids‖, has the price of rice not
crashed? A 50 kg bag of rice still costs between N24,000 and N30,000!
Truth is, the Buhari government treats agriculture as a political project. For President Buhari, it‘s
a matter of dogma. His ideological soulmate is Godwin Emefiele, governor of the Central Bank
of Nigeria, who has seemingly turned the CBN‘s focus away from its core mandate of price
stability to agricultural financing. Through its Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme, ABP, the CBN
has poured nearly N1 trillion into agriculture. And, of course, both Buhari and Emefiele want to
show Nigerians that this money has yielded valuable and significant outcomes. But it has not!
Last year, the online news outlet, Premium Times published an investigative report entitled
―Despite investments, agriculture growth under Buhari weakest since 1999.‖ Recently,
BusinessDay investigation reached the same conclusion: ―Agric growth under Buhari weakest
since 1999 despite investment‖. For a president who described the Anchor Borrowers‘
Programme as ―the reference point in the administration‘s agricultural revolution effort‖, the
findings that agricultural growth under his government is the weakest since 1999 are utterly
damning, betraying evidence of policy failure.
Truth be told, like the so-called National Social Investment Programme, which gulped over
N500 billion without making a dent on poverty, the Anchor Borrowers‘ Programme is a totem of
the Buhari government‘s profligacy and wastefulness. Indeed, if the programme were ever
probed, there would be plenty of evidence of mismanagement.
For instance, one international report says of the ABP: ―In the rice sector, government incentives
have benefitted ‗political farmers‘ who use political connection to access loans and distribute
these onward for profits.‖ The House of Representatives is also reportedly investigating how
billions of naira of ABP loans were disbursed and why farmers who received the loans have not
paid them back. What‘s more, according to a BusinessDay study entitled ‗Nigeria Rice Industry
Report‘ (2020), ―many rural/small-holder farmers and cottage agri-businesses criticised the
programme as they were unable to benefit from it.‖ So, the ABP is not working; it‘s based on
dogma, not sound policy.
All of which leads us to President Buhari‘s ideological fixation with agriculture. In his speech at
the unveiling of the rice pyramids, Buhari said: ―The significance of today‘s occasion can be
better understood by looking at the various economic strides that the administration has achieved
through agriculture.‖ In other words, his administration‘s economic philosophy is anchored on
agriculture, which is why his government has used the ABP, import bans and prohibitive tariffs
to prop up agriculture while stifling the manufacturing sector by denying it access to foreign
exchange to import critical intermediate products, and refusing to open up the Nigerian economy
to make it attractive to foreign investors.
But Buhari‘s ideological fixation with agriculture is misguided and has utterly failed to produce
tangible results. Any sensible agricultural policy must lead to1)agricultural and economic
growth, 2) job creation and poverty reduction, 3) availability and affordability of food items, and
4) agricultural exports. With over 80 per cent of farmers being smallholders, agriculture in
Nigeria is too subsistence-based to yield sophisticated outcomes.
Yet, President Buhari talks about his administration‘s ―agricultural revolution‖, about ―achieving
economic diversification through agriculture‖. But over six-and-a-half years in power, with
barely 14 months to go, there‘s absolutely no ―revolution‖, no ―diversification‖. Just to repeat:
agricultural growth under Buhari‘s administration is the weakest since 1999, despite huge
investment!
But that hasn‘t deterred Buhari‘s fetishisation of agriculture. For instance, in his recent Channels
TV interview, he kept saying that ―only 2.5 per cent of Nigerian arable land is being used‖ and
that ―we have to go back to the land‖. Yet, he admitted that his plan to lift 100 million Nigerians
out of poverty had suffered a setback because of ―resource shortage‖. He listed activities like
―clearing the land, dividing the land, giving seeds and fertilisers‖, and then said ―all these cost
money‖. Notwithstanding, he insists that to tackle poverty, ―we have to go back to the land‖!
If, in Buhari‘s words, his much-trumpeted plan to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty
through agriculture hit the buffers because of rudimentary agricultural problems, why then is he
saying Nigerians must go back to the land? Well, the type of agriculture he has in mind is
peasant agriculture, characterised by labour-intensive manual farming. But peasant farming
won‘t feed Nigeria‘s burgeoning population, won‘t grow its economy, and won‘t generate export
earnings. Only mechanised and commercial farming can achieve those outcomes.
Even so, Nigeria can‘t put all its eggs in the agriculture basket. No country develops without
robust manufacturing and services sectors, and a healthy inflow of foreign direct investment.
Sadly, those are of little interest to Buhari. For him, it‘s all about peasantry!
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/01/rice-pyramids-buharis-misguided-glorification-of-
peasant-farming/
Nigeria’s Iconic Rice Paddy Pyramids To Be

Evacuated Tomorrow
Nigeria‘s Iconic Rice Paddy Pyramids to be Evacuated Tomorrow

Eight days after the unveiling of Africa‘s largest pyramids of rice paddy, the pyramids are about
to be evacuated to integrated millers within the country.
This was revealed in an interview by Engr. Saleh Alhassan, the Director of Administration,
RIFAN, who oversaw the building of the giant pyramids. He stated that, with the magnificent
pyramids, the Rice Farmers‘ Association of Nigeria has converted perceived challenges to robust
opportunities by installing in Nigerians the possibility of making wealth from the land.
Engr. Alhassan added that with the collaborative efforts of RIFAN and the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria is self-sufficient in rice production as the country outdoes Egypt to
become Africa‘s largest rice-producing nation.
Meanwhile, the Director invited all and sundry to witness the evacuation process at the Abuja
Centre for Commerce and Industry, Lugbe. He maintained that the evacuation process will
silence naysayers who propagate malicious information concerning the iconic achievement of
RIFAN and the Buhari – led administration.
The evacuation begins by 10:00 am tomorrow, 27th January 2022 and the bags of rice paddy will
be channeled to 61 integrated millers within Nigeria.
https://niyitabiti.net/2022/01/nigerias-iconic-rice-paddy-pyramids-to-be-evacuated-tomorrow/
Benchmark value: Prioritize rice production as consultations

continue – Senyo Hosi to govt
Senyo Hosi, Agribusiness entrepreneur

About 100,000 jobs to affected over benchmark value policy
Rice production season to take off soon
Industrialization efforts to erode with benchmark value discount policy
Agribusiness entrepreneur, Senyo Hosi, has called on the government to particularly prioritize
domestic rice production amid the reversal of the benchmark value reduction policy.
According to him, despite ongoing consultations over the policy, a decision on rice is vital in
order not to erode efforts made in the country‘s rice production value chain.
In a CitiBusiness.com report, Senyo Hosi who is also Chief Executive Officer of HGL Limited,
urged for a clear indication of the policy for rice especially as the planting season is about to take
off.
―It must be immediate because our planting season is about to take off, we are preparing the
land, I am going to have to scale down. This season I was hoping to actually develop a thousand
hectares. Last season we did a major test run but we got hit because of this benchmark value. We
did about three hundred and fifty hectares that‘s about one thousand acres, this time we want to
actually move to about two thousand five hundred acres but with this going on I have to rethink
and manage my investments,‖ Senyo Hosi stressed.
He further called on the government to ensure rice farmers receive their fair share of the market
as part of efforts aimed to boost industrialization.
―I‘m talking to my bank looking at how to move investments into my milling capacity, who is
going to listen to us to expand our capacity even our existing capacity, we are underutilizing it
and we are now forecasting bigger capacity when you have benchmark values being reduced. I
mean how do you really want to solve these issues of unemployment? how do you want to
advance the course of industrialization? How can we say 1D1F and in the same vein be doing
everything to make sure that we have zero D, zero F?‖ the news portal quoted Senyo Hosi.
Meanwhile, the Rice Millers Association of Ghana, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and
the General Agricultural Workers Union have stated a decision to indefinitely suspend the
benchmark value discount policy will affect the jobs of about 100,000 workers in the value
chain.
This comes after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo instructed the Ghana Revenue
Authority (GRA) to suspend the reversal of the discount on the benchmark value for broader
consultations with stakeholders.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Benchmark-value-Prioritize-rice-
production-as-consultations-continue-Senyo-Hosi-to-govt-1453924
Andhra Pradesh: Millers express concern over inordinate

delay in issuing waybills P V Prasad
Hans News Service | 27 Jan 2022 1:53 AM IST x Picture for illustrative purpose only Even as
rice millers are facing an inconvenient situation with sudden halting of waybills to transport
custom milled rice (CMR) to the government, the administration is procuring similar rice from
other districts spending huge amount of money for wagons and other incidental expenditure.
Nellore: Even as rice millers are facing an inconvenient situation with sudden halting of waybills
to transport custom milled rice (CMR) to the government, the administration is procuring similar
rice from other districts spending huge amount of money for wagons and other incidental
expenditure. The reason is simple that there is a shortage of Sortex rice for distribution under
PDS. In fact, rice millers in the district express concern over the sudden stoppage of waybills to
transport milled rice to the government.
The target to supply was 25,000 metric tonnes of custom milled rice (non-Sortex) during last
year and the millers have already supplied 15,000 metric tonnes. Also Read - 2,500 cr sanctioned
from Centre for CBIC works: Collector Chakradhar Babu Even though they are prepared to
supply the balance of 10,000 MTs, heavy rains in November 2021 created problems for the
transportation of the stocks. After two months, district officials again directed the millers to
complete the target of 10,000 metric tonnes and the latter jumped into action and started milling
and loaded the rice in trucks.
Thanks to the government, millers failed to download the truck sheets and the website itself
disappeared after a while. Also Read - Medical help: Govt failed to keep promise says Chejarla
Venkateswara Reddy Further, millers observed that the balance of the non-Sortex custom milled
rice target was cancelled in Nellore district and some other district was asked to supply. District
president of the Rice Millers and Dealers Association N Subrahmanyam Reddy wondered why
the State government had asked them to complete the supply of balance of CMR in Nellore when
they wanted to engage other districts to supply the remaining quantity. Also Read - CM Jagan
raises pitch for 'one district-one airport' concept He said the officials were getting stocks from
other districts spending huge amounts of money even as huge stocks of CMR in the district was
waiting for issue of waybills. "Transporting stocks from other districts was ridiculous when
around 10,000 MTs of rice is available in the district. The government is yet to clear dues to the
tune of Rs 150 crore to about 200 millers in the district and it has been kept pending since 2017-
18. They are not clearing dues and are creating this kind of hurdle for transportation. We also
sent representation to the district officials about the crisis and there was no response from them,"
Subrahmanyam Reddy lamented. He added that trucks loaded with rice are waiting for orders
from the officials concerned even today and they are incurring huge demurrage charges for
delaying the transportation. Subrahmanyam Reddy thanked Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu
who had called for the opening of PPCs for paddy collection even during August.
https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/andhra-pradesh-millers-express-concern-
over-inordinate-delay-in-issuing-waybills-726534
CBN assures food prices will moderate in 2022

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
January 26, 2022 1:13 PM
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday assured Nigerians that food prices would
not accelerate the way people had anticipated in 2022.
CBN assures food prices will moderate in 2022. [PremiumTimes]

The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, said this while answering questions from the press
after presenting the outcome of the two-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on
Tuesday in Abuja.
The MPC, at the meeting, retained the country‘s Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 11.5 per cent
and also unanimously agreed to retain all other monetary policy parameters.
The Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) was, thus, retained at 27.5 per cent, Liquidity Ratio, 30 per cent
and Asymmetric Corridor, +100 and -700 Basis Points around the MPR.
Emefiele, answering questions after presenting the MPC meeting outcome, said the MPC saw
logistical challenges in moving food from farm gates to the market, and also the activities of
hoarders and would do everything possible to stop it.
According to him, the CBN is looking at the issues involved and will come up with good stories
to tell about the trend by the next MPC.
“We found out that prices at farm gates are in line with our expectations because they are
somewhat moderated; However, prices at the markets where our statisticians take their survey
are high.
“So, if prices at the markets are high, there is, therefore, some problems between the farm gates
and the markets.
“So, we see logistical problems, essentially bordering on transportation, also bordering on
maybe destruction of food produce or perishable items from farm to market.
“We are trying to encourage people who are interested in looking at how to resolve the logistical
problems of delivering food from farm to market to come in and take advantage of some of the
interventions that we have,‖ he said.
He said the MPC believed that the rise in food prices in December 2021 was temporary hence,
the plan to look at it again in its coming meetings.
Emefiele said the MPC was happy about the Anchor Borrowers programme, which started last
year, adding that it would help to moderate food prices and stop hoarding.
“Luckily, we started a programme last year where we said for our own repayment of our loans
under the Anchor Borrower programs, we will receive the produce into our own silos and our
own warehouses and we will dispose them and sell them to the real end-users.
“Whether it’s the rice millers or the feed millers who need them to produce, so that through that
mechanism, we can be seem to be competing with the hoarders in the market to moderate
prices,‖ he said.
According to him, it worked well in 2021 because between February and around August 2021,
the central bank released on a monthly basis 50,000 tons of maize through those it recognised as
feed millers.
The CBN governor also said the MPC had ensured that the Nigerian commodity exchange would
come alive.
Emefiele said an independent board would eventually be inaugurated assuring that every support
needed to play its role as a large commodity exchange that could hold different produce in the
country and compete with hoarders, would be given to it.
On rice pyramid, the CBN governor assured Nigerians that soon they would be buying a bag of
rice at a reasonable price.
“We will aggregate those rice paddies and we will sell them to millers and we would like to
appeal to the millers that they should also be considerate.
“We are going to look at every transportation logistic that they are looking at but, Nigerians
must receive rice in their plate on their dining tables at moderate prices,” Emefiele said.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
https://www.pulse.ng/business/cbn-assures-food-prices-will-moderate-in-2022
Agri trade is booming this fiscal, but April-Oct basmati

exports fell 23% since last year
APEDA says basmati exports have dipped due to stock pile-up. But a top industry leader
says high freight charges and issues over maximum residue levels in pesticides are to
blame.
India‘s basmati rice exports perform poorly even as the agriculture trade is expected to hit a
record-high of $43 billion (around Rs 3.22 lakh crore) by the end of this fiscal, ThePrint has
learnt. Basmati rice shipments fell approximately 23 per cent to $1.85 billion (Rs 14,000 crore)
between April and October 2021 from $2.43 billion (Rs 18,000 crore) in the year-ago period,
according to data from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA), an arm of the commerce ministry. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen and the UAE
were the top importers last year for this aromatic rice, which is grown in the Indo-Gangetic Plain
region. India competes with countries like Pakistan for basmati exports. Basmati rice exports
accounted for 19.44 per cent of APEDA‘s export basket in 2020-2021, according to Ministry of
Commerce and Industry data released last week. Meanwhile, non-basmati rice, which was the
top performing agri product in 2020-21 with a 23.22 per cent export share, saw a 48 per cent
surge to $3.45 billion (Rs 26,000 crore) in April-October 2021 from $2.33 billion (Rs 17,000
crore) in the year-ago period.
Nepal, Bangladesh and African nations like Benin, Senegal and Togo were top importers for
India‘s non-basmati rice. In December, Union Minister of State of Commerce and Industry
Anupriya Patel said India‘s agri exports will reach a target of $43 billion in 2021-22. This figure
is likely to be achieved despite challenges like the pandemic and farmers‘ protests.
APEDA says stock pile-up hurt basmati
APEDA Director Tarun Bajaj told ThePrint that stock pile-up was the primary reason behind the
poor performance of basmati exports. ―Excess orders led to a stock pile-up for buyers last year,
so new orders are coming in cautiously. However, we‘re hoping this will be corrected in the
current quarter,‖ he said. Bajaj added that increased global demand is the main driver of India‘s
high agri exports this year, after India assured foreign nations that it can cover their food security
needs during the pandemic. ―All through the pandemic, people were relying more on Indian
goods, be it agricultural, horticultural or processed food products. They looked to India to cover
their food security needs,‖ Bajaj said. ―India is now being seen as a consistent supplier.‖ It‘s
important to note that products under APEDA‘s ambit account for about half of India‘s total
agricultural exports. According to Bajaj, out of the total export target of $43 billion for this
fiscal, APEDA products are likely to account for $22.5 billion (Rs 1.6 lakh crore) while marine
products, spices, tea, coffee and other products will account for the rest. In 2020-21, India‘s agri
exports soared to a six-year high of over $19 billion (Rs 1.42 lakh crore). This was a nearly-25
per cent growth over $15.9 billion (Rs 1.19 lakh crore) in 2019-20.
High freight charges, logistical issues
According to an industry leader, the reason basmati exports have suffered in 2021-22 is because
of high freight charges and issues over maximum residue levels (MRL) in pesticides for basmati.
―First, exporters have been facing high freight charges for over a year now, brought on by
container shortages and other factors. And second, there are huge regulatory measures like MRL
in pesticides for basmati,‖ said Anil Kumar Choudhary, senior executive director at All India
Rice Exporters Association (AIREA). However, the APEDA director said the issue over MRL
has been a long-standing issue prior to 2021 and the government is working towards rectifying it.
While India‘s agri exports are likely to reach the target of $43 billion by the end of this fiscal, the
figure is still short of the $60 billion target envisaged in the Agriculture Export Policy 2018.
Asked what is needed to help the industry grow further, Choudhary said: ―More corporatisation
is required along with government assistance. Also, logistics and transport need to be improved
for bringing products from farms and interior places to ports. For example, makhana products
from Bihar lack a robust, logistical supply chain to reach international markets.‖ India‘s share in
world agricultural exports stood at 2.1 per cent in 2019, according to data released by the World
Trade Organization.
https://theprint.in/economy/agri-trade-is-booming-this-fiscal-but-april-oct-basmati-exports-fell-
23-since-last-year/794938/
Exports surge by 25pc in first half of FY2021-22

By INP
Pakistan‘s exports increased by 25 per cent to $15,127 million in the first half (July–December)
of the fiscal year 2021-22 compared to $12,110 million in the corresponding period of 2020-21,
according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Exports stood at $2,765 million in December 2021 compared to $2,901 million in November
2021, down 4.69 per cent, but up 16.86 per cent as against $2,366 million in December 2020.
The main export commodities in December 2021 were knitwear ($442.58 million), ready-made
garments ($348.63 million), bed wear ($254.92 million), rice others ($192 million), cotton cloth
($190 million), cotton yarn ($107 million), towels ($95.7 million), fruits ($70.2 million), made-
up articles ($69.6 million) and fish & fish preparations ($51.3 million).
Compared to December 2020, exports of fish and fish preparations surged by 97.25 per cent,
knitwear 42.37 per cent, ready-made garments 34.75 per cent, bed wear 9.57 per cent, rice 5.34
per cent, cotton cloth 29.31 per cent, cotton yarn 22.59 per cent, towels 26.95 per cent and made-
up articles 6.34 per cent.
Abdul Razak Dawood, Prime Minister‘s Adviser on Commerce and Investment, who convened a
consultative meeting to review trade trends recently, said that exports of fish and fish products,
plastics, cement, fruits and vegetables, petroleum products, natural steatite, and other materials
had increased.
In terms of market diversification, there was an increase in exports to Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri
Lanka, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, South Korea, etc.
He added that Pakistan‘s exports to the United States, China, the Netherlands, and Spain
increased in December 2021, while shipments to the United Kingdom, Germany, Afghanistan,
Saudi Arabia, the Russian Federation, Indonesia, and the Czech Republic decreased.
On the other hand, exports of fruits and vegetables, surgical instruments, electrical and electronic
equipment, tractors, pearls, and precious stones declined in December 2021 compared to the
corresponding month of the previous year.
On the other hand, imports totaled $40,649 million during July–December 2021 against $24,454
million during the corresponding period of 2020, up 66.23 per cent.
On a monthly basis, imports in December 2021 were $7,666 million compared to $7,899 million
in November 2021, down 2.95 per cent, but up 53.75 per cent compared to $4,986 million in
December 2021.
The main imported commodities in December 2021 were medicinal products ($981.3 million),
petroleum products ($905.89 million), liquified natural gas ($485.3 million), crude petroleum
($356.3 million), palm oil ($318.5 million), iron & steel ($281 million), plastic materials ($265
million), iron & steel scrap ($253 million), mobile phone ($235.3 million) and electrical
machinery & apparatus ($231 million).
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/01/25/exports-surge-by-25pc-in-first-half-of-
fy2021-22/
Ambassador Khazar Farhadov calls for strengthening B2B
linkages between Pakistan, Azerbaijan

By Web desk
January 25, 2022
KARACHI – Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Pakistan, on Tuesday briefed

traders about the potential and scope of bilateral trade and investments during his visit to
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI).
He added that Business-to-Business (B2B) and People-to-People (P2P) linkages, relations and
joint activities ultimately translate into bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation. He
called for an MoU between the apex federal chambers of both the countries for fast-tracking B2B
cooperation.
On Behalf of business and trading community, Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, President FPCCI, has
appreciated the detailed presentation by Ambassador Khazar Farhadov.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said that Azerbaijan can benefit from world-class textiles, fruits, rice,
surgical goods, pharmaceuticals and IT expertise of Pakistan at competitive rates; while the
game-changer land-based cargo transportation route has kicked off between Pakistan-
Azerbaijan-Turkey under TIR Convention through cargo trucks.
He called on traders on both sides to make full use of the cost-effective, time-saving and
dependable alternative that TIR has provided; as cargo trucks can reach Azerbaijan from
Pakistan in merely 5 days.
Khazar Farhadov apprised the august gathering of top business, trade and industry leaders of
Pakistan, who were assembled at the Federation House Karachi, that Azerbaijan is whole-
heartedly looking forward to Pakistani investors to invest in Azerbaijan‘s Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) that provide inexpensive land, lower taxes, investor protection, no regulatory
interference, reliable utilities; and, has all the infrastructure in place – including, road, rail and
airport network.
Ather Sultan Chawla, VP FPCCI, said that both the brotherly countries can complement food
security of each other through enhanced bilateral trade volumes of raw and processed food
products and exchange of knowledge. He also called for an open-door and facilitative visa
regime for Pakistani business community to promote economic and commercial tourism to
enable better understanding and exploration of trade, investment and joint venture opportunities.
M.A. Jabbar, former VP FPCCI, said that Pakistani investors and entrepreneurs will be willing to
invest; and, build partnerships and joint ventures, if there is no unnecessary governmental and
regulatory interferences and inspections. He added that unfortunately, in Pakistan, the
manufacturers have to endure as many as 57 regulatory inspections from various governmental
ministries, departments and institutions; and, that translates into a lot of wastage of precious
time. He also enquired about the investment opportunities in rest of Azerbaijan, i.e. outside of
SEZs, for their ease of doing business and cost of doing business environs.
https://pakobserver.net/ambassador-khazar-farhadov-calls-for-strengthening-b2b-
linkages-between-pakistan-azerbaijan/
Traders for textiles, edibles and IT exports to Azerbaijan

s
Staff Report
JANUARY 26, 2022
On Behalf of the business and trading community, FPCCI president Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo
has appreciated the detailed presentation by H.E. Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan in
Pakistan, on the potential and scope of bilateral trade and investments.
He added that Business-to-Business (B2B) and People-to-People (P2P) linkages, relations, and
joint activities ultimately translate into bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation. He
called for an MoU between the apex federal chambers of both the countries for fast-tracking B2B
cooperation.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said that Azerbaijan can benefit from world-class textiles, fruits, rice,
surgical goods, pharmaceuticals, and IT expertise of Pakistan at competitive rates, while the
game-changer land-based cargo transportation route has kicked off between Pakistan-
Azerbaijan-Turkey under TIR Convention through cargo trucks. He called on traders on both
sides to make full use of the cost-effective, time-saving, and dependable alternative that TIR has
provided; as cargo trucks can reach Azerbaijan from Pakistan in merely 5 days.
H.E. Khazar Farhadov apprised the august gathering of top business, trade, and industry leaders
of Pakistan, who were assembled at the Federation House Karachi, that Azerbaijan is whole-
heartedly looking forward to Pakistani investors to invest in Azerbaijan‘s Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) that provide inexpensive land, lower taxes, investor protection, no regulatory
interference, reliable utilities; and, has all the infrastructure in place – including, road, rail, and
airport network.
Ather Sultan Chawla, VP FPCCI, said that both the brotherly countries can complement the food
security of each other through enhanced bilateral trade volumes of raw and processed food
products and exchange of knowledge. He also called for an open-door and facilitative visa
regime for the Pakistani business community to promote economic and commercial tourism to
enable better understanding and exploration of trade, investment, and joint venture opportunities.
Engr. M.A. Jabbar, former VP FPCCI, said that Pakistani investors and entrepreneurs will be
willing to invest; and build partnerships and joint ventures, if there are no unnecessary
governmental and regulatory interferences and inspections. He added that unfortunately, in
Pakistan, the manufacturers have to endure as many as 57 regulatory inspections from various
governmental ministries, departments, and institutions; and that translates into a lot of wastage of
precious time. He also enquired about the investment opportunities in the rest of Azerbaijan, i.e.,
outside of SEZs, for their ease of doing business and the cost of doing business environs.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/874785/traders-for-textiles-edibles-and-it-exports-to-azerbaijan/
Sri Lankan Trade Delegation Visits RCCI

Published January 25, 2022 | 07:40 PM
RAWALPINDI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jan, 2022 ) :A high level trade
delegation from Sri Lanka, led by Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardhane paid a visit to
the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and industry (RCCI) here on Tuesday.
The delegation includes Tharaka Balasuriya, state minister of regional co-operation, Prof. Dr. Saj
Mendis, director general of the economic affairs division, Gnanapragasam Gnanadeva, director,
ministry of commerce, Yogendra Perera, chairman, Sri Lanka state trading, High Commissioner
Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, and others.
RCCI President Nadeem Rauf in his welcome address thanked the delegation and said
that Pakistan and Sri Lanka have historical friendly and trade relations. He expressed hope that
the visit will further strengthen trade ties between the two countries.
Rauf said that the business community of Pakistan was deeply saddened by the death of Sri
Lankan Mr. Prentha Kumara in the Sialkot incident and added that Pakistan is the best country
for investment and bilateral relations can be enhanced in many fields.
Dr Bandula Gunawardhane in his address lauded RCCI efforts in promoting trade ties and
congratulated for successfully organizing the business opportunity conference
in Colombo in November 2021.
He said Pakistan Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (PSFTA) has moderately enhanced bilateral
trade volume, but the real potential still needed to be achieved by both countries.
The Minister said that Sri Lanka offers trade cooperation in textiles, electronic products and
coconut products to Pakistan. On the occasion, Sri Lankan Minister of State for Regional
Cooperation Tharaka Balasoriya highlighted key areas of cooperation and added that bilateral
trade volume between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was far less than expected.
He said that there were immense opportunities in the textile industry in Sri Lanka while special
economic zones have also been created for Pakistani investors.
Business to Business (B2B)meetings were also held on the occasion of the delegation's visit in
which representatives of specific sectors like rice, fish, coconut oil and spices shared information
with each other.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/sri-lankan-trade-delegation-visits-rcci-
1455729.html
In difficult times, water pumps become indispensable to rice

farmers
Anthony McGonigle / Khmer Times
Fundamental to farming: In dry seasons farmers are left with little option but use water pumps to
irrigate crops. KT/Chor Sokenthea
As the dry season begins to heat up, small scale rice farmers all over the country will be focused
on varying temperatures, local water levels, and if they have one, the condition of their water
pump.
Miev Sam Oeurn, is one of these farmers. Besides growing other crops and fishing in the nearby
lakes, he cultivates rice on a one-hectare plot in the small village of Mesang in Prey Veng
province and depends on his 6.5 horsepower Japanese-made water pump to irrigate his field
which produces enough rice for his family‘s consumption on top of what he sells.
He told Khmer Times that all his rice farming neighbours use these types of water pumps to
irrigate their crops and that over the years he has to rely on it more and more due to dryer
weather conditions. The pump isn‘t too much work to operate,‖ Miev says, adding that, it
requires some maintenance occasionally but ―the big problem is having to dig deeper with the
water table getting lower and the rising gas prices adding to the expense.‖
As a mechanically proficient man, Miev has been able to repair and maintain his pump over the
years, but he points out that it‘s important to invest in a good pump, which on average usually
has a lifetime of around six years. The one he bought is already four years ago.
Mesang and the surrounding areas flat low land topography, with its large lakes, means that local
cultivators don‘t endure the woes that many rice farmers suffer in the Mekong basin catchment
area for example, which has seen water levels drop dramatically over the years during the dry
season due to hydropower dams built on the Mekong and deforestation. However, it is possible
to register the direct effects of rising temperatures, and longer dry spells on the rice production in
these areas, by the challenges the many small farmers here face using their small portable water
pumps to maintain the production high enough to sustain themselves and their families.
The role these small machines play in supporting the livelihoods of small-scale rice farmers, like
Miev, seems set to grow in importance with the rising temperatures and as the water table
continues to lower under his land, the digging deeper to reach it means that the cost of pulling
this water up will also be more expensive.
To investigate what challenges small producers of rice may face in the near future, organisations
like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), have been looking at what impacts
temperature rises may have on rice yields and have found that an increase of just 1 degree
Celsius could result in a decrease of rice production by 10 percent, but that during drought years
the damage could be somewhere in between 17-40 percent in production loss.
However, to mitigate against the inevitable looming temperature rises and freak rainfall events,
as well as reduce the ecological footprint rice production is having, the IRRI has been
researching and developing fascinating technologies that could revolutionise rice production.
In the meantime, however, the farmer‘s dependency on small water pumps would eventually see
relief from Ministry programmes of setting up mobile water pumps in more severely drought-
affected areas as seen recently in Kampong Chhnang where officials from the Department of
Irrigation and Agriculture and Department of Water Resources and Meteorology inspected the
installation and use of mobile water pumps to intervene in the pressing water shortages.
This will undoubtedly bring relief to the farmers concerned, but in the wider context may just be
a band-aid for the problem until more long-term and structural solutions are found.
―
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501013361/in-difficult-times-water-pumps-become-
indispensable-to-rice-farmers/
A more sustainable rice, using less land and resources, delivered

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Data exposes flaws in Mekong Delta resilience plans
Resilience plans focus on exploiting Vietnam‘s scarce water resources instead of shifting
agriculture away from water-intensive crops and practices.
Mekong Delta river canals. Image: rjabaloslll, CC BY 2.0.

By Nhin Tan Thuan, The Third Pole
Jan. 26, 2022
For generations, Vietnamese communities have used the ample water resources and fertile soil of
the Mekong Delta to feed the nation. Fuelled by the Mekong‘s constant supply of rich sediment,
the fisheries and paddy fields of Vietnam‘s southernmost region have long been the bedrock of
Vietnam‘s economy. But a combination of climate change and upstream hydropower are
warping the delta‘s natural resources. Research by The Third Pole suggests that current resilience
strategies are falling short and may exacerbate problems in the long term.
The Third Pole‘s data analysis highlights that current solutions are focusing on short-term fixes.
These maintain the delta‘s high agricultural productivity even though the water needed in the
long term is not there, and is unlikely to come back. Not addressing the root causes of water and
sediment shortages may irreversibly damage the delta, known as Vietnam‘s rice bowl, as the
country uses up resources that cannot be replenished.
The Mekong’s waning fertility
The Third Pole‘s analysis used data from the Mekong Dam Monitor, a public online monitoring
platform that measures climate issues in the basin using satellite imagery, GIS analysis and
remote sensing. The Mekong Dam Monitor also models the natural flow of the river —
simulating what conditions would be without the impact of dams.
Comparing actual flow with simulated flow reveals that the river has lost a quarter of its
expected water flow in the rainy season. Exacerbating the problem, rainfall has decreased by 10
per cent-45 per cent in the dry season, while the average temperature has increased.
Such a huge drop in water requires that farmers switch to less-thirsty crops. But the opposite is
happening. As fertile areas shrink, production of water-intensive crops such as rice is increasing,
worsening water shortages.
―The agricultural productivity of Vietnam‘s Mekong Delta faces a triple threat of impacts from
upstream dams, rising seas and a legacy of poor local planning,‖ said Brian Eyler, Southeast Asia
director of the Stimson Center, a Washington DC-based think tank that jointly developed the
Mekong Dam Monitor.
―These threats have robbed the delta of reliable flows of freshwater and the distribution of
nutritious sediment across the delta‘s floodplains during the wet season. It‘s unlikely that
freshwater sediment availability will ever return to normal levels in the delta,‖ Eyler told The
Third Pole.
Water flow falls during the rainy season
According to our analysis of Mekong Dam Monitor data, since 2008 the average volume of
water in the Mekong during the rainy season (between June and November) has been 2.4 billion
cubic metres less per month than the simulated natural volume. This is the equivalent of nearly a
million Olympic swimming pools. Along with water, sediment has been lost: around three-
quarters of the material crucial for agriculture. Sediment contains the minerals and nutrients that
crops need to grow.
Part of the reason the problem has been ignored is that it is difficult to measure and very few
institutions attempt to. The water flow of a river is estimated by measuring the volume of water
flowing through a given water gauge each second, in this case at Chiang Saen in the north of
Thailand. This decreased flow in the rainy season is largely to do with reduced rainfall and partly
attributed to hydropower dams on China‘s section of the Mekong, which are holding back both
water and sediment. But, in the dry season, Chinese dams release water to keep pace with high
demand for energy, thus sending water downstream.
In recent research which is awaiting publication, Eyler and his colleagues have found that the
flow of water reaching the Mekong Delta is impacted by Chinese dams on top of climate change.
In their study, they looked at Stung Treng gauge in Cambodia, 400km north of the delta.
―During low flow years, upstream dams in China have increasingly reduced wet season flow
between 9-11 per cent,‖ Eyler said. ―Dam restrictions in China can reduce the natural flood pulse
of the Mekong at Stung Treng by up to 27 per cent for certain months during years with low
flow.‖
Đào Minh Tuấn, a farmer who heads a cooperative in Cần Thơ in Vietnam‘s Mekong Delta, has
long observed what scientists are now trying to measure.
―Before 2010, there was more water, and it had much more silt. Now, there is less water and less
silt,‖ he said.
Climate change means less fresh water in the Mekong Delta
By the end of the dry season, farmers struggle to find enough fresh water and have to battle the
intrusion of saltwater. ―The main challenges for the farmers come from salinity and sea level
rise, which are exacerbated by climate change,‖ said Nguyễn Văn Hùng, a researcher at the
International Rice Research Institute. In addition, ―More erratic weather makes it harder for them
to anticipate the rain.‖
The early impacts of climate change have led to scarcer rainfall in the Mekong Delta region. In
the coastal province of Cà Mau, in southern Vietnam, data from the weather station shows
increasingly severe dry seasons. Every year since 2015, rainfall has been below the 18-year
average, with the worst drought recorded in 2018, when recorded rainfall was nearly half the
average.
According to the same weather station, the average temperature at Cà Mau was 0.3 degrees
Celsius higher in 2015-20 than the 18-year average. A peer-reviewed study published in 2017
found this could reduce rice production by 3 per cent.
The prognosis is alarming because more than half of the 20 million people in the delta rely
on agriculture and aquaculture for their livelihoods.
Too much rice in the basket
Across Vietnam, resilience plans have focused on exploiting scarce water resources instead of
shifting agriculture away from water-intensive crops and practices. Irrigation has allowed
farmers in the delta to grow rice three times a year instead of two like in the rest of the country.
―I produce about 7 to 8 tonnes of rice per hectare in the winter-spring season, 5 to 6 tonnes in the
summer season, and 5 to 7 tonnes in the autumn-winter season, but this depends on the weather,‖
said Đào Minh Tuấn, the farmer in Cần Thơ.
The delta now accounts for more than half of Vietnam‘s rice production. In 2019, Vietnam
produced around 44 million tonnes of rice — enough to feed the entire population for three
years. Vietnam has become the world‘s second-largest rice exporter.
Rice is a thirsty crop. Around 2,500 litres of water are needed to produce one kilogram. In the
wet season, the rains supply enough freshwater, but during the dry season farmers depend on the
Mekong for irrigation, increasing their reliance on water pumps and canals.
Unsustainable hard engineering
The intensive construction of channels and dykes has been a mixed blessing for Vietnam, and
may hasten the declining fertility of the delta region. Two hundred years ago, French and
American land planners started to develop a network of channels to take advantage of the fertile
delta. Vietnamese engineers continued this work, and between 2011 and 2016 the number of
solid public irrigation canals grew by a factor of 15, with the number of public pump stations
increasing by 40 per cent.
The proliferation of dykes and canals for irrigation mitigates the impacts of water scarcity, at
least in the short term, but also reduces the amount of sediment settling in the wet season. Dykes
block the sediment and canals quicken the flow of water, preventing small particles from being
deposited.
Though the irrigation system has allowed Vietnam to produce a rice surplus and also become
the fourth-largest exporter of shrimp and fish, it may become increasingly hard to keep up the
same level of production. In October 2021, a World Bank article expressed concern that
degradation of ecosystems is leading to loss of livelihoods.
During the 2018-19 dry season, nearly 20,000 hectares of rice paddy — an area one-tenth the
size of Ho Chi Minh city — were damaged by salt intrusion in coastal provinces such as Soc
Trang, Kien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Ca Mau. Nearly 80,000 people in the delta did not
have enough freshwater.
―If rice cultivation continues for the next 20 years with the [current] intensive farming methods,
the land will become very poor,‖ said Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent consultant who used
to work for Can Tho University and has been studying the ecology of the delta for the past 30
years.
Shrimp farming: A temporary solution to a worsening problem
One proposed solution is to make use of brackish water by farming shrimp, but that too may be a
stopgap measure.
Shrimp farmers can earn 10 times more than rice farmers, prompting many to abandon rice
cultivation to raise shrimp year-round. Yet shrimp farming requires high investment and a
precise control of water quality, just as water scarcity is beginning to bite. In addition, poor water
quality can kill shrimps.
―Shrimp farming is facing many difficulties such as polluted water, climate change and
diseases,‖ said Nguyễn Hoài An, the head of a company in Cần Thơ that sells shrimp larvae.
―Most shrimp farmers get water from the river and canals, but this water source is very polluted,
so the risk of killing the shrimps with low-quality water and pathogens is very high.‖
Saline intrusion, caused by reduced freshwater flows from dams as well as sea level rise, could
worsen the situation. In 2019, this phenomenon ruined nearly 17,000 hectares of shrimp ponds in
the coastal province of Ca Mau.
Vietnam is now looking to borrow funds to develop more infrastructure in the delta in a bid to
maintain agricultural productivity, instead of finding ways to reduce water usage.
Can upstream save downstream?
In An Giang, the most upstream Vietnamese province of the Mekong Delta, a project is
encouraging farmers to adopt a non-traditional rice cultivation method known as alternate
wetting and drying (AWD). Phạm Huỳnh Thanh Vân, a researcher at the University of An Giang
University working on the project, said: ―We work with farmers to explain how much water the
rice really needs.‖ Vân added: ―If farmers from provinces upstream use less water, then other
farmers downstream can have more water.‖
Rather than keep paddy fields flooded all the time, the AWD method includes a non-flooded
period. This reduces water use and methane emissions — a greenhouse gas far more potent than
carbon dioxide.
―AWD can reduce water use by 20 per cent and keep the same rice yield. People have already
used this method in different areas of Vietnam and in other countries,‖ Vân said, adding that for
the AWD method to work, all farmers in the area have to adopt it simultaneously.
In 2017, the Vietnamese government launched Resolution 120/NQ-CP, a policy to promote the
sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. The measure includes the promotion of practices
like AWD, as well as a reduction of rice production in favour of aquaculture and fruit trees.
―In the Mekong Delta, we grow rice three times a year, so we use a lot of water for rice. We
believe that if we reduce rice production, we can save water. Rice can be replaced by fruit trees
or vegetables for example,‖ Vân said. ―We have water, but the question is how it should be
stored in the wet season to be used in the dry season.‖
Resolution 120 is a first step in the right direction, but experts said it will take years before
farmers feel its effect.
―The captain has agreed to shift course of the massive ship,‖ says Thien, the consultant. ―But it is
too big to move. It will take 10 years to get this ship on course, and there are vested interest
groups who will put up a tough fight along the way.‖
The Mekong Delta has the largest migration rate in the country. As the impacts of unsustainable
farming start to emerge, and yields decline in some parts of the region, about 150,000 people
abandon the delta every year in search of better paying jobs in other provinces. Building long-
term resilience in the delta will require a lot of creativity and cooperation, experts say.
Brian Eyler suggested considering higher-value cash crops which use less water, new vertical
farming techniques that introduce temperate zone crops, and investing in industries to process
and add value to agricultural products inside the delta. ―People in Vietnam — from planners to
academics to farmers — all need to explore and swiftly transition to approaches that address this
new reality [of climate change],‖ he said.
https://www.eco-business.com/news/data-exposes-flaws-in-mekong-delta-resilience-plans/
Extend Your Understanding of Extension with The Rice Stuff

By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA – One of the most invaluable tools any farmer has in his or her toolbox is not
even found in the farm shop. Except during field visits. We‘re talking about the ag extension
offices and the specialists there who are a repository for information and experimentation all
designed to help farmers any way possible.
Episode 38 of The Rice Stuff podcast, available now, is an in-depth examination of ag extension
resources and gives listeners a better understanding and appreciation of the wealth of knowledge
and expertise available there.
Show co-host Dr. Steve Linscombe, himself once an ag extension staffer, is joined by three of
the most renowned and respected researchers in the U.S. ag extension system to break it all down
for listeners.
Dr. Jarrod Hardke, rice extension agronomist, University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture; Dr. Ronnie Levy, LSU AgCenter rice specialist; and Dr. Bruce Linquist, rice
specialist at UC Davis, fresh off their appearances at the 2021 USA Rice Outlook Conference in
New Orleans last month, talk about the technology they use to help farmers with crops,
sustainability, and profitability, and the ways farmers can stay informed and engaged.
―It was great to be a fly on the wall, listening to these very smart, extremely experienced
scientists talk shop,‖ said show co-host Michael Klein. ―Hearing the historic origins of ag
extension in general, as well as the unique paths each of our guests took to get to where they are
was very exciting.‖
New episodes of The Rice Stuff are published on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month
and can be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and online at
www.thericestuffpodcast.com.
From left: Jarrod Hardke, Ronnie Levy, and Bruce Linquist
USA Rice Daily
Rice millers, others unhappy over suspension of benchmark

value discount reversal
The Rice Millers Association of Ghana (RMAG), Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana
(PFAG) and General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) have taken on the governemnt
for suspending plans to reverse the discounts introduced on benchmark values at the ports.
The groups in a joint statement insisted that an estimated number of 100,000 persons who are
directly engaged in rice value chain activities stand the risk of losing their livelihoods if the
benchmark discount policy reversal is not implemented as planned.
―How do we stop the importation of rice into Ghana if the benchmark value policy reversal is not
implemented immediately? Such grand targets remain a mirage in the current paradigm where
rice imports enjoy a 50% discount on import duties values as granted by this benchmark policy
while local rice production faces high input costs and little or no support from government for
millers.‖
―Rice Millers Association of Ghana, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and the General
Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana, call on the Government of Ghana to implement its
decision regarding the reversal of benchmark value discount policy, particularly for rice, to save
the
hundreds of thousands of jobs that remain under threat of collapse in the rice sector,‖ the farmer-
based groups added in the statement.
Government was earlier in January 2022 expected to reverse discounts it introduced on some
selected imported products some years back to cushion importers in the country.
It subsequently suspended the reversal of the policy indefinitely following mixed reactions that
greeted the announcement of the reversal.
While importers were elated over the suspension of the policy, the manufacturing sector and
some farmer-based groups were not happy with it.
Below is the full statement from the Rice Millers Association, Peasant Farmers and
GAWU:
RICE MILLERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (“RMAG”) AND PEASANT FARMERS
ASSOCIATION OF GHANA (“PFAG”) ON SUSPENSION OF THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVERSAL OF BENCHMARK VALUE DISCOUNT
POLICY AND ITS IMPACT ON JOBS, LIVELIHOODS AND THE PROGRESS OF
THE RICE VALUE CHAIN IN GHANA
Rice Millers Association of Ghana (―RMAG‖), Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana
(―PFAG‖) and General Agricultural Workers Union (―GAWU‖) are disappointed in the
Government of Ghana decision to suspend indefinitely the implementation of the benchmark
value reversal policy. This decision has serious consequences on the survival of the local rice
industry and we appeal to the government to reconsider the ―indefinite suspension‖ decision and
implement the policy ASAP.
On 13th January 2022, the Ghana Revenue Authority issued a communique citing a directive
from the Office of the President for the indefinite suspension of implementation of the reversal
of the benchmark value discount policy. The directive came as a huge surprise to rice farmers
and millers because of the numerous engagements and consultations with all stakeholders for
over two years after which the prudent decision to review the policy was reached and announced
by the Honorable Minister of Finance in the 2022 budget presentation in Parliament. The
benefits that come with the implementation of the reversal of the benchmark value discount is
not only limited to increased revenue for government, but also fulfillment of government‘s own
agenda of making Ghana self-sufficient in rice production by 2024 and the industrial
transformation agenda as part of the One district One Factory and Planting for Food and Jobs
programs. Why would Government make significant investments in rice mills some of which
have been commissioned by the President of Ghana in 2021 and then make such a decision that
stifles the growth of the rice industry? Reversal of this policy will increase the competitiveness
of the Ghana rice industry, create jobs and position the Ghanaian farmers and millers to be able
to participate in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (―AfCFTA‖) as exporters of rice. The
recent video flooding various social media platforms on success stories of Nigeria‘s rice industry
is partly due to Nigerian government‘s policies that incentivized local rice farmers and
commitment on the part of the government to protect the interest of the Nigerian farmer and
make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice; We, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and Rice Millers
Association of Ghana call on Government of Ghana to emulate the Nigerian example and
implement this policy immediately.
The Benchmark value discount policy reversal is one good policy of government that has the
tendency to raise revenue to help address the various challenges facing farmers and improve the
quality of rice produced and at the same time, protect the local farmers and millers against
dumping from highly subsidized rice from the imported nations. The suspension of reversal of
the benchmark discount policy is retrogressive and the fastest way of collapsing the local rice
industry. The impact on rice millers in 2019 after the announcement in April 2019 was
devastating because by June of 2019, prices of imported rice in Ghana went down by some 20%
forcing local rice millers to take a 15% to 20% price hit and eroding all our margins that year.
There was no respite for
farmers and millers in the face of such economic impact even after we approached government
to present our concerns about the imminent threat to our farms and rice mills.
Currently, the cost of imported white rice landed in Ghana after all taxes and charges is 25%
cheaper than milled white rice produced in Ghana. The relatively low landing cost of imported
rice in Ghana is partly due to the 50% discount enjoyed by rice importers and partly due to
dumping strategies from the exporting countries. We have the strongest belief that
implementation of the reversal of the benchmark value discount policy on rice and investing the
accrued revenue in subsiding farming and milling activities will reduce production cost and
position the Ghanaian farmer and miller to produce and sell at lower cost than imported rice over
time.
An estimated number of 100,000 persons who are directly engaged in rice value chain activities
stand the risk of losing their livelihoods if the benchmark discount policy reversal is not
implemented as planned.
Please note that the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo during the 35th Farmers Day held in the Volta Region encouraged all Ghanaians to
consume local rice.. Let us also remember that Government through the Honourable Minister of
Agriculture has set a reviewed target to make Ghana self-sufficient in rice production by 2024
from an original target of 2022. How do we stop the importation of rice into Ghana if benchmark
value policy reversal is not implemented immediately? Such grand targets remain a mirage in the
current paradigm where rice imports enjoy a 50% discount on import duties values as granted by
this benchmark policy while local rice production faces high input costs and little or no support
from government for millers.
The one million metric tonnes of milled rice that must be produced locally to make Ghana self-
sufficient in rice production is set to create over 500,000 jobs in the economy and save over
about USD 500Million of foreign exchange annually
Rice Millers Association of Ghana, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana and the General
Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana, call on the Government of Ghana to implement its
decision regarding the reversal of benchmark value discount policy, particularly for rice, to save
the hundreds of thousands of jobs that remain under threat of collapse in the rice sector.
https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/business/255214/Rice-millers-others-unhappy-over-
suspension-of-benchmark-value-discount-reversal
I compared the same Tesco shop seven months apart and here's
how much it's gone up
We compared prices on the exact same products from a Tesco Express store in Cardiff in June
2021 and January 2022
Wales Online reporter Reem Ahmed bought the same weekly shop at Tesco Express seven
months apart to see how much prices have risen amidst soaring inflation (Image: John
Myers)
The rate at which prices are rising in the UK is at its highest in 30 years.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the 12 months to December 2021
inflation soared to 5.4 per cent, up from 5.1% in November - the biggest drivers being spiralling
fuel and energy costs. This is the biggest annual increase since a rise of 7.1% in March 1992, and
is well above the Bank of England's 2% inflation target.
You can read all our supermarkets stories here.
Meanwhile, separate ONS figures showed that average pay rises are failing to match the rise in
the cost of living. Experts have warned that the cost of living will continue to climb over the
next few months, with households set to face a "cost-of-living crunch for much of this year".
December saw prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks rising at their fastest monthly rate since
January 2012 - up 1.3% in a month. You can read more about that here. On June 18, 2021, we
did a weekly shop of 26 products in a Tesco Express store in Cardiff - all the shop's own-
brand food and household goods - which cost us £47.28 in total.
Back then, inflation stood at 2.5% - less than half the current rate. So, how do the prices for the
exact same shopping list compare seven months on in January 2022?
We bought the exact same items at the Tesco Express on Cowbridge Road East in Cardiff
in June 2021 and January 2022 (Image: John Myers)
The overall price had increased by £1.12 seven months on to £48.40 - a percentage increase of
about 2.4%.
Ten products increased in price, four decreased and 12 remained the same. From our snapshot of
goods, there do not seem to be any patterns in terms of how different products have been affected
- for example, fruit and veg fell into all three categories, as well as cupboard staples like rice,
pasta and teabags.
Some notable price rises included a whole chicken (up by 35p), a bottle of wine (up by 35p), a
box of cornflakes (up by 20p), a loaf of bread (up by 15p), a bag of pasta (up by 15p). A medium
bottle of milk went up by 10p - a smaller rise, though still noticeable. Meanwhile, some
unexpected decreases included a pack of salmon fillets (down by 10p) and one mango (down by
15p).
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/inflation-rate-rising-tesco-shopping-
22859454
WATCH: Pakistani rice sold in international market

labeled 'made in India'
Pakistani rice traders are reportedly unhappy after they found out that Pakistani rice is being
sold in the international market with a "made in India" tag.
Speaking to Deutsche Welle (DW) a German international broadcaster, the Managing
Director of Charagh Group of Companies Khalil Ahmed said that "Indians in Muscat, Saudi
Arabia, and Dubai purchase rice from us but sell it under their own brands and labelling."
Pakistan's rice export association has filed a lawsuit against Indian rice purchaser companies
in an international court. But since the case is still pending in court, the association has
declined to speak with DW about the matter.
According to rice traders, the issue is not just about branding.
Ahmed explained that as a result of crop cultivation when farmers sow the seed, rice
becomes scarce in the market, which naturally increases the price of rice. Once the crop has
reached maturity, the farmer begins harvesting.
He stated that 10% to 20% of paddy is broken during the reaping process due to a l ack of
modern equipment. Once the rice crop reaches the mills, the crop must be dried and husked,
which requires more modern machinery.
Similarly, the rice breaks during the process and all of these factors add to the cost.
This year, Pakistan will export 36 million tonnes of rice to a lot of different countries, with
basmati rice accounting for 20% of the total.
Germany faces similar trademark issue
Balima, a company that produces balsamic vinegar in Kale, a small city in Germany, also
filed an appeal in court, claiming that they wish to use the term "balsamic vinegar" for their
brand, which is a specialty of Italy.
Theo Barel, the founder of Balima, told DW that he is unable to understand why companies
that purchase grapes from all over the world can call their product balsamic vinegar,
"But we, at Balima, purchase fresh fruits and use them in our product, but are not permitted
to call it balsamic vinegar," he said.
Theo won the case at the European Court of Justice and now sells his product to restaurants
throughout Europe.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/394967-pakistani-rice-sold-in-international-market-labeled-as-made-
in-india
Rice Exports Increase 10.73pc To $1066 Million In 1st Half

January 24, 2022 | 01:04 PM
The exports of rice surged by 10.73 percent during the first half of the current financial year (2021-22) as
compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2022 ) :The exports of rice
surged by 10.73 percent during the first half of the current financial year (2021-22) as compared
to the exports of the corresponding period of last year.
Pakistan exported rice worth $1066.769 million during July-December (2021-22) against
the exports of $963.379 million during July-December (2020-21), showing growth of 10.73
percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Among the rice commodities, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 33.14 percent as these
surge from $228.370 million last year to $304.043 million during the current year.
The exports of other rice commodities also grew by 3.77 percent by going
up from $735.009 million last year to $762.726 million during the current year, the PBS data
revealed.
In terms of quantity, the overall rice exports grew by 12.54 percent including Basmati rice by
47.39 percent and other rice commodities by 7.51 percent, the PBS data revealed.
Meanwhile, year-on-year basis the rice exports witnessed an increase of 3.26 percent
in December 2021 as compared with the export of the same month of last year. The
rice exports in December 2021 were recorded at $240.260 million against exports of $232.
676 million in December 2020.
During the period under review, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 54.25 percent ,
however, the exports of other rice verities declined 4.82 percent.
On month-on-month basis, the rice exports increased by 3.60 percent as compared to
the exports of $231.908 million in November 2021.
On month-on-month basis, the Basmati rice exports witnessed decline of 12.94 percent, however
that of other rice verities increased by 8.92 percent.
The overall food exports increased by 22.28 percent during the first half of current year as
compared to last year. The food exports of the country were recorded at US $
2482.704 million during July-December (2021-22) against the exports of US$
2030.322 million during July-December (2020-21).
It is pertinent to mention here that the overall exports of the country during the first half of
current financial year witnessed an increase of 24.71% by going up to $15.102 billion as
compared with the exports of $12.110 billion of last year.
The imports also registered about 65.94% growth as these went up from $ 24.454 billion in 1st
half of the last year to $40.580 billion during current year, the PBS data revealed.
/395
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/agriculture/rice-exports-increase-1073pc-to-1066-millio-
1454509.html
Pakistan & Japan to further enhance trade relations

Last week, Pakistan and Japan agreed for further enhancing bilateral trade, particularly trade in
agriculture produces. The consensus to this regard was developed in a meeting between the
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Mitsuhiro Wada, who called on Federal Minister of National
Food Security Syed Fakhar Imam.
Fakhar Imam said that the two countries could also immensely benefit from exchange in
agriculture research and value-added technologies. He praised the quality of mechanization in
Japan and said that Japan and Pakistan had huge trade potential, adding that Pakistan had
immense export potential with respect to citrus fruits, rice, mangoes, onion and potatoes.
The ambassador of Japan to Pakistan said that Japan was greatly interested in increasing trade
between the two countries. The two sides agreed to further enhance cooperation and
collaboration between Ministry of National Food Security and Research and its Japan
counterpart.
Source: nation.com.pk
Rice exports increase 10.73pc in 6 months

JANUARY 25, 2022
The exports of rice surged by 10.73 percent during the first half of the current financial year
(2021-22) as compared to the exports of the corresponding period of last year. Pakistan exported
rice worth $1066.769 million during July-December (2021-22) against the exports of $963.379
million during July-December (2020-21), showing growth of 10.73 percent, according to the
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
Among the rice commodities, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 33.14 percent as these
surged from $228.370 million last year to $304.043 million during the current year. The exports
of other rice commodities also grew by 3.77 percent by going up from $735.009 million last year
to $762.726 million during the current year
https://dailytimes.com.pk/874169/rice-exports-increase-10-73pc-in-6-months/
___
Today in History: 66% of rice consumed in Ghana
imported
In 2017, the Oxford Business School report showed that Ghana imports 66% of rice it consumes
annually amounting to about 680,000 tonnes. The report also stated that Ghana‘s domestic
production had increased between 2010-2015 but domestic consumption had doubled in that
same period.However, the demand for rice was expected to continue expanding due to,
population growth, urbanization and shifting consumer preferences.
Meanwhile there have been reforms and initiatives aimed at reversing the country‘s import-
dependence including the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) under President Kufour
in 2008.
These initiatives even though helpful have not been able to reduce Ghana‘s importation of rice
significantly.
The latest Oxford Business School report has revealed that only 34 percent of rice consumed in
the country is produced locally, resulting in the importation of 680,000 tonnes annually.
Even though the country‘s domestic production has increased by 12 percent over the 2010-15
period, states the report, domestic consumption increased by double that rate over the same time
frame. As a result, Ghana imports between $300 million and $500 million of rice annually. The
report further states that, between 1999 and 2008, rice consumption grew from 17.5 kg to 38 kg
per capita and is expected to reach 63 kg per capita by 2018.
With population growth, urbanisation and shifting consumer preferences, demand for rice is
expected to continue expanding in the coming years. Reversing the country‘s import-dependence
has been a tough nut to crack by successive governments of the fourth republic, with a number of
initiatives failing to boost local rice production to appreciable levels.
In 2008, under President John Kofour, the National Rice Development Strategy (NRDS) was out
doored, with the goal of doubling rice production by 2018 and improving quality to increase
demand for domestic rice.
As part of the NRDS and the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy II, adds the
report, the government provided extension services, stabilised prices through the National Buffer
Stock Company, which was formed to intervene in staple markets such as maize and rice in order
to set minimum prices at the beginning of the growing season. The erstwhile government under
President John Mahama also introduced a number of programmes.
In the 2015 budget, the rice production sub-sector received GH¢22 million to boost rice
production. Also under the Enhanced Access to Quality Rice Seed Initiative, 200mt of improved
rice seed were distributed to 10,000 farmers in the Volta, Northern, Upper East and Upper West
Regions to increase productivity. Again, to boost local rice production, 77 tractors, 49 power
tillers, 20 rice threshers, 11 rice reapers and six rice mills with their respective components were
assembled and sold to farmers.
In addition, 100 units of Cabrio tractors, with multi

components, were assembled for sale to farmers on
hire purchase. But a number of challenges continue
to bog down the sector, including the lack of
adequate rice mills. In the Northern Region, for
example, where nearly 40 percent of the country‘s
rice is produced, thousands of bags of rice are
locked up in warehouses due to the unavailability of
mills to process the commodity, a situation that has
compelled the farmers to use manual means of rice processing, which do not meet market
demand.
In an interview with the B&FT at last year‘s Rice Festival, Mike Bartels, German Cooperation—
Green Innovation Center for The Agriculture and Food Sector, Ghana, said there is tremendous
opportunity in the rice industry if the private sector increases its participation. ―We believe that
there is a huge potential in rice production in Ghana which is untapped.
I don‘t believe that it is the task of only the government to promote the local rice industry. It is
the responsibility of the government to create a conducive framework for innovations that work
so that the private sector takes over the task of investing in machinery and logistics that will help
the industry thrive,‖ he said.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Today-in-History-66-of-rice-
consumed-in-Ghana-imported-1453126
ADAMA introduces two new rice herbicides: Diverge Silk and

Diverge EC
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd
Jan 25, 2022, 08:00 ET
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA announced that it has received
registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for two rice
herbicides: Diverge™ Silk and Diverge™ EC.
Introducing ADAMA's Diverge Silk & Diverge EC. Diverge Silk is a unique herbicide offering
rice growers improved quality and handling for reliable weed control with less downtime and
application headaches. Diverge EC is a cost-effective, high-quality propanil formulated right
here in the US
Diverge Silk and Diverge EC are propanil herbicides that provide effective control of grasses and
broadleaf weeds in rice. Diverge Silk is a novel suspension concentrate formulation that offers
rice growers improved quality and handling for reliable weed control without the hassle of
clogged up spray tanks or nozzles. Diverge Silk is registered in AR, CA, FL, LA, MO, MS and
SC. Diverge EC is a cost-effective, high-quality propanil formulated right here in the US and is
only registered for use in AR.
These products add to an already robust rice herbicide portfolio for ADAMA. Over the last
several years, we have launched two rice systems in collaboration with RiceTec: Preface™ and
Postscript™ herbicides as part of the FullPage™ Rice Cropping Solution and Highcard™
herbicide as part of the Max-Ace® Rice Cropping Solution, as well as two other foundational rice
herbicides, Vopak™ 3ME and Zurax™ L.
The National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference will be held in Jonesboro,
AR the last week in January. This event pulls in a great audience consisting of consultants &
growers from across the Delta. The ADAMA Mid-South sales and marketing team will be
present for this event and can answer any questions around these herbicides and other solutions
for rice growers. This is where many growers will learn about our new rice herbicide: Highcard
herbicide for the Max-Ace Rice Cropping Solution, along with Diverge Silk & Diverge EC.
About ADAMA
ADAMA Is one of the world's leading crop protection companies. We strive to Create Simplicity
in Agriculture – offering farmers effective products and services that simplify their lives and help
them grow. With one of the most comprehensive and diversified portfolios of differentiated,
quality products, our 5,000-strong team reaches farmers in more than 100 countries, providing
them with solutions to control weeds, insects and disease, and improve their yields. For more
information, visit us at www.adama.com.
ADAMA Contact
Michelle Blair
Marketing & Communications Manager
984-272-7467
michelle.blair@adama.com
SOURCE Adama Agricultural Solutions Ltd
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adama-introduces-two-new-rice-herbicides-
diverge-silk-and-diverge-ec-301465825.html
Business
Kwara Joins Elite States, Produces over 102,000MT of Rice
January 25, 2022 12:29 am
Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Kwara State branch chairman of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Dr. Ahmed Saba
has said that, the state has joined elite states in rice production in the country, with its over
102,000 metric tons output during wet and dry season in 2021.
The North Central state, which contributed over 40,000 metric tons of rice paddy to the recently
unveiled rice pyramid in Abuja, was not considered a rice producing state before the
administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and the state Governor Abdulrahman
Abdulrazaq.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin over the weekend on the state of the nation, Saba explained that, “we
thought we didn’t do enough in our production, until we got to Abuja, where the Central Bank of
Nigeria(CBN), who is in charge of the anchor borrowers program unveiled the data, showing that Kwara
State actually did better than we thought,by being among the top rice producing states in the country.
Kwara State produced 62,332 metric tons of rice paddy during the dry season and 40,000 metric tons
during the wet season, making a total of 102,332 metric tons.”
Saba added, “The success of Kwara State in rice production should go to the President of RIFAN, Alhaji
Aminu Goronyo, who gave Kwara State chapter of RIFAN all the necessary support to achieve this feat.
Alhaji Aminu Goronyo didn’t only give us all the support we needed, he also provided valuable guidance
at critical times, which helped us to navigate all difficult circumstances”
Saba also thanked the CBN and the State government for providing enabling environment and support
for the program.
He added, “We must give kudos to the federal government of Nigeria, particularly the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) for initiating a policy that enable farmers to access resources like never before, across all
the value chain, from cultivation to harvest and sale, particularly the ilorin team, who supported RIFAN
immensely during some emergency moments.”
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/01/25/kwara-joins-elite-states-produces-over-
102000mt-of-rice/
Russian Farm Explores Use of XAG Agricultural Drones to

Boost Rice Yield
NEWS PROVIDED BY
XAG
Jan 25, 2022, 08:00 ET
KRASNODAR, Russia, Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the South of Russia, XAG's
agricultural drone has been introduced to the full cycle of rice cultivation. It brings new hope to
farmers as the use of drone demonstrates the potential to reduce the cost of rice production.
Facing the relatively tight water shortage, drone technology from XAG can help Russian farmers
obtain decent yield and support the expansion of rice field territories.
Russian farmers used XAG Agricultural Drone for rice cultivation

XAG, a global leader of agri-tech innovations, has been scaling up its agricultural drones in rice
growing across China, Japan, and Vietnam. While Russia has contributed to over 10% of the
world's grain exports and doubled its rice production, XAG entered the Russian market in 2021
to provide local farmers with autonomous precision farming tools.
Under the observation of Kuban State University, XAG's Russian partner DSK Supply initiated a
project in Krasnodar Province to cultivate rice crops using drones from XAG. The aim of the
project was to verify that rice fields can be farmed more precisely using less agrochemical with
the help of XAG drones. The effectiveness of agricultural drones was tested at different growth
stages including seeding, crop spraying, and fertilizer spread.
Rice is the staple crop for over half of the global population. However, conventional rice
cultivation used to be labor intensive and resource-consuming. It requires a large amount of
water, pesticides, and fertilizers, leading to heavy financial burden of rice farmers who pay for
high operation costs. As climate change has also brought up water shortages, the production of
rice is facing more challenges to meet the increasing demands.
Drone to Sow Seeds and Control Weeds

To run the field trial, a flooded rice paddy on an area of 5.7 hectares was selected for drone
applications in Russia's Krasnodar during the last farming season. With bumps, ditches and
tractor tracks on the site, the pock-marked test field made it difficult to seed rice crops by hand.
The XAG Agricultural Drone, a multifunctional unmanned aerial vehicle, was equipped with the
JetSeed spreader coming to the rescue of farm workers. It could fly freely over the unstable
cultivated land and evenly distribute the seeds at sowing rates of 35 kg/ha and 50 kg/ha.
After the drone pilot entered the sowing parameters into the smartphone, the germinated seeds
were poured into the container and the sowing began with ease. Compared to manual seeding,
the XAG Agricultural Drone could navigate itself at centimeter level and significantly save
operation time.
The drone was also used to spray crop protection agents for weed management at night. When
the germinated seeds grew into the new rice shoots, farmers should remove weeds to prevent
these invasive plants from stealing sunlight, water, and nutrients. Since the herbicides can rapidly
break down through exposure to open sunlight, the XAG Agricultural Drone becomes the best
option for rice farmers to make protective agents work to the full capacity.
Connecting to the RTK network, the drone with XAG's patented intelligent atomization spraying
technology could allow for higher precision as well as better penetration into the bottom plant
layer. According to the feedback from agronomists, this method helped to reduce chemical
consumption by 30% and save water by up to 90%.
Reduce Fertilizer Use and Reap Harvest
Besides seeding and weed control, the field trial applied nitrogen fertilizer using the XAG drones
to feed the rice crops and avoid excessive application. Nitrogen fertilizer such as urea plays a key
role in boosting crop yields. But it also represents one of the largest sources of agricultural
greenhouse gas emission, which has been taking the blame for global warming.
With the help of drones, precise and even distribution of the granules was achieved throughout
the growth process from pre-sowing, germination to tillering. The rice plants responded well to
fertilizers and showed positive signs of harvest after the drone spreading operations.
When the rice crops had developed large panicles in September, the Russian farmers also used
the XAG Agricultural Drone for desiccant spraying. Desiccant is a substance that dries the plant
on the root, which helps to ensure that all the rice crops could be harvested at the same time.
Thanks to the introduction of drone, a decent result was obtained in this trial project despite the
selected infertile land was initially not suitable for farming.
"The introduction of drones in agriculture is a real breakthrough in the industry," Lagvilava
David, the CEO of DSK Supply said. "We have seen a trend towards precision agriculture using
drones and we are fully convinced that the new rice cultivation process in Russia will give our
farmers the opportunity to gain additional profitability."
Next season, it is expected that Russian farmers are going to conduct a larger experiment with
new norms, new varieties of rice and new conditions. XAG and its local partners will expand the
range of possibilities of autonomous drone technology to improve the resilience of agriculture.
About XAG
Founded in 2007, XAG is a world-leading robotics and AI company, as well as the world's
largest agricultural drone maker. With the mission of advancing agriculture, it focuses on using
technology to empower agriculture and help create a food-secure future. Up to December 2020,
XAG's smart agriculture technologies and solutions have reached 42 countries and regions,
serving 9.31 million farmers and 52 million hectares of farmlands.
SOURCE XAG
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/russian-farm-explores-use-of-xag-agricultural-
drones-to-boost-rice-yield-301467090.html
CRF all set to market fragrant rice in European countries
Chea Vanyuth / Khmer Times
Tested and proven: Cambodia‘s long-grain white rice is very popular in China followed by the
European Union. With the import tariff removed, Rice exports are expected to touch 200,000
tonnes this year. Supplied
With the import tariff removed, Cambodia expects to see at least 200,000 tons of rice exports to
the EU this year
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) sets a plan of bold promotion of Cambodia‘s fragrant rice
in some European countries in a bid to spread out the quality of milled rice to the bloc‘s
consumers.The plan has been prepared amid the EU ending the three-year import tariff on the
country‘s long-grain white rice last week. The CRF sets a plan to join exhibitions in the EU
countries to push direct sales to customers, said CRF president Song Saran.
―Per our strategy, we will join exhibitions to sell directly to customers. Now, the rice import
tariff has ended. We will go to sell and promote our rice directly to regain support,‖ Saran said.
CRF plans to promote fragrant rice in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium and other countries
such as the US, Australia and China‘s Hong Kong, he said, adding that the promotion is made
based on the CRF‘s budget available and support from development partners.
The CRF also pushes farmers to select quality rice seeds to plant so that they produce quality rice
for export.The CRF plans to promote the quality rice seed to farmers to provinces in the main
rice production province around the Tonle Sap Lake, Saran said.
The EU market accounted for more than 50 percent of Cambodia‘s total milled rice export in
2016 and this amount dropped sharply to around 20 percent last year, mainly due to the import
tariff on Cambodia‘s long-grain white rice.
With the import tariff removed, Cambodia expects to see at least 200,000 tons of rice exports to
the EU this year.
―Rice export reaches about 150,000 tonnes to the EU, so after the import tariff ends, we expect to
see at least 200,000 tonnes by this year or up to 250,000 tonnes according to high demand of
Cambodia‘s rice,‖ Saran said optimistically. Currently, China is the biggest market for the
country‘s rice export, followed by the EU.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501012439/crf-all-set-to-market-fragrant-rice-in-
european-countries/
Well-milled rice prices fall in five regional centers

January 25, 2022 | 10:52 pm
NEDA
THE Philippine Statistics Authority said the average retail price of well-milled rice decreased in
five trading centers between Dec. 1 and 5, which it calls the first phase of December.
Prices fell by P0.13 to P1.52 per kilogram, compare with Nov. 15-17, or the second phase of
November.
They were down P0.13 at P42.83 in the National Capital Region (NCR), P0.75 at P49 in
Batangas City, P0.95 at P38.47 in Kidapawan City, P1.26 at P44.78 in Calapan City and P1.52 at
P39.80 Iloilo City.
Of the trading centers reporting gains, average prices rose P0.37 to P38.56 in Legazpi City,
P0.51 to P39.50 in Pagadian City, P1.96 to P42.70 in Digos City, and P0.96 to P40.57 in Butuan
City.
The retail price of bone-in pork rose P5.00 to P21.67 per kilogram in five trading centers.
Prices rose P5.00 to P285 in Cabanatuan City, P11.27 to P371.35 in Legazpi City, P15.65 to
P303.42 in Calapan City, P15.00 to P308.89 in the NCR, and P21.67 to P216.67 in Cebu City.
Prices declined by P0.50 to P179.50 in Cagayan de Oro City, P2.50 to P342.50 in Batangas City,
P8.17 to P207.70 in Butuan City, and P17.86 to P232.14 in Digos City.
Galunggong (round scad) prices rose in six trading centers. They rose P3.16 to P234.74 in the
NCR, P8.31 to P178.70 in Iloilo City, P11.11 to P266.67 in Calapan City, P14.88 to P156.28 in
Kidapawan City, P25 to P220 in Tuguegarao City, and P50 to P190 in Cagayan de Oro City.
ADVERTISEMENT
Prices dropped P1.56 to P191.63 in Butuan City, P10 to P215 in Cabanatuan City, P17.50 to
P140 in Pagadian City, and P40 to P160 in San Fernando City. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C.
Jocson
https://www.bworldonline.com/well-milled-rice-prices-fall-in-five-regional-centers/
China aims at grain output of 700 bln kg by 2025
Farmers operating rice harvesters at Hongguang Village, Changchun City of northeast China's
Jilin Province. Photo by Xinhua/Zhang Nan.
China will stabilize its annual grain output at over 650 billion kg and strive to beat a target of
700 bln kg by 2025 to ensure grain security, according to a five-year plan on farming released by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. This was reported by The Xinhua News Agency.
The country vows to keep its grain farmland above 1.75 bln mu (about 117 mln hectares) by
2025, said the plan.
Planting acreage of grains should stay above 1.4 bln mu, while that of staple grains should be
over 800 mln mu.
Major progress should be made in the farming industry by 2025, with the country's capability of
providing key farming produces boosted and green production achieved, said the plan.
The planting acreage of rice, the most important staple grain in China, should be kept stable at
450 mln mu with the yield reaching around 215 bln kg by 2025.
The output of wheat, another major staple grain, should be over 140 bln kg, while that of corn
will exceed 265 bln kg.
https://ukranews.com/en/news/826631-china-aims-at-grain-output-of-700-bln-kg-by-2025
CRC Online Courses for Drinking Water Now Available
The drinking water supply well monitoring became a regulatory requirement per the Central
Valley Water Board effective January 1, 2022. The role of the CRC is to provide information,
which is through an online program with the link provided
here: https://agceuonline.com/270/course/Rice-Drinking-Water-Supply-Well-Monitoring-
Information-and-NitrogenNutrient-Pest-Management-2022
The online program includes a sidebar of pertinent information from the Central Valley Water
Board. Updates to the documents (forms, labs, FAQ, etc.) are complete and ready for download.
A person can choose to go through the course and receive continuing education credits for the
Certified Crop Adviser certificate (0.5 NM, IPM and CM) continuing education credits.
For questions and additional information, please contact Roberta Firoved, Industry Affairs
Manager at rfiroved@calrice.org or (916) 206-5039.
http://www.calricenews.org/2022/01/24/crc-online-courses-for-drinking-water-now-
available/
LCRA approves higher interruptible water rates for

agricultural users
| Daniel Clifton
The Lower Colorado River Authority Board of Directors gave a thumbs-up to higher water rates
for interruptible customers during its Jan. 19 meeting, a day after Water Operations Committee
members voiced concerns about circulating information they said was inaccurate, specifically
that the increase was not enough and that interruptible customers do not pay their fair share of
the cost of serving them.
The board bumped rates for Garwood Agricultural Division customers from $38.32 to $39.19 per
acre-foot of water for one lift delivery and $45.42 to $46.46 per acre-foot for two lift deliveries.
A lift refers to pumping the water from a lower elevation to a higher one.
Also, prices for customers in the Gulf Coast and Lakeside division increased to $69.44 per acre-
foot from $66.14, an increase of $3.34 per acre-foot.
There are 325,851 gallons in one acre-foot.
These changes apply to agricultural customers in Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado counties
who purchase interruptible stored water. Interruptible water is subject to being cut off or
curtailed as described in customer contracts. By definition, firm water continues to be available
to cities, businesses, and industries even during some of the driest times.
Interruptible customers have not pushed back on the new rates, LCRA staff told committee
members during the Water Operations Committee meeting Jan. 18. However, the majority of the
more than 150 public comments received argue that the rate increase isn‘t enough, that
interruptible customers don‘t pay their fair share, and that agriculture interests need to do more
for conservation. At least one commenter stated that the LCRA needs to emphasize the water
management strategy for recreational use of the Highland Lakes over farmer interests.
Firm water customers pay for 78.7 percent of river management costs, while interruptible
customers (Gulf Coast and Lakeside agricultural divisions) pay 21.3 percent of river
management costs, LCRA Vice President of Water Kelly Payne told the committee.
Also, interruptible customers pay 100 percent of any debt incurred for irrigation and 100 percent
for canals used for irrigation delivery, he said. LCRA Executive Vice President John Hofman
added that interruptible customers pay their share of costs associated with serving them.
LCRA directors said they felt that message was lost, especially among upper Highland Lakes
residents who might have little or no connection with farmers in the lower part of the basin.
Board and water committee member Tom Kelly of Colorado County said misinformation was
going around about how farmers waste water. Many spend a great deal of their own resources for
water conservation.
He was most likely referring to a press release sent out by the Central Texas Water Coalition in
December, which included facts and figures for why the increase is not enough.
―Based on numbers from the LCRA, the price of $66.14 per acre-foot of water paid by the
downstream irrigators in 2021 doesn‘t even cover the $69.65 per acre-foot it costs to deliver the
water to them, meaning they didn‘t pay anything for the actual water,‖ said coalition President Jo
Karr Tedder in the release. ―Downstream irrigators pay nothing for the significant evaporation
and leakage that occurs as water makes its way down the Colorado River in open, unlined dirt
canals to the rice fields. If a rice farmer decides the water ordered and sent is not needed, it is
simply canceled and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at no cost to the irrigator that ordered it. This
routine practice makes no sense.‖
Kelly, who is a fifth-generation rice farmer and cattle rancher and owns 3TK Cattle and Rice
Company, disagrees that farmers do not pay enough and said he and other farmers are
conservationists.
―I wish some of the upper basin would come down and spend a day with me,‖ Kelly said. ―Since
2007, when I started doing dirt work (for conservation efforts), I‘ve spent probably $300,000 out
of my own pocket for conservation.‖
Water Operations Committee Vice Chair and board member Steve Cooper concurred, adding
that farmers are among the most concerned about water conservation. He wanted people to
understand that rice grown in Texas helps feed the world, and those growing the grain work to
produce the product in the most efficient manner possible. Part of that includes reducing water
use, which is a big part of a farmer‘s cost.
People who think farmers aren‘t paying their fair share for water don‘t understand the risk rice
producers are taking when it comes to interruptible water, he continued.
―I wish people would stop and think, and really think through what interruptible and firm really
means and the value implied,‖ he said.
No water curtailment is expected during the first growing season based on the current amount of
water stored in lakes Travis and Buchanan (the two water storage lakes), Payne told the
committee. If the current dry period continues, however, chances increase for a curtailment
during the second season. That decision must be made by July 1.
Hofmann added later in the committee meeting that the LCRA‘s water management plan protects
firm water.
―The provision of water, interruptible water, that we have in 2022 does not jeopardize the firm
supplies,‖ he said. ―The very nature of the water management plan and very existence of the
water management plan is geared toward that fact. (The) water management plan‘s sole purpose
is to make sure the provision of interruptible water does not imperil the supply we have.‖
daniel@thepicayune.com
https://www.dailytrib.com/2022/01/24/lcra-approves-higher-interruptible-water-rates-for-
agricultural-users/

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

27 January ,2022 Vol 7 Issue 1

KPT Shipping Movements Report

Farming launched at Kartarpur

Pakistani parliament censures government over Iran trade

This article originally appeared on Gwadar Pro.

Rice farmers unable to get buyers

Over 7,800 tonnes of rice earmarked for localities on Tet

SKIOLD and Tan Long Group launched paddy rice

Research institutes vital for boosting agri yield‘

By Editor On Jan 26, 2022

Prices of local and foreign rice, cooking gas drops as traders

in Exclusives, Macro-Economic News

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Items that reduced in price

January, a month of low sales

Phl attains all-time palay, corn harvests in 2021

Author: DA Communications Group | 27 January 2022

RCPP Signups Now Open and Rice Stewardship

Many thanks to generous Partnership sponsors

Mid-South eligible counties and parishes:

Louisiana: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse,

Improving Water Quality using Practice 590 eligible parishes:

Gordon Ramsay opens new Back Bay restaurant

Inside Ramsay‘s Kitchen. – Gordon Ramsay North America

Trader Joe’s releases list of favorite products, as chosen by

The Kitchn: This rice is the perfect addition to almost all of

 Jan 24, 2022 Updated

Fit mum-of-four shares her THREE favourite 'summer

By LAURA HOUSE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Two women suffocate in New Year’s rice cakes as the deadly

Mochi on a Japanese plate on December 29, 2021.

December inflation is “temporary” – Emefiele

January 26, 2022

Rice Revolution As Panacea To Food Inflation

Rice ‗pyramids‘: Buhari‘s misguided glorification of

Nigeria’s Iconic Rice Paddy Pyramids To Be

Nigeria‘s Iconic Rice Paddy Pyramids to be Evacuated Tomorrow

Benchmark value: Prioritize rice production as consultations

Senyo Hosi, Agribusiness entrepreneur

Rice production season to take off soon

Industrialization efforts to erode with benchmark value discount policy

Andhra Pradesh: Millers express concern over inordinate

CBN assures food prices will moderate in 2022

January 26, 2022 1:13 PM

CBN assures food prices will moderate in 2022. [PremiumTimes]

Agri trade is booming this fiscal, but April-Oct basmati

Exports surge by 25pc in first half of FY2021-22

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov calls for strengthening B2B

linkages between Pakistan, Azerbaijan

January 25, 2022

KARACHI – Khazar Farhadov, Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Pakistan, on Tuesday briefed

Traders for textiles, edibles and IT exports to Azerbaijan

Sri Lankan Trade Delegation Visits RCCI

In difficult times, water pumps become indispensable to rice

A more sustainable rice, using less land and resources, delivered

ALVIN, Texas (PRWEB) January 25, 2022

Mekong Delta river canals. Image: rjabaloslll, CC BY 2.0.