Unpaid Thai rice farmers threaten protests over unpaid rice sales to the government. They have not been paid for rice sold under an intervention scheme for over two months. This could add problems for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who called an early election this week amid ongoing protests in Bangkok. Meanwhile, India's foodgrain production is on track to break the previous record set in 2011-2012 if favorable weather continues through the winter season. Wheat and other crop plantings are higher than last year so far.
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Unpaid Thai rice farmers may protest, adding to PM's woes
BY APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT
BANGKOK Wed Dec 11, 2013 1:15am EST
Farmers harvest rice in a field at Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok June 27, 2013.
CREDIT: REUTERS/CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM
(Reuters) - Thai farmers who have not been paid by the
state for rice bought under an intervention scheme are
threatening to block roads in 26 provinces, adding to the
problems of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who
called a snap election this week.Yingluck dissolved
parliament on Monday and called an early election after
facing protests for weeks in the capital.The farmers have
been natural supporters of Yingluck and her brother
Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier whose policies
helped the poor before he was ousted in a coup in
2006.Yingluck won a landslide victory in 2011 with
support from the countryside after promising to buy rice from farmers at 15,000 Thai baht ($470) per ton, well
above the market.The rice-buying scheme priced Thai grades out of export markets and left it with
largestocks of the grain. When the government was unable to sell enough rice overseas, the state bank running
the scheme ran out of funds to pay farmers.
"Farmers are very angry and they are gathering. They said they will block roads in those provinces, asking for
their money, which they have been waiting for nearly two months," said Prasit Boonchoey, head of the Thai
Farmers Association.The provinces likely to be affected are in the rice-growing regions in the center and
northeast of the country.The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) turned to the bond
market in November to get funds to pay farmers, but managed to raise only 37 billion baht on a 75 billion baht
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4. offering.BAAC said it would try to sell more bonds in January.Somchart Soithong, director-general of the
Commerce Ministry's Department of Internal Trade, which oversees the rice-buying programme, said farmers
should be paid gradually with money from the November bond.However, the farmers are running out of
patience.
"We won't stop. We are gathering and we will stage protests by this week as we haven't got our money," said
Wichian Phuanglamchiak, a farmers' leader in Ayutthaya province to the north of Bangkok.
($1 = 32.1350 Thai baht)
(Editing by Alan Raybould and Tom Hogue)
Niwatthumrong hails success in rice stockpile release
The Nation December 11, 2013 8:04 pm
Caretaker
Commerce
Minister
Niwatthumrong
Boonsongpaisan Wednesday hailed his success in releasing 3
million tonnes from the government's rice stockpiles.He is
confident that by the end of this year, the ministry, which is in
charge of the stockpile release, would be able to repatriate
Bt180 billion to the Finance Ministry. The outgoing minister
reiterated that all rice deals were transparent and any
government agency can ask for the information from
government
officials.
To the new minister, he said the urgent issues now are the cost
of living and stabilisation of agricultural products.
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5. Unpaid rice farmers threaten action
Published: 11 Dec 2013 at 08.21
Online news: Local News
Rice farmers are threatening to block roads in 26 provinces if the government fails to pay money they are owed
from the 2013/2014 main crop.Prasit Boonchoey, Thai Rice Farmers Association president, said most rice
farmers have not been paid since October.He said the farmers need the money to invest in planting new
crops.Mr Prasit said the Commerce Ministry needs to do more than merely complain the government is short of
funds. He said the ministry's response goes against cabinet ministers' assurances that the government can afford
the scheme.He said the farmers may have to block roads to pressure the government into taking action.
Foodgrains output may touch new record in 2013-14
By PTI | 11 Dec, 2013, 08.19PM IST
India's foodgrains production this year is likely to break the
previous record of 259.29 million tonnes achieved in 2011-12
if weather remains favourable through the ongoing rabi
season.ET SPECIAL:Save precious time tracking your
investments.NEW DELHI: India's foodgrains production this
year is likely to break the previous record of 259.29 million
tonnes achieved in 2011-12 if weather remains favourable
through the ongoing rabi season, Agriculture Minister Sharad
Pawar said today. The country had harvested a record 259.29
million tonnes of foodgrains in the 2011-12 crop year (JulyJune). However, the output fell marginally to 255.36 million
tonnes last year due to drought in some parts of the country.
"This year, infact, we will break the last time's record.
I am confident if nature continues to be cooperative, we will break last time's record," Pawar told reporters on
the sidelines of a fertiliser event here.Pawar said the recent review of sowing of rabi (winter) crops, which is
under way, shows that wheat acreage so far is much higher than it was last year.Similarly, the sowing
performance of rabi paddy, pulses, oilseeds and cotton is also good. The acreage of sugarcane is also more than
last year, he added. As per the official data, wheat has been sown in 214.07 lakh hectare till last week, up from
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6. 183.42 lakh hectares in the same period last year. Barring coarse cereals, acreage under other rabi crops
remained higher than the last year.
The country grows foodgrains both in the Kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) seasons. The Kharif crops, which
largely includes paddy, are being harvested now. As kharif crops are cleared off the fields, farmers are sowing
rabi crops, which has began from October onwards. Rabi crops will be ready for harvest in April 2014.India's
Food Security Act entitles 82 crore people to 5 kg of foodgrains per person a month at Rs 1-3 per kg. The
country needs 62 million tonnes foodgrains a year to implement the law. Some states have started rolling out the
scheme.
TABLE-India Grain Prices-Delhi-Dec 11
Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:05pm IST
TABLE-India Grain Prices - Delhi - Dec 11
Rates by Asian News International, New Delhi
Tel: 011 2619 1464
Indicative
Previous
Grains
opening
close
(in rupees per 100 kg unless stated)
---------------------------------------------------------Wheat Desi
1,900-2,800
1,900-2,800.
Wheat Dara
1,740-1,940
1,750-1,950.
Atta Chakki (per 10 Kg)
215-240
215-240.
Roller Mill (per bag)
1,830-1,930
1,925-2,025.
Maida (per bag)
1,925-2,025
1,950-2,050.
Sooji (per bag)
1,825-1,925
1,825-1,925.
Rice Basmati(Sri Lal Mahal)
12,000
12,000.
Rice Basmati(Lal Quila)
11,500
11,500.
Rice Basmati(Common)
7,500-7,950
7,500-7,950.
Rice Permal
2,500-2,600
2,500-2,600.
Rice Sela
3,200-3,400
3,200-3,400.
I.R.-8
2,300-2,400
2,350-2,450.
Gram
3,150-3,450
3,150-3,450.
Peas Green
3,340-3,540
3,340-3,540.
Peas White
2,600-2,700
2,600-2,700.
Bajra
1,350-1,600
1,300-1,550.
Jowar white
1,850-2,100
1,850-2,100.
Maize
1,500-1,850
1,500-1,800.
Barley
1,400-1,450
1,400-1,450.
Guwar
3,300-3,900
3,300-3,900. Source: Delhi grain market traders.
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7. $2 billion rice export at stake
MUBARAK ZEB KHAN
Updated 2013-12-11 11:57:42
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s failure to block Indian proposal of subsidised production of crops has
rankled the farming community in Pakistan.The country’s rice producers, struggling to fetch a fair price,
were particularly upset as WTO deal in Bali has put export of $2 billion worth of rice at stake.Choudhry
Hamid Malhi, President, Basmati Growers Association, was critical of the government attitude which he
claimed did not do enough to defend the commercial interests of the farming community of the country.Mr
Malhi attended the Bali meeting and monitored developments closely in the ministerial meeting.“The current
government, led by industrialist leader failed to demonstrate sensitivity to the problems being faced by
growers. The representation of the country was weak as Pakistan’s delegation was led by country’s
permanent representative at WTO in place of the commerce minister,” he said.
“It paved way for India to push through and get approval to their subsidy package at the ministerial. All
negotiations were left to the US delegation, which was focused on trade facilitation with little concern for
Pakistani farmers interests who would lose owing to subsidised Indian production of staple crops, like rice,
wheat, cereals etc,” Mr Malhi said.He complained that Pakistan’s ambassador to WTO Geneva Shahid
Bashir, was preoccupied with his chairmanship of the General Council of the WTO rather than looking after
Pakistan’s interests as its ambassador.
“There was a complete disconnect between delegates from Islamabad and members of Pakistan delegation
who came from Geneva,” Malhi said, pointing out that Geneva office of Permanent Trade representative did
not inform the rice stakeholders when the G-33 proposal was evolved at initial stages.Pakistan’s delegation
did not even try to insert Pakistani farmers concerns in the final agreement.Contrary to this, Cuban
delegation very successfully included their concerns at the final draft of the agreement on trade facilitation,
Mr Malhi said.“About 17 rooms were booked for dignitaries from Pakistan who never arrived. I heard that
the government paid for rooms in advance,” Mr Malhi said.He said he was writing a protest letter to the
prime minister
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8. Rice imports rise by 8.9% in Cameroon
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 08:56
(Business in Cameroon) - According to the latest figures released by Cameroon Customs, rice imports reached
552,000 tonnes in 2012 compared to 507,000 the previous year making it an increase of 8.9%.
According to our sources, these imports cost 156 billion FCfa as
opposed to 135 billion FCfa in 2011 which is a 17% increase in
imports. In addition, in 2012, rice represented a little more than
6% of total oil imports outside of Cameroon.Rice is among the
most consumed staples in Cameroon with an average
consumption of around 11,180 FCfa per capita and per annum in
urban areas. This is the household survey (Ecam 3) finding by
the National Institute of Statistics (INS in French).But with an
annual national production below 100,000 tonnes of rice paddies
(generally sold in Nigeria), Cameroon essentially covers its rice
demands through imports as the national demand is officially
estimated to be 300,000 tonnes. Since the February 2008 hunger
protests, the Cameroonian government exempted rice from
customs duties to maintain a relatively low price on the market.
This can explain the growth in imports seen over the last few
years.The surplus imports is generally re-exported to
neighbouring countries such as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea where prices are also more attractive.
Rice plantings could be on the rise in 2014
Dec. 10, 2013Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press
Arkansas growers could plant nearly 1.5 million acres of rice in 2014 if
more normal weather conditions return and corn and soybean prices and
production costs continue to soften over the next three or four months.
U.S. rice acreage could rise by about 400,000 acres to 2.8 million.
BLAKE GERARD, left, rice producer from Cape Girardeau, Mo., and
vice chairman of the U.S. Rice Producers Group, producer Chuck
Earnest of Steele, Mo., and Bill Anderson, “Cousin Carl” on Radio
Station 106.1 in Cape Girardeau, welcomed producers to the USA Rice Outlook Conference in St. Louis.
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9. Arkansas growers could plant nearly 1.5 million acres of rice in 2014 if more normal weather conditions return
and corn and soybean prices and production costs continue to soften over the next three or four months.If that
forecast pans out, U.S. rice acreage could rise by about 400,000 acres to 2.8 million in the coming year because
of the dominant position Arkansas occupies in the Southern Rice Belt and in total U.S. rice plantings, according
to speakers at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in St. Louis.“Corn prices are currently basing, and the basing
process is likely to continue beyond most planting decisions,” said Robert Coats, Extension economist and
professor — economics with the University of Arkansas. Coats, who gave the state outlook report for Arkansas,
was referring to a chart showing monthly corn futures prices dating back to 1970.Coats said old crop corn prices
are likely to remain volatile with the potential of moving back to $6 per bushel.
“It’s more likely that prices will go lower before moving higher and that the new crop year marketing range
will be between $3.50 and $6.00 per bushel.”Soybean prices are also likely to move lower before moving higher
in the coming months, with new crop soybeans possibly trading in a range between $10 and $16 per
hundredweight.Higher corn and soybean prices over the last five seasons have led to dramatic shifts in MidSouth crop acreage out of cotton and rice to corn and, to a lesser extent, soybeans. At this time last year, corn
was selling for more than $7 per bushel due to the 1012 drought in the Midwest.Arkansas growers finished with
a harvested rice acreage of 1.07 million in 2013. Not all of that was due to high corn prices. An unusually wet
spring resulted in more than 300,000 acres either failed or prevented from being planted. Under more normal
conditions, Arkansas could have planted 1.358 million acres of rice, Coats said.Given the demand outlook for
higher quality rice, lower corn futures and lower fertilizer and fuel costs, Arkansas growers could plant 1.319
million acres of long grain rice and 133,000 acres of medium grain in 2014.
That would be up 412,000 acres or 36 percent above 2013.“The U.S. rice industry cannot be competitive in the
global low quality rice market,” says Coats, “but can compete in the high quality market through rice identity
preservation. Producing rice with world class physical and chemical grain properties and priced accordingly —
this is needed to turn the U.S. rice industry to a growth industry.”Despite the unusual weather conditions that
delayed and prevented planting, Arkansas farmers produced record rice yields in 2013 with an estimated state
average of 7,550 pounds per acre. That would be 80 pounds per acre or about 1 percent more than in 2012 and
780 pounds or 10 percent more than in 2011.
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10. Louisiana
Louisiana growers also produced record yields in 2013, harvesting an estimated statewide yield average of
7,200 pounds per acre. That would be up from the previous high of 6,600 pounds.“We think we have set a real,
significant record in Louisiana this year,” said Johnny Saichuk, Extension rice specialist with the LSU
AgCenter. “From the conversations we’ve had with our farmers we think we may be around 7,200, second crop
included, well above anything before.”Louisiana’s second crop acreage also expanded,” he said. “We had over
130,000 acres of second crop rice, which is one of our highest totals in a number of years. Someone asked me if
we were through harvesting for the year, and I don’t know. I do know we cut our last verification field on Nov.
30, the latest we’ve ever done.”
Saichuk said he believes Louisiana’s rice acreage will be about the same in 2014 as it was in 2013 with the
possible exception of an increase in hybrid rice, which appears to be gaining ground in Louisiana because of its
higher yield potential.Another development he reported at the Rice Outlook Conference was the growth in
special purpose rice in 2013. Louisiana growers harvested 30,000 acres, most of it the Jazzman 2 line of
aromatic rice. Growers also planted the Jazzman, Sabine and Hidalgo varieties.
Mississippi
Mississippi’s rice acreage could recover to about 200,000 in 2014 because of a projected decline in fertilizer
and fuel prices and rice prices becoming more competitive with those offered for corn and soybeans.“We’re
seeing a much more favorable price outlook for rice compared to corn and soybeans than what we’ve seen in
the last several years,” said Larry Falconer, Extension agricultural economist with Mississippi State
University.“Of course, prices are only part of the equation. When you look at cost of production estimates, our
fertilizer estimates are down about $30 an acre and $7 or $8 for diesel fuel for pumping costs. With rice yields 6
percent to 7 percent higher this year, it looks like rice could be much more competitive than with the cost
projections we were using last year.
“Based on decreases in fertilizer and fuel costs and the futures prices we have now and talking to Dr. (Tim)
Walker, Extension rice specialist with Mississippi State, and to producers, we think it’s possible rice acres could
recover back to the 200,000 mark that we saw prior to the last two or three years (from 2013’s 130,000 acres).”
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11. Missouri
Missouri’s rice acres are “expected to be level to slightly higher” in 2014, according to Trent Haggard, director
of the University of Missouri’s Fisher Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo.Missouri farmers also
struggled with weather delays during planting and harvesting, finally finishing with an estimated 150,000
harvested acres of rice for 2013. “On Oct. 5, we were only 50 percent harvested,” said Haggard. “That is
unusually late for our growers.”Over the years, the trend-line for yield increases in the Missouri Bootheel has
been 62 pounds per acre. Farmers will probably average 6,950 pounds per acre in 2013 or only a little above
2012. “We probably will fall short of that 62-pound per acre trend line in 2013 because of all the weather
problems we encountered in 2013.”
Texas
Growers in Texas did not experience the planting delays those in the Mid-South did, but they were impacted by
weather. And the situation shows little sign of improving.A few days before the Rice Outlook Conference, the
Lower Colorado River Authority, the agency which oversees the delivery of water from reservoirs around
Austin, Texas, to the Texas Rice Belt announced new regulations.Texas producers planted about 130,000 acres
of rice in 2012 and 2013, down 170,000 acres from their peak, because of the reduced water allocations for rice.
The new regulation, which lowers the trigger for release of water to the rice area to 850,000 acre feet, could
mean even less water.“The outlook for rice in Texas is rather dim for 2014,” said Mo Way, Extension
entomologist with the Texas A&M University Rice Research Station in Beaumont, Texas.
California
Water availability could also be an issue in California, according to Chris Greer, Extension advisor with the
University of California. 2013’s harvested acreage was almost the same as 2012, 556,000 acres. 2014 could be
from 450,000 to 550,000 depending on water availability.“It’s obvious water is important to all of us, whether
in California or Texas or Mississippi,” he said. “Basically, the state of California is not in a great shape for
water. Looking to 2014, we’re going to have to cross our fingers and hope we get something.“I realize 450,000
to 550,000 acres is a broad range, but we don’t know how much snow we may get so we don’t know what we’re
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12. going to be looking at as far as water allocations. We could have water sales. If rice prices are low, farmers may
decide it’s more attractive to sell their water than to plant rice.”
Coming soon: A rice good for diabetics
Category: Health & Fitness
10 Dec 2013
Written by Henrylito D. Tacio / Story and photos
ALMOST always, diabetics are advised to eat less rice.The reason:
the starch-rich staples can potentially release high amounts of sugar
into the blood when digested.A 2007 study of Chinese women in
Shanghai found that middle-aged women who ate large amounts of
rice and other refined carbohydrates were at increased risk for
diabetes compared to their peers who ate less.In the United States
Americans who eat white rice on a regular basis—five or more times
a week—are almost 20 percent more likely to develop diabetes than
those who eat it less than once a month.But diabetics may now worry
less. Researchers at the Laguna-based International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) have already identified the key gene that determines the glycemic index (GI) of rice.The findings of
the research, which analyzed 235 types of rice from around the world, is good news because it not only means rice
can be part of a healthy diet for the average consumer.
It also means people with diabetes, or at risk of diabetes, can select the right rice to help maintain a healthy, low-GI
diet.“It is an important achievement that offers rice breeders the opportunity to develop varieties with different GI
levels to meet consumer needs,” IRRI said in a statement. “Future development of low-GI rice would also enable
food manufacturers to develop new, low-GI food products based on rice.”GI is a measure of the rate at which
carbohydrates as glucose enter the blood stream. “The GI also indicates the rate at which carbohydrates break down
during digestion in the small intestine into the simple sugars glucose, fructose and, sometimes, galactose,” explains
Dr. Virgilio M. Ofiana in his weekly column for a national daily.“The glucose is the sugar that is rapidly absorbed and
has a reference GI of 100 or greater,” Ofiana writes. “Both fructose and galactose enter the circulation at a slower rate
and need to go to the liver for conversion into glucose: both, therefore, have lower GIs.”Dr. Melissa Fitzgerald, who
led the research team at the IRRI, found the GI of rice varies a lot from one type of rice to another, ranging from a low
of 48 to a high of 92, with an average of 64. “Low-GI foods are those measured 55 and less, medium-GI foods are
those measured between 56 and 69, while high-GI foods measure 70 and above,” IRRI explained.
The rice with low GI is, indeed, good news for Filipinos, who are rice-eating people. As the late food epicure Doreen
Fernandez wrote: “If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino.”The
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13. Philippines is home to 4 million diabetics, with more than 3 million not knowing they have the disease. “Many
people still do not know that they have diabetes,” said Dr. Tommy Ty Wiling, president of Diabetes Philippines.
The Department of Health listed diabetes as the ninth leading cause of death among Filipinos today. In twenty years
the Philippines is expected to be among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest numbers of people with
diabetes. Some 500 Filipinos are being diagnosed with the condition every day.“Understanding that different types of
rice have different GI values allows rice consumers to make informed choices about the sort of rice they want to eat,”
Fitzgerald said. “Rice varieties such as India’s most widely grown rice variety, Swarna, have a low GI and varieties
such as Doongara from Australia and Basmati have a medium GI.”Low-GI diets offer a range of health benefits, said
Dr. Tony Bird, a researcher of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Food
Futures Flagship. “Low-GI diets can reduce the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes, and are also useful for
helping diabetics better manage their condition,” he pointed out.There are two types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes—sometimes called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes—results from a
shortage of insulin. The onset is usually rapid, but one-third of those who have this type have a remission within three
months.Type 2 diabetes—also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes—results
from the body’s inability to process the hormone effectively. About 90 percent of all diabetics have this form.The
development of a rice variety with low GI is a breakthrough waiting to happen. “This is good news for diabetics and
people at risk of diabetes who are trying to control their condition through diet, as it means they can select the right
rice to help maintain a healthy, low-GI diet,” Bird said.IRRI agreed. “Eating rice with other foods can help reduce the
overall GI of a meal and, when combined with regular exercise, can reduce the chances of getting diabetes,” it
said. “In addition, people who exercise need more carbohydrates in their diet and can take advantage of low-GI foods
for sustained activity.”
Rice Imported Into Nigeria Not Healthy For Consumption – Adesina
By: Ruth Tene Natsa on December 12, 2013 - 5:28am
The
Minister
Development,
of
Dr
Agriculture
Akinwumi
and
Adesina,
Rural
has
disclosed that rice imported into Nigeria from
India and Thailand are often not healthy for
human consumption as they are mostly expired
products of over 15 years.Speaking in an
exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Abuja
on Friday, December 6, Akinwumi said the
nation was spending too much money importing
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14. rice from Thailand and India despite the fact that the nation had every kind of rice required for
consumption.
He said, “For me, I want Nigerian millers milling more of our local rice into finished rice and for that
to happen, we are determined that we are going to offer that paddy to them at a lower cost. So we
provide a marketing subsidy for that paddy that will make it cheaper for them to mill Nigerian
paddy and substitute for the rice coming from Indian and Thailand.”He said that Nigeria should be a
net importer of rice, be it upland rice, lowland rice, fadama, mangrove rice in the Niger Delta or
irrigated rice since the nation has all the arable land to do it. However, the minister reud that Nigeria
is spending too much money importing rice from Thailand and India thereby making farmers in
those countries very rich, making their rural economies grow while Nigeria manufactures poverty
and the naira weakens.“When a country spends a billion naira a day importing rice, does that not tell
us we have a big problem?” he queried
“ First is that Thailand spends 15 billion naira subsidizing their rice farmers, they buy rice paddy,
from their farmers at 200% above the market price so their farmers have a stock pile of 18m metric
tonnes of rice, we are the largest importers of rice, and yet what they want to do is pound that rice on
our markets”.Speaking on why the federal government had to raise rice tariffs in 2012, he said “When
we raised our tariffs it created a number of good things, first the industrial milling capacity expanded
by 300% in two years, secondly, our rice production, our farmers finally got incentives to grow rice
and last year dry season Mr President supported us to do one thing which we had never done a s
country which is to have Federal Government National Policy for dry Season rice
production”.Akinwumi said “people are used to growing rice in the wet season, and we said no we
are better off growing rice in the dry season because the solar radiation is better and you will get
twice the yield you would get in the main season in the dry season. So we went and registered
263,000 farmers, each one with one hectare each. They gave them high quality seeds and fertilizers all
through the electronic wallet system and they produced 1.1million metric tonnes of paddy”.
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