14th december,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
1 | 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
December 14 ,2020 Vol 11 Issue 12
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

Editorial Board
Chief Editor
 Hamlik
Managing Editor
 Abdul Sattar Shah
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal
University DIK
 Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University
of Swabi
 Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
 Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology
ART, Peshawar
Rice News Headlines…
 Agricultural sector expected to grow over 2.8pc: report
 Bilateral relations between Italy, Pakistan getting stronger: envoy
 Advisor to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood shares prospect of
salt being registered as a GI
 Italy Sees Pakistan Strong Economic Partner, Ready To Support Olive
Cultivation, Processing In Sindh : C.G
 Generating renewable genetic diversity in purple rice
 AGCENTER EXPERTS REVIEW 2020 RICE SEASON VIRTUALLY
 'Abnormal levels of metals in blood and rice, pesticides in veggies
triggered disease outbreak'
 Special initiative of Yogi government amidst agrarian movement, 20
lakh farmers will be given vegetable seeds for free
 Nanosensors embedded in living plants detect arsenic
 PhilMech: Quarantine rules slowing down farm equipment
distribution
 Five sugar-hungry bacteria team up against a nasty stomach bug
 How MACBAN, herdsmen and FG devastated poultry sector ON
DECEMBER 14, 202012:54 AMIN SOBOWALE ON BUSINESS
 Vanishing red rice gets protection in Himachal
 NIOB to partner Lafarge on alternative materials research
 Govt floats tender to import 50,000 tonnes rice
 Can Thailand save its rice bowl, or will China, India and Vietnam eat it
for lunch?
 Italy Sees Promising Trade Potential In Pakistan
 2.6m Tons of Rice Output Will Meet 85% of Demand
 Women in Agriculture: Nigerian farmers need gender-friendly
machines to compete globally — Zamfara Farmer
 How Soon Will FG Open Borders?
 SMART researchers engineer a plant-based sensor to monitor arsenic
levels in soil
 After registering rice, Pakistan likely to register salt on GI
 You’re Probably Cooking This Food the Wrong Way
 Pakistan eyeing to protect its products using GIs

Agricultural sector expected to grow over 2.8pc:
report
ByHassan Naqvi
LAHORE: The agricultural sector is expected to achieve a growth target of 2.8 per cent or even
surpass it on the back of better production of sugarcane and rice, improved farm economics,
lower input costs and timely support packages announced by the government, According to the
latest ―Monthly Economic Update & Outlook‖ report issued by the Finance Division.
The report noted that although the economy is facing inflationary pressures due to locust attacks,
heavy monsoon rains and Covid-induced disruption of agricultural supply chains, the crop sector
has shown encouraging performance and is likely to support the overall economic growth as
input prices remained lower for the most part of the year.
Further, the government has also announced ―Rabi Package‖ to reduce the input cost for the
farmers with the special intent to increase the production of wheat in the country.
According to this package, Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat has been increased to
Rs1,650 per 40 kg from Rs1,400 per 40 kg for the current season.
Additionally, a subsidy of Rs1,000 per 50 kg bag of DAP and other P&K fertilisers, weedicides
at Rs250 per acre and fungicides at Rs150 per acre has also been offered under the Rabi Package.
Industry figures show that 515,000 tonnes of urea were sold in November compared to 362,000
tonnes during the same month last year. This phenomenal jump of 42pc reflects improved farm

economics and lower input costs as urea prices reduced by around Rs400 per bag at the
beginning of the year and are now at levels seen in 2012.
The support price expected to be revised upwards, which may further escalate grain prices and
farm economics.
The industry has built up a total urea inventory of approximately one million tonnes, while
500,000 tonnes are expected to be produced in December.
These inventory levels are sufficient to cater to the season‘s demand, in addition to maintaining a
buffer stock in the country.
Meanwhile, mechanical inputs also reflect a positive trend as October tractor sales data depicts a
57pc YoY increase, according to the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA).
In this regard, sales boosted by a Rs1.5 billion sales tax subsidy on locally manufactured tractors
under the Covid-19 Agricultural Fiscal Package and cheaper bank financing.
A field survey by a fertiliser company shows that the farm economics of wheat are expected to
improve by 5pc, with a farmer expected to earn Rs21,807 per acre.
Compared to 2019-2020, fertiliser expense has dropped to around 20pc of the crop expense on
the back of reduced fertiliser prices.
Further, field surveys suggest that sugarcane cultivation has become lucrative due to better
economics compared to other competing crops.
However, farmer earnings may be marginally lower by 2pc as cane prices are expected at last
year level due to firm sugar prices. While the overall cost of production has increased by 5pc, the
share of fertilisers in total crop expense has gone down to 9.8pc.
The Finance Division‘s preliminary estimates of major Kharif crops during FY21 reveal that the
production of sugarcane and rice increased by 14pc and 10.4pc, respectively.
Data from the field survey shows that rice exports crossed Rs2 billion mark for the third time last
year, helping the demand for paddy and prices to remain firm whereas crop economics were
expected to improve by 21.7pc from 2020-21.
However, the other hand, field surveys estimate that the cotton crop production will fall to 8.6
million tonnes compared to 9.2 million tonnes last year due to a decline in area under cultivation
as well as unprecedented rains.
The crop earning is expected to improve by 19 percent, however, net profitability will decrease
due to lower than normal yield.
Therefore, on the whole, the agricultural sector is set to maintain its growth momentum owing to
government efforts and improved farm economics due to lower input prices and higher crop
prices.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/12/12/agricultural-sector-expected-to-grow-over-2-8pc-
report/
Bilateral relations between Italy, Pakistan getting
stronger: envoy
Recorder Report Updated 12 Dec 2020
KARACHI: Italian Consul General in Karachi Danilo Giurdanella said on Friday that economic,
trade and cultural ties between Rome and Islamabad are getting stronger in spite of a global

pandemic. Speaking to journalists at the launch of the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World, an
annual event held to promote Italian cuisine worldwide, the consul general expressed his
satisfaction over growing bilateral cooperation between Italy and Pakistan in a number of areas.
"Italy is becoming a major export destination for Pakistani goods and services. Pakistan posted a
trade surplus with Italy in 2019-20," he said.
As opposed to the imports of $490 million, Pakistan's exports to Italy amounted to $730 million
in 2019-20. Italy is the fifth largest export destination for Pakistan within the European Union.
Islamabad's top exports to Italy include textiles, cereals, hides and skins and plastics. Its chief
imports from Italy are ships, boats, machinery, pharmaceutical products, aircraft, chemicals and
iron and steel.
Pakistani rice enjoys immense popularity in Italy, Giurdanella said, noting that its market share is
38 per cent. Pakistan exports about $62 million worth of rice to Italy every year.
Italy is among the 10 largest global economies. It is the third biggest economic power within the
European Union.
"Italy considers Pakistan a key economic partner. We are looking for ways to enhance bilateral
cooperation in the realms of trade, investment, defence and technology," the consul general
added.

Italy is a major investor in Pakistan. Its investment totalled $56 million in 2019-20, up by 45 per
cent from a year ago. Rome has invested in major projects in the energy sector as well as
pharmaceutical, chemical and information technology segments, Giurdanella said.
"Pakistan promises a great investment opportunity for Italian investors. With its huge population
and immense potential for economic growth, the country has become an ideal destination for
Italian capital," he said.
Italy hosts a large and growing number of Pakistani workers who send remittances regularly that
help Islamabad maintain its balance of payments. Italy-based Pakistani workers sent home
remittances amounting to $361 million in 2019-20, up by more than 225 percent from the
preceding year.
"Pakistan is an important country from an economic point of view. The two countries are
determined to strengthen their economic and defence bonds," he said.
The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World will continue until Dec 16 in Karachi. The event will
feature award-winning chef Marco Saracino who will also conduct training workshops.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40040369
Advisor to the Prime Minister Abdul Razak Dawood shares
prospect of salt being registered as a GI
Assistant to the Prime Minister, Abdul Razak Dawood, has indicated that salt may be registered
as a geographical indication
News Desk
-
December 12, 2020
Adviser to Prime Minister for Commerce and Investment on Friday asked all stakeholders to
inform as to what course of action the Ministry of Commerce and intellectual Property (MOC)
and Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO) should take for salt Geographical
Indication (GI) registration.
In response to my tweet on Geographical Indication (GI) on rice, many people have raised the
possibility of registration of Salt as GI; the adviser said this on his Twitter account. The
Intellectual Property Organization of Pakistan (IPO) is looking at items that can be registered as
GIs.
What are GIs?
As per the International Law Office, Geographical indications (GIs) are marks, signs, or symbols
which indicate that the associated goods originate from a specific geographical area or country,
are produced using traditional knowledge or processes stemming from a specific geographical
area of a country; and bear distinctive characteristics, qualities and reputations that are
attributable to a specific geographical area or country.
Many countries have adopted GI laws to protect indigenous products, including handicrafts and
agricultural, natural, horticultural, and industrial products originating from a specific region.

On 27 March 2020, after revisions and much deliberation, Parliament finally passed the
Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 to establish a system for the
recognition, registration, and protection of GI rights in Pakistan.
Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020
The main purpose of the new act is to provide statutory protection to GIs in consideration of the
public interest, economic reforms, and Pakistan‘s least developed areas; and legal means for
interested parties to prevent third party use of a designation or presentation of goods that
indicates or suggests that the goods in question originate from a geographical area or constitute
an act of unfair competition under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
Under the act, GIs can be registered by a natural or legal person, government organization or
statutory body, association, or group of producers or producer organizations or operators
interested in the registration.
The definition of ‗geographical indication‘ covers agricultural goods, natural goods, or
manufactured or produced goods of a particular territory, region, or locality of a certain quality,
reputation, or another characteristic of the goods or ingredients or components essentially
attributable to its geographical origin. Further, GIs for manufactured goods cover activities
relating to the production, processing, or preparation of the goods in a specific territory.
The act establishes the Geographical Indications Registry, which will be managed and controlled
by the Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO). The IPO Trademarks Registry and
its branches established under the Trademarks Ordinance 2001 will carry out functions of the
Geographical Indications Registry and its branches until a separate GI registry is established.
GI registration for any or all goods in a definite geographical territory covers classes of goods
listed under the international classification of goods for GI registration.
GI registration is prohibited where a mark: would contravene the definition of ‗geographical
indication‘ under the act; would likely cause deception or confusion; cannot be protected or
protection has ceased, or it is no longer used in the country of origin; is considered a generic
name or an indication; or is unregistrable on moral or public policy grounds.
The act also considers homonymous GIs, which are spelled or pronounced similarly but identify
products originating from different places, usually in different countries. In principle, these
indications should coexist, but such coexistence may be subject to certain conditions.
A homonymous GI can be registered provided that: the registrar is satisfied that it is different
from other homonymous GIs; producers of the associated goods will be treated equally, and
consumers will not be confused or misled.
GVS News Desk
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/geographical-indications/
Italy Sees Pakistan Strong Economic Partner, Ready To
Support Olive Cultivation, Processing In Sindh : C.G
Fri 11th December 2020 | 08:56 PM

Italy considers Pakistan a key economic partner in South Asia and the both countries are
working on increasing cooperation and partnership in trade, investment, defence and
technology sectors
KARACHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2020 )
:Italy considers Pakistan a key economic partner in South Asia and the both countries are
working on increasing cooperation and partnership in trade, investment, defence
and technology sectors.
The economic and defence ties between Italy and Pakistan are getting stronger despite COVID-
19 pandemic. Italy is a major investor in Pakistan. Its investment amounted $ 56 million in 2019-
20; up 45 per cent from last year, It has invested in major projects of energy, pharmaceutical,
chemical and information technology sectors, said Italian Consul General in Karachi, Danilo
Giurdanella here on Friday.
The Italian Consul General was speaking, at a local hotel, to journalists at the launch of " Week
of Italian Cuisine in the World", which is an annual event of Italy to promote its cuisine
worldwide.
The Consul General expressed his satisfaction over increasing cooperation
between Italy and Pakistan in many areas.
"Italy is becoming a major export destination for Pakistani goods and services. Pakistan posted a
trade surplus with Italy in 2019-20," he said adding that against the imports of $
490 million, Pakistan's exports to Italy amounted to $730 million in 2019-20.
Italy is the fifth largest export destination for Pakistan within European
Union. Pakistan's top exports to Italy included textiles, cereals, hides and skins and plastics. The
major imports from Italy were ships, boats, machinery, pharmaceutical products, aircraft,
chemicals and iron and steel.

Pakistani rice enjoyed immense popularity in Italy and its market share was 38 per cent with
export of $ 62 million worth rice to Italy last year, he said.
Italy is among the 10 largest global economies and third biggest one in Europe, he said.
Giurdanella said that in Pakistan there were big investment opportunities for Italian investors.
With its huge population and immense potential for economic growth, this country has become
an ideal destination for Italian capital.
Italy hosts a large and growing number of Pakistani workers who send remittances regularly that
help Pakistan maintain its balance of payments. Italy-based Pakistani workers sent home
remittances of $361 million in 2019-20, up by 225 per cent against the previous figure.
The Italian Government is attempting to bring into the mainstream a number of undocumented
migrants from different countries. The move would enable undocumented workers including
Pakistanis to get health cover.
The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World will continue until Dec 16 in Karachi, in Avari
Towers Hotel.
The event would feature award-winning Chef Marco Saracino who would also conduct training
workshops. Pakistani olive oil would be used in entire range of cooking.
To a question, the Italian Consul General said his country --which has vast experience, expertise
and technology- could extend its support for olive cultivation and oil producing in Sindh, like
in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Italian envoy said he like Pakistan spice food like Briyani and Bar-B-Q. Pakistan food contained
large ingredients whereas Italian food was simple.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/italy-sees-pakistan-strong-economic-partner-
1111544.html
Generating renewable genetic diversity in purple rice
December 11, 2020
Purple rice, generating genetic diversity, breeding-by-design, large-scale stabilised mutant
collection, forward and reverse screening are all discussed here by Prof Dr Apichart Vanavichit
from the Rice Science Center, Kasetsart University, Thailand
In this focus on generating renewable genetic variation and enabling next-generation purple rice
breeding, we start by looking at the origin of purple rice.
Purple rice has a special place in Asian society, for example, Forbidden rice, is the most
delicious rice and only served to Chinese emperors. Most local purple rice varieties are waxy
(glutinous) rice, used in special recipes for religious purposes. Scientists believe that purple
rice varieties may have first domesticated from the tropical japonica rice group which carried a
similar suit of genes controlling anthocyanin biosynthesis. Genetic introgression into local
landraces generated two distinct groups of purple rice varieties, small-seed Japonica and large-
seed Indica types. As a speciality rice, farmers sporadically cultivated purple rice in several
geographically distinct areas in Asia.

Purple rice may become distinct
Purple rice is naturally enriched with antioxidant compounds, vitamins, protein and
micronutrients. With limited breeding activities, purple rice germplasm is genetically well
preserved and adapts to a specific environment. Several purple rice varieties in Thailand are not
highly divergent as judged by the diversity of molecular markers. Also, most purple rice varieties
are photoperiod sensitive which limits their growing cycle to the specific season only and are,
therefore, susceptible to diseases and insect pests. In modern agriculture, the rapid evolution of
diseases and insect pests is the major driving force to lower the productivity of susceptible purple
rice. Soon, imminent global warming may force purple rice to become distinct if genetic
improvement has not begun.
The quest for new purple rice
Strong interest in breeding purple rice stems from the quest for high nutrient rice. However,
breeding effort is constrained by limited access to useful germplasm and genomic information
about black rice. In conventional breeding, available germplasm is the most crucial input to
enabling breeders to successfully develop new plant varieties. In modern breeding programmes,
additional genomics information can speed up the development of high nutritional purple rice
and yet it is resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.
When it comes to rice, the world‘s largest germplasm depository is located in the International
Rice Genebank at IRRI, where there are more than 132,000 rice accessions and wild relatives
from all over the world. Only 5% of the rice germplasm bank at IRRI, however, was utilised for
modern rice breeding and only a handful of them were purple rice. There are genetic mechanisms
blocking seed setting and recombination in wide hybridization. Incompatibility between genes in
the genome and cytoplasmic factors may cause F1-sterility known as wide abortive. As such,
crossing and selection with a wild relative have limited successes in self-pollinated species such
as rice.
Fasten the rate of spontaneous mutation
While spontaneous mutation slowly generates new favourable alleles for natural selection,
induced mutation by radiation and mutagens rapidly alters structural and nucleotide changes to
the genome. It is generally believed that induced mutagenesis generates only random alteration
on DNA sequences and structural changes at the genome-wide scale. The new paradox of
induced mutation was radiation mutagenesis which, not only generates random mutagenesis, but
also targets structural genomic changes in more specific events. For example, RD6, the most
popular waxy rice from Thailand, is a waxy rice mutant generated by gamma radiation of the
iconic Khao Dawk Mali 105, the world-renown Thai Hommali Rice. The sequence variation of
its granule-bound starch synthase I, the waxy gene, is similar at the functional sequence variation
to any waxy rice.
Figure 1
Generating genetic diversity in pigmented rice
To enhance more genetic variability in purple rice germplasm, we treated 33 Gy of fast neutron
radiation (FN) on 100,000 genetically pure seeds derived from JHN, a semi-dwarf purple rice
with photoperiod insensitivity. The goal is to develop a large purple rice mutant germplasm
collection as an alternative genetic resource for breeding climate-ready and high nutrient rice. By
non-selective selfing, more than 20,000 M6 stabilized mutant lines were established as a
valuable germplasm. Genomic DNA representing each stabilized mutant lines were stocked to

facilitate rapid access to specific genomic variation. Collectively, this represents the largest
viable, pigmented mutant rice collection for breeding and gene isolation (Figure 1).
Table 1: Elite mutants isolated from the stabilized mutant collection showing mutagenesis events
on multiple genes.
To isolate valuable mutants, large-scale, phenotypic and genotypic screenings (forward and
reverse screenings) were carried out, 12 elite mutants were identified for multiple resistance to
abiotic, biotic, grain quality and productivity (Table 1). Interestingly, JHN9962 mutant is highly
heat-tolerant at the pollination stage, so far (Figure 2). JHN4 mutant is the most submergence
tolerance and resistance to brown planthopper carrying mutations on Sub1A and Bph9,
respectively (Table 1 and Figure 3).
Figure 2: Evaluation of pollen viability and spikelet fertility of the heat-tolerant M9962
(JHN9962), heat susceptible (Sinlek), and Jao Hom Nin (JHN WT) in normal and high-
temperature stresses during the reproductive stage. The heat-tolerant mutant M9962 shows good
pollen viability (A1 vs A4) and spikelet fertility under 42 C heat during the reproductive stage.
The genetic variation between individuals is a key phenomenon that underlies natural selection.
The factors that drive genetic variation, for instance, by promoting the appearance of
spontaneous mutations are not well understood. Over 80% of those were single nucleotide
variations (SNV) duplicated with OryzaSNP, the world collection of SNV database. In addition,
selection under stresses may generate more specific gain/loss-of-function mutants which carry
specific genomic changes and allelic variation similar to what can be found in natural genetic
variation. Questions remain concerning which mechanism may induce target genetic variation so
rapidly. Consequently, the rapid regeneration of useful genetic diversity empowers breeders to
rapidly develop better climate-ready and nutrient-dense rice varieties to cope with the imminent
climate changes and specific nutritional needs.
Figure 3. Evaluation of submergence tolerance of JHN4 sublines and FR13A, Pink+4, CholSub1
(tolerance control) and KDML105, JHN-WT (susceptible control).
International collaboration
To gain more insight into the new paradigm shift, we are collaborating with Professor Chang-
Sheng Wang from the National Chung-Hsing University, Taiwan, to unravel the mechanism of
rapid induction of spontaneous mutation by radiation and chemical mutagenesis. His laboratory
has successfully developed 4,800 stabilized mutant collections from TNG67 (Japonica) and IR64
(Indica) using NaN3. Valuable mutants were isolated for starch, giant embryo, disease resistance,
aromatic grain, and stem brittleness. These valuable mutants will be utilised in breeding-by-
design to develop new climate-ready, nutrient-dense rice varieties for the future of sustainable
rice production.
Apichart Vanavichit
Director
Rice Science Center and Rice Gene Discovery, National Center for Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology and Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University,
Kamphangsaen campus, Thailand
Phone: +66 (81) 527 4070
Email: vanavichit@gmail.com
Website: Visit Website http://dna.kps.ku.ac.th/

AGCENTER EXPERTS REVIEW 2020 RICE SEASON
VIRTUALLY
Fri, 12/11/2020 - 1:17pm
Rice acreage expected to increase in 2021
BRUCE SCHULTZ
bschultz@agcenter.lsu.edu(link sends e-mail)
Crowley, La. --
Two LSU AgCenter rice experts gave their perspectives on the past growing season in Louisiana
during an online presentation for the 2020 USA Rice Outlook Conference on Dec. 2. The event
is usually held in one of the six rice-producing states — it was scheduled for Austin, Texas, in
2020 — but it was held virtually this year because of the pandemic.
Don Groth, resident coordinator of the AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station at
Crowley, discussed his disease work and the work of other scientists at the station.
Groth said the station‘s research projects were affected by tropical weather; research plots in
Jefferson Davis Parish were devastated. ―After Hurricane Laura came through, it looked like
someone came through with a stripper header,‖ he said.
He said his work in 2020 included a fungicide study for smuts that were a major problem in
2019, and the study showed using propiconazole and Amistar Top could be 95% effective
against smuts.
Much of the work at the station involves testing new products, and many are found to be
ineffective. But this research is beneficial for advising farmers what they should not use on their
crops. The AgCenter prefers three years of data before making a recommendation on a product.
Groth said one of the big changes he has noticed in his 37-year career is the reduction of very
susceptible and susceptible disease breeding materials. Most of the very disease-susceptible
varieties and breeding material have been eliminated. The last major blast outbreak was in 2012,
and the last widespread outbreak of Cercospora was 14 years ago.
Groth also reviewed the work of researchers at the rice station.
— AgCenter weed scientist Eric Webster is studying herbicide timing and rates and aggressive
methods of weedy rice control.
— AgCenter rice breeder Adam Famoso has two conventional long-grain lines with high yield
potential, good quality and disease resistance. He said the lines could be released next year.
The new Provisia rice variety offering, PVL03, is an improvement over the previous two
versions of Provisia, and a new Clearfield variety, CLL17, will replaced CL153.
— AgCenter geneticist Brijesh Angira will be handling medium-grain rice breeding. Angira has
used his expertise to identify genetic markers for disease, plant height and other simply inherited
traits, and they allow the breeding program to look at more complex traits such as yield that are
determined by multiple genes.
— Much of Dustin Harrell‘s work in agronomy has focused on nitrogen rate, timing and source;
planting rates; and other agronomic practices for varieties and hybrids.
— AgCenter hybrid rice breeder Jim Oard has several new promising candidates that are being
evaluated. The challenge in hybrid breeding is producing an adequate amount of seed
economically.
— AgCenter molecular biologist Herry Utomo is evaluating the genetic traits involved in yield
and quality. Utomo‘s other work includes studying digestibility of rice to make it more

acceptable to people with diabetes and improving coastal marsh plants.
— AgCenter rice researcher Ida Wenefrida has been successful at developing rice with increased
protein levels, and she is now working on herbicide-resistant rice.
— AgCenter entomologist Blake Wilson has included seed treatments, along with insecticide
timing and rates, in his research projects.
Groth will retire at the end of January, and Harrell has been selected as the station‘s new resident
coordinator. Groth said a nationwide search is underway for his replacement as rice pathologist.
Harrell has been the AgCenter rice extension specialist, and that position will be assumed by Ron
Levy, formerly the director of the Louisiana Master Farmer Program.
Levy also addressed the conference and said he expects Louisiana rice acreage to increase by
15,000 to 20,000 acres in 2021. Louisiana rice acreage totaled almost 476,000 in 2020. Most
south Louisiana farmers will stay with rice and plant fewer acres of soybeans in southwest
Louisiana. North Louisiana rice acreage has been increasing, reflecting a growing demand for
suitable waterfowl hunting habitat.
The amount of row rice grown in north Louisiana totaled 35,000 acres in 2020. In 2017, north
Louisiana farmers planted 2,500 acres with that technique.
The practice gives farmers more flexibility without modifying their fields, Levy said, but they
have to learn how to deal with different weeds and insects along with an increased chance of
blast disease.
The 2020 rice growing season started with good weather for planting that allowed farmers to
plant 75% of their fields in the first two weeks of March. ―We thought we were going to have
record-setting yields,‖ Levy said.
Heavy rains delayed planting in north Louisiana.
Hurricane Laura hit Louisiana in August after most of the rice in southwest Louisiana was
harvested but much of the farming infrastructure in the southwest part of the state was damaged.
Laura moved to north Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane that damaged a large portion of the
crop there.
The 2020 second crop harvest in south Louisiana decreased by 24% this year because of
Hurricane Delta in October.
The overall average yield in Louisiana was 7,135 pounds per acre, Levy said.
Representatives from other states also made presentations on their crop.
Jarrod Hardke, University of Arkansas rice extension agronomist, projected that state‘s 2021 rice
acreage to be 1.35 million, compared to 1.44 million acres of rice grown this year.
Hardke said tropical weather also hurt Arkansas‘ crop this year, with a yield decrease of 25%
from 2019.
NEWS
AGRICULTURE
https://www.eunicetoday.com/news-agriculture/agcenter-experts-review-2020-rice-season-
virtually
'Abnormal levels of metals in blood and rice, pesticides in
veggies triggered disease outbreak'
Just four fresh cases of the disease were reported on Friday

By PTI December 11, 2020 22:11 IST
Patients and their bystanders are seen at the District Government Hospital in Eluru, Andhra
Pradesh | AP
Lead and nickel in blood, mercury in rice, pesticides and herbicides in vegetables were found in
more than permissible limits, triggering the outbreak of the mysterious disease in Eluru city of
Andhra Pradesh, different analytical reports said on Friday.
Just four fresh cases of the disease were reported on Friday, taking the cumulative to 613, but
only 13 of them were active now.
A report submitted to the government by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian
Institute of Chemical Technology established the presence of lead and nickel in blood (of the
victims), but nothing in drinking water.
An analysis by scientists at the National Institute of Nutrition found traces of mercury in rice and
pesticides and herbicide residues in excess quantities in vegetables.
The NIN also found out that residues of organophosphorous in blood, but said it has to be studied
how they entered the humans.
A study of ambient air quality and water, conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control
Board, revealed no presence of heavy metal in water.
The Institute of Preventive Medicine, in its analysis, found no heavy metal in milk.
Reports related to the analysis of meat and fish were yet to come, according to state Health
Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar.
But most of the people did not consume non-vegetarian food in recent days due to the festive
season, he said.
"What exactly caused the disease is not clear yet and it can be established only after detailed
reports of the tests come out," Bhaskar said.

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy held another round of video conference with experts
from the Central research institutions on Friday evening, who told him that the drinking water
supplied in Eluru was clean.
However, the chief minister asked them to test drinking water samples repeatedly and ensure
nothing was amiss.
He asked them to precisely trace out how lead, nickel, organochlorine and organophosphorous
entered humans.
The chief minister said indiscriminate use of pesticides and unauthorised insecticides should be
stopped and wanted the officials concerned to focus on it.
"Take this programme up for a month. Educate farmers on organic farming and use of permitted
pesticides. This way we can prevent contamination of food items,‖ he said.
Meanwhile, the state government constituted a 21-member multi-disciplinary committee, headed
by Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney, to probe the source of the infection thoroughly, examine the
causes and suggest remedial measures to prevent occurrence of such events in future.
The government directed the committee to submit a comprehensive report with a detailed action
plan immediately to avert such incidences in future.
https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/12/11/abnormal-levels-of-metals-in-blood-and-rice-
pesticides-in-veggies-triggered-disease-outbreak.html
Special initiative of Yogi government amidst agrarian
movement, 20 lakh farmers will be given vegetable seeds for
free
December 11, 2020
Kim Diaz
Gorakhpur: Uttar Pradesh Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi said that to promote the
cultivation of vegetables, the Yogi government of the state will provide 20 lakh farmers of the
state with vegetable seeds for free. Surya Pratap Shahi was presiding over the second technical
session of the primary sector on the second day of the national webinar and seminar on
sustainable development issue, strategy and future direction of Purvanchal organized under joint
aegis of Planning Department and Gorakhpur University in Gorakhpur University campus on
Friday. Also Read – Kisan Andolan: Farmer leader said – Center agreed to 12 of our 15
demands, meaning bill not right – movement will continue …
He said that gardening or cultivation of vegetables and fruits can be very effective to double the
income of farmers in Purvanchal. There are immense possibilities in the field of horticulture in
Purvanchal. Said that is why our government is going to give free seeds to 20 lakh farmers. This
step is being taken by the government in the direction of doubling the income of farmers. Also
Read – Kisan Protest Latest News: Sukhbir Badal said about agriculture bill – Center is now
imposing it like GST and demonetisation
He said, ―Where the grain is ready in 6 months, the vegetables in 2 to 3 months. The need is that
farmers should be made aware of such technology so that they can earn maximum income from
horticulture. The reason for the backwardness of the farmers is that they do not have topical

technical knowledge. Diversification in the agriculture sector, multi cropping is the need of the
hour. Horticulture can play an important role in it. ‖ Also Read – Doctors strike across the
country today, IMA announces strike in protest against this decision of the government
The Agriculture Minister said that, ―The Yogi government is making continuous efforts to
develop the agriculture sector. The Center for International Rice Research Center Philippines has
been opened in Varanasi, efforts are also on to open a Center of International Potato Research
Center in the state. In the last three years, 300 crore rupees have been given to Krishi Vigyan
Kendras and other agricultural institutions. Today almost all districts have agricultural science
centers. Crop protection is being given at a mere five percent premium by including all new
districts in weather-based crop insurance.
Mandi duty has been reduced from 2% to 1%. 50 percent grant is available for the construction
of poly houses. But under the Drop More Crop Scheme, 80 to 90 percent grant is being given on
agricultural implements like sprinklers. Those instruments will also save water and by giving
balanced water the production of crops will also be more. ‖
Agriculture Minister said that to improve the quality of seeds, scientists will have to come
forward. Referring to the mango in this sequence, he said that Dussehri mango has been the
identity of UP. Its quality can be further improved. The opportunities for export can be increased
by increasing the quality of Gaurjit mangoes of Gorakhpur and Basti of Alphonso. He informed
that the state government has constructed mango pack houses in Amroha and Varanasi at a cost
of Rs 9.90- 9.90 crore. 2000 quintal mangoes have been exported from the state even during the
Corona period. Referring to the role of agricultural producer organizations in the development of
Purvanchal region, the Agriculture Minister described the Agricultural Amendment Act in the
country in the interest of farmers.
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Devesh Chaturvedi said that when everything was closed
during the Corona period, the agricultural sector continued. The lakhs of migrants who returned
to the state were mostly from Purvanchal, they got work in agriculture with the help of the
government. He emphasized on making a new policy in the agriculture sector by doing ‗SWAT
analysis‘. Said that there is a need to move forward by assessing your strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats.
Chaturvedi said, ―Human resources available in the agriculture sector of Purvanchal, abundance
of water, improved road connectivity is our strength. There is danger of divine disaster like
flood. Small holdings, weak cooperatives and relatively weak mandis are weaknesses, so
opportunities are also being created by policies like farming diversity, cow-based agriculture,
market reforms done by the government, FPO. ‖
The Additional Chief Secretary, while referring to the role of FPOs in the agricultural sector,
also presented an example of innovation and marketing done by the two FPOs of Maharajganj
and Deoria in the field of sweet potato and mushroom production respectively.
In this technical session, Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General, ICAR, gave an
online statement on the topic ‗Development prospects of Horticulture in Eastern Uttar Pradesh‘.
Dr. Jagdish Singh, Director of ICAR, IVR Varanasi, also joined online to talk about vegetable
cultivation. Dr. Bijendra Singh, Vice Chancellor of Acharya Narendra Dev Agricultural
University, Ayodhya, discussed how employment opportunities can be increased in agriculture.
https://thenewstrace.com/special-initiative-of-yogi-government-amidst-agrarian-movement-20-
lakh-farmers-will-be-given-vegetable-seeds-for-free/119175/

Nanosensors embedded in living plants detect arsenic
Dec 11, 2020
(Nanowerk News) Researchers have developed a living plant-based sensor that can in real-time
detect and monitor levels of arsenic, a highly toxic heavy metal, in the soil. Arsenic pollution is a
major threat to humans and ecosystems in many Asia Pacific countries.
Arsenic contaminated water used for drinking, food preparation and irrigation of food crops
poses the greatest threat to public health because the toxic chemical is naturally present at high
levels in the groundwater of a number of countries, according to the World Health Organization
(WHO).
―Detecting arsenic level in the soil is important to ensure minimal contamination of our food
chain. If we can have a convenient way to measure arsenic concentration in the soil in real time,
we would be able to take preventive measures to keep arsenic level at the minimum,
strengthening our food safety,‖ says Tedrick Thomas Salim Lew, a recent graduate student of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and co-author of the research published in
Advanced Materials ("Plant Nanobionic Sensors for Arsenic Detection").
Scientists from Disruptive and Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision (DiSTAP),
an Interdisciplinary Research Group at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and
Technology (SMART), MIT‘s research enterprise in Singapore, engineered nanoparticles to
detect arsenic, and embedded them within the leaf tissue of a plant.
―We show that the combination of the living plant and embedded sensor can function as the most
sensitive detector for this toxic molecule available today. We used a molecular recognition
technology that allows the surface of the nanoparticle to bind to the specific chemistry of the
arsenic like a lock and key.The binding changes the near infrared fluorescence of the sensor
which can be picked up even on a cell phone camera,‖ says Michael Strano, co-author and lead
principal investigator of SMART DiSTAP in Singapore.
This novel nano-bionic optical sensor provides significant advantages over conventional methods
used to measure arsenic in the environment. Researchers say one point of novelty is that the
sensor is so small, it can be placed within specific parts of the plant cell to measure arsenic
update and metabolism with precision, and it was capable of detecting arsenic levels as low as
0.2 ppb (parts per billion).
―Our approach made use of plants' natural ability to take up arsenic to convert them into a living
sensor that can sample their environment autonomously. This approach enables arsenic
monitoring in real time and in a non-destructive manner (i.e. no plant needs to be sacrificed to
extract arsenic from its tissue).
―Conventional approaches rely on regular sampling of the soil and extensive purification,
followed by analysis by bulky and expensive lab instruments such as mass spectrometer, which
requires long time delay, high cost and non-portable instrumentation,‖ says Lew.
Arsenic is a contaminant in many common agricultural products such as rice, vegetables and tea
leaves. According to a recent study, inorganic arsenic in rice is estimated by some to give rise to
over 50,000 avoidable premature deaths per year.

The researchers embedded their arsenic sensors within rice plants, and they were able to monitor
the arsenic concentration within the rice plant as well as in the root environment every one
second.
―New sensor technologies for arsenic, especially those that measure uptake within the living
plant directly, can help with this problem in many ways. As a laboratory tool, our sensor
technology can help plant biologists to breed rice plants that can resist arsenic. As a technology
for the field, the sensors can form the basis for monitoring water supplies to remediate or address
the problem of contaminated water,‖ says Strano.
Long-term exposure to arsenic in humans can cause a wide range of detrimental health effects,
including cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, diabetes, birth defects, severe skin lesions,
and numerous cancers including those of the skin, bladder and lung, according to the WHO.
―However, despite much investment in research, there has been limited progress towards real-
time monitoring of arsenic in the field.The plant nano-bionic sensors seem to fill this gap by
enabling detection of arsenics at ppb levels in soils and potentially in water as well,‖ says Ravi
Naidu, CEO and managing director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination
Assessment and Remediation of the Environment at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
―While it may take several days to quantify arsenics using such a sensor, it is nevertheless a
massive step forward in field monitoring of this dangerous toxin,‖ says Naidu.
Researchers are now working with the Singapore government and other stakeholders to translate
this technology to various users and they estimate that such sensors will be affordable for
agricultural end users and will help improve the yield and quality of crops.
Source: SciDev.Net
https://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news2/newsid=56821.php
PhilMech: Quarantine rules slowing down farm equipment
distribution
ByJasper Y. Arcalas
December 14, 2020
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) said it has
yet to deliver over 13,000 units of farm equipment to recipients under the mechanization
component of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Program.
The attached agency of the Department of Agriculture said in a statement that it still has a
backlog of 13,698 units of farm machines which were funded by the 2019 and 2020 Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
PhilMech is supposed to get P5 billion annually from 2019 until 2024 under the RCEF which
was created by Republic Act 11203 or the rice trade liberalization (RTL) law for the
procurement and distribution of farm equipment to qualified beneficiaries.
The mechanization component is one of the key programs that the government is implementing
to improve farmers‘ yield and reduce production cost.
―Despite the varying degrees of quarantines in the Philippines, PhilMech continues to distribute
as a form of grant various farm machines under the RCEF-Mechanization Program. This has not

been easy as farm machine suppliers also have a hard time moving and delivering their inventory
of machines to qualified FCAs because of the quarantines,‖ PhilMech Executive Director
Baldwin G. Jallorina Jr. said.
As of December 2, PhilMech said it has distributed 2,210 units of farm machinery to qualified
farmers‘ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) since June.
The farm equipment distributed so far include 631 four-wheel tractors, 365 hand tractors, 397
floating tillers, 52 precision seeders, 136 walk-behind transplanters, 122 riding-type
transplanters, 126 reapers, 367 combine harvesters and 14 mobile rice mills, according to
PhilMech.
―With the possible loosening of quarantine restrictions in the first or second quarter next year as
a vaccine for Covid-19 is expected to be available in the Philippines, PhilMech can step up the
distribution of farm machines nationwide,‖ Jallorina said.
―With those developments, PhilMech can definitely plan ahead in accelerating the distribution of
more farm machines nationwide, which will also greatly contribute to helping the countryside
recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.‖
(CNN)Farmers in India have reached a stalemate with the government over its proposed
amendments to laws the farmers feel will ravage their livelihoods and create an opportunity for
large, private companies to enter and exploit the entire agriculture sector.
The laws directly impact the farmers in India, but they could also have a significant impact to
consumers globally, who rely on India for many key items such as turmeric, chili and ginger.
To fight against three laws passed in September, farmers from all across the country have
been protesting for days just outside New Delhi -- despite the capital being a hotspot for Covid-
19 in a country that has already reported more than 9.4 million cases.
More than half of India's working population comes from the agricultural sector, according to
India's most recent Census in 2011. From 2018-2019, the average Indian farmer earned 10,329
rupees (about $140) per month, according to data from a Hindustan Times analysis. Of
these 263.1 million workers, many solely rely on farming to put food on their own table and roof
over their head.
Farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh arrived by tractors and on foot in New Delhi
last month where they blocked roads and set up makeshift camps, according to protest leaders.
Some slept on the road or in their tractors, and several places of worship offered protesters food.
It affects your pantry
The protests haven't been exclusive to India.
People around the world have been protesting to show support and stand with the farmers
because the protests are about "the people who feed all of us" and their fair treatment,
said Simran Jeet Singh, a scholar of religion and history currently teaching at Union Seminary
and a Stephen M. Keller Term Member for the Council on Foreign Relations.
"The pandemic has shown us that there are two economies," he said. "Essential workers across
the world are suffering. The farmers in India represent all of them, and their resistance to unjust
legislation that privileges the uber-wealthy corporations is a resistance that speaks to so many of
us all over the world."

India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices -- producing about 68% of
the world's spices, according to Spices Board India, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of
India.
In 2019, the top 10 importers of Indian spices were the US, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong,
Bangladesh, Thailand, UK, UAE, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, data shows.
Items like pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, cumin, garlic, curry powder and
fennel are among the exports.
India is the leading exporter of Basmati rice and world's largest milk producer to the global
market, according to India's Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development
Authority, with the main production happening in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi --
where the farmers are also protesting.
The country is also the world's second-largest producer of rice, wheat and other cereals,
ranking second in fruits and vegetable production in the world just under China.
Herbs and medicine go hand-in-hand for those practicing homeopathy or Ayurveda, an ancient
Hindu system of medicine based on the idea of balance within your body, built on the foundation
of herbal treatment, yoga and breathing.
At times, ginger is served for arthritis and digestion, cinnamon to boost circulation and lower
blood sugar, and fenugreek to fight infection -- all top exports of the country.
India is home to thousands of plants but 7,500 of them are known and used for medicinal uses,
according to data from the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. The same data says
approximately 25% of drugs are derived from plants.
It affects your closet
Chances are something in your closet was made in India -- and that's because India is the world's
leading producer of cotton, surpassing China, according to the United States Department of
Agriculture.
"Although yields in India are well below the global average, cotton area in India dwarfs that of
any other country, accounting for approximately 40 percent of the world total," the department
said.
What do the laws say?
For decades, the Indian government has offered guaranteed prices to farmers for certain crops,
creating a stable guide to make decisions and investments for the following crop cycle.
Under the previous laws, farmers had to sell their goods at an auction at their state's Agricultural
Produce Market Committee. A government-agreed minimum price was set for items and the
auction was regulated by restrictions on who could buy along with price caps on essentials.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the new laws give farmers a chance to decide their
own prices and sell directly to private businesses, like grocery chains, cutting the middle man,
who in this case, is the state's Agricultural Produce Market Committee.
Farmers argue Modi's new laws help big companies drive down prices. While farmers could sell
crops at higher prices if the demand is there, conversely, they could struggle to meet the
minimum price in years when there is too much supply in the market.
"In the past, when Indian agricultural workers have protested for fair prices and working
conditions, the Indian government has responded with violent crackdowns that include
documented torture, human rights abuses, and extrajudicial killings," Simran Singh said.

"It is critical that, in this moment of peaceful protest, we keep our eyes trained on India's
response, and ensure that they do not again resort to repressive tactics as a way to thwart free
speech and protest."
Voices on the ground
Police attempted to block demonstrators from entering New Delhi when protests first began --
they fired tear gas and water cannons, after protesters pelted police officers with stones and
damaged public property, according to Manoj Yadav, a senior police official from Haryana.
From France, Germany, California, New York, Texas, Canada, Netherlands and London --
people have shown up in solidarity over the last two weeks.
As a Sikh Punjabi woman, the fight for Ramanpreet Kaur in New York is about her
"grandparents and parents who have lived through so many hardships and kept the farming
culture alive in our families to provide for us."
"Even if you don't feel a personal connection to India or the farmers out there like many of us do,
as a human being who lives on earth you should be concerned about exploitation of the people
who feed you everyday," she said.
Ramanpreet Kaur demonstrated on December 5 in Queens, New York and estimates around 150
others joined her.
Manveer Singh said he feels the impact of India's new laws all the way in Vancouver, Canada,
through his cousins in Punjab who still farm today.
"The entire world should care about this issue, because in a globalized society we are all
connected," he said. "Everything from turmeric to Basmati comes from Indian farmers."
Manveer Singh joined a demonstartion on December 5 outside the Indian consulate in downtown
Vancouver.
"And above personal interests, we need to value human beings over corporations. That in itself is
the central ethos of what has become one of the biggest protests in human history."
Rajbir Singh, from Amsterdam, said farming has always been the only way his family has made
money -- and for some of them, it still is.
Protests in front of the Den Haag in front of the Indian Embassy on Tuesday, December 8.
"For me to see that all Indian farmers now indirectly have to work for these big corporations is
unacceptable," he said. "That's why I am protesting and urge the rest of the farming communities
in the world to stand with the Indian farmers."
What happens now and how to help
On Wednesday, Indian farmers rejected the government's proposed amendments, according to an
Indian farmers union.
Darshan Pal, President of the Krantikari Kisan Union, a farmer's union said protests will
intensify and farmers plan to block the highway between New Delhi to Jaipur, the capital of
western Rajasthan state, on December 12, which will lead up to a nationwide protest by
December 14, with calls to gather outside the regional offices of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata
Party.

Organizations like Khalsa Aid, an international humanitarian relief group, has a team on the
ground working with protest organizers.
Sahaita, a volunteer-based humanitarian non-profit, is collecting monetary donations to help
families affected.
And cultural clothing brands, like Reignfull and ZHK Designs, are donating profits from their
merchandise and art to organizations focused on rendering aid.
CNN's Julia Hollingsworth, Swati Gupta, Esha Mitra and Manveena Suri contributed to this
report.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/12/14/philmech-quarantine-rules-slowing-down-farm-equipment-
distribution/
Kernal Basmati
Faisal Hassan
December 14, 2020
Well done both, government and rice trade under the umbrella of REAP, for protecting the brand
name Kernal as linked to Pakistani basmati Super Kernal.
Super Kernal got the name from Kernal Basmati, a basmati variety of early 1960s.
Basmati rice is a special type of aromatic rice, that has long and slender grains with high cooking
quality when grown in its traditional area locally named as ‗kallar tract‘ in Pakistan and some
areas in India, famous being Dehradun.
The first ever basmati variety ‗Basmati 370‘ was approved on selection basis and released in
1933 for general cultivation by Rice Farm, Kala Shah Kaku (now Rice Research Institute, Kala
Shah Kaku).
Later on, another basmati variety named Kernal Basmati, through farmer‘s selection became
popular and widely spread among the rice farming community on its distinguished merits. It had
high salt tolerance and could grow with unfit ground water and harsh climate, extra-long grains,
and easy threshing (manual) compared to the original and only land race of Pakistan and India:
Basmati 370. All other quality characteristics (aroma, softness, kernel elongation after cooking,
etc) were at par with the Basmati-370.
Several newspaper articles revealed that during the 1965 war between Pakistan and India, the
seed of Kernel Basmati crossed over to India for the first time. Then, the Indian rice industry
took full advantage of these traits and used it to the maximum for its basmati breeding
programmes and exponential export growth. In India, Kernal Basmati has many names; Pakistan
Basmati, Basmati 386, HBC 19, Karnal Local and Taraori Basmati with many different
spellings.
India still hides its prized possession such as the traditional Pakistani land race variety like
Basmati 370, while it was evolved in Pakistan and has been under cultivation in the paddy fields
of Pakistan since 1960/61. It seems hard to understand why our scientists and traders did not own
it and the both stakeholders have been trying to bury it for long.
In the best interest of the Pakistan and rice industry, I wish the trade before was as vigilant to
protect its commercial interests as it is now. In the past, on safeguarding Basmati Interests, we let
Indian trade‖ off the hook ―on many occasions. For example, in 2004, we have been intentionally
hiding the authentic proof of showing to international authorities, how India is showing Pakistani
evolved Basmati varieties as Indian traditional Basmati varieties?

There is no doubt that both traders and researchers are responsible for this who have put Pakistan
on the defensive. In this regard, please see my articles entitled ―India commercially exploits
Pakistani basmati,‖ published in the Nation, and ―Indian basmati varieties originate from
Pakistani kernal,‖ published in the Business Recorder in February, 2004.
Pakistan just had to confront Indian trade. We didn‘t. Why? Instead in August 2004, we struck a
trade deal. India included our Basmati variety, Super Basmati (a mega variety released in 1996)
in their list and Pakistan included the Indian variety, so called Pusa basmati (dubious duplicate?).
This gave India great leverage in the international marketing of basmati.
Whenever I tried to raise the voice against this injustice. I was labelled as the one who is
―watching and protecting his personal interests‖ due to the linkage of ―Kernal‖ Basmati to my
late father Col [R] Syed Mukhtar Hussain.
Researchers have proved themselves too weak in protecting and promoting their scientific
research of finding DNA markers enabling differentiating Basmati rice varieties from the other
varieties. Pakistan did not make any protocol on DNA testing of Basmati as India did. We should
have done it. Pakistan research institutes with high tech laboratories did not participate in
collaborative trials of basmati. Two labs of India participated. I didn‘t get any response from the
government or research industry to do the needful. Research had to find one DNA marker to
separate the Indian variety Yamini (CSR30). Pakistan would have benefitted in millions of
dollars and at the same time countered the once again bogus Indian narrative of traditional versus
evolved.
On the policy side, our biggest blunder has been not fighting the patent case against Rice Tek in
the late 1990s. Why didn‘t we challenge them? I have no idea. India fought the case and won it
for both India and Pakistan. The knowledge they gained, in fighting the case, was applied in
future basmati trade wars with Pakistan.
Despite all this we finally managed to get a bigger share in European market due to the pesticide
issue faced by Indian traders (Poetic justice). My past experience of the rice trade, research and
of the government watching Basmati interests are very disappointing and disheartening. All three
let down Basmati badly. In my view no one can stop the real potential Pakistan basmati.
The day border trade with Iran is legally opened an economic revolution will come. One million
tonnes of the Iranian basmati market has been waiting for us for long, besides other agriculture
commodities. The Vikings in the old ages used to make their ships only from the corner tree of
the forest which is considered to be the strongest, as it goes through the greatest stress and strain
during its growth. Both, Kernal Basmati and Pakistan, share the same predicament. Both shine,
perform, excel and deliver under pressure.
https://nation.com.pk/14-Dec-2020/kernal-basmati
Five sugar-hungry bacteria team up against a nasty stomach
bug
Sunday, December 13, 2020 7:39 AM
Researchers are figuring out how to starve Clostridioides difficile infections

Madeline Barron
Microbiology
University of Michigan
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
The mucus lining our intestines is decorated with sugars, which are an important food source for
bacteria living in the gut. However, friendly gut microbes aren‘t the only ones who devour
mucus-derived sweets. The diarrhea-inducing bacterium, Clostridioides difficile (C.diff), also
consumes sugars to survive in the gut.
Normally, resident gut bacteria resist C. diff infection (CDI) by hogging nutrients this nasty bug
needs to live. Antibiotic treatment is a major risk factor for CDI, as it depletes the populations of
these resident gut bacteria. While it is known that restoring beneficial members of the gut
bacterial community can help fight CDI, the use of microbes that specifically inhibit C.
diff mucus consumption is an area of untapped therapeutic potential.
How a pair of rude gut germs perfectly summarize our war against superbugs
One overstays its welcome, and the other shows up unannounced to ruin the party
Massive Science | Max G. Levy | Jul 24, 2019
However, a recent study published in Nature Communications suggests such therapies might be
worth pursuing.
Researchers incubated mouse poop with various mucosal sugars suspended in ―heavy water‖, a
form of H2O in which hydrogen is replaced by its heftier sibling, deuterium. This allowed
researchers to track which bacteria were eating the sugars in the mouse poop by looking at which
contained deuterium and which did not. Five bacteria that specifically consumed C. diff-preferred
mucosal sugars were combined to create a consortium of bacteria that could prevent C. diff from
accessing its food. The researchers called this group, ―BacMix.‖
They found that when C. diff was incubated with its preferred food sugars in the presence of
BacMix, it grew worse than if incubated alone. The researchers treated mice with BacMax and
then infected them with C. diff, and saw a similar trend. The mice exhibited a gradual decrease
in C. diff intestinal levels over time, indicating that this bacterial ―cocktail‖ capable of
resisting C.diff colonization.
These findings suggest that barring C. diff from the proverbial candy store may help prevent or
treat CDI. More broadly, this study forms a basis for identifying gut bacteria with specific
functions (e.g. sugar-eating) to inform the design of effective microbe-based therapeutics.
https://massivesci.com/notes/sugar-cdiff-bacteria-gut-infection/
How MACBAN, herdsmen and FG devastated poultry sector
ON DECEMBER 14, 202012:54 AMIN SOBOWALE ON
BUSINESS
―We are depressed, very depressed. And anyone of us, of our age, who was not depressed, he
was not well-born, because we have nothing to leave behind for our children, and violence will
not sustain us…‖ — Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF. Ogbeh,

former Minister of Communications under President Shagari and of Agriculture under Buhari
from 2015 to 2019, was wrong. His generation of Northerners actually left several awful things
behind for their children. One of them is a devastated poultry industry and its repercussions.
Ogbeh actually contributed to that problem during his years as Buhari‘s Minister. Indeed, if the
President is asked to name those who helped to bring his administration to the point where the
hitherto supportive ACF, are now ―depressed, very depressed‖, Audu Ogbeh should be top on
the list of culprits. Here is why. When in 2016, Fulani herdsmen invaded Agatu, Benue State,
and slaughtered over 100 people and rendered thousands homeless, Ogbeh, though Minister
representing Benue State, did not visit the place; neither did the Federal Government, FG, he
served, send relief materials. The raid on Agatu was followed by the massacre of people in more
Benue communities until Governor Ortom rose in defence of his people. When the FG finally
reacted, it was to blame the victimised people of Benue for not accommodating strangers. It was
a bloody lie and Ogbeh knew the truth. But, hanging on to his portfolio as Minister was more
important than standing up for the truth and his people. READ ALSO:Troops have surrounded
kidnappers of Katsina students, says Garba Shehu Even when the Mayetti Allah Cattle Breeders
Association, MACBAN, and various officials of the FG proclaimed untruths about the mass
murders in Benue and threatened the people, Ogbeh uttered not a word. Instead he joined others
in promoting RAGU — the forceful establishment of grazing lands in all the states of Nigeria –
in total defiance of the Land Use Decree 1978, which vested all state lands in the Governors of
each state. Herdsmen, urged on by MACBAN, went on unchecked rampage from state to state
destroying farms. Unfortunately for the MACBAN, FG and Ogbeh, they were all too myopic to
realise that maize and soybeans are two of Nigeria‘s most important crops. Rice is the third. But,
maize and soybeans, apart from constituting direct food items are absolutely indispensable as
inputs for poultry feed. It never occurred to them that cattle cannot distinguish between maize
farms and others. In fact, they have preferences for maize and beans farms. I learnt this fact by
accident in 2018. Travelling from Minna to Bida and on my way to Lagos, I opted to go by a
longer route: Minna-Zungeru- Wushishi-Badeggi-Bida. I wanted to visit an old friend in a
community in Wushishi Local Government. There, a compelling story unfolded. The people in
these areas are not Fulani or Hausa. Apparently, since 2016, thousands of small and medium
scale farmers have been experiencing repeated invasions of their rice, beans and maize farms by
Fulani herdsmen. Hitherto, the shepherds were not armed. But, starting middle 2016, they were
armed with guns. And, unlike time immemorial, when cattle incursion into farms was settled
amicably, herdsmen became intransigent. Reports to the police and security people in the area
fell on deaf ears. By 2018, Fulani herdsmen, previously living in relative obscurity among other
Nigerian tribes, had emerged as one of the five most deadly terrorist groups worldwide.
Wherever terrorists enter, it is their cardinal intention to deprive all others of their rights to lives,
means of livelihood, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They bring destruction everywhere
including Niger State. More maize, rice and beans farms were destroyed as herdsmen became
more emboldened. Around the early part of 2017, the first reports of kidnapping of farmers and
family – after invading and destroying the farm – started to emerge. By 2018, what most
communities in that axis of Niger State had regarded as a rumour had become a fact. The Fear of
herdsmen, previously docile, now aggressive and imperialistic was the beginning of wisdom. It
was the beginning of a sustained attack against maize, rice and beans farmers across Niger State
– which left several thousand farms fallow this year. The widespread attitude is: why bother to
plant if cattle will destroy some and bandits will seize the rest? Niger State, it might be added, is

capable of producing more maize, rice and beans than Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti
combined. From information available to me, hundreds of thousands of women and girls – who
constitute the backbone of Nigerian agriculture – don‘t go to farm anymore. Meanwhile, the
young men have taken two routes out of the farm. Some have joined the rural-urban drift and are
so far away from farmland that they can be presumed to be lost forever to farming. The second
batch has gone to swell the ranks of criminals – kidnappers, bandits and cattle rustlers. The last
group (rustlers) are out for revenge on herdsmen who forced them off the farm. Being idle, they
easily found employment with the devil – who loves idle hands. The rest of the country will pay
dearly for all these. One of Ogbeh‘s contributions to our present predicament is discussed below.
Border closure and its consequences ―You burn the house to roast the pig. It was always the only
way mankind roasted pigs.‖ – Saul Bellow. Many Nigerians cannot wait for May 29, 2019 to
come. It will relieve them of one public servant who has become more of a public danger than all
the others put together. The man is Chief Audu Ogbeh who I had tipped as one of the most likely
to succeed among Buhari‘s Ministers. Don‘t blame me totally. First, readers would recollect the
proposal to establish several ―Cattle Colonies‖ in all the states of Nigeria. The uproar that
greeted that idea lasted several months until the President was forced to disclaim it.‖ Then he
announced that: ―Our other problem is smuggling. As we speak, a neighbour of ours is importing
rice than China is importing. They do not eat parboiled rice; they eat white rice and they are
using their port to try and damage our economy.‖ – Chief Audu Ogbeh. Ogbeh‘s
recommendation is playing itself out now.
The statement credited to him was followed by an appeal to the FG to close Nigerian borders on
account of imported and smuggled rice. The FG closed the border. Let us quickly point out that
foreign rice is still entering Nigeria. More importantly, I pointed out then that rice was not the
only commodity crossing the border; it would stop export of Nigerian goods to ECOWAS as
well. But, Ogbeh is a fanatic. Only God knows how much of our current recession can be
attributed to loss of exports to ECOWAS. Now the FG is in a dilemma. The adverse
consequences of border closure have dawned on them. We are stuck with the results of a stupid
policy. Finally, he was also in support of the ban placed on maize imports. Two months ago, the
FG quietly issued selective import licences to few maize importers – who will make windfall
profits while Nigerians pay more for poultry products and poultry farmers fold up
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/12/how-macban-herdsmen-and-fg-devastated-poultry-
sector/
Vanishing red rice gets protection in Himachal
Date
12/13/2020 5:15:08 AM

(MENAFN - IANS) Y VISHAL
GULATI
Shimla, Dec 13 (IANS)
Himachal Pradesh is trying to
protect the traditional variety of
red rice that is on the verge of
extinction in the hill state by
bringing at least 3,000 additional
hectares under its cultivation in
five years, state Agriculture
Minister Virender Kanwar said
on Sunday.
The red rice is more disease-
resistant and hardier than strains
cultivated commercially over
most of India and can lend that
through cross-breeding.
"With growing health consciousness, environmental concerns and the pressing need for updating
our food systems to survive climate change, the red rice probably the earliest of cereal grains that
humans started domesticating are making a comeback in the state," Kanwar told IANS.
He said the thrust of the government is to promote its cultivation, giving hope to farm scientists
and conservationists who worked extensively in recent years to save the variety from certain
extinction.
At present, most of the red rice is grown in around 1,100 hectares by 4,122 families largely on
the banks of the Pabbar, a tributary of the Yamuna river, in Chhohara Valley in upper Shimla. It
is also cultivated in some stretches of Kullu and Kangra districts.
The annual production of red rice in the state is around 10,000 quintals, registering an average
eight-10 quintal per hectare production.
Red rice can be grown in flooded fields where many varieties would rot. Apart from that,
agriculture experts are keen to conserve all traditional crop strains that can be used in case the
more widely cultivated varieties develop a disease they cannot cope with.
However, red rice production is declining in recent years as most farmers in the state have turned
to lucrative cash crops.
Kanwar said a target has been fixed to bring around 4,000 hectares of land under cultivation in
five years that will produce 40,000 quintals of red rice.
To provide legal protection to the rice variety that would also protect the rights of the farmers
and enable them and others to market the product around the world, the minister said the state
has been trying to get it registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) of Goods
(Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
The unique geographical origin tag would boost its marketing and exports to foreign countries,
he said.
In 2013, the red rice became the first crop variety of the state to be registered under the
Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers Right Act of 2001.

According to experts, the red rice under various local names is gifted. Like 'Poli' is gifted on
occasion of happiness like marriages, religious ceremonies and childbirth, etc., and 'Path' is
gifted to a sick person and 'Sattu' on the occasion of sorrow.
The red rice is served during community kitchens and religious occasions. Its starch is
considered very useful for pregnant women and children.
Experts say the red rice, which normally grows it for self-consumption, fetches four-five times
(Rs 200-250 per kg average) higher prices than the normal white rice.
(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at )
--IANS
vg/dpb
MENAFN13122020000231011071ID1101272313
https://menafn.com/1101272313/Vanishing-red-rice-gets-protection-in-HimachalStrong
demand makes Gobindobhog pricey in Bengal
Shobha Roy Kolkata | Updated on December 13, 2020 Published on December 13, 2020
The average price of Gobindobhog paddy at the farmers‘ end firmed up by nearly 10-12 per cent
to ₹
3,500 a quintal
Output to rise by 7% this year as many farmers have cultivated this variety
Bengal‘s premium variety of aromatic rice – Gobindobhog – has been witnessing a steady rise in
prices backed by a firm demand from both domestic and international markets particularly Dubai
and West Asia.
Production has also been steadily increasing as farmers are earning better returns on cultivation
of this variety as compared to the common paddy (Swarna).
The average price of Gobindobhog paddy at the farmers‘ end firmed up by nearly 10-12 per cent
to ₹
3,500 a quintal (₹
3,200).
The price at the millers‘ end is hovering at around ₹
6,000 a quintal, while in the retail market it
is fetching around ₹
7,500 a quintal.
Higher prices
According to Suraj Agarwal, CEO, Tirupati Agri Trade, Gobindobhog prices have remained firm
throughout the year due to a steady demand from South India.
This apart, demand has also been coming in from Dubai and West Asia.
―The new crop has started arriving into the market as harvesting started in end November. It is
fetching close to ₹
35 a kg, as compared to ₹
41-42 a kg for the old crop. On a year-on-year
basis, prices are up by nearly 10-12 per cent as compared with ₹
32 a kg same period last year
backed by a firm and growing demand,‖ Agarwal told BusinessLine.
Prices are likely to increase to ₹
38/kg by January due to ageing of the rice.
The older the crop the higher the price it fetches as the demand is higher for old rice, a rice mill
owner said.
Production up
Driven by the prospect of earning more, many farmers have turned to cultivating Gobindobhog
and there has been a steady rise in its production.
While it was largely cultivated in the East Burdwan district, now it is also being cultivated in
some parts of Midnapore.

Production is likely to be higher by around seven per cent at close to 3 lakh tonnes (lt) in 2020-
21, as against 2.8 lt in FY20. Nearly 55-56 per cent of this is converted into rice.
The area under cultivation, which was close to 35 hectares in 2016-17, has increased to 51
hectares in 2018-19.
This is likely to increase by another 5-10 per cent this year.
Farmers cultivating this variety stand to earn ₹
2,000 a bag (of 60 kg) or close to ₹
3,300 a
quintal, compared with ₹
800-900 a bag (of 60 kg) or ₹
1,500 a quintal for the common Swarna
variety.
Follow us on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Linkedin. You can also
download our Android App or IOS App.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/strong-demand-makes-
gobindobhog-pricey-in-bengal/article33321438.ece
NIOB to partner Lafarge on alternative materials
research
Published December 14, 2020
KINDLY SHARE THIS STORY
NIOB
Temiloluwa O’Peters
The Nigerian Institute of Building has called for collaborative research and production of
alternative building materials.
The NIOB President, Kunle Awobodu, made the call when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit
to Lafarge Plc in Lagos.
He suggested exploring ways to collaborate and promote mutually beneficial goals for the two
organisations and ultimately, a positive impact on the Nigerian construction industry.
Awobodu said that the NIOB had a large reservoir of research resources, efforts and outputs,
adding that some builders were continuously researching locally available materials that did not
produce inferior performance results to the conventional ones.
He said, ―One of such areas of research is the use of ‗pozzolana‘, rice husk ash and corn cob ash
as a partial replacement for cement.
―We have equally started preconstruction activities on a world class materials research centre at
the Federal Capital Territory.‖
Beyond publicising the research efforts and outputs of researchers in building materials, the
president further stated that the utilisation of the research outputs in the production of cement
would increase affordability as well as drive costs down.
He added that by the law of large numbers, it would also help the profitability and bottom line of
manufacturers making it a win-win to all stakeholders and the society at large.

The Chairman of NIOB Research and Development Committee, Prof. Kolapo Eleka, explained
that the development of Nigerian standards for such pozzolanic cement and other locally
available materials was one of the steps necessary in manufacturing and utilisation.
The Chairman of Association of Builders in Academia, Prof. Martin Dada, also said using some
of the alternative materials would promote profitability, noting that it would take efforts and
resources to relocate the waste generated from a building demolished.
The Country Chief Executive Officer of Larfarge Plc, Khaled El Dokani, with his team
comprising the Commercial Director, Gbenga Onimowo and the Head, Technical Products and
Innovation, Femi Yusuff, welcomed the proposal.
El Dokani further raised the issue of reuse of items recovered from demolished or deconstructed
buildings, thereby promoting sustainability and reduction of carbon footprint.
https://punchng.com/niob-to-partner-lafarge-on-alternative-materials-research/+&cd
Govt floats tender to import 50,000 tonnes rice
12:00 AM, December 14, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 04:26 AM, December 14, 2020
Star Business Report

The government has floated a tender to buy 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from international
markets to increase stocks and rein in the soaring prices of the staple in domestic markets,
according to a notification from the Directorate of Food.
This was the third tender floated by the food office in the last one month.
The government previously approved two previous tenders to buy 100,000 tonnes of rice from
two Indian suppliers.
The move comes at a time when the price of rice is soaring due to a shortage in public
warehouses that stems from sluggish procurement during the current Aman harvesting season.
Since the beginning of the procurement period for paddy and rice this year, the Directorate of
Food could procure just 115 tonnes of paddy and 5,900 tonnes of rice from farmers and millers
as of December 10.
The amount of paddy and rice purchased was no more than 1 per cent of the targets for this year.
This resulted in the gain shortage at state go-downs.
As of December 10, rice and wheat stocks stood at 7.7 lakh tonnes, down 44 per cent year-on-
year from 13.85 lakh tonnes.
Sarwar Mahmud, director-general of the Directorate of Food, said his office plans to buy more
rice.
"We are also going to float a tender to buy 100,000 tonnes of wheat from the international
market," he added.
The government imported 2.15 lakh tonnes of wheat between July 1 and December 10 this fiscal
year. The amount purchased was 59 per cent of the government's total rice import in fiscal 2019-
20 when it was 3.67 lakh tonnes.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:QZzH9ySDXygJ:https://www.thedaily
star.net/business/news/govt-floats-tender-import-50000-tonnes-rice-
2011105+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Can Thailand save its rice bowl, or will China, India and
Vietnam eat it for lunch?
 Jasmine rice, once the star of Thailand‘s grain exports, is facing the heat from cheaper varieties
in the region
 As the country cooks up a plan to regain world dominance, observers say more incentives and
support for farmers are needed
Jitsiree Thongnoi
Published: 11:00am, 13 Dec, 2020
Why you can trust SCMP
It gives me great pleasure to extend my warm greetings to the Government and people of Kenya
on the auspicious occasion of their 57th anniversary of independence. Kenya and Pakistan enjoy
cordial and friendly relations. Trade between the countries is very smooth and its volume is
increasing every year. Many new items are added from both ends.
For Pakistani's Kenya visa policy is very liberal and visas are available online/on arrival.

Pakistan is the largest buyer of world's finest Kenyan tea, Imports almost 205 million kilos of tea
annually. 85% of total consumption.
Kenya is importing about 410,000 metric tons of Pakistani rice annually.
Pakistan's surgical items, sports goods and medicines are finding a big market in Kenya and
through Kenya to many neighbouring countries in E.A.C and C.O.M.E.S.A. Region.
Due to covid, Kenya is also having lots of problems but due to good measures have controlled
the epidemic in a good way.
Port is working very smoothly.
Kenya is serving as a hub for many neighbouring countries. Pakistani businessmen can
participate in or visit exhibitions online.
Kenya has many products which Pakistan can import like lowers, dry fruits, hides & skin, fresh
fruits etc.
Kenya offers a lot of opportunities to Pakistani tourists such as the world's finest game parks, tea
gardens, beaches adventure, culture, among others. Many Pakistani companies are now holding
their annual conferences in Kenya taking advantage of business cum pleasure tourism.
His Excellency High Commissioner and others at the High Commission are doing their best to
increase the number of trade items from both countries and we are confident that we will see the
results soon.
The Govt of Pakistan offers good education opportunities in universities all over Pakistan. Many
Kenyan students are taking advantage of this facility in Karachi / Hyderabad/Lahore/Larkana &
Quetta.
I am confident that there will be a lot of business activities, exchange of delegations & many
more students in coming years after covid problem is over, which will bring our two friendly
countries closer to each other.
LONG LIVE KENYA, LONG LIVE PAKISTAN.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40040541
Italy Sees Promising Trade Potential In Pakistan
Sun 13th December 2020 | 02:50 PM
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2020 ) :The Italian
Ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese said here on Sunday that he perceived more trade
potential between Pakistan and Italy in different sectors of the economy that would help evolve
trade equilibrium between both the sides.
"Both the sides want equilibrium and to achieve trade balance as currently, Pakistan had a trade
surplus in bilateral trade with Italy as was observed in FY 2019-20," the ambassador said this in
an interview with APP.
Replying to a question he said Pakistan exports to Italy were US $ 731million during 2019-20
while Pakistan's major exports to Italy included textile, leather, rice, ethanol,
including textiles articles, sets, worn clothing, Cotton ,apparel, crocheted, Cereals, raw hides and
skins, leather, beverages, spirits and vinegar, Plastics, footwear and gaiters.

The ambassador said in FY 2019-20, Pakistan's imports from Italy stood at� US $
521 million and included ships, boats, and other floating structures, machinery, pharmaceutical
product, aircraft, spacecraft, electrical, electronic equipment, Organic chemicals, iron and steel,
miscellaneous chemical products, optical, photo,� technical and medical apparatus.
He said currently, Italy was providing technical assistance in textiles, leather and marble sectors.
The Ambassador, Andreas Ferrarese said his government prioritized to enhance bilateral trade
between Pakistan and Italy to its full potential of US $ five billion annually in the next three
years from current US $ 1.7 billion.
He said dairy and livestock, olives and olive products, plastics, processed food and construction
sector were the areas where Italy could extend its cooperation with Pakistan.
The Pak-Italy Joint Economic Commission was the forum for bilateral economic engagement
and was expected to meet in Rome in the last quarter of this year.
While replaying about the expectation of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA)
between Pakistan and Italy, he said Italy was in European Union (EU) countries adding, "We are
fully supporting Pakistan in Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) status in every review."
He informed that Pakistan has a share of 10 percent of trade with Italy in the whole contribution
with EU countries and in future both sides would extend more cooperation in trade and economy.
The ambassador informed that Italy has become the largest contributor from the EU in home
remittances to Pakistan.
He said in FY 2019-20, it registered 29 percent growth which was far higher than our national
growth in remittances.
He said Pakistani workers contributed US $ 142.9 million in home remittances in FY 2019-20,
and US $ 111 million in 2018-19.
He said Italy was the eigth largest economy of the world with US $ two trillion Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
Italy has the third largest economy in the European Union (EU) after Germany and France and
Pakistan`s 9th top export destination, he added.
�He said Italy has the largest Pakistani diaspora in the EU.
Ambassador Ferrarese said the construction for the new embassy was underway and his priority
task was to supervise the new under-construction Italian embassy in the diplomatic area and
speed up the process.
He said a new economic mission would also be established in Pakistan to enhance trade and
economic connectivity with Pakistan.
The ambassador said, "I want to open up a cultural centre, maybe in one part of the new
embassy, and promote Italian cuisine, art, paintings, music so that the Pakistanis can know more
about Italy." He said that he was appointed about nine months ago when coronavirus was at its
peak.
Replying to a question, he said his predecessor, Stefano Pontecorvo, was a seasoned economist
and he tried his best to enhance the overall volume of bilateral trade.
He set a good example and standards for boosting the economic and trade relation between both
of the countries.
He said COVID-19 wasted our efforts and then he had to start afresh to give a quantum jump to
the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Italy.
Ambassador Ferrarese has many out of the box ideas in-store to promote bilateral, trade and
cultural relations between Pakistan and Italy.

He also stressed the need for the importance of cultural connectivity to promote trade and said
that he would encourage exchange of students to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Replying to a question about his family, he said that his father and mother were educationists; his
father was a professor of history and his mother a professor of financial economy.
He started that his foreign services career was started at the age of 26 from the department of
Economic Affairs, Italy looking after the Asia region.932
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/italy-sees-promising-trade-potential-in-pakis-
1112555.html
2.6m Tons of Rice Output Will Meet 85% of Demand
A total of 2.6 million tons of rice have been produced on more than 800,000 hectares of paddy
fields across the country this year, showing a 10.34% decline compared with last year‘s output,
according to the Agriculture Ministry‘s director general of Grains and Essential Goods Affairs
Department.
―Last year, due to high precipitation levels and favorable weather, more than 835,000 hectares
went under rice cultivation, yielding close to 2.9 million tons of the grain,‖ Faramak Aziz-
Karimi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
He added that 4 million tons of rice bran were produced this year.
According to the official, annual domestic demand for rice currently stands at 3 million tons and
this year 85% of this demand have been met by local farmers.
The difference between domestic production and demand is imported from Pakistan, Thailand,
India, the UAE, Turkey and Iraq.
:https://financialtribune.com/articles/domestic-economy/106538/26m-tons-of-rice-out
Basmati rice grammar is exclusively from Bharat
S. Chandrasekaran
 December 12, 2020,
 December 12, 2020,
‘A plethora of evidence is available to preserve Basmati Geographical Indication as our
exclusive right’.
Basmati rice is a traditional description and designation belonging to Bharat. India filed its
independent application in European Union (EU) for protecting Basmati rice under Geographical
Indication (GI) in July 2018. On 11 September 2020, the European Commission published the
Basmati Rice GI application of India for public comments after it had undergone a preliminary
scrutiny through appropriate means in accordance to control procedures.
The American adventurism (RiceTec, Texmati, Kasmati) and European Economic Community
Commitments in WTO Schedule – Headnote 7 (Blair House accord) were important factors

14th december,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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