19 th september 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
September 19,2020 Vol 11 Issue 9
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

Editorial Board
Chief Editor
 Hamlik
Managing Editor
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
 Maryam
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 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…
 Basmati , A common heritage of Subcontinent
 China donates 3,000 tons of rice to South Sudan
 Rice will be imported to prevent price hike; warns Min. Bandula
Gunawardena
 Pakistan Weekly Market Monitor Report - September 2020
 Pakistani businessmen puzzled as EU approves plea stating basmati
rice is ‘Indian-origin’ product
 Pakistan exports face devastation as India is set to register for an
exclusive GI tags for
 As early variety arrival peaks at Punjab mandis, Basmati rates plunge
record 34%
 Food Minister: Rice market stable
 Haryana farmers fret as basmati prices plunge below ₹2,000
 Pakistan risks damage to export as India applies for GI tag to basmati
in EU
record 34%
 Label launched to help shoppers choose environmentally-friendly rice
 News quiz: Life on Venus, an Aussie pop star on China's watchlist and
thousands of hungry ducks. How much do you know about the big
stories of the week?
 Plant nutrient delivery breakthrough
 Rice Included in New Federal Relief Package
 Fly over fields as rice harvest commences in California
 What Government Reports Tell About Business In Kashmir
record 34%
 Has the President erred in stopping CBN from funding food imports?
 West Africa: Feeding The Future With Homegrown Rice and Cassava
 Focus on Iraq
 President for diversification, value addition to explore untapped
export markets
 Traders organize training workshop for rice value chain
 Rice farmers want sale of rice seed licensed
 Pakistan risks damage to export as India applies for GI tag to basmati
in EU
 Punjabi farmer saves the country from "ship to mouth" situation, will
fight at every platform -Eng Christopher Kasozi lived twice
 Indian rice exporters increase considerations after Iran begins putting
orders for basmati from Pakistan
 Olam Urges International Brands to Adopt New Rice Eco-label to Allow
Consumers to Support Farmers and Promote Sustainable Rice
Production

Today Rice News Headlines...
Basmati , A common heritage of Subcontinent
By Hamid Malik
19 Sep 2020
It's not as simple. There are 3 dimensions. Basmati is a common heritage of subcontinent & that
too belongs to a specific Geographical region of Himalyian terrain qualify for both
genotype(DNA) & phenotypical characters like typical aroma, cylindrical shape, 3.8/4 ratio of
width/length ration, 1.8 to 2.2 times post cooking elongation longitudinally rather than swelling
width wise, minimum AGL 7mm , photosynthetic, climate(night temperature after flowering less
than 36C & typical Soil. US company patent award for TaXMATI was revoked on Genetically
basis. Current GI battle in India between GI declared areas of Haryana, Punjab, Himachal,
Utranchal, 29 district of UP & Madhya Pradesh is on phenotypic characters rather than genotype.
Now ownership of GI product can't be granted to individual. It's legitimate right of growers of
that area. In all kind of old literature in Sanskrit or local language ,product is attributed to
Himalyian terrain waters by 5 Eastern rivers of combined Punjab(Chenab, Sind Jehlum, Ravi &
Sutlej, 3 central Punjab rivers Bias, Gangs & Yamuna(Jamna). Let's come to current issue of
ownership by India or Pakistan. By the way Nepal(Himalyian proximity) & Bangladesh having
Ganga river.
Initially India & Pakistan applied GI Basmati region combindly. Latter on Pakistan entered into
arena in Indian court through BGA , Basmati Growers Association, a representative body of
Pakistan growers lead by late Mr. Hamid Malhi. Govt of Pakistan through Commerce ministry
was backing the move by providing financial ,legal & logistics support. In India APEDA was
defending petition on behalf of Indian Govt. In Pakistan ,a split appeared between
REAP(Exporters body) & BGA on having ownership of Basmati GI. As a counter move Hamid
Malhi submitted a petition in Sind High Court to grant Basmati GI tag to BGA. In the meantime
Govt of Pakistan took almost 16 years to draft a GI law which finally is passed by Parliament
recently, thanks to untiring efforts & persistent follow up of respectable Zulfikar Thaver sahib.
Now we come to Indian application in EU.
###

China donates 3,000 tons of rice to South Sudan
Source: Xinhua Published: 2020/9/18 9:13:37
Manasseh Lomole (L, Front), chairperson of South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation
Commission, and Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Hua Ning (R, Front) sign documents
during a handover ceremony of food aid in Juba, South Sudan, on Sept. 17, 2020. The Chinese
Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over 3,000 tons of rice as emergency food aid to
the east African country. (Photo by Gale Julius/Xinhua)
The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over 3,000 tons of rice as emergency
food aid to the east African country.
The embassy said the 1,500 tons of the donation will go for emergency relief to help people
affected by recent floods.
The remaining half will be used to support the training of the unified armed forces as part of
China's support to South Sudan's peace process.

"On behalf of the people of South Sudan, we say thank for the rice donation," Peter Mayen
Majongdit, South Sudan's Humanitarian Affairs Minister, said.
"Our relations with China are unbreakable and we will continue to maintain this strong
relationship in various areas," Majongdit added.
Manasseh Lomole, chairperson of South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said the
Chinese food aid came at the right time when the conflict-torn country is battling severe disasters
such as floods and food insecurity.
"People have been displaced, crops submerged under water, livestock lost and property
destroyed. People are heading for a serious food shortage," Lomole added.
The oil-rich South Sudan is currently facing a severe economic crisis amid a fall in global oil
prices.
The crisis in the world's newest nation is further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and
floods that have affected over 500,000 people nationwide.
Photo taken on Sept. 17, 2020 shows bags of rice donated by the Chinese government to South
Sudan in Juba, South Sudan. The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over

3,000 tons of rice as emergency food aid to the east African country. (Photo by Gale
Julius/Xinhua)
"The Chinese government and people are very concerned about the recent floods in Unity,
Jonglei and other states which affected a big population," said Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to
South Sudan.
Hua said since 2018, the Chinese government has so far provided a total of 9,600 tons of rice to
South Sudan in seven batches, adding that Beijing will continue to support South Sudan to attain
peace and stability.
"Our own experience has made us fully empathic with South Sudanese people," the Chinese
envoy said, adding that China will strive to help the country within its ability.
Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Hua Ning (C) and South Sudanese officials inspect bags of
rice during a handover ceremony of food aid in Juba, South Sudan, on Sept. 17, 2020. The
Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over 3,000 tons of rice as emergency food
aid to the east African country. (Photo by Gale Julius/Xinhua)

"China is also willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with South Sudan in disaster
prevention and mitigation, so as to reduce the loss of people's lives and property caused by
natural disasters," the Chinese envoy added.

Chinese and South Sudanese officials attend a handover ceremony of food aid in Juba, South
Sudan, on Sept. 17, 2020. The Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over 3,000
tons of rice as emergency food aid to the east African country. (Photo by Gale Julius/Xinhua)
Manasseh Lomole (L, Front), chairperson of South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation
Commission, and Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Hua Ning (R, Front) exchange
documents during a handover ceremony of food aid in Juba, South Sudan, on Sept. 17, 2020. The
Chinese Embassy in South Sudan on Thursday handed over 3,000 tons of rice as emergency food
aid to the east African country. (Photo by Gale Julius/Xinhua)
https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1201292.shtml
Rice will be imported to prevent price hike; warns Min.
Bandula Gunawardena
Written by Zulfick Farzan 18 Sep, 2020 | 7:05 PM
Colombo (News 1st); If rice stocks are not released to the local market, steps will be
taken to import rice to the country, warned Minister (Dr.) Bandula Gunawardena at
a meeting with representatives from multiple sectors in the agriculture industry.
―The Maximum Retail Price or MRP will not be raised under any circumstance,‖ said
Bandula Gunawardena.
Minister Gunawardena said the network of intermediaries is not releasing rice stocks to
the local market.
The Minister said the government would never allow for an artificial rice shortage to be
created and stressed rice would be imported in order to prevent a price hike.
https://www.newsfirst.lk/2020/09/18/rice-will-be-imported-to-prevent-price-hike-warns-min-
bandula-gunawardena/

Pakistan Weekly Market Monitor Report - September
2020
Format:Situation Report
Source:
 WFP
Posted:18 Sep 2020
Originally published
18 Sep 2020
Attachments
 Download document(PDF | 794.98 KB)
HIGHLIGHTS

 In August 2020, the average retail prices for wheat and wheat flour increased by 6.6% and
1.4%, respectively, while the prices of rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati increased by 0.6% and
0.7%, respectively, when compared to the previous month;
 Headline inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased in August 2020 by
0.63% over July 2020 and increased by 8.21% over August 2019;
 The prices of staple cereals and non-cereal food commodities in August 2020 experienced
negligible to slight fluctuations, except for sugar which experienced a significant price
increase and live chicken which had a significant price decrease when compared to the
previous month‘s prices;
 In August 2020, the average ToT slightly decreased by 1.3% from the previous month;
 In September 2020, the total global wheat production for 2020/21 is projected at 770.49
million MT, indicating an increase of 4.46 million MT compared to the projection made in
August 2020
https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-weekly-market-monitor-report-september-2020
Rice harvest season in Southeastern Iran
Farmers in Nikshahr County, Southern Sistan Va Balouchestan Province in Southeastern Iran,
have started harvesting rice. The harvest season will continue until the end of summer. Nikshahr
County has special facets from the natural and geographical status. It is famous for its citrus
orchards. Zahedan, Iran., Sept 18, 2020. IRNA/
6125**1416
Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:dITPHEe8BFMJ:https://en.irna.ir/phot
o/84044228/Rice-harvest-season-in-Southeastern-Iran+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

Pakistani businessmen puzzled as EU approves plea stating
basmati rice is ‘Indian-origin’ product
Pakistan exports face devastation as India is set to register for an exclusive GI tags for
Himalayan salt, Multani mitti under Indian brand names in the international market.
News Desk
September 18, 2020
As Pakistan lags behind in implementation of the Geographical Indications (GI) law
implemented in March, India has already applied for an exclusive GI tag for Basmati rice in the
European Union (EU), reported Profit Pakistan Today.
The EU has approved India‘s application in its official journal last week, now stating that
Basmati rice is an Indian origin product, even though the same rice is produced in Pakistan at a
large scale.

Pakistan’s exports to European countries under threat from India
Ministry of Commerce officials, when contacted, were unaware of this groundbreaking
development which could immensely damage Pakistan‘s exports to European countries, Basmati
rice being a case in point. Abdul Razak Dawood adviser to the Prime Minister (PM) on
Commerce had earlier in August directed officials to implement and apply the GI as the law had
been implemented over five months ago.
India, to support its claim of exclusivity, has referred to various reports and dictionaries to show
that the basmati rice is of Indian origin and conveniently left out the part that the same rice is
widely produced in Pakistan.
According to leading rice exporter and former official of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan
(REAP) Taufiq Ahmed, the Indian application at EU must be immediately opposed as it could
devastate Pakistan‘s exports to European nations.
Pakistan must address the issues of the GI law immediately
Authorities have been ignoring the issue despite multiple requests and reminders. Taufiq
explained that if Pakistan does not handle the issue immediately, Pakistani producers will be
forced to sell basmati rice under an Indian brand name.
―Apart from opposing the GI tag from the EU, Pakistan must also consult international
dictionaries to rectify the definition as the same rice is largely produced in Pakistan.
Unfortunately, India is also registering Himalayan salt and Multani Matti with Indian names in
the international market,‖ he added.
According to an official at Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO), an attached department of
the Ministry of Commerce which drafted the GI law, the Indian application would definitely be
opposed in the EU. Officials say that Basmati rice was stated as a product of both Pakistan and
India in the European Rice Regime and Duty-Free Regime, hence, making India‘s claim for
exclusive rights of Basmati in the EU unlawful.
―The Cambridge dictionary and Wikipedia also show the product as originating from Pakistan
and India,‖ he added. The GI law is aimed at increasing exports, development in rural areas of
the country, revenue of agricultural producers and other skilled labour.
World Trade Organisation (WTO) members need to give protection to GIs as per Article 22-24
of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement. Unless Pakistan

undertakes the protection of GI it will not be able to obtain the same protection for its goods and
exports in other countries implementing and protecting the GI law. The GI law entails industrial,
agricultural, and horticultural products and many others.
GVS News Desk with additional input by other sources
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/pakistan-gi-law/
As early variety arrival peaks at Punjab mandis, Basmati
rates plunge record 34%
The low price the crop is fetching for farmers in Punjab‘s Majha region, which is the hub of
Basmati crop in the state, is happening at a time when the rates of Basmati in the international
market are almost all-time high between.
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Updated: September 18, 2020 5:56:07 am
The procuremenbt rates are as low as Rs 1650/quintal.

As Pavitar Singh, a farmer from Tarn Taran‘s Khabe Dogran village, closed the deal on 40
quintals of early Basmati variety (PUSU 1509), his return was almost Rs 1000 per quintal less
than last year.
While last year Pavitar Singh had sold the same variety at over Rs 2,500 per quintal, this year he
has sold it for Rs 1,651 per quintal.
It is a double blow, says the farmer, pointing out that his yield this year is around 10 quintal less
per acre. The low price the crop is fetching for farmers in Punjab‘s Majha region, which is the
hub of Basmati crop in the state, is happening at a time when the rates of Basmati in the
international market are almost all-time high between Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per quintal and
exporters are earning a huge profit.
―What I have sold at Rs 1,651per quintal, traders will sell at the rate of Rs 3,000 to 3,200 per
quintal, and then it would be exported for over Rs 5,000 per quintal,‖ said Pavitar Singh, adding
that he could not hold out for long hoping for better price as he has no place to store his produce.
The Tarn Taran farmer grows the early variety on 20 acres out of his 60 acres farmland and has
so far harvested PUSA 1509 only on 3 acres.
While the early variety (1509) arrival has started peaking at the mandis, the late ones (1121,
1718) will come in October. Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) officials informed that the rate of the
crop started at Rs 2,400 per quintal in the first few days, but now with as arrival of the early
variety of the crop is about to touch its peak, the rates have crashed badly.
Basmati crop is not purchased by the government, and the private players — exporters, local
traders and sheller owners – who purchase it have to pay a 4.50 per cent Mandi fee and Rural
Development Fund (RDF) to the PMB. This tax is refundable to the exporters.
―They are offering a lesser price because they know that as per the ordinance they are not
supposed to pay 4.50 per cent taxes and also because the government has not refunded their
previous years‘ taxes. So, when they failed to get back their refundable amount from the
government, they started targeting farmers and paying less to them while making huge margins
themselves,‖ said a senior officer in PMB, adding that ultimately it is the farmer who will face
the losses.

―The big traders are calculating and deducting their 4.50 per cent taxes before paying farmers
and it is big loot,‖ he added.
Farmers call the low price being offered to them as an impact of the Farmers‘ Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance.
Farmer Gurinder Singh also sold 38 quintals at Rayya Mandi in Amritsar at the rate of Rs 1,800
per quintal on Wednesday.
Similarly, Aman Kaler of Ajnala in Amritsar also sold his Basmati produce for Rs 1,800 per
quintal.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakuanda General Secretary, Jagmohan Singh, said that the
government can now see for itself how much the ordinance would help farmers.
―For non-government purchase crops, the private players always join hands and offer farmers as
per their own wishes and same would happen with assured market crops like wheat and paddy
when this ordinance will come into existence,‖ he said, adding that for Basmati farmers were
getting price lower than paddy (parmal rice).
―Traders are telling us that rate would not go up due to Covid-19 and farmers have no choice but
to sell at this price only as they cannot store their produce for long,‖ said another farmer,
Davinder Singh, who has grown PUSA 1509 on 30 acres and will start harvesting in the coming
week. He added that that ―traders gang-up and create false price in the market when the crop‘s
arrival in the mandis is at the peak and after purchasing from farmers the rates are suddenly
changed and go up‖.
Punjab‘s Basmati is mainly exported and it contributes more than 40 per cent of the total export
of Basmati worth Rs 34,000 crore per annum.
Vijay Kalra, President of the Federation of Arhtiya Association Punjab, admitted that the rate is
less as compared to last year. He said that in Amritsar it was purchased around Rs 2,200 to 2,300
per quintal in the beginning but now some farmers are getting less because there must be high
moisture in the grain currently.
Director, Punjab Agriculture Department, Dr Sutantra Airy said that they have worked hard to
increase the area under paddy as it is the best alternatives to water-guzzling paddy, but the

fluctuation in rates would discourage farmers to increase the area further. He said that Centre
must control these rates to ensure farmers do not suffer.
Out of a total of around 6.60 lakh hectares of the Basmati area, PUSA 1509 is sown on around
40 per cent of the area.
Exporters not purchasing yet
The Basmati exporters, who are major buyers of Basmati in Punjab, have boycotted the purchase
of the premium rice from the state unless the Punjab government does not waive off Market
Committee Fee and Rural Development Fund (RDF).
Ashok Sethi, Director, Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, said: ―We have
demanded from the government a complete waiver of Market Fee and RDF, which is 4.5 per
cent, and only after that we will purchase it.‖ He added that there is no point of charging it
because it is refundable. ―Punjab government has not refunded Rs 200 crore pending amount of
these taxes for the past few years,‖ he said.
The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel
(@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines
For all the latest Chandigarh News, download Indian Express App.
Punjab Cong MLA resigns from Vidhan Sabha after LS clear Bills: ‗Black day‘Lok Sabha
Thursday passed the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill
and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm
Services Bill. It has already passed Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill.IndianExpress
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/as-early-variety-arrival-peaks-at-punjab-
mandis-basmati-rates-plunge-record-34-6600544/
Food Minister: Rice market stable
UNB
 Published at 09:08 pm September 17th, 2020

File Photo: Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune
The amount of collected food grains is enough for the government reserve, the minister
says
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Thursday said that the market price of rice
is affordable and stable amid the coronavirus pandemic as the government‘s paddy and
rice collection aim has been fulfilled.
―Although the government‘s paddy and rice collection target remained unfulfilled, its aim
has been achieved successfully in the recently concluded Boro season,‖ he said.
The minister came up with the remarks at a programme in Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon
in the afternoon.
He said the amount of collected food grains is enough for the government reserve.

The country is not facing any food scarcity amid natural disaster like flood and
coronavirus pandemic due to proper decision and prudence of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, the minister said.
Responding to a question regarding rice import, he said: ―We‘re examining the reserve of
rice across the country. If necessary, rice will be imported to keep the market price
stable.‖
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/09/17/food-minister-rice-market-stable
Haryana farmers fret as basmati prices plunge below ₹2,000
Parmal, PR varieties of paddy are being sold below MSP as the government is yet to begin
procurement
Farmers selling their produce at a grain market in Kurukshetra. (HT Photo ) The price of
basmati varieties of rice has dropped below ₹2,000 leaving farmers who were hoping for a
bumper harvest this season crestfallen. Grain markets across the northern districts of Haryana
reported that paddy, especially PUSA-1509 (an early variety of basmati), was being sold for
₹1,800-₹2,000 per quintal. Farmers say the prices this season were around ₹800- ₹1,000
below last year, causing a loss of around ₹20,000 per acre.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/haryana-farmers-fret-as-basmati-prices-plunge-
below-2-000/story-GqZFElMs1s7EghIhn9BL2I.html
Pakistan risks damage to export as India applies for GI tag
to basmati in EU
India is also registering Himalayan salt, Multani mitti with Indian names in the international
market
ISLAMABAD: While Pakistan is yet to implement the Geographical Indications (GI) law
promulgated in March this year, India has applied for an exclusive GI tag to Basmati rice in the
European Union (EU). The EU has subsequently published the application of India in its official
journal on September 11, 2020, showing Basmati rice as an Indian origin product, despite the
fact that similar rice is widely produced in Pakistan. Interestingly, officials of the Ministry of
Commerce, when contacted, were unaware of this major development which could ultimately
damage Pakistan‘s exports, such as the aromatic rice, to European countries. Earlier last month,
Adviser to the Prime Minister (PM ) on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood had directed the
officials to implement the GI since it was promulgated as a law over five months ago. It may be

mentioned here Pakistan, after a delay of almost 18 years, had enacted Geographical Indications
(Registration and Protection) Act in March this year. According to EU‘s official journal, any
country can oppose the application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2) (a) of
Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality
schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs within three months from the date of
publication. As per the Indian application, basmati is special long grain aromatic rice grown and
produced in a particular geographical region of the Indian sub-continent. In India, this region is a
part of northern India, below the foothills of the Himalayas forming part of the Indo-Gangetic
Plains (IGP). The special characteristics of basmati are its long slender kernels with a high length
to breadth ratio, an exquisite aroma, sweet taste, soft texture, delicate curvature, intermediate
amylose content, high integrity of grain on cooking, and linear kernel elongation with least
breadth-wise swelling on cooking. Further, India has claimed that basmati is grown and
produced in all districts of the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
as well as in specific districts of western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Interestingly, to
support its claim, India has also referred various dictionaries such as Oxford Dictionary which
defines basmati as ‗a kind of long-grain Indian rice with a delicate fragrance‘, the French
dictionary, Larousse, which defines basmati as an ‗Indian, long grain rice, very appreciated‘ and
the Cassell food dictionary which defines it as ‗a superior type of Indian white rice which is long
grained and slender‘. India has also referred other reports to show that the basmati rice is of
Indian origin without mentioning that the same is produced in Pakistan. Leading rice exporter
and former office bearer of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Taufiq Ahmed says
that the Indian application at EU must be opposed immediately as it would badly damage
Pakistani products‘ exports to European countries.
He said that despite repeated requests and reminders, concerned authorities in Pakistan have been
ignoring this serious issue for years and now if the problem is not handled swiftly then we would
be left with no option but to sell basmati rice with an Indian name/brand. ―Apart from opposing
the GI tag from the EU, Pakistan must also consult international dictionaries to rectify the
definition as the same rice is largely produced in Pakistan. Unfortunately, India is also
registering Himalayan salt and Multani Matti with Indian names in the international market,‖ he
said. According to an official at Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO), an attached department
of the Ministry of Commerce which drafted the GI law, the Indian application would definitely
be opposed in the EU. He said that since the GI law has been promulgated, Pakistan would take
up the issue of all GI products of Pakistani origin with the EU. According to officials, Basmati
was already recognised as a product of both India and Pakistan in the European Rice Regime and
its Duty-Free Regime, making it illegal for India to claim exclusive rights of Basmati in the EU.
―The Cambridge dictionary and Wikipedia also show the product as originating from Pakistan

and India,‖ he added. It may be recalled here both India and Pakistan have approved the GI law
which includes basmati as a product of their respective origin. The protection of geographical
indications is aimed at boosting exports, helping support rural development in the country, and
enhancing the livelihood of agriculture producers and skilled craftsmen. Furthermore, the
marketing of GI products also enhances secondary economic activities and boost regional
economic development in various regions boosting economic development. GI law protects local
products such as the Peshawari chappals, Multani blue pottery, Hunza apricots, Hala ajrak,
Kasuri methi, Chaman grapes, Turbat dates etc. Member countries of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) need to give protection to GIs under Article 22-24 of the Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement. Unless Pakistan provides GI
protection, it cannot obtain the same for its own goods in other countries that have the GI law.
The GI law covers a wide variety of industrial, agricultural, and horticultural products among
others.
https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/09/17/pakistan-risks-damage-to-export-as-india-
applies-for-gi-tag-to-basmati-in-eu/
Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) officials informed that the rate of the crop started at Rs. 2,400
per quintal in the first few days, but now with as arrival of the early variety of the crop is
about to touch its peak, the rates have crashed badly.

Farmers call the low price being offered to them as an impact of the Farmers‘ Produce Trade
and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance. (Representational image) As Pavitar
Singh, a farmer from Tarn Taran‘s Khabe Dogran village, closed the deal on 40 quintals of early
Basmati variety (PUSU 1509), his return was almost Rs. 1000 per quintal less than last year.
While last year Pavitar Singh had sold the same variety at over Rs. 2,500 per quintal, this year he
has sold it for Rs. 1,651 per quintal. It is a double blow, says the farmer, pointing out that his
yield this year is around 10 quintal less per acre. The low price the crop is fetching for farmers in
Punjab‘s Majha region, which is the hub of Basmati crop in the state, is happening at a time
when the rates of Basmati in the international market are almost all-time high between Rs. 5,000
to Rs. 7,000 per quintal and exporters are earning a huge profit.
―What I have sold at Rs. 1,651per quintal, traders will sell at the rate of Rs. 3,000 to 3,200 per
quintal, and then it would be exported for over Rs. 5,000 per quintal,‖ said Pavitar Singh, adding
so far harvested PUSA 1509 only on 3 acres. While the early variety (1509) arrival has started
peaking at the mandis, the late ones (1121, 1718) will come in October. Punjab Mandi Board
(PMB) officials informed that the rate of the crop started at Rs. 2,400 per quintal in the first few
days, but now with as arrival of the early variety of the crop is about to touch its peak, the rates
have crashed badly. Basmati crop is not purchased by the government, and the private players —

exporters, local traders and sheller owners – who purchase it have to pay a 4.50 per cent Mandi
fee and Rural Development Fund (RDF) to the PMB. This tax is refundable to the exporters.
the losses. ―The big traders are calculating and deducting their 4.50 per cent taxes before paying
farmers and it is big loot,‖ he added. Farmers call the low price being offered to them as an
impact of the Farmers‘ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance.
Farmer Gurinder Singh also sold 38 quintals at Rayya Mandi in Amritsar at the rate of Rs. 1,800
per quintal on Wednesday. Similarly, Aman Kaler of Ajnala in Amritsar also sold his Basmati
produce for Rs. 1,800 per quintal. Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakuanda General Secretary,
Jagmohan Singh, said that the government can now see for itself how much the ordinance would
help farmers. ―For non-government purchase crops, the private players always join hands and
offer farmers as per their own wishes and same would happen with assured market crops like
wheat and paddy when this ordinance will come into existence,‖ he said, adding that for Basmati
farmers were getting price lower than paddy (parmal rice). ―Traders are telling us that rate would
not go up due to Covid-19 and farmers have no choice but to sell at this price only as they cannot
store their produce for long,‖ said another farmer, Davinder Singh, who has grown PUSA 1509
on 30 acres and will start harvesting in the coming week. He added that that ―traders gang-up and
create false price in the market when the crop‘s arrival in the mandis is at the peak and after
purchasing from farmers the rates are suddenly changed and go up‖. Punjab‘s Basmati is mainly
exported and it contributes more than 40 per cent of the total export of Basmati worth Rs. 34,000
crore per annum. Vijay Kalra, President of the Federation of Arhtiya Association Punjab,
admitted that the rate is less as compared to last year. He said that in Amritsar it was purchased
around Rs. 2,200 to 2,300 per quintal in the beginning but now some farmers are getting less
because there must be high moisture in the grain currently. Director, Punjab Agriculture
Department, Dr Sutantra Airy said that they have worked hard to increase the area under paddy
as it is the best alternatives to water-guzzling paddy, but the fluctuation in rates would
discourage farmers to increase the area further. He said that Centre must control these rates to
ensure farmers do not suffer. Out of a total of around 6.60 lakh hectares of the Basmati area,
PUSA 1509 is sown on around 40 per cent of the area.
Committee Fee and Rural Development Fund (RDF). Ashok Sethi, Director, Punjab Rice Millers

and Exporters Association, said: ―We have demanded from the government a complete waiver of
Market Fee and RDF, which is 4.5 per cent, and only after that we will purchase it.‖ He added
that there is no point of charging it because it is refundable. ―Punjab government has not
refunded Rs 200 crore pending amount of these taxes for the past few years,‖ he said.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/early-arrival-peaks-punjab-mandis-basmati-
rates-plunge-record-34-6600751/
Label launched to help shoppers choose environmentally-
friendly rice
A new ecolabel aims to help shoppers reduce their environmental impact by identifying rice that
has been sustainably produced. The ‗SRP-Verified‘ Label, which aims to reduce the
environmental impact of one of the largest food crops in the world, was launched by the
Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP).
The SRP is a grouping of over 100 public, private, research, financial institutions and civil
society organisations led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI). Over 3.5 billion people rely on rice as a daily staple, but the crop has
an undeniable environmental impact. Rice farming consumes up to one-third of the world‘s
developed freshwater resources and generates up to 20% of global anthropogenic emissions of
methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

The crop will also be the victim of rising global temperatures, with production expected to fall
by 15% by 2050 due to climate change, according to the International Food Policy Research
Institute. The new Assurance Scheme is based on the SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice
Cultivation, the world‘s first voluntary sustainability standard for rice. It is underpinned by
proven best practices and provides a science-based process to assess compliance. Employing best
practices in rice farming can reduce water use by some 20% and methane emissions from
flooded rice fields by up to 50%. The scheme will be managed by Germany‘s GLOBALG.A.P.,
which will oversee approval of qualified verification bodies that will be responsible for
inspection of producers according to the SRP Standard. NEPCon-Preferred by Nature, a
Denmark-based non-profit organisation that supports better land management and business
practices, is the first to be approved to perform SRP verification audits, with several others
expected to be approved soon. ―SRP was established to address global environmental and social
challenges in rice production. The Assurance Scheme offers supply chain actors a robust, cost-
effective and transparent path to sustainable procurement,‖ said Wyn Ellis, SRP Executive
Director. ―Consumers are increasingly demanding that food is produced sustainably, and now
they have a reliable way to choose environmentally friendly rice.‖ With the new label,
consumers will be able to trace the rice back to its origin country. The scheme will also benefit
an entire industry. By stocking SRP-verified rice, retailers can make significant and measurable
contributions to sustainability commitments and climate change targets. Industry actors will also
be able to de-risk their supply chains and ensure stability by sourcing through SRP-verified

suppliers. Farmers also benefit, according to SRP, who says that switching to its practices can
boost farmers‘ net incomes by 10-20%. With 90% of the world‘s 144 million rice producers
living on or near the poverty line, this can make the difference between a secure livelihood and a
family going hungry.
https://www.fdiforum.net/mag/supply-chain/label-launched-help-shoppers-choose-
environmentally-friendly-rice/
News quiz: Life on Venus, an Aussie pop star on China's
watchlist and thousands of hungry ducks. How much do you
know about the big stories of the week?
Can you power through this list of news quiz questions with the intensity of 10,000 hungry ducks
set loose in a rice paddy?
We hope you're limbered up, it's time to find out.
Q1: Scientists are pondering whether life could exist around Venus after a rare chemical was
found in its atmosphere. What was the gas they detected?
 APhosphine
 BCarbon
 COxygen
 DNitrogen
Q2: A Chinese company with links to Beijing's military and intelligence networks has been
amassing a vast database of detailed personal information on thousands of Australians, including
prominent and influential figures. Which Australian pop star is featured on the list as being of
―special interest‖ or ―politically exposed‖?
 ANatalie Imbruglia
 BKylie Minogue
 CVanessa Amorosi
 DNikki Webster

Q3: Former NSW premier John Fahey, one of the key figures in bringing the Olympics to
Sydney, has died aged 75. He‘s also remembered for an incident on Australia Day in 1994 in
which he tackled a man who fired two blank shots from a starter pistol at which public figure?
 APaul Keating
 BPrince Charles
 CLady Diana
 DJohn Hewson

Q4: Oxford University has announced it will resume a trial for a coronavirus vaccine it is
developing with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca after getting the green light from safety
watchdogs. Globally, how many people have received the vaccine so far?
 A14,000
 B18,000
 C29,000
 D30,000
Q5: The Victorian Government has promised $290 million to help struggling businesses survive
coronavirus lockdown and implement an outdoor dining culture that will be enjoyed "for many
summers" to come, on top of its $3 billion support fund for business. Which city‘s dining culture
did authorities draw inspiration from?
 AMadrid
 BParis
 CSingapore
 DNew York City

Q6: Regional Victoria moved to step three of its coronavirus reopening plan on Thursday. To
move to this step, the region was required to get its average coronavirus daily cases to below
what number over the previous 14 days?

 AOne
 BFive
 C10
 D15
Q7: This week US President Donald Trump hosted three world leaders at the White House for
the signing of historic peace agreements. Israel signed a pact with the United Arab Emirates and
which other nation?
 ABahrain
 BQatar
 CKuwait
 DIran
Q8: Thousands of ducks have been set loose in rice paddies in Thailand for a regular pest clean-
up exercise that benefits rice and duck farmers alike. How long approximately does it take for
the 10,000 ducks to clear a 70-hectare farm?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-18/abc-news-quiz-friday-coronavirus-covid19-vaccine-
melbourne/12672776
Plant nutrient delivery breakthrough
Date:September 17, 2020
Source:Texas Tech University
Summary:The collaboration revealed that the symbiotic relationship
between plants and fungi provides nitrates to plants, which could
lead to reduced fertilizer use.
Share:
FULL STORY
When most people think of fungi, the thoughts are usually not good, turning to something that
does damage more than those that are actually helpful.
Yet, fungi play a critical role in the growth and development of plant life and have for millions
of years. Scientists have known for a long time that arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi that live

in harmony with about 90% of land plants and play a key role in their root systems, are
responsible for carrying needed phosphate to plants to help growth.
Now, however, thanks to a discovery by a team of scientists from Texas Tech University's
Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) in the Department of Plaint
and Soil Science, and the Nanjing Agricultural University's State Key Laboratory of crop
Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, that symbiotic role may go even further.
That research team, which included professor Guohua Xu, Prof. Aiqun Chen and Dr. Huimin
Feng from Nanjing Agricultural University and, Luis Herrera-Estrella, the President's
Distinguished Professor of Plant Genomics and director of IGCAST, and assistant professor
Damar López-Arredondo, discovered that AM fungi also acted as a supplier of nitrogen to the
plant, the protein (NPF4.5) responsible for transporting nitrates from the fungi to the plant, and
that this symbiotic nitrate pathway and the function of the protein are present in crops such as
rice, and probably most other plant species.
The results from the paper, "Functional analysis of the OsNPF4.5 nitrate transporter reveals a
conserved mycorrhizal pathway of nitrogen acquisition in plants," were recently published
by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) of the U.S.
Xu highlighted their finding that the fungi colonization efficiency, promotion of plant growth
and nutrient uptake were maintained and even enhanced at high nitrogen supply levels, which is
opposite to the high phosphate suppressed colonization, indicating the general contribution of
mycorrhizal route to improving N use efficiency at varied N presence.
This discovery could lead to groundbreaking agricultural practices that allow for a reduction in
the amount of nitrogen fertilizer required for crop production, which will help reduce production
costs and benefit the environment by reducing agrochemical use.
"In our study, we showed the nitrate transporter is contained in many plant species and that it is
activated by the mycorrhizal association in maize, sorghum and several other plant species,"
Herrera-Estrella said. "Based on our data, we propose that nitrate transport takes place in many if
not most plant species, and that the protein plays a key role in the process."
Hundreds of millions of years ago, when plants moved from aquatic origins and began taking
over land masses, their lack of a strong root system became a hinderance in obtaining water and
nutrients. Herrera-Estrella said fossilized evidence showed that, early in in the evolutionary
process, land plants developed the relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, which helped improve
the fitness of host plants by facilitating mineral nutrition and water absorption and by increasing
tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Herrera-Estrella pointed out, though, that past research has discovered that the symbiotic
relationship between plants and AM fungi is most active in soil with low phosphate availability
and suppressed in soil with high levels of available nutrients. That means cultivated crops that
are highly fertilized see a severely reduced or completely suppressed impact from mycorrhiza.
The goal of the research was to determine whether mycorrhiza could provide other nutrients such
as nitrogen to the plant. Indirect evidence has shown the fungi could supply the plant with
ammonium (NH4+) as a nitrogen source, but that it is quickly converted into nitrate (NO3-) by

the microbes in the aerobic soil. That means that under most soil conditions, nitrate is the
dominant form of N supplied to the plant.
In order to test for nitrate transfer ability, the researchers used nitrogen isotopes to determine the
capacity of the fungi to take nitrate ad deliver it to the plant for intake. Researchers also
identified the gene (NPF4.5) specifically activated in rice roots when joined by mycorrhizal
fungi and were able to identify the role of this gene in nitrate delivery by producing rice mutants
that did not have this transporting gene.
"We found that when the gene is inactivated, the amount of nitrate that the plant can get from the
fungi is drastically reduced," Dr. Chen said. "Thus, we functionally confirmed that NPF4.5 was
the important protein in the transport of nitrogen from the fungi to the plant. We also used plant
transformation to generate the rice plants that enrich NPF4.5 proteins in the absence of the
mycorrhiza. We found that these transgenic plants can produce more biomass and show higher
nitrogen uptake efficiency than normal plants when grown in nitrate contained medium, which
has a great potential for use in agriculture."
Researchers estimate that rice containing the mycorrhizal relationship between plant and fungi
could receive more than 40% of its nitrogen due to the mycorrhizal pathway and that the specific
nitrate transporter gene, NPF4.5, accounted for approximately 45% of the mycorrhizal nitrate
uptake.
López-Arredondo said the next steps in the project will be to test the transgenic plants under field
conditions and deeply understand the mechanisms that specifically activate the NPF4.5 nitrate
transporter gene when the plant joins with the fungi, as well as discovering the chemical signals
the fungi send to the plant to specifically activate this and other nutrient transporter genes
probably required for this interaction.
Herrera-Estrella, an Emeritus Professor of Cinvestav in Mexico and member of the US National
Academy of Sciences stated "This is an interesting and productive collaboration between Texas
Tech and the Nanjing Agricultural University," "This type of international collaboration can rally
boost the advancement of science."
Story Source:
Materials provided by Texas Tech University. Original written by George Watson. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
1. Shuangshuang Wang, Aiqun Chen, Kun Xie, Xiaofeng Yang, Zhenzhen Luo, Jiadong Chen,
Dechao Zeng, Yuhan Ren, Congfan Yang, Lingxiao Wang, Huimin Feng, Damar Lizbeth López-
Arredondo, Luis Rafael Herrera-Estrella, Guohua Xu. Functional analysis of the OsNPF4.5

nitrate transporter reveals a conserved mycorrhizal pathway of nitrogen acquisition in
plants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020; 117 (28): 16649
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2000926117
Cite This Page:
 MLA
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 Chicago
Texas Tech University. "Plant nutrient delivery breakthrough." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17
September 2020. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105403.htm>.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917105403.htm
Rice Included in New Federal Relief Package
By Ben Mosely
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, President Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
announced an additional $14 billion dollars in aid for agricultural producers who continue to face
disruptions and costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) will use funds being made available from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC)
Charter Act and the CARES Act to support row crops including rice, as well as livestock,
specialty crops, dairy, aquaculture, and other commodities. USDA included rice and made other
improvements to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) 2 based on stakeholder
engagement and public feedback to better meet the needs of impacted farmers and ranchers.
"America's agriculture communities are resilient, but still face many challenges due to the
COVID-19 pandemic," said Secretary Perdue. "We listened to feedback received from farmers,
ranchers, and agricultural organizations about the impact of the pandemic on our nations' farms
and ranches, and we developed a program to better meet the needs of those impacted."
CFAP 2 payments will be made for three categories of commodities - Price Trigger
Commodities, Flat-Rate Crops, and Sales Commodities. Price trigger commodities are
designated by meeting a minimum 5-percent price decline over a specified period of

time. Eligible price trigger crops include barley, corn, sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, upland
cotton, and all classes of wheat. Flat-rate crops are those that don't meet the 5-percent price
decline trigger or don't have data available to calculate a price change. Those payments will be
calculated based on eligible 2020 acres multiplied by $15 per acre. These crops include alfalfa,
extra long staple (ELS) cotton, oats, peanuts, rice, hemp, millet, mustard, safflower, sesame,
triticale, rapeseed, and several others. Payments will be based on 2020 planted acres of the crop,
excluding prevented planting and experimental acres.
"This assistance is very timely with rice harvest ongoing or quickly approaching and will help
many rice farmers given the uncertainties in our markets due to COVID-19," said Nicole Montna
Van Vleck, California rice farmer and chair of the USA Rice Farmers. "While rice farmers
weren't eligible for the first round of CFAP, we are certainly appreciative of USDA for including
us in this round of aid."

Producers can apply for assistance beginning September 21, 2020. Applications will be accepted
through December 11, 2020. Additional information and application forms can be found
at farmers.gov/cfap. For existing Farm Service Agency (FSA) customers, including those who
participated in CFAP 1, many documents are likely already on file. Producers should check with
their FSA county office to see if any of the forms need to be updated.
The Rise and Fall of the Quaker Rice Cake, America‘s One-Time Favorite Health Snack
Where did they come from and where did they go?
by Brenna Houck@EaterDetroit Sep 17, 2020, 4:53pm EDT
Illustration by Goldsuit
Illustration by Goldsuit
For many American children of the ‘80s and ‘90s, rice cakes — stacked in a column and kept in
long plastic bags — were an omnipresent feature of home kitchens, preschools, and afterschool
programs. I can‘t remember the first time I held one, but I also can‘t remember a time before I
did. Palm-sized disks, they‘re the same weight as styrofoam with a scant sprinkle of flavor
crystals, salt or maybe cinnamon, dusting the top and coating the crevices between each grain of
puffy rice. No matter the flavor, they lack marshmallow stickiness and cloying sweetness of Rice

Krispies treats, as well as the bake-sale appeal. There was no right way to bite into a rice cake
and definitely no good way to contain the stream of crumbs that rained down from the corners of
my mouth.
There was, however, that pleasant, satisfying crunch, like taking a chunk out of a perfectly crisp
apple, and that miniscule bit of toasted, sometimes sweet, sometimes salty, flavor mixed in with
a slurry of desiccated rice matter. It was interesting enough to take down the whole cake, and
maybe even dip into the tube bag for another, and another. After all, I was a hungry kid, and one
of those suckers wasn‘t going to satisfy my bottomless pit of an adolescent stomach.
It‘s that feeling of being just on the border of satisfaction that made rice cakes such a staple in
American households like mine during the late ‘80s and ‘90s. During that period of time, many
kids like me became well acquainted with diet fads and foods, to the extent that we sometimes
didn‘t even realize we were snacking on them. All the adults around me seemed to be perpetually
trying to lose a few pounds by going on the Atkins Diet or re-enrolling in Weight Watchers.
George Foreman Grills whisked away fat and flavor from meat and chocolate cake-flavored
Snackwell‘s cookies and Slim Fast shake filled pantries. Rice cakes, for a while, were common
in my household and something I turned to on the regular for an easy afterschool snack while
waiting for my parents to get off work. I could polish off half a package in one sitting,
completely defying any alleged dietary benefit.
Plenty of cultures have their own version of rice cakes, but we can partially thank a botanist
named Alexander Pierce Anderson for laying the groundwork for the American rice cake as we
know it. Anderson was working at the New York Botanical Garden in 1901 studying the water
content of nuclei in starch crystals when, as the story goes, he ―discovered‖ steam-puffed rice.
Anderson marketed the product to Midwestern investors who bought into the idea, but eventually
sold their shares to Quaker, a Midwestern company better known for its oats. He‘d caught the
company‘s eye by demonstrating his rice ―cannon‖ during the 1904 St. Louis World‘s Fair.
Anderson filled a cylinder with uncooked rice grains and sealed it off, heating the container
while rotating it and increasing the interior pressure. When the time was right, he used a
sledgehammer to remove the end of the cylinder, sending puffed rice shooting out like a cannon.
Anderson and his team offered bags of the puffed rice to the crowd for a nickel a bag; they sold
20,000 pounds of puffed rice, according to the Minnesota Historical Society archive. Quaker
used Anderson‘s methods to make a variety of cereals and advertised it as ―Food Shot From
Guns.‖
The rice cakes in my childhood pantry came from Quaker, but at the time there were several
different companies competing in what the Chicago Tribune referred to as a ―rice cake
revolution‖ in 1986. They included brands like Lundberg Family Farms, Hain, and Chico-San.
The latter was a macrobiotics company established in 1961 that got its start importing products
like soy sauce from Japan and that eventually developed brown rice cakes in the 1970s — the
prototype for the larger snack trend. Chico-San‘s ads proposed trading bread for rice cakes and
using the low-calorie rice saucers as a surface to support jelly, cottage cheese, fruit, and other
toppings. By 1984, Heinz swooped in to scoop up Chico-San‘s market share. One rice cake lover

suggested to the Chicago Tribune that rice cakes topped with beans were better than tacos, a
statement that suggests that person had never had a decent taco.
Similarly, representatives from Quaker tell Eater that rice cakes were first launched as ―a low-
carb alternative to bread‖ in the mid-‘80s. The advertisements also seemed to target women and
working mothers with fat-free snacks to be eaten at work, on the go, and while ―kickin‘
back.‖ Print advertisements for Quaker Rice Cakes from that period show thin, grinning models
lying on their flat leotard-covered stomachs to emphasize the lightness of rice cakes. The
message was clear: Eat this and look like these women. In 1992, the rice cake and popcorn cake
market was valued at $174 million and growing. The following year, Quaker had bought out
Chico-San from Heinz, solidifying the brand‘s dominance as major purveyor of rice cakes with
63 percent of the U.S. rice and popcorn market, according to the Associated Press.
As for the actual health benefits of rice cakes, like so many other foods marketed as ―better for
you,‖ they‘re really just that — marketing. Rice cakes, while low in fat, are also low in most
other nutrients and may have less fiber than similar snacking options like crackers. The refined
sugars in rice cakes are also digested quickly in your body, potentially leaving you hungry
sooner. But none of that really matters if enough people buy into the fad.
But its popularity did wane. As the low-carb trends declined in the mid-aughts, so too did
consumer appetites for blandly seasoned grain cakes. Even so, brands trafficking in rice cakes
didn‘t entirely die out. Quaker reports that it still produces 500 million rice cakes annually, and a
representative from Lundberg tells Eater that the company produced 15 million bags of rice
cakes (13 cakes per bag) last year. Speaking generally, the most popular flavors from both
brands are lightly salted, followed by options like caramel at Quaker and Lundberg‘s cinnamon
toast.
Rice cakes have even seen a resurgence in their fortunes in recent years due partly to a surging
interest in gluten-free foods. Whole Foods, for example, has a section of its cracker aisle devoted
to organic puffed rice and popcorn snacks for the gluten-averse or -intolerant. While slightly
spiffier, the advertising angle doesn‘t seem to have changed much either. Companies like Rice
Up still promote rice cakes as a whole-grain option for weight control. Lundberg reports that in
the past year the company‘s rice cake sales have increased by 14 percent. And, true to its diet
snack roots, Lundberg rice cakes tend to sell best in January — right around the time people are
working on their New Year‘s resolutions by renewing their gym memberships and cutting back
on the sauce.
Rice cakes aren‘t going away. They‘re merely changing with the times. Following the
Everything but the Bagel seasoning trend sparked by Trader Joe‘s, Quaker introduced
―everything‖-flavored rice cakes in 2020. Lundberg also touted recent innovations like the
chocolate-covered Chocolate Thin Snackers and Organic Rice Cake Minis, a bite-sized version
of the original product geared toward adults and kids crunching on the go.
Recently, I located some rice cakes in the aisles of my own grocery store to indulge the strange
nostalgia that I had for a food that‘s sometimes compared to dry cardboard. It was exactly as I

remembered: a circle of airy rice grains smashed together into a remarkably firm plate. It felt like
building material, but the kind that would disintegrate after a heavy rain. With each bite, my ears
rang with that satisfying crunch and my mouth grew drier. All the downsides of popcorn but
none of the good butter grease. And yet I keep eating them — and that‘s the beauty of a
successful snack, right? Eating it doesn‘t necessarily bring contentment. It‘s about the experience
of the texture and the chase after just a little more of that wisp of flavor.
https://www.eater.com/2020/9/17/21444184/history-of-quaker-rice-cakes-americas-favorite-
health-snack
Fly over fields as rice harvest commences in California
BY JOHN HANNON/CALIFORNIA RICE COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 18, 2020, 7:37 AM
The rice harvest for 2020 has begun. This is drone footage over Montna Farms near Yuba City.
Most of California‘s rice production is in the Sacramento Valley, north of Sacramento.
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article245832100.html
What Government Reports Tell About Business In Kashmir
Swati Joshi | September 18, 2020
Among the other landlocked regions like Rajasthan, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Assam, and Bihar, J&K has scored the least
(12.27) in export preparedness.
EVEN after the removal of Article 370 which was considered a ―hurdle‖ in the development of
Jammu & Kashmir, the Naya Kashmir still lags in Ease of Doing Business (EODB) and Export
Preparedness Index (EPI).
Ease of Doing Business

J&K ranks 21st
in the EODB rankings released by the Department of Industry and Internal Trade
(DPIIT). The ranking is based on the implementation of Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP).
The DPIIT started a reform exercise in 2014 to rank all states and union territories in India based
on some reform parameters with the aim to create a business-friendly environment.
The first report titled ―Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms‖ was released
in September 2015 covering the findings of reforms implemented by States/ UTs under the
Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP).
Similar reports of the ranking came out in 2006 and 2017-18.
The reforms cover 12 broad areas like labour regulation, land administration, environment
regulation, obtaining electric and water supply, etc.
For the rankings of 2019-20, the assessment is based only on the feedback from service users and
industries. The respondent data is shared by the states through the BRAP portal.

The users are then surveyed by the DPIIT to determine the efficacy of the reforms.
Under BRAP 2019-20, feedback is only sought on those reforms, which has been implemented
by the states and UT.
In 2017-18, Kashmir was put under the category of ―aspirers‖ who have implemented less than
80 percent of reforms. The combine scoreboard of reform evidence and feedback of J&K was
32.76 percent.
For BRAP 2019-20, out of 187 reforms proposed by New Delhi, 137 were implemented in the
region.
Neighboring states of J&K- Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Punjab have implemented 175 and 178
reforms respectively. HP ranks 7th
and Punjab ranks 19th
in EODB.
However, the methodology used in the 2017-18 ranking is different from that of 2019.
The 2017-18 edition used state government and user feedback to compute the score, whereas in
2019 only business feedback (for whom the reforms were intended) was taken onto account.
After the abrogation of Article 370, business stood standstill for a long time in Kashmir. Covid,
in 2020, further dented it.
Tourism, handicrafts, and other retail businesses have incurred huge losses during the period,
which according to the estimates of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI),
is Rs 40,000 crores.
Export Preparedness Index 2020
J&K ranks at the bottom (36th) in the first EPI report prepared by the premier policy ‗Think
Tank‘ of the Government of India, NITI Aayog.

The EPI is done to assess the readiness of the states in terms of their export potential. The
readiness is measured based on four pillars (policy, business ecosystem, export ecosystem, and
export performance), 11 sub-pillars and 55 indicators.
Gujarat at 75.19 emerged as the leading state followed by Maharashtra (75.14) and Tamil Nadu
(64.93).
The scores of J&K in the four pillars are- policy pillar: 0, business ecosystem pillar: 14.92,
export ecosystem: 5.63 and export performance pillar: 25.87.
Under the business ecosystem pillar, the sub-pillars like business environment, infrastructure,
transport connectivity, and access to finance scored 7.82, 0, 48.29 and 3,56 respectively.
Some important indicators like labour reforms, number of investor summits, single-window
clearance scored zero.

In the case of the export ecosystem, sub-pillars like export infrastructure, trade support and R&D
infrastructure scored 9.83, 0, and 2.86 respectively.
Growth and Orientation and export diversifications sub-pillar under export performance scored
6.96 and 44.78 respectively.
According to the report, ―There is a high scoring range amongst Indian states on the EPI where
Gujarat has the highest score of 75.14 and Jammu & Kashmir with the lowest score of 12.27.‖
Since the report considers the data from 2016-17 up to 2018-19, J&K is being considered as a
state and is grouped under the landlocked category.
Among the other landlocked states like Rajasthan, Telangana, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Assam, and Bihar, J&K has scored the least
(12.27) in export preparedness.
The report mentions that J&K needs to improve its performance under the policy and the export
ecosystem pillars, considering that it ―indicates a glaring paucity in both enabling and facilitating
factors that could drive the states towards export-oriented growth.‖

As per the report, Kashmiri shawls have the highest Market Performance Index in J&K. It is
exported to 44 countries and accounts for 17.8 percent of the share in the erstwhile state‘s total
export. Other items having high Market Performance Index are carpets, medicine put up for retail
sale, shelled walnuts, basmati rice, yarn of polyester and derivatives of pyridine. Quality
journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we
still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what
you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people
are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising
revenues are falling fast.
https://agriculture.einnews.com/article_detail/526476673/GgDxkDCDsQwuMvrL?n=2&code=V
uZLay2YinrVF2-
0&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Basmati+Rice+News&
utm_content=article
The low price the crop is fetching for farmers in Punjab‘s Majha region, which is the hub of
Basmati crop in the state, is happening at a time when the rates of Basmati in the international
market are almost all-time high between.
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Updated: September 18, 2020 5:56:07 am
The procuremenbt rates are as low as Rs 1650/quintal.
As Pavitar Singh, a farmer from Tarn Taran‘s Khabe Dogran village, closed the deal on 40
quintals of early Basmati variety (PUSU 1509), his return was almost Rs 1000 per quintal less
than last year.
While last year Pavitar Singh had sold the same variety at over Rs 2,500 per quintal, this year he
has sold it for Rs 1,651 per quintal.

It is a double blow, says the farmer, pointing out that his yield this year is around 10 quintal less
per acre. The low price the crop is fetching for farmers in Punjab‘s Majha region, which is the
hub of Basmati crop in the state, is happening at a time when the rates of Basmati in the
international market are almost all-time high between Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000 per quintal and
exporters are earning a huge profit.
―What I have sold at Rs 1,651per quintal, traders will sell at the rate of Rs 3,000 to 3,200 per
quintal, and then it would be exported for over Rs 5,000 per quintal,‖ said Pavitar Singh, adding
so far harvested PUSA 1509 only on 3 acres.
While the early variety (1509) arrival has started peaking at the mandis, the late ones (1121,
1718) will come in October. Punjab Mandi Board (PMB) officials informed that the rate of the
crop started at Rs 2,400 per quintal in the first few days, but now with as arrival of the early
variety of the crop is about to touch its peak, the rates have crashed badly.
Basmati crop is not purchased by the government, and the private players — exporters, local
traders and sheller owners – who purchase it have to pay a 4.50 per cent Mandi fee and Rural
Development Fund (RDF) to the PMB. This tax is refundable to the exporters.

the losses.
―The big traders are calculating and deducting their 4.50 per cent taxes before paying farmers
and it is big loot,‖ he added.
Farmers call the low price being offered to them as an impact of the Farmers‘ Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance.
Farmer Gurinder Singh also sold 38 quintals at Rayya Mandi in Amritsar at the rate of Rs 1,800
per quintal on Wednesday.
Similarly, Aman Kaler of Ajnala in Amritsar also sold his Basmati produce for Rs 1,800 per
quintal.
Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakuanda General Secretary, Jagmohan Singh, said that the
government can now see for itself how much the ordinance would help farmers.
―For non-government purchase crops, the private players always join hands and offer farmers as
per their own wishes and same would happen with assured market crops like wheat and paddy
when this ordinance will come into existence,‖ he said, adding that for Basmati farmers were
getting price lower than paddy (parmal rice).
―Traders are telling us that rate would not go up due to Covid-19 and farmers have no choice but
to sell at this price only as they cannot store their produce for long,‖ said another farmer,
Davinder Singh, who has grown PUSA 1509 on 30 acres and will start harvesting in the coming
week. He added that that ―traders gang-up and create false price in the market when the crop‘s
arrival in the mandis is at the peak and after purchasing from farmers the rates are suddenly
changed and go up‖.
Punjab‘s Basmati is mainly exported and it contributes more than 40 per cent of the total export
of Basmati worth Rs 34,000 crore per annum.

Vijay Kalra, President of the Federation of Arhtiya Association Punjab, admitted that the rate is
less as compared to last year. He said that in Amritsar it was purchased around Rs 2,200 to 2,300
per quintal in the beginning but now some farmers are getting less because there must be high
moisture in the grain currently.
Director, Punjab Agriculture Department, Dr Sutantra Airy said that they have worked hard to
increase the area under paddy as it is the best alternatives to water-guzzling paddy, but the
fluctuation in rates would discourage farmers to increase the area further. He said that Centre
must control these rates to ensure farmers do not suffer.
Out of a total of around 6.60 lakh hectares of the Basmati area, PUSA 1509 is sown on around
40 per cent of the area.
Committee Fee and Rural Development Fund (RDF).
Ashok Sethi, Director, Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters Association, said: ―We have
demanded from the government a complete waiver of Market Fee and RDF, which is 4.5 per
cent, and only after that we will purchase it.‖ He added that there is no point of charging it
because it is refundable. ―Punjab government has not refunded Rs 200 crore pending amount of
these taxes for the past few years,‖ he said.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/early-arrival-peaks-punjab-mandis-basmati-rates-
plunge-record-34-6600751/
Has the President erred in stopping CBN from funding food
imports?
What implication does the President‘s directive to the CBN hold for the economy?
September 18, 2020
By

Kalu Aja
The President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, last week said, “I am restating it that
nobody importing food or fertilizer should be given foreign exchange from the Central Bank. We
will not pay a kobo of our foreign reserves to import food or fertilizer. We will instead empower
local farmers and producers.”
Why is the president stopping the CBN from funding food imports? The answer is simple. The
CBN Exchange rates are cheaper than autonomous sources. The CBN lists the exchange rate for
the Dollar at $1 to N379, however the Naira is being sold on the parallel market at N440. Hence,
importers prefer to access CBN funds to import, because it reduces the cost of those imports. In
effect, at N379, the CBN is subsidizing those imports via a ‗strong Naira‘
The President‘s directive is thus in line with his new overall push to eliminate all subsidies
especially subsidies funded by the scare US dollar. In this aspect, the President is simply seeking
to protect the foreign reserves which are paying for other imports. So, he is right.
Is this a wise strategy?
Nairametrics earlier reported on the NBS recently released report on Nigeria‘s total spending,
which indicated that about N22.7 trillion was spent on food in 2019. This is 56.7% of the total
spending (N40.2 trillion) for that period.

Where does the food Nigerians eat come from? Clearly Nigeria has a large agricultural base, but
a significant proportion of Nigeria‘s food is imported, and the cost of those imports have risen, as
the value of the Naira has depreciated in relation to the US dollar.
According to data from the NBS, Nigeria‘s spending on food and drink importation increased
from $2.9bn in 2015 to $4.1bn in 2017, but dipped in 2018.
Have these imports plus local production met local demand on a consistent basis? The answer is
no. Take rice for instance, the BBC reports that, ―Between 2015, when the foreign exchange
restrictions for rice came into effect, and early 2017, the price of a 50kg bag of rice went from
$24 to $82 and fell in mid-2017 to $34, but in June 2019, the price stood at $49.”
The law of supply in economics, states that when the price of a commodity increases, its supply
also increases. Hence, there is a direct relationship between price and supply of a commodity. In
other words, if the price of rice goes up, more suppliers will enter the market to supply rice.
However, In Nigeria, as the price of food is rising, the NBS in the latest Inflation report, says the
composite food index rose by 15.48% in July 2020 compared to 15.18% in June 2020. This rise
in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Potatoes, Yam and
other tubers, Meat, Fruits, Oils and fats, and Fish. (essentially everything). The NBS says, the
average price of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased year-on-year by
37.72%.
So why has the supply of rice not risen to correspond with rise in prices? Well, because the
supply of rice and other foodstuff have indeed risen, but the problem remains logistics
processing & storage.
In Nigeria, you only eat corn during corn season, same with mangoes, and tomatoes. Prices fall
during harvest, then rise after harvest. The problem is not just with the harvest, but getting that
harvest to market, storing the excess, and processing its supplies all year round. Therefore,
imports are needed to plug supply holes. Nigerians in 2019 alone spent N1.9trillion or 4.7% of
their budget on rice alone. When the President banned food importers from getting the CBN
dollar at N379; he simply pushed them to import rice at N440; a N61 difference that will be
added to the cost of imports, and will fuel imported inflation.
Where the president got it wrong is trying to fix a local logistics problem with a foreign
exchange fix.
The solution is to go back to the various food supply value chains, de-risk and de-cost them. If
food is cheap and plentiful, there will be no need for imports and inflation will fall.
https://nairametrics.com/2020/09/18/has-the-president-made-error-in-stopping-cbn-from-
funding-food-imports/

West Africa: Feeding The Future With Homegrown Rice and
Cassava
By ADMIN Share
 Tweet
Dakar and Cape Town — The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is
celebrating a decade of its Feed the Future campaign, which enables partner organisations to
target the root causes of poverty and hunger. Projects in Burkina Faso and Benin have produced
expertise and economic stability for local agricultural producers.
Growing rice in Burkina Faso
In Burkina Faso, the Cooperative Mitiiri Rice Production and Marketing Project led local rice
producers to grow an increasingly sustainable supply of the grain while lowering dependence on
imports from China.
Established in 2009, Mitiri – then named Association of Young Dynamics for the Development
of Bagre – faced financial difficulties. Help from the USADF helped it to secure production
equipment, storage and and funds to buy rice.
One of the challenge of rice agriculture in the country is the lack of productive investments and
adequate training, and the USADF worked to provide working capital, capacity building and
business advisory assistance to modernize, provide training to members on post-harvest
techniques, and improve business operations.

As a result, young farmers in the cooperative are seeing higher domestic sales and revenues and
contribute to youth employment.
Challenges and the Reduction of Chinese Imports
KRE Daouda, the accounting manager of the Simplified Cooperative Company Mitiiri of Rice
Producers of Bagré (SCOOPS Mitiiri), shared some of the trials and successes that come with
rice agriculture.
One of the biggest challenges is insufficient production due to the Covid-19 outbreak. ―We have
noticed that with the pandemic, the demand for rice at the local level increased, and rice
production to be adjusted. The shift in the training schedule on agricultural entrepreneurship did
not benefit producers. There was also an absence of manpower the work in the fields,‖ Daouda
said.
But the travel restrictions brought by the pandemic also meant that SCOOPS Mitiiri sold more
products. ―The reduction in rice imports from China had a great impact in the sale of local rice. it
must be said that we no longer have the difficulties as before in selling our products,‖ Daouda
said.
The co-operative aims to continue making gains in improving agricultural technique and
providing employment in the coming years, believing that this path to success is something
achievable for the entire continent.
―We believe that Africa as a whole will be able to produce rice without importing because it is
not the land that is lacking but rather the technical and financial means. At the rate things are
going, with the interest of our governors in agriculture and the support of projects and NGOs
etc., agricultural yields are improving and we are sure that Africa will meet these challenges.‖
―USADFs contribution has helped make us a leader among the co-operatives in our area.‖.
Between 1 October 2010 and March 31, 2020, USADF invested more than $10 million in
Burkina Faso, producing 157 enterprises and entrepreneurs.
Women of Benin at Forefront of Gari Production
In Benin, the Gbenondjou Cassava Production and Commercialization Expansion Project saw the
development of the Ajahonmè‘s Manioc Transformation Cooperative, a project which aims to
feed the population of West Africa.

The majority of the 25-member co-op are women – 21 of them in fact – and they produce a
variety of gari or cassava used in many dishes in West Africa.
The goal of economic empowerment of women is a cornerstone of the Cooperative. While a
challenge, Gbezounke Sylvie, president of the Adjahonmey ―Gbenondjou‖ Cassava
Transformation cooperative, believes this is achievable.
The organisation‘s efforts secured them a three-year deal to deliver gari to their newest client, in
Senegal. Sylvie confirms that a first delivery was already made from Cotonou to Dakar, the
Senegalese capital.
According to Sylvie, this new dynamic was boosted thanks to the support of the USADF, which
granted Gbenondjou much-needed funds between 2017 and 2019.
The Gbenondjou Cooperative used these grants to build production capacity and purchase
equipment to process cassava into gari while also investing in training its members in financial
management, marketing, improved production techniques and hygiene practices. and sanitation
for production. This, says Sylvie, made it possible to strengthen the competitiveness and
professionalism of the co-op and contribute to food security, advancing the economic status of
the rural women and improve their quality of life.
From Producers to Successful Women Entrepreneurs
The lives of the women involved in the co-op are certainly improved.
A transformation that its president links to the impact of American support on their activities and
their daily lives. For Sylvie, the support of the USADF has completely changed their lives and
the co-op. ―It is thanks to the USADF that our members have started to organize their activities
well and managed to double their production.―This support has enabled them to make their
products competitive while respecting the health and commercial standards required on the
market. ―In the market, our products are sold first because they are now better presented,‖ Sylvie
says proudly.
Profits made have enabled the co-op to acquire its own land and expand cassava farming areas
which, over time, will help boost the level of yield and production.
―Since this new situation, the women members of the cooperative have spent less time in the
fields and find time to take care of their household and their children.‖
https://thestreetjournal.org/2020/09/west-africa-feeding-the-future-with-homegrown-rice-and-
cassava/

Focus on Iraq
09.18.2020
By Chris Lyddon
Iraq, recovering from the effects of war, faces a new battle with the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic. At the same time as controls adversely affect its agrifood production and distribution
system, the impact of the crisis on the world economy has hit the value of oil — its one vital
export.
The International Grains Council (IGC) forecasts Iraq‘s total grains production in 2020-21 at 7
million tonnes, up from 6.5 million the previous year. The wheat crop is predicted at 5.4 million
tonnes, up from 4.8 million. Output of barley is forecast at 1.2 million tonnes, down from 1.3
million the year before. The country also is expected to produce an unchanged 300,000 tonnes of
rice.
The IGC‘s forecast for Iraq‘s 2020-21 imports of grain is 3.2 million tonnes, up from 3.1 million
in 2019-20. The 2020-21 total includes 2.8 million tonnes of wheat, up from 2.6 million the
previous year. Rice imports are seen at an unchanged 1.2 million tonnes.
Iraq is a major importer of wheat flour. The IGC puts its 2020-21 imports at 2 million tonnes, up
from 1.9 million the year before.
In a Country Brief on Iraq dated May 15, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) said that conditions for crop development had been ―generally favorable across the
country with timely and well-distributed rains.‖
―The northern cereal-producing belt of Kirkuk, Nineveh and Al Suleymaniah governorates
experienced an early autumn dryness until late November 2019, but abundant precipitation
starting from December significantly improved soil moisture content,‖ the FAO said.
*Estimated **Projected // Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
The FAO forecast a 6.5-million-tonne grains crop, compared with its forecast for 2019 of 6.8
million.
The Grain Board of Iraq buys from farmers.
―Despite the pressure on the national budget, reports indicate that farmers are paid in cash upon
presenting a letter from the ministry of trade confirming the quantity and amount due,‖ the FAO
said.

By May 9, the state buyer had purchased 542,000 tonnes of wheat.
―The wheat purchased is then used in the Public Distribution System (PDS), which distributes
subsidized basic food rations to the population,‖ the FAO explained. ―The total cereal import
requirements, despite the expectations of an above-average 2020 domestic harvest, are forecast
to be near average, a level similar to the previous year, as the government tries to rebuild stocks
that have been recently depleted by the COVID-19-related stockpiling by consumers.‖
In a separate analysis of the effects of the pandemic, the FAO said Iraq is vulnerable to the
impact of COVID-19 due to pre-existing vulnerabilities, including poverty, dwindling natural
resources and ongoing displacement due to past conflicts.
―The collapse of the global oil market in April has also had serious implications for Iraq‘s
capacity to import food,‖ the FAO said. ―Approximately 90% of the government‘s income
derives from oil revenue.
―From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Iraq has exempted agricultural
stakeholders from movement restrictions, allowing them to continue production and transport of
agricultural goods.‖
However, it warned of challenges to supply chains.
―Unless the constraints facing agricultural supply chains are addressed, food security and job
opportunities will be affected,‖ the FAO said.
In an annual report on the grains sector, the USDA attaché explained Iraq‘s system for
distributing grain.
―The Public Distribution System was created in September 1990,‖ the attaché said. ―Since then,
the system has been updated a number of times. It has consistently provided Iraqis access to a
range of staple commodities. In its current iteration, program participants pay 500 Iraqi dinars
($0.42) for each quota of food, which contains shares of flour, rice, sugar and cooking oil.‖
The attaché noted that the program allocates nine kilograms of flour eight times per year and
allots other staples six times per year.
―The PDS system accounts for a large percentage of Iraqi wheat consumption,‖ the attaché said.
The attaché put the total amount of wheat distributed under the system at approximately 3.96
million tonnes a year.
―However, there are additional amounts consumed annually in the form of grain or flour,
increasing total consumption,‖ the attaché said. ―A large quantity of the wheat flour distributed
under the PDS system ends up either as animal feed due to poor quality or because families have
no ability to bake the flour.‖

Wheat flour milling industry
There are around 300 privately owned flour mills in Iraq.
―Much of the private sector milling capacity remains underutilized,‖ the attaché said. ―Private
sector mills receive wheat supplies after the public sector capacity is filled. Some private millers
in the past stopped or limited production due to security concerns. However, this constraint no
longer occurs. The Iraqi government retains ownership of wheat and products throughout the
production process.‖
In April 2019, nine flour mills began milling 72% extraction (fine) flour for sale in the Iraqi
market, the attaché said. Prior to this change, the only fine flour available in the Iraqi market was
imported from Turkey, Iran, Kuwait or Jordan as Iraqi mills produce only 80% extraction flour.
―Iraq continues to import sizable volumes of wheat flour from Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Jordan,‖
the attaché said. ―Traders estimate that around 85% of flour imports are Turkish, while the
remaining 15% comes from other countries. Reportedly, around 100 Turkish mills are producing
only for the Iraqi market. Turkish millers produce specifically for the Iraqi market and label
products in Arabic as per the buyers‘ specifications.‖
*Estimated **Projected // Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
As the Iraqi population is beginning to consume more barley bread over wheat bread for dietary
reasons, some wheat flour imports from Turkey are being replaced by barley flour, which is
becoming an important source for bread in almost all private sector bakeries, the attaché said.
―Turkish millers sell flour to Iraqi importers on credit, which is paid on a weekly basis after the
product is sold,‖ the report said. ―Turkish flour prices are reportedly competitive and stable, in
spite of wheat market fluctuations.
―As crossings are limited in the mountainous border region, an advanced logistics and shipping
system has developed around the city of Zakho. Reliable statistics on cross-border trade are not
available and large volumes of unregistered product are likely flowing to Iraq from both Iran and
Turkey.‖
Other grains
The attaché put 2020-21 barley consumption at 1.685 million tonnes.
―Iraqis generally use barley as animal feed for sheep, goats, and beef and dairy cattle, which
would compete directly with feed grade wheat,‖ the report said. ―Some breads and other dishes
for human consumption are produced with barley. However, barley in this case is mostly
imported from Turkey and the volumes are low.‖

19 th september 2020 daily global regional,local rice e newsletter

19 th september 2020 daily global regional,local rice e newsletter

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