25th july 2019 daily global regional and local

www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Daily Rice e-Newsletter
Global Regional and Local Rice News
News Headlines…
 Pakistan Market Price Bulletin, June 2019
 Indian traders left reeling by AED15-million FMCG logistics scam in Dubai
 Parched Mekong affects Thai rice farmers
 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JULY 25, 2019
 Commerce ministry frets over rice output
 UPDATE 2-Thai rice exporters cut 2019 target for annual exports
 Indonesia Warns of Rice Crop Damage in Drought-Parched Fields
 Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JULY 24, 2019
 N. Korea may reject S. Korea’s rice in response to joint SK-US command post exercises
 'Centre should procure more from FCI to aid farmers' Team MP
 USA Rice Awarded Additional $2.5 Million for Trade Promotion
 Local rice industry to receive major boost
 Varsity faculty awarded by American Association of Cereal Chemists
 Rice straw fiberboard plant is starting to hire
 Some Arkansas rice, soybean growers face latest twist in a difficult year
 Villar says new rice tariff law is ok; problem is its implementation
 Rookie solon asks Duterte to listen to farmers more
 Professionals, farmers commend CBN’s policy on milk, dairy imports
 OTS policy to recover Rs2K cr dues from millers on cards
 Rice imports undervalued? 'That's BOC's problem,' says Cynthia Villar
 Poor rain won’t hit paddy output: P K Majumdar
 Big dams let water out to save rice crop
 Rice exports down on strong baht
 Low rainfall to hit rice exports
 IRRI workshop tackles climate
 Community farming in Goa emerges as a tool against land conversion
 PFA Seals Factory, Seizes Over 7,000kg Adulterated Spices
Detail Inside…

Pakistan Market Price Bulletin, June 2019
REPORT
from World Food Programme
Published on 30 Jun 2019
Download PDF (581.89 KB)
H i g h l i g h t s
• In May 2019, the average retail prices of wheat and wheat
flour increased by 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively; the prices of
rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati increased by 0.9% and 1.2%,
respectively, in May 2019 when compared to the previous
month;
• Headline inflation based on the Consumer Price Index
(CPI) increased in May 2019 by 0.78% over April 2019 and
increased by 9.11% over May 2018;
• The prices of staple cereals and most of non-cereal food
commodities in May 2019 experienced slight fluctuations when compared to the previous
month‘s prices;
• In May 2019, the average ToT slightly decreased by 0.1% from previous month;
• In June 2019, the total global wheat production for 2019/20 is projected at 780.83 million MT,
indicating an increase of 3.3 million MT compared to the projection made in May 2019
https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-market-price-bulletin-june-2019

Indian traders left reeling by AED15-million FMCG
logistics scam in Dubai
Enough rice to feed the entire population of the UAE for 5 days was stolen through logistics fraud in
Dubai
by Logistics Middle East Staff
Wed 24 Jul 2019 02:31 PM
Several dozen rice traders in India have been left on the brink of bankruptcy following a massive
logistics scam that saw more than 6,000 tonnes of rice shipped to Dubai and then sold on the
black market, reports Gulf News.
The rice, worth more than AED15-million, was sold to Dubai‘s Al Rawnaq Al Thahbhi General
Trading by dozens of Indian exporters, who had first been ‗groomed‘ for the fraud through the
placement of smaller cash orders, which were duly paid as normal.
US$600m settlement reported for Agility fraud case
After Dubai‘s Al Rawnaq Al Thahbhi General Trading had won their trust, it placed much larger
orders for 6,000 tons from 20 odd exporters in India between March and April this year.
Traders were sent a Telegraphic Transfer (TT) receipt for each shipment as ‗proof‘ that their
payments were being electronically remitted to their banks in India, but those payments were
subsequently cancelled and the security cheques bounced.
In total, 23 of these TTs were cancelled, totally US $4.18-million.

Many of the traders came to Dubai to investigate, but found that Al Rawnaq‘s rented warehouse
in Al Quoz where the rice containers were delivered was empty as was the company‘s office at
XL Tower in Business Bay.
Al Rawnaq‘s Indian owner, Robin Gupta left the UAE after handing the reins to a man identified
as Shaikh Tariq Awais from Pakistan, who has also since fled, after conning even the real estate
company behind the warehouse out of their money.
―He took a large warehouse in Al Quoz against a post-dated cheque which has now bounced,‖
said the real estate agent who dealt with Tariq, speaking to Gulf News.
According to one trader who spoke to Gulf News, the exporters had done their due diligence.
―We visited Al Rawnaq Al Thahbhi‘s office, checked its trade license, met its general manager
and, more importantly, released the shipments only after we had received telex transfer (TT)
receipts from a money exchange in Dubai confirming the acceptance of the remittance request
and the initiation of the transaction,‖ says Vinod Goel of Karnal‘s NM Food Impex company.
He shipped 22 containers of Basmati rice worth $321,170.
Among other rice exporters similarly duped are KG Industries ($1.02 million); Harman Rice
($553,640); Amritsar Riceland ($451,250) Aarna Foodstfuff ($289,925), AS Impex ($287,985)
and Heera Rice Mills ($131,435).
Spice and coconut wholesalers have also been hit. Karnataka‘s Joseph International lost
$109,200, Manna Organic $125835 and Tamil Nadu‘s SJN Coir Export, $210,000.

Some traders are now facing insolvency after building up their companies over the course of a
lifetime.
―I am ruined and will have to sell my house and factory. I built this business over 20 years. An
oversight destroyed it overnight,‖ said a trader who did not wish to be named.
According to Gulf News, the Indian consulate in Dubai is in touch with UAE officials, who are
investigating the matter, but with the people responsible now at large overseas, and the rice
having been sold off, recovering the traders‘ money and goods is near to impossible.
https://www.logisticsmiddleeast.com/warehouse/33481-indian-traders-left-reeling-by-aed15-million-
fmcg-logistics-scam-in-dubai
Parched Mekong affects Thai rice farmers
Thailand is experiencing a severe drought at a time of year that is usually rainy season.
Farmers plant the country's most important crop -- rice -- in this season. But they are being
urged by the government to wait due to the water shortage.
In the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, agriculture depends heavily on the Mekong
River, which is at a critically-low level.
The river is normally 8 meters deep. But this year it has fallen to just 1.5 meters. Reservoirs
are at less than 20 percent their capacity.
Thai National Water Resources Office Secretary General Somkiat Prajamwong said: "Demand
for water is growing in Thailand, which is downstream in the Mekong River.
But China, which is upstream, stores large amounts of water. Thailand needs water for
agriculture, so we need to cooperate with China on sharing water."The official also says Laos
has been testing a hydro-electric power generation on the Mekong, which is another of the
reasons behind the situation.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190723_41/

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JULY 25, 2019
JULY 25, 2019 /
* * * * * *
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-July 25, 2018 Nagpur, July 25 (Reuters) –
Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee
(APMC) on increased buying support from local millers amid tight supply from producing
regions. Poor monsoon reports, fresh hike on NCDEX in gram and good rise in Madhya Pradesh
pulses prices also helped to push up prices. About 400 bags of gram and 100 bags of tuar
reported for auction, according to sources.
GRAM
* Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar gavarani reported higher in open market here on increased demand from
local traders amid tight supply from producing regions.
* Watana green recovered strongly in open market here on good demand from
local traders amid weak arrival from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-6,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,300-8,500, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 6,800-7,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,500-8,500, Gram – 4,400-4,500, Gram Super best
– 6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,900-4,230 3,900-4,190
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 4,920-5,550 4,900-5,550

Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat Lokwan Auction 2,000-2,110 1,980-2,110
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,500-4,600 4,500-4,600
Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,550 4,450-4,550
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000
Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,600-8,800 8,600-8,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,200-8,400 8,200-8,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,900-8,200 7,900-8,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,700 7,200-7,700
Tuar Gavarani New 5,950-6,150 5,900-6,100
Tuar Karnataka 6,250-6,450 6,200-6,600
Masoor dal best 5,500-5,600 5,400-5,500
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,400 5,100-5,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,200-9,000 8,200-9,000
Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Moong dal Chilka New 6,800-7,800 6,800-7,800
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,300-8,800 8,300-8,800
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-8,500 7,000-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,200-6,500 5,200-6,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-4,900 4,800-4,900
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,900-7,300 6,800-7,200
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,500
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-3,000 2,500-3,000
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp.
36.8 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 26.5 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Generally
cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum
temperature likely to be around 34 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius respectively. Note:
n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included
in market prices)
https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-july-25-2019-
idINL4N24Q2K2
Commerce ministry frets over rice output

Commerce ministry frets over rice output
By THE NATION
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday he would urgently meet rice
exporters and related parties to discuss ways to boost exports once the government has
unveiled its policies in Parliament on Thursday.
He expressed concern that the drought gripping the upper half of the country could hamper plans
to export 10 million tonnes this year.
In a related matter, Anan Suwannarat, permanent secretary of the Agricultural Cooperatives
Ministry, said the Department of Agricultural Extension had set up ―war rooms‖ in all provinces
to closely monitor the drought situation.
The drought that has extended from May into July could cost the economy at least Bt15 billion,
representing 0.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, the Kasikorn Research Centre estimates.
The estimate is mainly based on the drought‘s impact on the first rice crop of the year, known as
the ―in-season‖ crop.
The economic loss could be greater if damage to other kinds of farm produce is also taken into
account.
In Lop Buri, the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam reservoir has dropped dangerously low, to only 4 per cent
of capacity – even lower than it was four years ago when the central province withered in the
grip of severe drought.
In Nan in the North, millions of worms have infested 47,000 acres of cornfields spanning all 15
districts, more than half the province‘s land devoted to corn.
In Nong Khai in the Northeast, the Mekong River is running too low to catch any fish. The level
is more than 10 metres below the top of the bank on the Thai side.
Residents are instead earning a living in construction or small business.
The news was only good in Ubon Ratchathani, also in the Northeast, where a significant amount
of rain fell on Tuesday, credited to cloud-seeding operations.
A Muang Ubon farmer said his rice had narrowly escaped devastation in what he called the most
severe drought he‘d ever seen.

The Kwang Noi Dam in Phitsanulok currently holds 134 million millimetres of water – 14 per
cent of its capacity. One of four major dams designated for dispensing water for public
consumption, it is able to release just 10 per cent of what it normally shares.
Warawut Niumnoi, director of water distribution and maintenance at the dam, said only 91
million millimetres of water was available to distribute.
There is currently no inflow at all, he said, and what is being released into the Chao Phraya plain
can only be let go at 25 cubic metres per second.
Phitsanulok Governor Piphat Eakphapun has directed agencies to closely monitor the drought
situation, prepare remedial plans for farmers, especially those growing rice and corn, determine
the need for artificial rainmaking, and coordinate with the Department of Groundwater
Resources on further plans.
The Army has established a centre to monitor the situation in real-time so that water can be
provided to the drought victims efficiently.
: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30373497
https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1113604-commerce-ministry-frets-over-rice-output/
UPDATE 2-Thai rice exporters cut 2019 target for
annual exports
Patpicha Tanakasempipat
JULY 24, 2019
* Thai rice exports set to fall further in 2019
* Exporters cite strong baht, ample global stockpiles
* Thailand faces cheaper rice from Vietnam, China
* Fears for next year‘s supply due to drought (Adds details, quotes, prices)
By Patpicha Tanakasempipat
BANGKOK, July 24 (Reuters) - Thailand‘s rice exporters on Wednesday lowered their target for
annual exports to 9 million tonnes from 9.5 million, after a sharp fall in first-half shipments due
to a strong baht and ample global stockpiles.
Thailand‘s rice exports from January to June fell 19.6% compared with the same period last year,
the Thai Rice Exporters Association said.

―With volumes of shipments consistently declining from January, our best performance would be
9 million tonnes,‖ Charoen Laothamatas, president of the exporters group, told reporters.
The new target is about 20% less than the 11.23 million tonnes that Thailand - the world‘s
second-largest rice exporter after India - shipped out in 2018. This year‘s volume is expected to
be worth about $4.7 billion, down 17% from 2018.
Thailand has been losing market share to major rival Vietnam due to a rise in the Thai baht,
Asia‘s best performing currency, which earlier this month reached its strongest levels in more
than six years.
Thailand‘s benchmark 5% broken white rice RI-THBKN5-P1 was quoted last week at around
$401-$402 a tonne on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, well above a similar grade from Vietnam,
which was quoted at $350 per tonne. RI-VNBKN5-P1
India‘s benchmark 5% broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 was trading at around $374-
$377 per tonne.
LOST MARKETS
Thailand has also been facing competition from China, the world‘s biggest rice importer and
Thailand‘s No. 3 buyer last year, which nearly doubled its rice exports in the first half of 2019
from a year ago, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, the group‘s honorary president.
Flush with large state reserves, China has been selling stockpiles of ―old rice‖, which have gone
to African markets previously dominated by Thailand, he said.
A government-to-government deal that Thailand struck with Chinese state-owned food trader
COFCO in 2015 has also stalled due to China‘s ample rice supplies.
As of end-2018, Thailand had supplied 700,000 tonnes of rice to China as part of the deal for 1
million tonnes of the grain. Since then, there have been no new orders, Chookiat said.
Rice exporters are also concerned that low rainfall could cripple the next harvest after the Thai
government this week urged farmers to delay planting rice.
Drought has been declared in more than a dozen provinces in Thailand‘s main rice-growing
northern and northeastern regions, where rainfall was the lowest in 10 years.
―If rain doesn‘t come by August, it‘s a dire situation,‖ Charoen told reporters.
Thailand‘s main rice-growing season begins in May, the start of the rainy season, for harvest
between August and October.
Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat; editing by Richard Pullin
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
https://www.reuters.com/article/thailand-rice/update-2-thai-rice-exporters-cut-2019-target-for-
annual-exports-idUSL4N24P10C
Indonesia Warns of Rice Crop Damage in Drought-Parched
Fields

By Eko Listiyorini
and Yoga Rusmana
July 24, 2019, 2:18 PM GMT+5 Updated on July 25, 2019, 10:42 AM GMT+5

Photographer: Agung Parameswara/Getty Images
Indonesia‘s rice crop is at risk of damage from an unusually long dry weather spell
that‘s gripped several producing regions, raising prospects of elevated imports for a
second year.
The dry weather has parched paddy fields across Java island, the main growing
region, and the agriculture ministry sees the harvest failing in more areas than the
20,000 hectares already reported, according to Edy Purnawan, director of crop
protection at the ministry.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-07-24/indonesia-warns-of-rice-crop-damage-as-drought-
parches-fields
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JULY 24, 2019
JULY 24, 2019 / 2:23 PM
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
* * * * * *
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-July 24, 2018 Nagpur, July 24 (Reuters) – Gram and
tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on good
demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing regions. Upward trend on NCDEX in gram
and fresh hike in Madhya Pradesh pulses prices and reported demand from South-based millers also
boosted prices. About 400 bags of gram and 250 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources.
GRAM
* Desi gram raw recovered in open market here on increased demand from local traders.
TUAR
* Tuar Karnataka firmed up again in open market here on good buying support from

local traders.
* Moong Chamki showed upward tendency in open market here on increased demand from
local traders amid thin supply from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,600-6,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,300-8,500, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 6,800-7,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,500-8,500, Gram – 4,400-4,500, Gram Super best
– 6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,900-4,190 3,900-4,130
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 4,900-5,780 4,900-5,725
Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500
Wheat Lokwan Auction 1,980-2,110 1,930-2,110
Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000
Gram Super Best Bold 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 4,500-4,600 4,500-4,600
Desi gram Raw 4,450-4,550 4,400-4,500
Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000

Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,600-8,800 8,600-8,800
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,200-8,400 8,200-8,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,900-8,200 7,900-8,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,200-7,700 7,200-7,700
Tuar Gavarani New 5,950-6,150 5,950-6,150
Tuar Karnataka 6,250-6,450 6,200-6,600
Masoor dal best 5,500-5,600 5,400-5,500
Masoor dal medium 5,200-5,400 5,100-5,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold (New) 8,200-9,000 8,200-9,000
Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-7,000 6,000-7,000
Moong dal Chilka New 6,800-7,800 6,800-7,800
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,300-8,800 8,200-8,700
Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-8,500 7,000-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,500 5,800-6,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,200-6,500 5,200-6,500
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-4,900 4,800-4,900
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,600-5,700 5,600-5,700
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300
Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,500
Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,500-3,000 2,500-3,000
Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000
Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,750 2,600-2,750
Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,500 2,200-2,500
Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,400 3,800-4,400
Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600
Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,800 5,500-5,800
Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000
Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200
Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 35.8
degree Celsius, minimum temp. 26.3 degree Celsius Rainfall : Nil FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky
with light rains. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 37 degree Celsius and 26
degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant
delivery prices, but included in market prices)https://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain/nagpur-
foodgrain-prices-open-july-24-2019-idINL4N24P2D1

N. Korea may reject S. Korea’s rice in response to joint
SK-US command post exercises
Posted on : Jul.24,2019 16:44 KST Modified on : Jul.24,2019 16:44 KST

The South Korean Ministry of Unification has indicated that North Korea may reject South Korea‘s
humanitarian food aid provided through the World Food Programme (WFP). The rejection is seen as a
response to the South Korea-US joint command post exercises scheduled for August. The Unification
Ministry has announced that it will confirm North Korea‘s official position via the WFP. (provided by the
WFP)
http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/903157.html
'Centre should procure more from FCI to aid farmers'
Team MP
23 July 2019 10:47 PM
Kolkata: Pradip Majumdar, Advisor to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Agriculture & Allied
Sectors, said on Tuesday that the Central procurement system should procure more from the state
through Food Corporation of India (FCI), for farmers to get optimum benefit. "Policy-wise Bengal
remains adept in maximising welfare for farmers, through crop diversification, Bangla Shashya Bima
Yojana (fully borne by the state government) and Bangla Sech Yojana for micro irrigation practices.
However, the Central procurement system should procure more from the state through FCI for
farmers to get the optimum benefit," Majumdar said at the Bengal Rice Conclave, organised by
Indian Chamber of Commerce. According to Majumdar, land usage is very high in Bengal and the
state contributes to around 5 percent of global rice production, higher than the U.S, Latin America
and Africa taken together. "In a surplus situation like this, it is important to look at commercially
gainful disposal methods of rice, so as to maximise the benefits for paddy growers," he added. He
further said that the state encourages crop diversification, which is the cultivation of crops other than
paddy such as oilseeds, pulses, maize etc. in those lands which are less conducive to rice production,
to ultimately cater to the greater good of the farmers. The focused deliberations in the conference
primarily centered around the rice production of the state, procurement process of paddy across the
state, mandi and market linkage in paddy sector in Bengal at district and village levels, marketing,
branding, storage and supply of the rice to processors, rice millers, traders, retailers and exporters
across the value chain. Experts opined that water efficient varieties of rice should be cultivated with
use of technology for better cultivation amid water shortage.
http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/centre-should-procure-more-from-fci-to-aid-farmers-
365058

USA Rice Awarded Additional $2.5 Million for Trade
Promotion
By Deborah Willenborg
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice has been awarded an additional $2,501,925 in Agricultural
Trade Promotion (ATP) funds to conduct international marketing and promotion activities as a
part of President Donald Trump's trade mitigation programs. This is the second tranche of ATP
funds; USA Rice already received $3,050,075 earlier this year bringing the total amount of ATP
funds for USA Rice to $5,552,000. These funds will be spread out over the next three years to
promote U.S. rice in more than 20 markets
worldwide.
"USA Rice ultimately received all of the ATP funds requested in the application which shows
how well our programs are viewed," said Terry Harris, chair of the USA Rice International

Promotion Committee. "The ATP funds have already led to astounding success for USA Rice
and USDA as they funded the recent trade seminars in Guangzhou where the first sale of U.S.
rice to China was made. We are grateful for the additional ATP funds that will enable us to
increase our presence in our top export markets as well as venture into new ones."
"With retaliatory tariffs impeding access in key markets such as Turkey and the EU, and the
growing presence of cheap Chinese rice in traditional U.S. markets, USA Rice will work with the
International Promotion Committee to develop innovative programs using the additional ATP
funds to counter these market challenges," said Sarah Moran, USA Rice vice president
international.
USA Rice Daily
Local rice industry to receive major boost
Kelly VacalaMultimedia Journalistkelly.vacala@fbc.com.fj | @KellyFBCNews
JULY 25, 2019 4:35 PM
Production of rice in the country will soon receive a major boost.

This follows technical support that will be provided by hybrid rice experts from China.
The Agriculture Ministry and China‘s Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company Limited
held discussions on this recent development in Nadi this week.
It is part of Fiji and China‘s developed cooperation to support the improvement of the Fiji rice
revitalization program.
Minister for Agriculture Dr. Mahendra Reddy says the series of
meetings mapped new deliverable objectives for the development
of a new hybrid rice variety.He says ways to boost production
from its current low progress over the past 2 years towards a self-
sufficient rice Fiji were also agreed upon.Dr. Reddy says they
want local expertise in developing hybrid rice and they‘ve agreed
to send four of their staff to the Research Centre in China for a
period of three months
Due to the low germination percentage and sterility of harvested hybrid rice when harvested by
farmers directly, the Ministry research stations will develop seeds for farmers and distribute them
for commercial use.
The Chinese delegates visited rice farmers in the Western Division, Koronivia Research Station
and will be in the North to visit the rice development project currently being undertaken in the
Dreketi irrigated areas.
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/local-rice-industry-to-receive-major-boost/
8:47 AM (IST)
Varsity faculty awarded by American Association of Cereal
Chemists
FacebookTwitterEmailPrint

Jul 25, 2019, 8:47 AM; last updated: Jul 25, 2019,
Dr. NArpinder SIngh
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 24
Dr Narpinder Singh, Director Research and Head, Department of Food
Science and Technology of Guru Nanak Dev University, has been
awarded with the fellow of American Association of Cereal Chemists
(AACC) International in recognition of his distinguished contributions
in the field of cereal science and technology.Singh is working in the
areas of starch and protein chemistry, extruded products, modified
starches, baked products, cereal and legumes quality, milling, gluten-
free product development, selection of raw material, etc. He carried out extensive work on
establishment of structure-function relationship in starch present in different crops (potato, corn,
rice, wheat, field peas, chickpea, kidney beans, rice bean, black gram, amaranth, sorghum,
mango kernel, unripe apples) using advanced and modern techniques. The fundamental
knowledge on protein secondary structure, and structure-function relationship combined with
thermal properties and rheology, was used to identify targeted application of pulse proteins in
food industry. He has also used pulse protein isolates in the formulation for gluten-free products.
He has attracted around Rs 793 lakh extramural research projects as principal/co principal
investigator and Rs 269 lakh infrastructural grants for his department. Two hundred and forty-
five peer-reviewed research papers by him have been published in high impact journals with
more than 12,000 citations and h-index of 60 on Google scholar.
The ceremony of this award will be held at the upcoming AACC international meeting at
Denver, Colorado, USA. The AACC international is a global nonprofit association of nearly
2,000 scientists and food industry professionals working to advance the understanding and
knowledge of cereal grain science and its product development through research, leadership,
education, superior technical service and advocacy.
Singh is an internationally renowned food technologist and is the fellow of various esteemed
Indian academics (INSA, NASI, NAAS and AFSTI). He also holds various prestigious awards
―ICAR Rafi Ahmed Kadwai Award and JC Bose National Fellowship of Department of Science

and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for outstanding research in
his field.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/amritsar/varsity-faculty-awarded-by-american-association-of-cereal-
chemists/807565.html
Rice straw fiberboard plant is starting to hire
By LAURA URSENY | lurseny@chicoer.com | Chico Enterprise-Record
PUBLISHED: July 24, 2019 at 4:20 am | UPDATED: July 24, 2019 at 1:41 pm
WILLOWS — In less than a month, hiring for
employees to operate a unique fiberboard plant
in Willows will begin.
CalPlant 1 will be making medium density fiberboard made from rice straw, and is expected to
be operational later this year.
The hiring event is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Willows City Hall, 201 North Lassen.
Applicants are being asked to bring an application, which is available online, a cover letter and
resume with them. Applications are available at https://calplant1.com/careers or from Glenn
Grows Business and Employment Resource Center, 125 E. Walker St., Orland.
Positions include production/control room operators, plan maintenance and electricians,
shipping and forklift operators, straw receiving and retrieval operators, accounting and office
support, among others.

The $315 million plant, located on Highway 162 west of Willows,
has been under construction since 2017, and is in the final stages of
preparation for operating 24/7 sometime in November.
According to Elizabeth Whalen of CalPlant 1, the plant would be
staffed by about 115 full-time employees, with additional part-timers
during straw procurement. Jody Samons of Glenn Grows Business in Orland, which is
distributing applications, the first three waves of interviewing hopes to land about 62
employees.
Innovation
Working on it for more than 20 years, founder Jerry Uhland of Willows says it is the first
commercial fiberboard plant in North America to use rice straw, capturing a ready supply from
growers while providing solutions for environmental issues. Uhland estimated there‘s plenty of
rice straw supply in a 15- to 25-mile radius of the 275-acre plant.
The facility is expected to process about 275,000 tons of rice straw annually, and the plant site
has been collecting bailed straw since 2017.
The process has attracted industry attention, because fiberboard is usually created from lesser
wood pieces, and uses formaldehyde in the adhesive process.
Uhland developed the process using rice straw, less water, and no added formaldehyde.
Cutting and removing rice straw also means rice growers will save water commonly used for
helping the crop decompose.
The fiberboard would be used for making furniture, cabinetry and doors, among other items.
The mechanized equipment to produce the fiberboard is made by the German company
Siempelkamp.
The plant process includes removal of bale twine as well as straw shredder, a cleaning system
to remove coarse pieces and dust. The project also includes two refiners to turn rice straw into
fiber.
A natural gas fiber dryer will be used to clear moisture from the fiber.
At the core of the plant will be an energy-efficient press, Siempelkamp noted.
According to the CalPlant1 website, Columbia Forest Products is the exclusive sales agent for
the fiberboard, and manufactures hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer products.

Both Siempelkamp and Columbia are minor investors in the project.
Laura Urseny
Laura Urseny is a business and general news reporter, as well as a columnist. Reach her at
lurseny@chicoer.com or follow Laura on Twitter: @LauraUrseny
https://www.chicoer.com/2019/07/24/rice-straw-fiberboard-plant-is-starting-to-hire/
Some Arkansas rice, soybean growers face latest twist in a
difficult year
Arkansas may have escaped the worst of Hurricane Barry, but crops in many areas are struggling
to move past the effects
Ryan McGeeney | Jul 23, 2019
While most of Arkansas may have escaped the worst of what Hurricane Barry augured in
potential wind and rain, crops in many areas are struggling to move past the primary and
secondary effects of the latest twist in an already difficult year.
Chad Norton, soybean and wheat verification coordinator for the University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Monticello, said
several fields that he oversees received at least 9 inches of rain between July 15-16, when
remnants of Barry pushed through portions of the state.
Many soybean plots throughout the southern portion of Arkansas were already five to six weeks
behind the normal crop schedule, due to late planting in the spring. The deluge, he said, will
simply delay or further stunt soybean progress even further.

―Any soil-applied herbicides I had out there are
just washed out — they‘re gone,‖ Norton said.
―I‘m worried about pigweeds — the soil‘s so wet,
I don‘t think I can get back in there and control
them. That‘s what‘s on my mind right now.
―There were several fields going underwater,
especially in Jefferson, Arkansas and other
counties, where the heavy rain fell. What lives
through that is going to be stunted and hurt for a
little while longer,‖ he said.The delayed planting
and torrential rains are also compounded by the
fact that much of the soybean seed growers began
with this year was also of lower quality, as the
2018 harvest was also impacted by heavy rainfall
that began in September.―We had such a terrible
fall last year that the seed quality we were working with this year was also terrible,‖ Norton said.
―I know of several fields that had to be replanted three or four times — not from weather, just
from poor seed quality. One field, for example, planted 340,000 seeds, and they got 65,000-
75,000 plants come up.
―It‘s a perfect storm — we were late because of the weather, and we had terrible seed quality,‖
he said. ―It bit some people, it really did. I struggled in my program to get the stands I got. I
normally get 125,000-130,000 plants per acre; I‘ve got several fields with 85,000-90,000 plants
per acre. That‘s just how this year‘s been.‖

Norton said that at this point in the year, he found it unlikely that growers could get their
money‘s worth out of another round of replanting soybeans, given the natural reductions in yield
inherent in such late planting.
―Driving around the past couple of weeks, I‘ve seen beans that are just now coming out of the
ground,‖ he said. ―So people did do some July planting, but I don‘t think you could ever get your
money back if you planted today. We‘ve lost too much relative yield, day-to-day, by this date.‖
Rice
Isolated rice fields in the state also bore some of Barry‘s brunt throughout the week. Jarrod
Hardke, extension rice agronomist for the Division of Agriculture, said some rice fields between
Pine Bluff and Stuttgart received 6-8 inches of rain, with reports of blown levees in narrow
bands in the southern half of the state.
―But most of the eastern Delta region got 3-4 inches of rain,‖ Hardke said. ―Certainly enough to
pop a levee here and there. But a lot of that water was spread out over several days, which
certainly helped with managing it, because it didn‘t all come in a single deluge, like we were
anticipating.
―Some of the heavier rain submerged some of the more mature rice in the state,‖ he said. ―We
were hoping we could get that water off those fields rapidly — older rice does not withstand
being flooded for very long. We need to get that water off within seven days, if at all possible.
Usually, if it stays under for 10 days, it‘s done. When the water comes off, it‘s going to fall down
and rot at that point. Those are still isolated incidents, but they are out there.‖

Hardke said that despite the many setbacks that have already faced Arkansas rice growers in
2019, the overall crop looks good at this point — and that there may, in fact, be silver linings
ahead.
―There‘s a precedent — even when we‘re in delayed planting — if we get to follow that with a
mild summer and avoid extreme, excessive heat during the reproductive growth stages, we can
still make some very good yields,‖ Hardke said. ―And this is across commodities.
―It certainly hasn‘t been made yet, on any of those fronts, but we have to try to remain a little
optimistic that we still have some very good yields left in us,‖ he said.
While forecasts from the National Weather Service put much of Arkansas under a heat advisory
Friday and Saturday, temperatures are predicted to drop into the 80s next week, during what is
often the first of the two hottest weeks of the year for the state.
―That might be a shock to the system,‖ Hardke said. ―The biggest problem with it is just a
general slow-down of the crop progression. It won‘t hurt anything, but it will cost us a little bit of
time, in terms of getting this crop to the finish line, and getting it out of there.
―I guess that‘ll be the next oddity that 2019 will throw at us: a strange, late cool-down in July,‖
he said. ―And then we‘ll have to wait and see what‘s next.‖
https://www.farmprogress.com/rice/some-rice-and-soybean-growers-face-latest-twist-difficult-year
Villar says new rice tariff law is ok; problem is its
implementation
By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 02:17 PM July 25, 2019

Senator Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Senator Cynthia Villar – the sponsor and principal author of the rice import
liberalization law – has opposed calls from various industry stakeholders to review the measure
following the drastic decline in palay prices that only resulted in minimal cuts in rice prices.
However, the lawmaker said there have been flaws in its implementation which the Senate would
tackle through an oversight committee that she would lead.
―There is issue in the implementation of the law, not the law itself. The law is very good… We
haven‘t tried the law then we are reviewing the law? What kind of people we are? We will do
oversight,‖ Villar said in an interview with reporters during the sidelines of the recent 2019
Sustainable Agriculture Forum.

She added that those who are calling for the review of the measure ―do not even understand the
bill,‖ noting that its passage was required under the country‘s agreement with the World Trade
Organization (WTO).
In 1995, the Philippines allowed the entry of imported rice in the country in exchange for lower
tariff rates and more flexible trade pacts provided that there would be a limit.
However, the consensus with WTO already expired last year. To avoid incurring penalties, the
country must now liberalize the rice industry.
Villar said the oversight committee would instead focus on why half of the P10-billion rice
competitiveness enhancement fund (RCEF) under the measure was not utilized in accordance with
the law.
Earlier this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) gave P5 billion to the
Department of Agriculture for its rice program as a supplement to its annual rice fund.
However, the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) said the money was part of
the RCEF fund, and must be used for projects that meet the mandate of the new rice law.
―They (DBM) gave P5 billion but that was not spent for the law‘s rice program that‘s why we will
call on the agency [to explain] where the money went… Explain to us because in the law, there is
earmarking for mechanization, for seed production, cheap credit and for training. Where did they
use the money? Those were not followed,‖ Villar said.
The dispute between Neda and the Department of Agriculture would spell how much support the
rice sector would get following the deregulation of rice trade. As long as the issue is not resolved,
farmers would not get the entire P10-billion subsidy they were promised to receive annually.
The rice import liberalization law, passed barely four months ago, has already resulted in the
continuous decline in the buying price of palay at the rate that‘s been hurting local farmers. In

some provinces, there have been reports that rates had plummeted to as low as P12 a kilogram or
the same as the average cost of producing rice.
Despite the massive drop in palay prices, rice prices in the market have registered minimal
decreases. This imbalance, stakeholders said, were due to importers and traders who bought
imported rice at low prices and yet sold them to retailers at jacked-up rates.
Villar said the issue on undervaluation and smuggling must be addressed by the Bureau of
Customs, and emphasized that there will be no review or amendments of the new rice policy. /jpv
https://business.inquirer.net/275425/villar-says-new-rice-tariff-law-is-ok-problem-is-its-implementation
Rookie solon asks Duterte to listen to farmers more
July 24, 2019, 5:23 PM
By Ellson Quismorio
President Rodrigo Duterte should lend his ear more to farmers amid the implementation of the
burdensome Republic Act (RA) 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law, Magsasaka Party-List Rep.
Argel Cabatbat said on Wednesday.
Magsasaka Party-List Rep. Argel Cabatbat
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
―We have no doubts that the President‘s intentions are sincere, but we urge him to listen more to
the pleas of poor farmers and agricultural workers who are now hard pressed due to the adverse
impact of the recent passage of the Rice Tariffication Law,‖ Cabatbat said.
―The President would be best advised to know that the unlimited rice importation–while it may
have made cheaper prices of rice available in the local markets–has dragged palay (unmilled
rice) prices down by 36 percent at the expense of our local farmers,‖ explained the neophyte
solon.
Cabatbat said the promised benefits of lower rice prices under the regime of tariffication have
been negligible, with its market price only decreasing by two percent.

―If left unchecked, and, God forbid, if left to the hands of opportunistic businessmen, more and
more Filipino farmers [will] face certain starvation and poverty,‖ he said.
The rookie congressman has in fact filed House Resolution (HR) No. 21, which seeks the
conduct of an immediate review of the Rice Tariffication Law.
―Itutuloy po natin ang pag-repaso ng batas na ito upang sagipin ang naghihingalong kabuhayan
ng mga kapatid nating magsasaka (We will push for the review of this law in order to save the
dwindling livelihood of our farmer-siblings).
―Our farmers have suffered long enough…We hope that the President will come to the aid of our
farmers and their families. Time to act now before it is too late,‖ Cabatbat said.
RA 11203 lifts the quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice, thus liberalizing the entry of relatively
cheaper rice imports. Tariffs will take the place of the QRs.
A key provision of the law is the creation of the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF)–a
P10-billion annual subsidy that is meant to boost local farmers‘ competitiveness through farm
mechanization, purchase of superior seedlings and expanded rice credit assistance.

His plea notwithstanding, Cabatbat said the Chief Executive deserves commendation ―for laying
down a number of general instructions to assist our poor farmers‖ during the latter‘s fourth State
of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday.
―For one, we specifically welcome his ultimatum for LandBank to help our farmers, which is to
allow them to have access to capital, credit and other services. Otherwise, he will ask Congress
to ‗reconfigure‘ its mandate,‖ he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/07/24/rookie-solon-asks-duterte-to-listen-to-farmers-more/
Professionals, farmers commend CBN’s policy on
milk, dairy imports
By Femi Ibirogba, Head, Agro-Economy
25 July 2019 | 3:29 am
Mechanically milked cow

Agricultural professionals, associations of farmers and entrepreneurs have expressed satisfaction
over the proposed restrictions on importation of milk and other dairy products into the country
by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
While speaking with The Guardian, they were optimistic that the restriction would ensure that
companies importing the products invest in a local production of the raw materials, which, in
turn, would stimulate the economy through employment creation, circular flow of income and
reduction of pressure of foreign exchange and inflation.
Professor Lateef Sanni, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture
Abeokuta (FUNAAB), said despite efforts of the government, there had been counter-efforts to
also undermine the plan of the government on import substitutions.
―That is why I will not go against the decision of the CBN. The second point is that what the
CBN is trying to do may enhance research and rapid upgrade of new dairy and milk products in
the country,‖ he said.
Prof. Sanni added that there were several ways through which Nigeria could increase the volume
of production, saying, ―that is where the government is going. If any manufacturing entity has
something it can bring in, it should add local content into it.
―What we have now are either imported or smuggled into the country. When will Nigeria grow?‖
The administrator said the Nigerian animal scientists had been working to stimulate catalytic
actions, ―and soon, we would have higher-yielding breeds of cattle in this country. The most
important thing is how to enhance production and manufacturing capacity locally.‖
Professor Morenike Dipeolu, a veterinary doctor and animal breeding specialist, also pitched her
tent with the CBN on the decision, saying, ―I think the angle of the CBN is good. It will
stimulate local production. Even if we are going to bring some things in, let local production be
stimulated.‖
However, she advocated gradual restriction to avoid a total shutdown of the production that
might result if the firms using such products are unable to secure raw materials.
―It is not a bad idea at all. But what will not be okay is a total shutdown; a total shutdown in the

sense that they ban completely.
―Until we get to that point where we say no, we don‘t need importation, we will not grow. It can
be done. It is a right step in the right direction,‖ she said.
Dr Ademole Raji, a former Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Federal Ministry
of Agriculture, and ex-provost of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production
Technology, Ibadan, said genetic improvement of the available breeds of cattle is germane to the
productivity of local dairy.
The productivity of milk in Nigeria is about one litre per day due to poor genetic resources,
compared to about 20 to 50 litres per cow daily using improved varieties.
Dr Raji said: ―The issue is that there is scarcity in term of low production, not that we are not
producing but it is expensive. Most of our animals produce less than one litre of milk daily.
―So, continuous upgrading and improvement of genetic qualities in the animal that will produce
more milk will increase and will even stimulate modern ranching.‖
Raji, however, disclosed that local genetic improvement had been happening in Oyo north areas
of Isheyin, Oyo and Shaki.
He said a popular milk-processing firm had been collecting milk daily from smallholding cattle
owners around the areas before the CBN‘s pronouncement, saying it appeared to be a very good
model that other dairy companies could understudy, modify if possible and adopt.
The animal scientist also disclosed that as a result of cross-breeding experiments and
improvement locally, breeds that could produce up to 10 litres of milk in the rainy season had
been developed.
President of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Mohammadu
Kariwu, when contacted in a telephone call on how the CBN policy would affect cattle herders,
said, ―I am not talking on the telephone.‖
Kabir Ibrahim, current president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said if the
CBN was opening another window for livestock development along with the current efforts,
there was no harm in limited protectionism before achieving permanent peace between the

herders and the farmers.
He said: ―The Livestock Transformation Plan will drive the process sustainably if allowed to be
deployed broadly. There is a lot to be done to encourage self-sufficiency in milk and protein
production from the current livestock in Nigeria. It will take some time but it is doable.‖
Also, AFAN chairman in Lagos State, Chief Olufemi Oke, said, ―It is right to increase our local
production first. But my opinion is that we have to start somewhere. If the policy is not
pronounced, we will not be serious about increasing production.
―It is not that we have sufficient production of rice as of the time the government said we were
no longer importing rice.
―Nasir el-Rufai in Kaduna State has done well in dairy production in the state. It is a laudable
project, and many other states can do so.
―Restricting the importation is a welcome idea to encourage our local production,‖ he added.
However, some agro-allied analysts said pronouncements without resolving herder-farmer crises,
or consultation with processors, producers of local milk and dairy products would not help the
industry.
They criticised making hasty pronouncements without wider consultations with value chain
players to fashion out the modalities for integrated industrial plans, saying such hasty actions had
been preventing proper design and implementation of policies not only in the agro-economic
sector but also in other sectors.
https://guardian.ng/features/professionals-farmers-commend-cbns-policy-on-milk-dairy-imports/
OTS policy to recover Rs2K cr dues from millers on cards
Nearly 600 mills owe money to govt for undelivered rice Posted at: Jul 25, 2019, 7:01 AM; last
updated: Jul 25, 2019, 7:01 AM (IST)
Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food and Civil supplies minister :Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 24

The state government is all set to bring out a one-time
settlement (OTS) policy for settling all pending disputes with
the 600-odd rice milling units. The policy is aimed at recovering
Rs 2,000 crore due from millers on account of undelivered rice
and interest incurred on late delivery. Those availing the OTS
policy will have to pay the principal amount, while the interest
on the dues will be waived. The principal amount, however, will
be calculated on the prevalent rates of paddy or rice, as the case
may be. The policy will be applicable to all defaulting mills on
account of any pending litigation with the state, including cases
of paddy/rice stocks falling short, dispute over quantity of
paddy sent to mills and rice filled in gunny bags by the millers
for delivery, late delivery and interest to be charged thereon.
These broad outlines of the policy have been agreed upon
between the finance and the food departments in a series of
meetings held this week.
The dues are pending since 1994 onwards. This is the second OTS policy for rice mills being
brought by the Capt Amarinder Singh government. The previous OTS policy of 2017 had failed
to yield the desired results.
Food and Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said all pending issues of defaulting rice mills
would be covered to ensure maximum results. ―Our intention is to clear the backlog and recover
hundreds of crores from these mills,‖ he said. The minister said the maximum default by rice
mills was seen in 1994-95. 1999-2000 and 2009-10 milling seasons.
The previous OTS policy of 2017 had led to a miniscule recovery of just Rs 22 crore. Tarsem
Saini, from the Punjab Rice Millers Association, says the reason for the failure was that millers
were asked to return the principal amount with 10 per cent interest. ―An OTS will be successful
only if the interest amount is waived and an upper limit is kept on the amount that is to be
recovered from the miller,‖ he added.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/ots-policy-to-recover-rs2k-cr-dues-from-millers-on-
cards/807312.html

Rice imports undervalued? 'That's BOC's problem,'
says Cynthia Villar
Senator Cynthia Villar says the problem isn't in the rice tariffication law which she authored
Anna Mogato
Published 8:25 PM, July 24, 2019
Updated 8:25 PM, July 24, 2019
RICE TARIFFICATION. Senator Cynthia Villar says there's no problem with the rice
tariffication law, which only took effect in March 2019. Photo from Villar's office
MANILA, Philippines – Even after government agencies flagged the undervaluation of imported
rice, Senator Cynthia Villar said there is still no need to review the recently passed law that
allowed uninhibited importation of the national food staple.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines'
sustainable agriculture forum on Wednesday, July 24, Villar said the issue of undervalued rice
imports is a matter of implementation.
"That's BOC's (Bureau of Customs) problem, not mine. That's smuggling. That's why one of the
suggestions here is the institutionalization of the national single window system," she added.
"That national single window system will computerize BOC so lahat nasa computer, not at the
discretion ng mga tao roon (so that everything will be stored in computers, not at the discretion
of people there)."
Villar, who again heads the Senate committee on food and agriculture in the 18th Congress,
authored the rice tariffication law or Republic Act No. 11203 during the 17th Congress.
"We haven‘t implemented the law, [and now] we are reviewing the law? What kind of people
[are we]?" she said.
Refiling other bills
Villar also said she will refile a number of agriculture-related bills. These include:

 the vetoed coco levy fund bill
 the free index-based agriculture insurance bill
 the Philippine livestock, poultry, and dairy industry development bill
President Rodrigo Duterte had said he would want to have the coco levy fund bill passed into
law in 2019, after previously vetoing it.
Villar also plans to push for the separation of the food and drug approving functions of the Food
and Drug Administration to speed up its approval of patents.
She also said reforms must be passed to boost the Philippines' fiber industry. – Rappler.com
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1718299/low-rainfall-dries-up-rice-exports
Poor rain won’t hit paddy output: P K Majumdar
TNN | Updated: Jul 24, 2019, 8:14 IST
Bengal‘s paddy harvest is around 23.46 million tonnes while 15.6 million tonnes of rice were
procured during 2...Read More

KOLKATA: The delay in arrival of monsoon in Bengal will not spell doom for paddy cultivation
across the state and the government is ready to tackle any situation owing to scanty/sporadic
rainfall, P K Majumdar, adviser to CM Mamata Banerjee on agriculture and allied sectors, said
here on Tuesday.
Majumdar, who spoke at Bengal Rice Conclave organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce,
told TOI: ―Rain is likely to hit the state on July 25. This will facilitate paddy harvest in south
Bengal. Nevertheless, water preservation and irrigation practices in the state have been
combating rain shortage this year. In north Bengal, preparation for paddy cultivation is in full
swing after a heavy downpour. I don‘t think the paddy harvest will be affected by weather-
related factors and is likely to be around 25 million tonnes.‖
Bengal‘s paddy harvest is around 23.46 million tonnes while 15.6 million tonnes of rice were
procured during 2017-18. ―The real challenge for agriculture is to ensure adequate demand for
any particular variety of crop. Farmers should not be treated as guinea pigs and encouraged to
yield crops having no or poor demand…Bengal contributes around 5% of global rice production,
higher than the US, Latin America and Africa taken together,‖ said Majumdar.
However, rice millers say uncertainty looms over their business due to the out-turn ratio fixed by
Centre for conversion of paddy into rice. ―The Centre has fixed the ratio at 68% without any
preliminary research. Besides, principal market yards (mandi) across the state don‘t have proper
infrastructure. Moisture content is high in Bengal‘s paddy that is sent for milling without proper
cleaning,‖ Asok Santra, chief adviser to Bengal Rice Mills Association, told TOI.
―Bengal Rice Mills Association has urged the Centre to hold talks with Bangladesh to boost
export of non-basmati rice,‖ added Santra. ICC director Madhuparna Bhowmick said Tuesday‘s
conclave focussed exclusively on rice production in Bengal. The event was held earlier in
Odisha, Vijayawada and Bihar.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/70354347.cms?utm_source=contentofinteres
t&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Big dams let water out to save rice crop
PUBLISHED : 24 JUL 2019 AT 06:18
NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS
WRITER: POST REPORTERS

Water discharge from the country's two main dams, Bhumibol and Sirikit, is being sped up in a
race against time to save vast areas of recently-planted paddy rice from drying out, according to
the Agriculture Ministry.
The efforts are part of a bid to supply enough water to feed the fields in the Central Plains.
Many areas are being targeted to receive the water with more than 17 million rai of paddy fields
at risk of being lost.
Deputy Agricultural Minister Prapat Pothasuthon said Bhumibol dam in Tak province has been
releasing water at a rate of 25 million cubic metres (m³) per day, up from 23 million m³ per day
during the same period last year.
Sirikit dam in Uttaradit has seen a discharge of 20 million m³ of water per day, a million more
than last year, the deputy minister said.
The two dams upped their discharge rate on Sunday and the water is expected to reach the
country's important rice-growing areas in the Central Plains tomorrow), he said.
More than 400 water pump stations along the Ping and Nan rivers are now being ordered to
suspend operation for three days to keep water from being siphoned off along the way so there is
enough to flow to the targeted areas, he said.

In other drought-affected areas of the country, temporary centres were opened to coordinate help
from the Interior Ministry, the Agriculture Ministry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environment to mitigate the impact of the drought, said Mr Prapat.
Provincial centres are also surveying locations suitable for groundwater drilling, he added.
Interior permanent secretary Chatchai Phromloet, meanwhile, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-
o-cha had instructed the military to deploy aircraft and mobilise personnel to support artificial
rain-making operations.The premier also ordered the provincial authorities to survey areas at risk
of their taps running dry.The survey will involve locating alternative sources of water, said Mr
Chatchai.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1717559/big-dams-let-water-out-to-save-rice-
crop
Rice exports down on strong baht
Shipments down 19.6% in first 6 months
WRITER: REUTERS
Rice exporters on Wednesday lowered their target for the year from 9.5 million tonnes to 9
million, after a sharp fall in first-half shipments due to the strong baht and ample global
stockpiles.

Thailand's rice exports from January to June this year fell 19.6% compared with the same period
last year, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said.
"With volumes of shipments constantly declining from January, our best performance would be
9 million tonnes," Charoen Laothamatas, president of the exporters group, told reporters.
The new target is about 20% less than the 11.23 million tonnes that Thailand - the world's
second-largest rice exporter after India - shipped out in 2018.
The country has been struggling to export rice at a time when the Thai baht, Asia's best
performing currency, is trading near its strongest in more than six years.
It has also faced competition from China, the world's biggest rice importer and Thailand's No.3
buyer last year, which has been offloading its own stockpiles.
China nearly doubled its rice exports in the first half of 2019, compared to last year, said
Somkiat Makcayathorn, the association's secretary-general.
"China's rice imports are decreasing due to their huge stockples. Now they're exporting more as
well," he said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1717995/rice-exports-down-on-strong-baht

Low rainfall to hit rice exports
WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Low rainfall will possibly lower rice exports to 8.5 million tonnes this year, the lowest volume in seven
years. (Photo by Yongyuth Pupuangphet)
Low rainfall, if it extends until August, will possibly lower rice exports to 8.5 million tonnes this
year, the lowest volume in seven years, according to shippers.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said on
Wednesday this is a tough year for the rice industry because of prolonged low rain levels in the
Northeast and the stronger baht.He estimated the impact of the baht's gain to an average 30.8
baht per US dollar now from 32 baht early in the year had already cost Thailand‘s overall rice
export income about 20 billion baht.
―We need to wait and see if the rain will fall in August. If it does not come by August, the worst-
case scenario is a severe impact, cutting hom mali paddy rice production in the Northeast by
around 40-50% to 4-4.5 million tonnes from normal production of 8.5-9 million tonnes,‖ he said.
Mr Chookiat said milled Thai hom mali rice supply is expected to fall accordingly to only 2
million tonnes from 4 million, leading Thailand without premium rice for export.Domestic
consumption of hom mali rice is normally about 2 million tonnes a year.―The long drought is
likely to drive the prices of Thai hom mali paddy to surge to 25,000 baht per tonne from 16,000
baht per tonne, with the prices of domestic milled hom mali rice rising to 36,000 baht per tonne
from 25,000 baht per tonne,‖ he said.
Mr Chookiat said if the rainfall comes earlier, Thailand still has a chance to export 1 million
tonnes of hom mali rice, with its price increasing to perhaps US$1,500 per tonne from $1,100
last year.―The low rainfall is historically prolonged this year, and the association has scheduled a
visit to the Northeast in August to evaluate how the drought is affecting the region‘s rice
production,‖ he said.

Charoen Laothamatas, president of the association, said Thailand‘s rice shipments hit the lowest
rate in June at only 578,000 tonnes compared with an average of 720,000 tonnes in previous
months of this year.The drop has led Thailand‘s rice exports in the first six months of the year to
fall by 19.6% from the same period last year to only 4.36 million tonnes.
The new target is about 20% less than the 11.23 million tonnes that the country shipped in 2018.
This year's volume is expected to be worth about $4.7 billion, down 17% from 2018.
Regarding a sharp fall in the six-month shipments, the association yesterday officially lowered
the target for annual exports to 9 million tonnes from 9.5 million.Of the total, white rice will
account for 3.9 million tonnes, followed by parboiled rice at 2.8 million tonnes, hom mali rice
for 1.3 million tonnes, Thai aromatic rice at 600,000 tones and glutinous rice at 400,000 tonnes.
Mr Charoen said key threats to Thailand‘s rice exports include the comparatively strong baht and
lower purchase demand from China, which holds hefty rice stocks.Key rice-importing countries
have also changed their rice purchase policies. For instance, the Philippines has allowed its
private sector to play a greater role in rice imports, making competition in the domestic market
become stiffer.Drought will cut the country‘s overall rice production and may result in higher
rice prices, he said.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1718139/low-rainfall-to-hit-rice-exports

IRRI workshop tackles climate
07.24.2019
By Holly Demaree-Saddler
LOS BANOS, PHILIPPINES — A climate-themed workshop hosted in three countries
assembled to propose policy recommendations to promote widespread adoption of research-
proven climate-smart practices and varieties for intensive and sustainable production in rice-
based systems.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in
partnership with the national research and extension systems (NARES) of Bangladesh, Nepal
and Cambodia, hosted the workshop on July 14 in Dhaka, Bangladesh; on July 16 in Kathmandu,
Nepal; and on July 18 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
―Climate change continues to wreak havoc on rice farming -- and will continue to do so into the
foreseeable future -- but we have the know-how to help our rice farmers become more resilient
and better cope with its effects,‖ said Arvind Kumar, director of IRRI‘s South Asia Regional
Centre and IRRI India Representative. ―We just need the help of our leaders to integrate these
climate-smart agricultural technologies into the national agenda through the institutionalization
of supportive policies that are hinged on sound science that organizations such as IRRI provides.
However, we cannot do what we do without the support of partners and donors like the ADB, to
whom we are extremely grateful for this particular initiative.‖
Climate-smart practices and varieties were pilot tested in each of the three countries under ADB's
Technical Assistance - 9218 on ‗Investment Assessment and Application of High-level
Technology for Food Security in Asia and the Pacific.‘ The pilot projects, led by IRRI in
partnership with the countries‘ NARES, involved testing a suite of climate-smart rice-based
production technologies, which included direct-seeded rice (DSR), alternate wetting and drying
(AWD), rice-based inter-seasonal multi-cropping, and best management methods. The adoption
of these water-, labor-, and energy-saving technologies showed huge potential in increasing
yields in rice, boosting profits of farmers through diversification, reducing the drudgery of labor
through mechanization, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
According to IRRI, DSR and AWD are examples of climate change coping mechanisms that
particularly address one of the main challenges in rice-based farming: the use of water. These
technologies increase the productivity of the main sources of water used in rice farming by

reducing water losses and changing traditional practices that contribute to suboptimal use of
water.
On the other hand, diversified rice-based multiple cropping system with high-value crops
improves farm productivity and farmers‘ incomes, IRRI noted. Additionally, the application of
best management practices promotes the efficient use of scarce resources such as soil nutrients
while protecting and conserving the natural resource base.
―ADB is proud to support the development and field-testing of these cost-effective, profitable,
and climate-smart practices for intensive and sustainable rice-based farming in Bangladesh,
Cambodia, and Nepal, as well as these policy workshops to scale up these practices,‖ said Dr.
Akmal Siddiq, Chief of Rural Development and Food Security (Agriculture) of the ADB.
―We are confident that, if promoted and adopted on a wider scale by creating enabling national
policies, these climate-smart solutions will help improve the resilience and profitability of
resource-poor rice farmers in the face of erratic climatic conditions and, consequently, improving
their lives.‖
The results and initial outcomes of the pilot projects were presented and assessed during the
policy workshops in the current country contexts. Country-specific policy recommendations will
be formulated based on the reported results and lessons learned.
ADB and IRRI said that they hope these countries will incorporate the recommendations in their
national agricultural agenda and enable the scaling up of the climate-smart technologies and
practices in rice-based systems that were tested in the pilot projects.
https://www.world-grain.com/articles/12365-irri-workshop-tackles-climate
Community farming in Goa emerges as a tool against land
conversion
Updated : July 24, 2019 04:03 PM IST
Many villagers in Goa have banded together to revive rice cultivation through collective
mechanised sowing and transplanting. The success in several villages has now become a
catalyst for others, particularly for those who want to resist real estate development.

The acreage under paddy cultivation has fallen significantly over the years in Goa. The
fallow fields have become prime targets of land sharks for building construction. Local
communities are resisting this.
For the grassroots co-operative rice farming movement to take root in the state, Goa needs
many more service providers for mechanised seeding and transplanting.
PAMELA DMELLO
Father George Quadros hit upon the idea of collective farming almost by accident. As an
amateur farmer, he has been dabbling in various cultivation methods since 1986 at southern
Goa‘s Don Bosco Loutolim Society (DBLS). A votary of farm mechanisation, Quadros
realised that although the use of machines reduced costs and boosted yields, the cost of
machinery was too high for smallholder farmers.
―The collective farming concept started because the machinery is costly, but is economical
over large areas,‖ said the 63-year-old Catholic Salesian priest. ―Farmers have to come
together if it has to work.‖

There was a breakthrough in November 2015, when Quadros deployed Japanese-made rice
nursery and transplanting machines on 3,000 sq. metres of paddy fields in Velsao village
through an initiative of DBLS called Goa Paddy. The trial saw costs shrinking, and the
harvest was plentiful.
Enthused by the success, Quadros convinced farmers in several villages in the vicinity to
try out co-operative paddy cultivation. During the 2016 Kharif (summer) cultivation
season, collective mechanised farming was put into practice in Loutolim (15,000 sq. m),
Curtorim-Maina (20,000 sq. m), Cavelossim (20,000 sq. m), and Carmona (40,000 sq. m)
villages.
The success of Velsao in the previous winter cropping season was repeated in these
villages. Since then, Goa Paddy has been working as a service provider to collective paddy
farming efforts in many other villages in south Goa. ―We move in clusters,‖ said Quadros.
―We appoint one person in each village to speak to farmers and get them together.
Bookings are taken in February-March.‖

By 2018, Velsao had 80,000 sq. m, Loutolim 250,000 sq. m, Curtorim-Maina 300,000 sq.
m, and Carmona 200,000 sq. m under collective paddy farming. Today, with two machines,
DBLS‘s nursery is capable of providing seed nursery preparation and transplanting services
for 150 hectares every season.
Father George Quadros on a paddy-transplanting machine. Photo courtesy goapaddy.com.
Decline in paddy cultivation
Goa has seen a decline in paddy cultivation in recent years because farmers and landowners
have been reluctant to practice the conventional, labour-intensive method of raising
nurseries and transplantation. The fall has been exacerbated in the past 10 years due to
prohibitively high labour costs and manpower shortages.
Rice production in Goa has risen to 113,227 tonnes in 2016-17 from 71,070 tonnes in
1987-88, according to the state‘s Directorate of Planning, Statistics and Evaluation.
However, land under paddy cultivation has reduced significantly to 31,000 ha today from
50,302 ha in 1961, official data from Goa‘s Directorate of Agriculture show.
This has led to large parcels of arable land lying fallow, which have in recent years become
prime targets of real estate developers. Building activity on farmland is seen as a danger to
biodiversity in a state where an aware citizenry has been protesting environmentally
destructive activities such as mining, coastal development and irresponsible building
construction. Co-operative farming is being seen as a way to stymie the rapid conversion of
farmland.
Mechanical transplanting underway in Cansaulim village in south Goa. Photo courtesy
goapaddy.com.
The state government has woken up to the problem as well. In a recent address, Goa Chief
Minister Pramod Sawant has underscored his government‘s shift towards reviving the
state‘s agriculture sector. ―During the Portuguese era, Goa‘s economy was entirely
dependent on agriculture, which was later replaced with other activities,‖ he said in the
month of May this year. ―Now, the youth should take up agriculture using all the incentives
available with the state government.‖

Sawant has exhorted the youth to take advantage of subsidies for community farming and
revive primary sector occupations like farming, pisciculture and dairying. These are
options, at a time of rising unemployment and disenchantment, due to the grounding of
mining activity and the downswing in tourism, the two key sectors of Goa‘s economy.
The state‘s agriculture department in October 2018 floated a scheme that promised 90%
subsidies for community farming, where more than 10 farmers pooled their land. In the
current Kharif season, four farming clubs have registered for the scheme.
However, before the government subsidies, a collective farming movement has been
building up from the ground, leaving the agricultural bureaucracy to follow the lead given
by citizens. The government‘s 2017-18 Economic Survey Report acknowledges this.
―The tendency to keep fertile paddy fields fallow needs to be vigorously fought. The Sao
Paulo Farmers Club, Nachinola, Bardez Goa has shown the way by getting even
disinterested landowners involved,‖ the report stated. ―It has taken up land preparation,
mechanized paddy transplanting, mechanized weeding and combine harvesting collectively

for the entire block of 4.00 ha in the possession of 31 members. Half of this area was under
organic cultivation. A small beginning to market paddy after milling by direct sale has been
made. It may be difficult to replicate this mode of farming everywhere. Hence, the concept
of ‗Community Farming‘ is being promoted.‖
Experiments to revive Goa’s rice fields
In 2018, threatened by plans for a coal transportation carriageway and the hunger for real
estate development, the northern Goa island village of St. Estevem adapted the DBLS
experiment to their village‘s fallow fields. In a show of unity and community spirit, the
Ilha Verde Farmers Club pooled some 450,000 (4.5 lakh) sq. m of fallow rice fields,
utilised machines of DBLS, and harvested a bumper 75,000 kg of rice in the Kharif season.
This was despite losing 30 percent of the crop due to natural causes and beginner‘s
mistakes.
This year, riding on its spectacular success and considerable media spotlight, the Ilha
Verde Farmers Club has doubled its target area, and has plans to grow rice on 1 million sq.
m of land. ―The St. Estevam experiment has given the entire agricultural sector in Goa
hope that mechanisation, land pooling, community farming and social marketing can work
and make Goa‘s rice fields a working reality once again,‖ said former agricultural officer
Miguel Braganza.
―St. Estevam succeeded because the people were united. They saw their village, land and
way of life threatened by a coal corridor and encroaching builder interests, and decided that
it was better to utilise fallow fields than be sitting ducks for a takeover,‖ said Club
President Nestor Rangel (51), an electrical engineer-turned-farmer. ―That was the
impetus.‖
Rice nursery mats await transplantation at St Estevam Island, Goa, in 2019. Photo by
Pamela D’Mello.
The St. Estevam community decided to follow organic methods to cultivate and then husk
the paddy into brown rice, which has seen a revival in demand in the state and has a robust
overseas market. The club‘s social marketing is a huge success, and the brown rice has
found many takers across the globe, said Club member Ansyl Gonsalves (23).

Despite the successes, spreading community farming is not without its hurdles. ―I held a
few meetings with farmers in Santa Cruz village, where I reside,‖ said Rangel. ―But I
wasn‘t able to succeed there.‖ The value of land in Santa Cruz, which adjoins state capital
Panjim, is so high that it is far more lucrative for tenant farmers to let fields lie fallow,
which are then surreptitiously swallowed by land sharks. ―People want to sell their fields,‖
said Rangel. ―Everyday, you will find people dumping mud and debris to fill up their fields
and convert them.‖
―Under Section 36 of the Agricultural Land Tenancy Act, the government is supposed to
survey and take over management of fields not cultivated for three years. But that is never
done,‖ said Tulio de Souza, President of the Guirim Comunidade. ―If we want to revive the
rice planting fields, the government has to use both a carrot and stick approach. Provide
subsidies, but hold out a threat that fallow fields will not be permitted.‖
The Comunidades of Goa are a form of land association where ownership was held
collectively. Comunidades like Guirim owned vast swathes of fields, cashew hillside

plantations and pasture land, but lost 70% of the land to tenants when the Tenancy Act
came into force in 1965. Quite a few tenant tillers gave up farming once they got a stake in
the land. This year, de Souza is making attempts to bring tenanted fields in Guirim under
community cultivation.
Community rice cultivation revival in Verna village in south Goa. Photo courtest
goapaddy.com
A major challenge co-operative farming faces in Goa is that there is not enough farming
machinery. The Don Bosco nursery runs two, and two of it‘s former trainees now run a
machine each with a capacity of 60 ha a season each. ―Other southern India states have 50-
100 machines up and running. They are way ahead. Goa needs at least 70 such service
providers for the sector to completely revive,‖ said Quadros. ―The sooner this happens, the
happier I will be to retire.‖
There is also a shortage of service providers for transplanting and seeding. Some
communities are hiring service providers from the neighbouring state of Karnataka but
that‘s not a long-term solution. The St. Estevam community has hired Karnataka-based
Surya Agri Solution this year. The village council of Bastora in northern Goa had hired a
service provider from Karnataka in 2018. ―Initially, 20 farmers banded together, with fields
ranging from 1000-3000 sq. m,‖ said Bhiva Bagkar, a village resident. ―We did well, so
this year more have joined us.‖
Retired corporate employee Andrew D‘Souza brought his family fields under cultivation
this June after a gap of six years. ―Mechanisation brings the cost down by a third,‖ he said.
However, mechanisation has progressed sporadically in the state, with success localised to
few farming clubs and areas. This needs to change for mechanised community farming to
take firmer root in Goa.
(This story was first published on Mongabay)
https://www.cnbctv18.com/economy/community-farming-in-goa-emerges-as-a-tool-against-
land-conversion-4050701.htm
Uganda: Museveni Orders Cancellation of Titles in Lwera
Wetland
By Malik Fahad Jjingo &al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa

President Museveni has said government will soon cancel land titles issued to individuals in
Lwera and other wetlands in Masaka Sub-region.
Mr Museveni while popularising his wealth creation campaign in Masaka sub-region on Tuesday
said wetlands are part of public land which should not be owned by individuals for their selfish
interests.
"Those that acquired titles in Lwera, they are also going to be cancelled. I am going to follow up
the matter with Ministry of Lands because no one is allowed to acquire a land title in wetlands.
Also those who have titles on Bigobyamugenyi cultural site land will be evicted from these
areas," Mr Museveni said while addressing a press conference at Masaka State Lodge.
The President's remarks were prompted by a question about an eviction notice to more than
1,000 people at Makukulu Village in Lyantonde District who are occupying government land.
In an April 26 eviction notice issued by the ministry of Agriculture addressed to the secretary of
the Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters, more than 1,000 people at Makukulu Village were
given a 90-day ultimatum to vacate and allow the ministry to repossess its land by July 31.
The disputed land used to house Makukulu Veterinary Field Station.
Bigobyamugenyi is a cultural heritage site at Kabeho Village, Ntuusi Sub-county in Sembabule
District.
It is believed to have been the capital of the Chwezi Dynasty and the Bachwezi allegedly
possessed supernatural powers that would enable them disappear mysteriously.
"... who are those settling in Bigobyamugenyi? They are going to be chased away by gods even
before government and court move in to evict them, it's a place for the Bachwezi, they will work
upon them," the President added.
Mr Museveni's remarks come a week after Daily Monitor published a story that National
Environment Management Authority (Nema ) had cleared Chinese investors operating in Lwera
to expand their rice fields on Block 184 Plot 254, 255, 256, and 258, Magezi-Kizungu ward
Lukaya Town Council, Kalungu District.
However, Nema in the Environmental Impact Assessment certificate issued to investors dated
December 21, 2018, warned the investors against extending their rice fields to plots 404, 406,
located in Kamuwunga A Village and Plots 337 and 336 located in Bulingo C Village, insisting
that these areas are located in Lake Victoria.

On the other part of Lwera located in Mpigi District, there are also individual businessmen and
companies that acquired titles and are engaging in sand mining and fish farming.
Before addressing the press conference, Mr Museveni first met local leaders from Masaka Sub-
region at Kitovu Sports Arena where he warned those growing rice in Lwera saying they are
destroying the eco-system of the area.
"I hear there are people growing rice in Lwera. I am going to chase them away. Rice [growing] is
kisirani [misfortune]," a source that attended the closed meeting, quoted Mr Museveni as having
said.
"What we should do, is digging fish ponds on the peripheral zones of wetlands, not inside, and
bring those youth who were destroying our lake and help them have fish ponds...," the President
said.
About the wetland
Lwera swamp, which stretches about 20kms on the Kampala-Masaka highway, is a major water
catchment area. It connects several rivers and wetlands in Gomba, Mpigi and Kalungu districts
and drains directly into Lake Victoria.Other depleted wetlands in Masaka include Nakayiba in
Nyendo, a Masaka Town suburb, and Nabajjuzi on the Masaka-Mbarara highway. Nakayiba
wetland forms part of Nabajjuzi wetland system, which is a tributary of Katonga River basin that
drains into Lake Victoria. Nabajjuzi, where National Water and Sewerage Corporation draws
water it supplies in Masaka Town, is also a protected Ramsar Site due to its importance for
people and animals. A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance
under the Ramsar Convention
https://allafrica.com/stories/201907250441.html
PFA Seals Factory, Seizes Over 7,000kg Adulterated
Spices
Zeeshan Aziz (@imziishan) Tue 23rd July 2019 | 11:30 PM
LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 23rd Jul, 2019 ) :The Punjab Food
Authority (PFA) has sealed a factory and confiscated more than 7,000kg tainted spices during an
operation in the area of Shadi Pura Bund Road, here on Tuesday.

PFA Director General Captain (retired) Muhammad Usman said the raiding team seized 5,620kg
adulterated red chilli powder, 1,300kg hot pepper and 150kg turmeric. He said contaminated
chilli was being prepared by colouring the husks of rice.
He further said the team also found a huge quantity of sawdust, husk of rice, loose colours and
many other ingredients during the raid.
Muhammad Usman said these spices were supplied on the different small shops with different
brand Names after packing in attractive packaging.
He added that authority has unearthed a factory after sting operation and surveillance of
adulterated chilli supply chain.
He said the sale of loose spices completely is banned in Punjab for the last several months
because the use of adulterated and substandard spices cause several diseases among consumers.
The director general said PFA would not compromise on the quality of food and would deal with
iron hands to violators who would not meet the PFA food standards.
The Punjab Food Authority is doing work under the zero-tolerance policy against food
adulterators in Punjab on the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar, he added.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/pfa-seals-factory-seizes-over-7000kg-adulte-
676387.html

25th july 2019 daily global regional and local

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