26th august, 2020 daily global regional and local rice e newsletter

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Future of food security? UAE seeks to reduce import
reliance with crop growing projects
By Guan Yu Lim
26-Aug-2020 - Last updated on 26-Aug-2020 at 02:43 GMT
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UAE embarks on agri-research to test crop varieties suitable for weather and environmental conditions
©MOCCAE
RELATED TAGS: Uae, Rice, Food security, South korea
The UAE is conducting several research projects to try and boost food security and reduce reliance on
imports – including trying to grow to test crop varieties that are suitable for the country’s harsh
weather and environmental conditions.

Among the crops being tested include quinoa, barley, wheat, and most recently rice.
UAE‘s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) and South Korea‘s Rural
Development Administration (RDA) is working on sowing more varieties of rice in the first-of-
its kind rice cultivation research project between the two countries.
This follows a successful pilot phase where Japonica and Indica rice varieties were sowed in
November 2019 and harvested in May this year. These rice varieties were chosen for their ability
to tolerate heat, salinity and poor conditions.
The next step of the research project will include other varieties including basmati and slated to
start in Q4 2020. It will be grown at the MOCCAE‘s research center in Al Dhaid, Sharjah.
Mohamed Al Dhanhani, Director of the Agriculture Development and Health Department at
UAE‘s MOCCAE told FoodNavigator-Asia that UAE mostly imports its rice from India, China,
Egypt, and USA.
Growing rice in desert
He said UAE had limited natural water resources and arid land, which proved more challenging
for a water intensive crop like rice.
―We knew that the soil quality was not optimal and needed supplements and nutrients.
Underground water is too saline to use in rice cultivation, so we used desalinated water.‖
In the first phase of the rice research project, an underground drip irrigation system was installed
to reduce the cost and amount of water used for the crops.
―UAE has to deal with water scarcity and salinity of available water, so we focused on using
modern irrigation technologies to optimise the utilisation of water.‖
In addition, UAE‘s extreme weather was a limited factor in cultivating rice, especially in open
field conditions.
―However, with the coordination achieved between the UAE and Korean research teams, we
were able to identify the most suitable time to enhance the germination of the seedlings and
ensure the process did not damage the crop in any way.‖
The first phase yielded about 763 kg of rice per 1,000 square meters.

Asked on why MOCCAE selected South Korea as its agricultural research partner, Al Dhanhani
explained: ―We chose to partner with South Korea because it has advanced agricultural
research experience, especially in a hot climate, which is relevant to us.‖
―Moreover, the country has well-established rice cultivation technologies that can help farming
communities in countries where rice and vegetable production requires more innovative methods
.‖
The research project was not limited to rice cultivation only as the two countries have signed a
memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural research. ―Our research collaboration
will cover several areas such as closed-loop farming systems, pest control, vegetable production,
livestock, and rice cultivation is (just) one of them.‖
The harvested rice will only be put to commercial use after the completion of testing to ensure its
compliance with standard specifications.
Al Dhanhani highlighted: “This type of research is important for the UAE and for the world as it
presents new solutions to adapt to the accelerating impacts of climate change.
(While) such research projects might not be economically viable at the present time, they are
important for the future of food security.‖
This is the first time rice is being researched and grown in UAE. Crops currently grown in UAE
include hydroponic vegetables, mushroom and tomatoes.
https://www.foodnavigator-asia.com/Article/2020/08/26/Future-of-food-security-UAE-seeks-to-reduce-
import-reliance-with-crop-growing-projects%2B%26c
Australian study finds plastic in 100% of seafood samples
‘Considering an average serving, a seafood eater could be exposed to up to 30mg of plastic
– equivalent to the average weight of a grain of rice’
A recent Australian study has found plastic in all samples of popularly consumed seafood
including crabs, oysters, farmed tiger prawns, wild squid and wild sardines.
The study led by the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland and published in the
journal Environmental Science & Technology analyzed seafood samples for five different kinds
of plastics commonly used in packaging and typically found in marine litter.
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According to the release, researchers found trace levels of plastic contamination in each sample,
with the highest amount found in sardines.
Image: University of Queensland
Study findings
A new technique, which involves using chemicals to dissolve the plastic from the edible tissue
and analysed in a machine to determine the type of plastic helped the team identify and measure
the level of plastic within the tissues of each sample.
While polyvinyl chloride- a widely used synthetic plastic polymer was found in each sample,
polyethylene-the world‘s most common plastic was found in the highest concentration.
The amount of plastic found in each sample was: 0.04mgs in squid, 0.07mgs in prawns, 0.1mg in
oysters, 0.3mgs in crabs and 2.9mgs in sardines.
Image: Eskymaks / shutterstock.com
‘Weight of a grain of rice’
The study further discussed how plastic frequently found in waterways and oceans is broken
down to microplastics and eaten by these marine creatures eventually ending up on our plates.
Francisca Ribeiro, the lead author of the study, said in a UQ press release: ―Considering an
average serving, a seafood eater could be exposed to approximately 0.7mg of plastic when
ingesting an average serving of oysters or squid, and up to 30mg of plastic when eating sardines,
respectively.
―For comparison, 30mg is the average weight of a grain of rice.‖
The study pointed out that microplastic ingestion is not restricted to eating seafood only, and can
occur from bottled water, sea salt, beer and honey, as well as the dust that settles on our meals.
‘Risks to human health’

While the study does not shed light on the implication of eating this plastic laden seafood, the
research team said the new testing method will help in determining what microplastic levels can
be considered harmful and evaluating the possible risks of ingesting microplastics in food.
―We do not fully understand the risks to human health of ingesting plastic, but this new method
will make it easier for us to find out,‖ study co-author, Tamara Galloway said.
The study‘s findings are meaningful in light of another recent research presented at the American
Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting, which showed that microscopic bits of
plastic can be absorbed and deposited in human tissue.
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―You can find plastics contaminating the environment at virtually every location on the globe
and in a few short decades, we‘ve gone from seeing plastic as a wonderful benefit to considering
it a threat,‖ study co-author Charles Rolsky from Arizona State University (ASU) said.
―There‘s evidence that plastic is making its way into our bodies, but very few studies have
looked for it there,‖ he added. Artist Sheng-Ying Pao incorporates an experimental,
CRISPR-modified rice into a traditional Chinese material:
rice paper. (UC Berkeley video by Stephen McNally with
Roxanne Makasdjian)

To Sheng-Ying Pao, the power of reframing CRISPR lies in what is absolutely ordinary: paper.
In CRISPaper, Pao revisited a cultural past in the ancient art of papermaking.
Over thousands of years, farmers painstakingly converted the wild rice plant into a staple crop.
Today, researchers are using CRISPR to change genes to optimize grain yield. However, rice is
more than food. In ancient China, it was used to make paper.
Pao took rice stalks from plants edited with CRISPR and ground the fibers into pulp. She then
poured the pulp over a mesh screen. Every time she dipped the screen into water, the plant fibers
would lift and resettle on top of the mesh, eventually making paper. Through the genome-edited
rice plant, an ancient practice was juxtaposed with cutting-edge technology. Pao‘s meditative
ritual of papermaking is a counterbalance to the strangeness of the source material.
She explains, ―We all know that paper wouldn‘t last forever. And just because of that, we put in
extra care.‖ This paper is delicate indeed. Light shines through in patches where the fiber is less
dense. Woven into the paper, as if growing out of it, is a dried rice stalk. CRISPR might be a
powerful technology, but Pao has used it to turn what is familiar into something fragile and
unique
https://news.berkeley.edu/story_jump/crispaper-understanding-gene-editing-through-art/
Govt to present 5 ordinances for enactment in Aug 28 VS
Session
Wednesday, 26 August 2020 | PNS | Chandigarh
Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday okayed the presentation of five Ordinances, introduced earlier by the
State Government, for enactment in the forthcoming one-day session of the Vidhan Sabha on
August 28, including amendment Bills related to regulation of private clinical establishments,
temporary release of some prisoners amid Covid-19 pandemic, control of drugs dispensation by
private de-addiction centres, industrial disputes and child labour.
As there is no legislation at present in the State to register or regulate private clinical
establishments, the Government is enacting The Punjab Clinical Establishment (Registration and
Regulation) Ordinance-2020 to bring the clinical establishments under a regulatory mechanism
to ensure that there is more transparency in their functioning.
It also seeks to improve quality public healthcare, prevent overcharging of patients, and to lay
down norms, terms of physical standards, medical standards, staff norms, record maintenance,
reporting etc. The legislation will provide for such establishments to support the State during
natural disasters, calamities as well as pandemics and epidemics.
Considering the prevailing situation arising out of COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet approved
the introduction of ‗The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Amendment
Ordinance, 2020 (Punjab Ordinance No. 1 of 2020)‘ in the upcoming session.

The enactment of the legislation would pave the way for extending the period of parole in
situations of disasters, epidemics, and extreme emergencies. ―The rationale behind bringing the
legislation is to enable the Jail Department to take measures to decongest jails, besides ensuring
that the jails remain COVID-19 free, as readmitting the inmates released on parole or interim
bail, who reside in different parts of State and outside, would expose other inmates to the risk of
contracting COVID-19,‖ said the spokesperson.
Notably, the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962, did not have any
provision through which parole of prisoners could be extended from 16 weeks and the condition
of parole being availed on quarterly basis could be waived in unprecedented situations of
disasters and epidemics.
In another move, the Cabinet has approved amendment to ‗The Punjab Substance Use Disorder
Treatment and Counseling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2011‘ to enable the Health
Department to control the private de-addiction centres dispensing Buprenorphine-Naloxone and
monitor private psychiatric clinics in order to avoid misuse of drugs.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, was introduced by the
Centre to prevent illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, to implement
the provision of international conventions on Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and
for matters connected therewith, and to make stringent provisions for the control and regulation
of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
As per section 78 of this Act, the State Government may, by notification in the official gazette,
make rules for carrying out the purpose of this Act. The state Health and Family Welfare
Department had earlier formulated the Punjab Substance Use Disorder Treatment and
Counseling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2011, in line with this provision.
The Cabinet has also given its nod for conversion of Ordinance amending section 2A, 25K, 25N,
25-O and fifth Schedule of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, into a Bill to be presented during the
forthcoming session.
The amendment provides for enhancement of the threshold limit for applicability of Chapter V-B
from the present limit of 100 to 300 workers. Apart from this, now workers will be eligible for
three months of extra wages on retrenchments or on closure of establishments. This move will go
a long way in further improving the process of ease of doing business.
The State Government will also present before the House necessary amendment for raising the
number of workers for attracting the provisions of sub clause (a) and (b) of sub-section (4) of
section 1 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, from 20 to 50.
ONLINE PADDY PROCUREMENT, NEW CUSTOM MILLING POLICY APPROVED
For the first time, amid COVID-19, all rice delivery operations in Punjab, including allotment,
registration and physical verification of rice mills through videos, will be undertaken online,
under the new Punjab Custom Milling Policy for Paddy for Kharif 2020-21 — approved by the
State Cabinet on Tuesday.
To ensure smooth paddy procurement this kharif season, the State Government has decided to
launch a dedicated portal — www.anaajkharid.in — as a part of the new policy which is aimed at

ensuring seamless milling of paddy and delivery of rice into the Central Pool from more than
4150 mills operating in the State.
The whole gamut of yearly procurement operations — from allotment of mills, their registration,
application of release order, deposit of RO fee and levy or CMR security besides all important
monitoring of stocks — will be done online now on a continuous basis, said an official
spokesperson.
All the state procuring agencies — PUNGRAIN, MARKFED, PUNSUP, Punjab State
Warehousing Corporation (PSWC) — including the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and the
Rice Millers or their legal heirs as well as all other stakeholders will operate and interact on the
website, with the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs acting as the Nodal
Department.
Under the policy, the sole criterion for allotment of free paddy to mills this season would be the
miller‘s performance in previous year, KMS 2019-20, and an additional percentage-wise
incentive would be provided to mills as per their date of delivery of rice against milling of
custom milled paddy, including RO paddy in the previous year.
Mills which had completed their entire milling by January 31, 2020, would be eligible for
additional 15 percent of free paddy milled in 2019-20, as per the policy. Those who had
completed delivery of rice by Feb 28, 2020, would get an additional 10% of free paddy.
For security of the stocks, millers this year would be required to furnish enhanced bank
guarantee, equal to value of 10 percent of acquisition cost of allocable free paddy above 3,000
Metric Tonnes (MTs), as against five percent on 5,000 MTs last year.
Lowering of the threshold limit for submission of bank guarantee would bring an additional
1000-plus mills within the direct monitoring ambit.
In another measure to guard against any paddy diversion, RO paddy has been brought into the
ambit of Custom Milling Security (CMR). Millers will be required to deposit Rs 125 for each
MT for every paddy stored or part therefore, including RO paddy, with the concerned agency.
In another unique step, to tackle the issue of moisture content in CMR, the policy stipulates
compulsory installation of Dryer and Sortex for a new mill and/or in case of enhancement of
capacity.
The state is expected to procure 170 Lakh MTs of paddy during Kharif season beginning
October 1, with total area under paddy sowing this year at 26.60 Lakh hectares, down from 29.20
Lakh hectares the previous season in line with the state‘s crop diversification efforts. The target
was to complete the Custom Milling of Paddy, thereby delivering all due rice to Food
Corporation of India, by March 31, 2021.
Under the milling schedule prescribed, millers would have to deliver 35 percent of their total rice
due by December 31, 2020, and 60 percent of total rice due by January 31, 2021, 80 percent of
total rice due by February 28, 2021, and total rice due by March 31, 2021.
CABINET APPROVES INTRODUCTION OF PUNJAB GST (AMENDMENT) BILL
Paving way for simplification of provisions and processes to levy and collect taxes under Punjab
GST, the Cabinet has approved the proposal for introduction of ‗The Punjab Goods and Services
Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2020‘. ―The introduction of the Bill would not only ensure

simplifications of provisions and processes but also make it more user-friendly. It envisioned to
provide changes so as to make levy and collection of taxes under GST, which would be effective
and easier for the taxpayers, like provisions related to composition levy, eligibility and
conditions for taking Input Tax Credit, cancellation of registration, revocation of cancellation of
registration, tax invoice, tax deduction at source, penalty und punishment for certain offences
and transitional arrangements for Input Tax Credit.
NOD TO SET UP SRI GURU TEG BAHADUR UNIVERSITY OF LAW AT TARN
TARAN
The Cabinet has approved the establishment of a law university in the border district of Tarn
Taran to commemorate the 400th birth anniversary of the Sikhs‘ ninth master Guru Teg Bahadur,
by approving the ‗Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law Bill – 2020‘ for presentation in
the forthcoming Assembly session. The draft Bill seeks ―to establish and incorporate a State
University for the development and advancement of legal education and for the purposes of
imparting specialized and systematic instruction, training and research in the field of law and for
the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto‖.
Rs 1.5 CR ANNUAL RECURRING GRANT FOR 11 CONSTITUENT COLLEGES
To further improve the standard of higher education in the State, the Cabinet has approved the
release of Rs 75.75 crore recurring grant for 11 more constituent colleges at Rs 1.5 crore per
college per annum from the year 2016-17 to 2020-21. The Cabinet also okayed regular budgetary
provision of Rs 1.5 crore per annum per college for the subsequent year. With this, the total
number of colleges to which the State Government is paying recurring grant has gone up to 30.
CONCERNED OVER FISCAL LOSSES DUE TO COVID, CABINET SEEKS
COMPENSATION FROM CENTRE
Citing huge revenue losses suffered by the State Government on account of COVID pandemic
and the resultant lockdown, the Punjab Cabinet on Tuesday sought adequate compensation from
the Central Government to support the State in these difficult times.
The Cabinet, during a review of the state‘s fiscal situation amid the pandemic, noted that the
situation was grave, considering the decline in revenue collections over the first quarter of 2020-
21 financial year and the estimated losses for the full current financial year.
A presentation made to the Cabinet by the Finance Department showed that the state‘s own tax
revenue collections for April-June 2020 period had gone down by a whopping 51 percent, with
GST losses alone to the tune of 61 percent as against the budgetary estimates for this period.
GST and VAT revenue collections for this quarter together went down by 54 percent, and the
decline in total revenue receipts for April-June quarter was 21 percent.
Cabinet further noted with concern that in terms of state‘s non-tax revenue collections, the
shortfall against budgetary estimates for first quarter of 2020-21 was a massive 68 percent. The
figures are as per the initial estimates derived from the Integrated Financial Management System
(IFMS), as accounts are yet to be received from Accountant General, Punjab.

The Cabinet observed that the situation was extremely grim, while calling for financial support
from the Centre to compensate for these huge losses. The revenue loss would badly impact not
just the battle against COVID, which was now peaking in the State, but also obstruct the
implementation of key schemes and programmes of the State Government in addition to
affecting routine expenses, including payment of salaries, pointed out the Council of Ministers.
The Central Govt needed to come out with urgent financial help for the State Government to tide
Punjab over the current crisis, felt the Cabinet.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/govt-to-present-5-ordinances-for-enactment-
in-aug-28-vs-session.html
Benefits of local farm machinery
By
Julio Yap Jr.
-
Wednesday, August 26, 2020
MECHANIZATION and how the country‘s agriculture sector can utilize it to become
competitive in the local and global markets should always be a priority.
Mechanization can help solve various problems being encountered by the local farmers due to
low production, lack of manual labor, and out-dated farming practices.
In order to cope up with the changing times, local farm machinery and equipment manufacturers
should exert efforts to adopt new technologies and produce modern equipment.
Following this development, the Bacolod City-based R.U. Foundry and Machine Shop
Corporation (RUFMSC) has been authorized to manufacture OGGUN tractors in the Philippines.
It was learned that OGGUN Tractors is owned and designed by the United States-based Cleber
LLC-Oggun.
This Open System Manufacturing Project was already adopted by the University of the
Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB).
It aims to create a partnership with the private and public sectors for the development of
equipment and implements that are intended for the smallholder farmers in the country.
―We have been inspired to commit our resources for the realization of this project due to its
potentials and the benefits that our farmers can achieve,‖ RUFMSC says.
In fact, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Central Philippines State
University (CPSU) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, have already formalized their
intentions to be part of the said project.
Initially, RUFMSC will be producing the first unit of the tractor, but part of its future strategies
is to allow the farmers to participate in the manufacturing process.
RUFMSC is also planning to farm out the production of minor parts to the rural farmers.
―This is basically our advocacy of encouraging the mini industrialization of the rural areas,
where the farmers can eventually produce their own equipment,‖ RUFMSC stressed.

As we probably know, the country is lagging behind its regional neighbors in terms of farm
mechanization.
Based on studies, two of the barriers confronting the farmers, fisherfolk, and agricultural workers
are the lack of mechanization and technical expertise.
Therefore, efforts must be geared towards the realization of the collective goal for the agriculture
sector and the Philippines as well, which is an agricultural country.
Agricultural mechanization would mean the development, adoption, assembly, manufacture and
application of appropriate, location-specific and cost-effective agricultural and fisheries
machinery.
Aside from mechanization, training programs will equip the industry players, particularly the
farmers, with vital skills and technical expertise which will provide them with a competitive
edge.
It can be noted that the younger generation of supposed to be farmers no longer want to plant
crops, but instead migrate to the urban areas and opt for employment because of lack of modern
and practical farm machinery.
Mechanization can significantly bring down the cost of labor, particularly for labor-intensive
crops such as rice, corn, and sugar.
These equipment and mechanized procedures will definitely increase production.
The development and adoption of modern, appropriate, cost-effective and environmentally safe
agricultural machinery and equipment can enhance farm productivity and efficiency to achieve
food security and increase the income of the farmers./PN
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:To58K2-
sEkEJ:https://www.panaynews.net/benefits-of-local-farm-
machinery/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Explained: Why Punjab govt’s temporary ban on nine
pesticides can’t put a stop on their use
Farm experts, pesticide dealers and farmers said that such temporary bans cannot stop
usage of such pesticides even for Basmati and non-Basmati crop, which is the main target
of the government.
There are over 10,000 pesticide dealers in Punjab and almost all of them had stocked up ahead
of the sowing season. (File photo) Punjab government, through a notification, has banned the
usage of nine pesticides, generally used for Basmati and non Basmati crops, for 60 days —
August 14 to October 14. There are over 10,000 pesticide dealers in Punjab and almost all of
them had stocked up ahead of the sowing season. The government has directed the dealers to
either return the stock to the manufactures or remove them from display of their stores. More

than half of these pesticides are also used by farmers for other crops such as wheat, vegetables,
fruits, sugarcane as well as for seed treatment.
Farm experts, pesticide dealers and farmers said that such temporary bans cannot stop usage of
such pesticides even for Basmati and non-Basmati crop, which is the main target of the
government. What are the pesticides whose sale has been banned for 60 days? The nine
pesticide that have been banned temporarily include Acephate, Carbendazim, Thiamethoxam,
Triazofos, Tricyclazole, Buprofezin, Carbofuron, Propiconazole, and Thiophanate Methyl. Why
is this ban only for 60 days?
Experts say that farmers use these pesticides even after the grain formation stage in the rice crop.
It leads to the presence of pesticides beyond the permissible maximum residue limit (MRL) on
the grains after harvesting of the crop. The EU has fixed the MRL for all these agro-chemicals at
0.01 mg per kg except for Triazophos for which the MRL is 0.02 mg. The harvesting of early
varieties of Basmati and non-Basmati crops starts in late September and early October,
respectively. If farmers do not stop spraying these pesticides at least 40-50 days before the
harvesting, a MRL cannot be ruled out. Also, the 60-day ban has been ordered with the main
focus on Basmati varieties, which is mainly grown for export. Government does not want to
annoy big exporters who face rejection of the consignments by the European Union (EU), the
USA, and the Middle East. The EU had earlier rejected Indian Basmati due to the presence of
MRL beyond the specified limit. Is it possible to put a complete stop on usage of pesticides on
Basmati and non-Basmati crop? An attempt to do so had failed last year when Punjab
government had restricted the usage of all these pesticides during paddy season and various
awareness camps were also organised for farmers across state. The farmers, however, had even

used the pesticides and Punjab government admitted as much in its notification last week that
samples tested in state‘s two labs had found pesticides in rice much above the specified MRL
value. Why was chemical residue found in grains last year despite restrictions on pesticide
usage? Most farmers stock up on the pesticides ahead of the sowing season. They used it on the
crop even after the Punjab government‘s notification, following which Food Safety Laboratory
(Kharar) had found high MRL in nine samples and Punjab Biotechnology Incubator Agri and
Food Testing Laboratory (SAS Nagar) in seven samples. This year too, big farmers stocked up
on a couple pesticides before the ban order came in. ―Several farmers purchased the pesticides in
the beginning of the season. They even use banned Carbendazim, a fungicide, to treat the seed
for better germination,‖ said Khalsa. He said that while government has warned dealers of heavy
fine, there was no way to stop the farmers who already have the chemicals with them. ―Farmers
in Punjab are more concerned about their crop output and don‘t mind using such chemicals,‖ said
a farmer, adding that checking pf dealers in remote areas too is difficult. How can the
government stop the complete usage of these chemicals on rice crop? The only way
government can completely stop its usage on rice crop is if it bans these nine pesticides for all
other crops such as vegetables, fruits, and sugarcane or bars manufacturers from producing these
agro-chemicals. ―Government says that safety of human beings is of paramount importance and
that these pesticides should not be used then what it not putting a halt on their manufacturing,‖
asked Khalsa, adding that an agro-chemical harmful for one crop is harmful for every other crop.
―Wheat and rice are used months after their harvesting but the vegetables are consumed
immediately. We are only trying to protect the Basmati as it is exported. Ironically, the Basmati
rejected by the EU was consumed in India. How was something not fit for consumption in 28
countries, was good for our people,‖ he asked.
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/punjab-pesticide-ban-farmers-6568309/
China recording record stockpiles of rice and wheat
25th August 2020, 02:09 GMT+10
BEIJING, China, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's grain inventory has been kept at a high level, with
abundant government grain reserves and policy reserves, an official with the National Food and
Strategic Reserves Administration said on Monday.
The ratio of China's grain inventory to consumption far exceeds the warning level designated by
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the stockpile of rice and
wheat, two staple grains of the country, can feed the whole population for more than one year,
the official said in an interview with Xinhua.
Thanks to bumper harvests in the past years, as well as strong grain reserves, China has managed
to keep grain prices at a generally stable level amid fluctuations in international prices, the
official noted.

The country will step up the protection of arable land and stabilize grain output, while enhancing
management of grain reserves, the official said.
https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/266186871/china-recording-record-stockpiles-of-rice-
and-wheat
While the year 2020 will already go down in history for many reasons — the coronavirus
pandemic, murder hornets, and a derecho in Iowa — we can also add rare back-to-back tropical
storms making landfall in the United States.
Marco is the first storm hitting the mainland in this historic event. Although Marco is no longer
categorized as hurricane and downgraded to a tropical storm, it will still bring rainfall, gusty
winds, and storm surges to Louisiana and the northern Gulf Coast late Monday evening.
Laura is the second storm and is actually predicted to intensify into a hurricane later this week.
As of right now, the forecast shows it to hit the mainland by midweek along the Louisiana and
Texas coasts, but the forecast can still change.
Image courtesy of NOAA
Thankfully, The Weather Channel states that although close, these two storms will not merge.
―Despite the two cones crossing paths, these storms will not merge together. Instead, it‘s
increasingly likely that Laura could follow Marco and make landfall back-to-back over a similar
region just days apart,‖ the network said.
This is a rare occurrence to have so much activity in the Gulf of Mexico. According to Dr. Phil
Klotzbach from Colorado State University, it will be the first time since the 1950s that two
tropical storms have been simultaneously active in the Gulf of Mexico.
These events will have major impacts for farmers and ranchers in the path of the storms. Farmers
are working against the clock to harvest as much as their crop as possible. In a Facebook post
the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation said, ―Hurricane Marco is on track to make landfall in
Southeastern Louisiana Monday evening. Laura is expected to follow 48 hours later with landfall
near the Sabine River, possibly as a category two hurricane. This happens as Louisiana farmers
are harvesting rice, corn and soybeans and planting sugarcane.
On Facebook, RCM Ag Services posted a photo with Louisiana farmers helping each other out in
preparation of the storms to come.
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain also said livestock
and pet owners should make preparations ahead of possible severe weather and flooding caused
by tropical systems Laura and Marco and be prepared to evacuate if necessary.
―While the track of these storms remains somewhat uncertain, forecasters say the main threat is
heavy rainfall and coastal flooding due to storm surge,‖ Strain said. ―Citizens should be prepared

for an extended period of severe weather with little or no window between storms. Livestock and
pet owners should be ready to evacuate if necessary.‖
Strain gave the following tips for livestock:
 Get cattle to the highest ground on your property that can allow access to trailers and vehicles
if animals need to be moved.
 Valuable breeding stock should be identified and moved in accordance with the owner‘s
evacuation plan. Those animals should be kept closer to the homestead for easier transport.
 If a large group of cattle is to be moved, it is important that each herd member is properly
identified with brands, microchips or ear tags. Identify the ultimate evacuation location for
livestock. Proper identification for livestock is crucial in the event of commingling. Check
trailer tail lights and tires.
 If you shelter in place, be sure to have at least a five day supply of water and hay for cattle.
 Plan to carry at least five days of food for your animals on livestock transports, especially if
the animals require a specially-formulated diet.
 Horses must have a permanent identification, like a microchip, brand or lip tattoo.
 Horse owners should bring all identification papers if evacuation is necessary along with a
copy of the horse‘s current Coggins test record.
 Horse owners should also carry recent photographs of their horses (including identifying
marks).
Rice Prices
as on : 25-08-2020 12:27:46 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price
Current %
change
Season
cumulative
Modal Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Barhaj(UP) 90.00 28.57 11475.00 2590 2590 7.92
Sehjanwa(UP) 50.00 25 3102.50 2565 2570 18.75
Hardoi(UP) 45.00 12.5 9312.80 2430 2460 -2.80
Lakhimpur(UP) 40.00 14.29 3151.00 2430 2430 2.53

Asansol(WB) 32.00 NC 1435.01 3100 3100 9.15
Soharatgarh(UP) 10.00 11.11 1687.20 2565 2570 5.12
Ghatal(WB) 5.00 108.33 280.40 2750 2750 11.11
Achalda(UP) 4.00 33.33 393.90 2500 2500 13.12
Melaghar(Tri) 1.50 25 79.40 2800 2800 3.70
Alibagh(Mah) 1.00 NC 105.00 2200 2200 NC
Murud(Mah) 1.00 NC 103.00 2200 2200 NC
Atrauli(UP) 0.70 NC 13.80 2550 2550 -
Follow us on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Linkedin. You can also
download our Android App or IOS App.
Published on August 25, 2020
TOPICS
rice (commodity)
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article32435543.ece
AUGUST 25, 2020 / 4:27 PM Indian monsoon 24% above
average in August, heavy rain to continue
Mayank Bhardwaj
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Monsoon rains, which picked up pace in August, are likely to be
heavy for the rest of the month, the chief of the state-run India Meteorological Department
(IMD) said, potentially benefiting summer crops such as rice, corn and cotton.
After a patchy spell in the last two weeks of July, India received 24% above average rains so far
in August, and the trend is likely to continue at least through this month, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra,
director general of the IMD, told Reuters.

―There‘s no doubt that the quantity of rains has been excellent, but the other important feature of
this year‘s monsoon is that the rainfall has been very well distributed across the country,‖
Mohapatra said. ―And that augurs well for our agricultural output this year.‖
Of the 36 meteorological subdivisions in India, monsoon rains have been either average or above
average in 32 so far this year, he said.
The IMD defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of
88 cm for the entire four-month season beginning in June.
India, where nearly half of the country‘s farmland lacks irrigation, has received 7% above
average rains since June 1, when the monsoon arrived on the southernmost Kerala coast.
Farmers have planted 106.3 million hectares with summer crops so far, the Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers‘ Welfare said, up 8.5% from last year as heavy monsoon rains in June
spurred sowing in the world‘s leading producer of farm goods.
Until last week, planting of rice, the key summer crop, was at 37.8 million hectares, against 33.9
million hectares at the same time last year.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-monsoon/indian-monsoon-24-above-average-in-august-
heavy-rain-to-continue-
idUSKBN25L1D6#:~:text=After%20a%20patchy%20spell%20in,of%20the%20IMD%2C%20to
ld%20Reuters.
Punjab to procure 170 lakh tonnes paddy; goes online for
smooth milling operations
Cabinet approves the new Punjab Custom Milling Policy aimed at ensuring seamless milling of
paddy and delivery of rice into the Central pool from more than 4,150 mills operating in the state
CHANDIGARH Updated: Aug 25, 2020 17:17 IST
HT Correspondent
Hindustan Times, Chandigarh
The state government will launch a dedicated portal, www.anaajkharid.in, for smooth paddy
procurement. The whole gamut of yearly procurement operations – from allotment of mills, their
registration, application of release order and deposit of fee, besides all important monitoring of
stocks, will be done online now on.(HT file photo)

Chandigarh: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, all rice delivery operations in Punjab, including
allotment, registration and physical verification of rice mills, will be managed and monitored
online, under the new Punjab Custom Milling Policy for paddy for the 2020-21 kharif season.
The state cabinet on Tuesday approved the new policy, aimed at ensuring seamless milling of
paddy and delivery of rice into the Central Pool from more than 4,150 mills operating in the
state. The state is expected to procure 170 lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of paddy during the season
beginning on October 1, with a total area under paddy sowing this year at 26.6 lakh hectares.
Last year, 29.2 lakh hectares was under paddy cultivation.
www.anaajkharid.in PORTAL LAUNCHED
The state government will launch a dedicated portal, www.anaajkharid.in, for smooth paddy
procurement. The whole gamut of yearly procurement operations – from allotment of mills, their
registration, application of release order and deposit of fee, besides all important monitoring of
stocks, will be done online now on, according to an official spokesperson.
State procuring agencies, including Pungrain, Markfed, Punsup, Punjab State Warehousing
Corporation (PSWC) and rice-millers and other stakeholders will operate and interact on the
website, with the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs acting as the nodal
department.
The spokesperson said that under the policy, the sole criterion for allotment of free paddy to
mills this season would be the miller‘s performance in the previous year (kharif marketing
season 2019-20), and an additional percentage-wise incentive would be provided to mills as per
their date of delivery of rice against milling of custom-milled paddy, including RO paddy in the
previous year.Mills that had completed their entire milling by January 31, 2020, would be
eligible for additional 15% of free paddy milled in 2019-20, as per the policy. Those who had
completed delivery of rice by February 28, 2020, would get an additional 10% of free paddy.
ENHANCED BANK GUARANTEE
The government has also enhanced the bank guarantee for security of the stocks and millers will
be required to furnish enhanced bank guarantee, equal to value of 10% of acquisition cost of
allocable free paddy above 3,000 metric tonnes (MTs), as against 5% on 5,000 MTs last year.
―Lowering of the threshold limit for submission of bank guarantee will bring an additional 1,000
mills within the direct monitoring ambit,‖ the spokesperson said.
In addition, a miller will have to purchase a minimum of 150 MTs of paddy in his own account
or deposit an amount of Rs 5 lakh (non-refundable) in state treasury and Rs 5 lakh in the form of
refundable security online in Pungrain account.
Another measure to guard against any paddy diversion is the decision to bring RO paddy into the
ambit of custom milling security (CMR). Millers will be required to deposit Rs 125 for each MT
for every paddy stored or part therefore, including RO paddy, with the agency concerned. To
tackle the issue of moisture content in CMR, the policy stipulates compulsory installation of
dryer and sortex for a new mill and/or in case of enhancement of capacity. The target is to
complete the custom milling of paddy and delivering all due rice to Food Corporation of India by
March 31, 2021.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/punjab-to-procure-170-lakh-tonnes-paddy-goes-online-
for-smooth-milling-operations/story-HQqoQnFgo3eMuXaXWx6vJJ.html

Govt Rice Procurement: Drive in Pabna destined to crash
12:00 AM, August 25, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED: 03:00 AM, August 25, 2020
The government food grain storage facility in Pabna town wears a deserted look without anyone
lining up to sell rice or paddy at rates set by the government. The photo was taken on Saturday.
Photo: Star
Our Correspondent, Pabna
Marred by poor response from listed millers and with the closing deadline for the government's
Boro rice procurement programme only a few days away, the programme is destined for a
massive shortfall in target procurement this year in Pabna.
The rice procurement drive in Pabna started on May 7 and it is set to end on August 31. This
year the government set a target of procuring 24,571 metric tonnes of rice from 682 listed rice
mills through 11 designated procurement centres in the district.
But, as of August 15, only 9,800 tonnes, which is less than half the target, of rice was purchased
at the procurement centres.
While some are pointing out that steep prices of rice, at retail markets, might be one of the
reasons behind the deficit, many others are blaming it on the role of a group of rice traders and
millers with vested interest.
But on whomever the blame is put, the situation might lead to a massive shortage in the food
grain stock of the government, said many stakeholders.

Rice millers and traders said many of the listed millers might have felt discouraged to sell the
grain to the government as the former have been able to sell it at retail markets for prices much
higher than that set by the government.
But whatever the reason might be, more than a third of the listed millers have so far refrained
from selling even one bag of rice to the government, according to food officials.
Iqbal Bahar, controller of food in Pabna, said over two hundred millers, most of who own large-
scale rice mills and under contract with the government, did not sell a single bag of rice to the
government after the drive started.
Although the food controller's office served numerous notices on them in this regard, many of
the millers are yet to comply, he added.
Out of the total procurement target of 24,571 tonnes, 15,162 tonnes of rice was set to be procured
from Ishwardi, an upazila considered to be the largest rice hub in the region.
Till August 15, only 6,402 tonnes of rice was procured at procurement centres in the upazila. As
opposed to the paddy procurement target of 6,695 tonnes, only 582 tonnes was procured in the
upazila till the same date.
Asked about the reasons behind the poor response, Fazlur Rahman Malitha, president of rice mill
owners' association in the upazila, said out of all the upazilas in the northern region, they had
been selling the highest amount of rice to the government.
But this year, the millers from Ishwardi have felt disappointment and thus refrained from selling
rice to the government as the procurement rates set by the latter are too low -- only Tk 36 for one
kilogram of rice and Tk 26 for paddy.
At retail markets, each kg of rice can be sold for more than Tk 40 against its production cost of
Tk 38 to Tk 39, while a kg of paddy can be sold there for more than Tk 28. These are the main
reasons that made the millers to turn away from government procurement centres, Fazlur added.
In response to the possibility of raising the rates, Iqbal Bahar, the food controller in Pabna, said
there was no scope of raising the procurement rates at the moment as a market survey was
conducted prior to setting those rates.
Stern action would be taken against the listed millers for their breach of contract, under which
they are required to sell the produce at rates set by the government, he added.
On how to tackle a probable shortage in food grain stock of the government, he said there would
be no shortage in food grain as the government might import rice if the rice procurement drive
fails.
https://www.thedailystar.net/country/news/govt-rice-procurement-drive-pabna-destined-crash-
1950393
Farmers suffering from twin hazards of floods, droughts
Sok Chan / Khmer Times

August 25, 2020
A farmer in a paddy field in Banteay Meachey province. Supplied
Floods and drought are now the major problems hitting farmers and affecting the Kingdom‘s
food security and exports after drought left much land in the Northwest dry and cracked.
Song Saran, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), told Khmer Times that from May
to August, there is severe impact from climate change to the Cambodian dry paddy season
especially Sen Kro Ob and IR varieties.
He added that according to the survey by the CRF with its members to more than 100 agriculture
cooperatives, it showed that 30 to 40 percent of their dry seasonal paddy was affected by drought
and they have to replant the paddy. The remaining 60 percent was recovered but the
yield dropped from four to three tonnes. Therefore, the harvest season this year will be lower
and delayed until mid-October or November.
―The areas affected by drought are Kampong Thom, Battambang, Kampong Cham, Banteay
Meanchey, with some slight impact in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu and Takeo,‖
Saran said. He added that the lower reaches of the Mekong River are also a concern for the
farmers along Tonle Sap Lake.
Saran added that generally the Sen Kro Ob variety was harvested in mid-July, but now fewer
farmers are harvesting because their crops were damaged or some can harvest but the quality and
yield are lower.
He said that the harvest will be delayed for about two months because the farmers now have to
replant the paddy, so they will harvest it in October and November.
―We found flooding in September and October is also a major issue for farmers. It is a concern
because we have a market but no paddy for processing to export. In August, we project exports
will drop around 30 percent and 20 percent in September,‖ he said.
―Some 60 percent of the farmers can rehabilitate their paddy and can slowly harvest, but for
those who have to replant, they will harvest their paddy in mid-September and the full harvest
will be mid-October or November. Therefore, there is no growth in exports in August or
September,‖ he added.
Kong Kea, director of the Department of Rice Crop from the General Directorate of Agriculture,
at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), agreed there was damage to the
paddy. However, it was only in some areas across the country. He said the paddy yield in Takeo,
Kampong Speu, Kampot and Pursat province are good. Kea added that the export of paddy to
Vietnam is still normal, especially through Prey Veng province, because there is a market and
farmers get a high price of paddy from 970 riels a kilogramme (kg) for the OM and IR504-04
varieties and 1,200 riels/kg for the Sen Kra Ob variety. ―Food security is not much affected
because the farmers are cultivating and harvesting in November this year,‖ he added.
However, Mak Soeun, deputy director of MAFF‘s General Directorate of Agriculture,
told Khmer Times that there was not much effect on dry season paddy because mostly has access
to irrigation systems so although there is drought, farmers still produce yields. ―The drought has
hit some areas, but in some areas farmers are harvesting up to today and starting to plant the
second round,‖ Soeun added. ―Mostly, the impact is in the Northwestern provinces such as

Banteay Meanchey, where 6,000 hectares were damaged. This has now recovered because there
is rain,‖ he said.
As of Aug 14, the harvest yield from 116,752 hectares was 481,448 tonnes. It was mostly
affected by the drought while the flooding hit just 20 hectares in Kep province. The
ministry rehabilitated this. ―Mostly, drought affects the paddy and this is mostly in the western
provinces of the Kingdom such as Banteay Meanchey.
According to the report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia exported 438,829 tonnes of
rice as of Aug 12. It said that more than 2.43 million hectares of farmland were cultivated as of
that date.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50756473/farmers-suffering-from-twin-hazards-of-floods-
droughts/
Prices of paddy, rice climb as summer-autumn crop ends
in Mekong Delta
SGGPTuesday, August 25, 2020 13:54
Currently, the prices of paddy and rice are both increasing thanks to the smooth export of
rice and the positive impacts of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Farmers in the Mekong Delta are deliriously delighted as the prices of paddy surge at the end of
the summer-autumn rice crop.
On August 25, the price of paddy rose by VND400 per kilogram compared to the beginning of
this month. Specifically, farmers sold fresh paddy at the field at the price, varying from

VND5,500 per kilogram to VND6,500 per kilogram, depending on rice varieties.
Noticeably, many farmers and granaries capable of storing rice hit a jackpot when stockpiling
Jasmine 85 fragrant rice variety, because the price of paddy has jumped from VND7,500 per
kilogram to VND8,200 per kilogram. In the summer-autumn rice crop this year, the Mekong
Delta has produced 1.54 million hectares of rice with an estimated production of about 9 million
tons of rice.
According to the Vietnam Food Association, Vietnam's rice export prices are fairly good.
Specifically, the price of 5-percent broken rice in Vietnam is at US$480-$490 per ton, an
increase of $2-$3 per ton compared to that at the beginning of the month. According to
enterprises in the Mekong Delta, because it has entered the end of the summer-autumn rice crop,
the supply of rice has become lower, and the domestic traders have increased buying recently.
Traders buy paddy from farmers. (Photo: SGGP)
According to Pham Thai Binh, Director of Trung An Company, currently, the prices of paddy
and rice have increased as the export market is good. Moreover, the EVFTA, which just took
effect from August 1, has had positive impacts on the rice industry. The company's target is to
export 80,000 tons of high-quality fragrant rice this year. The company's export prices of
fragrant rice currently reach an average of $700 - $900 per ton.

Enterprises prepare the source of rice for export. (Photo: SGGP)
Due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the current global logistics is interrupted. Rice
experts said that the current concern of rice importing countries is the delivery. Accordingly,
prompt delivery and logistics add more value to the purchase. Logistics and delivery or reception
capacity have become important factors in shaping the current rice demand.
https://sggpnews.org.vn/business/prices-of-paddy-rice-climb-as-summerautumn-crop-ends-in-
mekong-delta-88166.html
Satellite technology to predict rice crop size in real
time
Olivia Calver@OliviaCalver125 Aug 2020, 8 p.m.
News
Satellite image of central Java, Indonesia (left) and an image processed by Paddy Watch
showing rice fields at different stages of growth. Dark green indicates high moisture levels,
meaning the rice is at the vegetative stage. Photo supplied.
Aa

Groundbreaking new technology is helping develop the world's first real-time monitoring
platform for rice fields globally.
The platform, named Paddy Watch, is being developed by the University of Sydney using the
Google Earth platform to help realise the Zero Hunger target of the United Nations 2030
Agenda.
Paddy Watch uses radar satellite images and new cloud technology to determine where rice is
planted and what stage of development it is at.
The next steps of the project aim to be able to also predict yield from the satellite images, and
inform water use.
Project leader, Professor Budiman Minasny from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture at the
University of Sydney said accurate and up-to-date information on how much rice has been
planted and how much can be harvested was crucial to achieving global food and water security.
"Initially the demand for the project came from my colleague in Indonesia," Prof Minasny
explained.
"In Indonesia rice is a staple food and is important for food security, but they have no accurate
way of knowing how much rice has been grown.
"There is a conflict in estimates from different government departments.
"My colleague asked us to find a solution."
He said Paddy Watch used radar satellite images, captured every 10 days by Google Earth
Engine.
"The beauty of radar is it can penetrate through the clouds, unlike other satellites," Prof Minasny
said.

"In tropical countries, one of the limitations of the satellite image is that it's always covered in
clouds."
He said the radar could track the cycle of soil moisture in rice paddies to determine how much
was grown and what stage it was at.
"We are able to do that because of the computer cloud we use," Prof Minasny said.
"We are talking about hundreds of thousands of square kilometres and traditionally if you want
to do that, you have to get the satellite data from the provider, download terrabytes of data and
process them on your computer.
"But the advantage with the cloud computing is that every time the satellite gets new data it's put
straight up in the cloud, so all the processing can be done automatically and it can therefore be
updated frequently."
The real-time data generated using Google Earth will be verified by field operators in India,
China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, to ensure its accuracy worldwide.
These five partner countries make up more than 40 per cent of the world's population.
India, China and Indonesia are the world's three-largest producers of rice and together account
about 60pc of total world production.
Prof Minasny said he thought the technology would also be applicable to the Australian rice
industry.
"It would be much easier because in Australia we have a better idea of what's been grown and
where," he said.
But can the technology be used to predict yields in other crops?
Prof Minasny said to do this you would have to know what had been planted where.
"For example if I want to make a regional wheat yield predictor I need to know which areas are
growing wheat versus barley, but if this information is available it can be done accurately," he
said.
https://www.theland.com.au/story/6895621/eye-in-the-sky-with-paddy-
watch/#:~:text=Groundbreaking%20new%20technology%20is%20helping,the%20United%20N
ations%202030%20Agenda.
Eye in the sy with paddy watch
Satellite image of central Java, Indonesia (left) and an image processed by Paddy Watch
showing rice fields at different stages of growth. Dark green indicates high moisture levels,
meaning the rice is at the vegetative stage. Photo supplied.
Groundbreaking new technology is helping develop the world's first real-time monitoring
platform for rice fields globally.
The platform, named Paddy Watch, is being developed by the University of Sydney using the
Google Earth platform to help realise the Zero Hunger target of the United Nations 2030
Agenda.

Paddy Watch uses radar satellite images and new cloud technology to determine where rice is
planted and what stage of development it is at.
The next steps of the project aim to be able to also predict yield from the satellite images, and
inform water use.
Project leader, Professor Budiman Minasny from the Sydney Institute of Agriculture at the
University of Sydney said accurate and up-to-date information on how much rice has been
planted and how much can be harvested was crucial to achieving global food and water security.
"Initially the demand for the project came from my colleague in Indonesia," Prof Minasny
explained.
"In Indonesia rice is a staple food and is important for food security, but they have no accurate
way of knowing how much rice has been grown.
"There is a conflict in estimates from different government departments.
"My colleague asked us to find a solution."
He said Paddy Watch used radar satellite images, captured every 10 days by Google Earth
Engine.
"The beauty of radar is it can penetrate through the clouds, unlike other satellites," Prof Minasny
said.
"In tropical countries, one of the limitations of the satellite image is that it's always covered in
clouds."
He said the radar could track the cycle of soil moisture in rice paddies to determine how much
was grown and what stage it was at.
"We are able to do that because of the computer cloud we use," Prof Minasny said.

"We are talking about hundreds of thousands of square kilometres and traditionally if you want
to do that, you have to get the satellite data from the provider, download terrabytes of data and
process them on your computer.
"But the advantage with the cloud computing is that every time the satellite gets new data it's put
straight up in the cloud, so all the processing can be done automatically and it can therefore be
updated frequently."
The real-time data generated using Google Earth will be verified by field operators in India,
China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, to ensure its accuracy worldwide.
These five partner countries make up more than 40 per cent of the world's population.
India, China and Indonesia are the world's three-largest producers of rice and together account
about 60pc of total world production.
Prof Minasny said he thought the technology would also be applicable to the Australian rice
industry.
"It would be much easier because in Australia we have a better idea of what's been grown and
where," he said.
But can the technology be used to predict yields in other crops?
Prof Minasny said to do this you would have to know what had been planted where.
"For example if I want to make a regional wheat yield predictor I need to know which areas are
growing wheat versus barley, but if this information is available it can be done accurately," he
said.
https://www.theland.com.au/story/6895621/eye-in-the-sky-with-paddy-watch/?cs=4951
Rice farmer incomes, yields improve due to RCEF — study
August 25, 2020 | 6:56 pm
PHILSTAR.COM
RICE farmers‘ incomes and yields are rising as a result of programs supported by the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), according to a survey conducted by the Philippine
Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).
PhilRice surveyed more than 4,000 RCEF beneficiaries across 55 provinces who harvested an
average of 4.14 metric tons (MT) per hectare.
Respondents reported an additional yield of 440 kilograms per hectare were realized after
farmers used certified inbred seed distributed by PhilRice under the RCEF program.
PhilRice‘s Socio-Economics Division Chief Jesusa C. Beltran said the increase in output,
assuming an average price of P17 per kilogram of dry palay, translates to nearly P7,500 per
hectare in additional earnings.
Ms. Beltran said that due to higher income, farmers and their families have been able to weather
the financial difficulties caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
PhilRice said 97% of respondents reported receiving additional information about farming
methods provided by PhilRice during the seed distribution activities.

Between March and July, PhilRice distributed more than two million bags of certified inbred
seed to 750,000 farmers, who were tilling more than 855,000 hectares.
―With more farmers reached this wet season, a more positive outlook in rice production is
expected this second semester under favorable weather conditions,‖ PhilRice RCEF Program
Management Office Director Flordeliza H. Bordey said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, PhilRice said palay production during the
first half rose 1.5% year on year to 8.39 million MT.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said the findings are evidence that farming, with the right
inputs and technology, can be profitable.
―We believe our joint efforts — in partnership with farmers, local government units and the
private sector — are paying off, and thus we will vigorously implement the RCEF program in
the succeeding years through 2025,‖ Mr. Dar said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/rice-farmer-incomes-yields-improve-due-to-rcef-study/
Nanotechnology and the Future of Rice: Borlaug Scholar Tia
Dunbar
By
Marc Zienkiewicz
-
August 25, 2020
The virtual meeting of the National Association of Plant Breeders took place last week. In our
final podcast from the proceedings we talk with Borlaug Scholar Tia Dunbar about her rice
research.
Dunbar is obtaining her MS degree in Plant Breeding at Texas A&M University in College
Station, TX. Originally hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, she received her BS degree in
Biological Sciences from the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on gene
editing for crop improvement, specifically with rice. She is currently optimizing in planta gene
editing techniques involving novel nanotechnologies.
Podcast (seedworld-podcast): Play in new window | Download
https://seedworld.com/nanotechnology-and-the-future-of-rice-borlaug-scholar-tia-dunbar/
The Week Ahead: August 26, 2020
 Colusa County Sun-Herald
Free Fare Days
Today – September 4
The Colusa County Transit will be offering free fare days today through Friday, September 4
thanks to a Low Carbon Transit Operations grant provided through Caltrans. Passengers will
receive free transportation on any of the fixed-timed routes that travel throughout the county,
excluding medical transports. All riders must call the Transit office in advance to schedule a ride.

A full list of scheduled route times is available at www.ca-
colusacounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=182. The Colusa County Transit operates Monday
through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a ride, call the
Colusa County Transit at 458-0287.
California Virtual Rice Field Day
Today
The University of Cooperative Extension and California Rice Research Station will host a virtual
Rice Field Day from 1-3 p.m. to update attendees about variety development, disease and
arthropod management, weed control, weedy rice and fertility. The virtual meeting will be held
via Zoom and registration costs $20. To register,
visit http://rice.ucanr.edu/?fbclid=IwAR2eDMCIoE8fMOFg7mKSBYNtAuoN8dKFheMjofZuD
HCODNk3XPETlCq7XRI. For more information, email Whitney Brim-DeForest
at wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu.
Arbuckle Farmers Market
Today
The Arbuckle Farmers Market, hosted by the Arbuckle Revitalization Committee, will be open at
LaVanche Hursch Park, 308 Fifth St, from 4-7 p.m. The market will be offering fresh, locally
grown fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, nuts, eggs, olive oil, meat, hand-made crafts and
community information for the final installation of the season. A weekly meal provided by
Market Street Grill will also be available for purchase. For more information, visit the Arbuckle
Revitalization Committee‘s Facebook page.
Community Conversations webinar
Today
The City of Colusa will host a ―Colusa Community Conversations‖ webinar at 4 p.m. Mayor
Josh Hill, Colusa City Manager Jesse Cain, representatives from Cambios Design, Ed Hulbert,
Colusa Industrial Properties, and Kristy Levings, Golden Oaks, will discuss the rehabilitation
process of the Pirelli Building and what the next steps will look like. To join the free meeting,
visit http://zoom.us/j/98313350646. For more information, visit the City of Colusa California
Facebook page.
Wildfire Safety webinar
Today
Pacific Gas and Electric Company will host a safety webinar on the utility‘s Community
Wildfire Safety Program and the steps the company is taking to reduce the impact of Public
Safety Power Shutoff events on customers and communities from 5:30-7 p.m. To join the free
meeting, visit https://bit.ly/2WxivQp or call toll-free 1-866-501 6088 and enter conference code:
3567527. For more information, visit www.pge.com/.
Colusa County Democratic
Central Committee meeting
Today
The Colusa County Democratic Party will host a virtual community meeting with Congressman
John Garamendi at 6 p.m. Participants must register in advance
at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcu6qqDIqH9M0I_2k5zWg4bwJ506dUNd7.

For more information, email colusacountydemocrats@gmail.com or message the Colusa County
Democratic Central Committee‘s Facebook page.
Colusa Certified Farmers Market
Thursday
The Colusa Certified Farmers Market will be open at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the
corner of Tenth and Markets Streets in Colusa, from 4-7 p.m. Each Thursday the market will
feature several local certified vendors selling a variety of fruit, produce and other local
commodities. The Colusa Certified Farmers Market accepts WIC, senior vouchers and CalFresh
as part of the Market Match Incentive Program. For more information, contact Market Manager
Jennifer Diaz at 415-994-9082.
Second annual Vintage Fair
Saturday
The Arbuckle Revitalization Committee will host the second annual Vintage Fair at LaVanche
Hursch Park, 308 Fifth St, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Antiques, vintage items, repurposed
creations, decorations and several cottage industries selling lotions and soaps, all of which are
hand crafted and locally produced, herbs and lavender, plants and woodworking crafts items will
be featured. Admission to the Arbuckle Vintage Market is free and open to the public. For more
information or to become a vendor, call 681-2532.
Board of Supervisors meeting
Tuesday, September 1
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting in the Board Chambers, located at
546 Jay Street, Suite 108, in Colusa, starting at 9 a.m. To observe social distancing
recommendations, the meeting will be accessible via teleconference and members of the public
are encouraged to participate. To listen to the meeting, call 916-264-0723 or 1-800-356-8278 and
enter the conference code: 401978. Participants are asked to mute their phone when not
speaking. Those that would like to participate in the Public Comment portion of the meeting or
would like to comment on a specific agenda item, text your name to 501-3309 and the Chair will
recognize you when it is your turn to speak. For more information about how to access the
teleconference, call 458-0508.
Colusa City Council meeting
The Colusa City Council will hold a meeting at Colusa City Hall, located at 425 Webster St. in
Colusa, starting at 6 p.m. To observe social distancing recommendations, City Council meetings
will be available for live viewing via Zoom Meetings. To watch, visit www.zoom.us/join.
https://www.appeal-democrat.com/colusa_sun_herald/the-week-ahead-august-26-
2020/article_28fb9282-e725-11ea-84d5-9781539f2943.html

The Week Ahead: August 26, 2020
 Colusa County Sun-Herald
Today – September 4
The Colusa County Transit will be offering free fare days today through Friday, September 4
thanks to a Low Carbon Transit Operations grant provided through Caltrans. Passengers will
receive free transportation on any of the fixed-timed routes that travel throughout the county,
excluding medical transports. All riders must call the Transit office in advance to schedule a ride.
A full list of scheduled route times is available at www.ca-
colusacounty.civicplus.com/index.aspx?NID=182. The Colusa County Transit operates Monday
through Friday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a ride, call the
Colusa County Transit at 458-0287.
California Virtual Rice Field Day
Today
The University of Cooperative Extension and California Rice Research Station will host a virtual
Rice Field Day from 1-3 p.m. to update attendees about variety development, disease and
arthropod management, weed control, weedy rice and fertility. The virtual meeting will be held
via Zoom and registration costs $20. To register,
visit http://rice.ucanr.edu/?fbclid=IwAR2eDMCIoE8fMOFg7mKSBYNtAuoN8dKFheMjofZuD
HCODNk3XPETlCq7XRI. For more information, email Whitney Brim-DeForest
at wbrimdeforest@ucanr.edu.
Arbuckle Farmers Market

Today
The Arbuckle Farmers Market, hosted by the Arbuckle Revitalization Committee, will be open at
LaVanche Hursch Park, 308 Fifth St, from 4-7 p.m. The market will be offering fresh, locally
grown fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, nuts, eggs, olive oil, meat, hand-made crafts and
community information for the final installation of the season. A weekly meal provided by
Market Street Grill will also be available for purchase. For more information, visit the Arbuckle
Revitalization Committee‘s Facebook page.
Community Conversations webinar
Today
The City of Colusa will host a ―Colusa Community Conversations‖ webinar at 4 p.m. Mayor
Josh Hill, Colusa City Manager Jesse Cain, representatives from Cambios Design, Ed Hulbert,
Colusa Industrial Properties, and Kristy Levings, Golden Oaks, will discuss the rehabilitation
process of the Pirelli Building and what the next steps will look like. To join the free meeting,
visit http://zoom.us/j/98313350646. For more information, visit the City of Colusa California
Facebook page.
Wildfire Safety webinar
Today
Pacific Gas and Electric Company will host a safety webinar on the utility‘s Community
Wildfire Safety Program and the steps the company is taking to reduce the impact of Public
Safety Power Shutoff events on customers and communities from 5:30-7 p.m. To join the free
meeting, visit https://bit.ly/2WxivQp or call toll-free 1-866-501 6088 and enter conference code:
3567527. For more information, visit www.pge.com/.

Colusa County Democratic
Central Committee meeting
Today
The Colusa County Democratic Party will host a virtual community meeting with Congressman
John Garamendi at 6 p.m. Participants must register in advance
at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcu6qqDIqH9M0I_2k5zWg4bwJ506dUNd7.
For more information, email colusacountydemocrats@gmail.com or message the Colusa County
Democratic Central Committee‘s Facebook page.
Colusa Certified Farmers Market
Thursday
The Colusa Certified Farmers Market will be open at Veterans Memorial Park, located on the
corner of Tenth and Markets Streets in Colusa, from 4-7 p.m. Each Thursday the market will
feature several local certified vendors selling a variety of fruit, produce and other local
commodities. The Colusa Certified Farmers Market accepts WIC, senior vouchers and CalFresh
as part of the Market Match Incentive Program. For more information, contact Market Manager
Jennifer Diaz at 415-994-9082.
Second annual Vintage Fair
Saturday
The Arbuckle Revitalization Committee will host the second annual Vintage Fair at LaVanche
Hursch Park, 308 Fifth St, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Antiques, vintage items, repurposed

creations, decorations and several cottage industries selling lotions and soaps, all of which are
hand crafted and locally produced, herbs and lavender, plants and woodworking crafts items will
be featured. Admission to the Arbuckle Vintage Market is free and open to the public. For more
information or to become a vendor, call 681-2532.
Board of Supervisors meeting
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting in the Board Chambers, located at
546 Jay Street, Suite 108, in Colusa, starting at 9 a.m. To observe social distancing
recommendations, the meeting will be accessible via teleconference and members of the public
are encouraged to participate. To listen to the meeting, call 916-264-0723 or 1-800-356-8278 and
enter the conference code: 401978. Participants are asked to mute their phone when not
speaking. Those that would like to participate in the Public Comment portion of the meeting or
would like to comment on a specific agenda item, text your name to 501-3309 and the Chair will
recognize you when it is your turn to speak. For more information about how to access the
teleconference, call 458-0508.
Colusa City Council meeting
The Colusa City Council will hold a meeting at Colusa City Hall, located at 425 Webster St. in
Colusa, starting at 6 p.m. To observe social distancing recommendations, City Council meetings
will be available for live viewing via Zoom Meetings. To watch, visit www.zoom.us/join
https://www.appeal-democrat.com/colusa_sun_herald/the-week-ahead-august-26-
2020/article_28fb9282-e725-11ea-84d5-9781539f2943.html

26th august, 2020 daily global regional and local rice e newsletter

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