Daily global regional local rice e newsletter

1. 8th
September,2020
Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
Weak rupee partiallycontributed to Q1 agri-export value
growth
G. CHANDRASHEKHAR | Updated on September 07, 2020 Published on September 07, 2020
But lot needs to be done on tapping the potential offered by export markets, especially pulses
export to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Increase of farm goods export by as much as a quarter in value terms during the peak national
lockdown period of April-June quarter is a commendable performance. Exporters deserve to be
complimented for fighting against odds – inadequate availability of lorry transport, labour and
port facilities – to push their shipments.

2. Usually, April-June period is when shipments of agri commodities such as grains and oilseeds
peak because exporters are keen to beat the onset of the South-West monsoon. During the rainy
season, there is the risk of quality deterioration as also logistics disruption.
Currency depreciation
Be that as it may, a closer scrutiny of the latest export data reveals something not communicated.
The comparison is between export value realised during April-June quarter this year and the
same quarter last year 2019 in rupee terms.
Interestingly, between the first quarter of 2019 and corresponding period in 2020, the rupee has
depreciated by as much as 10 per cent. From an average of around 68.5 to a US Dollar in Q1
2019, the rupee has moved lower to 76.0 in Q1 this year. No wonder, when expressed in rupee
terms, the export value this year appears attractively higher; but the reality of currency
depreciation cannot be glossed over.
A realistic picture of export performance will be known if we compare Q1 2019 and Q1 2020
export performance in dollar terms. It is also necessary for the government to share volume data
and unit value realisation in both rupee terms and dollar terms. It would then allow people to
come to their own conclusion about agri-export performance.
Pulses, sugar exports
Close to 95 per cent of the increase in Q1 export in value terms is accounted for by two
commodities — non-basmati rice and sugar. It is well recognised that sugar export from the
country is not on own merit or intrinsic competitiveness of the commodity, but is highly
subsidised in order to reduce domestic inventory burden.
It is interesting that pulses export is beginning to pick up. Shipments of both chickpea and
pigeon pea have shown a sharp rise during the last quarter, albeit from a low base. However, we
are far short of the potential offered by export markets and have done nothing to consciously
promote pulses export.

3. Slack promotions
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka together import nearly 20 lakh tonnes of pulses annually. These two
should be our easy target markets; but stakeholders – Commerce Ministry, promotional agencies
and trade bodies – have not bothered to cultivate these geographically proximate markets.
Remotely located origins such as Canada and Australia happily service our neighbours.
The bilateral trade agreement with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka has remained on paper. This writer
believes, India has the potential to export at least 500,000 tonnes of pulses annually; but a
conscious effort is required to cultivate overseas markets.
Higher exports will support domestic prices and bring some relief to beleaguered growers. More
often than not, domestic rates are well below the minimum support price assured by the
government.
The author is a policy commentator and agri-business specialist. Views are personal.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/markets/commodities/weak-rupee-partially-contributed-
to-q1-agri-export-value-growth/article32540928.ece
Mum, 33, ditches her dailybreakfastsof slurpeesand
hot chips to shed 20 KILOS - and sharesthe exact diet
behindher newly shreddedphysique
Mum, 33, ditches her daily breakfasts of slurpees and hot chips to shed20 KILOS - and
shares the exact diet behind her newly shredded physique
 Sport and fitness were Kristel Hudson's greatest passions her entire life
 But that changed after welcoming her first child and laying her father to rest
 The Sydney conveyancer became depressedand sought comfort in junk food
 Ms Hudson gained 20kg by eating hot chips and drinking 'slurpees' for breakfast

4.  Over the past four years, she has regained motivation by doing home workouts
 The single mum now weighs 57kg and recently won three bikini competitions
By ALICE MURPHY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
PUBLISHED: 05:45 BST, 7 September 2020 | UPDATED: 23:09 BST, 7 September 2020
Fitness was Kristel Hudson's greatest passion her entire life, but everything changed when she
discovered she was pregnant weeks after her relationship broke down.
One year later in March 2015, her beloved father - who had raised her as a single parent - died
from lung cancer, a devastating loss that pushed the marketing coordinator from Sutherland, south
of Sydney, into a deep depression.
Grappling with the emotional and financial pressures of raising daughter Isla alone, Ms Hudson
sought comfort in junk food and gained 20 kilos on a diet of chicken shop hot chips, sugar-laced
slurpees and Chinese takeaway.
But after overhauling her lifestyle and toning up with almost daily workouts, Ms Hudson went on
to win one of Australia's top bikini modelling competitions in October 2019 - a show of gritty
determination she hopes to pass on to her little girl.
Sydney marketing coordinator Kristel Hudson (pictured left, in 2015 and right, in 2019) went
from eating hot chips and slurpees for breakfast to winning bikini competitions
Ms Hudson resolvedto transform her body after seeing otherworking mothers getting fit on
Instagram
'I was looking at other mums on Instagram with two and three kids who were just as busy as I was
and I thought, if they can do it, so can I,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
At her heaviest, Ms Hudson tipped the scales at 65 kilos.
While many might see that as a goal weight, for the pint-sized brunette who stands at 153cm -
barely five feet - it was a dramatic departure from her usual physique which had always sat
between 45 and 50 kilos.
Lethargic, unmotivated and stripped of confidence, Ms Hudson dressed in baggy track pants and
loose-fitting dresses to hide her changing form.
'I didn't look like I was typically overweight, but I had a really high body fat percentage - I went
from being super lean to having over 30 percent body fat,' Ms Hudson said.
https://agriculture.einnews.com/article_detail/525688525/KE37h6UEItz18neZ?n=2&code=VuZ
Lay2YinrVF2-

5. 0&utm_source=NewsletterNews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Basmati+Rice+News&
utm_content=article
Agri dep’trenewspushfor rice farmers to cultivateother
crops
September 7, 2020 | 12:04 am
PHILIPPINE STAR/EDD GUMBAN
RICE FARMERS are being encouraged to try growing other crops like corn, onion, and garlic to
raise their incomes, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The DA said in a recent administrative circular that the crop diversification program targets rice
farmers willing to grow alternative crops with market potential.
In a mobile phone interview, Program Director Milo D. Delos Reyes said: “The crops that will
be used in the program depend on the market situation and the weather in the locality… We are
demonstrating to farmers that it is possible,” he added.

6. “Eligible beneficiaries are preferably rice cooperatives and associations or groups composed of
smallholder rice farmers registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors of Agriculture
(RSBSA) and/or accredited by the DA who are willing to participate in the program and whose
farms are identified by the DA regional field offices in coordination with respective local
government units,” according to the circular.
The DA’s High-Value Crops Development Program will be the lead implementor of the
program.
Other participating agencies are the Bureau of Plant Industry, Bureau of Soils and Water
Management, Agricultural Training Institute, and National Economic and Development
Authority, among others.
The program will be funded by a portion of the excess revenue from tariffs generated by
Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/agri-dept-renews-push-for-rice-farmers-to-cultivate-other-crops/
Can you grow rice in the desert? Sharjah says it can
The UAE is looking to local food propduction by growing rice in the desert
07September2020
Thomas Shambler
Sharjah is about to start its second experimental rice cultivation project, that hopes to
prove that despite the hot weather, rice can indeed be grown here in the UAE. The first
experiment – which lasted from November to May 2020 – was a huge success, with researchers
able to cultivate two types of rice in an area of 2,200 square meters. The rice was capable of
withstanding the UAE’s high temperatures, as well as our local soil. The next stage of the
experiment is getting ready to begin, and is a joint partnership project between the ministry’s

7. Agricultural Innovation Centre in Al Dhaid, Sharjah, as well as the Rural Development
Administration of the Republic of Korea. The general idea is to both increase local production of
food, and expand the agricultural sector. Being able to turn parts of the desert into rich farmland
would obviously do wonders for both those factors, as well as increase the UAE’s sustainability
when it comes to food. Rice appears to be the perfect crop to be grown in the desert, as it is
extremely hardwearing. For the second stage of the project, researchers are going to try and
increase production while at the same time reducing water demand in hopes that it will become
easier to grow in future. The pilot phase of the project created 763 kilograms of rice per 1,000
square metres of land.
https://www.esquireme.com/content/47753-can-you-grow-rice-in-the-desert-sharjah-says-it-can
Riding on non-Basmati rice, sugar, agri exports jump 23%
in Q1 despite lockdown
NEW DELHI: Despite Covid-19 and the lockdown, India saw a 23% increase in export of farm
produce from April to June compared to the corresponding period last year, with rice and sugar
dominating the charts. Though Basmati rice tops the list of exported farm items in terms of value
(Rs 8,591 crore) — accounting for a third of India’s agri export in the first quarter of 2020-21,
it’s an export of non-Basmati rice that contributed the highest rise of Rs 2,392 crore. Overall,
India recorded an increase of Rs 4,818 crore of agri export compared to 2019 Q1. Rice, sugar
contributed over 95% to agri export increase Export of refined sugar contributed an increase of
Rs 1,719 crore and export of raw sugar Rs 448 crore during the period — this means non-
basmati rice and sugar (refined and raw) together contributed Rs 4,559 crore (over 95%) in total
increase of agri commodities export.

8. Though pigeon pea (tur), Bengal gram and raw groundnut oil figure at the top in percentage term
increase, their contribution in value terms in total export is low compared to rice, sugar and
onion during the pandemic-hit period. In fact, export of Basmati rice recorded minor decline
while other key commodities in India’s agri export basket such as tea and soya meal reported
decline of 27% and 14%, respectively, during the first quarter of current financial year compared
to the corresponding period in 2019. India’s contribution to sustaining the global food supply
chain through increased export amid Covid-19 situation was noted last week during the UN Food
and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) 35th regional conference for Asia and the Pacific,
organised by Bhutan on a virtual platform. The country’s representatives,
including Union minister of state for agriculture Parshottam Rupala, spoke how the prompt
measures during the lockdown period mitigated the impact of the pandemic at a time which
coincided first with the peak harvest season and subsequently with fast-paced summer sowing
operations during the monsoon. Analysis of the agri export figures of April-June period shows
that pigeon pea recorded highest increase of 440% (from Rs 15 crore last year to Rs 81 crore this
year) while Bengal Gram recorded an increase of 407%, groundnut oil 243% increase and wheat
148% rise. Incidentally, rice (both Basmati and non-Basmati) and sugar (refined and raw), which
together account for nearly 78% of total agri export during April-June, are the two biggest water-

9. guzzling farm commodities — a point which experts on sustainable agriculture invariably raise
while pitching for micro irrigation and diversification towards less water-consuming nutri-
cereals such as millets.
: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/rice-sugar-push-up-q1-farm-
exports-by-23/articleshow/77968974.cms
Social Minister Ensures Adequate Rice Supply for Social
Assistance
Antara
Editor:
Petir Garda Bhwana
6 September 2020 17:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Social Affairs Minister Juliari P Batubara has ensured
adequate rice supply for social assistance to 10 million beneficiaries of the Family Hope
Program (PKH) until October.
"Bulog's (State Logistics Agency's) rice supply is adequate for 10 million PKH beneficiaries
who will receive 15 kg per household per month in August, September and October," the
minister said in a statement on Sunday.
The rice aid would be disbursed in two stages, where each household would receive 30 kg in
September and 15 kg in October, he elaborated.
In addition to the implementation of social safety net scheme, the synergy between the ministry
and the State Logistics Agency will help the distribution of rice stock in Bulog's warehouses,
Batubara said.
"Hence Bulog can absorb more farmers' rice, and this can improve the farmers' welfare," he
added.
Rice assistance is a program under the Social Safety Net (JPS) scheme to cope with the social
impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is also aimed at absorbing farmers' rice production.
Director General of Social Empowerment at the Social Affairs Ministry Edi Suharto said the
ministry has the responsibility to ensure that beneficiaries will receive qualified rice for
consumption.

10. "We guarantee the rice quality. We have to monitor this starting from packaging and
distribution. We have to check the process in Bulog's warehouses," Suharto said.
After the packaging process in the agency's warehouses, the rice will be delivered directly to
beneficiaries' houses. PT. Bhanda Ghara Reksa (BGR) and PT. Dos Ni Roha (DNR) were
appointed to transport and deliver the rice.
Read also: Minister Says Farmers Ready to Harvest 19.8mn Tons of Rice
https://en.tempo.co/read/1383386/social-minister-ensures-adequate-rice-supply-for-social-
assistance
FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief
The Cereal Supply and Demand Brief provides an up-to-date perspective of the world cereal
market. The monthly brief is supplemented by a detailed assessment of cereal production as well
as supply and demand conditions by country/region in the quarterly Crop Prospects and Food
Situation. More in-depth analyses of world markets for cereals, as well as other major food
commodities, are published biannually in Food Outlook.
Monthly release dates for 2020: 6 February, 5 March, 2 April, 7 May, 4 June, 2 July, 3
September, 8 October, 5 November, 3 December.
Cereal supplies to remain ample in 2020/21 despite this month’s cut in global production forecast
Release date: 03/09/2020
FAO lowered its forecast for world
cereal production in 2020 by 25.0 million tonnes
(0.9 percent) compared to the previous forecast in
July. Notwithstanding this downturn in prospects,
the expected global cereal output still stands at 2
765 million tonnes, an all-time high and 58
million tonnes above the 2019 outturn.
This month’s production cutback results from a
reduction in the world coarse grains forecast, now
pegged at 1 496 million tonnes, down 23.5 million
tonnes from the previous report in July. The bulk
of the decline relates to a 26.3 million tonne
downward revision to the maize production
forecast in the United States of America (USA),
where plantings, albeit still up year-on-year, are
lower than earlier expectations and recent storm damage in the Midwest caused crop losses and
impaired yield prospects. Overall, however, yields are still expected to recover from the previous
year’s low level and the country’s output is forecast at 380 million tonnes, 10 percent higher than
in 2019. Production forecasts were also lowered in the European Union (EU) and Ukraine, due to
adverse weather that diminished yield prospects, and in Indonesia, where the historical

11. production estimates as well as the 2020 forecast were revised downwards in line with recently
released official statistics. These reductions more than offset upward revisions to the maize
production forecasts in Argentina and Brazil, with both countries expecting record-high harvests.
The forecast for global barley production in 2020 has been trimmed by 1.2 million tonnes, driven
by lower yield prospects in the EU, and now stands at 154.2 million tonnes. By contrast, world
sorghum production is now expected to reach nearly 60 million tonnes, 6 percent higher than the
previous year, following increased forecasts for India, Mexico and the USA. Global wheat
production has been reduced by 1.4 million tonnes since July, which puts this year’s output at
760.1 million tonnes, marginally below the good outturn of 2019. The recent decrease is mostly
the result of cuts to production forecasts in Argentina, the EU and the USA by 1.3 million, 4.0
million, and 1.1 million tonnes, respectively, which outweighed upward revisions for Brazil,
Canada, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. Small area-based increases to July forecasts of rice
production in Colombia, the Philippines and the USA compensated for more downbeat
expectations of output in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. As a result,
global rice production in 2020 is still projected at an all-time high of 509 million tonnes (milled
basis), up 1.7 percent from the 2019 reduced level.
The forecast for world cereal utilization in 2020/21 has been increased by 11.0 million tonnes
since July, now amounting to 2 746 million tonnes, up 63.1 million tonnes (2.4 percent) from the
2019/20 level. The projected growth and upward revision this month mostly reflect a foreseen
increase in total utilization of coarse grains, revised up by 8.4 million tonnes since July and now
surpassing the 2019/20 level by 51.5 million tonnes (3.6 percent). An anticipated increase in feed
use of coarse grains, especially maize, up 31.4 million tonnes (3.8 percent) from 2019/20 levels,
is the biggest driver of the expected annual growth. However, the recovery of industrial use from
last year’s slump, now seen increasing by 16.4 million tonnes (4.2 percent), as ethanol demand
regains ground, also contributes to the anticipated expansion. The forecast for total wheat
utilization in 2020/21 has also been lifted since July, albeit marginally (by 2.0 million tonnes), to
756 million tonnes, representing an increase of 3.0 million tonnes from the 2019/20 level. Higher
food consumption is the main driver behind this increase, while the feed demand for wheat is
likely to remain suppressed and its industrial use to stagnate. World rice utilization in 2020/21 is
pegged at 511 million tonnes, up 600 000 tonnes from July expectations and 1.7 percent above
the 2019/20 level. Although non-food uses of rice are anticipated to recover over the season, the
predicted expansion is forecast to be driven by food intake, rising at a faster rate than the
population growth aided by large supplies and food assistance programmes.
The forecast for world cereal stocks by the close of the 2021 seasons has been cut by 33.4
million tonnes since July, dropping to 895.5 million tonnes, but still up 14.6 million tonnes (1.7
percent) above their opening levels and representing an all-time high. This month’s downward
revision of the global cereal stocks and the lifting of world cereal utilization forecast results in
the 2020/21 world cereal stocks-to-use ratio dropping to 31.8 percent, down slightly from July
and the lowest in four years, but still relatively high from a historical perspective. The bulk of the
downward adjustment to global stocks is the result of an expected 24.0 million tonne reduction in
maize inventories in the USA, triggered by reduced production prospects since the previous
report in July. This cut in maize stocks lowers the forecast for total global coarse grain stocks to
432.1 million tonnes, down 30.9 million tonnes since July but still 10.8 million tonnes (2.6
percent) above their opening levels. Despite a slight downward revision (by 1.6 million tonnes),
global wheat inventories at the close of 2021 seasons are also still predicted to increase by 5.7

12. million tonnes (2.0 percent) above their opening levels and reach 282.2 million tonnes, the
second highest on record. However, most of the forecast increase stems from an expected 11.0
million tonne rise in China’s wheat inventories from the previous season. By contrast, following
a 1.0 million tonne downgrade since July, world rice stocks are now seen falling 1.0 percent
below their opening levels to 181 million tonnes, which is still the third highest volume on
record. This latest revision primarily reflects lower anticipated reserves in importers, particularly
China, which is also envisaged to account for much of the forecast annual stock drawdown.
Conversely, 2020/21 carry-outs in the major rice exporters were raised further and are now
predicted to reach a seven-year high.
FAO’s forecast for world trade in cereals in 2020/21 is pegged at 441.4 million tonnes, up 7.1
million tonnes from the July forecast and 6.3 million tonnes (1.6 percent) above the 2019/20
level. The forecast for world wheat trade in 2020/21 (July/June) has been raised to 181.5 million
tonnes, up 2.9 million tonnes from July and marginally (0.3 percent) above the 2019/20 record
level. The more robust wheat import demand in 2020/21 will likely be met by larger shipments
from Australia and the Russian Federation, offsetting an anticipated cut in exports by the EU.
The forecast for world trade in coarse grains in 2020/21 (July/June) has also been lifted since the
previous report in July, by 3.9 million tonnes; it now points to a likely trade expansion of nearly
4.0 million tonnes (1.9 percent) from the 2019/20 level and marking a new record. Higher world
trade of maize than earlier anticipated is responsible for most of this month’s upward adjustment,
reflecting strong import demand, especially in Asia, amid large supplies in major exporters.
Despite a 400 000 tonne downward revision from July, ample exportable supplies and rekindling
African demand are expected to sustain a 6 percent annual expansion in international rice trade
in (calendar) 2021 to 47 million tonnes.
Summary Tables

14. Download full dataset
1/ Production data refer to the calendar year of the first year shown. Rice production is
expressed in milled terms.
2/ Production plus opening stocks.
3/ Trade data refer to exports based on a July/June marketing season for wheat and coarse grains
and on a January/December marketing season for rice (second year shown).
4/ May not equal the difference between supply and utilization due to differences in individual
country marketing years.
5/ Major wheat exporters are Argentina, Australia, Canada, the EU, Kazakhstan, Russian
Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major coarse grain exporters are Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Canada, the EU, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major rice exporters
are India, Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam. Disappearance is defined as
domestic utilization plus exports for any given season.
http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/csdb/en/
Vietnamese rice takes bite out of global market
Chia sẻ | FaceBookTwitter Email Copy Link
07/09/2020 15:06 GMT+7
Vietnam’s rice exports have expanded during the pandemic to surpass rival Thailand in price for
the first time in three decades, leading experts to suggest the sector should consolidate its
position.

15. In July, Vinaseed – a member of The PAN Group, exported VJ Pearl Rice and RVT fragrant rice
to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic. — Photo courtesy of Vinaseed
According to industry insiders, Thailand is expected to export 6.5 million tones of rice this year
and drop from 3rd to 5th place on the list of global rice exporters in the next decade.
While other agricultural products suffered from a decline in exports due to the impacts
of COVID-19, domestic rice export value reached US$2.2 billion in the first eight months of
2020, up 10.4 per cent over the same period in 2019.
According to the Vietnam Food Association (VFA), local rice export prices had continued
to increase. Specifically, local 5 per cent broken rice was of $20 per tonne higher than Thailand
in August.
Earlier this year, Thailand's 5 per cent broken white rice price was between $50 and $60 higher
than the Vietnamese variety. By mid-August, local 5 per cent broken white rice was trading at
$493 to $497 per tonne, while the Thai variety stood at $473-477, Pakistan was at $423-427 and
India was down at $378-382.
A VFA official told local media: “It is the first time Vietnamese rice export prices have risen
above Thailand in 30 years."

16. With the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), effective last month,
Vietnam has a quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice to export per year with a tax rate of zero per cent,
giving the country to the chance to assert its position in the EU market and also the world, said
Le Thanh Hoa, deputy director of the Agro-Processing and Market Development Authority at the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Hoa added that each year the EU consumes about 2.5 million tonnes of rice, but before the trade
agreement Vietnam was only able to supply 20,000 tonnes due to the high import tax. In the past
Vietnamese rice could not compete with rice from Thailand, the United States or Australia,
which were allocated large quotas, or Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar which were tax exempt.
The MARD official said rice consumption in the EU was increasing significantly due to the
popularity of Asian food, so there was still room for Vietnamese exporters, especially with zero
tariffs.
According to the ministry, local rice exports reached 4.5 million tonnes worth $2.2 billion in the
first eight month of 2020. Export volume decreased due to the pandemic but the value increased
significantly thanks to higher prices, averaging $488 per tonne.
He detailed that white rice export value accounted for 38 per cent of total turnover, of which
low-quality white rice only accounts for two per cent.
Boost the brand
Trung An High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in Can Tho Province is planning
to export its first batch of rice to the EU after signing contracts to sell 3,000 tonnes to three
customers in Germany.
Tin tài trợ
According to the firm, in the first shipment, it will deliver 150 tonnes of ST20 at more than
US$1,000 per tonne, and jasmine at more than $600 per tonne.
In July, Vietnam Rice Company Limited (Vinarice) under Vinaseed – a member of The PAN
Group, exported VJ Pearl Rice and RVT fragrant rice to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic
at a price of $1,040 per tonne as the first Vietnamese branded rice products imported
officially into those markets.
Despite a relatively low quota of 80,000 tonnes tax to the EU, local firms know the requirements
they have to meet to take advantage.
CEO of Vinaseed Nguyen Quang Truong said: “To meet the demand, Vinaseed has focused on
selecting varieties and investing in modern facilities and quality management systems that
meet international standards for food hygiene and safety, while developing a sustainable supply
and distribution network.”

17. Even though Vietnam was one of the top three rice exporting countries in the world, Truong
noted that one of the major challenges was quality.
As CEO of the firm with more than 50 year of experience in the market, Truong said: “Vietnam
has yet to nail down key varieties for export and instead exports many different varieties. This
limits competitiveness and branding.”
“In other countries, they focus on highly competitive rice for export,” he said, recommending
that rice producers should build sustainable production chains for safe, organic materials with
clear traceability to attract customers from high-end markets.
Vietnamese rice exports needed to follow a strict chain from research and development
to processing, packaging and marketing to establish a national brand in the future, he said.
“Building a good and consistent agricultural product with geographical indications and brand
protection is a must in the branding process,” he added.
According to the MARD representative, the ministry was applying to register the
brand “Vietnam Rice” under the Madrid System. After completing the registration, the ministry
will then ask the Government to allow the VFA to manage and certify the Vietnamese rice
trademark. VNS
https://vietnamnet.vn/en/business/vietnamese-rice-takes-bite-out-of-global-market-672115.html
Opportunetime for Vietnam to boost rice exports
Export prices of Vietnam’s 5% broken rice have climbed to USD488-492 per tonne, up
US$25 from a month ago and marking the highest levels for years.
Rice exports increase sharply with highest price in many years

18. Photo for illustration
Purchasing prices in the Mekong Delta also rose significantly against previous crops, up to
VND6,200 per kilogram, generating good profits for rice farmers.
According to the Vietnam Food Association, Vietnamese rice price rises were partly thanks to
many countries increasing their reserves to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. In addition,
with Vietnam’s ST25 rice named the world’s best rice, global consumers have paid more
attention to Vietnamese rice in general, helping to boost both export volumes and prices.
In other good news, Vietnamese rice has begun to penetrate high-quality markets with Vinaseed
recently announcing it will ship 50 tonnes of Japonica rice to Australia. The company already
exported VJ Pearl Rice and RVT fragrant rice to the Netherlands and the Czech Republic in July
at a price of US$1,040 per tonnes.
Such varieties have received the FSSC 22000 certificate on processing, packaging and shipping
from Bureau Veritas, a world-leading British certification company. This is one of the
comprehensive food safety standards necessary to penetrate demanding markets such as the EU
and the US.
Besides Vinaseed, many Vietnamese rice exporters are also working to meet the stringent
requirements of the EU, especially as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement has already come
into force, under which the EU is giving Vietnam an annual quota of 80,000 tonnes of rice with
zero tariffs.
This is a special opportunity for Vietnamese rice exporters to build and promote their image as
well as outlining new strategies for production and export by focusing on speciality rice varieties
designed to target discerning markets with higher prices and also reduce reliance on traditional
markets, which mainly purchase lower-quality rice at lower prices.
It is a fact that Vietnamese rice accounts for small market share in European supermarkets while
the rice of Thailand and Cambodia dominates. In order to expand their market and raise the value
of rice, Vietnamese enterprises, therefore, need to change their mindset from creating safe

19. growing regions to forging closer links with farmers in order to achieve high level domestic and
international certificates regarding agricultural practices and food safety./.
CPV (Source: Nhan Dan News)
http://en.dangcongsan.vn/economics/opportune-time-for-vietnam-to-boost-rice-exports-
560010.html
Vietnamese rice export price hits 9 year high
CHRISTIAN FERNSBY ▼ | September 7, 2020
The average export price of Vietnamese rice in the first sevenmonths jumped to $487.2 per
tonne, the highest level since 2011.
SEVEN MONTHS Vietnam rice
This marks a year-on-year increase of 12.5 percent, according to the Agriculture Products
Processing and Development Department (Agrotrade).
Topics: VIETNAM RICE
The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed many countries to increase rice purchases for bolstering
reserves, leading to higher prices, it said.
Vietnam’s 5-percent broken rice is currently priced at around $480 per tonne and is forecast to
continue rising until the next harvest which falls in next month.
In the first seven months, the Philippines was the top importer of Vietnamese rice, accounting for
35.3 percent of total export volume. Some markets that boosted their rice purchases from
Vietnam were: Senegal, up 19.8 times, Indonesia, up 3.1 times and China, up 84 percent.
The country has exported 4.5 million tonnes of rice worth $2.2 billion in the first eight months,
up 10.4 percent in value year-on-year. ■
https://www.poandpo.com/agrifish/vietnamese-rice-export-price-hits-9-year-high/

20. Rice federation seeks more opportunities
The Cambodian Rice Federation and Bank of China have agreed to leverage their respective
strengths to further deepen a strategic alliance. KT/Chor Sokunthea
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) is seeking more business opportunities for Cambodia’s
rice sector by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bank of China (Hong
Kong) Ltd on the third China International Import Expo (CIIE) project to promote the industry.
The MoU was signed by Song Saran, president of the CRF, and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd
Phnom Penh branch (BOC), represented by Liu Zheng.
“As the strategic partner of the third CIIE, BOC acknowledges the CRF as an important business
association in Cambodia with the advantage of having many corporate members,” Saran said.
He said it will actively introduce corporate members to BOC, having the intention to participate
in the CIIE for CRF’s members to get opportunities in global trade and expand business.
Saran said the MOU is an essential key principle to further facilitate the implementation of the
third CIIE project, in which both the CRF and BOC have agreed to leverage their respective
strengths to further deepen a strategic alliance.
Cambodia’s rice exports rose 31.05 percent, reaching 448,203 tonnes, in the first eight months of
the year, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
China is still the top market for Cambodian rice exports with around 159,253 tonnes in the first
eight months, followed by France with 56,964 tonnes. However, In Asean countries, Malaysia
imported about 23, 201 tonnes from Cambodia, Vietnam 12,836 tonnes and Brunei 10,500
tonnes.
According to the announcement from CIIE, the third CIIE will be held as scheduled from Nov 5-
10 in Shanghai, China.
“The CRF strongly expects to actively participate in this event as well as aiming to promote
Cambodia’s rice brand on the international stage. It is also seeking more business opportunities
in the rice sector and related sectors from the event,” he said.
Saran said that the sector needs about $300 million to buy rice paddy during this year to reach
the target of 800,000 tonnes in exports.
“With the target of exporting 800,000 tonnes of rice this year, the government needs to inject
between $80 million to $100 million while the private sector needs to have reserves of about
$200 million,” he said.

21. He added both state and private sectors will also need to inject more money to reach the ultimate
target of 1 million tonnes.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50761312/rice-federation-seeks-more-opportunities/
CRF, China-owned bank ink MoU to promote rice sector
Hin Pisei | Publication date 06 September 2020 | 21:26 ICT
The Kingdom exported 448,203 tonnes of milled rice to international markets in the first eight
months of this year. Heng Chivoan

22. Cambodia milled-rice export market is expected to widen next year after the Cambodia Rice
Federation (CRF) and Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd (BoC) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and support tied to the upcoming 3rd China International
Import Expo (CIIE) in November.
The MoU was signed on Friday between CRF president Song Saran and BoC Phnom Penh
Branch representative Liu Zheng and aims to shore up the Kingdom’s rice industry. BoC is a
subsidiary of the Chinese State-owned Bank of China Ltd.
Both parties will further strengthen cooperation between banks and enterprises, and “effectively
and efficiently” provide services and financing for Cambodian companies that are interested in
attending the CIIE.
As a “strategic partner”, BoC will actively provide comprehensive financial services to the
corporate members of CRF as part of the greater CIIE project.
CRF secretary-general Lun Yeng told The Post on Sunday that through the MoU, the BoC would
make it easier for CRF members to attend the CIIE, held in Shanghai, China from November 5-
10.
He said the event is taken very seriously by the Chinese leadership, and stressed the importance
for the Kingdom’s rice sector to capitalise on the opportunity and expand its export market.
“Every year at the event, CRF leaders meet Chinese vendors to discuss and sign supply
agreements. This is an opportunity for exporters for the coming year,” Yeng said, adding that the
CRF has signed MoUs and rice sale agreements at both prior iterations of the CIIE.
Cambodia exported 448,203 tonnes of milled rice to international markets in the first eight
months of this year, an increase of more than 31.04 per cent compared to 342,045 tonnes in the
same period last year.
The General Directorate of Agriculture reported this, citing data from the General Department of
Customs and Excise that was extracted from phytosanitary certificates.
Yeng said the exports were worth between $298 and $300 million.
The directorate said jasmine and fragrant rice accounted for 352,802 tonnes, equivalent to 78.71
per cent of total milled-rice exports, while white long-grain rice accounted for 89,699 tonnes
(20.01 per cent).
Long-grain parboiled rice accounted for 5,679 tonnes (1.27 per cent) and red rice 23 tonnes (0.01
per cent).

23. China topped the list of 59 destination markets for Cambodian milled rice with 159,253 tonnes
imported (up 19.79 year-on-year), accounting for a 35.53 per cent market share.
Exports to Europe, ASEAN countries and other destinations reached 149,848 tonnes, 60,933
tonnes and 78,169 tonnes, up 24.81, 42.49 and 68.92 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 33.43,
13.59 and 17.44 per cent of total milled-rice exports for the period.
But milled-rice shipments slipped 34.97 per cent to 22,130 tonnes last month, from 34,032
tonnes in August last year.
The CRF attributed the drop in dry-season milled-rice exports to climate change and the
rescheduled Khmer New Year holiday last month.
Contact author: Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/crf-china-owned-bank-ink-mou-promote-rice-sector
Bridging agricultural livelihoods and energy access
- Barriers and opportunities for rice and rice husk
value chains in Labutta, Myanmar
Format
Analysis
Source
 Mercy Corps
Posted

24. 5 Sep 2020
Originally published
4 Sep 2020
Origin
View original
Attachments
 Download document(PDF | 3.35 MB)
Executive Summary
This report presents the results of a one-year collaborative research project between Mercy
Corps Myanmar, Renewable Energy Association of Myanmar with Biomass Energy
Association of Myanmar and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the
University of Manchester. The project explored the intersection between agricultural

25. livelihoods and energy access through an investigation of social networks in rice and rice
husk value chains in rural farming communities of Labutta in Myanmar’s Lower Delta.
Rice production is an important agricultural activity in Myanmar, significantly contributing to
its economy by providing income and employment to half of the country’s population.
However, because of lack of access to electricity in many rural areas, rice farmers have
limited opportunities to increase their income. For many off-grid communities, heat and
electricity for household lighting and livelihood activities are provided through steam and
electricity produced from combustion or gasification of rice husk – a by product of rice
milling. With an estimated over 3 million tonnes of rice husk produced every year, Myanmar
has potential to utilise rice husk for income-generating activities and energy generation in
order to support agricultural production and rural livelihoods.
Focusing on case study sites in Bi Tut and Kan Bet in Labutta, this research mapped social
networks in rice production and rice husk value chains. This allowed us to identify actors and
network structures that could play important roles in supporting energy access and increasing
livelihood opportunities for smallholders. In addition to this, interviews and focus group
discussions with farmers and millers also revealed important challenges and opportunities for
rice husk bioenergy within rural farming communities.
Among the challenges identified are:
 Access to credit and financing. This is one of the most urgent requirements to enable
smallholder farmers and millers to adopt value-adding activities such as access to high quality
inputs (e.g., seeds and fertilisers) or mechanised drying, and so increase their income.
 Small-scale millers in off-grid areas offer an important service to smallholder farmers and
need financial and technical support to upgrade their facilities.
 A rice husk market exists but mostly for traditional biomass uses, e.g., as briquettes or fuel
sticks or direct burning for rice husk cook stoves; these can lead to pollution and negative
impacts on health.
 Medium-scale millers are willing to participate in new or additional rice husk value added
activities, but only if other actors or businesses can manage rice husk collection and
transportation for them.
There are a number of opportunities for both farmers and millers that can address these
challenges, including:
 Building or strengthening connections between medium-scale millers and local businesses
that use rice husk • Supporting market development for rice husk use in energy generation
 Empowering local partnerships within communities to manage husk-to-energy business
models • Linking groups of farmers to service providers in order to lower costs of production
Reflecting on these, results from this research suggest that in order to bridge agri-
livelihods and energy access:
 Farmers and millers need access to credit under fair financing schemes. It is also particularly
important to address issues in rice trading (e.g., differences in trading price) to increase
farmers’ income.

26.  Investments are needed to support facilities and activities that add value to rice husk,
especially by using it for modern bioenergy. This requires financial support for millers,
especially small-scale and husk-to-energy operators to allow them to invest in zero-effluent
husk-to-energy facilities.
 Capacity building and partnerships strengthening initiatives are needed, which could be
enabled by collaboration between local businesses, communities, and civil society
organisations.
 More policy focus on rice husk bioenergy is needed to encourage investments and upscale
existing initiatives. This includes a consideration of stricter implementation of rules
preventing rice husk or wastewater disposal into river systems.
These findings draw on learnings from our case study sites and may not be applicable to other
rice farming communities or regions. Nonethless, taken together they encourage thinking
about the role of energy in poverty alleviation, particularly in consideration of urgency and
justice – what is needed now and what is fair, especially for smallholders in rice production.
Future work on this subject should undertake an economic analysis to further strengthen the
case for value chain development for rice husk, including for rice husk gasifiers which have
been valuable in powering off-grid farming communities, but are beyond the scope of this
research.
https://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/bridging-agricultural-livelihoods-and-energy-access-
barriers-and-opportunities-rice
Natural pests’management becomes popular in Aman
rice farming
BSS
Published at 05:39 pm September 7th, 2020

27. File photo of farmers reaping paddy in a field in Moulvibazar Mehedi Hasan/Dhaka
Tribune
Adopting perching methods, farmers have set up bamboo poles on 4.72 lakh hectares of
growing Aman rice fields out of the total cultivated land area of 5.99 lakh hectares so far
in all five districts of the region
The natural methods of pests’ management like perching and light trap are becoming
popular among farmers while farming Transplanted Aman rice in Rangpur agriculture
region.
The farmers are applying live and dead perching and light trap methods innovated by
agriculture researchers and scientists to increase more hygienic Aman rice output
minimizing the cost of insecticide.
Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for Rangpur
region Agriculturist Muhammad Ali said farmers are reaping benefits by adopting
perching and light trap methods in preventing pests’ attacks on Aman rice plants.

28. Adopting perching methods, farmers have set up bamboo poles on 4.72 lakh hectares of
growing Aman rice fields out of the total cultivated land area of 5.99 lakh hectares so far
in all five districts of the region.
“Of them, farmers have brought 1.86 lakh hectares of land under the live and 2.86 lakh
hectares of land under dead perching methods in the region till Saturday while cultivating
Aman rice this season,” Ali said.
At the same time, farmers have set up light traps on 655 hectares of Aman rice fields,
including permanent light traps on 605 hectares and temporary light traps on 50 hectares
of their croplands.
“The process of adopting live and dead perching and light trap methods still continues on
Aman rice fields in all five districts of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, and
Nilphamari in the region,” he said.
The DAE is conducting motivational and training activities to inspire farmers in using
these eco-friendly methods for saving growing Aman rice plants from pests’ attacks at
different stages to get more rice yield.
“Random application of pesticide and insecticide are threatening the ecosystems causing
the extinction of indigenous species of fishes, beneficial insects and birds while many
other species of them are on the verge of annihilation,” Ali said.
Farmers are erecting bamboo poles on Aman rice fields so that birds could perch on those
in search of food and eat harmful pests’ for rice plants to protect the crop reducing the
use of pesticides.
Farmers Ariful Haque, Manik Miah, and Azizul Haque of different villages here said the
adoption of the perching and light trap methods minimizes the cost of insecticide and
saves the environment and ecosystems.
Farmers Mozammel Haque, Aiyub Ali, and Mohsin Ali of village Kathihara in Rangpur
Sadar upazila said many birds perch on the poles on growing Aman rice fields to eat
insects protecting the growing rice plants

29. “Now, we know how to protect growing Aman rice plants and save money using effective
natural methods of perching and light traps,” Aiyub said, adding that application of these
methods have really been productive and profitable.
Senior Coordinator (Agriculture and Environment) of RDRS Bangladesh Agriculturist
Mamunur Rashid said the adoption of perching and light trap methods are reducing the
arbitrary use of pesticide while Aman rice cultivation.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/agriculture/2020/09/07/natural-pests-management-
becomes-popular-in-aman-rice-farming
Floodswashed away more than 25% of Nigeria’s rice
harvest
Bloomberg September 7 | Updated on September 07, 2020 Published on September 07, 2020
Floods washed away at least two million tonnes of rice in Nigeria, the second-largest importer of
the grain. That is more than 25 per cent of the previously projected national output of 8 million
tonnes (mt), according to estimates by a farmers’ organisation.
At least 450,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) were destroyed in Kebbi, the country’s main rice-
growing state, according to Mohammed Sahabi, the state chairman of the Rice Farmers

30. Association of Nigeria. Planters had targeted a 2.5 mt contribution to the national basket, but will
now meet less than 20 per cent of the target. Farmers in five other states — Kano, Nigeria,
Enugu, Jigawa and Nasarawa — also reported damage.
“Although we heard the forecast of flooding this year, we didn’t expect that the damage will be
of this magnitude,” Sahabi said by phone from the northwestern city of Birnin Kebbi. “Our target
at state level was 2.5 million tonnes this year, but now we are looking at only 500,000 tonnes of
harvest.”
Nearly 50 people died in Nigerian floods this year as torrential rains caused Africa’s most
populous country’s two main rivers to overflow, according to the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA). The agency had warned that at least 28 of 36 states of West
African nation were at risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall. Other crops such as sorghum, millet
and corn were also affected.
“There is this trepidation that we might have food problems on flooding and existing insecurity
challenges,” Kabir Ibrahim, head of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, said by phone from
Abuja, the nation’s capital. “It will be too soon to know how devastating the impact is.”
Nigeria’s rice production was about 6.7 mt in the last three years, with imports seen declining by
200,000 tonnes in 2020 from 1.2 mt last year as price-sensitive consumers switch to local staples,
according to the US Department of Agriculture.
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download our Android App or IOS App.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/world/floods-washed-away-more-than-25-of-
nigerias-rice-
harvest/article32540627.ece#:~:text=Floods%20washed%20away%20at%20least,estimates%20b
y%20a%20farmers'%20organisation.
UAE prepares for second run of local rice-growing project after successful harvest

31. Pilot phase yielded 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres of land in Al Dhaid, Sharjah
Published: September 06, 2020 18:10 Staff Report
The UAE's first rice field in Al Dhaid, Sharjah. Image Credit: Gulf News Archives
Sharjah: Preparations are underway for the launch of the second experimental phase of a
landmark rice cultivation project in the UAE after a successful first harvest in June, officials
announced on Sunday.
In its first phase that ran from November 2019 to May 2020, the project achieved success in
cultivating japonica and indica rice on an area of 2,200 square meters. The two varieties proved
capable of withstanding UAE’s high temperatures and local soil conditions.
The pilot phase had yielded 763kg of rice per 1,000 square metres of land, Gulf News had
reported in June.
Sunday’s announcement of a second phase followed a recent tour by Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al
Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) of the ministry’s
Agricultural Innovation Centre in Al Dhaid, a region of Sharjah.
He inspected preparations for the latest phase of the rice cultivation project at the centre, in
cooperation with the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of the Republic of Korea.
Watch: Rice crop in the UAE
Expanding rice footprint across UAE
In talks with the Korean team, the minister explored possibilities of developing rice cultivation
projects in the UAE to increase production and reduce water demand in order to expand the
footprints of this staple crop across the country.
Dr Al Nuaimi said: “Building innovation capabilities is one of the basic pillars of developing the
agricultural sector and achieving food security and sustainability — currently a top priority for
the UAE. Therefore, MOCCAE seeks to strengthen cooperation with all UAE entities active in
the agricultural sector as well as independent innovators to identify solutions to increase the
volume of local agricultural production and raise its efficiency.”

32. Boosting food security
He also toured Al Foah’s date receiving centre and the Sharjah Seed Bank and Herbarium at
Sharjah Research Academy. The visit was part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance food security
in the UAE.
Sultan Alwan, acting undersecretary of MOCCAE, and Saif Al Shara, assistant undersecretary
for the Sustainable Communities Sector, accompanied the minister during his visit.
During his visit to Sharjah Research Academy, Dr Al Nuaimi reviewed advancements in the
research and development of high-yielding crop varieties that can adapt to the country’s climatic
conditions, in addition to climate-resilient varieties.
During his visit to the date receiving centre of Al Foah, the UAE’s flagship date producer, the
minister examined the requirements for increasing date production in the country and boosting
the global competitiveness of the product.
https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-prepares-for-second-run-of-local-rice-growing-project-after-
successful-harvest-
1.73667501#:~:text=Sharjah%3A%20Preparations%20are%20underway%20for,June%2C%20of
ficials%20announced%20on%20Sunday.&text=The%20two%20varieties%20proved%20capable
,temperatures%20and%20local%20soil%20conditions.
Shortfall fear makes rice market volatile
Market operators suggest prompt public-sector import
DOULOT AKTER MALA AND YASIR WARDAD | Published: September 06,
2020 09:37:25 | Updated: September 06, 2020 15:47:22

33. A three-phase natural calamity, COVID-19 pandemic and the perceived fear of
production shortfall are making the country's rice market volatile.
The fear of staple shortage deepened after multiple natural disasters hit the crops.
Excessive rainfall in March-April, cyclone Amphan in the month of May and
consecutive floods in June- July damaged crops, of which 70 per cent is paddy.
Already prices of rice in the local market showed an upward trend during the last
three weeks, compounding the hardship of the limited income people.
Prices of all kinds of rice rose by 10-20 per cent in a month across the country,
according to the Department of Agricultural Marketing and the Trading Corporation
of Bangladesh.
Rice prices started increasing at a time when the government agency revealed that
production of the key staple was all-time high amounting to 20.26 million tonnes in
Boro season.
But people involved in the sector said the two-month flood has severely affected
Aman farming, triggering the fear of further spike in rice prices.

34. Millers said traders and big farmers are storing the paddy following flood fearing
crop loss during the Aman season.
According to the Food Department under food ministry, the government's
procurement of rice was below requirement by the end of August, for which it
extended the rice purchase period until mid-September.
Until August 31, the government procured less than 60 per cent of its target.
Mohammad Moniruzzaman, additional director of food department, said the
government procured 656,000 tonnes of boro rice (parboiled and white rice) against
its target for 1.15 million tonnes from May 7 to August 31.
He, however, said although the procurement remained poor the government has
sufficient stock around 1.0 million tonnes of the staple.
About the procurement price for farmers, he acknowledged it is one of the major
reasons for poor procurement.
The government is buying rice at Tk 35-36 a kg when the price of coarse rice is Tk.
38 a kg at the mill-gate now.
Prices of rice varieties like Swarna, Brridhan-28 and 29, Miniket, Jeera, Najirshail
showed a Tk 250-275 hike per 50-kg sack at mill gates in Naogaon, Kushtia,
Rangpur, Dinajpur in a month, according to the Bangladesh Auto Major Husking
Mill Owners Association (BAMHMOA).
BAMHMOA secretary K M Layek Ali, said high paddy prices as well as flood in
many milling hubs had caused the hike. He said Brridhan-28 paddy prices have
increased to Tk 1,200-1,250 a maund, which was Tk 900-950 a maund a month
back.
A Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) study said there will be no shortage
of rice until November as the country will have 5.55 million tonnes of surplus rice
during the period.
BRRI, in its latest study, said rice production increased by 3.54 per cent in Boro
season despite decline in acreage as per hectare yield rose notably.
The Institute also found that farmers have stored 29 per cent of total paddy they
produced in Boro season, which was 20 per cent last year.
Agricultural economist and former research director of Bangladesh Institute of
Development Studies (BIDS) Asaduzzaman said it is assumed that there is a
shortfall in rice and the procurement target to be not met.

35. He said the government should go for import immediately, not depending on the
private sector alone. He said already prices of rice have gone up in the market so
there is no time to make any delay.
However, international prices of the staple are surging in recent times. The FAO
Rice Price Index said prices surged by 2.7 per cent in August from that of July and
the current price is 8.7 per cent higher than the corresponding period of last year.
Indian, Thai and Vietnamese parboiled rice are now trading at prices between US $
385 and $ 508 a tonne. The prices were between $330 and $440 a tonne before the
pandemic.
A study, released on Saturday by Disaster Management Watch, said farmers have
been facing problems. About 56 per cent of them do not have sufficient cash for the
next cropping season, some 54 per cent find the prices of input high, and 56 per
cent are facing labour shortage.
Underscoring the need for ensuring fair price for farmers, report said COVID
coupled with flood has led to such problems. It estimated that there could be 22 per
cent crop loss due to the floods.
doulot_akter@yahoo.com
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/shortfall-fear-makes-rice-market-volatile-1599363445
Rice has special significane in Asia.
Shahzad Malik Updated 08 Sep 2020
ARTICLE: Rice has special significance in Asia, where about 90% of the rice is produced and
consumed as staple food. Though in Pakistan it is the second most favorite food after wheat,
even then increasing mouths to feed in the country and decreasing land and water resources
available for rice cultivation needs serious and concrete efforts through research & development
to come up with such rice technologies that will result in higher yields.
Pakistan's total population is slightly over 220 million and at current growth rate of over 2.1
percent it is expected to become the 4th most populous country of the world in 2050.
Involvement of seed companies from private sector is crucial to meet the increased demand for
hybrid seed.

36. Realizing the importance of private seed research, Guard Agricultural Research & Services
(GUARD) established in 1989 launched research to develop new hybrid seed in collaboration
with Hunan Rice Research Institute (HRRI) Hunan, China in 1999. Later on for
commercialization of hybrid rice we made joint venture with Yuan LongPing High-Tech
Agriculture Co., Ltd, China which is off shoot of HRRI, having share holding of eminent
scientist and breeder, Professor Yuan LongPing who is inventor of hybrid rice technology and is
also known as "father of hybrid rice", with special focus on looming water scarcity and climate
change threats which are posing serious threat to national food security.
So far, Guard alone has introduced 10 new hybrid varieties for general cultivation all over
Pakistan. These all are coarse varieties generally sown in Sindh and South Punjab having
tolerance against heat and water scarcity. The company is also on the way to introduce a basmati
hybrid having an average yield up to 80 mounds per acre with an average grain length of 8 mm.
We are very near to achieving this target after hard work of five to six years; our scientists in
collaboration with our Chinese partners have developed basmati hybrids out of which one variety
is giving 75 mounds per acres and average grain length of 7.4 mm, slightly short of the target of
80 mounds per acre. Our scientists have been tasked to develop heat, drought tolerant and
salinity resistant varieties.
Guard commercialized Super Basmati in 1991, which was eventually approved by Government
in 1997 for commercial cultivation after 40 percent of Punjab area came under its cultivation.
The Company after introduction of coarse hybrid has also started local production of hybrid rice
seed. We are the leading company by developing such a large number of hybrids and starting
local commercial hybrid rice seed production.
The need to bring new hybrids of rice is because the yield of rice varieties is low and stagnant.
Low rice yields do not match with increasing cost of inputs; due to increase in cost of production
Pakistan is becoming un-competitive in international market. Land resources are declining, water
shortage is becoming a problem, solution is adoption of hybrid rice.
Since the introduction of hybrid rice in Sindh, income of rice farmers has doubled due to double
yield of hybrid rice as compared to IRRI varieties, doubled income of farmers, resulted in
poverty alleviation, socio-economic changes in rural areas of Sindh and South Punjab. Due to
early maturing hybrid rice crop, timely sowing of Rabi crops is ensured. Timely sown Rabi crops
give positive and significant increase in per unit production / per acre yield which consequently
increase farmer income. Due to shorter maturity period, hybrid rice crop can be planted in late
season. Further to shorter maturity period, hybrid rice crop consumes less irrigation as compared
to traditional rice varieties. Hybrid rice crop can be successfully grown in stress areas like saline,
drought and water logged as compared to inbred.
Success in getting more per acre yield has paved the way for producing more non-basmati rice
and increasing its exports thus fetching more revenue for the cash strapped country. There is also
a need of more production and supply to explore new markets and achieve the target of US 5
billion dollars export in the next five years, hybrid seeds can make this possible.

37. High yielding hybrid rice area is going to cross 50 percent in three years from present 25 to 30
percent paddy coverage, yielding additional two million tons output.
All efforts of introducing hybrid rice seed in Pakistan is being commanded by national seed
companies mainly in collaboration of Chinese leadership in research & development with 'Guard
Agri' having the lion's share. Several multinational seed companies did try to introduce hybrid
rice seed but could not outperform national seed companies. Their varieties were less rewarding
for farmers due to lack of jump in production while seed cost was also high when compared to
what local seed companies were offering.
Being founding chairman of Seed Association of Pakistan (SAP) and Rice Exporters Association
of Pakistan (REAP) and former President of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI),
I believe with untiring efforts of local scientists, the role of private sector in seed research and
development is increasing day by day, as I have closely worked with Government and Private
researchers.
With doubling of hybrid rice seed coverage from present 25-30 percent to over 50 percent in next
three years, national rice production is potentially expected to be increased by hefty two million
tons. At present yield is 6.9 million ton from 2.79 million hectares. By doubling the area from 25
percent to 50 percent, the expected increase in yield will be around 2 million tons and total yield
will be around 9 million tons.
In total rice hybridization, around 90 percent area of long-grain paddy is in Sindh province while
10 percent in South Punjab. As aromatic basmati rice is first choice for farmers in Punjab, coarse
varieties area is still low. However, with production of hybrid rice seed in central Punjab, paddy
area in Punjab is likely to increase significantly in coming years, he observed.
The major factor behind success of national seed companies in large-scale acceptance of rice
hybrid seed has been development of heat-resistance and drought tolerant varieties. Multinational
seed companies had varieties that could not perform well in harsh summer weather of Sindh and
Southern Punjab. Long grain hybrid rice that substituted IRRI-6 in the coastal belt and central
Sindh is a major success as its export market is rapidly evolving in the favor of farmers and
exporters.
Consequently, our long grain rice is gaining grounds globally with much ease by competing
major producers and exporting countries of the world like Vietnam and Thailand.
Our company has emerged as a leader in demand driven research in agriculture, challenging the
monopoly of public sector institutions and multinationals.
With great passion to increase productivity of farming sector, we are actively striving to achieve
food security in an untiring effort spanning over past 30 years. We successfully pioneered the
introduction of hybrid rice seed in Pakistan with collaboration of Chinese scientists for which
Government of Pakistan honoured me Sitara-e-Imtiaz for contribution in revolution of rice

38. production which doubled the income of farmers, resulting in changing socio-economic
conditions and poverty alleviation in rural Sindh. The surplus rice production resulted in
increased rice (non-basmati) exports bringing in valuable foreign exchange.
Shahzad Malik (SI) Chief Executive, Guard Agriculture Research & Services (Pvt.) Ltd
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40017079
Researchers isolate responses of crop yield and production to
climate disasters in China
by Chen Na, Chinese Academy of Sciences
The response of
crops yield and production to climatic disasters and the frequency of drought and flood disasters
in different provinces of China. Credit: Prof.SHI Wenjiao’s group
Climate disasters have disrupted food production and caused yield losses in recent decades.
These disasters have threatened food security at both local and global scales. Quantitative
identification of the impacts of climate disasters on crop yields and production is conducive to
ensuring food security and formulating effective measures to deal with climate disasters.
In the past, crop models and statistical models were mostly used in research, and could well
separate the impact of climate change on the yield and production of different crops. However,
both models extensively used the climatic indices (such as extreme temperature and extreme
precipitation) to identify the relationship between crop yield and climate disasters, and the
impact of extreme weather disasters on crop yield and production cannot be completely
separated.

39. Considering the limitations of crop models or statistical models, Prof. Shi Wenjiao's team at
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research of Chinese Academy of
Sciences defined the actual-occurred composited series (AS) and control composited series (CS),
and quantitatively separated the losses of yield and production of the major grain crops (maize,
rice, soybean, and wheat) resulting from droughts and floods across China and major grain-
producing areas (MGPA) during 1982–2012 using the superposed epoch analysis (SEA) method,
which is suitable for analyzing the losses of crop yield and production caused by climatic
disasters such as droughts and floods.
The research showed that between 1982 and 2012, various responses of droughts and floods
were found for main crops; specifically, responses varied throughout China, and among the three
MGPA.
The flood disaster reduced the yield and production of major crops by 4.4-6.8%, while the
impact of drought disaster was significant and widespread, with the yield loss of major crops
being 4.5–11.6%, especially maize and soybean, with the yield and production decreasing by
7.8–11.6%. Wheat yield was affected by both droughts and floods, with significant decreases of
5.8% and 6.1%, respectively.
Moreover, rice yield and production were sensitive to both droughts and floods, with reductions
of 4.5–6.3%. In the three MGPA, crops cultivated in the Northeast China (NEC) and the Huang-
Huai-Hai plain (HHH) were more sensitive to drought; the yield and production of only early
rice were significantly affected by floods in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River
(MLYR).
They developed the new method for directly determining the response of crop yield and
production in different regions to climate disasters and hope to provide scientific support for
agricultural solutions of climate disasters in the future.
https://phys.org/news/2020-09-isolate-responses-crop-yield-
production.html
Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa free from
locustmenace: NLCC
The National Locust Control Centre says that an anti-locust survey and control operation is now
in progress to ascertain the progress of anti-locust drive
News Desk
-
September 7, 2020

40. The National Locust Control Centre (NLCC) on Monday declared Punjab, Sindh and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa free from locust. According to a statement released by the NLCC spokesperson,
the locust is now only present in Balochistan.
The statement further said that an anti-locust survey and control operation was in progress and at
least 201441 hectares area was surveyed in a day. During the last 24 hours, about 280 hectares of
area in Lasbella was sprayed.
The control operation had been completed on 1,125,777 hectares of land across the affected areas
in the country during the last six months, reads the press release by NLCC.
It is pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Imran Khan, on July 10, granted approval to
Phase-II of the National Action Plan for Locust Control to eradicate the menace of ravenous
pests posing risk to the country’s food security.
“Pakistan suffered its worst locust attack”
A few months ago, GVS reported that the threat of a locust flare-up comes as summer crops of
cotton, sugar cane, and rice are being sown in Pakistan, while fruit and vegetables are ready to be
harvested.
The latest FAO situation report warns that desert locust breeding is ongoing across 38% of land
area in Pakistan, with the entire country under threat of an invasion if the pest is not contained.

41. Pakistan suffered its worst locust attack in nearly three decades in 2019, for which the country
was ill-prepared at the time.
China, meanwhile, is also assisting Pakistan in its locust efforts. The Chinese Embassy in
Islamabad said in a statement that Beijing has already sent teams of agricultural experts to advise
Pakistani farmers, donated 300 tons of malathion, and 50 air-powered high-efficiency remote
sprayers to combat the insects.
India’s proposed trilateral response
As Pakistan is almost free from locust, it confirmed that India proposed a trilateral response in
partnership with Iran to counter the worst locust attack. “We have received a proposal from
India,” Pakistan’s then Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui told VOA.
“We believe that a well-coordinated response is critical to deal with the challenge posed by
desert locusts,” she stressed. She would not say what Islamabad’s possible response to the Indian
proposal would be.
Farooqui, however, noted that Pakistan was “working closely” with regional countries, including
India and global partners, particularly the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO), to address the looming locust threat.
The ongoing wider regional cooperation is happening under FAO’s Commission for Controlling
the Desert Locust in Southwest Asia (SWAC), established in 1964 with Afghanistan, India, Iran,
and Pakistan as its members.
Under the proposed trilateral response, New Delhi has reportedly suggested to Islamabad that
both countries “coordinate locust control operations along the border and that India can facilitate
the supply of malathion, a pesticide, to Pakistan.”
Keith Cressman, FAO’s senior locust forecasting officer, told reporters that India and Pakistan
face an “imminent threat of several waves of spring-bred swarms” from southwest Pakistan and
southern Iran during May and June.
Earlier, BR Kadwa, deputy director of the agriculture department of India, said that “swarms of
locusts are entering Rajasthan from adjoining areas in Pak every 2-3 days for a month. Pakistan
has become the new breeding ground of the locusts and hence we are seeing the repeated attacks
of locusts in the state. Four swarms have entered Jaipur recently”.

42. Notably, according to a report in Times of India, locust swarms have reached as far as Vidarbha
in Maharashtra and caused crop damage. This, according to the report, has not happened since
1974.
https://www.globalvillagespace.com/punjab-sindh-and-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-free-from-locust-
menace-nlcc/
DidYou Know: WhiteRice May IncreaseDiabetes
Risk – A 21-NationStudy Finds
The researchers analysed data on rice consumption of 132,373 individuals from the 21 nations
for a span of 10 years.
Somdatta Saha | Updated: September 08, 2020 13:18 IST
Chawal with dal defines comfort for all. A staple in almost every part of India, it is probably one
of the easiest foods to make and eat. White rice is versatile and has various recipes to its credit.
From its inclusion in a dosa batter to whipping up a bowl of appetising biryani and kheer, white
rice has several culinary usages. But did you know that this all-rounder ingredient is linked to an
increased risk of diabetes? A new study claims so. An international research, conducted in

43. collaboration with 21 nations, has found that white rice is not as healthy as it seems. This large-
scale study was a part of the multinational Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE)
study.
The researchers analysed data on rice consumption of 132,373 individuals from the 21 nations
for a span of 10 years. The nations include India, China, North America, South America, Europe
and more. The participants were aged between 35 to 70 years.
https://food.ndtv.com/news/did-you-know-white-rice-may-increase-diabetes-risk-a-21-nation-
study-finds-2292184
Whiterice linked to diabetes, claims a 21-nationstudy
By -
TIMESOFINDIA.COM
Created: Sep 7, 2020, 17:14 IST

44. White rice has gained a bad reputation over the past few years. Not only has it been
linked with weight gain but also high blood sugar levels. Though there are many studies
that say it's not the case and white rice is not as bad as it's presented to be.
A recent study done on 1,30,000 adults, over 10 years in 21 countries also shows some
not so favourable results about white rice.
As per the study's result, the consumption of white rice is linked with a high risk
of diabetes. And the risk was found to be more common among the South Asian
population.
The study was done on a large scale and was an international collaboration between
researchers from various countries, including China, Brazil, India, North and South
America, Europe and Africa and was led by Bhavadharini Balaji of the Population Health
Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Canada. The
study was published in the Diabetes Care journal.

45. The milling and polishing process of white rice removes nutrients from it like Vitamin B
and its high glycemic index leads to a spike in the blood sugar level.
An old study conducted in 2012 found that each extra serving of rice increases the risk of
diabetes by 11 per cent.
However, the findings changed depending on the countries they were conducted in. A
study conducted on 45,000 participants found no substantial increase in diabetes with the
consumption of white rice.
To beat this barrier, the authors of the new study included 21 countries in this study.
The study
The South Asian people were found to be genetically predisposed to diabetes, due to both
lifestyle and biological reasons.
To understand this data, the findings from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were
compared.
Findings
The participants in the study were aged between 35-70. Out of the 1,32,372 people, 6,129
people developed diabetes over the course of nine and a half years. The average
consumption of rice was 128 mg.
However, the highest consumption of white rice was seen in South Asia at 630 grams a
day, followed by South East Asia and China with 238 grams and 200 grams per day
respectively.
The higher consumption of rice was linked with lower consumption of other foods like
fibre, dairy products and meat.

46. It was also found that carbohydrates make up for nearly 80 per cent of calories consumed
in many South Asian countries.
But over time carbs have become increasingly polished and refined, the process which
makes them lose nutrition.
But it's not necessary that everyone who eats white rice is prone to get diabetes. It does
not just depend on the consumption but also on the quality of rice and what it is
consumed with makes a difference.
China and India are the world's two largest countries where white rice is the staple food.
But the researchers have found there is no significant association between white rice
consumption and diabetes in China.
This might be because of their other lifestyle factors. The sticky rice that Chinese eat
could also be the reason for this difference, said researchers.
What can one do?
Studies have shown that replacing white rice with unpolished brown rice decreases the
glycemic index by 23 per cent and fasting insulin response by 57 per cent overweight
Asian Indians.
People who consume white rice as a staple, the risk of increased diabetes can be lowered

47. by substituting white rice with a healthier option and also pairing it up with legumes,
pulses and green vegetables. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-
fitness/health-news/white-rice-linked-to-diabetes-claims-a-21-nation-
study/articleshow/77978399.cms
Can seeds survive100 years:Agri-researchers begin
Arctic experiment
An experiment has begun in the Arctic at the Svalbard Global SeedVault to find to how
long seeds live. This seedlongevity experiment will last a century, and Hyderabad-based
ICRISAT has made its contribution to the experiment as well.
By : Sahitya P Poonacha
Sep 6, 2020 15:22 IST
The Global Seed Vault in Svalbard (Photo: ICRISAT)ICRISAT
Ever wondered how long seeds in fact live? Well, researchers in the Arctic are taking on the
mantle to find out exactly that. As of September, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has become
the site of this intriguing quest. 6 global research institutions and genebanks including the
Hyderabad-based ICRISAT have contributed seed specimens for the research.
This experiment, which will carry on for the next 100 years, will observe the conditions and
how long seeds may be preserved.
ICRISAT joins seedexperiment in the Arctic
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics based in Hyderabad will
be joining in the fascinating research on seed longevity. The ICRISAT will be providing four
of the 13 crops that will be tested through the research. The other participating institutions are -
- The National Rice Seed Storage Laboratory for Genetic Resources (NRSSL) in
Thailand, Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária, (INIAV) in Portugal, Empresa Brasileira
de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) in Brazil, The Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and

48. Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Germany and Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) in
Sweden.
100-year experiment begins at Svalbard Global Seed Vault.ICRISAT
In a genebank, many frozen seeds that are well-dried can be preserved for a long time. Exactly,
how long 'after germination under optimal conditions' however, isn't quite well-researched.
What's more, it has been assumed that many seeds can survive centuries and some more than
thousands of years at length.
Speaking about the experiment, and ICRISAT's role, "ICRISAT will bring seeds of chickpea,
groundnut, pearl millet and pigeon pea to the experiment during 2022-23. The seeds will be
tested initially before being put in the vault for storage at -18 degree Celsius. They will be
taken out for testing once every decade during the course of the next 100 years to determine
longevity," said Dr Vania Azevedo, Head of ICRISAT's R S Paroda Genebank.
The seeds being collected from the six participating research institutes are:
 Rice – The National Rice Seed Storage Laboratory for Genetic Resources (NRSSL) in
Thailand
 Groundnut, chickpea, pearl millet and pigeonpea – ICRISAT in India
 Maize – Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária, (INIAV) in Portugal
 Soybean – Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa) in Brazil
 Barley, pea, wheat, lettuce and Brassica oleracea (of the cabbage family) – The Leibniz
Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Germany
 Timothy – Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) in Sweden.
So far, the first test sets deposited in the vault for the experiment on Thursday were-- barley,
pea, wheat and lettuce produced by the German genebank IPK in Gatersleben. Over the next
three years, these six institutions will be placing seeds of other crops into the vault for the
experiment.
100-year experiment on seed longevity.ICRISAT

49. How this experiment will help is that a lot of data on the preservation of seeds would be
valuable to future generations. Moreover, it'll help preserve species for regeneration as genetic
resources. This will considerably help the world's genebanks. While many genebanks are as
old as five decades and have accumulated some knowledge, the ICRISAT said in its release.
However, it's far from complete and that is the gap this experiment will try to fill.
"This experiment will provide future generations with valuable information about seed
viability and more precise knowledge of how often seeds need to be regenerated," said Dr
Asmund Asdal, Seed Vault Coordinator at NordGen, the genebank responsible for managing
the project.
Dr Azevedo adds, "In this experiment, all the variables that cannot be measured or recorded
during the normal course of genebank operations will be measured using advanced techniques
when learning about seed longevity. Seeds from multiple harvest years of different crops and
different varieties produced under varying conditions in diverse geographies are subject to
extensive testing for germination and gene expression once a decade over a very long time.
This kind of testing hasn't been attempted before."
How the experiment will pan out
While the experiment on seed longevity is surely a long one, there are numerous variables in
the process that can barely be pre-empted.
ICRISAT told IBTimes about how data will be recorded and how the research will be
conducted in 100 years, "A sample of a few hundred seeds will be tested before being put into
the vault and then taken out every 10 years for testing including germination. The RNA will
also be extracted for analysis. The RNA analysis can help compare genetic differences over
baseline and over time. The operations involved before the experimental seeds enter the vault
are production of seeds in the field, packaging and shipping to Svalbard Seed Vault. The seeds
are stored in the vault under – 18 degree Celsius. ICRISAT will be taking seeds from its
genebank to the vault. These seeds in the genebank will have to be regenerated i.e. planted and

50. harvested because we want to take freshly produced seeds to the experiment in order to
correctly understand longevity. The planting and harvesting will happen in 2022-23."
When asked about the challenges in conducting the experiment, the organisation says, "The
conduct of the experiment itself is not a challenge as genebanks have been depositing their
seed accessions in the vault for about a decade now. However, the experiment is expected to
produce information to better manage one of the biggest challenges to conservation –
maintaining genetic purity and diversity at the same time. Conserving a seed over long term
means that it has to be taken out periodically and regenerated (sowing, growing and
harvesting) so that only viable seeds are conserved. With every cycle of regeneration, however,
some divergence from the parent seed is likely. To keep such divergence to a minimum,
scientists plant a certain number of seeds per accession. Despite this, natural selection can
bring about undesirable changes when regenerating that over a period of time can lower
genetic purity, result in loss of some rare alleles and thus affect diversity."
The Svalbard Global Seed VaultICRISAT
They add, "Knowing just how long seed of a particular crop is desirably viable will help in
determining how many regenerations are needed and thus help improve conservation. This can
also increase the cost-effectiveness of conservation."
Speaking about how the Svalbard Global Seed Vault's location in the Arctic will benefit the
experiment ICRISAT says, "Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic. The cold is
needed for long-term conservation. The Global Seed Vault is the only facility of its kind and it
works with genebanks from across the world, and already conserves the world's crop resources.
It is best poised to conduct the experiment."
It'll be exciting to see the outcomes of this ambitious experiment over the next hundred years.
https://www.ibtimes.co.in/can-seeds-survive-100-years-agri-researchers-begin-arctic-
experiment-827683
Promote local products, regulate imports: exec

51. BY CARMELITO FRANCISCO ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2020
THE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) has pushed for the strengthening of
regulations on imports while of promoting local products of Mindanao.
In a press statement Sunday, Secretary Emmanuel Pinol, MinDA chair, said that there is a need
to help local producers, especially those producing agricultural products like meat who have
been drastically affected by the coronavirus pandemic, by also ensuring that importing these
products is tightly regulated.
“This was the recommendation I submitted during the meeting of the Mindanao Regional
Development Council (RDC) chairmen headed by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera
earlier this week,” he said.
The heads of the councils, Pinol said, told him about the appeal of the stakeholders of the
agricultural sector, especially rice farmers, who have sought for government support as prices
have gone down.
“At the height of harvest, rice farmers in Mindanao say that farm gate prices have dipped to as
low as PHP12 per kilo which is equivalent to the production cost. Corn prices have also fallen to
as low as PHP10 per kilo from a high of PHP16 before harvest,” the MinDA chair added.
“I recommended that the importation of rice and other products which the local farmers could
easily produce and benefit from, should be regulated as we address the economic slowdown
brought about by the pandemic,” he said, adding taht the agency has also been urged to submit a
comprehensive report on the situation in the agricultural sector in relation to the economic
recovery of the island.
“That process (of formulating the report), however, will take months and by the time it is
completed, harvest season would be over and the farmers would have lost their shirts again,” he
said, adding that there is a need for the sector to take advantage of the present opportunities, like
promoting local products, to trigger the economic recovery.
To jumpstart the economic recovery, he explained, is for local producers to be able to gain access
to the market instead of allowing imported products to flood it.
He also urged local government officials to also help prompting the “Buy Local” movement to s
support the local producers as this will also result not only in better economic opportunities to
small and medium enterprises, but will also provide better employment opportunities to their
constituents.
“These are suggested solutions which will not cost government anything and will certainly be
welcomed by the agriculture and fisheries sector,” he said.

52. How to avert a looming global food crisis on top of
pandemic woes?
Greater openness and collaboration in global agriculture and food trade is called for in the post-
pandemic era, said Luan Richeng, president of China National Association of Grain Sector,
during a summit that addresses food insecurity held on Monday during the ongoing 2020 China
International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing.
Due to the uneven distribution of agricultural resources – some countries are endowed with more
fresh water and arable land while others aren't – a global food supply chain is thus of crucial
importance to even out the distribution of food, he added. In the past ten years, the international
trade in grain has increased over 40 percent and that of soybean over 50 percent, thanks to a
resilient supply network.
But the pandemic has wreaked havoc on that global food supply chain. Lockdowns, closed
borders, trade restrictions, and a public health crisis have resulted in a system breakdown. Large-

53. scale industrial farms and meat operations were forced to closed down, culling and then
discarding the animals as their routes to market were lost.
The International Forum for Development and Investment of Modern Supply Chain of Food
held on September 7, 2020. /VCG
As the virus further spread, countries have resorted to stockpiling food and limiting exports. For
example, both India and Vietnam, two of the world's largest rice exporters, halted their rice
exports in the middle of the pandemic which quickly led to price surges, threatening to trigger a
food security crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa, the world's largest rice importing region.
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 820 million people
regularly go to bed hungry, of whom 135 million suffer from acute hunger. The pandemic may
add an additional 83 to 132 million people to the ranks of the undernourished in 2020, which
means the number of people suffering from chronic hunger could double.
Even before the pandemic, there were signs that global food prices would surge. The worst
locust blight in 70 years, climate change-induced extreme weather, on top of African Swine
Fever, all drove up global food prices to record highs.

54. A vegetable vendor sells tomatoes in a public market, October 16, 2011 in Quezon City,
Philippines. /VCG
There are fears that China, with one-fifth of the world's population, may find it hard to feed its
people with one-tenth of its agricultural farmland, as the pandemic inflicted heavy woes on the
global food system.
"China has ample grain reserves and the current stock of rice and wheat exceed one year's annual
consumption," said Zhang Xiaoqiang, executive vice chairman of the China Center for
International Economic Exchanges, during the summit. Data suggests that China's summer grain
output reached a historic high of 142.81 million tonnes this year, up 0.9 percent from last year.
China imported around 12.6 million tonnes of corn in the first half of this year, an increase of 34
percent compared with the same time last year. Soybean imports stood at around 45 million
tonnes, an increase of 18 percent, according to Zhang.
"It shows the strong demand China has for food imports and its commitment to global trade in
food supply," he said. Openness to global trade on the part of China amid pandemic-driven
upsets in the food supply chain would help food exporting countries and their farmers, he added.

55. A child works outside Aweil, Northern Bahr al Ghazal, South Sudan, a region with a high
level of food insecurity. /VCG
The pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of smallholder farmers who lack the buffer of large
agricultural businesses. Nearly 98 percent of farmers cultivate farms smaller than two hectares in
China, and the country is home to more than half the world's small farms.
Restrictions of movement and road closures cut farmers' access to both buy and sell products.
Many perishable goods, like fruit and vegetables were thus wasted, which resulted in a
significant loss of income, and affected future cultivation seasons.
Chinese e-commerce companies have relevant policies to support smallholding farmers, said Qu
Dongyu, director-general of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, during
the summit. He noted that the Chinese government also took measures to stabilize food
production and supply with a focus on small farmers and consumers.
A series of financial support measures were carried out in China to mitigate the financial losses
of smallholder farmers, including establishing fiscal emergency funds, supporting cold storage
and preservation of agricultural products and waiving fees on farmers' loans and extending
payment deadlines.

56. An advertisement that calls for food saving is held at a canteen in Hebei, China, August
2020. /VCG
The paradox of today is, while food is wasted in some places, others see empty shelves in their
market. Food loss and waste can take place at various stages of the food supply chain, resulting
from low-efficiency production and processing, to waste in consumption. A nationwide "Clear
Your Plate" campaign is recently launched in China against food waste, as 35 million tons of
food is wasted annually in the country.
"Regulatory changes are called for to address food losses and waste, and more public education
campaign should be launched to alter cultural attitudes toward food," said Zhao Yi, chief
engineer of China National Association of Grain Sector, announcing an initiative at the end of
the summit that aims at strengthening food security.
Clear regulations, supervision and enforcement mechanism need to be in place to foster an
environment in which wasting food is shunned, she noted.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-09-08/How-to-avert-a-looming-global-food-crisis-on-top-of-
pandemic-woes--TCeMTyb2W4/index.html

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Nigeria see 200, 000 tons slump in rice imports as price-sensitive consumers switch to local
staples
By
Naija247news Media, New York
-
September 7, 2020
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58. Nigeria’s rice production was about 6.7 million tons in the last three years, with imports seen
declining by 200,000 tons in 2020 from 1.2 million tons last year as price-sensitive consumers
switch to local staples, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Even as notorious climate change has washed away at least two million tons of rice in Nigeria,
the second-largest importer of the grain. That is more than 25% of the previously projected
national output of 8 million tons, according to estimates by a farmers’ organization.
At least 450,000 hectares (1.2 million acres) were destroyed in Kebbi, the country’s main rice-
growing state, according to Mohammed Sahabi, the state chairman of the Rice Farmers
Association of Nigeria. Planters had targeted a 2.5 million ton contribution to the national basket,
but will now meet less than 20% of the target. Farmers in five other states — Kano, Nigeria,
Enugu, Jigawa and Nasarawa — also reported damage.

59. “Although we heard the forecast of flooding this year, we didn’t expect that the damage will be
of this magnitude,” Sahabi said by phone from the northwestern city of Birnin Kebbi. “Our target
at state level was 2.5 million tons this year, but now we are looking at only 500,000 tons of
harvest.”
Nearly 50 people died in Nigerian floods this year as torrential rains caused Africa’s most
populous country’s two main rivers to overflow, according to the National Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA). The agency had warned that at least 28 of 36 states of West
African nation were at risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall. Other crops such as sorghum, millet
and corn were also affected.
“There is this trepidation that we might have food problems on flooding and existing insecurity
challenges,” Kabir Ibrahim, head of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria said by phone from
Abuja, the nation’s capital. “It will be too soon to know how devastating the impact is.”
https://naija247news.com/2020/09/07/nigeria-see-200-0000-tons-slump-in-rice-imports-as-price-
sensitive-consumers-switch-to-local-staples/#.X1eOpEQzY2w
Winners and losers from the rice tarifficationlaw
By: Raul Montemayor - @inquirerdotnet
10:26 PM September 06, 2020

60. It would seem that planting rice would never be fun, especially for hundreds of thousands of
farmers who had stopped the backbreaking work in the field because of falling prices of the staple
resulting from import liberalization. —WILLIE LOMIBAO
In recent weeks, several staunch advocates of the liberalization of the rice sector released a series
of opinion pieces, touting the alleged gains from Republic Act No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication
Law (RTL) and debunking the claims of critics of the law and its implementation. This paper
seeks to set the record straight by assessing what really happened, using mutually acceptable
assumptions and more precise calculations, with the hope that the findings will point policy makers
and stakeholders in the rice industry to a more realistic and productive way forward.
Recap
To review, RA 11203 was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 14 and took effect on
March 5, 2019. The law removed government limits, called quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice
importation. Traders could now bring in unlimited volumes of rice at any time. RA 11203 far
exceeded Philippine commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO) by deregulating the
rice industry and eliminating practically all regulatory and trading functions of the National Food