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1 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
21 December ,2021 Vol 6 Issue 11
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

Editorial Board
Chief Editor
 Hamlik
Managing Editor
 Abdul Sattar Shah
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal
University DIK
 Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University
of Swabi
 Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
 Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology
ART, Peshawar
Rice News Headlines…
 2022 Annual Rice Grower Meetings
 Scientists want to send human cells into space in battle against aging
 Eatala Rajender slams KCR for 'inciting' TRS men to attack BJP cadres
 Opinion: Allow Golden Rice to save lives
 Studies show that uniforms do not improve children’s behavior
 California researchers have ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ encounter with
‘bizarre’ deep-sea fish
 Food exports surge by 26.68% to $1947 mln in 5 months
 KU to conduct research to make paddy waste useful for industries
 ICAR-NRRI Recruitment 2021: Apply now for Field Assistant and
Senior Research Fellow posts in Cuttack
 Nigel Slater’s festive recipes for roast cauliflower and chocolate
treats
 Ghana spent U$1 billion on rice importation from 2017 to 2020
 Rice husks, a potential source of cooking fuel – Study
 India halts futures trade in key farm commodities to fight inflation
 Dist admin re-fixes prices of essential commodities
 Centre bans futures trade in seven agri commodities including soy
complex
 Give written assurance on paddy procurement for Vaanakalam: TS
Ministers to Centre
 Farmers fear Boro rice farming cost spiral
 REZAUL KARIM AND YASIR WARDAD | Published: December 19,
2021 09
 Typhoon not expected to have big impact on agriculture output
 PSA explains sharp dip in 10-mo rice inventory
 Blight-resistant paddy a rage among farmers of Old Mysuru regions
 KAKINADA PORT - INDIA: Vessel Line-Up
 Food exports surge by 26.68% to $1947 mln in 5 months

2022 Annual Rice Grower Meetings
Author: Luis Espino
Published on: December 20, 2021
2022 Annual Rice Grower Meetings
Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension
-------------- 5 Locations --------------
WHERE & WHEN
Richvale: Monday, Jan. 24, 8:30am, Evangelical Church, 5219 Church St., Richvale
Willows: Monday, Jan. 24, 1:00pm, Glenn County Office of Education, 311 South Villa
Avenue, Willows
Colusa: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 8:30 am, Community Center, Colusa County Fairgrounds, 10th
Street
(Hwy 20), Colusa
Yuba City: Tuesday, Jan. 25, 1:00 pm, UCCE Office, 142 Garden Highway, Yuba City
Woodland: Wednesday, Jan. 26, 8:30 am, Norton Hall, 70 Cottonwood St, Woodland
TIME: Doors open at 8:30 am and meetings start at 9:00 am at Richvale, Colusa, and
Woodland.
Doors open at 1:00 pm and meetings start at 1:30 pm at Glenn and Yuba City.
Program
8:30 am (1:00 pm) -- Doors open, sign-in, coffee
9:00 am (1:30 pm) -- Call meeting to order - Agricultural Commissioner Updates
9:15 am (1:45 pm) -- Rice Research Board Introductions and Nominations – Dana Dickey, Rice
Research Board
9:25 am (1:55 pm) -- Introduction of New Rice Experiment Station Director and Roxy Overview
– Dustin Harrell, RES director, and Kent McKenzie, Albaugh Consultant
9:35 am (2:05 pm) -- Roxy Rice Production System Research Update – Kassim Al-Khatib, UC
Davis
9:50 am (2:20 pm) -- Weedy Rice Research Update – Whitney Brim-DeForest, UCCE
10:05 am (2:35 pm) -- Invertebrate Research Update – Ian Grettenberger, UC Davis
10:20 am (2:50 pm) -- Disease Management Research Update – Luis Espino, UCCE
10:35 am (3:05 pm) -- Fertility Research Update – Bruce Linquist, UC Davis
10:50 am (3:20 pm) -- New Herbicides in Weed Management Research Update – Kassim Al-
Khatib, UC Davis
11:05 am (3:35 pm) -- Variety Update and Yield Contest – Bruce Linquist, UC Davis
11:20 am (3:50 pm) — ADJOURN —
****Applied for DPR and CCA CE credits****
https://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=51136

Scientists want to send human cells into space in battle
against aging
20 Dec, 2021 14:01
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. © Reuters / Thom Baur
The UK government is backing a scientific study
that will see human muscle cells launched into
space on Tuesday from Kennedy Space Center as
part of an experiment to discover how to help
people live longer and healthier lives.
The study, titled MicroAge, will see a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket deliver the cells to the
International Space Station (ISS) to explore what
happens to human muscles, how people age and
why.
The cells, the size of a grain of rice, have been grown in labs and placed into small holders that
are the size of a pencil sharpener.
International Space Station swerves to avoid American space junk – Russia
They will be electrically stimulated when they get to the ISS to induce contraction. Scientists are
using the space station to conduct this investigation, as the lack go gravity causes weakness in
muscles similar to that seen in people when they reach an older age.
“The research of our scientist astronauts like Tim Peake on muscle loss in the microgravity of
space is helping identify potential cures for musculoskeletal disease, which causes agony to
millions and costs the NHS billions,” UK science minister George Freeman said.
By harnessing the unique environment of the International Space Station our pioneering
scientists could help us all live healthier, stronger lives.
“Ageing is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and we will learn a great deal about
how muscle responds to microgravity and ageing from the data we obtain from this
study,” Professor Malcolm Jackson, from the University of Liverpool, said.
A research team from the University of Liverpool will analyse the human muscle cells when they
are brought back to Earth in January 2022, allowing them to compare the results to experiments
that have been conducted back on earth.
The MicroAge study will launch at 10am GMT on Tuesday December 21.
https://www.rt.com/uk/543769-human-muscle-cells-space-aging/
Eatala Rajender slams KCR for 'inciting' TRS men to
attack BJP cadres

Hans News Service | 21 Dec 2021 1:36 AM IST
Eatala Rajender
HIGHLIGHTS
 Demands the government to hold talks with rice millers and farmers to solve the
issue of paddy procurement
 Says TRS chief’s effigy should be burnt for going back on promises like making a
Dalit as CM, three acres to poor Dalits, unemployment dole etc
Hyderabad: Huzurabad MLA Eatala Rajender on Monday slammed Chief Minister K
Chandrashekar Rao for his alleged remarks at a party meeting asking his party men to attack BJP
cadre.
Addressing the media at Kollapur, Eatala said, "The CM is duty-bound to safeguard the lives,
property and freedom of people. But, in gross violation of these, he holds a party meeting in
Telangana Bhavan and asks his party men to attack BJP and also burn the effigies of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi. While he sent his Ministers to hold parleys in Delhi, here he is asking
his party men to BJP cadres."
"If one has to burn an effigy of anyone, then it should be that of CM and the 'Chavu Dappu'
(funeral drum) should be beaten before Pragathi Bhavan for his failure to deliver on promise to
make Dalit as the first CM and for cheating Dalits in the name of giving three acres," Eatala
added. He stated that non-disbursal of subsidies under State pride left people to close industries.
The TRS chief's effigy should be burnt for the government failing to pay unemployment
allowance of Rs 3,016, he added.
The BJP MLA alleged that the TRS government had also failed to implement the assured
pension to those who completed 57 years and widows. He said, "The CM talked about making
farmers rich, but he has become responsible for their suicides. The CM failed to respond to the
pleas of rice millers for establishing clusters, and did not extend necessary support." He called
for burning the TRS chief's effigy for the deduction of 10 kg per quintal during procurement.
Alleging that KCR was creating confusion to cover up his faults, he asked the CM to reach out to
people to know their woes. He also demanded the CM to address the issues of teachers affected
by transfers.
Questioning the rationale behind establishing Rythu Vedikas, Eatala said that at least now, the
CM should hold talks with rice millers and farmers to chalk out an amicable solution.
https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/eatala-rajender-slams-kcr-for-inciting-trs-men-to-
attack-bjp-cadres-720843
Opinion: Allow Golden Rice to save lives
View ORCID ProfileFelicia Wu, View ORCID ProfileJustus Wesseler, View ORCID
ProfileDavid Zilberman, View ORCID ProfileRobert M. Russell, View ORCID ProfileChen
Chen, and View ORCID ProfileAdrian C. Dubock
See all authors and affiliations

PNAS December 21, 2021 118 (51) e2120901118; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2120901118
Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has killed millions of children in less-developed countries for at least the
last three decades—roughly 2 million annually in the early 1990s alone (1⇓⇓–4). Although the number is
declining, it was estimated to be 266,200 (4) at the start of the millennium.
Widespread consumption of the genetically modified rice variety known as Golden Rice offers a
potent and cost-effective strategy to combat vitamin A deficiency. Image credit: International
Rice Research Institute; photo licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The consumption of the genetically modified rice variety known as Golden Rice (GR) offers a
potent and cost-effective strategy to combat VAD. But this innovation has been cast aside owing
to fear or false accusations, resulting in numerous lives needlessly lost (1⇓–3). With the recent
exception of the Philippines, governments have not approved the cultivation of GR (5). We
believe it should be broadly approved and given the opportunity to save and improve lives.
In high-income nations where populations have access to a diversity of foods, VAD is rare. In
many low-income nations, however, populations have limited access to foods rich in vitamin A
or beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor; hence, VAD rates can be dangerously high in children.
There have been recent improvements: from 1991 to 2013, the VAD rate among children in low-
and middle-income countries declined from 39% to 29%, with notable improvements among
children in East and Southeast Asia (4). However, children in sub-Saharan Africa and South and
Southeast Asia continue to disproportionately experience VAD and its associated risks:
infectious and diarrheal diseases, irreversible blindness and other sensory losses, and premature
death (1, 4, 6).
VAD has not been eradicated despite a variety of strategies used globally, including education on
the value of dietary diversity, promotion of home gardens and maternal breastfeeding of infants,
and community health programs including vitamin A supplementation with syrups or capsules
(7). Principally, VAD is caused by insufficient dietary diversity, a result of poverty and
agronomic and market constraints. Animal source foods and many kinds of produce are
unavailable or expensive in local markets. Conversely, white rice or other cereal grains are easily
available and inexpensive but primarily contain carbohydrates while lacking sufficient
micronutrient levels.

GR, developed first in the 1990s and then modified in 2004 with transgenes from maize and a
common soil bacterium Erwinia uredovora, could be an important public health intervention for
VAD populations worldwide. This transgenic, or genetically modified, rice produces beta-
carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, in the normally white endosperm (8) and has proven an
effective source of vitamin A in humans (9). GR* is now awaiting final approval in Bangladesh.
In July 2021, it was approved for cultivation in the Philippines. Other countries will likely
follow.
A recent study has estimated that substituting conventional rice for GR could provide 89% to
113% and 57% to 99% of the recommended vitamin A requirement for preschool children in
Bangladesh and the Philippines, respectively (10). Even if there were no other sources of vitamin
A in the diets, this boost in dietary beta-carotene could do much to prevent diseases associated
with VAD.
GR is also financially viable. In Bangladesh, the current practice of fortifying rice with vitamin
A and zinc using food additives, although supported by the World Food Programme, increases
the cost of rice by 5% to 6% and is applied to only about 1 million metric tonnes of rice of the
roughly 25 million metric tonnes produced in Bangladesh per year (11). GR, by contrast, poses
no extra cost to governments, growers, or consumers in comparison with white rice.
Meanwhile, VAD has continued to cause severe illness and death among certain populations
worldwide, especially children (12). The total estimated deaths from VAD-related diarrheal
diseases and measles in children under five years of age in 2013 was 94,500 and 11,200,
respectively, totaling 105,700 deaths across the world (4). Had GR become a part of diets in
vulnerable populations worldwide, a portion of these lives might have been saved. Hopefully,
approval of the commercialization of GR in the Philippines will provide impetus for Bangladesh
and other nations with high VAD rates to provide poor consumers with an option that may save
lives and improve health.
Unnecessary Delays
Those who oppose transgenic or genetically modified organisms raised concerns that led policymakers to
delay the approval of the technologies (13). One argument relates to biotechnology company profits. But
because the GR technology to the public sector is available at no cost for humanitarian uses, this concern
is irrelevant. There are no limitations, except export, on GR use: replanting or selling or giving away
seed, or polishing for consumption or sale.
Greenpeace summarized a food security-related objection to GR in a 2012 statement (14): “If
introduced on a large scale, GR can exacerbate malnutrition and ultimately undermine food
security.” The implication: GR will worsen malnutrition because it leads to a diet based on one
staple. However, the replacement of traditional rice with GR would not exclude the development
of diversified diets; in the meantime, vitamin A status could improve for many in the population.
And optimizing vitamin A delivery could improve public health in at-risk populations.
A reasonable objection concerns possible human or environmental health risks. The United
Nations (UN) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (15) provides a framework for the regulation of
genetically engineered crops in many countries, emphasizing the Precautionary Principle in
assessing risks, and leaving out assessment of benefits. This Protocol was signed in 2000 and
became effective in 2003, in the relatively early days of agricultural genetic engineering. Since
then, multiple studies have reported on benefits of genetically modified organism (GMO)
adoption through increased yields, reduced pesticide use, improved farmer income, reduced
prices to consumers, and in some cases even improved food safety (16). Meanwhile, there have

been no confirmed incidents of adverse human health or environmental effects from genetically
engineered crops during nearly three decades of global use (16).
Transgenic crops are subject to many required regulatory tests before approval, including animal
feeding and in vitro studies for toxicity and allergenicity. Yet opponents of these crops have
continued to amplify suspicion on the long-term health effects of genetically engineered crops
(17). Protection against such risks can be achieved through monitoring of the performance and
the impacts of technologies and intervening when setbacks occur. However, the food safety
assessments for transgenic crops in many countries are more demanding than for conventionally
bred varieties. In fact, often less is known about the properties of plants developed by
conventional mutagenesis than those developed by transgenic methods.
Another concern is that GR genes may intermingle with those of conventionally bred rice
varieties. This uncertainty, however, applies not just to GR but also to any other new rice variety.
Humans have consumed rice for more than 4,000 years, including varieties that have been
crossed genetically across multiple strains. Transgenic methods of introducing novel genes is not
inherently of greater concern, unless those genes produce proteins with potential adverse health
effects—something that food safety tests for approval can determine. Clearly the lives saved with
VAD outweigh concerns about these so-called unknown risks. In response to such criticisms, in
2016 more than 150 Nobel Laureates have signed an open letter to the UN, governments of the
world, and Greenpeace, urging a more balanced approach toward genetically modified crops in
general and GR in particular: “Scientific and regulatory agencies around the world have
repeatedly and consistently found crops and foods improved through biotechnology to be as safe
as, if not safer than, those derived from any other method of production. … Opposition based on
emotion and dogma contradicted by data must be stopped” (18).
Questioning Science
The arguments used by organizations to delay adoption of GR often resemble the arguments of anti-
vaccination groups, including those protesting vaccines to protect against COVID-19. Some of the
opponents of GR and agricultural biotechnology more generally see the introduction of GR as forcing the
consumption of GMOs on the population. However, for the case of GR, consumers have the option of
easily avoiding consumption because GR is very easily identifiable by its color.
The tragedy of GR is that regulatory delays of approval have immense costs in terms of
preventable deaths, with no apparent benefit (13). The approval of GR is even more urgent with
the ongoing pandemic, which has made access to healthcare services more difficult in vulnerable
populations worldwide. The World Bank has recommended that micronutrient biofortification of
staple crops, including specifically GR, should be the norm and not the exception in crop
breeding (19).
Golden rice can effectively control VAD. Delaying the uptake of a genetically modified product
shown to have clear health benefits has and will cost numerous lives, frequently of the most
vulnerable individuals. Policymakers must find ways to overcome this resistance and accelerate
the introduction and adoption of Golden Rice.
Footnotes
 ↵1
F.W. and J.W. contributed equally to this work.
 ↵2
To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: zilber11@berkeley.edu.

 Author contributions: J.W., D.Z., and A.D. designed research; F.W., J.W., C.C., and A.D.
performed research; F.W., J.W., and C.C. analyzed data; and F.W., J.W., D.Z., R.R., C.C., and
A.D. wrote the paper.
 Competing interest statement: A.D. is a member and the Executive Secretary of the Golden Rice
Humanitarian Board. He is a volunteer, unpaid and without grants. R.R. is a member of the
Golden Rice Humanitarian Board. He is a volunteer, unpaid and without grants. The Golden
Rice Humanitarian Board (http://www.goldenrice.org) holds the rights for humanitarian
applications of the nutritional technology created by Professors Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer
and related licensed technology. The Board is not legally incorporated in any way. It is a group
of individuals who voluntarily share the objective of making Golden Rice available to resource-
poor populations as a public good, delivered by the public sector in locally adapted and preferred
rice varieties, at no greater cost than white rice and with no use limitations except export. All
other authors declare no competing interests.
 Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this work are those of the
authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences.
 ↵*Many transformation events were produced (8), from which event GR2E has been selected on
the basis of molecular structure and insertion in the rice genome, together with agronomic
performance. It is the basis of the regulatory data generated and is the only form of GR which is
offered for approval and use.
 Copyright © 2021 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.
This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-
NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND).
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We recommend
1. Association of functional nucleotide polymorphisms at DTH2 with the northward
expansion of rice cultivation in Asia.
Weixun Wu et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2013
2. Green Revolution: Impacts, limits, and the path ahead
Prabhu L. Pingali, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2012
3. Biofortified and bioavailable: the gold standard for plant-based diets.
Jeeyon Jeong et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2008
4. Microarray analyses reveal that plant mutagenesis may induce more transcriptomic
changes than transgene insertion
Rita Batista et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2008
5. Vaccines are for dinner.
David W Pascual, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2007
1. After 20 years, Golden Rice nears approval
Erik Stokstad, Science, 2019
2. The precautionary tale of golden rice
Andrew J. Wight, Science, 2019
3. Transgenic Maize and the Evolution of Landrace Diversity in Mexico. The Importance of
Farmers' Behavior
Mauricio R. Bellon et al., Plant Phyisol, 2004
4. Ending World Hunger. The Promise of Biotechnology and the Threat of Antiscience
Zealotry
Norman E. Borlaug, Plant Phyisol, 2000
5. The Future of Science: Food and Water for Life
Nancy A.
https://www.pnas.org/content/118/51/e2120901118
Studies show that uniforms do not improve children’s
behavior
Washington [US], December 20 (ANI): According to a new national survey, uniforms do not
appear to affect the behavior and overall attendance of young students, despite the beliefs of
many parents and teachers.
The results of this study were published in the journal Early Childhood Research Quarterly.
However, students attending schools that required uniforms reported a lower level of “school
affiliation” in fifth grade than students in schools without uniforms.
The findings were obtained from data on more than 6,000 school-aged children. Associate
Professor of Human Sciences at Ohio State University.
“We didn’t see much difference in behavioral measurements, whether or not the school had a
unified policy,” Ansari added.
Ansari worked with Michael Shepherd, a graduate student in human sciences at Ohio State
University, and Michael Gottfried, an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

According to Ansari, this issue is important because uniforms are becoming more popular, not
just in private schools.
About 20% of public schools needed uniforms in 2011-12, from just 3% in 1995-96. From 2011
to 2012, about 6 out of 10 private schools needed uniforms.
“The value of uniforms hasn’t been studied much in the last two decades, especially given how
much their use has increased,” said Ansari, a faculty member at the Ohio State University Early
Childhood Education Crane Center. rice field. Research and policy.
Proponents of uniforms, among other things, claim that they promote better attendance and a
stronger sense of community, resulting in less bullying and fighting.
To test it, researchers used data from an infant longitudinal study that tracked a nationally
representative sample of 6,320 students from kindergarten to the end of fifth grade.
Each year, teachers evaluated each student in three ways. Internalization of behavioral problems
(such as anxiety and social withdrawal), externalization of behavioral problems (such as
aggression and property destruction), and social skills.
The teacher also reported how often each student was absent.
Overall, school uniforms did not affect three aspects of student behavior, even after considering
various other factors that could affect student behavior.
According to the survey, the attendance rate of low-income students in schools requiring
uniforms was slightly higher, but the difference was less than one day a year, Ansari said.
Researchers also evaluated self-reporting measures from the same student in fifth grade. The
students reported on the school’s sense of belonging, including how familiar they were with their
teachers and classmates. They also reported experiences of bullying and social unrest.

Uniforms had nothing to do with the differences in children’s bullying and social unrest.
However, those who had to wear uniforms reported that they had a lower level of school
affiliation than those who attended schools that did not require uniforms.
The data in this study cannot explain this finding, Ansari said, but there are some plausible
reasons this may be.
“Uniforms are supposed to build a sense of community, but they may have the opposite effect,”
he said.
“Fashion is one way students express themselves, which may be an important part of the school
experience. When students can’t show their personality, they belong so much to themselves. You
may not feel it, “he added.
According to Ansari, the results of this study should be taken care not to assume that parents,
teachers and managers have a positive effect that uniforms do not have.
“School uniforms may not be the most effective way to improve student behavior and
involvement,” Ansari concludes. (ANI)
Studies show that uniforms do not improve children’s behavior
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https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:UnJhx1w7VV4J:https://ohionewstime.
com/studies-show-that-uniforms-do-not-improve-childrens-
behavior/305420/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
California researchers have ‘once-in-a-lifetime’
encounter with ‘bizarre’ deep-sea fish
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have come across a “Ichi-go-ichi-kai” encounter
with a unique deep-sea fish with a transparent head. When I was looking for “deep sea jelly and
other reclaimed water animals” at an aquarium exhibition in Monterey Bay Canyon, a team from
the aquarium and related laboratories found Demenigis (a deep sea creature) from a distance. “I
couldn’t be mistaken for anything else,” said Thomas Knowles, a senior aquarium at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium, in an email to SFGATE. “As we slowly approached it, everyone began
to notice what we found, and the excitement in the control room increased. According to the
Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute, Demenigis is transparent and Lord. Found at depths of up to
2,600 feet across the Pacific Ocean, from the Bering Sea to Japan and Baja California. Instead of
eyes, “two glowing green spheres behind the face look up toward the top of the head. The eyes
usually appear as their “olfactory organs.” (This “strange” corn can rotate in front of the head to
“see food when eating.”) The research team spent a considerable amount of time observing rare
species from a distance. rice field. “We make the most of the opportunity to observe this rare
animal in its natural habitat,” says Knowles. This was the first time everyone in the group had
encountered Macropinna. “Even the most skilled professionals were excited and blinded,” he
added. “Most of the deep sea is truly an unexplored territory, yet reveals something strange to
us.”
Moss Landing, CA —
Researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium have come across a “Ichi-go-ichi-kai” encounter
with a unique deep-sea fish with a transparent head.

When I was looking for “deep sea jelly and other reclaimed water animals” at an aquarium
exhibition in Monterey Bay Canyon, a team from the aquarium and related laboratories found
Demenigis (a deep sea creature) from a distance.
“I couldn’t be mistaken for anything else,” said Thomas Knowles, a senior aquarium at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium, in an email to SFGATE. “As we slowly approached it, everyone began
to notice what we found, and the excitement in the control room increased. Everyone is likely to
have this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I knew. “
And I can understand the charm of this rare species.
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Institute, Macropinna is transparent in head and is
found primarily throughout the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 2,600 feet from the Bering Sea to
Japan and Baja California.
Instead of the eyes, there are “two glowing green spheres behind the face, looking up towards the
top of the head,” and the indentations where the eyes usually appear are the “smell organs.”
(According to the laboratory, this “strange” corn can rotate in front of the head to “see the food
when eating.”)
The research team spent a considerable amount of time observing rare species from a distance,
saying, “We want to take full advantage of the opportunity to observe this rare animal in its
natural habitat.” This was the first time everyone in the group had encountered Macropinna.
“Even the most skilled professionals were excited and blinded,” he added. “Most of the deep sea
is truly an unexplored territory, yet reveals something strange to us.”
California researchers have ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ encounter with ‘bizarre’ deep-sea fish Source
link California researchers have ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ encounter with ‘bizarre’ deep-sea fish
:https://californianewstimes.com/california-researchers-have-once-in-a-lifetime-encounter-with-
bizarre-deep-sea-fish/629765/
Food exports surge by 26.68% to $1947 mln in 5 months
The food group exports during July-November (2021-22) were recorded at $1947.414 million as
against the exports of $1537.317
ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP): The food exports from the country surged by 26.68 percent
during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared to the exports of the
corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
against the exports of $1537.317 million in July-November (2020-21), according to PBS data.
The commodities that contributed in positive growth of food group trade included, rice, the
exports of which grew by 13.07 percent, from $730.703 million last year to $826.216 million
during the current fiscal year.
Among the rice commodities, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 32.99 percent from
$196.534 million to $261.364 million and other rice commodities by 5.74 percent, from
$534.169 million to $564.852 million.

Likewise, the exports of fruits increased by 27.69 percent, from $138.859 million to $177.316
million, vegetables by 31.47 percent ,from $77.146 million to $101.423 million, tobacco by
26.96 percent, from $12.744 million to $16.180 million whereas the exports of spices went up by
29.63 percent, from $31.357 million to $40.648 million.
The exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernals also went up 478.77 percent from $22.476 million to
$130.085 million whereas the exports of meat and meat preparations increased by 0.10 percent,
from $133.575 million to $133.714 million and other food items by 65.95 percent, from
The only food product that witnessed negative growth in trade included fish and fish
preparations, the exports of which declined by 9.72 percent, from $166.702 million to $150.502
million.
Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the food exports from the country increased by 26.44 percent
from $407.079 million in November 2020 to $514.697 million in November 2021.
On month-on-month basis, the exports from the country witnessed positive growth of 24.61
percent in November when compared to the exports of $413.036 million in October 2021.
It is pertinent to mention here that the overall exports from the country witnessed an increase of
26.89 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2021-22) as compared to the
corresponding months of last year.
According to PBS data, the exports from the country were recorded at $12.364 billion during
July-November (2021-22) against the exports of $9.744 billion recorded during July-November
(2020-21), showing growth of 26.89 percent.
The imports during the months under review also went up by 69.57 percent by growing from
$19.468 billion last year to $33.012 billion in July-November (2021-22).
Based on the data, the trade deficit during the period under review was recorded at $20.648
billion, showing an increase of 112.34 percent over the deficit of $9.724 billion recorded during
July-November(2020-21).
https://www.app.com.pk/business/food-exports-surge-by-26-68-to-1947-mln-in-5-months/
KU to conduct research to make paddy waste useful
for industries
The department of biotechnology of the Kurukshetra University is set to conduct research to
make paddy straw useful for industries and generate additional income for farmers
The department has received a grant of ₹14 lakh from the Haryana State Council of Science and
Technology for the research and development project on production of microbial silicase for
resolution of silica in rice straw for value addition for a period of three years. (HT File)
Published on Dec 21, 2021 12:53 AM IST
ByNeeraj Mohan, Kurukshetra
The department of biotechnology of the Kurukshetra University is set to conduct research to
make paddy straw useful for industries and generate additional income for farmers.

The
department has received a grant of ₹14 lakh from the Haryana State Council of Science and
Technology for the research and development project on production of microbial silicase for
resolution of silica in rice straw for value addition for a period of three years.
The move, if successful, will prove a big breakthrough and will help to get rid of the problem of
stubble burning by finding out a cost-effective and environment-friendly approach to tackle the
issue.
Project in-charge Dr Sunita Dalal said high silica content is the biggest problem in the paddy
waste and the prime objective of this research is to find out a formulation to dissolve silica in an
environment-friendly way so that it could be used as potential material for industries.
She said crop residue burning generates pollutants affecting human health by polluting the air
and environment. Since the farmers do not find paddy straw as nutritious animal fodder due to its
high silica content, it caused the indigestibility of livestock.
The protecting effect of silica layer inhibits the commercial application as well that stakes it as a
potential feedstock for different industries such as paper, fibre board, bio-fuels, bio-ethanol,
dietary fibre and bio-char.
“Under stressful conditions, some bacteria tend to release silicase enzymes, which will be
isolated and standardised to be potentially pre-treatment protocols on rice straw. This will
increase accessibility of hydrolytic enzymes towards value-added products as well,” she said,
adding that the project is likely to have wide-reaching positive effects on the environment,
energy, and agricultural sectors along with economic symbiotic partnership among farmers and
industries.
She said an appropriate pre-treatment technique for silica reduction is to find its suitability as a
feedstock is need of the hour as harsh and expensive physical and chemical methods of
dissolving silica from rice straw are available, but they prove to be a burden on the environment.
Stubble burning is a major issue in the paddy-growing belts of Haryana. Even the state
government has provided subsidies up to 80% on the purchase of machines for the management
of crop waste but achieving zero stubble burning still remains a challenge as the state has

reported 6,987 incidents of farm fires during the kharif harvesting season ending on November
30, against 9,898 reported last kharif harvesting season from September 15 to November 30.
Farmers allege that due to restrictions on early transplantation of paddy, they do not get enough
time for management of crop waste after paddy harvesting as they have to prepare fields for the
next crop.
“If the paddy waste becomes useful for the industries, it will not only help farmers get rid of the
crop waste but they will get additional income by selling it to the industries,” said Karam Chand,
deputy director agriculture of Kaithal district.
Frontline indices slumped to their lowest levels in 4 months as surging Omicron cases triggered
tighter restrictions in Europe and threatened to be a drag on the global economy into the New
Year. Besides, heavy FPI selling, dwindling rupee, concerns over slowing Chinese economic
growth, and sharp sell-off in index heavyweights resulted in a bull massacre.
Globally, shares dropped and oil prices fell by 5 per cent on Covid-19 concerns and tighter
monetary policies by global central banks. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped
1.3 per cent, while those of S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 declined up to 1.4 per cent. In Europe, the
pan-European Stoxx 600 dropped 2 per cent in early trade and Japan's Nikkei led the losses in
Asia with a 2.2 per cent fall.
Against this backdrop, Indian benchmarks settled 2 per cent lower amid across-the-board sell-
off. The S&P BSE Sensex tumbled 1,190 points to close at 55,822 and the Nifty50 ended at
16,614, down 371 points.
However, the indices did stage a partial recovery during the fag end of the session to settle 1 per
cent higher from the day’s lows.
According to Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Financial Services, the Indian markets are
reaching the last phase of this consolidation in terms of price correction. Some pockets have
become fair and long-term investors can buy high-quality stocks with a focus on defensive stocks
and India-focused businesses.
Yash Gupta, equity analyst at Angel Broking also believes buying on dips can be a prudent
strategy with a focus on defensive bets.
As regards today, BPCL ended the session as the worst performer on the Nifty index, slipping
6.5 per cent. It was followed by Tata Motors, Tata Steel, IndusInd Bank, Bajaj Finance, Coal
India, SBI, ONGC, HDFC Bank, Kotak Bank and RIL. All these shares dropped between 3 per
cent and 5 per cent.
The broader markets underperformed the large-cap peers with the mid-cap and small-cap indices
on the BSE ending over 3 per cent lower each.
Among individual stocks, AU Small Finance, Oil India, Nykaa, Sona Comstar, RBL Bank,
Mindtree, Policybazaar, and Spandana Sphoorty tumbled in the range of 6-10 per cent.
On the upside, though, the shares of Future Group's listed companies rallied 20 per cent on the
BSE after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Friday suspended Amazon's 2019 deal
with Future Retail (FRL).
Among sectors, the Nifty Realty index shed 5 per cent, PSB Index fell 4.5 per cent, and the
Metal index tanked 4 per cent. All other sectoral indices were down up to 3.5 per cent.
In the primary market, the three-day IPO of Surpriya Lifescience has been subscribed over 67
times so far on the final day of the issue.
Meanwhile in another development, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has
barred exchanges from launching new futures contracts in paddy (non-basmati rice), wheat,

chana, mustard seeds and its derivatives, soybean and its derivatives, crude palm oil, and moong,
for one year. The order, which will come into immediate effect, is meant to check rising prices of
some of these commodities, mainly oilseed complexes and pulses.
https://www.business-standard.com/podcast/markets/market-wrap-benchmarks-end-near-four-
month-lows-sensex-tanks-1-190-points
ICAR-NRRI Recruitment 2021: Apply now for Field
Assistant and Senior Research Fellow posts in Cuttack
By WCE 6 Last updated Dec 21, 2021
ICAR, National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), Cuttack has published a job notification for the
recruitment to the post of Senior Research Fellow and Field Assistant has been released on its
official website https://icar-nrri.in/.
12TH, 10TH pass Can apply for this job openings. Interested candidates who meet the eligibility
criteria can apply for the posts as per prescribed format on the official website icar-nrri.in on or
before 24th December, 2021.
Advertisement No. 24/SRF/FA/2021-22
NRRI Cuttack Recruitment 2021 Important Details
Last date of application- December 24, 2021
Date of Interview:
 Senior Research Fellow (SRF): 03.01.2022 at 11.00 am

 Field Assistant (FA): 04.01.2022 at 11.00 am
NRRI Cuttack Recruitment 2021 Vacancy Details
Senior Research Fellow: 1
Field Assistant: 1
Salary Details
Senior Research Fellow: Rs 31,000 per month + HRA as per rule
Field Assistant: Rs 15,000 per month (consolidated)
NRRI Cuttack Recruitment 2021 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification:
Senior Research Fellow: M. Sc. (Ag.) in Soil Science / Agronomy / Environmental Science /
Microbiology with 4/5 years of Bachelor’s degree. OR
M.Sc. in Environmental Sciences / Life Sciences / Microbiology / Chernistry / Botany from
recognized university / institution with 3 years Bachelor’s degree and 2 years Master’s degree
should have NET qualification conducted by Central Govt. Department / Agencies for admission
to Ph.D. with 2 years of research experience in relevant field. Desirable : Experience in soil,
plant and water analysis work in lab and field experirnentation and oreoaration of
scientific/technical repofts/papers.
Desirable : Experience in soil, plant and water analysis work in lab and field experirnentation
and oreoaration of scientific/technical repofts/papers.
Field Assistant: Matric with +2 Vocational in Agriculture/ Horticulture OR Matric with two
years of experience in agriculture field work .OR
Matric with two years of experience in agriculture field work.
Desirable: Experience in agricultural field work / laboratory work
NRRI Cuttack Recruitment 2021 Age Limit
Senior Research Fellow: Maximum age limit is 35 years for men and 40 years for women.
Field Assistant: Minimum age limit is 18 years and Maximum age limit is 50 years.
Selection Procedure
After screening, only shortlisted candidates will be informed for further details regarding
interview by mail or over phone for attending online interview. Candidates who do not send their
biodata in our latest prescribed pdf format, his/her biodata will not be acceptable.
How to Apply for NRRI Cuttack Recruitment 2021?
Owing to the prevailing COVID-19 crisis, eligible & interested candidates are requested to send
their biodata through email to projectnrri@gmail.com latest by 24th December, 2021 strictly as
per the prescribed pdf format. After screening, only shortlisted candidates will be informed for
further details regarding interview by mail or over phone for attending the online interview.
https://kalingatv.com/miscellany/icar-nrri-recruitment-2021-apply-now-for-field-assistant-and-
senior-research-fellow-posts-in-cuttack/
Nigel Slater’s festive recipes for roast cauliflower and
chocolate treats

‘As spicy as you wish’: roast cauliflower with lemon harissa sauce. Photograph: Jonathan
Lovekin/The Observer
A humble yet splendid dish – and handmade fruit and nut clusters for Christmas
Nigel Slater
Sun 19 Dec 2021 05.30 EST
Ibrought a dish of baked cauliflower to the table the other day – creamy-white clouds in a spiced, brick-
red sauce. Humble, yet somehow splendid with its festive colours and deep notes of harissa paste, lemon
zest and coriander. We ate our dinner – quick, vegan, relatively inexpensive – with a side dish of chewy
brown basmati rice with black pepper and chopped parsley.
Harissa paste is pleasing enough to make. You toast cumin and coriander seeds, crush them with dried
and fresh red chillies, copious cloves of garlic, then mash them into a deep red paste with lemon juice and
olive oil. Tomatoes are a popular addition, too, as are smoked paprika and dried rose petals. But I tend to
use harissa from a jar when I’m short of time. And that, with the cake to ice and mince pies to make,
means now.
There are a few last-minute, handmade gifts to make, too. I melted dark – but far from bitter – chocolate
in a bowl over a pot of simmering water, then stirred in fruit and nuts from the row of stoppered jars in
the cupboard. Soft prunes roughly chopped, jewel-bright dried apricots, a handful of expensive green and
mauve pistachios, golden sultanas and hazelnuts. The nuts were skinned and toasted first and, because I
left them whole, gave the little clusters a rocky, rustic texture.
The point was the balance between the soft dried fruit and crisp, toasted nuts. Dried figs work if prunes
feel a bit joyless and are so good with dark chocolate, but dried cranberries or cherries, fat raisins or
candied peel are possibilities, too. Almonds, walnuts and macadamia nuts are fine substitutes if pistachios
seem too extravagant.
Such treats are good for giving away as a Christmas gift. They would be welcome in a crackly cellophane
bag with elegant crimson ribbon, but this time I tucked the clusters into shallow boxes lined with tissue
paper that made them feel somehow more special. I had made generous golf-ball sized lumps, but they
might be even more delightful set in smaller, teaspoon-sized clusters. Pile them in a shallow dish and pass
them round after dinner.
Wishing you a very happy Christmas!
Roast cauliflower with lemon harissa sauce
If you use a couple of small cauliflowers they will cook all the way through in good time. I find
exceptionally large, thick-stalked cauliflowers trickier, the florets tending to overcook by the time the
stalks are done. The sauce can be as mild or spicy as you wish. A tablespoon of harissa paste will
introduce gentle warmth rather than spiky heat, though much will depend on the brand. Taste as you go.
Should you get carried away, a spoonful of yoghurt, stirred in at the end, should settle things down.
Coriander-phobes might like to try a few mint leaves with the lemon zest instead. Serves 4
cauliflower 2, small to medium ones
onion 1, medium
olive oil 3 tbsp
garlic 3 cloves
assorted tomatoes 800g

harissa paste 1 tbsp
lemon the zest of 1
coriander and parsley 25g
Preheat the oven to 200C/gas mark 6. Trim the cauliflowers to discard the thickest part of the stalk, taking
care to leave the florets intact. Remove any tatty leaves. Put the cauliflowers in a roasting tin then pour in
enough boiling water to come halfway up the cauliflowers. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45
minutes. They are ready when soft enough to effortlessly take a metal skewer through the stalks of the
florets.
Peel and thinly slice the onion. Warm the oil in a deep saucepan, then add the onions and cook for about
15 minutes until soft and turning golden. Peel and slice the garlic and add to the onions.
Roughly chop the tomatoes and add them to the onion, then continue cooking over a moderate heat for
about 15 minutes, until soft and easily crushable. Season with salt and black pepper, then stir in the
harissa paste and lemon zest. Remove the leaves from the herbs and chop finely, then stir into the sauce.
Remove the cauliflowers from the oven, drain thoroughly and serve with harissa and lemon sauce.
Chocolate fruit and nut clusters
Keep them sweet: these chocolate fruit and nut clusters will delight your friends. Photograph:
Jonathan Lovekin/The Observer
These little sweetmeats – for that is what they are – will keep for a few days in a biscuit tin or airtight
container, but after a while the chocolate may discolour. If you are giving them as a gift, I think it best to
make them only the day before. Makes 10-12
dark chocolate 100g
soft dried prunes 60g
dried apricots 80g
shelled pistachios 50g
golden sultanas or dried cherries 50g
skinned hazelnuts 50g
crystallised rose petals 6
Put a small pan of water on to boil. Rest a heatproof glass bowl over the top of the pan, so it sits just
above the water level. Break the chocolate into small pieces and melt in the bowl over the hot water. Do
not stir. As soon as the chocolate has melted, remove from the heat.
Roughly chop the prunes and apricots and put them in a mixing bowl and add the pistachios and sultanas
or cherries.
In a shallow pan over a moderate heat, toast the hazelnuts until golden brown, then add to the fruit and
nuts. Tip the fruit and nuts into the melted chocolate and stir gently to coat it all in chocolate.
Place heaped tablespoons of the mixture on to a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. You should
have about 10-12. Crush the crystallised rose petals with a heavy weight and sprinkle them over the
chocolate clusters, then leave in a cool place to set. Remove the clusters from the paper and serve.
Follow Nigel on Twitter @NigelSlater
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/dec/19/nigel-slater-recipes-for-roast-cauliflower-plus-
festive-chocolate-treats

Ghana spent U$1 billion on rice importation from
2017 to 2020
Some of the rice imported into the country
Ghana spent an estimated total of GH¢6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to
2020. In addition, the country also imported other food products for the period.
Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen made the disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to
respond to a question by Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, Tamale Central MP how much the state
spent on the importation of rice and other foodstuffs into the country in the past four years.
Alan Kyerematen also acknowledge from the figures provided that the country was spending
close to US$1 billion on the importation of food items.
Responding to a question of whether the government has lifted a ban on small rice importers, Mr
Kyerematen stated that rice was a staple food in the country and one had to maintain a delicate
balance between the quantity of rice produced locally at any point in time and what was
important was to ensure that there were no serious shortages.
He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture continue to
monitor the production of rice, and at the appropriate time when the volumes of local rice
increase significantly the government would be able to restrict the importation of rice.
Alan Kyerematen also maintained that the government has not lifted any ban imposed on the
small rice importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there were no
shortages in the system.

He noted that as and when there is significant local rice production in the country the Ministry
would be able to determine at that point what decision to take in respect of the ban.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-spent-U-1-billion-on-rice-
importation-from-2017-to-2020-1427098
Rice husks, a potential source of cooking fuel – Study
Rice husks can be used to produce briquettes
A study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab in Ghana, in
collaboration with an innovator, and local communities in the Northern Region, has shown how
rice husks (which are a byproduct from milling rice) can be processed into rice briquettes.
Rice briquettes are an alternative to the charcoal traditionally produced from wood, and could
reduce households’ monthly expenditure on cooking fuel by at least 50 percent, a report on the
innovation copied the Ghanaian Times said.
The innovator, Cletus Baalongbuoro, told the Ghanaian Times that the rice briquette offered a
suitable cooking fuel alternative to charcoal, adding that this would minimise the cutting down of
trees particularly in the Northern Region.
Rice briquettes can last up to twice as long as charcoal for every two kilogrammes of wood
charcoal used, only one kilogramme of briquettes is required.
The UNDP awarded a grant to support his idea of producing briquettes in Tamale in the Northern
Region, where he demonstrated an experiment on how using briquettes instead of charcoal could
also reduce the rate at which trees are being cut down to produce charcoal.
To produce briquettes, rice husks are charred in a metal drum, along with a charring agent like

cassava starch. After mixing, the husks go into a compacting machine to produce briquettes
under high pressure.
Charring, mixing, and compacting machines are made by local artisans. Funding through the
UNDP was used to buy a mechanized compacting machine.
In a series of experiments, local women were given rice briquettes, and asked to compare their
cooking experience with briquettes to wood charcoal. All rated the briquettes as better in heating
and cooking time, leaving less dust/residue on the hands, and generating little, or no smoke. The
briquettes are priced to cost less than the equivalent weight of charcoal.
UNDP is working with Cletus to optimise production and explore avenues for scaling up.
“What we see as waste may actually have value, so it is amazing to see Cletus Baalongbuoro
working with local communities to turn rice husks into briquettes.” Dr Allen Anie, Head of
Experimentation at the UNDP Accelerator Lab, told the Ghanaian Times.
Ghanaian innovators are busily working on home-grown solutions to create value from the by-
products of agricultural processes. The UNDP Accelerator Lab is helping to map these solutions,
test them, and identify partners to help innovators to scale up,” he added.
He said that with more partnerships, rice briquettes could be adopted on large scale, as eco-
friendly fuel to help save many trees from being cut for charcoal.
Given the abundance of rice husks, the production of briquettes could also become a source of
income for youth and women in the Northern Region and throughout Ghana.
MUMBAI, Dec 20 (Reuters) - India's market regulator ordered a year-long suspension of futures trading
in key farm commodities on Monday, as the world's biggest importer of vegetable oils, and a major
producer of wheat and rice, struggles to tame food inflation.
India's most dramatic move since allowing futures trade in 2003 threatens market confidence by making
hedging difficult at a time of record highs in producer prices, weeks after farmers ended protests that led
to the scrapping of contentious reforms. read more
"It's like shooting the messenger, but we have sympathy with the government, because they were worried
over edible oil inflation," Atul Chaturvedi, president of edible oil trade body the Solvent Extractors
Association of India, told Reuters.
In its order, the market regulator told commodity exchanges not to launch futures contracts of
soybean, soyoil, crude palm oil, wheat, paddy rice, chickpea, green gram, rapeseed and mustard
for a year. Ghanaian innovators are busily working on home-grown solutions to create value from
by-products of agricultural processes. The UNDP Accelerator Lab is helping to map these solutions,
test them, and identify partners to help innovators to scale up," he added.
He said that with more partnerships, rice briquettes could be adopted on large scale, as eco-friendly
fuel to help save many trees from being cut for charcoal.

Given the abundance of rice husks, production of briquettes could also become a source of income
for youth and women in the Northern Region and throughout Ghana.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202112210121.html
India halts futures trade in key farm
commodities to fight inflation
MUMBAI, Dec 20 (Reuters) - India's market regulator ordered a year-long suspension
of futures trading in key farm commodities on Monday, as the world's biggest
importer of vegetable oils, and a major producer of wheat and rice, struggles to tame
food inflation.
India's most dramatic move since allowing futures trade in 2003 threatens market
confidence by making hedging difficult at a time of record highs in producer prices,
weeks after farmers ended protests that led to the scrapping of contentious reforms.
India food price inflation vs key agriculture commodity prices

For existing contracts, no new positions would be allowed in these commodities, the regulator, the
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), added.
Traders said the government, facing intense pressure to rein in food prices ahead of key state elections
early next year, wanted to curb speculation that might have fuelled the rises.
"Sense or nonsense, doesn't matter," said a vegetable oil trader who sought anonymity. "The government
desperately wanted to do something."
Indian prices of edible oil prices hit records this year, prompting New Delhi to cut taxes on imports of
palm, soy and sunflower oil in October. But the step had only limited impact, as global prices remain high
and volatile.
India’s market regulator suspended trading in key agricultural futures to tame rising inflation
Monday's measure makes it tough for importers and traders of edible oils to do business as they
extensively use domestic exchanges to hedge their risk, said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of edible oil
broker and consultancy Sunvin Group.
"The flow of imports would slow down in the short term as traders don't have a hedging platform," added
Bajoria.
Small buyers and traders stand to be hardest hit by the move, as it will expose them to both volatile global
prices and the depreciating rupee currency, said a dealer with a global trading firm.
"The impact on big trading houses will be limited," the dealer added. "They hedge through their overseas
subsidiaries on Bursa Malaysia and Chicago Board of Trade. Small traders can't. They need multiple
permissions."
Also badly hit will be the local National Commodity And Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), which derives
most of its volume from trading in farm commodities, said a senior industry official who declined to be
identified.

Soybean, soyoil, rapeseed and chickpea were the most active contracts on the NCDEX, and the
suspension deprives the exchange of any commodity to generate substantial volume, the official said.
"Multi Commodity Exchange (MCEI.NS) won’t be affected much as it generates most of the volume
from metals and energy," the official added.
The combined average daily turnover of soyoil, soybeans, rapeseed and chickpeas on NCDEX was 12.7
billion rupees ($167 million) so far in 2021, exchange data showed.
While soybean prices did weaken after the suspension, dropping 3.5% in spot market, trading sources say
the freeze on futures was not expected to fully resolve India's food inflation issues.
"India is import-dependent on edible oils, and domestic prices are dictated by global benchmarks.
Suspending local futures won't solve the problem," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading
firm.
Shares of MCX fell 5.2% on Monday.
($1=75.9360 Indian rupees)
https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-regulator-restricts-futures-trading-some-agri-
commodities-2021-12-20/
Dist admin re-fixes prices of essential commodities
Agencies
December 20, 2021
FAISALABAD - The district administration, in consultation with the wholesalers, retailers,
traders and consumer representatives, re-fixed the wholesale and retail prices of essential
commodities.
In this regard, a meeting of the District Price Control Committee was held with Deputy
Commissioner Ali Shahzad in the chair. The meeting reviewed the current market prices of
essential items, fluctuation in their availability and fixed new prices for the open market.
According to details, the price of basin will be Rs 142 per kg in wholesale, while the retail price
Rs 147 per kg. Similarly, gram white (mota) Rs 192 per kg and Rs 198 per kg respectively, white
gram (small) Rs 176 per kg and Rs 182 per kg, black gram (mota) at Rs 132 per kg and Rs 136
per kg, black gram (small) at Rs 127 per kg and Rs 132 per kg, pulse gram (moti) at Rs 134 and
Rs 138 per kg.
Pulse gram small Rs 126 and Rs 130 per kg, pulse mash washed foreign Rs 247 and Rs 252 per
kg, pulse mash unwashed foreign Rs 224 and Rs 230 per kg. Pulse Masoor will be sold at Rs 189
and Rs 195 per kg, pulse masoor (small) at Rs 206 and 210 per kg. Rice Super Basmati (Old) at
Rs 131 and Rs 136 per kg. Ari Rice will be sold at Rs 53 and Rs 58 per kg, milk at Rs 95 per kg,
yoghurt at Rs 100 per kg, meat at Rs 950, Beaf will be sold at Rs. 450 per kg, Flour 20 kg bag
will be sold at Rs.1100 and 10 kg bag at Rs. 550 while open flour at chaki will be sold at Rs 62
per Kg. Roti at Rs. 7 per kg weighing 100 grams, nan 120 gram at Rs. 10 and coal will be sold at
Rs. 80 per Kg. The prices of fruits and vegetables will be auctioned in the daily markets while
the prices of poultry products will be provided by the Livestock Poultry Association to the
Secretary Market Committee at 7 am daily in consultation with the Livestock Poultry
Association.
Shaukat Tarin elected as senator from KP

Deputy Commissioner Ali Shahzad said that price control magistrates were active in conducting
raids in the markets and there would be no concession from illegitimate profiteers. He directed
the PCMs to ensure the price list at every shop. He asked the consumers to register complaint
regarding over price at toll free number 080002345 it would resolved quickly.
https://nation.com.pk/20-Dec-2021/dist-admin-re-fixes-prices-of-essential-commod
Centre bans futures trade in seven agri commodities including soy complex
Crude palm oil clocked an average volume of around Rs 200 crore daily on the Multi
Commodity Exchange
To reign in rising food inflation, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has barred
exchanges from launching new futures contracts in seven food items for one year with immediate
effect.
The commodities are paddy (non-basmati), wheat, chana, mustard seeds and their derivatives,
soybean and its derivatives, crude palm oil, and moong.
In one of the biggest crackdowns on commodity derivative futures since trading was opened in
2003, the regulator said that no new contracts will be allowed in the seven commodities. As to
their running contracts, no new position will be allowed to be taken; only squaring off will be
allowed.
In a related development, the Centre has extended the permission for free import of refined palm
oil until December 31, 2022. Earlier, the provision was allowed until December 31, 2021.
India’s retail inflation rate rose to a three-month high of 4.91 per cent in November from 4.48
per cent in the previous month, driven largely by the rise in food inflation to 1.87 per cent from
0.85 per cent, despite the Centre and states reducing taxes on petrol and diesel.
Trade sources said that in the case of paddy (non-basmati), wheat and moong, though there were
products available on the exchanges, they attracted very little volumes. As to mustard seed and
chana, taking fresh positions had already been suspended in August.
The maximum impact of the decision is expected to be on the soybean complex and crude palm
oil. The combined average daily turnover of refined soy oil, soybeans, rapeseed and chickpeas on
the NCDEX was 12.7 billion rupees ($167 million) so far in 2021, exchange data showed.
Crude palm oil clocked an average volume of around Rs 200 crore daily on the Multi
Commodity Exchange.
At close on Monday, soybean seed January futures were 4 per cent down from the previous close
at the NCDEX, while February futures were 2.36 per cent down from the previous close.
At close, soybean seed January futures were 4 per cent down from the previous close, while
February futures were 2.36 per cent down from the previous close. In the case of soy oil, the
January futures were 1.76 per cent down from the previous close, while February futures was up
0.09 per cent.
“This seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by the government and driven solely by inflation
concerns. The Centre has tried all sorts of measures to control edible oil prices including
bringing duties to zero, and this (banning futures) seems to be the last bullet in their trigger,” said
Atul Chaturvedi, president of the Solvent Extractors Association of India, a body of oilseed
extractors and refiners.
Chaturvedi said the ban is expected to be lifted by March when the next mustard crop starts
hitting the market and prices cool down.

“Monday's measure makes it tough for importers and traders of edible oils to do business as they
extensively use domestic exchanges to hedge their risk,” said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of
edible oil broker and consultancy Sunvin Group, according to Reuters.
The poultry industry has been demanding a curb on futures trading in soy seed, along with an
extension of the import deadline for soymeal, as it was hurting its margins. Soymeal is a key
constituent of poultry feed meal and its rates are directly connected to soybean prices because
seed has more than 80 per cent meal and 18 per cent oil content in them.
Production of soybean, according to the first advance estimate of the 2021-22 kharif crop
released by the agriculture ministry, is expected to be 12.72 million tonnes - marginally lower
than the 12.89 million tonnes produced last year.
For chana, wheat and mustard seed, production is still to be ascertained as the 2021-22 rabi
sowing is still on.
But the latest data from the ministry showed that in the case of wheat, rabi crops have been sown
in around 27.77 million hectares till December 17, which was just around 0.87 per cent less than
last year, while chana has been sown in around 9.79 million hectares which has been 1.43 per
cent more than the area covered during the same period last year.
The maximum area increase has been in mustard seed because farmers, encouraged by high
prices, have sown mustard crops in around 8.42 million hectares until December 17 – that’s 24
per cent more than last year.
Trade sources said that if the weather remains benign in the coming weeks, India is on course to
harvest a bumper 11 million tonnes of mustard in 2021-22, up from 8.5 million tonnes in 2020-
21 year.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/centre-bans-futures-trade-in-seven-agri-
commodities-including-soy-complex-121122000336_1.html
Give written assurance on paddy procurement for
Vaanakalam: TS Ministers to Centre
BYTELANGANA TODAY
PUBLISHED: 20TH DEC 2021 12:40 PM
Hyderabad: Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy demanded that the Central government
should give a written assurance to the Telangana government over enhancing targets for paddy
procurement during the Vaanakalam (Kharif) season. He sought Union Minister for Food and
Public Distribution Piyush Goyal to increase the Vaanakalam target from 60 lakh tonnes of
paddy (i.e. 40 lakh tonnes rice) as Telangana is expected to receive a record paddy production of
nearly 1.3 crore tonnes, due to cultivation of paddy in 62.13 lakh acres.
“Following our repeated requests, the Union Minister had assured in the Parliament that the
Centre was ready to procure the entire paddy crop from Telangana, if supplied as raw rice. As we
have reached the target of 60 lakh tonnes and at least 15 lakh of paddy is awaiting at market
yards for purchase, we are here to request the Union Minister to issue orders immediately to
enhance procurement targets,” the Minister told media persons at New Delhi on Monday. A
delegation of Telangana Ministers and MPs, have sought the appointment of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal.

Niranjan Reddy informed that Telangana had already reached 55 lakh tonnes by Sunday itself
and likely to complete the paddy target of 60 lakh tonnes paddy by Monday evening. Besides 12-
15 lakh tonnes paddy awaiting for procurement at market yards, paddy harvesting is yet to be
taken up in parts of erstwhile districts of Khammam, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar which is
expected upto January 15. Over 5 lakh acres of paddy cultivation is ready for harvesting.
Responding to the mediapersons on why the State government is insisting on a written assurance,
the Minister stated that they had several bad experiences with the Centre’s assurances and cannot
trust their oral assurances. He stated that if the State government purchases paddy from farmers,
it must make payments for their produce within the next couple of days and if the Union
government refuses to purchase after the State government procures paddy from farmers, what
should be done with such a huge quantity of rice stocks?” he questioned.
Niranjan Reddy made it clear that the Ministers and MPs delegation was not in Delhi for politics
and were only concerned about their farmers’ farm produce. It is wrong on part of the Centre to
keep us waiting as it involves farmers’ issues, he asserted. “All that we request is that the Centre
take into cognizance of the grave situation and farmers’ issue into their notice.”
Ministers V Prashath Reddy, G Jagadish Reddy, and Errabelli Dayakar Rao along with TRS
floor leaders K Keshava Rao and Nama Nageshwara Rao and others were present.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram e
https://telanganatoday.com/give-written-assurance-on-paddy-procurement-for-vaanakalam-ts-
ministers-to-centre
Farmers fear Boro rice farming cost spiral
REZAUL KARIM AND YASIR WARDAD | Published: December 19, 2021
09:19:42 | Updated: December 19, 2021 15:09:05
Dearth of fertiliser and a surge in costs of irrigation, plough and transport amid the
diesel-price hike could deal a severe blow to Boro farming this season, discouraging
many from cultivation, according to farmers and experts.
Production cost of Boro crop, which meets 56 per cent of the total rice demand in
Bangladesh, might increase by 14-17 per cent this season, which could cause further
hike in the staple prices, insiders in the sector say.
Higher prices of fertiliser than the government-fixed rates have put farmers in peril
during this peak seedling and cultivation period of Boro paddy, farmers say.
Urea, Muriate of Potash (MOP), Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) and Diammonium
Phosphate (DAP) are selling at 20 to 36-per cent higher prices than the government-
set rates, claimed farmers.
Lutfar Mridha, a farmer at Sharsha in Jessore, told the FE that he bought 100
kilograms of urea for his two bighas of land at Tk 20 per kg, against normal price of
Tk 16.

"I am now trying to source TSP and DAP for the Boro season but prices are much
higher, and it is tough to get my required volume of the fertiliser as there is
shortage in the union, " he says.
He said local sub-dealers were selling TSP at Tk 28-30 a kg against Tk 21-22 a kg,
MOP at Tk 19-20 against Tk 15 a kg.
Mr Mridha guesses that fertiliser cost for per bigha (33 decimal) might surge to Tk
1950-2000 from Tk 1550-1600 last year.
Government intelligence is learnt to have recognised that fertilisers are being sold
at much higher rates than the government-fixed prices.
The Special Branch (SB) report observed that country's required fertiliser could not
be imported yet despite the passing of six months of the current fiscal year.
It has suggested taking punitive action against syndicates and unscrupulous tra ders
for such wrongdoing, designed to cash in on high demand for the agriculture inputs.
The agency has suggested strict monitoring at the dealer-point in each union of the
country to ensure that fertiliser is being sold at fixed prices.
It also feels the need for installing closed-circuit cameras in all fertiliser
warehouses across the country.
Also advised are measures to ensure smooth transportation, security and proper
preservation management for the government fertilizer warehouses.
The agency thinks that the authorities concerned should monitor possible smuggling
as the prices of TSP, DAP and MOP in neighbouring India are higher than in
Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the diesel-price hike has also hit hard the farmers as the irrigation,
ploughing and other input costs fueled up during this peak season of farming of the
main paddy crop.
Farid Uddin, a farmer at Garidaha in Sherpur of Bogura district, says irrigation cost
has surged to Tk 3,200 per bigha in his village after the hike in diesel prices. The
charge was Tk 2,200 last year.
He says most of his fellow farmers have prepared their seedbeds already while
many others began ploughing their paddies.
"Charge of diesel-run tractor increased to Tk 1400-1500 for ploughing land, from
Tk 900-Tk 1000 last year," he said.
Bangladesh Agricultural Farm Labour Federation (BAFLF) secretary Golam Sarwar
said apart from fertiliser, irrigation and ploughing, charges for seed, pesticides and
other inputs increased notably, by 10-20 per cent.
Overall transportation costs have also got fuelled up, causing surge in other input
costs.
"Our primary prediction showed paddy- production cost might increase by 14-17 per
cent to Tk 27-28 a kg across the country this year, which was Tk 22-24 a kg last
year", he says.
He urged the government to realise the current fertiliser shortage as a 'crisis' and
manage required volume in no time.
"And those who are behind such shortage should be given capital punishment," he
said.
Considering surge in cost of irrigation, ploughing and other inputs, he urged the
government to give cash subsidy of Tk 60 billion to the farmers for the interest of
both the peasantry and the common consumers.
Economist Prof Golam Hafeez Kennedy apprehends the surge in input costs might
fuel up prices of rice staple further in coming months on the already-overheated
market.He thinks it might also discourage many farmers from Boro cultivation this
year, which could cause a decline in production.
He urges the agriculture, commerce and food ministries to take immediate action
plans to prevent any possible crisis regarding rice availability.
Farmers should be given logical subsidies within a short period of time while way
for importing rice by the private sector should be opened to keep sound supply of
the staple.
He also suggests that public procurement should be increased and must have to be
fulfilled at any cost while food warehouses at least have 2.0 million tonnes of
buffer stock of food-grains.
According to the agriculture ministry, the government has primaril y fixed a target
of production of 20.5 million tonnes of rice in 4.8 million hectares of land this Boro
season.
Production of Boro was nearly 19.6 million tonnes in the FY'21, according to
primary projection of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com, rezamumu@gmail.com
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/farmers-fear-boro-rice-farming-cost-spiral-
1639883982

Typhoon not expected to have big impact on agriculture
output
December 20, 2021 | 8:39 pm
ANY BLOW to rice production caused by Typhoon Odette (international name: Rai) was
softened by the timing of the storm, which hit the Philippines after much of the previous harvest
had been brought in and as the new planting cycle was beginning, the Department of Agriculture
(DA) said.
“As we reported, the main wet season is over, and dry season (from 2021-2022) has just started
in affected regions,” Assistant Secretary Noel O. Reyes said via chat. “Thus, there was minimal
damage on palay (unmilled rice). And we will do ‘quick turnaround’ planting, providing affected
farmers free palay seed (worth) P148 million.”
“Therefore, the damage done by Typhoon Odette will not affect much the fourth quarter and
over-all 2021 agriculture performance,” he added.
In August, the DA lowered its production growth target to 2% from the initial 2.5% due to the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The lockdown took a toll on agricultural production, particularly
on the hog and poultry industry.

In the first quarter, agricultural output declined 3.3%, led by livestock and poultry, which offset
increased fisheries and crop production.
Agricultural output accounts for about 10% of gross domestic product while farmers represent
25% of the workforce.
The latest estimate for storm damage in the provinces along Typhoon Odette’s track is P333.4
million, affecting 12,750 farmers and fishers across 23,198 hectares of farmland.
Lost production volume was estimated at 19,640 metric tons.
The DA damage reports took in information from Bicol, Western and Central Visayas,
Calabarzon, Central Mindanao, Davao, and the Caraga region.
The affected crops included rice, corn, seafood, and other high-value commodities. — Luisa
Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
https://www.bworldonline.com/typhoon-not-expected-to-have-big-impact-on-agriculture-output/
PSA explains sharp dip in 10-mo rice inventory
BYJASPER Y. ARCALAS
DECEMBER 20, 202
THE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said the steep decline in the country’s rice inventory
of about 700,000 metric tons (MT) was caused by delayed harvests this year coupled with base
effects.
The PSA explained that the 26.17 percent year-on-year plunge on the country’s rice stocks as of
October 1 to 1.954 million metric tons (MMT) from last year’s 2.647 MMT was due to two
reasons.
“Some of the reasons on the annual decrease of rice stocks obtained from the Field Offices for
each sector are the following: delayed harvest due to weather conditions [and] Increase in stocks
last year due to farmers waiting for good buying price,” the statistical agency told the
BusinessMirror.
Industry groups like the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) and the
Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) expressed concerns on the veracity of the rice inventory data
given the fact that domestic palay output from January to September was record high while rice
imports are higher year-on-year.
“I am curious to know why the rice inventory declined by 700,000 MT despite higher production
and imports,” PCAFI President Danilo V. Fausto told the BusinessMirror. Fausto noted that the
starting rice inventory this year was only lower by 300,000 MT compared to last year.
FFF National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said the 700,000-MT reduction on rice inventory
was “statistically impossible” given the positive icture being portrayed by local production and
rice imports.
The country’s palay production from January to September grew by 5.46 percent to 12.55
million MT from 11.90 million MT in the same period of last year.

“In July 1, 2021, rice inventory was 2.178 million MT, almost equal to the July 1, 2020
inventory of 2.105 million MT. Imports from July to September 2021 totaled 647,669 MT
compared to 520,565 MT in the same period in 2020,” he told the BusinessMirror.
“Assuming demand was the same from July 1 to Oct 1, Oct 1, 2021 inventory should be higher
than Oct 2020 levels by 200,000. But PSA says it was lower by almost 700,000. Statistically
impossible. Even if we assume imports in the month of Oct 2020 were counted in advance, these
amounted to only 91,400 MT,” he added.
The reduction in rice inventory could have been steeper if lockdowns were not imposed in
August and September, according to the PSA.
“The lockdown in August and September partly impacted the decrease in rice stocks because of
limited mobility and buying capability of people,” it said.
But Philippine Institute for Development Studies senior research fellow Roehlano M. Briones is
also viewing with some reservations the rice inventory figures released by the PSA.
“It could be that because the estimation of rice stocks is not perfect. The stocks could have
switched toward households, which are not fully accounted for by the PSA,” Briones told the
BusinessMirror.
“But I am not convinced that we actually ran out of stocks. It is possible that our methodology
for measuring stocks, especially household stocks, are not actually accurate,” Briones added.
PSA data showed that household rice inventory as of October 1 plunged by nearly 27 percent to
1.059 million MT from 1.450 million MT in the same period of last year.
“If we suspect that there might be a reason that households might decide to stock up more, if
they have bad news about future prices, then getting a picture of their inventory is not perfect
because they do not have any warehouses,” Briones said.
“But households can easily buy an extra half sack or full sack and put it somewhere. If you
multiply that by several million households, that could be a very large amount,” he added.
Adjusting to RTL
Monetary Board member V. Bruce J. Tolentino said the domestic rice market is still adjusting to
the new rice trade regime following the implementation of the rice trade liberalization (RTL)
law. For one, Tolentino pointed out that rice inventories does not need to be huge anymore since
the supplies can easily respond to market demand and situation.
“There’s a major policy change in RTL, which will also affect inventory behavior. Before,
inventories need to be very large due to a lot of market uncertainties particularly with NFA
[National Food Authority]. Today, inventories are smaller because trade is supposed to respond
to market situations,” he told the BusinessMirror.
Tolentino, however, noted that certain government impositions such as sudden suspension of the
issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPS-IC) for rice imports “interferes”
with the country’s rice trade.
“However, if you have issues like all of all of a sudden you suspend SPS-IC it interferes with
trade. With that kind of uncertainty, traders domestically will keep larger stocks due to market
efficiencies,” he said.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/12/20/psa-explains-sharp-dip-in-10-mo-rice-inventory/

Blight-resistant paddy a rage among farmers of Old
Mysuru regions
Scientists of the Chamarajanagar Haradanahalli Krishi Vignan Kendra witnessed the harvest of
RNR 15048 paddy at YK Mole village in Chamarajanagar
By S Ramesh
MYSURU: RNR 15048, a fine-grain blast-resistant paddy variety, which was introduced by
the Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, through Chamarajanagar Krishi Vignan
Kendra(KVK), has become popular among rice cultivators in Chamarajanagar, given its good yield.
Paddy growers of the region often used to suffer losses in recent years, due to perennial blast disease
in both the kharif and rabi seasons, from cultivating other varieties of paddy, but this year, over
hundreds of farmers in Chamarajanagar district, who have been growing the RNR 15048 rice, are
cheering, due to a bumper crop, despite adverse climate like heavy rain, that lashed the district in the
last few months.
Chamarajanagar KVK has introduced this variety of paddy for cultivation among farmers of
Irusavadi in Chamarajanagar taluk and Y K Mole, as well as villages surrounding Yelandur taluk,
on an experimental basis, on over 3,000 acres, during this kharif season.
“Because of its unique grain size, short, slender shape, high grain yield potential, high head rice
recovery, good cooking quality and robust blast resistance, this variety of paddy is being grown by a
large number of farmers in recent years,” said Sunil, an agriculture scientist at Haradanahalli Krishi
Vignan Kendra in Chamarajanagar.
Moved by their success in the cultivation of this new rice variety, a large number of farmers want to
cultivate RNR 15048 paddy in neighbouring Mysuru and Mandya districts as well.
This variety of paddy is not only disease-resistant, but the crop is ready for harvesting in a short

duration of 125 days, with high protein and low glycaemic index, and grows to a height of three to
four feet. It is good for diabetics to consume, and can withstand adverse weather. Farmers can reap
a good harvest of 25 to 30 quintals per acre, with a minimal cost of production.
“As RNR 15048 was tested and found to be having a low glycaemic index (GI), it is ideal for a
therapeutic diet, that helps in the reduction of blood glucose and elevation in plasma HDL
cholesterol levels in patients with type-2 diabetes, according to various studies,” said Sunil
“I have cultivated the RNR 15048 variety of paddy during this season, on one-and-a-half acres,
which gave a good yield of nearly 40 quintals of fine quality, short and slender grain. As the price of
this paddy variety costs around Rs 1,800 to Rs 1,900 per quintal in the market, it suits all health-
conscious consumers, preferably diabetics,” said M Venkataramanashetty, a paddy grower of YK
Mole village.
Joint director of agriculture, Mahantheshappa, said the state government has already identified and
promoted new varieties of rice like RNR 15048, which have a low content of carbohydrates, as well
as other nutritious crops. “As this variety is giving a good yield, the government is recommending
this crop for cultivation in both the rabi and kharif seasons,” he said.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/blight-resistant-paddy-a-rage-among-
farmers/articleshow/88378164
KAKINADA PORT - INDIA: Vessel Line-Up

Vessel Line up & Schedule Port Details at KAKINADA PORT - INDIA
Kakinada Deep Water Port was commissioned by the Government of AP in November 1997 with
a quay length of 610 Meters. The Kakinada Seaports took over operations when the port was
privatized in 1999. Ten years later, the port was expanded to 2,500 meters of quay length for
multi-product handling and stand-alone facility for off-shore supplies for deep sea exploration.
KAKINADA PORT - INDIA: Vessel Working at Berth
Updated 18
DECEMBER
2021
- - - - - -
BERTH
NO.
VESSEL
NAME
ETA ETB ETCD CARGO L/D QTY
- - - - - - - -
-
MV. FUTURE
ID
01.12.2021 02.12.2021 22.12.2021
SUGAR IN
BAGS
LDG 27200
-
MV.
MERCURY J
11.11.2021 13.12.2021 29.12.2021
BAGGED
SUGAR
LDG 27000
-
MV. TEAM
HOPE
13.12.2021 13.12.2021 19.12.2021 CP COKE DISCHG 19998
-
MV. OCEAN
CROWN
01.12.2021 15.12.2021 20.12.2021 ALUMINA DISCHG 31500
-
MV. PIONEER
ELITE
16.12.2021 16.12.2021 19.12.2021 BENTONITE LDG 10800
- MT. J BU OPAL 17.12.2021 17.12.2021 18.12.2021
PHOSPHORIC
ACID
DISCHG 8002
-
MT. GLOBAL
IRIS
18.12.2021 18.12.2021 19.12.2021 EDIBLE OIL DISCHG 4000
Waiting
Vessels
-
MV. GREAT
ARSENAL
25.10.2021 - -
BAGGED
SUGAR
LDG 25500
-
MV.IVS
PHINDA
14.12.2021 - - ALUMINA DISCHG 34598
Expected
Vessels
- MV. PERTH I 18.12.2021 - - UREA DISCHG 44021
- MT. G BRIGHT 21.12.2021 - -
SULPHURIC
ACID
DISCHG 10000

-
MV.
MARMARA S
22.12.2021 - - MOP DISCHG 27500
-
MT. GAS
QUANTUM
23.12.2021 - - AMMONIA DISCHG 10286
-
MT. BOW
EXCELLENCE
24.12.2021 - -
PHOSPHORIC
ACID
DISCHG 31495
NOTE: ALL FIGURES ARE ABOUT, VESSEL MOVEMENT PLANS ARE TENTATIVE AND
SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING ON PORT’S DECISION OF ALLOTMENT OF BERTHS
We are committed to provide total logistics solution to the customers with a professional touch and
become the trend setters in the industry.
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Food exports surge by 26.68% to $1947 mln in 5
months
Tue, 21 Dec 2021, 12:53 PM

ISLAMABAD, Dec 21 (APP): The food exports from the country surged by 26.68 percent
during the first five months of the current fiscal year as compared to the exports of the
corresponding period of last year, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
The commodities that contributed in positive growth of food group trade included, rice, the
exports of which grew by 13.07 percent, from $730.703 million last year to $826.216 million
during the current fiscal year.
Among the rice commodities, the exports of Basmati rice increased by 32.99 percent from
$196.534 million to $261.364 million and other rice commodities by 5.74 percent, from
Likewise, the exports of fruits increased by 27.69 percent, from $138.859 million to $177.316
million, vegetables by 31.47 percent ,from $77.146 million to $101.423 million, tobacco by
26.96 percent, from $12.744 million to $16.180 million whereas the exports of spices went up by
29.63 percent, from $31.357 million to $40.648 million.
The exports of oil seeds, nuts and kernals also went up 478.77 percent from $22.476 million to
$130.085 million whereas the exports of meat and meat preparations increased by 0.10 percent,
from $133.575 million to $133.714 million and other food items by 65.95 percent, from
The only food product that witnessed negative growth in trade included fish and fish
preparations, the exports of which declined by 9.72 percent, from $166.702 million to $150.502
million.
Meanwhile, on year-on-year basis, the food exports from the country increased by 26.44 percent
from $407.079 million in November 2020 to $514.697 million in November 2021.
On month-on-month basis, the exports from the country witnessed positive growth of 24.61
percent in November when compared to the exports of $413.036 million in October 2021.
It is pertinent to mention here that the overall exports from the country witnessed an increase of
26.89 percent during the first five months of the current fiscal year (2021-22) as compared to the
corresponding months of last year.

0001 Rice News.docx

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