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Expedite paddy, rice procurement: FoodMinister
 Publish- June 10, 2020, 08:21 PM
 UNB NEWS - UNB NEWS
 Update- June 10, 2020, 09:22 PM
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Wednesday directed the officials to expedite the
procurement of paddy and rice to increase stocks at government warehouses.
At the same time, he asked to take strict action to cancel the illegal cards of the government
food-friendly programme. If necessary, the food-friendly programme card will be digitised, he
said.
He made the remarks while interacting with the Chittagong Division officials through a video
conference from the official residence of the minister on Minto Road.
Farmers are getting bumper yields and fair prices in this boro season. The speed of government
procurement of paddy should be increased, said Sadhan.
In addition, the quality of food grains should be checked and collected as per the instructions,
said the minister.

He also warned of strict action against anyone committing irregularities in buying paddy and
rice.
Mentioning the food-friendly programme, the minister said some allegations about the list of
beneficiaries under the programme have been found to be true. Therefore, a letter was sent to the
Deputy Commissioners and District Food Controllers of each district in the first week of March
to send a new list of the real poor and destitute after checking and sorting them.
He instructed to prepare the list by including names of the real poor and destitute. He also
directed to remove the previous tag officers and to prepare a new list by updating it.
The minister said the cards of the food-friendly programme will be digitised if necessary to curb
corruption.
In a video conference, the minister discussed the coronavirus situation in details in each district
under Chittagong division, current boro paddy harvesting and thrashing, and official collection of
paddy and rice.
http://www.unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/expedite-paddy-rice-procurement-food-
minister/52844
Amid labourshortage, over 8 fold rise in direct sowing
of rice in Punjab
Experts estimate that by the time sowing ends around 22 per cent to 26 per cent of the total
targeted area of paddy will be brought under DSR technique – a method that saves water
and is not labour intensive.
Written by Anju Agnihotri Chaba | Jalandhar | Published: June 10, 2020 1:29:24 pm
Farmer Jagdeep Singh (second from right) with the DSR machine at Sangrur‘s Kanoi village.
(Express photo)
The acute shortage of migrant labour to transplant paddy has helped Punjab achieve what the
state government has been unsuccessfully trying to do for over a decade. For the first time ever
this year, the area under ‗Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)‘ is set to be the highest ever from the
year the technology was introduced in the state in 2009-10. The increase in area under DSR,
even according to initial trends, is already 8.60 times higher than last year, and paddy sowing
will continue till the end of this month. Experts estimate that by the time sowing ends around 22
per cent to 26 per cent of the total targeted area of paddy will be brought under DSR technique –
a method that saves water and is not labour intensive.
While paddy transplantation using the traditional way – the puddle method – only begins from
June 10, DSR sowing can start around 2-3 weeks before. So, Punjab has already completed

paddy sowing with DSR on around 2 lakh hectares of the total targeted paddy area before its
traditional method transplantation even begins.
Even if the state combines DSR area of past five years then this year‘s area is higher. In the last
five years from 2015 to 2019 Punjab in total could bring less than 2 lakh hectares under DSR,
while this year alone it has already crossed the 2 lakh hectares mark till date with three weeks of
sowing left. For instance in 2018, the area under DSR was only 5,000 hectares and it was only
23,300 hectares in 2019. Compared to last year alone, the increase is 8.60 times.
Director, Punjab Agriculture Department, Dr Sutantra Airi told The Indian Express that they are
surprised that the farmers are ―running after DSR this year while earlier they used to run away
from it‖.
―Due to the migrant labour shortage and high rates demanded by the local labour around Rs
5,000 to 6,000 per acre, they are doing it. We have been educating them to use DSR on medium
to heavy soil only and telling them laser leveller is also must so that entire field gets equal
water,‖ he said, adding that already over 2 lakh hectares area has been covered under DSR and
there are expectations of covering around 6 lakh hectares under it this year. Punjab has targeted
to sow paddy on around 27-28 lakh hectares, including around 7 lakh under Basmati rice (fine
aromatic rice), this year.
Traditional method vs DSR
In normal transplanting, farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and
raised into young plants. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the
main field.
In DSR, there is no nursery preparation or transplantation. The paddy seeds are, instead, directly
drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine. The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) at

Ludhiana has developed ‗Lucky Seed Drill‘ which can sow seeds and simultaneously also spray
herbicides to control weed growth.
Punjab needs at least 6 lakh migrant labours to transplant paddy on 27-28 lakh hectares with
traditional method which is highly labour intensive. DSR requires neither nursery sowing nor
transplanting, which itself entails minimum labour requirement.
Also, in traditional method, plants are transplanted in 6-inches deep water and have to be
irrigated almost daily (if there are no rains) to ensure water depth of 4-5 cm, but in DSR, water is
replaced by herbicides.
The trend this year
Almost all districts of Punjab have shown a shift towards DSR according to data sourced from
the district agricultural offices across Punjab.
While Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda, Ropar and Pathankot districts which had not gone for DSR last
year at all, these districts this year have sown 4,500 hectares, 2000, 1100 and 100 hectares using
DSR, respectively.
Kapurthala till date has seen 275 times increase in DSR usage this year. From total 100 hectares
under DSR last year, this year it has gone up to 27,500 hectares till date.
In Gurdaspur, there has been 60-time rise in the area from 100 hectares last year to 6,000
hectares this year. Ludhiana has recorded 26 times increase in area under DSR.
In Sangrur there has been 44 times increase from 700 hectares last year to 29,000 hectares this
year till date.
The trend is reflected in Amritsar and Ferozepur too.
In Amritsar, there has been 16 times increase (from 500 hectares to 8020 hectares) and in
Ferozepur, it is a 25 times upward swing from 700 hectares last year to 12,000 hectares this year
so far.
In Mukatsar Sahib, where last year 12,900 hectares was under DSR, this year the district has
already completed sowing with DSR on 26,000 hectares (64,220 acres).
―We are expecting that our district will touch 50,000 to 55,000 hectares (1,23,500 to 1,35,850
acres) as our parmal rice sowing will be continue till June 15 and then basmati varieties like will
be sown with DSR,‖ said Chief Agriculture Officer, Mukatsar Sahib, Dr Jalour Singh, adding
that they had never expected such a huge jump in the area under DSR. The district has 475
machines for sowing rice directly.
In Jalandhar, where only 1,300 hectares was under DSR last year, this has increased to 12,000
hectares till date, said Dr Naresh Gulati, Agriculture officer, Jalandhar, adding that farmers, who
never wanted to go for this earlier, are not shying away this time from adopting DSR.
Barnala district has seen a 20 times increase in the DSR area. It has gone up from 1,000 hectares
last year to 20,000 hectares this year so far, said CAO Baldev Singh.
This year farmers have even gone the extra mile and modified their ‗Happy Seeders‘, used for
directly sowing wheat, for direct sowing of rice, said the Director Agriculture, Punjab.
―With DSR sowing, we are not even spending one-fourth of what the labourers are demanding
for transplanting and it needs around 30-40 per cent less water as it is not sown in the standing
water but only a wet field and needs first water after three weeks,‖ said farmer Jagdeep Singh

from Sangrur‘s Kanoi village, who has sown paddy with DSR on his entire farm, adding that in
his village majority farmers are going for DSR technique this year.
In Kanoi, farmers have sown around 30 per cent of the village‘s total of 1000 acres agricultural
land with DSR.
In Kheri and Ugranhan villages too farmers have sown paddy with DSR in a huge areas. Farmers
Gurpal Singh and Kuldeep Singh of Kheri village in the Sangrur district had never tried DSR
ever before, but this year they have tried it on 9 and 18 acres, respectively – a trend that is true
for many farmers in Punjab amid Covid-induced labour shortage.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/labour-shortage-8-fold-rise-in-direct-sowing-of-rice-in-punjab-
6452052/
Cristobal Causes a Scare But Leaves No Scars
By Kane Webb
LAKE CHARLES, LA -- The past few days had growers in the Gulf Coast region watching the
weather and wondering what conditions Tropical Storm Cristobal would bring as forecast models
had the storm tracking along the coastline.
Although never forecasted to become a major hurricane, you can never discount Mother Nature's
potential -- a storm that has earned a name can be scary. Making matters more intense for many
farmers was a consensus that this year's rice crop along the Gulf Coast is looking more
promising than it has in seasons past.
"With everything that has seemed to go wrong over the past few years, we feel like this year is
going our way," said Christian Richard who operates Richard Farms in Kaplan. "Everyone I've
visited with says the rice really looks good and is maturing quickly without the various issues
we've had to struggle through in previous few years."
Across Louisiana, growers mentioned experiencing minimal rain amounts with very little wind,
indicating no damage or lodging of maturing rice, which was a big concern early on as the storm
headed for landfall over last weekend.
"We are thankful as the effects were hardly noticeable," said Fred Zaunbrecher, of GF&P Farms
in Crowley. "Sure, we could have used more rain, but sometimes you get what you ask for: to
not feel the effects of a tropical storm at this stage of the season!"
Growers to the west in Texas were relieved as well, not that anyone wishes a storm on someone
else. According to crop consultant Glenn Crane, who works out of Houston, "the rice crop looks
scary good this year."

Cristobal did move north, dumping 2-3 inches of rain on farmers in the hardest-hit areas of
Arkansas, but fortunately there was little destruction. Meanwhile, farmers along the Gulf Coast
are looking ahead to the next 30 days and hope the only "scary" thing they face is a "scary good"
rice crop.
Rice Prices Spike to Highest Level Since 2011
Surging demand from coronavirus lockdowns and global
weather issues have dented rice availability
Consumer Spending Slid in April; Here's Why That Matters
Consumer Spending Slid in April; Here's Why That Matters
Consumer spending fell 13.6% in April, prompting further concerns about the impact of the
coronavirus pandemic on the economy. Here‘s why consumer spending is so important and how
it can signal if the country is heading toward a recession. Photo: Getty Images

Rice futures spiked to their highest level in nearly nine years after the global pandemic boosted
shoppers‘ demand for the grain.
One measure of prices has soared 47% in the last two weeks to touch its highest level since
November 2011, making rice one of the fastest-climbing major commodities in the recent market
rally. Front-month rough rice futures on the CME traded as high as 23.565 cents per
hundredweight Friday before giving up some of that gain in recent sessions. The front-month
contract closed at 17.57 cents per cwt...
TO READ THE FULL STORY
https://www.wsj.com/articles/rice-prices-spike-to-highest-level-since-2011-11591786800
PHilMechstarts farm machine distribution
By The Manila Times
June 11, 2020
The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech) has released
31 four-wheel tractors, 13 rice combine harvesters and two riding-type mechanical rice
transplanters to 36 farmers‘ cooperatives and associations (FCA) in Nueva Ecija, which forms

part of the first batch of farm machines worth P2 billion to be distributed under the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Component.
Left photo shows Agriculture Secretary William Dar delivering his message via teleconferencing during
the distribution of machines to farmersâ€™ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in Nueva Ecija at the
headquarters of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization in MuÃ±oz on
June 5, 2020. Right photo shows some of those farm machines. PHILMECH PHOTOS
PHilMech Executive Director Baldwin Jallorina Jr. said representatives from 141 FCAs in the
province joined the ceremony to release the initial batch of farm equipment at the agency‘s
headquarters in Muñoz.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/06/11/business/agribusiness/philmech-starts-farm-
machine-distribution/730911/
Undervaluedrice imports cost government P890
million–farmgroup
By Jasper Y. Arcalas
June 11, 2020
File photo: Workers unload tons of rice to be distributed to Quezon City barangays affected by the
COVID-19 lockdown. (NONOY LACZA)
THE Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) on Wednesday claimed that undervaluation of rice
imports continues with at least P890 million in lost tariff revenues from over 766,000 metric tons
of staple imported from January to April.
In a statement, the FFF alleged that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) ―continued to fail to check the
gross undervaluation of rice imports, which has resulted in huge shortfalls in tariff collections.‖
Citing BOC data, the FFF said tariff collections from January to April rice imports reached P4.8
billion, but noted that some shipments entered the country at lower freight on board (FOB) prices
than the Customs‘ own reference prices.
―Based on the FFF‘s latest analysis, the BoC failed to collect an additional P471 million in tariffs
during the first four months of 2020 due to the apparent undervaluation of FOB prices of
imports,‖ the group said.
―About one-third of the volume imported was undervalued by at least 10 percent and accounted
for 84 percent of the tariff shortfall,‖ the group added.
Citing BOC data, FFF said one shipment of 6,014 metric tons of rice with 5 percent brokens
arrived from Vietnam in April 2020 with a declared FOB value of $319.63 per MT, which was

30 percent lower than the Customs‘ $447 per MT reference price.
―BoC officials have maintained that they have to respect the declared FOB values of importers
for as long as documentary proof is submitted, even if the values fall below their reference
rates,‖ the FFF said.
―If this is the practice, what then is the purpose of the reference rates? What will now stop an
importer from conniving with the exporter to issue undervalued invoices or issue two separate
invoices to split the total cost of the imports?‖ the FFF added.
Furthermore, the FFF claimed that freight and insurance costs of the rice imports were also
―grossly‖ misdeclared, resulting in lost tariff collections of about P416 million.
―An analysis of the BoC data reveals that importers spent less than 2 centavos per kilo, or about
$0.30 per metric ton, to insure and ship rice from countries like Thailand and Vietnam all the
way to Manila,‖ it said.
―In comparison, internationally published rates peg regular freight and insurance at a minimum
of $33 per MT, or 110 times the value declared by importers. An estimated P416 million in tariff
collections were lost because of this anomaly,‖ it added.
The FFF proposed that the BOC adjust its reference prices ―to include internationally recognized
insurance and freight rates so that it can properly detect undervalued imports.‖
The FFF said it estimated that undervaluation in rice imports last year resulted in a tariff shortfall
of P1.9 billion.
―By not diligently enforcing its rules, the BoC did not only reduce the government‘s collection of
much-needed tariff revenues. More importantly, it deprived millions of small rice farmers of a

cumulative amount of almost P3 billion since the Rice Tariffication Law or RTL took effect in
March 2019,‖ it said.
The amount, he added, ―should have helped farmers cope with the ill effects of liberalized rice
imports and even Covid-19.‖
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Legislator seeks review of Rice Tariffication
Law after gov’t rice imports
June 10, 2020 | 8:23 pm
REUTERS
MAGSASAKA Partylist Representative Argel T. Cabatbat called for a review of Republic Act
No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) after the government resumed imports on its own
account by declaring an auction for 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice via government to
government (G2G) deals.
In a mobile phone message, Mr. Cabatbat said the plan to import rice by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine International
Trading Corp. (PITC), is a ―step back‖ from the original intent of the RTL.
―It disempowers Filipino farmers who deserve to be prioritized and protected because of the
impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),‖ Mr. Cabatbat said.
Mr. Cabatbat asked the DA to clarify why imports were resorted to despite the department‘s
assurance that there is no impending rice shortage.
―It is more expensive to import rice and it only adds to the burden of our rice farmers, instead of
helping them.‖ Mr. Cabatbat said.
On Monday, the PITC conducted an online auction for rice imports amounting to 300,000 MT,
with four countries showing interest.
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and India have posted bids to supply well-milled long-grain rice
with 25% brokens, for delivery to five ports.
Half or 150,000 MT must be shipped not later than July 14 while the other half is due to arrive
on or before August 14.
The national government, via the PITC, has allotted P7.45 billion for the G2G imports, while the
reference price was set at $497.62 per MT, equivalent to around P25,000.
Mr. Cabatbat said that the reference price indicates that the government is willing to buy rice at
double the domestic production cost.
―We have the current supply, and we can produce a metric ton of rice at P12,720,‖ Mr. Cabatbat
said.
―The amount that the DA is planning to spend for imported rice could uplift the rice industry
from the visible damage the RTL has visited upon hundreds of thousands of Filipino farmers

who found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy during the last planting season,‖ Mr. Cabatbat
said.
On May 12, the DA said that the 300,000 MT of rice will serve as a contingency supply during
the lean months.
―This is because the bulk of the rice supply will come from the harvest during the fourth quarter,
coupled with continued imports,‖ the DA said.
According to the DA‘s food supply outlook, rice supply at the end of 2020 is sufficient for 94
days.
G2G imports under emergency conditions are permitted under the RTL to ensure adequate
supply. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
Choiceof increasingrice-growing or keeping water
storage areas in Mekong Delta
SGGPThursday, June 11, 2020 15:02
Farmers in the Mekong Delta have started to harvest the summer-autumn rice crop. This year, farmers
enjoy a good harvest and high prices of rice.
Farmers harvest rice in the Mekong Delta (Photo: SGGP)
Vietnam‘s rice exports have shown positive signs when the Government allowed to resume rice exports
and the global demand for rice increased. The prices of Vietnamese rice also surged to the highest level in
the past eight years,opening up many export opportunities.
Mr. Dien Van Ut, a farmer in Phuong Binh Commune in Phung Hiep District in Hau Giang Province said

that right after he finished harvesting rice, traders bought the OM5451 rice variety at VND5,400 per
kilogram at the field, as high as the price of rice in the previous winter-spring rice crop. Currently,
farmers in Hau Giang Province have harvested nearly 5,000 hectares of summer-autumn rice with
productivity at nearly 6.5 tons per hectare.
Summer-autumn rice was bought at VND5,400-VND5,800 per kilogram at the field and dried paddy was
bought at VND6,100-VND7,100 per kilogram. At present, many traders are waiting to buy paddy from
farmers right after harvesting, said Mr. Tran Chi Hung, Director of the Department of Agriculture and
Rural Development of Hau Giang Province. In the summer-autumn rice crop, farmers grew rice on an
area of 1.5 million hectares.
The export price of Vietnamese rice in May this year is considered to be the highest in the past eight years
when hitting US$527 per ton up 21.4 percent compared to the same period last year. In June this year,the
export price of 5-percent broken rice reached $473-$477 per ton, lower than that of Thailand by $30 per
ton but higher than that of India by $100 per ton. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade
(MoIT), in the first six months of this year,rice exports of Vietnam might reach 3.7 million tons, much
higher than the amount of rice for export of 3 million tons. Currently, many countries in the world pay
great attention to food security amid the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The MoIT said that
Vietnam has a great opportunity to surpass Thailand in global rice exports this year with competitive
export prices and increasing rice exports after the export quota is removed.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is considering increasing rice
production to meet the increasing global demand for rice. According to the plan, the autumn-winter rice
crop this year,the Mekong Delta provinces will maintain the rice-growing area at 750,000 hectares.
However,the forecast said that the rice production of the world will possibly drop by 2.7 million tons and
the demand for rice will increase by 3.7 million tons. The ministry will closely watch the developments of
the market to adjust the rice-growing area of the autumn-winter rice crop to around 800,000 hectares if
possible. It will focus on determining the crop calendar, the flood areas,the crop structure, and suitable
technical solutions for the autumn-winter rice crop, said Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong of the MARD.
However,increasing the area of autumn-winter rice crop also makes farmers and scientists worry because
with this expansion, how the downstream areas of Ben Tre, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau
provinces will be affected during the dry season. Earlier, farmers in the Mekong Delta provinces merely
grew 200,000-300,000 hectares of autumn-winter rice crop. The regions of Long Quyen Quadrangle and
Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) are usually not used to grow the autumn-winter rice crop and left to be
flooded by rains and floods. These two regions become two water reservoirs with a total area of about 1.2
million hectares to regulate water for the Mekong Delta. They keep water during the rainy and flood
season then gradually release water to Tien and Hau rivers to help to reduce saltwater intrusion in the dry
season. Therefore,farmers in the downstream area of the Mekong Delta, and scientists said that the
MARD should consider and evaluate the pros and cons when increasing the area of autumn-winter rice
crop. The impacts of saltwater intrusion and drought were extremely serious, damaging fruit trees,
vegetables, and rice, causing a widespread shortage of fresh water in the coastalarea.
Many people think that the rice-growing area of the autumn-winter rice crop should only be at 300,000-
500,000 hectares and farmers should concentrate on growing high-quality rice varieties. Because in recent

years,the ratio of fragrant, specialty, and high-quality rice of Vietnam accounted for more than 80 percent
of the total export amount. Many institutes, universities, and Vietnamese rice exporting enterprises
currently are focusing on researching and creating high-quality rice varieties following the market
demand. Rice exports of Vietnam are facing a great opportunity to enter the EU market when the EU-
Vietnam Free Trade Agreement becomes effective. Although the export quota to this market is merely
around 80,000 tons of rice, this is considered as a segment of high-quality rice. Some Vietnamese
enterprises have prepared the raw material areas in the past few years to meet the strict requirements of
this market, along with strict production processes. This is an important foundation for Vietnamese
enterprises to diversify the segments of fragrant and high-quality rice to choosy markets.
https://sggpnews.org.vn/business/choice-of-increasing-ricegrowing-or-keeping-water-storage-areas-in-
mekong-delta-87124.html
A Crusaderfor Revivalof Jammu Basmati-
ChoudharyDev Raj
By Northlines -
June 10, 2020
The name of Choudhary Dev Raj of village Baspur Bangla of tehsil Ranbir Singh Pura (R.S.
Pura), stands out as a doyen amongst the progressive farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. Till his
last breath, Choudhury Dev Raj championed the cause of his professional fraternity – the farmers
and remained stuck to the roots in knowledge based farming. His ever-indomitable spirit for
active living to improve the self, the people and the country reflected the other aspect of the
cherished values of awakened persons to lay down their lives for honour and integrity of the
country.
The speeches of Ch. Dev Raj commanded respect amongst listeners always as these were always
stoked with anecdotes from rural culture of Jammu. The authorities would never ignore his
unique personality and ever-smiling face. He remained draped in characteristically white attire
graced with white short turban which captivated and impressed all. Even when annoyed, Ch. Dev
Raj would make his point with dignity, grace and conviction.
Choudhary Dev Raj, the founder President of R.S. Pura Basmati Rice Growers Association
(RBGA), was a bitter critique of the agricultural policies of earlier state governments. Up to the
year 2004 there was a ban on the export of ‗traditional Basmati rice of R.S.Pura‘. He was
convinced that the ban had adversely impacted economic prosperity of farmers of Jammu, Samba
and Kathua districts, particularly of those living in R.S. Pura area and along the international
border with Pakistan. Basmati rice, the main source of livelihood didn‘t fetch these farmers the
genuine returns because of restrictions in marketing. ―In fact, the profitability and survival of the
profession, which dealt with the prized crop of Jammu, was at stake‖ he had confessed once.

The ban was lifted in the year 2004 by the State government after a long struggle by the farmers,
but soon it was re-imposed in the year 2006 on the plea of controlling its price in the State. Ch.
Dev Raj therefore sensed a nexus which had put Basmati growers of Jammu at the mercy of the
traders and rice-mill owners. Their upper hand in deciding the procurement price of Basmati rice
was disadvantageous to the growers and therefore, the RBGA intensified its struggle to break
this alleged nexus.
Meanwhile, Ch. Dev Raj had developed the ability to rightly feel the pulse of local farmers as
well as the government. He never failed to remind that Basmati rice was cultivated by more than
seventy thousand to one lakh farming families in three districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua
and it was more because of the characteristic quality (aroma) and sentiments of farmers attached
with the traditional rice variety ‗Basmati – 370‘ rather than the remunerations to growers. He
would never fail to make a mention of the difficult conditions under which the Basmati growers
work. He would press the point that more than 90 per cent of the Basmati growers had land along
the 198-km long International Border which traversed through Jammu, Samba and Kathua
districts and remained vulnerable to the enemy‘s fire.

Quite recently he had explained that total area under Basmati rice had increased consistently
from around 18.50 thousand hectares in the year 1997-98 to about 31.99 thousand hectares in
2007-08 with corresponding production level increase from 37.25 thousand tons to around 86.79
thousand metric tons, but according to Ch. Dev Raj it was to boost the economy of scale and
quantum of trade. The latest estimated area under different basmati varieties like Basmati – 370,
Sugandha, Sanwal, Ranbir basmati, RR-564, Pusa no.1 and Pusa basmati 1121 was somewhere
between 50,000 to 62000 hectares and for this increase he shared credit with the extension efforts
of SKUAST-J and Agriculture Directorate Jammu too.
Ch. Dev Raj never forgot to appreciate the efforts of Basmati Export Development Foundation
(BEDF), Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)
and All India Rice Exporters‘ Association (AIREA) who had made the Basmati rice growers
and related stake-holders aware about the quality standards for exportable Basmati rice as well as
about its production and post harvest technology in collaboration with the RBGA, SKUAST
Jammu, and the State Agriculture Department.
Credit goes to Ch. Dev Raj, RBGA and other prominent farmers of the times who had played a
catalytic role in the chain of events preceding approval to the exportability of Basmati – 370
variety of Jammu rice outside the country by Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India during the
year 2010-11. On their request the then State government had proposed to relax the norms
regarding permissible length of uncooked Basmati rice to 6.61 mm against the 7 mm that was
specified earlier.
Although the ban on export of basmati rice was finally lifted during the year 2009-10, but the
septuagenarian Dev Raj Choudhary wasn‘t fully satisfied with the efforts of successive
governments to promote Basmati – 370 as a national and international brand. He wanted
immediate formulation and implementation of an appropriate market intervention scheme to
prevent exploitation of Basmati cultivators at the hands of monopolistic millers. His argument
was that an estimated 30,000 metric tones of Basmati rice was procured by outside buyers, but in
the absence of government intervention, these traders continued to exercise their sole
competence to decide the price of the ‗prized produce of Jammu farmers‘. Toeing the line of Ch.
Dev Raj, many other prominent farmers have joined the clamour for market intervention by the
government on the pattern announced for apples of Kashmir during the year 2019.
Choudhary Dev Raj as President of the RBGA played a very active role during the year 2014-15
when heavy rains and flash floods had extensively damaged wheat as well as rice crops. He
complemented the voice of affected farmers of Pargwal, Marh, Suchetgarh, R.S. Pura, Arnia,
Vijaypur and Hiranagar blocks at various forums and demanded compensation since Basmati
crop had suffered an estimated 30% to 75% loss due to flash floods. He had vigorously raised the
issue of loss to human and animal life including damage to about 75% tube wells.
Simultaneously, he had brought to the attention of the State and Central governments the

inability of farmers to look after their crops along the international border due to floods and
heavy Pakistani shelling.
The continued persuasion by RBGA headed by Ch. Dev Raj led to the formulation and
implementation of Suchetgarh Basmati Rice Cluster Project (Organic) and RS Pura Basmati Rice
Cluster Project by Department of Agriculture Jammu in 2014 in consultation with SKUAST-J.
Under these Projects, assistance is being provided to respective farmers for purchase and
establishment of mini-rice shellers, improved seeds, latest machinery, bio-fertilizers, bio-
pesticides and vermi-composting units etc. Formation of farmer producer organizations (FPO),
brand popularization and proper marketing of the organic produce of traditional Basmati are the
main aims of the Projects to enable higher returns to farmers with reduced chain of middlemen.
A recent publication by SKUAST Jammu has duly acknowledged the contribution of Choudhary
Dev Raj in agriculture by noting, ―due to the farmer organizations, competency could see among
the farmers. RBGA, Sarpanch Association Block R.S Pura and Baba Deep Singh Kissan Bhalai
Kendra, R.S. Pura had taken up the farmers ‘ issues and problems to the higher authorities,
scientists and the related officials to find out immediate solutions.‖
Choudhary Dev Raj‘s latest wish was for enforcement of a complete ban on conversion of
agricultural land for commercial and construction purposes to save Basmati growing areas. On
17th of May, 2020, Ch. Dev Raj while expressing his concern regarding relief package for
farmers announced by the Union Government to mitigate the impact of Covid – 19, had told to a
newspaper of eminence, ―There is no mention of basmati growers of J&K in this package. This is
quite unfortunate. Farmers were hoping some drastic measures to take them out of the prevailing
losses‖.
Though only in his early seventies, Choudhary Dev Raj, the founder President, R,S. Pura
Basmati Rice Growers Association was having an ailing kidney compounded with a fracture in
the leg. He passed away on June the 1st 2020, leaving a big void in the farming sector.
Pray that God rest the noble soul in peace in the Heaven.https://www.thenorthlines.com/a-
crusader-for-revival-of-jammu-basmati-choudhary-dev-raj/
China grows sea rice on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
CGTN
Chinese scientists have grown saline-alkali tolerant rice on a farm at an altitude of 2,800 meters
in northwest China's Qinghai Province. This is the first trial of "sea rice-planting" on the
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

For thousands of years, rice has been planted in locations with high temperatures, humidity, and
short days, but this farm on the plateau's Qaidam Basin, specifically, has a large area of saline-
alkali land that makes it difficult for crops to grow. It is also frequently affected by drought, hail,
frost, and natural disasters.
A team led by the "father of hybrid rice" Yuan Longping has worked on the research to yield
more rice in saline-alkali environments.
Pastures and villages under the mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. /VCG
Last week, researchers from the Qingdao Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Research and Development
Center moved strains of cold- and alkali-resistant rice they cultivated from a greenhouse to the
saline-alkali soil on the plateau for trial planting.
They plan to plant 6.67 hectares during the trial and use manual and mechanical methods to
conduct observation and provide samples for future large-scale planting, said the center engineer
Zhang Guodong.
Since 2019, the center has promoted sea rice in seven major saline-alkaline areas in China and
the United Arab Emirates.
According to researchers, new experimental centers and planting bases will be established in
Qinghai in order to explore new ways for plateau agricultural production.
(Cover image via VCG)
(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-06-10/China-grows-sea-rice-on-Qinghai-Tibet-Plateau-
RcB1uKxCQU/index.html
Agriculture and livestock:Are they victims or
perpetrators of climate change?
12:00 AM, June 11, 2020 / LAST MODIFIED:01:54 AM, June 11, 2020
Ruminants, manure and rice cultivation account for almost 25 percent of anthropogenic methane
emissions.
Quamrul Haider
Though much of the world is focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels as a way to fight
climate change, there are other often overlooked contributors to the conundrum resulting from
climate change. Two of them are agriculture and livestock. Sure, they provide us with the food
we eat every day. But cumulatively, they are also the second largest contributor to greenhouse
gas emissions after fossil fuels.
While the majority of global warming activities give off carbon dioxide, the agricultural sector
primarily releases methane, which is a greenhouse gas 28 times as potent as carbon dioxide over
a 100-year period. The source is mainly rice that is grown on flooded fields with depleted
dissolved oxygen. In the absence of oxygen, organic matter in the soil decomposes and produces

methane that escapes into the atmosphere. Rising temperatures would cause rice cultivation to
release even more methane.
Another source of methane is ruminants, particularly cows and goats. As part of their digestion
cycle, they expel intestinal gases, mostly methane, via belches. Methane can also escape from
stored manure and organic waste in landfills. If manure is stored as a liquid or slurry in ponds,
tanks or pits, it decomposes anaerobically (in the absence of air) and emits a prodigious amount
of methane. However, when handled as a solid or deposited naturally on grassland, manure
decomposes aerobically and creates negligible methane emissions. Ruminants, manure and rice
cultivation account for almost 25 percent of anthropogenic methane emissions.
One of the methods of reducing methane emissions from rice fields, as suggested by scientists at
the World Resources Institute, is to plant rice in a raised bed and flood only the furrows. This
method has the potential to cut methane emissions in half.
Controlling methane emissions from ruminants is more difficult than trimming or regulating
methane emissions from fossil fuels. A large number of mitigation options—namely, diet
manipulation, vaccines, chemical additives and genetic selection—have been proposed. They
have different efficiencies in lowering production of intestinal methane.
Methane emissions from manure depend on temperature and storage duration. Results from
typical Canadian farms indicate that use of underground manure storage tanks, maintained at
lower temperatures, lessens methane emissions. Additionally, farmers found that if they clean the
tanks regularly, it took longer for methane-producing organisms to grow back. Consequently,
methane emissions decrease substantially.
As for agriculture, according to a report of the United Nations published last year, about 50
percent of the Earth's cultivable land is dedicated to growing crops for humans and roughly 30
percent is used to grow grain for livestock. Given how much land it takes to grow food to feed
livestock, a very vocal segment of environmentalists insist that "meat is heat" and encourage
consumers to go vegan.
Moreover, in line with the projected population growth, global demand for food is expected to
grow by up to 70 percent in the coming decades. This substantial increase in demand would
require clearing more space for agriculture and cattle grazing, so that the per capita threshold of
land required for a nation to be self-sufficient in food production could be maintained. Vast
swaths of the Amazon Rainforest, along with lands and forests in other places, are already being
cleared for growing crops and grazing cattle. If current trends continue, most of our planet's
remaining land and forests would need to be cleared to feed the world.
Deforestation and land degradation indirectly contribute to the negative impacts of atmospheric
carbon dioxide. One of the main reasons for this is because forests are natural carbon sinks. They
absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converts it into oxygen that we breathe in.
Hence, by cutting down big areas of forest without replacing the trees that are removed, we are
causing an inadvertent change in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Several studies indicate that planting more than two billion acres of trees could remove two-
thirds of all the carbon dioxide that human activity has pumped into the atmosphere since the
Industrial Revolution. Trees also recharge the water table and create microclimates that increase

local rainfall. In addition, deforestation puts biodiversity at risk, further undermining nature's
ability to cope with the impacts of climate, for example absorbing heavy rainfall.
Clearly, agriculture in general, and livestock in particular, contribute considerably to climate
change. Nevertheless, climate change is also a major threat to the sustainability of livestock
globally. An increase in air temperature as a result of global warming directly affects milk and
meat production, reproductive efficiency and health of the animals. Also, excessive heat would
reduce their body size and fat thickness.
Agriculture is also highly vulnerable to climate change. It is affecting food security by raising the
risks to food supply due to heat waves, drought, flood, storms, soil depletion and desertification.
Over the coming dozen years or so, farmers in developing countries, especially in South and
Southeast Asia, will be the ones to bear the brunt of global warming, as per a recent report of the
Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN.
It could, therefore, be said that agriculture and livestock farming are caught in a vicious cycle
that makes them both victims and perpetrators of the harmful effects of climate change. Most of
the times when agriculture perpetrates its crimes, it is not even contributing to feeding the ever-
increasing world population. Instead, a good portion of the agricultural products are consumed
by livestock—mostly bovines—which demonstrates this paradox.
How do we solve this complex problem? The solution obviously requires a coherent and
integrated approach to climate change, energy usage and food security. Faced with global
warming, competition for scarce resources, and inaction by world leaders, we, the people, have
to transform the entire global food system and make it much more resource-efficient while
continuously curbing its environmental impacts, including its greenhouse-gas emissions.
We also have to increase yields while curtailing dependence on agrochemicals. Besides, we
should minimise food waste, cut down consumption of resource-intensive and greenhouse gas-
producing foods, notably meat, and switch to climate-friendly vegetables, such as the
nutritionally rich seaweed kelp. Farming kelp is beneficial for the ocean.
Furthermore, employing sustainable practices, like organic agriculture, has enormous potential to
help in the fight against global warming, whereas maintaining the status quo with widespread
industrial agricultural practices will continue to be terribly detrimental to the climate. In short,
making agriculture and livestock industries and all associated activities sustainable is the answer
to win the battle against global warming, as well as accelerate the transition to a healthier and
more just society.
https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/agriculture-and-livestock-are-they-victims-or-perpetrators-
climate-change-1912177
Dreamingof the next big science breakthrough
11 Jun 2020, 7 a.m.
Cropping News
Hediyeh Tahghighi at work in the CCDM labs. Photo by CCDM.

A LOT of people have to move for their dream job, but Hediyeh Tahghighi's relocation from the
most densely populated city in Iran to one of the most isolated cities in the world - all so she
could pursue a career in agriculture - is up there with the most dedicated.
From an early age, Ms Tahghighik new plant science was what she
wanted to do and a fascination with how the global population is fed
and the science behind it led her to Australia.
She moved from her family home in the centre of Rashin, northern Iran
to a much quieter life some 10,000 kilometres away in Perth and landed
a job as a research assistant at the Centre for Crop and Disease
Management (CCDM).
Ms Tahghighi said she was fascinated with plant genetics and DNA in
high school.
"I loved the mystery of it all and the feeling of discovery that science
offers, I always wanted to be a part of that sense of discovery," Ms
Tahghighi said.
She began her agricultural journey working at the Rice Research
Institute of Iran for two years before moving to Australia to complete a
Masters in Agricultural Science.
After winning a masters by coursework scholarship from the Australian
Wool Education Trust, she started working and volunteering at
agriculture and plant research companies, before landing the job at
CCDM.
Her role is in the centre's canola and pulse diseases research team and she is working on
screening lentil crosses to identify new sources of resistance against the pathogen A.lentis, as
well as working with A.rabiei, a pathogen of chickpeas.
Ms Tahghighi said in research, every day was a new challenge and without challenges life would
be boring
"The work we're doing at the CCDM is all about sustainably reducing the impact of crop
diseases and helping to make farm businesses and industry more resilient," she said.
"Agriculture plays such an important role and so I hope that every little bit I do in the lab can go
on to have a positive impact on food production and supply on a global scale."
CCDM's canola and pulse diseases research team leader Lars Kamphuis said pulse crops had the
potential to be an asset to more Australian farmers, but like most crops, disease could be an
issue.
"A key research goal at the CCDM is to build confidence in the uptake of pulses into cropping
rotations by protecting pulse crops from destructive fungal diseases," Dr Kamphuis said.
"We are working collaboratively at a global and national scale to help develop high-yielding,
disease resistant pulse varieties and improve crop management strategies to increase
profitability."

Hediyeh Tahghighi plans lentils for a CCDM trial. Photo by
CCDM
The lentil and chickpea ascochyta projects are aimed at
working towards a better understanding of pathogen
populations and the factors that determine virulence and
aggressiveness in ascochyta blight-causing species.
The project team is also looking at the genetics of lentil and
chickpea to try to find and characterise, new sources of
disease resistance to use in plant breeding programs.
Ms Tahghighi is the youngest of four children and while one
of her sisters lives and works in WA, she misses her two
other siblings and parents who are still in Iran.
"It was a big decision to move to WA but one I am so
grateful to have made," she said.
"My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams
and that's exactly what I'm getting to do every single day."
CCDM director Mark Gibberd said the enthusiasm and
passion of researchers such as Ms Tahghighi was helping
drive the centre towards its end goal.
"The science behind crop diseases is challenging and
complex but it is also increasingly important - we are
working to achieve research outcomes with real on-the-
ground impact for the Australian grains industry," professor
Gibberd said.
"Not a day goes by I am not reminded of the determination and commitment poured into our
work by our researchers.
"Watching our young scientists develop and thrive under the guidance of some of the best crop
disease researchers in Australia and produce results valuable to the grains industry, is among the
many rewards of our research."
While she is content to continue developing her research skills for now, Ms Tahghighi doesn't
hold back when it comes to her hopes for the future.
"I believe that there are still many new and exciting discoveries waiting to be found, hidden
within nature, the kind that could be of great benefit to humankind and the environment,'' she
said.
"I would like to be a part of the next big discovery, the kind of scientist who creates history," she
said.
https://www.farmweekly.com.au/story/6787267/dreaming-of-the-next-big-science-breakthrough/

Governmentpaddy procurementfails:Jessorepaddy
farmers rush to millers for higher prices and no extra
hassle
Tauhid-Uz-Zaman, Jessore
Published at 07:01 pm June 10th, 2020
A farmer receives cash after selling his paddy to a local miller at Khajura Bazar in Bagherpara
upazila of Jessore on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Dhaka Tribune
The demand for paddy is high at the local markets this year and it is expected to remain
unchanged till August-September, which is why the price is also unlikely to fall
The government‘s paddy procurement project, which began almost a month ago, is failing to
acquire paddy from farmers in Jessore.
While government food officials are offering prices lower than the market price, they are also
making paddy procurement a troublesome process for farmers.
While talking to farmers who came to sell paddy at a local market yesterday, this correspondent
learned about some of the difficulties faced by farmers when selling their paddy to government
agents.
According to farmers, government food officials often reject paddy, saying it contained too much
moisture, whereas the millers happily accepted it.

Besides, even after thoroughly cleaning the paddy before handing it over to government agents,
which is not necessary when selling paddy to millers, the farmers still hear the complaint that the
produce is not clean enough.
And last but not least, government agents always measure per maund of paddy at 43-44 kg (3-4
kg extra).
Meanwhile, District Food Officer Liakat Ali said: ―We are calling farmers according to the list,
only to find that none of them are willing to sell their paddy at the government-set price as they
are getting higher prices at the local markets.‖
He also confirmed that food officials had been instructed to collect perfectly cleaned paddy with
the moisture level below 14%.
Delwar Hossain, a miller at Khajura Bazar, said: ―The demand for paddy is high at the local
markets this year. Farmers are easily getting Tk1,000 per maund for their paddy.‖
The demand is expected to remain unchanged till August-September, which is why the price is
also unlikely to fall, he added.
According to the district agriculture office, farmers in the district have cultivated paddy on
154,615 hectares, producing almost 974,000 tons of paddy due to favourable weather conditions
this year.
Farmer Abdus Samad, of Johurpur in Bagherpara upazila, said that he had cultivated paddy on a
35-bigha land this year. ―I reaped 700 maunds of paddy and have already sold it off at Tk1,070
per maund.‖
Farmer Hashem Ali, of Khajura in the same upazila, said he had harvested 200 maunds of paddy
this year. ―I am very happy as this year‘s market price for paddy is much higher than last year.
Farmers will survive if prices are like this every year.‖
Farmer Ataur Rahman, of Hashimpur in Sadar upazila, said that he had cultivated paddy on a 12-
bigha land. ―This year, I got Tk1,150 per maund for my Basmati rice, whereas in the last 3-4
years I couldn‘t get anything near this price. I am satisfied with this year‘s price. I think it‘s fair.‖
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2020/06/10/government-paddy-procurement-
fail-jessore-paddy-farmers-rush-to-millers-for-higher-prices-and-no-extra-hassle
UC Cooperative Extension monitoring for rice-
eating pest
 By Jake Abbott jabbott@appealdemocrat.com
 Jun 10, 2020
As pest populations are expected to increase soon, the University of California Cooperative
Extension is monitoring the presence of rice-eating insects called armyworms throughout the
north state.
Luis Espino, a rice farming systems advisor for UCCE, said the most recent numbers were low
but are expected to climb in the next few weeks.

Larval armyworms grow from caterpillars into moths. The insects are considered agricultural
pests because they can defoliate rice fields, and the bigger they get the more they eat. Espino said
in severe cases, armyworms could eat all of a field‘s foliage down to water level. While the rice
crop can recover, the pest‘s presence can lead to yield reduction.
―The defoliation happens really quickly,‖ Espino said. ―I‘ve heard numerous stories where
growers were used to some defoliation and would go on vacation, and after the weekend they‘d
come back and see full defoliation.‖
The region had an outbreak of armyworms in 2015. To help control pest populations, the
industry turned to an insecticide called Intrepid that has worked well since, Espino said.
The biggest problem areas in the north state where yield reduction has occurred have been in
Butte, Glenn and Sutter counties. Espino and his team set traps at 15 locations across the valley
to monitor pest populations weekly. The pheromone traps are small buckets that attract male
moths. They take the information collected from the traps and notify farmers on whether or not
they should begin examining their own fields for the presence of armyworms.
―We usually start to see numbers increase around mid-June and peak in late June or early July,‖
Espino said. ―Right now, numbers are very low but they will come up. Over the years, we‘ve
learned that once we see the moth population peak, we see a peak of the worm population a week
later. Once we start seeing those go up, we begin letting growers know to check their fields.‖
Both Yuba and Sutter counties have one monitoring site each. Espino‘s team will visit each site
once a week and count the number of moths in each trap. They divide that number with the
number of days since the last check to determine the number of true armyworm moths per night.
On June 1, Colusa County had 0.1 armyworm moths per night at two monitored locations located
at Gibson and Marengo Roads and Maxwell and Four Mile Roads. Another monitoring site
located at State Route 45 at White Road had 2.1 armyworms per night. Espino said a high
number would be over 30, and the biggest peaks he‘s seen are as high as 80-90 moths per night.
―We will continue to monitor and update growers. We also have some fields where we take
samples to assess how larva are growing, and we will have some trials for insecticide products to
see if we can get more options for control,‖ Espino said. ―When talking about pest management,
we want people to make sure you don‘t put a pesticide down if you don‘t have to, and our
monitoring helps with that.‖
To view the latest numbers, visit http://rice.ucanr.edu/armyworm_traps/.
https://www.appeal-democrat.com/colusa_sun_herald/uc-cooperative-extension-monitoring-for-rice-
eating-pest/article_f488b922-aa88-11ea-a8ef-eb93f5e9fecb.html
Global market prices for rice recede from peak,
but some remain above pre-pandemiclevels
 By Ryan McGeeney, U of A System Division of Agriculture

As several rice-exporting countries around the world begin to ease COVID-related export and other trade
restrictions, global prices have become more competitive, falling from their peak earlier in May. (Division of
Agriculture photo.)
As several rice-exporting countries around the world begin to ease COVID-related export and
other trade restrictions, global prices have become more competitive, falling from their peak
earlier in May, according to an economic impact report from the University of Arkansas System
Division of Agriculture.
Alvaro Durand-Morat, research assistant professor for the Division of Agriculture and co-author
of the report, said that while prices in the United States remain higher than pre-pandemic levels,
global trade and competition have brought international prices to heel.
Durand-Morat said that many key rice-exporting countries, including Myanmar and Cambodia
among others, are beginning to resurface after several months of import restrictions designed to
weather the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
―As the COVID situation evolves, some countries have done quite well, and they‘re relaxing
those export restrictions, and that‘s easing prices,‖ he said.
―Prices in the United States have been driven by short supply more than anything else,‖ Durand-
Morat said. ―But in India and Thailand, for example, they‘ve gone back to pre-COVID-19 levels.
In Vietnam, they remain about $100 above pre-COVID prices. Overall, prices have become
much more competitive after the peak a few weeks ago.‖
India, the world‘s largest rice exporter, continues to struggle with the spread of the virus to a
large degree, causing delays throughout its supply chain.
―While the country has the lowest, most competitive price right now, they‘re by no means back
to full activity on the export side of things,‖ Durand-Morat said. ―They still have stay-at-home
orders, and that‘s delaying shipments.‖
There is no way of knowing when the global rice market will truly return to pre-COVID levels of
efficiency, he said.
―Who knows where this pandemic will go?‖ he said. ―Some countries, such as Vietnam, have
done a very good job, domestically speaking, in terms of controlling the pandemic. So, I‘d
expect them to be back to normal sooner, rather than later. India‘s outlook, on the other hand, is
not very optimistic. It‘s very hard for them to maintain social distance, and their cases are
increasing. They have plenty of rice to export, but if the pandemic is not under control, we could
expect their export capacity to suffer and put pressure on the global rice market.‖
Durand-Morat was one of four authors who contributed to the economic impact update report.
The Division of Agriculture has continued to publish economic analysis and other reports
throughout the pandemic, all of which can be found at https://bit.ly/AR-Ag-Eco-Impacts2020.
Impact on U.S. rice
Given the current stage in the U.S. agricultural planting cycle, it‘s unclear what opportunities the
current situation may present for American producers in 2020.
―With planting decisions, we know that for the last two months, all the economic factors favor
rice,‖ Durand-Morat said. ―When everything‘s said and done, we will likely see an increase in
rice acres.

―Is this an opportunity for US agriculture? I think if we had our choice, no one would have
chosen this situation,‖ he said. ―It continues to be a highly risky environment for agriculture, and
more so for cotton and corn; less so for soybean and rice.‖
https://www.hpj.com/crops/global-market-prices-for-rice-recede-from-peak-but-some-remain-above-pre-
pandemic-levels/article_3a499e2e-ab22-11ea-a6cb-c3552a6528c3.html
GIEWS Country Brief: Bangladesh 10-June-2020
Source
 FAO
Posted
10 Jun 2020
Originally published
10 Jun 2020
Origin
View original
Attachments
 Download report(PDF | 359.02 KB)
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
 Cyclone Amphan severely affected agricultural sector in
southwestern parts of country
 Output of 2020 ―Boro‖ paddy crop estimated at average level
 Cereal import requirements in 2020/21 forecast close to five-year
average
 Prices of rice at high levels in May
 Food insecurity concerns exist for households affected by Cyclone Amphan. High levels of
food insecurity persist for Rohingya refugees in Cox‘s Bazar District
Cyclone Amphan severely affected agricultural sector in southwestern parts of country
Tropical Cyclone Amphan hit the southwestern parts of Bangladesh on 20 May 2020, causing
devastation, loss of lives and severe damage to the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The
Khulna and Borishal divisions were the most affected. Although assessments are still ongoing,
preliminary official estimates indicate that about 265 000 hectares of cropped land, including

rice, vegetables, jute, sesame, mangoes and maize, have been adversely affected. Severe
losses of livestock, poultry and fisheries in the most affected areas were also reported.
https://reliefweb.int/report/bangladesh/giews-country-brief-bangladesh-10-june-2020
Coronaviruslockdown:Shortage of labourleads to 8-
fold increase in directsowing of rice in Punjab
Last Updated : Jun 10, 2020 09:32 PM IST | Source: Moneycontrol.com
Punjab requires at least 6 lakh labourers to transplant paddy on 27-28
lakh hectares of farm land.
Moneycontrol News @moneycontrolcom
Shortage of migrant labourers has helped Punjab increase the area under ‗Direct
Seeding of Rice (DSR)‘. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and resultant nationwide
lockdown, a large number of migrant workers have returned to the native states
causing a shortage of farm labour.
The increase in area under DSR is 8.60 times higher than last year, the Indian Express
has reported.
According to estimates, by the time sowing ends, around 22 to 26 percent of the total
targeted area of paddy will be brought under the DSR technique, which saves water
and is less labour intensive.
Paddy transplantation using the traditional way, the puddle method, begins from June
10. However, DSR sowing can start around 2-3 weeks before.
In the normal transplanting method, farmers have to prepare nurseries where the
paddy seeds are first sown. 25-35 days later, these seedlings are uprooted and
replanted in the main field.
However, while using the DSR technique, nursery preparation or transplantation is not
needed, and paddy seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered
machine. This also eliminates the need for manual labour. Punjab requires at least 6
lakh labourers to transplant paddy on 27-28 lakh hectares of farm land.
Till date, Punjab has already completed paddy sowing via DSR on around 2 lakh
hectares of the total targeted paddy area, even before the traditional method of
transplantation begins. In 2018, the area under DSR was 5,000 hectares, while it
increased to 23,300 hectares in 2019. Compared to last year alone, the increase is 8.60
times.

Director of Punjab Agriculture Department, Sutantar Kumar Airi said that they are
surprised that the farmers are ―chasing DSR this year, when earlier they used to run
away from it‖.
―Due to the shortage of labour, more and more farmers are opting for the DSR
technique," Airi said, adding that over 2 lakh hectares area has already been covered
under DSR.
We expect to cover around 6 lakh hectares under DSR this year, he added.
Brazil expectsrecordgrain
outputin2020
June 10, 2020
By NNN
Brazil expects to see a record grain output
of 245.9 million tons this year, or 1.8
percent more than the previous year‘s
241.5 million tons, the state-run Brazilian
Institute of Geography and Statistics
(IBGE) said Tuesday.
As one of the world‗s leading grain
producers, Brazil planted 64.6 million
hectares of land this year, 2.1 percent
more than last year.
Rice, corn and soybean, the country‘s
three top agricultural products, account for 92.2 percent of 2020‘s projected output and 87.3
percent of the land cultivated.
Also, Egypt agricultural exports jump to 3.22 mln tons in 5 months.
Soybean, Brazil‘s number one agricultural product and leading agricultural export, is estimated
to yield a record 119.4 million tons in 2020, followed by corn with 96.7 million tons, and rice
with 10.8 million tons.
Other bumper crops expected this year include coffee, with a yield of 3.4 million tons or 14.7
percent more than last year, and almonds, with 151,200 tons or 8.5 percent more than last year.
East Timor rice exports ready to roll
Hin Pisei | Publication date 10 June 2020 | 22:17 ICT

East Timor will soon begin importing Cambodian rice for the first time. YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM
Cambodia is prepared to export 30,000 tonnes of milled rice to East Timor soon, which will open
a promising new market for the rice sector.
At an April 17 meeting with the Green Trade Company, under the Ministry of Commerce, and
the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), Ambassador of East Timor to Cambodia Ermenegildo
‗Kupa‘ Lopes proposed a plan for the Kingdom to start exporting rice to East Timor.
At a meeting with Lopes on Tuesday, Minister of Commerce Pan Sorasak said Cambodia was
now ready to start the project.
He said: ―Cambodia has already prepared 30,000 tonnes of rice for export to East Timor and has
asked it for feedback.‖
He also urged East Timor‘s private sector to invest in a rice mill in the Kingdom.
Lopes said East Timor is intent on importing rice from Cambodia and added that East Timor
could export crops to the Kingdom as well.
He also mentioned that his country could provide 3,000 fuel sector jobs to Cambodians.
CRF president Song Saran told The Post on Wednesday that Cambodia has enough white rice
stockpiled to meet East Timor‘s demand.
He said: ―With the efforts of the Cambodian government, we hope that East Timor will become a
new strong market for Cambodian rice exporters.‖
He added that East Timor has never bought rice from Cambodia and historically relied on
Vietnam to satisfy its demand.
CRF board chairman Hun Lak told The Post in April that East Timor had first offered to buy rice
from Cambodia to prevent a food shortage due to Covid-19. The country has yet to specify an
amount.
Lak said the government had requested East Timor to send a letter to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and International Cooperation outlining the specifications of their order.
At a meeting with Lopes on May 27, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Cambodia wants East Timor
to set up a representative office for its rice-purchasing companies in the Kingdom.
He said he wanted the companies to build warehouses, factories and silos as well as establish
purchasing channels to facilitate rice exports to East Timor.
Rice export reports show that in the first five months of this year, Cambodia exported 356,097
tonnes of rice to the international market, a 42.34 per cent year-on-year increase.
Last year, the Kingdom exported 250,172 tonnes of rice worth $241 million.
East Timor imported 6,800 tonnes of rice in the first two months of this year, around 5,000
tonnes less than the year-ago period, Port Authority of Timor-Leste data shows.
Contact author: Hin Pisei
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/east-timor-rice-exports-ready-
roll?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=226a5317685eff9a59f8a22b0f105f3361bae93d-1591884446-0-
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Hc5eOjVrj4spw2yCL4KQf08IAA-iAhrLFXlS92knPnFULiXtx9v8cH7fPURgYQ0HpC6tnJy1C-
xOow_wNLaoA17G_IdYPXzJsFomxoGjG_JNaeEWHJnUIo_Eyd40j56ltBfxIu9yxiok9cRpnTvgwgEksia
3QU7v6dxrBBSMb4Hr3trVWIOEZI4Gp6Qf3uHuBjaahvwrFehf54259Br2e2qh1jt0-
ZKaTNbgWp9gcONFq_gKOnp3PrKuhbxXGmvS4G6kcrixeiR3iJANyuQq-TYzaRspb9wWQ

Legislator seeks review of Rice Tariffication Law
after gov‘t rice imports
June 10, 2020 | 8:23 pm
REUTERS
MAGSASAKA Partylist Representative Argel T. Cabatbat called for a review of Republic Act
No. 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL) after the government resumed imports on its own
account by declaring an auction for 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice via government to
government (G2G) deals.
In a mobile phone message, Mr. Cabatbat said the plan to import rice by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine International
Trading Corp. (PITC), is a ―step back‖ from the original intent of the RTL.
―It disempowers Filipino farmers who deserve to be prioritized and protected because of the
impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),‖ Mr. Cabatbat said.
Mr. Cabatbat asked the DA to clarify why imports were resorted to despite the department‘s
assurance that there is no impending rice shortage.
―It is more expensive to import rice and it only adds to the burden of our rice farmers, instead of
helping them.‖ Mr. Cabatbat said.
On Monday, the PITC conducted an online auction for rice imports amounting to 300,000 MT,
with four countries showing interest.
Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and India have posted bids to supply well-milled long-grain rice
with 25% brokens, for delivery to five ports.
Half or 150,000 MT must be shipped not later than July 14 while the other half is due to arrive
on or before August 14.
The national government, via the PITC, has allotted P7.45 billion for the G2G imports, while the
reference price was set at $497.62 per MT, equivalent to around P25,000.
Mr. Cabatbat said that the reference price indicates that the government is willing to buy rice at
double the domestic production cost.
―We have the current supply, and we can produce a metric ton of rice at P12,720,‖ Mr. Cabatbat
said.
―The amount that the DA is planning to spend for imported rice could uplift the rice industry
from the visible damage the RTL has visited upon hundreds of thousands of Filipino farmers
who found themselves on the brink of bankruptcy during the last planting season,‖ Mr. Cabatbat
said.
On May 12, the DA said that the 300,000 MT of rice will serve as a contingency supply during
the lean months.
―This is because the bulk of the rice supply will come from the harvest during the fourth quarter,
coupled with continued imports,‖ the DA said.
According to the DA‘s food supply outlook, rice supply at the end of 2020 is sufficient for 94
days.

G2G imports under emergency conditions are permitted under the RTL to ensure adequate
supply. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/legislator-seeks-review-of-rice-tariffication-law-after-govt-rice-
imports/
China plants upland rice on the eighth largest desert
in the country
Source: Xinhua| 2020-06-10 19:45:40|Editor: huaxia
Changing the barren desert into profits! China is planting upland rice in the eighth largest desert
in the country.
Visit on this Website to see the Video
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-06/10/c_139129262.htm
Death toll from Pakistan building collapse rises to 22
Published: June 10, 2020 2:21 pm On: World
ASSOCIATED PRESS
KARACHI: Pakistani rescuers recovered nine more bodies from beneath the rubble of a
building that collapsed earlier this week in the southern port city of Karachi, bringing the death
toll to 22, officials said Wednesday. There are fears there may be more bodies.
The building collapsed on Sunday and it was unclear how many people were inside at the time. It
had 40 apartments and most of them were empty because it was recently ordered vacated after it
was declared unsafe in March, following cracks that had emerged on the roofs and walls.
Pakistani troops, rescue workers and volunteers look for survivors amid the rubble of a collapsed
building in Karachi, Pakistan, Monday, June 8, 2020. Photo: AP
Rescue workers used heavy machinery and were still removing the rubble, searching for more
victims, according to police and the Edhi Foundation, which owns and runs Pakistan‘s largest
private ambulance service. The earlier reported death toll had stood at 13.

Altaf Hussain, a senior police official, said the building collapsed after some of its residents went
back inside to try and retrieve some of their belongings.
Building collapses are common in Pakistan as many are poorly constructed with cheap building
materials and safety guidelines are ignored to cut costs.
Also in Karachi, a multistory building that was undergoing additional constructions and
expansion, collapsed in March, killing at least 11 people, including women and children.
https://thehimalayantimes.com/world/death-toll-from-pakistan-building-collapse-rises-to-22/

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