11th january,2021 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
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
January11 ,2021 Vol 1 Issue 13
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…
 Larkana’s rice history and woes
 Non-Basmati Exports To Reach 10 Million Tonnes In 2020-21
 GRAINS OF TRUTH: RICE FRAUD
 2020 was a bumper year for agriculture
 Customs collects P14.6B in rice tariffs in January-November ’20
 Agri Deptt To Register Basmati Growers For Improving Quality,
Boost Exports
 CPD for formation of Agri Price Commission to stabilize market
 Department of Agriculture of Republic of P : DA eyes bigger
rice production in 2021
 Stabilising Rice Market: Experts call for effective policy
 Subramaniam’s NAF revolutionises 3L farmers’ lives
 Azerbaijan keen to enhance trade with Pakistan
 Saudi envoy for projecting positive image of Pakistan
 India rises to the occasion as global rice stock runs short
 Govt forms a task force to gather evidence to support its
geographical indication claim for Basmati paddy
 Azerbaijan keen to further promote bilateral trade with
Pakistan: Envoy
 Cooling off rice market
 Indian rice starts to enter through Hili land port
 Increasingly isolated Trump threatened with second
impeachment
 Price ceiling on ‘galunggong,’ other fish sought
 Smuggling: Why Border Drill Must Be Sustained For Self-
sufficiency In Rice Production
 US logs record virus caseload as millions in Asia enter new
lockdowns
 Indian rice exporters taking risks as Bangladesh looks to import
more
 Welcome an abundant new year with a comforting bowl of
'treasure rice'

Larkana’s rice history and woes
Th
ousands converge in Larkana on 27th of December every year to pay homage to their leaders
from the Bhutto dynasty. Two former prime ministers, including the Muslim world‘s first female
prime minister, lie buried there in a beautifully built mausoleum. The late Z A Bhutto and his
daughter Benazir Bhutto are from this district. Many bureaucrats that serve in different positions
also find their roots in Larkana. Besides Bhuttos, Larkana is home of Kalhoros, Chandios,
Khuhros, Bughios, Magsis, Unnars and Rashdis who all come from the landowning class. Many
among them are tribal chieftains, for upper Sindh‘s districts are also known for tribal culture and
jirgas which settle disputes and bloody feuds privately between parties. These are, however,
families who also matter in Sindh‘s politics. Sheikhs — an important community of Larkana —
are business-oriented and dominate the area‘s urban landscape. Chandka pargana is said to be
Larkana‘s old name in the Mughal period. It remained a centre of trade in the Kalhoro regime
and was once considered the Eden of Sindh because of its famous orchards and greenery.
Britishers focused on the area‘s development, building the Sukkur barrage around 1932 and
creating three major canals on the barrage‘s right side to feed Larkana and other areas from the
mighty Indus.

With 450 out of Sindh‘s 630 mills located in the district, the urban areas are a hub of rice
production
Larkana got status of divisional headquarters in the late 80s but it was divided in 2004 and
Kambar Shahdadkot was carved out as an independent district. Sukkur‘s barrage‘s Rice, Dadu
and Kirthar (North Western) canals feed Larkana and other districts with the last one feeding
Balochistan as well. Initially, better water flows from the canals lead to prosperity in the area but
soon faced silting from River Indus. As evident from its name — Rice canal — is a large
irrigation channel that feeds rice-growing areas of Larkana in Kharif period. Dadu and NWC
also irrigate areas of Larkana and its neighbouring district. These canals are about to become part
of the feasibility studies of the $480 million, World bank-funded Sindh Agriculture and Water
Transformation (SWAT) project. The Larkhana division is a hub of rice production with a large
number of mills. The division is known for rice cultivation and production. It is grown in
Jacobabad, Kashmore, Kambar-Shahdadkot and Shikarpur districts falling in the division.
Sindh‘s share in Pakistan‘s rice production is estimated to be 28.6 per cent in terms of area and
38.6pc in production in 2017-18, according to the Ministry of National Food Security and
Research. In Sindh, around 38pc of the area remains under cultivation of the coarse variety or
IRRI-6. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) says Pakistan is the world‘s 11th largest
rice producer, accounting for 8pc of the global rice trade. This is why REAP chairman Qayyum
Piracha underscores the need for introducing mechanised farming to achieve the required growth
potential in exports. Sindh agriculture officials say area under rice cultivation in Sindh was
reported at 516,900ha (five years‘ average of 2000-01 to 2004-05) which reached to 828,292ha
in 2017-18, showing 60.24pc increase. Production-wise, Sindh had 1,414,700 tonnes of clean
rice previously (five years‘ average of 2000-01 to 2004-05), which increased to 2,850,524 tonnes
in 2017-18, indicating a 101.5pc increase in production. Yield per ha in Sindh was 2,737 kg (five
years‘ average of 2000-01 to 2004-05) which reached to 3,441kgs in 2017-18, and 3,493kgs per
ha (five years‘ average i.e. 2013-14 to 2017-18). It shows an increase of 27.62pc in per ha crop.
In 2018-19, per ha yield was achieved at 3,725 kg — highest in the last two decade. Sindh got
the highest yield per acre of rice at a national level. Average yield per ha of crop nationally was
2,339kgs (5 years‘ average of 2010-11 to 2014-15), correspondingly, it was 3,495kgs in Sindh in
the same period thus recording an increase of 49.4pc in yield per ha over national yield. During
2019-20 season, Sindh surpassed the acreage target of 770,000ha by achieving 775,862ha
acreage. The unusual increase in area, production and yield is because growers use imported
hybrid variety instead of Sindh‘s indigenous varieties like subdasi, shandar, KS282, DR etc. This
variety gives higher yields and can be used as a late-sowing variety as well. Late Z A Bhutto had
established the Dokri Rice Research Institute in Larkana to boost to rice production. Growers,
however, remained dissatisfied with the institute‘s performance as far as the quality of rice seed
is concerned. The institute needs strengthening. According to the institute‘s head Wali
Mohammad Baloch, the hybrid variety of seed has destroyed growers. He said the institute has
produced DR-60 and DR59 varieties with matching yield potential as far as the hybrid variety is
concerned. ―It is the hybrid variety that is now hit by a sterility problem due to climate change
and growers are unable to cope with it,‖ he says. The institute is pursuing a scheme of ‗seed
production enhancement technology‘ which awaits government approval. ―We also want to
promote Sindh‘s indigenous varieties to lessen reliance on imported hybrid seed,‖ he remarked.
Growers themselves realise that the hybrid variety has become a major problem for them and are
paying the price for opting for it blindly. A progressive grower and Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB)

representative from Larkana, Irfan Jatoi aptly describes this. ―Larkana faces a water shortage.
Hybrid seeds can be sown as late as possible therefore growers opted for it as the late sowing
variety initially. When it increased yields, they naturally inclined towards it further to make an
extra buck in the last decade,‖ he says. Lately, however, they faced problems of sterility thus
incurring losses and are having second thoughts. ―Adulterated hybrid variety is being marketed
so growers are less inclined,‖ he says. Arif Ali Mahesar, a rice miller and grower, subscribes to
Jatoi‘s views. ―Hybrid was late variety but when growers started using it for early sowing due to
better water availability they didn‘t get the desired 80 to 90 maunds of yields they had become
accustomed to,‖ he says. Hybrid seed is expensive and needs massive inputs by farmers. Post-
harvest losses during milling is another factor. With the upgradation of machinery in mills, at
least 30,000 tonnes of rice production could be increased by offsetting post-harvest losses.
Larkana‘s industrial sector mainly revolves around rice mills. It has one sugar mill — Naudero
— and a few flour mills. Business leaders including Larkana‘s ex-mayor Khair M Shaikh and
Larkana Chamber of Commerce president Mohammad Ali Shaikh contend that most of the
industrialists own rice mills. They say Dokri Rice Research Institute needs to put its foot down
and come up with new seed varieties and improve Sindh‘s indigenous varieties. ―Broken ratio in
rice during milling is around 45pc to 50pc due to seed quality,‖ says Mr Shaikh. The Sindh
government‘s Sindh Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF) is struggling to promote mechanised
farming in rice. For the last seven years, it is supporting rice millers as far as the upgrading of
their milling system is concerned. According to Mehboobul Haq of SEDF, out of around 630 rice
mills, 450 were located in Larkana. ―What SEDF is doing is to absorb markup of bank loans
offered to rice millers for upgrading their systems. It is a markup subsidy which Sindh
government is providing. We are supporting growers at farm level for promoting mechanised
farming,‖ he says. A consortium of leading companies in the agriculture sector joined together to
provide specialised machinery services to rice farmers in lower Sindh for nurseries,
transplantation and harvesting. In terms of orchards, Larkana is famous for its guava production.
Around 3,200ha are brought under guava cultivation in winter, followed by mango and
watermelon on around 160ha each. Wheat, cotton, barley, sugarcane, mustard, gram, sesame etc
are also produced throughout the year on a minor scale. Larkana‘s share in cotton production is
0.3pc and wheat‘s share is 4.3pc, according to a district profiling figure, compiled by Hina
Shahid. In the livestock sector, the share of cattle and buffaloes is calculated at 3.1pc and 7.2pc
as per the 2006 livestock census. Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, January
11th, 2021
https://www.dawn.com/news/1600791/larkanas-rice-history-and-woes
Non-Basmati Exports To Reach 10 Million Tonnes In 2020-
21
Rice exports from India continue to grow due to attractive prices offered. Non-Basmati exports
to reach 10 million tonnes in 2020-21.
Non-Basmati Exports Increase
While India exported 5.04 million tonnes of non-basmati in the 2019-20 season, the volume of
the same in 2017-18 stood at 8 million tonnes. This year, the nation exported seven million

tonnes till November alone. Vinod Kaul, executive director, AIREA explains that there is a
massive demand for Indian non-basmati rice from African countries and southeast Asian nations,
including Thailand and Vietnam. Further, India‘s continuing rice exports even during the
lockdown, has increased its reliability as a supplier. Non-basmati rice exports in November 2020
were 159% higher at 0.90 million tonnes as against last year‘s 0.35 million tonnes at the same
time.
Exporters Quoting a Low Price To Get Tender From Bangladesh
India will export 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh over the next few months. Out of this, it
will send 1.5 lakh tonnes through government-to-government deals. Dhaka has already floated
tenders for importing 3.10 lakh tonnes of rice. Indian firms have won five tenders. However, the
remaining two tenders for 50,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes will close on January 20 and January
18. An export official from MNC said that exporters are taking an inappropriate risk by
outbidding each other for a lower price. Further, mentioning the congestion and limitations of a
river-based port, he explained that they could face unloading problems at Bangladesh ports.
Bangladesh’s Rice Imports To Reach 20 lakh tonnes
India can gain due to the high demand for rice from Bangladesh. While India is quoting
USD385-390 for five per cent broken parboiled rice, Thailand and Vietnam are exporting it
between USD505 to USD520. Also, freight charges will be cheaper as India is a neighbour. In
all, India‘s rice exports have gained this year due to the considerable price difference from its
competitors.
https://www.grainmart.in/news/non-basmati-exports-to-reach-10-million-tonnes-in-2020-21/
GRAINS OF TRUTH: RICE FRAUD
Grains of truth: scientists unveil near 100% accurate testing to tackle rice fraud
08-Jan-2021 By Oliver Morrison
A team in the UK has developed two methods – one hand-held, the other lab-based -- that can
accurately detect adulteration of Basmati rice. The testing has the potential to save food
manufacturers time and money in their attempts to protect their supply chains from food fraud,
they say.
HTTPS://WWW.FOODNAVIGATOR.COM/ARTICLE/2021/01/08/GRAINS-OF-TRUTH-
SCIENTISTS-UNVEIL-NEAR-100-ACCURATE-TESTING-TO-TACKLE-RICE-FRAUD
2020 was a bumper year for agriculture
Date: 09-Jan-2021
Sar Socheath / Khmer Times
Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon is driving a tractor. MoA
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The Ministry of Agriculture is aiming to further increase the productivity of the sector by
focusing on a shift to mechanisation to replace human labour.
Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said: ―One of the priority policies of the [ministry] is the
development of agricultural mechanisation.‖
Agricultural machinery is replacing human and animal labour almost entirely, especially in the
production of rice and agro-industrial crops, said Sakhon.
According to a report of the General Department of Agriculture, Cambodia currently has 32,094
tractors, 498,119 Kubotas and 6,796 rice harvesting machines that have been actively working on
the preparation of fields, plantations and rice harvests, and machinery for horticulture.
The ploughed area by tractors and Kubotas is 3,396,060 hectares, equivalent to 99.14 percent of
the total ploughed areas and about 85.40 percent of the farmland was harvested using a
harvesting machine, it added.
The Kingdom exported $4.037 billion in agricultural products in 2020, according to data from
the Minister of Agriculture.
Sakhon said that Cambodia exported more than 690,000 tonnes of milled rice in 2020, to
international markets over the world and more than 2,800,000 tonnes of paddy rice were
exported to neighbouring nations like Vietnam.
Other exports include milled rice, rice paddy production, cassava, cashew nuts, mango, rubber,
banana, Pailin longan, pepper, birds‘ nests, fisheries products, animal products and forestry
products.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50802183/2020-was-a-bumper-year-for-agriculture/

Customs collects P14.6B in rice tariffs in January-November
’20
ByBernadette D. Nicolas
January 11, 2021
RICE tariffs collected by the Bureau of Customs reached P14.6 billion from January to
November in 2020.
Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa S. Habitan told the BusinessMirror that the amount
was collected from 2.25 million metric tons of rice imports during the 11-month period.
At the Senate hearing on the 2021 budget of the Department of Finance in November last
year, Customs Assistant Commissioner and spokesman Vincent Philip C. Maronilla said they
were aiming to collect at least P15.4 billion in rice tariffs by the end of 2021.
Tariffs collected from rice imports are used to fund the six-year P10-billion annual Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) to bankroll programs that would provide farmers
with high-quality seeds, machinery, easier credit access, and relevant training to improve their
productivity and become competitive.
Should annual tariff revenues from rice importations exceed P10 billion, the Rice Trade
Liberalization (RTL) law states that these shall be earmarked by Congress—and included in the
national budget of the following year—for financial assistance to palay farmers, titling of
agricultural lands, an expanded crop insurance program on rice, and crop diversification.
In 2019, Customs collected P12.3 billion in rice tariffs from March to December following the
passage of the RTL, which paved the way for easier importation of rice.
Undervalued shipments
However, Customs told 47 rice importers last year to pay a combined total of P1.417 billion after
they were found liable for undervaluing their rice shipments from March to June last year.
The BusinessMirror also earlier reported that Customs has so far collected P30.908 million of the
P1.4-billion total charges, equivalent to 2.2 percent. The BOC also earlier said 60 rice importers
have already been selected for the post-clearance audit for rice importations for January to June
last year.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero has since said they expect to collect at least
an additional P1 billion from undervalued shipments last year.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/01/11/customs-collects-p14-6b-in-rice-tariffs-in-january-november-
20/
Agri Deptt To Register Basmati Growers For Improving
Quality, Boost Exports
JAMMU, JANUARY 08: The Agriculture Department of Jammu and Kashmir will register all
basmati growers in the Union Territory on Basmati Net traceability system to maintain the
quality of basmati and ensure the authenticity of basmati reaching to consumers besides
increasing returns for the growers. This was revealed by Principal Secretary, Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare, Navin Kumar Choudhary while chairing a meeting. He said that the

registration process will be carried out in collaboration with Agricultural and Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Navin Choudhary said that the registration
of all Basmati farmers will be done in the initial weeks of February month.
He said that this is a win-win situation for the farmers as well as the department because farmers
will get good price of their produce and the department will be able to keep track of the whole
process. He said that endeavor of the government is to create entire Basmati belt into organic and
efforts should be made to make farmers aware about its benefits. He said that after completing
the process of registration, farmers would get certificate and on the dash board every kind of
detail would be viewed and reviewed by the department. Principal Secretary said that some
progressive farmers will be selected and made aware by the experts. He said that farmers would
be made aware that the price would increase if they would go for GI tagging and observe other
set of recommendations for making it export quality produce. Pertinently, Basmati net is aimed
to provide a common platform to all the stakeholders in supply chain to enter details of activities
undertaken by them as part of Basmati Value Chain. Through this mechanism, authenticity of
Basmati rice reaching to the consumers in India or abroad will be ensured. He further said that by
going for GI tagging, the department will be able to identify the farmers who are using the
fertilizers over and above the recommended quantity and also those who are using prohibited
pesticides. Subsequently, the department can monitor and identify the farmer and take corrective
measures accordingly, he added.
Moreover, this system will ensure better monitoring and supervision of the process of
identification of lots that have quantities of proscribed pesticides or quantities above the
threshold limit, the meeting was informed. It will help in preventing that the whole assignment of
the produce do not get cancelled or returned by the importer. Basmati has been registered as a
Geographical Indication (GI) and therefore APEDA is in the process of putting in place a system
for post registration administration of GI in association with all the stakeholders participating in

the supply chain. Registration of Basmati rice growers is pre-requisite in implementation of the
Basmati Net Traceability system, which will create a database about Basmati farmers and will
further help the APEDA to share information with them for export oriented production of good
quality Basmati rice through use of good quality seed, good agriculture practices including
judicious use of pesticides.
https://www.crosstownnews.in/post/59057/agri-deptt-to-register-basmati-growers-for-improving-
quality-boost-exports-navin-.html
CPD for formation of Agri Price Commission to stabilize
market
United News of Bangladesh . Dhaka |
Published: 20:43, Jan 10,2021
Centre for Policy Dialogue on Sunday underscored the need for the formation of Agriculture
Price Commission to bring stability in the market of commodities in Bangladesh.
Distinguished fellow of the organisation Debapriya Bhattacharya made the call at a webinar
hosted by Citizen‘s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh titled ‗Why is the price of rice going up?
Whose profit, whose loss?‘
‗The commission will fix the prices of all agriculture produces to maintain stability in the
market,‘ he said.

The noted economist said policy efficiency and social accountability should be increased in the
country. ‗If rice prices rise unusually, the pressure falls on the poor and middle income people.
The agriculture sector has improved but there is no improvement in the farmers‘ condition,‘ he
also said.
Debapriya said the policymakers did not take initiative to control the market that‘s why rice
prices went up here. ‗The government has reduced duty on rice import from 62 to 25 per cent.
But no rice yet to reach retail market due to delayed decision,‘ he added.
He also added the prices may soar ahead of the month of Ramadan and it would be a reason of
tension for many if proper initiatives are not taken.
‗Small and medium farmers should be given more priority as many farmers claimed that they did
not get proper support from the government during the COVID-19 pandemic,‘ he added.
Bangladesh should lay more emphasis on research and technology use in the agriculture sector,
he said adding the government‘s purchasing centre should be built at union level to ensure fair
prices for farmers.
Director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute Shahjahan Kabir said there was no worry
over food crisis in the country. ‗Around 30 lakh metric tonnes of rice will be surplus in June in
the country. Bumper Boro and Aus paddy was achieved in the last season and Aman rice
varieties will come soon. So there will not be food crisis,‘ he added.
AKM Khorshed Alam Khan, president of Bangladesh Auto Rice Mill Owners‘ Association said
the rice prices go up due to poor harvest and stock. Besides different costs including electricity,
energy and labour wages also are reasons behind the price hike. ‗A group of companies is
responsible behind the rice price hike, not small and medium millers,‘ he also said.
Md Emaz Uddin Pramanik, MP, said, ‗Those who play with the prices of rice here don‘t love the
country. They are like those who did not want independent Bangladesh during the Liberation
War,‘ he also added.
DG of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute Nazirul Islam, DG of Bangladesh Institute of
Nuclear Agriculture Mirza Mofazzal Islam, and journalist Shykh Seraj were, among others,
present.
According to the Food Ministry, the total government stock of food grains is 07.26 lakh mts. Of
this, rice is 05.32 lakh mts and wheat is 1.94 lakh mts till January 06, 2021.
‗The price of coarse rice increased 46.15 per cent a kg, medium 20.00 per cent and fine one went
up by 7.02 per cent compared with the previous year,‘ according to the data of state run Trading
Corporation on January 9.
https://www.newagebd.net/article/126827/cpd-for-formation-of-agri-price-commission-to-stabilize-
market
Department of Agriculture of Republic of P : DA eyes bigger
rice production in 2021

01/11/2021 | 12:17am
Author: DA Communications Group | 11 January 2021
The Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to further improve the country's rice productivity and
adequacy levels this year, boosted by the combined outcomes of government interventions and
continued strong partnerships with farmers' groups, rice industry stakeholders, and local
government units (LGUs).
'We target to produce 20.4 million metric tons (MMT) of palay, surpassing last year's record
harvest of 19.4 MMT, and factoring in challenges of the lingering pandemic and adverse weather
conditions,' said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
'Coupled with this, we also aim to stabilize the farmgate prices of palay and retail price of rice to
benefit millions of farmers and consumers alike,' the DA chief added.
'With tightening global food supply due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will strongly implement
interventions to attain a higher rice adequacy level from last year's 90 percent to about 95 percent
this year,' Secretary Dar said.
For 2021, the Duterte administration targets to produce 20.47 MMT of palay from 4.74 million
hectares (ha), where farmers will be provided with free seeds of inbred and hybrid rice varieties
through major interventions, particularly the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF),
expanded RCEF, rice resiliency project (RRP), and regular national rice program (NRP).
Last year, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) projected that the country's palay production
would total 19.44 MMT, comprising of the actual harvest of 11.9 MMT, from January to
September 2020, and a projected yield of 7.54 MMT in the fourth quarter, based on standing
crop on November 1, 2020.
The 2020 palay harvest is 3.3% more than the 18.81-MMT output in 2019, and surpasses the
previous high of 19.27 MMT in 2017.
Secretary Dar attributes the feat to the timely and sustained interventions under the Duterte
administration's Plant, Plant, Plant program - particularly provision of free certified inbred seeds
under the RCEF, and hybrid seeds and fertilizers under the RRP and NRP- as well as the strong
support of governors of top rice-producing provinces, and of farmers' groups and federations.
In particular, the 2020 record palay harvest was due to the increase in average yield (59% of
growth), to 4.11 MT from 4.04 MT per hectare (ha) in 2019, and expansion of area planted and
harvested in rainfed areas by 80,000 ha (41%) from 4.65 million ha in 2019, according to Deputy
Director Flordeliza Bordey of the DA's Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in a report
to Secretary Dar.
She said that the average yield in both irrigated and rainfed ecosystems improved in both dry and
wet cropping seasons.
Under RCEF, about 1.38 million bags (20 kg/bag) of certified inbred seeds were distributed to
500,000 farmers, who planted more than 698,000 ha, during the 2020 dry season.
In the same season, the DA under the NRP also distributed more than 76,000 bags of hybrid
seeds to thousands of farmers who planted 76,000 ha.
The country's rice farmers continued to benefit during the wet season (WS), as the Duterte
administration poured more resources with the enactment of the Bayanihan Act I and II, Bordey
said.

A total of 867,000 farmers, received free 2.29 million bags of certified inbred seeds under RCEF
during the 2020 wet season, covering over 1 million ha.
In addition, the DA distributed 758,000 bags of inbred and hybrid rice seeds under the NRP, and
RRP expanded hybrid and inbred projects.
'The timely distribution of seeds early in the 2020 WS was able to optimize the availability of
rainfall and irrigation water, which encouraged farmers to plant early,' Bordey said.
'Because of this, there were more areas harvested on the 2020 third quarter compared to 2019.
There could have been bigger typhoon damages if these were harvested in the fourth quarter of
2020,' she added.
In fact, the country could have produced more, were it not for the several typhoons, pest
infestation, drought, and flashflood in 2020 that damaged more than 400,000 MT, Secretary Dar
said.
Through its RRP expanded hybrid and inbred, and enhanced RCEF projects, the DA delivered
2.65 million bags of urea fertilizers, good for nearly 820,000 ha, benefiting close to one million
farmers.
Hundreds of farm machinery and equipment, provided through the RCEF mechanization
program, have also contributed to farm operations' timeliness and minimizing postharvest losses,
including typhoon damages, Bordey said.
This year, the DA will also focus on providing farmers' cooperatives and associations (FCAs)
with more drying equipment and facilities to increase palay quality and farmgate prices.
The extension services provided under RCEF and NRP, which include farmers' training and
provision of IEC materials, also helped improve the skills of farmers and optimize the use of
production inputs that they received, Bordey said.
Provision of credit services also helped farmers source other farm inputs, especially during the
pandemic when their cash resources were limited.
'In all, the above interventions will be further enhanced to attain our committed targets, thus
setting the stage for a brighter rice supply and demand outlook for 2021,' concluded Secretary
:https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Department-of-Agriculture-of-Republic-of-P-DA-
eyes-bigger-rice-production-in-2021
Stabilising Rice Market: Experts call for effective policy
12:00 AM, January 11, 2021 / LAST MODIFIED: 05:35 AM, January 11, 2021
Govt should form a commission for agriculture goods pricing, they say
Star Report
An efficient government policy to collect, reserve and import rice is crucial to maintaining a
balanced price in the market, said the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh yesterday.
At the virtual dialogue titled "Why price of rice is soaring? Who's gaining, who's losing?" the
speakers also emphasised on prioritising marginalised farmers in the policy and increasing

accuracy in estimates of food grain production.
The dialogue, moderated by Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of the platform, also advised
the government to form a commission for the pricing of agriculture goods.
Dr M Asaduzzaman, former research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
(BIDS) said, "Marginalised farmers are being neglected in the present marketing system, just like
they were in the colonial period.
"As the price of rice started soaring, there are many unanswered questions. Why has the
government failed to collect the targeted rice; why the delay to start importing and how is the
government planning to pressurise hoarders?" he queried.
Shykh Seraj, director and head of news at Channel I, said, "Farmers are not benefiting from the
price hike as they sell right after harvest. Many farmers are moving away from paddy to
cultivating exotic crops… that may be disastrous if not monitored."
He said the government should revive the food grain storage loan project to help farmers hold
their produce till they get a good price.
Dr Quazi Shahabuddin, former director general of BIDS, said, "We see a major gap in available
information. Also, we don't know how the government is planning to keep adequate reserves in
the future and what their plans are against hoarders speculating the market?"
Farmers from Gaibandha, Pirojpur, Meherpur, Satkhira, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Rangpur,
Nilphamari and Kurigram joined the dialogue.
They said marginalised farmers are compelled to sell their produce immediately after harvest to
repay their debts.
They urged the government to extend support so that they can store paddy for a couple of months
to sell at a good price.
Dr Md Shahjahan Kabir, director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), said,
"Considering reduced Aman harvest and high consumption, we estimated a 30-lakh tonne

surplus by June 30 this year. There will be no food crisis as farmers will produce more Boro this
season."
Dr Nazirul Islam, director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), said,
"We estimate a shortage of 14 lakh tonnes of rice by 2030. As agriculture now contributes only
15 percent to the GDP, it must be mechanised for greater production and rational use of labour in
other sectors."
Dr Mirza Mofazzal Islam, director general of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture
(BINA), said, "Coarse rice's demand is increasing as most medium-priced rice varieties in the
market are manufactured from coarse rice. To meet the demand, we should focus on more
producing varieties."
AKM Khorshed Alam Khan, president of Auto Rice Mill Owners' Association, said, "The
government said high yield, but we saw lesser produce available to purchase last year. We don't
have any stock left and that's affecting the market price."
He also talked about an automatic syndicate that has emerged without planning as large
corporations are purchasing and hoarding rice.
Md Shah Alam, president of Bangladesh Rice Exporters' Association, said, "The decision to
import rice should have been taken days ago and the scope of importing should be open for all by
reducing import duty to 20 percent."
Kazi Sazzad Zahir Chandan, general secretary of Bangladesh Krishak Samity, said, "To boost up
reserves, government must build storage in all major paddy-harvesting unions."
Mohammad Emaz Uddin Pramanik, member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Ministry of Agriculture, said, "The hoarders are responsible for the price hike of rice and the
consumers are suffering. As the government is low on rice reserve, we're trying our best to
regain enough stock soon to intervene in the market."
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the retail price of coarse rice is
around 46 percent higher compared to the corresponding price on last year, while the price of
fine and medium rice also rose between seven and 20 percent.
The total reserve of rice is only 5.32 lakh tonnes as of January 6, just over half the reserve at the
same time last year.
www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/stabilising-rice-market-experts-call-effective-
Subramaniam’s NAF revolutionises 3L farmers’ lives
Monday, 11 January 2021 | Kumar Chellappan | CHENNAI
More than three lakh farmers spread across the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra are in cloud nine thanks to an
initiative by late C Subramaniam, the Bharat Ratna awardee and former Union Minister of Food
and Agriculture. Subramaniam could integrate the services of farmers and buyers without any
hassles through his initiative National Agro Foundation (NAF).

There were and there are no Mandis or APMC in Tamil Nadu even now! Farmers in Cauvery
Delta (the rice producing districts of the State) and elsewhere complain about the elusive
Minimum Support Prices announced by the Governments. But the NAF compensates for it.
Subramaniam had held the portfolio of food and agriculture during the most critical phase of
India, 1962-67, a period known as ―days of ship to mouth existence‖. If the ships laden with
wheat from USA fail to turn up at Indian ports, the country‘s population would starve as
domestic food production was at its lowest ebb thanks to the socialist-permit raj. The grain
production in the country was a mere 80 million tonnes which made India to move around in
international market with a begging bowl.
Subramaniam along with farm scientists like M S Swaminathan had launched the Green
Revolution by introducing advanced rice and wheat varieties so that farmers could get more yield
per hectare. It helped the nation tide over the food crisis, though temporarily.
The man who saved Indian agriculture with ―out of the box‖ ideas, was disappointed because of
the failure of the policy makers by the 1990s as he saw thousands of farmers committing suicide
because of crop failure, high debts and poor returns.
In the year 2000, on his 90th birthday, Subramaniam, who was leading a retired life at Chennai,
launched the National Agro Foundation, an institution which he hoped would play a small role in
helping farmers in the State rejuvenate their farms and supplement their income. This
correspondent was a witness to the small function held at his residence where the legendary Nani
Palkhivala and APJ Abdul Kalam (then the scientific advisor to Government of India) were
present.
The NAF, with the help of farm scientists like M Ramasubramaniam and Kalpana Rajesh has
emerged as a silent but powerful establishment that has revolutionised the lives of three lakh
farmers in the seven States. The NAF team tests the soil and advise farmers which crop would be
ideal for their farms while their management team facilitates the farmers to sell their crops
directly to buyers.
Scientists and managers of NAF tour the villages like missionaries and evangelize the villagers
about selection of crops, how and when to start the farming operations and how to nourish the
crops.‖We study soil fertility of each location and analyze the local climate before asking the
farmers which crop to select. All our efforts have been fruitful,‖ said M R Ramasubramanianm,
CEO, NAF.
The soil is tested in the state-of-the-art chemical laboratory to find out the soil fertility. ―By
analyzing the soil, we can also find out the ideal crop which could be grown in the area. Details
like shortage of nutrients and micro-nutrients could be understood from these studies,‖ said R
Kalpana, NAF‘s soil scientist.
―It is the farmers who negotiate and fix the prices of their crops with the buyers. They know at
the time of sowing itself what they would get as prices,‖ said S S Rajasekhar, NAF‘s trustee
and son of late Subramaniam.
Amritraj of Endathur village in Kancheepuram, a farmer who cultivates watermelon and Reghu,
a farmhand who made profit through muskmelon farming owe their prosperity to NAF. All these
happen In Tamil Nadu where politicians and farmers complain of water shortage and wasteland.
―There is no wasteland or dryland. They are all underutilised land,‖ said Rajasekhar. He said he
was indebted to corporate houses and trade bodies which help NAF to sustain itself as part of
their corporate social responsibility.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/india/subramaniam---s-naf-revolutionises-3l-farmers----lives.html

Azerbaijan keen to enhance trade with Pakistan
Envoy identifies agriculture, tourism, mining as potential areas for bilateral cooperation
Our CorrespondentJanuary 10, 2021
ISLAMABAD:
Azerbaijan is keen to promote bilateral trade with Pakistan as both countries have tremendous
scope to enhance trade and economic cooperation in many fields, said Azerbaijan Ambassador
Ali Alizada.
During his meeting with the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (ICCI), he said, ―Azerbaijan and Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations at the political
level, but trade and economic relations were not up to the mark, therefore, there is a need to
focus on promoting trade relations that would yield highly beneficial results for the economies
of both countries.‖ Alizada informed the businessmen that Azerbaijan has signed free trade
agreements with 10 countries of the region including Russia, therefore, by investing in

Azerbaijan and increasing trade cooperation with it, Pakistani investors could promote exports
to all these regional countries.
The envoy said, ―Covid-19 has caused a slowdown in trade activity between the two countries,
but after the coronavirus is over, bilateral trade is expected to boost.‖ ―Azerbaijan is interested
in developing railway links and direct flights with Pakistan soon after the end of Covid-19.‖
He identified agriculture, industry, tourism, mining, hospitality and defence as potential areas
of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. The ambassador said Pakistani
pharmaceutical companies have huge potential in his country and they should set up
manufacturing plants in Azerbaijan. Furthermore, he apprised the business community that
Azerbaijan was establishing a free economic zone next to the port of Baku and Pakistani
investors should explore joint ventures and investment in this facility.
He urged the Pakistani business community to attend an online business forum planned in
March to explore business collaboration with the counterparts of Azerbaijan. Speaking on the
occasion, ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said the bilateral trade of around $16-17
million between Pakistan and Azerbaijan was quite nominal given the actual potential of the
two countries and efforts were needed from both sides to improve it. He highlighted that many
good quality Pakistani products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, surgical instruments,
sports goods, cutlery, electrical appliances, textile and leather products, furniture, home-made
crafts, food and fruits products, engineering and consumer goods, rice have a scope in
Azerbaijan and it should increase imports of these products from Pakistan. Khan added,
―Pakistan is setting up many special economic zones (SEZs) under CPEC that offered 10
years‘ tax holiday, therefore, investors of Azerbaijan should explore opportunities of joint
ventures and investment in these SEZs that would help in further strengthening bilateral
business cooperation between the two countries.‖
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2279351/azerbaijan-keen-to-enhance-trade-with-pakistan
Saudi envoy for projecting positive image of Pakistan
Riyadh keen to boost trade, investment cooperation with Islamabad
Our CorrespondentJanuary 09, 2021
A file photo of an expatriate working in Saudi Arabia. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Saudi Arabia wants to further deepen and strengthen trade ties with Pakistan as both countries
have great scope to promote trade in many areas, said Saudi Arabian Ambassador Nawaf Saeed
Al-Malkiy.
Talking to the business community during his visit to the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (ICCI), he said that Saudi Arabia intended to further expand its commercial and
investment cooperation with Pakistan.

He said that Pakistan had a lot of potential for economic growth, which should be highlighted
more effectively to attract foreign investors. He urged the media to focus on projecting positive
developments in Pakistan to change the wrong perception about the country.
He stressed that misperception about Pakistan around the world needed to be changed to
unlock its real economic potential. He assured businessmen that he would continue to work for
further promoting trade cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that Pakistan and Saudi
Arabia enjoyed very cordial relations but bilateral trade of around $3.5 billion was much below
the real potential.
He called for making strenuous efforts by both sides to improve the situation, adding that
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were doing trade in limited items and they should focus on
diversification of trade to achieve better results.
The ICCI president pointed out that many high-quality and cost-effective Pakistani products
including halal food products, pharmaceuticals, textiles, surgical instruments, rice, fruits, dairy
products, sportswear, leather products, financial services, insurance and IT services, and
entertainment products could find a good market in Saudi Arabia. ―Riyadh should focus on
importing these products from Pakistan,‖ he said.

Khan emphasised that both countries should focus on strengthening B2B contacts, exchange of
trade delegations and participation in trade fairs on a reciprocal basis to improve the trade
volume.
He said that Pakistan was establishing many Special Economic Zones (SEZs) under the China-
Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and investors of Saudi Arabia should explore joint
venture and investment opportunities in the zones.
He highlighted that Pakistan was working on one-window facility for investors, which would
facilitate Saudi investors intending to invest in Pakistan.
ICCI would try to take a delegation to Saudi Arabia to meet with trade bodies in order to
explore mutual business collaboration, he said. Similarly, he added, the ICCI would like to
host a trade delegation from Saudi Arabia and would help them in exploring joint venture and
investment avenues in Pakistan‘s SEZs.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2279243/saudi-envoy-for-projecting-positive-image-of-pakistan
India rises to the occasion as global rice stock runs short
India rises to the occasion as global rice stock runs short
New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Indias contribution in maintaining global food security is rising
rapidly as it expands its rice exports to various countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic crisis that
impacted crop production and supplies.
Competitive pricing, high production and falling outbound shipment from other key rice
exporting countries including Thailand and Vietnam have led to increased dependence on India
for the supply of the critical staple food grain.
―Rice production in India has been higher this year and we have enough stocks to ensure that we
meet domestic demands including the quantum required for the public distribution system,
therefore we are in a position to export more. Export demand from various countries has also
increased,‖ Vinod Kaul, executive director, All India Rice Exporters‘ Association.
India‘s rice exports have already recorded a whopping growth of 70 per cent to touch 7.5 million
tonne during the first six months of the current financial year. This is primarily due to the
doubling of the non-basmati rice exports supported by healthy demand from countries in Africa
and south-east Asia.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) noted that India‘s rice production could hit a record
high as the crop benefitted from monsoon that supported increased plantings and good yields,
World-Grain, a platform collating data and information on grain, four and weed said.
According to official data, India‘s total food grain production was estimated at a record 295.67
million tonnes in the 2019-20 — 10.46 million tonnes higher compared to the previous year.
When it comes to food grain production, India is second only to China in the Asia Pacific region,
data collation portal statista.com revealed.
India gains on competitive pricing
Indian rice is significantly cheaper compared to rice from Thailand and Vietnam. Bangkok Post
in an article published in July noted that Thailand‘s rice exports in 2020 could drop to the lowest

level in seven years as a strong baht, the country‘s local currency, weakened the competitiveness
while regular floods have been damaging production.
The Thai Rice Exporters Association projected a drop in outward shipment of the grain from 7.5
million tonnes last year to 5 million tonnes this year, much to the worry of the country‘s rice
exporters.
Typically rice from Thailand is priced at over $400 per tonne while India exports the grain at
$100-150 cheaper.
―This has given a huge opportunity to India to increase its exports of rice,‖ another rice exporter,
dealing primarily in Basmatic rice, said.
India, which already supplies over 32 per cent of the global rice needs, has recently opened up
line of exports to neighbouring countries, Bangladesh and China, where production has fallen.
Besides, several rice importing countries including a few in Africa have increased inward
shipment of the grain in the wake of Covid-19 induced uncertainties.
Interestingly, Vietnam, a key exporter of rice, recently struck a deal with India to buy 70,000
tonnes of broken rice to meet a surge in domestic demand.
According to Worldstopexports, a data collation portal, Vietnam‘s rice exports declined by 48.6
per cent, Pakistan‘s 36.9 per cent while Thailand‘s outbound shipment of the grain was down by
7.7 per cent in 2019.
Kaul said that the demand for Indian rice is likely to remain high even in the next financial year.
After a gap, India to supply rice to Bangladesh, China
New Delhi has already agreed to supply 150,000 tonnes of rice to Dhaka in a government to
government deal after prices of the grain skyrocketed due to floods in Bangladesh. Earlier in the
month, the Sheikh Hasina government drastically reduced import duty on rice to 25 per cent
from a high 62.5 per cent, which will facilitate Indian exporters to supply the grain in the
country. As the country‘s need for the grain, which is an integral part of every Bangladeshi‘s
daily diet, increased with lower production.
According to Daily Asian Age, Dhaka has ―decided to import another 250,000 tonnes of rice
from India and Singapore‖.
Rice exporters in India said that rice supply to Bangladesh is likely to increase in the coming
months.
Besides Bangladesh, India, notwithstanding the rising political tensions with China is also slated
to supply 100,000 tonnes of broken rice to China at a price fixed at around $300 per tonne.
https://www.therahnuma.com/india-rises-to-the-occasion-as-global-rice-stock-runs-short/
Govt forms a task force to gather evidence to support its
geographical indication claim for Basmati paddy
Published On: January 10, 2021 07:05 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Jan 9: The European Union (EU) has asked Nepal to provide with necessary
evidence on the country‘s claim on the geographical indication (GI) right on Basmati paddy.
According to the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the EU has set a deadline of
January 25 for Nepal to submit documents to support its claim. Officials said the NARC has
formed a task force under the agricultural expert Balkrishna Joshi to gather necessary evidence.
On December 10, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) had sent a
letter to the EU laying its claim on the product after India sought to receive the patent right for
the same agricultural product.
Joshi said the task force has started gathering evidence based on 10 categories. These include
cultural aspects, DNA fingerprinting, data based on molecular technology, journals and audio
and visual programs prepared on the fine rice, among others.
According to NARC, it has been found that various organizations have started conducting
research on varieties of long and slender-grained aromatic rice since the 1960s. There are 34
such research papers available with the council, which will also be submitted to the EU to
support the government‘s claim.
According to Joshi, there are 25 variants of Basmati rice in the gene bank maintained by the
NARC. Similarly, seeds of the fine rice are available at 46 community levels and about 60 rice
mills operating in the country produce Basmati rice.
The record of the MoALD shows that local farmers produce Basmati rice in around 100,000
hectares of lands in a number of districts including Doti, Dhanusha and Kapilvastu. Doreli
Basmati and Lalita Basmati are among the variants of the fine rice produced in Nepal.
As per the World Intellectual Property Organization, the GI secures the intellectual property right
for the original producer and bars the third party from using the sign for trading. In 2018, India
applied for a GI tag in the EU for Basmati rice.
Apart from Nepal, Pakistan has also opposed India‘s move for getting exclusive rights for the
long grained rice from the EU.
https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/govt-forms-a-task-force-to-gather-evidence-to-support-its-
geographical-indication-claim-for-basmati-paddy/?categoryId=81
Azerbaijan keen to further promote bilateral trade with
Pakistan: Envoy
OUR STAFF REPORT
January 10, 2021
ISLAMABAD-Ali Alizada, Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Saturday said that his country was keen
to further promote bilateral trade with Pakistan as both countries had tremendous scope to
enhance trade and economic cooperation in many fields.
He said that Azerbaijan and Pakistan enjoyed excellent relations at political level, but trade and
economic relations were not matching with them, therefore, there was a great need to focus on
promoting trade relations that would yield highly beneficial results for the economies of both
countries. He was addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of
Commerce & Industry (ICCI).

Ali Alizada said that the people of Azerbaijan have great love for Pakistan and feel comfortable
in doing business with it, therefore, Pakistan should seriously consider to expand trade
cooperation with it. He said that Azerbaijan has signed free trade agreements with 10 countries
of the region including Russia, therefore, by investing in Azerbaijan and increasing trade
cooperation with it, Pakistani investors could promote exports to all these regional countries. He
said that Covid-19 pandemic has caused some slowdown in trade activity between the two
countries, but after the coronavirus was over, bilateral trade was expected to get a boost. He said
that Azerbaijan was interested in developing railways links and direct flights with Pakistan soon
after the end of Covid-19.
He identified agriculture, industry, tourism, mining, hospitality and defense as potential areas of
bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.
The envoy said that Pakistani pharma companies have huge potential in his country and they
should set up manufacturing plants in Azerbaijan. He said that Azerbaijan was establishing a free
economic zone next to the port of Baku and Pakistani investors should explore JVs and
investment in this facility. He said that an online business forum between the two countries was
planned in March and said that Pakistani business community should attend it to explore
business collaboration with the counterparts of Azerbaijan. He said that ICCI should take a
delegation to Azerbaijan to explore its market and he would cooperate in connecting them with
right partners in his country.
Speaking at the occasion, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, president, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce
& Industry, said that the bilateral trade of around US$ 16-17 million between Pakistan and
Azerbaijan was quite nominal given the actual potential of both countries and more serious
efforts were needed from both sides to improve it. He said that many good quality Pakistani
products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, surgical instruments, sports goods, cutlery,
electrical appliances, textile & leather products, furniture, home-made crafts, food and fruits
products, engineering & consumer goods, rice have great scope in Azerbaijan and it should
increase imports of these products from Pakistan.

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that Pakistan was setting up many special economic zones under
CPEC that offered 10 years‘ tax holiday, therefore, investors of Azerbaijan should explore
opportunities of JVs and investment in these SEZs that would help in further strengthening
bilateral business cooperation between the two countries. He said that Azerbaijan was quite rich
in energy and it can help Pakistan in this sector as well. He assured that ICCI would try to take a
business delegation to Azerbaijan in March 2021 to explore business collaboration with
counterparts in Azerbaijan and analyze the market potential for Pakistani products. He said the
delegation would also interact with investors of Azerbaijan and inform them about the potential
business opportunities for them in various sectors of Pakistan‘s economy.
Fatma Azim, Senior Vice President, Abdul Rehman Khan, Vice President ICCI, Aslam Khokhar
and others also spoke at the occasion and stressed that steps should be taken to bridge the gap
between the private sectors of both countries to increase two-way trade up to the real potential of
both countries.
https://nation.com.pk/10-Jan-2021/azerbaijan-keen-to-further-promote-bilateral-trade-with-pakistan-
envoy
Cooling off rice market
Published: January 09, 2021 22:20:21
The government late last week reduced the taxes on rice imports by a big margin ---
from 62.5 per cent to 10 per cent--- amidst the prices of the item soaring to a record
level. The decision is designed to cool off an otherwise overheated rice market. The

effect of the move, however, remains to be seen. There was no visible impact of the
government's latest action on the rice market until Saturday last. Many tend to
believe that the government should have taken the decision earlier to offer price-
relief to the poor and low-income consumers.
The price of the coarse variety of rice, which is consumed widely by the poor and
low-income families, is between Tk.48 and Tk.50 a kilogramme (kg) at the retail
level. The price is considered high, particularly during this pandemic-hit
time. Though most economic activities have picked up the pace lately, finding jobs
and regular wages by the poorer section of the population continues to be difficult.
The hike in rice prices has not been without any reason. The local and international
agencies had forecast that there would be a sizeable shortfall in Aman rice
production this year because of consecutive floods. The prediction has come true as
the production of the second largest rice crop this year is lower than the official
projection. Besides, the government's rice stock also has depleted to a notable
extent because of lower than usual replenishment.
The government's rice procurement programme during the immediate past Boro
season was a big failure. The prospect of the same during the ongoing Aman
harvesting season also appears to be not bright. The mismatch between the
prevailing market price and the price offered by the government is said to be the
primary reason behind the failure of the procurement drive.
The quantity of rice imported in recent months has been small. The private import
of rice was almost nil because of higher import duty and taxes---62.5 per cent in
total--- on the item. A sufficient food stock at the state level acts as a deterrent to
any move to hike prices of rice artificially.
The private millers in recent years have emerged as a powerful force in the rice
market. They can easily manipulate the price of the item to their advantage. There
are instances where they did not even honour deals to supply rice to the government
under different pretexts. The food ministry, however, overlooked such an act of
defiance for reasons best known to it.
The government last week approved the import of about 0.4 million tonnes of rice
by the private sector. The government does also have a plan to import a sizeable
quantity of rice. The government must not allow the millers to import rice. Since
the government has slashed taxes on rice by a big margin, there should be no reason
for the prices of the item coming down to a reasonable level. Only foul play by
some quarters can foil such a development.
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/editorial/cooling-off-rice-market-1610209221
Indian rice starts to enter through Hili land port
BSS
 Published at 09:11 pm January 9th, 2021
Photo: BIGSTOCK

Three vehicles carrying the first consignment of 112 tons of rice entered Bangladesh
Import of Indian rice through Hili Land Port (HLP) in Dinajpur resumed on Saturday
after 35 months to keep the rice price stable and normal in the local markets across the
country.
Talking to BSS tonight, President of the Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents‘
Association (CC&FAA) at HLP Kamal Hossain Raj said rice price would become normal
in local markets as its import from neighbouring India began from Saturday.

Three vehicles carrying the first consignment of 112 tons of rice belonging to importing
company ―Messrs Jagdish Chandra Roy‖ of Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur entered
Bangladesh through HLP around 12pm.
Manager Shri Pado, of Messrs Jagdish Chandra Roy, said: ―We have got permission to
import 10,000 tons of rice in several consignments in compliance with various conditions
of the government.‖
―Today [on Saturday], out of 600 tons of our first consignment, 112 tons of ‗Swarna-5‘
variety rice entered the country through the HLP,‖ he said, hoping that rice of the other
importers will start entering through the port within a couple of days.
He said if the imported rice could be supplied to different parts of the country at the right
time, the price of rice in the country‘s market would start coming down.
Meanwhile, President of Hili Land Port Import-Export Group and Hakimpur upazila
parishad Chairman Harun Ar Rashid told BSS tonight that rice shipments arrived in the
country through HLP after a long 35 months.
―Rice is being imported now through the HLP after purchasing at the rate of $356 per ton
from India. Many other companies have also opened letters of credits (LCs) to import
rice,‖ he said.
General Secretary of the CC&FAA at HLP Abdur Rahman Litan said the price of rice in
the local market will also come down when import of rice starts in full swing through the
HLP within the next few days.
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/01/09/indian-rice-starts-to-enter-through-hili-land-port
Increasingly isolated Trump threatened with second
impeachment
Published January 10, 2021, 8:11 AM
by Agence France-Presse
US Democrats on Saturday were readying for an unprecedented second impeachment of
Donald Trump as the defiant president showed no signs of stepping down after the deadly
violence at the Capitol.
Democrats said impeachment proceedings could begin as early as Monday — an
extraordinary acceleration of a process that historically has taken weeks, but one that might
not be completed before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office on January 20.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Democrats will launch the process unless Trump
resigns or Vice President Mike Pence invokes the 25th Amendment, where the cabinet
removes the president.
―He‘s deranged, unhinged and dangerous. He must go,‖ Pelosi, referring to Trump, tweeted
on Friday.
The move to impeach came amid continued fury over the storming of the Capitol on
Wednesday by angry Trump supporters, which left five people dead, including a Capitol
policeman.

Authorities announced new arrests and charges Saturday over the incursion, including a
tattoo-chested man in a horned headdress whose image was beamed around the world.
That man, Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, and two others — one of
them a newly elected state official from West Virginia — were charged in federal court in
connection with the violence, according to the US attorney‘s office for the District of
Columbia.
– ‘Gravely endangered of US’ –
The impeachment text — signed by at least 180 members of Congress so far, according to
Democratic congressman Ted Lieu — laid blame squarely at the president‘s feet.
―In all of this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its
institutions of government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered
with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coordinate branch of government,‖ it
reads.
Trump, who had urged his supporters to come to Washington on Wednesday for a rally
opposing his November election loss, has remained defiant, even after finally posting a
video Thursday in which he belatedly promised an ―orderly transition‖ to the Biden
administration.
But the president also said that ―it‘s only the beginning of our fight.‖
That sort of language prompted Twitter to suspend Trump permanently on Friday and fueled
Democrats‘ moves against him.
The Twitter ban drew an angry response from Trump, who in a statement late Friday
accused the popular platform — where he had more than 88 million followers — of having
―coordinated with the Democrats and the Radical Left.‖
Twitter not only suspended the @realDonaldTrump account but took action against others,
including @POTUS, when he briefly turned to them.
– Biden defers to Congress –
Several Democrats and at least one Republican lawmaker — Senator Lisa Murkowski of
Alaska — have urged Trump to resign and avoid the messiness of impeachment proceedings
in his final full week in power, but he reportedly has remained defiant in talks with his
aides.
Trump has said he never intended for his supporters to attack the Capitol building — where
Congress had convened to certify Biden‘s victory in the state-by-state Electoral College
tally — but only meant to encourage peaceful protest.
But in the chaos, one Trump supporter was shot and killed, while a Capitol policeman was
gravely wounded and died the following day.
Lawmakers, reporters and staff were forced to take shelter while invaders looted and
vandalized the historic building, some parading through its halls with Confederate flags.
Just as when Trump was impeached in a traumatic 2019 partisan vote — but not convicted
— the process requires first majority backing in the Democratic-controlled House of
Representatives, and then, for conviction, two-thirds approval in the Senate.
Reaching two-thirds could be difficult in the narrowly divided upper chamber, though a
number of Republicans have expressed their disgust with the events of Wednesday.
―I do think the president committed impeachable offences,‖ said Senator Pat Toomey in an
interview on Fox News on Saturday.

But Trump supporters including Senator Lindsey Graham have urged Biden to intervene
with top Democratic lawmakers to call off the impeachment effort.
―I‘m calling on President-elect Biden to pick up the phone to call Nancy Pelosi and the
Squad to end the second impeachment,‖ Graham said Friday on Fox News, referring to the
House speaker and a group of four young progressive Democrats who are favorite targets of
the political right.
But Biden — whose inauguration on January 20, traditionally a pomp-filled event attended
by thousands, is being seriously scaled back — on Friday side-stepped a reporter‘s question
about impeachment.
―What the Congress decides to do is for them to do,‖ he said.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/10/increasingly-isolated-trump-threatened-with-second-impeachment/
Price ceiling on ‘galunggong,’ other fish sought
January 09, 2021, 03:33 PM
by Raymund Antonio
An alliance of fisherfolk is asking the government to impose a price ceiling to curb
rising prices of ―galunggong‖ or round scad and other fishery products in the local
market.
The Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) noted that prices of fish
such as galunggong have skyrocketed and this particular fish now costs an average of
P250 per kilogram.
―Galunggong is no longer a poor man‘s fish with its average retail price of P250 per
kilo,‖ Pamalakaya chair Fernando Hicap said in a statement.
BACOLOD CITY – Heavy downpour since Friday morning has resulted in massive
flooding in some areas in this city and in northern Negros Occidental, affected
thousands of families.
It was the second such flooding since New Year‘s Day when torrential rains also
caused flooding in four localities in the province that affected 15,000 families.
According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO),
Friday‘s rainfall was caused by a low-pressure area and combined effects of the tail-
end of a frontal system.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/09/vp-takes-a-break-in-anilao/
Smuggling: Why Border Drill Must Be Sustained For Self-
sufficiency In Rice Production

With the reopening of the border in the country, TUNDE OGUNTOLA writes the need for
Customs officials and other security agencies to efficiently secure the border against the
importation of smuggled rice and other banned products to protect the huge investment in the
rice production value chain amidst endless importation of smuggled foreign rice into the
country
When President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the partial closure of the land borders in August
2019 due to massive smuggling activities, especially rice, many saw it as a fulfillment of one of
his campaign promises to increase local production of rice amidst the nation‘s countless and
unheeded calls to her neighbours to stop aiding and abetting smuggling, which apparently is
damaging the nation‘s economy.
A fortnight ago, the federal government ordered the reopening of the land borders at Seme, Illela,
Maigatari, and Mfun raising fears in the rice production value chain. But the finance minister
Zainab Ahmed said: ‗‘President Buhari‘s instructions on the ban on importation of rice, poultry
and other products still subsists and will be implemented by border patrol teams.‘‘
However, LEADERSHIP Weekend findings show the smugglers, on a daily basis, transport rice
unabated via Babura, Mai Mujiya in Niger Republic, Kongolam in Sokoto State to Nigeria and
Daura. Others are Babban-Mutun, Babura, Yarkiyrya junction, Kanye Babba, Dandi, Garkin
Daura, Baure, Achakwale, Maibara, Yaduna, Karkarna, Babura, Insha Ruwa, Masko, Batali,
Yarkirya, Kanya Babba, Kore, Mai‘Adua, Dogon hawa, Shargalle Junction, Dutsi, Kwarnar
Sandamu, Fago, Kazaure and Kwanar Dumawa.
Prior to the border drill, Benin Republic with a population of about 11 million people imports 1.2
million metric tons of rice annually. Although Benin Republic is not alone as Niger Republic,
Chad and Cameroon form the other members of the devious quartet in this sabotage threatening
Nigeria‘s domestic rice production; hence the authorities then vowed not to reopen the borders
until the affected countries learn to conduct themselves responsibly and in line with the
principles that undergird the ECOWAS protocol on the free movement of goods and services.
Amidst the drill, Nigerians invested heavily in the agriculture value chain, with support from the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rice Anchor Borrowers Programme. However, the truth must be
told with the reopening of the border, we all know that Nigeria has one of the most porous
borders in the world, aggravated by alleged and shoddy practices by some alleged corrupt
Customs officials and other state actors amidst porous 84 land borders with over 1,400 rogue
routes.
However, as the federal government announced the reopening of some land borders, investors in
the rice production value chain have expressed deep concern proposing stringent measures to
curb illicit businesses carried out by criminal-minded persons undermining the prohibition of
some items by the government including rice and other goods.
Speaking to LEADERSHIP Weekend, rice millers under the auspices of Rice Millers
Association of Nigeria (RIMAN) charged security personnel representing the country at the
borders to be diligent, honest, and patriotic in enforcing the law in the interest of economic
growth and national development.

The national president, RIMAN, Peter Dama, proposed an increased tariff on imported rice as a
panacea to safeguard the massive investment in the sector, adding such import should be made to
pass only through the seaports.
‗‘If they can bring rice to Abuja, the seat of government where the presidency is, and where the
Customs headquarters is cited, it shows that the Customs must step up their efforts to avert
jeopardizing the massive investment in the rice production value chain,‘‘ he said.
Dama, who raised the alarm following fears of connivance by some government security
personnel with those who smuggle prohibited items into the country, said ‗‘Some of the
proposed measures include the increase of tariff on imported rice and should be made to pass
through the seaports; engaging neigbouring countries on treaties signed in regards to the
movement of goods and persons; not to allow Nigeria to be a dumping ground for foreign goods;
joint border patrol teams be re-established; punitive measures meted out to offenders of the law,
and others.‘‘
He said: ―The Nigerian Custom personnel should be honest in carrying out their duties. They
should not compromise their positions by collecting bribes and allowing the foreign rice to come
into the country through unauthorized routes.
―The Nigerian government should raise the tariff of imported rice and no foreign rice should be
allowed into the country through land borders except through our seaports.‘‘
In line with ECOWAS protocol, he said the federal government should also engage neighbouring
countries, urging them not to accept the dumping of foreign imported rice in their countries with
the intention of transporting them to Nigeria.
He continued: ―A joint border patrol team should be set up to monitor the exportation of rice to
Nigeria through unauthorized routes. There should be punitive measures for any violation of
these measures.
―The border communities who depended on this illegal trade should be made to engage on
legitimate trading with their neighbours instead of helping to destroy our economy by facilitating
smuggling at the borders.‘‘
Speaking further, the RIMAN boss stated that the federal government should deploy drones and
other technologies to monitor the nation‘s porous borders, stressing the Nigerian Customs
Service (NCS) should be properly equipped adequately including other security agents to man
the borders.
He also noted that the Ministry of Finance should ensure immediate review of Nigeria‘s tariff on
imported rice and also that our Customs personnel are well remunerated with good welfare
packages that will not make them compromise with smugglers.
Dama also said that the Ministry of Trade and Investments together with NAFDAC should notify
Nigerians about the dangers of consuming imported rice that has been stored and preserved in
silos with chemicals abroad and the dangers it poses to the health of Nigerians.
―The trade agreement entered into with our neighbors should not be allowed to make our country
a dumping ground for foreign products that we can equally produce as this will affect our
investments that will lead to job losses for our citizens while creating jobs for other nations.
‗‘While the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture should intensify public awareness on
the issues of smuggling as a criminal offence, dangers of consuming imported rice, aiding and
abetting smugglers, the negative impact of smuggling on the economy as it creates
unemployment and collapsing of investments,‘‘ he added.

Meanwhile, the national coordinator, Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS),
Mr Retson Tedheke, has pointed out imported rice is making its way into the country whether
legally or otherwise, noting the physical closure of the border is just one aspect of safeguarding
and securing local production, even though, he said, the society was told reopening the border
does not affect importation of food, stressing this implies food importation is still banned.
‗‘But surprisingly we still see chunks of foreign rice everywhere. This is sad,‘‘ he said.
Tedheke, however, recommended a change in the government‘s aggressive rhetoric on rice
importation, calling on Custom officials to step up their game.
According to him, ―What I think needs to be done to protect the people who have invested in the
sector is to look at other means of ensuring that what the closure of the border could not do those
other components can do, I am always looking up to the Asian countries particularly China and
Thailand.
―What they did was to safeguard their local industries, they introduced several measures one
amongst them was border closure at a time after the closure, they introduced a very high tariff on
what can be produced locally in their country. It is happening now even in capitalist states like
the USA. Like I always say we should not listen to what they say, we should look at what they
do.
―For instance, making America great is all about protecting American industries and made in
America, now what the government must begin to do therefore is to look at what Nigerians can
produce.
―Nigeria can produce rice, soybeans, among others. Nigeria can produce all the food we need.
We have 84 hectares of arable land, what we must do is to safeguard our borders and tell
importers to bring in those commodities through the land borders and seaports and raise the
tariff. For example, if you are importing 500 metric tonnes of rice the tariff should be 500 per
cent so that the cost of foreign rice in Nigeria will be times two of our own cost of local
production.‘‘
He explained that such a high tariff will discourage people from importing goods that can be
produced in the country.
―Nigeria Customs must up their game in safeguarding the nation from economic saboteurs who
have formed the habit of destroying our own country in the name of buying cheap because at the
end of the day, when you are interested in developing the local economy you must be interested
in looking at agriculture as a source of development,‖ he said.
He noted that there is no sector in the Nigerian economy that has the potential and capacity of
taking millions of our people out of the streets and giving them jobs like the agricultural sector.
―There is no sector with the potential of helping us solve our insecurity crisis like agriculture,
there is no sector that has the capacity of growing our nation like the agriculture sector, what we
have to do is to preserve this sector by doing everything possible to ensure that internal economic
saboteurs who have turned smuggling to their industry fail.
―Also, we need to ensure that goods that we can produce here are not imported. We must ensure
that what we can produce at home is what we consume or else we will be killing our economy
and it is going to affect every home in Nigeria if we don‘t do the needful.‘‘
He stressed the government should continue to make Nigeria‘s goods and products more
competitive than foreign goods.

To kick-start and sustain its ambitious agriculture revolution, he said the government should
block the enduring loopholes along the local agriculture value chain and also inject more money
in the rural areas and agriculture sector.
―We must stop audio farming, politicians have access to money but the local Nigerians don‘t,‖
he said. Tedheke added that once the money is in the hands of local farmers it should be
monitored by extension workers to ensure that they use it properly.
In attempting to clamp down on imports while local production still falls short of demand, he
said CBN should start giving loans at two or three per cent.
―We should get to a point where they can give money to local farmers to be paying back at two
or three per cent because you see the big firms like Olams and Stallions of this country get their
monies from their countries at two or three per cent in their country but a Nigerian man gets his
own at nine per cent if he is lucky to get from the CBN, how can he compete?
―While if he gets from the commercial banks the loan interest is about 25 to 30 per cent. If you
look at all of the rates that are heaping on a Nigerian producer, you will know that it is insane.
CBN must come in and start giving money at about two or three per cent if this is done, I can
assure you that we will be sufficient,‖ he added.
On his part, the CEO, Evergreen International Company Limited, Amb. Ayola Joseph Lewu,
noted the opening of the border is a good thing that has happened because Nigeria is a member
of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and a leading member of ECOWAS and
the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
‗‘All these are organisations and treaties to which Nigeria is a member and has ratified.
However, we have been breaching these treaties, maybe, because of the need for security of the
nation due to the free movement of small arms and animations. But can we afford to close our
borders forever and be breaking international treaties to which, we have signed?‘‘ he asked,
adding that the nation should comply with the signed treaties.
‗‘As far as the argument for security of the country is concerned, what we should do is to police
our borders effectively. We may not attain 100 per cent effectiveness in this regard but at least it
will reduce considerably. Opening our borders will help to bring in a lot of materials that we
don‘t have in the country which are needed for industrial and agricultural production.
‗‘However, there are certain commodities that are said to be banned from coming into the
country. If they are coming in through our legitimate ports then we can impose a lot of tariffs on
them and allow the goods in. I don‘t think that banning them altogether is the correct approach.
‗‘Nigeria can say that some goods should not be brought in through the land borders but to the
ports but unfortunately, Nigeria is not managing its ports very well. Look what is happening in
Lagos- in Apapa and Tin Can- the whole place is choked up.
‗‘Over the years one would have expected that Nigeria would have developed the other coastal
ports like Warri, Calabar, Onne or Port Harcourt. We neglected all that and now when faced with
these problems we resort to the fire brigade approach. That is why planning is important because
you don‘t just plan for 1 year or 4 years of a regime. We need long-term plans because the
country is growing and the population too is growing. Our infrastructures should go inline with
the rate of population growth,‘‘ he said.
Correspondingly, he said the government should ensure that rice is not imported through the land
borders but the seaports with a high tariff.
He said this will enable our farmers to take advantage of the gap between demand and supply
and be able to work harder to take charge of meeting the supply-demand of the country.

Lewu also said the government should assist farmers particularly in the area of input supply. He
said hoes and cutlass are not the best for our agriculture but yet we still have 60 to 70 per cent of
our farmers still doing rice production the old way.
‗‘We need mechanization, simple motorised equipment like planters and sprayers and weed
control. If you see what is happening in Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and
India, you noticed that they are using simple equipment that are not as heavy and expensive as
tractors. Such equipment can be brought into our country and given to the farmers at subsidised
rates.
‗‘Again, the cost of production is extremely too high and that is why we are not internationally
competitive. People are ready to buy rice but if the rice produce has stones in them, they will
prefer foreign rice even when it has stayed many years in the warehouses abroad.
‗‘We should also have rice mills that are closer to the people. We cannot get the best without the
assistance of government both local, state, and federal government.‘‘
He added research institutes should be well-funded so that the correct varieties of rice in Nigeria
are produced and commercialised so that adoption by farmers will be higher than what it is at the
moment.
Also, the CEO, Mamora Rice Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Abdulrauf Adekunle Lawal, opined the
border opening will have a negative effect on local investment in the rice production value chain.
‗‘In the rice value chain there are a lot of actors involved, we have the input dealers, aggregators,
the farmer who is the primary source of raw material, paddy cultivators, millers, input dealers,
wholesalers, fertilizers, herbicide manufacturers, chemicals and seeds, distributors and
marketers.
‗‘The real effect of the border reopening is not noticeable for now because of yuletide. It also
takes about eight weeks for imported rice to arrive at the Benin Border from Indonesia, Pakistan,
India, or Vietnam. We will be seeing the real effects after eight weeks from now,‘‘ he said.
He harped on the need for Nigeria farmers to produce quality rice.
‗‘Traditionally, Nigerian rice is better than the imported rice but if we can improve the standard
of our rice then, the foreign rice will be a thing of the past. The onus is on us that are in the value
chain to standardise the process.
‗‘But the problem we have here is the high cost of production including electricity. I just bought
N5,000 worth of electricity and they gave me units of 34.7 kwh. Back then, N5000 could give
you 100 kwh units. Electricity is a challenge and if you want to use a power generator, you
would have to buy petrol or diesel. That is why we are not competitive in terms of price. Apart
from the quality, the price is something else we need to work on.
‗‘The Customs officers at the borders should be proactive to avoid smuggling the imported rice
into Nigeria. The rice in 50kg bags is transported through bush parts on motorcycles daily.
‗‘Nigerians should imbibe the culture of rice cultivation. There are different varieties of rice even
the ones that can grow on dry land.
‗‘The research institutes are developing varieties of rice daily that can even grow up to three
times in a year. The more we produce rice, the more standardised the rice becomes and the better
for consumers,‘‘ he added.
https://leadership.ng/smuggling-why-border-drill-must-be-sustained-for-self-sufficiency-in-rice-
production/

US logs record virus caseload as millions in Asia enter new
lockdowns
Published January 9, 2021, 2:14 PM
by Agence France-Presse
The United States logged a record new daily virus caseload as Joe Biden slammed the
Trump administration‘s vaccine roll-out as a ―travesty‖ and millions in Asia woke up to new
lockdowns.
Registered nurse Kennoka Williamson wears personal protective equipment (PPE) as she attends
to patients in a suspected Covid-19 patient triage area set up in a field hospital tent outside the
emergency department of Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) Community Hospital on January 6,
2021 in the Willowbrook neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. – Deep within a South Los
Angeles hospital, a row of elderly Hispanic men in induced comas lay hooked up to ventilators,
while nurses clad in spacesuit-looking respirators checked their bleeping monitors in the eerie
silence. The intensive care unit in one of the city‘s poorest districts is well accustomed to death,
but with Los Angeles now at the heart of the United States‘ Covid pandemic, medics say they
have never seen anything on this scale. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
Almost 1.9 million people have now died from the virus, with new variants sending cases
soaring and prompting the re-introduction of curbs on movement even as some countries
begin mass inoculation campaigns.

Almost 290,00 new cases were reported in the US within 24 hours Friday according to
Johns Hopkins University, a day after the world‘s worst-hit country recorded a daily record
of nearly 4,000 deaths.
―Vaccines give us hope, but the roll-out has been a travesty,‖ Biden told reporters, warning
distribution of the vaccine would be ―the greatest operational challenge we will ever face as
a nation.‖
On Saturday the streets of the Australian city of Brisbane were quiet as its more than two
million residents were ordered back into lockdown after authorities detected a single
infection of a new strain from Britain, which is thought to be more infectious.
―Quite surreal, like something from a movie set,‖ local man Scott told AFP in Brisbane‘s
deserted downtown.
―It‘s necessary. Hopefully we will get through the next few days without any cases, that will
allow us just to start to get back to normal.‖
In China, where the original coronavirus first emerged in late 2019, authorities also
tightened restrictions on two cities near Beijing to stamp out a growing cluster.
The new week-long stay at home orders affecting about 18 million people in Shijiazhuang
and Xingtai come as cases spike ahead of the Lunar New Year, when hundreds of millions
criss-cross the country to visit family and friends.
On Saturday Beijing‘s National Health Commission said authorities had so far given out
more than nine million vaccine doses, but warned the upcoming holiday would ―further
boost the risk of transmission.‖
As the race to inoculate heats up, the World Health Organization urged rich countries to
stop cutting their own deals with manufacturers to snap up the first wave of vaccines.
―Fifty percent of the high-income countries in the world are vaccinating today,‖ said Bruce
Aylward, head of the WHO co-led vaccine procurement and distribution effort.
―Zero percent of the low-income countries are vaccinating. That is not equitable.‖
The comments came as the European Union said it had agreed an option for a further 300
million jabs from Pfizer/BioNTech, doubling its supply of the vaccine.
China also said Saturday that preparations were still ongoing for a WHO mission to Wuhan
to investigate the origins of Covid-19, following a rare rebuke from the UN body over a
delay to the long-planned trip.
―As long as these experts complete the procedures and confirm their schedule, we will go to
Wuhan together to carry out investigations,‖ National Health Commission vice minister
Zeng Yixin told reporters.
– Records keep falling –
Despite nearly a year of intermittent restrictions across the globe, many countries are still
recording record coronavirus numbers, including Britain which on Friday announced new
highs of 1,325 deaths and 68,053 cases over 24 hours.
Fears have been rising over the new virus variants that emerged in Britain and South Africa,
but BioNTech brought some relief on Friday, saying its vaccine was effective against a ―key
mutation‖ found in the strains.
In Brazil, which has the second-highest death toll after the US, two vaccine makers —
China‘s Sinovac and AstraZeneca/Oxford — applied for approval for their jabs.
Meanwhile Iran said it was banning the import of any US and British-produced vaccines
doses, with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei saying they were ―completely untrustworthy‖.

―It‘s not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations,‖ he said.
Africa was spared the worst of the pandemic‘s first wave, but has seen a sharp surge in
recent weeks, with Senegal recording its highest death and infections figures — eight and
296, respectively — on Friday.
At a hospital in Nigerian megacity Lagos, managing director Ngozi Onyia likened the surge
in cases there to a ―tsunami‖.
―I‘m making tough calls — who to take into the treatment centre, who to put on one of our
four ventilators — ethical decisions I‘ve never had to make in 38-plus years,‖ she said.
But there was relief in Spain, where a baby — three-month-old Petru — left the hospital
after spending nearly all his short life fighting Covid-19.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/09/us-logs-record-virus-caseload-as-millions-in-asia-enter-new-lockdowns/
Indian rice exporters taking risks as Bangladesh looks to
import more
Bangladesh food department officials expect rice imports to top 20 lakh tonnes and India, the
world’s largest rice exporter, stands to gain.
S U B R A M A N I M AN C O M B U
JANUARY 08, 2021 / 04:42 PM IST
Bangladesh is set to import an additional 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India over the next few
months, with 1.5 lakh tonnes through government-to-government deals but some exporters are
taking undue risks by quoting low prices, sources have said.
These imports will be in addition to the seven global tenders Dhaka has floated to import 3.10
lakh tonnes of rice. Two of these tenders for 50,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes were floated on
January 7. While the 50,000-tonne tender closes on January 20, bids for the other can be sent in
by January 18.
Indian firms, including a Singapore company's subsidiary, have won five of the remaining
tenders, quoting rates between $405 (Rs 29,750) and $418 (Rs 30,750) a tonne on cost, insurance
and freight (CIF) basis, sources said.
While the lower bids are for non-basmati parboiled rice, the higher quotes are for white rice.
The problem for India is that some exporters who have got the orders are finding it difficult to
leverage their cargo.
―Some of the exporters have not even exported 50,000 tonnes for a whole year,‖ said an
exporter, not wishing to be identifies, pointing out to a crisis building up.
A multinational firm‘s export official said that exporters had taken undue risks by quoting very
low prices.
―Our exporters are trying to outbid one another to get the Bangladesh tender. Quoting $406 CIF
is risky when our prices are near $400, as they could face problems of unloading at Bangladesh

11th january,2021 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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