11th september ,2020 daily global regional and local rice e-newsletter

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Importance Of Agriculture In Pakistan
September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 Muhammad Dilawaiz
Khan Agriculture, Importance, Pakistan
Agriculture is the of process of cultivation of land or soil for production purpose. As an
agriculturist/agronomist, Agriculture plays a very vital role in the economy of Pakistan and its
development. 48% of the labor force is engaged directly with agriculture.
So, it is the main source of living or income of the major part of the economy population. About
70% of the population is related to agriculture directly or indirectly. Agriculture is the major
source of food for the huge population of Pakistan. Agriculture is also the major source of the
provision of raw martial to the industrial sector of Pakistan. Its contribution towards GDP is
about 25% which is higher than the contribution of any other sector. The following are the main
points of the importance of agriculture for the Pakistan economy.
Source of Employment:
Pakistan as a developing economy the employment on a consistent level has much importance.
In this behalf, agriculture has much importance because it provides employment directly or

indirectly to the public. Employment directly affects the GSP of the economy as well as the per
capita income. With the increase in per capita income living standard increases, higher hygiene
facilities & better education facilities are also increasing. All these signs are the factors of
economic development. So, we can say that agriculture has a great contribution to economic
development by providing employment.
Food Requirement:
The population growth rate of Pakistan is increasing rapidly. According to UNDP (United
Nations Development Programme) human development report, the population growth rate of
Pakistan is 2% per year. So, with the rapidly increasing population, the food requirement is also
increasing rapidly. In this behalf agriculture is the only major sector which is meeting the
increasing requirement of food. It also reduces the import of food from other economies. So, we
can say that the agriculture sector is playing a very vital role in the development of Pakistan by
providing food for massive population as well as supporting economic growth.
Contribution in Exports:
Major exports or cash crops of Pakistan are wheat, rice, and cotton. 9.8 billion Bales of cotton
are produced per year. Rice crop is produced 4.3 million tons per year. These agricultural
commodities are exported to various countries against foreign exchange. This foreign exchange
is utilized for the import of industrial or technological equipments such as machinery or
automobiles. Further this foreign exchange is utilized to improve the infrastructure of the
economy or for improving the other sector of the economy like education, health, and
investments.
Raw Material for Industries:
Industries have great importance for the development of any country especially for developing
economies like Pakistan. Industries need raw material to produce finish goods. In Pakistan
agriculture provides raw material to industries. Cotton is a very important agricultural production
which is also a major export of Pakistan. It is used as a raw material in textile industries. The
production of these textile industries is exported to various countries against foreign exchange.
Livestock is also an agricultural sector. It also plays a very important role to export goods by
providing the raw material to various industries like sports goods industries and leather
industries. So, in this way agriculture helps to Pakistan economy and its growth toward
development.
Infrastructural Development:

Infrastructure plays a very important role in the development of any economy. It is fuel to the
economic development. Well organized infrastructure is a key to development because of quick
means of transportation of agricultural goods or commodities (raw material or finish goods) and
communication. On the distribution purpose of agricultural products good and quick means of
transportation are required this intends to improve the infrastructure rapidly. Hence, agriculture
plays an important role in the development of transportation for the purpose of distribution of
goods.
Increase in GDP Level:
Agriculture has a huge contribution toward the GDP of Pakistan economy. it contributes about
25% of total GDP, which is larger than other sectors of Pakistan. An increase in GDP shows the
development progress of the economy. It has played a very important role since independence
toward the GDP of Pakistan. Now agriculture is the 3rd largest sector of contributing to GDP.
Livestock and fisheries are a huge sector of agriculture in order to provide employment.
Employment contributes to GDP; it is as with the increase in employment the per capita income
will increase which results in to increase in the GDP rate of the economy.
Decreasing in Rural Poverty:
The agriculture sector has played a very important role in order to reduction of rural poverty.
From 1975 to 2000 the GDP growth rate of agriculture was about 4.1% per year. Green
revolution technology in irrigation, improved seeds, and fertilizers played a very vital role to
increase the agricultural production which results in increase in GDP. Through this technology
farmers with land gain the opportunity to increase their production. So, in this way, arable lands
became cultivated lands and farmers got the market of agricultural products against some return.
Development of the Banking Sector:
Agriculture has also contributed a great role in the development of the banking sector. As the
government realized the importance of agriculture, it takes steps to improve the productivity of
crops by providing the credit facilities to the farmers at low-interest rates. With utilizing these
credits farmers can produce more and more crops. For this purpose, the government established
the ZTBL and other financial institutes for the provision of credit facilities. So, in this way the
development of the banking sector takes place.
Farm Mechanization:
The introduction of farm mechanization in the agricultural sector had played a very effective role
in the development of the economy. With the use of modern machinery in agricultural lands
causes more and high-quality production of crops. So, the provision of raw material to the

industries increases. Due to an increase in productivity level the export rate of major export crops
is increased which causes foreign exchange and economic development.
Use of Nanotechnology:
In the agricultural sector use of modern technology like nanotechnology has played a very vital
role in the development of the economy. This technology is used for producing high yielding
variety with high-quality products. High-quality products result in a high rate of return to the
farmers and the per capita income of farmers increases. An increase in per capita income shows
the growth of the economy toward development.
Role of Dairy Farming:
Dairy farming from the agricultural sector has also played a great role in economic development.
Livestock or dairy farming has a huge contribution to economic growth. The annual protein per
capita is 18 kg of meat and 155 litters of milk. This is the highest rate in South Asia. Milk and
meat and their by-products have a good market. Farmers can receive a good return by producing
and providing these products to the market. This process results in an increase in per capita
income as well as an increase in the national income of the economy.
Role of Textile Industries:
In the economic development textile industries plays a very important role. These industries
totally depend on agriculture production in raw form. Cotton is the major crop which is used as
raw material for these industries for production purpose. Further, these products are exported to
many economies against foreign exchange. So, cotton as raw material from the agriculture side
contributes to an increase in NI (National Income). Textile industries also provide employment
levels which increases the per capita income of the person. Hence, the contribution of textile
industries in the development of the economy has much importance.
Role of Sugar Industries:
The sugar industry is also one of the major sectors of economy which has great importance
according to the development of economy. This is a totally agriculturally based industry. Sugar
cane is produced on a very large scale in many areas of Pakistan. This further supplies sugar
industries for the production of sugar and other by-products which has a great market. As large-
scale industries, these also help to provide employment levels to the public. This results in an
increase in per capita income as well as improves living standards.
Rice Export Corporation:

Many areas of Pakistan have much importance according to the production of rice crops. In some
areas, the world most famous rice crop is produced. A huge quantity is exported to many
economies against foreign exchange. This foreign exchange is further utilized in the import of
some other products like modern technology or machinery or this is utilized for the improvement
of infrastructure of the economy.
Role of Fishery:
As a biologist/zoologist, the Fishing industry plays a very important role in the development of
the national economy. With a coastline of 814 km, Pakistan has enough resources for that
remains to fully develop. This is also the major export of Pakistan.
Forestry:
About 4% of the land is covered with forests in Pakistan. This is the major source of paper,
lumber, fuel-wood, and latex medicine. It is also used for the purpose of wildlife conservation
and ecotourism.
Measure to Improve the Efficiency of Agricultural Sector for Development of Economy:
1. Yield Collection Problems:
The collection of yield from small farmers is a very expensive and difficult process. So, it is
a great problem of marketing. There should be some easy way for the collection of yield from the
farmers.
2. Rough Grading Products:
Commodities or products which are graded have a higher price in the market. In Pakistan mixing
of poor & good qualities is common. So grading problems must reduce.
3. Storage Problems:
The storage facilities in markets are not enough, the seller cannot store & wait for a higher price
of the product due to lack of warehouses. Because of this, some perishable produce suffers loss.
4. Middleman’s Role:
The middleman takes a big share of farmer crops without doing anything. The farmers borrow
the money from them & sell their products at low prices. So this is a big loss to the farmers.

5. Transportation Problems:
Our sources of transportation are insufficient, so a regular supply of products is not possible for
the market. The village is not properly linked to the markets. For proper provision of products to
the market, there must be sufficient as well as fast means of transportation.
6. Revenue System:
Our farmers have to pay land revenue after the harvesting of each crop, so it forces the farmers to
sell their produce at a low price.
7. Market Advisory Committee (MAC):
MAC (Market Advisory Committee) at the district and tehsil level should be set up to provide
technical advice and information to co-operative marketing societies. The officers of the co-
operative & agriculture department should be the members of the committee.
8. Market Reforms:
The government should improve the market system. Strict rules and laws should be introduced.
The prices of agricultural products should be checked by the inspectors in the market.
Muhammad Dilawaiz Khan1
Nargis Naheed2
1
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38000, Pakistan
2
Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38000,
Pakistan
https://www.technologytimes.pk/2020/09/10/importance-of-agriculture-in-
pakistan/+&cd=1&hl=e
Why You NEED To Soak Your Rice, According To
Indian Cooking Experts
A viral egg fried rice video has sparked a big debate: To soak or not to soak?
By

Amrita Amesur
09/09/2020 05:45am EDT
In July, Malaysian comedian Nigel Ng released a YouTube video titled ―DISGUSTED by this
Egg Fried Rice Video‖ under his comedic moniker Uncle Roger in which he slammed Hersha
Patel, a BBC Food presenter, for the way she cooked Chinese-style egg fried rice.
Ng was horrified that Patel boiled the rice in excess water, much like you‘d cook pasta, and then
drained the rice through a colander to wash off the starch, which is known as the draining
method of cooking rice. Uncle Roger expressed comedic horror over what he saw as Patel‘s
inability to cook rice, prompting a viral internet storm of shock, outrage and charges of a ―hate
crime‖ against the grain.
The ordeal also sparked a larger conversation about the various methods of cooking rice.
As an Indian, having grown up eating rice every day cooked by way of the draining method, I‘ve
personally always been horrified as to how other cultures simply throw rice and lentils out of a
bag and into a pot, without so much as washing it. More importantly, without soaking it.
Soaking rice before cooking it actually assimilates its nutritional qualities, meaning it helps the
gastrointestinal tract better absorb vitamins and minerals from the rice, according to renowned
Indian nutritionist and advocate of regional indigenous foods Rujuta Diwekar. Soaked rice also
cooks faster and produces a beautiful bloomed texture, allowing it to retain the aromatic
elements of the rice.
Soaking removes phytic acid, which prevents your body from fully absorbing the nutrients
in rice.
Phytic acid is a natural substance found in plant seeds that impairs the body‘s absorption of iron,
zinc and calcium. It‘s found at especially high levels in seeds, grains, legumes, beans and nuts.
―Phytic acid is found in plants, forming the storage unit of phosphorus in seeds,‖ macrobiotic
nutritionist and chef Shonali Sabherwal, recently recognized as the best nutritionist by Vogue
India in the Vogue Beauty Awards 2020, told HuffPost. ―It stops absorption of minerals and
soaking [rice in water] removes the phytic acid. Those with zinc and iron deficiency need to be
more careful about it.‖
Sabherwal pointed out that the impairment of mineral absorption is limited to that meal and does
not affect any future meals. Nor does it cause any systemic impairments preventing the body
from absorbing nutrition from any other foods after such a meal.
There‘s no need to avoid eating rice, Sabherwal said. ―Don‘t avoid an entire food group. But use
cooking methods that enhance its nutrition,‖ such as soaking, which has proven to be effective in
reducing phytic acid levels and increasing the bioaccessibility of zinc and iron from food grains,
including rice.

Certain types of rice are better suited for soaking than others.
In India, you will find myriad varieties of rice, based on the terroir of the region, commonly
cooked in a variety of methods: in pressure cookers, boiled in large pots of salted water like
pasta, and drained or cooked with measured amounts of water per the absorption method. There
is no right or wrong method, but rather a preferred one.
Whole grain rices benefit from soaking longer than polished grain rices.
The desired texture and dish you‘re preparing dictates the specific variety of rice and the cooking
technique. For example, pulaos or pilafs, made with long grain basmati or other aged fragrant
rice, tend to use the absorption method, and soaking is avoided to preserve the integrity of the
grain. For plain rice, the boiling and draining method after soaking the rice is commonly
acceptable.
There are as many ways to prep and cook rice as there are varieties of the grain and the cultures
that eat it. Each variety of rice has a different shape, size (long grain, medium grain or short
grain), starch and fiber content, and all are used in different contexts and recipes to achieve
various textural and flavor outcomes. It is these factors that determine the amount of liquid and
time needed to soak the rice, and to cook the rice to perfection. Based on the quality and kind of
rice, and depending on whether it is aged or not, the ideal soaking time could be anywhere from
15 minutes to 12 hours.
How long to soak rice?
Much of the rice prep in Indian kitchens typically begins with washing and picking the rice
several times, swirled in water by hand to wash away the starch and any foreign matter.
Every type of rice and recipe calls for specific instructions, but this is generally how long to soak
rice:
 Unmilled or unhusked whole grain brown, black, red, wild or other unpolished rice:
Soak 6-12 hours
 Polished brown rice: Soak 4-6 hours
 Thai sticky rice: Soak overnight
 Basmati, jasmine and sushi rice: Soak 15-30 minutes, unless the recipe specifically
recommends otherwise
 Short grain starchy and glutinous rice (arborio): Don‘t soak
 Ordinary polished white rice: Soak 0-15 minutes (recommended but not necessary)

More reasons Indian cooks soak their rice.
The practice of soaking, codified in ancient culinary texts and through verbal traditions,
continues to hold solid in Indian kitchens.
―The Manasollasa (an early 12th-century encyclopedic Sanskrit text) mentions that one of the
ways in which rice achieves a soft yet open texture is by draining off the excess liquid when the
rice is cooked al dente and keeping the rice covered for a while for the steam to finish the
cooking process,‖ Saee Koranne Khandekar, author of the Marathi cuisine cookbook ―Pangat,‖
told HuffPost. ―The text also mentions thorough washing and soaking as essential steps, again
perhaps because in the 12th century, only hand-pounded rice was being eaten.‖
Marina Balakrishnan, a Keralite food specialty chef based in Mumbai, explained that grains
really cook perfectly to their core only when well hydrated from a soak. ―Soaking speeds up the
cooking process, the grain absorbs the water and the heat softens the grain,‖ Balakrishnan said.
―My grandmother used to say that soaking rice increases the flavor of the grain. Also, when it is
soaked for less time, I find it tastes a little grainy even after cooking.‖
Sabherwal and Balakrishnan agree that the types of rice that deeply benefit in texture from a
good soak are the heartier whole grain, brown, black and red rice, along with other unpolished
grains. But since phytic acid is present in all rice, it is only the soaking of the rice that ensures its
removal for optimum absorption of minerals by the body.
Culinarily and nutritionally, the arguments certainly fall in favor of this extra labor of love ― so
soak your rice and grains. Think of it as bonus nutrients and minerals, without the pills.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-you-need-to-soak-rice_l_5f466b5dc5b64f17e136f7d1
Sales of 200,000 Tons of 2020-Harvested Rice to Be
Suspended
Tokyo, Sept. 10 (Jiji Press)--The Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA-
Zenchu, on Thursday revealed plans to suspend until autumn 2021 or later sales of around
200,000 tons of rice harvested in Japan in 2020, in a bid to prevent rice prices from falling.
The nationwide agricultural body explained the plans at a meeting of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party on the day.
The move comes as rice shipments to the restaurant industry are sluggish amid the
coronavirus epidemic.
In the year through June 2020, rice demand dropped 220,000 tons from the previous year,
twice the initially estimated amount, due partly to the October 2019 consumption tax hike.

Rice demand is on a long-term downtrend, reflecting the diversification of what people eat
in Japan. Annual demand is now estimated at about 7.1 million tons, against estimated
production of some 7.3 million tons.
(2020/09/10-21:59)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe
https://jen.jiji.com/jc/eng?g=eco&k=2020091001268#:~:text=Tokyo%2C%20Sept.%2010%20(J
iji,prevent%20rice%20prices%20from%20falling.
Special Report: Heavy rains and flooding in August affect primary rice producing
areas in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Format
Analysis
Source
 GEOGLAM
Posted
9 Sep 2020
Originally published

9 Sep 2020
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Highlights:
 The April to September main cropping season in the Democratic People‘s Republic of Korea
(DPRK) has been one of the wettest rainfall periods since 1981 across the southern
agricultural producing provinces in the country (Figure 1,2). The majority of this rainfall was
received in August (Figure 3), causing widespread flooding and inundating main season crops
ready for harvest starting in September.
 The main producing southern provinces have been the hardest hit from the record rainfall in
August (Figure 3), causing flooding across parts of North Hwanghae Province, South
Hwanghae Province, South Pyongan, North Pyongan, and Kangwon Province.

 In early August, heavy rainfall from Typhoon 4 followed by additional rainfall through the
first two weeks of the month resulted in landslides and flooding across the South, damaging
39,296 hectares of farmland, particularly in the North Hwanghae and Kangwon.
 On August 27th, Typhoon Bavi made landfall over the coast of North Pyongan province,
bringing further heavy rains and winds to the key rice-producing provinces of North
Hwanghae and South Hwanghae and damaging standing crops.
 This was followed by additional rains and damage to eastern coastal areas from Typhoons
Maysak and Haishen at the start of September.
 Rainfall totals this season have been higher in some areas than the record 2007 season when
DPRK experienced widespread flooding over the main producing southwest provinces that
make up the country‘s ―Cereal Bowl‖ with severe food security outcomes.
 Forecasts indicate above-average rainfall is expected to continue through September which
could increase the risk of further flood events during a time when harvests should be
underway for main season crops.
Provinces asked to buy rice, corn from farmers
September 10, 2020 | 7:50 pm
PHILSTAR
GOVERNORS of the top rice and corn producing provinces were encouraged to purchase the
staples directly from farmers in order to help prop up farmgate prices during the harvest, with the
Department of Agriculture pointing to the availability of government credit for such purchases.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar asked Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan,
Cagayan, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Tarlac, Negros Occidental, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, North
Cotabato, and Leyte to help normalize prices of the two commodities.
Mr. Dar said the 12 provinces combined produced more than 9.74 million metric tons (MT) of
palay last year, accounting for 51.8% of national output.
―Their direct procurement will significantly shore up the national average farmgate price of
palay, thus helping more farmers,‖ Mr. Dar said.

According to Mr. Dar, provinces can apply for loans from the Land Bank of the Philippines
(LANDBANK) for palay direct purchases and machinery procurement, including equipment for
post-harvest facilities.
―We have been closely working with LANDBANK to provide accessible and affordable credit
not only to farmers, fishers, and agripreneurs, but also to LGUs under the bank‘s PAlay aLAY sa
Magsasaka ng Lalawigan (PALAY ng Lalawigan) Program,‖ Mr. Dar said.
The program, which was launched in 2019, had initial funding of P10 billion and benefited
farmers in Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Camarines Sur.
Mr. Dar has directed the National Food Authority to make its warehouses available for the use of
LGUs and farmers‘ cooperatives and associations.
―As the country‘s rice farmers start reaping this year‘s main rice crop, we count on the continued
support of our ‗food security czars‘ in partnership with farmers nationwide. Directly buying their
palay is a win-win situation — giving them reasonable income for their harvest and ensuring an
adequate supply of rice for consumers in their localities,‖ Mr. Dar said.
During the third week of August, the Philippine Statistics Authority said the farmgate price of
palay was at P18.39, while the farmgate prices of yellow and white corn grain were at P13.03
and P14.44, respectively. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/provinces-asked-to-buy-rice-corn-from-farmers/
Ghana developing GMOs for cowpea and rice
File photo - Farmers have been urged to learn about GMO seeds development

Ghana is in the process of developing two
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
varieties for rice and cowpea. Dr Richard
Ampadu-Ameyaw, a Senior Research Scientist
at the Science and Technology Policy Research
Institute (STEPRI) of the Council for Scientific
and Industrial Research (CSIR), who announced
this said research had proved that GMO varieties
were important in the sustainable production of
rice and cowpeas in the country.
It is therefore important for Ghanaians to accept and embrace GMO technologies in order to
match up with the world‘s technological advancement.
Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw was speaking at a training workshop on GMOs for farmers in the Ejura-
Sekyeredumase Municipality.
It was organized by the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Ghana, in
collaboration with the CSIR as part of efforts to educate farmers and clarify issues and
misconceptions on GMOs.
It also created a platform for the farmers to learn about GMO seeds development, regulation and
commercialization in Ghana.
According to Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw, genetically modified technologies had been identified as one
of the safest methods for preventing insect and pest invasion in rice and cowpeas, while saving
farmers from losing their crop fields to these insects and pests.
Mr Daniel Osei Ofosu, a Research Scientist at the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture
Research Institute (BNARI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) said insects and
pests could make farmers lose about 90 percent of their crops on the field.
He cited the Maruca pod borer as one that attacked the cowpea plant, sucked the pod dry, and
sometimes, by harvesting time, farmers lose a whole farm to pest infestation.

Attempts by researchers to use the conventional breeding methods to tackle the attacks by
aphids, thrips and Striga in cowpea have failed.
However, after some trials with GM technology on a cowpea plantation, it repelled insects from
boring and sucking into the plants.
Mr Ofosu said the GM technologies could complement the conventional ways of breeding to
counteract the activities of the pests and cowpea production rate and planted area had declined in
the last decade due to pest and insect attacks.
Mr Ofosu said regulations would soon be applied on GMO seeds to enable farmers to plant to
increase production.
https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Ghana-developing-GMOs-for-cowpea-
and-rice-1055929
Brazilian Government Zeroes Tax on Rice Imports Until
December
The reduction is restricted to 400,000 tons of husked and processed rice, according to a decision
of the Foreign Trade Chamber.
By
Arkady Petrov
September 10, 2020
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - The GECEX (Management Executive Committee) of the
CAMEX (Foreign Trade Chamber) decided to zero the tax rate on imports of hulled and
processed rice until December 31st of this year.
The temporary reduction is restricted to a quota of 400,000 tons, levied on products covered by
codes 1006.10.92 (non-parboiled hulled rice) and 1006.30.21 (semi-milled or milled rice, non-
parboiled) of the NCM (Mercosur Common Nomenclature).

The decision was taken on Wednesday, September 9th, during the 8th Extraordinary Meeting of
the GECEX, as proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock . . .
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https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazilian-government-zeroes-tax-on-rice-
imports-until-december/
DA chief sees lesser rice imports for rest of 2021
ByJasper Y. Arcalas
September 10, 2020
A stall at the San Andres public market sells assorted varieties of rice in this Businessmirror file
photo.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that the country‘s total rice imports this year
would decline by nearly a quarter to 2.2 million metric tons (MMT), from last year‘s 3 MMT.
―I think we might have about 2.2 million metric tons of rice imports this year,‖ Agriculture
Secretary William D. Dar during the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the
Department of Agriculture‘s 2021 proposed budget.
Despite lower projected import volume, Dar assured the public that rice supply would be
sufficient as local palay production is estimated to reach about 22 MMT, which would give the

country a 93-percent rice self-sufficiency level.
The DA has repeatedly pronounced that they expect the country to end the year with a rice stock
sufficient to last by at least 80 days.
The country‘s rice imports from January to August reached 1.642 MMT, about 44 percent of the
3.737 MMT volume applied by the private sector to date, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data
obtained by the BusinessMirror showed.
Latest BPI data also showed that rice imports in August reached a two-month high of
139,706.323 metric tons (MT) as importers used 189 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance
(SPS-IC) to bring in the volume.
The eight-month volume was less than half of what 202 registered rice traders, comprising

farmers cooperatives, organizations, traders, companies and private firms applied to import, BPI
data further showed.
The BPI earlier told the BusinessMirror that ―unjustified‖ underutilization by traders of their
approved SPS-IC for milled rice is an ―anomalous‖ activity that may disrupt state food
sufficiency planning.
The BPI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the underutilization of
the SPS-ICs this year was attributed to such reasons as the lockdowns in countries of origin due
to Covid-19 pandemic and export ban in Vietnam.
Other reasons given by rice importers were: delayed shipments, rice suppliers limiting their
export to ensure supply for their own needs, port congestion and holidays at country of origins
and high price of imported rice than locally produced staple, according to BPI‘s National Plant
Quarantine Service Division (NPQSD).
The United States Department of Agriculture projected that the Philippines would remain as the
world‘s top rice importer for the second consecutive year this 2020 with volume reaching 2.6
MMT.
The country‘s rice imports last year reached a record-high of 3.1 MMT, Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) data showed.
UPDATE 1-Brazil food price spike is temporary,
pandemic-fueled supply shock -treasury secretary
Jamie McGeever, Gabriel Ponte
By Jamie McGeever and Gabriel Ponte

BRASILIA, Sept 9 (Reuters) - The recent sharp rise in Brazilian food prices is part of a
temporary global phenomenon caused by a coronavirus pandemic-induced supply shock,
Treasury Secretary Bruno Funchal said on Wednesday, adding it would soon pass.
Figures showed earlier on Wednesday that food and drink prices rose 0.78% in August, one of
the biggest drivers of inflation last month, and Brazil eliminated taxes on some rice imports
through Dec. 31 to help combat a steep increase in domestic prices.
―It is a temporary shock. This will be reversed soon, but it is a worldwide phenomenon related to
the pandemic,‖ Funchal said in a live online event hosted by the FUCAPE Business School.
Government statistics agency IBGE said on Wednesday that rice prices rose 3% in August and
were up 19% this year. Beans, the other half of the country‘s staple diet, were up as much as
30% this year, IBGE said.
In a presentation and question-and-answer session, Funchal reiterated the government‘s view that
―expansionary austerity‖ - cutting public spending to encourage private-sector investment - was
the only way to lift productivity, investment, demand and economic growth.
The spending splurge to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic, particularly emergency
aid transfers to millions of Brazil‘s poorest people, was ―necessary, but temporary,‖ and fiscal
consolidation would resume next year, he said.
―In 2021, we will return to have total control of spending, get debt on a more sustainable path,‖
Funchal said, adding that was needed to give investors confidence and help keep interest rates
low.
Funchal also said the economy was on course to shrink by about 5% this year, less than many
other countries and also recovering faster than many. The government‘s official target is for a
decline of 4.7%. (Reporting by Jamie McGeever and Gabriel Ponte; Editing by Sandra Maler and
Peter Cooney)
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
https://www.reuters.com/article/brazil-economy-treasury-secretary/update-1-brazil-food-price-
spike-is-temporary-pandemic-fueled-supply-shock-treasury-secretary-idUSL1N2G62I6

Prices of rice and other commodities are expected to
increase – Expert
The price of rice is expected to increase as the festive period draws near.
September 10, 2020
By
Omokolade Ajayi
Nigeria‘s rice production volume for 2020 is put at 8 million tonnes – with 2.5 million tonnes
expected from Kebbi state. However, that expectation suffered a huge setback with over 2
million tonnes of rice washed away by floods among other factors.
According to the KPMG Rice Industry Review, rice is the third most consumed staple food in
Nigeria (after maize and cassava). With the festive season fast approaching, the demand for rice
is expected to increase.
Backstory: Nairametrics earlier reported that the recent floods in rice-producing Kebbi State had
destroyed over 25% of Nigeria‘s expected 8 million tons of rice harvests this year. The Kebbi
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Attahiru Maccido, disclosed to newsmen that it had lost N1
billion worth of rice and other commodities in the state.

It also reported that the Pipeline and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Ibadan depot issued
an internal memo on September 2, 2020, notifying all stakeholders of an increase in the pump
price of petrol to N151.56 per litre.
What to expect
Senior Research Analyst, Financial Derivatives Company, Temitope Olugbile explained that
scarcity of rice is expected, as 450,000 hectares of rice – 2 million tonnes, were washed away in
Kebbi state out of the expected 2.5 million tonnes this year. This will lead to a high demand for
the scarce commodity, resulting in a price increase.
The new pump price of petrol, which led to increase in the cost of transporting farm produce to
the market will inevitably cause a price surge for rice.
Journey to rice sufficiency
Nigeria‘s journey to rice sufficiency has been full of ups and downs, especially with the tough
decision of border closure to curb smuggling and boost local production. According to data
from Index Mundi, Nigeria had a production volume of over 5 million tonnes of milled rice last
year.
The current gains in rice production are evident, as volume increased by 11.06% in 2019.
However, it is noteworthy that the country is still far from being self-sufficient in rice
production.
Way forward
She emphasized that the policies and programs which the government has implemented from
forex restrictions to border closure and the Anchor Borrowers Program, which provides farm
inputs to farmers, are all impressive.
However, these policies, as a stand-alone without adequate infrastructures, are not sufficient to
combat exogenous factors like flood, which is beyond the control of the government and the rice
farmers.
She called for proper irrigation and drainage infrastructure, as this would help to cushion the
effects of water-logging in farms.
https://nairametrics.com/2020/09/10/prices-of-rice-and-other-commodities-are-expected-to-
increase-expert/
Hybrid rice yield likely to increase by 40-50pc in Sindh,
S.Punjab

September 10, 2020
LAHORE - Hybrid coarse varieties of rice are likely to give 40-50 per cent more
yield in Sindh and South Punjab this year. Favourable weather conditions, good and timely rains,
improved seed quality and proper technical support from seed companies resulted in more yield
that would enhance income of growers. ―Hybrid rice is getting good yield. At least 40-50% more
yield is expected this year which means increase in growers income in the same proportions‖,
said stakeholders of rice sector. ―Coarse varieties like Superfine is already in the market for the
last couple of weeks. New Superfine is healthy. Same is for hybrid paddy, reaching to peak
arrival gradually. Some farmers have 90/100 maunds paddy output which means a healthy
return‖, said Guard Agricultural Research & Services Limited (GUARD) Chief Executive
Officer Shahzad Ali Malik, adding, that an average yield with traditional varieties in South
Punjab was 40-50 maunds per acre which with hybrid seed has improved to 100-110 maunds per
acre. ―Thus, double the yield means double the income and a socio-economic change in the life
of grower,‖ he said. He said that only 6-7 per cent area is being cultivated with Hybrid rice in
South Punjab and next year it is expected to reach 15-16 per cent. He said that 30-35 per cent
area in Sindh is already under hybrid seed varieties and it is expected that by next season the
figure may reach 50 per cent in Sindh alone. He said that some 40 companies were dealing in
hybrid seed but only a few including their have own research and development facilities. He
proudly disclosed that his company has lion‘s share in the hybrid seed business and about 50 to
60 per cent seed is being marketed by his company. Referring to last year‘s failure of rice crop in
Sindh, Malik said that temperature increase due to climate change had failed the rice crop last
year. This year too rice crop in Larkana district had seen some difficulties due to high
temperature. ―For tackling this problem, we have introduced heat tolerant and drought tolerant
varieties and working continuously on to improve their performance further,‖ he added. Rice
Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) Chairman Shahjahan Malik hoped that Pakistan can

add one million tons of more rice in the next five years thus making more surplus available for
export. However, he said that everyone should not be allowed to import hybrid rice and sell.
https://nation.com.pk/10-Sep-2020/hybrid-rice-yield-likely-to-increase-by-40-50pc-in-sindh-s-
punjab
Afghanistan- Herat Rice Production Up 25% This Year: Officials
Date
9/9/2020 2:19:23 PM
(MENAFN - Daily Outlook Afghanistan) HERAT - Rice production has increased by 25 percent
in Herat province and farmers are expected to harvest over 60,000 metric tons, the Herat
Agriculture Department said on Monday.
A number of farmers in the province have said that sufficient water and reduced pest problems

are among the two key factors which have helped the farmers harvest a good crop.
'By the grace of Allah, the crops are good now after the establishment of Salma Dam. Along with
wheat, we also grow rice, we have achieved good results with it, said Ghulam Nabi, a farmer in
Herat.
'This year there is sufficient water and there are good crops, said Abdul Sattar, a farmer in Herat.
'This year's rice has brought good results. In previous years, crops were being burned because of
the lack of water, but this year the crop is good, said Mohammad, a farmer.
'Our estimate is that around 60,000 tons will be produced in Herat province. Last year, the figure
was around 45,000 tons. Overall, rice is being grown over 11,000 hectors of lands, said Abdul
Saboor Rahmani, the head of Herat's agriculture department.
'Local rice saves its natural taste compared to imported rice, said Jawed Ghafoori, an agricultural
expert.
Herat's rice fields are located mostly along the Harirod river which passes through Herat's Anjel,
Woba, Guzra, and Pashtun Zarghon districts. (TOLO NEWS)
MENAFN0909202001750000ID1100771488
https://menafn.com/1100771488/Afghanistan-Herat-Rice-Production-Up-25-This-Year-Officials
Rice exporters organize training to protect rights of
agri women’s children
Thu, 10 Sep 2020, 3:49 PM

Rice exporters organize training to protect rights of agri women‘s children
ISLAMABAD, Sep 10 (APP): Top rice exporters of Pakistan Thursday arranged training
workshop to train the women as well as rice millers to sensitize them regarding basic Juvenile
right of the children of female agriculture workers, especially the rice transplanters.
―We are providing best facilities for promoting decent working conditions for the rice
transplanter women and their children in rice value chain from agro-fields to rice mills, said
Zafar Iqbal, Country Manager of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of
Rice Partners Ltd (RPL), a rice exporting and philanthropic organization, addressing the training
workshop here.

The organization including Rice Partners Ltd (RPL) in collaboration with Helvetas Pakistan
organized the one day training workshop on ―Promoting Decent Working Conditions to Ensure
Sustainable Rice Production‖, by Rice Partners Ltd (RPL), Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation here.
Zafar Iqbal said that at the training workshop they were engaging the women workers of the rice
fields and 40 rice mills coming from major rice businesses of Punjab province.
He said that the organization had trained 30,000 of female rice transplanters and also provided
them awareness on juvenile rights.
He said that RPL had prioritized to provide awareness for protection of rice transplanter children,
including the families working in whole rice value chain to provide them decent working
environment.
Zafar said RPL was a social impact business that worked with thousands of growers of Basmati
rice in Punjab to provide them with the best growing practices for enhancing their yields and
livelihoods.
He said around 15000 families were engaged only from district Sheikhupura and more then
100,000 from all over the Punjab.
Usually all members from a family take part in transplanting work, he added.
Zafar said that children from those families also accompanied their parents.
While addressing the training workshop, renowned senior child rights activist and consultant
Sadia Hussain said that physical, emotional and psychological health of children belonging to
agriculture workers must be considered for conducive working environment in rice value chain.
She said that physical and mental torture not badly impacted the children‘s life but also suffered
the working condition.
She said that the protection of children and vulnerable adults was a collective societal
responsibility.
Sadia Hussain said that the right to name, health, food, education, freedom of expression and
association children must be protected besides the right to respect regardless of race, colour and
creed.

She such children must be protected against abuses and violence like forced labor and any
physical or emotional torture. Senior Corporate and Development sector Consultant, Annan
Waffi Qureshi on the occasion said that juvenile right should be prioritized in every sector
including agriculture side.
He highlighted the mode of communication to create the awareness for children right and their
protection, especially who are belongs to the families working in rice value chain.
On the occasion, Field Manager, Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, Zahid Rehman said that they
were providing these children with the moveable backpack canopies covered from all sides to
avoid the insects and provision of shelters along with the dry food, repellents, and water coolers
in rice cultivation region of the Punjab.
Zahid Rehman said that working conditions of the farm were highly hazardous and exposed
children to several risks of insect bites, injuries and infections, exposure to extreme heat and
pesticides without any shelter.
Similarly, for the larger group of families working jointly a farm level, a bigger shelter tent along
with solar plates, fans, air cooler, water cooler and first aid boxes were provided to keep the
children in a healthy and safe environment at farm level, he said.
More than 40 rice mills including organizations from development sectors, academia and media
personnel participated in the event.
https://www.app.com.pk/business/rice-exporters-organize-training-to-protect-rights-of-agri-
womens-children/
Rice Prices
as on : 10-09-2020 07:31:09 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals Price

Curren
t
%
chang
e
Season
cumulativ
e
Moda
l
Prev.
Moda
l
Prev.Yr
%chang
e
Rice
Shahjahanpur(UP) 280.00 12 9151.00 2615 2605 NC
Varanasi(Grain)(UP) 140.00 16.67 3289.00 2630 2685 10.27
Gondal(UP) 125.00 13.64 10060.50 2400 2400 -3.23
Utraula(UP) 115.00 827.42 927.10 2400 2400 -
Barhaj(UP) 100.00 42.86 12155.00 2530 2530 4.12
Dadri(UP) 90.00 -10 3195.00 5960 5960 -
Bindki(UP) 90.00 -10 6570.00 2440 2470 1.67
Kalipur(WB) 88.00 4.76 3911.00 2400 2400 2.13
Mandya(Kar) 79.00 -77.87 8535.00 2300 2300 -
Azamgarh(UP) 75.00 -42.31 6856.70 2545 2540 3.46
Sainthia(WB) 68.00 -1.45 569.00 2610 2610 6.10
Kasimbazar(WB) 66.00 NC 2045.00 2675 2650 -3.78

Hapur(UP) 60.00 NC 1672.00 2770 2820 -2.81
Kanpur(Grain)(UP) 60.00 -14.29 6240.00 2150 1900 -7.53
Choubepur(UP) 52.50 -7.57 2888.25 2400 2425 -10.11
Kopaganj(UP) 52.00 -14.75 2233.00 2550 2545 3.66
Ghaziabad(UP) 50.00 42.86 3335.00 2860 2850 -2.22
Sealdah Koley Market(WB) 50.00 -9.09 757.20 2700 2700 -
Aligarh(UP) 45.00 12.5 5092.00 2540 2540 NC
Pandua(WB) 45.00 -13.46 2048.00 3250 3250 10.17
Kandi(WB) 43.00 -28.33 1988.50 2720 2640 6.67
Allahabad(UP) 40.00 NC 2982.50 2315 2500 -9.22
Ballia(UP) 40.00 -33.33 3543.00 2640 2650 9.54
Saharanpur(UP) 40.00 NC 3259.50 2810 2825 -1.06
Memari(WB) 37.00 37.04 208.00 2550 2550 13.33
Shamli(UP) 36.00 20 1632.40 2825 2810 2.36
Beldanga(WB) 35.00 16.67 1870.00 2700 2700 3.85

Sangli(Mah) 33.00 57.14 74.00 4550 4000 -
Mainpuri(UP) 33.00 10 4526.50 2650 2600 NC
Lakhimpur(UP) 32.00 -8.57 3400.00 2430 2440 -0.41
Basti(UP) 31.50 -10 2093.00 2540 2550 3.67
Firozabad(UP) 31.00 14.81 2152.60 2550 2590 -
Asansol(WB) 31.00 -3.12 1466.01 3100 3100 6.90
Manvi(Kar) 30.00 -72.73 1311.00 2350 1936 -
Khalilabad(UP) 30.00 -33.33 2382.00 2550 2550 7.37
Lalitpur(UP) 30.00 -11.76 1995.50 2510 2485 -4.20
Sehjanwa(UP) 30.00 -33.33 3292.50 2540 2520 17.59
Bankura Sadar(WB) 28.00 NC 2607.00 2500 2500 4.17
Katwa(WB) 27.20 -0.73 538.90 2550 2500 -
Muzzafarnagar(UP) 26.00 18.18 4883.00 2810 2825 -1.40
Mathura(UP) 26.00 NC 3481.50 2580 2550 -0.77
Guskara(Burdwan)(WB) 26.00 -3.7 589.00 2550 2500 -

Sindhanur(Kar) 25.00 -63.77 848.00 1400 1400 -22.22
Muradabad(UP) 25.00 -19.35 2236.00 2590 2600 0.78
Agra(UP) 25.00 13.64 3807.00 2635 2640 -0.57
Madhoganj(UP) 25.00 25 3949.00 2430 2430 4.74
Balrampur(UP) 25.00 4.17 1404.00 2400 2400 6.19
Gorakhpur(UP) 24.50 -23.44 1853.70 2540 2530 -
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB) 24.00 NC 354.00 2500 2400 -7.41
Durgapur(WB) 21.00 -4.55 1333.25 2900 2850 8.21
Kolaghat(WB) 21.00 -8.7 319.00 2500 2400 -7.41
Partaval(UP) 20.00 -11.11 1013.00 2665 2540 13.40
Vilaspur(UP) 20.00 -4.76 1998.20 2590 2580 3.19
Paliakala(UP) 19.00 11.76 977.00 2410 2425 4.33
Jaunpur(UP) 18.50 -38.33 1818.00 2630 2600 11.91
Sirsaganj(UP) 16.50 10 1413.00 2600 2630 -2.62
Dahod(Guj) 16.20 -66.46 1179.20 4325 4300 8.13

Raath(UP) 16.00 128.57 345.20 2375 2350 -
Kolar(Kar) 15.00 87.5 410.00 5091 5073 0.37
Banda(UP) 15.00 36.36 480.50 2420 2415 1.47
Pukhrayan(UP) 15.00 50 743.00 2200 2400 -6.38
Chorichora(UP) 15.00 -11.76 1805.50 2500 2510 2.46
Chintamani(Kar) 14.00 -17.65 687.00 2200 2200 -2.22
Farukhabad(UP) 14.00 12 1410.00 2475 2450 -6.60
Bharthna(UP) 14.00 21.74 2457.00 2500 2515 -5.30
Etawah(UP) 12.00 9.09 2729.50 2460 2455 -6.46
Mawana(UP) 12.00 NC 488.20 2800 2800 -
Jafarganj(UP) 12.00 71.43 1254.00 2410 2420 -0.41
Rasda(UP) 12.00 -25 742.50 2560 2550 1063.64
Champadanga(WB) 12.00 -33.33 904.00 3150 3250 5.00
Bahraich(UP) 11.80 -18.62 1354.90 2400 2400 -1.64
Pratapgarh(UP) 11.00 NC 579.50 2400 2410 7.38

Rampurhat(WB) 10.80 -6.09 294.30 2610 2610 8.75
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB
)
10.80 -16.92 178.40 3400 3400 13.33
Sheoraphuly(WB) 10.70 2.88 236.40 3100 3200 NC
Kalna(WB) 10.50 -16 961.50 2800 2850 -2.44
Nawabganj(UP) 10.00 -16.67 937.00 2400 2400 50.00
Kayamganj(UP) 10.00 NC 2169.00 2460 2490 -7.17
Jhijhank(UP) 10.00 25 533.50 2380 2430 -
Kalyani(WB) 10.00 185.71 123.00 3400 3400 NC
Mahoba(UP) 9.00 -3.23 527.90 2450 2460 6.75
Soharatgarh(UP) 9.00 -5.26 1793.20 2530 2530 2.43
Sahiyapur(UP) 8.00 -20 2873.50 2550 2540 4.29
Ajuha(UP) 8.00 -11.11 524.00 2450 2460 -4.30
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB) 8.00 -20 1287.00 2800 2800 1.82
Bijnaur(UP) 7.50 -6.25 303.50 2590 2600 9.28

Amroha(UP) 7.00 27.27 149.50 2580 2590 -0.77
Etah(UP) 7.00 -12.5 572.00 2600 2600 0.58
Raibareilly(UP) 7.00 16.67 1811.00 2320 2310 -2.11
Mohamadabad(UP) 6.50 -7.14 976.60 2460 2460 -
Kannauj(UP) 6.00 -7.69 529.60 2400 2450 -7.69
Kasganj(UP) 5.00 NC 581.50 2610 2610 2.35
Mirzapur(UP) 5.00 NC 363.50 2670 2665 9.65
Auraiya(UP) 4.50 NC 288.10 2470 2480 -3.14
Devariya(UP) 4.50 -30.77 1200.50 2530 2540 2.85
Atarra(UP) 4.00 14.29 954.50 2380 2410 0.21
Fatehpur Sikri(UP) 4.00 -4.76 190.90 2570 2560 -2.28
Achalda(UP) 4.00 NC 419.90 2470 2500 11.76
Tulsipur(UP) 4.00 300 118.10 2400 2420 -
Naanpara(UP) 4.00 122.22 728.20 2400 2400 NC
Nadia(WB) 4.00 -20 307.00 3400 3200 -10.53

Unnao(UP) 3.50 -12.5 343.00 2445 2435 -8.60
Lucknow(UP) 3.50 -16.67 5020.90 2450 2480 -13.43
Pilibhit(UP) 3.50 40 46992.00 2560 2610 -2.29
Chitwadagaon(UP) 3.50 NC 511.80 2620 2620 24.76
Vishalpur(UP) 3.00 -70 551.20 2580 2650 -2.09
Uluberia(WB) 2.80 NC 69.50 2600 2600 -10.34
Kosikalan(UP) 2.50 -16.67 290.00 2540 2560 -2.31
Tundla(UP) 2.50 -61.54 339.50 2630 2620 -0.38
Bishalgarh(Tri) 2.20 NC 2740.00 3600 3600 -
Muskara(UP) 2.00 11.11 104.30 2375 2400 -0.21
Charra(UP) 1.60 -33.33 149.70 2550 2550 0.39
Shikohabad(UP) 1.50 50 294.00 2625 2625 -11.32
Puranpur(UP) 1.50 -25 2196.00 2590 2600 -0.38
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB) 1.50 NC 37.00 2800 2800 -26.32
Panichowki(Kumarghat)(Tri) 1.40 7.69 84.90 2930 2850 -

Baberu(UP) 1.30 -18.75 105.30 2400 2410 3.23
Maudaha(UP) 1.20 NC 42.90 2420 2370 2.11
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB) 1.20 -42.86 215.00 2600 2600 NC
Alibagh(Mah) 1.00 NC 113.00 2200 2200 NC
Devala(Mah) 1.00 NC 2.00 1370 1365 -
Murud(Mah) 1.00 NC 111.00 2200 2200 NC
Bareilly(UP) 1.00 -50 2058.00 2595 2590 -2.08
Khair(UP) 1.00 NC 86.60 2580 2580 -0.39
Lalganj(UP) 1.00 25 294.80 2300 2300 31.43
Milak(UP) 1.00 -71.43 160.00 2600 2630 -
Anandnagar(UP) 0.90 NC 239.70 2520 2510 5.00
Atrauli(UP) 0.70 NC 18.50 2550 2550 -
Khatra(WB) 0.70 -22.22 113.60 2600 2600 -1.89
Achnera(UP) 0.60 NC 47.00 2620 2620 2.75
Gurusarai(UP) 0.60 NC 26.20 2450 2485 -2.00

Kasipur(WB) 0.58 13.73 6.31 2500 2560 -6.02
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Published on September 10, 2020
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article32573532.ece
Rice Prices Hit 18 Months Peak As Virus Strains
Export Logistics
India's 5 per cent broken parboiled rice prices climbed to $387-$394 per tonne from last week's
$384-$390.
EconomyReutersUpdated: September 10, 2020 7:23 pm IST
Rice export prices in top hub India rose to their highest in nearly 18 months this week as supplies
remained constrained due to pandemic-induced disruptions, while Bangladesh may have to
import the staple after natural calamities damaged crops.
India's 5 per cent broken parboiled rice prices climbed to $387-$394 per tonne from last week's
$384-$390.
With the top exporter now behind only the United States in the tally of COVID-19 cases,
exporters have been grappling with limited availability of containers and mill workers at its
biggest rice handling port of Kakinada on the east coast.

"Coronavirus outbreak has affected rice milling in Andhra Pradesh and loading operations at
Kakinada. Limited supplies are available for exports though demand is robust," said a Kakinada-
based exporter.
In Bangladesh, domestic prices have risen up to 20 per cent over a month amid fears of a
production shortfall.
Excessive rainfall in March-April, cyclone Amphan in May and three spells of floods in June-
July damaged most crops, of which 70 per cent was paddy, according to agricultural ministry
officials.
Bangladesh needs to start importing rice without any delay, sources familiar with the matter said.

In Vietnam too, low domestic supplies pushed prices for 5 per cent broken rice to $490-$495 a
tonne on Thursday from $490 last week.
"Domestic supplies are very low at the moment, while some exporters continue to fulfill their
contracts signed earlier with customers from Malaysia, Timor-Leste and Africa," a trader in the
Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang said.
Traders expect prices to come down in the coming weeks ahead of the autumn-winter harvest.
Adding to demand woes, another trader said the Philippines could suspend rice purchases at least
until November to support domestic prices of an ongoing harvest there.
In Thailand, benchmark 5 per cent broken rice prices eased to $487-510 per tonne on Thursday
from $500-$513 last week amid muted demand.
https://www.ndtv.com/business/rice-prices-hit-18-months-peak-as-virus-strains-export-logistics-
2293491
Vietnam increases revenues from rice sales with equal
volumes
Hanoi, Sep 9 (Prensa Latina) Vietnam exported 4.5 million tons of rice in the first eight months
of 2020, as much as in the same period last year, but revenues increased considerably, local
experts said on Wednesday.
Sales until August totaled 2.2 billion dollars, accounting for a year-on-year increase of 10.4%,
thanks to the recovery of international prices and the improved quality of Vietnamese rice, they
pointed out.

The average price of exports grew 12.4% from last year, so a ton is quoted at 489 dollars, as a
result of a higher demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the experts explained.
The Philippines was Vietnam's major buyer until August, acquiring nearly 40% of that volume,
while the largest increases in exports were to Senegal (18 times more), Indonesia (18 times
more) and China (more than twice).
According to local exporters, the recent activation of the free trade agreement with the European
Union will allow Vietnam to increase rice exports substantially.
The country gained great access to the international market after signing the Comprehensive and
Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
Vietnam is the world's third major rice supplier, after India and Thailand, but experts think that it
will move up to the second place in relatively soon.
jg/mem/asg

https://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=59626&SEO=vietnam-increases-revenues-from-
rice-sales-with-equal-volumes
Medical Marijuana, Inc. Subsidiary Kannaway®
Signs Trademark License and Royalty Agreement
with Direct Selling Pet Food Company, Onboards
Company's Brand Ambassadors
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to StreetInsider Premium here.
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hemp-based botanical products.
About Medical Marijuana, Inc.
We are a company of firsts®. Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA) is a cannabis company with three
distinct business units in the non-psychoactive cannabinoid space: a global portfolio of
cannabinoid-based nutraceutical brands led by Kannaway® and HempMeds®; a pioneer in
sourcing the highest-quality legal non-psychoactive cannabis products derived from industrial
hemp; and a cannabinoid-based clinical research and botanical drug development sector led by
its pharmaceutical investment companies and partners including AXIM® Biotechnologies,
Inc. and Kannalife, Inc. Medical Marijuana, Inc. was named a top CBD producer by CNBC.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. was also the first company to receive historic import permits for CBD
products from the governments of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay and is a leader in the
development of international markets. The company‘s flagship product Real Scientific Hemp
Oil has been used in several successful clinical studies throughout Mexico and Brazil to
understand its safety and efficacy.

Medical Marijuana, Inc.‘s headquarters is in San Diego, California, and additional information is
available at OTCMarkets.com or by visiting www.medicalmarijuanainc.com. To see Medical
Marijuana, Inc.‘s corporate video, click here.
Shareholders and consumers are also encouraged to buy CBD oil and other products at Medical
Marijuana, Inc.‘s shop.
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actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different
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CONTACT:
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naway%C2%AE+Signs+Trademark+License+and+Royalty+Agreement+with+Direct+Selling+P
et+Food+Company%2C+Onboards+Companys+Brand+Ambassadors/17338486.html
CATCH-UP GROWTH CANNOT UNDO DAMAGE FROM
UNDERNUTRITION
by Jef L. Leroy, Edward A. Frongillo, Pragya Dewan, Maureen M. Black and Robert A.
Waterland | September 10, 2020
Linear growth retardation is a widely used marker of undernutrition. While the development
community has long worked to reduce the worldwide prevalence of stunted linear growth, in
recent decades the possibility of reversing growth retardation has attracted increasing interest.
Although helping stunted children achieve ―catch-up growth‖ seems a worthwhile aim, it is one
that begs several questions.
In particular, we must ask if catch-up growth is actually possible, and if so, does it necessarily
translate into recovery from the broader consequences of undernutrition, such as delays in
neurocognitive development, increased risk of chronic disease and death, lower educational
attainment, and reduced earnings in adulthood? The answers to these questions will have
important implications for the design and evaluation of nutrition interventions and policies. In
a new paper in Advances in Nutrition, we delve into these questions by examining the potential
to recover from undernutrition in three domains: linear growth, developmental epigenetics, and
brain and neurocognitive development.
What is catch-up growth?
Broadly, catch-up growth is a reversal of growth retardation. But varying criteria and
methodologies for determining catch-up growth abound in the literature, creating confusion
about how to identify and study it. Four criteria must be met to demonstrate catch-up growth:
1. A growth-inhibiting condition,
2. A resultant period of lower-than-normal linear growth velocity,
3. Alleviation of the inhibiting condition, and

4. A subsequent period of faster-than-normal growth.
The only way to reduce the height gap accumulated during the period of lower-than-normal
growth velocity is for children to subsequently gain length or height in absolute terms faster than
the expected linear growth velocity for their age and sex. Just like a lagging cyclist in a race must
pedal much, much faster to catch up to a rider ahead, a child must grow at a much faster rate to
catch up to where he or she would have been had there been no period of lower-than-normal
growth.
Only absolute height velocity—the change in height in cm with age—can be used to study catch-
up growth. The common use of height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ), a relative measure of child
growth, is incorrect. First, they are constructed using cross-sectional standard deviations and are
thus inappropriate to study longitudinal changes in height with age. A second reason is that
absolute height velocity directly relates to the consequences of linear growth retardation.
Contrary to what is commonly believed, only two sets of outcomes are caused by linear growth
retardation: obstructed labor and poor birth outcomes, both of which are more common in
mothers who are short due to linear growth retardation during childhood. What matters for these
outcomes is the absolute height of the mother, not her relative size. Other outcomes like child
development, work capacity, and noncommunicable disease risk at adulthood are associated with
linear growth retardation but not actually caused by it. So catch-up growth will not improve
them.
To find out if catch-up growth is possible, we reviewed a set of 13 studies on adopted children
under the age of five. Since adoptions provide radical improvements in a child‘s environment—
including diet, water, sanitation, hygiene, and caretaking—they fulfill the first three criteria for
catch-up growth and allow for assessing the fourth. We found evidence of catch-up growth in
nine of the studies. This suggests that catch-up growth is biologically possible when children‘s
home environments radically improve. But what is the relevance of this finding for nutrition
policies and programs? Nutrition interventions can improve linear growth, but the size of the
improvement is typically a fraction of what is found in the adoption studies and thus insufficient
for catch-up growth. In addition, the direct benefits of increasing height early in life are limited
to women, as noted above. We must therefore ask whether children can recover in other domains

after suffering from undernourishment. To answer this question, we reviewed evidence from
developmental epigenetics and child development.
Developmental epigenetics
Epigenetics is the study of mitotically heritable changes in how genetic information is ultimately
expressed in an organism. Environmental exposures during critical windows of development can
have lifelong metabolic consequences. Nutritional influences on developmental epigenetics have
been studied extensively over the past decade. A prime example is DNA methylation, which
modulates gene expression potential; pro-methylation dietary supplementation in mice before
and during pregnancy has been shown to change the coat color and tail kinkiness of their
offspring.
It is hard to study some of these mechanisms in humans. But the Gambia‘s single annual rainy
season, which results in dramatic seasonal variation in energy expenditure and availability of
specific foods, provides a natural experiment. A recent study of subsistence-farming
communities there found that maternal nutrition around the time of conception influenced DNA
methylation in their children. Given the highly stable nature of this molecular mark, recovery
from the epigenetic effects of periconceptional malnutrition is unlikely. More studies are
currently underway that should shed further light on what this means for human health.
Brain and neurocognitive development
It has long been recognized in child development that if a stimulus or other input (such as
nutrition) is not received within a critical time period, permanent damage occurs. A folic acid
deficiency in a newly pregnant woman, for example, increases her child‘s risk of developing
certain irreversible conditions like spina bifida. Poverty and associated stresses often coincide
with and compound the effects of nutritional deficiencies. Isolating the effects of nutritional
deprivation on neurocognitive development can therefore be difficult.
The Bucharest Early Intervention Project assessed the impact of severe deprivation on early
brain development. Children between the ages of six and 31 months who had lived in orphanages
since birth were randomized into foster care placements or kept in an orphanage. Another group

of children who had never been institutionalized served as a comparison group. The study found
differential effects of environmental deprivation and stress on children‘s gray matter (processing
and cognition) and white matter (learning). On all counts, the orphanage group experienced the
least development. The foster care group, which notably achieved complete catch up in linear
growth by 42 months, showed no difference from the orphanage group in terms of gray matter
and experienced incomplete recovery in terms of white matter volume and cognition.
The Bucharest study provides three lessons. First, early environmental stress associated with
institutionalization affects brain development and function. Second, complete recovery in
complex functions is difficult (even with comprehensive interventions). Third, complete catch-up
in linear growth does not necessarily reflect recovery in other domains such as brain
development, structure, and function.
Implications for nutrition programs and policies
Prolonged undernourishment early in life leads to negative outcomes that are both profound and
irreversible. Although subsequent drastic improvements in a child‘s nutrition can in some cases
partially alleviate deficits in linear growth and neurocognitive development, they will not erase
the permanent marks of a mother‘s undernutrition just before or early in pregnancy on her child‘s
DNA methylation. Nor will interventions aimed at reversing linear growth retardation fully
restore the trajectory of neurocognitive development. Rather, the benefits are limited. Thus,
scientific, program, and policy efforts should focus on preventing maternal and child
undernutrition rather than on correcting its consequences or attempting to prove they can be
corrected.
Jef L. Leroy is a Senior Research Fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute's
(IFPRI's) Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division. Edward A. Frongillo is a Professor
and Director of Global Health Initiatives at the Arnold School of Public Health at the University
of South Carolina. Pragya Dewan is a Consultant in Monitoring And Evaluation for Education
at UNICEF and a former IFPRI Research Analyst. Maureen M. Black is a Professor at the
University of Maryland School of Medicine and Distinguished Fellow at RIT

International. Robert A. Waterland is a Professor at the Baylor College of Medicine. Tracy
Brown is an IFPRI Senior Editor; she prepared the text of this post. A4NH provided funding for
this research.
This post first appeared on IFPRI's website.
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Scientists: Eating White Rice Triggers Diabetes
Scientists: Eating White Rice Triggers Diabetes
September 9, 20202 min readNatasha Kumar
White rice has recently been considered a harmful food. This is due not only to the ability to gain
excess weight. Scientists in a new study found that the use of the product is the cause of diabetes.
Researchers recruited about 130,000 volunteers to participate in the study. The experiment lasted
for 10 years. Thanks to the results obtained, experts have found that eating white rice increases
the risk of diabetes. During the grinding and polishing of the food, large amounts of nutrients, in
particular vitamin B, are removed. At the same time, cereals have a high glycemic index, which
provokes a jump in blood sugar levels.
An experiment conducted about 8 years ago, in which 45,000 volunteers participated, allowed
researchers to find that the risk of diabetes is increased by 11% in people who eat white rice. But
this indicator varied depending on the country where the study was conducted. Experts decided

to find out the reason for this result. Participants from 21 states were involved. As a result, it
turned out that the disease was often detected in the inhabitants of South Asia, where cereal is
one of the main products. Also, with the help of additional analysis, it was found that this region
is home to the largest number of people with a genetic predisposition to diabetes, as well as those
whose lifestyle contributes to the manifestation of the disease. Volunteers from South Asian
countries who eat a lot of rice ate low-fiber foods, dairy products and meat in their diets.
For this reason, people with a predisposition to the disease need to reduce the amount of white
rice they eat or replace it with unpolished brown rice. It is also important to lead a healthy
lifestyle and review the diet for variety and healthiness. If you have any health problems, you
should consult a doctor.
https://thetimeshub.in/scientists-eating-white-rice-triggers-diabetes/845/
Voting is essential this year
By Lila Greiner 9/8/20 10:09pm
Political engagement is now both more important and more difficult than ever. The stakes always
seem higher in a presidential election year but now — with the pandemic, the protests and
everything in between — the stakes feel like they were tied to a rocketship and are currently
somewhere orbiting Jupiter. It must be pointed out that 2020, while certainly a uniquely
disastrous year for America, is really the result of years of built up ideology. The Trump
administration has refused to listen to science for years, so how could we be surprised when
they failed miserably in the face of a disaster only scientists could solve? And the all-too-
frequent incidents of racism and deadly police brutality are unacceptable, but
unfortunately, nothing new. The president has been regularly stoking the fires of racial
tension for years, with many Americans simply basking in the glow of the flames. America has
certainly been tested this year, but we‘ve tried to cheat our way out of it with a page ripped from
a 1930s German textbook. It‘s no wonder we‘ve failed.
If this makes you angry, do something. I know it is easy to be down on political engagement
right now. It feels like the government has done nothing but fail our generation and honestly, it‘s
kind of true. This administration‘s response to the pandemic has lost thousands of American
lives, the environment is being destroyed without a qualm, and we live in a country where we
aren‘t granted the basic rights like a livable wage or healthcare. However, we cannot give up.
Now it is finally our chance to do something about it. Please keep going to protests, sharing
information online and having those tough conversations. But also contact your representatives,

find a campaign that you identify with and vote! If we want to improve the system, we must elect
people who will listen. That will only happen if we politically engage.
You can easily communicate with your representatives in a healthy and socially distant manner. I
can‘t count the number of emails I‘ve sent to city council members, representatives and senators
this summer. Politicians are motivated by the desire to be reelected, so make it clear that you are
willing to fight with them if they will champion your causes and that you will fight against them
if necessary. And don‘t forget about your local representatives. Harris County alone has
over 50 non-federal elections this year. These officials have a huge impact on your daily life and
they almost always need help on their campaigns. You can easily get involved by phone banking,
which can be done from your room, or emailing the campaign to see what they might need. Most
importantly, vote. Vote early if you can, vote by mail, do whatever it takes to make sure your
vote is counted. Make a solid plan and stick to it. For too long the people in power have relied on
the apathy of the masses to continue serving the needs of only a few. We must not let this
continue.
I get it. 2020 sucks and it feels like there is nothing we can do. But this year isn‘t an accident.
The previous generations built a system that actively fostered the disasters we are facing today,
from building racial tensions to refusing to invest in our health or safety. That doesn‘t mean we
should sit back and watch America collapse around us. The voice of the people can be the most
powerful tool in a democracy if used correctly. We need to take all of the energy and pain from
this summer and use it to reshape our government to work for us.
https://www.ricethresher.org/article/2020/09/voting-is-essential-this-year
New Rice Import Data Helps USA Rice Members Better
Monitor Market Trends
By Jesica Kincaid
WASHINGTON, DC -- On July 1, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) implemented
new Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes for milled and brown jasmine and milled basmati
rice, following a successful petition led by USA Rice earlier this year. This month, the first data
using the new codes was published for rice imports and exports in July.
The new HTS codes, also referred to as import codes, are particularly useful for refining import

data from Thailand and India, the largest U.S. import origins by volume and primary sources for
jasmine and basmati, respectively. As can be seen in the table below, in June 2020 and all
months prior, the majority of imports from Thailand and India were lumped into the 'Milled
Long Grain' category.
"Our members have long assumed that the bulk of imports coming from origins like Thailand
and India fall into the fragrant rice categories but now we are sure of it," said Peter Bachmann,
USA Rice vice president of international trade policy. "When our members formally asked us to
pursue this change to the HTS codes in February, we swiftly moved to file a petition with the
support from member companies and just seven months later we're seeing the fruits of that labor
through a more specified level of data."
"From the perspective of someone buying and selling rice, this breakdown of long grain imports
to account for jasmine and basmati is tremendously helpful," said Ryan Carwell, Arkansas rice
merchant and chair of the USA Rice Merchants' Association. "We can now identify new market
trends and determine how we, as an industry, may need to adapt to changing consumer demands
moving forward."
The new data is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Global Agriculture
Trading System for rice imports and exports from July 2020 onward.
USDA Reminds Farmers of September 30 Deadline to
Update Safety-Net Program Crop Yields
Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov
Don’t Miss This One-Time Opportunity - First Since 2014
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2020 – USDA‘s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farm owners
that they have a one-time opportunity to update Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program yields for
covered commodities on the farm. The deadline is September 30, 2020, to update yields, which
are used to calculate the PLC payments for 2020 through 2023. Additionally, producers who
elected Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) should also consider updating their yields.
―The last time farmers could update yields for these important safety-net programs was in 2014,‖
said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. ―It is the farm owner‘s choice whether to update or

keep existing yields. So, if you rent, you‘ll need to communicate with your landlord who will be
the one to sign off on the yield updates.‖
Updating yields requires the signature of one owner on a farm and not all owners. If a yield
update is not made, no action is required to maintain the existing base crop yield on file with
FSA.
For program payments, updated yields will apply beginning with the 2020 crop year which,
should payments trigger, will be paid out in October of 2021.
Determining Yield Updates
The updated yield will be equal to 90% of the average yield per planted acre in crop years 2013-
2017. That excludes any year where the applicable covered commodity was not planted and is
subject to the ratio obtained by dividing the 2008-2012 average national yield by the 2013-2017
average national yield for the covered commodity.
The chart below provides the ratio obtained by this calculation.
Covered Commodities
National Yield
Factor
Barley 0.9437
Canola 0.9643
Chickpeas, Large 1.0000
Chickpeas, Small 0.9760
Corn 0.9000
Crambe 1.0000

Covered Commodities
National Yield
Factor
Flaxseed 1.0000
Grain Sorghum 0.9077
Lentils 1.0000
Mustard Seed 0.9460
Oats 0.9524
Peanuts 0.9273
Peas, Dry 0.9988
Rapeseed 1.0000
Rice, Long 0.9330
Rice, Medium 0.9887
Rice, Temp Japonica 0.9591
Safflower 1.0000
Seed Cotton 0.9000
Sesame Seed 0.9673

Covered Commodities
National Yield
Factor
Soybeans 0.9000
Sunflower Seed 0.9396
Wheat 0.9545
If the reported yield in any year is less than 75 percent of the 2013-2017 average county yield,
the yield will be substituted with 75 percent of the county average yield.
More information
PLC yields may be updated on a covered commodity-by-covered commodity basis by submitting
FSA form CCC-867 to include a farm owner‘s signature.
For more information, reference resources, and decision tools, visit farmers.gov/arc-plc. Contact
your local FSA county office for assistance at farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/news-releases/2020/usda-reminds-farmers-of-september-
30-deadline-to-update-safety-net-program-crop-yields
RiceTec Virtual Field Day

REGISTER NOW
2020 is a special year for RiceTec. We are celebrating 30 years as a company and 20 years since
the first commercial hybrid release. We had hoped to celebrate with you at our annual field day,
but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a change in plans. We hope this virtual field day video
series will be a good way for you to get updated on RiceTec products and initiatives.
If you complete the required videos and answer a few questions, you will receive a certificate of
completion. All domestic certificate holders will also receive a gift card from RiceTec to thank
you for your completion of the video series.
Crop consultants can receive credit for completing the video series.
Thank you for taking the time to participate virtually. We hope you enjoy the presentations.
Featured Programs
https://fieldday.ricetec.com/
BRAZIL SHOULD CONSIDER ELIMINATING
IMPORT TARIFFS ON CORN, SOY -CONAB
PRESIDENT
9/10/2020
By Roberto Samora
SAO PAULO, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Brazil should consider temporarily eliminating import tariffs
on food staples like soybeans and corn, Guilherme Bastos, president of the country's food supply
and statistics agency Conab, told Reuters.

Eliminating duties could be an option to lower internal grain prices, which are historically high
in the local currency, Bastos said in an interview late on Wednesday.
The levy on corn and soybean imports from outside Mercosur, which includes Paraguay,
Uruguay and Argentina, is 8%.
He proposed the measure as Brazil scrapped import duties on a 400,000-tonne rice quota through
Dec. 31.
On Thursday, Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias said the temporary import duty
exemption could benefit rice imports coming from the United States and Thailand.
Bastos said if the tariff drops, Brazil could buy soybeans from countries like the United States,
which is starting to harvest now.
"Why not allow international trade flows in?," he said, adding the same reasoning could apply to
corn. Bastos is in favor of "open frontiers," which Brazil's Mercosur accord allows to regulate
supply and demand domestically.
In the case of oilseeds, high internal prices raise costs for the crushing industry, which produces
biodiesel and soyoil for local consumption. Brazil sells most of the soybeans it produces to
China, and that has left little to sell domestically.
Higher corn prices are also a problem for food processors, which use corn as livestock feed.
The temporary reduction of the so-called "common external tariff" on soybeans and corn coming
from outside the Mercosur was discussed last month by the government, but no decision was
made. (Reporting by Roberto Samora Writing by Ana Mano Editing by Chris Reese)
https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/brazil-should-consider-eliminating-import-
tariffs-on-corn-soy-conab-president
UPDATE 1-NIGERIA'S CENTRAL BANK TOLD TO
STOP GIVING FOREX FOR FOOD IMPORTS
9/10/2020

ABUJA, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday directed the
central bank to stop issuing foreign exchange for food and fertiliser imports, according to a
statement by his spokesman.
It follows a similar order the president issued last year that the nominally-independent bank only
partly followed, with some food importers still receiving foreign exchange.
But Thursday's directive will completely ban providing foreign currency for all imported food
and fertiliser, the spokesman told Reuters. "Nobody importing food should be given money,"
Buhari said.
Since his election in 2015, Buhari has sought to cut foreign imports, particularly agricultural
products. Expanding Nigeria's farm sector is a key pillar of his economic policy.
But the bans on imports like rice have seen prices surge, sparking widespread frustration.
Nigeria's foreign reserves have been battered as the central bank spends billions of dollars on
costly programmes such as propping up the local naira currency despite double-digit inflation.
There was no immediate, public reaction from the central bank to Buhari's comments, though its
governor was present at the meeting where the order was given. (Reporting by Felix Onuah in
Abuja; Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by Sandra Maler and Andrew Cawthorne)
© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Click For Restrictions -
http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
Brazil opens temporary, rare duty-free quota for milled
and paddy rice
September 10, 2020
BRASILIA, BRAZIL — On August 27, USA Rice reported on the exploration by Brazil‘s
Ministry of Agriculture into a temporary import suspension for rice. Yesterday evening, Brazil‘s
Executive Secretary of the Foreign Trade Board, referred to as ―CAMEX,‖ voted to provide
duty-free access for up to 400,000 MT of paddy and milled rice from all origins, effective today
through December 31, 2020. The measure was officially published this morning in Brazil‘s
Official Gazette of the Federal Government.

Up until now, all rice imports from outside of the MERCOSUR bloc (Argentina, Brazil,
Paraguay, and Uruguay), including the United States, faced a 12 percent import duty on milled
rice and a 10 percent duty on paddy rice. During this three-month period, U.S. exports will be
more competitive without the import tariffs, however, they will still be subject to a slew of
internal value-added and transportation-related taxes.
―With rice coming out of the fields now, we are well-equipped to assist Brazil in filling this
supply void,‖ said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. ―This turn of events provides a
unique opportunity for both paddy and milled rice sales.‖
Ward added, ―We also understand that this temporary tariff suspension is an effort to stabilize
prices due to COVID-19 increased rice purchases and a drought-related supply shortage in
Brazil, but we‘re hopeful it will establish a precedent for importers there to turn to U.S. rice as a
viable option in the future.‖
Potential U.S. exports to Brazil will continue to face competition from that country‘s South
American neighbors, as well as major Asian exporters, who will also benefit from the limited
duty-free access. U.S. exports to Brazil over the last decade have averaged less than 1,000 MT
annually.
https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/brazil-opens-temporary-rare-duty-free-quota-for-milled-
and-paddy-rice/
DA chief sees lesser rice imports for rest of 2021
ByJasper Y. Arcalas
September 10, 2020
A stall at the San Andres public market sells assorted varieties of rice in this Businessmirror file
photo.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) estimates that the country‘s total rice imports this year
would decline by nearly a quarter to 2.2 million metric tons (MMT), from last year‘s 3 MMT.
―I think we might have about 2.2 million metric tons of rice imports this year,‖ Agriculture
Secretary William D. Dar during the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the
Department of Agriculture‘s 2021 proposed budget.
Despite lower projected import volume, Dar assured the public that rice supply would be
sufficient as local palay production is estimated to reach about 22 MMT, which would give the
country a 93-percent rice self-sufficiency level.
The DA has repeatedly pronounced that they expect the country to end the year with a rice stock
sufficient to last by at least 80 days.

The country‘s rice imports from January to August reached 1.642 MMT, about 44 percent of the
3.737 MMT volume applied by the private sector to date, Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) data
obtained by the BusinessMirror showed.
Latest BPI data also showed that rice imports in August reached a two-month high of
139,706.323 metric tons (MT) as importers used 189 sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance
(SPS-IC) to bring in the volume.
The eight-month volume was less than half of what 202 registered rice traders, comprising
farmers cooperatives, organizations, traders, companies and private firms applied to import, BPI
data further showed.
The BPI earlier told the BusinessMirror that ―unjustified‖ underutilization by traders of their
approved SPS-IC for milled rice is an ―anomalous‖ activity that may disrupt state food
sufficiency planning.
The BPI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the underutilization of
the SPS-ICs this year was attributed to such reasons as the lockdowns in countries of origin due
to Covid-19 pandemic and export ban in Vietnam.
Other reasons given by rice importers were: delayed shipments, rice suppliers limiting their
export to ensure supply for their own needs, port congestion and holidays at country of origins
and high price of imported rice than locally produced staple, according to BPI‘s National Plant
Quarantine Service Division (NPQSD).The United States Department of Agriculture projected
that the Philippines would remain as the world‘s top rice importer for the second consecutive
year this 2020 with volume reaching 2.6 MMT.
The country‘s rice imports last year reached a record-high of 3.1 MMT, Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA) data showed.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/09/10/da-chief-sees-lesser-rice-imports-for-rest-of-2021/

Lawmakers urged to review rice tariff law
LOW PRICES. The very low farm gate prices of paddy rice, some at P11 per kilo which is below
the production cost of P12, is causing economic hardships for the rice farmers in Mindanao.
(Photo from Unspash)
JENNIE P. ARADO
September 10, 2020
LAWMAKERS asked to review the Rice Tariffication Law after rice farmers were already
affected by the decreased farm gate prices from P22 two years ago to P11.
Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law of 2018 was signed into law ―to provide
affordable rice prices for consumers, coupled with the goal of raising the income of palay/rice
farmers.‖ For the past two years, the rice consumers were able to benefit from the lower rice at
an estimated value of P6 billion. However, it is a pain in the neck for rice farmers who suffered a
loss of about P80 billion due to reduced income as a result of lower gate prices. This is according
to a research study conducted by the Federation of Free Farmers.
In a post on Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Secretary Manny Pinol‘s official
Facebook page, a resolution was passed by Minda governing board, Regional Development
Council heads, and private sector representatives. The resolution, submitted by private sector
representative Engr. Sherwin Begyan and seconded by Agusan del Norte Governor Dale
Corvera, urges lawmakers to review RA 11203 as it allows ―unimpeded entry of imported rice in
the country.‖
―During the discussions, it was pointed out that the very low farm gate prices of paddy rice,
some at P11 per kilo which is below the production cost of P12, is causing economic hardships
for Mindanao‘s rice farmers and could adversely affect the economic recovery efforts of
Mindanao,‖ read Pinol‘s Facebook post.
―In the process, the law allows importers to bring in as much imported rice provided they pay the
tariffs which in turn will be placed under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
which assures the rice industry of a P10-B annual support for the next six years,‖ it adds.
He also said a copy of the resolution will be endorsed to the Senate and Congress for review and
action.

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https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1869801/Davao/Business/Lawmakers-urged-to-review-rice-
tariff-law
Rice Polisher Market 2020: Regional Insights, Trends
& Growth Forecast To 2026 | SATAKE Group, FH
SCHULE Muehlenbau, Pavan Group
September 11, 2020
The report titled Global Rice Polisher Market is one of the most comprehensive and important
additions to QY Research‘s archive of market research studies. It offers detailed research and
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Get PDF Sample Copy of Report: (Including TOC, List of Tables & Figures,
Chart) https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/1472688/global-rice-polisher-market-
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In addition, market revenues based on region and country are provided in the Rice Polisher
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Key Players Mentioned in the Global Rice Polisher Market Research Report: SATAKE
Group, FH SCHULE Muehlenbau, Pavan Group, Lianyungang Huantai Machinery,
IndiaMART InterMESH Limited, Buhler AG, SATAKE INDIA, YANMAR, Hunan
Sunfield Machinery, MILLTEC Machinery
New Study Affirms Risk of Diabetes Associated With White
Rice, Especially in South Asia
A new study shows the risk of getting diabetes by consuming white rice, experts suggest
brown rice instead of white rice
Trending Desk
Updated:September 10, 2020, 3:26 PM IST

11th september ,2020 daily global regional and local rice e-newsletter

11th september ,2020 daily global regional and local rice e-newsletter

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