15th april 2015 daily gobal rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine
www.ricepluss.com
R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine
Page 1
Contact for Newsletter Advertisement
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter
April 15 , 2015
V o l u m e 5, Issue I

www.ricepluss.com
Page 2
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Research and Markets: Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing
Plant Project Report 2015: Industry Trends, Manufacturing
Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue
April 15, 2015 06:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Research and
Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8z4d6k/parboiled_and) has announced the addition of
the "Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant Project Report: Industry Trends, Manufacturing Process,
Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue" report to their offering.
―Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant Project Report: Industry Trends,
Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue‖
This study "Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant Project Report: Industry Trends,
Manufacturing Process, Machinery, Raw Materials, Cost and Revenue" provides a techno-
commercial roadmap for setting up a parboiled and white rice manufacturing plant. The study,
which has been done by one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, covers all the
requisite aspects of the parboiled and white rice industry.
This ranges from macro overview of the market to micro details of the industry performance,
processing and manufacturing requirements, project cost, project funding, project economics
including expected returns on investment, profit margins, etc. This report is a must-read for
entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have
any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the parboiled rice and white rice industry in any
manner.
Key Topics Covered:
1 Research Methodology
2 Executive Summary
3 Introduction
4 Global Industry Analysis: Rice, Parboiled Rice and White Rice
5 Myanmar: Rice Industry

www.ricepluss.com
Page 3
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
6 Trade Data: Rice and Parboiled Rice
7 Parboiled and White Rice Industry: Key Success and Risk Factors
8 Manufacturing Process: Parboiled Rice and White Rice
9 Project Details, Requirements and Costs Involved
10 Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Loans and Financial Assistance
11 Parboiled and White Rice Manufacturing Plant: Project Economics
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8z4d6k/parboiled_and
Contacts
Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470
For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630
For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716
Sector: Food Processing
Rice to continue to grow inAustralia
By Elizabeth Habermann
April 15, 2015, 1:30 p.m.
Rice harvest across Australia occurs at a different time
to other rice producing countries.Australian rice could
grow on the global market according to rice grower and
researcher Dr Leigh Vial. To do this we need to develop
the ―holy grail‖ of rice. A variety with a soft texture and
low low Glycaemic Index (GI). ―Australian rice is

www.ricepluss.com
Page 4
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
already renowned for its soft texture so we want to keep that and add the other element,‖ Dr
Leigh said. ―This would secure our place in the market, especially if we own the technology.
―We need to do more to exploit the market.‖Australia has one of the lowest pesticide application
rates world-wide but there are many other factors which can be improved upon.
After seven years in Asian rice research, RMB by-election candidate Dr Leigh Vial is glad to be
back growing the best japonica rice in the world for Sunrice.Australian rice also has an
advantage for freshness. This comes directly from geography with harvest in Australia occurring
opposite to that of other countries.When living near Thailand for three years with his family to
research rice he experienced how important fresh rice is. ―When cooking rice they might say, ah
that smells like fresh rice,‖ Dr Leigh said. Eating rice freshly after harvest means it is softer to
eat. While harvest time can‘t be manipulated the milling time can.
By default in Australia rice is milled on demand and therefore is generally fresh.―We need to
think about rice more like milk, cheese and stone fruit,‖ Dr Leigh said. ―It is relatively fresh
anyway but I believe we can do better.‖Clearly displaying the time the rice was harvested and
milled could drive the price up in the Asian market and give Australian rice a niche.Adopting
these processes and developing a new variety will take time but Dr Leigh is confident the

www.ricepluss.com
Page 5
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
benefits will pay off. The price of rice would remain steady and growers would want to grow it
when water is available.He plans on pushing the idea further if elected onto the Rice Marketing
Board.
Customs to auction rice seized in Mindanao port
By Vito Barcelo | Apr. 15, 2015 at 12:01am
More than P70 million worth of smuggled rice seized in Mindanao will be auctioned, according
to the Bureau of Customs.Customs commissioner John Phillip Sevilla said that BOC-Port of
Cagayan de Oro will sell 33,480 smuggled sacks—equivalent to 837,000 kilograms—of rice on
April 22.The seized goods consist of 64 container vans of glutinous rice, 59 of which were seized
from EC Peninsula Commercial and New Dawn Enterprise in November 2014. The other five
vans were seized from Gold Friends Enterprises in September of last year.
He said that the firms are facing multiple rice-smuggling cases filed by the BOC before the
Department of Justice.The seized goods shall be available for public viewing and pre-bid
conference on Monday and Tuesday, April 20-21, 2015, according to Sevilla.The public auction
through sealed bidding will be conducted at the 2nd floor, BOC Conference Hall, Port of
Cagayan de Oro Building, Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/04/15/customs-to-auction-rice-seized-in-mindanao-port/
The pesticides WHO classifies as ‘cancer causing’ are used
widely in India
Wed, Apr 15, 2015
Five popular brands of chemical pesticides –
Glyphosate, Parathion, Malathion, Diazinon
and Tetrachlorvinphos – that the research arm
of the World Health Organisation (WHO)
categorized as ‗probable or possible
carcinogenic‘ are widely used in India. While
the report has triggered a massive debate in
Europe and America on the need to regulate or
ban these pesticides, it has been simply
glossed over by policy makers, scientists and
environmentalists in India. For a country which spends more time discussing pedestrian issues,
health and environment are far away from national concerns.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) at Lyon, in France, has categorized the
most popularly used herbicide Glyphosate, which comes branded as Roundup, as ‗probably

www.ricepluss.com
Page 6
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
carcinogenic to humans‘. Two of the pesticides – Tetrachlorvinphos and Parathion – have been
classified in the 2B category and rates as ‗possibly carcinogenic to humans‘ while three other
chemicals – Malathion, Diazinon and Glyphosate – as ‗probably carcinogenic‘ and put in the
category 2A. These are all organophosphates.
In India, while Roundup is the most popular used herbicide, Methyl Parathion, Malathion and
Diazinon too are widely used in agriculture. Tetrachlorvinphos is approved for flies and ticks.
Interestingly, many of the chemicals are approved for restricted use, knowing very well there is
no way to check its actual application. Take for instance Methyl Parathion. Its use is banned for
fruits and vegetables, and also for crops where honeybees are acting as pollinators. How can the
Central Insecticides Board expect farmers to make a distinction between honeybee pollinating
crops and other when applying Methyl Parathion?
Similarly, Diazinon is banned for use in agriculture except for household purposes. Is there any
way to police the farmers after they have purchased the chemical from the market? How will you
know, given the educational standard of Indian farmers, whether they read the fine print on the
pesticides container and apply accordingly? Take Methyl Parathion use in fruits and vegetables.
It is officially banned, but it is widely known that traders dip certain vegetables in Methyl
Parathion solution as it provides shine to the veggies.
The pesticides registration process therefore is a sham. Since it escapes public scrutiny, I haven‘t
seen the working of the Central Insecticides Board ever come under the scanner of the
investigating agencies.Some 860 pesticides are registered for use in India. As many as 67
pesticides banned in other countries, are being used in India.
There is a strong lobby in favour of chemical pesticides, and every time environmentalists
question the need for some of these pesticides on health and environment grounds, a court case is
often slapped. So much so that film star Aamir Khan too was served legal notices after his show
on pesticides inSatyamev Jayate. Nevertheless, I still remember a study published by Dr David
Pimental of the Cornell University in the late 1970s wherein he estimated that 99.9 per cent of
the pesticides go into the environment and only 0.1 per cent of the pesticides hit the target pests.
I had always wondered why this study was never taken seriously by agricultural scientists
knowing very well how toxic these chemicals are.
The International Rice Research Institute, in Manila, the Philippines, too showed in early 2000
that pesticides on rice in Asia were ‗a waste of time and effort‘. The IRRI study showed how
farmers in Central Luzon province of the Philippines, and in Vietnam, Bangladesh and India
were producing a bumper rice harvest without using chemical pesticides. Even this report was
never taken seriously by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the umbrella
organization for farm research in the country. Andwhen I hear Ajay Vir Jakhar, president of the
Bharat Krishak Samaj say that pesticides use in wheat has gone up by 300 per cent, a crop which

www.ricepluss.com
Page 7
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
is generally considered to be hardy not requiring much application of chemical pesticides, it
clearly shows how ruthlessly harmful pesticides are being promoted.
Genetically modified (GM) crops have further pushed the application of chemical herbicides
through the spread of herbicide-tolerant crops. The WHO report should therefore be used as a
loud warning, and immediate corrective steps are called for. We can ignore the warning signals
at our own peril
Research or relaxation? Why Bill Gates was in the Philippines
this week
Following Microsoft's 40th anniversary, the company‘s co-founder reportedly took a trip
to the Southeast Asian country, where he spent time with his team at the International
Rice Research Institute, a major Gates Foundation beneficiary.
By Jessica Mendoza, Staff Writer APRIL 15, 2015

Lauren Victoria Burke/AP/File
Bill Gates has been nothing if not clear about his vision for
the future of technology: Access for everyone, regardless
of income, age, or gender. A big part of that vision
involves technology‘s role in ending poverty and hunger –
so it should come as no surprise that, just as Microsoft
celebrated its 40th anniversary April 4, the tech giant‘s co-
founder and his philanthropy team took a quiet trip to the

www.ricepluss.com
Page 8
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Philippines to drop in on the world‘s leading center for better rice.Senior officers with the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spent several days touring the facilities and getting
briefed on the latest projects at theInternational Rice Research Institute (IRRI) at the
University of Los Banos in northern Philippines.
Year-round giving: 8 family volunteering opportunities
PHOTOS OF THE DAY Photos of the Day 04/15
―We are thankful that the BMGF has come for updates on the food and nutrition security
initiatives that they support,‖ Robert Zeigler, IRRI director general, said in a statement.
―The foundation is a staunch partner in applying the best of science so that people in the
rice-eating world will not go hungry.‖Agricultural development is among the largest
initiatives of the Gates Foundation, which has to date committed more than $2 billion to the
effort. A large chunk of that funding goes toward improving rice, a staple food for more
than half the world‘s population, including the Philippines, and ―the single largest source of
employment and income for rural people,‖ according to a 2010 Oxfam report.Vital as rice is
to the global economy and to the lives of millions, growing the crop comes with a host of
production and environmental problems.
According to Oxfam:Current practices promote genetic uniformity, which makes crops more
vulnerable to pests and diseases. They are also wasteful of … resources such as water and
fossil fuels, using up about one-quarter to one-third of the world‘s annual supply of
freshwater. Heavily fertilized, continuously flooded rice fields produce greenhouse gases
that contribute to global warming, and misuse of inorganic fertilizers and agrochemicals
results in soil and water pollution.―Further,‖ the report continues, ―growing rice is very
labor-intensive, with women generally bearing the major burden of work along with their
other household and child-rearing tasks.‖Rice‘s nutritional value is another issue: Though
high in much-needed calories, the crop is notoriously low in Vitamin A.
The partnership with the IRRI is part of a number of Gates Foundation initiatives aimed at
increasing productivity, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and improving crop
quality. Among those efforts is a project that has faced heavy opposition from critics of
GMO research: The development of genetically-modified, ―golden rice,‖ with the goal of
improving the crop‘s nutritional value.Criticism has not kept Gates from pushing for
agricultural innovation developing countries, however. In their annual Gates Foundation
letter this year, Gates and his wife, Melinda, wrote about developing the types of technology
in agriculture, as well as in other industries, that could improve the lives of the poor.―We
think the next 15 years will see major breakthroughs for most people in poor countries,‖
they wrote. ―They will have unprecedented opportunities to get an education, eat nutritious
food, and benefit from mobile banking.
‖―These breakthroughs will be driven by innovation in technology – ranging from new
vaccines and hardier crops to much cheaper smartphones and tablets – and by innovations
that help deliver those things to more people,‖ they added.Philanthropy aside, the couple
and their family also reportedly spent time at the exclusive Amanpulo island resort on the

www.ricepluss.com
Page 9
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Philippine island of Palawan. They will have spent 12 days in the country, leaving
Thursday, April 16 after arriving April 4.
The outstanding India-IRRI partnership
Written by M.S. Swaminathan.
At the time of establishing the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in 1960, Dr. Sterling
Wortman of the Rockefeller Foundation seriously considered India as a potential location for
IRRI. However, Los Baños in Laguna, Philippines, was chosen as the main location for IRRI
based on many factors.Jose Drilon, IRRI's first executive officer, and Arturo Tanco, Philippine
Agriculture Secretary, played key roles in getting IRRI established in the Philippines. This has
been fortunate since the Philippines has been an excellent host and has also provided high-
quality human resources for the Institute, apart from land and other facilities.I visited IRRI for
the first time in 1964.
I was greatly impressed with the germplasm in the field, with emphasis on a new plant
architecture, which could make use of soil nutrients and water most effectively. There was also
great emphasis on breeding varieties resistant to major pests and diseases. Therefore, I strongly
recommended to the Government of India to enter into a mutually beneficial partnership with
IRRI. The Institute also invited Indian visionaries such as K.R. Damle, then Secretary of

www.ricepluss.com
R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine Page
10
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Agriculture, to serve on its first Board of Trustees in
1960.During the International Rice Year 1966, the
Government of India honored Robert Chandler, the
founding director general of IRRI, with the International
Rice Prize. Since then, the relationship between
the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and
IRRI has been strong, mutually beneficial, and a proven
model for symbiotic partnerships among research
institutions.ICAR and IRRI started developing
memoranda of understanding and annual work plans in
order to provide structure and purpose to the partnership.
In association with the Rockefeller Foundation, ICAR
also established an All India Coordinated Rice
Improvement Project (AICRIP) with headquarters in
Hyderabad in 1965. This provided an opportunity for a
more targeted relationship with IRRI. In 1966, AICRIP
received from IRRI a set of 300 strains of rice containing
genes for resistance to pests and diseases and possessing a nonlodging plant architecture.
Varieties developed at IRRI have been used in the hybridization program in AICRIP.
Another important contribution of IRRI has been in human resource development. A wide range
of researchers, including senior scientists and postdoctoral fellows, were given opportunities to
visit IRRI and work at the Institute for some time with appropriate counterparts. Several PhD
scholars completed their course work at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and
other institutions in India and conducted their research work at IRRI.The exchange of genetic
material between IRRI and AICRIP was also intensified. In 1981, IRRI delivered cytoplasmic-
genetic male sterile (CMS) rice lines to India. CMS is a condition of inablity of a plant to
produce functional pollen.
It is an important tool in hybrid seed production. Hybrids often exhibit heterosis or hybrid vigor,
whereby the traits of a hybrid progeny are enhanced as a result of the genetic combination of its
parents. IRRI converted Pusa 167-120-3-2 into a CMS line (IR58025 A). This became an
important source for hybrid rice breeding. India also used highyielding and disease- and
pestresistant IRRI varieties such as IR20, IR22, IR26, and IR72, among other varieties, in the
Indian rice breeding program. IR36 and IR64 are still very popular among Indian farmers. IRRI
also identified the Xa21 gene for bacterial blight resistance in wild rice (Oryza longistaminata),
which was sourced from India. Also, IRRI and India saw potential in FR13A, a flood-tolerant
rice variety grown in limited areas of eastern India from which the famous SUB1 gene was
ultimately identified. Scientists from IRRI and India have published several joint papers.
The IRRI-India partnership has been an outstanding exercise in promoting collaboration, which
advances global rice science and development on the one hand and India‘s rice production on the
other. Because of its symbiotic nature, this partnership has not only endured, but has been

www.ricepluss.com
11
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
enriched over the past half century. I am pleased that this issue of Rice Today is chronicling a
remarkable example of the power and value of partnership between CGIAR institutions and
national agricultural research and extension systems.
_________________________________________
Dr. Swaminathan is the founding chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. He is a former
IRRI director general (1982-88) and is known as the father of the Green Revolution in India.
The enduring India-IRRI relationship
Written by J.K. Ladha.
As documented in this issue of Rice Today, India and IRRI have had a very successful
relationship over the decades. The introduction of rice variety IR8, which helped save India from
a massive famine in the 1970s, marked the true beginning of the success of the partnership.
Then, some remarkable results followed such as the development of more than 400 disease- and
insect-resistant rice varieties, hybrid rice varieties bred through public and private sector
programs, streamlined rice production practices, and improved postharvest technologies for
better sustainability and productivity.The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and
IRRI have trained scientists, providing equitable access to information, and conducting

www.ricepluss.com
12
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
socioeconomic research. India has been actively part of
IRRI‘s priority setting, strategic planning, providing
scientific advice, and carrying out research work in the
region. Senior Indian scientists and government officials
have served almost continuously on IRRI‘s Board of
Trustees since its creation. Indeed, the partnership has
achieved outstanding results—setting a GOLD standard
in international research collaboration.As the India-IRRI
collaboration has matured, so have the needs,
expectations, and environment of doing business in
relation to what is happening not only in India but also
regionally and globally. India has a strong national rice
research program and has increasing participation by the
private sector and civil society organizations. IRRI should not take over functions that the public
or private sector should have in the country. Our comparative advantage is strong in science and
innovation, looking at the ―big picture,‖ training in frontier areas, and catalyzing the transfer of
new technologies to those in the value chain.
Also, we should maintain or even increase our leadership, physical presence, and impact in
strategic regions of India where rice is the predominant crop. Considering this, we should play a
key role in revolutionizing the rice sector, particularly, in eastern India.
With the establishment of a new regional rice hub in Hyderabad and in close collaboration
withICAR and other public and private sector institutions, the India-IRRI partnership can assist
countries in South Asia and Africa in strengthening their rice programs. This would allow us to
implement the upstream research agenda agreed upon under the India-IRRI collaborative
research program. This includes targeted breeding research and training programs that will
benefit other South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation member countries.India, with its
large diversity of soil and climate, provides unique opportunities to develop situation-specific
rice varieties that will also be relevant to its neighboring countries.
Although our work will continue to focus on trait and varietal development with many abiotic
stresses (drought, submergence, salinity) and biotic stresses (sheath blight and other diseases),
we also need to initiate research on emerging problems such as false smut, nematodes, and low-
light intensity. Shorter-duration rice, which can fit in diverse cropping systems, should continue
to be a priority. The demand for good grain quality is increasing along with the rising purchasing
power of a significant sector of rice consumers. With emerging labor shortages and rising labor
wages, we need to focus on conservation tillage and direct seeding of rice. We need to conduct
agronomic systems research and develop best management practices for key rice systems.
We should aim to maximize the yield potential of new varieties. There is a strong need for
technology targeting and the development of extrapolation domains for an efficient uptake of
new technologies. Although most research themes and activities will cut across all the top-10
rice-growing states of India, relative priority will differ.

www.ricepluss.com
13
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
As we continue our strong partnership with ICAR, the Department of Agriculture and
Cooperation, and state agricultural universities, we should develop linkages with India‘s seed
industry. The country has a vibrant seed industry with many large and small players. Some seed
companies have a very active R&D and breeding program, which includes hybrid rice. IRRI
should play a major role in trait discovery and in the development of a new generation of
parental lines and varieties, including hybrids, for small and large seed companies that meet
consumer preferences and are adaptive to rainfed ecosystems.
Institutions like IRRI increasingly face funding constraints and have to work on their goal of full
cost recovery. We should continue to explore additional and new project funding, including
philanthropic donations and grants from Indian donors.
_________________________________________
Dr. Ladha is principal scientist and IRRI representative for India and Nepal.
Philippines looks to broaden range of rice suppliers
By Reuters April 15, 2015 | 4:00 pm EDT
The Philippines' state grains procurement agency said on Tuesday that it
would look to import rice from a broader range of countries including
Pakistan, India and Myanmar, as it tries to diversify its supplies of the
staple food.One of the world's biggest rice importers, the Philippines
usually buys from key producers Vietnam and Thailand.But with a longer
list of possible suppliers, the nation could keep a lid on the cost of
purchases even if emergencies such as typhoons or other natural disasters hit agriculture at
home.Renan Dalisay, administrator at the National Food Authority (NFA), said he had
coordinated with the embassies of Pakistan, India, Malaysia and Myanmar in Manila,
encouraging the countries to enter into a so-called Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the
Philippines for rice supply.
The MOA would allow those countries to participate in rice import tenders that the NFA issues
from time to time, similar to agreements the Philippines has with Vietnam, Thailand and
Cambodia, he said.Vietnam and Thailand recently won 500,000-tonne supply deals with the
NFA, and hope to get more contracts as they struggle to offload some of their stocks.Dalisay
issued the statement after Pakistan, the world's No.4 rice exporter, approached the Philippines for
a 50,000-tonne supply deal. A delegation from the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan was in
Manila recently to explore deals, he said.
Dalisay said Pakistan could sell as much as 50,000 tonnes to the Philippines through the
Minimum Access Volume scheme under which local traders are allowed to import an annual
volume of up to 755,200 tonnes with a 35-percent tariff. That scheme covers private purchases
and is separate from the state-buying seen in NFA tenders.But the NFA Council has yet to open
the MAV window this year, with local media reporting the government is looking into the
possibility of removing tariffs on rice imports.Other countries that can also sell rice to the

www.ricepluss.com
14
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Philippines under the MAV scheme include China, India, Australia, and El Salvador.The
Philippines imported a total of around 1.7 million tonnes of rice in 2014, the most in four years.
It may buy 1.6 million tonnes this year, according to a forecast by the United States Department
of Agriculture.
http://www.agprofessional.com/news/philippines-looks-broaden-range-rice-suppliers
Japan to reduce Thai rice purchases under TPP
Trade pact negotiators to propose buying more grain from US
 15 Apr 2015 at 15:05 4,885 viewed6 comments
 WRITER: BLOOMBERG NEWS
Japan plans to reduce rice purchases from Thailand and import more from the United States if a
trans-Pacific trade pact led by the two countries goes through.Japan bought 330,000 tonnes of
rice from Thailand in the fiscal year that ended March 31, according to the Agriculture Ministry
in Tokyo. It also purchased and 60,000 tonnes from China.Tetsuro Shimizu, general manager at
Norinchukin Research Institute in Tokyo, said if the 12 Asia-Pacific countries negotiating the
Trans-Pacific Partnership succeed, Japan would buy more rice from the US and reduce imports
from non-TPP members Thailand and China.Two officials who have knowledge of the Japan's
negotiating position said the country will propose exactly that during meetings in Tokyo this
week.Japan may propose increasing purchases of US rice by as much as 100,000 tonnes a year,
while leaving a tariff system in place, according to Masayoshi Honma, agricultural and resource
economics professor at the University of Tokyo.
An accord between the US and Japan about access to each others' markets for products such as
rice, pork and automobiles would only take effect if incorporated into the TPP."As Japan wants
its rice to be excluded from the tariff-elimination goal of the TPP, the government must come up
with an alternative measure to improve foreign access to the Japanese rice market," said Mr
Honma, who advised Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his first term.An official at
Japan's TPP negotiating office declined to comment as negotiations are ongoing. The official
asked not to be named, citing department policy.
Mr Abe will visit Washington later this month to meet with President Barack Obama over issues
ranging from defence to trade.Rice, wheat, barley, beef, pork, dairy products, sugar and starch
crops are considered politically sensitive products that have to be protected, according to Hiroshi
Oe, Japan's TPP ambassador. Japanese farmers are a central constituency of Mr Abe's Liberal
Democratic Party.
WTO portion
Japan's Agriculture Ministry must buy 770,000 tonnes of foreign rice every year without tariffs
under a World Trade Organization agreement. The country imposes a duty of 341 yen (93 baht)
per kilogramme on imports above the quota.Half of the mandatory 770,000 tonnes currently

www.ricepluss.com
15
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
come from the US.Rice futures traded at US$10.09 per 100 pounds on the Chicago Board of
Trade at 3.50pm today Tokyo time, heading for the lowest settlement since July 2010.Thai 5%
broken white rice, an Asian benchmark, fell to $401 a tonne on April 8, matching the lowest
level since June.
APEDA NEWS
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 15-04-2015
Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price
Garlic
1 Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 2100
2 Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 2000
3 Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t) 1800
Ginger
1 Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 4600
2 Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 5100
3 Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t) 3000
Guar Gum Powder
1 Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 4320
2 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 1740
3 Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps technical grade, FOB Kandla (USD/t) 3775
Source:agra-net For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 15-04-2015
Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price
Rice
1 Bonai (Orissa) Other 2000 2100
2 Shillong (Meghalaya) Other 3400 3600
3 Gumla (Jharkhand) Other 2525 2900
Wheat
1 Bayad (Gujarat) Other 1750 2180
2 Haveri (Karnataka ) Local 1550 1625
3 Bonai(Orissa) Other 1450 1600
Mousambi
1 Sirhind (Punjab) Other 2600 3200
2 Sirsa(Haryana) Other 3000 3400
3 Vikasnagar(Uttrakhand) Other 3200 3200
Brinjal
1 Bargarh (Orissa) Other 1500 1700
2 Zira (Punjab) Other 1300 1500
3 Ateli(Haryana) Other 1050 1090
Source:agra-net For more info
Egg Rs per 100 No
Price on 15-04-2015

www.ricepluss.com
16
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Product Market Center Price
1 Pune 268
2 Chittoor 263
3 Hyderabad 238
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 15-04-2015
Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High
Onions Dry Package: 40 lb cartons
1 Atlanta Georgia Yellow 27 27
2 Baltimore Texas Yellow 22 23
3 Detroit Mexico Yellow 16.50 18.50
Cucumbers Package: cartons film wrapped
1 Atlanta Canada Long Seedless 8.50 9.50
2 Miami Honduras Long Seedless 10 10.50
3 New York Florida Long Seedless 8 8
Grapes Package: 18 lb containers bagged
1 Atlanta Chile Red Globe 21.50 23.50
2 Baltimore Peru Red Globe 22 22
3 Chicago Chile Red Globe 24.50 24.50
Source:USDA
Hybrid rice varieties face new scrutiny
By XU WEI (China Daily)Updated: 2015-04-15 06:23
CommentsPrintMailLargeMediumSmall

www.ricepluss.com
17
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
China's agricultural authority is set to conduct
more comprehensive assessments of hybrid rice
varieties following a massive crop failure in
Anhui province caused by abnormal weather
conditions and rice disease.The evaluations will
focus on high yields and also the adaptability of
varieties to different growing environments,
including resilience to disease and insects,
according to Zhang Taolin, vice-minister of
agriculture."There will also be evaluations of the
efficiency of fertilizers and the grain quality of
hybrid rice," he said at a news conference at the
State Council Information Office on
Tuesday.Hybrid rice seed provider Yuan
Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co said on
Monday that it will stop selling its Liangyou
0293 variety following widespread low yields or
crop failure.This affected more than 650 hectares
of rice fields in six cities in Anhui in
October.The company blamed abnormal weather
conditions, including low temperatures and
persistent rain in June and July last year, for the crop failure as this variety is susceptible to rice
blast fungus disease in such conditions.
Inadequate prevention measures also accounted for the crop failures, it said.Agricultural scientist
and company founder Yuan Longping, widely dubbed the "father of hybrid rice", said the crop
failure in Anhui cannot serve as evidence that there are problems in all hybrid rice
varieties."There is a chance that the Liangyou 0293 variety could have suffered a setback in
quality after years of cultivation. There could also have been disease mutations," he told Hunan
Daily.
"The average yield of hybrid rice per mu (0.07 of a hectare) has reached more than 1,026.7 kg to
date. Even if the yield is reduced to 70 to 80 percent of that amount ... we can still improve the
yield of the country's rice fields remarkably," he said.Zhang, the vice minister, said hybrid rice
remains an important part of the national strategy to ensure grain security."We need a variety
that can adapt to different cultivation environments. However, evaluation of a variety is usually
conducted in a specific area. If that variety is cultivated elsewhere, without adequate assessment,
defects in the variety will be exposed," he said.
Yuan Longping, agricultural scientist and Yuan
Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co
founder [Photo/China Daily]

www.ricepluss.com
18
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
The Anhui crop failure has infuriated farmers, with many blaming the company for misleading
advertisements. In Wuhe county, rice farmers were hit hard, with yields plummeting from an
expected 500 kg to 50 kg per mu or even to zero.The company said the farmers' losses will be
covered by insurance and it will meet with them to discuss further measures.As of last year,
hybrid rice accounted for 30 percent of China's rice-growing area, with more than 9.07 million
hectares of hybrid rice fields nationwide.
Tokyo, Washington resume TPP talks
Jiji Press
Hiroshi Oe, right, Japan‘s deputy chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, shakes hands
with Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler in Tokyo on Wednesday.
9:43 pm, April 15, 2015
Jiji PressJapan and the United States
restarted working-level talks as part of
Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free
trade negotiations in Tokyo on
Wednesday.High on the agenda will be
Japan‘s establishment of an import quota for
U.S.-grown rice and U.S. auto parts tariffs,
informed sources said.The focus will be to
what extent the two countries can come close
to each other ahead of a meeting between
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S.
President Barack Obama in Washington on
April 28, the sources said.The previous Japan-U.S. working-level TPP talks took place in
Washington last month.Japanese participants in the just-launched Tokyo talks include deputy
chief TPP negotiator Hiroshi Oe and Takeo Mori, ambassador for economic diplomacy.
Washington is represented by Acting Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Wendy Cutler.―This will
be a very important meeting,‖ Oe told reporters just before the start of the talks. ―We will make
all-out efforts to narrow the gaps between the two countries as much as possible‖ so that they can
move on to the next stage, he added.The participants are expected to hold in-depth discussions
on the specific amount of U.S. rice Japan would accept under the planned import quota and
conditions for Tokyo to invoke emergency import restrictions on beef and pork.Japan, which
wants U.S. auto parts tariffs to be scrapped immediately, is set to encourage the United States to
make concessions on the matter.

www.ricepluss.com
19
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
If substantial progress is made in the working-level talks, Japan and the United States would hold
a ministerial meeting with the aim of reaching a broad agreement.The two sides are eager to
confirm their achievements at the coming Abe-Obama summit in a bid to add momentum to the
overall TPP negotiations among 12 countries for an early conclusion of the multilateral talks.
China's hybrid rice varieties face new scrutiny after massive
crop failure
Xu WeiChina Daily/Asia News NetworkWednesday, Apr 15, 2015
China's agricultural authority is set to conduct more comprehensive assessments of hybrid rice
varieties following a massive crop failure in Anhui province caused by abnormal weather
conditions and rice disease.The evaluations will focus on high yields and also the adaptability of
varieties to different growing environments, including resilience to disease and insects,
according to Zhang Taolin, vice-minister of agriculture."There will also be evaluations of the
efficiency of fertilizers and the grain quality of hybrid rice," he said at a news conference at the
State Council Information Office on Tuesday.Hybrid rice seed provider Yuan Longping High-
Tech Agriculture Co said on Monday that it will stop selling its Liangyou 0293 variety following
widespread low yields or crop failure.

www.ricepluss.com
20
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
This affected more than 650 hectares of rice fields in six cities in Anhui in October.The company
blamed abnormal weather conditions, including low temperatures and persistent rain in June and
July last year, for the crop failure as this variety is susceptible to rice blast fungus disease in such
conditions.Inadequate prevention measures also accounted for the crop failures, it
said.Agricultural scientist and company founder Yuan Longping, widely dubbed the "father of
hybrid rice", said the crop failure in Anhui cannot serve as evidence that there are problems in all
hybrid rice varieties.
"There is a chance that the Liangyou 0293 variety could have suffered a setback in quality after
years of cultivation. There could also have been disease mutations," he told Hunan Daily."The
average yield of hybrid rice per mu (0.07 of a hectare) has reached more than 1,026.7 kg to date.
Even if the yield is reduced to 70 to 80 per cent of that amount ... we can still improve the yield
of the country's rice fields remarkably," he said.Zhang, the vice minister, said hybrid rice
remains an important part of the national strategy to ensure grain security."We need a variety
that can adapt to different cultivation environments.
However, evaluation of a variety is usually conducted in a specific area. If that variety is
cultivated elsewhere, without adequate assessment, defects in the variety will be exposed," he
said.The Anhui crop failure has infuriated farmers, with many blaming the company for
misleading advertisements. In Wuhe county, rice farmers were hit hard, with yields plummeting
from an expected 500 kg to 50 kg per mu or even to zero.The company said the farmers' losses
will be covered by insurance and it will meet with them to discuss further measures.As of last
year, hybrid rice accounted for 30 per cent of China's rice-growing area, with more than 9.07
million hectares of hybrid rice fields nationwide.
Lifting of rice levy from next kharif to prove costly to ryots,
consumers
B. CHANDRASHEKHAR
Lifting of rice levy, compulsory procurement of paddy from farmers and rice from millers, by
the Centre completely from 2015-16 kharif marketing season (KMS) is being feared to have a
telling impact on farmers and consumers by denying most of them the minimum support price
and the commodity getting dearer in the market, respectively.In the absence of any procurement
of paddy by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the first and direct impact would be on the
farmers as they would have to largely depend on whatever purchases to be done by the State
Government agencies such as Civil Supplies Corporation, Markfed and IKP for getting the MSP
or else left to the mercy of traders and millers, who seldom pay MSP to farmers.
Against the MSP of Rs.1,400 and Rs.1,360 per quintal, at which the government agencies
procure the produce from farmers, fixed by the Centre for common and super-fine varieties of

www.ricepluss.com
21
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
paddy, the traders and millers would pay at the most Rs.1,200. ―I have not seen traders paying
more than Rs.1,200 per quintal during KMS 2014-15,‖ a field official overseeing the
procurement in a North Telangana district told The Hindu .―Denial of MSP to farmers by traders
and millers, however, will not provide any respite to the end-consumers.
Millers will have the freedom to sell the rice stocks anywhere and resort to hoarding to create
artificial shortage and increase the price heavily,‖ sources in the Civil Supplies Department
stated.The super-fine quality rice whose wholesale price is about Rs.32 per kg is being sold
between Rs.42 to Rs.52 per kg in the open market even when the procurement is being done by
government agencies, officials pointed out.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/lifting-of-rice-levy-from-next-kharif-to-prove-
costly-to-ryots-consumers/article7103650.ece
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 34,300 MT for 2014/2015 were down 44 percent from
the previous week and 53 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export
Sales Highlights report. Increases were reported for Costa Rica (14,000 MT, including 7,000
MT switched from unknown destinations), Mexico (6,700 MT), Guatemala (5,800 MT, switched
from unknown destinations), Panama (5,100 MT), and Haiti (4,700 MT). Decreases were
reported for unknown destinations (12,200 MT) and Colombia (1,800 MT). Exports of 82,600
MT were up 37 percent from the previous week and 35 percent from the prior four-week
average. The primary destinations were Colombia (32,200 MT), Costa Rica (12,100 MT), Haiti
(11,800 MT), Guatemala (5,900 MT), and Panama (5,100 MT).This summary is based on reports
from exporters from the period April 3-9.
New Trade Promotion Authority Bill Could Jump Start
Trade Negotiations
Chairman Orrin Hatch
Chairman Hatch -- on the fast track
WASHINGTON, DC -- Trade Promotion Authority
(TPA) legislation was finally introduced in
Congress today with a bill from Senate Finance
Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Ranking
Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and House Ways &
Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI)
making an appearance following lengthy

www.ricepluss.com
22
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
negotiations between the leaders.In introducing the bill, Chairman Hatch said, "we must engage
with other nations through trade...[t]he renewal of TPA will help American workers and job
creators unlock new opportunities for growth...here at home."
Hatch has indicated his intention to mark-up the bill, The Bipartisan Congressional Trade
Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), late next week. Many believe TPA is
necessary to allow U.S. negotiators to make progress on ongoing trade negotiations, specifically,
the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
"TPA sends a clear signal to other countries that Congress is serious about letting the President
wrap up these deals," said Bob Cummings, USA Rice's chief operating officer. "It puts some
pressure on negotiators from other countries who can't now hide behind our Congress as a
stalling tactic."
TPA guarantees a solitary "Yea" or "Nay" vote on trade deals. The alternative - 535 Members of
Congress tweaking any aspect of the negotiated deals - renders the deals "Dead on Arrival" and
provides no incentive for negotiators to conclude their talks. "We support TPA from a practical matter as
it will help negotiators finish their work," continued Cummings. "But the specifics of TPP and TTIP with
regard to rice remain to be seen, and it is those details that will ultimately decide how we come down on
things."
Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 34,300 MT for 2014/2015 were
down 44 percent from the previous week and 53 percent from the prior four-
week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report. Increases
were reported for Costa Rica (14,000 MT, including 7,000 MT switched
from unknown destinations), Mexico (6,700 MT), Guatemala (5,800 MT,
switched from unknown destinations), Panama (5,100 MT), and Haiti (4,700
MT). Decreases were reported for unknown destinations (12,200 MT) and
Colombia (1,800 MT).
Exports of 82,600 MT were up 37 percent from the previous week and 35
percent from the prior four-week average. The primary destinations were
Colombia (32,200 MT), Costa Rica (12,100 MT), Haiti (11,800 MT),
Guatemala (5,900 MT), and Panama (5,100 MT).
This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period April 3-9.
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

www.ricepluss.com
23
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 16
Month Price Net Change
May 2015 $9.965 - $0.130
July 2015 $10.210 - $0.135
September 2015 $10.465 - $0.135
November 2016 $10.690 - $0.125
January 2016 $10.920 - $0.125
March 2016 $10.970 - $0.125
May 2016 $10.970 - $0.125
A schoolboy at heart: Celebrated Indian scientist speaks his
mind
IRRI Pioneer Interview conducted by Gene Hettel
The legendary Ebrahimali Abubacker Siddiq, 78, began his long and enduring rice research career in 1968 as
a cytogeneticist at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, including 7 years there as a
senior scientist. In 1983-86, he spent 3 years as a breeder for the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
in Egypt. Returning to IARI, he was appointed professor of genetics (1986-87).
In late 1987, he became project director at the Directorate of Rice Research (DRR). In 1994, he assumed the
position of deputy director general (crop science) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In

www.ricepluss.com
24
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
2000-05, he served as a member of the Institute’s Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2005. His 35 years of
research in plant breeding contributed to the development and release of high-yielding semidwarf basmati and
nonbasmati varieties, which have boosted rice production in India.
Upon retirement from his regular ICAR service in 1997, ICAR named him a national professor (1997-2002).
In 2002, he joined the Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics of the Department of Biotechnology, in
which he served as the Distinguished Chair until 2007, when he continued there as an adjunct scientist. He is
also an adjunct professor at the University of Hyderabad and IARI and is an honorary professor of
biotechnology at Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University in Hyderabad.Here are some excerpts from his
pioneer interview conducted in April 2014 in Hyderabad.
A long association with IRRI
My professional association with IRRI started in 1968. When I
was a rice breeder at IARI, IRRI provided me opportunities to
participate in its international symposia and conferences. Starting
in 1987, as project director of DRR, my association with IRRI
became even closer. As project director (1987-94), I
progressively strengthened the relationship between India and
IRRI. My roles as a scientist, project director, deputy director
general (crop science) at ICAR, and later as a member of
IRRI‘s Board of Trustees enabled me to know and discover what
India could gain through collaborative activities with IRRI, particularly in germplasm exchange and human
resource development on all aspects of rice science.
Rewarding stint for IRRI in Egypt
When I was a senior scientist at IARI, IRRI, with M.S. Swaminathan as its director general, was keen to
develop rice research in Egypt. I was chosen to be the rice breeder to join the USAID-supported project for
establishing the National Rice Research and Training Institute. In 1983, I joined the project, which was
technically coordinated by the University of California-Davis, and contributed to shaping and strengthening
Egypt‘s rice breeding program. Overall, the project team did a lot of good by streamlining research, training
local scientists, and helping many get their PhD degrees. That 3-year exposure was really a wonderful
experience personally for me and I feel, even today, that I achieved all that was expected of me as a breeder
there.
Critical issues while on the IRRI Board
Keeping INGER. While serving on the IRRI Board, there were several issues I was concerned about during the
early 2000s when Ronald Cantrell was Institute‘s director general. It was a time when funding support from
major donor sources to CGIAR institutes, including IRRI, was declining. To cope with the situation, IRRI was

www.ricepluss.com
25
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
contemplating projects and programs which should be continued and which ones might be pruned. Whether
IRRI should continue or not with the International Network for the Genetic Evaluation of Rice (INGER) was
one of the issues before the Board for a decision.
I impressed upon fellow board members that it was INGER that provided IRRI with true visibility in the rice
world. Connecting almost all rice-growing countries through international testing and exchange of germplasm,
it was INGER that enabled rice-growing countries to strengthen their rice breeding research and develop
varieties suited to their own different ecosystems. I emphatically said, don‘t prune INGER because what you
are spending on it is not that much but what you gain is much more. Luckily, I and other INGER proponents
on the Board won out and INGER thrives today.
Into Africa. Except for the limited INGER testing program, IRRI was not doing anything substantial for
Africa. The Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice, formerly WARDA) was there addressing rice production
constraints. Even so, given the large underexploited potential in Africa, I and other board members insisted
that IRRI should emphasize and focus on improving rice productivity and production on the continent. So, the
Board urged IRRI to give needed emphasis to Africa. That is when the first African national—Angeline
Kamba—became the chair of the IRRI Board and when IRRI started to send more scientific staff to the
continent to strengthen rice research there.
Focusing on the rainfed lowlands. Throughout my time on the Board, I insisted that IRRI should also focus on
rainfed ecosystems, particularly the rainfed lowlands, where drought and submergence are major constraints.
Although not so prominent in many Southeast Asian countries, this ecosystem constitutes a large area in South
Asia, particularly in eastern India and Bangladesh. We cannot rely indefinitely on the irrigated ecosystem
alone to meet our future rice demands. There has to be a balance across the irrigated and rainfed ecosystems. I
am happy that India and IRRI are working together to address this issue through the development and adoption
of submergence- and drought-tolerant rice varieties in eastern India through theStress-Tolerant Rice for Africa
and South Asia (STRASA) project.
Don’t cut hybrid rice. There was a feeling that, unlike in China, hybrid rice research at IRRI was not making
the expected level of progress. So, the issue came up before the Board if it were justified to prune the hybrid
breeding program. I urged that the hybrid rice program be further strengthened, not pruned, because it is the
only technology available with proven capability to raise the genetic yield ceiling. Even though it probably
would not reach the levels achieved in China, certainly India and a few other countries in the region could gain
from the technology in the coming years. I pleaded with the Board not to curtail ongoing support for hybrid
rice research. The suggestion was accepted broadly and so the hybrid rice program at IRRI continues today.
I understand that today around 2.4 million hectares are being planted to hybrid rice in India. If our breeders
come up with hybrids that can satisfy both farmers and consumers with appropriate growth duration, resistance
to insect pests and diseases, and high grain quality, I am optimistic that, 3 or 4 years from now, Indian farmers
should be planting 5 million hectares of hybrid rice. And even with a relatively small hybrid area, India is
second only to China in bringing hybrid rice to farmers‘ fields.

www.ricepluss.com
26
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
A career achievement with basmati rice
My major work as a breeder was to develop high-yielding varieties with basmati quality. The unique quality
characteristic of basmati rice is a complex genetic trait. Nearly all the physicochemical properties of starch are
not simply inherited. Combining all the quality features of traditional basmati in a high-yielding background,
therefore, was not an easy task.At one stage of the breeding process, some people commented, ―You are
working for so many years; still, you‘re not coming out with high-yielding basmati varieties.‖ While visiting
the field, one critic sarcastically asked, ―Should we bring in Norman Borlaug (the father of the Green
Revolution) to develop the kind of basmati rice you are trying to achieve for so long?‖
I was hurt by this remark and was compelled to
respond that, with all respect to Norman Borlaug, I
told him in the presence of many that you can bring
not one, but many Borlaugs, but it will not make any
difference in progress, given the complex trait we are
dealing with. I explained how difficult and time-
consuming it is to combine so many complexly
inherited indices of basmati quality in a high-yielding
background. I remember how I, along with my small
staff, used to be in the field all day selecting
productive plant types in the breeding populations and
the long hours we spent into the night cooking rice to evaluate the promising lines for the desired quality trait
combination.
Yet, we failed to reach the targeted genotype for years. It took us nearly 24 years to finally succeed in
developing Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1), the first-ever high-yielding semidwarf basmati variety, released in 1989.
Just like with the miracle high-yielding IR8, which would not have sustained us had we not come up with
progressively improved versions of it with acceptable grain quality and resistance to insect pests and diseases,
PB1 also provided the genetic base for evolving better and better varieties and hybrids.
Breeding for the rice-wheat rotation
I was also very interested in developing an appropriate rice variety that would enable timely harvest and thus
timely planting of wheat in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. With the fertile soil there, high
fertilizer application causes modern rice varieties to lodge before harvest hence the rice cannot be combine-
harvested. Keeping this problem in mind, we had introduced Pusa 44 in 1994.Pusa 44 does not lodge at all
because of its strong straw. This variety has helped sustain the rice-wheat system by enabling combine
harvesting that clears the field quickly for proper land preparation and timely wheat planting. This is why the
rice-wheat rotation in the region is such a great success. By virtue of this trait along with its long, slender, and
clean grains as well as resistance to most pests and diseases, it is still popular in the region. Even today, there
is no variety yet to replace Pusa 44.

www.ricepluss.com
27
Cell : +92 321 369 2874
Adding biotechnology to the toolbox
I looked into the prospects of the application of biotech tools for directed and speedy rice improvement. After a
full day‘s discussion with me, Gary Toenniessen, representing theRockefeller Foundation, agreed to support a
rice biotechnology program in India, if we organized and coordinated it. Thus, the India Rice Biotechnology
Network started. For 10 years, I coordinated this program involving rice researchers engaged in biotechnology.
Under this program, the Foundation helped India by training our young researchers in advanced laboratories
abroad and providing all needed equipment. Although the funding support was not high, I must admit that, if
not for that initial support, it would not have been possible for India to have built its rice biotechnology
research to the level we have today.
The future challenge for India: keeping rice farming
sustainable
The challenge for the next 20 years and beyond is achieving production targets on a sustainable basis—
ecologically and economically. Whereas the unfolding technological advances will hopefully make farming
ecologically secure, the real challenge is going to be in making farming economically viable because it is
becoming increasingly a losing profession.Farmers are not a happy lot in this country today. They don‘t have
secure livelihood opportunities in the rural areas because rice farming and agriculture, in general, are not is a
large-scale migration of rural families to urban areas in search of better livelihood opportunities. It used to be
60–40%, rural to urban population; now, the reverse is being reflected.
Today, many farmers do not want to see their sons becoming farmers like them. They want them to go for
better-paid jobs in the cities. A recent survey conducted across India showed that more than 60% of the
farmers don‘t find farming socioeconomically attractive. They feel they are losers and they want to migrate to
urban areas. So, unless we come up with appropriate strategies and policy measures to sustain farmers in
farming, it is not going to be easy to meet our future food demands.
A schoolboy in retirement, freely sharing knowledge
Now in retirement, among other things, I am an adjunct professor at my old institute, IARI. Whenever I go to
Delhi, I give lectures to students and interact with the staff on many agricultural issues. I really enjoy this kind
of activity in retirement. My wife says, ―You are retired, but you still act like a schoolboy.‖ Maybe so;
however, for a scientist, there is really nothing like retirement. I now have time to read and think about the new
developments in science and share those ideas with students and younger colleagues.Many companies have
asked me, ―Why don‘t you do some sort of consultancy?—whatever you want, we will arrange.‖ I said, no. I
don‘t need financial support from anybody. I have my pension; I have my lifetime savings to survive and act as
I wish. If anybody wants a free consultancy, there‘s no problem. I am available. Otherwise, I am leading a
peaceful life!_________________________________________
Mr. Hettel is editor-in-chief of Rice Today.

www.ricepluss.com
28
Cell : +92 321 369 2874

15th april 2015 daily gobal rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (8)

Similar to 15th april 2015 daily gobal rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Similar to 15th april 2015 daily gobal rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (8)

15th april 2015 daily gobal rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine