23rd july ,2019 daily global regional and local

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Daily Rice e-Newsletter
Global Regional and Local Rice News
News Headlines…
 Floods hit BD rice farmers; top hubs fear scant rainfall
 Tackling emerging threat to rice in Pakistan
 Concern Expressed Over Food Security Situation
 Pulses export falls on drought-like condition
 Govt must go beyond rice SRP to address farmers’ woes–group
 South Korea to pursue 50,000 tons of rice aid to North
 Niger to stop importing rice by 2023
 Rice valuing US$2.96bn exported, grew by 1.6pc in FY2018-19
 Four provinces advised to prepare seeds for rice farmers
 Thai farmers asked to delay rice planting as drought bites
 Agri Buzz: Kharif Acreage Falls 7%, Sharp Tumble In Area Under Rice And
Pulses
 Farmers asked to delay rice planting
 Within days of launch, Paddy 1121 contract hits lower circuit on ICEX
 Gov’t asked to address high rice prices, low palay farmgate rates
 Rice at center of PH agriculture’s problems
 Farmers shun Duterte’s policies on agriculture, land use
 Take a global view of agriculture
 Rice sown over area of 4.618 million acres in Punjab
 Customs in Seme intercept cannabis, rice, others worth N112.4m
 NGOs oppose genetically modified rice field tests
 AP New Ration Card Apply Online 2019, Application Form Download
 Historic Anheuser-Busch Site Hosts USA Rice School Nutrition Dinner
Detail Inside…

Floods hit BD rice farmers; top hubs fear scant
rainfall
 RECORDER REPORT
 JUL 23RD, 2019
 BENGALURU
Rice farmers in Bangladesh grappled with a double whammy of floods and low demand for their
produce this week, while export prices for the grain's Vietnamese variety rose on fresh interest
from Philippines and Africa. Meanwhile, rice export prices from India and Thailand were little
changed, amid concerns scant rainfall could hurt crops.
Bangladesh, which has historically relied on imports to meet shortages, could be faced with a
huge loss of paddy as vast swathes of land have been submerged by floods, agriculture ministry
officials said, who did not want to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media.
Flooding has killed at least 153 people in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and affected millions this
year.
Bangladesh has also been unable to clinch deals since a ban on rice exports was lifted in May.
The country's food ministry ordered district administrators to ensure procurement of paddy
directly from farmers to meet a government target of 400,000 tonnes.
Market insiders, however, said the move would not benefit most growers in dire need of cash,
since they were compelled to sell their crop to millers or middlemen at much cheaper rates. In
2017, the country was forced to massively increase imports to shore up reserves after floods
destroyed crops and pushed local prices to records, but domestic stocks have since greatly
improved.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice rose to $350 a tonne on Thursday from $335-$340 last
week. "Exporters are increasing purchases from local farmers for deals signed earlier, mostly
with customers in the Philippines and Africa," a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said.
Also, with the summer-autumn harvest in the Mekong Delta ending soon, there are concerns of
lower supply, another trader said. Vietnam's rice exports in the first half of 2019 fell 3.6% from a

year earlier to 3.36 million tonnes, as per customs data.
Meanwhile, prices for the 5% broken parboiled variety from top exporter India were unchanged
around $374-$377 per tonne, amid modest demand from buyers in Africa. Many rice-growing
states have received lower-than normal rainfall and it could hurt the summer-sown crop yield,
said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.
India's monsoon rains were 20% below average in the week ending Wednesday, raising concerns
over output. Second biggest exporter Thailand saw its benchmark 5% broken white rice quoted
around $401-$402 a tonne on Thursday, free-on-board Bangkok (FOB), narrowing from $390-
$404 last week.
Demand was slow, amid worries that scant rainfall will hamper crops going into the upcoming
off-season harvest, traders said. Thai rice exports have also been hit by a strong baht this year,
falling 12% in the first half of 2019.https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/07/20190723499567/

Tackling emerging threat to rice in Pakistan
By Javed Iqbal
July 22, 2019
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE: Exports of Pakistan are mainly based on agriculture and rice (Oryza sativa) is our
main export, contributing about 0.7% to the country‘s GDP.
Being the third largest exporter of Basmati and Irri varieties (Ministry of Commerce 2016),
Pakistan exports more than 50% of its produce.
Fine varieties are exported to the US, Australia, the UK and other sensitive countries while Irri
varieties are exported to China and some other countries. In recent years, the export share of
Pakistan has declined, going down from $2.2 billion in 2014 to $2.1 billion in 2018.
Among a number of factors contributing to the decline is the notorious stored grain pest
‗Khapra beetle‘. Khapra has been known to be a pest of stored wheat, however, now it has
been observed feeding rice. The pest is also found in consignments of rice exported to other
countries and can cause losses of up to 30%.
Iran keen to import 0.5m tons of rice from Pakistan
This has opened a new area for researchers to monitor the activity of this pest in stored rice.
The larvae of this pest were detected twice in rice shipments to the US and later in 2014 it was
once again detected at the US entry point. As a result, 43,000 pounds of rice was shipped back.
In 2013, Mexico rejected a rice consignment from Pakistan weighing 3,000 tons due to
infestation of this pest and imposed a ban on Pakistani rice, which exists to date.

Continued rejection by trading partners from 2011 to 2014 led to an estimated loss of $1
billion. Now, recently in 2019, the same pest has been detected in rice exported to Russia
despite the fact that it was treated with Methyl Bromide (CH3 Br). Due to this, the Russian
authority imposed a temporary ban not only on rice but on all food grain commodities shipped
from Pakistan.
The eradication of this pest is difficult due to the resistance developed against synthetic
insecticides. It has been ranked among top 100 most-invasive species worldwide.
Origin of Khapra beetle
Trogoderma granarium may have originated from the Indian subcontinent and is still present in
some areas of Asia, the Middle East, Africa and a few countries in Europe. It is one of the very
few stored product pests with limited distribution. T granarium has very limited ability to
spread without human aid because it is unable to fly, so international movement of host
commodities appears to be the only means of spreading the pest.
It is very important to distinguish between records that relate to interception of the pest in
imported commodities (ie its finding in the commodity during the border phytosanitary control
without further spread) and those of established infestation.
Geographical range
The pest can be found in areas outside its known geographical range as long as good climatic
conditions prevail. T granarium is established within an area broadly limited north by the 35°
parallel, south by the Equator, west by West Africa and east by Myanmar.

It is reported in some countries of Africa, however, others are still free of the pest and require
protection as well to limit the spread of the pest.
Risk
The pest could be associated with maize or wheat grain (as pathway) moving in international
trade or food aid and once imported, it could establish owing to the following:
Ability to survive lengthy periods of cold, drought or starvation of up to 13 months as resting
larvae, ability to reduce pesticide uptake and translocation due to its low metabolic rate,
therefore very difficult to kill, short life span for adults making them less vulnerable target of
fumigation, and low respiration rate of facultative diapausing larval stage also leading to
tolerance of fumigation.
Identification
Adults are oblong-oval beetles, approximately 1.6 to 3mm long and 0.9 to 1.7mm wide. Males
are brown to black with indistinct reddish brown markings on their elytra.
Females are slightly larger than males and are lighter in colour. The head is small and deflexed
with short 11-segmented antennae. The antennae have a club of three to five segments, which
fit into a groove in the side of the pronotum. The adults are covered with hairs.
Adult Khapra beetles have wings, but apparently do not fly and feed very little. Mated females
live from four to seven days, unmated females from 20 to 30 days, and males from seven to 12
days.

Established infestations are difficult to control because of the beetle‘s ability to live without
food for long periods of time and to survive on foods of low moisture content.
These beetles tend to crawl into tiny cracks and crevices and remain there for long periods,
making them relatively tolerant to many surface insecticides and fumigants. Therefore, it is
important to prevent Khapra beetle‘s introduction in uninfected areas.
Govt to modernise rice farming
Detection and management
Detection methods include examination of cracks and crevices and inspecting behind panelling
on walls and under timbers, tanks, shelves, etc. Larvae are most likely to be seen just before
dusk, since they tend to be more active at that time.
Some fumigants give control at high dosages, even though this beetle is more resistant to
fumigants than most stored product pests. High concentrations of fumigants must be
maintained over the fumigation period to allow penetration into all cracks and crevices.
In an eradication programme, both fumigants and surface sprays are used in combination with
preventive measures, eg good sanitation practices and exclusion.
Keeping in view the above constraints, there is a dire need to develop Khapra beetle-free rice
supply chain in Pakistan by adopting system approaches and natural factors.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2019.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2018360/2-tackling-emerging-threat-rice-pakistan/
Concern Expressed Over Food Security Situation
Umer Jamshaid Mon 22nd July 2019 | 03:55 PM

President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), President All Karachi
Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI and
former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said Pakistan is facing a
serious food security problem despite self-sufficient in staple production
KARACHI (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / Online - 22nd July, 2019)
President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF),
President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA), Senior Vice Chairman of the Businessmen
Panel of FPCCI and former provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said Pakistan is
facing a serious food security problem despite self-sufficient in staple production.Pakistan is the
eighth largest producer of wheat, the tenth-largest producer of rice, fifth-largest producer of
sugarcane, fourth largest producer of milk and it produces a lot of fruits, vegetables, and meat.
Agricultural items are not only exported but wheat is also gifted to international institutions and
neighboring countries but tens of millions are facing food insecurity in the country, he
said.Talking to the business community, the veteran business leader said that Pakistan is the third
most water-stressed country while it is included in the top seven countries facing hunger.The

former minister said that a recent SBP report said that 47 percent of households are facing food
security problems while a survey in 2018 found 60 percent population facing the same problem.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/concern-expressed-over-food-security-situatio-674864.html
Pulses export falls on drought-like condition
The exports of Basmati, however, have shown a healthy growth of 16 per cent.
By Rituraj Tiwari, ET Bureau | Jul 22, 2019, 08.05 AM IST
Getty Images
The shipments of Non-basmati rice fell to more than half the quantity exported last year.
New Delhi: Pulses exports are down 59 per cent in the first two months of financial year 2019-20 to
28,962 tonnes as compared to last year during same period. In the last fiscal, India overall exported 2.7
lakh tonnes of pulses — up by more than 50 per cent from 1.80 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.
―Production of pulses this year is down 8.7 per cent from last year‘s record production of 25.42 million

tonnes to 23.22 million tonnes. This was primarily due to drought-like conditions in pulse-producing
areas of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka,‖ said an agriculture department official. Due to low
production, prices of pulses are ruling high in domestic market. As per the data of the consumer affairs
department, retail prices of tur dal is in the range of Rs 81-87 a kg as against Rs 72-77 a kg during
February this year. The government, last year, didn‘t import pulses due to a record stock. But this year,
the government has announced import of 4 lakh tonnes this year.
―The global prices are also down this year. As against last year‘s average price of $974 (Rs 68,000) a
tonne, pulses price at international markets ruled at $913 (Rs 63,900) per tonne during April-
May. Traders find it more profitable buying in local markets,‖ said a consumer affairs department
official.
The exports of Basmati, however, have shown a healthy growth of 16 per cent with better realisation.
According to APEDA, the nodal agency for promotion of food exports, the exports of Basmati rice has
gone up to 8.64 lakh tonnes in the first two months of this fiscal as compared to 2018-19 when the exports
were 7.45 lakh tonnes during this period. The realisation was also higher with robust demands. Last year,
the average global prices during this period were $819 per tonne which have gone up to $932 a tonne.
―With demands coming from the Gulf nations, traders expect a fruitful year for Basmati exports,‖ the
official said. India exported record 45 lakh tonnes of basmati last year earning a forex of over Rs 30,000
crore.
―Even this year, we expect to touch last year‘s figure. Global demand is firm. But for last one month,
Indian exporters are going slow due to rainy season and non-allocation of payments wired from Iran,‖
said Vijay Setia, president of All India Rice Exporters Association. He said that last year India exported
14 lakh tonnes of basmati to Iran – the highest ever exports to this country.
The shipments of Non-basmati rice fell to more than half the quantity exported last year. In 2018-19 India
exported 15.25 lakh tonnes of Non-basmati rice which has come down to 7.11lakh tonnes this fiscal.

―Prices of Indian rice are noncompetitive at global market due to higher a minimum support price. It is 5-
10 per cent higher than cheaper grains from China and Thailand,‖ said BV Krishna Rao, president of the
Rice Exporters Association.
Govt must go beyond rice SRP to address farmers‘ woes–
group
By Jasper Y. Arcalas
July 22, 2019
A FARMERS‘ group called on the government to go slow in setting a suggested retail price
(SRP) for rice, as unscrupulous traders could take advantage of it by offering planters lower
quotations for their crop.
Federation of Free Farmers Inc. (FFF) National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said some traders
are earning ―extraordinary‖ profits at the expense of consumers due to the lack of regulation over
imported rice.
―However, traders can again use the cap on rice prices as an excuse to buy at even lower prices,‖
Montemayor said in a statement.
―At this point in time when rice prices have normalized, the government must focus on
addressing the problems of small farmers, especially since the main harvest season is about to
begin,‖ he added.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said rice farmers and other stakeholders could lose
over P114 billion due to the opening up of the domestic market following the enactment of the
rice trade liberalization law.

The figure is greater than the P10 billion that rice farmers will receive via the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) as mandated by Republic Act (RA) 11203.
Last week, Piñol met with Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officials to discuss the
implementation of SRP on imported rice to ensure that the staple will remain affordable for
consumers.
―We will come up with the SRP [suggested retail price for rice], because beyond that is
profiteering,‖ he added.
According to Piñol, the Department of Agriculture is now drafting a joint memorandum of
agreement with the DTI to strictly implement the provisions of the Price Act related to the SRP.
The MOA will be signed this month.
―Traders are eager to import because they believe that no entity will regulate prices. The margin
of profit is too huge for importers, but this was not the intent of the law. The intent is to make
affordable rice available to consumers,‖ he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
―As for the SRP for imported commercial rice, the government will set it based on the landed
cost. The DTI, the Department of Finance and the National Economic and Development
Authority will come up with a computation,‖ he added.
‗Doubtful‘ data
The FFF also questioned the claims of some government officials that the new law had resulted
in a significant decline in rice prices. While retail prices declined from last year‘s levels, the
group said the figures were higher than the average quotations recorded in 2016 and 2017.
In pushing passage of the law, the country‘s economic managers then claimed that local
consumers were paying double what their Southeast Asian counterparts were paying for rice.

They also said rice prices could go down by up to P10 per kilogram once imports are allowed to
freely enter the country.
Citing Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, FFF said the average price of well-milled rice
declined to P42.92/kg in June, or by about P6/kg from the peak price of P49.36/kg in September
2018. Also, the average retail price of regular-milled rice dropped by P7.54/kg during the same
month.
―What is interesting to note, however, is that the present retail prices of rice are actually higher
than in 2016 and 2017, when the quantitative restrictions on rice imports were still in effect and
RA 11203 had not yet been passed,‖ Montemayor said.
He noted that the spike in prices last year was abnormal, and was caused by the refusal of
economic managers to allow the National Food Authority (NFA) to replenish its dwindling
stocks.
―It was only when President Duterte intervened and allowed the NFA and the private sector to
import that prices started to go down. Therefore, it is unrealistic to compare current prices
against prices during the rice crisis in 2018. It is also deceptive to attribute the current decline in
prices to the rice tariffication law,‖ he said.
FFF also said farm-gate prices of palay have gone down much faster than the decline in the retail
prices of the staple.
Citing PSA data, FFF said palay prices fell by 23 percent to P17.85/kg in June, from P23.15/kg
in September 2018. Compared to rice prices, retail quotations declined by 13 percent and 16
percent for well-milled rice and regular-milled rice, respectively, in the same period.
The group added that palay farm-gate prices were generally lower in 2019, compared to prices in
2016 and 2017 when the import restrictions were still in place.

―What is most painful to farmers is that their sacrifices are apparently going to waste because
consumers are not getting the full benefits from the decline in palay prices and the entry of
supposedly cheaper imports,‖ Montemayor said.
―The PSA data in fact appears to show that both consumers and farmers were better off when the
quantitative restrictions were still in place, if we exclude the abnormal price movements in
2018,‖ he added.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/22/govt-must-go-beyond-rice-srp-to-address-farmers-woes-group/
Rice, maize hit by serious drought
REPORT
from Viet Nam News
Published on 22 Jul 2019 —View Original
QUẢNG NAM Residents in the central province of Quảng Nam have expressed concern after a
large area of rice was destroyed due to drought.
The farmers tried different measures to save the rice but all proved ineffective.
Đinh Thị Mai, from Thanh Tây Commune, Cẩm Phô Ward in Hội An City, said prolonged hot
weather caused salty water to enter her field and the rice died.
She transplanted the rice seedlings again and again but her 1,000-square-metre rice field was
unsalvageable.
The same problem happened in the central province of Quảng Ngãi.
Dozens of hectares of rice and maize in Bình Sơn and Đức Phổ districts withered.

Lê Tân Hoàng, who lives in Bình Thanh Commune, Bình Sơn District, said his 2,000sq.m of
maize died due to drought. He must use the maize as food for cows.
Since March this year, the area had not had rain, thus farm products could not develop, he said.
Nguyễn Tấn Lái, head of the Đức Phổ District Agriculture and Rural Development Division, said
the district had 11 reservoirs, but five of them had run out of water.
As many as 43ha of rice needed immediate drought prevention measures.
A recent report of the Quảng Nam Irrigation Co. Ltd., showed that since the end of last month,
the amount of water in the Thu Bồn River had decreased sharply. Moreover, flood tide from the
Cửa Đại Sea in Hội An City entered the fields.
Nguyễn Đình Hải, the company‘s director, said the salt had increased over recent days.
If it did not rain soon, the problem would become more serious, he said. VNS
https://reliefweb.int/report/viet-nam/rice-maize-hit-serious-drought
South Korea to pursue 50,000 tons of rice aid to
North
ByElizabeth Shim
JULY 22, 2019 / 9:54 AM
North Koreans work in the fields near the North Korean city Sinuiju, across the Yalu River
from Dandong, China. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI | License Photo
July 22 (UPI) -- South Korea plans to push forward with food aid to North Korea amid what
Pyongyang has said is a severe drought that has affected crops in the country.

Seoul's unification ministry said Monday it will continue to work with the World Food
Program to donate 50,000 tons of rice to the North, deputy ministry spokesperson Kim Eun-
han said Monday.
"At this point we continue to push ahead with the goal of sending the first shipment in July,"
the ministry said. "And we will do our best to ensure 50,000 tons of aid is shipped without
setbacks, by September."
Seoul had originally planned for the first shipment to leave for North Korea by July. But the
first shipment may be being delayed due to steps required to receive sanctions exemptions,
Yonhap reported.

Last Thursday, Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul said on South Korean radio the
shipment is being "slightly delayed," and that the government is doing its best to finish
shipment by mid-September.
On Monday the unification ministry also did not confirm whether a preliminary match for
the World Cup, between North and South Korea, could take place in the North.
North and South Korea have been assigned to the same Asian qualifying group ahead of the
2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The qualifying match could take place in the North. North
Korea has not engaged in provocations since the meeting between Kim Jong Un and U.S.
President Donald Trump at Panmunjom in late June, but Pyongyang has warned nuclear
talks are at risk because of joint exercises.
Harry Kazianis, a U.S. analyst with the Center for the National Interest, said this could be a
"misunderstanding."Kazianis said in an opinion piece on Fox News that U.S. and South
Korean officials told him the suspension of exercises were not promised at Panmunjom.
North Korea has claimed Trump pledged to stop U.S.-South Korea drills during his most
recent meeting with Kim.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2019/07/22/South-Korea-to-pursue-50000-tons-of-rice-
aid-to-North/1881563802543/
Niger to stop importing rice by 2023
Africa, Headlines, International
President Mahamadou Issouffou of Niger has instructed the government to develop a rice
production program which will ensure that from 2023, there will be zero rice imports in the West
African famine-stricken nation.

According to Nigerien nutrition coordinator
for the 3N Initiative – a program put in place
to achieve food self-sufficiency – the national
requirement has increased from 257,000 tons
in 2010 to more than 426,000 tons in
2019.―The growth of rice consumption in
Niger is fast. But we observe that the growth
of production does not follow that of
consumption, because the acceleration of development has not followed‖, Ali Bety, High
Commissioner to the 3N Initiative stressed.
The goal is to ensure that the 150 billion FCFA of annual import costs are eliminated. The
government plans to improve the production with the development of 50,000 hectares of land by
2023 to produce 500 to 600 thousand tons a year, Bety said.
With a poverty rate of 44.1% and a per capita income of $420, Niger is one of the world‘s
poorest nations.
The country struggles in the face of frequent droughts, insurgency, and wide-spread poverty.
Niger is betting on increased oil exploration and gold mining to help modernize its economy.
http://northafricapost.com/32675-niger-to-stop-importing-rice-by-2023.html
Rice valuing US$2.96bn exported, grew by 1.6pc in FY2018-
19
Last Updated On 21 July,2019 08:41 pm
Exports of rice other then basmati reduced by 1.61% and about 3.346 million metric tons
ISLAMABAD (APP) – Rice exports from the county during preceding financial
year witnessed about1.6% growth as compared the exports of the corresponding
period of last year.

During the period from July-June, 2018-19 bout 4,104,983 metric tons of rice worth US$2.096
billion exported as compared the exports of 4,096,446 metric tons valuing US$ 2.035 billion of
same period of last year, according the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
Meanwhile, during the period under review the exports of Basmati rice also grew by 9.87
percent.
During financial year ended on June 30, 2019, about 668,763metric tons of Basmati rice worth of
US$ 639.250 million exported as against the exports of 560,995 metric tons valuing US$581.847
million of same period of last year.
However, the exports of rice other then basmati reduced by 1.61% and about 3.346 million
metric tons rice valuing US$1.430 billion exported as compared the exports of 3.535 million
metric tons worth of US$1.453 billion of same period of last year.
On month on month basis, rice exports in month of June, 2019 was recorded at 284,670 metric
tons as compared the exports of 253, 731 metric tons of corresponding month of last year.

In June, 2019 country earned US$142.364 million as against US$145.734 million of same month
of last year. It may be recalled that food group exports from the country recorded about 3.93%
reduction in FY 2018-19.
https://dunyanews.tv/en/Business/501403-Rice-valuing-US$2.96bn-exported-grew-by-1.6pc-in-FY2018-
19
Four provinces advised to prepare seeds for rice farmers
Khmer Times
Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon speaks with farmers. MOA
Local agriculture departments in four provinces will distribute rice seeds to farmers in order to
offset damage done by a recent lack of water supply in some areas.
During visits to the provinces of Siem Reap, Pursat, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey over the
weekend, Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon announced the rice seed distribution.
Mr Sakhon visited the provinces to monitor how a lack of water has affected rice farmers. He
noted that national and sub-national agriculture departments must prepare seeds to be distributed
to farmers in severely-hit areas.
―Officials shall inspect seeds stocked in warehouses so they can be distributed to the people after
the rain and harvest, collect figures regarding affected areas and assess damages throughout the
country,‖ he said. ―Report to the government because it is aware and ready to take immediate
action.‖
A dry canal in one of the areas hit by the lack of rain, which is being addressed by local
authorities. MOA
Mr Sakhon said officials should visit all affected areas and find ways to solve problems quickly
and efficiently, such as by providing oil for water pumps in case of water shortage and providing
seeds in areas hit by shortages of water.
According to a report by the Siem Reap agriculture department, hot and dry weather has affected
500 hectares of rice paddy in the districts of Kralanh, Srei Snam, Puok and Sout Nikom.
Regarding other parts of the country affected by the weather, Mr Sakhon said more than 17,000
hectares of rice paddy in Banteay Meanchey‘s Preah Netr Preah district were affected by
drought.

He noted that tens thousands of hectares of rice paddy in Battambang and Pursat provinces have
also been affected due to a lack of water.
―Some water sources and main canals have dried, which makes it difficult to pump water in
order to save the rice,‖ Mr Sakhon said.
Ouk Mon, chief of Romlech commune in Pursat‘s Bakan district, said 300 hectares of rice paddy
are suffering from drought due to a lack of rain.
Mr Mon said there has been rain over the past few days, but not enough to save rice paddies.
―We are waiting for big rains to come to save the crops of farmers,‖ he said. ―But over the past
few days, we have had little rain – not enough to save our rice.‖
Mr Mon added that there are water sources in his commune, but the canals have mostly dried.
―Local authorities are pumping water from elsewhere to save the crops of farmers,‖ he said.
―We hope that big rain will come next week.‖
―Now our crops are not all damaged, but if we can‘t prevent further damage, then the
local authority will come to collect data and report to the national and sub-national
agriculture departments so we can have seeds provided to farmers,‖ Mr Mon said.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50625916/four-provinces-advised-to-prepare-seeds-for-rice-farmers/
Thai farmers asked to delay rice planting as drought
bites
Panu Wongcha-um, Panarat Thepgumpanat
JULY 22, 2019 / 4:57 PM
BANGKOK (Reuters) - The Thai government has asked farmers to delay planting rice because of drought
and the pumping of water from reservoirs for irrigation threatens household supplies, an agriculture
ministry official said on Monday.

FILE PHOTO: A farmer plants rice in a paddy field in Thailand's Nakhonsawan province, August 16,
2015. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
Farmers in the world‘s second-biggest rice exporter usually plant their main crop in May, the beginning
of the rainy season, for harvest between August and October.
But this year, the rain has been sparse and drought has been declared in more than a dozen provinces in
northern and northeastern rice regions.
The government is considering measures such as cloud seeding to try to bring rain but in the meantime,
farmers have been asked to hold off.
―We would like to ask farmers not to grow new crops of rice because there may not be enough water,‖
Irrigation Department official Sanya Sangpumpong told Reuters.
The pumping of water to keep crops alive had led to a serious depletion of reservoirs, he said.
―Human consumption must be prioritized first,‖ he said.
The biggest impact would be on jasmine rice, which is planted in August for harvest by the end of the
year. It is grown largely in the northeast.
Rainfall in the main rice-growing regions was the lowest in 10 years, at 12% below average, the
Meteorological Department said. Rain in August and November was expected to be 5% to 10% below
average.
A rice farmer in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen said it was the worst dry spell he had seen in
years and he had been pumping water from a reservoir to keep his first crop alive.
―If it does not rain then I won‘t plant a new crop,‖ Pradit Sirithammajak, 48, told Reuters.
―It‘s not worth the cost.‖
At the same time, the level of water in the Mekong River, which passes northern and northeastern
Thailand, had fallen below a historic low seen in 1992, according to the inter-governmental Mekong
River Commission.
This was partly due to the low rain but also because China was holding back more of the river‘s water in a
hydroelectric dam on its upper reaches.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-drought/thai-farmers-asked-to-delay-rice-planting-as-
drought-bites-idUSKCN1UH1BZ

Agri Buzz: Kharif Acreage Falls 7%, Sharp Tumble In
Area Under Rice And Pulses
Agri Buzz: Kharif Acreage Falls 7%, Sharp Tumble In Area Under Rice And Pulses
July 22, 2019 11:16 IST | capital market
Total area covered under kharif sowing stands at 609 lakh hectares, down 7% compared to
same period last year as on 19th July 2019, according to latest sowing data. Acreage under
Rice has hit hard with the area tumbling 9.44% to 139.61 lh. Pulses acreage also crashed 16%
to 62.19 lh. Acreage under coarse cereals is down 7.40% to 101.85 lh while oilseeds area is
also down 7% to 110.54 lh. Sugarcane acreage is down 3.90% to 50.01 lh. Cotton is the only
major crop showing a positive trend with the acreage up 3.94% to 96.35 lh.
https://www.indiainfoline.com/article/capital-market-commodity-futures-mid-session-commentary/agri-
buzz-kharif-acreage-falls-7-sharp-tumble-in-area-under-rice-and-pulses-119072200073_1.html
Farmers asked to delay rice planting
PUBLISHED : 22 JUL 2019 AT 19:02
WRITER: REUTERS
Dry land shows near the Pasak Pasak Jolasid Dam where water levels dropped to 4.82% of its
960-million-cubic-metre capacity on Monday. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)
The government has asked farmers to delay planting rice because of drought and the pumping of
water from reservoirs for irrigation threatens household supplies, an agriculture ministry official
said on Monday.
Farmers usually plant their main crop in May, the beginning of the rainy season, for harvest
between August and October.

But this year, the rain has been sparse and drought has been declared in more than a dozen
provinces in northern and northeastern rice regions.
The government is considering measures such as cloud seeding to try to bring rain but in the
meantime, farmers have been asked to hold off.
"We would like to ask farmers not to grow new crops of rice because there may not be enough
water," Irrigation Department official Sanya Sangpumpong told Reuters.
The pumping of water to keep crops alive had led to a serious depletion of reservoirs, he said.
"Human consumption must be prioritised first," he said.
The biggest impact would be on jasmine rice, which is planted in August for harvest by the end
of the year. It is grown largely in the northeast.
Rainfall in the main rice-growing regions was the lowest in 10 years, at 12% below average, the
Meteorological Department said. Rain in August and November was expected to be 5% to 10%
below average.
A rice farmer in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen said it was the worst dry spell he had
seen in years and he had been pumping water from a reservoir to keep his first crop alive.

"If it does not rain then I won't plant a new crop," Pradit Sirithammajak, 48, told Reuters.
"It's not worth the cost."
At the same time, the level of water in the Mekong River, which passes northern and
northeastern Thailand, had fallen below a historic low seen in 1992, according to the inter-
governmental Mekong River Commission.
This was partly due to the low rain but also because China was holding back more of the river's
water in a hydroelectric dam on its upper reaches.

Within days of launch, Paddy 1121 contract hits lower
circuit on ICEX
The paddy 1121 grade contracts were launched on ICEX platform on July 11, 2019.
By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau|
Updated: Jul 22, 2019, 03.11 PM IST
In today‘s early morning trade the ICEX (Indian Commodity Exchange) paddy 1121 contract
had hit the lower circuit of the daily price limit filter and was down by over 3 per cent to trade at
Rs 3865 per quintal. The paddy 1121 grade contracts were launched on ICEX platform on July
11, 2019.
ICEX after discussing with the value chain participants in Haryana and Delhi found out that
there are two main reasons for the fall in rates. The rainfall has picked up in the key sowing areas
of Haryana and has led to increased sowing of paddy. There is a general expectation that the
1121 paddy crop will be on the higher side during the present crop year owing to improvement in
the rainfall in the key sowing areas on Punjab and Haryana which led to the fall in prices.
Further, there was also the news that the seizure of a British tanker off the Persian Gulf by Iran
could lead to further standoff between Iran and the western world leading to lower than expected
demand from Iran for basmati rice imports from India. As Iran was the number one destination
for Indian Basmati rice exports in last financial year, the lower demand for basmati rice from
Iran could also mean lower demand for the key rice making raw material - paddy.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1716883/farmers-asked-to-delay-rice-planting
Gov’t asked to address high rice prices, low palay
farmgate rates
By: Karl R. Ocampo - @inquirerdotnet
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:06 AM July 23, 2019
Despite the influx of imported rice and the steady decline in farmgate prices of palay, prices of the
staple in the market remain high, according to the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF).

Citing government data, the FFF said the decline in rice prices compared to year-ago levels was
minimal, showing that the liberalization of the rice industry was not working.
Data compiled by the group from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that while the
average buying price of regular milled and well-milled rice had gone down by P7.54 and P6 a
kilogram from their peak in September last year, these were still higher than the prices in 2016 and
2017.
Rates in 2018 were not used given the artificial increases in prices brought about by the shortage in
the supply of subsidized rice and the delayed arrival of imported rice during the period. Officials
from the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Finance said rates
last year should not be used as the basis in comparing rice prices.
For the years 2015 to 2017, the average buying price of palay was at P18.53 a kilo. This is higher
by 3.51 percent than the prevailing rate this year of P17.88 a kilo.
However, regular milled and well-milled rice are currently sold at the average prices of P38.60 and
P42.91 a kilo, respectively, higher than the 2016 and 2017 prices of P37.68 and P41.66 a kilo.
The rule of thumb in setting the retail price of rice is double the buying price of palay. Hence,
ideally, prices of rice in the market should be an average of P36 a kilo.
https://business.inquirer.net/275238/govt-asked-to-address-high-rice-prices-low-
palay-farmgate-rates#ixzz5uUYLVSwh
Rice at center of PH agriculture’s problems
July 23, 2019 | Filed under: Editorial,Opinion | Posted by: Tempo Desk
THE Rice Tariffication Law, Republic Act 11203, has effectively kept rice prices down for
consumers by assuring ample supplies in the market.
For years, the government, through the National Food Authority (NFA), limited rice
importations by requiring importers to get permits to import, so as to protect Filipino rice farmers
from being overwhelmed by the cheap rice imports. When prices started zooming up in 2018, the

government sought to stop the unprecedented inflation by various means. As rice is the principal
item in Filipino families‘ marketing expenses, the government rightly decided to bring down rice
prices and the rest of market goods would follow.
With the Rice Tariffication Law, importers no longer need permits from the NFA. Anyone can
now import rice as long as he pays the required tariffs. Thus cheap rice has come in great
quantities from Vietnam and Thailand whose farmers somehow can produce it at much lower
cost than Filipino farmers.
The Rice Tariffication Law has indeed lowered the market price of rice, but it has also severely
reduced the income of Filipino farmers. Where they used to earn an average of P20 per kilo of
palay, they got paid only P17.85 in the last week of June. And yet, the farmers said, through the
Federation of Free Farmers, market prices have been steady. They suspect price manipulation by
rice traders, with importers undervaluing their shipments so as to pay lower taxes.
Secretary of Agriculture Emmanuel Piñol has proposed to remedy the situation by having the
government buy the farmers‘ harvests at competitive prices, even if it means losses for the
government.
This would be a short-term solution. A more permanent one would be for the government to help
Filipino farmers lower their production costs. This could be done by helping them in acquiring
seeds of high-yielding rice varieties and in purchasing fertilizer and other needs, by increased
mechanization of agriculture, by more irrigation facilities, by providing more post-harvest
facilities like storage and milling, and by helping them in marketing.
For generations, many Filipino farmers depended on the help of their landlords, but that is all
past with land reform. Government must step in and provide that help that is no longer there and,
more important, launch a program to modernize Philippine agriculture in all its aspects, on all its
levels, and in all its phases from land preparation to planting to marketing.
The key to all this is funding. Outgoing Secretary Piñol says this was not available in sufficient
amounts in the last three years, as the government focused on infrastructure and other urgent
needs. In the next three years of the Duterte administration, it should give Philippine agriculture
the attention that it truly deserves as the center of Philippine life and economy.
http://tempo.com.ph/2019/07/23/rice-at-center-of-ph-agricultures-problems/
Farmers shun Duterte’s policies on agriculture, land
use
Ronalyn V. Olea July 23, 2019 0 Comment coco levy fund, Duterte SONA 2019, Philippine agriculture,Rice Tariffication
A farmer joins the United People‘s SONA. (Photo by Carlo Manalansan / Bulatlat)

For Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Duterte‘s SONA only renewed his
administration‘s commitment to fully implement ―anti-poor, anti-farmer and anti-worker
policies.‖
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Farmers‘ groups are angered by President Rodrigo Duterte‘s State of the Nation
Address last Monday, particularly his pronouncements affecting the sector.
Duterte called on Congress to ensure the full implementation of Rice Tariffication Law, to pass
the bill establishing the Coconut Farmers‘ Trust Fund and to enact the National Land Use Act.
Duterte claimed the rice tariffication, along with the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund
(RCEF) ―will safeguard the livelihood of small farmers through the provisions of modern farm
equipment and machineries, seeds and credit, and extension services.‖
The coconut farmers trust fund, he said, will ―ensure the accelerated utilization of coco levy
funds for the well-being and empowerment of the coconut farmers.‖
Farmers are not buying Duterte‘s claims.

For Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Duterte‘s SONA only renewed his
administration‘s commitment to fully implement ―anti-poor, anti-farmer and anti-worker
policies.‖
Final nail in the coffin
For farmers of Southern Tagalog, however, the passage and full implementation of the rice
tarrification law ―only serves to put the final nail in the coffin of farmers.‖
Photo by Carlo Manalansan/ Bulatlat
Since Duterte signed the Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication bill Law last February,
farmers have been reeling from the decline in palay prices due to influx of imported rice. The
law removes the quantitative restrictions on the importation of rice and imposes tariffs on rice
imports.
During the fourth week of June alone, the average farmgate price of palay continued to decline to
P17.85 per kilogram, a huge drop from the previous year‘s same week level of P21.38/kg.
The price of palay has gone much lower in Southern Tagalog. According to Kasama-TK, the
price of palay in Victoria, Laguna was P11 pesos per kilo as of last harvest. In Mindoro it was
P17.40.

In Pangasinan, the buying price of palay had dropped to P13.50 per kilogram since last week,
down from P15 a kilo during the summer harvest, according to a report.
No more unli rice | Assessing the impact of tariffication on food security
Eddie Billones, Kasama-TK spokesperson, said, ―Compare this to the retail price of rice, and we
see that the only ones who benefit are not the farmers who do not have the land, the tools, or the
machines to process the palay but the land-owners and the compradors who import rice or buy
palay from farmers at prices they themselves dictate.‖
In an earlier statement, Bantay Bigas said that the projected importation of three-million metric
tons of rice this year could have been sourced from around 300,000 to 460,000 hectares and
could have generated livelihood and employment in the agriculture sector.
Not for coco farmers
Farmers are also against the Coco Levy Trust Fund Law.
Under the Duterte coco levy bill, the trust fund committee will have an annual capitalization
budget of P10-billion. The Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Trust Fund Committee
to be appointed by the President will be composed of six representatives from government sector
(Department of Agriculture, Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, National
Economic Development Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, Office of the Executive
Secretary), two representatives from the private coconut industry sector, and only three farmer-
representatives. The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) will serve as Executive Director of the
Trust Fund Committee which will draft a medium-term Coconut Farmers and Industry
Development Plan to be approved by the President upon the endorsement of the Economic
Development Cluster. The coco levy assets will be privatized under the supervision of the
Privatization Management Office.
Rafael Mariano, former agrarian reform secretary and chairperson emeritus of Kilusang
Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said the ―the coco levy bill approved by Congress will not guarantee
the return of the multi-billion coco levy fund and assets to farmers. Duterte and his allies will
only gain control of the fund.‖
Billones of Kasama-TK said, ―The P10 billion from the coco levy interest must be given back to
the farmers to allow them to buy tools and equipment.‖
The coco levy came from taxes imposed on coconut farmers during the martial law years with
the promise of sharing investments and development of the coconut industry.
In its September 4, 2012 final ruling, the Supreme Court upheld that a 31-percent bloc of SMC
shares constitutes public money and should be used solely for the benefit of farmers and the
industry. The 31 percent shares refers to the Coconut Industry Investment Fund shares in SMC
that was reduced to only 24 percent and was already remitted to the national treasury in October
2012 amounting to more than P70 billion (US$ 1.52 billion).

Billones said further that the coco levy is ―legalized theft.‖ ―And every day that it is not given to
the farmers is another shameful day,‖ he said.
Land for big business
Farmers also rejected the National Land Use Act. In his SONA, Duterte admitted that the law
will meet the demands of the new investors coming in.
―Duterte‘s pronouncements on the national land use act are also problematic. He is correct in
stating that land is the problem. But to allow local governments and agencies to more easily take
over and convert agricultural land through the National Land Use Act will not solve the main
crisis 75 percent of Filipinos face – landlessness,‖ Billones said.
Antonio Flores, UMA chairperson said the bill ―will only hasten Duterte‘s China-funded Build-
Build-Build projects that have mainly benefitted big businesses in the President‘s hometown, as
well as the districts of his allies.‖ (With reports from Justin Umali)
https://www.bulatlat.com/2019/07/23/farmers-shun-dutertes-policies-on-agriculture-land-use/
Take a global view of agriculture
JULY 23 2019 - 12:16PM
Toni Nugent
INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Charles Sturt PhD student Rachael Wood gets a new view of rice
research as part of an international training program in the Philippines.
They say it's a small world and I've been reminded of that recently with students from Japan, the
United States and Pakistan visiting Charles Sturt University to compete in the Intercollegiate
Meat Judging Competition. These students may come from countries with vastly different
agricultural systems but they share a passion for the meat industry. It's been great to see these
students share knowledge, expand horizons and build connections for the future.
Away from meat science Charles Sturt PhD student Nancy Saji is also preparing to expand her
horizon. With support from the NSW Crawford Fund she'll travel to the Philippines to take part
in a training program at the International Rice Research Institute. Two of our students, Brooke
Kaveney and Rachael Wood took part in the program last year gaining an insight into research to
improve rice production in developing countries while learning more about plant breeding
techniques used by scientists at IRRI.

While much of the work of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is focused on
improving the sustainability of grain and red meat industries in Australia, we're also involved in
projects overseas.
One these, an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) funded project,
aims to improve pulse production in Pakistan. Our researchers are sharing their expertise and
working with Pakistani farmers to improve the way lentil, chickpea and groundnut crops are
grown and to add value to the pulses through better processing technology. Other Graham Centre
researchers are working with ACIAR in a project to build the capacity of farmers and advisors to
monitor soil salinity in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.This kind of international engagement
delivers many benefits. At a basic level we are helping improve the lives of farmers in
developing countries. Looking more broadly, improving farming systems delivers economic,
social and environmental benefits that contribute to regional peace and security. Many of these
countries are also important trading partners for Australia. The experience of working overseas
also benefits our researchers, giving them new perspectives that enhance their work on
Australian farms, because we are all part of a global agricultural system.
https://www.therural.com.au/story/6288481/taking-a-global-view/

Rice sown over area of 4.618 million acres in Punjab
Rice crop is not only important to meet domestic nutritional requirement but also vital source of
earning precious foreign exchange. This year it has been sown over an area of 4.618 million
acres in Punjab and every effort will be made to achieve the production target of 3,870 million
metric tons. This was disclosed by Secretary Agriculture Punjab Wasif Khursheed while chairing
a meeting to review the rice crop situation here on Monday. Special Secretary Agriculture
(Marketing) Zahid Saleem Gondal, Director General (Extension) Dr Anjum Ali Buttar and other
high ups of the department attended the meeting. Dr Anjum Ali Buttar told the meeting that the
department was making effort to promote mechanized farming to get better per acre yield instead
of toeing the old farming methods.
He said climate smart technology would be introduced to promote sowing of paddy, irrigation
and use of input in a balanced manner. The meeting was also informed that the federal
government is launching a 'national programme for increased rice production and profit' on
national level at a cost of Rs 9.98 billion out of which Punjab's share is Rs 4.632 billion. Under
this project, paddy growers will be given agricultural implements like transplanters, drill
machines, straw chopper, power sprayers etc on fifty per cent subsidy.
The department will also help farmers to develop 3,625 demonstration plots and arrange field
days to guide the growers. The Secretary Agriculture on this occasion called upon the
agricultural officers to visit the paddy growing areas and guide the growers in resolving the
issues they are facing. He also asked them to create awareness among rice farmers not to set the
residue of their crops on fire after harvesting to bring down the environment pollution.
https://fp.brecorder.com/2019/07/20190723499478/
Customs in Seme intercept cannabis, rice, others
worth N112.4m
By NAN
22 July 2019 | 5:16 pm
Seized items by the Seme border Customs command
The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it intercepted Toyota
Highlander padded with 146 wraps of cannabis in spare tyre and other items worth
N112.4million in three weeks.

The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Muhammad Garba, made the
disclosure during an inspection of the items in Lagos on Monday.
According to him, a total of 114 parcels of cannabis were found concealed in the jeep and
another 32 parcels in other operations with a street value of N1.7million.
Garba said that the driver of the jeep was apprehended along with the seizure, adding that the
quantity of the cannabis does not matter as much as the danger it cause to the society.
He said that if the saboteurs were allowed into society, the multiply effect would have rendered
majority of the consumers useless and aggressive.
Garba said that it was the duty of security agencies including the press to continue to protect the
economy.
He added that customs would handover the seized items to the appropriate authorities after due
process had been completed.
―Based on statistics and long term period of interception of vehicle, the illegal smuggling of
vehicles through these axis have been reduced.

―In the last three weeks when we had the briefing, there were few vehicles and now we are
picking single and it does not mean that they are not smuggling cars but it has reduced.
―Through the joint border post, we also intercepted animal skin which is processed and
conventionally called ―Pomo‖ (cow hides) being imported into Nigeria.
―We are going to widen our investigation to ensure that no unhealthy item escape into the
country.
―The Command generated the sum of N4.405 billion between January to date, representing 65
per cent of the total allotted target,‖ he said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seizures made included: 5,204 bags of 50kg
foreign rice which was equivalent to 9 trailer trucks of Rice; 10 x 25litres Jerry Cans of
vegetable, 13x50kg bags of sugar; 1,078 cartons of poultry products; 55 cartons of spaghetti; and
97 cartons of soap.
―Other items intercepted within the period under review were 59 cartons of insecticides, 65×6
yards of textiles, 17 sacks of used clothes/shoes, four cartons of tin tomatoes, 36 bales of used
cloths, 60 pieces of used tyres, 669 packs of PVC carpet/footmats.
―The remaing seized items are: 2 cartons of cream, nine trucks placed on detention due to short
payment.
Five vehicles have also been seized, one white Scania (10 tyre) truck was also detained carrying
rotten hide and skin,‖ Garba said.
The comptroller said the intensified operation of the enforcement unit had drastically reduced
smuggling activities.
He said that the achievement recorded so far was with the tacit support of all other sister
agencies at the border area.
Speaking on tye expired cow hides, the Coordinator, National Agency for Food Drug
Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Seme Command, Dr Nurudeen Audu, said the importers
always give false declarations.
He said that this kind of animal skin usually passed through the border post and the importers
would tell them that it was leather materials for shoe companies.
―We discovered that they are preserving the skin with formalin and they will convert it to Pomo
and you can see the cow skin is a foreign cow skin.

―We will collaborate with customs and destroy it whenever customs was done with their
documentation,‖ he said.
https://guardian.ng/news/customs-in-seme-intercept-cannabis-rice-others-worth-n112-4m/
NGOs oppose genetically modified rice field tests
Mohideen Abdul Kader & Nurfitri Amir Muhammad | Published: Today 10:04 am
| Referring to the announcement on the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources' (KATS)
website, the National Biosafety Board (LBK) is evaluating an application from the Malaysian
Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) to conduct a confined field trial on
genetically modified rice (GM rice) that is tolerant to glyphosate and resistant to padi diseases
caused by bacteria and fungi.
This experiment will reportedly to be carried out at Mardi's Arau Station, located in the Tambun
Tulang area, in Perlis.
The GM rice that will be tested comes from the well-known Malaysian variety of MR219, with
an additional characteristic of being tolerant to glyphosate herbicide and susceptibility to bacteria
Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae and fungus Pyricularia spp.
Advertisement
This GM rice is not produced by a typical hybrid method, but it is produced in a laboratory using
genetic modification technology to create a novel GM rice that does not exist in nature. The
application to plant GM padi in the field has raised serious concerns over its impact on humans
and the environment.
There is a risk of genetic contamination of conventional rice and wild rice with this modified
transgenic material when it is planted in the field.
While developers claim that field trials have measures in place to contain and prevent gene flow
escapes into the environment, among them by implementing the test in a gated area and within

netted structures, there is still a risk of escape of foreign genes through insects, birds or other
animals, or even machinery and workers.
In fact, according to the GM Contamination Register, up to 2014, padi crops have the highest
number of contamination incidents through field experiments, although no GM rice is grown
commercially so far anywhere in the world.
However, what is more important, we do not want GMO products to be commercialized after the
field experiment.
Genetic engineering is an inherently unpredictable process associated with unintended effects.
For example, recent studies have detected altered metabolite levels in glyphosate tolerant rice
and maize varieties. The maize line had significant increases in compounds that may be toxic to
people in certain contexts.
The inclusion of a gene to confer fungal resistance in this GM rice also raises concerns, as this
gene encodes for a protein that regulates gene expression. This introduces the possibility that the

expression of numerous genes may be unintentionally altered, with potential consequences for
food safety, such as disrupted nutritional, allergenic or toxin profiles; or altered agronomic
properties that may compromise the high yielding properties of MR219 rice, thus risking our
food security when this rice is commercially planted.
This GM rice that is specially designed to tolerate glyphosate will increase the use of chemicals,
and the selling of seed packaged with glyphosate will only increase the cost to farmers and
benefit certain parties.
When the padi is grown in the fields and sprayed with glyphosate, all weeds, including weedy
rice and other varieties of rice, will die except for this GM rice. This means that adjacent padi
fields also have no choice, but to use the same seeds and chemicals.
This is a form of exploitation of farmers by forcing them to buy and use more herbicide that will
benefit chemical companies. Glyphosate toxicity has been widely documented in both
independent and industry data. Most recently Bayer, which bought over Monsanto, lost three
court cases in the US for not warning of the cancer risks of glyphosate herbicides that had
resulted in people suffering from non- Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Weed elimination strategies using herbicide-tolerant plants have been ineffective, as was the case
with CL rice or Padi Kebal as it is called locally. After 10 years of use, weeds have become
increasingly resistant and over time stronger chemicals have to be used.
There is very little information on this specific GM rice variety. No details appear to be publicly
available at the molecular level to ensure that the genetic modification has not caused any
unintended effects, which is crucial to ascertain safety, particularly for rice, a staple crop in
Malaysia and the wider region.
If there is no such evidence, as required in the Cartagena Biosafety Protocol ratified by Malaysia
in 2003, the GM rice should not be approved for field trials in Malaysia.
Mohideen Abdul Kader is the acting president of the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP).

Nurfitri Amir Muhammad is the coordinator of Food Security And Sovereignty Forum,
Malaysia.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views
of Malaysiakini.
Related Reports
https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/485031
AP New Ration Card Apply Online 2019, Application
Form Download
New ration cards issue process will be made transparent. The ration, pension, and health
insurance will provide the beneficiary with all the details. The ration distribution is also in the
form of packaging. Because of this, there is no chance of adultery. Scams can be prevented. The
work on the issuance of new ration cards has begun. Village volunteers will support the

beneficiaries in the process of new ration cards. The old policy continues till then, said AP Civil
Supplies Minister Kodali Nani.
As part of the assembly questionnaire, Minister Nani said that the existing ration cards would be
modified and new cards would be issued. The Civil Supply Department has been working on
correcting the infraction. He accused the TDP government of diverting funds.
The minister further said that Chandrababu Government has neglected the services in the
Department of Public Works. Over Rs, 4,000,000 crores has been diverted under Chandrababu
Government, as mentioned by Kodali Nani. He stated, because of this rice millers have
experienced the losses. In 2018, the Civil Supplies Department has not paid Rs 1000 Cr. The
debt has to be paid by the newly formed government at present.
https://larazonsanluis.com/news/ap-new-ration-card-apply-online/
Historic Anheuser-Busch Site Hosts USA Rice
School Nutrition Dinner
By Deborah Willenborg
ST LOUIS, MO -- Last week, USA Rice hosted an influencer dinner with nutrition decision
makers and foodservice authorities from schools in California, Idaho, and Tennessee at the
flagship Anheuser-Busch brewery here. The evening consisted of a VIP tour of the brewery,
grain house, and Clydesdale stables with a heavy focus on the role U.S.-grown rice plays in the
famous brewery's operations, and ended in the Schoolhouse Museum where guests were treated
to a rice-centric dinner and beer pairing.
"USA Rice hosts this dinner during the School Nutrition Association conference to create new
relationships, determine partnership opportunities, build awareness of how U.S.-grown rice helps
to meet the new USDA school meals standard, and promote the use of U.S.-grown rice in school
meals," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice domestic promotion manager.
Attendees, who represented the Los Angeles Unified School District, Metro Nashville Public
Schools, and West Ada School District in Idaho, shared how they incorporate rice in their school
districts, challenges they face with serving rice, and how USA Rice can continue to best serve

the consumers - their students. All said rice is a staple grain in their kitchens.
"I consider rice the go to grain for schools," said Chef Brenda Thompson-Wattles from Idaho.
Despite a recent change in regulations for whole grains, brown rice continues to be served across
all school districts. In fact, the importance of rice on school menus continues to grow along with
the rise in dietary restrictions in the student population.
Dinner conversation turned to the challenge these operators have determining optimal cooking
time for brown rice, and their need to better understand the nutritional and culinary differences
between brown and white rice. They also were interested in seeing more aromatic rice varieties
available for school menus.
"Our attendees represented a combined 792 schools across three distinct regions," said
Jacobs. "Through this direct pipeline to school nutrition officials, we're able to understand what
schools need, whether they're large or small. We can push U.S.-grown messaging, and position
ourselves as the key resource when it comes to questions about rice."
The biggest take-away from these folks on the front line of consumer research was all about the
marketing. How they "sell" rice impacts students' lunch buying behavior. For example, students
are more likely to choose fried rice when it is served in a Chinese takeout container rather than a
bowl.
"Hearing ideas like that reiterates the importance of making individual connections with the
people on the ground level responsible for menu-planning and school purchasing," Jacobs
concluded. "We owe a big thank you to Anheuser-Busch for helping us put together such a
memorable evening."
The insight and feedback collected at this event will also help shape the format of the USA Rice
school nutrition newsletter which is scheduled to launch later this year.
USA Rice Daily

23rd july ,2019 daily global regional and local

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