3rd october,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter
1 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m
October 03 ,2020 Vol 11 Issue 10
www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com
mujahid.riceplus@gmail.com 92 321 3692874

Editorial Board
Chief Editor
 Hamlik
Managing Editor
 Abdul Sattar Shah
 Rahmat Ullah
 Rozeen Shaukat
English Editor
 Maryam Editor
 Legal Advisor
 Advocate Zaheer Minhas
Editorial Associates
 Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid
 Javed Islam Agha
 Zahid Baig(Business Recorder)
 Dr.Akhtar Hussain
 Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui
 Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)
 Islam Akhtar Khan
Editorial Advisory Board
 Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim
Assistant Professor, Gomal
University DIK
 Dr.Hasina Gul
Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK
 Dr.Hidayat Ullah
Assistant Professor, University
of Swabi
 Dr.Abdul Basir
Assistant Professor, University of
Swabi
 Zahid Mehmood
PSO,NIFA Peshawar
 Falak Naz Shah
Head Food Science & Technology
ART, Peshawar
Rice News Headlines…
 Black Rice and Black Wheat Cultivation in Bihar; Success Story of
Progressive Farmers
 Bayer's Singapore R&D lab helps Asian farmers
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 The Genius Of ATMs Serving Pizza And Rice During Covid-19
 USA Rice Pushes for Rural Access to Technology
 Hit by crop failure, Tiruvannamalai farmers let cattle graze in paddy
fields
 LGUs, private firms told to buy local rice, corn
 Ignored minority peasants crushed by poverty after Sindh floods
 Basmati rice thru GI tag: REAP vows to foil Indian conspiracy of
claiming exclusive rights
 Basmati trademark registered in one person’s name
 Basmati Export: India Catches Pakistan Napping; Moves EU To Get
Exclusive GI Tag For
 Delhi to launch massive anti-air pollution campaign from Oct 5: Gopal
Rai
 Rice prices still high in market
 Cambodia wins rice battle in EU court
 Cambodia’s rice export increases by 22% in first 9 months to nearly
500,000 tonnes
 Asia Rice-Rates dip in top hubs; traders flag low Mekong water levels
 DA to buy local palay amid decline in prices
 Palay farmgate price declines 3% in second week of September
 Researchers get closer to the goal of flood-proof crops
 Technology Developed By BGU And Rice Researchers Will Filter
COVID-19 Particles From The Air
 NFA says too early to gauge impact of Rice Tariffication Law
 Retail prices of rice, edible oil continue to rise in Dhaka
 Haryana Govt budges, allows UP farmers to sell produce at Karnal
border
 From Black Bean Tacos To Arroz Con Leche: 3 Plant-Based Traditional
Latin American Foods
 URA bans warehousing of rice, sugar after tribunal ruling

News Detail…
Black Rice and Black Wheat Cultivation in Bihar; Success
Story of Progressive Farmers
Abhijeet Banerjee 1 October, 2020 12:29 PM IST
Black rice is one of the most exotic and nutritious rice variety and it has started gaining
consumers‘ attention globally in last few years. The demand for Black Rice is increasing in
Indian markets as well. This variety of Rice has a deep black color and usually after cooking the
color changes into deep purple. This phenomenon is mainly due to presence of
anthocyanin, which is available higher in greater percentage than other colored grains. Black
Rice is suitable for creating porridge, dessert, traditional Chinese black rice
cake, bread and noodles. This type of rice comes from the species of Oryza sativa, some of which
are glutinous rice. Varieties include Indonesian black rice, Philippine balatina rice, and Thai
jasmine black rice. Black rice is known as chak-hao in Manipur, where desserts made from black
rice are served at major feasts.
Black Rice Success Story:

The numerous health benefits associated with this rice in addition to opportunity for generating
decent return from its cultivation has encouraged farmers of different states to take up the
cultivation of Black Rice. Today we shall be covering on the success stories of Black Rice in the
state of Bihar. Lot of farmers in Bihar have successfully opted black rice over the conventional
white rice this year. There are reports of progressive farmers in Bihar growing black
rice, boosting their incomes and thinking of innovation in the farming sector, by giving up
traditional cropping patterns, and seeking better farming options.
Initially most growers were not sure about the fate of the Black rice crop but interactions and
guidance from scientists, along with acquiring knowledge on the nutritional value of the
black rice; they decided to try growing it in half an acre of land. This was a successful venture
for most of the growers who then encouraged their village members/peers to take up cultivation
of Black Rice. The successful farmers even sent the seeds across India for cultivation purpose
hence making this farming popular in the country. This is a history for these
progressive farmers - since from Bihar it is the first time that any farm produce has been sent
outside the state.
Black Wheat Success Story:
Like Black Rice the progressive farmers in Bihar have also tried cultivating black wheat variety
and were successful in this venture as well. Experts have confirmed that black wheat is rich in
anti-oxidants and good for diabetic people, along with other health benefits. Black wheat farming
in Bihar had also given good returns to the progressive farmers as per sources. Known for its
high nutritional value, Black Wheat is a source of iron, vitamin E, antioxidants, calcium,
magnesium and zinc. It is very effective for lifestyle disorders like diabetes, inflammatory
disorders and obesity, also useful in managing blood cholesterol level. The plant pigment present
in this wheat is anthocyanin which is a very well-known antioxidant. Our body produces harmful
free radicals therefore Black Wheat becomes useful in fighting against free radical
induced diseases like cancer. Additionally, it has high concentration of micronutrients like iron
and zinc, and the Iron content is roughly 60 percent more than normal wheat. The percentage of
protein, nutrients and starch are nearly the same as in normal wheat. Therefore in terms of health,
black wheat scores better than the normal wheat.
Association with NGO brings Desirable Results:
In last few years, nearly 5,000 farmers in Bihar had got associated with ―Awaz Ek Pahal‖, an
NGO working to change the farming habits of farmers for the last few years. This NGO also
helps Growers to cultivate exotic fruits like kiwis, dragon fruit, strawberries etc. Lots of farmers
associated with this NGO, have made serious efforts to interact with farmers with the
objective to bring innovations to the sector. Scientists were invited for
visits for explaining methods of Black Rice/Black wheat farming and also sharing necessary
knowledge. Training from scientists was also on the Agenda list. Those who had successfully
grown the varieties Black rice and Black wheat were then invited to share their experiences, and

this help the farmers to get convinced to a great extent, in taking up cultivation of the above-
mentioned varieties. Farmers from different villages have confirmed that the growers got
profitable results in using small portion of their land for cultivating Black Rice and Black Wheat
varieties.
The farming community feedback for black rice grown in half an acre is quite encouraging as
most of the farmers have received better returns. Similarly, lots of black wheat growers could get
higher output, from which they could keep some portion for their family and near ones while
selling rest of the variety and receiving handsome gains against their production cost. Even there
are reports of some farmers in Bihar, doubling their income in farming of Black Rice as well as
Black Wheat this year.
https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/black-rice-and-black-wheat-cultivation-in-bihar-
success-story-of-progressive-farmers/
Bayer's Singapore R&D lab helps Asian farmers
The crop science seeds laboratory here is the regional hub for Asia Pacific.
FRI, OCT 02, 2020 - 5:50 AM
NARENDRA AGGARWAL
OTO: BAYER
ALTHOUGH Singapore is not a rice growing country, pioneering research by a leading German
chemicals company on the major Asian crop is being done here and it is benefiting millions of
farmers in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bayer, which is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health
care and nutrition, has a crop science seeds laboratory in Singapore as part of its R&D setup.
"Aligned with Bayer's vision: 'Health for all, Hunger for none', the focus of Bayer's Crop Science
Seeds laboratory contributes to our goal of developing new crop hybrids that enable smallholder
farmers in the Asia Pacific region to manage the challenge of growing enough food sustainably
while feeding a growing population as climate change makes growing crops increasingly more
difficult," says Jens Hartmann, the Singapore-based head of Region APAC for the Crop Science
Division of Bayer.

Bayer's Singapore seeds
laboratory, set up in 2008,
is the regional hub for
Asia Pacific in the
company's global
network of crop science
research and development
(R&D) centres as a site
dedicated to agriculture.
"R&D can help increase
the productivity,
sustainability and value
of crops for farmers and
consumers through
continuous improvements
in yield, climate
resilience and disease and
pest protection. The Singapore seeds lab team uses cutting edge genetics and data science to
tackle these challenges and positively impacts smallholder farmer lives and livelihoods every
day," says Mr Hartmann.
The seeds lab helps small farmers simplify their production activities and increase their yield and
yield security by developing hybrid seeds with new features that withstand droughts, floods,
pests and diseases. Giving crops the armour to thrive in difficult climates means the lab is
helping farmers to develop their businesses and to grow more food for their communities.
One example is the hybrid rice seed variety of Arize, which was bred with resistance against
brown plant hopper insects and bacterial leaf blight disease, both of which cause devastating
crop losses.
"So far, around 1.7 million smallholder farmers have benefited from our pioneering work on
hybrid rice. When you consider that around 3.2 billion people worldwide depend on the grain for
more than a fifth of their daily calories, the value of hybrid rice and similar advances through
innovative R&D at Bayer becomes clear. Importantly, this research and development into rice
helps us contribute to the United Nations Zero Hunger Challenge, which aims to eliminate all
forms of malnutrition by 2030," says Mr Hartmann.
The seeds lab here with a headcount of eight is one of Bayer's nine laboratory-based innovation
centres on crop science. The scientists' tasks include genetic screening for innovative agronomic
and quality traits that naturally occur in plants and integrating them into new crop hybrids
through plant breeding.

In an interesting development, Bayer teamed up with Temasek in August to form a new
company, Unfold, which will focus on innovation in vegetable varieties with the goal of lifting
vertical farming to the next level of quality, efficiency and sustainability.
While most startups in the vertical farming market are focusing on the development of more
efficient infrastructure, Unfold plans to unlock the genetic potential of vertical farming. Using
seed genetics from vegetable crops, Unfold will focus on developing new seed varieties coupled
with agronomic advice tailored for the indoor environment of vertical farms.
Singapore is Bayer's
Asia Pacific headquarters for the pharmaceuticals, crop science and consumer health divisions.
Its Asean country group platform is also based here. The company has almost 400 employees
here, representing a diverse group of both local and international talent.
In fiscal 2019, Bayer employed around 104,000 people worldwide and had sales of 43.5 billion
euros (S$70 billion). It invested 5.3 billion euros in R&D.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/hub/30-years-of-german-unity/bayers-singapore-rd-lab-helps-
asian-farmers
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The Genius Of ATMs Serving Pizza And Rice During Covid-
19
|Sep 27, 2020,07:00am EDT
Alex LedsomSenior Contributor
Travel
I write about travel, culture, food & drink.
A vending machine selling pizza in Toronto, Canada
TORONTO STAR VIA GETTY IMAGES
ATMs are increasingly becoming a way of life for distributing more than just bottled water,
canned drinks and chocolate bars. Many swimming pools sell swimsuits and goggles through

automated machines and it has been one of the most efficient ways of selling sanitary products in
toilets for decades. The largest cemetery in Zurich, Switzerland has a machine which distributes
rosaries and condolence cards.
Vending machines can distribute all sorts of food without needing customers to come into
contact with the people who have prepared it–think of eggs from a machine in Aptos,
California (18 eggs in exchange for four dollar bills), pecan pie in Cedar Creek, Texas,
and chocolate-filled crepes in Kobayashi, Japan (for 200 yen or $2 each).
It can work for hot food too. PizzaForno has 20 locations in Toronto, Canada, where they make
several flavors of pizza and take them to the machine uncooked. The customer then selects the
pizza, pays and waits, while the oven cooks it or customers select the cold option and take it
home to cook later. ATM pizza machines are also common sitings in Singapore.

Some products are more stereotypical–in Île de Ré in France, there is a machine which sells fresh
oysters 24-hours a day and goes the extra mile by adding in other culinary delights, such as paté,
sea asparagus and even entire pre-cooked meals. And in Belgium, home to the frite or french fry,
there is a 24-hour vending machine for potatoes.
Atlas Obscura reported that many farm shops are increasingly adding a vending machine as an
annexe to the farm shop, to make money when it‘s closed, but also to make sure that all produce
is sold before it perishes.
Or follow the idea of one entrepreneur who has dotted the island state of Singapore with
Norwegian salmon ATMs. He has cut out stores, staff and distributors and sells fillets direct to
customers for S$5.90 ($4.25) and the fish stays fresh for up to 2 years because the machine keeps
them at -4 degrees F or -20 degrees C.
Pre-pandemic, from Germany to Scotland, vending machines were commonly found selling
everything from strawberries to freshly-made bread.
A cupcake ATM in New York City
GETTY IMAGES
Vending machines come into their own in a pandemic
Vending machines can also be a lifeline for distributing food to refugees, displaced people and
the food insecure–The United Nation‘s World Food Program (WFP) and World Vision
International (WVI) are piloting ATMs in refugee camps in East Africa, which dispense locally
sourced foods like cereals.
In 2020, under pandemic conditions, authorities in Indonesia have rolled out ATMs distributing
free rice to those in need. Reuters reported in May that 10 machines in Jakarta were providing
1.5 tonnes of rice for around 1,000 residents every day.

A resident receives free rice at an ATM in Indonesia in 2020
SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES
In April, Bloomberg reported on queues that were hundreds of people long–all maintaining social
distancing rules–waiting for a twice-daily distribution of 1.5 kg of rice via an ATM in Ho Chi
Minh, Vietnam. The service has been vital for the 5 million people who have lost jobs or been
furloughed as a result of the pandemic.
In Kansas City in April the owners of Jones Bar-B-Q took delivery of a vending machine that
had been ordered the winter before but ―couldn‘t have come at a better time.‖ Customers can
drive up, socially distanced from one another and the staff, and order one of seven items–chicken
wings, turkey, rib tips and burnt ends (the crispy charred bits of brisket which are a local
speciality). The machine is stocked between 5am and 10am when they come off the smoker, the
pay is contactless and service is steady, providing an ideal pandemic-friendly food service for a
small business.
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
Alex Ledsom
I have lived in Provence ever since I exchanged my London city life for the south of France. I
have a background in research, business and finance.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2020/09/27/the-genius-of-atms-serving-pizza-and-rice-
during-covid-19/#17a4f9a2ec89
USA Rice Pushes for Rural Access to Technology
By Josie McLaurin
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice, and a host of other agricultural organizations, joined
the Keep GPS Working Coalition this week to protect Global Positioning System (GPS) from

widespread interference. The coalition was formed in response to the Federal Communications
Commission's (FCC) decision to permit Ligado Networks to operate a wireless network in a
band adjacent to GPS, threatening the reception capability of GPS devices.
Coalition members heard from both sides of the aisle on a media call Thursday with House

Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Representative G.T. Thompson (R-
PA) expressing their support for the coalition and the importance of the technology to the
agriculture industry.
"The use of GPS is a critical tool used widely and regularly by many rice farmers," said Nicole
Montna Van Vleck, California rice farmer and USA Rice Farmers chair. "USA Rice is proud to
be a member of the Keep GPS Working Coalition and will continue working on this issue to
protect the integrity of GPS."
USA Rice participates in several industry coalitions related to rural access to technology, and
recently joined Connect Americans Now (CAN), a coalition that pushes for increased broadband
coverage for rural Americans.
"Broadband is essential to running a modern farming operation," said Van Vleck. "Better access
increases our efficiency and productivity as we work hard to supply America with great U.S.-
grown rice."
Source: USA Rice Daily
Hit by crop failure, Tiruvannamalai farmers let cattle graze
in paddy fields
The farmers had chosen the wrong season for the variety-5 paddy which is photosynthetic
sensitive, the agricultural experts had said.
Published: 01st October 2020 09:15 PM | Last Updated: 01st October 2020 09:15 PM
Cattle are let graze the unproductive paddy in Tiruvannamalai (Photo | EPS/ S Dinesh)
By R Sivakumar
Express News Service
TIRUVANNAMALAI: Several rice producers at Arni and its adjoining places in the
Tiruvannamalai district have let cattle graze the unproductive paddy.
,
Farmers, who had opted for the paddy variety-5 developed in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh,
have been the worst-hit in the district as they could not get the yield even after 180 days have
passed since sowing.

With an eye on a bumper production, they sowed this variety without aware of the suitable
environmental conditions.
―I cultivated paddy variety-5 in my 8-acre farm. Now, about 180 days have passed. I could get
only 3 bags (each weighing 75 kg) of yield per acre,‖ laments S Parthasarathi, a farmer of
Ayyampettai.
As they could not afford to hire a machine to remove the unproductive crop, several farmers
have let the cattle graze. ―We are not able to hire a machine to remove the crop, so we are
allowing cattle to graze,‖ another farmer says.
The farmers have incurred a loss in the range of Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000 per acre due to crop
loss.
Agriculture and Seed Certification department officials have already studied the crop with the
help of scientists from the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, to find
out the exact reasons for the crop failure.
―We have already conducted a field study to find out the reasons. Again two scientists are roped
in for further investigations,‖ Deputy Director of Seeds, G Somu, said.
The well-grown paddy plants had suffered a failure of panicle initiation due to unsuitable
environmental conditions.
The farmers had chosen the wrong season for the variety-5 paddy which is photosynthetic
sensitive, the agricultural experts had said.
However, the DD claimed that farmers in certain places had taken better yield from this
particular variety.
This variety was grown in 196 acres of land in certain parts of Tiruvannamalai including Arni,
Polur, and Mandakolathur.
The affected farmers are expecting the government to provide them financial assistance to tackle
the huge loss but officials said there is little scope for it.
―Since they had purchased the seed variety from a private dealer, the government can‘t arrange
them compensation for the loss,‖ a top officer of the Agriculture department said.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2020/oct/01/hit-by-crop-failure-tiruvan
LGUs, private firms told to buy local rice, corn
Published October 2, 2020, 6:00 AM

by Madelaine B. Miraflor
With prices of the country‘s two main staple foods significantly down weeks ahead of the
peak harvest season, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is making another appeal to
provincial local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to buy palay and corn
directly from farmers.
Farm workers thresh rice during a harvest, in the barangay of Palattao, in Naguilian, Isabela
province, the Philippines. Photographer: Nana Buxani/Bloomberg file photo
Farmgate prices of palay have reportedly dropped to between P11 per kilogram (/kg) to
13/kg for wet palay and P14/kg to 17/kg for dry palay.
This, while the average farmgate price of yellow corn grain went down to P12.32/kg or by
4.6 percent during the first week of September, from its level of P12.91/kg in the previous
week.

Photo by DA-CAR.
Prices, according to the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF), are expected to go down even
more when harvests reach their peak in October and November for rice, while the peak
harvest for wet-season corn crop is August and September.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the LGU- and private sector-led palay and corn
buying should complement efforts of the DA, through the National Food Authority (NFA),
in palay procurement.
For the rest of the year, NFA, whose sole mandate is to maintain the government‘s rice
buffer stock for calamities and national emergencies, has P10 billion left for palay
procurement.
NFA Administrator Judy Dansal said this is enough to buy 10 more million bags of palay.
―We already instructed NFA to roll-over twice its procurement fund so it could buy P20
billion-worth of palay this year,‖ Dar said.

NFA currently buys dried palay, at 14 percent moisture content, at P19/kg.On Thursday,
Dar asked NFA to make available its warehouses for use by farmers‘ cooperatives and
associations (FCAs) and LGUs.
―We will accelerate the modernization of the NFA‘s drying and milling facilities so they
could provide much-needed services for the benefit of our rice farmers,‖ he said.
Further, the DA chief said provincial governments can avail of loans from the Land Bank of
the Philippines (LandBank) of up to P2 billion at two percent interest to procure palay and
acquire farm machineries and post-harvest facilities.
―This should be part of the ‗new normal,‘ where LGUs are taking a more pro-active stance
by directly buying farmers‘ produce – be these rice, corn, vegetables, chicken, eggs, fish
and other farm and fishery products – at reasonable prices, and then including them in their
food packs for their constituents,‖ Dar said.
This harvest season, the DA wrote the governors of the top 12 rice-producing provinces in
the country to once again buy palay from their farmers.
https://mb.com.ph/2020/10/02/lgus-private-firms-told-to-buy-local-rice-corn/
Ignored minority peasants crushed by poverty after
Sindh floods
Marginalised minorities in rural Sindh have suffered badly in heavy rains this year due to
displacement and loss of income.
Mohammad Hussain Khan
“Many [government officials] turned-up and wrote down our names, but we weren’t
provided relief,” said Ganga, a peasant whose poverty-stricken community in Sindh has
been displaced by floods.

Ratol Kohli, an elderly member of her community, too, looked despondently at every passing
vehicle. Their grievance is that, while officials jot down the names of displaced people, many
have still not been given relief goods ―though some people do provide us cooked rice as lunch‖,
she said.
Extreme weather events have been unkind to Ganga and her community in Pakistan‘s second
largest province, which this year witnessed unprecedented rains and flooding. While the media‘s
focus was on the catastrophic urban flooding in Karachi and other urban centres, the August-
September spell of rain wreaked havoc in rural areas with poor drainage.
The disaster has hit the marginalised Kohli, Bheel and Meghwar communities hard, as many of
these scheduled Hindu caste members work in farms without ownership of the land they till.
Rain-hit communities have shifted to highlands and roads in Mirpurkhas district and set up
improvised tents. They were displaced from their villages due to heavy rains in August. — Photo
by Yasir Rajput/The Third Pole
Kohlis, Bheels and Meghwars are considered scheduled castes in India‘s caste system which
follows Hindu mythology. They are voiceless in the farming sector. They live in substantial
numbers in Sindh but largely below the poverty line. While Meghwars opt for other occupations,
the Kohlis and Bheels remain in the agriculture sector.
The Sindh government declared 20 districts as calamity hit areas after the recent rainfall.
Districts in lower Sindh, including Badin, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Sanghar and Sujawal are the
worst hit. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) office recorded 348 millimetres of

rainfall in August 2020 in Mirpurkhas, which in the previous year had received 150 millimetres
of rain.
The rains and the ensuing disaster are reminiscent of catastrophic floods in the area in 2011,
when minority communities suffered tremendous losses yet received no relief.
This year, thousands have lost their produce — cotton and chilli crops — after the excessive
rainfall. Selling it would have earned them an income for which they toiled tirelessly as the sun‘s
heat seared their faces.
A picture of misery
―It‘s been around one month [since the rains] but we have been left to fend for ourselves here,‖
said Ganga, one of millions displaced by rains in district Mirpurkhas which is home to Sindh‘s
famous mango orchards.
―Do you know how difficult it is to pick cotton and hold a baby simultaneously? We are bearing
all this pain and suffering only to earn some money. Merely 10 to 15 maunds [around 40kg] of
cotton is left for picking. The rest is lost,‖ she told The Third Pole. In other years, they have
picked nearly three times this amount.
―As if this disaster-driven displacement is not enough, the police forces us to leave sections of
the highways and shift to other highlands,‖ she said.

Even in the third week of September, long after the rains stopped, large swathes of agricultural
lands are submerged by standing rainwater. Drainage remains slow, and the poor farmers who
worked in what is known as the ‗breadbasket of Sindh‘ sit idle.
The men, women, elderly and children sleep under the open sky. Their homes, traditionally made
of mud and thatched straw, have collapsed. They lack basic civic amenities and even toilets.
Their livestock and cattle suffer as mosquitoes and insects invade the environs soon after sunset,
making the animals prone to skin infections.
When their homes flooded, the displaced communities temporarily shifted to highlands and
roadsides with whatever belongings they could gather. They have set up improvised tents with
empty sacks or polypropylene bags, plastic and pieces of cloth.
―We gathered whatever we could when it started raining heavily on Aug 24 and 25 at midnight,‖
said Marva Kohli.
Displaced women fetch water to take to tents erected on the bank of the spinal drain on the Left
Bank Outfall Drain System (LBOD) near Naukot in Mirpurkhas district. A breach had occurred
in the spinal drain at RD-287. — Photo by Yasir Rajput/The Third Pole
Extensive damage leaves government helpless
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah wants international aid to ameliorate the situation in
Sindh. He put the figure of people affected by rains at 2.5 million. ―We need international

assistance like the kind we got in 2010, when the Indus river was swollen and experienced super
floods, and then in 2011 when torrential rains visited Sindh,‖ he said.
A September 19 assessment by his government‘s Provincial Disaster Management Authority
(PDMA) put crop damage at 1.128 million acres and affected people at 2.48 million in Sindh. It
reports 151 people dead, including 49 women and 23 children. The survey suggested nearly
30,000 homes were damaged and about 50,0000 cattle perished.
Among the damaged crop, cotton — an exportable commodity — and chilli are badly hit. The
province, which produced 4.2 million cotton bales in 2009-2010 has barely come close to that
figure in recent years. Production figures for 2010-2020 show a 40% decline.
The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association‘s senior vice chairman Haresh Kumar puts the overall
damage to cotton crop in 2020-21 at Rs 5 billion [USD 30.3 million].
Progressive farmer and the leader of a vibrant growers‘ body, Syed Mehmood Nawaz Shah, too,
said that while the value of Sindh‘s agriculture produce in 2020-21 for summer crops is about
USD 7 billion, ‗―close to USD 1 billion has been lost in recent rains and flooding‖.
No relief for farmers
For the poor farmers, more hardship lies ahead.
―We have lost the produce we had grown. We will lose our share [in the crop] as it will be
adjusted by the landowner towards the cost of input he invested in the crop,‖ said Peeru Kohli.
The immediate rehabilitation of haris (bonded farm hands) is a distant dream. Barefoot peasants
enter submerged cotton fields to pick the remainder of cotton from dawn to dusk for Rs 400
(USD 2.40) per 40kg, thus exposing themselves to infection and insects.
Male and female peasants, including children, pick the remainder of the cotton crop hit by rains
in Digri taluka of Mirpurkhas district. — Photo by Yasir Rajput/The Third Pole
The hari-grower relationship is not governed under any law. Haris are not registered under the
record of rights as permanent tenants as per Sindh Tenancy Act 1950. In practice, peasants share
expenses incurred by the landlord from the sowing to harvesting stages of the crop. All inputs are
purchased by the landlord or through the area‘s conventional lending system.
The local lenders charge interest at rates much higher than banks. For instance, if a local lender
provides a urea bag at Rs 17,500 (USD 10.60) on credit, he will charge USD 4.5 over and above
the price as interest. The borrower/farmer has to sell his produce to the very lender as a
precondition. Usually, a peasant‘s loan is adjusted once the crop is harvested and sold in the
market or to the same lenders who then offer a lower price for the crop along with deductions.
The entire practice undermines the monetary interests of haris, who have to make do with a
meagre share in profit after the deduction of expenses.

According to Peeru‘s calculation, the landowner invests around Rs 30,000 (USD 181) per acre in
the cotton crop which he or other peasants are supposed to share equally. ―With the considerable
chunk of cotton or chilli gone, we end up getting zero share in the profit,‖ he said, adding that he
will now have to ask his landlord to lend him money.
―My community fellows will be borrowing more money to earn a living till the new crop is sown
and harvested.‖
A village woman wades through thigh deep water in a village of Kali taluka of Tharparkar
district to reach her makeshift roadside tent. — Photo by Yasir Rajput/The Third Pole
―Scheduled caste members can‘t buy assets or even read their religious books in line within
Hinduism. They are the most persecuted community within Hindus,‖ said Dr Sonu Khangarani,
recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan‘s highest civilian honour, for his social work in 2010. ―I,
too, hail from the Meghwar community,‖ he said.
―They can‘t break this vicious circle,‖ he added. He urged the government to build villages on
highlands for these landless peasants under the federal government‘s ‗five million houses‘
scheme and to give them ownership of land.
Under the Sindh Industrial Relations Act 2013, peasants are defined as ―industrial workers‖. But
seasoned labour rights leader Nasir Mansoor said that unless rules are framed in line with the
2013 Act, it remains irrelevant.

―These are rules which will provide a framework to get haris enrolled under social security
laws…but the government‘s will is missing.‖
https://www.dawn.com/news/1582827/ignored-minority-peasants-crushed-by-poverty-after-
sindh-floods
Basmati rice thru GI tag: REAP vows to foil Indian conspiracy
of claiming exclusive rights
Zahid Baig 02 Oct 2020
LAHORE: The leadership of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has vowed to foil
the Indian conspiracy of claiming exclusive rights to "Basmati Rice" through Geographical
Indication (GI) tag and said that Basmati variety was, is and will remain of Pakistan.
The REAP members expressed these views while addressing the Annual General Meeting
(AGM) of the Association here last night where its new Chairman Abdul Qayum Paracha, Senior
Vice Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir and others assumed the office for the term 2020-21.

Abdul Qayum Paracha, the incoming Chairman, said that the rice sector of Pakistan is facing a
threat from this Indian GI claim and they will work to thwart this plan as first priority.
He said that he will also be making efforts to get this sector declared as Industry, which is
making huge exports and earning valuable foreign exchange for the country.
New Senior Vice Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir in his address said that there were three major
goals before him during his tenure and that include foiling Indian design of claiming GI rights on
Basmati, sending at least six delegations to explore new markets and getting status of industry
for the rice export sector.
Abdur Rahim Janoo, veteran rice exporters leader, in his address said that the government should
give the REAP chairman a seat in the Export Development Fund (EDF) as member. He said that
money should be allocated to the Association out of EDF for carrying out research and
development to increase per acre yield and attain more exportable surplus, construction of REAP
House, etc.
Outgoing REAP Chairman Shahjahan Malik in his address threw light on the efforts made during
his tenure despite the lockdown to enhance rice exports from Pakistan.
"We managed to triple the exports to Europe in wake of the ban on Indian rice and mapped rice
fields in Punjab with the government help to analyze pesticides residue here and guide farmer
about remedial measures," he added.
He said that rice planters and harvesters got included in the agri emergency plan to prevent post
harvest losses and made efforts to export Basmati to Japan.
Meanwhile, the members of the Managing Committee from north zone declared elected
unopposed include Malik Faisal Jahangir, Ali Hussam Asghar, Jahanzeb Javed, Ahmad Mubarak
and Zulfiqar Ali. From South Zone, Abdul Qayum Paracha, Muhammad Anwar, Safder Hussain
Mehkri, Mahesh Raja Manglani and Syed Abdul Mateen were declared elected unopposed.
Pir Syed Nazim Hussain Shah, Ali Hussam Asghar, Samee Ullah Naeem, Chaudhry Shafique,
Abu Bakar Mirza and various other prominent exporters attended the meeting.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40023069/basmati-rice-thru-gi-tag-reap-vows-to-foil-indian-
conspiracy-of-claiming-exclusive-rights

Basmati trademark registered in one person’s name
SMEDA asked to resolve matter pending for past many years
Usman HanifOctober 02, 2020
PHOTO: FILE
At a time when Pakistan needs to approach the European Union for geographical indication
(GI) tag for its Basmati rice, it has come to light that Basmati trademark has been registered in
an individual‘s name in the country instead of being registered as a GI.

The Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) registered the trademark of
Basmati in an individual‘s name under application number 179196 in Class 30 dated July 20,
2002, with a disclaimer that it might be challenged.
―Basmati is a generic name that can only be used as a geographical indicator and cannot be
used as a trademark until and unless a new word is added to it,‖ said trademarks and copyrights
practitioner Asif Hayat.
He elaborated that trademark was a business name and a company could not own the words
separately but in a combination.
―It is unfortunate that nobody could point out this development in about two decades,‖ he said,
referring to Basmati being registered as a trademark in favour of an individual. ―In fact, the
applicant himself was fooled by somebody in the authority and just one dispute can eliminate
this entire trademark.‖
When a person or organisation gets a trademark registered, others cannot sell their product or
service under the same name. India has applied to the European Union for GI tag for its
Basmati rice, claiming it is grown only in India despite the well-known fact that both India and
Pakistan grow the aromatic rice.
If the neighbouring country succeeds in its attempt, Pakistan‘s exporters will not be allowed to
sell rice abroad under the Basmati category.
At a time when Pakistan should claim co-ownership of Basmati rice in the international
market, it seems it needs to straighten its own record first. Hayat requested the Small and
Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) to approach the commerce ministry,
industries ministry, Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), IPO and Registrar of
Trademarks to resolve the matter pending for the past many years.
He added that Basmati was a heritage of Pakistan and undoubtedly Basmati rice had been
grown in the country for decades. ―It has all the features and characteristics of Basmati,‖ he
stressed. ―Needless to say, it has the best aroma, length and look, and it is renowned in the
world for its aroma.‖

Basmati trademark belongs to all Basmati growers, millers, processors and exporters, said
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (Unisame) President Zulfikar Thaver. He added that it
was a national property owned by Pakistan and could not be registered in the name of any
individual or a firm.
―Of course, national institutions like TDAP can register it on behalf of Pakistan but due to
some reasons, it was registered in an individual‘s name with a disclaimer,‖ he said.
―India has applied to the European Union for the GI tag for exclusive registration of Basmati,
which shows its mala fide intensions,‖ he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd
, 2020.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2266564/basmati-trademark-registered-in-one-persons-name
Basmati Export: India Catches Pakistan Napping; Moves
EU To Get Exclusive GI Tag For
byM R Subramani-Oct 2, 2020 03:55 PM
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Snapshot
 A GI tag for basmati would mean it is exclusively grown in India or parts of the country.
So it will be tough for Pakistan to rush through the process of demarcating areas for its
basmati cultivation within a short span.
The Narendra Modi government has made a swift move to protect the exclusivity of basmati rice
grown in the country in the global export market.
As part of its efforts, it applied to the European Union (EU) for exclusive Geographical
Indication (GI) tag for the fragrant, long grain rice, last month. India has applied for the
recognition at EU‘s official registry, the Council on Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products

and Food Stuffs, for the tag.
A GI tag for basmati would mean it is exclusively grown in India or parts of the country.
The move is a significant one since the EU‘s revised regulations on fungicides presence in the
rice that came into force in 2017-18 resulted in Indian basmati rice losing ground.
Tests had shown that basmati rice from India had higher levels of tricylazole, a pesticide that is
sprayed on the paddy to overcome fungal pests. Since the levels could not be brought down,
Indian share in the EU basmati market suffered.
This helped Pakistan, which competes with India in the global basmati market, to nearly double
its export of the fragrant rice since 2017-18.

A pertinent point here is that Indian basmati has enjoyed a premium position in the global rice
market with its prices quoting at least $200 a tonne, higher than Pakistan‘s.
Currently, on Alibaba trading website, Indian basmati rice is quoted at around $950-1,000 a
tonne against $600-800 quoted by Pakistan shippers. Indian basmati rice enjoys a 65 per cent
share in the global export market and Pakistan, the rest.
India has been protective about its basmati rice, even taking on an American firm, which tried to
get patents for the variety under Texmati brand in the US, during the late 1990s.
India eventually won its case with the US authorities and since then, followed up with measures
to protect its exclusive agricultural products. It was for this purpose that the Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, was enacted by India in 1999.
Though basmati is grown in various parts of India, the GI tag for the fragrant, long-grain rice has
been assigned to the variety grown only in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana,
Uttarakhand, outskirts of Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
In providing the GI tag cover to its basmati rice, the Indian government has resisted attempts by
Madhya Pradesh to get a similar tag for a fragrant variety grown in the state. The MP
government even moved court but has not been successful until now.
India produces about 7.5 million tonnes (mt) of basmati rice and exports about 4.5 mt annually.
During 2019-20, India earned Rs 34,000 crore shipping 4.45 mt basmati rice.
Basmati exports have stagnated at this level for quite some time. The EU regulations on pesticide
have, in a way, affected the growth in its exports.
The Indian move comes at a time when two contrasting developments have taken place.

One, basmati exports witnessed a 10 per cent rise during April-June this year. They earned about
Rs 8,600 crore, making up one-third of the country‘s agricultural exports during the period.
On the other hand, exports to Iran, a major buyer of Indian basmati rice importing some 1.5 mt
annually, have suffered on account of the US sanctions against it. Right now, some quantity of
Indian basmati rice reaches Iran's shores indirectly.
The US sanctions have prevented India from buying crude oil from Iran and this, in turn, has
affected basmati exports. This has benefitted Pakistan as a result.
The Indian move to get the GI tag from the EU comes amidst these developments. According to
EU rules, competing nations have three months‘ time to contest the claim.
With over two weeks having already passed after the notification of Indian claim, the
neighbouring country has less than 10 weeks now to respond. The problem for the Imran Khan-
led government is that it has not assigned any geographical territory for its basmati rice
cultivation.
Basmati rice in Pakistan is grown mainly in its Punjab province and its cultivation has extended
to Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Within Punjab, the traditional areas are lagging behind in
production.
The cultivation of basmati rice in provinces other than Pakistan‘s Punjab has diluted the
exclusivity of the fragrant rice‘s geographical territory. If Pakistan takes measures to demarcate
the geographical exclusivity of the rice, then it would be up against regional politics from the
Sindh politicians, in particular.
Thus, it will be a tough ask for Pakistan to rush through the process of demarcating areas for
its basmati cultivation within the short span.

Pakistan has to prove to EU that it has been maintaining exclusivity of its regions
cultivating basmati. This also means hours will have to be spent on talks and negotiations.
But given the fact that the EU is upset with China and its allies such as Pakistan after the novel
coronavirus breakout since it holds Beijing responsible for this, the Imran Khan government has
the onerous task of convincing it.
With the Indian government now planning to ban pesticides such as Tricyclazole and
Buprofezin, which led to trade dispute with importing nations, the basmati rice industry has more
reasons to cheer.
https://swarajyamag.com/business/basmati-export-india-catches-pakistan-napping-moves-eu-to-
get-exclusive-gi-tag-for-own-variety
Delhi to launch massive anti-air pollution campaign from
Oct 5: Gopal Rai
Rai said he has also appealed to the Centre and neighbouring states to use the chemical
developed by scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here to manage
stubble.
Published: 01st October 2020 07:12 PM | Last Updated: 01st October 2020 07:12 PM |
AAP's Delhi convener Gopal Rai (Photo | EPS)
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said the city government will
launch a mega anti-air pollution campaign on October 5, and that a centre is being set up in
Najafgarh to produce a chemical to deal with stubble burning.
Rai said he has also appealed to the Centre and neighbouring states to use the chemical
developed by scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here to manage
stubble.

"Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch a mega anti-air pollution campaign after a meeting
with officials from departments of environment, transport, development, PWD, Delhi
Development Authority, Delhi Jal Board, traffic police and municipal corporations," he said.
At a meeting of NCR states with Union Environment Prakash Javadekar, Rai asked the Centre to
take time-bound action to ensure that 11 thermal power plants and more than 1,900 brick kilns
using outdated technology in the national capital region control their emissions.
ADVERTISEMENT
There are 11 plants around Delhi - in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab -- which were
supposed to retrofit their units with technology called flue-gas desulphurisation to reduce
emissions by December 2019.
Rai said there are more than 1,640 such brick kilns in Uttar Pradesh, 161 in Haryana and 164
Rajasthan.
"All these contribute to Delhi's air pollution massively," he said.
The minister said the Delhi government presented its plan to tackle stubble burning in the city
during the meeting with Javadekar.
He said a centre is being set up in Kharkhari village in Najafgarh where "bio-decomposer"
solution will be prepared in around 400 containers starting Tuesday.
IARI's new technology involves a liquid formulation prepared using bio-decomposer capsules,
fermenting it over 8-10 days and then spraying the mixture on crop residue to ensure speedy bio-
decomposition of the stubble.
Capsules worth Rs 20 can effectively deal with 4-5 tonnes of raw straw per acre.
Rai said the Centre has been providing subsidies up to 80 per cent on farm machinery, but
farmers still have to pay from their own pocket to use it.
"The Pusa bio-decomposer is an economically viable option.
We have estimated that only Rs 20 lakh is needed to manage stubble in 800 hectares of
agricultural land in Delhi," he said.
The minister said an action plan has been prepared to stop stubble burning in the city.
Under it, farmers will fill a form providing details such as name, address, village, the area where
they produce non-basmati rice and the date when they want the government to spray the
chemical to tackle stubble burning.

Based on this form the Delhi government will send officials to spray the chemical at the
designated farmland.
Agricultural development officers of all the districts will lead this work, he said.
/www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2020/oct/01/delhi-to-launch-massive-anti-air-pollution-
campaign-from-oct-5-gopal-rai-2204482.html+&cd
Rice prices still high in market
Staff Correspondent | Published at 12:39am on October 02, 2020
The prices of rice remained high in the city‘s kitchen markets although the government had set
the mill-gate price of the staple to contain the unusual price hike of the commodity.
Rice mill owners claimed that they were selling rice at the government-set price but wholesalers
were not decreasing the price.
Wholesalers, however, said that the government had lowered the mill-gate rate about Tk 20-30 a
bag (50-kg) compared to the previous price and it could hardly have any impact on the wholesale
and retail prices of rice.
The food ministry in a meeting with the rice mill owners on Tuesday set the price of miniket rice
at Tk 51.50 a kg, while the price for medium-quality rice was set at Tk 45 a kg.
‗For the sake of the national interest we agreed with the government and all the rice mill owners‘
were selling the staple food at the fixed prices,‘ KM Layek Ali, secretary general of Bangladesh
Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association, told New Age on Thursday.
He said that in most cases rice mill owners were incurring loss to comply with the government-
set prices due to the high price of paddy but wholesalers did not decrease the price of the item.
M Layek Ali urged the government to take an initiative so that the benefit of decreased prices of
rice percolated down to the level of the consumers.
Kawsar Alam Khan, a wholesaler at Babubazar in the city, said that the prices of rice set by the
government did not impact the market much as the mill-gate rate of rice remained almost the
same.
He said that the government had set the prices at Tk 2,575 for a 50-kg sack of miniket and Tk
2,250 for medium quality BR-28 rice, but the previous rate was only Tk 20-30 higher than the
current ones.
‗I think there was no possibility to decrease the price of rice in the market with the government
initiative as the newly set mill-gate rate of rice was almost the same with the previous prices.‘

Md Maksud, a retailer at Mohammarpur Krishi Bazar, said that the rice prices remained high in
the market as the wholesale prices remained unchanged.
Although the government set the mill gate rate of rice the retail prices would not come down
until decreasing the wholesale prices, he said.
According to the traders the standard variety of BR-28 rice sold for Tk 50-52 a kg while the fine
variety sold for Tk 54-55 a kg in the capital on Thursday.
The standard variety of miniket rice sold for Tk 56-58 a kg and the fine variety sold for Tk 60-65
a kg.
The fine variety of najirshail rice retailed at Tk 60-65 a kg and the coarse variety sold for Tk 44-
48 a kg on the day.
Editor: Nurul Kabir, Published
https://www.newagebd.net/print/article/117856
Cambodia wins rice battle in EU court
By
The Edge Markets
October 2, 2020
The European General Court has rejected the European Commission‘s (EC) request to reject a
complaint submitted by Cambodia and the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) regarding the
EU‘s reintroduction of tariffs on Indica rice exports from Cambodia.A court order uploaded to
the European Law Journal on Sept 10 said the EC had submitted a plea requesting the court to
dismiss Cambodia‘s complaint and regard it as inadmissible, reported Vietnam News Agency
quoting local media, the Phnom Penh Post.But Cambodia and the CRF argued that the court
should reject the EC‘s plea of inadmissibility and annul the contested regulation on the rice
exports.
In full: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/cambodia-wins-rice-battle-eu-court

https://english.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodia-wins-rice-battle-in-eu-court-170079/
Cambodia’s rice export increases by 22% in first 9 months
to nearly 500,000 tonnes
A lush rice field under cultivation in the provinces. AKP
Cambodia exported 488,775 tonnes of milled rice in the first nine months of this year, up 22.6 percent
compared to the same period last year.
Figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries showed that Cambodian milled
rice was shipped to 60 countries around the world.
The ministry also mentioned that as of September this year, paddy rice cultivation was carried
out on 2.7 million hectares nationwide, equivalent to 104 percent of the yearly plan. Chea
Vannak – AKP
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50769108/cambodias-rice-export-increases-by-22-in-first-9-
months-to-nearly-500000-tonnes/
Asia Rice-Rates dip in top hubs; traders flag low Mekong
water levels
By Diptendu Lahiri
OBER 1, 20207:25 PMUPDATED* Vietnamese traders warn of drought, salination
* Bangladesh government fixes wholesale price
* New supply expected to pressure on Thai prices
Oct 1 (Reuters) - Rice export prices eased this week in most hubs on lackluster demand with
fresh supplies expected to be a further drag, but Vietnamese traders were concerned about low
water levels in the Mekong.
Top exporter India's 5% broken parboiled variety RI-INBKN5-P1 slipped to $376-$382 per
tonne from last week's $379-$385.―Local prices are softening due to the expected rise in
production. Exports prices are not falling in the same proportion because of rising rupee,‖ said an
exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Thailand's benchmark 5% broken rice prices RI-THBKN5-P1 fell to $472–$477 from $475-$495
last week, attributed largely due to the fluctuation in Thai Baht amid muted demand.
―We are starting to see new supply steadily entering the market this month, and this could
gradually lead to a decline in prices over the next few weeks,‖ a trader said.
In Vietnam, rates for 5% broken rice RI-VNBKN5-P1 were quoted at $460-$480 a tonne range
versus $470-$475 last week, as export activity was muted with the absence of buyers from the
Philippines.
―Some exporters are only focusing on fulfilling their contracts signed with Cuba,‖ a trader in the
Mekong Delta province of An Giang said.
Traders said water levels in the rice bowl Mekong Delta are low this year and they are concerned
about possible drought or salination during the upcoming crop season.
Bangladesh this week fixed wholesale prices for rice following a jump in domestic rates after a
government drive to shore up supplies fell short of targets.
Millers will now have to sell fine quality rice at 2,575 taka ($30.37) for a sack of 50 kg and
medium quality at 2,250 taka ($26.54) in line with the new prices.
―We‘ll have no option but to import rice if the millers don‘t sell the grain at the fixed prices,‖
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said.
Reporting by Diptendu in Bengaluru, Khanh Vu in Hanoi, Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma
Paul in Dhaka, and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Shailesh Kuber
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
P A I D P R O M O T I O N A L L I N K S
Promoted by Dianomi
https://www.reuters.com/article/asia-rice/asia-rice-rates-dip-in-top-hubs-traders-flag-low-
mekong-water-levels-idINL4N2GS262
DA to buy local palay amid decline in prices
ABS-CBN News
Oct 02 2020 03:18 PM
MANILA - The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Friday it would buy palay or unmilled rice
by local farmers at P19 per kilo in light of plunging farmgate price of the staple crop.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the National Food Authority (NFA) would expand its
palay procurement and buy the rice harvest of farmers in their villages.
"This early, we have put in place the buying stations of NFA all over the country," he told
Teleradyo's "Kabayan."
"They will buy dry and clean palay at P19 per kilo, at 14 percent moisture content," he said in
Filipino.
The NFA will also help pick up the produce if farmers don't have the means to deliver it, Dar
said.
The agriculture chief said they had received reports that farmgate prices of palay had plummeted
to P15.
The agency will buy as much as possible from rice farmers using its P10-billion procurement
fund this year, he said.
He had also instructed the NFA to roll-over twice its procurement fund so it could buy P20-
billion worth of palay this year.
The DA earlier urged provincial local government units (LGUs) and the private sector to buy
palay and corn directly from farmers to prop up prices.
In an earlier statement, Dar said provincial governments could avail of loans from the Land Bank
of the Philippines (LandBank) of up to P2 billion at 2 percent interest to procure palay, and
acquire farm machineries and postharvest facilities.
In 2019, the country‘s top 12 rice producing provinces were Nueva Ecija, Isabela, Pangasinan,
Cagayan, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Tarlac, Negros Occidental, Maguindanao, Bukidnon, North
Cotabato, and Leyte.
They produced more than 9.74 million metric tons (MMT) of palay, roughly 52 percent of the
country‘s total harvest of 18.815 MMT last year.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/03/20/nba-finals-dragic-foot-adebayo-shoulder-wont-play-in-
game-2-report-says
Palay farmgate price declines 3% in second week of September
October 2, 2020 | 5:49 pm
THE AVERAGE farmgate price of palay, or unmilled rice, fell 3% week-on-week to P17.12 per
kilogram in the second week of September, with the price up 5.8% year-on- year, according to
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its weekly update on palay, rice, and corn prices, the PSA said the average wholesale price of
well-milled rice fell 0.4% to P38.42 while the retail price rose 0.02% to P42.24.
The average wholesale price of regular-milled rice fell 0.5% to P34.81 while the retail price fell
0.1% to P37.89.
The farmgate price of yellow corn grain fell 2.5% week-on-week to P12.01. The average
wholesale price of yellow corn grain fell 0.3% to P20.79 while the retail price fell 0.1% to
P24.82.
The farmgate price of white corn grain fell 2.5% week-on-week to P13.18.
The average wholesale price of white corn grain fell 0.8% to P15.75 while the retail price was
flat at P27.80. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/palay-farmgate-price-declines-3-in-second-week-of-september/

Welcome to the Anthropocene
Join thousands of researchers, policymakers and educators who rely on our Weekly Science
Dispatch to keep up to date on the latest sustainability science.
Researchers get closer to the goal of
flood-proof crops
Engineered enzymes could allow plants to tolerate low-oxygen conditions
By Emma Bryce
October 2, 2020
The effects of climate change on agriculture usually conjures up an image of plants flailing under
drought-stricken skies. But how will agriculture cope with climate change‘s other offering—the
rise of floods? Increasingly extreme weather worldwide is causing flooding across parts of the
planet, and that‘s driving a parallel decline in growing area, since most crops can‘t subsist in the
low-oxygen conditions of waterlogged soil.
But now, researchers writing in PNAS say they have identified a key player in plants‘ molecular
makeup—one which might help us flood-proof crops against this uncertain future.
In most plants, being submerged in water for prolonged periods leads to hypoxia, a lack of
oxygen that shuts down their ability to produce ATP, the molecule that ferries energy around a
plant—and which needs air to function. But certain plants like rice, which grows in waterlogged
soils, have an unusual capacity to withstand soggy soil for periods of time, because they use a
different energy pathway that doesn‘t rely on the presence of air.
Researchers know that in these plants, certain genes control that particular energy pathway, and
that those genes are regulated by proteins. In turn, the behaviour of those proteins is governed by
a unique group of enzymes called plant cysteine oxidases (PCOs)—which, from the top of this
chain, set the whole sequence of events in motion.
Because those enzymes are so crucial to helping these plants survive waterlogged soils, the
researchers on the new study set out to describe their structure, and illuminate how they work—
and how they might therefore be enhanced to improve crops‘ adaptations in flooded
environments.
By mapping out the detailed structure of the PCOs, the researchers identified key amino acids to
target and mutate, which they used as proof that the enzymes could be engineered to behave
differently. Then they introduced those engineered enzymes into test thale cress plants—which
was practically important, because it proved that these crops could effectively incorporate the
altered components. ―This is great as it suggests that we can directly translate our biochemical

work into a plant context to manipulate PCO function,‖ says Emily Flashman, a co-author on the
new study, and chemist from the University of Oxford, who collaborated on the research with
colleague Francesco Licausi.
For now, the enzyme tweaks the researchers have made haven‘t resulted in significant changes to
plants‘ flood control: instead, their primary research aim was proof of principle. But with the
structure of the enzymes now fully laid out, they‘re in a stronger position to identify targets for
mutation. This will enable them to pinpoint the specific amino acids that alter the enzymes‘
behaviour in ways that change the downstream activity of proteins and gene regulation—and
could ultimately boost flood tolerance.
―We‘ll have to use much more subtle changes to the enzyme‘s function to produce plants that are
usefully flood-tolerant, for example changing how sensitive they are to low-oxygen conditions—
think a dimmer switch, rather than an on-off switch,‖ Flashman says. If they can make the right
tweaks, it could help create plants that are able to continue transporting energy and functioning
as normal, despite the low-oxygen conditions of their suddenly-aquatic environments. ―Really

this is where the hard work starts, as we have to understand the enzymes in more detail to be able
to achieve that—but we‘re on our way!‖
Next up, Flashman says, they‘re going to investigate precisely how the enzymes interact with
oxygen, to point them towards enzyme modifications that will ―generate plants with improved
flood tolerance, but without any penalty in yield.‖
She thinks this early stage discovery, advanced by future insights into enzyme hotspots, could
have widespread benefits for crops—including staples like wheat and barley. That‘s because
PCO enzymes are ‗conserved‘ in all crops, she explains, meaning that even though they may not
be functional in a plant, their infrastructure still exists within.
So ideally, one day researchers will be able to tap into these reservoir enzymes to breed flood-
resilient plants—a potential life raft for our food systems, on our ever-changing planet.
Source: White et. al. ―Structures of Arabidopsis thaliana oxygen-sensing plant cysteine
oxidases 4 and 5 enable targeted manipulation of their activity.‖ Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences. 2020.
https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2020/10/researchers-get-closer-to-the-goal-of-flood-proof-crops/
Technology Developed By BGU And Rice
Researchers Will Filter COVID-19 Particles From
The Air
Published•
Thu, Oct 01, 2020
Technology developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in
Israel, in partnership with Rice University, is being commercialized by LIGC
Application Ltd. to develop and manufacture products for filtration systems, including
those that filter COVID-19 airborne particles.
LIGC is a company at the forefront of laser-induced graphene (LIG)
commercialization. Hubei Forbon Technology Co. Ltd. (300387.SZ) in Wuhan, China
provided $3 million in funding.

―For the past five years, our lab at the BGU Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research
[in.bgu.ac.il/en/bidr/ziwr/Pages/default.aspx] has focused on the development of LIG,
specifically in antimicrobial filtration and environmental applications,‖ said Dr. Chris
Arnusch. ―We are excited to be commercializing our technology in a number of air-
filtration products for COVID-19 and other specialized filtration applications.‖
LIGC co-founder and CEO Yehuda Borenstein said, ―In the absence of better
filtration technology, the indoor spaces where we used to spend most of our ‗normal‘
life – schools, stores and workplaces – due to COVID-19 present a real risk. This
technology will provide cleaner and more breathable air with lower energy and
maintenance costs and virtually silent sound levels.‖
Active air filters made with LIG are designed to damage and destroy organic particles,
including bacteria, mold spores and viruses at the micron and submicron levels when
passed through a microscopic network of porous graphene.
This cost-effective and scalable approach is produced using commercially available
CO2 lasers to create a conductive graphene mesh. The graphene mesh heats,
electrocutes and neutralizes organic particles and pathogens with revolutionary
efficiency compared to active carbon filters, UV-C and fiber HEPA filters that are
used widely in schools, offices, homes, ships and other facilities. Aircraft already are
equipped with HEPA filters that remove viruses and bacteria from the circulated cabin
air, but at high-energy and maintenance costs.
Since the LIGC filter uses low-voltage electricity to eliminate bacteria and viruses,
lower density filtration media can be used, resulting in significantly less energy
consumption. In addition, LIGC active filters require lower maintenance than other
filters and are safe for the operator during maintenance and replacement.
―To understand the technology, imagine the porous graphene is an electric fence that
functions as a mosquito zapper at the submicron level,‖ Bornstein said. ―When an
airborne bacteria or virus touches the graphene surface, it is shocked at a low voltage
and currents that are safe for use. While 2020 has highlighted the importance of
protecting against airborne viruses, the post-pandemic world will likely show us how
important it is to do so without increasing energy costs past the point of affordability.‖
https://jhvonline.com/technology-developed-by-bgu-and-rice-researchers-will-filter-covid-parti-p28181-
153.htm

NFAsaystoo earlyto gauge impact ofRice Tariffication
Law
October 2, 2020 | 5:58 pm
The National Food Authority said it is too early to judge the overall impact of the Rice
Tariffication Law (Republic Act 11203) and resisted calls for it to be amended.
"Since the law is still new and the rice sector is still under a transition period, we
cannot yet attain or savor the full benefits of the law, although we can already see and
feel them,‖ NFA Administrator Judy Carol L. Dansal said in a statement.
The law removed the restrictions on rice imports while charging a 35% tariff on
Southeast Asian grain. The tariffs generated will provide P10 billion a year to the Rice
Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF), which will assist farmers with
mechanization, obtaining quality seed, and accessing farming know-how.

It also removed the NFA‘s importing functions and left it with the main functions of
maintaining a buffer stock via domestic purchases and supplying subsidized rice to the
poor. Its purchasing activity helps set a floor for the price of palay, or unmilled rice,
the form in which farmers sell their harvest.
The NFA buys palay for P19 per kilogram, but it cannot buy the entire domestic
harvest due to limited funds and storage, leaving farmers to deal with private traders,
who undercut the NFA price.
The NFA said it purchased around two million bags of palay in September, for an
average of 90,012 bags per day.
The Cagayan Valley was the top source of palay procured by the NFA with 505,440
bags, followed by Western Visayas 318,383 bags, Central Mindanao 298,665 bags,
CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) 121,910 bags, and
Bicol 100,714 bags.
Ms. Dansal said the NFA is ready to purchase the harvest through its 558 warehouses
and buying stations.
"As instructed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte and pursuant to our mandate of buffer
stocking for calamities and emergencies, we do our very best to accommodate as
many farmers who would want to sell palay to the government," Ms. Dansal said.
According to the NFA, some 4.93 million bags of palay were purchased in the year to
date as of Sept. 29.
The NFA recently sought to boost its purchasing power by signing agreements with
Quirino and Isabela provinces, which agreed to participate in purchasing by
supplementing the NFA purchase price by add P1 and P2, respectively using their
own funds. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
https://www.bworldonline.com/nfa-says-too-early-to-gauge-impact-of-rice-tariffication-law/

Retail prices of rice, edible oil continue to rise in
Dhaka
Staff Correspondent, bdnews24.com
Published: 03 Oct 2020 02:26 AM BdST Updated: 03 Oct 2020 02:26 AM BdST





PreviousNext

Retail prices of rice and edible oil have continued to increase in Dhaka, rising by up to Tk 5 per kg and
litre in a week, as government has failed to rein in the market.
Customers believe a lack of strong government monitoring is to blame for the rising prices of commodities.
Prices of bottled soybean oil of some brands have gone up to Tk 115 per litre, increasing twice in a month.
Maidul Islam Mahin, a grocer at Rampura Kitchen Market, said he was selling oil at previous rates on Friday
because his old stock was not exhausted.
He will charge the customers the new rates once the dealers of the companies bring the new products Saturday.
Khurshed Alam, a retailer at Mohakhali, said he received the new products and began selling them at the new
rates.
―People in the government work hard when the media writes about the price hike. But we don‘t see strong
monitoring by the government,‖ said customer Sarwar Hossain, who resides in Malibagh.

Biswajit Saha, the general manager of City Group which produces oil under the brand name
Teer, said they raised the prices following hike in the international market.
All the companies took approval of the Bangladesh Tariff Commission before raising the prices,
he claimed.
In the rice market, coarse Swarna, the cheapest in Dhaka, was being sold at Tk 50 per kg.
The fine quality Miniket rice was priced between Tk 62 and Tk 65 a kg.
Ali Ahsan, the proprietor of Bikrampur Rice Store at Rampura, said prices of coarse varieties of
rice have increased more than the fine ones.
He was selling Miniket at Tk 2,800 to Tk 3,000 per sack of 50 kg. The price of coarse rice was
Tk 2,450 to Tk 2,550.
―The millers have told us that that paddy price hike has driven rice prices,‖ Ahsan said.
―But sitting here we can‘t say what has exactly happened,‖ he added.
Wahiduzzaman, a wholesaler at Mirpur-1, said the millers were manipulating the market having
bought paddy from the farmers at lower rates much earlier.
https://bdnews24.com/business/2020/10/03/retail-prices-of-rice-edible-oil-continue-to-rise-in-dhaka

Haryana Govt budges, allows UP farmers to sell produce
at Karnal border
Makeshift purchase centre to come in stadium within 2 days
Officials check the moisture content in paddy in the Karnal grain market on Friday. Tribune photo
Parveen Arora
Tribune News Service
Karnal, October 2
The state has finally allowed the sale of Uttar Pradesh paddy in Karnal, ending days of
uncertainty for farmers. For this, the district administration will establish a temporary purchase
centre in Mohidinpur village situated on the Haryana-UP border.
The state government took the decision after the district administration submitted a proposal in
this regard.
The marketing board has started re-carpeting a road that leads to the purchase centre, installing
lights and constructing toilets. The centre is expected to be functional in a couple of days.
Arhtiyas‘ associations have been asked to inform farmers in UP to bring paddy to the makeshift
centre after October 5. A schedule in this regard has been released. Besides, registered rice
millers have been asked to start procurement.
In its September 30 edition, The Tribune had published a news story ―Haryana ban on outside
crops negates Centre‘s free market policy‖, highlighting that farmers of UP who wanted to sell
their produce in Karnal and Panipat were stopped by the police.
―To help UP farmers, we are setting up a temporary purchase centre at a stadium in Mohidinpur
village. The government has approved our proposal. I visited the site on Friday and directed
market committee officials to ensure all facilities there,‖ said Deputy Commissioner Nishant
Kumar Yadav.
Meanwhile, a day after arhtiyas called off their strike, the district witnessed speedy paddy
procurement on Friday.

Till evening, around 22,000 MT of paddy was procured out of 40,000 MT that has arrived in 13
purchase centres of the district. Till Thursday evening, only 627 MT was procured.
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/govt-budges-allows-up-farmers-to-sell-produce-at-karnal-
border-150192
From Black Bean Tacos To Arroz Con Leche: 3
Plant-Based Traditional Latin American Foods
Shirley Gómez | Oct 02 2020, 10:50AM EDT
 OCT 03, 5:50 AM EDT
For Hispanic Heritage Month, Luisa Sabogal RD, is sharing better-for-you, plant-based updates
to traditional Latin American breakfast, lunch, and dessert dishes. Photo by Sandi Benedicta on
Unsplash
Registered Dietitian Luisa Sabogal, joins the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month
celebration by sharing better-for-you, plant-based updates to traditional Latin American
breakfast, lunch and dessert dishes. Some Latinos and Latinas tend to consume high saturated fat
foods and forget about the risk of common health conditions in the community, like high
cholesterol and type 2 diabetes.
According to a 2015 study conducted by the American Heart Association, 49.3 percent of
Hispanics had high cholesterol levels and were not aware, while those who were aware, only
29.5 percent received treatment. The researchers also revealed that high cholesterol was more
common among men than women, 44 percent versus 40.5 percent.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also informed in 2019 that Hispanic/Latino
Americans are more likely to have type 2 diabetes (17%) than non-Hispanic whites (8%).
Based on the data, Sabogal wants to use her knowledge to create a healthier world; Therefore,
she shared with Latin Times three plant-based recipes using products from Califia Farms.
3 Plant-Based Traditional Latin American Foods
 Black Bean Tacos – Black beans make a hearty, plant-based taco filling. You can make your
cashew sour cream (using cashews that have been soaked overnight blended with lemon juice,
apple cider vinegar, salt, and garlic) for a creamy topping.

Black beans make a hearty, plant-based taco filling. Courtesy
Ingredients
¼ C white onion, chopped
1 C beans, drained
½ tsp Califia Plant Butter with Avocado Oil
1/8 tsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp cilantro
½ lemon juice, medium-size lemon
Directions:
1. In a medium pan over low heat, warm the butter. Add chopped onions and
cumin. Cook and mix well until onions are well cooked-translucent in color.
2. Add the garlic and continue to stir. After 1 minute, add drained beans, stir and cook
for 5-10 minutes covered. Use a potato masher or the back of a fork to mash beans to
desired consistency.
3. Turn off the heat, add 1 tbsp chopped cilantro and fresh lemon juice, and stir to mix
well.

RD Tip: Instead of ―frying‖ beans, cook beans with Califia Farms Plant-Based Butter
with Avocado Oil and mash with a fork. Using plant-based butter is a great way to
reduce the intake of saturated fat and cholesterol while still adding flavor.
 Calentado (rice and beans) with hogao (sautéed tomato, onion, and garlic stew) – a
Colombian, Puerto Rican, and Costa Rican breakfast or lunch that is typically made
with chorizo. You can make it vegetarian with a mix of tomatoes, onions, and garlic.
Calentado is a Colombian, Puerto Rican, and Costa Rican breakfast or lunch that is typically made with
chorizo. Courtesy
Ingredients:
For hogao
1 C fresh tomatoes, chopped
½ C scallions, chopped
1 small garlic clove, pressed
¼ tsp ground cumin
½ tsp Califia Farms Plant Butter with Avocado Oil
Salt to taste
For calentado
½ brown rice, cooked
1 C beans, cooked
Directions:

Make tomato stew by heating butter in a pan and add the tomatoes, scallions, garlic,
and ground cumin. Mix well and cook for 10 minutes covered.

Add salt and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until the sauce has thickened. Remove
sauce from heat.
Add cooked beans and rice to a separate pan, mix well and warm them up.
Serve cooked beans and rice on a plate, and accompany with tomato mixture, oven-
baked plantains, and avocado slices for a balanced, tasty, and nutritious meal.
RD Tip: Swapping out meat for veggies makes this a heart-healthy meal because it
reduces saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake, and increases fiber intake.
 Arroz con Leche (rice pudding) – a popular Latin American dessert traditionally made
with condensed milk. Replace condensed milk with creamy, dairy-free oat milk.
Popular Latin American dessert traditionally made with condensed milk. Courtesy
Ingredients:
• ½ C short grain rice
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 C Califia Oatmilk
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar
• Optional: ground cinnamon and raisins
Directions:
1. In a pot, combine oat milk, cinnamon sticks, and rice. Bring milk to a simmer and
simmer slowly for ~10 minutes.

2. Remove cinnamon sticks, add coconut sugar and simmer for ~10 minutes, and stir
often to prevent the rice from sticking to the pot

3. Remove from the heat, add the raisins and extra cinnamon, and let it cool. It will
thicken as it cools.
RD Tip: Choose unsweetened oat milk, like Califia Farms Oatmilk, for a dessert with
less saturated fat and sugar and no cholesterol.
TAGS: FOOD
https://www.latintimes.com/black-bean-tacos-arroz-con-leche-3-plant-based-traditional-latin-american-
foods-462265
URA bans warehousing of rice, sugar after tribunal
ruling
The Independent October 3, 2020 Business, NEWS, The News Today Leave a
comment
Tax Tribunal upholds URA decision to ban warehousing of rice and sugar. PHOTO
URN
Kampala, Uganda |THE INDEPENDENT | The Tax Appeals Tribunal has given
the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) a go-ahead to ban the warehousing of sugar
and rice.
The Tribunal has further ordered the Commissioner Customs URA to gazette the
import of all rice without any restrictions, and to grant adequate notice of 2 – 3
months before any action taken by URA becomes effective.
Tax experts say the decision favours URA policy, and is a big step towards protecting
consumers and the local industry.
In October 2019, URA issued a list of goods that it declared not eligible for
warehousing, including sugar, milled and broken rice, building materials and wines
and spirits (except in duty-free). Others were motor vehicle tyres and tubes,
motorcycle tyres and tubes, dental care products, garments and footwear of all kinds,
as well as imported cars of 14 years and above.

The East African Community Customs Management Regulations 2010 already had a list of
products deemed ‗high risk‘ that should not be in warehouses, including acids, ammunition for
trade and business, arms for trade and business, chalk, explosives, fireworks, dried fish,
perishable goods and matches other than safety matches.
URA boss Musinguzi
Combustible or inflammable goods were also listed except petroleum products which were
allowed for storage in approved places. The directive only allowed small importers who bring in
goods in group containers to put their products in warehouses where necessary, but only for 24
hours to enable them to clear their goods.
URA argued that under Regulation 64(k) of the East African Community Customs Management
Regulations 2010, the Commissioner has the discretion to gazette any other goods that are not
supposed to be warehoused and that the directive was issued to protect the public from hazardous
goods and to also protect local manufacturers.
These new measures, however, did not go down well with importers and distributors, accusing
the URA of making business more expensive. Importers usually keep their goods in warehouses
manned by the URA as they prepare themselves to clear all tax obligations, while others delay
their introduction onto the market, anticipating for better proceeds.
However, for re-exporters, the system is used to prepare them for another market, including the
processing of documents, organizing for logistics before shipping them out to their final
destination. Sometimes, the importers have been accused of offloading goods declared as transit
goods, onto the local market, which amounts to dumping.
It is based on this that R1 Distributors led 11 other importers and distributors to challenge this
decision. Now, the Tax Appeals Tribunal has ruled that URA‘s decision to list sugar among
items not to be warehoused was lawful, rational and within URA‘s mandate.
Kampala City Traders Association Chairman Everest Kayondo says the URA has the mandate of
securing warehouses from leaking and to keep the records of all imported and bonded goods, and
that banning the practice is unnecessary. He says that sometimes the goods are shipped in when
the demand as dropped and traders need to hold them for some time.
The main point of contention in the Tribunal, therefore, was whether the notice published by
URA was lawful and/or proper. The tribunal acknowledged that there is ample evidence to prove
that the government of Uganda has to protect the local industries that manufacture sugar from
unfair competition arising from dumping, diversion of sugar in transit and tax evasion.
The Tribunal agrees with URA that this will ensure that Ugandans are protected from the
consumption of expired sugar and that the local sugar manufacturers are protected from unfair
competition arising from dumping. URA Manager Corporate Affairs Ian Rumanyika says the

ruling a will now allow the Commissioner to make similar decisions on goods it deems not safe
for warehousing.
While the URA says that the move aims at curbing unfair competition in the country, KACITA
says it puts Uganda on the back-foot in the region because warehousing facilitates re-exports,
which is a legal trade activity.
Kayondo says countries like Rwanda, which are instead promoting warehousing of the said
goods will attract Ugandan investors to the neighbouring country, especially re-exporting
products to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
www.independent.co.ug/ura-bans-warehousing-of-rice-sugar-after-tribunal-ruling/+&cd=1&hl=e

3rd october,2020 daily global regional local rice e newsletter

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