Global Rice News Digest

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Girls outperform boys at OUAT
Minati Singha | May 8, 2015, 02.22PM IST
BHUBANESWAR: More than 70 per cent of the gold medalists at the 34th convocation of
Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology ( OUAT) were girls. Job security and scope for
research in the field of agriculture and technology and wide range of opportunities are attracting
more women into the sector."I am really happy that there are more girls among the gold
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter
May 08 , 2015
V o l u m e 5, Issue I

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medalists of the university. This is a positive sign. It also proves that girls worked harder than
boys and should get accolades," said vice-chancellor of the university Manoranjan Kar.Girls
topped the university in postgraduate studies in most departments while most of the top scorers
in undergraduate studies are also women students.
The highest number of awards and medals for a single student went to Sheuli Chaterjee, who
received 11 medals for scoring the highest marks in different subjects.There is no particular
reason but, of course, girls are more serious than boys about studies. More girls are coming to the
agriculture sector because of job security and wider opportunity for diversification," said Sheuli.
She added, "If you study agriculture you can go for banking, insurance, seed selection, chemical
and fertilizers and so on."A total 211 medals were given away for students who graduated in
2013 and 2014 of whom 147 were women.
"It's not that girls are excelling in agriculture only, they are doing well in all examinations. More
women achieving success in the higher education sector will have a direct and indirect impact on
our society," said honorary professor of the university S R Das.Arnapurna Moharana, who won
seven gold medals said, "In agriculture there is ample scope for research. I will continue my
higher education and do my research in this field.
"Vice chancellor also informed that this year 26 students from College of Agricultural
Engineering and Technology under the university qualified for GATE examination in 2015,
which is a record of highest number of students being qualified from any single institute of 54
colleges of agricultural engineering and Technology in India.Former chairman of Agricultural
Scientists Recruitment Board Prof Madappa Mahadevappa and director general and CEO of
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines Dr Robert Stewart Zeigler were
conferred honoris causa on the occasion.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Girls-outperform-boys-at-
OUAT/articleshow/47200870.cms
Cambodia: Cambodia exports more rice in first four
months
5/8/2015
Thai News Service
Cambodia exported over 200,000 tonnes of rice in the January-April period, up 67.2 percent
from the same period last year.According to the Secretariat of One Window Service for
Rice Export, China was the largest importer, buying more than 66,000 tonnes of Cambodia rice.
It was followed by France with 23,000 tonnes.Besides traditional customers, Cambodia is
looking for new markets with the aim of increasing rice export.Farm produce, particularly rice, is
a priority in Cambodia'sexport policy. However, the country is facing difficulties in processing
equipment to enhance rice quality. Cambodia also has to compete with other
major exporters such as Thailand and Vietnam./.

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http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2359359159
Vietnam: Rice exports likely to rise from July
5/8/2015
Thai News Service
Vietnam is implementing a contract on exporting rice to the Philippines while negotiating with
Malaysia on the same issue.In the first four months of the year, the country exported2.04 million
tonnes of rice, earning US$889 million, down in 0.5% in quantity and 5% in value, according to
the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).The MoIT said the decrease is attributed to an
abundant supply source of rice exporters which leads to a fierce competition in the market. Big
rice exporters like Thailand and India have high stockpiles of rice.
Especially, Thailand is taking drastic measures to export more rice to key markets.Huynh The
Nang, general director of the Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) hoped that from
late June to early July this year, Vietnam's rice exporters might gain more markets.He added that
from the beginning of the year, the Philippines has imported 300,000 tonnes of rice from
Vietnam and is expected to buy an additional 500,000 tonnes. - VOV
Rice planting proceeds as water availability varies
Tim Hearden
Capital Press
Published:May 7, 2015 3:19PM
Tim Hearden/Capital Press Russel Maben stabilizes the edge of a field to be flooded for rice planting on
his family‘s farm near Willows, Calif. Some water districts have imposed strict rules against runoff from
rice planting, which is underway in the Sacramento Valley.

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Rice planting is nearing its halfway point in California's middle Sacramento Valley. Crop advisers
are expecting more fields to be fallowed this year because of a lack of water, although how much
more acreage is idled remains to be seen.
WILLOWS, Calif. — For rice growers in California‘s Sacramento Valley, this season has been
all about working and waiting.Balmy spring afternoons were perfect for getting fields ready for
this year‘s anticipated 408,000-acre rice crop, but water uncertainties amid a fourth year of
drought forced many to wait and wonder about deliveries.But planting finally commenced in the
last week of April and is nearly halfway finished, with some fields already showing rice
emerging from the water.―Planting is going full swing right now,‖ said Luis Espino, a University
of California Cooperative Extension rice crop adviser in Colusa. ―With the water situation early
on, everyone was expecting water deliveries to be a little late — the first week of May.
Then it was actually delivered a little earlier than that.‖In Butte County, planting is about two
weeks ahead of what would be a normal timeframe, said Cass Mutters, a UCCE rice farm
adviser.―This spring was unfortunately so dry and so warm that growers were out working their
fields,‖ Mutters said. ―As a result, the planting schedule is accelerated this year.‖Water
availability varies widely this spring, depending on where a farm is. Growers in districts along
the Sacramento River that have senior rights have been told to expect 75 percent of normal
deliveries, although U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials have hedged a bit on whether they‘d be
able to deliver even that much.
Meanwhile, those who divert from the Feather River have had their water cut in half, while
farmers on the east side of the valley face cuts of 30 percent to 60 percent, the California Farm
Bureau Federation reported. Junior right holders who rely on Central Valley Project water will
get none for a second straight year.―There‘s going to be a lot of fallowing,‖ Espino said. ―It‘s
hard to say how much, but my guess is it‘s going to be maybe 10 or 15 percent more than last
year. Growers might not get surface water but might be able to pump here and there or get water
from somewhere else. We‘ll see at the end what the actual acreage is.‖
An anticipated 408,000-acre crop would be 6 percent below the acreage seeded in 2014 and well
below the 550,000 acres planted in 2013, according to the National Agricultural Statistics
Service. As a result of the drop in acreage, the fall yield of 36.8 million hundredweight was
down 23 percent from 2013, NASS estimated.Some water transfers are taking place to facilitate
this year‘s crop, but the early-season hype about the prospect of growers selling water to cities
has died down because of a lack of available water and because of districts‘ restrictions on
fallowing fields to send water elsewhere.Some districts have instituted ―no-spill policies‖ during
field flooding to maximize the acreage that can be planted, Mutters said.Rice is typically planted
between mid-April and mid-May, with harvests coming six months later. Growers who plant
later than that risk running into rains during harvest, which happened in 2014 with a late October
storm that stopped work.
Among other field crops, according to NASS:
• Cotton planting in Fresno County is nearly complete, and fields were progressing nicely.
• Oats and alfalfa fields are being cut, windrowed and baled.

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• Wheat is maturing quickly and is being cut for silage. The wheat crop is rated as 90 percent
good to excellent
http://www.capitalpress.com/California/20150507/rice-planting-proceeds-as-water-availability-varies
Spring Brings Stable Rice Prices
[As Heard in North Korea]
Unification Media Group | 2015-05-08 13:15
"As Heard in North Korea" articles contain the content of Unification Media Group [UMG] broadcasts into North Korea. UMG is
a consortium created by Radio Free Chosun [RFC] and Open Radio for North Korea [ONK], shortwave radio stations targeting
North Korea; The Daily NK, an internet periodical reporting on all aspects of North Korea; and OTV, an NGO-based internet
television channel.
It's time for our weekly series "Market Roundup" with special correspondent and economic specialist
Kang Mi Jin. Today we'll discuss the latest trends and news from the North Korean economy. First, I'll
ask Ms. Kang to give us a general overview of what has been happening in the past week.
The market price for rice varied by regions. One kilogram of rice was sold for 5,000 KPW in Pyongyang,
Sinuiju, and Hyesan. The Korean People‘s Won against the U.S. dollar traded for 8,100 KPW, 8,200
KPW, and 8,400 KPW in Pyongyang, Sinuiju, and Hyesan, respectively, posting a slightly higher
exchange rate from the previous week. One kilogram of corn fetched 1,600 KPW in Pyongyang and
Sinuiju, and 1,700 KPW in Hyesan. In terms of pork, one kilogram stood at 12,500 KPW in Pyongyang,
12,000 KPW in Sinuiju, and 13,500 KPW in Hyesan. Next is the price of oil. In Pyongyang and Sinuiju,
one kilogram of gasoline traded for 10,500 KPW and 11,000 KPW in Hyesan. Diesel fetched 8,000 KPW
per kilogram in Pyongyang, 8,500 KPW in Sinuiju, and 9,000 KPW in Hyesan.
Spring in the North means most residents are looking forward to the weather warming up so they can
go pick wild greens. Reflecting some of those positive sentiments, we’re also hearing that prices in
markets have been on a decline, and we’re joined by reporter Kang Mi Jin who will tell us more about
it.
1. We’ve heard that prices for some goods in the market have been on a downward trend. Tell us more
about it.
According to sources within North Korea, the prices of soybean oil from China, school uniforms, eggs,
and spring vegetables in some markets have been falling. Market prices usually rise at this time of the
year, but this year, prices for the most part have remained stable. Although limited to certain goods, some
prices have even been falling.
2. Soybean oil and spring vegetables are some of the most commonly purchased items in the North, do
we know why the prices have been dipping?
According to a source from Yangkang Province in North Korea, most markets including those in Hyesan
and Wiyon are seeing a drop in prices of soybean oil, school uniforms, eggs, and spring vegetables. If we
first look at why the price of cooking oil would be falling, some say it may be because of a rumor that has

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been spreading among the public. The rumor says that there are many ‗yojae‘ in the oil, which can lead to
stomachaches. ‗Yojae‘ refer to counterfeit ingredients in North Korea, so people are not only afraid of
consuming such bad oil themselves, they‘re also worried about the effects it could have on others around
them.
There have not yet been any accidents resulting from consumption of Chinese soybean oil, but the rumor
has made food vendors reluctant to use the oil. A lot of food vendors use oil in large amounts, but as their
demand drops, the prices have naturally gone down as well.
3. You mentioned people being worried about others as well when using this oil. Could you elaborate
on that, please.
People in general are worried about their own consumption of bad oil, but food vendors are more worried
than others. They worry that cooking food with bad oil could harm their customers, which would then
hurt their business. In the case of merchants who sell apparel or other goods, they can somehow convince
the customers that they were merely passed on the (bad) goods. However, it is different for food vendors
who directly make the very goods that they sell. So it would be harder to win back trust from customers
once a problem arises. Food vendors avoid purchasing oil for this reason, and this has naturally led to the
fall in prices of Chinese oil.
4. You also mentioned earlier that the price of school uniforms has dropped. The new semester started
in April in North Korea, correct? Has the price of school uniforms dropped because the semester is
now underway?
No. The drop in the price of school uniforms and the start of a new semester have no correlation. Last fall,
North Korea introduced new uniforms for middle school and university students nationwide, and all
students now need to wear these new uniforms from this semester. The previous uniforms have now
become outdated, which is why their prices are on the downward trend.
Old uniforms used to be quite popular that even second-hand ones still sold well. But nobody buys them
anymore. Merchants are trying to make at least a paltry sum of money off of the uniforms by selling them
at prices below the original cost. However, even these attempts have failed to draw in customers, causing
a lot of concern for the merchants.
Some complain that all of this trouble is ultimately because of the new uniforms. Unlike other clothing,
North Korean uniforms are very particular in the sense that they‘re hard to wear in any other capacity.
The color is blue, so even if vendors want to sell them as regular pants for women, the color doesn‘t work
well, and the upper garments are even worse, so no one will buy them.
5. I can see why the vendors would be unhappy. How about some of the other goods? If you could tell
us what’s causing their prices to drop?
Sure. As I mentioned earlier, the price of eggs and spring vegetables have also dropped. Most of the
spring vegetables planted last year such as spinach will be edible past April 15th, and people will also
start seeing wild greens growing on hillsides nearby. As a result, the prices for vegetables such as
cabbages and cucumbers, which were extremely expensive in February and March, are starting to
gradually decline.

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But sources say, there are a lot of vendors who run restaurants in the marketplace or individually and they
consume a large portion of vegetables. Also, it will still be a while until full heads of cabbage and
cucumbers hit the markets, so they say prices probably won‘t go down any further.
In Hyesan City in Yangkang Province, cabbage is said to be going for roughly 2,200 KPW per kilogram,
and that‘s a significant 800 KPW dip from the recent price of 3,000 KPW.
6. So these were some of the reasons behind the sliding prices of some goods. How about the price of
eggs?
Winter is when chickens are least likely to lay eggs. I actually used to raise chickens in North Korea, and
when you hit mid-April or so they sometimes lay eggs every day. They start wandering out in the spring
and eating things from nature, so unlike when they‘re given feed at home, they start producing eggs each
day. You can then understand what would happen to the price of eggs.
If more eggs are selling in the markets, naturally, the price of eggs drops. People who come from farming
communities with large quantities of eggs, sell them for very cheap prices. This is because everyone
knows the prices will dip during spring. Also, unlike in the winter, it‘s hard to keep the eggs fresh for a
long time, so vendors are more eager to sell their eggs quickly while they‘re good. That weighs in as
another factor.
7. Does any of this have to do with the stability in rice prices these days?
Yes, that‘s right. Many defectors will tell you that most prices are determined by the cost of rice. When
the price of rice goes up, so will other prices.
Currently, the price of rice in most markets is holding at 4,000 KPW per kilogram. If the price of rice
goes up from here, the fastest to follow will be beer or other types of alcohol, and then potatoes and bean
prices will follow.
If the price of rice remains stable in the market, it will also help maintain levels for other goods, so I hope
things at least stay as they are so they don‘t make things more difficult for people going through the
hungry season of spring (that comes after people consume most of their food stored for the winter).
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=13159&cataId=nk00100
Rice import depends on the results of harvest evaluation
Friday, 08 May 2015, 17:59 WIB
ROL/Casilda Amilah
Rachmat Gobel (Kanan)
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Ministry of Trade Rachmat Gobel affirmed that the decision
for opening the rice import permit will be considered after the results of evaluation of
rice stock are reported. Gobel admitted that he was still waiting
for a report on the evaluation stocks of rice after the harvest of
the Ministry of Agriculture.―So, related with import or not, we
are waiting evaluation results of ricestock condition. Yes, now,

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Mr. Minister of Agriculture has not yet reported it. We should know soon,‖ said Gobel after met
Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta, on Friday, May 8.He explained the import was the last
alternative to fulfil the needs of domestic rice.
He also called the current absorption of rice farmers conducted by Bulog is currently lacking.
Thus, this condition could also affect the high price of rice in the market. Meanwhile, Vice
President Jusuf Kalla affirmed that rice import will do if rice production in domestic could not
suffice the national reserves.―It means, the prices are higher than the government‘s prices so the
national reserves to facing Ramadan are less, then it opens the possibility to be able to add to the
national reserve of imports,‖ explained Kalla.
Nevertheless, the steps of rice import permit will be considered after the calculation of the
rice harvest season is finished, which is around May or June. So the government could calculate
whether rice production could meet the national reserve.―So if after this harvest the
national reserve is still less, we will see this next 1 -2 months. But, the harvest just until May, to
see the results then considered if the national reserves are below 2 million tons. It will be
considered,‖ he added.However, VP affirmed that the best steps to fulfil the needs of domestic
rice are increasing the production. Though, he explained, domestic productions are influenced by
some factors like weather condition and seeds. He continued that extent permitted about opening
of the riceimport opportunity is also taken to anticipate the entry of the holy month of Ramadan.
http://www.republika.co.id/berita/en/national-politics/15/05/08/no12jt-rice-import-depends-on-the-
results-of-harvest-evaluation
Tap for rice imports always open: VP Kalla
Antara | Friday, 8 May 2015 18:56
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The tap for rice imports is always open, especially when we have to
deal with a shortage of the commodity, Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla said. "The tap is always
open, in case our production does not meet demand and it is required to make up for the deficit,"
he stated in his office here on Friday. Citing an example, he pointed out that in case there is
shortage of rice during the Islamic fasting month in June, it is possible that the country will
import rice to meet the requirement. However, the vice president added that the government had
yet to study the agricultural reports collected from the fields. "We will wait and see until after the
end of May because a grand harvest usually lasts until May," he affirmed. After the grand
harvest, we will find out whether there is a shortage in national stock and whether imports will
be needed, Kalla noted.
A researcher from the Trade Policy Development and Study Agency of the Ministry of Trade,
Miftah Farid is of the opinion that rice imports will not be necessary if national production

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increased even minimally by 5 percent from the current total production and domestic absorption
by logistics company Perum Bulog reached 8 percent of the total production hike. "It (stoppage
of imports) will happen when production rises by 5 percent and absorption by Bulog reaches 8
percent," he remarked here on Wednesday. According to Farid, analyses found that when
production increases, imports drop, but to achieve zero imports, production must increase by a
minimum of 5 percent.
This 5 percent hike was calculated based on the total production in 2014, when the yield of dried
unhulled rice reached 70.83 million tons, which was equal to 44.43 million tons of rice. The hike
comes to some 3.54 million tons of unhulled rice, which is 2.22 million tons of rice, Farid said.
Based on these calculations, production in 2015 must reach 78.34 million tons of unhulled rice,
or 46.62 million tons of rice. According to the target set by the Agriculture Ministry, total output
in 2015 is expected to increase by 3.84 million tons, with the production of total unhulled rice
reaching 73.40 million tons, equal to 46.14 million tons of rice. (Reporting by Muhammad Razi
Rahman/Uu.H-YH/INE/R-BSR/F001)
Source : http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/98848/tap-for-rice-imports-always-open-vp-kalla
http://indonesianewsstand.com/news/read/138669/Tap-for-rice-imports-always-open-VP-Kalla
Low paddy price irks Sherpur farmers
Paddy farmers in the district have started harvesting the Boro crop, but its price remains very low
at the growers' level.One maund of Boro paddy is selling at Tk 300 -Tk 420 at the growers' level,
and between Tk 400 - Tk 600 at the local markets in the district, though the production cost this
season is estimated to be around Tk 800.Although the government declared it would begin paddy
procurement from May 1-- offering Tk 32 per kg for rice and Tk 22 per kg for paddy -- it has
failed to create an impact on the paddy price in the district.Dulal Mian, a farmer of Bhatshala
village in Sadar upazila, said he is selling paddy at Tk 400 per maund, whereas the wage for each
of the day labourers who have been hired for harvesting the paddy is Tk 500.
"I've spent about Tk 32,000 for growing paddy on one acre of land, and harvested about 70
maunds of paddy that is selling at Tk 400 per maund. Though the production is good, it is
causing me a huge loss," he said.According to officials at the Department of Agricultural
Extension (DAE), as more lands in the district were brought under Boro cultivation this season
compared to the previous season, the output is also going to exceed the target of 3.55 lakh
tonnes.DAE deputy director Dr Md Abdus Salam said the price of paddy at the growers' level is
low, but is expected to increase with the start of the government's procurement drive in the
district.Farmers, however, expressed their doubt over the prospect of increase in the paddy price
with the initiation of the procurement drive because the government will collect the rice and
paddy from the traders, not from the farmers.
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/low-paddy-price-irks-sherpur-farmers-81036

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Zero import tariff hits rice growers below the belt
5/8/2015
The New Nation (Bangladesh)
Dhaka, May 8 -- The farmers are not getting production cost after a bumper paddy yielding in
Boro season as the zero tariff imported rice hover three times higher than previous years. The
current market price of paddy is between Tk 420 and 470 per maund while the average
production cost was around Tk 800 as per the government's assessment.According to the Food
Directorate, though the price of rice has fallen by 6 per cent in the whole sale market, there is no
impact of it in the retail level. A group of middlemen are making excessive profit from retail
markets, the consumers alleged.
During the last fiscal year, a total of 3.74 lakh tonnes of rice was imported.But in the current
fiscal 12.91 lakh tonnes rice already beenimport till April 20, according data of the Ministry of
Food.Meanwhile, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said that yielding Boro this
season reached all time high due to good weather and decrease of fertilizer price. Around 47.8
lakh hectars of land were brought under Boro cultivation from where an estimated production
target of paddy is about 1.89 crore tonnes, sources in the Department of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) said.
The rice traders are not purchasing paddy for the rice mills as the cost of imported rice is lower
than local rice. Imported rate of rice stood at Tk25 to 30 per kg while local rice at Tk31 to 32. As
a result, about 15 thousand rice mills out of 18 thousand remained shut though the Boro
harvesting period is almost over, said Niroth Chandra Saha, President of Nator Rice Owners
Association.Bangladesh Bank data shows that rice imports have registered a phenomenal
increase, though the government had contemplated riceexports last year because of inadequate
storage space.Bangladesh saw a bumper paddy harvest last year and the export plan was
considered as a means of ensuring fair price to marginal farmers and dealing with the storage
crisis.
The trend of opening Letters of Credit (LCs) to importrice in the first seven months (July to
January) of the current fiscal (2014-2015) was up 1000 per cent compared to the same period in
FY 2013-14.Dr Mahbub Hossain, former Executive Director of BRAC, said the price of fertilizer
decreased by 30 per cent. Besides, favourable weather and increasing irrigation facility the
country reached a new height in rice production.The government should curb rice import to
encourage local paddy grower, he said.A senior official of the Ministry of Food, on condition of
anonymity, told this reporter that there is no plan to halt rice import. But the government is
considering a proposal to impose 10 per cent tariff on rice import.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from The New Nation. For any query with respect
to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor
athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com

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Imported rice by Indians due to expire
A prosecution witness in the case involving two
Indian businessmen and a revenue officer, said
the imported bags of rice in the matter were
released without appropriate payment because
the officer claimed they were due to expire. Mr
Apana Adadzina, Chief Collecting Officer of the
Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority,
said when Kate Kai-Kotey Laryea, the Revenue
Officer was queried, she said ―l released the bags
of rice for them to pay back later‖.Mentouf
Khan, the importer and Kate Kai-Kotey Laryea were in court for various offences.
The prosecution witness told the court that when the information got to his attention, he raised a
demand notice to the accused persons to pay within 30-days.―Out of an amount of GH?
526,000.00, they only paid GH? 50,000.00 and since then all efforts to retrieve the rest has
proved futile,‖ he said.Mr Adadzina said initially, the accused persons were not in agreement
with the 30-days saying it was too short a time and brought their own terms of payment but this
was rejected.
Mentouf was said to have removed 30,074 bags of rice from a customs bonded warehouse,
without payment of the appropriate duties and corrupted a public officer in respect of her duties
by paying her an amount of GH¢500.00 to influence her conduct.Kate was also said to have
abetted Mentouf and one other, Murtaza Khan to take un-entered goods from a customs bonded
warehouse, falsified customs bonded warehouse register and collected various sums of monies
from Mentouf.They both pleaded not guilty to the charges, before the court presided over by Mr
Francis Obiri.Mentouf was granted bail in the sum of GH¢750,000.00 with three sureties, one to
be justified, and one to be a public servant with a net salary of GH¢1,500.00.Kate was also
granted bail in the sum of GH¢20,000.00 with three sureties, one to be justified.The case was
adjourned to May 8.
China must overhaul farm support policy, says think-tank
China must abandon its policy of paying high prices to farmers for grains if it is to create a
sustainable farm sector, said the director of Washington-based think-tank the International Food
Policy Research Institute.By: Dominique Patton, Reuters
A farmer plants paddy on a terrace field in Suichuan county, Jiangxi province May 20, 2014.
REUTERS/Stringer

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BEIJING -- China must abandon its policy of paying high prices to farmers for grains if it is to
create a sustainable farm sector, said the director of Washington-based think-tank the
International Food Policy Research Institute.The world's top producer of wheat and rice, and
second biggest corn grower, buys domestic grain at prices far above the world market for state
stocks.The policy, aimed at supporting farmers and ensuring self-sufficiency in key grains, has
led to a huge financial burden on the country and warehouses overflowing with surplus grain.
Corn stocks are currently estimated at more than 80 percent of annual domestic consumption.
"China is in a trap right now. On the one hand, it purchases agricultural products from farmers at
a very high price, but in meantime it cannot sell to the market [at such high prices] so all the
purchases go into stocks, and that's very costly," said Fan Shenggen, IFPRI director general, in
an interview.Beijing has recently abandoned its stockpiling system for cotton and soybeans,
replacing it with a direct subsidy for farmers based on their output. Fan, whose institute works
closely with Chinese government advisors, said the new system was also "a mistake"."Many
countries use a similar approach but in the long run it is not sustainable," he told Reuters.China
should gradually shift from a subsidy system to offering income support and helping farmers
expand their scale or exit the sector, he said.
Fan said there is growing recognition at high levels that China's farm policy needs to change,
with a new emphasis on achieving security in staple foods, rather than a rigid focus on self-
sufficiency in all major crops.The change in thinking is set to be integrated into China's new
five-year plan for 2016-2020, which is currently being drafted, he said.Fan also warned that
attempts to make Chinese agriculture more environmentally sustainable may be undermined by
the lack of co-ordination between ministries.Increasing grain output in recent years has been at
the cost of the environment, with excessive pumping of groundwater for farms exacerbating
water shortages and overuse of fertilizers causing severe pollution.Fertilizer prices and water
fees will need to increase to remedy such problems, Fan said.
Tags: livestock, crops, agribusiness, updates
http://www.agweek.com/event/article/id/26036/#sthash.8jaCdYma.dpuf
Genetic architecture of variation in heading date among
Asian rice accessions
Heading date, a crucial factor determining regional and seasonal adaptation in rice (Oryza sativa
L.), has been a major selection target in breeding programs. Although considerable progress has
been made in our understanding of the molecular regulation of heading date in rice during last
two decades, the previously isolated genes and identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) cannot
fully explain the natural variation for heading date in diverse rice accessions. Results: To
genetically dissect naturally occurring variation in rice heading date, we collected QTLs in
advanced-backcross populations derived from multiple crosses of the japonica rice accession

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Koshihikari (as a common parental line) with 11 diverse rice accessions (5 indica, 3 aus, and 3
japonica) that originate from various regions of Asia.
QTL analyses of over 14,000 backcrossed individuals revealed 255 QTLs distributed widely
across the rice genome. Among the detected QTLs, 128 QTLs corresponded to genomic
positions of heading date genes identified by previous studies, such as Hd1, Hd6, Hd3a, Ghd7,
DTH8, and RFT1.The other 127 QTLs were detected in different chromosomal regions than
heading date genes. Conclusions: Our results indicate that advanced-backcross progeny allowed
us to detect and confirm QTLs with relatively small additive effects, and the natural variation in
rice heading date could result from combinations of large- and small-effect QTLs. We also found
differences in the genetic architecture of heading date (flowering time) among maize,
Arabidopsis, and rice.
Author: Kiyosumi HoriYasunori NonoueNozomi OnoTaeko ShibayaKaworu EbanaKazuki
MatsubaraEri Ogiso-TanakaTakanari TanabataKazuhiko SugimotoFumio Taguchi-ShiobaraJun-
ichi YonemaruRitsuko MizobuchiYusaku UgaAtsunori FukudaTadamasa UedaShin-ichi
YamamotoUtako
http://7thspace.com/headlines/508240/genetic_architecture_of_variation_in_heading_date_amon
g_asian_rice_accessions.html
Punjab govt issues advisory to farmers on paddy sowing
Niti PTI BotStates AUTHOR: NITI PTI BOT - MAY 7, 2015
Chandigarh, May 7 (PTI) Punjab Government today issued advisory for farmers in the state and
asked them not to go for early paddy sowing before June 15. "A strict instructions in this regard
have been issued to all authority concerned to ensure the strict compliance of advisory with
necessary directions to all field officers across the state," an official spokesman said
here. Punjab government had passed the 'Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act' in 2009
under which for the first time, the date of transplantation of paddy was fixed as June 10 with a
view to saving natural resource of water in the State.
Pertinently, the Punjab Government has advised the farmers of the state not to go early sowing of
paddy before June 15, 2015. Early sowing of paddy will not only put extra pressure on soil but
also would lead to consuming of too much of water as the experts have already predicts to deficit
of rain during this year, he said. He said that in case a farmer sows it before the prescribed
period, he would be liable to pay expenses for uprooting plants incurred by the agriculture
department. He said that the researchers of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) had
proved that if paddy was grown after June 15, it would help in raising the water level.
PTI VJ MKJ
http://www.niticentral.com/2015/05/07/punjab-govt-issues-advisory-to-farmers-on-paddy-sowing-312309.html

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Import of Indian rice affects local production
700 of 850 rice mills in Pabna halt operation
A number of rice mills, like these ones at Joynagar village in Ishwardi upazila under Pabna
district, have remained closed for the last couple of months as demand for the locally produced
rice has fallen due to large-scale import of cheap Indian rice. Photo: Star
Ahmed Humayun Kabir Topu
Commercial husking in the famous
rice producing district sees drastic
fall for the last couple of months
amid large-scale import of cheap
Indian rice. ―Over 700 of the 850
rice mills in the district have already
suspended production due to poor
sale of local rice. More than 10,000
workers have become jobless due to
the situation,‖ said Idris Ali Biswas,
president of Pabna rice millers
association. ―During the first three
months of this year, BNP-led 20 party's non-stop blockade hampered rice production.
Now relief from the blockade fails to make us happy as import of cheap Indian rice continues,‖
he said.Each 50-kg bag of imported Indian rice is selling for Tk 1500 to Tk 1700 while one has
to pay Tk 1750 to 2000 for the same variety of local rice, stakeholders said, adding that at retail
level, imported coarse rice and similar local variety are selling at Tk 28-29 and Tk 35-36 per kg
respectively.―I kept my two mills closed from last February due to the poor sale of local rice.
Still I have to pay Tk 50 thousand per month as rent for two mills.
Besides, I am spending Tk 40 to 50 thousand as labour payment and electric bills. To recover the
loss, I am now using the rice mills for corn processing to sell it as poultry feed,‖ said Anwar
Hossain Nantu, a rice miller of Joynagar village in Ishwardi upazila. The upazila alone has 650
rice mills, over 500 of which are now out of production due to poor demand of local rice, said
Fazlur Rahman Malitha, president of Ishwardi Rice Producers' Association.Rice millers have
appealed to the government to stop importing Indian rice to save commercial rice production
industry in the district.
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/import-indian-rice-affects-local-production-80652
Impeach former Thai officials over rice deals, says NACC
BY EDITOR ON 2015-05-08 THAILAND
Impeach former officials over rice deals, says NACC

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Kris Bhromsuthi
The Nation
Anti-graft agency says the evidence against the trio is overwhelming
BANGKOK: — THE ANTI-GRAFT agency yesterday urged the National Legislative Assembly
to impeach three former government officials under the Pheu Thai administration, saying that
they could not prove the Chinese state enterprises involved in a supposed government-to-
government rice contract represented the central Chinese government.National Anti-Corruption
Commission member Vicha Mahakhun told NLA members that only state enterprises officially
recognised as a delegation representing the Chinese government could engage in a G2G
programme with the Thai government.
The three accused former officials are former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, former
deputy commerce minister Poom Sarapol and the ex-director of the Commerce Ministry‘s
Foreign Trade Department, Manus Soiploy.The two former ministers yesterday attended the
NLA meeting to deliver their closing speeches. Manus did not show up but produced his closing
speech in writing.The NLA is set to vote on whether to impeach the accused today.Vicha alleged
that the Chinese state enterprises in question – Guangdong Stationery & Sporting Goods Import
& Export Corp and the Hainan Grain and Oil Industrial Trading – had not received official
authorisation from the Chinese central government to engage in a G2G deal with the Thai
government.
He alleged that the claim there was a G2G deal was a deception created by the three accused ex-
officials.Vicha alleged that bogus G2G deals were part of a plan that enabled a network of
companies ―network of alliance business firms‖ to make a huge amount of money while doing
severe damage to the country‘s economy and the state budget.He said one warehouse rice
transaction involving China showed no G2G programme with that country but instead stated that
the rice was sold at a ―friendly price‖ to a Thai distributor.He alleged that the distributor
consisted of an alliance of firms belonging to members of the Pheu Thai Party and the
transaction resulted in a huge profit.The bogus G2G programme was approved, administrated
and regulated by the accused ex-officials, he alleged, and as such they should take full
responsibility for it and be impeached and barred from holding public office for five years.
But Boonsong insisted that it was a real programme because both Chinese companies were state
enterprise and as such had officially represented the Chinese government.He said there had been
no public deception and he accused the NACC of refusing to interrogate the two Chinese state
enterprises, which indicated prejudice against him and his political faction.―Everyone wants to
see justice but the NACC is deliberately trying to picture us as corrupt,‖ he said. ―This has
created a lot of embarrassment for me and my family.―Such an accusation indicates bias,
prejudice and resentment towards myself.
―Again, I would like to deny all the accusations and wrongdoings.‖Poom said he still believed
that engaging the two Chinese state enterprises was the best course of action for this country at
the time as high stockpiles of rice were rotting.He said the process was normal practice and had
been conducted for a very long time by the same civil servants who had expertly carried out the
task for many governments.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Impeach-former-officials-over-rice-deals-
says-NACC-30259583.html

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Food & Nutrition Bloggers Inspire 1.4 Million to Think Rice
This Mujadara dish will have you thinking rice at dinner tonight!
ARLINGTON, VA - Today, USA Rice announced the winners of the "Think Rice for National Nutrition
Month" recipe challenge for food and nutrition bloggers. USA Rice launched the contest with Recipe
Redux, a monthly recipe challenge founded by registered dietitians and open to a network of nutrition
enthusiasts who are reinventing the idea of healthy eating with a taste-first approach.Participants were
required to create an original recipe using U.S.-grown rice and feature their recipe in a blog post with
information about why their readers should Think Rice for National Nutrition Month and all year long.
Fifty bloggers participated in the challenge with a combined blog reach of more than 600,000 unique
visitors per month and an additional 870,000 monthly impressions from Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest
posts. "Recipe Redux enabled us to engage with influential food and nutrition bloggers, get them
cooking with U.S. rice, and educate them on important U.S.-grown rice messages that they in turn share
with their readers," said Katie Maher, manager of domestic promotion programs. "We also now own fifty
new, on-trend recipes and with beautiful accompanying photography to add to our database and use
throughout our programs."
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $1,000 American Express gift card and an Aroma rice cooker; and
two Runners-Up will each receive a $250 American Express gift card and an Aroma rice cooker. Below
are the winning recipes:
Grand Prize: Mujadara with Harissa Tomato Sauce, Parsley Pesto & Lemon Tahini Sauce
Runner-Up: Rice Frittata with Caramelized Tomatoes, Asparagus & Smoked Gouda
Runner-Up: Blueberry Rice Milk "Kiribath"
"I wanted to highlight rice's versatility in regards to different cuisines," said Grand Prize winner and
registered dietitian, Rachael Hartley. "It is one of the most widely consumed foods in the world! Think
sushi in Japan, arroz con pollo in South America, risotto in Italy, biryani in India, congee in China, gallo
pinto in Central America, paella in Spain...you get the point...so, I came up with this gussied up version of
mujadara, a traditional Middle Eastern dish of lentils cooked with brown rice, topped with caramelized
onion. It's an incredibly simple dish.
""Selecting just three winners was a really tough decision because all of the entries were so creative and
we were impressed with the representation of rice types included brown, U.S. basmati, U.S. black
japonica, and wild, to name just a few," said Maher. Maher said another value of the contest and
publicity surrounding it is that it helps raise general awareness about U.S.-grown rice and its
versatility."Consumers are always looking for new recipes, and we know from our research that they are
often unaware of authentic ethnic varieties grown right here in the U.S. This contest helps us spread the
word," she added.
Contact: Colleen Klemczewski (703) 236-1446

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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for May 8
Month Price Net Change
May 2015 $9.505 + $0.040
July 2015 $9.740 + $0.045
September 2015 $10.005 + $0.040
November 2015 $10.250 + $0.040
January 2016 $10.495 + $0.040
March 2016 $10.560 + $0.055
May 2016 $10.560 + $0.055
New Market Research Report: Dried Processed Food in
Cameroon
Recently published research from Euromonitor International, "Dried Processed Food in
Cameroon", is now available at Fast Market Research
Rice is undoubtedly the number one food item within many households in Cameroon. An
increasing population coupled with its relatively cheap price are just two of the key reasons why
rice is a very popular food item and why it will likely continue to be one both in the short and
long term. New varieties have also emerged as well like basmati rice from Asia Pacific for
middle-to-high-income consumers.
Euromonitor International's Dried Processed Food in Cameroon report offers a comprehensive
guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data

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2010-2014, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading
companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market
- be they new product developments, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2019 illustrate
how the market is set to change.
Product coverage:Dehydrated Soup, Dessert Mixes, Dried Pasta, Dried Ready Meals, Instant
Noodles, Instant Soup, Plain Noodles, Rice.
Full Report Details at
- http://www.fastmr.com/prod/981622_dried_processed_food_in_cameroon.aspx?afid=301
Data coverage:market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and
distribution data.
Reasons to Get this Report
* Get a detailed picture of the Dried Processed Food market;
* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;
* Understand the competitive environment, the market's major players and leading brands;
* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.
Euromonitor International has over 40 years' experience of publishing market research reports,
business reference books and online information systems. With offices in London, Chicago,
Singapore, Shanghai, Vilnius, Dubai, Cape Town, Santiago, Sydney, Tokyo and Bangalore and a
network of over 800 analysts worldwide, Euromonitor International has a unique capability to
develop reliable information resources to help drive informed strategic planning.
About Fast Market Research
Fast Market Research is a leading distributor of market research and business information.
Representing the world's top research publishers and analysts, we provide quick and easy access
to the best competitive intelligence available. Our unbiased, expert staff is always available to
help you find the right research to fit your requirements and your budget.
For more information about these or related research reports, please visit our website at
http://www.fastmr.com or call us at 1.800.844.8156 (1.413.485.7001 Int'l)
You may also be interested in these related reports:
Buffalo meat exports exceed Basmati shipments in FY15
The exports of buffalo meat from the country have reached an all-time high and surpassed the
Basmati rice shipments...
By: Sandip Das | New Delhi | May 7, 2015 11:34 pm
Gold weakens on low demand; Silver gains on fresh buying

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Poor grain quality forces FCI to ditch storage policy
Govt cotton stock sales at 2-year high
The exports of buffalo meat from
the country have reached an all-
time high and surpassed the
Basmati rice shipments in the last
fiscal, as per provisional
commerce ministry data.The
buffalo meat exports grew by
more than 10% to R29,282 crore
in 2014-15, against the Basmati
rice shipments of R27, 598 crore,
which declined more than 5%
from the previous year.Overall
agricultural commodities exports
from the Agricultural and
Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority (Apeda) basket declined marginally by
4% to R1,30,458 crore during the last fiscal. However, the exports of non-Basmati rice has seen
a sharp increase of more than 14% to R20,336 crore in last fiscal against the shipment of Rs
17,795 crore achieved in 2013-14. This has pushed the rice shipment from the country to
R47,934 crore in 2014-15 from R47,086 crore achieved in the previous year.
Key-drivers
Sources told FE that decline in Basmati exports, mainly attributed to Iran imposing ban on rice
import from India, has been largely compensated by sharp rise in Buffalo meat
shipment.However, there has been a sharp fall in realisation from guargum shipments to the US
in the last fiscal. The guargum shipment, mostly used by the US-based oil exploration company,
has declined sharply by close to 20% to R9,479 crore in 2014 – 15 against R11,735 crore
shipment achieved in the previous year.
Officials said that concerted efforts to eliminate diseases such as rinderpest and foot and mouth
disease among buffalo population have borne fruit with a sharp increase in exports of meat
products from India in the last couple of years.Countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt,
Thailand and Saudi Arabia are the key export destinations for the buffalo meat products.The
shipments of fresh fruits and vegetables have seen a decline of more than 14% to R7,759 crore in
2014-15 from R9,030 crore reported in the previous year. The exports of other commodities
which witnessed increase include poultry products, groundnuts and cocoa products.

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The commodities like wheat, pulses and dairy products saw a sharp fall in the last fiscal.Apeda
monitors shipment of 22 commodities such as rice, wheat, buffalo meat, fruits and vegetables,
pulses and other meat products.The authority has identified 20- odd clusters located across the
country for sustaining growth in the country‘s food products‘ exports in the future.These clusters
include Basmati rice (Haryana & Punjab), buffalo meat (western Uttar Pradesh), grape and grape
wine (Nasik region, Maharashtra), pomegranate (Satara and Pune regions of Maharashtra),
dehydrated onions and garlic (Gujarat), poultry or egg (Namakkal) and mango pulp (Uttar
Pradesh and Maharashtra).
Rice export title still proves elusive
 8 May 2015 at 03:30 1,350
 NEWSPAPER SECTION: BUSINESS | WRITER: PHUSADEE ARUNMAS
Workers load rice on a truck in Ratchaburi province in June 2014. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Thailand is unlikely to regain its crown as the world's largest rice exporter this year due to the
slower-than-expected global economic recovery and a dearth of positive
factors.Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said
Thailand was expected to ship only 8.5 million tonnes this year, well below the 10-11 million
tonnes projected by the Commerce Ministry."From the private sector's perspective, barring a
serious outbreak of drought in India or China, we don't anticipate a situation that could drive rice

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exports to leapfrogging growth," he said.In the first four months of this year, Thailand managed
to export 2.4 million tonnes, a rise of 4% year-on-year.
But Mr Chookiat said rice shipments were expected to be inactive overall, particularly in the
second and third quarters, due to the persistent global economic slowdown and lowered
competitiveness of Thai rice.Thai rice is now quoted at US$390-395 a tonne, while Indian grains
stand at $360-365 a tonne and Vietnamese at $355-360.Thailand lost its No.1 rice exporter status
to India in 2012, while Vietnam rose to second place.Despite a late surge by Thailand, India held
onto the title last year, selling 11.3 million tonnes globally compared with 10.8 million tonnes for
Thailand."Thailand's rice shipments should experience difficulty from now on, given the low
demand and high competition," Mr Chookiat said.
"India is expected to retain the title again this year, as Vietnam itself is having trouble with its
cross-border trade with China."Chinese authorities have released more state rice stocks to local
traders for domestic sale and tightened controls on unofficial rice imports from Vietnam through
border checkpoints."As a result of these Chinese controls, Vietnam was able to export only 1.4
million tonnes in the first four months, a steep decline of 38% year-on-year.Mr Chookiat said
pressure from the government's massive rice stocks would also act to keep Thai rice prices down.
Trend watch: spice up your life?
Daniel Woolfson , 08-May-2015
Jerk chicken may be the public face of Caribbean food, but dig past it and you’ll find a
diverse cooking style steeped in tradition… and smothered in spice.
Spice is on the rise. More and more
customers are willing to push their
culinary boundaries these days, searching
for the next great taste. And whilst
Caribbean cooking has been moderately
popular in Britain already, it‘s a culinary
goldmine when it comes to unique and
delectable recipes.Jerk chicken may be the
public face of Caribbean food, but dig past
it and you‘ll find a diverse cooking style
steeped in tradition… and smothered in spice.
Top tips
―Whilst Caribbean people like to season their food for a full flavour, they do not use fat and salt
for this,‖ says Trinidadian chef Sabrina Zeif, founder of Kitchen Thyme UK. ―They achieve

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great taste through adding spices and herbs.According to Zeif, some lesser known standout
dishes include plantain with orange rum sauce; sliced plantain baked with syrup made from
brown sugar, rum and orange rind then sprinkled with cinnamon, callaloo soup; containing crab
or pig tail, okra, callaloo bush and coconut milk and geera pork; which is marinated in green
seasoning and cooked with extra cumin and pepper.
She says: ―For great tasting Caribbean dishes my biggest advice is: marinate and season meats
before cooking –the longer the marinade time the better the taste.―I also encourage people not to
be afraid of combining spices liberally. Everything must be fresh and in copious quantities.
Remember, chilli peppers are added for flavour and not always hear. Finally, I would advise
people to not hold back on flavour and when in doubt, add a splash of rum.‖
Barbecues
During warmer months, the Scott Arms, Kingston, near Dorset, puts on outdoor Jamaican
barbecue with its own dedicated menu.Some of the dishes on offer include roast whole bream
with spring onion and thyme, Jamaican curry mutton, Ital vegetable curry with pumpkin, sweet
potatoes, celery and greens and ackee and saltfish with plantain, micro herbs and lime oil.When
the weather isn‘t good enough to barbecue, the venue hosts regular Jamaican food evenings for
customers.
Caribbean nights
At the Wildmoor Oak, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, head chef Lorenzo Richards puts on a
Caribbean night the last Thursday every month.The nights run from 6pm to midnight and feature
a two course, buffet-style menu, limbo competitions and dancing with Caribbean music.The site
also offers a daily Caribbean menu which includes dishes such as pan fried salmon cooked down
in Caribbean sauce with rice and peas, jerk chicken, pork or halloumi on a bed of lightly spiced
onions and peppers and curried goat with basmati rice, salad and hardo bread.
Back and forth: A workshop participant tries their hand at whisking green tea.
Californian flavor conference explores green tea’s versatility
BY MELINDA JOE
MAY 8, 2015
Making the perfect cup of matcha — the frothy green tea served during Japanese tea ceremonies
— requires skill. The trick is to use a bamboo whisk to whip the brew swiftly with a smooth
back-and-forth motion of the wrist.―Work quickly and keep whisking until the tea reaches the
consistency of a meringue,‖ instructed master green tea blender Ryozo Taniguchi, speaking at a

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Japanese tea workshop that I
moderated recently at the
Culinary Institute of America in
California‘s Napa Valley. The
session was part of the cooking
school‘s annual Worlds of Flavor
conference that took place in late
April and was focused on Asian
cuisine.Taniguchi presented four
kinds of tea —
matcha, genmaicha (roasted
brown rice tea), cold-
brewed sencha (green tea) and ice-brewed tencha (a premium variety of green tea) — alongside
desserts prepared by Tokyo chefs Shinobu Namae and Zaiyu Hasegawa.―Are we looking for soft
peaks or hard peaks?‖ asked a bespectacled woman in the front row.Taniguchi thought for a
moment before answering, ―When you see white foam on the surface, you can stop.
‖The whirring sound of whisking filled the room as the 34 participants concentrated on preparing
their own matcha in large ceramic tea bowls. After a few seconds, Taniguchi invited the
audience to sample the tea, which was paired with a chocolate bonbon made with blue cheese
and cocoa powder from Shinobu Namae. The astringency of the green tea matched the bitterness
of the chocolate and cut through the savory richness of the blue cheese.Green tea, the chef
explained, could accompany Western-style dishes as well as Japanese cuisine.―There are no right
or wrong answers when it comes to tea pairing,‖ Hasegawa said, as he presented a dessert of
simmered kuromame (black soybeans) flavored with whisky, which was served with the
refreshing sencha.
The final pairing combined the umami-dense tencha with an herb-scented mochi(pounded rice)
cake made with kuzu (arrowroot) and wrapped in a bamboo leaf. In contrast to the French-
accented sweets prepared by Namae, Hasegawa had chosen to make traditional Japanese
confections with a modern twist in order to demonstrate green tea‘s versatility.―We want to
introduce the possibilities of various kinds of Japanese tea,‖ said Takeshi Niinami, president of
beverage giant Suntory Holdings, Ltd., which sponsored the tea workshop and several other
activities at the Worlds of Flavor event.

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Although the company currently has no plans to bring new tea products into the North American
market, Niinami said that Suntory hopes to expand in the future, musing that the drinks group
could one day develop a line of Japanese teas to suit local tastes. The main reason for
participating in the event, he said, was to deepen the understanding of Japanese food culture
abroad.At the end of the green tea workshop, attendants were encouraged to take home their
bamboo whisks, along with notes on how to steep the different varieties of tea.―I‘m totally going
to use this,‖ one guest declared, stopping to greet tea master Taniguchi.―Back and forth, not
clockwise, right?‖ he asked, flicking his wrist in the air.Taniguchi just gave a nod and smiled.
Use of research enhances crop intensification - survey
Publish Date: May 08, 2015
By Julius Odeke
A socio-economic survey carried by Action for Sustainable Intensification for Cropping
Systems in Uganda (PASIC) has shown that there is need for Uganda's farmers to use research so
as to enhance crop intensification so as to be able to feed the growing population.The researchers
who carried out the survey have therefore urged farmers and policy makers to use research work
for evidence purposes in order to enhance crop intensification in the country.Speaking in his
office at Makerere University, the senior researcher at the Economic Policy Research Centre
(EPRC), Dr Swaibu Mbowa says, research helps experts to identify constraints that face
individual farmers in their plot, at household levels, community, market, and at institutional
policy levels.
He said PASIC, a project that operates in our country is here to generate evidence-based
researches that will provide evidence of key characteristics and opportunities on crop
intensification in Uganda, adding that, "PASIC works hand in hand with various partners like the
Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), EPRC, International Institute
for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).The
PASIC project co-coordinator, Dr Pamela Pali says, "One of the main outcome indicators for
crop intensification is productivity, defined as amount of the crop harvested per unit of land.In
our case, we will look at the amount of kilograms farmers report to have harvested per acre.
Where we need to disaggregate along two factors:
Crop, which has two levels (rice and potatoes) and season, which also has two levels (first and
second).

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PASIC project was carried out a socio-economic survey in two regions, the South Western
Highlands (Kabale, Kisoro and Kanungu) a zone for Irish potato production, and the Kyoga
plains (Tororo, Bugiri and Butaleja) for rice production."In this study, we sought to determine
the drivers of crop intensification, whether intensification improves production and productivity,
and whether intensification affects well-being among the rice and Irish potato farmers," added Dr
Pali.She said data collection was conducted using direct structured interviews with the farmers.A
total of 902 farmers participated in this surveys. Purposive sampling strategy of including only
potatoes and rice farmers was used initially after which and a random sample of 405 households
in the Eastern region and 497 households in the Western region was generated.In total, 172, 103,
and 130 farmers participated in the survey from Tororo, Butaleja, and Bugiri districts
respectively.
From South Western Uganda, 257, 157 and 83 farmers from Kabale, Kisoro and Kanungu
districts participated in the survey. In total, 71 enumeration areas were sampled.In a report, Crop
Intensification in Rice and Potato Farming in Uganda:
Description of the Socio- Economic Data that was carried in December 2014, seen by a local
newspaper jointly produced by PASIC, EPRC, MAAIF, IITA, and International Food Policy
Research Institute (IFPRI) showed that in the West, parcels are relatively small, on average 0.6
acres, while they are on average 1.3 acres and this clearly already suggests much more land
fragmentation in the West.While for rice, land is often rented-in. This suggests a higher degree of
commercialization in the rice growing sector however most farmers do not have a written
statement of their use rights.The report adds that, "Almost 50 percent of parcels in the East have
used right restrictions, as opposed to only 16 percent of the parcels reported by potato farmers.
There is high market participation for both potatoes and rice, where 71 % of households report
selling potato produce and 95 % of households report rice sales."In this, most of the sales,
however, occur immediately after the harvest which is the worst possible time to obtain
favorable prices for produce. This finding presents substantial scope for policy action.Dr Mbowa
said, EPRC contributes a lot on policy studies, value chain analysis and development in the
potato and rice sector by providing knowledge of the policy environment in the agricultural
sector and in building capacity at MAAIF.
Meanwhile, at the same time, he added that the research centre expanding its ability to undertake
rigorous evaluation of a number of interventions that involve all facets of the research work, but
particularly on Socio-economic studies of Value chain studies, Institutional studies, Policy
process studies, with the aim that its researchers will be leading many of these research activities
by the end of the project."Our farmers need to know that they should not stop at producing these
crops alone but should also ensure that they can add value addition to what they produce. This is
because they lose a lot in terms of finances once they don't add value addition to their products
as consumers buy cheaply," Dr Mbowa said, adding that, "The output of these research works are
made available to farmers so as to enhance their knowledge on crop production."

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"The research that we collect helps to play an important role in the collective learning activities,
being an active participant, while also ensuring that the evidence brought into these learning
efforts is used in an appropriate manner," he added.Dr Mbowa said the background information
on policy will be used to study and analyze policies that hinder crop intensification as partners
involved that include; MAAIF will formulate policies after enabling evidence has been generated
to foster collective learning.
The value chain has gone into many phases such as; it has built a required capacity at the
Ministry, shared information with other partners, and it has had a capacity building training in
February.In our value chain analysis, it has developed tools for data collection, pretested them,
had an internal review of the tools from partners, finalized with the tools, and we are at the
moment having an on-going training of enumerators on strengthening commodity value chain
whereby in May, enumerators will be in the field to carry out research analysis in the two zones
that include; eastern and western zones that comprise six districts in total.
The interesting part about the study is that it started with IFPRI doing social economic studies
then IITA doing the agronomic studies and now EPRC will be doing the community survey
inquiring from a number of farmers on behalf of the bigger part of the community.Dr Mbowa
says Uganda's population is growing and yet the demand of food too, is increasing, adding that
"The only way out for feeding the growing population is through crop intensification since land
is limited and does not increase or expand,". he added.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/668082-use-of-research-enhances-crop-intensification-
survey.html

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