s

1. Rice Seeds Not Exempt from 17%
Sales Tax: FBR Clarifies to NA
Committee
By Faiz Paracha | Published Mar 17, 2022 | 4:07 pm
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FBR has clarified to the National Assembly Standing Committee of Defence
Production that rice seeds are not exempt from 17 percent sales tax. The exemption
was removed after the introduction of Supplementary Finance Bill 2022 on 16 January
2022.
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3. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had imposed a standard rate of 17 percent sales
tax on all kinds of seeds, including rice, on 16 January 2022.
Previously, The FBR has been directed by the Chairman Committee, Chaudhary
Iftikhar Nazir, to clarify whether rice seed is exempt from sales tax under Sr. No. 19
of Table 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
A L S O R E A D
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Oil
The clarification received at the Parliament House revealed that rice seed had been
removed from sales tax exemptions after the passage of the Finance
(Supplementary) Act, 2022.
Apropos, it was apprised that Sr. No. 19 of Table 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990 has
been substituted through the Finance (Supplementary) Act, 2022. Resultantly, rice seed, like other
seeds, is no longer exempt from sales tax.
A L S O R E A D
Indian Traders Are Selling Pakistani Rice Worldwide With Made in India Tag
In light of these details and under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) Heading Number 1006.1010,
the rice seed is not exempt from sales tax under Serial Number 19 of Table-1 of the Sixth
Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990, as per the FBR’s clarification.
https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/17/rice-seeds-not-exempt-from-17-sales-tax-fbr-clarifies-to-na-
committee/
Rice Seeds Not Exempt from 17% Sales Tax: FBR Clarifies to NA
Committee

4. FBR has clarified to the National Assembly Standing Committee of Defence Production that rice seeds are not
exempt from 17 percent sales tax. The exemption was removed after the introduction of Supplementary
Finance Bill 2022 on 16 January 2022. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had imposed a standard rate of 17
percent sales tax on all kinds of seeds, including rice, on 16 January 2022. Previously, The FBR has been
directed by the Chairman Committee, Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, to clarify whether rice seed is exempt from
sales tax under Sr. No. 19 of Table 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
The clarification received at the Parliament House revealed that rice seed had been removed from sales tax
exemptions after the passage of the Finance (Supplementary) Act, 2022.
Apropos, it was apprised that Sr. No. 19 of Table 1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990 has been
substituted through the Finance (Supplementary) Act, 2022. Resultantly, rice seed, like other seeds, is no
longer exempt from sales tax.

5. In light of these details and under Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) Heading Number 1006.1010, the rice seed is
not exempt from sales tax under Serial Number 19 of Table-1 of the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990,
as per the FBR’s clarification.
Author Name: https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/17/rice-seeds-not-exempt-from-17-sales-tax-fbr-clarifies-to-
na-committee/
Date: 17-Mar-2022
Hog, rice industries say
lowered tariffs produced no
benefits, cut gov’t revenue
March 17, 2022 | 8:29 pm

6. PHILSTAR
PORK PRODUCERS and rice farmers said lower tariffs for pork and rice failed to benefit
consumers and producers, with retail prices remaining high.
“What we have heard from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
is that lowering the tariff will benefit consumers. What we observed is that consumers
didn’t benefit from it at all. There really are no savings. Our request is to help protect
local producers. Imported manufactured goods competing with locally produced goods
should, by law, face higher tariffs,” National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. President
Chester Warren Y. Tan said at a virtual hearing called by the Tariff Commission.
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The government sought to liberalize imports of these commodities via lower tariffs in
response to an inflation crisis in 2021.
In May 2021, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 134 and
135, lowering the tariffs on pork and rice imports from non-ASEAN countries from 50%
to 35%.
A previous inflation crisis in 2018 led to the initial liberalization of the rice market, via
the passage of the Rice Tariffication Law, or Republic Act 11203, the next year.

7. Mr. Tan said the hog sector would prefer to revert to the original tariff scheme.
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura Chairman Rosendo O. So said that the current
tariff arrangement has caused the government to forego revenue it would have earned
under the old tariff scheme.
“If the tariff of pork was not lower, the government should have collected around P22
billion on the imports of 2021. Because of the lowering of tariffs, we only collected
around P10 billion. The government lost around P12 billion… Lowering tariffs did not
help improve the retail price,” he added.
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“Hog farmers… had to stop repopulation efforts (because of the imports). We are
already telling the government, if there are many imports incoming, you will lose hog
raisers,” he added.
The hog industry is still seeking to bounce back from the African Swine Fever outbreak,
which thinned the Philippine herd and caused many growers to exit the business.
Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) National Manager Raul Q. Montemayor said that the
reduction in tariffs on rice imports from non-ASEAN countries had no impact on overall
prices and also resulted in foregone tariff revenue that could have been used to help
rice farmers.
“There was no increase in rice supply from non-ASEAN sources despite cost advantages
of some non-ASEAN exporters. There was a large number of supplier countries, but
volumes were negligible,” he said.
“We hope the tariff outside ASEAN be made higher… Imports are not the solution, local
produce is more dependable if only the government supported it,” Mr. So added.
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In a statement, the FFF said that imports from non-ASEAN sources amounted to only
1.78% of total imports in 2021, down from 2.36% in the previous year, even though
rice from India and Pakistan are competitive against their ASEAN counterparts.
“At the same time, importers opted to bring in expensive grades of rice instead of the
regular rice commonly purchased by poor consumers. As what happened with the Rice
Tariffication Law or RTL, the benefits of lower tariffs were captured either by importers
or rich consumers,” the FFF added.
Mr. Montemayor urged the government to return the tariff to 50% and focus efforts on
supporting farmers.

8. “We should encourage local production and incentivize farmers through input support
and assurance of stable prices. We should also intensify the accumulation of buffer
stocks,” he added.
NEDA told the commission that lower tariffs were intended to increase supply and bring
down prices.
“There are several objectives that went into this. One is to increase supply, which we
achieved. We really expected to bring down prices, but true enough, it did not happen.
But what did happen, which is very crucial, is the stabilization of prices. If we did not
have this additional supply, we may have had rocketing prices, in those periods where
production was still not coming out. The inflation rate of meat has really come down,”
NEDA Undersecretary Mercedita A. Sombilla said.
“When we are able to contain the rise of inflation, that affects the purchasing power of
consumers, and that alone helps them. We shouldn’t say that consumers did not benefit
from this. They probably did not benefit much from lowering meat prices, but they
benefitted from preventing inflation rates going up,” she added.
The Tariff Commission is hearing a proposal to extend the effectivity of the EO beyond
its scheduled expiry on May 15, 2022. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
https://www.bworldonline.com/hog-rice-industries-say-lowered-tariffs-produced-no-benefits-cut-govt-
revenue/
Bukidnon farmers to get rice processing system
FARMERS in Maramag, Bukidnon are expected to benefit from the P60-million rice processing system to be
established by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) and local
government units (LGUs) in the province. In a statement, PhilMech said it has signed a memorandum of
agreement (MoA) with the local government of Maramag, Bukidnon, Central Mindanao University (CMU) and
the National Food Authority (NFA) for the establishment and operation of a rice processing system (RPS)
under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Mechanization Program. The RPS will be equipped
with one unit of multistage rice mill and two units of recirculating dryers worth a total of P60 million. This is
the first MoA executed for the distribution of drying and milling facilities under the RCEF-Mechanization
program. "The provision of the RPS for farmers of Maramag, Bukidnon represents the next level of
intervention of the RCEF-Mechanization Program because it can help address the issue of lack of accessible
drying and milling facilities for small farmers," PhilMech said. The lack of mechanical drying facilities by
farmers forces them to sell the palay (unmilled rice) at lower prices. "The milling facilities will also allow
farmers to mill their palay and market these directly to consumers or wholesalers, allowing them to earn
more," PhilMech added. Meanwhile, PhilMech encouraged LGUs or progressive farmers' cooperatives and

9. associations to build warehouses as counterparts for the provision of free drying and milling facilities by
PHilMech under the RCEF-Mechanization program. Under Republic Act 11203, or the "Rice Tariffication Law"
that created the RCEF, funds cannot be allocated for the provision of land and warehouses. For its part, CMU
will manage and operate the facilities while the NFA has an existing area, facilities and structure within the
university's property in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon of which a portion will be used to host the RPS.
Author Name: https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/18/business/top-business/bukidnon-farmers-to-get-
rice-processing-system/1836647
Date: 18-Mar-2022
Customs Seize Rice-Laden Dangote Truck, Other Contraband Worth N373m In Ogun, Lagos
METRO
By Tola Adenubi - Lagos On Mar 17, 2022
Share
The Comptroller General of Customs Strike Force, Team A unit on Thursday revealed that it’s officers
seized a Dangote truck loaded with 250 bags of banned imported rice and other items worth
N373,629,700 within four weeks at different locations in Ogun and Lagos States.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos on Thursday, Controller of the CGC Strike Force Team A, Deputy
Comptroller Mohammed Sani Yusuf explained that amongst the seized items include three 20ft
containers of Timber, 1000 bags of 50kg rice, 3,143 pieces of used tyres, 320 bale’s of used clothing, 44
sacks of Donkey hides, and 137.3kg of Indian Hemp.
According to Controller Yusuf, “I am happy to state that within a period of four weeks, the reconstituted
Strike Force Team ‘A’ has collected the sum of N648,300,986.00 as revenue through demand notices. It
also made seizures worth a total duty paid value (DPV) of N373,629,700.
“I want to reiterate, very sternly that we don’t believe in settling down before executing our task in a
sensitive assignment as this. Smugglers who thought they could take advantage of the recent changes to
carry out their unlawful trade were disappointed.

10. “it is pertinent for me to advise importers, licensed customs agents and freight forwarders to imbibe and
always operate on good business etiquette by making sincere declarations all the time. With us on the
ground, there will be no hiding place for those wishing to cut corners. They should always acquaint
themselves and be guided by policies of the Federal Government and be abreast with the import and
export prohibition lists. We will not take ignorance as an excuse under any guise.
“We are working 24 hours from day one and they have us to contend with any time they dare to carry
out their illicit activities either at night or in the day. | am happy to declare that our operatives are
relentless and uncompromising as far as this task is concerned.
“This is just the beginning of heated anti-smuggling action which we have embarked upon in the entire
South West area of the country. We are ready to run smugglers out of town with the full support and
encouragement of our CGC, Col Hameed Ibrahim Ali, Rtd. This task is aimed at protecting our national
economy and preventing dangerous importation as well as exportation that contradicts the law.
“Our patrolling and interdiction capacity is recharged for round the clock operation against smugglers
and anyone attempting to circumvent the due process of import and export.”
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top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Customs seize rice-laden Dangote truck Customs
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11. https://tribuneonlineng.com/customs-seize-rice-laden-dangote-truck-other-contraband-worth-n373m-
in-ogun-lagos/
POSTED IN: RICE NEWS > Current News > 2022
Ancient El Niño behavior reveals limits to future climate projections
Analysis of simulations and 9,000 years of history shows need
for further research
By Constantino Panagopulos
Special to Rice News
The climate pattern El Niño varies so dramatically on its own accord, scientists will have a hard
time detecting whether it gets stronger because of global warming, according to a study by
climate scientists at Rice, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Colorado
Boulder.
A map
showing areas where sea surface temperatures were higher than normal (red) and lower than normal
(blue) during the strongest El Niño on record in 2016. The large red “tongue” extending west from South
America is part of the characteristic pattern of El Niño-associated warming. (Courtesy National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration)
Trying to get a clearer picture of how climate change may impact El Niño in the future, the
researchers analyzed 9,000 years of Earth’s history, drew on climate data contained in ancient
corals and ran climate simulations on a UT supercomputer. Their results were published in
Science Advances .

12. “Because the El Niño Southern oscillation has such a profound impact on weather and climate,
figuring out whether or not global warming is going to be a big enough knock to change it is
going to be a really critical question for the future,” said Rice co-author Sylvia Dee, an assistant
professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences. “I’m hopeful that this will really be a
call to action for the community.”
Sylvia Dee (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, a climate phenomenon that starts
in the Pacific Ocean sets the stage every few years for weather patterns worldwide. Strong El
Niño events, like those in 1997 and 2015 that brought wildfires to the rainforests of Borneo and
caused widespread bleaching to the world’s coral reefs, come around about once a decade.
Computer models, however, don’t offer a clear answer to the question of whether El Niño events
will become weaker or stronger as the world warms due to climate change.
“Much of the world’s temperature and rainfall is influenced by what happens in the tropical
Pacific Ocean,” said study lead author Allison Lawman, who began the research as a graduate
student at UT’s Jackson School of Geosciences and continued it during a 16-month postdoctoral
fellowship in Dee’s lab.
“The difference in rainfall between greater or fewer strong El Niño events is going to be a
critical question for infrastructure and resource planners.” said Lawman, now a postdoctoral
researcher at CU Boulder.
To gauge whether a computer model accurately simulates Earth’s future climate, researchers can
have the model simulate a period in Earth’s past and compare the model’s output with the

13. physical record of Earth’s climate from that period. One source of physical evidence of Earth’s
paleoclimate is coral, whose geochemical properties depend on ocean temperature.
Allison
Lawman holding a piece of coral that is more than 5,000 years old in 2019 while a graduate student at
the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson School of Geosciences. As they grow, corals store ocean
temperatures in the chemistry of their bones, which scientists can analyze to recreate a thermometer of
past ocean temperatures. (Courtesy of the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics)
Lawman, Dee and their collaborators used the Lonestar5 supercomputer at UT’s Texas
Advanced Computing Center to run a series of climate simulations of a period in Earth's history
before humans began influencing climate and the main source of climate change came from a tilt
in Earth’s orbit. They verified findings from the simulations using a coral emulator, software
Lawman had previously developed to improve the accuracy of model comparisons with climate
records from ancient corals.
The researchers found that although the occurrence of strong El Niño events intensified over
time, the change was small compared to El Niño’s highly variable nature.
“It’s like trying to listen to soft music next to a jackhammer,” said study coauthor Jud Partin, a
research scientist at UT’s Institute for Geophysics.
Dee, Lawman and the study’s other authors call for further investigations into even earlier times
in Earth’s history, like the last ice age, to see how El Niño responded to more intense changes in
climate forces.

14. “Scientists need to keep pushing the limits of models and look at geological intervals deeper in
time that could offer clues on how sensitive El Niño is to changes in climate,” said co-author
Pedro DiNezio, an associate professor at CU Boulder. “Because if there’s another big El Niño
it’s going to be very hard to attribute it to a warming climate or to El Niño’s own internal
variations.”
The research, including much of Lawman’s doctoral studies, was funded by the National Science
Foundation. Project partners included Rice and the University of Arizona.
—Constantino Panagopulos is a science writer at the University of Texas at Austin’s Jackson
School of Geosciences
https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/ancient-el-nino-behavior-reveals-limits-future-climate-projections
Utility stores jack up rice, basin prices ahead of Ramazan
ISLAMABAD – Prices of basin and rice, the two commodities most used in Ramazan, have been increased
massively at the utility stores as the holy month of fast is set to begin in early April. The price of basin has
been jacked up by Rs30 to Rs190 per kilogram, according to a notification issued by the Utility Stores

15. Corporation. The price of rice has been increased by Rs25 per kg. The new price will come into effect
immediately, said the notification.
Author Name: https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/18-Mar-2022/utility-stores-jack-up-rice-basin-prices-ahead-
of-ramazan
Date: 18-Mar-2022
Agric Minister’s comments ‘outright disrespect to living
experiences’ of farmers, Ghanaians – Group
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Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie
Akoto
My wife has not told me that food prices have increased, Agric Minister
Agric groups ‘appalled and disappointed’ by Afriyie Akoto’s stance on sector
Approach of the sector minister – a complete disregard for real living experiences, Agric
Associations
Some agriculture associations and stakeholder groups have descended on the Agric Minister, Dr. Owusu
Afriyie Akoto, for some comments he made concerning happenings in the sector.

16. The associations, Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana
(CAG), the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Rice Millers Association of Ghana (RMAG),
and Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG) said they were appalled and disappointed by the Minister’s disregard
for data on the state of the agriculture sector.
The Minister during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, stated that
the economy was still in good standing with the implementation of policies such as the Planting for Food
and Jobs.
According to the Ghana Statistical Service’s February inflation data, food inflation in Ghana has reached
an all-time high of 17.40 percent.
“If this is not a reflection of the double whammy of escalating prices and weak food supplies, which
undermine food security, then we are not sure what is.”
“The Minister continues to live in the thinking that all things are rosy in the sector when the reality is that
we are saddled with the unavailability of food coupled with high food prices,” the groups noted.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie stated that an increase in prices of food and other commodities was a global issue that
was not peculiar to Ghana alone.
The groups further stated their displeasure for the government’s refusal to acknowledge Ghana’s
struggles with food security, with the 2021 Global Food Index ranking Ghana 82nd, which is a drop from
76th in 2016.
“In fact, forecast by analysts and economists suggest that the situation will get worse in the coming
months due to existing weaknesses in our systems as well as global pressures.”
“At the minimum, such reports should be seen as feedback to enable government and the Ministry of
Food and Agriculture to examine their policy toolkits to address the underlying risks in a collaborative
manner,” they added.
Read the full statement below:
Related Articles:
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17. https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Agric-Minister-s-comments-outright-
disrespect-to-living-experiences-of-farmers-Ghanaians-Group-1492715
Tailwater recovery system could aid in row rice water
conservation
One major problem farmers have battled for years is the lack of water. It’s becoming harder and harder to
find water for irrigation as the climate changes and the demand for crops grows along with the global
population. Half the country’s rice is grown in Arkansas, and in Northeast Arkansas where rice is grown, the
water table cannot sustain the amount of use into the future, according to a report by The 2020 Arkansas
Groundwater Protection and Management Report. Based on 2015 water use data, less than half of the
amount of water drawn from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer – 44.2% – is sustainable. Users of
the aquifer pulled about 7.6 billion gallons per day out in 2015. Likewise, only about half, 55% of the
Sparta/Memphis aquifer withdrawal rate of 160 million gallons per day is sustainable, the report adds. One
tactic producers are trying to maximize is the development of farming practices that use less water. Arkansas
Agricultural Experiment Station researchers can now grow rice with about half the irrigation water used in
levee rice systems. Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer for the experiment
station, has patented a tailwater recovery system for furrow-irrigated rice, also known as “row rice,” after
nearly a decade of research at the Division of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Extension Center near
Stuttgart. Row rice irrigation is challenging because it requires more frequent cycles than other row crops

18. and timing is more critical because rice has a shallower root system, Henry said. “We’re trying to make row
rice easier to manage. This system does that,” Henry said. “A continuous-flow system returns the water to
the top of the field constantly, ensuring water is always available and simplifying irrigation management.”
The efficiency is high because the system captures the tailwater and returns it to the top. The irrigation water
doesn’t leave the field like a conventional row rice field. Henry’s novel tailwater recovery system makes
furrow-irrigated rice competitive in water conservation with a zero-grade flooded field. Growing rice in zero-
grade fields is more restrictive because it requires land with no elevation change. Zero-grade fields also
present challenges in growing rotation crops. According to the B.R. Wells Arkansas Rice Research Studies
2020 publication, most of the state’s rice is grown in flooded fields through a method known as Multiple Inlet
Rice Irrigation (MIRI) or conventional levee and gate systems. Traditional flooding, still the dominant rice
production method, uses an average of 30 acre-inches of irrigation water a season. Henry’s novel tailwater
recovery system can produce as much rice with less than 19 acre-inches of irrigation. An acre-inch is
equivalent to one inch of water depth over an acre of land or 27,154 gallons per acre. Throughout his
research since 2013, Henry said he has not used over 19 acre-inches of irrigation water with the tailwater
recovery system. He has used as little as 12 acre-inches. Furrow-irrigated rice has gained momentum over the
past seven years. In 2015, less than 1% of Arkansas rice land used furrow irrigation. By 2019, it had grown to
10.5% and in 2020 it was about 17%, according to Jarrod Hardke, rice extension agronomist with the Division
of Agriculture. Henry said water conservation is an increasingly important issue as fresh groundwater
becomes less abundant. Average seasonal irrigation demands range widely for different soil types and field
designs, Hardke said. So, at 27,154 gallons per acre-inch, a farmer would need 814,620 gallons of water per
acre to sufficiently water rice grown on a silt loam soil to achieve the average required irrigation of 30 acre-
inches in a flooded field with levees, Hardke said. A zero-grade flooded field — one with no elevation
difference to require an infield levee — averages about 18-acre inches of irrigation water, he said. “We are
doing as good or better than a zero-grade flooded field,” Henry said. “It makes row rice field management
like zero-grade but offers you the benefit of rows that can be used in subsequent seasons. You can
potentially plant several weeks sooner than a conventional levee rice field because the tillage prep work to
convert the beds to flooded levees is not necessary.” The system can reduce a farmer’s need for capital
equipment, tractors, tillage equipment, and the labor to prepare fields, Henry added. “It can also allow more
options for ground operations of fertilizer and pesticide applications providing the farmer with more options
for rice management,” Henry said. The novel tailwater system has the most potential in rice but is also
helpful in improving irrigation efficiency of our other crops such as soybeans, corn and cotton because it can
recover tailwater for use during an irrigation event, Henry added. In addition to less irrigation water, Henry’s
patented continuous-flow system in row rice provides more consistent ground saturation, which may
produce less nitrous oxide than other irrigation methods, Henry said. The saturation can also reduce pigweed
pressure, he added. Before Henry’s technical development, furrow-irrigated rice growers were warned of a
possible 8% yield reduction in row rice production depending on field conditions and management
capabilities. Henry said some recent experience and results suggest that his system may be closing that yield
gap typically experienced by farmers and noted in published studies. Instead of a large water reservoir, or
“pit,” common with conventional furrow-irrigation methods, the tailwater recovery uses a low-energy, high-

19. flow-low-head, variable-speed pump at the lowest elevation of the field to return the water to the top of the
field. Henry’s “pitless” tailwater recovery system recycles about 90% of the water in the system. The method
also provides options for “fertigation,” or fertilizing with irrigation water. Henry continues to test slow-
release nitrogen application methods in row rice, which may allow one application of nitrogen at the
beginning of the season with potash and phosphate. Henry said it could be a time-saver for the farmer at no
additional cost. Because it is still a new method in row rice, more work is needed to fully understand the
tailwater recovery system, Hardke said. In addition to water use, research remains on fertilizer application
and weed and pest control using the system. Arkansas rice farmers harvested 1.4 million acres in 2021 with a
value of about $1.297 billion, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
Author Name: https://talkbusiness.net/2022/03/tailwater-recovery-system-could-aid-in-row-rice-water-
conservation/
Date: 18-Mar-2022
Asia rice: Vietnam prices hit 3-month peak on firm demand

20. BENGALURU/BANGKOK/HANOI/MUMBAI/DHAKA: Export prices of rice from Vietnam climbed to a three-
and-a-half-month high this week on steady demand and elevated shipping costs, which dissuaded some
traders from signing new contracts. Vietnam’s 5% broken rice were offered at $415-$420 per tonne on

21. Thursday, compared with $410-$415 a week ago. “Demand is stable, but traders are hesitant to sign new
contracts due to high shipping costs,” a trader based in Ho Chi Minh City said, adding outbound shipping
costs have risen significantly since the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia crisis. “We are hearing the Philippines
may soon lift its limit on rice imports from Vietnam,” another trader said. Philippines, Vietnam’s largest rice
buyer, in November took steps to temporarily limit imports of the grain from Vietnam amid a big harvest at
home. Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices fell slightly to $410-$428 per tonne from $415-$428 a week ago, their
highest since late June. “The baht has weakened and domestic prices are seen easing in the coming weeks
due to new supply,” one trader said. There is still strong demand for low-quality rice from domestic feed
mills, which are looking to use more rice in their animal feed mix as prices of wheat and corn rally, traders
said. However, foreign demand remained largely muted, except for exporting activities to Iraq, they said. Top
exporter India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $371 to $378 per tonne, unchanged from the last
week, as demand remained strong for broken grades for feed purposes. “Broken rice is in demand. Feed
makers are replacing corn with 25% and 100% broken rice,” said an exporter based at Kakinada in southern
state of Andhra Pradesh.
Author Name: https://www.brecorder.com/news/40161477/asia-rice-vietnam-prices-hit-3-month-peak-on-
firm-demand
Do not downplay the living experiences of farmers and Ghanaians –
Group to Agric Minister
Source: Cornerlis Kweku Affre
17 March 2022 5:45am

22. A group of key players in Ghana’s agricultural industry have expressed their utmost
disappointment at certain utterances made by the Agric Minister, Owusu Afriyie
Akoto during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday 16th March.
The group made up of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG),
Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), the General Agricultural Workers Union
(GAWU), the Rice Millers Association of Ghana (RMAG), and Food Sovereignty
Ghana (FSG) said they were appalled by the Minister’s reactions to pertinent issue
surrounding food security in the country.
In the said interview, the Group says the Minister was largely evasive and
unaccountable and displayed high levels of intolerance in his choice of response to
the interviewer.
They added that some of his responses were in outright disrespect of the living
experiences of farmers and other actors in the sector.
According to the group, the Minister, despite glaring evidence pointing to food
inflation and Ghana’s deteriorating state of food security disagreed and insisted that
the reports alluding to those claims were unreliable.
He, however, failed to provide any counter argument or evidence to support his own
claims.

23. What broke the camel’s back was when the Minister downplayed the claim of food
inflation by drawing on his own domestic experience.
“My wife has not indicated to me food prices have increased,” he’s quoted to have
replied.
“How inconsiderate and disrespectful to Ghanaians? We hope his responses this
morning, and in previous comments such as the reference to his domestic
experience is not a reflection of official government position on the developments in
the sector. That will be an unfortunate situation!” the Group said.
According to them, “In fact, forecast by analysts and economists suggest that the
situation will get worse in the coming months due to existing weaknesses in our
systems as well as global pressures.”
“Policy makers at the highest level such as the sector Minister cannot be dismissive
of these risks and reports. At the minimum, such reports should be seen as
feedback to enable government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to
examine their policy toolkits to addressing the underlying risks in a collaborative
manner,” they said.
Read full statement below;
https://www.myjoyonline.com/do-not-downplay-the-living-experiences-of-farmers-and-ghanaians-
agric-players-to-sector-minister/

24. We are saddled by unavailability of food, high
prices; Agric Minister will soon be exposed when it
gets worse — Agric group
SOCIAL NEWS
MAR 17, 2022 LISTEN
Some agriculture stakeholder groups have condemned what they say is Minister of Food and
Agriculture’s disregard for data on the state of the agric sector.
In a statement, they said they were “appalled and disappointed” by comments by the Minister of
Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, during an interview on the Citi Breakfast
Show on Wednesday 16th March 2022.
The minister maintains that the agric sector is in good standing in the wake of policies like the
planting for food and jobs.

25. The groups in question are the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Chamber of
Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Rice Millers
Association of Ghana (RMAG), and Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG).
Among other things, they are upset the government refuses to acknowledge Ghana’s struggling
situation with food security, with the 2021 Global Food Index ranking Ghana 82nd, which is a
drop from 76th in 2016.
The groups cited the Ghana Statistical Services’ (GSS) indication that food inflation in Ghana
had reached an all-time high of 17.40 percent as of February 2022.
“If this is not a reflection of the double whammy of escalating prices and weak food supplies,
which undermine food security, then we are not sure what is.”
“The Minister continues to live in the thinking that all things are rosy in the sector when the
reality is that we are saddled with the unavailability of food coupled with high food prices,” the
groups noted.
The groups warned that the minister and other policymakers should not dismiss the negative
forecasts of Ghana’s agriculture sector.
“In fact, forecast by analysts and economists suggest that the situation will get worse in the
coming months due to existing weaknesses in our systems as well as global pressures.”
“At the minimum, such reports should be seen as feedback to enable government and the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture to examine their policy toolkits to address the underlying risks
in a collaborative manner,” they added.
—citinewsroom
Comments
https://www.modernghana.com/news/1145611/we-are-saddled-by-unavailability-of-food-high.html

26. 94 lakh tonnes paddy lifted for custom
milling
Thursday, 17 March 2022 | Staff Reporter | RAIPUR
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Following instructions of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, paddy lifting for
custom milling is going on across the state at a rapid pace.
An official communiqué said that till Tuesday, 94.47 lakh tonnes of paddy has been
lifted by rice millers for custom milling.
The work of depositing the rice in the Central pool has also been stepped up, it said. So
far, 29.78 lakh tonnes of rice have been deposited.
This includes 16.06 lakh tonnes deposited with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and
13.72 lakh tonnes with the Civil Supplies Corporation.
Food Secretary Topeshwar Verma said that paddy lifting for custom milling was being
done rapidly.

27. So far, a record 94.47 lakh tonnes of rice have been lifted.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/94-lakh-tonnes-paddy-lifted-for-custom-
milling.html
Stop marketing rice under fancy names: Experts
Photo: Noor A Alam
Highlights:
 No paddy by the name Miniket or Nazirshal
 Millers polish coarse paddy varieties to make up the brands
 The excessive polishing takes away nutritional rice values
 Policy on the cards to limit rice polishing, mandate paddy variety mentioning
Agri-experts and nutritionists have recommended stopping marketing rice under
any names other than those of recognised paddy varieties.
Currently, rice is being sold under various fancy names such as Miniket, Nazirshal
etc. To protect the rights of consumers, the paddy varieties should be mentioned on
the packets of rice, they told a seminar titled "Nutrition and Quality Assessment of
Polished Rice Sold in Bangladesh" in Dhaka Wednesday.
The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority organised the programme where its member
Prof Abdul Alim revealed the findings of a research.

28. Prof Alim said new paddy varieties are being introduced in the country, but we do not
find the rice brands in the market. Instead, we get rice under different names such as
Miniket and Nazirshal that are not any paddy varieties.
He said there are no paddies by the names Miniket and Nazirshal. Different coarse
paddy varieties are polished to make these shiny and bright rice "brands", but
excessive polishing of rice reduces its nutritional value.
A six-member research team including Prof Alim conducted the study on BRRI-26
paddy. They compared the nutritional values of polished and unpolished rice varieties.
The findings suggest both parboiled and sundried rice loses substantial amounts of
protein, vitamin, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus thanks to excessive polishing.
The researchers made a number of recommendations including limiting rice polishing
to the highest 8%, maintaining the maximum moisture content in rice at 11%, and
shaping a mass campaign to make people aware of excessive polished rice.
The seminar was attended by rice millers from different parts of the country and most
of them admitted that there is no Miniket paddy variety. They said that coarse paddies
are polished to turn them into the premium rice brand to meet the increasing demand.
As the chief guest of the programme, Food Secretary Mosammat Nazmanara Khanum
said, "We ourselves have become accustomed to fine and milky white rice. A policy is
also being formulated banning excessive polishing.
She said the policy will also mandate mentioning the paddy variety on rice sacks.
Food Safety Authority Chairman Md Abdul Kayowm Sarker presided over the
seminar, while another member of the research team Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Dhaka
University Professor Nazma Shaheen and private television channel DBC News
Editor Pranab Saha were present among others.
Top News
rice / Commodity / rice variety / Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA)
COMMENTS
While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation
decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The
Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

29. https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/stop-marketing-rice-under-fancy-names-experts-386014
Researchers Across Academia Are
Generating Ground-Breaking
Discoveries With Planet Data

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Joseph Mascaro | March 17, 2022
 Pulse Home
 >
 Stories
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 Researchers Across Academia are Generating Ground-breaking Discoveries with Planet Data
STORIES
Planet’s Education and Research Program provides researchers, academics, and scientists with
the ability to see change on the Earth in real-time. In the hands of these experts, our satellite data
is helping to power models, reveal planetary change, and deliver spatial-temporal insights across
a variety of academic fields. Our team at Planet has been thrilled to see the broad range of places
and subjects that these ground-breaking researchers have chosen to explore. Read about their
exciting findings using Planet data:
Cultural Heritage
Dr. Adam Smith at Cornell University leverages high resolution SkySat to better understand
destruction of cultural heritage sites in areas around the world.

30. “Archaeologists at Cornell and Purdue University are using SkySat imagery to monitor hundreds
of cultural heritage sites at risk due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In 2020, Planet imagery allowed Caucasus Heritage Watch (CHW) to detect the
destruction of historic cemeteries, damage to museums and churches, and emerging threats to the
integrity of numerous monuments,” said Dr. Smith. “CHW’s findings were recently used as
evidence in a case before the International Court of Justice, contributing to a significant ruling
that sets a new precedent for cultural heritage protection worldwide.”
Vegetation Growth
Dr. D. Ichikawa at the Center for Research and Application of Satellite Remote Sensing
of Yamaguchi University, Japan observes active rice paddy fields with PlanetScope data.
“We use PlanetScope data to estimate rice growth status and to map active paddy rice fields in
Yamaguchi prefecture of Japan. The use of PlanetScope ortho tiles has shown significant
improvement in our estimate of rice growth indicators as vegetation indices and mapping
accuracy. PlanetScope has great advantages with high observation frequency and 3 meter spatial
resolution compared with other MS optical satellites. Another challenge of our research is the
integrated use of optical constellation satellite and SAR data for monitoring soil-vegetation
productivity of agricultural land area. The optical constellation PlanetScope and SAR data have
been processed and analyzed for the agricultural land area of central JAVA of Indonesia.
PlanetScope allows a multi-temporal analysis with Sentinel-1 SAR imagery for three planting
seasons in this region.”
Ecology
Dr. Kyle Cavanuagh at the University of California – Los Angeles works with PlanetScope
data to quantify and measure the extent and health of kelp forests off the shore of Northern
California.
“We have been using Planet imagery to map kelp cover along the coast of Sonoma and
Mendocino counties following a collapse in kelp forests that occurred in 2014. This collapse has
had substantial negative impacts on the ecology and economy of coastal northern California,”
explained Dr. Cavanuagh. “We developed a method to map kelp canopy from PlanetScope
imagery and created annual kelp maps between 2016-2021. This data allowed us to find ‘kelp
refuges’, small areas that were able to persist in the face of the regional kelp collapse. We have
also documented a partial recovery in kelp abundance between 2020 and 2021.”

31. Air Quality
Dr. Michael Bergin and Dr. Tongshu Zheng at Duke University are using PlanetScope’s high
spatial and temporal resolution to identify dangerous particulate matter known as PM2.5 in urban
spaces.
“[Our paper] shows neighborhood level hot spots [of PM2.5] in Delhi,” explained Dr. Bergin.
“Planet data is going to be revolutionary in characterizing air pollution in a way that will result in
mitigation strategies that will greatly improve human health. The overarching theme is that using
Planet data with recent advances in AI is going to result in a much cleaner environment and a
more healthy world.”
Sustainable Agriculture
Dr. Elia Scudiero at the University of California – Riverside and his research group utilize
PlanetScope and SkySat to monitor agriculture in the southwest region of the United States.
“The University of California – Riverside is leading a USDA-funded multi-state project on
Artificial Intelligence to support sustainable agriculture in the US Southwest. UCRiverside is
leveraging information from PlanetScope imagery to: map soil properties at high resolution,
estimate crop water requirements, and map crop type in real-time that will help growers reduce
the environmental footprint of irrigated agriculture,” said Dr. Scudiero. “Additionally,
UCRiverside is using PlanetScope data and Planet educational support to train students and
postdocs in the field of agricultural data science.”
Deforestation to Nuclear Reactors
Dr. Jennie Murack at MIT is using PlanetScope data for a range of projects from monitoring
nuclear reactors to urban development.
“Planet has been a valuable research tool for our students, staff, and faculty. It provides access to
consistent, regularly-collected imagery at a higher resolution than what is available through other
sources,” said Murack. “The data have been used by nearly every department on campus for
projects ranging from monitoring nuclear reactors to assessing deforestation to exploring
building renovations in cities.”
Each month, researchers are using our data to contribute new knowledge to this world, asking
daring questions, advancing modern science, and broadening our understanding of society and

32. the planet. We are honored to be supporting academics in their pursuit of this knowledge, and we
look forward to showcasing more researchers soon.
Learn more about how Planet’s Education and Research Program could help with your
research here. Be sure to check out our Publications page to see published academic articles
using Planet data, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to see the latest papers highlighted on
#ScienceWednesday.
academia - aerospace - Agile aerospace - earth observation - education - EO - newspace - planet - planet labs -
research - Satellite - satellite data - satellite imagery - satellites
https://www.planet.com/pulse/researchers-across-academia-are-generating-ground-breaking-discoveries-with-
planet-data/
Tailwater recovery research shows significant water savings in row rice
March 17, 2022
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33. Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer for the Arkansas Agricultural
Experiment Station, explains the tailwater irrigation system for furrow-irrigated rice. (UA System
Division of Ag photo by Mary Hightower)
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34. FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers are
steadily improving water conservation tactics. They can now grow rice with about
half the irrigation water used in levee rice systems.
Chris Henry, associate professor and water management engineer for the experiment
station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of
Agriculture, has patented a tailwater recovery system for furrow-irrigated rice, also
known as “row rice,” after nearly a decade of research at the Division of Agriculture’s
Rice Research and Extension Center near Stuttgart.
Row rice irrigation is challenging because it requires more frequent cycles than other
row crops and timing is more critical because rice has a shallower root system, Henry
said.
- Advertisement -
“We’re trying to make row rice easier to manage. This system does that,” Henry said.
“A continuous-flow system returns the water to the top of the field constantly,
ensuring water is always available and simplifying irrigation management.”
The efficiency is high because the system captures the tailwater and returns it to the
top. The irrigation water doesn’t leave the field like a conventional row rice field.
Henry’s novel tailwater recovery system makes furrow-irrigated rice competitive in
water conservation with a zero-grade flooded field. Growing rice in zero-grade fields
is more restrictive because it requires land with no elevation change. Zero-grade fields
also present challenges in growing rotation crops.

35. According to the B.R. Wells Arkansas Rice Research Studies 2020 publication, most
of the state’s rice is grown in flooded fields through a method known as Multiple Inlet
Rice Irrigation (MIRI) or conventional levee and gate systems. Traditional flooding,
still the dominant rice production method, uses an average of 30 acre-inches of
irrigation water a season. Henry’s novel tailwater recovery system can produce as
much rice with less than 19 acre-inches of irrigation. An acre-inch is equivalent to one
inch of water depth over an acre of land or 27,154 gallons per acre.
Throughout his research since 2013, Henry said he has not used over 19 acre-inches
of irrigation water with the tailwater recovery system. He has used as little as 12 acre-
inches.
The goal of furrow-irrigated rice is to achieve increased profit margins by reducing
input costs, according to the Arkansas Furrow-Irrigated Rice Handbook
(https://bit.ly/ArkansasFIRHandbook). But it can also use less water if coupled with
tailwater recovery. Furrow-irrigated rice also offers no-till options, along with the
ability to plant cover crops and build soil health or rotate crops to soybeans, corn or
other food crops.
Furrow-irrigated rice has gained momentum over the past seven years. In 2015, less
than 1 percent of Arkansas rice land used furrow irrigation. By 2019, it had grown to
10.5 percent and in 2020 it was about 17 percent, according to Jarrod Hardke, rice
extension agronomist with the Division of Agriculture.
Henry said water conservation is an increasingly important issue as fresh groundwater
becomes less abundant.
The 2020 Arkansas Groundwater Protection and Management Report
(https://bit.ly/2020ArkansasGroundwaterReport), a publication from the Arkansas
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Division, stated groundwater use rates
in the state’s rice production areas were “unsustainable.”
Based on 2015 water use data, less than half of the amount of water drawn from the
Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer – 44.2 percent – is sustainable. Users of the
aquifer pulled about 7.6 billion gallons per day out in 2015. Likewise, only about half
– 55 percent – of the Sparta/Memphis aquifer withdrawal rate of 160 million gallons
per day is sustainable, the report adds.

36. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics
Service, Arkansas typically produces nearly half of the rice in the nation. The 2021
Arkansas Agriculture Profile (bit.ly/2021 ArkAgProfile) records 1.4 million acres of
rice harvested in 2020 with a value of $1.297 billion.
Average seasonal irrigation demands range widely for different soil types and field
designs, Hardke said. So, at 27,154 gallons per acre-inch, a farmer would need
814,620 gallons of water per acre to sufficiently water rice grown on a silt loam soil to
achieve the average required irrigation of 30 acre-inches in a flooded field with
levees, Hardke said.
A zero-grade flooded field — one with no elevation difference to require an infield
levee — averages about 18-acre inches of irrigation water, he said.
“We are doing as good or better than a zero-grade flooded field,” Henry said. “It
makes row rice field management like zero-grade but offers you the benefit of rows
that can be used in subsequent seasons. You can potentially plant several weeks
sooner than a conventional levee rice field because the tillage prep work to convert the
beds to flooded levees is not necessary.”
The system can reduce a farmer’s need for capital equipment, tractors, tillage
equipment, and the labor to prepare fields, Henry added.
“It can also allow more options for ground operations of fertilizer and pesticide
applications providing the farmer with more options for rice management,” Henry
said.
The novel tailwater system has the most potential in rice but is also helpful in
improving irrigation efficiency of our other crops such as soybeans, corn and cotton
because it can recover tailwater for use during an irrigation event, Henry added.
Benefits of continual flow
In addition to less irrigation water, Henry’s patented continuous-flow system in row
rice provides more consistent ground saturation, which may produce less nitrous oxide
than other irrigation methods, Henry said. The saturation can also reduce pigweed
pressure, he added.

37. Research by crop, soil, and environmental sciences professor Kristofor Brye’s
graduate student Jordan M. Slayden for the experiment station in 2018 and 2019
showed that a no-till, furrow-irrigated rice field produced less nitrous oxide than a
conventional-till field. Geoderma Regional published the study’s results in the March
2022 issue (https://bit.ly/ArkansasN2OinRice). Slayden’s report noted that more
consistent rice field saturation could further decrease nitrous oxide.
Before Henry’s technical development, furrow-irrigated rice growers were warned of
a possible 8 percent yield reduction in row rice production depending on field
conditions and management capabilities. Henry said some recent experience and
results suggest that his system may be closing that yield gap typically experienced by
farmers and noted in published studies.
Instead of a large water reservoir, or “pit,” common with conventional furrow-
irrigation methods, the tailwater recovery uses a low-energy, high-flow-low-head,
variable-speed pump at the lowest elevation of the field to return the water to the top
of the field.
Henry’s “pitless” tailwater recovery system recycles about 90 percent of the water in
the system. The method also provides options for “fertigation,” or fertilizing with
irrigation water. Henry continues to test slow-release nitrogen application methods in
row rice, which may allow one application of nitrogen at the beginning of the season
with potash and phosphate. Henry said it could be a time-saver for the farmer at no
additional cost.
Stephen Hoskyn, a rice farmer near Stuttgart, used the tailwater recovery system to
win the 2021 Most Crop Per Drop contest. It was the first time row rice won the
Division of Agriculture contest created in 2018. Hoskyn produced an average of 9.77
bushels of rice per acre-inch of total water. For the competition, water-use efficiency
is calculated by dividing yield by the total water — rain plus irrigation — received by
a field.
Hoskyn harvested nearly 240 bushels per acre corrected to 12 percent moisture by
applying 13.47 acre-inches of irrigation water and 29.56 acre-inches of total water.
“In a flooded field, you’re lucky to get 200 bushels per acre, and the state average is
about 170 bushels,” Henry said.

38. Because it is still a new method in row rice, more work is needed to fully understand
the tailwater recovery system, Hardke said. In addition to water use, research remains
on fertilizer application and weed and pest control using the system.
Henry’s research includes finding ways to reduce bed erosion with the new system.
One way is to use low-lying plastic hose extensions with plastic mulch at the poly
pipe.
The continuous-flow system may not fit every farmer’s situation, Henry said. It is not
suited to fields with an elevation difference over 10 feet.
Henry has worked to improve the method at the Rice Research and Extension Center
in Stuttgart since he arrived in 2013. So far, he knows of only about five rice farmers
in Arkansas using the method, and he is working on licensing the patents for the
system to third-party businesses to build them.
The U.S. Department of Energy has supported research on the tailwater recovery
system, along with the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board and the
Arkansas Natural Resources Conservation Service, which is part of the USDA.
https://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/tailwater-recovery-research-shows-significant-water-savings-in-
row-rice/
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39. Irish agency issues rice milk arsenic
warning following consumer
complaint
By Joe Whitworth on March 17, 2022
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has warned about the illegal sale online
of rice-based infant and follow-on formula.

40. Such formulas are not permitted to be sold in Europe, as they do not meet nutritional
requirements for infants. They may be allowed if classed as foods for special medical
purposes for those with a lactose intolerance or cow’s milk allergy.
The agency’s advice is that infants and young children up to 4 and a half years old
should not consume rice milk as a substitute for cows’ milk, breast milk or other kinds
of infant formulas because of a risk of inorganic arsenic exposure.
EU regulation on infant formula and follow-on formula manufactured from protein
hydrolysates was updated in 2021. Protein from cow’s milk and goat’s milk or
proteins isolated from soya or protein hydrolysates made from demineralized whey
protein from cow’s milk are allowed but use of protein hydrolysates derived from rice
is not permitted.
Arsenic exposure concerns
Previous research in 2009 detected low levels of inorganic arsenic in rice milk.
A rice-based infant and follow-on
formula, Prémibio Prémiriz from France, is available to buy online via the
Sanareva.co.uk website.
The warning about the unauthorized sale of organic hydrolyzed rice protein infant
formula also includes insufficient labelling and comes after a consumer complaint.
The FSAI said it has contacted authorities in the UK and other EU countries to
discontinue the sale of the product in Europe from the website. The agency is also

41. reaching out to hospitals and public health professionals to inform them of the online
sales.
Pamela Byrne, chief executive at the FSAI, said arsenic is found in the environment
and can be present in a range of foods, including rice, at low levels.
“The toxicity of arsenic depends on the form in which it is present, this being either
organic or inorganic. The inorganic form is the more toxic form and the FSAI states
that exposure to this should be kept as low as reasonably practicable. As a precaution,
to reduce exposure to inorganic arsenic, parents and guardians should not give these
foods to infants and young children up to 4.5 years,” she said.
Research needs
The FSAI has also published its 2022 research needs report which contains priority
areas that would help the risk assessment and risk management work of the agency
and support the protection of public health.
Food safety research is important to highlight risk and find potential control measures,
address gaps in knowledge to support regulation and identify emerging issues and
threats to the food system.
The FSAI is not a research funding body, so to raise awareness of needs, it lists areas
to help agencies that fund such projects and scientists in research institutes.
Examples are vulnerability assessments on the beef, pork, poultry, and white fish
product supply chains; trends and food safety risks of synthetic biology; the chemical
and microbiological safety of plant-based meat alternatives; impact of the circular
economy on food safety; and effects that proposed reductions in the maximum levels
of nitrates and nitrites may have on meat products.
Funded projects include one on the increasing risk of paralytic shellfish poisoning in
Ireland headed up by the Marine Institute, another on mycotoxin exposure risk led by
University College Dublin and one dealing with detection of Shiga toxin-producing E.
coli (STEC) in water.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
Tags: Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), infant formula, inorganic arsen
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/03/irish-agency-issues-rice-milk-arsenic-warning-following-
consumer-complaint/

42. Strong Asian rice demand for animal feed sparks food supply worries
in Commodity News 17/03/2022
A surge in wheat and corn prices is boosting demand for low-grade rice in animal rations across Asia, pushing
up prices of the world’s most important staple at a time when global food inflation is already hovering near
record highs.
Global crop importers are scrambling for supplies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine severed grain shipments
from the two countries, which together account for around 25% of world wheat and 16% of world corn
exports.
Chicago wheat futures hit a record high last week while corn climbed to its highest in a decade after war-torn
Ukraine shut its ports and Western sanctions hit Russian exports.
The price spikes in wheat and corn in turn pushed buyers to seek alternatives, including in China, by far the
world’s largest feed market. Importers there are in talks to buy extra volumes of broken rice – inferior rice
where the grains have been fractured during the milling process – to fatten hogs and other animals, traders and
analysts said.
Rice typically trades at a steep premium to wheat, but wheat’s blistering 50% price surge from a month ago
has sharply cut the difference between the two grains, and even made wheat more expensive than some lower
grades of rice.
Benchmark food-grade rice from Thai exporters made its biggest weekly gain since October 2020 last week on
the back of firmer food and feed demand, climbing 5% to around $421.50 a tonne.
That’s the highest since last June, and sources say prices may keep rising if the disruption to Black Sea flows
persists. Export prices from Vietnam and India have also climbed.
“There could be greater interest in broken rice for animal feed if the strength currently dominating wheat and
corn markets persists,” said Rome-based FAO rice economist Shirley Mustafa.
“It is not just animal feed, there could also be a substitution in other use sectors, such as more people turning to
rice for their meals.”
CORN CUT
China had booked up to two million tonnes of Ukrainian corn imports for this year, but most of those
shipments are now in jeopardy given the disruption to Ukraine’s logistics chains.
To replace those lost volumes, China is expected to import around three million tonnes of broken rice, up from
about two million tonnes annually in the past two years, said a Beijing-based rice trader.
One importer in Guangdong is looking to buy broken rice from Thailand, while others have recently bought
Indian broken rice for feed, according to another source briefed on the matter.
“Demand for Indian broken rice has gone up because of higher corn prices. Feed makers are trying to replace
corn with rice,” B.V. Krishna Rao, president of India’s Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters.
Prices of 100% Indian broken rice have moved up to $320 per tonne this month from $290 in February, he
added.
Further underpinning rice prices, feed makers in Thailand are also looking at using more broken rice to replace
corn, pushing up domestic prices across the country, said Bangkok-based traders.
“There is tremendous increase in demand for lower quality rice from Thailand’s animal feed industry,” said
one trader in Bangkok. “In fact, much of Thailand’s broken rice is likely to be consumed in the domestic
market.”
FOOD FEARS
Global rice prices could rise further in the second quarter if wheat consumers in India – the second largest rice
user after China – switch to rice due to record high domestic wheat prices, which would accelerate any decline
in rice inventories, said Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of Thai Rice Exporters Association.

43. While global rice inventories are set to hit a record 190 million tonnes this year, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, global rice output is expected to exceed world consumption by less than 5 million
tonnes in 2022, so a sudden climb in worldwide demand could quickly start to deplete those inventories and
reinforce bullish sentiment in the market.
In turn, an increase in rice prices will intensify food security worries for some of the poorest nations in Africa
and Asia, where millions rely on cheap availability of the staple.
“As of now, broken rice is mainly for the feed sector, but as the war gets prolonged and buyers are not able to
get hold of adequate wheat, then it comes to food security,” said one Singapore-based grains trader.
“Buyers will do whatever they can to replace expensive wheat with rice or other alternatives.”
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Naveen Thukral; aditional reporting by Hallie Gu in Beijing, Khanh Vu in
Hanoi, Patpicha Tanakasempipat in Bangkok and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; editing by Gavin Maguire and
Richard Pullin)
https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/strong-asian-rice-demand-for-animal-feed-sparks-food-supply-
worries/
 Rice engineers show spinning magnetic particles surprisingly follow thermodynamic laws — ScienceDaily
SCIENCE

44. Rice Engineers Show Spinning Magnetic Particles
Surprisingly Follow Thermodynamic Laws — ScienceDaily
By Addrew Shawn On Mar 16, 2022
0
Share
Small spheres suspended in a liquid move enough like molecules that the physics for one can be used
to mimic the physics of the other.
That’s why the discovery of some unusual physics in colloids — particles dispersed in a solution
such as milk, for example — could be of interest to researchers who study biological interactions.
Chemical and biomolecular engineer Sibani Lisa Biswal and postdoctoral fellow Kedar Joshi of Rice
University’s George R. Brown School of Engineering found that when a colloid — in this case, a
suspension of micron-sized paramagnetic particles — is jostled with a magnetic field, it still tends to
seek its lowest-energy state in the same way that gas and liquid systems do.
“It’s like trying to blow a bubble in an odd shape,” Biswal said. “It always goes back to a sphere.”
Their finding, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doesn’t exactly
challenge Kelvin’s equation, which describes thermodynamic interactions between liquids and gases.
But it does stretch the equation a bit.
“Kelvin’s equation comes from classical thermodynamics, and tells us how liquid and gas phases are
in equilibrium with each other,” Biswal said. “Kedar likes to give the example of water droplets: how
they stay a certain size, even with water and vapor phases around them.”
“These colloidal groups are like the droplets,” Joshi said. “They try to stay circular, rather than take
an arbitrary shape. Our thought was these equations should explain not just one or two but every
property of our colloids as well.”
The study extends the lab’s previous work to characterize how particles interact in solutions, the
most recent demonstrating how superparamagnetic colloids interact with each other in a rapidly
spinning magnetic field.

45. “This one falls under our purview of how we think about gases and liquids, but in a different way,”
Biswal said. “Kedar decided to apply the formula to our system, in which we can see the particles,
we can count them and actually track them through their ‘gas’ and condensed phases.”
The results were surprising, they wrote, because Kelvin’s equation is not intended to apply to
systems kicked out of equilibrium. In the Rice experiments, the particles represented liquid
molecules when clumped and gas molecules when dispersed, both qualities controlled by the rotating
magnetic field, a stand-in for the equation’s temperature variable.
The researchers threw their colloid out of equilibrium by spinning it with the field. In spite of that,
they found the equation still held true for the interactions they observed as the particles came
together or flew apart depending on the strength of the field.
“The particles followed the rotating field; they look like little miniaturized stir bars,” Biswal said.
“But if we increased the frequency, we found that it generated an isotropic attractive interaction
between the particles.”
The strength of this fast rotating magnetic field became a knob that raised and lowered the
“temperature” and controlled whether the particles condensed into a liquid or dispersed like a gas.
“The system does behave like it’s being affected by temperature,” said Joshi, who recently left Rice
to join the faculty at the Indian Institute of Technology, Goa. “We were keen to show that it would
replicate what classical phases do in terms of vapor pressure, viscosity and surface tension as well.”
Biswal said the study also has implications for devices like control displays that employ liquid
crystals. “The new paper is about the idea that you can have coexistence (between the liquid and gas
phases),” she said. “Being able to see how magnetic fields can be used to control how these systems
are able to achieve coexisting phases is important to designing materials that are reconfigurable or
have a desired property.”
The National Science Foundation (CBET-17055703) supported the research. Biswal is the William
M. McCardell Professor in Chemical Engineering, a professor of chemical and biomolecular
engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, and associate dean for faculty
development.
Video: https://youtu.be/r7syYqY38Og
Story Source:

46. Materials provided by Rice University. Original written by Mike Williams. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.
https://vervetimes.com/rice-engineers-show-spinning-magnetic-particles-surprisingly-follow-
thermodynamic-laws-sciencedaily/
Implanted 'drug factory'
eliminates certain kinds of
cancer in days in animals,
human trials could begin in
late 2022
The beads contain cells that produce a compound called
interleukin-2, a protein which activates white blood cells to
fight cancer.

48. Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University
Rice University bioengineers Amanda Nash (left) and Omid Veiseh with vials of bead-like
“drug factories” they created to treat cancer. The beads are designed to continuously
produce natural compounds that program the immune system to attack tumors.
Author: Alex Fregger
Published: 3:41 AM EDT March 18, 2022
Updated: 3:41 AM EDT March 18, 2022
HOUSTON, Texas — Researchers say they've found a way to eliminate
ovarian and colorectal cancer in mice by implanting a "drug factory" near
tumors. They say they hope to start human clinical trials in the fall.
The researchers, bioengineers at Rice University in Houston Texas, said in a
study published March 2, that by implanting small drug-producing beads, they
were able to eradicate tumors in 100% of animals with ovarian cancer, and
seven out of eight animals with colorectal cancer.
The beads, which use components previously proven safe for people, contain
cells that produce a compound called interleukin-2, a protein which activates
white blood cells to fight cancer.
The researchers placed the beads next to the tumors and inside a sac-like
lining that supports organs like the intestines, which helps limit exposure of
the treatment from the rest of the body.
Researchers say the drug factories also provoke a stronger immune response
than existing interleukin-2 treatment regimens because the beads deliver
higher concentrations of the protein directly to tumors.
“If you gave the same concentration of the protein through an IV pump, it
would be extremely toxic,” graduate student Amanda Nash said. “With the
drug factories, the concentration we see elsewhere in the body, away from the
tumor site, is actually lower than what patients have to tolerate with IV
treatments. The high concentration is only at the tumor site.”
Nash said the same general approach used in the study could be applied to
treat cancers of other organs by placing the beads between the tumor and the
affected organ's lining.
According to the researchers, the body would naturally turn off the flow of the
treatment within 30 days, and that a second course of treatment could be
given if needed.
To read more on the study, click here.

49. Related Articles
 Lebanon County students manufacturing parts for NASA
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https://www.fox43.com/article/news/health/implanted-drug-factory-eliminates-cancer-in-animals/521-
e69b676e-1556-4802-a3d9-8503d2b6f5c5
Why Sh5bn Kuja irrigation project is facing collapse
Government launched the Sh5 billion scheme to put 19,000 acres of land under irrigation
In Summary
 The authority has not been able to develop the entire land area with only about
5,000 acres going into paddy rice cultivation.
 Earlier this month, the authority, which runs the scheme, met with farmers and
stakeholders to help revamp the project.

50. RICE SHORTAGE Farmers prepare a nursery at Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme.
Image: MANUEL ODENY

51. RICE SHORTAGE Nykweri Rice Mills manager Tom Omondi during the interview.
Image: MANUEL ODENY

52. RICE SHORTAGE Workers at Nykweri Rice Mills in Migori county load paddy rice in the store as the
region has been hit by a shortage
Image: MANUEL ODENY
Roseline Akinyi laughs sarcastically when she looks at her fallow six acres land at Sagama in Migori
during the interview.
She laughs because, instead of paddy rice, her goats will have more shrubs to eat this season.
Akinyi is among farmers at Lower Kuja Irrigation Scheme who have completely switched off from
paddy rice farming after the billion shillings project was marred with court cases and lack of
infrastructure.
“Three years ago it was good when I opened up these six acres of idle land for paddy rice, but the
going has been tough after the government chose to scale down operations here,” Akinyi said.

53. She said earlier the region was facing flooding, droughts and erratic rains which made farming to be
done once a year until “paddy rice came and helped us supplement our income. Now things look so
bleak.”
Earlier this month, the National Irrigation Authority, which runs the scheme, met with farmers and
stakeholders to help revamp the project.
The project has been plagued by at least 30 courts cases on compensation and scaling down of
infrastructure development.
“The agency used to offer us cheap tractors and getting inputs like seeds and fertilisers was easier
then they stopped coming," Bonface Agwenge, a farmer on 10 acres land, said.
"They also refused to maintain our roads which made the once thriving rice farming to stall.”
In 2011, the government launched the Sh5 billion scheme which was to put 19,000 acres of land
under irrigation.
However, the authority has not been able to develop the entire land with only about 5,000 acres going
into paddy rice cultivation.
Several investors set up millers in the area to cash in on the government promise only for millions of
shillings of their investments to go to waste.
Tom Omondi, a manager at Nykweri Rice mill said currently, their stock at the mills, which can mill
200 bags daily, can only sustain them for two weeks.
“We have been forced to acquire paddy rice from Ahero and West Kano schemes to stay afloat,"
Omondi said.
"When we were operating in full, we used to work with 400 farmers. However, now even getting 300
is hard to come by.”
He said with scaling down on infrastructure, the newest scheme has been hit as most farmers are yet
to embrace rice farming.
At the centre of the problem are about 100 families in the scheme, mostly from Sagama, who have
moved to court demanding compensation on their land.
They are demanding a part of Sh890 million which was meant for compensation.
Some said they received up to Sh250,000 for an acre of land, in addition to structures, while others
were given a paltry Sh10,000 per acre of land.

54. Ken Okong'o, a resident, said his father’s grave was abandoned and they had to leave behind
permanent houses that have since been destroyed by floodwaters after haphazard planning of the
project and lack of compensation.
“Let it go down in record that as a community, we fully support the project and wish to have it
completed. But our concerns and rights have to be respected, including seeking court redress,” he
said.
A November 13, 2020, investigation report on the Alleged Human Rights Violations at Lower Kuja
Irrigation Scheme (Sagama village – block 3) said the project implementation steered away from the
plan to have negative environmental and social impacts.
The report said the project seriously violated the human rights of residents and, instead of uplifting
their socio-economic wellbeing, subjected them to abject poverty following the displacement.
“The project has no doubt brought positive socio-economic impact to the residents. However, it has
also resulted in adverse human rights impacts and the loss of property to the complainants,” the
report said.
During the crisis meeting earlier this month NIA regional coordinator Joel Tanui said they made a
breakthrough after meeting stakeholders from the scheme who included farmers, land owners, millers
and traders.
“We have agreed unanimously to proceed with the project," Tanui said.
"It is true we scaled our level of operations before but the costs were high as most farmers were not
paying operation and maintenance fees to de-silt canals or repair roads.”
He said farmers have been encouraged to continue with operations immediately as they seek
compensation from the government.
“The authority's main work is to provide infrastructural framework as part of production," the
coordinator said.
"We have also agreed the developed land will still remain to the community and there is no need to
stall an entire project over compensation."
“It is the community to decide whether they want irrigation infrastructure development by us
working together, or else the government will take away that land,” he said.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/nyanza/2022-03-18-why-sh5bn-kuja-irrigation-project-is-facing-
collapse/

55.  Home
 Agriculture
 Region Two rice farmers get $200 increase in paddy price
The farmers during the meeting on Thursday (Photo: News Room/March 17, 2022)
AGRICULTURE
Region Two rice farmers get $200 increase in paddy price
By Editor On Mar 17, 2022
0
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56. Two days after rice farmers from Region Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam) began protesting for an
increase in paddy price, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha announced that the price will only
increase by $200.
During a meeting with farmers on Thursday afternoon, Mustapha assured that farmers who already
took their crop to the mills and were offered $3,500 – a decrease of $600 compared to the last crop –
will now receive the $3,700 retroactive. But this price is only for grade A paddy.
The Agriculture Minister said the government will continue to support and represent rice farmers and
that millers have also agreed to charge $100 less for the cutting of the paddy with harvesters.
But some rice farmers are not satisfied with the new price. They had protested for $5,000 and
demanded a meeting with the Agriculture Minister.
Minister of
Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha
A few of the farmers told the News Room that in addition to poor prices, they are forced to transport
their paddy through deplorable dams.
Many farmers also revealed that they were not able to transport their harvest because of the condition
of these dams. In response, Minister Mustapha said that all complaints will be dealt with by the
Guyana Rice Development Board.
“We have families to maintain, we have children to feed, we ain’t asking for free money, we just
asking for better prices for something we plant and feed the nation with,” a rice farmer said.
The minister said the government is also working with a supplier of fertilizers to bring the cost down.

57. Rice cultivation is the main economic activity in the region and most families depend on the sale of
paddy to sustain their livelihood. It should be noted that the government has no control over how
much millers pay for the paddy.
https://newsroom.gy/2022/03/17/region-two-rice-farmers-get-200-increase-in-paddy-price/
Gov’t to engage commercial banks on the need to
support rice farmers – Afriyie Akoto

58. 1d ago | Source: Citi Newsroom
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie, has expressed
concern about the limited support commercial banks offer to farmers in the
country and says the government will be engaging them soon on the need to
review their position to support the agric sector.
The Minister was particularly worried about the lack of credit to rice farmers to mill their
produce.

59. The Minister lamented the situation where some foreigners, particularly Nigerians, mill
the rice grown in Ghana and make more profit because Ghanaian mills have low
capacity due to lack of working capital.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Minister revealed plans to hold a meeting with
the President, and the commercial banks to make a strong case for banks to support
rice millers in the country.
“Our milling capacity put together is only 450, 000 metric tons, paddy production last
year was 1.1 million, we have less than half the metric tons needed, that’s why the
Nigerians come to take the paddy, go and mill it, and make all the profit from it.”
“I am trying to get investors to come to invest in the milling capacity, even the current
milling capacity is only about 70%. The bank has refused to give working capital to the
millers, and the commercial banks in the country have vacated the agricultural sector,
making our effort amount to nothing. A meeting has been arranged with all commercial
banks, the president and the governor will be present, while I point out that it is high
time they came in with agricultural credits.”
He further stated that he stands with the farmers on the removal of the benchmark
values on the products exported.
“I stand with the farmers on that. Apart from the Grain Development Authority which is
going to regulate the grain market which includes rice, there is a specific executive
instrument coming up that will control the outgoing of our grains to neighboring
countries. ”
“We have to do that because we can’t spend the taxpayer’s monies, subsidize
production, and for our neighbours who don’t have any contribution to take advantage of
that. So, I’m very sympathetic to the farmers on that.”
Farmers have always complained about the lack of access to loans from the banks to
aid their production.
https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/business/258806/Gov-t-to-engage-commercial-banks-on-
the-need-to-support-rice-farmers-Afriyie-Akoto

60. Do not downplay the living experiences of farmers and Ghanaians –
Group to Agric Minister
Source: Cornerlis Kweku Affre
17 March 2022 5:45am
A group of key players in Ghana’s agricultural industry have expressed their utmost
disappointment at certain utterances made by the Agric Minister, Owusu Afriyie
Akoto during an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on Wednesday 16th March.
The group made up of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG),
Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), the General Agricultural Workers Union
(GAWU), the Rice Millers Association of Ghana (RMAG), and Food Sovereignty
Ghana (FSG) said they were appalled by the Minister’s reactions to pertinent issue
surrounding food security in the country.

61. In the said interview, the Group says the Minister was largely evasive and
unaccountable and displayed high levels of intolerance in his choice of response to
the interviewer.
They added that some of his responses were in outright disrespect of the living
experiences of farmers and other actors in the sector.
According to the group, the Minister, despite glaring evidence pointing to food
inflation and Ghana’s deteriorating state of food security disagreed and insisted that
the reports alluding to those claims were unreliable.
He, however, failed to provide any counter argument or evidence to support his own
claims.
What broke the camel’s back was when the Minister downplayed the claim of food
inflation by drawing on his own domestic experience.
“My wife has not indicated to me food prices have increased,” he’s quoted to have
replied.
“How inconsiderate and disrespectful to Ghanaians? We hope his responses this
morning, and in previous comments such as the reference to his domestic
experience is not a reflection of official government position on the developments in
the sector. That will be an unfortunate situation!” the Group said.

62. According to them, “In fact, forecast by analysts and economists suggest that the
situation will get worse in the coming months due to existing weaknesses in our
systems as well as global pressures.”
“Policy makers at the highest level such as the sector Minister cannot be dismissive
of these risks and reports. At the minimum, such reports should be seen as
feedback to enable government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to
examine their policy toolkits to addressing the underlying risks in a collaborative
manner,” they said.
Read full statement below;
https://www.myjoyonline.com/do-not-downplay-the-living-experiences-of-farmers-and-ghanaians-
agric-players-to-sector-minister/
Gov’t to engage commercial banks on the need to
support rice farmers – Afriyie Akoto

63. 1d ago | Source: Citi Newsroom
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Akoto Owusu Afriyie, has expressed
concern about the limited support commercial banks offer to farmers in the
country and says the government will be engaging them soon on the need to
review their position to support the agric sector.
The Minister was particularly worried about the lack of credit to rice farmers to mill their
produce.

64. The Minister lamented the situation where some foreigners, particularly Nigerians, mill
the rice grown in Ghana and make more profit because Ghanaian mills have low
capacity due to lack of working capital.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Minister revealed plans to hold a meeting with
the President, and the commercial banks to make a strong case for banks to support
rice millers in the country.
“Our milling capacity put together is only 450, 000 metric tons, paddy production last
year was 1.1 million, we have less than half the metric tons needed, that’s why the
Nigerians come to take the paddy, go and mill it, and make all the profit from it.”
“I am trying to get investors to come to invest in the milling capacity, even the current
milling capacity is only about 70%. The bank has refused to give working capital to the
millers, and the commercial banks in the country have vacated the agricultural sector,
making our effort amount to nothing. A meeting has been arranged with all commercial
banks, the president and the governor will be present, while I point out that it is high
time they came in with agricultural credits.”
He further stated that he stands with the farmers on the removal of the benchmark
values on the products exported.
“I stand with the farmers on that. Apart from the Grain Development Authority which is
going to regulate the grain market which includes rice, there is a specific executive
instrument coming up that will control the outgoing of our grains to neighboring
countries. ”
“We have to do that because we can’t spend the taxpayer’s monies, subsidize
production, and for our neighbours who don’t have any contribution to take advantage of
that. So, I’m very sympathetic to the farmers on that.”
Farmers have always complained about the lack of access to loans from the banks to
aid their production.
https://www.businessghana.com/site/news/business/258806/Gov-t-to-engage-commercial-banks-on-
the-need-to-support-rice-farmers-Afriyie-Akoto

65. 94 lakh tonnes paddy lifted for custom
milling
Thursday, 17 March 2022 | Staff Reporter | RAIPUR
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Following instructions of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, paddy lifting for
custom milling is going on across the state at a rapid pace.
An official communiqué said that till Tuesday, 94.47 lakh tonnes of paddy has been
lifted by rice millers for custom milling.
The work of depositing the rice in the Central pool has also been stepped up, it said. So
far, 29.78 lakh tonnes of rice have been deposited.
This includes 16.06 lakh tonnes deposited with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and
13.72 lakh tonnes with the Civil Supplies Corporation.

66. Food Secretary Topeshwar Verma said that paddy lifting for custom milling was being
done rapidly.
So far, a record 94.47 lakh tonnes of rice have been lifted.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/94-lakh-tonnes-paddy-lifted-for-custom-
milling.html
We are saddled by unavailability of food, high
prices; Agric Minister will soon be exposed when it
gets worse — Agric group
SOCIAL NEWS
MAR 17, 2022 LISTEN

67. Some agriculture stakeholder groups have condemned what they say is Minister of Food and
Agriculture’s disregard for data on the state of the agric sector.
In a statement, they said they were “appalled and disappointed” by comments by the Minister of
Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, during an interview on the Citi Breakfast
Show on Wednesday 16th March 2022.
The minister maintains that the agric sector is in good standing in the wake of policies like the
planting for food and jobs.
The groups in question are the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Chamber of
Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), the Rice Millers
Association of Ghana (RMAG), and Food Sovereignty Ghana (FSG).
Among other things, they are upset the government refuses to acknowledge Ghana’s struggling
situation with food security, with the 2021 Global Food Index ranking Ghana 82nd, which is a
drop from 76th in 2016.
The groups cited the Ghana Statistical Services’ (GSS) indication that food inflation in Ghana
had reached an all-time high of 17.40 percent as of February 2022.
“If this is not a reflection of the double whammy of escalating prices and weak food supplies,
which undermine food security, then we are not sure what is.”
“The Minister continues to live in the thinking that all things are rosy in the sector when the
reality is that we are saddled with the unavailability of food coupled with high food prices,” the
groups noted.
The groups warned that the minister and other policymakers should not dismiss the negative
forecasts of Ghana’s agriculture sector.
“In fact, forecast by analysts and economists suggest that the situation will get worse in the
coming months due to existing weaknesses in our systems as well as global pressures.”

68. “At the minimum, such reports should be seen as feedback to enable government and the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture to examine their policy toolkits to address the underlying risks
in a collaborative manner,” they added.
—citinewsroom
Comments
https://www.modernghana.com/news/1145611/we-are-saddled-by-unavailability-of-food-high.html
94 lakh tonnes paddy lifted for custom
milling
Thursday, 17 March 2022 | Staff Reporter | RAIPUR
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69. Following instructions of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, paddy lifting for
custom milling is going on across the state at a rapid pace.
An official communiqué said that till Tuesday, 94.47 lakh tonnes of paddy has been
lifted by rice millers for custom milling.
The work of depositing the rice in the Central pool has also been stepped up, it said. So
far, 29.78 lakh tonnes of rice have been deposited.
This includes 16.06 lakh tonnes deposited with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and
13.72 lakh tonnes with the Civil Supplies Corporation.
Food Secretary Topeshwar Verma said that paddy lifting for custom milling was being
done rapidly.
So far, a record 94.47 lakh tonnes of rice have been lifted.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2022/state-editions/94-lakh-tonnes-paddy-lifted-for-custom-
milling.html
Rice Industry Financial
Situation Highlighted During
House Ag Hearing
By Jamison Cruce
WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Agriculture Committee
held a hearing Wednesday focused on climate change
and the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. During the hearing,
several Members highlighted the formidable economic
situation on American farms given ever-increasing
input costs.
Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Julia Letlow (R-LA)
homed in on the unique situation impacting the rice
industry – a combination of both skyrocketing input
costs and stagnant rice prices. Rice has not seen the
rebound in prices other commodities have over the
Rep. Rick Crawford (top),
Dr. Joe Outlaw (bottom left),
and Rep. Julia Letlow (bottom
right)

70. past two years.
Directing a question to Dr. Joe Outlaw, co-director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center
at Texas A&M University (AFPC), Rep. Crawford offered:
“The Russians just announced the suspension of fertilizer exports to the west. We know that's
driving input costs. And meanwhile, India, the world's second biggest producer of rice, wheat,
and sugar is set to spend $20 billion this year to provide free fertilizer to their farmers. So,
everyone here is aware of the staggering increase. And for inputs on the farm, fuel is one of
them. As I mentioned, fertilizer, pest control, seed machinery, I want to say that for most
field crops there's been a corresponding or even greater increase in the commodity
prices…But this is not the case for rice. Prices are only slightly up, not nearly enough to cover
rising input costs. India is spending billions of dollars to flood the world with cheap and dirty
rice while taking the lead on emissions and distorting the world rice market…I hear U.S. rice
farmers are even starting to decline, maybe even go out of business. Can you comment on
the situation for rice?”
In response, Outlaw said, “among all the different types of production systems we work with,
rice is the one that’s actually not doing very well and not projected to do very well over the
next few years mainly because they don't benefit from the higher prices to offset all these
high costs.”
Rep. Letlow also questioned Outlaw on the economic situation for rice farms since AFPC
published a study requested by her office:
“I continue to hear the concerns of our farmers particularly our rice farmers about the
unpredictable challenges they face with increased cost of production. Many who are
considering whether to plant this year…This is a troublesome trend. With additional
challenges we're now facing globally, the situation has only gotten worse, particularly on fuel
and fertilizer. Your study concluded that rice farms experience the highest fertilizer cost
increase, averaging $62.04 per acre, which accounts for an astronomical impact and overall
input cost. What might that look like today and do you agree it is getting worse and could we
quantify that?”
Outlaw responded, “The reality is when we did that study, we had polled numbers at the end
of last year and the first couple of months this year, but conditions have deteriorated even
more. I would suggest that the estimates we gave you are probably 20 to 30 or maybe even
a greater percent lower than they will be next time.”
AFPC has conducted two studies relating to increased input costs, one being rice
specific. According to AFPC, rice farmers will see more than $500 million in losses this year.
USA Rice Farmers Board Chairman Kirk Satterfield sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack on behalf of all U.S. rice farmers on February 25, outlining this situation and the
need for financial assistance using existing funds available to the USDA, including those
designated for market disruptions.
The letter stated: “I am writing to respectfully request that you use the available authorities
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide assistance to the nation’s rice

71. farmers who are facing both low commodity prices and disproportionately higher input costs,
creating a severe financial squeeze that threatens the continued viability of U.S. rice farms
and the rural communities they support.”
USA Rice has been communicating with Congress and the Administration on the crisis in the
rice industry and will continue to advocate for much-needed assistance.
“Since December 2021, USA Rice has been engaging with Members of Congress and their
staff on the unique situation rice farmers stand to face this crop year as prices remain flat and
input costs continue to rise. We appreciate Congressman Crawford and Congresswoman
Letlow for their efforts to highlight the seriousness of the situation,” said Ben Mosely, USA
Rice vice president of government affairs. “Additionally, we applaud the Members of
Congress, including House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member G.T. Thompson, for their
emphasis on the immediate needs farmers, and the agriculture industry as a whole, face with
high input costs.”
USTR Adds Two WTO Experts,
Loses Ag Negotiator Nominee
By Peter Bachmann
WASHINGTON, DC – Updates from the Office of the
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are aplenty as
several key vacancies responsible for World Trade
Organization (WTO) interaction were filled last week
and another important agriculture-related vacancy was
created this week.
Maria Pagan and Andrea
Durkin
Last Thursday, María Pagán was confirmed as the U.S. Ambassador to the WTO by the U.S.
Senate after a monthslong hold was placed on her and another USTR nominee. Her role is a
deputy position to the USTR Ambassador Katherine Tai and she’s chiefly responsible for
negotiating at the WTO on behalf of the U.S. Pagán has been with USTR since 2003 and has
twice served as the acting USTR during presidential transitions. She is an experienced trade
negotiator, having served as lead lawyer for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement talks. She
has also worked in areas including services, government procurement, and WTO disputes.
In a press statement, Ambassador Tai shared: “This job requires an ability to negotiate
effectively, tell hard truths, and bring together diverse coalitions around shared values and
ideals to advance U.S. economic and strategic interests. María has demonstrated all of these
capabilities throughout her distinguished career.”
“One diverse coalition that we hope Ambassador Pagán will quickly assemble once she gets to
Geneva is a bloc in support of meaningful agricultural reforms and another to pursue long