19th March,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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DA, Germany sign agreement on palay, abaca March 18, 2015 8:24 pm

by James Konstanti n Galvez

The Philippines and Germany have signed agreements to boost income of abaca farmers by

giving them access to markets here and abroad and to provide education and training to rice

producers on specific farming techniques and use of modern technology, a top official

said.Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the following agreements were signed: Abaca

Sustainability Initiative (ASI), which will be implemented in Madalag and Libacao in Aklan,

Janiuay and Maasin in Iloilo; and Better Rice Initiative Asia-Fostering Agriculture and Rice

aily Global Rice E-NewsletterMarch 19, 2015

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Marketing by Improved Education and Rural Advisory Services (BRIA-FARMERS) in Aurora,

Iloilo and Southern Leyte.

The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority will implement the ASI in 2015 and 2016

and it aimed to increase the certified production areas to 500 hectares, Alcala said.He said about300 farms, with an average landholding of 1.5 hectares per farmer, will take part in the project

under the Rainforest Alliance, a certifying body recognized by the Sustainable Agriculture

Network.―With their farms certified, the farmers will be assured of better market access in the

coming years, hence, increasing their annual income,‖ Alcala said.He said the project, which has

a P19 million budget, would require putting up nurseries for replanting and rehabilitation of

areas affected by abaca plant diseases and fiber extraction and drying processes will be

introduced.

The project areas were expected to supply the demand for certified products such as teabag

manufacturers and the program will be replicated in other abaca areas in the country to benefit

more farmers, Alcala said.Alcala said at least 8,000 farmers would be beneficiaries of the BRIA-

FARMERS project, which will be implemented by the Agricultural Training Institute and the

Philippine Rice Research Institute starting this year until 2017.He said the project, which has a

P90 million budget, will involve training farmers on value chain analysis, basic agriculture, use

of technology-based nutrient management, post-harvest handling and mechanization.

―Another fresh feature of the project is improving the farmers‘ marketing and enterprise skills

through participation in farm business schools,‖ Alcala said.―We have been deliberately

incorporating entrepreneurship in our programs as we want to produce not only good farmers but

also successful agri-entrepreneurs,‖ he said. http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-

abaca/170261/http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/

Agriculture key part of plan to improve watershed health

Ryan Urban

Chronotype staff

Improving agricultural practices is a central part of a new plan to improve the health of the Red

Cedar Watershed, according to presenters at the annual Red Cedar Watershed Conference heldlast Thursday in Menomonie.Daniel Zerr, a UW-Extension natural resource educator, presented a

plan by Red Cedar Water Quality Partnership focused on reducing phosphorus in Tainter Lake at

the lower part of watershed by 40% within 10 years. Phosphorus in soil, fertilizer and animal

waste fuels blue-green algae blooms seen in local lakes."It's an ambitious plan," said Zerr. "We

need to decrease phosphorus by a lot if we're going to make a difference.

http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http:/www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http:/www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http:/www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http:/www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http://www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/http:/www.manilatimes.net/da-germany-signs-agreement-on-palay-abaca/170261/


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"More than 40 lakes and streams in the Red Cedar Watershed-covering most of Barron and Dunn

counties-are classified as Impaired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, including

Rice Lake and much of the Red Cedar River.The10-year implementation plan seeks reduce

phosphorus by 186,000 pounds annually with several measures. The strategies with the most potential impact are increasing no-till farming (64,000 pounds), responsible manure storage

(34,000) and farmers' use of nutrient management plans (31,000) and cover crops (18,000).Other

strategies focus on treating milkhouse waste, traditional conservation practices,urban stormwater

control and stream buffers, among others.

Case for conservation

Several presenters made a case that keeping fertilizer on fields of no-till soil benefits farming

yields as much as the health of the streams and lakes."Soil erosion is a tragedy," said Rod Olson,

conference co-chair from Rice Lake. "It is far more of a tragedy to the farmer. That is his very

best soil washed down the river."Andy Bensend, a Dallas area farmer, presented the challenges

and benefits in his 25 years of using limited field tillage.

Bensend said after going bankrupt from stagnant milk prices in his first attempt at farming, he

started over in the late 1980s doing no-till agriculture on depleted farmland."The first thing that

happened was our yields were less," said Bensend, adding that having fewer equipment expenses

helped him withstand lower profits.Patience paid off in 5 years. "Our crops didn't demand asmuch fertility. But we put on the same amount of fertilizer and our yields went up," he said.

To demonstrate the benefits of no-till fields and cover crops, United States Department of

Agriculture soil health specialist Ray Archuleta presented two experiments with chunks of tilled

soil and non-tilled soil. The live demonstrations showed that water infiltrates non-tilled soil at a

significantly faster rate while retaining its structure better than tilled soil."When the water rushes

in, we don't want the soil to fall apart," said Archuleta.Soil that breaks apart is more easily

washed into waterways.

Archuleta said natural no-till soil is also more fertile because organic matter breaks down more

slowly when not disturbed. "Tillage is an intrusive tool. It is destructive to the soil ecosystem.

Nature does not till," he said.Archuleta said while there are reactive ways to keep phosphorus-

carrying sediment out of the water-such as buffer zones that catch sediment-the best thing for

both land and water is to be proactive to stop runoff at the source. "We have to take care of the

raindrop where it lands," he said.


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Increasing cooperation

Implementing the Red Cedar River Water Quality Partnership plan will depend on getting organizations

and the public more involved. Ways to do so include collaboration between groups and agencies,

educational events, equipment sharing and farmer-led councils, said Zerr.

He said the plan will have ongoing evaluations and adjustments and continue accordingly beyond the first

10 years.The Red Cedar River Water Quality Partnership is a coalition of several government agencies,

municipalities, organizations, universities and businesses.

Focus on Poverty: Improving nutrition isn’t just about

science

A ‗green revolution‘ is more of a challenge for Africa than it was for Asia Improved crop varieties must fit into complex agricultural and economic systems

Better jobs are also needed to cut poverty and improve diets more widely

―As Africa prospers, will diets improve?‖ The media has been pondering this question lately. [1] On the one hand, veteranenvironmentalist Lester Brown warns that huge dustbowls couldleave regions of northern Africa in serious agricultural trouble.[2] On the other, SciDev.Net reports encouraging progress onsweet potato production in Africa. So what do we need to knowto make an assessment? Two recent academic studies are

useful. In his book Food security and scarcity, Harvard academic and Center for GlobalDevelopment fellow Peter Timmer says global hunger eradication is so hard ―because

governments and markets need to work together around an agenda of pro-poor growth,agricultural development, and stable food economies‖. [3] (See below for a video of Timmerdiscussing how agriculture meshes with broader structural economic changes in the developingworld.)

Per Pinstrup-Andersen, an economist at Cornell University in the United States, has edited acomplementary volume, Food price policy in an era of market instability. [4] This is written inthe context of the food price volatility seen worldwide since 2007. The book is mainly based on14 case studies from developing countries. It shows how government responses either amplify oraddress the issue. Both books draw out several interesting policy lessons and make clear thatscientific research is only one element among many needed to improve people‘s diets. Let‘s takethe Pinstrup-Andersen book.

He writes, among other things, of the need to strengthen the ―policy-relevant evidence base‖, toreduce the ―fiscal costs of short-term interventions‖ such as subsidising food and fertilisers, andinvesting in ―improved rural infrastructure‖. (Pinstrup-Anderson summarises these and otherissues in a handy policy brief.) [5]

Returning to Africa: this should not be that surprising, since its agricultural practices aredifferent from those in Asia, where nutritional improvements have been comparatively easy to

http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/food-security/http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/food-security/http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/food-security/http://www.scidev.net/global/governance/policy/http://www.scidev.net/global/governance/policy/http://www.scidev.net/global/governance/policy/http://www.scidev.net/global/health/nutrition/http://www.scidev.net/global/health/nutrition/http://www.scidev.net/global/health/nutrition/http://www.scidev.net/global/health/nutrition/http://www.scidev.net/global/governance/policy/http://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/food-security/http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/farming/multimedia/science-meeting-farmers-need.htmlhttp://www.scidev.net/global/agriculture/


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achieve. The high and reliable yields of the rice varieties championed by the International RiceResearch Institute over its 50-year history ensured that Asian countries increased supplydramatically. Noting this, Timmer contrasts his visits to Karawang in West Java, Indonesia, andthe Machakos region of Kenya. While Karawang has extensive and well irrigated rice fields,Machakos has poor roads, a dependence on rainfall and small farms that grow multiple crops

next to each other. There are maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, yams, groundnuts, cowpeas andmany other crops. For such reasons, a Green Revolution for Africa is much more challenging. Itis not only a question of developing new and better varieties of crops, but also of ensuring thatthese fit into a highly complex agricultural and economic system.

So it is hard to say in general whether Africa‘s diet will improve soon. You only need to check

the country-by-country studies released this month by the Global Nutrition Report to see howcomplex the situation is. [6]

Too much of Africa‘s growth depends on exporting minerals, oil and natural gas. Many countries

certainly need a more productive agricultural sector, where agricultural research and food policy both play a role. Without generating a surplus or costly food imports, the cities cannot be fed.But it is not just a question of increasing agricultural productivity. Other factors, such as betteremployment for those in the informal sector, are needed to provide the inclusive growth and poverty eradication that will improve diets more widely.

Image credit: Brian Sokol / Panos

Roger Williamson is an independent consultant and visiting fellow with both UNU-WIDER andthe Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Previous

positions include organising nearly 80 international policy conferences for the UK Foreign

Office and being head of policy and campaigns at Christian Aid

German finance agency eyes P109-M PHL agricultural projects

by Philippine News Agency

March 19, 2015 (updated)

image: https://reader010.{domain}/reader010/html5/0603/5b131ac7293e5/5b131acd96f69.jpg

Abaca drying/Photo by John Washington (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-

2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

http://www.mb.com.ph/author/philippine-news-agency/http://www.mb.com.ph/author/philippine-news-agency/http://www.mb.com.ph/author/philippine-news-agency/http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/abaca.jpghttp://www.mb.com.ph/author/philippine-news-agency/


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Alcala said that one of the projects feature is the enhancement of farmers‘ marketing and

enterprise skills through participation in farm business schools.―We have been deliberately

incorporating entrepreneurship in our programs as we want to produce not only good farmers but

also successful agri-entrepreneurs,‖ he said.On the other hand, the Abaca Sustainability Initiative

aims to secure the ecological sustainability of abaca fiber production and to enhance the income

of abaca farmers through improved access to markets and extension services.

With a budget of €386,000 (about P19 million), the project specifically aims to increase the

certified production areas in the provinces of Aklan and Iloilo to a minimum of 500 hectares and

would directly benefit some 300 abaca farmers with an estimated average landholding of 1.5

hectares.It will be implemented by the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority from

2015 to 2016 in the towns of Libacao and Madalag in Aklan and in Januiay and Maasin in

Iloilo.The farms covered under the project will undergo certification from the Rainforest

Alliance, a certifying body recognized by the Sustainable Agriculture Network.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99

Aman output strikes all-time high3/19/2015

The Financial Express (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh, March 19 -- Aman rice output hit an all-time high of 13.19 million tonnes in Aman

rice season as farmer bounced back from last year's savage flood, the government has said.The

rice yield in Aman season showed 1.3 per cent growth in the current financial year over a year

earlier, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) said.Sector insiders said higher production in the

first two rice seasons---Aus and Aman-has ground for restricting riceimport to safeguard the

local rice industry.Considering the financial year or the Bangla calendar year, Aus is the first rice

cropping season in Bangladesh followed by Aman, contributing 38 per cent, and Boro,

contributing 55 per cent, to overall output, according to the agriculture ministry.

BBS latest data revealed that the production of Aman was a record13.190 million tonnes at 5.53

million hectares of land in FY'15, which was 13.02 million tonnes in FY'14.Deputy director(agriculture wing) of BBS Bidhan Boral said that cultivable land remained almost static at 5.53

million hectares but per hectare yield has increased notably this FY which helped rise the

production.He said Aus production increased minimally by 2,000 tonnes in the current financial

year and the two cropping seasons jointly gifted 15.518 million tonnes so far, which was 15.346

million tonnes in FY'14-or 1.12 per cent growth.The BBS data showed that the country got a

http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99http://www.mb.com.ph/german-finance-agency-eyes-p109-m-phl-agricultural-projects/#WDVXa1cAZp9m1xqI.99


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record 33.465 million tonnes of rice in the last financial year against 33.1 million tonnes of

demand estimated by the Director General of Food (DGoF).

The government has now a good stock of 1.097 million tonnes of cereal including 0.814 million

tonnes of rice and 0.099 million tonnes of wheat.The food stock size was 1.084 million tonnes inthe corresponding period of the last fiscal, the food ministry data showed.According to the

Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills Owners Association, the biggest platform of the

country's rice millers, more than 20,000 millers and 0.35 million of traders have above 3.5

million tonnes of rice stock for every two month.Despite bumper production in almost all

cropping seasons, rice import (through the private channel) witnessed a record in the current

financial year, according to the ministry of food.

The food ministry data showed that importers brought a record 1.057 million tonnes of rice in

July-March'15 period of the current financial year when overall import was 0.374 million tonnesin FY'14.The uncontrolled imports coupled with the two and a half month-long political turmoil

have dealt a severe blow to the local rice industry, said the traders.Rice millers said more than 60

per cent of the mills across the country were forced to close their operation this year following

uneven competition with the Indian rice and the political upheaval continuing since January this

year.

Rice prices, which increased significantly in January-February period, went down to the level of

pre-blockade period from March, according to Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills

Owners Association (BAMHMOA).BAMHMOA secretary KM Layek Ali told the FE that in the

absence of any import duty, imported rice has flooded the market.He said the government fixed

minimum Aman rice price at Tk32 per kg when importers are bringing it at below Tk23-26 per

kg.He said: "Our milling cost is above Tk29-29.5 per kg for swarna variety.""This uneven

competition forced 60 per cent of millers in the rice growing hubs to stop their operation", he

said.He said: " Import is logical if the domestic supply is lower and price is volatile, but the

country has been getting bumper production for the last few years.

"He said: "The government should impose a minimum 20 per cent import duty on rice import to

protect the local rice industry."Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) additional research director Dr

Khondaker Golam Moazzem said domestic supply, demand and market prices should be

considered before importers to import .He said the local producers and its market players should

get the first priority for the country's food security.He also said that the government should also

look into the matter why local output cost is not competitive compared with that of

other exporting countries.He said the devaluation of Indian rupee against the US Dollar is on the


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rise parallel to it strong BDT against the greenback is giving the Indian exporters room for

sending rice to Bangladesh.

[email protected]

Published by HT Syndication with permission from The Financial Express. For any query with

respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor

[email protected]

http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2325167085

IBEC to launch Isabela biomass plant next month

March 19, 2015 10:01:00 PMA 20-MEGAWATT (MW) biomass project in the province of I sabela wil l star t operati ons next

month, an Energy department offi cial said on Wednesday.

Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Y. Monsada said Isabela Biomass Energy Corp. (IBEC) has

completed major works on the P2-billion power facility.―It will start around end of April. It was

a little delayed because it was affected by the port congestion,‖ Ms. Monsada said in Makati

City.The project -- which will serve as IBEC‘s maiden venture -- was originally due to be

operational early this year.The 20-MW project is being built in Barangay Burgos in the

municipality of Alicia.

Asked if IBEC expressed interest to expand the plant, Ms. Monsada said: ―They can still do it

but they want to see how the first one will work first.‖IBEC was established by a group of six

rice millers in Isabela. The feedstock that will be used for the power plant will come from their

milling by-product.Ms. Monsada said the project, once completed, will enter the feed-in tariff

(FIT) program.Under the FIT, renewable energy developers will dispatch the capacity of their

projects to the grid at a fixed rate for a period of 20 years.The Energy Regulatory Commission

approved, in July 2012, FIT rates for run-of-river hydro (P5.90 per kilowatt-hour); biomass

(P6.63/kWh); wind (P8.53); and solar (P9.68/kWh).The rates are based on the assigned

installation ceilings per technology, which total 750-MW. Run-of-river hydro and biomass

projects are allocated 250 MW each, wind power 200 MW, and solar power 50 MW.

Earlier this month, a 12-MW biomass plant owned by San Jose City I Power Corp. (SJC IPower)

in Nueva Ecija also started commercial operations.The P2-billion biomass project is located in a

five-hectare complex in Barangay Tulat, San Jose City.It represents the first phase of the 24-MW

planned biomass project in the area. The second plant will start operations next year.SJC IPower

is 66%-owned by Lucio L. Co‘s Union Energy Corp. The remaining interest is held by 21 rice

milling firms in Nueva Ecija. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano

mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2325167085http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2325167085http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2325167085mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-

plant-next-month&id=104710

Chinese lead world in genetic rice research but governmentlimits success

Mandy Zuo | March 19, 2015 | South China Morning Post

Angel or demon, transgenic crops have become one of the ―frontier technologies‖ that China is

determined to embrace.In contrast to China‘s usual modesty in academic matters, mainland

scientists claim that genetically modified organisms, utilising recombinant DNA technology, is

among the few fields in which China can claim to be globally competitive.Genetically modified

rice, in particular, is the achievement that China should be most proud of, they say. But they fear

the government‘s persistent hesitation to commercialise their successes could make China‘s GMquest lose momentum.

A quarter of the world‘s top research papers on rice have been written by Chinese researchers,

said Yan Jianbing, a corn genomics researcher at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan

.With vast funding and a big team, China was ready to bring to market an insect-resistant

transgenic rice it developed on its own a decade ago, said Zhu Zhen, a researcher at the Chinese

Academy of Sciences‘ Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology.

But the government has chosen so far not to commercialise its GMO expertise as the technology

remains controversial around the world and has triggered fierce debate at home.―Public opinion

remains unfavourable for the technology, and even now, the prospect for commercialisation is

unclear,‖ Zhu said.But in the government‘s first policy directive this year, issued earlier this

month, authorities called for improvements in safety management and public education on GM

crops.

Read full original article: Genetically modified food in China: time to reap whatscientists sow?

http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UT

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US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-plant-next-month&id=104710http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-plant-next-month&id=104710http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-plant-next-month&id=104710http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://98.139.21.31/search/srpcache?p=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-706&fp=1&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Chinese+lead+world+in+genetic+rice+research+but+government+limits+success&d=54044815091368402&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=qntKa_ir2yIvJxmjMStRBQla_WU6QZi7&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=Z7SVGIdeixkS2WoLDB9MFA--http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1740481/genetically-modified-food-china-time-reap-what-scientists-sow?utm_content=buffer5e576&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=bufferhttp://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-plant-next-month&id=104710http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=ibec-to-launch-isabela-biomass-plant-next-month&id=104710


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Pangasinan among top rice producers in 2014

March 19, 2015

By April M. Montes

DAGUPAN CITY, March 19 (PIA) – Pangasinan bagged its third Agri-Pinoy Rice Achiever

Award from the Department of Agriculture (DA) as one of the country‘s top rice-producing

provinces in 2014.The annual contest recognizes the country‘s rice farmers and their respective

provincial and municipal officials and farm workers for their continuing efforts and contributions

to increased rice production.Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Nestor Batalla said that

Pangasinan and other top rice-producing provinces, municipalities and cities, farmers and

irrigators‘ associations, and agricultural workers will be honored in appropriate ceremonies in

Metro Manila on March 25.

―We have been notified that the province is one of the country‘s top three rice producers lastyear,‖ Batalla said.The province will receive a trophy and check worth P4 million for rice-related

projects during the awarding ceremonies, he added.―In gunning for the award, the provincial

government has banked its claim on a rice productivity enhancement program launched in 2012

when the provincial government decided to plow in funds, extend outreach technology services

and provide support infrastructure to rice farmers in the province‖ the Provincial Information

Office reported.

As a result of the program, about 150,000 rice farmers in Pangasinan harvested 1.099 metric tons

of rice last year which was 34,166 tons higher than total harvests the previous year, data

collected by the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics had shown.As part of the rice program, the provincial government extended partly subsidized and interest-free loans in the form of fertilizer

and certified seeds to 2,130 farmers in 14 rice producing towns.It also put on the ground P275

million in support infrastructure projects that included small irrigation systems, farm-to-market

roads, multi-purpose pavements used for sun drying, and bridges.

And in tandem with DA and a non-government organization, the province expanded its seed

production and distribution project that resulted in 75 percent of the province‘s rice farmers

shifting to the full use of certified and hybrid palay seeds.These resulted in higher harvest for

each farmer that redounded to an over-all growth in total harvests by about four percent, much

higher than the national average of less than two percent.Good farm gate prices of palay alsoresulted in higher earnings for each of the individual rice farmers last year. (MCA/AMM/PIA-1,

Pangasinan)

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-

2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpuf

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpufhttp://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpufhttp://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpufhttp://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpufhttp://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1941426582117/pangasinan-among-top-rice-producers-in-2014#sthash.1qSRCsBT.dpuf


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NLA to Hear G2G Rice Distribution Scheme Case on

April 2

BY EDITOR ON 2015-03-19THAILAND

NLA to Hear G2G Rice Distribution Scheme Case on April 2 BANGKOK, 19 March 2015 (NNT) – The President of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has

announced that the legislative body will begin hearing the impeachment case of the former officials in the

Commerce Ministry associated with the rice pledging scheme on April 2.

NLA President Ponpetch Wichitcholchai yesterday announced that the assembly was slated toopen the impeachment cases of former Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, formerDeputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol and former Director General Department of ForeignTrade Manas Soiploy on April 2.The NLA has received the case files from the National Anti-

Corruption Commission (NACC) which has accused the defendants of power abuse anddereliction of duty which led to financial damages in the government-to-government (G2G) ricedistribution scheme.In a similar case, the NLA voted on January 23 to impeach former PrimeMinister Yingluck Shinawatra for her failure to halt or rectify the costly and corrupt rice- pledging scheme, effectively banning her from political activity for 5 years. The case was alsosubmitted by the NACC.

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/nla-to-hear-g2g-rice-distribution-scheme-case-on-april-2/40732/

Thai court says ex-premier to stand trial over rice program

By THANYARAT DOKSONE

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's Supreme Court announced Thursday that former Prime Minister

Yingluck Shinawatra will stand trial for her role in overseeing a rice subsidy program

spearheaded by her ousted government that lost billions of dollars, a move likely to deepen the

long-running political crisis in the military-ruled nation.Yingluck faces 10 years in prison if

found guilty in the case, seen by her allies as part of an attempt by an elite minority to crush herfamily's political machine, which has repeatedly won power through democratic elections over

the last decade.

In a post on her Facebook page, Yingluck insisted she was innocent and called on the judiciary to

give her a fair trial — unlike past cases she said were "politically intended to destroy

me."Yingluck was ousted from her post as prime minister by a court decision that came two

http://news.thaivisa.com/author/editor/http://news.thaivisa.com/author/editor/http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/nla-to-hear-g2g-rice-distribution-scheme-case-on-april-2/40732/http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/nla-to-hear-g2g-rice-distribution-scheme-case-on-april-2/40732/http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/nla-to-hear-g2g-rice-distribution-scheme-case-on-april-2/40732/http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/http://news.thaivisa.com/author/editor/


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weeks before the military staged a coup last May. Earlier this year, she was impeached by the

military-appointed legislature, which banned her from politics for five years.

On Thursday, Supreme Court Judge Weerapol Tangsuwan said that a nine-member judicial panel

had studied documents submitted by prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office and

accepted the case since it fell within the court's jurisdiction. He set the trial for May 19.Yingluck,who was not present in court, is being charged with dereliction in overseeing the controversial

rice subsidy program, which temporarily cost Thailand its crown as the world's top exporter.

In this Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 photo, Thailand's former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, leaves …

The program was a flagship policy that helped

Yingluck's Pheu Thai Party win elections in

2011, and Yingluck has argued it was aimed at

helping poor farmers who were paid about 50

percent above what they would get on the world

market. The program, however, racked up losses

of at least $4.46 billion as the Thai government

stockpiled mass quantities of rice. Prosecutors

say Yingluck ignored multiple warnings from

several state agencies about possible corruption — none of which has yet been proven in court.

http://news.yahoo.com/thai-court-says-ex-premier-stand-trial-over-041011666.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/photos/friday-jan-9-2015-photo-thailands-former-prime-photo-070803376.html


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Earlier this year, the National Anti-Corruption Commission recommended the Finance Ministry

sue her personally for at least 600 billion baht ($18.4 billion).Thailand has been plagued by

political turmoil that boiled over after the army ousted Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra,

in a 2006 coup. The putsch was part of a societal schism that in broad terms pits the majority

rural poor, who back the Shinawatras, against an urban-based elite establishment supported by

the army and staunch royalists who see Yingluck's family as a corrupt threat to the traditional

structures of power.

Yingluck's opponents argue the Shinawatras have used their electoral majority to impose their

will and subvert democracy.The day Yingluck's trial begins has significance in Bangkok. It

marks the fifth anniversary of a bloody army crackdown against demonstrators backing the

Shinawatras who had occupied downtown Bangkok for two months. More than 90 people were

killed in the protests, which ended with parts of the city shrouded in black smoke from burning

buildings.

http://news.yahoo.com/thai-court-says-ex-premier-stand-trial-over-041011666.html

Govt Trashes Reports on Sale of Fake Rice By Express News service

Published: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM

Last Updated: 19th March 2015 06:05 AM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has trashed reports which said that fake

rice, allegedly containing plastic, was being sold in the state.Scientific examination of rice

samples have proved the reports wrong, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said here on Wednesday

after a joint meeting on food adulteration convened by him, Food Minister Anoop Jacob and

Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan. Food Safety officials have tested 25 samples and plastic was

not detected in any of them, Sivakumar said.The tests were conducted after reports emerged last

week that fake ‗plastic rice‘, reportedly or iginating in China, was being sold in the state.The

Minister said that the sticky membrane-like substance formed of starch in the rice would burn

once it is dry.

The rice variety Oryza glutinosa is stickier than Oryza sativa variety and the film of starch isthicker. For more clarity on the issue, the public can also get rice samples tested at the analytical

laboratories of the Health Department in Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode,

Sivakumar said.Nearly 2,000 samples were examined following reports which said that coconut

oil laced with toxic mineral oil was being sold in the state, but the examinations have proved

these reports wrong, Sivakumar said.

http://news.yahoo.com/thai-court-says-ex-premier-stand-trial-over-041011666.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/thai-court-says-ex-premier-stand-trial-over-041011666.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/thai-court-says-ex-premier-stand-trial-over-041011666.html


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These samples were collected at checkposts and manufacturing units. Examination of 300 other

samples collected from various parts of the state revealed the presence of palm oil and palm

kernel oil, he said.Wednesday‘s meeting decided to strengthen vigil against food adulteration in

rice, coconut oil, vegetables and fruits sold in the state. So far, two criminal cases have been

charged against distributors and vendors for artificially ripening fruits using calcium

carbide.Agriculture secretary Rajan Khobragade, Food Safety Commissioner T V Anupama,

Civil Supplies Commissioner Shyam Jagannathan, Health Department director Dr P K Jameela,

Agriculture director R Ajith Kumar, Horticulture Mission director K Prathapan, Horticorp

Managing Director M Suresh Kumar, Kerafed Managing Director Ashok Kumar and other

officials attended the meeting.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-

Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ece

White Rice, Brown Rice Or Red Rice: Which One is theHealthiest?

NDTV Food, Modified: March 19, 2015 17:23 IST

Would you not like some rice along with chicken curry? Instead you settle for tawa rotis or

probably try to pacify your taste buds with just a few spoons of the humble staple. Why has

eating rice been such a problem for those who are trying to lose weight or are on a strict calorie

restricting diet? Putting it across, in straight and much simpler words - rice is not an enemy of

http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ecehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ecehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ecehttp://food.ndtv.com/topic/ricehttp://food.ndtv.com/topic/ricehttp://food.ndtv.com/topic/ricehttp://food.ndtv.com/topic/ricehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ecehttp://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/Govt-Trashes-Reports-on-Sale-of-Fake-Rice/2015/03/19/article2720643.ece


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the weight related goals that you are trying to achieve - inadequate knowledge about this food

item is.

White rice

Let's unravel what makes this traditional variety such a huge topic of debate in the health andfitness circle. White rice is the highly refined version of raw rice, which is hulled and milled.What makes this variety a not-so-healthy one despite it being widely consumed throughout theworld is the fact that processing and milling takes away significant parts of the grain - bran andgerm. Bran and germ are rich in dietary fibre as well as nutrients that are beneficial for humanhealth.

According to a Delhi based weight management expert, Dr. Gargi Sharma, "If white riceundergoes further process of polishing then its aleurone layer gets removed leading to loss ofnutrients. This layer is rich in B vitamins, other nutrients and essential fats."

White rice is primarily starch. Due to processing, it falls short on some essential nutrients like

thiamine, also known as B1 as well other B Vitamins. Consuming un-enriched white rice canlead to a condition called beriberi, which occurs due to thiamine deficiency. White rice is alsotreated with additives that can - in certain cases - harm human body and trigger metabolicdisorders like diabetes, obesity and so on.

According to Dr. Ritika Samaddar, Max Healthcare Saket, New Delhi, "The milling and

polishing destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half


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of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, all of the dietary fibre as well the

essential fatty acids present in the raw variety." As alarming as these facts may seem, doing

away with white rice completely may be a tough choice for most people. This is where healthier

alternatives like coloured rice step in.

The healthier alternatives: Brown, red and black

Both brown and red rice have similar nutritional profiles including harvesting process. These are

either un-hulled or partially hulled types of rice, which means you get to chew on the bran and

germ that are known to have various beneficial properties. Brown rice is easily available across

the globe whereas the red one is specifically typical to Himalayan Mountains, southern Tibet,

Bhutan, as well as southern India.

According to Dr. Gargi Sharma, "Brown rice and red rice are quite similar when we talk about

them on the nutritional front. Both are great sources of fibre, B vitamins, calcium, zinc and iron,

manganese, selenium, magnesium and other nutrients. One thing that sets the red variety apart

from its brown counterpart is it being enriched with antioxidants that can help fight damaging

free radicals in our body."


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Why brown and red rice?

The red variety gets its rich colour from an antioxidant called anthocyanins, which are also foundin deep purple or reddish fruits and vegetables. The compound is believed to have properties that

can reduce inflammation, allergy, prevent risks of cancer and help in weight management. The

manganese present in both varieties helps in strengthening metabolism, while magnesium helps

in migraine, lowers blood pressure as well as risks of heart attacks. Along with calcium,

magnesium helps in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, and prevents risks of arthritis and

osteoporosis. Selenium on the other hand protects the body against infections.

Moreover, since they are high in fibre content, the digestion process is slow, which leads to a

strengthened digestive system. Fibre also aids in slowing down the rate at which carbs are

converted into blood sugar; therefore fibrous foods are low on the glycemic load.According to experts, the two varieties are also highly recommended for diabetics - because of

their low glycemic index - and heart patients. These are considered whole grains, which can help

in reducing the arterial plaque, prevent risks of cardiovascular diseases, tame high cholesterol

and regulate blood sugar. According to recent studies, consuming one cup of brown rice on a

daily basis can significantly cut short the risks of developing diabetes by up to 60%.


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We stumbled upon a few studies that talked about a certain component in brown rice that can

cause harm to human health - phytic acid. Dr. Gargi Sharma explains, "Phytic acid can hinder

iron and calcium absorption. It can happen in cases where you consume brown rice along with

food that are rich in calcium or iron. Only those on a high calcium or iron diet would need to be alittle careful with the consumption of brown rice."

The forbidden rice

Once known as a food served only to the royals in ancient China, the consumption of black rice

was forbidden by the masses. The surge in food trends revolving around healthier options like

brown rice, quinoa or sunflower seeds has finally given way to unravel this superfood. Shiny

black grains of rice when cooked turn purple that not only is a treat to eyes but also to the taste

buds.

This variety beats the nutritional benefits of brown and red rice combined. Rich in fibre, it comes

loaded with antioxidants, phytonutrients, phytochemicals, Vitamin E, protein, iron, and other

nutrients. It is believed to be beneficial for the liver, kidney and stomach. It has high content of


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anthocyanins, which help in preventing risks of cancer. Its low sugar and glycemic content

makes it an extremely desirable dietary option for heart patients, diabetics as well as for those

with high blood pressure.

"A spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanins antioxidants than

are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar, more fibre, vitamins and

antioxidants," noted Zhimin Zu, associate professor, Louisiana and State University, America.

With over 40,000 different varieties of rice cultivated and consumed all across the globe,

depriving yourself of the simple pleasure of digging into a bowl is unfair. A healthy lifestyle is

all about striking a balance between good food and nutrition. Identifying what's nutritious for

your health and giving it an interesting, flavourful spin is the remedy.

Other Links:http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-

747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+Decem

ber+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/white-rice-brown-rice-or-red-rice-which-one-is-the-healthiest-747933?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email


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www.ricepluss.com




Govt allocates Rs 4bn for paddy purchasing

Mar 19, 2015 Melanie Santiago

The government has allocated four

billion rupees in order to purchase paddy. Minister of Food Security

Gamini Jayawickrama Perera says

that these funds will be distributed

amongst the district secretaries after

consulting the Prime Minister in

this regard.He added that they have

informed the divisional secretaries

to give the ministry two days notice

if there is shortfall in the funds

provided, as there could be a delay

in the process.The Minister also added that the allocated funds will be remitted to the relevant

divisional secretariats once they are provided with the money by the treasury.

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/govt-allocates-rs-4bn-for-paddy-purchasing/84297

Arkansas Governor Calls for End to U.S. Cuba Embargo

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Yesterday, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed House Joint Resolution1006, calling on the U.S. government to lift its trade embargo on Cuba and open the market to American

rice and other commodities.Senator Eddie Jo Williams (R-AR-29) and Representative David Hillman (D-

AR-13) sponsored the bipartisan resolution that supports the message Arkansas Rice members had

delivered to their Congressional delegation during last month's USA Rice Government Affairs

Conference.

"We thank the General Assembly and Governor Hutchinson for supporting our effort to open the

emerging Cuban marketplace to Arkansas agriculture," said USA Rice Chairman and Arkansas rice

grower Dow Brantley. "Rice is one of many commodities that could see significant gains for our farmers

and Arkansas's economy if the federal government eases its decades-old trade embargo on Cuba."

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/govt-allocates-rs-4bn-for-paddy-purchasing/84297http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/govt-allocates-rs-4bn-for-paddy-purchasing/84297http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/03/govt-allocates-rs-4bn-for-paddy-purchasing/84297


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www.ricepluss.com




Re-opening the Cuban market is a priority for USA Rice; most believe the first step is establishing

normal, two-way commercial trade."Normal trade will get the Cuban economy moving to create capitalthat can be used to purchase the products they need -- rice foremost among them," said USA Rice's

Marvin Lehrer, who recently returned from a trade trip to Cuba.

Standing from left to r ight: Rep. David H il lman, Sen. Eddie Joe Will iams, Bi ll Reed, Eri c Vaught,

Jerry Hoskyn, and Ben Noble with Governor Asa Hutchinson at the signi ng of the Cuba Rice Trade

Resolution .

Contact: Ben Noble (501) 375-1100

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 76,500 MT for 2014/2015 were down 7 percent from the

previous week and 11 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales

Highlights report. Increases were reported for Japan (36,200 MT), South Korea (22,000 MT), Saudi

Arabia (9,000 MT), unknown destinations (2,100 MT), and Colombia (2,000 MT). Exports of 41,800

MT were down 21 percent from the previous week and 15 percent from the prior four -week average.

The primary destinations were Mexico (17,000 MT), Japan (13,100 MT), Saudi Arabia (3,600 MT),


23/25


www.ricepluss.com




Canada (2,400 MT), and Jordan (2,300 MT). This summary is based on reports from exporters from the

period March 6-12.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for March 19

Month Price Net Change

May 2015 $10.925 - $0.120

July 2015 $11.165 - $0.125

September 2015 $11.300 - $0.100

November 2016 $11.460 - $0.100

January 2016 $11.610 - $0.100

March 2016 $11.610 - $0.100

May 2016 $11.610 - $0.100

March 19 Rice outlook and farm bill Q&A webinar

Mar 18, 2015Bobby Coats Delta Farm Press

Editor’s note: Bobby Coats is a professor in the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Rice outlook

In its March report, USDA raised the U.S. long-grain season-average rough rice price 30 cents on

both ends, to $12.20-$12.80 per cwt.

UDSA made no supply side revisions in their March report.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KDcu3034kLBCkHnYoS4cGFiaaWCwhvN-XLf_WzNRxRDr7FEbHqONevzLBwFgjdgfhA7Jy2JfGKjMstpFuitJLneK5V2keBGdLyCnoXn_9gDdNHO7MR-gaF3zv2VlBW3hyQqPF1FZ2pZbHb4WYU6SjrQTCMJw9oERtuN6i3G4eYYs-U327Lj7TpVENqv1L16qRC5i6ZbhPkJ4rHtPUZrjCwDiql_xZ09Q7iCTbKStLI5Ji4C7m6AAEh7zuNliyOy4qhxXfyjXvFcygJqngp11eZP4JIUssCIIG62ykPdNa6KccIwal8kcROuGsZgSKcnRPVvNEoUnZod467eryTjiR2ONHedfB3oRtEgQMNUyuAxeEENSUu6U8V1JDhM3EVkIHbrPGnF0qCM-38Fhas7-s2NVx24huo9mj6LrJuh0WkQU4rSeW8gGW1H_ueGYjRJqboAwOtbXSD8w5dgUglJaU0w5ROgw9E1g&c=L9EsnbvAdYPGSqWiPKmgGcjS6RpPrOsrtEza_MbDkqDi2YRwHxKgUw==&ch=AfSeFleyzIBX-_v0E9UB5LQAM0NLMWhI1M5qI6PKmYLSomIp5rD-LA==http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KDcu3034kLBCkHnYoS4cGFiaaWCwhvN-XLf_WzNRxRDr7FEbHqONevzLBwFgjdgfhA7Jy2JfGKjMstpFuitJLneK5V2keBGdLyCnoXn_9gDdNHO7MR-gaF3zv2VlBW3hyQqPF1FZ2pZbHb4WYU6SjrQTCMJw9oERtuN6i3G4eYYs-U327Lj7TpVENqv1L16qRC5i6ZbhPkJ4rHtPUZrjCwDiql_xZ09Q7iCTbKStLI5Ji4C7m6AAEh7zuNliyOy4qhxXfyjXvFcygJqngp11eZP4JIUssCIIG62ykPdNa6KccIwal8kcROuGsZgSKcnRPVvNEoUnZod467eryTjiR2ONHedfB3oRtEgQMNUyuAxeEENSUu6U8V1JDhM3EVkIHbrPGnF0qCM-38Fhas7-s2NVx24huo9mj6LrJuh0WkQU4rSeW8gGW1H_ueGYjRJqboAwOtbXSD8w5dgUglJaU0w5ROgw9E1g&c=L9EsnbvAdYPGSqWiPKmgGcjS6RpPrOsrtEza_MbDkqDi2YRwHxKgUw==&ch=AfSeFleyzIBX-_v0E9UB5LQAM0NLMWhI1M5qI6PKmYLSomIp5rD-LA==http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KDcu3034kLBCkHnYoS4cGFiaaWCwhvN-XLf_WzNRxRDr7FEbHqONevzLBwFgjdgfhA7Jy2JfGKjMstpFuitJLneK5V2keBGdLyCnoXn_9gDdNHO7MR-gaF3zv2VlBW3hyQqPF1FZ2pZbHb4WYU6SjrQTCMJw9oERtuN6i3G4eYYs-U327Lj7TpVENqv1L16qRC5i6ZbhPkJ4rHtPUZrjCwDiql_xZ09Q7iCTbKStLI5Ji4C7m6AAEh7zuNliyOy4qhxXfyjXvFcygJqngp11eZP4JIUssCIIG62ykPdNa6KccIwal8kcROuGsZgSKcnRPVvNEoUnZod467eryTjiR2ONHedfB3oRtEgQMNUyuAxeEENSUu6U8V1JDhM3EVkIHbrPGnF0qCM-38Fhas7-s2NVx24huo9mj6LrJuh0WkQU4rSeW8gGW1H_ueGYjRJqboAwOtbXSD8w5dgUglJaU0w5ROgw9E1g&c=L9EsnbvAdYPGSqWiPKmgGcjS6RpPrOsrtEza_MbDkqDi2YRwHxKgUw==&ch=AfSeFleyzIBX-_v0E9UB5LQAM0NLMWhI1M5qI6PKmYLSomIp5rD-LA==http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001KDcu3034kLBCkHnYoS4cGFiaaWCwhvN-XLf_WzNRxRDr7FEbHqONevzLBwFgjdgfhA7Jy2JfGKjMstpFuitJLneK5V2keBGdLyCnoXn_9gDdNHO7MR-gaF3zv2VlBW3hyQqPF1FZ2pZbHb4WYU6SjrQTCMJw9oERtuN6i3G4eYYs-U327Lj7TpVENqv1L16qRC5i6ZbhPkJ4rHtPUZrjCwDiql_xZ09Q7iCTbKStLI5Ji4C7m6AAEh7zuNliyOy4qhxXfyjXvFcygJqngp11eZP4JIUssCIIG62ykPdNa6KccIwal8kcROuGsZgSKcnRPVvNEoUnZod467eryTjiR2ONHedfB3oRtEgQMNUyuAxeEENSUu6U8V1JDhM3EVkIHbrPGnF0qCM-38Fhas7-s2NVx24huo9mj6LrJuh0WkQU4rSeW8gGW1H_ueGYjRJqboAwOtbXSD8w5dgUglJaU0w5ROgw9E1g&c=L9EsnbvAdYPGSqWiPKmgGcjS6RpPrOsrtEza_MbDkqDi2YRwHxKgUw==&ch=AfSeFleyzIBX-_v0E9UB5LQAM0NLMWhI1M5qI6PKmYLSomIp5rD-LA==


24/25


www.ricepluss.com




• Total U.S. supplies of rice in 2014/15 remain projected at 275.9 million cwt, 11 percent higher than

a year earlier.

• Total U.S. exports were revised up 1.0 million cwt to 104.0 million cwt. Long-grain milled rice

accounted for all of the increase.

2014/15 global rice production is forecast at 474.9 million tons (milled basis)

• Up 0.3 million tons from last month‘s forecast. Global rice production is still 2.2 million tons below

the 2013/14 record.The global 2014/15 consumption forecast at a record 483.7 million tons.2014/15

global rice ending stocks are forecast to 97.6 million tons, the lowest since 2009/10.The 2015 global

rice trade forecast is 42.6 million tons, the second highest on record.

• USDA revised their 2015 import forecasts upward for China, Saudi Arabia, and the European

Union.

Rice outlook and farm bill webinar March 19, 2015:

Tony Franco, Chief, Farm Programs Division, Arkansas State FSA Office, and Anita Wilson,

Agricultural Program Specialist, Farm Programs Division, Arkansas State FSA Office, and I will

continue our series of Farm Bill and Outlook webinars.On March 19, 2015, Nathan Childs,

Agricultural Economist, USDA Economic Research Service, will be the primary presenter discussing

the U.S. and Global Rice Outlook.Tony Franco, Anita Wilson and I will be fielding farm bill and

Decision Aid questions. If you have farm bill-related questions, feel free to log-on at 8:30 a.m. andwe can have a farm bill question and answer session before the primary presentation begins at 9 a.m.

Registration LINK for March

19:https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8

Nathan Child‘s previous webinar was Feb. 13 on U.S. and Global Rice Outlook. Links to his

presentation and video follow: Power Point PDF and Presentation Video.

http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-

webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8https://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8http://uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-bill/02.13.15%20Nathan%20Childs%20FEBRUARY%202015%20WEBINAR%20NEW.pdfhttp://uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-bill/02.13.15%20Nathan%20Childs%20FEBRUARY%202015%20WEBINAR%20NEW.pdfhttp://uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-bill/02.13.15%20Nathan%20Childs%20FEBRUARY%202015%20WEBINAR%20NEW.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1poFt7RQULMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1poFt7RQULMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1poFt7RQULMhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttp://deltafarmpress.com/rice/march-19-rice-outlook-and-farm-bill-qa-webinar?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=emailhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1poFt7RQULMhttp://uaex.edu/farm-ranch/economics-marketing/farm-bill/02.13.15%20Nathan%20Childs%20FEBRUARY%202015%20WEBINAR%20NEW.pdfhttps://uaex.zoom.us/webinar/register/01b9f7ff2362cdf47c24e00bf0acd2b8


25/25


Thai Court to Try Ex-Leader Yingluck

Former prime minister will face criminal trial over botched plan to steer global rice prices higherBy JAMES HOOKWAY

Updated March 19, 2015 2:08 a.m. ET

BANGKOK —Thailand‘s former leader Yingluck Shinawatra will face a criminal trial for her

role in a botched plan to steer global rice prices higher, costing the country billions of dollars in

paper losses.The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would accept the case after state prosecutors

charged Ms. Yingluck with dereliction of duty in February, nine months after Thailand‘s military

seized power in a coup d‘état.The case...

To Read the Full Story, Subscribe or Log In

http://www.wsj.com/articles/thai-court-to-try-ex-leader-yingluck-

1426737040?KEYWORDS=rice&utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+

2013&utm_medium=email

Make Rice Pudding Without a Recipe

BY Food52 and Kyle Orosz | Mar. 18, 2015 | 1:58

Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs of Food52 show you how to make three variations of rice pudding, all

without a recipe.Watch Video:http://www.nytimes.com/video/dining/100000003550911/make-rice-pudding-without-a-

recipe.html?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+March+19%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

UK: Tesco To Stock Indo-Chinese Products Tesco is set to become the first UK supermarket to stock fusion Indo-Chinese food products,aiming to tap into the growing popularity of the cuisine. Indo-Chinese cuisines blends meat andvegetarian dishes with spices and seasonings commonly used in both food cultures such ascumin, coriander, turmeric, hot chilli, ginger, garlic. The cuisine was introduced to India by theHakka migrants in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) more than 200 years ago, and further deveoped by the Ghurkhas, who then took it to places like Gujarat, Mumbai, northern India and abroad.

Popular items include Chicken Manchurian - chicken dumplings in a savoury soya and gingersauce, with mixed vegetable fried basmati rice. Tesco noted: ―Indian and Chinese are Britain‘stwo favourite cuisines so diners get the best of both worlds with this delicious fusion. Indo-Chinese food is a gourmet‘s dream and offers a mouth-watering explosion of flavours. We believe it could be the next big food trend to hit the high street. We‘ve selected the most popular

Indo-Chinese prepared dishes including Chicken Manchurian plus soups, seasonings and saucesto introduce the cuisine to our customers.‖ NamNews - Thursday 19th March 2015
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19th March,2015 Daily Global Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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