23rd february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

Page 1

Contact for Newsletter Advertisement [email protected] Cell : +92 321 3692774

Sindh agriculture growth project

Mohammad Hussain Khan

A World Bank mission recently held meetings with agricultural officers and farmers to

review the progress on the Sindh agriculture growth project (SGAP), which entered the

implementation phase in October last year.

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter

February 23 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

http://www.dawn.com/news/1165251/sindh-agriculture-growth-project

http://www.dawn.com/authors/354/dawnmohammadhussainkhan



Page 2


The mission visited different areas where project is to be executed in agriculture and livestock

sectors. Tendering process is being undertaken by the provincial government for implements and

machinery — for use by the growers.This project is designed to support small and medium size

growers in eight selected districts, more districts will be gradually covered by the programme. It

will focus on minor crops like onion, chillies, rice and dates and help farmers and agriculture

officers become used to better farm practices, minimise crop losses and fetch better price of their

produces.

The project aims to stem 30-40pc losses in the rice crop on account of processing practices

The value addition is the main objective. A funding formula of 70-30pc debt equity ratio has

been worked out for purchase of implements and other farm inputs. The WB mission met onion

and chilli growers in Umerkot and Tando Allahyar to see how they are working, shared project‘s

objectives with them and discussed how they have to proceed.The Sindh government, says

Director General Agriculture Extension Sindh Hidayatullah Chhajro, intends to ensure that the

gap in per acre yields is minimised and growers derive maximum benefits of increased per acre

productivity with improved farm practices. Not only farmers but agriculture officers are to be

trained under SGAP over a period of five years. ―It will be our effort that value addition is done

and farmers come up with quality produce in the market which is at par with other competitors,‖

says the DG.

Mahmood Nawaz Shah, who is a member of the SGAP‘s provincial steering committee and vice

president of Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) feels that so far needed substantive consultation or

engagement of stakeholders has not yet taken place. ―I have been telling the department that if

they start procuring technology or equipments or anything else that does not suit our

environment, it will be pretty useless and wastage of money,‖ he stressed. For instance, he adds,

sprouting issue in onion is a big problem hampering its export but no one knows how this is

going to be tackled.

An officer connected with the SGAP, while requesting not to be named, points out that Sindh

agriculture department is a bit slow, considering the fact that agreement was signed last year in

October. ―You are aware of working style and culture of Sindh government officers; they are still

sitting in offices and haven‘t approached the growers,‖ he says, and adds that transparency

should be ensured through regular coordination so that farmers make the maximum gains.The

WB mission visited Kunri‘s chilli market, and according to a noted chilli grower Mian Saleem

was disappointed to see existing market conditions and those of research station. Mian Saleem

shared his experience with them as to how afflatoxin issue is controlled. He was of the view that

a plant breeder, plant pathologist, quality seed and afflatoxin kits are needed to increase

productivity of chilli and check the disease.

The mission hinted at improving trading platforms in the Kunri market under public private

partnership.Sindh government had initiated SGAP in 2014-15 budget; it‘s modalities were being

worked out for improving productivity and market accessibility. The value addition in livestock



Page 3


sector would be separately and independently dealt with by SGAP having an allocation of

Rs2,630m. A project director has been appointed. Capacity building, dairy value chain,

rehabilitation of veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and establishment of artificial insemination

(AI) training centre are major features of the project.An implementation unit has been set up for

Tharparkar district — currently under grip of severe drought for the third straight year — to

cover Mirpurkhas district also.

According to a livestock officer 150,000 litres of milk per day is still obtained in the desert in

these harsh conditions from cows alone. ―Chilling plants will be set up with the private sector‘s

participation to collect and process available milk‖, says Abdul Qadir Junejo, project director for

livestock component. The market price of milk would be ensured for the livestock breeders.

Livestock related officers note that Sindh contributes 30pc of Pakistan‘s milk production but its

yields are still on the lower side as compared to many countries.The project aims to stem 30-

40pc losses in rice crop on account of processing practices.

It would finance threshers for the use of farmers and paddy dryers for the use of small mill

operators besides soil and moisture testing kits, conductivity meters, etc on cost sharing basis to

modernise Sindh‘s rice management and increase productivity by an estimated 20pc.In case of

date crop, focus will be on tissue culture‘s promotion and on disease-free dates plant. Laboratory

working in Khairpur is to be upgraded. An Agriculture Research Development Fund headed by

Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam will look into financing research on minor crops

and livestock, and come up with workable proposals.

Published in Dawn, Economic & Business, February 23rd, 2015

Source with thanks: http://www.dawn.com/news/1165251

Need for a new fertiliser policy Amin Ahmed

PAKISTAN’S demand for main plant nutrients — nitrogen, phosphate and potash — is rising, but the

government lacks an effective fertiliser policy to spur agricultural growth.

The country‘s per acre yield of wheat, rice and other grains and cereals needs to increase, and

according to the just-published FAO report ‗World Fertiliser Outlook,‘ the demand for nitrogen

fertiliser in Pakistan is expected to rise by 4pc by 2018, while its demand is projected to rise by

18pc in China and 17pc in India. In the case of phosphate, the demand will increase by 3pc in

Pakistan against 27pc in India and 10pc in China.Domestic fertiliser production has been hit by

natural gas shortages, and the demand is being met through imports.

After the success of the fertiliser policy in 1989, which assured reasonable prices of fertiliser to

farmers (below the import price) and brought substantive investment to enhance domestic

production, the government launched another policy in 2001, mainly to attract investment in the

industry.That policy has lost its relevance due to the shortage of natural gas, as the government

has not revised it even after a span of 14 years despite the fact that the country‘s agricultural

productivity is much below its potential and it is losing its share in foreign markets, particularly

for rice and wheat, whose domestic prices are higher than those in the international market.The

http://www.dawn.com/news/1165251

http://www.dawn.com/news/1165212/need-for-a-new-fertiliser-policy

http://www.dawn.com/authors/141/dawnaminahmed



Page 4


National Fertiliser Development Centre is quietly functioning in the planning commission,

whose project director, Jalil Marwat, feels the need for a new fertiliser policy. He says that with

alternative sources of energy like LNG coming up, the domestic fertiliser industry is expected to

be revived.

The National Fertiliser Development Centre’s project director, Jalil Marwat, says that with

alternative sources of energy like LNG coming up, the domestic fertiliser industry is expected

to be revived

However, an assessment of the fertiliser development centre indicates that the application of

fertilisers during 2014-15 is likely to fall to an estimated 4m tonnes, against the sale of 4.1m

tonnes during 2013-14. The main reasons for the decline are attributed to less investment by

farmers owing to low market prices of sugarcane, rice and cotton.Pakistan‘s domestic fertiliser

production is 3.1m tonnes, against the average demand of 4m tonnes. The gap of 0.9m tonnes is

met through imports. The urea production capacity has been estimated at 6.3m tonnes, and if the

full supply of natural gas is ensured, the country can produce at least 5m tonnes, according to the

NFDC.Out of 20 urea plants, 18 are operating below their capacity, while two units have been

closed for the past one year due to gas shortages.

According to the NFDC, gas supply to fertiliser plants has started to improve lately.According to

the FAO report ‗World fertiliser trends and outlook to 2018,‘ ―the global capacity of fertiliser

products, intermediates and raw materials will increase further‖.As the potential to produce

fertiliser will outpace its use, the global potential balance — the amount available over actual

demand — will grow for nitrogen, phosphate and potash, the main three soil fertilisers.Global

use of nitrogen, by far the largest fertiliser base, is projected to rise 1.4pc each year through

2018, while phosphate use will increase 2.2pc and potash 2.6pc. In comparison, the supply of

those three critical farm inputs is expected to grow by 3.7pc, 2.7pc and 4.2pc per annum,

respectively.The report does not forecast future price trends, but notes that fertiliser prices, after

surging in 2011, were broadly lower in mid-2014 than in 2010.Published in Dawn, Economic &

Business, February 23rd , 2015

http://www.dawn.com/news/1165212/need-for-a-new-fertiliser-policy

Unsold commodity: Stocked rice could cause a loss of

millions to PASSCO

By Anwer Sumra

Published: February 21, 2015

The corporation would face a huge financial loss if it succeeds in selling the rice at Rs50 per kg

in response to the fourth tender, an official close to the development said. CREATIVE

COMMONS

LAHORE: In an effort to sell the piled-up stock, the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and

Services Corporation (Passco) has issued tenders for the fourth time to dispose of 1,648.75

tons of rice procured in 2008-09.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/841674/unsold-commodity-stocked-rice-could-cause-a-loss-of-millions-to-passco/


http://tribune.com.pk/author/346/anwer-sumra/



Page 5


This came as a result of poor response from its own

employees to purchase the quantity at Rs50 per

kg, The Express Tribune has learnt.The corporation

would face a huge financial loss if it succeeds in

selling the rice at Rs50 per kg in response to the

fourth tender, an official close to the development

said.This year, the price of paddy crop in the open

market was very low and it was expected that bidders

would offer a lower price for the stocked crop as

compared to last year, he said. In the tender that was

floated in November-December last year, Passco

received the bid of Rs50 per kg with the condition of

six-month time to lift the stock.

This offer was rejected by the management, who then gave its employees the offer to purchase

the leftover rice at the same price. However, the response was very poor, the official said.Rice

was procured on the direction of the federal government at the rate of Rs75 per kg to help

maintain the support price of paddy crop in the open market and protect the farmers from losses,

the official said.According to details, Passco procured 4 million kg of rice from the open market

on the instructions of the federal government to bring stability in paddy prices and facilitate the

growers.

Out of the total procured quantity, the corporation sold about half in 2009-10 to the bidders at

Rs75 per kg. The remaining was stocked at Hadi Rice Mill.The mill owners submitted a claim of

dues regarding the cost of keeping the quantity, but the corporation failed to make these

payments, the official said.In response to the deteriorating condition of the stock, the federal

government appointed a new managing director of Passco, Capt (Retd) Tariq Masood, in April

last year, giving him the task to dispose of the stock on a priority basis.The new MD negotiated

with the mill owners and lifted the stocked rice and shifted it to the corporation‘s warehouse at

Manga Mandi in the last week of April.

As a result of keeping the stock, Passco lost millions as the rice that was procured at Rs75 per kg

was now being sold at Rs45 per kg, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 21st, 2015.

Courtesy: http://tribune.com.pk/story/841674/unsold-commodity-stocked-rice-could-cause-a-loss-of-

millions-to-passco/

Western Port Slowdown Appears to Be Over

WASHINGTON, DC -- Media are reporting that an agreement has been reached between

dockworkers and employers to bring an end to the work slowdown that has reduced trade in and

out of 29 western ports to a slow drip.

The slowdown was particularly troublesome to the California rice industry that exports about

half of its crop each year.After nine months of squabbling between the parties, President Obama

dispatched U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez to the area to help end the conflict. While





Page 6


that seems to have worked, it will take

some time for operations to return to

normal at the ports. And consumer

confidence has been impacted as well.

Perez told the Los Angeles Times "[t]hey

understand that they not only have to

restore service, they have to restore

confidence.""The USA Rice Federation

had joined with more than 90 ag and

trade groups urging a quick resolution to

the dispute that was causing the work

slowdown," said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. "These delays have had a direct

effect on export sales for rice and we're hopeful this settlement is a permanent solution that

allows everyone to get back to work."

Contact: Michael Klein (703) 236-1458

Image: Ready to ship

Courtesy: USA Rice Federation

2015 Dietary Guidelines Stresses Sustainability and Shift to

Plant-Based Diet, Rice Well-Positioned

From left: Katie Maher, Fred Zaunbrecher, and Bryon Holmes

WASHINGTON, DC -- Last week the U.S.

Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health

and Human Services (HHS) released the

Advisory Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines

Advisory Committee (DGAC) for public

comment and rice remains well-positioned

thanks to the industry's sustainability record and

the committee's grains recommendation. The

DGAC develops influential nutrition

recommendations designed to reduce the risk of

chronic disease while meeting nutrient

requirements and promoting health of the U.S. population.

The 2015 Advisory Report identifies that a healthy dietary pattern is higher in vegetables, fruits,

whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, seafood, legumes, and nuts; lower in red and processed



Page 7


meats; and low in sugar-sweetened foods and drinks, as well as sodium, saturated fat, and refined

grains - especially when refined grains are combined with added sugar, solid fat, and

sodium."This report emphasizes increasing whole grain consumption, which is not new advice,

but is good for rice," said Byron Holmes, an Arkansas rice grower and chairman of the USA

Rice Nutrition Subcommittee.

"In fact, the 2015 report, in many ways, is similar to the 2010 guidelines that recommend half of

American's grain intake should come from whole grains and recognizes the important nutrient

contribution of enriched, fortified grains to the diet." "The panel also supports a shift to a more

plant-based diet and considered the composition of dietary patterns that were linked to health

outcomes, such as the Mediterranean and vegetarian patterns," said Fred Zaunbrecher, a

Louisiana rice producer and chairman of the USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee. "And

this is beneficial for both whole grain rice and enriched white rice because they are a great base

for the foods the DGAC recommends.

"New this year, the Advisory Report references the sustainability of foods and cites it as one of

the benefits of a plant-based diet, saying Americans should take the sustainability of food

production into consideration when making food choices."The U.S. rice industry's nutrition and

sustainability studies we provided to the DGAC, demonstrated both the nutritional benefits of

rice and positive scientific data showing that rice farmers are producing more rice with less

resources and that rice growing has a unique relationship to wetlands, habitat, and wildlife," said

USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward.USA Rice will submit comments to the Advisory

Report through the Grain Industry and Grocery Manufacturers Association coalitions. Following

the comment period and a public meeting next month, USDA and HHS will finalize the Dietary

Guidelines for Americans, 2015 for release later this year.

Contact: Katie Maher (703) 236-1453

Sushi proposal leaves health department cold Ken Dixon

Published 8:11 pm, Sunday, February 22, 2015

HARTFORD -- A proposal to use vinegar instead of refrigeration to preserve rice at sushi

restaurants has drawn snickers in the Capitol and started a food fight between small businesses

and the state Department of Public Health.Stuck in the middle is state Sen. Rob Kane, R-

Watertown, whose attempt to help a constituent in his town of 22,400 has turned him into the

target of sushi jokes in the General Assembly session.Kane's bill, called "An Act Concerning

Sushi Rice," brought some comedy last week in an exchange between Kane, whose district

includes Oxford and part of Seymour, and Rep. Matthew Ritter, D-Hartford, co-chairman of

the Public Health Committee.

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Department+of+Public+Health%22

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Rob+Kane%22

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22General+Assembly%22

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Matthew+Ritter%22

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Public+Health+Committee%22



Page 8


During a public hearing before the committee,Cynthia Tun, owner of Endo Sushi Express in the

Oakville section of Watertown, said that the so-called acidification of sushi rice is an industry

standard and a better choice than refrigeration during meal service.Under current law, the

Department of Public Health and local health departments are not required to allow acidification

of sushi rice as an alternative to refrigeration.Kane contends that the simple change in state law

would not impact public health, while allowing small businesses to flourish. Various health

districts around the state look at sushi rice in different ways. Some allow the acidification

process to substitute for refrigeration, while others don't."The title of this bill has certainly been

the butt of many jokes around this building," Kane, a committee member, said during

the hearing.Tun and Kane first talked about the issue at a Watertown coffee shop."Is it a big deal,

this change of policy that you're looking for?" he asked Tun. "And if not, then how will it help

your business grow?"

"This would not only be helpful for our business, but for other sushi businesses as well, because

there would be consistency," Tun said of the differing opinions among health inspectors.

"Number two, it would take the focus off the issue of time and temperature, which is really not

important when we consider the manufacture of sushi rice."The state Department of Public

Health submitted testimony in opposition to the bill, saying that the current four-hour window

allowed before rice must be refrigerated is safer for consumers than the complicated process

of acidification.If passed, the bill would require the state's more than 400 food inspectors to

receive more training, said Dr. Jewell Mullen, commissioner of Public Health, adding that if the

bill passes, it should require restaurants to meet federal standards.

Massachusetts, Ohio and Kentucky are among the states that have accepted the

federal guidelines."I doubt most health inspectors have really taken the time to read the FDA

study on sushi rice," Tun said. "If we think about it, the Japanese created this acidified rice

centuries ago and it's a really simple idea. If we think about any kind of pickle, it's the same

thing. All sushi is made this way, across the world. It's just an understood principle of sushi.""It

is important for a small business like hers and others that we provide consistency in the

regulations," Kane said. "I was hoping you'd bring some samples today, because Chairman Ritter

wanted to try it. He has yet to try sushi, he said to me earlier.""Let the record reflect," Ritter said,

"it is true I don't eat sushi. I eat rice, so I get half of you. My wife puts up with my eating habits,

which are very limited, unfortunately."

[email protected]; 860-549-4670; twitter.com/KenDixonCT; facebook.com/kendixonct.hearst;

blog.ctnews.com/dixon

courtesy: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Sushi-proposal-leaves-health-department-cold-

6095508.php?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+February+23%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2

013&utm_medium=email

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for February 23

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Cynthia+Tun%22

http://www.ctpost.com/search/?action=search&channel=local&inlineLink=1&searchindex=gsa&query=%22Jewell+Mullen%22

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Sushi-proposal-leaves-health-department-cold-6095508.php?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+February+23%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email



http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k3F26a1JTEAK7DX7d5U7rpLLqV5gmIH_rAPhjBP7008NaGRo4HwJSdHtWinwUaNjdJavqK73Ne-IhANWzfCPJ920CeumocnJBJnUbJecxf3yJS8YD10iSm_hY5PDBVOJ-b9VoPBtapvSNwL2dbawYDTv40yT3NFoUKTSrygdZcCjSK4KaXAXttH7Z5DAyX7ORAFAUXPxURkQRZfH5lRubHGaxMg1bLATF6HrVZdfqJ4IXwz0YFcsR-CIcBdhcGb-OT1GV5hR2ShThwAjkp0BsuL7c5MioTXbsQsZk95AGp8ecsjbPV0gNu9feLruDfaARaFRsHrvzt1bTP2RtE55V7ihmnF3CwSy3azR1sr0blOdE_rL2yLLDynJTggn1orosOZl-xzpvpuzaqKceI2Z6JRS4FwUifc7lgkkpW_FFpIvTYtPOzM1FJEpozdKDmaV2XAPYTnJnHNJn1Htw9K0jiHd8gBTpHi4&c=neDXrQGhISXzQZM1NvbBQibL3jSAAJubMAhkbTw5Sbf4BFjcEb2SoA==&ch=9os4ZBbi3gidXgoTsJbH-_g3JYlzCSwMcQbl5hJYnsrnv02-h5L4rA==



Page 9


Month Price Net Change

March 2015 $10.465 - $0.325

May 2015 $10.720 - $0.320

July 2015 $10.970 - $0.320

September 2015 $11.000 - $0.320

November 2015 $11.170 - $0.305

January 2016 $11.260 - $0.305

March 2016 $11.260 - $0.305

Robotics and automation take off for farmers - research

Fuseworks Media

Tuesday, 24 February, 2015 - 15:16

Orange harvester.

New research released last week by The Boston

Consulting Group (BCG) is predicting that

advanced robotics will boost productivity by up to

30% in many industries by 2025. Robotics will

also lower total labour costs by 18% or more in

countries like USA, Japan, China, South Korea

and Germany.Although industrial robots have been

used in factories for decades, the use of advanced

robots and automation is now reshaping how we

grow and harvest the world‘s food and fibre.

Boning in meatworks has already been automated.

Robotic milking systems are growing in popularity, easing staff workloads and lifting milk

production. Robots are increasingly being used for tasks like weed management, fertilising and

seeding. It seems now that the use of multiple cooperative highly-autonomous farm vehicles

could lead to the next step in agricultural automation.Robotic technology is about to transform

the way we produce food.Unmanned tractors, an on-farm version of Google's driverless car, is

http://www.voxy.co.nz/users/fuseworks-media


www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine Page

10


now been trialled in Australia. The tractor is guided by GPS signals and trials by Rice Research

Australia, and their Japanese partners, have been successful in keeping the tractor to within 3cm

accuracy. The specialised satellite system also provides useful data like engine temperature and

fuel usage to the operator.

In New Zealand, Auckland University and RoboticsPlus are developing an ‗Autonomous

Multipurpose Mobile Platform‘ (AMMP) modular robot to operate autonomously in orchards.

Whether it is precision spraying kiwifruit or picking apples, modules like vision sensors, arms

and grippers will be designed to be added or removed from the unit depending on the

application.US based Boston Dynamics, who was acquired by Google in 2013, has been at the

leading edge of engineering and robotics design for some time now. Boston Dynamics are

developing quadrupedal robots that look and walk like cheetahs and dogs. Originally developed

for the US Military, these four-legged robots are redefining how machinery can move across

rugged terrain. While wheeled and tracked vehicles still have a strong future, it‘s not hard to see

how this technology will be used by farmers in the future.

Boston Dynamics, Rice Research Australia and Auckland University will all be presenting at the

upcoming MobileTECH 2015 event series. This series will profile advances in robotics,

automation and the increasing use of UAVs or remotely piloted aircraft. MobileTECH 2015 is

running for this regions primary industries on 21-22 April in the Gold Coast, Australia and again

on 29-30 April in Auckland, New Zealand."The objective of this event series is to profile

innovative new technology, demonstrate how it‘s being used and discuss operationally and

financially just what it has meant to the early adopters," says Programme Manager for Connex:

Event Innovators, Ken Wilson.Other key presenters within the series include companies like; X-

craft Enterprises, Aeronavics, Australian UAV, Unmanned Systems Australia, Pastoral Robotics,

Ravensdown, KanDO4U, Australian Centre for Field Robotics, University of Sydney, MasTec

and Scion.

"The technologies been applied in manufacturing or operationally within the agricultural,

horticultural, forestry, fisheries or grain industries more often than not are able to be replicated

across the primary sector. MobileTECH 2015 is one of few technology events where the

developers, researchers and end-users can come together to discuss new innovations,

opportunities for collaboration and the real results from early adoption," says Mr

Wilson.Registrations are now open and further information on this event can be found at

www.mobiletech.events

http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/robotics-and-automation-take-farmers-research/5/214684

http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/robotics-and-automation-take-farmers-research/5/214684



11


Local farmers to add 2.9m MT to Nigeria’s rice stock

By Our Reporter on February 24, 2015

About 2.9 million metric tonnes of high quality milled rice from Nigerian producers will be

available from the 2014 season, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development (FMARD).The Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, gave this

assurance while inspecting a 420-hectare rice farm and mill belonging to Olam Nigeria in

Rukubi, near Doma, Nasarawa State.

He said, ―this would bring Nigeria closer to being self-sufficient in rice production and a

potential exporter of milled rice.‖According to him, 1.9 million metric tonnes of the commodity

were produced in the 2013 dry and wet seasons, contributing N320 billion to the GDP and

creating 670,000 jobs in the process.―The Ministry‘s ―rice revolution‖ is gaining momentum

with a projected 2.9 million metric tonnes of rice in 2014,‖ he said. The Minister stated that with

importation at about 1.9 to 2.0 million metric tonnes per annum, Nigeria was now at the exit door

of importation. ―We are going to be Thailand of Africa in terms of rice production and export,‖

Adesina said.

Nigeria has also seen other prime players investing in the rice value chain as multinational

conglomerate, Stallion Group, has established fully integrated agricultural operations including

world-class rice mills at strategic locations to promote milling and paddy cultivation in the

captive areas. The group has fully backward integrated its rice value chain namely production,

procurement through collection centre, association with co-operatives and farmers, logistic and

post-harvest services, marketing and acting as a catalyst toward sustainable growth.Stallion now

operates a fully integrated state-of-the-art rice mill in the country with an aggregate capacity of

360,000 metric tonnes per annum and is producing premium varieties of rice from local paddy

being marketed under the names, ―Royal Stallion Shinkafa‖ and ―Super Champion‘‘ which are

now very popular in the country.

The Minister added that the Federal Government was putting in place the enabling environment

for production of rice on small, medium and large-scale, through its Growth Enhancement

Support (GES) scheme for the rice value chain under the Agriculture Transformation Agenda

(ATA) launched in 2011.He further disclosed that these new varieties have revolutionised rice

production in Nigeria, as the ministry through seed companies, has consistently multiplied and

distributed seeds to farmers for cultivation since 2011 when the implementation of GES

commenced.In addition to seed and extension support to farmers, the Minister listed the

development and strengthening of other elements of the rice value chain, including subsidised

inputs, mechanisation services through Agricultural Equipment Hiring Service (AEHS) for

which financing support is accessible through the Bank of Agriculture (BoA) and Bank of

Industry (BoI).

The Minister, who was impressed with the wide hectarages under cultivation, the growing

stockpile of mill-ready paddy rice, mechanised planting and harvesting operations and land

preparation for new planting, going on simultaneously with the installation of the 600 metric

tonnes capacity mill, stated that all factors favourable for growing and processing large quantities

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?author=2



12


of rice are not only in place in the country but effectively working also.Adesina disclosed that

prior to the launch of the ATA in 2011, only one integrated rice mill was in place but that in

addition to 12 others, the 60,000 tonnes Olam Farm mill expected to commence milling in June

brings the number of mills in the country to 13 within three years.

Other than these, he said the small mills, which, according to him, are now 4,350 in number and

growing at an annual rate of 40 per cent, are the major rice milling drivers.The Minister equally

disclosed that paddy bulking and aggregation centres, a bridge between rice farmers and millers,

would be set up to effectively address the problems of stock supply security identified by

investors in a commissioned study as a concern along with poor infrastructure and access to

credit.The paddy bulking and aggregation centres will stock, assess and grade paddy sourced

from growers with a view to creating easy access to millers that may have neither farms nor

paddy supply from farmers.

These facilities, Adesina said, will further bolster Nigeria‘s rice production capacity along with

15 rice and other Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) to be set up at various locations in the

country, with a projected contribution of addition of $9.0 billion to the GDP.Earlier, while

briefing the Minister and his entourage, who visited the Olam Farm for progress assessment, the

Country Head of the farm, Mukul Mathur and the Rukubi Farm Manager, Regi George,

explained that Olam Farm is a subsidiary of Kewalrams Group, which has been in Nigeria for

about 150 years and in different sectors of agriculture for 25 years.The company‘s foray into rice

farming began four years ago with the Rukubi rice farm and mill being its biggest commitment

with $72 million.The company disclosed that currently, the farm has a target of putting 4,600

hectares under cultivation with 3,000 hectares already cultivated in both dry and wet seasons.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=106176

Gulfood – Halal food goes global

02/22/15 11:28 pm

BY ELISABETH LANG, SPECIAL TO ETN

Amazing Dubai. It is difficult to imagine that only 20 years

ago there was only a two-lane road leading to the World Trade

Center Dubai, and besides that, nothing but sand. After a

seemingly long drive from Deira, all of a sudden the World

Trade Center appeared like a Fata Mogana.Today, 20 years

later, the Metro, which is more a Skytrain, arrives silently in

front of the World Trade Center, where luxurious hotels like

the Fairmont, the Conrad, and the Radisson Blu are lining up,

while on the other end of the exhibition halls, IBIS and

Novotel are waiting for travelers with smaller budgets.Dubai

has become a big hub for the entire Gulf region and makes

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=106176

http://eturbonews.blogspot.com/2015/02/gulfood-halal-food-goes-global.html



13


Manhattan with its tall skyscrapers seem outdated. Dubai is a

city of superlatives, with the world‘s biggest shopping mall, the

world‘s most expensive mall (under construction), the world‘s

tallest buildings, and is a city that sees more than 3 million

people in a single day. The estimated total of 3,023,426 people

includes tourists and people who work in the emirate but live

outside of it.Last week, the Dubai World Trade Fair halls

hosted over 4,800 international food companies. There were

80,000 visitors who came together at the 20th edition of – what

else – the world‘s biggest annual food and hospitality trade

show. The Gulfood event was inaugurated by His Highness

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of

Dubai and Minister of Finance.―We have seen Gulfood grow

from humble beginnings to what we have now – more than

120,000 square meters of exhibition space with 4,800

companies taking part. Gulfood is creating a benchmark for the

industry, and it is a win-win for everybody. Gulfood raises its

standard every year and also develops the regional food

industry across many categories,‖ said HE Essa Al Ghurair,

Chairman, Al Ghurair Resources LLC. His company received

the Gulfood industry‘s Outstanding Achievement Award, in

recognition of the company‘s outstanding commitment and

achievement within the Middle East food and beverage

industry.At The World Security Summit held at the Conrad

hotel, securing the Gulf Cooperation Council‘s (GCC‘S) future

supply and building coherent global governance for food

security was discussed by experts. Other issues looked into

how the global food system can be made more resilient to

extreme weather shocks.More than 1,000 industry

professionals attended the three-day conference at the Conrad

hotel addressing global food security action plans and policies.

A part of the summit included the Halal Investment

Conference and the Food Franchising Forum, one of the

fastest-growing segments of the worldwide food industry,

currently worth US$ 1.1 trillion globally. The international

Halal food market occupied an integral part of Gulfood 2015, with key Halal industry players

and senior government decision-makers discussing commercial and business opportunities

presented by the $1.1 trillion global Halal food market.Among the speakers was His Excellency

Nabil Molla, CEO of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), underling to the UAE‘s

leading role in Halal standardization and certification agenda. More transparency was urged for





14


Halal imports, as products sold in some Arab nations do not comply with Sharia, the moral and

religious code of Islamic law.

Under the new UAE Halal scheme, Halal

compliance is checked thoroughly through the entire

process of production, distribution, and storage

according to Farah Ali Al Zarouni, Director of the

Standards Department at THE Emirates Authority for

Standardization and Metrology (Esma) of the

government of Dubai.With the fast majority of the

world‘s major Halal-certified beef and mutton

producers coming from South America, the Institute

for Promotion of Investments and Exports revealed

that Uruguay is currently the world‘s sixth largest

exporter of beef, and the Middle East accounts for 95 percent of the total Uruguayan export to

the region this year, marking an increase of 77 percent since 2010.Among the big players, and

present with huge stands at Gulfood, was Brazil and Argentina as well as multiple companies

that export Halal-certified beef to countries including Russia, China, Canada, the USA, Kuwait,

and more. It was a surprise to learn that Northern Thailand has over 4,000 Halal-certified

companies selling over 125,000 items globally. India is also a major exporter to the UAE, with

$1.9 million worth of annual exports, including Basmati rice, spices, processed food

preparations, and more.

The war in Syria has wrecked the country‘s economy, and Syrian companies are eyeing the F&B

(food and beverage) market in the Gulf as a mean to cope with disruptions to operations in their

country. Syria was known for excellent agricultural products and was once the farmhouse for

neighboring countries. However, now most of the companies have been clashed, and land has

been destroyed. Eibo, a company that exports confectionary products, used to produce 30 tons a

day, but sadly, now it doesn‘t even reach one ton day said its Export Manager.Gulfood is held

annually, and it has positioned itself as a big name player in the world market food fair arena,

reaching out to main markets such as Asia (China + India) and Africa, with a total participation

of 156 countries. The mother of invention - ANUGA (Cologne, Germany), the world‘s largest

food and beverage fair – is held every 5 years, and will be back this year from October 10-15,

2015. In 2010, the event welcomed 6,777 exhibitors and over 150,000 trade visitors from 96

nations.

Courtesy: http://www.eturbonews.com/55742/gulfood-halal-food-goes-globa

http://www.eturbonews.com/55742/gulfood-halal-food-goes-globa




15


PhilRice News

Science community marks good harvest

Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija – The science community here celebrated the county‘s

sustained good harvest in an exhibit dubbed as ―Bountiful Harvest,‖ at the Rice Science

Museum, Feb. 23. Early this month, Sec. Proceso J. Alcala of the Department of Agriculture

announced that the Philippine agriculture in 2014 has achieved growth despite ―strong typhoons

that battered some key production areas.

‖ Palay output reached 19 million metric tons or 2.87 percent more than last year‘s

harvest.Located at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the museum showcased

farm implements from the colonial to modern era of Nueva Ecija, one of the country‘s top

producing rice provinces. A gallery on women‘s contributions to good harvest was also

displayed.―One of the sections here features traditional postharvest materials from the farmers of

Nueva Ecija that the Central Luzon State University collected. By viewing these artifacts, the

visitor is given a glimpse of the past, when technology was simple and life was different,‖

Diadem Esmero, museum curator said.Visitors from the science community such as the

Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization and the Philippine Carabao

Center learned more about the intricacies of farm implements including rakem, lingkaw, and

bangkang pangpinawa.

―Photographs on the ‗Woman of Rice‘ also humble us with the strength and sacrifice that women

give to agriculture,‖ she said.In a study by Maria Daryl Leyesa in 2008, she found that women in

agriculture spend as long as 11 hours of daily work during the planting and harvesting seasons.

Women also spent 2.33 more days in harvesting than men and 2.75 more days in drying rice.

Moreover, their top farm activities were planting, harvesting, weeding, and accessing production

capital.Traditional and modern rice varieties across the country were also displayed.

Renewable energy facility in Calabarzon

An alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels

was established in Infanta, Quezon to help supply the

energy demand in rice and rice-based communities, Jan.

29. Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol

distillation facility produces energy without negative

impact on environment as nipa sap is processed into

biofuel for spark-ignition engines that farmers

commonly use.Nipa is an indigenous product of

Infanta.―This facility built basically produces hydrous

bioethanol (95% alcohol) fuel to be used for small farm

machines,‖ Engr. Alexis T. Belonio, lead inventor of the technology, said.



16


According to Belonio, hydrous bioethanol, which can be produced from the farm like nipa sap,

sugar molasses, and sweet sorghum, is a good alternative for fueling pumps, threshers, dryers

and small rice mills.―We need to increase rice production. One way to do this is to improve

[farm practices from land preparation to post-harvest], and by [doing this], we need

mechanization. In mechanization, we need fuel, so what is mechanization without the gasoline?

[With this facility], we have an option [on what energy type to use],‖ said Belonio, the first

Filipino to win the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2008 for his breakthrough creation of a simple

rice hull-powered stove.

―We are aware of the pressing need for alternative fuel to run farm engines. We want to

manufacture machines for farming that do not depend on fossil fuel,‖ former PhilRice Executive

Director Eufemio Rasco Jr. said during the launching.Three bioethanol facilities will be set-up in

three years to discover the appropriate model that is competitive for farming.―With our depleting

fossil fuel supply, the bioethanol technology is a cost-efficient system because we can now

produce and use clean energy at the least cost,‖ Belonio said.

Belonio, however, said that the technology is being modified to minimize corrosion of engine

parts, particularly the fuel tank and carburetor.―We are retrofitting the engine so that the feeding

of fuel bypasses the fuel tank and the carburetor. Then, the hydrous bioethanol may be ready to

use,‖ Belonio said.Belonio is optimistic on the future of rice farming with less, if not without,

use of fossil energy.―If we are talking about the future of this technology, it is unlimited. We

may also study coconuts, water lilies as sources; there are a lot of options as long as there are

sources of sugar,‖ Belonio added.A pilot testing of the machine is expected to be conducted this

year on pumps, transport vehicles like tricycles and motors, micromill and bangka if

possible.The project is jointly implemented by the Mariano Marcos State University, Philippine

Rice Research Institute, UP Los Baños, and the local government unit.

DA official up to steer PhilRice

Edilberto M. De Luna, assistant secretary of the Department

of Agriculture accepts the challenge of leading PhilRice as he

was designated officer-in-charge of the institute upon the

retirement of former Executive Director Eufemio T. Rasco

Jr., Feb. 3. Rasco turned 65 on Feb. 3. The search for the

new executive director is ongoing.―I accept the challenge

being assigned as OIC of PhilRice until a new executive

director is selected. There is a need to continue what you

have achieved,‖ de Luna, also the DA National Rice and Corn Program coordinator, said.

During the turnover ceremony of PhilRice leadership, De Luna thanked Rasco for his service to

the Filipino people and praised the institute for having the ―best human resource.‖―Let us work

together because whatever success PhilRice has, we are all part of it,‖ he added.De Luna rose

from the ranks from Agriculturist I in 1987, Division Chief in 1999, to Regional Manager in

2005, all in the Philippine Coconut Authority. Pres. Benigno Aquino III appointed him in 2010

as DA Assistant Secretary for Field Operations and concurrently serves as the director of the

National Rice and Corn Programs.



17


He also chair working committees in DA including the Special Bids and Awards, Gawad Saka,

Community-based Employment, NGOs/POs Accreditation, and Transition Investment Support

for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

De Luna is also an alternate representative of the Secretary of Agriculture to the Human

Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster and a permanent representative to the Joint

Government of the Philippines and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Sajahatra Bangsamoro

Development Program. He is also part of the Advisory Board of the National Youth

Commission.He is an agriculture graduate of the Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation in

Lucena City, Quezon and has a master‘s degree in business administration from the same

university.

Courtesy: PhilRice News

SunRice outlines capital restructure ANDREW MARSHALL

23 Feb, 2015 08:40 AM

RICE farmers and other shareholders will get their first look at SunRice's much-anticipated

capital restructure plans at a series of meetings in the Riverina starting next week.The meetings

in the first two weeks of March will provide an update on the grower-owned marketing and

processing company's ownership structure, and a glimpse at the sort of model proposed.The

SunRice restructure proposal, developed by the Macquarie banking and investment group, is

aiming to give outside investors a chance to contribute to the company's capital pool without

letting control of the business slip away from growers.

The company wants "adequate capital backing to underpin SunRice's growth", while also

preserving the rights of A Class (grower) shareholders and enhancing the value of B Class shares

owned by growers, their families and some and industry-related individuals.SunRice currently

has a dual share co-operative style ownership structure, with its B Class shares on the National

Stock Exchange, currently trading about $3.30 each.Next week's shareholder updates will

coincide with tours of SunRice's operations at Leeton and Deniliquin, including inspecting a $9.8

million capital upgrade at the Leeton microwave rice packing plant.

Another key meeting will be at a Jerilderie rice field day next week, while growers, shareholders,

their accountants and financial advisors have been also invited to discuss the technical details of

the potential structure at a Jerilderie workshop on March 6.A series of smaller district "shed"

meetings on farms and at community halls will be held across the Murray and Murrumbidgee

valleys the following week.SunRice chairman Mr Laurie Arthur has urged all growers and

shareholders to provide feedback to help determine the next steps taken in the capital structure

review."We've always said we would only come back to shareholders when we had a model that

could deliver on the review's objectives," he said."We remain non-negotiable around preserving

A Class shareholder or grower shareholder control on an ongoing basis.

http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/sunrice-outlines-capital-restructure/2724412.aspx



18


Courtesy: http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/sunrice-outlines-

capital-restructure/2724412.aspx

Officials ousted for fraud over govt rice deals

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI

THE NATION February 23, 2015 1:00 am

THE Commerce Ministry has dismissed two top officials for alleged involvement in fraudulent

"government-to-government" rice deals.The decision to remove the Foreign Trade Department

officials followed a committee ruling by the ministry's Office of the Civil Service Commission,

and came after a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) investigation.A source from the

ministry said the two civil servants had to be dismissed after the NACC found they had

committed fraud.The officials can, however, appeal the committee's decision through the Merit

System Protection Commission within 30 days.

It is the first time something like this has happened at the ministry.The two officials were

involved in four alleged "government-to-government" rice deals led by former prime minister

Yingluck Shinawatra and ex-commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom.Other politicians and

individuals, including a retired civil servant and the two aforementioned officials were also

reported to have been involved.The NACC filed a petition alleging corruption in the deals and

has called on those involved to compensate the country over the huge financial loss.There has

also been a development in a separate case centred on high-level officials at state-owned Public

Warehouse Organisation (PWO) who were corrupted over the packed-rice scheme, with two

officials provisionally discharged from the government service pending the result of an inquiry.

PWO chairman Jintana Chaiyawonnagal said the organisation had set up a committee to

investigate the matter and would estimate the losses from the corruption and call on the ex-

executives to pay compensation.The scrapped rice-pledging scheme aimed to support poor

farmers and produce cheap rice for sale to the public.However, the PWO also found that a large

quantity of rice disappeared from its stocks, while |the quality of much rice also |suffered.

Courtesy: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Officials-ousted-for-fraud-over-govt-rice-

deals-30254634.html



http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Officials-ousted-for-fraud-over-govt-rice-deals-30254634.html

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Officials-ousted-for-fraud-over-govt-rice-deals-30254634.html



19


Rice Prices Stable Despite Holidays

Kang Mi Jin | 2015-02-23 11:45

Sources in North Korea report that despite last year‘s disappointing rice harvest, the market price

of rice has continued to remain stable. Unlike previous years, where prices of items such as rice

spiked just before the holidays, cost of the staple food saw minor fluctuations around the 5,000

KPW [0.63 USD] mark but were overall stable across the country right up to the 2015 Lunar

New Year.Analysis of source reports revealed that although most families purchase goods in the

months leading up to and after January 1st and February 16th [Kim Jong Il‘s birthday], costs

have remained relatively unwavering. Notwithstanding marginal differences that emerged

regionally, overall market prices have been keeping with normal levels.

In particular, despite curtailed market activity due to the mobilization of residents for compost

collection, the state‘s "first call to battle" in 2015, there have been little to no changes in market

prices. Sources determined that the galvanization and expansion of market activity compared to

years prior has seen prices no longer affected by short-term constraints. ―It was normal for the

cost of rice to increase every year just before the holidays from 500 KPW [0.06 USD] to even

1000 KPW [0.13 USD],‖ a source in Yangkang Province told the Daily NK. ―Despite the recent

back-to-back occurrence of Kim Jong Il's birthday and the Lunar New Year, the cost of rice has

hovered at 5,000 KPW per kilogram with no noticeable fluctuations in the price of other goods.‖

According to the source, since the end of last year to the present, the cost of 1kg of rice has risen

or dropped approximately 500 KPW at times, but has shown no trends of instability, such as

increases due to approaching national holidays or decreases due to distribution of rations. ―It‘s

common for the cost of rice to start increasing from the end of December, when parties for the

end the of the year occur all over the country. This generally continues through the Solar New

Year [January 1st], February 16th [Kim Jong Il‘s birthday], and the Lunar New Year, but it

didn‘t this year," he said, adding that even sharp jumps in prices typically emerging a day or two

ahead of the holidays in the past have been absent this year.

He offered two theories to explain the stable rice prices. ―Despite the drought last year, crop

harvests in beolbangs [towns with expansive fields and rice paddies] were relatively good,‖ he

said, outlining his first hypothesis. He asserted the other contributing factor to be the 50,000 tons

of food aid in rice provided from Russia last year. According to Daily NK's sources within the

North, supply routes for goods in North Korean markets such as rice, industrial products, and



20


side dishes have diversified compared to years past. This surge in the quantity of goods has made

stable market distribution and consistent prices possible. In fact, not only have distribution

systems expanded beyond the high dependence on Chinese imports and smuggling, market

distribution is smoothly extending to other means, namely an autonomous national cottage

industry and a growing manufacturing sector run by the emerging wealth class.

The state's role in dispensing of rations has also contributed significantly to the stability of

market prices. North Korea has commenced the allotment of regular rations for Pyongyang

residents, and last March and April potato rations were distributed in Yangkang Province. In

addition, rations released to the Musan and Hyesan mines are also likely playing a part in the

overall stability of rice prices. Still, some predict that the rice prices may increase in early April,

the start of the ―farming hardship period.‖ Many speculate that the cost will be heavily affected if

demand for rice increases before and after the hardship season and the state fails to continue with

the relatively stable distribution of rations to the aforementioned areas.

Courtesy: http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=12912&cataId=nk01500

Clear challenge ahead for Punjab to reduce paddy acreage

Ikhhlaq Singh Aujla, TNN | Feb 23, 2015, 04.40AM IST

CHANDIGARH: With the focus on crop diversification in Punjab, challenges before the state

government, agriculture department, farm scientists and farmers are quite clear. While the first

three have to ideate, plan and implement policies to bring the change in cropping patterns in the

state, farmers have to execute the same for a tangible effect on the ground.

Task for the farm officials is cut out as they work to reduce the area under water-intensive paddy

crop and make farmers shift to maize, cotton and sugarcane in the 2015 kharif season, planning

for which has already been started by the agriculture department. But their efforts face a big

stumbling block in the farmers' reluctance to switch to other crops from paddy, which offers

them good returns due to assured marketing by the state-run procurement agencies, especially the

Food Corporation of India (FCI) that buys from Punjab for the central food grain buffer stock.

However, the Centre has been telling the Punjab government to encourage its farmers to shift to

other crops from paddy as other states, which had lower output of rice earlier, have started

achieving higher production. In few years, paddy production in such states, especially in eastern

India, will go substantially up, thus decreasing the dependence surplus rice-producing states like

Punjab and Haryana - both are biggest contributors to the central rice kitty.

http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php?num=12912&cataId=nk01500

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Ikhhlaq-Singh-Aujla.cms



21


Courtesy: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Clear-challenge-ahead-for-Punjab-to-

reduce-paddy-acreage/articleshow/46337323.cms

China invites more rice exporters

Published on Monday, 23 February 2015 09:10

The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) announced it has invited more firms to export rice

to China in addition to the original nine companies.

The MRF originally sent a list of more than 100 companies to China for scrutiny checks but the

Chinese replied that it was difficult to scrutinise so many firms.The federation then chose nine

companies: MAPCO, FRP, Myanmar Rice Mill, Golden Land East Asia, Bayintnaung Business

Group, MRDC, Shan (north) SPRDC, Ayeyar Pathein, Rakhine Rice and Paddy.

The exporters will have to pay the costs to return rice that fails to meet the designated

marks.―China has asked for additional rice exporters. Companies can register at the MRF. The

rice quality ordered by China is 25 mark, 35 mark and broken rice,‖ said Dr Soe Tun, secretary

general of the MRF.China allows Myanmar to export 1 million tonnes of rice a year.

Courtesy: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9104:china-invites-

more-rice-exporters&catid=44:national&

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Clear-challenge-ahead-for-Punjab-to-reduce-paddy-acreage/articleshow/46337323.cms

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Clear-challenge-ahead-for-Punjab-to-reduce-paddy-acreage/articleshow/46337323.cms

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9104:china-invites-more-rice-exporters&catid=44:national&Itemid=384

23rd february,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

Documents

agriculture officers

sindh agriculture department

global rice enewsletter

newsletter advertisement

rice crop

riceplus magazine page

chilli growers

better farm practices