6th june ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter 2016

www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com For information : Mujahid Ali [email protected] 0321 369 2874

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www.ricepluss.com www.riceplusmagazine.blogspot.com

Vol 7,Issue V June 06 ,2016



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Editorial Board Chief Editor

Hamlik Managing Editor

Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah

Rozeen Shaukat English Editor

Maryam Editor

Legal Advisor

Advocate Zaheer Minhas

Editorial Associates

Admiral (R) Hamid Khalid

Javed Islam Agha

Ch.Hamid Malhi

Dr.Akhtar Hussain

Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Siddiqui

Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UAF)

Islam Akhtar Khan Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad Hashim Assistant Professor, Gomal University DIK

Dr.Hasina Gul Assistant Director, Agriculture KPK

Dr.Hidayat Ullah Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Dr.Abdul Basir Assistant Professor, University of Swabi

Zahid Mehmood PSO,NIFA Peshawar

Falak Naz Shah Head Food Science & Technology ART, Peshawar

Today Rice News Headlines...

Pakistan spends Rs683m on Afghan hospitals

REAP asked incentives for rice sector

Wheat recovers on fall in arrivals, rice basmati eases

Anthropologist Glenn Stone Again Declares GMO Golden Rice More

Hat Than Cattle

Swarm Theory is Clever, Smart and Beautiful – Book Review

Billions of pesos lost to rice smuggling – Piñol

Food review: BU! is licensed to wow

Rs 300 billion new taxes in budget

Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote!

Rice Exports to EU Threatened

Tin Can port handled N4m rice in nine months

Healthier to eat white rice with protein, say researchers

News Detail...

Pakistan spends Rs683m on Afghan

hospitals

By Waseem Abbasi

June 05, 2016

Islamabad

Although Pakistan‘s own hospitals still lack proper facilities to cater to

healthcare needs of the population, the country spent Rs683 million on

construction and repair of hospitals in Afghanistan during the outgoing fiscal

year, budget document revealed.An amount of Rs103 million was sought for

construction of 200 beds Jinnah Hospital in Kabul as part of the

supplementary demand for grants and appropriations in the federal budget

while an additional amount of Rs546 million was separately demanded for

―different work‖ at Jinnah Hospital at Kabul and Naib Aminullah Khan

Logari hospital at Logar Afghanistan.



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The document revealed that Rs50.2 million was spent on installation and commissioning of

medical equipment for three hospitals in Afghanistan while 1000 Afghan students at Rehman

Baba Hostel were provided with Rs32.6 million grant.An amount of Rs1 million was spent on

Nishtar Kidney Centre at Jalalabad, Afghanistan during the fiscal year 2015-16. Afghanistan also

received Rs51 million from Pakistan for 15 weigh bridges and 30 mobile mixtures as part of

project Torkham-Jalalabad Road.The document revealed that Pakistan spent generously on

foreign assistant and an amount of Rs3 billion was spent on foreign assistant over and above the

approved budget during outgoing fiscal year.

The country spent Rs50 million on award of 800 scholarships to students from Indian Occupied

Kashmir in field of medicine, engineering and information technology.Additionally, a sum of

Rs15.1 million was spent to finance 100 scholarships for Bangladeshi students in field of

engineering, medical and IT.Pakistan provided gift of rice worth Rs925 million to Cuba while

Niger received rice worth Rs685 million from the country during the last year.The amount was

given to Trading Corporation of Pakistan which arranged rice gifts.

The country also provided relief assistance worth Rs186 million for earthquake affectees in

Nepal while an amount of Rs48.62 million was spent on assistance of earthquake affectees of

Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous (GBAO), Tajikistan.The country also spent Rs162.4 million for

donation of rice for drought victim in Niger while flood victims of Myanmar received Rs10.4

million donations from the country.A sum of Rs63.3 million was spent on compensation of

Pakistani Hujjaj martyred in Mina during Haj 2015. National Seerat Conference cost the country

Rs3 million

http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/125353-Pakistan-spends-Rs683m-on-Afghan-hospitals

REAP asked incentives for rice sector Sunday, 05 June 2016 00:26

KARACHI: Rice Exporters

Association of Pakistan (REAP)

has asked for incentives and

government support to rice;

which is a major export sector of

the country.In a statement here

on Saturday, REAP's patron-in-

chief Abdul Rahim Janoo,

Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad

Shafique and Senior Vice

Chairman Noman Ahmed

Shaikh said this important sector

earning more than $ 2.2 billion.



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They further said that despite very challenging circumstances since last couple of years, rice

exporters had contributed a lot to the national economy.

http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/industries-a-sectors/300339-reap-asked-incentives-for-rice-

sector.html

Wheat recovers on fall in arrivals, rice basmati eases PTI | Jun 3, 2016, 02.32 PM IST

New Delhi, Jun 3 () Wheat prices moved up Rs 10 per quintal at the wholesale grains market

today following restricted arrivals from producing belts against increased offtake by flour mills.

However, rice basmati traded lower due to fall in demand at prevailing levels.

Traders said besides fall in arrivals from producing regions, increased offtake by flour mills

helped wheat prices to edge higher.

They said, however, muted demand from retailers at prevailing levels against sufficient stocks

dragged down rice basmati.

In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) recovered by Rs 10 to Rs 1,775-1,780 per quintal.

Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired higher by Rs 15 to Rs 1,785-1,790 per 90 kg.

On the other hand, rice basmati common and Pusa-1121 variety slipped to Rs 5,800-6,000 and

Rs 4,700-5,650 from previous levels of Rs 5,900-6,100 and Rs 4,850-5,800 per quintal,

respectively.

Maize, however, fell by Rs 50 to Rs 1,450-1,460 per quintal on increased supplies against

reduced offtake by consuming industries.

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):

Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,360-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,775-1,780, Chakki atta (delivery)

Rs 1,785-1,790, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 275, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 275, Roller flour mill Rs

950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 990-1,000 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,050-1,065 (50 kg).

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati

common new Rs 5,800-6,000, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,700-5,650, Permal raw Rs 1,975-2,025, Permal

wand Rs 2,150-2,225, Sela Rs 2,800-2,900 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,840-1,850, Bajra Rs 1,630-1,635, Jowar

yellow Rs 1,850-1,950, white Rs 3,500-3,600, Maize Rs 1,450-1,460, Barley Rs 1,640-1,645. SUN KPS

SBT MR



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Anthropologist Glenn Stone Again Declares GMO Golden

Rice More Hat Than Cattle

By News Staff | June 4th 2016 03:34 PM |

Heralded on the cover of Time magazine in 2000 as a genetically modified (GMO) crop with the

potential to save millions of lives in the Third World, Golden Rice is still years - and millions of

dollars in anti-science activism - away from field introduction. Vitamin A deficiencies leave

millions at high risk for infection, diseases and other maladies, such as blindness, and Golden

Rice produces the micronutrient beta carotene, so it is basically fortified, but using a natural

process that increases Vitamin A rather than an additive.

Regardless of that altruistic foundation, GMOs are decried as Frankenfood or a corporate world

control cabal by environmentalists and yet Golden Rice, created by an academic and offered for

free, has been unable to gain any traction precisely because it has no corporate representation

that can combat the thousands of environmental lawyers Greenpeace and the other groups, with

$1,000,000,000 in annual revenue at their command, lined up against it.

For that reason, Washington University in St. Louis anthropologist Glenn Stone is declaring

Golden Rice overhyped, andin the journal Agriculture&Human Values

defends fellow activists from claims they are blocking its uptake. Stone has similarly insisted

despite the evidence that Bt cotton is unsuccessful in India, and that claims to such effect are

biotechnology conspiracy theory, and defended philosopher Vandana Shiva from criticism when

she has arguably been the biggest opponent of science on the world stage.

Stone and co-author Dominic Glover, a rice researcher at the Institute for Development Studies

at the University of Sussex, say environmentalists are not to blame for its lack of approval.

Strangely, he is implicitly criticizing it for not having a deep-pocketed corporation shepherding it

along.

"It has not even been submitted for approval to the regulatory agency, the Philippine Bureau of

Plant Industry (BPI)," he chides them in his press release.

And they dismiss the destruction of a 2013 Golden Rice test plot by Greenpeace and insist that

should have made no difference.

He is not anti-GMO, he insists, but rather just keeping an open mind. "The simple fact is that after 24

years of research and breeding, Golden Rice is still years away from being ready for release."

Since 2013, Stone has directed a major Templeton Foundation-funded research project on rice in

the Philippines. His research compares Golden Rice to other types of rice developed and

http://www.science20.com/profile/news_staff

http://issues.org/30-3/forum-spring-2014/



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cultivated in the Philippines. These include high-yield "Green Revolution" rice strains developed

in the 1960s in an effort to industrialize rice farming, and ''heirloom'' landrace varieties long

cultivated on the spectacular terraces of the Cordillera mountains of northern Luzon.

And Golden Rice is just a waste of time, Stone and Glover believe, because it is still unknown if

the beta carotene in Golden Rice can even be converted to Vitamin A in the bodies of badly

undernourished children. How long can it be stored between harvest seasons? Will it still

produce Vitamin A when cooked in rural locations?

It's the anti-science playbook - poor people can be helped by other methods, they don't need

science.

http://www.science20.com/news_articles/anthropologist_glenn_stone_again_declares_gmo_golden_rice_

more_hat_than_cattle-173958

Billions of pesos lost to rice smuggling – Piñol by Jonathan A. Santes

June 5, 2016 (updated)

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Davao City – ―Grabe, grabe, grabe.‖This was how incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel

―Manny‖ Piñol described corruption at the Department of Agriculture (DA) when he met with

various stakeholders in the agriculture sector at the Garden Oasis restaurant here last Friday.

―Billions of pesos were lost due to rice smuggling,‖ said Piñol, citing information he gathered

during his inspection and observation trips throughout Mindanao after he was named by

incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the next DA head.

He rued the inaction of DA officials and personnel on the plight of ordinary farmers because

―they were busy making money.‖

NFA MOST CORRUPT

Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato and a hands-on farmer in M‘lang in the same

province, tagged the National Food Authority (NFA) as one of the most corrupt agencies under

the DA. He said that some of its officials have long been in cahoots with unscrupulous Bureau of

Customs (BOC) officials in the smuggling of rice in the country.

―Binebenta yung (They sell) import permits. And then, ang modus operandi nila – in cahoots

with the BOC – is that they will use the import permits again and again. Papapasukin nila ang

produkto, and then repeat it three times (using the same permit),‖ Piñol said.

http://www.mb.com.ph/author/jonathan-a-santes/



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Based also on his dialogues with stakeholders and some NFA personnel, Piñol gathered that

government officials get rebate of $20 per metric ton of imported rice from such counties like

Vietnam.

―Now, we are importing, because of shortfall, about two million metric tons every

year. Multiply that by $20, that‘s how much they are earning,‖ he rued.

That was why Piñol suspects that the DA is not working enough to increase the rice productivity

of the country so the government will resort to importing the grains.

Apart from the DA and BOC officials who are involved in the scam, Piñol said he also got

information that their Vietnamese counterparts could be in on the scheme.

The incoming DA secretary also reported that in a visit to Zamboanga City, he found out that

there are ―90-plus small ports and piers all over the city and nobody could even supervise the

small piers.‖

SMUGGLING

―They suspect that the big ships come in with smuggled goods, docking maybe in Jolo or Tawi-

Tawi before smaller boats ferry smuggled items into the city unnoticed,‖ Piñol disclosed.

He charged that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) assigned in Zamboanga City has been

too lenient in enforcing the law.

―And worse, BOC does not have warehouses to keep confiscated items,‖ said Piñol, who added

that a common payoff to the BOC was P14,000 for every smuggled shipment.

Piñol made his revelations during a meeting with leaders of the agriculture sector, namely from

the banana and aquaculture industries, as well as hog growers.

Officials and members of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce also attended the meeting.

Among those who shared their problems were: Val Turtur of the Cacao Industry; Cito Limbago

of the Coco Milling Industry; Edward So of the Hog Raisers Association of Davao; Rey Acain of

Davao del Norte Vegetable famers Association; Alvin Teves of the South Philippines Egg

producers Association; Freddie Maranon of Banana export; Vic Lao, a poultry exporter

specializing on Peking Ducks and Ludevito Batilong of the aqua-culture Industry.

BANANA INDUSTRY

Piñol also lambasted previous DA officials who advised banana growers to contemplate on

shifting to multi-cropping after China, one of the biggest importers of banana, imposed stricter

rules on its importation of the fruit.



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―Mag multi-cropping kayo with banana? That‘s how ignorant (they are). That is the extent of

ignorance they have with the banana industry, which is the pride of Philippine agriculture,‖ he

said.

Piñol said that he will be leading a transition meeting with current DA Secretary Proceso Alcala

and his staff on June 8 and 9.

―I would like to assure you that there is a lot of money in the DA, and I will give it to you,‖ he

told the audience.

Piñol said Duterte only had two marching orders for him when he named him as DA secretary.

―And these were to be sure that food is available and affordable for every Filipino family, and to

stop corruption,‖ he noted.

http://www.mb.com.ph/billions-of-pesos-lost-to-rice-smuggling-pinol/#7AYBCv6OBmo59DPk.99

Food review: BU! is licensed to wow tabloid! checked out the new dining and nightlife option at Abu Dhabi‘s World Trade Centre Mall

Jazz@Pizza Express in Abu Dhabi. Image Credit:



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The outdoor terrace at Tamba, at Abu Dhabi's World Trade Center Mall. Image Credit:

Part of World Trade

Centre‘s new Hub

experiment, BU! offers

a step into the

unknown for Abu

Dhabi‘s diners and

night-time party-

seekers. A fully

licensed restaurant that

is not part of a hotel is

something daring and

new for the city — and

all the more welcome

as there are no tourism

fees or extra charges

covertly bolted on to

the bill. Such a concept

has to be done well,

and we‘re pleased to

report that done well it

has been.

Based around a pan-Latin theme, BU! boasts a large, well-appointed seating area and extensive

outdoor terrace, making it the perfect central location for both fine dining and a fancy night out.

The menu does not disappoint. We were treated to the set menu, which is made up of a selection

of tapas and dishes which were as varied as they were delicious.

By way of an amuse bouche we began with a plate of nachos served with the restaurant‘s

delectable special-recipe guacamole before the first starter arrived.

Served in a hollowed-out brioche, the crema de habanero soup is a spicy vegetarian broth

guaranteed to wow. Towards the comfortable end of the spice spectrum, the chili cream is a

must-try. Even if spicy dishes aren‘t your thing, the brioche and sweet potato chips in

accompaniment are worth trying.

Soon after, the table was overrun with several starter dishes, offering a complete range of what

BU! is known for: raw meat and fish.



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Of the many offerings, the standout dish was the res tataki. Cotua cheese, rocket leaves and

ginger are wrapped in a thinly cut strip of wagyu beef tataki and drizzled with chilli oil and

huancaina sauce. Served on a hot stone, you are in charge of how well done you want it.

The hamachi tartare is also worth a mention. Served cold, the Japanese yellowtail and prawn dish

comes with avocado, coriander, jicama, sprouts and jalapenos. Ideal for the light-biter.

From the grill, we tried the 300g Black Angus rump steak, which we requested rare. Served on

slate and ready-sliced there was a bit more gristle than we would have liked, but the meat itself

was melt-in-the-mouth flawless. It was complemented with a side of onions and peppers.

We were also given a brace of rice dishes to sample. The arroz chaufa is long-grain basmati rice

with tender beef sirloin strips and cooked onion, egg, garlic, ginger and sesame; while the Asian-

inspired lomo saltado adds soy sauce, potato and sun-dried tomatoes to the dish.

After the rice had gone down we were treated to a dessert platter, giving us a taste of all the

sweet treats you could ever hope for after dinner. Mini cheesecake, cotton candy, sorbet and

caramel all arrived and, owing to their diminutive size, were gone in a minute flat.

Two hours after sitting down to start dinner, and with our thanks passed to the waiter, we took

ourselves on to the roof-terrace to enjoy a nightcap among Abu Dhabi‘s skyscrapers. A fantastic

way to end the night.

BU! is a positive glimpse of the future in the nation‘s capital.

Where: Level 4, The Hub, World Trade Centre Mall, Abu Dhabi | Timings: Noon-3pm, 6pm-

2am | Cost for two: Dh350 | Call: 02-6668066

Notes: Private dining area available, kid friendly, live music, wheelchair accessible, outdoor

seating available, valet parking, brunch

What else is at The Hub?

Jazz@Pizza Express

Hungry for pizza? Of course you are, there‘s always time for pizza. Give the normal plastic dross

a miss and enjoy fresh handmade pizza the proper, Italian way. Look out over Abu Dhabi‘s

skyline with a taste of Italy; call 02-4447752.

Tamba

Abu Dhabi‘s latest addition to the Indian cuisine scene is Tamba. Fully licensed, Tamba

promises to not only give you a taste of India like nothing you‘ve ever tried, but a unique

atmosphere, too. Live music and an open kitchen makes this place stand out. Call 02-3048219.

Original Fusion



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The future of Abu Dhabi‘s nightlife is captured at Original Fusion. The swanky nightspot serves

an international menu and is the ideal place for either an after-work drink or a full-on night out in

the city. Call 02-4182423

Think beyond Mexican fare for quesadillas

Bean and bacon quesadillas: Mashed white beans, bacon and

shredded cheese

By James P. Dewan | Saturday, June 4, 2016, 8:42 p.m.

Normally, we denizens of the sumptuously appointed Headquarters of Prep School Inc. try to

avoid covering similar topics too closely together. Last month's exploration of pancakes,

however, garnered so much enthusiasm for the Flat Food Group that we decided to eschew

tradition and have another go at the horizontal victuals. Today, we give you the quesadilla.

Why you need to learn this ,Do you have kids? Do you know any kids? Would you describe

yourself as a flat foodie? (Floodie?) If you answered ―yes‖ to any of these, the quesadilla is the

answer to most of your needs and many of your prayers. It's easy to make. It's versatile. It's

delicious. And best of all, it's flat. What else do you need in a food item?

The steps you take

In case you've just arrived from, I don't know, the sun, and you haven't had a quesadilla before,

it's a Mexican item made by heating a tortilla on a griddle or in a pan. Cheese or other fillings are

placed on top, then it's either folded in half or another tortilla is placed on top and the whole

thing is flipped. They're great on their own, but even better with salsa and sour cream. Before the

time of the so-called Age of Exploration, many of our favorite cuisines looked very different

from what they are today. There were no tomatoes in Italian cuisine (imagine!), no chiles in Thai

cuisine and no cheese in Mexico.

Fortunately, in modern kitchens, we have available to us not only corn and flour tortillas, but

also tortillas made from a host of other ingredients: rice, spelt, chia seeds. On top of that, you

could use other types of flatbreads to create something close enough to a quesadilla that your

kids won't know the difference, such as an Indian chapati, the Armenian lavash or the Norwegian

lefse. Let's talk about the quesadilla filling. Shredded cheese is ubiquitous. A Mexican cheese

such as Oaxaca would be typical. Truthfully, though, my kids just like mozzarella or cheddar.

Pretty much any melty cheese will be great for a couple of reasons. First, the melted cheese helps



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hold the two sides together, like a grilled cheese sandwich. Second, who doesn't like melty

cheese?

Chicken is also really common as a quesadilla filler. Grilled or pan-seared breast, sliced thin and

layered with the cheese, is easy and delicious. The thing I love about quesadillas, though, is that

as much as I love the flavor and texture of tortillas, they can really function here primarily as the

delivery system for whatever you're stuffing inside. That includes leftovers from the fridge, both

savory and sweet. Better yet, even though the quesadilla is Mexican, you don't need to stick with

Mexican-inspired stuffings.

Anything that tastes good on its own can go inside, such as leftover lamb stew or a chunky

Bolognese sauce. Get creative. Raid the fridge. One thing to remember, though, is that generally

we stuff only with things that don't need cooking (like the cheese) or with precooked items (like

the sauces).

As for the cooking of the quesadilla, there are two basic ways to make a quesadilla: using one

tortilla folded in half or using two to sandwich the filling in between.

Melty cheese makes it easier to flip if you're making the two-tortilla variety. If your filling is

somewhat runny, however, you might be better off using the one tortilla method, as it needs to be

only folded in half.

At my house, we use a nonstick pan that doesn't require any fat. If you're using a regular stick

pan, you might want to coat it with a little bit of oil or nonstick cooking spray before adding the

tortillas. Regardless, heat the pan over a medium flame. When it's hot, place one tortilla onto the

pan. Immediately add your filling and top with a second tortilla (if you're using one).

If your filling is very cold, you might want to cover the pan to encourage warming of the filling.

Don't touch the tortilla until the bottom gets a little brown. Then, if you are using two tortillas,

carefully flip the quesadilla and brown the other side. If you're using only one, carefully fold it in

half. Either way, transfer the quesadilla to a cutting board and cut it into wedges and serve while

it's hot.

Variations

Here are a few ideas for interesting quesadillas:

Bean and bacon: Mashed white beans (or black beans or pintos or kidneys or whatever), bacon

and shredded melty cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, etc.).

Indian style: Cooked basmati rice, dal (cooked Indian-style lentils) and grilled, sliced chicken

breast.

Breakfast quesadilla: Scrambled egg, cooked greens and more shredded cheese.



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Pizza quesadilla: Like a Mexican calzone, just spread some red or white sauce and add your

favorite topping.

Dessert quesadilla: Mascarpone cheese mixed with a little vanilla or a drop of brandy and slices

of fresh or grilled fruit such as peaches or strawberries. (Allow the tortilla to cool somewhat so

that the mascarpone won't melt.)

James P. Dewan is a Chicago Tribune staff writer.

http://triblive.com/lifestyles/fooddrink/10517404-74/cheese-quesadilla-tortilla

Rs 300 billion new taxes in budget

04 June, 2016ISLAMABAD: The federal government imposed Rs 300 billion new taxes in the

federal budget, which was presented on Friday.The government has imposed new taxes on

hundreds of items, including mobile phones, cigarettes, cement, mineral water, paan and security

papers.To meet the expenses of the war against terrorism, it is proposed that the Super Tax

should be extended for another year. Twelve percent withholding tax would be imposed on

electricity commercial bills exceeding Rs 20,000 per month. However, withholding tax has not

been increased for industrial and domestic electricity consumers.It is proposed in the budget that

10 percent customs duty should be levied on frozen fish, nine and eleven percent on semi-printed

and printed papers, respectively. However, exemption of customs duty and sales tax for

newsprint would continue.

Sale tax on smart and costly mobile phones would be increased to Rs 1,000 from the existing Rs

500. However, excise duty on cheap phone will stay at Rs 500.

The government has decided to impose four percent tax on the income of the Pakistan Cricket

Board (PCB) from foreign tours. In addition, the PCB will have to pay tax on media rights and

sponsorship.

The government has decided to impose five percent tax on the ingredients of the poultry feed.

The government has decided to continue its zero-rating policy for manufacturers of dry milk.

The government has decided to impose excise duty of Re 1 per kilogram on cement and allow

five percent exemption on school fees of the children of the filers who have less than Rs 1

million annual income.

The government has increased the customs duty on chicken, eggs and livestock to six percent.

Customs duty on dairy products has been cut by three percent. There will be no customs duty on



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water quality testing kits.

The customs duty on the indigenously manufactured LED lights has been decreased to 15

percent. Relief has been given to importers of solar panels for one year.

Used ambulances for the EDHI Foundation continue to be duty free.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has proposed exemption from sales tax on

pesticides. Keeping in view the importance of pesticides for the agriculture sector, pesticides and

their ingredients are being granted exemption from sales tax.

The Ministry of National Health Services has proposed exemption from sales tax on the import

of vitamins, premixes, minerals and micronutrients (food grade) to combat growth stunting.

These items are being granted exemption from sales tax.

The Ministry of Information Technology has proposed exemption of sales tax on laptops and

personal computers with a view to promoting Information & Communication Technology

(ICTs).

Exemption from sales tax to laptops and personal computers is being granted. This step will also

promote genuine imports and will render informal and illegal imports as uncompetitive.

The cottage industry is exempted from payment of sales tax. Turnover threshold prescribed for

cottage industry is Rs 5 million. This low turnover threshold causes undue hardships and

registration requirements for small manufactures who make minimal contributions to revenues.

Turnover threshold for cottage industry is being raised to Rs 10 million.

Secondhand and worn clothing have been excluded from further tax levy. Currently, 5% sales tax

is levied at the import stage, 3% as value addition tax and 2% as further tax under section 3(1A)

on second hand and worn clothing that results in cumulative impact of sales tax at 10%. In order

to provide relief to the low-income segment, using second hand worn clothing, exemption from

further tax is being provided.

Sixteen percent FED is leviable on services such as advertisement on CCTV/cable TV, shipping

agents, banking companies, insurance companies, cooperative financing societies, modarbas,

musharikas, franchise services, stevedores, stock brokers and forex dealers, etc. Provinces and

various chambers of commerce and industry have demanded withdrawal of FED on such

services as provinces are already charging sales tax on these services.

FED on the services on which provinces are collecting sales tax is being withdrawn.



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Exemption to the coal mining machinery, equipment, spares, etc. for Thar Coal Field as provided

in the Sixth Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990 includes vehicles for site use i.e. single or

double cabin pick-ups. Dump trucks, although being vehicles for site use, are not covered under

the said provision. Exemption from sales tax is, therefore, being granted to dump trucks.

Exemption from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty to Concession Holder of Gwadar Port

Authority and its operating companies, their contractors and subcontractors for development of

Gwadar Port and Gwadar Free Zone. Exemption from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty for a

period of 40 years on the import and supply of materials, equipment, ship bunker oils brought

and sold to ships calling on/visiting Gwadar Port, for the development of Gwadar Port and Free

Zone for Gwadar Port is being granted.

Exemption for a period of 23 years from sales tax and Federal Excise Duty is being granted to

businesses to be established in Gwadar Free Zone. This exemption shall be available to

sales/supplies within the Gwadar Free Zone. However, sales/supplies outside the free zone and

into the territory of Pakistan shall be subjected to applicable rates of sales tax and Federal Excise

Duty.

http://paktribune.com/news/Rs-300-billion-new-taxes-in-budget-276479.html

Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée with Strawberry-Rhubarb

Compote!

By Hartstone Inn | Jun 05, 2016

A la Carte Menu -- Served Nightly

May 26-June 22, 2016

APPETIZERS

LOCAL ARUGULA SALAD – fresh raspberries, blueberries, goat cheese, toasted sunflower

seeds, balsamic vinaigrette $9

CHILLED LOCAL SEAFOOD PLATE - Maine lobster, Pemaquid oysters, crabmeat,

accoutrements $17.95

CLAM CHOWDER – new potatoes, crisp bacon, fresh thyme $11

LOLLIPOP LAMB CHOPS - pickled cucumber, red onions, cilantro-hazelnut pesto $12

http://paktribune.com/news/Rs-300-billion-new-taxes-in-budget-276479.html

http://knox.villagesoup.com/p/hartstone-inn/705901



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ENTREES

ROSEMARY SEARED HANGER STEAK – bourbon-onion compote, wild mushroom butter,

roasted red potatoes, asparagus $26

SESAME SEARED TUNA – grapefruit, grilled scallion, kelp noodle salad $24



17

LOCAL MAINE LOBSTER - fresh herbs, puff pastry tower, lobster cream sauce, garlic

mashed potato, haricot verts $28

CHICKEN ROULADE – spinach, feta, sundried tomatoes, red pepper orzo $22

DESSERTS

DARK CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE – Kahlua crème anglaise $9.50

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE – macadamia nut crust $8.50

SORBET TRIO – diced fresh fruit, almond lace cookie $7.25

VANILLA BEAN CRÈME BRULEE – strawberry-rhubarb compote $8.25

Chef's Menu -- Served Nightly -- $55/person

May 26-June 22, 2016

LOBSTER SPRING ROLL

spinach, Monterey Jack cheese, phyllo, garlic-chili sauce

MIXED BABY GREENS

cherry tomatoes, avocado, Champagne vinaigrette

SORBET

Maine blueberry

PAN SEARED HERB CRUSTED HALIBUT

grilled mango-pineapple chutney, basmati rice, roasted asparagus

DARK CHOCOLATE SOUFFLÉ

Kahlua crème anglaise



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Rice Exports to EU Threatened

The Kingdom‘s rice exports to the European Union (EU), which now enjoy duty and quota free

access, could be threatened if the regional grouping agrees to Italy‘s request to limit rice imports

from least developed countries (LDCs). Italy is Europe‘s top premium rice producer and its

exports to the EU are growing. According to Oryza, the daily online markets newsletter, Italy is

pushing the EU to cut LDC rice imports from Asia to protect the Italian local rice market that

seems to be getting bigger.

Angelo Politi, the director general of Italy‘s rice research body Ente Nazionale Risi (ENR), was

quoted in Oryza as saying that rice imports from LDCs such as Cambodia and Myanmar were

flooding the EU due to special treatment given to them in the form of tariff-free market entry in

the ‗Everything But Arms‘ trade concessions. This, he added, was jeopardizing the

competitiveness of the Italy-grown Indica varieties – namely Ariete, Drago, Arorio, Baldo, S.

Andrea and Carnaroli – which have been given EU quality assurance labels.The Italians do not

eat much rice, but Italy is famous for its risotto made from the Arorio and Carnaroli varieties.

Reacting to the Italian request to cut rice imports from LDCs, Hean Vanhan, deputy director-

general of the Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

said the impact on Cambodian rice exports could be serious, if implemented.―Italy has made this

request to the EU many times. Fortunately the EU has been silent on it. But we can‘t be

complacent. If the EU follows through Rome‘s request, our rice exports could be in trouble,‖



19

said Mr. Vanhan.Mr. Vanhan pointed out that rice exports to the EU were mainly high-end

fragrant rice and at this moment, there was little competition from other producers including

those in Italy. But, he stressed, that could change if the EU decides to follow up with Italy‘s

request.

Amru Rice (Cambodia) CEO Song Saran warned that the whole rice production chain from

farmers, rice millers to exporters could be in dire financial straits if Cambodia loses the EU

market. He urged the government to open discussions with the EU on this issue to gauge their

thoughts on what quality of rice exports Cambodia should be sending to Europe and what kind of

products Cambodia should reduce, so that the rice export quotas are not affected.Mr. Saran

stressed that Cambodia was reluctant to compete or challenge Italy, since it is also in the

common league of rice exporting countries.―Cambodia exports white rice to Europe to

supplement what Italy exports to the EU. Italy by itself cannot produce enough rice to supply the

28 countries in the European Union,‖ he pointed out.

According to latest figures from the Italian Rice Association (Enterisi), Italy‘s rice production

this year is forecast at 1.5 million metric tons, an increase of 7.5 percent from last year.―Italy‘s

complaint is that rice from Asian LDCs is eating into their market share and these rice imports

have an undue advantage because they enter Europe tariff-free,‖ added Mr. Saran.But Mr. Saran

said it was Italy that was being unfair. The European Union gave tariff-free access to Cambodia

and Myanmar rice exports based on joint consensus by its 28 members.

―Cambodian and Myanmar farmers will suffer more, compared to Italian rice growers, if we are

pushed out of the EU market,‖ he cautioned. ―We urge the EU not to cut our rice export quotas.

If they do we will be in serious trouble.‖This threat from Italy comes at a at a crucial time as the

Cambodian government considers a $30 million emergency loan request from the Cambodia

Rice Federation (CRF) to help protect the rice sector that is reeling from a fall in production due

to the prolonged drought that hit the Kingdom. The CRF has also urged the Ministry of

Commerce to reduce electricity tariffs and pump in an additional $200 million for rice

millers.Oryza reported that from last September to this April, the EU imported 261,692 metric

tons of rice from Cambodia and Myanmar, up by about 27 percent from the same period the

previous year.

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/25768/rice-exports-to-eu-threatened/

Tin Can port handled N4m rice in nine months June 6, 2016

The volume of imported rice coming in through one of the nation‘s seaports has drastically declined due

to dollar scarcity, with government revenue in form of duty falling sharply in the process, IFE

ADEDAPO writes

The importation of rice, a major staple in Nigeria, has declined in volume due to the scarcity of foreign

exchange occasioned by falling oil prices globally.



20

Statistics obtained from the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos indicated that in the past nine months, the

country imported 13.4 metric tonnes of the product.

There are 1,000 kilogrammes in a metric tonne, while there are 20 bags of 50kg each in a metric tonne.

On the average, each bag of rice costs N15,000. Therefore, each metric tonne of rice has a market value

of N300,000.

Therefore, 13.4 metric tonnes of rice have a market value of N4.02m at N300,000 per metric tonne.

This quantity of rice in its various forms only fetched the country N336,337 in tax payment from

September 2015 to May 2016.

In September 2015, the volume of rice imports was five metric tonnes; it declined to one metric tonne in

October and peaked at five metric tonnes in November of the same year.

In December, when rice import was expected to be high due to the festivities, only one metric tonne was

imported through the Tin Can port. The volume further dipped to 0.5MT in February 2016, but rose

slightly to 0.8MT in March, while 0.1MT was recorded for May 2016.

There was no importation of the commodity through the port in January and April 2016.

The value of rice imports through the seaports has been on a steady decline since the first quarter of 2015.

According to the foreign trade report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, semi-milled or wholly

milled rice secured the fourth position of all imported commodities in the fourth quarter of 2014 based on

its worth of N49.34bn.

http://d1phczbdxyh8yo.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/06041332/rice-and-co.jpg



21

However, in the first three months of 2015, rice occupied the third position in the list of imported

products with a value of N33.44bn, and dropped to the fifth position with a value of N25.38bn in the

second quarter of the year.

The value of rice imports between July and September 2015 declined by 61.8 per cent to N9.69bn,

occupying the 15th position, the lowest for all the commodities imported through the seaports in the third

quarter of last year.

By the fourth quarter of the same year, rice had completely fallen out from the list of high value imported

commodities into Nigeria.

Rice was among the 41 items that the Central Bank of Nigeria excluded from official foreign exchange

window in August 2015, leading to difficulties in accessing foreign exchange by importers and high cost

of importation when forex is sourced from the black market at over N300 to a dollar.

Investigation showed that the price of the commodity had doubled between September 2015 and May

2016 from N7,500 per 50kg bag to an average of N15,000.

When our correspondent visited Daleko, a major rice market in Lagos State, the traders explained that

most of the rice being offered for sale were brought in from Cotonou, Benin Republic due to the ease of

importation and payment of duty.

A trader in the market, Alhaja Tawa Kasali, said the price of the commodity brought in from Cotonou was

N5,000 per bag but the duty rate and high cost of transportation had made it expensive, adding that those

who smuggled the product only risked their investments and lives.

She said the price would have been more competitive if locally grown and milled varieties of the produce

were available for sale at lower prices.

However, due to the reduced rice imports, millers in the country are enjoying huge patronage due to rising

demand.

The Personnel Manager, Umza International Limited, a rice mill, Mr. Ali Aliyu, admitted that business

was booming and the company has had to turn down orders due to its inability to meet traders‘ request.

He said, ―It gets to a point that we had to call some people that we wouldn‘t be able to get them the

quantity of rice they wanted. The demand is much more than expected but at the same time, we are not

very happy for not being able to fulfil our customers‘ demand.

―But there is nothing we can do. We cannot force our machines to work beyond their capacities.‖

According to him, the changing trend of the business as well as the high cost of input has made it

necessary to increase the price of the locally milled produce.

Presently, he explained that the major factors contributing to the increase in price were poor electricity

supply and high cost of paddy, a major raw material for the millers.



22

Aliyu explained, ―We are presently selling for N10,700 per bag instead of the N9,000 we were selling a

couple of days ago. A lot of factors contributed to the price increase. Sometimes we will stay for two or

three days without having electricity.

―And that means buying more diesel and the price of diesel is not as low as we expect. It sells for N150

per litre and the minimum price is N135; but before now, we were getting electricity for about 10 hours a

day. The cost of production has doubled and the paddy rice is very difficult to get.‖

He added, ―The farmers producing paddy rice are not producing much and there are so many people

demanding for it now more than before. Due to the Federal Government‘s forex policy, a lot of people

will prefer to buy paddy, process and sell.

―The price of the paddy has skyrocketed. It is now N8,000 per bag compared with N4,000 that we used to

buy before. Therefore, we have to increase our price.‖

As a form of intervention in the rice value chain, the knowledge management and communications

specialist, GEMS4, a project of the United Kingdom‘s Department for International Development, Ms.

Enene Ejembi, explained that smallholder paddy farmers and large scale ones in Kano State were

educated on the quality standards of paddy and supported to supply paddy in sufficient quantity to

commercial millers.

So far, she said the intervention, which began in 2015, had mobilised 1,199 rice farmers, and earned about

£1,195,245 for them.

―Activities to develop the rice value chain began with the mobilisation of farmers and aggregators

through community engagement, rice fairs, communication campaigns and farm demonstrations by the

Brent Group,‖ Ejembi added.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced,

published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written

permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

http://punchng.com/tin-can-port-handled-n4m-rice-nine-months/

Healthier to eat white rice with protein, say researchers

by salma khalik

SINGAPORE: White rice on its own is bad, as it can push up blood sugar or glucose

significantly.

http://www.thestar.com.my/authors?q=%22Salma+Khalik%22



23

But how much of it is eaten, what it is eaten with, and even how it is eaten can make a big

difference, said Professor Jeyakumar Henry, head of Singapore's Clinical Nutrition Research

Centre (CNRC).

Prof Henry said one of the first studies at the centre, which opened in 2014, looked at a local

favourite: chicken rice.The study, published in the European Journal Of Nutrition, found that the

glycaemic index (GI) of "pure white rice was 96, whereas combined with chicken breast,

groundnut oil and vegetables, it was 50".GI measures how much food raises sugar in the blood.

A GI of 55 or less is good and above 70 is high.Eating rice with protein reduces the GI. The best

GI results are obtained when rice is eaten with tofu but chicken, fish or other meats also help.

Something else the centre found: When eating chicken rice, it's best to drink the soup first as that

reduces the body's sugar response.This is because chicken soup - and possibly other meat soups

but the centre has yet to verify this - is rich in amino acids, which stimulates the secretion of

insulin.Prof Henry, who is also with the department of biochemistry at the NUS Yong Loo Lin

School of Medicine, said the centre also tested the effect of Brand's Essence of Chicken, which is

rich in amino acids, on blood sugar levels.

It found that, if taken 15 minutes before a meal, the essence of chicken "reduces blood glucose

dramatically", in fact, by about a third.The results were published in the British Journal Of

Nutrition last year. The results showed significantly lower sugar levels in the test subjects' blood

when they had the essence of chicken with or before the meal. The effect was identical whether

one or two 68ml bottles of chicken essence were taken.The researchers from the CNRC

postulated that the amino acid in the drink primes the body to increase both insulin secretion as

well as the absorption of sugar by tissues.Other studies by the centre have found that drinking

soya or milk with a meal also reduces the amount of sugar in the blood after a meal. This is in

spite of the soya drink, as sold locally, containing sugar.In the past two years, the centre has

published more than 95 articles on its study findings in reputable journals, said Prof Henry.The

centre, a joint initiative between the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*Star and the

National University Health System, has been looking at how local cuisines can be made healthier

without reducing their appeal and taste.Several studies show how the sugar surge from eating

white rice, the Asian staple, can be reduced without affecting the taste or enjoyment of the

meal.Frequently having high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to diabetes, a chronic problem

that is a major cause of kidney failure, blindness and amputations here.

This is because the pancreas has to work extra hard to get rid of the sugar which, left in the

blood, could damage the organs. When this happens too often, the pancreas gets "fatigued" and

the person is on the way to becoming a diabetic.

Reducing the GI of food puts less stress on the pancreas and could delay the onset of diabetes, so

it helps not just diabetics but also healthy people, said Prof Henry. - The Straits Times/Asia

News Network

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/06/06/healthier-to-eat-white-rice-with-protein-say-

researchers/

6th june ,2016 daily global,regional & local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Documents