Rice News 31 March 2022

SCIENCE
Scientists Develop Material That Is Stable, Efficient And

Eco-Friendly
By Addrew Shawn On Mar 30, 2022
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Felix Marske holds a sample of the new material. Credit: Uni Halle / Marian Sorge
A new heat storage material could help to significantly improve the energy efficiency of
buildings. Developed by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and
the University of Leipzig, it can be used to store surplus heat and release it back into the
environment when needed. Unlike existing materials, the new one can absorb significantly
more heat, is more stable, and is made of harmless substances. In the Journal of Energy
Storage the team describes the formation mechanism of the material.
The invention is a so-called shape-stabilized phase change material. It can absorb large
amounts of heat by changing its physical state from solid to liquid. The stored heat is then
re-released when the material hardens. “Many people are familiar with this principle from
hand warmers,” explains Professor Thomas Hahn from the Institute of Chemistry at MLU.
However, the invention from Halle won’t be used in coat pockets. Instead, it could be used
by the construction industry as large panels that could be integrated into walls. These
would then absorb heat during the sunny hours of the day and release it again later when
the temperature goes down. This could save a lot of energy: The researchers have
calculated that when the new material heats up, it can store—under the right conditions—up
to 24 times per 10 degrees Celsius more heat than conventional concrete or wallboard.
Unlike hand warmers, the panels made of this material mixture do not melt when they
absorb heat. “In our invention, the heat storage material is enclosed in a framework of solid
silicate and cannot escape due to high capillary forces,” explains Hahn. Most importantly,
the substances used in its production are environmentally friendly: harmless fatty acids like
those found in soaps and creams. Even the additives that lend the material its strength and
increased thermal conductivity can be obtained from rice husks.
The new material. Credit: Uni Halle / Marian Sorge
In the current study, the team describes the steps involved in creating the structure of the
material and how the different chemicals influence each other. For this, the team received
support from a group of researchers led by Professor Kirsten Bacia from MLU, who used
fluorescence microscopy to visualize the mechanism. “The knowledge we are gaining can
be used to further optimize the material and to potentially produce it on an industrial scale,”
says Felix Marske, who drove the development forward as part of his doctorate with
Thomas Hahn. Until now the material is still only being produced in small quantities in the
laboratory. In the future, it can be combined with other steps to help to make buildings
significantly more energy efficient or to passively cool photovoltaic systems and batteries,
thereby increasing their efficiency.
CRISPR to Turn off Genes in Corn & Rice
to Boost Crop Yields, says Researchers
Researchers mapped the genomes of corn and rice, two of the world's most important
food crops, and then searched their genomes for genes related to grain yield in this new
study.
Shivam Dwivedi Updated 29 March, 2022 3:44 PM IST Published on 29 March, 2022 3:43 PM IST
Maize Crop
Turning off a specific gene in corn and rice can improve crop yields, according to
a group of researchers affiliated with a number of Chinese institutions and one in
Germany. The team describes mapping the genomes of both plants as a way to
search for genes associated with grain yield using CRISPR gene editing to
improve yields in test crops in a paper published in the journal Science.
Research Findings:
As the planet warms, scientists around the world are becoming increasingly
concerned about farmers' ability to produce enough food to feed an ever-
increasing population.
According to previous research, some of the land currently used to grow crops
may become less productive. As a result, scientists are looking for new ways to
boost crop yields.
Researchers mapped the genomes of corn and rice, two of the world's most
important food crops, and then searched their genomes for genes related to grain
yield in this new study.
They discovered 490 pairs of genes in both plants that appeared to have similar
functions. They were able to narrow the genes down to just two: one from corn
and one from rice.
RELATED LINKS

Future of CRISPR/Cas9 in Agriculture
Genome reading and editing are exponentially advancing technologies, putting tools such as
next generation technologies and CRISPR at the fore…

They discovered that they both produced a protein that controlled the number of
grains a plant could produce. They then turned off these two genes using
the CRISPR gene-editing technique. Then they planted test crops with the edited
genes in them and calculated the average yield.
The researchers discovered that the plants with modified genes produced more
grains per plant than the control groups when they looked at their yield numbers.
They saw a 10% increase in corn yields and an 8% increase in rice yields. They
also looked at the genetically modified plants to see if there were any other
changes, particularly those that could affect plant growth but found none.
They claim that their method is a reasonable way to increase crop yields and that
the modified plants could be mixed with wild varieties to create new species that
are more climate-change resistant.
(Source: Phys Org)
o fertilize or not to fertilize: A delicate balance

between chalky rice grains and excessive
protein content
30-Mar-2022 8:00 AM EDT, by American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society

of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
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Hiroshi Nakano
Technician Chiemi Nagamatsu analyzes rice grain appearance to determine the effect of nitrogen application rates
during the vegetative and reproductive stages of the growth cycle. Nitrogen fertilizer can reduce the production of
chalky grains. However, too much nitrogen can cause an increase in rice protein levels, and too much protein can
make rice unfit to eat.
PreviousNext
Newswise — March 30, 2022 - There’s a widespread problem in rice growing that
you’ve probably never heard of. Rice plants that face elevated temperatures can
produce “chalky grains” that are easily crushed during the milling process. This leads to
lost profits because the price is lower for chalky grains than undamaged grains.
Nitrogen fertilizer can reduce the production of chalky grains. However, too much
nitrogen can cause an increase in rice protein levels. Too much protein affects the
quality of rice in an undesirable way because of its lower viscosity when cooked.
This means that applying nitrogen fertilizer is a delicate balance between preventing
chalky grains and keeping protein at an acceptable level. Hiroshi Nakano, a researcher
at the Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization in Japan, and collaborators are researching one potential
solution.
This study was recently published in the Agronomy Journal, a publication of the

American Society of Agronomy.
Farmers can use the tools to predict the chalky grain percentage and protein content in
the field. This will allow them to assess how much nitrogen fertilizer they need in real-
time. “Our goal is to facilitate the stable production of rice in a changing climate,”
Nakano says. “It is important to establish an ideal nitrogen application rate using growth
diagnosis. In this study, we identified useful factors to regulate white-back grains (one
type of chalky grain) and protein content.”
He adds that in Southwestern Japan, rice seedlings are transplanted from mid to late
June. The rice grains develop through processes that occur in July, August, and
October. There are slight differences in weather and growth each year. This means the
exact needs for nitrogen are not always the same. The result is the nitrogen application
needs to be adjusted based on growth conditions.
“Our mission is to develop ways to protect rice from global climate change,” Nakano
says. “In Japan, rice production areas account for approximately 36% of all farming
land. In recent years, rice plants have been exposed to higher air temperatures during
the ripening stage. This can result in white-back grains.”
In their study, the researchers tested two types of measurements using two devices.
One looked at the concentration of nitrogen in the leaves of the rice plants. The other
measure how much of a plant can uptake nitrogen. The team also determined the best
times to take these measurements.
Their findings point to the usefulness of the readings for allowing farmers to make real-
time adjustments to nitrogen application at an important time during rice production.
Heading is the stage of rice growth before flowering. Timing the measurements at the
correct time in the plants’ development helped reduce the amount of some chalky grains
and regulate the grain protein content.
“We recommend that farmers conduct the growth diagnosis by using handheld meters,”
Nakano says. “These meters are not expensive, and getting this information will allow
them to harvest rice grains with high quality.”
However, it can be difficult for farmers to get enough data if they have lots of rice fields.
The researchers hope to develop a way to take these measurements using an
unmanned aerial vehicle. Nakano adds that being able to help farmers enhance their
rice yields while maintaining high quality is important for solving food security issues. A
growing global population and rising temperatures are causing these food security
issues.
“This research is broadly important as the global average temperature is predicted to

increase due to global warming,” Nakano says. “The occurrence of white-back grains
increases when rice plants ripen under high air temperatures. Rice is a staple food of
approximately 50% of the global population. Therefore, this issue is important for
farmers but also for consumers.”
Support for this research was provided by Japan’s National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization Biooriented Technology Research Advancement Institution.
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rice-grains-and-excessive-protein-content?ta=home
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(Rodion Kutsaev/Unsplash)
ENVIRONMENT
Ultra-Processed Foods Are Trashing The

Planet, Scientists Warn
KIM ANASTASIOU ET AL., THE CONVERSATION
30 MARCH 2022
Our world is facing a huge challenge: we need to create enough high-quality,
diverse and nutritious food to feed a growing population – and do so within the
boundaries of our planet. This means significantly reducing the environmental
impact of the global food system.
There are more than 7,000 edible plant species which could be consumed for
food. But today, 90 percent of global energy intake comes from 15 crop
species, with more than half of the world's population relying on just three
cereal crops: rice, wheat, and maize.
The rise of ultra-processed foods is likely playing a major role in this ongoing
change, as our latest research notes. Thus, reducing our consumption and
production of these foods offers a unique opportunity to improve both our
health and the environmental sustainability of the food system.
Impacts of the food system

Agriculture is a major driver of environmental change. It is responsible for one-
third of all greenhouse gas emissions and about 70 percent of freshwater use.
It also uses 38 percent of global land and is the largest driver of biodiversity
loss.
While research has highlighted how western diets containing excessive

calories and livestock products tend to have large environmental impacts,
there are also environmental concerns linked to ultra-processed foods.
The impacts of these foods on human health are well described, but the
effects on the environment have been given less consideration. This is
surprising, considering ultra-processed foods are a dominant component of
the food supply in high-income countries (and sales are rapidly rising through
low and middle-income countries too).
Our latest research, led by colleagues in Brazil, proposes that increasingly

globalized diets high in ultra-processed foods come at the expense of the
cultivation, manufacture, and consumption of "traditional" foods.
How to spot ultra-processed foods
Ultra-processed foods are a group of foods defined as "formulations of
ingredients, mostly of exclusive industrial use, that result from a series of
industrial processes".
They typically contain cosmetic additives and little or no whole foods. You can
think of them as foods you would struggle to create in your own kitchen.
Examples include confectionery, soft drinks, chips, pre-prepared meals, and
restaurant fast-food products.
In contrast with this are "traditional" foods – such as fruits, vegetables,

wholegrains, preserved legumes, dairy, and meat products – which are
minimally processed, or made using traditional processing methods.
While traditional processing, methods such as fermentation, canning, and

bottling are key to ensuring food safety and global food security. Ultra-
processed foods, however, are processed beyond what is necessary for food
safety.
Australians have particularly high rates of ultra-processed food consumption.

These foods account for 39 percent of total energy intake among Australian
adults. This is more than Belgium, Brazil, Columbia, Indonesia, Italy,
Malaysia, Mexico, and Spain – but less than the United States, where they
account for 57.9 percent of adults' dietary energy.
According to an analysis of the 2011-12 Australian Health Survey (the most

recent national data available on this), the ultra-processed foods that
contributed the most dietary energy for Australians aged two and above
included ready-made meals, fast food, pastries, buns and cakes, breakfast
cereals, fruit drinks, iced tea, and confectionery.
What are the environmental impacts?

Ultra-processed foods also rely on a small number of crop species, which
places burden on the environments in which these ingredients are grown.
Maize, wheat, soy, and oil seed crops (such as palm oil) are good examples.
These crops are chosen by food manufacturers because they are cheap to
produce and high yielding, meaning they can be produced in large volumes.
Also, animal-derived ingredients in ultra-processed foods are sourced from
animals which rely on these same crops as feed.
The rise of convenient and cheap ultra-processed foods has replaced a wide
variety of minimally-processed wholefoods including fruits, vegetables, grains,
legumes, meat, and dairy. This has reduced both the quality of our diet and
food supply diversity.
In Australia, the most frequently used ingredients in the 2019 packaged food

and drink supply were sugar (40.7 percent), wheat flour (15.6 percent),
vegetable oil (12.8 percent) and milk (11.0 percent).
Some ingredients used in ultra-processed foods such as cocoa, sugar, and

some vegetable oils are also strongly associated with biodiversity loss.
What can be done?

The environmental impact of ultra-processed foods is avoidable. Not only are
these foods harmful, they are also unnecessary for human nutrition. Diets high
in ultra-processed foods are linked with poor health outcomes, including heart
disease, type-2 diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer and depression,
among others.
To counter this, food production resources across the world could be re-
routed into producing healthier, less processed foods. For example, globally,
significant quantities of cereals such as wheat, maize, and rice are milled into
refined flours to produce refined breads, cakes, donuts, and other bakery
products.
These could be rerouted into producing more nutritious foods such as

wholemeal bread or pasta. This would contribute to improving global food
security and also provide more buffer against natural disasters and conflicts in
major breadbasket areas.
Other environmental resources could be saved by avoiding the use of certain

ingredients altogether. For instance, demand for palm oil (a common
ingredient in ultra-processed foods, and associated with deforestation in
Southeast Asia) could be significantly reduced through consumers shifting
their preferences towards healthier foods.
Reducing your consumption of ultra-processed foods is one way by which you
can reduce your environmental footprint, while also improving your health.
Kim Anastasiou, Research Dietitian (CSIRO), PhD Candidate (Deakin

University), Deakin University; Mark Lawrence, Professor of Public Health
Nutrition, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin
University; Michalis Hadjikakou, Lecturer in Environmental Sustainability,
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering &
Built Environment, Deakin University, and Phillip Baker, Research Fellow,
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Deakin
University.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative
Commons license. Read the original article.
https://www.sciencealert.com/ultra-processed-foods-are-trashing-the-planet-scientists-warn
LIBERIA: ‘Rice Dealers’ Blocked Traffic,

As Dozens Walked To Their Various
Places Of Work
March 29, 2022 Cholo Brooks Other News 0
In their demand to call on government to see reasons for importers of rice who have vowed to stop
the importation of the commodity due to high cost, hundreds of local rice dealers have blocked road
leading to the city center.
According to local dealers of the commodity, importers have informed them that they will seize the
importation of rice if the government fail to regulate the price.
Currently the price of a 25kg bag of rice is sold at fifteen United States Dollars or two thousand
Liberian Dollars, noting that they have resolved to increase the price before supplying local dealer.
(Visited 138 times, 9 visits today)
http://gnnliberia.com/2022/03/29/rice-dealers-blocked-stall-traffic-as-dozens-of-people-walked/
Liberia: Rice Importers Reportedly

Hoarding, Being Selective in Their
Sales; Retailers Protest
By Obediah Johnson Last updated Mar 30, 2022
0
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MONROVIA – Hundreds of aggrieved rice dealers during the early morning hours
of Tuesday, March 29, staged a violent protest on the Bushrod Island, outside
Monrovia by setting road blocks over the unfavorable business practices and the
scarcity of the country’s staple food on the local market.
The marketers, mostly elderly women, were seen chanting anti-slogans like “We
want rice; No Rice, No Car Going, Your Open Your Stores, We Want Rice”, among
others.
They also held placards with inscriptions: “Enough is enough, we want rice;
Where is the rice; Local rice dealers are tired of paying transportation for rice; No
rice, no work; Government please give us rice, We are hungry and out of
business”, among others.
They also blocked the main entrances of two major rice importers – K and K and
Fouta Corporation in Vai Town-accusing the owners of allegedly hoarding and
creating artificial shortage of the commodity on the market. They also claimed
that the importers are reportedly planning to increase the price of a bag of 25kg
rice from US$13 to US$15 in the midst of extreme hardship and poverty in
Liberia.
K and K Trading Company belongs to top Lebanese business tycoon George

Haddad, a former closed associate of ex-Liberian President Charles Ghankay
Taylor. His company enjoyed monopoly over the sale of rice for several years
during the regime of Mr. Taylor.
Fouta Corporation is being owned and operated by Mr. Cherif Abdallah.
The two companies are among the highest importers of rice in the country.
The aggrieved marketers claimed that though some of them have already paid
for several bags of rice a the companies, the managements have allegedly
refused to supply them their goods.
They complained that the situation is imposing hardship on them and their
respective family members because they continue to pay transportation fares on
a daily basis to either receive or purchase their respective goods.
They claimed that for sometimes now, they have been out of businesses due to
the scarcity and hoarding of the commodity by importers.
The aggrieved marketers added that ahead of the commencement of second

semester for the current academic school year, they would be unable to pay the
fees of their children at various schools if the situation persists.
Selective sale
The marketers alarmed that importers of rice, especially K and K and Fouta
Corporation are allegedly engaged into selective sale of the commodity on the
local market.
Instead of serving on a first come, first serve basis, the local rice dealers,
complained that the importers are allegedly in the constant habit of serving their
loved ones, friends, relatives, and some government officials, making them to go
away empty handed.
“Every day we coming from faraway places to buy our rice, but the Fula and the
Lebanese people will tell us no rice, no rice. But you will see them loading trucks
to sell rice to other people who they know. Why they should be treating us like
this in our own country,” Binta Diallo stated.
She added: “You will see some of them coming and making telephone calls to
some big, big people in here. They will pass by us and enter the fence and we will
see them coming outside with rice. But because they do not know some of us,
they will refuse to even allow us to enter the fence”.
Rice turning to gold dust?

The availability and rush for rice in various shops, stores and other commercial
areas, appears like a search for gold dust.
Marketers and customers continue to move from one trading center to another in
search for the commodity.
In recent times, the price of rice has abruptly increased on the local market.
Importers were reported to be holding series of meetings to increase the price of

the commodity as a result of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, which they
claimed is globally affecting the economy.
The previous price of a 25kg bag of rice which was US$13 previously has
astronomically increased to US$15, US$16 and US$17 respectively on the
Bushrod Island and other areas.
Local traders are even catching hell to purchase the commodity from
wholesalers at a reasonable price to in turn sell at the various business centers in
the communities to make a profit of at least US$1 or US$2 on each bag
depending on the cost of transportation.
The marketers are accusing the importers of escalating the prices of the various
brands of rice at their will and pleasure, with the government sitting supinely and
doing nothing about the situation.
“These people can always decide when to sell rice to us knowing fully well that
rice is the staple food of every Liberian. Whether you are President, minister or
whosoever, you will eat rice on a daily basis and they are saying that they will not
serve us rice”, a young lady only identified as Marie stated.
Plea to government
She continued: “We want the government to tell us whether the importers are the
ones who have control or the final saying”.
The aggrieved rice dealers want government put in place stringent measures to
curtail or prevent the hoarding or halt the arbitrary increment in the prices of the
different kinds of rice on the local market.
They observed that the selling price given to importers are not being adhere to,
and as such, “government officials should not receive bribes or kickbacks” to
ignore their plights.
“Why are they hiding the rice? They want kill us in this country and they know that
we Liberians are surviving on rice? I really want the government to act on this
because that’s what we are selling to survive and for our children to go to
school”, another protester stated.
She maintained: “The importers told us that they are coming to carry the rice
price up, and we are willing to buy it at any price they carry it up to. They have
enough rice in their warehouses but they don’t want to sell to us. Today is my
third day here and they have not served me”.
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Another protester identified as Christo Varfley observed that the two importers
have been engaged into doing business with partiality.
According to him, the offices of the entities are most often shut to local traders
who normally gather during the early morning hours to purchase the commodity.
He observed that the current situation is intended to ensure that the importers
maximize profits by hiking the prices of the various brands of rice to the
detriment of both the local traders and consumers.
“Government should know that the fall of this country always come from rice
issue. We were standing here and the police came and start issuing that kind of
harsh warning. Even though they didn’t us, but they threatened us. That is not the
right way to stop a protest when people are angry”.
“I been buying from Fouta for a very long time but, they want to carry the price of
rice up to US$15. And in business, when one person speaks, all the other people
will follow. All of them have the same plan and Fouta is the highest importer of
rice in this country. But before their plan works, Fouta should be the one to
address it”.
Meanwhile, the local rice dealers have vowed to stage unannounced actions to
destabilize the country if government fails to act.
They maintained that government should “speak now” to compel the importers of
the nation’s staple food to stay in line with its designated prices for various
varieties of rice, instead of hiking the prices by creating artificial shortage for
their own benefits.
The violent protest staged by the aggrieved marketers paralyzed normal working
and commercial activities in Central Monrovia, Vai Town and Clara Town
communities for nearly the entire morning hours.
It also created a huge traffic, which lasted for several hours, on the Bushrod
Island Some passengers were compelled to disembark commercial vehicles and
tricycles to trek to their respective destinations.
Owners and managers of various trading centers in the areas were skeptical of
opening their businesses on time for fear of their goods being looted by
criminals.
The violent protest later subsided following the intervention of the Liberia
National Police (LNP).
Response
This writer visited the Fouta Corporation on the Bushrod Island for the
management to respond to the allegations of allegedly being engaged into
selective sale, hoarding or hiking the price of rice from US$13 to US$15.
Speaking to one of the managers identified as one Emmanuel Blamo via

telephone while in the company premises, our Reporter was told that bosses at
the company were not willing to respond to the allegations levied against Fouta
by the aggrieved local traders.
But in a live video, the Manager of Fouta Corporation Omaru Barry was seen
informing the aggrieved local traders that his company was not selling rice for
now.
“We are not selling rice now because we still have plenty invoices that we sold
since Saturday. So, we have to serve those people-when it finished before we
start to sell again. We still have between 2000 to 2500 bags to be served and so,
we can’t start serving again”.
He claimed that “it takes time for the rice to come from the port and so, it’s just a
matter of probability”.
“Rice supposed to come today but because of the situation here, we cannot bring
rice. The way the road is clear now, I will tell them to bring the rice but I can’t give
you a definite time when we will start selling. The people who were here, that’s
their right to protest and me too, I have right to my property”.
At the K and K Corporation in Vai Town, outside Monrovia, the Administrative
Manager of the company only identified as one Mr. Ballah referred our Reporter
to contact one Counselor Gibson at the Freeport Branch of Fouani Brothers Inc
after being briefed on the matter.
Efforts applied by our Reporter to get in touch with Cllr. Gibson did not
materialize as he was told that the Counselor was not in office to respond to the
allegations.
In September of last year, FrontPage Africa reported the scarcity of rice in the
country after noticing that several shops and stores were without the commodity.
But the government, through the Ministry of Commerce refuted and claimed that
sufficient rice was in the country.
The Rice riot
Rice riot or protest has a negative history in post-conflict Liberia.
It can be recalled that in early April 1979, the former Liberian Minister of
Agriculture, Florence Chenoweth, proposed an increase in the subsidized price of
rice from US$22 per 100-pound bag to $26.
Chenoweth asserted that the increase would serve as an added inducement for
rice farmers to stay on the land and produce rice as both a subsistence crop and
a cash crop, instead of abandoning their farms for jobs in the cities or on the
rubber plantations. However, political opponents criticized the proposal as self-
aggrandizement, pointing out that Chenoweth and the family of President William
Tolbert operated large rice farms and would therefore realize a tidy profit from
the proposed price increase.
The Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) called for a peaceful demonstration

in Monrovia to protest the proposed price increase.
On April 14, 1979, about 2,000 activists began what was planned as a peaceful
march on the Executive Mansion.
The protest march swelled dramatically when the protesters were joined en route
by more than 10,000 “back street boys,” causing the march to quickly degenerate
into a disorderly mob of riot and destruction.
Widespread looting of retail stores and rice warehouses ensued with damage to
private property estimated to have exceeded $40 million.
The government called in troops to reinforce police units in the capital, who were
overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the rioters. In 12 hours of violence in the
city’s streets, at least 40 civilians were killed, and more than 500 were injured. In
2008, former General Coordinator of the People’s Redemption Council, D. Kaine
Carlo testified before the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
that the around 300 members of the PAL alone were killed in the
crackdown. Hundreds more were arrested.
The latest violent protest stage by the aggrieved local rice dealers should serve
as a wake up call to the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led-government
of President George Manneh Weah to act swiftly before the situation escalate to
chaos and claim the lives of citizens and the destruction of properties.
Already, huge percentage of the rice being consumed by Liberians and others are
imported into the country with the government falling short of putting in place a
clear-cut agriculture plan to boost food sufficiency in the nation
https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-rice-importers-reportedly-hoarding-being-selective-in-
their-sales-retailers-protest/
With maize prices soaring, export demand
zooms for Indian broken rice as feed
Subramani Ra Mancombu | Chennai, March 29 | Updated on: Mar 29, 2022
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According to exporters, shipments of maize have slowed down due to the Russia-
Ukraine conflict
RELATED
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Buyers in Vietnam, China and Indonesia switch to the foodgrain, but its rates
rising sharply
With maize (corn) prices soaring on demand from West, South and South-East Asia,
buyers abroad are switching over to 100 per cent broken rice for animal feed in
countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and China.
“There is a huge demand for maize from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia besides the
Gulf. But prices have surged and availability is low since the new crop will arrive
only after next month,” said Bimal Bengani, Managing Director of Kolkata-based
Bengani Export Pvt Ltd.
“Shipments of maize have slowed down after prices soared due to the Russia-Ukraine
conflict. Instead, buyers from Vietnam and Indonesia are now seeking broken rice,”
said M Madan Prakash, President, Agri Commodities Exporters Association (ACEA).
Only small orders taken
“Exporters are accepting only small immediate orders that can be shipped in
containers. From Kandla in Gujarat, maize is now going to Oman and other Gulf
countries, as they are keen on maintaining the feed quality,” said Mukesh Singh, Co-
founder of Mumbai-based MuBala Agro Commodities Ltd.
A major reason for domestic maize prices increasing is that the kharif crop has almost
got exhausted. Singh said maize is currently quoted at ₹2,200-500 a quintal against
the minimum support price of ₹1,870. Demand for maize has increased as supplies
from Ukraine, which contributes 16 per cent of global exports, have been cut off with
shipments from the Black Sea coming to a total halt after Russian troops entered
eastern Ukraine on February 24.
Lukewarm demand
“Prices of maize delivered in Chennai for exports are ₹2,350,” said ACEA’s Prakash.
In Gujarat, agricultural produce marketing committee yards such as Dahod, the modal,
or rate at which most trades took place, was ₹2,300 on Monday.
According to the International Grains Council (IGC), Argentina quoted $329 a tonne
last weekend, while Brazil offered maize at $364 and the US at $363 (f.o.b) free on
board. Currently, benchmark corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade are ruling at
$7.44 a bushel ($292.83 a tonne).
“We shipped 250 tonnes of maize to Hong Kong some time back, but after that
demand has been lukewarm,” Prakash said.
“There are still some varieties of maize being shipped to Vietnam and Indonesia. A lot
of maize is going to Bangladesh by road,” said VR Sagar, Director, Bulk Logix.
Bengani and Singh concurred with his views. “Some exporters are expecting prices to
increase to $420-430 and are holding off,” Sagar said.
Exports feasibility
Maize is one of the agricultural products whose exports have been good this fiscal,
increasing by over 30 per cent in the first 10 months. According to the Agricultural
and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the export of
other cereals, in which maize plays a major part, was 3.16 million tonnes (mt) valued
at $1.74 billion during April-January this fiscal against 2.37 mt valued at $527 million
in the year-ago period.
MuBala’s Singh said maize exports were feasible as long as prices were around
₹1,700-800 a quintal in the domestic market. Until December, Bangladesh was the
top buyer purchasing 1.25 mt, while Vietnam purchased 0.95 mt. “In view of the high
prices, there is good demand for 100 per cent broken non-sortex rice that is
commanding a higher price,” said Prakash. The non-sortex rice will have yellow and
black coloured grains.
Chinese purchase
“Even broken rice prices are now quoted near maize prices as there is a shortage,”
said Sagar. Broken rice are commanding ₹2,100 a quintal and more. An exporter from
Bengaluru said 100 per cent broken rice prices were at par with 25 per cent broken
white rice. As per IGC data, 25 per cent broken rice price last weekend were $349 a
tonne.
According to APEDA data, China, which began importing Indian rice in the last fiscal
after over three decades, bought 1.1 mt of rice during the April-December period of
the current fiscal and Vietnam 0.6 mt. In October, the US Department of Agriculture
said broken rice accounted for 97 per cent of India’s rice exports to China during
January-August last year.
“Broken rice has always been going to China and Vietnam over the last couple of
years. This year, there is a shortage now,” Sagar said. “Exports of broken rice could
also be a problem in view of the surge in price. We could manage when prices ruled at
around ₹1,600-700,” he said, adding that the issue now was the grain’s availability.
China began buying broken rice from India to use it as feed after corn prices surged
last fiscal. Also, Beijing is required to build feed inventories as part of its plans to
increase the production of pigs. Singh said it takes time to accumulate broken rice
quantity for exports as they are done in bulk.
A Delhi-based trade consultant said most of the broken rice was heading from the east
coast ports such as Kakinada and Kolkata to Vietnam and Indonesia.
“Maize prices will begin to decline once the arrival of the rabi crop beings,” Bengani
said.
“Rice prices will begin tapering off once Rabi arrivals begin. This will happen around
mid-May,” said Sagar.
Freight advantage
Delhi-based exporter Rajesh Paharia Jain said India has freight advantage to export to
China, the Netherlands and South Korea, which had been buying from Ukraine before
the conflict intensified.
“It is a win-win situation for India after the Russian-Ukraine crisis. As India has a
freight advantage of $70-80 a tonne and Chinese demand is up, it would be favourable
to India. India maize export share to China might improve,” he said, adding that the
coarse cereal exports might increase by 5-7 per cent in 2022-23.
Published on March 29, 2022
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farming
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China
Indonesia
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March 29, 2022
AHA News: Rounding Up Healthy Rice

Choices
AlexandraFlorian/iStock via Getty Images
TUESDAY, March 29, 2022 (American Heart Association News) -- Believe it

or not, there are thousands of varieties of rice, with colors ranging from black
to purple to red and more.
Of course, the type of rice most of us know best is white rice. You may have
heard some people say rice isn't nutritious or it will lead you to gain weight.
But is this inexpensive food that's a staple for more than half the globe's
population all that bad?
To get a closer look at the rice health debate, let's start with varieties and
colors. The texture, flavor and nutrition of each type of rice is a little different.
Rice is classified as short, medium or long grain. Short-grain rice is the type
used in sushi and has a chewy texture. Medium-grain rice like arborio and
valencia tends to be more tender and will stick together more easily than long-
grain rice. Long-grain varieties like basmati, brown and jasmine rice tend to
stay separate and will be fluffy after you cook them.
Then there are the different colors, with white and brown rice the most
common in the U.S. Brown rice is considered a whole grain because it has
three grain components: the bran, endosperm and germ, said Nikki Nies, a
dietitian for the Northwest Independent School District in Justin, Texas. In
contrast, white rice is stripped of its bran and germ, leaving the less healthy
endosperm.
Whole grains like brown rice are healthier than processed grains. They
contain more fiber, which helps you to feel full faster and keeps your digestive
system running well. In fact, federal dietary guidelines recommend eating at
least 3 ounces of whole grains a day.
One cup of cooked long-grain brown rice has more than 3 grams of fiber
versus less than 1 gram from one cup of cooked long-grain white rice. Adults
should aim for 22 to 34 grams of fiber a day depending on their age and sex.
Brown rice also is richer in nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins compared
with white rice, Nies said. When comparing calories per cup of cooked rice,
brown is slightly higher at 248 calories versus 205 for white.
Other less common types of rice, such as red and black, tend to have similar
amounts of fiber as brown rice, Nies said. But each variety contains different
amounts of nutrients. Black rice, for example, is rich in a type of antioxidant
called anthocyanin. Anthocyanin may improve cardiovascular health,
according to research published in the journal Molecules in 2020.
Because rice is high in carbohydrates, Nies said people with diabetes may
have to limit rice consumption or eat lower-carb varieties such as wild rice.
In terms of weight, a 2016 study in Nutrition Journal found eating more whole
grains, such as brown rice, was associated with a healthier body weight in
children and adults.
But white rice can still be part of a healthy diet.
"When white rice is paired with a lean protein source, vegetables and healthy
fats, the differences between brown and white rice are negligible," Nies said.
So don't feel guilty about choosing it as the base for a rice bowl as long as you
choose a lean protein like chicken, fresh vegetables and a healthy fat like
avocado.
Plus, she said, white rice is typically enriched with nutrients like B vitamins
and iron.
One well-known caution about rice is its level of arsenic, a toxic environmental
pollutant found in soil and groundwater. Rice plants readily absorb arsenic,
but cooking rice like pasta – with lots of extra water and then draining off the
water – will reduce those levels by up to 60%, according to the Food and Drug
Administration. But people who eat a varied diet don't need to worry about
arsenic in rice, Nies said.
She recommended enjoying rice up to a couple of times a week, with whole

grains like barley, quinoa and buckwheat accompanying other meals
throughout the week.
And feel free to experiment, Nies said. "There's no need to stick with a
particular type (of rice) as each one offers different nutrients and benefits."
American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views
expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart
Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association,
Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this
story, please email [email protected].
By Vanessa Caceres
American Heart Association News

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Rounding up healthy rice choices

Vanessa Caceres, American Heart Association News
March 29, 2022
Comments
Believe it or not, there are thousands of varieties of rice, with colors ranging from
black to purple to red and more.
Of course, the type of rice most of us know best is white rice. You may have heard
some people say rice isn't nutritious or it will lead you to gain weight. But is this
inexpensive food that's a staple for more than half the globe's population all that bad?
To get a closer look at the rice health debate, let's start with varieties and colors. The
texture, flavor and nutrition of each type of rice is a little different.
All the stories, all the time
Unlock Ridgefield Press for 99¢
SUBSCRIBE
Rice is classified as short, medium or long grain. Short-grain rice is the type used in
sushi and has a chewy texture. Medium-grain rice like arborio and valencia tends to
be more tender and will stick together more easily than long-grain rice. Long-grain
varieties like basmati, brown and jasmine rice tend to stay separate and will be fluffy
after you cook them.
Then there are the different colors, with white and brown rice the most common in the
U.S. Brown rice is considered a whole grain because it has three grain components:
the bran, endosperm and germ, said Nikki Nies, a dietitian for the Northwest
Independent School District in Justin, Texas. In contrast, white rice is stripped of its
bran and germ, leaving the less healthy endosperm.
Whole grains like brown rice are healthier than processed grains. They contain more
fiber, which helps you to feel full faster and keeps your digestive system running well.
In fact, federal dietary guidelines recommend eating at least 3 ounces of whole grains
a day.
One cup of cooked long-grain brown rice has more than 3 grams of fiber versus less
than 1 gram from one cup of cooked long-grain white rice. Adults should aim for 22
to 34 grams of fiber a day depending on their age and sex.
Brown rice also is richer in nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins compared with
white rice, Nies said. When comparing calories per cup of cooked rice, brown is
slightly higher at 248 calories versus 205 for white.
Other less common types of rice, such as red and black, tend to have similar amounts
of fiber as brown rice, Nies said. But each variety contains different amounts of
nutrients. Black rice, for example, is rich in a type of antioxidant called anthocyanin.
Anthocyanin may improve cardiovascular health, according to research published in
the journal Molecules in 2020.
Because rice is high in carbohydrates, Nies said people with diabetes may have to
limit rice consumption or eat lower-carb varieties such as wild rice.
In terms of weight, a 2016 study in Nutrition Journal found eating more whole grains,
such as brown rice, was associated with a healthier body weight in children and
adults.
But white rice can still be part of a healthy diet.
"When white rice is paired with a lean protein source, vegetables and healthy fats, the
differences between brown and white rice are negligible," Nies said. So don't feel
guilty about choosing it as the base for a rice bowl as long as you choose a lean
protein like chicken, fresh vegetables and a healthy fat like avocado.
Plus, she said, white rice is typically enriched with nutrients like B vitamins and iron.
One well-known caution about rice is its level of arsenic, a toxic environmental
pollutant found in soil and groundwater. Rice plants readily absorb arsenic, but
cooking rice like pasta – with lots of extra water and then draining off the water – will
reduce those levels by up to 60%, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
But people who eat a varied diet don't need to worry about arsenic in rice, Nies said.
She recommended enjoying rice up to a couple of times a week, with whole grains
like barley, quinoa and buckwheat accompanying other meals throughout the week.
And feel free to experiment, Nies said. "There's no need to stick with a particular type
(of rice) as each one offers different nutrients and benefits."
If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].
Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are
reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for
individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to
link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is
altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.
Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply
with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full
terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial
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HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the
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qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and
experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help
immediately.
https://www.theridgefieldpress.com/news/article/Rounding-up-healthy-rice-choices-17036159.php
Researchers call for automation to reduce
rice seed price
The automation seeks to consider the best practices that reduce time, cost, and
complexities of rice variety registration
File image
Highlighting how quality seeds were still expensive, researchers called for
automating the rice variety release process to help reduce the cost.
"Over the years, Bangladesh has developed modern and high-yielding rice varieties,
fast-tracked the adoption of high-yielding rice varieties by farmers, and the rapid
expansion of irrigation infrastructure. Automating the seed certification system will
build upon these successes," said Dr Sirajul Islam, chief of party at Irri Bangladesh, at
a workshop on Wednesday in Gazipur, Bangladesh.
"The automation seeks to consider the best practices which reduce time, cost, and
complexities of the rice variety registration," he said at the workshop conducted by
the International Rice Research Institute (Irri) Bangladesh and the Seed Certification
Agency (SCA) under the USAID Funded FtF Bangladesh Irri Rice Breeding Public
Private Partnership Platform Activity.
Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, project lead of IRRI said, "Automation process for
variety registration and seed release process is a dire need now. It will reduce the time
required, shorten the complex registration process and enhance efficiency.
"This is also related to seed import permission (IP). If seed certification automation
can be done, the IP process can be enhanced and harmonised with quarantine
applications," he added.
Farmers mostly depend on the sources of rice seeds from public and private sectors.
At the same time, the private sector faces challenges in registering rice seed varieties
-- such as the lengthy process, complexities of the system, and the uncompetitive cost
of doing business.
Due to these limitations, the contribution of the private sector in rice seed release was
10.81% to 10.84% between 2014 to 2019, which reflects that the growth was almost
stagnant, said a press release from Irri Bangladesh.
Speakers participating in the workshop recommended building a digital platform that

will ease the registration process. They also emphasised the importance of
establishing an information technology department at SCA and the provision of stable
job placement of SCA officials.
Dr Md Sahjahan Kabir, director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

(BRRI), joined the event as the chief guest.
Dr Mohammad Khalequzzaman, director of research of BRRI, and Dr Mohammad

Rafiqul Islam, project lead of IRRI, were present as special guests. Dr Muhammad
Emdadul Haque, director in charge of the Seed Certification Agency, chaired the
workshop.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/researchers-call-automation-reduce-rice-seed-price-394002
CRISPR to Turn off Genes in Corn & Rice

to Boost Crop Yields, says Researchers
Researchers mapped the genomes of corn and rice, two of the world's most important
food crops, and then searched their genomes for genes related to grain yield in this new
study.
Shivam Dwivedi Updated 29 March, 2022 3:44 PM IST Published on 29 March, 2022 3:43 PM IST
Maize Crop
Turning off a specific gene in corn and rice can improve crop yields, according to
a group of researchers affiliated with a number of Chinese institutions and one in
Germany. The team describes mapping the genomes of both plants as a way to
search for genes associated with grain yield using CRISPR gene editing to
improve yields in test crops in a paper published in the journal Science.
Research Findings:
As the planet warms, scientists around the world are becoming increasingly
concerned about farmers' ability to produce enough food to feed an ever-
increasing population.
According to previous research, some of the land currently used to grow crops
may become less productive. As a result, scientists are looking for new ways to
boost crop yields.
Researchers mapped the genomes of corn and rice, two of the world's most
important food crops, and then searched their genomes for genes related to grain
yield in this new study.
They discovered 490 pairs of genes in both plants that appeared to have similar
functions. They were able to narrow the genes down to just two: one from corn
and one from rice.
RELATED LINKS

Future of CRISPR/Cas9 in Agriculture
Genome reading and editing are exponentially advancing technologies, putting tools such as
next generation technologies and CRISPR at the fore…

They discovered that they both produced a protein that controlled the number of
grains a plant could produce. They then turned off these two genes using
the CRISPR gene-editing technique. Then they planted test crops with the edited
genes in them and calculated the average yield.
The researchers discovered that the plants with modified genes produced more
grains per plant than the control groups when they looked at their yield numbers.
They saw a 10% increase in corn yields and an 8% increase in rice yields. They
also looked at the genetically modified plants to see if there were any other
changes, particularly those that could affect plant growth but found none.
They claim that their method is a reasonable way to increase crop yields and that
the modified plants could be mixed with wild varieties to create new species that
are more climate-change resistant.
(Source: Phys Org)
Study: Southeast Asia must close yield

gap to remain major rice bowl
Shutterstock
At least 40% of global rice exports come from Southeast Asia, and worldwide demand is
steadily growing. Recent research by a global team including Nebraska's Patricio Grassini
and recently published in Nature: Food indicates there is potential for rice producers to
increase yields on existing agricultural land with improved management.
At least 40% of global rice exports come from Southeast

Asia, making the region a major rice bowl. The region
helps feed other parts of the world, such as Africa and the
Middle East.
Projections show that global rice demand is set to increase 30% by 2050. With
the continuing rice trade and limited scope available for other main rice-
producing countries like China and India to generate a rice surplus, Southeast
Asia faces a challenge in stepping up to ensure adequate global rice supply.
But crop yields stagnate, land allotted for agriculture does not increase, and
climate change remains a looming threat, raising concerns about the capacity
of the region to remain a large net exporter.
In a recent study published in Nature Food, an international team of

researchers, including those from the major rice-producing nations in
Southeast Asia, estimated the difference between yield potential and average
farmer yield across six countries — Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
The initiative was led by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the

International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines and included
researchers from Huazhong Agricultural University in China, the
International Fertilizer Association in France, the Institute of Policy and
Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam, Field Crops
Research Institute in Vietnam, Thailand’s Rice Department, Thailand Rice
Science Institute, Mawlamyine University in Myanmar, IRRI-Myanmar Office,
the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, IRRI-Cambodia
Office, the General Directorate of Agriculture in Cambodia and the Indonesian
Agency for Agricultural Research and Development.
Results from the project are available via the Global Yield Gap Atlas, a
collaboration between the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Wageningen
University designed to estimate the difference between actual and potential
yields for major food crops worldwide.
“Over the past decades, through renewed efforts, countries in Southeast Asia
were able to increase rice yields, and the region as a whole has continued to
produce a large amount of rice that exceeded regional demand, allowing a rice
surplus to be exported to other countries,” said lead author Shen Yuan, a
postdoctoral research associate at Huazhong Agricultural University. “The
issue is whether the region will be able to retain its title as a major global rice
supplier in the context of increasing global and regional rice demand, yield
stagnation and limited room for cropland expansion.”
Through a data-intensive approach, the researchers determined that the

region has the potential to increase production on existing cropland and
remain a major global rice supplier, but changes in production and
management techniques will be key, and producers could stress natural
resources in the process.
Researchers found that the average yield gap represents nearly half of the
yield potential estimated for the region, but it is not the same for every
country. Yield gaps are larger in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and
Thailand but comparably smaller in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Patricio Grassini
“We used an approach that consists of a combination of crop modeling, spatial

analysis and use of detailed databases on weather, soil and cropping system
data,” said Patricio Grassini, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture
at Nebraska. “The regional extent of the study together with the level of detail
in relation to spatial and temporal variation in yield gaps and specificity in
terms of cropping systems is unique, providing a basis for prioritizing
agricultural research and development and investments at regional, national
and sub-national levels.”
According to the study, the region needs to close the existing yield gap
substantially to reduce the need for rice imports, allowing for an aggregated
rice surplus of 54 million tons available for exports.
“Our analysis shows that Southeast Asia will not be able to produce a large rice
surplus in the future without acceleration of current rates of yield gains,”
Grassini said. “Failure to increase yield on existing cropland areas will
drastically reduce the rice exports to other regions and the capacity of many
countries in the region to achieve or sustain rice self-sufficiency. It will also
put additional pressure on land and water resources, risking further
encroachment into natural ecosystems such as forests and wetlands.”
Researchers suggest a number of interventions needed to close the gap,

including improvement of crop management practices, such as the use of
fertilizer and irrigation, nutrients, water and pest management, as well as
mitigation of production risks in lowland rainfed environments.
“The challenge is how to increase yield while minimizing the negative

environmental impact associated with intensive rice production,”
said IRRI Senor Scientist Alice Laborte. “For example, tailoring nutrient
management to each environment will help increase yield and farmer profits
while reducing nutrient losses. Likewise, integrated pest management is a
knowledge-intensive but valuable approach if applied correctly and holistically
to reduce yield losses to weeds, pests and diseases while minimizing excessive
use of pesticides and associated risks to the environment and people.
“Closing the rice yield gaps requires the concerted effort of policymakers,
researchers and extension services to facilitate farmers’ access to technologies,
information and markets. Continued investment in rice research is crucial.”
The study received support from Closing Rice Yield Gaps in Asia with Reduced
Environmental Footprint, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation. The project also received complementary funding from the
Global Water for Food Institute, as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation through the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy 2030
Incubation Phase.
unjab farmers got 25 per cent of the total
benefits of paddy purchases under MSP
scheme in kharif 2021’
BL Mangaluru Bureau | Mangaluru, March 30 | Updated on: Mar 30, 2022








Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Union Minister of State for Food produced government’s data
showing that 739.11 lakh tonnes (lt) of paddy valued at ₹1.44 lakh crore were
procured during 2021-22.
Centre’s data in Lok Sabha show parboiled rice procurement was highest from
Telangana in 2020-21
Nearly one-fourth of the paddy procurement for the Central pool has taken place from
Punjab. Following this, Punjab farmers got around ₹36,706.88 crore. The
procurement was done at the MSP (minimum support price) value of ₹1,960 per
quintal.
Giving details of State-wise foodgrains procurement at MSP for the Central pool
during the kharif marketing season (KMS) of 2021-22, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Union
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, produced
government’s data showing that 739.11 lakh tonnes (lt) of paddy valued at ₹1.44 lakh
crore (on the MSP value of ₹1,960 per quintal) were procured during 2021-22.
Of this, the share of Punjab was at 187.28 lt (that is 25.33 per cent of the total
procurement) valued at ₹36,706.88 crore. Chhattisgarh was another major contributor
to the Central pool at 92.01 lt valued at ₹18,033.96 crore. This was followed by
Telangana at 70.22 lt (₹13,763.12 crore), Uttar Pradesh at 65.53 lt (₹12,843.88 crore),
and Odisha at 56.98 lt (₹11,168.08 crore).
The minister said Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura and Rajasthan recorded highest-ever paddy
procurement during KMS 2021-22, she said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
Parboiled rice
In a separate reply, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said States were informed that the FCI
(Food Corporation of India) will not be in a position to accept parboiled rice during
KMS 2021-22 due to the burgeoning stock level of parboiled rice in the Central pool.
FCI procured 47.49 lt of parboiled rice from Telangana during KMS 2020-21 against
44.71 in KMS 2019-20. FCI procured 17.74 lt (16.05 lt) from Odisha, and 15.95 lt
(26.38 lt) from Chhattisgarh during the period.
She said after meeting the requirements of States for the targeted public distribution
system and other welfare schemes, only the excess/surplus stocks procured by the
State governments and their agencies are handed over to FCI in the Central pool in the
form of white (raw) rice or parboiled rice to meet the overall consumption
requirement of the country in terms of a memorandum of understanding signed
between the Centre and decentralized procurement States.
Steel demand
Meanwhile, the Steel Ministry has said the rapid urbanisation is likely to increase the
demand of steel and metals in the country.
In a reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Union Steel
Minister, said the production of finished steel was 96.20 million tonnes (mt) in 2020-
21 compared with the production of 102.62 mt in 2019-20. Consumption of steel was
at 94.89 mt in 2020-21 against 100.17 mt in 2019-20.
Production of zinc and lead increased to 7.15 lt and 2.14 lt in 2020-21, from 6.88 lt
and 1.81 lt in 2019-20, respectively. Production of aluminium stood at 36.16 lt (36.56
lt), and refined copper at 3.64 lt (4.08 lt) during the period.
Published on March 30, 2022
rice (commodity)
Punjab
iron and steel
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https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:9-eoFhJ4954J:https://
www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/punjab-farmers-got-25-per-cent-of-the-total-
benefits-of-paddy-purchases-under-msp-scheme-in-kharif-2021/
article65274129.ece+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Buyers in Vietnam, China and Indonesia switch to the foodgrain, but its rates
rising sharply
With maize (corn) prices soaring on demand from West, South and South-East Asia,
buyers abroad are switching over to 100 per cent broken rice for animal feed in
countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and China.
“There is a huge demand for maize from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia besides the
Gulf. But prices have surged and availability is low since the new crop will arrive
only after next month,” said Bimal Bengani, Managing Director of Kolkata-based
Bengani Export Pvt Ltd.
“Shipments of maize have slowed down after prices soared due to the Russia-Ukraine
conflict. Instead, buyers from Vietnam and Indonesia are now seeking broken rice,”
said M Madan Prakash, President, Agri Commodities Exporters Association (ACEA).
Only small orders taken
“Exporters are accepting only small immediate orders that can be shipped in
containers. From Kandla in Gujarat, maize is now going to Oman and other Gulf
countries, as they are keen on maintaining the feed quality,” said Mukesh Singh, Co-
founder of Mumbai-based MuBala Agro Commodities Ltd.
A major reason for domestic maize prices increasing is that the kharif crop has almost
got exhausted. Singh said maize is currently quoted at ₹2,200-500 a quintal against
the minimum support price of ₹1,870. Demand for maize has increased as supplies
from Ukraine, which contributes 16 per cent of global exports, have been cut off with
shipments from the Black Sea coming to a total halt after Russian troops entered
eastern Ukraine on February 24.
Lukewarm demand
“Prices of maize delivered in Chennai for exports are ₹2,350,” said ACEA’s Prakash.
In Gujarat, agricultural produce marketing committee yards such as Dahod, the modal,
or rate at which most trades took place, was ₹2,300 on Monday.
According to the International Grains Council (IGC), Argentina quoted $329 a tonne
last weekend, while Brazil offered maize at $364 and the US at $363 (f.o.b) free on
board. Currently, benchmark corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade are ruling at
$7.44 a bushel ($292.83 a tonne).
“We shipped 250 tonnes of maize to Hong Kong some time back, but after that
demand has been lukewarm,” Prakash said.
“There are still some varieties of maize being shipped to Vietnam and Indonesia. A lot
of maize is going to Bangladesh by road,” said VR Sagar, Director, Bulk Logix.
Bengani and Singh concurred with his views. “Some exporters are expecting prices to
increase to $420-430 and are holding off,” Sagar said.
Exports feasibility
Maize is one of the agricultural products whose exports have been good this fiscal,
increasing by over 30 per cent in the first 10 months. According to the Agricultural
and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the export of
other cereals, in which maize plays a major part, was 3.16 million tonnes (mt) valued
at $1.74 billion during April-January this fiscal against 2.37 mt valued at $527 million
in the year-ago period.
MuBala’s Singh said maize exports were feasible as long as prices were around
₹1,700-800 a quintal in the domestic market. Until December, Bangladesh was the
top buyer purchasing 1.25 mt, while Vietnam purchased 0.95 mt. “In view of the high
prices, there is good demand for 100 per cent broken non-sortex rice that is
commanding a higher price,” said Prakash. The non-sortex rice will have yellow and
black coloured grains.
Chinese purchase
“Even broken rice prices are now quoted near maize prices as there is a shortage,”
said Sagar. Broken rice are commanding ₹2,100 a quintal and more. An exporter from
Bengaluru said 100 per cent broken rice prices were at par with 25 per cent broken
white rice. As per IGC data, 25 per cent broken rice price last weekend were $349 a
tonne.
According to APEDA data, China, which began importing Indian rice in the last fiscal
after over three decades, bought 1.1 mt of rice during the April-December period of
the current fiscal and Vietnam 0.6 mt. In October, the US Department of Agriculture
said broken rice accounted for 97 per cent of India’s rice exports to China during
January-August last year.
“Broken rice has always been going to China and Vietnam over the last couple of
years. This year, there is a shortage now,” Sagar said. “Exports of broken rice could
also be a problem in view of the surge in price. We could manage when prices ruled at
around ₹1,600-700,” he said, adding that the issue now was the grain’s availability.
China began buying broken rice from India to use it as feed after corn prices surged
last fiscal. Also, Beijing is required to build feed inventories as part of its plans to
increase the production of pigs. Singh said it takes time to accumulate broken rice
quantity for exports as they are done in bulk.
A Delhi-based trade consultant said most of the broken rice was heading from the east
coast ports such as Kakinada and Kolkata to Vietnam and Indonesia.
“Maize prices will begin to decline once the arrival of the rabi crop beings,” Bengani
said.
“Rice prices will begin tapering off once Rabi arrivals begin. This will happen around
mid-May,” said Sagar.
Freight advantage
Delhi-based exporter Rajesh Paharia Jain said India has freight advantage to export to
China, the Netherlands and South Korea, which had been buying from Ukraine before
the conflict intensified.
“It is a win-win situation for India after the Russian-Ukraine crisis. As India has a
freight advantage of $70-80 a tonne and Chinese demand is up, it would be favourable
to India. India maize export share to China might improve,” he said, adding that the
coarse cereal exports might increase by 5-7 per cent in 2022-23.
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:LFH6QETDzVMJ:https://
www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/as-maize-prices-climb-export-demand-for-
indian-broken-rice-as-animal-feed-soar/article65270194.ece+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk
Scientists discover how to improve

corn crop yield
March 29, 2022 by
Scientists discover how to improve corn crop yield
A group of scientists affiliated with a number of institutions China already one

of Germany has discovered a way to improve crop yields corn and of riceaccording to
an article published last Friday in the journal Science.
The experts mapped the genomes of those two crops and then searched their genomes for
genes related to grain yield, finding 490 pairs that appeared to have similar functions in
both plants.
Later, they narrowed down the genes to just two, one from maize and one from rice, and
found that both produced a type of protein that regulated the number of grains a given
plant could produce.
How is the corn crop improved?

Subsequently, the researchers used the CRISPR gene editing technique to turn off those
two genes and planted test crops using the gene-edited seeds to measure average yield.
Looking at the results, the study authors found that the gene-modified plants produced
more grains per plant than the control groups, with yield increases of 10 percent for
maize and 8 percent for rice.
They also studied the genetically modified plants to see if they could detect other
changes, specifically those that might have a negative impact on plant growth, and found
none.
More resistant crop species
The scientists maintain that their technique provides “a reasonable approach” to

increasing crop yields, while pointing out that the modified plants could be mixed with
wild varieties, to create new species more resistant to climate change.
In recent years, as the planet continues to warm, the scientific community has become
increasingly concerned that not enough food can be grown to feed an ever-growing world
population.
Follow us on Google news, Facebook and Twitter to keep you informed.
CategoriesNews
Asians dumbfounded over British
influencer who eats rice with a
fork
What in the world?
By Dale John Wong March 28, 2022


> Life
Asians are losing their minds over a British influencer's TikTok video
in which she advises people to eat their rice using a fork and knife.
The video uploaded by Lucy Challenger to her TikTok account showed

the self-proclaimed "British etiquette expert" teaching her followers
how to consume the carb-filled staple in a formal western setting.
In her video, she said that the correct way to eat rice was to push the
grains onto the top of the fork with a knife before directing them into
the mouth, as opposed to "shovelling" the rice onto a spoon.
Just watch it for yourself below.
The video has since been taken down by Lucy, but as with everything
on the Internet, nothing that is removed from the web stays gone
forever.
On various reposts of the video now circulating online, many people

have dropped their thoughts and reactions, with most people just
telling her to save her effort and just "use a spoon" instead.
"Why do westerners love to make simple things difficult in the name of

being 'well-mannered'?" asked one commenter on a repost of the
video.
Some others even said that the actual "proper way" to consume rice
was to use your hands – which is definitely something many Asians
will heartily agree with.
Singaporean comedian Fakkah Fuzz even parodied the video on

Twitter by showing how he'd rather stab himself with a knife than use
it to eat rice, before proceeding to scoop up a serving of rice with his
bare hands and shoving it into his mouth.
Judging by the reactions and comments to the original TikTok, Lucy's

tutorial has clearly gone down as something not to be taken too
seriously – by Asians most of all. Although in her defense, it was clear
that she was simply trying to demonstrate how it should be done in the
context of a formal western setting.
But then again, why would it be problematic or undignified to use a

spoon for the same purpose? I guess there really are some weird rules
when it comes to strictly abiding by traditions.
At the end of the day, it seems that most of us will still continue to eat
our rice with our spoons, chopsticks, or hands even, considering that
most of us don't have the luxury of having enough time to do it the
"formal way".
But if you really like eating your rice with a fork, that's okay too, I
guess.
Read more life stories:
I need TikTok to stop putting math on my FYP
Scientists are now working to develop "contagious vaccines"
TikTok's latest annoying trend is spamming the comments with a

brownie recipe
https://sea.mashable.com/life/19836/asians-dumbfounded-over-british-influencer-who-eats-rice-with-
a-fork
MARCH 30, 2022
Examining the next move for site-

specific nutrient management research
in sub-Saharan Africa
by African Plant Nutrition Institute
Consolidation of data from SSNM experimentation for the three Data collected from over 30
years of SSNM experimentation demonstrates greater yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and gross
return above fertilizer cost compared with generalized recommendations. Credit: J.
Muthamia/APNI
Inadequate and imbalanced fertilizer application is a well understood root cause of

stagnating and inconsistent yields across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). What is required is
the effective delivery of more made-to-measure approaches that can counter the
variability farmers face in their fields from season to season.
In a recent article published in Field Crops Research, researchers published an

assessment of research targeted at site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) in
smallholder farming systems in SSA. The review outlines SSNM's progressive
development, which traces its origins back to research in the 1990s focused on
developing tailored fertilizer recommendations within irrigated lowland rice systems in
West Africa.
The West Africa research, modeled after earlier work in Asia, was driven by the
observation of chronically low yields being produced from generalized fertilizer
recommendations. These "blanket" systems were ill-equipped to offer famers with an
effective way to manage the variability both within and between fields. This variability
is challenging to predict and robs farmers of yield potential. Further efforts during the
2000s yielded higher productivity and profitability for farmers who were able to
access the technology. However, scalability remained a key stumbling block preventing
any adoption on a more significant scale.
The following decade saw researchers address the scalability problem through the
successive development of a series of crop-specific decision support tools (Rice Advice,
Nutrient Expert-Rice or Maize). In the hands of trained extension staff, these tools could
expand SSNM's potential through the establishment of close working relationships with
farmers that can formulate a field-specific recommendation. More recent work
with cassava, a critically important yet chronically under managed food crop, also
culminated in the development of a digital platform (AKILIMO) dedicated to the
advancement of improved agronomic practices that include SSNM.
The review's consolidation of data from SSNM experimentation for the three crops over
30 years demonstrates "…greater yield, N use efficiency and gross return
above fertilizer cost benefits when SSNM was compared with the farmer practice …or
blanket recommendations." Yet, large scale adoption continues to lag.
The study outlines a series of technical and structural factors standing in the way of
further geographic spread of SSNM in spite of its effectiveness. For example, more
investment is needed to properly estimate the inherent capacity for African soils to
supply nutrients …a key component of most predictive models in use. More expertise in
the development and support of farmer-friendly, digital support tools is also required to
break through barriers to their acceptance. Also, concerted effort needs to be directed
towards experimentation and extension programs that work alongside farmers to ensure
SSNM interventions are supported by other key sets of improvement in on-farm
agronomy.
https://phys.org/news/2022-03-site-specific-nutrient-sub-saharan-africa.html
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AGRICULTURE
Cereals Research Institute

Releases New Varieties Of
Acha, Rice, Soybean
Some of the institute’s research field trials
By
 Vincent Yusuf
Wed, 30 Mar 2022 22:40:29 GMT



The National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi, near Bida, Niger State, recently
released new varieties of rice, acha and soybean for seed multiplication for this year’s
planting season.
NCRI’s mandate crops include rice, soybean, beniseed, acha, Castor seeds and stevia
plant and it has been working with local and international partners like the International
Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Bayer Nigeria and SEEDCO to get the new
varieties to farmers across the country.
 How 17-year-old was arrested for removing boy’s eye for charm
 Technology: Adhere to 70:30 admission ratio, Buhari orders polytechnics
The executive director/chief executive officer of the institute, Dr. Aliyu Umar, said these
new varieties would add to the list of those that have so for been released and adopted
by farmers across the country.
Acha
The institute released its first acha (fonio) varieties named NCRIACH 1 and NCRIACH 2.
The released NCRIACH 1 has a potential yield of 818.03kg per hectare; it is high yielding,
with a yield advantage of 41.87% over and above the popular check.
It has high tillering-cum-branching, good grain quality and good market value. It also
resists leaf miner pests, is tolerant to leaf spot and leaf rust diseases. It can be planted
in northern, southern and derived savannah ecologies
The NCRIACH 2 has a potential yield of 1.48t per hectare, yield advantage of 47.45%
over and above the popular farmers’ variety.
It also has good tillering ability and resistance to lodging, good grain quality, good
marketing value, tolerant to leaf miner pests, tolerant to leaf spot, strip and moderately
resistant to leaf rust disease, and can also be planted in northern, southern and derived
savannah ecologies.
Acha (digitaria spp.) is a cereal crop with several names including white fonio, fonio
millet, and hungry rice or acha rice. It is the most ancient indigenous cereal of West
Africa with a cultivation history dating back to 5000 years.
Currently in Nigeria, acha is grown mostly in states like Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa,
Taraba, Bauchi and other northern states.
In Nigeria, two species of acha are being cultivated – Digitariaexilis and Digitariaiburua.
In the past few years, acha has gained more popularity within and outside Nigeria
because of its nutritional qualities.
Dr Umar said acha is becoming very important in the country because of its rich
nutritional qualities. The product is often short in supply because of low grain yield per
hectare obtained by farmers, which is between 300-500kg and 500-700kg per hectare
for D. exilis and D. iburua respectively.
Soybean
NCRI also recently released new soybean varieties which include the NCRISOY 3
(TGX2024-7E) which is early maturing (90 – 100 days), with a yield potential of 3.3 tons
per hectare.
It is tolerant to bacterial pustule, Cercospora leaf spot and rust; it has large seed size, is
early maturity, high promiscuous nodulation, non-shattering, non-lodging.
The protein content is 39.2 per cent, while the oil content is 20.71 per cent. This variety
was registered and released by NCRI in collaboration with the International Institute for
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in 2022.
Another soybean variety is the NCRISOY 4 (TGx2020-4E) which is early maturing (89 –
98 days) with a yield potential of 3.1 tons per hectare, tolerant to bacterial pustule,
Cercospora leaf spot and rust.
It is high yielding, with large seed size, high promiscuous nodulation, non-shattering and
non-lodging.
It contains 43.97 per cent protein and 20.96 per cent oil. This variety was registered and
released by NCRI in collaboration with IITA in 2022.
The third soybean variety released by NCRI is the Sc Signal which is also early maturing
(100 days), high yielding (potential yield, 3.3 tons per hectare).
The variety is tolerant to rust disease (Phakopsorapachyrhizi), it is non-lodging, non-

shattering and has high pod clearance.
The protein content is 43 per cent, while the oil content is 28 per cent. This variety was
developed and released by SEEDCO Nigeria in 2022.
Rice
To deal with the country’s increased demand for rice because of the growing population
and value chain activities, the institute developed a hybrid variety named Arize TEJ
GOLD.
Hybrid rice technology offers an opportunity to increase rice yields to ensure a steady
supply. In the last three decades in Nigeria, rice yield growth reached a plateau and no
significant increase is being realized in productivity levels using inbreds.
The Arize TEJ GOLD which was developed by NCRI with a donor from Bayer Nigeria has
early flowering compared to the former variety, the yield advantage is 28.42 per cent
over the former variety.
The variety also resists pests and diseases, unlike Check. It has a maturing period of
between 115 to 120 days. During the trial, the transplanting method gave the best yield
of 9.7 tons per hectare.
The second variety of rice released by the institute is the Arize 6444 GOLD, which also
showed tolerance to pest and disease, it has a yield advantage of 15.29 per cent over
Check, with high productive tillers.
This rice variety has wider adaptability, early maturing of between (115 to 120 days).
The transplanting method gave the best yield potential of 10 tons per hectare.
Hybrid rice has the potential to increase yields by 15% to 20% over those of
conventionally bred varieties.
According to the institute’s information on the variety, hybrid rice is a proven and
successful technology for rice production and can contribute significantly towards
improving food security, raising rice productivity and farmers’ income, and providing
more employment opportunities over the next three decades.
For the past two decades, the yield of rice has ranged between four to eight tons per
hectare and with the increase in human population, coupled with the dwindling arable
land space for agriculture, there is need to exploit other technologies that would help
leverage this problem of low yield in rice cultivation.
NCRI believes that using local germplasm to exploit heterosis breeding (hybrids) could
enable it to break the current ceiling that the already released mega commercial inbred
has demonstrated
Inbred rice varieties generally have low yield with maximum yield potential ranging
between 4 – 8 metric tons per hectare coupled with susceptibility to most of the biotic
and abiotic stresses.
Also, there has been agitation for the registration and release of hybrid rice varieties in
Nigeria because of their higher yield potential reported in other countries to meet with
teeming population across the country.
Low yield of inbred varieties will no longer be sustainable, hence the genetic
improvement of hybrid rice to increase rice production.
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https://california18.com/scientists-discover-how-to-improve-corn-crop-yield/3968592022/
To fertilize or not to fertilize: A delicate

balance between chalky rice grains and
excessive protein content
30-Mar-2022 8:00 AM EDT, by American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society
of America (CSSA), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)
favorite_border

Hiroshi Nakano
Technician Chiemi Nagamatsu analyzes rice grain appearance to determine the effect of nitrogen
application rates during the vegetative and reproductive stages of the growth cycle. Nitrogen fertilizer can
reduce the production of chalky grains. However, too much nitrogen can cause an increase in rice protein
levels, and too much protein can make rice unfit to eat.
PreviousNext
Newswise — March 30, 2022 - There’s a widespread problem in rice growing that
you’ve probably never heard of. Rice plants that face elevated temperatures can
produce “chalky grains” that are easily crushed during the milling process. This leads to
lost profits because the price is lower for chalky grains than undamaged grains.
Nitrogen fertilizer can reduce the production of chalky grains. However, too much
nitrogen can cause an increase in rice protein levels. Too much protein affects the
quality of rice in an undesirable way because of its lower viscosity when cooked.
This means that applying nitrogen fertilizer is a delicate balance between preventing
chalky grains and keeping protein at an acceptable level. Hiroshi Nakano, a researcher
at the Kyushu Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization in Japan, and collaborators are researching one potential
solution.
This study was recently published in the Agronomy Journal, a publication of the

American Society of Agronomy.
Farmers can use the tools to predict the chalky grain percentage and protein content in
the field. This will allow them to assess how much nitrogen fertilizer they need in real-
time. “Our goal is to facilitate the stable production of rice in a changing climate,”
Nakano says. “It is important to establish an ideal nitrogen application rate using growth
diagnosis. In this study, we identified useful factors to regulate white-back grains (one
type of chalky grain) and protein content.”
He adds that in Southwestern Japan, rice seedlings are transplanted from mid to late
June. The rice grains develop through processes that occur in July, August, and
October. There are slight differences in weather and growth each year. This means the
exact needs for nitrogen are not always the same. The result is the nitrogen application
needs to be adjusted based on growth conditions.
“Our mission is to develop ways to protect rice from global climate change,” Nakano
says. “In Japan, rice production areas account for approximately 36% of all farming
land. In recent years, rice plants have been exposed to higher air temperatures during
the ripening stage. This can result in white-back grains.”
In their study, the researchers tested two types of measurements using two devices.
One looked at the concentration of nitrogen in the leaves of the rice plants. The other
measure how much of a plant can uptake nitrogen. The team also determined the best
times to take these measurements.
Their findings point to the usefulness of the readings for allowing farmers to make real-
time adjustments to nitrogen application at an important time during rice production.
Heading is the stage of rice growth before flowering. Timing the measurements at the
correct time in the plants’ development helped reduce the amount of some chalky grains
and regulate the grain protein content.
“We recommend that farmers conduct the growth diagnosis by using handheld meters,”
Nakano says. “These meters are not expensive, and getting this information will allow
them to harvest rice grains with high quality.”
However, it can be difficult for farmers to get enough data if they have lots of rice fields.
The researchers hope to develop a way to take these measurements using an
unmanned aerial vehicle. Nakano adds that being able to help farmers enhance their
rice yields while maintaining high quality is important for solving food security issues. A
growing global population and rising temperatures are causing these food security
issues.
“This research is broadly important as the global average temperature is predicted to

increase due to global warming,” Nakano says. “The occurrence of white-back grains
increases when rice plants ripen under high air temperatures. Rice is a staple food of
approximately 50% of the global population. Therefore, this issue is important for
farmers but also for consumers.”
Support for this research was provided by Japan’s National Agriculture and Food
Research Organization Biooriented Technology Research Advancement Institution.
https://www.newswise.com/articles/to-fertilizer-or-not-to-fertilize-a-delicate-balance-between-chalky-
rice-grains-and-excessive-protein-content
15 new inbred rice varieties approved for

farmers' use
Read Next
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By Eireene Jairee Gomez

March 31, 2022
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THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) announced that 15

new inbred rice varieties have been approved for commercial release
by the National Seed Industry Council (NSIC).
Among these PhilRice-bred include: three for irrigated lowland (NSIC

Rc 622, Rc 624 and Rc 626,); and five special-purpose pigmented
non-glutinous (NSIC Rc 638 SR, Rc 640 SR, Rc 642 SR, Rc 644 SR
and Rc 646 SR).
The other seven are bred by the International Rice Research Institute:

five are for irrigated lowland (NSIC Rc 628, Rc 630, Rc 632, Rc 634
and Rc 636), one zinc-biofortified (Rc 648); and one for rainfed
lowland farms (Rc 650).
"With these new rice varieties, we are providing more options to

farmers as to what variety is most suited to their farms' conditions so
they can further increase their production and achieve the best quality
of their produce," Dr. Oliver Manangkil of the PhilRice, an agency
under the Department of Agriculture, said.

360p geselecteerd als afspeelkwaliteit
 https://www.manilatimes.net
According to PhilRice, the new varieties will be introduced to farmers

through techno-demo farms under the various extension programs of
PhilRice and its branch stations.
"We have introduced new varieties to farmers through the NextGen

PLUS project in the past years," Manangkil said.
Under the project, multi-location trials were done in all major irrigated
and rainfed rice-growing regions under the supervision of DA regional
field offices, and state colleges and universities across the country.
Adaptation trials were set up in farmer partners' fields.
"Through NextGen, we were able to introduce newly released

varieties to farmers even in far-flung areas. We did participatory
performance trials and validation, whereby farmers planted varieties
and were given the chance to choose the best rice adapted to their
local conditions," Manangkil explained.
As this project ended in 2021, Manangkil said his team is looking

ahead to a new project called "OneRicePH" that will introduce new
varieties to farmers at the provincial level.
"It will take about two more years for farmers to have access to the 15
new varieties because the breeder seeds available now have yet to be
multiplied," Manangkil said.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/31/business/agribusiness/15-new-inbred-rice-varieties-
approved-for-farmers-use/1838203
U.S. Rice Makes the Case to Ghanese Foodservice
By Eszter Somogyi
ACCRA, GHANA -- More than 150 foodservice providers, who sell cooked rice on a daily basis as part of
their businesses, attended an educational seminar hosted by USA Rice earlier this month. The seminar
was timed to coincide with the lead up to Easter holiday celebrations here as rice and rice menus are
traditionally used as donations and for social events.
Hands-on FAS rice inspectors
Robert Tuebner (center) and
Joshua Taylor (far right)

Participants hailed from ten different catering associations within the Greater Accra Region, providing
good coverage of the entire region. Robert Tuebner, agricultural attaché with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Accra, welcomed everyone to the seminar. Joshua
Taylor, an FAS agricultural specialist, also attended.
A presentation on the characteristics of rice grown in the U.S. reiterated the many advantages U.S. rice
offers foodservice professionals including high quality and consistency, delivering dishes with
guaranteed great taste and appearance for every serving. Another important discussion topic was the
hygiene and safety of commercial food preparation and its importance as a successful business practice.
A local U.S. rice importer donated Texas Star, a U.S. long grain brand, for a hands-on demonstration of
both cleanliness and grain quality. Participants also received contact details for all the U.S. rice
importers in Ghana along with informational brochures and branded rice cooking spoons.
Ghana is a relatively price sensitive market and imported 597,000 MT of rice in 2021, the majority of
which came from Vietnam as fragrant jasmine variety, as well as India, Pakistan, and China. U.S. rice
exports to Ghana amounted to 6,300 MT in 2021 with a value of $3.9 million USD. U.S.-origin rice is
especially valued by foodservice providers here for its cooking qualities mentioned above.
Commissioner fixes prices of food items

Says prices are fixed for one month to provide relief to the people
Our CorrespondentMarch 30, 2022

PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Karachi Commissioner, Muhammad Iqbal Memon on Tuesday fixed the rates of
essential food items after consultation with the stakeholders and relevant
associations.
The commissioner held a meeting, which was attended by additional commissioner,
deputy commissioners, bureau of prices, representatives of consumer associations
Sweets and Bakers Association, Dilpasand Bakery, United Bakery, Rehmat-e-Shireen
and others.
The commissioner also fixed the prices of pulses and rice. With the consultation he
fixed the retailers' margin on pulses and rice at a rate of Rs5 per kilogram.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of Grocery Market Khajoor Bazar,
Karachi Wholesalers Grocery Association and others including representatives of
food centers, naanbai and consumers associations.
Read More: Oil prices dip on mixed supply and demand outlook
The commissioner said that the prices were fixed for one month to provide relief to
the people during Ramadan.
According to the decision, the price of 'A' category 35 grams Qeema Samosa has been
fixed at Rs22 and 'B' category at Rs18 per piece.
The price of 'A' category mixed pakora has been fixed at Rs360 per kilogram and 'B'
category at Rs320 per kilogram. The price of 'A' category pretzels (Jalebi) was fixed
at Rs320 per kilogram and 'B' category at Rs280 per kg.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30th, 2022.
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2350220/commissioner-fixes-prices-of-food-items
Prices of fritters fixed in Karachi

ONLINE
March 29, 2022
Web Desk
KARACHI: Official prices of samosas, fritters, and jalebi have been

fixed in the Sindh capital.
According to details, prices of samosas, fritters, and jalebi have been
fixed in a meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Muhammad Iqbal
Memon.
The price of A category per samosa (price 35 grams) has been fixed at
Rs 22, B category at Rs 18, A category samosa (potato 60 grams) at Rs
22, and B category at Rs 18. A category mixed fritters have been fixed at
Rs 360 per kg and B category at Rs 320 per kg. Khajla pahini will be
sold at Rs. 500 per kg, Jalebi A category has been fixed at Rs. 320 and B
category at Rs. 280 per kg.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioners, Bureau of Prices,
Representatives of Consumer Associations Kokab Iqbal, Umar Ghauri,
Shakeel Baig, President Sweets & Bakers Association Sheikh
Muhammad Tehseen, Dilpsand Bakery Asif Ahmed, United Bakery
Maqsood Nasir, Rehmat Sharin Gulzar Ahmed, and others.
Commissioner Karachi in consultation with the Wholesale Association
and retailers also fixed the prices of pulses and rice. Prices of pulses and
rice have been fixed especially for the relief of the people during
Ramzan.
According to Commissioner Karachi, pulses are 90% imported. Prices
can be revised after one month in terms of dollar value. Retailer’s profit
on pulses and rice has been fixed at Rs. 5 per kg
https://mmnews.tv/prices-of-fritters-fixed-in-karachi/
Cabinet Likely to Approve Rs. 8.2

Billion Ramazan Relief Package
By ProPK Staff | Published Mar 29, 2022 | 6:58 pm


The federal cabinet is likely to give approval to the Rs. 8.2 billion Ramazan relief
package.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sources said that the cabinet division on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s office
circulated a summary for the approval of the Ramazan relief package on 19 items.
ALSO READ
US City Allows Azaan Throughout the Year in Historic Decision

The Ministry of Industries & Production Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik also
informed the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production that the
summary for approval of the Ramazan relief package has been forwarded to the
federal cabinet.
Sources said that Utility Stores Corporation is yet to purchase items from the market
for providing subsidized items to the masses during the holy month of Ramazan.
ALSO READ
FDE to Announce Ramadan Timings for Schools and Colleges Tomorrow

It is pertinent to mention here that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of
the cabinet on March 8, 2022, approved the Ramazan relief package 2022 for 19
essential items including flour, pulses, ghee, sugar, rice, gram flour, milk, and spices
under the package.
Get the ProPakistani App now & scroll through your favourite content
faster!
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https://propakistani.pk/2022/03/29/cabinet-likely-to-approve-rs-8-2-ramazan-relief-package/
Rounding up healthy rice choices
Vanessa Caceres, American Heart Association News
March 29, 2022
Comments
Believe it or not, there are thousands of varieties of rice, with colors ranging from
black to purple to red and more.
Of course, the type of rice most of us know best is white rice. You may have heard
some people say rice isn't nutritious or it will lead you to gain weight. But is this
inexpensive food that's a staple for more than half the globe's population all that bad?
To get a closer look at the rice health debate, let's start with varieties and colors. The
texture, flavor and nutrition of each type of rice is a little different.
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Rice is classified as short, medium or long grain. Short-grain rice is the type used in
sushi and has a chewy texture. Medium-grain rice like arborio and valencia tends to
be more tender and will stick together more easily than long-grain rice. Long-grain
varieties like basmati, brown and jasmine rice tend to stay separate and will be fluffy
after you cook them.
Then there are the different colors, with white and brown rice the most common in the
U.S. Brown rice is considered a whole grain because it has three grain components:
the bran, endosperm and germ, said Nikki Nies, a dietitian for the Northwest
Independent School District in Justin, Texas. In contrast, white rice is stripped of its
bran and germ, leaving the less healthy endosperm.
Whole grains like brown rice are healthier than processed grains. They contain more
fiber, which helps you to feel full faster and keeps your digestive system running well.
In fact, federal dietary guidelines recommend eating at least 3 ounces of whole grains
a day.
One cup of cooked long-grain brown rice has more than 3 grams of fiber versus less
than 1 gram from one cup of cooked long-grain white rice. Adults should aim for 22
to 34 grams of fiber a day depending on their age and sex.
Brown rice also is richer in nutrients like magnesium and B vitamins compared with
white rice, Nies said. When comparing calories per cup of cooked rice, brown is
slightly higher at 248 calories versus 205 for white.
Other less common types of rice, such as red and black, tend to have similar amounts
of fiber as brown rice, Nies said. But each variety contains different amounts of
nutrients. Black rice, for example, is rich in a type of antioxidant called anthocyanin.
Anthocyanin may improve cardiovascular health, according to research published in
the journal Molecules in 2020.
Because rice is high in carbohydrates, Nies said people with diabetes may have to
limit rice consumption or eat lower-carb varieties such as wild rice.
More News
Nigella Lawson says Malteser cake is her

most popular with fans - 'so moving'
NIGELLA LAWSON, a well-known British food writer and celebrity chef, shared the delicious
recipe that gets the most love from her followers.
By Andrea Blazquez
00:01, Wed, Mar 30, 2022
Link copied
Nigella Lawson shares recipe for raspberries in chardonnay jelly

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“There’s a particular recipe – my Malteser cake – that people often message me about,
and they’ll say things such as, ‘I’ve made it for every birthday since my child was
eight – and they’re now 18!’ It’s so moving to be a part of someone’s life in that
way,” Nigella Lawson told Good Housekeeping.
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Chocolate Malteser cake recipe
Ingredients
For the cake:
150 grams soft light brown sugar
100 grams caster sugar
Three eggs
175 millilitres milk
15 grams butter
Two x 15ml tablespoons Horlicks
175 grams plain flour
25 grams cocoa (sieved)
One teaspoon baking powder
Half teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
For the icing:
250 grams icing sugar
One teaspoon cocoa

45 grams Horlicks
125 grams unsalted butter
Two x 15ml tablespoons boiling water
Two x 37 grams packet (approx. 28-30 in number) Maltesers
READ MORE: Aldi’s sell-out log burner with over 800 five star reviews is back
Nigella Lawson says Malteser cake is her most popular with fans - 'so moving' (Image:
Good Housekeeping UK / Matt Holyoak/ Getty)
Method
Nigella explained: "Take whatever you need out of the fridge so that all the
ingredients can come to room temperature (though it's not so crucial here, since you're
heating the milk and butter and whisking the eggs).
"Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C/325°F. Butter and line two 20cm /eight-inch loose-
bottomed sandwich cake tins with baking parchment.
"Whisk together the sugars and eggs while you weigh out the ingredients; I use a
freestanding mixer here which explains why I can do both things at once. Heat the
milk, butter and Horlicks powder in a saucepan until the butter melts, and it is hot but
not boiling. When the sugars and eggs are light and frothy, beat in the hot Horlicks
mixture and then fold in the flour, cocoa, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
Divide the cake batter evenly between the two tins and bake in the oven for 25
minutes, by which time the cakes should have risen and will spring back when pressed
gently. Let them cool on a rack for about five to 10 minutes and then turn out of their
tins."
She continued: "Once the cakes are cold, you can get on with the icing. I use
processor just because it makes life easier: you don't need to sieve the icing sugar. So:
put the icing sugar, cocoa and Horlicks in the processor and blitz to remove all lumps.
Add the butter and process again. Stop, scrape down, and start again, pouring the
boiling water down the funnel with the motor running until you have a smooth
buttercream.
"Sandwich the cold sponges with half of the buttercream, and then ice the top with
what is left, creating a swirly top rather than a smooth surface. Stud the outside edge
with a ring of Maltesers or use them to decorate the top in whichever way pleases
you."
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Nigella added: "The sponge layers can be frozen, wrapped individually in a double
layer of food wrap and a layer of foil, for up to three months. Unwrap and thaw at
room temperature for two to three hours. The cake is best eaten the same day it is iced
but leftovers will keep in an airtight container for two to three days."
The TV chef also revealed the recipe that means the most to her: “My mother’s
Praised chicken.
"She died at the age of 48 and cooking that dish is a wonderful way for my children to
be able to eat her food,” she told Good Housekeeping.
Nigella's Chocolate Malteser cake (Image: Good Housekeeping UK / Matt Holyoak /

Getty )
READ MORE
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with wife Jada Pinkett-Smith
My Mother's Praised Chicken
Ingredients
One large chicken (preferably organic)
Two teaspoons garlic infused olive oil
100 millilitres white wine
Two or three leeks (cleaned, trimmed and cut into 7cm logs)
Two or three carrots (peeled and cut into batons)
Two or three sticks celery (sliced)
Approx. two litres cold water
One bouquet garni (or one teaspoon dried herbs)
One small bunch fresh parsley
Two teaspoons sea salt
Two teaspoons red peppercorns (or two teaspoons of good grinding pepper)
English mustard
Chopped fresh dill

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Method
Nigella explained: "Get out a large, flame-safe cooking pot (with a lid) in which the
chicken can fit snugly: mine is about 28cm wide x 10cm deep / 11inches wide x four
inches deep.
"On a washable board, un-truss the chicken, put it breast-side down and press down
until you hear the breastbone crack. (As you may imagine, I like this.) Then press
down again, so that the chicken is flattened slightly. Now cut off the ankle joints
below the drumstick (but keep them); I find kitchen scissors up to the task.
"Put the oil in the pan to heat, then brown the chicken for a few minutes breast-side
down, and turn up the heat and turn over the chicken, tossing in the feet as you do so.
Still over a vigorous heat add the wine or vermouth to the pan and let it bubble down a
little before adding the leeks, carrots and celery.
"Pour in enough cold water to cover the chicken, though the very top of it may poke
out, then pop in the bouquet garni or your herbs of choice, and the parsley stalks (if I
have a bunch, I cut the stalks off to use here, but leave them tied in the rubber band)
or parsley sprigs.
"The chicken should be almost completely submerged by now and if not, do add some
more cold water. You want it just about covered.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/food/1588129/Nigella-Lawson-chocolate-Malteser-cake-recipe
More income in less space through vertical gardening

Adding a vertical garden in a rice-based farming system augments sources of income;
an established setup in the Palayamanan farm of the Department of Agriculture-
Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) showed.
Dr. Marissa V. Romero, lead of the PhilRice’s project Modernized rice-based farming
systems and value-adding technologies, said that integrating vertical garden in
Palayamanan increases sources of food and income and enhances resiliency.
Palayamanan integrates diverse crops and livestock in a farm to increase produce and
income.
Engr. Kristine S. Pascual, activity lead, detailed that they harvested an average of 1kg
of lettuce from each growing tower 25 days after transplanting.
“This is 10 times higher than the usual harvest from the same area,” Pascual said.
At P200 to P300 per kg gate price of lettuce, she said that P20,000 to P30,000 can be
generated from 100 towers in one cycle.
The vertical garden at DA-PhilRice’s Palayamanan farm was established in a 100-m2
greenhouse where vegetables were grown following the hydroponics and aeroponics
systems.
“This is the system suited for farmers with limited space for vegetables,” Pascual said.
Hydroponics and aeroponics are production methods where plants are grown in a
nutrient solution rather than in soil. Hydroponics uses a medium for growing the
plants while aeroponics is in an air or mist environment.
Pascual shares that they used cocopeat as material to plant vegetables for the
hydroponics system. This is being enriched with nutrients during fertigation in which
the fertilizer is incorporated within the irrigation water.
“For the aeroponics setup, plant roots are suspended in the air, but we used a
polyfiber to hold them,” Pascual explained.
In collaboration with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) College of
Engineering, 100 units of growing towers made of white polyvinyl chloride pipes were
installed. The towers have 6-in diameter and 1.5-m height. They are connected to a
series of buried pipes that serve as drainage system of the nutrient-enriched
recirculating water during irrigation, and act as the ground heat exchanger system.
“We hope to replicate more vertical tower gardens in DA-PhilRice branch stations to
showcase this technology and promote it to the Rice Business Innovations System
(RiceBIS) communities and other interested groups/individuals,” Dr. Romero said.
RiceBIS is a flagship program of the Institute that aims to develop a model of
community transformation in rice farming communities.
A harvest festival attended by DA-PhilRice staff was recently held in collaboration with
Pilipinas Kaneko Seeds Corporation and CLSU as part of their demonstration trial of
lettuce varieties using the system.
-30-
India mulls exporting sugar to Bangladesh

FE REPORT | Published: March 30, 2022 11:31:25 | Updated: March 31,
2022 13:06:42
India considers exporting sugar to Bangladesh under the government-to-
government (G2G) arrangement.
Manoj Kumar Semwal, managing director (MD) of the Nati onal Cooperati ve
Consumers' Federati on of India Limited (NCCF), made the request to the
Bangladesh government in a lett er issued on March 23.
Indian Restaurant, Indian Cuisine
visit spiceshoptw.com/ to learn more
The Ministry of Commerce of Bangladesh is procuring various essential

commodities, including sugar, lentils and edible oil, in a bid to sell those at
subsidised prices in the upcoming month of Ramadan, according to the letter.
Therefore, NCCF is willing to export Indian origin Sugar to Bangladesh under

the G2G supply contract - the organisation has also mentioned in the letter the
terms of contract under the G2G deal.
The letter also mentioned that NCCF had successfully supplied the Indian
non-Basmati rice to the Directorate General of Food of the food ministry of
Bangladesh in the year 2020-2021 under the previous G2G supply contract.
Confirming the receipt of the letter, a commerce ministry official said, "We
have recently received the letter. We are working on it."
The NCCF has a vast experience in procurement, handling and export of food
grains, including wheat and non-Basmati rice, to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's annual local demand for the sweet crystal substance is about 2.0
to 2.2 million tonnes - the bulk of which comes through import.
During Ramadan, some 0.3 million tonnes of sugar are required.
On average, over 0.11 million tonnes of sugar are required per month,
according to the official data.
Generally, the government collects sugar to sell through its truck sale
programme operated by the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh
(TCB).
[email protected]
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/india-mulls-exporting-sugar-to-bangladesh-1648618285
Spring into Flavourful Local Recipes
Bysouthasiandaily
March 30, 2022
26
Share
GUELPH, ONTARIO – Cooking and eating local is easy when you buy delicious food grown
and produced in Ontario. Spring into your kitchen with your family and start preparing these
flavourful recipes featuring local goodness. When shopping at your local grocery store,
farmers’ market and on-farm market, think local, shop local and cook with local ingredients.
Enjoy a slice or two of Savoury Soda Bread any time of the day. Serve alongside your
favourite soup or stew. And, if you are looking for a new recipe to add to your St. Patrick’s
Day celebrations, this would be a great recipe choice.
Sheet Pan Lamb Meatloaves with Roasted Vegetables is a delicious and hearty one-pan
weeknight dinner. The small meatloaves are baked with the root vegetables and ready to
enjoy in less than 90 minutes.
Baked Curry Ground Beef is a spiced ground meat mixture baked with an egg-based
topping. Our version is similar to Bobotie which is considered to be a national dish in South
Africa. This versatile dish can be made with Ontario beef, lamb or a combination of both.
Serve with basmati rice and chutney.
Enjoy these crisp, sweet and yummy Apple Taquitos with Maple Sauce for dessert. They are
simple to prepare and your children will love to help make them. They have all the makings
of apple pie with a drizzle of Ontario maple syrup sauce.
There’s a lot available from Ontario every month and we are here to help you. Visit us
at foodlandontario.ca to find out what’s available, and for more quick and easy recipesyou
can make with food you can find in your fridge, freezer, or pantry.
Eating local is easy, flavourful and delicious; now let’s get cooking!
Savoury Soda Bread
Enjoy this classic Irish soda bread with some savoury additions – onion, Cheddar cheese
and parsley. Serve with your favourite soup or stew.
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 minutes
Baking Time: 50 minutes
Makes 1 loaf (16 slices)
2 tsp (10 mL) vegetable oil

1 Ontario Onion, finely chopped
2 cups (500 mL) whole wheat flour
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (125 mL) large flake oats
2 tsp (10 mL) salt
1 tsp (5 mL) each baking powder and baking soda
1/4 cup (50 mL) cold butter
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) shredded Ontario Old Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup (50 mL) finely chopped fresh Ontario Parsley
1-1/2 cups (375 mL) Ontario Buttermilk
1 Ontario Egg
In small nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook until softened about 3
minutes, stirring often. Remove onions to small bowl; set aside.
In large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, salt, baking powder and
baking soda. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until crumbly. Stir in onion, cheese
and parsley until combined
In medium bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg; add to flour mixture. With spatula stir
until dough forms a ball. Knead dough on lightly floured surface for 1 to 3 minutes or until it
just comes together. Shape into an 8-inch (23 cm) round loaf.
Place on parchment lined baking sheet. Cut “X” in top of dough, half the depth of the loaf
and to within 1-inch (2.5 cm) of the edge. Dust top of loaf with flour.
Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 50 minutes or until the bottom of loaf sounds hollow when
tapped. Cool on wire rack.
Nutritional Information:
1 Serving (1 Slice):
PROTEIN: 8 grams
FAT: 8 grams
CARBOHYDRATE: 24 grams
CALORIES: 199
FIBRE: 3 grams
SODIUM: 420 mg
Sheet Pan Lamb Meatloaves with Roasted Vegetables
For a delicious one-pan weeknight dinner, bake small meatloaves alongside hearty root
vegetables.
Cooking Time: 6 minutes
Roasting Time: 50 minutes
Serves 4
3 Ontario Carrots, peeled and cut into chunks (about 3 cups/750 mL)
2 large Ontario Potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks (about 2
cups/500 mL)
1 Ontario Sweet Potato, cut into chunks (about 2 cups/500 mL)
3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped fresh Ontario Mint
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh Ontario Rosemary
1 tsp (10 mL) salt
1 tsp (5 mL) pepper
1 Ontario Onion, chopped
1 Ontario Egg
2/3 cup (150 mL) panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup (50 mL) chopped fresh Ontario Parsley
500 g lean Ontario Ground Lamb
Freshly ground pepper

In large bowl, toss carrots, potatoes and sweet potato with 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the oil, 1 tbsp
(15 mL) of the mint, 1 tbsp
(15 mL) of the rosemary, 1/2 tsp (2 mL) of the salt and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) of the pepper. Place
vegetables on large parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Roast in 400°F (200°C) oven for
20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in small nonstick skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook
until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add remaining mint, rosemary, salt and
pepper; cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat, transfer to large bowl. Add egg, bread
crumbs, parsley and lamb; lightly mix together. With wet hands, divide into 4 portions; shape
into loaves.
Remove pan from oven; stir vegetables and place meatloaves on the pan. Roast 30 minutes
or until meat thermometer inserted in centre of meatloaves reads 160°F (71°C) and
vegetables are tender. Sprinkle with pepper.
Tip: If you like, use lean Ontario Ground Beef and instead of mint and rosemary use 3 tbsp
(45 mL) chopped fresh Ontario Thyme Leaves and 2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh Ontario
Oregano Leaves.
1 Serving
PROTEIN: 27 grams
FAT: 35 grams
CALORIES: 640
FIBRE: 6 grams
SODIUM: 910 mg
Baked Curry Ground Beef

Enjoy this spiced ground meat mixture baked with an egg-based topping. Our version is
similar to Bobotie which is considered to be a national dish in South Africa. This versatile
dish can be made with Ontario beef, lamb or a combination of both. Serve with basmati rice
and chutney.
Cooking Time: about 15 minutes
Roasting Time: 50 minutes
Serves 6
2 slices white or whole wheat bread
2 cups (500 mL) 2% Ontario Milk
1 Ontario Onion, chopped

750 g lean Ontario Ground Beef, Lamb or
combination of both (375 g each)
1 tbsp (15 mL) curry powder
1 tsp (5 mL) each garlic powder and turmeric
1 tsp (5 mL) salt
1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper
1/4 cup (50 mL) apricot jam
1 tbsp (15 mL) Worcestershire sauce
2 Ontario Eggs
4 bay leaves
Place bread in shallow pan. Pour 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the milk over bread; let soak.
In large non -stick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion; cook until softened, about 5
minutes, stirring often. Add beef; cook over medium-high heat, stirring, until browned, about
10 minutes. Stir in curry powder, garlic powder, turmeric, salt and pepper. Stir in soaked
bread, jam and Worcestershire sauce until combined. Transfer to 8 cup (2 L) casserole dish;
cover with foil. Bake in 350°F (180°C) oven for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat eggs and remaining milk together. Remove casserole from
oven. Remove foil; pour egg mixture evenly over the meat mixture. Place bay leaves on top.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until topping is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before
serving. Remove bay leaves.
1 Serving
PROTEIN: 32 grams
FAT: 15 grams
CALORIES: 332
FIBRE: 0.5 grams
SODIUM: 610 mg
Apple Taquitos with Maple Sauce
Crisp, sweet and delicious dessert taquitos are simple to make. These taquitos have all the
makings of apple pie with a drizzle of maple syrup sauce.
Cooking Time: about 15 minutes
Baking Time: 15 minutes

Serves 6
3 cups (750 mL) peeled, diced Ontario Apples, such as Gala or Cortland (about 4)
2 tbsp (25 mL) granulated sugar
1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cinnamon
3/4 cup (175 mL) cold water
2 tsp (10 mL) cornstarch
Maple Sauce:
1 cup (250 mL) Ontario Maple Syrup
1/2 cup (125 mL) 35% Ontario Whipping Cream
1/4 cup (50 mL) butter
6 small (7-inch/18 cm) flour or whole wheat tortillas Ground

cinnamon
In medium saucepan, combine apples, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and 1/2 cup (125 mL)
of the water. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring
occasionally, until apples are tender. In small bowl, stir cornstarch with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of
the water until smooth. Stir into saucepan; bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer until
thickened, stirring constantly. Set aside.
Maple Sauce: In small saucepan, combine maple syrup, cream and 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the
butter; bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium- low, continue boiling, stirring
occasionally for 5 to 7 minutes or until slightly thickened and coats a spoon. Set aside.
Melt remaining 2 tbsp (25 mL) of butter. To assemble taquitos, drizzle 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the
maple sauce, down center of a tortilla. Spoon 3 tbsp (45 mL) of the apple filling over sauce.
Roll tortilla tightly; place seam side down on parchment- lined baking sheet. Brush with
butter; sprinkle with cinnamon. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 15 minutes until golden brown and filling is bubbling at the
ends. Serve with remaining maple sauce.
1 Serving
PROTEIN: 3 grams
FAT: 17 grams
CALORIES: 422
FIBRE: 2 grams
SODIUM: 210 mg
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Midweek meal: Nourish the soul with

Ammu’s chicken biryani recipe
By Brian Stormont
March 30, 2022, 5:00 pm

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Ammu's chicken biryani recipe.
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Food is an important part of any celebration.

And when the dish conveys a message, it is even more special.
This is the experience of chef Asma Khan, author of Ammu, a cookbook dedicated to her
mother.
“Biryani was always made for big celebratory occasions,” says Asma.
“This is also usually the last dish I eat at home before I make the five-hour car journey
from my parents’ home to the airport to catch my flight to London. I always felt that
layered in that biryani were things my mother couldn’t say. When the biryani arrived on
the table, it felt like Ammu’s secret code, telling me that she loved me.”
You too can cook Ammu’s chicken biryani recipe as a welcome midweek meal for the
whole family.
Be sure to check out our other Midweek Meal recipes for more inspiration.
Ammu’s chicken biryani recipe
(Serves 6)
Ammu’s chicken biryani recipe.

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Ingredients:
 200g plain flour
 500g good-quality basmati rice
 5tbsp salt
 1/2tsp saffron strands
 80ml full-fat milk
 8tbsp ghee or vegetable oil (sometimes I mix both and it works really well)
 2 white onions, thinly sliced into half moons
 1kg skinless chicken thighs, on the bone
 3 garlic cloves, crushed
 5-6cm piece of fresh ginger, grated
 2tbsp full-fat Greek-style yoghurt
 1/2tsp chilli powder
 2 green cardamom pods
 2 cloves
 1cm piece of cinnamon stick
 1cm piece of mace, crushed
 tsp grated nutmeg
 1/4tsp sugar
 Juice of 1/2 lemon
Asma
Khan is the author of Ammu: Indian Home-Cooking To Nourish Your Soul.
Method:
1. Mix the flour with enough water to make a firm dough, cover and leave to rest.
2. Wash the rice in a bowl of cold water, moving your hand in gentle circular movements in
one direction to avoid breaking the delicate tips of the rice (the virtually invisible tips, if
broken off, will boil rapidly when the rice goes into the hot water, because of their size,
and turn into glue-like starch, which will make all the rice sticky).
3. Wash the rice in several changes of cold water until the water remains clear. Next, soak
the rice. There should be at least 15-20cm of water in the bowl above the rice level. Add
six teaspoons of the salt and soak the rice for at least two hours. The long soaking allows
the rice to absorb water. As the rice is not hollow and dry when it is put into boiling
water, the cooking time is minimised; this will help keep your rice grains long and
separate.
4. Put the saffron in a small bowl. Warm the milk to tepid: my mother would describe it as
blood temperature – if you touch the milk it should feel only slightly warm. If you are
using a microwave to heat the milk, remember to stir the milk before checking the
temperature as there may be hot spots. Pour the tepid milk over the saffron and set aside
to infuse.
5. Heat the ghee or oil in a heavy-based pan over a medium-high heat and fry the onions
until caramelised. Using a slotted spoon and leaving as much of the oil in the pan as
possible, remove the onions to a plate, spreading them across the plate to cool.
6. Remove half the oil from the pan and set aside. In the remaining oil add the chicken and
cook over a medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides. Add the garlic, ginger,
yoghurt, chilli powder and two teaspoons of the salt and cook over a medium-high heat
until the garlic and ginger have lost their raw smell and the yoghurt has reduced. Add
half the caramelised onions, then add warm water to cover the chicken, bring to the boil,
then cover and simmer for about 25 minutes. You do not want the chicken to be tender;
it should still be firm, as it will be cooked further with the rice.
7. Drain the soaked rice. Boil the kettle and pour the water into a large pan. Bring back to
the boil, add another six teaspoons of salt, then add the drained rice and boil until the
rice is three-quarters cooked (this should not take more than five minutes). To test,
remove one grain from the boiling water and squeeze it. There should be a hard core to
the grain of rice. When the rice reaches this stage, drain and spread it on a tray to
prevent it from continuing to cook.
8. To assemble the biryani you will need a heavy-based pan with a tight-fitting lid. Using a
slotted spoon, remove the chicken from its cooking liquid and place it in the pan. Strain
the cooking liquid and pour over the chicken. Try to squeeze as much as you can from the
onion/ginger/garlic residue, so the stock is nice and thick. It should just about cover the
chicken pieces. Next, add the cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, mace and nutmeg. Add half
the saffron milk, the sugar and squeezed lemon juice. Then add the rice, ensuring it
covers the chicken. On top of the rice add the remaining caramelised onions, the
remaining saffron milk and the reserved oil.
9. Put the biryani pan over a high heat and wait until the steam starts coming out. Let the
steam come through for one minute. Meanwhile, roll the dough into tubes and use the
dough to seal the lid of the biryani pan. Put the pan on top of an iron frying pan or tawa
over a medium-high heat: this is to diffuse the heat. If you do not have an iron pan, put
the biryani into a preheated oven at 190C for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn the oven
to 150C and leave for 20 minutes. If you are using a tawa on the hob, reduce the heat to
low, cover the top of the pan with a folded clean kitchen cloth and leave for 20 minutes.
10. When ready to serve, unseal the biryani lid. Using a large spoon and starting from one
side, gently lift the chicken up and mix with the rice. You need to gently merge the wet
rice with the dry rice on top, so each grain is perfectly moist.
Ammu: Indian Home-Cooking To Nourish Your Soul by Asma Khan is published by
Ebury Press, priced £26. Photography by Laura Edwards. Available now.
For more recipes in this series…
 Midweek meal: Homemade kimchi adds the perfect touch to this spicy pad Thai
 Midweek Meal: A simple Thukpa recipe to spruce up your nippy evenings
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 food and drink

 Midweek Meal
 recipe
 recipes
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https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/food-and-drink/4109756/midweek-meal-ammus-
chicken-biryani-recipe/
FCI won’t procure parboiled rice, States can do so: Centre

The Centre, however, clarified that the States could procure parboiled rice for consumption within the
State. HYDERABAD: Dashing all hopes of the State government, the Centre has once again made it clear
that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) would not procure parboiled rice from any State, including
Telangana. The Centre, however, clarified that the States could procure parboiled rice for consumption within
the State. In a written reply to BJP MP Dushyant Singh on procuring surplus parboiled rice during Question
Hour in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs and Food and Public
Distribution Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that after meeting State’s requirement for Targeted Public Distribution
System (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS), only the excess/surplus stocks procured by the State
government/its agencies were handed over to the FCI in central pool in the form of raw or parboiled rice to
meet the overall consumption requirement of the country as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed between the Central government and Decentralised Procurement (DCP) States. “Due to burgeoning
stock level of parboiled rice in the central pool, the States were informed that FCI will not be in a position to
accept parboiled rice during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2021-22. However, a State can procure parboiled
rice for consumption within that State. In the last few years, procurement of parboiled rice in the deficit
parboiled consuming States like Jharkhand, Kerala and Tamil Nadu has increased resulting in lesser
movement of parboiled rice from surplus to deficit States,” the Minister said. Ethanol policy In its action plan
for Rabi Marketing Season 2022-23, the FCI suggested the State govt to adopt a good ethanol policy as
broken rice is suitable for the production of ethanol. The FCI also asked the State to enhance its storage
capacities like Punjab and Haryana.
To fertilize or not to fertilize: A delicate balance between chalky

rice grains and excessive protein content
Newswise — March
30, 2022 - There’s a widespread problem in rice growing that you’ve probably never heard of. Rice plants that
face elevated temperatures can produce “chalky grains” that are easily crushed during the milling process.
This leads to lost profits because the price is lower for chalky grains than undamaged grains. Nitrogen
fertilizer can reduce the production of chalky grains. However, too much nitrogen can cause an increase in
rice protein levels. Too much protein affects the quality of rice in an undesirable way because of its lower
viscosity when cooked. This means that applying nitrogen fertilizer is a delicate balance between preventing
chalky grains and keeping protein at an acceptable level. Hiroshi Nakano, a researcher at the Kyushu Okinawa
Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization in Japan, and
collaborators are researching one potential solution. This study was recently published in the Agronomy
Journal, a publication of the American Society of Agronomy. Farmers can use the tools to predict the chalky
grain percentage and protein content in the field. This will allow them to assess how much nitrogen fertilizer
they need in real-time. “Our goal is to facilitate the stable production of rice in a changing climate,” Nakano
says. “It is important to establish an ideal nitrogen application rate using growth diagnosis. In this study, we
identified useful factors to regulate white-back grains (one type of chalky grain) and protein content.” He
adds that in Southwestern Japan, rice seedlings are transplanted from mid to late June. The rice grains
develop through processes that occur in July, August, and October. There are slight differences in weather
and growth each year. This means the exact needs for nitrogen are not always the same. The result is the
nitrogen application needs to be adjusted based on growth conditions. “Our mission is to develop ways to
protect rice from global climate change,” Nakano says. “In Japan, rice production areas account for
approximately 36% of all farming land. In recent years, rice plants have been exposed to higher air
temperatures during the ripening stage. This can result in white-back grains.” In their study, the researchers
tested two types of measurements using two devices. One looked at the concentration of nitrogen in the
leaves of the rice plants. The other measure how much of a plant can uptake nitrogen. The team also
determined the best times to take these measurements. Their findings point to the usefulness of the readings
for allowing farmers to make real-time adjustments to nitrogen application at an important time during rice
production. Heading is the stage of rice growth before flowering. Timing the measurements at the correct
time in the plants’ development helped reduce the amount of some chalky grains and regulate the grain
protein content. “We recommend that farmers conduct the growth diagnosis by using handheld meters,”
Nakano says. “These meters are not expensive, and getting this information will allow them to harvest rice
grains with high quality.” However, it can be difficult for farmers to get enough data if they have lots of rice
fields. The researchers hope to develop a way to take these measurements using an unmanned aerial vehicle.
Nakano adds that being able to help farmers enhance their rice yields while maintaining high quality is
important for solving food security issues. A growing global population and rising temperatures are causing
these food security issues. “This research is broadly important as the global average temperature is predicted
to increase due to global warming,” Nakano says. “The occurrence of white-back grains increases when rice
plants ripen under high air temperatures. Rice is a staple food of approximately 50% of the global population.
Therefore, this issue is important for farmers but also for consumers.” Support for this research was provided
by Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization Biooriented Technology Research
Advancement Institution.
Author Name: https://www.newswise.com/articles/to-fertilizer-or-not-to-fertilize-a-delicate-balance-
between-chalky-rice-grains-and-excessive-protein-content
The influx of demand from feed buyers in the wake of the

Russian invasion of Ukraine has raised numerous questions over
the direction of the Asian low-quality white rice market.
While commercial feed demand in recent years has been dominated by corn and wheat, Russia's invasion of
Ukraine on Feb. 24 led to price spikes for both products. It has also led to increasing concern about global
exportable supplies, with the Black Sea region one of the major origins for these products. However, demand
from feed buyers is not new. According to Shirley Mustafa of the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization,
this has been emerging for some time. "Use of rice for feed has been rising since 2020-21, after reaching a
seven-year low the year prior," Mustafa told S&P Global Commodity Insights. "Rice use for animal feed [aside
from bran] is usually limited and confined to backyard operations since the commercial feed sector usually
has more economically viable alternatives than rice. However, gains in wheat and maize prices over the past
year-and-a-half or so, driven by these commodities' own domestic and international market dynamics, have
tended to narrow price differentials with rice [especially broken rice]." In China, for example, these shifting
dynamics were directly linked to 2021 rice imports rising by 69% year on year to 4.96 million mt, according to
data from Chinese customs, with the world's largest exporter -- India -- emerging to satisfy this huge volume
of broken rice demand.
Rice markets react
But the demand from feed buyers has spiked in both India and other Asian rice markets since the Ukraine
conflict began. In India, for example, sources have reported instances of defaulting and low supplies, with
one Kakinada-based exporter going so far as to describe the local broken rice market as a "disaster" due to
the sudden influx of demand. In rice export origins which are also destination markets for corn and/or wheat,
such as Vietnam, many exporters have withdrawn their broken rice offers due to high domestic demand.
Vietnamese 100% broken white rice price has increased by $65/mt since the invasion of Ukraine, reaching a
high of $370/mt FOB on March 25, according to Platts assessment from S&P Global. However, many sources
view broken rice prices from Vietnam as hypothetical, with the country even importing substantial volumes
from India to meet demand. In traditional broken rice markets -- notably in West Africa -- the situation is
more immediately concerning from a food security perspective. In Senegal, which is a huge market for broken
rice for human consumption, a sizable gap is opening up between current retail prices and replacement costs.
While in part this is due to Senegal's new retail price cap and high freight rates, the significant rise in Indian
broken rice prices in recent weeks has only served to widen this gap. According to one Europe-based trader
who buys for the country, this gap has reached $90/mt in recent days, and made it "impossible" to buy for
Senegal at present without taking on huge financial risks. However, with sufficient stocks in Dakar for
Ramadan and the following weeks, the trader added that it makes no sense to re-enter the market before the
religious holiday is over, with hopes that the replacement cost gap will have narrowed in the interim.
Unusual price spreads

Because of the massive influx in demand for Asian broken rice, unusual price spreads between different rice
grades have emerged. Pakistani 5% and 100% broken white rice were briefly assessed at par earlier in March
while the gap was $70/mt a year prior. The spread between Thai 5% and A1 Super 100% broken white rice
has narrowed to only $2/mt in recent days, compared to $51/mt a year prior. One major Singapore-based
rice trader said that "some 25% [broken white rice] shipments for feed purposes" was seen from Myanmar to
Europe. Sources buying from the Myanmar market have reported that offers of low-quality B234 broken
white rice have been largely unavailable in recent weeks due to high feed demand, with higher quality
broken rice prices also moving up substantially. Despite sources reporting no obvious reason for why feed
buyers could not turn to 25% broken white rice if 100% broken white rice was unavailable, or priced
uncompetitively, sales of this product for feed purposes so far remain rare. A second Singapore-based trader
said that they were advising their traditional broken rice buyers in Africa to accept 25% broken white rice due
to supply and price issues for 100% broken white rice. However, the first Singapore-based trader cautioned
that this would ultimately "depend on corn prices." FAO's Shirley Mustafa agreed, saying that "because this
trend is influenced by factors outside of rice markets, developments in these external markets will have an
important bearing." Mustafa added that "current forecasts suggest record-breaking supply availabilities in
the major exporters this season, thanks to bumper harvests expected in India, Pakistan and Thailand. If these
are realized, they should be more than sufficient to cater to the higher global needs."
Outside forces
Despite uncertainty surrounding how this situation will play out, it is almost inevitable that feed demand will
take up an unusually large portion of international rice sales in 2022. A third Singapore-based trader said that
it will "not be a huge chunk ... But it will not be insignificant either." The questions which remain at this point
are whether 25% broken white rice sales for feed will become more widespread and how this demand for
cheap rice will impact traditional buyers of 25% and 100% broken white rice for human consumption.
However, with rice still a minor player in the massive global feed market, the situation will ultimately remain
at the mercy of outside forces.
Author Name: https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/market-insights/latest-news/agriculture/
033022-influx-of-feed-demand-casts-uncertain-outlook-for-low-quality-white-rice-market
Date: 30-Mar-2022
Southeast Asia must close yield gap to remain major rice bowl

At least 40% of global rice exports come from Southeast Asia, making the region a major rice bowl. The
region helps feed other parts of the world, such as Africa and the Middle East. Projections show that global
rice demand is set to increase 30% by 2050. With the continuing rice trade and limited scope available for
other main rice-producing countries like China and India to generate a rice surplus, Southeast Asia faces a
challenge in stepping up to ensure adequate global rice supply. But crop yields stagnate, land allotted for
agriculture does not increase, and climate change remains a looming threat, raising concerns about the
capacity of the region to remain a large net exporter. In a recent study published in Nature Food, an
international team of researchers, including those from the major rice-producing nations in Southeast Asia,
estimated the difference between yield potential and average farmer yield across six countries — Cambodia,
Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. The initiative was led by the University of Nebraska–
Lincoln and the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines and included researchers from
Huazhong Agricultural University in China, the International Fertilizer Association in France, the Institute of
Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development in Vietnam, Field Crops Research Institute in
Vietnam, Thailand’s Rice Department, Thailand Rice Science Institute, Mawlamyine University in
Myanmar, IRRI-Myanmar Office, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, IRRI-Cambodia Office, the General Directorate of
Agriculture in Cambodia and the Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Research and Development. Results from
the project are available via the Global Yield Gap Atlas, a collaboration between the University of Nebraska–
Lincoln and Wageningen University designed to estimate the difference between actual and potential yields
for major food crops worldwide. “Over the past decades, through renewed efforts, countries in Southeast
Asia were able to increase rice yields, and the region as a whole has continued to produce a large amount of
rice that exceeded regional demand, allowing a rice surplus to be exported to other countries,” said lead
author Shen Yuan, a postdoctoral research associate at Huazhong Agricultural University. “The issue is
whether the region will be able to retain its title as a major global rice supplier in the context of increasing
global and regional rice demand, yield stagnation and limited room for cropland expansion.” Through a data-
intensive approach, the researchers determined that the region has the potential to increase production on
existing cropland and remain a major global rice supplier, but changes in production and management
techniques will be key, and producers could stress natural resources in the process. Researchers found that
the average yield gap represents nearly half of the yield potential estimated for the region, but it is not the
same for every country. Yield gaps are larger in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand but
comparably smaller in Indonesia and Vietnam.
Patricio Grassini
“We used an approach that consists of a combination of crop modeling, spatial analysis and use of detailed
databases on weather, soil and cropping system data,” said Patricio Grassini, associate professor of agronomy
and horticulture at Nebraska. “The regional extent of the study together with the level of detail in relation to
spatial and temporal variation in yield gaps and specificity in terms of cropping systems is unique, providing a
basis for prioritizing agricultural research and development and investments at regional, national and sub-
national levels.” According to the study, the region needs to close the existing yield gap substantially to
reduce the need for rice imports, allowing for an aggregated rice surplus of 54 million tons available
for exports. “Our analysis shows that Southeast Asia will not be able to produce a large rice surplus in the
future without acceleration of current rates of yield gains,” Grassini said. “Failure to increase yield on existing
cropland areas will drastically reduce the rice exports to other regions and the capacity of many countries in
the region to achieve or sustain rice self-sufficiency. It will also put additional pressure on land and water
resources, risking further encroachment into natural ecosystems such as forests and wetlands.” Researchers
suggest a number of interventions needed to close the gap, including improvement of crop management
practices, such as the use of fertilizer and irrigation, nutrients, water and pest management, as well as
mitigation of production risks in lowland rainfed environments. “The challenge is how to increase yield while
minimizing the negative environmental impact associated with intensive rice production,” said IRRI Senor
Scientist Alice Laborte. “For example, tailoring nutrient management to each environment will help increase
yield and farmer profits while reducing nutrient losses. Likewise, integrated pest management is a
knowledge-intensive but valuable approach if applied correctly and holistically to reduce yield losses to
weeds, pests and diseases while minimizing excessive use of pesticides and associated risks to the
environment and people. “Closing the rice yield gaps requires the concerted effort of policymakers,
researchers and extension services to facilitate farmers’ access to technologies, information and markets.
Continued investment in rice research is crucial.” The study received support from Closing Rice Yield Gaps in
Asia with Reduced Environmental Footprint, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The project also received complementary funding from the Global Water for Food Institute, as well as the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation through the CGIAR Excellence in Agronomy 2030 Incubation Phase.
Author Name: https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/study-southeast-asia-must-close-yield-gap-to-
remain-major-rice-bowl/
Guatemala Price Bulletin, March 2022

Format
Situation Report
Source
 FEWS NET
Posted
29 Mar 2022
Originally published
29 Mar 2022
Origin
View original
Attachments
 Download document(PDF | 707.53 KB)
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) monitors trends in staple food
prices in countries vulnerable to food insecurity. For each FEWS NET country and region,
the Price Bulletin provides a set of charts showing monthly prices in the current marketing
year in selected urban centers and allowing users to compare current trends with both five-
year average prices, indicative of seasonal trends, and prices in the previous year.
Maize is the main source of calories and protein in the Guatemalan diet. White maize is more
heavily consumed than yellow maize, but the latter is preferred in some regions and used as
poultry feed. Every Guatemalan household consumes black beans: as a protein source it is a
particularly valuable complement to cereals in regions where households have limited access
to animal products. Consumption habits are strongly linked to tradition and culture. Rice is
mainly consumed in urban and peri-urban, but some rural households consume it as well.
Guatemala is highly dependent on imported rice. The market in Guatemala City is the largest
in the country and feeds the highest concentration of the population.
https://reliefweb.int/report/guatemala/guatemala-price-bulletin-march-2022
DAR turns over P18.6-M

irrigation facilities to
Sarangani rice farmers, IPs
INQUIRER.net / 12:16 PM March 30, 2022
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has
turned over P18.6-million worth of newly-constructed and
rehabilitated irrigation facilities to rice farmers and indigenous peoples
(IPs) of Barangay (village) Kawas and Domolok in Sarangani Province.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to DAR Secretary Bernie Cruz, the irrigation facilities, which

were implemented through the Italian Agrarian Reform Community
Development Support Program (IARCDSP), a foreign-assisted initiative
funded by the Italian government, will serve 959 agrarian reform
beneficiaries (ARBs) and over a thousand IPs residing in the agrarian
reform communities.
Cruz, his officials, Italian Ambassador Marco Clemente and officials from
the IARCDSP, and Doctors Eugeniu Rotaru and Pietro Pipi handed over
the irrigation facilities in Barangay Dolomok Alabel, Sarangani Province,
on Monday.
“With these irrigation facilities, they don’t have to depend on the weather
to plant rice because these would supply them enough water to keep the
fields irrigated all year round,” Cruz said in a press release on Tuesday.
According to Cruz, the newly constructed lateral line canal irrigation

facility in Barangay Kawas will supply water to 66 hectares of rice-
production area cultivated by approximately 261 ARBs and more than
500 IPs.
He also stated that farmers can now harvest 4,399 kilograms of rice per
hectare per cropping season, up from 2,500 kilograms per hectare
previously.
“Their water expense has also lowered by almost half. From paying a fee
of P2,310 per hectare, they now only pay P1,310,” said Cruz.
The department, through the IARCDSP, had also rehabilitated a

protection dike in Barangay Dolomok for the farmers and IPs of the
BATODO agrarian reform community.
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“The farmers of Dolomok have been using this irrigation under extreme
weather conditions for years now. After all the wear and tear, the facility
was not functioning as well as it should. That is why we rehabilitated it,”
Cruz said.
After rehabilitation, the irrigation facility can now irrigate 300 hectares
of rice paddies, up from 80 hectares before. According to Cruz,
approximately 632 ARBs and 768 IPs benefit directly from the
infrastructure.
“With 300 hectares irrigated, their production greatly increased too. From
3,000 kilograms per hectare, they now harvest an average of 5,333
kilograms per hectare,” Cruz noted. – Jericho Zafra, INQUIRER.net intern
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1575718/dar-turns-over-p18-6-m-
irrigation-facilities-to-sarangani-rice-farmers-ips#ixzz7P70X90MU
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https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1575718/dar-turns-over-p18-6-m-irrigation-facilities-to-sarangani-rice-
farmers-ips
Roque asks rice farmers to turn to cash

crops to increase income
March 30, 2022, 4:41 pm
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UniTeam senatorial aspirant Harry Roque (Contributed photo)
MANILA – UniTeam senatorial aspirant Harry Roque is encouraging farmers grappling with high
production costs, soaring fuel prices, and low farmgate prices to consider investing in cash crops to
improve their earning capacity.
A cash crop and livestock farmer himself, Roque said rice and other staple farmers could also
venture into cash crop farming to increase their income streams and ultimately raise their standard
of living.
He said the buying price for palay (unhusked rice) has become unstable after the rice tariffication
law repealed the non-tariff protective measures and the National Food Authority’s role in rice
importation.
The former presidential spokesman said rice farmers run the risk of impoverishment unless they
diversify towards crops that offer bigger yields and faster harvest.
Based on 2018 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Filipino farmers posted a poverty
incidence of 31.6 percent, the highest among the country’s basic sector.
Roque shared that he owns a strawberry and ornamental plant farm in Benguet. His strawberry fields
can yield up to 500 kilos, while his cut flowers and plant varieties can set a farmgate price of
PHP15,000.
“I believe that crop diversification is the way. With the soaring farm inputs costs and petroleum
prices, our farmers should not stick to just one crop,” Roque said in a news release on Wednesday.
He recommended that the government provide technical assistance to farmers who may opt to plant
cash crops such as coffee, spices, coconuts, tropical fruits, and ornamental plants.
Roque said, “The United States, China, and Europe have a growing demand for coconut water. Since
we are the world’s second-largest coconut producer, let us take advantage of this opportunity and
not just stick to copra farming.”
He added that the country could create a bigger name for Philippine coffee products, especially
those produced in the Cordillera Region, Batangas, Cavite, and Mindanao Island, in the international
market.
Meanwhile, Roque suggested that the government follow the example of other Asian countries with
huge investments in capital expenditures and irrigation networks to intensify agriculture productivity.
He said the Philippines could adopt the development strategies of Thailand and Vietnam in terms of
advanced production methods and financing fixed agricultural assets.
Roque also said the country could also learn from the irrigated agricultural experience of Pakistan,
which has the world’s largest contiguous irrigation system.
Since agriculture remains the lifeblood of the Philippine economy and society, Roque said the
government should improve the country’s irrigation network to ensure farm productivity.
As a party-list representative in the 17th Congress, Roque authored the ‘Free Irrigation Services Act,
or Republic Act 10969.
The law exempts farmers with landholdings of eight hectares and below from paying irrigation
services fees for water derived from both national and communal irrigation systems under the
National Irrigation Authority, irrigators associations, and other government a
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1171024
Higher input costs deflate hopes for any

cheaper rice
YASIR WARDAD | Published: March 30, 2022 08:44:10 | Updated: March
30, 2022 11:58:39
Bangladesh's Boro paddy acreage reached an all-time high at 4.96 million
hectares this season with prospects for a bumper harvest, officials say, but
hopes seem dim for rice-price respite.
Value-chain experts see such a paradoxical scenario as high costs of farm

inputs fuelled up by diesel-and fertiliser-price hike, among others, diminish
prospect of dousing the overheated rice market.
On the other hand, farmers are also concerned about reaping desired returns
because higher input costs could push up production cost by 15-18 per cent
with end of harvest, they say.
Agricultural ministry's preliminary report, published by the Department of
Agriculture Extension (DAE), shows farmers have brought an all-time-high
4.96 million hectares of land under Boro farming this year.
The cultivation acreage of the dry-season irrigated paddy in 2022 is above

3.76- per cent higher than that of last year, according to DAE and BBS counts.
The DAE has a target of production at 20.9 million tonnes of rice in the
current financial year. It is a 5.55-per cent higher target than that of last year
when an all-time high 19.8 million tonnes of rice was yielded, according to
BBS data.
Director-general of the DAE Md Benojir Alam says good profits from rice
crop as well as a persisting sound weather so far prospect another bumper crop
this Boro season.
He expects harvest to start in haor, beel and many lowlands within one and a
half weeks while it will begin in other parts of the country in May.
Mr Alam says hybrid fields have been expanded further while farmers have
also cultivated two newly invented HYV rice varieties -- BRRI dhan 89 and 92
-- which are finer in quality and yield more grains.
"If the current weather conditions persist, production would surpass the output
of last year by a good margin," he says.
Farm economist Prof Golam Hafeez Kennedy suggests that fair trading in
post-harvest period should be ensured so that both farmers and consumers
could get some benefits of such good crops.
He says farmers have a great challenge as production cost increased notably
by 15-18 per cent amid fuelling prices of fertiliser, costs of irrigation,
transportation and others caused by 23-per cent hike in diesel price.
"But the government didn't review the asking prices of Boro crop compared to
last year," he says.
He notes that paddy-production cost might surpass Tk 28 a kg this year in

many places, but the government has declared its procurement rate at Tk 27 a
kg.
"The government could face difficulties in rice and paddy procurement this
Boro season for retaining the rate of last year," he says.
The agro-economist feels that government warehouses should have a 2.0-2.5

million tonnes of buffer foodgrain stock following the prevailing war between
Russia and Ukraine which pushed up food-grain and other crop prices.
Prof Kennedy says the current high rice prices might persist for towering input
costs as well as rocketing trend in global food market.
Meanwhile, rice prices remained static for last one week at their previous
highs as coarse varieties were retailing at Tk 42-52, medium Tk 48-58 and
finer Tk 54-85 a kg across the country, according to the Trading Corporation
of Bangladesh, the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) and city
grocers.
The current rice prices are 2.0-7.0-per cent higher than those of a year back,
according to TCB data.
However, according to Directorate General of Food (DGoF) data, public

warehouses have a handsome stock of 1.45 million tonnes of the staple.
The DGoF has declared a target to purchase 1.9 million tonnes of rice and
paddy under its Boro-procurement programme this year which is expected to
be kicked off on April 28.
The country's overall rice production was 36.3 million tonnes in FY'21 of
which Boro contributed 55 per cent, according to BBS.
The 'all rice price index' increased above 1.1 per cent to an eight-month high
in February last, says FAO -- the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
[email protected]
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/higher-input-costs-deflate-hopes-for-any-cheaper-rice-
1648608249
Researchers call for automation to reduce

rice seed price
The automation seeks to consider the best practices that reduce time, cost, and
complexities of rice variety registration
File image
Highlighting how quality seeds were still expensive, researchers called for
automating the rice variety release process to help reduce the cost.
"Over the years, Bangladesh has developed modern and high-yielding rice varieties,
fast-tracked the adoption of high-yielding rice varieties by farmers, and the rapid
expansion of irrigation infrastructure. Automating the seed certification system will
build upon these successes," said Dr Sirajul Islam, chief of party at Irri Bangladesh, at
a workshop on Wednesday in Gazipur, Bangladesh.
"The automation seeks to consider the best practices which reduce time, cost, and
complexities of the rice variety registration," he said at the workshop conducted by
the International Rice Research Institute (Irri) Bangladesh and the Seed Certification
Agency (SCA) under the USAID Funded FtF Bangladesh Irri Rice Breeding Public
Private Partnership Platform Activity.
Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, project lead of IRRI said, "Automation process for
variety registration and seed release process is a dire need now. It will reduce the time
required, shorten the complex registration process and enhance efficiency.
"This is also related to seed import permission (IP). If seed certification automation
can be done, the IP process can be enhanced and harmonised with quarantine
applications," he added.
Farmers mostly depend on the sources of rice seeds from public and private sectors.
At the same time, the private sector faces challenges in registering rice seed varieties
-- such as the lengthy process, complexities of the system, and the uncompetitive cost
of doing business.
Due to these limitations, the contribution of the private sector in rice seed release was
10.81% to 10.84% between 2014 to 2019, which reflects that the growth was almost
stagnant, said a press release from Irri Bangladesh.
Speakers participating in the workshop recommended building a digital platform that

will ease the registration process. They also emphasised the importance of
establishing an information technology department at SCA and the provision of stable
job placement of SCA officials.
Dr Md Sahjahan Kabir, director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute

(BRRI), joined the event as the chief guest.
Dr Mohammad Khalequzzaman, director of research of BRRI, and Dr Mohammad

Rafiqul Islam, project lead of IRRI, were present as special guests. Dr Muhammad
Emdadul Haque, director in charge of the Seed Certification Agency, chaired the
workshop.
https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/researchers-call-automation-reduce-rice-seed-price-394002
Broken rice: Centre can tap
global demand

BY TELANGANA TODAY
PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED DATE - 10:31 PM, TUE - 29 MARCH 22

Both the Centre and the State can benefit if boiled rice is exported to countries such as China, Indonesia and
Vietnam where there’s a high demand for the same.
Hyderabad: The union government’s stubborn attitude in refusing to procure

the Yasangi paddy harvest from Telangana can only mean two things – that it
stands completely exposed in understanding the global market needs or it is
guilty of wilful rejection of the State’s genuine pleas.
There has been a growing demand for broken rice in the international market
in the recent past, which shot up manifold on account of the Russia-Ukraine
conflict due to severe shortage of maize that Ukraine produces and supplies
to the world. Subsequently, many countries including China, Indonesia and
Vietnam have completely switched over to broken rice for animal feed.
According to the latest report of the International Grains Council as well as
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA), the export price of maize presently is around Rs 2,200-Rs 2,500
per quintal against the MSP of Rs 1,870 per quintal. Given the shortage of
maize, the price of broken rice has surged to Rs 2,100 per quintal in the
international market.
Interestingly, China and Vietnam are the largest importers of broken rice
from India. According to APEDA data, China started importing Indian rice in
the last financial year. A report of the US Department of Agriculture says
broken rice accounted for about 97 per cent of India’s rice exports to China
during January-August last year.
If the BJP government had done its homework on international market needs
instead of having a face-off with the Telangana government, the issue of
procurement of Yasangi paddy crop would have been resolved by now.
Telangana presents a golden opportunity for import of broken rice since one
of the issues is that the Yasangi paddy crop, when milled, leaves substantial
residue of broken rice. Paddy was cultivated in about 38.5 lakh acres in
Telangana during the Yasangi (Rabi) season which in turn is expected result
in a yield of 70 lakh tonnes of paddy. Setting aside the age-old practice of
paddy procurement, the Centre has been insisting that the Telangana
government get the paddy milled into raw rice before procurement. The State
government explained that this could result in broken rice due to severe
climatic conditions prevailing in the State during summer.
The Telangana government suggested that the Centre purchase the paddy and
get it milled as per its requirements rather than insisting on supplying only
raw rice. The State government also pointed out that the Centre was expected
to pay MSP for paddy and not raw rice or broken rice.
The present scenario presents a win-win situation for both the Centre and the
State, but will the BJP government seize the opportunity or will it stick to its
narrow political agenda is the million dollar question.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana

Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.
https://telanganatoday.com/broken-rice-centre-can-tap-global-demand

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