29th february,2016 daily global regional,local rice e_newsletter by riceplus magazine

8/20/2019 29th February,2016 Daily Global Regional,Local Rice E_Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global, Regional & Local Rice E-Newsletter

1 | w w w . r i c e p l u s s . c o m , w w w . r i c e p l u s m a g a z i n e . b l o s g s p o t . c o m

February 29,2016 Vol 7 Issue

www.ricepluss.com [email protected] 92 321 36


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Editorial Board

Chief Editor

Hamlik

Managing Editor

Abdul Sattar Shah

Rahmat Ullah

Rozeen Shaukat

English Editor

Maryam Editor

Legal Advisor

Advocate Zaheer Minha

Editorial Associates

Admiral (R) Hamid Kh

Javed Islam Agha

Ch.Hamid Malhi

Dr.Akhtar Hussain

Dr.Fayyaz Ahmad Sidd

Dr.Abdul Rasheed (UA

Islam Akhtar Khan

Editorial Advisory Board

Dr.Malik Mohammad

HashimAssistant Professor, Goma

University DIK

Dr.Hasina GulAssistant Director, Agriculture KP

Dr.Hidayat UllahAssistant Professor, Unive

of Swabi

Dr.Abdul BasirAssistant Professor, Unive

of Swabi

Zahid MehmoodPSO,NIFA Peshawar

Falak Naz ShahHead Food Science &

Technology ART, Peshawar

Today Rice News Headlines...

REAP demands zero-rated status for rice exports

Rice exporters seek zero-rated tax regime

Kenya starts releasing stuck-up Pak rice consignments

Pakistan eyeing Iranian markets for its agriculture

goods

Decline in Dubai demand causes increase in prices of

Pakistan real estate

Beneficiaries sell Re.1-kg rice in open market

Vietnam sees no future in exporting fragrant rice

Minister Suspects Rice Cartel Practice

How KRA stumbled on illicit sugar at the Port of

Mombasa


From tablet to tractor, digital drives farming

innovation

10 Interesting Facts About Rice You Should Know

DRI Unearths Over Rs 1,000 Crore Scam in Rice

Export

News Detail...

REAP demands zero-rated status for rice

exports February 27, 2016RECORDER REPORTRice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) requesting zero rated status

for Rice has urged Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister ofPakistan to declare rice exports as industry. Abdul Rahim Janoo ChiefPatron and Noman Ahmed Shaikh acting Chairman REAP has said thatapart from textile, rice exports are much ahead of other four sectors. Negligence of rice sector will discourage rice exports and we will loose ourestablished markets as well as it will dishearten rice exporters, they added.


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"If government's intentions are good then "No Payment No Tax" policy will curb corruption andwill release many staff members of FBR to do other jobs. The working capital of exporters gets blocked and refunds are pending since many years, of which industry has to borrow loans to runtheir units or shut down", they said.

Noman Ahmed Shaikh urged that for one tax to be collected through banks at the time ofnegotiating documents or on receipt of payments. This will increase Government revenue andeliminate corruption and calculation formula is very easy, add all Federal and Provincial taxeslike EOBI, Social Security, Market Committee and divide by total export value, if it comes0.05% or 0.10 % put it along with the withholding tax and save exporters from collection mafia,

he added.

"It will give peace of mind to exporters and exports will increase and once export increases therevenue increases", he said. He also requested Prime Minister to re-activate Federal ExportBoard and must head it for meeting on every three months. In order to enhance trade with Iran,he suggested that delegations to be sent immediately to Iran to re-capture our lost markets and itis evident that around 85 percent countries world-wide that their neighbours are their largesttrading partners due to the saving in freight cost.-PR

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/20447/


By Web Desk on February 27, 2016KARACHI: The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has urged the government todeclare rice as a separate industry and place it under zero-rating along with five major export-oriented sectors.In a statement issued on Friday, Patron-in-Chief of REAP Abdul Rahim Janoo

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/20447/http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/20447/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/author/web-desk/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/author/web-desk/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/author/web-desk/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/pkkhnew/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/rice.jpghttp://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/author/web-desk/http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/20447/


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said that apart from textiles, rice exports were much ahead of other four export-oriented sectors.He feared that neglecting this sector would discourage rice exports and the country would lose itstraditional markets.

Mr Janoo said the government would have to go for “no payment no tax” policy to ensure

corruption-free export trade and encourage exporters. “There is no logic in first paying taxed andthen getting refunds of the same. This results in corruption and blocks huge working capital ofexport trade.”As exporters funds are held back by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), they hadto go for bank borrowing and pay extra amount towards mark-up, he said

http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/

Kenya starts releasing stuck-up Pak rice consignments

Exporters, Kenyan Port Authority reach settlement

February 27, 2016

http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/news/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/


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The Kenyan government has started releasing Pakistan‟s around 37,000 tonnes rice cargoesworth $13 million, which were stuck at the Kenyan seaport for the last one month due tocancellation of license of harbour yards, following the settlement between Pakistani exportersand the Kenyan Port Authority.The rice exporters said that federal commerce minister KhurramDastgir Khan, on the request of REAP chairman, sent a letter to the secretary of foreign affairs

ministry in Kenya to take up the issue with the Kenyan government for early release of Pakistanirice consignments. The Kenyan authorities were also asked for withdrawal of examinationcondition imposed on stuck rice consignments.

They said that around 1,500 rice containers had been held up at Kenyan seaport last month due tocancellation of licenses of Auto Ports Container Freight Station.Rice Exporters Association ofPakistan chairman Ch Muhammad Shafique said the abrupt closure of CFS yards disrupted thenormal cargo clearance at Mombasa Port. Accordingly, the delay in the release of the cargoforced the REAP to intervene and safeguard the interests of rice exporters of Pakistan.ChShafique said that Reap delegation in Kenya made full efforts to resolve the issue, getting thecontainers released without examination and paying any additional fine.REAP chairman said that

Pakistan High Commission in Nairobi arranged meetings with KPA officials to ensure the timelyrelease of consignments.During the meeting, it was agreed that KPA will waive all demurragesand storage charges that may have accrued due to the policy change. Accordingly, KPA hasasked REAP to provide the details of Bill of Lading along with container numbers of theconsignments lying at the KPA.

Ch Shafique said that the Pakistan delegation in the lead of former chairman Rafiq Suleman alsoheld meetings with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to outline the procedure for releasing andremoving the balance containers of Pakistani rice exporters. Meetings with KPA and KRArepresentatives were very fruitful and created a way forward to clear the held up cargo that wasnominated to the closed CFSs, he added.

He said that the Pakistan delegation also asked for a deadline of 15th March, 2016 for removingthe balance rice consignments from KPA without any storage or additional charge and KPAofficials are almost agreed to it.The REAP chairman appreciated the federal commerce minister for taking prompt action andapproaching the top Kenyan authorities to resolve the issue on an urgent basis.He appreciated the efforts of High Commissioner of Pakistan at Nairobi, Ministry of ForeignAffairs and TDAP officials for their active involvement to resolve the issuehttp://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignments

Pakistan eyeing Iranian markets for its agriculture goods

http://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignmentshttp://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignmentshttp://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignmentshttp://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignmentshttp://nation.com.pk/business/27-Feb-2016/kenya-starts-releasing-stuck-up-pak-rice-consignments


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To boost its agriculture commodity exports, Pakistan has decided to invite Iranian agricultureminister to the country. The formalrequest for the visit is likely to beextended by the Minister for NationalFood Security Sikander Hayat Bosan in

the next few days to the Iranianambassador.An official source said thedecision to invite the Iranian Agricultureminister was made as it was found outthat the Iranian Agriculture Ministryauthorises all the commodities importswhile the Iranian Commerce Ministryhas no role in the process. Thediplomatic move was advised by theMinistry of Commerce.After lifting of international trade

restrictions on Iran, Pakistan is hopeful of gaining access to the Iranian market. Pakistan hassurplus wheat, rice, sugar, vegetables potato and onions and fruits. The government is under pressure from the business community to find new markets for these produce as the prices havecrashed locally.

The government has already lifted all the restrictions on trade with Iran. The State Bank ofPakistan has allowed banks to establish banking links with Iran. This will help in creating aformal payment mechanism between the two neighbouring countries.The visit of the IranianAgriculture Ministry will help apprise Iranian officials about Pakistani commodities like wheat,rice, vegetables, fruits and meat. During the last thirty years of isolation of Iran, Pakistan has become a major agriculture producer and can easily meet the brotherly neighbour‟s food

requirements, a senior official said.http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/pakistan-eyeing-iranian-markets-for-its-agriculture-goods/

Decline in Dubai demand causes increase in prices of Pakistanreal estateFEBRUARY 27, 2016 BY ONLINE

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/decline-in-dubai-demand-causes-

increase-in-prices-of-pakistan-real-estate/

STC introduces GrainPro’s hermetic storage ‘Cocoon’ View(s): 113

Sri Lanka‟s public sector State Trading Corporation (STC) has partnered with GrainPro to

introduce hermetic storage technology locally via a product named “Cocoon”. Interestingly,

hermetic storage technology was first developed by Israeli scientists in 1989. Later, it was

trialled for a six month period with the help of Sri Lanka‟s Sarvodaya Movement, after which the

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/pakistan-eyeing-iranian-markets-for-its-agriculture-goods/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/pakistan-eyeing-iranian-markets-for-its-agriculture-goods/http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/pakistan-eyeing-iranian-markets-for-its-agriculture-goods/


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trial results were reported in a scientific journal in 1991. This eventually led to hermetic storage

technology being adopted globally.

Based on this technology, the STC and GrainPro introduced “Cocoons” to facilitate rice being

hermetically sealed, leading to the eventual reduction of oxygen and moisture levels that kill

insects, restrict mould, etc. It is also noteworthy that the cost of this type of storage, for onekilogramme of rice, for a period of one year, could be lower than Rs. 0.40, while the technology

itself has been shown to successfully store any dried commodity for extended periods, from

milled rice, maize, green gram, cow pea and soya, to cocoa and coffee, and even dry chilies, etc.

According to a GrainPro media statement, a “Cocoon” is a “gas tight chamber made of whitethick PVC, which is able to prevent oxygen from entering and carbon dioxide from escaping. Soinside this gas tight container with stored grain, gradually the air changes from high in oxygenand low in carbon dioxide to high in carbon dioxide and low in oxygen, thus causing all livingorganisms to suffocate. So a Cocoon works like a kind of „bio-generator‟ where all stages ofinsect development: insects, pupae, larvae and eggs contribute to an environment that ultimatelycontrols their propagation…In a hot and humid tropical climate such as in Sri Lanka, it takes aweek to ten days to control (insect infestation). The science of insects, entomology, teaches usthat at a level of 7 per cent oxygen, insects are weakened and do not replicate, whereas at 3 percent and below, they die and totally eliminated. So the ultimate effect of hermetic storage is thatinsects remain under control without the need for any chemical intervention and without having anegative impact on the environment”.

The statement also added that, most often, “paddy is traded on the presumption that it is dried toa level of 14 per cent moisture. However the reality is that most of the paddy traded and storedhas higher moisture content. As a result mould development in stored paddy is a serious

problem, affecting the overall quality of the milled rice. Researchers of the International RiceResearch Institute in the Philippines, which has become an arduous advocate of hermetic storagetechnology, have scientifically proven that it reduces the amount of broken kernels in the ricemill. Also the phenomena of „yellowing‟, rice turning yellow as a result of improper drying, issubdued”.

Additionally, the statement noted, “Experience shows that Cocoons when well managed canhave a live span of well over 10 years. Recently GrainPro opened several Cocoons in Africa thatstored maize for a period of over 12 years with both the Cocoons as well as the maize in perfectcondition. With a life span of 10 years the savings of the losses as well as fumigation costs,together with attractive financing possibilities offered by the STC create an opportunity for Sri

Lankan rice millers, traders and farmers to upgrade their storage facilities in order to ensure localrice consumers optimal rice qualityhttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.html

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.htmlhttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.htmlhttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.htmlhttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.htmlhttp://www.sundaytimes.lk/160228/business-times/stc-introduces-grainpros-hermetic-storage-cocoon-184498.html


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Beneficiaries sell Re.1-kg rice in open marketK.M. DAYASHANKAR

The rice is bought by small-time traders who sell it to hotels, millers and export to

Maharashtra

The State Government haslaunched the ambitious Re.1-a-kg

rice scheme for the white ration card (foodsecurity card) holders to remove hunger and provide some relief to people living belowthe poverty line.Ironically, the Re.1-a- kgrice supplied by the Civil SuppliesDepartment to white ration card holders issold by the beneficiaries to earn an extra buck in the open market. Incidentally, thereare small-time traders, who move in various

parts of the district collecting Re.1-a-kg ricefrom the beneficiaries at the rate rangingfrom Rs.8 per kilogram to Rs.10 perkilogram.In turn, the small-time traders sell rice tohotels, eatery joints, rice millers and evenexport them to the neighbouringMaharashtra at the rate of Rs.12 to Rs.16 per kilogram. The welfare scheme launched by the State Government has come in handy to beneficiaries and small-time traders to make aliving at the cost of the State exchequer.Incidentally, Karimnagar district, which is also native of

Minister for Civil Supplies Etala Rajender, tops in the State with highest number of food securitycards. The district has a whopping 10,98,393 food security cards - including AAY andAnnapurna cards. Every month, the government supplies 2,03,132.17 quintals of rice to rationcardholders.As per the 2011 census statistics, the district population is 37,76,269 but the units(family members) enrolled in various food security cards include a whopping 31,68,836 persons.“Are citizens of the entire Karimnagar district poor and living below the poverty line?,”questions Confederation of All Telangana Consumer Organisations (CATCO) chairman NSrinivas.

Alleging that majority of ration card holders are selling the rice supplied by the fair price shopsat a premium, he demanded that the government should weed out all the bogus cards on a war-

footing and save public money. He charged that even the government employees are in possession of white ration cards to avail benefits of Arogyasri, fee reimbursement and othergovernment welfare schemes.Officials of the Civil Supplies Department said that the beneficiaries of ration cards are also resorting to exchange of rice for wheat and other essentialcommodities. They said that they have been conducting raids and registering cases against illegaltransportation of rice supplied, but in vain.

http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/k.m.-dayashankar/http://www.thehindu.com/profile/author/k.m.-dayashankar/


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http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-

market/article8294372.ece

Vietnam sees no future in exporting fragrant riceVietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese fragrant rice exports have been increasing rapidly, but the export value remain modest.

The scented rice that Soc Trang Food Company exports to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and

the US has been increasing rapidly. This prompted the company to join forces with farmers in

2015 to increase the Jasmine 85 fragrant rice growing area from 1,800 hectares to 4,000

hectares. The Vietnam Food Association (VFA) also decided to develop Jasmine 85 into a

national rice brand.However, some experts said this was a hasty decision.

Weak brand

In 2010, Vietnam exported 216,000 tons of scented rice, while the figure soared to 1.3 milliontons in 2014. The scented rice export price increased rapidly from $460 to $620 per ton.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-market/article8294372.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-market/article8294372.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-market/article8294372.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-market/article8294372.ecehttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/beneficiaries-sell-re1kg-rice-in-open-market/article8294372.ece


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Even China and Africa have imported more fragrant rice from Vietnam because Vietnam‟s ricehas a more competitive price than Thailand‟s.

Australia and New Zealand have also begun importing

scented rice from Vietnam. Vietnam‟s scented rice first

appeared in the US in late 2015.

However, US consumers favor Vietnam‟s rice less than

Thailand‟s, though Vietnam products sell $10-45 per kilo cheaper. Thai Hom Mali rice is

exported at $1,075 per ton, while Indian Masmati $1,525 per ton.

Though the scented rice exports have been increasing rapidly, the export volume from Vietnam

is very modest. Meanwhile, Vietnam‟s scented rice export price is just equal to 50 percent of

Cambodia‟s and Thailand‟s. In the US, according to Dr Tran Van Dat from FAO (Food &

Agriculture Organization), Thai scented rice accounts for 80 percent of the market

share.Cambodia is also a very strong rival to Vietnam. Though Cambodia cannot compare with

Vietnam in terms of export volume, its export price is higher.According to CRF, Cambodia‟s

Jasmine can be sold for $820-850 per ton, while Vietnam‟s Jasmine average export price is

between $450 and $620 per ton.

What kind of rice should be exported?

Vietnam is still wavering between making high-quality scented rice or low-cost high-yieldrice.VFA wants to develop Jasmine 85 into Vietnam‟s national rice brand. However, accordingto Prof Vo Tong Xuan, the Vietnamese leading rice expert, Jasmine has been abandoned in manycountries. Meanwhile, according to an analyst, Vietnamese Jasmine rice products can be sold for

prices equal to one-half of Thai Hom Mali rice and 1/3 of Indian Basmati because Vietnameserice exporters offer low prices to scramble for export contracts.Rolando Dy from Filipino AsiaPacific University noted that Vietnam should not follow Thailand and focus on making scentedrice, but instead should focus on high-yield rice varieties which have selling prices of $700-800 per ton.http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.html

Minister Suspects Rice Cartel Practice

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman. TEMPO/Imam Sukamto

MONDAY, 29 FEBRUARY, 2016 | 14:38 WIBTEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Agricultural Minister Amran Sulaiman predicted that certain partieshave intentionally manipulated rice prices to gain profits in exchange of public interest. "These parties are middle men who often look for opportunities to hoard rice and sell them to the market

Though the scented rice exports

have been increasing rapidly, the

export volume from Vietnam is

very modest.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.htmlhttp://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.htmlhttp://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.htmlhttp://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.htmlhttp://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/151242/vietnam-sees-no-future-in-exporting-fragrant-rice.html


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[at certain times]," Amran said to the press on Monday, February 29, 2016.Amran said that thesemiddle men have less to no concern about the public needs and the government's effort tostabilize rice prices. Amran added that the middle men will only sell their rice stocks ifcommodity prices are climbing.

Currently, Amran has noted an indication of massive inflow of rice stocks in rice supply centers,causing oversupply, in turn, dropping the price of rice. On the first week of February 2016, ricewere sold at Rp 13,344 per kilogram while on the second week, the price drops to Rp 7,500 toRp 10,000 per kilogram.

"This is an anomaly that has never happened within the last five to 10 years. This also showedthat the national rice production is increasing," Amran said.Minister Amran said that thegovernment will not giving up in eradicating middle men and food commodity mafia who havedisrupted Indonesia's agricultural pattern."We will change the planting patter so that there will beno unused land, because once a harvesting season ends, a planting season starts. This willresulted in continuous rice production and eliminate rice scarcity," Amran concluded.http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/29/056749162/Minister-Suspects-Rice-Cartel-Practice

How KRA stumbled on illicit sugar at the Port of MombasaBy MAUREEN MUDIFeb. 27, 2016, 4:00 am

KRA Regional manager Nicholas Kinoti inspects some of the contraband sugar that was seizure atthe port of Mombasa.Photo/File

Contraband sugar with a tax value of Sh28million has been impounded at the port of Mombasa.In the latest seizure, Kenya Revenue Authority says the consignment is a fresh discovery foundin 16 containers at the Kilindini Port Container terminal.The consignment was impounded hours

http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/29/056749162/Minister-Suspects-Rice-Cartel-Practicehttp://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/29/056749162/Minister-Suspects-Rice-Cartel-Practicehttp://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/02/29/056749162/Minister-Suspects-Rice-Cartel-Practice


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after rice importers from Pakistan hit at the government for detaining their consignment worthmillions, at the port, over a row with container freight stations owned by Mombasa GovernorHassan Joho‟s family.

Over 2,000 containers, including 37,500 tonnes of rice imported from Pakistan, have been lyingat the port for over a month since the two CFSs were closed.The rice, according to the importers,was to be taken for storage at the two CFSs.Last week, the Pakistan High CommissionCommercial Counsellor Amir Mohyuddin together with Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan(REAP) chair Rafique Suileman appealed to Kenya Ports Authority to release the cargo.OnThursday, Japhet Asige, the lawyer representing the importers, said his clients have incurredhuge losses as demurrage, shipping and port storage charges amounting to overSh500M.Investigators say the 16 containers verified so far, are loaded with sugar packed inKakira Sugar Company, bags, to ostensibly mask its origin.“

It‟s instructive to note that Kakira Sugar company, is based in Uganda and any importsoriginating from the firm, would ideally enter Kenya by road or rail haulage through the land borders and not through the port via sea vessels,” the statement issued from the Commissioner,Customs and Border control, read.KRA has for the last few months been conductinginvestigations at the port in order to impound contraband goods and also as its broader campaignto seal revenue leakages.


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Several consignments including ethanol, sugar and rice have so far been impounded, with businessmen charged while some of the goods set for destruction.According to KRA, thecontainers, had been mis-declared in the vessel manifest submitted tohttp://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2016/02/27/how-kra-stumbled-on-illicit-sugar-at-the-port-of-mombasa_c1302275


The Rice ExportersAssociation of Pakistan(REAP) has urged thegovernment to declare riceas a separate industry and place it under zero-ratingalong with five major

export-oriented sectors.In astatement, Patron-in-Chiefof REAP Abdul RahimJanoo said that apart fromtextiles, rice exports weremuch ahead of other fourexport-oriented sectors. Hefeared that neglecting thissector would discourage riceexports and the countrywould lose its traditional

markets.Janoo said thegovernment would have togo for “no payment no tax” policy to ensure corruption-free export trade and

encourage exporters. “There is no logic in first paying taxed and then getting refunds of thesame. This results in corruption and blocks huge working capital of export trade.” As exporters funds are held back by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), they had to go for bank borrowing and pay extra amount towards mark-up, he said.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/27/business/rice-exporters-seek-zero-rated-tax-regime/

From tablet to tractor, digital drives farminginnovationMon, 29 February 2016Moeun Nhean

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/author/moeun-nhean/20501http://www.phnompenhpost.com/author/moeun-nhean/20501http://www.phnompenhpost.com/author/moeun-nhean/20501


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In Kampong Thom Province, an ADB-financed initiative shows farmers how to increase their crop yields and raiselivestock effectively through tutorials on a tablet. Moeun Nhean

Cattle are still ploughing the rice fields of Cambodia and farmers still await the monsoon seasonto water their crops. While traditional Cambodian farming techniques are still widespread, onecan see a gradual change towards industrial farming techniques that are being introduced tofarmers through digital means. The impacts of this for Cambodians could be significant as,according to the World Bank, in 2012, 51 per cent of all working Cambodians were employed inthe agricultural sector, while in the same year, agriculture accounted for 27.5 per cent of thecountry‟s GDP, according to the 2012 report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry andFisheries (MAFF).Lay Piseth, head of the Agriculture Department in Pursat province, north of the Tonle Sap Lake,

said that “farmers now are more up-to-date through announcements from our department andvarious NGOs‟ educational projects broadcasted through the radio, television and even Facebook.”Through information and education, he explained, farming habits have changed, nowincluding the use of new and more profitable rice seeds that adapt better to climate changes while producing higher yields.“[The farmers] are also more attentive to their crops and are changingtheir planting cycles and fertilising methods, especially once they understand the changes in themarket and in the weather,” Piseth added.Piseth stressed that Internet access is the key tofurthering farmers‟ knowledge of their trade, and he claims that now most of them are online, being especially well-versed in Facebook on their smartphones.

Farmers are educated in Kampong Thom Province. Moeun Nhean

“In Pursat province, farmers who understand agriculture [better] amount to about 75 per cent.Even if they live in a secluded and rural area, they still have access to this knowledge,” Pisethsaid, adding that this has resulted in 60 to 70 per cent of farmers now making use of machinesinstead of the traditional cattle or their bare hands.Farmers working the land near the main roads,especially, are likely to up their techniques, according to Piseth.“High potential districts such asBakan District along National Road 5 are 90 per cent populated by farmers who are now using

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agricultural machines, and around 98 per cent are of them are using rice harvesting machines,”he said.

Breaking down the numbers, Piseth cited agricultural machinery that are currently registered inPursat: 733 tractors, 15,530 hydraulic tillers, 7,307 water pumps, 230 rice harvesters, 624stripper harvesters, seven large-scale dryers and 1,729 rice grinders.While the penetration ofmachinery within farming communities is high, Piseth admitted that there is still a significantlack of irrigation systems, which makes the annual rice productivity per hectare dependent onweather conditions.In 2015 for example, the productivity per hectare amounted to 3,160kilograms while 2014 produced a decreased yield of 3,323 kilograms, attributed to last year‟sdrought.Piseth said that in Pursat province there are only two modern irrigation systems.Regardless,general productivity is flourishing with the help of information technology.East of Pursat,northeast of Tonle Sap Lake, in Kompong Thom province, Chren Sokunthea, an agricultural project officer for a NGO-funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), has been educatingfarmers on how to maximise their crop production for years.Stressing the importance of passingon knowledge by means of visual aid, Sokunthea explained that her NGO makes video tutorialsthat farmers can follow on smartphones, iPads and other tablet devices.

“Many farmers became very interested in learning about mechanised and safe agriculture

methods, because it‟s the easiest way for them to understand when they are able to see the actualfarming practices in videos, after which they can easily apply them in real life,” she said. Givinga different example, Sokunthea said that if a group of farmers wanted to explore the particularities of raising poultry and pigs, she would show them videos detailing the properselection of certain breeds, how to build cages, what and how to feed the animals, and mostimportantly, how to vaccinate them.By gradually implementing the practices they see in tutorials

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through repeated views, farmers‟ livelihoods have improved significantly, Sokunthea said. Shenoted that their children now have the means to attend school regularly, while the most notableachievement is the decreasing number of people who migrate to find paid work elsewhere afterthe harvest season.

Tiv Vanthy, head of the agriculture department in Kompong Thom, said that as a whole, farmershave immensely changed their approach because they are educated about “the methods ofmaximising agriculture production, including the usage of machinery in agriculture. And theyhave gained a better understanding of agriculture markets.”In traditionally agriculturalCambodia, it seems, the digital revolution and its educational potential are leading the croprevolutionhttp://www.phnompenhpost.com/supplements/tablet-tractor-digital-drives-farming-innovationme

10 Interesting Facts About Rice You Should Know

Verity Awala

Most Nigerians love rice and would eat it at least oneseveryday. Whether as Jollof, fried, white or with beans, Nigerians would not miss an opportunity to show their love forrice. However a lot of people who eat rice, know very littleabout it. Like When and where did farmers first start growing

http://www.informationng.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Nigerian-fried-rice.jpghttp://www.informationng.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Nigerian-fried-rice.jpghttp://www.informationng.com/http://www.informationng.com/http://www.informationng.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Nigerian-fried-rice.jpghttp://www.phnompenhpost.com/sites/default/files/styles/full-screen_watermarked/public/8-training-show.jpg?itok=7dMXIex_http://www.informationng.com/


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rice, types of rice and so on. Therefore, for the love of rice, INFORMATION NIGERIA bringsyou 10 rice facts you should know…

1. According to International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) half of world‟s population, three andhalf billion people depend on rice. China is the leading rice producer in the world.

2. There are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice. Of the 40,000 varieties, more than 100are grown worldwide, but only around 10 percent are marketed and sold.

3. The difference between brown and white rice lies in the way they are milled. When the firstouter layer, husk of rice is removed, you get brown rice. When you further mill it and remove bran and germ layer, then polish or bleach it, you get white rice.

4. Nutritionally brown rice is richer of the two. White rice does contain most of the essentialvitamins and minerals, including B-group vitamins (thiamin, niacin) zinc and phosphorus found

in brown rice, though in lesser quantity. However, they differ significantly in terms of their fibercontent. A cup of brown rice content 3.5 grams, while an equal amount of white rice doesn‟teven content 1 gram. Fiber is not only filling, but is recommended in the prevention of majordiseases such as certain gastrointestinal diseases and heart diseases.

A cup of brown rice (232) has slightly more calories than white rice (223). And surprisinglywhite rice has less fat than brown rice, (0.2 grams per cup vs. 1.2 grams per cup).

5. Uncooked white rice has long shelf life, about eight to 10 years. However, uncooked brownhas shelf life of only three to six months, primarily due to bran and germ being intact. It‟s also agood idea to store the rice in a cool dry place, or better yet in your refrigerator or even freezer.

6. Rice is a symbol of life and fertility, which is why rice was traditionally thrown at weddings.

7. It takes between 3 and 6 months for a rice plant to reach maturity, depending on the varietyand where it is grown.

8. Three of the world‟s four most populous nations use rice as their staple food – China, Indiaand Indonesia. Together, these countries have 2,500 million people.

9. Rice and its by-products are used for making straw and rope, paper, wine, crackers, beer,cosmetics, packing material, and even toothpaste.

10. Practically everywhere, except Antarctica! Rice is grown on flooded land and on dry land, intropical rain forests of Africa and in arid deserts of the Middle East, on coastal plains and on themountains.

Which of the above listed did you know before???https://www.informationng.com/2016/02/10-interesting-facts-about-rice-you-should-know.html


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DRI Unearths Over Rs 1,000 Crore Scam in Rice ExportBy PTIPublished: 28th February 2016 12:16 PMLast Updated: 28th February 2016 12:16 PM

A farmer eats an ice-cream as he waits to procure his wheat crop at a wholesale grain market in

Chandigarh April 26, 2014 | File/Reuters

NEW DELHI: Authorities have unearthed a massive scam in export of high-quality Basmati rice

to Iran, running into over Rs 1,000 crore, in which the commodity was fraudulently divertedmid-sea to Dubai.According to a probe being done by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence(DRI), over two lakh metric tonnes of Basmati rice was illegally offloaded in Dubai in the lastover a year instead of in Bandar Abbas in Iran, official sources said.Over 25 big exporters fromHaryana and Punjab are under the scanner of DRI and other agencies for their involvement in themulti-crore scam, they said.Explaining the modus operandi, the sources said rice would be takento Gujarat's Kandla Port by these exporters. They would then file Shipping Bills--documentsfiled with customs authorities carrying details of goods to be exported, consignor and consignee-for export to Iran, they said.

Instead of the consignment reaching Iranian shores, it would be diverted mid-sea to Dubai

allegedly with the connivance of cargo ship operators carrying the goods. Surprisingly, paymentswere also made from Iran to these exporters in India. Importers and port officials wouldallegedly acknowledge the receipt of rice and allow payment to be made against it here, thesources said.What is worrying for intelligence agencies here is that they do not know the end-useof rice off-loaded in Dubai. They suspect use of rice as barter system to fund some illegalactivity like terror financing, the sources said.The DRI has red-flagged the scam at the highest


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level and is in touch with authorities concerned in Dubai about the scam. Prima facie, two lakhmetric tonnes of rice valued at about Rs 1,000 crore has been off-loaded in Dubai instead of Iran,they said.

While India lost foreign exchange which it could have got from Dubai in case of genuine trade,

Iran was also deprived of customs duty it would have been entitled to if rice was delivered at itsshore, the sources said.The authorities suspect the proceeds of the scam assumed the form of black money. The DRI has informed Supreme Court- appointed Special Investigation Team on black money about the case. It has also roped in the Enforcement Directorate to look into thematter, they said.Legal export of rice from the country has risen in the past two years. India hadexported 2,77,880.22 kg of Basmati rice to United Arab Emirates in 2014-15. About 4,11,776.06kg of rice had been sent to the UAE between April and November 2015, as per the latest data ofexport compiled by Directorate General of Foreign Trade.A total of 9,35,567.81 kg of Basmatirice was exported to Iran in the last fiscal and 4,57,023.63 kg between April and November thisfinancial year, they saidIndia n express

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29th february,2016 daily global regional,local rice e_newsletter by riceplus magazine

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