12th january,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine
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News Detail…
GMO Biotechnology Categorized as “Biological Weapons
of Mass Destruction”, Pakistan, Russia By Global Research News
Global Research, January 09, 2015
Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter www.ricepluss.com
January 12, 2015 Volume 5, Issue I
Chemical Concern
Region: Middle East & North Africa, Russia
and FSU
Theme: Biotechnology and GMO
In July last year, Monsanto, Pioneer and
Syngenta, multinational companies and a
number of national firms approached
Pakistan’s Ministry of Food Security
seeking licences to raise genetically-
modified (GM) food products in Pakistan.
Imran Ali Teepu reported for Dawn that a
senior federal government official, who did
not wish to be named, told Dawn that ―a
request in this regard has been received by
the Ministry of Food Security a few weeks
back and is being reviewed‖.The director
general of the Pakistan Environment
Protection Agency, Asif Shuja, said:
―Research is still continuing internationally
into whether the genetically-modified
products have an impact on human health.
Many of the local companies want to import
genetically-modified food products from
China and we have not given any approval
in this regard‖.Meanwhile, Dr Jawad
Chishtie, a public health and environment
management specialist, said: ―Genetically-
modified products have been rejected in
Europe, and most recently in France, for
damaging crops and endangering human
health.‖ He warned that effects of the
genetically-engineered organisms were not
yet known but ―they are suspected of
causing dangerous allergies and even
cancer.‖
He asked the government to promote
organic farming in Pakistan for which the
country had a far better environment.
In May this year Jamal Shahid reported that
Lahore High Court ordered the government
to stop issuing licences for genetically-
modified (GM) varieties of cotton or corn
until a legal framework is put into place to
assess new types of genetically modified
organisms.
Shahid continues: ―The Farmers Association
of Pakistan had been complaining about the
sale of poor quality Bt cotton seeds in the
open market for quite some time. He quotes
Chaudhry Gohar, a progressive cotton
farmer from Multan, who told Dawn that the
use of uncertified varieties of GM seeds
increase input costs for farmers. The low
levels of pest resistance in these seeds have
increased insects‘ immunity, necessitating
the use of nearly double the normal amount
of pesticides. Pakistan Agriculture
Research (NBC) also relaxed germination
levels for crops from 75% under Seed Act,
1976 to less than 50%.EPA DG Muhammad
Khurshid observed that the authority treats
GMOs ‗very seriously‘:
―The Foreign Office has also conveyed its
concern to the Climate Change Division that
the subject of GMO seeds is a matter of
grave concerns for national security and
trade. The Foreign Office treats GMOs as
potential ―biological weapons of mass
destruction‖, which could be used to destroy
Pakistan‘s major crops such as potato,
wheat, rice, corn, cotton and vegetables
through modified viruses, bacteria and other
parasites.Russian lawmakers also want to
address GMO-related activities that may
harm human health and impose criminal
liability on producers, sellers and
transporters of genetically modified
organisms, according to Izvestia.Itar-Tass
reports that a bill to this effect was
submitted to the Russian State Duma –
lower parliament house; under its terms
criminal responsibility would apply only to
companies and government officials, but
there is a move to expand liability for GMO-
inflicted harm to include state and local self-
government officials.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/gmo-
biotechnology-as-biological-weapons-of-
mass-destruction-pakistan-russia/5423645
2013-14 stocks: government
urged to direct TCP to purchase
0.5 million tons of Basmati rice
January 10, 2015
ZAHID BAIG
Growers Association (BGA) has urged the
federal government to direct Trading
Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) for
purchasing 0.5 million tons of Basmati rice
from 2013-14 stocks at the rate of Rs 4000
per 40 kilograms and export it to Iran. It also
suggested that the procurement should be
made through outsourced
company/companies as the TCP lacks the
capacity to make such purchases and sales
while the outsourced company/companies
could perform the task on behalf of the TCP
with guarantees of performance and quality
or any other such assurance as TCP may
deem appropriate. BGA President Chaudhry
Hamid Malhi has proposed this in a letter to
the Federal Minister of Commerce Khurram
Dastgir Khan, copy of which also released to
the media on Friday. The letter said Basmati
rice purchased could be exported to Iran and
some of the proceeds could be deducted by
Iran as Rs 500 million of outstanding
electricity payments lying with the Pakistan
government, while, Pakistan government
can pay these dues to exporters/farmers. In
the meanwhile a waiver for trade with Iran
could be sought to enable the State Bank of
Pakistan to open a banking channel for
export payment transfers.
This would also add 50 billion to the
economy. A joint committee of MoC,
exporters, traders and growers could
supervise the activity to make it workable
and suggest timely amends where
necessary. "It is also important to note that
Iran imported 1.44 million tons of Basmati
rice from India during 2013-14, while our
Basmati exports world-wide decreased to
0.733 million tons in the same year," the
letter added.
It said that in contrast to India, Pakistan
could only export 6511 tons of Basmati rice
to Iran in year 2013-14. The Basmati
farmers were the biggest losers this year.
Paddy prices were down by 50 percent and
with no remedy in sight for the next year,
Basmati production could be at risk in the
country, the letter mentioned. Letter further
stated that directives to expedite matters in
the manner suggested above, could improve
the situation to the relief of the Basmati rice
sector. Chaudhry Hamid Malhi also
regretted that the subsidy of Rs 5000 per
acres announced by the Punjab government
to Basmati farmers is also in doldrums as
time passes. He said that rice farmers
suffered heavy losses because of floods and
price crash and the government announced
to compensate them and made lists of
farmers but growers are still awaiting any
good news from the rulers.
http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-
allied/183/1141000/
RRI develops new varieties
of drought-resistant paddy in OdishaOdisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Jan 12:
Scientists at the Central Rice Research
Institute (CRRI) in Odisha‘s Cuttack city
have developed four new varieties of
drought-resistant paddy and another variety
that can be grown in less water
conditions.The new varieties named as
Ankit, Sachala, Gopinath, Maudamani can
meet the drought condition while another
variety, named Chakaakhi, can grow in less
water and survive flood conditions up to a
week. Besides, it can also withstand high
winds.
They have been prepared specifically to deal
with the changing climate and pattern of rain
in Odisha.As per the information provided
by Sharat Kumar Pradhan, chief scientists of
CCRI, ―Ankit (CR Paddy-101) can be
harvested in three and half months can be
cultivated in high lands with less water
requirement.This medium thin variety can
be harvested up to 40 quintal per hectare in
normal condition and up to 28 quintal per
hectare under drought condition. Besides,
given its immunity to certain diseases and
the ability to be grown through sowing,
farmers can save more time and money as it
does not require re-plantation. About 68 kgs
of rice can be obtained by milling a quintal
of paddy of this variety, he said.
Apart from this, Sachala (CR Paddy-203)
and Gopinath are also immune to certain
diseases and can be harvested in 110 days.
The cultivation and harvest are the same like
the Ankit variety, he added.―Maudamani
(CR-307), which is a small, fatty and pest-
resistant variety of paddy, can be cultivated
in the irrigated lands. About 50 quintals per
hectare of this variety can be harvested in
normal conditions.‖ Pradhan said.Talking
about the newly developed Chakaakhi (CR-
408), Pradhan informed that this fatty and
longer variety can withstand flood
conditions and pest attack and grow up to
130 to 140 centimetres. The harvest period
of this paddy is 160-165 days. It also makes
it easy for farmers to clean unwanted grass
from the field due to its dark coloured roots
which is different from the colour of grass
that grows around paddy. This rice would be
suitable for preparation of watered rice
(Pakhala).
It may be noted that the State Variety
Release Committee has developed nine
different varieties of paddy this year of
which CRRI has developed five.The CRRI
scientists had invented three more varieties
of paddy in November last year to meet the
climatic conditions of other states.However,
it may take another two years to provide
adequate amount of these new varieties of
paddy to the farmers of the state,‖ Pradhan
http://odishasuntimes.com/107707/crri-
develops-new-varieties-drought-resistant-paddy-
odisha/
Women seed entrepreneurs
at community level
M. G. Neogi
Women seed entrepreneurs at community
level
Rexonara Khatun, a trained seed producer,
storing her quality seeds in IRRI Super Bag
at their house at Triphol kathi village,
Shyamnagar, Satkhira.
Seeds are the most important input to
increase crop production. They enhance
food security and alleviate poverty in the
agro-based developing countries. It is
believed that good seeds alone can increase
20-25 per cent yield. If the seed is capable of
ensuring higher yield, then the use of other
inputs like fertilisers, irrigation, pesticides,
etc. becomes fruitful. Otherwise, these
become futile. Therefore, the best
techniques need to be followed to produce
and preserve good quality seeds.In
Bangladesh, a large number of farmers
throughout the country use their self-
produced and preserved seeds to cultivate
rice. The seeds comprise more than 50 per
cent of the total rice seed requirement of the
country. Eighty-five per cent of self-
preserved seeds are used by the poor farm
households.
Almost hundred per cent of the seeds are
processed at farm household-level by
women, and they are solely involved in
drying, cleaning and storing these seeds. A
2011 survey report indicates that from 1999
to 2006, participation by men in the
agricultural labour force is declining, while
female agricultural labourers are increasing
in the crop fields. The said report notes that
as men move from farming to the service
industry and other non-agricultural sectors,
women are gaining more acceptance as paid
farm workers and post-harvest processors.
Women are now working in crop fields
along with men, a rare scene in the past.
They prepare seedbeds, transplant seedlings,
engage in activities like weeding,
harvesting, and threshing of crops. Most
importantly, almost hundred per cent women
farm households are solely involved in
cleaning, sun-drying and storing the crops
and their seeds at their houses.
But most of the women farm households are
not capable enough to produce quality seeds
and they have very shallow knowledge on
how to produce and process quality rice
seeds. Normally, farm households are
cultivating rice for their consumption and
sale, and they save a portion of it as seed,
which is never maintained properly as seed.
These seeds are usually inferior in quality
with mixtures of other varieties, and thus the
farmers incur a huge loss, because of poor
yield-capability.
The awareness and knowledge of women of
farm households about quality seeds, their
importance and seed processing, as well as
preservation techniques, are very limited.
They are not able to maintain quality storage
facilities at household level due to their poor
housing condition. Although women are
directly involved with seed processing and
preservation at their households, there is no
institutional linkages in order to improve
their awareness and skills. A huge number
of women households in rural areas are
involved with micro-credit programmes, but
they have very limited access to 'know-how'
on quality seeds. Effective storage
equipment is also one of the most important
components to keep the seeds at quality
level, as most of the women farm
households store their rice seeds in
traditional containers, like jute bags, soil-
made containers, tin boxes, gunny bags, etc.
which are not found to be satisfactory in
storing rice seeds and maintaining their
quality.
With the available production technologies,
it is possible to produce around six tonnes of
crop on one hectare of land, but the average
production is less than three tonnes per
hectare. Among the many constraints,
awareness and knowledge at women farm
household level, quality seeds, post-harvest
drying and storage facilities are considered
the major barriers to improved rice
production technologies. Therefore, there is
the need for making the farmers aware and
train them, especially the women farm
households, for quality seed production,
processing and preservation by using simple
and affordable technologies.
It is proved that the traditional methods of
seed storage cause lower germination and
infestation of seeds by pests and diseases,
which ultimately leads to lower production.
As the requirement of quality seed
production and preservation is a serious
constraint for improved rice production, the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
strongly feels about an immediate need to
equip grassroots farmers with training
through local seed producing associations
for quality seed promotion in rural areas.
Through using quality seeds, yields can be
increased between 15 to 30 per cent.
Farmers will get more food and have more
income for their families, if they use quality
seeds.
Under USAID and BMGF (Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation) support, IRRI works with
rural poor farm households, where NGOs,
private local seed producers and the
government agricultural extension
department (DAE) are the partners of this
project.
The three major areas like roughing, drying
and storing proved the most important
factors to improve seed quality. A
polyethylene bag which has been developed
by IRRI named as IRRI Super Bag has also
been proved to be unique and affordable
equipment for the farm households of rural
areas to store rice seeds at household level
maintaining its quality. The IRRI has
provided 25,000 IRRI Super Bags to 8,500
households (mainly women), through the
partner organisations like the government
extension agencies such as DAE, local
NGOs and local seed producers.
Seeds preserved in the IRRI Super Bag as
storage equipment maintain higher
germination, viability and vigour as well as
disease-free plants, and thus yield is
comparatively much higher than from the
seeds available from other sources. Hence
the seed production technology as well as
seed processing and preservation technology
under this component is treated as a
complete package programme. The seeds
production and preservation technology has
been provided to the poor community
households enabling them to produce quality
seeds at community level. In the same way,
seed processing and preservation training
can be provided to women of farm
households to keep the seeds on right track
as post-harvest technology. Based on
practical learning, women are now more
aware of moisture percentage in seeds and
are interested to store them in storage
equipment (IRRI Super Bag) for airtight
preservation.
A trained woman of a farm household,
Rexonara Khatun, speaks about the
usefulness of this storage equipment.
Rexonara and her husband Arafat Hossain
live in Aila-affected saline-prone village
named Treefol Kathi of Ishwaripur union
under Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira
district. They have 60 decimals of land.
Before Aila, they cultivated rice and
received a very good harvest. But due to
Aila, their land was affected by saline water
and they failed to have any reasonable
harvests after the Aila storm. Through a
group meeting with Nakshikantha - a NGO,
in 2012, she came to know that a newly-
developed salt-tolerant rice variety can grow
in salt-affected land. She showed her interest
about the rice variety and received
Binadhan-8 rice seeds as salt-tolerant rice
variety from Nakshikantha and cultivated
that in their land and got a good yield of
around 3.8 tonne/ha. This was the first time
after the Aila, when they cultivated crop and
harvested such an amount of rice. Rexonara
also received training on how to produce
and process as well as store the rice seeds.
She got IRRI Super Bag during a training
programme. She stored dry and cleaned
quality Binadhan-8 rice seeds in IRRI Super
Bags in airtight condition.
Inspired by the achievement of Rexonara,
her neighbouring farm households are
demanding seeds of this variety. Rexonara
decided to keep seeds in her IRRI Super
Bags to maintain their quality and sell them
to her neighbours in the next season.
Hundreds of trained women of farm
households are now producing quality seeds
at household level and are getting higher
yields. They also supply their surplus seeds
to their neighbours, relatives and other
farmers.A number of trained women of farm
households have become seed entrepreneurs
at community level getting benefits and
enjoying better livelihood.As the quality
seed production and preservation is a serious
challenge for improved rice production,
IRRI strongly feels the immediate need for
equipping grassroots farmers with training
through local seed producing associations. It
also feels the urgency for quality seed
promotion in rural areas.
The article is adapted from a paper Dr. M.
G. Neogi, a consultant with the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), presented at
the International Rice Congress held at
Bangkok in 2014.
UD‟s research institute to
develop low-cost fuel tanks
By Jill DruryPublished: January 9, 2015, 11:56
am
University of Dayton. (WDTN Photo)
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The University
of Dayton Research Institute says it will lead
an Ohio-based research team with the
development of affordable natural-gas
vehicle fuel tanks.The initiative was
announced by President Barack Obama in
Tennessee where the research will be
led.The Institute for Advanced Composites
Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) was
selected by the U.S.
Department of Energy to develop the
technology.The group of founding partners,
including UDRI, will work to advance fiber-
reinforced polymer composites that are
lighter and stronger than steel, with
development taking place from laboratories
to production lines.These types of
technologies are already used in the aircraft
and military vehicle industries as well as in
luxury cars, but the materials are
expensive.UDRI will lead the initiative for
the development of compressed-gas storage
vessels for the automotive and trucking
industry.
―The demand for compressed natural gas as
a lower-cost, cleaner-burning alternative to
diesel and gasoline fuel for vehicles
continues to grow,‖ said Brian Rice,
Research Institute director. ―In order for
natural gas fuel to be efficiently and safely
used to power vehicles, the transportation
industry needs an affordable, lightweight but
high-strength compressed-gas fuel tank.‖The
group‘s goal is to make the materials low-
cost and easy to produce.Ohio will commit
$10-million of the estimated $259-million
project.
http://wdtn.com/2015/01/09/uds-research-
institute-to-develop-low-cost-fuel-tanks/
University rejects
renaming „Hindu‟ rice
varieties Jan 10, 2015 - Rabindra Nath Choudhury |
Raipur
The Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
here was on Friday caught off guard
following ―rumours‖ that the institution was
initiating a move to replace names of Hindu
deities given to new rice varieties developed
in the state.The rumour that there was a
serious move by the university to rechristen
the new rice varieties developed by the
research units functioning under the
institution has been making rounds in the
state for the past couple of days.As per the
speculation, a plan is afoot by the university
to rename the popular varieties of rice such
as ―Mahamaya‖, ―Durga‖, ―Vishnubhog‖,
―Samales-wari‖, ―Rajeswari‖, ―Dur-ga‖ and
―Danteswari‖.
Incidentally, the rumours have surfaced in
the wake of the recent release of the
controversial Hindi film PK, which is facing
opposition from the Hindutva brigade for,
what they claim, is the ―improper
projection‖ of Hindu deities.―We are
absolutely taken aback by the baseless
rumours that we are planning to replace
names of Hindu deities given to the new
varieties of rice developed by the university.
I want to make it clear that there is no such
move. We are wondering where such a
rumour has been generated,‖ a senior officer
of the university told this newspaper on
Friday.When contacted, university
spokesman and professor (soil science
department) K.K. Sahu said, ―I am not
aware of any such move.
‖Many new rice varieties developed in the
state have been christened after names of
famed local deities such as Danteswari of
Bastar region and Mahamaya of the plains
of Chhattisgarh.The university is credited
with conserving the second-largest reserve
of rice plasmas in the world after the
International Rice Research Institute in
Manila, the Philippines.
Turning Waste from Rice,
Parsley and Other Foods
into Biodegradable Plastic
Your chairs, synthetic rugs and plastic
bags could one day be made out of cocoa,
rice and vegetable waste rather than
petroleum, scientists are now reporting.
By American Chemical Society | August 22,
2014
Waste husks from rice (in the small vial) can
be transformed into bioplastic.A. ABRUSCI
– ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI
TECNOLOGIAThe novel process they
developed and their results, which could
help the world deal with its agricultural and
plastic waste problems, appear in
theAmerican Chemical
Society journal Macromolecules.Athanassia
Athanassiou, Ilker S. Bayer and colleagues
at the Italian Institute of Technology point
out that plastic's popularity is constantly
growing. In 2012, its production reached
288 million tons worldwide, but its ubiquity
comes at a cost. Synthetic plastics persist for
hundreds or thousands of years while
releasing toxic components with the
potential to harm the environment and
human health. Also, plastics are made out of
petroleum, which is a nonrenewable source.
The shift to more environmentally friendly
bioplastics has been challenging and
expensive. Athanassiou's team wanted to
find a simple, less costly way to make the
transition.
They turned to an organic acid that also
occurs naturally and can process cellulose,
which is the main building component of
plants and also the most abundant polymer
in nature. They mixed the acid with parsley
and spinach stems, and husks from rice and
cocoa pods. Then, they poured the resulting
solutions into lab dishes. When tested, the
films that formed showed a promising range
of traits from brittle and rigid to soft and
stretchable — similar to commercial
plastics. "This opens up possibilities for
replacing some of the non-degrading
polymers with the present bioplastics
obtained from agro-waste," the researchers
conclude.
Categories: News
Tags: American Chemical Society, plastics, green
technology, materials science, Industry News
http://www.labmanager.com/news/2014/08/turni
ng-waste-from-rice-parsley-and-other-foods-
into-biodegradable-plastic#.VLRNndLF_Jc
Santiago launches
hybrid rice center By Brenda Jocson Gaudia | Jan. 10, 2015
at 12:01am
SANTIAG
O CITY,
Isabela—
Mayor
Joseph Tan
on Friday
launched
an
accelerated
learning
module on
hybrid rice here at the Agricultural Training
and Seed Center.―We expect that the new
farming methods will raise harvest from 100
cavans per hectare of traditional farming
practice to 200 cavans per hectare,‖ he said.
Tan
The facility in Barangay Balintocatoc was
established in partnerships with the
Philippine Rice Center, Department of Soil
and Water Management, Cagayan Valley
Rice Research Center (CVRRC), Technical
Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA) and the city
government.―We have come up with this
endeavor to help and support the displaced
cabesillas or community service providers
consisting of almost 14 percent of the farm
labor force in the city,‖ Tan said.―But I
believe that in due time, these displaced
farm laborers will soon be trained by the
national government through TESDA and
become productive in their chosen field of
expertise in the operation the new farming
technology.‖
According to Tan, TESDA-Santiago has
trained 200 heavy equipment operators with
special funding from the city mayor‘s
office. We have also allocated P500,000 for
farmers livelihood programs to every
barangay under our local poverty reduction
action program,‖ he said.Meanwhile, the
city has alloted P42 million for cooperatives
and groups in acquiring reapers, tractors,
mechanical transplanters for them to offer
services to small landowners who could not
afford to buy mechanized farm machineries.
CVRRC chief Rosemarie Aquino said
mechanization would enable planters to
cope with the requirements of an integrated
market of South East Asian countries.―Our
soil is so fertile that seeds easily sprout and
with the introduction of farm mechanization
we will make our products more competitive
in Asia,‖ she said.Aquino said CVRRC has
also created a new technique in seedling
propagation using carbonized water, rice
bran and garden soil from river banks.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/10/sant
iago-launches-hybrid-rice-center/
Vietnam clinches one
million tonnes of rice deal
in 2015 Friday, 09 January 2015 03:51
The volume is 200,000 tonnes higher than the
same period last year. (Image source: IRRI)
Member enterprises of the Vietnam Food
Association (VFA) have already clinched
export contracts for at least one million
tonnes of rice with delivery scheduled for
this year
According to VietnamNet, most of the
volume would be delivered to customers in
2015, based on the contracts that VFA‘s
member enterprises signed with importers
last year.
The volume is 200,000 tonnes higher than
the same period last year.Huynh The Nang,
general director of Vietnam Southern Food
Corporation (Vinafood 2), however, said
local rice exporters might face many more
difficulties this year.The rice demand of the
Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia is
forecast to jump, but Vietnam would have to
compete with Thailand, which wants to
reduce its huge rice stockpiles, The Nang
added.China, a major importer of
Vietnamese rice in recent years, has signed
an MoU to purchase two million tonnes of
rice from Thailand in 2015.Concerns have
also risen among domestic rice exporters for
tougher competition from India and Pakistan
as these two nations have cut prices of their
low and medium-grade rice to compete with
similar products of Vietnam.
Currently, India and Pakistan sell five per
cent broken rice at US$385-395 per tonne
and US$380-390 per tonne respectively,
compared to US$380-390 per tonne for
Vietnam‘s same type. Their 25 per cent
broken rice is priced at US$350-360 per
tonne and US$335-345 per tonne compared
to US$350-360 per tonne of
Vietnam.According to VFA, Vietnam had
exported 5.96mn tons of rice from 1 January
to 18 December 2014, falling 11 per cent
against the previous year. Up to 83 per cent
was shipped to Asian and African countries
and the rest to America, Europe and
Oceania.
In order to boost rice shipments this year,
Vietnam‘s Ministry of Industry and Trade
suggested rice exporters diversify markets
and seek to make full use of the
opportunities from bilateral and multilateral
trade agreements, and follow updates on
importing markets.
http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agri
culture/vietnam-clinches-one-million-tonnes-of-
rice-deal-in-2015
Last update 07:50 | 11/01/2015
Vietnam needs to develop a
national rice brand
VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam was the
world’s second-largest rice exporter in the
world in 2014, but it is in urgent need of
investment to develop a national brand to
increase the value of its rice harvests.
In recent years, the Mekong Delta region has
spared no effort to attract investment in the
field of rice production. Numerous
international organizations and foreign
investors have also been expanding the
production model.However, to date these
have only been pilot programs and have had
no real global impact on rice production in
Vietnam.Scientists and managers are now
pondering alternative approaches to improve
rice growers‘ living conditions, by building
a national rice brand name and creating
added value for Vietnamese rice.
On a positive note, Vietnamese rice was
exported to 135 nations around the globe in
2014 including the demanding markets of
the US, EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
Hong Kong and Singapore.However, the
Asian market accounts for the lion‘s share,
or 77%, of exports. Despite huge export
volume, the quality and competitive edge of
Vietnamese rice remain low, which is not
appealing to foreign investors.Huynh The
Nang, Southern Food Corporation‘s
(Vinafood) general director, said
Vietnamese rice cannot penetrate into the
high-end markets due to lack of high-quality
rice varieties, high post-harvest losses and
poor regional connectivity, as well as a lack
of collaboration between the government,
scientists, businesses and farmers.
Associate Professor and Dr. Nguyen Van
Sanh, Director of the Mekong Delta
Development Research Institute, said rice
growers remain poor as the price of rice is
insufficient to offset rising production costs,
leading to low earnings.Sanh said that
Vietnam should make radical reforms to
improve competitive capacity and reduce
product costs for its rice. He stressed the
need to reform activities of cooperatives in
the Mekong River Delta to connect to
businesses effectively.
For his part, Dr Le Van Banh, head of the
Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute,
underscored the need to study the production
value chain and seek solutions to improve
the value chain in terms of production, post-
harvest treatment, quality, infrastructure and
distribution, and gradually develop brand
names for Vietnamese rice.To ensure
national food security, the State should
devise proper policies in the coming time to
help rice growers pay attention to their
work. It is inevitable that farmers will turn
their back on rice if they cannot earn enough
income, he said.On a more positive note, in
2014 a pilot program in the Mekong Delta
for model paddy fields was successful in
generating higher earnings for farmers and
creating higher value for Vietnamese rice,
which could lead to production of high-
quality rice in vast quantities in the future. VOV
Tags:national rice brand,
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/12063
1/vietnam-needs-to-develop-a-national-rice-
brand.html
View Point: Padang
restaurants can help or foil
rice self-sufficiency goal
Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta | Opinion | Sun,
January 11 2015, 9:46 AM
A recent visit to a Padang restaurant raised
my doubts about the likelihood of Indonesia
becoming self-sufficient in rice, a goal that
President Joko ―Jokowi‖ Widodo wants to
achieve within the next three years. The
popular eateries, run mostly by Minang
people from West Sumatra and found almost
everywhere in Indonesia, have a habit of
giving generous servings of rice. For
takeout, they even serve two large scoops.
Tambuah ciek, meaning ―one more serving
please‖, is the most popular Minang
expression, which patrons of all ethnic
groups shout out to the waiters, often before
they even cleared the rice on their plate.
You can‘t eat delicious and spicy Padang
dishes like gulai, rendang and dendeng
balado without rice. The spicier the dish, the
more rice you need. Padang restaurants may
have a lot to do with why Indonesians are
the exception to the rule among Asian
countries where rising prosperity means
eating less rice. As Indonesia joins the rank
of middle-income countries, we eat more
rice.
This is bad news for Jokowi‘s goal to make
Indonesia self-sufficient in rice, the staple
diet of the nation‘s 250 million people, by
2017. The president is pumping out a lot of
money, repairing and building reservoirs and
irrigation networks, clearing land for new
rice cultivation outside Java and giving
assistance to farmers. He seems adamant he
can achieve this, for he has made it clear that
he would fire Agriculture Minister Amran
Sulaiman if the goal is not met.The more
pertinent question however is whether rice
self-sufficiency is sustainable. In the 1980s,
President Soeharto went all out to turn
Indonesia, which for years had been the
biggest buyer in the world rice market, to
become self-sufficient.
1985, he collected a prestigious UN award
for this achievement. A few years later,
however, the nation returned regularly to the
rice market to make up for its output gap,
until today.In the absence of any change in
eating habits, Indonesia‘s rising population
means that the country must produce more
rice to keep up with demand. Rising income
has also meant higher per-capita rice
consumption, unlike in Japan, Korea and
China, where they managed to diversify
their dietary habits. In 2004, the average
Indonesian ate 124 kilograms of rice, in
2009 that figure rose to 127 kg, according to
the Manila-based International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI).Excluding poorer
Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar and
Cambodia, Indonesia‘s rice consumption
ranks among the highest in Asia. The
average Malaysian, Japanese, Korean and
Chinese, ate 74, 54, 81 and 76 kg
respectively in 2009.
Only the Thais and Vietnamese eat more
rice than Indonesians, with per capita
consumption of 133 and 141 kg in 2009. But
then they are large exporters, and Indonesia
usually buys from them.With the volume of
rice traded in the world market thin,
supplied by a few exporters, relying on
imports makes Indonesia susceptible to price
volatility. As more African nations eat and
import rice, Indonesia faces a serious food
security challenge. Jokowi was right in
gunning for self sufficiency in rice, as well
as in corn and soybeans.
Part of the solution to Jokowi‘s rice self-
sufficiency challenge must come from
changing the dietary habits of the
burgeoning middle class, many of whom
continue to eat as much rice, if not more,
than before even as their income
improves.How can you resist nasi goreng for
breakfast? How can you keep away from the
various rice-based snacks like lemper and
arem-arem?
And how can you say no to that extra rice
serving at Padang restaurants?
It is not uncommon to hear the new middle-
class Indonesians hitting rice at home after a
heavy meal like steak or burgers at Western
restaurants. ―If I haven‘t eaten rice, I don‘t
feel like I have eaten at all,‖ is their classic
excuse. Yes, it‘s all in the mind rather than
in the stomach.It is no wonder why today we
find more and more Indonesian men, both
young and middle age, with bulging
stomach. Those are rice guts rather than beer
guts. They have more carbohydrate intake
than their body can burn, thanks largely to
all the rice they eat.Jokowi doesn‘t look like
most middle-class Indonesian men.
He often self-deprecates about his thin
figure as orang ndeso, someone who comes
straight from a village. His figure makes him
the perfect role model or icon for a
government campaign to change the nation‘s
dietary habits to eat less rice, targeting in
particular the rising middle class, many of
whom continue to eat rice three times a day.
What‘s the President‘s secret to stay slim
anyway? Perhaps he cares to share it with
the nation. No doubt many would even
follow suit. After all, we have a president
who has already set a few life style trends,
including on how to lead a simple life.What
about replacing rice with more fish, now that
Jokowi has stopped fishermen from
neighboring countries from stealing in our
waters? Would that not also befit the
maritime nation that we aspire to be?
Replacing carbs with protein in our daily
diet would be a perfect and healthy way of
diversifying away from rice.
Where does this leave the Padang
restaurants?
They can and must be part of the solution.
For one, they can start serving smaller rice
portions. One scoop for takeouts, rather than
two. They can create a greater variety of fish
dishes. And they can make their food less
spicy and stop us from shouting tambuah
ciek (one more).
The writer is senior editor at The Jakarta
Post. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/01/11/vie
w-point-padang-restaurants-can-help-or-foil-rice-
self-sufficiency-goal.html#sthash.yE81e4R4.dpuf
Outstanding global
Filipino returns By Anna Leah G. Estrada | Jan. 10, 2015
at 10:20pm
Former Agriculture secretary William Dar
has recently returned from a 15-year stint in
India, where he made his mark as a Filipino
technocrat heading a global non-profit
organization that seeks ways to improve
farm production in continents and countries
with dry lands.Dar, who served as secretary
of the Agriculture Department from July
1998 to May 1999, became the only Filipino
heading a global agricultural research and
development facility.
Former Agriculture secretary William Dar
(center) leads the launching of hissecond
book ‗Greening the Grey: Expanding the
Green Revolution,‘ at the Bureau of
Agricultural Research in Quezon City. With
him are (from left)UPLB Chancellor
Fernando Sanchez Jr., PCAARRD executive
directorPatricio Faylon, BAR director
Nicomedes Eleazar and Sta. Maria, Ilocos
Sur Mayor Edgar Florendo.He concluded an
unprecedented 15-year term on Dec. 31,
2014 as director-general of the International
Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid
Tropics in India. ICRISAT is among the 15
global research centers under the CGIAR
Consortium that also includes the
International Rice Research Institute in Los
Baños, Laguna.
CGIAR, which used to be known as the
Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research, groups nearly 10,000
scientists, researchers, technicians and staff
working to create a better future for the
world‘s poor.At ICRISAT, Dar leaves
behind a legacy benefitting millions of
farmers in India, Africa and other dry land
countries in the world including the
Philippines. He served an unprecedented
three five-year terms at ICRISAT, which is
headquartered in Patancheru near
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The
global institute has two regional hubs and
five country offices in sub-Saharan Africa.
ICRISAT is a non-profit, non-political
organization that conducts agricultural
research for development in Asia and sub-
Saharan Africa. Covering 6.5 million square
kilometers of land in 55 countries, the semi-
arid tropics have over 2 billion people, of
whom 644 million are the poorest of the
poor.ICRISAT innovations help the dry land
poor move from poverty to prosperity by
harnessing markets while managing risks
through a strategy called Inclusive Market-
Oriented development. ICRISAT is a
member of CGIAR, a global agriculture
research partnership for a food secure
future.―We have turned around ICRISAT
into a financially-stable, and a leading
global research institute, receiving several
awards particularly from the CGIAR,‖ said
Dar.
With the innovative research-for-
development programs that Dar introduced,
ICRISAT continues to attract R&D
investments into the development of
modern, climate-smart and sustainable crop
cultivars and technologies of its five major
commodities (pearl millet, chickpea,
cowpea, groundnut and sorghum) that are
farmed by millions of smallholder farm
families in semi-arid countries.Among the
top donors to ICRISAT is the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, contributing
about $18 million a year, which is allotted to
the conduct of ICRISAT‘s major research
and development initiatives.
Two projects being funded by the
foundation are the HOPE project, which
stands for Harnessing Opportunities for
Productivity Enhancement of Sorghum and
Millets, and the Tropical Legumes II
project.The HOPE project seeks to increase
by 30 percent the productivity of sorghum
and millets in 200,000 farmers‘ fields in
sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, while
TL-II aims to enhance productivity of six
legume crops (groundnut, cowpea, common
bean, chickpea, pigeonpea and soybean) by
at least 20 percent through improved
cultivars and management practices and the
development of markets and value chains.
At ICRISAT, Dar oversaw the formulation
of a new, more dynamic institutional
strategy known as Inclusive Market-
Oriented Development, which shifted
ICRISAT‘s focus towards enabling poor
farmers to harness markets for poverty
escape.The institute also established centers
of scientific excellence for genomics,
transgenic and climate change research, and
information and communications technology
innovations for agriculture.
ICRISAT adopted an inclusive and
technology-based entrepreneurship and
agribusiness program through public-private
partnerships to bring science-based
technologies and products to the market for
the benefit of smallholder farmers.Dar was
among the 32 overseas Filipinos who
received from President Benigno Aquino III
the Pamana ng Pilipino Award on Dec. 5,
2014.A native of Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, the
61-year-old scientist was cited for ―his
exemplary leadership in successfully
extending the frontiers of science and
technology to ensure food security for all,
and for his staunch advocacy of the
important role of professional horticulturists
in this endeavor.
‖―It is a humbling experience, and I dedicate
the Pamana Award to all Filipino farmers. I
look forward to serving them again,‖ said
Dar.Dar has transformed ICRISAT into one
of the best agricultural research institutes in
the world in terms of innovative research
programs, impact to clienteles and financial
stability. Under his leadership and
governance, the income and investments in
ICRISAT has quadrupled since Dar took
over, from $21 million in 2000 to $85
million in 2014.In the Philippines, ICRISAT
teamed up with the Bureau of Agricultural
Research and shared modern sustainable
farming technologies and cultivars of sweet
sorghum, peanut, cowpea (garbanzos) and
chickpea (kadyos) to farmers in Cagayan
Valley, Ilocos, Southern Luzon and
Southern Mindanao.
Dar vowed upon his return this year to share
management and technical experience with
Filipino farmers to transform barren rain-fed
and dry lands into productive, sustainable
and climate-smart farms through the so-
called Inang Lupa social movement.The
movement aims to enhance the country‘s
food, nutrition and energy security, increase
the productivity and incomes of small
farmers through soil rejuvenation,
sustainable and integrated natural resource
management, use of improved cultivars and
hybrids, and advocating for relevant policies
and reforms in agriculture.Dar, in a speech
during the 2nd National Congress of the
Philippine Association of Agriculturist Inc.
in Tagaytay City in November last year,
cited the need to make Philippine agriculture
competitive.
He said the agriculture sector should be
inclusive, science-based, resilient and
market-oriented to cushion the impact of the
upcoming Asean economic integration. The
Asean Economic Community envisions a
single market and production base, a highly
competitive economic region and equitable
economic development by the end of
2015.―Any strategy to make Philippine
agriculture competitive should balance
between ensuring food security and well-
planned crop diversification to enhance
income levels of farming households by
increased exports,‖ Dar said.
―This calls for achieving self-sufficiency in
rice production along with diversifying into
high-value crops in which the country has a
comparative advantage,‖ he said.Dar said
that the government should also help small
farmers gain access to markets and ensure
that good agricultural practices are met.He
cited the role of science in improving farm
production and meeting the sanitary and
phytosanitary measures imposed by other
countries.―Agricultural and food exporters
will have to grapple with many of the EU‘s
food safety requirements.
These include standards pertaining to
maximum residual levels for pesticides and
other chemical inputs used in food
production, the general food law which
requires traceability of food across the
supply chain and the food and feed controls
regulations, among others,‖ Dar said.Dar
said that public investment in the agriculture
should be increased to attract more private
sector participation. ―This will ensure
sustainable economic growth by increased
volumes of trade with the integration of the
country into the AEC,‖ he said.―Increased
public investments will eventually result in
more flow of private capital for investment
and ultimately result in economic growth
with development,‖ Dar said.
http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/01/10/outs
tanding-global-filipino-returns/
UC Davis scientists work to
ID food crops that can
survive global warming
By Pat Bailey
UC Davis News Service
Created: 01/10/2015 04:37:38 PM PST0
Scientists are working on ways to make corn
and maize adaptable to climate change.
Sometimes it pays to have wild and quirky
relatives. That's certainly the case for staple
crops that help feed the world. It also helps
— both the plants and the people who
depend on them — to have leading
geneticists searching for family traits that
could ensure those crops thrive in a warmer,
drier world.Researchers at UC Davis and
around the world are scrambling to develop
new varieties of food and fiber crops that
will produce abundant yields despite
drought and other effects of climate change.
They're also exploring more water-efficient
ways to grow existing crops.
It's estimated that 38 percent of the world
and 70 percent of its agricultural output are
already impacted by drought — numbers
that will likely rise as climate change
intensifies. To make matters worse, global
population is spiraling upward, expected to
soar past 9 billion by the year 2050.In short,
we're headed toward a future that will have
billions of more mouths to feed with much
less water, higher temperatures and no room
to expand the global farm.
To be sure, there is no "silver bullet" to take
down the twin beasts of drought and climate
change. Here's why:
•It's not just about developing less-thirsty crops.
With reduced rain and irrigation water, you also
get higher salt concentrations in the soil,
meaning that many crops of the future will need
to be salt-tolerant.
•And to dodge the warming temperatures, some
crops now grown during the summer months
will, in certain regions, become winter-season
crops — meaning they'll also have to get by on
the shorter stretches of daylight that accompany
winter.Juggling, heat, light, salt and scarce
moisture is a tall order, but scientists are already
finding such multifaceted solutions in the genes
of both domesticated plants and their ancestors.
With some plants, they're searching for genetic
"markers" that will identify the genes
responsible for various stress-tolerance traits,
speeding up conventional breeding. In other
cases, they expect to insert genes from the wild
relatives into existing crop varieties, better
equipping them to adapt to climate change.Here
are snapshots of four crops and the scientists
studying them:
•To make rice around the world more tolerant of
drought conditions, plant scientist Eduardo
Blumwald and his lab colleagues are
investigating rice genes that will delay "leaf
senescence" — that normal phase when the
older leaves begin to decline and the plant, like
an aging factory, begins to shut down.Blumwald
and team hope to develop rice varieties that don't
rush quickly into senescence during drought
conditions, but rather continue the leaf-based
photosynthetic process that yields the nutrients
necessary to make the rice grains.
•The wheat genome contains 16 billion base
pairs — the molecules that make up DNA —
and is five times the size of the human
genome.Plant geneticists Jorge Dubcovsky, Jan
Dvorak and colleagues are mapping, isolating
and cloning genes from the massive wheat
genome, investigating the critical stages of the
development cycle, including genes that impact
a plant's drought tolerance.For example, genes
that allow wheat to flower a few days early —
saving precious irrigation water — could be
used to develop new climate-flexible wheat
varieties. Dubcovsky's laboratory also has
recently identified a region of a rye chromosome
that, when introduced into wheat, increases yield
and improves the water status of the plant under
limited irrigation. Dvorak's lab is working to
develop salt-tolerant wheat that could be
irrigated with poor-quality water, saving the
better water for other uses.
•The commercially grown modern peanut
emerged thousands of years ago from a natural
hybrid fusion between two wild peanut
ancestors, meaning that scientists find
themselves studying something of a double
genome.Research scientist Lutz Froenicke in
Professor Richard Michelmore's laboratory at
the UC Davis Genome Center developed "ultra-
high density" genetic maps for the two peanut
ancestor genomes.
These maps serve as frameworks for sorting the
pieces of the legume's genomic puzzle and then
putting them back together at the chromosome
scale, better equipping the world to make sure
that peanuts keep producing as the climate
changes.•Maize spans global cultures and eons
of time, having been domesticated some 9,000
years ago from wild tiosente grasses in Mexico
and elsewhere in Central America.Plant
geneticist Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra is studying the
genetic diversity and domestication of maize, as
well as maize breeding.
He's particularly interested in how maize
adapted from its origin in the lowlands of
Mexico to growing in the high altitudes of
Central and South America.Genes for those
adaptive traits might also prove invaluable in
developing corn or maize varieties that can
adjust to climate change.•For millions of the
world's poorest people, who are the most
vulnerable to famine, Simon Chan's research
offers hope for more resilient staple crops.Until
recently, ensuring a plant inherited its parents'
most valuable traits — such as drought tolerance
or pest resistance — required generations of
inbreeding.
Chan's "breeding true" discovery bypassed the
laborious process.With support from some of the
most prestigious grants in science, Chan was
working to apply his discoveries to staple foods
of the world's most impoverished regions. Just
months after he received tenure in UC Davis'
plant biology department, however, he died from
a rare autoimmune disease at the age of 38.
Inspired by his commitment to mentoring
students and his impact on modern agriculture,
his colleagues launched the Simon Chan
Memorial Endowment — with a gift from an
anonymous donor — in order to realize the
global potential of his work.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_272972
43/uc-davis-scientists-work-id-food-crops-that
Basmati rice rates drop by
nearly 40% TNN | Jan 11, 2015, 12.28AM IST
Pune: Premium rice variety Basmati seems
to have become affordable for the common
man. The rates dropped nearly 40% over the
last season as retail prices hovered around
Rs 80-90 per kg. The fall in prices could be
attributed to higher production and a ban on
import of rice by the Iran government,
traders said on Saturday. Angshu Mallick,
chief operating officer of Adani Wilmar Ltd,
which entered the rice business this year,
told mediapersons that the new crop is now
available for yearly stocking at a very
attractive price.
India exports 38 lakh tonne of Basmati rice
every year with Iran buying about 40% of it.
The home market for Basmati is 12 lakh
tonne, with Maharashtra ranking highest in
consumption. Though the selling price has
come down, growers will not face losses as
high volume will make up for the set back
caused by lower purchase price, Mallick
said. Rajesh Shah of Jairaj & Company said
that Basmati is now available for a price
ranging from Rs 23 per kg to Rs 80 per kg
for the full-long grain variety. "There are
two varieties which people commonly
purchase for annual stocking: the Pusa 1121
and the traditional one with the latter
accounting for most of the sales," Shah said,
adding that last year's stock of Basmati is
available for a price of about Rs 110 per kg.
Besides the two main varieties of Basmati
— Pusa 1121 and the traditional variety —
Pusa 1509, a new variety, is making inroads
into the markets. Scientists who developed
the variety are confident of the new rice's
success because of its high yield. The
Basmati market in India is worth Rs 50,000
crore (2013-14) with exports accounting for
nearly 75% of the consumption. Saudi
Arabia and Iraq are among the importers.
Punjab and Haryana are the major Basmati-
growing states. The variety is also grown in
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal
and parts of Rajasthan. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Bas
mati-rice-rates-drop-by-nearly-
40/articleshow/45838377.cms
Nigeria Set to Achieve Self-
sufficiency in Rice
Production, Say Investors 11 Jan 2015 Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina
By Adebiyi Adedapo in Abuja
The Nigerian Rice
Investors‘ Group
has said that the
rice import quota
policy of the
federal government would ensure self-
sufficiency in rice production in the country.
The group also stated that the import quota
allocation given to rice investors went to
importers with verifiable local investments
in rice production, contrary to claims that it
was wrongly allocated.National President of
the Nigerian Rice Investors group, Mr.
Tunde Owoeye, in a joint press briefing
weekend in Abuja, noted that the rice policy
of the present administration is feasible and
visible. According to him, the import quota
was being allocated to the right people with
verifiable investments in rice production in
the country.
―We have seen some of our members who
were pure traders make huge investment in
local rice production. We also have seen
serious increase in employment and value
creation in the rice sector,‖ he said.Owoeye
added that the federal government provided
rice investors with improved seedlings, for
which reason rice production is getting
better. ―If you travel through Zamfara,
Niger, Benue, Sokoto and many other states
in the country, you will see vast plantations
of rice in the last two years,‖ he said.
Also at the briefing, Secretary of Rice
Processors Association of Nigeria (RIPAN)
and former Attorney General of the
Federation (AGF) Mr. Michael Aondoakaa
(SAN) stated that the rice quota allocations
were directed to wrong hands prior to the
administration of President Goodluck
Jonathan.―The truth is that many have
wished the old system where some highly
connected people influence rice quota
allocation, this administration made sure it
went to rice farmers with visible
investments,‖ he said.
Meanwhile, the National President, Rice
Millers, Importers and Distributors‘
Association of Nigeria (RMIDAN),
Abubakar Mohammed, observed that there
was only one processing mill in the whole of
Nigeria in the last five years, and the
number has increased to 24 mills by
2014.―We process 800,000 tonnes of paddy
rice annually and the government is putting
measures in place to produce additional
360,000 tonnes. All these happened by the
help of President Goodluck Jonathan and the
minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi
Adesina,‖ Abubakar stated. Tags: Akinwunmi Adesina, Featured, Nigeria, Business
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-set-
to-achieve-self-sufficiency-in-rice-production-
say-investors/198843/
Minister Dr. Damodar Rout
says MSME sector in
Odisha has huge scope for
development and growth
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Report by Odisha Diary bureau,
Bhubaneswar: The State Government is
organizing the 3rd MSME Trade Fair 2015
from 8th January to 14th January at
Bhubaneswar. As a part of MSME Trade
Fair, several workshops and seminars are
being held every day on different topics.
Today, a
workshop on
Promotion &
Development of
MSMEs through
Cluster
Approach was held. Dr. Damodar Rout,
Hon'ble Minister Cooperation & Excise,
Govt. of Odisha formally inaugurated the
workshop.
In his inaugural address he appreciated the
effort towards MSME development and
promotion by the state Government in recent
years. Adding that MSME sector in Odisha
has huge scope for development and growth,
he stated that if the sector is properly
developed, then Odisha won‘t have
poverty.Sri Panchanan Dash, Secretary
MSME, Govt. of Odisha participating in the
workshop explained in details about various
cluster development initiatives of the State
Government. He focused on how the cluster
development approach will help the MSMEs
to compete in the global market as well as
with big industries. He requested for quick
approval of several Cluster development
proposals submitted by the state
Government but still pending with the
Government of India.
Sri Samarendra Sahu, Add'l Development
Commissioner (MSME), Govt. of India gave
the assurance to try for quick approval of the
cluster development proposals of the state
Government while adding that he would
initiate steps to provide all support towards
MSME development in Odisha. Sri
Nityanand Palai, Director of Industries
briefed the participants on cluster
development programme.Sri Mukesh Gulati,
Ex-Country Head, UNIDO and presently
Executive Director of Foundation of MSME
Clusters made presentation on successful
Models of MSME clusters across the
country and globe.
Representative from National Productivity
Council and CTTC, Bhubaneswar explained
the details on Lean Manufacturing and
Design Clinic respectively. Overview on
financial appraisal of PPP projects in cluster
mode was briefed by representative from
SIDBI. Invitees from Ahmadabad based
Entrepreneurship Development Institute of
India and Indian Institute of Packaging,
Kolkata made presentation on successful
PPP projects in cluster mode across the
countries, packaging options and how
MSME products can be well packaged.
Sri B.K. Dash, Additional Director of
Industries extended vote of thanks to the
participants.Around 300 entrepreneurs
participated in the workshop. Sri Rohit
Singhal of M/s Bargarh Rice Millers
Consortium Private Limited shared his
experience in establishment of Solvent
Extraction Plant in Rice Milling Cluster at
Bargarh. A case study on Material Flow
Cost Accountancy was presented by Sri S.
Maiti, NPC, Kolkata.
30,000 visitors visited the trade fair and total
business to the tune of Rs. 57.16 lakh was
achieved with 1945 numbers of enquiries for
generation of business amounting to Rs.
741.20 lakhs approximately so far.
http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=56372#st
hash.5F4m4Gmo.dpuf