India resumes rice export to Bangla

DHAKA, July 15 (PTI): India has restarted export of rice to Bangladesh, in tune with a promise made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his visit to the cyclone-affected areas of the country last year. “Under the agreement, 1,20,674 tonnes of rice were received earlier while another 65,631 tonnes reached the Chittagong Port and is now being unloaded,” a Food Ministry official said. “Five more ships are expected to carry the rest of the quantum to reach Bangladesh very soon,” he added. The first emergency consignment of rice from India arrived in March this year, the official said. Mukherjee, while visiting the cyclone battered areas in southwestern coastline in October last year had promised to export five lakh tonnes of rice to Bangladesh relaxing an earlier ban. A treaty was signed between the two countries for import of the rice through five Indian state-run commercial agencies after finalisation of the modalities. The Food Ministry officials said the imported rice would be used to develop a “food safety net” through distribution in official channels. Production shortfalls caused by subsequent floods and the devastating cyclone and soaring food price in view of a global deficit exposed Bangladesh to a severe crisis earlier this year forcing the interim government to launch a desperate import campaign. source: assam tribune

India can produce more rice through 'SRI': Experts

India can produce more rice through 'SRI': Experts

Rice is the staple food for majority of the population in India. It contributes 65% of the total food grain production of the country.

With the food crisis and inflation wreaking havoc to the most under-served communities in India, researchers are looking for methods of increasing the rice production. Also the growing population and changing food habits are further making it critical to up the rice yield. System of rice intensification (SRI) technology has immense potential of increasing the rice yield.

This method of rice cultivation has become popular in many Indian states. However, still there are several states lacking with even the basic awareness of SRI technique. Needless to say there is a long way to go still to aware and effectively engage farmers in upping the rice cultivation using the SRI technique. The SRI is a new and evolving alternative to conventional methods of rice cultivation; originated in Madagascar.

There is a notion that higher yields in rice come with high investments on seed, irrigation, high doses of fertilizers and pesticides. Contrary to this popular view, SRI method of cultivation produces higher yields with less seed and less water. SRI emphasizes on the need to shift from chemical fertilizers to organic manures.

"Formal experimentation on SRI in India started in 2002-03. So far the method has been adapted and is being scaled up rapidly in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. This method of cultivation of rice has already helped millions of farmers to at least double their yields", Said Banku Bihari Sarkar, Programme Coordinator, Grameen Development Services (GDS). GDS is also making special tools to be used in farming with SRI technique.

SRI is not a new variety or a hybrid. It is only a new method of cultivation. SRI is showing promising results in all rice varieties - local or improved. SRI method is emerging as a potential alternative to traditional way of flooded rice cultivation and is showing great promise to address the problems of water scarcity.

In the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Kharif crop is cultivated in 90 lakh hectares of land of which 59 lakh hectares is under paddy cultivation. Hence rice is a major crop here. If the SRI method is adapted by farmers for paddy cultivation in UP, not only this will potentially cut water requirement for paddy cultivation by 50% but also boost the rice production by 50%.

"With such far-reaching benefits of SRI, why are we not actively pushing SRI in UP" questioned Mr JL Dwivedi, a senior agriculture scientist of Narendra Dev Agriculture University.

SRI had earlier emerged as a set of six practices:

1) Transplanting young seedlings: Transplanting of very young seedlings between 8 to 12 days old to preserve potential for tailoring and rooting.

2) Planting single seedling: Planting seedlings singly very carefully and gently rather than in clumps of many seedlings.

3) Transplanting at wider spacing: Spacing them widely, at least 25 x 25 cm between plant to plant and as well as row to row; resulting in the spread of roots and acquiring more nutrients from the soil. This enables them to produce more tillers and more grains.

4) Using hand weeder to aerate the soil: Using a simple mechanical hand weeder (Cono weeder) to aerate the soil as well as to control weeds; this helps in vigorous root growth.

5) Keeping soil moist: Keeping the soil moist but not continuously flooded, drain out the surplus water; there is no need to maintain standing water.

6) Use organic manures: Use organic manure or compost to improve soil quality and fertility Organic manures improve soil aeration and also microbial activity.

Particularly in these times of rising food crisis, inflation and water scarcity, it is of utmost significance to use such eco-friendly and effective techniques like SRI to up the rice production. Let us hope the authorities are listening!

Amit Dwivedi(The author is the Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and can be contacted at: amit@theindiancitizen.org) Source: assamtimes.org

State Joha producers hit

State Joha producers hit

By Ajit Patowary
GUWAHATI, June 18 – The Government of India ban on the export of non-Basmati rice has landed State’s aromatic Joha rice producers in a tough situation. The Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) has therefore requested Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Manishankar Aiyar to initiate measures for lifting the ban from this variety of rice produced only in Assam. FASS is a non-Government organization (NGO) operating throughout the world to promote NE Indian cause.Last year, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) arranged export of 17.5 MTs of State’s organic Joha rice to Switzerland through the exporters’ firm M/S Sunstar Overseas Ltd. This year, the State produced 60 MTs of organic Joha with the involvement of 150 farmers of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Udalguri districts.These farmers tied up with the exporters for another three to four years with the latters agreeing to pay the certification cost and to bear the miscellaneous expenses for exporting this variety of rice. The farmers also secured the NOP certificates mandatory for exporting organic products to the USA. But the ban changed the entire scenario.The Union Government imposed the ban on export of non-Basmati category of rice in mid-October 2007, though it was relaxed for certain countries due to some special considerations on occasions.In its memorandum to the Union Minister, the FASS said that since Joha was grouped under non-Basmati category, its export got forbidden. As per Union Government records, there are only two categories of rice in the country – Basmati and non-Basmati.Joha has a number of varieties like Tulasi Joha (which is similar to Kaljira of Bangladesh), Khorika Joha, Suagmoni Joha etc. While the price of other varieties of non-Basmati rice in the State ranges from Rs 11 to Rs 22 per kg depending on their quality, the price of Joha starts from Rs 25 and goes up to Rs 38 in Guwahati. Joha rice is the expensive variety and has no shortage in the domestic market. For, it is not the common man’s rice and even those who consume this variety of rice do not do it regularly, said Bidyananda Barkakoty of the FASS Guwahati chapter. He also underlined the need to test the aromatic and nutritious qualities of the Joha varieties of rice.The traditional belief in Assam is that Joha varieties of rice help growth of finer qualities in those who consume them regularly, he said.The Union Government ban on the export of non-Basmati category of rice has also created problems for State’s other varieties of rice like Bora Chaul, which resembles the sticky rice of China, Komal Chaul, which is used for cereals etc. For, these varieties of rice also fall under the non-Basmati category, said the FASS in its memorandum to the DoNER Minister.It further said that NE India might practically be called the motherland of rice. Probably, it is here where the Neolithic rice revolution started some time around 6000 BC and spread even to China. With high quality milling and good packaging, the Assam Joha has the potential of competing with any other premium quality rice in the world.Especially, organic Joha rice has tremendous potential in the world market. With such potential, if this variety of rice is cultivated in large areas and marketed world wide another success story, like the small tea growing movement, can be written in the State in the days to come. This will undoubtedly help Assam prosper and perhaps solve many of its social problems largely, said the NGO.According to available information, APEDA has contacted the Union Commerce Ministry on the issue and the Ministry has shown eagerness to help the State farmers.Barkakoty while talking to this correspondent made an appeal to the Assam Government and leading organizations of the State to come forward for wresting registration for the State’s above varieties of rice under the GI Registration regulation. Source: assam tribune

India’s export ban rattles food market

In a severe criticism of India’s handling of global food crisis, the US has said the export bans by New Delhi will harm its south Asian neighbours and drive up prices rattling the international markets, reports PTI. “Indian government’s decision to impose certain export bans on non-Basmati rice and edible oils has rattled international market. “We can only adequately address this crisis if we discourage continued use of export controls that will harm India’s neighbours and drive up world food prices,” US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Christopher A Padilla said here yesterday. He said while export bans are designed to increase short-term food security, (by) imposing the restrictions these policies make the situation worse. He said export restrictions take food off the global market, drive prices higher, and discourage farmers from responding to market forces and investing in future production. As two of the world’s largest producer of agricultural goods, the US and India should refrain from the use of export quotas, “which will only exacerbate food shortages and inflate prices,” Padilla said, adding “export quotas don’t work. In fact, they make things worse.” He said India can shoulder international responsibilities in dealing with the global food crisis. Source: Assam Tribune