Rice paddies contribute 8% of all human-made methane in the atmosphere, according to a 2023 Food and Agriculture Organisation report. And in Vietnam, rice is considered a gift from the gods. So it was about time that Vietnam, one of the largest exporter of rice in the world,  realise the necessity of reshaping its rice industry. Vietnam, ahead of both India and Thailand, signed a 2021 pledge to reduce methane emissions at the annual United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Recent research conducted by Vietnam’s Water Resources Science Institute indicates annual industry losses ..read more

By Tokyo University of Science Several types of conventional cancer therapies, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, destroy healthy cells along with cancer cells. In advanced stages of cancer, tissue loss from treatments can be substantial and even fatal. Cutting-edge cancer therapies that employ nanoparticles can specifically target cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue. Recent studies have demonstrated that plant-derived nanoparticles (pdNPs) that have therapeutic effects can be an effective alternative to traditional cancer treatments. However, no pdNPs have been approved as ..read more

By Md Ameen Leaders of the BJP, TDP and Jana Sena have demanded a comprehensive investigation by the CBI on the alleged rice scam reported from Kakinada port. Speaking to media on Monday, Lanka Dinakar, BJP chief Spokesperson, state Telugu Rythu president Mareddy Srinivas Reddy and Jana Sena Party general secretary Shivashankar demanded a probe by the CBI into the alleged recycling of PDS rice and export from Kakinada port. The three leaders said the CBI has knowledge of the sources of rice entering Kakinada port in the state, the identities under which it is exported to foreign countries, and ..read more

By Puja Das Wheat and paddy procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) have been stagnant, due to lower arrivals, higher moisture content and firm prices. In the case of wheat, despite the government kicking off procurement earlier than it’s scheduled on 1 April, in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, purchases slowed down significantly as arrivals, especially in northern states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, dropped notably compared to last year. All-India arrivals of wheat have fallen nearly 35% year-on-year to 8.6 million tonnes (mt). This is attributed to higher moisture c ..read more

After a quarantine organism was found in the rice consignment, Russia has threatened to restrict rice imports from Pakistan once more if its phytosanitary concerns are not met in next consignments. The warning was issued in response to a notification from Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (FSVPS) about a shipment of rice that had been imported from Pakistan and had violated both Russian and international phytosanitary regulations. The notification, dated April 2, notes that the rice shipment contains “Megaselia scalaris (Loew),” a quarantine organism. Washi ..read more

By Dhirendra Kumar India is gearing up to challenge Pakistan’s attempts to broaden the geographical indication (GI) tag for its Basmati rice. The extension of the GI tag for the premium variety of rice, from 14 to 48 districts in Pakistan, could have significant implications on India’s export prospects to the European Union (EU). According to people in the know, the Union commerce ministry is actively strategizing to counter Islamabad’s bid at the European Commission (EC). “A comprehensive report to completely refute Pakistan’s claim is being finalized through consultations with key stakeholde ..read more

By Daksh Grover and Reuters Top exporter India’s rice export prices fell to their lowest level in nearly three months this week, weighed down by soft demand, while the long holiday weekend kept activity muted in Thailand. India’s 5% broken parboiled variety was quoted at $538-$546 per ton this week, down from the last week’s $540-$548. Prices hit a record high of $560 last month. Weak demand has persisted for the past few weeks, as buyers postpone purchases in anticipation of lower prices, said an exporter based at Kakinada, in southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Thailand’s 5% broken rice prices ..read more

By Sandip Das India’s exports of agricultural and processed food products fell marginally – 0.55% on year – to $ 24.02 billion during 2023-24, primarily because rice shipments plunged amid restrictions. However, in an year when overall goods exports of the country declined 3.1% on year, shipment of meat & dairy products and fruits & vegetables witnessed double-digit growth rates. According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, rice exports in the last fiscal dropped 6.5% to $10.4 billion on year because of the ban on white and broken rice exports, shipme ..read more

By P Srinivasan The success of an election process depends on the extent of voter participation. While the authorities do their best to increase voter turnout, the public also chip in to encourage others to exercise their franchise. P Saminathan (42), a rice trader based at Vettu Kattu Valasu in Erode, offered a `200 discount per bag of 25 kg rice, which originally costs `1,500, to customers who cast their votes for the Lok Sabha election on Friday. The civic-minded businessman is also into social activities in the area. Explaining the rationale of offering a hefty discount on rice bags, Samin ..read more

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