Monthly Archives: August 2011

Thailand – Farmers urged to focus on white rice

Source: The Nation01/08/2011 – To strengthen Thailand’s competitiveness in the short run, the country should focus on doubling yield from 460 kilograms per rai (2,875kg per hectare) to 800-900kg per rai. The next step would be to use high-quality seeds that can triple yield to a minimum of 1,000kg per rai from 460kg, said Anek Silapapun,…

Japan – Japarese rice crops threatened by radiation

Source: smartplanet01/08/2011 – Local authorities in Japan are working to determine whether the country’s traditional staple crop is contaminated with unsafe levels of radioactive cesium.

Japan – Japanese rice to be tested for radioactive cesium

Source: Reuters01/08/2011 – More than a dozen regional governments in Japan will conduct tests to determine whether locally grown rice contains too much radioactive cesium, farm ministry officials said on Monday, as food safety worries spill into the country’s traditional staple.

NRCS announces additional $2 million for migratory brid habitat conservation

Source: PR Newswire29/07/2011 –  Sacramento Valley rice producers now have the opportunity to make more of a conservation investment on their working lands this year. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has received an additional $2 million for wildlife habitat conservation improvements.

Bangladesh – Govt cuts rice import plan

Source: The Daily Star31/07/2011 – The government has cut its food grain imports target by 22 percent for the current fiscal year due to better stock and internal procurement, a food department official said.

USA – Khapra beetle larvae detected in rice

Source: Health News Digest.com29/07/2011 – Customs and Border Protection Agriculture Specialists at the Port of New York/Newark found a pest that was confirmed by the USDA as Khapra Beetle Trogoderma granarium Everts (Dermestidae).

Brazil competes with Thailand with start of rice exports to South Africa

Source: Bloomberg28/07/2011 – Brazil has begun shipping rice to South Africa, competing withThailand, the largest source of the grain for Africa’s biggest economy.

UE – European union rice production to rise 0.7%, EU crop unit says

Source: Bloomberg27/07/2011 – European Union rice production is forecast to climb 0.7 percent this year as higher temperatures boosted plant growth in Italy, the region’s largest grower of the grain, the bloc’s crop-monitoring unit said.

Scientists find rice ‘chalk’ gene, eye yield rise

Source: Physorg.com25/07/2011 – Scientists expect to soon be able to remove a chalk-like part of rice, dramatically raising global harvests amid rising demand for the staple, an international research outfit said Tuesday.