The Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) published a report, ‘A Meta-Impact Assessment of the IRRC’, which analyzed the effects of its international research programs. The report found that research investment delivered a more than six fold return, bringing more than $70 million in benefits to four Asian countries with a $12 million investment. http://books.irri.org/9789712202971_content.pdf
375 Farmers Graduate from Radio University
The Department of Agriculture program to curb rice losses called, ‘University-on-the-Air on Rice Postharvest and Mechanization‘, recently graduated at least 375 farmers. The use of radio allows farmers to participate without spending money on transportation. The government expects the program to cut losses by a minimum of 5%. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/tacloban/local-news/2013/06/01/375-farmers-graduate-radio-university-285334
Punjab Rice Mills in the Red as Milling Season Stretches
Inadequate storage for rice paddy leads to economic losses for rice mills in Punjab, India. Mills have the processing capacity to finish entire paddy harvests in 3 months, but due to lack of shortage, government manpower, and the slow movement of grain, it extends to 9 months. Labor costs and time bottlenecks hurt bottom lines of mills. […]
18 More Rice Processing Complexes for Region 6
The Department of Agriculture in the Philippines is aiming to build 18 more small rice processing complexes this year. Each complex costs P6 million to construct, or approximately USD 143,000. http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/top-stories/4182-18-more-rice-processing-complexes-for-region-6.html
Central Mindanao Rice Program Gets Higher Budget This Year
Philippines Central Mindanao region will receive a 50% increase in the rice program budget from the previous year. Close to half of the total allotment will be used for postharvest facility development and infrastructure improvement. http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=Central-Mindanao-rice-program-gets-higher-budget-this-year&id=69836
FG to Establish Cassava, Rice Processing Mills in Oyo
The Federal Ministry of Nigeria is set to establish two cassava processing factories in Oyo State to curb postharvest losses, with two factories for rice processing to follow later this year. http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/fg-establish-cassava-rice-processing-mills-oyo-director
Govt Urged to Establish a Postharvest Losses Policy, Framework
Tanzania policy markets action nodes (T-PAN) has proposed that the government develop a policy framework aimed at reducing postharvest losses based off results of a study carried out in in four districts in 2011. The study suggests farmers lose up to 40% of their crop to varying causes, and it looked at maize, paddy, and sorghum. The […]
Farmers Want Government Support to Improve Local Rice Farming
Local rice farmers in Ghana are putting pressure on the government to support rice production to discourage the importation of thousands of tonnes of rice annually. Stakeholders are appealing for an extension of the Project for Sustainable Development of Rain-Fed Lowland Rice Production, which will end in 2014. http://www.modernghana.com/news/458596/1/farmers-want-gov-support-to-improve-local-rice-far.html
Government Eyes 32 New Tramlines This Year
At least 32 tramlines will be built in the Phillippines by August 2013 in effort to raise farmers’ incomes through reducing postharvest losses. The Department of Agriculture expects lower transportation costs to contribute to a decrease in loss from 25% to 5%, and farming communities in hilly and mountainous regions are being targeted. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/304285/economy/agricultureandmining/govt-eyes-32-new-tramlines-this-year
AfDB-Funded Project to Boost Cassava, Rice Production Launched in Tanzania
The African Development Bank launched a multi-national project that seeks to improve the value chains of four important staple crops: maize, wheat, cassava, and rice. The project is led by CGIAR and is being implemented in 20 countries. http://www.africasciencenews.org/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=793:afdb-funded-project-to-boost-cassava-rice-production-launched-in-tanzania-&catid=49:food&Itemid=113