The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) contributed largely to the Philippines’ food security amid the Covid-19 pandemic, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday.

Pritam Singh, who farms on 110 acres, including some land taken on lease, at Urlana Khurd village of Haryana’s Panipat district, has just sold his harvest of Basmati rice varieties — PB 1121 and PB 1509 — at the local mandi at Rs 3,800 and Rs 3,500 a quintal, respectively.

A strange Indian angle has emerged in a variety of rice sold in premium stores across Bangladesh, counted among one of the world’s top rice-producing nations.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is preparing for any inflation fallout from the invasion of Ukraine by allocating more funds to fertilizer subsidies, while arranging for more financing to provincial local government units (LGUs) seeking to procure and stock up on rice.

This year, rice prices are forecast to ease, thanks primarily to rising production and exports from India, Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Pakistan. India dominates global trade, more than doubling its supplies at a competitive cost over the past two years.

When rice is harvested it is at peak quality. Everything that happens to the rice after that impacts its quality and yield, which in turn impacts profit margins. One part of the process, the removal of water, is vital to both quality and yield metrics.

Srikanth Chandrashekar, the former MLA’s son, is accused of murdering Saleem, a native of Kollegal, and dumping his body in Pandithahalli in Malavalli taluk of Mandya district. Saleem’s body was discovered by Shivanna M, the complainant in the case, on Feb 9.

Nearly 2,000 rice farmers in Northern Samar have received cash aid from the central government under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA), the Department of Agriculture (DA) reported on Tuesday.

RESEARCH in agriculture has been described as a solid basis for increasing food production, including rice, whose consumption has increased significantly in recent years.

Ebro Foods, one of the world’s largest rice businesses, is to acquire US rice, quinoa and buckwheat supplier InHarvest.