AMIRA Only the finest by any length carries the AMIRA name

  AMIRA Only the finest by any length carries       the AMIRA name

the term Golden Rice refer to a genetically engineered, yellow-orange Rice grain that contains beta-carotene. The human body converts beta-carotene into vitamin  A . The most recently developed Golden Rice varieties, contain a gene from either maize or daffodil plants and a gene from a common soil bacterium (Erwinia). The enzyme product of these genes lead the formation of lycopene in the grain – a process completely absent from the polished rice grain – and this lycopene is then converted into beta-carotene and other Provitamin. A Carotenoids (the building blocks of vitamin A) by other enzymes found in the grain. The polished grain from the latest Golden Rice  varieties produce up to 36 micrograms per gram of beta-carotene and other provitamin. A carotene - more than a 20-fold increase from the original Golden Rice reported 5 year ago (Ye et al., 2000)2.

How can Golden Rice help improve human nutrition

Worldwide, 125 million children -Particularly those in developing countries-suffer from vitamin. Adeficiency (VAD), causing blindness (up to 500,000 per year according to the world Health Organization) and death Vietnam and Indonesia) have begun breeding this trait into varieties suitable for Asia testing in the field  in Asia and with farmer, has began in late 2006.Following the breeding work, the necessary biosafety and related requirement ,varieties suitable for  Asia could be released for more widespread the growing within a few years of the tests.

Will Golden Rice be more expensive than regular rice

The technology involved in developing Golden Rice was provided free by the inventors(Ing PotryKus, ETH-Zurich and Peter Beyer, Univ. of Freiburg) using the donation of intellectual property licenses from a number of a private companies .As a result, there will be extra cost to obtain these seeds from IRRI and use them for local purposes. Farmers may also save the seed. No company has plans to commercialize a golden Rice product in developed countries successful varieties developed by the private sector will be donated for public use.

Golden rice :-  An additional one million people die annually due to vitamine A deficiency and mainutrition. In many of these same countries ,rice is the food staple and may provide 80% or more of daily calories. Polished, white rice –contain no beta-carotene or other forms of provitamin  A, and is also a very orr source of other micronutrients (e.g. iron and Zinc). Therfor,the latest varieties of Golden Rice are expected to be a new tool - in addition to existing strategies – in helping to overcome VAD among the poor.

How much Golden Rice is require to prevent VAD 

Combined with existing dietary sources, Golden Rice is expected to have a significant impact in reducing malnutrition and premature death. It has been estimated that when the latest Golden Rice is consumed in normal amounts, along with other foods, that most of daily requirements for vitamin A could be met. Tests will soon be carried out in humans to determines the amount of vitamin a that may be derived from the beta – carotene in Golden Rice .

When will Golden Rice be available in farmers’ fields

The newest Golden Rice varieties have been developed by the private sector and are solution U.S. varieties that are not suitable as is for Asia. IRRI and other members of the Golden Rice Network (a network that involves public institutions In india, the Philippines, china, Bangladesh. 

Rice update  India’s central government had decided to allow the exportation of a premium variety of non-basmati rice, PUSA-1121, Beginning October 15, 2008

India had imposed a ban on non-basmati rice exports earlier this year to improve domestics supplies and curtail rising inflation.

According to india’s Agriculture and food Minister. Sharad  Pawar, the Indian government is planning to create a 2 million Mt wheat emergency reserve created earlier this year in the current rice marketing season, over 27.4 million MT of rice had been procures as compared to 24.966  million MT by this time last year.

Indonesia hopes to produce 40 million MT of milled rice in 2009, while maintaining its buffer stock at 3 million MT.

According to Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono, the country was on target to achieving self-sufficiency in rice this year and is likely increase its rice production next year.

Indonesia is expected to produce 37-38 million MT of milledrice in the current year.

The Phillippines, the world’s biggest rice importer this year, may buy much less of the grain Department  of Agriculture for providing subsidies to encourage farmers to use high-yielding hybrid seeds, fertilizers and other farm input. The GMA rice program was initiated by the department to attain self-sufficiency in rice production by encouraging farmers to use of high – yielding hybrid seeds and other farm inputs.

According  to Chookiat Ophaswongse, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, Thailand’s rice exports may fall to 7,00,000 MT in August, the lowest so far this year.

Chookiat  added that volumes might decline further next month to around 5,00,000-6,00,000

MT as low demand for rice has started pulling down prices gradually.

Thailand has exported somewhere between 7,50,000 to 1 million Mt of rice a month for most of this year.

The Vietnamese government has suspended giving out licenses for new golf courses in an effort to maintain soil for rice cultivation and protect poor farmers. Amid Vietnam’s economics boom, rice land shrank from 4,5 million to 4.1 million hectares between 2000 and 2006 due to the growth of Indus-trial and residential areas, the Agriculture Ministry said in june.

For 2009 barring any major production problems. The Phillippines typically imports about 10% of its annual rice  requirement to fill a gap in domestic reduction and boost stocks ahead of the seasonally lean third quarter.

Under the agriculture department’s rice self-sufficiency plan, unmilled rice production is expected to reach 18.5 million MT in 2010,from a target of 17.3 million MT this year.

According to reports in the Phillippine media, The Phillippine Commission on Audit has   uncovered irregularities in a PHP218.7 million expenditure by the