Exports & SPS Norms & GMOs + BASMATI RICE & Traditional Knowledge + MONSOON & Climate Change

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NEWS Bulletin From Indian Society for Sustainable Agriculture & Rural Development ****************************************** 1. Exports rejected; time to wake up - Experts urge govt to ensure better standards for agri export products - Caution Against GMO Contamination On BASMATI RICE & TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE 2. Basmati rice charts a new course for marketing traditional knowledge On INDIAN MONSOON RAINS & CLIMATE CHANGE 3. Global forecasts point to normal monsoon in select Indian areas 4. Erratic monsoon: IMD for regionwise rain forecasts - In THE INDIAN EXPRESS ----- Exports rejected; time to wake up Experts urge govt to ensure better standards for agri export products (Caution against GMO contamination) http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=168090 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, JUN 24: Russia’s recent ban on import of Indian rice, groundnut and seasame seeds should not come as a surprise, if the spate of rejection of Indian consignments by European Union (EU) and the US are to be taken into account. Several trade experts are of the view that India should gear up to enforce necessary

quality standards for upholding the brand image of the country on the export front. Since the beginning of the current fiscal year in April the EU has rejected more than 20 Indian food consignments. The US has rejected 124 consignments in April and in May 153 consignments from India. In the US list of rejections figures exports made by leading companies and export houses like Haldiram Exports, Britannia Industries Ltd, Nestle India Ltd, NV Overseas, Royal Exports, Bhagawati Spices & Food Exports Ltd,Parle Products, MK Agro Exports, Cipla Ltd, Mahashian Di Hatti, Kohinoor Food Ltd, KK International. The USFDA has rejected some consignments on technical grounds and many on reasons of unhealthy, filthy products and the use of unauthorised colours “Earlier it was the EU and the US who used to reject Indian food consignments, now countries like Russia have begun rejecting our exports. It is high time that the

government enforce quality norms at all levels to ensure that our consignments are not rejected. The quality enforcing authorities and export houses should be made accountable,” said Vijay Sardana, executive director of Centre for International Trade in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries (CITA). In Deep Soup • The EU has rejected more than 20 consignments• The US has rejected 124 consignments in April and in May 153 consignments• The EU has found dead insects in cashew nuts, salmonella in minced dehydrated white onions In Indian export consignments, the EU has found dead insects in cashew nuts, salmonella in minced dehydrated white onions, cadmium in frozen squids and cuttle fish, high microbial count in seseame seeds, afflatoxin in chillies, chilli powder, nuts and nut mixtures, ginger, peanuts, turmeric powder, too high colour in funnel seeds, nitrofuran in black tiger prawn and pathogens in roasted curry

powder. Leading rice exporter RS Seshadri of Tildariceland said, “We need to be very careful in meeting quality norms and as well as ensure consumers’ preference. European consumers do not prefer GM foods and hence we have to guard our rice exports against any possible genetic contamination.”-- Basmati rice charts a new course for marketing traditional knowledge http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=168095 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, JUN 24: World may still be debating on how effectively to commercialise traditional knowledge

for the benefit of all stakeholders, but Basmati rice in India has shown the way. Appropriate policy support and assured markets for a premium price have helped to preserve and conserve the traditional knowledge of basmati and commercialise it on a large-scale benefiting all stakeholders. The long grain aromatic basmati rice grown in India and Pakistan has a premium market in the world. Though the annual production of Basmati rice in both the countries is around 2 million tonne, it commands a market size of over $1,167 million. Over the years, scientists have evolved some high yielding varieties of Basmati to ensure higher production, but the consumer preference is particularly for brown traditional basmati varieties. European Union, particularly, is in favour of duty derogation for import of Basmati having pure parental lines. Some commonly known traditional basmati varieties

in India are—Basmati-370, Basmati-386, Type-3, Taraori, Basmati (HPC-19), Basmati-217 and Ranbir Basmati (IET-11348). Evolved Indian Basmati varieties are—Pusa Basmati-1 (IET-1064), Punjab Basmati-1 (Bauni Basmati), Haryana Basmati-1 (HKQ-228/IET-10367), Mahi Sugandhi, Kasturi and Super Basmati. Among largely traded traditional varieties, Pakistan has Kernal Basmati and Super Basmati as an evolved variety. “It is a unique partnership where all stakeholders—farmers, industry and exporters—stand to benefit in cultivation of Basmati. It is an example of how traditional knowledge can be effectively be conserved and commercialised,” says RS Seshadri of Tildariceland, a leading exporter of Basmati rice. Some experts are of the view that Basmati rice was traditionally grown in Dehradun region in the Uttarakhand state and later began to be cultivated in other parts undivided India

during the British regime. However, today, Basmati is the common heritage of both India and Pakistan and both these countries are planning to jointly claim rights for geographical indications (GIs) for this aromatic long grain rice. Traditional Basmati varieties, however, began practically going out of cultivation in Uttarakhand as farmers switched over to growing high yielding varieties of grains with application of chemicals. Rapid urbanisation and loss of farmlands was another factor. The situation took a U-turn from year 2000, when Uttarakhand government set up its Organic Commodities Board and encouraged cultivation of traditional Basmati rice through organic farming. The Board arranged for collection of seeds of traditional Basmati varieties and selected two varieties namely Dehraduni and Taraori for largescale cultivation in Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar districts of

Uttarakhand. The result was that till date more than 1000 farmers in about 170 villages are growing traditional Basmati rice in about 1000 hectare land, according to a recent study conducted by Ghayur Alam of the Dehradun-based Centre for Sustainable Development. The study says that farmers in Dehradun district cultivating organic traditional Basmati earn Rs 4,243 per acre more than farmers cultivating high yielding varieties of rice through chemical farming. Similarly farmers in Udhamsingh Nagar district earn Rs 1,377 per acre more than those farmers resorting to chemical agriculture and growing high yielding varieties. The study commissioned by the CUTS Kolkata Resource Centre suggests that conservation and commercialisation of all other traditional knowledge relating to medicinal herbs and rare species, if the growers get lucrative returns from an assured market and the traditional knowledge is protected

through GIs and community rights are ensured. The APEDA chairman, KS Money said that the government through his organisation is promoting the brand image of Indian Basmati abroad. “APEDA is also responsible for promotion and encouraging exports of organic food”, he said.------- Global forecasts point to normal monsoon in select Indian areas http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=168142 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 0017 hours IST NEW DELHI, JUN 24: India Meteorological Department may forecast this week regional rainfall patterns for the

remaining three months of monsoon. This is being done following concerns over the erratic behaviour of the southwest monsoon. Global forecasts have already predicted heavy rainfall over the western and southern parts of peninsular India, and the foothills of the Himalayas. Thus, the US-based International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) has predicted 40% probability of precipitation over the western part of central peninsular India to “be in the wettest third of the years, while there are 35% chances of rainfall being near-normal in the region.” The European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) has also predicted heavy rainfall over the western coast, southern peninsular India and the foothills of the Himalayas. The probability of the emergence of the La Nina phenomenon (cooling of the Pacific waters to a temperature below normal) has been raised to

55%. La Nina usually causes heavy rainfall, while the opposite phenomenon, El Nino (warming of the Pacific waters), causes drought. Global forecasts have predicted that the El Nino factor may not emerge during monsoon. Although the progress of monsoon has been delayed over major parts of central and northern India, rainfall distribution in June, the first month of the season, has been almost even, with only Gujarat, eastern Rajasthan, Jharkhand and the Andaman Islands receiving deficient to scanty showers. Northern, central and northwestern parts of the country received good rains due to factors other than the monsoon which has not yet reached these regions. Punjab, Haryana, west UP and west MP received excess rainfall. The average cumulative rainfall over the country till June 20 was only 2% below the normal of 89.3 mm. The delay in the progress of the monsoon, however, is still a matter of

concern. After a week’s halt, the monsoon system moved in June 24 to cover up to Naliya, Bhuj and Vadodra in Gujarat, Jalgaon, Nagpur in Maharashtra, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Ranchi, Varanasi, Sultanpur, Bharaich and Mukteswar in the eastern part of the country. The IMD had in a forecast made in April, this year, predicted that the countrywide rainfall in the four-month season would be 5% less than the normal of 89 cm --------- Erratic monsoon: IMD for regionwise rain forecasts - In THE INDIAN EXPRESS http://www.indianexpress.com/story/160407.html ASHOK B SHARMAPosted online: Monday, June 25, 2007 at 0000 hrs New Delhi, June 24: Concerned over the erratic behaviour of the South-West monsoon, the Met department is planning to make forecasts of regional rainfall distribution patterns. The forecasts are likely to be released this week. Global forecast models have predicted heavy rainfall concentration over the western and southern parts of peninsular India and the foothills of the Himalayas. The probability of emergence of the La Nina phenomena — that is, cooling of Pacific waters below normal — has been raised to 55 per cent. La Nina usually causes heavy rainfall, while the opposite phenomenon, the El Nino or warming of Pacific waters, causes drought. Global models predict that the El Nino may not take effect this monsoon. Though the progress of the monsoon has been delayed over major parts of central and north India, rainfall distribution in June, the first month of the season, has been almost even with only

Gujarat, east Rajasthan, Jharkhand and the Andaman Islands receiving deficient to scanty rains. Northern, central and northwestern parts of the country received good rains due to factors other than the monsoon, which has not yet reached these regions. Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and western Madhya Pradesh received excess rainfall. The average cumulative rainfall over the country till June 20 was only 2 per cent below the normal of 89.3 mm. The delay in the progress of the monsoon, however, is still a matter of concern. After a week’s halt, the monsoon system moved in June 24 to cover up to Naliya, Bhuj and Vadodra in Gujarat, Jalgaon, Nagpur in Maharashtra, Raipur in Chhattisgarh, Ranchi, Varanasi, Sultanpur, Bharaich and Mukteswar in the eastern part of the country. While the IMD is yet to come out with its regional rainfall distribution forecast, the US-based

International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) has predicted 40% probability of precipitation over the western part of central peninsular India “will be in the wettest third of the years, while there is 35% chances of the rainfall being near-normal in the region. The IMD had in a forecast made in April, this year, predicted that the countrywide rainfall in the four-month season would be 5% less than the normal of 89 cm The European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) has predicted heavy rainfall over the western coast, southern peninsular India and foothills of the Himalayas. ---------

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