Rice News and Updates
VIKALPANI Celebrates CORA in Sri Lanka
Vikalpani National Women's Federation in collaboration with Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) organized a seminar on 'Organic Rice as Safe Food to Consumers' for CORA (Collective Rice Action) SRI LANKA 2011 on March 11 as part of CORA ASIA 2011. Held at the Community Hall of Monaragala, information about pesticides, genetically-engineered (GE) rice and their impacts on human health was imparted to farmers, consumers, youth, women, media, government and health officials.
Food and Seed Exhibition: Diversity of Basmati Rice Varieties, Food and Taste
Women, particularly rural women, have been alienated from the development process in Pakistan. A large proportion of rural women continues to face limited access to resources, lack of control over natural resources, insecure employment and low income. Their role in maintaining the spirit of sustainable agriculture is always undermined.
Safe Rice for Health and Livelihood!!
“Safe Rice for Health and Livelihood!” – this is the call of small rice producers and rice consumers across Asia from 1 January to 15 March 2011 under the COLLECTIVE RICE ACTION (CORA) 2011 Campaign.
Farmers Pledge to Save Native Rice Vvarieties at CORA Thailand 2011
CORA (Collective Rice Action) 2011 was launched on 1 January 2011 with the theme “Safe Rice for Life and Livelihood!” in 15 countries across Asia (PR China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh).
Greenpeace finds evidence of GM rice contamination in China's emergency grain stores
*China's ban on GM rice questioned as environmental activists discover unapproved transgenic products at two grain sources.
China's state grain reserves have been contaminated by illegal, genetically modified rice, according to an investigation by Greenpeace.
The environmental group says it has found tainted samples at two rice processing enterprises that source their products from the strategic food reserve.
PETITION CALLING FOR IRRI CLOSURE LAUNCHED IN LAGUNA
LAGUNA, Philippines - A Statement signed by 100 people's organizations from all over Asia calling for the closure of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was launched last July 17 at the very university hosting the institution.
Genetically Modified Rice Seeds Discovered in Hunan Province
Though the Chinese government prohibits the commercial sale of genetically modified (GM) rice, GM rice seeds are still being sold to farmers in Hunan Province.
During a recent investigation, 1,500 kilograms of suspected GM seeds were discovered in three villages close to the city of Yueyang, which is about 150km north of Hunan's provincial capital, Changsha.
The suspected seeds were confiscated and those that had already been planted destroyed - with the affected farmers compensated according to the amount they had paid for the seeds.
Militants Farmers Renew Call for End to Use of Hybrids
The threat posed by superweeds on US corn and soya plantations have rekindled the demand of militant farmers and scientists for an end to the cultivation of hybrids.
Less than two months ago, the same groups – Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Magsasaka at Siyentipiko sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag) – also demanded the dismantling of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Laguna, which they claimed "did not provide relief from farmers' woes and instead created layers upon layers of burden."
Farmers face hardships due to faulty rice seeds
Hundreds of farming households in the central province of Binh Dinh are experiencing hardships, as the Nhi uu 838 hybrid rice seeds, sowed for winter-spring harvest, have not sprouted.
Farmers are at a loss as to what to do and are pressed for time.
Ngo Thi Kim Anh, of the Trung Dinh village and Nhon An commune, said she had to buy new rice seeds from several places three days ago in order to sprout the roots before sowing.
First day of IRRI's board meeting, Asian farmers shout 50 years is enough, protest at Los Baños
About a thousand Asian and Filipino farmers, agriculturists, scientists, students and advocates protested at the gates of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Laguna to call for its permanent closure coinciding with its 50th year of existence.
