Senior agricultural officer-Macuata Sugrim Chand says the government has been spending $21 million every year to import rice from other countries for local consumption. In its quest to revamp the rice industry in Fiji, the Ministry of Agriculture in the North recently adopted the Indonesian farming techniques as it aims to reduce the amount of money being spent annually by the government on rice importation. Rice farms in Fiji are now using Indonesian style farming techniques in an effort...

Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. A total of 4 million Vietnamese have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - November 19 Laos, Cambodia slam Myanmar sanctions Sudanese clerics clear sacrifice of sick animals RPT-Laos slams Myanmar sanctions, pleads non-interference Laos slams Myanmar sanctions, pleads non-interference More NGO latest.

Though Rice is Sri Lanka's staple food and paddy farming is the livelihood of an estimated 1.8 million families, rising temperature and heavy rains have damaged rice crop in recent months. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has contracted to import 75,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice from India to meet its immediate requirement. The Indian Government lifted the ban on export of superior quality non-basmati rice priced over 425 dollars a tonne on October 26 after exporters protest. The ban imposed on...

Most areas need moisture to improve wheat and range conditions. Because of recent rain and mild temperatures, native range and pastures are in good condition, helping livestock remain in good to fair condition. Very windy conditions were reported with gusts up to 49 mph, but overall temperatures were milder. The calf market has started to slide because of dry conditions. Extension regional offices reported the following conditions for the past week: Central: Windy conditions prevailed this...

The permanent statues exclude many commodities, such as rice, soybeans and peanuts; set support prices much higher than current levels; and prevent new enrollment in various conservation programs. Without reauthorization, farm policy will revert to permanent statues established in 1938 and 1949 laws which are drastically different from current programs. For example, permanent law does not authorize counter-cyclical payments or decoupled direct payments and imposes acreage allotments and...