W.African farm ‘bootcamp’ gets green entrepreneurs into shape

Uncle Ben's rice has rebranded as Ben's Original. The brand announced the name and logo change in an effort to eliminate racist imagery. Following the Black Lives Matter movement, other brands have made similar changes. Meanwhile in France, new restrictive measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 have been met with a backlash. Demonstrations will be held in Marseille on Friday as protesters say "no to a reconfinement of the economy".

Thousands of businesses across the world have been forced to close as the coronavirus crisis bites. However, there have been some winners. The rice processing women of Kontagora in Nigeria say business is thriving.

Federal Polytechnic Ede complains of destruction of rice farmlands

The Rice Processors Association of Nigeria (RPAN) wants the government to empower law enforcement agencies to go to markets and shops to arrest anyone found with foreign rice. This is in a bid to discourage the smuggling of foreign rice into the country.

Analysis: CBN unveils rice pyramid in Kebbi

Kidnapping of rice farmers threaten food security in Nigeria - RIFAN

From biryani to pilau, Pakistan and India's shared culinary landscape is defined by basmati, a distinctive long-grain rice now at the centre of the latest tussle between the bitter rivals over the ownership of the basmati title in the European Union. Pakistan is opposing a move by India to recognise Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for the rice which could deal a major blow to its position in a vital export market.

These Ghanaian youth are rejecting bags of food sent to them by a politician. In the video that has now gone viral, the angry youth could be heard demanding for jobs and not food items.

 

The Muslim community in India is often a target of misinformation spread by Hindu nationalists. The latest accusation is that Muslims are carrying out "rice jihad". We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.

Rice is a major priority crop in West Africa. Nearly 16 million tons are consumed annually. The region wants to become independent of rice imports, but many farmers lack the right tools to achieve that goal.

On the 23rd of January, President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the rice pyramid in Abuja. The unveling came with a lot of criticisms with industry players saying that the pyramid doesn’t match up with the present reality. Weeks after the showcase, the rice pyramids are now disappearing.⁣ ⁣