Rice exports to top 1.5 million
tonnes
By Zaw Htike
| Monday, 22 December 2014
Rice exports are expected to total more than 1.5 million tonnes
this financial year, the largest quantity since the 1960s.
Rice exports are on the rise. Photo: Staff
The export industry had been hard-hit by China’s decision in
September to crack down on rice shipments from Myanmar. While rice exports to China
are legal from Myanmar’s point of view, China officially outlaws rice imports
from Myanmar, though had been generally turning a blind eye.While Chinese
officials have not publically explained the crackdown, traders say it has been
loosening since mid-November, and most rice shipments through the Muse-Ruili
border crossing are now making it through.“Rice exports to China have now
almost returned to a normal situation, though the price is a bit lower than
what was offered two months ago,” said U Lu Maw Myint Maung.He added Myanmar
has also been exporting small quantities of high quality rice to Europe and
larger volumes to Africa. It has also been adding new buyers, most recently Sri
Lanka.African countries together have traditionally been the largest importers
of Myanmar rice until the last two years, when Chinese demand grew.
The country is also set to top its 2013-14 exports of about 1.2
million tonnes, despite the border shutdown.Officials and businesspeople from
both China and Myanmar have held negotiations to ensure similar problems don’t
happen in the future. Myanmar has put together a 36-member team to negotiate
the issue, including representatives from the Myanmar Rice Federation, traders,
millers and commodity market officials.
Much of the talks have been aimed at finding a way to comply with
the health standards China demands for its rice imports. There are signs of a
breakthrough, and Myanmar Rice Federation secretary U Ye Min Aung has said the
first-ever official exports to the country would start with 200,000 tonnes this
month. Half of this quantity is to follow the usual route by land across the
Muse-Ruili border crossing, though the other half is to be transported by ocean
vessel to China’s eastern seaboard for the first time.
The quantity of rice Myanmar is able to export to China each year
is still under discussion, with the Myanmar side requesting to be excused
paying tariffs for a specific quantity each year. China for its part has
offered to lower the tax rate it has been levying at the border.“After
finishing the process of making the market legal, the current methods of rice
trading will not be favourable, and doing things legally will be better for
both sides,” said U Ye Min Aung
RIKEN & U Hasanuddin To Collaborate On Rice Research Read
more from Asian Scientist Magazine
RIKEN &
U Hasanuddin To Collaborate On Rice Research The MoU between the RIKEN Nishina
Center and Universitas Hasanuddin will focus on developing new breeds of
Indonesian rice. Asian Scientist Newsroom | December 23, 2014 | Academia
AsianScientist (Dec. 23, 2014) – On December 10, a signing ceremony was held at
the RIKEN Nishina Center (RNC) for a memorandum of understanding with
Universitas Hasanuddin of Indonesia.
The MoU is
for research collaboration on improving indigenous Indonesian crops using
heavy-ion beams and analyzing the resulting mutagenic properties. RNC adds
value to plants by irradiating plant seeds with heavy-ion beams to induce
mutagenesis. This research has been conducted on various plants. In particular,
rice research is being conducted in collaboration with domestic agricultural
experiment stations in Japan to achieve improved salt tolerance, dwarfing and
early maturation. Universitas Hasanuddin has been preserving different kinds of
indigenous Indonesian rice with disease resistant, nutritional and aromatic
properties.
In
Indonesia, demand is growing for tasteful and healthy rice, such as black rice
and aromatic rice. Indonesian rice, however, is long-stemmed, has low yield and
takes a long time to grow, characteristics that make it unsuitable for new cultivation
methods.
Under the terms of the MoU, the Ion Beam Breeding Team of RNC’s
Accelerator Applications Research Group will irradiate indigenous rice plants
supplied by Universitas Hasanuddin with heavy-ion beams to develop new, hardy
breeds that will still possess the good traits of Indonesian rice.
A part of this research is supported by the
Council for Science, Technology and Innovation (CSTI), Cross-ministerial
Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), “Technologies for creating
next-generation agriculture, forestry and fisheries,” funded by the
Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution, NARO. Read more from
Asian Scientist Magazine at:
source with thanks:http://www.asianscientist.com/2014/12/academia/riken-hasanuddin-collaborate-rice-research/
Research to aid develop six new rice varieties in Indonesia
Monday, 22 December 2014 04:49
By 2017,
Indonesia may see six more rice varieties grown in the country as a result of
an US$800,000 research project funded by Temasek Foundation, an Asia
investment firm headquartered in Singapore
Indonesia is among the top five rice-producing countries in the
world. (Image source: Mee Lin Woon/sxc.hu)
Nasir, a farmer at Aceh, participated in the rice project by
setting aside a small plot of land for field trials in July this year. The
results were encouraging, and even attracted the attention of neighbouring
farmers. Nasir said, “Many have asked for the seeds from me, they also want to
try. I told them, ‘not yet, be patient, it’s not time yet’.”On 26 December
2004, tsunami ravaged more than five kilometres inland, destroying about 20,000
hectares of farmland in the region.In 2008, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory
partnered Syiah Kuala University to build capabilities in rice research. Under
the four-year collaboration, researchers developed new and improved rice
varieties.Two Acehnese rice — Siputih and Cantik Manis — were used in the
project. The local rice has good quality grain, but low yields and have been
susceptible to diseases. Through the project, researchers improved the rice
varieties using marker-assisted selection (MAS).
The process selected rice genes which have desired traits, for
example, genes that can control higher yields and are more tolerant of
diseases. These genes are then combined with those from the local rice
varieties, and the outcome is a new rice variety that is superior.Zhongchao
Yin, senior principal investigator at Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, said,
“One of the local Acehnese rice lines is Siputih and the grain quantity is
quite good. As good as Thai fragrant rice but the yield is very low — about two
tonnes per hectare. But our improved line, through the field trials, can
achieve six to seven tonnes per hectare.“It takes about seven months to harvest
but for the improved line we can harvest it around four to four-and-half
months.”
The new rice lines are then sown at one location as part of field
trials and the results monitored. In the next phase, they would be tested in
several locations. The multiple location field trials have to be conducted in
at least three provinces across Indonesia. The Aceh rice project researchers
are looking at North Sumatra, Riau and Central Java. These provinces are the
rice producing areas in the country.
Sabaruddin Zakaria at Syiah Kuala University’s department of
agrotechnology, said, “The Indonesian government gives great attention to
improve the field of molecular biology, but Indonesia also has a very big area,
and we have almost more than 100 national universities. So, it’s not easy for
the government to provide equipment. We have received grants two times — in
2009 and 2010 — but not complete yet, so we cannot run the equipment properly
yet.”Indonesia is among the top five rice-producing countries in the world.
Nearly 70mn tonnes are expected to be produced this year. However, Aceh is not
a major rice-producing province, contributing close to only two million tonnes.
source with thanks http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4523:research-to-aid-develop-six-new-rice-varieties-in-indonesia&catid=1083&Itemid=98
Beware of these 5 common contaminants in your rice!
TUESDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2014
Rice is the staple food of most Indians and more than half of
the world’s population consume rice every day. It acts as a major source of
vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. But there’s something nasty about rice,
it can harbour various contaminants posing a threat to your health. Here are
some common contaminants in rice which you should be aware of.
Arsenic
Arsenic, a metal, is one of the common contaminants of rice as it occurs naturally in the soil and water. (1 ) As rice is grown under water, it takes up ten times more arsenic as compared to other cereals. The metal also gets accumulated in the husk (outer covering of the seed) and during the milling process, husk is removed from the seed. However, brown rice has high levels of arsenic as compared to white rice, making them a cause of concern to include in your diet. Chronic exposure to arsenic might lead to certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and skin lesions.
Arsenic, a metal, is one of the common contaminants of rice as it occurs naturally in the soil and water. (1 ) As rice is grown under water, it takes up ten times more arsenic as compared to other cereals. The metal also gets accumulated in the husk (outer covering of the seed) and during the milling process, husk is removed from the seed. However, brown rice has high levels of arsenic as compared to white rice, making them a cause of concern to include in your diet. Chronic exposure to arsenic might lead to certain cancers, cardiovascular disease and skin lesions.
Mineral oil
Rice is commonly packed in jute sacks, which contains the common
contaminants in the form of mineral oil (batching oil). Jute fibres are treated
with this oil to make them flexible fabrics. When rice is transported in these
sacks, it gets contaminated with batching oil, rendering it unsuitable for
consumption above quantities greater than 5 and 500 ppm. Studies on mice have
shown that the mineral oil has carcinogenic property. (2)
Toxins from bacteria
Aflatoxins are harmful substances produced by bacteria namely
Aspergillus species contaminating food commodities like rice. When rice is
exposed to heavy rains and high humidity, the condition favours the growth of
these bacteria, leading to contamination. Normally, high levels of these toxins
are found in rain-damaged rice and parboiled rice, and contain carcinogens and
hepatotoxins. (3)
Lead and cadmium
Another common contaminant found in rice are lead and cadmium
metals. These are present in high concentrations in milled rice. When consumed
in high doses, they cause deleterious effects on the body. (4) Certain
fertilizers contain cadmium in undesirable amount, which are absorbed from the
soil by the rice grain. The high levels of lead when consumed through diet
(such as rice) might damage the brain and cause digestion problems.
Faeces of mice and rats
Rodents such as mice, rats and bandicoots contaminate rice, when
it is stored in godowns. Faeces of mice and rats spread bacteria, contaminate
the stored rice and trigger allergic reactions in humans when contaminated rice
is consumed. Even dried faecal matter and urine of rodents can be hazardous to
health. Hantavirus 4 is a potentially life-threatening disease transmitted by
rodents.
Chemicals from packaging material
It is a well-known fact that unhygienic processing and improper
packaging of rice are culprits that render rice, unfit for consumption. The
packaging material that is made up of plastic (rice sacks contain plastic
covering), use of inks and adhesives on the packing material, less sensitivity
to light, temperature and moisture of packing material causes contamination of
rice. The long term use of such packaging material cause several health
effects.
Best practices
Although it is not possible to avoid these common contaminants
of rice, you can lower the risk of health effects by following some safe
practices:
Wash rice at least two or three times before cooking
Cook the rice by adding sufficient amount of water and strain excess water when rice is half-
Cook the rice by adding sufficient amount of water and strain excess water when rice is half-
cooked.Properly check the rice before buying for contamination
such as dead insects, damaged and broken rice.
source with thanks http://www.kashmirmonitor.in/news-beware-of-these-5-common-contaminants-in-your-rice-76380.aspx
Boro
cultivation kicks into gear amid fear of price fall
Millers, experts call for import curb
Yasir Wardad
After harvesting a bumper
output in the last boro season, farmers have started planting the crop amid
fear of price debacle, triggered by continued imports.The recent fall in the
prices of aman crop in the domestic market has strengthened the apprehension,
although the government is expecting a bumper output of 18.9 million tonnes
this year in boro season.The Department of Agriculture Extension data showed
that the country saw a record production of 34.065 million tonnes in the FY'14,
of which boro accounted for 18.9 million tonnes.DAE director general A Z M
Momtajul Karim said more than 70 per cent of the preparation of seedbed has
been completed so fsar while plantation of seedling has started in a few parts
of the country, especially in Haor areas.
"Adequate supply of quality seeds, fertiliser, and irrigation
will help get another bumper crop this year," he said. However, Bangladesh Agriculture Development
Corporation (BADC) officials said the corporation has distributed nearly 58,000
tonnes of seeds among the farmers this season so far.But farmers across the
country are oscillating between hope and despair over getting reasonable price
in the boro harvesting season as prices of Aman crop, vegetable and few spice
items prices are declining, posing a threat to the peasantry. Experts lambasted the unbridled import of
rice and few other essentials in the peak harvesting season.They suggested
immediate ban on rice and onion import to protect the peasantry.
Md Arshadul Alam, a farmer at Kamarpukur under Saidpur upazila in
Nilphamari district, said the price of Aman crop has fallen to Tk600-620 per
maund (40 kg) recently, which was Tk680-720 per maund."The production cost
is Tk 650-660 per maund this Aman season," he said.
"Millers are not buying paddy as Indian rice has flooded the
market," he said.Md Sirazul Islam, a farmer at Elahabad Union at Debidwar
in Comilla, said prices of Aman crop fell to Tk 640-650 in Comilla recently,
which was Tk700-720 per maund two weeks back.Vegetable prices also decreased
significantly this year, he said, adding a maund of radish has been sold at Tk
15-18 a few days back, he added.Md Sirazul said that if the trend of aman
continues in boro, they would be ruined.
Secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major Husking Mill Owners'
Association KM Layek Ali told the FE that 50 per cent of the mills have stopped
milling this season following duty free import of rice from India.The
government has fixed rice price at Tk33 for us when importer are bringing rice
at Tk26.5-27 per kg. "Can local millers compete with it?" he
questioned.He said to protect the local rice industry and farmers, the
government should immediately impose ban or fix supplementary duty on rice
import.Farm economist Golam Hafiz Kennedy said the farmers incurred huge losses
this year due to the twin spell of floods, which directly hit nearly 1.6
million farmers."After the losses in flood, the farmers have incurred loss
in the current aman season. The onion growers are likely to get the same
treatment in the peak harvesting season, which will start from the middle of
next month," he said.
He said the government should impose ban on rice and onion import
for indefinite time to ensure profitable price for farmers in the ongoing Aman
harvesting season and in the upcoming boro reap.The government data showed that
private importers brought nearly 0.4 million tonnes in the first five months of
the current financial year---8 per cent increase compared with the same period
last year.Bangladesh's rice demand is estimated at 31.0 million tonnes, and
domestic production reached a record 34.0654 million tonnes of rice in FY'14.
PERCY
for Beng or Celso?
Monday, 22 December 2014 14:14
(BY: JUN FELICIANO) (Words of Enlightenment)
GOD implanted in man complete with all the six senses.
BUT, the sixth sense, the most important sense of all, was robbed
by Satan, Lucifer the devil when our first created parents Adam and Eve fell
from God’s grace after they were both deceived into eating the fruit from the
forbidden tree found in paradise Garden of Eden during the early creation of
everything by God.THESE 6 senses are: the sense of seeing, the sense of hearing,
the sense of taste, the sense of touch, the sense of smell and most of most of
them all, now rarely found in human, is the sense of faith. Email:
jayfeliciano2@yahoo.com
—***—***—**
NFA provincial manager Gaudencio “Boy” Nuega Jr., on weekend, clarified
their role, since the emergent rice smuggling issue came about in recent days.
“Ours is to see to it that the rice importation is well regulated
in its supply for our markets here. Also, they’re cheap and affordable,
especially to our poor people. They have to obtain license to be able to
legally operate ( as dealers in rice importation). In other words, they’re
properly documented(by the customs’ authorities), Nuega stressed.
HE said NFA has no jurisdiction in the apprehension of supposed
illegal rice importers. It’s the customs’ duties and responsibilities,
according to him
“RIGHT now, our total inventoried rice stored in the NFA warehouses
in Brgy. San Roque, is estimated at some 400 thousand bags of imported rice,
most of the importations derived (this year) from Vietnam,” Nuega disclosed.
For ZC alone, Nuega guaranteed the approximate total of 280t bags
of imported gov’t rice can last up to the 1st quarter of next year(2015).
AND, this is the same period, that the 2015 rice importation by our
national gov’t is expected to start off, anew.
RICE importation, though our national gov’t tries to stop in the
near future, is yet here to stay, as the country is constantly being battered
by a series of super typhoons.
“We’re always on the alert in our preparedness, as instructed, in
times of disasters, as we’re prone to all these fortuitous events,” Nuega
revealed.
NUEGA said the NFA is after the welfare and protection of both the
consumers and the producers of rice supply in the community. He defended the
NFA under its AOR in the entire region, saying it never has any tainted record
in any supposed rice smuggling activities under its AOR here in the city.
Nuay dao!
—***—**—**
PERCY CAUGHT IN QUANDARY?
I BOLDLY asked over the weekend, when I chanced him for a
one-on-one interview right in his office, if he’s a political butterfly—meaning
he can easily change party, now that he serves under lady Mayor Beng
Climaco-Salazar( an LP), in his 2nd term in office, Dist. 2 Councilor Percival
“Percy” Ramos( an LDP) has this, as a retort: “ I’m always a party-man. But,
right now, I serve our Mayor Beng( Climacao-Salazar) as she is our current city
executive. If, you also ask me whom I’ll support if both Mayor Beng and Dist. 1
Cong. Celso Lobregat( LDP) will face each other in the 2016 local polls, I
cannot answer you, now. I will just cross the bridge when I reach there.”
GOOD answer. Councilor Ramos is getting wiser and wiser everyday.
In-fact, many are keeping an eye on this 2nd termed city legislator from Brgy.
Talon-Talon, as he’s said to be blooming these days, politically. “He’s
gradually proving himself that he’s no pushover in the council. He argues well
his piece every time there’s a heated discussion on the floor,” observed one
political buff frequenting the August Body every Tuesday morning’s regular
session of theirs.
“He’s very meticulous if he finds there’s something wrong in their
agenda. He’s just like his former boss Celso,” another political aficionado
keenly noted.
NOT really surprising his being meticulous, as the young councilor—
prior to winning a council seat in 2010, was then Mayor Celso’s executive asst.
for brgy. affairs. Anymore asking?@
Tags:rice sense nuega mayor importation beng celso brgy right city
source with thanks http://www.zamboangatoday.ph/index.php/opinions/19521-percy-for-beng-or-celso.html
Regaining the lost Mexican market
AT a time when rice exports are
declining, there are hopeful signs of regaining the Mexican market, which
Pakistan lost last year after one of its shipments was found infested with
Khapra Beetle larvae.
The optimism follows the talks
held between the TDAP officials and a two-member Mexican rice quarantine
delegation in the second week of the current month on the prospects of removal
of the ban on export of Pakistani rice to Mexico. They also visited various
facilities to ensure that processing, quality assurance, storage and packing of
rice for export was in place.Although Pakistan’s export to Mexico had been on
the rise, it was in the first six months of 2013 that a major breakthrough was
attained and the Pakistani rice constituted over 23pc of that country’s milled
rice imports. In June 2013, the Khapra Beetle incident took place involving
3,000 metric tonnes of rice which finally led to an indefinite ban on
Pakistan’s valued export commodity. Central America also followed suit and
banned Pakistani rice.
A similar situation had arisen in
2007 when Russian officials had complained of presence of Khapra beetle pest in
some rice shipments of Pakistan. In 1995, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka, India
and Thailand were denied access by Mexico to their rice market under WTO’s
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules. In Pakistan’s case, the ban was lifted
after President General Pervez Musharraf visited Mexico in 2004. Before the
ban, Pakistan’s rice export, mainly of basmati, amounted to $273m.The situation
in the rice sector has not been very edifying. At present, Basmati rice is
being sold in the international market at $1,300-1,500 per tonne. Pakistani
price is $100 to $200 per tonne below the Indian rice. And India has had a
bumper rice crop this season.
The current season has proved to
be a difficult one for rice growers because of lower prices. A pickup in the
harvest has caused a drop of about 50pc in paddy prices, compared to last
year’s prices, and these are likely to fall further if the rice millers
continue to delay buying of the growers’ produce. Meanwhile, the compensation
of Rs5,000 per acre to flood-hit growers by the federal government has not
brought solace to them for they now contend that their per-acre loss this time
has exceeded Rs40,000.Millers and brokers are unwilling to buy paddy in an
uncertain situation marked by fluctuating costs. The price of paddy has dropped
by Rs1,000/40kg to around Rs1,500-1,600 against the last year’s price of
Rs2,500-2,600/40kg. Hamid Malhi, president of Basmati Growers Association says
“this is a man-made crisis... a group of paddy buyers is deliberately delaying
the buying”.
Farmers have asked the government
to immediately announce subsidy to them by providing subsidised fertilisers,
seeds and diesel for the next crop.Meanwhile, another rice crisis may be in the
making. On November 22, rice exporters warned the government to refrain from
buying the commodity from farmers by guaranteeing them high prices. If it does
so, they said it would be destabilising the private sector and, as a result,
the country could lose its traditional rice markets.Chairman, Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (REAP) said in a statement that the government’s
involvement in business activity such as procurement would be harmful to the
private sector, which has invested billions of rupees to build an
infrastructure and human resources. “In case of the government’s involvement in
rice business, we will lose huge foreign exchange, as well as credibility,
which the rice exporters have earned after long hard work.”
He asked the government to give
free hand to the private sector for playing its positive role in improving the
economy. At present, the international market is depressed and all the rice
exporting countries are facing tough competition and prices are on the decline.
“This is the market phenomenon and due to the demand-supply aspect, we see such
trends on certain occasions and have to cope with it,” he asserted.The REAP
chief recalled how Passco, in 2008, procured 200,000 tons of rice at a premium
price and “even after six years it could not dispose of those stocks and
ultimately had to face losses of up to Rs24 billion.” The government should
also not intervene through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and
Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Supplies Corporation (Passco).
Under the prevailing situation,
it is crucial that exporters try to explore new markets. South America is one
of the non-traditional markets for Pakistan. In this region, to name a few,
Cuba, Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Peru are some of the countries that
should be explored. Mexico, which Pakistan is about to regain, is the most
important market.
Published in Dawn, Economic &
Business, December 22th , 2014
Govt Adopts
CAP Model to Tide over Storage Space Shortage
By
Published: 23rd December 2014 06:01 AM
Last Updated: 23rd December 2014 06:01 AM
BHUBANESWAR: Faced with shortage of space, the
State Government has adopted CAP (cover and plinth) storage model of
Chhattisgarh to create additional space for 10 lakh tonnes of paddy procured
from farmers during the current kharif marketing season (KMS).Market yards of
the regulated market committees (RMCs) having boundary and office space have
been used for CAP storage. Each CAP location is having capacity to store at
least 5000 tonnes of paddy, official sources said.The primary agriculture
cooperative societies (PACS) have been asked to deliver the paddy
procured from farmers at the CAP storage points to avoid storage problem at the
procurement centres.Krushak Bazars, where infrastructure has been created but
not been put to use, are also developed as CAP storage points. Paddy will be
stored in these temporary points for maximum six months.
The Odisha State Civil Supplies
Corporation has been asked to supply polythene of specified gauge to the CAP
points for cover of paddy, the sources said. The Food Supplies and
Consumer Welfare department has asked district Collectors to ensure that paddy
for custom milling is delivered to the millers from the CAP storage points.
The Collectors have been asked to
deliver paddy to the millers against advance rice delivery or full security
deposit.The FCI has a storage capacity of six lakh tonnes while the capacity
available to the Central Warehousing Corporations, State Warehousing
Corporation and State Civil Supplies Corporation is about eight lakh tonnes.
The State Government has also hired storage space from private parties.
source with thanks:
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Govt-Adopts-CAP-Model-to-Tide-over-Storage-Space-Shortage/2014/12/23/article2584536.ece
Paddy production slides by 35% –
statistics reveal
Official government statistics reveal that paddy production slid
by 35 percent in the third quarter of this year, in comparison with the same
time-frame last year.The Department of Census and Statistics notes that the
area of paddy fields cultivated in the Yala season in 2014, was 26.8 percent
less than the area cultivated in the 2013 Yala season.Furthermore, the area of harvested
paddy fields had also dipped by 30.3 percent.The Department adds that the
decline in the harvest in the main paddy growing districts of Ampara,
Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hambantota and Trincomalee, contributed
to the shortfall.This was brought on by the drought experienced in these areas
in the first few months of the year. The heavy rainfall being experienced
at present, has also affected the paddy harvest.
source with thanks: http://newsfirst.lk/english/2014/12/paddy-production-slides-35-statistics-reveal/68462
Rice export increases 8.32pc in
five months
APP
Rice exports from the country
during first five months of current financial year registered an increase of
8.32 percent as compared to the same period of last year.During the period from
July-November 2014, about 1,303,644 metric tons of rice worth $738.602 million
exported which witnessed an increase of 8.32 percent as compared to the exports
of corresponding period of last year.According to the data released by Pakistan
Bureau of Statistics, rice exports during the first five months of last
financial year were recorded at 1,160,586 metric tons valuing $681.859 million.
However, the data revealed that
overall food exports from the country during last five months remained on down
track and decreased by 0.35 percent when it compared with the exports of same
period last year.In first five months of current financial year country managed
to earn $1.611 billion by exporting the different food staff which was stood at
$ 1.66 billion during the same period of last year.Meanwhile, the data revealed
that on-month basis, the food group exports remained on up track an swelled by
21.94 percent in month of November as compared to the exports of the October
current year.
source with thanks:
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/12/22/business/rice-export-increases-8-32pc-in-five-months/
New rice seed raises hopes for more crop
Sohel Parvez
The emergence of a rice variety
that matures faster than other mainstream varieties during the aman season has
created hopes among many farmers of getting extra crop in a year.Known as the
Brri Dhan-62, the rice seed can be harvested within a 100-day cycle, nearly 50
days less than most of the improved aman rice varieties. It leaves farmers
enough time to cultivate crops such as mustard, pulses or winter
vegetables.Many farmers have already harvested the variety in the outgoing aman
season.
“The significance of the 50 extra
days is huge for me. I have managed to sow mustard as an additional crop for
the first time,” said Mohammad Abul Kashem, a farmer from Kushtia, a district
in the western part of the country.He previously grew another rice variety,
Swarna, which took 145 to 160 days to mature, leaving him little time to grow
another crop before the boro season kicked in. “Now, the extra crop will bring
in more income.”Developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (Brri), the
National Seed Board approved the variety only last year.
Agricultural scientists say
increased cultivation of Brri Dhan-62, which is also the world's first
zinc-enriched rice, will allow farmers to get four crops a year, instead of the
existing two or three, and thereby raise overall food production.The Brri
Dhan-62 variety contains 19 to 20 parts per million of zinc against 14 to 16
ppm found in other high-yielding rice varieties.The yield from Brri Dhan-62
would be lower though, they said. Around 3.5-4.5 tonnes can be obtained from
each hectare of land, which is lower than the yields from Brri Dhan-33 and Bina
Dhan-7, the other two relatively short-maturing rice varieties. They take
110-120 days to harvest.But Kashem said his fellow farmers, who cultivated the
new variety, did not receive less than 5 tonnes of paddy per hectare.
“Initially, I could not believe
it, so I got a scale and weighed it properly.”“If you eat the rice right after
harvesting it, you will find it to be sticky. But if you give it a couple of
months, the grain becomes fine and tasty,” said Rabiul Islam, a small farmer
from Cheuria, Kushtia.Islam, who previously cultivated the Brri Dhan-33
variety, said he yielded more with the Brri Dhan-62 seeds. He even began
cultivating pulses earlier than in previous seasons.“My yield of pulses will be
higher this time,” he said, adding that he preserved the Brri Dhan-62 seeds to
grow in the next season.
Bhogirath Chandra Tati, a farmer
from Manda, Naogaon, a northwest district, said, “Many of my relatives and
fellow farmers have already contacted me for seeds. They are interested in
growing the rice for its ability to mature fast and its higher nutrient
content.”Tati grew the Bina Dhan-7 variety earlier, but was subsequently unable
to harvest 'good mustard' for a lack of time. This rice variety gets sticky
after cooking, he added.“My mustard field looks excellent now. I will harvest
it in 30 days and then transplant boro rice. It seems that for the first time,
I will be able to sell some mustard and make a few extra bucks.
”He, however, said the yield from
Brri Dhan-62 was lower than Swarna.“But growers get good prices for the grain
quality and early harvest,” Tati said.Jiban Krishna Biswas, Brri director
general, said the variety performed better on farmer's field than initially
thought.“The yield per hectare was more than 5 tonnes in some areas. Such yield
is quite high for a 100-day timeframe. I did not expect that.”Mazharul Anwar,
principal scientific officer of on-farm research division of Bangladesh
Agricultural Research Institute's Rangpur office, said their cultivation bagged
3.5 tonnes of yield per hectare. AZM Momtajul Karim, director
general of Department of Agricultural Extension, said the variety performs
better in water-scarce areas and can also be grown during the boro season.
“The Brri Dhan-62 will be
instrumental in cultivating four crops a year,” said Rafiqul Islam Mondal,
executive chairman of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council.“After
harvesting this variety during the aman season, farmers will be able to grow
mustard or potato. They can later go for boro or mung cultivation and after
that, aus rice.”
Published: 12:00 am Monday, December 22, 2014
Regaining the lost Mexican market
AT a time when rice exports are
declining, there are hopeful signs of regaining the Mexican market, which
Pakistan lost last year after one of its shipments was found infested with
Khapra Beetle larvae.
The optimism follows the talks
held between the TDAP officials and a two-member Mexican rice quarantine
delegation in the second week of the current month on the prospects of removal
of the ban on export of Pakistani rice to Mexico. They also visited various
facilities to ensure that processing, quality assurance, storage and packing of
rice for export was in place.Although Pakistan’s export to Mexico had been on
the rise, it was in the first six months of 2013 that a major breakthrough was
attained and the Pakistani rice constituted over 23pc of that country’s milled
rice imports. In June 2013, the Khapra Beetle incident took place involving
3,000 metric tonnes of rice which finally led to an indefinite ban on
Pakistan’s valued export commodity. Central America also followed suit and
banned Pakistani rice.
A similar situation had arisen in
2007 when Russian officials had complained of presence of Khapra beetle pest in
some rice shipments of Pakistan. In 1995, Pakistan along with Sri Lanka, India
and Thailand were denied access by Mexico to their rice market under WTO’s
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) rules. In Pakistan’s case, the ban was lifted
after President General Pervez Musharraf visited Mexico in 2004. Before the
ban, Pakistan’s rice export, mainly of basmati, amounted to $273m.
The situation in the rice sector
has not been very edifying. At present, Basmati rice is being sold in the
international market at $1,300-1,500 per tonne. Pakistani price is $100 to $200
per tonne below the Indian rice. And India has had a bumper rice crop this
season.The current season has proved to be a difficult one for rice growers
because of lower prices. A pickup in the harvest has caused a drop of about
50pc in paddy prices, compared to last year’s prices, and these are likely to
fall further if the rice millers continue to delay buying of the growers’
produce. Meanwhile, the compensation of Rs5,000 per acre to flood-hit growers
by the federal government has not brought solace to them for they now contend
that their per-acre loss this time has exceeded Rs40,000.
Millers and brokers are unwilling
to buy paddy in an uncertain situation marked by fluctuating costs. The price
of paddy has dropped by Rs1,000/40kg to around Rs1,500-1,600 against the last
year’s price of Rs2,500-2,600/40kg. Hamid Malhi, president of Basmati Growers
Association says “this is a man-made crisis... a group of paddy buyers is
deliberately delaying the buying”.
Farmers have asked the government
to immediately announce subsidy to them by providing subsidised fertilisers, seeds
and diesel for the next crop.Meanwhile, another rice crisis may be in the
making. On November 22, rice exporters warned the government to refrain from
buying the commodity from farmers by guaranteeing them high prices. If it does
so, they said it would be destabilising the private sector and, as a result,
the country could lose its traditional rice markets.
Chairman, Rice Exporters
Association of Pakistan (REAP) said in a statement that the government’s
involvement in business activity such as procurement would be harmful to the
private sector, which has invested billions of rupees to build an
infrastructure and human resources. “In case of the government’s involvement in
rice business, we will lose huge foreign exchange, as well as credibility,
which the rice exporters have earned after long hard work.”He asked the
government to give free hand to the private sector for playing its positive
role in improving the economy. At present, the international market is
depressed and all the rice exporting countries are facing tough competition and
prices are on the decline. “This is the market phenomenon and due to the
demand-supply aspect, we see such trends on certain occasions and have to cope
with it,” he asserted.
The REAP chief recalled how
Passco, in 2008, procured 200,000 tons of rice at a premium price and “even
after six years it could not dispose of those stocks and ultimately had to face
losses of up to Rs24 billion.” The government should also not intervene through
the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and Pakistan Agricultural Storage and
Supplies Corporation (Passco).Under the prevailing situation, it is crucial
that exporters try to explore new markets. South America is one of the
non-traditional markets for Pakistan. In this region, to name a few, Cuba,
Brazil, Chile, Haiti, Puerto Rico and Peru are some of the countries that
should be explored. Mexico, which Pakistan is about to regain, is the most
important market.
Published in Dawn, Economic &
Business, December 22th , 2014
Rice
and Ducks Media Camp
If only they could fly like
ducks
Media members saw first-hand the crucial role winter flooded rice
fields play in waterfowl survival. Rice
lands provide more than 35 percent of all food energy for dabbling ducks across
the country, and more than half of the continental population of dabbling ducks
winter in rice growing regions.A study authored by DU scientists for The Rice
Foundation found that the cost of replacing existing rice habitat with managed
natural wetlands is more than $3.5 billion.
That's 3.5 times the original price tag of the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan."It's pretty clear that we could not support desired
populations of waterfowl without the habitat provided by winter flooded rice
lands," DU Director of Conservation Innovation Scott Manley told the
writers.
Brandon Bauman leads the
farm tour In addition to seeing the habitat importance of rice lands, the media
members were given a presentation and tour at Riceland mill and an on-farm tour
by Brandon Bauman, an Arkansas rice farmer and member of the USA Rice
Producers' Group Conservation Committee.They all went home with a little taste
of waterfowl hunting, a better understanding of rice agriculture, and a new
appreciation for the relationship between rice and ducks.
Contact: Andi Cooper, Ducks
Unlimited, (601) 956-1936
source with thanks:usa rice federation
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CME
Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
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source with thanks:usa rice federation
GBI
Program in Ghana Concludes with Cooking Competition
The grand prize winner
Alsup said the United States is committed to delivering high
quality, safe, and healthy food products to consumers all around the world.
"It was an over-the-top event," said Kurt Seifarth, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Regional Agricultural Counselor in Lagos, who also
attended. "U.S. products working in
traditional recipes is a great story."
Prior to the competition, regional foodservice seminars had been
held in three major cities to educate and inform the artisanal caterers of the
high quality attributes of U.S. rice, poultry, and peanuts.The final cook-off
featured nine contestants creating traditional menus using U.S. rice, poultry,
and peanut butter.Local media was quite interested in the event, extending the
reach of the promotions to the consumer segment of the market.
Contact: Eszter Somogyi,
011-49-40-4503-8667
source with thanks:usa rice federation
American sets himself the goal of producing high-quality sake in
Arkansas
December 22, 2014
By YUSUKE HOSHINO/ Staff Writer
NINOHE, Iwate Prefecture--The American South, commonly
associated with bourbon and rye whiskey, may one day be synonymous with
Japanese sake if Ben Bell has his way.The Arkansas native became so enamored
with Japanese sake, he set himself the goal of learning how to make it so he
could produce it in his home state.Bell, 33, is learning the art of sake
brewing at famed Japanese sake brewer Nanbu Bijin in the northern city of
Ninohe.In 2008, Bell was working at a liquor store in the United States that
dealt in imported beverages, including sake from Japan, when he tried premium
sake from Nagano Prefecture for the first time.
The fruity aroma and clear taste of the sake, which he equates
with fine wine, was a revelation to Bell and he determined on the spot that he
would one day try to produce sake in his home state.Imported Japanese sake in
the United States tends to be expensive as transportation costs and tariffs
push up the price, sometimes triple what it is in Japan.Bell attempted to make
sake on his own, but the product tasted awful, he recalled.Still, Bell was
determined to stick to his goal of producing Japanese sake made of rice
harvested in Arkansas for American consumers. Arkansas is one of the nation's
largest rice-growing states.
Bell decided that he could sell sake for a reasonable price if
he grew his own rice and learned Japanese production techniques.After much
searching, he was finally offered an apprenticeship at the Nanbu Bijin brewery
from October through March 2015 through the mediation of Hanamaki International
Exchange Association in Iwate Prefecture.anamaki, where the association is
located, has a sister city relationship with the city of Hot Springs in
Arkansas where Bell attended high school.Bell, who works from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
with five brewers, now understands most of the Japanese used at work. But he
always carries a smartphone and a notebook in his apron pockets to jot down
jargon.
The second floor of the brewery is used to grow "koji"
mold and the inside temperature is kept at above 30 degrees.The hardest part of
his work is the mixing process in a huge vat. Bell said he often ends the day
with sore arm muscles after using a 2.5-meter-long wooden paddle that weighs 2
kilograms to do the job.His brewery, which produces the Nanbu Bijin brand of
sake, currently exports to 24 countries, and the United States is its largest
importer.Kosuke Kuji, the 42-year-old president of Nanbu Bijin, said
consumption of Japanese sake will likely boom in the United States if producers
use local rice and water to keep prices low. It will then create a market for
quality sake from Japan, he said.
Describing Bell as studious with genuine enthusiasm, Kuji said,
“We have been looking for someone like him.”According to the Nanbu Toji
association, which promotes sake-making techniques in Hanamaki, Bell would
possibly be the first foreign trainee to manufacture sake in his home country
after learning local brewing techniques.Bell said he wants to produce rice wine
with the same quality as in Iwate Prefecture so that people associate Arkansas
with Japanese sake.
Needed: 11 Trillion Gallons to Replenish
California Drought
Dec. 16, 2014: It will take about 11 trillion gallons of water (42 cubic kilometers) -- around 1.5 times the maximum volume of the largest U.S. reservoir -- to recover from California's continuing drought, according to a new analysis of NASA satellite data.The finding was part of a sobering update on the state's drought made possible by space and airborne measurements and presented by NASA scientists Dec. 16 at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. Such data are giving scientists an unprecedented ability to identify key features of droughts, data that can be used to inform water management decisions.A team of scientists led by Jay Famiglietti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California used data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites to develop the first-ever calculation of this kind -- the volume of water required to end an episode of drought.
NASA satellite data reveal the severity of California’s
drought on water resources across the state. This map shows the trend in water
storage between September 2011 and September 2014. Image Credit: NASA JPL
GRACE data reveal that, since 2011, the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins decreased in volume by four trillion gallons of water each year (15 cubic kilometers). That's more water than California's 38 million residents use each year for domestic and municipal purposes. About two-thirds of the loss is due to depletion of groundwater beneath California's Central Valley.In related results, early 2014 data from NASA's Airborne Snow Observatory indicate that snowpack in California's Sierra Nevada range was only half of previous estimates.
The observatory is providing the first-ever high-resolution observations of snow water volume in the Tuolumne River, Merced, Kings and Lakes basins of the Sierra Nevada and Uncompahgre watershed in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
To develop these calculations, the observatory measures how much water is in the snowpack and how much sunlight the snow absorbs, which influences how fast the snow melts. These data enable accurate estimates of how much water will flow out of a basin when the snow melts, which helps guide decision about reservoir filling and water allocation."The 2014 snowpack was one of the three lowest on record and the worst since 1977, when California's population was half what it is now," said Airborne Snow Observatory principal investigator Tom Painter of JPL. "Besides resulting in less snow water, the dramatic reduction in snow extent contributes to warming our climate by allowing the ground to absorb more sunlight. This reduces soil moisture, which makes it harder to get water from the snow into reservoirs once it does start snowing again."
New drought maps show groundwater levels across the U.S. Southwest are in the lowest two to 10 percent since 1949. The maps, developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, combine GRACE data with other satellite observations."Integrating GRACE data with other satellite measurements provides a more holistic view of the impact of drought on water availability, including on groundwater resources, which are typically ignored in standard drought indices," said Matt Rodell, chief of the Hydrological Sciences Laboratory at Goddard.
The scientists cautioned that while the recent California storms have been helpful in replenishing water resources, they aren't nearly enough to end the multi-year drought."It takes years to get into a drought of this severity, and it will likely take many more big storms, and years, to crawl out of it," said Famiglietti.
Credits and more information:
NASA monitors Earth's vital signs from land, air and space with a
fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and ground-based observation
campaigns. The agency develops new ways to observe and study Earth's
interconnected natural systems with long-term data records and computer
analysis tools to better see how our planet is changing. The agency shares this
unique knowledge with the global community and works with institutions in the
United States and around the world that contribute to understanding and
protecting our home planet.
Rice stocks good for 87 days
MANILA, Philippines - Domestic rice
stock inventory remains sufficient for 87 days as of November, the Philippine
Statistics Authority (PSA reported).
The country’s rice stockpile
remained high during the period as most farmers were able to harvest early
during the last cropping cycle of the year.Expecting an occurrence of a
prolonged dry spell to occur during the last quarter of the year, most farmers
advanced the last cropping for 2014. Before the onslaught of Typhoon Ruby early
this month, farmers already had matured crops, most of which were harvested
before the typhoon’s landfall.In its latest Rice and Corn Stocks Inventory, the
PSA said the country’s total rice stock inventory of 2.95 million metric tons
(MT) in November was 63.6 percent higher than the previous month’s inventory of
1.81 million MT. The present inventory was 21.1 percent higher than the
inventory of 2.44 million MT in November 2013.
Around 54.8 percent of the November
rice stock inventory were held in households, 30.6 percent were held in
commercial warehouses and 14.6 percent were held in depositories of the
National Food Authority (NFA).
Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch:
1, sectionmatch: 1
Stocks held in households would be
sufficient for 47 days, those held in commercial warehouses would be sufficient
for 27 days and those held in NFA depositories for 13 days.Month-on-month rice
stocks held in households and in commercial warehouses rose 94.1 percent and 73
percent, respectively. Rice stock levels in NFA depositories, on the other
hand, fell by four percent.Rice stock levels in all sectors rose year-on-year.
Stocks held in households and in commercial warehouses rose 11.8 percent and
41.8 percent, respectively. Rice stocks in NFA depositories rose 21.9 percent.
Palay (unhusked rice) prices have
risen slightly during the first to second week of December after months of
steady decline.The average farmgate price of palay rose to P19.18 per kilogram
during the Dec. 3 to 9 monitoring period, up 0.22 percent week-on-week and by
6.10 percent year-on-year.Edilberto de Luna, Agriculture assistant secretary
and National Rice and Corn Progra coordinator, said palay prices may hit a low
of P18 per kilogram by the end of the year as it is now the peak of harvest
season.“But it is still a good price,” he said, noting that the projected price
by yearend is still above the buying price of P17 per kilogram by the NFA.The
country’s total corn stock inventory as of November, meanwhile, was placed at
239,500 MT, down 41.3 percent month-on-month, but 30.8 percent higher than last
year’s inventory.
Around 53.8 percent of this month’s
total corn stock inventory were with commercial warehouses, while 45.5 percent
were with households and 0.7 percent were with NFA depositories.The average
farmgate price of yellow and white corn grains fell slightly during the first
to second week of December.The average farmgate price of yellow corngrain at P12.51
per kilogram was down 0.24 percent week-on-week, but was up 5.48 percent
year-on-year.Farmgate prices of white corn grain, meanwhile was placed at
P12.60 per kilogram during the monitoring period. This was down by 3.23 percent
week-on-week, and 16.37 percent year-on-year.De Luna said farmgate prices of
corn prices may settle at an average of P13 per kilogram at the end of the
year.
Thai
rice exports expected to reach 10.5 million tonnes by year-end
Thailand is bound to regain the world’s rice exporter first place, after it is now
confident to export around 11 million tons of rice by end of this year.Thai
Rice Exporter Association president Charoen Laothammathat said Thailand has
already exported 10.07 million tons
since January to December 2 this year, a 67% increase as compared with
same period last year’s of merely six million tons.Thai rice exports are
expected to reach 10.2 million tonnes by year-end, just 500,000 tonnes shy of
2011’s all-time high.Sales from state stocks and the end of the rice pledging
scheme have helped the country to regain its position as the biggest exporter,
according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).“A development
dominating the international rice trade this year has been the resurgence of
Thailand as a leading rice exporter, an advance made possible by key policy
changes regarding government market intervention, namely the suspension of the
paddy pledging programme and public stock sales,”
the FAO said Thursday in its last quarterly Rice Market Monitor
report of 2014.Thai Rice Exporter Association president Charoen Laothammathat
forecasted that India could export only 8.5 million tons this year, and Vietnam
6.7 million tons.Since October, FAO has raised its forecast of international
trade in rice in calendar 2014 by some 500 000 tonnes to 40.2 million tonnes,
primarily on higher expected imports to Bangladesh and Guinea, and, based on
reported shipment progress, also to Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Zimbabwe.
Import forecasts were instead lowered for the Republic of Korea and
the Islamic Republic of Iran, with revisions to historical estimates also
entailing cuts in import figures for Egypt. On the export side, these changes
were met with more buoyant sales mostly by Thailand, but also Viet
Nam.Competitive world prices are also behind steady increases in rice imports by
countries in Africa, but also in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and
North America. Among exporters, 2014 is marking a resurgence of Thailand as a
leading rice supplier.International rice prices, which have been steadily
falling since September 2014, lost further ground in November.
Particularly steep falls have been evident in the aromatic rice
segment, amid prospects of large availabilities coupled with reduced import
demand. Indica rice prices have also been under much pressure, reflecting a sluggish
import demand and the arrival on the market of newly harvested crops.
Quotations in all of the major origins have been falling, especially those of
India, Pakistan and Viet Nam.Prices also fell in Thailand, although the decline
since September was less than witnessed in competing countries, as a cautious
release of public stocks helped contain the slid
source with thanks: http://www.thailand-business-news.com/trade/49891-thai-rice-exports-expected-reach-10-5-million-tonnes-year-end.html#FxmdIYYeBazIwIlu.99
Paddy fields, homes inundated as floods hit Cilacap
Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap | Archipelago
| Sun, December 21 2014, 9:37 PM
Waterfront: Children look at inundated paddy fields in Mujur village, Kroya
district, Cilacap regency, Central Java, on Saturday. (JP/Agus Maryono)
Archipelago News
Incessant heavy rain during the last several days has led to the
floods affecting a number of districts in Cilacap regency, Central Java, to
continuously expand.Flood waters that inundated dozens of villages in three
western Cilacap districts; Karangpucung, Kedungreja and Sidareja, on Friday, have
now spread to eastern areas; Kroya and Nusawungu districts.Flood waters
inundated thousands of hectares of paddy fields in Kroya and Nusawungu, on
Saturday, and the flooded area is expected to continue to expand due to ongoing
heavy rain.
source with thanks: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/12/21/paddy-fields-homes-inundated-floods-hit-cilacap.html
Government to gradually release rice in stock within 3 years
Saturday, 20 December
2014By MCOT
BANGKOK, Dec 19 -- Prime
Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said Friday that the government would try to
gradually release rice now stored at warehouses nationwide within three
years.Gen Prayut told journalists after chairing a meeting of the National Rice
Policy Committee that the meeting discussed several issues including the
massive amount of rice left at warehouses as a result of the previous
government of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's failed rice-pledging
programme which was accused of large-scale corruption.According to Gen Prayut,
the total amount of rice now remaining in warehouses is 17.89 million tonnes
which could be divided into three categories: 2.3 million tonnes of grade A,
another 14.4 million tonnes not meeting the quality standards set by the
Commerce Ministry,and 694,000 tonnes of Grade C or rotten grain.
He said about 390,000
tonnes of rice have disappeared from warehouses.Initially, the government lost
about Bt680 billion and it has to solve the rice problem on a sustainable basis
in order to avoid similar losses in future, said Gen Prayut, adding that the
government would try to make Thailand the world’s number one rice exporter
again.Reiterating that concerned government agencies would take legal action
against those involved in the rice corruption scheme, Gen Prayut said further
that Thailand would sign an MoU to sell two million tonnes of rice on a
government-to-government basis during the current visit of his Chinese
counterpart Li Keqiang.Mr Li arrived in Bangkok early today to attend the
two-day 5th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit.In addition to that another MoU
would be signed on constructing dual rail tracks in Thailand, Gen Prayut added.
source with thanks: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/government-to-gradually-release-rice-in-stock-within-3-years-43795
People
behind rice scheme will be sued to cover losses, Prayut says
The Nation December
20, 2014 1:00 am
Puts damage at Bt680 billion, with figure rising by Bt2 billion
a month
The government will take legal action against people deemed
responsible for the Bt680 billion in estimated losses from the rice
price-pledging scheme, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.The PM
said that even after the remaining 17 million tonnes of rice in the government
stockpile were sold, losses would amount to some Bt680 billion."Legal
action will be taken, particularly involving the Public Sector Anti-Corruption
Commission. Both criminal and civil action will be taken, and compensation for
damages will be sought," Prayut said.He said the Commerce Ministry would
calculate the final amount of damages. "We don't know the exact figure now
because the Commerce Ministry is [still] selling the rice in the government
stock.
"The prime minister said that of the 17 million tonnes of
rice remaining when the post-coup administration started, only 2.35 million
were up to standard. About 700,000 tonnes was in a bad condition while the remainder
was of poor quality.Prayut spoke to the media after chairing a National Rice
Policy Committee meeting.He said the government would attempt to sell all rice
in the stockpile within three years but he was concerned that many prospective
buyers might not be interested. He said the government was aware that
expediting rice sales could lead to a price decrease.The government is spending
more than Bt2 billion a month renting warehouses to store rice bought under the
scrapped pledging scheme, he said.
But the government would attempt to maintain Thailand's status
as the world's No.1 rice exporter, following Vietnam's announcement earlier
this week of its plan to become the top exporter. "We will not focus on
quantity only - there must be quality too," he said. "We aim to sell
at high prices. All the parties involved must work together."Yesterday,
Thailand and China signed a memorandum of understanding at Government House for
the sale of two million tonnes of Thai rice to China.Meanwhile, the National
Anti-Corruption Commission is expected to decide early next year whether to
pursue a case against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom over
alleged irregularities involving the sale of rice, NACC President Panthep
Klanarongran said.
Panthep said he had urged the investigation committee, chaired
by Vicha Mahakun, to expedite its work on the case so that a probe report can
be completed before the year-end. "But the NACC is unlikely to decide
within this year. This case is likely to be forwarded to the NACC for a
decision early next year," he said.In a related development, Democrat
Party politician Warong Dechgitvigrom urged the government to review plans to
sell rice from its stock in large lots. He said that by selling rice of
different quality together, prospective buyers would attempt to push down
prices and corrupt officials would benefit from helping buyers prepared to pay
bribes get rice at low prices
source with thanks: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/People-behind-rice-scheme-will-be-sued-to-cover-lo-30250291.html
TREA optimistic on whole-stock rice auction
plan
BANGKOK, 20 December 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA)’s President is positive on the new rice auction scheme, claiming it will effectively help releasing the in-stock rice while lessening the government’s burden.
BANGKOK, 20 December 2014 (NNT) – The Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA)’s President is positive on the new rice auction scheme, claiming it will effectively help releasing the in-stock rice while lessening the government’s burden.
According to the TREA President Pol.Lt Chareon Laothamatas, the new rice auction system that allows private companies to bid for rice in whole stock will help release the in-stock rice to the market effectively.He said that the new system will also allow private companies to check the rice quality before proposing the price to the Ministry of Commerce, which would reduce the rice quality issue, provide a for more coordinated management system, and help the government to reduce the cost of rice storage, currently at 2 billion baht a month.
He also said that Thai rice will still sell in the global market despite having higher price than rice from other countries.The price for Thai rice in the global market is at USD 410-415 per ton, while Vietnamese rice is priced at USD 405 per ton, and Pakistani rice is priced at USD 335 per ton.The TREA President said that the export amount of Thai rice this year will be at 10.5-10.6 million tonnes, which is the highest export rate, while the next year's exports are expected to be at 10 million tonnes.
source with thanks: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785745-trea-optimistic-on-whole-stock-rice-auction-plan/
Thailand Turns to China
With a post-coup cooling of relations with the West, Bangkok is
looking to its largest trading partner.
December 20, 2014
”Though the military has succeeded in stabilizing Thailand’s
economy somewhat since coming to power, economic growth has been weak thus far and these woes could extend into 2015 if troubling trends like anemic domestic consumption
and private investment continue. With the U.S cutting off military assistance
to Thailand, and Europe suspending trade negotiations following the coup, the
government has made strengthening ties with China – already Thailand’s largest
trading partner – a top priority.In that respect, the highlight of Li’s visit
was the inking of two memorandums of understanding on developing a key rail
project and the purchase of agricultural products.
The rail project, which costs around $12 billion, would
construct Thailand’s first standard-gauge railway with two lines and fits into
a broader Chinese plan to link its southwestern city of Kunming to
neighboring Southeast Asian countries. For Thailand’s ruling military, the
project is a key part of an ambitious $75 billion dollarmaster plan to upgrade the country’s transport infrastructure which it
announced earlier this year.“The railways are a very important issue…This is
fundamental and will reinforce our cooperation with China,” Yongyuth
said.Meanwhile, the agricultural deal, according to the The Bangkok Post, would see China buy about 2 million tons of rice and 200,000
tons of rubber from Thailand. Although the exact volume has reportedly not been
determined, the agreement would give the Thai government a much-needed place to
offload the country’s rubber and rice stockpiles, and it is being advertised by
Beijing as a grand gesture of Chinese beneficence.
Only China has such a big market and a huge purchasing power
which could consume the big agricultural production of rice, rubber and others
of Thailand,” Li said.While
these agreements are promising, they are not new and could fall prey to old
problems. Past plans for infrastructure schemes – including the current railway
project – have been repeatedly delayed or suspended in Thailand over the last
few years, in part because of ongoing political tensions. Some are also already
questioning to what extent the country would actually benefit from this project given the way that it is structured.Similarly,
the agricultural deal is also an old idea in Sino-Thai relations with a
troubled past.
Thai rice export rises 67% to
reach 11m tonnes in 2014
BANGKOK: Thailand is bound to regain the
world’s rice exporter first place, after it is now confident to export around
11 million tons of rice by end of this year, Charoen Laothammathat said.Thai
Rice Exporter Association president said Thailand has already exported 10.07
million tons since January to December 2 this year, a 67% increase as compared
with same period last year’s of merely six million tons.Thai rice exports are
expected to reach 10.2 million tonnes by year-end, just 500,000 tonnes shy of
2011’s all-time high.Sales from state stocks and the end of the rice pledging
scheme have helped the country to regain its position as the biggest exporter,
according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
“A development dominating the international
rice trade this year has been the resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice
exporter, an advance made possible by key policy changes regarding government
market intervention, namely the suspension of the paddy pledging programme and
public stock sales,”Thai Rice Exporter Association president Charoen Laothammathat
forecasted that India could export only 8.5 million tons this year, and Vietnam
6.7 million tons.
Since October, FAO has raised its forecast of
international trade in rice in calendar 2014 by some 500 000 tonnes to 40.2
million tonnes, primarily on higher expected imports to Bangladesh and Guinea,
and, based on reported shipment progress, also to Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Turkey
and Zimbabwe. Import forecasts were instead lowered for the Republic of Korea
and the Islamic Republic of Iran, with revisions to historical estimates also
entailing cuts in import figures for Egypt. On the export side, these changes
were met with more buoyant sales mostly by Thailand, but also Viet Nam.
Competitive world prices are also behind steady
increases in rice imports by countries in Africa, but also in Latin America and
the Caribbean, Europe and North America. Among exporters, 2014 is marking a
resurgence of Thailand as a leading rice supplier.International rice prices,
which have been steadily falling since September 2014, lost further ground in
November. Particularly steep falls have been evident in the aromatic rice
segment, amid prospects of large availabilities coupled with reduced import
demand. Indica rice prices have also been under much pressure, reflecting a sluggish
import demand and the arrival on the market of newly harvested crops.
Quotations in all of the major origins have been falling, especially those of
India, Pakistan and Viet Nam.Prices also fell in Thailand, although the decline
since September was less than witnessed in competing countries, as a cautious
release of public stocks helped contain the slide.
source with thanks: Customs Today Newspaper
Myanmar to export 500,000 tons of
rice to Indonesia in 3 years
(Globalpost/GlobalPost)
Myanmar to export 500,000 tons
of rice to Indonesia in 3 years
YANGON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) --
Myanmar is planning to export 500, 000 tons of rice to Indonesia over the next
three years as export promotion of the crop, sources with the Ministry of
Commerce said Friday.The export will be done under an agreement signed with
Indonesia last year.In the past, China and Africa stood as the main buyers of
Myanmar's rice.During the last fiscal year 2013-14 which ended in March,
Myanmar-Indonesia trade reached 498.86 million U.S. dollars, in which Myanmar
mainly exported agricultural and marine products to Indonesia valued at 60.04
million U.S. dollars while it imported from Indonesia goods, especially palm
oil.
Myanmar also plans to import
cement from Indonesia, the sources said.According to figures, Myanmar earned
300 million U.S. dollars through export of rice in the first eight months
(April- November) of the fiscal year 2014-15, up 64.8 percent
correspondingly.Statistics also show that Indonesian investment in Myanmar
amounted to 241.497 million U.S. dollars in 12 projects as of November 2014,
accounting for 0.48 percent of the total foreign input and ranking 14th in
Myanmar's foreign investment line-up since the country opened its door in late
1988.
Copyright 2014 Xinhua News
Agency.Xinhua is China's state-run news agency.
source
with thanks http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/141220/myanmar-export-500000-tons-rice-indonesia-3-years
Rice import from India hurting
Bangladeshi farmers: BNP
Staff
Correspondent,
Published: 2014-12-20 17:44:09.0 BdST Updated: 2014-12-20 20:27:30.0 BdST
Bangladesh should
stop importing rice as it is preventing local farmers from getting proper
prices for their produce, a BNP leader has said.Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made
the demand at a press briefing of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal on Saturday.Various
programmes were announced at the briefing to press for their thirteen demands
that included a halt on rice import from India.“This government has been
extremely indifferent to farmers. We have had a very good harvest but yet
farmers are facing losses. They can’t sell the grains they have produced.
”“There are
tonnes of freshly harvested paddy in their storage but the government is either
buying it directly or allowing its favoured importers to buy duty-free rice
from India so that they can make profits … and our farmers are left with
nothing,” said Fakhrul, a former junior agriculture minister.
BNP’s acting secretary general, who also heads the party’s Krishak Dal, said
60,000 poultry farms had closed down because of the government’s
policies.Investments in fishery sector too dried up, he said, while accusing
the government of cutting subsidies meant for farmers.Those who took
agriculture loan were being charged 19 percent interest, he claimed.
“The central bank will give Tk 20 million to Trust Bank for giving loans to
farmers. The Trust Bank will disburse the loans in 19 percent interest through
an NGO called Shajag. The Bangladesh Bank never said there would be 19 percent
interest.”Krishak Dal also demanded that the government immediately procure
paddy or rice from farmers, besides stopping import of corn from India.It also
called for an end to extortion and police harassment while transporting Rabi
crops.Its other demands include atrocities of leaseholders of village markets
should be stopped and reduction of diesel prices.
source with thanks
http://bdnews24.com/politics/2014/12/20/rice-import-from-india-hurting-bangladeshi-farmers-bnp
Trillion baht deal struck for Mekong
China
pledges heavy investment
Published:
21 Dec 2014 at 06.52
Newspaper
section: News
Writer:
Lamphai Intathep and Prangthong Jitcharoenkul
Leaders of
the six Mekong basin countries have endorsed a one-trillion baht investment
programme to finance new transport projects across the region.
Take my
hand: The leaders of six Mekong countries and the president of the Asian
Development Bank pose for a group photo at the 5th Greater Mekong Sub-region
Summit in Bangkok. (Photo by Thanarak Khunton)
The
five-year plan will see US$30 billion (986 billion baht) put towards 92
high-priority investment and technical assistance projects, designed to boost
regional connectivity.Of the projects, 44% will be based in China, 26% in Laos,
10% in Thailand, and the rest divided between Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam,
Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
The
projects will be financed by a range of sources, including soft loans from
China and regional financial institutions such as the Asian Development
Bank.The agreement was reached by the leaders of the six countries at the 5th
Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, held at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok
yesterday.Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said he was "firmly committed"
to the sustainable development of the Mekong subregion, saying investing in
basic infrastructure would be a driving force.His comments followed the signing
on Friday of an MoU between China and Thailand for the construction of two
double-track railway lines with a combined length of 867km.
"You
have my word that the railway will be constructed with high-quality equipment
and will set a good example for following projects on the Indochina
peninsular," Mr Li said. China will also provide 100 million yuan (528
million baht) to Mekong countries for water management, he said, while the
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank would provide around $10 billion in loans.
"China is also going to take larger amount of rice and rubber from
Thailand," Mr Li said.
Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha emphasised the necessity of the plan by
fast-tracking the establishment of five special economic zones in the border
areas of Tak, Mukdahan, Trat, Songkhla and Sa Kaeo. He said the move would help
ensure connectivity with neighbouring countries.
He pointed
to the fifth bridge to span the Mekong River between Laos and Thailand, which
has just completed an engineering study and will begin construction
soon."Each country should work as trading partners where our similar
culture and traditions can be shared, not as competitors," Gen Prayut said.
"Benefits will come from a relationship based on reliability, not
suspicion."Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong also called for greater
commitment to upgrading roads across the region to serve trucks hauling loads
greater than 11 tonnes, as well as boosting efforts to address a shortage of
skilled labour.Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said yesterday Japan has
expressed interest in investing in any or all of three new rail routes in
Thailand.Gen Prayut is planning a visit to Japan soon to discuss the rail
projects with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose government was re-elected last
weekend.
Source with thanks:
Bangkok Post
Government says 16.7 million tons of pledged
rice can be sold
BANGKOK, 20 December 2014 (NNT) – Government warehouses are holding 17.89 million tons of pledged rice, of which 16.7 million tons can be sold, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
General Prayut made the disclosure after chairing a meeting of the rice management and policy committee on Friday. He revealed that the inspection teams sent to all government warehouses determined that 2.1 million tons of rice was up to standard, while another 14.4 million tons would need to be re-graded. There is 6.94 million tons of spoiled rice and rice of no clear origin. The prime minister noted that any misconduct that gave rise to this amount of rice would be dealt with legally. According to the prime minister, total losses arising from the rice subsidy scheme are expected to reach 680 billion baht.Gen. Prayut also expressed confidence in Thailand being able to retain its lead in global rice exports, provided that rice from government warehouses is progressively sold and farmers work to ensure the quality of their produce.
BANGKOK, 20 December 2014 (NNT) – Government warehouses are holding 17.89 million tons of pledged rice, of which 16.7 million tons can be sold, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
General Prayut made the disclosure after chairing a meeting of the rice management and policy committee on Friday. He revealed that the inspection teams sent to all government warehouses determined that 2.1 million tons of rice was up to standard, while another 14.4 million tons would need to be re-graded. There is 6.94 million tons of spoiled rice and rice of no clear origin. The prime minister noted that any misconduct that gave rise to this amount of rice would be dealt with legally. According to the prime minister, total losses arising from the rice subsidy scheme are expected to reach 680 billion baht.Gen. Prayut also expressed confidence in Thailand being able to retain its lead in global rice exports, provided that rice from government warehouses is progressively sold and farmers work to ensure the quality of their produce.
Source with thanks: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785769-government-says-167-million-tons-of-pledged-rice-can-be-sold/
Why stick to the traditional festive desserts when you could try
this divine Salted Caramel Rice Pudding instead?
For the Salted Caramel Sauce
• 200g granulated sugar
• 90g salted butter (cut into small chunks)
• 120ml double cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
1. Heat the granulated sugar in a sauce pan over a medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula.
2. The sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber coloured liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.
3. Once the sugar has completely melted, immediately add the butter. Be careful as the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added.
4. Stir until the butter has completely melted (approx. 2-3 mins)
5. Very slowly drizzle in the cream while stirring – the mixture will bubble when the cream is added.
6. Allow the mixture to boil for one minute.
7. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt.
8. Allow to cool before using
For the Rice Pudding
• 100g Tilda Pure Basmati
• 300ml full fat milk
• ½ vanilla pod split length ways
• 90g caster sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 60ml double cream
1. Place the rice in a large saucepan with 200ml cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce to a low heat, cover and simmer very gently for 12minutes or until the water has absorbed.
2. Pour the milk into a separate saucepan, scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add along with the sugar. Heat to simmering point over a low heat.
3. Once the rice has absorbed all 200ml water add to the milk mixture, rise to a medium heat for 12-15 minutes, until the rice is tender and the milk has thickened.
4. In a small bowl beat together the egg yolk and cream, pour into the rice mixture slowly stirring throughout, reduce to a low heat for a further 6-8 minutes.
Layer the sauce & pudding mixture as desired or keep it simple and drizzle over.
Serves 3-4
For the Salted Caramel Sauce
• 200g granulated sugar
• 90g salted butter (cut into small chunks)
• 120ml double cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
1. Heat the granulated sugar in a sauce pan over a medium heat, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula.
2. The sugar will form clumps and eventually melt into a thick brown, amber coloured liquid as you continue to stir. Be careful not to burn.
3. Once the sugar has completely melted, immediately add the butter. Be careful as the caramel will bubble rapidly when the butter is added.
4. Stir until the butter has completely melted (approx. 2-3 mins)
5. Very slowly drizzle in the cream while stirring – the mixture will bubble when the cream is added.
6. Allow the mixture to boil for one minute.
7. Remove from the heat and stir in the salt.
8. Allow to cool before using
For the Rice Pudding
• 100g Tilda Pure Basmati
• 300ml full fat milk
• ½ vanilla pod split length ways
• 90g caster sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 60ml double cream
1. Place the rice in a large saucepan with 200ml cold water. Bring to the boil, reduce to a low heat, cover and simmer very gently for 12minutes or until the water has absorbed.
2. Pour the milk into a separate saucepan, scrape the seeds from the vanilla pod and add along with the sugar. Heat to simmering point over a low heat.
3. Once the rice has absorbed all 200ml water add to the milk mixture, rise to a medium heat for 12-15 minutes, until the rice is tender and the milk has thickened.
4. In a small bowl beat together the egg yolk and cream, pour into the rice mixture slowly stirring throughout, reduce to a low heat for a further 6-8 minutes.
Layer the sauce & pudding mixture as desired or keep it simple and drizzle over.
Serves 3-4
Source with thanks:Tilde rice
Healthy
Comfort Foods
Chilly winter days call for comfort food. When the sun is
reluctant to come out, let alone shine, there’s nothing quite like curling up
on the sofa with warming food that lifts your spirits. Whether it’s sweet or
savoury a plate of your favourite comfort food is sometimes all it takes to put
a smile on your face.
However, in these colder months
it can be easy to fall into bad habits. Your body craves bigger meals to help
keep it warm and many of us struggle to resist the call of filling food that
may not always be nutritious. But eating more doesn’t need to mean eating
badly, and comfort food can be healthy as well as hearty.
Low Fat and Low Cholesterol
Unlike long grain rice, both Basmati and Wholegrain Basmati are
low to medium on the glycemic index, which means they’re digested more slowly
and don’t cause sharp spikes in blood sugar levels. Nutritionists have
suggested this helps to suppress appetite and keeps you fuller for longer.
Basmati not only contains very little fat and absolutely no cholesterol but is
also incredibly versatile and lends itself to being the perfect base for any
comfort food!
The tasty recipes below are the
kind of warming and comforting meals you need at this time of year, and because
they’re made with Basmati, they’re nutritious too.
A
Delicious Brunch
It’s just not Sunday morning
without a delicious brunch. This Spicy Tomato & Egg Brunch is made with our Brown Basmati & Quinoa and is a homely and
healthy meal that is sure to inspire feelings of warmth and comfort.
A
Wholesome Dinner
A wholesome kedgeree is a
comforting dish that reminds many people of their childhoods. That is
definitely the case for MasterChef winner Dhruv Baker who created a traditional kedgeree with a delicious twist by using Tilda Limited Edition British Curry Rice.
An
Exotic Desert
The best comfort food recipes
should be hearty and warming, and by creating them with Basmati rice, you can
treat yourself to a winter warmer that’s nutritious and healthy too.
To Bean or Not to Bean?
It’s beginning to feel cold outside but that doesn’t mean you
can’t pull together a delicious and warming meal at a moment’s notice!
The last thing most of us want to do after getting home on a
wintery evening and finally being able to flex our frozen fingers is cook a
complicated recipe. This Butternut Squash and Bean Cassoulet recipe combines a few simple ingredients to create a wholesome
meal in less than 10 minutes. This recipe’s versatility lends itself well to
using up a variety of seasonal vegetables and store cupboard essentials,
helping you to avoid a midweek dash to the shops!
Versatile vegetables
Like sweet potato, butternut squash adds a comforting sweet note
to a meal. However, one of the best things about this recipe is that it still
tastes just as good when prepared with a variety of seasonal vegetables.
Parsnips and carrots also work well, but it’s totally up to you how you tweak
the ingredients to suit your taste.We’d love to hear which vegetables you use
to prepare this Cassoulet.
Revisiting the store cupboard
This is the perfect time of year
to revisit our store cupboards and get creative with some of the tins we’ve
been storing away. Like Basmati, butterbeans have an impressive ability to
absorb flavours from a variety of different cuisines. Butterbeans are also
great for providing sustenance in the colder months as they are virtually fat
free, whilst also being a good source of high-quality protein and dietary
fibre.There’s nothing better than coming in from the cold to a warming and
wholesome Cassoulet that can be ready in just 10 minutes – leaving you free to
enjoy more of this festive time of year with friends and family.
Source with thanks: Tilda Rice
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