Incentive
Boost for Rice Millers
By
Published: 09th January 2015 06:03 AM
Last Updated: 09th January 2015 06:03 AM
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government
has announced incentives to encourage rice millers in paddy procurement and
export of surplus rice.While the Government exempted two per cent Central Sales
Tax (CST) on inter-State trade of rice, the millers can reimburse two per cent
market fee paid to regulated market committees on equivalent paddy traded
outside the State. According to rice millers, the waiver of CST will boost the
trade of surplus rice in a transparent manner.The State Government has made a
provision of `one crore for reimbursement of market fee to the millers.
Neighbouring States like West
Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar have already allowed free trade of
rice.The State was at a disadvantage due to the prevalent tax structure. As
surplus rice could not be moved out of the State, Odisha was facing acute
shortage of storage space.For paddy procurement under levy route, the millers
have to pay the entire cost. The Government, however, debarred defaulting rice
millers from taking part in the paddy procurement process.As per procurement
guidelines for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2014-15, the millers can
participate in procurement process only if they have delivered 100 per cent
custom milled rice for the paddy taken by them during 2013-14.In order to
implement the decisions, the Government has decided to have a facility to store
paddy on temporary basis. It has decided to store 10 lakh tonne of paddy during
KMS 2014-15 in CAP (cover and plinth) storage locations under the open sky.
Exporters contract one million tons of rice this year
Member enterprises of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) have
already clinched export contracts for at least one million tons of rice with
delivery scheduled for this year.
However, Nguyen Dinh Bich, an expert in the rice industry in
Vietnam, has cast doubt on the news, saying Thailand reportedly sold two
million tons of rice to China in 2013 but the real volume was only 300,000
tons.Concerns have risen among domestic rice exporters for tougher competition
from India and Pakistan as these two nations have cut prices of their low and
medium-grade rice to compete with similar products of Vietnam.Currently, India
and Pakistan sell 5% broken rice at US$385-395 per ton and US$380-390 per ton
respectively, compared to US$380-390 per ton for Vietnam’s same type. Their 25%
broken rice is priced at US$350-360 per ton and US$335-345 per ton compared to
US$350-360 per ton of Vietnam.
According to VFA, Vietnam had exported 5.96 million tons of rice
from January 1 to December 18 last year, falling 11% against the previous year.
Up to 83% of the volume was shipped to Asian and African countries and the rest
to America, Europe and Oceania.Last year, Vietnam’s FOB rice export prices
averaged US$439 per ton, inching up 2% per ton against 2013. The price of
low-grade rice slightly increased while that of 5% broken rice decreased 4-5%
from the year’s beginning to US$393 per ton at the end of last year.To order to
boost rice shipments this year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested
rice exporters diversify markets, and seek to make full use of the
opportunities from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and follow
updates on importing markets.The ministry also urged VFA and relevant agencies
to enhance the quality of Vietnamese rice and help local rice exporters cope
with challenges.
SGT
Tags:rice export,
Thailand
off-season rice crop to fall 30 pct on yr as drought hits
Source:
Reuters - Thu, 8 Jan 2015 10:17 GMT
Author: Reuters
A worker drives a tractor to scoop rice grains at a mill in
Suphan Buri province, about 65.2 miles (105 km) north of Bangkok October 28,
2014. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom
Thailand's off-season rice is grown between November and April
after the main crop is harvested. The second crop needs irrigation as there is
little rain during that period.But Thailand is experiencing drought in eight
provinces, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, and the government has
said it would not provide water for rice farming along the length of the Chao
Phraya river from October through April.The Chao Phraya, Thailand's main river,
flows south through the fertile central rice-growing region and on to
Bangkok.Thailand will produce around 6.7 million tonnes of off-season rice this
year compared to 9.7 million tonnes in the previous year, the ministry said.
"We don't see a big impact because Thailand has to compete
with other exporters," said a Singapore-based trader. "One benefit is
that lower production will be less of a headache for the Thai
government."Thailand's military government is still trying to sell off
stockpiles bought under the previous government's rice-buying scheme that paid
farmers well above market rates for their rice.Thailand's legislature begins a
hearing against ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday over
the rice subsidy scheme that critics denounced as a wasteful handout to her
supporters.If found guilty, she could be banned from politics for five
years.Thailand was expected to surpass Vietnam and India last year to regain
the rank of largest rice exporter, with 10.2 million tonnes to be shipped,
compared with India's 10 million tonnes, according to the U.N. Food and
Agriculture Organization.
India toppled Thailand three years ago to become the world's top
rice exporter as the government intervention scheme priced Thai rice out of the
export market and as Delhi lifted a four-year ban on non-basmati rice sales in
2011 to trim stocks. (Reporting by Kaweewit Kaewjinda and Panarat Thepgumpanat,
with additional reporting by Naveen Thukral in SINGAPORE; Editing by Simon
Webb, Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Tom Hogue)
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http://www.trust.org/item/20150108101514-597s8
India, Pakistan spar over GI tag for
Basmati rice
By: Sajan C Kumar | Chennai | January 8, 2015
12:36 am
India’s fight to protect its
iconic Basmati rice outside the country, especially in Pakistan, would be in
jeopardy if it does not get the geographical indicator (GI) tag in its own
country without further delay, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (Apeda) has argued.Basmati rice growers in
Pakistan reportedly have Basmati GI tag partially registered in their country
and a litigation was going on in a Pakistan court between them and India’s
Apeda over the GI tag given to Basmati rice from Pakistan.In India, the
application for GI tag for Basmati rice has been mired in legal tangle with
Madhya Pradesh government upping the ante against the Apeda’s move to register
GI tag without including the state.
The ongoing litigation in bodies
such as GI Registry and Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has taken
a long time and was threatening to weaken the case, as close to 700 to 800
proceedings are pending across various countries. In IPAB too, Pakistan’s
Basmati Growers’ Association (BGA) has appealed against granting of GI tag to
Indian Basmati rice.Apeda, under the Union commerce ministry, told the IPAB
bench that the delay in the proceedings was hampering the country’s prospects
of protecting the rice variety as Pakistan has moved the GI dispute tribunal
against granting of GI tag to Basmati rice, arguing that those historical
geographies of Basmati rice producing areas, are now part of Pakistan.When the
case came up at IPAB, the counsel for Apeda requested for an early hearing in
the case as they are in a hurry to get the final order.
“We have to first get the GI tag
for Basmati rice in India, so that we can effectively counter Pakistan and
other countries who are throwing challenges against our Basmati rice variety,”
the counsel said.After hearing Apeda, Pakistan Basmati Growers Association,
Madhya Pradesh government, the farmers and a new organisation, who wanted to
implead in the case, the IPAB bench of Justice KN Basha, chairman and Sanjeev
Kumar Chaswal, technical member, adjourned the matter to February last week.
The Bhopal-based New Darpan
Social Welfare Society had filed an implead application, seeking to be included
as a party to the proceedings.The Lahore-based BGA had also moved IPAB in
appeal against the order of the assistant registrar of GI Registry that ordered
inclusion of Madhya Pradesh in the amended application by Apeda. BGA had also
opposed granting of GI tag to Indian Basmati rice in totality.BGA had submitted
that Basmati is a name for a slender, aromatic and long grain variety of rice
grown in the specific geographical area at the foothills of the Himalayas in
Pakistan.
It further argued in the appeal
that only the rice grown in certain areas of Punjab in Pakistan, where the rice
kernels are grown on conventional rice lands and they interact with the
environment, atmosphere, soil and climate to yield exquisite rice can be called
Basmati in the true sense.The counsel for BGA told FE that they have also appealed
against the inclusion of Madhya Pradesh in the areas for registration of GI tag
for Basmati in India.
Apeda had filed an application
with the GI Registry to register the name Basmati for rice covering Punjab,
Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and part of Uttar Pradesh and
Jammu & Kashmir, omitting the state of Madhya Pradesh, triggering protest
from the farmers from the state as well as opposition from the state
government.They informed the assistant registrar of the GI Registry that the non-inclusion
of Madhya Pradesh in the Basmati growing area would have an adverse affect on
the lives of farmers who are mainly depending upon Basmati cultivation and its
exports.
Accordingly, GI Registry, asked
Apeda to amend its application for GI registration of Basmati rice to include
the uncovered area, including certain area in Madhya Pradesh. Against this,
Apeda has approached IPAB with an appeal against the order of assistant
registrar of the GI Registry, issued on December 31, 2013, which allowed the
opposition by various parties, including the department of farmer welfare and
agriculture development of MP, Madhya Kshetra Basmati Growers Association
Samiti based in Raisen district among others against the application of Apeda.
Opposition
to South Korea's 513% rice tariff
By Rich
Keller, Editor, Ag Professional January 08, 2015 | 11:30 am
EST
"The five rice-exporting countries filed a complaint with
the WTO against our 513 percent tariff," said Kim Kyung-mee, director of
the ministry's agriculture trade division. "They claimed the way we
calculated the rate was incorrect. But what they really want to say is the 513
percent rate is too high."The news reporter, Lee Hyo-sik, noted for the
past 20 years, South Korea, as Asia's fourth-largest economy, imported a
certain amount of rice every year under the minimum market access (MMA)
program, in exchange for a waiver. In 2014, the nation was obliged to import
408,700 tons of rice, about 10 percent of its annual rice consumption of 4.1
million tons. To delay the opening of the rice market, Korea would have to
increase the MMA quota this year.
Without objections, the WTO would issue a certificate allowing
South Korea to levy the tariff, but with objections to receive WTO approval,
Korea will be negotiating with the five countries. Those negotiations
notoriously have taken years; it was 57 months for Taiwan negotiations to
liberalize its rice markets, according to Hyo-sik.Meanwhile, the tariff went
into effect January 1 and will stay in place, according to government
directors.Even after all the negotiations with Taiwan, Hyo-sik reports, the
country’s tariff was 563 percent, and Japan’s tariff is the highest at 1,066
percent.
Vietnam sets new rice export price to meet Philippines
0.18m import demand
Reported by: `Customs Today Report January 8, 2015
The floors are $375 a tone for the 10-percent
broken grade and $365 a tone for the 15-percent broken grade, the statement
said. All the prices are valid between Jan. 1-31.“The export prices for the
Philippines now are lower than the previous floor, so it could be the new
benchmark for other orders,” said a Vietnamese trader in Ho Chi Minh City.The
5-percent broken rice was quoted this week at $380-$390 a ton, FOB basis,
widening from $385-$390 per ton quoted before the New Year holidays, while
buyers were still absent and stocks remained low, traders said.The Philippines,
Vietnam’s second-biggest rice buyer in 2014 after China, is expected to import
between 1.5 million and 2 million tons from Vietnam this year, the Customs
Department news.
Tests on Fukushima Rice Finally Show Safe
Results
January 8, 2015
10:00 am
It has taken three years, but rice growing near the Fukushima nuclear plant has now tested safely for consumption. The Fukushima disaster in 2011 caused international concern over food safety and water contamination when a tsunami pounded into the nuclear facility and unleashed toxic radiation.For reference, the government’s limit on safe amounts of radiation is 100 becquerels per kilogram. The areas affected by the disaster were the farming communities of Fukushima, Iwate, Tochigi, Gunma, Chiba, Miyagi and Ibaraki.
During the period after the disaster, items like bamboo shoots,
shiitake mushrooms, beef and rye were all testing far outside of the accepted range. Mushrooms
ranged from 150-350 becquerels, while beef was around 772 becquerels per
kilogram.The danger of exporting food from a nuclear disaster site set off long
range economic problems for Japan’s farmers and fears from consumers all over
the world. In Japan, 44% of people said they’d avoid radioactive foods, with 22% preferring
stricter government control. Citizen fears are not unfounded. In response to
the nuclear disaster, Japan actually raised its limits of acceptable radiation
exposure to 20x higher than what’s considered safe in the United States. Many
felt this was Japan’s way of mitigating a PR crisis.
Yet across the Pacific, the West Coast of the United States also
worried about how the spread of radioactivity might impact their fish and
agriculture. Such fears prompted residents in California to pass measures to
improve the testing of marine life off their shores.Although scientists tried
to calm fears, telling residents that the levels of radioactivity in water that
reached the West Coast would be far below international acceptable standards,
it did little to pacify concerns.
So it is no doubt that in this atmosphere of fear and
apprehension, farmers and Japanese officials are breathing easier with the
study results. More than 360,000 tons of rice were tested in the study.
However, it seems the evidence has yet to be corroborated by outside sources,
and that’s still causing some hesitation. Many around the world wanted the UN
to oversee or take over clean up in Fukushima, citing distrust of the
government.This was also true for the Koreans.
Reports of groundwater seepage from the nuclear facility
prompted South Korea to ban imports from the region in 2013. Although the
Korean scientists are expected to come back again within the month and consider
lifting the ban, many still harbor concerns over importing the rice.It’s a
difficult challenge for farmers, who have undoubtedly suffered some of the
largest economic losses in the disaster. Many toiled on organic farms that have been ravaged by nuclear waste. One farmer,
Toraaki Ogata, told the North Queensland Resister, “All I can do is pray there
will be no radiation…It’s not our fault at all, but the land of our ancestors
has been defiled.”While the Japanese government assigned about $1.3 billion for
decontamination methods in these zones, it has been a slow moving process to
get clean rice.
However, it is one that Tsuneaki Oonami claims has
been done right. Oonami, a Fukushima official, told reporters that, “The fact that the amount of rice
that does not pass our checks has steadily reduced in the last three years
indicates that we’re taking the right steps.” And for the sake of the
farmers, the environment and international trade, this has
been welcome news.
Nigeria: Addressing Bottlenecks in Rice
Self-Sufficiency Plan
ANALYSIS
By Femi Adekoya
To make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice
production by 2015, a timeline presently under review, government embarked upon
an ambitious plan through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, to address
the perceived threat that increasing volumes of milled rice imports into
Nigeria are displacing local production potential. Although, a complete embargo
is yet to be placed on the importation of the commodity, there are concerns
that preferential treatments to stakeholders may be threatening government's
backward integration plan in the sector. FEMI ADEKOYA examines the issues of
sufficiency of policies under the plan and the potential to improve quality and
competitiveness of domestic rice product in the markets.
FOR the first time in a while, the nation is
beginning to give due attention to the non-oil sector, especially the
agro-allied sector, considering the dwindling revenue profile from global crude
oil sale.Imposition of tariffs on commodities in some cases in a bid to protect
growth of local industries and sectors with huge potential has been the trend
under the backward integration policy to aid the transformation agenda I the
agricultural sector.
For instance, the tariffs are intended to
protect the domestic rice sector while it undergoes improvements in paddy
production, processing, and marketing with support of public sector reforms and
fiscal investments.The reforms include the deregulation of seed and fertilizer
markets and the setup of private sector marketing corporations to help
coordinate the market and set grades and standards.
Similarly, innovative financing mechanisms for
supplying credit are also being pursued while significant fiscal investments
are being poured into establishing staple crop processing zones (SCPZs) that
are intended to encourage the clustering of food processing industries in
proximity to raw materials and end markets.However, recent activities have
shown that the Federal Government's backward integration plan for the rice
industry may suffer a major setback if key issues of discretionary approval of
waivers and unrealistic supply gap are not addressed.
For instance, emerging facts show that the
country may continue to lose at least N20 billion to smugglers of the commodity
and another N20 billion to discretionary concessions and waivers, especially to
non-committed stakeholders under the scheme.
With at least $183.6 million enjoyed in bonds,
there are questions bordering on the sincerity of government under the backward
integration plan, considering the fact that investors who have only expressed
interests enjoy higher imports than those who have remain committed to the
plan, especially now that some of them are already trading the import quotas at
higher prices to interested importers.Findings by The Guardian have shown that
the Federal Government through the indiscriminate granting of waivers under the
backward integration plan may be promoting activities of smugglers while
putting the rice policy under threat.
Documents obtained and investigations by The
Guardian showed that indiscriminate approach of the Federal Government in
granting waivers and import allocation quotas to investors who have no
investments in the industry, either in form of paddy or rice milling may be a
dysfunctional approach to the backward integration plan in the sector.According
to the list of beneficiaries of the preferential import quotas, quantities of
rice imports approved and corresponding size of performance bond to be
submitted shows that of the 28 beneficiaries, only 16 have mills, while the
remaining 12 have no mills and account for higher imports than millers.
Investigations also show that many of the
investors who got import allocation quotas are already trading it to interested
stakeholders at between 60 to 80 per cent levy having got the same at 20 per
cent levy.Specifically, documents obtained showed that investors who have only
submitted expression of interests without commensurable form of investments in
the sector, may be enjoying waivers amounting to at least N20 billion under the
exercise.
New Imported Rice Tax Increase Actually Lowers Prices While
Strengthening Domestic Producers in Costa Rica
“The WTO allows the country to use such
instruments so that we can organize internally and improve production,” Rojas
said.The owner of Canas de Guanacaste, Fabián Chacón, was pleased with the
announcement released Thursday because he believes that this way the grain
stays in-country, unlike many other products.“You want to restore food security
in this country. Corn and beans have practically disappeared from production.
The last one on the table is rice and it’s being seriously threatened by
imports,” voiced Chacón.
Meanwhile, another domestic producer of rice,
Alex Rojas, said the increase in the tariff will ensure a healthy competition
between rice suppliers.“This move comes at the right time because opportunists
importers from Uruguay recently surfaced who were cheap that what we could
compete with,” he added.Moreover, the MEIC is analyzing a further proposal to
reduce the price of rice by 4%. This negotiation will be resolved in the coming
weeks. (Amelia Rueda)
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose, Costa Rica
Vietnam clinches one million tonnes of rice deal in 2015
Friday, 09 January 2015 03:51
Member
enterprises of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) have already clinched export
contracts for at least one million tonnes of rice with delivery scheduled for
this year
According to VietnamNet, most of the volume
would be delivered to customers in 2015, based on the contracts that VFA’s
member enterprises signed with importers last year.The volume is 200,000 tonnes
higher than the same period last year.
Huynh The Nang, general director of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2), however, said local rice exporters might face many more difficulties this year.The rice demand of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia is forecast to jump, but Vietnam would have to compete with Thailand, which wants to reduce its huge rice stockpiles, The Nang added.China, a major importer of Vietnamese rice in recent years, has signed an MoU to purchase two million tonnes of rice from Thailand in 2015.Concerns have also risen among domestic rice exporters for tougher competition from India and Pakistan as these two nations have cut prices of their low and medium-grade rice to compete with similar products of Vietnam.Currently, India and Pakistan sell five per cent broken rice at US$385-395 per tonne and US$380-390 per tonne respectively, compared to US$380-390 per tonne for Vietnam’s same type. Their 25 per cent broken rice is priced at US$350-360 per tonne and US$335-345 per tonne compared to US$350-360 per tonne of Vietnam.According to VFA, Vietnam had exported 5.96mn tons of rice from 1 January to 18 December 2014, falling 11 per cent against the previous year. Up to 83 per cent was shipped to Asian and African countries and the rest to America, Europe and Oceania.In order to boost rice shipments this year, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested rice exporters diversify markets and seek to make full use of the opportunities from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and follow updates on importing markets.
Huynh The Nang, general director of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2), however, said local rice exporters might face many more difficulties this year.The rice demand of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia is forecast to jump, but Vietnam would have to compete with Thailand, which wants to reduce its huge rice stockpiles, The Nang added.China, a major importer of Vietnamese rice in recent years, has signed an MoU to purchase two million tonnes of rice from Thailand in 2015.Concerns have also risen among domestic rice exporters for tougher competition from India and Pakistan as these two nations have cut prices of their low and medium-grade rice to compete with similar products of Vietnam.Currently, India and Pakistan sell five per cent broken rice at US$385-395 per tonne and US$380-390 per tonne respectively, compared to US$380-390 per tonne for Vietnam’s same type. Their 25 per cent broken rice is priced at US$350-360 per tonne and US$335-345 per tonne compared to US$350-360 per tonne of Vietnam.According to VFA, Vietnam had exported 5.96mn tons of rice from 1 January to 18 December 2014, falling 11 per cent against the previous year. Up to 83 per cent was shipped to Asian and African countries and the rest to America, Europe and Oceania.In order to boost rice shipments this year, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade suggested rice exporters diversify markets and seek to make full use of the opportunities from bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and follow updates on importing markets.
http://www.fareasternagriculture.com/crops/agriculture/vietnam-clinches-one-million-tonnes-of-rice-deal-in-2015
Why Nigeria still import rice- Group
By Adesanya Alao
January 8, 2015 20:36:22pm GMT |
farm
WorldStage Newsonline-- The
Chairman, Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Abubakar, said
Thursday explained why Nigeria still import rice, saying it does not
produce enough paddies to meet the demand to attain self sufficiency.Speaking
in Abuja at a press conference organised by the Nigeria Rice Investors Group,
he said that although the total amount of rice produced locally was about 2.5
million to three million tons, only about 800,000 tons were processed annually
by integrated rice millers, adding that Nigeria has only 24 integrated rice
millers.Rice produced by integrated rice millers are cleaner than those
produced by remote rice farmers.
According to Abubakar,
Nigeria consumes over five million tons of rice annually.He noted that investors
were intensifying efforts in the production of paddy rice in other to end
importation, adding that in three years Nigeria will end rice importation.Abubakar
said, “We have the capacity to process 800,000 tons. But that is not for all
the places you expect rice production in Nigeria. But we are growing because we
have a growing population. The total production that we have has not exceeded
2.5 million to three million tons. That's why there is a room for importation.“We
have a long way to go. That is why we are advocating that you, me, and
everybody should come and join the centre so that we can produce more paddies
which will translate to more rice and eventually translate into stopping
importation of rice into Nigeria.
“Almost all the investors are going
back to the production of paddy. That means maybe by two or three years, the
issue of import will come to rest. The issue of policy change, policy
summersault will come to rest because we will have enough paddies that we can
process and use to feed our country.”Earlier in his address, a former Attorney
General of the Federation and Former Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoaaka,
said no government gave attention to the rice value chain as the present
administration.
He said, “As the chairman of a company
that is involved in local rice production and also a key government official in
the past, I can assure you that in recent times, I can vow and say no
government has given attention to agriculture as this present government. The
revolution put in place by this government is capable of creating jobs and
stemming the rising unemployment in the country.“People should take advantage
of locally produced rice because if you buy one bag of local rice, you are
helping the farmers. If we mill one bag, the bulk of money goes directly to the
farmers. That is why the President has vowed to support local farmers through
out the country.”
The President, Nigeria Rice
Investors Group, Mr. Tunji Owoeye, stated that although there were challenges
in the rice sector, businesses in the industry were doing better presently than
before.He said, “We are not politicians but businessmen. I can assure you that
businesses and even farmers in this sector are doing well now compared to what
is used to be in past. However, that does not mean that we don’t have
challenges, we have a lot of them, but we are making progress.”
Iran ban,
Iraq duty hike to take a toll on rice exporters
Sutanuka Ghosal, ET Bureau Jan 6, 2015, 12.35PM IST
The official added that the
sudden increase in import duty by Iraq has come as a major blow and it is bound
to impact exports to the country.According to an estimate by exporters, basmati
shipments are likely to come down to 35 lakh tonne from 37 lakh tonne in the
previous year.Iran has barred rice from other countries as its local crop is
reported to be good this year and is set to arrive in the market there.The
country imported over 12.5 lakh tonne of rice during April-July 2014, compared
with 14.5 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period.In the past two years, Iran has
bought over 2.5 million tonne of basmati rice from India.
The average price realisation has
declined to $800-1,100 per tonne from $1,0001,300 per tonne last year.Exports
of basmati rice in the first seven months of the current fiscal declined over
8% to 19.36 lakh tonne from 21.13 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. However,
exports of non-basmati rice between April and October 2014 stayed almost the
same as in the previous year, at about 4.2 lakh tonne.The lacklustre export
demand of basmati rice has pushed down prices in the domestic market as well,
with farmers getting Rs 3,200 per quintal for Pusa 1121 crop, compared with Rs
4,100 last year.Retail prices of basmati rice may fall further in the domestic
market if exports slump, said Bal Krishna Mittal, managing director of Gurdaspur Overseas, which deals in basmati rice.Output
of basmati rice in the kharif, or summer, season in 2014 was robust at about 81
lakh tonnes, up from 66 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Gluten-Free Ramen, Pullet Eggs and More
By FLORENCE FABRICANTJAN. 7,
2014
CreditRuth Fremson/The New York Times
Continue reading the main
storyShare This Page
To Indulge: Sweet Canelés for All Tastes
Photo
CreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
To Slurp: Gluten-Free Ramen, Noise Not Included
The delectable enjoyment of slurping a bowl of ramen has been
mostly out of bounds for those whose diets are gluten-free. But now Lotus
Foods, a California company that specializes in exotic rice, has introduced
rice-based gluten-free ramen with earthy, nutty flavors that are enjoyable even
for those who do not avoid gluten. There are three varieties, each based on a
different type and color of rice: Jade Pearl, a green organic rice ramen
infused with leaves and stems of edible bamboo; black Forbidden Rice ramen; and
a toasty-toned ramen of millet and brown rice: Lotus Foods Rice Ramen
is $6.59 for four cakes, $35.54 for six packages; also sold with miso soup mix,
lotusfoods.com.
Photo
CreditLauren DeCicca for The New York Times
Vietnam sets rice
export prices for Philippine demand
Reuters
Posted at 01/07/2015 5:59 PM | Updated as of 01/07/2015 6:13 PM
HANOI - Vietnam, the world's third-largest rice exporter, has
set export prices in preparation to meet an import demand of 187,000 tonnes by
Philippine private traders, which may lead to lower price levels in early 2015,
traders said on Wednesday.Last month, the Philippines' state grains procurement
agency allowed private traders to import 187,000 tonnes of rice and said
shipments must arrive on or before Feb. 28.Exporters must sell the 5-percent
broken rice to Philippine importers at $385 a tonne, free-on-board Saigon Port,
industry body the Vietnam Food Association said in a Dec. 31 statement seen by
Reuters on Wednesday.The floors are $375 a tonne for the 10-percent broken
grade and $365 a tonne for the 15-percent broken grade, the statement said. All
the prices are valid between Jan. 1-31.
Previously, the association set the export price floor for the
25-percent broken variety at $380 a tonne as of Nov. 25, 2014."The export
prices for the Philippines now are lower than the previous floor, so it could
be the new benchmark for other orders," said a Vietnamese trader in Ho Chi
Minh City.The 5-percent broken rice was quoted this week at $380-$390 a tonne,
FOB basis, widening from $385-$390 per tonne quoted before the New Year
holidays, while buyers were still absent and stocks remained low, traders said.Vietnam
could export 7 million tonnes to 7.5 million tonnes of rice this year, mainly
to China and Southeast Asian countries, after shipping around 7.5 million
tonnes in 2014, a state-run online news site said, citing industry targets.The
Philippines, Vietnam's second-biggest rice buyer in 2014 after China, is
expected to import between 1.5 million and 2 million tonnes from Vietnam this
year, the Customs Department news site said, citing Vietnam Food Association
projections.
USA Rice and Cuba - Getting
Closer
Governor Nixon (l) and
Secretary Vilsack
WASHINGTON, DC -- The USA Rice Federation has
joined with more than 25 prominent U.S. food and agriculture associations and
companies to form a coalition that seeks to advance trade relations between the
United States and Cuba. The U.S.
Agriculture Coalition for Cuba (USACC) formally launched at an event here today
that was attended by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a bipartisan group
of Members of Congress, and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon.
The purpose of the USACC is to re-establish
Cuba as a market for U.S. food and agriculture exports and address liberalizing
trade between the United States and Cuba.
The coalition will work to end the embargo and allow for open trade and
investment, and coming just a few weeks after President Obama's announcement of
a major policy shift on Cuba, is well-timed.
"President Obama's new policies on Cuba
aim to expand opportunities for U.S. farmers and ranchers, expand choices for
the Cuban people, and create new customers for us," Secretary Vilsack
said.
"We know the Cuban market for rice is not
theoretical. It is real, it is large,
and it is compelling," said Betsy Ward, President and CEO of USA Rice, who
also spoke at the event. "With rice
imports valued at more than $300 million, Cuba is the second largest importer
of rice in the Americas. And there was a
time when Cuba was our number one export market - we look forward to a return
to those days."
CEO Betsy Ward meets the press
"We applaud the Obama Administration for
their recent actions, and ask our leaders in Congress to normalize trade with
this nation that we believe will once again become a major market for U.S.
rice," Ward said. "Open trade
with Cuba would be an enormous boon for U.S. rice farmers, and we look forward
to working with the Cuban rice industry so together we may supply the Cuban
people with high-quality, delicious rice."
Contact:
Deborah Willenborg (703) 236-1444
USA Rice Federation
Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported
WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 28,600 MT
for 2014/2015 were up noticeably from the previous week, but down 53 percent
from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights
report. Increases were reported for
Haiti (9,500 MT), unknown destinations (6,000 MT), Turkey (2,600 MT), Saudi
Arabia (2,500 MT), and Jordan (2,400 MT).
Decreases were reported for Iraq (600 MT).
Exports of 50,500 MT were down 45 percent from
the previous week and 34 percent from the prior four-week average. The primary destinations were Turkey (28,100
MT), Haiti (10,500 MT), Mexico (4,400 MT), Canada (3,300 MT), and Jordan (1,700
MT).
This summary is based on reports from exporters
from the period December 26-January 1.
USA Rice Federation
USA Rice Federation
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CME Group/Closing Rough Rice
Futures
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CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 8
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Gulfood 2015 to enhance Dubai’s
role as global hub for foodstuff commodity trade
Owing to its strategic location for major global markets, its developed logistics infrastructure and efficient customs service, as well as hosting the world’s largest annual food trade event, Dubai has become a well-connected, cost-effective global gateway for foodstuff commodities trade. This includes trade in commodities such as rice – the UAE is the world’s largest re-exporter of rice, importing rice from 32 countries and exporting it to more than 80 countries globally. It is also the world’s biggest re-exporter of tea, with many of the world’s largest producers and brands using Dubai as their base. The Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) expected to facilitate more than 7.5 million kilograms of tea re-exports by the end of 2014.
According to recent figures released by Dubai Customs, Dubai’s foodstuff foreign trade including imports, exports and re-exports amounted to AED21.5 billion in the first quarter of 2014 – equating to 17 percent growth on the AED18.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2013. This growth reflects the increase in demand due to economic and population growth, as well as the capacity of the local market to accommodate high volumes of foodstuffs. In this context, a renewed focus on commodities – meat, rice, grains, nuts, vegetable oil, coffee, milk, tea – at Gulfood 2015 is particularly relevant and will play an essential role in generating increased revenues from global food transactions across the UAE and specifically in Dubai.
“By providing a convenient and strategic meeting platform for traders and investors from around the world, Gulfood is perfectly positioned to facilitate food trade through Dubai and contribute to the growth and development of the UAE’s increasingly diverse economy,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, DWTC. “Focusing on providing traders and investors with real added value, the 20th edition of the show will be more influential than ever with business transactions expected to reach an all-time high.”
The biggest edition in the show’s history, Gulfood 2015 is expected to attract more than 4,800 international companies from 120 countries and over 85,000 visitors from 170 countries. With billions of dollars’ worth of trading reported by exhibitors via their participation at last year’s show, the US pavilion alone - with almost 200 companies participating - generated show-floor and legacy sales of more than $300 million. Other countries with a long history of Gulfood participation including Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Italy, France, South Africa and Germany also reported excellent results and acknowledged the unprecedented global reach of the busiest show to date.
The United States, which is among the largest national pavilions at Gulfood 2015, is Dubai’s third largest trading partner contributing nine per cent annually, equivalent to around AED3 billion. The list is topped by India and Brazil, with shares of 12 and 10 per cent, respectively. While Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Western Europe are the major importers of food products from Dubai, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and India are some of the newest export markets - 82 percent of new export deals concluded in 2013 came from Saudi Arabia. According to Dubai Exports, Dubai is favorably placed to meet the growing demand for dried foods in Asia-Pacific and for pasta in Western Europe, with both regions witnessing strong demand for vegetable oil.
With quality of produce, Halal standards and freshness being of paramount importance, the regional market potential is strong for commodities, including the global meat industry. According to the Alpen Capital GCC Food Industry Report, the consumption of meat is expected to grow faster than any other food product through to 2017 at a CAGR of 3.9 per cent, followed by fruits, vegetables, milk and cereals.
Due to significant shifts in consumption patterns, particularly in emerging regions such as the Middle East, consumers are moving from carbohydrate-based foods to protein-rich diets, including meat and dairy. While traditional food habits still dominate, the growing GCC population – expected to exceed 50 million by 2020 - and rising affluence regional levels are leading to increased demand for premium protein-rich foods, particularly meat. — SG
Two more varieties of hybrid rice
introduced
Abu Bakar Siddique
The new varieties,
BADC Hybrid Dhan 2 and Buyer Hybrid Dhan 4, were released on Monday, each
variety having the capacity of producing around six tonnes of paddy per hectare
The government has introduced two more varieties of hybrid rice
for cultivation aiming to boost the rice production in the country.The new
varieties, BADC Hybrid Dhan 2 and Buyer Hybrid Dhan 4, were released on Monday,
each variety having the capacity of producing around six tonnes of paddy per
hectare.Anwar Faruque, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Seed
Wing, said the government gives priority to the cultivation of more hybrid
varieties to boost the food production in the country, and introducing the two
new hybrid varieties is a part of that.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the
annual paddy production, in Bangladesh is around 3.38 million tonnes.The paddy
production using traditional and locally developed high-yielding varieties are
two tonnes and 3.8 tonnes per hectare, respectively. The paddy production using
hybrid seed is 4.7 tonnes per hectare.Of the new hybrid paddy varieties, the
BADC Hybrid Dhan 2, sourced from China by Bangladesh Agricultural Development
Corporation (BADC), has the production capacity of 6.5-7.2 tonnes per hectare,
and the Buyer Hybrid 4, sourced from India by Bayer Crop Science, has the
production capacity of 6-6.5 tonnes per hectare, sources at the ministry said.Around
10-12% of the total paddy production in the country came from hybrid seeds,
which is very low in volume, said Anwar, who is also an additional secretary at
the ministry.
“The government is trying to enhance the use of hybrid seeds to
get more production in the gradually reducing agricultural land to ensure food
security of the country,” he added.The state-owned Bangladesh Rice Research
Institute (BRRI) has developed 62 varieties of paddy so far. Of them, the
number of hybrid varieties is only six.A total of 132 varieties of hybrid paddy
have been introduced in Bangladesh. Of them, the BADC developed two varieties,
the BRRI developed six, and the rest were developed by private companies.
Iftikhar Soomro made Director to Matco Rice BoDs
January 08, 2015
Pakistan's largest Basmati rice exporter, Matco Rice Processing
(Pvt) Limited has appointed Iftikhar Ahmed Soomro as an independent,
non-executive Director to its Board of Directors. Soomro brings along his vast corporate
experience of leading many prominent private and public sector companies of
Pakistan. He has previously served as the Chairman of APTMA and as a director
of Pakistan State Oil, Pfizer Pakistan, Park-Davis, Wyeth Pakistan, SITE, KESC,
Sindh Fine Textile Mills and other corporates. Soomro has also distinguished himself
in the field of public service, previously as an elected member of the Sindh
Assembly and member of Cabinet.
Currently he is the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of
Tunisia. Commenting on the
appointment, Jawed Ghori, Chairman of Matco Rice said: "We are extremely
pleased that Iftikhar Ahmed Soomro has joined the board of our company,
bringing with him a unique mix of skills and experience that will help the
board to guide Matco Rice to the next level of growth." Matco Rice is Pakistan's largest
Basmati rice exporter. International Finance Corporate (IFC), part of the World
Bank Group, is a shareholder of Matco Rice and invested equity in the company
for capacity-building to cater to increasing exports, support trade, and to
establish Matco as a global corporate in the region.-PR
http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/243266165/pMKmwRIp04fr0aPt
India, Pakistan spar over GI tag for Basmati rice
By: Sajan C Kumar | Chennai | January 8, 2015 12:36 am
India’s fight to protect its iconic Basmati rice outside the
country, especially in Pakistan, would be in jeopardy if it does not get the
geographical indicator (GI) tag in its own country without further delay, the
Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda)
has argued.Basmati rice growers in Pakistan reportedly have Basmati GI tag
partially registered in their country and a litigation was going on in a
Pakistan court between them and India’s Apeda over the GI tag given to Basmati
rice from Pakistan.In India, the application for GI tag for Basmati rice has
been mired in legal tangle with Madhya Pradesh government upping the ante
against the Apeda’s move to register GI tag without including the state.The
ongoing litigation in bodies such as GI Registry and Intellectual Property
Appellate Board (IPAB) has taken a long time and was threatening to weaken the
case, as close to 700 to 800 proceedings are pending across various countries.
In IPAB too, Pakistan’s Basmati Growers’ Association (BGA) has appealed against
granting of GI tag to Indian Basmati rice.Apeda, under the Union commerce
ministry, told the IPAB bench that the delay in the proceedings was hampering
the country’s prospects of protecting the rice variety as Pakistan has moved
the GI dispute tribunal against granting of GI tag to Basmati rice, arguing
that those historical geographies of Basmati rice producing areas, are now part
of Pakistan.When the case came up at IPAB, the counsel for Apeda requested for
an early hearing in the case as they are in a hurry to get the final order.“We
have to first get the GI tag for Basmati rice in India, so that we can
effectively counter Pakistan and other countries who are throwing challenges
against our Basmati rice variety,” the counsel said.After hearing Apeda,
Pakistan Basmati Growers Association, Madhya Pradesh government, the farmers
and a new organisation, who wanted to implead in the case, the IPAB bench of
Justice KN Basha, chairman and Sanjeev Kumar Chaswal, technical member,
adjourned the matter to February last week.The Bhopal-based New Darpan Social
Welfare Society had filed an implead application, seeking to be included as a
party to the proceedings.The Lahore-based BGA had also moved IPAB in appeal
against the order of the assistant registrar of GI Registry that ordered
inclusion of Madhya Pradesh in the amended application by Apeda. BGA had also
opposed granting of GI tag to Indian Basmati rice in totality.BGA had submitted
that Basmati is a name for a slender, aromatic and long grain variety of rice
grown in the specific geographical area at the foothills of the Himalayas in
Pakistan. It further argued in the appeal that only the rice grown in certain
areas of Punjab in Pakistan, where the rice kernels are grown on conventional
rice lands and they interact with the environment, atmosphere, soil and climate
to yield exquisite rice can be called Basmati in the true sense.The counsel for
BGA told FE that they have also appealed against the inclusion of Madhya
Pradesh in the areas for registration of GI tag for Basmati in India.Apeda had
filed an application with the GI Registry to register the name Basmati for rice
covering Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and part of
Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, omitting the state of Madhya Pradesh,
triggering protest from the farmers from the state as well as opposition from
the state government.They informed the assistant registrar of the GI Registry
that the non- inclusion of Madhya Pradesh in the Basmati growing area would
have an adverse affect on the lives of farmers who are mainly depending upon
Basmati cultivation and its exports.
Accordingly, GI Registry, asked Apeda to amend its application
for GI registration of Basmati rice to include the uncovered area, including
certain area in Madhya Pradesh. Against this, Apeda has approached IPAB with an
appeal against the order of assistant registrar of the GI Registry, issued on
December 31, 2013, which allowed the opposition by various parties, including
the department of farmer welfare and agriculture development of MP, Madhya
Kshetra Basmati Growers Association Samiti based in Raisen district among
others against the application of Apeda.
http://www.financialexpress.com/article/markets/commodities/india-pakistan-spar-over-gi-tag-for-basmati-rice/27319/
Porridge
could be key to a long and healthy life, says Harvard University
Eating porridge, brown rice or
corn each day could protect the heart against disease, Harvard University has
found
Youngsters who eat oats regularly are 50 per cent less likely to
be overweight, one study of 10,000 children found Photo: Tim
A small bowl of porridge each day
could be the key to a long and healthy life, after a major study by Harvard
University found that whole grains reduce the risk of dying from heart disease.Although
whole grains are widely believed to be beneficial for health it is the first
research to look at whether they have a long-term impact on lifespan.Researchers
followed more than 100,000 people for more than 14 years monitoring their diets
and health outcomes.Everyone involved in the study was healthy in 1984 when
they enrolled, but when they were followed up in 2010 more than 26,000 had
died.However those who ate the most whole grains, such as porridge, brown rice,
corn and quinoa seemed protected from many illnesses and particularly heart
disease.Oats are already the breakfast of choice for many athletes and also for
dieters, who find the high fibre levels give them energy for longer.But
scientists found that for each ounce (28g) of whole grains eaten a day – the
equivalent of a small bowl of porridge – the risk of all death was reduced by
five per cent and heart deaths by 9 per cent.“These findings further support
current dietary guidelines that recommend increasing whole-grain consumption,”
said lead author Dr Hongyu Wu of Harvard School of Public Health.“They also
provide promising evidence that suggests a diet enriched with whole grains may
confer benefits towards extended life expectancy.”The findings remained even
when allowing for different ages, smoking, body mass index and physical
activity.Whole grains, where the bran and germ remain, contain 25 per cent more
protein than refined grains, such as those that make white flour, pasta and
white rice.Previous studies have shown that whole grains can boost bone mineral
density, lower blood pressure, promote healthy gut bacteria and reduce the risk
of diabetes. One particular fibre found only in oats – called beta-glucan – has
been found to lower cholesterol which can help to protect against heart
disease. A bioactive compound called avenanthramide is also thought to stop fat
forming in the arteries, preventing heart attacks and strokes.Whole grains are
also widely recommended in many dietary guidelines because they contain high
levels of nutrients like zinc, copper, manganese, iron and thiamine. They are
also believed to boost levels of antioxidants which combat free-radicals.The
new research suggests that if more people switched to whole grains, thousands
of lives could be saved each year. Coronary heart disease is Britain’s biggest
killer, responsible for around 73,000 deaths in the UK each year. Around 2.3
million people are living with the condition and one in six men and one in 10
women will die from the disease.
Health experts said the study
proved that whole grains were beneficial to health
Victoria Taylor, Senior Dietician
at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This is an interesting study and
reinforces existing dietary recommendations to eat more foods high in fibre.
“People with a higher intake of
whole grains also tended to have a healthier overall lifestyle and diet so it
might not be the whole grains alone that are having the benefit in relation to
cardiovascular disease.
“But at this time of year when we
are all making resolutions to eat better, switching to whole-grain versions of
bread, breakfast cereals, pasta and rice is a simple change to make.”
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