New Zealand customs seizes $360,000 smuggled
drugs
WELLINGTON: Customs has stopped a
$360,000 supply of a “date rape” drug from hitting our streets. In one of the
biggest busts of its kind in New Zealand, officials intercepted 51 litres of
the Class B controlled drug gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) at Auckland International
Airport.Known as “coma in a bottle”, the synthetic colourless, odourless liquid
has been used as a date-rape drug, with ingestion causing drowsiness and
disorientation. It has been linked to at least one death.Manager of Customs’ Investigation
Unit, Maurice O’Brien, said the interception was a major success story in the
fight against drugs.“Bearing in mind this stuff is used by 1ml to 2ml at a
time, we’re talking up to 51,000ml,” he said.“Although the estimated street
value is high at $360,000, our focus is more the harm it does to society.“We’re
very happy that we’ve intercepted it and stopped it going through into the
community.”
http://customstoday.com.pk/new-zealand-customs-seizes-360000-smuggled-drugs-3/
El Nino
has emerged, Asia braces for crop damage
SYDNEY |
Drought affected land
is seen in the Las Canoas dam near San Francisco Libre July 18, 2014.
REUTERS/OSWALDO
RIVAS/FILES
In 2009, the El Nino
brought the worst drought in four decades to India. It razed wheat fields in
Australia and damaged crops across Asia. Food prices surged. A closely watched
forecast by Japan on Tuesday confirmed its return this year.A strong El Nino will
roil economies that are heavily dependent on agriculture, particularly India
which is already reeling from bad weather. It would also unhinge supply chains
of commodities such as rice, corn and palm oil. In fact, the heat is already up
in some places in the Asia Pacific."We've already been hit by a
three-month dry spell. We could not plant anything since January. All of us
here in Taculen are praying for more rains," said Benny Ramos, a rice
farmer in North Cotabato in southern Philippines.Prayers for rains in Asia,
however, may not be answered as weather forecasts show an intensifying El Nino
has set in.
The El Nino, or a
warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can lead to scorching
weather across Asia and east Africa but heavy rains and floods in South
America.This year, the El Nino arrived in spring and is likely to continue into
autumn, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, which was the first bureau to
project the emergence of an El Nino in 2015.Forecasts in
May tend to be more
accurate as weather models become more dependable here onwards, said Paul
Deane, senior agricultural economist at ANZ Bank, Melbourne."Now we are
getting to a point that you start having more confidence in those models,"
he said.Grain prices have, however, not yet factored in the threat to supplies
from an El Nino, largely because similar calls for bad weather in 2014 did not
come to pass. In fact, good crops replenished stocks last year.In the absence
of a weather premium, prices of grains such as wheat and rice remain near
multi-month lows. Wheat futures Wc1, down a fifth so far this year, are near
five-year lows, while Asia rice RI-THBKN5-P1 is at its weakest since June.The
last El Nino led to tens of billions of dollars in economic damages in the Asia
Pacific. This year, a strong El Nino could take an even bigger toll in certain
countries, analysts said.
For India, it would be
a double whammy.
I
NDIA: AMONG THE WORST
HIT
Dozens of farmers have
already committed suicide in India after damage from unseasonal rains this
year. Now if the summer rains are below normal, rural discontent will
deepen.The monsoons are vital for India as half its croplands lack irrigation
while the farm sector accounts for 14 percent of its economy. India's weather
bureau has forecast weaker rainfall this year, citing a 70 percent El Nino
probability."Crops like soybean and cotton are under El Nino watch for
being sown mainly in rainfed conditions," said K.K. Singh, the head of
agricultural meteorology division of the Indian weather office. "El Nino
looms large over soybean areas of the central parts and cotton belts of the
western and the northern regions."Fewer domestic soybeans, which are
crushed to produce soyoil, will prompt the world's No.1 edible oil importer to
buy more palm oil from top producers Indonesia and Malaysia.India's rice crop
would also be hit.While the No.2 rice exporter could use its record-high stocks
to meet a local shortfall, it would leave less available for sales at a time
when demand could rise from countries like the Philippines.More than half of
the provinces in the Philippines, one of the world's top rice importers, are
already suffering from dryness which has curbed its rice output.
AUSTRALIA: EARLY SIGNS
OF EL NINO
Early signs of El Nino
also emerged on Australia's east coast, with a poor end to the wet season in
Queensland and a dry autumn in Victoria, said ANZ's Deane.Australia's high
protein wheat output could suffer as an El Nino brings below-average late
winter and spring rainfall to the east coast. Spring rains in September are
vital for wheat yields in the fourth-biggest exporter of the grain.Australia's
weather bureau, which in April projected at least a 70 percent chance of an El
Nino emerging from July, on Tuesday said the weather pattern had already formed
and that models indicated a "substantial" event.
The other countries
bracing for an El Nino are China, Indonesia and Malaysia. China typically
escapes the fury of El Nino, but it is still on guard for its corn crop, which
needs a lot of water, said Ma Wenfeng, analyst at Beijing Orient Agri-business
Consultant Co.For the Southeast Asian countries, concerns are about
palm.Although the impact of a dry spell on oil palm trees will be felt later,
rising Indian demand and fears of tight supply should drive up prices of the
tropical oil. Palm prices 1FCPOc3 soared 57 percent in 2009, partly due to El
Nino.
Palm yields may be hit
if it is really dry because that will hurt the fruits, but otherwise if an El
Nino emerges in June, the effect will only be seen nine to 12 months later,
said Roy Lim, group plantations director at planter Kuala Lumpur
Kepong.(Additional reporting by Ho Binh Minh in HANOI, Colin Packham in SYDNEY,
Ratnajyoti Dutta in NEW DELHI, Anuradha Raghu in KUALA LUMPUR, Dominique Patton
in BEIJING, Kaweewit Kaewjinda in BANGKOK, Erik Dela Cruz in Manila and Yuka
Obayashi in TOKYO; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/12/weather-el-nino-rains-idINKBN0NX0CE20150512
Indonesia
will likely import rice, to decide by June: Minister
PUBLISHED ON
MAY 12, 2015 7:45 PM
JAKARTA (REUTERS) - Indonesia will likely need to import
rice but won't decide how much it will buy until around early June, a senior
government official said on Tuesday. "Whether or not we will import, I
think we will, but how much will be decided at the end of May or early
June," said Chief Economics Minister Sofyan Djalil when asked by reporters
if Indonesia will buy foreign rice.Indonesia has in the past imported 1 million
to 2 million tonnes of rice in a year, usually from Thailand or Vietnam.
: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/south-east-asia/story/indonesia-will-likely-import-rice-decide-june-minister-20150512#sthash.9ROuOHbn.dpuf
Rice
shipments to Africa to bounce back this year
Workers load rice for
export at the HCM City Food Company. Viet Nam's rice export turnover to
markets in Africa, West Asia and South Asia grew significantly in the first
three months to top US$71.3 million. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue
|
Africa accounted for
94.1 per cent of this figure, with shipments to key markets in the continent –
Ghana, Ivory Coast and South Africa – witnessing significant growth after a
steep plunge in 2014.Before last year's plunge, Vietnamese rice had seen strong
growth in Africa since 2011, the Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) newspaper
reported yesterday.In 2013, the country exported two million tonnes of rice to
the continent, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of total volume of rice
shipped abroad. Africa became Viet Nam's second largest rice importer that
year, after China
However, shipments to
Africa in 2014 declined in value to $425.7 million on the back of decreased
demand in the market and harsh competition from Thailand, India and
Pakistan.The department has submitted to the MoIT a plan to facilitate
Vietnamese rice exports to African markets. Trade analysts say that if the plan
is approved, another upsurge in shipments to the region is possible.The plan
will support local rice exporters in carrying out promotions and opening bonded
warehouses in Africa's larger markets like Angola, Ivory Coast and Cameroon.
This is expected to
increase direct exports to these market and avoid the risks of doing it through
a third party.Africa is now the largest rice consumer in the world with an
annual demand of over 9 million tonnes of rice, almost 6.5 million tonnes of
which is imported.In order to fully tap this potential, the ministry has
advised that Vietnamese exporters try and meet increasing demand in the market
for high-quality rice products, besides traditional rice. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/270156/rice-shipments-to-africa-to-bounce-back-this-year.html
Vietnam's
rice exports down in first 4 months: statistics
Xinhua News Agency
May 12,
2015 This article was produced by the Xinhua News Agency, the official
press agency of the People's Republic of China. Xinhua describes itself as the
"information organ of the central government." Given China’s size and
importance, GlobalPost publishes Xinhua’s press feed as a resource for its
readers and makes no claims as to journalistic accuracy.
Farmers of organic rice are paid at least 20 per cent more for
their produce than farmers of ordinary rice. Photo supplied
Vietnam's rice exports
down in first 4 months: statistics
HANOI, May 12 (Xinhua)
-- Vietnam's rice exports saw decrease of 0.5 percent in volume and 5 percent
in value in the first four months of 2015, said Vietnam Industry and Trade
Information Center (VITIC) on Tuesday.Specifically, during the period, Vietnam
exported some 2.04 million tons of rice, earning 889 million U.S. dollars,
reported VITIC, an agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade
(MoIT).Average price of Vietnamese rice during four-month period also
experienced a year-on-year decrease of 5.1 percent to 437 U.S. dollars per
ton.The MoIT's Export and Import Department attributed the drop in Vietnamese
rice exports to abundant supply and fierce competition in world rice market.
Huynh The Nang, head
of Vietnam Southern Food Corporation ( Vinafood 2) said on VITIC on Tuesday
that the Philippines, one of major Vietnam's rice importers, has bought some
300,000 tons of rice so far in 2015. Vietnam is expected to export some more
500, 000 tons of rice to the market this year.Nang assessed that Vietnam's rice
export market can be vibrant again in June-July this year as the country is
negotiating for more rice exports to Malaysia.In the short term, Vietnamese
rice may rely on its price competitiveness in order to gain contracts of
exporting rice to Southeast Asian nations, said Nang.Vietnam exported some 7.5
million tons of rice in 2014 via both official and cross-border export
transactions, said VITIC.In 2015, the country targeted to export 7-7.5 million
tons of rice. Currently, Vietnamese rice has been present in 135 countries and
regions worldwide, according to Export and Import Department.
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6545936/2015/05/12/vietnams-rice-exports-down-first-4-months-statistics
Should Cambodian rice go organic or
focus on mass production?
Tue, 12 May 2015
While the government pushes for an increase in the
exportation of rice, individual Cambodian farmers may benefit the most from
growing high-quality aromatic organic rice, which has won the first prize in
World Best Quality Rice Competition numerous times.For three consectuive years,
Cambodia has been champoined as the country capable of producing the world’s
highest quality rice. Kun Pidou – as the aromatic smell of the rice is called
in Khmer – may be a chance to promote natural, agricultural products – especially
rice – in the regional and international markets on a larger scale.
However, the government’s ambition to export one million
tons of rice on the whole seems to be encountering obstacles. Business people
in the rice sector lack the investment capital while farmers lack proper
technical support.In the first four months of 2015, Cambodian rice exportation
only reached 201,183 tons, according to a report from Cambodian Rice Exports
Association.Even so, Dr Yang Saing Koma, president of the Cambodian Center for
Study and Development of Agriculture, (CEDAC) said he believed that Cambodia
seems to have more ability to compete in the organic market.Over three million
hectares of rice fields are spread out over Cambodia, of which 10 to 20 per
cent were not chemically treated, according to Dr Yang.
“That land has potential to produce organic rice and
other organic crops,”he said.CEDAC has taught thousands of farmers about
organic products and how to increase yields over the past few years. However,
high numbers of farmers attend seminars for organic planting, less then half
follow through with the method.“To transform rice fields into a natural or
organic land, we have to reduce chemical fertilizers or pesticides for three
years and replace them with fertilizers and pesticides composed of plant
extractions instead,” he explained.This three-year transition process was what
was affecting farmers’ daily lives in some of the biggest provinces, as they
needed more yields to sell in the market in order to make income.
“In order to get the proper amount of organic product,
the land needs to meet specific rice type, harvesting and plantation methods,
transportation and stock conditions,” Dr Yang said.“Generally, organic rice is
worth at least 10 per cent more than ordinary rice, and organic fruits and
vegetables cost even more,” he added.
To make Dr Yang’s dream a reality, CEDAC has been
conducting analyses on the organic agricultural community by having expert
observers take notes on every process from planting to harvesting to
transporting the product into stores.“Both the national and international
monitoring team of CEDAC experts give certifications to famers who are
producing rice according to the organic method,” Dr Yang said. “Members in the
organic community increased to 500 families in 2014. This figure will double in
2015.”One of CEDAC’s initiatives is to set up a new guide line called “Sethey
Srok Sre – Millionaire Farmers” in 2022, which means that farmers will become some
of the richest families with high living standards through sustainable farming
and good health that accompanies organic farming principles. To ensure the
rather ambitious – if not utopian – project moves forward and reaches its
target, CEDAC will launch a book which features the organic agricultural method
– which shall eventually lead to “Millionaire Farmers”
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/special-reports/should-cambodian-rice-go-organic-or-focus-mass-production
CORRECTED-Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-
May 12
Nagpur, May 12 Gram and tuar prices showed weak
tendency in Nagpur Agriculture
Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on
poor demand from local millers amid release of
stock from stockists. Fresh fall on NCDEX in
gram, good overseas tuar arrival and easy condition
in Madhya Pradesh pulses also pulled down
prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram
varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.
TUAR
* Tuar
gavarani declined further in open market on poor buying support from local
traders amid ample stock in ready position.
*
Lakhodi dal and watana varieties firmed up again in open market on good
marriage
season demand from local traders amid weak supply from producing
regions.
* Wheat
Sharbadi best and medium varieties reported strong in open market on increased
seasonal demand from local traders amid thin supply from producing
belts.
* In
Akola, Tuar - 7,200-7,500, Tuar dal - 10,000-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600,
Udid
Mogar (clean) - 10,900-11,300, Moong - 9,100-9,400, Moong Mogar
(clean) 10,900-11,300, Gram - 4,300-4,600, Gram Super best bold -
6,200-6,400
for
100 kg.
* Other
varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in
poor trading activity, according to sources.
Nagpur
foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS
Available prices Previous
close
Gram
Auction
3,700-4,580 3,700-4,640
Gram
Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar
Auction 5,500-7,080 5,500-7,130
Moong
Auction n.a. 6,000-6,300
Udid
Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram
Super Best Bold
6,500-6,700 6,500-6,700
Gram
Super Best n.a.
Gram
Medium Best 6,300-6,400 6,300-6,400
Gram
Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram
Mill Quality 5,500-5,700 5,500-5,700
Desi
gram Raw 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700
Gram
Filter new 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200
Gram
Kabuli 5,000-6,800 5,000-6,800
Gram
Pink 6,300-6,500 6,300-6,500
Tuar
Fataka Best
10,500-10,800 10,500-10,800
Tuar
Fataka Medium
10,000-10,300 10,000-10,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,500-9,800 9,500-9,800
Tuar
Dal Medium phod
9,000-9,400 9,000-9,400
Tuar
Gavarani New 7,650-7,750 7,700-7,800
Tuar
Karnataka 7,900-8,000 7,900-8,000
Tuar
Black 10,700-11,000 10,700-11,000
Masoor dal best
7,400-7,600 7,400-7,600
Masoor dal medium
6,900-7,300 6,900-7,300
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong
Mogar bold
11,000-11,500 11,000-11,500
Moong
Mogar Medium best
10,200-10,600 10,200-10,600
Moong
dal Chilka 9,200-9,800 9,200-9,800
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong
Chamki best 9,500-9,900 9,500-9,900
Udid
Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)
11,100-11,500 11,100-11,500
Udid
Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
9,800-10,500 9,800-10,500
Udid
Dal Black (100 INR/KG)
8,400-8,800 8,400-8,800
Batri
dal (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
3,200-3,350 3,000-3,250
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,450 3,050-3,300
Watana White (100 INR/KG)
2,450-2,625 2,400-2,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)
3,700-4,800 3,600-4,800
Wheat
308 (100 INR/KG) 1,500-1,800 1,500-1,800
Wheat
Mill quality(100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat
Filter (100 INR/KG)
1,500-1,700 1,500-1,700
Wheat
Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)
2,250-2,550 2,250-2,550
Wheat
Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)
n.a. n.a.
MP
Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)
3,200-3,750 3,100-3,500
MP
Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)
2,700-3,000 2,600-2,900
Wheat
147 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat
Best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200
Rice
BPT New(100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice
BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,300 3,000-3,300
Rice
Parmal (100 INR/KG)
1,600-1,800 1,600-1,800
Rice
Swarna new (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,400 2,100-2,400
Rice
Swarna old (100 INR/KG)
2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700
Rice
HMT new(100 INR/KG)
3,300-3,700 3,300-3,700
Rice
HMT (100 INR/KG)
4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400
Rice
HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)
4,200-4,500 4,200-4,500
Rice
HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,200 4,600-5,200
Rice
Basmati best (100 INR/KG)
8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice
Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)
6,000-7,500 6,000-7,500
Rice
Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)
4,600-5,200 4,600-5,200
Rice
Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000
Jowar
Gavarani (100 INR/KG)
2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200
Jowar
CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,450 2,300-2,450
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 42.0 degree Celsius (107.6 degree
Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
23.3 degree Celsius (73.9 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : 0.2 mm
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or
thunder-showers likely towards evening or night. Maximum and minimum
temperature would be around and 43 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)
http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/05/12/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0Y354Y20150512
Thai rice
producers urged to improve rice quality
Rice producers urged to improve
rice quality
BANGKOK, 12 May 2015 (NNT) –
The Thai government is expected to take actions to promote rice exports, after
global demand declined during the first quarter of this year.
The Department of
International Trade Promotion said that the oversupply of rice from India and Vietnam
in the global market has reduced the price and market share of Thai
rice.Thailand has also been unable to grow more rice due to water shortages in
many arable areas. The stronger baht has also affected the export of Thai rice,
compared to neighboring nations.Spokesperson for the
Prime Minister’s Office Yongyut Maiyalap has encouraged rice producers to
improve rice quality, given the demand for high quality grains both
domestically and globally.Many countries have continued to buy rice from
Thailand, despite the sluggish global economy.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-rice-producers-urged-to-improve-rice-quality/61379/
Govt
to consider release of more stockpiled rice
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation May 13,
2015 1:00 am
As rice farmers enter
the end of the second-crop harvest, the government will soon consider reopening
bidding for rice from its stockpiles - before the year's main harvest season
begins in late August.
The
plan to release more rice from the stockpiles is part of the government's goal
to shift a total of 10 million tonnes from its warehouses over the course of
this year.The warehouses currently hold about 16 million tonnes.Duangporn
Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that
after suspending the release of rice for the past few months, it was now time
to reconsider further sales due to lower supply in the market."The Rice
Policy Management Committee will next Monday consider whether to open the third
round of rice bidding for this year. The government will carefully consider the
impact on rice prices in the market, and will also consider other factors such
as demand, and rice supplies by other countries," she explained.
Duangporn
added that despite slowly releasing rice from the stockpiles, the government
was maintaining its target for releasing 10 million tonnes of the crop this
year.The department is also sticking to its forecast of pushing exports to 10
million tonnes this year, although exporters foresee lower shipments of between
8 million and 8.5 million tonnes.In the first four months of the year, Thailand
exported about 3.3 million tonnes of rice, against 3.8 million tonnes in the
same period last year.The department chief said that despite lower export
volume so far this year, the emphasis was on shipping high-quality rice,
including parboiled rice and jasmine rice, overseas sales of which had risen 6
per cent year on year in the period.To promote Thailand as supplier of the
world's best-quality rice to the world market, the Commerce Ministry has
organised the "Thailand Rice Convention 2015" next week under the
theme "Think rice think Thailand…serving the best quality rice to the
world".
Duangporn
said the government would focus on increasing the value of Thai rice, which
would enable the world market to recognise the Kingdom as not only a major
supplier, but also as a supplier of good-quality rice.Thailand's efforts will
also help increase food security in the world market, as it offers a full
variety of rice grains to consumers anytime, anywhere and in any amount, she
added.The convention, which takes place from May 19-21 at Impact Muang Thong
Thani's Hall 4, will be chaired by Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, while
many experts in the rice industry will participate in the seminar.The
convention is expected to attract more than 500 participants from 40 countries
for an exchange of knowledge and views on rice and rice trading.International
rice traders, millers and farmers will be among those attending.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Govt-to-consider-release-of-more-stockpiled-rice-30259918.html
Fed
Govt unveils 2015 rice import allocations
Under this
year’s import quota, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,
identified 22 companies that will receive quota allocations for 2015 out of the
number that was approved last year.In the letter titled, “Approved List of
Companies Allocated Rice Import quota for April 2015- March 2016 period”, it is
stated that certain criteria informed the trimming down of the number of
companies from last year’s figure.It reads in part: “In line with the Federal
Government’s policy (“the Policy”) to ensure self-sufficiency in rice by 2014,
domestic rice production and milling operations continue to rise, which has
resulted in a reduction in rice requirements of the country”
.As was the
practice in 2014 and in line with the policy, the allocation of import quotas
continues to be made along the explicit criteria set for encouraging domestic
production and domestic milling of rice, to lead to self-sufficiency. These
criteria are based on the extent of existing domestic milling capacity as well
as along four (4) specific items that assess each company’s ongoing investment
outlay into domestic rice production and milling.
These include
the following: Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP): demonstrate evidence of
current or planned investment in domestic rice production over a 3-year period,
size of investment, proof of land acquisition and establishment of rice fields
and paddy production, paddy purchase outlook from Paddy Aggregation Centres
(PAC): Demonstrate a clear plan of purchase of paddy from PACs, should include
location of PACs, volumes of paddy to be purchased among others.
http://thenationonlineng.net/new/fed-govt-unveils-2015-rice-import-allocations/
APEDA
INDIA NEWS
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World Rice
Production 2015/2016
May
2015
This
month the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
estimates that the World
Rice Production 2015/2016 will
be 482.1 million metric tons, around 7.51 million tons more than the previous
month's projection.
Rice
Production last year (*) was 475.69 million tons. This year's 482.1 estimated
million tons could represent an increase of 6.42 million tons or a 1.35% in rice production around the globe.
Rice
Production by Country
(Values
in Metric Tons)
China: 146,000,000
India: 104,000,000
Others: 40,500,000
Indonesia: 36,650,000
Bangladesh: 35,000,000
Vietnam: 28,200,000
Thailand: 19,800,000
Burma: 12,800,000
Philippines: 12,400,000
Brazil: 8,300,000
Japan: 7,900,000
United
States: 6,954,000
Pakistan: 6,900,000
Cambodia: 4,900,000
Egypt: 4,600,000
Korea,
South: 4,100,000
Nepal: 3,100,000
Next
Update will be June 10,
2015.
https://www.worldriceproduction.com/?Referer=Newsletter
President harvests V-2016 dry season rice FIELDS in crr
May 11, 2015
As part of the implementation of the country’s
anti-hunger agenda, the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji
Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh has led dry season harvest exercise at one of the vast
rice fields cultivated in the Central River Region (CRR) south.The harvesting
exercise, marked the beginning of the dry season harvesting of the Vision 2016
rice fields in the provincial communities paving way for engaging farmers on
dry season farming in the rural country.The field is one of the biggest among
the many Vision 2016 rice fields, which are specifically cultivated in that
part of the country as part of the broad implementation of the Vision 2016 food
self-sufficiency agenda. They are the only rice fields being harvested in the
dry season in the country as at now in the context of The Gambia’s food
self-sufficiency drive. The first harvest of
the
Vision 2016 rice farms was in November 2014.Friday afternoon harvesting
exercise was his (the president) first engagement in that southern part of CRR
since arrival on Thursday evening in Janjangbureh, the administrative
headquarters of region, as part of his assessment on the progress of dry season
agricultural activities and the state of preparedness for the rainy season
cultivation in the context of the country’s anti hunger crusade sanctioned in
2013.Meanwhile, thousands of people had lined up the road to give President
Jammeh and his entourage befitting welcome as well as to show solidarity and
love for the president.
They are very appreciative of their leader’s
agricultural initiatives, which have resulted to success stories today. Many of
the farmers, who often render labour work on the fields, heaped praises on The
Gambian leader for providing the necessary conditions, which has improved their
livelihoods.
Since its launching in 2013, the V-2016 has been drawing wider
support within and outside The Gambia with the overall idea of ending
decades-long importation of food, especially rice into the country.
Pacharr rice field
Pacharr rice fields, which is being harvested
for the second time since the start of Vision 2016 campaign, has long been
experimented to serve as Gambia’s main food basket and has this year been
turned into massive production sites by the president of the Republic to serve
the very purpose of their existence.The Pacharr field covers about 1,105
hectares and between 1966 and 1969, a Chinese (Taiwan) agricultural team
introduced rice cultivation via the method of irrigation on Janjanbureh Island.
This initial enthusiasm soon faded and the project ran out of steam. Another
Chinese team followed this in 1974-1975 that set up base at the Sapu Rice
Research Station.In 1973, The Gambia government started its development
project. In 1982, a rice irrigation project was started at the Jahali and
Pacharr Smallholder Rice Development Fields involving 1,474 hectares.About 30
years later on May 8th this month, 2015, the field (Pacharr) yielded its second
harvest, part of which the field has been left uncultivated after many years.
It proved a resounding success with yields expecting to surpass all
expectations.
Visit to Jakoto rice fields
Visit to Sambang-Mandinka
From Jakoto, the president and delegation
proceeded to Sambang-Mandinka also in the Niamina where he visited a vast land
area suitable for large-scale rice cultivation. This land, according to the
community, only a small portion is put under cultivation for many years due to
access road and dwindling interest in rice cultivation by the community.
Visit and meeting
On Sunday, the president and delegation
visited Janjangbureh and Pacharr fields in the Lower Fulladu and Janjangbureh
constituencies before presiding over to another well-attended meeting organised
by the APRC party supporters, militants and well-wishers in Brikamaba in the
Lower Fulladu District.
More about Vision 2016
by Musa Ndow & Amadou Jallow in CRR
http://observer.gm/president-harvests-v-2016-dry-season-rice-fields-in-crr/
USDA
Seeks Input From Growers About 2015 Crops
And the survey says...
Growers will provide information
on crop acreage - including biotech crops-as well as grain stocks and other
items."We recognize this is a hectic time for farmers and ranchers, but
the information they provide is essential to everyone involved in U.S.
agriculture," said Nathan Crisp, State Statistician from the NASS
Louisiana field office. "I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank
them for their cooperation."Crisp added, "NASS safeguards the privacy
of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data, ensuring
that no individual operation or producer can be identified."NASS will
compile and analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series
of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage reportand quarterly Grain Stocks
report, both to be released June 30, 2015. The survey data collected are also
used in other NASS and USDA reports.All reports are available on the NASS
website: www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports,
call the NASS Delta Regional Office at (800) 327-2970.
Contact: Randy Jemison (337) 738-7009
CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
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New Missouri
greenhouse to boost rice breeding
May 11, 2015 | Delta Farm Press
Southeast Missouri State University and the
Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council are developing a rice breeding
greenhouse to promote the creation of new high yielding rice varieties. (Photo: Southeast Missouri State
University)
RELATED MEDIA
Donn Beighley, rice research
fellow and rice breeder at Southeast, said it is important to build the
greenhouse at the Malden regional campus because of its proximity to the
Missouri Rice Research Farm, Southeast’s rice laboratory, and to Southeast’s
regional campus in Kennett. Student enrollment is growing, he said, and
Southeast believes the greenhouse will enhance those students’ knowledge and
skills about plant breeding.“The students from the surrounding extended
learning centers in Malden and Kennett will benefit by having hands-on
experience with the plants they see grown in the surrounding fields and
horticultural plants that they may not be exposed to otherwise as well as see
how a plant breeding program develops,” Beighley said.The greenhouse has two
purposes.
It will be used to enhance rice breeding
efforts by allowing the rice breeder to grow and house rice varieties used in
the breeding program each year and then to grow out during the winter months
the offspring of the varieties bred.Breeding brings together a type of rice
with certain genetics, such as durability or a quick rate of growth, with
another variety of rice with desirable characteristics for propagation to
create a new and, hopefully improved, variety of rice.Beighley says the
greenhouse will be used to grow and house specific rice varieties used to
advance the breeding program. He added it may even be used for the actual
breeding procedures. Some of these varieties will be from plants grown in the
field and others will be started from seed in the
greenhouse.The greenhouse also will be used to grow other species of
plants that can be used to enhance students’ knowledge in teaching labs for
some agriculture courses.
“Having space for growing
plants for student projects associated with undergraduate research or class
projects is a necessary instructional piece,” Aide said.Nick Thiele, director
of Southeast Missouri State University-Malden, said, “We are very excited about
this project and the versatility it will bring to Dr. Beighley’s research as
well as the expanded learning opportunities for our students.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/new-missouri-greenhouse-boost-rice-breeding?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+May+12%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
Rice imports fall on govts duty move
5/12/2015
The Financial Express (Bangladesh)
The Financial Express (Bangladesh)
Bangladesh, May 12 -- Rice imports in the private sector fell in the last
one month amid the government's move to withdraw the zero duty facility on
it.The government move alongside the price fall in the local market led the
local importers to adopt a cautious stance.But the
decline was yet to leave any positive impact on local prices as paddy was still
trading at prices 20-25 per cent below the production cost in the peak harvest
season, according to market insiders.Private importers brought in 1.276 million (12.76 lakh)
tonnes of rice through the legal channel until April 07 last in the fiscal year
(FY) 2014-15. It accounted for 4,600 tonnes per day on an average, an official
at the Directorate General of Food (DGoF) said.
"But in the last one month (April 08
to May 07), importsdeclined
to just 1,100 tonnes per day as importers brought in 34,000 tonnes during the
period," he added.He said the downward trend of paddy and rice prices in
the domestic market and the government's move to slap duty on rice were behind
the decline in imports.Finance
Minister AMA Muhith at a function on Sunday said the government decided to
impose 10 per cent duty onimport of
rice, in place of the zero tariff earlier offered.Earlier, the zero tariff on
rice import, coupled
with the lower prices in Indian markets, encouraged the privateimporters to go for import on a wide scale in the current
fiscal.Md Sarwar Alam Kajol, an importer,
told the FE that businesses almost stopped opening new letters of credit (L/Cs)
following the fall in local rice prices.
He said many traders had been maintaining
a cautious stance since the first week of April on speculations that the
government might impose duty on rice imports.He
also said the prices of rice starting increasing in India over a projection
that overall rice output might decline there.Rice trader at Nilphamari Sadar Md
Hazrat Ali (Sajib) told the FE that mill gate prices of the local Swarna
variety were Tk 21.5-22.0 per kg while the newly milled Brridhan-28 was being
sold at Tk 24.0-24.5 per kg.He also said the prices of Swarna were Tk 25.0-26.0
a month back.Md Anisuzzaman Fakir, a farmer-trader at Pakerhat in Dinajpur said
the Brridhan-28 variety of paddy was being sold at Tk 550-580 per maund and
Miniket variety Tk 650-680 per maund on Saturday.He said the prices increased
by Tk 20-40 per maund in the last seven days but still were below the
production cost.He said Brridhan-28 was selling at prices lower by Tk 150-200
than their production cost of Tk740-750 per maund.
And the Miniket variety was sold at prices
lower by Tk 100-150 than the production cost of Tk 800 per maund, he
said.Economist Prof Gazi M Jalil told the FE that the government took much time
to take the decision on restricting rice import."But
the farmers who are yet to harvest crops might get benefit from the move,"
he said.He said the government should enact a time-befitting riceimport and export policy to protect the interests of the
country's people.He said: "Government should consider rice always a
strategic crop which could help it in framing a farmers-friendly import policy.
"According to the Department of
Agriculture Extension (DAE), Boro has been cultivated on 4.84 million hectares
of land this year and 48 per cent of the crop was harvested until Sunday
evening.Secretary of Bangladesh Auto Major Husking Mills Owners Association KM
Layek Ali said 60 per cent of the millers had been idle for the unnecessary import and political turbulence over the last
few months.He said: "But many millers have started buying paddy after
getting assurance from the government about restricting the rice import.
"He urged the government to impose 25
to 50 per cent duty on Indian rice based on varieties.According to the
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) and the Directorate General of Food
(DGoF), the country produced 34.465 million tonnes of rice in the last financial
year against the demand for 31.0 million tonnes.The BBS latest data also shows
the Aman and Aus production was 13.2 million and 2.328 million tonnes
respectively in the current financial year.
Published by HT Syndication with permission from The
Financial Express. For any query with respect to this article or any other
content requirement, please contact Editor athtsyndication@hindustantimes.com
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2361848142
Nigeria reduces rice import target for 2015 by 200,000MT
By Adesanya Alao
May 12, 2015
09:11:56am GMT
WorldStage Newsonline—The Federal Government of
Nigeria has reviewed its rice import allocations for 2015 by 200,000 metric
tonnes (MT) to 1.3 million MT from 1.5 million in 2014.According to a letter
from the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi A.
Adesina to the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, one million MT of this quota has been set aside as
allocations to existing rice millers, importers and new investors with approved
Domestic Rice Production Plans (DRPP), at a preferential levy of 20 per cent
and duty of 10 per cent.“This year's supply gap is 200,000 MT lower than 2014,
as rice importers with no DRPP will account for the remaining 0.3 million MT at
the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent,” the letter
confirmed.In 2014, rice importers and new investors were required to post a
Domestic Rice Production Performance Bond from a qualifying bank to clearly
demonstrate their commitment to domestic investment plans in rice production
and processing.
Under this year's import quota, theFederal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development identified 22 companies that will
receive quota allocations for 2015 out of the number that was approved last
year.In the letter titled “Approved List of Companies Allocated Rice Import
quota for April 2015- March 2016 period”, it was stated that certain criteria
informed the trimming down of the number of companies from last year’s figure
to what obtained this year.The letter to the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy
reads in part: “In line with the Federal Government’s policy (“the Policy”) to
ensure self-sufficiency in rice by 2014, domestic rice production and milling
operations continue to rise, which has resulted in a reduction in rice
requirements of the country.“As was the practice in 2014 and in line with the
Policy, the allocation of import quotas continues to be made along the explicit
criteria set for encouraging domestic production and domestic milling of rice,
to lead to self-sufficiency.
These criteria are based on the extent of
existing domestic milling capacity as well as along four (4) specific items
that assess each company’s ongoing investment outlay into domestic rice
production and milling.“These include the following: Domestic Rice Production
Plan (DRPP): demonstrate evidence of current or planned investment in domestic
rice production over a 3-year period, size of investment, proof of land
acquisition and establishment of rice fields and paddy production, paddy
purchase outlook from Paddy Aggregation Centres (PAC): Demonstrate a clear plan
of purchase of paddy from PACs, should include location of PACs, volumes of
paddy to be purchased among others.
“Paddy purchase outlook from out-grower farmers
and farmer cooperatives should include location of farms, volumes of paddy to
be purchased, among others. Ownership of Integrated Rice Milling Facility (with
par boilers and dehuskers): size of planned installed capacity (score relative
to the largest sized facility, evidence of acquisition of integrated rice
milling equipment, e.t.c“In addition to existing millers and new investors,
only the re-applying companies who submitted bonds in 2014 were allocated
quotas in the current 2015-2016 round.
Companies that failed to present the Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development with a Bond have not been given quotas for
the full year April 2015 to March 2016. Consequently, import quota allocations
to 22 approved companies with a total allocation of 961,000 MT were
issued.”Already, the Ministry has sent letters to all the 22 approved companies
and copied Dr. Okonjo-Iweala as well as the Comptroller-General of Nigeria
Customs Service. The letter extensively informed the companies of their
approved quotas, which qualified for 10 per cent duty or 20 per cent levy as
the case might be. The Comptroller General of Customs was mandated to
facilitate enforcement of the approved allocations.
http://worldstagegroup.com/index.php?active=news&newscid=22246&catid=36
Jute
mills seek better policy
A
Staff Reporter
Calcutta,
May 12: The Indian Jute Mills Association has written to Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee seeking a comprehensive policy to help generate demand for jute
bags and facilitate the reopening of closed mills.Demand for bags from the
various state government agencies for this year's rabi crop has significantly
come down and is unlikely to improve in the coming months, Indian Jute Mills
Association chairman Raghavendra Gupta said."Had Bengal announced a state
jute policy under which the packaging of potatoes and rice could have been
included, all jute mills in Bengal would have probably continued production
well beyond April 2015," Gupta said in the letter.In the last two months,
15 mills have closed down. There are 59 mills in the state, which offer
livelihood to about 3 lakh workers.Gupta said about 1200 rice millers in Bengal
were flouting the provisions of mandatory jute packaging.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150513/jsp/business/story_19724.jsp#.VVMiIPlViko
Nigeria:
Adesina and the Rice Import Saga
OPINION
By Dele Omojuyigbe
Lagos — It is
quite antithetical that Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural
development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, is right now facing troubling public
scrutiny at the twilight of his tenure as a celebrated public servant. Adesina
who has hitherto enjoyed generous public applause since he was made a minister
in 2010 by President Goodluck Jonathan, now has to contend with the other side
of publicity. He is being accused of contravening a presidential order for
granting licence to unqualified rice importers. Report has it that President
Jonathan had directed the minister to give import licences to rice millers in
the country so as to curtail scarcity of the commodity.
But rather than
raise an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the allocation process, he
unilaterally administered the allocation which is said to be at variance with
the supply gap of the quantity required.But the minister says that his
traducers are at work just because he disallowed them from corrupting the
system. He asks if anybody has ever been allowed to lobby, beg or plead for
anything in his ministry since he became the boss there. His offence, he says,
is that he has insisted on due process and that those owing government must
pay. The dilemma beckons here. For what selfish reasons would Adesina have done
what he is accused of doing especially when he is almost leaving office with
high praise. Even his employer, President Jonathan as well as the
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, appreciates him. They are both supporting
him to become the next president of African Development Bank (AfDB).
http://allafrica.com/stories/201505120626.html
Australian scientists warn El Nino will bring extreme weather patterns
this year
The last El Nino five years ago had a
major impact with monsoons in Southeast Asia, droughts in southern Australia,
the Philippines and Ecuador, blizzards in the United States, heatwaves in
Brazil and killer floods in Mexico.
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 12 May, 2015, 6:12pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 12 May, 2015, 6:13pm
El Nino can cause havoc for farmers and global agricultural
markets, hitting economies heavily dependent on the land. Photo: Reuters
Australian scientists on Tuesday forecast a “substantial”
El Nino weather phenomenon for 2015, potentially spelling deadly and costly
climate extremes, after officially declaring its onset in the tropical
Pacific.El Nino had been expected last year when record-breaking temperatures
made 2014 the hottest in more than a century.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said while the
thresholds were not met until now it was expected to be a significant event.The
Japan Meteorological Agency also confirmed the phenomenon had begun and
forecast it would continue into late 2015.“There’s always a little bit of doubt
when it comes to intensity forecasts, but across the models as a whole we’d
suggest that this will be quite a substantial El Nino event,” David Jones, from
the bureau’s climate information services branch said.“Certainly the models
aren’t predicting a weak event. They are predicting a moderate-to-strong El
Nino event.
So this is a proper El Nino event, this is not a weak one
or a near miss as we saw last year.”The El Nino phenomenon – which is
associated with drought conditions in Australia – can cause havoc for farmers
and global agricultural markets, hitting economies heavily dependent on the
land.The last El Nino five years ago had a major impact with monsoons in
Southeast Asia, droughts in southern Australia, the Philippines and Ecuador,
blizzards in the United States, heatwaves in Brazil and killer floods in
Mexico.It occurs when the trade winds that circulate over waters in the
tropical Pacific start to weaken and sea surface temperatures rise.US officials
announced earlier this year that the long-awaited El Nino had arrived, but the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration described it as of “weak strength”.Australian
scientists said models were now showing it was likely to see an increased
intensity from about September and have potential global impacts.
“Last year we saw some indices, such as the sea surface
temperatures at times exceed El Nino thresholds,” Jones explained. “But we
didn’t see them all coming together at the same time or we didn’t see it
sustained.”He said this year’s pattern could create drier conditions in
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and parts of Southeast Asia.In the past it has caused
heavier-than-normal rainfall in the eastern Pacific and South America – raising
the spectre of floods and landslides, while the southwest United States and
southern Africa tend to be drier.An El Nino is potentially a bad sign for large
swathes of Australia, including the states of Queensland and New South Wales,
which are already in the grip of severe drought.
Neil Plummer, the bureau’s assistant director for climate
information services, said it was often associated with below average rainfall
across eastern Australia and warmer temperatures in the southern half over the
hottest months.“The onset of El Nino in Australia in 2015 is a little earlier
than usual,” he said, adding that this was the first such phenomenon in the
tropical Pacific since March 2010.“Prolonged El Nino-like conditions have meant
that some areas are more vulnerable to the impact of warmer temperatures and
drier conditions.
Industries at risk
The return of the El Nino weather pattern promises a major
impact on agriculture. In 2009, El Nino caused the worst drought in four
decades in India and ravaged croplands across Asia, driving food prices to
multi-year highs. Crops most at risk include:
WHEAT
Australia’s high-protein wheat crop is likely to take a hit
with El Nino expected to bring dry weather across its eastern grain belt. Wheat
is planted in April-May and the period that makes or breaks the crop is in
September. Some rains in recent weeks in parts of the east coast have
encouraged farmers to plant.
RICE
Although there are abundant stocks of rice in key producers
India and Thailand, El Nino is likely to curb the output of Asia’s staple food.
This would provide a floor under rice prices that are trading around 12 per
cent below last year’s peak. A rally in rice has the potential of stoking
inflationary fears and unrest in the region. Rice is planted in May-July and
requires rains between July and August.
SOYBEANS
Soybean production would take a hit in India, Asia’s second
largest producer of the oilseed, if El Nino brings dry weather to the western
and central regions of the country. This could prompt India to import more palm
oil and spur further potential gains in prices. Soybeans are planted in
June-July and the crop needs rains in August-September.
PALM
OIL
El Nino does not hit palm oil supplies immediately as it
takes about nine months to a year for oil palm trees to show stress due to
drought. But rising demand from top importers India and China as well as
concerns over an eventual tightening in supplies due to any crop stress will
boost prices. About 90 per cent of palm oil, which accounts for 35 per cent of
global edible oil supply, is produced in Indonesia and Malaysia.
CORN
Corn production in China and India is also at risk.
Typically, China escapes the brunt of El Nino but corn yields may be curbed as
the crop needs relatively higher volumes of water. India could see its crop
exports drop, helping US and South American suppliers sell more.
Additional reporting by Reuters
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1794415/australian-scientists-warn-el-nino-will-bring-extreme-weather-patterns
China mulls buying farm goods
12 May 2015
An official walks past a
pile of paddy stored in a warehouse in Nakhon Ratchasima province during a
quality inspection early this year. Thailand is gearing up to sell more rice
and other farm products to China. cHANAT KATANYU
Deliveries
are set for this year and next.The contract will be made through the
China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation, the giant
state enterprise that oversees rice imports, to ensure
transparency.The Thai government insists the selling prices under the deal will
be free-on-board prices.The transaction with China is unrelated to an earlier
deal for 1 million tonnes struck by the Yingluck Shinawatra government.
Thailand
has already delivered 400,000 tonnes as part of that deal.Gen Chatchai said in
addition to rice and rubber, Thai authorities would try to convince the Chinese
to extend their purchases to other farm products.The government has vowed to
dispose of 17-18 million tonnes of rice in state stockpiles
accumulated from the previous administration within two years, with 10 million
tonnes to be sold this year.In his round-up last month of the ministry's
six-month performance, Gen Chatchai said the ministry had sold 3 million tonnes
of state rice for more than 36 billion baht during the period.Of the 3 million
tonnes, 2 million were sold through general auctions and 1 million through
government-to-government contracts.
Of
the 10 million tonnes it hopes to sell this year, 6 million will be
high-quality grain, with degraded rice accounting for the rest.However, many
rice exporters warn Thailand is unlikely to regain its crown as the world's
largest rice exporter this year due to the slower-than-expected global economic
recovery and a dearth of positive factors.Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary
president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, last week said
Thailand was expected to ship only 8.5 million tonnes this year.This would be
well below the 10-11 million tonnes projected by the Commerce Ministry.Rice
shipments are expected to be inactive overall but particularly in the second
and third quarters, Mr Chookiat added.
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