16th June (Tuesday),2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

June    16,2015

 

NFA bidding out milled rice supply deal

By: Ronnel W. Domingo

@inquirerdotnet

Philippine Daily Inquirer

12:26 AM June 16th, 2015

The National Food Authority is rebidding Tuesday a contract for the importation of 100,000 tons of milled rice as the Philippines is expected to remain among the world’s top rice importers in 2016.This volume formed part of the 250,000 tons programmed for importation in the third quarter.In a government-to-government auction held at NFA headquarters last week, the NFA awarded a contract for only 150,000 tons worth $61.5 million to Vietnam Southern Food Corp.Offers for the remaining 100,000 tons went above the NFA budget so the NFA decided to reject the bids and hold another bidding Tuesday for the remainder of the requirement.Joseph dela Cruz, chair of the bidding committee, said the latest importation was expected to be delivered by July 15.In the meantime, Economic Research Service, a unit of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ERS), said the Philippines was expected to outsource between a million and 2 million tons of the staple grain next year.

The forecast import volume is the same as those of the European Union, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal and South Africa.In an earlier forecast, the USDA-ERS penciled in 1.7 million tons for the Philippines’ importation this year.“Trade in 2016 (forecast at 42.5 million tons worldwide) would be the third largest on record,” the American agency said. “China is projected to remain the number one rice-importing country, taking a record 4.7 million tons of rice in 2016, up 7 percent from 2015, despite a record crop.”In the Philippines, the stock of milled rice rose for the second month in a row, hitting 3.17 million tons as of May 1, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

http://business.inquirer.net/193545/nfa-bidding-out-milled-rice-supply-deal#ixzz3dDfWiUiA 

MQM seeks $2 billion under CPEC package for Karachi uplift

June 16, 2015

TAHIR AMIN

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday urged the government to allocate $2 billion for the development of Karachi under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) package. The MQM also demanded apology on the floor of the House by the Prime Minister on his statement about "Even if a fly dies, a protest strike is called in Karachi". Taking part in the budget debate in the National Assembly, MQM leader Sheikh Salahuddin also urged more allocation of resources to address problems being faced by Karachi like terrorism, unemployment and water shortage.

He said that the budget would increase inflation and the poor class will have to bear much burden. The MQM leader further said that the government has also proposed tax on second hand clothes and made it difficult for the poor to buy even second hand clothes. The government should announce more development projects like the metro bus to overcome transportation problems in Karachi, he added. Nasir Iqbal Bosal said Pakistan was exporting 75 percent rice to Iran; however India sent a team to Iran and convinced them for importing India rice, which negatively hit our exports. He urged the government to form a team and send to Iran for convincing them to buy Pakistani rice to give farmers a relief. He further said that the government should convince China to import Pakistani rice of low standard as it is the biggest importer. Bosal said the country's economy can be strengthened by promoting agriculture and resolving problems being faced by the farmers. 

Ghous Bux Mahar called for reduction in duration of load shedding and demanded duty on import of solar panels to promote use of solar energy. He further said every developed country gives subsides and incentives to agriculture sector, however in Pakistan it is being neglected. Agriculture sector should be given importance to increase growth rate of the country. Ali Gohar Khan Mahar demanded special development package for Ghotki district to overcome lack of educational, health and infrastructure facilities. About 200 oil wells are there in Ghotki and due to heavy traffic, roads are destroyed but no maintenance is being carried out. 

http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-economy/189/1197044/

North Korea says hit by worst drought in 100 years

SEOUL

Reclusive North Korea said on Tuesday it has been hit by the worst drought in a century, compounding chronic food shortages in a country where the United Nations says almost one third of children under five are stunted due to malnourishment.The North's KCNA news agency said paddies around the country including the main rice farming regions of Hwanghae and Phyongan provinces were drying up due to lack of rainfall. Paddies require enough water to keep rice plants partially submerged to grow."The worst drought in 100 years continues in the DPRK, causing great damage to its agricultural field," KCNA said, using the short form for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.The U.N. resident coordinator for North Korea, Ghulam Isaczai, last month warned of a looming crisis due to last year's drought caused by the lowest rainfall in 30 years.

Isaczai said he thought the food situation would not be as bad as in previous major droughts, since communities were now more resilient and might have some reserves.North Korea's farm production periodically suffers from droughts and floods in the summer, although the state has learned to cut damage by updating farming methods and switching to crops other than rice in recent years.North Korea suffered a deadly famine in the 1990s and has relied on international food aid, but support has fallen sharply in recent years because of its restrictions on humanitarian workers and reluctance to allow monitoring of food distribution.The United Nations in April called for $111 million to fund crucial humanitarian needs this year in North Korea, which it said remains drastically under-funded.Funding for U.N. agencies in North Korea fell from $300 million in 2004 to less than $50 million in 2014 and the country urgently needs money for food and agriculture, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation programmes, the world body said.

(Reporting by Jack Kim)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/16/us-northkorea-drought-idUKKBN0OW1E920150616

PH approves 805,200 T rice imports by private traders

Reuters

Posted at 06/16/2015 1:38 PM

MANILA - The Philippines' state grains agency said on Tuesday it has approved guidelines for the import of up to 805,200 tons of rice by private traders, with shipments required to arrive not later than Nov. 30.Private rice traders will be allowed to bid for import permits, with tariff for the shipment pegged at 35 percent, at a date to be announced later, the National Food Authority (NFA) said in a memorandum, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters.Under the guidelines, private traders are allowed to import up to 293,100 tons each from Thailand and Vietnam, up to 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan, 15,000 tons from El Salvador and the rest from any other countries.The volume will be in addition to the rice imports by the NFA under deals with the governments of Vietnam and Thailand.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/16/15/ph-approves-805200-t-rice-imports-private-traders

Gov't to try to import rice again

ABS-CBNnews.com

Posted at 06/15/2015 1:03 PM

MANILA - Government is taking a second shot at importing rice ahead of the lean season that starts next month after failing to buy as much as it wanted two weeks ago.A report from Reuters said the Philippines will invite bids for 100,000 tons of rice from Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.Government bought 150,000 tons from Vietnam earlier this month when it wanted to buy 250,000 from any or all of the three countries.The Philippines needs to import rice as dry weather from El Nino cuts local production, raising the possibility of shortages.A failure to import last year resulted in a spike in rice prices and general inflation. -- AN

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/15/15/govt-try-import-rice-again

North Korea says hit by worst drought in 100 years

SEOUL | BY JAMES PEARSON AND JACK KIM

North Korea has been hit by what it describes as its worst drought in a century, which could worsen chronic food shortages in a country where the United Nations says almost a third of children under five are stunted because of poor nutrition.The country suffered a devastating famine in the 1990s and has relied on international food aid, but support has fallen sharply in recent years, because of its curbs on humanitarian workers and reluctance to allow monitoring of food distribution.The North's KCNA news agency said late on Tuesday that paddies around the country, including the main rice farming regions of Hwanghae and Phyongan provinces, were drying up for lack of rain. Rice must be partly submerged in order to grow.

"The worst drought in 100 years continues in the DPRK, causing great damage to its agricultural field," KCNA said, using the short form of the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.South Korea's Unification Ministry, which handles ties with the North, did not have a comment on Wednesday about the report.North Korea's farm production periodically suffers from droughts and floods in the summer, although the state has learned to cut damage by updating farming methods and switching to crops other than rice in recent years.Thomas Lehman, Denmark's ambassador to both North and South Korea, told Reuters that on a visit to the North late last month he could "clearly see" attempts to deal with the drought in its fields."The lack of water has created a lot of damage to the so-called spring crop, and the rice planting is extremely difficult without sufficient water," said Lehman, who has spoken to U.N. officials about the drought, and visited drought-hit areas.

North Korea has mounted a campaign encouraging the public to help out on farms, and is using mobile water pumps run on diesel and longer pipes to draw water into fields."Farm managers reported receiving training in dry rice planting techniques and other measures that they were trying to conserve water," said Linda Lewis of the American Friends Service Committee, a group that runs farm projects in the North.

The U.N. resident coordinator for North Korea, Ghulam Isaczai, warned in a Reuters interview last month of a looming crisis due to last year's drought, caused by the lowest rainfall in 30 years.At the time, Isaczai said he thought the food situation would not be as bad as in previous major droughts, since communities were now more resilient and might have reserves.In April, the United Nations called for $111 million to fund crucial humanitarian needs this year in North Korea, which it said remains drastically under-funded.Funding for U.N. agencies in North Korea fell to less than $50 million in 2014, from $300 million in 2004.North Korea relies heavily on hydroelectric power and suffers from chronic electricity shortages, which can be exacerbated by periods of no rain.

South Korea has also received sharply lower rainfall, particularly in the northern regions, which have got about half the rain of an average year, the national weather agency says.In early June, Pyongyang's propaganda officials produced two new posters and slogans to spur the fight on drought."Let's mobilize the masses and fight with all our strength against the drought," read one poster that showed a smiling farmer gesturing towards a field of workers with red flags and spades.

(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/17/us-northkorea-drought-idUSKBN0OW1E920150617

Maize imports rise as rice exports fall

Viet Nam Southern Food Corp workers pack rice at a warehouse in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. The country's rice exports declined in the first five months of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HCM CITY  (VNS) — Maize imports in the first five months of 2015 are on the rise but rice exports are on the decline, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.Viet Nam imported 2.87 million tonnes of maize, worth US$622 million, up by 30.3 per cent in volume, and an increase of 16.8 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.

The country also imported 700,000 tonnes of beans and other materials for processing of animal feed worth nearly $1.4 billion.Meanwhile, exports of rice from Viet Nam over the same period reached 2.08 million tonnes, worth $875 million, a decline of 255,000 tonnes in volume and $138 million in values over 2014.In all, the value of imported animal feed and other materials for the food processing industry in the first five months amounted to nearly $2.3 billion, nearly triple the total value of rice exports over the same period.Authorities have been urged to re-structure the country's planting systems, aiming to reduce material imports while easing the pressure on rice consumption.The programme to re-structure rice plantation to other crops including maize began in 2013 when the country's rice exports were stagnant.

However, the programme has faced challenges in many localities across the country.The slump in the world's farm produce prices, including maize prices, has caused local agricultural products to be less competitive than imported goods.Maize prices have dropped to less than VND5,000 per kg since the end of 2014, making maize growers' profits lower than rice growers'.It has forced many farmers to return to rice cultivation.Huynh The Nang, chairman of Vietnamese Food Association, said that global demand for rice had changed greatly compared to five to 10 years ago. Rice growing countries have increasingly raised their output, while rice buyers have also been promoting rice production."It's time for Viet Nam to re-consider rice production and exports with an aim to raise the added value of this product and a bigger effort to change rice into more necessary crops," he said. —VNS

http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/271783/maize-imports-rise-as-rice-exports-fall.html

NFA rejects rice supply offers

All offers, both initial and revised, are above the reference price, the National Food Authority says

Rappler.com

6:16 PM, Jun 16, 2015

Updated 6:16 PM, Jun 16, 2015

REJECTED. The National Food Authority (NFA) on Tuesday, June 16 rejects offers for the supply of 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as both initial and revised orders are above the reference price.MANILA, Philippines – The National Food Authority (NFA) on Tuesday, June 16, rejected offers for the supply of 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice as both initial and revised orders were above the reference price.

The NFA Council is expected to decide Wednesday, June 17, based on the provisions of the terms of reference of the tender, if the lowest offer for the day, $416.85 per metric ton (MT), may be considered for award.The offer was made by Vietnam’s Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) against the reference price of $408.14 per MT. All initial offers from the governments of Thailand (represented by the Department of Foreign Trade); Vietnam (Vinafood2); and Cambodia (Green Trade Company/Cambodia Rice Federation) were way above the reference price with offers of $418 per MT, $417 per MT, and $459.50 respectively.

Thailand declined to make another offer.

“The price is too low, it is even lower than the last (reference) price,” said Malou de Leon, marketing officer of the commercial affairs of the Royal Thai embassy.Cambodia and Vietnam then revised their offers to $455.50 per MT and $416.85 per MT respectively.De la Cruz said the 3 countries likely placed high offers because they have other markets or buyers who can buy at higher prices. China, for instance, is keen on importing around 2 million MT, an attractive supply destination for major rice exporters.

Patricia Galang de Jesus, lawyer and executive assistant to the NFA administrator, said the agency is deferring the decision, saying that under the terms of reference, the mechanism is that NFA should reject the offers – if these are above the reference price.“But the second sentence says the revised offers will be evaluated based on the lowest price [thus] we are referring the matter to the NFA Council for their decision,” De Jesus said.NFA bids and awards committee chair Joseph de la Cruz said another option for the council is to order a fresh tender using a new reference price. He added there is no precedence to considering the lowest revised offer and that the agency may be questioned by the state auditors.

Why import?

The 100,000 MT of rice should be imported by August to boost the NFA’s buffer stock for the lean season.The government was able to procure only about 150,000 MT of the 250,000 MT programmed rice importation for buffer stocking in the second half of the year.De la Cruz said domestic stocks are still abundant as traders and millers have large inventories at hand.The government, however, has to pursue the importation of the remaining volume under the programmed importation to secure buffer stock in the event of calamities. This will allow them to respond to relief requirements.NFA maintains a stockpile sufficient for 24 days equivalent to 750,000 MT. The state grains procurement agency is mandated to maintain a buffer stock sufficient for 30 days. – Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/247-agriculture/96558-nfa-rejects-rice-supply-offers

Vietnam’s rice exports hit 2m tones in last 5 months

 

Reported by: `Customs Today Report June 15, 2015

HANOI: Viet Nam earned some US$875 million from shipping nearly 2.1 million tonnes of rice abroad in the first five months of 2015, according to the Viet Nam Food Association (VFA).The VFA recorded year-on-year declines of 10.7 per cent in volume and 13.6 per cent in value for rice exports. In May alone, the volume of rice exports posted a monthly decrease of 19 per cent, mainly as a result of pressure to sell inventory and low-quality rice stemming from Thailand and India, the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper quoted the source as saying.According to the VFA, the reasons for the decline are China’s adjustments to its import quota policies and limited transactions, even across the border, and the selling of rice in stock from Thailand and India.Asia remains the largest continent to import rice from Viet Nam, having purchased some 1.45 million tonnes of the product and accounting for more than 69 per cent of the country’s rice export value, followed by Africa and the Americas.Last month, Viet Nam secured a number of important contracts with key markets such as the Philippines, Malaysia and Cuba, while increasing its market share in the Pacific countries and Africa

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 16

Nagpur, June 16 Gram and tuar prices moved down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and

Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor buying support from local millers amid high moisture

content arrival. Government decision to import pulses, fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh pulses and

downward trend on NCDEX also pushed down prices. Pre-monsoon rains yesterday evening in parts of

Vidarbha affected arrival, according to sources. 

               *            *              *              *

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES

    GRAM

   * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor. 

     TUAR

   * Tuar gavarani and tuar Karnataka reported down in open market in absence of buyers 

     amid profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level.      

   * Lakhodi dal and watana varieties quoted weak in open market here on lack of buying 

     support from local traders amid good supply from producing belts.

   * In Akola, Tuar - 7,300-7,700, Tuar dal - 10,100-10,500, Udid at 9,100-9,600, 

     Udid Mogar (clean) - 10,700-11,100, Moong - 9,000-9,200, Moong Mogar 

    (clean) 10,700-11,100, Gram - 4,200-4,500, Gram Super best bold - 6,100-6,300 

     for 100 kg.

   * 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                   3,400-4,450         3,500-4,640

     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600

     Tuar Auction                6,000-7,050         6,200-7,120

     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            5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000

     Gram Super Best            n.a.                

     Gram Medium Best            5,500-5,600        5,500-5,600

     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a.

     Gram Mill Quality            5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400

     Desi gram Raw                4,400-4,450         4,400-4,450

     Gram Filter new            5,600-5,800        5,600-5,800

     Gram Kabuli                5,500-7,000        5,500-5,700

     Gram Pink                6,400-6,600        6,400-6,600

     Tuar Fataka Best             10,500-10,800        10,500-10,800

     Tuar Fataka Medium             9,900-10,300        9,900-10,300

     Tuar Dal Best Phod            9,500-9,700        9,500-9,700

     Tuar Dal Medium phod            8,800-9,300        8,800-9,300

     Tuar Gavarani New             7,300-7,400        7,400-7,500

     Tuar Karnataka             7,900-8,000        8,000-8,100

     Tuar Black                 11,000-11,300           11,000-11,300 

     Masoor dal best            8,000-8,200        8,000-8,200

     Masoor dal medium            7,500-7,900        7,500-7,900

     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Mogar bold               10,500-10,800       10,500-10,800

     Moong Mogar Medium best        9,800-10,300        9,800-10,300

     Moong dal Chilka            9,200-9,600        9,200-9,600

     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Chamki best            9,600-9,900        9,600-9,900

     Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG)    11,500-11,750       11,500-11,750

     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    10,600-10,800        10,600-10,800

     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        8,900-9,200        8,900-9,200

     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400

     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)           3,200-3,350         3,300-3,350

     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)        3,300-3,400        3,400-3,500

     Watana White (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,100         3,100-3,150

     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,600-4,500        3,600-4,600

     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,600        1,400-1,600

     Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG)    1,550-1,650        1,550-1,650

     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,600           1,400-1,600

     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,400        2,200-2,400

     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)    1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100

     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.

     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600

     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,700-2,900        2,700-2,900

     Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG)        1,400-1,500        1,400-1,500

     Wheat Best (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100     

     Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800

     Rice BPT (100 INR/KG)               2,900-3,100        2,900-3,100

     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)        1,500-1,750        1,500-1,750

     Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,300        2,100-2,300

     Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG)      2,400-2,700        2,400-2,700

     Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,600        3,000-3,600

     Rice HMT (100 INR/KG)               3,700-4,100        3,700-4,100

     Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,500        4,200-4,500

     Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG)    4,400-4,900        4,400-4,900     

     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    8,200-10,200        8,200-10,200

     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    6,000-7,200        6,000-7,200

     Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG)    4,600-4,800        4,700-4,900

     Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG)        5,400-5,900        5,500-6,000

     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        2,200-2,450        2,200-2,450

     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)        2,500-2,600        2,500-2,600

WEATHER (NAGPUR)  

Maximum temp. 34.4 degree Celsius (95.3 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

24.9 degree Celsius (78.6 degree Fahrenheit)

Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : 3.4 mm

FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night. Maximum

and minimum temperature would be around and 35 and 23 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices.)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/06/16/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0Z23AD20150616

It's So Bad in Greece, People Are Moving Back in With Their Parents

Youth joblessness is still alarmingly high, while fertility has cratered

by Flavia Krause-JacksonGiovanni Salzano

June 16, 2015 — 11:46 AM PDT

Visitors pass a view of the Acropolis Hill as they walk through the Acropolis museum in Athens. 

Photographer: Kostas Tsironis/Bloomberg

Moving out of the house you grew up in is a rite of passage. Moving back in with your parents is a cry for help.In Greece,  it's come to just that.The number of people too broke to afford their own place has ballooned since 2010, when the Mediterranean nation's economic woes began.  The share of momma's boys (and girls) between the ages of 18 and 34 has grown to 63.5 percent, according to Eurostat, the European Union's statistics agency. More than half of those between 25 and 34 live at home.

The only country that can hold a torch to Greece is Italy, where it's a cliché how much kids love their mothers. Yet the reasons why so many adult children live with their parents is very much grounded in hard economic facts. Two factors are critical:

 

Zero job prospects

Looking at Greece's youth unemployment numbers, where more than half of people under 25 are out of work,  it's hardly surprising many of them settle for free home-cooked meals and their childhood rooms.

 

Declining fertility

People in Greece just aren't making babies. And who can blame them? Raising a family is expensive. What that means is that the population just keeps getting older, which leaves a shrinking workforce bearing the brunt of higher pension costs as more people retire.

For now, the parents are sustaining their adult children, but pretty soon it's going to be the other way around. And then what?

http://www.bloomberg.com/

Amid Thai Water Shortages, Rice Farmers Defy Orders And Plant Crops

By Eben Blake @ebenblake on June 16 2015 10:11 AM EDT

A farmer displays a pile of rice during a rally outside Thailand's Finance Ministry in Bangkok, March 13, 2014.Reuters/Kerek Wongsa

The Thai government wants rice growers to delay planting their crops because of severe nationwide water shortages, but a leader of central plain rice farmers said Tuesday that most would defy the order because any delay would risk the loss of the entire harvest, reports the Bangkok Post. As an El Niño pattern, which brings heat and drought to Southeast Asia, begins in the Pacific Ocean, rice paddies are quickly losing water. 

Khwanchai Mahachuenjai, deputy head of the Farmers Network of the Central Region, said few growers would follow the Royal Irrigation Department's orders to delay planting their main rice crop until July. A general drought in the region caused by El Niño is expected to cause the price of rice, the food staple for half the world's population, to surge by 40 percent, the Bangkok Post previously reported. 

"This time farmers will go ahead, whether they must find water themselves or just hope for rain," Mahachuenjai told the Bangkok Post. "They will take their chances. If they do not, then they will have no income this year because later this year water coming downstream from the north will inundate their paddy fields and rice cannot grow then."Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Phuengboon Na Ayudhaya has said existing reservoirs would be able to water only the 3.4 million rai (about 1.34 million acres) of paddies already planted, according to the Bangkok Post. The government is ordering the other 4 million rai to be planted in late July, when normal levels of rainfall are supposed to return.

Wichien Phuanglamjiak, president of the Thai Agriculturist Association, demanded Tuesday that the government provide rice growers compensation for the delay from water shortages, along with a three-year debt moratorium. In 2013, Thailand's government began buying domestic rice at an above-market rate in an attempt to cut exports and control the price of rice in the global market. In order to boost farmers' income, the government started stockpiling what is now 14 million tons of rice, which it expected to sell internationally at a higher price, according to the Wall Street Journal.The strategy backfired. India and Vietnam began selling more rice at lower prices, leaving Thailand with a huge debt and no easy way to sell the rice. With Thailand now facing a drought that could cause a rice shortage, the government's massive stores have begun to rot, according to a previous article by the Bangkok Post.

http://www.ibtimes.com/amid-thai-water-shortages-rice-farmers-defy-orders-plant-crops-1969001

Monsoon to remain active over central and east India

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 16:VINSON KURIAN

The monsoon did not make further progress towards North on Tuesday, apparently waiting for the Bay of Bengal to get active and push more rain into central and east India. Global models have been suggesting the formation of a low-pressure area off the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast this week to boost the monsoon in the region.

‘Low’ expected

India Met Department has spotted an upper air cyclonic circulation over west-central Bay of Bengal off north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coasts. Its projections too favour the formation of a ‘low,’ which would cross coast and travel almost along a straight line across central India towards Mumbai-Gujarat.This would likely bring another round of heavy to very heavy rainfall over central India and west India, covering Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the US Climate Prediction Centre agree with this outlook.The US Centre predicts that the rains will cover entire east India and northern parts of northwest India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir) by June 28.

Dipole event

The Application Laboratory (APL) of Jamstec, the Japanese national forecaster, persists with the outlook that the Indian Ocean would witness a ‘positive dipole phase’ soon.It could start influencing the regional weather (which includes Indian monsoon) from August, the APL said in its latest update.Indian Ocean Dipole mimics El Nino-La Nina in the equatorial Pacific; the positive phase is when the western part of the ocean warms up relative to the east, and vice versa.The positive dipole phase has come to the rescue of the Indian monsoon in the past, notably in 1997, which was a strong El Nino year.

July trend

It will be interesting to watch how this El Nino year plays out with a positive phase of the dipole being forecast.The Japanese forecaster also said that India would likely witness a deficient monsoon in July.August may turn predictably better with excess rain seen for central India and parts of adjoining north-west and east India. South India too may get good precipitation. But come September, the situation may reverse again with rain deficit forecast for most parts except in the east and north-east.This goes to cast doubts on the strength or tenure of the positive dipole event.Earlier on Tuesday, the Australian Met Bureau credited the good monsoon to unexpected support from the higher levels of the atmosphere in the form of a passing wave to the east.

(This article was published on June 16, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/monsoon-to-remain-active-over-central-and-east-india/article7322483.ece

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures

CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for June 16

Month

Price

Net Change

July 2015	$9.800	+ $0.025
September 2015	$10.060	+ $0.025
November 2015	$10.345	+ $0.040
January 2016	$10.605	+ $0.040
March 2016	$10.790	+ $0.030
May 2016	$10.790	+ $0.030
July 2016	$10.790	+ $0.030

 

Head outside to one of Burnaby’s scenic patios

by Tara Lee on June 10th, 2015 at 2:29 PM

Pleasant spots to relax over an al-fresco meal in the ’burbs include the stately Hart House Restaurant.

Sitting on the patio of Hart House Restaurant (6664 Deer Lake Avenue) in Burnaby is an idyllic experience. The serene waters of Deer Lake shimmer in the distance, and right before you is the lawn where you can play croquet or bocce if the mood strikes. This outdoor dining area is just one of the many gorgeous Burnaby patios that warrant a visit.Over the phone, Hart House’s general manager, Edwyn Kumar, suggests enjoying their weekly three-course chef’s menu ($38) on the patio, with items like roasted sunchoke soup and sous-vide sockeye salmon that showcase executive chef Mike Genest’s adept use of local, seasonal ingredients. This month, the restaurant will also be offering Champagne de Venoge by the glass ($18). As well, Hart House hosts stylish alfresco events on its grounds, like a Mediterranean Garden Party on July 22 ($68 per person), which includes winetastings, a Mediterranean-inspired buffet, and live music.

Riverway Clubhouse.

Nongolfers may not be in the know about two of Burnaby’s most scenic patios, at theRiverway (9001 Bill Fox Way) and Burnaby Mountain (7600 Halifax Street)clubhouses, both run by the City of Burnaby. Of the two, Riverway’s is particularly spectacular, with its modern wood-beam design and sweeping views of the golf greens and water.The Burnaby Mountain patio was completely renovated this year, with elegant lounge and table seating and views of the golf course. During a phone chat, Hugh Izumi, general manager of both clubhouses, is particularly excited about their new “feast for two” platters. The barbecue one features half a roasted lemon-and-mustard chicken, a rack of barbecued baby back ribs, fries, coleslaw, market veggies, grilled corn, and caesar salad or organic greens. The surf ’n’ turf platter includes a grilled 10-ounce Angus rib-eye, a pesto prawn kebab, crispy calamari, and Salt Spring Island mussels. Get to both patios early to snag seats.

Personas at the Grand Villa Casino.

The patio at Personas (4331 Dominion Street) at the Grand Villa Casino is an impressively lavish new space, perfect for chic sun- and food-worshipping. This under-the-radar spot seats 100, and includes a circular bar area, lounge and table seating, and a communal table, as well as fire pits and water features. Live music throughout the summer adds to the ambiance.Personas’ menu includes accessible options like California sushi tacos, tomato and bocconcini salad, and a chicken and Belgian waffle sandwich. Their Express Lunch items, such as a Mediterranean grilled vegetable wrap, will have you in and out in 45 minutes, aided by free valet parking from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

High atop Burnaby Mountain you’ll find the patio at Simon Fraser University’s Highland Pub (8888 University Drive), run by SFU’s student society and serviced by friendly student employees. Leaning back on comfy lounge seating, you can appreciate the clean lines of the campus architecture as envisioned by Arthur Erickson and Geoffrey Massey. Expect pub favourites like a flame-grilled sirloin burger, rustic vegetable chili, and of course the well-known nachos grande—as well as draft beers like Big Rock Grasshopper Wheat Ale and Honey Brown Lager.Also on Burnaby Mountain is Horizons Restaurant (100 Centennial Way), with a highly-sought-after patio that’s set to open for the season in the last week of June (weather permitting). “It has one of the best views anywhere, honestly. It looks downtown, it looks into Burrard Inlet. You can see the North Shore,” says Diane Summers, senior manager, during a phone interview.

After taking in the surrounding landscape, she suggests ordering the seared albacore tuna with a citrus-y quinoa, cucumber, and fennel salad, or the curry-spiced cornmeal-crusted rockfish with sea scallops and saffron basmati rice. The dessert sampler—with blueberry bread pudding, chocolate pâté, and crème brûlée—makes the view that much better.The recently opened Burnaby location of Glowbal Group’s successful Trattoria (4501 Kings­way) will be launching its patio in the next week or so. “It’s a Tuscan Italian garden on Kingsway, with a lot of hanging flower baskets, flowerpots, and nice banquettes,” says owner Emad Yacoub over the phone. He explains that they’ll be expanding the about-to-open patio into an even larger, splashier year-round one by the fall. Start with the bruschetta sampler trio before choosing from pastas, like the must-have truffle cream spaghetti and meatballs, and pizzas, such as one with prosciutto, arugula, and burrata.And with this summer promising to be a hot one, you’ll have plenty of cloudless days for relaxing on one of these patios.

Enrollment Open for USDA's ARC and PLC Programs     

John Owen  WASHINGTON, DC -- Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2014 and 2015 will officially be open for enrollment tomorrow, June 17, until September 30. Eligible producers had until April 7 to elect whether they participated in the ARC or the PLC program until 2018 when the current farm bill is set to expire. Nationwide, PLC was the program of choice for rice producers - USDA announced that PLC was selected by 99 percent of long grain rice farms and 94 percent of medium grain rice farms.  John Owen, a rice farmer from Rayne, Louisiana, and chairman of the USA Rice Government Affairs Committee said, "USA Rice strongly advocated for a farm safety net program that allowed growers to select which programs worked best for their operation and we're grateful that adequate options were included in the final bill." Owen continued, "Rice growers are experiencing tough times and the safety net provided by the farm bill will help some of us maintain our operations while commodity markets are depressed." Producers are asked to visit their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to formally sign a contract enrolling their operation in ARC or PLC by September 30, 2015, if they wish to participate. For more information about the programs, visit: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/arcplc_program/index.  Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475

Third rice auction attracts 40 bidders

16 Jun 2015 at 16:46 WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

A bidder examines the quality of rice put up for auction by the Foreign Trade Department in rice auction, thailand rice stockpile.A total of 40 bidders submitted prices for a share of the 1.06 million tonnes of rice offered for auction by the Commerce Ministry’s Foreign Trade Department on Tuesday morning.There were 43 firms qualified to bid, but three decided not to take part in the third stockpiled-rice auction of this year. They were not confident of the quality of the grain, but admitted the auction was well timed as there is no freshly harvested rice on the market.The third auction attracted less attention than tthe first two, which had 96 and 45 bidders.

Since taking power, the National Council for Peace and Order government has held six auctions to release 2.01 million tonnes of rice worth 23.37 billion baht. Around 16 million tonnes still remain in the government stockpile, but only 2.6 million tonnes of good quality rice.The government has already indicated that the deteriorated rice may be sold off for industrial use, such as cattle feed.The rice accumulated in the government stockpile under the policy implemented by the previous Yingluck Shinawatra government, which later led to the impeachment of the former prime minister on charges of dereliction of duty for failing to stop corruption and losses in the rice-pledging scheme.

NFA charts next move on rice imports

HE NATIONAL Food Authority (NFA) Council is expected to decide today on its next move for the remaining 100,000 metric tons (MT) of rice that have to be imported to further boost the country’s buffer stock for the lean season starting next month, after countries that participated in yesterday’s tender made offers that topped the government’s budget for this purchase.

A worker climbs stacks of rice at a warehouse of the National Food Authority in Manila in this May 12 photo. -- Reuters

“No rejection or acceptance of offers was declared during the tender,” NFA Spokesman Angel G. Imperial, Jr. said in a telephone interview yesterday.Mr. Imperial noted that “offers of the countries are still higher than the reference price,” adding that “[t]he results will be submitted to the NFA Council.

”The council -- which is composed of representatives of various government agencies -- will have to come up with a decision that will be announced today.“There’s a possibility that the NFA Council will reject all bids or just accept the lowest offer; but until then, we cannot predict what will be the decision,” Mr. Imperial said.Yesterday’s tender covered the balance of the 250,000 MT of 25% broken well-milled rice that the NFA was authorized to import via government-to-government deals for this procurement round.Existing bilateral rice agreements allow the Philippines to import from Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.All three countries participated in the first round of bid opening, but their offers exceeded the $408.14 per MT reference price set by NFA.

 Thailand and Vietnam submitted offers of $418/MT and $417/MT, respectively, for the supply of 100,000 MT, while Cambodia offered $464/MT for the supply of only 50,000 MT. NFA Deputy Administrator Joseph Y. dela Cruz yesterday morning announced rejection of all bids for that round.Under the terms of reference, the countries were given the chance to revise their offers in the afternoon.Vietnam submitted a revised offer of $416.85/MT, while Cambodia offered $459.50/MT -- both of which were still beyond the reference price.Thailand submitted a formal letter saying it wouldn’t revise its offer, according to Mr. dela Cruz.The contract to supply the initial 150,000 MT of rice under this procurement round was awarded to Vietnam last week.

PRIVATE SECTOR

In a related development, the NFA also started seeking private sector offers to bring in a total of 805,200 MT of rice under the country’s minimum access volume (MAV) commitment for this year.In a June 10 circular that was e-mailed to reporters yesterday, the state grains agency issued guidelines for importation of well-milled rice under the MAV Country Specific Quota (CSQ) and Omnibus Origins (OO).

 Under its commitment to the World Trade Organization as part of concessions for its special treatment on rice, imports will have a lower 35% tariff under the MAV scheme (compared to the regular 50% outside the program) this year. Under the CSQ, the country has allotted 50,000 MT each for China, India and Pakistan; 15,000 MT for Australia; 4,000 MT for El Salvador; and 293,100 MT each for Thailand and Vietnam. The remaining 50,000 can come from any country under the OO, the guidelines showed.

The MAV program allows the private sector to participate in rice importation. NFA said qualified importers can bring in up to 20,000 MT each.“All rice to be imported under this 2015 MAV Rice Importation Program shall be levied a 35% tariff, to be paid in advance with the Land Bank of the Philippines,” the circular read. “Final assessment shall be made by the Bureau of Customs.”NFA also said that the program covers imports of well-milled rice, with quality not below 25% broken or any special rice variety.

Interested NFA-licensed importers will have to submit supporting documents and pay a P50,000 non-refundable processing fee. Requirements include a letter of intent (LoI) as well as legal, technical and financial documents. There are also specific documents required of each type of business (corporation/partnership, sole proprietorship, farmers’ cooperative or organization, etc.)

An MAV pre-qualification team, which will check all submitted documents, will endorse applicants to the NFA Administrator within 15 days of receipt of application.The NFA chief will then issue a certificate of eligibility (CoE) to the importer that will specify volume to be imported based on the LoI as well as duty and tariff to be paid.The agency will determine in the CoE the volume that will arrive per month, until the entire allocated volume has been served.“The applicant importer must undertake the shipment of their [sic] import allocation on or before 30 November 2015,” the document read.Within 15 days from receipt of CoE, the importer should submit the document to the Landbank’s International Trade Department and pay the duty and tariff at any Landbank branch.

Seven days thereafter, Land-bank will then send a written notice to NFA’s Grains Marketing Operations Department that will specify volume and variety of grains to be imported, schedule of arrival, cargo type and port.An import permit can be obtained upon submission of shipping documents prior to arrival. The permit will be issued upon payment of P5,000 processing fee per bill of lading.“NFA shall publish a list of importers issued the import permit, indicating the volume and the country of origin, on the NFA Web site...,” the circular read.

The grains agency said “95% arrival of the importer’s authorized import quota shall mean substantial compliance with the allocated volume.”“Failure to meet the substantial compliance of the arrivals of the allocated importations... shall disqualify the importer from future importation of the NFA.”In the event of force majeure, an importer can ask for extension of the import permit’s validity and arrival period, which however should not exceed 15 days. Importers seeking more time should submit a written notice, explaining justification, within five days of force majeure occurrence.“The NFA Administrator shall decide within three days from receipt of the written request; otherwise, it shall be deemed approved,” the guidelines read.

The NFA identified Poro Point in La Union; Batangas; Iloilo; Bacolod; Zamboanga City; Subic, Zambales; Tabaco and Legazpi in Albay; Cebu; Cagayan de Oro; Port of Manila and Manila International Container Port; General Santos City and Davao City as ports for the program.The grains agency said it can revoke, cancel or suspend a CoE or an import permit due to involvement in rice smuggling or hoarding.Quantitative restrictions on rice -- which should have expired in 2012 -- were extended to 2017, according to Agriculture officials last year.As part of the extension, the tariff was cut to 35% for the a total of 805,200 MT MAV shipments starting July this year.

Prior to this, the Philippines committed to import 350,000 MT with a 40% tariff.NFA held the first tender for 2015 importations last March, when Vietnam and Thailand bagged contracts to supply a total of 500,000 MT of rice to boost the Philippines’ buffer stock for the three-month lean season.The NFA last month said it was also prepared to import 250,000 MT more should the need arise in the face of an El Niño episode that is more intense than initially expected, and the prolonged dry spell it brings. Decision on the schedule of the additional importation has yet to be finalized by the NFA Council.

http://bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=nfa-charts-next-move-on-rice-imports&id=109805

Annual Rice Station Field Day Set for July 1

06/16/2015 01:58 PM

06/16/2015 02:00 PM

CROWLEY, La. (Press Release) – The LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station Annual Field Day will be held July 1, with a host of rice experts and speakers discussing the latest in rice farming technology.“Anyone connected to the rice industry will learn from the subjects covered in the field day,” said Steve Linscombe, director of the Rice Research Station.Field tours start at 7:15 a.m., and the last tour will leave the rice dryer warehouse no later than 9 a.m.On the field tour, speakers will cover topics that include rice breeding, hybrid development, agronomy, and control of weeds, diseases and insects.

A poster session will be held from 7:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., followed by the program in the rice dryer building.Speakers will include Clarence Berken, vice chairman of the Louisiana Rice Research Board; Mike Salassi, LSU AgCenter economist giving an update on the rice market and the farm bill; Bob Cummings of the USA Rice Federation talking about the global competitiveness of American rice; Mike Strain, Louisiana commissioner of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture; Rogers Leonard, LSU AgCenter associate vice chancellor.

Download/View On-Line the above News in pdf format,just click the following link

16th June (Tuesday),2015 Daily Global RiceE-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine