UNISAME URGES GOVT TO STUDY PROS & CONS PRIOR TO RICE
BOARD DECISION
The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) urged the
government to prior to deciding to set up the Pakistan Rice Board (PRB) as
suggested by the vested interest must first examine the pros and cons and
question those suggesting it as to the injury caused to the rice industry by
the Quality Review Committee (QRC) set up by the government on their
recommendations and supported by them.The QRC eliminated the SME rice exporters
and those adding value to the grains.UNISAME was against the QRC from day one
and time and again requested the authorities to remove this committee which was
used as an instrument to eliminate the SME rice exporters.
UNISAME again appeals to the ministries to carry out the good
work through the ministries of agriculture (MINFAL) and commerce (MINCOM) and
promote exports through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan ( TDAP) and not let
this group again destroy the rice markets and make a mess of it.President
UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said ever since they have lost control of QRC they are
trying to find ways and means to regain control in a different form and MINCOM
must not let them have another government sponsored tool for their vested
interest like they did with QRC. Fortunately MINCOM finally comprehended
the futility of QRC and decided to disband it but after the damage was done.
UNISAME kept informing MINCOM about its negative role and is on record.
Thaver said the SME rice exporters even filed petitions and law
suits against this defective body.Even if the government decides to form the
PRB it must include experts from the growers, millers,processors and exporters
to avoid conflict of interest but it is very important that the government must
first study the role and function of the PRB as it would simply duplicate the
functions of MINCOM & MINFAL and will entail huge expenditure in
maintaining it when the matter of rice cultivation to its final exports are in
the domain of the ministries of agriculture and commerce. Only thing which is
needed is co-ordination between the two. If co-ordination is achieved and
integrated efforts are made a positive policy could be made for the betterment
of the rice industry which is on the verge of collapse.The PRB will be another institution not worth its name because it
entails policy making which is the function of the government through the
MINFAL and MINCOM based on the recommendations of the Rice Commissioner in the
MINFAL, the Rice Research Institute and the stakeholders.
APEDA India (News)
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Parkash Singh Badal
demands maize be included in procurement list
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Updated: Jun 23, 2015 18:06 IST
Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister, Punjab
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Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on
Tuesday asked the central government to include the maize in the procurement
list.
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"I have already taken up the matter with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi to ensure procurement of maize at minimum support price (MSP)
through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of
India," an official statement quoting Badal as saying.He said the state
government has designated Punjab Agro as its agency for the procurement of
maize on the prevailing MSP as announced by the central government.Presiding
over separate meetings of the state maize and the basmati development boards
here, the chief minister asked the Basmati rice growers not to sow the '1509' variety
before July 15 as the pre-mature sowing of this variety hampered the yield,
both in terms of quality and quantity.
At the meeting, Principal Secretary to the chief minister, S.K.
Sandhu, who met a delegation of state rice millers and exporters in Amritsar
last week, apprised Badal about their concerns on the probable fall in the
export volumes of Basmati rice from the state during the current kharif
marketing season in wake of stringent parameters imposed by Iran, the major
importer of the rice variety from India.Sandhu suggested that in order to
safeguard the interest of Basmati growers, the state government should pursue
the matter regarding GI (geographical indications) related to Basmati rice in
Punjab with the central government.Punjab, India's green revolution state, is
the biggest contributor to the national food grain kitty despite having just
1.54 percent geographical area of the country.Farmers in the state mainly rely
on growing wheat and paddy every year. This has led to depletion of the ground
water level, especially due to paddy cultivation.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/parkash-singh-badal-demands-maize-be-included-in-procurement-list/article1-1361988.aspx
House Ag Committee Pushes Back on
Administration Efforts to Gut Food Aid Programs
Wants answers
WASHINGTON, DC -- The House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing
today with Phil Karsting, Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service
(FAS) and Thomas Staal, Acting Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy,
Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, USAID to review international food aid
programs in light of controversial efforts to reform the programs by the Obama
Administration and some Members of Congress.USA Rice has been working in
conjunction with a coalition of leading U.S. agricultural commodity groups to
oppose the Food for Peace Reform Act and the Administration's proposal that
will result in in-kind food aid programs being replaced with cash vouchers and
the local and regional purchase (LRP) of food.
In-kind food aid, or the donation of commodities to countries
facing food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, and civil conflict, has been a
critical pillar of U.S. foreign policy and a symbol of the commitment and
generosity of U.S. farmers for more than sixty years.Based on testimony
presented, it was clear that in-kind food aid has saved countless lives, fed
millions of school children, and helped several nations transition during times
of crisis and disaster. U.S. food assistance programs are constantly seeking to
achieve greater efficiencies and impact and have recently introduced several
new micronutrient fortified products, including fortified rice, to help greater
numbers of women and children achieve health and become productive citizens. nd
while there may be situations where other forms of food assistance can be
helpful, it also became clear based on questions from Committee Members during
the hearing, that there remain several unanswered questions regarding the
transparency, effectiveness, and implementation of both cash voucher and local
and regional purchase programs.
"I represent probably the largest row crop district in the
nation ... we grow corn, soybeans, and a lot of rice ... Can you provide an
explanation of how you will police the use of cash vouchers for LRP and make
sure that money is not being diverted?" asked Louisiana Congressman Ralph
Abraham during the hearing."If the goal of food assistance is helping
nations achieve food security and transition during times of crisis, it remains
unclear to us whether any alternate approaches can reach the same number of
beneficiaries and impact as in-kind food aid," said Betsy Ward, president
& CEO of USA Rice. "Food aid
remains an important pillar of USA Rice's programming and keeping in-kind food
aid as part of U.S. government assistance programs will continue to be a top
line policy initiative for our work this year."Ward pointed out that food
aid is also a significant component of U.S. foreign policy and that switching
from in-kind food programs could result in a loss of control on the
ground."We all want aid going to where it's needed and where it should be
going," she said. "It's too easy
to divert cash for other non-aid uses."
Contact: Rebecca Bratter
(202) 492-0522
Texas crop, weather: Rice
situation varies widely; much never got planted
By Robert Burns, Texas
A&M
Jun 24, 2015
COLLEGE STATION – After years of having not enough
water to grow rice, many of the major production areas of the state got too
much, according to reports by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
personnel in the major rice growing counties.The frequent rains prevented
plantings and/or damaged crops and encouraged diseases in planted fields,
according to the reports.But it wasn’t all bad news. In Matagorda County, the
rice crop was in pretty good shape, said Brent Bachelor, AgriLife Extension
agent for Matagorda County.“We were later than normal planting, probably by 15
to 20 days at least, but we did get it all in,” Bachelor said.
Another
rain came after the planting, and other than some disease issues from the high
humidity, much of the already established crop is progressing well, he
said.However, he noted the 3,000 acres of rice planted this year was severely
reduced from the average of about 25,000 acres typically planted before the
drought and the resulting water restrictions the Lower Colorado River
Authority.“From the big picture standpoint, we haven’t farmed much rice since
2011 and the water usage restrictions from the lower Colorado River and the
Highland Lakes,” he said. “But we haven’t had to pump this year, and that’s a
bright star in the picture.”Other counties weren’t so fortunate, Bachelor
said.“I know that in Wharton County, they had some issues with the rain and the
floods, particularly with this last round, because they had some fields that
were heading,” he said. “If it’s heading and not blooming, it can go underwater
for a short period of time. But it’s certainly important for it not to be
completely submerged if it’s blooming, because once flowers are open, and they
get wet, then we see blanks in spikes where rice kernels should be developing.
”Stephen Janak, AgriLife Extension agent for Colorado
County, said about 60 to 70 percent of the county’s rice crop was in pretty
good shape. These fields were already established before Tropical Storm
Bill.“When Bill came through, the levees blew out in a lot of the fields of where
younger rice hadn’t been established yet and was still flooded,” he said.The
rain also created problems where the levees held, including completely
submerging some rice, he said.“The fields were saturated before Bill, which
added 10 to 15 inches of rain on top of that,” Janak said. “There’s some
organic rice that never got planted. It’s just a hodgepodge of conditions,
depending on the situation, the soil type and when it was planted.”In Jefferson
County, a large percentage of the crop was not planted, and much of what was
planted varied widely in development, said Emilee Bean, AgriLife Extension
agent for Jefferson County.
As
in other areas, the condition Jefferson County rice that got planted varied
widely in development. In her weekly report, Bean rated 45 percent of the crop
as good, 45 percent fair and 10 percent excellent.According to the Chambers
County weekly report, about 45 percent of the crop was planted and emerged,
with most of the crop in good condition and 25 percent in fair condition.Brazoria
County rated 85 percent of the rice crop as being in good condition, and the
rest fair to excellent.
The condition of Texas rice varied widely this past
week, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agent weekly
reports. (Texas A&M AgriLife Communications photo by Robert Burns)
AgriLife
Extension district reporters compiled the following crop and weather summaries:
Central: Soil
moisture, rangeland and pastures, and livestock were generally in good
condition. Overall, crop conditions were rated as fair. The region generally
had scattered showers, but heavy downpours caused severe flooding in isolated
areas. The condition of the corn crop varied widely, with some fields drowned
out while other fields looked good. Sugarcane aphid pressure on grain sorghum
remained low. Lakes and stock-water ta nks were full, and rivers were running
strong. Many producers were still trying to get the first cutting of hay moved
out of fields. Some producers reported getting four to six rolls of Bermuda
grass hay per acre. Livestock were in good condition. The wheat and oat
harvests wrapped up, with yields lower than expected. Grain sorghum was still
struggling, but some fields bounced back from excessive moisture and were
growing.
Coastal
Bend: Winds brought by Tropical Storm Bill caused only minor
damage and brought moderate flooding to row crops and pecans. Corn was
maturing. Sorghum was flowering. Cotton development varied greatly, from full
bloom to the six-leaf growth stage. There was some insect pressure in grain
sorghum. The mixed maturity of sorghum caused management of the crop to be
challenging. Hay harvesting was shut down by the rain. Rangeland was in
excellent condition.
East: Most
counties in the region received substantial rainfall from Tropical Storm Bill.
Jasper County received the most at 10 inches. Henderson County got 3 to 5
inches, and Shelby County reported 5 to 8 inches. Several counties changed
their subsoil and topsoil moisture ratings from adequate to surplus. The Jasper
County towns of Kirbyville, Buna and Evadale were flooded. The Trinity River
bottom remained flooded. The continued wet conditions were causing disease and
insect infestations on some crops. Pecan scab infestation was heavy, and there
were some reports of powdery mildew. Many trees were stressed because of
saturated soils; some were losing leaves. In Anderson County, corn and grain
sorghum fields were lost. Blueberry and blackberry harvests were behind due to
the rains. Vegetable harvesting was slowed, and crop quality was diminished by
the muddy conditions. Forage pastures and hayfields were in mostly good to ex
cellent condition, but producers were unable to make hay due to the rains. Rain
and wet conditions prevented some producers from marketing cattle. Otherwise,
cattle were in good condition, and the market continued to be strong. The horn
fly population exploded.
Far
West: Thunderstorms in Brewster, Jeff Davis and Presidio
counties brought as much as 1.5 inches of rain. The thunderstorms also produced
high winds and lightning, which increased wildfire danger. Winkler and Loving
counties had scattered showers. Upton County rangeland conditions improved, but
broomweed took over ground that had been left bare from the previous drought.
Cattle were in good condition. Cotton, corn, sunflowers and alfalfa were all
doing well. Wheat producers were finishing up harvesting. Pasture and rangeland
were in fair to good condition. Topsoil and subsoil moisture was adequate.
North: Topsoil
moisture was mostly adequate. Tropical Storm Bill brought 3 inches of rain
during the middle of the week, which halted planting of soybeans, cotton and
grain sorghum. Bill also stopped the hay and wheat harvests, and other
fieldwork. Fields and pastures were saturated. Corn was growing quickly, but there
were issues with non-uniformity in the fields that were underwater for long
periods. Summer pastures were growing really well. Livestock were in good
condition. The cattle market was strong. Grasshopper numbers were high in some
areas. Wild hogs continued to cause damage.
Panhandle: Most
of the region was hot and windy for the most of the week, with near-average
temperatures. Soil moisture was mostly adequate. The warm and dry conditions
allowed Collingsworth County farmers to catch up on fieldwork. Cotton there
appeared to be overcoming too much moisture and was emerging. Acres not able to
be planted in cotton were being switched over to grain sorghum or haygrazer.
Dallam Hartley corn was progressing good under irrigation. Wheat looked good,
and producers were taking a second cutting of alfalfa. Isolated storms in Deaf
Smith County hailed out some wheat and cornfields. However, the corn crop in
general was in good shape. Even the late-planted fields were in from
three-to-four leaf to eight-to-ten leaf growth stage, so there will be a wide
variance in the crops maturing. The condition of wheat there was also widely
variable with many fields affected with disease issues and a wide range of mat
urity levels – even in the same field. Some grain sorghum acres were just being
planted, while others were at the five-to-six leaf stage. Due to wet, damp and
cool weather very few cotton acres were planted in Deaf Smith County. In
Hansford County, areas north of Spearman and Gruver received the 2 inches of
rain along with strong winds and hail. Corn, sorghum and cotton were doing
great. The wheat harvesting started over the weekend south of Spearman.
Irrigated and some dryland wheat looked really good, but weeds were starting to
become a problem. Wheeler County producers finished planting cotton. Some
cotton was just emerging. The crop was expected to be late to mature. Cattle
were in good shape, but horn flies were troublesome in most all herds.
Rolling
Plains: More rain fell across parts of the region. Montague
County received 16 inches of rain, which brought the total rainfall since the
beginning of May to more than 45 inches. Severe flooding displaced cattle,
downed fences, and destroyed ponds and personal property. The wheat harvest was
on hold because of the rain. Some cotton planting was prevented due to the
rain. Hay producers were having trouble getting hay baled because of rain, but
most weren’t complaining after four years of drought. Where hay could be
harvested, yields were excellent. Livestock remained in good to excellent
condition. Area reservoirs and stock-water tanks were full. Rangeland and
pastures were in good to excellent condition. Farmers were focusing on weed and
insect pest issues. The peach crop was looking very good with harvesting
starting. The harvesting of most peaches will begin in two weeks and continue
through July.
South: Tropical
Storm Bill brought widespread thunderstorms and rain to much of the region, but
no damaging winds. In the northern part of the region, corn and cotton were in
good condition. Peanut and grain sorghum were in fair condition. Rangeland and
pastures were in excellent condition. Frio County had warm days and minimal
rain, which allowed producers to complete the wheat harvest and continue potato
harvesting. In Live Oak County, conditions remained very wet, and many crops
were damaged by too much moisture. Soil moisture conditions were generally
adequate throughout the northern counties. In the eastern part of the region,
Tropical Storm Bill brought 5 to 10 inches of rain in some areas, and many
fields in those areas remain flooded. In Kleberg and Kenedy counties, cotton
and sorghum fields looked great, and rangeland and pastures continued to
improve. Weeds, though, continued to be a problem for many cattle produ cers in
that area. Soil moisture was adequate in Jim Hogg and Jim Wells counties, and
100 percent surplus in Kleberg and Kenedy counties. In the western part of the
region, there were reports of webworms in pecan orchards, but spraying
controlled the pests. In Zavala County, timely and substantial rains resulted
in big savings on irrigation costs. Cotton, corn, sorghum and pecans made
excellent progress. Soil moisture conditions were generally adequate throughout
the western counties. In the southern part of the region, Hidalgo sunflower
harvesting was interrupted by heavy rains. Starr County grain producers were
baling hay. Soil moisture was adequate in the southern counties.
South
Plains: Some areas received rain — from light and
isolated showers to widespread storms — with certain areas receiving from 2 to
5 inches. The moisture benefited crops, but made field work difficult. Earlier
planted sorghum and corn looked very good. The wheat harvest was underway and
yields are average to slightly above. Farmers were running sand-fighters
cultivators over fields to stop blowing topsoil on some fields and to break
crust to help seedling emergence on others. Pastures and rangeland were in good
condition, and winter wheat harvest was in various stages, from just starting to
being completed. Lubbock County cotton ranged from having one to five true
leaves. Corn and sorghum were progressing well with exception of a few sorghum
fields that were stunted in appearance. All Garza County cotton acres were
planted, with crop development ranging from just emerged to the four-true-leaf
stage. Some dama ge has been seen in cotton due to wet weather blight. In some
low-lying areas, the crop showed signs of a lack of oxygen due to excessive
soil moisture. Rangeland and pastures were in excellent condition, and cattle
were mostly in good to excellent condition. Mitchell County received rain at
the beginning of the week, which again kept farmers out of the fields. Scurry
County also received rain that prevented cotton planting.
Southeast: Soil
moisture throughout the region was mostly adequate to surplus, with San
Jacinto, Chambers, Galveston and Hardin counties having 100 percent surplus
levels. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely too, but were mostly good
to excellent, with good ratings being the most common. San Jacinto County and
Hardin County reported 100 percent excellent conditions. Brazos County got from
0.75 inch to 2.5 inches. Pastures and hayfields continued to benefit from
abundant moisture. Brazoria County soybeans were blooming. In Chambers County,
Tropical Storm Bill dropped from 4 to 11 inches of rain atop of already
saturated ground. Some parts of the county had already met average rainfall
totals for a full year. Some early rice that did not have to be replanted in late
April was starting to head. Any more rains will make herbicide and fertilizer
applications on rice difficult. In Fort Bend County, the tropical storm brought
3 to 6 inches of rain. Although producers got more rain than they wanted, they
were spared the 12 inches of rain that fell to the south, so the extra moisture
was manageable. Galveston County received heavy rains from Tropical Storm Bill
too.
Southwest: Though
Tropical Storm Bill brought rains, no major damage or flooding occurred.
Rainfall totaled for the week ranged from 3 to 4 inches. Corn was in poor
condition from too much water. Pasture conditions continued to improve, and
rangeland was in good condition. Crops looked good as well, with above-average
yields expected. Livestock were in fair condition.
West Central: The region had
hot and very humid days with warm nights. Scattered showers fell in some areas,
while others remained dry. Subsoil moisture remained good. Field activities
increased as rain-soaked fields dried out. Producers were spraying for weeds.
Cotton planting and wheat harvesting was nearly completed, though some wheat
fields had to be abandoned due to poor quality and weeds. All row crops were
off to a fine start due to good moisture conditions. Producers were cutting and
baling hay, with the first-cutting yields above average with good quality.
Grain and forage sorghum, and corn were in excellent condition. Rangeland and
pastures were also in great shape. Livestock remained in good to excellent
condition. Horn flies required some control in most herds. Stock-water tanks
and ponds were in good condition. Cattle prices remained very good. Peaches
were ready to harvest. Pecans were progressing well, with a heavy nut crop in
some areas and light in others.
http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_96063.shtml?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+June+24%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email
CCC Announces Prevailing World
Market Prices
|
WASHINGTON, DC --The Department of Agriculture's Commodity
Credit Corporationtoday announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled
and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the
resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates
applicable to the 2014 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). Rough rice prices decreased
$0.22 per cwt for long grain and $0.23 per cwt for medium/short grain.
This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates:
The next program announcement is scheduled for July 1, 2015. |
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UCCE Rice Production Workshop, July 24, Yuba City
Location
The Refuge Restaurant 1501 Butte House Rd. Yuba City, CA United States 39° 8'
54.3048" N, 121° 38' 31.6032" W See map: Google Maps The UCCE Rice
Production Workshop covering the principles and practices of rice production
will be held July 24 in Yuba City, C…
The UCCE Rice
Production Workshop covering the principles and practices of rice production
will be held July 24 in Yuba City, Calif.
The workshop
location is The Refuge Restaurant, 1501 Butte House Rd.
Agenda:
8:30 - Sign in,
pick-up class material
9:00 -
Introduction, workshop overview
9:10 - Rice
growth and development
9:30 - Land
formation, water management
9:50 - Tillage,
planting, stand establishment
10:10 – Break
10:30 - Variety
selection
11:00 –
Invertebrates
11:30 –
Diseases
12:00 – Lunch
1:00 –
Fertility
2:00 - Weeds
3:00 – Adjourn
A $100 prepaid
enrollment is required…
Rice Production Workshop
Date: July 24, 2015
Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Contact: Luis Espino •
laespino@ucanr.edu
Sponsor: ANR, UC Cooperative Extension,
UC Davis
Event Details
UCCE Rice
Production Workshop
An in-depth workshop that covers the principles and practices of rice production
Friday, July 24, 2015 • 8:30 AM — 3 PM
The Refuge Restaurant
1501 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA 95993
Friday, July 24, 2015 • 8:30 AM — 3 PM
The Refuge Restaurant
1501 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA 95993
Program:
8:30 ••• Sign in, pick up
class materials
9:00 ••• Introduction and
Workshop Overview
9:10 ••• Rice Growth and
Development
9:30 ••• Land Formation,
Water Management
9:50 ••• Tillage, Planting
and Stand Establishment
10:10 ••• Break
10:30 ••• Variety Selection
11:00 ••• Invertebrates
11:30 ••• Diseases
12:00 ••• Lunch
1:00 ••• Fertility
2:00 ••• Weeds
3:00 ••• Adjourn
Enroll/Register on-line at http://ucanr.edu/2015riceworkshop. Prepaid enrollment ($100) is required, and enrollment is limited to 75 people. Please enroll by July 21st to ensure your participation.
Seats will be filled on a
first-come basis.
DPR and CCA continuing education
credits requested.
For more information, contact
Cass Mutters (530-538-7201), Luis Espino (530-458-0578), or Michelle
Leinfelder-Miles (209-953-6120), Farm Advisors, UC Cooperative Extension.
The Refuge
1501 Butte House Road
Yuba City, CA
http://agric.ucdavis.edu/?calitem=292444&g=75579
Ramadan boosts
Britain's big supermarkets with £100million sales uplift as Muslims prepare
lavish sundown meals
Britain’s biggest supermarkets have been boosted with a
£100million sales uplift thanks to Ramadan.Three million Muslims in the UK will
break their fast with lavish sundown meals during the Islamic holy month, which
began last Thursday and ends with the Eid celebration on July 18 this year.And
this is welcomed by supermarkets, with retail consultants saying the religious
festival is now the third most important to stores behind Christmas and Easter
- with meat, rice and fruit the big sellers.
+
Specials: Tesco runs Ramadan promotions in more
than 300 stores in Britain, and said demand for key products including chapati
flour, oil and dates rises by 70 per cent
Morrisons is expected to sell more than two million tons of rice,
Sainsbury’s says rice sales are up at least 100 per cent year on year, while
Tesco believes sales will jump by £30million during the month.Sainsbury’s world
foods expert Hennah Baseer told MailOnline today: ‘Ramadan is becoming an
increasingly important calendar date for us. ‘This year we've already seen an
increase in customers buying Asian products from our stores. Sales are up on
key ingredients that are used to cook meals during Ramadan.‘We have a
promotional event for Ramadan taking place in 270 stores until July 21 - geographically
specific to stores that have a higher proportion of customers that take part in
Ramadan.’Meanwhile, Tesco runs Ramadan promotions in more than 300 stores in
Britain, and said demand for key products including chapati flour, oil and
dates rises by 70 per cent.
+2Evening
eating: Three million Muslims in the UK will break their fast with lavish
sundown meals during the Islamic holy month, which began last Thursday and ends
with the Eid celebration on July 18 (file picture)
A spokesman said: 'Ramadan is an important time in the calendar
for many of our customers and colleagues and sees friends and families
gathering together around the dinner table.'Food plays a hugely significant
role during this month, which is why we are proud to offer a delicious range of
meals and products to meet the needs of our customers.’Morrisons shifts 80,000
boxes of dates during Ramadan, while it also experiences a 40,000 per cent
sales uplift on its 10kg Amira rice, which is sold at half price for the
month.George Scott, of retail consultancy Conlumino, told The Times: ‘In terms of religious festivals, Ramadan is second now to
Christmas and Easter in its importance to food retailers.‘It's very lucrative.
It's a growing market because the country is becoming more diverse - and if the
supermarkets want to win customers, they have to cater to every taste.’Ramadan
- during which eating and drinking is forbidden from sunrise to sunset - is
observed as a period of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the
Koran to the Prophet Mohammed.
The NHS warns that feasting during the pre-dawn and dusk meals can
actually be unhealthy and cause Muslims to gain weight. It recommends food
intake to be simple, and similar to a normal diet.Ramadan is becoming an
increasingly important calendar date for us
Oxford-based anaesthetist Dr Razeen Mahroof said: ‘The underlying
message behind Ramadan is self-discipline and self-control. This shouldn’t fall
apart at the end of the day.’This Ramadan is expected to bring the most
challenging fast in decades because the holy month is coinciding with the
Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere for the first time in more than 30
years.The longer days mean the fasting period last Thursday stretched to almost
19 hours in Britain, compared to the Middle East where it lasted between 15 and
16 hours.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3135796/Ramadan-boosts-Britain-s-big-supermarkets-100million-sales-uplift-Muslims-prepare-lavish-sundown-meals.html#ixzz3e3wx9MYs
Surplus stock: Rice body seeks
export subsidy
Published: June 24, 2015
3m tons of rice is annually
consumed in the country and the remaining quantity is exported. STOCK IMAGE
ISLAMABAD: Attempting
to alleviate the dire conditions of farmers, the Rice Exporters Association has
sought a special package from the government that aims to provide subsidy on
exports. In addition, the association suggested that the surplus stock be
procured by Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation Limited
(Passco)
In a bid to
negotiate these terms, a high level meeting was held in the Ministry of
National Food Security and Research on Tuesday where rice related issues being
faced by growers and exporters were discussed.A senior officer, who was part of
the meeting, told The Express Tribunethat three key demands were put forward by
the rice exporters: subsidy on the export of rice, procurement of the surplus
stock by Passco and waiving off of withholding tax on loans taken by rice
growers and exporters. Exporters justified the demand for subsidy by citing the
grant offered to wheat farmers.
It was also
learnt that federal minister Sikander Hayat Khan Bosan and other senior
officers have scheduled a meeting with the prime minister to discuss these
issues further.The rice exporters have expressed concern over the surplus stock
that is proving difficult to export. In light of this, the association has
requested a special package to alleviate this issue.Rice recorded its highest
ever production at 7.003 million tons during 2014-15 and it has increased by 3%
as compared to last year due to increased area sown under rice, besides timely
availability of irrigation water and more acreage under high yielding hybrid
rice varieties.
About 3
million tons of rice is annually consumed in the country and the remaining
quantity is exported. Rice export for the last few years has remained over $2
billion; however, during the current year 2014-15, rice exports earned foreign
exchange of $1.5 billion and this is primarily due to significant decline in
price of rice and other food commodities in the world market.Currently, rice
prices in the domestic market are ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs2,200 per 40 kg for
coarse types while for basmati the prices are ranging from Rs2,700 to Rs3,000
per 40 kg. Whereas as in the international market, the price is Rs39.2 per kg,
while Basmati super kernel is Rs92.82 per kg.
Published in The Express
Tribune, June 24th, 2015.
SunRice posts 47pc profit lift
ANDREW MARSHALL
24 Jun, 2015 12:15 PM
RICE marketer and
processor SunRice will pay its B-Class shareholders a record 31 cents a share
dividend after posting a big 47 per cent jump in net profit after tax to almost
$50m and an 8pc lift in group revenue to $1.25 billion for the year to April
30. The announcement follows the 
company's 34.4pc increase in full-year medium grain paddy price
payment total to $394.62 a tonne for the 2014 harvest year, and $524.62/t for
Koshihikari rice.Chief executive officer Rob Gordon regarded the farmer-owned
company's full-year financial performance as an outstanding result, driven
largely by the success of its focus on premium branded markets and building
capacity and capability at its sites."Since introducing the growth
strategy in 2011-12, results have exceeded expectations," he said.
"We have grown consolidated revenue by $250m or 25pc with a
strong compound annual growth rate of 7.6pc; lifted net profit after tax by
$26.5m or 117pc, and increased the full year paddy price for medium grain
(Reiziq) by 43.5pc from $275 per tonne to $394.62/t."The strong final
calendar 2014 paddy price represented more than $330m in payments to growers.
This year's 35pc dividend increase included a special payment of 5c made in
January.Chairman Laurie Arthur said it represented a dividend payout ratio of
40pc and a dividend yield of 6.7pc.
"This demonstrates SunRice's ability to generate the best
possible returns for both our growers and shareholders," he said."In
our rice pool business, performance was driven by impressive sales and profit
growth across international markets, combined with improved milling yields for
the C14 crop and strong global pricing."The record dividend reflects the
strength of our non-rice pool businesses."Mr Gordon said SunRice had
strengthened its global position in 2014-15, implementing a strategy to grow
branded sales in key international markets.The move from production-led to
market-driven sales was underpinned by consumer-insights research, improved
business capabilities and a new centres of excellence in new product
development and marketing.
http://adf.farmonline.com.au/news/nationalrural/agribusiness/general-news/sunrice-posts-47pc-profit-lift/2735921.aspx
Govt seeks
solutions to torrid drought
Erich Parpart
The Nation June 25, 2015 1:00 am
500 groundwater wells to counter water crisis
A SERIES of measures will be adopted to ensure that the country has
enough water resources at least until April next year, including a provision
for 500 groundwater wells in drought-hit provinces.Prime Minister Prayut
Chan-o-cha yesterday chaired a meeting of economic ministers that also approved
four urgent measures to cope with the drought.These measures include a further
delay in the rice crop to July or August, a switch to crops that consume less
water, a switch to multiple crops and a debt payment suspension for farmers in
affected areas.By the middle of July, 500 additional groundwater wells are
expected to be operational in drought-hit provinces, while the Irrigation
Department will lessen the release of fresh water for farmland by five million
cubic metres per day to save inventory.About 3.44 million rai of farmland in
the central and other regions would be affected, but there would be some relief
from groundwater supply.
The focus is on rice farmers in 22 provinces near the Chao Phraya
River basin.For example, an area of around 850,000 rai that has already started
off-season farming is expected to have a shortage of water due to the El Nino
phenomenon following a lack of rainfall in the central region.A budget of Bt84
million is earmarked for the groundwater project covering equipment and
manpower, including the 2,000 local farmers asked to delay their off-season
farming to the beginning of July, along with the procurements of 80 water pumps
and 60 well-drilling machines."What we have to do first is to save the
rice and the farmers. We cannot let them die," said Prayut, adding that
the money for the 500 wells would be allocated from the 2016 fiscal budget.
The government earlier urged rice farmers to delay their off-season
farming to the beginning of July instead of June because of the shortage of
water.Overall, there is around 7.45 million rai of rice farmland near the Chao
Phraya River basin, of which around 3.44 million started farming at the
beginning of June - but the amount of water left in major irrigation dams is
not enough to support them all.The remaining 3.45 million rai will have to wait
until the rainwater comes.Around 850,000 rai is expected to face a shortage of
water because it is an area higher than sea level when compared to areas next
to the river or other areas closer to the dams in the central region.
The artesian wells will be built near areas where water is still
expected to be in short supply and they could service only around
100,000-130,000 rai.As a result, farmers in the areas will be encouraged to
grow other crops that require less water, such as corn and green peas.Petipong
Pungbun Na Ayudhya, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, said the corn
could be sold to feed domesticated animals. The green-peas could be sold to
retail and export operators who claim there is currently a demand for around
100,000 tonnes of green peas. The ministry has a supply of seeds that farmers
could purchase."The crop switch programme is expected to be finalised in
two weeks when the rain is expected to fall. The farmers will then know what to
do this season," he said.
Interior Minister General Anupong Paojinda has reassured that the
water shortage will not affect supplies for consumption and other purposes.The
Thai Meteorological Department expects the shortage of rain to gradually
recover from around a deficit of 18-20 per cent in July, to 10 and 8 per cent
in August and September respectively - before returning to the normal rainfall
average in October.
Special package to be sought for paddy growers in rain-fed
areas
P.M. Veerendra
Prakash Kammaradi, chairman of the Karnataka Agriculture Price
Commission, speaking at a workshop in Shivamogga on Tuesday.— Photo: VAIDYA
‘Support price
announced for crop less than cultivation cost’
The Karnataka Agriculture Price
Commission will urge the State government to announce a special package for the
benefit of farmers engaged in cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas, said
chairman Prakash Kammaradi.The cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas,
including Malnad, is no more a lucrative venture, and as a result many farmers
are switching over to commercial crops like ginger and maize, he said at a
workshop on cultivation of paddy held at the University of Agricultural and
Horticultural Sciences (UAHS), Shivamogga, here on Tuesday.The minimum support
price of Rs. 1,360 for a quintal of paddy announced by the government was much
less than the actual cultivation cost incurred by the farmers, he added.
Along with posing a threat to food
security, the trend to switch over to cultivation of commercial crops has also
resulted in shortage of fodder for cattle. In Kerala, the government has
announced a special package for cultivation of paddy in rain-fed areas. It
includes providing inputs for farmers for subsidised price and extending
financial assistance for farm mechanisation. A similar package should be
announced in Karnataka, he said.The native varieties of paddy cultivated in
rain-fed areas in Malnad including sanna valya, mattaga, hegga, and gandhasale are known for their special aroma and taste.
The rice from such varieties is
also rich in fibre and nutrient qualities. It was possible to undertake
sustainable cultivation of paddy in Malnad region under natural farming method,
he suiggested. The commission would request the government to explore the
possibilities of payment of wage for labourers who work in paddy fields in
rain-fed areas with funds available under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said.C. Vasudevappa, Vice Chancellor of UAHS,
Shivamogga; K.T. Gangadhar, working president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha
Sangha; and H.C. Basavarajappa, general secretary of the KRRS were present.
The cultivation of paddy in
rain-fed areas is no more a lucrative venture, and many farmers are switching
over to commercial crops.
Prakash Kammaradi
Chairman, Karnataka Agriculture
Price Commission
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/special-package-to-be-sought-for-paddy-growers-in-rainfed-areas/article7348895.ece
Monsoon poised to cover whole country in 2 days
VINSON KURIAN
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE
24:
The monsoon is expected to cover the entire country in the next
two days, an India Meteorological Department update said on Wednesday
evening.This is more than two weeks ahead of the timeline of July 15 when it
normally completes its run over the Indian landmass and advances beyond the
international border in the North-West.
Frenzied run
The rains covered Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, entire Jammu and Kashmir, most of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab and east Rajasthan in a frenzied run overnight.This was facilitated mainly by the deep depression that crossed the south Gujarat coast last evening, stood its ground for quite sometime while engaging a western disturbance over north-west India.The deep depression has weakened one round into a depression by the evening and was located over Ahmedabad and neighbourhood. It is still capable of kicking up a lot of rain over north-west India. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been warned of in the area during the next two days even as the system keeps moving east-northeast, weakens another round before hitting the foothills of the Himalayas.
The rains covered Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, east Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, entire Jammu and Kashmir, most of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and parts of Punjab and east Rajasthan in a frenzied run overnight.This was facilitated mainly by the deep depression that crossed the south Gujarat coast last evening, stood its ground for quite sometime while engaging a western disturbance over north-west India.The deep depression has weakened one round into a depression by the evening and was located over Ahmedabad and neighbourhood. It is still capable of kicking up a lot of rain over north-west India. Heavy to very heavy rainfall has been warned of in the area during the next two days even as the system keeps moving east-northeast, weakens another round before hitting the foothills of the Himalayas.
‘Low’ in East
Meanwhile, the low-pressure area over West Bengal (erstwhile Bay of Bengal depression) persisted on Wednesday.Model predictions suggest that it may flare up as the Arabian Sea-born system loses strength in the foothills. India Met sees the ‘low ’retracing its track back towards Bihar/Jharkhand and leading another round of rain. Otherwise, the monsoon is forecast to pause for breath after a scorching run over the past two weeks. It may wind down activity drastically during the first week of July.
Meanwhile, the low-pressure area over West Bengal (erstwhile Bay of Bengal depression) persisted on Wednesday.Model predictions suggest that it may flare up as the Arabian Sea-born system loses strength in the foothills. India Met sees the ‘low ’retracing its track back towards Bihar/Jharkhand and leading another round of rain. Otherwise, the monsoon is forecast to pause for breath after a scorching run over the past two weeks. It may wind down activity drastically during the first week of July.
Most of the peninsula has already started drying up, and there
is no forecast yet of any significant weather system taking shape in the
neighbouring seas.
Drier westerlies
Comparatively barren westerly winds are forecast to fill north and north-west India after the ongoing wet session ends.Meanwhile, the rain surplus recorded for the country as a whole as on date is 24 per cent – 52 per cent in central India; 32 per cent in south peninsula; 4 per cent in east and north-east India.The only Met subdivision with a shortage of rainfall is north-west India (-5 per cent). Even here, the extent of deficit has come down by a couple of notches from overnight.The position should improve over the next two days given the outlook for heavy to heavy rain at many places.
Comparatively barren westerly winds are forecast to fill north and north-west India after the ongoing wet session ends.Meanwhile, the rain surplus recorded for the country as a whole as on date is 24 per cent – 52 per cent in central India; 32 per cent in south peninsula; 4 per cent in east and north-east India.The only Met subdivision with a shortage of rainfall is north-west India (-5 per cent). Even here, the extent of deficit has come down by a couple of notches from overnight.The position should improve over the next two days given the outlook for heavy to heavy rain at many places.
(This article was published on June 24, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/monsoon-poised-to-cover-whole-country-in-2-days/article7350613.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication
Union of Small and Medium
Enterprises urges Pakistani Pre shipment inspection companies to offer matching
services like multinationals
June 22, 2015 at 9:22 AM
Karachi, June 22, 2015 (PPI-OT):he Union of Small and Medium
Enterprises ( UNISAME ) urged the Pakistani pre shipment inspection (PSI )
companies to be prepared to increase their efficiency and level of service to
serve the SME sector in lieu of disbandment of Quality Review Committee (QRC
).President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said with the decision to disband the QRC
the Pakistani PSI companies will get an opportunity to get the PSI job of the
SME rice exporters and it is therefore very necessary that they gear up for
prompt and speedy inspection of rice and commodities and equip themselves with
modern laboratories to carry out PSI with high level of inspection according to
international standards.
Thaver said there are multinational companies carrying out PSI jobs
but they are a little expensive and it is therefore very necessary that
Pakistani companies offer competitive rates for the job and match their service
and standard with the international companies.QRC was entrusted with the task of
PSI for basmati rice but became futile due to majority of shipments being of
non basmati rice and the exporters have developed their own brands of blended
rice. QRC became an impediment and the exporters did not get a free hand to
export their own brands of rice prepared according to the buyers requirements.
The majority of rice exported is of 1121, 386 and rice skillfully
blended with basmati rice under the brands of the exporters or the buyers. The
rice industry is in deep turmoil due to lowered global demand and Iran not
buying rice from Pakistan. The prices fell to almost half of last year
resulting in huge losses for the growers, millers and the exporters and more
than 1000 units have closed down.The exporters have now to look for new
markets, the growers need to modernize their farming to reduce cost and the
millers need to improve their standards then only we will be able to compete.
For more information, contact:
Tel: +92-21-35884225-6 -Fax: +92-21-35380642
Cell: +92-300-8245307, +92-321-8245307 Email: unisame@gmail.com
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