Think we can end California’s drought
by eating differently? Think again
There’s so much confusion about
California’s drought, and a lot of my colleagues in the media, I’m sorry to
say, have been amplifying that confusion. The proliferation of stories showing
how much water various food products use implies that people should be eating
water-thrifty foods — but that would do precisely nothing to fix the
problem. The real solutions are within reach (I’ll get to those), but they will
require the hard work of politics to achieve, rather than simplistic,
consumer-focused fixes.
A recent survey from the Public
Policy Institute of California found that, for the first time in the history of
its polling, Californians say drought is the most important state issue, and 69
percent of Californians say water supply is a big problem in their part of the
state.
Public Policy
Institute of California poll
When there’s this kind of concern
about an issue, we in the media hustle to provide information. And there’s an
obvious set of data for us to transform into engaging infographics: The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Wired, and, er, Grist, along with many others, have been explaining how much
water it takes to produce various food items. There’s nothing wrong with these
until outlets try to spin that raw, context-less data into buzzy
proscriptions about what to order at a restaurant. (In our defense, we tried
to present the data without focusing on the California drought, and when
Grist’s science editor Amelia Urry went on TV to talk about it she did a great job of pointing out that context mattered and
“skipping that sirloin or chocolate cake isn’t going to put water back into
depleted aquifers.”)
Here are the problems with trying
to diet our way out of drought:
There are lots
of reasons a farmer chooses a crop
Many “water guzzling” crops make
sense if you consider a farmer’s ecological context.
The Los Angeles Times pointed out that lentils are “a thirsty food.” True, they take more water
than other crops to grow. But they are also ideally suited to drought-prone
regions. As Liz Carlisle, author of Lentil Underground, writes: Lentils “are content without irrigation, even in areas
that frequently see droughts. Lentils grow when it rains, and pause their
growth cycle when it’s dry. Instead of overshooting and wilting, they stage
their growth to fit their water resource, and they stay low to the ground
rather than bolting up in flamboyant amber waves.”
Then there’s alfalfa, which also
sips a lot of water. But alfalfa is a great choice for farmers worried that they might not get their water, because
if you stop irrigating, it simply goes dormant — then it springs back to life
when the rains return. It’s also cheap: One planting can produce hay for six
years, so it’s not a not a mortal wound if a farmer has to give up a few
cuttings. Both alfalfa and lentils fix their own nitrogen, which makes them
great rotation crops for farmers who want to reduce pests and diversify their
farms.
Consider rice, another supposed
water guzzler. Rice takes tons of water, because the fields are flooded.
But that water doesn’t simply disappear — it seeps into the ground, and some of
it goes back into the rivers. The water table in northern California is in
good shape, in part because of all the rice paddies recharging the aquifers.
Rice farmers flood their fields as a means of weed control, which allows them
to dramatically reduce their pesticide use. And those fields provide important
habitat for birds and fish — so important that the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation
Service is offering farmers money to continue flooding their fields to
give migrating waterfowl a chance to survive the drought.
The value of
water depends on location
If you’ve been paying attention
to these factoids, you’ve learned that it takes a lot of water to grow beef.
But knowing that does nothing to differentiate the cattle raised in the
middle of a drought from the cattle raised by a rancher in a place with
plentiful water, like Montana or North Dakota. It also hides the fact that
California cattle subsist primarily on grain freighted in from the soggy
Midwest. If you want to count the virtual water flowing out of the state, you
also should count all the millions of gallons coming in every day on the rails.
The water footprint of beef also
depends on what the beeves eat. In the hilly grasslands, where it’s
often hard to grow crops, cattle can be an important part of a ranch’s
ecosystem: They clear the grass before it has a chance to go to seed and
oxidize, and they fertilize as they go. Remove the animals, and there may not
much to do with the land except build houses.
There are other reasons to eat
less meat, and I’ve suggested in the past that it would be environmentally beneficial to
reduce global meat consumption. But it’s not a solution for California’s
drought. We shouldn’t be asking individual eaters to outsmart a complex global
market with every purchase.
What actually
happens if people boycott California crops?
Farmers chose to grow the crops
that will make them a living. If people stop eating California avocados and
almonds and rice, it would make it harder to farm in the state. It would
speed the conversion of farmland to suburbs and golf courses. And it would
probably shift a lot of production overseas: More tomatoes might come from
Chile than California.
An export ban would be similarly
ineffective. Exports are the most offensive aspect of California agriculture to
many: It feels crazy to be turning water into alfalfa and then shipping that to
China in the middle of the drought. But the fact is, setting up some kind of
trade barrier — even if it were politically possible — wouldn’t put more water
into rivers. Farmers still have legal control over a lot of water, and
they would put it to use. If we banned almonds, or stopped selling rice to
Asia, the farmers would just use that water for something else.
What’s a better
solution?
Instead of asking eaters to wade
through this complexity every time they pick up a fork, we need policies that
make water expensive for farmers in places where it’s scarce. A market
price for water would simply eliminate inefficient crops.
And, in fact, California already
has a functioning water market … with one
massive market failure: It’s still legal for landowners to pump as much
water out of their ground as they can in many places. And it’s that market
failure that is causing the true shortages in poor farming towns.
However, the state is on its way
to correcting that market failure. The legislature regulated groundwater last
year, and water districts around the state are currently figuring out how to
make sure they put as much water into the ground during wet years as they take
out in dry years.
I am not arguing that an
untrammeled market will fix everything. I’m arguing that a heavily, heavily trammeled market (there’s a lot of
protections for those who might be injured by the sale of water in
California) could fix almost everything.
It won’t fix the inefficient and
environmentally damaging way the state moves water through
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (the delta is the swamp that mires
politicians for life). And it won’t save beleaguered fish, which are really
suffering in the drought. Several policy wonks have suggested adding a tax
to water use to discourage overuse and help pay for fixes to these
environmental problems — they are also market failures, and a tax could bring
them into the system.
But, that’s
not a satisfying solution!
Politics and policy are not
as exciting as a technical fix, but in this case they are the only thing that
will actually work. You could try for a complete overhaul of the water
rights system, but the experts tell me that just isn’t going to happen.
I just want a future that doesn’t
suck for my daughters as they grow up in California. I’d like them to have
healthy, rushing rivers to swim in; a diversity of fish species to marvel
at, and eat; clean drinking water, available to everyone, equitably; and then,
way down on the list, I’d like them to grow up in a state that still has farms,
and produces great food.
All of that is within reach — if
California can just implement its groundwater law. Instead of haphazardly
picking foods to boycott or stockading the almond-eaters, let’s
let farmers read the market signals and grow what’s appropriate for their
circumstances. Then, when water is scarce and prices rise, farmers may find
it’s most profitable to sell their water to serve rivers, cities, and fish.
A well-regulated market will push
out the water uses that just don’t make sense. Drop-per-crop infographics
won’t.
http://grist.org/food/think-we-can-end-californias-drought-by-eating-differently-think-again/
Rice’s Price Could Head Sharply
Higher
Tighter export restrictions, big short positions, and surging demand
could set off a food crisis and soaring prices.
Observers of the rice market
worry that there could be a repeat of the food crisis of 2008. If there is,
prices could soar from current depressed levels.In 2007-08, a combination of
export restrictions from major rice-producing countries and speculative
investment purchases caused shortages of the grain. Consumers across Asia
panicked, buying and hoarding whatever rice was available, while Haiti saw
riots.In the U.S., certain grocery stores limited rice purchases.As the supply
situation worsened, prices catapulted to more than $24 per hundred pounds by
April 2008, from about $13 near Thanksgiving 2007.
This time, prices have been on an almost continuous slide for
the past 17 months, discouraging growers even as demand increases. Rice is
trading around $10 per hundred pounds, down nearly 40% from the end of
2013.“Current levels of supply against demand are very similar” to the food
crises of 1972-74 and 2006-08, says Shawn Hackett in a recent edition of the
Hackett Money Flow Report.The stocks-to-trade ratio, a measure of how much rice
is in storage relative to how much is shipped around the globe, is 225%, a tad
lower than the 233% seen in 2007-08 when prices started to surge, according to
the Firstgrain Rice Market Strategist newsletter. The lower ratio means smaller
stockpiles.“Rice production is projected at a new record,” the U.S. Department
of Agriculture reported in May. But “consumption is forecast to surpass
production for the third year in a row, drawing down stocks to the lowest since
2007-08.”
TIGHT INVENTORY ISN’T the only issue. Short positions in the futures markets by
speculative traders hoping to profit from further drops in the price have grown
dramatically. In late-May, the number of bearish hedge funds and other money
managers was more than 300% larger than those betting on higher prices,
according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That’s up from
49% more speculative shorts than longs a year earlier.
Big short positions can be bullish for the price because sooner
or later those short positions will need to be closed out. When that happens,
the speculators must buy an equivalent number of contracts, and as they do,
it’s likely that rice prices will rally.There’s more: Hackett sees unusual
weather harming crops. Specifically, he pinpoints a “super” El Niño weather
system in the Pacific Ocean as a potential problem. It “has the potential to
cause production setbacks at a time when buffer stocks do not exist to offset
them,” he writes, pointing to the major rice-producing countries of India,
Indonesia, and the Philippines as particularly vulnerable to crop difficulties.
El Niño tends to cause droughts in the summer and
floods in the fall from typhoons in all three countries, which produce about a
third of the world’s rice.Low prices for rice and bad weather are also causing
some U.S. growers to reduce their planting. Firstgrain estimates that the
acreage for long-grain rice in the U.S. will drop 5% this year.Rough rice for
July, the most actively traded contract, recently traded at $9.945 a hundred
pounds on the Chicago Board of Trade.
SIMON CONSTABLE is a New York City–based freelance
writer
Philippines mulls
open bidding after government rice procurement falls short of goal
MANILA – After failing to secure
ample rice stocks from foreign governments, the National Food Authority (NFA)
is turning to the private sector to secure the Philippines’ supply of the
staple for the lean months.
“The private sector importation
will come as the next importation activity. The government is ahead in
importing because we need to have the stocks before July 1 for the lean month
period,” Joseph dela Cruz, NFA deputy administrator, said. The importation will be coursed through the
Philippines’ minimum access volume (MAV) scheme. Under its MAV, the Philippines
can bring in 805,200 metric tons of rice at 35 percent tariff, which is lower
than the 50 percent the country imposes on imports outside the quota.The
Philippines’ MAV requires 755,000 metric tons to be allocated to suppliers who
mostly come from Thailand and Vietnam, with the remaining 50,000 to be sourced
from other countries.The NFA’s planned resort to private importation comes
after it secured only 150,000 metric tons of rice under a
government-to-government (G2G) bidding last Friday, with Vietnam cornering the
contract. The Philippines requires 250,000 metric tons for delivery by September.“It
is the NFA Council that decides on the mode of procurement. It depends since
international tender may take longer duration before the delivery, while G2G is
less than a month,” dela Cruz said.
Indonesia replaces Bulog food agency chief after rice target missed
JAKARTA, JUNE 8 |
The head of Indonesia's state
food procurement body has been removed after just five months in the role, the
deputy state-owned enterprises minister said on Monday, citing missed targets
for domestic rice-buying.Former banker Lenny Sugihat replaced retiring Bulog
chief Sutarto Alimoeso in January, with a remit to buy rice and other food
staples from domestic farmers to stabilise retail prices.Former Bank Rakyat
Indonesia director Djarot Kusumayakti was inaugurated as Sugihat's replacement
on Monday, a state-owned enterprises ministry statement said.The government had
given Bulog a rice-buying target of 4 million tonnes from domestic producers
for 2015, but the agency had only managed to procure 1.2 million tonnes by the
end of May, deputy minister Muhamad Zamkhani told reporters.Bulog is the
dominant rice buyer, tasked with maintaining annual stocks of 1.5-2 million
tonnes by buying from both domestic and regional suppliers.
In the past, Indonesia has
imported 1 million to 2 million tonnes a year, usually from Thailand or
Vietnam, and replacing Sugihat may be a sign that imports are now
likely.Sugihat is one of the first prominent government officials to be
appointed and then replaced by President Joko Widodo, who took office last
October.Widodo's administration has been criticised for underperforming and
failing to revive an economy that is at its weakest since 2009.Analysts have
said Indonesia could ship in as much as 1.6 million tonnes of rice this year
due to soaring prices at home and the threat of damage or delays to harvests
from an El Nino weather pattern.Retail rice prices in Indonesia have gained
about 13 percent in the past year and industry sources expect further climbs of
5-7 percent around the Muslim festival of Ramadan, which starts in mid-June. (Additional
reporting by Cindy Silviana; Writing by Michael Taylor; Editing by Alan Raybould)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/08/indonesia-rice-bulog-idUSL3N0YU2QP20150608
Rice industry welcomes price increase
June 8, 2015, 11:55
a.m.
Laurie Arthur
RIVERINA rice growers will be paid $380 a tonne which equates to
an additional $49.7 million boost for the industry.The price increase is
$20 a tonne more than what growers were paid last year.“The increase
contributes to an overall $60 per tonne on our initial estimate of $320 per
tonne for medium grain,” said SunRice chairman Laurie Arthur.The announcement
comes after growers completed what was described as a much better than average
harvest.Mr Arthur said strong business performance in the second half of the
financial year was the reason behind the better returns.“This increase
contributes to an overall $60 a tonne increase on our initial estimate of $320
per tonne for medium grain announced in July 2014,” he said.“That’s an
additional $49.7 million that has flowed to our growers,” he said.“It was made
possible by the ongoing strength of SunRice’s Rice Milling and Marketing
business, which directly funds the Australian paddy pool price.”The price rise
caps off what has been a successful and positive season for Riverina growers.
Producers harvested an estimated 700,000-tonne crop and conditions were
described as being mostly good.Earlier in the season Riverina Rice Growers
executive director Dean Logan of Leeton said yields were good.The Riverina has
produced as much as 920,000 tonnes in a record year. During the drought the
harvest was just 19,000 tonnes.He said Riverina rice fed 20 million people
around the world each day. “It is a positive industry to be involved in.
Australian growers are considered the most efficient in the world,” Mr Logan
said. Some of the highest yielding crops have returned 11t/ha.
http://www.therural.com.au/story/3131942/price-increase-of-20-a-tonne-for-rice-industry/
Vietnam
wins bid of 150,000 ton rice export to Philippines
Vietnam has won a bid to export 150,000 tons of 25 percent broken
white rice to the Philippines at the price of US$410.12 a ton.
Export rice bags are loaded aboard (Photo: VNA)
That is out of 250,000 tons that the Philippines National Food
Authority had invited Vietnamese and Thailand tenders to supply in July and
August to supplement their national storage and prevent a rice price
increase.Early this year, the Philippines imported 300,000 ton rice from
Vietnam and 200,000 tons from Thailand.The country’s import demand is expected
to back rice export prices that have continuously reduced in Asia.Five percent
broken white rice is priced US$365, US$355 and US$380 per ton in Thailand,
Vietnam and India; down from US$410, US$380 and US$390 compared to the
beginning of this year.
By T. Trinh – Translated by Hai Mien
http://www.sggpnews.org.vn/Business/2015/6/114030/
Unsold Paddy in Market Yards Faces
Rain Threat
By
Published: 08th June 2015 07:55 AM
Last Updated: 08th June 2015 07:55 AM
BARGARH: Farmers of the district
are spending sleepless nights with their unsold paddy bags lying in the open at
procurement centres even as the monsoon is fast approaching.Even as paddy
procurement was started on May 8, it has been moving at a snail’s pace.
Thousands of bags of paddy have been lying unsold in different market yards.The
district had set a target to procure 2,35,626 tonnes of rice from custom milling
of paddy. Against 100 kg of paddy, the rice millers have to supply 68 kg of
rice under the custom milling norms. While the State Civil Supplies Corporation
was supposed to procure 2,01,209 tonnes of rice, Markfed was to procure 19,417
tonnes, Nafed 10,000 tonnes and NACOPE 5000 tonnes.
However, official report reveals
that 1,54,582 bags of paddy are yet to be sold through 77 market yards and
procurement centres. While 1,22,000 bags have not been procured under Attabira
Regulated Market Committee (RMC), the figure stood at 18,582 bags under Bargarh
RMC and 14,000 bags under Padampur RMC in the district. Sources said till June
4, a total of 30,90,848 quintals of paddy had been procured.With the weatherman
predicting arrival of monsoon in the State by second week of this month,
farmers are worried that rains may damage their produce lying in market yards.
They have asked the District
Supplies Officer to lift paddy from market yards before onset of monsoon.On
Friday, farmers of village Salepali in Bheden block sat on fast unto death
outside the office of Collector Anjan Kumar Manik demanding procurement of
their paddy. The agitation was withdrawn after Additional District Magistrate
Pradeep Gardia and Food and Civil Supplies Officer Ramakanta Ransingh held discussion
with the farmers and assured them of starting paddy procurement from
Monday.While 45,000 bags of paddy in the village are yet to be procured, Radha
Mohan Pradhan of the village said he is waiting for his 300 bags of paddy to be
procured.Ransingh said the paddy stock will be sold within a week.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Unsold-Paddy-in-Market-Yards-Faces-Rain-Threat/2015/06/08/article2855109.ece
International Customs / Vietnam / Vietnam cuts export price floor
of 25% broken rice by 2.9% to $340 tonne
Vietnam cuts export price floor of 25% broken rice by 2.9% to $340
tonne
HANOI: Vietnam has cut the export price floor
for the 25 percent broken rice by 2.9 percent to $340 a tonne, an industry body
said, after the country submitted the lowest price in a rice tender in the
Philippines.The new floor came into effect on Monday, the Vietnam Food
Association said in a statement seen by Reuters.The Philippines agreed to buy
150,000 tonnes from Vietnam in a tender on Friday and could import additional
volumes to avert a potential spike in prices of the staple if adverse weather
threatens the local crop.Vietnam, the world’s third-largest rice exporter after
India and Thailand, had raised the price floor to $350 a tonne on June 1 before
the tender
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/vietnam-cuts-export-price-floor-of-25-broken-rice-by-2-9-to-340-tonne/
Ministry
mulls direct sales of small rice packs to consumers
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION June 9, 2015 1:00 am
THE
COMMERCE Ministry is considering selling small packs of rice directly to
consumers as part of its policy to clear out the government's stocks.Prime
Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, chairman of the Rice Policy Committee, has called
for the ministry to urgently sell rice via various channels to reduce carrying
costs and cut losses for the country. The rice stored during the pledging
project of the past government has continued to deteriorate in quality.
Commerce
Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said yesterday that the ministry will soon set up a
working team to consider the possibility of producing rice packs for retail. It
will have to consider the quality of the grains and allow some agencies to be
responsible for improving the quality of rice and for distributing it to
traders.The ministry has been only releasing rice through auctions and
government-to-government deals. The ministry will discuss the scheme with
agencies including the Public Warehouse Organisation, Marketing Organisation
for Farmers, Foreign Trade Department and Internal Trade Department.The
ministry will study market supply and demand to estimate the appropriate
quantity of rice to produce and distribute so that farmers and traders are not
disadvantaged.Among the 16 million to 17 million tonnes of rice remaining in
the government's inventory, most could be produced for retail and export. About
two million tonnes of rice are of good enough quality to sell as packed rice,
while the rest could be given to companies to upgrade before selling to
consumers.
The
ministry will also consider selling small lots to avoid upsetting the trading
mechanism.A source from a rice pack trader said that there is a plentiful
supply of packed rice in the market, so the government should carefully
consider becoming a trader, otherwise it could distort the market mechanism and
hurt existing traders. If the government decides to sell small rice packs, it
should do so gradually in small quantities at a price that was in line with the
market price, the source said.The ministry is set to open bidding next Monday
for 1.06 million tonnes of 12 varieties of rice such as Hom Mali rice, white
rice, husked white rice, husked Hom Mali rice, Pathum Thani rice and sticky
rice. Chatchai said many bidders are expected to join the third auction as rice
is in low supply in between harvests.
Rice in govt’s warehouses to be sold to public at low prices
Tuesday, 09 June 2015
BANGKOK, 8 June 2015 Commerce
Minister Chatchai Sarikalya has expressed his confidence that the government’s
one-million-ton rice auction will attract a lot of bidders since in-season rice
has been sold out in the market.Rice in the government’s warehouses will be
sold at low prices to the public in order to help distribute the rice. A
committee may be set up to check the rice stock and demands of the market
before the produce is distributed in bags.The minister added that there were 16
million tons of rice in the government’s warehouses, including two million tons
of good quality rice and lower-grade rice. The ministry would consider which
rice to be sold to the public, said Gen. Chatchai.
http://www.pattayamail.com/business/rice-in-govt-s-warehouses-to-be-sold-to-public-at-low-prices-47836#sthash.fHnt8pKd.dpuf
Potential rice bidders to inspect quality of Thai govt stock this
week
[google-translator]
BANGKOK, 8 June 2015 (NNT) – The Ministry of Commerce is
allowing potential rice buyers to inspect the government’s stock this week,
before the bidding process begins. Government stock rice has been stored in
warehouses across 35 provinces.Those wishing to buy rice from the
government stock in the third round of the rice auctions are able to inspect
the grains at 153 barns this week.Potential bidders will be able to submit an
application form on June 15 and check whether they have met all the
requirements on the following day. Their names will be submitted to the
National Rice Policy Committee for further consideration.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has praised the ministry
for attempting to dispense a large lump sum of government rice, which would
affect global prices and Thai farmers. Stock rice will only be released
when the ministry is certain that it will not affect the prices of new grains,
which are expected to be produced during the rainy season.The ministry
disclosed that there are currently 17 million tons of rice in the government
stock. Only around two million tons possess standard quality, while 14 million
tons are said to be below standard and 690,000 tons are spoilt.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/potential-rice-bidders-to-inspect-quality-of-thai-govt-stock-this-week/95330/
GOVT ASKED TO BAIL OUT
CRUMBLING RICE SECTOR
Monday, June 08, 2015 - Islamabad—President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister
Mian Zahid Hussain on Sunday said the government needs to bail out sinking rice sector otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring country. Pakistan exports over two billion dollars of rice, the second largest exports after textiles, but it is losing
export markets since last two years landing over one thousand rice mills into
serious problems, he said. This
he said while talking to President Pakistan Rice Mills Association
Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch.
He said that Pakistan is fourth largest
exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which
merits full attention of the policy makers. At
the occasion, Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said that situation is turning against
Pakistan and in favour of India which has introduced its own brand lacking
aroma but increased in length. Indian
rice is cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and
Middle Eastern markets, he informed.
He said that some 3000 rice mills are facing problems while those 1000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice in last two years. He said that mills facing closure are located in Jhang, Chiniot and layya while 3.5 lakh bags are lying in only one district since two years. These mills are unable to pay loans resulting in increased interest. Baloch said that price of super colonel banaspati was Rs 3600 per bag in 2013-14 while dropped to Rs 1300 in 2014-15 and it is projected to touch Rs 700 per bag soon. Many farmers have refused to sow rice in the next season due to the crisis which has put future of industry and agriculture at stake, he added. At the occasion, Mian Zahid Hussain lauded the steps taken for rice sector in the budget but termed them insufficient. He said that government agencies should buy rice from millers to export them, their mark-up should be waived and it should be declared sick industry otherwise this important sector would crumble.—NNI
http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=265880
Govt asked to bail out crumbling rice sector
Monday,
June-08-2015
President
Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial
minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Sunday said the government needs to bail out
sinking rice sector otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring
country. Pakistan exports over two
billion dollars of rice, the second largest exports after textiles, but it is
losing export markets since last two years landing over one thousand rice mills
into serious problems, he said. This he said
while talking to President Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan
Baloch.
He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and
millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention
of the policy makers. At the occasion,
Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said that situation is turning against Pakistan and
in favour of India which has introduced its own brand lacking aroma but
increased in length. Indian rice is
cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and Middle
Eastern markets, he informed. He said that some 3000 rice mills are facing
problems while those 1000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice in
last two years. He said that mills facing closure are located in Jhang, Chiniot
and layya while 3.5 lakh bags are lying in only one district since two years.
These mills are unable to pay loans resulting in increased interest.
Baloch said that price of
super colonel banaspati was Rs 3600 per bag in 2013-14 while dropped to Rs 1300
in 2014-15 and it is projected to touch Rs 700 per bag soon. Many farmers have
refused to sow rice in the next season due to the crisis which has put future
of industry and agriculture at stake, he added. At the occasion, Mian Zahid
Hussain lauded the steps taken for rice sector in the budget but termed them
insufficient. He said that government agencies should buy rice from millers to
export them, their mark-up should be waived and it should be declared sick
industry otherwise this important sector would crumble.
http://pakissan.com/english/news/newsDetail.php?newsid=29148
Kharif sowing down 5%
OUR BUREAU
NEW DELHI, JUNE
7:
According to the data released by
the Agriculture Ministry on Friday, the total area under Kharif crops stands at
61.27 lakh hectares (lh) – about 5.4 per cent lower than during the
corresponding period the previous year when it touched 64.75 lh.Reports from
States indicated that rice sowing and transplanting had taken place in 3.46 lh
for 2015-16 kharif season, 13.4 per cent higher than the 3.05 lh registered at
the same time last year.Oilseeds have been sown over 0.53 lh (0.58 lh). Sugarcane
acreage is down a little more than 5 per cent with 41.01 lh while cotton
acreage is 14.5 per cent lower with 9.32 lh sown so far. Sowing of jute and
mesta have taken place over 6.95 lh (10.90 lh).
(This article was published on June 7, 2015)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/kharif-sowing-down-5/article7291877.ece
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Jun 08
Nagpur, June 8 Gram and tuar prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce
and Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased buying support from local millers amid thin
supply from producing regions. Fresh rise on NCDEX, weak overseas supply and good recovery in
Madhya Pradesh pulses also helped to push up prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram varieties reported down in open market on poor buying support from local
traders amid profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties showed weak tendency in open market here on poor demand from local
traders amid good supply from millers.
* Udid varieties zoomed up again in open market here on increased seasonal demand from
local traders amid weak supply from producing regions.
* 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 3,500-4,500 3,400-4,430
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 6,000-7,460 6,000-7,400
Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,300
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,600
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,000 5,900-6,200
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 5,500-5,650 5,600-5,750
Desi gram Raw 4,500-4,600 4,600-4,700
Gram Filter new 6,000-6,100 6,100-6,200
Gram Kabuli 5,400-6,900 5,400-6,900
Gram Pink 6,400-6,600 6,400-6,600
Tuar Fataka Best 10,500-10,800 10,600-10,900
Tuar Fataka Medium 9,900-10,300 10,000-10,400
Tuar Dal Best Phod 9,500-9,700 9,600-9,800
Tuar Dal Medium phod 8,800-9,300 8,900-9,400
Tuar Gavarani New 7,350-7,450 7,450-7,550
Tuar Karnataka 8,000-8,100 8,100-8,200
Tuar Black 10,900-11,200 10,800-11,100
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 10,800-11,000 10,800-11,000
Moong Mogar Medium best 10,000-10,500 10,000-10,500
Moong dal Chilka 9,500-9,800 9,500-9,800
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) 11,400-11,700 11,100-11,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,500-10,800 10,300-10,500
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 8,800-9,100 8,400-8,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,300 4,100-4,300
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,300-3,350 3,300-3,350
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,400-3,500
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,150 3,100-3,150
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,500 3,600-4,500
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,750 1,550-1,750
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,200-2,450
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,950 1,800-1,950
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,700 3,100-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200 2,000-2,200
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,850 2,700-2,850
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,200 3,000-3,200
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,850 1,600-1,850
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,450 2,100-2,450
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600 3,100-3,600
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,500 4,100-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000
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) 4,700-4,900 4,700-4,900
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,000 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. 39.8 degree Celsius (103.6 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
22.7 degree Celsius (72.9 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - 78 per cent, lowest - 36 per cent.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Partly cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely towards evening or night. Maximum
and minimum temperature would be around and 39 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/2015/06/08/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N0YU35T20150608
Food processing in Odisha lagging
behind
STAFF REPORTER
Inadequate post-harvest handling,
processing and storage infrastructure and non-availability of processable
varieties of raw materials over a long longer period are factors which are
preventing Odisha from achieving double-digit growth in the food processing
sector.An analysis, conducted by the State government following the
discontinuance of National Mission on Food Processing (NMFP) from April 1 this
year, says that given the potential of the State, augmenting the growth of food
processing from 0.7 per cent to 10 per cent by 2017 and 25 per cent by 2025 is
possible.The total agricultural crop production in Odisha has nearly doubled
from 46.32 lakh metric tonne in 2002-03 to 87.47 lakh MT in 2009-10.
Food production has witnessed an
upward trend in production since 2002-03 at 35.55 lakh MT to reach 75.51 lakh
MT in 2009-10.Although Odisha is the country’s leading producer of rice,
pulses, vegetables, oilseeds, cotton, groundnut, coconut, jute, spices, potato
and fruits, the agro and food processing industry in Odisha is at a nascent
stage under the unorganised private sector, it states.Besides, the food
processing sector still remains largely untapped because of high packing costs,
cultural preference for fresh food, seasonality of raw materials, lack of
adequate infrastructural facilities and quality control mechanism.“As a result,
there is a need to diversify the sector by fully harnessing its potentialities,
providing greater incentives as well as creating conducive environment for more
investments and exports,” according to the analysis.
According to a government
estimate, as of 2013-14, Odisha had approximately 27,284 enterprises engaged in
the food and allied sectors generating over 1.47 lakh employment opportunities with
an investment of more than Rs. 1,557.86 crore.Under NMFP from 2012-13 to
2014-15, the food processing industries were assisted with Rs. 11.97 crore and
one infrastructure project for conducting a diploma course in food processing
technology and seven food processing training centres were supported.The
Capital City has attracted highest investment in the sector by receiving
investment to the tune of Rs. 163 crore followed by Bargarh with Rs. 128.02
districts. Cuttack, Ganjam and Kalahandi districts received an investment of
Rs. 100 crore each in the sector by end of 2013-14.The study recommends setting
up of an autonomous organisation on promotion of food processing industries and
dedicated food processing cell in Directorate of Industries and District Industrial
Centres.Besides, research and development facilities at Orissa University of
Agriculture Technology, Bhubaneswar and Centre Rice Research Institute, Cuttack
should also be strengthened.
The agro and food processing industry
is at a nascent stage under the unorganised private sector
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/food-processing-in-odisha-lagging-behind/article7296138.ece
Program aims to
boost rice resilience to climate change
Tue, 9 June 2015
Farmers work in a field to plant rice crops in Kampong Cham in
2013. Yesterday a USAID-financed project was launched with the aim to encourage
small farmers to adopt more resilient rice varieties. Heng Chivoan
As climate change increases the severity of droughts and floods across
the Kingdom, a push is being made for farmers to adopt more resistant rice
varieties.The Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute launched
a USAID-financed project in Phnom Penh yesterday in a bid to “accelerate the
adoption of stress-tolerant rice varieties by smallholder farmers”.The project
will last three years and be implemented in both Cambodia and Nepal, with each
country allocated $3 million.“Drought and flood are the two biggest constraints
to rice production,” IRRI representative Dule Zhao told the Post yesterday.“Now
that we have a lot of flooding problems, if the [seed] variety we are using is
not stress tolerant then the damage will be much bigger.”The project will aim
to train farmers, seed companies, and farmers’ associations to use better
quality seeds for their crop.
One thousand farmers will be selected across the country and
given a small amount of seed free of charge, with one of the main goals being
in-house production of quality Cambodian seeds.“Most of the farmers, they use
their own stored seed – they just use their seed from the previous crop,” Zhao
said.Thy Sokhun, secretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
and Fisheries, said at the project’s unveiling in Phnom Penh yesterday that
over one million hectares of farmland were damaged by drought and floods from
2011 to 2013.“Considering the potential impacts of global warming and climate
change, damage attributable to floods and droughts is expected to become more
severe,” he said.Despite the increasing impact of such factors, Cambodian farms
remain vulnerable due to a lack of quality seed production and dissemination,
according to Sokhun.
“The primary reasons for the rather slow pace of advancement of
the production and marketing of rice seed are that these are, and Cambodia has
to develop its own brand.”Although Cambodia is the world’s fifth-largest rice
exporter, the country’s average rice yield per hectare stands at a relatively
low 3.2 tonnes, while neighbouring Vietnam’s is at around 5 tonnes, according
to the Agriculture Ministry. The Cambodian government plans to export one
million tonnes of rice this year, a massive increase from the less than 400,000
tonnes that were exported in 2014.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/program-aims-boost-rice-resilience-climate-change
Rice Genomes Project Taps DNANexus for Data Analysis
Jun 08, 2015
|
NEW YORK (GenomeWeb) – The 3000 Rice Genomes Project (3K RGP) is
using DNANexus' cloud-based informatics platform to handle its data processing
needs as part of efforts to develop improved varieties of the food crop.The 3K
RGP project is a partnership between the Chinese Academy of Agricultural
Sciences, the International Rice Research Institute, and BGI. The partners are
working with other global collaborators to identify genetic differences between
rice strains, which could potentially improve the nutritional content of the
food staple, its tolerance to climatic changes, and strengthen resistance to
disease and pests, leading to more resilient rice varieties with higher yields
that can better support global food demands.
So far, researchers involved in the 3K RGP effort have analyzed
3,000 rice genomes and generated more than 100 terabytes of data. According to
the company, the consortium is using DNANexus' platform to complete genome
mapping and variant calling more than 200 times faster than was previously
possible and without incurring the additional costs that would be associated
with purchasing and maintaining compute infrastructure.
Financial and other terms of the use agreement were not
disclosed.
Nitish's rice revolution in Bihar is stalling: agro-scientists look
for a new formula
Jun 8, 2015 16:02 IST
#Agriculture #BGREI #bIhar #Direct Seeded Rice #GDP #green revolution #InMyOpinion #manufacturing #Monsoon #Nitish Kumar #Poverty #Pranab Mukherjee #Pusa Institute #Rice revolution #States #System of Rice Intensification
By Vivian Fernandes
With the monsoon once again threatening to turn erratic and
scanty, one of Bihar’s two chief scientists for rice advises farmers ‘to grow
paddy as if it were wheat.’ fl. AFP
Nitendra Kumar Singh teaches at the Rajendra Agricultural
University, Pusa, in Samastipur district, where Lord Curzon, the British
viceroy, established the Imperial Agricultural Research Institute in 1905. It was
shifted to Delhi in 1935, following an earthquake, and came to be known as the
Pusa institute, after its origins.Agriculture in Bihar has benefited from an
improvement in governance and connectivity. When Nitish Kumar first became
chief minister in 2005 he established special courts which tried and jailed
hundreds of criminals. Roads were rebuilt and this correspondent came back
impressed after an 800 km trip earlier this month to villages in the northern
districts around Patna.
They compare with the vaunted ones of Gujarat.Along with rural
connectivity, Kumar also focused on raising agricultural GDP. In India’s
current stage of development, growth in agriculture is much more poverty
reducing than growth in manufacturing or services. In 2008, a four-year
agricultural road map was crafted. It has been extended by five years to 2017
with a target investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore.A holistic, ‘rainbow’ approach
for agricultural development was adopted, encompassing the white (dairy), blue
(fisheries) and green (crop) revolutions.
This dovetailed with the central government’s programme of
shifting rice cultivation from ground water-challenged Punjab and Haryana to
water-rich north Bihar and the other eastern states.Former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee called this as scheme for Bringing the Green Revolution to
Eastern India (BGREI) and gave Rs 400 crore in the 2010-11 budget. He
raised it to Rs 1,000 crore in 2012-13. Mukherjee said he was encouraged by the
eastern states increasing paddy production by seven million tonnes in the
previous kharifseason.
The funding was more symbolic than substantial but it focused
national attention on the need to improve agricultural productivity in eastern
India, particularly of rice, for which it is naturally endowed."BGREI is a
very small scheme in the total gamut that we are trying to attempt," says
Vijay Prakash, Bihar’s agricultural production commissioner.Bihar set a goal of
matching the national average in rice productivity. It augmented the supply of
non-hybrid certified seeds through state enterprises, got private companies to
win over farmers to hybrids and encouraged the use of both with subsidies.
Particular emphasis was laid on a technique called System of Rice
Intensification (SRI).Vijay Prakash, pronounces the mission a success.
"We have caught up with the national average and we have
gone a bit ahead," he says.Not quite. Bihar’s average rice yield,
according to its economic survey, has risen from 1.28 tonnes per hectare in the
three years ending 2008 to 2.36 tonnes in the 2011-14 period. India’s average
for the latter period was 2.46 tonnes.Rice production touched a peak of 83 lakh
tonnes in 2012-13 but decreased the following year because of bad weather. It
was 54 lakh tonnes in 2000-01.Uncertain monsoons have resulted in acreages
under rice fluctuating as farmers take evasive action to minimise losses.
Between the three-year periods ending 2008-09 and 2013-14, area under rice
decreased by 10 percent. Kumar believes farmers will return to rice, if the
shortage in key inputs, labour and water, are addressed.
He is questioning the efficacy of SRI and propagating Direct
Seeded Rice (DSR) as an alternative.SRI is a labour-intensive method adapted
from Madagascar. The seedlings are first raised in nurseries and re-planted
manually when eight to 12 days old, with 25 cm of spacing between plants and
rows. The space between the rows is puddled with a machine for water to stay.
De-weeding is done with a hand-operated machine. The fields have to be
alternately irrigated and dried.
Though SRI increases productivity, it leaves farmers worse-off,
says a study. "Our finding says that under SRI, the yield advantage is
higher by 10-15 percent over conventional paddy growing, and five to seven
percent over DSR, but labour requirement and input requirement is high, (and)
so net return in SRI is less compared to DSR and conventionally transplanted
rice," says Raj Kumar Jat, an agronomist at the Borlaug Institute of South
Asia in Samastipur. The institute has done a two-year comparative study of the
three techniques of rice cultivation.Though the shortage of agricultural labour
is not as acute in Bihar as in some of the developed states, few people
volunteer for the tedious work of transplanting.
MGNREGA, the make-work
scheme to relieve rural distress, is also an attractive option."Initially
there was a very good response to SRI," says Prakash. But "labour
becoming quite costly it is not picking up the way it should have". He
says SRI is an important component of the mission to raise rice productivity,
"but we are also looking into other types of inputs, like direct seeded
rice".SRI is a touchy issue because Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been
backing it. Direct seeding is not unknown in
this part of the country.
Till around the middle of the last century, Bihar farmers used
to sow a mix of green gram (moong), sesame (til) and rice seeds. That was a
strategy for ‘baad ke prakop se bachhne ke liye’
(coping with the fury of floods), Kumar says. Now it is meant to cope with the
fury of droughts.Farmers gave up direct seeding and resorted to transplanting
and rice paddies to cope with weeds. But the invention of low-cost selective
and effective herbicide molecules has made DSR attractive once again."Even
my dreams are those of DSR," says Kumar. His aim is to get a third of
Bihar’s rice acreage under direct seeded rice over the next five years. That is
quite a stiff target. Currently, Bihar has about 33 lakh hectares under rice.
About 40 percent of it is lowland and 10 percent deep water rice growing
acreage, where DSR cannot be employed.
Will he be able to achieve it?
“Maa Bhagwati ke kripa se,” (by the
grace of Maa Bhagwati) replies the rice breeder, who has 10 varieties to his
credit, including Rajendra Bhagwati, a long-grained scented variety.
http://www.firstpost.com/business/nitishs-rice-revolution-bihar-stalling-agro-scientists-look-new-formula-2284512.html
TDAP, REAP agree to disband QRC
June 08, 2015
Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Rice Exporters'
Association of Pakistan (REAP) have, in principle, decided to disband Quality
Review Committee of Rice (QRC) and to offer golden handshake scheme to its
employees forthwith, sources told Business Recorder. The QRC, a rice certification authority was established in 1999
when European countries were demanding that there should be an internal
certification body to ensure the import of quality brown rice from Pakistan. The TDAP and REAP have representation on the QRC's board and
Director General TDAP, Lahore, is head of QRC. Quality Clearance Certificate
(QCC) of QRC was mandatory for the exports of rice to any destination in the
world. Presently, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) is authorised for
the certification of brown rice being exported to Europe.
In addition, several
importing countries have imposed condition of a third party inspection through
international agency to ensure the quality of rice and as such the TDAP and
REAP have decided, in principle, to disband the QRC. The process to disband the QRC was discussed last week at a
meeting held in Lahore under the chairmanship of TDAP director-general Sher
Afgan Khan. It was attended by REAP chairman Rafique Suleman, senior vice
chairman Mian Mohsin Aziz and treasurer Muzammil Cheppal and members of managing
committee. Briefing the meeting, the DG TDAP, Lahore, who is also the
chairman of QRC, told the meeting that a golden handshake scheme will be
offered to the employees of QRC in a couple of days. The golden handshake as
per agreed formula include one salary per annum to be multiplied by total years
of service, besides three additional salaries and some financial relief will be
provided to the employees, he added.
The meeting also decided that the QRC's controller, deputy
controller and chief accountant will continue to work till finalisation of the
organisation's audit by Messrs Mushtaq & Company and once this exercise was
accomplished, they too will be offered the same golden handshake. When the REAP chairman Rafique Suleman raised the issue of certification
of rice for Sri Lanka which under the FTA is linked with QRC certification, the
REAP members suggested that TDAP should propose to the Ministry of Commerce to
authorise the TCP to issue certificate for export of 6,000 metric tons of rice
to Sri Lanka and the DG TDAP agreed to take up the matter with the ministry on
priority. Giving details of the QRC's employees, the sources said there are
some 24 employees and of them 14 employees are working at Karachi, seven at
Lahore and three at Quetta. All the QRC employees, expect three, will be
offered golden handshake scheme on Monday to facilitate disbandment of the QRC. After the disbandment of QRC, exporters will not be required to
get rice quality certification from any domestic authority (except for Europe's
brown rice quality). However, they will continue to submit a third party
certification/quality report.
http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183/1194091/
Economic
development: Good news for Pakistan and Iran
LAHORE – A special container train between Pakistan and
Iran has been announced, on Monday, to be routed from June 09.
Experts are of the view that the
project would accelerate the economic activities between the two
countries.Sources said that Pakistan would import chemicals, charcoals and
other raw materials from Iran, whereas Pakistan would export rice and textile
related products to Iran. An official associated with
railway ministry told that the rail communication would generate a huge sum of
money for railway as well, said sources.Furthermore, the train will leave for
Iran on June 9 and on June 11 it will reach the Zahidan city of Iran, adding
that all arrangements were put in place along with the hiring of expert staff,
said a railway official.
http://www.thenewstribe.com/2015/06/08/economic-development-good-news-for-pakistan-and-iran/
Newsbrief
June
08, 2015
Swedish
investors invited to invest in energy sector: Minister
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has invited Swedish investors and businessmen to invest in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure projects. He was addressing a ceremony at the residence of Swedish Ambassador in Islamabad on National Day celebrations of Sweden. Pervaiz Rashid said both the countries have cooperated and extended support to each other at various international fora on issues of mutual interest. He said we look forward to continue this cooperation in future as well. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting has rejected the rumours of abolishing subsidy on wheat for Gilgit-Baltistan. In a statement on Sunday, he said these rumours are totally baseless.The Minister said these rumours are being spread to get votes in GB elections.He said Rs6.5 billion have been fixed as subsidy on wheat for Gilgit Baltistan in the budget.
ISLAMABAD (NNI): Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has invited Swedish investors and businessmen to invest in Pakistan’s energy and infrastructure projects. He was addressing a ceremony at the residence of Swedish Ambassador in Islamabad on National Day celebrations of Sweden. Pervaiz Rashid said both the countries have cooperated and extended support to each other at various international fora on issues of mutual interest. He said we look forward to continue this cooperation in future as well. Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting has rejected the rumours of abolishing subsidy on wheat for Gilgit-Baltistan. In a statement on Sunday, he said these rumours are totally baseless.The Minister said these rumours are being spread to get votes in GB elections.He said Rs6.5 billion have been fixed as subsidy on wheat for Gilgit Baltistan in the budget.
Int’l
companies keen to set up oil refinery in KP
ISLAMABAD (Online): A number of international companies have expressed their willingness to set up oil refinery in Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to the official sources, the government is also planning to utilise the available deposits of gas for power generation. The electricity generated through gas will be given to the industries on low rates to boost industrialisation. Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has already decided to establish an autonomous body to executive oil and gas projects. The autonomous body will achieve oil and gas exploration targets under 2034 plan.
Govt
asked to bail out crumbling rice sector
ISLAMABAD (INP): President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Sunday said government needs to bail out sinking rice sector otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring country. Pakistan exports over $2 billion of rice, the second largest exports after textiles, but it is losing export markets since last two years landing over one thousand rice mills into serious problems, he said. This he said while talking to President Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch. He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention of the policy makers.
ISLAMABAD (INP): President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum (PBIF) and former provincial minister Mian Zahid Hussain on Sunday said government needs to bail out sinking rice sector otherwise country may lose export market to neighbouring country. Pakistan exports over $2 billion of rice, the second largest exports after textiles, but it is losing export markets since last two years landing over one thousand rice mills into serious problems, he said. This he said while talking to President Pakistan Rice Mills Association Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch. He said that Pakistan is fourth largest exporter of rice and millions of jobs are linked to that critical sector which merits full attention of the policy makers.
At the occasion, Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Baloch said
that situation is turning against Pakistan and in favour of India which has
introduced its own brand lacking aroma but increased in length. Indian rice is
cheaper due to hidden subsidies which has resulting in lost Iranian and Middle
Eastern markets, he informed. He said that some 3000 rice mills are
facing problems while those 1000 are on the brink that have failed to sell rice
in last two years. He said that mills facing closure are located in Jhang,
Chiniot and Layyah while 3.5 lakh bags are lying in only one district since two
years. These mills are unable to pay loans resulting in increased
interest. Baloch said that price of super colonel banaspati was Rs 3600
per bag in 2013-14 while dropped to Rs 1300 in 2014-15 and it is projected to
touch Rs 700 per bag soon. Many farmers have refused to sow rice in the next
season due to the crisis which has put future of industry and agriculture at
stake, he added. At the occasion, Mian Zahid Hussain lauded the steps
taken for rice sector in the budget but termed them insufficient. He said that
government agencies should buy rice from millers to export them, their mark-up
should be waived and it should be declared sick industry otherwise this
important sector would crumble.
FPCCI
team to leave for China to attend business conference
karachi (Online): FPCCI President Mian Adrees, Vice President Fehmida Jamali, other senior officials of FPCCI and exhibitors will leave for China in coming week to attend the 10th China SA Business Conference, a press statement said here on Sunday. The 10th China - South Asia Business Forum, jointly sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, SCCI and People’s Govt of Yunnan Province, will be held during Jun 10-13, 2015 in Kunming ,China. Fehmida Jamali shared the details that this year the Forum will focus on the theme of “Promote the construction of Silk Road Economic Belt; accelerate the pace of business cooperation” and the topics include tourism and service, new energy industry, as well as cooperation among women entrepreneurs.
However FPCCI has completed preparation for Pakistan’s participation to attend the said event including Kunming fair and its first time allocation of stalls through open balloting to the exhibitors; she added. As China-South Asia Business Forum (the Forum) is the first forum mechanism established for regional economic cooperation between Chinese and SAARC industrial and commercial circles in the context of ever-increasing mutual trust in politic affairs and continuous economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries.
karachi (Online): FPCCI President Mian Adrees, Vice President Fehmida Jamali, other senior officials of FPCCI and exhibitors will leave for China in coming week to attend the 10th China SA Business Conference, a press statement said here on Sunday. The 10th China - South Asia Business Forum, jointly sponsored by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, SCCI and People’s Govt of Yunnan Province, will be held during Jun 10-13, 2015 in Kunming ,China. Fehmida Jamali shared the details that this year the Forum will focus on the theme of “Promote the construction of Silk Road Economic Belt; accelerate the pace of business cooperation” and the topics include tourism and service, new energy industry, as well as cooperation among women entrepreneurs.
However FPCCI has completed preparation for Pakistan’s participation to attend the said event including Kunming fair and its first time allocation of stalls through open balloting to the exhibitors; she added. As China-South Asia Business Forum (the Forum) is the first forum mechanism established for regional economic cooperation between Chinese and SAARC industrial and commercial circles in the context of ever-increasing mutual trust in politic affairs and continuous economic cooperation between China and South Asian countries.
Cement export registers 26.13pc fall
Lahore (Staff Reporter): Cement exports have
registered a sharp fall of 26.13 percent to 0.56 million tons in May as Iranian
cheap cement is eating Pakistan’s market share in Afghanistan. APCMA data
showed that exports dropped 10.82 percent to 6.64 million tons in July-May
period of the outgoing 2014/15 fiscal year. Cement makers exported 7.44 million
tons in July-May 2013/14. Industry expressed concern over the continuous decline
in exports to Afghanistan. Pakistan exported 0.75 million tons of cement in the
same month a year ago. “Iranian cement is fast making inroads into our
neighbouring country,” said a spokesperson of All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers
Association (APCMA).
APCMA
appealed the government to support local manufacturers in winning back the
Afghanistan market by withdrawing duties, which will enable them to compete
with highly subsidised Iranian cement.Exports from South registered an increase
of 4.5 percent in July-May. These exports go through the sea. However, exports
from North decreased 18.30 percent due to Iranian cement factor as exports from
the North usually go to Afghanistan.
http://nation.com.pk/business/08-Jun-2015/newsbrief
Upcoming
Rice Field Days: Mark Your Calendar and
Plan to Attend the Event in Your Area
Upcoming Rice Field Days: Mark Your Calendar and Plan to
Attend the Event in Your Area
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June 9 - Evangeline Parish Rice Field Tour
7:45 a.m. Joey Hebert Farm and Bieber Farms
June 16 -- Acadia Parish and Rice Research Station South Farm Field Day
8:00 a.m. - LSU AgCenter Rice Research
Station South Farm, Hwy 13 South, Crowley, LA
June 30 - Louisiana Horizon Ag Field Day
9:00 a.m. - GF&P Farms Shop, 3232 Crowley-Rayne Hwy., Rayne, LA 70578
June 30 - 41st Annual Eagle Lake Field Day and
Program
4:00
p.m. -
Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Eagle Lake, Texas
July 1 -- LSU AgCenter Rice Field Day
7:30-9:15
a.m. Field
Tours; program begins at 10:45 a.m. and concludes with lunch
LSU AgCenter Rice
Research Station, 1373 Caffey Rd., Rayne, LA
July 9 -- 68th Annual Beaumont Rice Field Day
8:00 a.m. - Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center 1509 Aggie Drive, Beaumont, Texas 77713 Contact: Dr. Ted Wilson, lt-wilson@aesrg.tamu.edu
July 21 -- Northeast Louisiana Rice Field Day
9:00 a.m. - Research Plot Tours, Woodsland
Plantation, 282 Highway 15, Rayville, LA 71269
11:00 a.m. - Program, Rayville Community
Center, 817 Louisa St., Rayville, LA 71269
July 30 - MSU-DREC Rice Producer Field Day
3:30 p.m. - Caps Center, Stoneville, MS
Aug. 7 -- Arkansas AgExpo (Rice Field Day)
University of Arkansas Rice Research and Extension Center 2900 Hwy. 130 East, Stuttgart, AR 72160 Contact: Dr. Chuck Wilson at (870) 673-2661 or cwilson@uaex.edu
Aug. 18 - Rice Tec Arkansas field Day
15329 Hwy. 1 , Harrisburg, AR 72432
August 20 - Arkansas Horizon Ag Field Day
Mark Wimpy Farm, Jonesboro, AR
Aug. 26 -- California Rice Field Day
California Rice Experiment Station, 955 Butte City Hwy., Biggs, CA 95917 Contact: Dr. Kent McKenzie (530) 868-5481 or ksmckenzie@crrf.org
Sept. 2 -- Missouri Rice Field Day
Jake Fisher Delta Research Center, Portageville, Missouri
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Crop Progress: 2015 Crop 95 Percent Emerged
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Ninety-five percent of the nation's 2015 rice
acreage has emerged, according to today's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.
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CME
Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
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Yummy wine and
food combos
I'm constantly focusing on food and wine pairings,
mainly because I want an excuse to eat and drink, but also because the two work
so well together.
I've been doing pairing articles for a good year now but this one is extra special because instead of just sticking with one variety, I get to branch out and promote our new wine.co.za venture, MIXED CASES. Brilliant. The 6 wines in the white/red case offer something for everyone and are from a variety of terroirsHere are 6 of my favourite recipes paired with 6 wines from award-winning South African wineries:
I've been doing pairing articles for a good year now but this one is extra special because instead of just sticking with one variety, I get to branch out and promote our new wine.co.za venture, MIXED CASES. Brilliant. The 6 wines in the white/red case offer something for everyone and are from a variety of terroirsHere are 6 of my favourite recipes paired with 6 wines from award-winning South African wineries:
Edgebaston
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cab is typically
a bold red wine and this one is no different - super dry with notes of cassis
and mint. It's tannins can be quite pronounced which is where the right food
pairing really helps to bring about a more harmonious drinking experience.
Because the weather is turning, the perfect accompaniment to this wine would be
a hearty plateful of Slow Cooked Shredded Beef Ragu Pasta. Rich tomato sauce,
tender meat and generous amounts of shaved parmesan can only be improved with a
glass of Cab Sauv.
Altydgedacht
Barberra
There is an
inherent sweetness to Barbera which comes from the luscious fruit notes.
Altydgedacht make the most of the flavour profile of this Italian grape by not
over oaking it thus it responds well to dishes that have a slight sweetness to
them as well as a hint of acidity. I love this wine, the gentle tannins and
juicy body will make it a great partner to Caramelized Vegetable Pizza with
Goat Cheese and Pepperoni.
Raka Biography
Shiraz
Shiraz is a true
winter warmer and a great wine for the meat fan. This wine has black berry and
white pepper aromas with a hint of vanilla. Its lush texture will lend itself
towards juicy, sauce-laden ribs or a steak covered in peppercorn sauce. To keep
things truly South African, try it with boerewors pasta.
Spier Creative
Block 2 (Sauv/Sem)
This is a fresh
wine and a dream to pair with dishes that have a generous squeeze of lemon
and/or tomato. Whole fish roasted with potatoes and thyme would be lovely with
this wine and even a homemade tomato soup with crusty parmesan croutons would
be super yummy. This wine has some greenness to it but the inclusion of
Semillon gives it a rounded, fuller mouthfeel.
Stellenrust
Chenin Blanc
One of SA's most
popular planted cultivars, Chenin is relatively easy to grow and also easy to
pair. If it's wooded, it demonstrates a creamy texture and whilst this one from
Stellenrust did have some oak contact, it's deliciously fruity without being
flabby. Make yourself a Cape Malay curry with lots of basmati rice and you're
on to a winner.
Lammershoek
Roulette Blanc
An unusual white
wine blend that needs careful planning; a blend of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Clairette
Blanche and Viognier, thus it has an aromatic nose, slight honeyed features and
a rounded, waxy texture. Dishes with a creamy sauce or a touch of citrus would
be ideal.
Tidbits: Kool-Aid gelatin dessert; jasmine and basmati rice
BY
AL SICHERMAN
Star Tribune (Minneapolis)June 8, 2015
JIGGLE VS. JIGGLE
Mr. Tidbit has seen some strange things, but he doesn't recall
ever seeing a product and a new virtually identical competing product coming
from the same company.But that's the case with new Kool-Aid gelatin dessert.
It's made by the Kraft Foods Group, which also makes Jell-O. The Kool-Aid box
carries the iconic Kool-Aid pitcher, but otherwise there is almost no
difference between the 3-ounce packages, and when Mr. Tidbit and two of his
little friends tried the grape version of each, they found no apparent
difference in flavor. Both desserts even had the identical amethyst color. (Mr.
Tidbit would have called it "purple," but his little friends are much
more graphics-oriented.)
There is one difference, though: Where Mr. Tidbit found them,
the box of Jell-O sold for 67 cents; the Kool-Aid gelatin was 73 cents. That's
9 percent more.
MORE NICE RICE
A few weeks ago, Mr. Tidbit discussed his somewhat delayed
discovery of Uncle Ben's new basmati rice and jasmine rice, which cook in 10
minutes (and Uncle Ben's two-serving Ready Rice versions of basmati and jasmine
rice, which microwave in 90 seconds and are so old that the packages don't even
say "new"). He marveled that the once-exotic rices had begun turning
up as brand-name staples.Since then, he discovered that he had still failed to
notice several other related brand-name products, not one of which apparently
is new. There's Uncle Ben's Ready Rice brown basmati rice, and entries from two
other rice purveyors:
Success Rice sells jasmine and basmati rice in 14-ounce boxes
(eight boil-in-bag servings) at essentially the same per-ounce price as the
Uncle Ben's 10-minute products.And there's Minute Rice jasmine rice in a
two-pack of single-serving microwave tubs. Where he found it, it's a little
cheaper than the Uncle Ben's microwave products. But all the microwave rices
are much more expensive per serving than any of the rices that require you to
get out a pan. Serving sizes are inconsistent, but the cost of a serving of one
of the microwaved aromatic rices is roughly triple that of one of the
you-boil-it versions.Minute Rice apparently also sells boil-in-the bag jasmine
and basmati rices, but Mr. Tidbit hasn't found them on the shelf anywhere. Yet.
Read more here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2015/06/08/3759173_tidbits-kool-aid-gelatin-dessert.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy
With FTA talks
set to start, EU seeks to tap Indian middle class
FIRST
PUBLISHED: MON, JUN 08 2015. 12
16 AM ISTEU director general for trade
Jean-Luc Demarty wants more access for the bloc’s automobiles and wines
Commerce minister
Nirmala Sitharaman. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint
The European Union (EU)
is targeting the rich Indian middle class for enhanced market access in
automobiles, wines and spirits, and cheese as Brussels and New Delhi kickstart
stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement in goods, services, investment
and public procurement.“We want market access for our automobiles and wines and
spirits,” said Jean-Luc Demarty, the EU’s director general for trade.After
attending a bilateral meeting between EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom and Indian commerce
minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Paris on 4 June on
the margins of the annual Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) meeting, Demarty said the stage is now set for a senior-level officials
meeting between the two sides.Malmstrom and Sitharaman have directed their
senior officials present at the meeting to start talks on all outstanding
issues in the free trade agreement.
The talks will begin after the new Indian commerce
secretary-designate,Rita A. Teaotia, takes over from her predecessor Rajiv Kher, who retired at the end
of this month, Demarty said.Negotiations for the trade agreement talks began in
2007 when the then commerce minister Kamal Nath and his EU counterpart Peter Mandelsondecided
to embark on a comprehensive deal covering all areas in goods, services and
public procurement in both the markets.But the negotiations stuck many dead
ends on both sides due to differences on issues of market access in goods and
services as well as the demands made by Brussels in areas such as intellectual
property rights, trade and environment, and trade and labour.
Close on the heels of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to
France and Germany, there is a renewed push from New Delhi to close the gaps to
ensure that the agreement could act as a launching pad for investment in
various ‘Make in India’ initiatives, analysts said.
The EU reckons India as an important trade partner and
is now eyeing a “sizeable and growing market of more than 1 billion people,”
said a former Indian government official, who asked not to be quoted.The
two-way trade between the EU and India was estimated at around €72.5 billion in
2014 while the EU’s investment stock in India was €34.7 billion in 2013. Trade
in commercial services quadrupled during the last 10 years, increasing from
€5.2 billion in 2002 to €23.7 billion in 2013, according to an EU official
release.The EU wants auto and auto-parts import tariffs, which are placed in a
select sensitive list in India, to be brought into an open list with very low
or nil import duty. Brussels had also proposed “zero-for-zero” duties for auto
parts.The Indian domestic industry in auto parts is concerned about reducing
the tariffs to zero. India had rejected the EU’s zero-for-zero demand because
of the harmful impact it would have on the Indian domestic auto-parts
producers.
India had maintained that it will not reduce the import
tariffs below the current applied level of close to 10%, the official said.The
EU also wants substantial access for wines to serve the rising middle-class
consumers in India. New Delhi had agreed to give a tariff rate quota for
guaranteed access at a minimum rate. But Brussels is not satisfied with the
minimum price as it wants access at the actual price at which wines are sold in
European markets.On brown spirits, too, the EU wants the same treatment,
namely, market access in the Indian market at actual European prices.
Effectively, the EU’s demands on wines and spirits
amount to foregoing huge customs revenue, said another former Indian
official.In services, the EU wants liberal access in insurance, banking, and
retail trade. With the Modi government’s latest insurance sector reforms,
Brussels’ concerns are almost adequately addressed, the former Indian official
said. But in banking there will be a demand for a higher level of participation
in the Indian banking sector, according to the official.
The EU also wants easy access for legal services
professionals, a no-go area for India.On the other hand, despite its ambitious
market-opening demands for access in capital-intensive services in India, the
EU is not so forthcoming to provide liberal access to Indian short-terms
services providers in Mode 4 or even in Mode 1 involving supply of services
from one country to the other.
The EU also wants India to agree to a higher level of
protection for intellectual property rights over and above the minimum
standards in the World Trade Organization’s trade-related intellectual property
rights agreement (TRIPS).The EU, for example, wants data exclusivity for its
pharmaceutical producers to ensure that when the patent protection expires
after the requisite protection period of 20 years, the generic companies
generate their own data before they market those off-patented drugs.Brussels is
also demanding a higher level of compliance in line with its Geographical
Indication notifications and registration of wines and other products. The EU
has also demanded substantial access for its cheese products but is unwilling
to provide the same treatment to Indian sugar, basmati rice and mangoes, the
official said.
http://agriculture.einnews.com/article/269559506/Ke6e8awoSo-j6ocP
APEDA India (News)
International
Benchmark Price
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