Friday, July 31, 2015

30th July (Thursday),2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Machinery needed to cut post-harvest losses

HA NOI (VNS) — The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Cao Duc Phat, said this week that post-harvest losses in farm production were still high due to the low growth of mechanisation.Phat was speaking at a conference to review the implementation of Prime Ministerial decision No 68/2013/Qd-TTg to reduce post-harvest losses. 
July, 30 2015 09:03:00
Post-harvest losses of rice in Viet Nam are estimated at more than VND20,000 billion (US$916,600). Much of it occurs during harvesting, transporting, drying and preservation. — Photo VNA
He said the implementation of the policy was at a low level and focused mostly on rice.Post-harvest losses of rice in Viet Nam are estimated at more than VND20,000 billion (US$916,600). Much of it occurs during harvesting, transporting, drying and preservation.In the past five years, the Government has issued several polices to support farmers invest in machinery and equipment to reduce post-harvest losses.
However, An Van Khanh, deputy director general of the Department of Processing and Trade's Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Product and Salt Production, said the reductions only focused on rice.He said no attention had been paid to other crops, farm animals or fish and prawns. As a result, post-harvest losses of rice were limited, while losses in orchards, fisheries and sugarcane industries were high.Prime Ministerial decision 68 replaced two decisions (63/2010/QD-TTg and 65/2011/QD-TTg). The new regulation broadens the variety of produce from farms. It does not include the old requirement that all machines under the scheme must be mostly made in Viet Nam.Many rice farmers have been active in buying machines and equipment for agriculture production thanks to these incentives.
However, the number of farmers who can access loans is still limited.According to reports from the State Bank of Viet Nam, loans for the policy so far totalled VND3,468 billion ($158.9 million).Doan Xuan Hoa, deputy chairman of Vietnamese Society of Agricultural Engineering, said VND1,030 billion ($47 million) had so far been paid back, but added that this was not enough.He suggested the Government raise the total value of loans.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) wants to reduce post-harvest losses from the current 10 per cent to between 5 and 6 per cent for rice; from 15 per cent to 9 per cent for maize; and from 20 per cent to below 10 per cent for fisheries by 2020.To achieve the target, participants at the conference proposed MARD to work with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to review the list of machines and equipment that farmers can purchase under the scheme.They suggested the State Bank of Viet Nam direct commercial banks to expand loans and help farmers get them. — VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/273753/machinery-needed-to-cut-post-harvest-losses.html

Help rice farmers, Negrense consumers urged


MURCIA, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL -- The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is urging Negrenses to be responsible rice consumers amid the challenges of producing more grains supply to feed the country’s growing population.Data from PhilRice showed the Philippines has only around 2.4 million rice farmers for a population of more than 90 million, each having an average per capita consumption of 114 kilograms.Ev Angeles, senior science research specialist of DA-PhilRice who spoke at the “Knowledge Sharing and Learning” activity held at PhilRice Negros Occidental office on Tuesday said that as the population increases, the challenge of producing more rice for the farmers also increases.

Angeles said rice farmers need the collective help of all sectors especially the consumers in coping with other challenges such as more and stronger typhoons, adverse effects of drought, smaller agricultural lands due to urbanization, and few extension workers.“Ordinary consumers play a huge role in achieving the rice sufficiency level of the country that is, through responsible rice consumption,” she said.Data from PhilRice further showed that the average age of Filipino farmers is up to 58 years old only, Angeles said, adding that most of them have minimal income and capital.The DA-PhilRice also raised concern on decreasing number of students getting agriculture-related courses.
This is an important part in the chain especially in passing on the knowledge and skills in agriculture to future generations, it added.As part of addressing these challenges, DA-PhilRice together with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) through their collaborative project called IPAD: Improving Performance and Delivery conducted a two-day sharing and learning activity participated by students and teachers, micro-finance sector representatives, seed producers, input providers, and farmers.The activity is aimed at making all the sectors especially the consumers realize what they can do to help farmers overcome the challenges and inspire more people especially students to venture into and love agriculture.
IRRI Junior Specialist Jerome Cayton Barradas said that through the activity they are sharing with the participants various programs including researches and new technologies that can help farmers boost their production.Barradas presented and discussed the Rice Knowledge Bank and Rice Crop Management. These are easy to access tools like downloadable applications and learning materials about steps on rice production and other good agricultural practices, including pest and nutrient management.*

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 30, 2015.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/business/2015/07/29/help-rice-farmers-negrense-consumers-urged-421779

10 join tilt for higher rice yield

BY PEACE S.FLORES

The fourth batch of Negrense farmers participating in Palayabangan – the 10-5 Challenge of the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) are showcasing their methods of producing 200 bags of rice per hectare with minimal costs at PhilRice Negros in Murcia.The ten participants for the fourth batch Palayabangan competition include private companies and individual farmers.

PhilRice Negros allotted 2,000 square meters for each participant who will utilize any methodology, organic or otherwise, to produce their maximum yield using a planting area of that size.The end goal is to produce an equivalent of ten tons or 200 bags per hectare yield at only P5 input cost per kilogram of palay, considering that the current average input cost is pegged at P11 per kilogram, Albert Christian Suñer, PhilRice Negros research and development coordinator, said on Tuesday as he explained the mechanics of the challenge.

Suñer said that Palayabangan is PhilRice's way of supporting the government's Food Staples Sufficiency Program and of boosting Negrense farmers' productivity.When the cropping period ends, a P100,000 cash prize will be awarded to the winner who can produce 40 bags of rice or more from the 2,000 square meter area, he said.The Palayabangan challenge for the fourth batch of competitors will end in September, Suñer said.Since 2014, when Palayabangan began, the equivalent maximum yield that previous participants produced was only 170 bags of rice, which were 30 bags short of Palayabangan's 200 bags goal, he said.However, we are optimistic that this goal is attainable in the near future, if not right away, Suñen added.*PSF

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2015/July/30/businessnews4.htm

 

Lal Bahadur ShastriAward for IIRR Scientist

 July 30,2015, 11.46 AM  IST | | THE HANS INDIA

The Hyderabad city based Senior Scientist Dr. ShaikN.Meera bagged prestigious ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award 2014’ of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India.  The award was presented during the 87thFoundation Day Celebrations and Award Ceremony of ICAR held at Patna. Honourable Prime Minister of India Sh. Narendra Modi participated in the ICAR Foundation Day which was followed by the award ceremony.  The award was given by Dr. Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State for Agriculture, Government of India and Shri MohanbhaiKundaria, Union Minister of State for Agriculture. 
Dr. Meera is presently working at Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad. The award is given every year in order to recognize the talented young scientists who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their research programmes.  With this award he gets an award amount of 1.00 lakh in cash and a citation and a challenge project for three years with budgetary provision of 30.00 lakh and 5.00 lakh for foreign training. 
Dr. Meera has made outstanding contributions in Indian rice sector with innovative extension methods and practical ICT approaches benefitting rice farmers and extension agencies. The Rice Knowledge Management Portal developed by him is acclaimed as one of the finest ICT applications in agriculture by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Rice Portal has made significant impacts across the country by improving the farmers’ access to rice knowledge. He has contributed to the introduction of several new rice varieties/ hybrids/ technologies by coordinating more than 7000 Frontline Demonstrations in last 6 years, benefitting 18318 rice farmers directly.

He introduced impact acceleration concepts such as ‘India Rice Check’, ‘Sustainable Livelihoods’, ‘e-learning’ for extension systems’. From extension research to extension service, he struck an effective balance to blend Information and Communication Technologies with traditional extension methods that resulted in improving the livelihoods of thousands of Indian rice farmers.        Dr. Meera is currently working on Mobile applications for Indian Rice farmers in several local languages. If this project is successful, Indian farmers can get reliable and time critical information directly from the research stations that may revolutionise rice farming in the country

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-07-30/Lal-Bahadur-ShastriAward-for-IIRR-Scientist-166794

 

Health Guide: 7 Foods That Should Not Be Reheated


Opening your fridge and remembering that you have pizza left over from the night before is the best feeling especially when you are starving.


Leftovers can make a quick lunch or give you an excuse to skip cooking dinner. All in all, they’re great. That is, until you have to reheat them.Some foods reheat quickly and nicely in the microwave, while others require the stove top and a little added oil. And then there are some foods that should absolutely under no circumstance be reheated ever.
 We’ve outlined the foods that you shouldn’t reheat you. Have a look!
Coffee:
Just drink it hot the first time around, please. If you absolutely must, you can give coffee a couple seconds in the microwave but it will never taste the same.
Potato:
Potatoes are nutritious but they lose their nutritional value if you let them be at room temperature for long. They can actually become toxic and cause illnesses, such as food-poisoning.
Eggs:
You should never ever reheat your eggs. Eat them cold as they’re really good like that. Don’t eat them at all.
Baked Green Vegetables:
If it was cooked in the oven, it should be reheated in the oven and when it comes to roasted veggies, only the oven will bring them back to their former glory.
Pizza:
When you want to reheat pizza, the worst thing you can do is stick it in the microwave. Putting it in the oven on a pizza stone or baking sheet is a better option. To crisp the bottom of the crust in the skillet for a few minutes, and then add a few drops of water, cover, and allow the steam to melt the cheese.
Chicken:
Chicken is one of the most commonly reheated foods but also the most dangerous to due to the high content of protein in it. Reheating it after a day or two can cause digestive problems. If it has to be eaten after a few days, it’s best to be consumed alone.
Rice:
Uncooked rice can contain spores of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can cause the illness. When the rice is cooked, the spores can survive but if left at room temperature, the spores can grow into bacteria. These bacteria can multiply and may produce toxins that cause vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The longer the cooked rice is left at room temperature, the more likely it is that the bacteria or toxins could make it unsafe to eat.
http://www.pakistantribe.com/story/42477/health-guide-7-foods-that-should-not-be-reheated/

APEDA INDI News


International Benchmark Price
Price on: 29-07-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
Pakistani 100%, FOB Karachi (USD/t)
318
2
Pakistani 25% Broken (USD/t)
383
3
Pakistani 15% Broken (USD/t)
365
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2997
2
Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)
1887
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
2300
White Sugar
1
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
2
Thai VHP, FOB Thailand (USD/t)
405
3
Thai, FOB (USD/t)
415
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-07-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Jhagadiya (Gujarat)
Other
1950
3100
2
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2620
2940
3
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
2200
2400
Wheat
1
Dhing (Assam)
Other
1500
1700
2
Amod (Gujarat)
Other
1600
1800
3
Vasai (Maharashtra)
Other
1560
2300
Papaya
1
Alappuzha (Kerala)
Other
2500
2600
2
Sirhind (Punjab)
Other
1000
2000
3
Haldwani (Uttrakhand)
Other
1500
1500
Cauliflower
1
Palayam (Kerala)
Other
2200
2500
2
Bhadrak (Orissa)
Other
2500
4000
3
Surat (Gujarat)
Other
1000
1300
Source:agra-net
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 29-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
350
2
Mysore
345
3
Chittoor
348
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 28-07-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
22.75
22.75
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
21
24
3
Detroit
Idaho
Russet
20.50
20.50
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Canada
Long Seedless
9
10
2
Chicago
Mexico
Long Seedless
13
13
3
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
12
13
Grapes
Package: 18 lb containers bagged
1
Atlanta
Mexico 
Red Globe
25
26
2
Baltimore
California 
Red Globe
26
26
3
Miami
Mexico
Red Globe
22
24
Source:USDA

NFA eyes 1.3 million metric tons of rice import

by Joey Pavia - July 30, 2015
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The National Food Authority (NFA) is set to import 1.3 million metric tons (MMT) of rice this year, according to NFA Administrator Renan B. Dalisay who visited the NFA-Pampanga office here on Thursday.“The importation will be between 1.3 MMT to 1.5 MMT based on our assessment,” Dalisay said.He explained the importation is expected to meet the annual local consumption of about 12.5 MMT of rice. He added that the NFA needs to have 14 MMT of rice in 2015, including at least 1.5 MMT as “buffer” supply.Dalisay stressed that the Aquino administration had “only” shipped in some 4 MMT of rice from 2010 to 2014. 

He added that from 2004 to 2010, the Arroyo government bought some 12 MMT of rice, mostly coming from Vietnam and Thailand.That’s only about 23 percent compared to the importation of the previous [Estrada] administration, according to Dalisay.Saying his marching orders is to stabilize the prices of rice, Dalisay said “the only way to do it is to ensure there is enough production.” “We have to be sure that the rice supplies are distributed well in the entire country.”Dalisay claims the NFA had successfully stabilized rice prices because “we can see many fancy rice varieties cost less than P40 per kilo.

”The NFA, as of July 23, has a national inventory recorded at 15,503,242 bags, or 775,165 metric tons, which can last for 25 days based on the national daily consumption requirement.NFA-Pampanga Manager Elvira Obana showed to Dalisay the two warehouses of the NFA main office in Pampanga. He was impressed when informed by Obana that they have “30 days of buffer supply.”“We are required to have at least 15 days of buffer supply. We can supply Metro Manila in case a strong earthquake will happen there,” Obana said
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/nfa-eyes-additional-1-3-million-metric-tons-of-rice-import/




RPT-Global rice prices to surge by year-end as El Nino hits Asian supply

Thu Jul 30, 2015 3:49am GMT

 (Repeats with no changes to text)
* Rice prices likely to rise 10-20 percent by year end
* Lower overall stocks at top exporters to fuel price rise
* Demand to perk up on signs rice prices have reached floor
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI, July 29 (Reuters) - Global rice prices are likely to surge by 10 percent to 20 percent in the next few months as an El Nino weather pattern grips top producers in Asia, baking the region's croplands and whittling down stocks of the grain to multi-year lows.While higher prices of a key staple would be bad news for impoverished countries in Asia and Africa, lower output will help No.2 exporter Thailand offload its bulging stockpiles that have weighed on the rice market and pushed benchmark prices RI-THBKN5-P1 down to 7-1/2-year lows of $367.50 per tonne in June.Below-average rainfall linked to El Nino has already disrupted rice transplantation in India, led to a drought in seven out of 67 Thai provinces during what should be the wet season and cut Vietnam's output expectations.
Exports from the three countries, which account for 68 percent of the world rice trade, are seen at 27.2 million tonnes this year, down 6.2 percent from a year ago, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)."The market has not yet factored in prospects of lower production in key producing countries," B.V. Krishna Rao, managing director of leading Indian rice shipper Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, told Reuters."Prices could jump 10 percent by the year end," Rao said, reversing similar losses seen in the past five months.
In fact prices could rise even more, given that weather bureaus from across the world are predicting a strong El Nino, which typically leads to crop-damaging scorching weather across Asia and east Africa but heavy rains and floods in South America."If August rains remain patchy, like July, then rice prices could rise up to 20 percent in a few months," said a New Delhi-based dealer with a global grains trading company.Lower overall inventories at key exporters after stellar exports in 2014 will further fuel the price gain, traders said.
DEPLETED STOCKS
The FAO estimates the stock-to-use ratio, the level of inventories relative to domestic consumption and exports, at the world's top five rice exporting countries will drop to 19 percent in 2015/16, the lowest since 2007/08.Rice stocks in the five - India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the United States - were drawn down in 2014 when world trade in rice rose to a record 42.8 million tonnes.Industry sources say the impact of Thailand's inventory, built up under the previous government's rice-buying programme, is also waning as only 60 percent of it, or about 9 million tonnes, is fit for human consumption after prolonged storage.
Demand, however, is expected to pick up as buyers rush in to stock up on the grain on fears El Nino will eat into supply.The Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, indicated last week that it could ship in more rice to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices stable.Traders are expecting top importer China, as well as Nigeria, to react similarly in the coming months.China's 2014/15 imports could rise 8 percent to 4 million tonnes, while overseas purchases by Nigeria could jump to 3.7 million tonnes, up 9 percent from last year, according to International Grains Council estimates."Importers haven't built inventory since prices were continuously falling. Once prices start rising, they will increase purchases" to avoid having to buy at even higher rates later, said a Bangkok-based rice exporter.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, Additional reporting by Ho Binh Minh in HANOI; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFL3N10A1WD20150730?sp=true

Drought threatens RI food security target

Suherdjoko and Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Jambi | Headlines | Thu, July 30 2015, 4:28 PM

The government’s efforts to improve food security are facing a tough road ahead after several regions across the archipelago have reported massive harvest failure over the past few months caused by the long dry season. In Central Java, one of the country’s largest rice-producing regions, 6,578 hectares of paddy fields in several regencies, including Grobogan, Blora and Pati, have experienced crop failure this year due to severe drought, according to the Central Java Agriculture Agency’s food crop cultivation head Nuswantoro SP.Nuswantoro said that almost 27,000 ha of paddy fields in the province, along with 294 ha of corn fields and 237 ha of soybean fields, were on the verge of crop failure as well, as they were yet to be sufficiently irrigated.

 “Out of the 35 regencies and municipalities in Central Java, 29 of them have been struggling with the impact of the drought,” he said on Wednesday. Meanwhile the local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in Jambi declared emergency standby status for drought in the province on Monday after eight out of the province’s 11 regions experienced severe drought in the midst of a long dry season. The province’s Agriculture Agency also reported that 68 ha of paddy fields have experienced crop failure.“One hectare of paddy field can produce an average of 5 tons of rice. This means that we have lost a potential of 340 tons of rice during this year’s harvest season,” agency head Amrin Aziz said. Indonesia imported at least 425,000 tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam last year.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has previously pledged to lead the country to become self-sufficient in rice production within three years.However, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) revealed on Tuesday that 25,000 ha of crop fields across the archipelago have experienced harvest failure due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which affects temperatures and rainfall patterns. It also revealed that 77 regencies and municipalities in 12 provinces, including West Java, Central Java, South Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara and Papua, have also been struggling with a water crisis due to the long absence of rain.

The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that the El Niño effect will extend Indonesia’s dry season, which normally occurs between April and September, until November.In Boyolali, Central Java, the local BPBD has reported that thousands of residents over 42 sub-districts in the regency have been struggling with a water crisis.Residents in Kalimati sub-district, Juwangi district, for example, must dig up soil near a dried-up river in search of water. They have to wait around an hour until murky and smelly water emerges from the holes.“The water can be directly used for showers or washing clothes. But we must allow the water to settle for at least one day before boiling it [for drinking water],” said 37-year-old Suyekti, a local resident.

Meanwhile in Southeast Minahasa regency, North Sulawesi, residents of the regency capital of Ratahan reported that water supply from the regional administration-run tap water company (PDAM) has been disrupted for the past several days. PDAM official Steven Kawenas said the disruptions have been triggered by both technical problems and the decreasing amount of raw water supply in the city.“We only have one raw water source [for the city]. Water reserves have been decreasing, while the demand for tap water is increasing,” he said.

- Ganug Nugroho Adi in Boyolali and Lita Aruperes in Manado contributed to the article.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/07/30/drought-threatens-ri-food-security-target.html#sthash.6OvymKAy.dpuf



Rice farmers in Bontanga and Golinga double yields

      
Category: General News JULY 30, 2015  30 
Farmers who cultivated rice under a new fertilizer application method called Urea Deep

Placement (UDP) during the dry season at both the Bontanga and Golinga Irrigation Schemes in the Northern Region recorded between 100 to 350 per cent yield increase.The farmers told the GNA on Wednesday that the traditional method of applying fertilizer by broadcasting was more expensive and environmentally unfriendly compared to the new method by which the fertilizer is compressed and inserted between four rice plants to enable it absorb the nutrient gradually and directly.Aside the UDP technology, farmers were also introduced to good land preparation, effective water management and transplanting by the Feed the Future Ghana Agriculture Technology Transfer project at the two irrigation schemes during the dry season.

Speaking at the sidelines of a ceremony to celebrate the increase in yield,  Dalung-Naa Alhaji Adam Amidu, Chief of Dalung, advised rice farmers to adopt the new technology due to its good yields.The occasion was organized by the chief in Dalung for women UDP applicators and farmers in the area and to encourage other farmers to adopt the technology to complement government’s efforts to ensure food security.
Some farmers the GNA spoke to attested that most rice farmers under the scheme, after comparing the yield of farmer learning centers cultivated under UDP technology and those of the traditional method, were convinced about the improved technologies.Mr Abu Alhassan, a farmer, observed that due to the positive results, many farmers were cultivating rice under rain fed which was not usually the case.
Source: GNA


Rice exports can still recover from floods

By Htin Lynn Aung   |   Thursday, 30 July 2015
Though more than 60,000 acres of monsoon paddy may have been destroyed by recent flooding, not all is lost, said U Ye Min Aung, general secretary of the Myanmar Rice Federation.
A farmer plows his field.Heavy rains hsve caused problems for local farmers.Photo:AFP
The rains have come early enough in the season that farmers will have the opportunity to replant – if they can afford to, he said. “Their paddy yields will be a bit lower, but exports won’t suffer much as a result,” he said. “And the state will have to help farmers with new laws passed which protect farmers.
”“We can’t help them now because the flooding is still taking place, but we will act according to the situation when the floodwater subsides.”Heavy rainfall since mid-July has caused flooding particularly in parts of Sagaing Region, Shan State and Kachin State. U Ye Min Aung said this has flooded out tens of thousands of acres of paddy field.Fortunate for the affected farmers, the rice harvest generally occurs later in the year in Upper Myanmar than it does in the delta.U Myo Myint, a prominent farmer based in Sagaing Region, said there is still time to replant this year.“There’s still time to plant again.
This can be done until the start of September,” he said.A larger concern is the need to purchase more fertiliser and paddy, which will hit the pocketbooks of farmers. Fields that had not been harvested from the smaller summer crop could also be damaged.A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation said that as of July 19, 2453 acres of summer paddy fields, 36,689 acres of monsoon paddy fields and more than 3100 acres of seedling fields have been flooded. These figures were released earlier in the month.Some looked at the bright side. “We can say it is a good point that there are not many flooded fields in lower Myanmar, where they always flood every year,” he said.Myanmar Rice Traders Association vice chair U Aung Than Oo said that with the large quantity of rice fields that are flooded each year, it is necessary to start crop insurance.
“Paddy fields in some townships in Bago and Ayeyarwady regions flood each year,” he said. “There should be comprehensive crop insurance plans in these regions’ farmland, as well as Rakhine State, when the weather is rough, organised by the government.”Previous figures from the Myanmar Rice Federation say it hopes to have an annual paddy yield of over 14 million tonnes, though about 2 million tonnes of rice can be exported.

 Translation by Thiri Min Htun
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/15749-rice-exports-can-still-recover-from-floods.html


Government aims to procure millions of tons of rice

Thursday, 30 July 2015 - 7:22pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI

The government has fixed rice procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.The government has fixed riceprocurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.Rice procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September). 

The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for foodgrain procurement and distribution, has so far purchased 31.51 million tonnes."The procurement target for the 2015-16 marketing season has been finalised 30 million tonnes," an official statement said. India is estimated to have produced over 102 million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).Target for Chhattisgarh has been kept at 3.6 million tonnes, Haryana (2.34 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 million tonnes each), Jharkhand (3,00,000 tonnes), Kerala (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000 tonnes) and Assam (50,000 tonnes), it said.Rice procurement target was fixed at the meeting of the state food secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup.
The meeting also reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy and coarse grains for 2015-16.To ensure smooth procurement operation, the states have been asked to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient manpower. States have also been advised to make arrangements to publicise about minimum support price (MSP) as well as about procurement centres both in print and audio-visual media and pamphlets in local languages.On storage front, the state governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for the ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit in storage requirement.


Regarding packaging material, states have been told to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of packaging material. The states have also been directed to furnish, on daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).
http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-government-aims-to-procure-millions-of-tons-of-rice-2109611

Government aims to procure 30 million tons of rice in 2015-16

By PTI | 30 Jul, 2015, 07.59PM IST

Rice procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September).NEW DELHI: The government has fixed rice procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres. Rice procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September). The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for foodgrain procurement and distribution, has so far purchased 31.51 million tonnes.

 "The procurement target for the 2015-16 marketing season has been finalised 30 million tonnes," an official statement said. India is estimated to have produced over 102 million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year (July-June). Target for Chhattisgarh has been kept at 3.6 million tonnes, Haryana (2.34 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 million tonnes each), Jharkhand (3,00,000 tonnes), Kerala (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000 tonnes) and Assam (50,000 tonnes), it said. Rice procurement target was fixed at the meeting of the state food secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup. The meeting also reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy and coarse grains for 2015-16.
To ensure smooth procurement operation, the states have been asked to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient manpower. States have also been advised to make arrangements to publicise about minimum support price (MSP) as well as about procurement centres both in print and audio-visual media and pamphlets in local languages. On storage front, the state governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for the ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit in storage requirement. Regarding packaging material, states have been told to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of packaging material.

The states have also been directed to furnish, on daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).

Rice procurement target set at 30 million tonnes for 2015-16


New Delhi, July 30:  
The procurement target for rice was set at 30 million tonnes (mt) for the 2015-16 marketing year for the 2015-16 Kharif marketing season. The decision was taken at meeting of State Food Secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup held here on Thursday. Arrangements for procurement of paddy and coarse grains in producing States were reviewed with a focus “particularly in decentralised procurement States and other non-traditional States to maximise procurement of paddy/rice and coarse grains during 2015-16 season,” according to an official statement. “States have also been advised to make arrangements for publicising MSP (minimum support price) fixed, procurement centres opened through print and audio-visual media as well as through pamphlets in local languages,” the statement said. The secretaries were also requested to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last-minute shortages and were also requested to furnish, on a daily basis, the district-wise procurement revenue details of the previous day for the Online Procurement Monitoring System. Punjab (8.2 mt) has the highest target, followed by Chhattisgarh (3.6 mt), Odisha (2.8 mt), Uttar Pradesh (2.75 mt), Haryana (2.35 mt), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 mt each), Telangana and West Bengal (1.8 mt each).
(This article was published on July 30, 2015)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/rice-procurement-target-set-at-30-million-tonnes-for-201516/article7481993.ece

 

Scientists Discover New GMO Rice That Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By Guneet Bhatia @Guneet_B on July 30 2015 4:51 PM EDT
Researchers have developed a new variety of genetically modified rice that grows in paddies producing no climate-changing methane emmisions. Reuters

Even though rice is the staple food of a majority of the world's population, it has also led to an increase in atmospheric methane, a greenhouse gas. In an attempt to provide a solution to the problem, an international team of scientists has created a new variety of genetically modified rice that can help reduce the methane emissions from rice paddies.A team of scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Sweden's University of Agricultural Sciences, and China's Hunan Agricultural University and Fujian Academy collaborated develop the GMO rice by introducing a new gene. The researchers claim that cultivation of the new variety will produce rice paddies that yield no methane.

During development of the genetically modified rice, named SUSIBA2, the researchers introduced a single barley gene into the genome of the common rice. According to the researchers, the resultant rice starves off methane-producing bacteria in the soil. Therefore, when grown, it is able to better feed its leaves, stems and grains, resulting in a superior-quality rice variety.In addition to not emitting the greenhouse gas, researchers say that the new rice variety will be packed with other properties when grown, such as increased starch and biomass. The complete details of the study have been published in the journal Nature.

"The need to increase starch content and lower methane emissions from rice production is widely recognized, but the ability to do both simultaneously has eluded researchers," said DOE scientist Christer Jansson."As the world's population grows, so will rice production. And as the Earth warms, so will rice paddies, resulting in even more methane emissions. It's an issue that must be addressed."The press release states that nearly 17 percent of global methane emissions, or 100 million tons, come from rice paddies. Even though the percentage is small when compared to the total annual emissions of carbon dioxide, the contribution is still worth discussing since methane is 20 times more effective in trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
http://www.ibtimes.com/scientists-discover-new-gmo-rice-can-help-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2031106



Government aims to procure millions of tons of rice

Thursday, 30 July 2015 - 7:22pm IST | Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
The government has fixed rice procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.


The government has fixed riceprocurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2015-16 marketing year starting October and while directing States to open adequate number of purchasing centres.Rice procurement has already surpassed the target of 30 million tonnes set for the ongoing 2014-15 marketing year (October September). The Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for foodgrain procurement and distribution, has so far purchased 31.51 million tonnes."The procurement target for the 2015-16 marketing season has been finalised 30 million tonnes," an official statement said. India is estimated to have produced over 102 million tonnes of rice in 2014-15 crop year (July-June).

Target for Chhattisgarh has been kept at 3.6 million tonnes, Haryana (2.34 million tonnes), Andhra Pradesh and Bihar (2 million tonnes each), Jharkhand (3,00,000 tonnes), Kerala (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (95,000 tonnes) and Assam (50,000 tonnes), it said.Rice procurement target was fixed at the meeting of the state food secretaries chaired by Union Food Secretary Vrinda Sarup. The meeting also reviewed arrangements for procurement of paddy and coarse grains for 2015-16.To ensure smooth procurement operation, the states have been asked to open adequate purchase centres and deploy sufficient manpower. States have also been advised to make arrangements to publicise about minimum support price (MSP) as well as about procurement centres both in print and audio-visual media and pamphlets in local languages.

On storage front, the state governments have also been asked to give details of storage plan for the ensuing kharif marketing season and prepare action plan to meet the deficit in storage requirement.Regarding packaging material, states have been told to place indents for purchase of jute bags in time to avoid last minute shortage of packaging material. The states have also been directed to furnish, on daily basis, the district-wise procurement details of previous day for Online Procurement Monitoring System (OPMS).




Intercontinental Hotels risks forceful closure by Customs over rice import debt

 Filed under: Breaking News,Maritime |  

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it may be forced to shut-down the famous Intercontinental Hotels Lagos, following the alleged refusal of the hotel’s parent company, Milan Group, to pay rice duty.Speaking during a phone interview this morning on a radio programme by Ships and Ports, Wale Adeniyi, National Public Relations Officer of Customs said this was because Milan Group which has refused to pay rice subsidy after exceeding its rice quota for 2014 is housed in the same premises as Intercontinental Hotel and shares the same owners.“We are not unmindful that they have guests in the hotel.

We are making representations to them to ensure that they either pay Customs duty or they evacuate their guests before we seal the hotel premises because it is the hotel that houses Milan Group” Adeniyi said.Continuing, he said: “The owner of the companies is the same. So, we’ve given them options; either to make do their payment or we have no choice but to stop them from operating. We don’t want to create unnecessary scenes so we are going to be civil in our approach to the Intercontinental issue. The planned operation was due to government directives that the premises of all defaulting importers be sealed off.”Customs has been given a directive to seal the business premises of all defaulting importers.
 “It is a directive from federal government and we are going to carry out. So we’ll give them one or two days notice to get their guests and their customers informed so that we don’t end up embarrassing anybody.”According to Adeniyi, some of the companies have falsely claimed that the quotas given to them were to be carried over to 2015. “The documents conveying the quotas were explicit. The quotas were meant to bridge supply gap of 1.3 metric tonnes, estimated to be the volume needed by Nigeria to bridge the supply gap in 2014, and that it should be imported in a concessionary way. Also, stated that any company that exceeded the quota will have to pay what others who didn’t get concessions would pay, and that is 70 percent duty.”In this case, he stated, Milan imported 750,000 metric tonnes in excess. Recall on 28 of June published the names of four rice importers, which owes the service over N23 billion debts for importing rice in excess of the government approved quota.

http://businessdayonline.com/2015/07/intercontinental-hotels-risks-forceful-closure-by-customs-over-rice-import-debt/#.VbtJoflVikp





Senate urges FG to stop waivers on rice importation

BACK TO HOMEPAGE SUBSCRIBE TO RSS FEED July 30 14:15 2015 Print This Article Share it With Friends 👤by Fredrick Nwabufo  0 Comments Advertisement The senate has urged the federal government to stop all waivers on rice importation, and other agricultural products. The senate also asked the government to mandate the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service to recover all duty due to the government.

It noted that the government had a policy to encourage agriculture, and agriculture business as a deliberate policy to diversify the economy, but observed that the policy had become significantly eroded and gradually rendered useless by the indiscriminate granting of waivers, concessions and grants, especially on rice importation. The senate also observed that the abuse of the waiver scheme had severely eroded the government’s rice production policy by importing huge quantities of the commodity in excess of the approved quota. It lamented that the government “loses annually N71 billion on duty waivers, especially to importers of rice, palm oil, energy equipment, steel and vegetable oil,” and observed that “in 2011, the government gave import waivers to 10 rice and palm oil importing companies alone, amounting to N150 billion.

” In a motion moved by Adebayo Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara south), the senate also noted that “the tax incentives offered to encourage foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country were now doing more harm than good to the economy, as funds which could have been invested in public schools, hospitals, roads and other social infrastructure are lost mindlessly without consequences.” It, therefore, asked the government to stop waivers on all agricultural products forthwith. To ensure that due diligence was done to the matter, Bukola Saraki, senate president, set up an ad hoc committee to look into all waivers and grants and to carry out holistic review to determine the full recovery of all government revenues. Chairman of the committee is Adamu Ailero while some members are Sam Egwu, Stella Oduah and Taiwo Alasoadura. Follow us on twitter @thecableng Copyright 2015 TheCable. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.thecable.ng as the source.

https://www.thecable.ng/senate-urges-fg-stop-waivers-rice-importation

Nigerian senate wants all waivers on rice import revoked

Jul 30 2015 - 4:35pm

PDP’s bags of rice imported for the March election
The Senate on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to revoke all import waivers on rice and other agricultural products and ensure all outstanding revenues were collected.In a two-prayer motion moved by Sen. Rafui Ibrahim (APC Kwara South), the Senate set up a nine-man committee to look into all waivers, concessions and grants.The committee, headed by Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central), is charged with the responsibility of reviewing all such related policy to recover all government revenues and block leakages.In his remark, the President of the Senate Bukola Saraki, said that the Ad hoc Committee was hinged on the determination of the new administration to cut revenue leakages.Saraki said that there was an urgent need to protect the nation’s agriculture to ensure self sufficiency rather than relying on importation.He expressed displeasure at the impunity with which people who owed government billions of naira continued to do businesses free as if “nothing will happen’’.“This too must stop; this is the first ad hoc committee that will be set up for this kind of thing and the committee will not stop until every penny is recovered,” he said.

He, therefore, charged members of the committee to be relentless in discharging their function.Earlier, some senators who made contribution advocated complete removal of all waivers, concessions, and grants on all products and commodities that could be manufactured locally.Sen. Philip Aduda (PDP FCT), gave example with cement production in the country and said that for any local production to thrive, importation of such products must be stopped.He argued that waivers should only be given on products that were required but not produced locally.“There is an urgent need to review the granting of waivers, especially on finished goods, whatever is produced in Nigeria should not be granted waivers.Sen. Eyinaya Abaraibe (PDP Abia-South) supported the motion, and noted that waivers were good at the inception but should have long been stopped.

He said that the removal of waiver should serve as a starting point in doing away with all government policies that had hampered local manufacturing.Abaribe recalled that when the Federal Government banned importation of furniture, there was huge investment in the local industry but regretted that ban was lifted shortly after.“We should task all our committees to look inward and see to it that all policies that are inimical to the economy of Nigeria are reversed.Sen. Dino Melaye (APC Kogi-West) advocated a drastic measure on the motion, alleging that there was collaboration between the Customs Officials, Ministry of Finance and importers.He said importers currently owing the government should not be allowed to clear their goods in the ports until they paid in full what they owed.Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto East) expressed fear that if allowed to continue, waiver on rice import alone would cost Nigeria N2.4 trillion by 2015.

Gobir argued that the money saved from the waivers could be used to establish industries in the country to employ over 5,000 Nigerians in every state.He also advocated that waivers should only be granted on products that were not being produced locally.Sen. Ali Wakili (APC Bauchi South), a former Comptroller of Customs Service, vindicated the service on the alleged collaboration, saying that the service merely implement the policies on waivers.He alleged that issuance of waivers, which began in the 80s became rampant under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when party faithful were flagrantly issues waivers.The Senate thereafter adjourned plenary to Tuesday, Aug. 4 after which it proceeded to inaugurate all committees that had been set up during the week.The committees are Senate Selection Committee, Rules and Business Committee, Ethics and Privileges Committee, ad-hoc Committee on Publicity and ad-hoc committee on waivers.

http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2015/07/30/nigerian-senate-wants-all-waivers-on-rice-import-revoked/






Only 25 pc rice bran being used to produce edible oil
Yasir Wardad

 A study by the Bangladesh Tariff Commission (BTC) has revealed that less than 25 per cent of rice bran was being used by local oil companies in the country. Its use should be maximised to increase domestic edible oil production, it suggested.The BTC, in its latest finding said Bangladeshi rice millers produce 2.5 million tonnes of bran annually of which only 0.5 million tonnes are used to make edible oil.The local edible oil mills produce hardly 0.1 million tonnes of bran oil annually which could be increased by seven times if they ensure maximum use of rice bran, it said.  The Commission in its analysis on 'Rice Bran Oil and its Prospect in Bangladesh' said the country's 70 per cent of rice mills are automatic or semi-automatic while 30 per cent are yet to be modernised.BTC member and team leader of the study Md Abdul Quaiyum said paddy production in the country is now more than 51.0 million tonnes from which 2.5 million tonnes of bran is collected.He said bran production could be minimum 3.6 million tonnes if the rest of the mills become auto or semi-auto."We have found out that nearly 0.7 million tonnes of oil could be produced by such volume of rice bran if 100 per cent rice mills come under automation by 2021," he told the FE.
"Within 2021, demand for edible oil will be nearly 2.47 million tonnes from 1.5 million tonnes presently. This means local producers will be able to produce 30 per cent of the then demand," he said.The BTC report also recommended increasing awareness of consuming rice bran oil for its market promotion.The Tariff Commission report also found a positive trend that export of rice barn is on the wane.Bangladeshi exporters shipped rice bran to the tune of 90,781 tonnes worth Tk1.29 billion in financial year 2012-13 (FY'13) which declined to 27,076 tonnes worth Tk371 million in FY'14.Some refiners and feed companies also imported the same from India as BTC found a small import of 382 tonnes worth Tk11.3 million in 2013.

Secretary of Bangladesh Rice Bran Oil Mills Association and a leading rice miller Md Abdur Rashid told the FE: "Fifteen local companies have capacity of producing maximum 7,000 tonnes per day but we are making less than 500 tonnes now."Mr Rashid, also president of the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mills Owners Association expressed his optimism that rice bran oil will be in great most demand within next five years in Bangladesh with  rising health consciousness. 
  Md Arman Habib, executive director of Nilsagor Agro Industries Ltd, distributor of Spondon rice bran oil in Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, said the demand for the oil was increasing but in a slower pace.He said 52 tonnes of Spondon oil is now sold per month in the 16 districts of the two northern divisions against a total demand of 100 tonnes.   He said apart from the private sector, the government will have to take steps to raise awareness on consuming rice bran.Health-related programmes on government and private media should focus the usefulness of the oil.

When asked, he said prices of different brands are now nearly the same like soybean oil."Different qualities of rice bran oil per litre, made in Bangladesh, are being sold at between Tk80 and Tk112," he said.Prof Dr Golam Maula of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, Dhaka University said rice bran oil contains a high level of gamma oryzanol which increases HDL (good) cholesterol and lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides.He said rice bran oil is much healthier than that of soybean, palm oil or mustard oil.He said it also contains the relatively high fractions of tocopherols and tocotrienols, together known as vitamin E which is powerful antioxidant and has antimutagenic properties which prevent cancer.Vitamin E also helps boost immunity in body, he added.The nutrition specialist also echoed the need for raising awareness on the use of rice bran oil for better health of the people.However, the BTC study and recommendation will be made public within a few days, said officials.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2015/07/31/102170


Only if the rice millers face competition will the environment for paddy farmers improve


Dear Editor,
The stranglehold rice millers have over paddy farmers is a perpetual problem that has been around for decades. Paddy farmers deliver their paddy to millers with the expectation of being paid in full within the shortest possible time, but this outcome may never materialize. The reason being that paddy farmers do not have an enforceable contract with millers that specifies spot-payment terms for paddy delivered to the mill. Without such a contract in this unbalanced relationship, millers will continue to have a significant advantage over paddy farmers, where it is likely that lower than expected grades are given for paddy sold, resulting in relatively low paddy prices and less than expected income for paddy farmers.

The miller’s advantage is based on the notion that there are many small paddy farmers who have no alternative but to indirectly compete with each other in order to sell their paddy to a few millers. Simultaneously, the few millers in any location can in turn pick and choose which farmers they will accommodate in the milling season, given that millers would prefer to pay farmers from the money they receive from rice sales, instead of paying paddy farmers from their own capital which has an opportunity cost, or from interest bearing loans sourced from the banking system.Consequently, the manifestation of the rice millers’ power is observed in delayed payments and perhaps in concerns raised about grading that can run counter to paddy farmers’ expectations.

 In a competitive environment, where millers would have had to compete with each other to procure paddy for their mills, the power play by millers would have been reduced. Specifically, millers in this environment would of necessity have to pay paddy farmers on the spot, using their own working capital or loan financing obtained from banking institutions. Regrettably, this is not the norm observed in the industry and paddy farmers are burdened with the interest cost from the time they deliver their paddy to the miller to the time when the miller in turn takes many weeks or months to complete the full payment for the paddy.During this interregnum, paddy farmers suffer a cash flow squeeze that curtails replanting; it reduces paddy profitability; and it increases loan default through the power play by rice millers at the expense of the paddy farmer.

Furthermore, as noted by many others, including the CEO of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Mr John Tracy (SN, July 27), the Rice Factory Act is useless in such an environment, even as commercial banks avoid the task of taking on the risk associated with agriculture for a number of reasons. In previous letters I covered this topic on the absence of commercial banks in high risk agriculture, and I need not present those arguments again; but changing the dynamics between paddy farmers and millers is a topic that requires a brief presentation. This can be explored through small farmers pooling their resources to acquire their own rice mill; and in turn managing the rice milling and marketing operations in a transparent, efficient and profitable manner. This is the way forward for paddy producers, for only competition with private millers will improve the environment. Policy-makers and paddy farmers need to seriously examine this approach aimed at rebalancing the market for buying paddy.
Yours faithfully,
C Kenrick Hunte
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2015/opinion/letters/07/30/only-if-the-rice-millers-face-competition-will-the-environment-for-paddy-farmers-improve/



News from USA Rice Daily

USA Rice Producers' Group Grows into USA Rice Farmers       
 
ARLINGTON, VA -- The USA Rice Producers' Group, the largest sector of USA Rice with representation by farmers from each of the six rice-growing states, has voted to change the group's name to "USA Rice Farmers" effective August 1, 2015.
Members of the almost 60-member Board of Directors discussed the change at their recent annual business meeting in Dallas, Texas and concluded that on Capitol Hill and amongst the non-agricultural sector, 'farmers' was more universally recognized than the term 'producers.'

Missouri rice farmer and incoming chairman of USA Rice Farmers, Blake Gerard, said, "This change is appropriate because it will help identify exactly who we are and what we do and help us clearly and effectively tell our story."USA Rice's Vice President of Marketing and Communications Michael Klein, added that the Producers' Group name change coincides with the umbrella organization, USA Rice Federation, dropping the word "Federation" from their logo and common usage."It's all about communicating clearly and as succinctly as possible with our audiences," Klein said.  "The words 'Federation' and 'producers' did neither and so we're retiring them."

Contact:  Peter Bachmann (703) 236-1475


At A Glance:  Indian Export Market       

Data Source: FAS Global Agricultural 
Trade System; United Nations
ARLINGTON, VA -- Over the past several years, Asian exporters have looked to diversify their export markets and with relatively low prices, have grown their market share in many areas in Africa, the Western Hemisphere and in developing countries.  India has had phenomenal growth in their exports, particularly to developing countries which now account for nearly 80 percent of their exports.  In particular, least developed countries (LDCs) have become increasingly important markets for Indian exporters and the Indian agricultural trade surplus with these markets has soared.  India is now the world's seventh-largest agricultural exporter, up from 13th a decade ago.  In 2013, India became the top agricultural supplier to LDCs, with overall sales of $5.2 billion.  This is nearly $1 billion more than the European Union, which is the second largest supplier.

Rice is one of India's largest agricultural exports.  Indian rice exports grew from $2.4 billion in 2009 to more than $8 billion in 2013 and shipments have been particularly strong to LDCs.  In 2009, rice exports to LDCs accounted for only 3 percent of India's total rice exports; by 2013, it accounted for 22 percent!  Ironically, this increase in Indian exports has come at the same time many of these countries are seeking to attain rice self-sufficiency.

Rapidly increasing government support for both production and exports has contributed to India's surge in exports.  India's public stockholding program has been especially instrumental in increasing rice exports to LDCs.   As noted in the recent Section 332 study on Rice: the Global Competitiveness of the U.S. Industry, the Indian government purchases rice at minimum support prices that are announced well before the planting seasons.  There are also several types of subsidies for inputs, including fertilizer, irrigation, electricity, seeds, and machinery.

"Ensuring that there is a level playing field is becoming more important as many of our competitors are ramping up production and increasing their market share in our export markets," says Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice president for international promotion.  "That is why research which monitors our competitors, such as this Section 332 study, and a constant reevaluation of potentially new or growing markets is an important part of what we do."

Contact:  Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

Weekly Rice Sales, Exports Reported        

WASHINGTON, DC -- Net rice sales of 8,400 MT for 2014/2015 were down 11 percent from the previous week and 82 percent from the prior four-week average, according to today's Export Sales Highlights report.  Increases were reported for Japan (3,000 MT), unknown destinations (2,000 MT), Canada (1,200 MT), the United Kingdom (600 MT), and Mexico (400 MT).  Net sales of 49,000 MT for 2015/2016 were reported for Venezuela (30,000 MT), unknown destinations (5,900 MT), El Salvador (5,500 MT), and South Korea (5,000 MT). Exports of 105,900 MT were up 15 percent from the previous week and 60 percent from the prior four-week average.  The primary destinations were Japan (31,800 MT), Venezuela (29,900 MT), South Korea (17,800 MT), Mexico (12,000 MT), and Haiti (10,000 MT). This summary is based on reports from exporters from the period July 17-23, 2015. 


CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures   
CME Group (Prelim):  Closing Rough Rice Futures for July 30
Month
Price
Net Change

September 2015
$11.435
+ $0.235
November 2015
$11.700
+ $0.235
January 2016
$11.970
+ $0.235
March 2016
$12.180
+ $0.245
May 2016
$12.365
+ $0.245
July 2016
$12.365
+ $0.245
September 2016
$11.950
UNCH

Rice price hike forecast due to El Nino

MUMBAI, July 30, 2015:
Global rice prices are likely to surge by 10-20% in the next few months as an El Nino weather pattern grips top producers in Asia, baking the region’s croplands and whittling down stocks of the grain to multi-year lows.While higher prices of a key staple would be bad news for impoverished countries in Asia and Africa, lower output will help No 2 exporter Thailand offload its bulging stockpiles that have weighed on the rice market and pushed benchmark prices down to 7½-year lows of US$367.50 (RM1,398) per tonne in June.Below-average rainfall linked to El Nino has already disrupted rice transplantation in India, led to a drought in seven out of 67 Thai provinces during what should be the wet season and cut Vietnam’s output expectations.

Exports from the three countries, which account for 68% of the world rice trade, are seen at 27.2 million tonnes this year, down 6.2% from a year ago, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).“The market has not yet factored in prospects of lower production in key producing countries,” said B.V. Krishna Rao, managing director of leading Indian rice shipper Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd.“Prices could jump 10% by the year end,” Rao said, reversing similar losses seen in the past five months.

In fact prices could rise even more, given that weather bureaus from across the world are predicting a strong El Nino, which typically leads to crop-damaging scorching weather across Asia and east Africa but heavy rains and floods in South America.“If August rains remain patchy, like July, then rice prices could rise up to 20% in a few months,” said a New Delhi-based dealer with a global grains trading company.Lower overall inventories at key exporters after stellar exports in 2014 will further fuel the price gain, traders said.
The FAO estimates the stock-to-use ratio, the level of inventories relative to domestic consumption and exports, at the world’s top five rice exporting countries will drop to 19% in 2015/16, the lowest since 2007/08.Rice stocks in the five – India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and the US – were drawn down in 2014 when world trade in rice rose to a record 42.8 million tonnes.Industry sources say the impact of Thailand’s inventory, built up under the previous government’s rice-buying programme, is also waning as only 60% of it, or about nine million tonnes, is fit for human consumption after prolonged storage.

Demand, however, is expected to pick up as buyers rush in to stock up on the grain on fears El Nino will eat into supply.The Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice importers, indicated last week that it could ship in more rice to boost buffer stocks and keep local prices stable.Traders are expecting top importer China, as well as Nigeria, to react similarly in the coming months.China’s 2014/15 imports could rise 8% to four million tonnes, while overseas purchases by Nigeria could jump to 3.7 million tonnes, up 9% from last year, according to International Grains Council estimates.“Importers haven’t built inventory since prices were continuously falling. Once prices start rising, they will increase purchases” to avoid having to buy at even higher rates later, said a Bangkok-based rice exporter.


http://www.therakyatpost.com/business/2015/07/30/rice-price-hike-forecast-due-to-el-nino/?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+July+30%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email


Water bill gets thumbs up from locals
Public to get bigger say in management
30 Jul 2015 at 06:47 2,187 viewed2 comments

Rice growers pump water in a bid to save their paddy fields from drought in Ayutthaya province in July. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Civil networks across 25 river basins have lent their support for the National Reform Council (NRC) water resource management bill empowering people to manage their own water resources.Prachern Khondhet, chairman of the Thachin River Basin Foundation in Nakhon Pathom, said his alliance of networks from 28 provinces in the lower Chao Phraya River basin will talk to local people about how they can benefit from the bill.Mr Prachern said the networks are in favour of the bill as the NRC had based it on an earlier draft prepared by the alliance, which said water resources are a public asset and do not belong to the state.This means the government will not be the sole manager of water resources and will be required to listen to people who live in the river basins, he said."We will see a new dimension of water resource management," Mr Prachern said."It will not be manipulated by politicians who see water as a significant source of political power. Representatives from the river basins will play a more active role in water management."The chairman was speaking at a seminar titled "The Right Time for Water Resource Management Reform", organised by the NRC's committee on natural resources and environment reform.
The NRC took around eight months to draft the bill, based on a version that had been drafted by the public under the old constitution, which was voided by the coup d'etat last year. Under the new bill comprising 106 sections, a river basin committee will be set up composed of representatives from state agencies, local people and academics, increasing public power in decision-making over water resources.During any water crisis the committee will play a key role in coming up with an action plan for water management.Ethanol Alumroot, a representative from the lower Chao Phraya River basin in Pathum Thani, said the bill is a significant step as people will be able to participate in more dimensions of the country's water resource management.

The bill also provides for a water resource fund from which people would get compensation if they are affected by any aspects of water management.The fund will be partly financed by the government as well as a fee collected from major water users such as industry.Pramote Maiklad, chairman of the NRC's committee on natural resources and environment reform, said the bill has been approved by the NRC and will be forwarded for cabinet approval, and then on to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).He agreed the state should not continue to be the sole arbiter on water management as many errors in water management had arisen during the drought and flooding crises. It was time to give the public a say.
Proper management should be carried out based on close cooperation by all stakeholders, especially locals who have lived in the river basins throughout their lives.Surachit Chiravej, a former senator from Samut Songkram, said the bill should be considered by the NLA in the next couple of months, as water management was an urgent issue needing proper legal steps.He said his alliance will try its best to push it through during the term of the current military government, as the bill might face tough passage under an elected government.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/638280/water-bill-gets-thumbs-up-from-locals

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