Vietnam joins race to sell rice to
Philippines
VietNamNet Bridge - With the
current balance of power, Vietnam and Thailand will participate in a ‘duel’ to
obtain the right to sell 250,000 tons of rice to the Philippines.
Race for quota-based rice sale
The Filipino National Food Authority (NFA) has bought 750,000 tons of rice so far this year through three bids, while leaving open another 250,000 tons that can still be purchased.The Philippines will also buy 805,200 tons of rice more under the WTO’s MAV (minimum access volume) mode. However, the purchase will be undertaken by private businesses, not the government.
Of the 750,000 tons of rice, 550,000 tons will be provided by Vietnamese enterprises, and the remaining 200,000 tons by Thai exporters.As for the package of 805,200 tons of rice under the MAV, Vietnam has been assigned to provide 293,100 tons. The same volume has been allocated to Thailand. Each of the three other Asian countries including China, India and Pakistan will provide 50,000 tons. Nevertheless, the Filipino private businesses may be unlikely to import enough 805,200 tons of rice.Analysts believe that only Vietnamese and Thai rice can be competitive, thanks to the low prices, and therefore, Vietnam and Thailand would be the top choices for Filipino businessmen.
The Filipino National Food Authority (NFA) has bought 750,000 tons of rice so far this year through three bids, while leaving open another 250,000 tons that can still be purchased.The Philippines will also buy 805,200 tons of rice more under the WTO’s MAV (minimum access volume) mode. However, the purchase will be undertaken by private businesses, not the government.
Of the 750,000 tons of rice, 550,000 tons will be provided by Vietnamese enterprises, and the remaining 200,000 tons by Thai exporters.As for the package of 805,200 tons of rice under the MAV, Vietnam has been assigned to provide 293,100 tons. The same volume has been allocated to Thailand. Each of the three other Asian countries including China, India and Pakistan will provide 50,000 tons. Nevertheless, the Filipino private businesses may be unlikely to import enough 805,200 tons of rice.Analysts believe that only Vietnamese and Thai rice can be competitive, thanks to the low prices, and therefore, Vietnam and Thailand would be the top choices for Filipino businessmen.
Meanwhile, “made in China” rice will not likely enter the Filipino market because of its high price. Indian rice is now sold in some Chinese provinces at $625-635 per ton. If counting the 35 import tariff, the selling price would be no less than $840-860 per ton, higher than the Filipino market price, hovering around $770 per ton.Analysts also think that Filipino private importers are not likely to import 100,000 tons of rice from India and Pakistan, because the two countries have offered the export price which is $18-33 per ton higher than Vietnam.The big disadvantage of the two rice exporters India and Pakistan in the competition to sell rice to the Philippines is that they are relatively far from the country.Statistics show that since 2011, when India’s rice exports exploded, it exported only 105,000 tons to the Philippines in the 2012-2013 season. It sold 60,000 tons in total in the other three seasons.
NFA and Vietnam-Thailand duel
If Filipino private importers cannot import enough 805,200 tons of rice as predicted, it is highly possible that NFA would be assigned to import 250,000 tons out of 805,200 tons.Analysts believe that with the current balance of power, Vietnam and Thailand would have to join a duel to obtain the right to sell rice to the Philippines. Myanmar will unlikely be able to compete with Vietnam and Thailand in prices.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/138316/vietnam-joins-race-to-sell-rice-to-philippines.html
Government urged to help farmers affected by El Niño
(The Philippine Star) | Updated August 17, 2015 - 12:00am
The weather bureau has warned that El Niño conditions could
become stronger starting October and peak by November or December when the sea
surface temperature in the tropical Pacific will become much hotter than
average. Philstar.com/File
MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis
Escudero is calling on government agencies to prepare alternative employment
and emergency assistance for farmers who will be affected by El Niño this
year.Escudero, chairman of the Senate committee on environment and natural
resources, lamented that the Department of Agriculture (DA) failed to use its
budget to prepare farmers for the impact of El Niño.The Senate finance
committee has made available around P5 billion for 2015 to the DA to address
the problem of El Niño through interventions such as the Small Water Impounding
Project, which is meant to improve irrigation facilities in preparation for the
dry months. But Escudero said the DA failed to do its job.“The Department of
Agriculture should be in the forefront of this, but based on our analysis, the
DA has been very slow in responding to this issue as manifested by its underspending.
It’s very slow in releasing funds for this purpose,” he added.
For this reason, Escudero is
calling on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be more proactive in
addressing problems that may be caused by the phenomenon.“Our farmers are going
to need all the help they can get in the coming months, and national agencies
should be ready to work with local governments to pull our farmers through this
difficult season,” Escudero said in a media briefing in Daet, Camarines Norte,
one of the provinces bracing for an extended dry spell.
Headlines ( Article MRec ),
pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Escudero urged TESDA to provide farmers with agriculture-related
technical and vocational skills training so that they can find other sources of
income when working at the farm proves to be unproductive.As for the DSWD, the
senator said the agency should ensure that families of farmers affected by the
drought will receive financial assistance through the government’s conditional
cash transfer (CCT) program.
“The government has to be proactive and prepare for the worst-case
scenario. Our farmers have to be given all kinds of assistance to make up for
the projected crop losses because of the drying up of farmlands,” he added.The
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) has warned that the present moderate El Niño conditions could
intensify by the end of the year and even surpass the strength of the El Niño
in 1997 to 1998, which was the worst dry spell in the Philippines.The 1997-1998
episode caused severe drought in 70 percent of the country and damaged 292,000
hectares of rice and corn plantations. It cost the agriculture sector at least
P3 billion in damage, according to PAGASA and the South Australian Research and
Development Institute.
The weather bureau has warned that El Niño conditions could become
stronger starting October and peak by November or December when the sea surface
temperature in the tropical Pacific will become much hotter than average.Sen.
Grace Poe said the impacts of climate change are putting a bigger burden on the
government’s resources as extreme weather events continue to create a new
demographic of poor Filipinos.Poe said at least 12 million Filipinos are at
risk for the hazards brought about by storms and floods, the second biggest
population of at-risk people in the Asia Pacific region.
From 1998 to 2009, the country has lost at least $24 billion in
GDP value due to the impact of climate change, the senator said, citing a
report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.“Extreme weather
conditions destroy not just people’s homes but also their sources of food and
livelihood. With every storm that passes, more people are displaced, more
people go hungry, more lose their livelihood,” Poe said.“Climate change just
keeps creating a new set of poor Filipinos, so we have to mitigate its impact,”
she added.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/17/1488983/government-urged-help-farmers-affected-el-nino#sthash.AOjT0hL3.dpuf
2nd quarter farm output
bares El Niño’s scourge
INTENSE HEAT took its toll on the
country’s agriculture production, which shrank last quarter and pulled down
first-semester growth, in turn putting gross domestic product (GDP) expansion
further at risk.
The Philippine Statistics Authority-Bureau of Agricultural
Statistics (PSA-BAS) reported on Friday that volume of farm production
contracted by 0.37% in the second quarter, slower than the 1.78% logged in
January-March and the 2.73% seen a year ago.That led to a 0.73% crawl last
semester against the government’s 3.3-4.3% full-year growth target.“The
downturn was traced to the intense heat during the quarter, which negatively
affected the performance of crops and fisheries subsectors,” the report read,
adding that these were not offset by increases in the livestock and poultry
sub-sectors.Value of production last quarter likewise fell 5.21% to P372.4
billion from 2014’s comparable three months.
The report on the country’s agriculture performance was released two weeks ahead of the scheduled announcement of second-quarter and first-half gross GDP data on Aug. 27. The agriculture sector accounts for about a tenth of the GDP, which in turn is targeted to expand 7-8% this year.Asked on his reading on second-quarter GDP growth, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan had said in a congressional hearing earlier this week on the proposed P3.002-trillion 2016 national budget that the successive drop in merchandise export receipts across all three months of last quarter was worrisome and that farm damage from the El Niño-spawned dry spell bears watching.
CROP SUB-SECTOR
Output of the crops sub-sector -- which accounted for 49.8% of total production -- dropped by 3.05% in the second quarter, compared to the 5.87% growth recorded in 2014’s comparable three months.Last semester saw this sub-sector slip by 0.54%.
“The intense heat that prevailed during the period pulled down production of palay and corn by 2.88% and 15.76%, respectively,” the PSA-BAS said.The hot weather condition, however, enhanced the performance of other crops: pineapple, mango, abaca, mongo, camote, cassava, cabbage and garlic.
PALAY AND CORN
The PSA-BAS last Wednesday reported that actual production of palay -- or unmilled rice -- fell 2.9% to 3.96 million metric tons (MT) last quarter from 4.07 million MT in 2014’s comparable three months.The second-quarter harvest led to a 0.7% contraction to 8.32 million MT last semester from 8.38 million MT in 2014’s comparable six months.Corn production, meanwhile, fell 15.8% to 1.01 million MT last quarter from 1.20 million MT the past year, causing last semester’s output of this grain to drop 2.8% to 3.38 million MT from 3.48 million MT year on year.The PSA-BAS had said in that earlier report that “probable production” of both staples this semester similarly may suffer.“Unrealized plantings of palay for the third-quarter harvest due to the late onset of the rainy season and insufficient supply of irrigation water may bring down the second semester output,” it explained, adding that probable corn output is also expected to be lower.
As a result, total output for the entire 2015 may decline by 0.6% for palay and 1.6% for corn.In particular, production of palay may slip by to 18.86 million MT this year from the 18.97 million MT actually harvested last year.Corn output, on the other hand, is seen to hit only 7.64 million MT this year, compared to 7.77 million MT actually harvested last year.The Agriculture department had set production targets of 20 million MT for palay and 8.4 million MT for corn this year.
OTHER SUB-SECTORS
Last quarter saw two other sub-sectors -- livestock and poultry -- improve production.Contributing 16.24% to total farm output was livestock, which registered a 5.2% growth from only 0.68% the past year. This was driven primarily by the 5.6% increase in hog production. Other livestock segments, save for carabao, also improved output. Second-quarter growth spurred this sub-sector to expand by 4.25% last semester.The poultry sub-sector -- which had a 15.18% share -- produced 4.71% more, a significant improvement from only 0.12% as all components increased output. “Chicken boosted the subsector’s performance in the second quarter of the year by posting a 5.08% growth in production,” the report read. For the first half, this sub-sector grew 5.03%.
Fisheries, which accounted for 18.79%, produced
1.53% less last quarter, although this performance was marginally better than
the 1.59% decline a year ago. “Affected by the intense heat during the quarter
and posting reductions were milkfish, tilapia, round scad and skipjack.” This
sub-sector produced 2.12% less than a year ago last semester.Farmgate prices --
particularly for crops, livestock and poultry -- fell 4.86% last quarter,
leading to a 4.14% drop last semester.
www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory...el...
Clouds and
rain make for lower rice yields in Louisiana
Posted: Aug 16, 2015 4:18 AM PDTUpdated: Aug 16, 2015 7:27 AM PDT
CROWLEY, La. (AP) - LSU agriculture experts estimate that the
yield from this year's rice harvest in south Louisiana will be down 10 to 15
percent from last year.A news release on the rice crop from the LSU AgCenter
says the harvest is just getting under way in north Louisiana but hot, dry
weather could affect grain quality in that part of the state.Steve Linscombe,
director of the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station and Dustin Harrell, an
AgCenter rice specialist, both listed heavy rainfall from March until May, and
frequent overcast skies as major reasons for lower yields.
Linscombe said less sunshine made for fewer and smaller grains per
plant. Harrell said excess rainfall meant farmers were unable to make
fertilizer applications on time. Disease was also a factor in lower yields.Copyright
2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.ksla.com/story/29797033/clouds-and-rain-make-for-lower-rice-yields-in-louisiana
Rice harvesting progressing in Louisiana,
but yields are down
But yields are
down
ADVOCATE NEWS SERVICES
Aug. 17, 2015
Harvest in that part of the state is just starting.“This has
been one of the most difficult years for rice producers that they’ve seen in a
long time,” AgCenter rice specialist Dustin Harrell said.Both listed heavy
rainfall from March until May and frequent overcast skies as major reasons for
lower yields.More clouds mean less sunshine for photosynthesis, and that
resulted in fewer and smaller grains per plant, Linscombe said.Harrell said the
excess rainfall complicated the season because farmers were not able to make
fertilizer applications on time. In addition, small rice plants were submerged
for a long time, he said.Plant disease also was a factor in the harvest,
Linscombe said.
“Quality seems to be OK, especially on our earlier-planted
rice,” Linscombe said. But later-planted rice that matured during the hotter
temperatures probably will have quality problems, he said.Even though planting
was delayed by weather, harvest went smoothly with few rain interruptions, and
dry weather prevented farm equipment from rutting the fields, Linscombe said.
That means a good start for farmers growing a second crop of rice.Linscombe
said he is noticing more farmers manipulating rice stubble, either by rolling
or mowing the remaining stalks, to increase second-crop yields as shown in
studies conducted by Harrell.
AgCenter county agent Keith Fontenot said Evangeline Parish rice
farmers were reporting mixed results, with yields from 40 to 55 barrels. He
said one farmer only managed 26 barrels in a field suddenly hit with a
disease.AgCenter county agent Barrett Courville said yields are off by about
four barrels an acre from last year. But he said the second crop looks
promising.A barrel of rice weighs 162 pounds.Fontenot said he’s seeing many
farmers preparing fields for a second crop.“I’m amazed at the amount of work I
see happening,” he said. “Everybody looks like they’re going to have a second
crop.
http://theadvocate.com/news/business/13180180-123/rice-harvesting-progressing-in-louisiana
Nagpur Foodgrain
Prices Open- Aug 17
India |
Nagpur, Aug 17 Gram prices firmed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased festival season demand from local traders amid weak arrival from producing belts. Upward trend on NCDEX, notable hike in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and repeated enquiries from South-based traders also pushed up prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram recovered in open market on good demand from local traders amid
tight supply from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties skyrocketed in open market here on increased festival season demand
from local traders amid weak supply from producing regions. Delay in this season's
tuar arrival, damaged of crop because of unseasonal rains and weak monsoon also
activated stockists.
* Masoor and Udid varieties zoomed up in open market on renewed festival season demand
from local traders amid thin arrival from producing belts.
* In Akola, Tuar - 8,800-9,100, Tuar dal - 12,800-13,000, Udid at 9,400-9,700,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 11,300-11,700, Moong - 7,600-7,800, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,200-9,800, Gram - 4,200-4,400, Gram Super best bold - 5,800-6,000
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market
in thin trading activity because of heavy rains, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 3,700-4,720 3,700-4,610
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction n.a. 7,300-8,150
Moong Auction n.a. 6,000-6,400
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 5,600-5,800 5,600-5,800
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 5,500-5,700 5,400-5,700
Desi gram Raw 4,800-4,850 4,750-4,850
Gram Filter new 6,000-6,200 6,000-6,200
Gram Kabuli 6,200-7,500 6,200-7,500
Gram Pink 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000
Tuar Fataka Best 13,000-13,500 12,500-13,000
Tuar Fataka Medium 12,000-12,500 11,500-12,000
Tuar Dal Best Phod 11,500-11,800 11,000-11,200
Tuar Dal Medium phod 11,000-11,400 10,600-10,800
Tuar Gavarani New 9,600-9,700 9,300-9,500
Tuar Karnataka 10,200-10,500 9,700-9,900
Tuar Black 12,400-12,800 11,900-12,200
Masoor dal best 8,600-8,800 8,300-8,500
Masoor dal medium 8,150-8,450 7,900-8,200
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 9,600-9,800 9,600-9,800
Moong Mogar Medium best 8,200-8,800 8,200-8,800
Moong dal Chilka 8,500-8,800 8,500-8,800
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 9,700-10,000 9,700-10,000
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 11,700-12,000 11,500-11,900
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 10,600-11,000 10,500-11,000
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 9,400-9,800 9,300-9,700
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,300-3,400 3,300-3,400
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,300-4,700
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,900 3,300-3,900
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,500 1,400-1,500
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,550-1,700 1,550-1,700
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,300-1,500 1,300-1,500
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,700 3,300-3,700
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,650-2,850 2,650-2,850
Rice BPT New(100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,000 2,800-3,000
Rice BPT (100 INR/KG) 3,050-3,300 3,050-3,300
Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,900 1,700-1,900
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,500 2,300-2,500
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,600-2,800 2,600-2,800
Rice HMT new(100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800
Rice HMT (100 INR/KG) 3,900-4,300 3,900-4,300
Rice HMT Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,300-4,500 4,300-4,500
Rice HMT Shriram old (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,100 4,600-5,100
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,000-10,000 8,000-10,000
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,200-5,600 5,200-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 32.5 degree Celsius (90.5 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
24.8 degree Celsius (76.6 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunder-showers likely. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 24 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/2015/08/17/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N10S36220150817
Myanmar may resume rice export in
November
News Desk
Myanmar Eleven
Publication Date : 17-08-2015
Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce announced yesterday that it would
reconsider resuming rice export in November, as the country has imposed a
temporary ban following the severe inundation of farmlands.In an announcement,
the ministry revealed that Myanmar should need 34.8 million tonnes of paddy
rice for domestic consumption. As over 1 million acres of farmlands or nearly
10 per cent of total 15 million acres are damaged by recent floods, rice stocks
should be kept for domestic consumption. It also noted that Chin State’s
stockpile was zero and it should soon demand rice from elsewhere, as well as
the states/regions of Rakhine, Magway, Mon and Kayah.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, there
are currently around 15 million acres of rice farmland, 1 million of which was
damaged by recent floods. Between 200 and 300 thousand acres have been rendered
useless; those areas require urgent attention and timely
plantations. Similarly, 1.2 million acres of farmlands for other crops
were flooded, though 890,544 acres of that land has resurfaced so far. Among
those resurfaced lands, a total of 641,222 acres were damaged, with 407,924
acres totally destroyed and only 3,648 acres maintaining the capacity to be
reused.
The Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) announced last week that the
export would be suspended until mid-September. Myanmar plans to export
four million tonnes of rice by 2020 but the actual annual rice export has
reached only 1.3 million tonnes over the past years.State-media Global New
Light of Myanmar reported that yesterday, local authorities in Kawlin Township,
Sagaing Region, helped local farmers regrow rice on 745 acres of farmlands with
seeding machines and tractors. Aside from causing over 100 fatalities, Cyclone
Komen also affected nearly one million people.According to the World Bank, rice
accounts for 25 per cent of the consumption of richer households and 50 per
cent of the consumption of poorer households.
Paddy accounts for 30 per cent of total planted area and 40 per
cent of gross agricultural output. It is estimated to account for 13 per cent
of the country’s GDP. In a related development, residents of Matupi
Township, Chin State, are reportedly facing food shortage as the city has been
cut off from the plains region of Myanmar for about 20 days.The recent heavy
downpours have caused landslides in the region, causing people to leave their
homes. As of July 23, the incessant rains damaged sections of roads and
swept away bridges in the south of Chin State. Bus lines services from Pakokku
to Matupi stopped until August 10.
“Currently, no trucks can reach Matupi. Rice, edible oil
and salt are in short supply here. The distance between Matupi and Pakokku is
about 30 miles by foot. We have to go there by foot or by motorcycle, which
could take us about three days to go there. We can go to Pakokku by car via
Mindat. It may take about one month to complete the restoration of the damaged
road,” said Sali Napolyan, a resident of Matupi. The 88 Generation (Peace
and Open Society) is seeking possible ways to send rice to Matupi as road
access is blocked. The road linking Pakokku and Matupi is about 200 miles long.
Normally, bus fare for the Pakokku-Matupi trip is 15,000 kyats. Landslides
along the Pakokku-Matupi road are common in the rainy season. But due to
Cyclone Komen, the situation is more severe this year.
http://www.asianewsnet.net/Myanmar-may-resume-rice-export-in-November--79552.html
Myanmar farmers need help replanting rice
after floods: U.N.
Green Business |
YANGON |
An aerial view of a part of Sittwe city at Sittwe, Rakhine
state, Myanmar, August 5, 2015.
REUTERS/SOE ZEYA TUN
Farmers in flood-hit Myanmar face a scramble to
replant damaged paddy fields in the next two weeks to avoid food shortages, and
aid efforts in some of the country's hardest hit areas remain a challenge, the
United Nations said on Saturday.More than 1.3 million people have been
critically affected and at least 106 people have died since heavy monsoon rains
coupled with a cyclone last month caused floods across the country, according
to the government.Water has receded in many areas, allowing farmers to assess
the damage to their crops and also to seed stocks as the end of planting season
nears.
"If farmers aren't able to get rice seeds
and plant in the next two weeks the window for the next season is pretty much
over," said Pierre Peron, spokesman for the U.N. Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA) in Myanmar."If they are not
able to replant they will miss out completely on this season and the impact on
food security will be much larger than if we can provide them with support to
replant."Myanmar is a rice exporter, but has halted exports to stabilize
prices.The U.N. and NGOs have supplied emergency food assistance to 386,000
people impacted by the floods, OCHA said in its latest situation report on the
flooding.
Over 1.4 million acres of paddy was flooded,
according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. The crops in over
500,000 acres have been destroyed in what has been the worst natural disaster
in Myanmar since Cyclone Nargis killed nearly 140,000 people in May 2008.
The government has provided $1.2 million for
paddy seeds in Rakhine State, one of the hardest hit areas, but, "further
support will be needed to help farmers and rural communities rebuild",
OCHA said.
In Chin State, a mountainous region bordering
Bangladesh and India, where heavy rains caused major landslides, aid workers
were still struggling to access some of the state's more remote
regions."Access to areas in Chin State has been difficult and continues to
be difficult," Peron said on Saturday.In the capital of Hakh five out of
six townships experienced landslides that damaged hundreds of homes.Zung Hlei
Thang, an MP representing Chin State, said the prices of rice and other
commodities had risen sharply since the landslides made many state roads
largely impassable, stemming imports."The living conditions are
difficult," he said.
(Additional reporting by Aung Hla Tun; Editing
by Simon Webb and Susan Thomas)
India's foodgrain output fell 4.66% in
2014-15
New Delhi, Aug 17, 2015, (PTI)
The country had registered a record foodgrain production of 265.04 MT in 2013—14 crop year (July—June). Wheat, rice, coarse cereals and pulses are part of the foodgrain basket."Total foodgrain production in the country is estimated at 252.68 MT, which is lower by 12.36 MT than the last year's record foodgrain production of 265.04 MT," an official statement said.While releasing the fourth advance estimates for 2014— 15, the Agriculture Ministry today said the production of most of the crops fell because of a bad monsoon in 2014 and unseasonal rains/hailstorms during February-March 2015, which affected kharif (summer—sown) and rabi (winter—sown) crops.
Rice production is estimated to have fallen to 104.80 million tonnes (MT) in 2014—15 against the record output of 106.65 MT in the previous year.Wheat output is estimated to have declined to 88.94 MT in 2014—15 as against a record 95.85 MT achieved in the previous year.The Ministry has revised downwards the production of wheat, pulses and oilseeds from its earlier estimates released on May 13. Wheat output was then pegged at 90.78 MT, pulses at 17.38 MT and oilseeds at 27.38 MT."It may be noted that production of kharif crops during 2014-15 suffered due to bad monsoon. Unseasonal rains and hailstorm during February-March 2015 had a significant impact on production of rabi crops."As a result of setback in kharif as well as rabi seasons, the production of most of the crops in the country declined during 2014-15," the statement read.
India had received 12 per cent deficient rains from the South-West monsoon in 2014.As per the fourth estimate, production of coarse cereals is estimated to have declined to 41.75 MT in 2014-15 from 43.29 MT in the year-ago period.Pulses and oilseeds production in the country, which is dependent on imports for lentils and edible oils, is also estimated to have dropped to 17.20 MT and 26.68 MT, respectively, in 2014-15.In the previous year, pulses output stood at 19.25 MT and that of oilseeds at 32.74 MT.Cotton production is estimated to have declined marginally to 35.48 million bales (of 170 kgs each) from 35.80 million bales while jute and mesta output too fell to 11.45 million bales (of 180 kg each) from 11.69 million bales in the period under the review.Sugarcane output is estimated to have risen to 359.33 MT from 352.21 MT in the said period.The government releases four advance estimates followed by a final estimate of foodgrain production.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/495681/indias-foodgrain-output-fell-466.html
Rice and noodle sales surge: Soaring
demand for Asian-style cuisine means Britons have eaten an extra 9,000 tons of
rice over the past year
Brits have tucked into extra 12m
tonnes of rice and noodles in past year
Pouched rice has become the
bestselling format in the market
The Grocer says much of the growth
is being driven by Japanese brands
Britain is turning Japanese -- at
least when it comes to our soaring appetite for exotic foods like rice and
noodles
Itsu creative director Julian Metcalfe told the magazine: 'From our conversations with key buyers, it appears the rise of noodles is coming from the premium, authentic sector.'The research shows that adventurous Brits are also eating more South Asian and other far-flung cuisines with Ramadan now crucial for High Street retailers.
Kantar Worldpanel said that the growth in rice and noodles has
been largely driven by more shopping trips and bigger baskets at the store. In
addition, the average prices across rice and noodles have fallen this year with
more promotions by brands and own-label products.
+1
Data from market analysts Kantar
Worldpanel showed that value sales of rice and noodles were up 5.3per cent to
504.9 million in the year to April 2015
But the study shows that pouched rice has become the bestselling
format in the market overtaking plain packaged rice for the first time as Brits
look for convenient carbs.It says that volume sales of pouched rice have grown
by a sixth year-on-year -- to 45 milion kg --while value is up 10per cent to
171.9 million.Plain packaged rice is up 2.7per cent to 161.8 million with
volumes up 2.2per cent to 99.4 million kg.The Grocer said: 'The growth of
pouches has come on the back of continued new product development fuelled by
shoppers' growing appetite for wholegrain rice products.
'Last September, Uncle Ben's introduced pouched wholegrain
versions of four of its flavours which owner Mars said was in response to
wholegrain rice sales growing by 82per cent over three years.'At the same time,
number two brand Tilda rolled out a Brown Basmati & Quinoa pouch and
followed this with Brown Basmati & Wild Rice in March. In April, Uncle
Ben's introduced a range of five Rice & Grains products made with
wholegrain rice, quinoa and other grains.'Tilda head of marketing Anna Beheshti
told the magazine: 'Wholegrain rice is a key category driver as consumers'
dietary needs are becoming more complex.
Promote
National Rice Month and Earn Scholarship Money
ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice encourages high
school seniors throughout rice country to invest the waning days of summer
vacation in planning an innovative promotion campaign for September, National
Rice Month (NRM). Three scholarship
prizes, sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, totaling $8,500 are available. The grand prize is a $4,000 scholarship and a
trip to the 2015 USA Rice Outlook Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the
scholarship presentation. The
second-place winner will receive $3,000 and third-place, $1,500.
Entries are due October 15. Applicants can submit a synopsis of their
promotion in a variety of ways, including in video format.
For more information about the scholarship,
visit the contest web page.
Contact:
Amy Doane (703) 236-1454
Crop
Progress: 2015 Crop 88 Percent
Headed
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WASHINGTON, DC -- Eighty-eight percent of the nation's 2015 rice
acreage is headed, 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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Genome
sleuths fight threats to Vietnam rice crop
17 August, 2015 - 11:42 By Tony Quested
An experiment in Vietnam for testing salinity
tolerance rice varieties
East of England genomics experts are fighting
to maintain a healthy Vietnamese rice crop in the face of a number of threats
to productivity.The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC) in Norwich is leading the
development of advanced bioinformatics capabilities for next-generation rice
genomics in Vietnam to aid precision breeding to improve this staple crop. The
international project aims to maintain crop productivity in the face of climate
change, disease resistance and salt tolerance – and to potentially develop
higher-value rice varieties for the global market.
As part of the Newton Fund, TGAC has been
awarded over £50,000 by The British Council to develop the bioinformatics
capabilities. These will inform next-generation rice genomics in Vietnam to aid
precision breeding for improvement of crops by exploring 48 local rice
varieties.
As the second-largest global rice exporter,
Vietnam relies on its most important agricultural commodity. A dramatic
increase in rice production has taken place since the 1980s, due to the
expansion of arable land and a shift in the crop’s varieties from producing a
single annual yield to two-three yields per year.
With an impressive 3.3 per cent annual yield
increase from 1987, Vietnamese rice production has benefited from the uptake of
new rice varieties and improvements in genetics applied to advance crop
breeding. However, there is an increasing threat to this vital crop from
factors associated with climate change such as emerging pathogens and rising
sea levels, where Vietnam's major rice growing areas are predominantly coastal,
as well as the environmental pressures of rapid urban development.
Developing the bioinformatics capacity in
Vietnam will allow research Institutes to benefit from advancements in next
generation genomics, applying their computational skills to rice breeding to
help maintain productivity in the face of changing climates, and potentially
develop new higher value rice varieties for the global market.
In collaboration with the Agriculture Genetics
Institute (AGI) in Hanoi, TGAC is working to characterise the genetic diversity
of traditional rice varieties from Vietnam, aiming to develop genomic markers
associated with traits of interest such as disease resistance and salt
tolerance.
With the initial research phase of this project
exploring the genetic diversity of 36 local varieties, this project will
provide funding for a further 48 varieties to be analysed – with the aim to
increase this number to 600 in the future. The generation of such large genomic
datasets requires expertise in bioinformatics in order to analyse the data and
develop molecular tools to aid precision breeding for improving rice.
The international collaboration between TGAC
and AGI will extend out to a wider group of researchers in Vietnam through
training workshops to build bioinformatics capacity, using rice as a model.
The programme involves the exchange of
scientists from Vietnam to gain expertise in bioinformatics analysis, and from
UK to learn about the field phenotyping activities in Vietnam. Scientists from
TGAC, AGI and other participating Institutes will host ‘Train the Trainer'
workshops in Norwich to train Vietnamese researchers in bioinformatics and
genomic analysis to equip them with the skills to sustain training for
researchers in Vietnam for the future.
To make the data accessible, TGAC will set up a
public database to host the variant data within the context of the latest
genome assemblies and annotation. Project lead, Sarah Ayling, crop genomics and
diversity group leader at TGAC, said: “The Institutional Links funding provides
an opportunity for us to train Vietnamese scientists in bioinformatics, and
equip them with the skills to train others to help advance their understanding
of next generation genomics.
“These ‘Train the Trainer’ activities will
enable the flow of knowledge to other researchers in the region, providing more
scientists with the skill-set required to make use of genomic data for rice
breeding and improve the crop yield for current and future generations in
Vietnam.
“Our partnership will enable TGAC and the UK to
provide guidance on best practices and, in collaboration with our Vietnamese
colleagues, lead the development of innovative ways to share data and enhance
the training and up-skilling of scientists in the areas of bioinformatics and
genomics globally.”
• PHOTOGRAPH: An experiment in Vietnam for
testing salinity tolerance rice varieties
http://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/agriculture/genome-sleuths-fight-threats-vietnam-rice-crop#sthash.N7VmvYcW.dpuf
Lifting
obstacles to rice sales could improve Cuban diets
Ration books don't always mean enough rice to go around
Aug 14, 2015 | Delta Farm Press
U.S. farmers and their commodity organizations see improving
relations with Cuba as a golden opportunity to increase sales of their crops
and ag products to a country that literally is located at their back door.But
those groups may be, in fact, “missing the boat” because of a lack of
understanding about actual conditions in Cuba. Increased trade would do more
than provide another market for U.S. ag; it could be a means of insuring the
Cuban people get enough to eat.
According to government rules, each person of a certain age in
Cuba is supposed to receive 7 pounds of rice per month. All Cubans have a
ration book, which allows them to buy a certain amount of rice, beans, oil,
sugar, salt and some other products they need on a daily basis at subsidized
prices.“Until about 2003 or 2004 that ration amount was 5 pounds per person,”
says Terry Harris, senior vice president for marketing and risk management at
Riceland Foods in Stuttgart, Ark. “It was actually raised to 7 pounds in 2004,
but rice is still not always available for the people of Cuba.”
Harris, a speaker for the University of Arkansas’ Division of
Ariculture’s Aug. 13 Food and Agribusiness Webinar titled “Rice Marketing
with a Cuban Flavor,” has been traveling to Cuba for Riceland Foods since 1999.He
negotiated the first shipment of U.S. rice that went to Cuba after Congress
relaxed trade restrictions under the embargo put in place by President Kennedy
in 1962. The sale was concluded the day before Thanksgiving in 2001, and the
first vessel arrived in Havana in February 2002.
http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/lifting-obstacles-rice-sales-could-improve-cuban-diets
Exposing agro-trade to higher risks
If one scans
through agro-policy profiles of various governments across the globe, they are
generally irrational, full of rhetoric for political agenda and lack pragmatism.
If one scans through agro-policy profiles of various governments
across the globe, they are generally irrational, full of rhetoric for political
agenda and lack pragmatism. Thus, trading entities fear “increased” risks from
governments than odd developments in the market triggered by supply-demand
mismatch, weather, speculation or going wrong on trading positions.A few
illustrations support the assertion in the foreign trade policies of some
governments. The Indian government is talking about 4 million tonnes of sugar
exports via barter trade. Prime destinations of Indian sugar include Sudan,
Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the UAE, Iran, Ethiopia, etc. Barter with whom
and in what time-frame? Is it practical to structure barter in a highly
volatile commodity and in such countries?
Sugar is largely traded amongst private parties based on
criticality of international parities. Induction of two governments, their
official agencies, banks with escrow accounts, etc, to facilitate barter in
export process and involving non-sugar related private/public entities—be it of
pulses, edible oil, crude oil or any engineering project—is the best way to
abort sugar export. The talk (that cannot be walked) projects an illusion to
farmers that the government is serious in remedying the glut of sugar
stocks—though trade fully understands the passivity of the policy. The upgraded
version of barter is called “counter trade”—which in this case implies “counter
to the trade” and therefore is mere rhetoric.
Is the Indian action to impose 10% duty on wheat import in
public interest? Flour millers in South India are affected by destabilisation
of a steady duty-free policy of last 7-8 years. The government is attempting in
vain to protect its turf for disposing of FCI-owned low quality wheat at higher
prices, while restricting import of good quality cheaper grain from abroad,
thus inducing inflationary pressures. The right way would be to discount its
official prices at which the low quality grain is tradeable, otherwise the
short life of this grain will render it inedible for human and feed
consumption. All cost will be then sunk cost.
The Thai government, in 2011-12 and 2012-13, in order to
generate political populism of farmers, introduced procurement of paddy at
$500/mt versus market price of $280-330/mt. Good and bad paddy was procured not
only from Thailand but even through illegal entry from Cambodia, Myanmar and
Vietnam. Thai traders lost their primacy in the world’s rice market due to
non-competitiveness. Today, the new Thai regime is struggling to dispose of 18
million tonnes of accumulated rice, of which 6 million tonnes is unfit for human
consumption and 10 million tonnes require reprocessing. The estimate of
unverified loss is about $16 billion.
Iran, though it prohibited import of Indian basmati rice in
2014-15, imported about 0.9 million tonnes in the same year—basmati rice is
banned officially but select parties are given quotas and licences to import
from nominated Indian suppliers. This amounts to state-sponsored canalised
import via private importers. Official ban represents crony nexus between the
powers that be.
China imports soy seeds (74 million tonnes), and corn (4-5
million tonnes) is imported from the US, Argentina and Brazil. Such cargo is
exposed to rejections by citing phyto or GM-related issues, which rattle world
markets. By such negative actions, Chinese buyers hammer down world prices or
enter into renegotiated contracts at lower values. Foreign suppliers sustain
losses silently. Indeed, such actions would have the tacit support of the
Chinese government. Traders fear to go legal for the fear of reprisal in future
Chinese businesses.
China does not buy Indian non-basmati rice, but it sources the
same from Pakistan. The denial by China is irrational and is pro-Pakistan.
Right now, annual rice import from Pakistan is limited (0.5 million tonnes),
but considering the appetite of the Chinese market, India will be at a
disadvantage if this issue remains ignored. The ambiguity in China’s decision
is inexplicable—it continues to acquire all shades of rice from Cambodia,
Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, totalling 5-6 million tonnes annually.
Nigeria is another example of distorted rice import policy for
political patronage. Rice imports are 3-4 million tonnes. Indian exports to
Nigeria are 1-1.5 million tonnes. Nigerian importers who have a stake in
domestic production can import rice at 30% duty, while standalone/pure traders
pay 70% import tax. Effectively, anyone having a rice mill can import with 30%
duty, but others are denied equitable treatment. Licensed tonnage depends upon
proximity with the ruling elite. Neighbouring Benin also imports huge volumes
of rice, which is smuggled into Nigeria. Rice traders have earned, and lost
too, substantial money by applying the Benin route to Nigeria.
Russia exports 20-25 million tonnes of wheat annually, against
the production of 53-60 million tonnes. Its government is known for abrupt
bans/export duties. None can decipher when an intervention will take place.
Since Russian grains are one of the lowest priced commodities, the world has to
live with the antics of the Russian government.There are other factors such as
monthly “estimation” provided by governments of sowing, yields, production,
demand, exports and imports—all of which influence the markets. Estimates are
only “guesstimates” or, at best, some reasoned conclusion based on assumptions
and weather reports. For example, the Indian official forecast of the monsoon
has gone wrong so far, while there have been contrary private forecasts. The
monsoon news heightens speculation and volatility all the more.
Governments are seldom right. Since they wield authority to act
arbitrarily and without accountability, nations, people and trade suffer
mutely.
The author is a grains trade expert.
Rice and noodles sales soar as Brits opt for Japanese meals
New research
reveals that Brits have slurped up an extra 12 million tonnes of rice and
noodles, as demand for Japanese cuisine soars
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We ate 12 million tonnes of extra rice and noodles last year Photo: Alamy
12:57PM BST 17 Aug 2015
British demand for Japanese food
is soaring, according to a new report.Research from market analysts Kantar
Worldpanel found that, in the past year, Brits ate an extra 12 million tonnes
of rice and noodles.Sales of rice and noodles were up 5.3 per cent, bringing
sales up to 504.9 million tonnes and volume sales were up 6.5 per cent, meaning
families spent an extra £24 million on products last year.The rise in sales is
thought to be driven by authentic Japanese brands, or companies who take cues
from Japanese cuisine, such as Wagamama or Itsu.Speaking to The Grocer, Itsu creative director Julian Metcalfe
said: "From our conversations with key buyers, it appears the rise of
noodles is coming from the premium, authentic sector."
Kantar Worldpanel added that the growth can also be attributed
to an increase in shopping trips, bigger baskets in store and the reduction of
average prices of rice and noodles.
The study also found that the
volume sales of pouched rice have grown by a sixth, causing it to overtake
plain packaged rice for the first time as Brits opt for quicker, more convenient, meals.
The Grocer said: "The growth
of pouches has come on the back of continued new product development fuelled by
shoppers' growing appetite for wholegrain rice products. Last September, Uncle
Ben's introduced pouched wholegrain versions of four of its flavours which
owner Mars said was in response to wholegrain rice sales growing by 82per cent
over three years.
"At the same time, number
two brand Tilda rolled out a Brown Basmati & Quinoa pouch and followed this
with Brown Basmati & Wild Rice in March. In April, Uncle Ben's introduced a
range of five Rice & Grains products made with wholegrain rice, quinoa and
other grains.
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