S.Korea
says imposes rice import tariff of over 500 pct,
major exporters concerned
nday, 5 Jan 2015 | 10:29 PM
ETReuters
SEOUL,
Jan 6 (Reuters) - South Korea confirmed on Tuesday it had begun to impose a
tariff of over 500 percent on rice imports from the start of the year, but
added that five members of the World Trade Organization had raised concerns
over the level.Asia's fourth-largest economy wants to protect farmers after
scrapping a cap on politically sensitive imports of the main staple in line
with international trade commitments made via the WTO
.In
September, it set the tax at 513 percent, saying that was the highest rate
possible under parameters set by the WTO.A joint statement by the country's
finance, trade and agriculture ministries on Tuesday added that Seoul would
hold bilateral talks with its main foreign rice suppliers to ease concerns over
how the rate was calculated. Those countries are the United States, China,
Thailand, Vietnam and Australia.South Korea is broadly self-sufficient in the
grain, but under the WTO agreement, it purchased 408,700 tonnes of foreign rice
in 2014, 9 percent of its demand. Under the new scheme, Seoul is still required
to import at least 408,700 tonnes a year.The
import of 408,700 tonnes attracts a tariff of 5 percent, and the 513 percent
applies to shipments above that level.
(Reporting
by Brian Kim; Editing by Meeyoun
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102311787#.
CME
Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
Month
|
Price
|
Net Change
|
January 2015
|
$11.360
|
+ $0.030
|
March 2015
|
$11.605
|
+ $0.020
|
May 2015
|
$11.825
|
+ $0.005
|
July 2015
|
$12.060
|
- $0.005
|
September 2015
|
$11.570
|
- $0.005
|
November 2015
|
$11.530
|
- $0.005
|
January 2016
|
$11.680
|
- $0.005
|
Published :
2015-01-06 10:26
Updated : 2015-01-06 10:26
Five countries, including the
United States, have so far raised objections to South Korea's proposed tariff
rate on its rice imports, officials said Tuesday, as negotiations begin on the
terms for South Korea's rice market opening.After 20 years of waivers, South
Korea liberalized its rice market through tariffication at the start of the
year with a 513 percent tariff to be imposed on all non-mandatory rice imports.
The country has to import
408,700 tons of rice every year under minimum market access (MMA). Such
mandatory imports are subject to only a 5 percent tariff.The tariff rate for
non-mandatory imports must be agreed upon by members of the World Trade
Organization (WTO). South Korean officials say the process may take years,
noting such a process for Taiwan took 57 months.According to South Korea's
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, five countries -- the U.S., China,
Australia, Thailand and Vietnam -- have filed a complaint with the WTO, arguing
that the offered tariff rate for non-mandatory imports is too high.South Korean
officials said these countries hold a special interest in Seoul's rice market.
"Of the countries that
have raised an objection, four, except Vietnam, had jointly shared a
country-specific quota of 200,000 tons per year in rice exports to South Korea
under the MMA quota," Choi Seok-young, chief of the South Korean mission
to Geneva, told reporters. These four countries oppose South Korea's rice
market opening as it has ceased the country-specific quota, meaning South Korea
no longer is required to import rice from them.Choi and the South Korean trade
ministry assured that Seoul has no intention of making a concession, saying its
tariff rate is more than reasonable when compared to those of Japan and Taiwan
that liberalized their local rice markets before South Korea.South Korea's 513
percent tariff is an ad valorem duty, which is tax based on the price of an
article.
Taiwan and Japan, on the other
hand, impose a specific tax, which fixes the amount of tax depending on the
weight of rice imports. "Japan and Taiwan liberalized their rice markets
with a specific tax, which at the time of their market opening translated into
an ad valorem tax of over 1,000 percent," Choi told reporters.The South
Korean trade ministry said Seoul needs to reach an agreement with each and
every one of the countries that have objected to the tariff rate before
obtaining an official WTO approval."The government will do its utmost to
make sure the country's rice import tariff rate is fixed as it is, through
negotiations with the countries that have filed a complaint," the ministry
said. (Yonhap)
U.S., China
oppose Korea's 513% rice tariff
By Lee Hyo-sik
The United
States, China and other rice-exporting countries are opposing Korea's move to
levy a 513 percent tariff on imported rice, saying the rate is too
high.According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Tuesday,
the U.S., China, Australia, Thailand and Vietnam have raised objections with
the World Trade Organization (WTO) to the
nation's tariff rate on rice imports.
"The five rice-exporting
countries filed a complaint with the WTO against our 513 percent tariff,"
said Kim Kyung-mee, director of the ministry's agriculture trade division.
"They claimed the way we calculated the rate was incorrect. But what they
really want to say is the 513 percent rate is too high."The higher the
tariff is, the pricier imported rice becomes on the local market.Last
September, Korea decided to open its rice market in 2015 by imposing a tariff
on imported rice.
For the past 20 years, Asia's
fourth-largest economy imported a certain amount of rice every year under the
minimum market access (MMA) program, in exchange for a waiver.In 2014, the
nation was obliged to import 408,700 tons of rice, about 10 percent of its
annual rice consumption of 4.1 million tons. To delay the opening of the rice
market, Korea would have to increase the MMA quota this year.The government
notified the WTO that it would set a 513 percent tariff on rice imports. If
there were no objections, the WTO would issue a certificate allowing Korea to
levy the tariff.
But Korea must now negotiate
with the five opposing rice exporters to get their consent."We will begin
negotiations with the five countries to persuade them to accept the 513 percent
rate," Kim said. "If they withdraw their objections, the WTO will
issue a
certificate.""It is not a must for us to have other countries agree
to the 513 percent rate. We can impose the tariff without their consent, but it
is customary to have an agreement with all WTO members."Negotiations may
take years ― the process took 57 months for Taiwan. But the director said the
tariff took effect on Jan. 1 and that the government had no intention of making
concessions.Korea's rate is much lower than Japan's 1,066 percent and Taiwan's
563 percent when they liberalized their rice markets.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2015/01/123_171178.html
Vietnam to
cut rice acreage by over 1 pct -Nhan Dan
By REUTERS
PUBLISHED: 01:10 GMT, 6 January 2015 | UPDATED:
01:10 GMT, 6 January 2015
Vietnam will
cut its rice acreage this year by more than 1 percent, or 104,000 hectares, to
7.68 million hectares (19 million acres) and use the land for other crops,
mainly corn, according to an Agriculture Ministry plan, the Nhan Dan (People)
newspaper reported.Paddy output this year is projected at 43.85 million tonnes,
the report said.Vietnam, the world's third-largest rice exporter, produced
nearly 45 million tonnes of paddy rice last year, up around 2 percent from
2013, according to government data.NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story
and does not vouch for its accuracy (Compiled
by Hanoi Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-2898171/VIETNAM-PRESS-Vietnam-cut-rice-acreage-1-pct--Nhan-Dan.html
Rice exports to China surge
Published on Tuesday, 06
January 2015 18:08
Myanmar rice exports to
China through the Muse border crossing have swelled due to increased demand
from China and fewer seizures by Chinese authorities, according to merchants
from Muse.
“Demand is up. Export is
surging,” a merchant said.On average, about 4,500 tonnes of rice and 1,500
tonnes of broken rice are exported daily through Muse Trade Camp. “Seizure of
Myanmar rice by Chinese authorities has decreased. Trade slumps when seizures
occur. More than 800,000 tonnes of rice and broken rice have been exported this
fiscal year,” said Chantha Oo, vice chairperson of the Muse Paddy Wholesale
Center.Myanmar urged China to buy at least one million tonnes of rice in 2015,
and three Chinese companies have each agreed to buy 280,000 tonnes, according
to the Myanmar Rice Federation.
In order to export rice to
China, Myanmar rice exporters need certificates issued by the China
Certification and Inspection Company (CCIC) after inspections. The CCIC plans
to open its Myanmar office in Yangon this month.During the 2014-15 fiscal year,
order to export rice to China, Myanmar rice exporters need certificates issued
by the China Certification and Inspection Company (CCIC) after inspections. The
CCIC plans to open its Myanmar office in Yangon this month.During the 2014-15
fiscal year, border trade between Myanmar and China has increased, with the
trade volume reaching a value of more than US$1 billion, according to the
Myanmar Commerce Ministry.
4th Agro Market to help rice
farmers is being held in Udon Thani
Date : 6 มกราคม 2558
UDON
THANI, 6 Jan 2015 (NNT) - Udon Thani Province is currently holding the 4th Agro
Market for 2014/2015 season from now until tomorrow, giving farmers an
additional distribution channel as part of the Government’s rice farmer
assistance policy. The 4th Agro Market is created through coordinated efforts
among Udon Thani’s governmental units under the Ministry of Commerce, the
Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Finance. During
the event, organizers have agreed to purchase paddy from farmers with official
certificates at 100 - 300 baht higher than the market price per ton. The
organizers said jasmine rice with moisture content of no more than 15% is
priced in the range of 13,000 - 14,400 baht per ton, while sticky rice with 10% moisture content and long grain rice with 15%
moisture can be sold at 11,700 baht.
Governor of Udon Thani,
Noppawat Singsakda, stated that agricultural operators must equip themselves
with knowledge, and know-how, while exploring new organic farming techniques,
in order to increase their production output. Udon Thani has plans to hold such
a market at five different spots during the 2014/2015 season. The final
remaining event will be held from January 12th - 14th at the Kudjab District’s
Cooperative Office.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNEVN5801060010003#sthash.zPkzWVvx.dpuf
Iran ban, Iraq duty hike to
take a toll on rice exporters
By Sutanuka Ghosal, ET
Bureau | 6 Jan, 2015, 12.35PM IST
According to an estimate by
exporters, basmati shipments are likely to come down to 35 lakh tonne from 37
lakh tonne in the previous year.
ET SPECIAL:
Save precious time tracking
your investments
KOLKATA:
India's rice exporters may end the current fiscal on a damp note as Iraqhas
doubled the import duty to 40%, whileIran has clamped an outright ban at a time
when price realisation has slipped 15-20% in overseas markets. A senior
official of All India Rice Exporters' Association (AIREA) told ET that traders
are currently shipping only rice consignments with permits of last year to
Iran. "We are hoping that Iran will lift the ban. We are planning to send
a delegation to Iran in early February to sort out the issue," said the
official, requesting not to be named. The official added that the sudden
increase in import duty by Iraq has come as a major blow and it is bound to
impact exports to the country. According to an estimate by exporters, basmati
shipments are likely to come down to 35 lakh tonne from 37 lakh tonne in the
previous year. Iran has barred rice from other countries as its local crop is
reported to be good this year and is set to arrive in the market there.The
country imported over 12.5 lakh tonne of rice during April-July 2014, compared
with 14.5 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. In the past two years, Iran has
bought over 2.5 million tonne of basmati rice from India.
The average
price realisation has declined to $800-1,100 per tonne from $1,0001,300 per
tonne last year. Exports of basmati rice in the first seven months of the
current fiscal
declined over 8% to 19.36 lakh
tonne from 21.13 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period. However, exports of
non-basmati rice between April and October 2014 stayed almost the same as in
the previous year, at about 4.2 lakh tonne. The lacklustre export demand of
basmati rice has pushed down prices in the domestic market as well, with farmers
getting Rs 3,200 per quintal for Pusa 1121 crop, compared with Rs 4,100 last
year.
Retail prices of basmati rice
may fall further in the domestic market if exports slump, said Bal Krishna
Mittal, managing director of Gurdaspur Overseas, which deals in basmati rice.
Output of basmati rice in the kharif, or summer, season in 2014 was robust at
about 81 lakh tonnes, up from 66 lakh tonnes in the previous year.
Mismanagement of Rice
Importation Quotas
06 Jan 2015
Agriculture, Akinwumi
Adesina The agricultural sector
is undoubtedly the segment of the economy where the performance of President
Goodluck Jonathan can hardly be faulted.Available records showed that the
Minister of Agriculture, Akinwumi Adesina has successfully made farming the
focal point of the current federal government with agricultural policies and
issues getting the attention of the president even more than issues in the oil
and gas sector.
Not even in the era of the
farmer-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, did farmers in the country enjoy as much
synergy with the administrators of the sector, resulting in an unprecedented
increase in the agricultural productivity of the country.A food commodity such
as rice tells an eloquent story of how well the present administration has
transformed the fortunes of farmers and the nation's agricultural sector in the
last four years.
Nigeria has currently attained
80 per cent self-sufficiency in paddy rice production, adding seven million
metric tonnes of paddy rice to the domestic food supply. These are not empty
statistics because the companies and investors latching on the massive growth
of the sector are known and the claims can be independently verified.For
example, the newly commissioned integrated rice mill of Olam Nigeria Limited
has brought the company’s total investment in the integrated farm and milling
facility to over N18 billion.
Managing Director of Olam,
Africa and Middle East, Mr. Venkataramani Srivathsan, who oversees a
6,000-hectare greenfield farm in Nasarawa State, said the rice mill would
produce additional 36,000 metric tonnes for the nation’s domestic
market.Srivathsan stated that the establishment of the rice mill was part of
the company’s contribution to the federal government’s quest for the actual
inaction of self-sufficiency in rice production.Dangote certainly is not an
investor who channels resources to segments of the economy where policies are
disorderly. The Africa’s richest man's commencement of the single largest
investment in rice production with an investment of $1 billion (N175 billion)
for commercial rice farming and modern integrated rice mills speaks volumes of
the performance of the agricultural sector under the present administration.
Spanners in the Works
However, having placed the rice
sector on the path to enduring growth, information filtering out indicate
danger ahead for the sector initially poised to save the country nearly $2
billion annually from the foundation so far laid by the current leadership.It
was recently reported that Nigeria may be losing not less than N40 billion
annually in the rice segment of the agricultural sector due to the activity of
smugglers and individuals pretending to be investing in the local production
and processing of rice.
THISDAY gathered that as a
result of the lapses in the implementation of the backward integration policy
for rice in the course of the year, smugglers have benefitted to the tune of
N20 billion.Also, phoney investors in rice processing have been said to have
pocketed N20 billion, posing as genuine investors and obtaining rice
importation quotas which attract reduced taxes and levies.
According to market sources,
the federal government has been hoodwinked into granting waivers
indiscriminately under the backward integration plan, thereby promoting the
activities of smugglers, while putting the rice backward integration policy
under threat.Under the backward integration policy, importation quotas which
attract lower importation levies and taxes are issued out to genuine local rice
processors or investors already putting verifiable investment into the local
processing of the commodity.
The policy empowers only these
genuine investors in local production and processing of rice, to imports the
difference between what the country can produces locally and the shortfall that
must be covered through importation.Stakeholders in the rice industry however
believe that the alleged indiscriminate approach of the federal government in
granting waivers and import allocation quotas to investors who have no
investments in the industry, either in form of paddy or milled rice may be
stifling the backward integration programme in the sector.
THISDAY also gathered that many
of the investors who got the import allocation quotas are already trading it to
interested stakeholders at between 60 to 80 per cent levy, having got the same
at 20 per cent levy.Specifically, documents obtained by THISDAY showed that
investors who have only submitted expression of interests in the sector without
tangible investments in the sector, may be enjoying waivers amounting to at
least N20 billion under the exercise.
For instance, allocation of
rice import quotas under the new rice policy by the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development showed that a move to bridge the supply gap
of import-grade rice of 1.5 million metric tonnes as determined by the federal
government was designed to ensure that existing rice millers and new investors
receive a preferential levy of 20 per cent and duty of 10 per cent while other
importers pay higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent.n a letter from
Adesina to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance,
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the allocation of rice import quotas, Adesina noted
that the criteria for the allocation under a methodology, which assigns weight
to key criteria of self-sufficiency in rice production and milling in Nigeria
include the submission and approval of a Domestic Rice Production Plan (DRPP)
among others.
According to Adesina, a supply
gap of import-grade rice was determined to be 1.5 million metric tonnes for
2014 while an inter-ministerial committee discussed the methodology for
allocation of the import quotas.Subsequently, a letter was sent to existing
rice millers and new investors, to submit a DRPP, and based on their
submissions; a total of 1.3 million metric tonnes of rice import quotas was
issued to 25 qualifying millers at the preferential levy of 20 percent and duty
of 10 per cent. The remainder 0.2 million metric tonnes of rice imports will be
at the higher levy of 60 per cent and duty of 10 per cent for other rice
importers”, the letter read in part.
However,
documents obtained revealed that the supply gap estimate is unrealistic when
compared to a total of 2.74 million metric tonnes of imported rice that made
its way into the country in 2014 (representing a combination of rice imported
into the country and the smuggled commodity from
neighbouring West African
countries).Similarly, the documents further showed that new investors without
milling capacity or investments in the country received the highest quota of
the allocations to approved rice millers, while millers did not receive
allocations and in some instances, received very low allocation.
The list of beneficiaries of
the preferential import quotas, quantities of rice imports approved and
corresponding performance bond to be submitted shows that of the 28
beneficiaries, only 16 have mills, while the remaining 12 have no mills and
account for higher imports than millers.With at least $183.6 million enjoyed in
bonds, stakeholders have begun to question the sincerity of government under
the backward integration plan, considering the fact that investors who have
only expressed interests allegedly enjoy higher imports than those who have
remained committed to the plan.
More than Just N40 billion
If all the loss to the Nigerian
economy on account of this administrative loophole is the N40 billion that
would go into fraudulent pockets annually, it would be a serious problem but
not as serious as the threat to the goal of rice self-sufficiency, which even
pessimists and the biggest critics of the federal government believe may be
achieved latest by 2017.If these saboteurs can be kept at bay, the Nigerian
rice industry, which currently has local annual revenue flow of over $2 billion
can be fully domesticated with all the attendant economic benefits to the
country. After the full domestication, Nigeria may now be able to generate a
marketable surplus which would be channeled towards export. At that level the
revenue potential are almost boundless.
With crude oil prices tumbling
and the Naira struggling against other global currencies, non-oil revenue flow
into the country appears to be the only way out for the threatened Nigerian
economy. What the country needs to do to get out of the present predicament is
simple; import less. Even if exports potentials of the country cannot be
significantly increased, if Nigeria can arrive at the point where it no longer
needs to depend on other countries for essential commodities like rice,
petroleum products, sugar, vegetable oil, fertiliser, among others, it would
have made enough effort not only end the current threats but also to put the
nation in a position to make good progress.
Tags: Business, Nigeria,
Featured, RICE
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/mismanagement-of-rice-importation-quotas/198479/
Chinese government backs
further studies of genetically modified crops
Permits renewed for research
on several rice and corn strains, a move hailed by some scientists as a big
step towards commercialisation PUBLISHED
: Tuesday, 06 January, 2015, 3:35pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 07
January, 2015, 4:41am
Stephen
Chenbinglin.chen@scmp.com
The central government has
renewed permits allowing scientists to grow three varieties of genetically
modified rice and corn on the mainland, more than three months after they
expired, suggesting the technology has the continued backing of the
authorities.Some scientists had feared that the Ministry of Agriculture might
stop research on the projects. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some members of
the public are wary about the safety of GM crops, amid a succession of food
safety scandals on the mainland.
GM rice cannot be sold as food
- the government says it has to be sure that new strains are safe - but the
country already imports huge amounts of genetically modified soya beans, mainly
from the United States.The permits issued by the ministry allow two scientific
research groups to produce two types of pest-resistant rice and a type of
high-yield corn for five years, according to a report by Communist Party
mouthpiece People's Daily.The rice plants were developed by a team at
Huazhong Agricultural University in Hubei province and the corn by the Chinese
Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Biotechnology Research Institute in
Beijing.They were originally granted bio-safety permits in 2009, which all
expired on August 17 last year.
The fresh permits allow the
scientists to grow the crops in open fields and gather data about potentially
distributing the strains to farmers in the future.To renew their permits, the
research groups submitted new data on the crops' environmental safety and the
results of tests on animals to prove the strains were not dangerous to eat,
according to the People's Daily report.One of the strains of genetically
modified rice under development carries a bacteria gene that can kill numerous
pests, which could help significantly cut the use of pesticides on farms.The GM
corn variety can absorb phosphorus in the soil more efficiently, allowing it to
grow faster than conventional strains of the crop.
Scientists welcomed the
decision on the permits."This is a decisive event on the road to
commercialise GM technology in China," Agrogene.cn said in a front-page
report.The website was set up by scientists from top research institutes,
including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to promote the technology behind
genetically modified food.Environmental pressure group Greenpeace said the
permits' renewal did not mean the GM crops would be sold to the public anytime
soon.Any leak of the products onto the market would be illegal, it said.
The ministry's decision came
four months after the government released details of a speech President Xi
Jinping made in support of developing GM technology.
In the speech, the president
said he was deeply concerned about ensuring the country's food supply.Xi said
that one of the most unforgettable experiences of his life was the suffering
caused by the lack of food during periods of the Cultural Revolution,
an
era of political upheaval in the 1960s and 1970s.
This article appeared in the
South China Morning Post print edition as Go-ahead for more GM crop studies
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1674969/chinese-government-backs-further-studies-genetically-modified-crops
Local rice producers raise
alarm over import licence racketeering
By Our Reporter on January 6,
2015 Business, COVER
Worried by the activities of
rice importers, stakeholders in local production of rice have cried out to the
Federal Government, asking for the cancellation of import licences approved for
rice import.According to them, if rice importation is not curtailed, investment
made by local producers of the food staple, bolstered by the policies of the
Goodluck Jonathan administration in the last four years, would “go down the
drain.”In a protest letter written to the Federal Government, through the
Ministers of Finance, and Trade and Investments, the stakeholders drew
attention to the recent “indiscriminate and wrongful” award of import licenses
as well as concessions to some businessmen with “absolutely no investments in
the rice sector,” whom they say are now “making huge profit selling those
licenses to importers in the market.”
Sources with huge investments
in the sector warned government that with the current developments, in which
new comers without prior experience are favoured over and above operators with
huge investment in line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), had
been thrown off balance and threatened in their investments.According to the
petitioners, “the way it is going, another few years will be wasted and the
nation drawn back. With oil prices falling, the ATA provides the best
opportunity for the country to generate alternative revenue by reducing import
and in the near future, join the export market. With this sort of policy, this
thing is not going to work. The rice import allocations will derail the
self-sufficiency efforts of government,” they warned.
Giving further details, they
said they are facing “imminent crisis of viability and closure” following
Federal Government’s allocation of import quotas.They warned that government’s
ATA may suffer severe reversals as import licence allocations “provide a free
ride for smugglers, thereby derailing the objectives on rice self-sufficiency.
The country also stands to lose in excess of N40 billion through smuggling and
loss of Customs revenues,” they added.The Federal Ministry of Finance
stipulated revised lower tariffs for rice imports vide Ministry of Finance
Circular BD/FP/TT/50/I/99 dated July 8, 2014 (entitled 2014-2017 Fiscal Policy
Measures on Rice).
According to this circular,
bonafide “investors with rice milling capacities and verifiable backward
integration programme” are entitled to import rice at the revised
tariffs
of 10 per cent duty rate and 20 per cent levy.The circular also said genuine
rice traders, with no existing capacities/programme, would pay a duty of 10 per
cent and a levy of 60 per cent.Sources said the allocations released by the
Ministry of Agriculture include several beneficiaries who do not meet the
stipulated criteria issued by the Ministry of Finance in July 2014.
A study of the list of
beneficiaries of the preferential import quotas, reveals that of the 28 companies,
only 16 have mills, while the remaining 12 have no milling capacities but
account for higher imports than the qualified millers.Daily Sun also gathered
that many of the companies without any proven capacities have already started
selling off the quotas to importers, leading to huge loss of Customs revenue
and defeating the purpose of the allocations.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=99066
Agriculture remains our
greatest hope
Posted by Online on Jan 7th,
2015
When the International Rice
Research Institute (IRRI) was set up in Los Banos, Laguna, in 1960, with the
support of the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Philippine
government, it proceeded to undertake research that led to the development of
new and improved rice varieties and of rice crop management techniques and
practices.Many of our neighbors in Southeast Asia have benefitted from this
research.
Thailand and Vietnam today
produce rice surpluses which they export to the world. It is a bit of irony
that the Philippines, where the IRRI did all its research on a 250-hectare
experimental farm at Los Banos, is today the biggest importer of Thai and
Vietnamese rice.Filipino scientists and researchers are known the world over.
The latest to be recognized was Dr. William Dollente Dar, who was honored last
month for his work at the International Crop Research Institute for the
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India where he served for 15 years. He was cited
for redirecting the institute’s emphasis from research for the sake of researching,
to research that would actually benefit farmers.
He saw to it that the
institute’s studies on drought-resistant crops – peas, sorghum, millet, etc. –
reached small farmers.Dr. Dar introduced four pillars of agriculture that he
developed at ICRISAT – namely, including farmers as part of the process of
development, science-based agriculture, resilient agriculture that responds to
climate change, and a market orientation focused on making farming a profitable
business. Dar served as Secretary of Agriculture in President Joseph Estrada’s
short-lived administration in 1998 before moving on to ICRISAT in
1999.Agricultural research continues today in the Philippines and around the
world. Among its latest achievements is the development of flood-resistant rice
varieties.
This could be the answer to the
repeated losses of our rice farmers in Northern Luzon who periodically lose
their harvests when a typhoon brings rains that flood their
fields.Agriculture
remains the greatest hope of our country’s economy and people. We may develop
our industries and our services sector; we may provide jobs to our young people
in tourism and in business outsourcing. But the Philippines is a primarily
agricultural country and the great majority of our people live in the rural areas.We
have the land and the rivers and rains to make it fertile. And we have the
scientists and researchers and capable administrators, such as Dr. Dar. With
these resources, we should focus on agriculture as the center of our
anti-poverty, our job-creation, and our over-all national economic development
program.
http://www.tempo.com.ph/2015/01/agriculture-remains-our-greatest-hope/
U.S. Objects to Korea's New
Rice Import Scheme
That's a big tariff bill!
WASHINGTON, DC -- The United
States joined four other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) late
last month in objecting to Korea's new rice tariffication scheme. The action
did not prevent Korea from imposing the new tariff-based rice import system on
January 1, but the new system has not been approved by the WTO, and Korea will
very likely enter into negotiations with the five countries in order to lift
the objections.
The USA Rice Federation
supports this action by the U.S. because Korea's new import regime is a
significant step backwards on market access for U.S. rice.Representatives from
Australia, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, all rice exporters to Korea, joined
the U.S. in "reserving," in WTO-speak, their country's position with
respect to Korea's new tariff schedule for rice imports.
Korea's new scheme is designed
to replace the previous system that was based on rigid import controls by the
Korean government and expired on December 31, 2014.Korea chose not to seek an
extension of "special treatment" for rice imports within WTO rules, and
instead opted to move to a tariff-based system. Korea has now imposed a rice
import duty of 513 percent on any rice imported in excess of a quota of 408,700
metric tons annually. The Korean government will remain the sole importer of
rice for this "in-quota" amount, and private entities may import
above this amount, but would face the hefty over-quota duty.
Korea's new system abolished
existing country-specific import quotas, including a 50,076-mt quota for the
United States. Korea was also required to allocate 30 percent of rice imports
each year to the "table" or retail market. This was a critical
requirement that has enabled U.S. rice to establish demand among Korea's
quality-conscious consumers and allowed effective promotion of U.S. rice. The
over quota duty of
513 percent is prohibitive to trade and will effectively cap
Korea's rice imports. Each of these developments is detrimental to U.S.
access.Korea imported just under 159,000 mt of U.S. rice in 2013. Exports
lagged considerably last year however, with shipments down 86 percent through
October.
"Bilateral
discussions between the United States and Korea did not sufficiently address
U.S. market access concerns, leading to the U.S. objection in Geneva,"
said USA Rice President and CEO Betsy Ward. "Korea's new import regime is
in place, but will not be officially adopted by the WTO until member country
reservations are lifted. The negotiating calendar is unclear now, but USA Rice
will continue close coordination with the administration to ensure market
access is preserved."
Contact: Bob
Cummings (703) 236-1473
Opening of
114th Congress Presents New Opportunities, Challenges
John Owen
WASHINGTON, DC
-- Eighty-four new members of Congress, 56 Republicans and 18 Democrats, were
sworn in today at the official opening of the 114th Congress. Along with new
members, there also will be new faces in key committee chairmanships important
to the rice industry. Mike Conaway (R-TX) will become Chairman of the House
Agriculture Committee. In the Senate, Pat Roberts (R-KS) will take the reins of
the Agriculture Committee, while Thad Cochran (R-MS) will chair the
Appropriations Committee.
Washington
welcomed the legislative newcomers with the first snow storm of the year that
paralyzed the region this morning, however, unaffected was John Owen, a rice
farmer from Rayne, LA and chairman of the USA Rice Producers' Group, who
attended several Capitol Hill ceremonies, including a reception for and the
swearing in of Representative Conaway. Owen also attended the swearing in of
Ralph Abraham (R-LA) who will be representing Louisiana's 5th district.
"It was a
special honor to be at the swearing in of my friend, Ralph Abraham," said
Owen. "Representative Abraham is just one of the many new faces in the
114th Congress, and seeing them all together today drives home that we have our
work cut out for us as we get to know them all, and educate the Members and
their staff about the rice industry. Next month's Government Affairs Conference
will be the perfect educational opportunity, for us, but also for Congress, and
I'm looking forward to it."
Contact: Ben
Mosely (703) 236-1471
China
renews safety certificates for local GMO rice
Mon Jan 5,
2015 10:52am GMT
BEIJING Jan 5
(Reuters) - China, the world's top rice producer and consumer, has renewed
biosafety certificates for its own genetically-modified (GMO) rice, but
large-scale production may be years away.The agriculture ministry has extended
approval of two varieties of pest-resistant rice for another 5 years after the
certificates, which were first granted in 2009, expired last year, according to
an official website (www.agrogene.cn).Beijing has been reluctant to allow
commercialisation of
GMO rice because of public concerns over health risks,
although the government still encourages research in the sector.
Agriculture
minister Han Changfu said in March last year that commercialisation of staple
foods would proceed with caution and in the first stage only GMO cotton and
then feed grain would be planted.China, the world's top buyer of GMO soybean,
is amending its food-safety law to enforce labelling of GMO food amid rising
public concern over food safety.Beijing last month granted approval for imports
of a type of genetically-modified corn developed by Syngenta AG developed GMO
corn as well as two strains of GMO soybean. (Reporting by Niu Shuping and David
Stanway; Editing by Tom Hogue)
The chef and
the Saudi prince
PAULETTE
BALLARD Guest Columnist
Alfred McKay
was a chef for 35 years. Being a diabetic, he wanted to learn how to prepare
better meals for himself and others. He chose to go to the Culinary Institute
of America in Hyde Park, New York for his degree.McKay’s first job was as the
chef for the grand opening of the Columbus Hilton in Columbus, Georgia. During
this time, a prince of Saudi Arabia had suffered an injury to his leg and was
sent to Columbus to have corrective surgery. During his recovery period, for
security reasons, the prince and his staff took over an entire floor of the
hotel where McKay was a chef.
The prince
lived in the hotel for five months throughout his surgery and rehabilitation,
and then visited other areas he wanted to see in and around Columbus.As the
prince continued to recover from his surgery, he expressed a desire to go
hunting. McKay told me the prince and his companions brought back a large
amount of quail from their hunting expedition. McKay was asked to prepare a
meal for the prince using the quail and was told that he was to be the only one
allowed to touch, clean and prepare the food for the prince and his
entourage.The meal McKay prepared was stuffed quail with basmati rice and fried
grapes. Following the meal, the prince said he had never had this dish before,
but that he quite enjoyed it.
Before the
prince left Columbus for his trip home, he gave away an abundance of gifts to
the people who had helped him enjoy his visit. He gave a spectacular rifle with
gold inlays to the man who took him hunting, and when McKay prepared his meals,
he always tipped between $300 and $400.I asked McKay if he had met many famous
people during his years as a chef. He told me while the movie “The Tank” was
being filmed in Columbus he prepared meals for James Garner, the star of the
movie.
He said that
following the rescue of an American general, who had been kidnapped somewhere
in the Middle East, McKay was asked to prepare meals during the general’s
debriefing. He also remembers meeting Chi Chi Rodriguez and the other golfers
on their tour.Over his 35 years as a chef, McKay
says he worked in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and St. Thomas. He said he had a very
interesting career and always enjoyed being a chef.
Paulette
Ballard collects interesting, funny and unusual stories from people in and
around Lincolnton. If you have a story you would like to submit for her column,
e-mail it to pballardnc1029@gmail.com. In the subject line type “For your
column.” Include your name and phone number for her to contact you.
Lincoln Times
News
Madhya
Pradesh battles to get its share in basmati pie
A Subramani, TNN | Jan
5, 2015, 08.54PM IST
The legal
battle to recognize Madhya Pradesh as a basmati rice cultivating area and
enable the state to be a stakeholder in the geographical indication tag
continues.
CHENNAI: The
legal battle to recognize Madhya Pradesh as a basmati rice cultivating area and
enable the state to be a stakeholder in the geographical indication tag
continues, as a Bhopal-based NGO approached the Intellectual Property Appellate
Board (IPAB) here to be included as a party in the ongoing tussle. Geographical
indication (GI) is a name or sign used for products unique to a special
geographical location including a town or a region. A GI tag helps the product,
which is special and inimitable to a particular territory, exploit its
uniqueness for commercial purposes with responsibility to maintain its
exclusive characteristics.
The GI tag was
conferred on basmati rice on an application filed in 2009 by the Agriculture
and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, reserving it for
certain grain varieties grown in the Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana,
Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Finding the name of the state missing, the Madhya Pradesh government then filed
an objection petition before the GI Registry.
On December
31, 2013, the registry asked the applying agency to submit a fresh application
clearly indicating the geographical area of production. "The area has to
be defined with clarity and without ambiguity," it said, adding that the
Authority's application remained imperfect. "Not a micron point space,
actual cultivation area should be left uncovered," the registry ruled,
according to IPR attorney P Sanjay Gandhi.
Assailing the
registry's order, the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export
Development Authority moved the IPAB for restoration of GI tag for the area
submitted by it. Now, the Bhopal-based
New Darpan Social Welfare Society has filed an implead
application, seeking to be included as a party to the proceedings. Its counsel
Sanjay Gandhi told TOI that as of 2009, Madhya Pradesh cultivated more than
45.12 lakh quintals of basmati rice, of which approximately 45 lakh quintal was
being exported.
The implead
application of New Darpan Social Welfare Society said the state had been
growing basmati for several decades both by traditional and new techniques such
as Madagascar technique which helped increase the area and quantum of basmati
cultivation in Madhya Pradesh. Noting that non-inclusion of Madhya Pradesh
under the basmati rice cultivating area would have caused a great harm to the
livelihood of many farmers in that state, the application said the order of the
GI Registry withdrawing the earlier GI tag given to other states, excluding
Madhya Pradesh, had come has a huge relief to the entire farmer community in
that state. On Monday, an IPAB bench comprising its chairperson Justice K N
Basha and technical member Sanjeev Kumar Chaswaal issued notices to various
authorities and asked them to file their responses by February 25.
The Times of
India
Sweet
Treats: Mochi Making at Family-Owned Koda Farms
This entry was
posted by Paul Weston on January 5, 2015 at 8:19 pm
Many of the Asian-American
police officers at Liu's funeral said being a cop is not just about
enforcing the law, but about making a difference in the communities where they
serve. Detective Ron Bongat, a Philippine immigrant and 15-year veteran of the …
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Thailand Exports 9.49 Million Tons of Rice in
First Eleven Months of 2014; Up 60% from Last Year