World Rice Production 2014/2015
January 2015
This month the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that the World Rice Production 2014/2015 will be 475.47 million metric tons, around 0.23 million tons
more than the previous month's projection.
Rice Production last year (*) was
476.96 million tons. This year's 475.47 estimated million tons could represent
a decrease of 1.49 million tons or a 0.31% in rice production around the globe.
Rice
Production by Country
(Values in Metric Tons)
China: 144,500,000
India: 102,000,000
Others: 38,459,000
Indonesia: 36,500,000
Bangladesh: 34,600,000
Vietnam: 28,250,000
Thailand: 20,500,000
Philippines: 12,200,000
Burma: 12,150,000
Brazil: 8,300,000
Japan: 7,700,000
United States: 7,068,000
Pakistan: 6,500,000
Cambodia: 4,900,000
Egypt: 4,500,000
Korea, South: 4,240,000
Nepal: 3,100,000
Next Update will be February 10, 2015.
Scientists to help Ganges rice farmers handle climate threat
Last updated on 12 January 2015, 5:07 pm
An international team of researchers will boost food security
for 300 million people in Nepal, India and Bangladesh
Rice harvests in Nepal are at risk from increasingly volatile
rainfall with climate change (Pic: UN Photo/John Isaac)
Research scientists are coming to the aid of 300 million people
along the River Ganges who face a hungry future because their staple rice crop
is threatened by climate change.
The team of scientists and development practitioners from
Australia, Bangladesh, India and Nepal plan to improve the productivity,
profitability and sustainability of 7,000 small-scale farmers in the eastern
Gangetic plains with a five-year US$ 6.7 million programme.According to Nepal’s
Ministry for Agriculture Development, 66 per cent of Nepal’s total population
of almost 27 million is involved in agriculture and contributes 39 per cent in
the GDP.Local scientists say that lack of access to climate-resilient
technologies and dependency on monsoon rains for irrigation are major problems
for farmers in Nepal.
Food security
“Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to projected
climate change effect, so the project will help small-scale farmers address
pressing issues about their livelihood and food security,” Devendra Gauchan,
senior scientist at Nepal Agricultural Research Council, told the Climate News
Network.Altogether, the eastern Gangetic plains of Nepal, Bangladesh and India
are home to 300 million people. The aid team, funded by the Australian
government, aim to help rice farmers systems through efficient use of water and
conserving resources to improve adaptation to climate change, and also connect
them to new markets.
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
(ACIAR) will manage the programme, which will be led by the International Wheat
and Maize Improvement Centre in eight districts − two in north-west Bangladesh,
two in east Nepal, and two each in the Indian states of Bihar and West Bengal.
“Rice-based system productivity [in the eastern Gangetic plains]
remains low, and diversification is limited because of poorly-developed
markets, sparse agricultural knowledge and service networks, and inadequate
development of available water resources,” says Kuhu Chatterjee, South Asia
regional manager of ACIAR.The project was designed in consultation and participation
with NARC, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, and agricultural universities in India.
New technologies
Local scientists feel that this project will also help build
capacity of researchers in Nepal. Gauchan said: “Agricultural research in Nepal
has very limited strength in terms of human resource, infrastructure facility
and institutional capacity.“Through this project we will get to learn about new
technologies and research management from scientists from participating
countries.”
According to Chatterjee, the project will test and fine-tune the
technologies developed in countries such as Australia, Canada and Brazil, and
will modify them to suit farmers in the eastern Gangetic plains.“Community consultations
will be conducted to identify different ways to optimise the productive use of
rain and irrigation water, increase cropping intensity through timely planting,
reduced tillage and enhancing access to, and use of, energy-efficient
irrigation technologies,” Chatterjee said.
This article was produced by the Climate News Network
Good news for
farmers, drought-resistant rice varieties developed in Odisha
Scientists at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in
Cuttack have developed four new varieties of drought-resistant paddy and
another variety that can be grown in less water conditions.Named as Ankit,
Sachala, Gopinath, Maudamani, these new varieties of paddy can meet the drought
condition while Chakaakhi, the other variety, can grow in less water and
survive flood conditions up to a week. The CRRI scientists claim that it can
also withstand high winds.
Sharat Kumar Pradhan, chief scientist at CCRI, informed that
Ankit (CR Paddy-101) can be cultivated in high lands with less water
requirement and can be harvested in three and half months.
About 68 kgs of rice can be obtained by milling a quintal of
paddy of this variety, according to Pradhan.
Sachala (CR Paddy-203) and Gopinath are also immune to certain
diseases and can be harvested in 110 days and can be cultivated and harvested
like the Ankit variety, he informed. “Maudamani (CR-307) is a small, fatty
and pest-resistant variety of paddy, can be cultivated in the irrigated lands.
About 50 quintals per hectare of this variety can be harvested in normal
conditions,” Pradhan said.Chakaakhi (CR-408), the fatty and longer variety, can
withstand flood conditions and pest attack and grow up to 130 to 140
centimetres. The harvest period of this paddy is 160-165 days, said Pradhan.
Pradhan, however, pointed out that the farmers of the state may
have to wait for another two years to get adequate amount of these new
varieties of paddy.
Monday, 12 January 2015 16:37
Written by Itunu Ajayi, Abuja
STAKEHOLDERS in the nation’s rice production sub-sector have
canvassed sustenance of policy consistence regime, to ensure sufficiency of the
commodity for local consumption and export. While commending the
efforts of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in his intervention in the
industry, the group said in Abuja at the weekend that Nigeria will experience a
total turnaround in the sub-sector, if the Federal Government can continue to build
on the existing policies and programmes that would encourage investors in the
rice value chain.
The group, which is a coalition of Rice Millers’ and Importers
Association of Nigeria, Rice Processors Association of Nigeria, the large scale
farmers group and other stakeholders, said the relevant ministries involved in
the policy review in the sector under the present administration have done a
good job in ensuring that stakeholders and Nigerians have a better deal in the
industry, noting that the present reality in the sub-sector is that
interventions by the Federal Government had gone to the grassroots, where those
who need such interventions can easily access same without necessarily having
to know anybody in the corridors of power nor do farmers have to come to the
federal capital to lobby for anything.
They also added that
the old cabal which usually hijack releases from the centre has been disbanded,
as interventions are now at the reach of investors without having to go through
middle men. The chairman of Rice Millers’ and Importers
Association of Nigeria, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Elephant
Group, Tunji Owoeye explained that the policies that were reeled out on rice at
the commencement of the present administration were all geared towards self-
sufficiency. He said the tariff that was heightened to 110 per cent in
order to discourage rice importation was however taken advantage of by
smugglers who hijacked the whole process as time went on, adding that the last
two years up to June 2014 has witnessed what can be described as smugglers
rubbishing the good intention of the Federal Government.
“At that point, as rice
investors, we were having problems with the implementation of the policy of
government which moved levy from 50 per cent to 100 per cent and of course,
still retained duty of 10 per cent, making 110 per cent. It was extremely
difficult for those of us who are operators in Nigeria to compete with rice
being smuggled into Nigeria through Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Benin
Republic,”he said.
In order to beat smugglers to their game, Owoeye pointed out that
the government was advised last year to review the 110 per cent tariff to
30 per cent for investors and 70 per cent for traders respectively, which he
said, has yielded a positive change to both local and international investors
in the value chain. He said some states in the North West and the
Middle Belt have been involved in massive cultivation of rice in the recent
time, a situation Owoeye said gives enough optimism that the sector would be
able to produce enough rice to feed Nigerian and also produce for export as the
years roll by.
He added that it is important for Nigeria to continue to
grow rice so that the integrated mills in the country will have enough material
to process for the populace. The Chairman of Rice Processors Association
of Nigeria, Mohammed Abubakar explained that the current situation in the
sub-sector suggests that there is enough paddy rice for processing. He
said that five years back, there was only one rice processing mill in Nigeria,
which was located in Benue State, but with the intervention of the Federal
Government and the creation of enabling environment for investment to strive in
the sector, the country now has 24 rice mills scattered around the
country.
He added that the sector has also witnessed improved
paddy quality due to the improved rice seedlings made available by the
government to farmers, noting that in the past, the paddy produced in Nigeria
could not compete with others around the world. His words: “The paddy
produced by our farmers processed by our millers can compete with any in the
world be it Thailand, India. All these have not happened just like that,
it was by the help of this government. The issue of investment in the
sector and production of rice in the country was thought to be impossible until
the interventions of the government as a lot of our farmers are now encouraged
to go back to the farm”.
El Nino likely to head to an end over spring: Japan weather bureau
January 9, 2015 12:20 AM
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's weather bureau said on Friday the El
Nino weather pattern, often linked to both heavy rainfall and drought, is
continuing but added that the phenomena could end over spring.The Japan
Meteorological Agency forecast said the El Nino, which emerged during last
summer for the first time in five years, was already starting to ease.The El
Nino weather pattern - a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific -
can trigger drought in Southeast Asia and Australia, and floods in South
America, hitting production of key foods such as rice, wheat and sugar.
(Reporting by Osamu Tsukimori; Editing by Tom Hogue)
Vietnam plans to open rice bonded
warehouses in Africa: Thanh Nien
Mon
Jan 12, 2015 6:50am GMT
Vietnam
plans to open bonded warehouses in Angola, Cameroon and Mozambique as part of
measures to boost rice exports to African countries to meet an expected higher
demand in 2015, according to the Industry and Trade Ministry, the Thanh Nien
(Young People) newspaper reported.Vietnam's share in the African rice market
dropped last year as main competitors Thailand, India and Pakistan cut their
export prices significantly, the report said.
----
NOTE: Reuters has not verified this story and does not vouch for its
accuracy.
Vietnam cuts rice
export floor price to $360 per tonne - Food Association
HANOI Fri Jan 9, 2015 2:20pm IST
Jan 9 (Reuters) - Vietnam has lowered its floor
price for exports of 25 percent broken rice by 5.3 percent to $360 a tonne amid
thin demand for the commodity in the world's second-largest exporter.The floor,
set by the Vietnam Food Association, will come into effect on Jan. 12,
according to a statement from the association to traders seen by Reuters on
Friday.The previous floor for the grade was set at $380 a tonne in late
November.
The agriculture ministry said last month that
Vietnam's rice exports in 2014 were expected to have dipped slightly to an
estimated 6.53 million tonnes, putting the Southeast Asian country far behind
top exporters Thailand and India. (Reporting by Ho Binh Minh and Mai Nguyen;
Editing by Alan Raybould)
Basmati rice rates
drop by nearly 40%
TNN | Jan 11, 2015, 12.28AM IST
Pune: Premium rice variety Basmati seems to have
become affordable for the common man. The rates dropped nearly 40% over the
last season as retail prices hovered around Rs 80-90 per kg.
The fall in prices could be attributed to higher production and a ban on import
of rice by the Iran government, traders said on Saturday. Angshu Mallick, chief operating
officer of Adani Wilmar Ltd, which entered the rice business this year, told
mediapersons that the new crop is now available for yearly stocking at a very attractive
price.
India exports 38 lakh tonne of Basmati rice every year with Iran
buying about 40% of it. The home market for Basmati is 12 lakh tonne, with
Maharashtra ranking highest in consumption. Though the selling price has come
down, growers will not face losses as high volume will make up for the set back
caused by lower purchase price, Mallick said. Rajesh
Shah of Jairaj & Company said that Basmati is now available for a price
ranging from Rs 23 per kg to Rs 80 per kg for the full-long grain variety.
"There are two varieties which people commonly purchase for annual
stocking: the Pusa 1121 and the traditional one with the latter accounting for
most of the sales," Shah said, adding that last year's stock of Basmati is
available for a price of about Rs 110 per kg.
Besides the two main varieties of Basmati — Pusa 1121 and the traditional
variety — Pusa 1509, a new variety, is making inroads into the markets.
Scientists who developed the variety are confident of the new rice's success
because of its high yield. The
Basmati market in India is worth Rs 50,000 crore (2013-14) with exports
accounting for nearly 75% of the consumption. Saudi Arabia and Iraq are among
the importers. Punjab and Haryana are the major Basmati-growing states. The
variety is also grown in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal and parts of
Rajasthan.
Six Farm Bill webinars scheduled during January
Fast facts
·
o Farm Bill webinars scheduled
o 20-30 minute sessions will have Q&A periods
o Attendees must register online before each event
o Series will extend through March
(318 words)
LITTLE ROCK – The first in a series of Farm Bill webinars that will extend
through March, each covering a different facet of law and its effects on
farming in Arkansas, have been scheduled through the month of January.
The webinars will be hosted by experts from the University of
Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the Farm Service Agency and will
run 20-30 minutes each and be followed by a Q&A. The webinars will help
participants learn about Farm Service Agency, or FSA, Farm Bill programs and
decisions specific to row crop production in Arkansas including:
·
o Base Acre ReallocationYield updates
o Agricultural Risk Coverage, or ARC
o Price Loss Coverage, PLC
o Supplemental Coverage Option, SCO
o Web-Based decision aids
The team of panelists includes:
Tony Franco, chief, Farm Programs Division, FSA; Anita Wilson, agricultural
program specialist, FSA; and Robert Coats, professor and extension economist
for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Brad Watkins,
professor and economist for the Division of Agriculture will be fielding
questions in the Jan. 20 webinar about the web-based Farm Bill decision aid.
Learning more about ARC and PLC and other farm bill features is
extremely important for row crop producers who must make a one-time decision
about base and yield updates by Feb. 27, 2015, as well as ARC or PLC election
by March 31, 2015, Coats said.
Those wishing to participate must register for each
webinar. Upon registration, they will receive an email confirmation with
the link to join the webinar and the system requirements for Zoom, the webinar
software.
The webinar schedule:
Schedules for February and March webinars are yet to be
announced.
For more information about the Farm Bill series contact your
county extension office or visit www.uaex.edu/farmbill.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal
opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a
reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format,
please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs
to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity,
sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or
veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status,
and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
# # #
By The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
Related Links
USA
Rice Welcomes New Government Affairs/PAC Manager
Julie Vieburg
ARLINGTON, VA -- Our New Year's resolution was to reinforce the
Government Affairs staff and the USA Rice Federation is pleased to
fulfill that goal with the hiring of Julie Vieburg as the new Manager of
Government Affairs/PAC.Julie comes to USA Rice from Advanced Network Strategies
where she was most recently the Deputy Finance Director, managing fundraising
opportunities for 12 House Members and five Leadership PACs. She will have plenty of opportunity to take
advantage of her prior job experience maintaining relationships with a broad
network of donors, lobbyists, PAC managers, Congressional staff, and government
affairs professionals as she becomes an integral member of the team organizing
next month's Government Affairs Conference.
A native of Golden Valley, Minnesota, Julie grew up in Scottsdale,
Arizona and has a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A in Political Science from the
University of San Diego.
Contact: Deborah Willenborg (703)
236-1444
USA Rice Promos Hit During Peak Sales Season in Ghana
U.S. rice out in the open
ACCRA & KUMASI, GHANA --
USA Rice Federation conducted promotions in twenty major open air markets here
during the holiday season, which is the peak sales period for rice in
Ghana. Open air markets are where the
majority of Ghanaians go to purchase rice, and USA Rice focused promotional
activities in the country's two largest cities, Accra, the national capital,
and Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti Region.
Promotional stands were set
up in each market where staff conducted cooking demonstrations, distributed dry
rice samples, and talked about the positive attributes of U.S. rice brands,
urging consumers to test and buy U.S. rice.
All the rice used in the promotions was donated by participating brands.
"U.S. rice is facing
intense price competition from Thai and Vietnamese sources that is having a
negative impact on U.S. market share," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice vice
president of international promotion.
"Although consumers attest to the high quality of U.S. rice, they
are also extremely cost conscious so we are encouraged that these recent
promotions attracted large crowds and resulted in big sales for the
participating U.S. rice brands."
Contact: Eszter Somogyi,
011-49-40-4503-8667
WASDE Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. 2014/15 rice crop is estimated at 221
million cwt, down fractionally from the previous estimate. Average yield is estimated at 7,572 pounds
per acre, down 25 pounds peracre.
Harvested area is estimated at 2.919 million acres, up 9,000 acres from
the previous estimate with most of the increase in Arkansas. Long-grain rice production is estimated at
162.4 million cwt, up 2.1 million from last month, and combined medium- and
short-grain production is lowered 2.2 million to 58.7 million. All rice imports for 2014/15 are increased 1
million cwt to 22 million due primarily to a large shipment of long-grain
broken rice from Vietnam reported in the November trade data released by the
U.S. Census Bureau.
The all rice 2014/15 domestic and residual use projection is
unchanged at 131 million as implied by the December 1 stocks. Long-grain and combined medium- and
short-grain rice domestic and residual use are both unchanged from a month ago
and projected at 99 million and 32 million, respectively. The all rice export projection is unchanged
at 103 million cwt; however, the long-grain export projection is raised 1
million cwt to 70 million and the combined medium- and short-grain forecast is
lowered to 33 million. The boost in the
long-grain export projection is due primarily to increased exports of rough
rice to Latin America as reported in the November trade data provided by the
U.S. Census Bureau. The 2014/15 all rice
rough export projection is unchanged at 35 million cwt and the milled and brown
rice component is unchanged at 68 million (rough rice equivalent basis). All rice ending stocks for 2014/15 are
projected at 40.9 million cwt, up 1 million from last month, and an increase of
28 percent from a year ago. Long-grain
rice ending stocks are forecast at 29.1 million cwt, up 2.1 million from last
month. Combined medium- and short-grain
rice ending stocks are projected at 9.5 million cwt, down 1.2 million from last
month.
The 2014/15 long-grain
season-average farm price range is projected at $11.70 to $12.70 per cwt, down
30 cents per cwt on each end from last month.
The combined medium- and short-grain farm price range is projected at
$18.00 to $19.00 per cwt, down 50 cents per cwt on each end from a month ago. The all rice season-average farm price is
forecast at $13.60 to $14.60 per cwt, down 40 cents per cwt on each end. The decrease in the price projections is due
to lower-than-expected prices reported in the December issue of Agricultural
Prices released by USDA and price expectations the remainder of the marketing year.
Global 2014/15 rice supply
and use is changed very little from a month ago. Global rice production is projected at 475.5
million tons up 200,000 from last month, but down 1.5 million from the record
2013/14 crop. The increase in the
2014/15 crop is primarily due to an increase for Paraguay which is partially
offset by a drop in Brazil. Global
consumption for 2014/15 is 400,000 tons to a record 483.3 million tons with
small increases distributed among several countries. The export projection for 2014/15 is raised
700,000 tons to a record 42.6 million due primarily to increases for Burma,
Guyana, Paraguay, and Thailand. Imports are raised for Bolivia, Haiti, Syria,
and the United States. Global rice
ending stocks for 2014/15 are projected at 99 million tons, 100,000 from last
month, and a decrease of 7.9 million from the prior year. Ending stocks
projections are lowered for Brazil and Thailand, but increased for Bangladesh
and the United States.
Read the complete report here.
CME
Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures
CME Group
(Preliminary): Closing Rough Rice Futures for January 12
|
Month
|
Price
|
Net Change
|
|
January 2015
|
$11.245
|
- $0.080
|
|
March 2015
|
$11.460
|
- $0.085
|
|
May 2015
|
$11.700
|
- $0.065
|
|
July 2015
|
$11.925
|
- $0.065
|
|
September 2015
|
$11.500
|
- $0.065
|
|
November 2015
|
$11.375
|
- $0.065
|
|
January 2016
|
$11.640
|
- $0.030
|
Adani-Wilmar to invest Rs 150 cr in
rice business
OUR BUREAU
PUNE, JAN 11:
Edible oil major Adani Wilmar Ltd plans to invest Rs 150 crore
over the next 12-18 months in its rice business, a new vertical it expects to
grow over the next few years.The company forayed into rice last year and ran a
pilot with its Pilaf brand of basmati rice. It has just launched the commodity
in its flagship Fortune brand in Maharashtra, the State that consumes nearly a
quarter of the 12 lakh tonnes of basmati rice sold in the country per annum. A
phased rollout across the country will follow.
“We plan to spend Rs 150 crore over the next 12-18 months to
acquire two or three brown field rice mills and upgrade them,” Angshu Mallick,
Chief Operating Officer, Adani-Wilmar said.These acquisitions, as well as the
five mills it currently operates on a contract basis, will help the company
augment the existing paddy processing capacity from 520 tonnes per day to 800
tonnes per day, he added.With the launch of the new Fortune brand, Adani Wilmar
expects to sell around one lakh tonnes of basmati rice till March 2016.
Basmati prices down by over 30%
Meanwhile, Basmati rice prices in India have dropped by over 30
per cent in comparison to that last year thanks to a 20 per cent higher crop
yield this year, coupled with a ban on exports from Iran, a major importer of
the commodity.This year the prices are around Rs 80-85 per kg for the new crop
against Rs 128 per kg last year, Rajesh Shah, a rice trader and executive
member of the Poona Merchants’ Chamber said.The country produces 50-55 lakh
tonnes of Basmati rice annually, with exports accounting for around
three-fourths of total sales. India produces three varieties of the rice —
traditional, Pusa and the 1121 varieties. A fourth variety — 1509 — is expected
to be introduced this year.
(This article was published on January 12, 2015)
Source
with thanks: The Business Line
Adani Wilmar
launches Fortune Basmati Rice in Pune
This is a part of company's plan to extend flagship edible oil
brand Fortune into other commodities like pulses, besan and nuggets
BS Reporter | Pune
January 11, 2015 Last Updated at 20:53 IST
Ahmedabad-based
Adani Wilmar has
launched its basmati rice brand under the name of
Fortune Basmati Rice in Pune. This is a part of
company's plan to extend its flagship edible oil brand Fortune into other
commodities like pulses, besan and nuggets. The company, on an average, spends
about Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore in capacity expansion every year.
“We have a wide variety of basmati
to suit every budget and requirement, starting from the new crop traditional
basmati rice for stocking up for whole year to assorted packs of Aged, Steamed
& Parboiled basmati. Besides, we will also be offering non-basmati range to
our customers. To make our rice products available to every consumer we have partnered
with a strong and experienced distribution partners across India,"
says Angshu Mallick, COO, Adani Wilmar.
The products will pushed through Adani Wilmar’s existing network of one million
retail outlets across the country.According to Mallick, Maharashtra is a
largest consumer of rice in India followed by Gujarat. India produces over 40
lakh tonnes of rice every year out of which 38 lakh tonnes is being exported
and 12 lakh tonnes of rice is consumed domestically. The total rice market of
India is of Rs 50, 000 crore. The company exports its products to 19 countries
in the Middle East, South East Asia and East Africa.
The company has a target of
producing one lakh tonnes of basmati rice in the next two years. It has rice
toll units in Karnal, Gharaunda and Kaithal in Haryana, Chhata in Mathura and
Delhi for manufacturing and processing. Fortune Basmati is packed in high
quality material to serve the same delicious taste round the year. Fortune
Basmati Rice Range is available in 1, 5, 10, 20 and 25 kg SKUs.The company's
revenue stood at Rs 17,300 crore in FY14. The company, which is a 50:50 joint
venture between Adani Group and Wilmar International of Singapore.
However, the prices of basmati rice have come down this year due to increased
production and lower exports. Iran, who purchases about 40 per cent of
the basmati rice sold in the international market by Indian exporters, has
banned the rice imports. Iran has been charging an import duty on rice (basmati
and non-basmati) to safeguard the interests of farmers in that country. This
was lifted once the local crop was consumed.Last year, the import duty was
raised from 22.5 per cent to 40 per cent in July; the move was rolled back in
December. This year, however, Iran banned such imports. Last year, the average
realisation was $1,400 a tonne; as of now, the price stands at about $900 a
tonne.
Source
with thanks: The Business Standard
In search of a
personalised diet
By Denise WintermanBBC News Magazine
Forget the latest weight-loss fad - science may
already have worked out what diet is best for you. Experts say a personalised
approach could transform the way people lose weight.January is a month when
many go on a post-Christmas purge and start dieting. It's also the month when
many fail and go back to their bad eating habits. Scientists say this isn't
just down to a lack of willpower. It is due to a person's individual make-up -
their genes, hormones and psychology.The latest weight-loss theory is that instead
of reaching for a one-size-fits-all diet, people should follow one that is
tailored to their individual needs.
For the first time leading obesity experts and BBC
Science have put this theory to the test nationally. Over three months, 75
dieters were put through a series of tests and monitored at home. The study was
overseen by scientists from Oxford and Cambridge and their research teams.
What's the right type of diet for you?
The study looked at three types of overeaters.
Feasters who find it hard to stop eating once they start, constant cravers who
feel hungry all of the time and emotional eaters who turn to food when they get
stressed or anxious.
When it comes to feasters, research shows hormones
play a big part in their eating habits. In particular, they produce low levels
of certain gut hormones that are released when food arrives in the intestines.
These chemical signals travel through the blood to the brain and tell the body
when it has had enough food and should stop eating."Some people have
astonishingly low levels of certain gut hormones and are not getting those
signals," says Susan Jebb, a professor of diet and population at Oxford
University.
Constant cravers always want to eat and their
"hungry brains" often want fatty and sugary foods. Scientists know
certain genes make people this hungry. They disrupt the way signals are sent to
the brain telling it to stop eating, tricking it into thinking fat stores
continually need replenishing."The role genes play in losing weight is
unequivocal, but due to changes in technology we are beginning to find out what
these genes are," says geneticist Dr Giles Yeo, from Cambridge University.
Emotional eaters reach for food when they are
stressed or anxious. When the brain perceives a person is in difficulty, it
triggers changes to the body, like the heart rate increasing. This stressed
state makes it even harder for people to overcome what they are facing. This
sort of eater has developed habits that are hard to break and in stressful
times their brains seek out a reward."People often think diets are about
willpower," says Jebb. "Forget that, diets are about habits. There
has never been a study that says people can will themselves to lose weight, but
they can change their habits."So, what diet should each group follow to
successfully lose weight?
Feasters need a diet that makes them feel full for as
long as possible. Scientists suggested a high protein, low glycaemia index (GI)
diet. These are foods that boost gut hormone signals and include fish, chicken,
basmati rice, lentils, grains and cereals. No potatoes or bread because they
don't make people feel full for very long."Protein and carbs that are not
absorbed quickly are absorbed lower down the gut, producing more hormones that
make us feel fuller," says gut hormone specialist Prof Fiona Gribble, from
Cambridge University.
Constant cravers have genes that make them feel
hungry most of the time. As a result they struggle to diet for seven days a
week. Instead they were told to drastically reduce their diet to 800 calories
on two days of the week. They ate normally, but healthily, for the other five.
This is often called intermittent fasting."Constant cravers have the
toughest job as they have a strong predisposition to being overweight,"
says Jebb. "The fasting diet should shock their bodies into burning
fat."
The emotional eater - Alison Vaughan, 53
Alison Vaughan before and after her 12-week diet
"My relationship with food has been quite
negative in the past. I now know that is a result of being deliberately
deprived of food when I was very small. I would often only be given bread
soaked in water. It has taken a long time to realise the effect this has had on
the way I eat. The study made me realise food was controlling me, now it is the
other way round.
"Getting support was an essential part of that,
weekly meetings were a big help for me. I feel relieved at being classified as
an emotional eater because it gives you a footing from which to continue,
unless you can see what the issue is you've really got no hope of
changing."I lost 1st 11lb (11.3kg) over the 12 weeks and my total weight
loss now is 3st 1lb (19.5kg). As my size goes down, my confidence and belief in
myself goes up."
"Constant cravers have the toughest job as they
have a strong predisposition to being overweight," says Jebb. "The
fasting diet should shock their bodies into burning fat."Emotional eaters
have established bad habits that are hard to break. As well as following a
healthier diet, group support was important for them. Encouragement can trigger
the motivational part of the brain that helps people overcome stress.By being
part of online support groups and attending weight-loss meetings, they were
encouraged to stick to their diets. They also had cognitive behavioural therapy
to help manage the thoughts and behaviour associated with emotional eating.
Source with thanks: BBC News Magazine
The success story of ‘The Halal Guys’
From street-cart to international franchise, the story of how
Egyptian Halal food is going world-wide
A platter of Halal food after waiting 2 hours in line.
(Photo from from Yelp)
If you’re ever in New York City
and happen to be in midtown, you should head over to 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. You will be absolutely astonished at the sight of a
massive queue – a mass congregation of some sort – but for what? Some famous
person signing autographs, or free stuff being given out? What could possibly
be responsible for making people wait in line for up to 2 hours? Enter “The
Halal Guys”.
“The Halal Guys” is an Egyptian-owned food cart that specialises
in making platters that consist of halal chicken and/or lamb over yellow rice.
The menu is simple; the sauces though, perhaps the biggest draw for the cart,
are complex – most notably, the white sauce.
The chicken is soaked in plastic bags full of seasoning before
being placed on the grill – sending tasty Middle-Eastern flavours sizzling
through the air. The lamb, much like a shawarma, rotates on a spit, and is then
sliced into bite-sized bits and grilled to a perfect amount of crispiness. The
yellow basmati rice, that’s oh-so-fluffy, and a side salad, which is basically
just another thing to put the famous “white sauce” on, accompanies the meats.
What exactly goes into the white sauce is a secret, and officer workers, taxi
drivers, club-goers, tourists, construction workers, and police officers can’t
seem to get enough. It is not tahini sauce, and many contend that the base is
mayonnaise, but other than that, no one really knows.
The food-cart opens up at noon to start feeding hungry office
workers, and keeps at it until four in the morning to satisfy hungry
club-goers.For club-goers, “The Halal Guys” food cart is akin to an after-hours
party – with delicious affordable food.For $6 a plate, in a city as expensive
as New York, it doesn’t get much better.
Chicken, Lamb and mixed plates.
(Photo from from Yelp)
Why is this street meat, along with that legendary “white
sauce”, so successful? Like any good success story, one must look to the
beginning, and start with its characters.Meet Ahmed Elsaka and Abdelbaset
Elsayed, both from Alexandria, and Mohamed Abouelenein, a native of Cairo.
These three gentlemen are the owners of “The Halal Guys”.In 1990, they
immigrated to New York, and went on to own and operate a hot dog cart. At the
time, the hot-dog and pretzel business was dominated by the Greeks. Today, it
is almost entirely Egyptian—the carts got bigger and started selling more food,
and though it’s up for debate, many argue that it was these three Egyptians
that changed the game.
However, the mini “Greek” style hot-dog cart that Elsaka,
Elsayed and Abouelenein owned did not transform over night. It took almost two
years before they took the plunge to renovate the cart, and it all started with
taxi drivers.Many of the taxi drivers in New York are Muslim, and they found it
hard to find a cheap, filling meal that was prepared according to Islamic law
at two in the morning. Knowing that Elsaka, Elsayed and Abouelenein are also
Muslim, the taxi drivers asked them to create a menu that would cater to their
appetites. The cart, along with the food portions, got bigger, and “The Halal
Guys” was born.
Soon after, the cart was a success, not just with taxi drivers,
but with New Yorkers from all walks of life. Many imitation carts started
popping up around the city, and today they easily outnumber the older, smaller
“Greek” versions.
Lunch time crowds line up for Egyptian food.
(Photo from from Yelp)
None are as successful as “The Halal Guys”. Some attribute it to
the “white sauce”, others the location (the cart is located close to the Museum
of Arts and Design), but ultimately it’s a mystery.Now, after about 25 years of
serving food in the street, “The Halal Guys” are looking to franchise. The
owners incorporated the cart and signed a deal with Fransmart, a restaurant
franchise consulting firm. This is the same firm that took “Five Guys Burgers
and Fries” from four locations in Northern Virginia and turned it into a fast
food chain with over 1,200 stores and over $1bn in sales last year, according
to The New York Times.
Fransmart has a 5-year-plan for “The Halal Guys”, which includes
over 100 locations in the States, as well as a presence in Europe and Southeast
Asia. This will be the first time that Middle-Eastern Halal food will be in the
same conversation as McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken.The first location
was opened up last June in the East Village; a hip young neighbourhood located
in New York. Another is scheduled to be opened near Columbia University. The
menu resembles the one from the cart, with a few extra items – kofta, and
deserts such as basbousa.
The thing about “The Halal Guys” is that they are so inherently
tied up with the street. How the food translates from side-walks to dining
tables will be an experiment worth watching out for.As legend goes, Colonel
Sanders, the man behind KFC, started his franchise by selling chicken out of
his car. So perhaps “The Halal Guys” have a shot to go world-wide. After all,
just as KFC has its secret 11 herbs and spices “The Halal Guys” have their
white sauce.
Source with thanks: Daily News Egypt
NLA
panel to focus on rice losses
NLA has questions for Yingluck, NACC
Published: 12 Jan 2015 at 06.00 |
Newspaper section: News
Writer: Aekarach Sattaburuth
An inquiry committee set up by the National Legislative Assembly
(NLA) to question former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra about the NLA's
impeachment motion is expected to focus mainly on the losses under the
rice-pledging scheme. NLA member
Kittisak Rattanawaraha, who sits on the inquiry committee, said NLA members are
now submitting questions to the panel which will ask Ms Yingluck on their
behalf. Ms Yingluck began testifying last Friday to the National Legislative
Assembly, with a defiant defence of her rice-purchase scheme. NLA members
insist on hearing more.
(AFP photo)
They
have until Tuesday to submit questions.
Mr Kittisak said several NLA members who submitted the questions wanted
Ms Yingluck to clarify the figures for losses under the rice scheme.The figures
presented by Ms Yingluck were not consistent with those submitted by the
Finance Ministry's subcommittee inspecting the scheme's accounting.Some NLA
members also wanted to know why Ms Yingluck did not scrap the rice scheme after
alleged corruption and losses came to light, Mr Kittisak said.
He said NLA members wanted to question the National Anti-Corruption
Commission (NACC) about the law which has served as the basis to seek Ms
Yingluck's impeachment.Mr Kittisak said the committee will question Ms Yingluck
on Friday. She can appear in person or send her lawyer to answer questions on
her behalf, he said.However, it would be in her best interests to show up and
clear the accusations herself, he said, adding that the panel will maintain
neutrality in doing its job.
The NACC petitioned the NLA to impeach Ms Yingluck, accusing her of
dereliction of duty for failing to stop corruption and losses in the
rice-pledging scheme. She chaired the National Rice Policy Committee when she
was premier.Ms Yingluck gave statements in her defence before the NLA last
Friday, denying all the accusations made by the NACC.Jate Siratharanont,
spokesman for the NLA whip, said the committee will not reveal its questions in
advance, but Ms Yingluck should be able to expect what the panel will ask of
her. Norawit Lalaeng, a member of Ms Yingluck's legal team, said her lawyers
will meet today to prepare Ms Yingluck's defence before the panel. It is not
yet decided whether Ms Yingluck will appear in person, Mr Norawit said.
The
NLA has set Jan 23 as the date for votes on the impeachment cases against
Yingluck and former House speaker Somsak Kiatsuranon, and ex-Senate speaker
Nikhom Wairatpanich. Separate votes will be taken on the impeachment motions
against the three. Mr Nikhom and Mr Somsak face proceedings for their support
of an attempt to amend the 2007 constitution to make the Senate fully elected.
Mr Nikhom and Mr Somsak are due to be questioned on Thursday by another inquiry
committee set up by the NLA.Suriyasai Katasila, a former core leader of the
People's Alliance for Democracy, said
Sunday the NLA should disregard threats by some groups that the impeachment
will disrupt efforts to foster unity.
Tell
77
accused of rice-scheme fraud
Published: 12 Jan 2015 at 18.31 ,Online news: Crime
Writer: Wassayos Ngamkham
The Commerce Ministry on Monday asked police to prosecute 77
parties for causing B65bn damage to the state through theft, embezzlement and
fraud connected to the previous government’s rice-pledging scheme. Chutima
Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary for commerce, files a fraud complaint with
Pol Col Nos Sawetlek, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division, on
Monday. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary for commerce, filed
the complaint with Pol Col Nos Sawetlek, deputy commander of the Crime
Suppression Division. She sought legal actions against numerous contract
partners in the rice-pledging programme run by the past Yingluck Shinawatra
government. Five parties are accused of
switching out pledged rice. They are in five provinces and ten warehouses are
involved. Thirteen parties operating 94 warehouses in 22 provinces are accused
of allowing pledged rice to rot. Fifty-nine parties operating 652 warehouses in
51 provinces are accused of warehousing substandard rice instead of
standard-quality grain.
The combined amount of rice stood at about 3.6 million tonnes and
damage to the state is estimated at about 65 billion baht.Miss Chutima said
that if police found any government officials involved in the wrongdoings,
their cases would be sent to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
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Thailand
government has begun the sale of bonds through the state-owned and commercial
banks to clear the debts associated with the rice pledging scheme, according to
local sources. The government hopes to raise around 100 billion baht (around $3
billion) from bond sales this year.However, response to the sales has not been
as expected, according to local sources. While the Bank of Agriculture and
Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) sold about 391 million baht (around $1.2
million) to about 439 buyers; Krungthai Bank sold bonds worth 1 billion baht
(around $30.4 million); and Siam Commercial Bank sold around 400-500 million
baht (around $1.2 - $1.5 million) worth bonds during the first few hours of
opening the sale.
USDA Post has
estimated Bangladesh to import around 500,000 tons of rice in MY 2014-15 (May -
April), down about 33% from an estimated 751,000 tons imported in MY 2013-14.
Imports in 2013-14 (mostly by private sector) increased due to competitive
Indian prices.
Vietnam's
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has set out plans to intensify measures
to boost rice exports in 2015 amid exporters' fears of a likely tough year for
Vietnamese rice exports this year due to expected stiff competition with
Thailand and India, and declining demand, according to local sources.The
Ministry is particularly planning to increase exports to African, West Asian
and South Asian markets as it expects the Vietnamese rice to be more price
competitive in these markets Vis-a-Vis other rice exporters. It is keen on
tapping the markets of Ivory Coast, Congo, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique and
Madagascar, Iran, Iraq and Bangladesh .The MOIT told local sources that it is
planning to strengthen marketing and promotion efforts as well as improve coordination
with the respective governments to boost exports. It is also reportedly
planning to set up bonded warehouses in Angola, Cameroon and Mozambique to help
Vietnamese exporters increase market accessibility in these markets. 
