Role of Media and Society in Building Innovative Pakistan – Science, Technology and
Innovation
Date:
19th January, 2016 (Tuesday) Time: 10:30am-01.00pm
Venue: University of Management and
Technology, Lahore
The aim of the SATHA Seminar is to
highlight critically important but generally neglected area of Science,
Technology and Innovation Policies and Practices in Pakistan. The seminar will
bring attention of stakeholders towards the undeniable role of science,
technology and innovation for the socio-economic development of the country and
hence, will advocate promotion of research and innovation
for the benefit of the industry and public at large.
Tentative Program
10:30am: Registration
– Seating - Recitation
11:00am: Welcome
by President SATHA
11:10am: Highlights
of the PCST-IRP joint study on “Encouraging Problem Solving Research in
Pakistan” by Dr. Tariq Bashir, PCST
The study was jointly conducted by PCST and IRP on how
to encourage and promote need-based R&D and innovation in Pakistan. The
data was collected from 350-400 experts of 150+ organizations of industry,
academia and public sector through consultative workshops held allover Pakistan.
11:25am: Competiveness
of Rice Sector of Pakistan and Role of Research Institutions by Dr. Hamid Malik
CEO, Induss Pak
11:40am: Role of Media in Building Innovative
Pakistan by Mr. Habib Akram Executive Editor, Dunya TV
11:55am: Role
of Media in Building Innovative Pakistan by Saleem Bokhari, Editor, The Nation
12:10pm: Role
of Society in S&T –Akhuwat Triple Helix Model - Society, Academia and Govt.
Collaboration by Dr. Amjad Saqib, Executive Director, Akhuwat
12:25pm: Address by Guest of Honor- Dr. Anwar ul Hassan
Gilani, Chairman, PCST
12:40pm: Address
by Chief Guest - Fahd Husain, Executive Director, Express News
12:55pm: Note
of Thanks by Mr. Rashid Khan, Assistant Professor, Media Dept., UMT
01:00pm: Closing
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Contact:
Anum Akmal, Program Coordinator,
SATHA–ORIC, UMT, Lahore
University
of Management and Technology, Lahore
C II,
Johar Town, Lahore-Pakistan
Wholesale Basmati Rice Prices in India Decline on Low Demand
Jan 13, 2016
Wholesale basmati rice
prices have declined today due to sluggish demand from traders, according to
the Press Trust of India (PTI).
On January 13, 2016,
prices of Pusa 1121 declined to around Rs.4,250 - 4,900 per quintal (around
$637 - $734 per ton) from previous quotes of around Rs.4,350 - 5,000 per
quintal (around $652 - $749 per ton).
Prices of common
basmati rice declined to around Rs.5,300 - 5,400 per quintal (around $794
- $809 per ton) from the previous level of around Rs.5,400 - Rs.5,500 per
quintal (around $810 - $825 per ton).
However, traders
attributed the decline in wholesale basmati prices to subdued demand from
retailers.
Global Rice Quotes
January 13th, 2016
Long grain white rice - high
quality
Thailand 100% B grade 360-370 ↔
Vietnam 5% broken 350-360 ↔
India 5% broken 355-365 ↔
Pakistan 5% broken 330-340 ↔
Myanmar 5% broken 410-420 ↔
Cambodia 5% broken 425-435 ↔
U.S. 4% broken 465-475 ↔
Uruguay 5% broken 495-505 ↔
Argentina 5% broken 490-500 ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 340-350 ↔
Vietnam 25% broken 340-350 ↔
Pakistan 25% broken 305-315 ↔
Cambodia 25% broken 410-420 ↔
India 25% broken 325-335 ↔
U.S. 15% broken 485-495 ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd 355-365 ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd 405-415 ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd 345-355 ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken 500-510 ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken 520-530 ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken NQ ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92% 675-685 ↔
Vietnam Jasmine 440-450 ↑
India basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken NQ ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails 745-755 ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super 315-325 ↔
Vietnam 100% broken 335-345 ↔
Pakistan 100% broken stxd 285-295 ↔
Cambodia A1 Super 350-360 ↔
India 100% broken stxd 265-275 ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens NQ ↔
U.S. pet food 295-305 ↔
Brazil half grain NQ ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel,
oryza.com
EU Rice Imports from Asian LDCs Increase Sharply in First Four Months of
2015-16
Jan 13, 2016
The European Union's
(EU) rice imports from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of Asia such as
Cambodia and Myanmar under the Everything But Arms (EBA) Agreement have reached
around 116,697 tons in the first four months of the crop year 2015-16
(September - December 2015), up about 42% from around 82,477 tons imported
during the same period last year, according to data from the European
Commission (EC).
The EC data shows that
imports from Cambodia (which account for about 84% of total imports from Asian
LDCs in September – December 2015) increased about 44% to around 98,301 tons
from around 68,364 tons during the same period last year. On the other hand,
rice imports from Myanmar (which account for about 16% of total imports from
Asian LDCs in the first four months of 2015) have increased about 35% to around
16,773 tons from around 12,429 tons during the same period last year.
Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Tumble as
Market Digests Bearish USDA S&D Outlook; Corn and Beans Follow through
Buying while Wheat Slips
Jan 14, 2016
Chicago rough rice
futures for Mar delivery settled 41.5 cents per cwt (about $9 per ton) lower at
$11.300 per cwt (about $249 per ton). The other grains finished the day with
mixed results; Soybeans closed about 0.6% higher at $8.8000 per bushel; wheat
finished about 0.7% lower at $4.7800 per bushel, and corn finished the day
about 0.4% higher at $3.5800 per bushel.
U.S. stocks traded
lower Wednesday as low oil prices and consumer discretionary stocks weighed.
WTI crude oil futures tried to hold slightly higher near $30.50 a barrel after briefly
falling below the psychologically key $30 level Tuesday and hitting a fresh
12-year low. Brent traded lower, also near $30.50 a barrel. China's crude oil
imports hit a record high in December, while copper imports were the second
highest on record, according to customs data. Overall Chinese exports and
imports fell by less than expected in December, leaving a trade surplus of over
$60 billion for the month, the data showed. The economy likely had its weakest
annual growth in 25 years. China GDP data is expected next week. The Shanghai
composite stock index erased early gains to close 2.4% lower, while Asian
markets mostly closed higher on Wednesday. European stocks pared gains to end
mixed. In midday trade, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 96 points, or
0.59%, to 16,418. The S&P 500 fell 11 points, or 0.58%, to 1,927, with
consumer discretionary leading eight sectors lower and utilities and
telecommunications the only gainers. The Nasdaq composite declined 46 points,
or 0.98%, to 4,638. Gold is seen trading about 0.3% higher, crude oil is seen
trading about 0.8% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher
at about 1:00pm Chicago time.
Tuesday, there were
471 contracts traded, up from 355 contracts traded on Monday. Open interest –
the number of contracts outstanding – on Tuesday increased by 99 contracts to
13,469.
European Paddy Quotes Remain Firm in First Week of January 2016
Jan 13, 2016
European paddy quotes
showed no substantial movements during the week December 29, 2015 - January 05,
2016, according to the European quotations supplied by the European Commission
(EC) on January 5, 2016. Official paddy quotes were not available in some
countries.
Below are the European
quotations supplied by the EC on January 5, 2016.
SPAIN - Japonica paddy
slightly decreasing at 291 euros (about $ 315) per ton, down from 294 euros
(about $ 319) per ton on December 29, 2015. Indica paddy was fixed at 256 euros
(about $ 277) per ton, slightly decreasing from 255 euros (about $ 276) per ton
of the previous week. Milled Japonica rice quoted 587 euros (about $ 637) per
ton, unchanged.
PORTUGAL - Portuguese
paddy varieties received no quotations.
GREECE – Greek paddy
varieties received no quotations.
ROMANIA - Prices
were fixed only on January 5: Japonica paddy was out at 320 euros (about
$ 347) per ton and Indica paddy at 327 euros (about $ 354) per ton. As for
milled rice, no quotes were indicated.
BULGARIA - Japonica
paddy quotations are firm at 294 euros (about $ 319) per ton. Japonica milled
rice prices are unchanged at 872 euros (about $ 946) per ton.
FRANCE - No variety of
milled rice was quoted on January 5, 2016; on December 29, 2015 round milled
rice was out at 620 euros (about $ 672) per ton, Long A at 600 euros (about $
651) per ton, Long B at 610 euros (about $ 662) per ton.
Cambodia Needs to Invest About $550 Million in Rice Value Chain to Achieve
One Million Ton Export Goal, Says CRF Official
Jan 13, 2016
The government of
Cambodia should invest about $550 million the rice production and supply chain
to achieve the one million ton export target, local sources quoted an official
from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).
The official noted
that the CRF requires at least 2.5 million tons of paddy, including both
fragrant and white types, to process one million tons of milled rice for
exports. He also noted that advanced storage facilities are also required to
achieve the goal.
He noted that earlier
China had proposed to invest about $320 million to develop the country's rice
milling sector, but new studies have found that the sector over $500 million
for the purpose. He urged the government to facilitate loans for the
development of the sector.
Other exporters added
that funds are needed to build warehouses, rice silos, develop human resources
and upgrade equipment for harvesting rice and transporting it to warehouses and
ports. Such facilities are needed to ensure uninterrupted rice supplies for
exports, they said. Some exporters opined that the development of the sector
would also help the exporters to reduce prices in line with the global prices.
Cambodia's rice
exports increased significantly in 2015 though the one million ton target could
not be reached. Cambodia exported around 538,396 tons of milled rice in 2015 up
about 39% from around 387,061 tons exported during the same period last year.
Government of India Procures 20.81 Million Tons of Rice as of January 12,
2016 in KMS 2015-16, Up 32% from Last Year
Jan 13, 2016
The Food Corporation
of India (FCI), the nodal agency for food grain procurement and distribution
has procured around 20.81 million tons of rice as of January 12, 2016 in KMS
2015-16 (October 2015 - September 2016), up about 32% from around 15.74 million
tons last year, the Economic Times quoted a news release by the Food Ministry.
Paddy procurement is
said to have increased in this season despite the country receiving
below-average monsoon rains in 2015 due to a decline in prices of common
variety of rice in various markets across the country.. The major increase in
procurement of paddy has taken place in Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra
Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, according to the news release.
Based on the current
pace of procurement, analysts have forecasted that government's rice
procurement in KMS 2015-16 may exceed last year's level of 32 million tons. The
government of India is planning to procure around 30 million tons of rice in
the KMS 2015-16.
Food Ministry sources
noted that the government of India provided an additional funding of Rs.10,000
crore to the FCI this month to ensure that it has sufficient funds to pay to
the farmers and the state government agencies for procurement of paddy.
India’s rice stocks in
the central pool as of January 1, 2015 stood at around 26.025 million tons
(including a milled equivalent of about 13.34 million tons of paddy), up about
14% from around 22.79 million tons recorded during the same period last year,
according to FCI.
Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Steep Price Declines Seen a Day after Bearish
USDA Report
Jan 14, 2016
The U.S. cash market
was materially weaker today, a day after the USDA increased their 2015/2016
long grain ending stocks estimate by 2.2 m cwt to 23.0 m cwt from last month’s
report.
Analysts note that
many farmers were hopeful that this month’s report would be friendly to prices
however the large and somewhat questionable 6.0 m cwt reduction in domestic and
residual use shattered those hopes.
Meanwhile, high water
levels on the Lower Mississippi River continues to hamper barge loading
operations and at least one a river closure was reported yesterday after a tow
hit a bridge in Vicksburg, MS, sinking some of the barges it was moving.
Re-Seeding of Paddy Acquired from Non-Seeding Companies Not Allowed, Says
Italian Ministry
Jan 13, 2016
The Italian Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry (MIPAAF) has reportedly announced that paddy
acquired from non-seed breeding companies will not be allowed in Italy.
However, the MIPAAF
has clarified that the paddy grown in one's own farm can be used for re-seeding
purposes.
The Ministry noted
that the Ente Risi (ENR), the National Agency for Rice, must promptly report
any detected anomaly to the Central Inspectorate for the prevention of Fraud,
which will carry out controls during the marketing phase.
The issues related to
the re-seeding of paddy will be discussed in a special technical meeting, which
will be conducted in Ente Risi Research Center in Castello d'Agogna on February
4, 2016. The meeting will reportedly discuss the current themes of rice growing
in Italy.
USDA Raises Estimates for U.S. 2015-16 All Rice Supplies on Higher
Production
Jan 13, 2016
The USDA raised
estimates for U.S. all rice production to around 8.72 million
tons from its last month’s forecast of 8.65 million tons due to an expected
increase in acreage and yields. While estimates for production of long-grain
rice is raised to 6.03 million tons from last month's estimates of 6.01 million
tons, estimates for production of short- and medium-grain rice are raised to
around 2.69 million tons, up from last month's estimates of 2.65 million tons.
The USDA estimates for
U.S. all rice acreage to increase to 1.032 million hectares,
up from its last month's estimates of 1.028 million hectares. It estimates yield
per hectare to increase to around 8.4 tons, up from last month's
estimates of 8.35 tons.
The USDA lowered
estimates for U.S. all rice imports to around 1.09 million
tons, down from its last month’s forecast of 1.11 million tons based on slower
pace to date.
The USDA lowered its
estimates for 2015-16 U.S. all rice use to 5.49 million tons,
down from last month's forecast of 5.76 million tons due to an expected decline
in the estimates of long -grain use to 3.99 million tons from last month’s
forecast of 4.26 million tons. The USDA raised its estimates for 2015-16 U.S.
all rice exports to 4.63 million tons, up from last month's forecast of 4.45
million tons due to an expected increase in the exports of long -grain to 3.13
million tons from last month’s forecast of 2.95 million tons.
The USDA increased its
estimates for 2015-16 U.S. all rice ending stocks to 1.9
million tons, up from last month's forecast of 1.76 million tons due to an
expected increase in the estimates of both long -grain and short- and medium-
ending stocks.
Average farm prices of
all paddy rice, long-grain paddy rice and combined medium- and short- grain
paddy rice are expected to decline to around $279.98 - $302.03 per ton, around
$242.51 - $264.55 and $365.96 - $388 per ton respectively.
Vietnam Rice Sellers Increase Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice
Quotes Unchanged Today
Jan 13, 2016
Vietnam rice sellers
increased their quotes for Jasmine rice by about $15 per ton to about $440-$450
per ton today. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is
indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton, on par with Vietnam 5% rice shown at
around $350 - $360 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $355 - $365
per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $330 -
$340 per ton.
25% Broken
Rice
Thailand 25% rice is
indicated at around $340 - $350 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at
around $340- $350 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $325 - $335
per ton, about $20 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $305 -
$315 per ton.
Parboiled
Rice
Thailand parboiled
rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton. India parboiled rice is
indicated at around $345 - $355 per ton, about $60 per ton discount to Pakistan
parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken
Rice
Thailand broken rice,
A1 Super is indicated at around $315 - $325 per ton, about $20 per ton discount
to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton. India's 100%
broken rice is shown at around $265 - $275 per ton, about $20 per ton discount
to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.
Thai OAG Sues Seven More Individuals in Rice Pledging Case
Jan 13, 2016
The
Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sued another seven individuals in the rice
pledging case, according to local sources.Newly accused are executive in rice
mills who are reportedly known to have colluded with the former Commerce
Minister related to a government-to-government (G2G) deal between the Thai and
Chinese governments.Public prosecutors filed their petition with the Supreme
Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders against the
private-company executives, who are understood to have bought rice from
government stock, supposedly to be delivered to China, and sold in the Thai
local markets.The OAG already filed the charges against the 21 individuals,
including the former Commerce Minister, based on the advice of the National
Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). They were reportedly accused of helping two
Chinese companies, which were reportedly not authorized by the Chinese
government, to seal G2G contracts for about 1.2 million tons of rice with the
Thai government without participating in a bid. The 21 individuals are said to
have violated the Criminal Code, the Public Competitive Bidding Act and the
Anti-Corruption Act. The Supreme Court is hearing the evidences related to the
case.
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