Friday, January 08, 2016

7th january 2016 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

·        Today Rice News Headlines...
·        IEIA to Test Food Procured by Southern Naval Command
·         After toor, rice prices too shoot up
·         Govt mulls rice imports from India
·         Poor offtake from Iran, Nigeria to dent India’s rice exports
·         Local rice farmers and millers threaten to quit production
·         Rice stock sufficient until grand harvest: Minister
·         Nigeria: China to Build Rice Mill Factory in A/Ibom
·         Thailand plans 2m more tonnes of Government-to-Government rice sales
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
·         Rice bird repellent AV-1011 granted conditional registration
·         Rice is Still Nice According to Updated DGA
·         Packed house in Acadia Parish
·         Supreme Court says Jack Charles was wrong in importing rice: the rice fight continues
·         APEDA Commodity News
News Detail...
Indonesia to import rice from Pakistan

The Indonesian government is sounding out the possibility of importing rice from Pakistan amid low rice stocks following a prolonged dry season.“We are negotiating imports with Pakistan and other countries,” said Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong in Jakarta, The Jakarta Post reported on Wednesday.The Indonesian government, Thomas said, was preparing a government-to-government Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on rice imports with the Pakistani government.The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) was studying the technical details of Pakistan’s rice stocks, he added.Earlier, Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution said that because of last year’s prolonged El Niño, the rice planting season had been put back from October to November. As a result, harvest time in several areas across Indonesia suffered delays, leading to depleted rice stocks in the first quarter of 2016.“We have calculated that we still have only 1.35 million tonnes of rice in March. Normally, we have 1.5 million tons. To fulfill the shortage of rice, we’re looking at signing MoUs with Myanmar and Pakistan,” Darmin said during a press conference.He further explained that the agreements were a precautionary measure to anticipate reduced rice stocks, which could in turn lead to surging prices of basic commodities.“The estimated domestic production of rice at the end of March this year will be 1.35 million tonnes. From the end of March to April, our rice production will improve as the effects of El Niño gradually lessen,” he said.
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/01/06/business/indonesia-to-import-rice-from-pakistan/

EIA to Test Food Procured by Southern Naval Command

By Express News Service
Published: 07th January 2016 06:00 AM
Last Updated: 07th January 2016 06:00 AM
S K Saxena, Director (Insp and QC) Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi, and Commander Kamalender Sharma, Base Victualling Officer, Naval Base, exchanging the Memorandum of Understanding for Laboratory testing of Provisions at EIA in Kochi on Wednesday | K Rajesh Kumar
KOCHI: Henceforth the food and other products procured by Southern Naval Command will be tested by  Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Laboratory testing of Provisions was exchanged between S K Saxena, Director (Insp and QC) Export Inspection Agency (EIA), Kochi and Commander Kamalender Sharma, Base Victualling Officer, Naval Base at a function held here on Wednesday.
Calling the agreement as ‘historic’,  S K Saxena said that EIA will ensure that the food products the Naval Base get is of national standard. The Navy has been sending samples to Laboratories in Mumbai and Chennai for quality checking. But the entire exercise used to take many weeks to get the final result. With the new arrangement the Naval Base hopes to get the test results in less than a week.The Export Inspection Council of India (EIC) was set up in 1963 as an apex body to provide for sound development of export trade through quality control and pre-shipment inspection.
The EIC is assisted in its functions by the Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs) located in  Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai having a network of 37 sub-offices and laboratories to back up the pre-shipment inspection and certification activity. “Since 2009 we were on the lookout of testing laboratories to check the quality of our food items. Our aim was to make sure that the food is safe to eat. Earlier we used to send samples to many locations in the country. But all our search has finally been zeroed in on EIA Kochi. We have 70 dependent units in the country and our annual procurement comes to around Rs 50-60 crore. With the new association we hope to get test results soon and will be of mutual benefit,” said  Commander Kamalender Sharma, Base Victualling Officer, Naval Base.
Saxena said that the facility is exploring ways to associate with more institutions in the country. “Our mandate is to make sure quality control of products, especially food products. This is our first association with Armed Forces to provide testing services. The country imports products worth $410 billion and exports $310 billion. The country imports $45 billion worth food products and exports $32 billion. Seafood, Buffalo Meat and Basmati Rice are the major contributors in the export basket. The government now plans to increase exports hence quality control is very important,” said  Saxena. Jayapalan G, Deputy Director In-charge, EIA-Kochi and Lt Deepak Poonia, Naval Base, Kochi were also present.
The Indian Express

After toor, rice prices too shoot up

KUMAR BURADIKATTI
Recently harvested Sona Masuri paddy atr Raichur APMC yard. Photo: Santosh Sagar
Paddy growers, who suffered heavy losses in the last two years, have a reason to smile this year
It was the price of toor dal that was making every meal pricey till recently. Now it is the turn of rice. Over the last 15 days, the price of raw Sona Masuri rice has gone up from Rs. 42 a kg to Rs. 50 and there is a similar escalation in the prices of all varieties. Worse, there is every sign of it going further up.
While consumers are a worried lot, paddy growers of Karnataka — who had suffered heavy losses in the last two years owing to crop destruction caused by floods and other climatic fluctuations — have a reason to smile this year.
The prices of all varieties of paddy are up. The price of Sona Masuri variety paddy has increased from around Rs. 1,500 a quintal in the last two years to around Rs. 2,300 a quintal this year. Last year and the year before, farmers took their harvested crop to nearby agricultural produce marketing committee (APMC) markets and desperately waited for days to get a better price, but in vain. This year, even while harvesting of monsoon paddy is on, traders are rushing to farmers’ fields to purchase the crop offering better price.
Hoarding of produce
However, the harvested crop is not changing hands in a big way as both farmers and traders are making efforts to stock it, expecting even better price, considering possible decline in production in the second paddy crop because of drought. Owing to various reasons, the production of kharif paddy has declined by around 20 per cent in the Tungabhadra command area that commands paddy production in the State with over 10 lakh acres in Ballari, Koppal and Raichur districts. The total area under paddy cultivation in the kharif season in the State is 25 lakh acres.
“There is not enough water in reservoirs due to drought. The Irrigation Department has declared that it would not release available water from dams for the second time for paddy cultivation this year. Knowing this, farmers are stocking the harvested crop expecting better price,” Shashidhar Haravi, a farmer from Manvi taluk told The Hindu.
Small farmers
He added that the rise in paddy prices would not benefit small farmers as they cannot stock their crop for a longer period. “Only rich farmers who have godown of their own can stock harvested paddy for a longer period. The small farmers who don’t have access to such facilities or those who are in need of money for meeting urgent commitments, including repaying loans, would sell the crop to traders who would, in turn, stock it and reap the rich profits by selling it for a better price,” he said.
****
Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs: We cannot control the rice price as it all depends upon demand and supply. On Friday, we got clearance from the Election Commission for opening paddy procurement centres. We will open them within a day or two and start procuring paddy at Rs. 1,510 a quintal. Since the rates in the open market are high, we may not get enough paddy from these centres. However, we will purchase paddy from Punjab, Odisha, U.P. and other States to manage PDS system in Karnataka.
****
TN, AP floods have an impact
Recent floods in the districts along the east coast, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, have also had an adverse impact on the paddy market. Since standing paddy crop on vast tracts of land in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh has been destroyed, traders from those States are looking at Karnataka paddy purchase, causing greater demand for the crop and resultant rise in the price.
“Around 60 per cent of the paddy crop in coastal Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh has been destroyed. In other parts such as Telangana and Karnataka, drought hit the paddy production. The widening gap between demand and supply is causing the price rice,” Maram Tippanna, a rice miller from Raichur, toldThe Hindu.
****
Prices at your store
The rise in paddy prices has already resulted in the rice prices going up. The price of raw Sona Masuri rice has gone up from Rs. 42 a kg to Rs. 50 now, steam rice price has gone up from Rs. 32 a kg to Rs. 40, and idli rice price has gone up from Rs. 24 a kg to Rs. 32, within the last 15 days.
Fine quality rice was sold at Rs. 6,000 a quintal in Shivamogga market on Thursday. Considering the decline in paddy production and destroyed standing crop due to natural calamities, the rice prices are expected to rise further.
However, N.R. Vishwaradhya, executive president, Karnataka State Rice Millers’ Association, said there would be “no crisis situation”. He said the prices may go out of control because the State imports rice from Punjab, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and other paddy-growing areas.
****
Total area of paddy cultivation
Irrigated: 6.96 lakh hectares
Rain-fed: 3.61 lakh hectares
Total: 10.57 lakh hectares
 Escalation in paddy prices from last year to this (per quintal)
Sona Masuri: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,300
Sanna Bhatta: Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 1,820
Paddy 1001: Rs. 1,400 to Rs. 1,800
IR 64: Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 1,520
Rice price (per kg)
Fine rice: Rs. 60
Medium rice: Rs. 60
Sona Masuri: Rs. 50
Steam rice: Rs. 40
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/after-toor-rice-prices-too-shoot-up/article8005396.ece

Govt mulls rice imports from India

Khoirul Amin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Business | Thu, January 07 2016, 5:32 PM
Business News
The government is considering importing rice from India, the world’s second-largest rice producer, in anticipation of insufficient supply in the near future.Trade Minister Thomas Lembong said on Wednesday his ministry was seeking to diversify import sources for rice, the country’s main staple food.“We also encourage the signing of a memorandum of understanding [MOU] with India, because India has become the largest rice exporter in recent years,” he said.India’s rice exports had reached a value of US$3 billion to $4 billion per year, he added.
According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), India exported around 10 million tons of rice both in 2013 and 2014, displacing Thailand as the world’s largest exporter. Thailand is, however, forecast to reclaim its top spot this year. The data has also reveals that India has become the second-largest rice grower, after China.
The Trade Minister recently signed an MOU with Pakistan to secure rice imports from the South Asian country after previously failing to secure commitments for more imports from Vietnam and Thailand, because the Philippines had already bought the commodity from the two countries.In the fourth quarter of last year, the government was a little too late in securing additional rice imports to stabilize domestic prices amid insufficient domestic supply, giving enough time for the Philippines — which also experienced a lack of supply —―to secure commitments from Vietnam and Thailand.
Indonesia had planned to import a total of 1.5 million tons of rice from Thailand and Vietnam last year, but only 1 million tons were realized.On the other hand, the Philippines, which used to import around 500,000 to 700,000 tons of rice a year, imported an unusually large volume of 1.5 million tons from the two Southeast Asian rice exporters last year.Thomas said previously that while imports from Pakistan had not been realized yet, the Pakistani government had explained that it could supply around 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia.

“The State Logistics Agency [Bulog] is studying detailed Pakistani rice supply,” he said.Meanwhile, Bulog procurement director Wahyu said Bulog’s rice stocks stood at 1.38 million tons as of Wednesday, and he estimated that the country would not need to import in the next four months. “There hasn’t been any order for additional imports from Pakistan so far,” he added.Separately, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said he was upbeat that rice production would increase, as his ministry had been taking precautionary measures for possible La Niña weather phenomenon this year. La Niña, widely seen as El Niño’s opposite, typically brings more rainfall, threatening crops with flooding.
 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/07/govt-mulls-rice-imports-india.html#sthash.FLhqKWQW.dpuf

Poor offtake from Iran, Nigeria to dent India’s rice exports

VISHWANATH KULKARNI
Grain loses aroma on lower prices offered by competing countries in global market
BENGALURU, DECEMBER 06:  
India’s rice exports for the current financial year are headed for a decline, both in value and volume terms, over the previous year on reduced purchases by large buyers, such as Iran and Nigeria, and drop in realisations.test export trends suggest that total rice shipments – basmati and non-basmati – have declined 7.3 per cent in volumes and 18 per cent in value terms for the April-November period over the corresponding period last year.
While basmati shipments were up 23 per cent in volume terms, realisations were down 13 per cent in rupee terms and 18.5 per cent in dollar terms, on account of decline in grain prices.Non-basmati rice shipments dropped by a fifth in volume terms and by a fourth in rupee terms. This was largely on account of stoppage of imports of parboiled rice by Nigeria due to the foreign exchange issue in the African nation.
Exports drop
“Going by the current trend, our exports may see a decline. We may end up shipping 10.5-11 million tonnes (mt) of rice, both basmati and non-basmati put together this year,” said Rajen Sundaresan, Executive Director, All India Rice Exporters Association. India had exported a total of 11.92 mt rice in 2014-15.Basmati shipments to Iran, the largest buyer of the Indian aromatic rice variety in recent years, have dropped 25 per cent to 3.9 lakh tonnes during the April-October period of the current financial year against 5.18 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.Iran, which had stopped issuing fresh import permits for basmati in November 2014, began issuing new permits from December 2015, Sundaresan said.
As a result, basmati shipments were likely to pick up in the coming months. However, the quantum of permits issued by Iran so far could not be ascertained.“Our basmati shipments, in volume terms, may increase by about 10 per cent this year, while in value terms there could be a decline of 20-25 per cent on lower realisations,” said AK Gupta, Director, Basmati Export Development Foundation.
Competing countries

Non-basmati rice exporters, who rely mainly on the African markets, are not optimistic about the outlook for exports in the absence of demand from Nigeria and the firming trend in domestic prices. “The market is not very buoyant because of low prices in countries, such as Pakistan and Vietnam,” said BV Krishna Rao, Managing Director of Pattabhi Agro Foods Pvt Ltd, a large rice exporter in Kakinada.Rao said Indian rice is not competitive in the global market compared to rice from Thailand and Pakistan. The Centre should provide some incentive to rice exporters to help maintain their market share, he added. Rao expects the overall non-basmati shipments to be in the region of around five million tonnes this year.Tejinder Narang, a grains trade analyst, said a depreciating Thailand currency (baht) will pose a challenge to Indian exporters, who are already battling a firming trend in domestic rice prices. “Lack of demand from Nigeria is bound to impact Indian exports,” he added.
(This article was published on January 6, 2016)
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/poor-offtake-from-iran-nigeria-to-dent-indias-rice-exports/article8073384.ece

Local rice farmers and millers threaten to quit production

Jan 7 2016 - 11:57pm
Funsho Balogun

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh has identified rice importation as the bane of the agricultural development policies that have been embarked upon to encourage local production of the grain for domestic consumption and exportation. At an interactive session with the House of Representatives members in Abuja yesterday, Ogbeh lamented the situation in which local rice growers and millers have found themselves.The grouse of the rice farmers and millers is premised on Federal Government’s failure to at least control the rate of importation to allow the lofty programmes embarked upon towards domestic rice production to succeed. According to Ogbeh, many of these local rice farmers and millers, who have since upped their production levels as their hopes were raised by government’s promise to ensure that all that they produce and mill will be easily marketable in the Nigerian market, are now convinced that government was only playing to the gallery by vowing to encourage local production to discourage massive importation of the commodity.
Audu Ogbeh:
“Rice farmers and millers are very frustrated since they cannot market their products because of massive importation. We asked these farmers to grow grains in the sun and rain, only for them to mill it in facilities that the government assisted in making available, and eventually discover that they are stuck with their product, ” the Agriculture Minister said. He further revealed that many of the farmers whom he had interacted with, are on the verge of calling it a day and moving on to other avenues to make a living. ‘’Many of these farmers and millers involved in rice production are already threatening to forget about this venture and facing their destiny in other ventures,” Ogbeh disclosed.
The Minister of Agriculture emphasized that Nigerian farmers did not need experts from abroad to tell them what to do. He noted that government support towards creating a market environment that will encourage domestic production and supporting the farmers in other ways is key in discouraging exportation.
Nasir Ahmed, a member of the House of Representatives pointed out at the interactive session that it is only in the agricultural sector that every state in the country has its own potential. He also emphasized that food security is a bigger threat than the insecurity being faced in the north east. ‘’We must have a chunk of the budget going to agriculture for the next 5-10 years, and we will witness changes if this happens,” Ahmed said.
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/01/local-rice-farmers-and-millers-threaten-to-quit-production/

Rice stock sufficient until grand harvest: Minister

Kamis, 7 Januari 2016 12:57 WIB | 743 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The national rice stock remains sufficient until the grand harvest in March this year at numerous regions in Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi, according to Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman."Our national rice stock is adequate. We have 1.2 million tons of rice in the warehouses of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), which is ready to be distributed to every region," the minister remarked after overseeing the market operations at the Cipinang main rice market on Wednesday.Amran noted that the rice stock will be distributed to every region in Indonesia, especially in the areas that need rice supply through market operations."We will distribute it to all regions across the country, especially in the areas that require the supply of rice," the agriculture minister reiterated.
Amran has forecast that 1.2 million tons of rice stock will be adequate to meet the nations rice needs until the grand harvest in March."God willing, the national stock will be sufficient, without including the imported rice since we will also harvest one million hectares of rice fields in March. This means we will harvest six million tons of rice," he remarked.
Speaking in reference to the market operations at the Cipinang market to last until the harvest period, the minister noted that the Agriculture Ministry and Bulog will distribute 150 thousand tons of rice for the month of January.The agriculture minister also affirmed that the market operations aim to maintain the rice price within the required range or at Rp8,300 per kilogram (kg) in the market.Amran added that the rice distributed by Bulog is of medium and premium grade.
 "We distribute medium to premium grade rice, with the price ranging between Rp7,500 and Rp8,300 per kg in the market to the end users," added Amran.(*
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/102377/rice-stock-sufficient-until-grand-harvest-minister

Nigeria: China to Build Rice Mill Factory in A/Ibom


By Patrick Odey
Uyo — Chinese investors have indicated interest to establish an integrated state-of-the-art rice mill in Akwa Ibom as a means of boosting rice production.The Chairman of Heilongjiang Hegang Sanjiang Plain Rice Group, Heilongjiang, China, Mr. Wang Jingxin stated this when the delegation paid a courtesy visit on the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural resources, Dr. Nathan Matthew Ekaette in his office in Uyo.Mr. Jingxin, accompanied by the Consular-General of Nigerian Embassy in China, Ambassador Ali Ocheni, the Trade Commissioner in the Embassy, Mr. A. Agboluaje hinted of plans to set up a rice research institute in the state to boost rice production.In his remark, commissioner of agriculture Ekaette assured the team of government preparedness to support them through the provision of enabling environment.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201601070336.html
Thailand plans 2m more tonnes of Government-to-Government rice sales
BY LARRY BANKS

BANGKOK: — According to a report in the Bangkok Post, the Thai government plans to sell more than 2 million tonnes of rice this year on a government-to-government (G-to-G) basis.But the country admits attempts to sell rice to Iran may hit problems because of escalating political conflicts in the Middle East. Chutima Bunapraphasara, Commerce Ministry permanent secretary, said the government has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China for a million tonnes.
The Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said on December 3rd that the government was expecting to sign a deal to sell an additional 1 million tonnes to China. The announcement came after the ministry signed a deal to sell a million tonnes of rice to the China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation, a state-owned conglomerate. The deal was part of a 2 million lot for which Thailand and China signed an MoU in December 2014.The rice delivery includes 100,000 tonnes a month starting early this year.
Full story: http://ethailand.com/business-news/thailand-plans-2m-tonnes-of-g2g-rice-sales/1211/
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thailand-plans-2m-more-tonnes-of-government-to-government-rice-sales/127205/
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
- - -
- - -
Long Grain New Crop
- - -
- - -


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1153.0
1151.0
1138.5
-19.0
Mar '16
1182.5
1156.5
1162.0
-21.0
May '16
1204.0
1187.5
1190.5
-20.5
Jul '16
1233.5
1232.5
1217.5
-20.0
Sep '16
1200.0
-20.0
Nov '16
1218.0
-20.0
Jan '17
1218.0
-20.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures ended lower across the board today. Support is at the recent lows just above $11 for March. There is a chart gap between $12.31 and $12.41 that could be an upside target for bulls. The market is finding support from tightening world stocks and concerns about the current El Nino weather pattern impacting production.
http://www.arfb.com/ag-markets-statistics/report/

Rice bird repellent AV-1011 granted conditional registration

Jan 7, 2016Jarrod Hardke, Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist | Delta Farm Press
AV-1011 Bird Repellent for rice seed has been granted a “conditional” registration by the Environmental Protection Agency until Jan. 5, 2018.A conditional registration under section 3(c)(7) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) allows for the product to be used while the manufacturer, Arkion Life Sciences, completes a final data requirement. Once this requirement is fulfilled, a permanent label could be issued by the EPA.AV-1011 has shown to be effective at preventing bird depredation of rice seed. Rice seed treated with AV-1011 is approved for use in drill, water, and broadcast systems.The use-rate for AV-1011 is 18.3 fluid ounces per 100 pounds of seed. With that rate structure, cost of the product on a per acre basis depends on seeding rate (the higher the seeding rate, the higher the cost).
The approved label, material safety data sheet, and suggested grower retail pricing can be found here:
Situations where this product could have the greatest benefit for rice growers include:
• Very early or very late planted rice fields.
• Isolated rice fields.
• Rice fields that are water-seeded.
• Rice fields that are broadcast-seeded.
Field re-entry periods and other restrictions apply to the use of this product. Always read and follow label directions.
Please contact your local seed dealer for more information about having your seed treated with this product.
Blackbirds can swarm onto a rice field and destroy it, causing a farmer to have to replant or abandon the field. (Photo by Johnny Saichuk, LSU AgCenter)
Rice is Still Nice According to Updated DGA
By Katie Maher
  WASHINGTON, DC -- This morning the latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) was released and rice remains high on the list of recommended foods for its fiber and iron content, and the fact that rice is the perfect base for all of the fruits, vegetables, and other foods linked to a healthy diet.Byron Holmes, an Arkansas rice farmer and chairman of the USA Rice Nutrition Subcommittee, said, "We're pleased with the DGA's recommendation for the average healthy American adult to consume six one-ounce servings of grain foods daily, with half of those servings coming from whole grains.  This guidance is consistent with recommendations from major leading health organizations and puts rice squarely on Americans' plates."
 During the review process, USA Rice and members of the U.S. Grain Chain, a grains industry coalition from farm to table, submitted a letter to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) strongly urging the continuance of the whole grain recommendation.  The Grain Chain also advocated for continued recognition of the valuable role of enriched grains in a healthy diet, a key component of which is fortification of white rice with folic acid.
 Holmes added, "USA Rice takes an active role in the development of the DGA by nominating experts to serve on the panel, submitting positive research findings about the nutrition benefits of rice, and by testifying at public meetings.  The rice industry's advocacy has resulted in the positive positioning of rice over the past ten years."The DGA, which serves as our national nutrition policy, is updated every five years and helps determine criteria for school lunches for millions of school children, and serves as the basis of pu
Packed house in Acadia Parish
Acadia Parish Rice Growers Gather at LSU
By Michael Klein
 CROWLEY, LA -- More than 100 growers gathered here today to hear a review of the 2015 growing year and projections and recommendations for 2016 from a series of LSU speakers.Following business meetings, Dr. Steve Linscombe thanked growers for their support through the check off program and then shared results from the many test plots he administers.  While LSU's 2016 guide is not ready for distribution yet, Dr. Linscombe shared the six long grain, two medium grain, and two specialty rice recommendations he is making for the coming year including six Clearfield varieties.
 He also reported on two new Clearfield varieties being developed, CL 153 and CL 272, that are showing promising ratoon possibilities.Dr. Dustin Harrell offered an overview of 2015 including statistics showing main crop production down, but ratoon production likely the highest on record.Growers then heard presentations on weed and disease control and market updates from Dr. Eric Webster, Dr. Don Groth, and Dr. Mike Salassiblic health campaigns across the country.
Supreme Court says Jack Charles was wrong in importing rice: the rice fight continues
Written by Administrator  
Thursday, 07 January 2016 00:00
The 75 tonnes of Guyanese Rice that importer Jack Charles brought into Belize is at risk of being disposed of by the Customs Department. The only thing stopping this Government agency from doing that is an interim injunction which was granted by the Supreme Court to restrain them until further notice.After waiting for 2 weeks, since Christmas Eve, Charles and his attorneys were finally given their day in court before Justice Sonya Young. They were trying to convince her to grant them permission to bring a case for Judicial Review against the Customs Department, and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA). They continued to assert that these government bodies overstepped their mandate given to them by the importation laws when they detained his cargo. He and his advisors say that he had a reasonable expectation to be given an importation permit to bring in the Guyanese rice for sale in the Belizean market, but BAHA and Customs did not take the options granted to them under the law to refuse him this permit.
Charles’ position is that the Government was only allowed to detain his imported rice for agricultural and health reasons provided for in the law, but they refused to grant him his import permit on a policy decision that the Ministry of Agriculture took. As readers will remember, Charles says that he can import premium Grade A rice and sell it on shelves for 69 cents a pound, which is 21 Cents below the controlled price for the Grade C Rice produced by the local rice producers in Belize. The Government has taken the policy that at this time, it must prevent the Guyanese rice from being sold in Belize because it could destroy the local rice industry, and drive Belizean rice producers out of business.
The learned reasoning at this time is that even if the rice was allowed to be sold in Belize, because it is highly subsidized by the Guyanese Government, it would enjoy an unfair market advantage over the rice producers who’s production is not subsidized by the Belize Government. Another difficulty is that Guyana is a More Developed Country (MDC), and under CARICOM trading standards, an MDC cannot threaten the industry of a Lesser Developed Country (LDC), which is the current classification of Belize. So, that’s the difference of opinion that would have been tested before Justice Sonya Young.

On Monday, January 4, however, after Charles’ attorney, Leeroy Banner and the Government’s Deputy Solicitor General, Nigel Hawke, were heard, Justice Young refused to grant leave for Charles to bring a case for Judicial Review. He was stopped dead in his tracks at the very first step of this legal battle. The arguments were made in the judge’s chambers, and in the absence of the presence of the press, but the judge was reportedly very stern in her refusal to allow Charles leave. She reportedly commented that his decision to bring the rice into Belize without the import permit was unlawful and illegal, and he is now trying to use the court to legitimize his unlawful action. That appeared - at least on the face of it - to be the possible end of the dispute. So, on Tuesday, January 5 the Customs Department went before Senior Magistrate Sharon Frazer for an ex-parte hearing.
That allowed for no one from Jack Charles’ camp to have to be notified, and in that hearing, Customs applied to the court for an order of forfeiture. Once granted, it would allow for the Department to take possession of the rice and destroy it. Senior Magistrate Frazer granted the order, which meant that Customs could go to the Port of Big Creek and unload the rice for disposal. Before they could get started, Charles’ attorneys Leeroy Banner and Michel Chebat were informed of that action, and they went before the Chief Justice, Kenneth Benjamin, for an emergency injunction to restrain the Government.
The Chief Justice granted that injunction, which remains in effect until Tuesday, January 12. At that time, the order of the rice forfeiture will be tested to see if it is lawful. The outcome of that hearing is expected to determine whether the rice will be destroyed at this stage, and so, it is expected to be a fierce legal battle.
Last Updated on Thursday, 07 January 2016 13:46
http://www.guardian.bz/component/content/article/54-highlight/10652-supreme-court-says-jack-charles-was-wrong-in-importing-rice-the-rice-fight-continues
APEDA Commodity News
International Benchmark Price
Price on: 07-01-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2812
2
Iranian natural sultanas (Gouchan), CIF UK (USD/t)
1954
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1925
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
820
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
535
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 06-01-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2800
3800
2
Shimoga (Karnataka)
Medium
2150
3750
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other 
1850
1875
Wheat
1
Manvi (Karnataka)
Other
1475
1479
2
Alappuzha (Kerala)
Other
1900
2000
3
Palitana (Gujarat)
Other
1400
2000
Orange
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2000
2100
2
Malout (Punjab)
Other
1500
2000
3
Mechua (West  Bengal)
Other
1600
2100
Carrot
1
Bonai (Orissa)
Other
1000
1000
2
Khanna(Punjab)
Other
300
600
3
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
800
1000
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 07-01-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
430
2
Hyderabad
395
3
Nagapur
392
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 07-01-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
16
16
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
13
14.50
3
Miami
Idaho
Russet
16.50
18
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Long Seedless
14.50
14.50
2
Chicago
Canada
Long Seedless
11
12
3
Miami
Honduras
Long Seedless
9.50
10
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida   
Red
21
23.50
2
Chicago
Florida   
Red
20
22
3
Miami
Florida   
Red
17
18
Source:USDA


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