8th February 2016 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Today Rice News Headlines...

·         Four-year rice deal with Indonesia will bail out troubled sector

·         Ukraine. In the first half of 2015/16 MY, PJSC SFGCU exported 1.5 mln tonnes of grains

·         Philippines to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia

·         Rice firms told to develop domestic market

·         Rice farmers too dependent on China: report

·         Basmati rice gets GI tag in 7 Indian states: Geographical indicators in India

·         Pak loses Geographical Indication bid for Basmati rice before Chennai appellate

·         EXPORT DEAL WITH INDONESIA TO REVIVE SINKING RICE SECTOR’

·         Philippines to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia

·         Rice Prices Under Pressure

·         Make Plans Now to Attend This Year's Mid-South Farm & Gin Show

·         Research at universities

·         Pulse rate: collateral benefit

·         Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Feb 08

·         02/08/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

News Detail...

Four-year rice deal with Indonesia will bail out troubled sector

Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Patron Shahid Rasheed Butt on Sunday said the four-year rice export deal with Indonesia would bail out the troubled sector and stabilise prices at home.He demanded more long and short term agreements with other countries to boost rice exports as the sector has been facing problems for the last few years.Butt said in his statement that export of rice to Indonesia would boost overall exports to 4.6 million tonnes which would be a record and for which the government deserved credit.Pakistan’s export forecast had recently been raised by 0.1 million tonnes in the wake of a deal with Indonesia, he added.He said the reasons behind the crisis in the rice sector were high production cost, the exporters focusing on profit instead of quality and the availability of Indian rice on low rates.Local exporters wanted to sell rice at $950 to $1100 per tonne while the Indians offered prices as low as 720 to 850 per tonne because of the low production cost and hidden subsidies in their country, he added.India’s move to sell basmati at lower prices took a toll on Pakistan’s exports but its exporters remained unwilling to bring down their prices, Butt said.

The business leader said that Iran was another promising market where Pakistani rice was in great demand but the payment mechanism continued to discourage the exporters.India would be a major competitor to Pakistan in the Iranian market for which exporters and the government need to make an effective strategy, he added.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/02/08/business/four-year-rice-deal-with-indonesia-will-bail-out-troubled-sector/

 

Ukraine. In the first half of 2015/16 MY, PJSC SFGCU exported 1.5 mln tonnes of grains

08.02.2016

In the first half of 2015/16 MY, PJSC State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine (SFGCU) exported nearly 1.5 mln tonnes of grains, declared the press-service of the company on February 5.According to the Head of logistics department at SFGCU, Dmitry Shmokarev, the company reached such results due to centralized operation of the department of foreign economic activity and the purchasing and logistics department, as well as establishment of innovations.

The list of key changes in the logistics activity includes launching of the department of freight-forwarding support, which allows shipping cargoes on its own, and providing services to the bailor.During the period since November 1, 2015, SFGCU has already shipped over 100 thsd tonnes of grains in such way, said the Head of department.In addition, SFGCU launched the system of electronic document management with digital signature with counterparties, and the system of electronic tenders to specify the freight rates for grain shipping by rail.

http://www.blackseagrain.net/novosti/ukraine-in-the-first-half-of-2015-16-my-pjsc-sfgcu-exported-1-5-mln-tonnes-of-grains

Philippines to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 8, 2016 - 12:00am

Local hybrid rice and seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. will ship out a minimum of 100 kilos of seeds for an initial pilot testing where quarantine processes are already being arranged. STAR/File photo

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is set to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia in April as the country’s ASEAN neighbor seeks to raise self-sufficiency in rice production amid its limited rice area.Local hybrid rice and seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. will ship out a minimum of 100 kilos of seeds for an initial pilot testing where quarantine processes are already being arranged.“Given this potential commercial planting, the Philippines can be the first to introduce a highly suitable hybrid rice in Malaysia. Our hybrid rice was developed for tropical climate. Malaysia has a climate much similar to our climate in Mindanao,” SL Agritech chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong said.

The pilot testing will be spearheaded by a private Malaysian company, Titijaya Land Berhad (TLB), in partnership with the Malaysian government through agricultural state research agency Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).TLB has also expressed interest to start the importation of seeds from the Philippines to commence commercial planting of the hybrid rice, but tests have to be carried out under federal rules.Previous pilot tests in Sarawak state have been successful, giving a yield of 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare which is significantly higher from the national average rice yield of inbred in Malaysia.

 “We can’t just use the results of the test in Sarawak to right away do commercial planting in Penang because of Malaysia’s government policies,” SL Agritech hybrid rice specialist Frisco Malabanan said.The initial pilot testing in the states of Penang and Kedah is foreseen to be succeeded by commercial planting on around 1,000 hectares.

Furthermore, other Malaysian private firms have expressed intention to import SL Agritech’s Dona Maria premium rice.“This will demonstrate to the Malaysian market the good quality of Philippines’ hybrid rice. We have an advantage because ours is hybrid which has a higher yield,” Malabanan said.Malaysia imports around 35 percent of its rice supply from Thailand while its own production continues to be dominated by inbreds despite introduction of hybrid rice by Chinese producers.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/02/08/1550691/philippines-pioneer-hybrid-rice-farming-malaysia

Rice firms told to develop domestic market

Viet Nam News

HOME  AEC  BUSINESS  MON, 8 FEB, 2016 11:43 AM

Vietnam produces 20 to 21 million tonnes of rice each year. Of this rice, 8 to 9 million tonnes are annually exported, based upon signed contracts. The remaining rice is purchased by domestic consumers, according to the Vietnam Food Association.However, rice enterprises have not paid attention to domestic rice markets, where there is a high demand, choosing instead to focus on exports.n 2008, two centres for distributing rice for local consumption were built in HCM City and Can Tho City to stabilise domestic rice prices. Also, several retail shops selling rice were opened for local consumers.

But these shops faced many difficulties in selling rice and even had losses, the association said, because enterprises trading rice on the domestic market must pay a 5 per cent value added tax (VAT), resulting in the prices for their rice being higher than rice sold by household businesses that do not pay VAT.Therefore, to assure there being profits in selling rice on the local market, rice firms have had to sell high-grade rice at higher prices to those consumers with larger incomes.

In addition, firms must compete with household businesses in services involved in selling rice, the association said. The household businesses have had flexibility in distributing rice and provided a high level of services, even to rural and remote areas, while firms have distribution systems in both cities and towns.Truong Thanh Phong, former chairman of the association, said the association has repeatedly proposed to the Government that they abolish the VAT paid by rice firms. But the Ministry of Finance has objected, causing rice firms to ignore local rice markets.Meanwhile, in rural areas, people continue to hold back rice for their own consumption after harvesting, while selling the remaining rice to enterprises, he said.He hopes that in the coming 5 to 10 years, living standards in rural areas will have improved and small rice mills will be closed. The people in rural areas might then sell all their rice after harvesting, and then purchase rice for daily use. If this occurs, local rice markets will have more opportunities to further develop, he said.For the development of local rice markets, the VAT must be abolished and convenient and flexible distribution systems from rice enterprises must be put in place, he said. 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Rice-firms-told-to-develop-domestic-market-30278798.html

Rice farmers too dependent on China: report

Rice being loaded at Pakokku jetty, Magway Region. (Photo-Thet Htein Win)

Rice farmers are over reliant on the Chinese market, Myanmar Rice Federation heard at its annual general meeting at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The northern giant takes 93 per cent of Myanmar’s rice.

The Customs Department said by January 28 this financial year, maritime exports reached 66,400 tonnes (7.3 per cent) and 840,800 tonnes left across its borders. Efforts to diversify to other markets, including the European Union, were making slow progress, according to a study by Aung Than Oo, chairperson of Myanmar Rice Merchants’ Association.Exports to China were always vulnerable to Beijing’s crackdowns, it said.The meeting criticised China for asking for rice to be held in warehouses along the border and requiring third-party certificates.

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/rice-farmers-too-dependent-china-report

The purchasing of the paddy harvest of the Maha season is scheduled to commence in next week

Minister P. Harrison says that Paddy purchasing and Marketing is being carried out in a more transparent manner. The decisions relating to this issue is being taken by a ministerial sub committee and a cost of living ministerial sub committee headed by the Prime Minister. Minister Harrison addressing a media briefing in Colombo today said that the government has purchased 335,000 metric tons of paddy during the previous Yala and Maha seasons. This is the largest quantity of paddy ever purchased in the history of Sri Lanka. The PMB has paid 15.43 billion rupees to the farmers in this regard.

A kilo of samba rice was purchased for 50 rupees and a kilo of Nadu rice for 45 rupees. Due to the government's practice of providing the highest price for paddy to the farmers, it has been possible to maintain the purchasing prices for paddy in the private sector also at the highest level. The minister added that 200,000 metric tons of this harvest have not yet been sold. The majority of the stocks are of the Nadu paddy variety. The government hopes to sell a kilo of nadu paddy for 32 rupees and 50 cents. Around 80 paddy mills have come forward to purchase the stocks. Minister Harrison added that meanwhile, measures are also underway to convert the paddy into rice and distribute among Samurdhi beneficiaries.

Attention has also been focused to handover rice stocks to government institutions and hospitals as well.Commencement of the purchasing of the Paddy harvest of the Maha season is scheduled to commence next week. The paddy buying process is expected to commence in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

http://www.slbc.lk/index.php/en/tamil-news-update/3359-the-purchasing-of-the-paddy-harvest-of-the-maha-season-is-scheduled-to-commence-in-next-week.html

Basmati rice gets GI tag in 7 Indian states: Geographical indicators in India

TAGS:Jammu & KashmirPunjabMysoreChilliChennaiIndia

Geographical indicators in India

The world is full of beautiful places and each one has something unique about it. People tend to relate things to the places they originated in. Over time, such indigenous features about a certain place become a part of its identity. Some of them become synonymous to their specific geographical locations and acquire Geographical Indication (GI) tags.The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has ordered Chennai -based Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) to issue a Geographical Indication tag for basmati rice. The tag will be issued to the variety of basmati rice grown in seven states, namely Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP).

India has 236 GI products registered so far and over 270 more products have applied for the label. Let's take a look at 10 such geographical indicators in India:

Darjeeling Tea

Darjeeling Tea was the first Indian product to get the geographical indication tag. In 2004, the famous beverage got the recognition. It is one of the top exported food products of the country.

Mysore Silk

The famous fabric of Karnataka got included into the GI family in 2005. The state, specifically Mysore, produces around 9,000 metric tonnes of Mysore Silk every year.

Odisha Pattachitra

Pattachitra is a form of art that originated in Odisha. It is a pictorial narrative painted on a cloth-based scroll. Generally, the scrolls depict the tales of Hindu gods and goddesses.

Blue Pottery

One of them famous traditional crafts of Rajasthan is the Blue Pottery made in Jaipur and its surrounding areas. Besides its striking blue colour, the handicraft product is also unique because of its material. It is not made of clay but by mixing quartz stone powder, powdered glass, Multani Mitti (Fuller's Earth), borax, gum, soda bicarbonate and water.

 

Kashmir Pashmina

In Persian, pasmina means made of wool and in Kashmiri, it means soft gold. The Kashmir Pashmina is native to the region because it can only be made from the wool of three breeds of goats - Changthangi, Chegu and Chyangara - that can only be found in Kashmir and some parts of Nepal.

Phulkari, Punjab

Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have many things in common, among which one is the colourful designs of Phulkari. It is an embroidery technique using beautiful designs of flowers on shawls, scarves, saris etc. It is said that earlier, real flowers were used in the process.

Nagpur Orange

Nagpur is also known as the Orange City. This shows the deep relation the place shares with its pulpy oranges. The Nagpur Oranges were registered as a GI in April 2014.

Mizo Chilli

Also known as the Bird's Eye Chilli, Mizo Chilli is one of the hottest food items in the world. The chilli is so hot that the local people handle it very carefully and treat it with respect. It can only be consumed in small quantities as people have been reported to avail medical assistance when they tried their hands on this little thing!

Lucknow Chikan Craft

Chikan craft is famous all over the world. The Lucknow specialty was given the GI status in December 2008. The textile design is said to be introduced by Nur Jehan, wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir.

Hyderabad Haleem

The Hyderabad Haleem is perhaps the only Indian dish to have got a GI status. It is a stew prepared from meat, lentils and pounded wheat. The item is mostly eaten at iftar during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The mouthwatering delicacy received the GI tag in 2010.

 

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Pak loses Geographical Indication bid for Basmati rice before Chennai appellate

Manish Raj | TNN | Feb 6, 2016, 02.11 PM IST

CHENNAI: Pakistan has lost ts battle to obtain the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag for basmati rice, owing to its failure to play by mandatory rules.
Lahore-based Basmati Growers Association (BGA) had moved Intellectual Property Appellate Board here, challenging the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority's (APEDA) application seeking GI tag for basmati rice cultivated in seven states — Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Utarakhand, Haryana, Pun ab and J&K — in India.

More importantly, BGA opposed grant of GI tag basmati to India "in totality". It argued that the assistant registrar of GI in Chennai had "gravely erred that rice produced in arearegion of Madhya Pradesh, or for that matter any part of India can bear the basmati tag", the appeal added. On Friday , however, IPAB rejected the arguments saying BGA had "miserably failed" to comply with the rules.

After APEDA's application was advertised in the GI journal in May 2010, BGA served it a notice. Even though it received a counteraffidavit to its notice and in spite of two extensions, BGA failed to provide evidence supporting its opposition — within the prescribed time and format -under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. So the registry rejected the opposition as `abandoned' on December 31, 2013, IPR attorney P San jai Gandhi said.

BGA moved IPAB, challenging the registry's order BGA's counsel said the asso ciation filed its evidence "diligently" and it was APEDA that countered with missing documents.
Underlining the require ment for strict compliance of rules, APEDA's counse said BGA's "explanation was an afterthought and an excuse to cover up gross neg ligence." A bench of chair man Justice K N Basha and technical member (trade marks) Sanjeev Kumar Chaswal said there was no explanation to justify the de lay for filing its evidence.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Pak-loses-Geographical-Indication-bid-for-Basmati-rice-before-Chennai-appellate/articleshow/50877704.cms

EXPORT DEAL WITH INDONESIA TO REVIVE SINKING RICE SECTOR’

Monday, February 08, 2016 - Islamabad—Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt on Sunday lauded the government for 4-year rice export deal with Indonesia which will bailout the troubled sector and stabilise prices at home.He demanded more long and short term agreements with other countries to boost the rice sector which is facing problems since some tears. Shahid Rasheed Butt said that export of rice to Indonesia will boost overall exports to 4.6 million tonnes which will be a record for which credit goes to the government. Pakistan’s export forecast has recently been raised by 0.1m tonnes in the wake of a deal with Indonesia.

He said that reasons behind crisis in rice sector include high production cost, too much focus of exporters on profit and availability of Indian rice on low rates. Local exporters want to sell rice at 950 to 1100 dollars per tonne while Indians offer prices as low as 720 to 850 per tonne because of the low production cost and hidden subsidies. India’s move to sell basmati at lower prices had taken a toll on Pakistan’s exports but our exporters remained unwilling to bring down their prices, said Butt. The veteran business leader said that Iran is another promising market where Pakistani rice is in great demand but payment mechanism continue to discourage exporters. He said that India will be a major competitor to Pakistan in the Iranian market for which exporters and government needs to make an effective strategy.—NNI

Envoy: Iran to grow rice, wheat in Africa

Sun Feb 7, 2016 9:16AM

Acacia trees on a big wheat field in Africa

Iran is reportedly looking to lease land in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for large-scale food production to serve local and export markets.  More than 10 Iranian companies have expressed interest in growing and processing rice, corn and wheat in East Africa, Iranian Ambassador to Kenya Hadi Farajvand has said.He said Iran is supporting mechanized agriculture beyond its borders, with companies leasing huge chunks of land and applying modern agricultural methods to grow food for export to Iran.The companies are willing to establish manufacturing plants in the region to cater to the local market and to export to Iran, Farajvand said.The move is also aimed at narrowing trade deficit with the Horn of Africa countries, which is in Iran’s favor, he added.

The East African Community (EAC) mainly exports unprocessed agricultural products like tea, coffee and meat to Iran. It imports oil products, machinery and telecommunication equipment from the Middle Eastern country.Local trade experts said the region should strive to export more processed goods to Iran, beginning this year.“The lifting of sanctions on Iran will pave the way for EAC member states to forge closer ties with Iran, but we need to export value-added products if we are to tilt the balance of trade in our favor,” Peter Kiguta, director-general of Customs and Trade at the EAC, told the Geeska Afrika news agency.The East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) expects exports to Iran to grow five-fold in one year with the opening of the market, it said.Farajvand said the biggest challenge in fostering stronger trade ties between Iran and the EAC countries is the lack of political will in the region and limited information on the available opportunities in Iran.

He said many products from Iran are imported into the region through other countries, making the final product expensive. These imports include oil products, bitumen, ceramics and electricity equipment.Iran’s Agriculture Minister Mahmoud Hojjati has said the government had envisioned investment on 500,000 hectares of farmland in a number of countries to produce food.

Grain harvest in Khorsh-Rostam in Iran's Ardabil Province

Last August, Agriculture Ministry’s Mohammad Reza Shafeinia said Iran had launched agricultural cultivation in Kazakhstan, marking its first farmland investment overseas.Water-intensive rice and corn crops as well as oilseeds and livestock inputs have been cited by Agriculture Ministry officials as the target products which Iran seeks to grow on farmlands overseas.Iran is pushing for development of 60,000 hectares of land to cultivate agricultural products in Brazil, Hojjati has said.  

Food prices are a key driver of Iran’s double-digit inflation which shot over 40% under former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  Food security is a serious matter for Iran, given the size of its population which has grown over 80 million and seen its food basket grow smaller.“Between 38-40% of the Iranian families’ economy is related to food which requires us to build a base for reducing prices of nutritional products and providing for facile access to them,” Shafeinia said.

http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/02/07/449065/Iran-agriculture-food-security-Africa

Philippines to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia

By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star) | Updated February 8, 2016 - 12:00am

Local hybrid rice and seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. will ship out a minimum of 100 kilos of seeds for an initial pilot testing where quarantine processes are already being arranged. STAR/File photo

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is set to pioneer hybrid rice farming in Malaysia in April as the country’s ASEAN neighbor seeks to raise self-sufficiency in rice production amid its limited rice area.Local hybrid rice and seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. will ship out a minimum of 100 kilos of seeds for an initial pilot testing where quarantine processes are already being arranged.“Given this potential commercial planting, the Philippines can be the first to introduce a highly suitable hybrid rice in Malaysia. Our hybrid rice was developed for tropical climate. Malaysia has a climate much similar to our climate in Mindanao,” SL Agritech chairman Henry Lim Bon Liong said.

The pilot testing will be spearheaded by a private Malaysian company, Titijaya Land Berhad (TLB), in partnership with the Malaysian government through agricultural state research agency Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI).TLB has also expressed interest to start the importation of seeds from the Philippines to commence commercial planting of the hybrid rice, but tests have to be carried out under federal rules.Previous pilot tests in Sarawak state have been successful, giving a yield of 10 metric tons (MT) per hectare which is significantly higher from the national average rice yield of inbred in Malaysia.

“We can’t just use the results of the test in Sarawak to right away do commercial planting in Penang because of Malaysia’s government policies,” SL Agritech hybrid rice specialist Frisco Malabanan said.The initial pilot testing in the states of Penang and Kedah is foreseen to be succeeded by commercial planting on around 1,000 hectares.Furthermore, other Malaysian private firms have expressed intention to import SL Agritech’s Dona Maria premium rice.“This will demonstrate to the Malaysian market the good quality of Philippines’ hybrid rice. We have an advantage because ours is hybrid which has a higher yield,” Malabanan said.Malaysia imports around 35 percent of its rice supply from Thailand while its own production continues to be dominated by inbreds despite introduction of hybrid rice by Chinese producers.

http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/02/08/1550691/philippines-pioneer-hybrid-rice-farming-malaysia

Rice Prices Under Pressure

By IFC MarketsCommoditiesFeb 08, 2016 07:37AM ET

Awaiting USDA report on Thursday

Lately, rice prices have been under pressure. The Thai officials are planning to sell 11mln tonnes of rice from the state reserves which is to be discussed on February 29. Thailand released 9.8mln tonnes of rice in global markets in 2015 which is 10.9% below the 11mln tonnes in 2014. Another negative factor is plans of Indonesia to enhance its rice output and to renounce rice imports. The positive is the increased demand on rice from Iran, Syria and other Middle-East states, as well as from Philippines and Nigeria. The major world producers are India, Thailand and Vietnam whose crops may suffer from El Nino.

 In the its previous report USDA forecasted the global rice production will amount to 470.1mln tonnes in 2015/16. This is 2% below the level of the previous season. Meanwhile, the global rice consumption will surpass its production already for the 3rd straight season. This may cut the global rice reserves by 14% compared to the previous year to 89.7mln tonnes. USDA expected the volume of global rice trading to total 42.1mln tonnes which is 2% below the last year’s level. The rice crops in the US are at 192.3mln hundred weights (cwt), according to the previous report. In our opinion, the rice prices may depend on the USDA forecasts highlighted in its new report on February 11.

Rice Daily Chart

On the daily chart Rice:D1 is in downtrend and has verged its resistance. The Parabolic indicator and MACD give buy signals. RSI is neutral and below 50 but has formed the positive divergence. The Bollinger bands® are slightly contracting which may mean lower volatility. The bullish momentum may develop when the price surpasses the last fractal high and the 200-day moving average at 11.56, or in case of the fall below the second fractal low, Parabolic signal and Bollinger band at 10.68. The market will choose the direction itself.

Two or more positions may be placed symmetrically: having opened one of the orders, the second may be deleted as the market has chosen the direction. Having opened the pending order we shall move the stop to the next fractal high (short position) or fractal low (long position) following the Parabolic signal every 4 hours. The most risk-averse traders may switch to the 4-hour chart after the trade and place there a stop-loss moving it in the direction of the trade. Thus, we are changing the probable profit/loss ratio to the breakeven point. If the price meets the stop-loss level without reaching the order, we recommend cancelling the position: the market sustains internal changes which were not taken into account.

Position Sell Sell stop below 10,68 Stop loss above 11,56

http://www.investing.com/analysis/technical-analysis-c-rice-:-2016-02-08-383686

Make Plans Now to Attend This Year's Mid-South Farm & Gin Show 

By Michael Klein 

MEMPHIS, TN -- The Mid-South Farm & Gin Show returns to the Cook Convention Center here, February 26-27.  One of the largest farm shows in the region, this event always draws a big crowd from all of the surrounding states in the Mid-South and Southeast who come to check out the latest equipment and machinery available to farmers in the region.  Also on the schedule are educational seminars from industry experts on commodity market updates, crop marketing strategies, and best management practices for environmental purposes and reducing operation costs. 

While exploring the three floors full of more than 400 exhibitors, be sure and stop by the USA Rice booth, located at Space #2080 in the Show Hall, to talk one-on-one with USA Rice staff about what's new in the U.S. rice industry and get all the specifics on USA Rice activities and promotions.  "USA Rice's presence at the show gives us the perfect opportunity to meet with rice producers as well as educate the general public about rice.  We talk with more than 1,000 individuals and families each year and always enjoy making connections," said Randy Jemison, USA Rice director of field services in Louisiana.Registration is available online and anyone who registers by February 14 will be eligible to win a $1,000 cash prize.  

Research at universities

Among other important suggestions President Abdul Hamid made at the convocation of a private university last Saturday, one concerns greater attention to research at the tertiary level - no matter if the facility is in public or private sector. Indeed, here is a neglected area the president has felt prompted to shed light on. Admittedly, the country's scientific research base is weak and inadequate except perhaps in the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute at Gazipur and at Mymensingh Agriculture University where its germ plasma centre is doing excellent work.

Facilities for both fundamental and applied research at the reputed public universities are poor and inadequate because of shortage of fund. Government allocation for this purpose is unimaginably meagre. The fact is, in developed countries the highest seats of learning receive large investments from giant industries and companies and their collaborative ventures have come up with most of the scientific breakthroughs and inventions. 

In a country like Bangladesh, this did not happen in the past because such business houses and industries were non-existent. Now quite a few have grown into large sizes and if they wish they can surely make considerable amounts of fund available for research at university or other laboratories under collaborative agreements.

There is no reason to underestimate the talent of local scientists and researchers. Professor Satyendra Nath Bose did his research at Dhaka University. Given the right kind of facilities and leadership, what they can produce has been amply proved by the jute genome sequencing under late world-renowned geneticist Maqsudul Alam. Happily, opinions and recommendations from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are sought for preparing guidelines of infrastructure, vehicles and vessels and even for geographic planning. But this could be at a higher level if more opportunities for research were created in its respective departments. 

The president's emphasis on establishing research facilities both in private and public universities should not fall on deaf ears. For a nation this is most essential if it has to develop its own special mechanism of warding off gadgets that are not quite suitable for local conditions. Research allows students to be familiar with things they learn theoretically only and apply their own talent in order to innovate. Most private universities are reluctant to invest in improving the quality of education let alone pour money for research facilities. This practice should be replaced by a culture where private universities too can take up challenges of research and innovation. 

The good thing is that today a young crop of geniuses are ready to challenge the world. Already a number of teams have participated in international competitions with sterling success. Their ideas and innovations have been widely appreciated by their peers and the panels of judges. This raises the hope that pouring money in projects they advance will not go waste. This positive development certainly has to be encouraged by both the government and the private sector. Increasing collaborative ventures will prompt a culture so essential for national progress.

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2016/02/08/14678

Pulse rate: collateral benefit

08 February 2016                  

The process of coping with scarcities can be quite trying for a bureaucrat, says Vivek K Agnihotri, former secretary general, Rajya Sabha

In the days gone by, there used to be an aphorism in a Hindi dialect - ghar kee murgi dal baroba. It meant that no value is attached to a thing that is easily available.However, an unprecedented increase in the price of pulses, (particularly the Indian universal tuvar dal or split red gram), has sent the pulse of the common man racing, spawning, a host of jokes and cartoons, at the cost of once humble lentils, such as the 'dal banam murgi' (pulse versus chicken) genre. At this point, for the uninitiated, it may not be out of place to throw some perfunctory light on the mind-boggling range of pulses and / or lentils consumed in India.  Local names of some of these, along with their English equivalents, are given in the table at the bottom.The governments (state as well the centre) have inter alia gone into the customary overdrive against the so-called hoarders. If hoarding happens, can raids be far behind?

It has reportedly resulted in a huge haul of more than 130,000 metric tonnes of lentils across the country - over ten times the quantity imported as well as proposed to be imported by the government, and practically at no cost; it is yours for the taking.

However, according to one estimate, it is still only about one-tenth of the likely demand for it in the country till the next harvest.These operations remind me of a couple of anti-hoarding and anti-smuggling drives, of which I was part of during the early part of my career

Actually, that is the carefree phase in the calling of most of the civil servants, when they hoof it, where angels would be wary of treading.The year was 1972, when I had just about completed my first year of my first posting as Sub- (called Sub Collector) in the then State of Andhra Pradesh.  The culprit on that occasion was not dal but fertilizers, a more precious and politically charged commodity in the so-called rice bowl of the country. Our informant told us that in a local godown there was a stock of fertilizer, which had been diverted from its legitimate destination and hoarded for black marketing.  I, along with my entourage of local Tahsildar, Block Development Officer (BDO), some village functionaries and a modicum of constabulary, reached the place unannounced.

I had not informed any member of the retinue the exact purpose of our getting together.  It was around 12 noon on a working day, but the godown, which belonged to a cooperative society of which the local MLA was the president, was locked, with no caretaker in sight. I ordered the locks to be broken, following the prescribed procedure, known as panchnama.  The Tahsildar and the BDO were apprehensive and advised me against it.  The president of the cooperative society happened to be a minister of the state government.  In the first flush of youth and idealism, I directed them to do what I had told them.

The locks were broken and, sure enough, a huge unauthorised stock of fertilizers was unearthed, along with some innocuous material.  An inventory was taken and the godown was sealed following the prescribed procedures. I returned to my office, prepared a report under the Essential Commodities Act and sent it, along with the concerned documents, to the collector of the district for further action.  My job was over and I proceeded to undertake other similar misadventures.

Those were days of scarcities.  Everything was scare and, therefore, under the 'command and control' regime (direct regulation of an industry or activity by legislation that states what is permitted and what is illegal) to a great extent.  It was applicable not only to food grains and fertilizers, but also to cars, of all things. For example, if I wanted to buy a new Fiat car (one of the two or at most three options at that time, and the most popular  for private use), the waiting time was about 18 months, even if I had the money.  Its 'controlled' price at that time was about Rs14,000 (a big sum in terms of purchase power, though).  It was approximately 28 times my monthly take home salary; today the price of a decent car is only 6 times my take home pension and is available off the shelf!.

Coming back to my misadventure, having done my job, I forgot about it till I was told by my Tahsildar that the Collector had released the seized stock of fertilizers.  I forgot about that too, till I came to know through the grapevine that the collector had been made an out-of-turn allotment of a Fiat car.  The minister concerned was the minister for transport.A few years later, I was posted as joint collector (additional district magistrate) in a district, which was facing foodgrain scarcity (particularly of rice), but was surrounded by the legendary 'rice bowl'.  It had little rice production, but was blessed with a slew of rice mills, some of them conveniently located at the district borders.

In order to ensure that the rice millers delivered the 'levy' quantity of rice to the administration, there were restrictions on inter-district movement of paddy (un-milled rice).  No paddy from other districts could enter my district for milling, without a certificate from my counterpart that the levy on it had been delivered or deposited. Since most clandestine operations take place during the night, it was the duty of my team to patrol the borders and catch trucks entering our district without the necessary certificate and vice versa.  Occasionally, I accompanied my team on these nocturnal sojourns.

It was perhaps a festival holiday, and expecting a huge haul, we went on patrol to porous border points with a large team.  At the dead of night, we accosted a caravan of trucks; stopped and seized them for want of necessary certificates.The trucks were brought to the district headquarters and parked in the collectorate compound, with ample security arrangements.  Next day, as expected, my subordinate staff started receiving desperate calls from local big-wigs, including the rice millers, for release of the trucks.The officers came to me for instructions; I told them to proceed as per law and get the rice milled for realisation of levy and sale of the rest in the open market.A couple of days later, one of the senior officers came to me and said, ''Sir, there is great pressure.  What should I do?''

I told him that we were in the chief minister's district and if he was not bothered, why should he?  And that put all doubts to rest.

Tuvar / Toor dal Split Red gram / Pigeon Pea Sabut Urad Black gram Urad dal / Kali dal Split Black gram Moong Green gram Moong dal Split Green gram Chana Bengal gram / Chickpeas (brown) Chana dal Split Bengal gram Hara Chana / Cholia Chickpeas (green) Kabuli Chana Chickpeas (white) Masoor Red Lentil Kulthi Horse gram Rajma Red Kidney Beans Lobhia / Chawli Black eyed beans

http://www.domain-b.com/economy/Govt/20160208_pulse_rate.html#sthash.xEWithu9.dpuf

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-Feb 08

Nagpur, Feb 8 Gram and tuar prices zoomed up again in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and

Marketing Committee (APMC) here on increased demand from local millers amid tight supply fromproducing regions. Sharp hike in gram on NCDEX, upward trend in Madhya Pradesh pulses, weak overseas supply and reported demand from South-based millers also boosted prices, according to sources. 

               *            *              *              *

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES

    GRAM

   * Gram varieties firmed up in open market here on renewed seasonal demand from local 

     traders amid tight supply from producing belts. Weak production estimate in this 

     season also activated stockists.

     TUAR

   * Tuar varieties reported down in open market here on subdued demand from local 

     traders amid good supply from producing regions.   

   * In Akola, Tuar New - 8,000-8,200, Tuar dal New - 12,500-13,700, Udid - 

     12,600-13,600, Udid Mogar (clean) - 14,900-16,700, Moong - 

     8,400-8,600, Moong Mogar (clean) 9,400-9,700, Gram - 4,100-4,200, 

     Gram Super best bold - 5,300-5,700 for 100 kg.

   * Wheat, other varieties of rice and other commodities moved in a narrow range in 

     scattered deals, settled at last levels. 

 Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   

     Gram Auction                3,900-4,225         3,800-4,200

     Gram Pink Auction            n.a.           2,100-2,600

     Tuar Auction                7,200-8,100         7,000-7,980

     Moong Auction                n.a.                6,400-6,600

     Udid Auction                n.a.           4,300-4,500

     Masoor Auction                n.a.              2,600-2,800

     Gram Super Best Bold            5,900-6,100        5,800-6,000

     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.

     Gram Medium Best            5,500-5,700        5,400-5,600

     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a

     Gram Mill Quality            4,500-4,600        4,400-4,500

     Desi gram Raw                4,400-4,450         4,300-4,400

     Gram Filter new            4,600-4,900        4,500-4,900

     Gram Kabuli                6,000-8,000        6,000-8,000

     Gram Pink                        6,500-7,300        6,500-7,300

     Tuar Fataka Best-New             12,500-13,000        12,800-13,500

     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        11,800-12,300        12,000-12,500

     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        11,500-12,000        11,700-12,250

     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        10,500-11,000        10,800-11,300

     Tuar Gavarani New             7,500-8,000        7,700-8,200

     Tuar Karnataka             8,200-8,500        8,300-8,600

     Tuar Black                 12,500-13,000        12,500-13,000 

     Masoor dal best            6,200-6,400        6,200-6,400

     Masoor dal medium            5,800-6,000        5,800-6,000

     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Mogar bold (New)        9,600-10,000        9,600-10,000

     Moong Mogar Med            8,900-9,300        8,900-9,300

     Moong dal Chilka            7,800-8,800        7,800-8,800

     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Chamki best            8,600-8,800        8,600-8,800

     Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 16,000-17,000       16,000-17,000 

     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    13,400-14,500        13,400-14,500    

     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        9,600-9,900        9,600-9,900     

     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        5,550-5,900        5,550-5,900

     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          4,400-4,600         4,400-4,600

     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            3,250-3,400        3,250-3,400

     Watana White (100 INR/KG)           3,000-3,200           3,000-3,200

     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    3,100-3,600        3,100-3,600   

     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,700-1,800        1,700-1,800

     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    1,700-1,800        1,700-1,800   

     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         1,650-1,850        1,650-1,850

     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,200-2,500        2,100-2,500    

     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,000-2,100        1,950-2,250

     Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG)    n.a.            n.a.

     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,600        3,200-3,600    

     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,500-3,000        1,500-3,000           

     Rice BPT best New(100 INR/KG)    2,600-2,800        2,600-2,800    

     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,000-2,250        2,000-2,200    

     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)         1,800-2,000        1,800-2,000

     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,100-2,450        2,100-2,450   

     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,800-2,000        1,800-2,000   

     Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG)    3,000-3,500        3,000-3,500    

     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,400-2,800        2,400-2,800    

     Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG)    4,100-4,400        4,100-4,400 

     Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG)    3,700-4,100        3,700-4,100   

     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,700-11,600        9,700-11,600     

     Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG)    7,700-8,000        7,700-8,000    

     Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG)    4,700-4,800        4,700-4,800    

     Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG)    4,200-4,400        4,200-4,400    

     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,800-2,100        1,800-2,100    

     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,800        1,700-1,800

WEATHER (NAGPUR)  

Maximum temp. 32.8 degree Celsius (91.0 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

17.7 degree Celsius (62.8.0 degree Fahrenheit)

Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.

Rainfall : n.a.

FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around and 33 and 16 degreeCelsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, butincluded in market prices.)

02/08/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice

	High	Low
Long Grain Cash Bids	- - -	- - -
Long Grain New Crop	- - -	- - -

Futures:

ROUGH RICE High Low Last Change Mar '16 1113.0 1091.0 1092.0 -20.0 May '16 1136.0 1119.0 1119.0 -20.5 Jul '16 1162.5 1154.0 1147.0 -20.5 Sep '16 1158.0 -19.5 Nov '16 1178.5 -19.5 Jan '17 1182.0 -19.5 Mar '17 1182.0 -19.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures were lower across the board. March has been working lower after failing at resistance at $11.50. Support is at $10.86 ½ and the recent low of $10.65. Weekly exports were improved over the previous week at 40,200 metric tons, but not enough to generate any upside momentum.

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