21 March,2016 daily global regional local rice enewsletter by riceplus magazine

Envoy calls for increasing Pakistan-Kenya trade to US$ 1 billion

By DND -

March 14, 2016

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: High Commissioner of Kenya to Pakistan Prof. Julius Kibet Bitkok said on Monday that current volume of bilateral trade between Kenya and Pakistan was US$ 600 million while it could be taken to US$ 1 billion by the aggressive efforts of businessmen of both countries.The ambassador stated this while addressing business community at Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).The Commissioner Counselor of Kenya was also present at the occasion.Prof. Julius Kibet Bitkok said that Pakistani rice was meeting 70% market needs of Kenya while Kenyan tea was meeting 70% needs of Pakistani market. However, he said both countries should focus on diversification of bilateral trade.He said Kenya was interested in many Pakistani products including pharmaceuticals, surgical instruments, farm machinery and sports goods.

Similarly, he said that Kenya could export its leather products, flowers and many other goods to Pakistan.The High Commissioner said that Kenya was a gateway for Pakistan to reach East and Central African market of 150 million people.He said Commerce Minister of Kenya would visit Pakistan in August this year to take part in Joint Ministerial Commission negotiations and asked the business community of Pakistan to prepare a draft of preferential trade agreement which could be discussed during the JMC.About tariffs hike on Pakistani rice in Kenya, he said the decision was taken on the pressure of Eastern African block, however, he said this issue could be negotiated during the JMC to arrive at a favorable tariff for Pakistani rice.He said ICCI should plan a trade mission for Kenya to explore potential areas of trade promotion and High Commission of Kenya would organize its meetings with relevant government officials and other stakeholders.

In his address of welcome, the President ICCI Atif Ikram Sheikh urged for evolving a new strategy to improve bilateral trade.He said many Pakistani products including fruits and vegetables, food products, surgical instruments, medicines, textiles, IT, engineering and sports goods, auto parts and construction material could meet the needs of Kenyan consumers at affordable cost.He said Kenya should review its high tariffs on Pakistani rice.He said Kenya was a member of Eastern African Community (EAC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa region (COMESA).

Thus increased cooperation between two countries would open up new opportunities of promoting trade as Pakistan could get greater access to Africa through Kenya and Kenya could get easy access to South Asia and other regional markets through Pakistan.He said Kenya should sign a preferential trade agreement with Pakistan leading to free trade agreement that would give significant boost to bilateral tradeRice will become very affordable by April – FG

By Daily Post Staff on March 13, 2016@dailypostngr

Workers unload 42,494 tonnes of Thai rice at the Tanjung Priok harbour in Jakarta January 25, 2011. Indonesia’s state procurement agency Bulog is looking for at least 170,000 tonnes of Thai rice for delivery from January to March, a trader said early this month. The government has allowed Bulog to import rice this year to shore up falling stocks. REUTERS/Crack Palinggi (INDONESIA – Tags: BUSINESS FOOD)

The Federal Government said on Saturday that it would stabilise the price of rice from April to make it affordable to everybody in the country.The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this known while declaring open the 2016 National wheat farmers field day in Alkamawa village in Bunkure Local Government of Kano state.

Ogbeh said that the stability of price would be very viable due to its demand and affordability to the people as from April.He said the boosting of wheat production and other cereals had become necessary to reduce over dependence on importation.The minister added that over 300, 000 hectares of land in wheat producing states would be dedicated to boost wheat production.“The government will continue to support farmers to encourage agricultural activity, enhance food security and employment generation in the country,’’ he said.

According to him, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will diversify the economy with greater emphasis on agriculture.Ogbeh urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture to enhance their welfare and enable them become self reliant.In a remark, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said the senate would make legislation to remove obstacles being faced by wheat farmers in the country

http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/13/rice-will-become-very-affordable-by-april-fg/

Unisame urges FPCC&I standing committee on rice to discuss GI & TM issues also

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has requested the standing committee (SC) on rice of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCC&I) to particularly discuss the Geographical Indication (GI) and Trade Mark (TM) issues in its meeting on 16th March 2016 at the Federation House and also recommend short and long term measures needed to save the rice industry.

UNISAME also stressed the need to invite the representatives of the ministries of commerce, industry, science and technology and agriculture to the meeting to discuss the issues and to join hands and work collectively for the modernization of rice farming, milling,processing and marketing and to enable it to meet the global challenges.President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the SMEs are badly affected and more than 1000 units have closed down. Exports have also declined. FPCC&I standing committee is supposed to discuss the issues threadbare and not avoid crucial matters which the sector cannot afford to ignore.
It is very important that it gives serious consideration to the GI and TM issues of basmati rice in view of the orders of the Indian Court and its consequences.

He said we fail to understand why the SC is avoiding to discuss the GI and TM issue.Secondly the rice supply chain is badly affected due to high cost of production. The taxes on farm inputs has made them costly.The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government.  The only answer to survival is improving the supply chain, value addition, quality bench marking and entering non traditional markets.Thaver urged Rafique Suleman chairman FPCC&I committee on rice to include in the agenda the up gradation of the industry, the marketing support by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and invite the officers of  the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry and science and technology to attend the meeting and  co-ordinate with one another for the uplift of the rice sector.

UNISAME after carrying out a study of the requirements for the uplift of the sector stated that dedicated efforts are required from grass root level from modernization of farming, milling, processing, packing and marketing. The FPCC&I standing committee can request and impress upon the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) under the ministry of industries and the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) under the ministry of science and technology to join hands for modernization of the rice industry.SMEDA and PCSIR could take up the issues of paddy drying, parboiling, steaming and preparation of iron and vitaminized rice and also pre-cooked rice. Various products can be made from rice flour and rice grains if PCSIR could educate the sector on increasing shelf life of the products. PCSIR is capable of doing great work for the sector Thaver said.

The Rice Research Institute under the ministry of agriculture also needs to do more and develop new varieties.We have only a handful of varieties whereas our neighbour India has many and we need to compete in the global market.The ministry of commerce needs to intervene in the basmati Geographical Indication (GI) matter and also the basmati trade mark issue and resolve the matter with the Intellectual Property Organization and the Registrar of Trade Marks in national interest.

Thaver said we have lost the markets of Iran, Gulf and Middle East. Although we have never really entered Europe and USA, there is scope as our super basmati rice is far superior to the 1121 non basmati rice of India.TDAP and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) will need to make great efforts to popularize our super basmati rice which is tasty, aromatic and cooks exceedingly well and is undoubtedly the best rice in the world.

The rice exporters need finance facility for export to third world countries and to buyers who are banking with low rating banks. There is urgent need for export credit insurance at low premium just like India has done to promote exports to third world countries. The third world countries have rice as their staple food. India has captured their markets and we are lagging behind. Same is the case with Iran unless the facility for smooth transactions exist there can be no break through. India developed the currency agreement with Iran long ago whereas we were not yet ready to displease the sanction authors. However Iran has now been provided the SWIFT facility for currency transaction and our exporters need to make efforts to regain the lost market.

PHILSTAR: "NFA DEFERS RICE IMPORTATION ________________________________________

3/11/2016

PHILSTAR GLOBAL (11-03-2016)

MANILA, Philippines - The National Food Authority (NFA) said the Philippines has deferred plans to import additional rice due to ample supply of the grain.NFA public affairs head Angel G. Imperial said the Food Security Council and the NFA Council decided not to push through with the proposed importation of  500,000 metric tons of rice.“The council will meet sometime in April or May to determine whether there’s a need to import in the third and fourth quarter,” Imperial said.Expected importations for the first semester this year is 500,000 MT, which form part of the 750,000 MT negotiated in the fourth quarter. The remaining 250,000 MT have already been delivered.

Paddy harvest in the first quarter is likely more than five-percent lower than the previous forecast due to a crop-damaging dryness linked to the El Niño weather pattern.

Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

Crop losses due to El Niño turned out much smaller than expected.Government also put in place a program to address the impact of El Niño. Part of the program is to maximize the opportunities for increasing production in areas where there is water supply.It established a P19-billion El Nino mitigation fund which will be sourced from the current budget worth P6.6 billion.

The funds would be used to fuel the food-for-work program in drought-affected areas, as well as seed money to start new irrigation systems or repair damaged ones.

http://reap.com.pk/news/news_detail.asp?newsid=3497

Rice prices heating up

Rice prices have recently increased amid the peak harvest time of winter spring crop in the Mekong Delta because salt intrusion has reduced output in many coastal provinces, according to Vietnam Food Association chairman Huynh The Nang.Farmers dry rice in the Mekong Delta (Photo: SGGP)

In addition, businesses have sped up purchase for their export contracts.Chinese traders have been found buy rice at businesses’ warehouses in the Mekong Delta and transport to Hai Phong port and the northern border before exporting to their country.These factors have hiked rice prices by VND300-600 a kilogram. Export prices have also moved up by US$10 to US$370-380 a ton of 5 percent broken rice and by US$5 to US$445-455 a ton of Jasmines rice.The rice price is forecast to continue increasing as drought and salt intrusion have not eased in the delta. The output of summer autumn crop will be affected without rain in April and May.

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2016/3/117926/

Is Vietnam’s position as second largest rice exporter threatened?

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has been warned that it would be outstripped by Thailand and Cambodia in rice exports if it cannot change the current production and export policies.

http://www.dnd.com.pk/envoy-calls-for-increasing-pakistan-kenya-trade-to-us-1-billion/107576 

The Vietnamese Counsellor in China has warned about the so called ‘Cambodia phenomenon’. The country has just begun exporting rice to China recently, but it has gained very high export growth rate. Cambodia exported 116,000 tons of rice to the market in 2015, an increase of 138 percent compared to 2014.Some other experts have also said that Cambodia has become a strong rival of Vietnam m Meanwhile, the threat from Thailand seems to be worse as the country plans to apply a new rice strategy, while it considers diverting Loei, a branch of Mekong River, to bring water to agricultural areas in the country’s northeastern part.

Vietnam has been warned that it would be outstripped by Thailand and Cambodia in rice exports if it cannot change the current production and export policies.

Commenting about the ‘Cambodia phenomenon’, Vo Tong Xuan, a leading rice expert, said there was no need to be too worried because Cambodia still cannot compete with Vietnam in low-cost and medium-class products.However, he admitted that Cambodia has advantages over Vietnam in high-quality rice production. The problem is that Vietnamese farmers do not grow these high-quality varieties because of the low yield, just 2-3 tons per hectare. Vietnamese prefer growing high-yield, 6-7 tons per hectare, varieties.

Even when Vietnam grows Jasmine with the yield of 5 ton per hectares, it still cannot compete with Thailand and Cambodia in the high-quality market segment.Xuan went on to say that China will still need Vietnam’s rice, because it needs low-cost rice for the majority of people, though more and more Chinese are getting richer and want high-quality products. The difference between Vietnam and high-quality rice growers like Thailand and Cambodia is that Vietnam only wants high yield rice, while Thailand and Cambodia focus on growing high quality rice.

The rice expert believes that Vietnam should not try to compete with Thailand and Cambodia in growing high-quality rice because it is more profitable to till high yield rice.
“I am sure that no one is better than Vietnamese in tilling high-yield rice,” he said.
“Thailand is considering diverting Mekong River’s stream and thinks it would help its poor farmers in the northeast. However, it will not help,” he said.However, Xuan, while affirming that Vietnam will not be affected by the Thai moves, believes that Vietnam should reduce rice cultivation in saline areas and only have one crop in rainy season. After the crop, farmers can farm shrimp instead of tilling rice.“Mekong Delta’s farmers should not try to grow rice at any cost, especially in the context of climate change and saltwater intrusion,” he said.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/152130/is-vietnam-s-position-as-second-largest-rice-exporter-threatened-.html

PPBMM wants government to review quota on rice import

Posted on 14 March 2016 - 04:54pm

Last updated on 14 March 2016 - 07:45pm

ALOR STAR: The Malay Rice Millers Association of Malaysia (PPBMM) today urged the government to review the quota for rice import into the country based on current needs.Its president, Musonneff Md Razi said since more than 20 years ago, the rate was 70% local and 30% imported rice, resulting in rice and padi glut in local rice mills."The reason being the rice mills, especially the small ones, only control between nine and 13% of the padi supply.

"The small rice millers are facing a critical situation as since last Jan 1 until now, there is 36,282 metric tonnes of rice and 102,312 metric tonnes of padi still not sold in Kedah and Perlis," he told a media conference here.

He said the 70-30 rate was no longer relevant with the current economic situation and should be reviewed.The local rice and padi production glut was detected seven years ago and if the situation continued, it could result in rice millers in Kedah, Perlis, Perak and Johor to close operation, he said.He added the glut also resulted in eight millers in Kedah to face court action for failing to settle loans totalling RM80 million to Padi Beras Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) since 2014.PPBMM has 23 members, comprising 18 in Kedah, Perlis (three) and one each in Perak and Johor.
— Bernama

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1727123

PM orders more study of rice sector plan

Tue, 15 March 2016

Post Staff

Prime Minister Hun Sen has reviewed a report on key issues threatening the nation’s rice sector and sent it back to the Ministry of Commerce for further study and expert analysis, Council of Minister spokesman Phay Siphan said yesterday.The report, submitted by the CRISIS initiative on Friday, outlines four recommendations aimed at shoring up the rice sector, which the group claims is on the brink of collapse.The measures include: facilitating soft loans to rice millers, imposing a quota on rice imports, reducing electricity fees for millers and providing better logistics.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/pm-orders-more-study-rice-sector-plan

Rice will become very affordable by April – FG

By Daily Post Staff on March 13, 2016@dailypostngr

Workers unload 42,494 tonnes of Thai rice at the Tanjung Priok harbour in Jakarta January 25, 2011. Indonesia’s state procurement agency Bulog is looking for at least 170,000 tonnes of Thai rice for delivery from January to March, a trader said early this month. The government has allowed Bulog to import rice this year to shore up falling stocks. REUTERS/Crack Palinggi (INDONESIA – Tags: BUSINESS FOOD)

The Federal Government said on Saturday that it would stabilise the price of rice from April to make it affordable to everybody in the country.The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this known while declaring open the 2016 National wheat farmers field day in Alkamawa village in Bunkure Local Government of Kano state.Ogbeh said that the stability of price would be very viable due to its demand and affordability to the people as from April.He said the boosting of wheat production and other cereals had become necessary to reduce over dependence on importation.The minister added that over 300, 000 hectares of land in wheat producing states would be dedicated to boost wheat production.“The government will continue to support farmers to encourage agricultural activity, enhance food security and employment generation in the country,’’ he said.

According to him, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will diversify the economy with greater emphasis on agriculture.Ogbeh urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture to enhance their welfare and enable them become self reliant.In a remark, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, said the senate would make legislation to remove obstacles being faced by wheat farmers in the country

http://dailypost.ng/2016/03/13/rice-will-become-very-affordable-by-april-fg/

60% of rice produced locally – Mahama

 Business March 14, 2016

President John Dramani Mahama has said 60% of rice consumed in Ghana is produced locally.The president, who was a guest on TV3’s New Day on Monday 14 March 2016, also vowed that his government will not relent on its efforts to promote the patronage of Made-in-Ghana goods.In an interview with Bridget Otoo, the president explained: “Currently we are producing 60% of the rice we consume, and that is part of the self-reliant campaign.”Rice imports by the government are estimated to be between US$200 million and US$400 million every year.

Analysts indicate that this is one of the key contributors to the huge import bill, which has a strong effect on the strength of the Ghana cedi against major foreign currencies, especially the United States dollar.A leaked US Embassy information by Wikileaks in August 2011 indicated that the largest commercial market for US rice was West Africa, and US producers maintain about a third of the Ghanaian rice market over the last several years.Meanwhile, the president has also entreated citizens to shed the perception that foreign goods were better than what were produced locally, as the quality of Ghanaian goods meets global standards.

“Though we produce comparatively quality goods here, we have had the perception that foreign goods are always better than ours, and that is the perception [the] ‘Made-in- Ghana’ [campaign] seeks to change,” said Mr Mahama.He indicated that government would be amending the Procurement Act to give Made-in-Ghana goods a priority.“I think Made-in-Ghana goods should have some percentage of about 20%, so that if a Ghanaian product is even 20% more expensive than a foreign product, because it is manufactured locally and produces jobs in Ghana, we should go for the Ghanaian product,” he stated.He argued that Ghanaians had become more conscious of the need to switch from patronage of foreign goods to local ones, while Ghanaian producers were getting more opportunities to market their products.

Mr Mahama cited the example of the Kumasi Shoe Factory, which makes shoes for security personnel and schoolchildren, whose operations, he said, had led to a huge reduction in the import bill, as previously the state had to buy footwear from China.According to the president, the resuscitation of the Komenda Sugar Factory to produce half of the sugar consumed in Ghana, has led to a reduction of the sugar import bill from US$300m per year to US$150m.He also indicated that other firms like the Savanna Cement Factory now obtain raw materials locally to produce a large quantity of cement in Ghana.

Source: classfmonline

http://vibeghana.com/2016/03/14/60-of-rice-produced-locally-mahama/Local merchants raise rice prices, defy global drop



ARAB NEWS

Published — Sunday 13 March 2016

Last update 13 March 2016 8:52 am

MAKKAH: While the price of rice has dropped 50 percent globally, local retailers have raised their costs by 15 percent, causing outrage among consumers, according to a report in local media on Friday.In Makkah, citizen Thamer Al-Qathami said that the government should expose and punish those doing so because they were taking money out of the pockets of people. There should be a boycott of those monopolizing the market, he said.Mohammad Al-Harbi called on the Ministry of Commerce to check the prices at restaurants because the cost of rice and chicken was rising, while prices abroad were dropping.Hasan Al-Zahrani said that the ministry must pursue “greedy” people monopolizing the market. There should be electronic boards at the entrances of all markets with the price of food — including vegetables, fish, milk and bread — like there is for precious metals, he said.

Economist Fadhel Al-Buainain said the price of certain types of rice fell by 50 percent on global markets at the end of 2015, without any equal fall in the Kingdom. On the contrary, there was a 15 percent increase, he said.He said this was a tactic used by retailers locally to try to fool the commerce ministry. They would drop their prices and then claim that they are supporting consumers.
Al-Buainain said rice traders often collude to fix prices, which is worsened by poor controls. He said prices should be subject to supply and demand. There was no justification for raising prices because import costs were falling dramatically.

Abdulkhaliq bin Dawood, a retailer and owner of the Bin Dawood and Al-Danube companies, said the reason for the increases was that a few importers monopolized the market.He said prices depend on the type of rice. Indian rice has dropped 9 percent, but was increased in the Kingdom gradually at the beginning of this month. He said every person consumes on average 45 kg a year.There is great demand in Makkah, which is exploited by importers and merchants. In addition, population growth of 3.5 percent a year and the age of consumers also influences the price.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/894336

Nigeria to stabilise rice price by April – Agriculture Minister

March 13, 2016Premium Times

The Federal Government said on Saturday that it would stabilise the price of rice from April to make it affordable to everybody in the country.The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, made this known while declaring open the 2016 National wheat farmers field day in Alkamawa village in Bunkure Local Government of Kano State.Mr. Ogbeh said the stability of the price of rice would be very viable due to its demand and affordability to the people from April.No further details of how to stabilise the price of rice, arguably Nigeria’s most consumed food, was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, which reported the story.He said the boosting of wheat production and other cereals had become necessary to reduce over dependence on importation.

The minister added that over 300,000 hectares of land in wheat producing states would be dedicated to boost wheat production.“The government will continue to support farmers to encourage agricultural activity, enhance food security and employment generation in the country,” he said. According to him, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will diversify the economy with greater emphasis on agriculture.

Mr. Ogbeh urged Nigerians to embrace agriculture to enhance their welfare and enable them become self reliant.

In a remark, the Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu, said the senate would make legislation to remove obstacles being faced by wheat farmers in the country.On his part, the Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi said his state would dedicate 70 per cent of the proposed 300, 000 hectares for wheat production.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/200069-nigeria-stabilise-rice-price-april-agriculture-minister.html

Rice Prices

as on : 14-03-2016 08:10:29 PM

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)	1249.00	-64.84	80511.00	2000	2139	5.26
Haridwar Union(Utr)	786.10	1210.17	846.10	4100	3000	70.83
Etawah(UP)	320.00	-11.11	17940.00	2260	2260	1.80
Azamgarh(UP)	165.00	-2.94	3516.50	2000	2020	-
Agra(UP)	150.00	5.63	4191.00	2110	2070	8.21
Sitapur(UP)	130.00	-7.14	5606.00	2160	2150	0.47
Pilibhit(UP)	114.00	-24	17208.00	2190	2190	-6.61
Kalipur(WB)	105.00	-4.55	3770.00	2050	2050	NC
Bareilly(UP)	98.00	-15.52	6220.00	2180	2175	3.81
Shahjahanpur(UP)	98.00	46.27	39834.30	2210	2220	8.87
Saharanpur(UP)	80.00	-2.44	3806.00	2120	2110	0.95
Aligarh(UP)	70.00	-17.65	2215.00	2100	2100	9.09
Coochbehar(WB)	64.00	-3.03	915.50	2100	2100	-2.33
Ghaziabad(UP)	60.00	NC	1930.00	2125	2130	NC
Achalda(UP)	60.00	3.45	2902.50	2770	2270	27.06
Beldanga(WB)	56.00	-3.45	1257.50	2275	2275	-10.78
Mainpuri(UP)	54.00	-16.92	796.00	2010	2010	4.42
Barasat(WB)	50.00	-28.57	1800.00	2300	2300	2.22
Jorhat(ASM)	45.00	-10	1070.00	2700	2700	-
Kasimbazar(WB)	44.00	-2.22	1276.50	2320	2320	-9.02
Jaunpur(UP)	43.00	22.86	1062.00	1935	1960	-0.77
Balrampur(UP)	41.00	17.14	1114.50	2025	2010	NC
Dadri(UP)	40.00	42.86	1477.00	2120	2150	-0.24
Purulia(WB)	36.00	20	1500.00	2200	2200	-7.56
Gazipur(UP)	35.00	16.67	1217.00	1940	1940	-4.90
Dhekiajuli(ASM)	34.00	21.43	717.50	1900	1960	-5.00
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)	30.00	20	1145.00	3000	3000	-
Balurghat(WB)	26.00	13.04	248.00	2730	2760	-
Gauripur(ASM)	25.00	-	102.00	2600	-	NC
Lohardaga(Jha)	24.00	-7.69	633.00	1840	1750	-3.16
Muzzafarnagar(UP)	24.00	-44.19	929.00	2160	2150	-
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)	23.90	-0.42	814.50	2300	2300	-11.54
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	23.00	248.48	1048.80	1900	1900	-
Mekhliganj(WB)	21.50	2.38	473.00	2100	2050	-
Banda(UP)	20.00	-28.57	327.50	2175	2135	-
Jasra(UP)	20.00	-20	442.50	2000	2010	-1.23
Shikohabad(UP)	20.00	NC	377.50	1980	1990	-7.04
Bindki(UP)	20.00	-33.33	1983.00	2265	2250	9.42
Alipurduar(WB)	19.00	NC	308.00	2200	2200	2.33
Ramgarh(Jha)	18.00	-43.75	322.00	2600	2600	NC
Uluberia(WB)	18.00	-	117.00	2300	-	NC
Sirsa(UP)	17.50	-30	364.50	2050	2060	0.74
Jeypore(Ori)	16.00	290.24	185.90	325	325	-
Champadanga(WB)	16.00	NC	588.00	2350	2350	-11.32
Medinipur(West)(WB)	16.00	6.67	465.00	2400	2400	NC
Giridih(Jha)	15.67	26.88	156.81	3540	3500	1.14
Kannauj(UP)	15.50	14.81	264.30	2180	2180	NC
Dibrugarh(ASM)	15.00	-6.25	833.80	2400	2400	-
Firozabad(UP)	15.00	-16.67	437.00	2110	2100	5.50
Khair(UP)	15.00	50	114.00	2100	2130	-
Yusufpur(UP)	15.00	-25	467.00	1900	1900	NC
Naugarh(UP)	14.50	-19.44	503.00	2050	2060	8.47
Rampur(UP)	14.00	27.27	365.50	2210	2215	7.02
Pundibari(WB)	12.50	31.58	142.50	2050	2050	-3.53
Kaliaganj(WB)	12.00	20	436.00	2550	2650	6.25
Mirzapur(UP)	11.50	-11.54	1100.50	1935	1925	0.26
Khairagarh(UP)	9.00	28.57	259.50	2100	2110	3.96
Baberu(UP)	8.00	-27.27	19.00	2100	2110	-
Bolangir(Ori)	7.50	7.14	148.50	2200	2200	-8.33
Bhivandi(Mah)	7.00	NC	230.00	2550	3750	62.42
Baraut(UP)	7.00	-36.36	200.00	2150	2160	2.38
Buland Shahr(UP)	7.00	NC	306.00	2040	2040	NC
Tusura(Ori)	5.50	-26.67	141.50	2200	2200	-8.33
Jhansi(UP)	5.00	NC	166.00	2100	2100	7.69
Fatehpur(UP)	4.50	80	129.00	2260	2250	7.11
Farukhabad(UP)	4.00	NC	181.20	2165	2160	0.70
Muradabad(UP)	4.00	-20	379.50	2275	2260	14.32
Islampur(WB)	4.00	33.33	205.40	2150	2150	-
Imphal(Man)	3.50	NC	144.60	2900	2900	NC
Alibagh(Mah)	3.00	NC	84.00	4000	4000	150.00
Jowai(Meh)	2.60	52.94	8.40	2700	2700	NC
Gulavati(UP)	2.50	NC	25.00	2080	2080	1.96
Darjeeling(WB)	1.80	-28	61.90	1800	2800	-33.33
Sardhana(UP)	1.20	20	59.10	2145	2140	3.13
Thoubal(Man)	1.20	NC	64.80	2800	2800	180.00
Shillong(Meh)	0.80	-38.46	39.10	3500	3500	NC
Kalimpong(WB)	0.80	-20	23.30	2350	2350	-12.96

Honduras Approves Rice from Paraguay 

By Sarah Moran

ARLINGTON, VA -- Last month, Honduras approved the phytosanitary protocol to allow milled rice imports from Paraguay.  They are the first country in the northern tier of Central America to permit Paraguayan milled rice. 

Over the past five years, Paraguay has nearly doubled their rice production to 780,000 MT and their exports have nearly tripled during that same timeframe.  Last year, Paraguay exported about 400,000 MT of rice, with the overwhelming majority destined for Brazil.  More than 90 percent of Paraguay's exports typically have gone to South America but as they have increased production, they are looking for additional markets.  Paraguay is currently in discussions with El Salvador and Mexico to open up those markets as well.

Paraguay is known for having a good quality crop, similar to Uruguayan, at competitive pricing.  Colombia's tender for an additional 200,000 MT (see USA Rice Daily, February 9, 2016) has been allocated and while sources indicate the lion's share will be coming from Uruguay, Paraguay did capture some of this business.

"U.S. rice has a very strong food safety image, favorable logistics for the Western Hemisphere, and a solid preference by customers that have consumed U.S. rice for years, but as more players come onto the export market scene, it's extremely important that U.S. rice protect that high quality image and those markets," said Carl Brothers, chairman of the USA Rice International Trade Policy Committee. 

Stop illegal rice importation; Rice importers to Trade MinistryFriday 11th March , 2016 4:30 pm

Bagged rice ready for the market

Concerns are being raised by importers of rice about the increase in the illegal importation of rice into the country.According to them, the move is crippling the businesses of rice importers.In 2013, a directive was given in parliament to ban the importation of illegal rice into the country.But years on, it appears government has still not been able to deal with the matter.In an interview with Citi Business News, the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Sampson Asaaki Awingobit said government must be vigilant and deal with the matter.

‘‘It is legitimate, it is true, it is real and we want the Ministry of Trade and Industry to come out as a matter of urgency. If it is true there was a law or a directive banning the importation of inland rice onto the markets, then what are they doing about this situation?” Sampson Asaaki lamented.“They should  as a matter of urgency do something about the illegal importation of rice unto the market that is competing with our law abiding business men and women who bring the rice through the Tema Port’’. The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association further stressed.

- See more at: http://citifmonline.com/2016/03/11/198203/#sthash.dRNLpBte.dpuf

Eat up and step out to beat that mid-afternoon efficiency slump

By WMNJBayley  |  Posted: March 14, 2016

By Martin Hesp

A mid-afternoon break with a blood-pumping walk will help you work through to into the evening, says Martin Hesp

A more flexible approach to the working day is good for all, writes Martin Hesp.There’s nothing like a good ground-breaking survey to get you out of bed in the morning and help hone the mind. I should know, as a journalist I am sent the results of half a dozen surveys a day, and they range from the inspirational to the 100 per cent whacky.The latest to come my way begins by stating: “South West England falls below the Brit average of ‘being at your best’ for four-and-a-half hours.”It continues: “Our most frequent mistakes include forgetting why we entered a room and zoning out in meetings and missing something important.”

My first reaction was to either hit the delete button on my computer’s email inbox or ponder who it was, exactly, that researchers had been talking to. Despite my advancing middle age I cannot imagine walking into a room and then wondering why I’d headed for it in the first place. On the other hand I can, at times, see that firing on all cylinders might not happen all day, every day.

So, my second reaction was to have a look at the survey to see who had commissioned it. The answer, perhaps surprisingly, was the Tilda Basmati rice company.And the clue as to why they may have spent good money interviewing thousands of people comes in the third paragraph of their new report: “While we turn to the wrong food and drink such as coffee and chocolate for an energy boost, going to bed too late and watching TV late at night are taking their toll on energy levels.” Ah, the “wrong food and drink”… I assume the underlying message must be that if you choose healthy food options – like rice, for instance – you are more likely to carry on firing on all cylinders for longer.I wouldn’t argue with that. As a great believer in the light-lunch-is-better-than-the-heavy-lunch option when it comes to operating throughout the afternoon, I am convinced that you are what you eat, both in the short and long term.

The rice company’s researchers found that the universal lack of energy that is hitting the Westcountry, and indeed all the UK, is having a massive effect on our daily lives, with the average adult making five mistakes a week at work due to tiredness or a slump. That equates to an alarming 260 cock-ups per year.Really? I can only pray that the next pilot who flies the airliner I’m travelling in is immune to such statistics.But, getting back to we mere mortals, 46 per cent of people in the South West grab a cup of coffee to battle the mid-afternoon lack of energy, according to the rice people’s poll, despite the fact that more than half of them say they know this is an unhealthy habit.

Dr Sarah Schenker, a dietitian and member of the British Dietetic Association, said: “It’s not surprising to hear that many people turn to sugary snacks in an attempt to boost energy levels, but actually this is a mistake as the energy is short-lived and they quickly feel just as tired as they did before. Sometimes this can lead to a negative cycle of snacking and feeling lethargic, which could ultimately lead to weight gain.“Breaking deeply-ingrained snacking habits to make sensible food choices that reflect lifestyle and energy needs can be the turning point for many to overhaul energy levels and improve wellbeing.”Here’s the list of the top ten foods and drinks that South West residents believe give them energy: first comes coffee, then chocolate, followed, in order, by tea, a handful of nuts, fruit, energy drinks, dark chocolate, no food or drink at all, sweets and lastly cereals.

Not exactly a recipe for winning gold at the Olympics, is it? Although I can see that a few healthy nuts and some fruit would not fall foul of any dietician’s list.I am one of those fortunate people who works from home, which means that you have far more flexibility when it comes to what you snack on and what you have for lunch. I’ll have a quick salad knocked up from whatever’s in the fridge, or an equally rapid Thai noodle soup which takes around four minutes to make from scratch using fresh ingredients.

Even then, these seemingly light and refreshing meals are weighty enough to make me leave a gap of at least an hour before I take the dog out for his daily walk. You don’t want to be walking up an 800 foot hill weighed down by a single noodle, let alone a bowlful.I mention the walk because it’s something the home-worker can also do in the battle against fatigue. I would be a sufferer of the mid-afternoon slump if it weren’t for that half-hour blast of energy pumping exercise. A few steep climbs, and 30 or 40 minutes later your blood is so oxygenated you can easily work through until 6 or 7pm.That period away from my computer is not lost to my employers – more than gained by them.So well done to the rice company for coming up with a survey that points such things out.What are needed in a overly busy society are flexible working conditions that help humans to be more productive, not the kind of old fashioned rigid clocking-in and out that drains effectiveness away.

 http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Eat-step-beat-mid-afternoon-efficiency-slump/story-28918828-detail/story.html#ixzz42y2TXzTP

SIT to monitor probe in over Rs 1,000-cr rice export scam

New Delhi, Mar 14, 2016, (PTI)

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money will monitor the probe into the alleged over Rs 1,000-crore scam in export of high-quality Basmati rice to Iran which was fraudulently diverted mid-sea to Dubai.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which has unearthed the scam, has shared relevant details of the case with the SIT, which will monitor the agency's probe, official sources said.With this, the DRI will have to share its probe details periodically with the SIT during the review meetings, they said.The SIT, which is headed by former Supreme Court judge M B Shah, is responsible for investigating cases of black money stashed abroad through coordination of various members from Reserve Bank of India, Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation, Financial Intelligence Unit, Research and Analysis Wing and DRI.

According to the probe being done by the DRI, over two lakh metric tonnes of Basmati rice was illegally offloaded in Dubai in the last over a year instead of in Bandar Abbas in Iran, official sources said.Over 25 big exporters from Haryana and Punjab are under the scanner of DRI and other agencies for their involvement in the multi-crore scam. Both the DRI and SIT have referred the case for probe by ED also, they said.Explaining the modus operandi, the sources claimed the rice would be taken to Gujarat's Kandla Port by these exporters.They would then file Shipping Bills--documents filed withcustoms authorities carrying details of goods to be exported, consignor and consignee--for export to Iran, the sources said.

Instead of the consignment reaching Iranian shores, it would be diverted mid-sea to Dubai allegedly with connivance of cargo ship operators carrying the goods. Surprisingly, payments were also made from Iran to these exporters in India. Importers and port officials would allegedly acknowledge the receipt of rice and allow payment to be made against it here, they said.

What is worrying for intelligence agencies here is that they do not know the end-use of rice off-loaded in Dubai. They suspect use of rice as barter system to fund some illegal activity like terror financing, the sources said.While India lost foreign exchange which it could have got from Dubai in case of genuine trade, Iran was also deprived of customs duty it would have been entitled to if rice was delivered at its shore, they said. The authorities suspect the proceeds of the scam assumed the form of black money

Try this recipe tonight: Slow cooker Shoulder Vindaloo

VINDALOO WITH

Matthew Mead,The Associated Press

Originally a Portuguese stew made with meat, garlic and wine, the dish made its way to India in the 1500s with Portuguese explorers.

Hamilton Spectator

By Meera Sodha

There's a real joy in slowing down in the kitchen.

Gone is the frantic stress of trying to get dinner on the table in an instant and in its place comes a different type of gentle cooking. It allows beautiful smells to waft through the house and ingredients to mingle and develop over time into something deep, rich and flavourful.

Of all slow cooked dishes, Goan vindaloo is my favourite. Originally a Portuguese stew made with meat, garlic and wine, the dish made its way to India in the 1500s with Portuguese explorers. Like so many other dishes, it then was reinterpreted. Today, vindaloo curry is a sweet, hot and sour dish popular all over the world.

Though the modern recipe, like the original dish, still uses garlic and wine vinegar, it has changed to include chilies and lots of warming spices, such as cinnamon, cumin and cloves. I like to use a cheaper and fattier cut of meat, such as shoulder, which responds well to a slow braise and shows its true colours after a few hours to become the best type of — succulent, sweet and soft.

Slow Cooker Shoulder Vindaloo

If you're nervous about the amount of chili powder, halve the amount called for in the recipe. It will still be delicious. If your slow cooker doesn't have a sauté setting, start the dish in a large sauté pan, then transfer to a slow cooker.

Servings: 4

4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, divided

20 black peppercorns

1 star anise

3-inch cinnamon stick

6 whole cloves

2 teaspoons cumin seeds

6 cloves garlic, crushed

1½-inch chunk fresh ginger, grated (plus extra to serve)

2 tsp chili powder

5 tbsp white wine vinegar

1 medium red onion, finely sliced

28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp sugar

2 ¼ pounds boneless shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes

Plain Greek-style yogurt, to serve

Cooked basmati rice, to serve

Start to finish: 3½ to 5½ hours (1/2 hour active)

Set the slow cooker to sauté mode. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and heat until hot. Add the peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and cumin. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the peppercorns and cloves swell and are fragrant. Transfer the spices to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Grind until smooth, then add the garlic, ginger and chili powder. Grind again, then transfer to a small bowl and stir in the vinegar. Set aside.

Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in the slow cooker. When hot, add the onions and cook, stirring often, until brown and caramelized. Add the tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the spice paste, salt and sugar. Stir well, then add the. Coat the with the paste then add just enough water to cover the meat. Stir well, then cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low, or until the meat is completely tender and straining to hold its shape.

Serve topped with grated ginger, dollops of yogurt and basmati rice.

The Associated Press

Corn hardest hit by flooding in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La (LSU AgCenter Release) - Louisiana’s recently planted corn crop appears to be the biggest agricultural casualty from recent flooding.Dan Fromme, LSU AgCenter corn specialist, said corn farmers had planted roughly 30,000 acres in an eight-parish area of north Louisiana, or about 8 percent of the state’s total corn acreage in 2014.Corn seed and seedlings will suffer from being flooded because of the lack of oxygen in the water-logged soil, he said.

Whether fields will have to be replanted is uncertain, according to Fromme. “You really won’t be certain for four to five days after the water subsides.”He said replanting could cost roughly $140 an acre for seed, and $100 for fertilizer, in addition to fuel.“And it will be hard getting seed to replant,” Fromme added.

Richard Letlow, LSU AgCenter county agent in Ouachita Parish, said 15-20 percent of the corn crop in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes had been planted. He said excessive moisture will complicate corn planting. “It is early in the planting window. However, wet conditions will push all corn planting toward the back end of this planting period.”Keith Collins, LSU AgCenter county agent in Richland Parish, estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 acres of unplanted corn acreage is underwater in his area. “It’s going to delay planting. If we could stay dry with no more rain, we may not see much of an impact. But if we get more rain, which is forecasted later this week, it could cause a delay.”

He said 10-15 percent of corn acreage there has been planted. “There will be a tremendous amount of replant because it stayed underwater too long,” Collins said.If the wet ground keeps farmers out of the fields after mid-April, corn farmers will have to turn to other options, such as soybeans.Jason Holmes, LSU AgCenter county agent in Union Parish, said packets of information from the LSU AgCenter are being distributed to help homeowners cope with flood-damaged homes.Pastureland will be affected by flooding.“The biggest concern I have is for annual ryegrass pastures,” said LSU AgCenter forage specialist Ed Twidwell. “These pastures haven't been growing all that well this winter because of the excessive moisture received, so the areas that received a lot of rain will only make this problem worse.”He said annual ryegrass can probably survive under flooded conditions for about 48 hours, but longer periods of flooding will kill ryegrass plants from the lack of oxygen.

“Once the floodwaters recede, the warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass and bahiagrass should begin to grow in these pastures,” he said.With temperatures in the 70s and 80s, warm-season grasses should begin to green up fairly quickly. “They can handle wet conditions much better than annual ryegrass.”In southwest Louisiana, most of the water has drained from rice fields, but the heavy rainfall interrupted planting for many farmers.Steve Linscombe, director of the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station near Crowley, said rice farmers who planned to drill-seed their crop are waiting for the soil to dry, but he said many had already started planting. “I’d say we probably have 30 percent planted in south Louisiana.”

Kurt Guidry, LSU AgCenter economist, said the state’s wheat crop has dwindled to only 50,000 acres, and not much of it was flooded.Guidry said if corn farmers have to replant 18,000 acres of the 30,000 planted, the cost would exceed $2.5 million.He said he has gotten reports of several hundred head of cattle lost from the floods. The lost grazing from flooded pastures will cost cattle operations also, he said.Ryon Walker, LSU AgCenter cattle researcher at the Hill Farm Research Station, said flooding caused considerable infrastructure damage in northwest Louisiana because of hilly terrain there. Fences, barns and roads have been affected, he said. “Much of the hay may be worthless.”Several LSU AgCenter agents are helping to move cattle to higher ground.“We’ll also see a huge effect in the coming months as the rivers north of us continue to flow into the Red River,” Walker said. “So in April, May and June we’re going to be dealing with this.”

Writer: Bruce Schultz at 337-788-8821 for LSU AgCenter.

http://www.knoe.com/home/headlines/Corn-hardest-hit-by-flooding-in-Louisiana-372035572.html

LSU President F. King Alexander: LSU is a big part of state’s agriculture, welfare, changing history

BY F. KING ALEXANDER

March 14, 2016; 9:20 p.m.

March 15 is National Agriculture Day, an important day for land-grant institutions such as Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College and Southern University.Most people do not know that a land-grant college has an agreement with the federal government to conduct agricultural research and share that newfound knowledge with the state’s citizens. It represents a unique communication and engagement loop between a university and the citizens of its state — a relationship other universities do not have.

This compact goes back to 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, transferring federal lands to the states in exchange for expanding access to higher education, and was meant to provide sustainable funding to colleges supporting agricultural, engineering, and military leadership.

As a land grant university, we have three tools to affect every citizen of the state: research, public outreach and education. And it’s easy to see how the drive to fulfill these missions permeates everything LSU does.

Agriculture is a competitive $13 billion industry in Louisiana, and our farmers and operators are consistently looking for larger outputs with smaller production costs. LSU AgCenter research stations located around the state investigate better ways to grow crops, raise livestock, re-use agricultural byproducts, reduce environmental effects, increase productivity across the state, and deploy new technologies to improve industry success.

For example, our rice research is so advanced that the return on LSU AgCenter’s licensed rice varieties is larger than all other universities’ patent and commercialization efforts combined. And AgCenter extension offices, which are located in every parish in the state, bring this type of new information directly to those who feed the people of our state — and our nation. Extension services also maintain popular community and youth programs, including 4-H, and offer nutrition and healthy living courses to battle Louisiana’s adult and childhood obesity epidemics. But recent budget cuts threaten the extension program’s parish-based mission and hamper our efforts to reduce obesity and address other health- and agriculture-related challenges that hinder our state’s progress and dominate Louisiana’s economic challenges.

Agriculture is more than just crops and cows. It is a serious scientific endeavor requiring highly qualified expertise in genetics, chemistry, environmental science and many other fields.

The LSU College of Agriculture and the LSU School of Veterinary Science are the state’s primary educators of the next generation of agricultural leaders, with more than 2,000 students currently enrolled in the two areas. Agricultural-related concentrations also can be found in other fields of study throughout the university that affect the health and well-being of citizens across Louisiana and the nation, illustrating the true integration of agriculture into all that we do. And our next agricultural leaders will graduate from LSU with little to no debt, ready to earn competitive, higher-than-average starting salaries, and they will take their degrees back home and contribute to the Louisiana economy.

And when they do, they’ll carry the spirit of the land-grant along with them — the drive to share, to better everything they touch, and to be a part of a community of thinkers and doers.

So as we reflect upon our agricultural heritage, don’t forget the role higher education — and LSU — played in our state’s past, and what both still have to offer to build our future and to feed the growing populations of the world.

F. King Alexander is president of LSU

http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/15180389-171/lsu-president-f-king-alexander-lsu-is-a-big-part-of-states-agriculture-welfare-changing-history

               

Pulse power

Try these recipes to incorporate more lentils in your meals

---

Kavita DevganPulses are packed with fibre, reduces the risk of heart disease, and keeps the immune system healthy. Photo location courtesy Hotel Dusit Devarana; Photographs: Priyanka Parashar/Mint

Pulses, or dal, have long been part of the Indian diet. And now, the world too is waking up to their importance. To highlight their stellar nutritional value and create greater awareness about them, the UN has declared 2016 the “International Year of Pulses”. In most parts of India, till not so long ago, a meal would have been incomplete without adal.Lately, however, the Indian diet seems to be missing this important bowl. “There was a time when both lunch and dinner used to comprise a proper meal, including dal, rotiand sabzi. But now, most people opt for Italian or Chinese as one of the meals, thus missing out on pulses,” says Pritisha Jadhav, nutritionist at SRV Hospital in Mumbai.

Perhaps it’s time to, once again, start incorporating pulses in our meals. “And why not? Pulses contain virtually no fat, are low in calories and are packed with nutrition. They are packed with soluble fibre, which helps lower cholesterol levels. This in turn helps to reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke. They also keep the digestive system healthy. Their high-fibre content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal, thus keeping the sugar levels stable,” says Divya Choudhary, chief dietitian at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.

“Pulses are a good source of potassium, calcium, zinc, niacin and vitamin K, and are particularly rich in folate, which helps the heart by bringing down the homocysteine levels, a serious risk factor for heart disease. They are a good source of iron,” says Jadhav. “Also, they are rich in the hard-to-find mineral selenium, which boosts the immune system, prevents inflammation and helps detoxify some cancer-causing compounds in the body,” she adds.It is known that pulses are an important source of protein, particularly for vegetarians. “When combined with bread, or a grain like rice, they provide good-quality protein and tend to have a low glycaemic index (GI measures the effect of carbohydrates present in food on blood sugar levels), so are good for diabetics too,” adds Choudhary.

So if pulses seem to be sliding off the plate, it may be time to remedy that. The good news is that pulses are extremely versatile, so you can use them in almost everything, from snacks and stews to pilafs and salads.

Here are some recipes that will make you look at daldifferently.

Each recipe serves two.

Dal Chawal Arancini

Ingredients

100g basmati rice

50g toor dal (pigeon peas)

40ml ghee

5g cumin (whole)

5g turmeric powder

10g green chillies, chopped

15g ginger, chopped

A pinch of asafoetida

10g coriander, chopped

3g garam masala

2 eggs

25g panko breadcrumbs

15g onion, chopped

15g tomato, chopped

Vegetable oil, for frying

Salt to taste

For the stuffing

20g sun-dried tomatoes

10g pine nuts

25g mozzarella

Method

Soak the rice and toor dal for 45 minutes, and then either boil or pressure-cook them to mash together. Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin, asafoetida and onion. Add green chillies and ginger and cook for 5 minutes. Now add the tomatoes, salt and turmeric powder and add the rice and dal mixture and cook till the mixture becomes dry. Add the coriander and garam masala. Keep the mixture aside to cool.

Combine the pine nuts, small cubes of mozzarella and chopped sun-dried tomatoes in a bowl and set aside.

Take the rice-dal mixture and make balls; stuff the balls with the pine nut and cheese filling. Dip the balls in eggs and then coat with the panko breadcrumbs. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Check the temperature of the oil with a deep fry thermometer to register 180 degrees Celsius. Now fry the balls until golden brown on all sides. Remove and drain on paper. Serve hot with tomato chutney.

—Neeraj Tyagi, executive chef, Shangri-La’s—Eros Hotel, New Delhi.

Curried Lentil and Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

100g lal masoor (red lentil)

50g pumpkin

20g onion

10g garlic

10g Madras curry powder

A few curry leaves

30ml coconut oil

10g ginger

5 black peppercorns

2g coriander powder

20g cumin powder

10g green chillies

Salt to taste

Method

Wash and boil the dal till it’s soft. Add a bit of salt while boiling.

Peel the pumpkin and chop roughly. Marinate with coconut oil and salt and roast in a pre-heated oven for 5 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.

Chop the onion, garlic, ginger and green chillies.

Heat coconut oil, temper black peppercorns and curry leaves. Add onion, garlic, ginger, green chillies, coriander powder, cumin powder and Madras curry powder and cook until the masalas are done.

Now add the boiled dal and roasted pumpkin. Remove the peppercorns and purée the mixture in a blender.

Put the mixture in a deep pan, add water or vegetable stock to get the desired soup consistency, and cook for 10 minutes. Season with salt. Serve hot with warm bread on the side.

Click here for enlarge

Dal Cheesecake with Digestive Biscuits

Ingredients

200g puy lentil or arhar dal

50ml coconut milk

20g brown sugar

20g palm sugar

20ml ghee

50g processed cheese, grated

20g Mascarpone cheese

5 digestive biscuits

Method

Boil the dal and make a purée. In a deep pan, heat ghee, add brown sugar and palm sugar and cook till it’s thick. Add the purée and mix well. Set the mixture aside to cool. Then add the processed cheese, Mascarpone and coconut milk.

Crush the digestive biscuits. Add ghee and crumble the mixture to form shortcrust pastry. Press this mixture to form the base and sides of the mould.

Set the dal cheese mixture inside the crust pastry and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Click here for enlarge

Lentil Cake with Fresh Chorizo

Ingredients

300g black-eyed peas (lobia)

30g shallots

30g green chillies

10g cilantro

2 tsp lemon juice

5g tomato

40g chorizo, chicken or sausages

A few sprigs of coriander

A pinch of sea salt

Olive oil, to fry

Method

Soak the black-eyed peas overnight. Purée in a food processor with shallots, green chillies and cilantro. Add sea salt and 1 tsp lemon juice.

Heat olive oil in a pan and crisp the chorizo. Add the dalpurée and mix. Knead the mixture into a dough, make small patties/cakes and shallow-fry them.

In the meantime, roughly cut the tomatoes. Add green chillies, coriander and the remaining lemon juice. Serve the patties with the tomato salsa.

—Nishant Choubey, executive chef, Dusit Devarana, New Delhi.

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/pYmNSgDRNdAW28ucRgyNBP/Pulse-power.htmlArkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report

Rice

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

Futures:

High Low Last Change Mar '16 1010.0 1010.0 1010.5 +1.0 May '16 1054.0 1034.0 1045.0 +12.0 Jul '16 1075.0 1062.0 1072.0 +12.0 Sep '16 1088.0 +12.0 Nov '16 1102.0 +12.5 Jan '17 1118.0 +14.0 Mar '17 1118.0 +14.0 May '17 1118.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures began the week on a positive note. Strong storms on Sunday dumped even more moisture on saturated and flooded fields across Arkansas and Mississippi, further delaying ground work and planting. Export sales last week were 145,800 metric tons, with Japan and Venezuela the top buyers, which is a marketing year high. However, this week’s WASDE report lowered US exports by another 2 million cwt, bringing the estimate to an even 100 million cwt. That left carry out up 2 million cwt at 43.9 million cwt. Global rice supplies for 15/16 were raised 1.8 million tons due to increased production.

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