Wednesday, May 25, 2016

19th May,2016 daily global regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine



GM crops ideal for drought-hit TS’

of genetically modified crops will help reduce acute drought crisis in Telangana, opined senior scientists and researchers who conducted talks under the aegis of the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) here on Wednesday.
Use of biotechnology in agriculture would reduce irrigation requirement in the State by 25 per cent, scientists said.
‘Use biotechnology’
Speaking at a media meet here, four scientists including Dr. P. Ananda Kumar, Principal Scientist, Biotechnology Unit, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Dr. B. Seikeran, former director of National Institute of Nutrition, Dr. Ajay Panchbhai, Biotechnology Affairs Manager-India, DuPont Pinoeer and Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, ABLE-AG, recommended use of biotechnology in agriculture. “Farmers should be introduced to drought resistant variants of rice, a crop which is highly water reliant. Scientists from India and abroad have developed genetically modified variants which will be suitable for soil in Telangana,” Dr. Kumar said. Apart from rice varieties, scientists in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad among other cities, have come up with biotechnologically experimented and better varieties of vegetables and food grains, the scientists explained.
“For a drought-hit state like Telangana, it is essential to curtail farmer distress and introduce different GM as well as non-GM crop varieties. Drought-resistant variants of crops that can withstand high temperatures and reduced irrigation should be considered along with herbicide tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency, especially in the case of rice, Telangana’s primary food-grain,” Dr. Sesikeran said at the meet. He also highlighted that GM crops were sae and nutritious.
Drought had reduced rice production in Telangana from 4.5 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes in 2015. This is because for each kilogram of rice grown in Telangana, the farmer uses approximately 3,145 litres of water. Speaking of GM research, Dr. Bajaj asked the government to speed up support in the field. “There has to be a concerted effort to drive agricultural growth through technology interventions. Telangana has several GM crops where field trials are pending including rice, cotton, wheat among other grains,” he said. Putting to rest doubts about safety of GM trials, Dr. Panchbhai said that regulatory framework in the country was as stringent as any other developed nation and proper measures were taken before any crop was approved for field trials or environmental release.
Introduction of GM crops would also help in improvement of groundwater levels, the scientists said.


Greenhouse gas emissions from this surprising source could doom the Paris climate accord goal

Darryl Fears May 18 at 9:15 AM

In Vietnam, alternate wetting and drying in irrigated rice is helping farmers use less water and lower emissions without compromising yields. (Courtesy of G. Smith/CIAT)
By now, almost anyone can pick the world’s biggest polluters out of a lineup: power plants, automobile tailpipes and factories. Together they push nearly 70 percent of heat trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Not surprisingly, the trio drew considerable attention during the late 2015 Paris climate talks to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, by the end of the century.
But a new study released Tuesday says the agreement reached by governments after the United Nations talks will fail if they fail to confront another major source of greenhouse gas emissions: agriculture. Based on some estimates, meat, dairy and crop production emit as much greenhouse gas pollution in the form of methane and nitrous oxide as automobiles emit carbon. The study said farm emissions must fall by a billion tons per year by 2030.
According to the study, current regulations for agriculture will fall up to 5 percent short of what’s needed. “This research is a reality check,” said Eva Wollenberg, leader of the CCAFS Low Emissions Development research program at the University of Vermont’s Gund Institute for Ecological Economics. “Countries want to take action on agriculture, but the options currently on offer won’t make the dent in emissions needed to meet the global targets agreed to in Paris.”
The U.N.’s current solutions call for more water efficiency in rice production, better forestry practices and lowering food waste. But the study’s authors said governments will have to do better than that. The study advocates identifying specific breeds of cattle that produce less methane, along with a dietary inhibitor that reduce the gas by more than 25 percent.
The study, two years in the making, was published in the journal Global Change Biology. Its more than 20 authors represent research institutions from around the world, including the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, the French National Institute for Agricultural Research in Paris, the International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños, Philippines, and the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Cali, Colombia.
“Part of the purpose is to stimulate people to think about these options,” Wollenberg said. “I think it just takes the political will.”
Energy and Environment newsletter
The science and policy of environmental issues.
On Earth Day last month, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and the leaders of more than 170 nations signed an agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions at the U.N. headquarters in New York, “the largest number of countries ever to sign an international agreement in a single day,” Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on the occasion.
Ban called the global effort to fight global warming “a race against time.”
But the effort will fall short without “massive investment, information sharing and technical support to enable a global-scale transition” to address emissions from agriculture, according to a statement from the University of Vermont announcing the study. Agriculture had a 300 million ton carbon footprint in 2012 from food waste alone.
“Promising technical innovations on the horizon include recently developed methane inhibitors that reduce dairy cow emissions by 30 percent without affecting milk yields, breeds of cattle that produce lower methane and varieties of cereal crops that release less nitrous oxide,” the statement said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/05/18/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-this-surprising-source-could-doom-the-paris-climate-accord-goal/

Private traders no longer to import rice



THE NEXT GOVERNMENT will bar private traders from importing rice and aims to stamp out rampant smuggling of the grain into the country, fueling trader speculation of reduced demand from the world’s third-biggest buyer of the grain.

Rice industry groups that have been complaining of the current government’s apparent lack of will to curb smuggling -- consequently, eroding farmers’ incomes -- welcomed the move.

The task of importing rice to ensure food security will now be solely in the hands of the state grains agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s choice for agriculture secretary, Emmanuel F. Piñol, said in a radio interview.

Rice imports are politically sensitive in the country, with the government pushing to keep tariffs high to protect local farmers but also sometimes needing to quickly import thousands of tons to ensure adequate domestic supplies.

Private traders are currently allowed to bring in up to 805,200 tons annually, with a 35% tariff, under a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

“The directive of our president-elect is that there will be no more rice importation by the private sector. It will only be the NFA,” said Mr. Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato.

Rice importation is regulated by the NFA, which issues permits and allocations to private traders via auctions -- a practice prone to abuse because permits can be sold by importers or officials award them only to favored traders.

In 2014, the country moved to loosen restrictions on rice imports by reducing tariffs to 35% from 40% and increasing the so-called annual minimum access volume covered by such tariffs to 805,200 tons from 350,000 tons.

WELCOME MOVE
A group of rice millers and wholesalers welcomed the impending policy change.

“Very good, that’s a very positive development,” said Herculano C. Co, Jr., president of the Philippine Confederation of Grain Associations, Inc., in a mobile phone message.

“The import permit given to the private sector was the biggest blunder for the rice sector as most -- if not all -- use it to smuggle rice, depressing the price of palay produce of farmers.”

The leader of a group of 33 farmer groups shared this sentiment.

“This has been our position ever since... three years ago. Smuggling has become rampant with private traders allowed to import, because permits are recycled,” Rosendo O. So, president of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, said partly in Filipino in a telephone interview.

Saying it is difficult to monitor imports of rice traders under this loose permit system, Mr. So said it is easier to control imports via government-to-government (G2G) deals.

“With G2G, you know where the imports will land, who are the parties to the transaction and what is the volume,” he explained.

“We have been batting for that (preventing private traders from importing rice) as one of the solutions to curb rice smuggling.”

But a Manila-based rice broker said that getting around the WTO agreement could be an obstacle to Mr. Piñol’s plans.

Private rice importers under the scheme can buy a maximum of 293,100 tons each from Thailand and Vietnam, as well as 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan. Importers can also buy up to 15,000 tons from Australia, 4,000 tons from El Salvador and up to 50,000 tons from other countries.

Rice traders in Thailand and Vietnam were monitoring the situation but some expressed concern about reduced demand.

“It doesn’t make much difference on who buys, what is important is how much they buy,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

In Vietnam, a trader said Manila’s ban on private sector importation could mean lower demand if Vietnam had to only work with the NFA for deals.

The new plans for rice trading come as benchmark Thai rice prices RI-THBKN5-P1 hit a two-year high on Tuesday, as drought cuts the output of Asia’s top growers.

Last week, Mr. Duterte’s campaign spokesman Peter T. Laviña said a plan by the incumbent government to import an additional 500,000 tons of rice this year would be reviewed and said there was a preference for more government-to-government deals.

The Philippines regularly imports more than a million tons a year of rice for its growing population, although Lavina said the Mr. Duterte government wants the country to become self sufficient in one to two years. -- main report from Reuters, with JCL
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:bH6etaY0Vd0J:www.bworldonline.com/content.php%3Fsection%3DTopStory%26title%3Dprivate-traders-no-longer-to-import-rice%26id%3D127720+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk


05/18/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Soybeans

High
Low
Cash Bids
1070
1012
New Crop
1080
1037


Riceland Foods


Cash Bids
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -
New Crop
Stuttgart: - - -
Pendleton: - - -


Futures:

SOYBEANS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1088.00
1063.75
1075.25
-5.00
Aug '16
1090.00
1066.00
1077.00
-5.50
Sep '16
1081.25
1058.25
1066.00
-7.75
Nov '16
1075.00
1052.75
1057.50
-9.75
Jan '17
1071.25
1051.25
1056.50
-8.00
Mar '17
1048.00
1033.00
1036.75
-6.75
May '17
1041.00
1029.00
1032.50
-4.75
Jul '17
1040.25
1027.75
1030.75
-5.75
Aug '17
1021.00
1021.00
1016.75
-3.75

Soybean Comment

Soybean closed slightly lower as trade was very volatile today trading from 9 higher to 14 lower. The market continue to hold gains near the recent highs. The market showed little ability to put in new highs today, but did test previous highs. The market needs additional demand to develop and help propel prices above highs near $10.75.



Wheat

High
Low
Cash Bids
491
441
New Crop
492
467


Futures:

WHEAT


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
484.75
477.00
480.00
-1.75
Sep '16
493.75
486.75
490.00
-1.25
Dec '16
509.25
502.00
506.00
0.00
Mar '17
524.25
517.50
521.50
+0.75
May '17
532.75
525.00
530.00
+1.00
Jul '17
535.00
529.00
532.50
+0.50
Sep '17
537.25
535.50
537.00
+0.50
Dec '17
551.00
547.50
548.25
-0.50
Mar '18
556.75
555.75
555.00
-2.75

Wheat Comment

Wheat closed mixed today as the market continues to be pressured by large supplies. New crop wheat faces an uncertain export market as wheat needs additional sales to develop. The market has little fundamental support to move higher as the market remains a follower to other commodities.



Grain Sorghum

High
Low
Cash Bids
373
357
New Crop
323
278




Corn

High
Low
Cash Bids
409
375
New Crop
410
394


Futures:

CORN


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
400.50
394.00
399.50
+2.50
Sep '16
402.75
396.75
402.25
+2.50
Dec '16
406.75
400.75
406.00
+2.25
Mar '17
413.75
408.50
413.25
+1.75
May '17
417.50
412.75
417.00
+1.50
Jul '17
421.25
416.75
420.75
+1.75
Sep '17
415.00
412.00
414.50
+0.75
Dec '17
415.75
412.50
415.50
0.00
Mar '18
423.00
420.00
423.00
0.00

Corn Comment

Corn prices closed higher today as prices continue to hold support near $4. This mark the fifth session in a row prices higher. While today's ethanol numbers were less than impressive, the EPA is expected to release favorable RFS levels for next year which could help continue to support prices.



Cotton
Futures:

COTTON


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
62.88
61.4
62.05
-0.15
Oct '16
62.5
62.16
62.54
0.15
Dec '16
62.04
61.16
61.75
0.18

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures was mostly higher again today. China continues to auction 30,000 tons a day to local mills. So far, they are liquidating higher-quality cotton, but the market is looking for indications they are running out of their best reserves and will begin to auction lower quality cotton, some of which is years old. Planting progress is well ahead of last year's pace, and bit ahead of the 5 year average as well. December will have resistance at the recent high of 63.69 cents.



Rice

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


Futures:

ROUGH RICE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1214.5
1186.0
1214.5
+3.5
Sep '16
1234.5
1205.5
1234.5
+6.0
Nov '16
1240.0
1230.0
1251.5
+6.0
Jan '17


1269.0
+7.5
Mar '17


1285.0
+8.0
May '17


1304.5
+8.0
Jul '17


1304.5
+8.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures were higher again today with July posting an outside day up. Arkansas farmers have now planted 96% of intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five year average for this date is 80%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger. This large crop could limit the upside potential of the market, however, dry conditions in other rice growing regions of the world could provide support. July continues to trend higher, and the next upside objective is the 62% retracement level of $12.46.



Cattle
Futures:

Live Cattle:

LIVE CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
123.575
122.525
123.125
-0.200
Aug '16
120.000
119.150
119.950
+0.150
Oct '16
119.600
118.525
119.525
+0.300
Dec '16
118.900
117.725
118.825
+0.475
Feb '17
117.625
116.525
117.600
+0.525
Apr '17
116.350
115.225
116.325
+0.650
Jun '17
109.325
108.750
109.300
+0.300
Aug '17
107.000
106.875
107.000
+0.200

Feeders:

FEEDER CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





May '16
149.925
149.000
149.500
-0.025
Aug '16
149.775
148.350
149.350
+0.575
Sep '16
147.750
146.575
147.375
+0.375
Oct '16
145.850
144.675
145.400
+0.350
Nov '16
141.775
141.000
141.700
+0.275
Jan '17
137.200
136.475
136.850
+0.050
Mar '17
134.150
134.050
134.050
0.000
Apr '17


134.475
0.000

Cattle Comment

Cattle prices closed mostly higher today with the exception of the nearby contract. Continued strength in beef prices and cash prices that remain at a premium to futures are providing most of the support for prices at this time.



Hogs
Futures:

LEAN HOGS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
82.750
81.000
81.225
-1.525
Jul '16
83.375
81.550
81.925
-1.500
Aug '16
82.600
81.300
81.700
-0.950
Oct '16
70.700
69.850
70.250
-0.425
Dec '16
65.400
64.700
65.175
-0.250
Feb '17
68.125
67.600
67.925
-0.300
Apr '17
70.775
70.300
70.775
-0.100
May '17


75.000
-0.075
Jun '17
78.200
78.150
78.325
-0.175

Hog Comment




Shell Eggs

National Turkeys

Delmarva Broilers

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GM crops ideal for drought-hit TS’

of genetically modified crops will help reduce acute drought crisis in Telangana, opined senior scientists and researchers who conducted talks under the aegis of the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) here on Wednesday.
Use of biotechnology in agriculture would reduce irrigation requirement in the State by 25 per cent, scientists said.
‘Use biotechnology’
Speaking at a media meet here, four scientists including Dr. P. Ananda Kumar, Principal Scientist, Biotechnology Unit, Indian Institute of Rice Research, Dr. B. Seikeran, former director of National Institute of Nutrition, Dr. Ajay Panchbhai, Biotechnology Affairs Manager-India, DuPont Pinoeer and Dr. Shivendra Bajaj, Executive Director, ABLE-AG, recommended use of biotechnology in agriculture. “Farmers should be introduced to drought resistant variants of rice, a crop which is highly water reliant. Scientists from India and abroad have developed genetically modified variants which will be suitable for soil in Telangana,” Dr. Kumar said. Apart from rice varieties, scientists in New Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad among other cities, have come up with biotechnologically experimented and better varieties of vegetables and food grains, the scientists explained.
“For a drought-hit state like Telangana, it is essential to curtail farmer distress and introduce different GM as well as non-GM crop varieties. Drought-resistant variants of crops that can withstand high temperatures and reduced irrigation should be considered along with herbicide tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency, especially in the case of rice, Telangana’s primary food-grain,” Dr. Sesikeran said at the meet. He also highlighted that GM crops were sae and nutritious.
Drought had reduced rice production in Telangana from 4.5 million tonnes to 3 million tonnes in 2015. This is because for each kilogram of rice grown in Telangana, the farmer uses approximately 3,145 litres of water. Speaking of GM research, Dr. Bajaj asked the government to speed up support in the field. “There has to be a concerted effort to drive agricultural growth through technology interventions. Telangana has several GM crops where field trials are pending including rice, cotton, wheat among other grains,” he said. Putting to rest doubts about safety of GM trials, Dr. Panchbhai said that regulatory framework in the country was as stringent as any other developed nation and proper measures were taken before any crop was approved for field trials or environmental release.
Introduction of GM crops would also help in improvement of groundwater levels, the scientists said.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ece





Salt-Resistant Rice Offers Hope For Farmers Clinging To Disappearing Islands

Debendra Tarek, 80, inspects a handful of salt-resistant rice in his home on the tidal island of Ghoramara, which is shrinking quickly because of climate change.
David Gilkey/NPR
In a dimly lit hut made of mud and straw, a shaft of sunlight slices through a hole in the ceiling and lands on a bag of rice. Debendra Tarek, 80, pulls out a handful of the rough brown grains and holds them up to the beam of light.
His bare chest is sunken, and his eyes glow deep in their sockets. "This resists the saltwater," the village elder explains through an interpreter. This variety of rice, he says, allows his family to remain here on Ghoramara, the island where they were born.
Ghoramara is one of thousands of islands that make up the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is part of the Sundarbans — a delta on India's eastern border with Bangladesh, where three major rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal. This is tidal country, where land disappears and reappears as waters rise and fall each day. Lately, noncyclical change is reshaping this landscape in unfamiliar ways. Rising waters tear chunks out of the landscape. Islands disappear and don't return.
Ghoramara has lost half its land mass since 1969, according to researchers at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, India. Sugata Hazra runs the university's School of Oceanography Studies. Hazra says the island has shrunk from 8.5 square kilometers in 1969 to just 4.3 kilometers in 2014. Ghoramara used to be home to 40,000 people. Today, most have been forced to leave. They've become climate refugees. Tarek and his family are among the 3,500 people who remain.
Many of the 4 million people who live in the Sundarbans are poor subsistence farmers like Tarek. Rice is the staple crop, and growing it requires abundant fresh water. In a rice paddy, the brackish water that surrounds these islands can be devastating. "When floodwater would enter the fields, it would destroy the entire crop," Tarek tells me. It might be three to five years until a rice paddy can be planted again.In Kolkata, about 60 miles north of Ghoramara, Asish Ghosh understands that climate change could cause rice paddies to flood with saltwater more frequently, making Tarek's problems worse. And he believes he can help. Ghosh is the founder of an environmental organization called ENDEV, The Society for Environment and Development.
"We used to grow 6,000 varieties of rice" in the Indian state of West Bengal, Ghosh says. "That is an incredible figure." The problem is, 90 percent of those varieties have disappeared. Farmers no longer grow them, and nobody has saved the seeds. Still, Ghosh figured that some of the 600 remaining varieties must be salt-resistant.

His team called research facilities and universities, asking for the names of salt-resistant rice varieties. They collected six names — but no samples. "Where are you going to get them?" Ghosh recalls one researcher asking. "He laughed at me over the phone."
The hunt was on. "I was searching like a madman, writing emails to all possible places. To the national plant center, the national rice collection center," says Ghosh. "Then I called up an NGO in the Sundarbans I'd been working with. They searched out the oldest man they could find and asked whether he had any of these varieties."
After six months of scouring villages and research institutions, Ghosh procured seeds for five of the six salt-resistant rice varieties. (It still bothers him that he can't find the sixth.) In 2011, he gave small samples of the rice to farmers in the Sundarbans, along with careful instructions: "Grow these for seeds. Don't eat the rice. Save it."
There are places in the world where farmers have raised hardier crops thanks to technological innovation, gene-splicing or other advanced scientific practices. This is not that kind of story. "I am reviving traditional knowledge," says Ghosh.
Five years into the program, Ghosh says "countless" farmers in the Sundarbans are now planting salt-resistant rice. He has been recognized by the Nature Conservancy and other international organizations. And countries far from India have picked up the idea. Ghosh says he has presented at conferences with researchers who are planting salt-resistant rice native to Tanzania, and he's met scientists who have re-established salt-resistant potatoes in flood-prone parts of coastal Pakistan.
This is not a long-term solution for the islands most affected by climate change. But salt-resistant rice can provide a buffer for some of the most vulnerable people who might otherwise be ruined.
On Ghoramara Island, it has given Tarek's family a reprieve. They know the island is shrinking too quickly for them to stay another generation. But at least they can grow food while they remain. "Everybody is using this rice now," says Tarek. "We even think it tastes better."
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/05/18/478251064/salt-resistant-rice-offers-hope-for-farmers-clinging-to-disappearing-islands





HUL gets CCI nod to sell rice export biz to LT Foods


The deal, announced in March, allows transfer of the brands and inventory to LT Foods for Rs 25 crore, which owns Dawat basmati rice brand. | 1 Comments HUL gets CCI nod to sell rice export biz to LT Foods FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has received fair trade regulator CCI's nod to sell its rice exports business to Delhi-based LT Foods . The deal, announced in March, allows transfer of the brands and inventory to LT Foods for Rs 25 crore, which owns Dawat basmati rice brand. In a tweet, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has approved "acquisition of rice business of HUL by LT Foods". HUL's decision to sell the business is in line with its strategy to exit non-core operations while continuing to drive its growth agenda in the core packaged foods segment, the company had said.

The rice export business, primarily carried out under the brands Gold Seal Indus Valley and Rozana, will be sold to LT Foods Middle East DMCC, a group company of LT Foods. HUL began exporting premium Basmati rice in 1985 under the brand Gold Seal Indus Valley to various countries in the Middle East and Europe, which was subsequently extended to other brands and geographies. The brands registered a turnover of Rs 51 crore, audited financials for 2014-15 showed. HUL stock price On May 19, 2016, at 15:27 hrs Hindustan Unilever was quoting at Rs 813.10, down Rs 12.05, or 1.46 percent. The 52-week high of the share was Rs 944.00 and the 52-week low was Rs 765.35. The company's trailing 12-month (TTM) EPS was at Rs 18.87 per share as per the quarter ended March 2016. The stock's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio was 43.09. The latest book value of the company is Rs 36.08 per share. At current value, the price-to-book value of the company is 22.54.

http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/hul-gets-cci-nod-to-sell-rice-export-biz-to-lt-foods_6682081.html?utm_source=ref_article

Wheat strengthens on increased offtake by flour mills

PTI | May 18, 2016, 02.15 PM IST
New Delhi, May 18 () Wheat prices strengthened by Rs 25 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today due to increased offtake by flour mills.
Bajra also showed strength on strong demand.
Traders said increased offtake by flour mills amid pause in supplies from producing belts mainly kept wheat prices higher.
In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) rose by Rs 25 each to Rs 1,685-1,690, wheat deshi traded higher by a similar margin to Rs 2,225-2,575 per quintal respectively. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired higher by Rs 25 to Rs 1,690-1,695 per 90 kg. Atta flour mills too edged up to Rs 865-870 from previous level of Rs 860-870 per 50 kg.
Other bold grains like, bajra moved up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,620-1,625 per quintal.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,225-2,575, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,685-1,690, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,690-1,695, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 265, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 265, Roller flour mill Rs 865-870 (50 kg), Maida Rs 940-960 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 980-990 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,600-5,700, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,550-5,400, Permal raw Rs 1,900-1,950, Permal wand Rs 2,075-2,125, Sela Rs 2,400-2,500 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,775-1,800, Bajra Rs 1,620-1,625, Jowar yellow Rs 1,800-1,900, white Rs 3,400-3,500, Maize Rs 1,470-1,480, Barley Rs 1,610-1,615. SUN KPS ADI MR
Bookmark or read stories offline
Prevailing World Prices and Loan Deficiency Payment Rates for Rice


Mark Simone
(202) 720-5653
mark.simone@wdc.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, February 24, 2016-The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Rough rice prices decreased $0.18 per cwt for both long grain and medium/short grain.  
To access the complete News Release, click here.
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/food-grains-analysis/rice-reports/2016/prfebruary242016
Thai Rice Price Hits 2-Year High as Drought Hurts Asian Output: Traders
Bangkok. Benchmark Thai rice prices hit a two-year high on Tuesday (17/05) as drought cut output from Asia's top rice growers and stoked demand for Thai exports, rice traders and exporters said.
Prices are at their highest level since the Thai military seized power two years ago and ended generous subsidies that caused a glut in supply and a massive build up in rice stockpiles in Thailand.
The price of 5-percent broken rice was quoted at $418-$420 a tonne FOB Bangkok on Tuesday, rice traders said, the highest since May 11, 2014
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/se-asia/thai-rice-price-hits-2-year-high-drought-hurts-asian-output-traders/


Private traders no longer to import rice



THE NEXT GOVERNMENT will bar private traders from importing rice and aims to stamp out rampant smuggling of the grain into the country, fueling trader speculation of reduced demand from the world’s third-biggest buyer of the grain.

Rice industry groups that have been complaining of the current government’s apparent lack of will to curb smuggling -- consequently, eroding farmers’ incomes -- welcomed the move.

The task of importing rice to ensure food security will now be solely in the hands of the state grains agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s choice for agriculture secretary and a former governor of North Cotabato, Emmanuel F. Piñol, said in a radio interview.

Rice imports are politically sensitive in the country, with the government pushing to keep tariffs high to protect local farmers but also sometimes needing to quickly import thousands of tons to ensure adequate domestic supplies.

Private traders are currently allowed to bring in up to 805,200 tons annually, with a 35% tariff, under a World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.

“The directive of our president-elect is that there will be no more rice importation by the private sector. It will only be the NFA,” said Mr. Piñol, a former governor of North Cotabato.

Rice importation is regulated by the NFA, which issues permits and allocations to private traders via auctions -- a practice prone to abuse because permits can be sold by importers or officials award them only to favored traders.

In 2014, the country moved to loosen restrictions on rice imports by reducing tariffs to 35% from 40% and increasing the so-called annual minimum access volume covered by such tariffs to 805,200 tons from 350,000 tons.

WELCOME MOVE
A group of rice millers and wholesalers welcomed the impending policy change.

“Very good, that’s a very positive development,” said Herculano C. Co, Jr., president of the Philippine Confederation of Grain Associations, Inc., in a mobile phone message.

“The import permit given to the private sector was the biggest blunder for the rice sector as most -- if not all -- use it to smuggle rice, depressing the price of palay produce of farmers.”

The leader of a group of 33 farmer groups shared this sentiment.

“This has been our position ever since... three years ago. Smuggling has become rampant with private traders allowed to import, because permits are recycled,” Rosendo O. So, president of the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, said partly in Filipino in a telephone interview.

Saying it is difficult to monitor imports of rice traders under this loose permit system, Mr. So said it is easier to control imports via government-to-government (G2G) deals.

“With G2G, you know where the imports will land, who the parties to the transaction are and what the volume is,” he explained.

“We have been batting for that (preventing private traders from importing rice) as one of the solutions to curb rice smuggling.”

But a Manila-based rice broker said that getting around the WTO agreement could be an obstacle to Mr. Piñol’s plans.

Private rice importers under the scheme can buy a maximum of 293,100 tons each from Thailand and Vietnam, as well as 50,000 tons each from China, India and Pakistan. Importers can also buy up to 15,000 tons from Australia, 4,000 tons from El Salvador and up to 50,000 tons from other countries.

Rice traders in Thailand and Vietnam were monitoring the situation but some expressed concern about reduced demand.

“It doesn’t make much difference on who buys, what is important is how much they buy,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

In Vietnam, a trader said Manila’s ban on private sector importation could mean lower demand if Vietnam had to only work with the NFA for deals.

The new plans for rice trading come as benchmark Thai rice prices RI-THBKN5-P1 hit a two-year high on Tuesday, as drought cuts the output of Asia’s top growers.

Last week, Mr. Duterte’s campaign spokesman Peter T. Laviña said a plan by the incumbent government to import an additional 500,000 tons of rice this year would be reviewed and said there was a preference for more government-to-government deals.

The Philippines regularly imports more than a million tons a year of rice for its growing population, although Lavina said the Mr. Duterte government wants the country to become self sufficient in one to two years. -- main report from Reuters, with JCL

Price of rice stable despite ill effects of El Niño

2016
THE price of rice in the domestic market remains stable despite the drop in the country’s paddy rice production brought about by the ill impacts of El Niño, the National Food Authority (NFA) said.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the average farmgate price of palay as of the week ending May 10 reached P18.08 per kilogram, only 0.14 percent lower than the P18.05 per kg recorded in the same period last year.
This, despite the 9.97-percent decrease in the country’s palay production during the first quarter of 2016. Palay output during the period was recorded at 3.93 million metric tons (MMT), lower than the 4.37 MMT produced in 2015.The PSA attributed the drop in production to El Niño and the damage caused by Typhoons Lando and Nona in late-2015.
NFA Spokesman Angel Imperial Jr. said in a phone interview the price of the staple barely moved, as the agency was able to promptly preposition rice stocks through the government-to-government (G-to-G) importation done in the last quarter of 2015.
“The importation we have done was able to cushion the impact of the current El Niño episode to the country’s rice supply and prices,” he said.
According to the official, rice stock inventory in the Philippines is currently at 2.73 MMT, which is sufficient for 85 days.
About 1.13 MMT of the total inventory is deposited in NFA warehouses, while 886,000 MT and 706,000 MT are with the households and commercial warehouses, respectively.
The NFA, through a G-to-G scheme, imported 500,000 MT of rice in the first quarter of the year to cover the anticipated deficit in the country’s rice production brought about by El Niño.
The latest report from the Department of Agriculture showed around 918,912 metric tons (MT) of crops worth P8.68 billion have already been damaged by El Niño and pests in 2016. Of this value, P7.01 billion was from El Niño damage.
The rice sector took the brunt of the effects of the drought, with P3.47 billion in total production loss.
Meanwhile, Imperial said there is still no immediate plan to import additional volumes of rice to augment the country’s inventory in preparation for the lean months.
But the NFA said it has already prepared the groundworks for all possible importation scheme that can be considered by the next administration.
“We have already prepared all the possible rice importation schemes for the 500,000 MT standby authority given by Malacañang, be it through the minimum access volume scheme or by government-to-government scheme so the next administration can quickly execute them should they decide to,” former NFA Administration Renan B. Dalisay earlier said.
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/price-of-rice-stable-despite-ill-effects-of-el-nino/

Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrow



PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION May 18, 2016 1:00 am

WITH REDUCED supply in the market due to the ongoing drought, a great many rice traders have expressed interest in taking part in tomorrow’s auction for 1.2 million tonnes of rice, at which the government is expected to attract a good price for its stockpiled produce.
Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that 51 rice traders had shown interest in the third rice auction of the year, driven by high demand arising from lower output due to the drought.

The auction takes place at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi.

"Rice prices have increased gradually. This bidding should generate a better price than at the two previous auctions this year, although it may not be as high as the market price as this rice stock from the government's warehouses has deteriorated in quality as it has been stockpiled for a while," she said.

Excluding the 1.2 million tonnes set to be auctioned off, about 11.4 million tonnes of rice remains in the government's stocks - some 7 million tonnes of it for consumption, and the rest for industrial supply.
Duangporn said the government would hold further bidding rounds for releasing rice from the stockpile soon, while taking into account the prevailing market situation in order to prevent prices falling before the start of the new harvest season.

Meanwhile, rice exports are on the rise, thanks to high overseas demand, she added.

According to a Foreign Trade Department report, rice exports have risen 18 per cent in volume so far this year to 3.91 million tonnes, while export value has increased 11.85 per cent to Bt60.99 billion.

Asked about the losses incurred from the four defaulted government-to-government contracts for the sale of 6.2 million tonnes of rice from the previous administration, Duangporn said her department was following up the case and estimated calling for recovery of an overall loss of Bt20 billion from politicians and ousted government officials.

The department is awaiting the Office of the Council of State's consideration in regard to signing authorisation for the Commerce Ministry or other agencies to call for recovery of the losses, she added.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said many rice traders - including exporters, millers and domestic traders - were eager to join the upcoming bidding as they hoped to find rice at a cheaper price during a period of low supply and high prices in the market.

The current price of rice is the highest for two years, due to lower production resulting from controlled plantation during the dry season, he said.

The export price of Hom Mali or jasmine rice is now quoted at US$795 (Bt28,220) per tonne, while sticky rice fetches $900 per tonne and white rice is quoted at $439 per tonne.

With higher export prices, domestic prices have also increased, Chookiat said.

The price of paddy white rice has risen from Bt7,800-Bt8,000 to Bt9,000-Bt9,300 per tonne, while paddy jasmine rice is now quoted at Bt12,000-Bt13,000 a tonne.

The government should soon open a couple more rounds of rice bidding in order to release rice from the stockpiles before the incoming new crop, he added.http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Enormous-interest-in-rice-auction-tomorrow-30286165.html

Rice exporters aim to ship 0.7m tons to Iran

17.05.2016
Members of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) have decided to open their offices in Tehran and Mashhad in a bid to increase exports to 600,000 to 700,000 tons to Iran – the top Basmati rice importer in the world.With the help of the Ministry of Commerce, the REAP members will invite Iranian rice importers to Pakistan for business-to-business meetings to increase rice trade between the two neighbours, according to a press release.he decision has been taken after a REAP delegation visited Iran and met rice importers with the assistance of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Tehran. The meetings have proved successful and rice exporters expect to get new orders.


However, in a seminar organised recently by REAP at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, leading bankers pointed out that the State Bank of Pakistan had yet to remove all hurdles in the way of establishing banking links with Iran.Since the efforts to open offices in Iran have the backing of the Pakistan government and the Ministry of Commerce, exporters say they are hopeful of getting new business from Iran.Pakistan, which used to be the top rice exporter to Iran, has seen a significant decline in its share in the last two years because of the tightening of international sanctions on Tehran.Iran annually imports more than $2 billion worth of rice. Pakistan’s share is negligible as it exported 2,234 tons in fiscal year 2015, fetching just $1.32 million.Exporters say India has replaced Pakistan in Iranian rice markets because of better government-to-government arrangements for trade payments.

Egypt's GASC signs contract for 80,000 tonnes of rice

Wed May 18, 2016 8:36am GMT

DUBAI (Reuters) - Egypt's state grain buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), said on Wednesday it had signed a contract for the import of 80,000 tonnes of rice outside of the tender process.
Vice Chairman Mamdouh Abdel Fattah would not reveal the price of the contract or the supplier, but he said that the quantity could increase to more than 80,000 tonnes.
(Reporting by Maha El Dahan, editing by Louise Heavens)




Boro farming not profitable as price Tk 400 per maund

Farmers blame late procurement drive for the situation
Farmers thresh newly harvested paddy at Purbo Hazaratpara in Dinajpur Sadar upazila a couple of days ago. However, the good yield fails to make the growers happy, as evident in a demonstration with paddy spread on Thakurgaon-Dhaka road Khochabari Haat in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Photo: Star
Our Correspondent, Dinajpur
Frustration has gripped farmers as paddy price continues to be low in the markets. Besides, delay in the rice procurement drive of the government in Dinajpur, Joypurhat and Naogaon is also allegedly depriving farmers of fair prices for their produce.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) said at least 4,38,651 hectares of land have been brought under Irri-boro farming in the three districts, and total paddy production would be around 26,33,766 tonnes this year.
Of the cultivated land, 1,76,651 hectares are in Dinajpur and 1.90 lakh hectares in Naogaon.
Paddy harvesting has started in these districts, and around 50 percent of the crop has been harvested so far.
The district food controlling departments will procure 63,784 tonnes of paddy in the three northern districts through 57 centres.
Abdul Kadir, Anwar Hossain and Iqbal Chowdhury, district food controllers of Dinajpur, Naogaon and Joypurhat, respectively, said paddy procurement is going at a slow pace because there is more than 14 percent moisture in the paddy. It has to be less than that before procurement.
"It will take some time for procurement to gain momentum," said Abdul Kadir.
Talking with this correspondent, most farmers said they got bumper production, but low price is a cause of concern as it is difficult for them to cover their expenses from Irri-boro farming.
This correspondent visited two big wholesale markets in Panchbari and Gopalganj in Dinajpur Sadar upazila and found farmers selling paddy at Tk 370 to Tk 400 per maund.
"You know the price of one kilogram of mutton? It is Tk 650. The price of one maund of paddy is not even equivalent to the price of one kilogram of mutton," said Achhim Uddin, a farmer of Uttar Gosaipur village under Dinajpur Sadar upazila. He spent Tk 15,000 for producing paddy on one bigha of land.
In Joypurhat, farmers alleged that this year buyers from other districts are allegedly being barred from procuring paddy by the local rice millers, who have formed syndicates among themselves. "We are forced to sell our produce at throwaway price to the local millers," said Abdul Gafur of Kalai upazila. Paddy is being sold at Tk 360 to Tk 380 per maund in Joypurhat.
Photo: Star
Farmers in Naogaon too got bumper production this season. Sirajul Islam of Nitpur village in Porsha upazila said he got 25 maunds paddy from one bigha. But low price marred his hope of earning a profit. "I don't how I will repay the loan I took," he said.
The situation is worse for the farmers who cultivated paddy taking land on lease.
Siddiqur Rahman, a farmer of Niamatpur upazila, said that he cultivated boro on one bigha this year and got 25 maunds of paddy. He sold his produce for Tk 9,500, while his expenditure was around Tk 17,000. "I have to pay the bills for irrigation, pesticide and fertiliser, and also give money to the land owner," he added.
The situation will improve soon, said Satyabrata Saha, deputy director of DAE in Naogaon.

Rice traders lament soaring prices

5/18/2016
The Sun (Nigeria)
...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment Less than two months after the ban on importation
...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment
Less than two months after the ban on importation of rice through land border by the Federal Government, the price of the commodity in the market has skyrocketed out of the reach of most Nigerian consumers. A bag of rice which sold for N9,000 before the ban, now sells for between N15,000 and N17,000.

Daily Sun investigations show that some
importers who had stockpiled rice in anticipation of the closure of land border are now taking advantage of the import ban through land borders to sell the stockpiled rice at very high prices. It was alleged that some importers who had prior knowledge of the ban and got approved Form M last year, which they allegedly used to stockpile the commodity in their warehouses. There were also allegations that rice importation quotas were given to some politicians without any stake as rice millers or farmers. Worried by this trend, traders are calling on the government to urgently intervene on the rising cost of rice, which they feared may go as high as N25,000 before December if it is still left in the hands of few individuals.

The rice traders also noted that as soon as the ban was announced, a few dominant and highly connected players took over the rice market with their brands of rice and started dictating the price to the detriment of the poor masses leading to the astronomic increase in price. Rice retailers, however, alleged that these
importers who had stockpiled the product are working in concert with some Nigeria Customs officers to ensure that there is no other brand of rice in the market except the stockpiled brands.

"Whenever they see a brand that is different from  their brand in the market, the Customs officers seize them from the traders. What they failed to realise is that some
importers had other brands of rice in their shops before the ban and they had to finish selling them before new ones."
They also alleged that following the ban, Customs reportedly began indiscriminate seizure of trucks of rice which were in the market before the ban within states that share no border with neighbouring countries, and that Customs duties papers are always the reason they gave for this harassment. For instance, on March 23, 24 trucks of rice were seized in Owerri from innocent local traders who came to Lagos to buy rice simply because it was not a particular brand. There were similar seizures in Lagos by men of the Nigeria Customs from Ikeja. Now traders are afraid to buy rice from distributors except it is a particular brand, for fear of their goods being impounded.

A trader, Dupe John, said "rice being Nigeria's number one staple food, it is not good for a few people to monopolise the market especially when we are yet to be self-sufficient in local production. Only one brand dominating the market is the reason we have artificial scarcity and high cost of rice due to shortfall in supply. While these few
importers are smiling to the bank, Nigerians are made to bear the brunt." The ban on importation of rice through land border is said to be encouraging undocumented cross border rice trade. Banning or control of rice importation is usually aimed at encouraging and boosting local production. However, local production has not been enough to meet the consumption demand of the rapidly growing population. Therefore, there exists an imbalance between rice production and consumption.
Richard Okonkwo, a rice trader, said before we talk of banning
importation, we must increase local production to avoid food scarcity. "The companies that promised rice milling and packaging are now biggest rice importers without any tangible investment on how to increase local production. Presently, the rice mills in the country cannot meet the commercial needs of the market.''

SLAC eyeing to export rice grown in Myanmar

by Mary Grace Padin - May 18, 2016
Hybrid rice seeds producer SL Agritech Corp. (SLAC) said on Tuesday it is targeting to export rice grown in Myanmar to European countries, China and the United States.Company officials made the pronouncement after SLAC’s pioneering trial of hybrid rice seed SL-8H in Myanmar yielded 150 metric tons (MT) of seed per hectare on 100 hectares in Yangon’s Dagon Township.
Also planted were commercial table grade rice SL-7H (Doña Maria Jasponica) on 11 hectares, SL-9H (Miponica) on 28 hectares  and SL-8H on 20 hectares.

“We can export our Doña Maria Jasponica and Miponica rice from Myanmar. Consumers in Myanmar may not want soft and sticky rice, but that’s our opportunity to export rice harvested from there,” SLAC Chairman Henry Lim said in a statement.
The company noted that the Philippines has limited flat land for rice, but Myanmar has around 17 million hectares of uncultivated land that can be planted with rice.
Formerly Burma, Myanmar used to be world’s biggest rice exporters prior to World War II, when it was then under British rule.
SLAC technical consultant Dr. Frisco M. Malabanan said the company is targeting to export rice from Myanmar to European countries where the commodity enjoys zero tariffs.
Other potential export destinations for Doña Maria rice from Myanmar are China and the US. When exported, the Filipino brand name “Doña Maria premium rice” would be retained “for consistency in the world market.”
Because it is only now that agricultural land in Myanmar is being tapped, SLAC said the soil is fertile.
“The area is very good for seed production. There’s enough water.  The soil is very fertile and can be easily mechanized,” said Malabanan, who led a harvest festival in Myanmar on May 7.
Visitors during the harvest festival were World Food Program Representative Nway Wyit Yee Zaw; Department of Agriculture Dagon Township Chief Officer U. Thwin Soe; Philippine Consul General to Myanmar Maria Lourdes M. Saskedo; SLAC hybrid rice breeder Dr. Weijun Xu; and SLAC Vice President Christian Brian Lim.
The pilot planting in Myanmar was under a joint venture with private companies Nine Seas, led by Aung Tan Oo and Water Stone, led by Filipino Norberto Ong.
Expansion of hybrid rice planting in Myanmar will likely be supported by microfinance function of Philippines’s microfinance leader CARD, under CARD Myanmar Company Ltd. CARD has started operating in Myanmar in light of trade and agriculture developments there.
SLAC said it will create a sales and marketing team to sell SL-8H seeds in Myanmar. It will also install a cooling system in one of the warehouses of Nine Seas to preserve the quality of the hybrid rice seeds.
Company officials said it will partner with local government units, the Ministry of Agriculture, and International Rice Research  Institute to train Myanmar farmers.
“It seems there is also a need to bring machine operators from the Philippines, three to five tractor operators to ensure good land preparation.  Weeds grew because land was not well-tilled,”
Malabanan said.
In partnership with government representatives who attended the harvest festival, including Parliament representatives, SLAC urged Myanmar to provide support to farmers who will plant hybrid rice.
“If the farmers are not trained, they will not buy the seed.  We also have to seek partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture for policy support,” he said.
SLAC said rice production cost in Myanmar is 50 percent lower than in the Philippines.
Image Credits: Web Site of SL Agritech Corp.


Cancer-fighting peptides found in Arkansas grown rice

The organic substances are peptides that are bioactive — meaning they can affect living organisms or the tissue around the peptides. Proposed uses are in the patent issued in 2013 to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. More research and development of commercial partnerships is needed before anything is ready for the market.


Posted May. 17, 2016 at 12:05 PM

ARKANSAS —
Rice bran, a byproduct of rice milling abundant in Arkansas that’s used as low-cost animal feed, could become a player in some much higher stakes. Organic substances in rice bran have potent anti-cancer capabilities and can potentially be used in food ingredients both for preventive and treatment purposes against the disease.The organic substances are peptides that are bioactive — meaning they can affect living organisms or the tissue around the peptides. Proposed uses are in the patent issued in 2013 to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. More research and development of commercial partnerships is needed before anything is ready for the market.“We are looking for partners who can work with us so that we can move to the next step of research,” Navam Hettiarachchy, UofA professor of food science, said.
She is the inventor of the process outlined in the patent.

“As a follow up, we have to do a clinical trial to test its efficacy,” she said. “Initially, we’ll conduct clinical trials on animals and then move to human subjects.”Peptides consist of amino-acid molecules that are structured like proteins but are smaller. During milling the outer aleurone layer, known as bran in cereals, forms a byproduct that contains oil, protein and fiber. After oil is extracted from the bran, the resulting inexpensive residue rich in protein can be used to produce value-added bioactive peptides. Gastrointestinal-resistant peptides with bioactivities can be produced by using enzymes with rice bran protein.Food products under Hettiarachchy’s patent would include a biopeptide that could find applications including beverages, dairy products, and other suitable products. It can also be synthesized.Isolating and purifying peptides from rice bran can serve as a less expensive, natural alternative to synthetic anti-cancer drugs, Hettiarachchy said.
Hettiarachchy’s research group used human cell line culture models to determine the bioactive capabilities of peptides obtained from rice bran to determine that they have potential as antitumor agents in humans. Findings from the research could be a basis for animal and human trials.“These bioactives could be our next generation of natural anti-disease agents delivered at low cost,” Hettiarachchy explained.The team’s efforts received funding support from a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) breast cancer research project. Hettiarachchy’s group in collaboration with UAMS found that rice bran-derived peptides could inhibit growth of breast cancer cells in human cell lines.Hettiarachchy expects that the peptides can be implemented through nutraceuticals, food products as well as dietary supplements that have health benefits. The clinical trials that Hettiarachchy hopes to pursue are costly and will require additional funding from new sources.

For more information about food science, visit aaes.uark.edu.

Protein-rich rice to be taken up for cultivation

A rice variety with higher protein content would be taken up for large scale cultivation from the next year’s kharif season in eastern region, which is facing problem of malnourishment.

By: Sandip Das | Published: May 19, 2016 6:07 AM
A rice variety with higher protein content would be taken up for large scale cultivation from the next year’s kharif season in eastern region, which is facing problem of malnourishment.Named CR Dhan 310 and developed by scientists from Cuttack- based National Rice Research Institute (NRRI), the rice variety has 10.5 – 11% protein content in comparison to 6% in the most of the rice varieties. Besides, in the field trials the new variety has produced a yield of 5 tonne per hectare against usual 3-4 tonne in the conventional paddy varieties.
“The new variety would certainly help deal with the protein deficiency in many communities in the eastern region,” AK Nayak, director, NRRI, told FE. The agriculture ministry’s central varietal release committee has recently approved the variety for cultivation.
Nayak said that CR Dhan 310 has the yield potential better than many of the hybrids available in the market while the key benefit for the farmers is that they can save their own seeds for next crop season instead of buying it every year.
In the coming kharif season, which is commencing from September, the variety would be taken up for limited cultivation through multiplying seed production from the NRRI’s breeder seeds by many state government-owned agencies. Subsequently from the next year, the state government agencies in eastern region would produce certified seeds from the foundation seeds for large scale cultivation by farmers.
Nayak said that the new high-yielding protein variety would be suitable for the cultivation across all the eastern regions such as Tripura, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
“The new variety, also a non-lodging plant type, can address the problem of yield stagnation in this major rice ecosystem of the country. With its high yield and grain quality, this variety can significantly enhance the income of farmers of eastern region,” an agriculture ministry official said.

Rice millers in Odisha threaten stir over dues from June 1

TNN | May 19, 2016, 05.44 AM IST
Bhubaneswar: As many as 1,400 rice millers in Odisha have decided to stop transportation and handling work from June 1, demanding payment of pending dues and implementation of revised prices. They also opposed the restrictions imposed on rice millers for free sale and mandatory clauses for custom milling.

"The rice millers cannot function in empty stomach and in an uncertain atmosphere for long. No one seems to be serious about the timely payment of dues of the rice millers. Bills are lying unpaid with the government since 2013-14. How can we run our business like this? "asked president of All Odisha Rice Millers' Association, Shyamal Agarwal."We are ready to cooperate with the government in milling but won't engage in transportation and handling work from June 1, if our demands are not met," he added.


Odisha produces around 90 lakh metric tonnes of paddy of which around 45 lakh metric tonnes are milled in these private mills, who deliver the rice either to the state government or to the Food Corporation of India for consumption through public distribution system.


"From a modest 0.6 lakh metric tonne procured in 2003-04, rice procurement in the state has gone up to 36.52 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-13. Millers play an important role in conversion of paddy into rice. But the state government has been ignoring our effort," rued association secretary, Santosh Sonthalia.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Rice-millers-in-Odisha-threaten-stir-over-dues-from-June-1/articleshow/52335010.cms








Rice exports plunge

mthan
A view of the Bayintnaung Wholesale Centre. (Photo-Myint Thu)
 Exports of rice and broken rice have dropped during April and May and are lower than during the same period last year, according to the commerce ministry.The two products have earned over US$15 million this year, while they earned $51 million last year. Altogether, 43,753 tonnes of rice and broken rice have been exported so far.
The export plunge was induced by a crackdown on rice in China – the major buyer of the Myanmar rice – in March. Although the seizure has ceased, exports remain cold due to the difficulties in transportation, according to merchants in Muse.Roughly 1,300 tonnes of rice are exported through Muse daily.
A massive flood in mid-2015 also damaged rice production. Rice exports in the 2015-2016 fiscal year totalled 1.4 million tonnes, less than the 1.8 million tonnes exported in 2014-15.
The Myanmar Rice Federation expects to export around 1.5 million tonnes of rice this year

http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/rice-exports-plunge



Enormous interest in rice auction tomorrow


PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION May 18, 2016 1:00 am
WITH REDUCED supply in the market due to the ongoing drought, a great many rice traders have expressed interest in taking part in tomorrow’s auction for 1.2 million tonnes of rice, at which the government is expected to attract a good price for its stockpiled produce.
Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, said yesterday that 51 rice traders had shown interest in the third rice auction of the year, driven by high demand arising from lower output due to the drought.

The auction takes place at the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi."Rice prices have increased gradually. This bidding should generate a better price than at the two previous auctions this year, although it may not be as high as the market price as this rice stock from the government's warehouses has deteriorated in quality as it has been stockpiled for a while," she said.Excluding the 1.2 million tonnes set to be auctioned off, about 11.4 million tonnes of rice remains in the government's stocks - some 7 million tonnes of it for consumption, and the rest for industrial supply.
Duangporn said the government would hold further bidding rounds for releasing rice from the stockpile soon, while taking into account the prevailing market situation in order to prevent prices falling before the start of the new harvest season.Meanwhile, rice exports are on the rise, thanks to high overseas demand, she added.According to a Foreign Trade Department report, rice exports have risen 18 per cent in volume so far this year to 3.91 million tonnes, while export value has increased 11.85 per cent to Bt60.99 billion.

Asked about the losses incurred from the four defaulted government-to-government contracts for the sale of 6.2 million tonnes of rice from the previous administration, Duangporn said her department was following up the case and estimated calling for recovery of an overall loss of Bt20 billion from politicians and ousted government officials.The department is awaiting the Office of the Council of State's consideration in regard to signing authorisation for the Commerce Ministry or other agencies to call for recovery of the losses, she added.

Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary chairman of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said many rice traders - including exporters, millers and domestic traders - were eager to join the upcoming bidding as they hoped to find rice at a cheaper price during a period of low supply and high prices in the market.The current price of rice is the highest for two years, due to lower production resulting from controlled plantation during the dry season, he said.The export price of Hom Mali or jasmine rice is now quoted at US$795 (Bt28,220) per tonne, while sticky rice fetches $900 per tonne and white rice is quoted at $439 per tonne.

With higher export prices, domestic prices have also increased, Chookiat said.The price of paddy white rice has risen from Bt7,800-Bt8,000 to Bt9,000-Bt9,300 per tonne, while paddy jasmine rice is now quoted at Bt12,000-Bt13,000 a tonne.The government should soon open a couple more rounds of rice bidding in order to release rice from the stockpiles before the incoming new crop, he added.


Rice importers controlling politicians - Mornah


Rice importers and owners of other businesses in the country sponsor politicians, making it impossible to implement certain policies when the politicians are voted into office, National Chairman of the People's National Convention (PNC) Bernard Mornah has revealed.Mr Mornah argued that the practice was detrimental to the country’s democracy to the extent that politicians were controlled by external forces.He said policies that will improve the lives of Ghanaian citizens are scrapped in order to please the sponsors of the politicians and it was time the practice came to an end.

Mr Mornah, who was a guest on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Tuesday May 17, 2016, told Prince Minkah: “Do you know why we cannot stop rice importation in this country? Because those who are importing rice are financing political parties. So you will think that when you win elections you would want to come and put in policies that you produce the rice domestically, but what do you want them to do? That is where they got their money from to be able to finance you.”

He continued: “In 2003 thereabouts, [there was] Act 699 – which was on importation of rice and poultry in this country – increasing import duty, which means you are making imported chicken and rice expensive. What that would do is that it will boost domestic production and encourage farmers. The then Minister of Finance, Osafo Marfo, after the Poultry Farmers Association took the matter to court that it was not being implemented and they were suffering losses, went to parliament to seek the revocation of that law. In effect, those who are importing chicken will benefit. Those producing chicken in Ghana suffered a loss.”He blamed such actions on rent-seeking, which leads to the detriment of citizens.
“You can talk about anything, but those who are running the economy are the businesses and they will support the political parties. You do not ask them where they get their monies. When you win elections and now you want to implement your policies that will make the Ghanaian economy survive, then they will say: ‘Chief’ [and come at you],” he explained.
He added: “We [Ghanaians] are not taking our democracy into our own hands. The Electoral Commission has to look for donors before we can conduct our own elections, so who is controlling your democracy?


Rice traders lament soaring prices

5/18/2016
The Sun (Nigeria)
...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment Less than two months after the ban on importation
...Seek FG's intervention on Customs harassment
Less than two months after the ban on importation of rice through land border by the Federal Government, the price of the commodity in the market has skyrocketed out of the reach of most Nigerian consumers. A bag of rice which sold for N9,000 before the ban, now sells for between N15,000 and N17,000.

Daily Sun investigations show that some
importers who had stockpiled rice in anticipation of the closure of land border are now taking advantage of the import ban through land borders to sell the stockpiled rice at very high prices.
It was alleged that some
importers who had prior knowledge of the ban and got approved Form M last year, which they allegedly used to stockpile the commodity in their warehouses.
There were also allegations that rice
importation quotas were given to some politicians without any stake as rice millers or farmers.
Worried by this trend, traders are calling on the government to urgently intervene on the rising cost of rice, which they feared may go as high as N25,000 before December if it is still left in the hands of few individuals.
The rice traders also noted that as soon as the ban was announced, a few dominant and highly connected players took over the rice market with their brands of rice and started dictating the price to the detriment of the poor masses leading to the astronomic increase in price. Rice retailers, however, alleged that these
importers who had stockpiled the product are working in concert with some Nigeria Customs officers to ensure that there is no other brand of rice in the market except the stockpiled brands.
"Whenever they see a brand that is different from  their brand in the market, the Customs officers seize them from the traders. What they failed to realise is that some
importers had other brands of rice in their shops before the ban and they had to finish selling them before new ones."
They also alleged that following the ban, Customs reportedly began indiscriminate seizure of trucks of rice which were in the market before the ban within states that share no border with neighbouring countries, and that Customs duties papers are always the reason they gave for this harassment. For instance, on March 23, 24 trucks of rice were seized in Owerri from innocent local traders who came to Lagos to buy rice simply because it was not a particular brand. There were similar seizures in Lagos by men of the Nigeria Customs from Ikeja. Now traders are afraid to buy rice from distributors except it is a particular brand, for fear of their goods being impounded.

A trader, Dupe John, said "rice being Nigeria's number one staple food, it is not good for a few people to monopolise the market especially when we are yet to be self-sufficient in local production. Only one brand dominating the market is the reason we have artificial scarcity and high cost of rice due to shortfall in supply. While these few
importers are smiling to the bank, Nigerians are made to bear the brunt."
The ban on
importation of rice through land border is said to be encouraging undocumented cross border rice trade. Banning or control of rice importation is usually aimed at encouraging and boosting local production. However, local production has not been enough to meet the consumption demand of the rapidly growing population. Therefore, there exists an imbalance between rice production and consumption.
Richard Okonkwo, a rice trader, said before we talk of banning
importation, we must increase local production to avoid food scarcity. "The companies that promised rice milling and packaging are now biggest rice importers without any tangible investment on how to increase local production. Presently, the rice mills in the country cannot meet the commercial needs of the market.''
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2588125380

Recipe of the Day: Goan Coconut and Tamarind Mackerel Curry

Recipe of the Day
/ GRAEME SMITH
Goan Coconut and Tamarind Mackerel Curry by Rodolfo Munoz of Roseleaf in Edinburgh
Roseleaf is a cosy, wee family run, bar and cafe in historic Port o’ Leith, serving committed customers from near and afar since July 2007.
From the bar they provide crisp pints, real ales, fresh juices, delicate loose-leaf teas, cracking coffee, wonderful worldwide wines, specialist spirits and pot-tails – cocktails in teapots.
From the kitchen they serve up wholesome food from 10am right through till 10pm every day including daily specials, fresh-baked goodies and Sunday roast. The bar is decorated with pre-loved furniture and random treasure which continues to blossom with new curiosities.
Ingredients
3 tbsp vegetable oil
½ tbsp of fenugreek seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
7 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
6 shallots chopped
5 garlic cloves
10g of fresh ginger
1 tbsp ground turmeric
½ tbsp chilli powder
1 tbsp coriander powder
250ml water
250ml coconut milk
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tbsp of tamarind paste
3-5 green chillies, left whole
Mackerel (is traditionally used but can use other fish)
Lemon juice to taste
Fresh coriander to garnish
Salt to taste
Method
1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan, add the fenugreek and cumin seeds and fry for 10 seconds. Add the onions and cook until golden.
2 Grind the garlic and ginger together to make a paste, add to the pan and cook for 5-7 min.
3 Put the tomatoes, chillies and lime leaves in the pan and cook till it looks like a paste. Throw in the ground spices and cook for 20 sec.
4 To the pan, add the water, tamarind paste and coconut milk, heat up, then add the fish. Stir well and adjust the seasoning and sourness. If you prefer a thinner curry, dilute with water.
5 Once the fish is cooked flavour with some lemon juice and chopped coriander.
6 Serve with basmati rice and fried peppers (optional) for an extra crunchy texture.
In association with Taste Communications.
www.tastecommunications.co.uk

Drought sparks rice price surge

A man arranges sacks of rice at a warehouse in Suphan Buri province. The drought and low supply have driven rice prices to a two-year high. THITI WANNAMONTHA
Thai rice prices have soared to a two-year high on anticipated lower supply in light of widespread drought conditions.
According to Chookiat Ophaswongse, an honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, prices for all types have risen. The price for 5% white rice is quoted at US$424 a tonne, up from $397 in April, and the price for glutinous rice is quoted at $900 a tonne, up from $867 last month.
The free-on-board export price for Hom Mali fragrant rice remained stable at $795 a tonne.
Mr Chookiat said a surge of glutinous rice in particular had acted to lower domestic production as Thai farmers shifted to growing more Hom Mali rice due to higher demand from China, as well as Indonesia and Malaysia ahead of Ramadan.
The Islamic fasting month begins June 6 and continues for 30 days until July 5.
Commerce permanent secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara said rice prices are in a rising trend because of lower global supply and the drought, which is expected to batter two major rice producers, India and Vietnam.
She said the extent of the price increases would depend on the impact of drought conditions in those countries.
In a related development, thanks to anticipated lower supply, the government's latest rice auction for 1.2 million tonnes drew active participation from potential buyers.
Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Foreign Trade Department, reported yesterday that there were 51 qualified bidders.
The department will announce the results tomorrow (May 19).
The rice put up for the latest auction was part of an existing 11.4 million tonnes in state stocks. The National Rice Policy Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, had greenlighted the rice for auction late last month, following a proposal by the Commerce Ministry. The rice is projected to fetch at least 100 billion baht.
The 11.4 million tonnes is a mix of Grade C, which is categorised as substandard quality for industrial use; Grade P, which passed ministry certification; and Grades A and B, meaning in slightly poor condition and in need of sorting for improvement.
The sales plan mainly entails general auctions on a warehouse basis. It is divided into three categories based on the percentage of Grade C rice in the mix in each warehouse.

New Philippines govt to ban private sector rice imports

MANILA - The new Philippines administration will bar private traders from importing rice and stamp out rampant smuggling of the cereal into the world's third-biggest importer of the grain, incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said.The task of importing rice to ensure food security will now be solely in the hands of the state grain  agency, the National Food Authority (NFA), Mr Pinol said in a radio interview after the announcement of his appointment by President-elect Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.
Rice imports are politically sensitive in the Philippines, with the government pushing to keep tariffs high to protect local farmers but also sometimes needing to quickly import thousands of tonnes to ensure adequate domestic supplies.
"The directive of our president-elect is that there will be no more rice importation by the private sector. It will only be the NFA. And I can assure the Filipino people that rice smuggling will be stopped," said Pinol, a former governor of a southern Philippine province.
Private traders are currently allowed to bring in annual shipments of up to 805,200 tonnes with a 35%  tariff.
Rice importation is regulated by the NFA, which issues import permits and allocations to private traders via auctions, a practice prone to abuse because importers with permits can offer other importers and brokers the use of their permits for a fee.
In 2014, the Philippines moved to loosen restrictions on rice imports by reducing tariffs to 35% from 40%  and increasing the volume of annual shipments covered by such tariffs to 805,200 tonnes from 350,000 tonnes.
Last week, Duterte's campaign spokesman Peter Lavina told Reuters a plan by the incumbent government to import an additional 500,000 tonnes of rice this year to beef up state reserves would be reviewed.
Mr Lavina also said the new administration prefered to enter into the more transparent government-to-government deals in transacting rice imports.
The Philippines regularly imports more than a million tonnes a year of the food staple to meet demand from its growing population. Vietnam is the country's main supplier, though Thailand also usually ships in some rice



Farmers get their cultivable land ready with expectations of good monsoons

By Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau | 18 May, 2016, 12.32AM IST

Although the country faced two successive years of monsoon shortfall, India’s food grain production increased marginally to 252.23 million tonnes in the 2015-16.NEW DELHI: With above-normal monsoons expected to start by the first week of June, farmers have started preparing for the cultivation of paddy, soyabean, pulses, cotton, bajra, jowar, groundnut and maize , raising hopes of a bigger harvest of grain this year. Although the country faced two successive years of monsoon shortfall, India's food grain production increased marginally to 252.23 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year from 251.12 million tonnes in 2014-15. Output was lower than in 2013, when food grain production was 265.04 million tonnes.

This year, cultivation of rice, soyabean and pulses may increase, while the area under cotton may reduce and sugarcane planting may remain unchanged, experts said. The weather office forecast rainfall would be 6% above the longperiod average this year, although the onset of the monsoon over Kerala could be delayed by a week from the normal date of June 1.

The total area of kharif crops sown as of October 1 was 103.14 million hectares compared with 101.79 million hectares in 2014 and 104.47 million hectares in 2013. "The delay in monsoon by a week should not make a difference as we are looking at a normal monsoon. Planting should be at 2013 levels and even more," said Trilochan Mohapatra, director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the country's top agriculture research institute. He said if rains were normal and evenly distributed, farmers would not miss the chance to plant rice.

"Planting of rice can easily cover 43-44 million hectares," he said. Farmers have started preparing land and raising nurseries, from where plants will be transplanted to fields by the second week of June. The area under soyabean, which is the second-largest cultivable crop followed by cotton and pulses - tur/arhar and moong - may increase this year.

"A good monsoon will ensure increase in productivity of soya by 5% over the previous year. We see decent recovery of groundnut acreage in Gujarat, where planting was less last year due to poor rains," said Davish Jain, chairman of India's Soyabean Processors Association.

Govt allows bulk export of rice bran oil



By PTI | 18 May, 2016, 10.30PM IST
India's vegetable oil (comprising edible and non-edible oils) imports touched a record 14.61 million tonnes in 2014-15 oil year (November-October). NEW DELHI: The government has allowed bulk export of rice bran oil without any restriction on pack size, a move likely to help paddy growers and rice millers . "Export of rice bran oil in bulk (irrespective of any pack size) has been exempted from the prohibition on export of edible oils," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification today. At present, the export of edible oils is allowed in branded consumer packs of upto 5 kg with a minimum export price of USD 900 per tonne.

Although
India is a major importer of edible oils, the Centre has allowed bulk exports of rice bran oil to help small rice millers realise better price as demand of this cooking oil remains limited in the domestic market . India's vegetable oil (comprising edible and non-edible oils) imports touched a record 14.61 million tonnes in 2014-15 oil year (November-October). In the first six months of the 2015-16 oil year, the import of vegetable oils rose by 17 per cent to 75,57,169 tonnes as compared to 64,66,902 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The country meets more than 50 per cent of its cooking oil demand through imports. India imports palm oil mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia and a small quantity of crude soft oils, including soyabean oil from Latin America. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia.

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1476

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 18-05-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Rice
1
India 5% broken
385
2
India parboiled 5% broken stxd
375
3
India 100% broken stxd
305
Wheat
1
CZCE Wheat Futures (USD/t)
385
2
GFO, HRW, DAT Ontario (USD/t)
157
3
NYSE Liffe Milling Wheat Futures (USD/t)
186
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
833
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
583
Source:agra-net
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 17-05-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2700
3700
2
Kheda (Gujarat)
Other
1800
3350
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Common
1840
1865
Wheat
1
Bangalore (Karnataka)
Local
2500
3100
2
Nagpur (Maharashtra)
Other
1500
1716
3
Neemuch (Madhya Pradesh)
Other
1526
1900
Pine Apple
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2500
2700
2
Ropar (Punjab)
Other
1500
2000
3
Sohra (Meghalaya)
Other
2000
3000
Cauliflower
1
Kondotty (Kerala)
Other
3000
3200
2
Sahaspur (Orissa)
Other
900
1000
3
Jalore (Rajasthan)
Other
700
900
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 18-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
480
2
Hyderabad
440
3
Nagapur
410
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 16-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Potatoes
Package: 50 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Colorado
Russet
17
18.50
2
Chicago
Idaho
Russet
15
17
2
Detroit
Wisconsin
Russet
18
18.50
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Canada
Long Seedless
13.50
15
2
Detroit
Mexico
Long Seedless
19
20
3
Miami
Mexico
Long Seedless
10
11
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Atlanta
Virginia
Red Delicious
25.50
26
2
Chicago
Michigan
Red Delicious
18.50
18.50
3
Detroit
Michigan
Red Delicious
20
21
Source:USDA


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