Wednesday, May 25, 2016

25th May,2016 daily global,regional and local rice enewsletter by riceplus Magazine



 

Jaisalmer Heat Unbearable - Soldiers Use Hot Sand To Cook Rice And Roast Papad

Rahul Mishra | May 24, 2016, 17:07PM IST
 

Jawans use the sand as stove for roasting papad and cooking rice
Jaisalmer has witnessed terrible temperatures this month and the Jawans of Border Security Force (BSF) are using the hot sand to roast papad. Further, they said that even rice can be kept in the open with some water and it will be easily cooked within 3 hours.

The BSF soldiers bear the terrible heat on the India-Pakistan border and even claimed that temperature had reached nearly 55 degrees. A private firm in the area, Focus energy also stated that its thermometers had recorded 54.5 degrees temperature here.
However, the Met department had recorded maximum temperature to be 47.6 degrees Celsius on 20th May. Although the Jawans take the searing heat in their stride, they carry water bottles with them. Further, they wear caps and protective cloth headgear along with goggles to beat the heat.
 The jawans discussed some interesting facts associated with the heat. They even stated that their boots melted while walking in the hot sand. In such a situation, they utilize services of camels as a mode of transportation and for patrolling sandy areas. An electronic temperature measuring device was tied on the camel’s back too and maybe it read its body temperature also.
 The India Pakistan border is heavily manned in the Jaisalmer region and it’s really heartening to witness soldiers fulfilling their duties in such adverse conditions. The scorching Indian summer has consistently witnessed extreme heat and record breaking temperatures. With sand transforming into stoves and people suffering adversely from the heat wave, this summer has thrown all sorts of nasty surprises at us.
 However, the BSF soldiers’ unwavering commitment and patriotism really stand out amidst all the problems. The tough training that they undergo makes them physically and mentally capable enough to withstand extreme pressure situations

http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/TOP-jawans-cook-rice-on-sand-5332193-PHO.html

India’s Monsoon Seen Strongest in 22 Years as La Nina Looms

May 24, 2016 — 7:45 AM EDT Updated on May 24, 2016 — 10:19 AM EDT
As El Niño Exits, La Niña Promises Mayhem Worldwide
  • Showers in June-September season seen 109% of 50-year average
  • Monsoon-sown food grain production seen rising on good rain
India is set for the highest monsoon rainfall since 1994 as the odds of a La Nina increase, boosting planting of rice, corn and oilseed crops.The precipitation during the four-month rainy season starting in June is seen at 109 percent of the average of about 89 centimeters (35 inches), more than the 105 percent predicted in April, Skymet Weather Services Pvt., a New Delhi-based private forecaster, said on its website on Tuesday. The forecast has a margin of error of 4 percent. That’s more than the 106 percent estimated by the state-run India Meteorological Department.
The prediction for above normal downpour for the first time since 2013 is seen boosting prospects of agricultural production and ease an acute drinking water shortage caused by back-to-back droughts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is counting on a normal monsoon to sustain economic growth and contain food costs after the lowest rainfall since 2009 hurt rice, corn, sugar-cane and oilseed crops last year.
“The El Nino is tapering off and it will collapse after the onset of monsoon,” Jatin Singh, Skymet’s chief executive said in the statement. “There are more chances of getting into La Nina in the later part of this year.”

La Nina

The tropical Pacific Ocean is in a neutral state and outlooks suggest little chance of indicators returning to El Nino levels, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said Tuesday. That means mid-May marks the end of the event that reduced Indian rainfall, parched farmland in Asia and curbed cocoa production in parts of Africa.
Weather watchers are now waiting for La Nina, a cooling of the tropical Pacific sometimes thought of as El Nino’s opposite. La Nina typically brings more rain to parts of Asia, including India. Based on the 26 El Nino events since 1900, about 50 percent have been followed by a neutral year with 40 percent by La Nina, according to the Australian bureau.
The monsoon affects both summer and winter crop sowing in India, and waters more than half of all farmland. Rainfall was 14 percent below a 50-year average in 2015, following a 12 percent shortfall in 2014, data from the meteorological department show. Rains will arrive in Kerala on June 7 compared with the normal onset date of June 1, according to the weather office.
The area under various monsoon-sown grain crops is set to increase by as much as 20 percent, boosting production to around 129 million tons to 130 million tons, Skymet said. The country produced 124 million tons of food grain during the rainy season in 2015, according to farm ministry data. Planting of soybeans, peanuts, pulses may climb while the area under cotton will probably reduce marginally, and the area under sugar cane may remain the same as previous year, Skymet said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-24/india-s-monsoon-rain-seen-strongest-in-22-years-as-la-nina-looms

IRRI warns of another rice shortage

The combined stock of milled rice held by the world’s top five exporters has gone down to the bare minimum and the monsoon season setting in could push the world market toward another supply shortage like in 2007 and 2008.
Samerandu Mohanty, head of the International Rice Research Institute’s social science division, Tuesday said the inventory of India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan and United States “can’t go down further.”
Mohanty said the coming rainy season—and especially the possible onset of La Niña—would test the mettle of these exporters.
“Right now, these countries were not restricting exports, they seemed to have learned their lesson,” he said, referring to the cause of the shortage that caused a price spike almost a decade ago.
Mohanty recalled India and Vietnam restricting exports back then as stocks declined. This caused prices to skyrocket as importers like the Philippines scrambled to secure supplies.
“While current supplies were still enough, we could not afford any more crop losses after losses due to El Niño,” he said. “The exporters could panic again, which would bring us back to a shortage crisis.”
Citing data from the United States Department of Agriculture, Mohanty said the top five exporters’ combined inventory peaked at about 41 million tons in 2013.
However, USDA data showed the stock might shrink this year by 40 percent to 19 million tons from 32 million tons in 2015. This would mean the tightest supply situation since the crisis of 2007-2008.
According to the IRRI, addressing a repeat crisis required joint action among the different countries, particularly the Asean+3 (the Philippines included) and India
http://business.inquirer.net/210544/irri-warns-of-another-rice-shortage#ixzz49fH7bwrr


OVEC organizes Young Farmer Rice Camp


By editor on 2016-05-25 Thailand
Farmer Rice Camp
BANGKOK, 25 May 2016 (NNT) – The Office of the Vocational Education Commission (OVEC) has collaborated with the Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage in educating young Thai farmers about rice through the Young Farmer Rice Camp.
Chairman of the Thai Rice Foundation under Royal Patronage Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul signed a cooperation agreement with OVEC Secretary-General Chaiyaphruek Serirak. The two organizations agreed to organize the Young Farmer Rice Camp in each region to promote the development of young Thai farmers and personnel who have knowledge on rice production technology, rice processing and rice trade.
Dr. Sumet said adolescents who joined in the project would learn about water management, rice production in line with the Sufficiency Economy philosophy as well as modern rice cultivation. The project organizers hoped that the participating adolescents would pass on the knowledge to their communities and help increase the value of rice, said the chairman.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/ovec-organizes-young-farmer-rice-camp/143147/

Cambodia Fragrant Rice Exports to EU Threatened by Rogue Traders

Cambodia fragrant rice exports to the European Union (EU) are in jeopardy due to cheating by rogue exporters mixing lower quality grains with the country’s premium product.
At the recent 9th EU-Cambodia Joint Committee meeting in Phnom Penh Cambodia was again warned that mixed milled rice will be an obstacle for its rice to be sold on the EU market, putting at risk about 40 per cent or some 215,000 tons of the 538,000 tons of rice Cambodia exported last year.
Currently Cambodia enjoys duty- and quota-free trade preferences under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement and last May when the matter of rice mixing was raised by the EU, Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC) warned growers and exporters that the continuation of the practice could see this status revoked.
In a letter the ministry said: “Recently, the EU has increased monitoring of rice imports to investigate the origins of rice imported, with the aim to pause or ban the import of rice without clear origins.”
The ministry threatened it would stop issuing Certificates of Origin to exporters found to be using non-Cambodian rice and also said teams of inspectors would launch surprise raids on rice exporting companies and rice millers to investigate the issue, while Cambodia rice industry associations blamed the practice on “one or two” rogue companies – the same explanation offered this year – suggesting that the issue was blown out of proportion.
That the matter has again been raised by the EU indicates that the problem is far from remedied, perhaps indicating that much like with Thailand and its non-compliance with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations, the EU is getting tired of its messages falling on deaf ears. The matter of mixed rice grains was first raised in 2013 when the EU Trade Commissioner said as much as 30 per cent of some 196,000 tons of rice exported by Cambodia to EU members  was rice of Vietnam origin mixed with Cambodia rice.

Cambodia Largest Rice Supplier to EU

Photo: John Le Fevre
Exports of Cambodia fragrant rice to the EU face a ban due to rogue traders mixing other grains with the premium Cambodia product
In the last five years Cambodia’s rice exports have increased by some 438 per cent with more than 51 per cent of rice exported in 2014 being Cambodia fragrant rice. In 2015 Cambodia rice represented 24 per cent of annual EU rice imports making it the largest supplier to the 28 country block ahead of India, Thailand, and Guyana.
Any sanction by the EU would be a serious setback for the Cambodia rice sector which employs about 20 per cent of the nation’s workforce. Last year Cambodia fragrant rice, soon to be marked under the name ‘Angkor Malis’, lost its title of ‘world’s best rice’ to California Calrose rice, after holding the title for three consecutive years.
It’s not just the EU concerned over the quality of Cambodia fragrant rice with the EU warning coming ahead of a visit to Cambodia by a team of inspectors from China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), sent to audit some 79 rice milling and warehousing members of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) involved in the shipment of 100,000 tons of rice to China this year.
Cambodian fragrant rice exports are also expected to be hit hard once the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement comes into effect with Vietnam able to export 76,000 tonnes of rice per year to the EU free of import duties.
In 2015 bilateral trade between Cambodia and the EU reached more than €4 billion (about US$4.488 billion), with agricultural products accounting for about 4.4 per cent, or about €181 million ( $203 million), of the total.
However, while EU foreign direct investment (FDI) into Asean accounts for about 25 per cent of the total only about five per cent finds its way into Cambodia. Between January and October 2015 total EU FDI into Cambodia was about $76 million, a drop of 11.63 per cent over the $86 million invested during the same period in 2014.
 http://aecnewstoday.com/2016/cambodia-fragrant-rice-exports-eu-threatened-rogue-traders/

Strongest El Nino in nearly 20 years ends: Australian weather bureau

SYDNEY | By Colin Packham
The strongest El Nino in nearly 20 years, which damaged crop production in Asia and caused food shortages, has ended, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said on Tuesday.
Climate indicators associated with El Nino, which emerged in 2015, have now returned to neutral levels, the BOM said.
El Nino sees in a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific which can lead to scorching weather across Asia and east Africa, but heavy rains and floods in South America.
The latest El Nino resulted in sea temperatures rising to the highest levels in 19 years, causing drier than average weather which resulted in a fall in production of wheat, palm oil and rice in Asia.
The end of El Nino was not unexpected with climate indicators cooling in recent months, but Australia's BOM is the first major meteorology agency to declare the end of El Nino.
Farmers will now be looking for the development of a La Nina weather pattern, which typically brings wetter weather across the Asian region. The chance of La Nina is at 50 percent, the Australian weather bureau said.
(Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-weather-elnino-idUSKCN0YF0EI


Local rice prices set to increase

Drought to cut into packaged output
Marketing Organisation for Farmers put quality rice for sale while Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives set up a booth for people to deposit in the fund to help farmers at Or Tor Kor market in March 2014. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Consumers are warned of a possible rise in the price of packaged rice as a dip in white rice output may lead packers to push for the increase over the next few months.
Somkiat Makayathorn, president of the Thai Rice Packers Association, said over the next three to four months, particularly in August and September, rice packers may ask for a higher price if new supply is relatively weaker following the effect of the widespread drought.
"We are closely monitoring the prices of paddy and white rice, which started picking up since earlier in the year," he said.
Mr Somkiat said the higher cost of raw materials has led rice packers to expect to be able to maintain packaged rice prices for the short term.
"Based on existing rice stocks, we expect packers could maintain current prices until September at the latest," he said.
The price of packaged white rice is now quoted at 70-80 baht per five-kilogramme pack, while that of Hom Mali fragrant packaged rice is 170-180 baht per five-kg pack.
Manat Kitprasert, president of the Thai Rice Millers Association, agreed the widespread drought and volatile weather will sharply cut rice output this year.
He predicted milled rice prices to rise further after increasing to 14,000 baht a tonne in May from 12,000 baht earlier in the year. Paddy prices rose from 9,000 baht a tonne to 9,400 baht over the same period.
Benchmark Thai rice prices hit a two-year high last Tuesday as the drought cut output from Asia's top rice growers and stoked demand for Thai exports. The price for 5% white rice was quoted at US$424 a tonne, up from $397 in April, and the price for glutinous rice was 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.
"Rising rice prices will likely only benefit farmers slightly, as most suffered losses from previous seasons because of drought," said Mr Manat. "The current rain showers are unlikely to be sufficient for rice farming."
In related news, Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn yesterday said the ministry is committed to continuing helping low-income earners with their cost of living through the Thong Fa (Blue Flag) scheme that sells low-priced products in crowded communities and via wider promotion of low-cost department stores and food outlets.
More low-cost food outlets are planned after the ministry reached its goal of 10,000 on May 19, she said.


South Korean Diners Keen on New U.S. Rice Dishes 
 
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA -- Last month, Amoje Food launched new menus featuring U.S. medium grain rice at ten of their Elena Kitchen restaurants. Elena Kitchen is a family-style buffet loved by diners of all ages who enjoy being able to taste traditional Korean dishes, as well as western-style food from main dishes to desserts. For this promotion, three new U.S. medium grain rice dishes were created including Gimbap (rice roll), Rice Sushi in Fried Tofu, and Shanghai Chicken Pilaf which was developed and demonstrated to Amoje's Research and Development Team in a one-on-one U.S. rice menu presentation last year. During the month long promotion, participating restaurants displayed standing banners, table mats, and menu tags introducing U.S. medium grain rice and its benefits.  When Amoje surveyed customers on the new dishes, an overwhelming majority said they were tasty and had better texture compared to regular domestic rice dishes.  Kitchen staff also voiced their opinion saying U.S. medium grain rice was superior to domestic rice for making the three new dishes. "This promotion had a big impact on awareness and appreciation for U.S. rice," said USA Rice Vice President of International Promotion Jim Guinn.  "And as a result of this success, Amoje has decided to use U.S. medium grain rice on a continuous basis and to incorporate additional U.S. medium grain rice dishes into their operations."

Crop Progress:  2016 Crop 93 Percent Planted 





WASHINGTON, DC -- Ninety-three percent of the nation's 2016 rice acreage is planted, according to yesterday's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.  Eighty-three percent of the 2016 crop has emerged and sixty-seven percent is in good to excellent condition. 

Rice Planted, Selected States 
Week Ending
State
May 22, 2015
May 15, 2016
May 22, 2016
2011-2015 average
Percent
Arkansas
91
96
98
89
California
96
50
70
82
Louisiana
99
       95
97
98
Mississippi 
94
88
96
87
Missouri
77
100
100 
82
Texas
83
93
98
95
Six States
92
87
93
89




A rice variant that can withstand bacterial blight

M SOMASEKHAR
Developers of Samba Mahsuri variety bag biotech award
Hyderabad, May 23:  
It’s a new Samba Mahsuri rice variety, with three genes added. This gene fortification helps it ward off the deadly bacterial blight.
Consequently, with the Samba Mahsuri variety grown over several millions of hectares across the country, it is fast emerging as a boon to farmers.
The useful genes, identified by Indian scientists using a biotechnology tool called Marker Assisted Selection, were introduced into the genetic background of Samba Mahsuri to produce a new derivative.
The improved variety has been subjected to multi-location trials and is now available for commercial cultivation.
Samba Mahsuri, noted for its high yields and excellent cooking quality, had, over the past decade, fallen victim to a serious bacterial blight disease, which wrecked 10-50 per cent of yields. There are no effective bactericides to control the pest.
Biotech solution

In a collaborative project, scientists from CSIR-CCMB (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), both located in Hyderabad, took up the challenge to find a biotechnology solution several years ago. They got the genetic breakthrough by identifying the three genes that exhibited resistance to the blight.
They then did the lab work, grew the new, improved variety on farmers’ fields and demonstrated increased yields. It retains the quality and characteristics of the parent whilst being resistant to blight. Being a non-transgenic plant farmers can save their seed for subsequent use, the scientists explained.
The improved Samba Mahsuri has been cultivated on 90,000 hectares of fields in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh etc., and is fast gaining acceptance from farmers, said Ramesh V Sonti and Raman Meenakshi Sundaram of CCMB and IIRR.
CCMB and IIRR have joint ownership of the technology and recently licensed it to MetaHelix Life Sciences, Bengaluru.
“The company will distribute seeds from the ensuing season and hopefully expand the reach to a larger number in the near term. It’s a business proposition for them and we will get our licence fee equally,” Sonti told BusinessLine.
Also called BPT5204, it was originally developed by the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (in undivided Andhra Pradesh). The improved Samba Mahsuri has been registered as a variety by the Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmer’s Rights Authority (PPV & FRA) with joint ownership by the two Institutes.
Standing tall

After the November 2014 Hud Hud cyclone battered the coastal Andhra Pradesh districts, there was an outbreak of the bacterial blight in the rice bowl district of East Godavari. “We provided 10 kg of seed to farmers, who raised the standing crop without it falling prey to the pest,” Sonti said.
This is the story of one of the first rice varieties developed through the use of biotechnology in the country. It recently won the Biotech Product & Process Development and Commercialisation Award for 2016.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/a-rice-variant-that-can-withstand-bacterial-blight/article8641237.ece

Anti-Corruption Bureau raids FCI godowns

THE HANS INDIA |   May 25,2016 , 04:16 AM IST


   

______________________________________

ACB Circle Inspector UJ Wilson (right) and his personnel verifying details in the laptop of the FCI quality control officials at Vanguru FCI godowns near Eluru on Tuesday evening. (Inset) Seized amount of Rs 1.36 lakh

Eluru: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials raided FCI godowns at Vanguru in Pedavegi Mandal of West Godavari district on Tuesday evening and seized unaccountable amount of Rs 1.36 lakh and records from three officers of Quality Control Board. The three officials were appointed at Srirangaraju FCI godowns in Vanguru village to check the quality of rice sent to the godowns by rice millers.

Seizes unaccounted cash of `1.36 lakh from 3 officials

The In-charge of Quality Control, PD Naga Satyanarayana, Technical In-charge Palla Sriram, and Assistant Grade-I Officer (Outsourcing) Bomma Nagireddy allegedly took the bribe from some rice millers and sending the stock to go down without any quality check. It was alleged that the three officials were taking the bribe from rice millers for not checking the quality of rice.

On a complaint, ACB DSP Rajendra, Circle Inspector UJ Wilson and ACB personnel raided the godowns in the evening and found Rs1.36 lakh unaccounted cash from the three officers. The ACB officials seized the records and the cash. The ACB officials said that a report would be sent to Government against the three officials who were involved in the corrupt practice.

Drought Expected to Increase Rice Prices
By Rene Emery on 2016-05-25 Business News
Somkiat Makayathorn, Thai Rice Packers Association president, has warned Thai consumers that the price of packaged rice may increase over the next few months due to a decrease in white rice supplies. Mr. Somkiat says the widespread drought may force rice packers to increase prices, particularly in August and September. “We are closely monitoring the prices of paddy and white rice, which started picking up since earlier in the year,” Mr. Somkiat said.
With higher raw materials costs, rice packers expect to be able to maintain current prices until September.
Packaged white rice is currently selling for 70-80 baht for five kilograms. Hom Mali fragrant rice is selling for 170-180 baht for 5 kilograms.
Thai Rice Millers Association president, Manat Kitprasert, also agrees that volatile weather conditions and the widespread drought will sharply reduce rice output this year. He anticipates that the price for milled rice will rise even further after climbing to 14,000 baht a ton in May. Prices were at 12,000 baht per ton at the start of the year. Paddy prices have also increased to 9,400 baht from 9,000 baht.
Rice prices in Thailand reached a two-year high last week as the effects of the drought sank in. With reduced output from the top growers in Asia, demand for Thai exports has spiked. The cost of 5% white rice has climbed from $397 a ton in April to $424 a ton this month. Glutinous rice prices have risen from $867 per ton to $900 per ton.Experts say that the increase in prices will only benefit farmers slightly, as many suffered significant losses in previous seasons due to the drought
https://ethailand.com/business-news/drought-expected-to-increase-rice-prices/2708/


A rice variant that can withstand bacterial blight
M SOMASEKHAR
Developers of Samba Mahsuri variety bag biotech award
Hyderabad, May 23:  
It’s a new Samba Mahsuri rice variety, with three genes added. This gene fortification helps it ward off the deadly bacterial blight.
Consequently, with the Samba Mahsuri variety grown over several millions of hectares across the country, it is fast emerging as a boon to farmers.
The useful genes, identified by Indian scientists using a biotechnology tool called Marker Assisted Selection, were introduced into the genetic background of Samba Mahsuri to produce a new derivative.
The improved variety has been subjected to multi-location trials and is now available for commercial cultivation.
Samba Mahsuri, noted for its high yields and excellent cooking quality, had, over the past decade, fallen victim to a serious bacterial blight disease, which wrecked 10-50 per cent of yields. There are no effective bactericides to control the pest.
Biotech solution

In a collaborative project, scientists from CSIR-CCMB (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology) and ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), both located in Hyderabad, took up the challenge to find a biotechnology solution several years ago. They got the genetic breakthrough by identifying the three genes that exhibited resistance to the blight.
They then did the lab work, grew the new, improved variety on farmers’ fields and demonstrated increased yields. It retains the quality and characteristics of the parent whilst being resistant to blight. Being a non-transgenic plant farmers can save their seed for subsequent use, the scientists explained.
The improved Samba Mahsuri has been cultivated on 90,000 hectares of fields in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh etc., and is fast gaining acceptance from farmers, said Ramesh V Sonti and Raman Meenakshi Sundaram of CCMB and IIRR.
CCMB and IIRR have joint ownership of the technology and recently licensed it to MetaHelix Life Sciences, Bengaluru.
“The company will distribute seeds from the ensuing season and hopefully expand the reach to a larger number in the near term. It’s a business proposition for them and we will get our licence fee equally,” Sonti told BusinessLine.
Also called BPT5204, it was originally developed by the Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University (in undivided Andhra Pradesh). The improved Samba Mahsuri has been registered as a variety by the Protection of Plant Varieties & Farmer’s Rights Authority (PPV & FRA) with joint ownership by the two Institutes.
Standing tall

After the November 2014 Hud Hud cyclone battered the coastal Andhra Pradesh districts, there was an outbreak of the bacterial blight in the rice bowl district of East Godavari. “We provided 10 kg of seed to farmers, who raised the standing crop without it falling prey to the pest,” Sonti said.
This is the story of one of the first rice varieties developed through the use of biotechnology in the country. It recently won the Biotech Product & Process Development and Commercialisation Award for 2016
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/a-rice-variant-that-can-withstand-bacterial-blight/article8641237.ece




Cambodia takes solace from plow ceremony amid worst drought in 50 years

PHNOM PENH | By Prak Chan Thul
As the worst drought in half a century delays rice planting in Cambodia, a pair of oxen on Tuesday delved into rice, corn and bean bowls at an annual plowing ceremony in an omen for good harvests for those crops in the year ahead.
Annual rains have come late to Cambodia, exacerbating the drought and forcing farmers to wait before planting this year's crop of rice.
Exports of Asia's staple are expected to fall well short of the 530,000 tonnes shipped in 2015, further exacerbating a tightening rice market as drought has also hit top rice exporters India and Thailand.
Watched by Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni, and a crowd of thousands in the ceremonial furrow in Siem Reap province, the two cows ate 90 percent of three out of seven snacks on offer in ornate bowls.
Each year, based on the oxen's choice of crops and the amount the animals eat, the Royal Palace astrologers forecast coming harvests and pray for regular rainfall.
"The harvest of rice will be good," Brahmin priest Korng Ken, dressed in traditional white robes, announced over loud speakers at the ceremony.
But rains so far this month have been insufficient for farmers to start planting rice, said Keo Vy, a spokesman for the National Center for Disaster Management (NCDM).
Authorities have had to truck water supplies to 18 of Cambodia's 25 provinces, with some 2.5 million people affected by the drought, he said.
"We know that the harvests and exports are affected," Keo Vy said, adding that the extent of the damages was not yet known.
Last year's exports of 530,000 tonnes were well below the target of 1 million tonnes, partly because of drought but also due to a lack of finance for millers and a global supply glut.
This year shipments could be 10 percent lower again, said Kann Kunthy, chief executive of rice miller Brico, adding that farmers desperately need rain by July.
Kunthy said that the industry was also concerned about the danger of floods after the drought. International forecasters see the arrival of La Nina weather pattern increasingly likely this year. That typically brings more rain to the region.
"Farmers are not able to grow rice because of the drought and normally when it ends, there will be floods so this is another big concern," Kunthy said.
(Editing by Simon Webb and Michael Perry)
A girl sits on her boat at a Bak Angrout dried up pond at the drought-hit Kandal province in Cambodia May 13, 2016.
Reuters/Samrang Pring

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-cambodia-drought-farming-idUSKCN0YF0BK



India’s Monsoon Seen Strongest in 22 Years as La Nina Looms

Pratik Parija
May 24, 2016 — 7:45 AM EDT Updated on May 24, 2016 — 10:19 AM EDT

India is set for the highest monsoon rainfall since 1994 as the odds of a La Nina increase, boosting planting of rice, corn and oilseed crops.The precipitation during the four-month rainy season starting in June is seen at 109 percent of the average of about 89 centimeters (35 inches), more than the 105 percent predicted in April, Skymet Weather Services Pvt., a New Delhi-based private forecaster, said on its website on Tuesday. The forecast has a margin of error of 4 percent. That’s more than the 106 percent estimated by the state-run India Meteorological Department.

The prediction for above normal downpour for the first time since 2013 is seen boosting prospects of agricultural production and ease an acute drinking water shortage caused by back-to-back droughts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is counting on a normal monsoon to sustain economic growth and contain food costs after the lowest rainfall since 2009 hurt rice, corn, sugar-cane and oilseed crops last year.


“The El Nino is tapering off and it will collapse after the onset of monsoon,” Jatin Singh, Skymet’s chief executive said in the statement. “There are more chances of getting into La Nina in the later part of this year.”

La Nina

The tropical Pacific Ocean is in a neutral state and outlooks suggest little chance of indicators returning to El Nino levels, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said Tuesday. That means mid-May marks the end of the event that reduced Indian rainfall, parched farmland in Asia and curbed cocoa production in parts of Africa.

Weather watchers are now waiting for La Nina, a cooling of the tropical Pacific sometimes thought of as El Nino’s opposite. La Nina typically brings more rain to parts of Asia, including India. Based on the 26 El Nino events since 1900, about 50 percent have been followed by a neutral year with 40 percent by La Nina, according to the Australian bureau.

QuickTake India's Monsoon

The monsoon affects both summer and winter crop sowing in India, and waters more than half of all farmland. Rainfall was 14 percent below a 50-year average in 2015, following a 12 percent shortfall in 2014, data from the meteorological department show. Rains will arrive in Kerala on June 7 compared with the normal onset date of June 1, according to the weather office.

The area under various monsoon-sown grain crops is set to increase by as much as 20 percent, boosting production to around 129 million tons to 130 million tons, Skymet said. The country produced 124 million tons of food grain during the rainy season in 2015, according to farm ministry data. Planting of soybeans, peanuts, pulses may climb while the area under cotton will probably reduce marginally, and the area under sugar cane may remain the same as previous year, Skymet said.








Done with low inflation? Prices of food items rise 20%

By Sutanuka Ghosal & Madhvi Sally, ET Bureau | 24 May, 2016, 03.07AM IST
Wholesale prices of cereals, pulses, tea, fish and chicken have gone up 8%-20% in the last one month. This is likely to impact retail prices, pinching the pockets of consumers.KOLKATA & NEW DELHI: Prices of several food items have increased by up to 20% in the last one month and are expected to stay firm till new crops arrive in October-November in what some experts see as a signal to the end of low inflation.

Wholesale prices of cereals, pulses, tea, fish and chicken have gone up 8%-20% in the last one month. This is likely to impact retail prices, pinching the pockets of consumers.

Prices of food articles, which have a 14% weight in the wholesale price index, rose 4.23% in April even as the WPI-based index turned positive after 17 months, rising 0.34% year-on-year in April against -0.85% in March. Economists and experts feel food inflation will continue in the coming months unless the government takes corrective measures, and may mark an end to days of low inflation.

"It's not only food inflation which is rising but others too, with crude prices recovering," said Ashok Gulati, former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Prerana Desai, vice-president at Edelweiss Agri Research, feels that food inflation will continue to remain till the new crop in October-November arrives. "Two consecutive drought years have led to tightness of the commodity market.

A well-spread good monsoon will ease the situation," she said. Desai feels the government should reduce import duty of wheat and sugar which can lead to correction in food inflation.

Wheat arrival remains slow across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and, according to experts, production should be lesser than government targets. "The market feels wheat in India is 88 million tonne while government in its third advance estimate of food grain production says wheat output at over 94 million tonnes for the year," Gulati said.

Prevesh, a wheat trader at the Indore mandi in Madhya Pradesh, said wholesale wheat prices have increased 10% in the past one month to an average of Rs 1,700 per quintal. Prices can further rise by Rs 200-300 per quintal in the coming month if import duty is not relaxed, he added. Basmati rice prices have surged 12.72% in one month as exports have improved.

In the year ended March, India exported 40 lakh tonnes of basmati against 37 lakh tonnes in FY15. Rice wholesalers in Burdwan district of West Bengal, however, say prices have dropped in the last one week by almost 5% as exports to Bangladesh has dried up. "The neighbouring country has increased import duty on rice to 20% which has impacted exports from Bengal. This has pushed down prices.

We are now trying to export rice to Africa," said Gautam Dutta, a rice wholesaler in Burdwan.

05/24/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Soybeans

High
Low
Cash Bids
1059
991
New Crop
1053
1006


Riceland Foods


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


Futures:

SOYBEANS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1069.75
1043.50
1054.75
-3.75
Aug '16
1067.25
1041.75
1053.00
-4.75
Sep '16
1052.50
1029.00
1039.50
-6.00
Nov '16
1041.50
1018.75
1029.25
-7.00
Jan '17
1038.00
1016.00
1026.50
-7.00
Mar '17
1020.25
1001.75
1009.50
-6.75
May '17
1015.00
997.75
1004.75
-6.75
Jul '17
1013.75
997.00
1003.50
-7.25
Aug '17


990.25
-7.75

Soybean Comment



Wheat

High
Low
Cash Bids
471
427
New Crop
471
446


Futures:

WHEAT


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
470.00
457.75
464.00
+2.00
Sep '16
480.75
468.75
475.00
+2.00
Dec '16
499.00
487.50
493.25
+2.25
Mar '17
516.25
504.75
510.50
+2.00
May '17
523.50
514.50
519.25
+1.75
Jul '17
528.50
520.00
524.00
+1.50
Sep '17
534.50
530.00
530.75
+1.50
Dec '17
545.50
541.00
541.25
+1.75
Mar '18
556.75
549.75
551.75
+2.25

Wheat Comment



Grain Sorghum

High
Low
Cash Bids
363
357
New Crop
333
309



Corn

High
Low
Cash Bids
403
376
New Crop
407
395


Futures:

CORN


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
403.25
394.50
397.50
-0.25
Sep '16
404.75
396.50
400.00
+0.25
Dec '16
407.25
400.00
402.75
0.00
Mar '17
414.00
407.50
409.50
-0.50
May '17
417.25
410.75
412.25
-1.00
Jul '17
420.25
413.25
415.00
-1.50
Sep '17
412.00
406.00
407.00
-2.25
Dec '17
413.50
406.75
408.00
-1.50
Mar '18


415.75
-1.00

Corn Comment



Cotton
Futures:

COTTON


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
63.2
61.15
63.01
1.56
Oct '16
62.9
61.6
63.23
1.12
Dec '16
62.532
60.86
62.45
1.11

Cotton Comment

Cotton futures posted solid gains today. Last week's export report showed improvement. USDA says export sales were 201,100 running bales for 15-16 shipment. That brought export commitments to a total of 8.492 million bales for the marketing year, which is still 21% below the year ago total. 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 now running behind the 5 year average at 46% planted. Arkansas farmers are ahead of their usual pace, though, with 94% of the crop in the ground, compared with a 5 year average of 84%. December will have resistance at the recent high of 63.69 cents, while support is at 60.10 cents.


Rice

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


Futures:

ROUGH RICE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jul '16
1167.5
1156.5
1157.0
-4.5
Sep '16
1194.5
1179.0
1178.5
-3.0
Nov '16
1205.0
1200.0
1199.0
-2.0
Jan '17


1217.5
-1.5
Mar '17


1233.5
-3.0
May '17


1253.0
-3.0
Jul '17


1253.0
-3.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures were under pressure again today. Arkansas farmers have now planted 98% of their intended acres. The question remains, though, will they stop there? The five year average for this date is 89%, so if conditions remain favorable, the crop might get bigger, at least 1.6 million acres are likely. 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, but Friday's gap lower gave the charts a negative appearance. Trendline support is near $11.20.


Cattle
Futures:

Live Cattle:

LIVE CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
118.850
116.800
118.000
-0.150
Aug '16
114.525
112.375
113.175
-1.275
Oct '16
114.225
112.100
112.925
-1.175
Dec '16
114.725
112.800
113.750
-0.625
Feb '17
114.050
112.250
113.300
-0.300
Apr '17
113.175
111.400
112.325
-0.275
Jun '17
106.575
105.100
105.800
-0.200
Aug '17
104.375
103.200
103.800
-0.200

Feeders:

FEEDER CATTLE


High
Low
Last
Change





May '16
146.750
145.650
146.000
-1.000
Aug '16
142.850
139.775
142.100
-1.325
Sep '16
141.250
138.325
140.775
-0.750
Oct '16
139.625
136.600
139.100
-0.475
Nov '16
136.750
133.600
136.150
-0.050
Jan '17
131.975
129.475
131.550
+0.100
Mar '17
128.700
127.275
128.475
-0.500
Apr '17


128.550
-0.500

Cattle Comment



Hogs
Futures:

LEAN HOGS


High
Low
Last
Change





Jun '16
79.750
78.900
79.675
+0.600
Jul '16
79.600
78.800
79.375
+0.075
Aug '16
79.000
78.100
78.775
+0.050
Oct '16
67.475
66.725
67.000
-0.300
Dec '16
62.975
62.325
62.650
-0.200
Feb '17
66.150
65.675
65.925
-0.150
Apr '17
69.250
68.650
68.900
-0.500
May '17


73.125
-0.500
Jun '17
77.100
76.600
76.600
-0.900




APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1479

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 23-05-2016
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4625
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4125
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Garlic
1
Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (UGX/t)
3500
2
Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
4500
3
Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)
3000
Ginger
1
Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2150
2
Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2300
3
Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)
2850
Source: oryza, agra-net
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 21-05-2016
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Jowar(Sorghum)
1
Vankaner (Gujarat)
Other
2055
2785
2
Vaduj (Maharashtra)
Other
2200
2300
3
Theni (Tamil Nadu)
Other
1440
1500
Maize
1
Haveri (Karnataka)
Local
1400
1450
2
Deoli (Rajasthan)
Other
1440
1691
3
Kasganj (Uttar Pradesh)
Local
1600
1630
Mango
1
Pattambi (Kerala)
Other
1500
2000
2
Dasuya (Punjab)
Other
2500
3000
3
Kasinagar (Orissa)
Other
2500
3000
Brinjal
1
Chala (Kerala)
Other
2300
2358
2
Bargarh (Orissa)
Other
1500
1600
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other
1430
1520
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 23-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Pune
425
2
Nagapur
370
3
Namakkal
410
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 20-05-2016
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Baltimore
Georgia
Yellow
20
23
2
Chicago
Nevada
Yellow
34.50
34.50
2
Detroit
Georgia
Yellow
16
16.50
Carrots
Package: 30 1-lb film bags
1
Baltimore
California
Baby Peeled
24
25
2
Chicago
California
Baby Peeled
22.50
23.50
3
Detroit
California
Baby Peeled
17
17.50
Apples
Package: cartons tray pack
1
Baltimore
Washington
Red Delicious 
30
30
2
Chicago
Michigan
Red Delicious 
20
21
3
New York
Washington
Red Delicious 
26
26
Source:USDA

 Commodity Report-May 24


Published

Today’s commodity report: National Weekly Rice Summary, California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report, Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market and other commodity end of the day market numbers.

National Weekly Rice Summary

In California, medium grain milled rice prices steady. Second head and Brewers prices steady. Rice by-products: Rice Bran and hull prices steady to firm on limited availability. Rice progress report May 22nd Rice Planted was 70% and Rice Emerged was 30%. Some buyers continue to use Seconds to fill Brewers orders.
CME Rough Rice settlements for Friday 20th, Jul 16 closed .075 lower at 11.77; Sep 16 closed .075 lower at 11.95; Nov 16 closed .055 lower at 12.13. US dollar index on Friday settled at 95.27.
USDA National Weekly Rice Summary (.pdf) with all prices for all areas.

California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report

Prices are steady. The undertone is unsettled. Offerings are heavy. Retail demand remains light to moderate while food service movement is reported as mostly moderate. Supplies are moderate to heavy. Market activity is slow. Monday’s shell egg inventories increased 1.2% in the Southwest and declined 5.5% in the Northwest.
Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms.

RANGE
JUMBO
125
EXTRA LARGE
112
LARGE
104
MEDIUM
86

Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market

Prices of New York eggs are 2 cents lower on Extra Large and Large, unchanged on Medium. California and regional prices are steady. The undertone is steady to weak. Offerings are mostly moderate in the Southeast, heavy in California and moderate to heavy elsewhere. Retail and food service demand is light to moderate with a slight improvement noted at some locations in the Midwest region. Supplies are moderate to heavy in most areas, while at times light to moderate in the Southeast for trading purposes. The total shell egg inventory is up 1 percent when compared with the previous week. Market activity is slow to moderate. Breaking stock floor stocks are sufficient to heavy for full-time to extended breaking schedules. Spent fowl offerings are moderate; demand is light to moderate.
Check the May USDA Commodity Report Calendar for today’s commodity reports released by USDA.

Tuesday’s Commodity Market ending market numbers:

Corn
July Corn ended at $3.97 1/2 losing 1/2 cent, September ended at $4.00 up 1/2 cent.
Soybeans
July Soybeans ended at 10.54 3/4 decreasing 3 3/4 cents, August ended at 10.53 dropping 4 3/4 cents.
Wheat
July Wheat ended at $4.64 up 2 cents, September ended at $4.75, increasing 2 cents.
Rough Rice
July Rough Rice ended at 11.57 losing 0.045, September ended at 11.785 off 0.03.
Live Cattle
June Live Cattle ended at $117.80 down $0.35, August ended at $113.10 losing $1.35 and October ended at $112.80 decreasing $1.30.
Feeder Cattle
May Feeder Cattle ended at $145.975 losing $1.025 and August ended at $142.15 decreasing $1.275 and September ended at $140.80 down $0.725.
Lean Hogs
June Lean Hogs ended at $79.70 increasing $0.625, July ended at $79.325 up $0.025.
Class III Milk
May Class III Milk ended at $12.82 unchanged, June ended at $12.60 increasing $0.11, July ended at $13.19 up $0.24.
#2 Cotton
July #2 Cotton ended at 63.01 up 1.56, December ending at 62.45 gaining 1.11.
Sugar #11
July sugar #11 ended at 16.61 decreasing $0.19, October ended at 16.96 down $0.13.
Orange Juice
July Orange Juice ending at 145.50 down $2.15, September ended at 145.50 losing $2.05.

http://agnetwest.com/2016/05/24/commodity-report/








If not for this nasi kerabu, there would be no Kesom

May 24, 2016 Eating Out, Food
Photos By The Star/Raymond Ooi

It took just one helping of Susan Lim’s nasi kerabu to convince Edana Parina that she must open a restaurant specialising in Kelantanese delights.The idea came after Lim, who worked as a manager at one of Parina’s fashion retail stores, returned to work after a Chinese New Year break and brought homemade nasi kerabu.“It was the best I ever had. Susan wouldn’t make it again for me as it is very time consuming to prepare. I searched high and low at many Ramadan bazaars and pasar malam for the same taste but couldn’t find any. There really is something about Susan’s nasi kerabu that you cannot get elsewhere,” said Parina.

She then made a calculated risk to venture into the, then unfamiliar, F&B territory with one idea in mind – to get Lim to make nasi kerabu again.Parina opened Kesom in 2013, roped in Lim as a partner and head cook, and now has a continuous supply of her favourite nasi kerabu on demand. If that is not pure genius at work ….“She is the businesswoman, I am just the cook,” jested Lim, downplaying her role in the success of the fuss-free restaurant.
It’s a mish mash of tables and chairs, cramped in a space that once used to be a clothing store. The dressing rooms are still intact, although all is about to change once the renovation kicks in sometime in the middle of the year.
Edana Parina (left) loves nasi kerabu and Susan Lim makes great nasi kerabu. This is a match made in heaven after all.
The restaurant is sparsely decorated but has an original tiffin food carrier or two to give it that sense of home.The cluttered and confused decor aside, Parina and Lim’s calculated risk has paid off handsomely. Kesom is a big hit among food lovers seeking the distinguished Kelate taste. The dishes are displayed warung-style, spread out in a buffet for the customers to choose.
The buffet is replenished twice a day – during lunch and dinner services. Currently, dinner is only served on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays when the restaurant closes at 10pm. On other days, it closes at 6pm.

On top of the regular nasi kerabu and nasi dagang, Kesom also has daily specials like sambal petai, fried prawns and vegetarian curry. This depends on their daily market finds, and Lim gets her fresh ingredients from the markets in Aman Suria, Taman Tun Dr Ismail and Selayang.
But for her favoured spices, curry powder and gula Melaka, Lim returns to Kelantan every two months to get her supplies.“We don’t use MSG in our food at all. Whatever flavour you taste in our food is from the fresh ingredients we use,” said Lim.The beautiful blue hue of her nasi kerabu is the result of butterfly pea flowers that grow freely outside the restaurant.
Lim also has a garden at her home nearby where she plants vegetables and herbs like kesom and bunga kantan, often used in the dishes at the restaurant.
Originally from Pasir Mas, Lim was exposed to the intricate recipes of Kelantanese food at an early age. Initially a reluctant student, Lim entered the kitchen after her mother fell ill and someone had to feed the family of 11.
“I was terrible at first but I learned quickly under my mother’s guidance,” said Lim. “My mother is very strict with the preparation of the dishes and I am the only one who follows her methods closely. My sisters don’t have the patience to follow her instructions rigidly,” added the cook.
Of course, it wasn’t easy learning recipes from someone who subscribed to the frustrating agak-agak (guessing) method.
“One day she’ll tell me to put this much of a certain ingredient, and the next day she’ll say that she never uses it in the dish at all,” said Lim.
The nasi kerabu is naturally dyed with butterfly pea flower and served with acar, keropok, salted egg, kerisik, fish floss (made from ikan kembung or selar), sambal belacan and ulam.
The nasi dagang is a mix of wild rice or beras dagang from the East Coast and beras pulut susu. It is served with acar, keropok, boiled egg, fish sambal and sambal belacan.
But her mother’s passion for cooking rubbed off, and Lim mastered most, if not all, of her mother’s recipes which can be enjoyed at Kesom today.
Top of the list is her famous nasi kerabu made from Basmati rice – the closest Lim can get to the type of Thai rice her mother used when she was younger.
It is served with acar, keropok, salted egg, kerisik, fish floss (made from ikan kembung or selar), sambal belacan and ulam.
The ulam, or mix of herbs and vegetables includes kesom, lemongrass, torch ginger flower and four angled beans.
She initially included raw beansprouts in the mix, but has since removed them after many customers voiced their objection.
“The people here can’t seem to eat raw taugeh, I don’t know why,” she lamented.
Lim also doesn’t include ulam raja as it is very difficult to obtain nowadays.
“I want the ulam for nasi kerabu to be consistent in taste every day. I cannot use it when it is available and not when I cannot find them. The customers will definitely be able to tell the difference in the taste.”
She smells the herbs every morning before deciding how much of them to use in the dishes. Yes, like her mum, Lim too subscribes to the agak-agak method.
“Herbs like kesom (laksa leaf) are very temperamental. One day they emit strong aroma and flavours, and the next day, they don’t. So you cannot use the same amount every day. I need to check their characteristics before deciding how much to put in each dish,” said Lim.
She uses the special wild rice or beras dagang – that is exclusively available in the East Coast and Thailand – with beras pulut susu to make nasi dagang. This rice is best eaten warm, as it hardens when it gets cold and is served with acar, keropok, boiled egg, fish sambal and sambal belacan. Lim uses the potent cili padi kampung to make the sambal belacan from scratch.
“This type of cili padi is really expensive. It sometimes cost up to RM26 per kilo,” said Lim.
Clockwise from left: Fried prawns, vegetable curry and sambal petai are just some of the daily specials included in the menu.
Besides nasi dagang and nasi kerabu, customers can opt to have plain rice with the side dishes of Ayam Goreng Berempah, Gulai Ayam Kawah or Gulai Raja Berangkat. The dishes are reasonably priced between RM7.90 and RM12.90, although there is talk of a slight price increase in the future.
While the rice gets us excited, the gravy is where Lim’s magic lies. Gulai Raja Berangkat is a thick yellowish coconut gravy with fresh tuna, salted ikan selar bones, baby corn, cucumber and long beans.
According to Lim’s mother, the dish gets its name because of its strong and fragrant aroma. “It is supposed to be so good that even the King would leave his throne to go in search of it.”
The keropok lekor is brought in from Kelantan daily.
The gravy is so yummy and flavourful that you can slurp it by the spoonful – although it is best enjoyed with rice. You get a nice and reasonably big chunk of tuna to pick the soft and fresh flesh off.
Although Gulai Kawah is usually cooked over woodfire in large pots – hence the name – here it is done on a smaller scale but is just as big in taste. It isn’t spicy, though you get a strong hint of the spices and it goes very well with the nasi dagang.
For a sweet ending, opt for bubur cha cha, a family favourite in the Lim household. She uses taro, sweet potato and tapioca in this not-too-thick nor cloyingly sweet dessert.
Kuih muih like pulut inti, pulut serunding and banana fritters are made in Kesom’s kitchen, but the chewy keropok lekor comes straight from Kelantan daily.
The bubur cha cha is not cloyingly sweet and has a nice mix of taro, sweet potatoes and yam cubes.
Homemade kuih-muih like pulut inti and pulut serunding are also available daily here.

After three years, Parina and Lim are planning to jazz things up at Kesom, starting with its outlook.
Don’t worry, you will still get your Kelantanese fare and the quality will not be affected, Parina promises.
“We can’t add too many things to the menu, because this is the perfect size for us. If there are too many items, things will only get complicated for Susan who is our only cook right now. We do have help, but nothing gets past without her approval,” said Parina.
There are plans for food truck or delivery services for Kesom, but nothing beyond that in the near future.
“We are definitely not looking to start a franchise because we are happy with what we have here,” said Lim. “Home-style cooking at where it feels like home not just for us but our customers as well.”
Get your Kelantanese food fix at Kesom in Petaling Jaya.

KESOM

F-G-46, Jalan PJU 1/45
Aman Suria
47301 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 016-682 8516
Open Sunday to Wednesday, 10am-6pm; Thursday to Saturday, 10am-10pm
7 10

Summary

Enjoy the distinguished Kelantanese flavours with home-style dishes at Kesom




Prevailing World Prices and Loan Deficiency Payment Rates for Rice

Mark Simone
(202) 720-5653
Mark.Simone@wdc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, May 25, 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 increased $0.12 per cwt for long grain and $0.13 per cwt for 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/prmay252016

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