Today Rice News Headlines...
· Political situation, weather condition affect rice price trends
·
North Korea's food
production falls for first time since 2010 as water scarcity hits agricultural
sector
·
Rice falls, food security
fears rise
·
TRADERS FACE HARDSHIP IN
RICE EXPORTS TO IRAN
·
Food stocks sufficient for
Ramadhan: Bulog
·
FAO Cereal Supply and
Demand Brief
·
Seeds for Contract Rice
Farming Planted
·
Worldwide supply of rice
projected to shrink significantly due to El Niño
·
Rice farmers to get N1b
from Ebonyi govt
·
4,000 rice farmers benefit
from AGRA funds
·
Nigerian banks court rice,
wheat farmers
·
Rice Prices
·
UNISAME REGRETS BIG
BUSINESS WITH IRAN SUFFERING DUE TO NON CLARITY
·
Lower rice output to push
up prices
·
In Benin, a new stove turns
rice waste into clean fuel
·
Apeda Rice commodity News
News Detail...
Political situation, weather condition affect rice price trends
5/4/2016
Daily Monitor
Rice has become an important cash and food crop in Uganda over the
last couple of years. This is evident in Iganga and Bugiri districts in the
east, Hoima and Kabarole districts in the west, Amuru and Nwoya districts in
the north, among others. Between 2002 and 2012, rice production grew by 77 per
cent (from 120,000 to 212,000 tonnes), mainly due to favourable policies, the
development of improved seeds and the high level of prices in the domestic
market which constitute a strong incentive for farmers. The Common External
Tariffs (CET)Daily Monitor
This measure was
put in place in order to limit the level ofimportation of rice and to promote
self-sufficiency in production. Priority crop Moreover, rice is among the 15
strategic agricultural commodities that have been selected by ministry of
Agriculture for prioritisation in the Development Strategy and Investment Plan
(DSIP) owing to its high returns to investment and huge potential. Although
Uganda's production has increased significantly, it is unable to satisfy the
increasing demand from urban consumers, which is closely linked with rapid
urbanisation and economic growth. For example, in 2013 Uganda's broken rice imports amounted to around $7m (Shs23.2b) in
value Rice (Kayiso) Since 2010 to date, the value of Kayiso rice has increased
gradually making a difference of Shs850 (30.1 per cent) per kilogramme on
retail and Shs770 (30.1 per cent increase) per kilogramme on whole sale.
During the first
half of the year 2011, Kayiso rice recorded the highest increase in the prices
in the past five years with 32.6 per cent on retail and 36.2 per cent on
wholesale between the months January to June 2011. This was followed by prices
in October 2011-May 2012 period, which increased by 23.8 per cent on retail and
23.8 per cent on wholesale. The big increase in the prices was attributed to
inflation rate, which affected the fuel prices hence increase in the transport
costs that directly led to an increase in the price. The increase was due to
low harvest caused by drought that hit the country in the first quarter, which
destroyed most of the food crops.
Hence, people
turned most of demands to rice especially kayiso, which is a low-priced rice in
the market due to its quality in terms of size and scent. The other reason for
the price fluctuation during the months of January and February is due to
opening of the school term. This is when most schools buy in bulk and stock for
the pupils/students and affects the prices of Kayiso because most of the
schools prefer it because of its lower price compared to Super and Pakistan.
Rice prices do not fluctuate much in the market simply because competition from
other rice types that are preferred highly than Kayiso due to the
attributesgrain size, brokenness, sweetness, and easiness to cook. Rice (Super)
Super rice (Uganda) as the name suggests is the premium brand recognised
nationally and across East African region. All the varieties of rice have the
same trend pattern across the years indicating a possible correlation between
their prices. Like it happened with Kayiso rice, the highest price of Super
rice was recorded in May 2012. The wholesale and retail prices increased
rapidly from February 2011-May 2012. The hike in the prices was brought by the
dry spell that occurred from December 2010 to February 2011it affected the
prices of the most commodities and more so the general inflation in the country,
which was brought about by the political situation (general elections). The
inflation rates in Uganda, like any African country, tend to go high during the
political campaign years and this affects the prices highly. As a result of the
above factors, the price increased by 46 per cent retail and 47.6 per cent on
wholesale prices respectively.
For rice, like any
other crop, the price is affected by other types in the market from different
origins such as Super Tanzania and Pakistan rice, IRRI-6 sweet variety (15, 20
and 25 per cent broken), Tilda rice, Basmati, among others. The beauty with
Super rice is that it beats the other types of rice on aroma and taste whereas
the other types are preferred for their cleanliness hence easy to cook without
any sorting. Tracking back the average price trends of Super rice in the last
three years, shows that the prices have been stable. It has been trading
between Shs 3,000-Shs3,400 per kilogramme on retail price and Shs2,630-Shs3,010
making a difference of Shs400 on both retail and wholesale. From the analysis,
one can predict the average price of super rice to be in the range of
Shs3,000-Shs3,500 if the conditions remain constant and the inflation reduces.
The author is content and research executive, FIT Uganda
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2580767675
North Korea's food production falls for first time since 2010 as water scarcity hits agricultural sector
Food security expected to deteriorate, most households already estimated to have poor or borderline consumption.
UNFAO reports low food production in North Korea due to water
scarcity, and that this will bring food security to borderline or consumption
level. Image: Shutterstock
Thursday 5 May 2016
North Korea’s total food
production - including cereals, soybeans and potatoes in cereal equivalent - is
estimated to have fallen in 2015, the first drop since 2010, and is expected to
worsen food security in the country, according to FAO.Last year, total food
production in North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea) is estimated to have been about 5.4 million tonnes compared to 5.9
million tonnes in 2014, marking a 9 per cent decrease, the update said.
In particular, production of
paddy rice, the country’s main staple, dropped by 26 per cent to 1.9 million
tonnes, mainly due to poor rains and low availability of water for
irrigation.FAO’s estimate for the country’s cereal import requirements for the
2015/16 marketing year (November-October) amounts to 694,000 tonnes. With
300,000 tonnes expected to be covered by government imports, the uncovered
deficit of 394,000 tonnes represents the highest gap since 2011/12, the report
said.
The estimates are based on
official production figures and analysis by FAO’s Global Information and Early
Warning System (GIEWS) in collaboration with theEuropean Commission’s Joint
Research Centre.
Food security set to deteriorate
Given the tight food supplies in
2015/16, the country’s food security situation is expected to deteriorate from
the previous year when most households were already estimated to have poor or
borderline food consumption levels.
Crop overview
Besides severely affecting the
rice crop, the dry conditions during the 2015 main season, coupled with low
irrigation water availability following recurrent dry spells since July 2014,
also impacted negatively on the production of maize, the country’s second most
important cereal crop.
Despite an expansion in
plantings, maize output is estimated to have decreased by 3 per cent to 2.29
million tonnes in 2015.
The report noted that the output
of more drought-resistant soybeans - the most important source of protein in
North Korea -increased by 37 per cent to 220,000 in 2015.
Similarly, the output of other
cereals (sorghum, millet, buckwheat) is put at 156,000 tonnes, almost triple
the level of 2014.
Production of 2016 early season
potatoes and minor wheat and barley, to be harvested from June, is forecast at
363 000 tonnes, 21 per cent higher than the sharply reduced 2015 level.
FAO’s work
FAO is supporting the
implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction measures as part of its work to
increase resilience of livelihoods to shocks. This is being done by providing
the most affected cooperative farms with essential inputs, equipment and
training to mitigate the impact of drought on paddy, maize, soybean and potato
crop production in North and South Hwanghae provinces.
In addition, FAO is promoting, on
pilot scale, sustainable agriculture practices, including on-farm water
management, through improved land levelling, water saving technologies as well
as more efficient water control, also through crop irrigation scheduling.
http://www.eco-business.com/news/north-koreas-food-production-falls-for-first-time-since-2010-as-water-scarcity-hits-agricultural-sector/
Rice falls, food security fears rise
- on
May 5, 2016, 12:01 pm
Nearly a decade after a spike in
global food prices sent shockwaves around the world, Asia's top rice producers
are suffering from a blistering drought that threatens to cut output and boost
prices of a staple for half the world's population.
This year, world rice production is expected to decline for the
first time since 2010, as failing rains linked to an El Nino weather pattern
cut crop yields in Asia's rice bowl.
A heat wave is sweeping top rice exporter India, while the No 2
supplier Thailand is facing a second year of drought.
Swathes of farmland in Vietnam, the third-biggest supplier, are
also parched as irrigation fed by the Mekong river runs dry.
The three account for more than 60 per cent of the global rice
trade of about 43 million tonnes.
"As of now, we haven't seen a large price reaction to hot
and dry weather because we have had such significant surplus stocks in India
and Thailand. But that can't last forever," said James Fell, an economist
at the International Grains Council (IGC).
Rice inventories in the three top exporters are set to fall by
about a third at the end of 2016 to 19 million tonnes, the biggest year-on-year
drop since 2003, according to Reuters calculations based on US Department of
Agriculture data.
Any big supply disruption can be extremely sensitive. In 2008,
lower Asian rice output due to an El Nino prompted India to ban exports,
sending global prices sky-rocketing and causing food riots in Haiti and panic
measures in big importers such as the Philippines.
Manila at the time scrambled to crack down on hoarding, ordered
troops to supervise subsidised rice sales and asked fast food chains to serve
half-portions, as well as urging Vietnam and others to sell the country more
rice.
The world has suffered a series of food crises over the past
decade involving a range of grains due to adverse weather.
In the case of rice, benchmark Thai prices hit a record around
$US1,000 a tonne in 2008. Price spikes like this typically also boost demand
for other grains such as wheat, widely used for noodles in Asia, and soybeans
and corn used for food or feed.
While currently far below 2008 highs, rice in April hit
$US389.50, the strongest since July and up 13 per cent from an eight-year low
of $US344 in September.
Bruce Tolentino of the Philippines-based International Rice
Research Institute is concerned about Asia's vulnerability.
"In general prices are still stable right now. They're
inching up though, and what will drive things over the edge will be a major
calamity in one of the major producing countries."
Although India's rice output in 2015 was largely stable,
extremely hot temperatures are threatening a second crop in eastern regions.
Traders see further price gains by June as India's next big crop
is not due until September and Thailand's main crop by year end.
The IGC sees a 2016 world harvest of 473 million tonnes, down
from 479 million tonnes in 2015 and the first decline in six years.
Thailand's last main crop was only about half of the peak
production a few years ago and the USDA has forecast output will drop by more
than a fifth to 15.8 million tonnes in 2016.
"The government has been asking farmers not to plant rice
as there is little water in the reservoirs after two years of drought,"
said one Bangkok-based trader.
In Vietnam, output could fall 1.5 per cent in 2016 to 44.5
million tonnes, while exports would be 8.7 million tonnes, steady on a previous
projection, the government said.
As much as 240,000 hectares of paddy have been destroyed by
drought and salination in the central area and southern Mekong Delta region, it
said.
A Singapore-based trader said that while the annual decline
appeared modest Vietnam's latest harvest "is five to six per cent lower
than last year."
Thailand and Vietnam harvest three crops a year.
Some Asian countries are already looking to raise imports.
Indonesia is expected to see 2016 purchases jump by more than 60
per cent to two million tonnes from a few years ago.
China, the world's top importer, taking about five million
tonnes annually, is expected to continue this buying pace. IGC has forecast
China's 2016 production will fall short of consumption for a third consecutive
year.
The Philippines had the lowest stocks since October in March
despite importing 750,000 tonnes and its procurement agency has standby authority
to ship an additional 500,000 tonnes.
"Although El Nino has entered its weakening stage, the risk
of higher food prices remains given the onset of the summer season," said
Philippine Economic Planning Secretary Emmanuel Esguerra
https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/31526684/rice-falls-food-security-fears-rise/
TRADERS FACE HARDSHIP IN RICE EXPORTS TO IRAN
Amanullah Khan
Karachi —The commercial banks are
not clearing online Form E for rice exports to Iran and are not yet ready for
transactions with Iran. No procedure has been outlined so far.
Pakistan exports are on the declining side on the back of global economic slowdown which calls for tapping any export opportunity with the global trading partners however such irritants like missing banking facility may not help to increase the export volume of the country. President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver has pointed out that the exporters are facing hardships and are unable to finalize orders from Iran despite no sanctions exist against Iran. It is pertinent to note that no sanctions can ever be imposed on food and medicine items as per United Nations charter but since Iran was boycotted by SWIFT, trade with Iran became impossible and goods were shipped to Dubai and from there to Iran. Now that the sanctions have been removed businessmen have become active for exports and imports to and from Iran but are unable to go forward due to lack of clarity about procedure
Pakistan exports are on the declining side on the back of global economic slowdown which calls for tapping any export opportunity with the global trading partners however such irritants like missing banking facility may not help to increase the export volume of the country. President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver has pointed out that the exporters are facing hardships and are unable to finalize orders from Iran despite no sanctions exist against Iran. It is pertinent to note that no sanctions can ever be imposed on food and medicine items as per United Nations charter but since Iran was boycotted by SWIFT, trade with Iran became impossible and goods were shipped to Dubai and from there to Iran. Now that the sanctions have been removed businessmen have become active for exports and imports to and from Iran but are unable to go forward due to lack of clarity about procedure
Grain market news
12:01 Romania almost
completed sunflower and corn sowing
Last week, moderately warm weather was observed across all the
territory of the country. Average air temperature was within multiyear norms
and ranged between +8..+18 ºC. Maximum air temperature rose to +23 ° C, minimum
lowered to +3 ° C.
Meteorologists forecast that moderate temperature regime will
retain in May, but precipitation amount will exceed the norm in some regions of
the country. Precipitation deficit is
expected only in July.
5 cm soil layer temperature ranged from +7 to + 17 ° C. Spring
grain crops, sown in optimum time, were at the stages of leaf-formation and
tillering.
Sowings of winter barley and wheat are mainly at the stem
elongation and earing stages. Moisture reserves in the topsoil are sufficient
and optimum for crops development.
Winter rapeseed plantings are mostly in good and excellent
condition and are going through flower head formation and flowering stages of
development.
Sunflower and corn sowing is almost complete in Romania. Corn is at
the stage of sprouts emergence and the first leaves formation. Sunflower is
also at sprouts stage and in the southern regions - formation of the first pair
of leaves. Farmers of central regions cannot finish sunflower and corn sowing
campaign due to excessive rains and wet soil.
More information on winter
crop conditions and progress in spring sowing campaign in the countries of
Black Sea Region is available to subscribers for weekly market report
"Black Sea Grain & Oil" by UkrAgroConsult.
http://www.blackseagrain.net/news/grains/news-listing-extended/
Food stocks sufficient for Ramadhan: Bulog
Anton Hermansyah
Reporter
Posted: Thu, May 5 2016 | 11:16 am
Sufficient
supply – A beef vendor serves a customer in a traditional market. The State
Logistics Agency (Bulog) has said its food stocks are sufficient to meet an
expected rise in demand in the upcoming Ramadhan fasting month. (Tempo/Tony
Hartawan)
The
State Logistics Agency ( Bulog ) has given an assurance that the supply of
staple foods in the country is sufficient to meet an increase in demand during
the upcoming Ramadhan fasting month.
Bulog
says it has an available supply of 1.9 million tons of rice, 1.5 million tons
of corn and 631 tons of beef, which are all considered sufficient to meet the
expected rise in demand during Ramadhan in June.
"Our
rice allocation is usually around 300,000 tons per month, while during
Ramadhan rice consumption usually increases by only 10 percent. So, 1.9 million
tons of rice is really sufficient," Bulog’s sales division head Subali
Agung Gunawan told thejakartapost.com on Wednesday.
He
further said Bulog’s rice stock was enough for 6.58 months while 626,000 tons
of soya bean stocks would be enough for three months. Meanwhile, 144,000 tons
of cooking oil was enough for six months, he added.
The
agency’s stock levels, however, are lower than international standards.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ), food stocks should
be 17 to 20 percent of national consumption. Thus, if Indonesia’s yearly
consumption is 32.4 million tons, Bulog should have at least 5.5 million tons
of food stocks.
"We
must admit that we still lag behind the international standards. We are
striving to reach that figure," Subali said.
He
further explained that up until now, there were no signs of an increase in food
prices. Shallots and chili prices were relatively stable despite a slight
increase several months ago, while the beef price was mostly flat.
"We
need to pay attention to chicken and eggs because their prices will start to
climb right before Ramadhan and will reach their peak around the Idul Fitri
festivities," said Trade Ministry spokesman Tirta Karma Senjaya.
Chicken
usually sees a rise in demand during Ramadhan and Idul Fitri as it is used in
many traditional foods. During Idul Fitri, people usually eat chicken soup and
curry."In the first quarter, the demand for consumer goods was quite low.
Many of our consumer goods members complained about weak sales. We expect this
will improve in the second quarter. Hopefully Ramadhan can trigger higher
demand," vice chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
( Kadin ) Benny Soetrisno told thejakartapost.com. ( ebf
)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/05/05/food-stocks-sufficient-for-ramadhan-bulog.html
FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief
The Cereal Supply and Demand Brief provides an up-to-date
perspective of the world cereal market. The monthly brief is supplemented by a
detailed assessment of cereal production as well as supply and demand
conditions by country/region in the quarterly Crop Prospects and Food
Situation. More in-depth analyses of world
markets for cereals, as well as other major food commodities, are published
biannually in Food Outlook.Monthly release dates for 2016: 04 February, 03 March, 07 April,
05 May, 02 June, 07 July, 08 September, 06 October, 10 November, 08 December.
New season production prospects improve, stocks to remain high
Release date: 05/05/2016
FAO’s current forecast for world cereal production in 2016 stands at nearly 2 526
million tonnes, virtually unchanged from 2015 and fractionally above the volume
predicted in April. The monthly revision resulted almost entirely from improved
prospects for wheat production, now anticipated to hover around 717 million
tonnes in 2016, that is 4 million tonnes higher than foreseen last month, but
still 2.2 percent (16 million tonnes) below the 2015 record. The month-on-month
upward revision of global wheat production mainly reflects an improved outlook
in Europe, where favourable winter weather bolstered yield expectations in the
EU, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Increases in these countries more than
outweighed an anticipated reduction in India, where the wheat crop has been hit
by dry conditions earlier in the season and by heavy rains during the ongoing
harvest. At nearly 1 314 million tonnes, the production forecast for global
coarse grains in 2016 is almost unchanged from last month, implying a 1 percent
(11.2 million tonnes) increase from 2015. Compared to last month, maize
production forecasts deteriorated in those Southern African countries suffering
from the severe El Niño-induced drought, largely offsetting a slightly improved
outlook for maize production in Brazil, where plantings for the second season
crop were larger than anticipated.
Global rice production in 2016 remains forecast at 495 million
tonnes, pointing to a modest 1 percent recovery from 2015. Indeed, although the
El Niño is predicted to come to an end in the next few months, coinciding with
the bulk of rice plantings in the northern hemisphere, the weather anomaly
already caused damage south and along the equator where the season is more
advanced.
World cereal utilization in 2016/17 is forecast at 2 549 million tonnes, up marginally
from last month and only 1.1 percent (27 million tonnes) above the estimate for
2015/16, marking the second year in succession of below-trend growth. A lower
pace of growth in the utilization of cereals as feed is the primary reason
behind the slowdown. Total wheat utilization is currently forecast at 724
million tonnes, almost unchanged from the 2015/16 level, with food use
expanding by 1.0 percent while feed use is seen contracting by 1.8 percent.
World utilization of coarse grains is projected at nearly 1 322 million
tonnes, about 1.5 percent higher than in 2015/16. Among the major coarse
grains, maize utilization is forecast to increase by 2.4 percent (to 1 026
million tonnes), supported by a 3.0 percent growth in feed. On the other hand,
total use of barley is anticipated to drop by 2.7 percent (to 140 million tonnes),
largely driven by a 3.4 percent contraction in its feed use. World rice
utilization is heading for a 1.5 percent increase in 2016/17, reaching 503
million tonnes, with food use growing by 1.3 percent, sufficient to keep global
per capita annual intake stable.
Based on current forecasts for production in 2016 and
utilization in 2016/17, world cereal stocks are expected to fall to around 615 million tonnes by the close
of crop seasons ending in 2017, down 3.3 percent (21 million tonnes) from the
anticipated level in 2016. This month’s forecast is 4 million tonnes higher
than FAO’s first projection for 2016/17, published last month, reflecting the
more buoyant prospects for global grain production. Despite the year-on-year
anticipated decline in world reserves, the ratio of global cereal
stock-to-utilization would fall only marginally, from 24.9 percent in the
current season to 23.4 percent in 2016/17. Among the major cereals, rice
carryovers are expected to end 5 million tonnes lower by 2017, while a more pronounced
8 million tonne drawdown is expected for both wheat and coarse grains.
Countries where cereal stocks are forecast to drop by at least one million
tonnes include Brazil (-4.7mt), India (-2.4mt), Thailand (-2.8mt), China
(-2.3mt) Morocco (-1.9mt), the Islamic Republic of Iran (-1.8mt), Argentina
(-1.5mt) and South Africa (-1mt).
The forecast for world trade in cereals in 2016/17 has been raised by 2 million tonnes since
last month to 367 million tonnes, driven by upward revisions to wheat and maize
volumes. At this new level, global cereals trade in 2016/17 would fall short of
the 2015/16 estimate by nearly 7 million tonnes, or 1.8 percent. The
year-on-year contraction reflects a sharp fall in world trade of coarse grains,
now projected to reach 169 million tonnes, as much as 7 million tonnes (4
percent) less than in 2015/16, following sharply reduced purchases of barley
and sorghum by China. At 130 million tonnes, world trade in maize is also
expected to decline from the 2015/16 estimate, but only slightly as the sharp
anticipated fall in maize imports by the EU would be largely offset by soaring
imports by drought-stricken countries in southern Africa. Global wheat trade in
2016/17 (July/June) is currently forecast at 154 million tonnes, up marginally
(0.7 percent) from 2015/16, with much of the increase reflecting larger
purchases by Morocco, following this year’s production shortfall. Elsewhere,
most countries are expected to import quantities similar to those of 2015/16
with some importing even less, most notably the Islamic Republic of Iran. World
rice trade in calendar 2017 is preliminarily forecast in the order of 44.0
million tonnes, down slightly from last month’s forecast, and 2 percent less
than the current estimate for 2016. Behind the contraction stands an
expectation of larger 2016 crops in Asia, which is likely to curb imports in
the region, along with shrinking export availabilities in major origins.
Summary Tables
|
|
|
|
1/ Production data refer to the calendar year of the first
year shown. Rice production is expressed in milled terms.
2/ Production plus opening stocks.
3/ Trade data refer to exports based on a July/June marketing season for wheat and coarse grains and on a January/December marketing season for rice (second year shown).
4/ May not equal the difference between supply and utilization due to differences in individual country marketing years.
5/ Major wheat exporters are Argentina, Australia, Canada, the EU, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major coarse grain exporters are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major rice exporters are India, Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam. Disappearance is defined as domestic utilization plus exports for any given season.
2/ Production plus opening stocks.
3/ Trade data refer to exports based on a July/June marketing season for wheat and coarse grains and on a January/December marketing season for rice (second year shown).
4/ May not equal the difference between supply and utilization due to differences in individual country marketing years.
5/ Major wheat exporters are Argentina, Australia, Canada, the EU, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major coarse grain exporters are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major rice exporters are India, Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam. Disappearance is defined as domestic utilization plus exports for any given season.
http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation/csdb/en/
Seeds for Contract Rice Farming Planted
The Cambodia
Rice Federation has urged millers and exporters to do contract farming. KT/Chor
Sokunthea
Khmer Times/May Kunmakara
Wednesday,
04 May 2016
The
Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) yesterday called on local rice millers,
exporters, farmers, development partners and the Ministry of Agriculture to
work together to promote contract farming to ensure the sustainable development
of the rice industry of the country.Sok Puthy Vuth, chairman of CRF, told Khmer
Times that the federation had a meeting with concerned parties yesterday to
seek recommendations and ideas and to map out the challenges for millers and
farmers who have already been doing contract farming and to set a clear role
for the CRF to promote the scheme.
“This morning, we meet all of them to see the problems and
successes and to set a clear policy to implement the scheme,” said Mr. Puthy
Vuth.“As we are from the federation, we had not set a clear policy on the issue
because in the past, we didn’t have our network or staff close to the farming
community, although we had had many discussions with them and now we want to
hear from them about exactly what role should we play,” he said.Chan Sokheang,
the CEO of Signatures of Asia, a local rice miller and exporter, told Khmer
Times that his company had been implementing a policy with a few areas in two
provinces – Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap – for one year, but many challenges
still have to be dealt with.
“We just started to work on the scheme and we are trying to
build trust between each other,” said Mr. Sokheang.“When you look at the scheme
it is good, but when we started implementing we faced many challenges – like
building trust between each other, the fluctuation in the market prices and the
quality of the paddy rice. Now we are at the stage of learning from each other
and I think we need time for that,” he added.Song Saran is a successful rice
miller who implemented the scheme in 2013. He is the managing director of Amru
Rice (Cambodia) and told Khmer Times that his company had implemented a
sustainable contract rice farming project in 2013 with few agriculture
cooperatives involved and with 200 farmer families in Preah Vihear province.
He said the project had helped alleviate poverty among the
farmers, and there are about 28 agriculture cooperatives involved with 4,000
farmers who will be considered in Amru’s contract farming. It will make up
approximately 20 percent of the total volume of Amru’s rice.Contract farming is
the key linkage among rice producers, rice millers and exporters. It is a vital
part of improving the quality of rice as well as traceability. It has a huge
impact on the living standards of the rice producers with guaranteed markets
and prices,” said Mr. Saran.
“We will continue to expand year-by-year until reaching 50
percent of our total export volume by 2020,” he said. He added that Amru Rice
has determined that farmers in Preah Vihear, Svay Rieng, Mondulkiri, Kratie,
Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Pursat, Banteay Meachey and Battambang are
interested in getting involved in contract farming.
The contract farming volume will increase to 10,000 tons in
2016, 15,000 tons in 2017 and 40,000 ton by 2020, he said.“The farmers are
guaranteed a price, improved quality of paddy, reduced costs through financing
and receive a premier price,” he said.Ieng Sophalet, a spokesman at the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said contract farming is one
way to boost farmers’ incomes.“Many farmers only have a landlord, and some of
them don’t have the capital to buy things like fertilizer and seeds, but with
contact farming they receive a budget to buy seeds and fertilizer,” he
said.“Importantly, when their products are harvested, the farmers already have
a market for their products,” Mr. Sophalet added. “Contract farming is a
win-win policy for farmers and traders.”
Mr. Sophalet said the agriculture ministry is encouraging all
farmers to get into contract farming.
However, Mr. Puthy Vuth of the federation said not many millers
are working on the scheme due to a lack of trust with farmers and millers over
contracts.“We don’t have many rice millers who have been working on this
scheme,” he said.“At the same time, we also heard there are a lot of challenges
implementing the policy and they have a lot of work to do with farmers, so they
need to have a clear process in order to build trust between farmers and
themselves.
“That’s why we at the federation want to set a clear policy to
deal with the issues before we jump in.“Now we are trying to collaborate with
all concerned parties over the issues because it is a very good scheme. Now we
want to make sure who will lead the scheme, whether it be the federation,
development partners or the Ministry of Agriculture,” Mr. Puthy Vuth added.
Mr. Saran recommended other millers who wished to work on the
scheme that they need to have a good model and market for this project.“There
is a high risk of failure in case of an inaccessible market,” he said.“We have
done organic rice since 2013 and the lessons learned and the model encouraged
us to go for a conventional contract farming trial in 2016,” he said.“We expect
to have results for conventional contract farming by the end of 2016, and we
will look at the challenges to address before continuing in 2017 on a larger
scale.” Additional reporting by Chea Vannak.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/24605/seeds-for-contract-rice-farming-planted/
Worldwide supply of rice projected to shrink significantly due to El Niño
X
The global
supply of rice is projected to shrink significantly due to the effects of El
Niño.
According to the Japan Times, the weather system has produced high heat in India and droughts in Thailand and Vietnam—three countries which "account for more than 60 percent of the global rice trade."
As a result, these and other top exporters are expected to ship just 19 million tons of the grain during 2016 compared with 40-plus million tons in 2013, reports theRakyat Post.
According to the Japan Times, the weather system has produced high heat in India and droughts in Thailand and Vietnam—three countries which "account for more than 60 percent of the global rice trade."
As a result, these and other top exporters are expected to ship just 19 million tons of the grain during 2016 compared with 40-plus million tons in 2013, reports theRakyat Post.
This
situation is reminding many observers of a similar El Niño-related crisis in
2008 when reactionary policies were implemented, prices soared, and people
rioted in different parts of the world.
While the cost of rice is still under $400 a ton, compared to the
$1,000 a ton it reached 8 years ago, prices will likely keep rising.
Thus, some of the major producers and importers are already considering building up their own surpluses to offset worsening conditions.
Thus, some of the major producers and importers are already considering building up their own surpluses to offset worsening conditions.
Dr. Samarendu
Mohanty from the International Rice Research Institute tells The Independent that the forthcoming monsoon season could be
a key deciding factor.
http://www.aol.com/article/2016/05/04/worldwide-supply-of-rice-projected-to-shrink-significantly-due-t/21370648/
Rice farmers to get
N1b from Ebonyi govt
By Press Release
May 5, 2016 09:13:36am GMT |
As part of efforts to make Ebonyi the number one
state in rice production in the country, Governor David Umahi has directed the
disbursement of N1billion to commercial rice farmers in the state.
The sum, according to him, will not be given to them inform of
cash but as seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, etcetera.
Umahi, who made this known during a special
stakeholder’s forum on rice production in the state in Abakaliki on Wednesday,
also ordered all council chairmen, development centre coordinators, management
committee members and Liaison officers of the councils and DCs to acquire some
hectares of land for rice production.
Under the latest arrangement, the council chairmen are to
acquire 20 hectares of land; coordinators, 10 hectares; and management
committee as well as Liaison officers, five hectares each.
Umahi told the political office holders that their survival on
their jobs would be predicated on their performance in the task.
Board members and heads of parastatals, according to the
governor, should also own one farm for agricultural production. He
added that the state Executive Council would manage the Ezillo
Farm.
The governor stressed that his vision to make Ebonyi State the
highest rice producing state in the country could only be achieved
if the ruling class showed interest in Agriculture.
He disclosed that a new office to be headed by a Senior Special
Assistant on Rice Production had been created to oversee the disbursement of
the N1bn rice loan to commercial farmers
Governor Umahi said, “It is not going to be dash; it is going to
be loan and when you produce, we will take over the rice and pay you the
difference. It is a loan. We borrowed it from the Federal Government,
which they will deduct from our allocation every month.
“So we should be able to recover this money and give it
again. It is going to be a revolving loan.”
Responding to the appeal by the governor for the provision of
land for the rice production, traditional rulers, who spoke at the summit,
pledged their readiness to key into the agricultural programme.
They however requested that
4,000 rice farmers benefit from AGRA funds
The Ghana Commercialization of Rice Project (G-CORP), through
Agribusiness Systems International (ASI), with funding and technical support
from the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has supported over
4,000 smallholder farmers in the Volta Region in a three-and-half year
programme.Among other things the project has achieved are the building of the
business and management capacity of twenty aggregators to extend improved
services to over 4,700 smallholder farmers, the establishment of 176 hectares
of demonstration plots, direct training of over 2,700 smallholders in good
agricultural practices, postharvest handling and quality management, group
dynamics, business planning and financial management.The programme further
educated an estimated 10,000 farmers through the media on improved rice
agronomic practices and post-harvest technologies for rice growing communities;
and the supply of 4,045 metric tonnes of paddy to the farmers valued at
GH?5,115,800.
Commenting on the benefits of the project, the Country Director, ASI Ghana, Dr. Betty Annan, said the programme facilitated access to mechanised harvest services to over 3,000 outgrowers which boosted production and also improved quality of the paddy.Apart from several other achievements, we also facilitated access to mechanised harvest services for over 3,000 outgrowers, thereby improving the quality of paddy they delivered. We also encouraged financial inclusiveness, by introducing secure and easy access payment mechanisms by partnering with Tigo Cash to set up mobile money payment platforms for commercial mills to pay their smallholder suppliers.
Through this platform, over 1,815 smallholders enrolled have received cash payments of GH?2, 904, 100,” Dr. Betty said in an interview the B&FT during a close-out workshop in Ho.
The G-CORP project also provided the platform for the smallholder farmers to meet some of the leading agricultural investors such as Global Agri-Development Company, (GADCO) under their Copa Connect initiative, and Worawora Rice Mills (WRM) which gave the farmers direct access to major markets by working through a network of community level product aggregators.
One of the Aggregators, Asase Bibby, expressed his gratitude for the support from AGRA, and promised on behalf of the farmers, that everything will be done to ensure that the intended purpose of the funds will be realized so that the funds can be extended to other farmers in the future.
AGRA is an African-led alliance with the vision of providing a food-secure and prosperous future for all Africans. Its mission is to catalyze and sustain an agricultural transformation in Africa through innovation-driven productivity increases and access to markets and finance that improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. It is focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives
ASI is an affiliate of ACDI/VOCA, a non-profit international development organization which has over 52 years of experience expanding economic opportunities through programs in five core technical areas: agribusiness, food security, community development, financial services, and enterprise development. ASI and ACDI/VOCA have been working in Ghana for the past eight years, implementing market-driven agricultural development programs funded by several donors.
Commenting on the benefits of the project, the Country Director, ASI Ghana, Dr. Betty Annan, said the programme facilitated access to mechanised harvest services to over 3,000 outgrowers which boosted production and also improved quality of the paddy.Apart from several other achievements, we also facilitated access to mechanised harvest services for over 3,000 outgrowers, thereby improving the quality of paddy they delivered. We also encouraged financial inclusiveness, by introducing secure and easy access payment mechanisms by partnering with Tigo Cash to set up mobile money payment platforms for commercial mills to pay their smallholder suppliers.
Through this platform, over 1,815 smallholders enrolled have received cash payments of GH?2, 904, 100,” Dr. Betty said in an interview the B&FT during a close-out workshop in Ho.
The G-CORP project also provided the platform for the smallholder farmers to meet some of the leading agricultural investors such as Global Agri-Development Company, (GADCO) under their Copa Connect initiative, and Worawora Rice Mills (WRM) which gave the farmers direct access to major markets by working through a network of community level product aggregators.
One of the Aggregators, Asase Bibby, expressed his gratitude for the support from AGRA, and promised on behalf of the farmers, that everything will be done to ensure that the intended purpose of the funds will be realized so that the funds can be extended to other farmers in the future.
AGRA is an African-led alliance with the vision of providing a food-secure and prosperous future for all Africans. Its mission is to catalyze and sustain an agricultural transformation in Africa through innovation-driven productivity increases and access to markets and finance that improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers. It is focused on putting farmers at the center of the continent’s growing economy by transforming agriculture from a solitary struggle to survive into farming as a business that thrives
ASI is an affiliate of ACDI/VOCA, a non-profit international development organization which has over 52 years of experience expanding economic opportunities through programs in five core technical areas: agribusiness, food security, community development, financial services, and enterprise development. ASI and ACDI/VOCA have been working in Ghana for the past eight years, implementing market-driven agricultural development programs funded by several donors.
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/4-000-rice-farmers-benefit-from-AGRA-funds-436272
Nigerian banks court rice, wheat farmers
May 4 2016 - 10:58pm
Osinbajo, middle with rice and wheat farmers from Kebbi state
Nigerian rice and wheat farmers said today that they are now
treated with some respect and royalty, as Nigerian banks court them for
business.Malam Aminu Goronyo, the President of the Rice Farmers
Association said this courtesy only began with the coming of the Muhammadu
Buhari administration.
He told vice-president Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Governor
Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state today at a meeting with members of
his association and wheat farmers that before the coming of the Buhari
presidency, “farmers in Nigeria were considered useless people on the streets,
but now farmers are kings.”
As a proof, he said that banks were now soliciting farmers to open
accounts, even offering banking services on the farms.
Fashola, Bagudu and Osinbajo
He added that people were also offering farmers credit lines for
purchases.
“We have not been having this kind of respect before, we have
become kings today,” Goronyo stated.
The President of the Wheat Farmers
Association of Nigeria, Malam Saleh Mohammed, said many rice farmers were also
wheat farmers, adding that the productivity level of both sets of farmers had
already gone up.
An elated Osinbajo said the Buhari presidency has a
clear idea on how to execute its agricultural policy to achieve
self-sufficiency in food production.
The vice president praised rice and wheat farmers, saying “farmers
are among the most important people in Nigeria today.”
Osinbajo said by launching the CBN Anchor Borrowers Financing
Initiative in Kebbi, and launching the dry season rice and wheat farming last
year, what the President did was setting-off an agricultural revolution without
saying so.
He added that the President’s action also “showed he had a clear
idea of how to execute a formidable agricultural policy.”
According to Osinbajo, “the President said it throughout the
campaigns that pursuing an active agriculture policy in rice and wheat would be
important”.
Gov. Bagudu observed that the political will of the Buhari
presidency in supporting rice and wheat farmers is “energising,” the
agricultural sector, raising the esteem of the farmers and heightening
productivity.
He said that Nigeria would be self-sufficient in rice production
under two years and in wheat within three years.
In their remarks, the presidents of both associations expressed
satisfaction with the support rice and wheat farmers are now receiving from the
Federal Government.
http://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2016/05/nigerian-banks-court-rice-wheat-farmers/
Rice Prices
as
on : 06-05-2016 12:29:13 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in
Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Bareilly(UP)
|
104.00
|
6.12
|
7369.60
|
2275
|
2300
|
10.98
|
|
Dhing(ASM)
|
92.00
|
6.98
|
3116.20
|
1800
|
1800
|
-10.00
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
85.00
|
6.25
|
3205.00
|
2220
|
2210
|
13.27
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
73.00
|
-8.75
|
4908.00
|
2180
|
2175
|
3.07
|
|
Jangipur(WB)
|
62.00
|
0.81
|
255.50
|
2110
|
2115
|
-11.72
|
|
Ghaziabad(UP)
|
60.00
|
-14.29
|
2655.00
|
2140
|
2140
|
-2.73
|
|
Haridwar
Union(Utr)
|
48.00
|
-93.89
|
894.10
|
2600
|
4100
|
8.33
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
100
|
1710.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Koderma(Jha)
|
37.00
|
27.59
|
439.00
|
3500
|
3400
|
-2.78
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
32.00
|
6.67
|
1716.00
|
2000
|
2000
|
-1.23
|
|
Jaunpur(UP)
|
30.00
|
-16.67
|
1321.00
|
1975
|
1970
|
-0.25
|
|
Lanka(ASM)
|
25.00
|
-44.44
|
2360.00
|
1750
|
1750
|
-1.41
|
|
Lohardaga(Jha)
|
25.00
|
4.17
|
896.50
|
1750
|
1670
|
-14.63
|
|
Pratapgarh(UP)
|
25.00
|
-16.67
|
120.00
|
2120
|
2115
|
6.53
|
|
Robertsganj(UP)
|
25.00
|
16.28
|
213.50
|
1850
|
1860
|
-0.54
|
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
22.30
|
5.19
|
1104.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
-7.69
|
|
Diamond
Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
22.00
|
NC
|
785.50
|
2000
|
2000
|
-4.76
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
20.00
|
-53.49
|
2572.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
17.50
|
6.06
|
651.50
|
2025
|
2020
|
5.47
|
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
16.00
|
14.29
|
177.00
|
2200
|
2160
|
3.77
|
|
Kalimpong(WB)
|
15.00
|
1566.67
|
42.10
|
2700
|
2400
|
8.00
|
|
North
Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
13.70
|
53.93
|
1397.90
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
|
11.50
|
-15.44
|
51.20
|
5500
|
4100
|
34.15
|
|
Bampada(Ori)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
190.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
8.00
|
-27.27
|
1141.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
455.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
9.09
|
|
Ranaghat(WB)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
58.00
|
2150
|
2100
|
-8.51
|
|
Cherthalai(Ker)
|
7.50
|
-6.25
|
297.00
|
2300
|
2200
|
-11.54
|
|
Chengannur(Ker)
|
7.50
|
25
|
524.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
NC
|
|
Karanjia(Ori)
|
6.00
|
NC
|
260.80
|
2600
|
2600
|
4.00
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
5.00
|
25
|
1276.10
|
1975
|
1980
|
NC
|
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
4.00
|
-33.33
|
193.50
|
2000
|
2200
|
5.26
|
|
Siyana(UP)
|
3.50
|
40
|
81.00
|
2075
|
2070
|
1.72
|
|
Rahama(Ori)
|
3.40
|
-10.53
|
41.91
|
2450
|
2450
|
22.50
|
Rice Prices
as on : 05-05-2016 08:10:39 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
|
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
|
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
|
Rice
|
||||||
|
Gadarpur(Utr)
|
208.00
|
-80.41
|
106316.00
|
2370
|
2275
|
26.40
|
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
165.00
|
1.85
|
4879.00
|
2600
|
2600
|
-
|
|
Bareilly(UP)
|
98.00
|
-15.52
|
7265.60
|
2300
|
2325
|
12.20
|
|
Pilibhit(UP)
|
98.00
|
22.5
|
18750.00
|
2195
|
2190
|
1.15
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
95.00
|
-78.89
|
12567.10
|
1980
|
1980
|
-1.74
|
|
Azamgarh(UP)
|
90.00
|
-57.75
|
4840.50
|
2135
|
2130
|
7.83
|
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
85.00
|
21.43
|
5119.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
12.82
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
80.00
|
-5.88
|
3120.00
|
2210
|
2225
|
14.81
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
80.00
|
6.67
|
4835.00
|
2175
|
2180
|
3.08
|
|
Bindki(UP)
|
78.00
|
-35
|
2700.00
|
2285
|
2275
|
9.33
|
|
Ghaziabad(UP)
|
70.00
|
16.67
|
2595.00
|
2140
|
2130
|
-2.73
|
|
Jangipur(WB)
|
61.50
|
0.82
|
193.50
|
2115
|
2110
|
-11.51
|
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
57.50
|
51.32
|
1300.00
|
2050
|
2075
|
1.74
|
|
Lanka(ASM)
|
45.00
|
12.5
|
2335.00
|
1750
|
1750
|
-1.41
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
43.00
|
19.44
|
2552.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
43.00
|
7.5
|
1693.00
|
2250
|
2280
|
-4.26
|
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
42.00
|
-1.18
|
1835.00
|
2240
|
2240
|
-4.68
|
|
Pratapgarh(UP)
|
30.00
|
NC
|
95.00
|
2115
|
2130
|
6.28
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
30.00
|
-30.23
|
1684.00
|
2000
|
1990
|
-0.50
|
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
25.00
|
-16.67
|
1631.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
-
|
|
Purulia(WB)
|
25.00
|
-16.67
|
1922.00
|
2240
|
2240
|
-5.88
|
|
Balurghat(WB)
|
22.00
|
4.76
|
507.00
|
2900
|
2900
|
-
|
|
Robertsganj(UP)
|
21.50
|
-28.33
|
188.50
|
1860
|
1880
|
NC
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
16.50
|
-21.43
|
634.00
|
2020
|
2010
|
4.94
|
|
Tinsukia(ASM)
|
15.00
|
50
|
160.00
|
2250
|
2200
|
-10.00
|
|
Udala(Ori)
|
13.00
|
NC
|
844.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
12.00
|
|
Tanakpur(Utr)
|
12.70
|
27
|
245.80
|
2150
|
2000
|
13.16
|
|
Sirsa(UP)
|
12.50
|
-10.71
|
487.50
|
2085
|
2070
|
-0.24
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
12.00
|
20
|
809.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
-5.77
|
|
Gangarampur(Dakshin Dinajpur)(WB)
|
12.00
|
20
|
22.00
|
1950
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
11.00
|
64.18
|
1133.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Dibiapur(UP)
|
11.00
|
22.22
|
127.50
|
2150
|
2150
|
-0.92
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
10.00
|
66.67
|
118.00
|
1800
|
1900
|
-11.33
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
9.50
|
NC
|
808.50
|
2650
|
2650
|
3.92
|
|
Sheoraphuly(WB)
|
9.50
|
7.34
|
390.35
|
2750
|
2750
|
1.85
|
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
9.00
|
28.57
|
447.00
|
2400
|
2300
|
9.09
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
8.90
|
-29.92
|
1384.20
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Cherthalai(Ker)
|
8.00
|
-5.88
|
289.50
|
2200
|
2100
|
-15.38
|
|
Baruipur(Canning)(WB)
|
8.00
|
-6.98
|
29.10
|
2600
|
2700
|
-
|
|
Orai(UP)
|
7.50
|
200
|
30.00
|
2150
|
2100
|
-
|
|
Kasganj(UP)
|
7.00
|
-12.5
|
578.00
|
2060
|
2040
|
0.73
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
6.50
|
-35
|
396.50
|
2040
|
2045
|
NC
|
|
Mannargudi(Ker)
|
6.00
|
-40
|
281.00
|
2500
|
3600
|
-30.56
|
|
Chengannur(Ker)
|
6.00
|
-14.29
|
517.00
|
2400
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Pakur(Jha)
|
5.10
|
45.71
|
71.90
|
3143
|
3152
|
0.58
|
|
Barikpur(Ori)
|
5.00
|
-50
|
145.00
|
2400
|
2500
|
NC
|
|
Khair(UP)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
151.00
|
2220
|
2210
|
15.03
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
1271.10
|
1980
|
1975
|
NC
|
|
Siyana(UP)
|
2.50
|
66.67
|
77.50
|
2070
|
2075
|
1.47
|
|
Sardhana(UP)
|
1.20
|
20
|
77.90
|
2190
|
2200
|
4.78
|
|
Shillong(Meh)
|
0.60
|
-25
|
51.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8560714.ece
UNISAME REGRETS BIG BUSINESS WITH IRAN SUFFERING DUE TO NON CLARITY
The SME rice exporters are contacting the
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) and complaining that commercial
banks are not clearing online Form E for exports to Iran and are not yet ready
for transactions with Iran as no procedure has been outlined.President UNISAME
Zulfikar Thaver said the exporters are facing hardships and are unable to
finalize orders from Iran despite no sanctions exist against Iran. It is
pertinent to note that no sanctions can ever be imposed on food and medicine
items as per United Nations charter but since Iran was boycotted by SWIFT,
trade with Iran became impossible and goods were shipped to Dubai and from
there to Iran. Now that the sanctions have been removed businessmen have become
active for exports and imports to and from Iran but are unable to go forward
due to lack of clarity about procedure.
Thaver said for export of rice, the Rice
Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) needs to take up the matter and not
sit hand on hand. However he said that ” on our part we will invite the
attention of the policy makers on the subject for trade with Iran as the
exporters and importers are both waiting to begin business with Iran ”
One leading commercial bank said that they
have not received any clear instructions from State Bank of Pakistan and are
therefore not ready yet.
Another bank also said that the goods are being shipped to Iran but payment is being made by banks in other countries because payment mechanism has not yet been defined and the banks in Pakistan need to appoint their correspondents in Iran but they need the support and framework from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
Another bank also said that the goods are being shipped to Iran but payment is being made by banks in other countries because payment mechanism has not yet been defined and the banks in Pakistan need to appoint their correspondents in Iran but they need the support and framework from State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)
One other leading bank informed that although
SBP has issued a circular that Iran has been removed from the list of countries
against whom there are sanctions but the names of 13 Iranian banks are in the
black list. Secondly it is very important for SBP to outline the procedure and
determine the payment mechanism for import and export with Iran.
Thaver said the commercial banks also need to
take the initiative and nominate correspondents in Iran form the list of banks
open for business transaction and seek approval from the SBP to expedite
matters rather than sitting hand on hand.
UNISAME has requested SBP Exchange Control
Department to examine the matter and inform all commercial banks the procedure
and mechanism for export and import to and from Iran.
Time is the essence and we need to move fast to meet global competition and commence business with Iran promptly.
Time is the essence and we need to move fast to meet global competition and commence business with Iran promptly.
As far as rice is concerned we really need to
move fast as the new crop is expected in the last quarter and before that we
need to sell our existing stock
http://www.unisame.org/unisame-regrets-big-business-with-iran-suffering-due-to-non-clarity/
Lower rice output to push up prices
Rice might become costlier by 10-15 per
cent in the coming months, due to lower production in the previous two
seasons.ower and uneven distribution of rain in the past twomonsoon seasons hit paddy sowing. The Union
agriculture ministry estimates output to decline by around two mt this time, to
103.61 mt. Trade sources believe the dip would be between three and five mt for
the crop year ending this June.Staple food for the middle
class in many states, it is unlikely, however, to see a sharp increase in
price. Its stocks are abundant in government warehouses. And, Food Minister Ram
Vilas Paswan has said several times that the government would not allow
commodity prices to move up.“India’s rice output is estimated to decline by around three mt in
the current crop year, which poses a threat for price rise. However, there
would not be a sharp increase, due to surplus monsoon rainfall forecast and
abundance of stocks,” said T Ram, scientist at the Hyderabad-based Indian
Institute of Rice Research (IIRR).Driven by Asia, global output is estimated to
decline by 0.7 per cent to 491.4 mt in 2015, as compared to 494.7 mt the
previous year. Many exporting countries such as Egypt, Thailand and Vietnam have started quoting higher prices
for the next shipment. While Egypt has increased its quote by 1.5 per cent,
Thailand has revised its export quotation for its benchmark variety by four per
cent more than in January (also on a stronger currency and expectations of new
trade agreements. Prices have also increased in Pakistan, due to ongoing sales
to Africa.“A price spurt, however, would be capped due to huge availability of
stocks with the government and households,” said V K Chaturvedi, managing
director, Usher Agro, a producer listed on the stock exchanges.
Rice stocks with the government’s Food Corporation of India were 22.16 mt on April 1, compared with 19.42 mr the previous month and 12.69 mt on January 1. The stock was 17.09 mt on April 1, 2015.Stcoks at home have also been augmented by less export demand. Shipments abroad were 5.72 mt between April ‘15 and February ’16, as compared to 7.62 mt in the same period last year.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/lower-rice-output-to-push-up-prices-116050501024_1.html
In Benin, a new stove turns rice waste into clean fuel
REUTERS,
05/05 14:39 CET
By Busani Bafana
COTONOU, Benin (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Naman Abibate’s business
is hard to miss. A towering pile of neatly arranged logs, collected by her
husband from a forest near their village home, sits at the side of the busy
Cotonou-to-Niger highway, north of Benin.
Abibate makes 10,000 CFA ($16) a month selling wood, much
of it to women who use it for parboiling rice, a process of partially cooking
rice in the husk before it is milled.
Rice is a staple food in Benin, and parboiling the grain
requires a lot of heat, which means a lot of wood. The process is a major
culprit behind Benin’s worrisome deforestation rate and a big contributor to
health problems due to the inhalation of wood smoke.
But researchers at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), a pan-African
rice research group, aim to tackle those problems with a stove that runs on a
free, sustainable and abundant fuel: rice husks.
AfricaRice’s stove is fed by a solar-powered fan and is designed
to burn off most of the gas released by the burning husks. Compared with a
wood-burning stove, the clean stove produces fewer emissions and heats water
faster.
“The stove … burns husks directly to produce thermal energy for
cooking and heating water and the solar panel provides light while firing the
blower,” said Sali Atanga Ndindeng, a technology expert at AfricaRice’s Cotonou
station who worked with women and engineers to develop the stove.
“We have tested the stove for emissions and have seen that it
has very low emissions, making it ideal to use in the home,” he said.
FIRE AND RICE
The search for alternatives to wood fuel is crucial to Benin,
which has an annual deforestation rate of 2.5 percent – one of the highest in
the world – according to figures from the U.N. Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO).
Using rice husks to run a stove not only takes advantage of a
readily available fuel source, but also helps rice farmers deal with the waste
and pollution that comes with disposing of the husks.
Every harvest season, Benin’s rice farmers struggle to get rid of
the mountains of husks that accumulate after they have threshed their crops.
The husks are no good as animal feed and take a long time to rot, so can’t be
used as compost. With no other option, millers often just set the husks on
fire, spewing smoke into the air.
And it’s a lot of smoke. One hectare of irrigated land yields
about five tonnes of rice and a tonne of husks. On average, farmers in Benin
produce over 40,000 tonnes of husks per season.
After three years of designing and testing, AfricaRice figured
out how to turn the mountains of rice waste into fuel. The husk-burning stove
was recently approved for commercial production, and the organisation is now
teaching metal smiths in Benin and Nigeria how to make it.
It comes in various sizes – the smallest, for household and
restaurant cooking, is fed with 900 grams of husks and the largest, designed
for industrial use, can take over 5 kilograms of husks. The small unit went on
the market in April for 35,000 CFA ($50).
AfricaRice has also made the fuel for their stove more efficient
by developing a hydraulic press to squeeze rice husks into briquettes and
pellets. These are easier to handle than loose husks and burn longer.
LESS WOOD, LESS SMOKE
According to AfricaRice’s Ndindeng, many of the women who tested
the prototype of the stove were most excited by the prospect of cooking without
filling their homes and lungs with smoke. The soot produced by open-fire and
indoor cooking using wood and crop residue kills more than 4 million people
annually, according to the World Health Organization.
Salabanya Tabaitou, a rice farmer from Malanville District, 750
kilometres north of Cotonou, does a lot of rice parboiling using wood fuel, a
process she says is cumbersome and unhealthy.
“A stove that does not use wood, produces no smoke, will make
cooking better and cleaner,” said Tabaitou, who has tried out the clean stove.
“Especially that the stove would use husks, which we have tonnes of in our
fields.”
Ndindeng told Thomson Reuters Foundation that researchers are now
looking at adapting AfricaRice’s stove for large-scale parboiling, rice drying
and water heating, which require a stove that can hold over double the capacity
and handle much more heat than the current models.
The hope, Ndindeng added, is to make the process of preparing
Benin’s staple food safer, cleaner and more efficient for everyone.
“Husks are a proven energy source that can save our trees and
reduce reliance on wood fuel in Benin,” he said.
(Reporting by Busani Bafana; editing by Jumana Farouky and
Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the
charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate
change, women’s rights, trafficking and property
http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3189593-in-benin-a-new-stove-turns-rice-waste-into-clean-fuel/
Apeda Rice commodity News
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05/05/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
Rice
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High
|
Low
|
|
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Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
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Futures:
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