22nd July,2016 daily global,regional and local rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

JC warns shops against jacking up prices

TNN | Jul 21, 2016, 01.26 PM IST

Check the prices.

Vijayawada: The district administration has warned all commercial establishments of legal action if they sell commodities at higher prices taking advantage of huge crowds during Krishna Pushkarams. The officials said that 13 task force teams will be in place to keep a check on the prices.

Addressing a meeting with owners of hotels, dal millers, rice millers and merchants' associations, district joint collector Gandham Chandrudu said that the task force teams will inspect all the establishments from August 1 to ascertain whether the commodities are sold at reasonable prices. "All the services which the commercial establishments offer should be qualitative and reasonably priced. If any of the outlets are found to have jacked up the prices, action will be taken against them," he said.

Krishna Pushkarams special offcer B Rajasekhar said that the hotel managements can implement 12-hour checkout rule as there will be 100 per cent occupancy in most of the hotels during the 12-day festivital. "However, the prices are to be slashed by 50 per cent and it should be adhered to strictly," he said and appealed to the hoteliers to allot 20 per cent of the rooms for government officials and that a special price may be fixed by the government for the same.

District collector Babu A said that hotel tariffs should be posted on Krishna Pushkarams website. He called for the participation of voluntary organisations and rice millers in supplying free food for the visitors during the 12-day festival. "We shall allot the interested parties with the pushkar nagar of their choice," he said

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/vijayawada/JC-warns-shops-against-jacking-up-prices/articleshow/53316846.cms

Rice Prices

as on : 21-07-2016 08:11:20 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)	3482.00	942.51	125669.00	1973	1856	-1.10
Bhivandi(Mah)	1900.00	-66.67	14759.00	3000	3000	62.16
Bangalore(Kar)	1855.00	-44.73	148409.00	4200	4150	-2.33
Shahjahanpur(UP)	720.00	84.62	44445.70	2200	2250	9.73
Jaunpur(UP)	400.00	-20	2485.00	2030	2030	1.50
Bangarpet(Kar)	352.00	-43.41	10744.00	1880	1730	18.99
Burdwan(WB)	317.00	-30.48	5840.00	2100	2120	13.51
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)	280.00	833.33	310.00	2140	2125	-
Gondal(UP)	215.00	162.2	13411.10	2050	2060	3.80
Memari(WB)	214.00	-5.31	4424.00	2100	2050	13.51
Sainthia(WB)	198.30	4.37	1956.50	1930	1800	-
Birbhum(WB)	193.40	16.51	3176.40	1970	2180	0.51
English Bazar(WB)	180.00	-1.1	3607.00	2100	2100	7.69
Agra(UP)	178.00	-3.26	6386.00	2200	2150	9.45
Azamgarh(UP)	155.00	-6.06	5771.00	2190	2165	7.88
Guskara(Burdwan)(WB)	155.00	-21.72	3808.00	2400	2300	14.29
Asansol(WB)	133.00	2.31	2767.50	2500	2500	8.70
Durgapur(WB)	132.00	-0.75	1854.00	2500	2450	8.70
Bilsi(UP)	120.00	-	120.00	2260	-	8.13
Bahraich(UP)	114.00	-3.39	4712.00	2190	2190	5.80
Pilibhit(UP)	100.00	-50	20222.50	2235	2235	2.05
Kalna(WB)	100.00	11.11	1771.00	2155	2155	11.66
Mathabhanga(WB)	100.00	-16.67	5240.00	2150	2150	10.26
Lucknow(UP)	98.00	1.03	4821.00	2375	2300	9.20
Siliguri(WB)	96.00	-38.06	6128.00	2600	2600	-
Aligarh(UP)	90.00	NC	4610.00	2350	2330	18.09
Dhing(ASM)	85.00	NC	3451.20	1950	1900	NC
Chandabali(Ori)	85.00	NC	1778.00	1800	1800	-35.71
Thodupuzha(Ker)	70.00	NC	3430.00	2700	2700	-6.90
Etawah(UP)	70.00	-36.36	19310.00	2265	2250	-0.44
Saharanpur(UP)	65.00	30	5996.00	2390	2375	11.16
Sitapur(UP)	63.00	-57.43	7747.00	2216	2200	6.39
Jangipur(WB)	62.00	-0.8	1193.00	2200	2180	5.26
Kalipur(WB)	60.00	-29.41	6757.00	2350	2300	20.51
Mainpuri(UP)	55.00	-15.38	649.00	2080	2080	-
Bareilly(UP)	54.50	-20.44	8063.60	2375	2350	13.10
Gajol(WB)	54.50	4.81	1032.50	3000	2900	11.11
Kasimbazar(WB)	50.50	5.21	2138.50	2360	2300	2.61
Ballia(UP)	50.00	-16.67	7540.00	2020	2025	2.02
Dadri(UP)	50.00	11.11	2429.00	2350	2350	12.98
Kolar(Kar)	44.00	120	212.00	1797	1600	-5.42
Gauripur(ASM)	42.50	6.25	2922.00	4500	4500	NC
Cachar(ASM)	40.00	NC	2540.00	2500	2500	-7.41
Ghaziabad(UP)	40.00	-33.33	3345.00	2340	2350	8.58
Koderma(Jha)	39.00	-4.88	586.00	3500	3600	2.94
Auraiya(UP)	39.00	30	363.00	2295	2280	3.38
Khatra(WB)	39.00	2.63	1066.00	2200	2200	NC
Gazipur(UP)	36.00	-16.28	2441.50	2100	2080	6.06
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	34.00	518.18	140.90	3700	5100	-9.76
Beldanga(WB)	32.00	-15.79	2421.00	2350	2350	2.17
Balugaon(Ori)	30.00	NC	454.00	3200	3200	10.34
Partaval(UP)	30.00	-25	1562.00	2180	2175	10.94
Purulia(WB)	30.00	NC	2316.00	2480	2400	5.08
Bidar(Kar)	28.00	-	72.00	2400	-	4.35
Katwa(WB)	27.40	92.96	228.10	2400	2400	9.09
Jhargram(WB)	26.00	13.04	312.00	2650	2600	-8.62
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB)	26.00	-18.75	429.00	2450	2400	6.52
Robertsganj(UP)	25.00	25	628.00	1925	1940	3.49
Sangli(Mah)	24.00	-20	106.00	4500	4500	-
Meerut(UP)	22.00	37.5	577.50	2225	2340	1.60
Bishnupur(Bankura)(WB)	22.00	10	42.00	2200	2150	-
Gulbarga(Kar)	21.00	-4.55	85.00	2100	2125	2.44
Kolaghat(WB)	21.00	5	818.00	2300	2300	4.55
Lohardaga(Jha)	20.50	10.81	1191.50	1750	1750	-7.89
Madhoganj(UP)	20.50	-4.65	312.00	2160	2175	-
Pune(Mah)	20.00	-	20.00	8900	-	-
Kendupatna(Ori)	20.00	700	111.50	1870	2000	0.65
Pratapgarh(UP)	20.00	-20	185.00	2175	2110	7.67
Achalda(UP)	20.00	NC	4112.50	2250	2250	-1.32
Ghatal(WB)	20.00	-23.08	561.50	2130	2170	12.11
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)	20.00	NC	838.00	2300	2300	9.52
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	17.60	155.07	1683.00	1900	1900	-
Parvathipuram(AP)	17.00	-	17.00	3143	-	-
Naugarh(UP)	16.50	17.86	851.00	2090	2080	7.73
Dhekiajuli(ASM)	16.00	-36	1301.60	2000	1900	NC
Rampur(UP)	16.00	-28.89	908.00	2365	2360	12.35
Balurghat(WB)	16.00	14.29	50.00	2300	2200	-
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)	15.80	-9.71	1238.50	2400	2400	NC
Giridih(Jha)	15.64	23.34	260.78	3500	3500	NC
Banda(UP)	15.00	50	491.50	2225	2260	-
Yusufpur(UP)	15.00	-25	919.00	2040	2025	3.29
Sirsa(UP)	14.50	-9.38	566.50	2165	2125	2.12
Udala(Ori)	14.00	7.69	885.00	2800	2700	3.70
Jasra(UP)	13.00	-7.14	662.00	2260	2250	6.35
Sambhal(UP)	13.00	-50	247.00	2410	2400	11.32
Atarra(UP)	12.50	-3.85	95.00	2200	2200	12.82
Divai(UP)	12.50	13.64	316.00	2175	2075	6.10
Nilagiri(Ori)	12.00	20	555.00	2300	2300	-4.17
Lalbagh(WB)	11.50	109.09	107.30	2320	2250	3.11
Alappuzha(Ker)	10.00	NC	170.00	4150	4075	9.21
Barikpur(Ori)	10.00	NC	205.00	2700	2500	8.00
Khairagarh(UP)	10.00	11.11	482.00	2150	2160	5.91
Lakhimpur(UP)	10.00	-28.57	201.00	2350	2160	9.30
Kalyani(WB)	10.00	-9.09	111.00	3400	3400	NC
Jiaganj(WB)	9.50	-	9.50	2310	-	-
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)	9.00	-10	1991.00	3800	4000	-
Deogarh(Ori)	9.00	NC	517.50	2500	2500	NC
Muradabad(UP)	9.00	80	570.20	2400	2400	14.29
Cherthalai(Ker)	8.50	30.77	386.00	2200	2100	-12.00
Shikohabad(UP)	8.00	60	515.50	2140	2240	4.39
Uluberia(WB)	7.70	-20.62	191.00	2300	2300	NC
Mirzapur(UP)	7.50	NC	1468.10	1980	1980	NC
Kannauj(UP)	7.00	100	380.00	2250	2250	2.74
Dibiapur(UP)	7.00	-12.5	214.00	2240	2250	-0.88
Sheoraphuly(WB)	7.00	-6.67	490.85	2800	2800	NC
Gangarampur(Dakshin Dinajpur)(WB)	7.00	29.63	52.40	2300	2250	-
Dibrugarh(ASM)	6.60	46.67	1365.70	2450	2450	-
Karanjia(Ori)	6.00	20	383.30	2600	2600	4.00
Kasganj(UP)	6.00	-62.5	694.00	2180	2140	5.57
Raibareilly(UP)	6.00	9.09	325.00	2120	2110	3.41
Raiganj(WB)	6.00	-7.69	978.50	2600	2600	-1.89
Baruipur(Canning)(WB)	5.80	-25.64	42.70	2700	2700	-
Silapathar(ASM)	5.00	NC	667.80	3000	3000	NC
Gangavathi(Kar)	5.00	-92.86	75.00	2100	1800	75.00
Chengannur(Ker)	5.00	25	660.00	2400	2500	-4.00
Jeypore(Ori)	5.00	100	122.80	4100	4100	1.23
Farukhabad(UP)	5.00	25	217.70	2210	2200	NC
Khair(UP)	5.00	NC	196.00	2340	2320	21.24
Champadanga(WB)	5.00	-66.67	1042.00	2650	2600	6.00
Firozabad(UP)	4.00	-33.33	690.00	2210	2190	9.95
Jahanabad(UP)	4.00	-20	323.80	2150	2160	NC
Buland Shahr(UP)	4.00	-20	451.50	2250	2210	11.39
Islampur(WB)	4.00	29.03	317.40	2350	2350	9.30
Haldibari(WB)	4.00	-66.67	687.50	2300	2250	-13.21
Malur(Kar)	3.00	-81.25	19.00	4000	4100	NC
Alibagh(Mah)	3.00	NC	147.00	4000	4000	150.00
Murud(Mah)	3.00	NC	219.00	3000	3000	87.50
Mohanpur(Tri)	3.00	-25	60.00	3000	2800	3.45
Dahod(Guj)	2.60	-96.6	1499.80	4100	3800	6.49
Siyana(UP)	2.50	NC	105.00	2085	2080	2.21
Balarampur(WB)	2.30	NC	83.10	2480	2410	13.76
Sahebganj(Jha)	2.00	150	4.00	3000	3000	NC
Aroor(Ker)	2.00	NC	188.70	7300	7700	-9.88
Badayoun(UP)	2.00	-	8.50	2265	-	6.59
Khatauli(UP)	2.00	33.33	34.50	2240	2280	6.67
Rahama(Ori)	1.40	16.67	58.46	2250	2300	-2.17
Santir Bazar(Tri)	1.20	-20	7.60	2550	2450	-3.77
Kasipur(WB)	1.20	NC	43.40	2400	2400	9.09
Tumsar(Mah)	1.00	NC	2.00	3301	2995	6.11
Shillong(Meh)	0.80	NC	62.60	3500	3500	NC

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8881547.ece

Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open-21 July,2016

Nagpur, July 21 Desi gram reported down in open market here on lack of demand from

local millers amid good supply from producing regions. Easy condition in Madhya Pradesh gram

prices also affected sentiment in weak trading activity, according to sources. 

               *            *              *              *

    FOODGRAINS & PULSES

   * Wheat mill quality reported higher in open market on renewed demand from local 

     traders amid weak supply from producing regions like Punjab and Haryana.

   * In Akola, Tuar New - 8,500-8,700, Tuar dal New - 12,800-13,100, Udid - 

     12,500-13,000, Udid Mogar (clean) - 16,200-17,100, Moong - 

     8,200-8,400, Moong Mogar (clean) 9,200-9,500, Gram - 7,700-8,000, 

     Gram Super best bold - 9,500-9,900 for 100 kg.

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

     scattered deals, settled at last levels. 

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

     FOODGRAINS                 Available prices     Previous close   

     Gram Auction                n.a.                8,030-8,890

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

     Tuar Auction                n.a.                7,800-8,800

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

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

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

     Gram Super Best Bold            10,000-10,300        10,000-10,300

     Gram Super Best            n.a.            n.a.

     Gram Medium Best            9,500-9,800        9,500-9,800

     Gram Dal Medium            n.a.            n.a

     Gram Mill Quality            8,500-8,700        8,500-8,700

     Desi gram Raw                7,950-8,250         8,000-8,300

     Gram Yellow                 9,500-9,700        9,500-9,700

     Gram Kabuli                8,900-10,900        8,900-10,900

     Gram Pink                        9,300-9,600        9,300-9,600    

     Tuar Fataka Best-New             13,100-13,500        13,100-13,500

     Tuar Fataka Medium-New        12,500-12,800        12,500-12,800

     Tuar Dal Best Phod-New        12,200-12,500        12,200-12,500

     Tuar Dal Medium phod-New        11,300-11,800        11,300-11,800

     Tuar Gavarani New             8,700-8,900        8,700-8,900

     Tuar Karnataka             8,800-9,200        8,800-9,200

     Tuar Black                 12,200-13,000        12,200-13,000 

     Masoor dal best            7,500-7,700        7,500-7,700

     Masoor dal medium            6,600-7,100        6,600-7,100

     Masoor                    n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Mogar bold (New)        8,500-9,000         8,500-9,000

     Moong Mogar Medium            8,000-8,400        8,000-8,400

     Moong dal Chilka            6,800-7,200        6,800-7,200

     Moong Mill quality            n.a.            n.a.

     Moong Chamki best            8,100-8,500        8,100-8,500

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

     Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)    13,500-15,000        13,500-15,000    

     Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG)        9,000-9,200        9,000-9,200     

     Batri dal (100 INR/KG)        6,400-6,800        6,400-6,800

     Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)          5,500-5,800         5,500-5,800

     Watana Dal (100 INR/KG)            4,100-4,200        4,100-4,200

     Watana White (100 INR/KG)           3,800-4,000           3,800-4,000

     Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG)    4,300-4,800        4,300-4,800   

     Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)        1,850-1,950        1,850-1,950

     Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG)    2,000-2,050        1,950-2,000   

     Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG)         1,750-1,950        1,750-1,950

     Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG)    2,250-2,400        2,250-2,400    

     Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG)   2,000-2,200        2,000-2,200

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

     MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG)    3,200-3,800        3,200-3,800    

     MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG)    2,700-3,000        2,900-3,000           

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

     Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)        2,600-2,900        2,600-2,900    

     Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG)         1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100

     Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG)      2,250-2,500        2,250-2,400   

     Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG)      1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100   

     Rice HMT best New (100 INR/KG)    3,700-4,000        3,700-4,000    

     Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG)        3,000-3,300        3,000-3,230    

     Rice Shriram best New(100 INR/KG)    4,700-5,000        4,700-5,000 

     Rice Shriram med New(100 INR/KG)    4,300-4,500        4,300-4,500   

     Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG)    9,500-14,000        9,700-14,000     

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

     Rice Chinnor best New(100 INR/KG)    5,500-5,800        5,500-5,800    

     Rice Chinnor med. New (100 INR/KG)    5,200-5,400        5,200-5,400    

     Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG)        1,900-2,100        1,900-2,100    

     Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)         1,700-1,850        1,700-1,850

WEATHER (NAGPUR)  

Maximum temp. 32.0 degree Celsius (89.6 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.

25.7 degree Celsius (78.3 degree Fahrenheit)

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

Rainfall : 25.0 mm

FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky. Rains or thunders-showers very likely to occur. Maximum and

minimum temperature would be around and 30 and 24 degree Celsius respectively.

Note: n.a.--not available

(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but

included in market prices.)

Attn : Nagpur APMC soyabean and foodgrain traders today continued their strike in protest

against Maharashtra government decision to impose commission on them. Some traders are ready to participate in the auctions. Final decision will be taken in second session today, according to sources

http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL4N1A72UY

07/21/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice

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

Futures:

ROUGH RICE High Low Last Change Sep '16 1079.0 1061.0 1061.0 -20.0 Nov '16 1102.5 1088.0 1088.0 -20.0 Jan '17 1113.0 -19.5 Mar '17 1133.5 -19.0 May '17 1152.5 -19.0 Jul '17 1166.5 -19.0 Sep '17 1166.5 -19.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures were under renewed pressure today thanks to a disappointing export report. USDA says only 33,800 tons were sold to foreign buyers during the week ended July 14. Volume has been extremely light in recent weeks, and the disappointing report certainly didn't bring any buyers to the market. Technically, November has been tracking mostly sideways after finding support at $10.54 during the recent selloff.

USA Rice and The Rice Foundation Elect New Leadership 

By Deborah Willenborg

DALLAS, TX -- New chairmen for USA Rice and The Rice Foundation were elected by their respective Boards of Directors during annual meetings here last week.

USA Rice's new chairman, rice merchant Brian King, with Erwin Keith, Inc., will assume the two-year post on August 1, taking over for Dow Brantley, an Arkansas rice farmer who has been chairman of the group since 2014.

"Brian is going to make a great chairman," Brantley said.  "He is well versed in U.S. rice industry issues having served on the board of the USA Rice Merchants' Association and as current chair of the USA Rice Western Hemisphere Subcommittee."

King is a rice merchant with more than 23 years of rice and grain marketing experience.  He has been a member of the USA Rice Merchants' Association since 2005 and has served on numerous USA Rice committees, including Sustainability, World Market Price, and the Biotechnology Task Force.  King also is an alumni of the Rice Leadership Development Program.

"Dow Brantley guided us through some challenging times and logged countless miles as an ambassador for our industry," said King.  "Many times he opened his farm and home up to visitors from Canada, Iraq, and most recently let the P.F. Chang's folks come film a commercial at his farm.  And while he is stepping down as USA Rice Chairman, Dow will continue to serve on the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee providing advice to the government on trade policy matters."

"This is an exciting time for the American rice industry with many challenges and opportunities ahead," said Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice.  "I look forward to working with Chairman-elect King as we tackle these issues on behalf of the entire U.S. industry."

Charley Mathews, a California rice farmer and graduate of the Rice Leadership Development Program, was elected chairman of The Rice Foundation.  Mathews replaces Todd Burich with ADM Rice Inc. in Tarrytown, NY, who served as chairman of The Rice Foundation for two years.

"The breadth of work The Rice Foundation has been responsible for is astounding," said Burich.  "Foundation-funded projects like the ongoing food safety research, a comprehensive analysis of rice consumption in the U.S. diet focusing on health and nutrition benefits, and the initial Ducks Unlimited study that reported a $3.5 billion cost for replacing rice lands with natural wetland habitat have exceeded expectations. The Foundation and the industry are in good hands with Charley, and I know he'll continue to identify more projects with far-reaching industry benefits."

The Rice Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, which serves as the research and education program arm for the rice industry.

Sri Lanka 2016 Yala rice crop be 6-pct below 3-year average: forecast

Jul 21, 2016 07:48 AM GMT+0530 | 0 Comment(s)

  

ECONOMYNEXT - Sri Lanka's rice production during the current Yala minor cropping season is expected to be 1.51 million metric tonnes, 6 percent below a 3-year average, a crop forecast said.The forecast from 2016 will be lower than 2015 but higher than 2014.In 2015, there was a bumper Yala harvest with a larger extent being sown.The Department of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya said at the end of June 2016, 379,882 hectares of paddy or 76 percent of a targeted 502,923 had been sown. This was 8 percent lower than the past 3-year average.

It was 24 percent lower than in the bumper year 2015, but 23 percent higher than in 2014.

In May 22,429 hectares had been damaged by floods requiring re-cultivation. The highest production of 261,000 metric tonnes is expected from Anuradhapura followed by 163,000 tonnes from Kurunegala.Last year Sri Lanka had a bumper harvest with stocks piling up at government warehouses.

Due to state intervention through guaranteed prices and import duty protection, Sri Lanka's rice is not of international quality and prices are also high, and a surplus does not lead to exports like in other countries.

Last year Vietnam exported 2.64 billion US dollars of rice.Excess rice is used for animal feed or beer production. Thailand which practiced a guaranteed price scheme also ended up with large stocks. Among the uses suggested uses for the rice stocks are as animal feed and as feedstock for ethanol.In 2016 the global rice crop is expected to decline due to El Nino weather variations. (Colombo/July21/2016

http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka_2016_Yala_rice_crop_be_6_pct_below_3_year_average__forecast-3-5649.html

Insolvency Looms in Rice Sector

The specter of insolvency looms large over the businesses of rice millers in the Kingdom as the government drags its foot in providing emergency loans to bail out the sector, currently reeling from the aftereffects of a severe drought and facing stiff competition from low-grade rice flowing into the country from Vietnam.To further add salt to their wounds, two visiting European Commission delegations hinted last week that the European Union (EU) could limit rice imports from Cambodia as it moves from a low-income country to a lower-middle-income nation.
 
Late last month, the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) announced that the government agreed to make out loans of between $20 million and $30 million to help rice millers purchase rice from farmers after the harvest this November to store in warehouses and process them for export.The loans were to be made to CRF, with the foundation acting as guarantor. The CRF in turn will screen all applicants and hand out the money to deserving rice millers and exporters, said Hun Lak, CRF’s vice president.
 
But close to a month later none of the loans have been made and rice millers are becoming very anxious.Many millers, exporters and farmers are in financial doldrums due to a severe drought early this year that saw rice production fall drastically.Chray Son, a rice miller and director of the newly established Capital Food in Battambang, told Khmer Times that close to 90 percent of rice millers in the province are facing severe shortage of funds to buy harvested rice from farmers to be milled for export.
 
“In the next three months if we still cannot afford to buy rice from farmers our businesses will go under and we would have to declare bankruptcy,” said Mr. Son.He added that rice millers found it very difficult to get loans from banks and he was disappointed with the limited assistance offered by the government.Though Mr. Son welcomed the emergency loans of $20 million to $30 million offered by the government, he said the repayment period was too short.
 
“The period of disbursement and payback don’t make sense. The loans need to be repaid by the end of the year to the government but the bulk of the money is needed for the peak of the harvesting season between November and early January,” he said.Mr. Son also said he was worried by remarks made by two visiting European Commission Directorate-General delegations last week that hinted Cambodia would have to share its rice export quotas to the EU with Myanmar.
 
A EU source told Khmer Times that Cambodia could have its quota slashed under the tariff-free entry of rice exports to the EU in the “Everything but Arms” trade concessions to about 300,000 to 350,000 tons a year, and would have to share it with Myanmar. The source said calls were made to cut Cambodia’s EU tariff-free quotas as the World Bank reclassifies the country’s status from a low-income country to a lower-middle-income nation.Last year Cambodia exported 538,396 tons of rice, according to the CRF, 43 percent of which were for the EU markets.
 
“These remarks made by the EU are just worrying and it just adds on to our problems. They seem to be coming one after another,” said Mr. Son.On Tuesday, an alarming Facebook post was made by Kao Thach, the director general of the Rural Development Bank, who said rice millers nationwide could be facing bankruptcy unless the government stepped in fast to save them.
 
In his post, he said, 50 rice millers from four provinces ‒ Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Siem Reap and Pursat ‒ had come together in an emergency to discuss the future of the rice milling industry in the country.Mr. Thach, however, could not be reached for further comments.
Chan Sokheang, chairman of rice export company Signature of Asia, said rice millers had to have the promised government emergency loans disbursed to them soon before the harvest season in November so that they can make plans to earmark purchases from farmers in the short harvest time.
 
“There is only a short three or four-week window of opportunity to buy rice from farmers for milling in November. If this is missed, the harvested rice will be sold by farmers to rice millers in neighboring countries,” he pointed out.In March, rice millers and exporters wrote to the government urging intervention to prevent Vietnamese companies from snapping up high-quality Cambodian rice and flooding the Cambodian market with low-grade grain.
 
Mr. Lak of the CRF, said that the government’s emergency loans were already in place and urged rice millers to be patient.“The main point is that borrowers have to lodge loan applications through the Rural Development Bank and then their loans would be considered if they meet the requisite criteria. These loans have to be paid back and they are not grants,” he said.
 But Mr. Lak admitted that $20 million to $30 million was still insufficient to solve the current problems of rice millers that  at present seem insurmountable

http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/27470/insolvency-looms-in-rice-sector/

Kharif sowing benefits from good rain, 80% work done

TNN | Jul 21, 2016, 12.00 AM IST

Pune: The Kharif sowing in the state has gathered momentum with 80% job done so far and oilseeds, pulses registering a significant rise. Among the seven divisions in the state, Aurangabad recorded the highest sowing (99%), followed by Amravati (93%) and Latur (88%).

Oilseeds have been sown on about 36.02 lakh hectare land, surpassing the average sowing on 34 lakh hectare. On the other hand, pulses cover increased to 98%, which is likely to improve the availability of tur, moong and urad dal this year.

After a sluggish start in June due to scanty rainfall, sowing picked up pace in July. About 1.12 crore hectare land has been used for sowing against the target of 1.36 crore hectare, says the latest report released by the state agriculture department.

The land area growing soybean, tur and urad has exceeded the average sowing of the last five years. Soybean has been taken up on 3.4 lakh hectare area; tur on 12.46 lakh hectare and urad on 3.65 lakh hectare. Soybean cultivation has reached up to 107% while tur and urad has increased up to 102% and 101%, the report says.

The agriculture department stated that a rise in area under tur, moong and urad would help deal with the ongoing shortage and ease prices. The state has been procuring tur from other states.

The rains are still good in most parts of the state. The kharif sowing, therefore, could meet 100% target in a span of next few days, a department official said.

Paddy sowing gained significantly from 17% last week to 27% till date. Maize was up at 86% while jowar and bajra increased to 50% and 62% respectively.

Sowing of major crops

Paddy 27%

Jowar 50%

Bajra 62%

Tur 102%

Urad 101%

Moong 96%

Soybean 107%

Division-wise break up

Konkan 37%

Nashik 67%

Pune78%

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Kharif-sowing-benefits-from-good-rain-80-work-done/articleshow/53309187.cms

Increased FDA scrutiny seen for Indian food exporters

USFDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act will put in place a new system based on prevention and will hold imported foods to the same standards as domestic foods

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Viswanath Pilla

India exported about Rs.9,000 crore worth of food commodities to US in the year ended March 2016. Photo: Reuters

Hyderabad: Indian exporters supplying food to the US will have to face increased scrutiny, as they have to comply with the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) new food safety act from September.The FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which the regulatory agency calls the most sweeping reform of food safety laws in more than 70 years, will put in place a new food safety system based on prevention and will hold imported foods to the same standards as domestic foods.
FSMA provides the FDA with important new tools for inspection and compliance such as a mandate to inspect at least 600 foreign facilities and double the frequency of those inspections every year for the next five years; FDA will have access to records, including industry food safety plans, and firms will be required to maintain documents on the implementation of their plans and get tested by accredited laboratories.
The FDA is putting the accountability on US importers to ensure compliance by the foreign suppliers, thereby empowering them to inspect production facilities either themselves or through third party audits by agencies accredited by the FDA.
Around 15% of the US food supply is imported, according to the FDA.
India exported about Rs.9,000 crore worth of food commodities to US in the year ended March 2016, of which spices accounted close to a third at Rs.2,783 crore, followed by guar gum (Rs.1,668 crore), basmati rice (Rs.862 crore), and natural honey (Rs.619 crore).
India is the largest exporter of spices to the US, accounting for a third of US imports.
A spice trader from Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, who did not want to be named, said most exporters aren’t prepared and that compliance is going to be a challenge.
“With FSMA taking effect, the suppliers need to have a safety plan – outlining risks of hazards such as contamination in every stage of the supply chain and listing mitigation measures,” said K.V. Satyanarayana, senior manager at life sciences advisory group at Sathguru Management Consultants, a Hyderabad-based consulting firm.
“This means exporters have to invest and upgrade their safety systems to ensure compliance, and thereby margins of exporters will be under pressure,” Satyanarayana said.
The law also requires Indian exporters to get qualified by FDA or its identified agency by the first half of 2017, though there will be some relaxation of the rules in initial years of implementation

Underwater germination possible – study

Posted by Web Team Posted on Jul - 21 - 2016

Poor to zero germination of sown seeds is one of the major problems of farmers who practice direct wet seeding during rainy season.Experts at the Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division of PhilRice are working on a study titled Germination under water: Wanted trait for direct wet-seeded rice to solve this problem by identifying breeding lines with high anaerobic germination rate.
Anaerobic germination is the ability of the rice seeds to survive and grow under flooded or submerged conditions, or with less oxygen.According to Dr. Norvie Manigbas, 122 breeding lines were tested and submerged under 5 cm water depth. Seedling survival was determined 14 days later by counting the germinated seedling over the number of seeds sown.Out of the 122 entries tested, 27 entries have anaerobic germination resistance.“Among the lines that exhibited resistance were NSCIC Rc152, Rc296, Rc290, Rc276, Rc190, Rc18, and Rc298, the first released variety for direct wet-seeding,” Manigbas said.
He added that other new breeding lines were also identified and exhibited higher germination rate than Rc298.For ecosystems with erratic rainfall and flooded conditions, Manigbas recommends planting submergence-tolerant varieties such as PSB Rc68 and NSIC Rc194.
NSIC Rc194, popularly known as Submarino 1, has an average yield of 2.5 t/ha and matures in 125 days under submerged conditions. He also recommends varieties with less than 105 cm plant height, with lodging resistance, and stagnant flooding tolerance of 50 cm such as NSIC Rc222.
“This height is ideal as it will prevent the plants from lodging during floods and typhoons,” Manigbas explained.
Among the varieties our famers could choose from are the following:

	Height	Maturity	Average Yield
PSB Rc82	100 cm	110 days	5.4 – 12 t/ha
PSB Rc18	102 cm	123 days	5.1- 8.1 t/ha
NSIC Rc152	97 cm	109 days TP (transplanted); 102 days DS (direct-seeded)	6-8.7 t/ha TP; 5.8-8 t/ha DS
NSIC Rc222	101 cm	114 days TP; 106 days DS	6.1- 10 t/ha TP; 5.7- 7.9 t/ha DS
NSIC Rc214	103 cm	116 days TP; 110 days DS	6-10.2 t/ha TP; 5.5-9.2 t/ha DS
NSIC Rc160	96 cm	122 days TP; 107 days DS	5.6- 82. t/ha
NSIC Rc238	104 cm	110 days	6.4 – 10.6 t/ha

For fertilizer application, Manigbas said that farmers need to apply less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium depending on soil analysis recommendation. These nutrients will help develop and strengthen the root system of the plants, and for grain development.
For irrigated areas, Manigbas suggests the alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method.
“The AWD will help the plants establish good root system thus preventing them from lodging when water rise is unavoidable,” he explained.
AWD was proven to be efficient on water use without effect on yield.
For more information on rice farming tips during rainy season, farmers may call or text the PhilRice Text Center at 0920 911 1398.

http://www.philrice.gov.ph/underwater-germination-possible-study/

New hybrid rice seed brings hope to many farmers

JOHN NDITI in Morogoro

22 July 2016

FARMERS in Mvomero district have been cautioned against the use of unregistered seeds to avoid incurring losses due to low crop production.

Acting Mvomero District Agriculture Officer, Lucy Mazengo, made the call on Wednesday when addressing farmer groups from villages in Dakawa Ward in Mvomero district. More than 60 farmers from different groups in Dakawa Ward participated in a research of hybrid rice being conducted by another farmer, Veronica Urio, who has established pieces of land for conducting the study.

Mazengo noted that despite problems of lack of high quality seeds, including rice seeds, farmers in the district must seek quality and registered seeds to avoid incurring losses.

“This is a good thing we are seeing here today. She is a farmer like us and she’s brought to us a new technology of hybrid rice seeds still under research. The hybrid rice seed has not received the green light from the government and I cannot give any answers here.

We must wait and see and when it is registered you are free to use it in your farms,” she explained.

African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Public Relations Officer based in Kenya, Wandera Ojanji, said the hybrid rice seed from research conducted in Kenya can produce about 7 tons in one hectare of land. Ojanji said research on the hybrid rice seed was conducted in sub-Saharan Africa countries and showed good results in increased production.

He said Kenya and Tanzania will be the first countries to benefit from the hybrid rice seeds next year following the results of the research conducted in Malindi and Kisumu in Kenya and Dakawa and Mngeta in Tanzania under Afritec Ltd seed company.

“The hybrid rice seeds are still under trial to find out production capabilities and resilience to diseases. In the research Veronica Urio said the hybrid rice seed under trial has shown good results in Kenya where similar trials took place, noting that once registered it will be what rice farmers have been waiting for.

http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-news/51922-new-hybrid-rice-seed-brings-hope-to-many-farmers

Pakistan eyes $2 billion through rice exports

By Javed Mirza

July 21, 2016

KARACHI: Pakistan is estimated to export 4.5 million tons of rice, fetching approximately $2.0 billion for the year 2016/17 as experts pin hopes on higher hybrid production as well as pro-agriculture and pro-export measures announced by the government.The office of Global Analysis USDA has raised Pakistan’s exports forecast by 0.1 million tons to 4.5 million tons on a stronger pace of trade.
USDA projects around 20 percent larger purchases by Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan from Pakistan. Reportedly, Saudi Arabia would import around 1.6 million tons of rice during the period.
Global Analysis USDA maintains Pakistan’s rice export quotes at $410/ton. Arif Mahesar, an office bearer of Pakistan Rice Growers Association, said hybrid varieties were being grown in many areas and production would be better.
“Pakistan’s rice exports have crossed 4.0 million ton mark in the past, and there is sufficient demand in the international market.” “If the country’s production during the year comes to 7.0 million tons, rice exports will surely surge to 4.5 million tons.”
Mahesar, however is wary of the lower commodity prices, which are compelling the growers to opt for alternate crops. “A number of rice growers in Sindh have already switched to sugarcane due to low rice prices. But, the hybrid seed is available in the local market, which enables higher yields on smaller land.”
Mahesar said that there were some concerns pertaining to hybrid produce, “but the positive point is that China, which is a big market, likes hybrid produce.” According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the country exported 3.946 million tons of rice fetching $1.7 billion during July-May 2015-16.
For 2016/17, USDA Grain Report forecasts global production at a new record, primarily due to a larger crop in the United States, while global trade is forecast lower, with reduced imports and consumption in Bangladesh, Iran, and Nigeria.
Ahsan Mehanti, Director at Arif Habib Commodities, said government had announced several incentives for the promotion of agriculture as well as exports, which would be reflected in overall agro-based production.
“However, the higher production of any commodity cannot guarantee higher exports. If rice production numbers grow northwards globally, and competitors offer better rates, Pakistan’s exports might take a hit.”
Mehanti said Middle East and Africa were the primary markets for Pakistani rice, and Thailand, Vietnam, and India were competing producers. “India’s rice export quotes were lower than Pakistan last year, and concerned authorities should focus on better marketing also,” Mehanti noted

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/136327-Pakistan-eyes-2-billion-through-rice-exports