Column: Asia's rice market reaches semblance of normality after Thai upheaval - Russell
A farmer harvests rice at a paddy field outside
Hanoi October 11, 2012. REUTERS/Kham
| LAUNCESTON, Australia
(The
opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.)Asia's rice markets are showing signs of returning to what could be described as normal trade, even as the last acts of Thailand's ultimately disastrous subsidy scheme play out.
While Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice has slumped 15 percent in the past month to $376.50 a tonne, it's likely that move is driven mainly by supply and demand factors, rather than political intervention and its aftermath.
The rice market has been characterized by distortion since former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra implemented a rice-buying system after winning elections in 2011.
Her government's plan was simplistic and deeply flawed, and while it may have delivered higher incomes to her rural supporters, it resulted in a massive surplus of rice entering government stockpiles - a blowout in Thailand's budget and ultimately leading to her ouster by the military in 2014.
Yingluck believed that Thailand could unilaterally raise the price of rice to overseas buyers given its status as the world's largest exporter of the grain that is the staple food for about two-thirds of the world's population.
All she succeeded in doing was encouraging India to start exporting its massive surplus, as well as delivering market share to regional rival Vietnam, with both those countries overtaking Thailand in the export stakes.
In the meantime, Thailand built up a stockpile of more than 20 million tonnes of rice, equivalent to about double its usual annual exports.
These inventories acted as a drag on the rice price, even after the new military government in Thailand ended the subsidy scheme and started selling down the stockpile.
This process still has way to go with Thailand planning to sell another 1 million tonnes of rice in August, which will reduce its stockpile to something closer to eight million tonnes.
This is a much more manageable figure, indicating that rice is more likely to trade on supply and demand fundamentals in the coming months, and that Yingluck's intervention and its aftermath will eventually fade into memory.
The question then becomes as to which direction are the fundamentals pointing, and is the sharp price decline of recent weeks the start of a new bear cycle.
It's still the case that rice markets appear well supplied, even though the now faded El Nino weather event brought drought and reduced crops in major producers India, Thailand and Vietnam.
There is some doubt among weather forecasters about the strength of the current La Nina event, where lower sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific tend to cause heavier rains across Southeast and South Asia, as well as in Australia.
It seems most likely that the 2016-17 rice season will be about normal, with top exporter India sowing 32.61 million hectares of rice for the season started in June, up from 30.47 million the prior year.
SHIFT IN MARKET DYNAMICS
The International Grains Council estimated on Aug. 25 that global rice production for 2016-17 would be 484 million tonnes, down on the prior month's forecast of 487 million but up on the previous season's 473 million.
Thailand expects to export about 9.5 million tonnes in 2016, and shipments in the first half of the year were up 12 percent on the same period last year, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association.
The overall supply picture is one of comfortable volumes being available amid the ongoing selldown of high inventories in both Thailand and India.
On the demand side, top importer China hiked its purchases almost 23 percent from a year go to 2.141 million tonnes in the first seven months of 2016, according to customs data.
The main beneficiaries of the increase were Thailand, which boosted its exports to China in the January-July period by 31 percent to 555,993 tonnes, and Pakistan, whose sales rose almost 220 percent to 513,245 tonnes.
With China's early 2016 rice output down 2.7 percent to 32.8 million tonnes, it's likely that China will continue to see rising imports over the coming months.
The Philippines, another major importer, is also increasing purchases, with the government planning to buy 1 million tonnes to secure supplies until next year while prices are low.
The current price weakness is also likely to tempt buyers in the Middle East and Africa.
Putting supply and demand together and rice looks more like a market responding to shifts in those dynamics.
This is a marked change from the politics-driven market of the previous years, and more likely a more healthy situation.
Yingluck, however, has defended her rice-buying scheme in her trial on charges of criminal negligence over her management of the subsidy system, which the military government says cost the country around $8 billion.
"We found that the rice policy could increase people's income and the price of rice for farmers," Yingluck told the Supreme Court north of the capital, Bangkok, during her trial on Aug. 5.
"It did not distort the market," she said. "We saw that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the monetary losses."
The scheme may well have provided a temporary boost to farmers, but Yingluck remains deluded if she thinks it didn't distort the rice market.
It is only now, two years after she was ousted, that the distortions are finally dissipating.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-column-russell-rice-asia-idUSKCN1160YN
Govt must take steps to promote rice exports, says REAP
Published: August 31, 2016
Association underlines need to strengthen
relations with China, Indonesia; exempting rice machinery from tax. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Rice Exporters’ Association
of Pakistan (REAP) has urged the government to take fiscal and diplomatic
measures to create a conducive environment aimed at both reducing the cost of
production and boosting exports.The association raised these concerns at the
6th meeting of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(FPCCI) Standing Committee on Rice Exports for 2016 earlier this week and
chaired by FPCCI Standing Committee Chairman Rafique Suleman.
“China should adopt an on-arrival visa policy
for Pakistani businessmen to enhance and promote bilateral trade and economic
relations between the two countries,” said Suleman.“Both Pakistan and China
share a cordial relationship and a lot of Pakistani businessmen are travelling
to China for their businesses. Moreover, the two countries have also signed an
FTA under which a lot of trade is taking place between the two countries,” he
added.He urged the government to take up the matter with the respective Chinese
authorities and strengthen its relationship with China. “Adoption of this policy
will go a long way in strengthening Pak-China friendship.”
Suleman said that REAP had put forward their
proposal to the President of Pakistan, which mainly includes having a REAP
member on the Pakistan Research Board.
According to the chairman, Pakistan and
Indonesia have always shared a cordial relationship and therefore the
government must further improve trade with the country. “Indonesia is highly
impressed with Pakistani rice exporters since all the orders have been
fulfilled. This is also a reason why the Indonesian government is sending a
delegation from BULOG to visit rice mills in Pakistan.”
Suleman, while requesting the government to
exempt import of rice machinery from taxation, said doing so would reduce the
cost of production and eventually lead to a reduction in price of rice, which
will not only help exporters but farmers as well.The FPCCI Standing Committee
chairman appreciated that the much-awaited draft on Geographical Indication
(GI) Bill 2016 was presented by the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO)
before the relevant stakeholders including lawyers, businessmen and
bureaucrats. “The Pakistan’s GI protection law had been long overdue and the
IPO should expedite the process of making this draft into a law,” he observed.
REAP was of the opinion that the TDAP must be
the custodian of GI rights of all commodities; particularly basmati rice. He
also mentioned the need to promote basmati rice in the international market.“Pakistan
has one of the best qualities of basmati rice in the world and Saudi Arabia and
Iran are potential markets that should be explored,” he said.“I appreciate the
efforts of the government to create a proper banking channel with Iran, which
would give a huge boost to the Pakistani economy, especially in the trade of
basmati rice.”
Published in
The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2016
http://tribune.com.pk/story/1172998/conducive-environment-govt-must-take-steps-promote-rice-exports-says-reap/
Philippines moving toward rice self-sufficiency, rice-exporting country
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in talks
with several local government units (LGUs) on their possible participation in
its proposed rice production program which aims to meet rice self-sufficiency
before 2019 and even make the Philippines become a rice-exporting country.
In an interview, DA Secretary Manny Piñol said
under the program called “local government corporate farms”, the LGUs will
adopt a publicly or privately-owned farm which they will provide financing through
bank loan for their farmers in the form of rice seeds and fertilizers
throughout the planting season.
Piñol said the LGUs will then buy back the
palay produce of the farmers engaged in production.
He said the program fulfills the commitment of
President Rodrigo Duterte to provide each family-beneficiary of the
government’s poverty alleviation Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) 20
kilos of rice every month.“The logistical nightmare of bringing imported rice
from the NFA (National Food Authority) warehouse to the town, to the barangay,
to the homes of the 4Ps beneficiaries will already be eliminated,” Piñol noted.
He said the DA will provide soil survey which
aims to guide the LGUs what kind of variety of rice seeds and fertilizer should
be used in their municipalities based on suitability, as well as equip the
farmers with technical knowledge on rice farming.Piñol said the rice production
program also hopes to reduce the price of commercial rice of up to PHP7 per
kilo, as it eliminates the interference of the middle men who control the
buying price of palay and also manipulate the selling of price of rice in the
market.
The agriculture chief bared that Quezon City is
the first LGU that will participate in the corporate farms program, also
considered the public-private partnership (PPP) program in the agriculture
sector.
“It already identified 1,000-hectare (farm) in
Mindoro, the area will be first area for Quezon City. But the target is 5,000
(hectares) for Quezon City because they will use this to supply rice to their
employees and also open up their Bigasan ng Masa for their 4Ps members,” he
said.Piñol said Quezon City targets to generate over PHP100 million per
cropping season.
Philippines moving toward rice self-sufficiency, rice-exporting country
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is in talks
with several local government units (LGUs) on their possible participation in
its proposed rice production program which aims to meet rice self-sufficiency
before 2019 and even make the Philippines become a rice-exporting country.In an
interview, DA Secretary Manny Piñol said under the program called “local
government corporate farms”, the LGUs will adopt a publicly or privately-owned
farm which they will provide financing through bank loan for their farmers in
the form of rice seeds and fertilizers throughout the planting season.
Piñol said the LGUs will then buy back the
palay produce of the farmers engaged in production.
He said the program fulfills the commitment of
President Rodrigo Duterte to provide each family-beneficiary of the
government’s poverty alleviation Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) 20
kilos of rice every month.
“The logistical nightmare of bringing imported
rice from the NFA (National Food Authority) warehouse to the town, to the
barangay, to the homes of the 4Ps beneficiaries will already be eliminated,”
Piñol noted.
He said the DA will provide soil survey which
aims to guide the LGUs what kind of variety of rice seeds and fertilizer should
be used in their municipalities based on suitability, as well as equip the
farmers with technical knowledge on rice farming.
Piñol said the rice production program also
hopes to reduce the price of commercial rice of up to PHP7 per kilo, as it
eliminates the interference of the middle men who control the buying price of
palay and also manipulate the selling of price of rice in the market.The
agriculture chief bared that Quezon City is the first LGU that will participate
in the corporate farms program, also considered the public-private partnership
(PPP) program in the agriculture sector.“It already identified 1,000-hectare
(farm) in Mindoro, the area will be first area for Quezon City. But the target
is 5,000 (hectares) for Quezon City because they will use this to supply rice
to their employees and also open up their Bigasan ng Masa for their 4Ps
members,” he said.Piñol said Quezon City targets to generate over PHP100
million per cropping season.
http://www.update.ph/2016/08/philippines-moving-toward-rice-self-sufficiency-rice-exporting-country/8943
Antique to start palay procurement
- August 31, 2016
- Pilar S. Mabaquiao
For individual farmers and first time to sell their palay to NFA they are given up to 200 bags without farmer’s passbook but for succeeding transactions they will have to secure the passbook from NFA, said Lorgie Mae Inocencio Information Officer.
For them to get the pass book, they have to bring one valid ID and tax declaration of the land that they farming or certification from the Punong Barangay.
NFA Manager Oliver Cambas encouraged farmers to sell their palay to NFA to avail of the high price during peak harvest and to contribute to the food security program of the government.
On the other hand, NFA assured that Antique has enough supply of rice and maintained its status as a rice sufficient province.
As of August 19, 2016, Antique has 428,656 bags of rice to last for 89 days based on NFA inventory which covers households, commercial dealers and NFA stocks.
Prevailing commercial retail price for well milled rice is P39 per kilo and P36 for regular milled rice.
NFA rice remained at P27 per kilo and available in all NFA accredited outlets. (JCM/PSM/PIA6Antique)
- See more at:
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/981472617592/antique-to-start-palay-procurement#sthash.JNqw8twq.dpuf
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/981472617592/antique-to-start-palay-procurement
UPDATE 1-Thailand, Vietnam set to supply 250,000 T of rice to Philippines
Enrico Dela Cruz
MANILA,
Aug 31 (Reuters) - Thailand and Vietnam won deals to supply a total of 250,000
tonnes of rice to the Philippines at a tender on Wednesday after revising down
their offers to just within Manila's budget.The tender, the first under the two-month old government of President Rodrigo Duterte, is part of the state's plans to import up to 1 million tonnes of rice to secure supply of the food staple through next year while prices are low.
Thailand will supply 100,000 tonnes of 25-percent broken rice at $424.85 a tonne, while Vietnam will export the remaining 150,000 tonnes at the same price, according to officials at the Philippines' National Food Authority (NFA). That includes freight, insurance and other costs.
Despite the tender by the Philippines, one of the world's top rice buyers, Vietnam's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices fell this week to $345-$360 a tonne, on a free-on-board basis, the lowest in 11 months.
The NFA initially rejected higher bids from both countries and asked them to submit revised offers in line with its reference price of $425 per tonne.
The award of the contracts is subject to approval by the inter-agency NFA council later in the day, said NFA spokesman Angel Imperial.
An average of 20 typhoons pass through the Philippines each year, hitting the Southeast Asian country's rice production and forcing it to import any shortfall to feed its 100 million people.
Imports last year reached around 1.8 million tonnes, below a record volume of 2.45 million tonnes in 2010.
"We need sizable import volume to boost our stocks and prepare ourselves for any emergency situation," Imperial told reporters.
He said the agency's buffer stock as of Aug. 24 was good for only 21 days of domestic demand, below the minimum 30 days required during the lean harvest season from July to September.
Last year's import volume included around 500,000 tonnes shipped in by private traders. The NFA every year farms out import permits for private traders to bring in up to 805,200 tonnes of rice at a 35-percent tariff.
The NFA council will discuss later on Wednesday imports by private traders, a government source said.
(Writing by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Joseph Radford)
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/31/reuters-america-update-1-thailand-vietnam-set-to-supply-250000-t-of-rice-to-philippines.html
Australia, PNG at loggerheads over rice trade
Updated
Exports
to one of Australia's biggest rice markets are at risk, because of a change of
government policy in Papua New Guinea.
More
than three quarters of the rice consumed in PNG is imported from or sourced by
Australia.But the PNG Government's new rice policy will give 80 per cent of the import market to what it is calling "pioneer investors" willing to develop a domestic rice industry.
Papua New Guinea correspondent Eric Tlozek
Source: Pacific Beat |
Duration: 3min 58sec
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/australia,-png-at-loggerheads-over-rice-trade/7802734
Rice industry urged to change production custom
Update: August, 31/2016 - 11:34
The European Union (EU) will offer Vietnamese rice exports duty-free tariff rate quotas when the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) comes into effect. — Photo cafef.vn
HÀ NỘI – The European Union (EU) will offer Vietnamese rice exports duty-free tariff rate quotas when the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) comes into effect.
Therefore, the rice industry has been urged to change production practices to fully take advantage of these quotas. According to the Guide to EVFTA issued by Delegation of the European Union to Việt Nam, the EU will allow the import of 80,000 tonnes of Vietnamese rice -- 30,000 tonnes of milled rice, 20,000 tonnes of husked rice and 30,000 tonnes of fragrant rice -- every year at zero per cent duty. The EU will also offer a 50 per cent duty cut at entry and then linear reduction over five years for broken rice.
Insiders said the preferential tax rate would help Vietnamese enterprises to save 17 million euros (US$20 million) in taxes each year.
Đặng Hoàng Hải, head of the industry and trade ministry’s European Market Department, said though Việt Nam had been hailed as the world’s third largest rice exporter, its rice shipments to the EU market remained modest.
He said in recent years, Vietnamese rice exports even fell because the country still focused on planting high-yield rice. Meanwhile, other countries are accelerating high-quality rice production.
The Việt Nam Food Association said rice exports to the EU market dropped from an annual average of 24,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes in 2014 and 18,000 tonnes in 2015. The association attributed the slump to the loss in market share of Vietnamese rice.
The EU was a demanding market with strict requirements in factors ranging from product quality to environmental standards, enterprise’s prestige and production process, Hải said.
In addition, though not being regular rice eaters, the EU customers prefer rice of higher quality than that of Vietnamese rice. That’s why Việt Nam has become less competitive against other rice exporting nations.
It was undeniable that European consumers were familiar with Thailand’s fragrant rice, while Vietnamese rice was just starting to promote its image, Hải said.
Professor Võ Tòng Xuân, a leading rice expert, said it was hard for Việt Nam to share the same rank as Thailand, but the country could learn from the experience of Cambodia, which has been emerging thanks to its rice winning the world’s ‘best rice’ title for three consecutive years.
He said if Vietnamese people insisted on growing high-yield and short-term rice varieties -- for example, varieties that can yield four to six tonnes per hectare and allow harvest after 95 days-- the production practices could not help create savoury varieties.
Therefore, to compete with its rivals, Việt Nam should speedily shift from high-yield to high-quality rice varieties, Xuân said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country exported 432,000 tonnes of rice for $191 million in August, bringing the total volume and value in the first eight months of this year to 3.37 million tonnes and $1.51 billion.
The figures represented decreases of 16.6 per cent in volume and 13.1 per cent in value compared with the same period last year.
Last year, rice worth $2.68 billion was exported, an almost 4 per cent fall from 2014. — VNS
VN targets $3.5b worth rice exports by 2020
HCM CITY — The Ministry of Industry and Trade has unveiled a strategy for developing rice exports in 2016-20 that targets reversing a declining trend over the last two years and increasing earnings to US$3 billion next year.
It also targets a gradual shift towards export of high-quality, high-value, organic, nutritional, speciality, and Việt Nam brands of rice and rice-based products.
The export of low-quality white rice is expected to fall to 15 per cent of total shipments by 2020 and 10 per cent by 2025.
In the latter year medium-quality white rice will account for 20 per cent and high-quality white rice, fragrant rice, and glutinous rice for 60 per cent.
The ministry will make efforts to diversify export markets, with a focus on markets with demand for high-quality rice. The ministry has sent the draft strategy to relevant ministries and industries to solicit their opinions. – VNS
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/302039/rice-industry-urged-to-change-production-custom.html#2Bs4BTIIKvwJfQ3k.99
Tension as Africa experiences increased demand for rice consumption
Africa is witnessing an increasing demand for rice consumption, and many countries on the continent continue to rely heavily on imports for meeting their growing rice consumption needs.
Farmers-in-a-field-school-in-Rwanda.Photo-internet
This
situation continues to pose serious food security challenges since rice is now
recognized as a priority and strategic food security crop for the region.
Against this challenge, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations (FAO) has positioned itself to support national governments
and regional bodies to improve domestic rice supply in Africa.Addressing
a TICAD VI side event organized by the Coalition for African
Rice Development (CARD) on “Progress of CARD and the Future of Rice
Sector Development in Africa” in Nairobi, Mr. Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant
Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, gave the assurance
that FAO would continue to partner with others to harmonize on-going work at
country level to increase rice production.He pointed out that CARD has been a very important pillar since its establishment in the development of the rice sector in Africa, and that “we are indeed witnessing a growing trend in the demand for rice consumption in Africa”.
“CARD plays a pivotal role in reducing the gap between rice production and consumption by providing support to countries in the African region”, he said, adding, “An increasing number of countries have incorporated rice self-sufficiency as a strategic element of their national food security strategy”.
According to Mr Tijani, many countries continue to receive support in such areas as national rice development strategies, capacity development of stakeholders in situation analysis and creating enabling environment for synergies among partners. He also emphasized that FAO recognizes CARD as a strong partner in the rice sector development.
In 2014, FAO launched the umbrella rice initiative, Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Africa, under which a number of rice projects have been initiated and are currently under implementation. CARD will be one of the implementing partners of some of the project’s components.
FAO is also currently implementing two regional projects in partnership with the Japanese government. These are Strengthening Agricultural Statistics and Food Security Information in CARD countries through South-South Cooperation and Rice Value Chain research project in CARD countries that was launched at the request of African countries within TICAD.
FAO continues to mobilize resources in support of the rice initiative, and has launched a number of projects in CARD member countries in the region. Some of these projects in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria include capacity development and experience-sharing for sustainable rice value chain development in Africa.
Partnership for Sustainable Rice Systems Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
This proposed project will provide an opportunity to build on on-going initiatives and partnerships by assessing the national rice development strategies to identify strengths and gaps in the local rice value chain.More importantly, the project will allow the mobilization of all relevant partners and necessary resources toward the formulation of a new vision for the development of the African rice sector that articulates effective, active and productive partnerships.
Well prepared rice
These
partnerships are encouraged with the appropriate actors at different levels
(community, district, national, sub-regional, continental and global) as well
as farmers’ associations, with the aim to link public and private institutions
involved in research, policies, production, economics and environment,
strengthen the integration of women and youth in business, and mainstream
gender in the different components of the rice value chains.
http://www.focus.rw/wp/2016/08/tension-as-africa-experiences-increased-demand-for-rice-consumption/
Why the Price of Rice Will Keep Increasing
Posted on Aug 31, 2016 in Business, Lead, News, Opinion | 0
comments
Rice dealers in Nigeria have attributed the
rise in price as well as the scarcity of the commodity to the activities of the
government and some specific stakeholders. Just a year ago a bag of rice that
was sold at N9000 is now sold at N18500. Although prices have plunged
temporarily in a few state owing surplus availability of the commodity. Ganiyu
Quadri, chairman of Alimosho LGA, says a bag of rice will drop to N9000 in
Lagos before December. But the question is how long will it last?
Retailers are of the opinion that the raising
price of rice is due to the ban of its importation. They believe that the hike
in price is due to the activities of some individuals who monopolize the
market. Since the marketers got their Form M approved last year, it is said
they began stockpiling the now scares commodity. This of course made it easy to
monopolize the market after the ban was instated. Retailers are also of the
opinion that the government also influenced the price of the commodity by
applying the expert hands of the customs in seizing most brands excepts the
brands which belong to the importers. In march, 24 trucks of rice were seize in
Owerri, on May 3, 8000 bags of rice were also seized in Lagos, May 27, 575 bags
of rice were confiscated and of course just recently 2500 bags of rice were
withheld by the Nigeria Custom Service. According to retailers, rice are not
bought from distributors except from the few brands for the fear the fear of
their products being impounded.
A trader said “Before we talk of banning
importation we must first increase local production to avoid scarcity”. Nigeria
consumes 5 million tons of rice yearly and currently produces less than 2.5
million tons. Obviously with rice being the staple food of the Nigerian
population, it is not producing nearly enough to fight food scarcity.
Contrary to Mr Gniyu Quadri’s claims, the
probability of the commodity price falling to as low as N9000 is simply false
hope. Not when the Christmas celebration is just around the corner. If at all a
miracle happens and the price of rice falls, it won’t be as low as N9000 and
defiantly won’t last long as Nigeria is not self sufficient and does not have
the necessary infrastructures such as silos to store the commodity. If rice is
to sell N9000 by December the government might have to temporarily lift the ban
of the importation of the commodity or the commodity may well sell at over
N20,000 by Christmas
http://www.nigeriatoday.ng/2016/08/price-rice-will-keep-increasing/
Government to procure surplus paddy of last kharif
Published: 30th August 2016 11:13 PM
Last Updated: 30th
August 2016 11:13 PM
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has extended
the date for online registration of farmers having surplus kharif paddy for
sale till September 15.Earlier, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare
department had set August 31 as the deadline for online registration.However,
the decision to extend the date was reportedly taken by the department
following demand from farmers.The state government will procure paddy from those genuine farmers having surplus stock from last kharif season. With middlemen playing spoilsport, a large number of farmers could not sell their surplus paddy as government approved agencies refused to lift their stock on the plea that the kharif target has been achieved.
However, sources in the department said that the online registration of farmers is for paddy procurement in the ensuing kharif marketing season beginning from October 1.
While about four lakh farmers have already registered their names, the department expected that the number will touch 10 lakh as against nine lakh registration last year.
The State Government has made Aadhaar seeding with bank accounts of farmers mandatory for procurement of paddy in the ensuing kharif marketing season.
Aadhaar seeding with bank accounts will be a real game changer and it will eliminate middlemen from the system, said a senior officer.
As sharecroppers are at a disadvantage due to non-execution of agreement by actual land owners, the government has asked the district collectors to ensure that none of the actual cultivators are deprived of the benefit of selling their paddy to procurement agencies.
Meanwhile, the department has decided to introduce Paddy Procurement Automation System (P-PAS) for farmers in all the 134 blocks to make paddy procurement more transparent.
The government is also working out modalities for direct benefit transfer of subsidised kerosene to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
It has also decided to link Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries for availing ration under National Food Security Act (NFSA), pensions under different welfare schemes and wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Government-to-procure-surplus-paddy-of-last-kharif/2016/08/30/article3604580.ece
Thailand to supply 100,000 tonnes of rice to Philippines
- 31 Aug 2016 at 16:25 16,037
- WRITER: REUTERS
MANILA - Thailand and Vietnam won deals to
supply a total of 250,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines at a tender on
Wednesday after revising down their offers to just within Manila's budget.The
tender, the first under the two-month-old government of President Rodrigo
Duterte, is part of the state's plans to import up to 1 million tonnes of rice
to secure supply of the food staple through next year while prices are low.
Thailand
will supply 100,000 tonnes of 25% broken rice at US$424.85 (about 14,700 baht)
a tonne, while Vietnam will export the remaining 150,000 tonnes at the same
price, according to officials at the Philippines' National Food Authority
(NFA). That includes freight, insurance and other costs.Despite the tender by the Philippines, one of the world's top rice buyers, Vietnam's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices fell this week to $345-$360 a tonne, on a free-on-board basis, the lowest in 11 months.
The NFA initially rejected higher bids from both countries and asked them to submit revised offers in line with its reference price of $425 per tonne.
The award of the contracts is subject to approval by the inter-agency NFA council later in the day, said NFA spokesman Angel Imperial.
An average of 20 typhoons pass through the Philippines each year, hitting the Southeast Asian country's rice production and forcing it to import any shortfall to feed its 100 million people.
Imports last year reached around 1.8 million tonnes, below a record volume of 2.45 million tonnes in 2010.
"We need sizable import volume to boost our stocks and prepare ourselves for any emergency situation," Imperial told reporters.
He said the agency's buffer stock as of Aug 24 was good for only 21 days of domestic demand, below the minimum 30 days required during the lean harvest season from July to September.
Last year's import volume included around 500,000 tonnes shipped in by private traders. The NFA every year farms out import permits for private traders to bring in up to 805,200 tonnes of rice at a 35% tariff.
The NFA council will discuss later on Wednesday
imports by private traders, a government source said.
Bangkok
Post
Hilde Lee: Served with fried seafood, orange rice salad offers a taste of history
Hilde G.
Lee
Aug 30,
2016
If you
had a choice of a starch for your next dinner, would it be rice or pasta? Given
the two, most of us would say pasta and even opt for the rice-shaped pasta
called orzo (not the most popular). It, like all pastas, is made from wheat, as
is couscous, which is made from durum wheat.We all know what constitutes a pasta salad, but have you ever had a rice salad?
I have found that a rice salad is a good companion to fried seafood, particularly oysters or sautéed soft-shelled crabs. (Recipe follows.)
Rice is the staple food of more people of the world than wheat. A third of the world’s population is nourished by rice exclusively. It is considered to be the main item in the diet for six out of every 10 people in the world. Many Asians have become so accustomed to the presence of rice in their meals that, regardless of how much they eat of other foods, they feel hungry if they have not had rice.
Historians do not agree as to where rice was first cultivated, but it is certain that it was in a region with plenty of rain and flat farmland. Today, modern irrigation extends its cultivation to regions with low-to-moderate rainfall.
Traditionally, rice plants were started in small plots and left to grow for about four weeks. They were then transplanted into larger plots and covered with shallow water (paddies) until they matured in about four months. Rice is still cultivated this way in Japan, China and Southeast Asia. Historically, only one type of climate provided these growing conditions — areas with a monsoon season in which up to 160 inches of rain might fall during the season. The monsoons are then followed by a dry period, in which the waters recede and the rice finishes maturing.
There is still a debate among food historians which of the countries with a monsoon season was the first to cultivate rice. Most of these scholars have narrowed the beginnings of rice to three countries — China, India and Thailand. Traditionally, China had the earliest written documents mentioning rice cultivation, dating from about 2800 B.C. In the 1970s, however, archaeologists found actual rice grains in an excavation site in northern Thailand dating from 3500 B.C. The earliest documents in India mentioning rice date from 2000 B.C.
Rice was not a popular grain at that time, as it was easier to cultivate tubers, such as taro. The raising of tubers was much less labor intensive than the back-breaking, irrigated cultivation of rice. The cultivation of rice increased, however, as mankind found it contained a greater variety of healthy ingredients.
In India, where rice has been a staple food since the beginning of agriculture, about 3000 B.C., it has been considered to be a gift of heaven. About one-third of all the arable land in India is planted in rice. Rice is served straight through the meal, ending with rice mixed with yogurt to cool the mouth after highly spiced curries.
In Indonesia, rice is the main course for every meal. In Vietnam, where the diet is based on rice and fish, with rice being more important, it is one of the five acceptable offerings in the temples, along with incense, flowers, eaglewood and candles.
The Persians brought rice plants from India to the Middle East and the Euphrates Valley. Rice plants were rare to the Greeks and Romans, who used the grains primarily for medicinal purposes. However, the Arabs and Turks took rice and its cultivation by irrigation very seriously. To them, rice became the staple food and meant life.
There probably was no rice grown in Europe until the Moors brought it to Spain and cultivated it in Andalusia in the ninth century. From there, it traveled to Italy and was planted in the Po Valley, where it is still grown. One of the most famous Italian dishes, risotto alla Milanese, was created with rice from the Po Valley in the late 1500s. Eventually, rice was grown in the Rhone Valley of France.
The British did not acquire their liking for rice from the Continent, but from India — during the period when India was part of the British Empire. One of the favorite English dishes during the height of that country’s imperialism was a derivative of the Indian “kitcherie.” The original dish was made with curry-spiced rice and lentils. The British replaced the lentils with leftover smoked fish, hard-boiled eggs and a cream sauce and made it a breakfast dish, called “kedgeree.”
Rice was eaten very sparingly in England, as it was very expensive. It was used as a special ingredient in puddings, along with sugar and some powdered spice. At the time, four tablespoons of rice were enough to make a pudding for eight to 10 people.
Although the British were not consuming much rice when they started to colonize America, they nevertheless called upon the new colonies to produce it. Sir William Buckley sowed half a bushel of rice seed in Virginia in 1647 and reaped 15 bushels. Seventeenth-century Colonial planters, however, did not develop an interest in raising rice, because tobacco was less work and much more profitable.
Rice growing did take hold in Colonial times, however, in the area surrounding Charleston, South Carolina, which became known for its rice production. Sea captains had first brought seed rice from Madagascar to South Carolina. The local plantation owners found that the Madagascar rice flourished in the Carolina Low Country environment. Thus, South Carolina began growing and exporting rice to England in the 1600s. By the mid-1700s, South Carolina exported more than 100,000 barrels of rice annually to England.
The entire rice production of South Carolina was lost during the British occupation of Charleston during the American Revolutionary War. The British shipped all of the rice back to England, including the portion that should have been withheld for the next year’s seeds. When Thomas Jefferson served as ambassador to France, he managed to smuggle two bags of rice out of Italy in 1887 and gave it to South Carolina to restart its rice industry. This rice from the Piedmont area of Italy was of a superior quality, and the Italians had tried to prevent its export.
Rice cultivation was back-breaking work in those early years. It was planted by hand in very poor soil and under very poor working conditions, given the hot and humid climate of the coastal region. White indentured servants, who worked to pay back their passage money, refused to work in the rice fields. The plantation system soon was established in South Carolina. To work a 500-acre rice field required as many as 2,000 slaves. The end of the Civil War marked the decline of rice cultivation in South Carolina, mainly because the freed slaves no longer wanted to work in the rice fields.
After the Civil War, large tracts of land in Louisiana were planted with rice, and it became one of that state’s major crops in the late 1800s. Rice also had been brought to California in the 1760s, but it did not become a viable crop until 1912, when it was planted in the upper Sacramento Valley. In the past 50 years, Texas also has become a prominent rice producer. Texas farmers produce not only regular and brown rice, but also an aromatic rice similar to the basmati rice of India. Texas growers have labeled this aromatic rice Texmati.
There are three main types of rice found in our supermarkets. Long grain refers to rice considered to be three times longer than it is wide. Medium grain is about twice as long as wide, and short grain is less than twice as long as its width. Both medium- and short-grain rice are high in starch, and, after cooking, the grains tend to stick together and have a very creamy texture. Thus, both of these are frequently used for rice puddings. The grains of long-grain rice remain separate and fluff up while cooking.
In addition to the sizes of rice, one finds such rice names as basmati, jasmine and arborio in our markets. Basmati rice is an aromatic rice grown mostly in India and Pakistan. Jasmine rice, grown in Thailand, has a distinguished fragrance and very silky grains. Arborio is a medium-grained rice with a high level of starch. However, throughout the world there are thousands of rice varieties grown on every continent except Antarctica. Japan consumes all the rice it grows and forbids the importation of foreign rice.
The citrus and olive flavors of this rice salad team well with sautéed seafood, including grilled fish.
ORANGE RICE SALAD
» ¼ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons lime juice
» 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
» ½ tablespoon white wine vinegar
» ¼ teaspoon pepper
» 6 ounces rinsed, drained black beans
» 2 cups cooked rice
» 1/3 cup pimento stuffed olives, sliced
» 1/3 cup chopped red pepper
» 1 avocado, peeled and diced
» ½ large Valencia orange, peeled and diced
» Lettuce leaves, for garnish
In a 1-cup measuring cup, combine the orange
juice, lime juice, cilantro, wine vinegar and pepper. Stir and set aside.
Combine the remaining ingredients in a mixing
bowl and toss gently to mix. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss.
Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve the
salad on lettuce leaves.
DA designates Abdula as PhilRice acting executive director
Posted
on Aug - 22 - 2016
Dr. Sailila Estilong Abdula, chief science research specialist and designated acting director of the PhilRice Midsayap branch station in North Cotabato, has been handpicked by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol as the Acting Executive Director of PhilRice effective August 2016.Abdula, 44, son of West Patadon, Matalam, North Cotabato obtained his PhD in Agriculture, major in plant genetics, from Chungbuk National University in Korea in 2012. As a rice breeder, he helped develop NSIC Rc120 and Rc226 to address the tungro rice disease in Southern Mindanao.He started working as junior researcher at PhilRice in September 1996 after finishing in 1995 his BS in Agriculture (cum laude) from the University of Southern Mindanao in Kabacan, North Cotabato. He earned his master’s degree in plant breeding from UP Los Banos. He also finished Master in Development Management in the Development Academy of the Philippines.
:
http://www.philrice.gov.ph/da-designates-abdula-philrice-acting-executive-director/#sthash.Z2evOIat.dpuf
08/31/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
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Rice Comment
Rice futures posted across the board losses,
setting new contract lows in the process. Nationwide, 13% of the crop is now
rated poor to very poor, and another 27% is in fair condition. Excessive rains
have resulted in rice that has lodged and has sprouted in the field. This will
all result in poorer quality rice and less than ideal yields. However, abundant
world supples and declining prices in Asia continue to loom large over the
market. India is expecting a large crop following a beneficial monsoon season
Chefs in Japan Get Creative with
U.S. Medium Grain
By Bill Farmer
TOKYO, JAPAN -- The marriage of
U.S. medium grain rice with Japanese cuisine was the theme of the fourth annual
U.S. medium grain professional rice cooking contest held here earlier this
month. Fourteen finalists prepared both hot and cold dishes for the
contest and competed for top honors in two categories - Restaurant and Deli.
In the Restaurant category, first place was awarded to "U.S. Medium
Grain Soup, Image of Hiyajiru," a refreshing cold miso soup gelee.
Second prize went to a Chinese cuisine-inspired entry, "Stuffed Chicken
Wingtip with Spicy U.S. Medium Grain Rice," featuring a fried chicken
wingtip stuffed with U.S. medium grain atop a base layer of crispy-textured
spicy rice.
"Recipe contests like this are
designed to familiarize the Japanese foodservice industry with the attributes
of U.S. medium grain," said USA Rice Vice President of International
Promotion Jim Guinn, who attended the event. "At the same time, USA
Rice is learning about new and creative uses of U.S. rice in Japanese
menus."
New to this year's contest was the
Deli category. The first place prize winner was "Stew Pot Pie of
Salmon and U.S. Medium Grain," an easy prep recipe that can be prepared at
home. Second prize in the Deli category went to "Sardine Confit and
U.S. Medium Grain, Yuba Roll of Crabmeat Tomato Risotto." In this
dish, U.S. medium grain serves as a base for a combination of risotto, crab
meat, and tomatoes wrapped in Yuba (bean curd skin).
Guinn noted, "This is the
first year for the "Deli" category in this contest and gave us
insight into how a different segment of the Japanese foodservice industry
evaluates U.S. rice for use in deli and take-out food
manufacturing."
Thailand, Vietnam to supply 250,000 tons of rice
posted August 31, 2016 at 11:00 pm by
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
Thailand
and Vietnam on Wednesday bagged contracts to supply a combined 250,000 metric
tons of rice to the Philippines during a tender aimed at boost ing the
country’s buffer stock for the lean season.Both countries revised their offers,
after state-run National Food Authority rejected their initial offers, which
exceeded the government’s reference price of $425 per metric ton. Thailand, to meet NFA’s price guidance, offered to supply 100,000 MT of rice at $424.85 a ton, while Vietnam agreed to provide the remaining 150,000 MT at the same price.
NFA earlier invited Thailand and Vietnam to supply 250,000 MT of 25 percent brokens well milled-long grain white rice under a government-to-government procurement mode.
Vietnam through Vinafood II initially offered to supply the entire volume at $432.75 per metric ton while Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade offered to ship 100,000 metric tons at $432 per metric ton.
NFA bids and awards committee chairman Ludovico Jarina said, however, that both offers were rejected, because they were above the government’s reference price of $425 per ton. Both countries were given until 3 in the afternoon to revise their offers.
Thailand’s second offer was to ship 100,000 MT at $ 424.25 per metric ton and Vietnam offered to ship the entire volume at $425 per metric ton.
“Under the terms of reference, there is a need to match the price of the lowest bidder,” Jarina said.
Vietnam agreed to match the offer of Thailand for the remaining 150,000 metric tons.
NFA earlier said the first 100,000 MT of rice imports would arrive not later than Sept. 30, while the remaining volume would arrive not later than Oct. 31, 2016.
Meanwhile, NFA said the proposal to abolish or reduce NFA to merely regulatory functions hinged on the question of whether or not the government was ready to let go of its responsibility to ensure the national food security.
NFA made the statement after the Cabinet recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the abolition of NFA’s commercial functions including rice importation.
NFA finance managers said the reported P165 billion debt of the grain agency was trimmed down to P158.9 billion as of Aug. 31, 2016.
The agency said the accumulated debt represented the coststhe agency incurred in fulfilling its mandate of stabilizing the price and supply of rice at both the farm-gate and consumer level.
“The NFA, on behalf of the national government, has to buy high from the farmers for them to get a fair return on their palay production investment, and sell low to consumers to ensure that those who are short on funds will have a chance to buy good quality rice at an affordable price,” NFA said.
Thailand, Vietnam to supply 250,000 tons of rice
posted August 31, 2016 at 11:00 pm by
Anna Leah E. Gonzales
Thailand
and Vietnam on Wednesday bagged contracts to supply a combined 250,000 metric
tons of rice to the Philippines during a tender aimed at boost ing the
country’s buffer stock for the lean season.Both countries revised their offers,
after state-run National Food Authority rejected their initial offers, which
exceeded the government’s reference price of $425 per metric ton. Thailand, to meet NFA’s price guidance, offered to supply 100,000 MT of rice at $424.85 a ton, while Vietnam agreed to provide the remaining 150,000 MT at the same price.
NFA earlier invited Thailand and Vietnam to supply 250,000 MT of 25 percent brokens well milled-long grain white rice under a government-to-government procurement mode.
Vietnam through Vinafood II initially offered to supply the entire volume at $432.75 per metric ton while Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade offered to ship 100,000 metric tons at $432 per metric ton.
NFA bids and awards committee chairman Ludovico Jarina said, however, that both offers were rejected, because they were above the government’s reference price of $425 per ton. Both countries were given until 3 in the afternoon to revise their offers.
Thailand’s second offer was to ship 100,000 MT at $ 424.25 per metric ton and Vietnam offered to ship the entire volume at $425 per metric ton.
“Under the terms of reference, there is a need to match the price of the lowest bidder,” Jarina said.
Vietnam agreed to match the offer of Thailand for the remaining 150,000 metric tons.
NFA earlier said the first 100,000 MT of rice imports would arrive not later than Sept. 30, while the remaining volume would arrive not later than Oct. 31, 2016.
Meanwhile, NFA said the proposal to abolish or reduce NFA to merely regulatory functions hinged on the question of whether or not the government was ready to let go of its responsibility to ensure the national food security.
NFA made the statement after the Cabinet recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte the abolition of NFA’s commercial functions including rice importation.
NFA finance managers said the reported P165 billion debt of the grain agency was trimmed down to P158.9 billion as of Aug. 31, 2016.
The agency said the accumulated debt represented the coststhe agency incurred in fulfilling its mandate of stabilizing the price and supply of rice at both the farm-gate and consumer level.
“The NFA, on behalf of the national government, has to buy high from the farmers for them to get a fair return on their palay production investment, and sell low to consumers to ensure that those who are short on funds will have a chance to buy good quality rice at an affordable price,” NFA said.
Ministry adopts new strategy in drive to double rice production
By BONIFACE MWANGI,
mwangib@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Wednesday, August 31 2016 at 18:54
Posted Wednesday, August 31 2016 at 18:54
In Summary
- It has come up with new rice varieties, hybrid seeds that are resilient to climate change and strives to change farming systems.
The ministry, in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and South Korea, has introduced machinery in rice production unlike in the past when farmers depended mainly on manual labour.
At the same time the partners are constructing the Sh19 billion Thiba Dam to expand the scheme.
The new rice varieties will not only address the issue of higher production, but also food security, poverty alleviation and greatly benefit livestock farmers.
The government aims to double rice production before 2018.
John Kimani, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) Mwea Director, said they have realised the need to meet demand for livestock feeds too.
“The crop-livestock interface has turned out to be a very vital aspect for us and now we are looking at all possible ways to see each sector supports the other,” he said.
Dr Kimani said the varieties that they are developing have the ‘‘stay-green trait’’ (the leaves and stems remain green and palatable to animals and are of high protein content).
“We have been able to get germplasm from our development partners, especially from South Korea, which had developed dual purpose rice.
‘‘This is a type of rice that meets demand for both the grain for human consumption and culms for livestock,” he said.
However, this new rice species are yet to be named since they are still in the breeding process and will only be named after being approved and released to farmers for planting.
After harvest farmers preserve rice straws as hay which is normally fed to their livestock during dry spells.
Jackline Wangeci, a rice farmer at the scheme, confirmed that after harvest she packs straws into bales as hay for her three dairy cows and sells the rest at Sh250 each to other dairy farmers.
“We can’t wait to plant this new variety since we will double our harvest as well as earnings,” she noted.
The new variety, according to Dr Kimani, is a high yielder of animal fodder and will help double yields when released to farmers in six years to come.
Rice Field Day: Sacramento Valley growers fed
rice, rice news at annual gathering
Truckloads of people interested in rice tour
the fields and listen to speakers at stops within the fields during Rice Field
Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs, Calif. Wed. Aug. 31, 2016. (Bill
Husa -- Enterprise-Record)
PHOTOS: Rice Field Day 2016
‹›
By Heather Hacking, Chico Enterprise-Record
Posted: 08/31/16, 7:03 PM PDT | Updated: 7 hrs
ago
0 Comments
Jona Pressman, a nutrition program manager,
smiles in her “Have a rice day” shirt during a truck tour of the rice fields on
Rice Field Day at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs on Wednesday. Bill Husa
— Enterprise-Record
Biggs >> Hundreds of rice farmers
gathered at the 100-plus-year-old Rice Experiment Station in Biggs to learn
about the latest in rice breeding and management research.
The experiment station is funded by the rice
industry. A staff of researchers works to breed rice that will produce more
yield in California and resist pests and disease.
Once a year, the growers get together to hear
what’s new.
Rice growers have some new know-how in Whitney
Brim-DeForest, the newest farm adviser for the University of California
Cooperative Extension. Brim-DeForest recently received her PhD from UC Davis
and specializes in weed science. Her main terrain will be Sutter and Yuba
counties, as well as the counties of Placer and Sacramento.
She replaces Chris Greer, who worked as a rice
farm adviser before moving to a different job.
Brim-DeForest specializes in knowledge about
weeds, while Luis Espino, in Colusa County, specializes in rice pests and Cass
Mutters, in Butte County, specializes in plant physiology (the plants
themselves, how they grow, etc).
In addition to her doctorate degrees,
Brim-DeForest earned her master’s degree in International Agricultural
Development from UC Davis, and a double bachelor’s degree in Biology and music
from Brown University.
She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in
Senegal, West Africa, for three years.
Since 2012, she has worked at the Rice
Experiment Station in Biggs, managing the field trials for the UC Weed Science
program in rice.
Folks who stopped to chat with members of the
California Rice Commission, could learn more about the new California Ricelands
Waterbird Foundation, http://calricewaterbirds.org, formed to continue
waterfowl habitat enhancement in rice-growing land.
The foundation would continue the work of the
Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program.
WHEP has been around since 2011, and helps rice
farmers fund the cost of field management that benefits different types of
birds, explained Paul Buttner, manager of environmental affairs for the
California Rice Commission.
The funding for that program is due to expire,
and it is unknown if more funds will be set aside. When that program first
formed, funding from private donors complemented the federal funds.
Now, Buttner is trying to keep the program in
play in rice fields in California, and is hoping donors will contribute to the
Waterbird Foundation.
Advertisement
Efforts have just begun, he explained during
Rice Field Day.
A man with a legacy, Homer Lundberg was chosen
this year to receive the Rice Industry Award, which is given during the Rice
Field Day event. The award was given to him by Lance Tennis. The two men have
shared seats at the table on the Western Canal Water District Board of
Directors.Lundberg, along with his three brothers Eldon, Wendell and Harlan,
moved to Richvale in 1937 with their parents Albert and Frances. Homer was 2
years old at that time.After college and service in the Air Force, Lundberg
returned to Richvale in 1959 to join is brothers and parents in farming.
In addition to running Lundberg Family Farms
with his brothers, and helping the farm and rice product business flourish,
Lundberg has served on the Butte County Rice Growers Association board for
eight years and the California Rice Research Foundation board for 17 years.In
1985, Lundberg and many others founded the Western Canal Water District, after
the water system was purchased from PG&E. He served on Western Canal’s
board for 22 years, and has worked with several other farm water groups.He also
has served on the Butte County Fair board for more than 20 years. In 2006,
Lundberg stepped down from his longtime role as chairman of the board of
Lundberg Family Farms, passing the business to the next generation.A one-day
training about emerging weed problems including red rice and winged primrose
willow will take place 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Rice Experiment
Station in Biggs. Growers will meet at the Hamilton Road Field on Hamilton
Road. The talks will include planning on herbicide programs, handling herbicide
resistance, weed identification and a tour of the rice weed science research
plots. Registration is $70 and $30 for students, http://tinyurl.com/jrl7jzs.
The course qualifies for continuing education
for crop advisers and others.Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.
Reporter
Heather Hacking focuses on water and agriculture, as well as many other
community topics. Her column, which is mostly about gardening, appears on
Fridays. She has been writing for the Enterprise-Record since 1992. Reach the
author at hhacking@chicoer.com or follow Heather on Twitter: @HeatherHacking
http://www.chicoer.com/general-news/20160831/rice-field-day-sacramento-valley-growers-fed-rice-rice-news-at-annual-gathering
Industrial, Manufacturing & Heavy Industry Market News
Research report explores the rice seed market 2016 - dupont pionner, hancock farm & seed company, kester’s nursery, cp seed, syngenta, nidera, bayer
WhaTech Channel: Industrial Market
Research
Published: 01 September 2016
Submitted by Doris Vargo
News from QY
Insights - Market Research Reports
Viewed: 6 times
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Report: http://goo.gl/P8nZu9
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The explosion in food imports - Failure of public policy?
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto
31 August 2016
During the State of the Nation Address on
February 25, 2014, President John Mahama stated that in 2013 the nation spent
US$1.5 billion of our scarce foreign exchange resources to import eight major
food items for consumption by Ghanaians. The President listed the eight food
items as rice, sugar, poultry, cooking oil, vegetables, fish, salt and wheat.
He lamented that the nation could ill-afford to spend such a huge amount to
import foods that can be produced in this country.Of the eight food items which
he referred to, it is only wheat which cannot be produced economically in Ghana
because of the unsuitable agronomic conditions. The seven others are major food
items cultivated extensively by the gallant farmers and fishers of this
country. They are also major staples for food consumers.
They, together with others such as cocoa and
maize, form the backbone of our agricultural industry and constitute the bulk
of the food and nutrition sustenance of our people.Given the importance of
these food items in the domestic agricultural economy and in the economy in
general, the mass import of these food items in such large quantities pose a
serious threat not only to the livelihood of our farmers and fishers, but also
to the balance of payment of the economy. These imports are obviously competing
directly with local production under conditions which may be putting our local
farmers, fishers and overall food security at risk.Giving these observations, I
have interrogated the trends in food imports over the past decade and the
results are indeed alarming.
With assistance from the Ghana Statistical
Service, I have been able to assemble data which clearly confirm that over the
past 10 years, the volumes and values of imports of food have gone beyond
alarming proportions. Food imports have now taken a chunk of domestic
production, with all the implications for the food and nutrition security of
our nation. They also constitute a major drain on our foreign exchange
earnings. A few of these statistics will suffice to illustrate the point.Source:
Trade Statistics Department, Ghana Statistical Service. June, 2016. * 2015 –
Provisional
Between calendar year 2007 and 2015, the total
value of imports of the eight major food items together sky-rocketed by more
than four-fold – from US$470 Million in 2007 to nearly US$2.2 billion in 2014
and just under US$2 billion in 2015 (preliminary). During the same period, the
total volume together escalated from 882,000 metric tonnes to a peak of
1,223,000 metric tonnes in 2013 with slight dips in 2014 and 2015. The 2015
import bill of US$2.1 billion for the eight food items is equivalent to the
total foreign exchange earnings from our major export cocoa in 2014/15.
Looking at it from another perspective, it is
more than the US$2 billion cocoa syndicated loan approved by Parliament in June
2016 for the purchase of the coming 2016/17 cocoa crop
An examination of the individual items reveals
even more disturbing trends. For example, the value of rice imports has
escalated eight-fold from US$152 million in 2007 to a peak of US$1.2 billion in
both 2014 and 2015. In the same period, the volume of rice imports climbed from
441,000 metric tonnes to 630,000 metric tonnes.The value of imports of sugar
rose more than five times – from US$109 million in 2007 to US$ 564 million in
2014. In the case of poultry, the value of imports rose nearly seven-fold –
from US$57 million in 2007 to US$374 million in 2015. These alarming trends
require the urgent attention of our policy makers.
Performance
The
flooding of our agricultural landscape with food imports clearly coincides with
the declining growth performance of the domestic agriculture in the past eight
years of this administration. Annual agricultural growth rates have steadily
declined from 7.4 per cent in 2008 to 7.2 per cent in 2009, 5.3 per cent in
2010, 0.8 per cent in 2011, 2.3 per cent in 2012, 5.4 per cent in 2013 and 5.3
per cent in 2014 and 2.4 per cent in 2015 (latest estimate). The period average
rate of 4.5 per cent falls well below the Maputo adopted target of 6.0 per cent
per annum. With population growth rate of 2.8 per cent per annum, this means
that Ghana’s agriculture is growing at a net rate of only 1.7 per cent per
annum. If account is taken of rapid urbanisation typified by the Kayayei
phenomenon, then agricultural growth per capita drops into negative growth.
That is the fundamental pull factor behind the flood of food imports in recent
years.
Public
investments in the sector have declined. Budgetary and petroleum revenue
disbursements to the sector have been cut drastically. And so has private
capital typified by farm credits. Budgetary allocation to agriculture was cut
from 3.4 per cent in 2008 to 1.1 per cent in 2014 and 2015. In spite of the
loud and constant rhetoric by government officials of the importance of
agriculture to this economy, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
Farmers and fisherfolk are increasingly improvised and you only have to visit
the rural areas and the fishing communities to confirm this assertion.
Following
the State of the Nation Address of February 25, 2014, the President published
an article on page 16 of the Daily Graphic of Thursday, May 1, 2014, with the
title “What you don’t know”. In this article, the President yet again draws
attention to the “alarming” food imports in the calendar year 2013. He
questions: “Are we not capable of producing these food items ourselves?” His
proposed solution was to work with the private sector and he promised to
announce “initiatives and incentives in the coming days and weeks”.
Nothing
was heard from the President after promising the initiatives for private sector
engagement to reduce food imports. Meanwhile, the data presented in this
article clearly show that food imports have risen sharply since 2013. It is
about time we walked the talk and reversed the trend of cutting public
investments in agriculture. Let us restore public resources to the sector,
provide financial incentives to our farmers and fisherfolk and impose
structured import tariffs to give local producers the breathing space to bring
back prosperity to the people of this country
http://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/the-explosion-in-food-imports-failure-of-public-policy.html
Tomato and Coconut Rice
- Aug 31, 2016
2 cups of basmati rice
2 tablespoons canola oil
12 fresh curry leaves
1 cinnamon stick, approximately 2 inches
1 large onion, finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 green serrano chilies, finely sliced
1 handful of cashews, unsalted
12 ounces fresh baby plum or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk
1 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt
1 cup water
1. Wash the rice in a few changes of cold water until the water runs clear, then leave to soak in cold water to one side.
2. Heat the oil in a deep frying pan. When oil is hot, add the curry leaves and cinnamon stick. Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add the onions. Cook the onions until they begin to turn golden brown and are soft enough to cut with a wooden spoon, then add the garlic, chilies and cashews.
3. Cook for 2 more minutes, then add the tomatoes. Cover and cook for about 8 minutes until the tomatoes are soft around the edges.
4. Drain the rice and add it to the pan. Stir to mix. Then add all of the coconut milk, a cup of water and the salt to the pan. Stir again and bring the mixture to a boil for 2 minutes, cover and then turn the heat to low and cook for 15 more minutes without lifting the lid.
5. Turn off heat. Keep covered for an additional 10 minutes before serving.
Per serving: 652 calories; 27g fat; no cholesterol; 498mg sodium; 90g carbohydrate; 2g fiber; 4g sugar; 12g protein.
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/recipes/tomato-and-coconut-rice/article_3d28d629-0227-54e6-a75d-f3ffbeb401e0.html
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