PAKISTAN
EMBASSY IN TURKEY SET UP STALLS AT ANNUAL CHARITY FAIR
The visitors took keen interest
in Pakistan's traditional foods such as Biryani, Pakore, Samose, Jalaibe
offered at food stall.
04:21 PM, 15 Dec, 2016
The Embassy of Pakistan in Turkey has set
up stalls at the Annual Charity Fair organized by the Turkish Foreign
Ministry's Spouses' Solidarity Association held in Ankara over the weekend. The
visitors took keen interest in Pakistan's traditional foods such as Biryani,
Pakore, Samose, Jalaibe, Shami Kebab and Halva offered at the food stall.Turkish
and international visitors particularly appreciated the traditional Biryani
made of Pakistan's famous Basmati rice.Similarly, the Pakistan stall
offering Hina was the most visible and many visitors enjoyed applying Pakistani
Hina
http://www.radio.gov.pk/15-Dec-2016/pakistan-embassy-in-turkey-set-up-stalls-at-annual-charity-fair-organized
Philippines Approves Rice Trader Imports of 641,080 T, Below Quotai
Manila. The Philippines' state grains agency has approved permits for
local rice traders to import 641,080 tonnes of the staple grain from Thailand,
Vietnam, Pakistan and India, it said in a notice posted on its website on
Wednesday (14/12).
The approved imports, which must
be brought in by Feb. 28, 2017, account for 80 percent of the maximum volume of
805,200 tonnes that private traders are allowed to bring in under an annual
country-specific quota scheme.Private traders will import 284,780 tonnes of
rice from Thailand; 294,020 tonnes from Vietnam; 56,140 tonnes from Pakistan;
and 6,140 tonnes from India, the National Food Authority (NFA) said after
evaluating all applications.
http://jakartaglobe.id/se-asia/philippines-approves-rice-trader-imports-641080-t-quota/
Sri Lanka to
import 250,000 tons rice to overcome shortage
15 December 2016
Sri Lanka is to import over
250,000 tons of rice to maintain a buffer stock sufficient for one and half
months owing to a possible shortage of rice during the first quarter of
next year, due to drought, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake told reporters in
Colombo on Thursday. The Government has taken a decision to import rice
through the private sector and provide bonded warehouse facilities for them as
the country’s rice production is expected to drop during the drought period, he
said..
While the private sector will be allowed to freely import rice, there won't be any imports by the government unlike during the previous regime, he pointed out.The Finance Ministry is considering tax concessions on rice imports to help mitigate the effects of the drought on the local market, a Treasury official said adding that the government will not call bids from the private sector for rice imports. (Bandula)
While the private sector will be allowed to freely import rice, there won't be any imports by the government unlike during the previous regime, he pointed out.The Finance Ministry is considering tax concessions on rice imports to help mitigate the effects of the drought on the local market, a Treasury official said adding that the government will not call bids from the private sector for rice imports. (Bandula)
China Trade Cases
Pushed
USTR Brings New Charges Against
China Over Imports for Corn, Wheat, Rice
Chris Clayton ,
DTN Ag Policy Editor
12/15/2016 | 11:48 AM CST
Corn piles might not be so big if China followed global trade
rules, the U.S. alleged on Thursday. (DTN file photo by Scott R Kemper)
OMAHA (DTN) -- The Obama administration is pushing one more
trade case with China over corn, wheat and rice exports, claiming China is not
upholding its import obligations under the World Trade Organization for those
three commodities.China's tariff-rate quotas for corn, wheat and rice combined
are estimated worth more than $7 billion. If China had fully used those import
quotas in 2015, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office concluded China would
have imported as much as $3.5 billion more of those commodities.The case comes
as the U.S. has also separately asked the WTO to create a dispute settlement
panel over the U.S. contention that China has paid nearly $100 billion in
domestic support for Chinese producers of corn, wheat and rice. U.S. trade
officials said Thursday that China has not responded to the U.S. investigation
into China's subsidies.
The bottom line is China has effectively stopped importing
cheaper global commodities of corn, wheat and rice because the country also
poured billions of dollars to spur higher domestic production of those crops as
well."Today's new challenge -- as well as the steps we are taking to
advance our case against China's excessive government support for rice, wheat
and corn -- demonstrates again the Obama administration's strong and continued
commitment to enforcing the rules of global trade, and protecting the interests
and livelihoods of American farmers," said United States Trade
Representative Michael Froman. "China's TRQ policies breach their WTO
commitments and limit opportunities for U.S. farmers to export competitively
priced, high-quality grains to customers in China. The United States will
aggressively pursue this challenge on behalf of American rice, wheat and corn
farmers."
As with any actions with the World Trade Organization, both
disputes with China will be turned over to the incoming presidential
administration to defend and argue at the WTO.TRQs set the levels of imports a
country has agreed to accept under a specific import tariff. According to the
USTR, China lacks transparency on the rules for importing commodity grains.
When applying for licenses, exporters do not know how they will be treated or
how the TRQ will be applied.According to the USTR, last year China only filled
65% of its 7.2 million metric ton tariff-rate quota for corn, meaning exporters
could have shipped another 2.52 mmt of corn into China. For wheat, China
imported only 30% of the 9.63 mmt TRQ, meaning exporters could have shipped
another 6.7 mmt of wheat to China.
The U.S. has been banned from shipping rice to China over yet
another trade dispute involving phyto and phyto-sanitary measures. Yet, China
also is not meeting its TRQ obligations for both long-grain and short- to
medium-grain rice, the USTR claimed.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said real access under
tariff-rate quotas is vital to global trade and to providing farmers and
ranchers the opportunity to export American-grown products. Although China has
become a significant market for U.S. crops, Vilsack said more commodities would
be exported if China abided by trade rules."When China joined the WTO, it
committed to implementing an agriculture regime that would facilitate market
access consistent with international obligations," Vilsack said.
"However, China has frustrated exporters through generous price support
and unjustified market restrictions. Taking action against grain price supports
was one piece of the puzzle, and now we must confront China's improper
administration of its TRQs to ensure that our grains have the meaningful market
access that China bound itself to as a member of the WTO. Today's announcement
is another step towards advocating for fairness in the global trading system on
behalf of American farmers."
The U.S. Wheat Associates and National Association of Wheat
Growers stated the groups welcomed the continued push in the two WTO cases
against China, which the groups stated is distorting the wheat market globally."The
facts in these two cases go hand-in-hand, demonstrating how Chinese government
policies create an unfair advantage for domestic wheat production," said
Gordon Stoner, president of NAWG and a wheat farmer from Outlook, Montana.
"Both actions call attention to the fact that when all countries follow
the rules, a pro-trade agenda and trade agreements work for U.S. wheat farmers
and their customers."
In the USTR announcement, several key members of the House and
Senate Agriculture Committees praised the U.S. action. Sen. Pat Roberts,
R-Kan., said China's actions reflect another example of the country's inability
to play by the rules. "I am committed to working with our producers and
alongside USDA and USTR as we continue to fight for U.S. farmers' ability to
compete in the global market on a level playing field," Roberts said.
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/world-policy/article/2016/12/15/ustr-brings-new-charges-china-corn
2016 USA Rice Outlook Conference
Highlights
MEMPHIS, TN - Welcoming everyone to the 2016 USA Rice Outlook
Conference last week, host-state representative and Mississippi rice farmer
Kirk Satterfield explained, “The conference has grown so much and is still
growing that we had to move to Memphis to find a venue big enough to
accommodate all the attendees and exhibits. We certainly appreciate the
level of participation.”
USA Rice Chairman Brian King echoed that sentiment: “It’s encouraging to see so many in the industry come out - it shows we’re on the right track and offering good value to our customers. Attendance this year was close to 800 and I attribute that statistic to excellent programming - from exciting keynote speakers like NASA Astronaut Michael Massimino, Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, and crowd-favorite 2017 Miss America Savvy Shields - to the new Innovation Stage, centrally located in the Exhibit Hall that was bursting at the seams with 59 exhibitors.”
“Moving the New Products & Technology seminar to the Innovation Stage concept in the middle of the Exhibit Hall fostered more interaction between members and exhibitors,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “We really appreciate all of our exhibitors and sponsors for their support and are always looking for ways to help them promote their products and services.”
Ward also said the Annual Rice Awards Luncheon was a conference highlight. “Attendees heard moving speeches from the award winners, got to meet the 2017/19 Rice Leadership Development Program class, and see the winning entry in the first ever National Rice Month Scholarship video contest,” she said.Between traditional program offerings like state outlook and rice research reports from all six major rice-producing states, USA Rice showcased several videos, including the P.F. Chang’s Farm-to-Wok video featuring Arkansas rice farmers Jennifer James and Dow Brantley that captures the artistry of rice farming and tells the story of the U.S.-grown grain.
This year’s conference included two panels focusing on conservation and sustainability practices in the rice industry that was moderated by outgoing Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Jason Weller who spoke eloquently about the importance of industries telling their stories. (click here to see his full remarks)
“In my view, production agriculture is sustainable agriculture, full stop,” Chief Weller said in touching closing remarks. “You guys need to stand up and be proud of what you do, you need to advocate for what you do, and you need to do it in a way that connects with people who aren’t familiar with production agriculture.”Weller said he figured this would be his last public appearance as NRCS Chief, at least before a commodity group, and he had the date circled on his calendar for some time.“I am so proud of the partnership NRCS has with the rice industry and I wanted to be here personally to thank you all for your commitment to being partners with us to invest in conservation and really be national leaders – not just regional or local leaders – but national leaders in production agriculture.”
“Add up all the good information from the sessions and exhibits, plus getting to see an astronaut and Miss America in the same conference, and you’re getting your money’s worth,” concluded Satterfield.
The Outlook conference is the largest annual rice-specific gathering in North America and is an educational service of USA Rice. Next year’s conference is scheduled for December 10-12 in San Antonio, Texas
USA Rice Chairman Brian King echoed that sentiment: “It’s encouraging to see so many in the industry come out - it shows we’re on the right track and offering good value to our customers. Attendance this year was close to 800 and I attribute that statistic to excellent programming - from exciting keynote speakers like NASA Astronaut Michael Massimino, Ambassador to Iraq Stuart Jones, and crowd-favorite 2017 Miss America Savvy Shields - to the new Innovation Stage, centrally located in the Exhibit Hall that was bursting at the seams with 59 exhibitors.”
“Moving the New Products & Technology seminar to the Innovation Stage concept in the middle of the Exhibit Hall fostered more interaction between members and exhibitors,” said USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward. “We really appreciate all of our exhibitors and sponsors for their support and are always looking for ways to help them promote their products and services.”
Ward also said the Annual Rice Awards Luncheon was a conference highlight. “Attendees heard moving speeches from the award winners, got to meet the 2017/19 Rice Leadership Development Program class, and see the winning entry in the first ever National Rice Month Scholarship video contest,” she said.Between traditional program offerings like state outlook and rice research reports from all six major rice-producing states, USA Rice showcased several videos, including the P.F. Chang’s Farm-to-Wok video featuring Arkansas rice farmers Jennifer James and Dow Brantley that captures the artistry of rice farming and tells the story of the U.S.-grown grain.
This year’s conference included two panels focusing on conservation and sustainability practices in the rice industry that was moderated by outgoing Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Jason Weller who spoke eloquently about the importance of industries telling their stories. (click here to see his full remarks)
“In my view, production agriculture is sustainable agriculture, full stop,” Chief Weller said in touching closing remarks. “You guys need to stand up and be proud of what you do, you need to advocate for what you do, and you need to do it in a way that connects with people who aren’t familiar with production agriculture.”Weller said he figured this would be his last public appearance as NRCS Chief, at least before a commodity group, and he had the date circled on his calendar for some time.“I am so proud of the partnership NRCS has with the rice industry and I wanted to be here personally to thank you all for your commitment to being partners with us to invest in conservation and really be national leaders – not just regional or local leaders – but national leaders in production agriculture.”
“Add up all the good information from the sessions and exhibits, plus getting to see an astronaut and Miss America in the same conference, and you’re getting your money’s worth,” concluded Satterfield.
The Outlook conference is the largest annual rice-specific gathering in North America and is an educational service of USA Rice. Next year’s conference is scheduled for December 10-12 in San Antonio, Texas
https://www.usarice.com/
USA Rice Farmers Board Member
Elected to MO Rice Research and Merchandising Council
HORNERSVILLE, MO - Earlier this
week, Rance Daniels, a third-generation Missouri rice farmer and member of
the USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors, was elected to the Missouri Rice
Research and Merchandising Council.
Daniels has been looking to grow
his leadership involvement within Missouri where he currently serves as
chairman of the Missouri Farm Bureau's Rice Committee and as an officer for
the Dunklin County Farm Bureau. Daniels particularly saw benefit to joining
the Rice Research and Merchandising Council as a way to work on state
promotion and research activities.
"Promotion efforts are
important to raise both domestic and international consumption of U.S.-grown
rice. I also want to see us brag a bit more about the rice industry's
conservation and sustainability efforts. We have a good story to tell
and I think the general public would better support us if they knew all of
the great things we're doing on our land," said Daniels.
USA Rice President & CEO
Betsy Ward said, "We congratulate Rance on his election to this
important job in Missouri. As one of our shining graduates of the Rice
Leadership Program, Rance continues to demonstrate his value across USA
Rice's various boards and committees and within his home state."
In addition to representing
Missouri on the USA Rice Farmers Board, Daniels also serves on that groups'
Conservation and Crop Insurance Committees, and on USA Rice's Regulatory
Affairs and Food Safety Committee, Communications Committee, and Latin
America Trade Policy subcommittee. He is also an original member of the USA
Rice/Ducks Unlimited Stewardship Partnership group. He and his wife,
Robin, have three children and farm rice and soybeans with the goal of making
sure their children have a successful industry and operation to begin their
careers as the next generation of family farmers.
|
U.S. Government Takes Twin
Actions on Chinese Trade Distorting Policies
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Obama Administration announced two
separate but complementary agriculture trade enforcement actions at the World
Trade Organization (WTO) against policies of China. The U.S. requested
the formation of a dispute settlement panel on the level of China's domestic
supports and challenged the way China administers tariff rate quotas
(TRQs). Both actions relate to wheat, corn and rice.
Both moves were hailed by USA Rice.
"Earlier this year, the U.S. requested consultations with
China at the WTO on the very high levels of China's domestic support for
corn, wheat and rice producers, but the results were unsatisfactory,"
explained Betsy Ward, USA Rice CEO and President. "The next step
in the WTO dispute process is requesting a panel to hear the arguments, and
we've now done that."
Ward said it could take as many as two or three months to set up
a panel, and that a report from that panel could take another 10 months.
"We knew from the outset this was a long process, which is
why keeping things moving forward is important," she added.
The new case the United States launched against China today
challenges the way China administers tariff rate quotas (TRQs) for the import
of several commodities, including wheat, corn, and rice. China provides
import licenses under the TRQs contrary to several of China's WTO commitments
and in a manner that effectively acts as import restrictions prohibiting the
fulfillment of these TRQs.
"While the United States cannot yet ship under China's
large rice TRQ, this case will be precedent-setting," Ward said.
"We support efforts to have China administer these TRQs in a transparent
manner that allows trade to occur, looking ahead to the day when the U.S.-China
rice phytosanitary protocol is finally signed and we are shipping rice to
this important market."
USA Rice is also pressing the administration to broaden
enforcement action against other WTO members, like India and Thailand, whose
domestic support levels for rice are inconsistent with WTO rules and have
resulted in large increases in production, stocks, and exports that harm U.S.
rice producers and exporters.
|
India Celebrates 50th Anniversary for Rice That Prevented Famines
December 15, 2016
Back in 1966, a farmer named Nekkanti Subha Rao planted a new variety of rice in the southeastern Indian
state of Andhra Pradesh.The rice plant is called IR8. It was the creation of
scientists at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.Scientists
created the IR8 variety by combining a tall rice plant from Indonesia and a
shorter version from China.
IR8 was the world’s first highly
productive rice. It is credited with having prevented famines and providing
food for millions of people.
Agricultural experts say IR8 rice is partly responsible for the
Green Revolution, which began in the 1940s and continued through the 1960s.
During this period, farmers increased their use of man-made fertilizers and pesticides, and irrigation
systems to water crops. Food production sharply increased and helped prevent
widespread hunger.India and the International Rice Research Institute have been
celebrating the 50th anniversary of IR8 rice, which became known as “miracle
rice.”Farmer Rao, now 80 years old, remembers his surprise when he harvested a
shocking 7.5 tons of rice on every hectare.
“Never before,” he said. “Every
farmer feeling very, very, very happy, happy. 100 percent success.”
Many Asian countries struggled
with food shortages in the 1960s and 1970s. IR8 and other varieties that
followed helped increase rice production in Asia by 200 percent. The increase
helped prevent widespread hunger.
“It transformed agriculture,” said Dr. Nafees Meah,
the institute’s representative for South Asia. He said the Green Revolution
prevented the food crises that happened in those years. “It saved millions of
lives.”
After India, IR8 rice was planted
in other Asian countries, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, where
rice is the main food for most people.Agriculture experts say that the plant’s
shorter length made IR8 rice stronger and less likely to fail before harvest
time. And, it took less time to grow compared to local rice. So, farmers could
plant more than one crop on the same land.
Recalling the Green Revolution
Even with the rise in food
production, the Green Revolution also led to some long-term troubles.As The New
York Times reported, crops such as IR8 rice required heavy use of pesticides
and chemical fertilizers.This method of agriculture left behind chemical
pollution, noted U.S. News & World Report magazine. It also used up a lot
of soil nutrients, and eventually led to soil depletion.
So, farmers needed more and more fertilizer, according to National Public Radio
(NPR).
Mature rice fields of Peta, IR8 and
DGWG varieties.
Crops like IR8 also needed more water than natural rainfall
offered, so farmers had to irrigate the soil and build wells, NPR noted.
In India, this caused the groundwater to sink as much as one meter each year.This
“package of practices” was costly, especially for poor farmers. Many of the
farmers used credit to buy the products and services, but could not pay back
their loans. So, they went into debt, lost their land, and were forced to move
to crowded cities to find work. After they left, richer farmers bought their
land.There was very little work on the larger farms because farmers began
turning to tractors and other modern equipment. So, human labor decreased,
creating high rural unemployment in some areas.Widespread planting of only one
or two varieties of rice also reduced biodiversity.
In the long-term, this can lead to the spread of disease among plants.
Feeding a growing world
The methods used during the Green
Revolution saved nearly one billion people from starvation, according to the
New York Times. However, experts are divided on whether the lasting results are
more good than bad.
Today food security is still an issue, and not just for Asia. At
the same time, malnourishment continues to affect millions of poor
people on the continent. And everywhere, farmers are dealing with issues
resulting from climate
change.Rod Wing is an American scientist at the International
Rice Research Institute. He says developing new kinds of rice with more
nutrients but less of a harmful effect on the environment can reduce our
dependence on gases linked to climate change. The problem, he says, is that the
rice must require less water, fertilizer, and pesticides.In recent years, new
kinds of rice that are more resistant to dry weather and floods are showing
promising results in eastern India and Bangladesh, a country where floods used
to cover or wash away crops.
A genetically engineered variety
of rice has been developed to improve Vitamin A levels. Lack of Vitamin A kills
many children under the age of five. In addition, researchers are developing
crops that keep blood sugar lower and release energy slowly.But the challenge
of productivity that IR8 rice fueled remains, noted Wing. “The big question
is…how are we going to feed three more billion people on the planet by 2050?”And
while some farmers are experiencing larger harvests, they continue to battle
other problems. The cost of growing the rice is “very, very high now. Labor
cost is high,” said farmer Rao.
I'm Bryan Lynn.
And I’m Alice Bryant.
Anjana Pasricha reported this story for VOANews.com. Alice
Bryant adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
http://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/fiftieth-anniversay-celebrated-for-rice-that-prevented-asia-famines/3636118.html
Vietnamese experts call for reducing rice exports
12/15/2016
Asia News Network (ANN)
Asia News Network (ANN)
Speaking at a
seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, Huynh The Nang, its chairman, said
Vietnam has exported4.5 million tonnes of the grain so far this year,
a year-on-year decrease of 25 per cent.Exporters are facing challenges in the form of increasing
supply and competition from traditional and emerging rice export countries, such as Thailand, India, Pakistan and
Myanmar, he said.Besides, major importing countries like the Philippines, Malaysia and
China are increasing production to reduce imports and enhancing quality control of imports, he said.
For instance,
China, the biggest importer and not a fastidious market, recently tightened
its quarantine policy for Vietnamese rice, he said.Drought and saltwater
intrusion have seriously affected rice production in the Cuu Long (Mekong)
Delta, the country's granary, with output in the 2015-16 winter-spring rice
crop falling by over a million tonnes, he said.
With the
increasing construction of hydropower dams in the upstream of the Mekong River,
the delta faces a possible threat of lack of water for rice cultivation, he
said."All these force us to seek measures to resolve the problem as well
as make our rice production more sustainable."The sector must be
restructured to grow high-quality varieties and pay more attention on improving
quality to meet the market's demand, he said.
Areas seriously
affected by climate change should switch to crops that can cope with climate
change and are in demand, he said.He suggested cutting exports to 3-4 million tonnes of high-quality rice a year
until 2020, and 2-3 million tonnes a year after that instead of growing in large
quantities and struggling to find buyers.Pham Thai Binh, director of Can
Tho-based Trung An Co Ltd, a large rice exporter, said to expand
the export market Vietnamese rice must be tasty, safe and
cheap.
Consumers both at
home and abroad are becoming more and more aware of what they eat and are
willing to pay more for safe products, he said.To ensure the three competitive
factors, farmers and businesses must join hands to create large-scale rice
fields, apply modern farming techniques and mechanise production, he said.Delegates
at the seminar agreed that Vietnam must focus on building rice brands.
Deputy Minister of
Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh said: "We export rice for more than 30 years but many shortcomings
still remain in our production and export, Vietnam's rice brand has not got a foothold in
the world market."We need to build Việt Nam's rice image by developing a
national rice brand."The country needs to make global consumers feel it
grows rice following high standards and completely trust the quality of
Vietnamese rice, he said.To do that, the sector must review zoning plans and
what varieties are being grown, he said, adding that cultivation must be based
on market demand rather than farmers growing first and then thinking about exports.
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2693185115
No evidence of plastic rice in
Jamaica
JIS,
15 December 2016
KINGSTON – Minister of Industry,
Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda says there is no evidence of
plastic in the samples of rice tested by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ).
“The BSJ was provided with samples… and, so far, I can assure the people of
Jamaica that there is absolutely no evidence of any contamination of plastic
within the samples tested,” he said.Samuda was speaking at a press briefing
held Tuesday at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices.
The Minister sought to clear the
air on the issue, in light of reports of plastic or fake rice entering the
local market.He said more samples will be taken from across the country, with
those samples being tested to ensure that the Jamaican people are protected.Samuda
also informed that rice originating from Guyana and Suriname will be cleared
into the marketplace.“The reason for this is very simple. Guyana and Suriname
are considered to be a part of our domestic market. They are members of CARICOM
and we have never had incidents of any kind of contamination or otherwise. So,
there is no justifiable reason for us to hold those shipments of rice,” he
explained.
He added that the BSJ has been
asked to conduct islandwide investigations into the source of all rice now in
supermarkets.Meanwhile, Samuda said importers have been importing rice from
sections of the Far East and this has caused great concern based on information
reaching Customs and the Ministry.“In three instances, we have been advised of
fake labelling and we are in the process now of confirming the allegations. We
have to be very certain of the source of food that enters this country,” he
said.Bulk rice imported into the country is monitored for compliance to the
mandatory standard for rice – JS CRS 44: 2013 Jamaican Standard Specification
for Rice.
Under this standard, tests are
done for broken grains and moisture and, to date, all samples tested have been
compliant with the standard. (JIS)
Rice sales counters soon at Christmas fairs
ALAPPUZHA: DECEMBER 15, 2016 19:02 IST
Civil
Supplies Minister P. Thilothaman said on Thursday that the government will set
up rice sales counters soon at the ongoing Christmas fairs in a bid to bring
down the rising prices.The government has set apart Rs.1,171 crore for rice
distribution, he said while inaugurating the district-level Supplyco Christmas
fair here.Steps were being taken to sell rice, available from the Centre, at a
price lesser than the market rates in various districts. The Food Corporation
of India (FCI) would provide rice, with Central support price, at Rs.21.50 a
kg. The State would incur additional expenses and could sell it at Rs.23 a kg.
The government was trying to procure the locally milled Kuttanad rice from the
Oil Palm India’s rice mill for distribution at affordable rates.
The
Minister expressed the view that the Andhra Pradesh-based rice mill lobby was
trying to create artificial scarcity of rice to increase the price. Certain
merchants in Kerala were colluding with the lobby. Such tactics were tried
during the Onam season, but the government’s timely market intervention was
able to thwart their designs.Supplyco was providing 13 commodities, including
rice, at 21 to 68 per cent subsidy. Once the rice distribution system got
regularised at the public distribution system, the prices would come down. The
Centre’s cut in rice allocation had put the supply at public distribution
system outlets in disarray. The State’s request to restore the quota was not
considered favourably by the Centre.
The
Minister said the rice provided by the Centre was being collected from the FCI.
It was the duty of the FCI to hand over the commodity. The State was not ready
to pay undue handling charges. Loading and unloading workers were demanding
Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,000 for stacking each load, which was unjustifiable
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/Rice-sales-counters-soon-at-Christmas-fairs/article16834511.ece
Rice Prices
as on : 16-12-2016 12:41:47 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)
|
1531.00
|
64.8
|
208896.00
|
2118
|
2946
|
0.19
|
Bazpur(Utr)
|
973.90
|
549.27
|
75038.86
|
1510
|
2067
|
-20.53
|
Allahabad(UP)
|
260.00
|
-3.7
|
7870.00
|
2245
|
2240
|
6.90
|
Birbhum(WB)
|
159.50
|
0.31
|
6470.40
|
1900
|
1910
|
1.88
|
Akbarpur(UP)
|
115.00
|
-4.17
|
1130.00
|
2170
|
2150
|
8.50
|
Siliguri(WB)
|
94.00
|
9.3
|
9614.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
17.39
|
Lanka(ASM)
|
60.00
|
-14.29
|
4720.00
|
2000
|
2000
|
15.94
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
50.00
|
4.17
|
4386.00
|
2130
|
2130
|
5.19
|
Nadia(WB)
|
50.00
|
NC
|
2020.00
|
3400
|
3400
|
15.25
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
39.00
|
-2.5
|
5729.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
6.67
|
Purulia(WB)
|
24.00
|
33.33
|
2490.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
3.45
|
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
22.00
|
4.76
|
1419.50
|
2350
|
2300
|
17.50
|
Dinhata(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
565.50
|
2200
|
2200
|
7.32
|
Haldibari(WB)
|
15.00
|
NC
|
90.00
|
2250
|
2250
|
-
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
10.00
|
11.11
|
478.60
|
2250
|
2250
|
-
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
7.00
|
-12.5
|
1987.10
|
2030
|
2035
|
2.78
|
Uluberia(WB)
|
5.60
|
12
|
364.80
|
2450
|
2450
|
-2.00
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
4.80
|
-69.23
|
2520.70
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9430281.eceInternational Customs / Japan rice exports soar to record year
Japan rice exports soar to
record year
TOKYO:
Japan’s rice exports through October have already surpassed its previous annual
record, helped by producers’ marketing efforts and an Asian investment by a
major distributor. Export volume excluding rice for humanitarian aid grew 33%
on the year to 7,673 tons in January-October. Even without the two last months
of the year, that already exceeds 2015’s record 7,640 tons.
In
November, Yumepirika brand rice from Hokkaido debuted in high-end supermarkets
in Shanghai, a result of a sales campaign led by the Japanese locality’s
governor, Harumi Takahashi. The rice distributor involved in the deal, Kitoku
Shinryo, aims to boost exports from the current 1,000 or so tons per year to
3,000 tons around 2020. Also promoting rice production in Southeast Asia,
Kitoku Shinryo recently invested in a Vietnamese food-related company. It hopes
to expand its planting acreage in hopes of setting up a foothold in the country
for rice milling and sales.
Consumers
found Japanese rice tasty after milling was moved closer to local markets, said
Dennis Wu of Aji-No-Chinmi, a Hong Kong trading house specializing in Japanese
food. The popularity of Japanese rice apparently started to grow around 2012,
when agricultural machinery maker Kubota began building logistical networks to
mill rice in Hong Kong and Singapore. Still, Japan’s domestic demand, which
amounted to 7.66 million tons from July 2015 to June 2016, is falling by 80,000
tons a year — and the record exports aren’t close to offsetting the drop. High
prices are the main obstacle to more overseas sales. At stores in Hong Kong,
Japanese rice costs from 130 Hong Kong dollars to HK$140 ($16.7 to $18) for
2kg– triple or quadruple the price for Chinese rice, according to Wu.
But some
are taking advantage of the high prices. Rice milling machinery maker and
retailer Toyo Rice began selling the world’s most expensive rice, certified by
the Guinness World Records. The product, an original blend of several
varieties, is priced at 11,304 yen ($97.96) per kilo, about 30 times the cost
of the commonly eaten Koshihikari variety. The Guinness certification
eliminates the need to explain the high prices in selling the rice to wealthy
consumers overseas. Only 120kg of the luxurious variety were made available in
Hong Kong, and the rice apparently flew off the shelves. There are plans to
increase export volume of the elite product, depending on next year’s harvest.
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/japan-rice-exports-soar-to-record-year/Philippines
Quality not
quantity: Vietnam should lower rice export target
A farmer harvests rice at a paddy field outside Hanoi. Photo by
Reuters/Kham
Overseas markets seem to be losing their appetite for the
world’s third largest rice exporter.
Vietnam should adjust its rice export target in terms of volume to
focus on product quality amid a shortage of buyers and falling output, said
Huynh The Nang, chairman of the Vietnam Food Association.Nang said that
adjusting the target down to 2-3 million tons from 7-8 million tons
annually is necessary due to falling demand from major partners.Data from the association
showed that 70 percent of Vietnamese rice is exported to Asian countries, with
China the biggest buyer, followed by the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.However,
rice exports to these markets have witnessed slow growth.Last year, Vietnam exported
two million tons of rice to the three key Southeast Asian markets, but that
figure has collapsed by 90 percent to a mere 200,000 tons this year.These
countries are trying to boost their own rice production and have started
getting good results, which have reduced their independence on Vietnamese
supplies, Nang said.
China, which accounts for a third of Vietnam’s total export
volume, continues to tightly control the quality of rice imports that reach its
market. From January to October, Vietnamese rice exports to China fell by 22.5
percent on-year to 1.5 million tons.Luong Hoang Thai from the trade ministry
said that Vietnamese rice faces numerous trade barriers.
Most countries have adopted measures to limit rice imports and
protect their domestic markets. South Korea has set an import tariff of up to
500 percent while Japan imposes a rate of 800 percent, not to mention
non-tariff barriers involving import quotas and food safety.“Instead of
struggling to find buyers for a huge volume of rice, we should set a target of
exporting 2-3 million tons each year rather than year 7-8 million tons as we
have done in the past,” the chairman of the VFA said.
Over the 2015/2016 winter-spring crop, the Mekong Delta, which
accounts for 90 percent of the country’s rice exports, was hit by the most
severe drought in almost a century, causing its rice output to decrease by one
million tons.Rising sea levels together with the construction of Chinese dams
on the Mekong River are posing serious threats to rice farming in the delta.Rice
experts agree that it’s time Vietnam shifted its focus from quantity to quality
to meet food safety standards and ensure rice supplies.
Pham Thai Binh, a rice trader, echoed the same idea: “To expand
its rice market, Vietnam must produce products that are tasty, clean and
cheap."“Domestic consumers are opting for the more expensive Cambodian
rice at the moment because they believe it’s cleaner that locally-produced
rice.”Data from the agriculture ministry showed that Vietnam exported 4.5 million
tons of rice over the first 11 months, down 25 percent against one year ago.The
country is expected to export 5 million tons of rice this year, lower than the
target of 5.65 million tons set in the summer.
http://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/quality-not-quantity-vietnam-should-lower-rice-export-target-3513287.html
Vietnam's rice exports drop to record low
Vietnam's rice exports have sharply
fallen to a seven-year record low because of weak abilities, according to a new
report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Vietnam's rice exports have sharply
fallen
As of November, Vietnam exported 4.5 million tonnes of rice with a
turnover of USD2bn, a decrease by 26% and 22% respectively compared to the same
period last year.According to the General Department of Customs, rice exports
are losing out to other agriculture products such as coffee, vegetables and
aqua products.The evaluation report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development showed that the 4.5 million tonnes of rice exported so far this
year is the lowest figure since 2009. Most export firms couldn't meet their
goals. Vietnam will also be unlikely to meet the goal to export 5.7 million
tonnes of rice this year, which is already lower than the 6.5 million tonnes
exported last year.
Average monthly export output has reached 409,000 tonnes and
Vietnam is exporting less near the end of the year. The output for September,
October and November was 300,000-320,000 tonnes.In addition, Vietnam is losing
its key markets. Rice export to China in 11 months reached 1.6 million tonnes
with turnover of USD700m, a decrease by 400,000 tonnes and USD120m respectively
than last year.
Exports to the Philippines totalled 350,000 tonnes with turnover
of USD150m, a fall of 600,000 tonnes and USD300m.
The Vietnam Food Association said many countries had tightened
management on import-export activities. China had tightened grip on unofficial
imports. Meanwhile, Vietnam is losing its price advantages in Philippines,
Indonesia and Ghana to Thailand, India and Cambodia.Pro. Vo Tong Xuan from Can
Tho University, said, "We need to completely reform the rice sector as it
is fluctuating because of climate change. Vietnam needs to improve
productivity, rice quality and distribution networks to compete in the global
market."
According to Pham Chi Lan, member of the Advisory Group of the
Vietnam National Assembly’s Economic Commission, Vietnam has advantages with
electronic, aqua and agriculture products exports. But the competitive abilities
of the aqua and agriculture sectors are weak. There are huge amounts of
Vietnamese rice exported under foreign brands, or unnamed or unlabelled. Most
of the rice was exported to aid poor people or was stockpiled. Few local brands
are able to compete in the retail market.Local firms are also facing tough
competition at home from imported rice, especially from Thailand.
Dtinews
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/169585/vietnam-s-rice-exports-drop-to-record-low.html
Rice scrips gain
as China opens market
The share price of Kohinoor jumped 14.6% to Rs
72.85 while that of Chamanlal Setia rose by 6.1% to Rs 74.2
21
Shares of rice companies, led by Kohinoor Foods, surged on
Wednesday, after estimates of a sharp increase in basmati export this year from
the opening of Chinese markets. The share price of Kohinoor jumped 14.6
per cent to Rs 72.85; that of Chamanlal Setia rose by 6.1 per cent to Rs 74.2.
Leading branded basmati producer LT Foods rose 2.6 per cent to Rs 282.3.
Non-basmati producer Usher Agro saw a 4.7 per cent jump to Rs 13.3. “We would
send our team soon to discuss the possibility of rice importers in China. If
possible, we would appoint local distributors ...
Govt to release 150,000 metric tonnes of rice
The government has decided to release 150,000 metric tonnes of
rice held at government storage Facilities as a solution to market issues
surrounding rice.The government will release 75% of the 200,000 metric tonnes
being held at storage facilities to producers.National Organiser of the All
Ceylon Peasants Federation Namal Karunaratne, speaking to media, said that
paddy which was purchased for a price between Rs.28 and Rs.34 is being
converted to rice – and rice which can be sold at Rs.60 is being sold for
prices above Rs.90.He added that in such a back drop, the three major mill
owners are having around one million metric tonnes of rice stocks with them.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board M.B.
Dissanayake, commenting on this move said that priority will be given to the
small and medium mill owners when these stocks are being issued, and mill
owners in the districts will also be given priority.Chairman of the United Rice
Mill Owners’ Association Mudith Perera expressed the following views:
“… If these stocks are released
to the market as paddy, the prices of rice will only increase. Releasing these
stocks will not attribute to a price reduction …”
National organiser of the All Ceylon Peasants Federation Namal
Karunaratne also commenting on this issue said that the government must reach
an agreement with the small mill owners and pay a specified price for a
kilogramme of rice and then the government can take the rice stocks.He went
onto note that the rice can be sold for a lesser price through Sathosa and the
Co-operatives.Although the government has reached a decision to release paddy
stock to rice mills , there is no change to the decision made to import rice.Minister
of Finance Ravi Karunanayake said that they need rice by January and February
and the Yala harvesting seasons begins in late February and March and that
therefore its necessary to have stocks of rice as standby.
National Organiser of the All Ceylon Peasants Federation Namal
Karunaratne expressed the following views:
“… Do not create any discomfort
for the farmer. Commissions are given through the importation of rice stocks.
Do not create an environment where the farmers’ rice is being given to
intermediaries for a lesser price. On one hand the farmers are being extorted
and on the other the consumer is being extorted. The government is doing
nothing …
http://newsfirst.lk/english/2016/12/govt-release-150000-metric-tonnes-rice/157085
Thailand: Government Assisting
Farmers Amid Record Low Rice Prices
Nontarat Phaicharoen
Bangkok
2016-12-15
Bangkok
2016-12-15
Lamduan Maliwan, standing, fills
a seed dispenser as she prepares to plant a rice crop in Ayudhya province,
Dec. 15, 2016In Thai schoolbooks,
farmers are called the “backbone” of the agriculture-oriented country. But that
backbone is under stress.In the rice sector alone, farmers have long
encountered uncertainties caused by competition in the world market, impacts
from drought or floods, and, for many, long-term debt.“I sold rice at 5,900
baht ($168.60) per ton in last season’s crop. Some others got only 5,200 to
5,300 baht per ton,” said Lamduan Maliwan, a farmer in Ayudhya province north
of Bangkok.That price, from September, was the lowest in decades, she said.
“I invested 120,000 baht ($3,429)
on 40 rai (15.8 acres) of rice fields. My yield was 20 tons. I did not make a
profit at all,” she said, adding that fertilizer alone cost 20,000 baht ($559).Taking
care of rice farmers – 23 million of the nation’s 51 million eligible voters –
is a key concern of any government and political party in Thailand.
A failed rice scheme helped
topple the previous government of Yingluck Shinawatra. Now, with rice prices
foundering, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha is injecting billions of baht
into new loans and subsidies.
Prone to corruption
Thailand is one of the world’s
major rice suppliers, exporting 9.79 million tons valued at $4.613 billion in
2015, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA). The two top
importers of Thai rice were China and the Philippines.But in three of the last
four years, India surpassed Thailand as the world’s top rice exporter, the TREA
statistics showed.During Yingluck’s tenure as prime-minister, from August 2011
to May 2014, Thai rice farmers were encouraged to store their crop in
government silos in anticipation of better world prices and given advances of
15,000 baht ($419) per ton that they were to repay later.
But rice rotted in silos because
world prices never reached that height. Some farmers who stored their rice
received nothing because the government ran out of money to fund the scheme.Meanwhile,
the high price of Thai rice in 2012 and a major flood in 2011 allowed India and
Vietnam to become the two top rice exporters in 2012, with India exporting
10.65 million tons and Vietnam million 7.73 tons, versus Thailand’s 6.97
million tons.
Dr. Warong Dejwikrom, a former
member of parliament from the Democrat Party, told BenarNews that Yingluck’s
programs were gravely flawed and prone to corruption.“The middle rice price was
9,000 baht per ton then, but she accepted the mortgage at 15,000 baht per ton,”
Warong told BenarNews.“In my opinion, the mortgage price should have been below
the middle price. She simply bought overpriced rice. The government then had to
act as trader and it was opened to corruption and caused the country heavy
losses,” he said.
Before Yingluck was toppled by Prayuth in May 2014, her
government failed to pay outstanding mortgages to farmers because it was broke.In
January 2016, the Supreme Court started the trial of Yingluck for failure to
stop a “corrupt” subsidy project. Her trial is expected to continue to
mid-2017.In September, the Comptroller General Department ordered Yingluck to
repay 35.7 billion baht out of net subsidy losses of 178 billion baht in the
2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons.However, a former MP for Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party
argued that Yingluck’s trial is not “appropriate.”“This rice mortgage is for
the best benefits of the public. Every government did it and there were no such
thing as loss or gain because the projects were aimed at helping the farmers,”
Somkid Cheaukong told BenarNews by phone.
‘The price was right’
Prices of several varieties of rice, including famous fragrant
jasmine rice, have plunged to record lows in 2016.According to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Cooperatives, the Prayuth administration is injecting 219
billion baht ($6.1 billion) into agricultural subsidies and development
projects, and 209 billion baht ($5.8 billion) into various types of loans for
rice farmers this year.As part of this effort, the government has set aside 20
billion baht ($559 million) for two million jasmine rice farmers in a mortgage
scheme set to end in February 2017.
Commerce Minister Apiradee Tantraphand announced in early
November that the government had launched a jasmine rice mortgage scheme in
which farmers receive 13,000 baht per ton ($363) but keep the rice at home
silos, unlike Yingluck’s projects which relied on government silos or storage
facilities run by private rice mills.“I prefer Yingluck’s projects because the
price was right. Lately the price is too low at 8,000 baht per ton,” said
La-ead Ekchote, a jasmine rice farmer in northeastern province of Maha
Sarakham, told BenarNews.Warong, the former MP, said the new scheme was better.“The
government does not have to buy rice and store it because doing so will lead to
a lot of corruption, if the government stores and mills rice themselves,” he
said.“When farmers keep their own rice, the rice will not be in the market, and
that will increase the demand for rice in the market. The price of rice
will be higher,” he added.
http://www.benarnews.org/english/
Ebro Foods to merge rice and pasta companies
Dec. 15, 2016 - by Eric Schroeder
The combined rice and pasta products portfolio will include such
brands as Minute, Success and Ronzoni.
HOUSTON — Ebro Foods, S.A. has unveiled plans to merge its U.S.
rice and pasta companies on Jan. 1, 2017, a move that will create the largest
manufacturer and marketer of rice products and the second largest producer and
distributor of pasta products in the United States.The merger will bring
together Riviana Foods Inc., American Rice, Inc. and New World Pasta Co. The
companies will be headquartered in Houston with a satellite office in
Harrisburg, Pa., and will operate under the Riviana Foods name.The companies
have manufacturing facilities in seven U.S. states and in Canada through
Catelli Foods Corp., a subsidiary of Riviana Foods. Catelli is the largest
pasta manufacturer and distributor in Canada.
The merger will combine Ebro Foods' U.S. rice and pasta companies
on Jan. 1, 2017.
The combined rice and pasta products portfolio will include such
brands as Minute, Mahatma, Carolina, Success, Gourmet House, Adolphus, Blue
Ribbon, Ronzoni, Skinner, Prince, American Beauty, San Giorgio, Creamette and
No Yolks. Total sales of the merged companies are about $1.5 billion.Madrid,
Spain-based Ebro Foods entered the U.S. market in 2004 through its acquisition
of Riviana Foods, which purchased American Rice in 2011. Since 2006, when Ebro
Foods acquired New World Pasta, the companies have been integrating their
businesses and taking advantage of synergies to benefit their customers and
consumers.
Bastiaan de Zeeuw, president and
c.e.o. of Riviana Foods
|
“We have
successfully brought together the core strengths of the companies, including an
extensive portfolio of brands and products,” said Bastiaan de Zeeuw, president
and chief executive officer of the merged companies. “In addition, by combining
our operations and distribution networks, we will even better fulfill our
commitment to customer service, product quality, better efficiencies,
innovation and growth.
Iloilo rice
farmers harvest more than 10 MT/ha
A semi-organic fertilization
technique called “crop stand management” has raised the wet season yield of
hybrid rice crops in Iloilo, with a dozen farmers reaping harvests of more than
10 metric tons per hectare, according to provincial agriculture officials.Using
the fertilization technique with SL-8H hybrid seeds, twelve farmers had wet
season harvests that averaged 10.71 metric tons (MT) per hectare.
The harvest was extraordinarily
high for the wet season, when farmers do not usually expect to reap much from
hybrid rice because of the highly infesting bacterial leaf blight (BLB) on
rainy days, provincial officials said.
The average rice yield for the Philippines
overall is slightly less than four MT per hectare.Crop stand management is a
system of applying fertilizers, particularly nitrogen-based urea, only when the
crop needs it—when it has yellowish leaves, for example.“It’s the first time
for many farmers in Iloilo to plant hybrid in the wet season,” said Iloilo
agricultural officer Geron E. Magbanua. “And impressively, there are farmers
who harvested 10 tons (per hectare) as shown by the contest (Palayabangan
introduced by the Philippine Rice Research Institute).”
Aside from reducing farmers’ costs
and raising their net income to the P100,000 level per hectare, crop stand
management is also good for the environment. The soil’s nutrients are
regenerated, and the water table and water surfaces do not get exposed to
excessive chemical fertilizer, Magbanua said.
Despite the severe El Niño drought
phenomenon in the first half of 2016, Iloilo has managed to produce a rice
surplus as more farmers opted to plant the SL-8H hybrid rice, boosting the
province’s average yield to 4.09 MT per hectare.
This is an overall increase of 0.86
MT per hectare compared with the 2015 average of 3.23 per hectare (based on
Philippine Statistics Authority data) for the entire province, according to
Iloilo Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Elias V. Sandig Jr.
Two seasons’ worth in one
harvest
Sandig said farmers were encouraged
to try the hybrid after two farmers last year recorded incredible yields of
more than 14 MT per hectare.“In 2015, Marilyn Duco of Patlad, Dumangas obtained
an average yield equivalent to 14.51 MT per hectare (from SL-8H hybrid seeds)
at 14 percent moisture content (at the ideal drier state),” said Sandig.
“Iloilo farmer Teresita S. Setiar
of Leganes reaped the highest yield equivalent 17.921 MT per hectare. She used
organic fertilizers with reduced artificial fertilizer,” Sandig added.
The advantage of hybrid rice for
Iloilo farmers is that it can effectively double their harvest, providing
nearly two seasons’ worth of yield in a single planting.“Some areas are just
rainfed, so farmers don’t plant during the dry season. But with their high
yield—double from hybrid rice, it’s as good as they would have planted two
times a year,” said SL-8H producer SL Agritech Corp. Chairman Henry Lim Bon
Liong.One Ilonggo farmer, Ramon Dagohoy Jr., got 13.95 MT per hectare from his
irrigated, transplanted SL-8H.
“From his 2.2 hectare area, he got a total of 615 cavans at 47 kilos per bag summing up to 279 bags (13.95 MT) per hectare,” said Magbanua.From his rainfed 6,000 square meter farm, Andres Corras Jr. had a wet season harvest equivalent to an average of 9.68 MT per hectare.
Allan Tabefranca got a yield of 8.5
MT per hectare from 8,000 square meters. He is in an irrigated area and even
used direct seeding, which means he had lesser cost compared with transplanted
seeds.
“Our campaign is that using the
same technology of rice planting, you just change the seed, but your expense is
the same. The seed is subsidized, so they get a higher income. Because of this,
they have been convinced to go into hybrid,” said Iloilo Provincial
Agriculturist Ildefonso T. Toledo.
And while most farmers planted
SL-8H, they are now also trying other varieties that had been developed to be
more resistant to diseases such as BLB—SL-12H and SL-18H.Despite these
increases in yield, Iloilo’s rice production is expected to reach only 700,000
MT for 2016 due to the impact of El Niño during the first semester of the year.
According to PSA data, Iloilo
produced 877,076 MT of rice in 2015 with an average yield of 3.23 MT per
hectare.
Iloilo ranks fifth in rice
production in the Philippines, after Nueva Ecija (1,580,620 MT), Isabela
(1,256,390 MT), Pangasinan (1,081,157 MT) and Cagayan (884,334 MT).
Based on population and milled rice
production, Iloilo’s rice sufficiency is a surplus at 141 percent of its food
requirements, the provincial agriculture office said.The province has 110,000
rice farmers and a total of 135,964 hectares of ricelands consisting of 48,860
hectares of irrigated ricelands, 85,779 hectares of rainfed ricelands, and
1,325 uplands devoted to rice. About 10,000 hectares are planted with hybrid
rice, the provincial agriculture office said.
http://www.manilatimes.net/iloilo-rice-farmers-harvest-10-mtha/302008/
Acadiana rice farmer named best
in nation
(Photo: FILE/THE DAILY ADVERTISER)
Acadiana farmer Richard Fontenot
has been named the 2016 Rice Farmer of the Year by the USA Rice Federation
and Rice Farming Magazine, the second Louisiana producer this month to earn
national honors.Fontenot, who farms 1,500 acres of rice, soybeans and crawfish
near Ville Platte, was presented the award during the USA Rice Outlook
Conference in Memphis. Earlier this month, Caddo Parish rancher Marty
Wooldridge was named one of the top five Best Young Farmers and
Ranchers in the United States by The Progressive Farmer.Louisiana Agriculture
Commissioner Mike Strain called Fontenot "one of the stars of Louisiana
agriculture."
"I've worked many years with
Richard and he is a good friend," Strain told USA Today Network of
Louisiana. "He's a top-notch farmer who is also active in promoting and
advocating for the agriculture industry."“I’ve had a lot of leaders in
front of me that have provided opportunities for me to be here today, so this
is a team award for all of the various affiliations that I’ve had the blessing
to be with,” said Fontenot, a fourth-generation farmer who operates R&N
Farms in Evangeline Parish with his brother Neal.
Fontenot is the Louisiana Farm
Bureau Federation's third vice president and secretary-treasurer for the
Louisiana Rice Research Board.He said his wife Rhonda and their son Lance, 10,
as well as his parents Bryan and Cenevieve, who paved the way for Fontenot,
were all able to attend the awards ceremony."I think that was the thing I
appreciated the most, for my family to share it with me," he said.Fontenot
has previously been recognized as the 2000 Farm Bureau Young Farmer of the Year
and the 2008 Louisiana Farmer of the Year.Fonentot and his fellow producers
have endured two floods and a drought during the past three years."We've
gone from drowning to drought to drowning again," he said.
"It's been a tough
cycle."Still, Fontenot said he wouldn't trade places."Agriculture is
a lifestyle and culture second to none," he said.Fontenot believes
Louisiana rice, in particular, can find new markets abroad that would benefit
the state's farmers."I'm hopeful the new administration helps us capture
export markets, and Cuba is a fine example," he said.“Rice is a staple in
most third-world countries and in all countries for that matter,” Fontenot
said. “We compete against a world market and we export 70 percent of what
we grow right here in Louisiana. We feed the world.”
Neil Melancon of the Farm Bureau
Federation contributed to this report.
Louisiana rice farmer Richard
Fontenot with his wife Rhonda and son Lance on their farm near Ville
Platte. (Photo: COURTESY PHOTO)
http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2016/12/15/acadiana-rice-farmer-named-best-nation/95478780/
No comments:
Post a Comment