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Wednesday, March 09, 2016

9th March 2016 Daily Exclusive Oryza Rice e-Newsletter by riceplus Magazine

India Rice Sellers Lower Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged

India rice sellers lowered their quotes for 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice by about $5 per ton each to around $365-$375 per ton and $260-$270 per ton respectively today. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged today.                      
5% Broken Rice
Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $360 - $370 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $30 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton.
25% Broken Rice
Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $350 - $360 per ton, on par with Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $350- $360 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $330 - $340 per ton, about $25 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $305 - $315 per ton.
Parboiled Rice           
Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $355 - $365 per ton, about $50 per ton discount to Pakistan parboiled rice last shown at around $405 - $415 per ton.
100% Broken Rice
Thailand broken rice, A1 Super is indicated at around $325 - $335 per ton, about $10 per ton discount to Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $335 - $345 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $260 - $270 per ton, about $25 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $285 - $295 per ton.

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Drought and Salt Water Intrusion Damage More than 200,000 Tons of Rice in Vietnam, Says MARD


Mar 08, 2016
Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reports that the on-going drought and salt water intrusion have damaged more than 200,000 tons of rice worth one trillion VND (around $44.64 million), according to Radio Free Asia.
The MARD noted that salt water intrusion appeared two months earlier than previous years due to lower water levels in rivers. If the drought persists until June this year, the Ministry expects about 500,000 hectares of rice crops to be at risk.
An expert from the Can Tho University told reporters that drought and more upstream agricultural development in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are pushing up the saline levels in rivers. Salinity in the Vam Co, Tien and Hau Rivers and other rivers in Mekong Delta is reportedly higher than traditional levels.
Last month, the Deputy Prime Minister announced 2.3 billion VND (around $103,132) aid for farmers in the Mekong Delta region.
Meanwhile, exporters are worried that a likely lower production due to drought an salinity may impact exports as well. They say lack of water for irrigation has reduced the quality of Vietnamese rice and its competitiveness against rice from other countries in the region.
So far this year, Vietnamese rice exporters have signed contracts to export more than 1 million tons. Vietnam exported 856,219 tons of rice in first two months of 2016, up about 103% from 421,202 tons of rice exported during same period in last year, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA). 
In order to boost exports to high-end markets, experts are stressing on the need to invest in improving rice varieties, developing more large-scale fields, building trademarks, and expanding trade promotion programs.
 Global Rice Quotes
March 9th, 2016
Long grain white rice - high quality
Thailand 100% B grade           370-380           ↔
Vietnam 5% broken     365-375           ↓
India 5% broken          365-375           ↔
Pakistan 5% broken     335-345           ↔
Myanmar 5% broken   420-430           ↔
Cambodia 5% broken 410-420           ↔
U.S. 4% broken           455-465           ↔
Uruguay 5% broken    445-455           ↔
Argentina 5% broken   435-445           ↔
Long grain white rice - low quality
Thailand 25% broken 350-360           ↔
Vietnam 25% broken   355-365           ↑
Pakistan 25% broken   305-315           ↔
Cambodia 25% broken            395-405           ↔
India 25% broken        330-340           ↔
U.S. 15% broken (sacked)       440-450           ↔
Long grain parboiled rice
Thailand parboiled 100% stxd             365-375           ↔
Pakistan parboiled 5% broken stxd      NQ       ↔
India parboiled 5% broken stxd           355-365           ↔
U.S. parboiled 4% broken       480-490           ↔
Brazil parboiled 5% broken     520-530           ↔
Uruguay parboiled 5% broken             NQ       ↔
Long grain fragrant rice
Thailand Hommali 92%           660-670           ↔
Vietnam Jasmine         450-460           ↑
India basmati 2% broken         NQ       ↔
Pakistan basmati 2% broken    NQ       ↔
Cambodia Phka Mails 755-765           ↔
Brokens
Thailand A1 Super       325-335           ↔
Vietnam 100% broken             340-350           ↑
Pakistan 100% broken stxd     285-295           ↔
Cambodia A1 Super    335-345           ↔
India 100% broken stxd          260-270           ↔
Egypt medium grain brokens   NQ       ↔
U.S. pet food   280-290           ↔
Brazil half grain           NQ       ↔
All prices USD per ton, FOB vessel, oryza.com

Syria Issues Tender to Buy 8,113 Tons of White Long-Grain Rice

Mar 08, 2016
Syria's General Foreign Trade Organization (GFTO) has issued a tender to purchase 8,113 tons of white long-grain rice of third class, according to a notice dated March 7, 2016, on its website.
Rice is for delivery in three tranches between June 15, 2016 to December 15, 2016. The schedule of delivery is as below:
Offers should be submitted to GFTO Secretariat by 3 p.m. Damascus time, March 22, 2016, according to the notice. Tender closes on March 23, 2016 and the offers will be valid for 60 days from closing date.
This is the third tender issued by the GFTO this year. The first two tenders were also for 8,113 tons of white long-grain rice each.

Oryza February 2016 Rice Market Review
Mar 09, 2016

The Oryza White Rice Index (WRI), a weighted average of global white rice export quotes, ended the month of February at $382 per ton, down about $4 per ton from a month ago and down about $37 per ton from a year ago.
Thailand
Thailand 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $360 per ton, down about $10 per ton from a month ago and down about $45 per ton from a year ago.
The government of Thailand has sold about 397,639 tons of stockpiled rice in the two auctions this year. The government currently holds about 13 million tons of rice in its stockpiles and it is reportedly planning to clear the stocks by the end of 2017. The Thai military government has reportedly sold about 5 million tons of stockpiled rice worth $1.5 billion since it seized power in May 2014. Separately, the Thai Commerce Ministry is considering opening the auctions of stockpiled rice to foreign bidders as part of its efforts to sell at least 5 million tons of rice from the stockpiles this year.
Meanwhile, the government set Thailand’s 2016 rice export target at about 9.5 million tons, down about 5% from about 10 million tons exported in 2015, due to the impact of extended drought conditions on this year's production. The USDA Post reports that Thailand's 2015 rice exports declined about 11% to about 9.8 million tons from about 11 million tons in 2014 mainly due to a sharp decline in parboiled rice exports. The Post forecasts Thailand's 2016 rice exports to further decline to about 8 million tons.
The USDA Post forecasts Thailand's MY 2015-16 (January - December 2016) paddy rice production at about 24 million tons, down from last year's 29.4 million tons and down from USDA's official estimates of about 29.4 million tons due to a sharp reduction in off-season rice acreage and production. Separately, Thailand's 2015-16 secondary rice crop (January - June) acreage declined by about half to about 800,000 hectares due to extending drought conditions, Bloomberg quotes Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives. Water levels in the country's dams stood at about 3.2 billion cubic meters as of February 15, 2016 compared to about 6.8 cubic meters on November 1, 2015. Authorities have been discouraging rice farmers  planting  the secondary rice crop due to insufficient water supplies.  The Prime Minister of Thailand said that the government is planning a new water resource management system based on the current water demand and supply conditions, as well as crop planning.
Vietnam
Vietnam 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $360 per ton, up about $5 per ton from a month ago and down about $10 per ton from a year ago.
Vietnam exported 856,219 tons of rice in first two months of 2016, about double the  421,202 tons of rice exported during same period in last year, according to data from the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).  Separately, Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has urged the trade counsellors and domestic rice exporting companies to reduce their dependence on China and expand into other markets including Europe, Japan, South Korea and the U.S.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been formally released in January 2016. The whole text will be in force after a legal verification as well as ratification by the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament. According to the Agreement text, the EU will completely remove duties on about 80,000 tons of rice imports annually from Vietnam, including 20,000 tons of husked rice imports, 30,000 tons of milled rice and 30,000 tons of aromatic rice imports. However, for other rice products, it will gradually remove tariffs over the next five years.
Experts have warned that increasing salt water intrusion in Vietnam is likely to impact the nation's rice production and exports significantly
Cambodia, Myanmar, & Laos
Cambodia 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $415 per ton, down about $15 per ton from a month ago, and down about $20 per ton from a year ago. Cambodia exported about 95,945 tons of milled rice in the first two months of 2016, up about 30% from about 73,597 tons exported during the same period last year, according to data from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export Formality (SOWS-REF). Month-over-month, Cambodia's rice exports in February 2016 increased about 18% from about 44,033 tons in January 2016. Year-over-year Cambodia's rice exports in February 2016 increased about 38% from about 37,676 tons in February 2015. Meanwhile, Cambodian rice exporters have expressed concern that Cambodia lacks a comprehensive rice export policy, which they say could aid in boosting production and exports. They noted that despite winning the world's best rice competition for three consecutive years, the Cambodian rice industry continues to face challenges such as access to finance, as well as inadequate irrigation, milling and storage facilities. Cambodian rice exporters have also expressed concern that Cambodian rice exports to the EU under the Everything But Arms (EBA) Agreement would be impacted following the finalizing of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA), under which the EU has agreed to scrap duties on about 80,000 tons of Vietnamese rice annually. The EU reportedly accounts for about 40% of Cambodia's total rice exports.
Myanmar 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $425 per ton, up about $5 per ton a month ago and up about $10 per ton from a year ago. Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce is estimating the country's rice exports will fall sharply in FY 2015-16 (April - March) based on the current pace of exports. The Ministry data shows that Myanmar has so far in this fiscal year exported about 1.037 million tons, down about 17% from about 1.255 million tons exported during the same period last year. Myanmar exported 1.84 million tons of rice in FY 2014-15, with China accounting for about 70% of the country's exports. Meanwhile, officials from the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) urged the government to consider securing reserve rice stocks this year amid concerns of El Nino strengthening by the middle of this year.  The MRF officials reportedly suggested that the government purchase about 200,000 tons of rice for reserves.
The government of Laos is aiming to export one million tons of rice this year, local sources quoted the Director of the Department of Planning and Cooperation under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In order to achieve the goal, the government targets a production of about 4.2 million tons of paddy in the 2015-16 season, according to the official.
India
India 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $365 per ton, up about $5 per ton from a month ago, and down about $30 per ton from a year ago.
The government of India forecasts India's 2015-16 (July - June) milled rice output to decline about 2% to about 103.61 million tons from about 105.48 million tons in 2014-15. Meanwhile, the USDA estimates India's MY 2015-16 rice production at about 100 million tons, down from last year's 104.8 million tons and unchanged from USDA's official estimates. The FAO forecasts India's 2015 paddy rice output to decline about 2% to about 155.407 million tons from about 158.210 million tons in 2014 due to an expected decline in secondary rabi rice crop (November - May).
The USDA forecasts India's exports in MY 2015-16 (October - September) at about 8 million tons, down about 33% from last year's 11.871 million tons and down from USDA's official estimates of about 8.5 million tons. Meanwhile, the government of India is hoping to secure a one million ton rice export deal with Indonesia, as the South East Asian nation is likely to witness a fall in its rice production this year due to the extending dry conditions. Separately, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has made it mandatory for all Indian rice mills/processing units exporting basmati rice to the U.S. to register with India's plant quarantine organization, National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO), to ensure quality rice exports to the U.S.
Paddy procurement by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other government agencies in the 2015-16 kharif marketing season (KMS) has reportedly reached about 28.412 million tons as on March 02, 2016, up about 21% from about 23.42 million tons last year. The government is targeting to procure about 30 million tons in KMS 2015-16.
An agricultural scientist has advised all the state governments in India to promote and popularize black rice cultivation, as it is full of therapeutic properties, according to The Hindu BusinessLine. He says, black rice has anti-carcinogenic properties and is known to arrest the growth of cancer cells. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-angiogenesic effects inhibit the formation of new blood vessels, which encourage tumour growth. Presence of anthocyanins in black rice specifically arrest growth of breast cancer cells, say researchers.
Pakistan
Pakistan 5% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $340 per ton, down about $5 per ton from a month and a year ago.
Pakistan exported about 2.445 million tons of rice (including 223,634 tons of basmati and 2.22 million tons of non-basmati) in the first seven months of FY 2015-16 (July 2015 - January 2016), up about 11% from about 2.196 million tons (290,013 tons of basmati and 1.91 million tons of non-basmati) exported during the same period in FY 2014-15, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Meanwhile, the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has urged the government to provide zero sales tax status to them as they are facing severe liquidity crunch due to pending tax refund claims.
Separately, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has resumed banking ties with Iran allowing all commercial banks and financial institutions in the country to restart business with their Iranian counterparts.
The Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) under the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has selected 14 new rice hybrids for commercial cultivation in the country. The new varieties are said to have yielded about 106 maunds per acre (about 10.6 tons per hectare). It has advised the National Seed Council to push for their commercial cultivation.
Bangladesh's Agriculture Ministry may import seeds of hybrid rice varieties from India, the Daily Star quoted the Director General of the Ministry’s Seed Wing. The Ministry is reportedly considering some popular rice varieties grown in India, and imported by Bangladeshi farmers through border trade. Separately, an agro processing, seed and crop solution company in Bangladesh has collaborated with the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to enhance varietal rice breeding in the country.
The government of Sri Lanka, which has about 200,000 tons of surplus paddy rice, is planning to export it to the Southern African nations, according to the Sunday Times Sri Lanka. The government is also planning to clear the excess rice stocks by distributing it among the recipients of its social welfare scheme 'Samurdhi.' The government of Sri Lanka is reportedly expecting paddy rice output from the 2015-16 Maha crop (September - March) at about 2.93 million tons, up about 7% from about 2.74 million tons last year.
The FAO estimates Bhutan's MY 2015-16 (July - June) rice imports at about 70,000 tons. The agency estimates Bhutan's 2015 paddy rice production to increase about 1% to about 78,000 tons from about 77,000 tons in 2014.
Philippines
The government of the Philippines may not import rice for the lean season (July-September) this year due to adequate stocks, the Manila Times reports. The country's Food Security Committee (FSC) has reportedly deferred the plan to import about 400,000 tons of rice for the lean season as the current rice inventories and the output from the dry season are sufficient to cover the country's demand. Normally, the government imports rice during lean months to ensure adequate stocks and to curb price hikes.
Separately,  a Senior Research Fellow at the state-run Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) has advised the government to consider imposing a 35% tariff on rice imports after the WTO-imposed quantitative restrictions (QRs) on rice imports expire in July 2017, according to local sources.
The researcher noted that the expiration of QRs would intensify competition among rice importers and foreign suppliers leading to a fall in domestic prices and affecting the incomes of local farmers and traders. The World Bank Lead Economist advised the government of the Philippines to remove quantitative restrictions on rice imports and open the rice import market to avoid unnecessary price increases and enhance the efficiency of the rice sector.
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) is also targeting to cut the production cost of paddy rice by about 22% to about P 8.50 per kilogram (about $178 per ton) from about P 11 per kilogram (about $231) as part of its efforts to help farmers become more competitive. Meanwhile, extending dry conditions due to the El Niño phenomenon have damaged about 94,934 tons of rice worth P1.62 billion (about $24 million) as of February 18, 2016 in the Philippines, Business Mirror quoted a report by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
China
China imported about 287,200 tons of rice in January 2016, about 2.3 times from about 122,400 tons imported during the same period last year, according to data from China Customs General Administration. Meanwhile, in January 2016, China exported about 22,200 tons of rice, down about 20% from about 27,900 tons exported in December 2015 and up about 15% from about 19,300 tons exported in January 2015.
Meanwhile, China is currently facing rice storage problems due to the government's procurement policy at high prices, according to experts, reports Caixin Online. Though the policy is very attractive to farmers, they are now the victims as the state grain buying agency Sinograin is not in a position to buy rice as all its warehouses are filled up. While Sinograin's warehouses can hold up to 500,000 tons of rice annually, it had to buy nearly 1.7 million tons of rice in 2013, 1.2 million tons in 2014 and 1.5 million tons in 2015.
Separately, the government of China is planning to clear old rice and corn stocks and has asked local grains administrations to recommend potential buyers of the stocks. Separately, China is left with very few options to deal with its massive grain stockpiles, but all outcomes are bad for global grain markets, a senior USDA official said.
The FAO forecasts china's MY 2015-16 (June - May) rice imports to decline about 6% y/y due to government's efforts to limit informal imports. The agency forecasts China's 2015 paddy rice output at about 208.25 million tons, up from about 206.507 million tons in 2014 due to favourable weather conditions.
Indonesia
The government of Indonesia is targeting to produce about 76.22 million tons of paddy rice in 2016, up about 1.1% from an estimated 75.36 million tons in 2015, Reuters quoted the Director General of Food Crops at the Agriculture Ministry. Separately, the Director of procurement at the state logistics agency Bulog said that the country may not import rice this year due to adequate stocks.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Agriculture Minister has highlighted the need to shorten the rice supply chain in the country in order ensure fair prices to consumers as well as the farmers.
Latin America
Brazil’s National Grains Supply Company (Conab) forecasts Brazil's 2015-16 paddy rice production at about 11.5 million tons, down about 7.7% from an estimated 12.44 million tons in 2014-15 due to a likely reduction in acreage and yield. Conab's production forecast is also down about 1% from its January forecast of about 11.63 million tons. Brazil rice stocks stood at about 110,388 tons in January 2016, down about 4% from about 115,126 tons in December 2015 and down over 50% from about 240,544 tons in January 2015, according to Conab.
Brazil exported about 96,050 of rice in January 2016, up about 37% from about 69,913 tons exported in January 2015, according to data released by the Rice Institute of Rio Grande do Sul (IRGA).
Five percent broken rice from Uruguay and Argentina quotes ended the month of February at about $440 per ton, down about $30 per ton from a  month ago and down about $160 per ton from a year ago.
The USDA Post forecasts Argentina's MY 2015-16 (December 2015 - November 2016) paddy rice production at about 1.262 million tons, down about 17% from an estimated 1.523 million tons in MY 2014-15, and down from the USDA's official estimates of about 1.431 million tons. The Post forecasts Argentina's 2016 rice exports to increase to about 520,000 tons from an estimated 400,000 tons in 2015.
The USDA Post forecasts Peru's MY 2016-17 (April - March) milled rice imports at about 220,000 tons, unchanged from the previous year. USDA is yet to publish its official estimates. The Post reports that Peru imported about 237,987 tons of rice in the calendar year (CY) 2015. The Post estimates that some 50,000 MT of paddy rice were unofficially exported from Peru to Ecuador in CY 2015.
Bolivia's 2015 paddy rice production increased by about 25% to about 472,000 tons from about 378,000 tons in 2014, according to the FAO.
U.S.
U.S. 4% broken rice quotes ended the month of February at about $460 per ton, down about $10 per ton from a  month ago and down about $20 per ton from a year ago.
The USDA lowered the U.S. all rice paddy average farm prices to about $242.51-$255.73 per ton from its last month's forecast of $279.98 - $302.03 per ton, based on reported prices to date and expectations regarding prices for the remainder of the market year.
Separately, The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) is considering cutting trading hours for rice futures as well as changing its delivery instrument from warehouse receipts to shipping certificates.
Africa
The government of Rwanda may stop importing rice by 2018 as part of its efforts to reduce the bulging trade deficit, according to local sources. Rwanda imported about $37 million worth rice in 2015 compared to about $31.1 million in 2014. The country 's trade deficit stood at about $1,761.3 million in 2015. Higher deficit is attributed to a fall in the country’s exports due to falling global prices.
The FAO estimates Tanzania's MY 2015-16 (July-June) rice imports at about 100,000 tons.
It estimates Tanzania's 2015 paddy rice production to decline about 7% to about 2.4 million tons from about 2.586 million tons in 2014. In Tanzania, rice is a Msimu/unimodal crop and is grown between November – June every year.
Europe
The EU imported about 583,986 tons of rice during the period September 1, 2015 - February 23, 2016, up about 18% from about 493,787 tons imported during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) total milled rice production (Japonica and Indica) is estimated at about 1.772 million tons in the marketing/crop year (MY) 2015-16 (September 2015 - August 2016), up about 8% from an estimated 1.637 million tons in MY 2014-15, according to the latest balance sheet published by the EU Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development (EU-DGARD). 
Other Markets
The FAO forecasts Iran to import about 1.2 million tons of rice in 2015-16 (April-March) despite an increase in 2015 paddy rice production. The agency estimates Iran's 2015 paddy rice production to increase by about 17% to about 2.7 million tons from about 2.3 million tons during the previous year.
The FAO forecasts South Korea to import 440,000 tons of rice in 2016. The agency estimates South Korea's 2015 paddy rice production at about 5.8 million tons, up about 2% from about 5.638 million tons in 2014 due to favourable weather conditions, which boosted yields to an all-time record of 7.2 tons per hectare. Separately, the government of South Korea is planning to purchase about 157,000 tons of rice from local farmers next month as part of its efforts to stabilize prices, Yonhap News quotes a ruling party lawmaker. It will reportedly spend about 140 billion won (about $113.6 million) for the purpose. Meanwhile, the government of South Korea is planning to sell old rice from its stocks to animal feed industry as part of efforts to handle increasing rice inventory and declining consumption as well as to reduce corn imports, Yonhap News quoted the Agriculture Ministry.
The FAO forecasts Japan's MY 2015-16 (April - March) rice imports at about 700,000 tons. The agency forecasts Japan's 2015 paddy rice production at about 10.2 million tons, down about 5% from 10.77 million tons in 2014 due to a reduction in the paddy area reflecting a decline in prices. Separately, Japanese rice traders are expecting the country to import more rice this year due to an increase in domestic prices.
The USDA has estimated Malaysia's milled rice imports to increase to about 1.05 million tons in MY 2015-16 (January 2016 - December 2016), up about 5% from about one million tons in MY 2014-15 due to an expected slight increase in local demand. In 2015, Malaysia imported about one million tons of rice worth $515 million. The agency estimates Malaysia's MY 2015-16 milled rice production to remain stable at last year's level of about 1.8 million tons due to the prevailing of dry weather conditions in 2015. Meanwhile, the FAO forecasts Malaysia's 2015 paddy rice production at a record 2.7 million tons, up about 2% from about 2.645 million tons in 2014 despite a slight contraction in paddy area due to favourable weather conditions, increased yields and continued government support to the rice sector.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) forecasts Australia's MY 2015-16 (April 2015 - March 2016) paddy rice production to decline to about 305,000 tons (about 240,950 tons, basis milled), down about 58% from an estimated 724,000 tons (about 570,380 tons, basis milled) in MY 2014-15.
Ukraine's 2016 rice output is expected to increase about 12% due to an expected increase in acreage by about 23%, local sources quoted the Director of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Agrarian Economics."
February Tenders:
Syria has issued a tender to purchase 8,113 tons of white long-grain rice of third class.
South Korea issued a tender to buy about 40,000 tons of non-glutinous rice in tenders for delivery between May 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016; and bought about 25,000 tons of rice of the U.S. and Indian origins.
Iraq is seeking to buy about 30,000 tons of rice in tenders from the U.S., Uruguay and Argentina.
The Mauritius’ state purchasing agency has issued an international tender to purchase up to 6,000 tons of long-grain white rice.
Taiwan has completed the 2016 U.S. rice Simultaneous Buy and Sell (SBS) tender of 35,600 tons at the first scheduled held on February 18.
Research and Scientific Development:
The President of India has highlighted the need for more research in developing climate-resilient rice varieties, which can withstand extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods and cyclones.
Researchers from the University of Vertinary and Animal Sciences have found means to replace wheat bran with rice husk in animal feed industry.
The USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is developing a new software called "Rice Studio," which can be used along with consumer-grade photo scanners, to grade rice by measuring the percentage of broken kernels in milled rice quickly and accurately.
A group of scientists from twelve universities in eight countries are working to develop a new hyper-efficient, drought-resistant rice variety known as C4.
South Korea's Rural Development Administration is planning to encourage local companies to produce medicines and other health products using black rice as it contains one of the highest levels of anthocyanin antioxidants, which act as anti-cancer agents.
Researchers from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have adapted the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique, which has been proven useful in detecting viruses in animals and humans, to detect viruses in rice plants.
Indian scientists are trying to develop rice varieties that can yield rice in drought conditions.
Researchers from the University of Western Australia have launched a plant proteins database called Crop Proteins with Annotated Locations (CropPAL) to help scientists to get more targeted information on breeding new rice varieties.
The Life+Ebro-Admiclim project carried out by the researchers at the Institute of Research & Technology Food & Agriculture (IRTA) in Spain aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in rice fields.
A scientist from the University of Philippines in Los Baños is developing a mechanical device called Mechanical Postharvest Pest Removal System (MPReS) to easily remove pests from rice and corn in an environment-friendly manner.

 

Cambodian Rice Federation Reiterates Need for Government Intervention to Protect Local Farmers and Millers


Mar 08, 2016

Members of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) have written a letter to the Commerce Ministry to effectively deal with the challenges faced by the local rice sector, according to the Khmer Times.

The CRF letter follows a letter from a group of millers and exporters called the Rice Industry Strategic Key Solution (RISKS) to the Ministry. Last week, the group had written to the Ministry urging it to act quickly on the issues faced by the country's rice sector. They also warned in the letter that if the government does not take immediate steps, most of the exporters and millers are likely to become bankrupt very soon. The mainly highlighted on increasing imports from Vietnam and lack of finance facilities to traders and exporters.

The letter by the Federation urged the Ministry to act quickly on the above issues. According to the letter, the CRF has identified short-, medium- and long-term solutions for the problems faced by the rice sector.

In the short-term, the CRF has asked the government to curb rice imports from Vietnam by mandating all rice importers to have import licenses. In the medium- and long-term, the CRF stated that the government should address problems of paddy storage facilities, high interest rates on loans and high electricity costs for millers.

“It has a huge impact on Cambodian farmers, consumers and rice millers. It is not too late to act now, but it will be too late if the recommendations of the rice millers and exporters are not taken into account and implemented soon,” said one of the top rice exporters.
The CRF President noted that the federation is committed to working closely with the government, relevant ministries and stakeholders to resolve the issues facing the rice sector.

 

Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Fall as Traders Make Adjustments to Holdings ahead of USDA S&D Report


Mar 09, 2016

Chicago rough rice futures for May delivery settled $0.165 cents were cwt (about $4/ton) lower at $10.535 per cwt (about $232 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher; Soybeans closed about 0.3% higher at $8.8450 per bushel; wheat finished about 0.5% higher at $4.6525 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 0.4% higher at $3.6050 per bushel.

U.S. stocks held lower in choppy trade Tuesday after weaker-than-expected Chinese trade data renewed concerns about global growth. The major averages came well off session lows in midday trade as gains in utilities, telecoms and consumer staples offset declines in energy. China's exports fell 25.4% year-over-year in February, more than expected and the largest since May 2009, according to Reuters. The trade surplus was at $32.59 billion in February, versus analysts' expectations of a $50.15 billion surplus. Analysts largely attributed the sharp drop in the data to a slowdown in business activity around the early February Lunar New Year holidays,
Reuters said. Exports for the first two months of the year were still down 17.8% and imports off 16.7% from the same period last year.

 The data also showed China's February crude oil imports jumped 20% on year to their highest ever on a daily basis, driven by import quotas and stockpiling. In afternoon trade, the Dow Jones industrial average declined 25 points, or 0.15%, to 17,048. The S&P 500 traded down 9 points, or 0.47%, at 1,992, with energy leading six sectors lower and consumer staples leading advancers. The Nasdaq composite declined 17 points, or 0.38%, to 4,681. Gold is seen trading about 0.1% lower, crude oil is seen trading about 4.2% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.1% higher at about  2:30pm Chicago time.

Monday, there were 677 contracts traded, up from 352 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday increased by 70 contracts to 11,919. 

 

Losses from Thai Rice Pledging Scheme Higher Than Previous Estimates, Says Government Official

Mar 08, 2016

The Finance Ministry committee that is looking into the accounts of the rice pledging scheme, introduced by the previous government, has reported that the actual losses from the scheme are higher than the earlier estimates of around 680 billion baht (around $19 billion), according to local sources.Following the second meeting with the committee this year, the Permanent Secretary of Finance told reporters that the losses have crossed the earlier estimated figure due to the deterioration of the stockpiled rice and falling rice prices. He also noted that the losses may be higher than the initial predictions if the interest rates and the rental fees are also taken into account. He affirmed that no rice had gone missing from the stockpiles.

The official, however, did not reveal the details of the scheme's total losses and costs. The committee's report is likely to be presented to the National Rice Policy Commission next week.
It is likely that the committee's report may be used as evidence as the former Prime Minister and former Commerce Minister in the rice pledging case.

Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Prices Drop as South American Tender Offers Come in Well under U.S. Origin

 

Mar 09, 2016 
The U.S. cash market was weaker today after offers for the latest Iraqi tender were announced showing that yet again the U.S. was uncompetitive against South American origins.

Analysts note that the cheapest offer from the U.S. was $93 per ton more expensive than the cheapest offers from Argentina and $64 per ton more expensive than the cheapest offer from Uruguay.Adding to today’s bearish sentiment was the news that Argentina sold 15,000 MT of 5% broken bulk white rice to Mexico at $450 per ton CFR Veracruz.

Mexico is the U.S.’s main export market and analysts note if the U.S. loses substantial market share in that country it could be devastating to U.S. prices.

Exclusive News have been shared with written permission of ORYZA.com with thanks
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8th March 2016 Daily Global Rice e-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Today Rice News Headlines...

·         UNISAME's request to FCCOPI regarding urgent meeting on Rice Industry

·         Korean gov’t to buy 157,000 tons of rice to stabilize prices

·         Award proves research is cream of the crop

·         Private-public collaboration needed for rice R&D
·         El Nino effect: Salt wounds Vietnam’s rice crop
·         Lao Rice-export Target Sparks Alarm
·         Report calls for action to keep rice sector afloat
·         KPPU Finds Early Indications of Cartel Practices in Wholesale Rice Marketi
·         Jakarta. Indonesia's antimonopoly agency says it has found indications of cartel practices in the country's largest rice wholesale market, which cause prices of the staple to rise during certain months of the year.
·         USA Rice Encourages Kids to 'Wake Up' to School Breakfast
·         Are CARBS the new cigarettes? White bread, bagels and rice 'increase the risk of lung cancer by 49%', experts warn
·         Natural Products Expo West 2016 preview scoop of top exhibitors!
·         Slow cookers bring out the best in pork and Indian flavors
·         SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER VINDALOO
·         Hain Celestial Celebrates Innovation at Natural Products Expo West 2016
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
·         Rice Prices
News Detail...
UNISAME's request to FCCOPI regarding urgent meeting on Rice Industry
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has requested the standing committee on rice of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCC&I) to hold urgent meeting on immediate and long term measures needed to save the rice industry. The union also invited the attention of the ministries of commerce, industry, science and technology and agriculture to the urgent need to join hands for the modernization of rice farming, milling,processing and marketing and to enable it to meet the global challenges
President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the FPCC&I standing committee meeting scheduled for 9th March 2016 has been postponed indefinitely. It is very important that it is convened without delay, it is very unfortunate that rice industry which is ranked as the second biggest after textiles is left mercilessly neglected. Regardless of the fact that it employs huge number of entrepreneurs from farm land to factories.
The SME rice farmers, millers, processors, traders and exporters are in turmoil due to the step motherly treatment of the government. The cost of production has gone high and this has made the rice industry noncompetitive. The farm inputs have become costly. The only answer to survival is value addition, quality bench mark and entering non traditional markets. Thaver urged Rafique Suleman chairman FPCC&I committee on rice to invite the officers of the ministries of agriculture, commerce, industry and science and technology to attend the meeting and co-ordinate with one another for the uplift of the rice sector
UNISAME
Korean gov’t to buy 157,000 tons of rice to stabilize prices
March 7, 2016
SEOUL (Yonhap) — The government said Tuesday that it will purchase an additional 157,000 tons of locally produced rice last year, as part of its effort to stabilize market prices.Under the measure approved at a Cabinet meeting, the government will spend 140 billion won (US$113.6 million) to isolate 157,000 tons of rice from the market following its previous purchase of 200,000 tons in October 2015.In 2015, South Korea harvested a surplus amount of 3.57 million tons of rice.The government will resell the reserved rice in the market after considering supply and demand conditions, as well as local prices, officials said.
The Seoul government purchases the staple grain as part of the country’s strategic reserves so it can cope with national emergencies, or a sudden spike in international grain prices. The purchase of rice also directly impacts the income of farmers.A huge surplus of rice coupled with Koreans eating less rice and more bread has led to a fall in rice prices over the years.The state-controlled rice stockpile reached 1.9 million tons at the end of 2015, according to agriculture ministry data.

http://www.koreatimesus.com/korean-govt-to-buy-157000-tons-of-rice-to-stabilize-prices/

 

Award proves research is cream of the crop


Professor Peter Halley and QUT’s Emeritus Professor Graeme George with the award.
New degradable plastic film that is less than the width of a human hair is helping to regenerate native trees and establish high-value crops.The new technology, developed by a team in partnership with the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Polymers, with The University of Queensland’s Professor Peter Halley as co-project leader, won the Excellence in Innovation Award at the CRC Association gala dinner last night (8 March).Professor Halley said the ultra-thin films were applied to the crop at seeding, trapping heat and moisture close to the ground to create a greenhouse effect.“As the plants grow, the plastic film breaks down in the sunlight, removing any environmental hazards,” Professor Halley said.
“This is a great benefit to crop growers, as they will be able to plant earlier, improve the germination of their crops, use less water and potentially produce higher yields.“Licensed by Australian company Integrated Packaging, the new plastic film technology is already in use in Ireland for the production of maize.”Integrated Packaging CEO John Cerini said his company joined the CRC for Polymers seeking to improve the technology of the film to make it more sustainable for a wider range of crops.“Our collaboration with the CRC led us to a new range of films that give greater control over the timing of a film’s degradation both above and below ground,” Mr Cerini said.The CRC is also developing a computer-based support tool to help farmers decide when to use the films for a given crop by providing information on the best time to plant, the grade of film product to use, the likely yield and the potential costs and benefits.
The technology is being adapted to Australian conditions and farming practices and to more than a dozen commercially important crops in a series of field trials run across four states.Professor Halley said the trials demonstrated that the films resulted in more uniform germination, early growth and establishment.“Also, many crop specific benefits were seen, such as a wider growing season, the opportunity for a price premium for getting to market early, the ability to grow higher value crops in cooler regions, more efficient use of available water, and increased yields,” he said.
CRC for Polymers CEO Dr Ian Dagley said the new technology was the result of more than a decade of research in the CRC between Integrated Packaging, UQ, QUT, CSIRO, ANSTO, Greening Australia, Birchip Cropping and Rice Research Australia.“It demonstrates the great value of the CRC Programme which assists companies to develop new products that result from collaborative multidisciplinary research with Australian universities and research organisations.”The CRCP team at UQ consisted of Professor Halley, Associate Professor Rowan Truss, Dr Bronwyn Laycock, Dr Greg Cash, Ms Emilie Gauthier, Mr Michael Murphy, Mr John Milne, Dr Paul Luckman, Dr Jorja Cork, Dr Sherri Hsu and Dr Tim Nicholson, with strong involvement from researchers at QUT, the Queensland Government and Queensland farmers.

Media: Madelene Flanagan, m.flanagan@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 8525

Private-public collaboration needed for rice R&D

 [COTONOU, BENIN] Africa’s private and public sector institutions should collaborate to address rice research and production challenges, a forum has heard.Rice researchers, scientists, policymakers, processors and seed producers who a attended the 2016 AfricaRice Science Week and Global Rice Science Partnership-Africa Science Forum last month (1-5 February) at the Africa Rice Center in Benin. 
The conference was organised by AfricaRice, a member of the CGIAR Consortium, to review activities carried out by rice sector development hub teams carried out in 2015. 

“The private sector’s involvement is absolutely essential to develop rice cultivation.”

Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice


The forum also sought to disseminate scalable technologies for rice production and carry out effective and efficient planning of rice research-for-development (R4D) activities in 2016.The forum was attended by 200 experts from 30 countries, 27 of which are in Africa, including Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Nigeria and Senegal.Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice deputy director-general, told the forum that African countries will face a strong demand for rice of around 38 million tons by 2040, urging researchers to help farmers increase production capacity “to grow rice in Africa for Africa”. “The private sector’s involvement is absolutely essential to develop rice cultivation,” Wopereis said. Rice experts said that the combined efforts and strengths of public-private sector partnerships of all actors in the rice value chain could help increase production and stimulate research on rice in Africa.

 Noting that rice is a strategic crop for achieving food security and providing export opportunities, AfricaRice director-general Harold Roy-Macauley, called for intensifying advances in scientific research to encourage such partnerships that are crucial for the development of increased rice production in Africa.Sali Ndindeng, a researcher at AfricaRice, told SciDev.Net: “We have the same interests and a partnership between the private and public sector will achieve these interests.”Lucie Eulalie Racalaharimino, a manager at Relharf Agro Business, a seed production company in Madagascar, added: “The close collaboration between the public and private sectors will allow us to know in advance the most efficient [rice] varieties for our business.”
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk

http://www.scidev.net/sub-saharan-africa/cooperation/news/private-public-collaboration-rice-r-d.html

El Nino effect: Salt wounds Vietnam’s rice crop

By AT Editor on March 7, 2016
(From Radio Free Asia)
Vietnamese rice farmers are facing tough times this year as drought continues to punish the country’s rice bowl bringing salt levels in the Mekong delta to record levels.
The  Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is already reporting that more than 200,000 metric tons of rice have been damaged, resulting in a loss of over 1 trillion VND ($44.64 million U.S.) to the region. It’s a number that is likely to grow as the ministry expects salinity in the delta to reach its highest level in a century.According to the ministry, saltwater intrusion appeared two months earlier than previous years due to serious river water shortages that are caused, at least in part, by dry conditions that began in 2013. If the drought persists until June, it could put some 500,000 hectares of rice crops at risk.
Not only is the drought harming rice farmers, but Hanoi blames the dry weather for a fresh water shortage affecting some 575,000 people throughout the region.“The source of water this year is lower than before, this leads to deeper salinization compared to previous years,” Duong Van Ni, an expert of Can Tho University told RFA. “This is partly due to the weather conditions.”A rice farmer drills a well to water a drought-hit rice field in the southern Mekong delta province of Soc Trang, March 2, 2016.
El Nino effect
Both 2013 and 2014 were drier than usual, while 2015 saw the complete lack of the normal flood as an El Nino began to grip the Pacific, he said. The drought and more upstream agricultural development in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are pushing saline levels up, he explained.
“Because of El Nino effects this year, the water is very salty,” rice farmer Ben Tre told RFA. “Normally it is not salty after Tet, but this year the water was salty since the tenth month of the lunar year last year.”
Salinity in the Vam Co, Tien and Hau Rivers and other rivers in the delta is now higher than traditional levels. Meanwhile, saltwater has intruded upstream 50 to 60 kilometers into the mainland, and even 93 kilometers in the Vam Co River’s neighborhood, about 15 to 20 kilometers deeper than previous years, according to local media reports.
The problem has caught Hanoi’s attention as Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a Feb. 17 meeting at Can Tho where he pledged  VND 2.3 billion (U.S.$ 103,132) in government aid for farmers in the region.
The government has organized a meeting with relevant ministries and leaders of all 12 Mekong Delta provinces on Monday to discuss solutions, according to TuoiTreNews.
River stress
The Mekong River delta has been under stress for quite some time as many countries in Asia see the river 2,700-mile-long river as a road to industrialization. Countries that have a claim on the Mekong have built dozens of dams along the river.
China and Laos see the river as a way slake the region’s thirst for electricity as well as for agriculture and flood control. By 2020 Beijing wants to produce 282 gigawatts of hydroelectric power, and Laos wants electricity to become its major source of revenue by 2025.
Daming the river changes its water flow and is expected to have impact on agricultural production downstream, and particularly in countries like Vietnam that lie near the Mekong’s mouth. Dams block sediment that normally flows into the delta, causing it to shrink.
Add in the effects of climate change which is causing sea levels to rise,and the Mekong gets hit with an environmental double-whammy.
While the government is taking action to ease the burden for rice farmers and others living on the delta, Duong Van Ni said it could be too little too late.
“Irrigation projects have been carried out. Dykes to prevent salinization have been built in some place, and in others farmers have even changed their crops,” he explained. “However, most of the measures are just for the short term and do not address the issue for a longer term. I think what they need to do is to provide people with capacity to deal with risks.”
Reported by Gia Minh  for RFA’s Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Radio Free Asia

http://atimes.com/2016/03/el-nino-effect-salt-wounds-vietnams-rice-crop/


Lao Rice-export Target Sparks Alarm

Khmer Times/May Kunmakara
 Wednesday, 09 March 2016
Local rice millers and exporters have responded with alarm to the rice-export target set by the Lao government of 1 million tons this year, while Cambodian rice millers and traders have yet to overcome numerous barriers hindering their competitiveness at home and abroad.The Cambodian government missed its target of exporting 1 million tons of milled rice last year.

Oryza, a rice industry website based in Thailand, quoted the director of the department of planning and cooperation at the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, as saying the impoverished landlocked county is aiming to export 1 million tons of rice this year.The website said the Lao government has set a production target of about 4.2 million tons of paddy in the 2015-2016 season. The director said the target includes 40,000 tons of rice for reserve purposes and 60,000 tons for seeding. The Lao government is also planning to have 2.1 million tons for domestic consumption this year.

“To boost rice production, the government is encouraging local farmers to increase the area under wet rice cultivation to 1 million hectares and that of upland rice to 100,000 hectares,” the director is quoted as saying.Son Saran, the president of Cambodia Amru Rice (Cambodia), one of the country’s leading milled rice exporters, told Khmer Times yesterday that the Kingdom already faces challenges with Vietnamese rice flooding the local market and a lack of funding for millers to buy paddy. He said Cambodia’s rice sector will now face another challenge when it has to compete in the export market with Laos.
The intention of Laos to increase rice production will affect Cambodian rice producers as the target market will be the same. We see Lao rice as a similar type as Cambodia produces,” Mr. Saran said. He urged the government to take immediate action to address the issues in the local industry in order to avoid a crisis.“This will put more pressure on the rice industry – more pressure to solve our issues so we can prevent a crisis. If no action is taken, our rice industry will slowly collapse and our farmers will be affected in the long term,” he added. Mr. Saran said the government should intervene and stabilize the supply chain, seed production, find financing to buy paddy, add drying facilities, improve logistics and reduce the cost of electricity for millers.
 
Hun Lak, the Managing Director of Mekong Oryza Trading, a local rice exporter and also the vice-president of the Cambodia Rice Federation, said there will now be more competition in traditional export markets. “Actually, Laos didn’t export much before, but now they are attempting to export big amounts. Of course, we will compete with them as they have the same markets and trade we have,” he said.“Local rice millers and exporters have to cooperate together to find ways or a strategy to maintain our market share and our export volume,” he added.

Early last week, a group of “activist” millers and exporters within the federation bypassed its senior leaders and sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce warning that the rice sector could collapse within two years if the government did not take swift action.They warned that besides driving domestic millers out of business, a failure to address threats to the industry as well as weaknesses in its value chain would cause massive uncertainty, poverty and unrest in rural areas as farmers would not be able to sell their paddy.The rice federation will hold a press conference today to release its strategies and outline what action it will take to address challenges the rice sector is facing.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22477//

Report calls for action to keep rice sector afloat

Tue, 8 March 2016
Cheng Sokhorng
A group of rice millers and exporters critical of the direction in which the rice industry is being steered submitted a detailed report to the Commerce Ministry yesterday, warning that local producers were being driven to bankruptcy and calling for immediate action, such as a quota on rice imports and debt rescheduling for millers, to alleviate the sector’s woes.The report expands on a presentation made during a meeting last week between the group, whose initiative is called Rice Industry Strategic Key Solution (RISKS), and Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol, in which its members outlined the rice sector’s deteriorating conditions and cast blame in part on the ineffectual governance of the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF).
Following the presentation, Chanthol requested a more detailed report on the situation and recommendations, which he said would be forwarded to Prime Minister Hun Sen.Of the suggested action, the group prioritised the imposition of a quota on the import of milled rice from Vietnam, which they say makes local millers less competitive, as well as working with commercial banks and microfinance institutions to delay millers’ debt payments.“According to estimates, around 700,000 tonnes to 800,000 tonnes of milled rice was imported from Vietnam in 2015,” the report reads. “These imports from Vietnam have ‘taken over and invaded’ the local rice market.”
The RISKS group, which has grown from 18 members last week to 24 now, claims that the flood of milled rice imports from Vietnam has driven 40 per cent of Cambodian millers out of business in the last three years.The proposed rice quota, the group says, would limit foreign imports to 100,000 tonnes a year and add a 35 per cent tax to the invoiced price of the imported rice. It said similar measures have been implemented in other countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.“We have a lot of our own potential for rice export, so there is a case for a quota limiting the import of rice” said Kann Kunthy, CEO of Battambang rice miller Brico. “We have already studied this suggestion and it will have no issues with WTO regulations.”
Kunthy said the group’s nine-point solution needed to be addressed in the next three months if the government wanted millers to reach its ambitious one-million-tonne per year milled rice export target.
“We have done 50 per cent of the work by finding solutions and the government has to help complete the remaining 50 per cent by implementation,” he said, adding the CRF has failed to address the industry’s troubles since it was formed two years ago.Softening its initial demand, the RISKS group urged the government to help millers obtain $250 million in soft loans at 4 per cent interest per annum, while pushing back their loan obligations.“We suggest that banks and microfinance institutions reschedule the loan payments for rice millers in order to give them a chance for survival,” said Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice and a member of the RISKS initiative.
Other solutions listed in the report include stricter enforcement of punitive action for millers found mixing local and imported rice, reducing the cost of electricity for millers and elimination of the value-added tax (VAT) for millers.In response to the group’s first meeting with the Commerce Ministry, the CRF issued a press release last week stating that it was looking at three key issues – rice imports from neighbouring countries, shortage of financing options for millers and high electricity costs.“The CRF is trying their best to work with relevant stakeholders to seek solutions for the rice sector and requests that all members join us and find a solution together,” said CRF president Sok Puthyvuth.
Contact author: Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/report-calls-action-keep-rice-sector-afloat
KPPU Finds Early Indications of Cartel Practices in Wholesale Rice Marketing

Jakarta. Indonesia's antimonopoly agency says it has found indications of cartel practices in the country's largest rice wholesale market, which cause prices of the staple to rise during certain months of the year.
President Joko Widodo last year called on the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) to investigate domestic rice trading after the government had to import rice despite official data showing that the harvest actually exceeded local demand.The agency suspects that certain large traders at the Cipinang Wholesale Rice Market – the nation's main rice exchange – often block supplies from other provinces in favor of imported rice, KPPU chairman Syarkawi Rauf said on Monday (08/03)."They often drive the prices up high enough to vindicate demand for rice imports [...] because there is more profit in selling imported rice," Syarkawi said.
The traders can make 10 percent profit on imported rice, compared to just 3 percent on local rice. They also buy the rice from state procurement agency Bulog's nearby warehouses, resulting in significant savings on transport costs compared to having to source the commodity from other regions, the KPPU chairman added.The agency says a group of five to seven companies control 70 percent of local market trade, compared to Bulog, which only has the capacity to supply 20 percent of the country's rice demand."We are having trouble to find evidence, because their operations are quite sophisticated," Syarkawi said.However, he said the KPPU was expected to gather enough evidence for a hearing on the case in April.
Meanwhile, Nellys Sukidi, chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Rice Millers and Entrepreneurs Association (Perpadi), dismissed any notion of cartel practices in the local market."In Cipinang alone we have 600 traders with 3,000 tons of rice changing hands every day [...] There is also real-time, transparent pricing information available," Nellys said. "What is there to be manipulated?"
http://www.jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/business/kppu-finds-early-indications-cartel-practices-wholesale-rice-market/
USA Rice Encourages Kids to 'Wake Up' to School Breakfast 
By Deborah Willenborg
 ARLINGTON, VA -- USA Rice is helping schools around the country celebrate School Breakfast Week with three great tasting, healthy recipes developed especially for the foodservice K-12 program.  The three recipes, Berry Breakfast Brown Rice, Creamy Cinnamon Breakfast Rice Pudding, and Great Day Rice Wrap, feature U.S.-grown rice in the center of the plate.
 "These breakfast recipes are part of our effort to promote rice beyond the side dish to the center of the plate and to get people thinking about rice for other meals besides dinner," said Katie Maher, USA Rice director of domestic promotion.
 Maher added, "By attending the School Nutrition Association (SNA) conferences over the years, we've compiled a database of influential school foodservice operators so we can regularly communicate with them and share new recipes and resources.  This week, USA Rice sent an e-newsletter to SNA contacts promoting School Breakfast Week along with links to the three recipes and our Rice 101 Guide."
Rice 101 is a compilation of everything a school cafeteria staff needs to know about how to make perfect rice for students in one handy reference guide.  No matter which type of rice or equipment the school kitchen uses, the answers are all in the guide.  There is also a collection of delicious rice recipes that meet child nutrition program requirements for grains in school meals.
 The annual school breakfast celebration was launched in 1989 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to raise awareness about the availability of the School Breakfast Program which meets federal dietary guidelines and to highlight the established link between eating breakfast and academic success.

Are CARBS the new cigarettes? White bread, bagels and rice 'increase the risk of lung cancer by 49%', experts warn

By LISA RYAN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 23:21 GMT, 7 March 2016 | UPDATED: 17:24 GMT, 8 March 2016

Many studies suggest carbohydrates are bad for your waistline.
But a new study has warned they may also be bad for your lungs.
Specifically, foods with a high glycemic index - such as white bread or bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice - may increase the risk of lung cancer, scientists say.
And non-smokers, who account for 12 per cent of those killed by the disease, appear to be particularly at risk.
Scientists say foods with a high glycemic index - including white bread, bagels, corn flakes and puffed rice - increase a person's risk of lung cancer, even if they have never smoked The glycemic index is a measure of the quality of dietary carbohydrates - and is defined by how quickly blood sugar levels are raised after a meal.
The theory now is that a high-GI diet triggers higher levels of blood glucose and insulin.
This, in turn, increases levels of a type of hormone called Insulin-Like Growth Factors (IGFs).
Elevated levels of IGFs have previously been linked with a higher risk of lung cancer.
Lead study author Dr Stephanie Melkonian, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, said: 'We observed a 49 per cent increased risk of lung cancer among subjects with the highest daily GI compared to those with the lowest daily GI.' 
And the findings suggest cutting out foods with high glycemic index could reduce a person's risk of developing lung cancer.  
Examples of low GI foods include whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal and wholemeal pasta.
However the study also found glycemic load - a related measure of carbohydrate quantity - had no significant association with lung cancer risk.This suggests it is the average quality, instead of quantity, of carbohydrates consumed that may modulate lung cancer risk. 
Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women across the US.
Furthermore, it is also the leading cause of cancer deaths.

ALL ABOUT THE GLYCEMIC INDEX 

The glycemic index, or GI, measures how a carbohydrate-containing food raises blood glucose. 
Foods are ranked based on how they compare to a reference food — either glucose or white bread.
A food with a high GI raises blood glucose more than a food with a medium or low GI. 
Foods with low GI include:
·         100% stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread 
·         Oatmeal (rolled or steel-cut), oat bran, muesli 
·         Wholemeal pasta, converted rice, barley, bulgar wheat 
·         Sweet potato, corn, yam, lima/butter beans, peas, legumes and lentils
Foods with high GI include: 
·         White bread or bagel 
·         Corn flakes, puffed rice, bran flakes, instant oatmeal 
·         Shortgrain white rice, rice pasta, macaroni and cheese from mix 
·         Russet potato, pumpkin 
·         Pretzels, rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers 
·         melons and pineapple
Source: American Diabetes Association  
More than 150,000 people in the US are expected to die from lung cancer in 2016, according to an estimate from the American Cancer Society.Meanwhile in the UK there are around 45,525 new cases of the disease diagnosed each year, while 35,371 people lose their life to the disease annually, according to Cancer Research UK.And while tobacco is the leading cause of lung cancer it does not account for all cases - particularly for those who never smoked. The new study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, is the largest ever to investigate the potential link between glycemic index and lung cancer.It is also the first to show GI was more significantly associated with lung cancer risk in specific subgroups - including people who had never smoked and those with the sub-type squamous cell carcinoma.
Previous studies have found that dietary factors may have an influence on a person's risk of developing lung cancer.

Diets high in fruits and vegetables were found to decrease the risk - while increased consumption of red meat, saturated fats and dairy products are know to increase the risk of the disease.Dr Melkonian said: 'Diets high in glycemic index result in higher levels of blood glucose and insulin, which promote perturbations [disturbances] in the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs).'Previous research suggests increased levels of IGFs are associated with increased lung cancer risk. 'However, the association between glycemic index and lung cancer risk was unclear.'For this study, the research team surveyed 1,905 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer - and found there was a higher risk of lung cancer in patients with the highest daily GI.Senior study author Dr Xifeng Wu said: 'The associations were more pronounced among subjects who were never smokers, diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma or had less than 12 years of education. 
+2
The study found high glycemic foods increase the risk of lung cancer by 49 per cent - perhaps because they trigger important hormonal fluctuations in the body The scientists also found that among people who had never smoked, those with high GI were more than twice as likely to develop lung cancer.And for smokers, the risk was only elevated by 31 per cent compared to those in the lowest GI group.Furthermore, those with the highest GI levels were 92 per cent were more likely to develop the squamous cell carcinoma sub-type, as compared to the lowest GI group.
Participants who had less than 12 years of education were 77 per cent more likely to develop lung cancer than those in the lowest group.In contrast, those with more than 12 years of education only had an elevated risk of 33 per cent. The study recommended that people limit foods and beverages with high GI.Examples of low GI foods include whole-wheat or pumpernickel bread, rolled or steel-cut oatmeal and pasta. Dr Wu said: 'The results from this study suggest that, besides maintaining healthy lifestyles, such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption and being physically active, reducing the consumption of foods and beverages with high glycemic index may serve as a means to lower the risk of lung cancer.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3481226/Are-CARBS-new-cigarettes-White-bread-bagels-rice-increase-risk-lung-cancer-49-experts-warn.html#ixzz42P51AYkE 
/www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3481226/Are-CARBS-new-cigarettes-White-bread-bagels-rice-increase-risk-lung-cancer-49-experts-warn.html

Natural Products Expo West 2016 preview scoop of top exhibitors!

8th March 2016 by April Neale

One of our favorite finds are the gluten free 34 Degree Crisps!
Monsters and Critics is heading to the best food show around for health conscious foodies, the annual Natural Products Expo West 2016 in Anaheim, CA.Always one of our favorite destinations, the Natural Products Expo West is the largest tradeshow in the natural, organic and healthy products industry and is held at the Hilton Anaheim March 10-12, 2016 and the Anaheim Convention Center March 11-13, 2016.As we do annually, M&C has a jump start on the Expo and we’ve been eating our way through some exceptional new food items.  Every year we munch, chew, drink and savor everything under the sun sent to us for inclusion in our Best of The Show picks ahead of the event to alert buyers and consumers what to look for.
This year we have discovered some incredible new entries in the sweets, snack, vegetarian and non-veg categories that will be at a grocery near you soon… if not already.
The majority of items are made in the USA by smaller companies who have worked hard to make a mark in a very competitive field of non-GMO, gluten free, and organically sourced ingredients.
Highly recommend are the following fantastic finds for anyone attending this event to look for:
They are all individually wrapped and so good!
There really was an Ines! In 1910, she began making Olive Oil Tortas by hand and selling them at the train station in Seville, Spain. She used local extra virgin olive oil and unbleached wheat flour. In a short period of time, this Andalusian snack was knocking them dead in Spain.
Today, they are made by hand with the same recipe Ines Rosales created over one hundred years ago. Women from the local village are still employed to create her delectable baked goods in small batches.
We LOVED the tortas, in Original, Seville Orange, Cinnamon, Rosemary & Thyme and Sesame & Sea Salt. Eat them alone or with dips perfect for dipping or topping with cheese. the Cinnamon and Seville orange ones are brilliant with tea or coffee in the morning. They remind me of when I was little and my mom let me roll out her extra pie dough scraps, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and bake “cookies” until they were crispy and golden.
These Spanish cookies are the best-in-show as far as we are concerned.
Another genius item from Inés Rosales is their Cinnamon Cookies, a smaller thicker powdered sugar cookie with cinnamon and anise, a shortbread-like cookie with a caster sugar cover. They win for best cookie we tried of the show!
Genius for bikers, hikers and kids who love that candy bar break without the crap!
There is serious truth in advertising here as these all fruit leather bars are thicker than a rollup and way more satisfying. That’s it. makers of two-ingredient snack bars sent us their entire line of all fruit bars, and we are better for it.
You get real fruit and they limit the ingredient list two ingredients per flavor. And the top flavor for me? Apple + Coconut, incredible, moist and satisfying, the fruity apple is enhanced with the nutty coconut. There are nine flavors to choose from: Apple + Apricot, Apple + Banana, Apple + Blueberry, Apple + Cherry, Apple + Mango, Apple + Pear, Apple + Pineapple, Apple + Strawberry, and Apple + Coconut.
The bad stuff is missing. No additives, preservatives, concentrates, purees, juices, added sugars, corn syrup, artificial coloring, or flavoring are in them, and they have an 18-month shelf life. That’s it. fruit bars are gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, kosher, raw, and diabetic friendly.
So easy- my 420 people in Washington, Colorado, and California take note
Paleo friendly, non-GMO, naturally dairy, soy and gluten-free and low in sugar does not mean cardboard, people!
We whipped up the three mixes sent and found that the Chocolate Chip cookie mix was fast easy and made a good chewy cookie that delighted. The Artisan bread made great calzone dough and breadsticks and the waffle mix made fluffy gluten free waffles that rocked.
The Simple Mills Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Flour Mix makes 20-24 cookies made with 7 ingredients, you add eggs, oil, and vanilla, and bake for about 15 minutes. They were great and not at all dry like some mixes that use coconut flour. They really were good.
The artisan bread has half the sugar, twice the protein and half the carbs of regular bread, and is paleo-friendly, gluten-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO. You can creative with it and make a pizza crust or calzone wrap if you like.
Gooey, paste, vanilla bean flecks, say yes to this
Are you a mental case for good vanilla? Do you find yourself huffing the vanilla when no one is around? Or doubling the vanilla in every recipe because you just know the vanilla proportions are Just.All.Wrong?
Me too. Get ready to lose your mind with Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste, a kind of costly (about $30 for the bottle) but so worth it…pure vanilla with natural vanilla bean seeds in a gooey brown fragrant suspension infusing the pure vanilla pod into your desserts. 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract – but of course, if you are like me, you will still double it.
Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract
Orange you glad I showed you this?
I never realized what I was missing not having good orange extract in my life. That changed when they sent me Nielsen-Massey orange oil extract that is like having a thousand perfectly juiced navel oranges with the rind oil at your fingertips. Need orange zest? No problem. Need fresh juice? Bingo.  Chefs can use this with poultry, fish, and seafood dishes. The mixologist of the house can whip up some crafty run, gin and vodka masterpieces.
Orange Oil Extract Features Gluten-free, Kosher orange oil extract 100% Natural, Allergen-Free, GMO-Free 3 Year shelf life. It won;t last that long.
Dandies are super soft pillows of marshmallow love
USA!USA!USA! We make awesome healthy gluten free kosher marshmallows! Time to go off the sugar wagon and fire up some s’mores or hot chocolate.
Vegan puffy soft heaven! Non-GMO, Dandies Marshmallows are comprised of tapioca cane sugar and natural ingredients, and zero high fructose corn syrup or gelatin (they’re 100% vegan!), and are the first ever marshmallow to be Non-GMO Project Verified.  These suckers are made for those who demand their guilty pleasures adhere to the no horse hoof gelatine rules! So yay for Dandies.
yes they are calorific and full of gluten and sugar and dang it, I loved it
USA!USA!USA! We did it again, actually, Shela G did it, she made a tasty guilty pleasure that defies categories. Okay just stop judging. yes… they are full of gluten and sugar but they are made with really quality ingredients you should probably limit in your diet.
Personally, I always wanted the corner brownie, the crisped crunchy corner where the gooey fudge seemed to migrate to the middle I hate the middle. Brownie Bites are for people like me who like brownies flat, crispy and like a crunchy brittle cookie.  They are convenient and come in a new flavor I recommend: Peanut Butter Chip Brownie Brittle.
These caramels will make you a believer
So where’s the kale you ask? Not here! This right here is caramel heaven and homecooked Annie B’s caramels are made in the same copper kettles for 25 years.  They are enhanced with a bit of sea salt. Buttery and creamy caramel aromas that don’t stick to your teeth. If you dig caramels, this is the best.
They can be cut them up in brownies, on your apple pie, for your favorite sweet treat. Keep them refrigerated as no preservatives are in them approx. 3 mo. shelf life.
One cracker will sell you.
Laiki Rice Crackers
Red Rice/ Black Rice
These Thai crackers are like crack! Addictive, almost a popcorn lightness and really tasty, they go with everything and for the gluten free people, so darn worth your time to investigate. The secret to Laiki’s taste is black and red rice from Thailand. I don’t know how they do it with three ingredients, but these are buttery and crispy, super light and versatile, whether you eat them alone, with cheese or even peanut butter.
They are 100% whole grain, vegan, gluten-free, nonGMO. Laiki Crackers are made from rice, oil, salt and nothing else, made in a dedicated facility and ELISA tested for any presence of gluten with independent lab services provided by Intertek, a globally renowned testing firm AND they use sustainably-sourced palm oil from Thailand. Their palm oil does not harm orangutans or their habitat.
Thes crackers are like wisps of paper, tasty crunchy paper…
Oz-land rules! Aussies are the inventors of this eucharist-like ultra thin (paper actually) wafer of gluten-free love. Australian crispbread 34 Degrees was invented in Sydney and now is made in Colorado, where pot is legal, so their sales have to be amazing!
34 Degrees is a gold certified bakery and regularly audited by Silliker, the leading internationally accredited food testing and consulting network. HAACP-certified (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so these crackers are so pure and perfect, anyone concerned about gluten fear not.
Plus, they give to the Food Bank of the Rockies’ “Children’s Totes of Hope” program. Tote bags filled with 8-9 pounds of nutritious food are distributed on Fridays to hungry children in Colorado and Wyoming.  34 Degrees also gives to Project Angel Heart, an organization that delivers nutritious meals at no cost, for those coping with life-threatening illnesses.
Here’s what you need to know, nine crackers equals 50 calories. And they are ethereal, loaded with flavor but like air on the tongue. A perfect foil for a strong cheese or a dip, and addictive and toasty perfection. The Cracked Pepper and the Natural are our favorites.
Sprouted Chia, flax seed, and quinoa never tasted so good. These are AMAZING quality tortilla chips with a nacho flavor that does not taste artificial, and they disappeared in a nanosecond. Light, crispy, buttery, not too salty, just a fabulous new item from a company that knows how to make a chip. Head to booth #5586 to see what I’m talking about.  Best chips that we tried.
Coco be loco
This line of natural oils works my brain, they are exceptional and packaged so well. There newbie is Organic Sun Coco Oil, a unique blend of organic high-oleic sunflower oil and organic refined coconut oil IN A SPRAY! Love th econvenience, as I already use their Olive Oil and Seasme Oil in the spray form too. Neutral in flavor and with a smoke point of 440°F, Organic Sun Coco Oil combines high-heat properties of high-oleic sunflower oil and buttery texture from coconut oil, making it perfect for any non stick situation.
The new pourable “must haves’ in your pantry is their three winners: Herbes de Provence, Basil, and Garlic Oil. Making a vinaigrette? Use any of these. Stir frying anything? Garlic Oil! Making a pasta salad? Basil Oil! There. I just made summer season easier for you.
For the Sun Coco spray: Store in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate. Make sure to shake well before using. If stored at room temperatures under 76°F – coconut oil may solidify at the bottom.  Organic Sun Coco oil is Omega-rich, contains MCT oil and acts as a natural antioxidant due to the high level of vitamin E.
You will be speaking French in no time.
The Herbes de Provence Oil can take the heat and is fantastic for meat and fish. I used it as a brush on for the artisan bread from Simple Mills mentioned above! Grown in France by a five generation family owned-producer, the herbs are utilized at their freshest, they are naturally infused in organic expeller-pressed high-oleic sunflower oil. Herbs de Provence Infused Oil is made with fresh rosemary and thyme.
Of all the granolas, this one had to walk into that joint…
There are a million granolas. So why Viki’s? Simple. This granola pinged on taste, ease of eating, quality of ingredients and varieties. Granola can be a boondoggle, meaning it can rip the roof of your mouth out and shred it, or it can break your teeth.
This granola has a softness or smaller “bite” that makes it a pleasure to eat.  Simple ingredients, no fillers, salts or preservatives, mix in favorite yogurt or ice cream, enjoy it as a bowl of cereal with milk, or straight out of the bag.  Recommended: Viki’s Granola Original Honey, made of Rolled Oats, Honey, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Canola Oil, Unsweetened Coconut, Pecans. Contains Tree Nuts.
This used in Chai tea is bonkers and fabulous
Dense, moist coconut palm sugar is a brilliant swap for the white stuff. It’s a low-glycemic sweetener that is rich in minerals and delivers energy by delayed glucose absorption.  Nutiva’s palm sugar comes directly from the blossoms of Indonesian coconut trees. This coconut sugar has a brown sugar and caramel vibe. Unrefined, unprocessed, and mineral-rich, use it for baking, smoothies, and to balance out the flavor of savory dishes.
Where’s the kale? Not yet! Another natural sugar.  The Real Co organic raw cane sugar is made at the Assukar farms, owned by The Ortuño Family, in the Jurassic Park location of Tayutic Valley of Costa Rica. This multi-generational family-run farm dates back to 1877 and they make it in the original process, A true non-GMO cane crystal sugar.
Personally, I believe in quality real sugars over anything artificial, just use less of it. The farming and milling operations at Assukar farms is a sustainable community food product that employs ten villages.
No gas is used. Instead, through the use of animal traction, a non-pollutant manual method is utilized, see how they do it.
The Real Co Himalayan pink rock salt comes from a small mining community in the Karakorum range of the Western Himalayas. Hand-mined and crushed at the source, this has 84 live minerals, which is exactly the same as found in the human body. The alleged benefits of this natural salt include managing the water content throughout your body, healthy PH balance in your cells, hydration, anti-muscle cramping, blood pressure and circulation improvements and helps the intestines absorb nutrients.
The Real Co White Basmati Rice will have you hearing Zeppelin’s Kashmir in your head. It is sourced directly from one farm in the Himalayas. This unique farming situation – aging the grain six months – nets a grain that doubles in size when cooked.  Tastes amazing too.

We flipped for the tarter fruits like Cherries, Cranberries
Raisins but not raisins. Chewy, dried natural sweet balls of real fruit that can go solo or mix in with granola. This is a staple in our house for mulled wine (glogg) and for Sangria too, as the dried cherries are a secret flavor weapon. These are Washington State, USA grown, minus artificial colors or flavors, hydrogenated oils, sulfites, or high fructose corn syrup. Go for the dried cherries or the Blended Fruit Mix.
See? kale. Okay not as sexy as the Brownie Bites, but not everyone loves the sweets. Savory snacks rule and smart ones like Broccoli Bites and Roasted Kale by Rhythm are pretty amazing.  It is no secret that cruciferous veggie broccoli is full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, – a virtual powerhouse of nutrition and health benefits. Rhythm blends broccoli florets in a light dressing of seeds, veggies, herbs and spices, and dehydrates them at low temperatures to crispy perfection, preserving all of those naturally occurring nutrients for a straight outta the bag blissful snackathon.
Their 100% fresh organic Lacinato Kale is triple-washed, roasted in a delicate oil and seasoned preserving their vitamins A, K, and C.It’s wispy thin and full of flavor.

Nobody wants a mouthful of mercury…
Tuna is a disappearing species in the oceans, as it is being overfished and quite frankly, is a repository for heavy metals like mercury. SafeCatch mercury limits are ten times stricter than the FDA mercury action limit making it the official tuna of the American Pregnancy Association.  Safe Catch Elite Wild Tuna is also a fantastic tasting tuna and worth the extra money – this is your body and your health. Support these fishermen who do it right.
Spit that Slim Jim out and get some religion when it comes to a meat snack. Vermont Smoke & Cure launched three new flavors of its Meat Sticks during the 2015 Natural Products Expo East. They are also going to be at Natural Products Expo West! Like the other half-dozen flavors of the better-for-you meat snacks in the line, the Spicy Italian Pork, Rosemary Thyme Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken Sticks are gluten free and contain considerably less fat and salt than competing meat sticks.
Most meat sticks are snout or mushed up ears and guts, so be kind to yourself and eat real meat, not offal. These are made with quality meat. Beef in the sticks sources from lead supplier Pineland Farms Natural Meats in Maine or other similar suppliers. Pork is purchased at DuBreton in Quebec or from Coleman Natural Foods, which works with family farmers throughout the country to produce meat raised entirely without antibiotics
Slow cookers bring out the best in pork and Indian flavors


Slow cooker pork shoulder vindaloo in Concord, N.H. This dish is from a recipe by Meera Sodha. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)
By MEERA SODHA, Associated Press
Published: March 8, 2016, 6:07 AM
There’s a real joy in slowing down in the kitchen. Gone is the frantic stress of trying to get dinner on the table in an instant and in its place comes a different type of gentle cooking. It allows beautiful smells to waft through the house and ingredients to mingle and develop over time into something deep, rich and flavorful.
Of all slow cooked dishes, Goan pork vindaloo is my favorite. Originally a Portuguese stew made with meat, garlic and wine, the dish made its way to India in the 1500s with Portuguese explorers. Like so many other dishes, it then was reinterpreted. Today, vindaloo curry is a sweet, hot and sour dish popular all over the world.
Though the modern recipe, like the original dish, still uses garlic and wine vinegar, it has changed to include chilies and lots of warming spices, such as cinnamon, cumin and cloves. I like to use a cheaper and fattier cut of meat, such as pork shoulder, which responds well to a slow braise and shows its true colors after a few hours to become the best type of pork — succulent, sweet and soft.
Whatever happens, rest assured that there are no wrong moves with slow cooking. It’s one of the only mediums of cooking that creates a level playing field between the pro chef and the amateur. It gives you the flexibility to taste and adjust as you go until it tastes just right. The only trouble is that after several hours of cooking, it will only take a few minutes to eat.
SLOW COOKER PORK SHOULDER VINDALOO
 If you’re nervous about the amount of chili powder, halve the amount called for in the recipe. It will still be delicious. If your slow cooker doesn’t have a saute setting, start the dish in a large saute pan, then transfer to a slow cooker.
Start to finish: 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours (1/2 hour active)
Servings: 4
4 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, divided
20 black peppercorns
1 star anise
3-inch cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 1/2-inch chunk fresh ginger, grated (plus extra to serve)
2 teaspoons chili powder
5 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 medium red onion, finely sliced
28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 pounds boneless pork shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
Plain Greek-style yogurt, to serve
Cooked basmati rice, to serve
Set the slow cooker to saute mode. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and heat until hot. Add the peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and cumin. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the peppercorns and cloves swell and are fragrant. Transfer the spices to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Grind until smooth, then add the garlic, ginger and chili powder. Grind again, then transfer to a small bowl and stir in the vinegar. Set aside.
Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil in the slow cooker. When hot, add the onions and cook, stirring often, until brown and caramelized. Add the tomatoes, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the spice paste, salt and sugar. Stir well, then add the pork. Coat the pork with the paste then add just enough water to cover the meat. Stir well, then cover and cook for 3 hours on high or 5 hours on low, or until the meat is completely tender and straining to hold its shape.
Serve topped with grated ginger, dollops of yogurt and basmati rice.
Nutrition information per serving: 740 calories; 210 calories from fat (28 percent of total calories); 24 g fat (4.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 155 mg cholesterol; 1040 mg sodium; 61 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 12 g sugar; 68 g protein.

Hain Celestial Celebrates Innovation at Natural Products Expo West 2016

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SOURCE The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
FEATURES OVER 100 NEW AND EXCITING FOOD, BEVERAGE, SNACK, PROTEIN AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS LATER THIS WEEK
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., March 8, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAIN), a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America,Europe and India providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™, today announced over 100 new products that will be featured later this week at Natural Products Expo West, produced by New Hope Natural Media.  Expo West is the world's largest and premier tradeshow for the natural, organic and healthy products industry and is expected to host more than 70,000 attendees.

"As a company known for setting the standard for organic, natural and better-for-you products since the 1990s, we are proud of our brands and our new product innovation, which solidifies our leadership in the organic and natural, health and wellness space," said Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.  "Our best-in-class organic, non-GMO sourcing capabilities and our ability to identify emerging and significant consumer trends resonate with consumers and our customers across all generations with our food, beverage, snack, protein and personal care products."
Selected new product innovation from Hain Celestial includes: 
·         Arrowhead Mills®, one of America's trusted organic brands for over 50 years, introduces new re-sealable bags and two new cold cereals, Organic Vanilla Sunrise Blend with Kamut® Flakes and Amaranth Clusters with Almonds and Flax Seeds and Organic Maple Morning Blend with Kamut® Flakes and Spelt Clusters with Sunflower and Chia Seeds, each with whole grains and 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving.
·         BluePrint® brand adds a new Organic Vegetable & Fruit Drink line crafted with cold pressed juice from fruits and vegetables, designed to address key benefits identified by consumers while expanding into four new categories focused on function and real food nutrition. Also launching,BluePrint®  Kombucha, Ready-To-Drink Tea, Vinegar Tonic and Dry Tea.  BluePrint®continues to innovate its core 16 green fluid ounce products with Watercress Warrior andDandelion Drive vegetable and fruit drinks.
·         Celestial Seasonings® brand offers innovative new products in popular herbal and green tea lines with Sleepytime® Mint, Sangria Zinger® and Spiced Vanilla Herbal Teas; Ginger Greenand Matcha Green Teas, and three Fair Trade Organic Green Teas: Pure Green, Jasmine Green and Lemongrass Green Teas.  In conjunction with Keurig®, Celestial™ Lattesintroduces Dirty Chai Tea Espresso K-Cup® Pods.
·         DREAM® brand plant-based beverage offerings expand in the refrigerated category withUltimate Almond Beverages, which contain four times more almonds for more protein in every 8 ounce serving than Almond Dream Original for a rich and creamy tasting beverage. DREAM®is also introducing three new product lines for the shelf-stable section-Ultimate Almond Beverages, Boosted Beverages and Rice DREAM® with Coconut, an extension of the popular Rice DREAM® line.
·         DREAM® frozen novelties expand with two new Almond Dream™ Bites flavors:  Peppermintand Pumpkin Spice, delicious and indulgent bite size frozen nuggets made with almonds and coated with rich chocolate.
·         Earth's Best® introduces new packaging design and innovation in infant feeding and kids meals including Earth's Best Organic® Homestyle Meal Pouches, inspired by classic meal time favorites–Chicken Pot Pie, Cheesy Pasta with Veggies and Turkey Quinoa Apple Sweet Potato.  Earth's Best® brand of kids frozen products expands with Stuffed Bites:  Egg, Cheese & Spinach; Chicken & White Bean Chili and Beef, Cheese & Vegetable Taco andVeggie Medley Nuggets made from carrots, green beans and spinach.
·         Ella's Kitchen® brand nutritious organic drink options expand with Organic Aloe Water Juice Blend Drinks, a refreshing drink with naturally hydrating aloe and just 5 grams of sugar per 6.75 fluid ounce serving. Ella's Kitchen® HPP Organic Raw Juice Pressies are cold pressed juice blend drinks that are pasteurized by pressure, never heated, to help keep more nutrients and flavor.
·         Empire® Kosher poultry brand introduces deli meats, natural and certified kosher, with no antibiotics ever, including Pre-Sliced and Bulk Deli Turkey, Chicken Franks, Turkey Baconand Chicken Sausage in Mild Italian, Hot Italian and Spicy Apple Chicken varieties.Empire® Kosher is also introducing new children's frozen  chicken bites and chicken and turkey burgers. 
·         FreeBird® brand introduces natural, with no antibiotics ever, frozen ¼ pound burgers-Lightly-Seasoned Chicken, Lightly Seasoned Turkey and Mediterranean-Style Chicken with feta cheese and savory spices. 
·         The Greek Gods® brand unveils a high protein Nonfat Greek Yogurt with Chia Seeds, available in four delectable flavors: Blackberry, Peach, Strawberry and Vanilla.
·         Imagine® brand has a strong soup position for fall 2016 that features Imagine® Cauliflower & Potato Creamy Soup and two Imagine® Asian-style Noodle Chunky Soups: Ginger Misoand Soy-Ginger Chicken & Edamame. Imagine® also debuts Organic Ramen and MisoBroth and Imagine® Bone Broth available in Chicken and Hearth, a combination of chicken, beef and turkey.
·         MaraNatha® brand introduces new No Sugar or No Salt Added, No Stir Almond Butter, made with two simple ingredients: dry roasted almonds and palm oil so that no stirring is required.  Our palm oil is verified by Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
·         Plainville Farms® brand announces an expanded deli meat lineup with no antibiotics ever including Certified Organic Beef Franks, Pre-sliced Certified Organic Chicken Breast andOrganic Turkey Bacon featuring the brand's new logo and packaging. Plainville Farms® has also expanded its fresh organic product line with new Organic Lean Ground Turkey.
·         Spectrum® brand introduces three Non-Aerosol Oil Sprays with no propellants- Extra Virgin Olive Oil and White Truffle Flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Avocado Oil.  Our extra virgin olive oil is sourced from a family-owned olive grove in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Spectrum® Sriracha Mayonnaise enhances every bite with its spicy, bold flavor and creamy, feathery light texture. 
·         TERRA® adds Real Freeze Dried Fruit to its portfolio, simple ingredients with the taste of real fruit in a convenient shelf stable format. TERRA® Real Freeze Dried Fruit is available in two delicious varieties: Honey-Infused Fuji Apples and Tropical Fruit Blend with coconut oil and made with pineapple, mango and banana.
·         Tilda® brand introduces Wholegrain Brown Basmati Rice & Quinoa, classic brown basmati rice grown in the foothills of the Himalayas combined with nutritious quinoa.
·         WestSoy® by Yves® Seitan Salad Topper is a convenient blend of seitan cubes with a delicious Mediterranean sauce, with 21 grams of protein per serving.
·         Yves Veggie Cuisine® Jackfruit Pulled BBQ is nutritious shredded jackfruit with a tangy and tasty BBQ sauce-vegan and cholesterol free.
Hain Celestial's featured personal care products include:
·         Alba Botanica® brand Body in the Buff freshly-fragranced, biodegradable body scrubs; Very Emollient™ Mineral Sunscreen Sprays for reef-safe, broad spectrum SPF 35 sun protection; and Cooling Aloe Burn Relief Spray for instant, pain relieving treatment of sunburned skin.
·         Avalon Organics® brand Intense Defense with Vitamin C Detoxifying Facial Towelettescleanse, tone and hydrate in one step; Antioxidant Facial Oil crafted to protect skin from environmental stressors; Intense Defense Sheer Moisture SPF 10 daily moisturizer with mineral sunscreen for incidental UV exposure; Wrinkle Therapy Cleansing Oil to help reduce fine lines;  Brilliant Balance™  Purifying Facial Towelettes, hypo-allergenic and dermatologist tested; Damage Control Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner to help resist the visual signs of aging hair, leaving it soft and shiny.
·         JASÖN® brand introduces indulgent, nourishing Foaming Shower Oils that instantly transform into moisturizing, cleansing foams.  The Gentle Basics™ line offers clinically-tested, hypoallergenic hydration for people with dry, sensitive skin while the Total Protection Sea Salt Mouth Rinse cares for the whole mouth and freshens breath with a Cool Mint flavor.  Dry Spray Deodorants deliver quick-dry, 24-hour odor protection, available in 3 fresh scents and JASÖN®Men, a new line featuring Dry Spray Deodorant, Stick Deodorant and All-in-One Body Wash, provides just-for-Men personal care, each one with the same woodsy fragrance.
·         Queen Helene® brand introduces 100% Coconut Oil, rich in antioxidant Vitamin E and polyphenols that are beneficial to skin, hair and nails.
Hain Celestial's products will be coming to market now through the end of 2016 and sold in selected markets in the United States.
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), headquartered in Lake Success, NY, is a leading organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India.  Hain Celestial participates in many natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings®, Earth's Best®, Ella's Kitchen®, Terra®, Garden of Eatin'®, Sensible Portions®, Health Valley®, Arrowhead Mills®, MaraNatha®, SunSpire®, DeBoles®, Casbah®, Rudi's Organic Bakery®, Gluten Free Café™, Hain Pure Foods®, Spectrum®, Spectrum Essentials®, Walnut Acres Organic®, Imagine®, Almond Dream®, Rice Dream®, Soy Dream®, WestSoy®, The Greek Gods®, BluePrint®, FreeBird®, Plainville Farms®,, Empire Kosher®, Kosher Valley®, Yves Veggie Cuisine®,Europe's Best®, Cully & Sully®, New Covent Garden Soup Co. ®, Johnson's Juice Co. ®, Farmhouse Fare®, Hartley's®, Sun-Pat®, Gale's®, Robertson's®, Frank Cooper's®, Linda McCartney®, Lima®, Danival®, Natumi®, GG UniqueFiber®, Tilda®, JASÖN®, Avalon Organics®,Alba Botanica®, Live Clean® and Queen Helene®.  Hain Celestial has been providing A Healthier Way of Life™ since 1993.  For more information, visit www.hain.com.
Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
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1073.5
1048.0
1053.5
-16.5
Jul '16
1098.5
1075.0
1080.0
-16.5
Sep '16
1107.0
1090.0
1095.0
-15.0
Nov '16
1131.0
1131.0
1110.0
-15.0
Jan '17
1126.0
-14.0
Mar '17
1126.0
-14.0

Rice Comment

Rice futures gave back all of yesterday's gains. Most active May made a run at resistance at $11 yesterday but failed at that level. The market continues to absorb disappointing export news. Weekly export sales of 91,200 tons weren't enough to generate any upward momentum. USDA pegged US acreage at 2.8 million acres, up from last year's 2.6 million. This week's weather will put a stop to any field work, as most of Arkansas is forecast to get 6+ inches of rain. Another weather even the following week is also being watched closely, as it could delay progress even further.

Rice Prices

as on : 08-03-2016 08:10:36 PM

Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season 
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Bangalore(Kar)
3442.00
83.38
94988.00
4150
4150
-2.35
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
670.00
-1.47
7795.00
1960
1960
-1.75
Etawah(UP)
500.00
4.17
17260.00
2255
2260
2.04
Bharthna(UP)
500.00
-28.57
6700.00
2240
2250
1.82
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
420.00
5
7065.00
2140
2140
-2.28
Siliguri(WB)
400.00
8.11
1502.00
2600
2600
-
Sultanpur(UP)
322.50
11.98
2474.00
2200
2170
7.84
Faizabad(UP)
180.00
-5.26
3331.50
2100
2085
-
Sitapur(UP)
150.00
-6.25
5191.00
2160
2160
-0.23
Bahraich(UP)
145.00
-2.03
2906.50
2080
2080
NC
Agra(UP)
140.00
1.45
3899.00
2125
2100
5.20
Hardoi(UP)
135.00
-60.53
1362.00
2110
2070
-3.21
Basti(UP)
125.00
-8.42
3664.50
2080
2080
6.94
Ballia(UP)
120.00
-7.69
5970.00
1980
1970
0.25
Lucknow(UP)
113.00
4.15
3094.50
2150
2140
2.38
Shahjahanpur(UP)
110.00
-19.41
39533.30
2210
2200
7.80
Pilibhit(UP)
98.00
-2
16804.00
2185
2190
-6.82
Dhing(ASM)
92.00
21.05
2301.20
1800
1800
-18.18
Gangavathi(Kar)
91.00
127.5
216.00
1750
1720
-
Bareilly(UP)
86.00
-18.87
6006.00
2175
2190
3.57
Kalipur(WB)
82.00
5.13
3360.00
2000
2000
-9.09
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
78.00
1.3
2671.50
2100
2100
-19.23
Junagarh(Ori)
73.20
58.37
838.33
2100
2100
-4.55
Thodupuzha(Ker)
70.00
NC
1540.00
2650
2650
8.16
Saharanpur(UP)
68.00
-15
3644.00
2100
2040
0.24
Mainpuri(UP)
65.00
-7.14
532.00
2020
2020
5.21
Barabanki(UP)
62.50
-1.57
197.00
2035
2035
0.49
Beldanga(WB)
61.00
-1.61
1082.00
2275
2275
-10.78
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
60.00
100
1035.00
3000
3000
-
Achalda(UP)
60.00
NC
2784.50
2260
2250
3.67
Haridwar Union(Utr)
60.00
-
60.00
3000
-
25.00
Barasat(WB)
55.00
-15.38
1680.00
2300
2300
2.22
Kendupatna(Ori)
53.00
165
73.00
1800
1800
-
Kasganj(UP)
50.00
354.55
442.00
1920
1910
-6.57
Gauripur(ASM)
46.00
9.52
2078.50
4500
4500
-
Kasimbazar(WB)
45.00
NC
1097.50
2320
2340
-9.02
Muzzafarnagar(UP)
43.00
-8.51
905.00
2150
2130
-
Bindki(UP)
43.00
-57
1906.00
2245
2235
8.19
Jorhat(ASM)
40.00
-23.08
975.00
2700
2700
-
Jaunpur(UP)
38.00
-24
984.00
1950
1950
NC
Gazipur(UP)
37.00
NC
1109.00
1930
1920
4.89
Kalahandi(Dharamagarh)(Ori)
36.19
-28.04
507.44
2100
2100
-4.55
Dadri(UP)
35.00
75
1375.00
2070
2100
-2.59
Shikohabad(UP)
30.00
20
337.50
1980
1985
-7.04
Purulia(WB)
30.00
-16.67
1398.00
2180
2180
-8.40
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
28.00
7.69
683.50
1960
2000
3.16
Lohardaga(Jha)
26.00
6.12
583.00
1750
1850
2.94
Jalpaiguri Sadar(WB)
25.00
NC
629.00
2750
2675
-0.36
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
24.60
-1.6
743.20
2300
2300
-11.54
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
22.00
NC
352.00
1850
1900
-13.95
Karimganj(ASM)
20.00
NC
120.00
2900
2800
-
Jajpur(Ori)
20.00
NC
258.00
2200
2200
-
Meerut(UP)
20.00
33.33
422.50
2200
2200
4.76
Mekhliganj(WB)
20.00
-11.11
411.00
2050
2050
-
Jasra(UP)
18.00
-10
397.50
2015
2025
0.75
Kudchi(Kar)
17.00
-
17.00
3000
-
-
Naugarh(UP)
17.00
36
470.50
2060
2065
8.71
Dibrugarh(ASM)
15.00
15.38
770.30
2400
2400
-
Pukhrayan(UP)
15.00
NC
100.50
2020
2020
-4.49
Balugaon(Ori)
14.00
-53.33
229.00
3200
3200
12.28
Mirzapur(UP)
13.00
-13.33
1064.00
1925
1930
-0.26
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
12.90
63.29
975.50
1900
1900
-
Jahanabad(UP)
12.00
-11.11
177.50
2200
2289
11.39
Bijnaur(UP)
11.00
-21.43
374.00
2210
2200
-
Karvi(UP)
11.00
-33.33
145.50
2145
2150
15.95
Raiganj(WB)
11.00
10
606.00
2875
2850
19.79
Kottayam(Ker)
10.00
NC
100.00
3500
3500
16.67
Champadanga(WB)
10.00
-16.67
527.00
2300
2300
-14.81
Deogarh(Ori)
9.00
-5.26
297.00
2500
2500
NC
Baraut(UP)
9.00
-18.18
182.00
2100
2150
0.48
Kaliaganj(WB)
9.00
-10
414.00
2650
2550
15.22
Cherthalai(Ker)
8.50
NC
239.50
2300
2300
-14.81
Bhivandi(Mah)
8.00
-20
208.00
3570
3200
112.50
Chengannur(Ker)
7.00
16.67
375.50
2500
2400
-13.79
Bolangir(Ori)
7.00
7.69
134.00
2200
2200
-8.33
Nilagiri(Ori)
7.00
-22.22
294.00
2300
2400
NC
Baberu(UP)
7.00
16.67
118.00
2130
2125
13.60
Khairagarh(UP)
7.00
16.67
250.50
2110
2110
4.46
Buland Shahr(UP)
7.00
40
292.00
2050
2050
0.49
Karanjia(Ori)
6.50
8.33
191.80
2600
2600
4.00
Palghar(Mah)
6.00
-40
432.00
1950
2125
-
Tusura(Ori)
5.50
-21.43
128.50
2200
2200
-8.33
Hamirpur(UP)
5.00
400
26.00
2050
1950
-
Nimapara(Ori)
4.50
-25
142.50
2200
2200
15.79
Farukhabad(UP)
4.20
-6.67
173.20
2170
2180
1.40
Jeypore(Ori)
4.10
-4.65
169.90
325
325
-
Chintamani(Kar)
4.00
-85.71
243.00
2000
2000
NC
Aroor(Ker)
4.00
33.33
142.70
6700
6700
-28.72
Mangaon(Mah)
4.00
300
23.00
2500
2800
-10.71
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
4.00
-48.72
164.20
4200
1500
29.23
Fatehpur(UP)
4.00
14.29
122.00
2265
2235
5.59
Rura(UP)
3.50
-12.5
57.10
2220
2220
5.71
Melaghar(Tri)
3.00
20
86.80
2400
2350
2.13
Chorichora(UP)
3.00
33.33
269.65
2080
2125
6.67
Islampur(WB)
3.00
-6.25
194.40
2150
2150
-
Darjeeling(WB)
2.70
NC
57.60
2800
2800
3.70
Pakur(Jha)
2.50
-51.92
58.30
3148
3151
1.55
Kendupatna(Niali)(Ori)
2.50
-
8.50
1600
-
-
Balarampur(WB)
2.30
-4.17
38.70
2150
2150
-9.66
Rahama(Ori)
2.10
-27.59
21.00
2400
2400
-
Khliehriat(Meh)
2.00
66.67
7.50
2700
2700
-
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
2.00
NC
70.10
2000
2000
-9.09
Sardhana(UP)
1.50
50
54.70
2140
2130
2.64
Thirthahalli(Kar)
1.00
-
3.00
2440
-
-
Punalur(Ker)
1.00
-33.33
9.50
1600
1600
-
Mawana(UP)
1.00
NC
17.20
2150
2125
3.86
Kalimpong(WB)
0.90
NC
21.50
2350
2350
-11.32
Shillong(Meh)
0.70
16.67
36.00
3500
3500
NC
 

















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