27th April,2016 daily exclusive oryza rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

Australian Food Company Fixes 2017 Rice Forward Price at $400 per Ton User Login

 

Apr 26, 2016

The Australian food processing and exporting company SunRice has fixed 2017 rice forward price at $400 per ton for medium grain Reiziq rice crop, according to adf.farmonline.com.au. Reiziq is a semi-dwarf medium grain variety.

It has also fixed the next year's forward price for Sherpa rice variety at $380 per ton. Sherpa is a cold-tolerant, less water-requiring and high-yielding rice variety, which was introduced in 2011. 

Local sources say the company locked in next year's prices much earlier while the harvest in the New South Wales (NSW) region for the 2016 rice crop is still underway.

“Rice continues to maintain strong returns while other crops have experienced significant volatility in recent times. We have significant demand for Australian rice and this contract is designed to ensure growers are able to make commercial decisions now to grow rice for harvest in 2017 and participate in premium markets,” said the company's Chairman.

The contracts will open on May 2 on a first come first serve basis and will close when an undisclosed tonnage is reached.

The development is likely to impact medium grain prices globally. California is another major medium grain rice growing region.

In its February 2016 crop report, 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 around 305,000 tons (around 240,950 tons, basis milled), down about 58% from an estimated 724,000 tons (around 570,380 tons, basis milled) in MY 2014-15.

The ABARES attributes the decline in paddy rice production to a 56% y/y decline in planting area to around 31,000 hectares from an estimated 71,000 hectares in MY 2014-15, reflecting a significant reduction in supply of irrigation water available to rice growers in the main rice growing region New South Wales.

  Drought, Salinity Damage 240,215 Hectares of Rice Fields in Vietnam, Says Agriculture Ministry

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Apr 26, 2016

Drought and salinity have damaged about 240,215 hectares of rice fields in Vietnam's central southern provinces, according to Bloomberg citing local newspaper reports.

About 4,641 hectares of seafood farms, 55,651 hectares of fruit trees, and 104,106 hectares of industrial trees are also severely damaged, according to local sources.

Total damages from the drought have reached around 5.57 trillion dong (around $250 million) as of April 25, 2016.

Local rice prices in Vietnam are increasing due to likely lower production and higher export demand.

  Oryza CBOT Rough Rice Futures Recap - Chicago Rough Rice Futures Continue Trend of Higher Prices along with other U.S. Grains

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Apr 26, 2016

Chicago rough rice futures for Jul delivery settled 11 cents were cwt (about $2 per ton) higher at $11.200 per cwt (about $247 per ton). The other grains finished the day higher again; Soybeans closed about 1.4% higher at $10.2725 per bushel; wheat finished about 2.1% higher at $4.8775 per bushel, and corn finished the day about 1.4% higher at $3.8725 per bushel.

U.S. stocks traded in a range Tuesday, with energy leading as oil climbed, ahead of major central bank meetings and earnings. The Federal Open Market Committee kicked off its two-day meeting Tuesday and is scheduled to release its statement on monetary policy Wednesday afternoon. No move on rates is expected, but investors will parse the statement for clues on the timing of the next hike. The Bank of Japan is due to release its statement on monetary policy Thursday. In economic news, durable goods orders rose a less-than-expected 0.8% in March after a downwardly revised 3.1% decline in February. European stocks closed mixed, with bank stocks outperforming. Asian stocks closed mostly higher, with the Shanghai composite up about 0.6%. The Nikkei 225 closed about half a percent lower. In midday trade, the Dow Jones industrial average traded up 16 points, or 0.09%, to 17,994. The S&P 500 rose 4 points, or 0.21%, to 2,092, with energy leading six sectors higher and health care the greatest decliner. The Nasdaq composite declined 1 point, or 0.02%, to 4,894. Gold is seen trading about 0.9% higher, crude oil is seen trading about 1.8% lower, and the U.S. dollar is seen trading about 0.4% lower at about  1:00pm Chicago time.

Monday, there were 3,666 contracts traded, up from 3,499 contracts traded on Friday. Open interest – the number of contracts outstanding – on Monday decreased by 99 contracts to 10,952. 

  New Technologies Help Ghana Rice Farmers to Boost Production

Apr 26, 2016

Ghana rice farmers are introduced to newer technologies to help boost rice production,  according to www.newsghana.com.gh.

Rice farmers in Ghana's Upper West Region are reportedly using technologies such as Urea Deep Placement (UDP) for fertilizer application and other rice transplanting technologies for increasing their yields and production. They have been trained in these technologies under a project by the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) and Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT).

The IFDC-ATT provided rice seeds, free fertilizers and technical -know -how to the farmers under the project to increase rice yields.

The Regional Agronomist under the project told reporters that the project aims to provide farmers with appropriate and affordable technologies to improve the competitiveness of the rice and other crops. The project primarily focuses on integrated soil fertility management, seed sector promotion and up scaling of high quality seeds, capacity building in research, he said.

He also noted that the farmers already implementing the new technologies have obtained good results. “Farmers implementing the technology have been realising rice yields between 24 and 28 bags per an acre of land as compared to the traditional system of broadcasting, which, gave them between three and five bags,” he said. The agronomist also noted that farmers are now using only 2.5 kilograms of fertilizer for an acre of land instead of 50 kilograms with the traditional methods.

The project is funded by the US Agency for International Department’s (USAID) Ghana Mission.

  Oryza U.S. Rough Rice Recap - Old Crop Offers Continue to Firm with Futures; Bids Not Keeping Pace

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Apr 26, 2016

The U.S. cash market was slightly firmer again today with old cash offers continuing to firm as the future market rallies, however most bids have not kept pace with the steep jump in offers and as a result the old crop trade as remained quiet.

Analysts note that farmers are now hoping to sell old crop around $5.00 per bu fob farm which is not getting much attention from buyers however analysts have seen some new crop trade near those levels since the futures have rallied this month

In the meantime, the USDA estimates that as of April 24^th, 62% of the crop had been planted which was 25% ahead of this time last year and 17% ahead of the previous 5-year average. As of now, the USDA estimates that 75% of the rice crop in Arkansas had been planted compared to, 3% in California, 79% in Louisiana, 53% in Mississippi, 86% in Missouri, and 76% in Texas.

The USDA estimates that 38% of the crop has emerged which was 15% ahead of this time last year and 9% ahead of the previous 5-year average. As of now, the USDA estimates that 40% of the rice crop in Arkansas has emerged compared to 0% in California, 66% in Louisiana, 30% in Mississippi, 35% in Missouri, and 68% in Texas.

  Pakistan Rice Sellers Increased Some of Their Quotes Today; Other Asia Rice Quotes Unchanged

Apr 26, 2016

Pakistan rice sellers increased their quotes for 5% broken rice by about $5 per ton to around $355-$365 per ton. Other Asia rice sellers kept their quotes unchanged.        

5% Broken Rice

Thailand 5% rice is indicated at around $380 - $390 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Vietnam 5% rice shown at around $370 - $380 per ton. India 5% rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Pakistan 5% rice shown at around $355 - $365per ton.

25% Broken Rice

Thailand 25% rice is indicated at around $365 - $375 per ton, about $10 per ton premium on Vietnam 25% rice shown at around $355- $365 per ton. India 25% rice is indicated at around $335- $345 per ton, about $15 per ton premium on Pakistan 25% rice shown at around $320 - $330 per ton.

Parboiled Rice           

Thailand parboiled rice is indicated at around $390 - $400 per ton. India parboiled rice is indicated at around $340 - $350 per ton, about $65 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 $340 - $350 per ton, on par with Vietnam 100% broken rice shown at around $340 - $350 per ton. India's 100% broken rice is shown at around $275 - $285 per ton, about $15 per ton discount to Pakistan broken sortexed rice shown at around $290 - $300 per ton.

  Drought, Salinity Damage 240,215 Hectares of Rice Fields in Vietnam, Says Agriculture Ministry

Apr 26, 2016

Drought and salinity have damaged about 240,215 hectares of rice fields in Vietnam's central southern provinces, according to Bloomberg citing local newspaper reports.

About 4,641 hectares of seafood farms, 55,651 hectares of fruit trees, and 104,106 hectares of industrial trees are also severely damaged, according to local sources.

Total damages from the drought have reached around 5.57 trillion dong (around $250 million) as of April 25, 2016.

Local rice prices in Vietnam are increasing due to likely lower production and higher export demand.

 Post Forecasts Indonesia MY 2015-16 Rice Imports to Increase Sharply on Lower Production, Stocks

Apr 26, 2016

The USDA Post forecasts Indonesia's MY 2015-16 (January - December 2016) rice imports to reach around 2 million tons, up about 48% from an estimated 1.35 million tons due to expected lower rice production and carry over imports from last year as well as higher demand for specialty rice. This year's imports are on par with the USDA's official estimates. The Post forecasts MY 2016-17 rice imports to decline to 1.25 million tons due to an expected increase in production.

The Post forecasts Indonesia's MY 2015-16 paddy rice production at around 56.063 million tons, slightly up from an estimated 56 million tons last year and up from USDA's official estimates of around 55.591 million tons. The increase is attributed to growing demand for high-yielding seed varieties and expected higher yields due to an expected dryer-than-normal harvest period. It forecasts MY 2016-17 production to further increase to 57.638 million due to additional carry over from MY 2015-16 third crops.

The Post reports that planting for the MY 2015-16 paddy first crop (October – February) was delayed till the end of December of January in most of the rice growing areas. Therefore, the Post estimates MY 2015-16 rice harvested areas at 11.8 million hectares compared to an estimated 11.83 million hectares in MY 2014-15. It forecasts the area to increase to 12.16 million hectares in MY 2016-17.

Indonesia's Bulog is targeting to procure 3.9 million tons of milled rice equivalent in MY 2015-16 compared to the target of 3.2 million tons in MY 2014-15. According to the Post, on February 17, 2016, the government decided to maintain the government purchasing price (Harga Pembelian Pemerintah, HPP) for paddy and rice at the same level as stated in Presidential Instruction No. 5/2015 stipulated on March 17, 2015. BULOG buys paddy or rice from farmers when the market price is lower than or equal to the HPP. Usually Bulog procures 60% of its target from the first crop. However, with the delay in first crop planting, it procured only 18,616 tons as of March 11, 2016. This is below the 30,000 tons procured during the same period last year.

The Post estimates Indonesia rice consumption to decline slightly to 38.2 million tons in MY 2015-16 due to some switching to wheat flour-based foods such as instant noodle and bread. It forecasts consumption to remain stable in MY 2016-17.

The USDA Post estimates MY 2015-16 rice ending stocks at 3.211 million tons, down from last year's 3.911 million tons due to estimated production declines. It expects Indonesia’s rice ending stocks to further decline to 2.761 million tons in MY 2016-17 , based on lower imports and stagnant consumption.

The Post reports that prices of wet paddy and rice remain above the HPP, despite the on-going harvest.

  Rice Output in Indian Southern State Telangana to Decline Sharply in 2015-16 Due to Drought

Apr 26, 2016

Rice output in India's southern state Telangana is expected to decline about 35% y/y to around 2.93 million tons in 2015-16 from around 4.54 million tons in 2014-15 due to drought, according to the Hindu.

The 2015-16 Kharif rice (June - December) production in the state stood at around 2.213 million tons from around 749,000 hectares compared to around 2.855 million tons from around 920,000 hectares in 2014-15. The government is estimating 2015-16 rabi rice crop (November - May) production at around 721,000 tons from around 252,000 hectares compared to around 1.69 million tons from around 495,000 hectares in 2014-15.

The state Agriculture Production Commissioner was quoted as saying that most of the irrigation projects and bore wells have dried up due to drought leading to a significant decline in production.

Telangana is an important rice producing state in the country and accounted for about 4% of India's total rice production in 2013-14, according to data from the Directorate of Economics and Statistics.

The Indian government in its second advance estimates for major crops estimates output from the kharif rice crop at around 90.59 million tons, down about 1% from last year's 91.39 million tons. Output from the smaller rabi rice crop (November - May) is estimated to decline about 7.5% to around 13.02 million tons in 2015-16 from around 14.09 million tons last year.

   Tanzanian Scientists Develop High-Yielding Rice Varieties to Help Boost Production

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Apr 26, 2016

Tanzanian scientists have developed three salt-resistant and high-yielding rice varieties, SATO1, SATO6 and SATO9, under the AGRA-PASS breeding program to help boost rice production in the country, according to local sources. The program in Africa's Seed Systems (PASS) is supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The scientists released the varieties in March this year after ten years of research.

One of the researchers working on the project at the Morogoro-based Sokoine University of Agriculture said the new varieties could resist increased salt in the soil and yield about six tons per hectares even in salty ground. “Rice growers can harvest six tonnes per hectare, the highest yield ever recorded in the entire eastern and southern African region,” he said.

The scientists are planning to produce 500 tons of the new varieties to satisfy the local market by the next cropping season. In Tanzania, rice is a Msimu/unimodal crop and is grown between November – June every year.

Tanzanian farmers usually grow traditional rice varieties with low yield potential. Most of the Tanzanian rice depends on rainfall. Upland systems in the country are prone to drought, weed infestation, and attacks by pests and diseases. Rain fed lowland systems suffer from floods during heavy rains, and also face drought occasionally. Experts say many irrigations schemes in Tanzania need urgent rehabilitation to support rice and other crops' production. Apart from these, inadequate postharvest technologies and low market prices have been impacting the Tanzanian rice sector.

USDA estimates Tanzania to produce around 1.75 million tons of rice, basis milled (around 2.652 million tons, basis paddy), and import around 200,000 tons in MY 2015-16 (June 2015 - May 2016). Tanzania is expected to export around 40,000 tons in MY 2015-16.

  Rice and Rice Products May Expose Infants to Ill Effects of Arsenic, Says Study

Apr 26, 2016

A study by the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, U.S., says that infant rice cereal and rice snacks contain some arsenic and babies who take these products may be exposed to the ill effects of arsenic over a period of time, according to Reuters.

The study shows that babies who take these products have higher levels of arsenic in their urine, but the researchers are studying whether the arsenic will affect their health over a period of time.

Rice is understood to absorb arsenic from the environment, and the U.S. rice is said to have some of the highest arsenic concentrations in the world, according to the lead author of the study. She told reporters that arsenic has carcinogenic properties and can influence risk of cardiovascular, immune and other diseases. It can also have adverse impacts on the growth, immunity and neuro-development of young children. She and her team are investigating the impact of arsenic exposure on children, she said.

As part of her investigation, she and her team studied 759 infants born to mother of age 18 to 45. They also collected infant urine samples to test the arsenic levels. They found that urinary arsenic concentrations were higher for children who ate infant rice cereal or snacks than for those who did not.

She also noted that the researchers tested for arsenic levels in some of the more commonly reported rice snacks and found most of them contained higher levels of inorganic arsenic. "Inorganic arsenic exposure has been linked to cancer as well as other health problems such as neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic diseases," said one of the doctors from the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland.

“This is of particular concern for young children, who are more sensitive to adverse health effects of inorganic arsenic and consume higher amount of inorganic arsenic from food compared to adults per kilogram of body weight,” said another expert. He, therefore, urged to reduce exposure by establishing maximum limits of inorganic arsenic in rice and rice-based products.

The EU currently limits the maximum limit of inorganic arsenic in infant cereal to 100 parts per billion. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also proposing for establishing the limit of 100 parts per billion.

Thai Irrigation Department Advises Farmers to Delay Planting for 2016 Main Rice Crop Until July

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Apr 26, 2016

The Thai Department of Royal Irrigation (RID) has advised farmers to delay planting for the 2016 main rice crop until July as the water in the Chao Phraya River basin is insufficient to feed the rice farms in the early rainy season next month, according to Bangkok Post.

The RID Director-General told reporters that water levels are low in the four dams in the Chao Phraya River basin. He said farmers should begin planting when the rainy season is in full swing in July. "The Meteorological Department will make an announcement when it is time for rice planting," he said.

He noted that though the Department is confident that there will be sufficient water reserves in the irrigation zone during the rainy season, it is assessing whether the water collected will be sufficient til the second crop.

The RID has urged farmers to suspend rice planting if their land is not served by irrigated water and switch to drought-resistant crops.

The Agriculture Ministry is expecting the country to produce 27 million tons of paddy from 62 million rai (around 9.92 million hectares), including 3.16 million tons from the second crop.

The Agriculture Minister noted that the Ministry is planning to propose to the Cabinet for reducing the fertiliser prices, offering quality rice seeds and providing low-interest loans to farmers.

26th April,2016 daily global regional and regional rice e-newsletter by riceplus magazine

NEWS DETAIL...

TABLE-THAI-VIETNAMESE 5 PCT GRADE RICE PRICES - APRIL 26

4/26/2016

April 26 (Reuters) - Following is a table of Thai and
Vietnamese 5 percent broken grade supplied by traders.
(Bulk quotations in U.S. dollars per tonne FoB assessed by
Thomson Reuters)

Shipment Bid Ask Previous
Thai $385-$390 $385-$390 FoB Bangkok
Vietnam $372-$375 $372-$375 FoB Saigon

(Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat in BANGKOK and Ho Binh
Minh in HANOI; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

© Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Click For Restrictions -http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

http://www.agriculture.com/content/table-thai-vietnamese-5-pct-grade-rice-prices-april-26

SunRice promises $400/t in 2017

ANDREW MARSHALL

26 Apr, 2016 07:43 AM

SunRice has jumped early to lock in guaranteed rice production commitments from southern NSW growers next summer, promising $400 a tonne for medium grain Reiziq crops.

While this year’s harvest is still underway, the industry processor and marketer will also pay $380/t for Sherpa crops harvested in 2017 if they are forward sold into the contract.

As the cotton industry notches up another season of expansion and expected yield successes in the south, SunRice is trying to limit the loss of any more precious irrigation water from its traditional grain cropping heartland in the Murrumbidgee and Murray valleys.

Irrigated nuts and maize crops have also soaked up available water this past summer.

The 2015-16 Australian crop expected to have slumped to yield around 300,000 tonnes.

That compares with last year’s 690,000t harvest and is well below SunRice's annual domestic and export market for at least 1 million tonnes.

Many ricegrowers sold their limited 2015-16 irrigation entitlements last spring, rather than planting rice, as water values soared above $250 a megalitre.

SunRice’s chairman, Laurie Arthur, said on an overall farm system basis, independent research showed return on capital from planting rice in the Riverina was “compelling”, particularly when compared with wheat, canola and maize.

“Rice continues to maintain strong returns while other crops have experienced significant volatility in recent times,” he said.

“We have significant demand for Australian rice and this contract is designed to ensure growers are able to make commercial decisions now to grow rice for harvest in 2017 and participate in premium markets.”

Although traditional pools will also operate next season, the special contracts will open on May 2, taking a limited volume.

They close when an undisclosed tonnage is reached, with growers signed up on a “first in, first served” basis.

Meanwhile, SunRice is still trying to finalise plans for a shareholder vote on the grower-owned company floating part of its capital structure on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX

http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/sunrice-promises-400t-in-2017/2752358.aspx

RICE FEDERATION SEEKS AGRICULTURE BANK SELL-OFF

A stall selling rice at a Yangon market. (Soe Than Win / AFP)

 26 Apr 2016

 YANGON — The Myanmar Rice Federation is calling on the new government to consider the privatisation of the Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank in order to increase loan opportunities in the farming sector, according to Tuesday’s edition of the Global New Light of Myanmar.Allowing private shareholders to provide the bank a sorely needed capital injection would increase the amount of finance available to rural landholders, the report suggested, giving the sector a boost at a time when yields have diminished due to the impact of last year's floods and the current drought in central Myanmar. 

“The MADB has said it doesn’t currently have sufficient funds to issue loans to farmers. Therefore, we have suggested that the bank be privatised,” the state-run daily quoted MRF vice chairman Dr Soe Htun as saying.

Tuesday’s report said the Rice Federation has earlier made representations to the Commerce and Agriculture ministries, asking for government policies to be formulated to make loans more accessible to farmers in rural communities.

Established in 1953 as the State Agricultural Bank, the MADB until recently had a virtual monopoly on providing small loans to rural landowners, a position that has been challenged since the entry of several microfinance operations targeting the rural sector. It possesses an extensive network of branches in remote locations across the country, accounting for nearly a quarter of all bank branches in Myanmar.

A 2014 World Bank report on the MADB found that the bank’s operations suffered from a “various weaknesses”, including a worryingly narrow portfolio focused on rice farmers, a lack of risk management and weak corporate governance.

Despite a widespread mistrust of financial institutions in the wake of Myanmar’s 2003 banking crisis, MADB serviced nearly 1.9 customers in 2012, according to the report.

An estimated 70 percent of Myanmar’s workforce are employed in the agricultural sector, which the World Bank estimated in 2014 to represent 35-40 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Commodity Report-April 26

Published April 26, 2016

Today’s commodity report: Weekly Rice Summary, California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk, California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report, Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market and other commodity end of the day market numbers.

Weekly Rice Summary

In California, medium grain milled rice prices steady. Second heads and Brewers mostly steady, instances 1.00 lower. Rice by-products: Rice Bran prices steady to 10.00 lower. Rice hulls limited spot trade with prices steady.

CME Rough Rice settlements for Friday 22nd, May 16 closed .175 lower at 10.49; Jul 16 closed .17 lower at 10.755. US dollar index on Friday settled at 95.12.

USDA National Weekly Rice Summary (.pdf) with all prices for all types in all regions.

California F.O.B. Price for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk

Week Ending	Avg. Price($/lb.)	Total Sales (lb.)
April 22, 2016	$0.7349	10,528,568
April 15, 2016	$0.7328	14,494,199

Prices are weighted averages for Extra Grade and Grade A Nonfat Dry Milk, f.o.b. California manufacturing plants. Prices for both periods were influenced by effects of long-term contract sales. Compiled by Dairy Marketing Branch, California Department of Food and Agriculture.

California Shell Eggs: Daily Egg Report

Prices are steady. The undertone is higher. Offerings are mixed, mostly moderate. Demand is moderate to fairly good. Supplies are light to moderate. Market activity is moderate. Monday’s shell egg inventories increased 23.9% in the Southwest and 4.7% in the Northwest.

Shell egg marketer’s benchmark price for negotiated egg sales of USDA Grade AA and Grade AA in cartons, cents per dozen. This price does not reflect discounts or other contract terms.

	RANGE
JUMBO	149
EXTRA LARGE	142
LARGE	135
MEDIUM	105

Shell Eggs: Daily National Egg Market

Prices in New York are up 2 cents on Extra Large, Large and Medium. California and regional prices are steady. The undertone is steady to higher. Retail and food service demand is generally moderate in the Northeast, moderate to fairly good in the remaining regions. Offerings and supplies are light to moderate for immediate trade needs. The total shell egg inventory is 1.3 percent higher when compared to the previous week. Market activity is moderate. Breaking stock offerings range light to occasionally heavy, mostly light to moderate for the light to moderate demand. Light type hen offerings are adequate; demand is light to instances moderate.

Check the April USDA Commodity Report Calendar for today’s commodity reports released by USDA.

Tuesday’s Commodity Market ending market numbers:

Corn
May Corn ended at $3.82 1/4 increasing 5 1/4 cents, July ended at $3.87 1/4 gaining 5 1/2 cents.
Soybeans
May Soybeans ended at 10.17 3/4 up 18 cents, July ended at 10.27 1/4 increasing 17 1/2 cents.
Wheat
May Wheat ended at $4.79 3/4, increasing 8 1/2 cents, July Wheat ended at $4.87 3/4 up 10 cents.
Rough Rice
May Rough Rice ended at 10.95 up 0.115, July ended at 11.20 increasing 0.11.
Live Cattle
April Live Cattle ended at $126.90 increasing $1.35 and June ended at $118.575 up $1.975 and August ended at $115.175 gaining $1.775.
Feeder Cattle
April Feeder Cattle ended at $146.575 gaining $0.55 and May ended at $145.175 increasing $1.925 and August ended at $145.025 up $1.775.
Lean Hogs
May Lean Hogs ended at $74.775 decreasing $0.15, June ended at $77.825 down $0.625
Class III Milk
April Class III Milk ended at $13.63 down $0.01, May ended at $13.20 decreasing $0.08 and June ended at $13.26 gaining $0.18.
#2 Cotton
May #2 Cotton ending at 63.46 dropping 1.31, July ended at 63.83 off 0.21.
Sugar #11
May sugar #11 ended at 15.77 up 0.14 and July ended at 16.05 increasing $0.16.
Orange Juice
May Orange Juice ended at 123.25 losing $3.50, July ending at 127.00 off $1.40

://frontiermyanmar.net/en/business/rice-federation-seeks-MADB-sell-off

http://agnetwest.com/2016/04/26/commodity-report-april-26/

Government Plans to Sell 11.4 Million Ton Rice Stockpile in 2 Months

BY JACOB MASLOW ON 2016-04-26FEATURED NEWS

The rice management board announced on Monday that it plans to sell the remaining stockpile of rice within two months. Rice stockpiles have risen to 11.4 million tons. The announcement is seen as impossible by many.Thailand is the second largest rice exporter in the world only behind India. India has been attempting to also reduce its rice stockpiles, with sales expected to begin next week.Thailand has only been able to sell off 5.05 million tons of rice since May 2014. Several tenders over this period resulted in US$1.53 billion in rice sales. The government previously hoped to sell off its remaining rice stockpiles by the end of 2017, but has since set the ambitious goal of a two-month selloff.Many of the country’s traders have voiced skepticism following the announcement.

Auctions are being scheduled for next week, with rice being auctioned off in 1-million-ton lots. Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary of the Commerce Minister, stated, “We aim to auction it all off within two months.”The remaining stockpiles have a value of 100 billion baht, according to Ms. Chutima. Tanasan Rice Group’s president, Supachai Vorraapinyaporn, stated that the goal is “a million percent impossible.” Mr. Supachai’s group is one of the three largest rice exporters in the country.“Perhaps they meant two years, not two months,” replied Mr. Supachai. He noted that previous auctions were held monthly and only consisted of 400,000 tons of rice.The country’s stockpile consists of 100,000 tons of “good grade rice,” 7.5 million tons of “substandard” rice for consumption, 2.4 million tons of rotten rice and 1.5 million tons of rice for industrial use.

https://ethailand.com/featured-news/government-plans-to-sell-11-4-million-ton-rice-stockpile-in-2-months/2383/

More NFA rice outlets eyed as state of calamity declared

 Tuesday, April 26, 2016

 By ERWIN P. NICAVERA

THE National Food Authority (NFA) in Negros Occidental is eyeing the establishment of additional rice outlets amid the declaration of state of calamity in the province, its top official said.Marianito Bejemino, provincial manager of NFA-Negros Occidental, said Monday that before the state of calamity was declared, they have already coordinated with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in identifying the areas mostly-hit by the dry spell.

Aside from reactivating the existing NFA rice outlets, Bejemino said they are looking at establishing new outlets to be managed by retailers under the supervision of barangay officials.

“Through this, we can bring closer to the consuming public, especially to those whose farms and livelihood are damaged by the calamity, more affordable yet quality rice. We will identify and prioritize mostly-affected areas which have no outlets yet,” Bejemino said.To ensure that NFA rice is available in the market, reactivation through reaccreditation of regular outlets and retailers will be implemented, he added.

Currently, there are about 120 regular NFA rice outlets in Negros Occidental, mostly in Bacolod City, that sell P27 per kilo regular-milled NFA rice.For stability of supply among cities and municipalities outside Bacolod, NFA-Negros Occidental has already increased the number of stocks in its warehouses in Dancalan, Ilog in the south, and San Carlos City in the northern portion of the province.

Comfortable level

The NFA-Negros Occidental has assured the public that there is sufficient supply of rice in the local market amid the P211-million damage and production losses caused by the prolonged dry weather to the local rice sector.Its records showed that as of the April 21 inventory, there are still 2,166,970 available bags of rice in the province, which can last for the next 96 days.

Of which, the commercial sector, comprising retailers, wholesalers, and millers, has 1,283,525 bags good for 57 days with the province’s daily average consumption of 22, 220 bags.

The household sector with 491,618 bags can supply the next 22 days while the government sector’s 391,827 bags are good for 17 days.

“With last year’s remaining buffer stocks, we are assuring the public that our current rice situation is still at a comfortable level,” Bejemino said.He noted that the huge inventory on the part of NFA is mainly brought by the competitive prices of commercial rice in the market thus, consumers prefer the latter over NFA rice.

Babies fed rice-based cereals have higher arsenic levels, study finds

By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay News   |   April 26, 2016 at 12:00 PM

TUESDAY, April 26, 2016 -- Parents commonly give rice to their babies as a first food. Now, researchers say infants fed rice-based foods may have significantly higher "inorganic" arsenic concentrations in their urine than babies who never eat rice.

The highest arsenic concentrations were found in infants who frequently ate baby rice cereal, with levels more than three times that of babies who didn't eat rice, the study reports.

Babies who ate foods mixed with rice or rice-based snacks had arsenic levels nearly double those of non-rice eaters, according to the report published April 25 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

"The arsenic in their urine increased with the number of servings of rice or rice-containing food," said lead researcher Margaret Karagas, chair of epidemiology at Dartmouth University's Geisel School of Medicine in Hanover, N.H.

It's still unclear what health effects these levels of arsenic exposure could have on children, Karagas and other health experts said."It certainly sounds concerning," said Dr. Ruth Milanaik, director of the neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up program at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y. "It certainly requires more study."Milanaik also noted that the findings could have been influenced by other foods the babies were eating. For example, apple juice or drinking water containing arsenic could have been stirred into the babies' rice cereal. "There are so many variables," she said.

The study results come weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed limits on inorganic arsenic levels in infant rice cereals.The FDA's research found that more than half of infant rice cereals sampled from U.S. retail stores in 2014 failed to meet the agency's proposed action level of 100 parts per billion of inorganic arsenic. By comparison, all samples of non-rice baby foods were found to be well below the FDA's action level for arsenic."This is an important step, that they've taken the initiative to propose a limit that applies to infant rice cereals," Karagas said of the FDA.Arsenic is a known carcinogen and can also contribute to heart disease, according to the FDA.

Some evidence also suggests that arsenic exposure early in life can affect a child's immune system and intellectual development, according to the FDA and background notes from the study authors.Inorganic arsenic has shown up in infant plant-based foods including apple juice and applesauce due to its use in pesticides, Milanaik said."Even though in this country we've outlawed it, we used it for so long that it's leached into our soil and really becomes part of our vegetation," Milanaik said.Karagas and her colleagues decided to study infants' rice consumption when they learned that rice grains can absorb arsenic from the environment, she said.The investigators obtained diet information and urine samples from 759 infants born to mothers enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between 2011 and 2014.The infants' progress was tracked with phone interviews every four months until they turned 1. At that time, a final interview assessed dietary patterns during the past week, including whether an infant had eaten rice cereal, white or brown rice, or foods either made with rice or sweetened with brown rice syrup.

The researchers found that parents fed rice cereal to four out of five infants during their first year, and that more than three of five started on rice cereal as early as 4 to 6 months old.

At 1 year of age, 43 percent of infants ate some type of rice product within the last week, and one-quarter ate food either made with rice or sweetened rice syrup, the findings showed.

Of the infants who donated urine samples, 55 percent had consumed some type of rice product in the prior two days, the study found.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants consume a diverse diet, including a wide variety of grains, Karagas said.

The study authors and the FDA suggest limiting rice consumption in early life. Concerned parents could feed their babies oatmeal or barley, Milanaik said. These, like rice, are iron-fortified.The FDA also recommends cooking rice in excess water, and draining off that water, which can reduce 40 to 60 percent of the inorganic arsenic it contains.

More information

For more on arsenic in rice cereal, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2016/04/26/Babies-fed-rice-based-cereals-have-higher-arsenic-levels-study-finds/9601461686185/

 

Scientists Find Link Between Arsenic Levels And Infants Who Eat Rice-Based Cereals

Babies with rice in their diet have higher concentrations of the carcinogen arsenic in their urine, according to a new study.

By Tyler MacDonald | Apr 26, 2016 01:05 PM EDT

Babies with rice in their diet have higher concentrations of the carcinogen arsenic in their urine, according to a new study. (Photo : Getty Images)

Although parents typically give babies rice as their first food, a new study reveals that infants fed a rice diet have higher "inorganic" arsenic concentrations in their urine than babies that never eat rice.

The team used diet information and urine samples from 759 infants born to mothers that were a part of the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study between 2011 and 2014. The researchers kept track of the infants through phone interviews that were conducted every four months until they turned 1. After this point, a final interview was conducted to determine dietary patterns during the last week.

The study revealed that infants who ate baby rice cereal often had the highest arsenic concentrations in their urine, with levels more than three times than those observed in babies with no rice in their diet. In addition, babies who ate foods that were mixed with rice or ate rice-based snacks possessed almost double the arsenic levels than babies who did not eat rice.

"The arsenic in their urine increased with the number of servings of rice or rice-containing food," said Margaret Karagas, chair of epidemiology at Dartmouth University's Geisel School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

The findings require more research and follow-up, but as of now they are enough to raise the attention of health experts.

"It certainly sounds concerning," said Ruth Milanaik, director of the neonatal neurodevelopmental follow-up program at Cohen Children's Medical Center, who was not involved in the research. "It certainly requires more study."

Milanaik also noted that there are numerous variables that weren't controlled for in the study, suggesting that the findings might have been influenced by other aspects of the babies' diets, including arsenic in apple juice or drinking water.

There is evidence that arsenic - a known carcinogen - can increase susceptibility to heart disease as well as compromise the immune system and intellectual development in early life. Inorganic arsenic is common in infant plant-based foods such as apple juice and applesauce due to pesticides, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently proposed limits on the chemical's levels in rice cereals for infants.

"Even though in this country we've outlawed it, we used it for so long that it's leached into our soil and really becomes part of our vegetation," Milanaik said.

The findings were published in the April 25 issue of JAMA Pediatrics.

http://www.hngn.com/articles/198143/20160426/scientists-find-link-between-arsenic-levels-infants-who-eat-rice-based-cereals.htm

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http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/business/2016/04/26/more-nfa-rice-outlets-eyed-state-calamity-declared-470092

Good yield of Boro likely

Farmers hope for better price as harvesting begins

A good crop of Boro this season keeps farmers busy across the country. Here some farmers are winnowing harvested rice near a paddy field in Raipura of Narsingdi. The photo was taken last week. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Reaz Ahmad

Farmers in most parts of the country have started harvesting Boro paddy with high hopes of getting a better price this season.Their expectations were buoyed by a recent government promise to buy grains directly from the growers, not from the middlemen or millers.Though Boro paddy was farmed on 48 lakh hectares of land last year, the acreage has shrunken to 46.85 lakh hectares this year, mainly due to low price last year. Besides, there has been some flash flood-induced crop losses early in the harvesting season in the northeastern haors.

Agriculture officials, nonetheless, are optimistic about achieving a bumper Boro output of 1.9 crore tonnes. If that happens, the total rice production this fiscal year would go a little over 3.47 crore tonnes, equalling the previous year's output.

Of the three rice seasons in Bangladesh, Boro is the biggest contributor to the staple production in the country. The other seasons are Aus and Aman.Taking the shrunken Boro acreage into consideration, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects Bangladesh's total Boro output to be 1.86 crore tonnes in the current season.

Upon return from the haor regions early this week, top officials of the agriculture ministry confirmed to The Daily Star that the flash floods caused significant damages to 22,000 hectares of Boro crop but it would not affect the national output much.In a major policy shift, the government this year has decided to procure seven lakh tonnes of Boro paddy directly from farmers, in addition to six lakh tonnes of rice, from May 5 through August 31. The prices have been fixed at Tk 23 a kilogram of paddy and Tk 32 a kg of rice.According to government estimates, farmers' production costs for each kg of paddy and rice have been Tk 20.70 and Tk 29 respectively.In the previous years, the government used to buy mostly rice (9/10 lakh tonnes) and barely one lakh tonne of paddy, which would benefit mainly the rice millers and middlemen with the price incentives.

It's a challenging task to break free from the clutches of middlemen, said Abdul Wadud, MP, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the food ministry."[But] we have advised the food ministry to develop a mechanism so that farmers can directly go to the government's food procurement centres and get the price benefits," he told this correspondent yesterday.Officials at the food ministry and the food directorate say that they will make public announcements in all rice-growing regions from May 2, encouraging farmers to sell their paddy to government granaries.Thanks to the government announcement of the paddy procurement package, markets have already started showing an early sign of rise in the otherwise dampened rice prices, farmers in some of the rice-rich districts said yesterday.

Abdul Jalil grew Boro on 20 bighas (little over 8 acres) of land in Naogaon's Niamatpur.As he has just started harvesting the crop, he is delighted to have 22 to 24 maunds of paddy per bigha.Contacted over the phone yesterday, Jalil said, "The prices are gradually picking up. The price of a maund of paddy was Tk 700 last week. Today, it has risen to 730."While he welcomed the government move of buying paddy directly from farmers, he was a little sceptic about it as well, noting that there exists a long nexus of dishonest middlemen and some unscrupulous food officials.However, that the government will buy 13 lakh tonnes of rice and paddy at good prices would definitely have positive impacts on the rice market, Jalil added.

Discouraged by the low price last year, Tajamul Haque from Chapainawabganj's Nachol cultivated Boro on half the land he did last year."Farmers like me will definitely feel encouraged to grow more rice again if the government really purchases paddy directly from the growers," he said.Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official of the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU) of the food ministry said the government officials concerned have to deliver this time and try to implement the "direct-purchase-from-farmers policy".Otherwise, the farmers will lose interest in farming the economically less lucrative rice, they noted.

http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/good-yield-boro-likely-1215097

Indonesia-India ties: A change in the wind?

Aastha Saboo

Posted: Wed, April 27 2016 | 11:49 amIndian movies, TV serials and even Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan have become household names in Indonesia. Many channels are now showcasing Indian content dubbed in Indonesian, clearly indicating that the love for Indian entertainment is only expected to grow more.(AP/ Kamran Jebreili)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s recent revocation of a meat ban, which provided new encouragement for supporters of more relaxed regulation of rice and pharmaceutical imports, has directed attention once again to the vast potential of trade and investment that remains dormant between India and Indonesia.

Allowing bovine meat to be imported from regions free of foot and mouth disease, regardless of a country’s status overall, comes as a big positive for countries like India, which has been eyeing the Indonesian market since 1999.

An Indonesian high-level delegation visited India in September 2015 to evaluate meat processing facilities and food safety measures there. After extensive evaluation and examination, the Indonesian government has allowed region-based meat import permits for Indian suppliers, formalized in a decree that was signed recently.

This announcement has created a frenzy among traders, for whom this is a potential game changer. With Ramadan also around the corner, many are hopeful that this new rule will end price fluctuations and ensure greater certainty for meat prices in Indonesia.

The beef imports expansion was enacted by President Jokowi as a way to control unstable prices that were the result of having a single large exporter. Australia is the leading beef exporter to Indonesia, enjoying about 80 percent of that market.

This development opened doors for new economic opportunities between countries like India and Indonesia. While it allows India, one of the biggest exporters of meat to the gulf region, to enter the gigantic Southeast Asian market, for Indonesia, it brings cost effectiveness and stability.

Many experts also say that it will have an indirect impact on tourism and the creative industry, with many young entrepreneurs gaining access to cheaper meat. Indonesia will now be able to import bovine meat at US$4/kg, almost 60 percent cheaper than recent import prices.

Although this is just a decree, the Indonesian agriculture minister is hoping that the final regulation on the change will come out before Ramadan allowing Indian meat to officially enter the market before then.

This announcement has triggered enthusiasm and vigor among Indian exporters, who are running several roadshows, to battle some age-old negative stereotypes surrounding Indian meat.

While procedurally India may not have big concerns, capturing the Australian dominated market may not be an easy task. However, with cheaper and good-quality beef, Indian exporters are confident of making their mark on this new market, without biting into supply for their own local market.

Another landmark deal that could shape the future of strategic relations between India and Indonesia is a new rice import deal. The rice import deal is an agreement on Indonesia’s importing of sticky rice from India, to offset any temporary deficit in cases of rice-crop failure due to natural calamities like El Niño-induced drought.

Currently, Indonesia imports rice from countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. While around 900,000 tons of rice was exported from India through private companies last year, the G2G route has not been tapped yet.

Through this G2G deal, the Indonesian government is eyeing the import of 1 million tons of rice from India per year for the next four years.  Currently, the deal is in the final stages, and is expected to be signed in the next few months.

This move would not only help boost slowing rice exports for India, but also help Indonesia get a larger quantity of rice in a shorter time and at economical prices.

Thirdly, the Indonesian pharmaceuticals sector is a highly regulated and protected sector. This affects not only free trade but also the flow of investment. However, as recently as last year, Indonesia agreed to purchase cheaper and good-quality pharmaceutical products from India to reduce inflating medical costs. Currently, President Jokowi’s government is still studying this proposal to see whether it will help overcome the financial burden caused by the issue of health cards to Indonesians.

Both countries are well aware of the opportunities available in Indonesia for setting up manufacturing plants for active pharmaceutical ingredients, medicines and medical devices, along with knowledge sharing on IT in the healthcare industry. While Indonesia would get access to good-quality drugs, the deal would also open a sea of opportunity between the two countries in the healthcare sector, which has immense potential.

However, laws regarding investment in Indonesian’s pharmaceutical industry still need more clarity. Even the long registration process for importing drugs into Indonesia is a challenge, though importing FDA/WHO-approved drugs could be one possible solution.

Lastly, the sector that will bring India and Indonesia closer together in the future is the cinema industry. Indian movies, TV serials and even Bollywood actors like Shah Rukh Khan have become household names in Indonesia. Many channels are now showcasing Indian content dubbed in Indonesian, clearly indicating that the love for Indian entertainment is only expected to grow more.

But after President Jokowi’s announcement that more foreign investment will be allowed in cinema, many Indian cinema houses are buzzing with excitement.

The nascent Indonesian cinema sector is expected to get interest from several Indian cinema biggies in the next few months.

With experts pegging the growth of the Indonesian cinema industry at a whopping 30 percent, several Indian companies have already started showing interest in investing in or signing joint production partnerships with Indonesia cinema houses. To encourage more shooting of Indian films in Indonesia and vice versa, the two governments should also look at a proposal to provide better tax incentives.

While India was one of the fastest growing economies last year, Indonesia has been one of the strongest and most resilient economies over the last two years. But, trading between the two was almost 25 percent below its potential, with Indian exports to Indonesia totaling as low as $4.3 billion worth annually according to the latest data.

While many experts time and again have argued that both Indonesia and India need to adopt a more proactive strategy toward each other, these investment friendly announcements are a step in the right direction for ensuring a good breakthrough in bi-lateral trade, gradually, if not exponentially.

***

The writer is a freelancer with Forbes Indonesia. She was previously a news reporter with CNBC TV 18 in India covering business, corporate finance and investigative stories.

---------------

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http://www.thejakartapost.com/academia/2016/04/27/indonesia-india-ties-a-change-in-the-wind.html

Bringing US rice back to Cuba

By Dow Brantley - 04/26/16 06:35 PM EDT

For generations, my family has been farming rice and other row crops in England, Ark. Growing up, I remember the special experience of planting a seed and seeing a magnificent crop spring up — a crop that was my family’s livelihood and the guarantee that food would always be served on our dining room table. While our town is named after a major international country, it was always a wonder to me to think that what grew in my backyard in rural Arkansas made its way all around the world. 

Today, I am proud to be the chairman of both the Arkansas Rice and USA Rice organizations and a champion of increased exportation of U.S.-grown rice throughout the world — including to Cuba. As someone who represents all sectors of the state and U.S. rice industries and continually thinks about how to best support our rice farmers, millers and the merchants and rice exporters both in Arkansas and across the country, it makes sense to support improved U.S.-Cuba relations and, specifically, an end to the Cuban trade embargo. 

Rice is arguably the best-positioned commodity to benefit from trade with Cuba, thanks to its ability to provide the Cuban people a high quality and nutritious product that’s also an important part of their diets. Cuba imports 80 percent of its food, and of Cuba’s agricultural imports, rice constitutes 10 percent. Cuba is the second-largest importer of rice in the Americas, and there was a time when Cuba was the top destination for 
U.S.-grown rice.

But since 2008, there have been no imports of U.S. rice into Cuba. Due to an embargo that has proven costly to American rice farmers, Cuba is now buying rice from our competitors, with countries such as Brazil and Vietnam offering generous credit terms and continuously refusing to play by the rules of fair trade. Currently, Cuba imports about 600,000 metric tons of rice annually, valued at more than $300 million. And none of it is coming from U.S. rice farmers. 

Rice farmers have spent decades trying to explain to Congress that the embargo is a huge loss for our sector. It is why we have been at the forefront of the push to lift the embargo since the 1990s. We welcome and embrace the momentum of diverse stakeholders joining our efforts; we were proud to co-sponsor the recent launch of the Engage Cuba Arkansas State Council, made up of agribusiness, community and academic leaders committed to engaging with Cuba through diplomacy and trade. 

Restoring mutually beneficial, two-way commerce is at the heart of our industry’s efforts, and the movement is making history almost daily. Our work in states and in Washington, D.C., has allowed us to reach a tentative agreement for a memorandum of understanding between USA Rice and the Cuban government. This agreement will state that once barriers are removed, the Cuban government will resume buying U.S. rice. We will continue to develop our relationship with Cuban leaders and rice buyers in order to bring high quality, reliable rice quickly to the Cuban people.

With the prospect of a strong partnership before us, the rice industry, along with many other sectors, deserves to have representatives in Congress who can help us put an end to a policy that no longer works. The Obama administration has made excellent progress on the path to restoring trade with our Cuban neighbors, but we are now at the point where any further progress is dependent on leaders in Congress. We are lucky to have strong representation in Arkansas, from Gov. Asa Hutchinson to Sen. John Boozman and Rep. Rick Crawford, each of whom has come out in support of expanded trade opportunities for businesses and industries like mine. However, we need additional champions in Congress to continue this momentum to normalize trade so that Cuba can once again become a major U.S. trading partner. 

If we are successful in lifting the outdated and harmful trade embargo, we can ensure that an island of more than 11 million people can enjoy the same rice that grew in my backyard and in thousands of backyards across our state.

Brantley is the chairman of USA Rice and the Arkansas Rice Federation.

http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/277766-brantley-bringing-us-rice-back-to-cuba

Govt researchers roll out rice crackers with ‘malunggay’

by BusinessMirror - April 26, 2016

RESEARCHERS from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have found a way to turn a junk food into a nutrient-filled food, which could help reduce undernourishment in the country.

Dr. Riza A. Ramos of PhilRice’s Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division (RCFSD) and her colleagues Rosaly V. Manois and Amelia V. Morales conducted research on the acceptability, shelf-life and nutritional quality of malunggay-supplemented rice crackers.

The study earned Ramos the 2015 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agriculture Researcher award in Central Luzon.

Locally known as malunggay, moringa is known the world over as a low-cost solution to
undernourishment.

“Every part of the tree is nutritious. The leaves have the highest amount of calcium and phosphorus among vegetables. Malunggay is rich in potassium, iron and vitamin C. Some studies show that it also reduces cholesterol,” Ramos said in a statement.

She said she drew inspiration for her research from being anemic herself during her preschool years. Ramos said children, pregnant  and lactating women are among the most vulnerable groups for micronutrient deficiency.

For Ramos, the challenge was how to convince children to eat nutritious food items as they generally do not taste good. “So I thought of incorporating malunggay in rice crackers.”

She said local bakeshops are undertaking similar efforts to incorporate malunggay in other products. However, Ramos said she is unsure if the right amount of malunggayto meet the nutritional requirements is being added.

Ramos’s team has already made some demonstrations of their product at the Palusapis Fish Cracker Plant Facility in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. This forms part of their efforts to promote their product.  Based on their research, themalunggay-supplemented rice crackers have lower total fat content and significantly higher beta-carotene, vitamin C and calcium levels.

“We offer training programs free of charge mostly to mothers and members of women’s organizations,” she said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/govt-researchers-roll-out-rice-crackers-with-malunggay/

USA Rice Checks In with Korea Market 

By Kristen Dayton

 SEOUL, KOREA -- USA Rice met with several key rice groups yesterday to review the Korean market, promotion activities, and long-term market access. Michael Rue, California producer and chairman of the USA Rice Asia Trade Policy Subcommittee, and USA Rice COO Bob Cummings had a strategy session with the USA Rice promotion team to review current activities, including an ongoing restaurant promotion using U.S. medium grain, and plans for the current year. Rue and Cummings met with U.S. Agricultural Counselor Ross Kraemer and his staff to discuss efforts to best maintain access for U.S. rice following Korea's move to rice tariffication in 2015.  The U.S. government and other rice exporting countries in the World Trade Organization objected to Korea's rice tariffs, and even though the issue remains unresolved, Korea continues to import rice, including from the United States.  They also had meetings with members of the Korean trade involved in the import of U.S. rice. "Korea is an important market for U.S. rice," said Rue.  "Our promotion activities show clear demand, and we need to make sure we have stable access going forward."

 Rue and Cummings will be joined later this week by other USA Rice members in Taipei for the first U.S.-Taiwan rice technical meeting.

Crop Progress:  2016 Crop 62 Percent Planted  WASHINGTON, DC -- Sixty-two percent of the nation's 2016 rice acreage is planted, according to yesterday's U.S. Department of Agriculture's Crop Progress Report.

Rice Planted, Selected States  Week Ending State April 24, 2015     April 17, 2016    April 24, 2016   2011-2015 average Percent Arkansas 34   55 75 47 California 6  1 3 5 Louisiana 83          75 79 86 Mississippi  46   39 53 44 Missouri 3 50 86 33 Texas 63  75 76 80 Six States 37 48 62 45

USA Rice Daily, Tuesday, April 26, 2016

PRISM to boost rice production

Posted by Online on Apr 27th, 2016

Since rice remains an important source of livelihood and income of Filipino farmers, Senator Cynthia Villar underscored the critical role of the Philippine Rice Information System (PRISM) project to boost rice production.

Villar said rice farmers, are the longest sector in Agriculture.

Also, being the country’s main staple, rice provides 45 percent of the caloric intake of Filipinos, accounting for 20 percent of a typical household’s budget.

“Thus, if would be deemed remiss in our duties and responsibilities if we are not able to produce accurate and timely information on rice, particularly its production and yield gaps. These data are important for us to create plans and draft policies,” said Villar, chair of the Senate Agriculture and Food committee.

With PRISM, she said the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and their other partners – are using technologies like remote sensing, crop models, in-field crop surveys, information and communications technology (ICT), among others.

She said PRISM would help produce practical and useful information on rice crop seasonality; area; yield; damage from flood, wind, or drought; and yield-reducing factors like diseases, animal pests, and weeds.

“And that goldmine of data will surely allow all of us to do our jobs much better. And of course, the information gathered would greatly benefit our farmers, farmers’ groups and others involved in agriculture. They will be the ultimate beneficiaries of it, in the long run,” said Villar.

“As PRISM cited itself, it will revolutionize information on the when, where and how much of rice as well as crop health assessments and flood or drought damage” These are all important indicators in our efforts to address food security in our country,” Villar further said.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2016/04/27/news/main/prism-to-boost-rice-production/#GuYPySLvuU9kEFVv.99

Govt researchers roll out rice crackers with ‘malunggay’

by BusinessMirror - April 26, 2016

RESEARCHERS from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) have found a way to turn a junk food into a nutrient-filled food, which could help reduce undernourishment in the country.

Dr. Riza A. Ramos of PhilRice’s Rice Chemistry and Food Science Division (RCFSD) and her colleagues Rosaly V. Manois and Amelia V. Morales conducted research on the acceptability, shelf-life and nutritional quality of malunggay-supplemented rice crackers.

The study earned Ramos the 2015 Gawad Saka Outstanding Agriculture Researcher award in Central Luzon.

Locally known as malunggay, moringa is known the world over as a low-cost solution to
undernourishment.

“Every part of the tree is nutritious. The leaves have the highest amount of calcium and phosphorus among vegetables. Malunggay is rich in potassium, iron and vitamin C. Some studies show that it also reduces cholesterol,” Ramos said in a statement.

She said she drew inspiration for her research from being anemic herself during her preschool years. Ramos said children, pregnant  and lactating women are among the most vulnerable groups for micronutrient deficiency.

For Ramos, the challenge was how to convince children to eat nutritious food items as they generally do not taste good. “So I thought of incorporating malunggay in rice crackers.”

She said local bakeshops are undertaking similar efforts to incorporate malunggay in other products. However, Ramos said she is unsure if the right amount of malunggayto meet the nutritional requirements is being added.

Ramos’s team has already made some demonstrations of their product at the Palusapis Fish Cracker Plant Facility in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. This forms part of their efforts to promote their product.  Based on their research, themalunggay-supplemented rice crackers have lower total fat content and significantly higher beta-carotene, vitamin C and calcium levels.

“We offer training programs free of charge mostly to mothers and members of women’s organizations,” she said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/govt-researchers-roll-out-rice-crackers-with-malunggay/

Election 2016: Agenda of the Nueva Ecija gov

03:28 AM April 27th, 2016

THE INQUIRER is coming out today with the 17th of its series on pressing people’s concerns that should be high on the agenda of candidates for representative, governor or mayor in the May 9 elections. The series should help voters in the provinces choose their leaders wisely. In line with our “ThINQ.Vote.” advocacy, we have asked candidates in certain provinces, cities and congressional districts to outline their concrete plans of action in dealing with specific issues in their areas.

Interviews by Anselmo Roque and Armand Galang

Profile: Nueva Ecija province

NUEVA ECIJA has been feeding much of Luzon since the 1920s, earning the title “Rice Bowl of the Philippines” because its vast farms have remained some of the largest rice producers. It is also a principal grower of onions and corn.

Because of its status as a leading rice producer, the province has a large concentration of agricultural research facilities, such as the Philippine Carabao Center and the Philippine Rice Research Institute.

But the place is more than just a food source. Named after the Spanish town of Ecija in Seville province, Nueva Ecija is symbolized by one of eight rays on the Philippine flag, which represent the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spanish colonial rule in 1896. Cabanatuan once served as the seat of government when Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo retreated to Nueva Ecija in 1899.

First-class Nueva Ecija is home to 1,953,716 people (as of the 2010 census). It is the ninth vote-rich province, having 1,313,811 registered voters.

Agriculture

GRANARY TALES. Since the 1920s, Nueva Ecija has been the “rice granary of the Philippines” due to its high aggregate total harvest. According to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), its average production per year is 1,113,284 metric tons (MT). From 1990 to 2010, its contribution to the production of palay in the country was an average of 8 percent. In 2014, output was close to 2 million MT. However, the number of poor families in the province has increased. Their plight has worsened with the introduction of combined harvesters (machines that harvest, thresh and bag crops). How do you address these concerns?

RODOLFO ANTONINO (United Nationalist Alliance)

We need to:

Balance farm mechanization and manual farming.

Develop a master plan for irrigation facilities and farm-to-market roads.

Strictly implement rules and regulations on entry of imported agricultural products.

Pursue prospective investors in promoting agribusiness.

Tap expertise of agriculture-related agencies for agridevelopment, strengthen farmers’ cooperatives and provide financial subsidies and crop insurance.

Increase the livelihood of farmers by creating more agriculture-based products so that these should not be sold as raw materials.

CZARINA UMALI (Liberal Party)

Expand the “Ani ng Masaganang Uhay” (AMU) program of the province which provides for technology transfer.

Build more irrigation systems, farm-to-market roads and storage as well as drying facilities.

Provide microcredit, production subsidies and market support.

Mitigate the effects of climate change through community-based planning, education, training, seminars, experimental farming for adaptive crops, bottom-up budgeting for agri-programs and international and local institutions’ networking.

Adopt a comprehensive agricultural land use plan.

Agri-industrialize by providing modern equipment, technology, trainings and other services to farmers.

Strengthen “Bagsakan Center” to counter low gate prices of traders.

Create an agri-industrial complex.

Support farming families for income augmentation and instill values and virtues of farming.

Peace and order

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Nueva Ecija on its list of election hot spots because of its history of violence that is rooted in political rivalries. In 1980, a raid on the Cabanatuan City Hall resulted in the death of nine people and the burning of the building. Then Mayor Honorato Perez escaped unhurt. In 1995, days before the election, Perez, then running for governor, and his aide were killed in a confrontation with a rival political candidate. Too many killings need a closer examination of the political culture that has spawned these types of violence.

RODOLFO ANTONINO (United Nationalist Alliance)

The primary objective of crime fighting is to solve crimes. When criminals know they can be caught, we can reduce criminality by doing the following:

Provide all villages with radios which will have direct access to the local police. Patrol cars should be equipped with communication devices.

Financially support the Scene of the Crime Operations (Soco) units to help elevate their skills in acquiring forensic evidence at crime scenes.

Help the police get more cars and motorcycles to increase their visibility in the communities.

CZARINA UMALI (Liberal Party)

Promote Nueva Ecija as a peaceful province.

Pursue economic development strategies, job creation and protection of entrepreneurs engaged in small and medium-scale enterprises.

Institute sociocultural interventions, like holding fiesta-like events, to encourage participation and cooperation of big clans and families to counter culture of feuds and violence.

Hold forums, dialogues of various sectors in determining socio-economic policies that will help in preserving peace and order.

Encourage civilian participation for deterring crimes as police capabilities to deter crime are improved.

DYNASTY  POLITICAL DYNASTY. The Josons have dominated Nueva Ecija politics in more 50 years. It started with the election of the patriarch, Eduardo, in 1959, who was reelected six times. The clan’s political dominance ended in 2004 when then Rep. Aurelio Umali trashed the election bid of another Joson and repeated his mastery in polls when he defeated two members of the Joson clan in succeeding elections. Umali is now running for representative of the third district. He fielded his wife, Czarina, for governor, against former three-term Rep. Rodolfo Antonino, whose daughter, Magnolia, won the seat he vacated and is now running for reelection. What are your thoughts on this issue?

RODOLFO ANTONINO (United Nationalist Alliance)

The phrase, “Let the people decide,” was the principle enshrined by the Supreme Court when it ruled in favor of the presidential candidacy of Sen. Grace Poe. Voters should be allowed to choose people who serve them well.

On the issue of public service, let the people make the decision on whom to elect.

CZARINA UMALI (Liberal Party)

I am not in favor of political dynasties, especially if they rule people through fear, corruption and oppression. The way I see it, belonging to a political family per se is not entirely evil for as long as the rights of the people to choose their leaders and air their sentiments and grievances are respected.

When an antipolitical dynasty law is enacted, I will duly submit to its provisions.

#VotePH2016: The Inquirer multimedia coverage of the 2016 national and local elections in the Philippines provides to voters the latest news, photos, videos and infographics on the candidates and their platforms, as well as real-time election results come May 9, 2016. Visit our special Elections 2016 site here: http://www.inquirer.net/elections2016

NEED FOR INCREASED EFFORTS BY TCP, REAP FOR RICE EXPORT

Wednesday, 27 April 2016 00:54

 Fawad Maqsood

KARACHI: Chairman, Trade Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), Rizwan Ahmed Khan on Tuesday underlined the need for increased interaction between TCP and Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to explore new market for Pakistani rice.During his meeting with rice exporters at REAP Office here, TCP Chief said these two organization should shake hands to prepare a road map for increasing rice export.He assured all support to the proposed delegation from REAP to Indonesia and said Pakistani rice exporters should also focus on Qatar market as the rates of Indian rice had risen and Pakistan could benefit.

He assured the TCP management had and would be extending maximum facilitation to REAP.

"Recommendation from REAP had always been forwarded to the Ministry of Commerce and other concerned quarters in letter and spirit," he said. REAP's Patron-in-Chief Abdul Rahim Janu and Acting Chairman REAP Rizwan Shaikh spoke of the hindrances in rice export to different countries and sought TCP help.Abdul Rahim Janu emphasized on more research on rice and called for privatisation of Kala Shah Kaku and Dokri Rice Research Institutes for better research on rice.

http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/industries-a-sectors/292604-need-for-increased-efforts-by-tcp-reap-for-rice-export.html

 

India is the biggest virtual exporter of water

Except for Brahmaputra and Mahanadi, all river basins with a population of more than 20 million face water shortage for the major part of the year

Roshan Kishore

Graphics: Sarvesh Sharma/Mint

New Delhi: How much water does it take to cook a cup of rice? Recipe books would say two cups. Now consider this: It takes 2,173 litres of water to produce a kg of husked rice. That is a global average. Out of this, 1,488 litres is typically rainwater, 443 litres is surface or groundwater and 242 litres of water are required to carry off the pollutants produced during the process.

For India, the figure is 2,688 litres. The number is worse for several states, including some of the largest rice producers, as the first story in this series pointed out. In the case of goat meat, the requirement can go up to 8,763 litres per kg. Looking at it in terms of nutrition, more than 10 litres of water are required to produce a kilocalorie of nutrition from red meat, while only half a litre is required to produce the same amount from cereals.These numbers become all the more important when you consider exports. In 2014-15, India exported 37.2 lakh tonnes of basmati. To export this rice, the country used around 10 trillion litres of water. To put it another way, India virtually exported 10 trillion litres of water. At least one-fifth of this would have been surface/groundwater. In these times of global climate change, water is the one commodity where you don’t want a trade surplus (i.e, exports higher than imports).

According to the Water Footprint Network (WFN) database, India had the lowest virtual imports of water in the world. How does it compare with China, which is the only other nation with a comparable population size?

China is the eleventh largest country in the world in terms of virtual water imports and it runs a virtual water trade surplus in crop and animal products, that is, it has higher virtual water imports. But China ends up exporting more water than importing because of its overseas sales of industrial products.

In contrast, India is a large virtual net export of water because of agricultural products. One policy implication: While the country strives to increase manufacturing exports, care should be taken to maximize water use efficiency lest it ends up virtually exporting more water.

Rudimentary trade theory suggests that a country should be exporting things which it has in abundance and importing those which are scarce.

By that logic, India should be a virtual importer of water, especially so, when its report card of water scarcity looks very grim.

The WFN database gives data on water scarcity for more than 400 river basins in the world. Water scarcity is defined as the ratio of total surface/groundwater footprint to surface/groundwater availability in a given river basin. If the ratio is 1, it means that available surface/groundwater is being fully utilized. But ideally speaking, averting water scarcity requires that not more than 20% of the water that flows on the ground is used by human beings. So, even a ratio of 1 denotes moderate scarcity.

The WFN database recognizes four kinds of water scarcity situations: low (ratio<1), moderate (ratio between 1 and 1.5), significant (ratio between 1.5 and 2) and severe (ratio>2). Water scarcity is measured for each month. This is because water flow situation can be extremely skewed over a year. There could be excess flow on account of rains for a couple of months, whereas the rest of the period can witness abysmally low levels. Due to this reason, the WFN database classifies river basins by scarcity levels for different months in a year.

Data for India shows that except for Brahmaputra and Mahanadi, all river basins with a population of more than 20 million experience water scarcity for a major part of the year. The two most populous basins—Ganga and Indus—suffer significant-to-severe levels of water scarcity for 7 and 11 months in a year, respectively. A caveat: a large part of the Indus river basin population would be located in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan.

The upshot is that India is exporting large amounts of virtual water despite being an extremely water-scarce country. Should it be doing this is the question.

This is the second of a two-part data journalism series looking at issues of embedded water. The first part looked at how inefficient Indian farms are when it comes to water use.

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/food-grains-analysis/rice-reports/2016/prapril272016

04/26/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report

Rice

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

Futures:

ROUGH RICE High Low Last Change May '16 1114.0 1085.5 1095.0 +11.5 Jul '16 1139.0 1109.0 1120.0 +11.0 Sep '16 1150.0 1128.0 1134.5 +14.0 Nov '16 1149.0 1139.0 1142.5 +13.0 Jan '17 1158.5 +14.0 Mar '17 1175.0 1175.0 1175.0 +18.0 May '17 1194.0 +34.5

Rice Comment

Rice futures continued higher. The value of the dollar and improved export sales are supportive. USDA says 121,300 metric tons for delivery this marketing year. Of course, 90,000 of that was the previously reported sale to Iraq. The market will be watching crop progress closely. If farmers plant what they reported to USDA in the survey, the large crop will limit the upside potential. Currently, USDA says 62% of the crop in the ground and 38% emerged. In Arkansas, the totals are 75% planted and 40% emerged, so Arkansas farmers made lots of progress in a week’s time. May failed just below the 62% retracement objective of $11.16 before closing closer to the bottom of the days’ trading range.

APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1460

International Benchmark Price

Price on: 26-04-2016

Product Benchmark Indicators Name Price Apricots 1 Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4625 2 Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t) 4125 3 Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t) 3625 Raisins 1 Californian Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2278 2 South African Thompson seedless raisins, CIF UK (USD/t) 2369 White Sugar 1 CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t) 842 2 Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t) 691 3 Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t) 587 Source:agra-net For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 26-04-2016 Domestic Prices Unit Price : Rs per Qty Product Market Center Variety Min Price Max Price Jowar(Sorghum) 1 Dehgam (Gujarat) Other 2305 2450 2 Jalgaon (Maharashtra) Other 1850 2000 3 Khargone (Madhya Pradesh) Other 1363 1390 Maize 1 Bellary (Karnataka) Local 1412 1452 2 Kota (Rajasthan) Other 1401 1461 3 Theni (Tamil Nadu) Other 1480 1560 Papaya 1 Alappuzha (Kerala) Other 2500 2600 2 Malout (Punjab) Other 1300 1700 3 Solan (Himachal Pradesh) Other 1800 2000 Cauliflower 1 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) Other 1200 2200 2 Manjeri (Kerala) Other 2300 2500 3 Nagpur (Maharashtra) Other 800 1200 Source:agmarknet.nic.in For more info

Egg Rs per 100 No Price on 26-04-2016 Product Market Center Price 1 Ahmedabad 320 2 Nagapur 270 3 Namakkal 310 Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 26-04-2016 Product Market Center Origin Variety Low High Potatoes Package: 50 lb cartons 1 Atlanta Colorado Russet 17 17.50 2 Chicago California Russet 21 21 2 Detroit Idaho Russet 13.50 14 Carrots Package: cartons 20 1-lb film bags 1 Atlanta California Baby Peeled 18 18.50 2 Dallas Mexico Baby Peeled 17 19 3 Philadelphia California Baby Peeled 16 16 Grapes Package: 18 lb containers bagged 1 Baltimore Peru Red Globe 25 25 2 Chicago Chile Red Globe 16.50 18.50 3 Miami Peru Red Globe 21 22 Source:USDA

Prevailing World Prices and Loan Deficiency Payment Rates for Rice

Mark Simone
(202) 720-5653
Mark.Simone@wdc.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, April 27, 2016-The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates applicable to the 2015 crop, which will become effective today at 7:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET).  Rough rice prices are unchanged from the previous announcement.

To access the complete News Release, click here. 

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/economic-and-policy-analysis/food-grains-analysis/rice-reports/2016/prapril272016

Department pleads for delay in next rice crop

Water too scarce for now, farmers told

• 26 Apr 2016 at 04:11
• NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS | WRITER: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

Farmers in Chai Nat province are preparing their fields to start the main rice crop, but they have been asked to delay planting due to the extreme water shortage. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)

There is not enough water in the Chao Phraya River basin to feed rice farms in the early rainy season next month, according to the Department of Royal Irrigation (RID).

Suthep Noipairoj, the RID director-general, has warned farmers they should not plant rice in their usual crop season next month as water remains scarce.

He said water is running low in the four main dams in the Chao Phraya basin. Farmers should begin planting when the rainy season is in full swing, expected in July, he said. "The Meteorological Department will make an announcement when it is time for rice planting," he said.

Mr Suthep expressed confidence there will be sufficient water reserves in the irrigation zone during the rainy season. However, the agency will need to assess whether the water collected will last for the second rice crop which follows the rainy season.

According to the department, 96% of usable water from the four main dams has been used, leaving only 4% available until the rainy season. The first rain of the season is expected in the third week of next month.

The RID says the government has prioritised the use of water, which is supplied first to farmlands that grow crops from the previous season. Farmers are also asked to suspend rice planting if their land is not served by irrigated water or encouraged to switch to drought-resistant crops.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the ministry expects farmers will produce about 27 million tonnes of rice on 62 million rai this year. Of this, 3.16 million tonnes will likely be harvested in the second crop planted on about four million rai of farmland.

In the previous second rice crop, which was extended until early this year, farmers planted rice on 5.5 million rai of farmland. Of this, 3.1 million rai were grown in the 22 provinces along the river basin, according to the ministry.

Farmers should grow alternative crops that are resistant to drought including sunn hemp, he said. He said the government will buy sunn hemp seeds grown by the farmers, saying income from the harvest will be close to what the farmers get from selling rice.

He added the ministry will soon submit to the cabinet a rehabilitation plan for the farming sector affected by drought. The plan includes a reduction in fertiliser prices to 10-30 baht a bag, an offer of quality rice seeds and low-interest loans to farmers.

Meanwhile, commerce permanent secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara said the amount of rice harvested this year is likely to be about 1.7% lower compared to last year's output.

However, rice consumption is predicted to increase, although there is no guarantee farmers will get a better price from the rice since prices are dictated by many factors.

She said the country planned to export 9.5 million tonnes of white rice, similar to last year's exports.

 

Record 60-day rice sale blitz set to begin

• 26 Apr 2016 at 04:36
• WRITER: REUTERS, POST REPORTERS

A policeman examines rice at a SM Benja Co warehouse in Suphan Buri province during checks on stocks held under the rice pledging-scheme. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)The government plans to sell all 11.4 million tonnes of rice in government stockpiles within two months for 100 billion baht, the country's rice management board, starting next week.The plan announced Monday is unprecedented in Thai export history - selling off more rice in two months than the country usually sells in a year. Average rice sales over the past couple of decades have been about 10 million tonnes.

Currently the world's second-biggest rice exporter after India, the government has been reducing stocks left over from the Yingluck-era rice-purchase scheme.

The military regime has successfully auctioned off 5.05 million tonnes of rice worth $1.53 billion through several tenders since May, 2014.

The sale of warehouse rice highlighted another problem on Monday - the drought.

There is not enough water in the Chao Phraya River basin to feed rice farms in the early rainy season next month, according to the Department of Royal Irrigation (RID). And there isn't even any guarantee that the rainy season will actually begin next month.

Suthep Noipairoj, the RID director-general, appealed to farmers to delay planting because of the scarcity of water.

He said water is running low in the four main dams in the Chao Phraya basin.Farmers should begin planting when the rainy season is in full swing, expected in July, he said. “The Meteorological Department will make an announcement when it is time for rice planting,” he said.

Mr Suthep said he is certain there will be sufficient water reserves in the irrigation zone during the rainy season for the main rice crop. But the agency will need to assess whether the water collected will last for the second rice crop which follows the rainy season.

Full details on the drought problem for farmers here.

Traders were sceptical Monday about the government's ability to sell off remaining stocks in just two months.

Supachai Vorraapinyaporn, president of Tanasan Rice Group, the third largest rice exporter, said the government's target of offloading the rice within two months was not possible.

"This is a million percent impossible, considering that previous auctions were monthly, and only around 400,000 tonnes," said Mr Supachai."Perhaps they meant two years, not two months," he added.The government had previously said it aimed to clear the stockpile by the end of 2017 - 20 months from now.According to plans announced Monday, auctions will begin next week, with one million tonnes of rice for each lot."We aim to auction it all off within two months," said commerce ministry permanent secretary Chutima Bunyapraphasara, who is also secretary of the Rice Management Board. Ms Chutima said the remaining rice stocks were worth more than 100 billion baht.Thailand has about 100,000 tonnes of what the commerce ministry has called "good grade" rice in state warehouses.The remaining stocks include 7.5 million tonnes of "sub-standard" rice for human consumption, 1.5 million tonnes earmarked for industrial use, and 2.4 million tonnes of spoiled rice.Chutima Bunyapraphasara, permanent secretary: Auctions will begin next month, and run weekly in May and June. (File photo)

Rice Prices

as on : 26-04-2016 08:10:18 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season  cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Bangarpet(Kar)	279.00	22.37	6470.00	1750	1850	-5.41
Kesinga(Ori)	60.00	20	470.00	2450	2300	-5.77
Cachar(ASM)	40.00	NC	1570.00	2700	2700	NC
Jajpur(Ori)	31.00	93.75	393.00	2000	2200	-23.08
Robertsganj(UP)	21.50	7.5	92.00	1890	1880	1.61
Jeypore(Ori)	15.60	7.59	69.50	3250	3250	NC
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)	13.60	202.22	39.70	4100	3250	NC
North Lakhimpur(ASM)	9.00	-54.31	1312.10	1900	1900	-
Nilagiri(Ori)	9.00	NC	399.00	2400	2400	4.35
Dibrugarh(ASM)	7.60	7.04	1057.20	2450	2450	-
Bolangir(Ori)	7.20	-4	200.70	2300	2200	-4.17
Tusura(Ori)	7.00	-6.67	216.00	2300	2200	-4.17
Karanjia(Ori)	6.50	18.18	231.30	2600	2600	4.00
Mirzapur(UP)	6.00	NC	1228.50	1950	1940	-1.52
Jharsuguda(Ori)	1.20	-45.45	12.30	2400	2400	-7.69

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8523537.ece