Monsoon rains cover half of India; to accelerate sowing
Labourers plant saplings in a paddy field on the outskirts
of the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar in this July 19, 2014 file photo.
Reuters/Stringer
Indian monsoon rains have covered nearly half of the country, the weather
department said on Monday, accelerating planting of summer crops like paddy
rice, soybeans, cotton and pulses.The June to September monsoon is crucial for farm output and economic growth in India, where just over half of arable land is fed by rain. The farm sector makes up about 15 percent of the $2-trillion economy that is Asia's third biggest.
The sowing has been held up this year due to a delay in the arrival of monsoon rains, but now conditions are becoming favorable for further progress of the monsoon in central and western India, the weather office said in a statement.
The monsoon has covered all southern and eastern states and nearly the whole of Maharashtra, the biggest producer of sugar and second biggest producer of cotton and soybeans.
"Paddy (rice) transplanting is gaining momentum in southern and eastern states," said an official at the Agricultural Meteorology Division of India Meteorological Department.
"Soybean, cotton and pulses sowing will also gain momentum this week," the official said.
Of its 1.3 billion population, more than 60 percent of people in India depend on agriculture to eke out a living.
(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Keith Weir)
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-india-monsoon-idINKCN0Z616R
Vietnam drought leaves one million in urgent need of food aid - EU
by Thomson Reuters
Foundation | @alisatang
| Thomson Reuters Foundation
Monday, 20 June 2016 11:12 GMT
Worst drought in 90 years and seawater intrusion in Mekong
River delta destroy fruit, rice and sugar crops
BANGKOK, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - An El Niño-induced drought
in Vietnam has left 1 million people in urgent need of food assistance and 2
million people lacking access to drinking water, Europe's humanitarian aid
agency said.The country's worst drought in 90 years coupled with seawater
intrusion into the Mekong River delta have destroyed fruit, rice and sugar
crops in the world's third-largest rice exporter after India and Thailand."The disruption in precipitation patterns has affected the livelihoods, food security and access to safe water of the people of Vietnam," Christos Stylianides, EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, said in a statement.
The EU's humanitarian arm ECHO said it would provide 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in funding for emergency relief.
"This EU contribution will help provide life-saving assistance to affected families at this critical time, ensuring that their basic needs are met," Stylianides said.
Saltwater has encroached up the Mekong Delta up to 25 km (15 miles) further than average years, the ECHO statement said.
"Although the government had taken preparedness measures and launched some initiatives in anticipation, the scale of the current disaster has become much worse than initially foreseen, surpassing the local capacity to respond," the statement said.
Weather forecasters have warned of the possibility of a La Nina weather event, the counterpart of El Nino, which could bring intense rains to Vietnam in the second half of 2016.
(Reporting by Alisa Tang @alisatang, editing by Ros Russell. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories)
http://news.trust.org/item/20160620111550-i3oqr
Rice exporters look to Indonesia and Korea
To increase rice exports, Myanmar is looking to Indonesia and South Korea, says Khin Maung Lwin, the assistant secretary at the Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar exports 90 per cent of its rice overland, mostly to China, with a bulk of sea exports going to Africa.More than US$20 million was earned from rice exports this financial year until May 13, according to the ministry.
Rice accounts for 93 per cent of total land exports with a massive over-dependence on China. Penetrating overseas markets would take time, the ministry said.
Myanmar was paying more for rice than other countries, according to a report by Aung Than Oo, chair of the Myanmar Rice Merchants' Association. It said between 2015 and January this year, the Pawsan rice price increased by 4.2 per cent, Emahta rose by 38 per cent and Ngasein rice by 39 per cent.
Sources: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/rice-exporters-look-indonesia-and-korea
Bulog to Launch Market Operations of 390,000 Tons of Rice
State-owned Logistic Agency (Perum Bulog) currently holds 2.1 million tons of rice reserve. Of the amount, 390,000 tons will be sold at a discount into the market through market operations. 'The government has assigned Bulog to hold market operation once a month during Ramadan,' the Director for Procurement of Perum Bulog Wahyu told Tempo on Tuesday at Bulog's warehouse Kelapa Gading, Jakarta, June 7, 2016.The market operations will be carried out to stabilize rice price in the market. Wahyu explained that of the 390,000 tons of rice, 170,000 tons will be sold at Rp7,900 per liter. The remaining 220,000 tons is high-quality rice that will be sold at Rp8,500 per liter. 'As many as 390,000 tons must be supplied to the market to stabilize rice price until Eid Day,' Wahyu said.
In relation to reserve stock ahead of Eid al-Fitr, Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman has ensured the availability of staple foods, such as rice, ahead of Eid Day 2016, or that prices will lower during June-July. As many as 7,417,487 tons of rice stock has exceeded the demand of merely 5,626,400 tons.
'To meet consumers demand, we will continue to carry out market operations on a large scale and improve supply chain,' Amran said. He added that the issue could not be addressed right away. He hoped that farmers could prosper and consumers could get fair price.
Sources: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/06/08/056777787/Bulog-to-Launch-Market-Operations-of-390000-Tons-of-Rice
Rice Exports to EU Threatened
The Kingdom's rice exports to the European Union (EU), which now enjoy duty and quota free access, could be threatened if the regional grouping agrees to Italy's request to limit rice imports from least developed countries (LDCs). Italy is Europe's top premium rice producer and its exports to the EU are growing.According to Oryza, the daily online markets newsletter, Italy is pushing the EU to cut LDC rice imports from Asia to protect the Italian local rice market that seems to be getting bigger.
Angelo Politi, the director general of Italy's rice research body Ente Nazionale Risi (ENR), was quoted in Oryza as saying that rice imports from LDCs such as Cambodia and Myanmar were flooding the EU due to special treatment given to them in the form of tariff-free market entry in the 'Everything But Arms' trade concessions. This, he added, was jeopardizing the competitiveness of the Italy-grown Indica varieties - namely Ariete, Drago, Arorio, Baldo, S. Andrea and Carnaroli - which have been given EU quality assurance labels.
The Italians do not eat much rice, but Italy is famous for its risotto made from the Arorio and Carnaroli varieties.
Reacting to the Italian request to cut rice imports from LDCs, Hean Vanhan, deputy director-general of the Department of Agriculture in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the impact on Cambodian rice exports could be serious, if implemented.
'Italy has made this request to the EU many times. Fortunately the EU has been silent on it. But we can't be complacent. If the EU follows through Rome's request, our rice exports could be in trouble,' said Mr. Vanhan.
Mr. Vanhan pointed out that rice exports to the EU were mainly high-end fragrant rice and at this moment, there was little competition from other producers including those in Italy. But, he stressed, that could change if the EU decides to follow up with Italy's request.
Amru Rice (Cambodia) CEO Song Saran warned that the whole rice production chain from farmers, rice millers to exporters could be in dire financial straits if Cambodia loses the EU market. He urged the government to open discussions with the EU on this issue to gauge their thoughts on what quality of rice exports Cambodia should be sending to Europe and what kind of products Cambodia should reduce, so that the rice export quotas are not affected.
Mr. Saran stressed that Cambodia was reluctant to compete or challenge Italy, since it is also in the common league of rice exporting countries.
'Cambodia exports white rice to Europe to supplement what Italy exports to the EU. Italy by itself cannot produce enough rice to supply the 28 countries in the European Union,' he pointed out.
According to latest figures from the Italian Rice Association (Enterisi), Italy's rice production this year is forecast at 1.5 million metric tons, an increase of 7.5 percent from last year.
'Italy's complaint is that rice from Asian LDCs is eating into their market share and these rice imports have an undue advantage because they enter Europe tariff-free,' added Mr. Saran.
But Mr. Saran said it was Italy that was being unfair. The European Union gave tariff-free access to Cambodia and Myanmar rice exports based on joint consensus by its 28 members.
'Cambodian and Myanmar farmers will suffer more, compared to Italian rice growers, if we are pushed out of the EU market,' he cautioned. 'We urge the EU not to cut our rice export quotas. If they do we will be in serious trouble.'
This threat from Italy comes at a at a crucial time as the Cambodian government considers a $30 million emergency loan request from the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) to help protect the rice sector that is reeling from a fall in production due to the prolonged drought that hit the Kingdom. The CRF has also urged the Ministry of Commerce to reduce electricity tariffs and pump in an additional $200 million for rice millers.
Oryza reported that from last September to this April, the EU imported 261,692 metric tons of rice from Cambodia and Myanmar, up by about 27 percent from the same period the previous year.
Sources: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/25768/rice-exports-to-eu-threatened/
Monsoon likely to gain momentum, advance further
NEW
DELHI, JUNE 18:
After making a slow progress, the
southwest monsoon is expected to gain momentum and advance further into several
parts of drought-hit Maharashtra and central India.“The southwest monsoon has
further advanced into remaining parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha,
Gangetic West Bengal, more parts of north interior Karnataka, Vidarbha,
Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Jharkhand and Bihar,” the India Meteorological
Department said.Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences, M Rajeevan, said
the last week of June is expected to witness some good rainfall.IMD said the
conditions are favourable for the monsoon to advance into entire Konkan and
Goa, drought-hit central Maharashtra, Marathwada, remaining parts of north interior
Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and parts of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.The
weatherman has forecast an “above normal” monsoon this year. However, its onset
over Kerala, which marks the commencement of the rainy season in the country,
was on June 8, seven days later than predicted.
Also, it made a slow progress due to lack of a favourable
system that could have given it a boost to move forward. The slow pace had
increased the rain deficiency to 25 per cent.
It is expected to make its way to Delhi in the first week
of July. Normally, it reaches the national capital by July 1
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/monsoon-likely-to-gain-momentum-advance-further/article8746334.eceCFA Francs: Prices of rice crash in Kano
Kano – Prices of imported and local rice have fallen in
Kano, following the crash of CFA Francs in the parallel market.A price survey
conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Singer market in Kano on
Sunday, revealed that a bag of 50kg of imported rice, which used to cost
between N13, 800 and N14 500, now sells for N12, 500.
NAN reports that Singer market is the major market for
imported rice and other essential commodities in the commercial city of Kano.
The survey further indicated that a 50kg bag of local
rice costs N11, 000 as against its previous price of N12, 500.
A measure of foreign rice, which used to cost between N850 and N900, now goes for N700, just as the price of a measure of the local rice dropped from its previous value of N650 and N700, to N550 .
A measure of foreign rice, which used to cost between N850 and N900, now goes for N700, just as the price of a measure of the local rice dropped from its previous value of N650 and N700, to N550 .
Commenting on the issue, the former chairman, Singer
Market Traders Association, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Dalhatu, attributed the sudden
crash in prices of rice in the state, to crash of the CFA in the parallel market.
According to him, most of the traders use the CFA Frnacs
in purchasing the commodity.
“Before now 1, 000 CFA was exchanged for N620 but as at
today (Sunday) 1, 000 CFA is equivalent to N540.” he said.
Some rice buyers who spoke to NAN at the market, expressed happiness with the new development.
Some rice buyers who spoke to NAN at the market, expressed happiness with the new development.
One of the buyers, Musa Lawan, said he was happy with the
reduction in the prices of rice and expressed hope that the Federal Government
would relax the ban on rice importation.
Another buyer, Bashir Mohammed, described the crash as a
welcome development since it came at a time when Nigerians were expressing
concern over the high cost of the commodity.
Rice Prices
as on : 20-06-2016 08:10:22 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)
|
813.00
|
166.56
|
8973.00
|
1820
|
1850
|
-0.55
|
|
Mathabhanga(WB)
|
100.00
|
-16.67
|
4790.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
10.26
|
|
Bareilly(UP)
|
84.50
|
4.32
|
7853.10
|
2425
|
2400
|
15.48
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
70.00
|
-12.5
|
3940.00
|
2270
|
2260
|
18.85
|
|
Jangipur(WB)
|
63.00
|
NC
|
755.50
|
2160
|
2165
|
3.85
|
|
Pandua(WB)
|
52.00
|
NC
|
2410.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
3.85
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2230.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-7.41
|
|
Lanka(ASM)
|
40.00
|
33.33
|
2770.00
|
1750
|
1750
|
-1.41
|
|
Beldanga(WB)
|
39.00
|
-2.5
|
2187.00
|
2280
|
2280
|
-0.87
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
35.00
|
9.38
|
2162.00
|
2050
|
2050
|
0.99
|
|
Partaval(UP)
|
30.00
|
-14.29
|
1492.00
|
2175
|
2150
|
11.83
|
|
Lohardaga(Jha)
|
28.00
|
51.35
|
1110.50
|
1550
|
1550
|
-27.91
|
|
Diamond Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
20.00
|
NC
|
1043.50
|
2200
|
2200
|
2.33
|
|
Kolaghat(WB)
|
18.00
|
NC
|
685.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
4.55
|
|
Robertsganj(UP)
|
17.50
|
NC
|
420.00
|
1865
|
1850
|
0.27
|
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
15.00
|
NC
|
1937.00
|
3750
|
3750
|
-
|
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
15.00
|
7.14
|
989.00
|
2600
|
2550
|
1.96
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
12.40
|
-5.34
|
1538.20
|
1900
|
1900
|
-
|
|
Cherthalai(Ker)
|
12.00
|
-
|
12.00
|
3150
|
-
|
-7.35
|
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
10.50
|
-12.5
|
785.00
|
2055
|
2050
|
6.48
|
|
Kaliaganj(WB)
|
10.00
|
-33.33
|
772.00
|
2300
|
2250
|
-4.17
|
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
9.00
|
80
|
424.00
|
2160
|
2180
|
7.46
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
9.00
|
-10
|
912.50
|
2250
|
2200
|
-10.00
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
7.10
|
-11.25
|
1259.40
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Silapathar(ASM)
|
5.90
|
-90.92
|
615.80
|
3000
|
3000
|
NC
|
|
Kolar(Kar)
|
5.00
|
-
|
5.00
|
1880
|
-
|
-
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
5.00
|
25
|
1349.10
|
1975
|
1975
|
NC
|
|
Samsi(WB)
|
5.00
|
-90
|
16215.00
|
3000
|
3000
|
-
|
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
4.50
|
NC
|
222.50
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
|
Khalanpur(Mah)
|
3.00
|
50
|
5.00
|
3500
|
3800
|
-
|
|
Karimpur(WB)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
79.00
|
3150
|
3150
|
NC
|
|
Mangaon(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
36.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
12.00
|
|
Sardhana(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
86.30
|
2330
|
2315
|
9.39
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article8751787.ece
Philippines may cut rice imports
Ronnel W Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer June 20, 2016 1:53 pm
MANILA - The volume of milled rice bound for the Philippines
this year is seen to decrease by 300,000 tonnes to 1.5 million tonnes, a
quarter less than the volume brought in last year.
In its monthly report on the global rice market, the US
Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the substantial reduction in the forecast
import volume was based on adequate supplies monitored and the relatively slow
pace of the import market.
"[This is] despite some crop damage in 2015-2016 that
was related to El Niño," the USDA's Economic Research Service reported.
The agency was referring to the current marketing year—from
the middle of last year to the middle of this year.
The USDA noted that for marketing year 2015-2016, a strong
El Niño reduced rice crops in several regions, mostly in Latin America,
Southeast Asia and South Asia.
For crop year 2016-2017, the global output of milled rice
was projected to hit a record 480.7 million tonnes or 2 per cent higher from a
year earlier.
"Recoveries are projected for each of these regions in
2016-2017, primarily due to expanded harvest area," the agency said.
The Philippines—along with Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, China,
India, Indonesia, Sub-Saharan Africa and the United States—represent the bulk
of the global area expansion.
"The global area expansion is largely due to producer
support programmes in several Asian countries and a desire by many countries to
rebuild stocks after El Niño reduced production in 2015-2016," the USDA
said.
Earlier this month, the World Trade Organization said the
Philippine government expressed interest in Thailand's efforts to sell
stockpiled rice, even as agriculture officials said they saw no urgent need for
more imports.
Last April, Bangkok announced plans to sell Thailand's
remaining 11.4 million tonnes of rice in government stockpiles.
"Thailand used to have a government programme to
purchase rice from farmers at supported prices, leaving the country with a large
inventory of rice in warehouses," the WTO said in a statement.
The Nation
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1498
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06/20/16
Arkansas Farm Bureau Market Report
Soybeans
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
1179
|
1092
|
|
New Crop
|
1170
|
1083
|
|
|
||
Riceland Foods
|
|
||
|
Cash Bids
|
Stuttgart:
|
Pendleton:
|
|
New Crop
|
Stuttgart:
|
Pendleton:
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
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Soybean Comment
Soybeans
closed lower today as the market continued its corrective action. While prices
recover some thier losses late in Friday on
improved demand, improvements in the weather forecast pushed prices lower
today. Soybeans continue to hold support near $11, as prices closed well off of
intraday lows. Soybeans could be in for lower prices again this week despite a
stranger than expected export inspection this week as the market continues to
trade the weather. Strong demand and competitive export priceing should support
soybeans and help hold prices at the higher levels, though the market continues
to worry about potential increases in U.S. Soybean acres.
Wheat
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
491
|
426
|
|
New Crop
|
486
|
461
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wheat Comment
Wheat
prices gave back all of Friday's gains
today as wheat conotifies to face haven't pressure. This pressure combined with
weakness in corn and soybeans led to lower close today. Wheat continues to need
help from other commodities to maintain gains as prices remain near contract
lows.
Grain
Sorghum
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
403
|
300
|
|
New Crop
|
391
|
352
|
|
|
||
Corn
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Cash Bids
|
448
|
417
|
|
New Crop
|
453
|
433
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Corn Comment
Con
prices continue to trade the weather and changes in the forecast over the
weekend it looks like better weather is headed for the Midwest in the near
term. Combine this with today's less robust corn export inspections and cor
received a one two blow that pushed prices lower. While weather could change tomorrow and send prices higher corn continues
to underpinned by improving demand that should continue to support prices. Look
for prices to remain volatile as we approach the acreage report next week and
weather forecast change daily.
Cotton
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cotton Comment
Cotton
futures were mixed today. December failed at resistance at Friday’s high of 66.64 cents before backing
away from the day’s highs. Declines in the value of the dollar and technical
buying after the market charted a bullish reversal on Thursday have given the market a boost. Drought
conditions across parts of Alabama and Georgia is causing some concern.
Overall, though, the condition of the crop improved slightly last week, with
54% now rated good to excellent.
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
||
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
||
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice
futures were under renewed pressure today. Crop conditions remain generally
favorable, with 68% of the crop rated good to excellent. July has support near
$10.75. The market needs to see better export movement to generate buying
interest. Net sales for this week totaled 59,400 tons for the 15-16 marketing
year and 21,200 tons for the 16-17 marketing year.
Cattle
|
Futures:
|
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|
Live Cattle:
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Feeders:
|
|
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Cattle Comment
Cattle
prices closed lower again today as prices posted thier lowest close since 2012.
Cattle prices continue to move lower as the ,armed remains u dear pressure from
deteriorating fundamentals and increasing cattle supplies. After sharp
reductions in the cattle herd, and record high prices the market has recovered
and is starting to see larger show list which is increasing cattle supplies. At
the same time beef prices have declined leading to a bearish outlook for prices
at least through the summer.
Hogs
|
Futures:
|
|
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Hog Comment
Shell Eggs
PhilRice researchers bare
best practices
June 20, 2016 By Merlito G. Edale Jr.
Facebook Google + Tweet Email
SAN MATEO, Isabela, June 19 (PIA) –The Philippine Rice
Research Institute (PhilRice)-Isabela researchers shared their best practices
in crop research during the 46th Crop Science Society of the Philippines (CSSP)
Scientific Conference in General Santos City.
Maritha Manubay, PhilRice – Isabela science research
specialist, said the researchers presented their research entries in the field
of Crop Physiology and Biochemistry, Crop Production and Management,
Socio-economics, Technology Development and Technology Extension, Dissemination
and Education.
Manubay, who also
attended the event, said the gathering of crop researchers from all over the
country aimed to share and internalize the best practices being undertaken by
crop research stations and be utilized in crop production as one intervention
for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Integration.
She said the
scientific conference also aimed to equip and prepare crop scientists as prime
mover of agricultural industry in the region through research, education, and
training.
Meanwhile, Atty.
Abdurrahman T. Canacan, Chancellor of Mindanao State University - GenSan
campus, said the conference will surely foster partnerships and linkages
between and among academic, private and public institutions both local and
international to boost agricultural productivity in the country.
(ALM/MGE/PIA-2/Isabela/with reports from Maritha Manubay of PhilRice-Isabela)
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/481466130473/philrice-researchers-bare-best-practices#sthash.ntEN5x6H.dpuf
U.S. Rice on the Menu at Advisory Panel Dinner in Canada
By Sarah Moran
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Oh
Canada!
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VANCOUVER,
CANADA
- With
British Columbia and Ontario accounting for 80 percent of rice consumption in
Canada, it was fitting that USA Rice hosted an advisory panel dinner and trade
meetings here last week to gauge current West Coast rice trends.
USA
Rice's Sarah Moran and Pereina Choudhury were joined by representatives from
Sonray Sales, a Canadian broker, importer, and distributor; Tree of Life, one
of the largest distributors of specialty and natural foods in Canada; Joyce
Young, category manager for wholesale grocer HY Louie Co. Ltd; registered
dietitian and media personality Diana Steele; Nathan Fong, journalist, food
blogger, and recipe developer; and food writer, and blogger Cassandra Anderton.
The group sampled different varieties and applications of
U.S.-grown rice throughout the dinner discussion of rice-related trends
including: gluten-free, organic foods, the continued (slow) growth of the brown
rice market, and the growing popularity of smaller rice bag purchases due to
the aging population and smaller living spaces in urban areas.
As
traditional media has faded in influence and reach here over the last several
years, USA Rice has shifted consumer messaging to social media. Key
influencers, such as food bloggers and well-known dietitians, have built-in
constituencies, and their collective expertise serves as a guide in the
development of relevant communication activities.
"Social
media continues to be an important platform for information and dialogue
exchange with online influencers serving as important brand ambassadors,"
said Pereina Choudhury, USA Rice representative in Canada. "During
this dinner, we were told that apart from Asian ethnic groups who grew up on
steady rice diets, the broader mainstream population remains uncertain about
rice basics."
The
continued need to educate consumers on rice cooking methods, storage, and
recipe usage were prominent discussion and take-away points. "GMO-free andSustainably-Grown messaging resonates really well in
this market, so we will be sure to incorporate that in our consumer
promotions," said Pereina.
Sushil Modi hits out at Nitish Kumar, says his faith in Constitution is 'partial'
Jun 20, 2016 |
BJP leader Suhsil Kumar Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar (Photo: PTI/File)
JD(U) reacted sharply to Modi's statement and claimed the
‘volume of beef export has increased’ after the BJP came to power at the
Centre.
Patna: Bihar Chief
Minister Nitish Kumar follows only those provisions of the Constitution which
fit in agendas of his vote bank politics and ignores others, senior BJP leader
Suhsil Kumar Modi alleged on Sunday."Nitish Kumar refers to the Directive
Principles while implementing prohibition. But he does not want to go through
the provisions in the Constitution about implementing Uniform Civil Code and
ban on cow slaughter. His faith in the Constitution is partial and in vote bank
politics total," Modi alleged in a tweet.
The Bihar chief minister has stated at several public
functions, in and outside of the state that the Directive Principles talk about
implementing prohibition which his government is following.
JD(U) chief spokesman Sanjay Singh reacted sharply to
Modi's statement and claimed the "volume of beef export has
increased" after the BJP came to power at the Centre."Sushil Modi may
be talking about protection of cow but the fact is the volume of beef export
has increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre...the Narendra Modi
government had also given a subsidy of Rs. 15 crore in its first budget for
opening new slaughter houses and modernisation of the old ones," Mr Singh
said in a release.
Claiming that the meat export went up to 22,000 tonnes in
2010-11 from 10,600 tonnes in 2001-02, Mr Singh said India exported 24 lakh
tonnes of meat in 2014-15 which accounts for 58.7 per cent of the total meat
exports of the world.The NDA government earned more money from the export of
beef than the export of Basmati rice, he said while asserting that there is
already a law in Bihar for protection of cow and it is very much in the
operation in the state
Imports decline 12pc in 5 months to May
June
21, 2016 Business
Total
imports in the five months to May amounted to $2,07 billion, a decline of 12
percent compared to the same period last year. According to the latest
data released by Zimstat, there was, however, an increase of 16 percent in
month on month imports in May to $413,6 million from $356,4 million in April
when the payment delays due to depleted nostro balances were more
severe.Imports in the five months were weighed down by a cocktail of import
restrictions placed on selected products by Government, weak industry demand
for raw materials, weakness in the South African rand against last year, a
decline in the value of petroleum products due to lower crude oil prices and
troubles in the external payment systems.
Analysts expect the import pattern to show further
decline at half year showing the full effects of the priority list.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, there
are nine items in the import high priority list which will guide banks in the
distribution of foreign currency towards competing demands.
These include, net exporters who import raw
materials or machinery, non-exporting importers of raw materials and value
addition that directly substitute import of essential goods, imports of
critical goods such as basic food stuffs and fuel and agro-chemicals. Less
critical imports which make up the bulk of the country’s trade bill are listed
under Not Priority.
According to the Zimstat data, the country
imported wheat worth $36,8 million, oil cake at $22,8 million and maize at
$97,37 million. Maize imports rose sharply in May at $29,9 million from $13,3
million the previous month. Bulk rice imports amounted to $26,01 million and
soya bean flour and meal imports were at $4,68 million.
The country also imported apples worth $1,7
million, grapes worth $1,4 million while the fruit and veggie list also
included items which are readily produced in the country like tomatoes ($293)
carrots ($232 490), lettuce ($2 477), peas ($620 213), beans ($768 075) and
lemons ($100 408). Crude soya bean oil imports amounted to $39,6 million with
Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha saying Government would continue
assisting cooking oil manufacturers in importing raw materials. Margarine worth
$2,16 million was also brought into the country, cane or beet sugar at $9,79
million, chewing gum at $576 041, mixed condiments and seasoning at nearly $5
million and water (all types) at $2,.5 million. In spite of enough capacity in
the local industry, the country brought in $3.44 million worth of Portland
cement. Petrol imports were at $175 million, paraffin at $8,3 million while
diesel imports were at $323 million. About $43,1 million worth of electrical
energy was imported as ZESA seeks to curtail load shedding.
South Africa accounted for the bulk of the
imports at $798 million followed by Singapore at $475,8 million. Exports were
at $948 million a decline of 9 percent from the same period last year. The
major exports remained primary commodities although there is a current push to
beneficiate raw materials in the country. The manufacturing sector’s export
performance between 2014 and 2015 indicates that the sector’s capacity to
export is declining.
In addition, the process of obtaining export
documentation (permits/licences) and achieving export compliance makes it
cumbersome to export. The challenge with the permits is not only their cost but
also the time it takes to process them, which in itself is a higher cost.
ZimTrade is currently pushing for export
reforms while the organisation is at the forefront of calling for the
addressing of trade facilitation issues for the country to realise an export
economic growth.
Some countries in the region (e.g. South
Africa), provide export incentives to facilitate their companies to do business
across borders while more recently the RBZ announced plans to introduce export
incentives which will only be paid in October through bond notes, backdated to
May 4 when the announcement was made.
Resultantly the trade deficit narrowed by 15
percent to $1.2 billion and the total trade decreased 11 percent to $3.01
billion from $3.4 billion last year. – Wires
http://www.herald.co.zw/imports-decline-12pc-in-5-months-to-may/
RICE IMPORT AT 30 000
TONNES
21/06/2016
03:00:00By Linda Dlamini
MORE RICE NEEDED: A picture showing rice produced by the Taiwan
Technical Mission, the country has imported about 30 000 tonnes of rice as of
May 2016.
THE country has imported about 30 000 tonnes of
rice as of May 2016 according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
cereal supply and demand balance report.
According to the report, out of the 30 000 tonnes imported, 27 000
tonnes of food was used, probably for consumption purposes during the period
under review.
“The import of rice was above the previous five years average
imports for Swaziland which stood at 29 000 tonnes of rice,” said the report.
It noted that Swaziland did not produce any not worthy rice last
year, in fact for the last five years the country has not harvested rice that
can be recorded on its barometers.
Rice in Swaziland is considered an alternative food source to
maize, which is the stable food of the country.It is often consumed in larger
quantities by the middle to upper class as it is more expensive and cannot be
grown and milled like maize. With regards to wheat, which is also a
cereal, a total of 38 000 tonnes of wheat was imported into the country.“The
previous five years average imports stood at 29 000 tonnes as a result the
import of wheat increase markedly in the period under review,” said the
report.
Wheat is often used to make flour which in turn is used to make
bread, biscuits and other breakfast foods.Wheat is also used in the manufacture
of beer, and the grain, the residue from milling and the vegetative plant
parts, make valuable livestock feed. The FAO noted that Swaziland did not
record any exportation of cereal products and furthermore did not have any
stock build ups.The report anticipates that the country will import about 120
tonnes of cereal in 2016/2017.Of this amount 20 000 tonnes will be rice, 30 000
tonnes wheat while 120 000 tonnes will be coarse grains.
CFA Francs: Prices of rice crash in Kano – NAN survey
POSTED BY NAN ON JUNE 19, 2016 IN BUSINESS, ECONOMY | LEAVE A
RESPONSE
NAN reports that Singer Market is
the major market for imported rice and other essential commodities in the
commercial city of Kano.The survey further indicated that a 50kg bag of local
rice costs N11,000 as against its previous price of N12,500
Prices of imported and local rice
have fallen in Kano, following the crash of CFA Francs in the parallel market.A
price survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria at the Singer Market in
Kano on Sunday revealed that a bag of 50kg of imported rice, which used to cost
between N13,800 and N14,500, now sells for N12,500.NAN reports that Singer
Market is the major market for imported rice and other essential commodities in
the commercial city of Kano.
The survey further indicated that
a 50kg bag of local rice costs N11,000 as against its previous price of
N12,500.
A measure of foreign rice, which
used to cost between N850 and N900, now goes for N700, just as the price of a
measure of the local rice dropped from its previous value of N650 and N700, to
N550.Commenting on the issue, the former Chairman of Singer Market Traders
Association, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Dalhatu, attributed the sudden crash in prices
of rice in the state to crash of the CFA in the parallel market.According to
Dalhatu, most of the traders use the CFA Francs in purchasing the commodity.“Before
now 1,000 CFA was exchanged for N620, but as at today (Sunday) 1,000 CFA is
equivalent to N540,” he said.Some rice buyers, who spoke to NAN at the market,
expressed happiness with the new development.
One of the buyers, Musa Lawan,
said he was happy with the reduction in the prices of rice and expressed hope
that the Federal Government would relax the ban on rice importation.
Another buyer, Bashir Mohammed,
described the crash as a welcome development since it came at a time when
Nigerians were expressing concern over the high cost of the commodity.
NAN.
Britain to resume rice imports from Fukushima
IANS
| London June
20, 2016 Last Updated at 14:16 IST
Britain is set to become the first
European Union (EU) country to resume rice imports from Fukushima prefecture in
Japan, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.From
July onwards, Fukushima-harvested rice will be on store shelves in London due
to the efforts of a joint campaign by a group of Fukushima natives in Britain
and a local Japanese agricultural cooperative.The groups have managed to export
1.9 tonnes of a rice variety, known as 'Ten no tsubu' -- meaning 'grain of the
sky' in Japanese, EFE news reported.
According to March data from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, 34 countries had imposed prohibitions or limitations of some sort on
products grown in the Fukushima prefecture and its surroundings, fearing
radioactive contamination.
Since January, the EU has allowed imports of tea, livestock
products, and fruit (with the exception of persimmon) without any
certification, although rice from Fukushima will need to confirm that it
cleared radiation controls in Japan, or in the country of destination in order
to enter the EU.
Britain, after Malaysia and Singapore, will be the third country
in the world and the first in the EU, to import rice from Fukushima since the
nuclear accident.
Emissions and radioactive discharges resulting from the disaster
at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, caused by the earthquake and tsunami of
March 2011, have displaced thousands of people from the neighbourhood of the
plant and have negatively affected agriculture and local fishery
Genetically modified golden rice falls short of lifesaving promises
June 20, 2016
After 24
years of research and millions of dollars spent, GMO Golden Rice is still a
failure and a pipedream. As the GMO industry seeks to expand its grip over the
global food system, it has targeted developing countries and the problems they
face in crop production. Drought and pest damage are two issues that Monsanto
and its cohorts see as opportunities for unleashing their patented, genetically
modified (GM) crops.
Nutrient
deficiency is another problem in developing countries that GMO corporations
insist should be addressed with their products. One high-profile example is
vitamin A deficiency, which especially affects the Global South, increasing
risks of infection, disease and other ailments such as blindness.Golden Rice
was supposed to be the GMO industry’s great solution.
Biotech
proponents have tried to blame their failure on activists however,a new study
has found that GMO activists are not to blame for scientific challenges slowing
the introduction of this genetically engineered rice that is claimed to be
Vitamin A enhanced. Scientists can’t get the rice to perform in the real world.
Just think about how many children could have been saved from vitamin A
deficiency if those many millions of dollars had been spent, instead, on
providing them with the Vitamin A rich foods that nature has given us.
how many children could have been saved from vitamin A
deficiency if those many millions of dollars had been spent, instead, on
providing them with the Vitamin A rich foods that nature has given us.
First
conceived in the 1980s and a focus of research since 1992, Golden Rice has been
a lightning rod in the battle over genetically modified crops.
GMO
advocates have long touted the innovation as a practical way to provide poor
farmers in remote areas with a subsistence crop capable of adding much-needed
Vitamin A to local diets. A problem in many poor countries,Vitamin A
deficiencies leave millions at high risk for infection, diseases and other
maladies, such as blindness.It is still unknown if the beta carotene in Golden
Rice can even be converted to Vitamin A in the bodies of badly undernourished children.
There also has been little research on how well the beta carotene in Golden
Rice will hold up when stored for long periods between harvest seasons, or when
cooked using traditional methods common in remote rural locations.
Some
anti-GMO groups view Golden Rice as an over-hyped Trojan Horse that
biotechnology corporations and their allies hope will pave the way for the
global approval of other more profitable GMO crops.
Washington
University anthropologist Glenn Stone,has studied rice cultivation and research
in the Philippines since 2013.
“The rice simply has not been successful in test plots of the rice breeding institutes in the Philippines, where the leading research is being done,” Stone said. “It has not even been submitted for approval to the regulatory agency, the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).”
“The rice simply has not been successful in test plots of the rice breeding institutes in the Philippines, where the leading research is being done,” Stone said. “It has not even been submitted for approval to the regulatory agency, the Philippine Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).”
“A few
months ago, the Philippine Supreme Court did issue a temporary suspension of
GMO crop trials,” Stone said. “Depending on how long it lasts, the suspension
could definitely impact GMO crop development. But it’s hard to blame the lack
of success with Golden Rice on this recent action.”
Source:Washington University
Your breakfast choice may help avoid diabetes
Photo: The Straits Times
Experts
have been saying for decades that breakfast is the most important meal of the
day.Now, researchers from the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre (CNRC) here
have proven why this is so. What is eaten for breakfast sets the tone for the
rest of the day in terms of sugar in the blood. It
has shown that people who take a low glycaemic index (GI) breakfast and
afternoon snack had significantly less sugar in their blood for the rest of the
day.
GI
measures the sugar in the blood from the carbohydrates consumed. A glycaemic
response (GR) is the amount of sugar in the blood over time resulting from
food.
The
trial found that while participants were offered a standard buffet lunch and
were free to eat what they wanted for dinner, what they had for breakfast made
a vast difference to their glycaemic response.
The
difference was even larger on the second day of the study.
Professor
Jeyakumar Henry, head of CNRC and one of the researchers involved, said:
"So what you eat at breakfast sets your glucose response to the entire day
at a lower amplitude."
The
researchers postulate two possible reasons for this. One is that those on a low
GI breakfast were possibly more satiated and ate less for lunch. The other is
something called a "second meal effect" where a low GI meal reduced
the glucose response to the next meal taken.
The
results of this study were published last year in the Journal of Clinical &
Translational Endocrinology.
The
researchers suggested that taking a low GI breakfast "may help to reduce
the risk of developing type 2 diabetes" - which is caused by high blood
sugar levels. Over two days, the 11 male
participants were given a high or a low GI breakfast and afternoon snack, a
common buffet lunch and were free to choose their own dinner.
The
low GI breakfast comprised multigrain bread and parboiled basmati rice while
the high GI breakfast was white bread and glutinous rice.
The
11 men each wore a continuous glucose monitoring machine that tested their
blood glucose every five minutes over 48 hours.
A
week later, they went through the whole schedule again, but those who
originally had the low GI breakfast now had the high GI version.
The
difference in blood sugar level, even overnight, was significantly lower with
the low GI breakfast.
Having
high levels of sugar in the blood stresses the pancreas, which has to produce
more insulin to move the sugar to muscles where it is converted to energy.
Over
time, too much stress decreases the effectiveness of the pancreas. When the
pancreas is consistently unable to clear the sugar, people become diabetic.
High
levels of sugar in the blood also significantly raises the risks of
cardiovascular disease, blindness and kidney failure.
Singapore
has one of the highest incidence of diabetes among developed countries, with one
in four people suffering from diabetes or are headed that way.
About
1,500 people are diagnosed with kidney failure each year.
salma@sph.com.sg
An Giang Import Export : Basmati rice prices surge before Iran ban
06/20/2016 | 01:45am EDT
Basmati
prices have climbed on rising demand from Iran, which plans to ban inbound
shipments of the unique Indian rice variety, while prices of non-aromatic rice
in eastern India remained flat as exports to Bangladesh came to a halt after
the country doubled import duty on the grain.
'Basmati
prices have been increasing. In the last one month, we saw a jump of 20%,
largely in 1121 variety, which is trading at Rs 46 a kg at wholesale rates,'
said Mohinder Pal Jindal, president of All ..
