Iran interested in CPEC, energy supplies to Pakistan: Envoy
September 9, 2016
By: Samaa Web Desk
Published in Economy
ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Mehdi Honardoust has said his country has the capability to help the development of the economy of Pakistan through energy supply and construction of roads, railways dams and others area.
He said that bilateral trade will get unprecedented boost after resolution of problems regarding banking which would disappear soon, said a press release here Friday.
He said in a meeting with President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam, VP FPCCI Zafar Bakhtwari, former presidents ICCI Khalid Jaweed, Ijaz Abbasi, Chairman Coordination FPCCI Malik Sohail and others were also present on the occasion.
Mehdi Honardoust said that Iran is interested to participate in the CPEC which is one of the greatest project in the history of the region.
Pakistani textiles, rice, surgical goods, sports goods and agricultural products are in great demand in Iran, he informed.
He claimed that Iranian gas is the cheapest, fastest and most dependable source of energy for Pakistan which should be initiated soon as Iran has completed its part of the pipeline by spending two billion dollars.
Many countries including China, India, Turkey, Japan and South Korea continued to buy energy from Iran during and after sanctions, he added.
President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam said that Pakistan and Iran has already decided to increase annual trade volumes between the two countries to $5 billion by 2021 for which efforts are needed.
He said that Pakistan can increase electricity imports from Iran for which Tehran must reduce the price to make it competitive and attractive.
He said that Pakistan can increase electricity imports from Iran and the brotherly country is ready to fulfil our requirements of electricity and natural gas for which Tehran must reduce the price.
“Additional land routes for trade on our border, trade exhibitions, industrial and agricultural cooperation and mutual recognition of standards will boost trade,” said President FPCCI.
Rauf Alam said that Gwadar and Chabahar Ports are not rivals but they would supplement each other making the region centre of maritime trade.-APP
http://www.samaa.tv/economy/2016/09/iran-interested-in-cpec-energy-supplies-to-pakistan-envoy/
Asia Rice: Price Gap Widens; Buyers Turn to
Pakistan, Myanmar
Asia
Rice: Price Gap Widens; Buyers Turn to Pakistan, Myanmar i
Hanoi. The difference in export prices of a rice
variety in Thailand and Vietnam widened this week after the two nations won a
tender to supply to the Philippines, while buyers of Vietnamese and Indian rice
turned to cheaper grain sources, traders said.
Thailand and Vietnam are the world's second-
and third-largest rice exporters after India. The gap between their 5-percent
broken grades has soared 74 percent in the past week to around $33 per tonne.
Thai benchmark 5-percent broken rice rose to
$375-$376 a tonne, free-on-board (FOB) basis, from $370-$375 last week, traders
said
http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/international/asia-rice-price-gap-widens-buyers-turn-pakistan-myanmar/
Belarus-Pakistan commission on trade and
economic cooperation to meet in Brest Economy
07.09.2016 | 11:26 f vk ok t g m BREST, 7
September (BelTA) – The third meeting of the Belarusian-Pakistani joint
intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will take place
in Brest on 7-8 September, BelTA learned from the press service of the Industry
Ministry. The two-day event will discuss a wide range of issues related to the
development of bilateral relations. In particular, the parties will consider
cooperation prospects in trade, investment, industry, agriculture, energy,
healthcare and pharmaceutics, education, science and technology.
The Pakistani delegation will be led by
Minister of Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan. The Belarusian delegation will be
headed by Industry Minister Vitaly Vovk. The program of the visit of the heads
of the intergovernmental commission envisages a meeting with Brest Oblast
Governor Anatoly Lis. The Pakistani delegation will also visit companies of
Brest Oblast that are important in stepping up trade between the two countries.
The guests will get familiar with the Brest Oblast production sector and an
exhibition of products, hold talks with representatives of several companies ,
including Brest Carpets, Brest Electric Bulb Plant, Santa Bremor, and Savushkin
Product. It is expected that the Brest Office of the Belarusian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry will host a business matchmaking session with the
participation of Pakistani businessmen.
A meeting of the group of experts will take
place in the Administration of the Brest Free Economic Zone. “It is worth
mentioning that the meeting of the joint intergovernmental commission on trade
and economic cooperation will be held ahead of the official visit of Belarus President
Alexander Lukashenko to Pakistan,” the Industry Ministry said. In January-July
Belarus-Pakistan trade totaled $30.2 million. The export made up $23.3 million.
Belarus mainly sells to Pakistan its tractors, potash fertilizers, synthetic
thread and fiber, tires, newsprint, baby food. Belarus imports Pakistani rice,
food products, leather goods, fabric, textile, sport equipment. The first
meeting of the joint Belarus-Pakistan intergovernmental commission on trade and
economic cooperation was held in Minsk on 7 August 2015. The parties met for
the second time in Lahore, Pakistan on 8-9 March.
Rice Prices
as on : 08-09-2016 08:11:30 PM
Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in
domestic market.
Arrivals
|
Price
|
|||||
Current
|
%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
|
Prev.
Modal |
Prev.Yr
%change |
|
Rice
|
||||||
Bangalore(Kar)
|
2287.00
|
10.22
|
180204.00
|
3800
|
3800
|
-11.63
|
Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
|
740.00
|
12.98
|
13325.00
|
2150
|
2175
|
-1.15
|
Vadodara(Guj)
|
536.59
|
-
|
536.59
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
Mysore
(Bandipalya)(Kar)
|
492.00
|
173.33
|
672.00
|
1900
|
1900
|
26.67
|
Bangarpet(Kar)
|
362.00
|
-7.18
|
12991.00
|
1850
|
1830
|
20.13
|
Manjeri(Ker)
|
290.00
|
NC
|
12470.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
-3.03
|
Agra(UP)
|
235.00
|
11.9
|
7252.00
|
2260
|
2250
|
10.78
|
Jaunpur(UP)
|
220.00
|
NC
|
5810.00
|
2210
|
2200
|
9.41
|
Varanasi(Grain)(UP)
|
215.00
|
7.5
|
725.00
|
2200
|
2150
|
-
|
Sainthia(WB)
|
210.00
|
5.9
|
2166.50
|
2040
|
1930
|
-
|
Bolpur(WB)
|
190.00
|
-
|
190.00
|
2200
|
-
|
-
|
Gondal(UP)
|
172.00
|
-8.02
|
15484.10
|
2010
|
2010
|
-0.50
|
English
Bazar(WB)
|
168.00
|
-6.67
|
3775.00
|
2100
|
2100
|
7.69
|
Birbhum(WB)
|
165.00
|
-14.68
|
3341.40
|
2060
|
1970
|
9.28
|
Memari(WB)
|
156.00
|
44.44
|
5498.00
|
2150
|
2150
|
19.44
|
Asansol(WB)
|
133.00
|
NC
|
3300.50
|
2600
|
2600
|
10.64
|
Durgapur(WB)
|
132.00
|
-0.75
|
2252.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
12.33
|
Jafarganj(UP)
|
120.00
|
-
|
120.00
|
2400
|
-
|
28.00
|
Mathabhanga(WB)
|
100.00
|
-9.09
|
5930.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
25.64
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
90.00
|
12.5
|
5515.00
|
2400
|
2420
|
12.15
|
Rampurhat(WB)
|
90.00
|
12.5
|
1434.00
|
2200
|
2250
|
17.02
|
Dhing(ASM)
|
85.00
|
18.06
|
4093.40
|
2000
|
2050
|
2.56
|
Bongiagaon(ASM)
|
76.00
|
-
|
76.00
|
3300
|
-
|
-8.33
|
Devariya(UP)
|
75.00
|
-6.25
|
2475.00
|
2260
|
2245
|
11.33
|
Thodupuzha(Ker)
|
70.00
|
NC
|
4200.00
|
2900
|
2900
|
16.00
|
Kalipur(WB)
|
70.00
|
-10.26
|
7865.00
|
2350
|
2350
|
20.51
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
63.00
|
1.61
|
6501.00
|
2275
|
2300
|
5.32
|
Mathura(UP)
|
62.00
|
121.43
|
6395.00
|
2320
|
2300
|
14.85
|
Mainpuri(UP)
|
61.00
|
27.08
|
1690.50
|
2260
|
2250
|
13.57
|
Sealdah
Koley Market(WB)
|
61.00
|
-18.67
|
762.40
|
3150
|
3150
|
36.96
|
Ballia(UP)
|
60.00
|
20
|
8020.00
|
2075
|
2070
|
5.06
|
Hapur(UP)
|
60.00
|
50
|
536.00
|
2270
|
2260
|
6.57
|
Barasat(WB)
|
60.00
|
NC
|
3265.00
|
2350
|
2400
|
-4.08
|
Vasai(Mah)
|
57.00
|
78.12
|
294.00
|
2100
|
2840
|
-19.23
|
Sangli(Mah)
|
56.00
|
47.37
|
200.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
-
|
Nadia(WB)
|
50.00
|
NC
|
1440.00
|
3350
|
3250
|
11.67
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
49.00
|
19.51
|
2918.50
|
2100
|
2100
|
3.96
|
Egra/contai(WB)
|
49.00
|
13.95
|
721.10
|
2400
|
2400
|
14.29
|
Kasimbazar(WB)
|
47.00
|
-3.09
|
2521.00
|
2500
|
2450
|
6.38
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
45.00
|
-10
|
3173.50
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
Coochbehar(WB)
|
45.00
|
NC
|
2014.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
11.63
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2920.00
|
2200
|
2500
|
-18.52
|
Karimganj(ASM)
|
40.00
|
NC
|
2060.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
NC
|
Balrampur(UP)
|
40.00
|
-11.11
|
1533.50
|
2060
|
2080
|
3.00
|
Garbeta(Medinipur)(WB)
|
26.00
|
-10.34
|
81.00
|
2550
|
2500
|
-
|
Mangalore(Kar)
|
25.00
|
NC
|
216.00
|
3450
|
3200
|
12.01
|
Yusufpur(UP)
|
25.00
|
-37.5
|
1095.00
|
2100
|
2140
|
5.79
|
Ghatal(WB)
|
24.00
|
4.35
|
91.00
|
2350
|
2370
|
9.81
|
Jhargram(WB)
|
24.00
|
NC
|
72.00
|
2350
|
2400
|
-
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
22.70
|
-6.97
|
1394.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
Bidar(Kar)
|
22.00
|
-12
|
144.00
|
2300
|
2400
|
12.20
|
North
Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
21.10
|
NC
|
1964.70
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
Gulbarga(Kar)
|
21.00
|
NC
|
149.00
|
2100
|
2100
|
-2.33
|
Diamond
Harbour(South 24-pgs)(WB)
|
21.00
|
NC
|
1253.50
|
2350
|
2350
|
17.50
|
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
|
20.00
|
185.71
|
1411.60
|
2100
|
2200
|
5.00
|
Shimoga(Kar)
|
20.00
|
-
|
50.00
|
2250
|
-
|
-4.26
|
Kaliaganj(WB)
|
20.00
|
33.33
|
1043.00
|
2700
|
2650
|
-1.82
|
Sambhal(UP)
|
19.00
|
-17.39
|
314.00
|
2410
|
2400
|
13.41
|
Achalda(UP)
|
18.00
|
-10
|
4303.50
|
2265
|
2260
|
1.12
|
Meerut(UP)
|
17.00
|
13.33
|
789.50
|
2345
|
2350
|
7.57
|
Bethuadahari(WB)
|
16.50
|
3.12
|
121.50
|
3300
|
3300
|
4.76
|
Palghar(Mah)
|
16.00
|
-48.39
|
861.00
|
2215
|
2801
|
-18.86
|
Kendupatna(Ori)
|
16.00
|
-20
|
127.50
|
2200
|
1870
|
18.41
|
Jasra(UP)
|
15.00
|
15.38
|
740.00
|
2375
|
2270
|
14.18
|
Sirsa(UP)
|
15.00
|
-11.76
|
616.50
|
2250
|
2260
|
3.45
|
Medinipur(West)(WB)
|
15.00
|
NC
|
85.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-
|
Naugarh(UP)
|
14.50
|
NC
|
981.00
|
2115
|
2110
|
9.02
|
Solapur(Mah)
|
14.00
|
16.67
|
93.00
|
3275
|
3310
|
-4.24
|
Mekhliganj(WB)
|
14.00
|
12
|
905.50
|
2400
|
2350
|
28.00
|
Pundibari(WB)
|
13.50
|
12.5
|
346.50
|
2350
|
2350
|
13.25
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
13.00
|
18.18
|
2197.00
|
3000
|
3600
|
-
|
Kolar(Kar)
|
12.00
|
9.09
|
191.00
|
4433
|
4260
|
-4.05
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
12.00
|
NC
|
635.00
|
2300
|
2500
|
NC
|
Lakhimpur(UP)
|
12.00
|
NC
|
679.50
|
2390
|
2390
|
11.42
|
Champadanga(WB)
|
12.00
|
100
|
1207.00
|
2700
|
2700
|
5.88
|
Rajam(AP)
|
10.00
|
-
|
10.00
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
Alappuzha(Ker)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
230.00
|
4400
|
4550
|
13.55
|
Kendupatna(Niali)(Ori)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
46.00
|
2160
|
1950
|
-
|
Sheoraphuly(WB)
|
9.00
|
NC
|
558.65
|
2800
|
2800
|
5.66
|
Firozabad(UP)
|
8.00
|
NC
|
777.10
|
2250
|
2260
|
11.39
|
Dibiapur(UP)
|
8.00
|
14.29
|
255.50
|
2250
|
2230
|
-0.44
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
8.00
|
-11.11
|
1086.50
|
2750
|
2750
|
-3.51
|
Kannauj(UP)
|
7.50
|
15.38
|
423.80
|
2185
|
2200
|
-1.13
|
Raibareilly(UP)
|
7.00
|
-41.67
|
377.00
|
2100
|
2120
|
-0.94
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.50
|
NC
|
1645.60
|
1985
|
1985
|
0.76
|
Silapathar(ASM)
|
6.00
|
NC
|
720.80
|
3000
|
3000
|
NC
|
Nimapara(Ori)
|
6.00
|
50
|
277.00
|
2100
|
2000
|
-4.55
|
Etah(UP)
|
6.00
|
-14.29
|
197.00
|
2240
|
2260
|
8.21
|
Khairagarh(UP)
|
6.00
|
-40
|
523.00
|
2240
|
2150
|
9.80
|
Uluberia(WB)
|
5.50
|
10
|
268.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
Baruipur(Canning)(WB)
|
5.00
|
11.11
|
72.50
|
2800
|
2700
|
1.82
|
Haldibari(WB)
|
5.00
|
25
|
699.50
|
2300
|
2300
|
-14.81
|
Dahod(Guj)
|
4.60
|
-79.74
|
1587.20
|
4100
|
4100
|
7.89
|
Aheri(Mah)
|
4.00
|
-
|
4.00
|
3800
|
-
|
-
|
Karjat(Mah)
|
4.00
|
-
|
4.00
|
3000
|
-
|
NC
|
Farukhabad(UP)
|
4.00
|
25
|
228.40
|
2250
|
2225
|
3.21
|
Jahanabad(UP)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
349.30
|
2120
|
2180
|
NC
|
Islampur(WB)
|
4.00
|
NC
|
375.50
|
2400
|
2400
|
11.63
|
Kalyani(WB)
|
3.50
|
NC
|
118.00
|
3400
|
3400
|
NC
|
Hailakandi(ASM)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
149.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
-7.41
|
Alibagh(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
174.00
|
4000
|
4000
|
21.21
|
Murud(Mah)
|
3.00
|
NC
|
246.00
|
3000
|
3000
|
87.50
|
Buland
Shahr(UP)
|
3.00
|
50
|
478.50
|
2250
|
2240
|
10.29
|
Melaghar(Tri)
|
2.50
|
25
|
132.80
|
2700
|
2700
|
8.00
|
Mangaon(Mah)
|
2.00
|
NC
|
52.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
12.00
|
Panisagar(Tri)
|
1.90
|
-
|
1.90
|
2500
|
-
|
-
|
Rahama(Ori)
|
1.70
|
-8.6
|
63.72
|
2450
|
2400
|
11.36
|
Pabiacherra(Tri)
|
1.60
|
33.33
|
2.80
|
3000
|
3200
|
-
|
Gulavati(UP)
|
1.50
|
NC
|
69.50
|
2300
|
2270
|
13.30
|
Shillong(Meh)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
72.00
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
Badayoun(UP)
|
1.00
|
-50
|
9.50
|
2290
|
2265
|
7.51
|
Bharuasumerpur(UP)
|
1.00
|
-33.33
|
10.50
|
2100
|
1950
|
16.67
|
Mawana(UP)
|
1.00
|
-33.33
|
33.90
|
2290
|
2380
|
5.77
|
Sardhana(UP)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
97.10
|
2330
|
2330
|
8.12
|
Kasipur(WB)
|
0.70
|
NC
|
48.30
|
2360
|
2500
|
10.28
|
Minister
points out three big challenges of Vietnam’s agriculture
Minister
of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Xuan Cuong yesterday pointed out three
big challenges of the agriculture industry, including small scale production,
climate change and stronger competition from free trade agreements (FTAs).The
filed photo shows a farmer harvesting rice in a large scale paddy field in the
Mekong Delta (Photo: SGGP)
He was
quoting speaking at a seminar co-organized by the ministry, the Economic
Commission of the Central Party Committee and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (VCCI).The first challenge, according to the minister, is small
scale and scattered faming production, raising difficulties in science and
technology application to increase output and value chain development.At
present, the country has 13 millions of households attending in agricultural
production. Farming area averages 0.3 hectare a household. The second
challenge, he said, is climate change which has changed worse than forecast in
2012.Disadvantageous weather conditions have caused rice output reduction of 1.3
million tons in the Mekong Delta, the largest rice farming zone of the country,
during the first six months this year.
If there
is no production reorganization, the agricultural industry will see more damage
rather than only growth slowdown.The third challenge is severe competition from
FTAs which have opened the door to foreign firms to enter the local market. If
Vietnam doesn’t reorganize farming production and speed up modernization, it
might lose in the domestic market, Mr. Cuong believed.Head of the Central
Economic Committee Nguyen Van Binh said that Vietnam’s agricultural growth rate
has been lower than other nations’ of the same production level in the
region.That is because of small scale production by households scattered across
the country, slow development of cooperatives, businesses’ small investment in
agriculture and rural development.
Only
3,800 out of the total of 420,000 businesses invested in the field in 2014. It
reduced to 3,600 ones in the following year.
VCCI
chairman Hoang Quang Phong said that although the number of businesses invested
in agriculture increased from 2,400 in 2007 to 3,600 in 2013, the ratio reduced
from 1.6 percent to 1 percent.
The rate
of loss-making agro-aqua-forestry firms quickly increased from 12.6 percent in
2007 to 16.4 percent in 2008 and 35.1 percent in 2013.Businesses have not
interested in agriculture because problems and barriers in policies to attract
and assist investors, he added.Sharing the same view, economic expert Vo Tri
Thanh attributed the situation to issues in business environment, property
rights, ownership, capital and land markets and high costs.
Dr.
Nguyen Viet Loi, head of the Financial Strategy and Policy Institute under the
Ministry of Finance, proposed to focus on luring investors from various
economic sectors, especially foreign direct investment, to agriculture and
rural development.In addition, priorities should be given to processing
industry and rural infrastructure developers.
http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2016/9/120539/
Agency blasted for selecting Chinese variety as
Vietnam’s standard rice
09/09/2016 14:02
On Thursday, the agency in charge of agro-forestry, seafood, and salt production held a conference to solicit feedback from industry experts on the three types of rice it wants to set as the Vietnamese standards.
The agency suggested that all high-quality Vietnamese rice should follow the model of the Jasmine 85, Nang Hoa 9, and ST 21 rice varieties.Vo Thanh Do, deputy head of the agency, said these varieties were chosen for their high yields.Shortly after the agency’s announcement, a rice expert stood up and complained that one of the three proposed rice species is of Chinese origin.
Dr. Ho Quang Cua, a pundit known for breeding several ST rice varieties, said the real ST 21 lacks any of the features or properties described by the agency.“The agency’s description of ST 21 is in fact similar to that of RVT, a Chinese rice variety,” Cua, a former deputy direct of the agriculture department of the southern province of Soc Trang, said at the conference.Moreover, Cua added, his ST 21 variety has yet to be recognized and accepted for mass cultivation, so “it will be impossible to export ST 21 rice.”The selection of the two remaining varieties also provoked negative feedback.Jasmine 85 is a member of the Jasmine family, a U.S.-origin rice species, experts said at the conference.
In the meantime, the Nang Hoa 9 is bred from a combination of Jasmine and AS 96 varieties, which means it is a half-US variety.“The three rice varieties proposed to be Vietnamese standard consist of one from China, one from the U.S., and a hybrid from the U.S.,” Pham Thai Binh, director of the rice firm Trung An Co. Ltd., said.“If these selections are approved, it will be a shame for Vietnam’s rice industry.”Do, the deputy head of the agro-forestry, seafood and salt production agency, said “it is a mistake” for a Chinese rice variety to be introduced under a locally-grown guise and the proposed to be Vietnamese standard.“We will review this issue,” he said
http://tuoitrenews.vn/business/36951/agency-blasted-for-selecting-chinese-variety-as-vietnams-standard-rice
Plateau to begin rice export in 2017
September 8, 2016
Rice plantation
Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja
Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lalong, says
the state will begin exporting rice by next year.Lalong said this while
fielding questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja, on Thursday, shortly after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari.The
governor said Plateau was competing with Kebbi in rice production, adding that
this would boost the economy in the long run.“Plateau and Kebbi are now
competing in rice production and by next year, we will start exporting rice
from Plateau,” he said.
He added, “The President is always excited when
you talk about agriculture, and the President developed a special interest in
Plateau and other states that are already diversifying from oil to
agriculture.“In my state, we have put a lot of efforts into agriculture; so, I
came to give him an update on what we are doing and also seeking an
intervention in the area of solid minerals.”http://punchng.com/plateau-begin-rice-export-2017/
Kharif sowing till date 4.2 per cent higher than last year
New Delhi, September 9:
The area
sown under the seven kharif crops in the on-going sowing season till date at
1054.49 lakh hectare is about 4.2 per cent more than the sowing in the same
period last year due to better monsoon rains this year.
The
total acreage till September 9 2016, as per figures released by the Agriculture
Ministry on Friday, is just a little short of the five year average of total
kharif acreage of 1062.50 lakh hectares annually.
The
acreage under rice, pulses, coarse cereals and oilseeds continue to be higher
than the sowing in the same period last year while cotton, sugarcane and jute
are lagging.
Sowing
of rice at 380.28 lakh hectare is higher than 370.04 lakh hectare sown in the
comparable period last year.
Acreage
under pulses at 143.95 lakh hectare till September 9 2016 is not only higher
than last year’s sowing in the same period of 111.48 lakh hectare, but is also
more than the last five year’s average normal area acreage of 108.69 lakh
hectare.
Sowing
of coarse cereals at 187.86 lakh hectare till now in the present kharif season
is higher than last year’s 177.05 lakh hectare in the same period last season.
Oilseeds
acreage, too, at 186.95 lakh hectare this kharif, is higher than last season’s
sowing of 181.70 lakh hectare in the same period, as per the release.
With
farmers switching to other crops following crop destruction last year by white
flies in Punjab and Haryana, sowing of cotton declined to 102.13 lakh hectare
this year compared to 114.75 lakh hectare in the same period last year.
Sugarcane
sowing declined slightly to 45.77 lakh hectare, as per the latest figures,
compared to 49.60 lakh hectare in the same period last season.
Sowing
of jute & mesta, too, went down marginally to 7.56 lakh hectare compared to
7.73 lakh hectare sown in the same period last year.
(This article was published on September 9,
2016
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/kharif-sowing-till-date-42-per-cent-higher-than-last-year/article9091117.ece
09/09/2016 Farm Bureau Market Report
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Rice Comment
Rice
futures were lower again today. Nationwide, 15% of the crop is now rated poor
to very poor, and another 27% is in fair condition, with 35% of the crop
harvested. In Arkansas, the percentage of the crop rated poor to very poor is
24%, with 31% of the crop harvested. Excessive heat caused blanking and has
hurt yields, and excessive moisture in late summer has caused quality problems.
However, abundant world supplies and declining prices in Asia continue to loom
large over the market. India is expecting a large crop following a beneficial
monsoon season. November has support at the recent low of $9.35
U.S. Long Grain Peacock Brand
Rice Struts It's Stuff in the UK
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- U.S. long grain Peacock Brand rice
debuted new packaging during a month-long promotion this summer at ASDA Stores
here. The brand's new format five-kilogram bags are bright red with an
eye-catching peacock logo and a USA origin label prominently displayed on the
package front with details about the Mississippi Delta rice growing region on
the back.
"We were very pleased to showcase our U.S. long grain brand's
new format at ASDA stores, the second-largest supermarket chain in Britain by
market share," said Peter Walker, sales manager at S&B Herba Foods,
the company that markets Peacock U.S. long grain rice in the UK.
"Fifty of the largest ASDA Stores, located in areas containing sizeable
ethnic communities, featured Peacock Rice on premium gondola end
displays."
"U.S. rice exports to the UK
face stiff competition from cheaper Asian rice that has flooded the market over
the past several years," said USA Rice Vice President of International
Promotion Hugh Maginnis. "Promoting U.S. rice in such a prominent
position at ASDA, the UK subsidiary of Walmart, was a win for the brand and for
U.S. rice in general.
Study: Consumers prefer gene-disrupting pesticides over GMOs
Capital PressPublished on September 9, 2016 1:17PM
Last changed on September 9, 2016 1:55PM
Courtesy of Walt Mahaffee/USDAScientists
experiment with RNA interference biopesticide on spotted wing drosophila flies.
A survey found that respondents prefer conventional pesticides.
Consumers
prefer gene-disrupting “RNAi” biopesticides over genetically engineered crops,
but they don’t much like either technology, according to a recent study.Researchers from the University of Arkansas conducted the study by asking consumers about their “willingness to pay” for conventional rice sprayed with insecticides, rice that’s genetically modified to withstand pests and rice treated with an RNAi biopesticide.
The biotech rice and RNAi biopesticide described to consumers aren’t commercially available, so those possibilities were hypothetical.
In the U.S., survey participants were willing to pay $7.62 more for a five-pound bag of conventional rice over RNAi-sprayed rice and $12.56 more for conventional rice than genetically engineered rice.
In other countries — Canada, Australia, France and Belgium — consumers also required a greater discount for genetically modified rice than for RNAi-sprayed rice, though the monetary amounts varied by nation.
RNAi, or RNA interference, works by disrupting the expression of genes that are critical to an insect’s ability to survive, while biotech crops are often engineered to contain a bacterial gene that kills caterpillar pests.
Researchers explained to survey participants that both options were unlikely to be unhealthy for humans, while conventional pesticides have varying levels of toxicity. Nonetheless, the respondents preferred conventional rice.
Wayne Hunter, an entomologist with USDA who studies RNAi, said such biopesticides are natural products but opponents have the upper hand in spreading fear about the technology on the internet.
“Even though it’s safer, I don’t think the word is getting out,” he said.
Critics commonly claim that USDA and other institutions that have found RNAi is safe are beholden to corporate interests, undermining findings about the technology, Hunter said.
It’s part of a pattern of people being afraid of scientific progress, he said.
“The negative story gets more press, the negative story is more emotional,” Hunter said. “The horror story is the story you tell around the campfire.”
The Center for Food Safety, a nonprofit critical of biotechnology, believes the study’s authors gave participants an overly rosey description of both genetic engineering and RNAi.
The descriptions played down the risks and limitations of the technologies while exaggerating their value, said Doug Gurian-Sherman, director of sustainable agriculture for the group.
For example, RNAi pesticides could harm beneficial insects related to pests, such as different types of beetles, he said.
If the technology had been accurately described, “the results could easily have been even more negative for RNAi and GE,” Gurian-Sherman said.
It’s also troubling that organic and agroecology methods weren’t offered as options, he said. “They are never discussed as alternative options in these surveys.”
It’s unfortunate if consumers are losing trust in scientists, but in the past, industry-backed scientists pronounced products such as tobacco safe and were later discredited, he said. “My guess is that has filtered into public perception
http://www.capitalpress.com/Research/20160909/study-consumers-prefer-gene-disrupting-pesticides-over-gmos
Ghana must stop importing rice- Israeli Ambassdor
Mr. Mehl said this in an interaction with journalists during the opening of the agricultural facility, B-Bovid in the Mpohor-Wassa East District of the Western Region.- Published: 09.09.2016
- Emmanuel Quist
Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Ami Mehl has charged government to urgently take steps to cut down on the amount of rice exported into the country.
The Ambassador says he is taken aback by the quantity of rice imported into the county, labelling it crazy.Mr. Mehl said this in an interaction with journalists during the opening of the agricultural facility, B-Bovid in the Mpohor-Wassa East District of the Western Region.
He said,”You can’t have about 60 percent of the population being subsistence farmers and expect growth; rather I suggest that smaller farmer groups come together to form large group to advance the sector. It’s not good for Ghana to have 50 per cent of its population doing farming. 5 to 10 percent of the population that will go professionally into agriculture can make miracles, which can make Ghana self-sufficient in agriculture and a strong exporter of agric products.”
He addressed the gathering on the need for Ghana to improve agriculture production in order to produce enough food to feed Ghanaians. He believes a country like Ghana should not be importing rice and poultry products.
“Agribusiness should be large-scale. Ghana is an agricultural country, so there is a lot of potential for agribusiness in Ghana. But it should be on a large-scale. The BBOVID example is a brilliant idea of how to use small scale methods to do big things in the agriculture sector”
http://pulse.com.gh/business/ghanas-economy-ghana-must-stop-importing-rice-israeli-ambassdor-id5475021.html
Why all these talk about rice trade liberalization?
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:10 AM September 10th, 2016
This refers to the news item titled “Judy won’t let solons get hold of CCT funds” (Front Page, 9/2/16).We find excessive the monthly rice subsidy of “20-kilogram bags to 4Ps beneficiaries.” At the NFA (National Food Authority) price of P32.50 per kg, the rice dole will be worth P35.75 billion in 2017, representing nearly a third of the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2017—P129.9 billion from the P110.9 billion this year. But as the P20-billion budget hike represents about half of the rice dole, other benefits under the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program could suffer from the setting aside of P35.75 billion for “rice subsidy.”
Based on a study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the rice requirement under the 4Ps amounts to 14 kg a month per child. Not only that, the World Bank report in March 2012, titled “Who Benefits from Social Assistance in the Philippines?” is most telling: Based on NFA operations (2008-2009), “for every Php1.00 of rice subsidy, the government spent another Php6.84 just for the tax subsidy of importing the NFA rice.” A huge proportion (87 percent) of the cost of the rice subsidy program in those years went to “program implementation” instead of going to the intended beneficiaries.
Now comes the government economic team’s proposal to transfer the NFA’s commercial functions to the private sector. The DSWD, during calamities, sources the staple from the NFA. But will the private sector, which is principally profit-oriented, take a position that the “low grade” rice that the NFA usually imports be made available at all times? Moreover, with the expiry of the quantitate restrictions on rice (QR) on June 30, 2017, (“Gov’t to remove rice import quota next year,” News, 9/5/16), would private traders have the financial muscle to set aside P62 billion, the value of the NFA’s peak rice imports (2.4 million metric tons) in 2010? But the volume could be more with the resetting of the rice self-sufficiency goal from 2018 to 2022 with limited appropriation.
The NFA has a social mandate. As such, it should share its commercial functions with the private sector, confining its rice procurements only for the purpose of disaster-preparedness. These purchases should be stored in NFA warehouses nationwide.
Setting aside the rice-sufficiency program amid a looming trade liberalization scenario may not necessarily lead to significantly cheaper prices. With a palay output of only 16.2 million metric tons in 2007 (19 million metric tons in 2014), we were at the mercy of international traders. Significantly, production costs in Vietnam are reported to be skewed with the noninclusion (that is, “never calculated into costs”) of government subsidies in irrigation, inputs to boost rice production—subsidies that came from taxpayer money, in addition to the “five percent value-added tax (VAT) on rice sales.”
Some pencil-pushing shows that the retail price gap between low-grade NFA imported rice and locally produced quality rice is P10 per kg or just P1 per serving of cooked rice. Why not share our blessings with the poor tillers when so much is wasted on luxurious items? Why all these talk about trade liberalization on rice?
—MANUEL Q. BONDAD, Makati City
http://opinion.inquirer.net/97198/why-all-these-talk-about-rice-trade-liberalization
Butte County crop report: Walnuts are the big change in crop patterns
Posted: 09/08/16, 10:22 PM PDT |
Bankout wagon driver Nathan Powell deposits a
load of rice into a waiting truck in this photo from September 2014 as rice
harvest gets underway at Gorrill Ranch in Durham. Bill
Husa — Enterprise-Record file photo
Top crops
2015Walnuts $240.9 million
Almonds $202.1 million
Rice $138.7 million
Prunes $43.2 million
Peaches $14.9 million
Nursery stock $14.1 million
Harvested timber $13.7 million
Cattle and calves $11.7 million
Rice seed $11.6 million
Pollination $9.7 million
Total all ag: $772.7 million
Full report: http://tinyurl.com/jfly5gu
2010
Rice $182.3 million
Walnuts $173.4 million
Almonds $113.8 million
Prunes $42.6 million
Nursery stock $23.8 million
Cattle and calves $11.7 million
Rice seed $10.9 million
Fruit and nuts (misc) $10.5 million
Peaches $9.7 million
Kiwis $8.2 million
Total all ag: $622.4 million
Full report: http://tinyurl.com/z4vqojh
2005
Almonds $187.4 million
Rice $86.1 million
Walnuts $76.7 million
Nursery stock $11.1 million
Peaches $10.1 million
Cattle and calves $9 million
Timber $7.7 million
Prunes $7.3 million
Kiwis $6.7 million
Fruit and nuts (misc) $4.7 million
Total all ag: $440 million
Full report: http://tinyurl.com/j4x9rnp
Oroville >> Every year, the county’s top agricultural official gives his dusty boots a rest and sits down for some number crunching.
Butte County crop reports, which began in 1939, are created through records turned in by growers within the county boundaries.
The 2015 crop report reflects crops harvested a year ago, after commodities have been marketed and prices determined by the world market.
When all crops, livestock, bee production, timber and such were tallied, the production value was $772.6 million for 2015. That’s down about $38 million from the report of 2014, said Butte County Agricultural Commissioner Louie Mendoza.
Crop acreage
Walnuts2015 48,180
2010 33,330
2005 27,080
2000 18,398
1995 16,444
Almonds
2015 39,626
2010 39,262
2005 40,084
2000 36,095
1995 34,183
Rice
2015 87,700
2010 93,800
2005 96,400
2000 98,000
1995 86,400
Prunes
2015 6,807
2010 10,790
2005 7,310
2000 12,472
1995 10,460
The collective rice crop brought in about $12 million less in 2015 vs. 2014.
In general, the amount of rice planted has been down due to the ongoing drought.
In 2009, Butte County rice farmers grew more than 100,000 acres of rice. That number had dropped to 87,700 acres, as reported in the 2015 crop report. In 2014 rice farmers grew about 77,800 acres, and 98,000 acres in 2013.
Some of that acreage reflects rice land being converted to orchards, Mendoza said. If a plot of land was marginal for rice, meaning it drained more than the ideal conditions for a flooded field, farmers may have switched to orchards, he said.
An example is along Highway 70 south of Oroville, where new trees have been planted, he noted. Other new walnuts can be spotted in the area north of Nelson Road and south of Butte Creek, where there was recently rice, he said.
This same pattern of change has occurred in Yuba County, Mendoza said.
In the next year, for the 2016 crop, rice farmers should expect to see much lower prices as commodity prices have dipped worldwide.
Changes in crops in the Sacramento Valley occur ever so slowly. Much has to do with soil. Rice, for example, has been grown on rice land for about 100 years. That’s because rice land drains poorly, which is a big bonus if you’re growing rice.
For orchards, trees are replaced every 20-30 years. When its time for new trees, farmers will make an educated guess on what will be most lucrative and what they can grow over the next generation.
It’s not easy to make a switch, because farmers also invest in hundreds of thousands of dollars for harvesting equipment.
The biggest change in the Sacramento Valley has been in walnut production.
In 1995, 16,444 acres of walnuts were harvested in the county, with another 8,000 planted but too young for production. At the time, growers received about 68 cents a pound.
A lot of things changed over time. The health
benefits of walnuts was studied and those studies were promoted by the industry.
The Mediterranean diet prompted eaters to gobble walnuts and more of the nuts
were added to jars of mixed nuts.Walnuts also grow very well in the Sacramento
Valley. A big storm in 2008 toppled a significant percentage of almond trees,
which have a less sturdy rootstock than walnuts. When growers made decisions
about future orchards, many turned to walnuts. At one point in 2008, there was
a two-year waiting list for young walnut trees.
The total walnut acreage for 2015 was 48,180
acres. Farmers who planted walnuts had guessed right and the prices have been
steady as well. For 2015, growers received about $1 a pound, over an average of
the varieties. The year before (2014) the price was an admirable $1.65 a
pound.Yet, farming can be cyclical. China’s financial troubles have hurt the
walnut industry, as well as other commodities shipped to the populous country.
Walnut growers are expecting dramatically lower prices per pound this
year.Several years ago, the thought was that as walnuts went in, almonds would
come out, but that hasn’t really been the case. In 1995, 34,000 acres of
almonds grew in the county. Ten years ago, about 40,000 almond acres were
harvested. Last year the total was 39,626 acres, according to the Mendoza’s
report.
Generations ago, more land in Butte County was
planted in row crops. Farmers would make a decision each year about what to
plant. Now, more of that acreage is in tree crops. The market for almonds has
stayed strong, with robust marketing by the industry. The nuts are used in a variety
of foods from candy to ice cream. Customers are also happy to nibble nuts in a
variety of flavors, or dipped in chocolate.For 2015, growers received an
average of $3 a pound for almonds. The more popular varieties sold for more and
the less popular sold for less. These prices are also expected to be much lower
in 2016.
Prunes, also known as dried plums, have had a
rough few decades. Prunes were on the top-10 commodity list up until just a few
years ago. However, competition by other countries and decreased world demand
has put a pinch on prices. This year, Mendoza filed a crop disaster request to
help prune farmers who lost an estimated 63 percent of their crop. Hail and
wind raged through the valley when prunes were in bloom. Mendoza figures the loss
throughout the county is about $15 million.Last year there were 6,800 acres of
prune trees in the county.Contact reporter Heather Hacking at 896-7758.Heather
Hacking is reporter who focuses on water and agriculture. She has been writing
for the Enterprise-Record since 1992. Reach the author at
hhacking@chicoer.com or follow Heather on
Twitter: @HeatherHacking.
http://www.orovillemr.com/general-news/20160908/butte-county-crop-report-walnuts-are-the-big-change-in-crop-patterns
For a royal dining experience, visit The Moghul’s
The Moghul’s 288 Mud St W, Stoney Creek,
Ontario. 289-389-3777
The incredible fusion of Persian recipes with
spices from India makes The
Moghul’s in Stoney Creek a crowd pleaser for lunch and dinner.
The
owner of The Moghul’s has a passion for great food and opened the Indian
restaurant with the goal of providing satisfying, aromatic Moghulai food to
diners, while also treating them like royalty. The restaurant's name is a nod
to the Moghul Empire, known for beautiful architecture, exceptional art and
delicious Indian cuisine. Moghulai dishes feature nuts such as almonds, cashews
and walnuts, as well as butter-based curries and bread prepared in a tandoor
clay oven. While the taste alone makes the food so enjoyable, in true Moghulai
tradition, the food is beautifully presented with exceptional hospitality. The
royal dining experience begins with an elaborate buffet that includes an
extensive salad bar. Enjoy the lunch buffet seven days a week from noon to 3:30
p.m. The dinner buffet is open Monday Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 p.m.
to 9:30 p.m.
The Moghul’s also has an amazing à la carte
menu, where you can choose from delectable options such as Moghul’s Tandoori
Platter, featuring an assortment of tikkas, kebabs and fish, or a dish like
Chicken Korma, made with tender morsels of chicken prepared in a special
saffron sauce with cashews.
While many prefer to dine in to enjoy the
refined atmosphere at The Moghul’s, takeout is perfect for evenings when you're in a rush but
still want to dine well. Their takeout dinner for two includes an appetizer,
choice of two meat dishes, a vegetable dish, two naans and fragrant basmati
rice, all at a great price.
For more information, call 289-389-3777 or
email themoghuls@yahoo.ca.
The Moghul’s is located at 288 Mud Street West
in Stoney Creek. With easy access from the Red Hill Valley Parkway, The
Moghul’s is convenient for those who live in Ancaster, Grimsby, Burlington and
the Greater Hamilton Area. They are fully licensed, and offer a warm and
friendly ambiance with a capacity for up to 80 guests.
Inspectors collect samples of low-quality rice at a
warehouse in Nakhon Chaisri district of Nakhon Pathom on Dec 24 2015. (Photo by
Apichart Jinakul)
It involves Siam Indica and Saralai and people linked to Apichart "Sia Piang" Chansakulporn. Siralai has changed its name to Kitha Properties Co.
Siam Indica has been the target of questions dating back to 2004 when the Thaksin Shinawatra government was in power. An affiliate of now-bankrupt President Agri, which was controlled by Apichart, Siam Indica in the past won auctions that rival rice exporters claimed were not transparent.
Apichart was sentenced in 2014 to three years in jail after being found guilty of embezzling 20,000 tonnes of rice worth 200 million baht that was to have been delivered to Iran.
Amlo secretary-general Chaiya Siri-amphankul said on Friday that the asset seizure decision was linked to corruption charges by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 others.
They were accused of faking a government-to-government rice deal and reselling state-owned grain to domestic firms with close ties to the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
"The evidence and traces of the money transactions found that the firms and persons were corrupt by producing fake government-to-government rice contracts," Pol Gen Chiya said.
"The investigation contains grounds that their assets were acquired in violation of money laundering laws and thus they must be seized."
B7bn in assets to be seized from suspect rice traders
- 9 Sep 2016 at 19:11 7,715 viewed4 comments
- WRITER: KING-OUA LAOHONG
- +
The Anti-Money Laundering Office
(Amlo) is preparing to seize assets from two companies including Siam Indica in
relation to allegedly fake government-to-government rice deals.
The asset seizure approved by an Amlo committee on
Friday will involve 7 billion baht including money in 51 bank accounts, and
land plots in Bangkok, Lamphun, Phuket, Phangnga, Ayutthaya and Ang Thong
provinces.It involves Siam Indica and Saralai and people linked to Apichart "Sia Piang" Chansakulporn. Siralai has changed its name to Kitha Properties Co.
Siam Indica has been the target of questions dating back to 2004 when the Thaksin Shinawatra government was in power. An affiliate of now-bankrupt President Agri, which was controlled by Apichart, Siam Indica in the past won auctions that rival rice exporters claimed were not transparent.
Apichart was sentenced in 2014 to three years in jail after being found guilty of embezzling 20,000 tonnes of rice worth 200 million baht that was to have been delivered to Iran.
Amlo secretary-general Chaiya Siri-amphankul said on Friday that the asset seizure decision was linked to corruption charges by the National Anti-Corruption Commission against former commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom and 20 others.
They were accused of faking a government-to-government rice deal and reselling state-owned grain to domestic firms with close ties to the Yingluck Shinawatra administration.
"The evidence and traces of the money transactions found that the firms and persons were corrupt by producing fake government-to-government rice contracts," Pol Gen Chiya said.
"The investigation contains grounds that their assets were acquired in violation of money laundering laws and thus they must be seized."
APEDA AgriExchange Newsletter - Volume 1554
Market Watch
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Product
|
Market
Center
|
Variety
|
Min
Price
|
Max
Price
|
Maize
|
||||
1
|
Amreli
(Gujarat)
|
Other
|
1705
|
1720
|
2
|
Dhing
(Assam)
|
Other
|
1350
|
1600
|
3
|
Haveri
(Karnataka)
|
Local
|
1585
|
1585
|
Paddy(Dhan)
|
||||
1
|
Kasargod
(Kerala)
|
Other
|
1650
|
1750
|
2
|
Savali
(Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
2350
|
2400
|
3
|
Katwa
(West Bengal)
|
Other
|
1512
|
1540
|
Banana
|
||||
1
|
Karad
(Maharashtra)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1500
|
2
|
Chittorgarh
(Rajasthan)
|
Other
|
1700
|
2000
|
3
|
Mechua
(West Bengal)
|
Other
|
1400
|
1500
|
Brinjal
|
||||
1
|
Chala
(Kerala)
|
Other
|
2200
|
2251
|
2
|
Dasuya
(Punjab)
|
Other
|
1000
|
1300
|
3
|
Jajpur
(Orissa)
|
Other
|
1400
|
2000
|
Source:agmarknet.nic.in
|
||||
