Indigenous Aush varieties now top
priority
Published at 12:58 AM October 08,
2016
Last updated at 12:59 AM October
08, 2016
The photo shows a paddy field at
Godagari Upazila in Rajshahi where scientists recently ran a test production of
indigenous Aush variety Kalomanik that needs no irrigation and can survive
drought-like situation
The indigenous
varieties of rain-fed Aush paddy are likely to lead the country’s future rice
production, instead of the irrigation-reliant Boro, since it may work as a
natural remedy to check the drastic depletion of groundwater table in
drought-prone areas
Even though per hectare Aush
production is slightly below than that of Boro, a number of scientists
including a former BRRI chief suggest that farmers should prioritise Aush as it
does not need irrigation or even rain to grow.
A recent study shows that the
indigenous Aush varieties like Bharira, Kalomanik, Songkorboti, Pathorkuchi,
Kalchina, Bolonsaita and Sani can produce more rice than the varieties
developed by Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.
Also, the study finds that the
local varieties can better cope with the country’s changing climatic pattern.
Christian Commission for the
Development of Bangladesh (CCDB) recently ran a trial on Aush varieties in
drought condition at Godagari upazila in Rajshahi – considered as the core zone
of Upland Barind Tract where drought has been a natural phenomenon since long.
According to their findings,
local varieties Bharira, Kalomanik and Songkorboti can produce 4.10 tonnes of
paddy per hectare. On the other hand, BRRI Dhan 26 developed by the Bangladesh
Rice Research Institute yields 3 tonnes while BRRI Dhan 55 and BRRI Dhan 48
yield 2 tonnes of paddy each without irrigation.
The results came at a time when
the government has been trying to reduce the cultivation of extensive
irrigation-dependent Boro despite its highest production capacity, around 4.73
tonnes rice per hectare.
According to the Agriculture
Ministry, Bangladesh produces around 34.8 million tonnes of rice against the
annual demand of 32.4m tonnes.
Boro is the highest cultivated
paddy in Bangladesh with around 19.5m tonnes of rice yield annually,
followed by Aman (around 13m tonnes) and Aush (2.3m tonnes).
According to BRRI, the country
has around 12,000 indigenous rice varieties and most of them have been
preserved by the state-run research body.
Agriculture Minister Matia
Chowdhury has repeatedly been taking different initiatives including incentive
packages to promote Aush cultivation among the farmers for the last couple of
years. The package includes seeds, fertilisers and cash assistance.
The researchers found that after
spending Tk39,875 per hectare for all the 10 Aush varieties (seven indigenous
and three BRRI developed), local varieties Bharira, Kalomanik and Songkorboti
give the highest net return of Tk62,625.
On the other hand,
laboratory-developed variety BRRI Dhan gave Tk35,125 net return while BRRI Dhan
55 and BRRI Dhan 48 fetched Tk10,125.
“These findings show that now we
can easily turn to Aush from Boro to avoid the excessive water consumption from
groundwater table,” Jibon Krishna Biswas, former director general of BRRI, told
the Dhaka Tribune.
The Barind Tract – comprising
Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts – sees lesser rain than other
parts of the country. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the
number of normal rainy days in the Barind Tract in April, May, June and July
are 6, 10, 12 and 15 days.
“We observed 21 non-stop rainless
days during the trial run starting from April 10 this year, and in the end, the
local varieties gave us better yield as well as return despite the rough
condition,” said Kamruzzaman Sagor, coordinator (research) of CCDB who led the
trial.
Loss of groundwater
Official data from the Barind
Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA) show that the underground water
level, which was at a depth of 64 feet in December 2008, has dropped to 97 feet
after five years.
However, according to the local
Boro growers, the level of underground water was at 40-foot depth 15 years ago,
but has now dropped to 160 feet, thus increasing the cost of irrigation.
Although Boro is one of the major
crops in the country, especially for ensuring food for people belonging to the
low-income groups, it is a difficult variety of paddy because it has to be
grown in the dry season and requires a lot of water.
According to a survey by the
Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), usage of groundwater
has increased drastically over the last few decades.
In 1982-83, groundwater’s
contribution to irrigation was 41%, but it climbed to 75% in 2001-02, minly
because of Boro cultivation in mass level.
According to BRRI, currently the
number of developed and released rice varieties by the state-run research body
is 81. Of them, 25 varieties are for Boro, 36 for Aman and 10 for the Aush
paddy seasons.
In addition, the Bangladesh
Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) has developed another 18 rice
varieties.
However, very few of them are
popular varieties.
Agro-scientist Jibon Krishna
said: “In case of Aush, the indigenous varieties are far better than those developed
in laboratories as all of them can tolerate acute drought-like situation and
are totally rain-fed, thus requiring no irrigation.”
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/10/08/indigenous-aush-varieties-now-top-priority/
Agriculture Cares honors
producers for good work
Whether
you like to admit it or not, farmers and ranchers have some of the biggest
hearts I know. When a neighbor is in need, they help. When the weakest want,
they protect. When the helpless need, they give.It is that spirit that drives
who we are as an industry.As a company, High Plains Journal believes in our
agriculture family. We believe a faith in each other can build a vibrant and
thriving industry that is dedicated to helping thy neighbor.
With
that in mind, we are excited to announce Agriculture Cares, a program that
recognizes those people who go above and beyond to improve their community,
their country and their world. In December, we will publish a special
Agriculture Cares issue highlighting the good works of those people.
As a
part of that commitment to recognize our Agriculture Cares leaders, High Plains
Journal will donate a portion of our proceeds from that issue to the winners’
cause so they can continue to influence their community.
We need
your help in finding these people.
It
doesn’t have to be something that alters the world. It can be a small effort or
contribution that has made all the difference in even one other person’s life.
Or it can be a mission that is literally felt across the world. What matters is
this: Because of them, our community, our country or our world is a better
place.
That
contribution could be hours devoted to volunteering. It could be tragedy that
sparked a mission in their heart to start an organization or foundation. Perhaps
they saw a need and decided, “I can do something about that,” and rallied their
friends.
If you
ask these people if what they do is special, they will say, “No,” because
humility is a core tenet of the agriculture industry as well. But you know differently.
You know their idea sparked a greater good than they thought possible. You know
their heart and mission is good.
You can
nominate a person or group of people by visiting www.hpj.com/agcares. There you
will find a simple form that asks you to tell us a few things about your
nominee. Or, you can email me at hmartin@hpj.com.
We need to know your name and contact information, the nominee’s name and
contact information and a brief description of why you are nominating them for
Agriculture Cares. We need all nominations by Oct. 31.
It
doesn’t have to be a fancy or formal nomination; we just want to know about the
farmers and ranchers who make our communities a better place. We will do the
rest.
Holly
Martin can be reached at 1-800-452-7171, ext. 1806, or hmartin@hpj.com.
http://www.hpj.com/ag_cares/agriculture-cares-honors-producers-for-good-work/article_1879c12e-8ca0-11e6-9780-230b1c035c9a.html
Arkansas crop losses approach $50 million
By Fred
Miller, U of A System Division of Agriculture
Heavy
rains in August have cost Arkansas farmers more than $46 million according to
preliminary estimates, with rice taking the hardest hit, said Brad Watkins,
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture economist.Watkins said
that figure may be as high as $50 million once the fall harvests are finished
and the extent of the damage is known.The preliminary report, drafted by Watkins and Eric Wailes, Distinguished Professor of agricultural economics, is based on crop and harvest reports by Division of Agriculture crop specialists.
Watkins presented the report to a meeting of the Arkansas General Assembly’s Joint Committee of Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development held Sept. 21 at the Division of Agriculture’s Livestock and Forestry Research Station near Batesville.
Watkins said the losses resulted from heavy rains around the third week of August. Many crops were at or near harvest stage when the rains and flooding occurred.
Seven counties—Randolph, Greene, Lawrence, Craighead, Independence, Jackson and White—along the Black, Cache and White rivers were the hardest hit, Watkins said. Those rivers collected rainfall from watershed tributaries and sent it into low areas, submerging many northeast Arkansas fields.
Sustained submergence of fields accompanied by sustained cloudy conditions destroyed many fields and severely damaged crop output and quality from others.
Many rice, soybean, corn and grain sorghum grains were damaged by sprouting in the field, and soybean pods split open. The result was that significant percentages of harvested crops were rated poor or very poor when they arrived at market.
• Rice was hardest hit, with estimated yield loss of more than 4.1 million bushels amounting to more than $18.6 million in lost value. Of harvested grain, 16 percent is rated poor and 12 percent rated very poor.
• Soybeans have an estimated yield loss of nearly 1.1 million bushels, amounting to nearly $10.8 million in lost value. Ten percent of harvested soybeans were rated poor and 9 percent very poor.
• Only Lawrence and Randolph counties reported some flooding of corn and sorghum fields, but rain and cloudy conditions resulted in sprouting damabe to about 80 percent of the sorghum crop. The result is an estimated $5.6 million in lost value.
• The main impact of the rains on corn was delayed harvest. Other impacts were increased ear molds and greater occurrence of stock rot and lodging. Lodging may become more of a problem as harvest continues.
• About 5 percent of cotton acres were affected by the August rains. A preliminary estimate of lost value is about $11.5 million.
Watkins said the August rains are believed to have damaged vegetable and melon crops, but reports are incomplete and losses cannot be estimated. One producer reported a complete loss of 500 acres of cantaloupes, Watkins said, losing a market value of $1.5 million.
Other small farmers with cooperative contracts with grocery stores that market local produce have had significant losses and were not able to deliver on their contracts, Watkins said
http://www.hpj.com/crops/arkansas-crop-losses-approach-million/article_c7f6b5ec-7d8c-5b3b-8e49-377d17484fa4.html
Rice production forecast to fall 2.9 pct in
2016: data
2016/10/07
13:56
SEJONG, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's rice
output is expected to drop slightly in 2016 from last year due to the bad
weather conditions in the harvest season, government data showed Friday.The
country's rice production is forecast to reach some 4.2 million tons, down 2.9
percent from 4.33 million tons in 2015, according to the data compiled by
Statistics Korea.But the 2016 estimate posted a 6.1 percent gain from the
five-year average of 3.96 million tons.
"The weather condition became worse in
September when the rice grains begin to ripen," the statistics agency
said. "During the period, the hours of daylight and daily temperature
difference decreased." A total of 779,000 hectare of rice
paddies were on operation this year, down 2.6 percent from last year.
Earlier, the South Korean government said it
will purchase all of this year's rice surplus, forecast to be some 300,000
tons, as part of efforts to deal with a chronic supply glut of the staple crop.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2016/10/07/0503000000AEN20161007005700320.html
When
Chinese get involved in Cambodia's rice strategy
VietNamNet
Bridge - China's plan to get involved in Cambodia's rice development strategy
is a bad sign for Vietnam.
China
has announced it will lend $300 million to Cambodia to help the country build
plants, drying rooms and infrastructure so that it can collect rice from
farmers with storage capacity of millions of tons.
Prof Bui Chi Buu, deputy director of the Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute, commented that China decided to get involved in Cambodia's rice development strategy not because of its rice development potential or a plan to turn Cambodia into a rice supply source for China.
“You will find what the goal is if you analyze the Vietnam-China trade activities recently. As for large-scale rice contracts, China changes its policies so regularly, and forces the prices down. Chinese businessmen go to every corner of the Vietnamese market to disrupt trade activities,” he said.
The expert went on to say that the Chinese strategy would cause difficulties for Vietnam’s rice production and the whole economy.
At present and in the near future, Cambodia cannot compete with Vietnam in rice exports.
Prof Bui Chi Buu, deputy director of the Vietnam Agricultural Science Institute, commented that China decided to get involved in Cambodia's rice development strategy not because of its rice development potential or a plan to turn Cambodia into a rice supply source for China.
“You will find what the goal is if you analyze the Vietnam-China trade activities recently. As for large-scale rice contracts, China changes its policies so regularly, and forces the prices down. Chinese businessmen go to every corner of the Vietnamese market to disrupt trade activities,” he said.
The expert went on to say that the Chinese strategy would cause difficulties for Vietnam’s rice production and the whole economy.
At present and in the near future, Cambodia cannot compete with Vietnam in rice exports.
|
China's
plan to get involved in Cambodia's rice development strategy is a bad sign
for Vietnam.
|
Cambodia
exports 3 million tons of rice every year; Vietnam 30-40 million tons. Cambodia
sells fragrant rice at $700 per ton. Vietnam also exports 3-4 million tons of
fragrant rice at high prices.
However, the problem for Vietnam is that Vietnam’s rice exports depend on China as the largest export market. If China helps Cambodia develop rice production, Vietnam is likely to have to lower selling prices.
An analyst said that while Vietnam does not make profits when exporting rice to China, it still exports to the market because of unclear policies.
“If Vietnam produces rice just for food security, it would only need to exploit the domestic market, bring rice into supermarket chains,” he said, adding that supermarkets now sell rice at VND10,000-12,000 per kilo, higher than the export price to China at VND8,000.
“If Vietnam aims to produce rice for export, it will have to set up clear strategy, make investment in technology and organize production in a professional way,” he said.
Le Van Banh, a renowned rice expert, former head of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, also warned about the possibility of Vietnam’s rice being put under pressure and forced to lower export prices.
“China can think of a lot of tricks to raise difficulties for Vietnam,” Banh said.
However, the problem for Vietnam is that Vietnam’s rice exports depend on China as the largest export market. If China helps Cambodia develop rice production, Vietnam is likely to have to lower selling prices.
An analyst said that while Vietnam does not make profits when exporting rice to China, it still exports to the market because of unclear policies.
“If Vietnam produces rice just for food security, it would only need to exploit the domestic market, bring rice into supermarket chains,” he said, adding that supermarkets now sell rice at VND10,000-12,000 per kilo, higher than the export price to China at VND8,000.
“If Vietnam aims to produce rice for export, it will have to set up clear strategy, make investment in technology and organize production in a professional way,” he said.
Le Van Banh, a renowned rice expert, former head of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, also warned about the possibility of Vietnam’s rice being put under pressure and forced to lower export prices.
“China can think of a lot of tricks to raise difficulties for Vietnam,” Banh said.
S.Korea’s rice production expected to rise 0.4%
in 2015 from 2014
SEOUL:
South Korea’s rice production is expected to rise slightly in 2015 from last
year due to greater yield per cultivated land, the agriculture ministry said
Wednesday. The country’s rice output is forecast to reach 4.258 million
tons, up 0.4 percent from 4.241 million tons harvested in 2014, according to
the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Overall output is expected to increase marginally as the average yield from each unit area of 10 hectares is predicted to rise,” the ministry said, citing related data from Statistics Korea.
For this year, each 10 hectares of cultivated paddy should yield 533 kilograms of rice, up 2.5 percent from 520 kilograms tallied for last year, it said. The forecast yield is significantly higher than the 496 kilograms per 10 hectares which has been the average for the past few years.
The increase comes despite a drop in the number of paddies growing rice this year. Last year, farmers raised rice on 815,506 hectares of land, while for this year the areas used fell 2 percent to 799,344 hectares.
“Favorable weather conditions from June onward and almost no crop damage caused by parasites and typhoons are raising expectations of better yields this year,” the ministry said. While less arable land caused output to fall steadily until 2012, there were small and steady gains in output in 2013 and last year.
The ministry said the government plans to come up with measures to stabilize market prices of the staple grain. These will include getting private rice processing plants to buy up more grain, strengthen monitoring of imported rice and regulate the country’s rice stockpile.
At present, the state’s rice reserve stands at 1.32 million tons with policymakers predicting demand for the staple grain to reach around 3.97 million tons for the whole of 2016. This can lead to more rice being held in silos and not being consumed, which translates into more costs for the government. The country maintains a sizable rice reserve to deal with emergencies and sudden fluctuations in global grain prices.
Asia’s fourth-largest economy is self-sufficient when it comes to growing enough rice to feed its 50 million citizens, although it imports almost all other farm produce from abroad to meet demand
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/s-koreas-rice-production-expected-to-rise-0-4-in-2015-from-2014/
Sacramento Valley rice
harvest accelerates
Posted: 10/07/16, 10:09 AM PDT |
Having
reduced their plantings in recent years due to the drought, California rice
farmers are harvesting a bigger crop this season — but they are also feeling
the pinch of lower market prices.This comes as state rice inventories have been
building. Marketers say lower prices now allow them to sell more rice and win
back price-sensitive markets that had largely turned away from California rice.“They’ll need to keep the price low to move the rice out,” said Nathan Childs, an agricultural economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The big crop will push prices down, making the state more competitive. And that should prevent stocks from building up too much.”Meanwhile, harvest has been ramping up in the Sacramento Valley.
Colusa County farmer Rob Vlach said he started harvest two weeks ago, right on schedule. With several hot days during that time, he said the moisture level of the rice is “right where it’s supposed to be” for cutting.“I think we’re just going to roll right through it now,” he said.Relaxed water restrictions in Northern California this year allowed farmers to grow more rice, with harvested acreage estimated at 559,000, up 33 percent from last year, according to USDA.
Vlach said he was able to plant all of his acreage this year. And because the price of rice is down, he said he’s been focused on crop quality and trying to get as much yield as he can.
“If you have more sacks to sell, then you’re better off,” he said.
Cooperative planting weather in the spring and favorable growing conditions throughout the season are expected to bring decent yields for California farmers. USDA projected production at 48.6 million hundredweight, a 30 percent increase from last year and the highest since the state’s record 2004-05 crop of 50.8 million cwt.
With a new California crop on the way and warehouses needing to make room for it, Kirk Messick, senior vice president of Farmers’ Rice Cooperative, said growers have offered good year-end discounts on their rice, allowing marketers to clear up some stocks.
“As far as warehouse space goes, we’re in good shape,” he said. “I’m just happy that we’ve got some rice moving now, although it’s come at the price of farmers not making as much money in the end.”
With markets in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan fairly stable, Childs said California rice exports will see gains primarily in the Middle East and northern Africa now that prices have dropped.
Advertisement
Messick
said prices rose so high that they drove away customers in those Mediterranean
markets, many of whom switched to buying other types of rice from other
regions. Higher prices also attracted competing rice-growing regions to grow
more medium-grain rice, the main variety that California grows.Despite large stocks and a bigger crop this year, Messick pointed to some positive signs he said will help California rice growers: After two years of increased production of medium grain, Southern states such as Arkansas have pulled back because the price of medium grain isn’t as attractive as long grain, which the region traditionally grows. Australia and Egypt, the state’s biggest overseas competitors, also have reduced production due to drought.
“I think overall the market is reacting to an oversupply of rice internationally,” Messick said. “It’s not necessarily good for the farm economy locally, but in the end, it’s a healthy way of adjusting back to keep us competitive.”
Michael Dewit, who grows rice in Sacramento, Sutter and Yolo counties, said current prices are tough for farmers but he thinks they will improve in another year or two, allowing them to be more profitable again.
“We’re about due for a correction like this, something to shake up this industry a bit,” he said. “I don’t like it, but it might be a necessary evil.”
Because of depressed prices, Dewit said he reduced the number of herbicide applications this year in an effort to save money, a decision he said he now regrets because he’s created a seed bank for the weeds, which will increase his problems next year.
Luis Espino, a University of California Cooperative Extension farm adviser, said he’s seen a lot more fields that are “weedier than usual.”
Sutter County grower Mike Daddow said though weeds represent an ongoing issue for growers, they’ve been especially problematic this year. He noted that his son, who does custom herbicide applications, has had to go back to some fields multiple times because the weeds have become resistant.
Weather was also a factor. Espino noted that late spring rains allowed weeds to germinate just as growers were finishing their groundwork, giving the weeds a head start, which made them harder to control. Availability of certain herbicide products became a problem for some growers, causing them to delay their applications, thereby compromising their weed-management program, he added.
One particular weed problem researchers are trying to assess is the appearance of red rice in some California fields. Espino described red rice as a feral type of rice that’s hard to get rid of, because the seeds shatter easily and can stay in the soil for many years. Though levels of infestations are still low, current rice herbicides are ineffective at controlling the weed.
Red rice has been a problem in Southern rice-growing states for years and arrived in California as early as the 1930s, with reappearances in the 1960s and early 2000s, though it never took hold. Its origin is a mystery and it is unclear what triggered its current reintroduction, but researchers are trying to raise grower awareness of the weed so farmers could identify it should they see it in their fields.
“At this point, we’re more worried about what to do to try to reduce the infestations as much as we can,” Espino said. “It’s not causing any yield reductions or quality downgrades, but it has the potential to be a major problem, so that’s why we’re concerned about it.”
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/article/NI/20161007/NEWS/161009875
Rice
exports rebound firmly in September
Fri, 7 October 2016
Cambodian
rice exports soared by 54 percent year-on-year in September, after failing to
meet last year’s levels for six consecutive months from March through August,
according to the latest report by the Secretariat of One Window Service for
Rice Exports. Total rice exports in September amounted to 41,429 tonnes,
compared to 26,969 tonnes one year earlier. The surge in rice exports still leaves the cumulative total of rice exported since the start of the year – about 361,000 tonnes –two percent below the total shipped during the first nine months of 2015.
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-exports-rebound-firmly-september
Rice
surplus grows as prices fall with trade uncertainty on Chinese border
By Su Phyo Win
| Friday, 07 October 2016
As
local rice
prices continue to tumble, worried farmers and traders are asking the
government to step in with purchase guarantees. China, Myanmar’s main customer
for rice, is reducing its demand amid a crackdown on illegal cross-border
trade. Farmers harvest rice in a paddy field. Photo: AFP
The worries are intensifying as the monsoon harvest approaches.Over the past few weeks, Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) has met with officials from the ministries of commerce and agriculture to state their concerns and to request government help.They fear that without government price support, many farmers face serious losses as the Chinese border authorities tighten controls over the import of agricultural products from Myanmar, including rice, maize, sugar and beans, while prices continue to fall, say industry insiders.
MRF joint secretary U Nay Lin Zin told The Myanmar Times yesterday that Myanmar has no real market for its rice except for China. Their expected losses are compounded by high production costs caused by poor infrastructure compared to that of neighbouring countries.“In the past six months since the present government took office, our problems have been attributed to the uncertainty of the political situation and the transition,” he said. “But China has now reduced its import volume fivefold.”
Myanmar was exporting about 5000 tonnes of rice a day to China at the Muse border gate, but it is now less than 1000 tonnes, U Nay Lin Zin said.
“Over the past six months, our surplus has risen to nearly 600,000 tonnes,” he said.
With the kyat currently trading at K1269 to the dollar, exchange rate woes compound the situation further.
“I think China is trying to stop illegal border trade completely. We have to start looking for new markets or other solutions,” said U Nay Lin Zin.
U Thein Aung, president of the Freedom of Farmers League, said that unless the government stepped in to buy rice from the monsoon crop at a fair price, farmers could be plunged into debt for years to come.
In the past six months, prices for 100 baskets (about 2.05 tonnes) of rice have dropped from around K520,000 to be hovering at about the K400,000 mark, he said.
“Myanmar produces nearly 20 million tonnes of rice a year, which is twice what we consume locally,” he said. “China used to import 90 percent of our total exports – we relied too heavily on that market.”
With harvest time approaching, farmers were anxious about the increasing surplus, U Thein Aung said.
“We still have summer crops in hand and haven’t found buyers yet for the monsoon crop,” he said. “We need enough capital for the next crop as well as a market for the coming harvest.”
The MRF has asked the government to negotiate with China to arrange an annual contract for rice exports and to buy buffer stock to prevent further deterioration in the price, said U Nay Lin Zin.
“Even local rice traders and millers hesitate to buy from farmers in this insecure market at these falling prices,” he said.
According to the statistics from the Ministry of Commerce, rice exports from April to September last year were valued at US$168 million, compared to only $122 million during the same period this year.
U Khin Maung Lwin, an assistant secretary at the commerce ministry, said yesterday the ministry was working with Myanmar’s ambassador in Beijing to determine if a quota can be negotiated. An official letter of request is currently being drafted, he said.
“The letter is to request that China’s central economic committee negotiate [with us] to get a regular rice export quota, both from the border at Yunnan Province and through normal trade,” he said, referring to trade via ports.
Yunnan provincial government was keen to buy Myanmar’s produce, U Khin Maung Lwin added, but the decision had to go through Beijing.
“We know that the farmers and traders are concerned about the low price of rice and uncertain about if China has banned rice imports from the border area,” he said. “The commerce ministry is trying to negotiate an agreement on legal exports to China and at the same time we are trying to explore new markets.”
The government was currently in discussions with Indonesia’s government to export 3 million tonnes of rice between 2016 and 2019, he said, adding that it would help relieve some of the burden.
The Ministry of Agriculture could not be reached for comment yesterday
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/22962-rice-surplus-grows-as-prices-fall-with-trade-uncertainty-on-chinese-border.html
Rice Prices
as on :
07-10-2016 08:10:44 PMArrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
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Arrivals
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Price
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Current
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%
change |
Season
cumulative |
Modal
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Prev.
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Prev.Yr
%change |
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Rice
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||||||
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Bhivandi(Mah)
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4300.00
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33.96
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103085.00
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2400
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2600
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17.07
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Gadarpur(Utr)
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2097.00
|
1.55
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125944.00
|
1885
|
1781
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-8.27
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Shahjahanpur(UP)
|
1819.60
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-49.42
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20577.40
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2225
|
2200
|
9.88
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Bangalore(Kar)
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1261.00
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-35.23
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157389.00
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3900
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3900
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-9.30
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Pilibhit(UP)
|
1200.00
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20
|
12857.50
|
2240
|
2240
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2.28
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Bazpur(Utr)
|
1036.00
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-17.05
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63153.86
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2241
|
1897
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16.72
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Kanpur(Grain)(UP)
|
1000.00
|
11.11
|
17835.00
|
2125
|
2150
|
-2.52
|
|
Manjeri(Ker)
|
290.00
|
NC
|
10730.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
6.67
|
|
Gondal(UP)
|
182.50
|
4.29
|
10904.50
|
2000
|
2000
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-1.23
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Dhing(ASM)
|
110.00
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-8.33
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3400.20
|
2000
|
2000
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5.26
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Hardoi(UP)
|
92.00
|
-32.94
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2728.20
|
2160
|
2226
|
NC
|
|
P.O. Uparhali Guwahati(ASM)
|
87.50
|
6.71
|
3875.60
|
2230
|
2230
|
6.19
|
|
Chintamani(Kar)
|
86.00
|
91.11
|
701.00
|
2100
|
2000
|
13.51
|
|
Aligarh(UP)
|
85.00
|
21.43
|
5760.00
|
2450
|
2450
|
13.43
|
|
Saharanpur(UP)
|
68.00
|
7.94
|
5047.00
|
2250
|
2260
|
4.65
|
|
Sealdah Koley Market(WB)
|
60.50
|
-0.82
|
564.20
|
3100
|
3150
|
34.78
|
|
Mainpuri(UP)
|
56.00
|
3.7
|
1775.00
|
2245
|
2270
|
11.14
|
|
Sitapur(UP)
|
46.00
|
27.78
|
6323.20
|
2220
|
2220
|
5.11
|
|
Palghar(Mah)
|
44.00
|
175
|
692.00
|
2936
|
2215
|
22.49
|
|
Cachar(ASM)
|
40.00
|
-50
|
2910.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
-18.52
|
|
Gauripur(ASM)
|
40.00
|
-24.53
|
2391.00
|
4500
|
4500
|
NC
|
|
Jorhat(ASM)
|
32.00
|
28
|
1709.00
|
2800
|
2700
|
NC
|
|
Gazipur(UP)
|
32.00
|
-3.03
|
2947.00
|
2160
|
2150
|
6.40
|
|
Purulia(WB)
|
30.00
|
25
|
2002.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
14.29
|
|
Rampur(UP)
|
24.00
|
-30.43
|
1083.00
|
2530
|
2485
|
16.06
|
|
Ramkrishanpur(Howrah)(WB)
|
23.00
|
-4.96
|
1203.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
-4.00
|
|
Dhekiajuli(ASM)
|
21.00
|
23.53
|
1166.10
|
2200
|
2200
|
4.76
|
|
Ulhasnagar(Mah)
|
17.00
|
-15
|
465.00
|
3000
|
2500
|
-
|
|
Kolaghat(WB)
|
17.00
|
-5.56
|
1146.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
6.25
|
|
Tamluk (Medinipur E)(WB)
|
17.00
|
-5.56
|
1098.00
|
2550
|
2550
|
6.25
|
|
Etah(UP)
|
16.00
|
100
|
252.00
|
2240
|
2250
|
8.21
|
|
Meerut(UP)
|
16.00
|
33.33
|
679.00
|
2360
|
2370
|
14.01
|
|
Yusufpur(UP)
|
15.00
|
-50
|
1240.00
|
2160
|
2150
|
8.82
|
|
Amroha(UP)
|
12.00
|
-33.33
|
107.00
|
2400
|
2425
|
15.94
|
|
Banda(UP)
|
12.00
|
-14.29
|
494.00
|
2265
|
2265
|
4.62
|
|
Fatehpur(UP)
|
11.50
|
43.75
|
375.20
|
2250
|
2240
|
0.90
|
|
Kolhapur(Laxmipuri)(Mah)
|
11.00
|
10
|
2144.00
|
3200
|
3200
|
-
|
|
Nilagiri(Ori)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
518.00
|
2400
|
2300
|
-4.00
|
|
Dinhata(WB)
|
10.00
|
NC
|
155.50
|
2250
|
2250
|
10.29
|
|
North Lakhimpur(ASM)
|
9.20
|
-48.89
|
1794.30
|
1900
|
1900
|
NC
|
|
Muradabad(UP)
|
9.00
|
28.57
|
498.70
|
2410
|
2420
|
10.55
|
|
Raibareilly(UP)
|
8.50
|
54.55
|
315.00
|
2090
|
2075
|
0.72
|
|
Bolangir(Ori)
|
8.00
|
14.29
|
367.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
9.09
|
|
Pukhrayan(UP)
|
8.00
|
-20
|
356.00
|
2180
|
2190
|
-1.36
|
|
Dibrugarh(ASM)
|
7.60
|
-2.56
|
1557.60
|
2450
|
2450
|
-
|
|
Cherthalai(Ker)
|
7.00
|
-12.5
|
391.00
|
2300
|
2200
|
-8.00
|
|
Jeypore(Ori)
|
7.00
|
118.75
|
208.50
|
4100
|
4100
|
1.23
|
|
Raiganj(WB)
|
7.00
|
-6.67
|
850.00
|
2800
|
2800
|
-3.45
|
|
Mirzapur(UP)
|
6.00
|
-20
|
1554.10
|
2185
|
2180
|
9.80
|
|
Tusura(Ori)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
358.00
|
2400
|
2400
|
9.09
|
|
Chandoli(UP)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
75.50
|
2175
|
2180
|
15.08
|
|
Buland Shahr(UP)
|
5.00
|
42.86
|
341.50
|
2220
|
2230
|
9.63
|
|
Haldibari(WB)
|
5.00
|
-16.67
|
482.00
|
2300
|
2300
|
-11.54
|
|
Hailakandi(ASM)
|
4.00
|
-20
|
136.00
|
2200
|
2200
|
-18.52
|
|
Jeypore(Kotpad)(Ori)
|
3.40
|
-2.86
|
203.50
|
4100
|
4100
|
-3.53
|
|
Darjeeling(WB)
|
3.30
|
10
|
115.90
|
2950
|
2950
|
9.26
|
|
Balarampur(WB)
|
2.30
|
NC
|
97.40
|
2400
|
2400
|
13.74
|
|
Shillong(Meh)
|
1.60
|
77.78
|
66.40
|
3500
|
3500
|
NC
|
|
Aroor(Ker)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
199.70
|
7300
|
7300
|
2.82
|
|
Penugonda(Mah)
|
1.00
|
NC
|
9.00
|
4070
|
4070
|
-0.25
|
|
Bonai(Bonai)(Ori)
|
0.70
|
-12.5
|
98.00
|
2500
|
2500
|
13.64
|
|
Ernakulam(Ker)
|
0.56
|
NC
|
9.18
|
3500
|
3500
|
7.69
|
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/article9197930.ece
10/07/2016 Farm
Bureau Market Report
Rice
|
High
|
Low
|
|
|
Long Grain Cash Bids
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
Long Grain New Crop
|
- - -
|
- - -
|
|
|
||
|
Futures:
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice Comment
Rice futures
closed a bit lower today, but the trade continued to be confined to a
relatively narrow range within Monday’s huge range. 82% of the crop has been
harvested nation-wide, well ahead of the 5 year average of 69%. In Arkansas,
91% of the crop was in the bins as of Sunday, compared with a 5 year average of 74%. Export
sales were 43,100 tons for the week, down slightly from a week ago and
certainly not enough to spark buying interest. November is hovering around
support at $10.
Louisiana Lawmakers Hear Importance of the Rice
Industry
By
Carrie Castille
CROWLEY, LA -- Members of the Louisiana Senate
and House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural
Development Committees met yesterday at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research
Station to learn about the Louisiana rice industry. USA Rice members Jackie Loewer, John Owen,
Richard Fontenot, and John Morgan spoke on behalf of the industry and gave
presentations on Louisiana rice production, research, promotion, milling, and
economic impact. Representatives from
the LSU AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana
Rice Mill, Falcon Rice Mill, Kennedy Rice Dryer, and Louisiana Farm Bureau were
also in attendance.
The goal of the meeting was to educate
lawmakers on the importance of all sectors of the Louisiana rice industry. Many of the committee members have rice in
their districts and were impressed by the outstanding research and promotion
efforts of the Louisiana rice industry, from farm to fork. During introductions, members spoke about
agriculture in their districts and expressed their appreciation of the
Louisiana culinary staple, "rice and gravy."
Louisiana Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman
Francis Thompson (D-Delhi) acknowledged the importance of the Rice Research
Station and expressed his desire to see what committee members can do to assist
the rice industry on the state and federal level. Thompson visited Cuba this year and hopes the
embargo with Cuba will eventually be lifted.
He also said, "we need Washington to be very diligent in dealing
with China and other countries that are possible competitors in global rice
markets."
Richard Fontenot, a rice farmer from Ville
Platte, educated committee members on the different production methods employed
on the more than 400,000 acres of rice in Louisiana. He emphasized that water is the key to
controlling weeds in rice production and discussed how farmers are the state's
best conservationists, but also reminded them, "no water, no
rice." Senator Gerald Long
(R-Winnfield), former chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee,
acknowledged the importance and increased participation in the Louisiana Master
Farmer Program as a tool to help farmers implement best management practices.
In his presentation, John Morgan, vice
president of Louisiana Rice Mill, emphasized that "rice is the original
economic engine of southwest Louisiana."
He also explained the steps in the milling process and how southwest
cities like Crowley's founding, growth, and decline can be directly correlated
with the health and size of the rice industry.
"Processing rough rice into finished
product locally adds critical value to the economic health of Crowley, Acadia
Parish, Southwest Louisiana, the entire state, and ultimately the U.S.,"
Morgan said. "Because of the value
added aspect of the state's processors, the rice industry's economic impact to
the state's economy is doubled."
John Owen, from Rayville, reported on the
benefit of rice promotion activities and how these efforts expand the markets
for Louisiana rice. He said, "Rice
promotion programs have opened new markets for us, and without the rice
checkoff program, existing markets will close and new ones will not be
cultivated."
USA Rice staff helped organize the
meeting. Committee Members encouraged
the Louisiana rice industry to continue their great work and keep them
informed.
Louisiana Lawmakers Hear Importance of the Rice
Industry
By
Carrie Castille
CROWLEY, LA -- Members of the Louisiana Senate
and House of Representatives Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural
Development Committees met yesterday at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research
Station to learn about the Louisiana rice industry. USA Rice members Jackie Loewer, John Owen,
Richard Fontenot, and John Morgan spoke on behalf of the industry and gave
presentations on Louisiana rice production, research, promotion, milling, and economic
impact. Representatives from the LSU
AgCenter, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Rice
Mill, Falcon Rice Mill, Kennedy Rice Dryer, and Louisiana Farm Bureau were also
in attendance.
The goal of the meeting was to educate
lawmakers on the importance of all sectors of the Louisiana rice industry. Many of the committee members have rice in
their districts and were impressed by the outstanding research and promotion
efforts of the Louisiana rice industry, from farm to fork. During introductions, members spoke about
agriculture in their districts and expressed their appreciation of the
Louisiana culinary staple, "rice and gravy."
Louisiana Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman
Francis Thompson (D-Delhi) acknowledged the importance of the Rice Research
Station and expressed his desire to see what committee members can do to assist
the rice industry on the state and federal level. Thompson visited Cuba this year and hopes the
embargo with Cuba will eventually be lifted.
He also said, "we need Washington to be very diligent in dealing
with China and other countries that are possible competitors in global rice
markets."
Richard Fontenot, a rice farmer from Ville
Platte, educated committee members on the different production methods employed
on the more than 400,000 acres of rice in Louisiana. He emphasized that water is the key to
controlling weeds in rice production and discussed how farmers are the state's
best conservationists, but also reminded them, "no water, no rice." Senator Gerald Long (R-Winnfield), former
chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, acknowledged the importance
and increased participation in the Louisiana Master Farmer Program as a tool to
help farmers implement best management practices.
In his presentation, John Morgan, vice president
of Louisiana Rice Mill, emphasized that "rice is the original economic
engine of southwest Louisiana." He
also explained the steps in the milling process and how southwest cities like
Crowley's founding, growth, and decline can be directly correlated with the
health and size of the rice industry.
"Processing rough rice into finished
product locally adds critical value to the economic health of Crowley, Acadia
Parish, Southwest Louisiana, the entire state, and ultimately the U.S.,"
Morgan said. "Because of the value
added aspect of the state's processors, the rice industry's economic impact to
the state's economy is doubled."
John Owen, from Rayville, reported on the
benefit of rice promotion activities and how these efforts expand the markets
for Louisiana rice. He said, "Rice
promotion programs have opened new markets for us, and without the rice
checkoff program, existing markets will close and new ones will not be
cultivated."
USA Rice staff helped organize the
meeting. Committee Members encouraged
the Louisiana rice industry to continue their great work and keep them
informed.
Garamendi Had a Rice Day in California
By Bree
Pettigo
WOODLAND, CA- This week, Congressman John
Garamendi [CA-03] visited the farm of rice grower and constituent, Fritz Durst.
Given the economic and environmental
significance of the rice industry to the Congressman's district, he wanted to
witness harvest in action to better understand the growing cycle of a rice
crop. A strong advocate of the rice industry in Congress, Garamendi values the
importance in discerning how policies he supports impact those back home who
reap the finished product.
Durst gave the Congressman a tour of his
fields, including a ride-along in a working combine. With harvest in full swing
and commodity prices declining, Garamendi made a point to discuss key issues
affecting producers across the state.
During the tour, Durst updated Garamendi on
water issues, specifically increased regulatory actions from federal agencies
and the implications they have on rice plantings. The two also talked about how
the current farm bill programs were working and shared ideas on ways to improve
programs when the bill is reauthorized. Garamendi listened to concerns and
heard about the hardships growers are experiencing with government policies and
also discussed the significance of Section 179 tax deductions to farmers.
Garamendi stated, "Every year, our state's
farmers grow 5 billion pounds of rice and contribute over $5 billion to our
state's economy. Most of that production happens in my district, and that's why
it's so important for me to visit rice fields and see the state of the industry
firsthand. I appreciate the time Mr. Durst took to chat with me about commodity
prices, the Farm Bill, and the difficulties farmers are facing due to drought.
Visits like this are crucial for my work in Congress and help me be as strong
an advocate as I can for the farmers of California's 3rd District."
Durst has another connection to farm policy in
Washington, his son Garrett serves as the Legislative Director for Garamendi
and works closely with the members and staff of the California Rice Commission
and USA Rice
Traders bid
for share to import 750,150 metric tons of rice
by Reuters
October 6, 2016
October 6, 2016
More than a hundred rice traders in
the Philippines have applied for permits to import a total of 750,150 tons of
the staple grain, mainly from Thailand and Vietnam, based on the latest list of
applicants from the state grains procurement agency.The figure is below the
maximum volume of 805,200 tons that private traders are allowed to bring in
under an annual country-specific quota scheme covered by a 2014 agreement with
the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Traders can continue to apply for import permits, but all cargoes
must be shipped in by Feb. 28 next year.
Traders are seeking to import as much as 326,325 tons from
Thailand and 280,375 tons from Vietnam, the world’s second-and third-largest
rice suppliers, respectively, the National Food Authority (NFA) list showed.
The Philippines’ rice import requirements are closely being
monitored by traders, particularly in Thailand and Vietnam, its main suppliers,
where stocks are rising amid thin demand.
Under the NFA’s import guidelines, traders can only ship in up to
293,100 tons each from Thailand and Vietnam, which means some of the
applications for Thai rice will be pared back.
Applicants are also seeking to import up to 143,450 tons or rice
from Pakistan, nearly triple the maximum volume of 50,000 tons allowed by the
NFA.
Traders can also buy up to 50,000 tons each from China, top
supplier India and Pakistan, up to 15,000 tons from Australia, up to 4,000 tons
from El Salvador, and 50,000 tons from any other country. But the NFA’s list
showed no applications yet to import from those countries.
The Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice buyers, has kept
restrictions on the size of imports of the grain in place since 1995, when it
joined the WTO, to protect local farmers.
The 2014 deal with WTO, which expires next year, provides for
minimum market access for rice imports into the Southeast Asian nation by
private traders, which are levied with a 35 percent tariff.
http://www.mb.com.ph/traders-bid-for-share-to-import-750150-metric-tons-of-rice/#1qWD7y29eSsg8qWy.99
PAE students learn from ag researchers
"While some of my colleagues do wear white (or blue) coats
as they study rice chemistry or DNA in clean labs, I and most of my colleagues
are more often found outside surrounded by rice. And water," Pinson said.
"And bugs, and mud and waterfowl. While we do use microscopes and tweezers
for indoor research, our field research equipment includes fun things like
tractors and precision planters, and my picture of plot harvest looks almost
like a party as a crew of people work together to hand cut then thresh rice
bundles right out in the field."
By Dawn Teer / Stuttgart Daily Leader
Recently, Dr. Shannon Pinson,
along with several colleagues from the United States Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Agricultural Research Service Dale Bumpers National Rice Research Center
visited Park Avenue Elementary (PAE) at the request of Kelly Clawitter, the
kindergarten through sixth grade math and science coach for Stuttgart ISD, to
celebrate National Rice Month with the third graders at PAE. Because Pinson
wants to encourage more children to pursue careers in STEM careers, she did a
little experiment with the students before her presentation. She asked them to
draw a picture of a scientist. Then they compared their drawings to pictures of
her and her colleagues working to feed the world as agricultural scientists.
"While some of my colleagues do wear white (or blue) coats
as they study rice chemistry or DNA in clean labs, I and most of my colleagues
are more often found outside surrounded by rice. And water,” Pinson said. “And
bugs, and mud and waterfowl. While we do use microscopes and tweezers for
indoor research, our field research equipment includes fun things like tractors
and precision planters, and my picture of plot harvest looks almost like a
party as a crew of people work together to hand cut then thresh rice bundles
right out in the field."
Many of the PAE third graders admitted that, like her, they love word and math
puzzles. As a scientist Pinson gets paid to solve puzzles and discover
solutions to real-life problems. When her research discovers a new fact that no
one else knows, she gets as excited as if she was the first person to walk on
the moon. Agricultural scientists discover ways that farmers can make more
food, nutrition and fiber for a healthier world population, yet they also look
for ways where this can be accomplished in a manner that uses less of our
limited resources — less water, land, and fuel per unit of crop harvest — so
that the environment is protected as well. Agricultural scientists make the
world a better place, according to Pinson.
"At the end of my presentation on the importance of
agriculture to our daily lives, and the excitement and fulfillment of being an
ag scientist, I encouraged the students to either take their pictures home to
share with their families or to give them to me to share with my co-workers. I
spoke to approximately 120 students that day and was presented with 82 pictures
of hand drawn scientists, which I sorted through later, gaining much enjoyment
and a little insight,” Pinson said.
Pinson also had this to say about
the drawings: "The bad news: one third of these third grade students drew
mad scientists, depicted with exploding chemistry, using ‘bone juice,’ or
turning animals into monsters. Unfortunately, these misconceptions are often
presented to our children in cartoon form as evil scientists for the
hero/heroine to combat, such as Dr. Doofenshmirtz in ‘Phineas and Ferb,’ or
‘Dexter,’ the child genius who often creates a scientific mess he must then
save himself from. While this makes for entertainment, it also feeds
misperceptions into our children’s minds. Who wants to grow up and become a
scientist if you think of them as toxic, or evil mad men? The good news is that
the majority of the pictures (about two-thirds) depicted friendly, smiling,
white-coated scientists surrounded by colorful, but contained chemicals. While
the drawn-on safety goggles sometimes caused their scientists look like mutant
ninja turtles, the scientists in most of the drawing were not evil or causing
chaos or explosions."
Half of these students drew their pictures before hearing from
any scientists that day, but the other half came to her after interacting with
her colleagues, Dr. Ming Chen and technicians Matthew Schuckmann, Heather Box
and Allison Bednar, who had the students taste three samples of rice with
different starch qualities that gave them different eating textures and
qualities. Then they wowed the students with a chemical test that turned
different colors before their eyes depending on the different rice starch
qualities they had just experienced with their tongues. Three students were so
excited by the rice taste testing experience that they drew samples of rice
around the scientist they drew for Pinson.
Unfortunately, the student's drawings weren't separate by class,
so Pinson was unable to know if the students were more or less likely to draw a
mad scientist before or after interacting with the scientists.
“We will not be able to solve the scientist shortage in the U.S.
if half our potential labor pool shuns being a scientist. Yet by high school,
far fewer girls than boys express an interest in science and engineering
careers,” Pinson said.
Pinson was pleased to note that gender bias was not evident in
the pictures drawn by the PAE third graders. While few high school girls dream
of a career involving science or math, among these third graders, the girls
often drew female scientists, suggesting that gender bias was not yet limiting
their career choices. Even though the evil or crazy scientists in cartoons are
generally male, several of the girls drew their female scientists with
exploding chemicals,or surrounded by evil looking flasks of “poshun.” One
little girl excitedly told Pinson that she was going to draw herself as a
scientist.
"I saw her labeled as ‘Linda’ in her picture when she presented it to me
and I was especially pleased to note that her picture landed in the ‘good
scientist’ stack, not the ‘mad scientist’ stack when I sorted them,” Pinson
said.
Because girls often lack interest in machines and mechanical
engineering, Pinson counted the pictures that had robots or machines in them —
four, with one picture having both a robot and a newly invented jet in it.
While four is too small of a sample number to draw scientific conclusions from,
only one of the four pictures containing robots was drawn by a girl.
"I received two pictures that depicted multiple scientists
interacting around a lab bench, both of which were drawn by girls. Females also
show a tendency to select social activities and careers, those with human
interaction. This led me to wonder if misperceptions about scientists being
geeky loners as opposed to interactive team inventors is driving young girls
out of science careers, or concentrating the scientifically minded girls in
medical science where human interaction is expected. I and my colleagues left
the school drained of energy, but full of awe and respect for our teachers who
deal with these dear, inquisitive, energetic children each day. Hopefully we
left behind a future scientist, or two or 20, among the group,” Pinson said in
conclusion
http://www.stuttgartdailyleader.com/news/20161007/pae-students-learn-from-ag-researchers
Chinese
president’s visit to boost Cambodia farm exports
7 Oct 2016 at 17:04 3,274
WRITER: KHMER TIMES
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrives before
a plenary session at the National Assembly of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Friday.
(Reuters photo)
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cambodia
next week will likely lead to an increase in agriculture exports to China,
Prime Minister Hun Sen said.Speaking at a graduation ceremony for law and
economics students in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Hun Sen said that 28 bilateral
cooperation agreements are due to be signed by Xi during his two-day state
visit, the first for a standing Chinese leader, the Khmer Times reported on
Friday.
“[The agreements] are an endeavour to open
markets in China, which is a huge market for Cambodia’s agriculture sector,”
Hun Sen told the students.
“Besides milled rice and cassava and other
agricultural products, which are existing exports to China, we are trying to
boost exports of other agricultural products, including bananas.”He did not go
into detail about what these agreements were.Xi’s second visit to Cambodia --
he first visited the Kingdom in 2009 as a vice-president -- comes at a time of
huge pressure on Cambodia’s rice sector.
The government recently requested a $300
million loan to address issues in the industry, which include falling prices,
cash-flow challenges and a lack of suitable storage facilities.During Hun Sen’s
visit to Quangxi province’s Nanning City last month, he announced that the
Chinese government had agreed to double its imports of milled rice from
Cambodia, to 200,000 tonnes per year.Hun Lak, the vice-president of the
Cambodia Rice Federation, expressed his hopes for Chinese assistance in the
country’s rice sector following President Xi’s visit.
“I think that Chinese President Xi Jinping will
announce [the loan],” Lak said.“The special loan of about $300 million will
ensure that rice millers will have a regular supply of paddy rice from farmers.
“Farmers, in turn, will be able to sell their
paddy rice at government-approved prices. The $300 million loan is also related
to China importing 200,000 tonnes of milled rice annually from Cambodia.”Last
week, during a meeting with newly-appointed Chinese ambassador to Cambodia,
Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong asked the Chinese side to accelerate purchases
of milled rice from Cambodia, as the two countries agreed on the 200,000-tonne
rice quota.
Hor
Namhong also said that the $300 million loan that Cambodia requested from China
will be used to install paddy rice dryers and warehouses to upgrade the rice
sector.Mey Kalyan, a senior advisor to Cambodia’s Supreme Economic Council,
told the Khmer Times that Xi’s visit will further strengthen the already close
relationship between both countries.“It is good for Cambodia to have a visit
from the giant country’s president, and we hope that if the requested $300
million loan is not disbursed now, it will be in the near future.”However,
Kalyan said he was worried about Cambodia’s ability to increase export quotas
to meet Chinese demands.
“China
is one of Cambodia’s big markets. If we have [potential] markets, we must have
products available to sell to them.“If we don’t have the products to sell, and
our prices are high, they will not buy from us,” he warned.The World Bank’s
International Finance Corporation (IFC), in a recent report, said Cambodian
rice millers should also work hard to develop quality and lower costs.“Mills
should have farmers under contract to provide consistent rice quality and aim
for near 100% capacity utilisation at the mill. It is clear that ensuring high
quality and a reliable supply form the basis for increased trade,” said the IFC
report.“As Cambodia is essentially a price-taker in the global marketplace, it
will also be important to ensure processing costs are minimised and exporters
are able to provide quality business services to their customers,” it added.According
to government figures, Cambodia exported about 64,000 tonnes of milled rice to
China in the first nine months of the year as part of its existing
100,000-tonne annual export quota. This is a small decline of 2.1% over the
same period last year.
