Empowering
the agriculture sector
Shah
Faisal Afridi - Pakistan has a rich and vast natural agriculture resource base,
covering various ecological and climatic zones. Pakistan is an agro based
economy that has direct and indirect role in generating economic growth. The
country has great potential for producing all types of food commodities. The
importance of agriculture to the economy is seen in three ways: first, it
provides food to consumers and fibres for domestic industry; second, it is a
source of scarce foreign exchange earnings; and third, it provides a market for
industrial goods.
During
the last 50 years this sector is realised as a major productive sector of
Pakistani economy. At present, Agricultural sector contributes 20.9pc to GDP,
employs 45pc of total labour force with export contribution mainly Food group
8.62pc. Pakistan depends on one of the world's largest irrigation systems to
support its agriculture production. Punjab is one of the main provinces
contributing to these exports. Pakistan is one of the world's largest producers
of raw cotton. The main agricultural products are cotton, wheat, rice,
sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables, in addition to milk, beef, mutton, and eggs.
In
Pakistan, out of the total land area of 80 million hectares, barely 21 million
hectares is cultivable in which merely 2-3pc of that land is used for
agriculture and cultivation, whereas the rest stands wasted. The cultivable
waste lands offer good possibilities of crop production amounting to 8.9
million hectares. The development in this sector will have a major effect on
rural development. It can help to reduce poverty, supply of food will also
increase, there will be availability of more opportunities for surplus labour,
extension of market size (import and export), and it will be opening new vistas
for foreign investment government revenue will be generated. This all will lead
to the improvement in living standards of individuals.
Despite
huge potential and sufficient resources, agriculture sector of Pakistan is
still lacking and there are many reasons for it. The main problems include;
lack of modern facilities, conventional cultivation methods, untrained farmers,
low quality fertilisers, need of crop rotation, water logging and salinity,
erosion and importantly massive industrialisation near agricultural lands. The
quality of yields is improving slowly due to the problems related to climate
and soil. The food production is still largely a backward sector where skills,
research and technology are completely missing.
The
factors that are generating further complications in agriculture development
are lack of proper agricultural training and knowledge amongst local farmers
that has rendered crop rotation in Pakistan. Every year 40,000 hectares of
flooded area is lost to water logging and saltiness. On top of that, lack of
suitable and imported manure in Pakistan and excessive use of substandard local
manure makes soil prone to erosion. Lastly, excessive industrialisation in
Punjab, especially an urban metropolis like Lahore is a pervading menace. This
has not only given rise to uncontrollable pollution, but also illegal dumping
of toxic wastes in agricultural land is heavily deteriorating soil.
These
glitches can be dealt if we take an integrated approach to managing soil and
crops that could resultantly help meet the demand of rapidly rising population
while reducing greenhouse gases that drive climate change. Farm mechanisation
is the foremost need to resolve the problems of agriculture sector. Sowing,
cultivation and harvesting of crops through agricultural machines increase the
productive quality and quantity. Agricultural research is compulsory to remove
the backwardness of agriculture sector. Major agricultural colleges and
universities are only about 16 in Pakistan. Government should increase the research
work in the field of agriculture. Government should give tax concession on
imports of agricultural technologies to enhance the process of farm
mechanisation.
There is
a need to promote cooperative farming for the growth of agriculture and
economic progress besides evolving a comprehensive policy for bright future of
agriculture. Cooperative farming could increase agriculture productivity and
national income while practical steps were required to promote research in
agriculture sector. There is a need of comprehensive policy for the agriculture
sector, besides giving price support and subsidies.
The
importance of agriculture sector in Pakistan’s economy is crucial but there is
a need to correct its direction. Medium and long-term policies for agriculture are
needed with special incentives to agriculture scientists. Marketing of
agriculture produce is also the need of the hour which was ignored previously.
Agriculture policy should be made in accordance with the ground realities to
achieve better results. The world has become global shelf and needs to work in
those lines to promote local agriculture produce globally.
For more
improvisation, Chinese assistance could be attained. Advanced Nutrient
Management System should be introduced as it is used in China. China has
achieved a remarkable success in increasing its crop yield with different
techniques modelled as “Eco-Farming”. China with only 10 percent of arable
land, producing food for 20 percent of the world’s population and is first in
worldwide farm output. Ecological Farming is the ultimate solution to all
agriculture and health problems. It ensures healthy farming and healthy food
for today and tomorrow, by protecting soil, water and climate, and does not
contaminate the environment with chemical inputs.
A recent
analysis showed that globally, ecological farming can produce, on average,
about 30 percent more food per hectare than conventional agriculture.
Pakistan’s per hectare rice yield is 3.1 ton whereas China is the largest
producer of rice with per hectare yield of 6.5 ton, similarly Pakistan produces
pulses per year with per hectare yield of 0.6 ton and China produces 1.2 ton
per hectare which is twice that of Pakistan. Pakistan’s sugarcane production is
52.4 ton per hectare whereas China obtains a yield of 65.7 ton per hectare.
The
balance of trade in agricultural products was in favour of Pakistan as in 2015
China imported agri-products, of which rice constituted 85pc, worth $430
million from Pakistan and exported fruits and vegetables valuing $320 million.
Pakistan, the second largest exporter of rice to China, has every opportunity
to grab a sizable share in the halal food market as well as meet the demand for
fruits, primarily mangoes, through better competitiveness in terms of quality
and price.
Apart
from the million ton production and growing export there is still room of
development in Pakistan’s agriculture. China is the best friend of Pakistan and
it can help Pakistan to grow to its full potential by not only working for
economic development but also sharing wisdom of its agricultural revolution and
organic farming technology. Satellite technology for monitoring crops can be
installed, Up-gradation and Establishment of Animal Quarantine Stations,
improved trade and competitiveness systems can be established with mutual
ventures, and even Pak-China Cooperation for Agriculture Research and
Development and can be made to improve the standards and quality of the yield
production.
Use of
modern techniques, provision of credit facilities, basic infrastructure and
agriculture research facilities are needed to remove all the problems of
agriculture sector. This is so heartbreaking that Pakistan is far behind to
achieve agriculture produce targets despite the fact that nature had bestowed
it with all resources. There is a need to adopt 21st century standards for the
development of agriculture sector. Pakistan’s agriculture sector is not
actually facing production issues but lacking behind in agriculture management
policy.
The
writer is a founder president of Pak China Joint Chamber of Commerce and CEO of
Haier Ruba Pakistan.
Shah
Faisal Afridi
http://nation.com.pk/business/19-Jun-2017/empowering-the-agriculture-sector
USA Rice Millers' Association Announces New Chairman, Vice
Chairman
CARLSBAD, CA - Last week at its annual convention, the
USA Rice Millers' Association (RMA) announced the election of Alex Balafoutis,
Vice President of Sales for the Rice Business Unit at PGP International in
Woodland, California, and Keith Gray, Vice President of Supply Chain at Riviana
Foods, as chairman and vice chairman, respectively. Each will serve a
two-year term that begins August
1, 2017.
Chairman-elect Balafoutis presented outgoing RMA
Chairman Robbie Trahan with a plaque to commemorate his tenure and thanked
Trahan for his outstanding service and dedication to the organization. In
accepting the plaque, Trahan said, "The RMA has faced numerous challenges
over the past two years and what I have found most impressive about this
organization is our ability to work together when we're grappling with an
issue. We have long-standing traditions and relationships, and you can
really see that come into play when we're trying to find a way forward to a
solution."
We are importing poison, not rice –
Presidential committee Author: Nnenna Ibeh UPDATED: A DAY AGO VIEWS: 18218
SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL SHARE ON FACEBOOK SEND VIA EMAIL - The
presidential committee on rice and wheat production has on Sunday, June 18,
said Nigeria has been importing poison in place of rice - Bagudu said imported
rice is no longer good for human consumption - He said the importers of rice in
Nigeria specialize in importing cheap and auctioned rice into the country The
presidential committee on rice and wheat production has on Sunday, June 18,
said Nigeria has been importing poison in place of rice.
The presidential committee on rice and wheat
production has on Sunday, June 18, said Nigeria has been importing poison in
place of rice He further decried Nigerians' patronage for imported 'foreign'
rice more than localled produced ones. He said: "Countries, particularly
Thailand, India, China and Vietnam, buy a lot of paddy from their farmers and
keep in storage sometimes, as long as nine years so that by so doing, they are
supporting their farmers.
" “A country like Thailand, for example,
may have eight million tonnes of rice in storage; so occasionally, they will
auction the ones that are almost going bad that is, the one that is not fit for
human consumption," Bagudu said. “They sell the paddy as low as 20 per
cent less than the international market price. “Those that import rice into
Nigeria will go and buy the paddy and clean them up," he said.
The
governor also said that Thailand had in April 2017, auctioned 1.62 million
tonnes of rice at about $140 per tonne while the market price of it was $700
per tonne. NAIJ.com earlier reported that thousands of rice farmers in Kebbi
state had staged a protest against rice importation in Nigeria. The farmer with
their placards said the importers of rice in Nigeria were destroying their
business of rice production. Read https://www.naij.com/1110591-we-importing-poison-rice-presidential-committee.html
Monday, 2017-06-19 04:19:27
NDO - After months of significant reductions, Vietnam’s rice
exports have finally returned to growth thanks to positive market news.According
to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam shipped 2.3
tonnes of rice in the first five months of 2017, bringing in US$1 billion, up
1.6% in volume and 1.2% in value. Thanks to such positive figures, the rice
sector has escaped a long period of shrinking exports and re-joined the club of
commodities with respective export values reaching over US$1 billion.
China is currently the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice, importing
815,000 tonnes worth US$376 million, up 16% over the same period of 2016.
Shipments to China, which has a preference for glutinous and jasmine rice from
Vietnam, account for 47.5% of Vietnam’s total rice exports. Although rice
exports are still experiencing some difficulties, shipments to China remain
strong, especially through official channels.
Vietnam has also received good news from Bangladesh after a
memorandum between the two countries was renewed until 2022, under which
Vietnam will provide Bangladesh with one million tonnes of rice of different
strains depending on the South Asian country’s demand and market prices.
Immediately after this agreement was signed, Bangladesh placed an
order for 250,000-300,000 tonnes of Vietnam’s 5% broken white rice this year.
The Bangladesh side has also invited a Vietnamese representative to visit
Bangladesh as soon as possible to discuss the price, quantity and delivery
method for the order.
In addition, the National Food Authority of the Philippines
recently announced that it would hold a bidding session in June to purchase
250,000 tonnes of rice to increase its national reserve ahead of typhoon
season. Enterprises from Thailand, Vietnam, India and Pakistan can all offer
their bids. In addition, the Philippines will have to import at least 1.5
million tonnes of rice from now until the first quarter of 2018 to meet
domestic demand, which is a good opportunity for Vietnamese rice exporters.
There are also some bright signs from the supply side as Thailand
has unloaded most of its stockpile, a significant factor which will help the
global rice trade to return to normal without a strong pressure on prices as of
late.
Thanks to such positive news, Vietnam’s rice export prices have
been on the rise. According to the Vietnam Food Association, the price for a
tonne of 5% broken rice has increased from US$360-380 at the end of May to
US$390, the highest level since December 2014. Domestic prices have also risen
by VND250-550 per kilogram.
However, it is predicted that Vietnam’s rice sector will continue
experiencing numerous difficulties. For example, China is tightening
cross-border rice trade and increasing imports through official channels. The
Philippines has also changed to a new rice import mechanism in which rice will
be bought by private enterprises instead of through government bidding.
Although this may make Vietnamese enterprises more proactive in approaching
foreign customers but if the quality is not improved and Vietnamese brands
remain unknown, Vietnamese exporters will find it hard to compete with other
suppliers from regional countries.
Therefore, it is necessary to fine-tune existing policies to
facilitate rice exports, in addition to the immediate task of finding new
orders. Recently the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) finished compiling a
new decree on rice trading with many amendments such as loosened requirements
on warehouses and supportive measures to develop high-quality rice growing
areas. The new decree, expected to create the most favourable conditions for
rice exporters, has been publicised for feedback and will soon be promulgated.
Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the MOIT’s Export-Import
Department, said the majority of feedback from rice exporters and local
governments in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl, has been positive due to
the MOIT’s more relaxed conditions for rice exports.http://en.nhandan.org.vn/business/item/5285002-vietnam-s-rice-exports-return-to-growth.html
NFA Quirino
supports rice importation program
June 19, 2017
Thelma C. Bicarme
CABARROGUIS, Quirino, June 7 (PIA)— The National Food Authority here has expressed
full support to the immediate importation of rice for fear of rice shortage in the province come lean
months.Provincial Manager Corazon Pangan said she is happy that the NFA council
has already decided to import rice through the private sector to augment the
country’s buffer stock of its staple food in the coming lean season.The
provincial manager said NFA Quirino did not meet its procurement target of
palay during the harvest season due to the high buying price offered by the
private traders.
Pangan said although the
farmers benefited from the high buying prices of the private traders, she
feared that the NFA might not be able to maintain stability of commercial
prices at levels within the reach of poor families.“Our stocks will only last
until July and if there’s no rice importation, we might not be able to
stabilize prices in the market because private traders inventory or rice supply
is high so they could easily command prices,” Pangan said.
Pangan said they targeted to
buy 10,000 bags of palay but only 130 bags were procured despite their efforts
to encourage farmers to sell their produce to NFA.NFA buying price remains at P
17.00/kg for clean and dry with an
additional incentive of P0.20-0.50/kg for delivery, P0.20/kg for drying and
P0.30 for cooperative development incentive fund (CDIF) for farmers’
organizations. (MDCT/TCB/PIA 2-Quirino)
http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/451497587950/nfa-quirino-supports-rice-importation-program#sthash.rdmIPPKJ.
Vietnam's rice
exports return to growth
Monday, 2017-06-19 04:19:27
China is currently the largest buyer
of Vietnamese rice, importing 815,000 tonnes worth US$376 million, up 16% over
the same period of 2016. Shipments to China, which has a preference for
glutinous and jasmine rice from Vietnam, account for 47.5% of Vietnam’s total
rice exports. Although rice exports are still experiencing some difficulties,
shipments to China remain strong, especially through official channels.
Vietnam has also received good news
from Bangladesh after a memorandum between the two countries was renewed until
2022, under which Vietnam will provide Bangladesh with one million tonnes of
rice of different strains depending on the South Asian country’s demand and
market prices.
Immediately after this agreement was
signed, Bangladesh placed an order for 250,000-300,000 tonnes of Vietnam’s 5%
broken white rice this year. The Bangladesh side has also invited a Vietnamese
representative to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible to discuss the price,
quantity and delivery method for the order.
In addition, the National Food
Authority of the Philippines recently announced that it would hold a bidding
session in June to purchase 250,000 tonnes of rice to increase its national
reserve ahead of typhoon season. Enterprises from Thailand, Vietnam, India and
Pakistan can all offer their bids. In addition, the Philippines will have to
import at least 1.5 million tonnes of rice from now until the first quarter of
2018 to meet domestic demand, which is a good opportunity for Vietnamese rice
exporters.
There are also some bright signs
from the supply side as Thailand has unloaded most of its stockpile, a
significant factor which will help the global rice trade to return to normal
without a strong pressure on prices as of late.
Thanks to such positive news,
Vietnam’s rice export prices have been on the rise. According to the Vietnam
Food Association, the price for a tonne of 5% broken rice has increased from
US$360-380 at the end of May to US$390, the highest level since December 2014.
Domestic prices have also risen by VND250-550 per kilogram.
However, it is predicted that
Vietnam’s rice sector will continue experiencing numerous difficulties. For
example, China is tightening cross-border rice trade and increasing imports
through official channels. The Philippines has also changed to a new rice
import mechanism in which rice will be bought by private enterprises instead of
through government bidding. Although this may make Vietnamese enterprises more
proactive in approaching foreign customers but if the quality is not improved
and Vietnamese brands remain unknown, Vietnamese exporters will find it hard to
compete with other suppliers from regional countries.
Therefore, it is necessary to
fine-tune existing policies to facilitate rice exports, in addition to the
immediate task of finding new orders. Recently the Ministry of Industry and
Trade (MOIT) finished compiling a new decree on rice trading with many amendments
such as loosened requirements on warehouses and supportive measures to develop
high-quality rice growing areas. The new decree, expected to create the most
favourable conditions for rice exporters, has been publicised for feedback and
will soon be promulgated.
Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of
the MOIT’s Export-Import Department, said the majority of feedback from rice
exporters and local governments in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam’s rice bowl, has
been positive due to the MOIT’s more relaxed conditions for rice exports
http://en.nhandan.com.vn/business/item/5285002-vietnam-s-rice-exports-return-to-growth.html
Lagos govt
resumes sale of LAKE Rice ahead of Eid-el-fitr
The Lagos State Government said
it would resume the sales of LAKE Rice at approved retail outlets across the
state from Monday, June 19, ahead of the Eid-el-fitr.The state’s Commissioner
for Agriculture, Oluwatoyin Suarau, said this on Sunday while reviewing the
modalities for the distribution of the rice across the state.
Mr. Suarau said that the sales would be part of the state
government’s commitment to ensure food security and help residents sail through
the current economic recession.According to him, the rice which has been
subsidised to ensure affordability is fresh and safe for consumption.“The
selling of the rice is auspicious, especially, with regards to the forthcoming
Eid-el-fitr.
“The ministry will ensure a fair distribution of the rice across
the state and ensure that the product is available during the festive period.“’The
prices of the product have not changed: a 50kg bag will sell for N12,000 while
each bag of the 25kg and 10kg are going to be sold for N6,000 and N2,500
respectively,’’ he said.
The commissioner listed the approved sales’ outlets to include:
Lagos State Agric Input Supply Authority Centres at Ojo, Ajah, Odogunyan in
Ikorodu, and Epe.
Other will include the secretariats of all the 57 local government and local
council development areas in the state.He said they would also be available at
the Agricultural Development Area Complex at Oko-Oba, Agege; LTV8 Complex in
Agidingbi; the State Universal Basic Education Board complex at Maryland; the
Government Technical College premises at Idimu-Alimosho and the Eko Farmers
Mart, in Surulere.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/234435-lagos-govt-resumes-sale-lake-rice-ahead-eid-el-fitr.html
Iran Produces 61% of Central, West Asian Rice
Monday, June 19, 2017
With around 54% of Central and West Asia's paddy fields located
in Iran, the country accounts for 61% of the regions' combined rice production,
the Central and West Asia Rice Center said.
According to CWARice, in order to
meet growing demand, achieve food security and reduce poverty in Central and
West Asia, a 25% increase in rice production is needed by 2035, IRNA reported.
CWARice was officially
established in 2010 at the Rice Research Institute of Iran in the city of Rasht
in Iran's northern Gilan Province. Its member states include Iran, Turkey,
Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
and Uzbekistan.
The mission of CWARice is to
conduct advanced rice research with an emphasis on new production technologies
that will be required to adapt rice production systems in the region to
climate change, the center's official website said.
The International Rice Research
Institute has estimated that rice consumption in Central and West Asia will
rise from the current 9 million tons to around 16.5 million tons in 2035.
The International Rice Research
Institute is the world’s premier research organization dedicated to reducing
poverty and hunger through rice science; improving the health and welfare of
rice farmers and consumers; and protecting the rice-growing environment for
future generations.
IRRI is an independent,
nonprofit, research and educational institute, founded in 1960. Headquartered
in Los Banos, the Philippines, IRRI has offices in 17 rice-growing countries in
Asia and Africa.
Iranians consume 3.2 million tons
of rice a year, of which more than 2.2 million tons are supplied by domestic
farmers.
The Agriculture Ministry expects
domestic rice production to increase by 10-15% in the current Iranian year
(started March 21), because of favorable weather condition and timely
distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery and equipment among
local farmers.
The government periodically
places a ban on imports during the harvest season to support local farmers.
Import tariffs have increased from 22% four years ago to 40% at present for the
same reason.
The two northern provinces of
Gilan and Mazandaran are home to the majority of Iran’s paddy fields.
Director General of Grains and
Staple Foods Office with the Ministry of Agriculture Kaveh Khaksar said about
81% and 70% of rice harvest in the two provinces respectively were mechanized
in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2017), Mehr News Agency reported.
“The figures are estimated to
increase to 86% for Mazandaran and 80% for Gilan in the current year.
Mechanization expansion is done with the aim of increasing productivity and
achieving self-sufficiency. A 100% automation of rice harvest is projected by
the end of the sixth five-year development plan (2017-22),” he said.
Khaksar added that out of the
185,000 hectares of paddy fields in Mazandaran, 38,000 hectares went under
mechanized rice planting. In Gilan, mechanized rice planting was carried out
over 95,000 hectares from the total of 238,000 hectares of paddy fields.
According to Kambiz Abbasi, an
official with the Ministry of Agriculture, the government of President Hassan
Rouhani invested 6 trillion rials (about $156 million) on mechanization of rice
production, which investment is “unprecedented”.
He added that mechanization would
cut rice harvesting costs by up to 70%.
Abbasi also noted that in view of
water shortage in Iran, the administration is not willing to expand paddy
fields in provinces other than the northern Mazandaran and Gilan
https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/66736/iran-produces-61-of-central-west-asian-rice
Bangladesh Bank relaxes rice
import rules to ensure supply after crop losses
Published: 2017-06-19 20:17:46.0 BdST Updated: 2017-06-19 21:05:43.0 BdST
Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to allow private
traders to import rice without any deposit against letters of credit or LC
margin.The decision is
meant to ensure rice supply to local markets in the aftermath of crop losses in
recent flash-floods, the central bank said in a notice on Monday.The new rules
will remain in force until Dec 31, which will allow the traders to import rice
first and make the payments afterwards. The LC margin varies from bank to bank
depending on relations between bankers and customers.
In a letter to the chief
executives of all banks, Bangladesh Bank said the loss of crops caused by
recent floods and heavy rains in parts of the country have created some
instability in the market.Rice imports by private traders slumped 58 percent
year-on-year to 103,200 tonnes between July 1 and May 25 of the outgoing fiscal
year.In December 2015, the government increased customs duty on rice imports
from 10 percent to 25 percent to discourage imports. But the total duty amounts
to 28 percent when 3 percent regulatory duty is added.
As a result, private traders have been avoiding rice imports for
the past one and a half years.However, Bangladesh's stock of rice has also
shrunk as 750,000 tonnes of rice were distributed following the loss of harvest
in haor areas and as part of a project aiming to provide rice to the poor at Tk
10.The government had some 193,190 tonnes of rice in stock until June 12,
compared to 593,020 tonnes at the same time last year.These have led the prices
of rice to spiral out of control as wholesalers and millers continued the blame
game.The government initially planned to import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep
the market stable.It has floated three tenders to buy 150,000 tonnes of rice
and plans to import 250,000 tonnes of the grain from Vietnam under
government-to-government deals.
The government hopes rice prices will ease once imports arrive
in the market.Government data, often lower than market prices, shows a 47
percent rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20
percent rise in a year.The fine variety is currently on sale at no less than Tk
60 per kg. Last three months were the worst period when people saw a steep rise
in prices of rice of almost all varieties.According to figures by the food
ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have yielded around
600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at 2.2 million
tonnes.
http://bdnews24.com/business/2017/06/19/bangladesh-bank-relaxes-rice-import-rules-to-ensure-supply-after-crop-losses
Kenya receives
relief food from China
SUNDAY JUNE 18 2017
Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri
(left) helps offload a bag of relief food from a lorry in Garbatulla, Isiolo
South on May 25, 2017. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL | NATON MEDIA GROUP
·
Mr
Kiunjuri also warned businessmen against selling subsidised two-kilogramme
packet of maize flour beyond the stipulated price of Sh90 and a one-kilogram
packet at Sh47.
·
He
also took a swipe at National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential flagbearer
Raila Odinga claiming the ODM leader was inciting Kenyans.
The government has received
55,000 tonnes of relief food from China, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Mwangi
Kiunjuri has said.The CS said the rice which
is at the port of Mombasa will be distributed to counties facing acute food
shortage.“We have done clearance and exemptions have been provided. From next
week, we will plan on how to supply the foodstuff to Kenyans who are facing
food shortage due to famine,” he said.
Mr Kiunjuri also warned
businessmen against selling subsidised two-kilogramme packet of maize flour
beyond the stipulated price of Sh90 and a one-kilogram packet at Sh47.
“We also want to ensure posho
mills are getting enough maize supply to grind maize to ensure there is
sufficient flour,” said the CS.
POLITICS
Related Content
He also took a swipe at National
Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga claiming the ODM
leader was inciting Kenyans.
Mr Kiunjuri said Mr Odinga’s
agenda was to castigate the government.
“You are desperate because you
didn’t have time to go and look for votes. Let those who are prepared go and
vote in August,” Mr Kiunjuri told Mr Odinga.
He added: “We will not postpone
the election. I am in Mombasa to look at the status of drought situation and
the ongoing Jubilee projects.”
Mr Kiunjuri was speaking in a
hall in Bamburi where he also called for the arrest of Mr Odinga saying it is
time “his utterances are tamed.
Weak conditions prevail at the wholesale grains
market
PTI | Jun 17, 2017, 02.27 PM IST
Traders said reduced offtake by flour mills against adequate
stocks position mainly led to decline in wheat prices.
They said muted demand from consuming industries helped other
bold prices to trade lower.
In the national capital, wheat dara (for mills) declined by Rs
15 to Rs 1,745-1,750 per quintal. Atta chakki delivery followed suit and enquired lower by a similar
margin to Rs 1,750-1,755 per 90 kg.
Other bold grains like, bajra and barley also moved down by Rs
20 each to Rs 1,280-1,290 and Rs 1,560-1,580 per quintal respectively.
Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal):
Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,100-2,345, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs
1,745-1,750, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,750-1,755, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 255-290, Roller flour mill Rs 950-960 (50 kg), Maida Rs 960-970 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,050 (50 kg).
Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs
9,800, Basmati common new Rs 6,600-6,800, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 5,500-5,800, Permal raw Rs
2,225-2,250, Permal wand Rs 2,275-2,300, Sela Rs 2,500-2,600 and Rice IR-8 Rs
1,850-1,900, Bajra Rs 1,280-1,290, Jowar yellow Rs 1,500-1,550, white Rs
3,000-3,200, Maize Rs 1,320-1,330, Barley Rs 1,560-1,580. SUN KPS ADI MKJ
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/weak-conditions-prevail-at-the-wholesale-grains-market/articleshow/59191588.cms
Rice can be imported without
deposit
The BB circular said, the recent
floods in haor areas, excessive rainfall and natural disaster have created
instability in the rice market.The central bank has relaxed the conditions for
LC margin to encourage import of rice in the private sector.http://www.thedailystar.net/business/rice-can-be-imported-without-deposit-1422460
Bangladesh Bank
eases rice import rules to ensure supply
BB eases rice import rules
Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks
to allow private traders to import rice without any deposit against letters of
credit or LC margin.The decision is meant to ensure rice supply to local
markets in the aftermath of crop losses in recent flash-floods, the central
bank said in a notice on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.The new rules will remain
in force until Dec 31, which will allow the traders to import rice first and
make the payments afterwards. The LC margin varies from bank to bank depending
on relations between bankers and customers.
In a letter to the chief executives
of all banks, Bangladesh Bank said the loss of crops caused by recent floods
and heavy rains in parts of the country have created some instability in the
market.Rice imports by private traders slumped 58 per cent year-on-year to
103,200 tonnes between July 1 and May 25 of the outgoing fiscal year.
In December 2015, the government
increased customs duty on rice imports from 10 per cent to 25 per cent to
discourage imports. But the total duty amounts to 28 per cent when 3.0 per cent
regulatory duty is added.As a result, private traders have been avoiding rice
imports for the past one and a half years.
However, Bangladesh's stock of rice
has also shrunk as 750,000 tonnes of rice were distributed following the loss
of harvest in haor areas and as part of a project aiming to provide rice to the
poor at Tk 10.
The government had some 193,190
tonnes of rice in stock until June 12, compared to 593,020 tonnes at the same
time last year.These have led the prices of rice to spiral out of control as
wholesalers and millers continued the blame game.The government initially
planned to import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep the market stable.
It has floated three tenders to buy
150,000 tonnes of rice and plans to import 250,000 tonnes of the grain from
Vietnam under government-to-government deals.The government hopes rice prices
will ease once imports arrive in the market.Government data, often lower than
market prices, shows a 47 per cent rise in the price of coarse rice while a
fine variety saw around 20 per cent rise in a year.
The fine variety is currently on
sale at no less than Tk 60 per kg. Last three months were the worst period when
people saw a steep rise in prices of rice of almost all varieties.According to
figures by the food ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have
yielded around 600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at
2.2 million tonnes
http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2017/06/20/74388/BB-eases-rice-import-rules
BB moves to stabilise rice market
Bangladesh Bank yesterday took two major steps to stabilise rice
prices and increase its supply in the local market.The move comes at a time
when price millers are not selling rice to the government as the price of the
staple is higher in the local markets.Yesterday, the central bank issued a
circular to all commercial banks directing them to realise the loans given to
rice traders and mill owners within 30 days.
The BB officials said the directive
has been issued so that the rice millers cannot hoard rice.In another
directive, the central bank told the banks that the importers will be allowed
to import rice without making any advance payment.In the circular, the BB
advised the banks to open LC with zero margin in importing rice to ensure
adequate supply in the local market. The rice importers will enjoy the facility
till December 31 this year.The circular said, in recent times, floods in haor
areas, excessive rainfall and natural disasters have created instability in the
rice market.The central bank has relaxed the conditions for LC margin to
encourage import of rice in the private sector.
http://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/bb-moves-stabilise-rice-market-1422751
Vietnam’s
rice granary endangered by water shortage
VietNamNet Bridge - The weaker
water flow towards the downstream Mekong River has caused drought in The
Mekong Delta, affecting the livelihood of millions of people in the area.
The rains in June 2017 helped cool
down the land in the Delta. The Central Hydrometeorological Forecast Center
said the floods this year may be a little higher than previous years.
This is a great opportunity for
locals to store water in the context of big changes in the Mekong water flow
due to water exploitation in the upper course by hydropower plants and water
diversion projects.
Both farmers and scientists are
concerned about the development of Mekong Delta, the rice granary of the
country, amid attempts to change the current of the river.According to Nguyen
Nhan Quang, a river basin management expert, Thailand has had 990 more projects
in the northeast on using Mekong’s water to serve irrigation in the area.
|
Both farmers and
scientists are concerned about the development of Mekong Delta, the rice
granary of the country, amid attempts to change the current of the river.
|
In Cambodia, the strategy on
stepping up rice cultivation for export is being implemented, with the country
seeking cooperation with foreign countries, mostly from China, to expand the
irrigation network.In Laos, the current total irrigation area is 166,476
hectares, but the figure is expected to increase by 213,062 hectares by
2030. As upstream countries try to expand water use, this will be a great
challenge for Vietnam’s Mekong Delta.
Fresh water is a valuable resource,
compared with ‘white gold’. It is needed for daily life, food production,
industrial production and other purposes.
Le Anh Tuan from Can Tho University
cited international research as reporting that hydropower dams will
change the current in the lower course and lead to a loss of tens of millions
of tons of alluvium.Therefore, the Mekong Delta needs to take the initiative in
storing water for reasonable use in dry season. The development of
agriculture production in Mekong Delta depends heavily on investment policies
on irrigation.
The weak point of interior-field
irrigation is the lack of support systems such as pump stations and canals.
Scientists have emphasized solutions of storing and saving water.Nguyen Van
Dong, director of the Hau Giang provincial agriculture department, said the
province is taking full advantage of major tributaries to store water. When
drought and saline intrusion come, the stored water will serve people’s daily
life and agricultural production.
Scientists warn that Mekong Delta
should get ready to prepare to fight against floods, which not only come from
nature, but also from hydropower plants. It is necessary to build a strategy on
‘living together with floods’.
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/environment/180361/vietnam-s-rice-granary-endangered-by-water-shortage.html
India raises
rice, cotton buying prices as farmers’ protests mount
India
raised minimum purchase prices for rice, cotton and other crops by the most
since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, according a
government circular seen by Reuters, amid ongoing protests in the country's
biggest farming states. Prices paid to local farmers for common grade paddy
rice are to be raised by 5.4 percent to 1,550 rupees ($24.03) per 100 kg for
the year starting on July 1, while long staple cotton prices have been hiked by
3.8 percent to 4,320 rupees per 100 kg.
The
increases for rice, cotton and other crops follow an outburst of discontent in
the heartland states of Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring Maharashtra as farmers
sought higher prices and debt relief. Five protesting farmers were shot dead
this month in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, which along with Maharashtra
is ruled by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The unrest has posed a
challenge to regional BJP leaders and Modi, who have promised to double
farmers' incomes over the next five years.
India
is the world's biggest rice exporter and buys the grain from local farmers to
protect them from distressed sales and to build stocks for welfare programmes.
The government fixes minimum prices for more than two dozen farm commodities,
although it mainly procures wheat and rice. Growers of other crops like onions,
tomatoes and potatoes are also protesting due to steep falls in the prices of
their produce and the absence of the government buying.
The government has also raised soybean prices
by 9.9 percent to 3,050 rupees per 100 kg, and corn by 7.1 percent to 1,425
rupees per 100 kg, effective from July 1. The increases for these two grains
were also the greatest since 2012/13. ($1 = 64.5125 Indian rupees) (Reporting
by Rajendra Jadhav in MUMBAI and Nidhi Verma in NEW DELHI; Editing by Tom
Hogue)
Govt floats
more tenders to import rice, wheat in desperate bid to bring down local prices
Government data shows a 47 percent rise in the price of coarse rice
while a fine variety saw around 20 percent rise in a year. File photo
Bangladesh seeks to import more food grains as the government has
floated new tenders to procure 100,000 tonnes of rice and wheat in a desperate
bid to bring down local prices.The Directorate General of Food posted two
separated tender notices on its website on Tuesday, just ten days before this
fiscal year ends.
The government has invited bids from international traders to
import 50,000 tonnes of non-basmati parboiled rice. The rice tender, which
closes on Jul 9, is the fourth in the outgoing fiscal 2017. The latest tender
brings the amount of rice to 200,000 tonnes Bangladesh is seeking to procure
from outside in the year ending Jun 30.
The second tender floated by the state grains buyer on Tuesday is
to import 50,000 tonnes of wheat. Suppliers have been told to submit bids by
Jul 11. Bangladesh initially planned to
import 600,000 tonnes of rice to keep the market stable. Until Jun 18, the
government had 486,000 tonnes of food grains in stock, with rice amounting to
around 181,000 tonnes. The depleting reserves have caused rice prices to spiral
out of control with millers and wholesalers blaming each other. Bangladesh also
gave the green light for a purchase of another 250,000 tonnes of rice from
Vietnam under a government-to-government deal. The government hopes rice prices
will ease once imports arrive in the market.
Government data, often lower than market prices, shows a 47 percent
rise in the price of coarse rice while a fine variety saw around 20 percent
rise in a year. The fine variety is currently on sale at no less than Tk 60 per
kg. Last three months were the worst period when people saw a steep rise in
prices of rice of almost all varieties. According to figures by the food
ministry, the flash floods damaged Boro crops, which would have yielded around
600,000 tonnes of rice. Unofficial estimates put the number at 2.2 million
tonnes.http://ricenewstoday.com/?p=117267
No sign of
stability in rice market
Private sector import hits 4-year low as 28pc import duty
discourages importers amid rising price in global market
Reaz Ahmad and Rejaul Karim Byron
Rice import by the private sector has dropped
to a four-year low at a time when its prices have shot up in the domestic
market. Traders imported only 1.2 lakh tonnes of rice till mid-June in the
current fiscal year against 2.56 lakh tonnes in the previous fiscal year. Its import has not dipped so low since 2012
when 29,000 tonnes of rice were imported. Importers blame the existing 28
percent tariff on rice import for the decline.
As the domestic rice market has
become volatile, the government is trying to replenish its depleting stock
through quick import. But it hasn't yet made any move to encourage rice import
by the private sector.
Last week, the government decided to
import parboiled rice from Vietnam for more than Tk 39 a kg. The state-run
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh recorded 47 percent hike in the prices of
coarse rice this month compared to that in the corresponding month last year.
TARIFF DISCOURAGING IMPORT
Government statistics show letters
of credit were opened for import of 2.25 lakh tonnes of rice in the current
fiscal year but the private sector imported only half the quantity till
mid-June. Market sources told The Daily
Star that though import of more rice is in the pipeline, the importers are
making delay in bringing shipments with the hope that the government would soon
go for a tariff cut.
With rice prices going up in the global
market, local traders are increasingly finding it difficult to make a profit
after paying high tariff on import. Market sources said rice import is no
longer lucrative for traders as they have to pay 28 percent tariff on top of
high import costs. They are not showing
interest in importing rice though its prices have shot up in the local market
(coarse rice Tk 48 a kg). They are still waiting for the government to withdraw
the import duty.
PRICES UP IN INT'L MARKET
A food ministry document shows that
price of parboiled rice rose to $410 a tonne this month from $384 a tonne in
June last year and $397 in the previous month. In May-June this year, parboiled
rice prices rose by 3.3 percent in India, 5.6 percent in Thailand and 2.4
percent in Pakistan, while the price of Vietnamese white rice (atap) went up by
8.2 percent, show yesterday's data by the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit
(FPMU) of the food ministry.
Last month, Bangladesh struck two
deals to import 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice for $427.85 a tonne and another
50,000 tonnes of white rice for $406.48 a tonne. Only two weeks later, it
signed a deal with Vietnam for importing 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice (50,000 tonnes
of parboiled and two lakh tonnes of white rice) at a higher price. It agreed to
pay $470 a tonne for parboiled rice and $430 a tonne for white rice. Food ministry sources said that apart from
Bangladesh, at least six other countries sought to import rice from Vietnam in
recent weeks, resulting in a hike in demand and the price. The six countries
are the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cuba and China.
RATIONALE BEHIND TARIFF
The government didn't have to import
rice since fiscal 2011-12 due to successive good yields of rice in harvest
seasons. But taking advantage of the
zero-tariff import facility, private importers brought in 3.75 lakh tonnes of
rice in fiscal 2013-14 and nearly 15 lakh tonnes in the following fiscal year,
flooding the domestic market with cheap Indian rice. To protect local rice
growers, the government imposed a high tariff of 28 percent on rice import in
two phases in 2015. Talking to The Daily Star, agricultural economist Dr
Jahangir Alam said import tariff should not be static.
The government should adjust it
according to the given situation. Omer Azam, general secretary of Chittagong
Rice Traders Association, said rice production is likely to fall short of the
target and the domestic market now requires an increased supply through import
for price stabilisation. But importers are waiting for a government decision on
tariff cut, he added. Though the food ministry has proposed a tariff cut on
rice import, the finance ministry is yet to decide on it.
WHY RICE PRICES SOARED?
In addition to open market sale,
vulnerable group feeding and other social safety net programmes, the government
late last year introduced Tk 10-a-kg rice programme for five million ultra
poor.
Over the last one year, many such
government programmes have led to the depletion of food reserve with rice stock
falling to a six-year low of 1.9 lakh tonnes. On the other hand, the food
department's initiative to replenish rice stock by procuring Boro fizzled out.
Millers refused to sell rice to the department for Tk 34 a kg set by the
government. In the first 11 months of this fiscal year, 14.83 lakh tonnes of
rice were distributed under various government programmes against 11.75 lakh
tonnes in the corresponding period of fiscal 2015-16.
Under the fair price programme
alone, 6.84 lakh tonnes of rice were distributed. An unusual early flashflood that struck the
haor region in late March caused a loss of Boro rice totalling one million
tonnes. According to market sources, blast attacks (fungi attack) also led to a
loss of Boro rice in 19 districts. But the agriculture department claimed that
the loss was nominal. Experts and agricultural economists say the government's
temporal inability to go for market intervention due to its current low stock
allowed rice millers and traders to hike the prices. Rice prices would be stable
if supply of the staple is increased in the domestic market quickly through
imports by both the government and private channels, they noted.
Upturn in fortunes forecast for Thai rice
20 Jun 2017 at 09:00 2,041
With state rice stockpiles nearly sold off and major
rice-producing nations suffering bad weather, Thai rice exports are likely to
hit a record high this year, say government and industry officials.
Thailand's 2017 rice exports are tipped to reach 11 million tonnes, the most ever, because of rising demand in rice-importing countries at a time that production in grower countries is falling.Duangporn Rodphaya, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department, said several rice-importing countries have approached Thailand asking to buy more rice.She said falling state rice stocks have ignited concerns that supply in rice-exporting countries is falling, spurring buyers to rush to secure supply.
"The decline in Thai state rice inventories has helped cut the pressure on global rice prices and also created more room for the price to rise further this year," said Mrs Duangporn.State rice stocks rose to a historical high of 18.9 million tonnes prior to 2014 after an aggressive rice subsidy scheme, whereby the state offered to buy rice directly from farmers at higher-than-market prices.
The stocks have since fallen sharply to 2.1 million tonnes, of which 1.6 million tonnes was edible-grade white rice and 500,000 tonnes was inedible-grade rice suitable for ethanol production.Falling government rice stocks also helped cut pressure on global prices, exporters said, adding the prices were expected to rise further over the next few months as there was fresh demand from traditional importing countries that have approached Thailand at a time of limited supply.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said those countries include Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
"Some clients that used to import Thai rice but stopped buying over the past several years because of quality issues have come back," said Mr Charoen.But Thai rice supply is limited because of the 2016 drought and the government's policy to encourage farmers to switch to other lucrative crops such as sugar, which has substantially cut supply from the off-season rice crop.
Rice production from the off-season crop dropped by more than 40% from 9-10 million tonnes on average over the past few years to just 5 million tonnes this year, according to data supplied by the Agriculture Ministry.That has pushed the price of Thai 5% broken grade white rice to US$462 (15,684 baht) a tonne, up from last month's $416 a tonne, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association."We can say that the Thai rice industry has passed through the crisis and is now on the rise," said Mr Charoen.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1271979/upturn-in-fortunes-forecast-for-thai-rice
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