Thailand
gets urgent rice orders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Bangkok (VNA) – Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are negotiating an urgent purchase of about 400,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand to replenish their falling stocks which were caused by severe droughts and floods, according to Thai media.
If the deals are sealed, all rice will be transferred within 60 days and the deal will be secured through government-to-government (G-2-G) contracts.
Each country aims to import 200,000 tonnes of rice – mostly parboiled grade and common grade white rice. The benchmark common grade 5 percent white rice was quoted at 410 USD per tonne while parboiled 100 percent grade white rice was fetched at 439 USD a tonne.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka normally supplemented their stocks with rice from neighbouring Pakistan and India when needed. In 2016, they imported 280 tonnes and 151 tonnes of Thai rice, respectively.
However, Thailand’s state rice stocks are running low as its Ministry of Commerce has opened auctions to sell it in recent years. There are only a few million tonnes left, compared with the record high of 18 million tonnes before.
As the stocks are low, it is likely that the G-2-G rice deals could involve private firms who would deliver parts of the rice amount. Bangladesh is approaching private Thai exporters to obtain the best price.-VNA
Myanmar's private sector to cooperate with
China to build agronomics service center
Xinhua| 2017-07-24
10:08:53|Editor: An
YANGON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Myanmar private organizations
have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's CITIC Construction
to implement an agronomics service center project, Myanmar News Agency reported
Monday.
The MoU, which involves Myanmar Rice Association and Myanmar
Agronomics Public Corporation, was signed in Nay Pyi Yaw in the weekend.
The project aims to boost per acre production rate, mitigate
production cost, increase internal and external investment in rice production,
milling and trading and to enhance the quality of rice.
Myanmar exports a variety of Emata rice, Ngasein rice, sticky
rice, parboiled rice and broken rice to international markets including China,
the European Union and South Africa.
According to statistics, the country exported a total of 700,000
tons of rice as of June in FY 2017-2018.
In last fiscal year (2016-2017), about 1.5 million tons of rice
were exported with 50 percent going to neighboring China through border gates.
Meanwhile, Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce has allowed
foreign-run companies to trade such agricultural supplies as fertilizer, seed
and pesticide, and hospital supplies. The move was made in accordance with the
country's economic policy which aims to boost agriculture, people's health and
the infrastructure by upgrading the materials used.
Myanmar has planned agricultural development strategy on the
basis of the second five-year national development plan.
According to statistics, foreign investment in Myanmar's
agricultural sector amounted to 254.675 million U.S. dollars in 21 projects as
of the end of June this year since late 1988.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/24/c_136467496.htm
Government to extend rice export
ban to secure local market needs
The government rice mills pay EGP
3,000 per tonne of rice while private mills pay EGP 4,500 per tonne, so the
farmer chooses the highest price
Egypt’s Cabinet surprisingly decided to set the buying price of
rice from the farmers in the new season starting in August based on supply and
demand mechanisms.
“We will not determine the buying price of rice and will adopt
the supply and demand mechanisms, allowing competition between public sector
and private mills,” Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Meselhi told Daily
News Egypt.
The question is can the government succeed in implementing its
plans to liberalise the price of rice, and set it based on the supply and
demand mechanisms, especially that Egypt has never suffered from a shortage of
supply of rice?
The government will extend the rice export ban to secure the
local market needs
The Cabinet decided to extend the ban on exporting rice during
the coming season, in a move to secure the needs of the local market.
So what is the problem in the rice market in Egypt?
The crisis emerges when the government offers low purchase price
for farmers who refuse to sell their crops at such prices, forcing the
government to import Indian rice that infuriated citizens because the private
rice mills buy the rice crops at high prices.
The government rice mills offer to buy rice from the farmers at
EGP 3,000 per tonne, while the private sector mills offer about EGP 4,500 per
tonne, prompting the farmers to store their crops or sell them to the private
sector. Farmers now demand rising the government selling price of rice in the
new season to EGP 4,000 instead of EGP 3,000, to compensate the rise in
production costs, mainly the increase in fuel prices.
Since 2008, Egypt sometimes bans the export of rice to maintain
the local rice reserves and meet the needs of the local market. It also aims to
discourage farmers from growing the rice and rationalise water consumption.
The private sector mills sell white rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne,
so the government sells it at about EGP 6,500.
How can the government offer adequate price for farmers and
still sell it at EGP 6.5 per kilo?
According to Ragab Shehata, head of the rice division in the
Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), said that the local production of rice
reached 3.7 million tonnes in this year while the consumption is estimated at
about 3.3 million tonnes, securing a surplus of about 700,000 tonnes.
Shehata added that the Minister of Supply has decided to set the
purchase price of rice from the farmer based on supply and demand, provided
that both the government and private mills will sell the rice at EGP 6,300 per
tonne.
Despite the high reserves of rice crops, the farmers refuse to
sell their crops to the government, citing the government’s low price of EGP
3,000 per tonne, which led to shortage in supply at local outlets.
He noted that the farmers will not sell at low prices any more
after they sold their crops last year at about EGP 2,400 and then the prices
increased significantly.
Egypt Support Coalition in Parliament recently called on the
government to raise rice prices to EGP 4,000; however, the farmers consider it
low, especially since the price in the private mills reach EGP 4,500 – 5,000
per tonne.
Who controls the price of rice?
The high domestic rice prices crisis started in the second half
of 2014, when the government could not store large amounts of the 2015 rice
harvest, allowing traders to buy the entire harvest and store it until the
prices rise again.
The previous governments used to store 200,000—500,000 tonnes of
rice at the beginning of the season, to prevent traders from storing it and
raising prices, but the former Minister of Supply, Khaled Hanafy, did not buy
any strategic reserves in the last season.
Mustafa al-Najari, head of the Rice Committee in the Agriculture
Export Council, said that the Ministry of Supply had to buy the rice crops from
the farmers at the beginning of the harvest, so that it could provide the
commodity to citizens at affordable prices.
“The state did not buy rice at a reasonable price from the
farmers, and allow traders to monopolize the market,” says Najari.
He added that the price of rice in Egypt reached EGP 4,500 per
tonne in 2016, compared to EGP 1,600 and 1,700 in previous years.
The farmers’ options
Some of the farmers in Kafr Al-Sheikh
governorate, one of the most famous rice-growing areas, said that the
government does not care about the farmers, and it only cares about maintaining
prices especially in Cairo and Alexandria, regardless the farmer’s right to
sell at an appropriate price. They added that the remaining of
the last season’s rice crops are sold at EGP 3,000 per tonne, wondering how can
the government offer EGP 2,300 for each tonne. They stressed that no one will
sell his crops to the government at this price.
Haitham Zalouk, a farmer in
Sharqeya governorate, said the cost of production increased dramatically,
noting that most of small farmers tend to borrowing to cover their needs and
wait until they sell their crop so that they could repay their debts.
“The price offered by the
government does not cover the cost of agriculture, after the rise of
fertilisers and pesticides prices as well as wages of workers.”
He added, “Some of us can store
rice for some time and wait for a better price, but most farmers sell at the
best available price after harvest, to repay their debts.”
The whole rice crops have been
sold to traders and the government does not have any rice.
The farmers had advised the
former minister of supply to raise the price of rice so they can sell the rice
to the government instead of traders, adding that the right price at this time
was EGP 3,500 per tonne. The government raised the price to only EGP 3,000,
while the traders bought the rice at more than EGP 3,200 per tonne, so the
government does not get any rice at this price.
Rice in Figures:
1.8 million feddans of rice.
The feddan produces an average of
3.5 tonnes.
Private rice mills sell the rice
at EGP 4,500 per tonne, while the government offered EGP 3,000 per tonne.
The new season production reaches
about 6.3 million tonnes of rice.
The white rice production reached
about 3.7 million tonnes, while the consumption amounts to 3.3 million tonnes
with a surplus of 400,000 tonnes.
Last year, the farmers sold about
7 million tonnes of rice, producing about 4.2 million tonnes of white rice, and
the consumption reached 3.3 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 900,000 tonnes
that can cover three months.
The growing of a single feddan of
rice consumes 6,500 cubic metres of water per year, totalling 12 billion cubic
metres.
Private rice mills supply about
90% of the government’s needs of white rice.
Solutions:
According to various experts and
farmers, the export has been always accused of raising the price of rice,
however it represents only 30% of the rice crop per year. When it reached its
highest level up to 700,000 tonnes, the surplus was more than one million
tonnes.
The best solution to the rice
crisis is that the government should declare a “fair” purchase price of rice
from farmers before the planting season, and set a clear mechanism to buy the
rice crops either through the Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural
Credit (PBDAC) or public sector mills. In addition, the government should
intensify its observation of private companies to ensure their compliance with
laws and regulations so as not to store and monopolise the product.
Actually the ministry has
announced that it will not determine the purchase price of rice from farmers in
advance and will leave it to the supply and demand mechanisms.
The new system can lead to
further increases in rice prices, because traders control now the rice market
despite the high production rate and achieving a surplus.
How can the government cover the
expected shortages due to traders’ storage of rice?
In light of the traders and
farmers’ refusal to supply rice to the Ministry of Supply, the government
decided to import 500,000 tonnes of rice, especially since President Abdel
Fattah Al-Sisi has instructed the government to have enough reserves of basic
food commodities for at least six months.
The import of rice comes as an
attempt by the government to force local traders and farmers to sell their
stored reserves.
Shehata asserted that there is no
problem in rice supply and the government has imported the necessary strategic
reserves to reduce the demand for local rice and decrease its price.
The Ministry of Supply said it would compensate the shortage of
rice in the supply cards, which resulted from the cancellation of the local
rice tender, by offering a shipment of imported rice coming from India at lower
prices than the local market. Finally, can the government succeed in
liberalising the price of rice based on the supply and demand mechanisms,
without increasing its price in the market up to EGP 6.5?
USA Rice Delegation Sits Down with Iraq's Minister of Trade
July 24, 2017
Talking about access
By Michael Klein
WASHINGTON, DC -- A USA Rice delegation representing four of the
largest U.S. long grain rice exporters met here last week for high-level talks
with Iraq's acting Minister of Trade, Dr. Salman Al-Jumaili. The delegation focused its discussions with
the Minister on gaining additional access to Iraq for U.S.-grown rice under the
current U.S.-Iraq Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Members also engaged in direct negotiations
with Ministry of Trade officials over the weekend regarding additional sales of
U.S. grown rice to this high-potential Middle East market.
The meeting with Minister Al-Jumaili follows a precedent-setting
sale of 32,000 MT of U.S. long grain rice in late May under the MOU - the first
sale since this bilateral agreement was signed a year ago. "We were honored to meet with the Iraqi
Minister and his team this week in the nation's capital," said Terry
Harris, Riceland Foods senior vice president and chair of the USA Rice Europe,
Africa, and Middle East Promotion Subcommittee.
"The fact that the Minister met directly with our delegation
demonstrated his commitment to the MOU process, as well as his willingness to
move Iraq towards a more open and transparent tendering system. This can only lead to improvements in our
access to the Iraqi market for U.S.-grown rice."
The meetings were scheduled
as part of Minister Al-Jamaili's whirlwind visit to the United States to
discuss trade issues with senior Trump Administration officials at the Commerce
and State Departments and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. With a reported $200 million in funds for
direct rice and wheat purchases, the Minister's seven-hour meeting with rice and
wheat industry leaders was a clear indication of the high priority Iraq has
placed on procuring these key U.S. commodities for its population.
"Our goal was to support a productive dialogue between the
Iraqi Trade Minister and our members, all of whom are keen to sell more U.S.
grown rice to Iraq," said Hugh Maginnis, USA Rice vice president
international. "I believe we
accomplished that goal, and if these meetings result in additional sales, I
told the Minister it would be icing on the cake."
19 traders keen
on bidding for 250,000-MT rice for PH
At
least 19 foreign rice traders are interested in bidding today, Tuesday, to
supply the 250,000 metric tons of rice needed by the Philippines, the National
Food Authority (NFA) said. NFA Deputy Administrator Tomas Escarez, who chairs
the Special Bids and Awards Committee, said the traders are from Vietnam,
Thailand, Singapore and Myanmar.Manila is set to import P5.6 billion worth of
rice through an open bidding, or government-to-private sector arrangement, to
boost its buffer stock for the lean season.
Of the 19 traders, 10 are from Vietnam, six
from Thailand, two from Singapore, and one from Myanmar. The Vietnamese traders
include Vietnam Southern Food Corp. II; Gentraco; Gia International Corp.;
Vietnam Northern Food Corp. (Vinafood I); Phan Min Investment Production
Trading Services Co. Ltd.; Hiep Loi Food Jsc; Thuan Minh Import Export
Corporation; Wilman Trading; Thao Minh Chau Production Trading Co. Ltd.; and
Tan Long Group Joint Stock Company. From Thailand, interested bidders are:
Ponglarp Co. Limited; Thai Hua Co. Limited; Capital Cereals Co. Ltd.; Asia
Golden Rice Co. Ltd.; Thai Granlux Int’l. Inc.; and Thai Capital Crops Company
Limited. From Singapore: Olam International Limited and Louis Dreyfus Company.
And from Myanmar: Swhe Wah Yaung Agriculture Production Co. Ltd.
The
total volume of 250,000 MT will be divided into six lots of 25,000 MT each and
two lots of 50,000 MT each. A bidder can make a bid for a maximum of 50,000 MT
only. “The volume was divided into lots to allow more private sector
participation and to give a chance to small bidders to participate,” Escarez
said. The reference price for the importation was set at $451.08 per metric ton
based on a foreign exchange rate of $1.00:P50.00. Bids are priced in US dollars
per metric ton with all deliveries paid for by the NFA within 15 days. The rice
deliveries must be staggered from August to September, with 120,000 MT expected
to arrive in August and 130,000 MT in September.
The
discharge ports are Poro Pt., La Union for 20,000 MT; Batangas for 30,000 MT;
Tabaco for 25,000 MT; Cebu City for 25,000 MT; Cagayan de Oro for 25,000 MT;
Davao City for 15,000 MT; Gen. Santos for 10,000 MT; and Manila for 100,000 MT.
Earlier, the PSA reported that rice prices in the retail market rose for the
fifth straight week as of the first week of the July, the start of the lean
months. The average price of palay P19.35 per kilogram in the first week of
July, was up 3.41 percent from P18.71 per kg a year earlier.
Author Name:
http://www.manilatimes.net/19-traders-keen-on-bidding-for-250000-mt-rice-for-ph/340504/
Price supports
make domestic varieties harder to afford for eateries
The U.S. produces about 30% more
rice than Japan.TOKYO -- Japanese imports of American rice are sharply
increasing due to higher prices for homegrown varieties used by restaurants, a
result of government measures to prop up domestic rice prices by reducing
supplies. Japan caps imports of foreign rice. But demand for the cheaper,
easy-to-cook foreign product is on the rise at food service companies.
Calrose, grown in the U.S. state of
California, is the mainstay variety accounting for about 80% of the Japanese
market for foreign rice consumed by people as a staple food. Beef bowl chain
operator Yoshinoya Holdingsbegan using a blend of Calrose and Japanese-grown
rice this past spring, while ramen restaurant operator Kourakuen Holdings uses
Calrose for fried rice.
Less sweet than Japan-grown
varieties, Calrose is said to be suited for bowl dishes where sauces are poured
on the rice. And since it does not easily stick together when fried, even
part-time workers can use it to make fried rice, according to Yumi Kojima, who
heads the USA Rice Federation's office in Japan. Japan limits rice imports to
an annual 770,000 tons under an agreement reached in the Uruguay Round of
global trade talks. Up to 100,000 tons of this can be staple food rice traded
under simultaneous-buy-sell arrangements. SBS imports tripled on the year to
more than 70,000 tons in fiscal 2016, with much of the demand likely coming
from the food service sector. Ahead of bidding in the fall, demand is seen
increasing for fiscal 2017 as well, according to an official at a major
wholesaler.
Livestock
feed rice production in Japan tripled to 480,000 tons a year over the five
years through 2016, aided by subsidies of up to 105,000 yen ($944) per 1,000
sq. meters. As a result, prices of rice generally used by restaurants and other
commercial buyers have risen to levels near that of the Koshihikari variety,
which is popular among consumers and upscale restaurants. Prices of Japan-grown no-wash rice have risen 20% in a year in
certain cases."Due to the jump in prices of Japan-grown rice, inquiries
for Calrose from food service companies have surged," said a manager at
food trading company Okura Agri.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Commodities/Japan-develops-stronger-appetite-for-US-rice
Why loans to
farmers will not work
The
government of Punjab has started a programme for disbursing interest-free loans
of Rs25,000 to 40,000 per acre to farmers for the financial year 2017-18.The
Rs17 billion cost of interest on these loans is to be borne by the provincial
government while the loans will be disbursed to registered farmers having
agricultural land of less than 12.5 acres.
The
amount will be disbursed through a smartphone-based mobile payment mechanism
and loans will be provided for maximum five acres per farmer. Though a good
plan on paper, the actual results of such a financial support plan may not meet
the intended targets.The government should invest funds in facilitating them
through the provision of the latest agricultural technology
There
is cross-country empirical evidence available on the failure of such
microfinance-based loan schemes which are designed without considering the
local social, cultural and economic landscape.A recent example is the social
unrest by farmers in many Indian states demanding loan write-offs as they are
unable to payback their loans due to the low market prices of their produce.
There
are several social and economic reasons for under-utilisation or misallocation
of such loans by the farmers.The rural economy operates on a credit system and
once cash is available (through loans for example), the social and cultural
rituals and customs (i.e. arranging dowry for daughters) are given first
priority.
The
lives of persons living in rural areas are subject to the local customs and
traditions which require unnecessary spending on various cultural and social
needs thereby misdirecting the flow of funds from their optimal use.Another
reason for the non-performance of agricultural loans is the assumption, on the
part of policy markers, of a production gap owing to the non-provision of
credit.
In
the absence of such government loan schemes, the rural economy keeps moving and
the gap between crop production, before and after the provision of credit,
remains almost unchanged.This is due to the fact that farmers in rural areas
are engaged in agricultural practices through a tribal system where the
extended family clan provides support for sowing and harvesting the crops.
Similarly,
local shopkeepers provide the necessary fertilisers and pesticides to farmers
on easy credit as they are familiar with each other.The low productivity of
small farmers may also hinder the workability of agricultural loans. Small
landholders are unable to afford the latest agricultural equipment for higher
production per acre.The provision of small loans to farmers is not enough to
enable them to buy tractors, irrigation technology or other useful equipment.
The
actual increase in production comes though the application of the latest
technology in the agricultural sector which a small farmer is unable to buy.The
usability of loans to farmers is also affected by the recovery rate on such
programmes.
The
case of non-performing loans and bad debts of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
(ZTBL) to farmers is evident of the fact that the recovery rate of such loans
is very low, resulting in massive losses to financial institutions.Similarly,
commercial banks operating in rural districts know very well the lower recovery
rate of loans made to farmers.
Such
loans are sought on the pretext of agricultural requirements by farmers but
spent on other needs resulting in delayed repayments and higher interest
costs.The solution lies in improving market conditions for increasing the
farmer income through higher market prices of crops and provision of latest
agricultural technology to farmers.
The
higher per acre output in advanced countries is not owing to the provision of
credit to farmers by the government but rather ensuring the accessibility of
latest technological equipment, modern agricultural practices, high-yielding
seeds and high-impact fertiliser varieties to farmers.Similarly, the
installation of wheat, rice, cotton and sugarcane processing units through
public private partnerships in rural areas may fetch higher prices for the raw
produce of the farmers.Therefore, instead of burdening farmers with
non-productive loans where the recovery rate is low, the government should
invest such funds in facilitating them through the provision of the latest
agricultural technology.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1347301
EU’s changed
fungicide norms spell trouble for 6 lakh basmati farmers in UP
Sandeep Rai| TNN | Updated: Jul 25,
2017, 10:40 AM IST
MEERUT: India exports 3.5 lakh
tonnes of premium quality aromatic Basmati rice to Europe, out of which 60% is
produced in western UP alone. Paddy farmers here extensively use a fungicide,
Tricyclazole. Until recently, the European Union had allowed a maximum residue
limit (MRL) of 1 part per million (ppm) of this fungicide in the rice it
imports, but has now passed a mandate that it will not allow anything more than
0.01 ppm after December 2017. This is going to adversely affect paddy farmers
who are already in the middle of the cultivation cycle, with no alternative
plan made by government agencies.More than 6 lakh farmers of UP are at risk of
immense loss because of lack of awareness about the EU's police change.
Ritesh Sharma, principal scientist, Basmati
Export Development Council, a body under Agriculture & Processed Food
Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), said, "The approximate area
of UP under basmati cultivation is 3 lakh hectares. Mainly PV1 and PV6
varieties are grown, which is 60% of the total quantity exported to Europe.
Though the EU market accounts for just 9% of the total rice exports from India,
the same problem will gradually crop up in other countries also."
To reduce the MRL to 0.01 ppm is not easy,
said soil scientists. Ashok Kumar, director, research, Sardar Vallabh Bhai
Patel Agriculture University (SVBPU), said, "To find an alternate measure
we need time to research. At this juncture, we can only ask farmers not to use
Tricyclazole because we do not have any other alternative. Neck blast disease
is common in India but there are always chances that the disease does not
attack the crop in a particular season. But at least farmers will get correct
price for their produce. If the farmer continues to use the fungicide, the crop
will be disease-free but the EU market will reject it and there will be buffer
stocks in the country, of which government agencies have no provision to stock.
Prices will come crashing down, destroying lakhs of farmers in the
process."
All India Rice Export Association (AIREA) has
initiated a mass movement to keep farmers away from Tricyclazole. And, they are
in a systematic way targeting the biggest grain markets of UP.AIREA vice
president Ajay Bhalotia told TOI, "The only silver lining in the dark clouds
is that neck blast attacks crops at the end of August. We still have a little
above a month to address the problem. We do have an alternative and that is in
the form of yet another fungicide, Isoprothiolane. Farmers do not use this
product because it is 15% costlier than Tricyclazole. But considering the scale
of the crisis we do not have much option."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/eus-changed-fungicide-norms-spell-trouble-for-6-lakh-basmati-farmers-in-up/articleshow/59744261.cms
Good News for
Other Exporters? U.S. Makes Deal to Sell Rice to China
Trade
negotiators reached an initial deal to sell American rice in China for the
first time ever, the Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.
America
Exporting Rice to China?
A
deal to open Chinese markets to rice grown in the U.S. has been in the works
for more than a decade, but agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says it’s
finally coming to fruition. “This is another great day for U.S. agriculture
and, in particular, for our rice growers and millers, who can now look forward
to gaining access to the Chinese market,” Perdue said in a statement. “This
market represents an exceptional opportunity today, with enormous potential for
growth in the future.
”
China is the world’s largest producer of rice, but it is also the largest
consumer. The country imported almost 5 million tons of rice last year, mostly
from Vietnam, Thailand and other Asian nations. The U.S. and China reached an
agreement on the process for ensuring the safety of imported American rice in
January 2016, a “more complicated and detailed than any other rice protocol in
the world,” Dow Brantley The announcement comes after trade talks between the
Chinese and U.S. officials took a disappointing turn.
At
the end of the high-level trade talks Wednesday, the U.S. was only able to
claim that “China acknowledged our shared objective to reduce the trade deficit
which both sides will work cooperatively to achieve,” but the two countries
could not agree on solutions to the $347 billion trade deficit, the Wall Street
Journal reports. (RELATED: US-China Trade Talks Falter As Relations Spiral)
China allowed U.S. beef imports last month for the first time in 13 years, in
exchange for the U.S. allowing imports of cooked poultry products.
https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/07/america-exporting-rice-to-china.html
Rice output likely grew 11% in Q2
JULY 23, 2017
The country’s palay production in
the second quarter likely expanded by 11 percent to 4.1 million metric tons
(MMT), from 3.69 MMT recorded a year ago, according to the latest report of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In its latest report, titled
“Updates on April-June 2017 Palay and Corn Forecasts”, the PSA attributed the
increase to the expansion in areas planted with rice.
“Palay production for April-June
2017 may slightly increase to 4.104 million MT [metric tons] , 0.23 percent
above the April 2017 round forecast of 4.095 million MT and 11.1 percent higher
than the previous year’s output of 3.7 million MT,” the report read.
“Harvest area may increase by
0.02 percent from 0.94 million hectares. Likewise, yield per hectare may
improve to 4.39 MT, from 4.38 MT,” it added.
The PSA said the planting
interventions of the government and the private sector boosted unmilled rice
production in the April to June period.
“The probable increment in palay
production may be attributed to: higher yield to be brought about by extensive
program on subsidized seed by the DA [Department of Agriculture] and free urea
fertilizer from the Food and Agriculture Organization in Nueva Ecija,” the
report read.
Other interventions rolled out by
the government were the use of high-yielding varieties distributed through the High
Yielding Technology Adoption program of the DA in Kalinga and the distribution
of seeds and fertilizer from the Office of Provincial Agriculturist in Bulacan
and Davao del Sur.
The PSA added sufficient water
supply in irrigated and rainfed farms during the growth and reproductive stages
of the crop in Cagayan, Zambales, Bohol and Surigao Norte allowed farmers to
increase their output.
The PSA noted about 815,910
hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested.
As of June 1 about 55.7 percent, or almost 430,430 hectares, of the farmers’
planting intentions for the July-to-September period have materialized.
“Of the 549,830 hectares standing
palay crop, 57.5 percent were at vegetative stage; 20.8 percent, at the
reproductive stage; and 21.7 percent, at maturing stage,” the PSA said.
As for corn, the agency added
production in the second quarter likely grew by 42.7 percent to 1.288 MMT. The
figure is higher than its previous forecast of 1.285 MMT.
“Corn production for April-June
2017 may increase to 1.288 MMT, 0.2 percent higher than the earlier forecast of
1.285 MMT, and may be 42.7 percent higher than previous year’s level of 900,000
MT,” the PSA said.
Despite the slight decrease in
areas planted with corn, yield per hectare rose to 3.36 MT from 3.26 MT.
“The probable increase in corn
yield may be the result of sufficient rainfall during the growth and
reproductive stages of the crop in Sultan Kudarat, Bukidnon, Negros Occidental,
Ilocos Norte, Kalinga and Quezon,” the report read.
“The use of hybrid seeds in
Mindoro Occidental and lesser incidence of pests and diseases in Sultan Kudarat
and Mindoro Occidental may contribute to higher output. In Nueva Ecija, some
farmers opted to plant corn due to the renovation and construction of
irrigation canals which may bring production to increase,”it added.
As of June 1 the PSA said about
300,050 hectares of the updated standing crop have been harvested. Also, about
69.2 percent, or 647,820 hectares, of farmers’ planting intentions for the
third quarter have been realized
19 bidders from Southeast
Asia to vie for NFA rice-supply deal
JULY 24, 2017
The National Food Authority (NFA)
on Monday said 19 suppliers from Southeast Asia have signified their interest
to participate in the auction for 250,000 metric tons (MT) of imported rice
required by the government.
Of the 19 companies that will
join the open tender on July 25, the NFA said 10 are from Vietnam, six from Thailand,
two from Singapore and one from Myanmar.
“Those from Vietnam are Vietnam
Southern Food Corp. II; Gentraco; Gia International Corp.; Vietnam Northern
Food Corp. [Vinafood I]; Phan Min Investment Production Trading Services Co.
Ltd.; Hiep Loi Food Jsc; Thuan Minh Import Export Corp.; Wilman Trading; Thao
Minh Chau Production Trading Co. Ltd.; and Tan Long Group Joint Stock Co.,” the
NFA said in a
press statement.
press statement.
“From Thailand, interested
bidders are Ponglarp Co. Ltd.; Thai Hua Co. Ltd.; Capital Cereals Co. Ltd.;
Asia Golden Rice Co. Ltd.; Thai Granlux International. Inc.; and Thai Capital
Crops Co. Ltd.,” it added.
Also keen on supplying the
country’s rice requirement are Singaporean companies, Olam International Ltd.
and Louis Dreyfus Co., and Myanmar-based Swhe Wah Yaung Agriculture Production
Co. Ltd., according to the NFA.
The NFA has scheduled the proper
bidding process on July 25. The government is spending P5.637 billion to import
rice and prop up its dwindling buffer stock during the lean months, when rice
harvest goes down significantly.
“Reference price for the
importation had been set at $451.08 per MT based on the foreign-exchange rate
of $1=P50. Bids shall be priced in US dollars per MT based on Cost Insurance
and Freight, Delivered at Place Free on Warehouse up to the designated NFA
warehouse,” the NFA said.
“Opening of the bids and award of
contract to a bidder shall be based on the lowest calculated responsive bid
price on a per lot basis,” it added.
On July 6 the NFA published the
terms of reference (TOR) for the purchase and supply of 250,000 MT of
25-percent broken well-milled long grain white rice of omnibus origin under the
government-to-private sector scheme. Under the TOR, the NFA said prospective
bidders will vie for the imported volume on a lot basis.
“Prospective bidders may bid for
any of the lots, provided that the bid must be the minimum/maximum of the
imported rice allocated per lot, but the maximum quantity to be awarded per
supplier must not be higher than 50,000 MT,” it read.
The NFA divided the delivery of
the 250,000 MT of rice into two periods: August and September. The NFA said
120,000 MT of rice should arrive within August, while the remaining 130,000 MT
should arrive by September.
The agency said winning bidders
will be subjected to postqualification evaluation on July 27 and 28. “If they
qualify, the Notice of Award shall be issued on July 31, and a Notice to
Proceed shall be issued on August 3.”
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/19-bidders-from-southeast-asia-to-vie-for-nfa-rice-supply-deal/
China Open Rice Market to Exports
from U.S.
China is the largest producer as
well as consumer of rice in the world, but has had to turn more towards imports
the past few years to meet its domestic demand.
With close to 5 million tons of
rice purchased from other countries in 2016, China was also the largest
importer in the world.American farmers for years have tried to gain access to
the Chinese rice market, but several cultural, economic, bureaucratic and
political obstacles always stood in their way.The opening of the market could
be a huge boon for a number of rice farmers in the U.S. who are struggling and
have faced oversupply and sluggish prices for years.
Rice farmers in the U.S. produce on average 9 million tons
annually, and consumers in China eat that same amount in only two weeks,
according to a trade group in the industry known as USA Rice.
The market in China opening to U.S. farmers is contingent on the
inspection then approval of facilities in the U.S. by Chinese quarantine and
inspection officials.If that all goes to plan, shipments from the U.S. to
China, could begin later in 2017 or in the early part of 2018, said a member of
USA Rice.A big breakthrough took place early in 2016 when the two countries
agreed on phytosanitary protocol, which sets the terms for sanitary conditions
for milled rice from the U.S.
Officials in China are concerned over the possibility of some
pests being in rice products entering China.A member of USA Rice said the phytosanitary
agreement was the most complex that the rice industry in the U.S. had entered
into, but the potential overall size of the Chinese market makes it all
worthwhile
https://www.chaffeybreeze.com/2017/07/22/china-open-rice-market-to-exports-from-u-s.html
Myanmar's private sector to cooperate with
China to build agronomics service center
Xinhua| 2017-07-24
10:08:53|Editor: An
YANGON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Two Myanmar private organizations
have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's CITIC Construction
to implement an agronomics service center project, Myanmar News Agency reported
Monday.The MoU, which involves Myanmar Rice Association and Myanmar Agronomics
Public Corporation, was signed in Nay Pyi Yaw in the weekend.
The project aims to boost per acre production rate, mitigate
production cost, increase internal and external investment in rice production,
milling and trading and to enhance the quality of rice.
Myanmar exports a variety of Emata rice, Ngasein rice, sticky
rice, parboiled rice and broken rice to international markets including China,
the European Union and South Africa.According to
statistics, the country exported a total of 700,000 tons of rice as of June in
FY 2017-2018.
In last fiscal year (2016-2017), about 1.5 million tons of rice
were exported with 50 percent going to neighboring China through border gates.
Meanwhile, Myanmar's Ministry of Commerce has allowed
foreign-run companies to trade such agricultural supplies as fertilizer, seed
and pesticide, and hospital supplies. The move was made in accordance with the
country's economic policy which aims to boost agriculture, people's health and
the infrastructure by upgrading the materials used.Myanmar has planned
agricultural development strategy on the basis of the second five-year national
development plan.According to statistics, foreign investment in Myanmar's
agricultural sector amounted to 254.675 million U.S. dollars in 21 projects as
of the end of June this year since late 1988
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-07/24/c_136467496.htm
Onset of monsoon paves way for
rice cultivation in northeast region - Nagaland News
Visit the website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsToDs5iBHg
Government to extend rice export
ban to secure local market needs
The government rice mills pay EGP
3,000 per tonne of rice while private mills pay EGP 4,500 per tonne, so the
farmer chooses the highest price
Egypt’s Cabinet surprisingly decided to set the buying price of
rice from the farmers in the new season starting in August based on supply and
demand mechanisms.
“We will not determine the buying price of rice and will adopt
the supply and demand mechanisms, allowing competition between public sector
and private mills,” Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Meselhi told
Daily News Egypt.
The question is can the government succeed in implementing its
plans to liberalise the price of rice, and set it based on the supply and
demand mechanisms, especially that Egypt has never suffered from a shortage of
supply of rice?
The government will extend the rice export ban to secure the
local market needs
The Cabinet decided to extend the ban on exporting rice during
the coming season, in a move to secure the needs of the local market.
So what is the problem in the rice market in Egypt?
The crisis emerges when the government offers low purchase price
for farmers who refuse to sell their crops at such prices, forcing the
government to import Indian rice that infuriated citizens because the private
rice mills buy the rice crops at high prices.
The government rice mills offer to buy rice from the farmers at
EGP 3,000 per tonne, while the private sector mills offer about EGP 4,500 per
tonne, prompting the farmers to store their crops or sell them to the private sector.
Farmers now demand rising the government selling price of rice in the new
season to EGP 4,000 instead of EGP 3,000, to compensate the rise in production
costs, mainly the increase in fuel prices.
Since 2008, Egypt sometimes bans the export of rice to maintain
the local rice reserves and meet the needs of the local market. It also aims to
discourage farmers from growing the rice and rationalise water consumption.
The private sector mills sell white rice at EGP 6,300 per tonne,
so the government sells it at about EGP 6,500.
How can the government offer adequate price for farmers and
still sell it at EGP 6.5 per kilo?
According to Ragab Shehata, head of the rice division in the
Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), said that the local production of rice
reached 3.7 million tonnes in this year while the consumption is estimated at
about 3.3 million tonnes, securing a surplus of about 700,000 tonnes.
Shehata added that the Minister of Supply has decided to set the
purchase price of rice from the farmer based on supply and demand, provided
that both the government and private mills will sell the rice at EGP 6,300 per
tonne.
Despite the high reserves of rice crops, the farmers refuse to
sell their crops to the government, citing the government’s low price of EGP
3,000 per tonne, which led to shortage in supply at local outlets.
He noted that the farmers will not sell at low prices any more
after they sold their crops last year at about EGP 2,400 and then the prices
increased significantly.
Egypt Support Coalition in Parliament recently called on the
government to raise rice prices to EGP 4,000; however, the farmers consider it
low, especially since the price in the private mills reach EGP 4,500 – 5,000
per tonne.
Who controls the price of rice?
The high domestic rice prices crisis started in the second half
of 2014, when the government could not store large amounts of the 2015 rice
harvest, allowing traders to buy the entire harvest and store it until the
prices rise again.
The previous governments used to store 200,000—500,000 tonnes of
rice at the beginning of the season, to prevent traders from storing it and
raising prices, but the former Minister of Supply, Khaled Hanafy, did not buy
any strategic reserves in the last season.
Mustafa al-Najari, head of the Rice Committee in the Agriculture
Export Council, said that the Ministry of Supply had to buy the rice crops from
the farmers at the beginning of the harvest, so that it could provide the
commodity to citizens at affordable prices.
“The state did not buy rice at a reasonable price from the
farmers, and allow traders to monopolize the market,” says Najari.
He added that the price of rice in Egypt reached EGP 4,500 per
tonne in 2016, compared to EGP 1,600 and 1,700 in previous years.
The farmers’ options
Some of the farmers in Kafr
Al-Sheikh governorate, one of the most famous rice-growing areas, said that the
government does not care about the farmers, and it only cares about maintaining
prices especially in Cairo and Alexandria, regardless the farmer’s right to
sell at an appropriate price. They added that the remaining of
the last season’s rice crops are sold at EGP 3,000 per tonne, wondering how can
the government offer EGP 2,300 for each tonne. They stressed that no one will
sell his crops to the government at this price.
Haitham Zalouk, a farmer in
Sharqeya governorate, said the cost of production increased dramatically,
noting that most of small farmers tend to borrowing to cover their needs and
wait until they sell their crop so that they could repay their debts.
“The price offered by the
government does not cover the cost of agriculture, after the rise of
fertilisers and pesticides prices as well as wages of workers.”
He added, “Some of us can store
rice for some time and wait for a better price, but most farmers sell at the
best available price after harvest, to repay their debts.”
The whole rice crops have been
sold to traders and the government does not have any rice.
The farmers had advised the
former minister of supply to raise the price of rice so they can sell the rice
to the government instead of traders, adding that the right price at this time
was EGP 3,500 per tonne. The government raised the price to only EGP 3,000,
while the traders bought the rice at more than EGP 3,200 per tonne, so the
government does not get any rice at this price.
Rice in Figures:
1.8 million feddans of rice.
The feddan produces an average of
3.5 tonnes.
Private rice mills sell the rice
at EGP 4,500 per tonne, while the government offered EGP 3,000 per tonne.
The new season production reaches
about 6.3 million tonnes of rice.
The white rice production reached
about 3.7 million tonnes, while the consumption amounts to 3.3 million tonnes
with a surplus of 400,000 tonnes.
Last year, the farmers sold about
7 million tonnes of rice, producing about 4.2 million tonnes of white rice, and
the consumption reached 3.3 million tonnes, leaving a surplus of 900,000 tonnes
that can cover three months.
The growing of a single feddan of
rice consumes 6,500 cubic metres of water per year, totalling 12 billion cubic
metres.
Private rice mills supply about
90% of the government’s needs of white rice.
Solutions:
According to various experts and
farmers, the export has been always accused of raising the price of rice,
however it represents only 30% of the rice crop per year. When it reached its
highest level up to 700,000 tonnes, the surplus was more than one million
tonnes.
The best solution to the rice
crisis is that the government should declare a “fair” purchase price of rice
from farmers before the planting season, and set a clear mechanism to buy the
rice crops either through the Principal Bank for Development and Agricultural
Credit (PBDAC) or public sector mills. In addition, the government should
intensify its observation of private companies to ensure their compliance with
laws and regulations so as not to store and monopolise the product.
Actually the ministry has
announced that it will not determine the purchase price of rice from farmers in
advance and will leave it to the supply and demand mechanisms.
The new system can lead to
further increases in rice prices, because traders control now the rice market
despite the high production rate and achieving a surplus.
How can the government cover the
expected shortages due to traders’ storage of rice?
In light of the traders and
farmers’ refusal to supply rice to the Ministry of Supply, the government
decided to import 500,000 tonnes of rice, especially since President Abdel
Fattah Al-Sisi has instructed the government to have enough reserves of basic
food commodities for at least six months.
The import of rice comes as an
attempt by the government to force local traders and farmers to sell their
stored reserves.
Shehata asserted that there is no
problem in rice supply and the government has imported the necessary strategic
reserves to reduce the demand for local rice and decrease its price.
The Ministry of Supply said it would compensate the shortage of
rice in the supply cards, which resulted from the cancellation of the local
rice tender, by offering a shipment of imported rice coming from India at lower
prices than the local market. Finally, can the government succeed in
liberalising the price of rice based on the supply and demand mechanisms,
without increasing its price in the market up to EGP 6.5?
https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/07/24/government-extend-rice-export-ban-secure-local-market-needs/.
Iraq expects to produce 250,000 tonnes of rice
in 2017 season
Reuters | Jul 22, 2017, 11:50 AM IST
* About 20,000 hectares planted with rice for 2017 season* Iraq needs
about 1 million to 1.25 million tonnes a year* Trade Ministry has been struggling to
attract import bidsBAGHDAD, July 22 (Reuters) - Iraq's Agriculture Ministry said on Saturday it
expected to produce 250,000 tonnes of rice in the 2017 season.
The figure suggests gap to be filled by imports of about 1
million tonnes, as demand annually stands at between 1 million to 1.25 million
tonnes, according to government sources."The expected production is around
250,000 tonnes for this year, the harvest should start in October and we hope
the figure will be close to this," Agriculture Ministry spokesman Hamid al-Nayif told Reuters.
Around 200,000 dunums (20,000 hectares) have been planted with
rice, Nayifsaid. The planted area varies from one
year to the next according to water availability.Iraq, a major rice importer,
has been struggling to buy the grain from abroad this year after introducing
new payment and quality terms that have kept traders away from its tenders.Iraq's
Trade Ministry is responsible for procuring strategic commodities, including
rice, for the country's ration programme.
The rationing programme, created in 1991 to combat U.N. economic
sanctions, includes flour, cooking oil, rice, sugar and baby milk formula.
Impoverished Iraqis continue to depend on the system, which analysts say is
corrupt and wasteful. (Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Edmund Blair
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/iraq-expects-to-produce-250000-tonnes-of-rice-in-2017-season/articleshow/59710902.cms
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July 25, 2017
Reuters | Jul 25, 2017, 02:10 PM IST
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices -
APMC/Open Market-July 25 Nagpur, July 25 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices reported higher in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC)
here on increased demand from local millers amid weak supply from producing
regions because of rains in parts of Vidarbha. Fresh rise in Madhya Pradesh gram prices and enquiries
from South-based plants also jacked up prices. About 700 of gram and 200 bags
of tuar were available for auctions, according to sources. FOODGRAINS &
PULSES GRAM * Gram varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was
poor. TUAR * Tuar gavarani recovered in open market on renewed demand from
local traders. * Wheat Lokwant firmed up in open market here on increased
seasonal demand from local traders amid tight supply from producing regions. *
In Akola, Tuar New - 3,900-3,950, Tuar dal (clean) - 5,500-5,700, Udid Mogar (clean)
- 7,200-8,200, Moong Mogar (clean) 6,500-7,200, Gram - 5,300-5,400, Gram Super
best - 7,200-8,000 * Other varieties of wheat, rice and other commodities moved
in a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading
activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMCauction/open-market
prices in rupees for 100 kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 5,000-5,120 4,800-5,120
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar
Auction 3,400-3,750 3,350-3,750 Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction
n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction
1,550-1,690 1,550-1,674 Gram Super Best Bold 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000 Gram Super
Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Gram Dal Medium n.a.
n.a Gram Mill Quality 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400 Desi gram Raw 5,350-5,450
5,350-5,450 Gram Yellow 7,100-8,100 7,100-8,100 Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400
12,300-13,400 Tuar Fataka Best-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100 Tuar Gavarani New 3,950-4,050 3,900-4,000 Tuar Karnataka 3,950-4,050 3,950-4,050 Masoor
dal best 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000 Masoor dal medium 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold (New) 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000 Moong Mogar
Medium 6,000-6,500 6,000-6,500 Moong dal Chilka 5,200-6,000 5,200-6,000 Moong
Mill quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,400 6,900-7,400 Udid Mogar
best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500 7,500-8,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-4,800 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
2,850-3,050 2,850-3,050 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 2,850-3,000 2,850-2,950
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700
3,500-3,700 Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,600
4,100-4,600 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality
(100 INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850 Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300
2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,100-2,350 Wheat Lokwan
medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,050 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600
3,000-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700 Rice BPT
new (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,300 2,800-3,400 Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,300-3,500
3,300-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100 Rice Luchai
(100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800 Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400
2,300-2,400 Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650 Rice Swarna
medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT New
(100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,500-5,000
4,500-5,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 4,100-4,300 4,100-4,300 Rice Shriram New(100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,500 4,800-5,500 Rice
Shriram best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)
5,800-6,200 5,800-6,200 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,000-13,500
10,000-13,500 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500 Rice
Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000 Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG)
5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG)
1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 32.0 degree Celsius,
minimum temp. 23.4 degree Celsius Rainfall : 1.9 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy
sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum
temperature would be around and 32 and 23 degree Celsius respectively. Note:
n.a.--not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery
prices, but included in market prices)
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- July
24, 2017
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market- July 24, 2017
Nagpur, July 24 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices quoted down in
Nagpur Agriculture Produce and
Marketing Committee (APMC) here on poor demand from local millers
amid release of stock from
stockists. Weak trend in other pulses mandis also affected
sentiment.
About 800 of gram and 200 bags of tuar were available for auctions,
according to sources.
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Desi gram raw showed
weak tendency in open market here on subdued demand from local
traders amid increased
supply from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled
steady in open market on lack of demand from local traders.
* Moong varieties and
Batri dal declined in open market here on poor demand from
local traders amid good
supply from producing regions.
* In Akola, Tuar New –
3,900-3,950, Tuar dal (clean) – 5,500-5,700, Udid Mogar (clean)
– 7,200-8,200, Moong
Mogar (clean) 6,500-7,200, Gram – 5,300-5,400, Gram Super best
– 7,200-8,000
* Wheat, rice and other
commodities moved in a narrow range in
scattered deals and
settled at last levels in thin trading activity.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC
auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 4,600-5,140 4,600-5,230
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 3,450-3,700 3,340-3,770
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Wheat Mill quality
Auction 1,550-1,690 1,550-1,674
Gram Super Best
Bold 7,500-8,000 7,500-8,000
Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.
Gram Medium Best 6,700-7,000 6,700-7,000
Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a
Gram Mill Quality 5,300-5,400 5,300-5,400
Desi gram Raw 5,350-5,450 5,400-5,500
Gram Yellow 7,100-8,100 7,100-8,100
Gram Kabuli 12,300-13,400 12,300-13,400
Tuar Fataka
Best-New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Tuar Fataka
Medium-New 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Tuar Dal Best
Phod-New 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500
Tuar Dal Medium
phod-New 4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100
Tuar Gavarani New 3,900-4,000 3,900-4,000
Tuar Karnataka 3,950-4,050 3,950-4,050
Masoor dal best 4,800-5,000 4,800-5,000
Masoor dal medium 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold
(New) 6,700-7,000 6,800-7,200
Moong Mogar Medium 6,000-6,500 6,200-6,600
Moong dal Chilka 5,200-6,000 5,400-6,200
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 6,900-7,400 7,000-7,500
Udid Mogar best (100
INR/KG) (New) 7,500-8,500
7,500-8,500
Udid Mogar Medium (100
INR/KG) 6,800-7,200 6,800-7,200
Udid Dal Black (100
INR/KG) 4,400-4,900 4,400-4,900
Batri dal (100
INR/KG) 4,500-4,800 4,500-5,000
Lakhodi dal (100
INR/kg) 2,850-3,050 2,850-3,050
Watana Dal (100
INR/KG) 2,850-3,000 2,850-2,950
Watana White (100
INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,500-3,700
Watana Green Best (100
INR/KG) 4,100-4,600 4,100-4,600
Wheat 308 (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000
Wheat Mill quality (100
INR/KG) 1,750-1,850 1,750-1,850
Wheat Filter (100
INR/KG) 2,100-2,300 2,100-2,300
Wheat Lokwan new (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100
Wheat Lokwan best (100
INR/KG) 2,100-2,350 2,100-2,350
Wheat Lokwan medium (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,050 1,900-2,050
Lokwan Hath Binar (100
INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100
INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100
INR/KG) 2,200-2,700 2,200-2,700
Rice BPT new (100
INR/KG) 2,700-3,300 2,800-3,400
Rice BPT best (100
INR/KG) 3,300-3,500 3,300-3,500
Rice BPT medium (100
INR/KG) 3,000-3,100 3,000-3,100
Rice Luchai (100
INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice Swarna new (100
INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice Swarna best (100
INR/KG) 2,500-2,650 2,500-2,650
Rice Swarna medium (100
INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT New (100
INR/KG) 3,600-4,000 3,600-4,000
Rice HMT best (100
INR/KG) 4,500-5,000 4,500-5,000
Rice HMT medium (100
INR/KG) 4,100-4,300 4,100-4,300
Rice Shriram New(100
INR/KG) 4,800-5,500 4,800-5,500
Rice Shriram best 100
INR/KG) 6,500-6,800 6,500-6,800
Rice Shriram med (100
INR/KG) 5,800-6,200 5,800-6,200
Rice Basmati best (100
INR/KG) 10,000-13,500 10,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100
INR/KG) 5,000-7,500 5,000-7,500
Rice Chinnor New(100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000
Rice Chinnor best 100
INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000
Rice Chinnor medium (100
INR/KG) 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600
Jowar Gavarani (100
INR/KG) 1,900-2,200 1,900-2,200
Jowar CH-5 (100
INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,800-1,900
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 30.5 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.8 degree
Celsius
Rainfall : 3.6 mm
FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or
thunder-showers. Maximum and
minimum temperature would be around and 31 and 24 degree Celsius
respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices,
butincluded in market prices)
http://in.reuters.com/article/nagpur-foodgrain-idINL3N1KF33Yhttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/nagpur-foodgrain-prices-open-july-25-2017/articleshow/59753779.cms
Move to
extend pokkali farming
TNN | Jul 24, 2017, 11:31 PM IST
The decision was taken at its general council meeting. MLAs S Sarma and K J Maxi, samithi development chairman Dinakaran and district collector Mohammed Y Safirullah attended the meeting.
The samithi members said that a comprehensive package to protect pokkali farming as well as a report on the problems faced by pokkali farmers would be formulated and discussed in the next executive council.
The meeting also decided that the report would be forwarded to the planning commission for approval after detailed discussion with stakeholders.
After getting the approval, the samithi will submit the comprehensive package to the government before the pre-budget session.
The samithi members were of the opinion that this move would help in calculating an estimated amount required for protecting pokkali cultivation.
MLA Sarma said that a pokkali seed bank would be launched this year with the support of pokkali krishi development agency, Seed authority and Vyttila Rice Research Centre.
He also said that special initiatives should be taken to protect pokkali farming.
The collector said the district administration is planning to do pokkali farming in 2,000 hectares next year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/move-to-extend-pokkali-farming/articleshow/59745125.cms
Pak, China
collaborative research for producing new rice varieties
·
VIEWS:
147
KARACHI: The scientists of Pakistan and China will promote collaborative research for producing high yielding and high quality rice varities.
To discuss research matters linked with the development of new varieties of high quality rice, a delegation of Chinese officials called on Pakistani scientists at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, here on Monday.
Director General China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou - China, Prof. Dr. Cheng Shihua, along with the six-member Chinese delegation visited the ICCBS-KU.
The delegation had a meeting with former federal minister for Science & Technology and ex-Chairman Higher Education Commission Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman and Director ICCBS Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary.
The meeting was held at the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi.
The delegation, comprising Prof. Dr. Zhuang Jieyun, Prof. Dr. Wu Jianli, Prof. Dr. Wang Kejian, Dr. Luo Ju and Zheng Youchuan, visited different research facilities set up at the ICCBS.
In the meeting, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman, Prof. Iqbal Choudhary, rice expert Dr. Fida Abbasi of Hazara University, and the Chinese officials underlined the importance of conducting research for developing new high yielding, disease resistant and high quality varieties of rice.
They resolved to promote further collaborative research between the scientists of two countries. They said that China has a reputation to be the largest producer of rice in the world, while Pakistan produced varieties of rice of high quality in the world.
The setting up of Sino-Pakistan Hybrid Rice Research Center is linked with the objective to mutually conduct research for the development of new high yielding and high quality rice, they said and added that the rice research center has two branches, one is in ICCBS-KU and another branch has been set up in China.
In the meeting, it was discussed that Chinese scientists will train scholars from ICCBS in the field of rice breeding and production of high quality hybrid rice seed.
The officials of both the institutions agreed to enhance relations between the two institutions and to develop academic exchange in the area of research.
The institution will focus on basic and applied research with priority for solving significant scientific and technical problems in rice production.
Later, the ICCBS arranged a seminar in which five presentations of Chinese and Pakistani scientists were presented
http://www.brecorder.com/2017/07/24/360953/pak-china-collaborative-research-for-producing-new-rice-varieties/
Move to
extend pokkali farming
TNN | Jul 24, 2017, 11:31 PM IST
The decision was taken at its general council meeting. MLAs S Sarma and K J Maxi, samithi development chairman Dinakaran and district collector Mohammed Y Safirullah attended the meeting.
The samithi members said that a comprehensive package to protect pokkali farming as well as a report on the problems faced by pokkali farmers would be formulated and discussed in the next executive council.
The meeting also decided that the report would be forwarded to the planning commission for approval after detailed discussion with stakeholders.
After getting the approval, the samithi will submit the comprehensive package to the government before the pre-budget session.
The samithi members were of the opinion that this move would help in calculating an estimated amount required for protecting pokkali cultivation.
MLA Sarma said that a pokkali seed bank would be launched this year with the support of pokkali krishi development agency, Seed authority and Vyttila Rice Research Centre.
He also said that special initiatives should be taken to protect pokkali farming.
The collector said the district administration is planning to do pokkali farming in 2,000 hectares next year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/move-to-extend-pokkali-farming/articleshow/59745125.cms
Evidence of early rice domestication found in southern China
By Philip Guelpa
25 July 2017
Recently
reported research by a team of Chinese scientists, published in the Proceedings of
the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrates the presence of
rice undergoing domestication 9,400 years ago at an archaeological site known
as Shangshan near the Yangtze River in southern China. This is the earliest
evidence yet found of rice in transition from wild grass to cultivar.
Excavations
at Shangshan by Chinese archaeologists, beginning in the early 2000s, uncovered
evidence, such as impressions of rice husks in pottery and stone milling tools,
that rice was being used by the inhabitants. However, these do not provide
indication of whether the rice was wild or domesticated.
The
data used to identify domestication come from the examination of microscopic
silica crystals, known as phytoliths, which form in plants and survive even
when all of the organic components have degraded and disappeared. These
crystals not only are unique to each plant species, but bear distinctive
patterns reflecting changes within the species which, among other things, can
be used to track the difference between wild and domesticated varieties.
Phytoliths,
as well as a variety of artifacts and other evidence of human activity, were
recovered from a series of superimposed layers, or strata, at the Shangshan
site; each higher strata representing successively younger time periods. These
strata were dated using the carbon-14 radiometric method. The oldest layer was
found to date back 9,400 years ago.
By
comparing the rice phytoliths from successively younger strata, changes were
observed indicating the gradual transition from wild to domestic forms. Rice
phytoliths have characteristic features termed “fish scales” due to their
appearance. While modern rice phytoliths have more than nine such fish scales,
the number on ancient rice phytoliths varies. What the researchers found was
that through time the proportion of phytoliths with more than nine scales
increased, gradually approaching the modern condition. This greater uniformity
indicates selection for consistency, presumably in other, more important
characteristics that were useful to the inhabitants of the site.
In
terms of human generations, this was a long, slow process, not a ‘eureka’
moment of instant invention. It involved not only the gradual genetic
modification of the rice itself, but a whole range of social and technological
adjustments associated with increasing investment and reliance on a particular
food source. These changes, such as increased sedentism, territoriality,
storage and distribution of food surpluses, and growing division of labor,
eventually lead to fundamentally new cultural patterns. On the evolutionary
time scale of human existence these changes resulted in a revolution.
Anatomically
modern humans, Homo
sapiens, presumably with more or less the same mental and physical
capabilities as we now have, evolved at least 200,000 years ago. Yet, until
only about ten to twelve thousand years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age,
known as the Pleistocene, there is no known evidence that humans subsisted on
anything but naturally available wild plants and animals. What brought about
this seemingly abrupt change?
The
questions of where, when, how, and why the domestication of plants and animals
by humans took place is of key importance in understanding the dynamics that
lead to the many transitions from egalitarian hunter-gatherers to class society
and civilization that took place in multiple regions of the world.
Rice,
along with other cereal grains, such as wheat and maize, are among the
principal plant foods on which early agricultural communities in the Near East,
Asia, and the Americas depended. Thus, the study of rice domestication is of
central importance in understanding what is known as the agricultural
revolution.
Although
Shangshan has yielded the earliest evidence of the process of rice
domestication so far discovered, this does not necessarily mean that this was
the sole location where this process originated. Indeed, genetic evidence
points to at least three areas of early rice domestication. Aside from China,
these include an area between India and Indochina and India and Bangladesh,
each producing a different variety of domesticated rice.
Rice,
wheat, and maize are not the only early plant domesticates. Many others, such
as beans, squash, oats, barley, millet, sorghum, amaranth, and chenopod (the
latter two in Precontact North America), to name but a few, were brought under
cultivation with resulting genetic changes producing domesticated varieties.
For some, at least, evidence exists of multiple, independent centers of
domestication.
The
widespread nature of this process, occurring independently across continents,
and in the relative ‘blink of an eye’ compared to the span of Homo sapiens’ existence,
strongly indicates that some common factor was at play, perhaps environmental
changes occurring at the end of the Ice Age. However, there is evidence that at
least some of wild progenitors of these future domesticates were already part
of the diet of some human groups thousands of years earlier. These were not new
foods, but rather the result of a new approach toward obtaining food.
Whatever
the cause, and this is a subject of intense interest, it appears that beginning
around ten to twelve thousand years ago, when modern humans inhabited areas
with suitable potential domesticates the process was repeated time and time
again, sometimes with the same species being domesticated independently at
different locations.
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/07/25/rice-j25.html
Plan to extend pokkali farming to 2,000 hectares
By Express
News Service | Published: 25th July 2017 10:24 AM |
Last Updated: 25th
July 2017 11:11 AM | A+A A- |
KOCHI: A
comprehensive plan will be devised for the protection and promotion of pokkali
farming in the district. The proposals mooted under the plan include setting up
of a seed bank to extend pokkali farming to 2,000 hectares by 2018.
The
decisions were taken at the general council meeting of Pokkali Field
Development Committee (PFDC) held at the district administration headquarters
here on Monday. “The integrated plan for development of pokkali farming
will be submitted before the state government. Before unveiling the plan, a
decision on various aspects will be taken at the next council meeting,” said
District Collector K Mohammed Y Safeerulla.“The council will look into
various steps required for protection of traditional pokkali farming and the
issues faced by farmers. The suggestions and recommendations of members will be
incorporated in the draft plan which will be submitted before the Planning
Committee.
“Once
the Planning Committee gives its nod, the proposal will be submitted before the
pre-budget session. The aim is to get pokkali development scheme included in
the next annual budget of the government and get necessary budget allocation,”
said Safeerulla. The council meeting was also attended by MLAs, S Sarma and K J
Maxi, as well as PFDC vice chairman Dinakaran.
Sarma
said the pokkali farming development agency will take the initiative to set up
a seed bank this year. “The seed bank will be set up with the help of Kerala
State Seed Development Authority and Rice Research Station, Vyttila. The
seed bank will chiefly aim to procure seeds for cultivation next year. The pokkali
farmers should get a support price of `150. We also proposed a separate plan
for protection of traditional farming sector. Every year, pokkali farmers
should get a minimum subsidy of `4-5 crore,” Sarma said.
The
council meeting also demanded the subsidy for pokkali farming should be
increased to
Rs 20,000 per hectare. “ Presently pokkali farmers use the field for shrimp farming in the interim. This must change. The farmers should be made self-sufficient with the help of pokkali cultivation alone,” Sarma said.The meeting looked into the tourism potential of some of the areas at Goshree islands where pokkali farming is widely practised. “Vypeen and Kadamakkudi islands have immense potential to be developed into Agri-Tourism destinations. The scope should be fully utilised so as to increase the flow of domestic and international tourists to these destinations,” he said.
Rs 20,000 per hectare. “ Presently pokkali farmers use the field for shrimp farming in the interim. This must change. The farmers should be made self-sufficient with the help of pokkali cultivation alone,” Sarma said.The meeting looked into the tourism potential of some of the areas at Goshree islands where pokkali farming is widely practised. “Vypeen and Kadamakkudi islands have immense potential to be developed into Agri-Tourism destinations. The scope should be fully utilised so as to increase the flow of domestic and international tourists to these destinations,” he said.
Meanwhile,
Safeerulla said though the original plan was to undertake pokkali farming in
1,000 hectares this year, until now pokkali farming has been carried out only
in 635 hectares. “Next year, we are confident of carrying out pokkali
cultivation in 2,000 hectares. Hence, this year’s main target will be
procurement of enough seeds to extend cultivation to 2,000 hectares,” he said.
Of the nearly 17,000 hectares of pokkali fields situated in Ernakulam and
Thrissur, Ernakulam, Aroor and Kodungalloor account for a majority of
them.
Farming on 1,000 acres planned
Of the nearly 17,000 hectares of pokkali fields situated in Ernakulam
and Thrissur, Ernakulam, Aroor and Kodungalloor account for majority of
them.Though the original plan was to undertake pokkali farming in 1,000
hectares this year, until now pokkali farming has been carried out only in 635
hectares
THE RICE AND FALL OF ‘PLASTIC’
Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Updated:
Jul 25, 2017, 11.54 AM IST
By Kumaran P
After rigorous testing, Centre dismisses reports of plastic rice and egg; calls it a case of adulteration
In an attempt to put an end to the long-drawn debate on "fake" eggs and rice, the Centre has stepped in. Now, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, after testing samples from across the country, has concluded that there is no such thing as 'plastic' rice. It all boils down to adulteration.
The department of food and public distribution had collected samples from 29 states and 7 Union territories in the country and a total of 39,284 samples were analysed. The conclusion was that there was no plastic rice and the department stated that it was actually just poor quality rice.
CR Chaudhury, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution, said: "While plastic rice rumours were doing the rounds on social media, the matter was taken up with the Kerala and Gujarat governments on the basis of an International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) alert. The governments concerned have confirmed that there has been no such reports in their respective states. "
Random sampling was done and from Karnataka, 2,837 samples were received for testing and analysis. It was found that 341 samples were adulterated and the remaining proved that it was low quality rice. The department has launched 26 criminal cases and 112 civil cases on manufacturers and penalized them too. 112 manufacturers have been penalized and penalties totalling Rs. 21,95,900 were received. The sampling and testing was done by officials of the Food safety departments of the respective states to check compliance of standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, YG Shadakshari, Director of Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, said, "It is very expensive to manufacture plastic rice. It is so expensive that it is not possible at all. I really wonder how these rumours came up. As per our testing based on samples received by Bangalore Mirror, we found it was only low quality rice. The government needs to probe whether adulteration is the main cause of all these plastic rumours." While the testing was headed by Prof KV Jamuna, UAS, she said, "When we did detailed research and testing, it was found out that this is totally a case of low quality rice. What residents of the city found was rice that had expired was being sold. Otherwise, something like 'plastic' is a bizarre thing to make."
No fake eggs either
Another grave issue that was making rounds on social media was 'plastic' eggs. Dr Murthy, Dean of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Science University, who did a complete test on eggs and said they were 'rotten' and 'spoiled'.
After rigorous testing, Centre dismisses reports of plastic rice and egg; calls it a case of adulteration
In an attempt to put an end to the long-drawn debate on "fake" eggs and rice, the Centre has stepped in. Now, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, after testing samples from across the country, has concluded that there is no such thing as 'plastic' rice. It all boils down to adulteration.
The department of food and public distribution had collected samples from 29 states and 7 Union territories in the country and a total of 39,284 samples were analysed. The conclusion was that there was no plastic rice and the department stated that it was actually just poor quality rice.
CR Chaudhury, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public distribution, said: "While plastic rice rumours were doing the rounds on social media, the matter was taken up with the Kerala and Gujarat governments on the basis of an International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) alert. The governments concerned have confirmed that there has been no such reports in their respective states. "
Random sampling was done and from Karnataka, 2,837 samples were received for testing and analysis. It was found that 341 samples were adulterated and the remaining proved that it was low quality rice. The department has launched 26 criminal cases and 112 civil cases on manufacturers and penalized them too. 112 manufacturers have been penalized and penalties totalling Rs. 21,95,900 were received. The sampling and testing was done by officials of the Food safety departments of the respective states to check compliance of standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, YG Shadakshari, Director of Research, University of Agricultural Sciences, said, "It is very expensive to manufacture plastic rice. It is so expensive that it is not possible at all. I really wonder how these rumours came up. As per our testing based on samples received by Bangalore Mirror, we found it was only low quality rice. The government needs to probe whether adulteration is the main cause of all these plastic rumours." While the testing was headed by Prof KV Jamuna, UAS, she said, "When we did detailed research and testing, it was found out that this is totally a case of low quality rice. What residents of the city found was rice that had expired was being sold. Otherwise, something like 'plastic' is a bizarre thing to make."
No fake eggs either
Another grave issue that was making rounds on social media was 'plastic' eggs. Dr Murthy, Dean of the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Science University, who did a complete test on eggs and said they were 'rotten' and 'spoiled'.
http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/the-rice-and-fall-of-plastic/articleshow/59746574.cms
Pakistan, China in rice research tie-up
KARACHI: The scientists of Pakistan and China will join forces to promote collaborative research for producing high yielding and high quality rice varieties, a statement said on Monday.
“Conducting research for the developing new high yielding, disease resistant, and high quality varieties of rice is extremely important for ensuring food security,” said Prof Dr Cheng Shihua, DG China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) of Hangzhou, China, in a sitting with Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, at Karachi University (KU). The meeting, which was also attended by Prof Iqbal Choudhary, a rice expert, and Dr Fida Abbasi of Hazara University, was held at Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) in KU.
Prof Shihua, who is leading the delegation of Chinese scientists, said it was imperative for the researchers of both the countries to compare notes. “We are resolved to promote further collaborative research between the scientists of two countries,” he said while talking to Prof Att-ur-Rahman, the former minister for science and technology. Giving his input, one of the visiting scientists said that China was the largest producer of rice in the world, but Pakistan produced a number of high-quality varieties of rice in the world.https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/218598-Pakistan-China-in-rice-research-tie-up
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