USA
Rice Welcomes Jesica Kincaid
By Deborah Willenborg
ARLINGTON, VA - Jesica Kincaid has joined the USA Rice team as
Manager of International Policy. In this role, Jesica will be working on
international trade issues and producing reports on the American rice industry,
including the Rice Executive, and staffing the World Market Price Subcommittee.
Prior to joining USA Rice, Jesica spent five years at the Embassy
of Ireland where she worked in agriculture and food trade, trying to get
Americans to buy more Irish butter and whiskey.
She is excited to join the USA Rice team and to work with farmers and
policymakers to promote U.S. grown rice.
Jesica grew up in Kansas City, went to college at Trinity
University in San Antonio, and moved to Washington, DC in 2009 to attend
graduate school at American University where she earned an M.A. in
International Affairs. Jesica really
only has one 'S' in her name, and her pastimes include cheering on the Kansas
City Chiefs, playing volleyball, and planning a return visit to Paris.
Making progress?
(l. to r. Mexico's Secretary of the Economy Villarreal, Canada's
Minister of Foreign Affairs Freeland, and USTR Lighthizer)
NAFTA
Talks Inch Forward, But More Work Needed
By Lesley Dixon
MONTREAL, CANADA - Trade ministers from Canada, Mexico, and the
United States today ended the 6th round of negotiations to modernize the North
American Free trade Agreement (NAFTA) without issuing a joint statement, and
signaling various levels of progress.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said, "We believe
that some progress was made. We finally
began to discuss some of the core issues, so this round was a step forward -
but we are progressing very slowly. We owe it to our citizens, who are
operating in a state of uncertainty, to move much faster."
Negotiators reportedly "closed" or finished the
anti-corruption chapter of what is being dubbed NAFTA 2.0. Negotiators will next reportedly meet in
Mexico City in late February for the 7th round of talks.
"It's clear that the parties made progress on several discrete
topics during last week's talks," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings who was
in Montreal. "But the big make or break issues like improved U.S. dairy
access in Canada, U.S. proposals on auto rules of origin, a hard sunset for
NAFTA, and investor-state dispute settlement still need to be addressed and
resolved at the political level for the negotiations to close."
Cummings continued, "Our main messages to the administration
are the critical importance of NAFTA to the economic health of U.S. rice
farmers and exporters and therefore the importance of concluding these
negotiations with NAFTA intact and stronger.
Last week offered the opportunity to keep delivering this message to
U.S. negotiators, their Mexican and Canadian counterparts, and congressional
staff as well as to participate in activities of pro-NAFTA groups like Farmers
for Free Trade."
As negotiators enter what is known as an "intersessional
period," follow-up discussions will take place among the negotiating
groups to prepare for the next negotiating session.
Two upcoming elections are widely seen as constraining and shaping
the negotiating calendar - Mexico's presidential election in July and the U.S.
midterm elections in November.
Cummings said USA Rice will continue to engage with U.S.
negotiators and Members of Congress as an organization and within several
pro-NAFTA coalitions to educate and advocate on behalf of this beneficial trade
agreement.
Market Information
UA Scientists Study Austrialian Wild Rice
Published: Monday, January 29, 2018 - 7:05am
Updated: Monday, January 29, 2018 - 7:20am
Wild rice growing in northern
Australia could hold the key to breeding a grain that is drought and pest
resistant.
Rice is a staple food for over half
of the world population and consumption levels are rising. After testing 13
different species of grain, researchers found Australian rice to have valuable
traits that could be bred commercially.
Rod Wing is co-author and director
of the Arizona Genomics Institute at the University of Arizona. He said genetic
information could produce higher yielding, more nutritious rice, using less
water and pesticides.
Since 2003, Wing has been leading
global research into 25 wild rice species that are genetically similar to two
rice species consumed globally today, with the next research to focus on a wild
rice that grows in saltwater.
Wing said the major question is how
to feed a world population that's projected to reach 10 billion by 2050.
The groups' paper was published
this week in Nature Genetics.
Domoguen: CAR’s
dedicated small farmers sustain corn farming and veggie food production
Monday, January 29,
2018
By ROBERT L. DOMOGUEN
MOUNTAIN LIGHT I DID not exactly comprehend what he was so excited about, as he
led the way to where the farmers were gathered. “If there is such a thing as
heirloom rice, there is also heirloom corn in the Cordillera,” he said, showing
the samples of corn cobs he has drawn out from a farmer’s bag. That was some
two years ago, during a consultation meeting with the farmers in Tabuk City,
when Mr. Gerardo Banawa, assistant regional corn program coordinator told me
that the heirloom flint corn was being grown in the highlands of Pasil,
Kalinga, since time immemorial. According to Mr. Banawa, the corn was grown by
several generations of farmers in small mountain plots beside their rice
terraces. The cobs have multi-colored kernels that are sticky when cooked.
Actually, the heirloom corn referred to here was once cultivated all over the
Cordillera, but the farmers in Pasil have succeeded in preserving this heritage
crop as a small-scale mountain farm crop. With the continued growth in the
nation’s population and the dwindling of the plains’ agricultural areas in
favor of housing and industrial uses, the cultivation of heirloom flint corn in
the Cordillera as food might just be making a come-back. There are some folks
who believe that prioritizing the promotion of flint corn as a food staple in
the Cordillera is a losing venture. There is no local demand for the crop since
the population has not been eating rice mixed with corn, or corn alone as a
staple. However, other people say that may be true for some, at least for the
moment. People use to eat sweet potato (camote) mixed with rice; or rice mixed
with corn, they explained. Besides, corn is a healthy alternative to rice as a
staple food, they added. To several farmers in Abra, the pros and cons of the
argument does not have any effect on what they already know about flint corn,
as a viable and profitable livelihood for their families for decades. Abra
Province, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is the major
supplier of corn kernels for the “Cornick industry” of the Ilocos region. In
Abra and elsewhere in the region, things could only get better. Last year, the
whole of the Cordillera region’s production of flint corn is 17,888 metric tons
(MT) with 15, 397 MT coming from Abra. The other major producers are Kalinga
with 1,068 MT, and Apayao, 984 MT. This year, the agriculture department (DA)
in the region will step-up its development support to the production of flint
corn, which is being eyed to play a crucial role in the agency’s efforts to
ensure food security in the country. Last December 2017, President Rodrigo Duterte
launched the DA’s rice-corn (RiCo) blend Project. DA Secretary Emmanuel F.
Piñol in an interview with reporters said that the agency will shell out at
least “P500 million this year to sustain the RiCo blend project, which seeks to
improve the country’s food security and cut its dependence on rice imports.”
According to Secretary Piñol, RiCo blends would be commercially sold to the
nation’s markets in the second quarter, starting with pure corn grits and the
50-50 blend or rice-corn mix of 50 percent white rice and 50 percent white corn
which is easier to mix than the other blends. By giving priority focus to flint
corn, DA-CAR regional technical director for operations, Dr. Danilo Daguio said
the region must support “the government’s bid to attain rice self-sufficiency
and avoid huge rice imports.” He added that the healthy RiCo blend will target
those who are health conscious. At the same time, excess production “would also
help supply the increasing requirements for flint corn in the Visayas and Mindanao
regions.” For his part, Mr. Banawa said the region is tasked to produce a total
of 1,952 metric tons of flint corn in an effective area of 936 hectares. He
looks ahead to increasing production of quality flint corn for nutrition and
food security, and increase the income of farmers in the six provinces of the
Cordillera, with Abra leading the charge. While upping its support to flint
corn production and development, assistance to yellow corn production will be
sustained by the DA in the region. Yellow corn is the basic ingredient found in
livestock feed which is another booming industry that supports the livelihood
of the nation’s corn farmers. Over the years, since the establishment of the
Cordillera Administrative Region, corn production has become a major industry
for the region’s local farmers. A yellow corn industry was unheard of when CAR
was established. Today, according to the PSA, the region produces some 242,850
MT harvested on an area of 61, 391 hectares (2017). Once again we see how
dedicated small farmers are to their livelihood. With guidance and support,
they don't just make our food systems more stable, rooted to culture and
history, but interesting and connected too. And with the younger generation
watching on, let us hope that they will realize that they must not only care
for their traditions but prepare to carry on improving them. Published in the
SunStar Baguio newspaper
Soy milk the best plant-based dairy drink:
McGill study
Among plant-based milks, soy milk is the best nutritionally
according to a team of researchers at McGill University.
Published on: January 29, 2018 | Last Updated:
January 29, 2018 6:15 PM EST
McGill researchers compared the
four most popular types of milk in the world — almond, soy, rice and coconut
milk (all unsweetened) — with cow's milk.
Among plant-based milks, soy milk is the best nutritionally,
according to a team of researchers at McGill University.
Faced with the ever-growing popularity of these plant-based dairy
drinks, and in the face of increasingly diversified offering on grocery-store
shelves, the researchers have sorted out the list. In addition, many people are
allergic to or intolerant to lactose, present in cow’s milk, and are looking
for alternatives.
The team compared the four most popular types in the world —
almond, soy, rice and coconut milk (all unsweetened) — with cow’s milk.
Cow’s milk remains the most nutritious of all, but soy milk comes
second and is clearly the best of the vegetable drinks.
Soy milk has the most balanced nutritional profile, with lots of
protein and the presence of phytonutrients that give it anti-carcinogenic
properties, according to the researchers. One setback is that some people don’t
like its taste, unlike most other plant-based milks.
With regard to rice milk, the researchers noted: a sweet taste, a
high carbohydrate content and a low nutritional value. However, rice milk can
meet the needs of people allergic to soy and almonds.
Coconut milk contains few calories and no protein. It can,
however, reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein — bad cholesterol —
associated with cardiovascular disease.
McGill researchers described almond milk as balanced, with a low
caloric content, but advised that a food supplement is essential to obtain
essential nutrients. Almonds, on the other hand, are rich in monounsaturated
fatty acids that are believed to promote weight loss and weight management, and
lower bad cholesterol.
Popular types
of milk
The most caloric? Cow’s milk. The least? Almond milk.
The most protein? Cow and soy milk. The least protein? Coconut
milk.
The most carbohydrates (sugar)? Rice milk, by far. The least?
Coconut milk and almond milk.
The most calcium? Soy and almond milk. And the least? Coconut
milk.
By Stéphanie Marin.
State to introduce food fortification in big
way
Jan 30, 2018, 12:39 AM; last updated: Jan 30, 2018, 12:39 AM (IST)
Sushil Manav
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29
Come April and people in Haryana will start
getting edible oils and milk fortified with vitamin A and D in all booths and
stores run by government boards and corporations.
Besides, the distribution of wheat flour
fortified as per the standards of the Fortification of Food Regulations, 2016,
and double fortified salt will start on April 1.
“Haryana will become the first state in the
country to introduce fortified food items in a big way,” said Amit Jha,
Principal Secretary (Health).
The move follows Chief Minister Manohar Lal
Khattar’s observation on the nutritional deficiency among people of the state,
he said.
As per the National Family Health Survey
(NFHS)-4, 72 per cent of children, 63 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men
in the state are anaemic and about one-third of children under 5 are either
stunted, wasted or underweight. “This is a serious matter as it is related to
impaired productivity of population of Haryana,” Jha said.
Jha said, “Representatives of roller flour
mills associations, rice millers, and associations of edible oil and milk
manufacturers have assured the government that they will fortify their products
in three months.”
Oil and milk is to be fortified with vitamin A
and D; wheat flour and rice with iron, folic acid and vitamin B12; and salt
with iodine and iron.
Dr Saket Kumar, Commissioner, Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) said a request has been sent to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for making
the standard of food fortification mandatory for sale in Haryana. http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/state-to-introduce-food-fortification-in-big-way/535601.html
Effectiveness of new trade policy
January 29, 2018
The government plans to share the draft of Pakistan’s
first 5-year trade policy — Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) 2018/2023 —
with the business community by the end of next month, a senior commerce
ministry official told a consultative session with businessmen in Lahore last
week.
The new trade policy, just like the three previous,
similar 3-year strategic frameworks, will primarily focus on boosting the
country’s flagging exports.
Trade officials conceded that none of the previous
strategic frameworks had come even close to meeting their targets because of
wide implementation gaps, but expressed the hope the new trade policy will meet
the goals being set to increase the shipments.
“We can push our exports above $36 billion in the next
five years,” insisted Nauman Aslam, director general trade policy at the
Ministry of Commerce.
The present STPF 2015/2018 had set an ambitious export
target of $35bn that was to be met by improving export competitiveness,
transitioning a ‘factor-driven’ economy to ‘efficiency-driven’ and
‘innovation-driven’, and increasing the share in regional trade.
However, exports have declined by just below 16 per
cent to $20.4bn in 2016/2017 from $23.6bn in 2014/2015. Exports have
consistently been on the decrease from their peak of $25bn reached in
2011/2012.
Mr Aslam’s optimism is based on an average monthly
recovery of 11-12pc in exports since the beginning of the present fiscal after
a consistent drop during the last three years. “…even if this pace of growth is
maintained our shipments will increase to $36bn in the next five years. This is
a very moderate growth. We have a lot of potential and can achieve a much
higher (export) growth.”
The new trade policy, Mr Aslam said, will focus on
addressing investment gaps to create export surplus, gender mainstreaming and
rationalisation of tariffs besides suggesting measures to raise export of
services, improve export competitiveness, and diversify markets and products.
The government is also reviewing the unfavourable terms
of its free trade agreements to gain greater market access for the country’s
goods. While Indonesia has already agreed to allow more rice from Pakistan,
China is willing to create greater space for imports from Pakistan.
“We
can push our exports above $36 billion in the next five years,” insisted Nauman
Aslam, director general trade policy at the Ministry of Commerce
“Things will be different this time. We have extended
the scope of the new strategic framework from three years to five years to
ensure policy consistency and transparency. The longer period will allow us to
review and tweak policy interventions mid-term.”
His optimism notwithstanding, the credibility of the
government delivering on its commitments remains very low as far as
businesspeople are concerned. “Gaps in policy implementation remain a major
issue. You cannot meet targets without implementing the policy,” argued Quratul
Ain Irfan, the vice president of a pharmaceutical company.
“Unfortunately, the Ministry of Commerce doesn’t have
enough resources or powers to implement incentives and interventions
recommended in its trade policies… it is dependent on other ministries to
deliver on its promises.
“The success of any short to long-term strategic
framework cannot be guaranteed unless it incorporates input from all the
relevant ministries, including industry, agriculture, planning, labour,
finance, and so on. Additionally, the provinces should also get clear-cut
responsibilities for achieving the policy targets.”
Others agree. Ijaz Khokhar, a leading exporter of
martial arts uniforms from Sialkot, insisted that STPF should represent a
broad-based comprehensive strategy for regulating the nation’s international
trade (import and export).
It should attract both domestic and foreign private
investment in manufacturing for producing export surpluses, support
value-addition, resolve long-standing issues (like inefficiencies, low
productivity and outdated technology), encourage new sectors and industries to
venture into exports and so on.
The objective of the framework should be realisation of
the country’s true export potential and creation of jobs for the millions
entering the market every year. In fact, STPF should act as an ‘umbrella’ under
which finance, monetary, industrial, agricultural, energy, labour and other
policies are designed to support and help the country achieve targets set by
the trade policy.”
Mr Khokhar contended the new STPF must provide for
periodic, quarterly review of implementation of its recommendations and
interventions by a body that has businessmen on it to address any flaws,
drawbacks and shortcomings.
“Such a body should be headed by the prime minster
himself and consulted before any other policy or trade agreement are devised
that could potentially harm/affect the implementation of recommendations and
interventions spelt out by STPF. It is the only way the policy implementation
can be ensured and the ministries’ focus diverted back on exports.”
With three commodities — textiles, leather and rice —
constituting more than two-thirds of total exports and almost 60pc of shipments
directed only to five countries, former Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
president Abdul Basit pleaded the case for product and market diversification.
“I’m not opposed to incentives and support for large
textile businessmen. But no strategic framework aimed at boosting overseas
shipment can succeed unless it focuses on encouraging new industries and
products.
“You can push textiles or rice or leather shipments to
a limit. Beyond that you need to diversify into unconventional products even if
it means cash incentives, tax relief and subsidies in the initial years.”
http://www.looppng.com/business/rice-quota-bad-png-families-opposition-72832
Sustainable
pest management stressed at international meet
THOOTHUKUDI, JANUARY
30, 2018 00:00 IST
‘People should be made to realise
the bad effects of using banned pesticides’
Going green has become prominent through scientific fraternity
and work on biocontrol needs to be projected for sustainable pest management,
according to T. Ramesh Babu, Dean of Agriculture, Acharya N.G. Ranga
Agricultural University, Guntur, and External Member for PG Board of Studies,
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
Dr. Babu was delivering the keynote address at the three-day
international conference on biocontrol and sustainable pest management,
organised by the Agricultural College and Research Institute (ACRI), Killikulam
on Monday.
He said people should be made to realise the bad effect of usage
of banned pesticides.
Biocontrol
Earlier, A. Ramalingam, Dean, ACRI, Killikulam, said biocontrol
was the need of the hour and sustainable pest management was required for
agricultural production.
K. Ramaraju, Director, Centre for Plant Protection Studies,
TNAU, Coimbatore, S. Sithanantham, Secretary and Director, Sun Agro-Tech Centre
Chennai, Chitra Sankar, Director, Directorate of Rice Research, ICAR, Hyderabad
and Surech, Dean, ACRI, Madurai, offered their felicitations.
T.Abdul Razack, Head, Department of Agricultural Entomology,
proposed a vote of thanks.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/sustainable-pest-management-stressed/article22582248.ece
Lack of long-term funding could threaten diabetes research
Jan 29, 2018 | Daniel Allar
Two
diabetes research programs have received short-term funding patches of $37.5
million each to continue operating through March 31, but several groups are
warning the lack of permanent funding could stall innovation and delay new
research which could help the more than 100 million Americans who have diabetes
or prediabetes.
The two programs given short-term funding by
lawmakers are the Special Diabetes Program, which researches type 1 diabetes,
and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, created in 1997 in response to
the high rate of diabetes among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
“The
(Special Diabetes Program) needs to be fully funded in order to move new
research forward,” Cynthia Rice, senior vice president of advocacy and policy
for JDRF, which funds type 1 diabetes research, told The Hill.
“Essentially, right now, the National
Institutes of Health can fund $37.5 million in research, but they have a
portfolio of potential research, which is so promising, to deliver new
therapies and new technologies to people with Type 1 diabetes that they can’t
fund.”
Meanwhile,
the uncertainty over the Special Diabetes Program for Indians has caused some
tribes’ programs to send furlough notices to staff, with potential layoffs
coming, if additional funding doesn’t come through, according to The Hill
Why rice
costs more in Kebbi
By
Ismail Adebayo, Birnin Kebbi | Publish Date: Jan 28 2018 2:00AM
Because
of the boom, its capacity to produce rice in millions of tons and the desire of
the farmer to cultivate large rice fields, it is the expectation in many
quarters that rice should be cheaper in Kebbi State. Ironically, the price of
rice is higher in Kebbi than other rice producing states in the country.
Reasons:
Rice production in Kebbi State is virtually done during the dry season. To
achieve high yield, the farmers must use water pumping machines powered by
petrol to pump water for several hectares of rice fields. Unlike other states,
Kebbi has no dam for irrigation farming, so for its farmers to remain in the
rice business they must buy fuel on a daily basis to pump water into their rice
farms.
Other
factors which make Kebbi rice costlier are the competition among those who come
to buy the commodity in the state and the breakthrough it has recorded in rice
production in the country. The state has become a haven for millers across the
country and even from some parts of West Africa. Because of these, the farmers
have jacked the price of paddy up.
The
chairman of the Rice Farmers Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Sahabi Augie,
in an exclusive interview with our correspondent said, “We were buying fuel at
the rate of N145 per litre, but given the recent fuel situation, it rose to
N220 per litre. With this type of situation, you can imagine the situation of a
farmer with about five hectares of rice field and he must buy up to 20 litres
every day for three months to power his pumping machine to water the
farm.
“This
is one of the reasons why our rice is more expensive than that produced in
other states. Some states have dams and they irrigate by gravity. But here, we
have to spend more money in buying fuel to power the water pumps to produce our
rice. Given this scenario, there is no how it will not affect our cost of
production, and consequently, the price of the rice.
“Also,
with this situation, the number of hectares a farmer can cultivate will be
reduced, and this would result in low output and scarcity of the commodity in
the market.”
Augie
added that the competition among the buyers of rice in the state and the
breakthrough it has recorded in rice production had made it a centre for
millers across the country and some neighbouring countries.
“We
have two large rice mills in Kebbi State, Labana and WACOT rice mills. Labana
has the capacity to produce 220,000 tons per annum and WACOT 120,000 metric
tons annually and 400 metric tons of rice daily. We also have rice companies
coming from Niger and Kano states. We also have local millers coming from
Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Abia and others. This has created competition
among rice buyers in Kebbi.
“Another
issue is that the important tool a farmer uses to produce rice, after land and
seed, is water. We have to buy fertilizers two or three times in a circle, but
as far as water is concerned, it is a daily activity and we need the pumping
machines powered with petrol to pump water to the farms.
“So,
whether he is a small scale or medium scale farmer, his cost of production
keeps on escalating. To produce rice in the rainy season is risky because the
yield will depend on the character of the rain circle. The longer the period of
rainfall the better your yield.
“Last
year, there was a sudden cessation of rain and there was serious flood
occasioned by the over-flooding of the two rivers - River Niger and River Rima
- around our farms. Some rice farms were over-flooded and destroyed. Because of
this some farmers lost everything. Many only escaped with less than half of what
they expected to harvest.
“In
other cases, just as rice was about reaching harvesting stage, there was
cessation of rain which the rice needed to take to the final growth stage. That
was responsible for some of the low yields farmers suffered last year.
“Despite
all these, farmers here buy their inputs. We need subsidy in terms of
fertilizers and others. There is need for government to come in and address the
issue of inputs. If we buy at market price we must increase the price of our
rice. For now, a 75kg bag of paddy is being sold at the rate of N9,000 to
N9,500 in the state, depending on the quality. The finished rice is sold at the
rate of N13,000.”
The
Kebbi State Rice Farmers Association chairman concluded that rice has become a
serious business in the state. “Many people, civil servants, businessmen and
contractors are returning to the farms now because of the success that farmers
in Kebbi have recorded in rice farming since the flag-off of the Anchor
Borrowers programme.
“Luckily,
there is a large enough market for the commodity. The buyers go as far as the
farms to buy the produce. In Kebbi State, we have farmers who have 20 and even
200 hectares of rice fields. I know of a lady who was hawking medicine, now she
is into farming. She told me that during the last dry season she made up to N2
million,” Augie explained.
Rice agriculture area to be
reduced from 1.7M to 724K feddans
By: Rehab Ismail
Rice agriculture in Egypt
Sat,
Jan. 27, 2018
CAIRO - 27
January 2018: Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel Aty
decided to reduce the rice agriculture area in Egypt from 1,700,000 feddans to
724,200 feddans (1 feddan = 1.038 acres).
The idea of reducing the rice agriculture area was first proposed in 2015, to be decreased from 1,100,000 feddans to 724,200 feddans, then after consulting the group of economic ministries, the decision was withdrawn to avoid any shortage in local market that may lead to increase the prices; therefore, the area was increased to 1,100,000 feddans again.
The highest rice production through the past 10 years was in in 2007/2008, as it reached 7.3 million tons, while the lowest was in 2010, as it reached only 4.3 million tons, according to the Central Agency for Capital Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Rice production in Egypt cc CAPMAS
According to CAPMAS, the five highest areas in producing rice in the year 2014/2015 are Dakahlia governorate, producing 1.7 million tons; Kafr el-Sheikh with 1.1 million tons; Sharqia with 0.9 million tons; Beheira with 0.6 million tons; and Gharbia with 0.4 million tons.
Geographical Distribution for Rice Production in Egypt (CAPMAS)
Governorates Distribution on Map for rice production -Year 2014/2015 - CAPMAS
The majority of rice is grown under irrigated conditions in which the fields are flooded from planting to harvest. Because of this flooding, rice is said to use a lot of water, about two and a half times the amount of water needed to grow a crop of wheat or maize, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
The idea of reducing the rice agriculture area was first proposed in 2015, to be decreased from 1,100,000 feddans to 724,200 feddans, then after consulting the group of economic ministries, the decision was withdrawn to avoid any shortage in local market that may lead to increase the prices; therefore, the area was increased to 1,100,000 feddans again.
The highest rice production through the past 10 years was in in 2007/2008, as it reached 7.3 million tons, while the lowest was in 2010, as it reached only 4.3 million tons, according to the Central Agency for Capital Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
Rice production in Egypt cc CAPMAS
According to CAPMAS, the five highest areas in producing rice in the year 2014/2015 are Dakahlia governorate, producing 1.7 million tons; Kafr el-Sheikh with 1.1 million tons; Sharqia with 0.9 million tons; Beheira with 0.6 million tons; and Gharbia with 0.4 million tons.
Geographical Distribution for Rice Production in Egypt (CAPMAS)
Governorates Distribution on Map for rice production -Year 2014/2015 - CAPMAS
The majority of rice is grown under irrigated conditions in which the fields are flooded from planting to harvest. Because of this flooding, rice is said to use a lot of water, about two and a half times the amount of water needed to grow a crop of wheat or maize, according to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
Vietnam Jan coffee exports estimated up 25.1 pct y/y, rice up 34.4
pct
Reuters Staff
MODITIES NEWSJANUARY 29, 2018 / 9:38 AM
HANOI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Vietnam’s coffee exports for January are
estimated to have risen 25.1 percent from the previous year, while rice shipments
have risen 34.4 percent, the government said on Monday.
COFFEE
Coffee exports from Vietnam will rise an estimated 25.1 percent in
January from a year ago to 175,000 tonnes, equal to 2.92 million 60-kg bags,
the General Statistics Office said in a report on Monday.
Coffee export revenue will rise an estimated 7.7 percent annually
to $340 million, the report also said.
RICE
Rice exports from the world’s third-largest shipper of the grain
were forecast to rise 34.4 percent to 450,000 tonnes in January. Revenue from
rice exports in the month was seen jumping 49.6 percent year-on-year to $214
million.
ENERGY
Vietnam’s January crude oil exports fell 21.4 percent year-on-year
to an estimated 400,000 tonnes, or 95,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Crude oil export revenue in January fell 13 percent to $191
million.
Oil product imports in the month increased 3.5 percent from the
same time last year to an estimated 900,000 tonnes, while the value of the
product imports rose 10.8 percent to $552 million.
Vietnam’s January liquefied petroleum gas imports increased 25.3
percent from a year earlier to 130,000 tonnes. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen;
Editing by Sunil Nair)
https://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL4N1PL3NT
Vietnam Jan coffee exports
estimated up 25.1 pct y/y, rice up 34.4 pct
Kitco News
HANOI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Vietnam's
coffee exports for January are estimated to have risen 25.1 percent from the
previous year, while rice shipments have risen 34.4 percent, the government
said on Monday.
COFFEE
Coffee exports from Vietnam will
rise an estimated 25.1 percent in January from a year ago to 175,000 tonnes,
equal to 2.92 million 60-kg bags, the General Statistics Office said in a
report on Monday.
Coffee export revenue will rise an
estimated 7.7 percent annually to $340 million, the report also said.
RICE
Rice exports from the world's
third-largest shipper of the grain were forecast to rise 34.4 percent to
450,000 tonnes in January. Revenue from rice exports in the month was seen
jumping 49.6 percent year-on-year to $214 million.
ENERGY
Vietnam's January crude oil exports
fell 21.4 percent year-on-year to an estimated 400,000 tonnes, or 95,000
barrels per day (bpd).
Crude oil export revenue in January
fell 13 percent to $191 million.
Oil product imports in the month
increased 3.5 percent from the same time last year to an estimated 900,000
tonnes, while the value of the product imports rose 10.8 percent to $552
million.
Vietnam's January liquefied
petroleum gas imports increased 25.3 percent from a year earlier to 130,000
tonnes.
(Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by
Sunil Nair)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those
of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The
author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided;
however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy.
This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a
solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial
instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept
culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this
publication.
TRAIN sends rice prices rising,
farmers say
RICE prices rose in the third
week of January as a result of the TRAIN law, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas said Sunday.
The average increases were P1 per
kilo of special and premium rice, P1 per kilo of regular well-milled rice, and
P2 per kilo of premium well-milled rice, the farmers’ group said, citing
figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority .
The PSA also noted an upward
trend in the wholesale and retail prices of well-milled rice and regular milled
rice this January compared to the prices a year ago.
For well-milled rice, a
P3-per-kilo increase was noted in Kidapawan City and a P2-per-kilo increase in
Metro Manila and Naga City.
Price hikes ranging from P.50 to
P3 per kilo of regular milled rice were also observed in six regional centers
nationwide.
The prices of other agricultural
produce such as beef, meat and pork lean meat increased by as much as P10 per
kilo. The prices of dressed chicken increased by P2 to P20 per kilo, while the
market prices of fish and vegetables also increased.
The price hikes were the result
of the cumulative increase in petroleum prices since Jan. 1 when TRAIN
took effect.
This week oil prices will once
again increase, according to oil companies.
“This unending cycle of price
hikes will not stop as long as TRAIN is in effect. It will only continue to
worsen the economic hardship of Filipinos, the KMP said.
The group demanded that the
government strictly implement a total price freeze in Albay due to the active
Mayon volcano.
National agencies and LGUs in
Albay should strictly monitor the prices of commodities in the
calamity-affected areas to avoid overpricing. The agencies should provide
relief and rehabilitation assistance, KMP said.
As of Jan. 28, there were 28,885
families or 89,109 individuals staying in the evacuation centers in Bacacay,
Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao City, Daraga, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo
and Legazpi City.
http://manilastandard.net/news/top-stories/257409/train-sends-rice-prices-rising-farmers-say.html
Rice prices up; gas prices
increasing anew
(The Philippine
Star) | Updated January 29, 2018
- 12:00am
KMP cited the PSA as having reported an average of P1 per kilo
increase for special and premium rice, P1 per kilo increase for regular
well-milled rice, and P2 per kilo for premium well-milled rice. Philstar.com/File
Photo
MANILA, Philippines — The price of
rice has increased by P1 to P2 per kilo nationwide starting in the third week
of January, allegedly as a consequence of the government’s Tax Reform for
Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) measure.
“The price monitoring of the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has noted rice price hikes across the
country,” the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said in a statement
yesterday.
KMP cited the PSA as having
reported an average of P1 per kilo increase for special and premium rice, P1
per kilo increase for regular well-milled rice, and P2 per kilo for premium
well-milled rice.
“The PSA also noted an upward trend
in the wholesale and retail prices of well-milled rice and regular milled rice
this January compared to rice prices a year ago,” KMP said.
For well-milled rice, a P3 per kilo
increase was noted in Kidapawan City and P2 per kilo increase in the National
Capital Region and Naga City, the PSA report said.
KMP added that PSA also noted price
hikes ranging from P.50 to P3 per kilo of regular milled rice were observed in
six regional centers nationwide.
The prices of other food
agricultural produce such as beef, meat and pork lean meat increased by as much
as P10 per kilo. Prices of dressed chicken increased by P2 to P20 per kilo.
Market prices of fish and vegetables also increased, the KMP quoted PSA.
“These price hikes are the result
of the cumulative hike in petroleum prices since Jan. 1, when TRAIN became
effective. This week, oil prices will once again increase according to oil
companies,” KMP said.
KMP chairman Danilo Ramos warned
that “this unending cycle of price hikes will not stop as long as TRAIN is in
effect. It will only continue to worsen the economic hardship of Filipinos.”
The farmers group also demanded
that the government “strictly implement a total price freeze in Albay
province where the erupting Mayon volcano is located.”
“National agencies and LGUs in
Albay should strictly monitor the prices of commodities in calamity-affected
areas to avoid overpricing. Agencies should provide relief and rehabilitation
assistance,” Ramos said.
KMP and the Bicol Movement for
Disaster Response are continuously seeking assistance for farmers affected by
Mayon’s eruption, he added.
KMP reported that as of Jan. 28,
there were 28,885 families or 89,109 individuals staying in evacuation centers.
Meanwhile, motorists will see
another round of prices hikes on all fuel products this week, Department of
Energy (DOE) undersecretary Felix Wimpy Fuentebella said in an interview
yesterday.
However, Fuentebella declined to
give more information as to how much the increase will be after Energy
Secretary Alfonso Cusi issued a policy directing oil companies to explain the
weekly price movements of petroleum products.
This would be the seventh
consecutive week diesel and kerosene prices will be raised and the third
straight week for gasoline.
Based on the agency’s monitoring,
Fuentebella added that comments from Saudi Arabia that the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major oil producers could extend
their production cuts beyond 2018 propped up global oil prices last week.
Adding to the upward pressure was
the global economic growth and expectations of robust global oil demand.
US crude supplies were reportedly
lower by 1.1 million barrels at the end of trading Jan. 19, according to the US
Energy Information Administration, pushing oil to hit $71 a barrel last
Thursday for the first time since 2014.
Reuters also reported that global
oil prices settled higher last Friday with crude also posting a weekly gain as
a weaker US dollar underpinned prices.
Earlier, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian
proposed to review the Oil Deregulation Law to impose stricter monitoring of
oil inventories and price hikes and of harsher penalties for non-compliant oil
companies and negligent government agencies that should monitor price
movements.
The DOE has been tightening its
watch on oil companies since the start of the year in light of the
implementation of TRAIN.
The DOE earlier said the new excise
tax on petroleum products should be applied starting Jan. 1 but not including
old stocks, meaning the increase in fuel prices under the new tax regime should
only be implemented 15 days after the start of the year since oil firms have a
15-day minimum inventory requirement.
So far, it has issued show cause
orders against at least 20 oil retailers that implemented higher prices due to
TRAIN.
Reportedly, there have been several
oil retailers that implemented the TRAIN excise tax that have yet to be
validated by the agency.
Under the TRAIN, gasoline will have
a higher excise tax from P4.35 per liter to P7 per liter while new tax rates of
P2.50 per liter will be imposed on diesel, P3 per liter on kerosene and P2.50
per liter on auto liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Based on DOE estimates, gasoline
prices are expected to have an additional P2.97 per liter, diesel with P2.80
per liter, kerosene with P3.36 per liter, LPG for motor vehicles with P2.80 per
liter and LPG for household with P1.12 per kilo.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/01/29/1782360/rice-prices-gas-prices-increasing-anew
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