Saturday, July 14, 2018

14th July,2018 daily global regional local rice e-newsletter





14 July,2018 Daily Jang Lahore Edition





Elections for Leadership at RMA and USA Rice PAC 
By Deborah Willenborg
 IRVING, TX -- At USA Rice's July Business Meeting here this week, the USA Rice Millers' Association (RMA) announced the election of Keith Gray, Vice President of Supply Chain at Riviana Foods, as chairman, and Keith Glover, President & CEO of Producers Rice Mill, as vice chairman.  Each will serve a two-year term that begins August 1, 2018.
Chairman-elect Gray presented outgoing RMA Chairman Alex Balafoutis with a plaque to commemorate his tenure, and thanked Balafoutis for his outstanding service and dedication to the organization.The USA Rice Political Action Committee (PAC), a grassroots, bipartisan, industry-specific PAC, also re-elected California rice farmer Sean Doherty as chairman and Mississippi rice farmer Kirk Satterfield as vice chair.

But where can he send it?         
The Trump Effect on Trade  
By Lesley Dixon

WASHINGTON, DC -- The last several months in international trade have been unpredictable and often contentious as many of the U.S.'s largest trading partners react to the Trump Administration's recent tariffs.  As the U.S. exports 50 percent of its rice crop each year, any disruption in trade has a major impact on the profitability and viability of farmers, millers, merchants, and others in the U.S. rice industry.

Just after midnight on Friday, July 6, the U.S. government enacted tariffs threatened by President Trump against China, putting a 25 percent border tax on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports.  This recent round of tariffs is an effort by the Trump administration to punish China for what it sees as intellectual property theft, and follows on the heels of tariffs levied against steel and aluminum imports from many origins including China, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union earlier this year.

China swiftly responded with $34 billion of retaliatory tariffs against a range of U.S. goods and commodities.  President Trump has threatened more tariffs of up to $500 billion on Chinese imports in response.

Although China's tariffs have threatened large parts of the U.S. agriculture sector, they do not directly impact rice sales, since China does not currently accept U.S. rice exports.  The bitter back-and-forth retaliation could, however, potentially set back the U.S.'s recent progress with the Chinese government to open up their enormous market to U.S. rice.

"The trade dispute with China will negatively impact our ability to sell into the Chinese market in the short-term," said Todd Burich, with ADM Rice, Inc. and member of the USA Rice International Policy Committee.  "I think it may be difficult for the U.S. rice industry to navigate an agreement with the Chinese government in such a contentious atmosphere."

Closer to home, Mexico, the U.S.'s top rice market, has levied retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. in response to the Trump administration's duties against aluminum and steel imports.  While rice is not on that list, Mexico did temporarily remove tariffs on rice from Asian origins, which presents an opportunity for some of the U.S.'s toughest competitors to swoop into this important market.  Retaliatory tariffs from Canada valued at $12.5 billion have also gone into effect, targeting products from districts represented by Republican lawmakers.

Rice is not on Canada's retaliation list either, however, the tension between the three neighbors caused by the trade dispute is compounded by failure to conclude negotiations to "modernize" the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  Ongoing negotiations among the three countries have missed multiple deadlines, and the President has threatened several times in the last year to exit the agreement.

"We are advocating that the partners of NAFTA come to a solution right away," said Burich.  "It's unclear when that will happen, but there probably won't be a resolution until 2019, after our midterm elections."

Looking east, U.S. rice has been directly targeted by retaliatory tariffs from the European Union of 25 percent, including milled and semi-milled long and medium grain, and broken rice.  This is already affecting shipments to Europe.

Meanwhile, Turkey has also announced increased import duties on U.S. rice.  Exports to Turkey are variable and extremely price sensitive, and any additional duty on U.S. rice in the face of competing suppliers from Russia and Southeast Europe is likely to greatly harm this export market.

The U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is another deal the Trump administration has plans to retool.

According to Carl Brothers, senior vice president & COO of Riceland Foods, the U.S.-Colombia trade deal has been a huge benefit to U.S. rice.  "The agreement opened a new market, and the management of access by auctioning the certificates has generated millions of dollars for U.S. rice research.  We want to preserve this key benefit."

"Agriculture is perhaps the sector most impacted by retaliation to the Trump administration's steel and aluminum tariffs," said USA Rice COO Bob Cummings.  "Many in the rice industry are already experiencing consequences, while others see the administration's trade policies as a necessary hardline, and that once the storm has been weathered the U.S. will be in a stronger position on international trade matters.  In the meantime, USA Rice continues to advocate for a resolution of trade disputes that preserves NAFTA, opens the Chinese market to U.S. rice, and eliminates the retaliatory tariffs that unfairly target rice producers."

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has said that the Trump administration is crafting a strategy to keep U.S. farmers from being harmed by retaliatory tariffs.


Rice plants evolve to adapt to flooding

Date:July 12, 2018
Source:Tohoku University
Summary:
Although water is essential for plant growth, excessive amounts can waterlog and kill a plant. In South and Southeast Asia, where periodic flooding occurs during the rainy season, the water depth can reach several meters for many months.
Temporal morphological changes of rice in deepwater conditions.
Credit: Copyright Takeshi Kuroha, Keisuke Nagai, and Motoyuki Ashikari
Although water is essential for plant growth, excessive amounts can waterlog and kill a plant. In South and Southeast Asia, where periodic flooding occurs during the rainy season, the water depth can reach several meters for many months.
Rice varieties known as "deepwater rice" have developed a unique strategy to ensure their own survival. Deepwater rice grows normally in shallow water but in heavy floods increases its height in keeping with rising water levels, to enable the plants to ride out lengthy floods.
A research team comprising Takeshi Kuroha at Tohoku University, Motoyuki Ashikari at Nagoya University, Susan R. McCouch at Cornell University and colleagues in Japan and the U.S.A., have discovered a gene in rice that is critical to its survival in flood conditions. They have also shed light on its molecular function and evolutionary history.
The research group identified the SD1 (SEMIDWARF1), as a key gene responsible for the deepwater rice's response. The SD1 encodes a biosynthesis enzyme of gibberellin -- a plant hormone. The gene orchestrates the deepwater rice response via a unique gain-of-function allele. When submerged, rice accumulate ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone. Deepwater rice amplify a signaling relay in which the SD1 gene is transcriptionally activated by an ethylene-responsive transcription factor, OsEIL1a.
The resulting SD1 protein directs increased synthesis of gibberellins, largely one of gibberellin species, GA4, which promote vertical growth in the plant. Further analysis revealed that this conditionally functional variation evolved first in a wild ancestor and was then a target of selection during the domestication of cultivated rice adapted to deepwater environments in Bangladesh.
The SD1 gene is well-known as the Green Revolution gene in rice, where a loss-of-function allele of SD1 confers short plant height, providing lodging resistance and increases the harvest index, generating greater grain yields under high input agricultural systems.
A transcriptional gain-of-function allele of the same gene enables deepwater rice to adapt to flooding via the opposite phenotypic response -- an increase in plant height. The ability of SD1 to function in such diverse roles in cultivated rice highlights the inherent plasticity of plant response to its environment.
"Extreme weather events caused by climate change could affect food production worldwide," said Kuroha. "Farmers will need to diversify their methods and the cryptic genetic variation found in wild rice genes may offer adaptive solutions for growing resilient crops."

Story Source:
Materials provided by Tohoku UniversityNote: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:
1.     Takeshi Kuroha, et al. Ethylene-gibberellin signaling underlies adaptation of rice to periodic floodingScience, 2018 DOI: 10.1126/science.aat1577

Tohoku University. "Rice plants evolve to adapt to flooding." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 July 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180712141631.htm>.

Why India Needs to Ditch its Rice Dependency


·       By: Steve Williams
·       July 12, 2018
·       About Steve
·       Follow Steve at @stevenbwriting
India is one of world’s largest producers of rice. While that has created a substantial economic growth, new research highlights how it has also created significant hardships that India must now tackle.
The research, conducted by an international team of scientists including researchers from Columbia University’s Earth Institute, delves into two key commitments made by the Indian government:
·       reducing undernourishment in India
·       promoting sustainable water use
As the research notes, rice production on the scale currently seen across Asia, and specifically in India, means these promises are still not being met.
“If we continue to go the route of rice and wheat, with unsustainable resource use and increasing climate variability, it’s unclear how long we could keep that practice up,” says  Kyle Davis, lead author of the study. “That’s why we’re thinking of ways to better align food security and environmental goals.”
The researchers looked at India’s population and their current health issues. India, like other nations on the Asian continent, has seen a significant population boom. That can be good for a nation, so long as all its people are getting their basic needs met.

TDAP invites applications for int’l exhibition



Social media is furious at Trump’s behaviour with the Queen, see for yourself



Mali ang Math mo! Piñol hits Robredo for using rice cost for politicking

Jul 13, 2018

Images from Facebook: MannyPinol / VP Leni Robredo
Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol is wiling to give Vice President Leni Robredo a briefing on the real state of the country’s agriculture sector after she used rice prices to attack the Duterte administration.
Piñol said Robredo’s “wrong rice Math” was an injustice to farmers in the country.“Two days ago, Vice President Leni Robredo in a press conference, made an off-the-cuff computation on the increase in the cost of rice which she claimed was hurting Filipino consumers using it as a proof that the administration has done little to address rising prices,” Piñol said in a Facebook post.“Not only was her ’40 x 4 = 1,600′ ridiculously and atrociously wrong, it actually showed her lack of profound understanding of the true state of Philippine Agriculture and the poverty that pervades in the farming and fisheries sectors,” he said.
He said Robredo also perpetuated the injustice inflicted on farmers and fishermen who often get the blame whenever prices of rice, fish, meat and vegetables increase. “Going back to the issue of why the price of rice has gone up, the basic and simple answer is it is because the Cost of Living has gone up,” he said.Piñol said Robredo should have asked for briefing from the Department of Agriculture before using the rice issue to get back at the President.
“Even this late, however, I am still offering to give Vice President Robredo a briefing on the State of Philippine Agriculture to help her realize that the ‘Laylayan ng Lipunan’ that she fondly talks about and says have been neglected by government are actually the farmers and fishermen, the very people whose lives will be affected if shecontinues to use the price of rice and other food commodity as a political issue,” he said.

Rice exports post healthy growth in Fiscal Year 2018



Rice exports from Pakistan posted a healthy growth of 28 percent to reach two billion dollar mark in the last fiscal year (FY18). According to Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Pakistan has exported total 4.023 million metric tons of rice amounting to $ 2 billion during FY18 compared to some 3.44 million metric tons rice amounting to $ 1.6 billion exported in FY17, showing a significant growth of 27.7 percent in terms values and 17 percent in terms of quantity.Rafique Suleman Senior Vice Chairman has said that this growth was also become possible due to the recent two tenders of Indonesian authority BULOG for total 200,000 metric tons of Pakistani rice, which fetched a remarkable foreign exchange for our country. Although last year REAP has achieved a milestone but this fiscal year exported may face multiple challenges, he added.

He informed that Kenya has been the largest buyer of Pakistani non basmati rice and Pakistan has exported 439,000 metric tons of rice amounting to $ 171 million during the last fiscal year. "Previously, there was a preferential duty in Kenya for Pakistani rice but Kenya has imposed import duty of 35 percent OR $200 (whichever is higher) of which rice exports to Kenya is declining. He requested Ministry of Commerce, to coordinate Kenyan Government for imposition of preferential duty, so that trade balance between both countries should be stable.

China used to be the 2nd largest buyer of non basmati rice; however exports to china are also on decline. Pakistan has exported 272,000 metric tons of rice during FY18 compared to 589,000 metric tons of rice in FY17. "In the context of CPEC, there are billion dollars investment opportunities and there is need that government of Pakistan must initiate talks with China to include Pakistan in the duty regime like ASEAN countries, so that rice exports to China may again increase", he demanded.

Rafique has also shown serious concerns on the recent reports of shortage of water. He said that other countries like Thailand, Vietnam, China etc. avails 2-3 rice crops in a year and their annual rice production is approximately 100 million tons, whereas our annual rice production is hardly 7 million tons, that is why our rice export is stagnant to some 4 million tons since last many years. He said that after the construction of New Dams, Pakistan can preserve the water like other countries and can also get more than one crop of rice per years which will make revolution in our agricultural industry. "We may generate huge quantity of very low cost electricity which will be useful to cover the shortfall of energy crisis of our country. Every province of the country will be able to get additional millions of acre feet water after the construction of new dams", he added.

He was of the view that it's the need of hour that government of Pakistan should allow rice sowing in more lands, so that we can get more rice to export more rice to get more foreign exchange.

He has shown his concern that there is no Research and Development work has been made in rice trade. "Our Research Departments are really sleeping and Pakistani rice exporters are importing hybrid rice seeds from China on self-made basis to get better yield. We are doing the job, which have to be done by the concerned government departments", he added.

Rafique said that Pakistani rice exporters are putting their extra ordinary efforts for fetching valuable foreign exchange for the growth of economy of our beloved country and making huge investment for installing world's latest rice machinery and most modern technology for value addition in rice. REAP has already requested State Bank of Pakistan for allowing Islamic Financing facility for storage of Agricultural produce.

He informed that REAP is continuously sending trade delegation to various countries for the forceful marketing of Pakistani rice. In this regard, a delegation is planned to visit Brazil, Argentine and Chili. Rafique emphasized that few years back exports of basmati rice were one million tons, whereas in last fiscal year Pakistan has only exported half a million tons basmati rice. One of the largest buyers of Basmati rice was Iran, but due to the non availability of banking channel, Pakistani rice exporters could not export basmati rice to Iran, he mentioned. He also requested the government for appointment of educated and efficient Commercial Secretaries/ Counselors in Pakistani Missions abroad in important rice buying countries. As due to the negligence of some Commercial sections of our missions, Pakistani rice exporters are facing severe hardships in those countries, he added.

On domestic side, these are also multiple challenges. For example, he said, in some cases, exporters have to call back their rice containers return to Pakistan. Unfortunately, Custom department demands overall tax of some 7.5 percent for release of returned commodity container. This is not justified as exporters have already observed huge losses in terms of ports and shipping charges. He appealed the government to waive this huge tax to rice exporters, as despite the 2nd largest export trade this sector has been neglected.

Rafique Suleman Senior Vice Chairman has said that the $2 billion milestone has been achieved by the consistent efforts of Chaudhary Samee Chairman REAP, Hamdullah Khan Tareen Vice Chairman REAP under the leadership and guidance of Abdul Rahim Janoo Former Chairman REAP.

12 July 2018 | Health

FDA Blacklists DANA RICE

 GNA

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) says it has not registered any product with the name DANA RICE, which is purported to have been imported from Pakistan.Preliminary investigations and Market Surveillance so far conducted by the FDA indicated that the product; with a claim that the rice is infested with a virus is not on the Ghanaian market.
A press statement signed and issued to the Ghana News Agency by Mrs Delese Darko, the Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, stated that the FDA had intensified its Surveillance activities across the country, including markets, ports and borders to ensure the product did not find its way into the Ghanaian market.
She entreated the public to verify from the Authority, any information relating to the FDA's mandate before circulating or forwarding such information on social media. She said persons with any additional relevant information on the DANA RICE or any other FDA related issue should contact them through any of the following contacts; 0299802932, 0299802933 and on Short Code: 4015, free on all networks except GLO.

Rice survives long-term floods due to newly discovered genetic mechanism

A farmer inspecting a crop of deep water rice.

By Krishna Ramanujan |

 

Provided
Deepwater rice elongates with rising flood waters, up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) per day, and can reach up to 23 feet (7 meters) tall to keep shoots above water. The chart shows a comparison in growth between normal rice (top) and deepwater rice (bottom) when submerged over a week.
A team of Cornell and Japanese researchers has discovered a new genetic mechanism that allows certain rice plants to survive monthslong floods. When the plant becomes submerged, a rare form of a gene triggers rapid growth to keep shoots above rising water.
In a study published July 13 in Science, the team identified a rare allele (a mutation) of the semi-dwarf 1 (SD1) gene that orchestrates adaptation to deep water. By identifying the allele, breeders may target it to develop new varieties adapted to long-term flood conditions.
“If the water only rises one foot, the plant only grows one foot; if the water rises 20 feet, it can grow to stay ahead of that water,” said Susan McCouch, Cornell professor of plant breeding and genetics and a senior author of the study. Takeshi Kuroha, a plant biologist at Tokohu University, Japan, is the paper’s first author along with Diane Wang Ph.D. ’17, a former graduate student in McCouch’s lab, who is currently a postdoctoral associate at the University at Buffalo. Motoyuki Ashikari, a rice geneticist at Nagoya University, Japan, is also a senior author.
Researchers and breeders have been interested in understanding how to breed plants that naturally sense their environment and respond dynamically to changes in that environment; deep water rice provides an excellent example of that. The allele allows rice plants to grow rapidly under deep water, but only when they are submerged. Otherwise, the plants grow normally.
Through genetic analysis, the team determined that the allele evolved first in a wild rice, Oryza rufipogon, in Bangladesh and was domesticated there by ancient farmers who wanted to grow rice through sustained deep-water floods. To this day, farmers in Bangladesh, Thailand, India, Vietnam and other places that experience long seasonal floods grow cultivated varieties of O. sativa that survive in deep water. Farmers may wade chest-deep or take boats to harvest the grains from the top of the water.
“As climate change triggers radical shifts in weather patterns, other forms of cryptic genetic variation found in wild gene pools may offer adaptive solutions to help breeders fine-tune modern rice varieties to withstand the challenges of future growing conditions,” said McCouch.
During the genetic analysis, McCouch and colleagues were initially surprised to find the rapid elongation trait mapped to a region of the chromosome that was associated with dwarfed plant stature. Decades ago, researchers identified a “loss-of-function” allele of the SD1 gene that reduces stem and leaf elongation during the plant’s vegetative stage but does not affect growth during the reproductive stage. As a result, the plant puts less energy into producing leaf and straw material, and more energy into producing grain, which enhances yield. The “loss-of-function” SD1 allele was exploited by breeders to enhance grain yield during the Green Revolution – a period in the 1960s and 1970s where research and technology increased agricultural production worldwide. The flood-tolerant SD1 allele is a “gain-of-function” allele which directs increased expression of gibberellin, a hormone that promotes stem elongation, and allows the plant to grow rapidly to survive deep water conditions.
For plants with this “gain-of-function” mutation, SD1 gene expression is triggered by a build-up of ethylene gas in the water that occurs when a plant is submerged. The plant chemically senses the ethylene gas which triggers a genetic response that activates the expression of the SD1 gene; the protein the gene expresses then causes a rapid increase in a unique form of the hormone gibberellin, GA4, which promotes rapid stem elongation and growth of the plant.
The “gain-of-function” allele at SD1 is referred to as the deep-water haplotype. The researchers traced this haplotype to wild populations of O. rufipogon in Bangladesh, where it first evolved.
The study was funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Canon Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

STORY CONTACTS

Krishna Ramanujan

No rain in the forecast causes concern for Arkansas farmers

The Arkansas heat is putting stress on the crops.
Author: KTHV
Published: 6:18 PM CDT July 12, 2018
Updated: 6:42 PM CDT July 12, 2018
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The lack of rain in Arkansas is drawing concern from farmers who are running out of water to irrigate fields. University of Arkansas Rice Extension Agronomist, Jarrod Hardke, said the heat is also putting stress on the crops.
"The biggest point is not actually the day time temperatures, but the night time temperatures that don't allow the plants to adequately cool themselves,” Hardke said. "It's very difficult maintain with this heat and how fast the water's being used and evaporating.” He said rice farmers are managing for now, but he said the drought is starting to worry him.
Hardke said farmers are keeping their rice fields flooding in order to maintain, but it is starting to get hard to keep up because of the lack of rain in the forecast.
"We will absolutely see growers who run out of water and are not able to maintain enough moisture to maximize yield,” Hardke said. "We're running through that at a very rapid pace.” He also said farmers have about 30-35 days left of adequate moisture.
Soy Bean Agronomist, Jeremy Ross, said the soybeans are even under more stress.
"Half of our crop is just starting to get into that time where if we have any stress, we can potentially have some significant decreases in yield,” Ross said. He is worried the high temps could create some serious damage. "Larger percentage of the crop is going into reproduction in the next three weeks, looking at the long term forecast, it doesn't look like we're going to break this cycle.”
Hardke said harvesting season for rice doesn't start until next month, so he said farmers are working hard to make sure they have enough irrigation capacity to make it until then.
Gloomy forecast for Vietnam’s rice exports in second half of 2018
By Trung Chanh
Friday,  Jul 13, 2018,18:45 (GMT+7)
Vietnam is likely to face difficulties in exporting rice in the remaining months of the year - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH
CAN THO - Vietnam's rice export prospects in the second half of this year are forecast to be bleak with a price decline, despite impressive exports in the first six months.
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country exported some 604,000 tons of rice worth US$317 million last month, taking the total in the first six months of the year to 3.6 million tons worth US$1.8 billion, up by 24.6% in volume and 42.4% in value year-on-year.
The volume increase was attributed to deals to export rice to Indonesia, the Philippines and Cuba. The increase in the export volume and average export price (up by 13.4% year-on-year to US$505 per ton) led to higher export value.
However, the trend may not continue in the second half of the year as the export prices of rice are forecast to plummet.
According to Lam Anh Tuan, director of Thinh Phat Co., Ltd, Vietnam’s rice prices are higher than those of its rivals, so domestic enterprises have found it difficult to win new contracts to export rice.
Vietnam had secured a government-to-government contract on May 4 to supply 130,000 tons of rice to the Philippines. Thailand also signed contracts to sell 120,000 tons of rice to this market.
However, on May 22, Thailand won a tender to supply 90% of the rice volume needed by the Philippines. Vietnam was an outsider as it set a much higher price compared to Thailand.
Explaining Vietnam’s decision to not lower the price to compete with Thailand, Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of private firm Van Loi, said the company had purchased rice from farmers at high prices.
Currently, Thailand’s rice price is lower than that of Vietnam. The Thai Rice Exporters’ Association reported a price of US$398 per ton for 5% broken rice, while the price for the same rice is US$403-407 in Vietnam.
Tuan believes that many domestic rice exporters will reduce their prices to win rice export contracts in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Finance has imposed new import tariffs of 50% on unhusked and whole-grain rice, and 5% on broken rice imported from ASEAN countries starting July 1. This will affect Vietnam’s rice exports as 30% of Vietnamese rice is annually shipped to its northern neighbor.

FAO estimates North Korean rice output in 2018 at last year's level

2018/07/13 10:22
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SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's rice production in the fall of 2018 is estimated to be similar to last year's volume of about 1.6 million tons, an American broadcaster said Friday, citing a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Voice of America said the FAO also estimated the North's corn output to remain almost unchanged from last year at about 2.4 million tons.
An undated file photo shows North Korean farmers harvesting rice. (Yonhap)
According to the FAO, North Koreans are expected to consume 58.4 kilograms of rice and 81 kg of corn per person this year, which means the per-capita daily consumption of rice and corn amounts to just 380 grams, compared with the U.N. recommendation of 600 grams.
In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a similar report, estimating the North's rice output this fall at 1.6 million tons, up slightly from 1.55 million tons a year earlier.
The U.S. department, which uses satellites and other research methods to monitor the North's crop cultivation, forecast that Pyongyang's rice imports would reach 80,000 tons this year.

NFA’s announcement to import rice causes commission of graft — Pangilinan

 July 13, 2018, 9:08 PM
By Mario Casayuran
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Friday the announcement by the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice causes the commission of graft.
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (via kikopangilinan.com | Manila Bulletin)
Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), issued the statement following an NFA announcement that it is considering importing another 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice due to the depletion of the agency’s stocks.NFA administrator Jason Aquino said his office would propose to the interagency NFA Council the importation of the 500,000 MT during the next Council meeting.
But Pangilinan fired off the following questions:
Who benefits from a premature disclosure to import huge volumes of rice? Rice traders who make a killing in the sudden spike in rice prices as well as corrupt government officials who receive kickbacks because of this artificial price spike. The premature announcement of rice imports will only exacerbate increase in rice prices to the detriment of the buying public, many of whom are poor.
Why is this so? The Philippines is one of the world’s largest importers of rice. Thus, when international rice traders get advance information regarding these plans, their response is to increase rice prices in anticipation of our purchases. This can be seen as price manipulation.
What should have been done? The plan to purchase or import rice should be a closely guarded secret and public disclosure made only when the bidding process is to be undertaken.
How else is the rice-buying public, especially the poor, disadvantaged by the early announcement? The expensive purchase of rice imports by government places the country deeper into debt since NFA rice purchases are paid through government borrowings.
The announcement has already been made, what can be done? Reject high bids. As chairperson of the NFA Council, we rejected bids that were too high. We rejected bids 4 times in a span of 1 year and a half. In the first instance, rice prices went down by 30 dollars per ton the week after the rejection. Overall, we saved the government P6 billion in rice imports and slashed the average price of rice imports by as much as 120 dollars per metric ton from 2010 prices.
Aquino had said his office is planning to submit the proposal as soon as possible.
‘’We do not want a repeat of what happened [in the past month,’’ he said.
The plan of NFA to import was made during the launch of NFA Kontra Abuso hotline last Thursday.
Aquino expected that once approved, ideal arrival would be October to December because during this time prices in the world market are low.
‘’We can get the best deals from foreign suppliers – low price but still good quality. It’s a win-win for us,” he added.
The NFA proposal is designed to boost its buffer stock inventory which is currently at 2.5 days only or about 1.6 million bags when it is supposed to have a 30-day buffer stock during the lean season.
NFA data showed that total consumption would reach 14.1 million MT this year but production is seen to reach only 12.26 million MT. This means that the 1.8 million MT shortfall will have to be imported.
“Unless they increase our buying price, we would need to resort to importation. We are also proposing for the increase in preparation for the lifting of the quantitative restriction,” Aquino said.
Chinese officials inspecting Indian mills for imports of non-basmati rice: Indian government source
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese officials have been inspecting Indian rice mills to import non-basmati rice, a senior Indian government official told reporters on Friday.Beijing is also examining India’s proposal to export raw sugar to China, said the official who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.China is a leading importer of rice and sugar, while India is the world’s biggest exporter of rice.
 JULY 13, 2018 / 1:23 PM


Gloomy forecast for Vietnam’s rice exports in second half of 2018
By Trung Chanh
Friday,  Jul 13, 2018,18:45 (GMT+7)
Vietnam is likely to face difficulties in exporting rice in the remaining months of the year - PHOTO: TRUNG CHANH
CAN THO - Vietnam's rice export prospects in the second half of this year are forecast to be bleak with a price decline, despite impressive exports in the first six months.
According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country exported some 604,000 tons of rice worth US$317 million last month, taking the total in the first six months of the year to 3.6 million tons worth US$1.8 billion, up by 24.6% in volume and 42.4% in value year-on-year.
The volume increase was attributed to deals to export rice to Indonesia, the Philippines and Cuba. The increase in the export volume and average export price (up by 13.4% year-on-year to US$505 per ton) led to higher export value.
However, the trend may not continue in the second half of the year as the export prices of rice are forecast to plummet.
According to Lam Anh Tuan, director of Thinh Phat Co., Ltd, Vietnam’s rice prices are higher than those of its rivals, so domestic enterprises have found it difficult to win new contracts to export rice.
Vietnam had secured a government-to-government contract on May 4 to supply 130,000 tons of rice to the Philippines. Thailand also signed contracts to sell 120,000 tons of rice to this market.
However, on May 22, Thailand won a tender to supply 90% of the rice volume needed by the Philippines. Vietnam was an outsider as it set a much higher price compared to Thailand.
Explaining Vietnam’s decision to not lower the price to compete with Thailand, Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of private firm Van Loi, said the company had purchased rice from farmers at high prices.
Currently, Thailand’s rice price is lower than that of Vietnam. The Thai Rice Exporters’ Association reported a price of US$398 per ton for 5% broken rice, while the price for the same rice is US$403-407 in Vietnam.
Tuan believes that many domestic rice exporters will reduce their prices to win rice export contracts in the near future.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Ministry of Finance has imposed new import tariffs of 50% on unhusked and whole-grain rice, and 5% on broken rice imported from ASEAN countries starting July 1. This will affect Vietnam’s rice exports as 30% of Vietnamese rice is annually shipped to its northern neighbor.

NFA’s announcement to import rice causes commission of graft — Pangilinan

 July 13, 2018, 9:08 PM
By Mario Casayuran
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Friday the announcement by the National Food Authority (NFA) to import rice causes the commission of graft.

Sen. Kiko Pangilinan (via kikopangilinan.com | Manila Bulletin)
Pangilinan, president of the opposition Liberal Party (LP), issued the statement following an NFA announcement that it is considering importing another 500,000 metric tons (MT) of rice due to the depletion of the agency’s stocks.
NFA administrator Jason Aquino said his office would propose to the interagency NFA Council the importation of the 500,000 MT during the next Council meeting.
But Pangilinan fired off the following questions:
Who benefits from a premature disclosure to import huge volumes of rice? Rice traders who make a killing in the sudden spike in rice prices as well as corrupt government officials who receive kickbacks because of this artificial price spike. The premature announcement of rice imports will only exacerbate increase in rice prices to the detriment of the buying public, many of whom are poor.
Why is this so? The Philippines is one of the world’s largest importers of rice. Thus, when international rice traders get advance information regarding these plans, their response is to increase rice prices in anticipation of our purchases. This can be seen as price manipulation.
What should have been done? The plan to purchase or import rice should be a closely guarded secret and public disclosure made only when the biddi ng process is to be undertaken.
How else is the rice-buying public, especially the poor, disadvantaged by the early announcement? The expensive purchase of rice imports by government places the country deeper into debt since NFA rice purchases are paid through government borrowings.
The announcement has already been made, what can be done? Reject high bids. As chairperson of the NFA Council, we rejected bids that were too high. We rejected bids 4 times in a span of 1 year and a half. In the first instance, rice prices went down by 30 dollars per ton the week after the rejection. Overall, we saved the government P6 billion in rice imports and slashed the average price of rice imports by as much as 120 dollars per metric ton from 2010 prices.
Aquino had said his office is planning to submit the proposal as soon as possible.
‘’We do not want a repeat of what happened [in the past month,’’ he said.
The plan of NFA to import was made during the launch of NFA Kontra Abuso hotline last Thursday.
Aquino expected that once approved, ideal arrival would be October to December because during this time prices in the world market are low.
‘’We can get the best deals from foreign suppliers – low price but still good quality. It’s a win-win for us,” he added.
The NFA proposal is designed to boost its buffer stock inventory which is currently at 2.5 days only or about 1.6 million bags when it is supposed to have a 30-day buffer stock during the lean season.
NFA data showed that total consumption would reach 14.1 million MT this year but production is seen to reach only 12.26 million MT. This means that the 1.8 million MT shortfall will have to be imported.
“Unless they increase our buying price, we would need to resort to importation. We are also proposing for the increase in preparation for the lifting of the quantitative restriction,” Aquino said.

Thai exporters working on new strain of rice to raise competitiveness

Source: Xinhua   2018-07-13 15:43:22
BANGKOK, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Thai rice exporters are working with farmers to promote production of a new strain of rice to help raise Thai rice competitiveness in the world market.
Charoen Laothamatas, president of Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Xinhua that Thailand needs to produce what the market wants, "not what we want to produce."
He said Thai farmers currently produce mostly hard-texture rice, which is favored by consumers in the Middle East and India.
As producing more of soft-texture rice could help sell higher volume to countries such as China, Charoen said the project of promoting soft-texture rice with Thai farmers will start in August this year in central region of the country, which is the key rice-growing region with the best irrigated land.
"This is a pilot project," he said, adding that he expected the production will be about 4,000-5,000 tons of soft-texture rice from the initial phase.
The project will be funded by Thai Rice Exporters Association.  

Rice Prices

as on : 13-07-2018 11:21:56 AM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.
Arrivals
Price
Current
%
change
Season
cumulative
Modal
Prev.
Modal
Prev.Yr
%change
Rice
Cachar(ASM)
80.00
33.33
2520.00
2400
2400
9.09
Gauripur(ASM)
43.60
-22.14
1923.60
4500
4500
NC
Lakhimpur(UP)
32.00
33.33
282.00
2270
2310
4.61
Devariya(UP)
28.00
12
1800.50
2145
2150
0.47
Sahiyapur(UP)
17.50
NC
2275.00
2160
2160
-
Barhaj(UP)
14.00
-91.25
276.00
2160
2160
-
Mahoba(UP)
10.60
-34.57
405.10
2270
2195
-
Alappuzha(Ker)
10.00
NC
70.00
6750
6850
50.84
Auraiya(UP)
7.00
16.67
957.70
2300
2350
4.55
Khurja(UP)
6.00
-14.29
702.00
2600
2600
-
Mirzapur(UP)
6.00
33.33
646.50
2215
2210
-
Dibrugarh(ASM)
5.50
-3.51
513.90
2920
2920
29.78
Mugrabaadshahpur(UP)
2.30
15
4.30
2250
2250
-
Balarampur(WB)
1.81
-0.55
59.48
2660
2640
13.19

Bernas unit urges govt to review rice delivery permits
The Edge Financial Daily
July 13, 2018 10:40 am +08
This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on July 13, 2018.
KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Faiza Sdn Bhd, a 51% subsidiary of the country’s sole rice importer PadiBeras Nasional Bhd (Bernas), is asking the government to review the issuance of permits to deliver rice products interstate and intercity, claiming the current system is slowing down its business.
“We are not talking about the approved permit (AP) as that comes under Bernas. We are talking about the permit required to deliver products among cities and states,” Syarikat Faiza managing director Faiza Bawumi Sayed Ahmad told reporters after meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons yesterday.
According to Faiza, the government introduced the permit system for food security reasons during the colonial era, as rice is considered the country’s staple food.
“Now that the communists are no longer in the country, the government should consider reviewing the issuance of this particular permit.
“Perhaps this permit is still valid to curb rice smuggling, but it is slowing down business. For our part, we are required to deliver to the outlets in time and any delay caused by issues related to this delivery permit will result in us being penalised,” she lamented.
Under the agriculture ministry, the government issues a licence to qualified persons or entities to trade and sell rice products in a retail market, starting with 10,000kg.
Faiza declined to comment on the government’s move to terminate Bernas’ monopoly in the rice industry. “I have no comment on that, as that is at Bernas’ level,” she said.
Shortly after his appointment as the agriculture and agro-based industry minister, Salahuddin Ayub announced that the Cabinet had agreed to terminate Bernas’ monopoly to protect the interests of local paddy farmers.


First 'low' in the series forms, may bring heavy rain to Bengal, Odisha

Satellite image as of 4.30 pm IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 13
The first of the two anticipated low-pressure areas has formed over the North-West Bay of Bengal, which promises to change the complexion of the monsoon over East and Central India.
India Met Department (IMD) has predicted a mostly westerly track for the system after it dumps heavy rain over Odisha and Bengal, before tracking across Chhattisgarh, East and West Madhya Pradesh.
Worthwhile successor
It might die out over there, only because a heavily endowed successor would have made its way into Bengal and Odisha, intensifying into a depression or even deep depression by July 23. Earlier, the US Climate Prediction Centre had said that the familiar tracks that 'low's are known to tread over North India would stay active until July 27/28.
The hyperactive twosome are expected to help reduce the rain deficit over East India, including Odisha and Bengal, which are known to be the playgrounds for monsoon 'low's. While the rain deficit has been climbing up over the East, Saurashtra and Kutch to the West looked to improve its position thanks to late but intermittent showers being reported from there.
The rainfall deficit thus far during the season stands reduced to 70 per cent in Saurashtra and Kutch but in East India, the comparably smaller deficit had been inching up. IMD said that heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy falls were observed at isolated places over East Gujarat region, while it was heavy to very heavy over Saurashtra & Kutch overnight on Friday.
Saurashtra downpour
Heavy to very heavy rain was also reported from Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, South Interior Karnataka and Chhattisgarh during this period. It was heavy rain over Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Rajasthan, East Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, hills of Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Kerala and Interior Tamil Nadu.
IMD said that the successor 'low' is expected to take shape by July 19 (Thursday next). It could intensify rapidly and become a depression/deep depression over Bengal itself.
It could bring a belt of heavy to very heavy or even extremely heavy rainfall over the North-Eastern States, Bengal, Odisha, Jharlhand, and Bihar by July 23. It would still have a few more days of active live left, with its track of onward movement determining the spread of rainfall.
IMD seemed to emphasise on the shape of things to come by saying that the all-important monsoon would lie along its normal position into the next week, facilitating enhanced rain activity. It also seemed to bet on the possibility that the monsoon might revive over East and North-East India after two to three days, with the initiation of the depression/deep depression.
Published on July 13, 2018


Rice Imports By Benin, Niger Republic Rises
July 13, 2018
 By YUSUF BABALOLA …
As Nigeria slams restriction Foreign rice imports by neighbouring Benin Republic, Niger and Cameroon from Thailand has increased sporadically while import to Nigeria decreases, LEADERSHIP investigation has shown. Analysts have argued that the sharp increase was fuelled by the federal government’s policy on imported rice in Nigeria which restricts rice importers from accessing the official foreign exchange (forex) market. This policy implies that those who import items under foreign exchange restriction can no longer buy foreign currency from the official window to pay the overseas suppliers. Rather, they would have to source forex from the parallel market or bureau de change (BDCs) to pay for their imports. But, the policy has cut down rice imports into Nigeria drastically that Nigeria had not received vessel of traded rice since 2017. Also, the 10 per cent import duty with 60 per cent levy and Benin Republic crashing its own tariff from 35 per cent to a paltry seven per cent, while Cameroon introduced a zero per cent duty policy on the commodity, down from 10 per cent is fueling smuggling of parboiled rice into Nigeria. In the entire West African region, only Nigerians eat parboiled rice. Benin Republic with a population of 8.02 million and Togo’s 7.06 million people cannot consume the massive rice imported to their countries. According to data from the Thai Rice Exporters Association, rice imports from Thailand to Benin Republic rose from 805,765 MT in 2015, when Nigeria introduced the policy to 1,427,098 metric tonnes (MT) in 2016. It further rose to 1,814,014MT in 2017, importation from January to May 2018 has risen to 625,863 MT in first five months of the year. Cameroon also experienced an upsurge in importation from 449,297 MT in 2015 to 502,254 MT in 2016, and 749,008 MT in 2017.
 The tiny central African country bordering Nigeria has recorded 185,707 MT of imported rice from Thailand from January to May 2018. On the other hand, the importation of foreign parboiled rice by Togo increased from 54,086 MT in 2016 to 132,978MT in 2017 and currently stood at 100,996 as at May 2018. Ironically, while the rice vessels call to Nigerian ports have continue to decrease, neighbouring countries continue to experience increase in vessels. Statistics showed that importation of parboiled rice into Nigeria decreased from 1,239,810 MT in 2014 to 644,131 MT in 2015.
It further decreased to 58,260 MT in 2016 to 23,192 MT in 2017, and January to May statistics showed that Nigeria has imported a paltry 2,351MT in 2018. Corroborating the Thai Rice Exporters Association, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said since 2017, Nigeria has not received traded rice in Apapa ports. Speaking when members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) paid him a courtesy visit at the command in Lagos recently, the controller of the command, Comptroller Jubril Musa, disclosed that the CBN has not issued Form M to any rice importer. The Customs CAC said no single vessel of traded rice berthed in Apapa ports in the last two years.
 Consequently, the command, he said, has not recorded any revenue on imported rice through the ports within the reviewed period. He said, “Form M issuance is not within the purview of the Nigeria Customs Service. It is a document that is sourced from CBN. If we see any consignment that has form M, we treat. All goods imported that are for commercial activities must have form M whether valid for foreign exchange or not valid. CBN does that and we only treat when we see but throughout last year to date, no importation of rice has passed through Apapa. So we have not collected any duty on rice through the port.”

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hZ7cjspB2NAJ:https://leadership.ng/2018/07/13/rice-imports-by-benin-niger-republic-rises/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=pk

/ 1:23 PM / A DAY AGO
Chinese officials inspecting Indian mills for imports of non-basmati rice: Indian government source
Reuters Staff
JULY 13, 2018
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Chinese officials have been inspecting Indian rice mills to import non-basmati rice, a senior Indian government official told reporters on Friday.Beijing is also examining India’s proposal to export raw sugar to China, said the official who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media.China is a leading importer of rice and sugar, while India is the world’s biggest exporter of rice.Reporting by Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Krishna N. Das.


Source : Jang 14 July,2018 Lahore Edition


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