Executive Q&A: Betsy Ward, President & CEO USA
Rice Federation
In
late December 2018, Congress and President Donald Trump completed work on the
$867 billion federal Farm Bill, putting in place the five-year framework for
the nation’s agricultural policy. The five-year federal agricultural policy and
spending measure includes a provision that legalizes industrial hemp and does
not include work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP), also known as food stamps, a contentious point of debate that bottled
up the bill for months.
Among
the highlights touted by federal officials are improving risk management
programs; protecting crop insurance; funding trade development; and investing
in the future with funding for agri research and beginning farmer programs.
In
early January 2019, Betsy Ward, president and CEO of USA Rice Federation, was
in Stuttgart for a half-day conference to help rice farmers understand the new
federal policy as well as to hear from other state and national speakers. Talk
Business & Politics CEO Roby Brock visited with Ward at the Stuttgart
conference to learn more about some of the lesser-known aspects included in the
Farm Bill.
Roby
Brock: The
Farm Bill has an interesting marketing provision in it that will allow farmers
in Arkansas to do something in Cuba that they haven’t been able to do before.
Tell me more about that.
Betsy
Ward: Overall,
we’re really pleased with the Farm Bill. We worked a long time to basically
maintain the provisions that we had on the 2014 Farm Bill, which worked very
well for rice. But one of the tweaks that they made was there’s a program
that’s funded through the Farm Bill, called the export promotion programs that
are managed by USDA. They tweaked it to allow some funding to be used to
promote in Cuba, which is kind of interesting since we haven’t really been
doing much in Cuba under the Trump administration.
Brock: At the same time, there
still is the credit restriction that has been in place, which has hampered
efforts to try to do deals with Cuba on top of the fact that there’s still U.S.
policy against it. How does all of that work together?
Ward: You’re right. They need
cash. They [Cubans] don’t have a lot of money and so the inability of our banks
to basically loan money, to give credit to Cubans really restricts their
ability to buy a lot of U.S. ag products. They want to buy our rice and corn and
chicken and all those things, but the ability to at least go down and promote
our products is a step in the right direction. We’d like to see, obviously,
more overall opening and Congressman Rick Crawford has been a real champion of
that here in Arkansas. We appreciate all he’s done.
Brock: At the time of our talk,
we’re in the middle of a federal government shutdown. We also continue with a
trade war with China in which both countries are placing tariffs on one
another’s products. Eventually, something will change on both fronts. When that
does, what opportunities might we see for Arkansas rice producers in China as a
result of previous efforts?
Ward: So we’ve been working on
market access to China for over 10 years. The issue had been the lack of something
called a signatory protocol, which we negotiated an agreement with China last
July. It was signed. Probably within a few days of it being signed was when the
Trump administration announced the tariffs on steel and aluminum and then other
products from China, so the Chinese stopped the forward progress that we were
making on rice. There has been a renewed effort. There’s a delegation trying to
relieve some of the pressure on agriculture, soybeans in particular, but also
rice, is at the top of the list. So we are fairly optimistic that the Chinese
will allow rice imports now, and so we’re just looking for the first offer to
come. They basically announced between Christmas and New Year’s that they were
open for business for rice. Now, they need to actually buy something. But this
is potentially a huge market for all of us.
Brock: How big?
Ward: Well, what’s big in China,
what’s big in the United States are two different things, but they import a lot
of rice. It’s kind of surprising. They grow more rice than any other country in
the world, but they also stockpile a lot of rice for food security reasons, so
they’ve been importing tremendous amounts. We think even if it’s a couple
hundred thousand metric tons, that will be a shot in the arm for the industry.
That’s our hope, is a few hundred thousand metric tons to begin with, and then
we’ll see.
NFA: Rice buffer stock enough for 78 days
Philippine Daily Inquirer /
05:16 AM February 09, 2019
The
country’s rice buffer stock as of January remains sufficient and is expected to
last for more than two months, according to a monitoring report by the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Rice
inventory from the National Food Authority (NFA), households, and commercial
warehouses reached 2.5 million metric tons (MT), up 11.4 percent from its level
a year ago but 6.23 percent less than the available stocks the month prior.
With a daily rice requirement of 32,000 MT, this is equivalent to 78 days’
worth of stocks.
Nearly half
of the total, or about 1.25 million MT, were stored in households, while 1.21
million MT were in commercial warehouses. Around 97,000 MT of rice, mostly
imported, were in NFA depositories.
Rice stocks
level in the household and NFA depositories declined by 18.4 percent and 4.14
percent from the previous month’s levels, respectively, while stocks in commercial
warehouses increased by 10.65 percent.
Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said they were expecting harvest this first semester
to be bountiful given favorable weather conditions, while the expected
enactment of the Rice Tariffication Bill was seen to amp up national supply.
The bill would allow rice imports to flow freely into the country while giving
ample protection for local farmers.
As of the
fourth week of January, PSA data showed retail prices of regular-milled and
well-milled rice registered slight decreases, while the average farm-gate price
of palay continued to decline for the fourth consecutive week.
Industry
groups are expecting the farm-gate price of palay to decline further with the
onset of the harvest season and the entry of imported rice.
Imports
commissioned by the NFA last year continued to arrive in the country. As of
Feb. 4, nearly 80 percent of the imports have already come in while the
remaining volume should arrive before the end of the first quarter.
More imports
are expected to flood the market following the directive of President Duterte
to ease the restrictions on importing agricultural commodities, including rice.
Nonetheless,
NFA said it has been assisting local rice farmers with its aggressive
procurement activities. For January, it was able to procure 146,319 bags of
palay—way above its previous year’s level of 320 bags.
Both the
Department of Agriculture and the NFA see no shortfall happening in the
country’s rice supply anytime soon.
https://business.inquirer.net/264763/nfa-rice-buffer-stock-enough-for-78-days#ixzz5f1sJ2xBU
https://business.inquirer.net/264763/nfa-rice-buffer-stock-enough-for-78-days#ixzz5f1sJ2xBU
NFA: Rice buffer stock enough for 78 days
Philippine Daily Inquirer /
05:16 AM February 09, 2019
The
country’s rice buffer stock as of January remains sufficient and is expected to
last for more than two months, according to a monitoring report by the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Rice
inventory from the National Food Authority (NFA), households, and commercial
warehouses reached 2.5 million metric tons (MT), up 11.4 percent from its level
a year ago but 6.23 percent less than the available stocks the month prior.
With a daily rice requirement of 32,000 MT, this is equivalent to 78 days’
worth of stocks.
Nearly half
of the total, or about 1.25 million MT, were stored in households, while 1.21
million MT were in commercial warehouses. Around 97,000 MT of rice, mostly
imported, were in NFA depositories.
Rice stocks level
in the household and NFA depositories declined by 18.4 percent and 4.14 percent
from the previous month’s levels, respectively, while stocks in commercial
warehouses increased by 10.65 percent.
Agriculture
Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said they were expecting harvest this first semester
to be bountiful given favorable weather conditions, while the expected
enactment of the Rice Tariffication Bill was seen to amp up national supply.
The bill would allow rice imports to flow freely into the country while giving
ample protection for local farmers.
As of the
fourth week of January, PSA data showed retail prices of regular-milled and
well-milled rice registered slight decreases, while the average farm-gate price
of palay continued to decline for the fourth consecutive week.
Industry
groups are expecting the farm-gate price of palay to decline further with the
onset of the harvest season and the entry of imported rice.
Imports
commissioned by the NFA last year continued to arrive in the country. As of
Feb. 4, nearly 80 percent of the imports have already come in while the
remaining volume should arrive before the end of the first quarter.
More imports
are expected to flood the market following the directive of President Duterte
to ease the restrictions on importing agricultural commodities, including rice.
Nonetheless,
NFA said it has been assisting local rice farmers with its aggressive
procurement activities. For January, it was able to procure 146,319 bags of
palay—way above its previous year’s level of 320 bags.
Both the
Department of Agriculture and the NFA see no shortfall happening in the
country’s rice supply anytime soon.
Egypt eyes
cultivating rice in Gabon
Gabon’s Foreign Minister Abdu
Razzaq Guy Kambogo (L) with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) on the
sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd African Union Summit in Addis
Ababa on February 8, 2019- Press photo
Fri, Feb. 8, 2019
CAIRO
– 8 February 2019: Egypt eyed planting rice, one of the basic commodities for
90 million population, in Gabon after the Egyptian government shrank the
cultivated areas of rice due to water shortage it faces.
In his meeting with Gabon’s Foreign Minister Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the possibility of allocated joint lands in Gabon to cultivate rice, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Egypt has turned into rice importer following the governmental measures reducing the rice-cultivated areas; on May 21, 2018, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified amendments to the Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, per which the government will determine the areas to cultivate certain water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane.
The cultivated areas will be shrunk in the coming seasons as a result of water scarcity, given that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water. Egypt needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water annually to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, of which 55.5 billion cubic meters come from the Nile and less than 5 billion cubic meters come from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert.
During the Friday meeting, the both foreign ministers also tackled the bilateral cooperation in woood industry as Egypt aims to establish a wood factory in the Egyptian Economic Zones (EZones) in Suez governorate, the statement added.
Shoukry also extended his congratulations to Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo for assuming the post of Gabon’s Foreign Ministry in January, the statement said.
In his meeting with Gabon’s Foreign Minister Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the possibility of allocated joint lands in Gabon to cultivate rice, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Egypt has turned into rice importer following the governmental measures reducing the rice-cultivated areas; on May 21, 2018, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified amendments to the Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, per which the government will determine the areas to cultivate certain water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane.
The cultivated areas will be shrunk in the coming seasons as a result of water scarcity, given that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water. Egypt needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water annually to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, of which 55.5 billion cubic meters come from the Nile and less than 5 billion cubic meters come from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert.
During the Friday meeting, the both foreign ministers also tackled the bilateral cooperation in woood industry as Egypt aims to establish a wood factory in the Egyptian Economic Zones (EZones) in Suez governorate, the statement added.
Shoukry also extended his congratulations to Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo for assuming the post of Gabon’s Foreign Ministry in January, the statement said.
Local rice millers lament
smuggling of foreign rice into Nigeria
by
Tunde Ososanya - Rice smuggling into Nigeria has become a source of
concern for local rice millers and farmers in the country - Local rice millers
say massive rice smuggling into the country is threatening their confidence and
ability - The rice millers lamented that this is happening in spite of the fact
that the importation of the product by land is prohibited Babatunde Ajibola,
head, media and communications, Elephant Group Plc, on Friday in Lagos said
that massive rice smuggling into the country is threatening the confidence and ability
of local rice millers and farmers. Ajibola said this in an interview with the
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the outcome of rice stakeholders meeting in
Lagos on Thursday, February 7. Legit.ng gathers that he noted that a visit to
major rice markets, such as Iddo, Daleko, Ketu, Mile 12, Alaba and Sango-Ota,
revealed that the various brands on display were imported with few or no local
ones.
Olupohunda He said: “This unprecedented
flooding of the nation’s major markets with smuggled imported rice is of great
concern to investors in rice, Agro companies and farmers in spite of
government’s ban on the products. “We highlighted at the stakeholders meeting
we just-concluded now, that almost all the varieties of rice in the market
presently are foreign and they come through the land borders. “This is
happening in spite of the fact that the importation of the product by land is
prohibited. “Smuggling of foreign rice into the country has become a big
business which calls for a serious attention. “The influx of smuggled rice has
rendered local rice milling companies and farmers inactive as the local rice
produced are not patronised due to difference in their prices.
“This of course, does not encourage
local production or help in boosting investors’ confidence in the rice
industry.” Ajibola noted that rice smuggling into the country would soon
translate into massive job loss for Nigerians working in the local rice
production companies. He called on the federal government to put a stop to the
massive smuggling of rice into country if its quest to encourage local
production was anything to go by. Ajibola said that millers and farmers had
invested heavily on the local production of rice in line with the government 's
agricultural plan. He said the federal government’s plan to boost local
production of rice by placing ban on the importation of foreign rice might not
work as local rice would not be able to compete with foreign rice. Ajibola said
that while smugglers were smiling to the bank, major Nigerian key players in
the local rice business were gnashing their teeth and slipping into debt. He
said that smuggled rice also posed serious health hazard for consumers as some
had expired and did not undergo adequate quality standards check to certify
them good for consumption. Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the
federal government said Nigeria was no longer importing rice needed to be
consumed by Nigerians across the country. Speaking at the maiden edition of the
Nigeria Policy Development (N-PoD) summit, on Tuesday, February 5, a special
assistant to the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, development finance,
Nduka Eluhaiwe, said the president Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had
ensured an end to rice importation. The event themed: “Interrogating the Change
Agenda: Challenges and Lessons Learnt” was organised by the office of the
special assistant to the president on policy development and analysis. NAIJ.com
(naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Customs Seize
N1bn Worth of Codeine: Importation of Fairly-Used Bags, Shoes Banned | Legit: https://www.legit.ng/1220675-local-rice-millers-lament-smuggling-foreign-rice-nigeria.html
Smuggling Of Foreign Rice Threatening Our
Confidence, Says Local Rice Millers
Babatunde Ajibola, Head, Media and Communications, Elephant
Group Plc, on Friday in Lagos said that massive rice smuggling into the country
was threatening the confidence and ability of local rice millers and farmers.
Babatunde Ajibola, Head, Media and Communications, Elephant
Group Plc, on Friday in Lagos said that massive rice smuggling into the country
was threatening the confidence and ability of local rice millers and farmers.Ajibola said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the outcome of rice stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Lagos.
He noted that a visit to major rice markets, such as Iddo, Daleko, Ketu, Mile 12, Alaba and Sango-Ota, revealed that the various brands on display were imported with few or no local ones.
He said: “This unprecedented flooding of the nation’s major markets with smuggled imported rice is of great concern to investors in rice, Agro companies and farmers in spite of government’s ban on the products.
“We highlighted at the stakeholders meeting we just-concluded now, that almost all the varieties of rice in the market presently are foreign and they come through the land borders.
“This is happening in spite of the fact that the importation of the product by land is prohibited.
“Smuggling of foreign rice into the country has become a big business which calls for a serious attention.
“The influx of smuggled rice has rendered local rice milling companies and farmers inactive as the local rice produced are not patronised due to difference in their prices.
“This of course, does not encourage local production or help in boosting investors’ confidence in the rice industry.”
Ajibola noted that rice smuggling into the country would soon translate into massive job loss for Nigerians working in the local rice production companies.
He called on the Federal Government to put a stop to the massive smuggling of rice into country if its quest to encourage local production was anything to by.
Ajibola said that millers and farmers had invested heavily on the local production of rice in line with the government agricultural plan.
He said the Federal Government’s plan to boost local production of rice by placing ban on the importation of foreign rice might not work as local rice would not be able to compete with foreign rice.
Ajibola said that while smugglers were smiling to the bank, major Nigerian key players in the local rice business were gnashing their teeth and slipping into debt.
He said that smuggled rice also posed serious health hazard for consumers as some had expired and did not undergo adequate quality standards check to certify them good for consumption.
Massive rice
smuggling’ threatening local production — Group
Bags of rice
Babatunde Ajibola, head media and communications, Elephant Group
Plc, on Friday in Lagos said that massive rice smuggling into the country was
threatening the confidence and ability of local rice millers and farmers.
Mr Ajibola said this in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) on the outcome of rice stakeholders meeting on Thursday in Lagos.
He noted that a visit to major rice markets, such as Iddo, Daleko,
Ketu, Mile 12, Alaba and Sango-Ota, revealed that the various brands on display
were imported with few or no local ones.
“This unprecedented flooding of the nation’s major markets with
smuggled imported rice is of great concern to investors in rice, Agro companies
and farmers in spite of government’s ban on the products.
“We highlighted at the stakeholders meeting we just-concluded
now, that almost all the varieties of rice in the market presently are foreign
and they come through the land borders.
“This is happening in spite of the fact that the importation of
the product by land is prohibited.
“Smuggling of foreign rice into the country has become a big
business which calls for a serious attention,” he told NAN.
“The influx of smuggled rice has rendered local rice milling
companies and farmers inactive as the local rice produced are not patronised
due to difference in their prices.
“This of course, does not encourage local production or help in
boosting investors’ confidence in the rice industry.”
Mr Ajibola noted that rice smuggling into the country would soon
translate into massive job loss for Nigerians working in the local rice
production companies.
He called on the Federal Government to put a stop to the massive
smuggling of rice into country if its quest to encourage local production was
anything to by.
Mr Ajibola said that millers and farmers had invested heavily on
the local production of rice in line with the government agricultural plan.
He said the Federal Government’s plan to boost local production
of rice by placing ban on the importation of foreign rice might not work as
local rice would not be able to compete with foreign rice.
Mr Ajibola said that while smugglers were smiling to the bank,
major Nigerian key players in the local rice business were gnashing their teeth
and slipping into debt.
He said that smuggled rice also posed serious health hazard for
consumers as some had expired and did not undergo adequate quality standards
check to certify them good for consumption.
PDS scam: FIR against top cops for
destroying evidence
| TNN | Updated: Feb 9, 2019, 12:22 IST
RAIPUR:
In a double twist in the multi-crore PDS scam, state
Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR against DGP Mukesh Gupta and SP
Rajnesh Singh late Thursday night for alleged illegal
phone tapping and interception of messages, criminal
conspiracy and forgery. On Friday, the EOW officer, whose statement led to the
FIR, moved high court to claim he was pressurized to implicate them.
HC refused to entertain the petition of EOW inspector R K Dubey at this stage, saying that "it will open the flood gates”. “If such a course is adopted, then both executive and judicial function will come in conflict,” the court said.
Both IPS officers were with EOW in the erstwhile BJP administration — Gupta, in fact, headed it — and are now being investigated by the same wing.
“All telephone interceptions were lawful and with the approval of home department in every case,” said Gupta. It was under Gupta that the scam was exposed. He was transferred to police HQ by the Congress government, and Singh, of 1997 batch, was shifted as SP of Narayanpur district. Ever since it came to light in 2015, the Congress — which was in opposition then — has been describing it as the “mother of all scams”, claiming that it’s worth over Rs 36,000 crore. The FIR was registered after EOW’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that certain documents had been “tampered” with whiteners, say sources. “Subsequent probe led to revelation of alleged fabrication of documents, criminal conspiracy and many other omissions and commissions, including issues related to unlawful interception of messages,” EOW SP Kalyan Elesela told TOI.
HC refused to entertain the petition of EOW inspector R K Dubey at this stage, saying that "it will open the flood gates”. “If such a course is adopted, then both executive and judicial function will come in conflict,” the court said.
Both IPS officers were with EOW in the erstwhile BJP administration — Gupta, in fact, headed it — and are now being investigated by the same wing.
“All telephone interceptions were lawful and with the approval of home department in every case,” said Gupta. It was under Gupta that the scam was exposed. He was transferred to police HQ by the Congress government, and Singh, of 1997 batch, was shifted as SP of Narayanpur district. Ever since it came to light in 2015, the Congress — which was in opposition then — has been describing it as the “mother of all scams”, claiming that it’s worth over Rs 36,000 crore. The FIR was registered after EOW’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) found that certain documents had been “tampered” with whiteners, say sources. “Subsequent probe led to revelation of alleged fabrication of documents, criminal conspiracy and many other omissions and commissions, including issues related to unlawful interception of messages,” EOW SP Kalyan Elesela told TOI.
During the SIT probe, investigators noticed over-writing in many official documents, and some seemed to have been fabricated through back-dating, said EOW sources. When some clerks were questioned, they said they were ordered to do so by senior officials of EOW.
After
Congress came to power, DGP Mukesh Gupta — under whose tenure the NAN scam was
exposed — was shifted to PHQ. The Bhupesh Baghel government set up an SIT in
January 2019 as it felt the probe wasn’t conducted properly during the BJP
regime and that many influential persons, who were allegedly involved in the
scam, were deliberately left out.
One
of the key issues was that the earlier probe had investigated only six pages of
a diary — seized in a raid on state civil supplies corporation office — which
contained 107 pages with names of alleged beneficiaries of the scam. It’s
alleged that names of many politicians and bureaucrats figure in the diary.
The anti-corruption bureau had named 27 accused in the PDS scam — popularly known as NAN scam from Nagarik Aapoorti Nigam — and filed two chargesheets. Among them are two IAS officers. According to ACB, the corporation allowed rice millers to supply poor quality PDS rice to the BJP-led state government in lieu of commission, which was then distributed among some government officials. During the raids, ACB seized around Rs 4 crore in cash from the drawers of bureaucrats.
The anti-corruption bureau had named 27 accused in the PDS scam — popularly known as NAN scam from Nagarik Aapoorti Nigam — and filed two chargesheets. Among them are two IAS officers. According to ACB, the corporation allowed rice millers to supply poor quality PDS rice to the BJP-led state government in lieu of commission, which was then distributed among some government officials. During the raids, ACB seized around Rs 4 crore in cash from the drawers of bureaucrats.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67906127.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Can dried fruits benefit blood sugar management?
By
-
February 8, 2019
Researchers investigated the
benefits of dried fruits and how they affect blood sugar spikes when compared
to other carbohydrates.
Fruits are widely recommended for
achieving stability in health mainly due to their high anti-oxidative effects.
Fruits are rich in vitamins and essential minerals important for ensuring
adequate support for growth, repair, detoxification, and immune support needed
for stability and longevity.
Food such as rice, white bread,
most cereals, potatoes, pasta, beans, lentils, oat grains and barley are all
rich in carbohydrates. When these carbohydrates are digested in the body, the
body processes them as glucose. Fruits also contain carbohydrates but when they
are digested, the end product is fructose. Both glucose and fructose are
different forms of sugar absorbed in the blood.
Carbohydrates raise blood sugar
levels faster than other food sources
The rate at which the different
forms of sugar is released into the blood determines the rate at which the
blood sugar rises. This forms the basis of most sugar-related disease
conditions including diabetes, obesity, Cushing’s disease, insulin-resistant
conditions, and other metabolic imbalances. This response, termed the glycemic
index response, is a way to explain how different sources of carbohydrates
affect blood sugar levels.
Studies have shown that some
carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index raise the blood sugar faster than
other food sources. Food such as potatoes, white bread, and rice may raise the
blood sugar faster than oat, beans, barley or pasta because these are digested
more slowly resulting in gradual increase in blood sugar and less demand on
insulin. Fresh fruits have also been found not to raise the blood sugar as much
as other carbohydrates.
In a recent study
published in
the journal Nutrition & Diabetes, researchers in Toronto
conducted a randomized, multiple cross-over trial involving 10 healthy men and
women to investigate how dried fruits can influence the rate at which blood
sugar rises when compared with other carbohydrates.
The participants each underwent
15 separate study meals. The meals consisted of three white bread meals
(control group) and 12 dried fruit test meals. The test meals included each of
four dried fruits – dates, apricots, raisins, and sultanas. Some participants
received the white bread with dried fruits while some received only the dried fruits.
Dried fruits were associated with
lower blood-sugar spikes
This study found that the
individuals who ate white bread with dried fruits had a lower rate in blood
sugar spikes (lower glycemic response), and lower after-meal blood sugar spike
(postprandial glycemic response). This was thought to be due to the ability of
fructose (the sugar in dried fruits) to displace sucrose (the sugar in white
bread) in the digestive pathway unlike those that received white bread alone
who showed higher blood sugar spike. Those that had the dried fruits alone had
a much lower blood-sugar spike (lower glycemic index).
This study is in support of
previous studies that demonstrated the efficacy of dried fruits in reducing
rate of blood sugar surge and the insulin level following a meal compared to
the blood sugar surge in those who ate other carbohydrate meals alone.
This study demonstrated that
dried fruits reduces the blood sugar response when taken in combination white
bread and may be a very promising benefit for those living with diabetes and
insulin resistance conditions due to their ability to lower blood-sugar spikes.
Dried fruits were found to
prevent a surge in the blood sugar even when consumed with other carbohydrates
and it was also found to be very beneficial in the control of post-meal blood sugar
spikes.
Longer trials needed to confirm
if dried fruits can be used in diabetes management
In conclusion, the researchers determined
that dried fruits have a strong component for the regulation of blood sugar and
they do not raise the blood sugar as much as other carbohydrates. They can also
displace the glycemic effect of other carbohydrates when taken together.
Therefore, the use of dried fruits should be employed in the management of
those living with diabetes or prediabetic state.
However, the researchers
suggested the need for a longer-term trial to confirm if dried fruits can offer
a sustainable improvement in blood sugar
control and management of diabetes and prediabetic
state.
Written by Ijeoma C. Izundu, MBBS
References:
1.
Viguiliouk E, Jenkins A, Blanco
Mejia S, Sievenpiper J, Kendall C. Effect of dried fruit on postprandial
glycemia: a randomized acute-feeding trial. Nutrition & Diabetes.
2018;8(1).
2.
Study finds four dried fruits
have lower glycemic index (GI) than white bread [internet]. EurekAlert!. 2019
[cited 10 Decemember 2018]. Available from:
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-12/smh-sff121018.php
USA
Rice Members Update and Educate on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC -- USA Rice's Government Affairs Conference
wrapped up here after four days of meetings in and around the nation's
capital. About 150 members from all six rice-producing states took part
in more than 90 meetings with Senators, Representatives, their staffs, and
members of the Trump Administration.
Of particular interest was Farm Bill implementation, trade issues, and rice pretenders.
"It's not a secret that all the conflict in Washington is impacting government results, but the last Congress did get a Farm Bill through, and we opened every meeting by thanking the Members who voted for it and the staff on the Agriculture Committees for what was a very heavy lift," said Charley Mathews, Jr., a California rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice. "But we are also looking at a large freshman class, many of whom are on the ag committees but don't have a lot of experience in the sector, at least not with rice. So there was a lot of education going on as well, which is very important as we move to the Farm Bill implementation phase."
Of particular interest was Farm Bill implementation, trade issues, and rice pretenders.
"It's not a secret that all the conflict in Washington is impacting government results, but the last Congress did get a Farm Bill through, and we opened every meeting by thanking the Members who voted for it and the staff on the Agriculture Committees for what was a very heavy lift," said Charley Mathews, Jr., a California rice farmer and chairman of USA Rice. "But we are also looking at a large freshman class, many of whom are on the ag committees but don't have a lot of experience in the sector, at least not with rice. So there was a lot of education going on as well, which is very important as we move to the Farm Bill implementation phase."
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Rep. Collin
Peterson
gets a laugh |
|
USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward said the rice
pretender issue struck chords with several Members.
"The Standard of Identity issue goes beyond rice and processed vegetables mislabeling themselves as rice," she said. "The dairy industry and the meat industry are all facing similar issues so many Members were familiar with the notion of mislabeled foods creating consumer confusion. There was a lot of interest in clearing things up for American consumers."
And with about 50 percent of the annual U.S. rice crop exported each year, there is rarely a USA Rice - government meeting that doesn't at least touch on the topic of trade.
"The Standard of Identity issue goes beyond rice and processed vegetables mislabeling themselves as rice," she said. "The dairy industry and the meat industry are all facing similar issues so many Members were familiar with the notion of mislabeled foods creating consumer confusion. There was a lot of interest in clearing things up for American consumers."
And with about 50 percent of the annual U.S. rice crop exported each year, there is rarely a USA Rice - government meeting that doesn't at least touch on the topic of trade.
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Rep. Mike Conaway
tells Farm Bill tales |
"Our champions are well-aware of our goals here -
expanded existing markets such as Mexico, Japan, and Iraq, and finding new
opportunities in promising markets such as China," said Sarah Moran, USA
Rice vice president international. "In addition to updating Members
on developments in these and other markets, we also had the opportunity to push
for increased funding for USDA programs that promote U.S. ag products overseas
on which we and many commodities rely."
At the wrap-up meeting on Wednesday afternoon, USA Rice Vice President Government Affairs Ben Mosley thanked USA Rice members for taking time away from their farms and businesses to come to Washington and advocate on behalf of industry issues they face each and every day. "We also appreciate Members of Congress and their staffs for meeting with our members this week," he added.
At the wrap-up meeting on Wednesday afternoon, USA Rice Vice President Government Affairs Ben Mosley thanked USA Rice members for taking time away from their farms and businesses to come to Washington and advocate on behalf of industry issues they face each and every day. "We also appreciate Members of Congress and their staffs for meeting with our members this week," he added.
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#RiceOnTheHill: USA Rice
members meet with Rep. Clay Higgins
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Thank
You for Your Service
WASHINGTON, DC -- This week during the annual
Government Affairs Conference, USA Rice presented Skylar Sowder and Trevor
White with the USA Rice Congressional Staff Award in appreciation for their
contributions to the U.S. rice industry.
Sowder is the legislative assistant for Senator John Boozman (R-AR) handling agriculture and related issues. Prior to joining Boozman's staff, she worked on the House Agriculture Committee for both former chairmen, Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Mike Conaway (R-TX). White is on the House Agriculture Committee staff, working for Conaway on commodity support programs and crop insurance.
"We couldn't think of more deserving individuals to receive these awards this year," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "Skylar and Trevor are true champions for the rice industry and we are very happy to honor them for the work they do."
Sowder is the legislative assistant for Senator John Boozman (R-AR) handling agriculture and related issues. Prior to joining Boozman's staff, she worked on the House Agriculture Committee for both former chairmen, Representatives Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Mike Conaway (R-TX). White is on the House Agriculture Committee staff, working for Conaway on commodity support programs and crop insurance.
"We couldn't think of more deserving individuals to receive these awards this year," said Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs. "Skylar and Trevor are true champions for the rice industry and we are very happy to honor them for the work they do."
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WASDE
Report Released
WASHINGTON, DC -- This month's outlook for 2018/19 U.S. rice is for larger supplies, higher use, and increased ending stocks. 2018/19 all rice production is 224.2 million cwt, up nearly 6 million cwt from the previous estimate and up 26 percent from last year with long-grain accounting for most of the increase. The all rice average yield is estimated at 7,692 pounds per acre, up 170 pounds from the prior estimate and the second highest on record. Long grain production is raised to 164.0 million cwt and medium and shortgrain production is raised to 60.3 million. All rice domestic and residual usage is increased by 2 million cwt to 135 million on higher than expected usage for August-November as implied by the NASS Rice Stocks report. Projected U.S. all rice exports are increased by one million cwt to 100 million, with the increase for long grain on reduced competition expected from Brazil with a smaller crop. Projected 2018/19 all rice ending stocks are increased 2.9 million cwt to 47.1, up 60 percent from last year. The projected 2018/19 all rice season-average farm price range is unchanged at $11.60 to $12.60 per cwt.
Global 2018/19 rice supplies are increased by 5.1 million tons to 657.9 million, mostly on higher production for China. Based on National Bureau of Statistics data, China's 2018/19 rice production is raised nearly five million tons to 148.5 million and is virtually unchanged from last year. World 2018/19 consumption is increased 700,000 tons to 490.3 million on higher expected use in China, Nepal, and the Philippines more than offsetting reduced use in Brazil and Nigeria. Global 2018/19 trade is lowered marginally to 47.7 million tons as reduced exports by Cambodia, Thailand, and Burma are not completely offset by higher Chinese exports. Because of greater supplies and competitive export prices, China's exports are raised to the highest level since 2002/03. Nevertheless, China remains the largest global rice importer at 4.5 million tons. World ending stocks are projected to increase to a record-large 167.6 million tons, led by China, which accounts for 69 percent of global stocks.
Go here to read the full report.
USA Rice Daily
Farmers urged to adopt ‘lucrative’
long grain rice
Rwanda Agriculture Board urged rice
farmers to adopt long grain rice to get the market of their harvest. Sam Ngendahimana. Rwanda Agriculture
Board (RAB) has urged rice farmers to adopt long grain rice due to its high
demand and the high price it fetches. That was said Tuesday by RAB General
Director Patrick Karangwa while addressing an issue raised by farmers that they
do not have market for their harvest, especially in Nyagatare. He advised them
to adopt and grow the long grain rice to meet its high demand and to increase
their benefit as that variety is now at a high price. “We have 37 rice
varieties. Of those, 29 are long grain, while only eight are short grain known as Kigoli but still short
grain rice occupies 60 per cent of rice grown in Rwanda. Farmers tend to prefer
growing kigoli for its higher yield.
However,
long grain rice is lighter and has higher market preference. We have
stepped up efforts to streamline rice seed systems and extension,” he said
“Kigoli is not a bad variety as some think. It is also delicious. But its
preference has been higher in the countryside, while long grain is most
preferred in towns and restaurants”. He noted that there is no lack of good
varieties in Rwanda. It is just which ones are being used by farmers mostly.
“We have many varieties but now that it’s obvious that our consumers like long
grain rice, we have to meet their demand,” he noted. Karangwa also said that
MINICOM has now set prices that help address the problem; long grain price is
assigned a higher price. Farmers are now expected to grow more the long grain
rice. Long grain for Rwf290 and short grain Rwf270.
David
Claudian Mushabe, The Mayor of Nyagatare District, said that they are aware of
that problem and are working with concerned organs to address it. “There are
three cooperatives that still have no market. More than a half of their harvest
is still in stores. We know the problem and we are working on it. Besides, we
are also encouraging farmers to adopt the long grain rice to meet the demand as
it is the one most popular in Rwanda,” he noted. Appolinaire Gahiza the
President of Rwanda Rice Farmers Federation (FUCORIRWA) said farmers like the short
variety because of its higher yield and resistance to disease. “RAB has many
varieties but may not match with our climate and could cause losses. That is
the main reason for not growing other varieties. Meanwhile, we keep on
sensitizing farmers to grow what consumers want,” he emphasised.
Rice stocks climb at start
of 2019
PHILSTAR
THE COUNTRY’S rice stocks
totalled 2.55 million metric tons (MT) as of Jan. 1, up by 11.40% from the
previous year’s level of 2.29 million MT, the Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) said on Friday. 
PSA’s Rice and Corn Stocks
Inventory report showed that rice stocks increased in commercial warehouses but
went down in households and warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA).
Inventories in commercial
warehouses increased by 40.59% to 1.21 million MT as of Jan. 1 from 857,280 MT
the previous year.
Meanwhile, household stocks
decreased by 5.88% to 1.25 million MT as of the start of the year from 1.33
million MT a year ago. NFA stocks also declined to 97,910 MT from 100,860 MT
last year.
Household stocks contributed
48.91% to the total inventory of the staple at of Jan. 1, while commercial
stocks comprised 47.25% and NFA warehouses, 3.84%.
Meanwhile, the PSA reported that
the average farmgate price of palay was logged at P19.73 per kilogram (/kg) in
the fourth week of January, down 0.30% from P19.79/kg a week ago.
Average wholesale price of
well-milled rice was at P41.50/kg in the fourth week, lower by 0.17%. Average
retail price of well-milled rice, on the other hand, was at P45/kg in the
fourth week, down 0.27% from the previous week.
On the other hand, the average
wholesale price of regular milled rice was at P38.25/kg, declining by 0.21%
from the prior week, while average retail price was at P41.16/kg, down 0.60%,
according to the PSA.
CORN STOCKS
As for the country’s corn stocks inventory, the total as of Jan. 1 was at 676,130 MT, down 28.95% from 951,600 MT at the start of 2018.
As for the country’s corn stocks inventory, the total as of Jan. 1 was at 676,130 MT, down 28.95% from 951,600 MT at the start of 2018.
Commercial warehouses’ stocks
decreased by 36.03% to 560,520 MT as of Jan. 1 from 876,180 MT the previous
year. Household stocks, meanwhile, increased by 54.17% to 115,610 MT from 74,990
MT year-on-year.
Meanwhile, NFA held zero stocks
of corn as of Jan. 1.
PSA data showed that the average
farmgate price of yellow corngrain fell by 0.57% to P13.90/kg in the fourth
week of January from P13.98/kg the previous week. Its average wholesale price,
meanwhile, rose 0.05% to P20.31/kg from P20.30/kg.
The average retail price of
yellow corngrain also went up 0.28% to P25.18/kg in the fourth week of January
from P25.11/kg a week ago.
White corngrain’s average
farmgate price, meanwhile, remained at P13.98/kg in the fourth week of January.
Its average wholesale price also remained at P20.80/kg, while average retail
price was steady at P28.12/kg. — RJNI
Rice exports see solid demand due to competitive US prices
Demand from the mills is said to be quiet, but exports are going
strong, with US prices deemed competitive in Latin America and the Caribbean
Basin.
Published
February 7, 2019
Wheat
Winter Wheat markets were mixed
again last week after a good rally on Friday pulled Chicago SRW and Minneapolis
Spring markets higher, but left HRW with slight losses. Futures rallied on
Friday on news that Ethiopia had tendered for 450,000 tons of world Wheat and
that US Wheat would be considered and would be price competitive. Traders were
waiting for demand news or at least some signs of improved demand. The only
demand news released by USDA was the weekly export sales report from December
20, and this news was too old to affect prices. USDA said it would catch up
with the weekly reports by the end of the month. The China meetings last week
in Washington apparently ended on a positive note, and there is hope for some
demand from that country as well as others as US Wheat remains competitively
priced. They were also keeping an eye on the weather as extreme and record cold
that invaded the US Midwest last week. The SRW crop could be at risk,
especially in areas ill little or no snow cover. Some early estimates said that
up to 20% of that crop could have been lost or damaged. There are no
reports of damage so far from the Great Plains. USDA said that the January
reports will be released with the February reports on February 8. The Wheat
Seedings report could easily show that not all of the Winter Wheat got planted
in the Midwest and Great Plains due to wet conditions in the Fall planting
period. The price action has been positive and implies that higher prices are
possible in the short to medium term. However, prices are working in a range
for now.
Weekly Chicago Soft Red Winter Wheat Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Chicago Hard Red Winter Wheat Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Minneapolis Hard Red Spring Wheat Futures © Jack Scoville
Corn
Corn was higher on Friday, but a little lower for the week as the
market. Oats were also lower for the week. The first weekly export sales report
since the government shutdown was released and it showed strong demand. The
report was from December 20 and was considered too old to do much for prices.
USDA will catch up on the rest of the weekly reports by late this month. USDA
will issue the January reports along with the February reports on Friday. The
Corn data for last year is expected to show reduced production. Demand could be
a little weaker as well, especially with the current weakness in the ethanol
market. It remains dry and hot in central and northern Brazil, but the weather
patterns are starting to change and feature at least some showers in important
Winter Corn growing areas. The Soybeans harvest is expanding in Mato Grosso and
Parana, and farmers will be ready to plant the winter Corn once the Soybeans
are out. The harvest pace and planting pace have been ahead of normal there and
also in Parana. The Corn market still finds increased selling interest when
prices try to get close to the 390 March area, and has been able to find
support near 370 March. Trends are currently sideways on the daily charts and
sideways on the weekly charts.
Weekly Corn Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Oats Futures © Jack Scoville
Soybeans and
soybean meal
Soybeans and Soybean Meal were lower last week as movement was
seen in the US-China trade dispute. There was apparently good progress made at
the talks, and word was leaked that any deal now would include a commitment
from China to buy another five million tons of US Soybeans. There was talk that
China had already bought at least one million tons. This news allowed Soybeans
to rally for most of Friday, but late selling took the market well off the
highs and futures closed near the lows of the day.
Trends are sideways on the
weekly charts for these markets, and the fundamentals of big supplies might
keep rallies in check. US Soybean Meal supplies should be increasing as
crushers look to produce Soybean Oil due to higher prices in that product, and
Soybean Meal trends are starting to turn down. There are plenty of Soybeans to
sell from the US and South America. USDA released its first weekly export sales
report since the shutdown and announced part of the sale of about 5.0 million
tons to China that were made in the last month. It will catch up with the
weekly reports by late this month. It will release the January reports along
with the February reports on Friday. Soybeans remain a weather market. South
American weather remains too wet in Argentina and southern Brazil and too dry
in western Parana and parts of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. These
weather trends are finally starting to change, but it is too late to help most
Soybeans in Brazil. There have been reports of losses in the early harvest
areas of western Parana and Mato Grosso. Private Brazil production estimates
range from about 110 million tons to about 115 million tons.
Weekly Chicago Soybeans Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Chicago Soybean Meal Futures © Jack Scoville
Rice
Rice was a little higher Friday and slightly lower for the week in
very quiet trading. Weekly charts show that futures are near strong resistance
areas, and the quiet tone in the cash market is reflecting the lack of farmer
interest in selling. Demand from the mills is said to be quiet, but export
demand should be solid as US prices are competitive into Latin America and the
Caribbean Basin. Basis levels remain generally firm in Arkansas, but are weak
in Texas. The Arkansas market needs a little Rice and is not getting much offer
from the producers. Basis levels have shown some weakness near the Gulf coast
due to light demand. Producers do not seem interested in further sales at this
time, and prices are too cheap for them right now. South American weather has
not been good for growing Rice, and internal prices there have not interested
producers. Ideas are that production will be less in Mercosur again this year.
The weather is a problem in the US as it has been too wet near the Gulf Coast
for producers to begin fieldwork.
Weekly Chicago Rice Futures © Jack Scoville
Palm oil and
vegetable oils
World vegetable oils prices were mostly a little lower on reports
and ideas that demand is improving. Only Palm Oil managed to close with slight
gains on ideas of stronger demand. Exports from Malaysia have improved, and
production should be starting a seasonal decline. Malaysian export taxes are
0%, and Indian import taxes are currently very low and allow for imports at
profitable prices. Trading interest in Palm Oil will be limited this week due
to the Lunar New Year holiday. Daily charts show and weekly charts show futures
mostly in up trends, especially for Palm Oil and Soybean Oil. Canola is the
weaker market as the Canadian Dollar has been strong and due to worries about
Chinese demand. Soybean Oil closed slightly lower despite Palm Oil strength and
better demand ideas. Domestic and export demand is thought to be stronger due
to biofuels demand as Soy bean Oil is cheaper into some areas than Palm Oil.
Weekly Malaysian Palm Oil Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Chicago Soybean Oil Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly Canola Futures © Jack Scoville
Cotton
Cotton was a little lower last week and trends are sideways on the
daily and the weekly charts. Weak overall demand continues to impact the US
market, but word of smaller supplies is providing the support. USDA showed good
export demand on its first weekly export sales report since the shutdown, but
the data was deemed too old to offer any support to prices. USDA will catch up
with the weekly data by late this month and will release the January data along
with the February data at the end of this week. Ideas are that Cotton
production can be reduced as some of the crop was left in the fields well into
the Winter season. US producers report that there is still a lot of Cotton out
in the fields to be harvested, and the quality of the fiber is going down. At
least some of the unharvested crop might have to be abandoned. World production
and supplies are going still lower due to bad weather in the growing season for
major producers around the world, including India, Pakistan, and Australia.
India and Pakistan are expected to import more Cotton this year to cover the
short domestic production. China had problems with its growing weather, too,
and has been forced to import a lot of Cotton this year. Demand for US Cotton
has been disappointing. China has not bought any US Cotton this year and has
been active in other markets, especially India. The US has had disputes this
year with other major importers such as Turkey, and this could impact demand
for the US. US prices are down and China might start to look at the US crop,
but there have been worries about the quality of the US crop due to some extreme
growing conditions in Texas and the Southeast over the Summer and Fall. Ideas
are that the quality worries have kept some importers of US Cotton away from
the market.
Weekly US Cotton Futures © Jack Scoville
Frozen
concentrated orange juice and citrus
FCOJ was higher on
Friday, and higher for the week in reversal trading. Trends are now sideways on
the weekly charts. A reversal higher often happens at this time of year.
The market has absorbed speculative long liquidation and producer selling
through the Winter as no freeze has developed. Longer range forecasts show that
there is little chance for a freeze to develop this month, and then it will be
getting to be too late for a freeze to be seen in the state of Florida. The
Oranges harvest is active in Florida as the weather is warm and mostly dry. The
fruit is abundant, but arrivals to packinghouses and processors are reported
behind last year. Florida producers are seeing small sized to good sized fruit,
and work in groves maintenance is active. Irrigation is being used in all areas.
Packing houses are open to process fruit for the fresh market, and all
processors are open in the state to take packing house eliminations and fresh
fruit. Mostly good conditions are reported in Brazil, and some beneficial rains
should be seen this week.
Weekly FCOJ Futures © Jack Scoville
Coffee
Futures were lower on Friday and lower for the week in both New
York and London. New York failed once again to turn trends up, but prices still
held the recent trading range. Weekly chart trends are sideways in London.
Brazil should be getting past the gut slot of its harvest, and the strong
export pace from the country should start to turn down. Brazil had a big
production year for the current crop, but the next crop should be less as it is
the off year for production. Ideas are that the current production of 62 or 63
or more million bags can become about 52 million bags next year. El Nino is
fading, but remains in the forecast, and Coffee areas in Brazil could be
affected by drought that could hurt production even more. Many areas are dry
now, but showers are in the forecast for this week. Vietnam is active in its
harvest. Selling will be less this week due to the Lunar New Year holiday.
Production in Vietnam is estimated less than 30 million bags due to uneven
weather during the growing season.
Weekly New York Arabica Coffee Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly London Robusta Coffee Futures © Jack Scoville
Sugar
Both markets moved lower on Friday, but a littler higher for the
week. The weekly charts in both markets show mixed trends and the market
appears to be searching for a direction at this time. Petroleum futures appear
to have made some short term lows at this time, and petroleum futures strength
seems to be helping change the tone in Sugar. Brazil has been using a majority
of its Sugarcane harvest to produce ethanol this year instead of Sugar. Unica
reported that In the season from April 1 through Jan. 16, the mills crushed
562.7 million tons of cane, down 3.6% from the same period a year earlier.
Sugar production fell nearly 27% to 26.4 million tons, and ethanol output rose
almost 20% to 30.2 billion liters. The production mix for the season through
Jan. 16 was 35.5% sugar to 64.5% ethanol. A year earlier, the mix was 46.9%
sugar and 53.1% ethanol. There are doubts on just how much production will be
seen this year in India. Northwest India had been experiencing hot and dry
weather that could cut yields. It has not announced a reduction in its export
goal of 5.0 million tons this year, but it appears that the country will not
export nearly that much. Some industry sources told wire services that exports
could be only half of the target. The government is now exploring ethanol use
for the surplus. Dry conditions continue in northern Brazil and there are
frequent rains in Rio Grande do Sul. Very good conditions are reported in
Thailand, but the next production could be less as farmers might switch to
other crops due to low prices for Sugarcane. Thailand has crushed 45.1 million
tons of Sugarcane this year, from 34.6 million last year. It has produced 4.5
million tons of Sugar, from 3.4 million tons last year.
Weekly New York World Raw Sugar Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly London White Sugar Futures © Jack Scoville
Cocoa
Futures closed lower for the week in New York and lower in London
as the new main crop harvest continues in West Africa. Trends are down. The
outlook for strong production in the coming year is still around, and ports are
said to have plenty of Cocoa on offer. The main crop harvest is active in West
Africa. Harmattan winds and hot and dry conditions have moved into West Africa.
The winds have stayed to the north of primary production areas so far this
season. These conditions can take moisture out of the soil very rapidly and
cause some very significant stress on the trees. Conditions appear good in East
Africa and Asia. Demand is said to be improving as offers from the new harvest
start to increase.
Weekly New York Cocoa Futures © Jack Scoville
Weekly London Cocoa Futures © Jack Scoville
—
DISCLAIMER: This article
expresses my own ideas and opinions. Any information I have shared are from
sources that I believe to be reliable and accurate. I did not receive any
financial compensation for writing this post, nor do I own any shares in any
company I’ve mentioned. I encourage any reader to do their own diligent
research first before making any investment decisions.
Jack Scoville is a futures market analyst specializing in grains,
softs, rice, oilseeds, and tropical products such as coffee and sugar. In
addition to writing daily market commentaries in both English and Spanish, he
offers brokerage services to an international clientele of agricultural
producers, processors, exporters, and other professional traders. He is
regularly quoted by major wire services including Dow Jones, AP, and Reuters.
His comments are sourced by newspapers around the world and on various radio
and television programs.
Duterte to sign
rice tariffication bill despite opposition
February 7, 2019
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is slated to sign the bill lifting restrictions
on rice importations despite opposition from industry stakeholders, Malacañang
said on Thursday, February 7.
The President met Wednesday, February 6 with rice industry stakeholders, who urged that certain provisions of the bill be vetoed.
They raised concern that the measure would affect the farmers' livelihood and availaility of rice for poor consumers.
"Well, the long and short of it is that those he (Duterte) met last night were against [the rice tariffication bill]," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
"But according to the President, the policy would be to the greater good. Yun ang ibibigay niya. So kahit na kumontra sila, mukhang itutuloy niya (That's what he wants. So despite the opposition, he would push through with the signing)," he added.
In October last year, the President certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent to address the urgent need to improve rice supply in the country, prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.
A month after the certification of the measure as urgent, the bicameral conference committee ratified the report on the proposed measure aimed at lifting quantitative restrictions on rice importation and allowing private traders to import commodity from countries of their choice.
Under the bill, a 25-percent duty will be imposed on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states, while a 50-percent rate will apply to imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
The measure would also create the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or a special rice buffer fund with an initial P10-billion annual fund, in a bid to ensure rice production competitiveness.
Asked as to when Duterte would sign the rice tarrification bill, Panelo merely said: "It would be forthcoming." (SunStar Philippines)
The President met Wednesday, February 6 with rice industry stakeholders, who urged that certain provisions of the bill be vetoed.
They raised concern that the measure would affect the farmers' livelihood and availaility of rice for poor consumers.
"Well, the long and short of it is that those he (Duterte) met last night were against [the rice tariffication bill]," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
"But according to the President, the policy would be to the greater good. Yun ang ibibigay niya. So kahit na kumontra sila, mukhang itutuloy niya (That's what he wants. So despite the opposition, he would push through with the signing)," he added.
In October last year, the President certified the rice tariffication bill as urgent to address the urgent need to improve rice supply in the country, prevent artificial rice shortage, reduce the prices of rice in the market, and curtail the prevalence of corruption and cartel domination in the rice industry.
A month after the certification of the measure as urgent, the bicameral conference committee ratified the report on the proposed measure aimed at lifting quantitative restrictions on rice importation and allowing private traders to import commodity from countries of their choice.
Under the bill, a 25-percent duty will be imposed on rice imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) member-states, while a 50-percent rate will apply to imports from non-members of the regional bloc.
The measure would also create the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund or a special rice buffer fund with an initial P10-billion annual fund, in a bid to ensure rice production competitiveness.
Asked as to when Duterte would sign the rice tarrification bill, Panelo merely said: "It would be forthcoming." (SunStar Philippines)
Egypt eyes cultivating
rice in Gabon Saturday
February 9, 2019
Gabon’s
Foreign Minister Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo (L) with Egyptian Foreign Minister
Sameh Shoukry (R) on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd
African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on February 8, 2019- Press photo
Fri, Feb. 8, 2019
CAIRO – 8
February 2019: Egypt eyed planting rice, one of the basic commodities for 90
million population, in Gabon after the Egyptian government shrank the
cultivated areas of rice due to water shortage it faces.
In his meeting with Gabon’s Foreign Minister Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the possibility of allocated joint lands in Gabon to cultivate rice, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Egypt has turned into rice importer following the governmental measures reducing the rice-cultivated areas; on May 21, 2018, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified amendments to the Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, per which the government will determine the areas to cultivate certain water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane.
The cultivated areas will be shrunk in the coming seasons as a result of water scarcity, given that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water. Egypt needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water annually to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, of which 55.5 billion cubic meters come from the Nile and less than 5 billion cubic meters come from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert.
During the Friday meeting, the both foreign ministers also tackled the bilateral cooperation in woood industry as Egypt aims to establish a wood factory in the Egyptian Economic Zones (EZones) in Suez governorate, the statement added.
Shoukry also extended his congratulations to Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo for assuming the post of Gabon’s Foreign Ministry in January, the statement said.
In his meeting with Gabon’s Foreign Minister Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo on the sidelines of the preparatory meetings of the 32nd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed the possibility of allocated joint lands in Gabon to cultivate rice, said Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement.
Egypt has turned into rice importer following the governmental measures reducing the rice-cultivated areas; on May 21, 2018, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi ratified amendments to the Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, per which the government will determine the areas to cultivate certain water-intensive crops such as rice and sugarcane.
The cultivated areas will be shrunk in the coming seasons as a result of water scarcity, given that one feddan of rice consumes 7,000 cubic meters of water. Egypt needs at least 105 billion cubic meters of water annually to cover the needs of more than 90 million citizens. However, it currently has only 60 billion cubic meters, of which 55.5 billion cubic meters come from the Nile and less than 5 billion cubic meters come from non-renewable subterranean water in the desert.
During the Friday meeting, the both foreign ministers also tackled the bilateral cooperation in woood industry as Egypt aims to establish a wood factory in the Egyptian Economic Zones (EZones) in Suez governorate, the statement added.
Shoukry also extended his congratulations to Abdu Razzaq Guy Kambogo for assuming the post of Gabon’s Foreign Ministry in January, the statement said.
Cambodian Rice Federation says Cambodian rice
exports continues despite EU imposed tariffs
00:0005:28
EU has imposed tariffs on rice imports from Cambodia
(Meng Phalla)
Cambodian Rice Federation has
claimed that the decision to tax on Cambodian rice imported into the European
Union has not blocked Cambodia's rice exports, just demanding Cambodia to
strengthen its competitiveness by reducing costs and expand the market.
By
Meng Phalla
Published on
Friday, February 8, 2019 - 16:40
File size
10.02 MB
Duration
5 min 28 sec
Paddy procurement
apace in Bengal; hits 35% of target
Shobha Roy Kolkata | Updated on February
08, 2019 Published on February 08, 2019
A file photo of women harvesting paddy crop at a field in
Birbhum district of West Bengal - PTI
State plans to buy 52 lakh tonnes
The West Bengal government has
completed a third of its targeted procurement of 52 lakh tonne (lt) of paddy in
the current (2018-19) marketing season.
According to Pradip Kumar
Mazumdar, Chief Advisor, Agriculture, the State has procured close to 18 lt
paddy so far this season. The procurement season typically runs from November
to October. However, given the pace of procurement, the State government is
confident of achieving its target by March.
West Bengal procured around 25 lt
of paddy in 2017-18.
MSP above market rate
The minimum support price (MSP)
announced by the Centre for paddy during the current marketing season is ₹1,750 a quintal. However, the market prices are ruling at ₹1,450-1,500.
“Our initial target was to
procure 52 ltthis season. But given that the market prices are ruling low, we
could go for a higher procurement,” Mazumdar told BusinessLine.
The State is also offering an
additional ₹20 a quintal for farmers who are selling their produce at Kisan
Mandis.
“We are procuring directly
through cooperatives and SHGs. Farmers can also sell their produce at Kisan
Mandis. Since these are slightly farther away and entail
transportation cost, we are giving them an additional ₹20 a quintal,” he said.
Funds allocation
The State has allocated close
to ₹8,500 crore for paddy procurement this season.
According to a rice mill owner in
Hooghly district, the plan of offering an additional ₹20 a quintal for farmers selling at Kisan
Mandis has been a “runaway success.”
“Earlier, only 20 per cent of the
farmers were selling at the mandis while the rest preferred selling to
cooperatives. But this year, we are seeing nearly 80 per cent of farmers
selling at mandis,” the mill owner said. The MSP, which is nearly ₹300 a quintal higher than the market prices, has been cited as
one of the key reasons behind such positive response from farmers. This apart,
farmers selling at mandis or cooperatives have been receiving instant payment
through account payee cheques.
“Initially, we were making
payments through RTGS, but there were some concerns that the payment may get
delayed so we started making spot payments, Mazumdar said.
Storage, an issue
West Bengal produces 22-25
million tonne of paddy every year across the three seasons, that include aus,
aman and boro. While the State could procure
higher quantities, storage and disposal have been issues.
“We have been seeking support
from the Food Corporation of India to send the procured paddy to deficit States
such as Sikkim and Assam. However, FCI has been reluctant to receive the
stocks,” he added.
According to the rice mill owner,
the paddy procured has to be converted to rice before sending them to
government godowns. However, due to the high level of procurement, mills are
unable to keep pace in converting them to rice. So there is a huge backlog of
stock with mills.
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/paddy-procurement-apace-in-bengal-hits-35-of-target/article26217911.ece
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