Thursday, July 11, 2019

11th July,2019 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter


Govt envisions increasing rice exports to $5bn: Dawood


Description: https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/40-1-696x522.jpg

ISLAMABAD: Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razaq Dawood said on Tuesday that the incumbent government has envisioned increasing rice exports to $5 billion in the next five years.
“In order to achieve this target, the Ministry of Commerce is striving to reclaim the traditional markets, besides capturing the new markets,” he said while addressing a press conference.
He said with continuous efforts of the government, Qatar has now opened its market for Pakistani rice. Previously, he added, Pakistani rice was not being procured by the state procurement agency of Qatar.
Dawood informed that Qatar’s Central Tendering Committee has advertised a tender for the procurement of 100,000 bags from Pakistan, providing a tremendous opportunity to the rice exporters of Pakistan.
“This initiative will open a new avenue of market access for Pakistani rice which will significantly contribute towards enhancing the country’s exports.”
The PM’s adviser termed the Qatari demand for rice as an important milestone in the export of Pakistan’s agricultural products. He said that rice exports were on the upward trajectory in China and Indonesia owing to the additional market access secured by the current government.
Meanwhile, the Rice Exports Association of Pakistan (REAP) lauded the government for achieving this milestone. “REAP is extremely grateful to the PM and his adviser for their focused efforts in successfully helping the association open up the premium basmati market in Qatar.
“It is encouraging that the basmati rice exports have fetched $637.99 million in FY2018-19, as compared to $581.85 million in the same period last year.”
The association showed optimism that the Ministry of Commerce’s initiatives like re-negotiating on the preferential trade agreements and free trade agreements would result in positive outcomes.
A REAP representative commended the commerce ministry for securing duty-free market access on the export of rice to Indonesia and also for getting additional market access to the Chinese Market.
It is pertinent to mention that Qatar’s private sector, CTC, used to import rice from Pakistan, but in 2011-12, it made it’s tender Indian-origin specific, thereby effectively banning the import of any other origin, including Pakistani rice.
The CTC issued tenders every two months for the supply of more than 5,000MT of high-quality rice but the Pakistani rice remained excluded from these tenders. Owing to this, Pakistani exporters/suppliers were deprived of supplying of about 30,000 to 40,000MT quality rice to Qatar per annum.
Meanwhile, during the recent visit of the Iranian commerce minister to Pakistan, Iran offered market access to Pakistan by resolving to import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan. The Iranian delegation also extended its support on the removal of potential bottlenecks so that trade activities could be increased and a way forward could be developed.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/07/09/govt-envisions-increasing-rice-exports-to-5bn-dawood/

Fertiliser prices to rise by Rs100 per bag after hike in gas tariff

Published: July 10, 2019
Description:  PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: The government has hinted at increasing fertiliser prices by Rs100 per bag following a hike in gas prices.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production Abdul Razak Dawood said the production cost of fertiliser had gone up due to a recent hike in gas prices. However, he said, final decision would be taken on Thursday, following a meeting with representatives of the fertiliser industry.
The industry had demanded an increase of Rs200 per bag in fertiliser prices due to the hike in gas prices, the adviser said, adding that the industry had not yet increased the prices.
He claimed that there was a smooth supply of fertiliser in line with demand and the government was making efforts to prevent undue hike in fertiliser prices. The government would safeguard the interest of farmers, however, subsidy could not be given following a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it would affect the revenue collection, he added.
Regarding the country’s trade, Dawood said there had been no change in the volume of exports and imports during 2018-19. Exports stood at $23 billion against the target of $24 billion.
There had been no increase in exports in dollars terms, he said. However, a decline of $6 billion was witnessed in the trade deficit, he said, adding that the deficit stood at $31 billion in 2018-19.
Rice exports to Qatar
In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce said Qatar had lifted the ban on rice export from Pakistan while Iran would also import 500,000 tons of paddy. It would lead to an increase in exports from Pakistan. “Pakistani is set to export rice to Qatar as the latter has advertised a tender to import 100,000 bags of the commodity,” it said.
The Ministry of Commerce said the current government had been working to boost exports of traditional and non-traditional products. Rice is the largest agro- commodity in the export basket of the country with exports of over $2 billion.
The government wants to take rice exports to $5 billion in the next five years. To achieve this target, the Ministry of Commerce said it was recapturing traditional markets as well as entering new markets. With continuous effort of the government of Pakistan, Qatar has now opened its market for Pakistani rice, the statement added. Previously, Pakistan’s rice was not being purchased by the state procurement agency of Qatar.
Dawood said rice exports to China and Indonesia were going up due to the additional market access secured by the government. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) said it was encouraging that basmati rice exports had been on an upward trend, fetching $637.99 million in FY19 compared to $581.85 million in the previous year.
Previously, the private sector in Qatar continued to import rice from Pakistan, however, the Central Tendering Committee (CTC), which procures for state-supplied subsidised rice for Qatari citizens, made its tender Indian-origin specific, thereby effectively banning the import of any other origin rice including Pakistani rice into Qatar in 2011-12. 
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2019.

Pakistan to receive $1bn IMF instalment on Tuesday

 
·       IANS
Islamabad, July 9 (IANS) Pakistan will on Tuesday receive the $1 billion instalment from the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) under the recently concluded $6 billion bailout package.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, IMF mission chief for the country Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo said the bailout package for Pakistan was aimed at stability of the nation’s economy and institutions, Geo News reported.
“Pakistan has paid attention to economic reforms, he explained, adding that the US dollar exchange rate in the country was nearer to the reality. It was necessary to bump up tax collection in order to stabilise the economy,” Ramirez-Rigo said.
Whether the state institutions were to be operated at a loss or profit was up to the government but the burden of institutions being run at a loss post-privatisation would be eliminated and non-tax income increased, the IMF’s mission chief noted.
The IMF’s Executive Board had on July 3 approved the three-year bailout package worth $6 billion to Pakistan.
IMF’s spokesperson, Gerry Rice, had confirmed the news on Twitter, saying: “IMF Executive Board approved today a three-year US$6 billion loan to support Pakistan’s economic plan, which aims to return sustainable growth to the country’s economy and improve the standards of living,” reports Geo News.
Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday announced its plan to support Pakistan with indicative lending worth up to $10 billion for various development projects and programmes during the next five years.
The ADB held a series of consultations with the Pakistani government to “formulate a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which will guide ADB’s engagement in the country from 2020 to 2024”, the lender said.
 (This story has not been edited by Newsd staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Bad weather can reduce rice harvest

ANALYSIS | Jul 09, 13:11 GMT
Drought in India and worsening weather conditions in China can reduce yields. Will the rice quotation growth continue?
According to the Indian Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare as of July 5, 2019, the area of summer rice crops in the country was 5.2 million hectares. This is almost a quarter less than last year’s level for the same date. In India, the rainy season began because of the monsoons. It is usually observed from June to September. Already the 5th week in a row there is a lack of rain. Moreover, their number for the week ended July 3 was 6% lower than the average for the last 50 years. Lack of moisture can be a major factor in reducing the yield of rice and other crops in India. In China, there is increased heat, but precipitation is still common for midsummer. Note that the main global rice exporters are located in one region - in Asia: India, Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan. China is the world's largest importer of rice.
Description: Bands

On the daily timeframe Rice: D1 is in the mid-term uptrend. The line of the previous neutral trend has now become a support level that was not broken down during the price correction. Various technical analysis indicators have generated an uptrend signals. Further growth of quotations is possible in case of a further reduction in world yield.
·       The Parabolic indicator shows an uptrend signal.
·       The Bolinger bands have narrowed, indicating a volatility decrease. The bottom line of Bollinger has a slope up.
·       The RSI indicator is above the 50 mark. It has formed a divergence to increase.
·       The MACD indicator shows a signal to increase.
The bullish momentum may develop in case if Rice exceeds its last maximum: 11.65. This level can be used as an entry point. The initial stop loss can be placed below the Parabolic signal, the last 2 lower fractal and the bottom Bollinger line: 11.15. After placing the pending order, the stop loss shall be moved following the signals of Bollinger and Parabolic to the next fractal minimum. Thus, we are changing the potential profit/loss to the breakeven point. More risk-averse traders may switch to the 4-hour chart after the trade and place a stop loss moving it in the direction of the trade. If the price meets the stop level (11,15) without reaching the order (11,65), we recommend to cancel the order: the market sustains internal changes that were not taken into account.
Technical Analysis Summary
Position
Buy
Buy stop
Above 11,65
Stop loss
Below 11,15


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Pakistan to receive $1 billion IMF instalment on Tuesday

IMF Executive Board approved a three-year US $6 billion loan to support Pakistan's economic plan, aiming to return sustainable growth to the country's economy and improve standards of living.


Indo Asian News Agency
Islamabad
July 9, 2019
UPDATED: July 9, 2019 10:41 IST
Description: The IMF's Executive Board had approved the three-year bailout package to Pakistan.
The IMF's Executive Board had approved the three-year bailout package to Pakistan. (Image Courtesy: Reuters)

HIGHLIGHTS

·       IMF's Executive Board approved three-year bailout package worth $6 billion to Pakistan
·       IMF mission chief for Pak said bailout package was aimed at stability
·       ADB will also provide loans upto $10 billion to Pakistan for next 5 years
Pakistan will on Tuesday receive the $1 billion instalments from the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) under the recently concluded $6 billion bailout package.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, IMF mission chief for the country Ernesto Ramirez-Rigo said the bailout package for Pakistan was aimed at stability of the nation's economy and institutions, Geo News reported.
"Pakistan has paid attention to economic reforms, he explained, adding that the US dollar exchange rate in the country was nearer to the reality. It was necessary to bump up tax collection in order to stabilize the economy," Ramirez-Rigo said.
Whether the state institutions were to be operated at a loss or profit was up to the government but the burden of institutions being run at a loss post-privatization would be eliminated and non-tax income increased, the IMF's mission chief noted.
The IMF's Executive Board had on July 3 approved the three-year bailout package worth $6 billion to Pakistan.
IMF's spokesperson, Gerry Rice, had confirmed the news on Twitter, saying: "IMF Executive Board approved today a three-year US $6 billion loan to support Pakistan's economic plan, which aims to return sustainable growth to the country's economy and improve the standards of living," reports Geo News.
Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday announced its plan to support Pakistan with indicative lending worth up to $10 billion for various development projects and programs during the next five years.
The ADB held a series of consultations with the Pakistani government to "formulate a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which will guide ADB's engagement in the country from 2020 to 2024", the lender said.
First-Ever Sale of US Rice to China Announced
 July 09, 2019
Description: https://www.producereport.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1_24.jpg?itok=AV8Qj26w
Jim Guinn, Director, Asia Promotion Programs, USA Rice Federation; William Li, Overseas Director, Shenzhen Yintuo & Vice President, Dragon Ocean Hing Group, Jim Levy, U.S. Consul General to China, U.S. Embassy; Chris Zhang, President, Dragon Ocean Hing Group; Erin O’Donnell, Assistant Vice President of Global Rice Trading, Sun Valley Rice; Bobby Richey Jr., Minister-Counselor for Agricultural Affairs in China, USDA. Image: Sun Valley Rice
The door to a promising new market has been cracked open for US rice exporters with the announcement on July 3 that Dunnigan, California-based Sun Valley Rice had completed the first-ever sale of US-produced rice to China.
In a press release, Sun Valley said it would be providing, "California Calrose medium-grain rice to Shenzhen Yintuo, part of the Dragon Ocean Hing Group, one of the largest importers of rice into China." The statement continued, "The private packaged rice for Shenzhen Yintuo will be delivered in time for the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, held in September in China and available for both retail and food service distribution." Media reports in the US and China stated that the first shipment would be comprised of two containers carrying 40 tons of rice.
Sun Valley stated that it has been seeking to gain access to the China market since 2004—although China and the US did not finalize import protocols until 2017.
“We chose Sun Valley Rice because when we first toured the US, we went to California and witnessed that Sun Valley Rice had clearly studied Asian cultures deeply (especially Japanese and Chinese),” said William Li, Overseas Director, Shenzhen Yintuo & Vice President, Dragon Ocean Hing Group, according to the Sun Valley press release.
"Most rice imported into China today currently comes from Thailand, Pakistan and Vietnam and is of the long-grain type," said the statement from Sun Valley. "California Calrose is a medium-grain varietal, predominately grown in the Sacramento Valley, and is considered the premium medium-grain rice due to its superior taste, aroma and texture. "
Despite its domestic production being dwarfed by Asian countries like China and Thailand, the US is globally the fifth largest exporter of rice, with almost 3.2 million tons of exports in 2018.
The industry is hopeful this first deal in one of many to come. “This sale marks a turning point for the U.S. rice industry and its relationship with China,” says Betsy Ward, President and CEO of USA Rice, the national trade association representing rice growers, millers and merchants in the United States. “We’ve spent decades chasing this enormous market, and the Sun Valley Rice sale is the first ever of U.S. rice to a private importer. It is truly historic and sets the stage for continued regular trade with China for U.S.-grown rice.”
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Pakistan receives first tranche of IMF loan

Description: Media player poster frameKARACHI: Pakistan has received the first tranche of loan of $991.4 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the under Extended Fund Facility (EFF) on Tuesday.
According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), following the loan from the IMF, the country's foreign exchange reserves now stand at above $15.0431 billion.
The IMF's Executive Board on July 3 had approved a three-year bailout package worth $6 billion to Pakistan.
IMF's spokesperson, Gerry Rice, had confirmed the news on Twitter, saying, "IMF Executive Board approved today a three-year US$6 billion loan to support Pakistan’s economic plan, which aims to return sustainable growth to the country’s economy and improve the standards of living."
"The country's economic plan seeks to return sustainable growth to the economy by adopting reforms to foster stronger and more sustainable growth," Rice had added. 
The IMF and Pakistan's government had earlier already signed a staff agreement on May 12 in this regard.
Furthermore, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday announced its plan to support Pakistan with indicative lending worth up to $10 billion for various development projects and programs during the next five years.
The ADB held a series of consultations with the Pakistani government on Monday to "formulate a new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), which will guide ADB’s engagement in the country from 2020 to 2024", it said.

Fertiliser prices to rise by Rs100 per bag after hike in gas tariff

Published: July 10, 2019
Description:  PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: The government has hinted at increasing fertiliser prices by Rs100 per bag following a hike in gas prices.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries and Production Abdul Razak Dawood said the production cost of fertiliser had gone up due to a recent hike in gas prices. However, he said, final decision would be taken on Thursday, following a meeting with representatives of the fertiliser industry.
The industry had demanded an increase of Rs200 per bag in fertiliser prices due to the hike in gas prices, the adviser said, adding that the industry had not yet increased the prices.
He claimed that there was a smooth supply of fertiliser in line with demand and the government was making efforts to prevent undue hike in fertiliser prices. The government would safeguard the interest of farmers, however, subsidy could not be given following a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it would affect the revenue collection, he added.
Regarding the country’s trade, Dawood said there had been no change in the volume of exports and imports during 2018-19. Exports stood at $23 billion against the target of $24 billion.
There had been no increase in exports in dollars terms, he said. However, a decline of $6 billion was witnessed in the trade deficit, he said, adding that the deficit stood at $31 billion in 2018-19.
Rice exports to Qatar
In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce said Qatar had lifted the ban on rice export from Pakistan while Iran would also import 500,000 tons of paddy. It would lead to an increase in exports from Pakistan. “Pakistani is set to export rice to Qatar as the latter has advertised a tender to import 100,000 bags of the commodity,” it said.
The Ministry of Commerce said the current government had been working to boost exports of traditional and non-traditional products. Rice is the largest agro- commodity in the export basket of the country with exports of over $2 billion.
The government wants to take rice exports to $5 billion in the next five years. To achieve this target, the Ministry of Commerce said it was recapturing traditional markets as well as entering new markets. With continuous effort of the government of Pakistan, Qatar has now opened its market for Pakistani rice, the statement added. Previously, Pakistan’s rice was not being purchased by the state procurement agency of Qatar.
Dawood said rice exports to China and Indonesia were going up due to the additional market access secured by the government. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) said it was encouraging that basmati rice exports had been on an upward trend, fetching $637.99 million in FY19 compared to $581.85 million in the previous year.
Previously, the private sector in Qatar continued to import rice from Pakistan, however, the Central Tendering Committee (CTC), which procures for state-supplied subsidised rice for Qatari citizens, made its tender Indian-origin specific, thereby effectively banning the import of any other origin rice including Pakistani rice into Qatar in 2011-12. 
Published in The Express Tribune, July 10th, 2019.

Qatar tenders buy 4,000 tonnes rice from Pakistan

Parvez JabriJuly 9, 2019
HAMBURG: Qatar’s state purchasing agency has issued a tender to buy about 4,000 tonnes of rice to be sourced from Pakistan, European traders said on Tuesday.
Tender deadline is July 21. Basmati rice was sought, traders said.
Some 100,000 bags of rice of 40 kilos each were sought.

Pakistan finally gets access to Qatar’s rice market

The Newspaper's Staff ReporterUpdated July 10, 2019
Description: Pakistan will export 100,000 bags of rice to Qatar as part of the government initiative to enhance overall rice exports from the country. — Photo courtesy Ahsan Mahmood/File
Pakistan will export 100,000 bags of rice to Qatar as part of the government initiative to enhance overall rice exports from the country. — Photo courtesy Ahsan Mahmood/File
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will export 100,000 bags of rice to Qatar as part of the government initiative to enhance overall rice exports from the country.
With the continuous efforts of the government, Qatar has now opened its market for Pakistani rice. Previously, Pakistan rice was not being procured by the state procurement agency of Qatar.
An official statement issued here said that Central Tendering Committee (CTC), Qatar advertised a tender for the procurement of 100,000 bags from Pakistan, which provides an enormous opportunity for the export of Pakistani rice to Qatar.
Previously, the private sector in Qatar continued to import rice from Pakistan, the CTC, government of Qatar, which procures for state-supplied subsidized rice for Qatari citizens made its tender Indian-origin specific thereby effectively banning the import of any other origin rice including Pakistani rice into Qatar in the year 2011-12.
The CTC issues tenders after every two months for supply of more than 5,000 tonnes of high-quality rice to the government of Qatar and the Pakistani origin rice has been excluded from these tenders. Therefore, Pakistani exporters/suppliers have been deprived of supplying about 30000 to 40000 MT good quality rice to Qatar per annum.
This initiative will open a new avenue for market access of Pakistani products which will significantly contribute in enhancing the country’s overall exports. Removal of restriction by Qatar on Pakistani rice export is a step in this direction that will reclaim Pakistan’s share in the global rice market.
Rice is the largest agro-export commodity in the export basket of the country with a total export of over $2 billion. The government has the vision to take rice exports to $5bn in next 5 years.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce, Abdul Razzaq Dawood has hailed it as an important milestone for the export of agro products. He mentioned that rice exports are on an upward trajectory in China and Indonesia due to additional market access secured by the current government.
Rice Exports Association of Pakistan (REAP) has appreciated government efforts in successfully helping REAP open up the Premium Basmati Market in Qatar, for supply of Pakistani Rice to Qatar Market.
It is encouraging with Basmati Rice exports which have seen an upward trend fetching $637.99m FY19 compared to $581.85m for the same period last year, the upward trend in Basmati exports have complimented in achieving the $2.1bn mark.
The government has also secured duty free market access on export of rice into Indonesia while getting unprecedented preference over (ASEAN); and also secured additional market access into the Chinese Market.
Moreover, during the recent visit of Iranian Commerce Minister to Pakistan, Iran has offered a market access to Pakistan by resolving to import 500,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan which provides an opportunity for rice exporters. The Iranian delegation also extended its full support to work on removal of potential bottlenecks to increase trade and jointly develop a way forward. It is pertinent to mention that China has also opened its market for Pakistani rice.
Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2019

Rice Foundation Accepting Applications for 2020 Rice Leadership Development Program  

MOUNTAIN HOME, TX -- The Rice Foundation is accepting applications for the 2020 Rice Leadership Development Program.  Rice producers or industry-related professionals between the ages of 25 and 45 are eligible to apply for the program.  The application deadline is September 20.

The Rice Leadership Development Program provides a comprehensive understanding of the rice industry, with an emphasis on personal development and communication skills.  During a two-year period, class members attend four one-week sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills through studies of all aspects of the rice industry. 
 
The class is comprised of both producers and industry-related professionals chosen by a committee of rice industry leaders.  The committee evaluates the applications of all candidates, reviews letters of recommendation, and conducts personal interviews with the finalists.  Interviews will be conducted at the USA Rice Outlook Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, in December.
 
The Leadership Development Program has graduated 180 individuals over the previous 30 years, many of whom are active leaders in the U.S. rice industry.  The program is sponsored by John Deere Company, RiceTec, Inc., and American Commodity Company through The Rice Foundation and managed by USA Rice. 
 
Additional information on the Rice Leadership Development Program and an 
application form can be found on the USA Rice website.

Amira Nature Foods Ltd Announces Renewed Focus on the US Basmati Rice Segment

July 10, 2019 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amira Nature Foods Ltd (the "Company") (NYSE: ANFI), a global provider of packaged Indian specialty rice, today announced that it will execute a renewed focus on its US basmati rice business segment. The Company has taken steps to reinvigorate its brands and expand US distribution.
“We have always thought of the US as a strategically important market and are excited to be in a position to further build upon our existing efforts.”
The Company is creating a new import and distribution channel through an exclusive agreement with Reina Inc. (“Reina”). Reina is headed by Samuel Cortez, an 18-year veteran of retail and food service distribution in the United States. Reina’s staff will be based in California to enhance Amira’s distribution across retail and wholesale channels. In addition, Amira will be dedicating additional resources towards online sales.
"The US is a significant market opportunity for Amira and we believe that it has the potential to be a major growth driver for the Company," said Karan A. Chanana, Chairman of Amira Nature Foods. "We have always thought of the US as a strategically important market and are excited to be in a position to further build upon our existing efforts."
Further information on the Company, including an updated investor presentation and other information, can be found on the Company’s website at www.amira.net.
About Amira Nature Foods
Founded in 1915, Amira has evolved into a global provider of packaged specialty rice, with sales in over 40 countries today. Amira sells Basmati rice, premium long-grain rice grown only in certain regions of the Indian sub-continent, under their flagship Amira brand as well as under other third party brands. Amira sells its products primarily in emerging markets through a broad distribution network. Amira’s headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and it also has offices in India, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by phrases that we or our members of management use such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “foresee,” “forecast,” “estimate” or other words or phrases of similar import. Specifically, these statements include, among other things, statements that describe our expectations for the global rice market, the financial impact of new sales contracts on our revenue, our expectations regarding the successful efforts of our distribution partners, and other statements of management’s beliefs, intentions or goals. It is uncertain whether any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations, financial condition, or the price of our ordinary shares. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to our ability to perform our agreements with customers; our ability to recognize revenue from our contracts as planned; continued competitive pressures in the marketplace; our reliance on a few customers and distribution partners for a substantial part of our revenue; our ability to implement our plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to our business and realize additional opportunities for growth; and the other risks and important considerations contained and identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these risk factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking or other statements herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contacts

Wendy Eguez
The Amira Group
+447340071854
wendy.eguez@theamiragroup.com

NCDEX to launch futures trading in 'Paddy Basmati-Pusa 1121' on Wednesday

NCDEX already has wheat and maize futures on its platform

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi Last Updated at July 9, 2019 20:24 IST
2
Description: NCDEX
Leading agri-commodity bourse NCDEX will launch futures trading in 'Paddy (Basmati)- Pusa 1121' on Wednesday.
Karnal, a core trading centre in Haryana will remain as basis delivery centre, while Sonipat will be the additional delivery centre for 'Paddy (Basmati)- Pusa 1121' futures contracts, the exchange said in a statement.
Investors can trade up to 10 tonne with a compulsory delivery option, it said.
"We are encouraged by the continued support of the grain industry and look forward to the successful launch of the contract," NCDEX Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Vijay Kumar said.
NCDEX already has wheat and maize futures on its platform. Addition of 'Paddy (Basmati)- Pusa 1121' will improve decision-making of the value chain," said Kapil Dev of NCDEX.
Indian grain industry, which has been growing at a steady rate year-on-year, is exposed to high price risk. The foodgrain industry uses wheat, maize and paddy as inputs for measuring demand and supply trend of grains and any adverse price movement can erode the whole profit margin, he added.
NCDEX said this hedging instrument will help commodity participants fetch better price for their grain produce and, thus, will enhance their income.
The country's total rice output is around 116 million tonne, while Basmati rice is about 5.5 million tonne with more than 70 per cent share of global Basmati production, while Pakistan contributes with the rest of about 30 per cent share, it added.

Scientists urge speedy Scientists urge speedy introduction of GMOs to help Ghana cut food imports

BY JOSEPH OPOKU GAKPO

JULY 10, 2019
As Ghana’s government rolls out a master plan to drastically cut down on food imports, scientists are urging the speedy introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to accelerate the efforts.
“Improved technology, particularly biotechnology, will play a major role if we can become food sufficient,” said Dr. Maxwell Asante Darko, a plant breeder at the Crop Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). “Because there are floods and drought when you don’t expect it, there should be investment in land improvement, fertilizer, machinery, but also investment in varieties so we can develop more high-yielding varieties that are climate smart. With that, we will be able to achieve self-sufficiency faster.”
Evans Okomeng, a farmer and leader of the Graduate Farmers Network, a group of young farmers who have ventured into agriculture-related jobs, agrees. “If biotechnology has been so beneficial to the nations from which we import certain basic foods, why not for Ghana?” he quizzed. “It’s good to know that Ghana dreams of becoming food sufficient, thereby cutting down on our massive food importation, but we need to take the lessons from the countries we import from, like USA.”
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently announced a plan to reduce the country’s food import bill. Ghana spends an estimated $2.4 billion importing food every year, the majority of which the country has the capacity to produce, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta. Meat, rice, sorghum, soya bean, chicken, milk, and vegetables like tomatoes are some of the major foods Ghana imports.
George Oduro, deputy minister for food and agriculture, told a stakeholders’ meeting the plan encompasses expanding irrigation facilities, introducing mechanized equipment on farms and increasing the supply of farming inputs to farmers. He said the move, in addition to other benefits, will help cut down the importation of rice by 50 percent, as well as end the importation of tomatoes by the end of the year.
Rice from the USA, Thailand, Vietnam and other Asian countries is responsible for much of Ghana’s rice import bill. In 2017, Ghana spent $331.2 million bringing in rice, even though the country has huge fertile lands that can support production of enough rice for local consumption.
Ghana is currently undertaking trials of GMO rice that Asante said could be a game-changer for the country’s rice production sector. The nitrogen- and water-use efficient and salt tolerant (NEWEST) rice has been engineered to require less nitrogen fertilizer, tolerate drought conditions, grow in salty soils and still give good yield.
“So, the NEWEST rice, for example, comes in handy because it’s for drought, nitrogen use efficiency and salt-tolerance,” Asante explained.  “So if we are able to have these varieties and incorporate those genes in our best varieties, it will go a long way to help us achieve self-sufficiency in Ghana.”
Asante said that improved technology can play a key role in helping create the right type of rice that Ghanaians will love, thereby reducing imports. “Grain quality is very important in rice because rice is eaten mainly as cooked rice. And biotechnology has a big role to play in ensuring the right grain quality. So we take that into consideration in our selection,” he explained.
“For example, we have molecular markers for aroma,” Asante added. “So you can use those markers for selection. If you don’t use molecular markers to select it, you would have to use a more tedious and expensive process of doing biochemical analysis in the lab. It is easier and more precise when you use molecular markers or biotechnology.”
Almost 50 percent of Ghana’s work force is estimated to be involved in agricultural production and about 70 percent of the country’s total land area is fertile for farming. Despite the huge work force and enormous amounts of investments in agriculture, there is very low productivity on farm fields due to the use of low-quality seeds, the absence of irrigation facilities and inadequate extension services, among other factors. Climate change is also taking a huge bite off the agricultural economy with poor rainfall patterns negatively impacting production. Increased pest attacks are also undermining agricultural production.
Farmer Okomeng is convinced that advanced technology, particularly biotechnology, can play a major role in helping the country overcome these challenges. “Genetic modification is able to help produce several varieties of crops with special traits that enable crops to withstand so many adverse environmental conditions affecting general crop efficiency and yield… That is why it is a positive technology Ghana needs,” he explained.
Ghana passed a National Biosafety Act in 2011 to allow for the commercialization of GMOs but cumbersome regulatory procedures have dragged their introduction. There is no locally produced GM food on the market yet. Scientists have completed trials on the country’s first GMO crop, which could hit the market in the next few years, and farmers are confident its introduction could revolutionize the sector.
“As a farmer contributing to the food basket of the country, I am of the very optimistic view that the science of biotechnology will have enormous impact on the food production chain like it has done in different parts of the world,” Okomeng said. “It is no doubt that with the long track record and evidence of good yield and safety that biotechnology confers on crops, the application of this technology could serve as a major tool in helping us achieve the ambitious feat of drastically reducing food imports.

Ogun Customs intercepts 29, 905 bags of foreign rice, others in 6 months

By Oladele Igbagboyemi
Description: https://cdn.thenigerianvoice.com/story/XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XDc5MjAxOTk0MzE3XzEuanBlZ3w3NzB8NDAwfDcvMTEvMjAxOQ==
The Ogun Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted 29, 905 bags of smuggled foreign rice and 197 smuggled vehicles popularly known as 'tokunbo' within the month of January to June 2019.
It said the seizures were made at the Idiroko border and the adjoining communities.
The Controller of the Ogun State Area Command, Mr. Michael Agbara, disclosed this on Tuesday at its Idiroko border office while briefing journalists about the activities of the command.
While talking about the seizure of the foreign bags of rice, he said this was the first time the command would make the highest number of such monthly seizure since he took over the mantle of leadership in the command.
Agbara said that while in the area of anti-smuggling during the period under review, the Command made 549 seizures comprising of 197 units of vehicles, 29, 905 (50 kg each) and 15 (25 kg each) of bags of foreign rice, 1, 466 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each), 17 units of motorcycles, 9, 407 new and 1,042 pairs used , 3 jumbo, 69 sacks and 1 small sack of foot wears.
"427 cartons of Frozen poultry products, 25 bales, 29 sacks of secondhand clothing, 12 sacks of Ankara rapper, 4 sacks of yards materials and 5 wraps of lining materials, 51 Pcs of used handbags, 583 Pcs of used tyres, 1,181 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each, 3 bags of sugar (50 kg each), 143 book size, 21 coconut size and 11 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, 897 pcs of used tyres, 18 sacks of water proof, 1 sack of snuff powder, 110 sacks of soap chemicals, 3 sacks of Alligator pepper, 40 x 142, 60 x 200 & 40 x 41 android cartons of Itel Phone, and 1 set of Television"
Description: http://cdn.thenigerianvoice.com/thumb/XGltYWdlc1xjb250ZW50XDc5MjAxOTk0NDIyXzIuanBlZ3w2NzB8Ny8xMS8yMDE5
Comptroller Agbara, "The seizure of over 29, 905 bags of rice in the first half year of 2019 is indeed a landmark among numerous successes recorded as compared to 15, 976 bags of rice seized during the corresponding period of the year 2018.
"The aforementioned was achieved due to strategic enforcement measures put in place in line with the Federal Government Policy targeted at boosting Agricultural Development within the country.
"Also, within the period of 1st to 30th June, 2019, the Command generated total revenue of N1, 196, 146, 835.60. While in the area of anti-smuggling the command made a total of 83 seizures with the DPV of N310, 555, 588.00. The items seized include: 30 units of vehicles, 7,095 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 258 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each), 10 units of motorcycles, 7, 572 pairs of new, used and rubber foot wears, 3 bales of secondhand clothing, 28 Pcs of used handbags, 392 cartons of frozen poultry products, 200 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each, 3 sacks of Cannabis Sativa, 40 x 142, 60 x 200 & 40 x 41 android cartons of Itel Phone, and 1 set of Television.
"However, the above activities were entangled with series of clashes between Officers of the Command and some daredevil smugglers/accomplices leading to loss of lives and properties. The Command will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on social, security, health and economic implication of smuggling, while on the other hand, the statutory functions of enforcing compliance with strict adherence to the law will be rigorously sustained.
"Finally, I wish to commend the sister agencies, opinion leaders, head of traditional institutions, eminent personalities, fourth realm of the estate (the Media) and other law abiding members of the public on the esteem cooperation and support we are receiving in properly implementing Federal Government Policies", he said.

N. Korean media warn prolonged drought affecting rice, other crop growth
·       Published : Jul 10, 2019 - 21:27
·       Updated : Jul 11, 2019 - 11:05
North Korean news media warned Wednesday that a prolonged, severe drought could seriously damage its harvests of rice and other crops this year.

"Drought and high temperatures have been persisting in the west coast and middle inland areas," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a report.

The phenomenon is affecting crops in North and South Hwanghae and South Pyongan provinces, as well as the city of Nampo and other areas, according to the report.

"In particular, rice paddies in Ongjin, Kangryong and Hwangju counties are cracking and 47 percent of the area of paddy fields in Kumchon County is dry," it said, referring to counties in the central and lower parts of the country where a large part of rice is harvested. 


 
Description: http://res.heraldm.com/content/image/2019/07/11/20190711000255_0.jpg
(Yonhap)

Since May, North Korean media outlets have highlighted the country's worsening drought, calling on farmers to take agricultural self-help measures to cope with the drought.

Earlier this week, the country's Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported that not enough rain was expected till Wednesday, saying further drought effects would leave no crops for harvest.

"To cope with such situation, a campaign against drought damage is now going on in the country," the KCNA report said, referring to ongoing steps to raise the operation rate of irrigation equipment and mobilize water transport equipments.

According to North Korea's meteorology authorities, precipitation in the country in May, a critical season in rice farming, reached less than half of the annual average.

GEOGLAM, a Switzerland-based crop monitoring organization, and the Food and Agriculture Organization have warned that a severe drought would deal a blow to North Korea's crop harvest this year. (Yonhap)


Rice: New Varieties Will Highlight Arkansas Event

July 9, 2019
From a press release
The 2019 Horizon Ag Arkansas Field Day, set for August 13, will feature CLM04 and CLL15, two new Clearfield rice varieties developed by the University of Arkansas. The event will be held at Coleman Farms near Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Attendees also will see and hear how the Provisia Rice System, with Horizon Ag varieties PVL01 and new PVL02, is enabling farmers to clean up costly weedy rice fields throughout the region.
Horizon Ag varieties CLM04 and CLL15, along with PVL02, are expected to be available for planting in 2020.
Farmers will also hear about other promising new Clearfield and Provisia varieties in development, like experimental line CLXAR19.
“This is a great chance for rice farmers in Arkansas and neighboring states to see how new and coming Horizon Ag Clearfield and Provisia varieties are going to raise the bar when it comes to high-quality, value-driven rice seed with performance-driven results,” said Dr. Tim Walker, Horizon Ag general manager.
Field Day registration begins at 4:30 p.m., and the field tour starts at 5 p.m. The event will include guest speakers and dinner.
Registration 4:30 p.m., and the tour begins at 5 p.m. Coleman Farms is location on County Road 448, Jonesboro

Pakistani rice gets access to Qatar market; Doha to import 100,000 bags of rice

Description: https://www.theindianwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/traders-650_650x400_81479710824.jpg
Islamabad, July 10: Pakistan is slated to export some 100,000 bags of rice to its ally Qatar as part of an initiative of the government to bolster the overall rice exports from the nation.
According to Dawn news reports, with the continuous efforts by the government, Qatar has finally opened its trade market for Pakistani rice. Earlier, Qatari state procurement agency has stopped importing Pakistani rice into the nation.
Islamabad issued an official statement which stated the Central Tendering Committee (CTC), the Qatari authorities have promoted a tender for the obtaining of 100,000 bags of rice from Pakistan, opening an enormous door for Pakistan’s rice export to Qatar.
Previously, Qatar’s private sector continued to import Pakistani rice, the CTC, the Qatari government which obtains for state-supplied subsidized rice for the citizens has made its tender specific to Indian origin, thereby effectively barring the import of any other origin rice, also including Pakistani rice in the year of 2011-2012.
After every two months, the CTC is responsible for issuing tenders for the supply of over 5,000 tonnes of rice to the Qatari government but, excluding the Pakistan-origin rice from all these tenders.
Therefore, Pakistani suppliers or exporters have been disadvantaged of supplying around 30,000 to 40,000 MT high-quality rice to Doha per annum.
The development is expected to open doors to a new avenue for trade market access of the Pakistani products that will eventually contribute to bolstering the nation’s overall exports.
Dismissal of curbs on Pakistani rice export by Qatar will reclaim Islamabad’s share in the global rice market. The government made a vision clear to take rice exports to about $5 billion in coming next 5 years period.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Commerce, Abdul Razzaq Dawood, has praised the development as a crucial milestone for the agro products’ export.
Rice Exports Association of Pakistan (REAP) has also hailed government efforts in assisting REAP to open the Premium Basmati Market in Doha, for the supplies of Pakistani rice to the Qatari market.

UPDATE 1-India receives above normal rains this week, spurring crop planting

JULY 10, 2019 / 8:20 PM

* India receives 28% above average rainfall this week
* Cotton, soybean-growing central India gets higher rainfall
* Rice-growing southern states receive below-average rains (Adds details, analyst’s comment)
By Rajendra Jadhav
MUMBAI, July 10 (Reuters) - India’s monsoon rains in the week ending on Wednesday were above average for the first time since the start of the season on June 1, helping farmers to accelerate the planting of summer-sown crops and easing concerns of drought.
Monsoon rains are crucial for farm output and economic growth, as about 55% of India’s arable land is rain-fed, and agriculture forms about 15% of a $2.5-trillion economy that is the third biggest in Asia.
India received 28% more rainfall than the 50-year average in the week to July 10, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed.
Soybean- and cotton-growing central India received 38% more rainfall in the week, while the rice-growing southern region got 20% less.
This week’s heavier monsoon cut the rainfall deficit since the start of the season to 14% from 28% last week.
India is still recovering from a drought last year that ravaged crops, killed livestock, emptied reservoirs and drained water supplies to city dwellers and some industries.
Some municipalities like Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad were forced to cut water supplies to ensure stocks lasted until monsoon rains replenished reservoirs.
This year rains arrived in the southern state of Kerala a week late on June 8. The developing Cyclone Vayu in the Arabian Sea drew moisture from the monsoon and weakened its progress.
The weak start to the monsoon has delayed planting, with farmers sowing crops on 23.4 million hectares as of July 5, down 27% from a year earlier.
“The monsoon revived at a crucial time. Sowing will accelerate in the coming days across the country,” said Vandana Bharti, assistant vice president at SMC Comtrade Ltd.
In late May the IMD forecast average rainfall in 2019, while the country’s only private forecaster, Skymet, has predicted below-normal rainfall.
A normal, or average, monsoon means rainfall between 96% and 104% of a 50-year average of 89 cm (35 inches) during the four-month monsoon season, according to the IMD’s classification.
“Crops need average or above average rainfall in the next few weeks. That will help in offsetting the impact of poor rainfall in June,” said Bharti.
India’s economy, which grew at its slowest in more than four years over the January-March quarter, is in no condition to take a hit from a poor monsoon, which determines rural demand for goods and services.
Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jan Harvey
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- JULY 10, 2019
JULY 10, 2019 / 2:01 PM
* * * * * *
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices – APMC/Open Market-July 10, 2018 Nagpur, July 10 (Reuters) – Gram and tuar prices showed weak tendency in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee (APMC) on poor demand from local millers amid release of stock from stockists. Easy condition in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected sentiment in limited deals. About 150 bags of gram and 950 bags of tuar reported for auction, according to sources.

GRAM
* Desi gram raw reported down in open market here on poor buying support from local

traders.

TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market here but demand was poor.

* Lakhodi dal recovered in open market here on good demand from

local traders amid tight supply from producing belts.

* In Akola, Tuar New – 5,800-6,000, Tuar dal (clean) – 8,300-8,500, Udid Mogar (clean)

– 6,800-7,500, Moong Mogar (clean) 7,300-8,300, Gram – 4,400-4,500, Gram Super best

– 6,200-6,400 * Wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in a narrow range in

scattered deals and settled at last levels in thin trading activity.

Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg

FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close

Gram Auction 3,700-4,180 3,800-4,240

Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600

Tuar Auction 4,900-5,575 4,900-5,620

Moong Auction n.a. 3,950-4,200

Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500

Masoor Auction n.a. 2,200-2,500

Wheat Lokwan Auction 1,950-2,015 1,900-2,000

Wheat Sharbati Auction n.a. 2,900-3,000

Gram Super Best Bold 6,200-6,500 6,200-6,500

Gram Super Best n.a. n.a.

Gram Medium Best 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000

Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a

Gram Mill Quality 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500

Desi gram Raw 4,400-4,500 4,400-4,500

Gram Kabuli 8,300-10,000 8,300-10,000

Tuar Fataka Best-New 8,500-8,600 8,500-8,600

Tuar Fataka Medium-New 8,200-8,300 8,200-8,300

Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 7,700-8,000 7,700-8,000

Tuar Dal Medium phod-New 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500

Tuar Gavarani New 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000

Tuar Karnataka 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400

Masoor dal best 5,400-5,500 5,400-5,500

Masoor dal medium 5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300

Masoor n.a. n.a.

Moong Mogar bold (New) 7,500-8,500 7,700-8,800

Moong Mogar Medium 5,500-6,500 5,800-6,500

Moong dal Chilka New 6,700-7,700 6,700-7,700

Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.

Moong Chamki best 8,000-8,500 8,000-8,500

Udid Mogar best (100 INR/KG) (New) 7,000-7,800 7,000-7,800

Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,500-6,500 5,500-6,500

Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400

Mot (100 INR/KG) 5,100-6,500 5,100-6,500

Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 4,800-4,900 4,700-4,900

Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,600 5,500-5,600

Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 6,800-7,000 6,800-7,000

Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200

Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,100 2,000-2,100

Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600

Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,600 2,400-2,600

Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,300 2,200-2,300

Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.

MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,800 3,200-3,800

MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,700-3,000 2,700-3,000

Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,200 2,100-2,200

Rice BPT best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,100-3,500

Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,500-3,000

Rice BPT new (100 INR/KG) 2,800-3,200 2,800-3,200

Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,900-3,000 2,900-3,000

Rice Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,700 2,500-2,700

Rice Swarna medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400

Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 4,000-4,400 4,000-4,400

Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,500-3,700 3,500-3,700

Rice HMT New (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,200 3,800-4,200

Rice Shriram best(100 INR/KG) 5,500-5,700 5,500-5,700

Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG) 4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700

Rice Shriram New (100 INR/KG) 4,600-5,000 4,600-5,000

Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 8,500-13,500 8,500-13,500

Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,000-7,000 5,000-7,000

Rice Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 6,500-7,200 6,500-7,200

Rice Chinnor medium (100 INR/KG) 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400

Rice Chinnor New (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,500 5,300-5,500

Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,350-2,550 2,350-2,550

Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 2,050-2,250 2,050-2,250 WEATHER (NAGPUR) Maximum temp. 34.2 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 23.7 degree Celsius Rainfall : 8.6 mm FORECAST: Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rains or thunder-showers. Maximum and minimum temperature likely to be around 34 degree Celsius and 25 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.—not available (For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market prices)

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Thai rice exports hit by strong baht, unlikely to meet 2019 goal

JULY 10, 2019 / 4:04 PM

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand’s rice exports fell by 12% in the first half of 2019 hurt by a strong baht, and will likely fall short of this year’s target of 9.5 million tonnes, an exporter group said on Wednesday.
Farmers spray pesticide over their rice field in Nakhonsawan province, north of Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2016. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom/File Photo
The country has been struggling to export rice at a time when the Thai baht is Asia’s best performing currency and is trading near its strongest in more than six years at 30.81 against the U.S. dollar.
Thailand, the world’s second-largest rice exporter after India, shipped 4.2 million tonnes of rice between January and June, with orders in the last two months declining to as low as 600,000 tonnes per month. This was below a targeted monthly average of 800,000 tonnes.
“Thai rice is very expensive because of the currency exchange,” Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters.
“If the baht keeps strengthening below 30 against the dollar, it’s game over for us.”
Thai benchmark 5% broken rice was quoted last Thursday at an average of $404 per tonne, significantly higher than the same grade from competitors India and Vietnam at $372.5 and $332.50 respectively.
The association said earlier this year it aimed to export 9.5 million tonnes of rice, already a drop from 11 million tonnes in 2018.
But now, even reaching 9 million tonnes will be hard, Chookiat said.
“With a price gap like this, it’s a no-brainer that buyers would go for Vietnamese rice,” he said.

CHINA SUPPLY

Thailand also faced competition from China, as the world’s biggest rice importer and Thailand’s third-biggest buyer last year has been offloading its own stockpiles.
China has slowed trade with its two biggest partners Thailand and Vietnam this year due to large state reserves, and has been selling its stockpiles of “old rice”, which ended up in the African markets previously dominated by Thailand, Chookiat said.
“Because China doesn’t buy from Vietnam this year, Vietnam has a lot of rice to compete with us in every market. At the same time China takes our African markets,” he said.
From January to May, Thailand has exported rice worth 3.7 billion baht ($120.1 million) to China, a 45% decline from the same period last year, according to the Thai commerce ministry data.
Thailand’s government-to-government deal with Chinese state-owned food trader COFCO has also stalled due to China’s ample rice supply.
As of end-2018, Thailand had supplied 700,000 tonnes of rice to China as part of the pledged deal for 1 million tonnes of the grain struck in 2015.
“From then to now, there hasn’t been any new orders for the deal,” Chookiat said.
($1 = 30.8100 baht)
Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; editing by Gopakumar Warrier



Rice prices in PH fell by P2/kilo compared to last year - PSA | ANC

Watch Video on

Bureau of Plant Industry issues 1,518 rice import permits in 4 months



77
Description: https://39byfk2z09ab1y1bzj1l5r82-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/top01-011018-696x464.jpgPrices of assorted varieties of rice are seen at the San Andres public market in Manila in this file photo.
THE government has issued a total of 1,518 import permits to traders that sought its permission to import rice following the effectivity of the rice trade liberalization law in March, data released by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed.
Figures from the agency indicated that 190 cooperatives, traders and institutions applied for sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPS-IC) from March 5 to June 30 for the purchase of 1.478 million metric tons (MMT) of imported rice.
The BPI was mandated to facilitate private-sector importation by issuing SPS-ICs once the rice trade liberalization law took effect on March 5.
Under the new trade regime, private entities must secure an SPS-IC from the BPI, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture (DA), prior to bringing imported rice into the country.
Republic Act (RA) 11203 deregulated the National Food Authority (NFA), which used to issue import licenses to qualified traders.
The agency’s records indicated that among the applicants, Indian grocery store Assad Mini Mart accounted for the biggest volume at 59,500 metric tons.
Puregold Price Club Inc., the grocery-chain operator owned by businessman Lucio Co, was among the top 5 import applicants with a volume of 37,435 MT.
BPI data indicated that importers would buy rice from India, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Myanmar and Spain.
More than half of the rice importers are cooperatives, while about 65 applicants are companies and millers.

Arrivals

A total of 150 eligible importers used 755 SPS-ICs and brought in 707,909.503 MT of rice as of end-June. The imports were sourced from Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
BPI’s end-June import arrival figures are less than half of the 1.43 MMT declared by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under the new trade regime.
During the four-month period, Arvin International Marketing Inc. accounted for the bulk of arrivals at 25,268 MT. It used 29 out of its 57 SPS-ICs.
Under RA 11203, the BPI is mandated to act on every application within seven days. Failure to do so would mean automatic approval of the application.

Tariff collection doubted

The BOC earlier announced that it has collected P5.9 billion in tariffs from 1.43 MMT of imported rice that entered the country’s ports from March 5 to June 30.
However, the amount collected by the BOC is being disputed by some rice industry groups due to possible undervaluation by traders and importers.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said in a report that the country’s rice imports this year will rise by 20 percent to a record high of 3 MMT, making the Philippines one of the world’s top buyers of the staple.
The USDA said purchases of imported rice rose after the government removed the quantitative restriction on rice with the implementation of RA 11203

Fund for rice farmers to get P5 billion from DBM this year



Description: https://39byfk2z09ab1y1bzj1l5r82-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/agri01-051418-696x457.jpgFile photo shows farmers harvesting rice in La Union.
THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday that it will soon release P5 billion for a fund that seeks to improve the competitiveness of Filipino rice farmers.
The DBM also maintained that it has already released P5 billion for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) last year, even before the effectivity of Republic Act 11203, which mandated its set up.
Once the P5 billion is released, the DBM told the BusinessMirror that no further releases for the P10-billion RCEF will be made this year.
This is the first time that the DBM broke its silence about the fund after the BusinessMirror reported the “misunderstanding” over the purpose of the P5 billion given to the Department of Agriculture last year through a Special Allotment Release Order.
The P10-billion RCEF was supposed to consist of tariffs collected from rice imports after the rice trade liberalization law took effect in March. The national government, however, set aside P10 billion for the RCEF annually.
When the rice trade liberalization bill was not passed by Congress last year, the P5 billion released by the DBM was channeled instead to the National Rice Program of the DA, according to National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Regional Development Office Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla.  Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said, however, that the P5 billion released to his department last December was not part of the RCEF.
In May, Piñol said he was asked by the Neda to consider the P5 billion as part of RCEF. However, he said he refused to grant this as he would violate the law. Piñol is the only government official who is accountable for the use of the RCEF.
RCEF aims to provide farmers tools and equipment, assistance in the production, promotion, and distribution of certified rice seeds, upgrading of post-harvest storage facilities, credit assistance, irrigation support, and research and development (R&D) support.
Since part of the RCEF should go to the provision of cheap credit, the agriculture chief said he gave P1 billion to the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines, as requested by the Neda.
Former Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno also told the BusinessMirror earlier this year that the government has already released P5 billion of the RCEF but the remaining P5 billion was included in the 2019 national budget.
During a pre-State of the Nation Address forum on Wednesday, DBM Officer in Charge Janet B. Abuel made an assurance that P10 billion would be allocated for the RCEF under the proposed 2020 national budget.
Abuel also said the government will fund the implementation of the Universal Health Care law and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority
US firm blazes trail with deal to export rice to China

Sun Valley Rice signs very first contract for US company to sell rice -- mainstay of Asian cuisine -- to China

Vakkas Dogantekin   |10.07.2019
Description: US firm blazes trail with deal to export rice to China

ANKARA
As it turns out, the old adage about “selling coal to Newcastle” may not be as silly as it sounds.
While tens of millions of America Bibles -- with their distinctively thin pages -- are now printed in China, that mainstay of Chinese cuisine, rice, will be imported from California after a company in Sacramento on Tuesday signed the very first contract for a U.S. firm to sell rice to the Asian nation.
“Fifteen years of patience and hard work have paid off,” said Ken LaGrande, the CEO of Sun Valley Rice, as quoted by the American Journal of Transportation.
“It is truly an honor and a privilege to blaze this trail of trading history — American rice in China.”
The company said they will be providing their premium California Calrose medium-grain rice to Shenzhen Hong Tai, one of the largest importers of rice into China.
“We understand the role that small, local family farms play in feeding the world — since we come from one,” said LaGrande.
The Chinese company said they chose Sun Valley Rice because it had "clearly studied Asian cultures deeply, especially Japanese and Chinese,” stressing the importance of cultural sensitivity for making inroads into Asian markets.

Why buck what works?

Description: Marvin A. Tort

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In some cases, people get away with doing questionable things because they cannot be made accountable for them. And knowing that they can get away with it, they wreak havoc with impunity. They are emboldened by the fact that, at the end of the day, the rewards for their misdeed far outweigh the potential risks or penalties — if there will be any at all.
It is thus easy enough for a supposed farmers’ group, for instance, to make public their accusation that imported rice are being smuggled into the country — or being undervalued to avoid higher taxes — without presenting any evidence or proof. In the same manner, it is fairly easy for media to spread the story. It is, after all, a scandal.
But, if, eventually, the accusation is proved to be false, will the accusers bother to apologize? Will they take time to explain why they made the accusation in the first place and elaborate on their agenda? Will media also publicize their apology and agenda? Will media bother to promote fair play by admitting that it, too made a mistake in spreading the accusation?
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) is alleging that rice importers have connived with suppliers abroad to undervalue rice imports, which have since been liberalized or allowed in commercial quantities as long as proper tariffs are paid. By undervaluing importations, the FFF claims that rice importers had so far shortchanged the government of about P5 billion. The allegation also insinuates corruption.
This matters to the FFF as only tariffs in excess of P10 billion per year go to assistance programs for rice farmers affected by rice imports. Of course, lower tariff collection imperils whatever funding is supposed to go to these programs. Undervaluation also artificially lowers the price of imported rice, which in effect also depresses farm gate prices or the buying price for local rice.
However, their only evidence to prove smuggling is their own computation of tariffs that should have been collected, based on data from their sources abroad — which, they claim, do not match government data. Other than this, there has been no documentary or other factual evidence to show that undervaluation — thus smuggling — and under-collection has been going on.
Frankly, there is no doubt in my mind that there is some smuggling going on, in one form or the other. But this is simply on the notion that smuggling occurs, whether for rice or other commodities. This, I consider, is a fact of life in this part of the world. But to the extent that it is rampant as far as rice is concerned? I need proof — and not just statements — to believe that.
Beyond the smuggling allegation, my greater concern is what has happened to the rice supply, and prices, as well as inflation since rice importation was deregulated. There are far more local consumers than local rice farmers, who are consumers themselves, and using tariffs to replace quantity restrictions for imported rice has more to do with feeding them than agriculture.
If importers undervalued imported rice — declared acquisition cost at lower than actual with the connivance of exporters or foreign suppliers — just so they can save on tariffs, then wouldn’t they lose money? Importers would be forced to pass off imported rice to traders, and consumers, at below cost, too. Does this make sense? Won’t they aim to maximize and not minimize profits?
As a consumer, frankly, I prefer cheap over expensive rice. And if undervaluation makes my rice cheaper, I would prefer to get a “direct” benefit from the situation — lower rice prices — rather than the “indirect” benefit of tariffs and taxes being used to finance welfare and farmer assistance programs. Yes, this is the selfish way of looking at things. But, by going the “indirect” way, there is always the risk that tariffs will just end up in the pockets of the corrupt.
Of course, this is not to say that we should condone smuggling. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. If importers are smuggling and/or undervaluing importations, then they should be investigated and prosecuted. However, proper investigation requires evidence and proof. In the case of the FFF, they are simply teasing authorities and the public. Why end at public allegations? Why not produce evidence, or, better yet, file cases against the importers?
Moving on to what is factual as opposed to what is simply alleged, allow me to share a July 9 Bloomberg report on the rice situation: “Philippine rice prices have retreated from last year’s record highs after the Southeast Asian nation scrapped import quotas for the first time in nearly a quarter-century. The staple grain retailed for P38.65 ($0.75) per kilogram last month, down 15% from its peak in September 2018 when typhoons and pests decimated local harvests and forced government to look abroad for supply. June inflation fell to its slowest pace in two years as a result, boosting odds the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas could further slash the interest rates it hiked during the height of the rice shortage last year.”
If the FFF agenda is to again demonize the transition to rice tariffs, then that might find resonance with rice farmers opposed to it. But, in my opinion, it gains little traction with the general public, the consumers, who, like the farmers, struggled with low supply and high rice prices last year.
The aim is to improve the rice supply, from whatever source. Ensuring a stable supply to meet demand will also stabilize prices. Food security trumps hunger, and makes poverty a bit more bearable. To be honest, I can live with some undervaluation and lower tariff collection. I may even tolerate some corruption. As long as rice remains available and affordable.
Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of Businessworld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council.

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