14th May,2020 Daily Global Regional Local Rice E-Newsletter

Centre sets up new body to promote rice exports

Vishwanath Kulkarni Bengaluru | Updated on May 12, 2020 Published on May 12, 2020

To give further impetus to rice exports, the Centre has set up a new body – Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF), under the aegis of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority (Apeda).
Rice, both basmati and non-basmati variety, is the largest commodity in India’s agri-export basket. Shipments stood at $7.77 billion in 2018-19, with basmati exports at $4.72 billion and non-basmati at $3.05 billion. Final export figures for 2019-20 are yet to be released by Apeda.
“Considering the importance of export of rice, its inherent potentials and the multifarious issues, which are faced in the process, it is decided to constitute a Rice Export Promotion Forum,” an Apeda notification said.

Stakeholders

The new body will comprise representatives from the rice industry, exporters, officials from Apeda, Commerce Ministry, Agriculture Ministry and Directors of Agriculture from major rice producing states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
“The EPF will make concerted efforts to identify, document particulars and reach out to stakeholders across the entire production/ supply chain of export of rice for increasing these exports significantly to the global market, through various interventions,” the notification said.
EPF will monitor, identify and anticipate developments pertaining to production and exports and recommend necessary policy measures. It will be in touch with rice producers, exporters and other relevant stakeholders and hear their problems, and facilitate, support and provide solutions to them.

Competitive edge

The move assumes significance as rice is the only agri-commodity from India currently that maintained its competitiveness in the overseas market. The exports of other grains such as wheat and maize are unviable due to the higher production costs.
India, the second largest produce of rice in the world, has been the largest exporter of the cereal after the shipments of the non-basmati were allowed from 2011.
India’s production has been going up steadily over the past several years. From around 96 million tonnes in 2010-11, rice production is seen touching a record 117.47 million tonnes in 2019-20, per Second Advance Estimates.

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/centre-sets-up-new-body-to-promote-rice-exports/article31567848.ece

Local governments lead RCEF seed distribution 

Provincial and local chief executives in 55 provinces and in almost 1,000 municipalities are spearheading the immediate turn-over of certified inbred seeds to the rice farmers with the onset of the wet season.

“In these trying times, we’ve seen the importance of farmers [in ensuring enough rice for our province]. This is why we’re extending to them all our support the best way we can, such as providing them access to high-quality inbred rice seeds from the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)-Seed Program,” Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco said.

Since March, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) has engaged with a strengthened partnership among local government units (LGUs) to facilitate the distribution under a special protocol.

“We are closely coordinating with our partners from DA-Regional Field Offices and LGUs for the proper and safe conduct of the seed delivery and distribution activities,” Dr. Flordeliza Bordey, PhilRice deputy executive director, said Limitations brought about by the measures provided under the country’s new normal required PhilRice branch stations and partner LGUs to find means to deliver the seeds without drawing too much crowd.

In Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, the local government opted to do a house-to-house delivery of high-quality inbred seeds to qualified farmers registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).  The process was similar to the delivery of relief goods in which farmers were required to show a coupon, on top of other requirements, before receiving their allotted bags of seeds.

The amount of seeds that farmers will receive depends on their farm size and common method of crop establishment in their province.  A seeding rate of 40kg/ha is recommended for provinces with transplanting method. Qualified farmers can receive 1 bag (20kg each) of seed for every half hectare of cultivated area up to a maximum of 6 bags for those who have rice fields larger than 2.5ha.

Meanwhile, farmers who are from provinces that mostly practice direct seeding method will receive 80kg of seeds/hectare or 2 bags of seeds for every half hectare. These provinces include Bataan and Pampanga in Central Luzon; Palawan in MIMAROPA; Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo in Western Visayas; North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat in SOCSKSARGEN; and Maguindanao in BARMM.

As of April 30, PhilRice and its LGU partners have distributed more than 84,000 bags to about 21,000 farmers, covering roughly 24,000 ha.

Wellington businessman donates 22 tonnes of rice to charities

Piers Fuller16:18, May 11 2020

Supplied

Tulsi restaurant owner Monty Patel has donated 22 tonnes of rice to charity.

 Local reporting is vital to a thriving and connected community. Help us keep telling Wellington's stories by making a contribution.

When Wellington businessman Monty Patel heard that foodbanks across the region were crying out for supplies, he knew he was in a position to help.

His donation of more than 22 tonnes of brown basmati rice has the potential to be the staple ingredient of tens of thousands of meals for hungry families across the region.

Patel owns the Tulsi Indian restaurant chain and a Wellington-based food manufacturing business and said he "felt in his heart" that this was the right time to give back.

“I thought as a Kiwi and someone who always wanted to do something for my community, this was a good opportunity to do something as this was a bad time for people who needed help."

He heard through one of the charities that some families were trying to squeak through the weekend with no food and their food parcels were sorely appreciated when they came at the start of the week.

It really touched him, and he encouraged other Wellington companies to reach out to charities.

The rice would be worth more than $100,000 if purchased at the supermarket and was distributed into approximately 40,000 food parcels.

With the help of Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor the rice has been finding its way into the hands of charities across the Wellington region.

"I took it upon myself to call up the agencies and foodbanks in Wellington and got it out."

When Wairarapa-based Labour MP Kieran McAnulty heard there was some rice going he put his hand up for foodbanks in his area.

"I was sort of like a kid at a party who had nothing and noticed another kid who had a bag of lollies and just flogged some for himself."

Masterton Foodbank co-ordinator Lyn Tankersley said the donation came at just the right time because they had always received a lot of support from local supermarkets but pasta supplies were low over lockdown.

"The rice has been fantastic and so needed at this time.

"As we have been distributing a lot more parcels we are getting more feedback and people have been so appreciative. Some have told us they just wouldn't have been able to get through without it."

The foodbank volunteers take a couple of cups of rice from the 20-kilograms sacks and put around 500g in a bag to go into each food parcel.

Through the Wairarapa network they have managed to get the rice bags to all the towns and have some going to Eketahuna soon.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/121471636/wellington-businessman-donates-22-tonnes-of-rice-to-charities

Ilokano farmers respond to Covid-19 crisis

Batac City, Ilocos Norte – Farmers’ group here under a project of the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) helps vulnerable sectors affected by lockdown.

Rayuray Farmers’ Agriculture Cooperative (RFAC) recently distributed 3kg of rice to about 200 persons with disabilities and senior citizens through the group’s community development fund and rice stock.

“We’re about to launch one of our products but it was put on hold because of COVID-19. But there are fellows more affected than us. This unexpected situation brought out compassion in our group,” RFAC Chair Ruthbell Pammit said.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the group.

“As senior citizens in this crisis, it’s difficult for us to work and provide for our own essential needs. Our choice is only to pray and wait for help. We thank the cooperative for helping us,” Isabelita Cacao said

Ghana's Rice Farmers Might Benefit From COVID Pandemic

By Stacey Knott

May 12, 2020 02:26 PM

FILE - Women sweep rice at a small processing plant in the northern Ghanaian town of Bolgatanga, Feb. 1, 2008.

ACCRA, GHANA - Rice plays a huge role in diets in Ghana, from the famous West African jollof rice to rice and stew - but most of these grains are imported.
In 2019, Ghana launched Eat Ghana Rice, a campaign aimed at supporting the local rice industry, but imports still dominate.

Demand for local rice has been on the increase in Ghana as a result of the campaign. But in markets across the West African nation, imported brands still dominate.

Rice industry insiders say locally grown grain may soon see a boost from an unexpected supporter: the coronavirus pandemic. 

With COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, some nations have temporarily banned exports of the grain to ensure food security. 

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana says the bans have sent imported rice prices soaring. 

Samson Asaki Awingobit, the association’s executive secretary, said “During the lockdown period, we saw that imported rice prices had gone high, so it has affected the Ghanaian consumers. Of course, the cost of rice has gone up.”

Awingobit said the high prices are making local rice more competitive, which could boost Ghana’s rice production and food security. 

Rice experts say the average Ghanaian eats about 40 kilograms of rice per year and Ghana’s farmers meet about half the country’s demand. 

Aiming for self-sufficiency
Rice breeder Maxwell Darko Asante says the gap, and supply disruptions from the coronavirus pandemic, show why more investment is needed in local rice.

“As science is driving the way we deal with this pandemic, it should apply to crop scientists as well, where the government should begin to pay more attention to crop science and crop research, and especially rice because we spend so much money importing rice,” Asante said.

Since 2017, Ghana has strengthened local food production through its Planting for Food and Jobs program.

The program supplies subsidized rice seeds and fertilizer to Ghana’s farmers to boost agriculture and food security. 

Ghanaian officials say the program is helping meet their target of boosting rice production to self-sufficiency by 2023. 

For the past decade, rice farmer Abena Abedi has worked with small-holder farmers to promote Ghana’s rice. She supports their planting and then buys, processes, packages, and markets the local grain.

“The farmers have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they can produce in abundance. If we are able to develop more lowlands, if we are able to rehabilitate the irrigation schemes we have available, if we are able to give stimulus packages to rice value chain drivers - they will be able to buy the surplus off the farmers immediately and pay them,” she said.

Abedi said a jump in demand for local rice after last year’s Eat Ghana Rice campaign proves the market potential.  

While the coronavirus pandemic has been disruptive, she said she hopes the outbreak will inspire more support for rice farmers across Ghana as a buffer against food insecurity and a boost to the local industry.   

https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/ghanas-rice-farmers-might-benefit-covid-pandemic

Pakistan Weekly Market Monitor Report - 12 May 2020

Source

• WFP

Posted

13 May 2020

Originally published

12 May 2020

Attachments

·         Download report(PDF | 575.78 KB)

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Weekly average retail prices update as of 7 th May 2020 indicates overall the prices of staple cereals and non-cereals foods experienced negligible to slight fluctuations except for live chicken, with a significant price hike, when compared to the previous week’s prices;

·         Cereals: the retail prices of essential staple cereals (wheat, wheat flour, rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati) remained stable. Overall, the average retail price of wheat decreased slightly while the price of wheat flour increased slightly.
Whereas, the prices of rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati remained unchanged from the previous week;

·         Non-cereals: overall, the average retail prices of essential non-cereals registered a significant increase in the price of live chicken, slight increases for eggs and pulse Mash, slight decreases for pulses (Gram and Masoor) and negligible decreases in the prices of Pulse Moong and sugar compared to their prices from the previous week;

·         The average ToT negligibly decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous week.

https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-weekly-market-monitor-report-12-may-2020

 

Rice Prices

as on : 14-05-2020 12:34:06 PM

Arrivals in tonnes;prices in Rs/quintal in domestic market.

	Arrivals			Price
	Current	% change	Season cumulative	Modal	Prev. Modal	Prev.Yr %change
Rice
Gadarpur(Utr)	2695.00	30.57	92645.00	2544	2664	-24.62
Mandya(Kar)	1136.00	72.12	3225.00	2280	2510	-
Bangarpet(Kar)	309.00	164.1	4003.00	2500	2000	-
Mysore (Bandipalya)(Kar)	291.00	-	542.00	2000	-	-
Gondal(UP)	106.00	-1.4	5161.50	2400	2400	-2.04
Ghaziabad(UP)	100.00	42.86	1486.00	2700	2700	NC
Barhaj(UP)	66.00	3.12	7716.00	2520	2520	8.15
Mohamadabad(UP)	47.00	224.14	648.00	2460	2450	-
Shamli(UP)	46.00	15	641.90	2660	2670	-3.62
Vilaspur(UP)	45.90	5.52	1105.70	2590	2600	3.19
Naugarh(UP)	45.00	-13.46	3197.00	2520	2510	5.00
Madhoganj(UP)	42.00	5	2900.00	2430	2430	8.97
Firozabad(UP)	41.00	6.49	1019.10	2570	2590	-
Lakhimpur(UP)	40.00	-11.11	1782.00	2440	2420	5.17
Asansol(WB)	24.00	-4	816.89	2850	2850	-6.56
Durgapur(WB)	23.50	-6	728.85	2850	2850	NC
Dahod(Guj)	23.10	670	711.50	4300	4300	2.38
Puranpur(UP)	19.00	-49.33	1914.00	2600	2585	5.26
Basti(UP)	18.00	-18.18	1043.50	2550	2540	8.51
Sirsaganj(UP)	16.50	-2.94	641.50	2610	2600	-5.09
Balrampur(UP)	16.00	-27.27	617.00	2400	2400	4.35
Honnali(Kar)	15.00	-25	246.00	3000	3000	-
Gadaura(UP)	15.00	400	225.50	2300	2200	9.52
Sahiyapur(UP)	15.00	NC	1777.00	2540	2550	7.17
Jafarganj(UP)	10.00	-37.5	775.00	2400	2420	11.11
Indus(Bankura Sadar)(WB)	10.00	150	1005.00	2750	2750	1.85
Soharatgarh(UP)	9.00	-10	1361.70	2535	2530	4.75
Malur(Kar)	8.00	-	31.00	3116	-	-1.02
Milak(UP)	5.00	-16.67	80.80	2590	2580	-
Badda(UP)	4.50	7.14	66.90	2350	2450	-
Jahangirabad(UP)	4.00	14.29	158.00	2650	2650	1.92
Buland Shahr(UP)	3.50	25	134.90	2655	2655	0.19
Mawana(UP)	3.00	NC	108.20	2618	2620	-
Achalda(UP)	3.00	-25	220.10	2500	2500	13.12
Perinthalmanna(Ker)	2.90	NC	17.40	3000	3200	7.14
Uluberia(WB)	2.80	NC	38.30	3000	3100	3.45
Lalganj(UP)	2.20	46.67	229.70	2300	2300	-
Muskara(UP)	1.60	14.29	47.70	2400	2300	6.19
Khair(UP)	1.50	50	55.00	2550	2560	-1.92
Wazirganj(UP)	1.50	25	33.70	2600	2610	-
Anandnagar(UP)	1.00	-37.5	180.50	2515	2525	7.02
Risia(UP)	0.70	16.67	61.10	2410	2420	-

Published on May 14, 2020

https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/rice-prices/article31580393.ece

PH has enough rice supply for entire year – DA

Robie de Guzman   •   May 13, 2020   •    93

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Filipino workers carry sacks of government-subsidized rice (NFA Rice) into a store selling various rice brands at a market in Quezon City, east of Manila, Philippines, 04 October 2018. EPA-EFE/ROLEX DELA PENA

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reassured the public that the country’s rice supply remains sufficient for the entire year “with a comfortable level of inventory.”

“Going into the lean months and onto December 31, 2020, we have enough supply of food, and that includes our major staple – rice,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“We remain consistent that our total projected supply of rice by end of December 2020 would be 17.994 million metric tons (MMT), while our total projected demand would be 14.668 MMT, leaving a year-end inventory of 3.326 MMT,” he added.

With these projections, Dar said that the beginning inventory in January 2021 is seen to last for 94 days.

The DA estimated the projected 2020 year-end supply using three components, namely:

·         Beginning stock in January 2020 or the surplus in December 2019;

·         Total domestic palay production, from January to December 2020; and

·         Total rice imports, January to December 2020, including the 300,000 MT to be imported by the DTI’s Philippine International Trading Corp. under a government-to-government arrangement

The DA said that the respective figures are gathered by its field operations service (FOS) from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Customs (BOC) on rice imports, other relevant government agencies, and DA regional field offices (RFOs) in tandem with local government units (LGUs), on palay production.

The PSA’s supply utilization accounts of selected agricultural commodities showed that, of the total rice demand, an average of only 88% serves as food or what is actually eaten, the remaining 12% is allotted for seeds, feeds and industrial uses.

“Hence, of the total projected demand of 14.488 MMT, the actual rice that would be consumed as food would only amount to 12.9 MMT,” the department said.

Citing PSA report, the DA said that a Filipino consumes a total of 118.81 kilograms annually, equivalent to 325.5 grams of milled rice daily.

With a current population of 108.66 million Filipinos, the country’s total annual consumption would amount to 12.9 MMT.

“We hope this will clarify issues on our rice supply, demand, and consumption situation. Again, we assure the nation that the DA is doing its best to secure the country with enough and affordable food for all. Our programs to make this happen are already in place to help our farmers and fisherfolk,” Dar said.

The DA chief made the clarification following concerns on food supply amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis.

https://www.untvweb.com/news/ph-has-enough-rice-supply-for-entire-year-da/

Philippines to remain world's top rice importer until 2021

The Philippines is expected to import around 2.5 million MT of rice in 2020 and 3.3 million MT in 2021

Rappler.com

Published 8:15 PM, May 13, 2020

Updated 8:15 PM, May 13, 2020

RICE. Quezon City residents receive rice during the coronavirus lockdown. Photo by Darren Langit/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines will continue to be the world's top rice importer in 2020 and 2021 to meet demand of over 107 million people, while production of the staple is expected to dip.

According to the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Philippines and Brazil are projected to have production declines, although modest, while the rest of the rice-producing countries will produce more.

The report noted that Southeast Asia will resume planting, while China will plant earlier than expected. Worldwide, production is projected to hit more than 8 million tons, a new record.

The USDA said the Philippines is set to produce 11.4 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2020 and 11 million MT in 2021.

Consumption is projected to hit 14.3 million MT this year and 14.5 million MT next year.

"With lower production and tighter stocks, larger imports are expected to enable consumption to rise marginally," the USDA said. The Philippines is expected to import around 2.5 million MT of rice in 2020 and 3.3 million MT in 2021.

"The 2019 rice tariffication law has made imports more available in the market, depressing overall milled rice prices," the USDA added. (READ: Rice tariffication: Birth pains force farmers' kids out of school)

Rice glut

The Philippine Department of Agriculture is aiming to produce 13.51 million MT of rice for 2020.

This would bring the country's rice self-sufficiency to 93% from 87% in 2019. If achieved, it would be the country's highest palay output in at least a decade.

At the same time, the Philippines is also set to import some 300,000 MT of rice through a government-to-government arrangement.

With an ambitious production goal and importation increasing, farmers warn that oversupply would likely depress farmgate prices. (READ: [ANALYSIS] Plummeting rice prices: How will our rice farmers cope?)

"Based on our computations, we will have an ending inventory by December 31 of this year of 3.9 million tons of rice, good for 110 days, if both these policies are pursued. This will create a glut that will bring down prices during the main harvest season from September to November this year and will even spill over to the dry season harvest from February to April next year," said Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers.

https://www.rappler.com/business/260815-philippines-to-remain-world-top-rice-importer-2021

Australia could RUN OUT of local rice in just months after droughts and panic-buying during the COVID-19 pandemic sparked dramatic shortages

·         Australia could run out of rice as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand

·         The country will be forced to rely on imported rice next year due to shortage

·         Demand for rice skyrocketed as panic over the coronavirus outbreak set in

·         Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By KELSEY WILKIE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA 

PUBLISHED: 02:10 BST, 13 May 2020 | UPDATED: 07:07 BST, 13 May 2020

Australia could run out of rice in a matter of months as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand after years of devastating drought. 

The looming rice shortage comes as demand for the household staple skyrocketed since the outbreak of COVID-19.

Rob Massina, president of the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, has warned that supermarkets might be out of stock of Australian-grown rice by the end of the year, forcing Australians to rely on imported rice instead.

He told Daily Mail Australia the price of rice would likely increase as a result.

'Australia, typically, domestically will consume about 200,000 tonnes of Australian rice. This year we will be looking at only growing around 50,000 tonnes,' he said.

'There’s a real risk by the end of this calendar year we will be out of Australian domestic rice on Australian supermarket shelves.'

+2

·          

Australia could run out of rice in a matter of months as suppliers struggle to keep up with demand after years of devastating drought

His warning comes after demand spiked for household staples such as rice, pasta and flour as panic over the coronavirus outbreak set in.

Supermarket shelves were stripped bare in March, forcing chains to set buying limits for customers. 

Mr Massina said the country was also facing issues with supply as other countries were restricting rice exports as a way of ensuring they can meet their own food supply.

'This obviously makes it more difficult to bring rice into Australia,' he said.

There has also been issues with rice production in Australia due to high prices for water in the Murray-Darling Basin following years of drought, which has seen rice farmers plant their smallest crops since the Millennium drought. 

Water expert Maryanne Slattery told the Sydney Morning Herald it was unclear what the industry would look like after the pandemic. 

'We really should be seriously having a look at what we’re using our water for and what we’re growing with the water we've got. I would advocate that our food security is paramount and that we should be doing everything we can to ensure our food security.'

Spiraling water prices have seen wheat, rice and dairy farms completely decimated over the past two years. 

Foreign-owned almond and other nut plantations have been able to thrive as they can afford the higher prices.

Ms Slattery said water could be redirected away from nuts, which are mostly being exported, and given to rice and dairy. 

'It would take an incredible amount of political will to do that. It’s certainly throwing out the existing order and really challenging property rights to water. But it’s certainly conceivable if governments had the will to do it.'

 

MURRAY-DARLING BASIN AUTHORITY'S RESPONSE TO CLAIMS OF MISMANAGEMENT

 There is no problem with our food security and it’s mischievous and misleading for vested interest groups to use COVID-19 to push their biased and incorrect positions. This is a time when Australians should be banding together for the common good, not being needlessly divisive.

The MDBA knows how hard it has been for irrigation farmers and their communities first with drought, then bushfires, and now COVID 19 challenging everyone.

These challenges have all come on top of much needed but painful water management reform within the Basin over the past 10 years.

Farmers haven’t grown much rice or other irrigated crops in the past two years because the Murray-Darling Basin has experienced two to three years of extreme drought.

Rice is grown when water is cheap and plentiful. This is similar to the Millennium drought 12 years ago when very little rice was grown.

All remaining water in the system is owned by someone or is needed to keep the river running – to now give it to some farmers takes it away from others who have paid to use that water in these dry times.

It potentially pits farmer against farmer.

Basin governments have a fair plan for sharing water in dry times and all governments and responsible irrigators are sticking to it. Australians have no cause for concern.

Water resource management is about sharing a scarce and nationally significant resource fairly and balancing the needs of all values – economic, community, environmental and cultural.

Water is and must continue to be managed in the national interest for the benefit of future generations.

Any attempts to alter the balance undermines years of bi-partisan water reform championed by all governments and puts at risk the sustainability of the Basin now and into the future. 

What’s driving water shortages in the Murray–Darling Basin

The ongoing and widespread drought is what’s driving water shortages and high water prices across the Basin. During 2019, Australia experienced the warmest year on record, and the driest year in over 100 years. Despite recent rains, storages in the north are still at extremely low levels. Large dams in the south have declined since 2016 receiving little winter or spring inflows during that time. Water storages are sitting at just 27 percent and we need widespread and consistent rain to turn these numbers around.

Because of the drought, irrigators with lower security and less reliable licence types haven’t received a water allocation from the state governments for the past two to three years. That’s hard on any business and their supporting community. Typically, irrigators with these less reliable licences grow cheaper annual and opportunistic crops like rice when water is available.

Full statement at mdba.gov.au 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8313595/Australia-RUN-rice-end-year-COVID-19-stockpiling.html

Cambodian rice exports burdened by power and transport costs

Sorn Sarath / Khmer Times  Share:   

Rice workers in Phnom Penh. KT/Chor Sokunthea

The Ministry of Commerce and Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) are continuing working to solve the long-running challenges of the Kingdom’s high cost of electricity and transportation in order to boost the country’s rice industry. The meeting by the ministry with participants from concerned parties such as the CRF and Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Programme (CAVAC) to discuss and examine the Rice Export Cost Study (RECS) which found that the high cost of electricity and transportation have remained big obstacles for the industry.

Sok Sopheak, the Ministry of Commerce’s secretary of state, who chaired the meeting, has urged relevant parties both private and state, to continue cooperating and working together to solve issues in the rice sector.

The Ministry said that the main challenges for Cambodia rice exports include the high cost of electricity, the high cost of transportation, fee costs at ports and the cost of shipping from ports to the destinations.

However, Lun Yeng, CRF’s secretary-general, said the challenges for the country’s rice sector are not new.

“The high cost of electricity and transportation have remained for a long time even though the government has lowered some price, they are still higher than neighbouring countries, so we find it hard to compete in the export market,” he said.

He said while the private sector is increasing its own ebnergy supply by installing solar power, the government has not supported this approach. “What the private sector really needd from the government is to lower electricity costs,” he said.

However, Yeng expressed optimism that Cambodia’s rice exports would keep growing because of high demand in the global market, which has adversely affected bt the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cambodia exported a total 230,948 tonnes of rice to the international markets in the first quarter of this year, a 35 percent hike on the same three months last year, according to a report from the CRF.

The CRF’s report shows that of this figures, 44 percent of Cambodia’s milled rice was shipped to China, amounting to 101,345 tonnes. This represents a 35 percent increase on the same period last year.

The RECS project has been proposed by the Ministry of Commerce under financial and technical support by CAVAC to fact-finding the main challenges and strengths of the Kingdom’s competitiveness thein rice sector, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

The study focused on Cambodia’s competitiveness in rice sector, analysing on production chain starting from cultivation, drying, milling and on to export, which also include transportation and document processing for exports to the target markets in the EU and other countries.

According to the Ministry, the result of this study will be submitted to the private sector and concerned ministries.

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50722616/cambodian-rice-exports-burdened-by-power-and-transport-costs/

Cambodia allows resumption of white rice exports

---

·         CAMBODIA 

·         Wednesday, 13 May 2020

4:30 PM MYT

PHNOM PENH, (Xinhua): Cambodia on Wednesday (May 13) allowed companies to resume exporting white rice from next week, after banning it for more than a month to ensure local food security during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The resumption was made at the request of the Cambodia Rice Federation and after the South-east Asian country has detected no new Covid-19 cases for a month.

"At the request of the Cambodia Rice Federation, the Royal Government decided to allow the resumption of white rice exports based on purchase orders from abroad, starting from May 20,2020 onwards," Economy and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said in a statement.

Cambodia exported a total of 300,252 tonnes of milled rice in the first four months of this year, up 40.5 per cent over the same period last year, a government report said.

In another statement to the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia, Pornmoniroth said the government encouraged factories to produce face masks, medical supplies, and personal protective equipment for local demand and export.

Cambodia has so far recorded a total of 122 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 121 patients cured, according to the Ministry of Health. - Xinhua

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/05/13/cambodia-allows-resumption-of-white-rice-exports

Govt buys about 6,300 tons of rice in reserve from 40 companies

BUSINESS

PUBLISHED 13 MAY 2020

NILAR

Government started purchasing, inspecting, accepting and storing State rice reserves on April 30, and about 6,300 tons of rice bought from 40 export companies have been stored in five warehouses. 

The Ministry of Commerce, in cooperation with Myanmar Inspection and Testing Services Ltd and Myanmar Rice Federation, took charge of those tasks. 

The Department of Trade has announced that in declaring export of rice, licensed exporters must sell 10 percent of their amount declared to the government for State rice reserves. The aim is to ensure local food security, price stability, farmers’ income improvement and increased exportation during the Covid-19 outbreak. 

Companies need to sell and send 10 percent of the amount of rice and broken rice stated in their export declarations to the designated State-owned warehouses before their export or within one week after export. 

If the companies fail to do so, they will have their export/import registrations revoked and face legal action.   

https://elevenmyanmar.com/news/govt-buys-about-6300-tons-of-rice-in-reserve-from-40-companies

Rice theft continues

Tapos Kanti Das | Published at 12:07am on May 13, 2020

Misappropriation of government rice, meant for distributing among the poor, continues though a good number of local government representatives and rice dealers and traders were arrested since the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

The Local Government Division on Tuesday suspended an Awami League-backed union parishad chairman in Habiganj and two members of separate unions in Rajshshi and Bhola for their alleged involvement in government rice misappropriation.

With the latest suspension, a total of 55 elected local government representatives — 20 UP chairmen, 33 UP members, one district council member and a municipal councilor— were suspended since the coronavirus outbreak in the country, according to LGD officials.

Since COVID-19 outbreak, at least 60 people, many of them are ruling AL leaders, were arrested so far for government rice theft.

Former advisor to the caretaker government M Hafiz Uddin Khan told New Age the situation occurred as the offenders were politically blessed and were not punished exemplarily for committing such offences earlier.

He said that the arrests and incidents of government rice thieving showed that theft by most of those arrested continued for long and that their theft were detected now as the people, losing their jobs due to shutdown, are now facing shortage of food and looking for relief or government rice.

He suspected that the actual number of rice thieves might be much higher than those arrested.

Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘Those who are involved in such heinous crime do not deserve to be treated as public representatives. They should be banned from politics and public representation. The party they belong to should feel humiliated and prosecute them for defamation of the party and the government. The law enforcers should take due action against them instead of harassing reporters or social media users for exposing such crimes.’

‘The ACC should take action against them for accumulating illegal wealth at the expense of public good. Only a good combination of such multi-pronged deterrent actions can stop and prevent such crime,’ he said.

Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader at a virtual press conference on Monday warned all concerned, including the AL leaders and activists, against irregularities in relief distribution activities.

On Tuesday, the Local Government Division suspended Nurpur union Parishad chairman Mukhlis Mia in Shayestaganj of Habiganj, Nimpara UP member Md Akbar Ali in Charghat upazila of Rajshahi and Ahammadpur UP member Md Kamal Hossain in Charfasson upazila of Bhola for irregularities in distributing relief materials.

Nurpur UP chairman Mukhlis is the assistant publicity secretary of Habiganj Sadar upazila AL unit, New Age correspondent from Sylhet reported, quoting the party leaders.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has so far sued six union parishad chairmen, eight UP members, a UP secretary and two government rice dealers for misappropriation of government rice, sources in ACC said.

https://www.newagebd.net/print/article/106300

China hands out more grain import quotas to increase purchases - sources

Hallie Gu, Dominique Patton

MAY 13, 2020 / 4:18 PM / UPDATED

BEIJING, May 13 (Reuters) - China is allocating more low-tariff import quotas for corn this year and may expand its use of wheat quotas as it seeks to step up farm purchases from the United States and meet a pledge to comply with global trade rules, according to three sources. China has a 95% self-sufficiency target for its rice, corn and wheat consumption, but allows a certain volume of imports through a tariff rate quota (TRQ) system.

The quotas allow importers to buy specified volumes with duties as low as 1%, compared with 65% without the quotas.

However the opaque system has been widely criticized by grain exporters who say Beijing does not issue the promised volume of quota, limiting purchases from overseas.

As part of a Phase 1 trade deal with the United States in January, China pledged to allow for the full use of its TRQs and it has issued more than 6 million tonnes of low-tariff corn quotas in 2020 so far, said two sources familiar with the matter.

The sources did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

That includes 1.5 million tonnes of quota issued in the last month, in addition to the batch issued at the start of the year when most quota is normally allocated.

Beijing may issue a total of 7.2 million tonnes of corn quotas, added one of the sources, briefed on the government plan, which would be the first time it has fully allocated its corn quota.

China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, did not immediately respond to a fax seeking comment out of office hours.

PLEDGE TO USE MORE QUOTA

Beijing sets annual corn quotas at 7.2 million tonnes every year, wheat quotas at 9.64 million tonnes and rice at 5.32 million tonnes. The quotas do not specify any preferred origins.

With large portions of quota often going unused or being rolled into the following year, their allocation alone is not enough to predict China’s grain import intentions.

However, after losing a World Trade Organization case brought by the United States on its grain quota system, China has also pledged to improve the way they are issued to ensure that more of the quota is used.

“China needs to buy more American farm goods. One way to do it is to expand use of import quota for grains like corn,” said a manager with a state-owned firm.

So far, in the first quarter of 2020, China’s corn imports totalled 1.25 million tonnes, up 27.3% on the same period a year ago, and came primarily from Ukraine, according to official data.

If quota were fully used, that would translate into $2.94 billion worth of wheat imports, and $1.52 billion of corn at current prices, according to Reuters calculations.

China’s wheat quotas have also been issued “more widely” so far this year, said a source with a state-owned company, which has helped boost wheat imports by 23.1% to 1.27 million tonnes in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2019.

China used only a third of its wheat quotas last year. It stipulates that 90% of quota goes to state-owned trading companies, leaving very little for the large number of privately owned millers.

But last year Beijing said non-state companies could apply for the state quota portion using a state-owned trader as an agent. It also said all quota should be fully used “based on market conditions”.

Reuters could not determine to what extent those changes are being implemented. But the source said wheat imports may hit as much as 7 million tonnes this year.

“The government might release more quota, or urge buyers to use more of the quota,” he said, adding that the grain could come from both the United States and other origins. (Reporting by Hallie Gu and Dominique Patton; Editing by Alex Richardson)

https://www.reuters.com/article/china-grains-imports-quota/china-hands-out-more-grain-import-quotas-to-increase-purchases-sources-idUSL4N2CV0CC

Cambodia to lift partial ban on rice exports on May 20

By

 Thomson Reuters Foundation News

 -

May 14, 2020

Cambodia will lift a partial ban on rice exports that had been put in place to ensure local food security during the coronavirus crisis, the finance minister told exporters of the grain on Wednesday.

Finance Minister Aun Porn Moniroth wrote to the Cambodia Rice Federation to confirm the decision.

“I would like to inform (that) … the royal government has decided to allow exports of white rice gradually starting from May 20, 2020, onward,” the letter said.

In full: https://www.marketscreener.com/RICE-3881394/news/Cambodia-to-lift-partial-ban-on-rice-exports-on-May-20-30593215/

© 2020, All rights reserved.

https://english.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodia-to-lift-partial-ban-on-rice-exports-on-may-20-164010/

Logistics, water supplies affect rice planting

Issue Date: May 13, 2020

By Ching Lee

An agricultural aircraft flies rice seed over a field in Maxwell. Ideal weather conditions this season have allowed farmers to prepare their fields early, but a shortage of a liquid fertilizer has slowed their progress.
Photo/Ching Lee

Ideal planting conditions should have allowed rice farmers throughout the Sacramento Valley plenty of time to prepare and seed their fields this spring, but short supplies of a liquid fertilizer have slowed their progress, leaving some of them scrambling to make last-minute adjustments.

Most rice farmers use aqua-ammonia, a key source of nitrogen for their crop. The liquid fertilizer is typically injected into the soil before water is released onto the field for planting. With fertilizer distributors and dealers running low on aqua-ammonia at the height of rice-planting season, farmers say they have had to make some tough decisions on whether to wait for new shipments to arrive or switch to different and oftentimes more-expensive fertilizers that they're not used to using.

Supplies of aqua-ammonia became tight when a container ship carrying anhydrous ammonia, which goes into making the liquid fertilizer, became stuck in Fertinal, Mexico, due to an outbreak of COVID-19, said Dan Stone, president and CEO of CALAMCO, the state's primary supplier of anhydrous ammonia.

The Stockton-based cooperative obtains its anhydrous ammonia from Trinidad. The supply was scheduled to arrive at the Port of Stockton in late April. To make the trip up the San Joaquin River, the inbound ship first stops in Mexico to lighten its load and reduce its draft, Stone said. The ship, however, could not unload because the processing plant that was to receive the load was forced to evacuate 3,094 workers to prevent spread of the coronavirus, he added.

CALAMCO's supplier sent a second ship with product that was to come directly to Stockton late last week, Stone said. From there, the anhydrous ammonia goes to various Northern California facilities to be converted to aqua-ammonia.

Though getting the material to the different plants involves a mere two-hour drive from Stockton, Stone said providing aqua-ammonia to farmers will depend on the timeline of the various dealers and their backlog.

In Colusa County, rice farmer Kurt Richter said he and fellow farmers "have weather on our side this year for the first time in a long time, and that's really nice." But because he doesn't have enough aqua-ammonia for all his fields, Richter said he's "having to compromise our farming practices" by using granular urea as an alternative, in hope of completing planting by May 25.

"We have to keep things moving or we're not going to finish on time," he added, "so I can't sit around and wait for it to be perfect with the perfect fertilizer."

Farmers aim to finish planting by June 1, the cutoff date for those with crop insurance who need to seek compensation for prevented planting. Planting after June 1 also runs the risk of pushing harvest into the rainy season, which could wreck yields.

Sutter County farmer Steve Butler said he expected the fertilizer to become widely available again this week, which would still give growers "plenty of time" to finish planting before June. But with most of his planting already completed, Butler said he shifted to urea "in the interest of getting everything planted." The weather allowed him to plant early this year, he said, noting that his earliest fields—planted on April 18—are doing well.

Lack of rain this year meant Butler received just 75% of his water supply for farming, forcing him to fallow about 25% of his rice acreage. Most farmers have crop insurance that covers prevented planting by drought, he said, but those who have it won't turn a profit on their unplanted acres.

"It'll cost every grower quite a bit of money," he said, "and depending upon the level of coverage that you purchase, you may or may not even cover all of your fixed expenses."

Though he also faced a 25% cut in his water supply, Colusa County grower Alex Sutton said he doesn't expect it will affect his rice acreage, some of which he's replaced with almonds and walnuts. Because his tree crops use less water, it will allow him to shift water to his rice fields, he said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected California rice acreage at 500,000 this year, similar to the last two years. Growers say the 2020 projections likely did not account for acres farmers will leave out due to reduced water supplies. They agreed acreage could be much lower if not for March/April storms that helped bolster the snowpack and supplies in reservoirs.

In his region, Butte County grower Josh Sheppard said those last storms led to "serious rain delay" that halted his field work for a week to 10 days, though he noted other parts of the valley did not face the same difficulties. He received a full allocation of water and said he expects to plant all his acreage.

"The prospects for farming rice look good," he said. "We've had better years, but the rice market is healthy right now."

It helps that there's not much carryover rice from last year that will "compete with the new rice that we're planting," Sheppard added.

Medium-grain Calrose rice—the predominant variety grown in the state—has been in "relatively short supply and high demand," Butler said, adding, "it should be a good marketing year for those growers who can plant enough acres to be profitable."

Yuba County grower Keith Davis noted how the pandemic has boosted sales of food staples such as rice that have a long shelf life. As a farmer who also runs a grain elevator and rice dryer, Butler said his operation has been "shipping rice as fast as we can ship it for the last month or so," adding, "if there is such a thing as a positive impact from the shelter-in-place orders … Calrose seems to be one of the products that's benefited from it."

But a concern, Davis said, relates to shortages of personal protective equipment, or PPE, which his employees will need in the coming weeks when they perform ground applications of certain chemicals.

"It could create a problem for us," he said. "Rural counties are trying to get things reopened, but that doesn't mean the supplies and any of this stuff are going to be readily available."

Davis noted his employees go through three to four disposable Tyvek suits a day when they're spraying, which is done for 30 days, and the few suits he's found so far would not last a week.

(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at clee@cfbf.com.)

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.

https://www.agalert.com/story/?id=13987

411 Crore Bank Fraud By Ram Dev International Rice Mill

May 12, 2020

Gurneel Kaur

No Comments

Another case of massive loan defaulter has come in the public eye after SBI reaches CBI for complaint. Here’s all about Rs 411 crore bank fraud by Ram Dev Rice Mill.

Fraud by Ram Dev International – Rice Mill

The Central Bureau of Investigation filed an FIR against the directors of Karnal based rice mill and exporters. The CBI booked Mr Naresh Kumar (MD), Mr Suresh Kumar (Director) and Ms Sangita (Director) for allegedly cheating a consortium of six banks for Rs 411 crores. The defaulters already fled the country to Dubai according to sources before SBI complained to CBI.
Ram Dev Rice mill was engaged in the export of Basmati rice to the Middle East and European countries. According to the complaint, the company has three rice milling plants, besides eight sorting and grading units in Karnal district. Also, it has offices in Saudi Arabia and Dubai for trading purposes.

The Report- Ram Dev International Rice Mill

The account became a non-performing asset on January 27, 2016. The banks conducted a joint inspection of properties after eight months in August and October and found Haryana police deployed there. An inquiry after that revealed that the directors had left the country. Besides, they removed all the machinery from the old plants and fudged balance sheets to gain at the cost of the bank’s funds unlawfully. The case came into light when SBI ordered a special audit and found falsified accounts of the accused.

No Investigation Due to the Lockdown

The CBI has not started the investigation process due to the coronavirus lockdown. However, the agency will begin summoning the accused, in case they do not join the investigation. Ram Dev International Rice Mill has cheated Rs 173.11 crores of SBI alone by way of unauthorised removal of plant, machinery from factory premises, and showing loans from banks as a capital infusion via circular movement of fund transfers.
Further, it owes Rs 76.09 crore to Canara Bank, Rs 64.31 crore to Union Bank of India, Rs 51.31 crores to Central Bank of India, Rs 36.91 crores to Corporation Bank and Rs 12.27 crores to IDBI. In all, the list of economic offenders flying away from the country is long. However, the CBI seems positive in getting Red Corner Notices against economic offenders soon.
Tags: bank fraud, canara bank, CBI, central bank of india, corporation bank, FIR, Fraud, IDBI, karnal, loan defualter, non performing Assets, ram dev international, Ram Dev Rice Mill, SBI, Union Bank of India

https://www.grainmart.in/news/411-crore-bank-fraud-by-ram-dev-international-rice-mill/

U.S.-Grown Rice Gets Canned by Craft Breweries Around the Country  

By Deborah Willenborg

ARLINGTON, VA -- American Craft Beer Week started in 2006 as a way to bring beer lovers and retailers together in celebration and support of craft breweries and all that they contribute to their communities.  And while U.S.-grown rice has been an ingredient in commercial beer production for a long time, craft breweries are using rice to deliver new and unique flavor profiles.

Traditionally, when rice is used in beer production it lightens the color and body of the beer and produces a much drier product in comparison to similar brewing ingredients like corn.  Initially the use of rice in brewing was all about the clean and dry drinkability, but the craft beer world is utilizing rice as more of an adjunct ingredient -- a non-malt source of fermentable sugar that boosts the alcohol in a beer while keeping it light on the palate.

In rice country, you can sample home-grown favorites like "Louisiana Lager" from Crying Eagle Brewery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, "2nd Rodeo" at Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock, Arkansas, and "Farmers Light" from Farmers Brewing Company in Princeton, California.

"The nation's capital is not technically rice country, but you can get craft beer brewed with U.S.-grown rice here, too," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion.  "Thanks to a connection we made during last fall's Think Rice Truck Tour and a rice trivia event at Hellbender Brewing Company in the Fort Totten neighborhood that turned into a beer brewing opportunity."

Hellbender partnered with Black Narrows Brewing Company of Chincoteague, Virginia, and used Blanca Isabel Purple Rice grown in Louisiana to brew "Serves You Rice" a purple rice saison with can art featuring rice fields, industry messaging, and Federation logos.  In addition to "Serves You Rice," which was available in six-packs, Hellbender also created another U.S.-grown purple rice beer called "Social Rice-Olation," a slightly tart brett saison with a higher alcohol content, available only in crowlers.

"Craft breweries do a lot to bolster the economy from using local ingredients to job creation to providing community gathering places.  And we really appreciate the fact that the local ingredient many are using is U.S.-grown rice," said Jacobs.

Undue attention

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The acting chairman of a group calling itself the Council of Patriots (COP’s), Menipakei Dumoe could be getting undue attention at the expense of Liberian authorities following his social media post.
Mr. Dumoe in his post suggested that poor Liberians here need an AK47 riffle, a gun notorious here during the country’s nearly two decades of civil war to be taken seriously by the government instead of a promised rice that has been long overdue.“We don’t need free bags of rice. I say we the poor in Monrovia need AK47s so our leaders can take us seriously,” Mr. Dumoe wrote on Facebook.
Although Mr. Dumoe, a young promising political activist has said that his statement was metaphoric, state securities here on Tuesday invited him for a conference to enable him provide them a better understanding of his statement, but he was soon arrested and a search warrant issued to search his home for arms or related documentation.
Under the previous regime of former president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, his comment would have been described as someone seeking an “undue attention,” but not under this regime.Police searched Mr. Dumoe’s home Tuesday, 12 May after he posted on social media that “… we the poor in Monrovia need AK47s so our leaders can take us seriously.”
Mr. Dumoe did not deny making the post, but he claims he was being metaphoric, saying he is not talking about using a physical weapon.His lawyer Cllr. Finley Karnga complained Tuesday that his client was arrested, contrary to police’s assurance that he should accompany his client to the police headquarters in Monrovia for a conference.
Cllr. Karnga says he felt extremely betrayed and belittled on grounds that the “police – lawyer relationship” which he had relied upon to carry his client for the conference had been abused by the authorities whose real plan to arrest his client was hidden.
He notes that the police had an intention to have his client arrested, but what they did was to put him (Karnga) under the pretense that they were going for a meeting after which Dumoe would have gone home.
Cllr. Karnga narrates that this has affected both his relationship with the police and his client, especially given the way Dumoe was allegedly treated like a mere criminal when he got arrested, handcuffed and taken in the back of a police truck.The lawyer insists that the metaphor that his client used cannot be attributed to anything that is inflammatory, adding that Dumoe did not mean the use of a physical weapon.
He calls on the police to ensure that all Dumoe’s rights are accorded him under the Constitution, urging that he be treated as a political prisoner, but not as a criminal.
Meanwhile Nimba County Rep. Samuel Kogar phoned in to a local radio station Tuesday evening, condemning the police’s action and said that as a law enforcement officer, you can be courteous and enforce your law.
Rep. Kogar contends that what happened between Dumoe, his lawyer and the police was a form of entrapment because the lawyer never knew the plan of the police and had gone along with his client based on the police’s assurance.The Nimba lawmaker states that everyone can be presumed innocent under the law until something culpable is found which would then be the ground for their arrest.
Kogar warns that if the police continue with these missteps, they will damage the image of the government, thereby calling on them to desist because this is a democratic state.Additionally, COP member Mr. Mo Ali says the statement on social media clearly was Dumoe’s personal statement, and not the Council of Patriots.
But he argues that he does not see any capacity in Dumoe to carry out a threat of such nature, saying the government has got the right to do what it wants to do, but it should be done in the confines of the law.
By Winston W. Parley

https://thenewdawnliberia.com/undue-attention/

India Grain: Spot basmati prices up on firm bulk demand; maize falls

Tuesday, May 12

By Sampad Nandy

NEW DELHI – Prices of Pusa 1121 basmati paddy rose today across key spot markets as demand from bulk buyers, including millers, was robust amid limited supply, traders said. 

Arrivals are usually subdued at this time, as most farmers and stockists exhaust the stocks with them. This year, restrictions on movement due to the lockdown have also limited supply, Amritsar-based trader Ashok Sethia said.    

Anticipation of a further extension in the nationwide lockdown is also seen pushing demand from millers to procure more stocks for some weeks in advance, he said. Currently, the lockdown is in place till Sunday. India has so far reported 70,756 COVID-19 cases, with deaths nearing 2,300.  

Any sharp rise in prices at spot markets is unlikely due to the possibility of a decline in demand from West Asian countries in the coming days despite Ramzan, Delhi-based trader Anand Goyal said. Restrictions on movement due to the lockdown and recent steps by Iran to withdraw subsidy on rice imports could also hit exports, Goyal said.

On the Indian Commodity Exchange, however, the May basmati paddy contract ended at 3,346 rupees per 100 kg, down 0.6%. The contract is seen trading between 3,321 rupees and 3,384 rupees per 100 kg during the next few sessions, Acumen Capital Managing Director Akshay Agarwal said.

Prices of maize fell further in major spot markets as demand from feed makers remained subdued, traders said. Arrivals in Nashik were pegged steady at 700-800 bags (1 bag = 100 kg) and in Nizamabad, supply was largely unchanged at 700-800 bags.

Bulk purchases by the poultry industry and animal feed makers have been hit as consumption of poultry products has declined due to rumours that broilers and eggs are carriers of COVID-19, Nizamabad-based trader Amrutlal Kataria said.   

An outbreak of African Swine Fever in Assam is also seen hitting demand in northeastern states as culling pigs is the only option, he said.

A decline in feed consumption due to the virus may also hit demand for maize which is a key component of animal feed in the region, Patna-based trader Avinash Kumar said. So far, over 13,000 pigs have died due to the virus in Assam.    

Prices of mill-quality wheat in Jaipur were unavailable today as spot markets in Rajasthan are shut. Traders in Rajasthan are protesting the state government's decision to impose 2% farmers' welfare fee on the purchase of agricultural produce, particularly grains. 

Markets in Indore and Kanpur were shut because of the lockdown. 

Prices of the staple foodgrain are seen declining further in the coming days as the slower pace of government procurement is exerting supply pressure on spot markets, Kota-based trader Aniket Mehta said.  

In Jaipur, prices of bajra were largely steady due to lack of triggers, traders said.

Following are today's prices of wheat, maize, paddy, and bajra in rupees per 100 kg, in key wholesale markets, and the change from the previous day of trade:

Commodity	Market	Price	Change
Wheat	Indore	1,830-1,860*	—
Wheat	Jaipur	1,700-1,720*	—
Maize	Nashik	1,400-1,450	(-)20-30
Maize	Nizamabad	1,400-1,440	(-)20-30
Pusa 1121 basmati paddy	Amritsar	2,980-3,020	30-50
Bajra	Jaipur	1,750-1,800	—

*Spot markets for wheat in Indore and Jaipur were shut today

End

Edited by Avishek Dutta

Cogencis Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@cogencis.com

This copy was first published on the Cogencis WorkStation

http://www.cogencis.com/newssection/india-grain-spot-basmati-prices-up-on-firm-bulk-demand-maize-falls/

Philippines seeks extra 300,000 tonnes of rice imports amid pandemic

Pio Maosaka Uncategorized May 12, 2020 1 Minute

The Philippines, the world’s top rice buyer, is seeking to import another 300,000 tonnes of the staple food to boost state stockpiles while battling the coronavirus pandemic and ahead of its own lean season in the third quarter. The planned government-to-government deal would raise the Southeast
— Read on ph.news.yahoo.com/philippines-ramping-rice-imports-boost-020749785.html

https://writingideasstoriespicturesandothers.wordpress.com/2020/05/12/philippines-seeks-extra-300000-tonnes-of-rice-imports-amid-pandemic/

Rice supply adequate for 2020

By DA Published on May 12, 2020

QUEZON CITY, May 12 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) reassures the public that the country’s rice supply is adequate for the entire year with a comfortable level of inventory.

“Going into the lean months and onto December 31, 2020, we have enough supply of food, and that includes our major staple – rice,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

“We remain consistent that our total projected supply of rice by end of December 2020 would be 17.994 million metric tons (MMT), while our total projected demand would be 14.668 MMT, leaving a year-end inventory of 3.326 MMT,” said the DA chief.

“This, in turn, serves as our beginning inventory in January 2021, which is good for 94 days’ supply,” he added.

The DA estimated the projected 2020 year-end supply using three components, namely:

Beginning stock in January 2020 or the surplus in December 2019;

Total domestic palay production, from January to December 2020; and

Total rice imports, January to December 2020, including the 300,000 MT to be imported by the DTI’s Philippine International Trading Corp. under a government-to-government arrangement.

The respective figures are gathered by the DA’s Field Operations Service (FOS) from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Bureau of Customs (BOC) on rice imports, other relevant government agencies, and DA regional field offices (RFOs) in tandem with local government units (LGUs), on palay production.

The PSA’s supply utilization accounts of selected agricultural commodities showed that, of the total rice demand, an average of only 88 percent (%) serves as food or what is actually eaten, the remaining 12% is alloted for seeds, feeds and industrial uses.

Hence, of the total projected demand of 14.488 MMT, the actual rice that would be consumed as food would only amount to 12.9 MMT.

Further, the PSA reported that on average, a Filipino consumes a total of 118.81 kilograms (kg) annually. This is equivalent to 325.5 grams of milled rice daily.

With a current population of 108.66 million Filipinos, the country’s total annual consumption would amount to 12.9 MMT.

“We hope this will clarify issues on our rice supply, demand, and consumption situation. Again, we assure the nation that the DA is doing its best to secure the country with enough and affordable food for all. Our programs to make this happen are already in place to help our farmers and fisherfolk,” Secretary Dar concluded.  (ML/ DA)

https://pia.gov.ph/press-releases/releases/1041700

Pakistan Weekly Market Monitor Report - 12 May 2020

Source

·         WFP

Posted

13 May 2020

Originally published

12 May 2020

Attachments

• Download report (PDF | 575.78 KB)

HIGHLIGHTS

·         Weekly average retail prices update as of 7 th May 2020 indicates overall the prices of staple cereals and non-cereals foods experienced negligible to slight fluctuations except for live chicken, with a significant price hike, when compared to the previous week’s prices;

·         Cereals: the retail prices of essential staple cereals (wheat, wheat flour, rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati) remained stable. Overall, the average retail price of wheat decreased slightly while the price of wheat flour increased slightly.
Whereas, the prices of rice Irri-6 and rice Basmati remained unchanged from the previous week;

·         Non-cereals: overall, the average retail prices of essential non-cereals registered a significant increase in the price of live chicken, slight increases for eggs and pulse Mash, slight decreases for pulses (Gram and Masoor) and negligible decreases in the prices of Pulse Moong and sugar compared to their prices from the previous week;

·         The average ToT negligibly decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous week.

https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/pakistan-weekly-market-monitor-report-12-may-2020

U.S.-Grown Rice Gets Canned by Craft Breweries Around the Country  

By Deborah Willenborg

ARLINGTON, VA -- American Craft Beer Week started in 2006 as a way to bring beer lovers and retailers together in celebration and support of craft breweries and all that they contribute to their communities.  And while U.S.-grown rice has been an ingredient in commercial beer production for a long time, craft breweries are using rice to deliver new and unique flavor profiles.

Traditionally, when rice is used in beer production it lightens the color and body of the beer and produces a much drier product in comparison to similar brewing ingredients like corn.  Initially the use of rice in brewing was all about the clean and dry drinkability, but the craft beer world is utilizing rice as more of an adjunct ingredient -- a non-malt source of fermentable sugar that boosts the alcohol in a beer while keeping it light on the palate.

In rice country, you can sample home-grown favorites like "Louisiana Lager" from Crying Eagle Brewery in Lake Charles, Louisiana, "2nd Rodeo" at Lost Forty Brewing in Little Rock, Arkansas, and "Farmers Light" from Farmers Brewing Company in Princeton, California.

"The nation's capital is not technically rice country, but you can get craft beer brewed with U.S.-grown rice here, too," said Cameron Jacobs, USA Rice director of domestic promotion.  "Thanks to a connection we made during last fall's Think Rice Truck Tour and a rice trivia event at Hellbender Brewing Company in the Fort Totten neighborhood that turned into a beer brewing opportunity."

Hellbender partnered with Black Narrows Brewing Company of Chincoteague, Virginia, and used Blanca Isabel Purple Rice grown in Louisiana to brew "Serves You Rice" a purple rice saison with can art featuring rice fields, industry messaging, and Federation logos.  In addition to "Serves You Rice," which was available in six-packs, Hellbender also created another U.S.-grown purple rice beer called "Social Rice-Olation," a slightly tart brett saison with a higher alcohol content, available only in crowlers.

"Craft breweries do a lot to bolster the economy from using local ingredients to job creation to providing community gathering places.  And we really appreciate the fact that the local ingredient many are using is U.S.-grown rice," said Jacobs.

Atlanta’s 50 Best Restaurants: Takeout Edition

These favorites are serving takeout, curbside pick-up, or delivery

ByMara Shalhoup

-

May 12, 2020

5.2k Shares

Tlayuda at Taquería La Oaxaqueña

Photograph by Cori Carter

With most restaurant dining rooms still shuttered due to the pandemic, we’ve compiled a list below of all the restaurants from last year’s 75 Best Restaurants issue that are offering takeout, curbside, or delivery. Be sure to check a restaurant’s Instagram or website for its most up-to-date info. While none of these 50 restaurants are prepared to reopen their dining rooms at the current time, the more you’re able to bring their food home now, the more likely they’ll be around to serve you in those dining rooms later.
Miller Union
The restaurant that topped our list of 75 Best Restaurants had closed its doors to the public for several weeks, focusing on preparing meals for frontline medical workers. In the past few days, though, Miller Union has started to offer a limited number of prix-fixe takeout meals. A recent one included ‪field pea hummus with roasted peppers, crudites and lavash, a salad of spring vegetables, and marinated and grilled boneless chicken with new potatoes, spring peas, asparagus, herbs, and parm. Spring is perhaps our favorite time to experience chef Steven Satterfield’s honest explorations of the modern South, and in this strangest of springs we’re extra grateful to be able to find comfort in his food. 999 Brady Avenue, Westside, 678-733-8550
Masterpiece
The average human tongue has 10,000 tastebuds, and we have discovered a way to stimulate every one of them with just two bites of food. The first bite: Masterpiece’s dry-fried eggplant (Eggplant with Chilli Powder and Pepper Ash Powder), which sits at the pinnacle of every iteration we’ve encountered of the beloved Sichuan dish. The exterior is crackly-crisp and salty, the interior creamy and sweet, the level of ma la (numbing spice) precisely calibrated with a liberal but not obnoxious dose of fragrant, crunchy Sichuan peppercorns. The second bite: Masterpiece’s Dong Po Pork, a braised brick of pork belly lacquered in a mahogany-hued glaze that tastes as if it were a syrup extracted from a mythical tree. The first bite will blow your mind with its electric intensity. The second will transport you to another dimension of taste by simultaneously mellowing and somehow extending the pleasure of the first. Both dishes—along with the other 125 dishes on chef Rui Liu’s extraordinary menu—are available for curbside pickup. 3940 Buford Highway, Duluth, 770-622-1191
Sushi Hayakawa
Atsushi “Art” Hayakawa is the most delightful character in Atlanta’s food scene and a master of his craft. Though you currently can’t enjoy his banter while perched at his sushi counter, splurging on his $185, 14-course, two-and-a-half-hour honkaku (authentic) omakase, you can order $39 bento boxes, $48 sake hotate ikura donburi (salmon, scallop, and seasoned salmon caviar over sushi rice), and private-cellar sake sets—all for curbside pickup. 5979 Buford Highway, Doraville, 770-986-0010
Bacchanalia
Like Miller Union, Bacchanalia was not cooking for the public for weeks following the COVID-19 outbreak—but in recent days started offering the type of takeout food that is quite capable of lifting you out of the deepest, most isolating funk. For $100, choose your four courses, ranging from Maine lobster with English pea and blood orange ponzu to Rohan duck with baby bok choy, hedgehog mushrooms and apricot. Don’t despair: Though you can’t select from the cheese cart, there’s still a cheese course. In its 27 years of trailblazing fine-dining, Bacchanalia has repeatedly proven itself to be one of our most adaptable restaurants. Now is no different. 1460 Ellsworth Industrial Boulevard, Westside, 404-365-0410
BoccaLupo
Chef Bruce Logue is a new breed of pasta royalty. Instead of confining himself to narrow traditions, he creates cult favorites: black spaghetti with red shrimp, hot Calabrian sausage, and scallions; extruded fettuccine with wild mushrooms and kale kimchi; and Carolina gold risotto with lobster, white shrimp, and bronze fennel—all of which were on offer on a recent takeout menu. 753 Edgewood Avenue, Inman Park, 404-577-2332
B’s Cracklin’ BBQ
Every cloud has a silver lining, even the cloud of smoke that began billowing from the roof of B’s Cracklin’ last year, when a fire consumed Atlanta’s best barbecue restaurant. For better or worse, smoke and fire are integral to pitmaster/proprietor Bryan Furman’s success. In 2015, his first location in Savannah also burned down, and the amount of support he received back then allowed him to reopen in four months. Of course, both smoke and fire are critical to preparing his masterful, pecan wood–smoked ribs (cut from heritage-breed hogs raised in Georgia and South Carolina) and brisket. While Furman and his wife and co-owner, Nikki, still have a new location in the works, they opened a B’s Cracklin’ outpost in October in the new, BeltLine-adjacent Kroger on Ponce. Now, you can get your B’s fix at the same time you try to score toilet paper. 725 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, no phone
Kimball House
Yes, the oyster program is the best around—and though you can’t order a dozen on the half shell, you can take a dozen home to shuck yourself. And, depending on the night, you can go all out with private-label caviar service and a 30-ounce ribeye (serves three) or go for the more modest (but just as delicious) eight-piece fried chicken dinner with biscuits and sides such as heirloom peas and braised greens. There will be a line, but it will be properly distanced, with highly sanitized pickup and payment conducted through a window of the historic depot. 303 East Howard Avenue, Decatur, 404-378-3502
Tiny Lou’s
After putting its takeout program on a hiatus of several weeks, Tiny Lou’s is resurrecting its to-go menu on May 14. If you didn’t have takeout plans for Thursday, now you do. Chef Jeb Aldrich’s classically French food possesses far more restraint than that style suggests, which is why Tiny Lou’s quickly established itself as one of our very best new restaurants. Whatever you order, don’t skip dessert. Claudia Martinez is the rare pastry chef who can fashion a brown-butter blondie that pays proper homage to Blondie herself, the downstairs lounge’s most endearing star. (We miss her, and the Clermont Lounge, as much as we miss the restaurants on this list.) 789 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Poncey-Highland, 470-485-0085
Pizza Jeans (at Root Baking Co.)
As with its sister operation, Root Baking Co., Pizza Jeans does just a few things (three pizzas, a salad, a sandwich, breadsticks, a couple of sweets)—and does them exceedingly well. Formerly a Friday night pop-up that Root held in its second-floor Ponce City Market space, Pizza Jeans was about to permanently take over more of the space (with Root retaining a counter for selling its glorious breads, sandwiches, and salads) when COVID-19 hit. Made with Root’s naturally leavened dough, Pizza Jeans’ lightly charred, generously sized pies are some of the best in town. Order on Zifty for delivery or online for curbside pick-up (be sure to enter the Ponce City Market lot on North Avenue and park in front of Mountain High Outfitters; an employee will bring your order to your car). Bonus: You can order a loaf of Root’s sourdough, too. 675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, 470-639-8046
Lazy Betty
Chef Ron Hsu is a man of juxtapositions. He’s a Le Bernardin alum who came of age in his immigrant parents’ straightforward Chinese restaurants. And though in 2019 he opened the most ambitious restaurant Atlanta has seen in several years, that doesn’t mean his rarefied food is short on fun. The takeout operation he runs with chef de cuisine Aaron Phillips is a different beast than Lazy Betty’s $125-and-up tasting menus, one that better suits the necessity to eat at home. It’s also more accessibly priced and is generously portioned—think $48 for a two-person meal composed of bacon-crusted pork loin, apple-mushroom dressing, braised collards, roasted Yukon golds, and Madeira pork jus. The equally delightful vegetarian option costs $10 less (also for two) and recently featured roasted cauliflower with gremolata, spiced lentils, and charred broccoli. 1530 DeKalb Avenue, Candler Park, 404-975-3692
El Tesoro
This oasis in a dusty gravel lot across from a members-only biker bar and behind Rudy’s Auto & Collision serves some of Atlanta’s finest tacos, burritos, and tamales—and it now serves them curbside, where you can pick up your preorder or place your order and wait. “El Tesoro” means “the treasure,” and the restaurant’s owners have found one in Cristina Lugo Soto, a home cook who hails from the Mexican coastal state of Guerrero and runs the kitchen with her daughter, Mayra. Soto offers three tamale flavors—pork with green salsa, chicken with chipotle salsa, and rajas with mushroom and squash—and if there’s a more craveable masa in existence, we’ve yet to find it. The tacos come as tacos are supposed to, with supremely flavorful meat that requires no embellishment aside from microdiced onion, a light shower of chopped cilantro, and a squeeze of lime. Make sure you ask for the three housemade salsas with your order. 1374 Arkwright Place, Edgewood, 470-440-5502
Taquería La Oaxaqueña
You can fight us, but you won’t change our minds: Taquería La Oaxaqueña is the best Mexican restaurant in the metro area. Oaxaca is considered one of the culinary capitals of Mexico, and the Oaxacan specialty that eaters have raved about for years at this Jonesboro gem is the tlayuda: a large, grilled tortilla covered pizzalike with refritos, string cheese, avocado, lettuce, and your choice of meat (pork sluiced in chili is tops). You’ll also discover some of the finest tacos in town here; handmade corn tortillas are folded around delicacies such as stewed beef cheeks, tripe, and pork al pastor. Chicken tamales, flavored either with mole or salsa verde, have a surprisingly delicate texture. Huaraches, the sandal-shaped boats of masa dough, are loaded with rich meat. Take all of it home, and eat the leftovers for days. 605 Mount Zion Road, Jonesboro, 770-960-3010
D92 Korean BBQ
Though it’s not currently offering its namesake dish, this intown sister joint to Duluth’s beloved 9292 is offering curbside pickup of kimchi stew, four different bento boxes, and full-blown dinners that serve two, three, or four people and include bulgogi, marinated pork neck, japchae, soy-glazed peanuts, kimchi, pickled radish wrap, and steamed rice. 225 East Trinity Place, Decatur, 404-514-6759
9292 Korean Barbecue
No, you can’t take 9292’s exemplary Korean barbecue experience home. But, even if you’re not getting your meat charred tableside, the takeout menu is still a good time. The flagship of a growing mini-empire, including the almost-as-good D92 in Decatur, offers the same to-go menu as its intown counterpart. Soon enough, you’ll be able to resume the joy of watching the servers navigate the labyrinth of semiprivate dining cubicles and arrive at just the right moment to flip whatever cut of meat is sizzling on your mini charcoal grill. 3360 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth, 770-680-2951

Margherita in Detroit pie at Nina & Rafi

Photograph courtesy of Mia Yakel

Nina & Rafi
In 2015, Atlantans fell hard for New Jersey native Anthony Spina’s O4W Pizza—and his square, pan-cooked grandma pie in particular. When O4W moved to Duluth a year later, intowners went into mourning. Now, just steps away from the shuttered location, Spina has returned with Nina & Rafi, but grandma has stayed in Duluth. At Nina & Rafi, Spina’s Detroit pie (thick and square but light and airy) and his Super Margherita (a classic round) are meant to grab the spotlight. The Detroit pie is actually the one that gives grandma a run for her money: The crust is like a cross between a Sicilian and a cloud, and at its edges, there’s a raised lip of absurdly addictive, burnt-to-a-crisp cheese that will haunt you. It travels surprisingly well—though you’ll probably eat at least one piece in the car. 661 Auburn Avenue, Old Fourth Ward, 404-549-8997
La Mixteca Tamale House
This fast-casual, family-run, Oaxacan joint brings serious foodie cred to its far-flung suburban location. Yes, La Mixteca is worth the drive to Suwanee. It specializes in all kinds of tamales (perfected by the owner’s mother), some sweet and others filled with various meats and moles, as well as beautifully deconstructed tamale bowls. Note that the restaurant currently accepts preorders only, by 7 p.m. the day before pickup; send your order to the numbers below and pay via Cash App ($lamixtecatamalehouse) or over the phone. 1185 Old Peachtree Road, Suwanee, 678-253-4862 (text orders) 678-878-3483 (WhatsApp orders)
Canoe
If you haven’t been to the 24-year-old riverfront restaurant in a while, you won’t have forgotten the view of the Chattahoochee (a view that, unfortunately, is unavailable at the moment). But you might not recall how equally ravishing the food is. The special dinners on offer each night start at $40 for two ($75 for four) for such meals as a Classic Fish Fry of flounder, Georgia shrimp, calamari, and crab cakes, served with loaded tater tots, coleslaw, English pea and corn succotash, and chocolate mousse. You can even order a bottle of the suggested wine paring (all bottles are half price!), as well as a handful of a la carte apps, entrees, desserts, kid’s meals—even a bagel and smoked salmon spread for the following morning. 4199 Paces Ferry Road, Vinings, 770-432-2663
Sotto Sotto
Riccardo Ullio’s Inman Park stalwart turned 20 last fall, and there’s a reason why Sotto Sotto reached that rare milestone: It’s our most consistent and satisfying Italian spot. Classic pasta options—such as tortelli di Michelangelo Buonarroti, a 16th century recipe of veal, chicken, and pork ravioli in a butter-sage sauce—are the kind of thing you want to eat forever. And we still haven’t found a risotto that can rival any of Ullio’s four typically on offer. You can pick up that tortelli and those risottos, as well as most of the regular menu, in a seamless curbside transaction. This is the carb- and cream-loaded comfort a time like this demands. 313 North Highland Avenue, Inman Park, 404-523-6678

Wood-grilled octopus with olives and capers at Kyma

Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Kyma
The ocean-blue and gleaming-white temple known as Kyma, which means “wave” in Greek, is Buckhead Life Restaurant Group’s brightest star. You can make a fabulous to-go feast out of chef Pano Karatassos’s nearly two-dozen shareable meze plates—in particular, wood-grilled octopus with olives and capers, white beans stewed with tomatoes, and lamb pie. 3085 Piedmont Road, Buckhead, 404-262-0702
La Grotta Ristorante Italiano
In the basement of an unassuming south Buckhead apartment building sits one of Atlanta’s oldest restaurants. La Grotta opened in 1978, and it’s a welcome throwback to another time—when white tablecloths still graced tables and truffles were shaved onto your plate tableside. While you must currently forgo that regal service, La Grotta is embracing the times with an expansive curbside menu (order at least a day in advance, if possible) and deeply discounted wine to-go. 2637 Peachtree Road, Buckhead, 404-231-1368
Bon Ton
This relative newcomer to the Ponce corridor feels like it’s been part of the street’s eccentric culture forever, and that’s a high compliment. Co-owner Eric Simpkins, a longtime denizen of Ponce, teamed up with Hieu Pham of Buford Highway’s Crawfish Shack and Darren Carr of the former Top Flr to create the perfect concept to fill Top Flr’s void. Bon Ton is no doubt as cool as its predecessor, and the Viet-Cajun menu is clever without being too much so: On its takeout and delivery menu, you’ll find the Bon Ton Banh Mi (choose fried shrimp, blackened catfish, or cauliflower falafel), boiled and fried seafood platters, gumbo dinner for two, and zero-proof cocktails—to which you’re welcome to add booze. 674 Myrtle Street, Midtown, 404-996-6177
Poor Hendrix
Blink and you might miss this small storefront on a mostly residential stretch in East Lake. But stylish, in-the-know neighbors have gravitated to this gem from chef Aaron Russell, whose career includes influential stints at fine-dining bastions Seeger’s and Restaurant Eugene (RIP). Russell composes marvelous salads (recently, local lettuces, Manchego, peanuts, and pickled green beans) and elevates desserts (recently, an orange–black pepper cake)—but he isn’t above serving wings and fries with ranch, all of which you’re likely to find on his ever-changing takeout menu. 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive, East Lake, 404-549-8756
Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours
Everything about Chef Deborah VanTrece, whose personality is the clear inspiration behind her restaurant’s name, is original. She’s quick to share her unfiltered opinion on the state of soul food, black restaurateurship, and any other social issue you care to discuss (read more on her COVID-19 survival strategy here). She also artfully builds on culinary traditions of black Southerners: Her takeout and delivery menu includes graham cracker–crusted salmon with creamy corn risotto. It’s all twisted in the best possible way. 1133 Huff Road, Blandtown, 404-350-5500
Argosy
Argosy is the rare restaurant that does more than it needs to—and does all of it well. The gastropub’s pizza might not be the most name-dropped in town, but the wood-fired crust and Spotted Trotter–sourced toppings make it one of Atlanta’s best. Order one to-go, or choose from sandwiches, small plates, seasonal salads, snacks, house-made pickles, and a family meal that’s 100-percent sourced from Georgia farms; $55 feeds four and includes a four-pack of beers from Argosy’s sister brewpub, Sceptre Brewing Arts. There’s also a rotating selection of take-home cans and bottles from Argosy’s superb beer list. 470 Flat Shoals Avenue, East Atlanta Village, 404-577-0407
Busy Bee Cafe
Atlanta would be a lesser town without Busy Bee, which provided sustenance to Civil Rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr. Since 1947, the woman-owned institution has reliably served heaping helpings of soul food: smothered pork chops, oxtails, fried chicken, collards, and cornbread dressing. Currently, you won’t see old-school politicos and R&B stars alike crammed into the tight quarters on the outskirts of Atlanta’s HBCU complex—but you might see them lined up outside for their takeout orders. 810 Martin Luther King Drive, AUC, 404-525-9212

Mandingo wrap at Tassili’s Raw Reality

Photograph by Cori Carter

Tassili’s Raw Reality
There are 40 ounces of kale packed into the Mandingo wrap at Tassili’s Raw Reality, which has occupied the colorful ground floor of a two-story duplex in West End since 2011. Lest you scoff at its $25 price tag, take note that this wrap could easily feed you for three days—and that it’s so magical you’ll actually want to spend three days eating it. What makes it so good? Maybe it’s the superspicy, soy-marinated kale. Maybe it’s the sweet coconut corn and the couscous flecked with raisins and goji berries. Maybe it’s the sticky-crunchy combination of hemp hearts, almonds, and agave. Fewer mouths to feed? Various normal-sized wraps run from $9 to $14. Order online for pick-up. 1059 Ralph D. Abernathy Boulevard, West End, 404-343-6126
Empire State South
After break of several weeks, Empire State South’s takeout menu is back—this time offering weekend feasts for preorder. The $85 meal serves two, and if chef Hugh Acheson’s green garlic agnolotti or pork osso bucco aren’t convincing enough (they should be!), the option of supporting Acheson—who’s been a strong voice for the restaurant community during the pandemic—is even more persuasive. Empire State South has challenged Atlanta’s notion that Southern food is something preciously preserved in the past, and it’s one of the restaurants we expect will lead the way in an uncertain future. 999 Peachtree Street, Midtown, 404-541-1105
The General Muir
There was once a time when you couldn’t get a good matzo ball soup in town. Now, you can find a sublime version—and take a quart of it home for $15. The General Muir has become indispensable for its upscale Jewish deli–inspired menu: If you have a hankering for piled-high pastrami on rye, there is no better place. In addition to those must-orders, there are six family-sized meals on the takeout menu, priced between $27 to $39 and feeding three to six. And you can have it delivered via DoorDash, too. 1540 Avenue Place, Emory, 678-927-9131
One Eared Stag
When chef Robert Phalen opened One Eared Stag back in 2011, Inman Park was a far sleepier place. The neighborhood has since been transformed by an influx of restaurants, but One Eared Stag’s quiet corner retains its subdued charm. A taxidermied deer (yes, with a missing ear) proudly looms over the handsome bar. The farmhouse-chic dining room has been converted to a walk-up bodega; order local produce, marinated olives, and even bloody mary mix for pickup to accompany your takeout meal, which should include the Dumpster Salad; Carolina Gold rice with kimchi, pastured chicken, and benne seeds; and the inimitable fried chicken sandwich. 1029 Edgewood Avenue, Inman Park, 404-525-4479
La Tavola
For two decades, La Tavola has humbly enchanted Virginia-Highlanders—who are perfectly happy keeping this underappreciated beauty all to themselves. If only every neighborhood could be home to a high-quality Italian spot that harbors such a creative streak. Whether you’re in the mood for straightforward spaghetti and veal meatballs, classic saltimbocca, or take-and-bake lasagna for four, the to-go menu is a godsend. 992 Virginia Avenue, Virginia-Highland, 404-873-5430
No. 246
At this Ford Fry Italian spot, executive chef Drew Belline’s textbook pasta runs the gamut from cacio e pepe (the ultimate exercise in simplicity) to a gut-warming rigatoni Bolognese, both of which are options on the family-style takeout menu. That menu includes seven pasta dinners, seven pizzas, and three salads. You can’t go wrong with any of it. 129 East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Decatur, 678-399-8246

Clockwise from top: Jeow bong wings, laap, sticky rice and eggs, squid on a stick at Snackboxe

Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Snackboxe Bistro
Laotian food has long been overshadowed in Atlanta by the cuisine of neighboring Thailand. But with the early 2018 opening of insta-hit Snackboxe in Doraville, followed by a second location at the Battery, there’s now an excellent representation of the cuisine right in our backyard. The street food–inspired dishes, all of which are available for takeout (and limited delivery), are vibrant with heat and acid, including a peerless laap, a spicy and tart meat salad more commonly known by its Thai name, larb. 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville, 770-417-8082; 925 Battery Avenue, Cumberland, 678-324-1181
Heirloom Market BBQ
Heirloom is a love story—between its co-owners, wife and husband Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor, and between the homestyle Korean cooking of her childhood and the homestyle Texan cooking of his. The restaurant did not start out as an intentional crosscultural melange of cuisines. In its earliest days, Heirloom was mostly concerned with straightforward, Texas-style ’cue. As with all great love stories, the passion between miso paste and collard greens or kimchi and coleslaw was almost accidental at first, but these pairings were clearly meant to be. The mostly takeout operation has become even more efficient with curbside pickup, and you can order delivery on DoorDash. 2243 Akers Mill Road, Cumberland, 770-612-2502
Community Q
Dave Roberts left fine dining in the mid-aughts to study the finer points of barbecue. Back then, hoity-toity chefs hadn’t begun to launch the kind of barbecue operations that source their meats extra carefully and support organic farms. Opened in 2009 with several partners in a tight little shopping center near Emory, Community Q offers moist and tender pulled pork that isn’t obnoxiously smoky, reliably robust St. Louis ribs, and ridiculously rich and creamy three-cheese mac and cheese. It’s best to place your takeout order a day in advance. 1361 Clairmont Road, North Decatur, 404-633-2080

Taqueria del Sol

Photograph by Hannah Feiten Photography

Taqueria del Sol
Eddie Hernandez and Mike Klank opened the first Taqueria del Sol on the Westside in 2000, cranking out crowd-pleasing $2 tacos. Twenty years and four additional locations later, customers now line up to await pickup orders—for Hernandez’s Southern-Mexican mashup cuisine: fried-chicken tacos with lime-jalapeño mayonnaise, refried-bean enchiladas with a side of turnip greens, and shrimp corn chowder. Want to learn how Hernandez does it? Pick up his cookbook, Turnip Greens & Tortillas, which was one of our favorites of 2018. Multiple locations
Rising Son
When Hudson Rouse, formerly of Home Grown, and his wife, Kathryn Fitzgerald Rouse, opened this creative meat-and-three for breakfast and lunch in 2016, the crowds flocked. They came to the adorable Avondale Estates storefront in part to order the vegetables—collards, kale, sweet potatoes—that Hudson grows himself. The restaurant now offers daytime and early-dinner pickup orders (recently fried chicken with black-eyed peas, collards, and mashed sweet potatoes). Get a biscuit on the side. 124 North Avondale Road, Avondale Estates
Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
In 2007, twin brothers Jonathan and Justin Fox opened their DeKalb Avenue restaurant. Thirteen years later, the brothers’ brisket is legendary, but just as epic are their over-the-top barbecue offerings: the camp classic Frito Pie served in the actual chip bag, hickory-smoked jumbo wings dressed in homemade sauce, and a nine-inch, smoked beef rib that looks like something a caveman might devour. The entire menu is available for pickup (best to order a day in advance; the crowds have hardly abated) and via DoorDash. The Fox brothers might be from Texas, but they’re essential architects of Atlanta’s barbecue scene. 1238 DeKalb Avenue, Candler Park, 404-577-4030
Desta Ethiopian Kitchen
Desta is one of three Ethiopian restaurants at the corner of Briarcliff and Clairmont roads—including the stylish and formidable Feedel Bistro. Despite the competition, it’s still the best place in town to score kitfo (raw, minced beef seasoned with chili powder and spiced butter) and miser (red lentils stewed with cayenne, onion, garlic, and ginger), which is scooped up using soft, spongy, fermented injera bread. The menu, which allows you to make decisions based on how daring you are, demystifies Ethiopian cuisine, and it’s available for takeout at both the original and a second location at Emory Point, as well as for delivery via UberEats, DoorDash, Grubhub, Postmates, and ChowNow. 3086 Briarcliff Road, Briarcliff Woods, 404-929-0011; 1520 Avenue Place, Emory, 404-835-2748
Taqueria Don Sige
Located behind a gas station in a tiny strip mall on the border of College Park and East Point, Don Sige isn’t known for its decor. Blond-wood picnic benches, brown tile, and burnt-orange walls are what you get. The kitchen is pretty much a flat-top and a fryer, and they’re happy to sell you a cheeseburger. But ignore any misinformed impulses because you’re here for traditional tacos (chopped onion, cilantro, lime, and radish), irresistibly priced at $1.50 each (pollo is great, but chorizo, camarones, and lengua are phenomenal). The spicy salsa verde isn’t complex and doesn’t need to be, and the expertly wrapped burrito and liberally sauced steak fajita are as flavorful as they are unfancy. You’ll have a hard time spending more than $15 on your takeout order, but that’s not to say you won’t enjoy the challenge. 1720 Vesta Avenue, College Park, 404-762-8084

Ruby red and golden beets, candied walnuts, meyer lemon yogurt at Aria

Photograph by Caroline C. Kilgore

Aria
Whether the occasion is prom, an anniversary, an engagement, or a pandemic, Aria is up to the challenge. Even if you can’t visit the pewter-walled dining room, a modern and romantic evocation of ancient Rome, you can channel it with Aria’s simple and elegant takeout menu. The food similarly updates the classics. Its nightly to-go dinner for two could include oven-roasted halibut in a clam and tomato broth with sweet peppers, potatoes, and lemon thyme. Get dressed up for the meal (or at least ditch the sweatpants). 490 East Paces Ferry Road, Buckhead, 404-233-7673
Tomo
The immensity of chef Tomohiro Naito’s gift for Japanese cuisine is typically on full display for those lucky enough to snag one of five spots for Naito’s omakase (tasting menu), which starts at $100. But you can also discover those gifts through Tomo’s lunch and dinner takeout menus, which include monkfish liver terrine, a green tea soba soup bowl, plenty of rolls and nigiri, and even dry-aged Kobe ribeye. 3630 Peachtree Road, Buckhead, 404-835-2708
Mamak
Mamak’s food manages to instantly transport you to the streets of Malaysia (and lord knows we can all use a vacation right now), where vendors serve near-identical versions of sambal okra, Hainanese chicken, wok-fried flat rice noodles, mustard green fish head soup, and curry laksa. These dishes are but a few of the many reasons Mamak has a rabid following. The real-deal cooking—along with the fact that most entrees are priced below $15, and only one of the lunch specials exceeds $8—makes it a place that demands repeat visits. Or repeat takeout orders. 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville, 678-395-3192
Woo Nam Jeong (Stone Bowl House)
From the moment the owner introduces herself as “Grandma,” you know Woo Nam Jeong is a special place. As of press time, after a hiatus, that special place was scheduled to reopen for takeout in May. Grandma makes nearly every item at this Buford Highway homestyle Korean restaurant from scratch. Take as much of it home as you can, and don’t forget to order the silky, water-boiled vegetable dumplings. 5953 Buford Highway, Doraville, 678-530-0844
El Rey del Taco
El Rey del Taco means “the king of the taco,” and it lives up to its name. If you’re feeling indecisive about the dozen takeout taco options—from steak to goat, cow’s cheek to tongue, chorizo to al pastor—go for a bunch of $1.60 mini tacos (though we do prefer the full-priced $2.50 ones on a homemade tortilla). There are tons of other worthy things to take home from El Rey, including more than three dozen seafood dishes. 5288 Buford Highway, Doraville, 770-986-0032
Food Terminal
The menu looks like a highly stylized food magazine (and is about as long), and the well-oiled kitchen (at both the original Chamblee and the new Westside locations) cranks out clever takes on Malaysian food, a mix of Chinese, Indian, Singaporean, and Thai flavors. There’s not a more craveable noodle dish in Atlanta than the Thai Chili Pan Mee, a bowl of silky flat noodles topped with dried anchovies, ground chicken, shiitakes, spinach, and a fried egg. But if you’re not feeling that, you can choose from more than 60 other to-go entrees, not to mention bao, skewers, roti canai, and two dozen additional snacks. 5000 Buford Highway, Chamblee, 678-353-6110; 1000 Marietta Street, Westside, 404-500-2695
Rumi’s Kitchen
Ali Mesghali’s landmark Persian restaurant in Sandy Springs is big, brash, and beautiful. Among our favorite offerings on the takeout menu: kashk badenjoon (fried eggplant, cream of whey, crispy onion, mint) and charred lamb kebabs perfumed with citrus and saffron, atop buttery basmati rice flecked with orange zest and pistachios. A second location, which opened at Avalon in 2017, makes it easier for the northern suburban set to get a foot in the door—if only for a pickup order or limited-area delivery. 6112 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, 404-477-2100; 7105 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, 678-534-855
Osteria Mattone
Sister restaurant Table & Main gets more buzz, but we’re partial to Osteria Mattone. Co-owners and siblings Ryan and Daniel Pernice imbue the cozy restaurant, housed in a bungalow in historic Roswell, with a familial vibe that feels as genuinely Italian as the menu’s Roman staples. (They had planned to open the patio in May, after this magazine was printed.) But their takeout operation (as well as delivery via DoorDash) will continue, with options ranging from plump, braised short rib—stuffed ravioli to a family-sized meal of eggplant parm with tagliolini, cucumber salad, and brownies or chocolate chip cookies (serves six). 1095 Canton Street, Roswell, 678-878-3378

Cumin-spiced St. Louis ribs and sofrito mac and cheese at Porch Light Latin Kitchen

Photograph by Willett Photography

Porch Light Latin Kitchen
Rathbun Steak’s former executive chef Andre Gomez draws on his Puerto Rican heritage at Porch Light, where he serves on his takeout menu such comforts as a half or whole citrus-brined, beer-can chicken; a guava-barbecue pork and bean burrito; and plantain empanadas. 300 Village Green Circle, Smyrna, 678-309-9858
Tasty China
Tasty China was the first restaurant in town to serve undiluted Sichuan cuisine. Back then, in 2006, the kitchen was helmed by the talented and elusive Peter Chang, who ignited a love of ma la (hot and numbing spice) that paved the way for Masterpiece and Gu’s. Without Chang, who’s drawn a cult following to restaurants across the South, the original Marietta location faltered at times and flourished at others. (There are also locations in Smyrna and Sandy Springs, and a Ponce City Market offshoot, Jia.) But Tasty China currently is in superb—if not quite Changian—form, churning out stellar dishes (available for takeout) including confit-like fish filets in chili oil and velvety, mild chicken with three types of mushrooms. 585 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, 770-419-9849
O4W Pizza
In 2015, the city fell hard for New Jersey native Anthony Spina’s O4W Pizza—and his square, pan-cooked grandma pie in particular. The Old Fourth Ward location was short-lived (it closed in June 2016), but the concept was not. Spina relaunched a month later in Duluth, with an expanded menu that includes a chicken parm hero on housemade bread and handmade cavatelli. But the biggest draw remains the game-changing pizzas: classic round pies, thick-crust Sicilians, thick-yet-airy Detroit-style, and, of course, grandma. Thankfully for ITP-ers, you can find most of those pies (but, alas, no grandma) at Spina’s new spot, Nina & Rafi, which opened on the BeltLine late last year. 3117 Main Street, Duluth, 678-587-5420

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Ōhāriu MP Greg O'Connor with some of the tonnes of rice donated by Monty Patel and distributed by Challenge 2000 youth organisation.

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Elise Sadler and Lyn Tankersley of Masterton Foodbank gladly receive a tonne of rice transported free of charge by Reisima Haulage to Wairarapa.